UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report: January 27, 2003 (Date of Earliest Event Reported: January 24, 2003) Commission File No. 1-12785

NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE	31-1486870
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

One Nationwide Plaza

Columbus, Ohio 43215

(614) 249-7111

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,  including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

Item 5.    Other Events.

On January 24, 2003, Moody’s Investor Service (Moody’s) assigned ratings of (P)A3 senior debt, (P)Baa1 subordinated debt and (P)Baa2 preferred stock to the $1.5 billion multiple security shelf of Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NFS), which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 2002. Moody’s also assigned a preferred stock rating of (P)Baa1 to Nationwide Financial Services Capital Trust III and IV. Moody’s also affirmed, with a stable outlook, the ratings of NFS’ insurance affiliates.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
	(Registrant)
Date: January 27, 2003	/s/    Mark R. Thresher
	Mark R. Thresher
	Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer