EX99-906CERT



                                  CERTIFICATION


     Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a)
and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), each of
the undersigned officers of Worldwide Hard Assets Fund, do hereby certify,
to such officer's knowledge, that:

     The semi-annual report on Form N-CSRS of Worldwide Hard Assets Fund for the
period ended June 30, 2004 (the "Form N-CSRS") fully complies with the
requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
and information contained in the Form N-CSRS fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Worldwide Hard
Assets Fund.


Dated: August 27, 2004                  /s/ Keith J. Carlson
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Keith J. Carlson
                                        Chief Executive Officer
                                        Worldwide Hard Assets Fund


Dated: August 27, 2004                  /s/ Bruce J. Smith
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Bruce J. Smith
                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                        Worldwide Hard Assets Fund


This certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350 and
is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.