Portfolio Turnover
The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities
(or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may
indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual
portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance.
During the most recent fiscal year, the
Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 23% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Portfolio
The Portfolio attempts to achieve its goal by investing
primarily in common stocks of companies outside the U.S. that the subadviser
considers undervalued by the market and that the subadviser believes offer a potential for income. The Portfolio primarily invests in large cap foreign stocks and will also invest in
mid-cap foreign stocks. The Portfolio invests mainly in developed countries, but may invest in
emerging markets.
The Portfolio will invest mainly in
value stocks. Value stocks are those that the subadviser believes are currently undervalued by
the market.
In addition, the Portfolio may, but is not required to, use derivatives and invest in fixed
income securities (up to 20% of net assets), including junk bonds.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Portfolio
As with any mutual fund, there can be no assurance that the
Portfolio’s investment goal will be met or that the net return on an investment in the Portfolio will exceed what could have been obtained through other investment or savings vehicles. Shares of the Portfolio are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by any bank, government entity or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. If the value of the assets of the Portfolio goes down, you could lose money.
The following is a summary of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.
Equity Securities Risk. The Portfolio invests principally in equity securities and is therefore subject to the risk that stock prices will fall and may underperform other asset classes. Individual stock prices
fluctuate from day-to-day and may decline significantly.
Value Investing Risk. The subadviser’s judgment that a particular security is undervalued in relation to the company’s fundamental economic
value may prove incorrect.
Foreign Investment Risk. The
Portfolio’s investments in the securities of foreign issuers or issuers with significant exposure to foreign markets involve additional risk. Foreign countries in which the Portfolio
invests may have markets that are less liquid, less regulated and more volatile
than U.S. markets. The value of the Portfolio’s investments may decline because of factors affecting the particular issuer as well as foreign markets and issuers generally, such as unfavorable
government actions, and political or financial instability and other conditions or
events (including, for example, military confrontations, war, terrorism,
sanctions, disease/virus, outbreaks and epidemics). Lack of relevant data and reliable public information may also affect the value of these securities. The risks of foreign investments
are heightened when investing in issuers in emerging market countries.
Emerging Markets Risk. Risks associated with investments in emerging markets may include: delays in settling portfolio securities
transactions; currency and capital controls; greater sensitivity to interest rate
changes; pervasive corruption and crime; exchange rate volatility; inflation,
deflation or currency devaluation; violent military or political conflicts; confiscations and other government restrictions by the United States or other governments; and government
instability. As a result, investments in emerging market securities tend to be
more volatile than investments in developed countries.
Large-Cap Companies Risk. Large-cap companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this
potentially lower risk, the Portfolio’s value may not rise as much as the value of portfolios that emphasize smaller companies. Larger, more established companies may be unable
to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology
and consumer tastes. Larger companies also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, particularly during extended periods of economic expansion.
Mid-Cap Companies Risk. Securities of mid-cap companies are usually more volatile and entail greater risks than securities of large companies.
Bonds Risk. The value of your investment in the Portfolio may go up or down in response to changes in interest rates or defaults (or even the potential
for future defaults) by bond issuers. Fixed income securities may be subject to volatility due
to changes in interest rates.
Derivatives Risk. A derivative is any financial
instrument whose value is based on, and determined by, another security, index,
rate or benchmark (i.e., stock options, futures, caps, floors, etc.). To the extent a derivative