General Market Risk.
Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected,
which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely
impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to securities in general financial markets, a particular financial market or other
asset classes due to a number of factors, including inflation (or expectations for inflation),
deflation (or expectations for deflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, financial system instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, trade wars,
retaliatory trade measures, sanctions and other trade barriers, supply chain disruptions,
regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global
events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country
instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics or the threat or potential of one or more such factors and occurrences.
Risk of California Obligations. Because the Fund invests primarily in municipal obligations issued by the State of California, its political subdivisions, authorities, and
agencies, its performance will be affected by the fiscal and economic health of that state and
its municipalities. Provisions of the California Constitution and state statutes that limit the taxing and spending authority of California’s governmental entities may impair the ability of California issuers to pay principal
and/or interest on their obligations. While California’s economy is broad, it does have
major concentrations in high technology, manufacturing, entertainment, agriculture, tourism,
construction and services, and may be sensitive to economic problems affecting those
industries.
Municipal Obligations and Securities Risk. Because the Fund may invest in municipal obligations, including municipal securities, the Fund may be susceptible to political,
legislative, economic, regulatory, tax or other factors affecting issuers of these municipal
obligations, such as state and local governments and their agencies. The risk of a municipal obligation generally depends on the financial and credit status of the issuer. Changes in a municipality’s financial health
may make it difficult for the municipality to make interest and principal payments when due. This
could decrease the Fund’s income or hurt the ability to preserve capital and liquidity. In addition, budgetary constraints of state and local governments may lead to reduced tax revenues and may further limit their ability to service
municipal obligations. Under some circumstances, municipal obligations might not pay interest
unless the state legislature or municipality authorizes money for that purpose.
The amount of public information available about municipal obligations is
generally less than for corporate equities or bonds, meaning that the investment performance of municipal obligations may be more dependent on the analytical abilities of the investment adviser than stock or
corporate bond investments. The secondary market for municipal obligations also tends to be less
well-developed and less liquid than many other securities markets, which may limit the Fund’s ability to sell its municipal obligations at attractive prices. The differences between the price at which an obligation can be
purchased and the price at which it can be sold may widen during periods of
market distress. Less liquid obligations
can become more difficult to value and be subject to erratic price movements. In addition,
changes in U.S. federal tax laws or the activity of an issuer may adversely affect the tax-exempt status of municipal obligations. Loss of tax-exempt status may result in a significant decline in the values of such municipal
obligations.
Municipal obligations may be more susceptible to downgrades
or defaults during recessions or similar periods of economic stress. In addition, since some
municipal obligations may be secured or guaranteed by banks and other institutions, the risk to
the Fund could increase if the banking or financial sector suffers an economic downturn and/or if the credit ratings of the institutions issuing the guarantee are downgraded or at risk of being downgraded by a national rating
organization. Such a downward revision or risk of being downgraded may have an adverse effect on
the market prices of the obligations and thus the value of the Fund’s investments.
In addition to being downgraded, an insolvent municipality may file for bankruptcy. The reorganization of a
municipality’s debts may significantly affect the rights of creditors and the value of the
securities issued by the municipality and the value of the Fund’s investments. There may be times that, in the opinion of the adviser, municipal money market securities of sufficient quality are not available for the Fund to be able
to invest in accordance with its normal investment policies. Interest on municipal obligations,
while generally exempt from federal income tax, may not be exempt from federal alternative
minimum tax.
Municipal Focus Risk. As a single state money market fund, the Fund is less diversified than other money market funds. This is because a single state money market fund is
allowed by SEC rules to invest a significantly greater portion than other money market funds of
its assets in one issuer. Because of these rules and the relatively small number of issuers of a particular state’s municipal securities, the Fund’s performance is more affected by the success of one or a few issuers
than is the performance of a more diversified fund.
Geographic Focus Risk. As a single state money market fund, the Fund is less diversified than other money market funds. This is because a single state money market fund is
allowed by SEC rules to invest a significantly greater portion than other money market funds of
its assets in one issuer. Because of these rules and the relatively small number of issuers of a particular state’s municipal securities, the Fund’s performance is more affected by the success of one or a few issuers
than is the performance of a more diversified fund.
Government Securities Risk. U.S. Government securities include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as
securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), the Federal
National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) or other Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs)). U.S. Government securities are subject to market risk,
interest rate risk and credit risk. Securities, such as those issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae
or the U.S. Treasury, that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity and the market prices for such securities will
fluctuate. The income generated by investments may not keep pace with inflation. Actions by
governments and central banking authorities