funds could be adversely affected if other entities that invest in the same
underlying funds make relatively large investments or redemptions in such underlying funds. The Fund, and its shareholders, indirectly bear a portion of the expenses of any funds in which the Fund invests. Because the expenses and costs of a fund
are shared by its investors, redemptions by other investors in the fund could result in decreased economies of scale and increased operating expenses for such fund. The Investment Manager may have potential conflicts of interest in selecting
affiliated underlying funds for investment by the Fund because the fees paid to it by some underlying funds are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds, as well as a potential conflict in selecting affiliated funds over unaffiliated
funds.
Growth Securities Risk.
Growth securities typically trade at a higher multiple of earnings than other types of equity securities. Accordingly, the market values of growth securities may be more sensitive to adverse economic or
other circumstances or changes in current or expected earnings than the market values of other types of securities. In addition, growth securities, at times, may not perform as well as value securities or the stock market in general,
and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.
Inflation-Protected Securities Risk.
Inflation-protected debt securities tend to react to changes in real interest rates (i.e., nominal interest rates minus the expected impact of inflation). In general, the price of such securities falls when real
interest rates rise, and rises when real interest rates fall. Interest payments on these securities will vary and may be more volatile than interest paid on ordinary bonds. In periods of deflation, the Fund may have no income at all from such
investments. The Fund’s investment in certain inflation-protected debt securities may generate taxable income in excess of the interest they pay to the Fund, which may cause the Fund to sell investments to obtain cash to make income
distributions to shareholders, including at times when it may not be advantageous to do so.
Interest Rate Risk.
Interest rate risk is the risk of losses attributable to changes in interest rates. In general, if prevailing interest rates rise, the values of debt securities will tend to fall, and if interest rates fall, the values of debt securities will tend
to rise. Changes in the value of a debt security usually will not affect the amount of income the Fund receives from it but may affect the value of the Fund's shares. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the
greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate declines also may increase prepayments of debt obligations, which, in turn, would increase prepayment risk. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment
decreases.
Issuer Risk.
An issuer in which the Fund invests may perform poorly, and therefore, the value of its securities may decline, which would negatively affect the Fund’s performance. Poor performance may be caused by poor
management decisions, competitive pressures, breakthroughs in technology, reliance on suppliers, labor problems or shortages, corporate restructurings, fraudulent disclosures, natural disasters or other events, conditions or factors.
Low and Below Investment Grade (High-Yield) Securities Risk.
Securities with the lowest investment grade rating, securities rated below investment grade (commonly called “high-yield” or “junk” bonds) and unrated securities of comparable quality expose the
Fund to a greater risk of loss of principal and income than a fund that invests solely or primarily in investment grade securities. In addition, these investments have greater price fluctuations, are less liquid and are more likely to experience a
default than higher-rated securities. High-yield securities are considered to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
Market Risk.
Market risk
refers to the possibility that the market values of securities or other investments that the Fund holds will fall, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, or fail to rise. An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods.
In general, equity securities tend to have greater price volatility than debt securities.
Prepayment and Extension Risk.
Prepayment and extension risk is the risk that a loan, bond or other security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity, and the portfolio managers may not be able to invest the proceeds in other
investments providing as high a level of income, resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. As interest rates rise or spreads widen, the likelihood of prepayment decreases. The portfolio managers may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher
interest rates or wider spreads because the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower rate for a longer period of time.
Small- and Mid-Cap Company Securities Risk.
Investments in small- and mid-capitalization companies (small- and mid-cap companies) often involve greater risks than investments in larger, more established companies (larger companies) because small- and mid-cap
companies tend to have less predictable earnings and may lack the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies, and securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be less liquid
and more volatile than the securities of larger companies.
Value Securities Risk.
Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced, for example, adverse business, industry or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially
undervalued. The market value of a portfolio security may not meet the portfolio manager's perceived value assessment of that security, or may decline in price, even though the portfolio manager(s) believe(s) the securities are already undervalued.
There is also a risk that it may take longer than expected for the value of these investments to rise to the portfolio manager’s perceived value. In addition, value securities, at times, may not perform as well as growth securities or the
stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.