unpredictably. The value of a security may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, exchange, country, group of countries, region, market, industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, which magnifies the potential that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in, or foreign exchange rates with, a different country or region. Geopolitical and other events, including war, terrorism, economic uncertainty, trade disputes, tariffs, public health crises (such as epidemics and pandemics), and related events have led, and in the future may lead, to increased market volatility, which may disrupt U.S. and world economies and markets and may have significant adverse direct or indirect effects on the Portfolio and its investments.
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Mid Cap Company Risk – Investing in mid cap stocks may cause greater risk of loss and price fluctuation than investing in
stocks of larger cap companies due to a more limited track record, narrower product markets, more limited resources and less liquid trading markets. These stocks may be more volatile and more difficult to buy and sell than stocks with larger capitalizations.
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Sector Focus Risk – To the extent the Portfolio invests a relatively high percentage of its assets in a particular sector, it will have greater exposure to the risks associated with that sector, including the risk that the securities of companies within the sector will underperform due to adverse economic conditions, regulatory or legislative changes, or increased competition affecting the sector. To the extent the Portfolio is underweight in other sectors, the Portfolio risks missing out on advances in those sectors.
Information Technology Sector Risk – Companies in the
information technology sector face risks associated with intense competition, both domestically and internationally, as well as product obsolescence due
to rapid technology developments, frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates, competition for the services of qualified
personnel, and changing consumer preferences.
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Underlying Portfolio Risk – The Portfolio may serve as an investment option, or “Underlying Portfolio,” for other portfolios of Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc. that are managed as “fund of funds.” As a result, from time to time, the Portfolio may experience relatively large investments or redemptions from those other portfolios and could be required to invest cash or sell securities at a time when it is not advantageous to do so.
The following bar chart illustrates the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing
how the performance of the Portfolio has varied from year to year. The table to the right of the bar chart shows the Portfolio’s average annual
total return over certain time periods and compares the Portfolio’s returns with those of an index that has characteristics relevant to the
Portfolio’s investment strategy (Strategy Index). The table also shows the Portfolio’s returns against an index that represents
the overall securities market (Broad-Based Index), which the Portfolio has added to comply with new regulatory requirements. Prior to November 14, 2019, the sub-adviser to the Portfolio was different.
Performance shown may have been different if the current strategy, and the current sub-adviser, had been in place during the periods shown. Returns are based on past results and are not an indication of future
performance. Neither the bar chart nor the table reflects the fees and
expenses separately charged by the variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy separate account that invests in the Portfolio and
returns would be lower if those fees and expenses were reflected.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser: Mason Street Advisors, LLC
Sub-Adviser: T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (TRPA)
Portfolio Manager: Paul D. Greene II, Vice President and Associate Portfolio Manager of TRPA, joined T. Rowe Price in 2006 and has
managed the Portfolio since 2020.