investment level in that industry, group of industries, sector, issuer or small number of issuers. Portfolio performance may be adversely affected by a significant investment in a sector, industry, or group of industries, or an issuer or small number of issuers, and may be more susceptible to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory developments affecting the sector, industry, group of industries, or issuer(s) subject to a significant level of investment. Information about the Portfolio’s exposure to a particular sector, industry, or group of industries (as applicable) is available in the Portfolio’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders and on required forms filed with the SEC.
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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Large Cap Company Risk – Investing in large cap stocks could cause the Portfolio to underperform in markets favoring faster
growing companies. Large cap stocks tend to be more mature with fewer opportunities to grow and may not have the same growth potential as stocks with smaller capitalizations.
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Market Risk – The risk that the market price of securities owned by the Portfolio may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or 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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Non-Diversification Risk – In pursuing a full replication strategy with respect to the underlying index, the Portfolio may
become non-diversified as a result of a change in relative market capitalization or index weighting of one or more constituents of the underlying index. In such circumstances, an increase or decrease in the value of a single security held by the Portfolio may have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value and total return, and the Portfolio’s performance could be more volatile than a diversified fund.
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Tracking Error Risk – The Portfolio may be subject to tracking error, which is the divergence of the Portfolio’s performance from that of the underlying index. Tracking error may occur due to a number of factors, including differences between the securities held in the Portfolio and those included in the underlying index, and based upon the fact that the Portfolio incurs fees and expenses, while the underlying index does not. Tracking error risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions.
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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 and that represents the overall securities market (Broad-Based Index). Prior to February 1, 2021, the Portfolio was managed by Mason Street Advisors, LLC.
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.