PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Investing in multiple investment asset classes, the
Portfolio attempts to capitalize on the variation in return potential produced by the interaction of changing financial markets and economic conditions
while maintaining a balance over time between investment opportunities and their associated potential risks by following a flexible policy of allocating
assets.
The Portfolio is one of the
Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc. Allocation Portfolios (Active/Passive Allocation Suite) and operates primarily as a “fund of
funds.” The Portfolio invests in a combination of both actively managed and passive (i.e., index-tracking) underlying Portfolios of
Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc. (each, an “Underlying Portfolio”) and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) which are not portfolios of
Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc.
As a “very aggressive” Portfolio, the adviser will allocate the Portfolio’s assets to a combination of
underlying funds that is expected to have the most aggressive investment risk relative to the other Portfolios of the Active/Passive Allocation Suite.
The Portfolio is designed primarily for investors with a higher risk tolerance consistent with a portfolio that holds equity investments in pursuit of
long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio has a target asset allocation as indicated below:
| |
Equity and Other*
Exposure |
Fixed Income or Debt
Exposure |
|
Active/Passive Very
Aggressive |
|
|
|
*Other exposure includes REIT and commodity-related investments.
These foregoing percentage target ranges are not intended to establish minimum and maximum limits. The adviser may deviate from
the asset class target ranges in pursuit of total return and in response to changing market and economic conditions, and, may invest a greater or lesser percentage in any strategic asset class component when the adviser deems it favorable to do so in order to achieve the Portfolio’s investment objective.
Equity and Other Exposure: The Portfolio may obtain
equity exposure by investing in one or more Underlying Portfolios or ETFs, which may hold a wide range of equity securities including small,
mid and large cap U.S. and non-U.S. stocks. Equity securities could include common and preferred stocks, securities convertible into
stocks and depositary receipts for those securities. “Other” exposure includes both real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and
commodities. The Portfolio may obtain exposure to REITs by investing in ETFs that hold REITs. The Portfolio may obtain commodity exposure through
the purchase of swaps on physical commodities or commodity indices, including those which are traded in over-the-counter markets
(“OTC”), and by investing in ETFs that provide exposure to commodities markets.
Cash Equivalents: The cash equivalent portion of the Portfolio may include, but is not limited to, investments in Underlying Portfolios or ETFs that hold debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities as well as commercial paper, banker’s acceptances, certificates of deposit and time deposits. In order to enhance short duration returns, the adviser may purchase ultra-short bond ETFs.
The adviser considers a number of factors when making purchase and sales decisions with respect to the Underlying Portfolios and ETFs. With respect to the equity Underlying Portfolios and ETFs, the adviser considers their investment focus on small, mid or large market capitalizations, domestic or foreign investments, whether the Underlying Portfolio or ETF is diversified or non-diversified and whether it employs a particular style of investing, among other characteristics. The adviser regularly reviews and adjusts the allocation among the Underlying Portfolios and ETFs to favor investments in those Underlying Portfolios and ETFs that the adviser believes provide the most favorable position for achieving the Portfolio’s investment objective. In connection with the allocation process, the Portfolio may invest more than 25% of its assets in one Underlying Portfolio or one ETF.
An Underlying Portfolio or ETF may invest a large
percentage of its assets in a single issuer, security, market or sector (or a limited group thereof) or in the case of an international Underlying
Portfolio or ETF, may invest in emerging markets, a small number of countries or a particular geographic region.
Portfolio shares will rise and fall in value and there is a risk you could lose money by
investing in the Portfolio. There can be no assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its objective. The Portfolio bears all of the risks associated with the investment strategies
used by the Underlying Portfolios and ETFs and other securities in which it invests. Except as otherwise stated, references in this section to the “Portfolio” may relate to the Portfolio, one or more Underlying Portfolios, or both. The main risks of investing in this Portfolio are identified below.
•
Active Management Risk – The adviser’s investment strategies and techniques may not perform as expected which could cause the Portfolio to underperform other mutual funds or lose money.
•
Affiliated Portfolio Risk – In managing the Portfolio, the adviser has the
authority to select, and allocate among, Underlying Portfolios. The adviser may be subject to potential conflicts of interest in selecting Underlying Portfolios
because the fees paid to it by some Underlying Portfolios are higher than the fees paid by other Underlying Portfolios. Moreover, a situation could occur