| The Global Resources Fund takes a diversified approach to the natural resources sector by investing in energy and basic materials. The fund invests in companies involved in the exploration, production and processing of petroleum, natural gas, coal, alternative energies, chemicals, mining, iron and steel, and paper and forest products, and can invest in any part of the world. The Gold and Precious Metals Fund is the first-no load gold fund in the U.S. We have a history as pioneers in portfolio management in this specialized sector. Our team brings valuable background in geology and mining finance, important to understanding the technical side of the business. The fund focuses on producers, companies currently pulling gold or other precious minerals out of the ground. These companies, often called “seniors,” generally have the largest market caps in the mining sector. The World Precious Minerals Fund complements our Gold and Precious Metals Fund by giving investors increased exposure to junior and intermediate mining companies for added growth potential. With a high level of expertise in this specialized sector, our portfolio management team includes professionals with experience in geology, mineral resources and mining finance. The China Region Fund invests in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. The China region has experienced many changes since the fund opened in 1994 but we believe the region continues to hold further investment opportunities. Many countries in the region possess characteristics similar to the United States prior to the industrial revolution: a thriving, young workforce, migration from rural to urban areas and shifting sentiment toward consumption. The Eastern European Fund focuses on a region that is still in the early stages of industrial, economic and market development in the post-Soviet era. The region is rich in natural resources and many of the countries have only recently begun to embrace capitalist government policies. The Global Emerging Markets Fund offers a diversified portfolio of investments in emerging markets around the world. Rapid economic growth is taking place in rising powerhouses Brazil, Russia, India and China, and other emerging markets. Truly global in its approach, the fund invests in developing countries from nearly every continent. The Global MegaTrends Fund seeks large-scale and sustainable growth opportunities as evidenced by major capital expenditures in a sector, country, or region. We’ve identified global infrastructure as such a megatrend, making it the key focus for the fund’s investments. Unlike competing infrastructure funds, the Global MegaTrends Fund takes a “picks and shovels” approach. This means not only investing in particular projects but also in the tools, equipment, companies and people that are needed to build or service a project. We see infrastructure as a broad theme that includes both growth and income opportunities, in emerging markets and the developed world. Within the infrastructure megatrend there are many promising investment opportunities in companies that supply basic materials, metals, energy and a wide range of services. The All American Equity Fund invests in the growth of America by seeking “All American” companies with the best prospects for growth. Offering the opportunity to invest right here at home, often in well-recognized names, the fund invests at least 80 percent of its assets in “All American” companies. The portfolio management team uses a variety of investment strategies to select companies identified as having superior growth, profitability and quality relative to companies in the same industry. The Holmes Growth Fund seeks to identify those companies that have the greatest potential for growth. The portfolio management team uses a variety of investment strategies to search for companies suitable for investment in the fund. The team looks for companies that have proven management and sound financial strength, and whose stock price is low in light of the company’s earnings and cash flow. The Tax Free Fund invests in municipal bonds issued by state and local governments across the country, with the goal of consistent superior performance in the municipal arena. The Tax Free Fund invests in bonds that the portfolio management team believes will perform well in the long run, with a focus on providing a higher level of tax-free income. The Near-Term Tax Free Fund invests in municipal bonds with relatively short maturity. The fund seeks to provide tax-free monthly income and stability by investing in debt securities issued by state and local governments from across the country. The U.S. Government Securities Savings Fund is designed to be used as an investment where you can park funds needed for a financial goal or as a refuge when you need safety of principal. The fund accrues dividends daily and pays them to you monthly. Its yield will reflect the current market rates of government securities. The U.S. Treasury Securities Cash Fund seeks to offer a high degree of safety for your savings plus the convenience of check writing. The fund accrues dividends daily and pays them to you monthly. |