<PAGE> 1
THE HARTFORD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
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THE HARTFORD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
SUPPLEMENT DATED DECEMBER 31, 1997
TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED AUGUST 22, 1997
CLASS A AND CLASS B SHARES
The prospectus is amended as follows:
New Minimum Initial and Subsequent Investment Amounts
Effective January 1, 1998, each Fund's minimum initial investment amount
for individual retirement accounts is reduced to $250. The minimum subsequent
investment amount for all accounts, including IRAs, is $25.
Investor Expenses, Note 5, Page 3
The Distributor has agreed to extend its voluntary waiver of .05% of the
.35% 12b-1 fee assessed on Class A shares through at least May 1, 1999.
Investor Expenses, Note 6, Page 3
The Investment Manager has agreed to extend its voluntary reimbursement
program for each Fund as indicated in Note 6 through at least May 1, 1999.
Performance of The Hartford Mutual Funds and Similar Funds
The figures set forth below update the past performance figures which
appear in the prospectus. The first table reflects the actual performance of The
Hartford Mutual Funds, Inc. The subsequent tables indicate the past performance
of five mutual funds with substantially similar objectives and policies (the
"Insurance Funds") to five of The Hartford Mutual Funds. THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF
THE INSURANCE FUNDS IS NOT THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR FUNDS AND SHOULD NOT BE
CONSIDERED A SUBSTITUTE FOR SUCH PERFORMANCE. PLEASE SEE PAGES 14 THROUGH 16 OF
YOUR PROSPECTUS FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE INSURANCE
FUNDS AND THE HARTFORD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
<PAGE> 2
THE HARTFORD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
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Actual Fund Performance (as of 11/30/97)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ONE YEAR SINCE INCEPTION - 7/22/96
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
CLASS A SHARES CLASS B SHARES CLASS A SHARES CLASS B SHARES
------------------ ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
WITH WITHOUT WITH WITHOUT WITH WITHOUT WITH WITHOUT
SALES SALES SALES SALES SALES SALES SALES SALES
FUND NAME/ASSET SIZE(1) CHARGE CHARGE(2) CHARGE CHARGE CHARGE CHARGE(2) CHARGE CHARGE
- -------------------------- ------ -------- ------ ------- ------ -------- ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Capital Appreciation
Fund.................... 53.84% 62.79% 56.76% 61.76% 69.33% 76.56% 73.02% 75.45%
Small Company Fund........ 13.57% 20.18% 14.38% 19.38% 21.57% 26.76% 23.24% 25.98%
International
Opportunities Fund...... -3.45% 2.17% -3.57% 1.43% 2.54% 6.95% 3.33% 6.23%
Stock Fund................ 20.38% 27.39% 21.53% 26.53% 29.85% 35.39% 31.79% 34.46%
Dividend and Growth
Fund.................... 20.28% 27.28% 21.33% 26.33% 28.15% 33.62% 29.94% 32.62%
Advisers Fund............. 13.05% 19.63% 13.67% 18.67% 20.62% 25.77% 22.12% 24.86%
Bond Income Strategy
Fund.................... 3.66% 8.54% 2.82% 7.82% 7.55% 11.27% 7.63% 10.49%
Money Market Fund......... N/A 4.72% N/A N/A N/A 4.70% N/A 1.11%
</TABLE>
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(1) As of November 30, 1997, the total assets of each fund were as follows:
Capital Appreciation Fund, $401,756,696; Small Company Fund, $35,270,165;
International Opportunities Fund, $27,787,659; Stock Fund, $88,802,109;
Dividend and Growth Fund, $97,260,621; Advisers Fund, $155,298,753; Bond
Income Strategy Fund, $36,016,182; and Money Market Fund, $29,769,201.
(2) Certain persons may purchase Class A Shares that are not subject to the
Class A Initial Sales Charge (see "Waiver of Class A Initial Sales Charge"
in the Prospectus) and certain other persons may purchase Class A Shares
subject to less than the maximum Initial Sales Charge (see "Reduced Sales
Charges for Class A Share Purchases" in the Prospectus.)
Performance of Similar Funds (as of 11/30/97)
The following four tables show the average annualized total returns for the
Insurance Funds for the one, three, five and ten year (or life of the Insurance
Fund, if shorter) periods ended November 30, 1997. These figures are based on
the actual gross investment performance of the Insurance Funds. From the gross
investment performance figures, the maximum Total Fund Operating Expenses
reflected in the Investor Expenses Table on page 3 of the prospectus are
deducted to arrive at the net return. The first table for each Class shown
reflects a deduction for the maximum applicable sales charge, while the second
table for each Class shown reflects no deduction for sales charges. Performance
figures are lower when sales charges are taken into effect.
ASSUMING CLASS A SHARE TOTAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES AND
THE MAXIMUM INITIAL SALES LOAD APPLICABLE TO CLASS A SHARES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INSURANCE FUND
(INCEPTION DATE AND 10 YEARS OR
ASSET SIZE)(1) 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS SINCE INCEPTION
- ---------------------------------------------------- ------ ------- ------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Hartford Capital Appreciation Fund, Inc. (April 2,
1984)............................................. 13.69% 21.52% 17.25% 19.31%
Hartford International Opportunities Fund, Inc.
(July 2, 1990).................................... -4.48% 6.00% 9.28% 5.20%
Hartford Stock Fund, Inc. (August 31, 1977)......... 19.00% 26.47% 17.38% 16.42%
Hartford Dividend and Growth Fund, Inc. (March 8,
1994)............................................. 20.24% 26.61% N/A 20.96%
Hartford Advisers Fund, Inc. (March 31, 1983)....... 13.41% 19.92% 13.23% 13.32%
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE> 3
THE HARTFORD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
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ASSUMING CLASS A SHARE TOTAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES WITH NO INITIAL SALES
LOAD(2)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INSURANCE FUND
(INCEPTION DATE AND 10 YEARS OR
ASSET SIZE)(1) 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS SINCE INCEPTION
- ---------------------------------------------------- ------ ------- ------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Hartford Capital Appreciation Fund, Inc. (April 2,
1984)............................................. 20.31% 23.83% 18.59% 19.98%
Hartford International Opportunities Fund, Inc.
(July 2, 1990).................................... 1.07% 8.02% 10.52% 6.00%
Hartford Stock Fund, Inc. (August 31, 1977)......... 25.93% 28.88% 18.72% 17.08%
Hartford Dividend and Growth Fund, Inc. (March 8,
1994)............................................. 27.24% 29.02% N/A 22.81%
Hartford Advisers Fund, Inc. (March 31, 1983)....... 20.01% 22.21% 14.51% 13.97%
</TABLE>
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(1) As of November 30, 1997, the total assets of each fund were as follows:
Capital Appreciation Fund, $4,728,736,850; International Opportunities Fund,
$1,099,216,196; Stock Fund, $4,608,944,934; Dividend and Growth Fund,
$1,886,844,631; and Advisers Fund, $8,115,898,700.
(2) Certain persons may purchase Class A Shares that are not subject to the
Class A Initial Sales Charge (see "Waiver of Class A Initial Sales Charge"
in the Prospectus) and certain other persons may purchase Class A Shares
subject to less than the maximum Initial Sales Charge (see "Reduced Sales
Charges for Class A Share Purchases" in the Prospectus).
ASSUMING CLASS B SHARE TOTAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES AND
REDEMPTION AT THE END OF THE APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INSURANCE FUND
(INCEPTION DATE AND 10 YEARS OR
ASSET SIZE)(1) 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS SINCE INCEPTION
- ---------------------------------------------------- ------ ------- ------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Hartford Capital Appreciation Fund, Inc. (April 2,
1984)............................................. 14.47% 22.30% 17.55% 19.14%
Hartford International Opportunities Fund, Inc.
(July 2, 1990).................................... -4.63% 6.39% 9.47% 5.26%
Hartford Stock Fund, Inc. (August 31, 1977)......... 20.05% 27.37% 17.68% 16.26%
Hartford Dividend and Growth Fund, Inc. (March 8,
1994)............................................. 21.35% 27.50% N/A 21.47%
Hartford Advisers Fund, Inc. (March 31, 1983)....... 14.17% 20.67% 13.47% 13.17%
</TABLE>
ASSUMING CLASS B SHARE TOTAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES AND
NO REDEMPTION AT THE END OF THE APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INSURANCE FUND
(INCEPTION DATE AND 10 YEARS OR
ASSET SIZE)(1) 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS SINCE INCEPTION
- ---------------------------------------------------- ------ ------- ------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Hartford Capital Appreciation Fund, Inc. (April 2,
1984)............................................. 19.47% 22.97% 17.76% 19.14%
Hartford International Opportunities Fund, Inc.
(July 2, 1990).................................... 0.37% 7.26% 9.75% 5.26%
Hartford Stock Fund, Inc. (August 31, 1977)......... 25.05% 27.98% 17.89% 16.26%
Hartford Dividend and Growth Fund, Inc. (March 8,
1994)............................................. 26.35% 28.12% N/A 21.94%
Hartford Advisers Fund, Inc. (March 31, 1983)....... 19.17% 21.35% 13.71% 13.17%
</TABLE>
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(1) As of November 30, 1997, the total assets of each fund were as follows:
Capital Appreciation Fund, $4,728,736,850; International Opportunities Fund,
$1,099,216,196; Stock Fund, $4,608,944,934; Dividend and Growth Fund,
$1,886,844,631; and Advisers Fund, $8,115,898,700.
3
<PAGE> 4
THE HARTFORD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE HARTFORD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
SUPPLEMENT DATED DECEMBER 31, 1997
TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED AUGUST 22, 1997
CLASS Y SHARES
The prospectus is amended as follows:
Investor Expenses, Note 2, Page 3
The Investment Manager has agreed to extend its voluntary reimbursement
program for each Fund as indicated in Note 2 through at least May 1, 1999.
Performance of The Hartford Mutual Funds and Similar Funds
The figures set forth below update the past performance figures which
appear in the prospectus. The first table reflects the actual performance of The
Hartford Mutual Funds, Inc. The subsequent table indicates the past performance
of five mutual funds with substantially similar objectives and policies (the
"Insurance Funds") to five of The Hartford Mutual Funds. THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF
THE INSURANCE FUNDS IS NOT THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR FUNDS AND SHOULD NOT BE
CONSIDERED A SUBSTITUTE FOR SUCH PERFORMANCE. PLEASE SEE PAGES 13 THROUGH 14 OF
YOUR PROSPECTUS FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE INSURANCE
FUNDS AND THE HARTFORD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
Actual Fund Performance (as of 11/30/97)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SINCE INCEPTION --
FUND NAME/ASSET SIZE(1) ONE YEAR 7/22/96
- ------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Capital Appreciation Fund.......................................... 63.62% 77.42%
Small Company Fund................................................. 20.79% 27.40%
International Opportunities Fund................................... 2.55% 7.40%
Stock Fund......................................................... 27.96% 36.01%
Dividend and Growth Fund........................................... 27.71% 34.12%
Advisers Fund...................................................... 20.17% 26.34%
Bond Income Strategy Fund.......................................... 9.04% 11.80%
Money Market Fund.................................................. 5.23% 5.29%
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) As of November 30, 1997, the total assets of each fund were as follows:
Capital Appreciation Fund, $401,756,696; Small Company Fund, $35,270,165;
International Opportunities Fund, $27,787,659; Stock Fund, $88,802,109;
Dividend and Growth Fund, $97,260,621; Advisers Fund, $155,298,753; Bond
Income Strategy Fund, $36,016,182; and Money Market Fund, $29,769,201.
<PAGE> 5
THE HARTFORD MUTUAL FUNDS, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Performance of Similar Funds (as of 11/30/97)
The following table shows the average annualized total returns for the
Insurance Funds for the one, three, five and ten year (or life of the Insurance
Fund, if shorter) periods ended November 30, 1997. These figures are based on
the actual gross investment performance of the Insurance Funds. From the gross
investment performance figures, the maximum Total Fund Operating Expenses
reflected in the Investor Expenses Table on page 3 of the prospectus are
deducted to arrive at the net return.
ASSUMING CLASS Y SHARE TOTAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
10 YEARS OR
INSURANCE FUND (INCEPTION DATE AND ASSET SIZE)(1) 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS SINCE INCEPTION
- ------------------------------------------------------ ------ ------- ------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Hartford Capital Appreciation Fund, Inc.
(April 2, 1984)..................................... 20.85% 24.39% 19.12% 20.52%
Hartford International Opportunities Fund, Inc.
(July 2, 1990)...................................... 1.53% 8.51% 11.02% 6.48%
Hartford Stock Fund, Inc.
(August 31, 1977)................................... 26.50% 29.46% 19.25% 17.61%
Hartford Dividend and Growth Fund, Inc.
(March 8, 1994)..................................... 27.81% 29.60% N/A 23.36%
Hartford Advisers Fund, Inc.
(March 31, 1983).................................... 20.55% 22.76% 15.03% 14.48%
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) As of November 30, 1997, the total assets of each fund were as follows:
Capital Appreciation Fund, $4,728,736,850; International Opportunities Fund,
$1,099,216,196; Stock Fund, $4,608,944,934; Dividend and Growth Fund,
$1,886,844,631; and Advisers Fund, $8,115,898,700.
