JAMES FUNDS
485BPOS, 2000-11-01
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933               [ ]

        Pre-Effective Amendment No.                                   [ ]
                                     -----
        Post-Effective Amendment No.   5                              [X]
                                     -----
                                     and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940       [ ]

        Amendment No.   6                                             [X]
                      -----

           The James Advantage Funds - File Nos. 33-37277 and 811-8411
           -----------------------------------------------------------
                  1349 Fairground Road, Beavercreek, Ohio 45385
                  ---------------------------------------------
                     (Address of Principal Executive Office)

        Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (937) 426-7640
                                                            --------------
                  Barry R. James, P.O. Box 8, Alpha, Ohio 45301
                  ---------------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                                  With copy to:
             Donald S. Mendelsohn, Esq., Brown, Cummins & Brown LPA
            3500 Carew Tower, 441 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

     [ ]  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
     [X]  on November 1, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (b)
     [ ]  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
     [ ]  on pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
     [ ]  75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
     [ ]  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

If appropriate, check the following box:

     [ ]  this  post-effective  amendment  designates a new effective date for a
          previously filed post-effective amendment.

<PAGE>

                                 JAMES ADVANTAGE
                                      FUNDS

                                   Advised by
                         James Investment Research, Inc.


                                November 1, 2000
                                   Prospectus


                             THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND
                            THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND
                          THE JAMES LARGE CAP PLUS FUND
                          THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND

These  securities  have not been approved nor  disapproved by the Securities and
Exchange  Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange  Commission passed upon
the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus.  Any representation to the contrary
is a criminal offense.

<PAGE>


                                                                Prospectus
                                                                November 1, 2000


                             THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND
                            THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND
                          THE JAMES LARGE CAP PLUS FUND
                          THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND

                                   P.O. Box 8
                                Alpha, Ohio 45301

               For Information, Shareholder Services and Requests:
                                 (800) 99 JAMES
                                 (800) 995-2637
                             [email protected]
                             ----------------------
                               WWW.JAMESFUNDS.COM

     The James  Advantage  Funds (the "Trust")  currently  offers four series of
shares to  investors:  The Golden  Rainbow Fund,  The James Small Cap Fund,  The
James Large Cap Plus Fund and The James  Market  Neutral  Fund.  The  investment
adviser to each  series of the Trust is James  Investment  Research,  Inc.  (the
"Adviser").

     THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND seeks to provide total return through a combination
of growth and income and preservation of capital in declining markets.

     THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.

     THE  JAMES  LARGE  CAP  PLUS  FUND  seeks  to  provide   long-term  capital
appreciation  and  outperform  the  Standard  & Poor's  500 Index  (the "S&P 500
Index").

     THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND seeks to provide positive returns  regardless
of the direction of the stock markets.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY........................................................... 2
EXPENSE INFORMATION............................................................9
HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE ADVISER'S PRIVATE ACCOUNTS......................11
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS.......................................................15
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES........................................................15
FREE REPURCHASE, SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL, DIRECT DEPOSITS
  AND EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE......................................................19
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES..........................................................21
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS...................................................22
TAXES.........................................................................23
DISTRIBUTION PLANS............................................................23
CALCULATION OF SHARE PRICE AND PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE..........................24
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS..........................................................25

<PAGE>

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY

WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES?

     THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND seeks to provide total return through a combination
of growth and income and preservation of capital in declining markets.

     THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.

     THE  JAMES  LARGE  CAP  PLUS  FUND  seeks  to  provide   long-term  capital
appreciation and outperform the S&P 500 Index.

     THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND seeks to provide positive returns  regardless
of the direction of the stock markets.

WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?

     The Adviser does much of its own research using quantitative  databases and
statistical expertise. It uses a number of elements to help predict future stock
and bond price  movements.  The Adviser uses a proprietary  investment  model to
select stocks for the Funds that it believes are  undervalued and more likely to
appreciate.   The  Adviser  focuses  on  value,  neglect  or  stocks  which  are
underrepresented   by  institutional   investors,   as  well  as  on  management
commitment.  The Adviser also assesses a number of  fundamental  factors such as
earnings,  earnings  trend,  price  earnings  multiples,  return on assets,  and
balance  sheet  data  as well  as  other  proprietary  calculations.  The  model
evaluates over 6,000 companies of all  capitalization  ranges. For the Small Cap
Fund,  the Adviser  refines the model by using a small cap screen and  evaluates
thousands of small  capitalization  companies.  For the Large Cap Plus Fund, the
Adviser uses a modified  version of the model designed for large  capitalization
stocks.

     For temporary  defensive  purposes,  under adverse market conditions,  each
Fund may hold all or a  substantial  portion of its assets in a  combination  of
short-term U.S. Government or high quality money market instruments,  repurchase
agreements  collateralized by such securities,  money market funds or other cash
equivalents. If a Fund acquires shares of another mutual fund, including a money
market fund, you will be subject to additional  management  fees.  Each Fund may
also invest a substantial  portion of its assets in such instruments at any time
to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its
policies.  When and to the  extent a Fund  assumes  such a  temporary  defensive
position, it may not pursue or achieve its investment objective.

     THE GOLDEN  RAINBOW FUND invests  primarily  in common  stocks  and/or debt
securities  that the Adviser  believes are  undervalued.  The Fund will normally
hold both common stocks and debt securities,  generally with 40%-60% invested in
common  stocks and  40%-60%  invested in debt  securities.  Up to 40%-60% of the
Fund's common stock investments will normally be in small capitalization stocks.
The Fund may  invest up to 90% of its  assets in  either  common  stocks or debt
securities.  The Fund will attempt to provide total return in excess of the rate
of inflation over the long term (3 to 5 years).

                                       2
<PAGE>

     The Adviser  expects that the fixed income portion of the Fund's  portfolio
will consist  primarily of U.S.  government  securities or high-grade  corporate
bonds.  When the Adviser  believes that interest  rates will fall, it may extend
maturities in anticipation of capital  appreciation in the bonds. If the Adviser
believes that interest  rates may rise, it expects to seek capital  preservation
through  the  purchase  of  shorter  term  bonds.  The Fund may  invest  in debt
securities of any maturity,  consistent  with the Fund's  anticipated  needs for
liquidity.  The Fund will limit its holdings of debt securities to issues rated,
at the time of purchase, "A" or better by either Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P"), or if unrated, which are
determined by the Adviser to be of equivalent quality.

     THE  JAMES  SMALL CAP FUND  invests  primarily  in  common  stocks of small
capitalization companies,  defined by the Adviser as those companies with market
capitalizations  of $1.5  billion or less at the time of  purchase.  The Adviser
will normally sell a security when the market capitalization exceeds $2 billion.

     THE JAMES LARGE CAP PLUS FUND normally will be fully  invested  (subject to
liquidity  needs) in common  stocks the Adviser  deems most likely to outperform
the S&P 500 Index.  The name "Large Cap Plus Fund" is  intended to suggest  that
the Fund seeks  performance  which exceeds that of the S&P 500 Index through its
selection of common stocks of large capitalization companies. Normally, at least
65%  of  the  Fund's   assets  will  be  invested  in  common  stocks  of  large
capitalization companies,  defined by the Adviser as those companies with market
capitalizations  of $2  billion  or  more  at the  time of  purchase.  The  Fund
generally buys stocks in the S&P 500 Index and will typically hold 25-30 stocks.

     Market  capitalization  is not a factor in stock selection;  most stocks in
the S&P 500 Index  are,  however,  mid or large cap by current  definition.  The
Adviser does not intend to weight the Fund's portfolio by market  capitalization
or any other method.  It would not be reasonable,  therefore,  to expect a stock
position in the Fund to have the same weighting,  or relative  weighting,  as it
does in the S&P 500. The Fund is not an S&P 500 index fund.


     While it is anticipated that the Fund will diversify its investments across
a range of industry  sectors,  certain sectors may be  overweighted  compared to
others because the Adviser seeks the best investment opportunities regardless of
sector.  The Fund may, for example,  be  overweighted at times in the technology
sector. The sectors in which the Fund may be overweighted will vary at different
points in the economic cycle.


     THE JAMES  MARKET  NEUTRAL  FUND seeks to limit market risk (the effects of
general market  movements on the Fund's  performance)  by using a market neutral
strategy.  The Fund  invests in common  stocks  that the  Adviser  believes  are
undervalued  and more likely to  appreciate,  and sells short common stocks that
the Adviser  believes are overvalued and more likely to depreciate.  There is no
assurance that the Adviser will be able to limit market risk for the Fund.

     The term "selling short" means the Fund sells a stock that it does not own,
borrows the same stock from a broker or other  institution to complete the sale,
and buys the same stock at a later date to repay the lender.  When selling stock
short, if the stock is overvalued, and the price

                                       3
<PAGE>

declines before the Fund buys the stock,  the Fund makes a profit.  If the price
of the stock increases before the Fund buys the stock, the Fund loses money.

     The Adviser  attempts to control the risk inherent in short selling through
several  processes.  One way is to decrease the relative weighting of each stock
sold short while  increasing  the number of shorted  stocks,  thus  reducing the
impact  each  stock has on  overall  performance  without  reducing  the  market
neutrality of the Fund. The Adviser also employs various proprietary  procedures
to  eliminate  stocks  which have  risen in price  above a loss  threshold.  The
Adviser will attempt to diversify the Fund among  industries and market sectors,
but this is a secondary consideration.

     The Fund will hold short positions in stocks which, in the aggregate,  will
approximately  equal  the long  positions  in the  Fund.  Due to the  continuous
changes  in the prices of the short  positions  and long  positions,  the market
value of the short positions and long positions will not be equal and can become
unequal to a significant degree. For example,  if the Fund is successful,  it is
likely that the long positions will increase in value while the short  positions
decrease in value,  thus  reducing the market  neutrality of the Fund. It is the
intention  of the  Adviser  to take  action  to  rebalance  the long  and  short
positions  to maintain a market  neutral  exposure  when the  imbalance  reaches
proprietary  thresholds,  pre-established  by the  Adviser.  This can be done by
adding or  eliminating  short or long  positions  depending  on the  rebalancing
needs.

     When  selling  securities  short,  the Fund will be  required to maintain a
segregated  account with its custodian of cash or high-grade liquid assets equal
to the market value of the securities  sold, less any collateral  deposited with
its broker. It is the intention of the Adviser that the Fund NOT borrow money to
provide this collateral. Therefore, the Fund will always maintain high levels of
cash or liquid assets (e.g., U.S. Treasury bills, money market funds, repurchase
agreements,  certificates  of deposit,  high quality  commercial  paper and long
equity positions) for collateral needs.

WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUNDS?

     INVESTMENT RISKS COMMON TO ALL FUNDS

     MARKET RISK.  The risk of losing money due to general  market  movements is
called  market risk.  The return on and value of an investment in the Funds will
fluctuate in response to stock market movements.  Common stocks and other equity
securities are subject to market risks,  such as a rapid increase or decrease in
a stock's value or liquidity,  and the fluctuations due to a company's earnings,
economic  conditions and other factors  beyond the control of the Adviser.  As a
result, there is a risk that you could lose money by investing in the Funds.

     STOCK  SELECTION  RISK.  The risk that the Adviser  will fail to  correctly
identify  overvalued and undervalued  stocks is called stock selection risk. The
success  of the  Funds'  strategy  is  dependent  on the  Adviser's  ability  to
correctly  identify  undervalued  and overvalued  stocks.  If the Adviser is not
successful,   the  Funds  may  experience   losses  regardless  of  the  overall
performance of the stock markets.

                                       4
<PAGE>

     An investment in the Funds is not a deposit of a bank and it is not insured
or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation  (FDIC) or any other
government agency.

     THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND

     Investments  in debt  securities  are subject to inherent  market risks and
fluctuations in value due to changes in earnings,  economic conditions,  quality
ratings and other factors beyond the control of the Adviser. Debt securities are
also subject to price  fluctuations  based upon changes in the level of interest
rates,  which  will  generally  result  in  all  those  securities  experiencing
appreciation  when interest rates decline and  depreciation  when interest rates
rise. As a result, the return and net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate. To
the extent that the Fund invests in small  capitalization  stocks, the Fund will
be subject to the risks  discussed  in the next  section,  "The James  Small Cap
Fund."

     THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND

     The Fund will be subject to the risks  associated  with  investing in small
capitalization companies. Smaller capitalization companies may experience higher
growth rates and higher failure rates than do larger  capitalization  companies.
Such companies may have limited  product lines,  markets or financial  resources
and may lack  management  depth.  The trading  volume of  securities  of smaller
capitalization  companies  is normally  less than that of larger  capitalization
companies,  and  therefore  may  disproportionately  affect their market  price,
tending  to make them rise more in  response  to buying  demand and fall more in
response  to  selling  pressure  than is the  case  with  larger  capitalization
companies.  The Adviser seeks to reduce risk by selecting securities it believes
to be undervalued relative to the market;  however, the Fund's investments might
be focused on one or more economic  sectors,  and some stocks may have liquidity
concerns.  The Fund will not invest  more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid
securities.

     THE JAMES LARGE CAP PLUS FUND

     NON-DIVERSIFICATION  RISK. As a  non-diversified  fund, the Fund may invest
greater than 5% of its total assets in the  securities  of one or more  issuers.
Because a relatively  high  percentage of the assets of the Fund may be invested
in the  securities  of a limited  number of issuers,  the value of shares of the
Fund may be more  sensitive  to any  single  economic,  business,  political  or
regulatory  occurrence  than the  value of shares  of a  diversified  investment
company.  This  fluctuation,  if significant,  may affect the performance of the
Fund.


     TECHNOLOGY  RISK. To the extent the Fund invests in the technology  sector,
weakness in this sector could result in losses to the Fund. Technology companies
may be  significantly  affected  by  falling  prices  and  profits  and  intense
competition, and their products may be subject to rapid obsolescence. Changes in
governmental  policies,  such as telephone and cable  regulations and anti-trust
enforcement,  may have a material  effect on the  products and services of these
companies.  In  addition,  the  rate  of  technological  change  often  requires
extensive and sustained  investment  in research and  development.  It is likely
that some of today's public companies that are benefiting from the growth of the
Internet and other new technologies  will not exist in the future.  The price of
many of these stocks has risen based on projections of future

                                       5
<PAGE>

earnings and company  growth.  If a company  does not perform as  expected,  the
price of the stock could decline  significantly.  Many technology  companies are
currently operating at a loss and may never be profitable.


     THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND

     STOCK SELECTION RISK. Although the Fund attempts to be market neutral,  the
success  of the  Fund's  strategy  is  dependent  on the  Adviser's  ability  to
correctly  identify  undervalued  and overvalued  stocks.  If the Adviser is not
successful, the Fund may experience losses regardless of the overall performance
of the stock markets.  In strong "bull"  markets,  when the prices of nearly all
stocks are rising regardless of the underlying value of the companies,  the Fund
is  expected  to  underperform  the general  markets  because  the Fund's  short
positions will likely lose money.

     SHORT  SELLING  RISK.  The Market  Neutral  Fund  engages in short  selling
activities  that are  significantly  different  from the  investment  activities
commonly  associated  with  conservative  stock  funds.   Positions  in  shorted
securities are more risky than long positions  (purchases) in stocks because the
maximum  sustainable loss on a stock purchased is limited to the amount paid for
the stock plus the transactions  costs,  whereas there is no maximum  attainable
price of the  shorted  stock.  Therefore,  in  theory,  stocks  sold  short have
unlimited  risk.  You should be aware of the intrinsic risk involved in the Fund
and be  cognizant  that any strategy  which  includes  selling  stocks short can
suffer significant losses.

     PORTFOLIO  TURNOVER  RISK. As the Adviser  adjusts the  composition  of the
portfolio  to deal  with  the  risk  discussed  above,  the Fund may have a high
portfolio  turnover rate. A high portfolio turnover rate can result in increased
brokerage commission costs and may expose taxable shareholders to higher current
realization of capital gains and a potentially larger current tax liability.

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND

     The bar chart and  performance  table shown below  provide an indication of
the risks of investing in The Golden  Rainbow Fund by showing the changes in the
performance  of the Fund for the last ten years and by  showing  how the  annual
returns of the Fund compare with those of a broad-based securities market index.
The Golden  Rainbow Fund is the  successor  to another  mutual fund and a common
trust fund managed by the Adviser, and the performance  information includes the
past performance of the predecessor mutual fund and the common trust fund. Sales
loads are not  reflected in the bar chart.  If they were,  returns would be less
than those  shown.  The Fund's  performance  in the past is not  necessarily  an
indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

                                       6
<PAGE>

[bar chart]


1.41%       19.35%      9.87%      13.00%      -4.16%      22.69%      8.69%
1990*       1991*       1992         1993        1994        1995       1996

12.80%      12.79%      3.42%
1997        1998        1999


* The Adviser began managing a common trust fund, which fund was the predecessor
of The Golden Rainbow Fund, in 1984. The assets of this common trust fund became
a  registered  investment  company  in  1991.  The  Golden  Rainbow  Fund is the
successor  to this  registered  investment  company.  Note that prior to July 1,
1991,  the  performance  is that of the  common  trust  fund;  from July 1, 1991
forward,  the performance is that of a registered  investment company. It should
be noted that: (1) the quoted performance data includes  performance for periods
before the Securities  Act  registration  statement  became  effective;  (2) the
common trust fund was not registered  under the  Investment  Company Act of 1940
(the "1940 Act")  during such periods and  therefore  was not subject to certain
investment  restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act and restrictions of Sub-Chapter
M of the Internal Revenue Code; (3) if the common trust fund had been registered
under the 1940 Act and subject to  Sub-Chapter  M of the  Internal  Revenue Code
during such periods,  performance may have been adversely affected;  and (4) the
common trust fund performance was adjusted for expenses of 1.16% (the percentage
of expenses estimated for The Golden Rainbow Fund in its original prospectus.)

During the period shown in the bar chart,  the highest  return for a quarter was
9.44% during the quarter  ended  December  31, 1998 and the lowest  return for a
quarter was -5.83% during the quarter ended September 30, 1990.


The Golden  Rainbow  Fund's  year-to-date  return as of  September  30, 2000 was
4.84%.

THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND

     The bar chart and  performance  table shown below  provide an indication of
the risks of investing in The James Small Cap Fund by showing the performance of
the Fund for its first  calendar year of operation and by showing how the annual
return of the Fund compares with that of a broad-based  securities market index.
Sales loads are not reflected in the bar chart.  If they were,  returns would be
less than those shown. The Fund's  performance in the past is not necessarily an
indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

[bar chart]

-10.43%
1999

During the period shown in the bar chart,  the highest  return for a quarter was
17.41%  during  the  quarter  ended June 30,  1999 and the  lowest  return for a
quarter was -16.76% during the quarter ended September 30, 1999.

The James  Small Cap Fund's  year-to-date  return as of  September  30, 2000 was
3.75%.

                                       7
<PAGE>

THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND

     The bar chart and  performance  table shown below  provide an indication of
the  risks  of  investing  in The  James  Market  Neutral  Fund by  showing  the
performance  of the Fund for its first calendar year of operation and by showing
how the annual return of the Fund compares with that of a broad-based securities
market  index.  Sales loads are not  reflected  in the bar chart.  If they were,
returns would be less than those shown.  The Fund's  performance  in the past is
not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

[bar chart]

-10.83%
1999

During the period shown in the bar chart,  the highest  return for a quarter was
-1.56% during the quarter  ended  September 30, 1999 and the lowest return for a
quarter was -3.85% during the quarter ended June 30, 1999.

The James Market Neutral Fund's year-to-date return as of September 30, 2000 was
17.82%.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR PERIODS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1999

THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND*
                                     One           Five            Ten
                                     Year          Years          Years
                                     ----          -----          -----

The Golden Rainbow Fund**            1.35%         11.45%          9.49%
S&P 500 Index***                     1.04%          8.56%         18.21%
Blended 25/25/50 Index****          10.97%         15.09%         11.82%

*    See the footnote above under the bar chart for The Golden Rainbow Fund.

**   These returns are net of the Fund's 2.00% sales load.

***  The S&P 500 Index is a widely  recognized,  unmanaged index of common stock
     prices.

**** The Blended Index is comprised of a 25%  weighting in the S&P 500 Index,  a
     25%  weighting  in the  Russell  2000 Index (a widely  recognized  index of
     market  activity  based on the aggregate  performance of small to mid-sized
     publicly  traded common stocks) and a 50% weighting in the Lehman  Brothers
     Intermediate  Government/Corporate Bond Index (an unmanaged index generally
     representative of intermediate term bonds).

THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND
                                                   Since
                                     One           Inception
                                     Year          (October 2, 1998)
                                     ----          -----------------

The James Small Cap Fund*           -15.58%         -3.63%
Russell 2000 Index**                 21.26%         36.05%

*    These returns are net of the Fund's 5.75% sales load.

                                       8
<PAGE>

**   The Russell 2000 Index is a widely recognized, unmanaged index comprised of
     the 2,000  smallest  U.S.  domiciled  publicly-traded  common stocks of the
     Russell 3000 Index, an unmanaged index of the 3,000 largest U.S.  domiciled
     publicly-traded common stocks by market capitalization.

THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND
                                                   Since
                                     One           Inception
                                     Year          (October 2, 1998)
The James Market Neutral Fund*      -15.96%        -11.79%
90-Day Treasury Bill Index**          4.83%          4.71%

*    These returns are net of the Fund's 5.75% sales load.
**   The  90-Day   Treasury   Bill  Index  is  an  unmanaged   index   generally
     representative of the average yield of 90-day Treasury bills.

THE JAMES LARGE CAP PLUS FUND

     The  James  Large  Cap Plus Fund is not  permitted  to  report  performance
information in this section  because it has not completed one full calendar year
of operation.

EXPENSE INFORMATION

SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment):

                             THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Class A Shares    Class C Shares(a)   Class R Shares(a)
                                                --------------    --------------      --------------
<S>                                                   <C>               <C>                 <C>
Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Purchases               2.00%             None                None
Maximum Deferred Sales Load Imposed
on Purchases                                          None(b)           1.00%(c)            None
</TABLE>

                   THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND, THE JAMES LARGE CAP PLUS FUND,
                          THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Class A Shares    Class C Shares(a)   Class R Shares(a)
                                                --------------    --------------      --------------
<S>                                                   <C>               <C>                 <C>
Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Purchases               5.75%             None                None
Maximum Deferred Sales Load Imposed
on Purchases                                         None(b)            1.00%(c)            None
</TABLE>

                                       9
<PAGE>

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (expenses deducted from Fund assets):

                             THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND

                                  Class A        Class C        Class R
                                  Shares         Shares(a)      Shares(a)
                                  ------         ---------      ---------
Management Fee                      .74%            .74%           .74%
Distribution (12b-1) Fee            .25%            .85%(d)        .00%
Other Expenses                      .23%            .75%           .75%
                                   -----           -----          -----
Total Annual Fund Operating
  Expenses                         1.22%           2.34%          1.49%
                                   =====           =====          =====

                            THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND

                                  Class A        Class C        Class R
                                  Shares         Shares(a)      Shares(a)
                                  ------         ---------      ---------
Management Fee                     l.18%           1.18%          1.18%
Distribution (12b-1) Fee            .25%            .85%(d)        .00%
Other Expenses                      .07%            .07%           .07%
                                   -----           -----          -----
Total Annual Fund Operating
   Expenses                        1.50%           2.10%          1.25%
                                   =====           =====          =====

                          THE JAMES LARGE CAP PLUS FUND

                                  Class A        Class C        Class R
                                  Shares         Shares(a)      Shares(a)
                                  ------         ---------      ---------
Management Fee                     1.19%           1.19%          1.19%
Distribution (12b-1) Fee            .25%            .85%(d)        .00%
Other Expenses                      .05%            .05%           .05%
                                   -----           -----          -----
Total Annual Fund Operating
  Expenses                         1.49%           2.09%          1.24%
                                   =====           =====          =====

                          THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND

                                  Class A        Class C        Class R
                                  Shares         Shares(a)      Shares(a)
                                  ------         ---------      ---------
Management Fee                     1.65%           1.65%          1.65%
Distribution (12b-1) Fee            .25%            .85%(d)        .00%
Other Expenses
  Dividend Expense on
   Securities Sold Short(e)         .53%            .53%           .53%
  Remainder of Other Expenses       .05%            .05%           .05%
  Total Other Expenses              .58%            .58%           .58%
                                   -----           -----          -----
Total Annual Fund Operating
  Expenses                         2.48%           3.08%          2.23%
                                   =====           =====          =====

                                       10
<PAGE>

(a)  As of the date of this  Prospectus,  these  classes have not yet  commenced
     operations.
(b)  Purchases at net asset value of amounts  totaling $1 million or more may be
     subject to a contingent  deferred  sales load of 1% if a redemption  occurs
     within 18 months of purchase and a commission  was paid to a  participating
     unaffiliated dealer.
(c)  This  sales  load  applies  if you  redeem  your  shares  within  1 year of
     purchase.
(d)  Of this amount, 0.75% is an asset based sales charge and 0.10% is a service
     fee.
(e)  When a cash  dividend  is declared on a stock in which the Fund has a short
     position,  the Fund  incurs an  obligation  to pay an amount  equal to that
     dividend to the purchaser of the shorted  stock.  SEC  regulations  require
     that this payment be disclosed as an expense of the Fund.


EXAMPLE

     This  Example is intended to help you compare the cost of  investing in the
Funds with the cost of  investing  in other  mutual  funds.  It assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of
your shares at the end of those  periods.  The Example  also  assumes  that your
investment  has a 5% return  each year and that the  Fund's  operating  expenses
remain the same. Costs for 5 and 10 years are not provided for Class C and Class
R shares  because the public  offering of these classes has not yet commenced as
of the date of this  prospectus.  Although  your  actual  costs may be higher or
lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:


                                         1 Year    3 Years    5 Years   10 Years
                                         ------    -------    -------   --------
THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND
     Class A Shares                       $322       $579       $857     $1,648
     Class C Shares                        337        730
     Class R Shares                        152        471

THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND
     Class A Shares                       $719     $1,022     $1,346     $2,263
     Class C Shares                        313        658
     Class R Shares                        127        397

THE JAMES LARGE CAP PLUS FUND
     Class A Shares                       $718     $1,019     $1,341     $2,252
     Class C Shares                        312        655
     Class R Shares                        126        393

THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND
     Class A Shares                       $812     $1,303     $1,820     $3,229
     Class C Shares                        411        951
     Class R Shares                        226        697


HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE ADVISER'S PRIVATE ACCOUNTS

     SMALL CAP STRATEGY.  James  Investment  Research,  Inc. (the "Adviser") has
been managing small  capitalization  securities since its origin in 1972 and has
focused on this as a management style since July 1, 1996. The performance  below
includes all  accounts  with  investment  objectives,  policies  and  strategies
substantially similar to those of The James Small

                                       11
<PAGE>

Cap Fund; there are no material  differences  between the investment  objective,
policies and  strategies of these  accounts and those of the Small Cap Fund. The
data is provided to illustrate  the past  performance of the Adviser in managing
such accounts, as compared to the Russell 2000 Index and the Fund.

     The  Adviser  provided  the  information  used in  making  the  performance
calculations.  The accounts'  rate of return is asset  weighted,  reflecting the
relative size of each eligible account, at the beginning of the relevant period.
The rate of return is also  time-weighted  and includes  realized and unrealized
gains  plus  income,  including  accrued  income.  Returns  from  cash  and cash
equivalents in the accounts are included in the  performance  calculations,  and
the cash and cash  equivalents  are  included  in the total  assets on which the
performance  is  calculated.  The  accounts are valued at least  quarterly,  and
periodic  returns  are  geometrically  linked.  The  performance  is  net of the
estimated management fees of The James Small Cap Fund (not the actual management
fees charged to the  accounts)  and all other  expenses,  including  transaction
costs and commissions. Results include the reinvestment of dividends and capital
gains,  but exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If the effect of sales
loads had been included, returns would have been lower.

     This method of  calculating  performance  differs from the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission's ("SEC") standardized  methodology to calculate performance
and results in a total return  different from that derived from the standardized
methodology.  This method differs from the SEC's method because the  performance
is asset weighted and does not reflect the effect of applicable sales loads.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  Small Capitalization   Russell 2000      The James
                                        Accounts1           Index2       Small Cap Fund
                                        ---------           ------       --------------
<S>                                      <C>                 <C>            <C>
Year ended June 30, 2000                 -6.99%              14.32%         -15.75%
Year ended June 30, 1999                 -6.36%               1.50%             n/a
Year ended June 30, 1998                 20.79%              16.51%             n/a
Year ended June 30, 1997                 23.03%              16.33%             n/a
Since inception of accounts -
  July 1, 1996 through June 30, 2000      6.67%3             12.03%3            n/a
Since inception of Fund -
  October 2, 1998 through June 30, 2000     n/a              26.72%3           0.02%3
</TABLE>

1    On July 1, 1996,  the Adviser  began  managing  this style with one account
     totaling  $200,000.  As of June 30,  2000,  the  composite  consisted of 10
     accounts totaling approximately $ 3.92 million.
2    The  Russell  2000 Index is a widely  recognized  index of market  activity
     based on the aggregate  performance of small to mid-sized  publicly  traded
     common stocks. The Index reflects the total return of securities comprising
     the Index, including changes in market prices as well as accrued investment
     income,  which is presumed to be  reinvested.  Performance  figures for the
     Index do not reflect deduction of transaction costs or expenses,  including
     management fees.
3    Annualized.


     The  performance of the accounts  managed by the Adviser does not represent
the historical

                                       12
<PAGE>

performance  of the Fund and  should  not be  considered  indicative  of  future
performance  of the Fund.  Results may differ  because of,  among other  things,
differences in brokerage  commissions,  account expenses,  including  management
fees,   the  size  of   positions   taken  in  relation  to  account   size  and
diversification  of securities,  timing of purchases and sales, and availability
of cash for new investments.  In addition,  the managed accounts are not subject
to  certain  investment  limitations,  diversification  requirements,  and other
restrictions  imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and
the Internal Revenue Code which, if applicable,  may have adversely affected the
performance results of the managed accounts composite. The results for different
periods may vary.

     LARGE  CAP  PLUS   STRATEGY.   The   Adviser  has  been   managing   larger
capitalization  stocks since its  inception in 1972,  and has done  considerable
modeling in this style.  It began  managing one account using its Large Cap Plus
strategy on June 30, 1998 . The performance  below includes all accounts with an
investment  objective  and  investment  policies  and  strategies  substantially
similar  to those of The  James  Large  Cap Plus  Fund;  there  are no  material
differences between the investment  objective,  policies and strategies of these
accounts and those of the Large Cap Plus Fund.  The  performance of the accounts
is provided below to illustrate the past  performance of the Adviser in managing
the accounts, as compared with the S&P 500 Index.

     The  Adviser  provided  the  information  used in  making  the  performance
calculations.  The accounts'  rate of return  includes  realized and  unrealized
gains  plus  income,  including  accrued  income.  Returns  from  cash  and cash
equivalents in the accounts are included in the  performance  calculations,  and
the cash and cash  equivalents  are  included  in the total  assets on which the
performance  is  calculated.  The  accounts are valued at least  quarterly,  and
periodic  returns  are  geometrically  linked.  The  performance  is  net of the
estimated  management fees of The James Large Cap Plus Fund (the account was not
charged a management fee) and all other expenses,  including  transaction  costs
and  commissions.  Results  include the  reinvestment  of dividends  and capital
gains,  but exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If the effect of sales
loads had been included, returns would have been lower.

     This method of calculating  performance differs from the SEC's standardized
methodology  to calculate  performance  and results in a total return  different
from that derived from the  standardized  methodology.  This method differs from
the SEC's  method  because it does not  reflect the effect of  applicable  sales
loads.


                                   Large Cap Plus Accounts1     S&P 500 Index2
                                   ------------------------     --------------
     Year ended June 30, 2000               45.75%                    7.27%
     Year ended June 30, 1999               43.55%                   22.58%
     Since inception June 30, 1998
          through June 30, 2000             44.65%3                 14.72%3

     1    On June 30,  1998,  the  Adviser  began  managing  this style with one
          account  totaling  $329,582.  As  of  June  30,  2000,  the  composite
          consisted of 6 accounts totaling approximately $7.83 million.
     2    The S&P 500 Index is a widely  recognized,  unmanaged  index of common
          stock  prices.  The  Index  reflects  the total  return of  securities
          comprising  the Index,  including  changes in market  price as well as
          accrued  income,  which  is  presumed  to be  reinvested.  Performance
          figures for the Index do not reflect

                                       13
<PAGE>

          deduction of transaction costs or expenses, including management fees.
     3    Annualized.


     The  performance of the accounts  managed by the Adviser does not represent
the historical  performance of the Fund and should not be considered  indicative
of future  performance  of the Fund.  Results may differ because of, among other
things,  differences  in  brokerage  commissions,  account  expenses,  including
management  fees,  the size of  positions  taken in relation to account size and
diversification  of securities,  timing of purchases and sales, and availability
of cash for new investments.  In addition,  the managed accounts are not subject
to certain investment  limitations or other restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act
and the Internal Revenue Code which, if applicable,  may have adversely affected
the  performance  results of the managed  accounts.  The  results for  different
periods may vary.

     MARKET NEUTRAL STRATEGY. The Adviser has been managing one or more accounts
using its market neutral strategy since October 31, 1995. The performance  below
includes all accounts  with an  investment  objective,  policies and  strategies
substantially  similar to those of The James Market  Neutral Fund;  there are no
material differences between the investment  objective,  policies and strategies
of these accounts and those of the Market  Neutral Fund. The  performance of the
accounts is provided below to illustrate the past  performance of the Adviser in
managing such accounts,  as compared to 90-day U.S. Treasury Bill return,  which
the Adviser considers to be an approximation of the risk-free rate of return.

     The  Adviser  provided  the  information  used in  making  the  performance
calculations.  The accounts'  rate of return is asset  weighted,  reflecting the
relative size of each eligible account, at the beginning of the relevant period.
The rate of return is also  time-weighted  and includes  realized and unrealized
gains  plus  income,  including  accrued  income.  Returns  from  cash  and cash
equivalents in the accounts are included in the  performance  calculations,  and
the cash and cash  equivalents  are  included  in the total  assets on which the
performance  is  calculated.  The  accounts are valued at least  quarterly,  and
periodic returns are geometrically linked. Performance figures reflected are net
of the estimated  management fees of The James Market Neutral Fund (the accounts
were not charged a management fee) and all other expenses, including transaction
costs and commissions. Results include the reinvestment of dividends and capital
gains,  but exclude the effect of applicable sales loads. If the effect of sales
loads had been included, returns would have been lower.

     This method of  calculating  performance  differs  from SEC's  standardized
methodology  to calculate  performance  and results in a total return  different
from that derived from the standardized methodology. This method differs because
the  performance is asset weighted and does not reflect the effect of applicable
sales loads.


                                   Market           90-Day      The James Market
                             Neutral Accounts1     T-bills2       Neutral Fund
                             -----------------     --------       ------------

Year ended June 30, 2000            5.07%            5.53%            0.86%
Year ended June 30, 1999           -8.32%            4.88%             n/a
Year ended June 30, 1998           24.84%            5.29%             n/a
Year ended June 30, 1997           13.05%            5.43%             n/a

                                       14
<PAGE>

Since inception of accounts
October 31, 1995 through
June 30, 2000                       6.28%3           5.18%3             n/a
Since inception of Fund
October 2, 1998 through
June 30, 2000                         n/a            5.07%3        -2.86%3

     1    On October 31, 1995,  the  composite  consisted  of one account  which
          totaled $500,000.  As of June 30, 2000, the composite consisted of one
          account totaling approximately $ 3.02 million.
     2    An  investment  in 90-day U.S.  Treasury  Bills is  different  from an
          investment in the Fund or in the Accounts  because  Treasury Bills are
          backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, have a fixed
          rate of return and a short  duration,  and investors in Treasury Bills
          do not risk losing  capital.  It has been standard for market  neutral
          managers of private accounts, including the Adviser, to use the 90-day
          Treasury Bill as a benchmark.  Traditional  benchmarks for stock funds
          are not appropriate because market neutral returns are not tied to the
          direction  of the stock  market.  Moreover,  part of the return from a
          market  neutral  strategy is from  interest on the proceeds from short
          sales,  which often  approximates  the 90-day  Treasury  Bill  return.
          Unlike  Treasury  Bills,  however,  please  keep in mind  that  market
          neutral  investing  involves  substantial  risk. Stock prices are more
          volatile and there is a risk of losing your capital.
     3    Annualized.


     The  performance of the accounts  managed by the Adviser does not represent
the historical  performance of the Fund and should not be considered  indicative
of future  performance  of the Fund.  Results may differ because of, among other
things,  differences  in  brokerage  commissions,  account  expenses,  including
management  fees,  the size of  positions  taken in relation to account size and
diversification  of securities,  timing of purchases and sales, and availability
of cash for new investments.  In addition,  the managed accounts are not subject
to  certain  investment  limitations,  diversification  requirements,  and other
restrictions  imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal  Revenue  Code which,  if
applicable,  may have adversely affected the performance  results of the managed
accounts. The results for different periods may vary.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

     The Golden Rainbow Fund, the Small Cap Fund and the Market Neutral Fund are
each a  diversified,  open-end  mutual  fund.  The  Large  Cap  Plus  Fund  is a
non-diversified,  open-end  mutual  fund.  Each  Fund is a series  of The  James
Advantage Funds, an open-end management  investment company organized as an Ohio
business trust. The Board of Trustees  supervises the business activities of the
Funds.  Like other mutual  funds,  the Funds  retain  various  organizations  to
perform specialized services.

INVESTMENT  ADVISER.  The Funds  retain James  Investment  Research,  Inc.  (the
"Adviser"),  P.O. Box 8, Alpha, Ohio 45301, to manage each Fund's investments. A
committee of the Adviser makes the  investment  decisions for the Funds,  and is
primarily  responsible for the day-to-day  management of each Fund's  portfolio.
The Adviser was established in 1972 and provides advice to institutional as well
as individual clients.

                                       15
<PAGE>


     For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000,  the Golden  Rainbow Fund paid the
Adviser a fee equal to 0.74% of its average daily net assets.

     For the fiscal  period ended June 30, 2000,  the Adviser  received a fee of
1.18%,  1.19% and 1.65% of the  average  daily net assets of the Small Cap Fund,
the Large Cap Plus Fund and the Market Neutral Fund,  respectively.  The Adviser
is responsible for the payment of all operating  expenses of the Small Cap Fund,
the Large Cap Plus Fund and Market  Neutral Fund,  except for brokerage fees and
commissions,  taxes,  interest  (including  dividend  expense on securities sold
short), 12b-1 expenses,  fees and expenses of non-interested person Trustees and
extraordinary expenses.


HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES

     Shares of each Fund are sold on a continuous  basis, and you may invest any
amount you choose, as often as you wish, subject to a minimum initial investment
in each Fund of $2,000  ($500 for  qualified  plans and $1  million  for Class R
shares). Shares of each Fund are offered continuously at a public offering price
that is equal to net asset  value  ("NAV")  per share  next  determined  after a
purchase order is received by the Fund plus any applicable sales load.

     INITIAL PURCHASE

     You may open an account and make an initial  investment  through securities
dealers  having  a  sales  agreement  with  the  Funds'  distributor,  IFS  Fund
Distributors,  Inc.  (the  "Distributor").  You may also  make a direct  initial
investment  by  completing  and signing the  investment  application  form which
accompanies  this  Prospectus  and mailing it, in proper form,  together  with a
check made payable to the appropriate Fund, to the P.O. Box listed below. If you
prefer overnight delivery, use the overnight address listed below.


        U.S. MAIL:                            OVERNIGHT:
        The James Advantage Funds             The James Advantage Funds
        P.O. Box 5354                         221 East Fourth Street, Suite 300
        Cincinnati, Ohio  45201-5354          Cincinnati, Ohio  45202


     The sales load, at the election of the purchaser, may be imposed (1) at the
time of purchase (Class A Shares) or (2) on a contingent deferred basis (Class C
shares).  The Class R shares are designed for  institutional  investors  and are
sold at NAV with no front-end sales load, no contingent  deferred sales load and
no Rule 12b-1 fees. When placing purchase  orders,  investors should specify the
name of the Fund  and  whether  the  order  is for  Class A,  Class C or Class R
shares.  All purchase orders that fail to specify a class will  automatically be
invested in Class A shares.

     CLASS A SHARES

Class A shares of each Fund are  purchased  at the public  offering  price.  The
public  offering price is the next determined NAV per share plus a sales load as
shown in the table below. Class A shares are subject to a continuing .25% annual
distribution fee.


The  following  table  illustrates  the initial sales load  breakpoints  for the
purchase of shares of The Golden Rainbow Fund:

================================================================================
                                      Sales Load as of % of:
                                       Public         Net     Dealer Reallowance
                                      Offering      Amount      as % of Public
Amount of Investment                    Price      Invested     Offering Price
================================================================================
Less than $1,000,000                    2.00%        2.09%           1.50%
$1,000,000 or more                      None         None            None
================================================================================

                                       16
<PAGE>

The  following  table  illustrates  the initial sales load  breakpoints  for the
purchase  of shares of The James  Small Cap Fund,  The James Large Cap Plus Fund
and The James Market Neutral Fund:

================================================================================
                                      Sales Load as of % of:
                                       Public         Net     Dealer Reallowance
                                      Offering      Amount      as % of Public
Amount of Investment                    Price      Invested     Offering Price
================================================================================
Less than $50,000                       5.75%        6.10%           5.25%
$50,000 but less than $100,000          4.00%        4.18%           3.50%
$100,000 but less than $250,000         3.50%        3.65%           3.00%
$250,000 but less than $500,000         2.50%        2.61%           2.00%
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000       2.00%        2.09%           1.50%
$1,000,000 or more                      None         None            None
================================================================================


For initial  purchases  of Class A shares of the Funds of $1 million or more and
subsequent  purchases  further  increasing  the size of the account,  a dealer's
commission  of  1%  of  such  purchases  may  be  paid  by  the  Distributor  to
participating  unaffiliated  dealers through whom such purchases are effected. A
contingent  deferred  sales load is  imposed  upon  redemptions  of such Class A
shares if the dealer's  commission  described  above was paid by the Distributor
and the shares are  redeemed  within 18 months  from the date of  purchase.  The
contingent  deferred sales load paid to the Distributor will be 1% of the NAV at
the time of  purchase  of the Class A shares  being  redeemed.  If a purchase of
Class A shares is subject to the contingent  deferred sales load, you will be so
notified on the confirmation you receive for such purchase.  Redemptions of such
Class A shares of a Fund held for 18 months or more will not be  subject  to the
contingent deferred sales load.

     CLASS C SHARES

     Class C shares are offered at NAV,  without an initial sales load,  subject
to a maximum  annual  distribution  fee of 1% (of which  .75% is an asset  based
sales charge and .25% is a service fee). The current authorized distribution fee
is .85%. Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales load of 1% if
redeemed within 1 year of the purchase date.

     CLASS R SHARES

     Class R shares are  no-load  and are not  subject to  distribution  fees or
service  fees.  Class R shares are  available  to those  investing $1 million or
more.  Dividends  and  capital  gains  distributions  on Class R  shares  may be
reinvested as Class R shares.

     ADDITIONAL PURCHASES

     After an initial  investment in a Fund, you may purchase  additional shares
of the Fund at any time either through a securities dealer or by sending a check
payable to the  applicable  Fund to one of the addresses  listed above.  You may
also  purchase  shares  of a Fund by bank  wire.  Please  telephone  the  Fund's
transfer agent, Integrated Fund Services, Inc. (the "Transfer Agent")

                                       17
<PAGE>

at 800-995-2637  for  instructions.  Your bank may impose a charge for sending a
wire.  There is presently  no fee for receipt of wired  funds,  but the Transfer
Agent reserves the right to charge  shareholders  for this service upon 30 days'
prior notice to shareholders.

     Each additional  purchase  request must contain the name of the account and
the account number to permit proper crediting to the account.  While there is no
minimum amount required for subsequent investments,  the Funds reserve the right
to impose such a  requirement.  All  additional  purchases  are made at NAV next
determined  after receipt of a purchase  order by the Fund,  plus any applicable
sales load. If a broker-dealer received concessions for selling shares of a Fund
to a current  shareholder,  such broker-dealer will receive the concessions with
respect to additional investments by the shareholder.

     GENERAL PURCHASE INFORMATION

     Shares  of a Fund may be  purchased,  in  amounts  less  than  the  minimum
purchase amount,  by officers,  directors,  trustees and employees of the Trust,
the Adviser or the  Distributor,  and any such person's  spouse,  children,  and
trustees or custodians of any  qualified  pension or profit  sharing plan or IRA
established  for the  benefit  of  such  person.  Such  persons  should  request
instructions on how to invest or redeem from the Distributor.

     Under certain circumstances,  the Distributor may change the reallowance to
dealers and may also compensate  dealers out of its own assets.  Dealers engaged
in the sale of  shares  of a Fund may be  deemed  to be  underwriters  under the
Securities  Act of 1933.  The  Distributor  retains the entire sales load on all
direct initial  investments in the Funds and on all investments in accounts with
no designated dealer of record.

     You may  purchase  Class A shares  without  a sales  load at NAV if you are
within the  following  specified  categories  of  investors:  officers,  service
providers  and current and former  trustees of the Trust;  full-time and retired
employees of the Adviser and  subsidiaries  thereof,  or their immediate  family
members;  persons who, for at least 90 days,  have been an officer,  director or
employee of any  authorized  dealer with a sales  agreement  with the Trust,  or
their immediate  family members;  officers and directors of banks,  bank holding
companies  or other  financial  institutions  that  make Fund  shares  available
directly or through  subsidiaries or bank affiliates;  bank or broker-affiliated
trust  departments;  and clients of investment  advisers,  financial planners or
other  financial  intermediaries.  In  addition,  the Adviser and the  Adviser's
Pension and Profit Sharing Plan may purchase shares at NAV.

     If you are eligible to purchase  either Class R shares or Class A shares at
NAV, you should be aware of the differences between these two classes of shares.
Class A shares  are  subject to an annual  distribution  fee to  compensate  the
Distributor for  distribution  costs  associated with each Fund and to an annual
service fee to  compensate  authorized  dealers for  providing  you with ongoing
account  services.  Class R shares are not subject to a distribution  or service
fee and, consequently,  holders of Class R shares may not receive the same types
or levels of services  from  authorized  dealers.  In deciding  between  Class A
shares and Class R shares,  you should  weigh the benefits of the services to be
provided by authorized  dealers  against the annual service fee imposed upon the
Class A shares.

                                       18
<PAGE>


     Shares of each Fund are sold on a continuous  basis at the public  offering
price next determined  after receipt of a purchase order by the Trust.  Purchase
orders  received by dealers prior to the close of the regular session of trading
on the New York Stock Exchange  ("NYSE"),  generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on
any business day and transmitted to the Distributor by 5:00 p.m.,  Eastern time,
that  day  are  confirmed  at  that  day's  public  offering  price.  It is  the
responsibility  of dealers to transmit  properly  completed  orders so that they
will be received by the  Distributor  by 5:00 p.m.,  Eastern  time.  Dealers may
charge a fee for effecting  purchase orders.  Direct purchase orders received by
the close of the regular  session of trading on the NYSE are  confirmed  at that
day's public offering price. Direct investments  received after the close of the
regular  session of trading on the NYSE and orders  received  from dealers after
5:00 p.m. are  confirmed at the public  offering  price next  determined  on the
following  business  day. Any change in price due to the failure of the Trust to
receive  an order  prior to the close of the NYSE must be  settled  between  the
investor and the dealer placing the order.


     RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION AND LETTER OF INTENT (CLASS A SHARES ONLY)

     You may use the Right of  Accumulation  to combine  the cost or current NAV
(whichever is higher) of your  existing  Class A shares of any Fund in The James
Advantage  Funds  with the  amount of your  current  purchases  in order to take
advantage  of the reduced  sales loads set forth in the table  above.  Purchases
made  pursuant to a Letter of Intent may also be eligible for the reduced  sales
loads. The minimum initial  investment under a Letter of Intent is $10,000.  You
should  contact  the  Transfer  Agent  for   information   about  the  Right  of
Accumulation and Letter of Intent.

     AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN

     The Funds offer current shareholders who receive a quarterly statement from
the Distributor the convenience of automatic monthly investing.  On the 15th (or
the business day preceding the 15th if it falls on a weekend or holiday)  and/or
last business day of each month, the amount you specify will be transferred from
your bank to the  designated  Fund. To initiate the automatic  investment  plan,
complete the application form and attach a voided check.

     Each Fund pays the cost associated with these  transfers,  but reserves the
right,  upon 90  days'  written  notice,  to make  reasonable  charges  for this
service. Your bank may charge for debiting your account. Shareholders can change
the amount or discontinue  their  participation in the plan by written notice to
the Transfer Agent 30 days prior to the transfer  date.  Because a sales load is
applied on new shares purchased,  it would be disadvantageous to purchase shares
while also making withdrawals.

FREE REPURCHASE, SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL, DIRECT DEPOSITS AND EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

     FREE REPURCHASE

     If you have  redeemed  shares,  you may  repurchase  shares at NAV  without
incurring  the  applicable  sales  load.  Such a  purchase  must be in an amount
between the stated minimum

                                       19
<PAGE>

investment  of such Fund and the amount of the proceeds of  redemption  within 1
year of the  redemption.  You may exercise  this feature only twice per calendar
year. Exercising the reinvestment privilege will not affect the character of any
gain or loss realized on the redemption for federal income tax purposes,  except
that if the redemptions  resulted in a loss, the  reinvestment may result in the
loss being disallowed under the "wash sale" rules.

     SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN

     If your  account has a value  greater  than  $10,000,  you may  establish a
Systematic  Withdrawal Plan ("SWP") and receive monthly or quarterly  checks for
$100 or more as you specify.  To establish a SWP, all  distributions  must be in
the form of shares.  Such payments are drawn from the proceeds of the redemption
shares held in your account.  To the extent that SWP redemptions exceed dividend
income  reinvested  in the  account,  such  redemptions  will  reduce,  and  may
ultimately  exhaust,  the  number of shares in the  account.  Maintaining  a SWP
concurrently with an investment program would be disadvantageous  because of the
sales loads included in share purchases.  You should not, therefore,  have a SWP
in effect at the same time you are making  recurring  purchases  of Fund shares.
You may withdraw from the program,  change the payee or change the dollar amount
of each payment,  by providing  written  instructions to the Transfer Agent. The
Transfer  Agent may charge  your  account for  services  rendered  and  expenses
incurred  beyond  those  normally  assumed  by  the  Fund  with  respect  to the
liquidation of shares. No charge is currently assessed against the account,  but
could be instituted by the Transfer  Agent on 60 days' notice in writing to you.
The Funds reserve the right to amend or terminate the SWP on 30 days' notice.

     DIRECT DEPOSITS

     You can have dividends or SWP redemption proceeds deposited  electronically
into a bank account. Under normal circumstances, direct deposits are credited to
the account on the second business day of the month following normal payment. In
order to utilize this option,  your bank must be a member of Automated  Clearing
House.  In addition,  you must (1) fill out the  appropriate  section(s)  of the
application  attached  to this  Prospectus  and (2) include  with the  completed
application  a voided  check from the bank  account  into which  funds are to be
deposited.  Once the Transfer Agent has received the  application and the voided
check,  your dividends and  redemptions  will be credited to the designated bank
account.  You may  terminate  a direct  deposit  program  at any time by written
notice to the Transfer Agent.

     EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

     Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for shares of the same class of any other
Fund.  Shares of a Fund may also be  exchanged  for  shares  of the James  Money
Market Account. A sales load may be imposed (if applicable) equal to the excess,
if any, of the sales load rate  applicable to the shares being acquired over the
sales load rate, if any, previously paid on the shares being exchanged.


     You may request an exchange  by sending a written  request to the  Transfer
Agent.  The request  must be signed  exactly as your name appears on the Trust's
account records. Exchanges

                                       20
<PAGE>

also may be requested by  telephone.  If you are unable to execute your exchange
by telephone (for example during times of unusual market  activity),  you should
consider  requesting  your exchange by mail or by visiting the Transfer  Agent's
offices  at 221 East  Fourth  Street,  Suite 300,  Cincinnati,  Ohio  45202.  An
exchange  will be effected at the next  determined  NAV (or offering  price if a
sales load is applicable) after receipt of a request by the Transfer Agent.


     Exchanges  may only be made for  shares of Funds then  offered  for sale in
your state of  residence  and are  subject  to the  applicable  minimum  initial
investment requirements. The exchange privilege may be modified or terminated by
the Board of Trustees  upon 60 days' prior notice to  shareholders.  An exchange
results in a sale of Fund  shares,  which may cause you to  recognize  a capital
gain or loss.  Before making an exchange,  contact the Transfer  Agent to obtain
more information about exchanges.

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

     You may  redeem  shares  of a Fund on each day  that the  Trust is open for
business by sending a written  request to the Transfer  Agent.  The request must
state the number of shares or the dollar  amount to be redeemed  and the account
number.  The request must be signed  exactly as your name appears on the Trust's
account records. Upon receipt by a Fund of a proper redemption request, the Fund
will redeem shares at their next determined NAV. Neither the Distributor nor the
Funds charge a fee or a  commission  for  redemption,  except that the Funds may
charge a fee for wiring redemption proceeds and Class C shares may be subject to
a contingent deferred sales load.

     You may also redeem shares by placing a wire  redemption  request through a
securities broker or dealer.  You will receive the NAV per share next determined
after  the  Transfer  Agent  receives  the wire  redemption  request.  It is the
responsibility of broker-dealers to properly transmit wire redemption orders.

     The Funds'  Custodian may charge a $9 processing fee for wire  redemptions.
This fee may be  changed  upon 30 days'  written  notice.  All  charges  will be
deducted from your account by redemption of shares in the account.  Your bank or
brokerage  firm may also impose a charge for  processing  the wire. In the event
that  wire  transfer  of funds is  impossible  or  impractical,  the  redemption
proceeds will be sent by mail to the designated account.

     Payment is normally  made within 3 business  days after receipt of a proper
redemption  request,  provided that payment in redemption of shares purchased by
check will be effected only after the check has cleared, which may take up to 15
calendar days from the purchase date. To eliminate this delay,  you may purchase
shares of a Fund by certified check or wire.

     Neither the Trust, the Transfer Agent, nor their respective affiliates will
be liable for complying with telephone  instructions they reasonably  believe to
be genuine or for any loss, damage, cost or expenses in acting on such telephone
instructions.  You  will  bear  the  risk of any such  loss.  The  privilege  of
exchanging  shares by telephone is automatically  available to you. The Trust or
the Transfer Agent, or both, will employ reasonable procedures to determine that
telephone  instructions  are genuine.  If the Trust and/or the Transfer Agent do
not employ such

                                       21
<PAGE>

procedures,  they may be liable  for losses due to  unauthorized  or  fraudulent
instructions.  The  procedures  may include,  among others,  requiring  forms of
personal identification prior to acting upon telephone  instructions,  providing
written  confirmation  of  the  transactions  and/or  tape  recording  telephone
instructions.  At the discretion of the Trust or the Transfer  Agent,  corporate
investors  and other  associations  may be  required  to furnish an  appropriate
certification authorizing redemptions to ensure proper authorization.

     SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

     The Transfer  Agent will require a signature  guarantee if the shares to be
redeemed have a value of $25,000 or more, if the address where the redemption is
to be mailed is other than your  address of record or if the  name(s) or address
or your account has been changed  within 30 days. A signature  guarantee  may be
executed by any eligible guarantor.  Eligible guarantors include member firms of
a  domestic  stock  exchange,   commercial  banks,   trust  companies,   savings
associations and credit unions as defined by the Federal Deposit  Insurance Act.
You should verify with the institution that they are an eligible guarantor prior
to signing.

     ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     Because the Funds incur  certain  fixed  costs in  maintaining  shareholder
accounts,  each Fund  reserves  the right to  require  you to redeem all of your
shares in the Fund on 30 days' written notice if the value of your shares in the
Fund is less than $2,000 due to redemption,  or such other minimum amount as the
Fund may determine  from time to time. An involuntary  redemption  constitutes a
sale. You should consult your tax adviser  concerning  the tax  consequences  of
involuntary redemptions.  You may increase the value of your shares in a Fund to
the minimum amount within the 30 day period.  Each share of each Fund is subject
to  redemption  at any time if the  Board of  Trustees  determines,  in its sole
discretion,  that failure to so redeem may have materially adverse  consequences
to all or any of the shareholders of the Funds.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

     Each Fund intends to  distribute  substantially  all of its net  investment
income as dividends to its  shareholders  on a quarterly  basis,  and intends to
distribute its net long-term capital gains and its net short-term  capital gains
at least once a year.

     Income  dividends  and  capital  gain   distributions   are   automatically
reinvested in additional  shares at the NAV per share on the distribution  date.
You may  elect to  receive a cash  payment  of  dividends  and/or  capital  gain
distributions  in the  application  to purchase  shares or by  separate  written
notice  to the  Transfer  Agent.  You  will  receive  a  confirmation  statement
reflecting the payment and  reinvestment  of dividends and summarizing all other
transactions.  If cash payment is  requested,  a check  normally  will be mailed
within 5 business  days after the  payable  date.  If you  withdraw  your entire
account,  all dividends accrued to the time of withdrawal,  including the day of
withdrawal,  will be paid at that time. You may elect to have  distributions  on
shares  held in IRAs and 403(b)  plans paid in cash only if you are 59 1/2 years
old or permanently  and totally  disabled or if you otherwise  qualify under the
applicable plan.

                                       22
<PAGE>

TAXES

     Each Fund intends to qualify each year as a "regulated  investment company"
under the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  By so qualifying,  a Fund
will not be subject to federal  income  taxes to the extent that it  distributes
substantially all of its net investment income and any realized capital gains.

     For federal income tax purposes,  dividends paid by each Fund from ordinary
income are  taxable to you as ordinary  income,  but may be eligible in part for
the dividends  received  deduction for corporations.  Pursuant to the Tax Reform
Act of 1986 (the "Tax Reform Act"), all distributions of net short-term  capital
gains to  individuals  are  taxed  at the  same  rate as  ordinary  income.  All
distributions  of net  capital  gains  to  corporations  are  taxed  at  regular
corporate  rates. Any  distributions  designated as being made from net realized
long-term  capital gains are taxable to shareholders as long-term  capital gains
regardless of the holding  period of the  shareholder.  Due to the nature of the
investment  strategies used, the  distributions of the Small Cap Fund, the Large
Cap Plus Fund and the Market  Neutral  Fund are  generally  expected  to consist
primarily of net capital gains;  however the nature of each Fund's distributions
could vary in any given year.

     Each  Fund will mail to each  shareholder  after the close of the  calendar
year a statement  setting forth the federal  income tax status of  distributions
made during the year.  Dividends  and capital  gains  distributions  may also be
subject to state and local taxes.  You are urged to consult your own tax adviser
regarding  specific  questions  as to federal,  state or local taxes and the tax
effect of distributions and withdrawals from the Fund.

     On the application or other  appropriate  form, the Funds will request your
certified   taxpayer   identification   number  (social   security   number  for
individuals) and a certification that you are not subject to backup withholding.
Unless you provide this  information,  the  applicable  Fund will be required to
withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury 31% of the dividends,  distributions and
redemption  proceeds payable to you. You should be aware that, under regulations
promulgated by the Internal  Revenue  Service,  a Fund may be fined $50 annually
for each  account for which a certified  taxpayer  identification  number is not
provided.  In the event that such a fine is imposed  with  respect to a specific
account in any year, the applicable Fund may make a corresponding charge against
the account.

DISTRIBUTION PLANS

     Each Fund has adopted a plan  pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for
Class A and Class C shares (collectively, the "Plans") which permits the Fund to
pay for certain  distribution  and promotion  expenses  related to marketing its
shares.  Such expenses may include certain fees to  broker-dealers of record for
shareholders  of the Fund, but such fees shall not, when  aggregated  with other
expenses  reimbursed to the Distributor in accordance with the Plan,  exceed the
maximum 12b-1 fee set forth in this  Prospectus.  Each Plan authorizes a Fund to
expend its monies in an amount equal to the aggregate for all such  expenditures
to such  percentage  of the Fund's daily NAV as may be  determined  from time to
time by vote cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose,  by a majority
of the Trust's non-interested person Trustees. The scope of

                                       23
<PAGE>

the foregoing  shall be  interpreted  by the Trustees,  which  decision shall be
conclusive  except to the extent it  contravenes  established  legal  authority.
Without in any way  limiting  the  discretion  of the  Trustees,  the  following
activities are hereby declared to be primarily intended to result in the sale of
shares of the applicable Fund:

o    advertising the Fund or the Adviser's mutual fund activities;
o    compensating  underwriters,  dealers,  brokers,  banks  and  other  selling
     entities  and sales  and  marketing  personnel  of any of them for sales of
     shares of the Fund,  whether  in a lump sum or on a  continuous,  periodic,
     contingent, deferred or other basis;
o    compensating  underwriters,  dealers,  brokers,  banks and other  servicing
     entities (including the Adviser) and servicing personnel of any of them for
     providing services to shareholders of the Fund relating to their investment
     in the Fund,  including assistance in connection with inquiries relating to
     shareholder accounts;
o    the  production  and   dissemination  of  prospectuses  and  statements  of
     additional  information  of the Fund and the  preparation,  production  and
     dissemination of sales, marketing and shareholder servicing materials;
o    ordinary or capital expense, such as equipment,  rent, fixtures,  salaries,
     bonuses, reporting and recordkeeping and third party consultancy or similar
     expenses  relating to any activity for which  payment is  authorized by the
     Trustees; and
o    the  financing  of any  activity  for which  payment is  authorized  by the
     Trustees.

Pursuant to the Plan, each Fund, through authorized  officers,  may make similar
payments for marketing services and shareholder  services to  non-broker-dealers
who enter into service agreements with the Fund.

     The maximum amount payable by a Fund under the Plan and related  agreements
on an annual  basis for Class A shares is .40% of  average  daily net assets for
the year.  In the case of  broker-dealers  and others,  such as banks,  who have
selling or service agreements with the Distributor or a Fund, the maximum amount
payable to any  recipient is .20%,  on an  annualized  basis,  of the portion of
daily net assets  represented  by such person's  customers.  The maximum  amount
payable for Class C shares is 1.00% of its average daily net assets for the year
(of which .75% is an  asset-based  sales charge and .25% is a service fee).  The
Board of Trustees have currently  authorized a .75% asset-based sales charge and
a .10%  service fee for Class C shares.  The Board of Trustees  may reduce these
amounts at any time.  Expenditures  pursuant to the Plan and related  agreements
may reduce current yield after expenses.  Because these fees are paid out of the
Funds' assets on an on-going basis,  over time these fees will increase the cost
of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales loads.

CALCULATION OF SHARE PRICE AND PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE

     The NAV per share of a Fund is  calculated  by dividing  the total value of
the Fund's  investments and other assets  (including  cash and accrued  income),
less any liabilities  (including  estimated accrued expenses),  by the number of
shares outstanding,  rounded to the nearest cent. The public offering price (NAV
plus applicable sales load) of Class A shares and the share price of Class C and
Class R shares is determined as of the close of the NYSE (generally,  4:00 p.m.,
Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open for  business,  and on any other
day on which

                                       24
<PAGE>

there is sufficient trading in a Fund's securities to materially affect the NAV.
Generally, the NYSE is closed and the share price of each Fund is not calculated
on Saturdays,  Sundays and the following holidays:  New Year's Day,  President's
Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,  Independence Day,
Labor  Day,  Thanksgiving  and  Christmas.  The NAV per  share of each Fund will
fluctuate.

     Securities traded on any exchange or on the NASDAQ  over-the-counter market
are valued at the last quoted sale price.  Lacking a last sale price, a security
is valued at its last bid price except when, in the Adviser's opinion,  the last
bid price does not  accurately  reflect the current value of the  security.  All
other  securities  for which  over-the-counter  market  quotations  are  readily
available  are valued at their last bid price.  When market  quotations  are not
readily available,  and when the Adviser determines that the last bid price does
not accurately reflect the current value or when restricted securities are being
valued,  such  securities  are valued at their fair value as  determined in good
faith in accordance  with  consistently  applied  procedures  established by and
under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees.

     Fixed-income  securities  generally are valued by using market  quotations,
but may be valued on the basis of prices  furnished  by a pricing  service  when
market  quotations  are  not  readily  available.  A  pricing  service  utilizes
electronic  data  processing  techniques  based on  yield  spreads  relating  to
securities  with  similar   characteristics   to  determine  prices  for  normal
institutional-size  trading units of debt  securities  without regard to sale or
bid prices.  When prices are not readily  available from a pricing  service,  or
when restricted or illiquid  securities are being valued,  securities are valued
at their fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with  consistently
applied procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board
of Trustees.  Short-term investments in fixed-income  securities with maturities
of less than 60 days when acquired,  or which subsequently are within 60 days of
maturity, are valued by using the amortized cost method of valuation,  which the
Board has determined will represent fair value.

                              FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     On June  26,  1998,  The  Golden  Rainbow  Fund  acquired  the  assets  and
liabilities of The Golden Rainbow A James Advised Mutual Fund (the  "Predecessor
Fund") in a tax free  reorganization.  As a result of this  reorganization,  The
Golden Rainbow Fund assumed the financial  history of the Predecessor  Fund. The
Golden Rainbow Fund had no operating history prior to the reorganization.


     The financial  highlights  tables are intended to help you  understand  The
Golden  Rainbow  Fund's  financial  performance  for the  past 5  years  and the
performance  of The James Small Cap Fund, The James Large Cap Plus Fund, and The
James Market Neutral Fund since their inception.  Certain  information  reflects
financial  results  for a single  Fund  share.  The total  returns  in the table
represent  the rate that you would  have  earned  on an  investment  in the Fund
(assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information was
audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report,  along with the Funds' financial
statements, are included in the annual report, which is available upon request.

                                       25
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
====================================================================================================================
                                                         PER SHARE DATA FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH YEAR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                            --------------------------------------------------------
                                                              2000        1999        1998        1997        1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Net asset value at beginning of year ...................       17.28    $  18.96    $  19.31    $  17.56    $  18.27
                                                            --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
Income from investment operations:
    Net investment income ..............................        0.50        0.49        0.65        0.66        0.73
    Net realized and unrealized gains on investments ...        0.31        0.91        1.08        2.16        0.61
                                                            --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
Total from investment operations .......................        0.81        1.40        1.73        2.82        1.34
                                                            --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
Less distributions:
    From net investment income .........................       (0.50)      (0.49)      (0.65)      (0.68)      (0.74)
    From net realized gains on investments .............       (1.05)      (2.59)      (1.43)      (0.39)      (1.31)
                                                            --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
Total distributions ....................................       (1.55)      (3.08)      (2.08)      (1.07)      (2.05)
                                                            --------    --------    --------    --------    --------

Net asset value at end of year .........................    $  16.54    $  17.28    $  18.96    $  19.31    $  17.56
                                                            ========    ========    ========    ========    ========

Total return(A) ........................................       4.98%       7.97%       9.47%      16.55%       7.76%
                                                            ========    ========    ========    ========    ========

Net assets at end of year (000's) ......................    $ 82,754    $107,802    $132,094    $157,183    $184,307
                                                            ========    ========    ========    ========    ========
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets(B) .........       1.07%       1.00%       1.08%       1.09%       1.06%

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets ...       2.86%       2.71%       3.29%       3.63%       4.01%

Portfolio turnover rate ................................         82%         38%         54%         56%         83%
</TABLE>

(A)  Total returns exclude the effect of applicable sales loads.
(B)  Absent fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the ratios of expenses to
     average net assets would have been 1.22%, 1.19%, 1.23%, 1.24% and 1.26% for
     the years ended June 30, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

                                       26
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
======================================================================================================
                                         PER SHARE DATA FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              YEAR            YEAR
                                                                              ENDED           ENDED
                                                                            JUNE 30,        JUNE 30,
                                                                              2000           1999(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                       <C>             <C>
Net asset value at beginning of period ...............................    $      11.87    $      10.00
                                                                          ------------    ------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
    Net investment loss ..............................................           (0.05)          (0.00)
    Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments ........           (1.21)           1.87
                                                                          ------------    ------------
Total from investment operations .....................................           (1.26)           1.87
                                                                          ------------    ------------
Less distributions:
    Return of capital ................................................            --             (0.00)
                                                                          ------------    ------------

Net asset value at end of period .....................................    $      10.61    $      11.87
                                                                          ============    ============

Total return(B) ......................................................         (10.61%)         18.74%(C)
                                                                          ============    ============

Net assets at end of period (000's) ..................................    $      5,251    $      6,564
                                                                          ============    ============
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets ..........................           1.50%           1.49%(D)

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets ...................          (0.48%)         (0.11%)(D)

Portfolio turnover rate ..............................................            101%             42%(D)
</TABLE>

(A)  Represents the period from the initial public  offering of shares  (October
     2, 1998) through June 30, 1999.
(B)  Total return excludes the effect of applicable sales loads.
(C)  Not annualized.
(D)  Annualized.

                                       27
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
======================================================================================================
                                         PER SHARE DATA FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              YEAR            YEAR
                                                                              ENDED           ENDED
                                                                            JUNE 30,        JUNE 30,
                                                                              2000           1999(A)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                       <C>             <C>
Net asset value at beginning of period ...............................    $       9.30    $      10.00
                                                                          ------------    ------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
    Net investment income ............................................            0.23            0.13
    Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments ........            0.41           (0.70)
                                                                          ------------    ------------
Total from investment operations .....................................            0.64           (0.57)
                                                                          ------------    ------------
Less distributions:
    From net investment income .......................................           (0.23)          (0.13)
                                                                          ------------    ------------

Net asset value at end of period .....................................    $       9.71    $       9.30
                                                                          ============    ============

Total return(B) ......................................................           7.02%          (5.74%)(C)
                                                                          ============    ============

Net assets at end of period (000's) ..................................    $      6,684    $      8,284
                                                                          ============    ============
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets, excluding dividends on
    securities sold short ............................................           1.95%           1.94%(D)
Expenses from dividends on securities sold short .....................           0.53%           0.36%(D)
                                                                          ------------    ------------
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets ..........................           2.48%           2.30%(D)
                                                                          ------------    ------------

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets .................           2.47%           2.31%(D)

Portfolio turnover rate ..............................................             90%             54%(D)
</TABLE>

(A)  Represents the period from the initial public  offering of shares  (October
     2, 1998) through June 30, 1999.
(B)  Total return excludes the effect of applicable sales loads.
(C)  Not annualized.
(D)  Annualized.

                                       28
<PAGE>

THE JAMES LARGE CAP PLUS FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
================================================================================
                    PER SHARE DATA FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  PERIOD
                                                                   ENDED
                                                                 JUNE 30,
                                                                  2000(A)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value at beginning of period ....................    $      10.00
                                                               ------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
    Net investment loss ...................................           (0.06)
    Net realized and unrealized gains on investments ......            3.71
                                                               ------------
Total from investment operations ..........................            3.65
                                                               ------------

Net asset value at end of period ..........................    $      13.65
                                                               ============

Total return(B) ...........................................          36.50%
                                                               ============

Net assets at end of period (000's) .......................    $      6,279
                                                               ============

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets ...............           1.49%(C)

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets ........          (0.99%)(C)

Portfolio turnover rate ...................................             95%(C)

(A)  Represents the period from the initial public offering of shares  (November
     1, 1999) through June 30, 2000.
(B)  Total  return  excludes  the effect of  applicable  sales  loads and is not
     annualized.
(C)  Annualized.


                                       29
<PAGE>


INVESTMENT ADVISER                          TRANSFER AGENT
James Investment Research, Inc.             Integrated Fund Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 8                                  221 East Fourth Street, Suite 300
Alpha, Ohio 45301                           Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

CUSTODIAN                                   INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Firstar Bank, N.A.                          Deloitte & Touche LLP
425 Walnut Street                           1700 Courthouse Plaza, NE
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202                      Dayton, Ohio 45402

LEGAL COUNSEL                               DISTRIBUTOR
Brown, Cummins & Brown, L.P.A.              IFS Fund Distributors, Inc.
3500 Carew Tower, 441 Vine Street           221 East Fourth Street, Suite 300
Cincinnati,  Ohio 45202                     Cincinnati, Ohio 45202


     Additional  information  about the Funds is  included in the  Statement  of
Additional Information ("SAI"), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.  Additional  information about the Funds'  investments is available in
the Funds' annual and semiannual  reports to shareholders.  In the Funds' annual
report,  you will find a  discussion  of the market  conditions  and  investment
strategies that  significantly  affected the Funds'  performance during the last
fiscal year.

     To obtain a free copy of the SAI,  the  annual  and  semiannual  reports or
other information  about the Funds, or to make inquires about the Funds,  please
call 1-800-99 JAMES (1-800-995-2637).

     Information about the Funds,  including the SAI, can be reviewed and copied
at the Securities and Exchange Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington,
D.C.  Information on the operation of the public  reference room may be obtained
by calling the Commission at 1-202-942-8090. Reports and other information about
the Funds are available on the Commission's  Internet site at http:/www.sec.gov.
Copies of  information  on the  Commission's  Internet site may be obtained upon
payment of a  duplicating  fee, by electronic  request at the  following  e-mail
address:  [email protected],  or by writing the Public Reference Section of the
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

File No. 811-8411

<PAGE>

                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                             THE GOLDEN RAINBOW FUND


                                November 1, 2000

                                   A Series of
                            The James Advantage Funds
                             221 East Fourth Street
                             Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                                 1-800-995-2637


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST......................................................1
DEFINITIONS,  POLICIES AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS................................1
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS........................................................14
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS.........................................................17
INVESTMENT ADVISER............................................................17
TRANSFER AGENT AND DISTRIBUTOR................................................19
OTHER SERVICES................................................................19
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE..........................................19
SHARES OF THE FUND............................................................21
DETERMINATION OF SHARE PRICE..................................................23
ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION....................................................23
DISTRIBUTION PLANS............................................................24
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.......................................................25
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS..........................................................27


     This  Statement of Additional  Information  is not a prospectus  and should
only be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of The Golden Rainbow Fund dated
November 1, 2000 . A Prospectus can be obtained by writing the Transfer Agent at
P.O.  Box  5354,  Cincinnati,  Ohio  45201-5354,  or  by  calling  888-99  JAMES
(888-995-2637).


<PAGE>

                            DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST

     The Golden Rainbow Fund (the "Fund") was organized as a series of The James
Advantage  Funds (the  "Trust").  The Trust is an  open-end  investment  company
established  under the laws of Ohio by an  Agreement  and  Declaration  of Trust
dated August 29, 1997 (the "Trust  Agreement").  The Trust Agreement permits the
Trustees  to issue an  unlimited  number  of shares of  beneficial  interest  of
separate series without par value.

     Each share of a series  represents an equal  proportionate  interest in the
assets and  liabilities  belonging  to that series with each other share of that
series  and is  entitled  to such  dividends  and  distributions  out of  income
belonging to the series as are declared by the Trustees.  The shares do not have
cumulative  voting  rights  or any  preemptive  or  conversion  rights,  and the
Trustees have the authority from time to time to divide or combine the shares of
any series  into a greater or lesser  number of shares of that series so long as
the proportionate beneficial interest in the assets belonging to that series and
the rights of shares of any other series are in no way affected.  In case of any
liquidation  of a series,  the holders of shares of the series being  liquidated
will be entitled to receive as a class a distribution out of the assets,  net of
the liabilities,  belonging to that series.  Expenses attributable to any series
are  borne by that  series.  Any  general  expenses  of the  Trust  not  readily
identifiable  as belonging to a particular  series are allocated by or under the
direction of the  Trustees in such manner as the  Trustees  determine to be fair
and equitable. No shareholder is liable to further calls or to assessment by the
Trust without his or her express consent.

     Any Trustee of the Trust may be removed by vote of the shareholders holding
not less than two-thirds of the outstanding  shares of the Trust. The Trust does
not hold an annual  meeting of  shareholders.  When  matters  are  submitted  to
shareholders for a vote, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each whole
share he owns and fractional votes for fractional  shares he owns. All shares of
the Fund have equal voting rights and  liquidation  rights.  The  Declaration of
Trust can be amended by the Trustees,  except that any amendment  that adversely
effects  the  rights  of  shareholders  must  be  approved  by the  shareholders
affected.

     Upon sixty days prior  written  notice to  shareholders,  the Fund may make
redemption  payments in whole or in part in securities or other  property if the
Trustees determine that existing conditions make cash payments undesirable.  For
other information  concerning the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund,
see  "How  to  Purchase  Shares"  and  "How  to  Redeem  Shares"  in the  Fund's
Prospectus.  For a description  of the methods used to determine the share price
and value of the  Fund's  assets,  see  "Calculation  of Share  Price and Public
Offering Price" in the Fund's Prospectus.

DEFINITIONS, POLICIES AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS

     This section contains a more detailed discussion of some of the investments
the Fund may make and some of the  techniques  it may use, as  described  in the
Prospectus.

                                       -1-
<PAGE>

     A.   Equity Securities.

     The Fund may invest in common  stock,  in addition  to which,  the Fund may
invest in preferred  stock and common  stock  equivalents  (such as  convertible
preferred  stock and  convertible  debentures).  Convertible  preferred stock is
preferred  stock that can be converted  into common stock pursuant to its terms.
Convertible  debentures are debt  instruments  that can be converted into common
stock pursuant to their terms.  The Adviser  intends to invest only in preferred
stock rated A or higher by Standard & Poor's  Corporation  ("S&P") or by Moody's
Investors Services, Inc. ("Moody's").

     B.   U.S. Government Obligations.

     The Fund may invest in U.S. Government obligations. These securities may be
backed by the credit of the government as a whole or only by the issuing agency.
U.S. Treasury bonds, notes, and bills and some agency securities,  such as those
issued  by the  Federal  Housing  Administration  and  the  Government  National
Mortgage Association (GNMA), are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
Government as to payment of principal  and interest and are the highest  quality
government  securities.  Other securities issued by U.S.  Government agencies or
instrumentalities,  such as securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks and
the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation,  are supported only by the credit of
the agency that issued them, and not by the U.S.  Government.  Securities issued
by the Federal  Farm Credit  System,  the  Federal  Land Banks,  and the Federal
National  Mortgage  Association  (FNMA) are  supported by the agency's  right to
borrow money from the U.S.  Treasury  under certain  circumstances,  but are not
backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

     C.   Repurchase Agreements.

     The Fund may invest in repurchase  agreements fully  collateralized by U.S.
Government  obligations.  A repurchase  agreement is a short-term  investment in
which the purchaser  (i.e.,  the Fund) acquires  ownership of a U.S.  Government
obligation  (which may be of any  maturity)  and the seller agrees to repurchase
the obligation at a future time at a set price,  thereby  determining  the yield
during the purchaser's holding period (usually not more than seven days from the
date of purchase).  Any  repurchase  transaction  in which the Fund engages will
require full collateralization of the seller's obligation during the entire term
of the  repurchase  agreement.  In the event of a bankruptcy or other default of
the seller,  the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying
security and losses in value. However, the Fund intends to enter into repurchase
agreements  only with  banks with  assets of $1  billion or more and  registered
securities  dealers determined by the Adviser (subject to review by the Board of
Trustees) to be creditworthy.  The Adviser monitors the  creditworthiness of the
banks  and  securities  dealers  with  which  the  Fund  engages  in  repurchase
transactions.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

     D.   Illiquid Securities.

     The Fund may normally invest up to 5% of its assets (valued at the purchase
date) in illiquid  securities.  Illiquid securities generally include securities
that  cannot be  disposed of  promptly  and in the  ordinary  course of business
without taking a reduced price. Securities may be illiquid due to contractual or
legal restrictions on resale or lack of a ready market. The following securities
are considered to be illiquid: repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven
days,  nonpublicly  offered  securities  and restricted  securities.  Restricted
securities are securities the resale of which is subject to legal or contractual
restrictions.  Restricted  securities  may be sold only in privately  negotiated
transactions,  in a  public  offering  with  respect  to  which  a  registration
statement is in effect under the  Securities Act of 1933 or pursuant to Rule 144
or Rule 144A promulgated under the Act. Where registration is required, the Fund
may be  obligated  to pay  all  or  part  of  the  registration  expense,  and a
considerable  period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the
time such  security may be sold under an effective  registration  statement.  If
during such a period adverse market  conditions were to develop,  the Fund might
obtain a less  favorable  price  than the price it could have  obtained  when it
decided to sell.

     E.   Loans of Securities.

     The Fund may make short and long term loans of its portfolio  securities in
order to realize additional  income.  Under the lending policy authorized by the
Board of Trustees  and  implemented  by the Adviser in  responses to requests of
broker-dealers or institutional investors which the Adviser deems qualified, the
borrower  must  agree  to  maintain  collateral,  in the  form  of  cash or U.S.
Government  obligations,  with the Fund on a daily  market-to-market basis in an
amount  at least  equal to the  value of the  loaned  securities.  The Fund will
continue  to receive  dividends  or interest  on the loaned  securities  and may
terminate such loans at any time or reacquire such securities in time to vote on
any matter which the Adviser  determines to be important.  With respect to loans
of securities, there is the risk that the borrower may fail to return the loaned
securities  or  that  the  borrower  may  not  be  able  to  provide  additional
collateral.

     F.   Borrowing and Leverage; Reverse Repurchase Agreements.

     The Fund may borrow from banks,  from time to time on a temporary basis, up
to 5% of its net assets,  and the Fund may pledge assets in connection with such
borrowings.  The Fund also may engage in reverse repurchase  agreements in which
the Fund sells a security to another  party,  such as a bank,  broker-dealer  or
other financial institution, and simultaneously agrees to buy it back later at a
higher price.  While a reverse  repurchase  agreement is  outstanding,  the Fund
generally  will direct its custodian to segregate  cash and  appropriate  liquid
assets to cover its  obligations  under the agreement.  The Fund will enter into
reverse repurchase agreements only with parties whose  creditworthiness has been
reviewed and deemed  satisfactory by the Adviser.  The Fund  aggregates  reverse
repurchase  agreements  with  its  bank  borrowings  for  purposes  of  limiting
borrowings to 5% of its net assets.

     If the Fund makes additional  investments while borrowings are outstanding,
this may be construed as a form of leverage.  The Fund's  objective  would be to
pursue investment opportunities

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

with  returns  that  exceed  the  cost  of the  borrowings.  This  leverage  may
exaggerate  changes  in the Fund's  share  value and the gains and losses on the
Fund's  investment.  Leverage also creates interest expenses that may exceed the
return on investments made with the borrowings.

     G.   Foreign Securities

     While not a principal  investment  strategy,  the Fund may invest,  without
limitation,  in foreign  securities.  Foreign  fixed income  securities  include
corporate debt obligations  issued by foreign  companies and debt obligations of
foreign  governments or international  organizations.  This category may include
floating rate obligations,  variable rate obligations, Yankee dollar obligations
(U.S. dollar  denominated  obligations issued by foreign companies and traded on
U.S. markets) and Eurodollar  obligations (U.S. dollar  denominated  obligations
issued by foreign companies and American depository receipts ("ADR's"). ADRs are
certificates of ownership issued by a U.S. bank as a convenience to investors in
lieu of the underlying shares which its holds in custody.

     There may be less  information  publicly  available about a foreign company
than about a U.S.  company,  and foreign  companies are not generally subject to
accounting,  auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable
to those  in the  U.S.  Other  risks  associated  with  investments  in  foreign
securities  include  changes in the  administrations  or economic  and  monetary
policies of foreign governments, the imposition of exchange control regulations,
the possibility of expropriation  decrees and other adverse foreign governmental
action,  the imposition of foreign taxes,  less liquid markets,  less government
supervision  of  exchanges,   brokers  and  issuers,   difficulty  in  enforcing
contractual  obligations,  delays in settlement of securities  transactions  and
greater price  volatility.  In addition,  investing in foreign  securities  will
generally  result in higher  commissions  than  investing  in  similar  domestic
securities.

     H.   When Issued Securities and Forward Commitments.

     The Fund may buy and sell  securities on a when-issued or delayed  delivery
basis,  with payment and delivery  taking place at a future date.  The price and
interest rate that will be received on the securities are each fixed at the time
the buyer  enters  into the  commitment.  The Fund may enter  into such  forward
commitments if it holds,  and maintains  until the settlement date in a separate
account at the Fund's Custodian, cash or U.S. Government securities in an amount
sufficient to meet the purchase  price.  Forward  commitments  involve a risk of
loss  if the  value  of the  security  to be  purchased  declines  prior  to the
settlement  date. Any change in value could increase  fluctuations in the Fund's
share  price and yield.  Although  the Fund will  generally  enter into  forward
commitments  with the intention of acquiring  securities for its portfolio,  the
Fund may dispose of a commitment prior to the settlement if the Adviser deems it
appropriate to do so.

     I.   Portfolio Turnover

     The Fund does not  intend to  purchase  or sell  securities  for short term
trading purposes.  The Fund may, however,  sell any portfolio  security (without
regard to the length of time it has been held) when the  Adviser  believes  that
market conditions, creditworthiness factors or general

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

economic  conditions  warrant such action. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate is
not expected to exceed 100%.

     J.   Hedging Transactions.

     The Fund may utilize various other investment strategies as described below
to hedge various market risks (such as interest rates,  currency exchange rates,
and broad or  specific  equity  market  movements),  or to manage the  effective
maturity or duration of fixed-income  securities.  Such strategies are generally
accepted by modern portfolio  managers and are regularly utilized by many mutual
funds and other institutional  investors.  Techniques and instruments may change
over time as new instruments and strategies are developed or regulatory  changes
occur.

     In the  course  of  pursuing  these  investment  strategies,  the  Fund may
purchase and sell  exchange-listed and  over-the-counter put and call options on
securities,  equity and  fixed-income  indices and other financial  instruments,
purchase and sell financial  futures  contracts and options thereon,  enter into
various interest rate transactions such as swaps,  caps, floors or collars,  and
enter into various currency  transactions  such as currency  forward  contracts,
currency futures contracts,  currency swaps or options on currencies or currency
futures (collectively, all the above are called "Hedging Transactions"). Hedging
Transactions  may be used to attempt to protect against  possible changes in the
market value of securities  held in or to be purchased for the Fund's  portfolio
resulting from securities  markets or currency  exchange rate  fluctuations,  to
protect the Fund's unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to
facilitate the sale of such  securities for investment  purposes,  to manage the
effective  maturity  or  duration  of the Fund's  portfolio,  or to  establish a
position in the derivatives markets as a temporary  substitute for purchasing or
selling  particular  securities.  No more than 5% of the Fund's  assets  will be
committed to Hedging Transactions entered into for non-hedging purposes.  Any or
all of these  investment  techniques  may be used at any  time  and  there is no
particular  strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather than another,
as use of any Hedging  Transaction is a function of numerous variables including
market conditions. The ability of the Fund to utilize these Hedging Transactions
successfully  will depend on the Adviser's  ability to predict  pertinent market
movements,  which  cannot be  assured.  The Fund  will  comply  with  applicable
regulatory  requirements  when  implementing  these  strategies,  techniques and
instruments.  Hedging  Transactions  involving  financial  futures  and  options
thereon will be purchased, sold or entered into only for bona fide hedging, risk
management or portfolio management purposes and not for speculative purposes.

     Hedging  Transactions  have risks  associated with them including  possible
default by the other party to the  transaction,  illiquidity  and, to the extent
the Adviser's  view as to certain market  movements is incorrect,  the risk that
the use of such Hedging Transactions would result in losses greater than if they
had not been used. Use of put and call options may result in losses to the Fund,
force the sale or purchase of portfolio  securities at inopportune  times or for
prices  higher  than (in the case of put  options) or lower than (in the case of
call options)  current market values,  limit the amount the  appreciation of the
Fund can  realize on its  investments  or cause the Fund to hold a  security  it
might  otherwise sell. The use of currency  transactions  can result in the Fund
incurring losses as a result of a number of factors  including the imposition of
exchange  controls,  suspension of  settlements,  or the inability to deliver or
receive a specified currency. The use of options and

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

futures  transactions  entails certain other risks. In particular,  the variable
degree of  correlation  between price  movements of futures  contracts and price
movements in the related portfolio  position of the Fund creates the possibility
that losses on the hedging  instrument may be greater than gains in the value of
the Fund's position. In addition,  futures and options markets may not be liquid
in all circumstances and certain  over-the-counter  options may have no markets.
As a  result,  in  certain  markets,  the Fund  might not be able to close out a
transaction without incurring substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of
futures and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize the risk of
loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the same time they
tend to limit any potential gain which might result from an increase in value of
such position.  Finally,  the daily variation  margin  requirements  for futures
contracts  would create a greater  ongoing  potential  financial risk than would
purchases  of options,  where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial
premium.  Losses resulting from the use of Hedging Transactions would reduce net
asset  value,  and possibly  income,  and such losses can be greater than if the
Hedging Transactions had not been utilized.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF OPTIONS

     Put  options  and  call   options   typically   have   similar   structural
characteristics   and  operational   mechanics   regardless  of  the  underlying
instrument on which they are  purchased or sold.  Thus,  the  following  general
discussion  relates  to each of the  particular  types of options  discussed  in
greater detail below. In addition,  many Hedging Transactions  involving options
require segregation of Fund assets in special accounts, as described below under
"Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts."

     A put option gives the purchaser of the option,  upon payment of a premium,
the  right to  sell,  and the  writer  the  obligation  to buy,  the  underlying
security,  commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price.
For example, the Fund's purchase of a put option on a security might be designed
to protect  its  holdings in the  underlying  instrument  (or, in some cases,  a
similar  instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value by giving
the Fund the right to sell such  instrument at the option exercise price. A call
option,  upon payment of a premium,  gives the purchaser of the option the right
to buy, and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying  instrument at the
exercise price.  The Fund's  purchase of a call option on a security,  financial
future,  index,  currency or other  instrument  might be intended to protect the
Fund  against an  increase  in the price of the  underlying  instrument  that it
intends to purchase  in the future by fixing the price at which it may  purchase
such  instrument.  The Fund is authorized  to purchase and sell  exchange-listed
options and over-the-counter  options ("OTC options").  Exchange-listed  options
are issued by a regulated  intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation
("OCC"),  which  guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to
such options.

     With certain exceptions,  OCC-issued and exchange-listed  options generally
settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency,  although in
the future cash  settlement may become  available.  Index options and Eurodollar
instruments are cash settled for the net amount,  if any, by which the option is
"in-the-money"  (i.e., where the value of the underlying  instrument exceeds, in
the case of a call  option,  or is less than,  in the case of a put option,  the
exercise  price of the option) at the time the option is exercised.  Frequently,
rather than taking or making delivery of

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

the underlying  instrument through the process of exercising the option,  listed
options are closed by entering  into  offsetting  purchase or sale  transactions
that do not result in ownership of the new option.

     The Fund's ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an
OCC or  exchange-listed  put or call  option  is  dependent,  in part,  upon the
liquidity of the option market.  Among the possible reasons for the absence of a
liquid option market on an exchange are: (i)  insufficient  trading  interest in
certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii)
trading  halts,  suspensions  or other  restrictions  imposed  with  respect  to
particular  classes  or series of  options or  underlying  securities  including
reaching daily price limits;  (iv)  interruption of the normal operations of the
OCC or an exchange;  (v)  inadequacy of the  facilities of an exchange or OCC to
handle current  trading  volume;  or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to
discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options),
in which event the relevant  market for that option on that exchange would cease
to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would generally continue
to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

     The hours of trading  for listed  options may not  coincide  with the hours
during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that
the  option  markets  close  before the  markets  for the  underlying  financial
instruments,  significant  price  and  rate  movements  can  take  place  in the
underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.

     OTC options are  purchased  from or sold to securities  dealers,  financial
institutions  or  other  parties  ("Counterparties")  through  direct  bilateral
agreement with the Counterparty.  In contrast to exchange-listed  options, which
generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an
OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement,  term, exercise price,
premium,  guarantees and security,  are set by  negotiation of the parties.  The
Fund will only sell OTC  options  (other  than OTC  currency  options)  that are
subject to a buy-back provision  permitting the Fund to require the Counterparty
to sell the option back to the Fund at a formula  price within  seven days.  The
Fund  expects  generally  to enter into OTC  options  that have cash  settlement
provisions, although it is not required to do so.

     Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty
function in an OTC option.  As a result,  if the  Counterparty  fails to make or
take delivery of the security,  currency or other  instrument  underlying an OTC
option  it has  entered  into  with the Fund or fails to make a cash  settlement
payment due in accordance with the terms of that option,  the Fund will lose any
premium  it paid  for the  option  as well  as any  anticipated  benefit  of the
transaction.  Accordingly,  the Adviser must assess the creditworthiness of each
such Counterparty or any guarantor or credit  enhancement of the  Counterparty's
credit to  determine  the  likelihood  that the terms of the OTC option  will be
satisfied. While this type of arrangement allows the Fund greater flexibility to
tailor an option to its need, OTC options  generally involve greater credit risk
than exchange-traded  options, which are guaranteed by the clearing organization
of the exchanges where they are traded.  The risk of illiquidity also is greater
with OTC  options,  since  these  options  generally  can be closed  out only by
negotiation with the other party to the option.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

     If the Fund sells a call option,  the premium that it receives may serve as
a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium,  against a decrease in the
value of the  underlying  securities  or  instruments  in its  portfolio or will
increase the Fund's income. The sale of put options can also provide income.

     The Fund may purchase and sell call options on  securities,  including U.S.
Treasury  and agency  securities,  mortgage-backed  securities,  corporate  debt
securities,  equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar
instruments that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities  exchanges and in the
over-the-counter  markets  and on  securities  indices,  currencies  and futures
contracts. All calls sold by the Fund must be "covered" (i.e., the Fund must own
the securities or futures  contract  subject to the call) or must meet the asset
segregation  requirements  described  below as long as the call is  outstanding.
Even though the Fund will receive the option  premium to help protect it against
loss,  a call sold by the Fund exposes the Fund during the term of the option to
possible loss of opportunity to realize  appreciation in the market price of the
underlying security or instrument and may require the Fund to hold a security or
instrument which it might otherwise have sold.

     The Fund may purchase  and sell put options on  securities  including  U.S.
Treasury  and agency  securities,  mortgage-backed  securities,  corporate  debt
securities,  equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar
instruments  (whether or not it holds the above securities in its portfolio) and
on securities  indices,  currencies and futures  contracts other than futures on
individual  corporate debt and individual equity  securities.  The Fund will not
sell put options if, as a result,  more than 50% of the Fund's  assets  would be
required to be  segregated  to cover its  potential  obligations  under such put
options other than those with respect to futures and options thereon. In selling
put options, there is a risk that the fund may be required to buy the underlying
security at a disadvantageous price above the market price.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FUTURES

     The Fund may enter into financial  futures  contracts,  or purchase or sell
put and call options on such futures,  as a hedge against  anticipated  interest
rate, currency or equity market changes, for duration  management,  and for risk
management  purposes.  Futures are generally  bought and sold on the commodities
exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and variation  margin as
described below. The sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation by the
Fund,  as  seller,  to  deliver  to the buyer  the  specific  type of  financial
instrument  called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified
price (or, with respect to index  futures and  Eurodollar  instruments,  the net
cash amount).  Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities
except that an option on a futures  contract  gives the purchaser the right,  in
return for the  premium  paid,  to assume a position in a futures  contract  and
obligates the seller to deliver such option.

     The Fund's use of financial  futures and options  thereon will in all cases
be consistent  with  applicable  regulatory  requirements  and in particular the
rules and regulations of the Commodity  Futures  Trading  Commission and will be
entered into only for bona fide hedging,  risk  management  (including  duration
management) or other portfolio  management  purposes.  Typically,  maintaining a
futures  contract or selling an option thereon requires the Fund to deposit with
a financial

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

intermediary  as  security  for its  obligations  an  amount  of  cash or  other
specified  assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10% of the
face  amount  of  the  contract  (but  may be  higher  in  some  circumstances).
Additional  cash or assets  (variation  margin) may be required to be  deposited
thereafter  on a  daily  basis  as the  mark-to-market  value  of  the  contract
fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a
premium for the option  without any further  obligation on the part of the Fund.
If the Fund exercises an option on a futures  contract,  it will be obligated to
post  initial  margin  (and  potential  subsequent  variation  margin)  for  the
resulting futures position just as it would for any position.  Futures contracts
and  options  thereon  are  generally  settled by  entering  into an  offsetting
transaction, but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior
to  settlement  at an  advantageous  price nor that  delivery  will  occur.  The
segregation  requirements  with respect to futures contracts and options thereon
are described below.

OPTIONS ON SECURITIES INDICES AND OTHER FINANCIAL INDICES

     The Fund also may  purchase  and sell call and put  options  on  securities
indices and other financial indices and in so doing can achieve many of the same
objectives  it  would  achieve  through  the  sale or  purchase  of  options  on
individual  securities or other  instruments.  Options on securities indices and
other financial indices are similar to options on a security or other instrument
except  that,  rather  than  settling by  physical  delivery  of the  underlying
instrument,  they settle by cash  settlement,  i.e., an option on an index gives
the holder the right to receive,  upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash
if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based exceeds, in the
case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the
option  (except  if,  in  the  case  of an  OTC  option,  physical  delivery  is
specified).  This amount of cash is equal to the excess of the closing  price of
the index over the exercise price of the option, which also may be multiplied by
a formula  value.  The  seller of the  option is  obligated,  in return  for the
premium received, to make delivery of this amount. The gain or loss of an option
on an index depends on price movements in the instruments  making up the market,
market  segment,  industry or other  composite on which the underlying  index is
based, rather than price movements in individual securities, as is the case with
respect to options on securities.

CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

     The Fund may engage in currency  transactions with  Counterparties in order
to hedge the value of portfolio  holdings  denominated in particular  currencies
against  fluctuations in relative value.  Currency  transactions include forward
currency contracts,  exchange-listed  currency futures,  exchange-listed and OTC
options on currencies,  and currency swaps. A forward currency contract involves
a privately  negotiated  obligation to purchase or sell (with delivery generally
required) a specific  currency at a future  date,  at a price set at the time of
the  contract.  A currency  swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based on
the notional  difference among two or more currencies and operates  similarly to
an  interest  rate  swap,  which is  described  below.  The Fund may enter  into
currency transactions with Counterparties which have received (or the guarantors
of the obligations of such  Counterparties have received) a credit rating of A-1
or P-1 by S&P or Moody's,  respectively,  or that have an equivalent rating from
an NRSRO or (except for OTC currency options) are determined to be of equivalent
credit quality by the Adviser.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

     The  Fund's  dealings  in forward  currency  contracts  and other  currency
transactions  such as  futures,  options,  options on futures  and swaps will be
limited  to  hedging   involving  either  specific   transactions  or  portfolio
positions.  Transaction  hedging is entering  into a currency  transaction  with
respect to specific  assets or  liabilities  of the Fund,  which will  generally
arise in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the
receipt  of income  therefrom.  Position  hedging  is  entering  into a currency
transaction  with  respect  to  portfolio  security  positions   denominated  or
generally quoted in that currency.

     The Fund will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure to an
extent greater,  after netting all transactions  intended to wholly or partially
offset  other  transactions,  than the  aggregate  market  value (at the time of
entering into the  transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio that are
denominated or generally  quoted in or currency  convertible into such currently
other than with respect to proxy hedging as described below.

     The Fund may also cross-hedge  currencies by entering into  transactions to
purchase or sell one or more  currencies  that are  expected to decline in value
relative to other  currencies to which the Fund has or in which the Fund expects
to have portfolio exposure.

     To reduce the effect of currency  fluctuations  on the value of existing or
anticipated holdings of portfolio securities,  the Fund may also engage in proxy
hedging.  Proxy  hedging  is often  used when the  currency  to which the Fund's
portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the dollar. Proxy
hedging entails  entering to a forward contract to sell a currency whose changes
in value are  generally  considered  to be linked to a currency or currencies in
which some or all of the Fund's  portfolio  securities are or are expected to be
denominated,  and to buy U.S.  dollars.  The  amount of the  contract  would not
exceed the value of the Fund's securities denominated in linked currencies.  For
example,  if the Adviser  considers the Austrian  schilling linked to the German
deutschemark (the "D-mark"), the Fund holds securities denominated in schillings
and the Adviser  believes that the value of schillings  will decline against the
U.S.  dollar,  the  Adviser  may enter into a contract  to sell  D-marks and buy
dollars.  Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as
other transactions with similar instruments. Further, there is the risk that the
perceived  linkage between  various  currencies may not be present or may not be
present during the  particular  time that the Fund is engaging in proxy hedging.
If the Fund enters  into a currency  hedging  transaction,  the Fund will comply
with the asset segregation requirements described below.

RISKS OF CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

     Currency  transactions  are subject to risks  different from those of other
portfolio  transactions.  Because currency control is of great importance to the
issuing governments and influences  economic planning and policy,  purchases and
sales  of  currency  and  related  instruments  can be  negatively  affected  by
government   exchange  controls,   blockages,   and  manipulations  or  exchange
restrictions  imposed by governments.  These can result in losses to the Fund if
it is  unable  to  deliver  or  receive  currency  or  funds  in  settlement  of
obligations  and could  also cause  hedges it has  entered  into to be  rendered
useless,  resulting in full currency  exposure as well as incurring  transaction
costs.  Buyers and sellers of currency futures are subject to the same risk that
apply to the use of futures generally. Further, settlement of a currency futures
contract for the purchase of

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

most  currencies  must  occur at a bank  based in the  issuing  nation.  Trading
options on currency  futures is relatively new, and the ability to establish and
close out  positions on such options is subject to the  maintenance  of a liquid
market that may not always be available.  Currency  exchange rates may fluctuate
based on factors extrinsic to that country's economy.

COMBINED TRANSACTIONS

     The Fund may enter into multiple  transactions,  including multiple options
transactions,  multiple futures  transactions,  multiple  currency  transactions
(including forward currency  contracts) and any combination of futures,  options
and  currency  transactions  ("component"  transactions),  instead  of a  single
Hedging  Transaction,  as part of a single or  combined  strategy  when,  in the
opinion  of the  Adviser,  it is in the best  interests  of the Fund to do so. A
combined  transaction  will usually contain elements of risk that are present in
each of its competent transactions.  Although combined transactions are normally
entered into based on the Adviser's  judgment that the combined  strategies will
reduce  risk  or  otherwise  more  effectively  achieve  the  desired  portfolio
management  goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such
risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.

SWAPS, CAPS, FLOORS AND COLLARS

     Among the Hedging  Transactions  into which the Fund may enter are interest
rate,  currency and index swaps and the purchase or sale of related caps, floors
and  collars.  The Fund  expects to enter into these  transactions  primarily to
preserve  a return  or spread  on a  particular  investment  or  portion  of its
portfolio,  to protect against currency  fluctuations,  as a duration management
technique or to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund
anticipates  purchasing  at  a  later  date.  The  Fund  intends  to  use  these
transactions  as hedges  and not as  speculative  investments  and will not sell
interest  rate  caps or  floors  where  it  does  not own  securities  or  other
instruments  providing  the  income  stream  the Fund may be  obligated  to pay.
Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their
respective  commitments to pay or receive interest,  for example, an exchange of
floating rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a notional amount
of  principal.  A currency  swap is an  agreement  to  exchange  cash flows on a
notional  amount  of  two  or  more  currencies  based  on  the  relative  value
differential  among them and an index swap is an agreement to swap cash flows on
a notional amount based on changes in the values of the reference  indices.  The
purchase  of a cap  entitles  the  purchaser  to receive  payments on a notional
principal  amount from the party selling such cap to the extent that a specified
index exceeds a predetermined  interest rate or amount.  The purchase of a floor
entitles the purchaser to receive  payments on a notional  principal amount from
the party selling such floor to the extent that a specified  index falls below a
predetermined  interest rate or amount. A collar is a combination of a cap and a
floor that preserves a certain return within a  predetermined  range of interest
rates or values.

     The Fund will  usually  enter  into  swaps on a net  basis,  i.e.,  the two
payment streams are netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates
specified in the instrument,  with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may
be,  only the net amount of the two  payments.  Inasmuch as these  swaps,  caps,
floors and collars are entered into for good faith hedging purposes, the

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

Adviser  and  the  Fund  believe  such  obligations  do  not  constitute  senior
securities under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and,  accordingly,  will not
treat them as being  subject to its  borrowing  restrictions.  The Fund will not
enter into any swap,  cap, floor or collar  transaction  unless,  at the time of
entering  into  such   transaction,   the  unsecured   long-term   debt  of  the
Counterparty,  combined with any credit  enhancements,  is rated at least "A" by
S&P or Moody's or has an equivalent  rating from an NRSRO or is determined to be
of  equivalent  credit  quality  by the  Adviser.  If there is a default  by the
Counterparty,  the Fund may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements
related to the  transaction.  The swap market has grown  substantially in recent
years with a large number of banks and  investment  banking firms acting both as
principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result,
the swap market has become relatively liquid. Caps, floors, and collars are more
recent innovations for which  standardized  documentation has not yet been fully
developed and, accordingly, they are less liquid than swaps.

EURODOLLAR INSTRUMENTS

     The  Fund  may  make  investments  in  Eurodollar  instruments.  Eurodollar
instruments  are U.S.  dollar-denominated  futures  contracts or options thereon
which are  linked to the  London  Interbank  Offered  Rate  ("LIBOR"),  although
foreign  currency-denominated  instruments  are  available  from  time to  time.
Eurodollar  futures  contracts enable  purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the
lending of funds and  sellers to obtain a fixed  rate for  borrowings.  The Fund
might use  Eurodollar  futures  contracts  and options  thereon to hedge against
changes in LIBOR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments
are linked.

RISKS OF HEDGING TRANSACTIONS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

     When conducted outside the United States,  Hedging  Transactions may not be
regulated  as  rigorously  as in the United  States,  may not involve a clearing
mechanism and related  guarantees,  and are subject to the risk of  governmental
actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign  securities,  currencies
and other  instruments.  The value of such  positions  also  could be  adversely
affected by: (i) other complex foreign  political,  legal and economic  factors,
(ii)  lesser  availability  than in the  United  States of data on which to make
trading  decisions,  (iii)  delays in the Fund's  ability  to act upon  economic
events  occurring  in foreign  markets  during  nonbusiness  hours in the United
States,  (iv) the  imposition  of different  exercise and  settlement  terms and
procedures  and margin  requirements  than in the United  States,  and (v) lower
trading volume and liquidity.

USE OF SEGREGATED AND OTHER SPECIAL ACCOUNTS

     Many Hedging Transactions, in addition to other requirements,  require that
the Fund  segregate  liquid  high-grade  assets with its Custodian to the extent
Fund obligations are not otherwise "covered" through ownership of the underlying
security,  financial instrument or currency. In general,  either the full amount
of any  obligation  by the Fund to pay or deliver  securities  or assets must be
covered at all times by the securities,  instruments or currency  required to be
delivered,  or,  subject  to any  regulatory  restriction,  an amount of cash or
liquid  high  grade  securities  at least  equal to the  current  amount  of the
obligation must be segregated with the Custodian.  The segregated  assets cannot
be sold or transferred  unless  equivalent assets are substituted in their place
or it is no

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

longer  necessary to segregate  them. For example,  a call option written by the
Fund  will  require  the Fund to hold  the  securities  subject  to the call (or
securities   convertible   into  the  needed   securities   without   additional
consideration)  or to  segregate  liquid  high-grade  securities  sufficient  to
purchase and deliver the securities if the call is exercised. A call option sold
by the Fund on an index will require the Fund to own portfolio  securities which
correlate  with the index or to segregate  liquid high grade assets equal to the
excess of the index  value over the  exercise  price on a current  basis.  A put
option  written by the Fund  requires the Fund to segregate  liquid,  high-grade
assets equal to the exercise price.

     Except  when the Fund enters into a forward  contract  for the  purchase or
sale of a security  denominated  in a  particular  currency,  which  requires no
segregation, a currency contract that obligates the Fund to buy or sell currency
will  generally  require  the Fund to hold an amount of that  currency or liquid
securities  denominated in that currency  equal to the Fund's  obligations or to
segregate liquid high-grade assets equal to the amount of the Fund's obligation.

     OTC  options  entered  into by the  Fund,  including  those on  securities,
currency,  financial  instruments or indices and OCC-issued and  exchange-listed
index options will generally provide for cash settlement.  As a result, when the
Fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of assets equal to
its accrued net obligations,  as there is no requirement for payment or delivery
of amounts in excess of the net  amount.  These  amounts  will equal 100% of the
exercise  price  in  the  case  of  a  noncash  settled  put,  the  same  as  an
OCC-guaranteed  listed option sold by the Fund, or the in-the-money  amount plus
any  sell-back  formula  amount in the case of a  cash-settled  put or call.  In
addition,  when  the Fund  sells a call  option  on an index at a time  when the
in-the-money  amount exceeds the exercise price, the Fund will segregate,  until
the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents  equal in value to
such excess.  OCC-issued and exchange-listed options sold by the Fund other than
those above  generally  settle with  physical  delivery,  or with an election of
either  physical  delivery or cash  settlement,  and the Fund will  segregate an
amount of assets  equal to the full value of the option.  OTC  options  settling
with physical delivery,  or with an election of either physical delivery or cash
settlement,  will be treated the same as other  options  settling  with physical
delivery.

     In the case of a  futures  contract  or an  option  thereon,  the Fund must
deposit  initial  margin and  possible  daily  variation  margin in  addition to
segregating  assets  sufficient  to meet its  obligation  to purchase or provide
securities  or  currencies,  or to pay the amount owed at the  expiration  of an
index-based futures contract. Such assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents,
liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets.

     With  respect to swaps,  the Fund will accrue the net amount of the excess,
if any, of its obligations  over its entitlement  with respect to each swap on a
daily basis and will segregate an amount of cash or liquid high-grade securities
having a value equal to the accrued  excess.  Caps,  floors and collars  require
segregation of assets with a value equal to the Fund's net obligation, if any.

     Hedging  Transactions  may be covered by other means when  consistent  with
applicable  regulatory  policies.  The  Fund  may  also  enter  into  offsetting
transactions so that its combined

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

position,  coupled  with  any  segregated  assets,  equals  its net  outstanding
obligation in related options and Hedging  Transactions.  For example,  the Fund
could  purchase a put option if the strike  price of that  option is the same or
higher than the strike price of a put option sold by the Fund. Moreover, instead
of segregating  assets if the Fund held a futures or forward contract,  it could
purchase a put option on the same  futures  or  forward  contract  with a strike
price as high or  higher  than the price of the  contract  held.  Other  Hedging
Transactions may also be offset in combinations.  If the offsetting  transaction
terminates at the time of or after the primary  transaction  no  segregation  is
required, but if it terminates prior to such time, assets equal to any remaining
obligation would need to be segregated.

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

     FUNDAMENTAL.  The investment  limitations described below have been adopted
by the Trust with respect to the Fund and are fundamental ("Fundamental"),  that
is, they may not be changed  without the  affirmative  vote of a majority of the
outstanding  shares of the Fund. As used in the Prospectus and this Statement of
Additional  Information,  the term "majority" of the  outstanding  shares of the
Fund means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the  outstanding  shares of the Fund
present at a meeting,  if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares
of the Fund are present or represented at such meeting;  or (2) more than 50% of
the  outstanding  shares of the Fund.  Other  investment  practices  that may be
changed by the Board of Trustees  without the  approval of  shareholders  to the
extent  permitted  by  applicable  law,  regulation  or  regulatory  policy  are
considered non-fundamental ("Non-Fundamental").

     1. BORROWING MONEY. The Fund will not borrow money, except (a) from a bank,
provided that  immediately  after such  borrowing  there is an asset coverage of
300% for all  borrowings  of the Fund;  or (b) from a bank or other  persons for
temporary  purposes  only,  provided that such  temporary  borrowings  are in an
amount  not  exceeding  5% of the  Fund's  total  assets  at the  time  when the
borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering into
reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has an asset coverage of
300% for all  borrowings  and  repurchase  commitments  of the Fund  pursuant to
reverse repurchase transactions.

     2.  SENIOR  SECURITIES.  The Fund will not issue  senior  securities.  This
limitation is not  applicable  to  activities  that may be deemed to involve the
issuance  or sale of a senior  security  by the Fund,  provided  that the Fund's
engagement in such  activities is consistent with or permitted by the Investment
Company  Act  of  1940,  as  amended,  the  rules  and  regulations  promulgated
thereunder or interpretations  of the Securities and Exchange  Commission or its
staff.

     3. UNDERWRITING.  The Fund will not act as underwriter of securities issued
by other  persons.  This  limitation  is not  applicable  to the extent that, in
connection with the disposition of portfolio  securities  (including  restricted
securities),  the  Fund may be  deemed  an  underwriter  under  certain  federal
securities laws.

     4. REAL  ESTATE.  The Fund will not  purchase  or sell  real  estate.  This
limitation is not applicable to investments  in marketable  securities  that are
secured by or  represent  interests  in real estate.  This  limitation  does not
preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities or

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

investing  in  companies  engaged  in the real  estate  business  or that have a
significant  portion  of their  assets in real  estate  (including  real  estate
investment trusts).

     5.  COMMODITIES.  The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities  except as
described in the  Prospectus  and  Statement  of  Additional  Information.  This
limitation does not preclude the Fund from acquiring  commodities as a result of
ownership of  securities  or other  investments;  from  entering  into  options,
futures,  currency,  swap,  cap,  floor,  collar or similar  transactions;  from
investing in  securities or other  instruments  backed by  commodities;  or from
investing  in  companies  that are engaged in a  commodities  business or have a
significant portion of their assets in commodities.

     6.  LOANS.  The Fund will not make  loans to other  persons,  except (a) by
loaning portfolio securities,  (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements,  or (c)
by  purchasing  nonpublicly  offered  debt  securities.  For  purposes  of  this
limitation,  the term "loans"  shall not include the purchase of a portion of an
issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.

     7. CONCENTRATION.  The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets
in any particular industry.  This limitation is not applicable to investments in
obligations  issued or  guaranteed  by the U.S.  Government,  its  agencies  and
instrumentalities or repurchase agreements with respect thereto.

     8.   DIVERSIFICATION.   The  Fund  will  comply  with  the   standards  for
diversification as required by the then-current  Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and interpretations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff.

     With respect to the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations
on its investment policies and limitations, an excess above the fixed percentage
will not be a violation of the policy or  limitation  unless the excess  results
immediately  and  directly  from the  acquisition  of any security or the action
taken.  This  paragraph  does not  apply to the  borrowing  policy  set forth in
paragraph 1 above.

     With respect to the Fund's  diversification,  the current standards require
that the Fund may not purchase the securities of any one issuer,  other than the
U.S.  Government  or any of its  instrumentalities,  if  immediately  after such
purchase more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested in such
issuer, or the Fund would own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities
of such  issuer,  except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund's  total assets
may be invested without regard to such 5% and 10% limitations.

     NON-FUNDAMENTAL.  The following  limitations have been adopted by the Trust
with respect to the Fund and are Non-Fundamental  (see "Investment  Limitations"
above).

     1.  PLEDGING.  The Fund will not mortgage,  pledge,  hypothecate  or in any
manner transfer, as security for indebtedness,  any assets of the Fund except as
may be necessary in  connection  with  borrowings  described in  limitation  (1)
above. Margin deposits, security interests,

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

liens  and  collateral  arrangements  with  respect  to  transactions  involving
options,  futures  contracts,  short sales and other  permitted  investments and
techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage,  pledge or  hypothecation  of assets
for purposes of this limitation.

     2.  BORROWING.  The Fund will not purchase any  security  while  borrowings
(including  reverse repurchase  agreements)  representing more than 5% its total
assets are outstanding.

     3. MARGIN PURCHASES.  The Fund will not purchase securities or evidences of
interest  thereon on "margin."  This  limitation is not applicable to short-term
credit  obtained  by the  Fund  for the  clearance  of  purchases  and  sales or
redemption  of  securities,  or to  arrangements  with  respect to  transactions
involving  options,   futures   contracts,   short  sales  and  other  permitted
investments and techniques.

     4.  OPTIONS.  The Fund will not  purchase or sell puts,  calls,  options or
straddles, except as described in the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional
Information.

     5. SHORT SALES. The Fund will not effect short sales of securities.

     6. ILLIQUID SECURITIES. The Fund will not invest more than 5% of its assets
in securities that are restricted as to resale or otherwise  illiquid.  For this
purpose,  illiquid  securities  generally  include  securities  that  cannot  be
disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business  without taking
a reduced price.

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS


     The Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for management of the Fund
under the laws of Ohio  governing the  responsibilities  of trustees of business
trusts.  Following are the Trustees and executive  officers of the Trust,  their
present occupation with the Trust or Fund, age, principal  occupation during the
past 5 years and their aggregate compensation from the Trust for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 2000.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name, Age, Position                     Principal Occupation                       Compensation From
And Address                             During Past 5 Years                        The Trust
-----------                             -------------------                        ---------
<S>                                     <C>                                        <C>
Barry R. James, CFA * (43)              Executive Vice President, James            $0
President and Trustee of the Trust      Investment Research, Inc. (1985 to
P.O. Box 8                              Present).
Alpha, Ohio  45301

Thomas L. Mangan (50)                                                              $0
Vice President, Treasurer and           Vice president, James Investment
Secretary of the Trust;                 Research, Inc. (1994 to Present).
P.O. Box 8
Alpha, Ohio  45301

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

Anthony P. D'Angelo, Ph.D. (70)                                                    $4,000
Trustee                                 Professor, Graduate School of Logistics
Dept. of the Air Force, Building 641    and Acquisition Management, Air Force
2950 P Street                           Institute of Technology,
Wright-Patterson AFB Ohio 45433         Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (1983 to
                                        present).
Hazel L. Eichelberger (63)                                                         $5,000
Trustee                                 Retired Sr. Vice President, Citizens
9438 Atchison Road                      Federal Bank, Dayton, Ohio (1955 to
Dayton, Ohio  45458                     1997).

James F. Zid (66)                                                                  $5,000
Trustee                                 Retired Partner, Ernst & Young, LLP,
6849 Grenadier Blvd.                    Columbus, Ohio (1968 to 1993).
Naples, Florida 34108
</TABLE>

* Indicates that Trustee is an Interested  Person for purposes of the Investment
Company Act of 1940.

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES. As of October 13, 2000, the officers and
Trustees  of the  Fund as a group  owned  less  than 1% of the  then-outstanding
shares of the Fund.

     As of October 13, 2000, The Fifth Third Bank, P.O. Box 630074,  Cincinnati,
Ohio  45236,  owned of record  6.04% and Frank  James TTEE Frank E.  James,  Jr.
Trust, P.O. Box 8, Alpha, Ohio 45301, owned of record 6.01% of the shares of the
Fund.


THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

     James  Investment  Research,  Inc.,  P.O.  Box 8,  Alpha,  Ohio  45301 (the
"Adviser")  supervises the Fund's investments pursuant to a Management Agreement
(the "Management  Agreement")  subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.
Francis E. James is the controlling  shareholder of the Adviser.  The Management
Agreement  is  effective  for an  initial  two-year  term  and  will be  renewed
thereafter for one year periods only so long as such renewal and  continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a
majority of the Fund's outstanding  voting securities,  provided the continuance
is also approved by a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested  persons"
of the Trust or the  Adviser by vote cast in person at a meeting  called for the
purpose of voting on such  approval.  The  Management  Agreement  is  terminable
without penalty on sixty days notice by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by
the  Adviser.   The  Management   Agreement  provides  that  it  will  terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment.


     As compensation for its management  services,  the Fund is obligated to pay
the Adviser a fee computed and accrued  daily and paid monthly at an annual rate
of 0.74% of the average daily

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

net assets of the Fund.  For the  fiscal  year  ended  June 30,  2000,  the Fund
accrued advisory fees of $703,102.  In order to reduce the operating expenses of
the Fund,  the Adviser waived $23,973 of its fees, so that through June 30, 2000
the fee after waiver was .74% of the Fund's  average  daily net assets.  For the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, the Fund accrued advisory fees of $892,188.  In
order to reduce  operating  expenses of the Fund, the Adviser waived $108,490 of
its fees,  so that  through  June 30, 1999 the fee after waiver was 0.65% of the
Fund's  average  daily  net  assets.   For  the  fiscal  period  June  26,  1998
(commencement  of operations  for the Fund) to June 30, 1998,  the Fund paid the
Adviser advisory fees of $10,681.


     The Fund is  responsible  for the payment of all operating  expenses of the
Fund,  including  brokerage fees and  commissions;  taxes or governmental  fees;
interest fees and expenses of the non-interested  person trustees;  clerical and
shareholder service staff salaries; office space and other office expenses; fees
and expenses  incurred by the Fund in connection  with  membership in investment
company  organizations;  legal,  auditing and accounting  expenses;  expenses of
registering shares under federal and state securities laws;  insurance expenses;
fees and expenses of the custodian,  transfer agent,  dividend disbursing agent,
shareholder service agent, administrator,  accounting and pricing services agent
and underwriter of the Fund;  expenses,  including clerical expenses,  of issue,
sale,  redemption or repurchase of shares of the Fund; the cost of preparing and
distributing  reports  and  notices to  shareholders,  the cost of  printing  or
preparing  prospectuses and statements of additional information for delivery to
the Fund's shareholders;  the cost of printing or preparing statements,  reports
or other documents to shareholders; expenses of shareholders' meetings and proxy
solicitations;  and such  extraordinary or non-recurring  expenses as may arise,
including litigation to which the Fund may be a party and indemnification of the
Trust's trustees and officers with respect thereto.

     The Adviser  retains the right to use the names  "Golden  Rainbow",  "James
Advantage"  or any  variation  thereof in  connection  with  another  investment
company  or  business  enterprise  with  which  the  Adviser  is or  may  become
associated.  The Trust's  right to use the names  "Golden  Rainbow,"  and "James
Advantage"  or any  variation  thereof  automatically  ceases  ninety days after
termination  of the Agreement and may be withdrawn by the Adviser on ninety days
written notice.

     The Adviser may make payments to banks or other financial institutions that
provide  shareholder   services  and  administer   shareholder   accounts.   The
Glass-Steagall   Act   prohibits   banks  from   engaging  in  the  business  of
underwriting,  selling or  distributing  securities.  Although the scope of this
prohibition  under the  Glass-Steagall  Act has not been clearly  defined by the
courts or appropriate regulatory agencies,  management of the Fund believes that
the  Glass-Steagall Act should not preclude a bank from providing such services.
However, state securities laws on this issue may differ from the interpretations
of federal law  expressed  herein and banks and  financial  institutions  may be
required to register as dealers pursuant to state law. If a bank were prohibited
from  continuing  to perform all or a part of such  services,  management of the
Fund  believes  that  there  would  be no  material  impact  on the  Fund or its
shareholders.  Banks may charge their customers fees for offering these services
to the extent permitted by applicable  regulatory  authorities,  and the overall
return to those  shareholders  availing  themselves of the bank services will be
lower  than to those  shareholders  who do not.  The Fund may from  time to time
purchase

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

securities  issued by banks which provide such services;  however,  in selecting
investments for the Fund, no preference will be shown for such securities.

TRANSFER AGENT AND DISTRIBUTOR


     The Fund retains  Integrated  Fund Services,  Inc., 221 East Fourth Street,
Cincinnati,  Ohio 45202 (the  "Transfer  Agent"),  to serve as  transfer  agent,
dividend paying agent and shareholder  service agent.  The Fund also retains the
Transfer  Agent to  provide  the Fund with  administrative  services,  including
regulatory  reporting and necessary office equipment,  personnel and facilities.
For its services as administrator,  the Transfer Agent receives a monthly fee at
an annual rate of .10% of the Fund's average daily net assets up to $25 million;
 .075% of such assets from $25 million to $50 million; and .05% of such assets in
excess of $50 million, subject to a minimum monthly fee of $1,000.

     The Fund  retains IFS Fund  Distributors,  Inc.,  221 East  Fourth  Street,
Cincinnati,  Ohio 45202 (the  "Distributor"),  to act as the exclusive agent for
distribution  of the Fund's shares.  The Distributor is obligated to sell shares
of the Funds on a best  efforts  basis  only  against  purchase  orders  for the
shares. Shares of the Funds are offered to the public on a continuous basis. The
Transfer Agent and the Distributor are  subsidiaries of IFS Holdings,  Inc. Tina
D. Hosking is an officer of both the Distributor and the Trust.

     For the  fiscal  year  ended  June  30,  2000,  the  aggregate  commissions
collected on sales of shares of the Fund were $590.01,  of which the Distributor
paid $334.02 to unaffiliated broker-dealers in the selling network, paid $192.52
to  affiliated  broker-dealers  in the selling  network  and earned  $63.47 from
underwriting and broker commissions.


OTHER SERVICES

     The firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP, 1700 Courthouse Plaza N.E., Dayton, Ohio
45402,  has been selected as  independent  auditors for the Trust for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 2001. Deloitte & Touche LLP performs an annual audit of the
Fund's  financial   statements  and  provides  financial,   tax  and  accounting
consulting services as requested.

     Firstar Bank, N.A., 425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, is Custodian
of the Fund's  investments.  The Custodian  holds all cash and securities of the
Fund (either in the  Custodian's  possession or in its favor through "book entry
systems" authorized by the Trustee in accordance with the Investment Company Act
of 1940), collects all income and effects all securities  transactions on behalf
of the Fund.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

     Subject to policies  established by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the
Adviser is responsible for the Fund's portfolio decisions and the placing of the
Fund's portfolio transactions.  In placing portfolio  transactions,  the Adviser
seeks the best  qualitative  execution  for the Fund,  taking into  account such
factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

spread), the execution capability,  financial  responsibility and responsiveness
of the broker or dealer and the brokerage and research  services provided by the
broker or dealer.  The Adviser  generally seeks favorable  prices and commission
rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received.

     Consistent with the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities
Dealers,  Inc.,  and  subject  to its  obligation  of seeking  best  qualitative
execution,  the Adviser may give consideration to sales of shares of the Fund as
a  factor  in  the  selection  of  brokers  and  dealers  to  execute  portfolio
transactions.

     The Adviser is  specifically  authorized  to select  brokers or dealers who
also  provide  brokerage  and  research  services  to the Fund  and/or the other
accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment  discretion and to pay such
brokers or dealers a commission in excess of the  commission  another  broker or
dealer would charge if the Adviser  determines in good faith that the commission
is reasonable  in relation to the value of the  brokerage and research  services
provided.  The determination may be viewed in terms of a particular  transaction
or the Adviser's overall responsibilities with respect to the Trust and to other
accounts over which it exercises investment discretion.

     Research services include  supplemental  research,  securities and economic
analyses,  statistical services and information with respect to the availability
of securities  or  purchasers  or sellers of securities  and analyses of reports
concerning  performance of accounts. The research services and other information
furnished by brokers through whom the Fund effects  securities  transactions may
also  be  used by the  Adviser  in  servicing  all of its  accounts.  Similarly,
research and  information  provided by brokers or dealers  serving other clients
may be  useful to the  Adviser  in  connection  with its  services  to the Fund.
Although  research services and other information are useful to the Fund and the
Adviser,  it is not  possible to place a dollar  value on the research and other
information received. It is the opinion of the Board of Trustees and the Adviser
that the review and study of the research and other  information will not reduce
the overall cost to the Adviser of  performing  its duties to the Fund under the
Agreement.

     Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal
market makers or with broker-dealers,  if the same or a better price,  including
commissions and executions,  is available.  Fixed income securities are normally
purchased directly from the issuer, an underwriter or a market maker.  Purchases
include a  concession  paid by the issuer to the  underwriter  and the  purchase
price paid to a market  maker may include  the spread  between the bid and asked
prices.

     The Adviser  makes  investment  decisions for the Fund  independently  from
those of the other  accounts the Adviser  manages;  investments  of the type the
Fund may make, however, may also be made by those other accounts.  When the Fund
and one or more other accounts the Adviser manages are prepared to invest in, or
desire to dispose of, the same  security,  the Adviser will  allocate  available
investments or  opportunities  for sales in a manner the Adviser  believes to be
equitable to each. In some cases,  this procedure may adversely affect the price
paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtained or disposed of
by the Fund.  Orders placed for the Fund will not be combined  ("blocked")  with
other orders.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>


     The Fund paid  brokerage  commissions of $126,817 for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 2000, $131,134 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999.

     CODE OF ETHICS.  The  Trust,  the  Adviser  and the  Distributor  have each
adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the Investment  Company Act of 1940
which permits Fund personnel to invest in securities for their own accounts. The
Codes of Ethics  adopted by the Trust,  the Adviser and the  Distributor  are on
public file with, and are available from, the SEC.


SHARES OF THE FUND

     The  Fund  does  not  issue  share  certificates.  All  shares  are held in
non-certificate  form registered on the books of the Fund and the Transfer Agent
for the account of the shareholder.  The rights to limit the amount of purchases
and to refuse to sell to any person are  reserved by the Fund.  If your check or
wire does not clear,  you will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund.
If you  are  already  a  shareholder,  the  Fund  can  redeem  shares  from  any
identically  registered  account  in the  Fund as  reimbursement  for  any  loss
incurred.  You may be prohibited or restricted  from making future  purchases in
the Fund.

     Four classes of shares, Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, and
Class R Shares are  authorized  for the Fund.  Currently,  the Fund is  offering
Class A shares only,  but others may be offered in the future.  The four classes
of shares each represent an interest in the same portfolio of investments of the
Fund and have the same  rights,  except (i) Class B and Class C Shares  bear the
expenses of the deferred sales arrangement and any expenses  (including a higher
distribution  services fee)  resulting  from such sales  arrangement,  (ii) each
class that is subject to a  distribution  fee has  exclusive  voting rights with
respect to those  provisions  of the Fund's Rule 12b-1  distribution  plan which
relate  only to such  class  and  (iii)  the  classes  have  different  exchange
privileges. Additionally, Class B Shares will automatically convert into Class A
Shares after a specified  period of years (as described  below).  The net income
attributable to Class B and Class C Shares and the dividends  payable on Class B
and Class C Shares  will be reduced  by the  amount of the  higher  distribution
services fee and certain other incremental expenses associated with the deferred
sales charge arrangement. The net asset value per share of Class A Shares, Class
B Shares,  Class C Shares and Class R Shares is expected to be substantially the
same, but it may differ from time to time.

     For  purposes of  conversion  of Class A Shares,  Class B Shares  purchased
through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions paid in respect of Class
B Shares in  stockholder's  account will be  considered to be held in a separate
sub-account.  Each time any Class B Shares in the  stockholder's  account (other
than  those in the  sub-account)  convert  to Class A Shares,  an equal pro rata
portion of the Class B Shares in the  sub-account  also will  convert to Class A
Shares.  The  conversion  of Class B Shares to Class A Shares is  subject to the
continuing  determination  that (i) the  assessment  of the higher  distribution
services  fee and  transfer  agency cost with respect to Class B Shares does not
result in the  Fund's  dividends  or  distributions  constituting  "preferential
dividends"  under the Internal  Revenue  Code,  and (ii) that the  conversion of
Class B Shares does not constitute a taxable event under federal income tax law.
The conversion of Class B Shares to Class

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

A Shares may be  suspended  if such an opinion is no longer  available.  In that
event, no further  conversions of Class B Shares would occur, and Class B Shares
might  continue  to be subject to the higher  distribution  services  fee for an
indefinite  period,  which period may extend beyond the conversion  period after
the end of the month in which the shares were issued.

     The contingent  deferred sales load ("CDSL") will not be imposed on amounts
representing  increases  in net asset value above the  initial  purchase  price.
Additionally,  no charge will be  assessed on Class B or Class C Shares  derived
from reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions.  The CDSL will be
waived (i) on redemption of shares  following the  disability  (as determined in
writing by the Social  Security  Administration)  or death of a stockholder  and
(ii) on  certain  redemptions  in  connection  with  IRAs  and  other  qualified
retirement  plans.  In the case of an  exchange,  the  length  of time  that the
investor  held  the  original  Class B or  Class C  Shares  is  counted  towards
satisfaction  of the period  during which a deferred  sales charge is imposed on
the Class B or Class C for which the exchange was made.

LETTER OF INTENT. A shareholder may qualify for reduced sales charges by sending
to the Fund (within ninety days after the first purchase  desired to be included
in the purchase program) the signed, non-binding Letter of Intent section on the
application  form. All investments in retail shares of the Fund count toward the
indicated  goal.  It is understood  that 5% of the dollar amount  checked on the
application will be held in a special escrow account.  These shares will be held
by an escrow agent subject to the terms of the escrow. All dividends and capital
gains distributions on the escrowed shares will be credited to the shareholder's
account in shares. If the total purchases,  less redemptions by the shareholder,
his spouse,  children and parents, equal the amount specified under this Letter,
the shares held in escrow will be deposited to the shareholder's open account or
delivered to the  shareholder  or to his or her order.  If the total  purchases,
less  redemptions,  exceed the amount  specified under this Letter and an amount
which  would  qualify  for a further  quantity  discount,  a  retroactive  price
adjustment will be made by the Distributor and the dealer through whom purchases
were made  pursuant to this Letter of Intent (to reflect such  further  quantity
discount).  The resulting  difference  in offering  price will be applied to the
purchase of  additional  shares at the  offering  price  applicable  to a single
purchase of the dollar  amount of the total  purchases.  If the total  purchases
less  redemptions  are less than the amount  specified  under this  Letter,  the
shareholder  will remit to the  Distributor an amount equal to the difference in
the dollar  amount of sales charge  actually paid and the amount of sales charge
which  would  have  applied  to the  aggregate  purchases  if the  total of such
purchases had been made at a single time.  Upon such  remittance the shares held
in escrow for the  shareholder's  account will be deposited to the shareholder's
open account or delivered to the  shareholder or to his or her order.  If within
20 days after written request by the Distributor such difference in sales charge
is not paid,  the  Distributor  is hereby  authorized  to redeem an  appropriate
number  of  shares  to  realize  such  difference.  The  Distributor  is  hereby
irrevocably constituted under this Letter of Intent to effect such redemption as
agent of the shareholder.

                                      -22-
<PAGE>

DETERMINATION OF SHARE PRICE

     The price (net asset value) of the shares of the Fund is  determined  as of
4:00 p.m.,  Eastern  time on each day the Trust is open for  business and on any
other day on which  there is  sufficient  trading  in the Fund's  securities  to
materially  affect the net asset value.  The Trust is open for business on every
day except  Saturdays,  Sundays  and the  following  holidays:  New Year's  Day,
President's  Day,  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr. Day,  Good Friday,  Memorial  Day,
Independence  Day, Labor Day,  Thanksgiving and Christmas.  For a description of
the  methods  used  to  determine  the  net  asset  value  (share  price),   see
"Calculation of Share Price and Public Offering Price" in the Prospectus.

     For  valuation  purposes,  quotations  of foreign  securities  in a foreign
currency are converted to U.S.  dollar  equivalents  at the time of pricing.  In
computing  the net asset  value of the Fund,  the  values of  foreign  portfolio
securities are generally based upon market quotations which,  depending upon the
exchange or market,  may be last sale price,  last bid price,  or the average of
the last bid and asked prices as of, in each case, the close of the  appropriate
exchange or another designated time.

     Trading in securities on European and Far Eastern securities  exchanges and
over-the-counter markets is normally completed at various times before the close
of business on each day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open. Trading of
these  securities may not take place on every New York Stock  Exchange  business
day. In addition, trading may take place in various foreign markets on Saturdays
or on other days when the New York Stock  Exchange  is not open and on which the
Fund's share price is not calculated. Therefore, the value of the portfolio of a
fund  holding  foreign  securities  may be  significantly  affected on days when
shares of the Fund may not be purchased or redeemed.

     The calculation of the share price of the Fund holding  foreign  securities
in its portfolio does not take place contemporaneously with the determination of
the values of many of the foreign portfolio securities used in such calculation.
Events affecting the values of foreign  portfolio  securities that occur between
the time their prices are  determined  and the  calculation  of the Fund's share
price will not be reflected in the  calculation  unless the Adviser  determines,
subject to review by the Board of  Trustees,  that the  particular  event  would
materially affect net asset value, in which case an adjustment will be made.

                           ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION

TAXATION OF THE FUNDS. The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify
as a "regulated  investment  company" under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").  Among its  requirements to qualify under
Subchapter  M,  each  Fund  must  distribute  annually  at least  90% of its net
investment income. In addition to this distribution  requirement,  the Fund must
derive  at least 90% of its  gross  income  each  taxable  year from  dividends,
interest, payments with respect to securities' loans, gains from the disposition
of stock or securities, and certain other income.

                                      -23-
<PAGE>

     While the above  requirements  are aimed at  qualification of the Fund as a
regulated  investment  company  under  Subchapter  M of the Code,  the Fund also
intends to comply with certain  requirements  of the Code to avoid liability for
federal income and excise tax. If the Fund remains qualified under Subchapter M,
it will not be subject to federal  income tax to the extent it  distributes  its
taxable net investment income and net realized capital gains. A nondeductible 4%
federal  excise  tax  will be  imposed  on the  Fund to the  extent  it does not
distribute at least 98% of its ordinary taxable income for a calendar year, plus
98% of its capital gain net taxable  income for the one year period  ending each
October 31, plus certain  undistributed amounts from prior years. While the Fund
intends to distribute  its taxable income and capital gains in a manner so as to
avoid  imposition  of the  federal  excise  and  income  taxes,  there can be no
assurance  that the Fund  indeed  will make  sufficient  distributions  to avoid
entirely imposition of federal excise or income taxes.

     Should additional  series, or funds, be created by the Trustees,  each fund
would be treated as a separate tax entity for federal income tax purposes.

DISTRIBUTION PLANS

     With  respect to the Fund,  the Trust has  adopted a Plan for each class of
shares,  pursuant  to Rule 12b-1 which was  promulgated  by the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  pursuant  to  the  Investment  Company  Act of  1940  (the
"Plans").  Each Plan provides for payment of fees to the  Distributor to finance
any activity  that is  principally  intended to result in the sale of the Fund's
shares subject to the Plans.  Such  activities are described in the  Prospectus.
Pursuant to the Plans,  the  Distributor  may pay fees to brokers and others for
such services. The Trustees expect that the adoption of the Plans will result in
the sale of a  sufficient  number of  shares so as to allow the Fund to  achieve
economic  viability.  It is also anticipated that an increase in the size of the
Fund will facilitate more efficient portfolio  management and assist the Fund in
seeking to achieve its investment objective.  The maximum amounts payable by the
Fund under the Plans are described in the Prospectus.

     The Trust's Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are
not  "interested  persons"  of the  Trust  and who have no  direct  or  indirect
financial  interest in the Plans or any related  agreement,  approved the Plans,
the Distribution Agreement, the Selling Agreements and the Service Agreements of
the Fund by a vote cast in person at a meeting  called for the purpose of voting
on the Plans and such  agreements and by the  shareholders.  Continuation of the
Plans and the related  agreements must be approved  annually in the same manner,
and the Plans or any related  agreement  may be  terminated  at any time without
penalty by a majority of such independent  Trustees or by a majority of a class'
outstanding  shares.  Any amendment  increasing the maximum  percentage  payable
under a Plan or other  material  change  must be  approved  by a majority of the
respective class'  outstanding  shares,  and all other material  amendments to a
Plan or any related  agreement must be approved by a majority of the independent
Trustees.

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

     Various   state  and  federal  laws  limit  the  ability  of  a  depository
institution  (such as a commercial  bank or a savings and loan  association)  to
become an underwriter or distributor of securities.  In the event these laws are
deemed  to  prohibit  depository  institutions  from  acting  in the  capacities
described  above or should  Congress  relax current  restrictions  on depository
institutions,  the Board of Trustees  will consider  appropriate  changes in the
services. State securities laws governing the ability of depository institutions
to  act  as   underwriters   or  distributors  of  securities  may  differ  from
interpretations  given  to  federal  law and,  therefore,  banks  and  financial
institutions may be required to register as dealers pursuant to state law.


     For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000,  the Fund incurred  $235,858 under
the  Plan  on  behalf  of the  Class  A  shares  of the  Fund  for  payments  to
broker-dealers  and others for the sale or retention of Fund shares. In order to
reduce  operating  expenses of the Fund,  the Adviser  waived  $119,017 of these
expenses.


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

     "Average  annual total  return," as defined by the  Securities and Exchange
Commission, is computed by finding the average annual compounded rates of return
for the period  indicated that would equate the initial  amount  invested to the
ending redeemable value, according to the following formula:

                                          n
                                    P(1+T) =ERV

Where:    P = a hypothetical $1,000 initial investment
          T = average annual total return
          n = number of years
          ERV = ending  redeemable value at the end of the applicable  period of
                the hypothetical  $1,000 investment made at the beginning of the
                applicable period.

The computation  assumes that all dividends and  distributions are reinvested at
the net asset  value on the  reinvestment  dates and that a complete  redemption
occurs at the end of the applicable period.

     The Fund may also advertise  performance  information (a  "non-standardized
quotation") which is calculated  differently from "average annual total return."
A  non-standardized  quotation of total return may be a cumulative  return which
measures the percentage  change in the value of an account between the beginning
and end of a period, assuming no activity in the account other than reinvestment
of dividends and capital gains distributions.  A non-standardized  quotation may
also be an average  annual  compounded  rate of return over a specified  period,
which may be a period  different from those  specified for "average annual total
return." In addition,  a non-standardized  quotation may be an indication of the
value of a $10,000  investment  (made on the date of the initial public offering
of the Fund's shares) as of the end of a specified  period.  A  non-standardized
quotation will always be accompanied by the Fund's "average annual total return"
as described above.

                                      -25-
<PAGE>

     The  Fund's   investment   performance  will  vary  depending  upon  market
conditions,  the composition of the Fund's  portfolio and operating  expenses of
the Fund. These factors and possible differences in the methods and time periods
used in calculating non-standardized investment performance should be considered
when comparing the Fund's performance to those of other investment  companies or
investment vehicles.  The risks associated with the Fund's investment objective,
policies and techniques  should also be  considered.  At any time in the future,
investment  performance may be higher or lower than past performance,  and there
can be no assurance that any performance will continue.

     From time to time, in  advertisements,  sales  literature  and  information
furnished to present or to prospective shareholders, the performance of the Fund
may be compared to indices of broad groups of unmanaged securities considered to
be  representative  of or  similar  to the  portfolio  holdings  of the  Fund or
considered to be representative of the stock market in general. The Fund may use
the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index,  the Dow Jones  Industrial  Average,  the
Value Line Stock Index or a blend of stock and bond indices.

     In addition, the performance of the Fund may be compared to other groups of
mutual funds  tracked by any widely used  independent  research firm which ranks
mutual funds by overall performance,  investment  objectives and assets, such as
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. or Morningstar, Inc. The objectives,  policies,
limitations and expenses of other mutual funds in a group may not be the same as
those of the Fund.  Performance  rankings and ratings  reported  periodically in
national financial publications such as Barron's and Fortune also may be used.

     The Fund may also include in advertisements data comparing performance with
other  mutual  funds as  reported in  non-related  investment  media,  published
editorial   comments   and   performance   rankings   compiled  by   independent
organizations  and  publications  that monitor the  performance  of mutual funds
(such as  Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc.,  Morningstar,  Inc.,  Fortune  or
Barron's). Performance information may be quoted numerically or may be presented
in a table, graph or other  illustration.  In addition,  Fund performance may be
compared to well-known  indices of market  performance  including the Standard &
Poor's  (S&P) 500 Index,  the Dow Jones  Industrial  Average or the Russell 2000
Index.

     The Golden Rainbow Fund is the successor to another mutual fund referred to
herein as the  Predecessor  Fund. The  Predecessor  Fund is the successor to the
portfolio of two common trust funds managed by the Adviser.  At the  Predecessor
Fund's commencement of operations,  the assets from both common trust funds were
transferred to the Predecessor Fund in exchange for Class A shares.  The Adviser
has represented that The Golden Rainbow Fund's and Predecessor Fund's investment
objectives,  policies and limitations are in all material respects  identical to
those of both common trust funds.


     The Golden  Rainbow  Fund's average annual total return for the 1, 5 and 10
year periods ended June 30, 2000 is -1.06%, 7.99% and 9.30%,  respectively.  The
quoted  performance  data includes the performance of the Predecessor  Fund. The
quoted  performance data also includes the performance of the common trust funds
for the periods before the  Predecessor  Fund's  registration  statement  became
effective, as adjusted to reflect the Predecessor Fund's estimated

                                      -26-
<PAGE>

expenses as set forth in its  original  prospectus.  The common trust funds were
not  registered  under the  Investment  Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and
therefore were subject to certain  investment  restrictions  that are imposed by
the 1940 Act. If the common trust funds had been registered  under the 1940 Act,
the performance may have been adversely affected.


     The  advertised  performance  data  of the  Fund  is  based  on  historical
performance and is not intended to indicate future  performance.  Rates of total
return quoted by the Fund may be higher or lower than past quotations, and there
can be no  assurance  that any  rate of total  return  will be  maintained.  The
principal  value  of an  investment  in  the  Fund  will  fluctuate  so  that  a
shareholder's  shares,  when  redeemed,  may be  worth  more  or less  than  the
shareholder's original investment.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


     The financial  statements and independent  auditor's  report required to be
included herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the Annual Report of The
James Advantage Funds for the year ended June 30, 2000.


<PAGE>

                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                            THE JAMES SMALL CAP FUND
                          THE JAMES MARKET NEUTRAL FUND
                          THE JAMES LARGE CAP PLUS FUND


                                November 1, 2000

                                    Series of
                            The James Advantage Funds
                        221 East Fourth Street, Suite 300
                             Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                                 1-800-995-2637


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST......................................................2
DEFINITIONS,  POLICIES AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS................................2
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS........................................................14
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS.........................................................16
INVESTMENT ADVISER............................................................18
TRANSFER AGENT AND DISTRIBUTOR................................................19
OTHER SERVICES................................................................20
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE..........................................20
SHARES OF THE FUND............................................................22
DETERMINATION OF SHARE PRICE..................................................23
ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION....................................................24
DISTRIBUTION PLANS............................................................25
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.......................................................26
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS..........................................................28


     This  Statement of Additional  Information  is not a prospectus  and should
only be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of The James Small Cap Fund, The
James Large Cap Plus Fund and The James Market  Neutral  Fund dated  November 1,
2000.  A Prospectus  can be obtained by writing the  Transfer  Agent at 221 East
Fourth Street,  Suite 300,  Cincinnati,  Ohio 45202,  or by calling 888-99 JAMES
(888-995-2637).


<PAGE>

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST

     The  James  Small Cap  Fund,  The  James  Large Cap Plus Fund and The James
Market Neutral Fund  (collectively  the "Funds") were organized as series of The
James Advantage Funds (the "Trust"). The Trust is an open-end investment company
established  under the laws of Ohio by an  Agreement  and  Declaration  of Trust
dated August 29, 1997 (the "Trust  Agreement").  The Trust Agreement permits the
Trustees  to issue an  unlimited  number  of shares of  beneficial  interest  of
separate  series  without  par  value.  Each  Fund is one of a  series  of Funds
currently authorized by the Trustees

     Each share of a series  represents an equal  proportionate  interest in the
assets and  liabilities  belonging  to that series with each other share of that
series  and is  entitled  to such  dividends  and  distributions  out of  income
belonging to the series as are declared by the Trustees.  The shares do not have
cumulative  voting  rights  or any  preemptive  or  conversion  rights,  and the
Trustees have the authority from time to time to divide or combine the shares of
any series  into a greater or lesser  number of shares of that series so long as
the proportionate beneficial interest in the assets belonging to that series and
the rights of shares of any other series are in no way affected.  In case of any
liquidation  of a series,  the holders of shares of the series being  liquidated
will be entitled to receive as a class a distribution out of the assets,  net of
the liabilities,  belonging to that series.  Expenses attributable to any series
are  borne by that  series.  Any  general  expenses  of the  Trust  not  readily
identifiable  as belonging to a particular  series are allocated by or under the
direction of the  Trustees in such manner as the  Trustees  determine to be fair
and equitable. No shareholder is liable to further calls or to assessment by the
Trust without his or her express consent.

     Any Trustee of the Trust may be removed by vote of the shareholders holding
not less than two-thirds of the outstanding  shares of the Trust. The Trust does
not hold an annual  meeting of  shareholders.  When  matters  are  submitted  to
shareholders for a vote, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each whole
share he owns and fractional votes for fractional  shares he owns. All shares of
a Fund have equal voting rights and liquidation rights. The Declaration of Trust
can be amended by the Trustees, except that any amendment that adversely affects
the rights of shareholders must be approved by the shareholders effected.

     Upon 60 days'  prior  written  notice to  shareholders,  the Funds may make
redemption  payments in whole or in part in securities or other  property if the
Trustees determine that existing conditions make cash payments undesirable.  For
other information concerning the purchase and redemption of shares of the Funds,
see  "How  to  Purchase  Shares"  and  "How  to  Redeem  Shares"  in the  Funds'
Prospectus.  For a description  of the methods used to determine the share price
and value of the  Funds'  assets,  see  "Calculation  of Share  Price and Public
Offering Price" in the Funds' Prospectus.

                  DEFINITIONS, POLICIES AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS

     This section contains a more detailed discussion of some of the investments
the Funds may make and some of the  techniques  it may use, as  described in the
Prospectus.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

     A.   Equity Securities.

     The Funds may invest in common stock,  in addition to which,  the Funds may
invest in preferred  stock and common  stock  equivalents  (such as  convertible
preferred  stock and  convertible  debentures).  Convertible  preferred stock is
preferred  stock that can be converted  into common stock pursuant to its terms.
Convertible  debentures are debt  instruments  that can be converted into common
stock pursuant to their terms.  The Adviser  intends to invest only in preferred
stock rated A or higher by Standard & Poor's  Corporation  ("S&P") or by Moody's
Investors Services, Inc. ("Moody's").

     B.   U.S. Government Obligations.

     The Funds may invest in U.S. Government  obligations.  These securities may
be backed  by the  credit of the  government  as a whole or only by the  issuing
agency. U.S. Treasury bonds,  notes, and bills and some agency securities,  such
as  those  issued  by the  Federal  Housing  Administration  and the  Government
National Mortgage Association (GNMA), are backed by the full faith and credit of
the U.S.  Government as to payment of principal and interest and are the highest
quality  government  securities.  Other  securities  issued  by U.S.  Government
agencies or  instrumentalities,  such as  securities  issued by the Federal Home
Loan Banks and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, are supported only by
the credit of the  agency  that  issued  them,  and not by the U.S.  Government.
Securities issued by the Federal Farm Credit System, the Federal Land Banks, and
the Federal National Mortgage  Association  (FNMA) are supported by the agency's
right to borrow money from the U.S.  Treasury under certain  circumstances,  but
are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

     C.   Repurchase Agreements.

     The Funds may invest in repurchase  agreements fully collateralized by U.S.
Government  obligations.  A repurchase  agreement is a short-term  investment in
which the  purchaser  (i.e.,  a Fund)  acquires  ownership of a U.S.  Government
obligation  (which may be of any  maturity)  and the seller agrees to repurchase
the obligation at a future time at a set price,  thereby  determining  the yield
during the purchaser's holding period (usually not more than seven days from the
date of  purchase).  Any  repurchase  transaction  in which a Fund  engages will
require full collateralization of the seller's obligation during the entire term
of the  repurchase  agreement.  In the event of a bankruptcy or other default of
the seller,  a Fund could  experience  both delays in liquidating the underlying
security  and  losses  in  value.  However,  the  Funds  intends  to enter  into
repurchase  agreements  only with  banks  with  assets of $1 billion or more and
registered  securities  dealers  determined by the Adviser (subject to review by
the  Board  of  Trustees)  to  be   creditworthy.   The  Adviser   monitors  the
creditworthiness of the banks and securities dealers with which the Funds engage
in repurchase transactions.

     D.   Illiquid Securities.

     The  portfolio of each Fund may contain up to 15% of its assets  (valued at
the purchase date) in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities generally include
securities that cannot be disposed of

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

promptly and in the ordinary course of business  without taking a reduced price.
Securities may be illiquid due to contractual or legal restrictions on resale or
lack of a ready market. The following  securities are considered to be illiquid:
repurchase  agreements  maturing  in more than seven days,  nonpublicly  offered
securities and restricted  securities.  Restricted securities are securities the
resale of which is  subject  to legal or  contractual  restrictions.  Restricted
securities may be sold only in privately  negotiated  transactions,  in a public
offering with respect to which a  registration  statement is in effect under the
Securities  Act of 1933 or pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A  promulgated  under
the Act. Where  registration is required,  the Funds may be obligated to pay all
or part of the  registration  expense,  and a  considerable  period  may  elapse
between the time of the decision to sell and the time such  security may be sold
under an  effective  registration  statement.  If during  such a period  adverse
market conditions were to develop, the Funds might obtain a less favorable price
than the price it could have obtained when it decided to sell.

     E.   Loans of Securities.

     The Funds may make short and long term loans of its portfolio securities in
order to realize additional  income.  Under the lending policy authorized by the
Board of Trustees  and  implemented  by the Adviser in  responses to requests of
broker-dealers or institutional investors which the Adviser deems qualified, the
borrower  must  agree  to  maintain  collateral,  in the  form  of  cash or U.S.
government  obligations,  with the Funds on a daily market-to-market basis in an
amount at least  equal to the value of the  loaned  securities.  The Funds  will
continue  to receive  dividends  or interest  on the loaned  securities  and may
terminate such loans at any time or reacquire such securities in time to vote on
any matter which the Adviser  determines to be important.  With respect to loans
of securities, there is the risk that the borrower may fail to return the loaned
securities  or  that  the  borrower  may  not  be  able  to  provide  additional
collateral.

     F.   Borrowing and Leverage; Reverse Repurchase Agreements.

     The Funds may borrow from banks, from time to time on a temporary basis, up
to 5% of their  respective  total  assets,  and the Funds may  pledge  assets in
connection with such borrowings. The Funds also may engage in reverse repurchase
agreements in which the Funds sell a security to another party,  such as a bank,
broker-dealer or other financial  institution,  and simultaneously agrees to buy
it back  later  at a higher  price.  While a  reverse  repurchase  agreement  is
outstanding,  a Fund  generally  will direct its custodian to segregate cash and
appropriate  liquid assets to cover its  obligations  under the  agreement.  The
Funds will enter into reverse  repurchase  agreements  only with  parties  whose
creditworthiness  has been reviewed and deemed  satisfactory  by the Adviser.  A
Fund  aggregates  reverse  repurchase  agreements  with its bank  borrowings for
purposes  of  limiting  borrowings  to 5% of its net assets.  The  borrowing  of
securities for short sales is excluded for purposes of this limitation.

     If the Funds make additional  investments while borrowings are outstanding,
this may be construed as a form of leverage.  The Funds'  objectives would be to
pursue  investment  opportunities  with  returns  that  exceed  the  cost of the
borrowings. This leverage may exaggerate changes in a Fund's share value and the
gains and losses on a Fund's investment. Leverage also creates interest expenses
that may exceed the return on investments made with the borrowings.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

     G.   Foreign Securities

     The Funds may invest,  without limitation,  in foreign securities.  Foreign
fixed-income  securities  include  corporate debt obligations  issued by foreign
companies  and  debt   obligations  of  foreign   governments  or  international
organizations.  This category may include  floating rate  obligations,  variable
rate obligations, Yankee dollar obligations (U.S. dollar denominated obligations
issued  by  foreign  companies  and  traded  on  U.S.  markets)  and  Eurodollar
obligations (U.S. dollar denominated obligations issued by foreign companies and
American  depository  receipts  ("ADR's").  ADRs are  certificates  of ownership
issued by a U.S.  bank as a convenience  to investors in lieu of the  underlying
shares which its holds in custody.

     There may be less  information  publicly  available about a foreign company
than about a U.S.  company,  and foreign  companies are not generally subject to
accounting,  auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable
to those  in the  U.S.  Other  risks  associated  with  investments  in  foreign
securities  include  changes in the  administrations  or economic  and  monetary
policies of foreign governments, the imposition of exchange control regulations,
the possibility of expropriation  decrees and other adverse foreign governmental
action,  the imposition of foreign taxes,  less liquid markets,  less government
supervision  of  exchanges,   brokers  and  issuers,   difficulty  in  enforcing
contractual  obligations,  delays in settlement of securities  transactions  and
greater price  volatility.  In addition,  investing in foreign  securities  will
generally  result in higher  commissions  than  investing  in  similar  domestic
securities.

     H.   Portfolio Turnover

     Neither The Small Cap Fund nor The Large Cap Plus Fund  intends to purchase
or sell securities for short term trading purposes. Each Fund may, however, sell
any portfolio  security  (without regard to the length of time it has been held)
when the Adviser believes that market  conditions,  creditworthiness  factors or
general economic  conditions warrant such action. The portfolio turnover rate is
not  expected to exceed 100% for The Small Cap Fund nor The Large Cap Plus Fund,
or 300% for The Market Neutral Fund.  The Market Neutral Fund's higher  turnover
rate will result in correspondingly  greater brokerage  commission  expenses and
may result in the realization of additional capital gains for tax purposes.

     I.   Investment Techniques Specific to The Market Neutral Fund

     The  James  Market  Neutral  Fund  may  utilize  various  other  investment
strategies as described  below  ("Hedging  Transactions").  Such  strategies are
generally  accepted by modern portfolio  managers and are regularly  utilized by
many mutual funds and other institutional investors.  Techniques and instruments
may  change  over  time as new  instruments  and  strategies  are  developed  or
regulatory changes occur.

     In the  course  of  pursuing  these  investment  strategies,  the  Fund may
purchase and sell financial  futures  contracts and options  thereon,  and enter
into various interest rate transactions such as swaps,  caps, floors or collars.
Any or all of these investment techniques may be used at any time

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

and there is no  particular  strategy  that  dictates  the use of one  technique
rather  than  another,  as use of  any  techniques  is a  function  of  numerous
variables including market conditions.  The ability of the Fund to utilize these
techniques  successfully  will  depend  on  the  Adviser's  ability  to  predict
pertinent market movements,  which cannot be assured.  The Fund will comply with
applicable   regulatory   requirements  when   implementing   these  strategies,
techniques and instruments.

     These techniques have risks associated with them including possible default
by the other  party to the  transaction,  illiquidity  and,  to the  extent  the
Adviser's  view as to certain market  movements is incorrect,  the risk that the
use of such techniques  would result in losses greater than if they had not been
used.  In  addition,  futures  and  options  markets  may not be  liquid  in all
circumstances  and certain  over-the-counter  options may have no markets.  As a
result,  in  certain  markets,  the  Fund  might  not be  able  to  close  out a
transaction without incurring  substantial losses, if at all. Finally, the daily
variation  margin  requirements  for futures  contracts  would  create a greater
ongoing  potential  financial  risk than would  purchases of options,  where the
exposure is limited to the cost of the initial  premium.  Losses  resulting from
the use of such techniques would reduce net asset value, and possibility income,
and such losses can be greater than if the techniques had not been utilized.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF OPTIONS

     Put  options  and  call   options   typically   have   similar   structural
characteristics   and  operational   mechanics   regardless  of  the  underlying
instrument on which they are  purchased or sold.  Thus,  the  following  general
discussion  relates  to each of the  particular  types of options  discussed  in
greater detail below. In addition,  many Hedging Transactions  involving options
require segregation of the Fund's assets in special accounts, as described below
under "Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts."

     A put option gives the purchaser of the option,  upon payment of a premium,
the  right to  sell,  and the  writer  the  obligation  to buy,  the  underlying
security,  commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price.
For example, the Fund's purchase of a put option on a security might be designed
to protect  its  holdings in the  underlying  instrument  (or, in some cases,  a
similar  instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value by giving
the Fund the right to sell such  instrument at the option exercise price. A call
option,  upon payment of a premium,  gives the purchaser of the option the right
to buy, and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying  instrument at the
exercise price.  The Fund's  purchase of a call option on a security,  financial
future,  index,  currency or other  instrument  might be intended to protect the
Fund  against an  increase  in the price of the  underlying  instrument  that it
intends to purchase  in the future by fixing the price at which it may  purchase
such  instrument.  The Fund is authorized  to purchase and sell  exchange-listed
options and over-the-counter  options ("OTC options").  Exchange-listed  options
are issued by a regulated  intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation
("OCC"),  which  guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to
such options.

     With certain exceptions,  OCC-issued and exchange-listed  options generally
settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency,  although in
the future cash  settlement may become  available.  Index options and Eurodollar
instruments are cash settled for the net amount, if

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

any,  by which  the  option  is  "in-the-money"  (i.e.,  where  the value of the
underlying instrument exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in
the case of a put  option,  the  exercise  price of the  option) at the time the
option is exercised.  Frequently,  rather than taking or making  delivery of the
underlying  instrument  through the  process of  exercising  the option,  listed
options are closed by entering  into  offsetting  purchase or sale  transactions
that do not result in ownership of the new option.

     The Fund's ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an
OCC or  exchange-listed  put or call  option  is  dependent,  in part,  upon the
liquidity of the option market.  Among the possible reasons for the absence of a
liquid option market on an exchange are: (i)  insufficient  trading  interest in
certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii)
trading  halts,  suspensions  or other  restrictions  imposed  with  respect  to
particular  classes  or series of  options or  underlying  securities  including
reaching daily price limits;  (iv)  interruption of the normal operations of the
OCC or an exchange;  (v)  inadequacy of the  facilities of an exchange or OCC to
handle current  trading  volume;  or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to
discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options),
in which event the relevant  market for that option on that exchange would cease
to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would generally continue
to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

     The hours of trading  for listed  options may not  coincide  with the hours
during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that
the  option  markets  close  before the  markets  for the  underlying  financial
instruments,  significant  price  and  rate  movements  can  take  place  in the
underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.

     OTC options are  purchased  from or sold to securities  dealers,  financial
institutions  or  other  parties  ("Counterparties")  through  direct  bilateral
agreement with the Counterparty.  In contrast to exchange-listed  options, which
generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an
OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement,  term, exercise price,
premium,  guarantees and security,  are set by  negotiation of the parties.  The
Fund will only sell OTC  options  (other  than OTC  currency  options)  that are
subject to a buy-back provision  permitting the Fund to require the Counterparty
to sell the option back to the Fund at a formula  price within  seven days.  The
Fund  expects  generally  to enter into OTC  options  that have cash  settlement
provisions, although they are not required to do so.

     Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty
function in an OTC option.  As a result,  if the  Counterparty  fails to make or
take delivery of the security,  currency or other  instrument  underlying an OTC
option  it has  entered  into  with the Fund or fails to make a cash  settlement
payment due in accordance with the terms of that option,  the Fund will lose any
premium  it paid  for the  option  as well  as any  anticipated  benefit  of the
transaction.  Accordingly,  the Adviser must assess the creditworthiness of each
such Counterparty or any guarantor or credit  enhancement of the  Counterparty's
credit to  determine  the  likelihood  that the terms of the OTC option  will be
satisfied. While this type of arrangement allows the Fund greater flexibility to
tailor an option to their needs,  OTC options  generally  involve greater credit
risk  than  exchange-traded  options,  which  are  guaranteed  by  the  clearing
organization of the exchanges where they are traded.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

The risk of  illiquidity  also is greater with OTC options,  since these options
generally  can be closed  out only by  negotiation  with the other  party to the
option.

     If the Fund sells a call option,  the premium that it receives may serve as
a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium,  against a decrease in the
value of the  underlying  securities  or  instruments  in its  portfolio or will
increase the Fund's income. The sale of put options can also provide income.

     The Fund may purchase and sell call options on  securities,  including U.S.
Treasury  and agency  securities,  mortgage-backed  securities,  corporate  debt
securities,  equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar
instruments that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities  exchanges and in the
over-the-counter  markets  and on  securities  indices,  currencies  and futures
contracts. All calls sold by the Fund must be "covered" (i.e., the Fund must own
the securities or futures  contract  subject to the call) or must meet the asset
segregation  requirements  described  below as long as the call is  outstanding.
Even though the Fund will receive the option  premium to help protect it against
loss,  a call sold by the Fund exposes the Fund during the term of the option to
possible loss of opportunity to realize  appreciation in the market price of the
underlying security or instrument and may require the Fund to hold a security or
instrument which it might otherwise have sold.

     The Fund may purchase  and sell put options on  securities  including  U.S.
Treasury  and agency  securities,  mortgage-backed  securities,  corporate  debt
securities,  equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar
instruments  (whether or not it holds the above securities in its portfolio) and
on securities  indices,  currencies and futures  contracts other than futures on
individual  corporate debt and individual equity  securities.  The Fund will not
sell put options if, as a result,  more than 50% of the Fund's  assets  would be
required to be  segregated  to cover its  potential  obligations  under such put
options other than those with respect to futures and options thereon. In selling
put options, there is a risk that the fund may be required to buy the underlying
security at a disadvantageous price above the market price.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FUTURES

     The Fund may enter into financial  futures  contracts,  or purchase or sell
put and call options on such futures,  as a hedge against  anticipated  interest
rate, currency or equity market changes, for duration  management,  and for risk
management  purposes.  Futures are generally  bought and sold on the commodities
exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and variation  margin as
described below. The sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation by the
Fund,  as  seller,  to  deliver  to the buyer  the  specific  type of  financial
instrument  called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified
price (or, with respect to index  futures and  Eurodollar  instruments,  the net
cash amount).  Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities
except that an option on a futures  contract  gives the purchaser the right,  in
return for the  premium  paid,  to assume a position in a futures  contract  and
obligates the seller to deliver such option.

     The Fund's use of financial  futures and options  thereon will in all cases
be consistent  with  applicable  regulatory  requirements  and in particular the
rules and regulations of the Commodity

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

Futures Trading  Commission and will be entered into only for bona fide hedging,
risk management  (including duration  management) or other portfolio  management
purposes. Typically, maintaining a futures contract or selling an option thereon
requires the Fund to deposit with a financial  intermediary  as security for its
obligations an amount of cash or other specified  assets (initial  margin) which
initially is typically 1% to 10% of the face amount of the contract  (but may be
higher in some circumstances).  Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may
be required to be deposited  thereafter  on a daily basis as the  mark-to-market
value of the contract fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures
involves  payment of a premium for the option without any further  obligation on
the part of a Fund. If a Fund exercises an option on a futures contract, it will
be obligated to post initial margin (and potential  subsequent variation margin)
for the resulting  futures  position just as it would for any position.  Futures
contracts  and  options  thereon  are  generally  settled  by  entering  into an
offsetting  transaction,  but there can be no assurance that the position can be
offset prior to  settlement  at an  advantageous  price nor that  delivery  will
occur.  The  segregation  requirements  with  respect to futures  contracts  and
options thereon are described below.

OPTIONS ON SECURITIES INDICES AND OTHER FINANCIAL INDICES

     The Fund also may  purchase  and sell call and put  options  on  securities
indices and other financial indices and in so doing can achieve many of the same
objectives  it  would  achieve  through  the  sale or  purchase  of  options  on
individual  securities or other  instruments.  Options on securities indices and
other financial indices are similar to options on a security or other instrument
except  that,  rather  than  settling by  physical  delivery  of the  underlying
instrument,  they settle by cash  settlement,  i.e., an option on an index gives
the holder the right to receive,  upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash
if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based exceeds, in the
case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the
option  (except  if,  in  the  case  of an  OTC  option,  physical  delivery  is
specified).  This amount of cash is equal to the excess of the closing  price of
the index over the exercise price of the option, which also may be multiplied by
a formula  value.  The  seller of the  option is  obligated,  in return  for the
premium received, to make delivery of this amount. The gain or loss of an option
on an index depends on price movements in the instruments  making up the market,
market  segment,  industry or other  composite on which the underlying  index is
based, rather than price movements in individual securities, as is the case with
respect to options on securities.

CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

     The Fund may engage in currency  transactions with  Counterparties in order
to hedge the value of portfolio  holdings  denominated in particular  currencies
against  fluctuations in relative value.  Currency  transactions include forward
currency contracts,  exchange-listed  currency futures,  exchange-listed and OTC
options on currencies,  and currency swaps. A forward currency contract involves
a privately  negotiated  obligation to purchase or sell (with delivery generally
required) a specific  currency at a future  date,  at a price set at the time of
the  contract.  A currency  swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based on
the notional  difference among two or more currencies and operates  similarly to
an  interest  rate  swap,  which is  described  below.  The Fund may enter  into
currency transactions with Counterparties which have received (or the guarantors
of the obligations of such  Counterparties have received) a credit rating of A-1
or P-1 by S&P or Moody's,

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

respectively, or that have an equivalent rating from an NRSRO or (except for OTC
currency  options) are  determined  to be of  equivalent  credit  quality by the
Adviser.

     The  Fund's  dealings  in forward  currency  contracts  and other  currency
transactions  such as  futures,  options,  options on futures  and swaps will be
limited  to  hedging   involving  either  specific   transactions  or  portfolio
positions.  Transaction  hedging is entering  into a currency  transaction  with
respect to specific  assets or  liabilities  of the Fund,  which will  generally
arise in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the
receipt  of income  therefrom.  Position  hedging  is  entering  into a currency
transaction  with  respect  to  portfolio  security  positions   denominated  or
generally quoted in that currency.

     The Fund will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure to an
extent greater,  after netting all transactions  intended to wholly or partially
offset  other  transactions,  than the  aggregate  market  value (at the time of
entering into the  transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio that are
denominated or generally  quoted in or currency  convertible into such currently
other than with respect to proxy hedging as described below.

     The Fund may also cross-hedge  currencies by entering into  transactions to
purchase or sell one or more  currencies  that are  expected to decline in value
relative to other  currencies to which the Fund has or in which the Fund expects
to have portfolio exposure.

     To reduce the effect of currency  fluctuations  on the value of existing or
anticipated holdings of portfolio securities,  the Fund may also engage in proxy
hedging.  Proxy  hedging  is often  used when the  currency  to which the Fund's
portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the dollar. Proxy
hedging entails  entering to a forward contract to sell a currency whose changes
in value are  generally  considered  to be linked to a currency or currencies in
which some or all of the Fund's  portfolio  securities are or are expected to be
denominated,  and to buy U.S.  dollars.  The  amount of the  contract  would not
exceed the value of the Fund's securities denominated in linked currencies.  For
example,  if the Adviser  considers the Austrian  schilling linked to the German
deutschemark (the "D-mark"), the Fund holds securities denominated in schillings
and the Adviser  believes that the value of schillings  will decline against the
U.S.  dollar,  the  Adviser  may enter into a contract  to sell  D-marks and buy
dollars.  Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as
other transactions with similar instruments. Further, there is the risk that the
perceived  linkage between  various  currencies may not be present or may not be
present during the  particular  time that the Fund is engaging in proxy hedging.
If the Fund enters  into a currency  hedging  transaction,  the Fund will comply
with the asset segregation requirements described below.

RISKS OF CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

     Currency  transactions  are subject to risks  different from those of other
portfolio  transactions.  Because currency control is of great importance to the
issuing governments and influences  economic planning and policy,  purchases and
sales  of  currency  and  related  instruments  can be  negatively  affected  by
government   exchange  controls,   blockages,   and  manipulations  or  exchange
restrictions  imposed by governments.  These can result in losses to the Fund if
it is  unable  to  deliver  or  receive  currency  or  funds  in  settlement  of
obligations and could also cause hedges it

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

has entered into to be rendered useless,  resulting in full currency exposure as
well as incurring  transaction costs. Buyers and sellers of currency futures are
subject to the same risk that apply to the use of  futures  generally.  Further,
settlement of a currency  futures  contract for the purchase of most  currencies
must occur at a bank based in the issuing  nation.  Trading  options on currency
futures is relatively  new, and the ability to establish and close out positions
on such options is subject to the  maintenance  of a liquid  market that may not
always be available.  Currency  exchange  rates may  fluctuate  based on factors
extrinsic to that country's economy.

COMBINED TRANSACTIONS

     The Fund may enter into multiple  transactions,  including multiple options
transactions,  multiple futures  transactions,  multiple  currency  transactions
(including forward currency  contracts) and any combination of futures,  options
and  currency  transactions  ("component"  transactions),  instead  of a  single
Hedging  Transaction,  as part of a single or  combined  strategy  when,  in the
opinion  of the  Adviser,  it is in the best  interests  of the Fund to do so. A
combined  transaction  will usually contain elements of risk that are present in
each of its competent transactions.  Although combined transactions are normally
entered into based on the Adviser's  judgment that the combined  strategies will
reduce  risk  or  otherwise  more  effectively  achieve  the  desired  portfolio
management  goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such
risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.

SWAPS, CAPS, FLOORS AND COLLARS

     Among the Hedging  Transactions  into which the Fund may enter are interest
rate,  currency and index swaps and the purchase or sale of related caps, floors
and  collars.  The Fund  expects to enter into these  transactions  primarily to
preserve  a return  or spread  on a  particular  investment  or  portion  of its
portfolio,  to protect against currency  fluctuations,  as a duration management
technique or to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund
anticipates  purchasing  at  a  later  date.  The  Fund  intends  to  use  these
transactions  as hedges  and not as  speculative  investments  and will not sell
interest  rate  caps or  floors  where  it  does  not own  securities  or  other
instruments  providing  the  income  stream  the Fund may be  obligated  to pay.
Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their
respective  commitments to pay or receive interest,  for example, an exchange of
floating rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a notional amount
of  principal.  A currency  swap is an  agreement  to  exchange  cash flows on a
notional  amount  of  two  or  more  currencies  based  on  the  relative  value
differential  among them and an index swap is an agreement to swap cash flows on
a notional amount based on changes in the values of the reference  indices.  The
purchase  of a cap  entitles  the  purchaser  to receive  payments on a notional
principal  amount from the party selling such cap to the extent that a specified
index exceeds a predetermined  interest rate or amount.  The purchase of a floor
entitles the purchaser to receive  payments on a notional  principal amount from
the party selling such floor to the extent that a specified  index falls below a
predetermined  interest rate or amount. A collar is a combination of a cap and a
floor that preserves a certain return within a  predetermined  range of interest
rates or values.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

     The Fund will  usually  enter  into  swaps on a net  basis,  i.e.,  the two
payment streams are netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates
specified in the instrument,  with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may
be,  only the net amount of the two  payments.  Inasmuch as these  swaps,  caps,
floors and collars are entered into for good faith hedging purposes, the Adviser
and the Fund believe such obligations do not constitute  senior securities under
the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940 and,  accordingly,  will not treat them as
being  subject to its borrowing  restrictions.  The Fund will not enter into any
swap, cap, floor or collar transaction unless, at the time of entering into such
transaction, the unsecured long-term debt of the Counterparty, combined with any
credit  enhancements,  is  rated  at  least  "A"  by S&P  or  Moody's  or has an
equivalent  rating from an NRSRO or is  determined  to be of  equivalent  credit
quality by the Adviser. If there is a default by the Counterparty,  the Fund may
have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.
The swap market has grown  substantially  in recent years with a large number of
banks and  investment  banking  firms  acting both as  principals  and as agents
utilizing  standardized  swap  documentation.  As a result,  the swap market has
become relatively liquid.  Caps, floors, and collars are more recent innovations
for which  standardized  documentation  has not yet been  fully  developed  and,
accordingly, they are less liquid than swaps.

EURODOLLAR INSTRUMENTS

     The  Fund  may  make  investments  in  Eurodollar  instruments.  Eurodollar
instruments  are U.S.  dollar-denominated  futures  contracts or options thereon
which are  linked to the  London  Interbank  Offered  Rate  ("LIBOR"),  although
foreign  currency-denominated  instruments  are  available  from  time to  time.
Eurodollar  futures  contracts enable  purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the
lending of funds and  sellers to obtain a fixed  rate for  borrowings.  The Fund
might use  Eurodollar  futures  contracts  and options  thereon to hedge against
changes  in  LIBOR,  to  which  many  interest  rate  swaps  and  fixed-  income
instruments are linked.

RISKS OF HEDGING TRANSACTIONS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

     When conducted outside the United States,  Hedging  Transactions may not be
regulated  as  rigorously  as in the United  States,  may not involve a clearing
mechanism and related  guarantees,  and are subject to the risk of  governmental
actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign  securities,  currencies
and other  instruments.  The value of such  positions  also  could be  adversely
affected by: (i) other complex foreign  political,  legal and economic  factors,
(ii)  lesser  availability  than in the  United  States of data on which to make
trading  decisions,  (iii)  delays in the Fund's  ability  to act upon  economic
events  occurring  in foreign  markets  during  nonbusiness  hours in the United
States,  (iv) the  imposition  of different  exercise and  settlement  terms and
procedures  and margin  requirements  than in the United  States,  and (v) lower
trading volume and liquidity.

USE OF SEGREGATED AND OTHER SPECIAL ACCOUNTS

     Many Hedging Transactions, in addition to other requirements,  require that
the Fund  segregate  liquid  high-grade  assets with its Custodian to the extent
Fund obligations are not otherwise "covered" through ownership of the underlying
security,  financial instrument or currency. In general,  either the full amount
of any obligation by the Fund to pay or deliver securities or assets

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

must be covered at all times by the securities, instruments or currency required
to be delivered, or, subject to any regulatory restriction, an amount of cash or
liquid  high  grade  securities  at least  equal to the  current  amount  of the
obligation must be segregated with the Custodian.  The segregated  assets cannot
be sold or transferred  unless  equivalent assets are substituted in their place
or it is no longer  necessary to  segregate  them.  For  example,  a call option
written by the Fund will require the Fund to hold the securities  subject to the
call (or securities  convertible into the needed securities  without  additional
consideration)  or to  segregate  liquid  high-grade  securities  sufficient  to
purchase and deliver the securities if the call is exercised. A call option sold
by the Fund on an index will require the Fund to own portfolio  securities which
correlate  with the index or to segregate  liquid high grade assets equal to the
excess of the index  value over the  exercise  price on a current  basis.  A put
option  written by the Fund  requires the Fund to segregate  liquid,  high-grade
assets equal to the exercise price.

     Except  when the Fund enters into a forward  contract  for the  purchase or
sale of a security  denominated  in a  particular  currency,  which  requires no
segregation, a currency contract that obligates the Fund to buy or sell currency
will  generally  require  the Fund to hold an amount of that  currency or liquid
securities  denominated in that currency  equal to the Fund's  obligations or to
segregate liquid high-grade assets equal to the amount of the Fund's obligation.

     OTC  options  entered  into by the  Fund,  including  those on  securities,
currency,  financial  instruments or indices and OCC-issued and  exchange-listed
index options will generally provide for cash settlement.  As a result, when the
Fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of assets equal to
its accrued net obligations,  as there is no requirement for payment or delivery
of amounts in excess of the net  amount.  These  amounts  will equal 100% of the
exercise  price  in  the  case  of  a  noncash  settled  put,  the  same  as  an
OCC-guaranteed  listed option sold by the Fund, or the in-the-money  amount plus
any  sell-back  formula  amount in the case of a  cash-settled  put or call.  In
addition,  when  the Fund  sells a call  option  on an index at a time  when the
in-the-money  amount exceeds the exercise price, the Fund will segregate,  until
the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents  equal in value to
such excess.  OCC-issued and exchange-listed options sold by the Fund other than
those above  generally  settle with  physical  delivery,  or with an election of
either  physical  delivery or cash  settlement,  and the Fund will  segregate an
amount of assets  equal to the full value of the option.  OTC  options  settling
with physical delivery,  or with an election of either physical delivery or cash
settlement,  will be treated the same as other  options  settling  with physical
delivery.

     In the case of a  futures  contract  or an  option  thereon,  the Fund must
deposit  initial  margin and  possible  daily  variation  margin in  addition to
segregating  assets  sufficient  to meet its  obligation  to purchase or provide
securities  or  currencies,  or to pay the amount owed at the  expiration  of an
index-based futures contract. Such assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents,
liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets.

     With  respect to swaps,  the Fund will accrue the net amount of the excess,
if any, of its obligations  over its entitlement  with respect to each swap on a
daily basis and will segregate an

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

amount  of cash or  liquid  high-grade  securities  having a value  equal to the
accrued excess.  Caps,  floors and collars require  segregation of assets with a
value equal to the Fund's net obligation, if any.

     Hedging  Transactions  may be covered by other means when  consistent  with
applicable  regulatory  policies.  The  Fund  may  also  enter  into  offsetting
transactions so that its position,  coupled with any segregated  assets,  equals
its net outstanding obligation in related options and Hedging Transactions.  For
example, the Fund could purchase a put option if the strike price of that option
is the same or higher  than the strike  price of a put option  sold by the Fund.
Moreover,  instead of  segregating  assets if the Fund held a futures or forward
contract, it could purchase a put option on the same futures or forward contract
with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held. Other
Hedging  Transactions  may also be offset  in  combinations.  If the  offsetting
transaction  terminates  at the  time of or after  the  primary  transaction  no
segregation is required,  but if it terminates prior to such time,  assets equal
to any remaining obligation would need to be segregated.

                             INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

     FUNDAMENTAL.  The investment  limitations described below have been adopted
by the Trust with respect to the Funds and are fundamental ("Fundamental"), that
is, they may not be changed  without the  affirmative  vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Funds. As used in the Prospectus and this Statement of
Additional  Information,  the term "majority" of the  outstanding  shares of the
Funds means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the outstanding shares of the Funds
present at a meeting,  if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares
of the Funds are present or represented at such meeting; or (2) more than 50% of
the  outstanding  shares of the Funds.  Other  investment  practices that may be
changed by the Board of Trustees  without the  approval of  shareholders  to the
extent  permitted  by  applicable  law,  regulation  or  regulatory  policy  are
considered non-fundamental ("Non-Fundamental").

     1.  BORROWING  MONEY.  Each Fund will not borrow  money,  except (a) from a
bank,  provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage
of 300% for all  borrowings of the Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for
temporary  purposes  only,  provided that such  temporary  borrowings  are in an
amount  not  exceeding  5% of the  Fund's  total  assets  at the  time  when the
borrowing is made.  This  limitation  does not preclude  each Fund from entering
into  reverse  repurchase  transactions,  provided  that  each Fund has an asset
coverage of 300% for all  borrowings  and  repurchase  commitments  of each Fund
pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions.

     2. SENIOR  SECURITIES.  The Funds will not issue  senior  securities.  This
limitation is not  applicable  to  activities  that may be deemed to involve the
issuance  or sale of a senior  security by the Funds,  provided  that the Funds'
engagement in such  activities is consistent with or permitted by the Investment
Company  Act  of  1940,  as  amended,  the  rules  and  regulations  promulgated
thereunder or interpretations  of the Securities and Exchange  Commission or its
staff.

     3. UNDERWRITING. The Funds will not act as underwriter of securities issued
by other  persons.  This  limitation  is not  applicable  to the extent that, in
connection with the disposition of

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

portfolio securities (including restricted securities),  the Funds may be deemed
an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.

     4. REAL  ESTATE.  The Funds will not  purchase  or sell real  estate.  This
limitation is not applicable to investments  in marketable  securities  that are
secured by or  represent  interests  in real estate.  This  limitation  does not
preclude the Funds from investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in
companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion
of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts).

     5. COMMODITIES.  The Funds will not purchase or sell commodities  except as
described in the  Prospectus  and  Statement  of  Additional  Information.  This
limitation does not preclude the Funds from acquiring commodities as a result of
ownership of  securities  or other  investments;  from  entering  into  options,
futures,  currency,  swap,  cap,  floor,  collar or similar  transactions;  from
investing in  securities or other  instruments  backed by  commodities;  or from
investing  in  companies  that are engaged in a  commodities  business or have a
significant portion of their assets in commodities.

     6.  LOANS.  The Funds will not make loans to other  persons,  except (a) by
loaning portfolio securities,  (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements,  or (c)
by  purchasing  nonpublicly  offered  debt  securities.  For  purposes  of  this
limitation,  the term "loans"  shall not include the purchase of a portion of an
issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.

     7. CONCENTRATION. Each Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets
in any particular industry.  This limitation is not applicable to investments in
obligations  issued or  guaranteed  by the U.S.  government,  its  agencies  and
instrumentalities or repurchase agreements with respect thereto.

     8.  DIVERSIFICATION.  The Small Cap Fund and the Market  Neutral  Fund will
comply with the standards for  diversification  as required by the  then-current
Investment  Company  Act  of  1940,  as  amended,   the  rules  and  regulations
promulgated  thereunder  and  interpretations  of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission or its staff.

     With respect to the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations
on its investment policies and limitations, an excess above the fixed percentage
will not be a violation of the policy or  limitation  unless the excess  results
immediately  and  directly  from the  acquisition  of any security or the action
taken.  This  paragraph  does not  apply to the  borrowing  policy  set forth in
paragraph 1 above.

     With respect to each Fund's diversification,  the current standards require
that each Fund may not purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than the
U.S.  Government  or any of its  instrumentalities,  if  immediately  after such
purchase more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested in such
issuer,  or  each  Fund  would  own  more  than  10% of the  outstanding  voting
securities  of such  issuer,  except  that up to 25% of the value of the  Fund's
total assets may be invested without regard to such 5% and 10% limitations.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

     Non-Fundamental.  The following  limitations have been adopted by the Trust
with respect to the Funds and are Non-Fundamental (see "Investment  Limitations"
above).

     1.  PLEDGING.  The Funds will not mortgage,  pledge,  hypothecate or in any
manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Funds except as
may be necessary in  connection  with  borrowings  described in  limitation  (1)
above. Margin deposits,  security interests,  liens and collateral  arrangements
with respect to transactions involving options,  futures contracts,  short sales
and other permitted  investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage,
pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation.

     2.  BORROWING.  Each Fund will not purchase any security  while  borrowings
(including  reverse repurchase  agreements)  representing more than 5% its total
assets are outstanding.

     3. MARGIN PURCHASES. The Funds will not purchase securities or evidences of
interest  thereon on "margin."  This  limitation is not applicable to short-term
credit  obtained  by the  Funds  for the  clearance  of  purchases  and sales or
redemption  of  securities,  or to  arrangements  with  respect to  transactions
involving  options,   futures   contracts,   short  sales  and  other  permitted
investments and techniques.

     4.  OPTIONS.  The Funds will not purchase or sell puts,  calls,  options or
straddles, except as described in the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional
Information.

     5. SHORT SALES.  The James Small Cap Plus Fund and The James Large Cap Plus
Fund will not effect short sales of securities.

     6.  ILLIQUID  SECURITIES.  Each  Fund will not  invest  more than 5% of its
assets in securities that are restricted as to resale or otherwise illiquid. For
this purpose,  illiquid  securities  generally include securities that cannot be
disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business  without taking
a reduced price.

                              TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS


     The Board of Trustees  has overall  responsibility  for  management  of the
Funds  under the laws of Ohio  governing  the  responsibilities  of  trustees of
business trusts. Following are the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust,
their present  occupation  with the Trust or Funds,  age,  principal  occupation
during the past 5 years and their aggregate  compensation from the Trust for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2000.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name, Age, Position                     Principal Occupation                       Compensation From
And Address                             During Past 5 Years                        The Trust
-----------                             -------------------                        ---------
<S>                                     <C>                                        <C>
Barry R. James, CFA * (43)              Executive Vice President, James            $0
President and Trustee of the Trust      Investment Research, Inc. (1985 to
P.O. Box 8                              Present).
Alpha, Ohio  45301

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

Thomas L. Mangan (50)                                                              $0
Vice President, Treasurer and           Vice president, James Investment
Secretary of the Trust;                 Research, Inc. (1994 to Present).
P.O. Box 8
Alpha, Ohio  45301

Anthony P. D'Angelo, Ph.D. (70)                                                    $4,000
Trustee                                 Professor, Graduate School of Logistics
Dept. of the Air Force, Building 641    and Acquisition Management, Air Force
2950 P Street                           Institute of Technology,
Wright-Patterson AFB Ohio 45433         Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (1983 to
                                        present).
Hazel L. Eichelberger (63)                                                         $5,000
Trustee                                 Retired Sr. Vice President, Citizens
9438 Atchison Road                      Federal Bank, Dayton, Ohio (1955 to
Dayton, Ohio  45458                     1997).

James F. Zid (66)                                                                  $5,000
Trustee                                 Retired Partner, Ernst & Young, LLP,
6849 Grenadier Blvd.                    Columbus, Ohio (1968 to 1993).
Naples, Florida 34108
</TABLE>

* Indicates that Trustee is an Interested  Person for purposes of the Investment
Company Act of 1940.

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES. As of October 13, 2000, the officers and
Trustees  of the  Fund as a group  owned  less  than 1% of the  then-outstanding
shares of each Fund.

     As of October 13, 2000,  the  following  persons  owned more than 5% of the
outstanding  voting  shares  of The  James  Small  Cap  Fund:  James  Investment
Research,  Profit Sharing  Retirement  Account,  P.O. Box 8, Alpha,  Ohio 45301,
owned of record 28.31%;  Frank James,  Trustee,  P.O. Box 8, Alpha,  Ohio 45301,
owned  beneficially  18.35%,  Frederick A. Smith, 1641 Bantas Creek Road, Eaton,
Ohio 45230 owned of record 9.91%, and the Iris R. James Trust, ATTN: Diane Rose,
P.O. Box 8, Alpha, Ohio 45301, owned beneficially 7.32%. As of October 13, 2000,
Frank James may be deemed to control The James Small Cap Fund as a result of his
beneficial  ownership  of shares of the Fund.  As the  controlling  shareholder,
Frank  James  would  control  the  outcome  of  any  proposal  submitted  to the
shareholders for approval,  including changes to the Fund's fundamental policies
or the terms of the management agreement with the Fund's Adviser.

     As of October 13, 2000,  the  following  persons  owned more than 5% of the
outstanding  voting shares of The James Market  Neutral Fund:  James  Investment
Research,  Inc., Pension and Profit Sharing Plan, P.O. Box 8, Alpha, Ohio 45301,
owned of record 22.93%; Frank James,

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

Trustee, P.O. Box 8, Alpha, Ohio 45301, owned beneficially 13.95%; Capinco, P.O.
Box 1787, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, owned of record 9.89%, Frederick A. Smith,
1641 Bantas Creek Road, Eaton,  Ohio 45320,  owned of record 7.16%, and the Iris
R. James  Trust,  ATTN:  Diane  Rose,  P.O.  Box 8,  Alpha,  Ohio  45301,  owned
beneficially 6.62%. As of October 13, 2000, Frank James may be deemed to control
The James Market Neutral Fund as a result of his beneficial  ownership of shares
of the Fund.  As the  controlling  shareholder,  Frank James  would  control the
outcome of any proposal  submitted to the shareholders  for approval,  including
changes  to the  Fund's  fundamental  policies  or the  terms of the  management
agreement with the Fund's Adviser.

     As of October 13, 2000,  the  following  persons  owned more than 5% of the
outstanding  voting  shares of The James Large Cap Plus Fund:  James  Investment
Research,  Inc., Pension and Profit Sharing Plan, P.O. Box 8, Alpha, Ohio 45301,
owned of record 20.86%;  Frederick A. Smith, 1641 Bantas Creek Road, Eaton, Ohio
45320, owned of record 7.80%, Shaun and Susan Nicholson,  Trustees,  306 Narrows
Trace,  Xenia, Ohio 45385 owned  beneficially  6.19%, and Frank James,  Trustee,
P.O. Box 8, Alpha, Ohio 45301, owned beneficially 5.06%.


                             THE INVESTMENT ADVISER

     James  Investment  Research,  Inc.,  P.O.  Box 8,  Alpha,  Ohio  45301 (the
"Adviser")  supervises the Funds' investments pursuant to a Management Agreement
(the "Management  Agreement")  subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.
Francis E. James is the controlling  shareholder of the Adviser.  The Management
Agreement is effective for initial two-year term and will be renewed  thereafter
for  one  year  periods  only  so  long  as  such  renewal  and  continuance  is
specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a
majority of the Funds' outstanding  voting securities,  provided the continuance
is also approved by a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested  persons"
of the Trust or the  Adviser by vote cast in person at a meeting  called for the
purpose of voting on such  approval.  The  Management  Agreement  is  terminable
without penalty on sixty days notice by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by
the  Adviser.   The  Management   Agreement  provides  that  it  will  terminate
automatically in the event of its assignment.


     As compensation for its management  services,  the Adviser is authorized to
receive a fee computed and accrued  daily and paid monthly (a) at an annual rate
of 1.25% of the  average  daily net  assets of The James  Small Cap Fund and The
James Large Cap Plus Fund and 1.70% of The James  Market  Neutral Fund minus (b)
the fees and  expenses of the  non-interested  person  trustees  incurred by the
applicable  Fund. The Adviser may waive all or part of its fee, at any time, and
at its sole discretion,  but such action shall not obligate the Adviser to waive
any fees in the future. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, The James Small
Cap Fund paid the Adviser  advisory fees of $56,431 and The James Market Neutral
Fund paid the Adviser advisory fees of $111,254. For the period from November 1,
1999  (commencement  of  operations)  to June 30, 2000, The James Large Cap Plus
Fund paid the Adviser advisory fees of $31,797. For the fiscal period ended June
30, 1999, The James Small Cap Fund paid the Adviser advisory fees of $32,819 and
The James Market Neutral Fund paid the Adviser advisory fees of $67,728.


                                      -18-
<PAGE>

     The Adviser  retains the right to use the names "James  Advantage,"  "James
Small Cap Fund," "James  Market  Neutral Fund" or "James Large Cap Plus Fund" or
any variation thereof in connection with another  investment company or business
enterprise with which the Adviser is or may become associated. The Trust's right
to use the names  "James  Advantage,"  "James  Small Cap  Fund,"  "James  Market
Neutral  Fund"  or  "James  Large  Cap  Plus  Fund"  or  any  variation  thereof
automatically  ceases 90 days  after  termination  of the  Agreement  and may be
withdrawn by the Adviser on 90 days written notice.

     The Adviser may make payments to banks or other financial institutions that
provide  shareholder   services  and  administer   shareholder   accounts.   The
Glass-Steagall   Act   prohibits   banks  from   engaging  in  the  business  of
underwriting,  selling or  distributing  securities.  Although the scope of this
prohibition  under the  Glass-Steagall  Act has not been clearly  defined by the
courts or appropriate regulatory agencies, management of the Funds believes that
the  Glass-Steagall Act should not preclude a bank from providing such services.
However, state securities laws on this issue may differ from the interpretations
of federal law  expressed  herein and banks and  financial  institutions  may be
required to register as dealers pursuant to state law. If a bank were prohibited
from  continuing  to perform all or a part of such  services,  management of the
Funds  believes  that there  would be no  material  impact on the Funds or their
shareholders.  Banks may charge their customers fees for offering these services
to the extent permitted by applicable  regulatory  authorities,  and the overall
return to those  shareholders  availing  themselves of the bank services will be
lower  than to those  shareholders  who do not.  The Funds may from time to time
purchase  securities  issued by banks which provide such services;  however,  in
selecting  investments  for the  Funds,  no  preference  will be shown  for such
securities.

                         TRANSFER AGENT AND DISTRIBUTOR


     The Funds retain  Integrated  Fund Services,  Inc., 221 East Fourth Street,
Suite 300,  Cincinnati,  Ohio 45202 (the "Transfer Agent"), to serve as transfer
agent,  dividend  paying agent and  shareholder  service  agent.  The Funds also
retain the  Transfer  Agent to provide the Funds with  administrative  services,
including  regulatory  reporting and necessary office  equipment,  personnel and
facilities.  For its services as  administrator,  the Transfer  Agent receives a
monthly fee at an annual rate of .10% of each Fund's average daily net assets up
to $25 million;  .075% of such assets from $25 million to $50 million;  and .05%
of such  assets in excess of $50  million,  subject to a minimum  monthly fee of
$1,000.

     The Funds retain IFS Fund Distributors, Inc., 221 East Fourth Street, Suite
300, Cincinnati,  Ohio 45202 (the "Distributor"),  to act as the exclusive agent
for  distribution  of the Funds'  shares.  The  Distributor is obligated to sell
shares of the Funds on a best efforts basis only against purchase orders for the
shares. Shares of the Funds are offered to the public on a continuous basis. The
Transfer Agent and the Distributor are  subsidiaries of IFS Holdings,  Inc. Tina
D. Hosking is an officer of both the Distributor and the Trust.

     For the  fiscal  period  ended June 30,  2000,  the  aggregate  commissions
collected  on sales of  shares of The James  Small Cap Fund were  $4,198.83,  of
which the  Distributor  paid  $1,874.60 to  unaffiliated  broker-dealers  in the
selling network, paid $1,889.15 to affiliated broker-dealers in the

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

selling network and earned $435.08 from underwriting and broker commissions. For
the fiscal period ended June 30, 2000,  the aggregate  commissions  collected on
sales of shares of The James Market  Neutral Fund were  $3,974.36,  of which the
Distributor paid $3,558.62 to unaffiliated broker-dealers in the selling network
and earned  $415.74 from  underwriting  and broker  commissions.  For the fiscal
period  ended June 30, 2000,  the  aggregate  commissions  collected on sales of
shares  of The  James  Large  Cap  Plus  Fund  were  $13,863.14,  of  which  the
Distributor  paid  $12,436.22  to  unaffiliated  broker-dealers  in the  selling
network,  paid $105.00 to affiliated  broker-dealers  in the selling network and
earned $1,321.92 from underwriting and broker commissions.


                                 OTHER SERVICES

     The firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP, 1700 Courthouse Plaza N.E., Dayton, Ohio
45402,  has been selected as  independent  auditors for the Trust for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 2001. Deloitte & Touche LLP performs an annual audit of the
Fund's  financial   statements  and  provides  financial,   tax  and  accounting
consulting services as requested.

     Firstar Bank, N.A., 425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, is Custodian
of the Funds'  investments.  The Custodian  holds all cash and securities of the
Funds (either in the Custodian's  possession or in its favor through "book entry
systems" authorized by the Trustee in accordance with the Investment Company Act
of 1940), collects all income and effects all securities  transactions on behalf
of the Fund.

                      PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

     Subject to policies  established by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the
Adviser is responsible for the Funds' portfolio decisions and the placing of the
Funds' portfolio transactions.  In placing portfolio  transactions,  the Adviser
seeks the best  qualitative  execution  for the Funds,  taking into account such
factors  as price  (including  the  applicable  brokerage  commission  or dealer
spread), the execution capability,  financial  responsibility and responsiveness
of the broker or dealer and the brokerage and research  services provided by the
broker or dealer.  The Adviser  generally seeks favorable  prices and commission
rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received.

     Consistent  with the  Rules  of  Conduct  of the  National  Association  of
Securities  Dealers,  Inc.,  and  subject  to its  obligation  of  seeking  best
qualitative execution,  the Adviser may give consideration to sales of shares of
the  Fund as a factor  in the  selection  of  brokers  and  dealers  to  execute
portfolio transactions.

     The Adviser is  specifically  authorized  to select  brokers or dealers who
also  provide  brokerage  and  research  services to the Funds  and/or the other
accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment  discretion and to pay such
brokers or dealers a commission in excess of the  commission  another  broker or
dealer would charge if the Adviser  determines in good faith that the commission
is reasonable  in relation to the value of the  brokerage and research  services
provided.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

The  determination  may be viewed in terms of a  particular  transaction  or the
Adviser's  overall  responsibilities  with  respect  to the  Trust  and to other
accounts over which it exercises investment discretion.

     Research services include  supplemental  research,  securities and economic
analyses,  statistical services and information with respect to the availability
of securities  or  purchasers  or sellers of securities  and analyses of reports
concerning  performance of accounts. The research services and other information
furnished by brokers through whom the Funds effect  securities  transactions may
also  be  used by the  Adviser  in  servicing  all of its  accounts.  Similarly,
research and  information  provided by brokers or dealers  serving other clients
may be useful to the  Adviser  in  connection  with its  services  to the Funds.
Although research services and other information are useful to the Funds and the
Adviser,  it is not  possible to place a dollar  value on the research and other
information received. It is the opinion of the Board of Trustees and the Adviser
that the review and study of the research and other  information will not reduce
the overall cost to the Adviser of performing  its duties to the Funds under the
Agreement.

     Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal
market makers or with broker-dealers,  if the same or a better price,  including
commissions and executions,  is available.  Fixed income securities are normally
purchased directly from the issuer, an underwriter or a market maker.  Purchases
include a  concession  paid by the issuer to the  underwriter  and the  purchase
price paid to a market  maker may include  the spread  between the bid and asked
prices.

     The Adviser makes  investment  decisions for the Funds  independently  from
those of the other  accounts the Adviser  manages;  investments  of the type the
Funds may make,  however,  may also be made by those  other  accounts.  When the
Funds and one or more other accounts the Adviser  manages are prepared to invest
in, or desire to dispose  of,  the same  security,  the  Adviser  will  allocate
available  investments  or  opportunities  for  sales  in a manner  the  Adviser
believes to be equitable to each.  In some cases,  this  procedure may adversely
affect  the price  paid or  received  by the  Funds or the size of the  position
obtained  or disposed  of by the Fund.  Orders  placed for the Funds will not be
combined ("blocked") with other orders.


     For the fiscal  period ended June 30, 2000,  The James Small Cap Fund,  The
James  Market  Neutral  Fund and The James  Large  Cap Plus Fund paid  brokerage
commissions of $25,369, $55,328 and $5,756, respectively.  For the fiscal period
ended June 30, 1999,  The James Small Cap Fund and The James Market Neutral Fund
paid brokerage commissions of $25,956 and $58,053, respectively.

     CODE OF ETHICS.  The  Trust,  the  Adviser  and the  Distributor  have each
adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the Investment  Company Act of 1940
which permits Fund personnel to invest in securities for their own accounts. The
Codes of Ethics  adopted by the Trust,  the Adviser and the  Distributor  are on
public file with, and are available from, the SEC.


                                      -21-
<PAGE>

                               SHARES OF THE FUND

     The  Funds  do not  issue  share  certificates.  All  shares  are  held  in
non-certificate form registered on the books of the Funds and the Transfer Agent
for the account of the shareholder.  The rights to limit the amount of purchases
and to refuse to sell to any person are reserved by the Funds.  If your check or
wire does not clear, you will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Funds.
If you are  already  a  shareholder,  the  Funds  can  redeem  shares  from  any
identically  registered  account  in the  Funds  as  reimbursement  for any loss
incurred.  You may be prohibited or restricted  from making future  purchases in
the Funds.

     Four classes of shares, Class A Shares, Class B Shares, Class C Shares, and
Class R Shares are  authorized for the Fund.  Currently,  the Funds are offering
Class A shares only,  but others may be offered in the future.  The four classes
of shares  each  represent  an  interest in the same  respective  portfolios  of
investments of the Funds and have the same rights,  except (i) Class B and Class
C Shares bear the expenses of the deferred  sales  arrangement  and any expenses
(including  a higher  distribution  services  fee)  resulting  from  such  sales
arrangement, (ii) each class that is subject to a distribution fee has exclusive
voting  rights  with  respect  to those  provisions  of the  Funds'  Rule  12b-1
distribution  plan which  relate only to such class and (iii) the  classes  have
different exchange privileges.  Additionally,  Class B Shares will automatically
convert  into Class A Shares  after a  specified  period of years (as  described
below).  The net  income  attributable  to Class B and  Class C  Shares  and the
dividends payable on Class B and Class C Shares will be reduced by the amount of
the higher  distribution  services fee and certain  other  incremental  expenses
associated with the deferred sales charge  arrangement.  The net asset value per
share of Class A Shares,  Class B Shares,  Class C Shares  and Class R Shares is
expected to be substantially the same, but it may differ from time to time.

     For  purposes of  conversion  of Class A Shares,  Class B Shares  purchased
through the reinvestment of dividends and distributions paid in respect of Class
B Shares in  stockholder's  account will be  considered to be held in a separate
sub-account.  Each time any Class B Shares in the  stockholder's  account (other
than  those in the  sub-account)  convert  to Class A Shares,  an equal pro rata
portion of the Class B Shares in the  sub-account  also will  convert to Class A
Shares.  The  conversion  of Class B Shares to Class A Shares is  subject to the
continuing  determination  that (i) the  assessment  of the higher  distribution
services  fee and  transfer  agency cost with respect to Class B Shares does not
result in the  Fund's  dividends  or  distributions  constituting  "preferential
dividends"  under the Internal  Revenue  Code,  and (ii) that the  conversion of
Class B Shares does not constitute a taxable event under federal income tax law.
The  conversion  of Class B Shares to Class A Shares may be suspended if such an
opinion is no longer available. In that event, no further conversions of Class B
Shares  would  occur,  and Class B Shares  might  continue  to be subject to the
higher  distribution  services fee for an  indefinite  period,  which period may
extend  beyond  the  conversion  period  after the end of the month in which the
shares were issued.

     The contingent  deferred sales load ("CDSL") will not be imposed on amounts
representing  increases  in net asset value above the  initial  purchase  price.
Additionally,  no charge will be  assessed on Class B or Class C Shares  derived
from reinvestment of dividends or capital gains

                                      -22-
<PAGE>

distributions. The CDSL will be waived (i) on redemption of shares following the
disability (as determined in writing by the Social Security  Administration)  or
death of a stockholder  and (ii) on certain  redemptions in connection with IRAs
and other qualified retirement plans. In the case of an exchange,  the length of
time that the investor  held the  original  Class B or Class C Shares is counted
towards  satisfaction  of the period  during  which a deferred  sales  charge is
imposed on the Class B or Class C for which the exchange was made.

LETTER OF INTENT. A shareholder may qualify for reduced sales charges by sending
to the respective  Funds (within 90 days after the first purchase  desired to be
included  in the  purchase  program)  the signed,  non-binding  Letter of Intent
section  on the  application  form.  All  investments  in  retail  shares of the
respective  Funds count toward the indicated  goal. It is understood  that 5% of
the dollar amount  checked on the  application  will be held in a special escrow
account.  These shares will be held by an escrow  agent  subject to the terms of
the escrow. All dividends and capital gains distributions on the escrowed shares
will be credited to the shareholder's account in shares. If the total purchases,
less redemptions by the shareholder, his spouse, children and parents, equal the
amount specified under this Letter,  the shares held in escrow will be deposited
to the  shareholder's  open account or delivered to the shareholder or to his or
her order. If the total purchases, less redemptions, exceed the amount specified
under this  Letter and an amount  which  would  qualify  for a further  quantity
discount, a retroactive price adjustment will be made by the Distributor and the
dealer  through whom  purchases  were made pursuant to this Letter of Intent (to
reflect such further quantity  discount).  The resulting  difference in offering
price will be applied to the purchase of additional shares at the offering price
applicable to a single purchase of the dollar amount of the total purchases.  If
the total purchases less  redemptions  are less than the amount  specified under
this Letter,  the  shareholder  will remit to the Distributor an amount equal to
the difference in the dollar amount of sales charge actually paid and the amount
of sales charge which would have applied to the aggregate purchases if the total
of such  purchases  had been made at a single  time.  Upon such  remittance  the
shares held in escrow for the  shareholder's  account  will be  deposited to the
shareholder's  open  account or delivered  to the  shareholder  or to his or her
order.  If  within  20  days  after  written  request  by the  Distributor  such
difference in sales charge is not paid, the Distributor is hereby  authorized to
redeem  an  appropriate  number  of  shares  to  realize  such  difference.  The
Distributor  is hereby  irrevocably  constituted  under this Letter of Intent to
effect such redemption as agent of the shareholder.

                          DETERMINATION OF SHARE PRICE

     The price (net asset value) of the shares of the Funds is  determined as of
4:00 p.m.,  Eastern  time on each day the Trust is open for  business and on any
other day on which  there is  sufficient  trading  in the Fund's  securities  to
materially  affect the net asset value.  The Trust is open for business on every
day except  Saturdays,  Sundays  and the  following  holidays:  New Year's  Day,
President's  Day,  Martin  Luther  King,  Jr. Day,  Good Friday,  Memorial  Day,
Independence  Day, Labor Day,  Thanksgiving and Christmas.  For a description of
the  methods  used  to  determine  the  net  asset  value  (share  price),   see
"Calculation of Share Price and Public Offering Price" in the Prospectus.

                                      -23-
<PAGE>

     For  valuation  purposes,  quotations  of foreign  securities  in a foreign
currency are converted to U.S.  dollar  equivalents  at the time of pricing.  In
computing  the net asset  value of the Funds,  the  values of foreign  portfolio
securities are generally based upon market quotations which,  depending upon the
exchange or market,  may be last sale price,  last bid price,  or the average of
the last bid and asked prices as of, in each case, the close of the  appropriate
exchange or another designated time.

     Trading in securities on European and Far Eastern securities  exchanges and
over-the-counter markets is normally completed at various times before the close
of business on each day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open. Trading of
these  securities may not take place on every New York Stock  Exchange  business
day. In addition, trading may take place in various foreign markets on Saturdays
or on other days when the New York Stock  Exchange  is not open and on which the
Funds' share price is not calculated. Therefore, the value of the portfolio of a
fund  holding  foreign  securities  may be  significantly  affected on days when
shares of the Funds may not be purchased or redeemed.

     The calculation of the share price of the Funds holding foreign  securities
in its portfolio does not take place contemporaneously with the determination of
the values of many of the foreign portfolio securities used in such calculation.
Events affecting the values of foreign  portfolio  securities that occur between
the time their prices are  determined  and the  calculation  of the Funds' share
price will not be reflected in the  calculation  unless the Adviser  determines,
subject to review by the Board of  Trustees,  that the  particular  event  would
materially affect net asset value, in which case an adjustment will be made.

                           ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION


TAXATION  OF THE FUNDS.  The Funds have  qualified  and  intend to  continue  to
qualify as "regulated  investment  companies" under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Among its requirements to qualify
under  Subchapter M, each Fund must distribute  annually at least 90% of its net
investment income. In addition to this distribution  requirement,  the Fund must
derive  at least 90% of its  gross  income  each  taxable  year from  dividends,
interest, payments with respect to securities' loans, gains from the disposition
of stock or securities, and certain other income.


     While the above  requirements  are aimed at  qualification  of the Funds as
regulated  investment  companies under  Subchapter M of the Code, the Funds also
intend to comply with certain  requirements  of the Code to avoid  liability for
federal income and excise tax. If the Funds remains  qualified under  Subchapter
M, they will not be subject to federal income tax to the extent they distributes
their  taxable  net  investment   income  and  net  realized  capital  gains.  A
nondeductible  4% federal  excise tax will be imposed on the Funds to the extent
they do not  distribute  at least 98% of their  ordinary  taxable  income  for a
calendar  year,  plus 98% of their  capital gain net taxable  income for the one
year period  ending each  October 31, plus  certain  undistributed  amounts from
prior  years.  While the Funds intend to  distribute  their  taxable  income and
capital gains in a manner so as to avoid  imposition  of the federal  excise and
income

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

taxes,  there can be no  assurance  that the Funds  indeed will make  sufficient
distributions to avoid entirely imposition of federal excise or income taxes.

     Should additional  series, or funds, be created by the Trustees,  each fund
would be treated as a separate tax entity for federal income tax purposes.


     As of June 30, 2000,  The James Small Cap Fund and The James Market Neutral
Fund have capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of $561,145
and $1,387,987, respectively, which expire in the year 2008. In addition, during
the period from  November 1, 1999  through  June 30,  2000,  The James Small Cap
Fund,  The James  Market  Neutral Fund and The James Large Cap Plus Fund had net
realized capital losses of $303,537, $78,713 and $114,804,  respectively,  which
are  treated for federal  income tax  purposes as arising  during the Funds' tax
year ending June 30, 2001. These capital loss  carryforwards and  "post-October"
losses may be utilized in future years to offset net realized capital gains.


                               DISTRIBUTION PLANS

     With  respect to the Funds,  the Trust has adopted a Plan for each class of
shares,  pursuant  to Rule 12b-1 which was  promulgated  by the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  pursuant  to  the  Investment  Company  Act of  1940  (the
"Plans").  Each Plan provides for payment of fees to the  Distributor to finance
any activity  that is  principally  intended to result in the sale of the Funds'
shares subject to the Plans.  Such  activities are described in the  Prospectus.
Pursuant to the Plans,  the  Distributor  may pay fees to brokers and others for
such services. The Trustees expect that the adoption of the Plans will result in
the sale of a  sufficient  number of shares so as to allow the Funds to  achieve
economic  viability.  It is also anticipated that an increase in the size of the
Funds will facilitate more efficient  portfolio  management and assist the Funds
in seeking to achieve its investment  objective.  The maximum amounts payable by
the Funds under the Plans are described in the Prospectus.

     The Trust's Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are
not  "interested  persons"  of the  Trust  and who have no  direct  or  indirect
financial  interest in the Plans or any related  agreement,  approved the Plans,
the Distribution Agreement, the Selling Agreements and the Service Agreements of
the  respective  Funds by a vote  cast in person  at a  meeting  called  for the
purpose of voting on the Plans and such  agreements and by the  shareholders  on
August 20, 1998.  Continuation  of the Plans and the related  agreements must be
approved annually in the same manner, and the Plans or any related agreement may
be  terminated  at any time  without  penalty by a majority of such  independent
Trustees  or  by a  majority  of a  class'  outstanding  shares.  Any  amendment
increasing the maximum  percentage payable under a Plan or other material change
must be approved by a majority of the respective class' outstanding  shares, and
all  other  material  amendments  to a Plan  or any  related  agreement  must be
approved by a majority of the independent Trustees.

     Various   state  and  federal  laws  limit  the  ability  of  a  depository
institution  (such as a commercial  bank or a savings and loan  association)  to
become an underwriter or distributor of

                                      -25-
<PAGE>

securities.   In  the  event  these  laws  are  deemed  to  prohibit  depository
institutions  from acting in the capacities  described  above or should Congress
relax current  restrictions  on depository  institutions,  the Board of Trustees
will  consider  appropriate  changes  in the  services.  State  securities  laws
governing  the ability of  depository  institutions  to act as  underwriters  or
distributors of securities may differ from interpretations  given to federal law
and, therefore,  banks and financial institutions may be required to register as
dealers pursuant to state law.


     For the fiscal  period ended June 30, 2000,  The James Small Cap Fund,  The
James Market  Neutral Fund and The James Large Cap Plus Fund  incurred  $11,966,
$16,845  and  $6,797,  respectively,  under  the  Plans on behalf of the Class A
shares of each Fund for  payments to  broker-dealers  and others for the sale or
retention of Fund shares.


                             PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

     "Average  annual total  return," as defined by the  Securities and Exchange
Commission, is computed by finding the average annual compounded rates of return
for the period  indicated that would equate the initial  amount  invested to the
ending redeemable value, according to the following formula:

                                          n
                                    P(1+T) =ERV

Where:    P = a hypothetical $1,000 initial investment
          T = average annual total return
          n = number of years
          ERV = ending  redeemable value at the end of the applicable  period of
                the hypothetical  $1,000 investment made at the beginning of the
                applicable period.

The computation  assumes that all dividends and  distributions are reinvested at
the net asset  value on the  reinvestment  dates and that a complete  redemption
occurs at the end of the applicable period.

     Each Fund may also advertise  performance  information (a "non-standardized
quotation") which is calculated  differently from "average annual total return."
A  non-standardized  quotation of total return may be a cumulative  return which
measures the percentage  change in the value of an account between the beginning
and end of a period, assuming no activity in the account other than reinvestment
of dividends and capital gains distributions.  A non-standardized  quotation may
also be an average  annual  compounded  rate of return over a specified  period,
which may be a period  different from those  specified for "average annual total
return." In addition,  a non-standardized  quotation may be an indication of the
value of a $10,000  investment  (made on the date of the initial public offering
of the Fund's shares) as of the end of a specified  period.  A  non-standardized
quotation will always be accompanied by the Fund's "average annual total return"
as described above.


     The James Small Cap Fund's  average  annual  total  return,  as of June 30,
2000,  for 1 year and since its  inception  on October 2, 1998,  is -15.75%  and
0.02% respectively. The James Market Neutral Fund's average annual total return,
as of June 30, 2000, for 1 year and since its inception on

                                      -26-
<PAGE>

October 2, 1998,  is 0.86% and -2.86%  respectively.  The James Large Cap Fund's
total return since its inception on November 1, 1999 is 28.65%.


     The  Funds'   investment   performance  will  vary  depending  upon  market
conditions,  the composition of the Funds'  respective  portfolios and operating
expenses of the Funds. These factors and possible differences in the methods and
time periods used in calculating  non-standardized investment performance should
be considered when comparing the Funds' performance to those of other investment
companies  or  investment  vehicles.   The  risks  associated  with  the  Funds'
investment objective,  policies and techniques should also be considered. At any
time in the  future,  investment  performance  may be higher or lower  than past
performance, and there can be no assurance that any performance will continue.

     From time to time, in  advertisements,  sales  literature  and  information
furnished to present or to  prospective  shareholders,  the  performance  of the
Funds  may be  compared  to  indices  of broad  groups of  unmanaged  securities
considered to be representative  of or similar to the portfolio  holdings of the
Funds or considered  to be  representative  of the stock market in general.  The
Funds may use the  Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index,  the Dow Jones  Industrial
Average, the Value Line Stock Index or a blend of stock and bond indices.

     In addition,  the  performance of the Funds may be compared to other groups
of mutual funds tracked by any widely used independent research firm which ranks
mutual funds by overall performance,  investment  objectives and assets, such as
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. or Morningstar, Inc. The objectives,  policies,
limitations and expenses of other mutual funds in a group may not be the same as
those of the Funds.  Performance  rankings and ratings reported  periodically in
national financial publications such as Barron's and Fortune also may be used.

     The Funds may also include in  advertisements  data  comparing  performance
with other mutual funds as reported in non-related  investment media,  published
editorial   comments   and   performance   rankings   compiled  by   independent
organizations  and  publications  that monitor the  performance  of mutual funds
(such as  Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc.,  Morningstar,  Inc.,  Fortune  or
Barron's). Performance information may be quoted numerically or may be presented
in a table, graph or other  illustration.  In addition,  Fund performance may be
compared to well-known  indices of market  performance  including the Standard &
Poor's  (S&P) 500 Index,  the Dow Jones  Industrial  Average or the Russell 2000
Index.

     The  advertised  performance  data of  each  Fund is  based  on  historical
performance and is not intended to indicate future  performance.  Rates of total
return quoted by a Fund may be higher or lower than past  quotations,  and there
can be no  assurance  that any  rate of total  return  will be  maintained.  The
principal  value  of an  investment  in  each  Fund  will  fluctuate  so  that a
shareholder's  shares,  when  redeemed,  may be  worth  more  or less  than  the
shareholder's original investment.

                                      -27-
<PAGE>

                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


     The financial  statements and  independent  auditors  report required to be
included herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the Annual Report of the
James Advantage Funds for the year ended June 30, 2000.


                                      -28-
<PAGE>

                                     PART C

                                OTHER INFORMATION

Item 23.  Exhibits:
          ---------

          a.   Declaration of Trust*

          b.   Bylaws*

          c.   Not Applicable

          d.   (i)   Investment Advisory Agreement for The Golden Rainbow Fund*

               (ii)  Investment Advisory Agreement for The James Small Cap Fund*

               (iii) Investment Advisory  Agreement for The James Market Neutral
                     Fund*

               (iv)  Investment  Advisory Agreement for The James Large Cap Plus
                     Fund

          e.   Underwriting  Agreement between The James Advantage Funds and IFS
               Fund Distributors*

          f.   Not Applicable

          g.   Custodian Agreement with Firstar Bank, N.A.*

          h.   Administration, Accounting and Transfer Agency Agreement*

          i.   Opinion of Counsel*

               (i)   Consent to Incorporate by Reference and to Use

          j.   Consent of Accountant

          k.   Not Applicable

          l.   Agreement Relating to Initial Capital*

          m.   (i)   Plans of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for The Golden
                     Rainbow Fund*

               (ii)  Plans of  Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for The James
                     Small Cap Fund*

               (iii) Plans of Distribution  Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for The James
                     Market Neutral Fund*

               (iv)  Plans of  Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for The James
                     Large Cap Plus Fund*

          n.   Not Applicable

          o.   Rule 18f-3  Plan  Adopted  With  Respect  to the  Multiple  Class
               Distribution System*
<PAGE>

          p.   (i)   Code  of  Ethics  of The  James Advantage  Fund  and  James
                    Investment Research, Inc.

               (ii)  Code of Ethics of IFS Fund Distributors, Inc.

*    Previously filed as Exhibit to Registration Statement on Form N-1A.

Item 24.  Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant
          -------------------------------------------------------------

          No person is  directly or  indirectly  controlled  by or under  common
          control with the Registrant.

Item 25.  Indemnification.
          ---------------

          Article VI of the  Registrant's  Agreement  and  Declaration  of Trust
          provides for indemnification of officers and trustees as follows:

               "SECTION 6.4 Indemnification of Trustees,  Officers, etc. Subject
               to and except as  otherwise  provided  in the  Securities  Act of
               1933,  as amended,  and the 1940 Act,  the Trust shall  indemnify
               each of its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at
               the Trust's request as directors, officers or trustees of another
               organization   in  which  the  Trust  has  any   interest   as  a
               shareholder,  creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a
               "Covered  Person")  against all  liabilities,  including  but not
               limited  to  amounts  paid  in  satisfaction  of  judgments,   in
               compromise or as fines and  penalties,  and  expenses,  including
               reasonable accountants' and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered
               Person in  connection  with the  defense  or  disposition  of any
               action,  suit or other  proceeding,  whether  civil or  criminal,
               before any court or  administrative or legislative body, in which
               such Covered  Person may be or may have been  involved as a party
               or  otherwise  or with which such  person may be or may have been
               threatened,  while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or
               having been such a Trustee or officer,  director or trustee,  and
               except that no Covered  Person shall be  indemnified  against any
               liability to the Trust or its  Shareholders to which such Covered
               Person   would   otherwise   be  subject  by  reason  of  willful
               misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
               the  duties  involved  in the  conduct of such  Covered  Person's
               office.

               "SECTION  6.5  Advances  of  Expenses.  The Trust  shall  advance
               attorneys' fees or other expenses incurred by a Covered Person in
               defending  a  proceeding  to the  full  extent  permitted  by the
               Securities  Act of  1933,  as  amended,  the 1940  Act,  and Ohio
               Revised Code Section 1701.13(E),  as amended, these laws, and not
               Ohio Revised Code Section 1701.13(E), shall govern.

               "SECTION 6.6  Indemnification  Not  Exclusive,  etc. The right of
               indemnification   provided  by  this  Article  VI  shall  not  be
               exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered
               Person may be  entitled.  As used in this  Article  VI,  "Covered
               Person"  shall  include  such  person's   heirs,   executors  and
               administrators.  Nothing  contained in this article  shall affect
               any rights to  indemnification  to which  personnel of the Trust,
               other  than  Trustees  and  officers,  and other  persons  may be
               entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the
               Trust to purchase and maintain  liability  insurance on behalf of
               any such person."

          The Trust  maintains a standard  mutual fund and  investment  advisory
          professional  and directors and officers  liability  policy.  Coverage
          under  the  policy  includes  losses  by  reason  of any  act,  error,
          omission,  misstatement,  misleading  statement,  neglect or breach of
          duty. The Trust may not pay for insurance  which protects its Trustees
          and officers against liabilities arising from action involving willful
          misfeasance,  bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
          duties involved in the conduct of their offices.

<PAGE>

Item 26.  Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisor
          ----------------------------------------------------

          James Investment  Research,  Inc. is a registered  investment  advisor
          providing  general  investment  advisory services to the series of The
          James  Advantage  Funds:  The Golden Rainbow Fund, The James Small Cap
          Fund,  The James  Market  Neutral Fund and The James Market Plus Fund.
          James  Investment  Research,  Inc. also provides  investment  advisory
          services to  corporations,  trusts,  pension and profit sharing plans,
          other  business  and  institutional  accounts  and  individuals.   The
          following  list sets forth the business and other  connections  of the
          directors and officers of James Investment Research, Inc., P.O. Box 8,
          Alpha, Ohio 45301.

          (1)  Francis E. James, Jr. - President of James  Investment  Research,
               Inc.

          (2)  Barry R. James - Executive  Vice  President  of James  Investment
               Research, Inc.

               (a)  President and Trustee of The James Advantage Funds.

          (3)  Ann  Marie  Shaw - Senior  Vice  President  of  James  Investment
               Research, Inc.

          (4)  Thomas L. Mangan - First Vice President and Compliance Officer of
               James Investment Research, Inc.

               (a)  Treasurer and Secretary of The James Advantage Funds.

          (5)  Suzanne Smith - Treasurer of James Investment Research, Inc.

          (6)  Rae James - Secretary of James Investment Research, Inc.

          (7)  Jerome G. Peppers - Director of James Investment Research, Inc.

          (8)  Robert G. Hawkins - Director of James Investment Research, Inc.

Item 27.  Principal Underwriter
          ---------------------

          (a)  IFS Fund  Distributors,  Inc.  (the  "Distributor")  also acts as
               principal  underwriter for other open-end  investment  companies:
               Brundage, Story and Rose Investment Trust, The Bjurman Funds, The
               Gannett Welsh & Kotler Funds,  The Westport Funds, The Caldwell &
               Orkin Funds,  Inc., Profit Funds Investment Trust, the Lake Shore
               Family  of  Funds,  UC  Investment  Trust  and  The  Williamsburg
               Investment Trust.

          (b)  The  following  list  sets  forth  the  directors  and  executive
               officers  of the  Distributor.  Unless  otherwise  noted  with an
               asterisk(*),  the address of the persons  named below is 221 East
               Fourth Street, Suite 300, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

                           Position                                   Position
                           with                                       with
        Name               Distributor                                Registrant
        ----               -----------                                ----------

William F. Ledwin          Director                                   None

Jill T. McGruder           President/Director                         None

David E. Dennison          Senior Vice President/                     None
                           Chief Operating Officer

<PAGE>

Maryellen Peretzky         Senior Vice President/                     None
                           Chief Administrative Officer/Secretary

Terrie A. Wiedenheft       Senior Vice President/                     None
                           Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer

Tina D. Hosking            Vice President/Associate                   Assistant
                           General Counsel                            Secretary

Elizabeth A. Santen        Assistant Vice President, Legal            None

Michele M. Hawkins         Assistant Vice President, Compliance       None

Brian J. Manley            Assistant Vice President                   None

James J. Vance             Assistant Treasurer                        None

          (c)  Inapplicable

Item 28.  Locations of Accounts and Records
          ---------------------------------

          The Registrant  maintains the records required by Section 31(a) of the
          Investment  Company  Act of 1940 and  Rules  31a-1 to 31a-3  inclusive
          thereunder  at its  principal  executive  office  at 221  East  Fourth
          Street,  Cincinnati,  Ohio 45202.  Certain records,  including records
          relating  to  the  physical  possession  of  its  securities,  may  be
          maintained  pursuant  to  Rule  31a-3  at  the  main  offices  of  the
          Registrant's investment advisors and custodians.

Item 29.  Management Services
          -------------------

          Not Applicable

Item 30.  Undertakings
          ------------

          Not Applicable

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------

     Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933  and  the
Investment  Company Act of 1940, the Registrant  certifies that it meets all the
requirements for  effectiveness of the Registration  Statement  pursuant to Rule
485(b)  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933  and that it has  duly  caused  this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized,  in the City of Cincinnati and the State of Ohio on the 1st day
of November, 2000.

                                        THE JAMES ADVANTAGE FUNDS

                                        By: /s/ Barry R. James
                                            ----------------------------
                                            Barry R. James
                                            President

     The term "The James Advantage  Funds" means and refers to the Trustees from
time to time  serving  under  the  Agreement  and  Declaration  of  Trust of the
Registrant  dated August 29, 1997,  as amended,  a copy of which is on file with
the Secretary of State of The State of Ohio.  The  obligations of the Registrant
hereunder are not binding  personally  upon any of the  Trustees,  shareholders,
nominees,  officers,  agents or employees of the  Registrant,  but bind only the
trust property of the  Registrant,  as provided in the Agreement and Declaration
of Trust of the  Registrant.  The execution of this  Registration  Statement has
been  authorized  by  the  Trustees  of the  Registrant  and  this  Registration
Statement has been signed by an authorized officer of the Registrant,  acting as
such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such execution by such
officer  shall be deemed to have been made by any of them,  but shall  bind only
the trust property of the Registrant as provided in its Declaration of Trust.

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated:

Signature                                Title                       Date
---------                                -----                       ----

/s/ Barry R. James                  Trustee and President       November 1, 2000
------------------                  (principal executive
Barry R. James                      officer)

/s/ Thomas L. Mangan                Treasurer                   November 1, 2000
--------------------                (principal financial and
Thomas L. Mangan                    accounting officer)

Anthony P. D'Angelo*                Trustee

Hazel L. Eichelberger*              Trustee

James F. Zid*                       Trustee

*By: /s/ Tina D. Hosking
     ----------------------
     Tina D. Hosking
     Attorney-in-Fact
     November 1, 2000

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS,  THE JAMES  ADVANTAGE  FUNDS, a business trust organized under the
laws of the State of Ohio  (hereinafter  referred to as the "Trust"),  has filed
with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  under  the  provisions  of the
Securities  Act of 1933 and the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  a
registration  statement  with  respect to the issuance and sale of the shares of
the Trust; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust, as indicated beside his
name;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  the undersigned  hereby constitutes and appoints JAMES R.
CUMMINS,  DONALD S. MENDELSOHN,  TINA D. HOSKING and JOHN F. SPLAIN, and each of
them,  his  attorneys for him and in his name,  place and stead,  to execute and
file any amendments to the Trust's registration statement,  as required,  hereby
giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform
all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and
about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 20th day
of November, 1998.


                                                   /s/ James F. Zid
                                                   ---------------------
                                                   James F. Zid
                                                   Trustee

STATE OF OHIO            )
                         )   ss:
COUNTY OF GREENE         )


     Before me, a Notary  Public,  in and for said county and state,  personally
appeared  JAMES  F.  ZID,  known  to me to be the  person  described  in and who
executed the foregoing  instrument,  and who acknowledged to me that he executed
and delivered the same for the purposes therein expressed.

     WITNESS my hand and official seal this 20th day of November 20, 1998.


                                                   /s/ JoAnn M. Strasser
                                                   ---------------------
                                                   Notary Public

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS,  THE JAMES  ADVANTAGE  FUNDS, a business trust organized under the
laws of the State of Ohio  (hereinafter  referred to as the "Trust"),  has filed
with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  under  the  provisions  of the
Securities  Act of 1933 and the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  a
registration  statement  with  respect to the issuance and sale of the shares of
the Trust; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust, as indicated beside his
name;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  the undersigned  hereby constitutes and appoints JAMES R.
CUMMINS,  DONALD S. MENDELSOHN,  TINA D. HOSKING and JOHN F. SPLAIN, and each of
them,  his  attorneys for him and in his name,  place and stead,  to execute and
file any amendments to the Trust's registration statement,  as required,  hereby
giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform
all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and
about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 20th day
of November, 1998.


                                                   /s/ Anthony P. D'Angelo
                                                   ---------------------
                                                   Anthony P. D'Angelo
                                                   Trustee

STATE OF OHIO            )
                         )   ss:
COUNTY OF GREENE         )

     Before me, a Notary  Public,  in and for said county and state,  personally
appeared ANTHONY P. D'ANGELO,  known to me to be the person described in and who
executed the foregoing  instrument,  and who acknowledged to me that he executed
and delivered the same for the purposes therein expressed.

     WITNESS my hand and official seal this 20th day of November 20, 1998.

                                                   /s/ JoAnn M. Strasser
                                                   ---------------------
                                                   Notary Public

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS,  THE JAMES  ADVANTAGE  FUNDS, a business trust organized under the
laws of the State of Ohio  (hereinafter  referred to as the "Trust"),  has filed
with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  under  the  provisions  of the
Securities  Act of 1933 and the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  a
registration  statement  with  respect to the issuance and sale of the shares of
the Trust; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust, as indicated beside his
name;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  the undersigned  hereby constitutes and appoints JAMES R.
CUMMINS,  DONALD S. MENDELSOHN,  TINA D. HOSKING and JOHN F. SPLAIN, and each of
them,  her  attorneys for her and in her name,  place and stead,  to execute and
file any amendments to the Trust's registration statement,  as required,  hereby
giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform
all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and
about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set her hand this 20th day
of November, 1998.


                                                   /s/ Hazel L. Eichelberger
                                                   ---------------------
                                                   Hazel L. Eichelberger
                                                   Trustee

STATE OF OHIO            )
                         )   ss:
COUNTY OF GREENE         )

     Before me, a Notary  Public,  in and for said county and state,  personally
appeared HAZEL L.  EICHELBERGER,  known to me to be the person  described in and
who executed  the  foregoing  instrument,  and who  acknowledged  to me that she
executed and delivered the same for the purposes therein expressed.

     WITNESS my hand and official seal this 20th day of November 20, 1998.


                                                   /s/ JoAnn M. Strasser
                                                   ---------------------
                                                   Notary Public

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     WHEREAS,  THE JAMES  ADVANTAGE  FUNDS, a business trust organized under the
laws of the State of Ohio  (hereinafter  referred to as the "Trust"),  has filed
with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  under  the  provisions  of the
Securities  Act of 1933 and the  Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  a
registration  statement  with  respect to the issuance and sale of the shares of
the Trust; and

     WHEREAS, the undersigned is a Trustee of the Trust, as indicated beside his
name;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  the undersigned  hereby constitutes and appoints JAMES R.
CUMMINS,  DONALD S. MENDELSOHN,  TINA D. HOSKING and JOHN F. SPLAIN, and each of
them,  his  attorneys for him and in his name,  place and stead,  to execute and
file any amendments to the Trust's registration statement,  as required,  hereby
giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform
all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and
about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 20th day
of November, 1998.

                                                   /s/ Barry R. James
                                                   ---------------------
                                                   Barry R. James
                                                   Trustee

STATE OF OHIO            )
                         )   ss:
COUNTY OF GREENE         )

     Before me, a Notary  Public,  in and for said county and state,  personally
appeared  BARRY R.  JAMES,  known to me to be the  person  described  in and who
executed the foregoing  instrument,  and who acknowledged to me that he executed
and delivered the same for the purposes therein expressed.

     WITNESS my hand and official seal this 20th day of November 20, 1998.

                                                   /s/ JoAnn M. Strasser
                                                   ---------------------
                                                   Notary Public

<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number         Description of Exhibit
-------        ----------------------

   a.          Declaration of Trust*

   b.          Bylaws*

   c.          Not Applicable

   d. (i)      Investment Advisory Agreement for The Golden Rainbow Fund*

      (ii)     Investment Advisory Agreement for The James Small Cap Fund*

      (iii)    Investment Advisory Agreement for The James Market Neutral Fund*

      (iv)     Investment Advisory Agreement for The James Large Cap Plus Fund

   e.          Underwriting  Agreement between The James Advantage Funds and IFS
               Fund Distributors *

   f.          Not Applicable

   g.          Custodian Agreement with Firstar Bank, N.A.*

   h.          Administration, Accounting and Transfer Agency Agreement*

   i.          Opinion of Counsel*

      (i)      Consent to Incorporate by Reference and to Use

   j.          Consent of Accountant

   k.          Not Applicable

   l.          Agreement Relating to Initial Capital*

   m. (i)      Plans of  Distribution  Pursuant  to Rule  12b-1  for The  Golden
               Rainbow Fund*

      (ii)     Plans of Distribution  Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for The James Small
               Cap Fund*

      (iii)    Plans of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for The James Market
               Neutral Fund*

      (iv)     Plans of Distribution  Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for The James Large
               Cap Plus Fund*

   n.          Not Applicable

   o.          Rule 18f-3  Plan  Adopted  With  Respect  to the  Multiple  Class
               Distribution System*

   p. (i)      Code of Ethics of The James  Advantage Fund and James  Investment
               Research, Inc.

      (ii)     Code of Ethics of IFS Fund Distributors, Inc.

*    Previously filed as Exhibit to Registration Statement on Form N-1A



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