Filed Pursuant to Rule 497(k)(1)(ii)
[PIE CHART WITH STOCKS EMPHASIS]
FUND PROFILE
August 14, 1998
THE STRONG AMERICAN UTILITIES FUND
THE STRONG ASSET ALLOCATION FUND
THE STRONG LIMITED RESOURCES FUND
THE STRONG TOTAL RETURN FUND
This profile summarizes key information about the Funds that is included in the
Funds' prospectus. The Funds' prospectus includes additional information about
the Funds, including a more detailed description of the risks associated with
investing in the Funds that you may want to consider before you invest. You may
obtain the prospectus and other information about the Funds at no cost by
calling 1-800-368-3863 or visiting our web site at www.strong-funds.com.
[STRONG LOGO]
STRONG FUNDS
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WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' GOALS?
The STRONG AMERICAN UTILITIES FUND seeks total return by investing for both
income and capital growth.
The STRONG ASSET ALLOCATION FUND seeks high total return consistent with
reasonable risk over the long term.
The STRONG LIMITED RESOURCES FUND seeks total return by investing for capital
growth and income.
The STRONG TOTAL RETURN FUND seeks high total return by investing for capital
growth and income.
WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES?
The AMERICAN UTILITIES FUND invests primarily in the common stocks of U.S.
public utility companies. These include companies that provide products and
services related to electric power, communications, gas, and water. The Fund
also invests in energy stocks. The Fund's managers may sell a holding if its
prospects for growth and income decline.
The ASSET ALLOCATION FUND invests in a combination of stocks, bonds, and cash.
Under normal conditions, about 60% of assets will be invested in common stocks,
35% in bonds (which may be high-yield), and 5% in cash. The Fund's managers
attempt to strike a balance between an investment's growth and income
prospects, and its potential risks. The managers may sell a holding when they
believe it no longer offers an attractive balance between risk and return.
The LIMITED RESOURCES FUND invests primarily in the common stocks of companies
involved in the exploration, development, production, or distribution of energy
and other natural resources. It focuses on large- and medium-size companies
that pay current dividends and whose earnings are expected to improve.
Management may sell a stock from the portfolio when they believe it no longer
has potential for earnings growth, or when it is otherwise unattractive.
The TOTAL RETURN FUND emphasizes common stocks of large- and medium-size
companies with steady or growing dividends. The Fund's managers seek to
identify reasonably priced companies that have accelerating sales and earnings,
enjoy a competitive advantage, and have effective management teams. When market
conditions are favorable, the Fund may invest to a limited degree in bonds. The
managers may choose to sell a stock if its fundamental qualities decline.
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Additional information about the Funds' investments is available in the Funds'
annual and semiannual reports to shareholders. These reports discuss the market
conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds'
performance during the past fiscal year. You may obtain these reports at no
cost by calling 1-800-368-3863.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUNDS?
GENERAL STOCK RISKS: The Funds' major risks are those of investing in the stock
market. That means the Funds may experience sudden, unpredictable declines in
the value of their shares, as well as periods of poor performance. Because
stock values fluctuate, when you sell your investment you may receive more or
less money than you originally invested.
MEDIUM-SIZE COMPANIES: The LIMITED RESOURCES and TOTAL RETURN FUNDS invest a
portion of their assets in the stocks of medium-size companies. Medium-size
companies often have narrower markets and more limited managerial and financial
resources than larger, more established companies. As a result, their
performance can be more volatile and they face greater risk of business
failure, which could increase the volatility of the Funds' portfolios.
BOND RISKS: The ASSET ALLOCATION FUND maintains a significant position in bonds
and, at times, the TOTAL RETURN FUND may also invest in bonds. To the extent
they do so, the Funds are exposed to the risks of bond investing. The market
value of a bond is affected by changes in interest rates-when interest rates
rise, the market value of a bond declines. Generally, the longer a bond's
maturity, the greater this risk. A bond's value can also be affected by changes
in the credit rating or financial condition of its issuer. Because bond values
fluctuate, when you sell your investment you may receive more or less money
than you originally invested.
HIGH-YIELD BONDS: The ASSET ALLOCATION FUND may invest in medium- and
lower-quality, high-yield bonds. These bonds involve greater risks, including
the possibility that the issuer of the bond may not be able to make its
payments of interest and principal to the Fund. If that happens, the Fund's
share price would decrease and its income distributions would be reduced.
FOREIGN SECURITIES: To a limited degree, the Funds may invest in foreign
securities. Foreign investments involve additional risks, including currency
fluctuations, political instability, differences in financial reporting
standards, and less stringent regulation of securities markets.
CONCENTRATED PORTFOLIOS: As a nondiversified Fund, the AMERICAN UTILITIES FUND
may take large positions in individual stocks. It also concentrates its
Continued..
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MAIN RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUNDS, CONTINUED..
investments in the utilities industry. The LIMITED RESOURCES FUND concentrates
its assets in the energy and natural resources industries. As a result, the
shares of these Funds are likely to fluctuate in value more than those of a
fund investing in a broader range of securities.
ACTIVE TRADING: The TOTAL RETURN FUND'S active trading approach may increase
the costs the Fund incurs. It may also increase the amount of capital-gains tax
you pay on the Fund's returns.
These Funds are appropriate for investors who have financial goals five years
or more in the future, and who are comfortable with the risks described here.
They are not appropriate for investors concerned primarily with principal
stability.
The return information provided illustrates how the Funds' performance can
vary, which is one indication of the risks of investing in the Funds. Please
keep in mind that the Funds' past performance does not represent how they will
perform in the future. Only Funds that have at least a full calendar year's
returns appear below.
CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS
[BAR GRAPH]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AMERICAN ASSET TOTAL RETURN
UTILITIES ALLOCATION FUND
FUND FUND
- ------ --------- ----------- ------------
1988 - 9.2% 15.6%
- ------ --------- ----------- ------------
1989 - 11.2% 2.6%
- ------ --------- ----------- ------------
1990 - 2.8% -7.1%
- ------ --------- ----------- ------------
1991 - 19.6% 33.6%
- ------ --------- ----------- ------------
1992 - 3.2% 0.6%
- ------ --------- ----------- ------------
1993 - 14.5% 22.5%
- ------ --------- ----------- ------------
1994 -2.6% -1.5% -1.4%
- ------ --------- ----------- ------------
1995 40.0% 22.0% 27.0%
- ------ --------- ----------- ------------
1996 8.4% 10.5% 14.1%
- ------ --------- ----------- ------------
1997 27.6% 16.7% 24.2%
- ------ --------- ----------- ------------
</TABLE>
THE FUNDS' YEAR-TO-DATE RETURNS THROUGH 6-30-98 WERE: AMERICAN UTILITIES, 5.2%;
ASSET ALLOCATION, 14.0%; AND TOTAL RETURN 16.5%.
BEST AND WORST QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
FUND NAME BEST QUARTER RETURN WORST QUARTER RETURN
- -------------------- -------------------- ---------------------
American Utilities 12.2% (4th Q 1997) -5.3% (1st Q 1994)
- -------------------- -------------------- ---------------------
Asset Allocation 9.6% (1st Q 1998) -2.1% (1st Q 1994)
- -------------------- -------------------- ---------------------
Total Return 13.8% (2nd Q 1997) -8.9% (4th Q 1989)
- -------------------- -------------------- ---------------------
</TABLE>
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AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
AS OF 6-30-98
FUND/INDEX 1-YEAR 5-YEAR 10-YEAR SINCE INCEPTION
AMERICAN UTILITIES 22.82% 15.19% - 15.19% (7-1-93)
S&P 500 Index 30.16% 23.08% - 23.08%
ASSET ALLOCATION 23.75% 13.50% 11.56% 14.44% (12-30-81)
S&P 500 Index 30.16% 23.08% 18.56% 18.35%
TOTAL RETURN 28.63% 17.96% 12.99% 16.47% (12-30-81)
S&P 500 Index 30.16% 23.08% 18.56% 18.35%
THE STANDARD & POOR'S 500 STOCK INDEX IS AN UNMANAGED INDEX GENERALLY
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARKET FOR THE STOCKS OF LARGE-SIZE U.S. COMPANIES.
WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' FEES AND EXPENSES?
This section describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Funds.
SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)
The Funds are 100% no-load, so you pay no fees to buy or sell shares.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)
The costs of operating each Fund are deducted from Fund assets, which means you
pay them indirectly. These costs are deducted before computing the daily share
price or making distributions. As a result, they don't appear on your account
statement, but instead reduce the amount of total return you receive. Because
the LIMITED RESOURCES FUND began operations on September 30, 1997, in the chart
below its expenses other than management fees are estimated.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A PERCENT OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
FUND MANAGEMENT FEES OTHER EXPENSES TOTAL EXPENSES
- ------------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
American Utilities 0.75% 0.38% 1.13%
- ------------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Asset Allocation 0.80% 0.31% 1.11%
- ------------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Limited Resources 1.00% 0.91% 1.91%
- ------------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Total Return 0.80% 0.26% 1.06%
- ------------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
</TABLE>
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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. The example assumes
that you invest $10,000 in the Funds for the time periods indicated, and then
redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes
that your
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investment has a 5% return each year and that the Funds' operating expenses
remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on
these assumptions your costs would be:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FUND 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ------------------- --------- --------- ------- ----------
American Utilities $115 $359 $622 $1,375
- ------------------- --------- --------- ------- ----------
Asset Allocation $113 $353 $612 $1,352
- ------------------- --------- --------- ------- ----------
Limited Resources $194 $600 $1,032 $2,233
- ------------------- --------- --------- ------- ----------
Total Return $108 $337 $585 $1,294
- ------------------- --------- --------- ------- ----------
</TABLE>
WHO ARE THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT ADVISORS AND PORTFOLIO MANAGERS?
Strong Capital Management serves as the investment advisor for the Funds. W.H.
Reaves & Co. is the investment subadvisor for the AMERICAN UTILITIES FUND.
Scarborough Investment Advisers is the investment subadvisor for the LIMITED
RESOURCES FUND.
William H. Reaves is senior co-manager of the AMERICAN UTILITIES FUND. He is
president and chief investment officer at W.H. Reaves & Co. and has managed or
co-managed the Fund since its inception. He has more than 40 years of
experience in analyzing and investing in utilities. Mark D. Luftig, William A.
Ferer, and Ronald J. Sorenson co-manage the Fund.
Rimas M. Milaitis, who joined Strong in December 1995, manages the stock
portion of the ASSET ALLOCATION FUND. He has 11 years of investment experience.
Before joining Strong, he was with Aon Advisors, where he managed conservative
equity portfolios for four years. Bradley C. Tank co-manages the bond and cash
portions of the Fund. He joined Strong as a portfolio manager in June 1990, and
has 16 years of investment experience. Jeffrey A. Koch also co-manages the
Fund's bond and cash portions. He joined Strong as a research analyst in June
1989, and has nine years of investment experience.
Mark A. Baskir manages the LIMITED RESOURCES FUND. He joined Scarborough
Investment Advisers in February 1997. Previously, he was an investment advisor
at Peckland Associates. From 1970 to 1996, he was a research analyst and
portfolio manager at Neuberger & Berman.
Ronald C. Ognar co-manages the TOTAL RETURN FUND. He joined Strong as a
portfolio manager in April 1993, and has 30 years of investment experience. Ian
J. Rogers has co-managed the Fund since October 1994. He joined Strong in
August 1993 as an equity analyst. He previously worked for seven years as an
equity analyst with Kemper Financial Securities.
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HOW CAN I BUY FUND SHARES?
There are several ways you can open a new account in the Funds.
- - BY MAIL: Complete and sign the application. Make your check or money order
payable to Strong Funds. Mail it to Strong Funds, P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee,
WI 53201.
- - BY PHONE OR BY INTERNET: If you are a current Strong Funds shareholder and
choose exchange privileges, you can exchange shares from one Strong account
to open another.
You can also open an account in person or through a broker-dealer.
The minimum initial investment is $2,500 for a regular account ($250 for the
ASSET ALLOCATION FUND), $500 for an Education IRA, and $250 for an IRA or
transfer or gift to minor account. If you establish an Automatic Investment
Plan (not available for Education IRAs) of $50 or more per month, these
minimums are waived. In all cases, the minimum for subsequent investments is
$50. (For minimums on other retirement plans, call 1-800-368-2882.)
HOW CAN I SELL FUND SHARES?
There are several ways you can sell (redeem) your Fund shares.
- - BY MAIL: You can write a letter of instruction, including your account
number, the dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem, each
owner's name, your street address, and the signature of each owner. Mail it
to Strong Funds, P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, WI 53201.
- - BY PHONE OR BY INTERNET: If you choose redemption privileges, you can sell
shares by phone or through our web site.
You can also redeem shares in person, through a systematic withdrawal plan, or
through a broker-dealer.
DO THE FUNDS PAY OUT DIVIDENDS OR CAPITAL GAINS? HOW ARE THEY TAXED?
The Funds may earn income from dividends on stocks and interest on bonds in
their portfolios, and may realize capital gains from appreciation on their
holdings. The Funds intend to declare income quarterly, and capital gains
annually. Unless you elect otherwise, distributions of income and capital gains
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will be automatically reinvested in the Fund that paid them. These
distributions are taxable regardless of whether you reinvest them or take them
in cash.
Income is taxable at ordinary federal income tax rates. Capital-gains
distributions are taxed at rates based on how long the assets were held by the
Fund. After the end of each calendar year, Strong sends shareholders a
statement of the Funds' income and capital-gains distributions to assist in tax
preparation.
WHAT SERVICES DOES STRONG FUNDS PROVIDE?
Strong offers you a variety of ways to get information, monitor your
investments, and buy and sell shares.
- - Personal service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- - Automated telephone service
- - Online transaction services
- - Automatic investment plans
- - Payroll direct deposit
- - Automatic exchange services
- - Systematic withdrawal plans
- - Retirement plans for individuals and corporations
Strong representatives can tell you more about each of these services, and can
also give you further information about buying and selling shares. Just call
1-800-368-3863 anytime, day or night.
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[STRONG LOGO]
STRONG FUNDS
P.O. Box 2936, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
Strong Funds Distributors, Inc. 7860E98 CE2798P
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