DEAN WITTER U S GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
N-14AE, 1998-05-08
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<PAGE>
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 8, 1998 
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 33- 

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 

                                  FORM N-14 

       REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933             [X]
                      PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.                          [ ] 
                      POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.                         [ ] 

                DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST 
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) 

               TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048 
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices) 

                                 212-392-1600 
                       (Registrant's Telephone Number) 

                               BARRY FINK, ESQ. 
                            TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER 
                           NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048 
                   (Name and Address of Agent for Service) 

                                   COPY TO: 
                           STUART M. STRAUSS, ESQ. 
                 GORDON ALTMAN BUTOWSKY WEITZEN SHALOV & WEIN 
                             114 WEST 47TH STREET 
                           NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036 

IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON THE THIRTIETH DAY 
AFTER THE DATE OF FILING, PURSUANT TO RULE 488. 

                  The Exhibit Index is located on page [   ] 

No filing fee is due because the Registrant has previously registered an 
indefinite number of shares pursuant to Section (a)(1) of Rule 24f-2 under 
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Registrant filed the Rule 
24f-2 Notice, for its fiscal year ended January 31, 1998, with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on February 6, 1998. 

Pursuant to Rule 429, this Registration Statement relates to shares 
previously registered by the Registrant on Form N-1A (Registration Nos. 
811-3326; 2-74982). 

<PAGE>
                                  FORM N-14 
                DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST 
                            Cross Reference Sheet 
           Pursuant to Rule 481(a) under the Securities Act of 1933 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  PART A OF FORM N-14 
        ITEM NO.         PROXY STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS HEADING 
- -----------------------  --------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                      <C>
          1(a)           Cross Reference Sheet 
           (b)           Front Cover Page 
           (c)           * 
          2(a)           * 
           (b)           Table of Contents 
          3(a)           Fee Table 
           (b)           Synopsis 
           (c)           Principal Risk Factors 
          4(a)           The Reorganization 
           (b)           The Reorganization--Capitalization Table (Unaudited) 
          5(a)           Registrant's Prospectus 
           (b)           * 
           (c)           * 
           (d)           * 
           (e)           Available Information 
           (f)           Available Information 
          6(a)           Prospectus of U.S. Government Money Market Series 
           (b)           Available Information 
           (c)           * 
           (d)           * 
          7(a)           Introduction--Proxies 
           (b)           * 
           (c)           Introduction; The Reorganization--Appraisal Rights 
          8(a)           The Reorganization 
           (b)           * 
            9            * 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  PART B OF FORM N-14 
        ITEM NO.         STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HEADING 
- -----------------------  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                      <C>
          10(a)          Cover Page 
            (b)          * 
            11           Table of Contents 
          12(a)          Additional Information about Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust 
            (b)          * 
            (c)          * 
          13(a)          Additional Information about U.S. Government Money Market Series 
            (b)          * 
            (c)          * 
            14           Registrant's Prospectus for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998; Annual 
                         Report for U.S. Government Money Market Series for the fiscal year ended July 
                         31, 1997; Semi-Annual Report (unaudited) for U.S. Government Money Market 
                         Series for the six-month period ended January 31, 1998. 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  PART C OF FORM N-14 
        ITEM NO.         OTHER INFORMATION HEADING 
- -----------------------  ----------------------------- 
<S>                      <C>
           15            Indemnification 
           16            Exhibits 
           17            Undertakings 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
*Not Applicable or negative answer 
<PAGE>
                        DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
                     U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES 
                            TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER 
                           NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048 
                                (212) 392-1600 

                  NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS 
                          TO BE HELD AUGUST 19, 1998 

TO SHAREHOLDERS OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES, 
A SERIES OF DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES: 

   Notice is hereby given of a Special Meeting of the Shareholders of the 
U.S. Government Money Market Series ("U.S. Government Money Market"), one of 
eleven portfolios of Dean Witter Retirement Series ("Retirement Series"), to 
be held at the Career Development Room, 61st Floor, Two World Trade Center, 
New York, New York 10048, at 9:00 A.M., New York time, on August 19, 1998, 
and any adjournments thereof (the "Meeting"), for the following purposes: 

     1. To consider and vote upon an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, 
    dated April 30, 1998 (the "Reorganization Agreement"), between Retirement 
    Series, on behalf of U.S. Government Money Market Series, and Dean Witter 
    U.S. Government Money Market Trust (the "Acquiring Fund"), pursuant to 
    which substantially all of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market 
    would be combined with those of the Acquiring Fund and shareholders of 
    U.S. Government Money Market Series would become shareholders of the 
    Acquiring Fund receiving shares of the Acquiring Fund with a value equal 
    to the value of their holdings in U.S. Government Money Market Series (the 
    "Reorganization"); and 

     2. To act upon such other matters as may properly come before the 
    Meeting. 

   The Reorganization is more fully described in the accompanying Proxy 
Statement and Prospectus and a copy of the Reorganization Agreement is 
attached as Exhibit A thereto. Shareholders of record at the close of 
business on June 2, 1998 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the 
Meeting. Please read the Proxy Statement and Prospectus carefully before 
telling us, through your proxy or in person, how you wish your shares to be 
voted. The Board of Trustees of Retirement Series recommends you vote in 
favor of the Reorganization. WE URGE YOU TO SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED 
PROXY PROMPTLY. 

                                             By Order of the 
                                             Board of Trustees, 
                                                      
                                             BARRY FINK, 
                                             Secretary 

June   , 1998 

  YOU CAN HELP AVOID THE NECESSITY AND EXPENSE OF SENDING FOLLOW-UP LETTERS 
TO ENSURE A QUORUM BY PROMPTLY RETURNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY. IF YOU ARE 
UNABLE TO BE PRESENT IN PERSON, PLEASE FILL IN, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED 
PROXY IN ORDER THAT THE NECESSARY QUORUM BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. THE 
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. 

<PAGE>
                DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST 
               TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048 
                                (212) 392-1600 

                         ACQUISITION OF THE ASSETS OF 
                   THE U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES, 
                  A SERIES OF DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 

                       BY AND IN EXCHANGE FOR SHARES OF 
                DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST 

   This Proxy Statement and Prospectus is being furnished to shareholders of 
the U.S. Government Money Market Series ("U.S. Government Money Market "), 
one of eleven portfolios of Dean Witter Retirement Series ("Retirement 
Series"), in connection with an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated 
April 30, 1998 (the "Reorganization Agreement"), pursuant to which 
substantially all the assets of U.S. Government Money Market will be combined 
with those of Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust (the "Acquiring 
Fund") in exchange for shares of the Acquiring Fund. As a result of this 
transaction, shareholders of U.S. Government Money Market will become 
shareholders of the Acquiring Fund and will receive shares of the Acquiring 
Fund with a value equal to the value of their holdings in U.S. Government 
Money Market. The terms and conditions of this transaction are more fully 
described in this Proxy Statement and Prospectus and in the Reorganization 
Agreement between Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. Government Money 
Market, and the Acquiring Fund, attached hereto as Exhibit A. The address of 
U.S. Government Money Market is that of the Acquiring Fund set forth above. 
This Proxy Statement also constitutes a Prospectus of the Acquiring Fund, 
which is dated June   , 1998, filed by the Acquiring Fund with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as part of its Registration 
Statement on Form N-14 (the "Registration Statement"). 

   The Acquiring Fund is an open-end diversified management investment 
company whose investment objectives are security of principal, high current 
income and liquidity. The Acquiring Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by 
investing in United States Government securities, including a variety of 
securities which are issued or guaranteed, as to principal and interest, by 
the U.S. Treasury, by various instrumentalities which have been established 
or sponsored by the U.S. Government, and in certain interests in the 
foregoing securities. 

   This Proxy Statement and Prospectus sets forth concisely information about 
the Acquiring Fund that shareholders of U.S. Government Money Market should 
know before voting on the Reorganization Agreement. A copy of the Prospectus 
for the Acquiring Fund, dated March 2, 1998, is attached as Exhibit B and is 
incorporated herein by reference. A Statement of Additional Information 
relating to the Reorganization, described in this Proxy Statement and 
Prospectus (the "Additional Statement"), dated June, 1998, has been filed 
with the Commission and is also incorporated herein by reference. Also 
incorporated herein by reference are the Prospectus for Retirement Series 
dated October 31, 1997, the Annual Report for Retirement Series for the 
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 and the Semi-Annual Report (unaudited) for 
Retirement Series for the six months ended January 31, 1998. Such documents 
are available without charge by calling Nina Maceda at Dean Witter Trust 
Company at (800) 869-NEWS. 

Investors are advised to read and retain this Proxy Statement and Prospectus 
for future reference. 

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND 
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED 
ON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE 
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. 

         This Proxy Statement and Prospectus is dated June   , 1998. 

           
<PAGE>
                              TABLE OF CONTENTS 
                        PROXY STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     PAGE 
                                                                                   -------- 
<S>                                                                                <C>
INTRODUCTION......................................................................      2 
  General.........................................................................      2 
  Record Date; Share Information..................................................      2 
  Proxies.........................................................................      3 
  Expenses of Solicitation........................................................      3 
  Vote Required...................................................................      4 
SYNOPSIS..........................................................................      5 
  The Reorganization..............................................................      5 
  Fee Table.......................................................................      5 
  Tax Consequences of the Reorganization..........................................      7 
  Comparison of U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund...............      7 
PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS............................................................      9 
THE REORGANIZATION................................................................      9 
  The Proposal....................................................................      9 
  The Board's Consideration.......................................................      9 
  The Reorganization Agreement....................................................     10 
  Tax Aspects of the Reorganization...............................................     11 
  Description of Shares...........................................................     13 
  Capitalization Table (unaudited)................................................     13 
  Appraisal Rights................................................................     13 
COMPARISON OF INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS....................     13 
  Investment Objectives and Policies..............................................     13 
  Investment Restrictions.........................................................     14 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET 
 AND THE ACQUIRING FUND...........................................................     14 
  General.........................................................................     14 
  Financial Information...........................................................     14 
  Management......................................................................     14 
  Description of Securities and Shareholder Inquiries.............................     15 
  Dividends, Distributions and Taxes..............................................     15 
  Purchases, Repurchases and Redemptions..........................................     15 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXPERTS..................................................     15 
LEGAL MATTERS.....................................................................     15 
AVAILABLE INFORMATION.............................................................     15 
OTHER BUSINESS....................................................................     16 
Exhibit A--Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of April 30, 1998, by 
 and between Dean Witter Retirement Series, on behalf of the U.S. Government 
 Money Market Series, and Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust  ........    A-1 
Exhibit B--Prospectus of Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust, dated 
 March 2, 1998....................................................................    B-1 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                        DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
                     U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES 
                            TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER 
                           NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048 
                                (212) 392-1600 

                        PROXY STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS 
                       SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS 
                          TO BE HELD AUGUST 19, 1998 

                                 INTRODUCTION 

GENERAL 

   This Proxy Statement and Prospectus is being furnished to the shareholders 
of the U.S. Government Money Market ("U.S. Government Money Market"), one of 
eleven portfolios of Dean Witter Retirement Series ("Retirement Series"), an 
open-end diversified no-load management investment company, in connection 
with the solicitation by the Board of Trustees of Retirement Series (the 
"Board") of proxies to be used at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of U.S. 
Government Money Market to be held at the Career Development Room, 61st 
Floor, Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 at 9:00 A.M., New 
York time, on August 19, 1998, and any adjournments thereof (the "Meeting"). 
It is expected that the mailing of this Proxy Statement and Prospectus will 
be made on or about June   , 1998. 

   At the Meeting, U.S. Government Money Market shareholders ("Shareholders") 
will consider and vote upon an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated 
April 30, 1998 (the "Reorganization Agreement"), between Retirement Series, 
on behalf of U.S. Government Money Market, and Dean Witter U.S. Government 
Money Market Trust (the "Acquiring Fund") pursuant to which substantially all 
of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market will be combined with those of 
the Acquiring Fund in exchange for shares of the Acquiring Fund. As a result 
of this transaction, Shareholders will become shareholders of the Acquiring 
Fund and will receive shares of the Acquiring Fund equal to the value of 
their holdings in U.S. Government Money Market on the date of such 
transaction (the "Reorganization"). The shares to be issued by the Acquiring 
Fund pursuant to the Reorganization will be issued at net asset value without 
a sales charge (the "Acquiring Fund Shares"). Further information relating to 
the Acquiring Fund is set forth herein and in the Acquiring Fund's current 
Prospectus, dated March 2, 1998 (the "Acquiring Fund's Prospectus"), attached 
to this Proxy Statement and Prospectus and incorporated herein by reference. 

   The information concerning U.S. Government Money Market contained herein 
has been supplied by Retirement Series and the information concerning the 
Acquiring Fund contained herein has been supplied by the Acquiring Fund. 

RECORD DATE; SHARE INFORMATION 

   The Board has fixed the close of business on June 2, 1998 as the record 
date (the "Record Date") for the determination of the Shareholders entitled 
to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were 
      shares of U.S. Government Money Market issued and outstanding. 
Shareholders on the Record Date are entitled to one vote per share on each 
matter submitted to a vote at the Meeting. A majority of the outstanding 
shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a 
quorum at the Meeting. 

                                2           
<PAGE>
   To the knowledge of the Board, as of the Record Date, [no person owned of 
record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of U.S. 
Government Money Market. As of the Record Date, the trustees and officers of 
U.S. Government Money Market, as a group, owned less than 1% of the 
outstanding shares of U.S. Government Money Market.] 

   [Add 5% owners of Acquiring Fund] As of the Record Date, the trustees and 
officers of the Acquiring Fund, as a group, owned less than 1% of the 
outstanding shares of the Acquiring Fund. 

PROXIES 

   The enclosed form of proxy, if properly executed and returned, will be 
voted in accordance with the choice specified thereon. The proxy will be 
voted in favor of the Reorganization Agreement unless a choice is indicated 
to vote against or to abstain from voting on the Reorganization Agreement. 
The Board knows of no business, other than that set forth in the Notice of 
Special Meeting of Shareholders, to be presented for consideration at the 
Meeting. However, the proxy confers discretionary authority upon the persons 
named therein to vote as they determine on other business, not currently 
contemplated, which may come before the Meeting. Abstentions and, if 
applicable, broker "non-votes" will not count as votes in favor of the 
Reorganization Agreement, and broker "non-votes" will not be deemed to be 
present at the meeting for purposes of determining whether the Reorganization 
Agreement has been approved. Broker "non-votes" are shares held in street 
name for which the broker indicates that instructions have not been received 
from the beneficial owners or other persons entitled to vote and for which 
the broker does not have discretionary voting authority. The proxy may be 
revoked at any time prior to the voting thereof by: (i) delivering written 
notice of revocation to the Secretary of Retirement Series at Two World Trade 
Center, New York, New York 10048; (ii) attending the Meeting and voting in 
person; or (iii) signing and returning a new proxy (if returned and received 
in time to be voted). Attendance at the Meeting will not in and of itself 
revoke a proxy. 

   In the event that the necessary quorum to transact business or the vote 
required to approve or reject the Reorganization Agreement is not obtained at 
the Meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more 
adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any 
such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a 
majority of U.S. Government Money Market's shares present in person or by 
proxy at the Meeting. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of such 
adjournment those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of the 
Reorganization Agreement and will vote against any such adjournment those 
proxies required to be voted against the Reorganization Agreement. 

EXPENSES OF SOLICITATION 

   All expenses of this solicitation, including the cost of preparing and 
mailing this Proxy Statement and Prospectus, will be borne by Dean Witter 
InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"). In addition to the solicitation of 
proxies by mail, proxies may be solicited by officers and regular employees 
or certain affiliates of Retirement Series, including InterCapital and/or 
Dean Witter Trust FSB ("DWTFSB"), without compensation other than regular 
compensation, personally or by mail, telephone, telegraph or otherwise. 
Brokerage houses, banks and other fiduciaries may be requested to forward 
soliciting material to the beneficial owners of shares and to obtain 
authorization for the execution of proxies. 

   DWTFSB may call Shareholders to ask if they would be willing to have their 
votes recorded by telephone. The telephone voting procedure is designed to 
authenticate Shareholders' identities, to allow Shareholders to authorize the 
voting of their shares in accordance with their instructions and to confirm 

                                3           
<PAGE>
that their instructions have been recorded properly. No recommendation will 
be made as to how a Shareholder should vote on the Reorganization Agreement 
other than to refer to the recommendation of the Board. U.S. Government Money 
Market has been advised by counsel that these procedures are consistent with 
the requirements of applicable law. Shareholders voting by telephone will be 
asked for their social security number or other identifying information and 
will be given an opportunity to authorize proxies to vote their shares in 
accordance with their instructions. To ensure that the Shareholders' 
instructions have been recorded correctly they will receive a confirmation of 
their instructions in the mail. A special toll-free number will be available 
in case the information contained in the confirmation is incorrect. Although 
a Shareholder's vote may be taken by telephone, each Shareholder will receive 
a copy of this Proxy Statement and Prospectus and may vote by mail using the 
enclosed proxy card. 

VOTE REQUIRED 

   Approval of the Reorganization Agreement by the Shareholders requires the 
affirmative vote of a majority (i.e., more than 50%) of the outstanding 
shares of U.S. Government Money Market represented in person or by proxy and 
entitled to vote at the Meeting, provided a quorum is present at the Meeting. 
If the Reorganization Agreement is not approved by Shareholders, U.S. 
Government Money Market will continue in existence and the Board will 
consider alternative actions. 

                                4           
<PAGE>
                                   SYNOPSIS 

   The following is a synopsis of certain information contained in or 
incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement and Prospectus. This 
synopsis is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the more 
detailed information contained or incorporated by reference in this Proxy 
Statement and Prospectus and the Reorganization Agreement. Shareholders 
should carefully review this Proxy Statement and Prospectus and the 
Reorganization Agreement in their entirety and, in particular, the Acquiring 
Fund's Prospectus, which is attached to this Proxy Statement and incorporated 
herein by reference. 

THE REORGANIZATION 

   The Reorganization Agreement provides for the transfer of substantially 
all the assets of U.S. Government Money Market, subject to stated 
liabilities, to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for the Acquiring Fund Shares. 
The aggregate net asset value of the Acquiring Fund Shares issued in the 
exchange will equal the aggregate value of the net assets of U.S. Government 
Money Market received by the Acquiring Fund. On or after the closing date 
scheduled for the Reorganization (the "Closing Date"), U.S. Government Money 
Market will distribute the Acquiring Fund Shares received by U.S. Government 
Money Market to Shareholders as of the Valuation Date (as defined below under 
"The Reorganization Agreement") in complete liquidation of U.S. Government 
Money Market. If all other portfolios of Retirement Series effect similar 
reorganizations or otherwise liquidate, Retirement Series will take all 
necessary steps to dissolve and deregister under the Investment Company Act 
of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). As a result of the Reorganization, each 
Shareholder will receive that number of full and fractional Acquiring Fund 
Shares equal in value to such Shareholder's pro rata interest in the net 
assets transferred to the Acquiring Fund. Shareholders holding certificates 
representing their shares will not be required to surrender their 
certificates in connection with the Reorganization. However, such 
Shareholders will have to surrender such certificates in order to receive 
certificates representing the Acquiring Fund Shares or to redeem, transfer or 
exchange the Acquiring Fund Shares received. The Board has determined that 
the interests of Shareholders will not be diluted as a result of the 
Reorganization. 

   For the reasons set forth below under "The Reorganization--The Board's 
Consideration," the Board, including the trustees who are not "interested 
persons" of Retirement Series ("Independent Trustees"), as that term is 
defined in the 1940 Act, has concluded that the Reorganization is in the best 
interests of U.S. Government Money Market and its Shareholders and recommends 
approval of the Reorganization Agreement. 

FEE TABLE 

   U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund each pay expenses for 
management of their assets and for other services. In addition, the Acquiring 
Fund pays for distribution of its shares. Those expenses are reflected in the 
net asset value per share of each such fund. The following table illustrates 
expenses and fees incurred during U.S. Government Money Market's fiscal year 
ended July 31, 1997. The following table also illustrates expenses and fees 
incurred during the Acquiring Fund's fiscal year ended January 31, 1998. The 
table below also sets forth pro forma fees for the surviving combined fund 
(the Acquiring Fund) reflecting what the fee schedule would have been at 
January 31, 1998, if the Reorganization had been consummated twelve (12) 
months prior to that date. Further information on the fees and expenses 
applicable to the Acquiring Fund Shares is set forth herein and in the 
Acquiring Fund's Prospectus, attached hereto and incorporated herein by 
reference. 

                                5           
<PAGE>
Shareholder Transaction Expenses 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           U.S. GOVERNMENT                         PRO FORMA 
                                                             MONEY MARKET       ACQUIRING FUND      COMBINED 
                                                         ------------------- ------------------  ------------- 
  <S>                                                    <C>                 <C>                 <C>
  Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases (as a 
   percentage of offering price) .......................         None                None             None 
  Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends .         None                None             None 
  Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a 
   percentage of the lesser of original purchase price 
   or redemption proceeds)  ............................         None                None             None 
  Redemption Fees.......................................         None                None             None 
  Exchange Fee..........................................         None                None             None 
</TABLE>

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (As a Percentage of Average Net Assets) 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               U.S. GOVERNMENT                  PRO FORMA 
                                 MONEY MARKET   ACQUIRING FUND   COMBINED 
                               --------------- --------------  ----------- 
  <S>                          <C>             <C>             <C>
  Management Fees ............       0.50%           0.46%         0.46% 
  12b-1 Fees .................       0.00%           0.10%         0.10% 
  Other Expenses .............       0.70%           0.46%         0.46% 

  Total Fund Operating 
   Expenses ..................       1.20%(1)        1.02%         1.02% 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
(1)    Pursuant to an undertaking, InterCapital has agreed to assume all 
       expenses relating to the operations of U.S. Government Money Market 
       (except for any brokerage fees and a portion of organizational 
       expenses) and has agreed to waive the compensation provided for in its 
       Management Agreement with respect to U.S. Government Money Market until 
       June 30, 1998 to the extent that such expenses and compensation on an 
       annualized basis exceed 1.00% of the daily net assets of U.S. 
       Government Money Market. Taking such waiver into effect, U.S. 
       Government Money Market's total fund operating expenses were 1.00%. 
       After June 30, 1998, U.S. Government Money Market, if it continues in 
       operation, will bear all fees and expenses. The actual expenses (before 
       any waiver) of U.S. Government Money Market for the period ended July 
       31, 1997 are set forth in the table. 

Example 

   To attempt to show the effect of these expenses on an investment over 
time, the hypotheticals shown below have been created. Assuming that an 
investor makes a $1,000 investment in either U.S. Government Money Market or 
the Acquiring Fund or the new combined fund, that the annual return is 5% and 
that the operating expenses for each fund are the ones shown in the chart 
above; if the investment was redeemed at the end of each period shown below, 
the investor would incur the following expenses by the end of each period 
shown: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                1 YEAR    3 YEARS   5 YEARS    10 YEARS 
                               -------- ---------  --------- ---------- 
  <S>                          <C>      <C>        <C>       <C>
  U.S. Government Money Market    $12       $38       $66        $145 
  Acquiring Fund .............    $10       $32       $56        $124 
  Pro Forma Combined .........    $10       $32       $56        $124 
</TABLE>

   THE ABOVE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR 
FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL OPERATING EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR 
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. 

                                6           
<PAGE>
TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REORGANIZATION 

   As a condition to the Reorganization, U.S. Government Money Market will 
receive an opinion of Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein to the 
effect that the Reorganization will constitute a tax-free reorganization for 
federal income tax purposes, and that no gain or loss will be recognized by 
U.S. Government Money Market or the shareholders of U.S. Government Money 
Market for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the transactions 
included in the Reorganization. For further information about the tax 
consequences of the Reorganization, see "The Reorganization--Tax Aspects of 
the Reorganization" below. 

COMPARISON OF U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET AND THE ACQUIRING FUND 

   INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES. U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Acquiring Fund have identical investment objectives, which are security of 
principal, high current income and liquidity. U.S. Government Money Market 
and the Acquiring Fund each seek to achieve their respective objectives by 
investing in United States Government securities, including a variety of 
securities which are issued or guaranteed, as to principal and interest, by 
the U.S. Treasury, by various instrumentalities which have been established 
or sponsored by the U.S. Government, and in certain interests in the 
foregoing securities. 

   The investment policies of both funds are identical; additional 
information is provided under "Comparison of Investment Objectives, Policies 
and Restrictions" below. 

   The investment policies of both U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Acquiring Fund are not fundamental and may be changed by their respective 
Boards of Trustees. 

   INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION PLAN FEES. U.S. Government Money 
Market and the Acquiring Fund obtain investment management services from 
InterCapital. With respect to U.S. Government Money Market, the fund pays 
InterCapital monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the annual 
rate of 0.50% to the fund's net assets. With respect to the Acquiring Fund, 
the fund pays InterCapital monthly compensation calculated daily by applying 
the annual rate of: 0.50% of the daily net assets of the fund up to $500 
million, scaled down at various asset levels to 0.25% on assets over $3 
billion. 

   The Acquiring Fund has adopted a distribution plan (the "Plan") pursuant 
to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Although pursuant to the Plan, the 
Acquiring Fund may pay to Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") a 
fee, which is accrued daily and payable monthly, at the annual rate of up to 
0.15% of the Acquiring Fund's average daily net assets, the Board of 
Directors of the Acquiring Fund has limited the amount payable under the Plan 
to 0.10% of the Acquiring Fund's average daily net assets. Rule 12b-1 fees 
compensate the Distributor for the services provided and the expenses borne 
by the Distributor and others in distribution of the shares of the Acquiring 
Fund. The 12b-1 fee is characterized as a service fee within the meaning of 
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. guidelines. By contrast, 
shares of U.S. Government Money Market are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 plan. 

   OTHER SIGNIFICANT FEES. Both U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Acquiring Fund pay additional fees in connection with their operations, 
including legal, auditing, transfer agent and custodial fees. See 
"Synopsis--Fee Table" above for the percentage of average net assets 
represented by such "Other Expenses." 

   PURCHASES, EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS. U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Acquiring Fund continuously issue their shares to investors at a price equal 
to net asset value next determined after receipt of a purchase order and 
acceptance by DWTFSB in proper form and accompanied by payment in Federal 

                                7           
<PAGE>
Funds (i.e., monies of member banks within the Federal Reserve System held on 
deposit at a Federal Reserve Bank) available to the respective fund for 
investment. Each of the funds utilize the amortized cost method in valuing 
their portfolio securities, which method involves valuing a security at its 
cost adjusted by a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or 
premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market 
value of the instrument. The purpose of the method of calculation is to 
facilitate the maintenance of a constant net asset value per share of $1.00 
although there can be no assurance that the $1.00 net asset value will be 
maintained. Shares of each fund commence earning income on the day following 
the date of their purchase. 

   Shares of U.S. Government Money Market may be exchanged only for shares of 
the other portfolios of Retirement Series. Although shares of the Acquiring 
Fund may only be exchanged for shares of any other open-end investment 
company for which InterCapital serves as investment manager (collectively, 
the "Dean Witter Funds") if such Acquiring Fund shares were acquired in 
exchange for shares of another Dean Witter Fund, shares of Dean Witter Funds 
that are multiple class funds ("Dean Witter Multi-Class Funds"), or which are 
sold with either a front-end sales charge or a contingent deferred sales 
charge, may be exchanged for shares of the Acquiring Fund. In connection with 
the Reorganization, all shares of the Acquiring Fund issued to U.S. 
Government Money Market Shareholders may be exchanged for Class D shares of 
any Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund. Both U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Acquiring Fund provide telephone exchange privileges to their shareholders. 
For greater details relating to exchange privileges involving the Acquiring 
Fund, see the section entitled "Shareholder Services--Exchange Privilege" in 
the Acquiring Fund's Prospectus. 

   Shareholders of U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund may 
redeem their shares for cash at any time at the net asset value per share 
next determined after the receipt of a redemption request meeting certain 
requirements, which are the same for both funds. The Acquiring Fund may, on 
sixty days' notice, redeem involuntarily, at net asset value, accounts (other 
than shares held in an Individual Retirement Account or custodial account 
under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code) valued at less than 
$500 or such lesser amount as may be fixed by the fund's board. U.S. 
Government Money Market has no policy to redeem shares involuntarily. 

   DIVIDENDS. Both U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund 
declare dividends, payable on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open 
for business, of substantially all of their daily net investment income (and 
net short-term capital gains, if any) to shareholders of record as of the 
close of business the preceding business day. The amount of dividends for 
both funds may fluctuate from day to day and may be omitted on some days if 
net realized losses on portfolio securities exceed the respective fund's net 
investment income. Dividends and capital gains distributions of both U.S. 
Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund are automatically reinvested 
in additional shares at net asset value unless the shareholder elects to 
receive cash. 

   SHAREHOLDER SERVICES. The shareholder services provided by both funds are 
similar. The material differences are as follows: Both funds provide for a 
Systematic Withdrawal Plan but for U.S. Government Money Market it is only 
available to shareholders who own or purchase shares of the fund having a 
minimum value of $10,000; with respect to the Acquiring Fund, the requisite 
minimum value is $5,000. Shareholders of the Acquiring Fund may subscribe to 
EasyInvest, an automatic purchase plan which provides for the automatic 
transfer of funds from a checking or savings account to DWTFSB for the 
purchase of fund shares; U.S. Government Money Market does not offer this 
arrangement. For additional information about the Acquiring Fund's 
shareholder services see the section entitled "Shareholder Services" in the 
Acquiring Fund's Prospectus. 

                                8           
<PAGE>
                              PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS 

   The risks of each fund are similar. Each fund seeks to maintain a constant 
net asset value per share of $1 but there is not assurance that the constant 
price will be maintained. 

   For a more complete discussion of the risks of each fund, see "Investment 
Objectives and Policies--General Investment Techniques and Risk 
Considerations" in the Retirement Series Prospectus and "Investment 
Objectives and Policies" in the Acquiring Fund's Prospectus. 

                              THE REORGANIZATION 

THE PROPOSAL 

   The Board of Trustees of Retirement Series, including the Independent 
Trustees, having reviewed U.S. Government Money Market's economic position, 
determined that the Reorganization is in the best interests of U.S. 
Government Money Market and its Shareholders and that the interests of 
Shareholders will not be diluted as a result thereof, recommends approval of 
the Reorganization by U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders. 

THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION 

   At a meeting held on April 30, 1998, the Board, including all of the 
Independent Trustees, unanimously approved the Reorganization Agreement and 
determined to recommend that Shareholders of U.S. Government Money Market 
approve the Reorganization Agreement. At a meeting on January 29, 1998, the 
Board made an extensive inquiry into a number of factors, particularly the 
comparative expenses to be incurred in the operations of U.S. Government 
Money Market and the Acquiring Fund. The Board also considered other factors, 
including, but not limited to: the comparative investment performance and 
past growth in assets of U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund; 
the compatibility of the investment objectives, policies, restrictions and 
portfolios of U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund; the terms 
and conditions of the Reorganization which would affect the price of shares 
to be issued in the Reorganization; the tax-free nature of the 
Reorganization; and any direct or indirect costs to be incurred by U.S. 
Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund in connection with the 
Reorganization. At its meeting on April 30, 1998, the Board was informed and 
considered that there had been no material changes to the factors considered 
by it at the January 29, 1998 meeting. 

   In recommending the Reorganization to Shareholders, the Board of 
Retirement Series considered that the Reorganization would have the following 
benefits for Shareholders: 

   1. Once the Reorganization is consummated, the expenses which would be 
borne by shareholders of the "combined fund" should be lower on a percentage 
basis than the actual expenses per share of U.S. Government Money Market. 
Furthermore, to the extent that the Reorganization would result in 
Shareholders becoming shareholders of a combined larger fund, further 
economies of scale could be achieved since various fixed expenses (e.g., 
auditing and legal) can be spread over a larger number of shares. The Board 
noted that U.S. Government Money Market has no Rule 12b-1 plan; whereas, the 
Acquiring Fund paid 0.10% of average daily net assets in 12b-1 fees for its 
fiscal year ended January 31, 1998. The Board also noted that U.S. Government 
Money Market's expense ratio, for its fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, was 
1.20% (absent the waiver of management fees and assumption of expenses), 
whereas the expense ratio for the Acquiring Fund was 1.02% (based on the 
fiscal year ended January 31, 1998). The 

                                9           
<PAGE>
Board also noted that taking into account any waiver, the expense ratio of 
U.S. Government Money Market (for July 31, 1997) was 2 basis points lower 
than the ratio for the Acquiring Fund (for January 31, 1998). 

   2. Shareholders would have a continued participation in government 
securities through investment in the Acquiring Fund, which has identical 
investment objectives and identical investment policies and substantially 
similar investment restrictions to those of U.S. Government Money Market. 

   3. Shareholders would have expanded exchange privileges. Rather than being 
able to exchange their shares of U.S. Government Money Market only among the 
various portfolios of Retirement Series, Shareholders will be permitted to 
exchange their shares of the Acquiring Fund for Class D shares of any other 
Dean Witter Fund and any Dean Witter money market fund for which the Dean 
Witter Funds exchange privilege is available (the exchange privilege is 
subject to termination or revision at any time.) 

   4. The Reorganization will constitute a tax-free reorganization for 
federal income tax purposes, and no gain or loss will be recognized by U.S. 
Government Money Market or its Shareholders for federal income tax purposes 
as a result of transactions included in the Reorganization. 

   The Board of Trustees of the Acquiring Fund, including a majority of such 
Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Acquiring Fund, also 
determined that the Reorganization is in the best interests of the Acquiring 
Fund and its shareholders and that the interests of existing shareholders of 
the Acquiring Fund will not be diluted as a result thereof. 

THE REORGANIZATION AGREEMENT 

   The terms and conditions under which the Reorganization would be 
consummated, as summarized below, are set forth in the Reorganization 
Agreement. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 
Reorganization Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A to this 
Proxy Statement and Prospectus. 

   The Reorganization Agreement provides that (i) U.S. Government Money 
Market will transfer all of its assets, including portfolio securities, cash, 
cash equivalents and receivables to the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date in 
exchange for the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of U.S. Government Money 
Market's stated liabilities, including all expenses, costs, charges and 
reserves, as reflected on an unaudited statement of assets and liabilities of 
U.S. Government Money Market prepared by the Treasurer of Retirement Series 
as of the Valuation Date (as defined below) in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles consistently applied from the prior audited 
period, and the delivery of the Acquiring Fund Shares; (ii) such Acquiring 
Fund Shares would be distributed to the Shareholders of U.S. Government Money 
Market on the Closing Date or as soon as practicable thereafter; (iii) U.S. 
Government Money Market would be dissolved; and (iv) the outstanding shares 
of U.S. Government Money Market would be canceled. 

   The number of U.S. Government Money Market shares issued and outstanding 
and the number of Acquiring Fund Shares to be delivered to U.S. Government 
Money Market Shareholders, in each case, will be determined as of 4:00 p.m. 
New York City time on the third day that the New York Stock Exchange is open 
for business following the receipt of the requisite approval by the 
shareholders of U.S. Government Money Market of the Reorganization Agreement 
or at such other time as U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund 
may agree (the "Valuation Date"), after the declaration and payment of any 
dividend on that date. 

   On the Closing Date or as soon as practicable thereafter, U.S. Government 
Money Market will distribute pro rata to its Shareholders of record as of the 
close of business on the Valuation Date, the 

                               10           
<PAGE>
Acquiring Fund Shares it receives. The Acquiring Fund will cause its transfer 
agent to credit and confirm an appropriate number of the Acquiring Fund 
Shares to each Shareholder. Certificates for the Acquiring Fund Shares will 
be issued upon written request of a Shareholder but only for whole shares, 
with fractional shares credited to the name of the Shareholder on the books 
of the Acquiring Fund. Such Shareholders who wish certificates representing 
their Acquiring Fund Shares must, after receipt of their confirmations, make 
a written request to the Acquiring Fund's transfer agent, Dean Witter Trust 
FSB, Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311. Shareholders 
holding certificates representing their shares will not be required to 
surrender their certificates in connection with the Reorganization. However, 
such Shareholders will have to surrender such certificates (or provide 
indemnities reasonably acceptable to the Acquiring Fund in respect of lost 
certificates) in order to receive certificates representing the Acquiring 
Fund Shares or to redeem, transfer or exchange the Acquiring Fund Shares 
received. 

   The Closing Date will be the same date as the Valuation Date. The 
consummation of the Reorganization is contingent upon the approval of the 
Reorganization by the shareholders of U.S. Government Money Market and the 
receipt of the other opinions and certificates set forth in Sections 6, 7 and 
8 of the Reorganization Agreement and the occurrence of the events described 
in those Sections, certain of which may be waived by Retirement Fund, on 
behalf of U.S. Government Money Market, or the Acquiring Fund. The 
Reorganization Agreement may be amended in any mutually agreeable manner, 
except that no amendment may be made subsequent to the Meeting which would 
detrimentally affect the value of the shares of the Acquiring Fund to be 
distributed. InterCapital will bear all of the expenses associated with the 
Reorganization. Management estimates that such expenses associated with the 
Reorganization will not exceed $    . 

   The Reorganization Agreement may be terminated and the Reorganization 
abandoned at any time, before or after approval by Shareholders, by mutual 
consent of Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. Government Money Market, and 
the Acquiring Fund. In addition, either party may terminate the 
Reorganization Agreement upon the occurrence of a material breach of the 
Reorganization Agreement by the other party or if, by December 31, 1998, any 
condition set forth in the Reorganization Agreement has not been fulfilled or 
waived by the party entitled to its benefits. If all other portfolios of 
Retirement Series effect similar reorganizations or otherwise liquidate, 
Retirement Series will take all necessary steps to effect its dissolution and 
its deregistration under the 1940 Act. 

   The effect of the Reorganization is that Shareholders who vote their 
shares in favor of the Reorganization Agreement are electing to sell their 
shares of U.S. Government Money Market (at net asset value on the Valuation 
Date) and reinvest the proceeds in the Acquiring Fund Shares at net asset 
value and without recognition of taxable gain or loss for federal income tax 
purposes. See "Tax Aspects of the Reorganization" below. As noted in "Tax 
Aspects of the Reorganization" below, if U.S. Government Money Market 
recognizes net gain from the sale of securities prior to the Closing Date, 
such gain, to the extent not offset by capital loss carryovers, will be 
distributed to Shareholders prior to the Closing Date. 

   Shareholders will continue to be able to redeem their shares of U.S. 
Government Money Market at net asset value next determined after receipt of 
the redemption request meeting certain requirements until the close of 
business on the Closing Date. Redemption requests received by U.S. Government 
Money Market thereafter will be treated as requests for redemption of shares 
of the Acquiring Fund. 

TAX ASPECTS OF THE REORGANIZATION 

   At least one but not more than 20 business days prior to the Valuation 
Date, U.S. Government Money Market will declare and pay a dividend or 
dividends which, together with all previous such 

                               11           
<PAGE>
dividends, will have the effect of distributing to Shareholders all of U.S. 
Government Money Market's investment company taxable income for all periods 
since inception of U.S. Government Money Market through and including the 
Valuation Date (computed without regard to any dividends paid deduction), and 
all of U.S. Government Money Market's net capital gain, if any, realized in 
such periods (after reduction for any capital loss carryforward). 

   The Reorganization is intended to qualify for Federal income tax purposes 
as a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). U.S. Government Money Market 
and the Acquiring Fund have represented that, to their best knowledge, there 
is no plan or intention by Shareholders to redeem, sell, exchange or 
otherwise dispose of a number of the Acquiring Fund Shares received in the 
transaction that would reduce Shareholders' ownership of the Acquiring Fund 
Shares to a number of shares having a value, as of the Closing Date, of less 
than 50% of the value of all of the formerly outstanding U.S. Government 
Money Market shares as of the same date. U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Acquiring Fund have each further represented that, as of the Closing Date, 
U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund will qualify as regulated 
investment companies. 

   As a condition to the Reorganization, U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Acquiring Fund will receive an opinion of Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen 
Shalov & Wein that, based on certain assumptions, facts, the terms of the 
Reorganization Agreement and additional representations set forth in the 
Reorganization Agreement or provided by U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Acquiring Fund: 

   1. The transfer of substantially all of U.S. Government Money Market's 
assets in exchange for the Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the 
Acquiring Fund of certain stated liabilities of U.S. Government Money Market 
followed by the distribution by U.S. Government Money Market of the Acquiring 
Fund Shares to Shareholders in exchange for their U.S. Government Money 
Market shares will constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning of 
Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Code, and U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Acquiring Fund will each be a "party to a reorganization" within the meaning 
of Section 368 (b) of the Code; 

   2. No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the 
receipt of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market solely in exchange for 
the Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the 
stated liabilities of U.S. Government Money Market; 

   3. No gain or loss will be recognized by U.S. Government Money Market upon 
the transfer of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market to the Acquiring 
Fund in exchange for the Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the 
Acquiring Fund of the stated liabilities or upon the distribution of the 
Acquiring Fund Shares to Shareholders in exchange for their U.S. Government 
Money Market shares; 

   4. No gain or loss will be recognized by Shareholders upon the exchange of 
the shares of U.S. Government Money Market for the Acquiring Fund Shares; 

   5. The aggregate tax basis for the Acquiring Fund Shares received by each 
of the Shareholders pursuant to the reorganization will be the same as the 
aggregate tax basis of the shares in U.S. Government Money Market held by 
each such Shareholder immediately prior to the reorganization; 

   6. The holding period of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be received by each 
Shareholder will include the period during which the shares in U.S. 
Government Money Market surrendered in exchange therefor were held (provided 
such shares in U.S. Government Money Market were held as capital assets on 
the date of the Reorganization); 

                               12           
<PAGE>
   7. The tax basis of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market acquired by 
the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the tax basis of such assets to U.S. 
Government Money Market immediately prior to the Reorganization; and 

   8. The holding period of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market in the 
hands of the Acquiring Fund will include the period during which those assets 
were held by U.S. Government Money Market. 

   Shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if 
any, of the proposed transaction in light of their individual circumstances. 
Because the foregoing discussion only relates to the Federal income tax 
consequences of the proposed transaction, Shareholders should also consult 
their tax advisors as to state and local tax consequences, if any, of the 
proposed transaction. 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES 

   Shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued pursuant to the Reorganization 
Agreement will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable by the 
Acquiring Fund and transferable without restrictions and will have no 
preemptive rights. 

CAPITALIZATION TABLE (UNAUDITED) 

   The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Acquiring Fund 
and U.S. Government Money Market as of March 31, 1998 and on a pro forma 
combined basis as if the Reorganization had occurred on that date: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              NET ASSET 
                                                  SHARES        VALUE 
                                NET ASSETS     OUTSTANDING    PER SHARE 
                              -------------- --------------  ----------- 
<S>                           <C>            <C>             <C>
U.S. Government Money 
 Market......................  $    684,488        685,735      $1.00 
Acquiring Fund...............  $893,085,024    893,085,024      $1.00 
Combined Fund (pro forma) ...  $893,769,512    893,769,512]     $1.00 
</TABLE>

APPRAISAL RIGHTS 

   Shareholders will have no appraisal rights in connection with the 
Reorganization. 

        COMPARISON OF INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES 

   U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund have identical 
investment objectives, which are security of principal, high current income 
and liquidity. U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund seek to 
achieve their objectives by investing in United States Government securities, 
including a variety of securities which are issued or guaranteed, as to 
principal and interest, by the U.S. Treasury, by various instrumentalities 
which have been established or sponsored by the U.S. Government, and in 
certain interests in the foregoing securities. 

   The investment policies of both U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Acquiring Fund, which are identical, are not fundamental and may be changed 
by their respective Boards. For a more complete discussion of each fund's 
policies see "Investment Objectives and Policies" in each fund's respective 
Prospectus and "Investment Practices and Policies" in each fund's respective 
Statement of Additional Information. 

                               13           
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 

   The investment restrictions adopted by U.S. Government Money Market and 
the Acquiring Fund as fundamental are substantially similar and are 
summarized under the caption "Investment Restrictions" in the Prospectus and 
Statement of Additional Information of U.S. Government Money Market and in 
the Statement of Additional Information of the Acquiring Fund. A fundamental 
investment restriction cannot be changed without the vote of a majority of 
the outstanding voting securities of a fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. The 
material differences are set forth herein. Neither the Acquiring Fund nor 
U.S. Government Money Market may borrow money, except from banks for 
temporary or emergency purposes, including the meeting of the redemption 
requests which might otherwise require the untimely disposition of 
securities; or through its transactions in reverse repurchase agreements. 
With respect to the Acquiring Fund, borrowing in the aggregate may not exceed 
20% and borrowing for purposes other than meeting redemptions may not exceed 
5% of the value of the fund's total assets. With respect to U.S. Government 
Money Market, borrowing in the aggregate may not exceed 15% and the limit for 
borrowing for purposes other than meeting redemptions is also 5% of the 
fund's total assets. The Acquiring Fund may pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or 
otherwise encumber its assets, only in an amount up to 10% of its net assets, 
and only to secure borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes; whereas 
U.S. Government Money Market Fund may similarly pledge its assets in any 
amount to secure borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes. 

   Finally, U.S. Government Money Market has a non-fundamental restriction 
that it may not invest in securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of 
such fund, any officer, or director of the fund or of InterCapital, owns more 
than 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding securities of such issuer, and such 
officers and directors who own more than 1/2 of 1% own in the aggregate more 
than 5% of the outstanding securities of such issuer; whereas, the Acquiring 
Fund has no such restriction. 

          ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET 
                            AND THE ACQUIRING FUND 

GENERAL 

   For a discussion of the organization and operation of U.S. Government 
Money Market, see "The Fund and its Management," "Investment Objectives and 
Policies," "Investment Restrictions" and "Prospectus Summary" in the 
Prospectus for Retirement Series. For a similar discussion with respect to 
the Acquiring Fund, see "The Trust and its Management," "Investment 
Objectives and Policies" and "Prospectus Summary" in the Prospectus for the 
Acquiring Fund. 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION 

   For certain financial information about the Acquiring Fund and U.S. 
Government Money Market, see "Financial Highlights" in their respective 
Prospectuses and "Performance Information" in the Prospectus of U.S. 
Government Money Market and "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes--Current and 
Effective Yield" in the prospectus of the Acquiring Fund. 

MANAGEMENT 

   For information about U.S. Government Money Market's Board of Trustees, 
the Investment Manager and the Distributor, see "The Fund and its Management" 
and "Investment Objectives and Policies" in, and the back cover of the 
Prospectus. For a similar discussion with respect to the Acquiring Fund, see 
"The Trust and its Management" and "Investment Objectives and Policies" in, 
and the back cover of the Prospectus for the Acquiring Fund. 

                               14           
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES AND SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES 

   For a description of the nature and most significant attributes of shares 
of U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund, and information 
regarding shareholder inquiries, see "Additional Information" in their 
respective Prospectuses. 

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 

   For a discussion of the Acquiring Fund's and U.S. Government Money 
Market's policies with respect to dividends, distributions and taxes, see 
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" in their respective Prospectuses as well 
as the discussion herein under "Synopsis--Purchases, Exchanges and 
Redemptions." 

PURCHASES, REPURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS 

   For a discussion of how the Acquiring Fund's and U.S. Government Money 
Market's shares may be purchased, repurchased and redeemed, see "Purchase of 
Fund Shares," "Shareholder Services" and "Redemption of Fund Shares" in the 
Prospectus of U.S. Government Money Market and "Purchase of Trust Shares," 
"Shareholder Services" and "Redemption of Trust Shares" in the Prospectus of 
the Acquiring Fund. 

                       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXPERTS 

   The financial statements of the Acquiring Fund and Retirement Series as of 
January 31, 1998 and July 31, 1997, respectively, which are incorporated by 
reference in the Statement of Additional Information relating to the 
Registration Statement on Form N-14 of which this Proxy Statement and 
Prospectus forms a part, have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP, 
independent accountants, for the periods indicated in its respective reports 
thereon. Such financial statements have been incorporated by reference in 
reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of Price Waterhouse LLP 
as experts in accounting and auditing. 

                                LEGAL MATTERS 

   Certain legal matters concerning the issuance of shares of the Acquiring 
Fund will be passed upon by Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein, New 
York, New York. Such firm will rely on Lane Altman & Owens as to matters of 
Massachusetts law. 

                            AVAILABLE INFORMATION 

   Additional information about U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Acquiring Fund is available, as applicable, in the following documents which 
are incorporated herein by reference: (i) the Acquiring Fund's Prospectus 
dated March 2, 1998, attached to this Proxy Statement and Prospectus, which 
Prospectus forms a part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 18 to the Acquiring 
Fund's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-74980; 811-3326); 
(ii) the Prospectus for Retirement Series dated October 31, 1997, which 
Prospectus forms a part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to the Registration 
Statement for Retirement Series on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-48172; 811-6682);
and (iii) the Annual Report for Retirement Series for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 1997 and its Semi-Annual Report (unaudited) for the six months ended
January 31, 1998. The foregoing documents may be obtained without charge by
calling Nina Maceda at Dean Witter Trust Company at (800) 869-NEWS. 

                               15           
<PAGE>
   Retirement Series and the Acquiring Fund are subject to the informational 
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in 
accordance therewith, file reports and other information with the Commission. 
Proxy material, reports and other information about U.S. Government Money 
Market and the Acquiring Fund which are of public record can be inspected and 
copied at public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 
1204, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and 
certain of its regional offices, and copies of such materials can be obtained 
at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Branch, Office of Consumer 
Affairs and Information Services, Securities and Exchange Commission, 
Washington, D.C. 20549. 

                                OTHER BUSINESS 

   Management of the Retirement Series knows of no business other than the 
matters specified above which will be presented at the Meeting. Since matters 
not known at the time of the solicitation may come before the Meeting, the 
proxy as solicited confers discretionary authority with respect to such 
matters as properly come before the Meeting, including any adjournment or 
adjournments thereof, and it is the intention of the persons named as 
attorneys-in-fact in the proxy to vote this proxy in accordance with their 
judgment on such matters. 

                                     By Order of the Board of Trustees, 
                                         
  
                                     BARRY FINK, 
                                     Secretary 

June  , 1998 

                               16           
<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT A 

                     AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION 

   THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION ("Agreement") is made as of this 
30th day of April, 1998, by and between DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY 
MARKET TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Acquiring Fund") and DEAN 
WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES, a Massachusetts business trust ("Retirement 
Series"), on behalf of the U.S. Government Money Market Series ("U.S. 
Government Money Market"). 

   This Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a "plan of 
reorganization" within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.368-2(g), for a 
reorganization under Section 368(a) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
as amended (the "Code"). The reorganization ("Reorganization") will consist 
of the transfer to the Acquiring Fund of substantially all of the assets of 
U.S. Government Money Market in exchange for the assumption by the Acquiring 
Fund of all stated liabilities of U.S. Government Money Market and the 
issuance by the Acquiring Fund of shares of beneficial interest (the 
"Acquiring Fund Shares"), to be distributed, after the Closing Date 
hereinafter referred to, to the shareholders of U.S. Government Money Market 
in liquidation of U.S. Government Money Market as provided herein, all upon 
the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement. 

   In consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreements 
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows: 

1. THE REORGANIZATION AND LIQUIDATION OF U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET 

   1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and on the basis 
of the representations and warranties contained herein, Retirement Series 
agrees to assign, deliver and otherwise transfer the U.S. Government Money 
Market Assets (as defined in paragraph 1.2) to the Acquiring Fund and the 
Acquiring Fund agrees in exchange therefor to assume all of U.S. Government 
Money Market's stated liabilities on the Closing Date as set forth in 
paragraph 1.3(a) and to deliver to U.S. Government Money Market the number of 
the Acquiring Fund Shares, including fractional Acquiring Fund Shares, equal 
to the number of U.S. Government Money Market shares issued and outstanding 
on the Valuation Date (as defined in paragraph 2.1). Such transactions shall 
take place at the closing provided for in paragraph 3.1 ("Closing"). 

   1.2 (a) The "U.S. Government Money Market Assets" shall consist of all 
property, including without limitation, all cash, cash equivalents, 
securities and dividend and interest receivables owned by U.S. Government 
Money Market, and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on U.S. 
Government Money Market's books on the Valuation Date. 

   (b) On or prior to the Valuation Date, Retirement Series will provide the 
Acquiring Fund with a list of all of U.S. Government Money Market's assets to 
be assigned, delivered and otherwise transferred to the Acquiring Fund and of 
the stated liabilities to be assumed by the Acquiring Fund pursuant to this 
Agreement. U.S. Government Money Market reserves the right to sell any of the 
securities on such list but will not, without the prior approval of the 
Acquiring Fund, acquire any additional securities other than securities of 
the type in which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest and in amounts 
agreed to in writing by the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund will, within a 
reasonable time prior to the Valuation Date, furnish U.S. Government Money 
Market with a statement of the Acquiring Fund's investment objectives, 
policies and restrictions and a list of the securities, if any, on the list 
referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph that do not conform to 
the Acquiring Fund's investment objective, 

                               A-1           
<PAGE>
policies and restrictions. In the event that U.S. Government Money Market 
holds any investments that the Acquiring Fund is not permitted to hold, U.S. 
Government Money Market will dispose of such securities on or prior to the 
Valuation Date. In addition, if it is determined that the portfolios of U.S. 
Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund, when aggregated, would 
contain investments exceeding certain percentage limitations imposed upon the 
Acquiring Fund with respect to such investments, U.S. Government Money Market 
if requested by the Acquiring Fund will, on or prior to the Valuation Date, 
dispose of and/or reinvest a sufficient amount of such investments as may be 
necessary to avoid violating such limitations as of the Closing Date (as 
defined in paragraph 3.1). 

   1.3 U.S. Government Money Market will endeavor to discharge all of its 
liabilities and obligations on or prior to the Valuation Date. The Acquiring 
Fund will assume all stated liabilities, which includes, without limitation, 
all expenses, costs, charges and reserves reflected on an unaudited Statement 
of Assets and Liabilities of U.S. Government Money Market prepared by the 
Treasurer of U.S. Government Money Market as of the Valuation Date in 
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied 
from the prior audited period. 

   1.4 In order for U.S. Government Money Market to comply with Section 
852(a)(1) of the Code and to avoid having any investment company taxable 
income or net capital gain (as defined in Sections 852(b)(2) and 1222(11) of 
the Code, respectively) (to the extent there is any) in the short taxable 
year ending with its dissolution, U.S. Government Money Market will on or 
before the Valuation Date (a) declare a dividend in an amount large enough so 
that it will have declared dividends of all of its investment company taxable 
income and net capital gain, if any, for such taxable year (determined 
without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and (b) distribute such 
dividend. 

   1.5 On the Closing Date or as soon as practicable thereafter, U.S. 
Government Money Market will distribute the Acquiring Fund Shares received by 
U.S. Government Money Market pursuant to paragraph 1.1 pro rata to its 
shareholders of record determined as of the close of business on the 
Valuation Date ("U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders"). Such 
distribution will be accomplished by an instruction, signed by the Secretary 
of Retirement Series, to transfer the Acquiring Fund Shares then credited to 
U.S. Government Money Market's account on the books of the Acquiring Fund to 
open accounts on the books of the Acquiring Fund in the names of the U.S. 
Government Money Market Shareholders and representing the respective pro rata 
number of the Acquiring Fund Shares due such U.S. Government Money Market 
Shareholders. All issued and outstanding shares of U.S. Government Money 
Market simultaneously will be canceled on U.S. Government Money Market's 
books; however, share certificates representing interests in U.S. Government 
Money Market will represent a number of the Acquiring Fund Shares after the 
Closing Date as determined in accordance with paragraph 2.3. The Acquiring 
Fund will issue certificates representing the Acquiring Fund Shares in 
connection with such exchange only upon the written request of a U.S. 
Government Money Market Shareholder. 

   1.6 Ownership of the Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of 
the Acquiring Fund's transfer agent. The Acquiring Fund Shares will be issued 
in the manner described in the Acquiring Fund's current Prospectus and 
Statement of Additional Information. 

   1.7 Any transfer taxes payable upon issuance of the Acquiring Fund Shares 
in a name other than the registered holder of the Acquiring Fund Shares on 
U.S. Government Money Market's books as of the close of business on the 
Valuation Date shall, as a condition of such issuance and transfer, be paid 
by the person to whom the Acquiring Fund Shares are to be issued and 
transferred. 

   1.8 Any reporting responsibility of Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. 
Government Money Markets, is and shall remain the responsibility of 
Retirement Series up to and including the date on which Retirement Series is 
dissolved and deregistered pursuant to paragraph 1.9. 

                               A-2           
<PAGE>
   1.9 Retirement Series shall be dissolved as a Massachusetts business trust 
and deregistered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 
1940, as amended ("1940 Act"), promptly following the making of all 
distributions pursuant to paragraph 1.5 and the reorganization or liquidation 
of each of its portfolios. 

   1.10 Copies of all books and records maintained on behalf of U.S. 
Government Money Market in connection with its obligations under the 1940 
Act, the Code, state blue sky laws or otherwise in connection with this 
Agreement will promptly after the Closing be delivered to officers of the 
Acquiring Fund or their designee and the Acquiring Fund or its designee shall 
comply with applicable record retention requirements to which U.S. Government 
Money Market is subject under the 1940 Act. 

2. VALUATION 

   2.1 The number of U.S. Government Money Market shares issued and 
outstanding and the number of Acquiring Fund Shares (including fractional 
shares, if any) to be issued hereunder shall, in each case be computed as of 
4:00 p.m. New York City time on the third day that the New York Stock 
Exchange is open for business following the receipt of the requisite approval 
by shareholders of U.S. Government Money Market of this Agreement or at such 
time on such earlier or later date after such approval as may be mutually 
agreed upon in writing (such time and date being hereinafter called the 
"Valuation Date"), after the declaration any payment of any dividend on that 
date. 

3. CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE 

   3.1 The Closing shall take place on the Valuation Date (the "Closing 
Date"). The Closing shall be held as of 9:00 a.m. Eastern time, or at such 
other time as the parties may agree. The Closing shall be held in a location 
mutually agreeable to the parties hereto. All acts taking place at the 
Closing shall be deemed to take place simultaneously as of 9:00 a.m. Eastern 
time on the Closing Date unless otherwise provided. 

   3.2 Portfolio securities held by U.S. Government Money Market and 
represented by a certificate or other written instrument shall be presented 
by it or on its behalf to The Bank of New York (the "Custodian"), as 
custodian for the Acquiring Fund, for examination no later than five business 
days preceding the Valuation Date. Such portfolio securities (together with 
any cash or other assets) shall be delivered by U.S. Government Money Market 
to the Custodian for the account of the Acquiring Fund on or before the 
Closing Date in conformity with applicable custody provisions under the 1940 
Act and duly endorsed in proper form for transfer in such condition as to 
constitute good delivery thereof in accordance with the custom of brokers. 
The portfolio securities shall be accompanied by all necessary federal and 
state stock transfer stamps or a check for the appropriate purchase price of 
such stamps. Portfolio securities and instruments deposited with a securities 
depository (as defined in Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act) shall be delivered 
on or before the Closing Date by book-entry in accordance with customary 
practices of such depository and the Custodian. The cash delivered shall be 
in the form of a Federal Funds wire, payable to the order of "The Bank of New 
York, Custodian for Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust." 

   3.3 In the event that on the Valuation Date, (a) the New York Stock 
Exchange shall be closed to trading or trading thereon shall be restricted or 
(b) trading or the reporting of trading on such Exchange or elsewhere shall 
be disrupted so that, in the judgment of both the Acquiring Fund and U.S. 
Government Money Market, accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets of 
the Acquiring Fund or the U.S. Government Money Market Assets is 
impracticable, the Valuation Date shall be postponed until the first business 
day after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed without 
restriction or disruption and reporting shall have been restored. 

                               A-3           
<PAGE>
   3.4 If requested, Retirement Series shall deliver to the Acquiring Fund or 
its designee (a) at the Closing, a list, certified by its Secretary, of the 
names, addresses and taxpayer identification numbers of the U.S. Government 
Money Market Shareholders and the number and percentage ownership of 
outstanding U.S. Government Money Market shares owned by each such U.S. 
Government Money Market Shareholder, all as of the Valuation Date, and (b) as 
soon as practicable after the Closing, all original documentation (including 
Internal Revenue Service forms, certificates, certifications and 
correspondence) relating to the U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders' 
taxpayer identification numbers and their liability for or exemption from 
back-up withholding. The Acquiring Fund shall issue and deliver to such 
Secretary a confirmation evidencing delivery of the Acquiring Fund Shares to 
be credited on the Closing Date to U.S. Government Money Market or provide 
evidence satisfactory to U.S. Government Money Market that such Acquiring 
Fund Shares have been credited to U.S. Government Money Market's account on 
the books of the Acquiring Fund. At the Closing, each party shall deliver to 
the other such bills of sale, checks, assignments, share certificates, if 
any, receipts or other documents as such other party or its counsel may 
reasonably request. 

4. COVENANTS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY 
   MARKET TRUST 

   4.1 Except as otherwise expressly provided herein with respect to U.S. 
Government Money Market, the Acquiring Fund and U.S. Government Money Market 
each will operate its business in the ordinary course between the date hereof 
and the Closing Date, it being understood that such ordinary course of 
business will include customary dividends and other distributions. 

   4.2 The Acquiring Fund will prepare and file with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission ("Commission") a registration statement on Form N-14 
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act"), relating to the 
Acquiring Fund Shares ("Registration Statement"). Retirement Series will 
provide the Acquiring Fund with the Proxy Materials as described in paragraph 
4.3 below, for inclusion in the Registration Statement. U.S. Government Money 
Market will further provide the Acquiring Fund with such other information 
and documents relating to U.S. Government Money Market as are reasonably 
necessary for the preparation of the Registration Statement. 

   4.3 Retirement Series will call a meeting of the U.S. Government Money 
Market shareholders to consider and act upon this Agreement and to take all 
other action necessary to obtain approval of the transactions contemplated 
herein. Retirement Series will prepare the notice of meeting, form of proxy 
and proxy statement (collectively, "Proxy Materials") to be used in 
connection with such meeting; provided that the Acquiring Fund will furnish 
Retirement Series with its currently effective prospectus for inclusion in 
the Proxy Materials and with such other information relating to the Acquiring 
Fund as is reasonably necessary for the preparation of the Proxy Materials. 

   4.4 Retirement Series will assist the Acquiring Fund in obtaining such 
information as the Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning the 
beneficial ownership of U.S. Government Money Market shares. 

   4.5 Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund and 
Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. Government Money Market, will each take, 
or cause to be taken, all action, and do or cause to be done, all things 
reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective 
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 

   4.6 Retirement Series shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the 
Acquiring Fund within 30 days after the Closing Date a statement of U.S. 
Government Money Market's assets and liabilities as of the 

                               A-4           
<PAGE>
Closing Date, which statement shall be certified by the Treasurer of 
Retirement Series and shall be in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles consistently applied. As promptly as practicable, but 
in any case within 60 days after the Closing Date, Retirement Series shall 
furnish the Acquiring Fund, in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the 
Acquiring Fund, a statement certified by the Treasurer of Retirement Series 
of U.S. Government Money Market's earnings and profits for federal income tax 
purposes that will be carried over to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to Section 
381 of the Code. 

   4.7 As soon after the Closing Date as is reasonably practicable, 
Retirement Series (a) shall prepare and file all federal and other tax 
returns and reports on behalf of U.S. Government Money Market required by law 
to be filed with respect to all periods ending on or before the Closing Date 
but not theretofore filed and (b) shall pay all federal and other taxes shown 
as due thereon and/or all federal and other taxes that were unpaid as of the 
Closing Date, including without limitation, all taxes for which the provision 
for payment was made as of the Closing Date (as represented in paragraph 
5.2(k)). 

   4.8 The Acquiring Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the 
approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and to 
make such filings required by the state Blue Sky and securities laws as it 
may deem appropriate in order to continue its operations after the Closing 
Date. 

5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 

   5.1 The Acquiring Fund represents and warrants to Retirement Series, on 
behalf of U.S. Government Money Market, as follows: 

     (a) The Acquiring Fund is a validly existing Massachusetts business trust 
    corporation with full power to carry on its business as presently 
    conducted; 

     (b) The Acquiring Fund is a duly registered, open-end, management 
    investment company, and its registration with the Commission as an 
    investment company under the 1940 Act and the registration of its shares 
    under the 1933 Act are in full force and effect; 

     (c) All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Acquiring Fund have 
    been offered and sold in compliance in all material respects with 
    applicable registration requirements of the 1933 Act and state securities 
    laws. Shares of the Acquiring Fund are registered in all jurisdictions in 
    which they are required to be registered under state securities laws and 
    other laws, and said registrations, including any periodic reports or 
    supplemental filings, are complete and current, all fees required to be 
    paid have been paid, and the Acquiring Fund is not subject to any stop 
    order and is fully qualified to sell its shares in each state in which its 
    shares have been registered; 

     (d) The current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the 
    Acquiring Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable 
    requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the regulations 
    thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or 
    omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary 
    to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which 
    they were made, not misleading; 

     (e) The Acquiring Fund is not in, and the execution, delivery and 
    performance of this Agreement will not result in a, material violation of 
    any provision of the Acquiring Fund's Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws 
    or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other 
    undertaking to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is 
    bound; 

     (f) No litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or 
    before any court or governmental body is presently pending or, to its 
    knowledge, threatened against the Acquiring Fund 

                               A-5           
<PAGE>
    or any of its properties or assets which, if adversely determined, would 
    materially and adversely affect its financial condition or the conduct of 
    its business; and the Acquiring Fund knows of no facts that might form the 
    basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or 
    subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or 
    governmental body which materially and adversely affects, or is reasonably 
    likely to materially and adversely effect, its business or its ability to 
    consummate the transactions herein contemplated; 

     (g) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, 
    Statement of Changes in Net Assets and Financial Highlights as of January 
    31, 1998, and for the year then ended, of the Acquiring Fund certified by 
    Price Waterhouse LP (copies of which have been furnished to U.S. 
    Government Money Market), fairly present, in all material respects, the 
    Acquiring Fund's financial condition as of such date in accordance with 
    generally accepted accounting principles, and its results of such 
    operations, changes in its net assets and financial highlights for such 
    period, and as of such date there were no known liabilities of the 
    Acquiring Fund (contingent or otherwise) not disclosed therein that would 
    be required in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles to 
    be disclosed therein; 

     (h) All issued and outstanding Acquiring Fund Shares are, and at the 
    Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid 
    and nonassessable with no personal liability attaching to the ownership 
    thereof, except as set forth under the caption "Additional Information" in 
    the Acquiring Fund's current Prospectus incorporated by reference in the 
    Registration Statement. The Acquiring Fund does not have outstanding any 
    options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of its 
    shares; 

     (i) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been 
    duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Acquiring Fund, 
    and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the 
    Acquiring Fund enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to 
    enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and 
    other laws relating to or affecting creditors rights and to general equity 
    principles. No other consents, authorizations or approvals are necessary 
    in connection with the Acquiring Fund's performance of this Agreement; 

     (j) The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to Retirement 
    Series, for the account of the U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders, 
    pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will at the Closing Date have been 
    duly authorized and, when so issued and delivered, will be duly and 
    validly issued Acquiring Fund Shares, and will be fully paid and 
    non-assessable with no personal liability attaching to the ownership 
    thereof, except as set forth under the caption "Additional Information" in 
    the Acquiring Fund's current Prospectus incorporated by reference in the 
    Registration Statement; 

     (k) All material Federal and other tax returns and reports of the 
    Acquiring Fund required by law to be filed on or before the Closing Date 
    have been filed and are correct, and all Federal and other taxes shown as 
    due or required to be shown as due on said returns and reports have been 
    paid or provision has been made for the payment thereof, and to the best 
    of the Acquiring Fund's knowledge, no such return is currently under audit 
    and no assessment has been asserted with respect to any such return; 

     (l) For each taxable year since its inception, the Acquiring Fund has met 
    the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification and 
    treatment as a "regulated investment company" and neither the execution or 
    delivery of nor the performance of its obligations under this Agreement 
    will adversely affect, and no other events are reasonably likely to occur 
    which will adversely affect the ability of the Acquiring Fund to continue 
    to meet the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code; 

                               A-6           
<PAGE>
     (m) Since January 31, 1998 there has been no change by the Acquiring Fund 
    in accounting methods, principles, or practices, including those required 
    by generally accepted accounting principles; 

     (n) The information furnished or to be furnished by the Acquiring Fund 
    for use in registration statements, proxy materials and other documents 
    which may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated 
    hereby shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall 
    comply in all material respects with Federal securities and other laws and 
    regulations applicable thereto; and 

     (o) The Proxy Materials to be included in the Registration Statement 
    (only insofar as they relate to the Acquiring Fund) will, on the effective 
    date of the Registration Statement and on the Closing Date, not contain 
    any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact 
    required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, 
    in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not 
    materially misleading. 

   5.2 Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. Government Money Market, 
represents and warrants to the Acquiring Fund as follows: 

     (a) Retirement Series is a validly existing Massachusetts business trust 
    with full power to carry on its business as presently conducted; 

     (b) Retirement Series is a duly registered, open-end, management 
    investment company, and its registration with the Commission as an 
    investment company under the 1940 Act and the registration of its shares 
    under the 1933 Act are in full force and effect; 

     (c) All of the issued and outstanding shares of beneficial interest of 
    U.S. Government Money Market have been offered and sold in compliance in 
    all material respects with applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and 
    state securities laws. Shares of U.S. Government Money Market are 
    registered in all jurisdictions in which they are required to be 
    registered and said registrations, including any periodic reports or 
    supplemental filings, are complete and current, all fees required to be 
    paid have been paid, and Retirement Series is not subject to any stop 
    order and is fully qualified to sell its shares in each state in which its 
    shares have been registered; 

     (d) The current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of 
    Retirement Series conform in all material respects to the applicable 
    requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the regulations 
    thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or 
    omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary 
    to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which 
    they were made, not misleading; 

     (e) Retirement Series is not, and the execution, delivery and performance 
    of this Agreement will not result, in a material violation of any 
    provision of the Declaration of Trust of Retirement Series or By-Laws of 
    Retirement Series or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, 
    lease or other undertaking to which Retirement Series is a party or by 
    which it is bound; 

     (f) No litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or 
    before any court or governmental body is presently pending or, to its 
    knowledge, threatened against Retirement Series or any of its properties 
    or assets which, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely 
    affect its financial condition or the conduct of its business; and 
    Retirement Series knows of no facts that might form the basis for the 
    institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the 
    provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental 
    body which materially and adversely affects, or is reasonably likely to 
    materially and adversely effect, its business or its ability to consummate 
    the transactions herein contemplated; 

                               A-7           
<PAGE>
     (g) The Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, 
    Statement of Changes in Net Assets and Financial Highlights of Retirement 
    Series as of July 31, 1997 and for the year then ended, certified by Price 
    Waterhouse LP (copies of which have been or will be furnished to the 
    Acquiring Fund) fairly present, in all material respects, U.S. Government 
    Money Market's financial condition as of such date, and its results of 
    operations, changes in its net assets and financial highlights for such 
    period in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and as 
    of such date there were no known liabilities of U.S. Government Money 
    Market (contingent or otherwise) not disclosed therein that would be 
    required in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles to be 
    disclosed therein; 

     (h) Retirement Series has no material contracts or other commitments 
    (other than this Agreement) that will be terminated with liability to it 
    prior to the Closing Date; 

     (i) All issued and outstanding shares of U.S. Government Money Market 
    are, and at the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and 
    outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable with no personal liability 
    attaching to the ownership thereof, except as set forth under the caption 
    "Additional Information" in U.S. Government Money Market's current 
    Prospectus incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. U.S. 
    Government Money Market does not have outstanding any options, warrants or 
    other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of its shares, nor is there 
    outstanding any security convertible to any of its shares. All such shares 
    will, at the time of Closing, be held by the persons and in the amounts 
    set forth in the list of shareholders submitted to the Acquiring Fund 
    pursuant to paragraph 3.4; 

     (j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will have 
    been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary action on 
    the part of Retirement Series, and subject to the approval of U.S. 
    Government Money Market's shareholders, this Agreement constitutes a valid 
    and binding obligation of Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. Government 
    Money Market, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject as to 
    enforcement to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and 
    other laws relating to or affecting creditors rights and to general equity 
    principles. No other consents, authorizations or approvals are necessary 
    in connection with the performance of this Agreement by Retirement Series, 
    on behalf of U.S. Government Money Market; 

     (k) All material federal and other tax returns and reports of Retirement 
    Series required by law to be filed on or before the Closing Date shall 
    have been filed and are correct and all Federal and other taxes shown as 
    due or required to be shown as due on said returns and reports have been 
    paid or provision has been made for the payment thereof, and to the best 
    knowledge of Retirement Series, no such return is currently under audit 
    and no assessment has been asserted with respect to any such return; 

     (l) For each taxable year since its inception, U.S. Government Money 
    Market has met all the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for 
    qualification and treatment as a "regulated investment company" and 
    neither the execution or delivery of nor the performance of its 
    obligations under this Agreement will adversely affect, and no other 
    events are reasonably likely to occur which will adversely affect the 
    ability of U.S. Government Money Market to continue to meet the 
    requirements of Subchapter M of the Code; 

     (m) At the Closing Date, Retirement Series will have good and valid title 
    to the U.S. Government Money Market Assets, subject to no liens (other 
    than the obligation, if any, to pay the purchase price of portfolio 
    securities purchased by U.S. Government Money Market which have not 
    settled prior to the Closing Date), security interests or other 
    encumbrances, and full right, power and 

                               A-8           
<PAGE>
    authority to assign, deliver and otherwise transfer such assets hereunder, 
    and upon delivery and payment for such assets, the Acquiring Fund will 
    acquire good and marketable title thereto, subject to no restrictions on 
    the full transfer thereof, including any restrictions as might arise under 
    the 1933 Act; 

     (n) On the effective date of the Registration Statement, at the time of 
    the meeting of U.S. Government Money Market's shareholders and on the 
    Closing Date, the Proxy Materials (exclusive of the currently effective 
    Acquiring Fund's Prospectus contained therein) will (i) comply in all 
    material respects with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the Securities 
    Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("1934 Act") and the 1940 Act and the 
    regulations thereunder and (ii) not contain any untrue statement of a 
    material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated 
    therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Any 
    other information furnished by Retirement Series for use in the 
    Registration Statement or in any other manner that may be necessary in 
    connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be accurate and 
    complete and shall comply in all material respects with applicable federal 
    securities and other laws and regulations thereunder; 

     (o) U.S. Government Money Market will, on or prior to the Valuation Date, 
    declare one or more dividends or other distributions to shareholders that, 
    together with all previous dividends and other distributions to 
    shareholders, shall have the effect of distributing to the shareholders 
    all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain, if any, 
    through the Valuation Date (computed without regard to any deduction for 
    dividends paid); 

     (p) Retirement Series has maintained or has caused to be maintained on 
    its behalf all books and accounts as required of a registered investment 
    company in compliance with the requirements of Section 31 of the 1940 Act 
    and the Rules thereunder; and 

     (q) U.S. Government Money Market is not acquiring the Acquiring Fund 
    Shares to be issued hereunder for the purpose of making any distribution 
    thereof other than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. 

6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY 
   MARKET TRUST 

   The obligations of Retirement Series to consummate the transactions 
provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by 
the Acquiring Fund of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on 
or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the following 
conditions: 

   6.1 All representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund contained in 
this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the 
date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the transactions 
contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date with the same force 
and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date; 

   6.2 The Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to U.S. Government Money 
Market a certificate of its President and Treasurer, in a form reasonably 
satisfactory to Retirement Series and dated as of the Closing Date, to the 
effect that the representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund made in 
this Agreement are true and correct at and as of the Closing Date, except as 
they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and 
as to such other matters as Retirement Series shall reasonably request; 

   6.3 U.S. Government Money Market shall have received a favorable opinion 
from Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein, counsel to the Acquiring 
Fund, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that: 

                               A-9           
<PAGE>
     (a) The Acquiring Fund is a validly existing Massachusetts business 
    trust, and has the power to own all of its properties and assets and to 
    carry on its business as presently conducted (Massachusetts counsel may be 
    relied upon in delivering such opinion); (b) the Acquiring Fund is a duly 
    registered, open-end, management investment company, and its registration 
    with the Commission as an investment company under the 1940 Act is in full 
    force and effect; (c) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed 
    and delivered by the Acquiring Fund and, assuming that the Registration 
    Statement complies with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and 
    regulations thereunder and assuming due authorization, execution and 
    delivery of this Agreement by U.S. Government Money Market, is a valid and 
    binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund enforceable against the Acquiring 
    Fund in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement, to 
    bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating 
    to or affecting creditors rights and to general equity principles; (d) the 
    Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to U.S. Government Money Market 
    Shareholders as provided by this Agreement are duly authorized and upon 
    such delivery will be validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and 
    non-assessable (except as set forth under the caption "Additional 
    Information" in the Acquiring Fund's Prospectus), and no shareholder of 
    the Acquiring Fund has any preemptive rights to subscription or purchase 
    in respect thereof (Maryland counsel may be relied upon in delivering such 
    opinion); (e) the execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and 
    the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate 
    the Acquiring Fund's Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws; and (f) to the 
    knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of 
    any court or governmental authority of the United States or any state is 
    required for the consummation by the Acquiring Fund of the transactions 
    contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, 
    the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required under state 
    securities laws; and 

   6.4 As of the Closing Date, there shall have been no material change in 
the investment objective, policies and restrictions nor any increase in the 
investment management fees or annual fees payable pursuant to the Acquiring 
Fund's 12b-1 plan of distribution from those described in the Acquiring 
Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information dated [March   , 
1998]. 

7. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND 

   The obligations of the Acquiring Fund to complete the transactions 
provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by 
Retirement Series of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on 
or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the following 
conditions: 

   7.1 All representations and warranties of Retirement Series contained in 
this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the 
date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the transactions 
contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date with the same force 
and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date; 

   7.2 Retirement Series shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund at the 
Closing a certificate of its President and its Treasurer, in form and 
substance satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and dated as of the Closing 
Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of Retirement 
Series made in this Agreement are true and correct at and as of the Closing 
Date, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this 
Agreement, and as to such other matters as the Acquiring Fund shall 
reasonably request; 

   7.3 Retirement Series shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a 
statement of the U.S. Government Money Market Assets and its liabilities, 
together with a list of U.S. Government Money Market's portfolio securities 
and other assets showing the respective adjusted bases and holding periods 
thereof for income tax purposes, as of the Closing Date, certified by the 
Treasurer of Retirement Series; 

                              A-10           
<PAGE>
   7.4 Retirement Series shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund within 
three business days after the Closing a letter from Price Waterhouse LP dated 
as of the Closing Date stating that (a) such firm has performed a limited 
review of the federal and state income tax returns of Retirement Series for 
each of the last three taxable years and, based on such limited review, 
nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that such returns 
did not properly reflect, in all material respects, the federal and state 
income tax liabilities of U.S. Government Money Market for the periods 
covered thereby, (b) for the period from July 31, 1997 to and including the 
Closing Date, such firm has performed a limited review (based on unaudited 
financial data) to ascertain the amount of applicable federal, state and 
local taxes and has determined that same either have been paid or reserves 
have been established for payment of such taxes, and, based on such limited 
review, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that the 
taxes paid or reserves set aside for payment of such taxes were not adequate 
in all material respects for the satisfaction of all federal, state and local 
tax liabilities for the period from July 31, 1997 to and including the 
Closing Date and (c) based on such limited reviews, nothing came to their 
attention that caused them to believe that U.S. Government Money Market would 
not qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes 
for any such year or period; 

   7.5 The Acquiring Fund shall have received at the Closing a favorable 
opinion from Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein, counsel to 
Retirement Series, dated as of the Closing Date to the effect that: 

     (a) Retirement Series is a validly existing Massachusetts business trust 
    and has the power to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on 
    its business as presently conducted (Massachusetts counsel may be relied 
    upon in delivering such opinion); (b) Retirement Series is a duly 
    registered, open-end, management investment company under the 1940 Act, 
    and its registration with the Commission as an investment company under 
    the 1940 Act is in full force and effect; (c) this Agreement has been duly 
    authorized, executed and delivered by Retirement Series and, assuming that 
    the Registration Statement complies with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and 
    the 1940 Act and the regulations thereunder and assuming due 
    authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Acquiring 
    Fund, is a valid and binding obligation of Retirement Series enforceable 
    against Retirement Series in accordance with its terms, subject as to 
    enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and 
    other laws relating to or affecting creditors rights and to general equity 
    principles; (d) the execution and delivery of this Agreement did not, and 
    the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate 
    the Declaration of Trust or By-Laws of Retirement Series; and (e) to the 
    knowledge of such counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or order of 
    any court or governmental authority of the United States or any state is 
    required for the consummation by Retirement Series of the transactions 
    contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, 
    the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required under state 
    securities laws; and 

   7.6 On the Closing Date, the U.S. Government Money Market Assets shall 
include no assets that the Acquiring Fund, by reason of limitations of the 
fund's Articles of Incorporation or otherwise, may not properly acquire. 

8. FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND 
   AND U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST 

   The obligations of Retirement Series and the Acquiring Fund hereunder are 
each subject to the further conditions that on or before the Closing Date: 

                              A-11           
<PAGE>
   8.1 This Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein shall have 
been approved by the requisite vote of the holders of the outstanding shares 
of U.S. Government Money Market in accordance with the provisions of the 
Declaration of Trust of Retirement Series, and certified copies of the 
resolutions evidencing such approval shall have been delivered to the 
Acquiring Fund; 

   8.2 On the Closing Date, no action, suit or other proceeding shall be 
pending before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to 
restrain or prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief in connection with, 
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein; 

   8.3 All consents of other parties and all other consents, orders and 
permits of federal, state and local regulatory authorities (including those 
of the Commission and of state Blue Sky and securities authorities, including 
"no-action" positions of and exemptive orders from such federal and state 
authorities) deemed necessary by the Acquiring Fund or Retirement Series to 
permit consummation, in all material respects, of the transactions 
contemplated herein shall have been obtained, except where failure to obtain 
any such consent, order or permit would not involve risk of a material 
adverse effect on the assets or properties of the Acquiring Fund or U.S. 
Government Money Market; 

   8.4 The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 
Act, no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been 
issued and, to the best knowledge of the parties hereto, no investigation or 
proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, 
threatened or contemplated under the 1933 Act; 

   8.5 U.S. Government Money Market shall have declared and paid a dividend 
or dividends and/or other distribution or distributions that, together with 
all previous such dividends or distributions, shall have the effect of 
distributing to the U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders all of U.S. 
Government Money Market's investment company taxable income (computed without 
regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and all of its net capital gain 
(after reduction for any capital loss carry-forward and computed without 
regard to any deduction for dividends paid) for all taxable years ending on 
or before the Closing Date; and 

   8.6 The parties shall have received a favorable opinion of the law firm of 
Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein (based on such representations 
as such law firm shall reasonably request), addressed to the Acquiring Fund 
and U.S. Government Money Market, which opinion may be relied upon by the 
shareholders of U.S. Government Money Market, substantially to the effect 
that, for federal income tax purposes: 

     (a) The transfer of substantially all of U.S. Government Money Market's 
    assets in exchange for the Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the 
    Acquiring Fund of certain stated liabilities of U.S. Government Money 
    Market followed by the distribution by U.S. Government Money Market of the 
    Acquiring Fund Shares to the U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders in 
    exchange for their U.S. Government Money Market shares will constitute a 
    "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Code, 
    and U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund will each be a 
    "party to a reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the 
    Code; 

     (b) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the 
    receipt of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market solely in exchange 
    for the Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of 
    the stated liabilities of U.S. Government Money Market; 

     (c) No gain or loss will be recognized by U.S. Government Money Market 
    upon the transfer of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market to the 
    Acquiring Fund in exchange for the 

                              A-12           
<PAGE>
    Acquiring Fund Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of the 
    stated liabilities or upon the distribution of the Acquiring Fund Shares 
    to the U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders in exchange for their 
    U.S. Government Money Market shares; 

     (d) No gain or loss will be recognized by the U.S. Government Money 
    Market Shareholders upon the exchange of the U.S. Government Money Market 
    shares for the Acquiring Fund Shares; 

     (e) The aggregate tax basis for the Acquiring Fund Shares received by 
    each U.S. Government Money Market Shareholder pursuant to the 
    reorganization will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the U.S. 
    Government Money Market Shares held by each such U.S. Government Money 
    Market Shareholder immediately prior to the Reorganization; 

     (f) The holding period of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be received by 
    each U.S. Government Money Market Shareholder will include the period 
    during which the U.S. Government Money Market Shares surrendered in 
    exchange therefor were held (provided such U.S. Government Money Market 
    Shares were held as capital assets on the date of the Reorganization); 

     (g) The tax basis of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market acquired 
    by the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the tax basis of such assets to 
    U.S. Government Money Market immediately prior to the Reorganization; and 

     (h) The holding period of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market in 
    the hands of the Acquiring Fund will include the period during which those 
    assets were held by U.S. Government Money Market. 

   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Acquiring 
Fund nor U.S. Government Money Market may waive the conditions set forth in 
this paragraph 8.6. 

9. FEES AND EXPENSES 

   9.1 (a) Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the investment 
manager to both U.S. Government Money Market and the Acquiring Fund, shall 
bear all expenses incurred in connection with the carrying out of the 
provisions of this Agreement, including legal, accounting, Commission 
registration fees and Blue Sky expenses, printing, filing and portfolio 
transfer taxes (if any) incurred in connection with the consummation of the 
transactions contemplated herein. 

     (b) In the event the transactions contemplated herein are not consummated 
    by reason of the Acquiring Fund's or U.S. Government Money Market's being 
    either unwilling or unable to go forward, the funds' only respective 
    obligations hereunder shall be to reimburse InterCapital for all 
    reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by InterCapital in 
    connection with those transactions. 

10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES 

   10.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties. 

   10.2 The representations, warranties and covenants contained in this 
Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection 
herewith shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated 
herein, except that the representations, warranties and covenants of 
Retirement Series hereunder shall not survive the dissolution and complete 
liquidation of U.S. Government Money Market in accordance with Section 1.9. 

                              A-13           
<PAGE>
11. TERMINATION 

   This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby 
may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing: 

     (a) by the mutual written consent of Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. 
    Government Money Market, and the Acquiring Fund; 

     (b) by either the Acquiring Fund or Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. 
    Government Money Market, by notice to the other, without liability to the 
    terminating party on account of such termination (providing the 
    termination party is not otherwise in material default or breach of this 
    Agreement) if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before December 
    31, 1998; or 

     (c) by either the Acquiring Fund or Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. 
    Government Money Market, in writing without liability to the terminating 
    party on account of such termination (provided the terminating party is 
    not otherwise in material default or breach of this Agreement), if (i) the 
    other party shall fail to perform in any material respect its agreements 
    contained herein required to be performed on or prior to the Closing Date, 
    (ii) the other party materially breaches any of its representations, 
    warranties or covenants contained herein, (iii) the U.S. Government Money 
    Market shareholders fail to approve this Agreement at any meeting called 
    for such purpose at which a quorum was present or (iv) any other condition 
    herein expressed to be precedent to the obligations of the terminating 
    party has not been met and it reasonably appears that it will not or 
    cannot be met. 

   11.2 (a) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraphs 11.1 (a) or 
(b) shall terminate all obligations of the parties hereunder and there shall 
be no liability for damages on the part of the Acquiring Fund or Retirement 
Series or the trustees or officers of the Acquiring Fund or Retirement 
Series, to any other party or its trustees or officers. 

     (b) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph 11.1 (c) shall 
    terminate all obligations of the parties hereunder and there shall be no 
    liability for damages on the part of the Acquiring Fund or Retirement 
    Series or the directors or officers of the Acquiring Fund or Retirement 
    Series, except that any party in breach of this Agreement shall, upon 
    demand, reimburse InterCapital for all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and 
    expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this 
    Agreement, including legal, accounting and filing fees. 

12. AMENDMENTS 

   This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner as 
may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the parties; provided, however, 
that following the meeting of U.S. Government Money Market's shareholders 
called by Retirement Series pursuant to paragraph 4.3, no such amendment may 
have the effect of changing the provisions for determining the number of the 
Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to the U.S. Government Money Market 
Shareholders under this Agreement to the detriment of such U.S. Government 
Money Market Shareholders without their further approval. 

13. MISCELLANEOUS 

   13.1 The article and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are 
for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or 
interpretation of this Agreement. 

   13.2 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of 
which shall be deemed an original. 

                              A-14           
<PAGE>

   13.3 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with 
the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

   13.4 This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties 
hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or 
transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by 
any party without the written consent of the other party. Nothing herein 
expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give 
any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their 
respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason 
of this Agreement. 

   13.5 The obligations and liabilities of the Acquiring Fund hereunder are 
solely those of the Acquiring Fund. It is expressly agreed that no 
shareholder, nominee, director, officer, agent, or employee of the Acquiring 
Fund shall be personally liable hereunder. The execution and delivery of this 
Agreement have been authorized by the directors of the Acquiring Fund and 
signed by authorized officers of the Acquiring Fund acting as such, and 
neither such authorization by such directors nor such execution and delivery 
by such officers shall be deemed to have been made by any of them 
individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally. 

   13.6 The obligations and liabilities of Retirement Series hereunder are 
solely those of Retirement Series. lt is expressly agreed that no 
shareholder, nominee, trustee, officer, agent, or employee of Retirement 
Series shall be personally liable hereunder. The execution and delivery of 
this Agreement have been authorized by the trustees of Retirement Series and 
signed by authorized officers of Retirement Series acting as such, and 
neither such authorization by such trustees nor such execution and delivery 
by such officers shall be deemed to have been made by any of them 
individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally. 

   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement 
to be executed by a duly authorized officer. 

                                DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY 
                                MARKET TRUST 
                                By: /s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
                                    -------------------------- 
                                    Name: Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
                                    Title: Chairman 

                                DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES, on 
                                behalf of U.S. Government Money 
                                Market Series 
                                By: /s/ Barry Fink 
                                    ---------------- 
                                    Name: Barry Fink 
                                    Title: Vice President 

                              A-15           


<PAGE>
                                                                      EXHIBIT B

              PROSPECTUS
              MARCH 2, 1998

 
              Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust (the "Trust") is a
no-load, open-end diversified management investment company investing primarily
in money market instruments maturing in thirteen months or less which are issued
or guaranteed, as to principal and interest, by the U.S. Government, its
agencies or instrumentalities. The Trust has a Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan (see
below). The investment objectives of the Trust are security of principal, high
current income and liquidity. (See "Investment Objectives and Policies".)
 
               AN INVESTMENT IN THE TRUST IS NEITHER INSURED NOR GUARANTEED BY
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE TRUST WILL BE ABLE TO
MAINTAIN A STABLE NET ASSET VALUE OF $1.00 PER SHARE.
 
               In accordance with a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 with Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the
"Distributor"), the Trust is authorized to reimburse for specific expenses
incurred in promoting the distribution of the Trust's shares. Reimbursement may
in no event exceed an amount equal to payments at the annual rate of 0.15% of
the average daily net assets of the Trust.
 

               This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should
know before investing in the Trust. It should be read and retained for future
reference. Additional information about the Trust is contained in the Statement
of Additional Information, dated March 2, 1998, which has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at no charge upon
request of the Trust at its address or at one of the telephone numbers listed on
this page. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by
reference.

 

                                            
Minimum initial investment..................   $1,000
Minimum additional investment...............   $   50

 

Dean Witter
U.S. Government Money Market Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048

 
    TABLE OF CONTENTS
 

Prospectus Summary/2
Summary of Trust Expenses/3
Financial Highlights/4
The Trust and its Management/4
Investment Objectives and Policies/5
Purchase of Trust Shares/7
Shareholder Services/9
Redemption of Trust Shares/13
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes/15
Additional Information/16
Financial Statements--January 31, 1998/18
Report of Independent Accountants/25

 
For information about the Trust, including information on opening an account,
registration of shares, and other information relating to a specific account,
call:
  -  800-869-NEWS (toll-free) or
  -  212-392-2550
 
SHARES OF THE TRUST ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR
ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, AND THE SHARES ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 

                                                  Dean Witter Distributors Inc.,
                                                  Distributor

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                <C>    
The                 An open-end diversified management investment company investing primarily in money market instruments maturing
Trust               in thirteen months or less which are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
                    instrumentalities.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Offered      Shares of beneficial interest of $0.01 par value (see page 16).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase            Investments may be made:
of Shares           - By wire
                    - By mail
                    - By EasyInvest(SM)
                    - Through Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. account executives and other Selected Broker-Dealers.
                    Purchases are at net asset value, without a sales charge. Minimum initial investment: $1,000. Subsequent
                    investments: $50 or more (by wire or by mail), $1,000 or more (through account executives) or $100 to $5,000 (by
                    EasyInvest).
                    Orders for purchase of shares are effective on day of receipt of payment in Federal Funds if payment is received
                    by the Trust's transfer agent before 12:00 noon New York time (see page 7).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment          To provide security of principal, high current income and liquidity (see page 5).
Objectives
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment          A diversified portfolio of U.S. Government securities with short-term maturities (see page 5).
Policy
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment          Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., the Investment Manager of the Trust, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter
Manager             Services Company Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and administrative
                    capacities to 101 investment companies and other portfolios with assets of approximately $105 billion at January
                    31, 1998 (see page 4).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management          Monthly fee at an annual rate of 1/2 of 1% of average daily net assets up to $500 million, scaled down at
Fee                 various levels of net assets to 1/4 of 1% on assets over $3 billion (see page 5).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributor         Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") sells shares of the Trust through Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
                    ("DWR") and other Selected Broker-Dealers pursuant to selected dealer agreements. Other than the reimbursement
                    to the Distributor pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan, the Distributor receives no distribution fees
                    (see page 7).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plan of             The Trust is authorized to reimburse specific expenses incurred in promoting the distribution of the Trust's
Distribution        shares pursuant to a Plan of Distribution with the Distributor pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment
                    Company Act of 1940. Reimbursement may in no event exceed an amount equal to payments at the annual rate of 0.15
                    of 1% of average daily net assets of the Trust (see page 9).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends           Declared and automatically reinvested daily in additional shares; cash payments of dividends available monthly
                    (see page 15).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reports             Individual periodic account statements; annual and semi-annual Trust financial statements.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption          Shares are redeemable at net asset value without any charge (see pages 13-15):
of Shares           - By check
                    - By telephone or wire instructions, with proceeds wired or mailed to a predesignated bank account.
                    - By mail
                    - Via an automatic redemption procedure
                    A shareholder's account is subject to possible involuntary redemption if its value falls below $500 (see page
                    14).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risks               The Trust invests principally in high quality, short-term fixed income securities issued or guaranteed as to
                    principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, which are subject to minimal
                    risk of loss of income and principal. However, the investor is directed to the discussions concerning
                    "repurchase agreements," "reverse repurchase agreements" and "when-issued and delayed delivery securities" on
                    page 6 of the Prospectus and on pages 11 and 12 of the Statement of Additional Information concerning any risks
                    associated with such portfolio securities and management techniques.


 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
  THE ABOVE IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING
         ELSEWHERE IN THE PROSPECTUS AND IN THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
                                  INFORMATION.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>

SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

    The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder of
the Trust will incur. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the
fiscal year ended January 31, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                            <C>
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases..................................     None
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends.......................     None
Deferred Sales Charge......................................................     None
Redemption Fees............................................................     None
Exchange Fee...............................................................     None

<CAPTION>

                                                                             
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                             <C>  
Management Fees............................................................      0.46%
12b-1 Fees*................................................................      0.10%
Other Expenses.............................................................      0.46%
Total Fund Operating Expenses..............................................      1.02%
</TABLE>

 
- ------------
* THE 12b-1 FEE IS CHARACTERIZED AS A SERVICE FEE WITHIN THE MEANING OF NATIONAL
  ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. ("NASD") GUIDELINES (SEE "PURCHASE OF
  TRUST SHARES").
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

EXAMPLE                                                                   1 Year       3 Years      5 Years     10 Years
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                     <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming
 (1) 5% annual return and (2) redemption at the end of each time
 period:..............................................................   $      10    $      32    $      56    $     124

</TABLE>

 
    THE ABOVE EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR
FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES OF THE TRUST MAY BE GREATER OR
LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN.
 
    The purpose of this table is to assist the investor in understanding the
various costs and expenses that an investor in the Trust will bear directly or
indirectly. For a more complete description of these costs and expenses, see
"The Trust and its Management" and "Purchase of Trust Shares" in this
Prospectus.


 
                                       3

<PAGE>


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP,
independent accountants. The financial highlights should be read in conjunction
with the financial statements, the notes thereto and the unqualified report of
independent accountants which are contained in this Prospectus commencing on
page 18.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                 FOR THE YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31,
                               --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 1998      1997      1996      1995      1994      1993      1992      1991      1990      1989
                               --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------
<S>                           <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING
 PERFORMANCE:
Net asset value, beginning of
 period....................... $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00
                               --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------
Net investment income.........    0.046     0.043     0.049     0.034     0.023     0.029     0.050     0.070     0.082     0.068
Less dividends from net
 investment income............   (0.046)   (0.043)   (0.049)   (0.034)   (0.023)   (0.029)   (0.050)   (0.070)   (0.082)   (0.068)
                               --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------  --------
Net asset value, end of
 period....................... $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00  $   1.00
                               ========  ========  ========  ========  ========  ========  ========  ========  ========  ========
TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN+......    4.67%     4.41%     5.00%     3.47%     2.28%     2.89%     5.14%     7.20%     8.59%     7.02%
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Expenses......................    1.02%     1.11%     1.09%     1.08%     1.00%     0.93%     0.89%     0.99%     0.83%     0.87%
Net investment income.........    4.53%     4.29%     4.86%     3.38%     2.23%     2.87%     5.02%     6.97%     8.19%     6.77%
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period, in
 millions.....................     $891      $927      $903      $809      $818    $1,027    $1,115    $1,217      $873      $661

</TABLE>
 
- ------------
+    Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the
     period.


 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 
THE TRUST AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust (the "Trust") is an open-end
diversified management investment company which was organized under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a business trust on November 18, 1981.
 

    Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital" or the "Investment Manager"),
whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, is the
Trust's Investment Manager. The Investment Manager, which was incorporated in
July, 1992, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter,
Discover & Co., a preeminent global financial services firm that maintains
leading market positions in each of its three primary businesses--securities,
asset management and credit services.

 

    InterCapital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company
Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and
administrative capacities to a total of 101 investment companies, 29 of which
are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with combined total assets of
approximately $101 billion at January 31, 1998. The Investment Manager also
manages portfolios of pension plans, other institutions and individuals which
aggregated approximately $4 billion at such date.

 
    The Trust has retained the Investment Manager to provide administrative
services, manage its business affairs and manage the investment of the Trust's
assets, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities. InterCapital has retained Dean Witter Services Company Inc. to
perform the aforementioned administrative services for the Trust. The Trust's
Trustees review the various services provided by or under the direction of the
Investment Manager to ensure that the
 
                                       4

<PAGE>


Trust's general investment policies and programs are being properly carried out
and that administrative services are being provided to the Trust in a
satisfactory manner.
 

    As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Trust
and expenses of the Trust assumed by the Investment Manager, the Trust pays the
Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily at an annual rate of
0.50% of the daily net assets of the Trust up to $500 million, scaled down at
various asset levels to 0.25% on assets over $3 billion. For the fiscal year
ended January 31, 1998, the Trust accrued total compensation to the Investment
Manager amounting to 0.46% of the Trust's average daily net assets and the
Trust's total expenses amounted to 1.02% of the Trust's average daily net
assets.

 
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    The investment objectives of the Trust are security of principal, high
current income and liquidity.
 
    The Trust seeks to achieve its objectives by investing in U.S. Government
securities, including a variety of securities which are issued or guaranteed, as
to principal and interest, by the United States Treasury, by various agencies of
the United States Government, and by various instrumentalities which have been
established or sponsored by the United States Government, and in certain
interests in the foregoing securities. Except for U.S. Treasury securities,
these obligations, even those which are guaranteed by Federal agencies or
instrumentalities, may or may not be backed by the "full faith and credit" of
the United States. In the case of securities not backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States, they may be backed, in part, by a line of credit
with the U.S. Treasury (such as the Federal National Mortgage Association), or
the Trust must look to the agency issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for
ultimate repayment (such as securities of the Federal Farm Credit System), in
which case the Trust may not be able to assert a claim against the United States
itself in the event the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitments.
 
    Treasury securities include Treasury bills, Treasury notes, and Treasury
bonds. Some of the government agencies and instrumentalities which issue or
guarantee securities include the Federal Farm Credit System, the Federal Home
Loan Banks, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Government National
Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Farmers
Home Administration, the Federal Land Banks, the Small Business Administration,
the Student Loan Marketing Association, the Export-Import Bank, the Federal
Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Banks for
Cooperatives.
 
    The Trust may invest in securities issued or guaranteed, as to principal and
interest, by any of the foregoing entities or by any other agency or
instrumentality established or sponsored by the United States Government. Such
investments may take the form of participation interests in, and may be
evidenced by deposit or safekeeping receipts for, any of the foregoing.
Participation interests are pro rata interests in U.S. Government securities
such as interests in pools of mortgages sold by the Government National Mortgage
Association; instruments evidencing deposit or safekeeping are documentary
receipts for such original securities held in custody by others.
 
    The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is the administrative authority
over the Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance Fund, which
are the agencies of the U.S. Government which insure (including both principal
and interest) the deposits of certain banks and savings and loan associations up
to $100,000 per deposit. Current federal regulations also permit such
institutions to issue insured negotiable certificates of deposit ("CDs") in
principal amounts of $100,000 or more
 
                                       5
<PAGE>


without regard to the interest rate ceilings on other deposits. To remain fully
insured as to principal, these investments must currently be limited to $100,000
per bank or savings and loan association. The interest on such investments is
not insured. The Trust may invest in such CDs of banks and savings and loan
institutions limited to the insured amount of principal ($100,000) in each case
and limited with regard to all such CDs and all illiquid assets, in the
aggregate, to 10% of the Trust's total assets.
 
    The Trust intends normally to hold its portfolio securities to maturity.
Historically, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its
agencies and instrumentalities have involved minimal risk of loss of principal
or interest, if held to maturity.
 
    The investment objectives and policies stated above may not be changed
without shareholder approval. There is no assurance that the Trust's objectives
will be achieved.
 
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
 

    REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.  When cash may be available for only a few days, it
may be invested by the Trust in repurchase agreements until such time as it may
otherwise be invested or used for payments of obligations of the Trust. A
repurchase agreement may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Trust
which typically involves the acquisition by the Trust of government securities
from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan
association or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Trust will sell
back to the institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the
underlying security ("collateral") at a specified price and at a fixed time in
the future. The Trust will accrue interest from the institution until the time
when the repurchase is to occur. Although such date is deemed by the Trust to be
the maturity date of a repurchase agreement, the maturities of securities
subject to repurchase agreements are not subject to any limits and may exceed
thirteen months. While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not
associated with direct investments in U.S. Government securities, the Trust
follows procedures designed to minimize such risks. These procedures include
effecting repurchase transactions only with large, well capitalized and well
established financial institutions and specifying the required value of the
collateral underlying the agreement.

 
    REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.  The Trust may also use reverse repurchase
agreements as part of its investment strategy. Reverse repurchase agreements
involve sales by the Trust of portfolio assets concurrently with an agreement by
the Trust to repurchase the same assets at a later date at a fixed price.
 
    WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES. The Trust may purchase
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis; i.e., delivery and
payment can take place a month or more after the date of the transaction. These
securities are subject to market fluctuation and no interest accrues to the
purchaser during this period. At the time the Trust makes the commitment to
purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, it will record
the transaction and thereafter reflect the value, each day, of such security in
determining its net asset value. The Trust will not purchase securities on a
when-issued or delayed delivery basis if, as a result, more than 15% of the
Trust's net assets would be so invested.
 
    The Trust will generally not seek profits through short-term trading,
although it may dispose of any portfolio security prior to maturity if, on the
basis of a revised evaluation or other circumstance or consideration, the
Investment Manager deems such disposition advisable.
 
    The Trust will attempt to balance its objectives of security of principal,
high current income and liquidity by investing in securities of varying
maturities and risks. The Trust will not, however, invest in securities with an
effective maturity of more than thirteen months from the date of purchase (see
"Purchase of Trust Shares--Determination of Net Asset Value"). The amounts
invested in obligations of various maturities of thirteen months or less will
depend on management's evaluation of the risks
 
                                       6


<PAGE>

involved. Longer-term U.S. Government issues, while generally paying higher
interest rates, are subject to greater fluctuations in value resulting from
general changes in interest rates than shorter-term issues. Thus, when rates on
new securities increase, the value of outstanding securities may decline, and
vice versa. Such changes may also occur, to a lesser degree, with short-term
issues. These changes, if realized, may cause fluctuations in the amount of
daily dividends and, in extreme cases, could cause the net asset value per share
to decline (see "Purchase of Trust Shares--Determination of Net Asset Value").
In the event of unusually large redemption demands, such securities may have to
be sold at a loss prior to maturity, or the Trust might have to borrow money and
incur interest expenses. Either occurrence would adversely impact upon the
amount of daily dividend and could result in a decline in daily net asset value
per share or the redemption by the Trust of shares held in a shareholder's
account. The Trust will attempt to minimize these risks by investing in
relatively longer-term securities when it appears to management that yields on
such securities are not likely to increase substantially during the period of
expected holding, and then only in securities which are readily marketable.
However, there can be no assurance that the Trust will be successful in
achieving this objective.
 

    Notwithstanding any other investment policy or restriction, the Trust may
seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing all or substantially all
of its assets in another investment company having substantially the same
investment objectives and policies as the Trust.

 

    BROKERAGE ALLOCATION.  Brokerage commissions are not normally charged on the
purchase or sale of money market instruments such as U.S. Government
obligations, but such transactions may involve transaction costs in the form of
spreads between bid and asked prices. Pursuant to an order of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Trust may effect principal transactions in certain
money market instruments with Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer
affiliate of InterCapital. In addition, the Trust may incur brokerage
commissions on transactions conducted through DWR, Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated and other broker-dealer affiliates of InterCapital.

 
PURCHASE OF TRUST SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

    The Trust offers its shares for sale to the public on a continuous basis,
without a sales charge. Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Trust
and Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), shares of the Trust are
distributed by the Distributor and offered by DWR and other dealers who have
entered into selected dealer agreements with the Distributor ("Selected
Broker-Dealers"). The principal executive office of the Distributor is located
at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. The offering price of the
shares will be at their net asset value next determined (see "Determination of
Net Asset Value" below) after receipt of a purchase order and acceptance by the
Trust's transfer agent, Dean Witter Trust FSB (the "Transfer Agent"), in proper
form and accompanied by payment in Federal Funds (i.e., monies of member banks
within the Federal Reserve System held on deposit at a Federal Reserve Bank)
available to the Trust for investment. Shares commence earning income on the day
following the date of purchase.

 

    To initiate purchase by mail or wire, a completed Investment Application
(contained in the Prospectus) must be sent to the Transfer Agent at P.O. Box
1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303. Checks should be made payable to Dean Witter U.S.
Government Money Market Trust and sent to the Transfer Agent at the above
address. Purchases by wire must be preceded by a call to the Transfer Agent
advising it of the purchase (see Investment Application or the front cover of
this Prospectus for the telephone number) and must be wired to The Bank of New
York for credit to the Account of Dean Witter Trust FSB, Harborside Financial
Center, Plaza Two,

 
                                       7

<PAGE>


Jersey City, NJ, Account No. 8900188413. Wire purchase instructions must include
the name of the Trust and the shareholder's account number. Purchases made by
check are normally effective within two business days for checks drawn on
Federal Reserve System member banks, and longer for most other checks. Wire
purchases received by the Transfer Agent prior to 12:00 noon, New York time, on
any business day are normally effective that day and wire purchases received
after 12:00 noon, New York time, are normally effective the next business day.
Initial investments by mail or wire must be at least $1,000. The minimum initial
purchase in the case of an "Education IRA" is $500, if the Distributor has
reason to believe that additional investments will increase the investment in
the account to $1,000 within three years. Subsequent investments must be $50 or
more and may be made through the Transfer Agent. In the case of investments
pursuant to (i) Systematic Payroll Deduction Plans (including Individual
Retirement Plans), (ii) the InterCapital mutual fund asset allocation program
and (iii) fee-based programs approved by the Distributor, pursuant to which
participants pay an asset based fee for services in the nature of investment
advisory or administrative services, the Trust, in its discretion, may accept
investments without regard to any minimum amounts which would otherwise be
required, provided, in the case of Systematic Payroll Deduction Plans, that the
Distributor has reason to believe that additional investments will increase the
investment in all accounts under such Plans to at least $1,000. The Trust will
waive the minimum initial investment for the automatic reinvestment of
distributions from certain Unit Investment Trusts. The Trust and the Distributor
reserve the right to reject any purchase order.

 
    Sales personnel of a Selected Broker-Dealer are compensated for shares of
the Trust sold by them by the Distributor or any of its affiliates and/or the
Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition, some sales personnel of the Selected
Broker-Dealer will receive various types of non-cash compensation as special
sales incentives, including trips, educational and/or business seminars and
merchandise.
 
    Orders for the purchase of Trust shares placed by customers through DWR or
other Selected Broker-Dealers with payment in clearing house funds will be
transmitted to the Trust with payment in Federal Funds on the business day
following the day the order is placed by the customer with DWR or another
Selected Broker-Dealer. Investors desiring same day effectiveness should wire
Federal Funds directly to the Transfer Agent. An order procedure exists pursuant
to which customers of DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers can, upon request:
(a) have the proceeds from the sale of listed securities invested in shares of
the Trust on the day following the day the customer receives such proceeds in
his or her DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer brokerage account; and (b) pay
for the purchase of certain listed securities by automatic liquidation of Trust
shares owned by the customer. In addition, there is an automatic purchase
procedure whereby consenting DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer customers who
are shareholders of the Trust will have free cash credit balances in their DWR
or other Selected Broker-Dealer brokerage accounts as of the close of business
(4:00 p.m., New York time) on the last business day of each week (where such
balances do not exceed $5,000) automatically invested in shares of the Trust the
next business day. Investors with free cash credit balances (i.e., immediately
available funds) in brokerage accounts at DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealers
will not have any of such funds invested in the Trust until the business day
after the customer places an order with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer to
purchase shares of the Trust and will not receive the daily dividend which would
have been received had such funds been invested in the Trust on the day the
order was placed with DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer. Accordingly, DWR or
other Selected Broker-Dealers may have the use of such free credit balances
during such period.
 
                                       8

<PAGE>

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 

    In accordance with a Plan of Distribution between the Trust and the
Distributor, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, certain services and
activities in connection with the distribution of the Trust's shares are
reimbursable expenses. The principal activities and services which may be
provided by the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates and other Selected
Broker-Dealers under the Plan include: (1) compensation to, and expenses of,
DWR's and other Selected Broker-Dealers' account executives and other employees,
including overhead and telephone expenses; (2) sales incentives and bonuses to
sales representatives and marketing personnel in connection with promoting sales
of the Trust's shares; (3) expenses incurred in connection with promoting sales
of the Trust's shares; (4) preparing and distributing sales literature; and (5)
providing advertising and promotional activities, including direct mail
solicitation and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other media
advertisements. Reimbursements for these services may be made in monthly
payments by the Trust, which in no event exceed an amount equal to a payment at
the annual rate of 0.15 of 1% of the Trust's average daily net assets. For its
fiscal year ended January 31, 1998, the fee paid was accrued at the annual rate
of 0.10 of 1% of the Trust's average daily net assets. Expenses incurred
pursuant to the Plan in any fiscal year will not be reimbursed by the Trust
through payments accrued in any subsequent fiscal year.

 
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
 
    The net asset value per share of the Trust is determined as of 4:00 p.m.,
New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes prior to 4:00
p.m., at such earlier time), on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is
open by taking the value of all assets of the Trust, subtracting its liabilities
and dividing the result by the number of shares outstanding. The net asset value
per share will not be determined on Good Friday and on such other federal and
non-federal holidays as are observed by the New York Stock Exchange.
 
    The Trust utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio
securities, which method involves valuing a security at its cost adjusted by a
constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the
impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument. The
purpose of this method of calculation is to facilitate the maintenance of a
constant net asset value per share of $1.00. However, there is no assurance that
the $1.00 net asset value will be maintained.
 
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN.  A systematic withdrawal plan is available for
shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Trust having a minimum value of
at least $5,000. The plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June,
September, December) checks in any dollar amount, not less than $25, or in any
whole percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. The shares will
be redeemed at their net asset value, determined at the shareholder's option, on
the tenth or twenty-fifth day (or next business day) of the relevant month or
quarter and normally a check for the proceeds will be mailed by the Transfer
Agent, or amounts credited to a shareholder's DWR or other Selected Broker-
Dealer brokerage account, within five days after the date of redemption. A
shareholder wishing to make this election should do so on the Investment
Application. The withdrawal plan may be terminated at any time by the Trust.
 
    TARGETED DIVIDENDS.  In states where it is legally permissible, shareholders
may elect to have all shares of the Trust earned as a result of dividends paid
in any given month redeemed as of the end of the month and invested in shares of
any other designated open-end investment company for which InterCapital serves
as investment manager (collectively, with the Trust, the "Dean Witter Funds"),
other than Dean Witter U.S. Government
 
                                       9

<PAGE>



Money Market Trust, at the net asset value per share of the selected Dean Witter
Fund determined as of the last business day of the month, without the imposition
of any applicable front-end sales charge or without the imposition of any
applicable contingent deferred sales charge upon ultimate redemption. All such
shares invested will begin to earn dividends, if any, in the selected Dean
Witter Fund on the first business day of the succeeding month. Shareholders of
the Trust must be shareholders of the selected Class of the Dean Witter Fund
targeted to receive investments from dividends at the time they enter the
Targeted Dividends program. Investors should review the prospectus of the
targeted Dean Witter Fund before entering the program.

 
    EASYINVEST (Service Mark).  Shareholders may subscribe to EasyInvest, an 
automatic purchase plan which provides for any amount from $100 to $5,000 to be
transferred automatically from a checking or savings account, on a semi-monthly,
monthly or quarterly basis, to the Transfer Agent for investment in shares of
the Trust. Shares purchased through EasyInvest will be added to the
shareholder's existing account at the net asset value calculated the same
business day the transfer of funds is effected.
 
    Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about any of the
above services.
 
    TAX SHELTERED RETIREMENT PLANS.  Retirement plans are available for use by
the self-employed, Individual Retirement Accounts and Custodial Accounts under
Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code. Adoption of such plans should be
on advice of legal counsel or tax adviser.
 
    For further information regarding plan administration, custodial fees and
other details, investors should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-
Dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
 
    SYSTEMATIC PAYROLL DEDUCTION PLAN.  There is also available to employers a
Systematic Payroll Deduction Plan by which their employees may invest in the
Trust. For further information, investors should contact their DWR or other
Selected Broker-Dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent.
 

    EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE.  An "Exchange Privilege", that is, the privilege of
exchanging shares of certain Dean Witter Funds for shares of the Trust, exists
whereby shares of Dean Witter Funds that are multiple class funds ("Dean Witter
Multi-Class Funds"), shares of Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
and Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust, which are Dean Witter Funds sold with a
front-end sales charge ("FSC Funds"), and shares of Dean Witter Global
Short-Term Income Fund Inc. ("Global Short-Term"), which is a Dean Witter Fund
offered with a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC"), may be exchanged for
shares of the Trust, Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free
Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust and Dean
Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust (which five funds are called "money
market funds") and for shares of Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust,
Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund and
Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust (which nine funds, including
the Trust, are referred to herein as the "Exchange Funds"). Shares of the
Exchange Funds received in an exchange for shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class
Fund may be redeemed and exchanged only for shares of the corresponding Class of
a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or for shares of one of the other Exchange Funds,
provided that shares of the Exchange Funds received in an exchange for Class A
shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund may also be redeemed and exchanged for
shares of a FSC Fund, and shares of the Exchange Funds received in an exchange
for Class B shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund may also be redeemed and
exchanged for shares of Global Short-Term. In addition, shares of the Exchange
Funds received in an exchange for shares of a FSC

 
                                       10

<PAGE>



Fund may be redeemed and exchanged for Class A shares of a Dean Witter
Multi-Class Fund or for shares of one of the other Exchange Funds, and shares of
the Exchange Funds received in an exchange for shares of Global Short-Term may
be redeemed and exchanged for Class B shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund
or for shares of one of the other Exchange Funds.

 

    When exchanging into a money market fund, shares of the Multi-Class Fund,
the FSC Fund, Global Short-Term or the Exchange Fund are redeemed at their next
calculated net asset value and exchanged for shares of the money market fund at
their net asset value determined the following business day. An exchange to an
Exchange Fund that is not a money market fund is on the basis of the next
calculated net asset value per share of each fund after the exchange order is
received. Ultimately, any applicable CDSC will have to be paid upon redemption
of shares originally purchased from Global Short-Term or a Class of a Dean
Witter Multi-Class Fund that imposes a CDSC. (If shares of an Exchange Fund
received in exchange for shares originally purchased from Global Short-Term or
Class B of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund are exchanged for shares of Global
Short-Term or another Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund having a different CDSC
schedule from that of Global Short-Term or the Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund from
which the Exchange Fund shares were acquired, the shares will be subject to the
higher CDSC schedule.) During the period of time the shares originally purchased
from Global Short-Term or from a Class of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund that
imposes a CDSC remain in the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the
month in which the Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period (for
the purpose of determining the rate of the CDSC) is frozen. If those shares are
subsequently reexchanged for shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or Global
Short-Term, the holding period previously frozen when the first exchange was
made resumes on the last day of the month in which shares of a Dean Witter
Multi-Class Fund or shares of Global Short-Term are reacquired. Thus, the CDSC
is based upon the time (calculated as described above) the shareholder was
invested in shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or in shares of Global
Short-Term. In the case of exchanges of Class A shares of a Dean Witter Multi-
Class Fund that are subject to a CDSC, the holding period also includes the time
(calculated as described above) the shareholder was invested in shares of a FSC
Fund. In the case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund on or after April
23, 1990, upon a redemption of shares which results in a CDSC being imposed, a
credit (not to exceed the amount of the CDSC) will be given in an amount equal
to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees, if any, incurred on or after that
date which are attributable to those shares (see "Purchase of Fund (Trust)
Shares--Plan of Distribution" in the respective Exchange Fund Prospectus for a
description of Exchange Fund distribution fees). Exchanges may be made after the
shares of the fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange or dividend
reinvestment) have been held for thirty days. There is no waiting period for
exchanges of shares acquired by exchanges or dividend reinvestment.

 
    Exchange Privilege accounts may also be maintained for shareholders of the
money market funds who acquired their shares in exchange for shares of various
TCW/DW Funds, a group of funds distributed by the Distributor for which TCW
Funds Management, Inc. serves as Adviser, under the terms and conditions
described in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of each
TCW/DW Fund.
 

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING EXCHANGES. Purchases and exchanges should
be made for investment purposes only. A pattern of frequent exchanges may be
deemed by the Investment Manager to be abusive and contrary to the best
interests of the Trust and its other shareholders and, at the Investment
Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Trust's refusal to accept additional
purchases and/or exchanges from the investor. Although the

 
                                       11

<PAGE>


Trust does not have any specific definition of what constitutes a pattern of
frequent exchanges, and will consider all relevant factors in determining
whether a particular situation is abusive and contrary to the best interests of
the Trust and its other shareholders, investors should be aware that the Trust
and each of the other Funds may in their discretion limit or otherwise restrict
the number of times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any investor.
Any such restriction will be made by the Trust on a prospective basis only, upon
notice to the shareholder not later than ten days following such shareholder's
most recent exchange.
 

    The Exchange Privilege may be terminated or revised at any time by the Trust
and/or any of such Funds for which shares of the Trust may be exchanged, upon
such notice as may be required by applicable regulatory agencies (presently
sixty days' prior written notice for termination or material revision), provided
that six months' prior written notice of termination will be given to the
shareholders who hold shares of Exchange Funds or TCW/DW North American 
Government Income Trust pursuant to the Exchange Privilege, and provided 
further that the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or materially revised 
without notice under certain unusual circumstances. Shareholders maintaining 
margin accounts with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer are referred to 
their account executive regarding restrictions on exchange of shares of the 
Trust pledged in their margin account.

 

    The current prospectus for each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain one and read it carefully before
investing. Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement of each
Class of shares and any other conditions imposed by each fund. An exchange will
be treated for federal income tax purposes the same as a repurchase or
redemption of shares on which the shareholder has realized a capital gain or
loss. However, the ability to deduct capital losses on an exchange may be
limited in situations where there is an exchange of shares within ninety days
after the shares are purchased. The Exchange Privilege is only available in
states where an exchange may legally be made.

 
    If DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer is the current dealer of record and
its account numbers are part of the account information, shareholders may
initiate an exchange of shares of the Trust for shares of any of the above Funds
pursuant to this Exchange Privilege by contacting their account executive (no
Exchange Privilege Authorization Form is required). Other shareholders (and
those who are clients of DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer but who wish to
make exchanges directly by telephoning the Transfer Agent) must complete and
forward to the Transfer Agent an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form, copies
of which may be obtained from the Trust, to initiate an exchange. If the
Authorization Form is used, exchanges may be made in writing or by contacting
the Transfer Agent at (800) 869-NEWS (toll-free).
 
    The Trust will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange
instructions communicated over the telephone are genuine. Such procedures may
include requiring various forms of personal identification such as name, mailing
address, social security or other tax identification number and DWR or other
Selected Broker-Dealer account number (if any). Telephone instructions may also
be recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the Trust may be liable for
any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.
 
    Telephone exchange instructions will be accepted if received by the Transfer
Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make an exchange who has
previously filed an Exchange Privilege form and who is unable to reach the Trust
by telephone should contact his or her DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive, if appropriate, or make a written exchange request.
Shareholders are advised that during periods of drastic economic or market
changes it is possible that the telephone exchange procedures may be difficult
to implement, although
 
                                       12

<PAGE>


this has not been the experience of the Dean Witter Funds in the past.
 
    Shareholders should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer
account executive or the Transfer Agent for further information about the
Exchange Privilege.
 
REDEMPTION OF TRUST SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    A shareholder may withdraw all or any of his or her investments at any time,
without penalty or charge, by redeeming shares through the Transfer Agent at the
net asset value per share next determined (see "Purchase of Trust
Shares--Determination of Net Asset Value") after the receipt of a redemption
request meeting the applicable requirements as follows (all of which are subject
to the General Redemption Requirements set forth below).
 
1.  BY CHECK
 
    The Transfer Agent will supply blank checks to any shareholder who has
requested them on an Investment Application. The shareholder may make checks
payable to the order of anyone in any amount not less than $500 (checks written
in amounts under $500 will not be honored by the Transfer Agent). Shareholders
must sign checks exactly as their shares are registered. If the account is a
joint account, the check may contain one signature unless the joint owners have
specified on an Investment Application that all owners are required to sign
checks.
 
    Shares will be redeemed at their net asset value next determined (See
"Purchase of Trust Shares-- Determination of Net Asset Value") after receipt by
the Transfer Agent of a check which does not exceed the value of the account.
Payment of the proceeds of a check will normally be made on the next business
day after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the check in proper form. Shares
purchased by check (including a certified or bank cashier's check) are not
normally available to cover redemption checks until fifteen days after receipt
of the check used for investment by the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent will
not honor a check in an amount exceeding the value of the account at the time
the check is presented for payment.
 
2.  BY TELEPHONE OR WIRE INSTRUCTIONS WITH
PAYMENT TO PREDESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT
 
    A shareholder may redeem shares by telephoning or sending wire instructions
to the Transfer Agent. Payment will be made by the Transfer Agent to the
shareholder's bank account at any commercial bank designated by the shareholder
in an Investment Application, by wire if the amount is $1,000 or more and the
shareholder so requests, and otherwise by mail. Normally, the Transfer Agent
will transmit payment the next business day following receipt of a request for
redemption in proper form.
 
    DWR and other participating Selected Broker-Dealers have informed the
Distributor and the Trust that, on behalf of and as agent for their customers
who are shareholders of the Trust, they will transmit to the Trust requests for
redemption of shares owned by their customers. In such cases, the Transfer Agent
will wire proceeds of redemptions to DWR's or another Selected Broker-Dealer's
bank account for credit to the shareholders' accounts the following business
day. DWR and other participating Selected Broker-Dealers have also informed the
Distributor and the Trust that they do not charge for this service.
 
    Redemption instructions must include the shareholder's name and account
number and be wired or called to the Transfer Agent:
    --800-869-NEWS (toll-free)
    --Telex No. 125076
 
                                       13

<PAGE>


3.  BY MAIL
 

    A shareholder may redeem shares by sending a letter to Dean Witter Trust
FSB, P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303, requesting redemption.

 
    Redemption proceeds will be mailed to the shareholder at his or her
registered address or mailed or wired to his or her predesignated bank account,
as requested. Proceeds of redemption may also be sent to some other person, as
requested by the shareholder.
 
GENERAL REDEMPTION REQUIREMENTS
 

    Written requests for redemption must be signed by the registered
shareholder(s). If the proceeds are to be paid to anyone other than the
registered shareholder(s) or sent to any address other than the shareholder's
registered address or predesignated bank account, signatures must be guaranteed
by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the Transfer Agent (shareholders should
contact the Transfer Agent for a determination as to whether a particular
institution is such an eligible guarantor), except in the case of redemption by
check. Additional documentation may be required where shares are held by a
corporation, partnership, trustee or executor. With regard to shares of the
Trust acquired pursuant to the Exchange Privilege, any applicable CDSC will be
imposed upon the redemption of such shares (see "Purchase of Trust
Shares--Exchange Privilege").

 

    All requests for redemption should be sent to Dean Witter Trust FSB, P.O.
Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303.

 
    Generally, the Trust will attempt to make payment for all redemptions within
one business day, but in no event later than seven days after receipt of such
redemption request in proper form. However, if the shares being redeemed were
purchased by check (including a certified or bank cashier's check), payment may
be delayed for the minimum time needed to verify that the check used for
investment has been honored (not more than fifteen days from the time of
investment of the check by the Transfer Agent). In addition, the Trust may
postpone redemptions at certain times when normal trading is not taking place on
the New York Stock Exchange.
 
    The Trust reserves the right, on sixty days' notice, to redeem at net asset
value the shares of any shareholder (other than shares held in an Individual
Retirement Account or custodial account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code) whose shares due to redemptions by the shareholder have a value of
less than $500, or such lesser amount as may be fixed by the Board of Trustees.
 
AUTOMATIC REDEMPTION PROCEDURE
 
    The Distributor has instituted an automatic redemption procedure which it
may utilize to satisfy amounts due by a shareholder maintaining a brokerage
account with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer as a result of purchases of
securities or other transactions in the shareholder's brokerage account. Under
this procedure, if the shareholder elects to participate by so notifying DWR or
another Selected Broker-Dealer, the shareholder's DWR or other Selected
Broker-Dealer brokerage account will be scanned each business day prior to the
close of business (4:00 p.m., New York time). After application of any cash
balances in the account, a sufficient number of Trust shares may be redeemed at
the close of business to satisfy any amounts for which the shareholder is
obligated to make payment to DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer. Redemptions
will be effected on the business day preceding the date the shareholder is
obligated to make such payment, and DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer will
receive the redemption proceeds on the day following the redemption date.
Shareholders will receive all dividends declared and reinvested through the date
of redemption.
 

EASYINVEST (Service Mark)--AUTOMATIC REDEMPTION

 

    Shareholders may invest in shares of certain other Dean Witter Funds by
subscribing to EasyInvest, an automatic purchase plan which provides for the
automatic investment of any amount from $100 to $5,000 in shares of the
specified fund.

 
                                       14

<PAGE>


Under EasyInvest, a shareholder may direct that a sufficient number of shares of
the Trust be automatically redeemed and the proceeds transferred automatically
to the Dean Witter Funds' Transfer Agent, on a semi-monthly, monthly or
quarterly basis, for investment in shares of the specified fund. Redemptions
will be effected on the business day preceding the investment date and the
Transfer Agent will receive the proceeds for investment on the day following the
redemption date.

 
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.  The Trust declares dividends, payable on each
day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business, of all of its daily net
investment income (and net short-term capital gains, if any) to shareholders of
record as of the close of business the preceding business day. The amount of
dividend may fluctuate from day to day and may be omitted on some days if net
realized losses on portfolio securities exceed the Trust's net investment
income. Dividends are automatically reinvested daily in additional full and
fractional shares of the Trust (rounded to the last 1/100 of a share) at the net
asset value per share at the close of business on that day. Any dividends
declared in the last quarter of any calendar year which are paid in the
following year prior to February 1 will be deemed received by the shareholder in
the prior calendar year.
 
    Shareholders may instruct the Transfer Agent (in writing) to have their
dividends paid out monthly in cash. For such shareholders, the shares reinvested
and credited to their account during the month will be redeemed as of the close
of business on the monthly payment date (which will be no later than the last
business day of the month) and the proceeds will be paid to them by check.
Processing of dividend checks begins immediately following the monthly payment
date. Shareholders who have requested to receive dividends in cash will normally
receive their monthly dividend check during the first ten days of the following
month.
 
    TAXES.  Because the Trust intends to distribute substantially all of its net
investment income and net capital gains, if any, to shareholders and intends to
otherwise comply with all of the provisions of Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code to qualify as a regulated investment company, it is not expected
that the Trust will be required to pay any federal income tax.
 
    Distributions of net investment income and realized net short-term capital
gains, if any, are taxable to shareholders subject to tax on their income as
ordinary dividend income, whether such distributions are taken in cash or
reinvested in additional shares.
 
    The Trust advises its shareholders annually as to the federal income tax
status of distributions paid during each calendar year. To avoid being subject
to a 31% federal backup withholding tax on taxable dividends, capital gains
distributions and proceeds of redemptions, shareholders' taxpayer identification
numbers must be furnished and certified as to accuracy.
 
    Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding specific
questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
 
CURRENT AND EFFECTIVE YIELD
 
    From time to time the Trust advertises its "yield" and "effective yield."
Both yield figures are based on historical earnings and are not intended to
indicate future performance. The "yield" of the Trust refers to the income
generated by an investment in the Trust over a given period (which period will
be stated in the advertisement). This income is then "annualized." That is, the
amount of income generated by investment during that seven-day period is assumed
to be generated each seven-day period within a 365 day period and is shown as a
percentage of investment. The "effective yield" for a seven-day period is
calculated similarly but, when annualized, the income earned by an investment in
the Trust is assumed to be reinvested each week within
 
                                       15

<PAGE>

a 365 day period. The "effective yield" will be slightly higher than the "yield"
because of the compounding effect of this assumed reinvestment. The Trust's
yield for the seven days ended January 31, 1998 was 4.86%. The effective annual
yield on 4.86% is 4.98%, assuming daily compounding. The Trust may also
advertise the growth of hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and
$100,000 in shares of the Trust.

 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    VOTING RIGHTS.  All shares of beneficial interest of the Trust are of $0.01
par value and are equal as to earnings, assets and voting privileges.
 
    The Trust is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and, in
ordinary circumstances, the Trust does not intend to hold such meetings. The
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote as may be required by the Act or the Declaration of Trust. Under certain
circumstances, the Trustees may be removed by action of the Trustees or by the
shareholders.
 
    Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the
Trust. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust, requires that notice
of such disclaimer be given in each instrument entered into or executed by the
Trust and provides for indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of the
Trust's property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations
of the Trust. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on
account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Trust
itself would be unable to meet its obligations. Given the above limitations on
shareholder personal liability and the nature of the Trust's assets and
operations, the possibility of the Trust being unable to meet its obligations is
remote and, in the opinion of Massachusetts counsel to the Trust, the risk to
Trust shareholders of personal liability is remote.
 
    CODE OF ETHICS.  Directors, officers and employees of InterCapital, Dean
Witter Services Company Inc. and the Distributor are subject to a strict Code of
Ethics adopted by those companies. The Code of Ethics is intended to ensure that
the interests of shareholders and other clients are placed ahead of any personal
interest, that no undue personal benefit is obtained from a person's employment
activities and that actual and potential conflicts of interest are avoided. To
achieve these goals and comply with regulatory requirements, the Code of Ethics
requires, among other things, that personal securities transactions by employees
of the companies be subject to an advance clearance process to monitor that no
Dean Witter Fund is engaged at the same time in a purchase or sale of the same
security. The Code of Ethics bans the purchase of securities in an initial
public offering, and also prohibits engaging in futures and options transactions
and profiting on short-term trading (that is, a purchase within sixty days of a
sale or a sale within sixty days of a purchase) of a security. In addition,
investment personnel may not purchase or sell a security for their personal
account within thirty days before or after any transaction in any Dean Witter
Fund managed by them. Any violations of the Code of Ethics are subject to
sanctions, including reprimand, demotion or suspension or termination of
employment. The Code of Ethics comports with regulatory requirements and the
recommendations in the 1994 report by the Investment Company Institute Advisory
Group on Personal Investing.
 

    MASTER/FEEDER CONVERSION.  The Trust reserves the right to seek to achieve
its investment objectives by investing all of its investable assets in a
diversified, open-end management investment company having the same investment
objectives and policies and substantially the same investment restrictions as
those applicable to the Trust.

 
                                       16
<PAGE>


    YEAR 2000.  The investment management services provided to the Trust by the
Investment Manager and the services provided to shareholders by the Distributor
and the Transfer Agent depend on the smooth functioning of their computer
systems. Many computer software systems in use today cannot recognize the year
2000, but revert to 1900 or some other date, due to the manner in which dates
were encoded and calculated. That failure could have a negative impact on the
handling of securities trades, pricing and account services. The Investment
Manager, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent have been actively working on
necessary changes to their own computer systems to prepare for the year 2000 and
expect that their systems will be adapted before that date, but there can be no
assurance that they will be successful, or that interaction with other
non-complying computer systems will not impair their services at that time.

 
    SHAREHOLDER INQUIRIES.  All inquiries regarding the Trust should be directed
to the Trust, the Distributor or the Transfer Agent at one of the telephone
numbers or at the address set forth on the front cover of this Prospectus.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                        ANNUALIZED
PRINCIPAL                                  DESCRIPTION                                    YIELD
AMOUNT IN                                      AND                                      ON DATE OF
THOUSANDS                                 MATURITY DATE                                  PURCHASE      VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>       <C>                                                                          <C>         <C>
           U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (99.5%)
$ 84,310   Federal Farm Credit Bank 02/23/98-11/23/98.................................  5.41-5.69%  $ 82,951,474
 375,997   Federal Home Loan Banks 02/04/98-07/29/98..................................  5.41-5.68    373,010,677
 173,558   Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 02/02/98-06/05/98.........................  5.37-5.73    172,209,277
 230,638   Federal National Mortgage Assoc. 02/05/98-07/06/98.........................  5.41-5.70    228,354,834
  10,000   Student Loan Marketing Assoc. 04/27/98.....................................       5.41      9,872,434
  20,000   Tennessee Valley Authority 02/10/98-4/21/98................................  5.40-5.55     19,866,362
                                                                                                    ------------
<CAPTION>
 
<S>       <C>                                                                             <C>       <C>
           TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
           (AMORTIZED COST $886,265,058)..........................................................   886,265,058
                                                                                                    ------------
 
           U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION (1.1%)
  10,000   U.S. Treasury Bill 04/16/98 (AMORTIZED COST $9,891,667)....................       5.32      9,891,667
                                                                                                    ------------
 
           REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (0.3%)
   2,219   The Bank of New York due 02/02/98 (dated 01/30/98; proceeds $2,219,576) (a)
             (IDENTIFIED COST $2,218,582).............................................      5.375      2,218,582
                                                                                                    ------------

 

                                                                                              
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST $898,375,307) (B)........................................................  100.9 %   898,375,307
 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF CASH AND OTHER ASSETS............................................   (0.9)     (7,804,021)
                                                                                            ------  -------------
 
NET ASSETS................................................................................  100.0 % $ 890,571,286
                                                                                            ======  =============

</TABLE>
- ---------------------
 
(a)  Collateralized by $2,199,915 U.S. Treasury Note 6.75% due 05/31/99 valued
     at $2,262,954.
(b)  Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                       18

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
JANUARY 31, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 

                                                                                             
<S>                                                                                            <C>
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at value
  (identified cost $898,375,307)..............................................................  $898,375,307
Cash..........................................................................................        90,001
Receivable for:
    Interest..................................................................................       313,129
    Shares of beneficial interest sold........................................................       272,307
Prepaid expenses and other assets.............................................................       209,299
                                                                                                ------------
 
     TOTAL ASSETS.............................................................................   899,260,043
                                                                                                ------------
 
LIABILITIES:
Payable for:
    Shares of beneficial interest repurchased.................................................     8,176,208
    Investment management fee.................................................................       336,717
    Plan of distribution fee..................................................................        73,353
Accrued expenses and other payables...........................................................       102,479
                                                                                                ------------
 
     TOTAL LIABILITIES........................................................................     8,688,757
                                                                                                ------------
 
     NET ASSETS...............................................................................  $890,571,286
                                                                                                ============
                                                                                     
 
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS:
Paid-in-capital...............................................................................  $890,569,126
Accumulated undistributed net investment income...............................................         2,160
                                                                                                ------------
 
     NET ASSETS...............................................................................  $890,571,286
                                                                                                ============
                                                                                        
 
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE,
  890,569,126 SHARES OUTSTANDING (UNLIMITED SHARES AUTHORIZED OF $.01 PAR VALUE)..............         $1.00
                                                                                                ============
                                                                                         

</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                       19
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
 
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              
NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
<S>                                                                                             <C>
INTEREST INCOME................................................................................  $49,850,300
                                                                                                 -----------
 
EXPENSES
Investment management fee......................................................................    4,108,339
Transfer agent fees and expenses...............................................................    3,708,286
Plan of distribution fee.......................................................................      861,859
Shareholder reports and notices................................................................      188,870
Registration fees..............................................................................      143,594
Professional fees..............................................................................       49,509
Custodian fees.................................................................................       46,399
Trustees' fees and expenses....................................................................       18,193
Other..........................................................................................       15,916
                                                                                                 -----------
 
     TOTAL EXPENSES............................................................................    9,140,965
                                                                                                 -----------
 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME AND NET INCREASE.........................................................  $40,709,335
                                                                                                 ===========
                                                                                       
</TABLE>

 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                       20
<PAGE>


DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
 
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 


                                                                            FOR THE YEAR      FOR THE YEAR
                                                                               ENDED             ENDED
                                                                          JANUARY 31, 1998  JANUARY 31, 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                      <C>               <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
 
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income and net increase..................................  $     40,709,335  $     39,392,462
Dividends from net investment income....................................       (40,709,121)      (39,391,745)
Net increase (decrease) from transactions in shares of beneficial
  interest..............................................................       (36,513,549)       24,364,860
                                                                          ----------------  ----------------
 
     NET INCREASE (DECREASE)............................................       (36,513,335)       24,365,577
 
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period.....................................................       927,084,621       902,719,044
                                                                          ----------------  ----------------
 
     END OF PERIOD
    (INCLUDING UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT INCOME OF $2,160 AND $1,946,
    RESPECTIVELY).......................................................  $    890,571,286  $    927,084,621
                                                                          ================  ================
                                                                

</TABLE>
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                       21

<PAGE>


DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998
 
1. ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust (the "Trust") is registered under
the  Investment Company Act of  1940, as amended (the  "Act"), as a diversified,
open-end management investment  company. The Trust's  investment objectives  are
security  of  principal,  high  current  income  and  liquidity.  The  Trust was
organized as a Massachusetts business trust  on November 18, 1981 and  commenced
operations on February 17, 1982.
 
The  preparation of financial  statements in accordance  with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts  and disclosures. Actual  results could differ  from
those estimates.
 
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
 
A.  VALUATION OF  INVESTMENTS --  Portfolio securities  are valued  at amortized
cost, which approximates market value.
 
B. ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS -- Security transactions are accounted for on  the
trade  date (date  the order  to buy  or sell  is executed).  Realized gains and
losses on security transactions  are determined by  the identified cost  method.
Premiums  are  amortized  and  discounts  are  accreted  over  the  life  of the
respective securities.
 
C. FEDERAL INCOME  TAX STATUS --  It is the  Trust's policy to  comply with  the
requirements  of the  Internal Revenue  Code applicable  to regulated investment
companies and  to distribute  all of  its taxable  income to  its  shareholders.
Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.
 
D.  DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS  TO SHAREHOLDERS --  The Trust records dividends
and distributions as of the close of each business day.
 
2. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
 
Pursuant to an  Investment Management  Agreement with  Dean Witter  InterCapital
Inc.  (the  "Investment  Manager"),  the Trust  pays  the  Investment  Manager a
management fee, accrued  daily and  payable monthly, by  applying the  following
annual  rates to the net assets of the  Trust determined as of the close of each
business day: 0.50% to the  portion of the daily  net assets not exceeding  $500
million;  0.425% to the portion  of the daily net  assets exceeding $500 million
but not exceeding $750 million;  0.375% to the portion  of the daily net  assets
exceeding  $750 million but  not exceeding $1  billion; 0.35% to  the portion of
 
                                       22

<PAGE>


DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
the daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $1.5 billion; 0.325%
to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.5 billion but not  exceeding
$2  billion; 0.30% to the  portion of the daily  net assets exceeding $2 billion
but not exceeding $2.5 billion;  0.275% to the portion  of the daily net  assets
exceeding $2.5 billion but not exceeding $3 billion; and 0.25% to the portion of
the daily net assets exceeding $3 billion.
 
Under  the terms of  the Agreement, the Investment  Manager maintains certain of
the Trust's books and records and  furnishes, at its own expense, office  space,
facilities, equipment, clerical, bookkeeping and certain legal services and pays
the salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Trust who are employees
of  the  Investment  Manager. The  Investment  Manager  also bears  the  cost of
telephone services,  heat, light,  power  and other  utilities provided  to  the
Trust.
 
3. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
Dean   Witter  Distributors  Inc.  (the  "Distributor"),  an  affiliate  of  the
Investment Manager, is the distributor of the Trust's shares and, in  accordance
with  a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan")  pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act,
finances certain expenses in connection therewith.
 
Under the  Plan,  the Distributor  bears  the  expense of  all  promotional  and
distribution related activities on behalf of the Trust, except for expenses that
the   Trustees  determine  to  reimburse,  as  described  below.  The  following
activities and services may be provided by the Distributor, Dean Witter Reynolds
Inc. ("DWR"),  an  affiliate of  the  Investment Manager  and  Distributor,  its
affiliates  and other selected  broker-dealers under the  Plan: (1) compensation
to,  and  expenses  of,   account  executives  of   DWR's  and  other   selected
broker-dealers'  account executives and other  employees, including overhead and
telephone expenses; (2)  sales incentives and  bonuses to sales  representatives
and  to marketing  personnel in connection  with promoting sales  of the Trust's
shares; (3) expenses incurred in connection with promoting sales of the  Trust's
shares;  (4)  preparing and  distributing  sales literature;  and  (5) providing
advertising and promotional activities,  including direct mail solicitation  and
television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other media advertisements.
 
The  Trust is authorized to reimburse  the Distributor for specific expenses the
Distributor incurs  or plans  to  incur in  promoting  the distribution  of  the
Trust's shares. The amount of each monthly reimbursement payment may in no event
exceed  an amount equal to a payment at  the annual rate of 0.15% of the Trust's
 
                                       23

<PAGE>


DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
average daily net assets during the month. Expenses incurred by the  Distributor
pursuant  to the  Plan in any  fiscal year will  not be reimbursed  by the Trust
through payments  accrued in  any subsequent  fiscal year.  For the  year  ended
January 31, 1998, the distribution fee was accrued at the annual rate of 0.10%.
 
4. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
 
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales/maturities of portfolio securities
for   the   year  ended   January  31,   1998  aggregated   $12,228,704,711  and
$12,310,616,114, respectively.
 
Dean Witter Trust FSB, an affiliate  of the Investment Manager and  Distributor,
is the Trust's transfer agent.
 
The  Trust has an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering
all independent  Trustees of  the  Trust who  will  have served  as  independent
Trustees  for at least five years at the time of retirement. Benefits under this
plan are based on years of service  and compensation during the last five  years
of service. Aggregate pension costs for the year ended January 31, 1998 included
in  Trustees'  fees and  expenses  in the  Statement  of Operations  amounted to
$2,891. At  January 31,  1998, the  Trust had  an accrued  pension liability  of
$47,654  which is included  in accrued expenses  in the Statement  of Assets and
Liabilities.
 
5. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
 
Transactions in  shares of  beneficial interest,  at $1.00  per share,  were  as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                     FOR THE
                                                                      YEAR        FOR THE YEAR
                                                                      ENDED          ENDED
                                                                   JANUARY 31,    JANUARY 31,
                                                                      1998            1997
                                                                   -----------   --------------
<S>                                                                <C>            <C>          
Shares sold...................................................   2,013,452,444    1,937,077,890
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends....................      40,560,689       39,246,217
                                                                 -------------    -------------
                                                                 2,054,013,133    1,976,324,107
Shares repurchased............................................  (2,090,526,682)  (1,951,959,247)
                                                                 -------------    -------------
Net increase (decrease).......................................     (36,513,549)      24,364,860
                                                                 =============    =============

</TABLE>

 
6. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
See the "Financial Highlights" table on page 4 of this prospectus.
 
                                       24

<PAGE>


DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TRUSTEES
OF DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST
 

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of operations and of
changes in net assets and the financial highlights (appearing in the "Financial
Highlights" table on page 4 of this Prospectus) present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market
Trust (the "Trust") at January 31, 1998, the results of its operations for the
year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the
period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the ten years in the
period then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as
"financial statements") are the responsibility of the Trust's management; our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted auditing standards which require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at January
31, 1998 by correspondence with the custodian, provide a reasonable basis for
the opinion expressed above.

 
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
FEBRUARY 18, 1998

 
                                       25
<PAGE>

 
  2  3  0 --
 for office use only
 
                                                                  [LOGO]
APPLICATION
 
DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST

Send to: Dean Witter Trust FSB (the "Transfer Agent"), P.O. Box 1040, Jersey
City, NJ 07303
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


<S>           <C>                  
INSTRUCTIONS    For assistance in completing this application, telephone Dean Witter Trust FSB at (800) 869-NEWS (toll-free).
TO REGISTER
SHARES          1.[REMOVE APPLICATION CAREFULLY]
(please print)
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  First Name                                    Last Name
- -As joint
  tenants,
  use line 1 & 2  2.
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  First Name                                    Last Name
                   (Joint tenants with rights of survivorship unless otherwise
                   specified)
                                                                                              ------------------------



             
                                                                                              Social Security Number
- -As custodian
  for a minor,   3.
  use lines 1 &
  3
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Minor's Name
                   Under the________Uniform Gifts to Minors Act                            ---------------------------
                                                                                           Minor's Social Security Number
                   State of Residence of Minor
- -In the name of a
  corporation,   4.
  trust,
  partnership
  or other      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Name of Corporation, Trust (including trustee name(s)) or Other Organization
  institutional
  investors, use
  line 4
                   If Trust, Date of Trust Instrument:____________                          Tax Identification
                                                                                             Number__________
ADDRESS
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   City                       State                       Zip Code

 

                                                                                                                           
TO PURCHASE
SHARES:
Minimum Initial   / / CHECK (enclosed) $__________ (Make Payable to Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust)
Investment:
$1,000            / / WIRE*  On__________          MF*________
                  (Date)                            (Control number, this transaction)

 


                                                                                                                        
                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Name of Bank                                                                        Branch
                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Address
                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Telephone Number
                  * For an initial investment made by wiring funds, obtain a control number by calling: (800) 869-NEWS
                  (toll-free).
                   Your bank should wire to:
                  Bank of New York for credit to account of Dean Witter Trust FSB


 

                                                                                                                        
                  Account Number: 8900188413
                  Re: Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust
                  Account Of:______________________
                  (Investor's Account as Registered at the Transfer Agent)
                  Control or Account Number:______________________
                  (Assigned by Telephone)
                                                         OPTIONAL SERVICES

 

                                         
                  NOTE: If you are a current shareholder of Dean Witter U.S.
                  Government Money Market Trust, please indicate your fund account
                  number here.
                  [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 0 ]  -

 

               
DIVIDENDS         All dividends will be reinvested daily in additional shares, unless the following option is selected:
                  / / Pay income dividends by check at the end of each month.
WRITE YOUR OWN    / / Send an initial supply of checks.
CHECK             FOR JOINT ACCOUNTS:
                  / / CHECK THIS BOX IF ALL OWNERS ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN CHECKS.
SYSTEMATIC        / / Systematic Withdrawal Plan ($25 minimum)                                        / / Percentage of balance
WITHDRAWAL        (annualized basis)
PLAN              $________ / / Monthly or / / Quarterly                                     ______% / / Monthly or / / Quarterly
Minimum           / / 10th   or / / 25th of Month/Quarter                                     / / 10th    or / / 25th of
Account Value:    Month/Quarter
$5,000            / / Pay shareholder(s) at address of record.
                  / / Pay to the following: (If this payment option is selected a signature guarantee is required)

 

                                                                                                                        
                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Name
                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Address
                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  City                       State                       Zip Code

 
<PAGE>

<CAPTION>
 


<S>              <C>    
PAYMENT TO        / /  Dean Witter Trust FSB is hereby authorized to honor telephonic or other instructions, without signature
PREDESIGNATED        guarantee, from any person for the redemption of any or all shares of Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market
BANK ACCOUNT           Trust held in my (our) account provided that proceeds are transmitted only to the following bank account.
                       (Absent its own negligence, neither Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust nor Dean Witter Trust FSB
                       (the "Transfer Agent") shall be liable for any redemption caused by unauthorized instruction(s)):
Bank Account must be in
same  name  as  shares  are
registered        -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------
                  NAME & BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER                                                        BANK'S ROUTING TRANSMIT CODE
                                                                                                          (ASK YOUR BANK)
Minimum Amount:
$1,000            NAME OF BANK
                  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  ADDRESS OF BANK
                  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  TELEPHONE NUMBER OF BANK
                                                              SIGNATURE AUTHORIZATION
FOR ALL ACCOUNTS  NOTE: RETAIN A COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT FOR YOUR RECORDS. ANY MODIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION BELOW WILL REQUIRE AN
                  AMENDMENT TO THIS FORM. THIS DOCUMENT IS IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT UNTIL ANOTHER DULY EXECUTED FORM IS RECEIVED BY
                  THE TRANSFER AGENT.
                  The "Transfer Agent" is hereby authorized to act as agent for the registered owner of shares of Dean Witter U.S.
                  Government Money Market Trust (the "Fund") in effecting redemptions of shares and is authorized to recognize the
                  signature(s) below in payment of funds resulting from such redemptions on behalf of the registered owners of such
                  shares. The Transfer Agent shall be liable only for its own negligence and not for default or negligence of its
                  correspondents, or for losses in transit. The Fund shall not be liable for any default or negligence of the
                  Transfer Agent.
                  I (we) certify to my (our) legal capacity, or the capacity of the investor named above, to invest in and redeem
                  shares of, and I (we) acknowledge receipt of a current prospectus of, Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market
                  Trust and (we) further certify my (our) authority to sign and act for and on behalf of the investor.
                  Under penalties of perjury, I certify (1) that the number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification
                  number and (2) that I am not subject to backup withholding either because I have not been notified that I am
                  subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or the Internal
                  Revenue Service has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding. (Note: You must cross out item
                  (2) above if you have been notified by IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because of
                  underreporting interest or dividends on your tax return.)
                  For Individual, Joint and Custodial Accounts for Minors, Check Applicable Box:
                  / / I am a United States Citizen.                     / / I am not a United States Citizen.
                                                  SIGNATURE(S) (IF JOINT TENANTS, ALL MUST SIGN)


 

                                                                      
                  ------------------------------------------------          ------------------------------------------------
                          SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA                  SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
                  --------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------
                          SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA                  SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
Name(s) must be
signed
exactly the same  SIGNED THIS_______________DAY OF__________, 19____.
as shown on
lines 1 to 4 on
the reverse
side of this                                FOR CORPORATIONS, TRUSTS, PARTNERSHIPS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
application
                  The following named persons are currently officers/trustees/general partners/other authorized signatories of the
                  Registered Owner, and any * of them ("Authorized Person(s)") is/are currently authorized under the applicable
                  governing document to act with full power to sell, assign or transfer securities of the the Fund for the
                  Registered Owner and to execute and deliver any instrument necessary to effectuate the authority hereby conferred:
                                         NAME/TITLE                                                SIGNATURE

 

                                                                      
In addition,
complete
Section A or B    --------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------
below.
                  --------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------
                          SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA                  SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
                  --------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------
                          SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA                  SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
                  --------------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------
                          SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA                  SIGNATURE MUST BE KEPT WITHIN ABOVE AREA
                  SIGNED THIS____________DAY OF____________, 19____.
                  The Transfer Agent may, without inquiry, act only upon the instruction of ANY PERSON(S) purporting to be (an)
                  Authorized Person(s) as named in the Certification Form last received by the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent
                  and the Fund shall not be liable for any claims, expenses (including legal fees) or losses resulting from the
                  Transfer Agent having acted upon any instruction reasonably believed genuine.
                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  *INSERT A NUMBER. UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THE TRANSFER AGENT MAY HONOR INSTRUCTIONS OF ANY ONE OF THE PERSONS
                   NAMED ABOVE.

 

                   
SECTION (A)           NOTE: EITHER A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE OR CORPORATE SEAL IS REQUIRED.
CORPORATIONS AND
INCORPORATED
ASSOCIATIONS ONLY.    I, ____________, Secretary of the Registered Owner, do hereby certify that at a meeting on
SIGN ABOVE AND COM-   ____________ at which a quorum was present throughout, the Board of Directors of the
PLETE THIS            corporation/the officers of the association duly adopted a resolution, which is in full force and
SECTION               effect and in accordance with the Registered Owner's charter and by-laws, which resolution did the
                      following: (1) empowered the above-named Authorized Person(s) to effect securities transactions
                      for the Registered Owner on the terms described above; (2) authorized the Secretary to certify,
                      from time to time, the names and titles of the officers of the Registered Owner and to notify the
                      Transfer Agent when changes in office occur; and (3) authorized the Secretary to certify that such
                      a resolution has been duly adopted and will remain in full force and effect until the Transfer
                      Agent receives a duly executed amendment to the Certification Form.
SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE**           Witness my hand on behalf of the corporation/association this ______ day of ____________, 19____.
(or Corporate Seal)
                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Secretary**
                      The undersigned officer (other than the Secretary) hereby certifies that the foregoing instrument
                      has been signed by the Secretary of the
                      corporation/association.
SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE**           --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(or Corporate Seal)                  Certifying Officer of the Corporation or Incorporated Association**
SECTION (B) ALL                                    NOTE: A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE IS REQUIRED.
OTHER
INSTITUTIONAL         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTORS                                                         Certifying
SIGNATURE                                          Trustee(s)/General Partner(s)/Other(s)**
GUARANTEE**
                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIGN ABOVE AND COM-                                               Certifying
PLETE THIS SECTION                                 Trustee(s)/General Partner(s)/Other(s)**
                      **SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIBIGLE GUARANTOR

 

                                                                                                                   
DEALER            Above signature(s) guaranteed. Prospectus has been delivered by undersigned to above-named applicant(s).
(if any)
Completion by
dealer only       ----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------------------
                  Firm Name                                             Office Number-Account Number at Dealer-A/E Number
                  ----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------------------
                  Address                                               Account Executive's Last Name
                  ----------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------------------
                  City, State, Zip Code                                 Branch Office

 
- -Registered Trademark- 1998 Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                        THE DEAN WITTER FAMILY OF FUNDS
 
MONEY MARKET FUNDS                       FIXED-INCOME FUNDS
Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily    Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund
Income Trust                             Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income
Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.        Fund
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money     Dean Witter Convertible Securities
Market Trust                              Trust
Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust  Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust
Dean Witter U.S. Government Money        Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust
Market Trust                             Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income
EQUITY FUNDS                              Fund Inc.
Dean Witter American Value Fund          Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust
Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund         Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.
Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund    Dean Witter Intermediate Income
Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities     Securities
Dean Witter Developing Growth            Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S.
Securities Trust                          Treasury Trust
Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities   Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal
 Inc.                                     Trust
Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.    Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal
Dean Witter Financial Services Trust      Series Trust
Dean Witter Fund of Funds                Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income
Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth        Fund
 Securities                              Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund
Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund        Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury
Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust         Trust
Dean Witter Income Builder Fund          Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust
Dean Witter Information Fund             Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities
Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund   Trust
Dean Witter Japan Fund                   Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust
Dean Witter Market Leader Trust          DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund          American Value Series
Dean Witter Natural Resource             Capital Growth Series
Development Securities Inc.              Dividend Growth Series
Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.     Global Equity Series
Dean Witter Precious Metals and          Intermediate Income Securities Series
 Minerals Trust                          Liquid Asset Series
Dean Witter Special Value Fund           Strategist Series
Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund           U.S. Government Money Market Series
Dean Witter Utilities Fund               U.S. Government Securities Series
Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series    Utilities Series
Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust  Value-Added Market Series
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Competitive   ACTIVE ASSETS ACCOUNT PROGRAM
 Edge Fund, "Best Ideas" Portfolio       Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS                   Active Assets Government Securities
Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation       Trust
 Fund                                    Active Assets Money Trust
Dean Witter Strategist Fund              Active Assets Tax-Free Trust

<PAGE>


Dean Witter
U. S. Government
Money Market Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
 
TRUSTEES
 

Michael Bozic
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Wayne E. Hedien
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Michael E. Nugent
Philip J. Purcell
John L. Schroeder

 
OFFICERS
 
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Barry Fink
Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel

Jonathan R. Page
Vice President

Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer
 
CUSTODIAN
 
The Bank of New York
90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
 

Dean Witter Trust FSB
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311

 
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
Price Waterhouse LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
 
INVESTMENT MANAGER
 
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
 
DEAN WITTER
U.S. GOVERNMENT
MONEY MARKET
TRUST
 

                                                     PROSPECTUS -- MARCH 2, 1998






<PAGE>

[DEAN WITTER LOGO]



                                          D E A N  W I T T E R 
                                          ------------------------------------- 
                                          R E T I R E M E N T  S E R I E S 
                                          ------------------------------------- 
                                          O C T O B E R  3 1 , 1 9 9 7 
                                          ------------------------------------- 
                                          P R O S P E C T U S   E N C L O S E D 
                                          ------------------------------------- 

<PAGE>

                        DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 

                            CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART A 
ITEM                         CAPTION PROSPECTUS 
- ----                         ------------------ 
<S>                          <C>
     1.      ..............  Cover Page 
     2.      ..............  Summary of Fund Expenses; Prospectus Summary 
     3.      ..............  Performance Information; Financial Highlights 
     4.      ..............  Investment Objectives and Policies; The Fund and its 
                              Management; Cover Page; Investment Restrictions; 
                              Prospectus Summary; Financial Highlights 
     5.      ..............  The Fund and Its Management; Back Cover; 
                              Investment Objectives and Policies 
     6.      ..............  Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Additional 
                              Information 
     7.      ..............  Purchase of Fund Shares; Shareholder 
                              Services; Repurchases and Redemptions; 
                              Determination of Net Asset Value; Prospectus Summary 
     8.      ..............  Repurchases and Redemptions; Shareholder Services 
     9.      ..............  Not Applicable 

PART B 
ITEM                         STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
- ----                         ----------------------------------- 
    10.      ..............  Cover Page 
    11.      ..............  Table of Contents 
    12.      ..............  The Fund and Its Management 
    13.      ..............  Investment Practices and Policies; Investment 
                              Restrictions; Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage 
    14.      ..............  The Fund and Its Management; Trustees and 
                              Officers 
    15.      ..............  The Fund and Its Management; Trustees and 
                              Officers 
    16.      ..............  The Fund and Its Management; Custodian and 
                              Transfer Agent; Independent Accountants 
    17.      ..............  Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage 
    18.      ..............  Description of Shares; Principal Securities Holders 
    19.      ..............  Repurchases and Redemptions; Shareholder Services; 
                              Determination of Net Asset Value; Financial Statements 
    20.      ..............  Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Financial Statements 
    21.      ..............  Purchase of Fund Shares 

    22.      ..............  Performance Information 
    23.      ..............  Experts; Financial Statements 

</TABLE>

PART C 

   Information required to be included in Part C is set forth under the 
appropriate item, so numbered, in Part C of this Registration Statement. 

<PAGE>

                      PROSPECTUS DATED OCTOBER 31, 1997 

                        DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 

   TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048 (212) 392-2550 OR (800) 
                             869-NEWS (TOLL-FREE) 

   DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES (the "Fund") is an open-end, no-load, 
management investment company which provides a selection of investment 
portfolios for institutional and individual investors participating in 
various employee benefit plans and Individual Retirement Account rollover 
plans. Each Series has its own investment objective and policies. Shares of 
the Fund are sold and redeemed at net asset value without the imposition of a 
sales charge. Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the Fund's Distributor (the 
"Distributor"), and any of its affiliates are authorized, in accordance with 
a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company 
Act of 1940, as amended, entered into by the Fund with the Distributor and 
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., to make payments, out of their own resources, for 
expenses incurred in connection with the promotion of distribution of shares 
of the Fund. 

   The LIQUID ASSET SERIES seeks high current income, preservation of capital 
and liquidity by investing in corporate and government money market 
instruments. 

   The U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES seeks security of principal, high 
current income and liquidity by investing primarily in money market 
instruments which are issued and/or guaranteed, as to principal and interest, 
by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. 

   The U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES seeks high current income consistent 
with safety of principal by investing in a diversified portfolio of 
obligations issued and/or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its 
instrumentalities. 

   The INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES SERIES seeks high current income 
consistent with safety of principal by investing primarily in intermediate 
term, investment grade fixed-income securities. 

   The AMERICAN VALUE SERIES seeks long-term growth consistent with an effort 
to reduce volatility by investing principally in common stock of companies in 
industries which, at the time of the investment, are believed to be 
attractively valued given their above average relative earnings growth 
potential at that time. 

   The CAPITAL GROWTH SERIES seeks long-term capital growth by investing 
primarily in common stocks selected through utilization of a computerized 
screening process. 

   The DIVIDEND GROWTH SERIES seeks to provide reasonable current income and 
long-term growth of income and capital by investing primarily in the common 
stock of companies with a record of paying dividends and the potential for 
increasing dividends. 

   The STRATEGIST SERIES seeks to maximize its total return by actively 
allocating its assets among the major asset categories of equity securities, 
fixed-income securities and money market instruments. 

   The UTILITIES SERIES seeks to provide current income and long-term growth 
of income and capital by investing in equity and fixed-income securities of 
companies in the public utilities industry. 

   The VALUE-ADDED MARKET SERIES' investment objective is to achieve a high 
level of total return on its assets through a combination of capital 
appreciation and current income. It seeks to achieve this objective by 
investing, on an equally-weighted basis, in a diversified portfolio of common 
stocks of the companies which are represented in the Standard & Poor's 500 
Composite Stock Price Index. 

   The GLOBAL EQUITY SERIES' investment objective is to achieve a high level 
of total return on its assets, primarily through long-term capital growth 
and, to a lesser extent, from income. It seeks to achieve this objective 
through investments in all types of common stocks and equivalents, preferred 
stocks and bonds and other debt obligations of domestic and foreign companies 
and governments and international organizations. 

   AN INVESTMENT IN THE LIQUID ASSET, U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET AND/OR 
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES IS NEITHER INSURED NOR GUARANTEED BY THE 
U.S. GOVERNMENT. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE LIQUID ASSET OR U.S. 
GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A STABLE NET ASSET 
VALUE OF $1.00 PER SHARE. 

   SHARES OF SERIES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR 
GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, AND THE SHARES ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED 
BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR 
ANY OTHER AGENCY. 

   The availability of the various methods of purchase and redemption of 
shares of the Fund and other shareholder services will be governed by the 
parameters set forth in the investor's employee benefit plan. 

   This Prospectus sets forth concisely the information you should know 
before investing in the Fund. It should be read and retained for future 
reference. Additional information about the Fund is contained in the 
Statement of Additional Information, dated October 31, 1997, which has been 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and which is available at 
no charge upon request of the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed 
above. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated herein by 
reference. 

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND 
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES 
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE 
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY 
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. 
                                
<PAGE>
                              TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Prospectus Summary/2 
Summary of Fund Expenses/6 
Financial Highlights/8 
The Fund and its Management/12 
Investment Objectives and Policies/13 
 Liquid Asset Series/13 
 U.S. Government Money Market Series/15 
 U.S. Government Securities Series/16 
 Intermediate Income Securities Series/19 
 American Value Series/20 
 Capital Growth Series/21 
 Dividend Growth Series/22 
 Strategist Series/23 
 Utilities Series/24 
 Value-Added Market Series/26 
 Global Equity Series/27 
 General Investment Techniques/28 
Investment Restrictions/37 
Determination of Net Asset Value/39 
Purchase of Fund Shares/40 
Shareholder Services/41 
Redemptions and Repurchases/43 
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes/45 
Performance Information/46 
Additional Information/47 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>            <C>                               
The             The Fund is organized as a Trust, commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust, and is an 
Fund            open-end management investment company. The Fund is comprised of eleven separate Series: the 
                Liquid Asset Series, the U.S. Government Money Market Series, the U.S. Government Securities 
                Series, the Intermediate Income Securities Series, the American Value Series, the Capital Growth 
                Series, the Dividend Growth Series, the Strategist Series, the Utilities Series, the Value-Added 
                Market Series, and the Global Equity Series (see page 12). The Trustees of the Fund may establish 
                additional Series at any time. 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Shares          Each Series is managed for investment purposes as if it were a separate fund issuing a separate 
Offered         class of shares of beneficial interest, with $0.01 par value. The assets of each Series are 
                segregated, so that an interest in the Fund is limited to the assets of the Series in which shares 
                are held and shareholders are each entitled to a pro rata share of all dividends and distributions 
                arising from the net income and capital gains, if any, on the investments of such Series (see page 
                47). 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Offering        The price of the shares of each Series of the Fund offered by this Prospectus is determined once 
Price           daily as of 4:00 p.m., New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes prior to 
                4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open, and is 
                equal to the net asset value per share without a sales charge (see page 39). Purchases are limited 
                to institutional and individual investors participating in various employee benefit plans and 
                Individual Retirement Account ("IRA") rollover plans; there is no minimum initial or subsequent 
                purchase. The Fund and/or the Distributor reserve the right to permit purchases by non-employee 
                benefit plan investors. 

                                       2

<PAGE>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Investment      Each Series has distinct investment objectives and policies, and is subject to various investment 
Objectives and  restrictions, some of which apply to all Series. The Liquid Asset Series seeks high current 
Policies        income, preservation of capital and liquidity by investing in the following money market 
                instruments: U.S. Government securities, obligations of U.S. regulated banks and savings 
                institutions having total assets of more than $1 billion, or less than $1 billion if such are 
                fully federally insured as to principal (the interest may not be insured) and high grade corporate 
                debt obligations maturing in thirteen months or less (see pages 13-15). The U.S. Government Money 
                Market Series seeks security of principal, high current income and liquidity by investing 
                primarily in money market instruments maturing in thirteen months or less which are issued and/or 
                guaranteed, as to principal and interest, by the U.S. Government, its agencies or 
                instrumentalities (see pages 15-16). The U.S. Government Securities Series seeks high current 
                income consistent with safety of principal by investing in a diversified portfolio of obligations 
                issued and/or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its instrumentalities (see pages 16-19). The 
                Intermediate Income Securities Series seeks high current income consistent with safety of 
                principal by investing primarily in intermediate term, investment grade fixed-income securities 
                (see pages 19-20). The American Value Series seeks long-term growth consistent with an effort to 
                reduce volatility by investing primarily in common stock of companies in industries which, at the 
                time of the investment, are believed to be attractively valued given their above average relative 
                earnings growth potential at that time (see pages 20-21). The Capital Growth Series seeks 
                long-term capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks selected through utilization of a 
                computerized screening process (see pages 21-22). The Dividend Growth Series seeks to provide 
                reasonable current income and long-term growth of income and capital by investing primarily in the 
                common stock of companies with a record of paying dividends and the potential for increasing 
                dividends (see pages 22-23). The Strategist Series seeks to maximize its total return by actively 
                allocating its assets among the major asset categories of equity securities, fixed-income 
                securities and money market instruments (see pages 23-24). The Utilities Series seeks to provide 
                current income and long-term growth of income and capital by investing in equity and fixed-income 
                securities of companies in the public utilities industry. The Utilities Series will concentrate 
                its investments in the electric utilities industry (see pages 24-26). The Value-Added Market 
                Series' investment objective is to achieve a high level of total return on its assets through a 
                combination of capital appreciation and current income. It seeks to achieve this objective by 
                investing, on an equally-weighted basis, in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of the 
                companies which are represented in the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (see 
                pages 26-27). The Global Equity Series' investment objective is a high level of total return on 
                its assets primarily through long-term capital growth and, to a lesser extent, from income. It 
                seeks to achieve this objective through investments in all types of common stocks and equivalents 
                (such as convertible securities and warrants), preferred stocks and bonds and other debt 
                obligations of domestic and foreign companies and governments and international organizations 
                (see pages 27-28). 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Investment      Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital" or the "Investment Manager"), the Investment Manager 
Manager         of the Fund, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company Inc., serve in various 
                investment management, advisory, management and administrative capacities to one hundred and two 
                investment companies and other portfolios with assets of approximately $102.3 billion at September 
                30, 1997 (see page 12). 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Management      The Investment Manager receives monthly fees at the following annual rates of the daily net assets 
Fees            of the respective Series of the Fund: Liquid Asset Series--0.50%; U.S. Government Money Market 
                Series--0.50%; U.S. Government Securities Series--0.65%; Intermediate Income Securities 
                Series--0.65%; American Value Series--0.85%; Capital Growth Series--0.85%; Dividend Growth 
                Series--0.75%; Strategist Series--0.85%; Utilities Series--0.75%; Value-Added Market 
                Series--0.50%; and Global Equity Series--1.0%. The management fees for the American Value, Capital 
                Growth, Dividend Growth, Strategist, Utilities and Global Equity Series are higher than those paid 
                by most investment companies. 

                                       3
<PAGE>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Dividends and   The Liquid Asset Series and the U.S. Government Money Market Series declare and reinvest all 
Capital Gains   dividends daily and pay cash dividends monthly; the U.S. Government Securities Series and the 
Distributions   Intermediate Income Securities Series declare dividends from net investment income daily and pay 
                such dividends monthly; the Dividend Growth Series and the Utilities Series declare and pay 
                dividends from net investment income quarterly; the American Value Series, the Capital Growth 
                Series, the Strategist Series, the Value-Added Market Series and the Global Equity Series declare 
                and pay dividends from net investment income at least once each year. Each Series of the Fund 
                makes capital gains distributions, if any, at least annually. All dividends and distributions are 
                automatically reinvested in additional shares at net asset value unless the shareholder elects to 
                receive cash (see pages 45-46). 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Distributor     Dean Witter Distributors Inc. is the distributor of the Fund's shares. The Distributor and Dean 
                Witter Reynolds Inc. have entered into a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 
                Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), with the Fund, authorizing the Distributor 
                and any of its affiliates to make payments, out of their resources, for expenses incurred in 
                connection with the promotion of distribution of the Fund's shares (see pages 40-41). 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Redemption      Shares of the Fund may be redeemed at their net asset value (see pages 43-45). 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Shareholder     Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions (unless otherwise requested); Systematic 
Services        Payroll Deduction Plan; Exchange Privilege; Systematic Withdrawal Plan (see pages 41-43). 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Risks           The Liquid Asset Series invests solely in U.S. Government securities, high quality corporate debt 
                obligations and obligations of banks and savings and loan associations having assets of $1 billion 
                or more and certificates of deposit which are fully insured as to principal; consequently, the 
                portfolio securities of the Series are subject to minimal risk of loss of income and principal. 
                However, the investor is directed to the discussions of "repurchase agreements" (page 28) and 
                "reverse repurchase agreements" (page 28) concerning any risks associated with these investment 
                techniques. The U.S. Government Money Market Series invests principally in high quality, 
                short-term fixed-income securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. 
                Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Such securities are subject to minimal risk of loss 
                of income and principal. However, shareholders should also refer to the discussions of "repurchase 
                agreements" (page 28), "when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments" (page 
                28) and "reverse repurchase agreements" (page 28). The U.S. Government Securities Series invests 
                only in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government which are subject to minimal risk 
                of loss of income and principal. The value of the securities holdings of the U.S. Government 
                Securities Series and, thereby, the net asset value of its shares, may increase or decrease due to 
                various factors, principally changes in prevailing interest rates. Generally, a rise in interest 
                rates will result in a decrease in the net asset value per share. In addition, the average life of 
                certain of the securities held in the U.S. Government Securities Series (e.g., GNMA Certificates) 
                may be shortened by prepayments or refinancings of the mortgage pools underlying such securities 
                (pages 16-19). Such prepayments may have an impact on dividends paid by the U.S. Government 
                Securities Series. Shareholders should also refer to the discussions of "repurchase agreements," 
                "when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments" and "zero coupon securities" 
                (pages 28-29). The net asset value of the shares of the Intermediate Income Securities Series will 
                fluctuate with changes in the market value of its securities holdings. The Series may invest in 
                securities rated "BBB" by Standard & Poor's Corporation or "Baa" by Moody's Investors Service, 
                Inc., which securities have speculative characteristics. Shareholders should also refer to the 
                discussions of "when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments" (page 28), 
                "when, as and if issued securities" (page 29), "zero coupon securities" (page 29) and "reverse 
                repurchase agreements" (page 28). The American Value Series' emphasis on attractive industries may 
                run contrary to general market assessments and may involve risks associated with departure from 
                typical S&P 500 industry weightings. It should be recognized that the American Value Series' 
                investments in small and medium-capitalization companies involves greater risk than is customarily 
                associated with 

                                       4

<PAGE>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                investing in larger, more established companies. Shareholders should also refer to the discussions 
                of "repurchase agreements" (page 28), "when, as and if issued securities" (page 29) and "warrants" 
                (page 29). The net asset value of the shares of the Capital Growth Series will fluctuate with 
                changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. The Capital Growth Series may purchase 
                foreign, when-issued and delayed delivery, and when, as and if issued securities, and futures and 
                options, which may be considered speculative in nature and may involve greater risks than those 
                customarily assumed by other investment companies which do not invest in such instruments (pages 
                28-36). The net asset value of the shares of the Dividend Growth Series will fluctuate with 
                changes in the market value of its securities holdings. Dividends payable by the Dividend Growth 
                Series will vary in relation to the amounts of dividends and interest paid by its securities 
                holdings. Shareholders should also refer to the discussions of "repurchase agreements" (page 28), 
                "when, as and if issued securities" (page 29) and "warrants" (page 29). The net asset value of the 
                shares of Strategist Series will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio 
                securities. The level of income payable to the investor will vary depending upon the market 
                allocation determined by the Investment Manager and with various market determinants such as 
                interest rates. The Series may make various investments and may engage in various investment 
                strategies including options and futures transactions (pages 28-36), when-issued and delayed 
                delivery securities and forward commitments (page 28), when, as and if issued securities (page 28) 
                and repurchase agreements (page 28). The Strategist Series is "non-diversified" and is therefore 
                not subject to the diversification requirements of the Act. This non-diversified status allows the 
                Strategist Series to increase its investment in the securities of an individual issuer, and, 
                thereby, subjects the Series to greater exposure to any risks pertaining to investment in the 
                issuer's securities (page 23). The net asset value of the shares of the Utilities Series 
                fluctuates with changes in the market value of its securities holdings. The public utilities 
                industry has certain characteristics and risks, and developments within that industry will have an 
                impact on the Utilities Series. The value of public utility debt securities (and, to a lesser 
                extent, equity securities) tends to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest 
                rates. Shareholders should also refer to the discussions of "repurchase agreements" (page 28), 
                "when-issued and delayed delivery securities and forward commitments" (page 28), "when, as and if 
                issued securities" (page 28), "zero coupon securities" (page 29), and "foreign securities" (pages 
                31-32). The net asset value of the shares of the Value-Added Market Series will fluctuate with 
                changes in the market value of its securities holdings. Dividends payable by the Value-Added 
                Market Series will vary in relation to the amounts of income paid by its securities holdings. 
                Shareholders should also refer to the discussion of "repurchase agreements" (page 28) and "options 
                and futures transactions" (pages 33-36). The Global Equity Series is intended for long-term 
                investors who can accept the risks involved in investments in the securities of companies and 
                countries located throughout the world. It should be recognized that investing in such securities 
                involves different and perhaps greater risks than are customarily associated with securities of 
                domestic companies or trading in domestic markets. In addition, shareholders should consider risks 
                inherent in an international portfolio, including exchange fluctuations and exchange controls, and 
                certain of the investment policies which the Global Equity Series may employ, including 
                transactions in forward foreign currency exchange contracts (see pages 31-33). Moreover, the 
                expenses of the Global Equity Series are likely to be greater than those incurred by other Series 
                in the Fund and other investment companies which invest primarily in securities of domestic 
                issuers. The Intermediate Income Securities, American Value, Capital Growth, Strategist, 
                Utilities, Value-Added Market and Global Equity Series may write call options on securities held 
                in their portfolios without limit (see pages 33-35). Certain of the Series of the Fund may 
                experience high portfolio turnover rates with corresponding higher transaction expenses and 
                potentially adverse tax consequences. See "Portfolio Trading" (pages 36-37). 
</TABLE>

                                       5

<PAGE>

SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The following table illustrates all expenses and fees that a shareholder of 
the Fund will incur. The expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the 
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997. 

Shareholder Transaction Expenses (for each Series) 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                         <C>
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases................   None 
Maximum Sales Charge Imposed on Reinvested Dividends ....   None 
Deferred Sales Charge....................................   None 
Redemption Fees..........................................   None 
Exchange Fee.............................................   None 
</TABLE>

Annual Operating Expenses (as a Percentage of Average Net Assets for the year 
ended July 31, 1997)* 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                          Intermediate 
                                        U.S. Government U.S. Government      Income      American    Capital 
                         Liquid Asset    Money Market      Securities      Securities      Value     Growth 
                            Series          Series           Series          Series       Series     Series 
                            ------          ------           ------          ------       ------     ------ 
<S>                          <C>             <C>              <C>             <C>          <C>        <C>   
Management Fees* 
 (after fee waiver) ...      0.46%           0.30%            0.10%           0.00%        0.64%      0.0 % 
12b-1 Fees.............      0.0             0.0              0.0             0.0          0.0        0.0 
Other Expenses* 
 (after expense 
 assumption)...........      0.54            0.70             0.90            1.00         0.36       1.00 
Total Series Operating 
 Expenses..............      1.00            1.00             1.00            1.00         1.00       1.00 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Dividend                              Value-Added 
                          Growth     Strategist   Utilities      Market      Global Equity 
                          Series       Series       Series       Series          Series 
                          ------       ------       ------       ------          ------ 
<S>                        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>             <C>   
Management Fees* 
 (after fee waiver) ...    0.75%        0.45%        0.00%        0.48%           0.15% 
12b-1 Fees.............    0.0          0.0          0.0          0.0             0.0 
Other Expenses* 
 (after expense 
 assumption)...........    0.22         0.55         1.00         0.52            0.85 
Total Series Operating 
 Expenses..............    0.97         1.00         1.00         1.00            1.00 
</TABLE>

   *Pursuant to an undertaking, the Investment Manager assumed all expenses 
relating to each Series' operations (except for any brokerage fees and a 
portion of organizational expenses) and waived the compensation provided for 
in its Management Agreement with respect to each Series until December 31, 
1995. The Investment Manager has undertaken to continue to assume, until 
December 31, 1997, such expenses and to waive the compensation provided for 
in its Management Agreement with respect to each Series to the extent that 
such expenses and compensation on an annualized basis exceed 1.00% of the 
daily net assets of the Series. 

                                6           
<PAGE>
Example 

   You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming (1) 
5% annual return and (2) redemption at the end of each time period: 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              Intermediate 
                            U.S. Government U.S. Government      Income      American    Capital 
             Liquid Asset    Money Market      Securities      Securities      Value     Growth 
                Series          Series           Series          Series       Series     Series 
            -------------- ---------------  --------------- --------------  ---------- --------- 
<C>              <C>             <C>              <C>             <C>          <C>        <C>  
1 year.....      $ 10            $ 10             $ 10            $ 10         $ 10       $ 10 
3 years....        32              32               32              32           32         32 
5 years....        55              55               55              55           55         55 
10 years ..       122             122              122             122          122        122 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

             Dividend                              Value-Added 
              Growth     Strategist   Utilities      Market      Global Equity 
              Series       Series       Series       Series          Series 
            ---------- ------------  ----------- -------------  --------------- 
<C>            <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>             <C>  
1 year.....    $ 10         $ 10         $ 10         $ 10            $ 10 
3 years....      31           32           32           32              32 
5 years....      54           55           55           55              55 
10 years ..     119          122          122          122             122 
</TABLE>

   THE ABOVE EXAMPLES SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF FUTURE 
EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES OF THE FUND MAY BE GREATER OR LESS 
THAN THOSE SHOWN. 

   "Management Fees" (after fee waiver) and "Other Expenses" (after expense 
assumption) have been restated to reflect current fees and expenses. 

   If administrative services are performed by Dean Witter Trust FSB ("DWT"), 
the Fund's Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent and an affiliate of the 
Investment Manager, on behalf of an employee benefit plan, it may charge fees 
for such services which are negotiated between each employee benefit plan and 
DWT. 

   It is estimated that total operating expenses for each Series for the 
fiscal year ending July 31, 1998, assuming no waiver of management fees or 
assumption of expenses, and calculated using average net assets for the year 
ended July 31, 1997, would be: 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                          Intermediate 
                                        U.S. Government U.S. Government      Income      American    Capital 
                         Liquid Asset    Money Market      Securities      Securities      Value     Growth 
                            Series          Series           Series          Series       Series     Series 
                        -------------- ---------------  --------------- --------------  ---------- --------- 
<S>                          <C>             <C>              <C>             <C>          <C>        <C>   
Management Fees........      0.50%           0.50%            0.65%           0.65%        0.85%      0.85% 
12b-1 Fees.............      0.0             0.0              0.0             0.0          0.0        0.0 
Other Expenses.........      0.54            0.70             0.90            1.35         0.36       2.31 
Total Series Operating 
 Expenses..............      1.04            1.20             1.55            2.00         1.21       3.16 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Dividend                              Value-Added 
                          Growth     Strategist   Utilities      Market      Global Equity 
                          Series       Series       Series       Series          Series 
                        ---------- ------------  ----------- -------------  --------------- 
<S>                        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>             <C>   
Management Fees........    0.75%        0.85%        0.75%        0.50%           1.00% 
12b-1 Fees.............    0.0          0.0          0.0          0.0             0.0 
Other Expenses.........    0.22         0.55         1.03         0.52            0.85 
Total Series Operating 
 Expenses..............    0.97         1.40         1.78         1.02            1.85 
</TABLE>

   The purpose of these tables is to assist the investor in understanding the 
various costs and expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear directly or 
indirectly. For a more complete description of these costs and expenses, see 
"The Fund and its Management." 

                                7           
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest 
outstanding throughout each period have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP, 
independent accountants. The financial highlights should be read in 
conjunction with the financial statements, notes thereto, and the unqualified 
report of independent accountants which are contained in the Statement of 
Additional Information. Further information about the performance of the 
Fund's Series is contained in the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders, which 
may be obtained without charge upon request to the Fund. 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                           NET 
             NET ASSET                  REALIZED                                                      TOTAL 
    YEAR       VALUE         NET           AND       TOTAL FROM     DIVIDENDS     DISTRIBUTIONS     DIVIDENDS 
   ENDED     BEGINNING    INVESTMENT   UNREALIZED    INVESTMENT        TO              TO              AND 
  JULY 31    OF PERIOD      INCOME     GAIN (LOSS)   OPERATIONS   SHAREHOLDERS    SHAREHOLDERS    DISTRIBUTIONS 
- ----------  ----------- ------------  ------------ ------------  -------------- ---------------  --------------- 
<C>  <C>       <C>          <C>                        <C>           <C>                              <C>     
LIQUID ASSET 
1993 (1)       $ 1.00       $0.02          --          $ 0.02        $(0.02)           --             $(0.02) 
1994             1.00        0.03          --            0.03         (0.03)           --              (0.03) 
1995             1.00        0.06          --            0.06         (0.06)           --              (0.06) 
1996             1.00        0.05          --            0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1997             1.00        0.05          --            0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET 
1993 (2)         1.00          --++        --            --            --              --               -- 
1994             1.00        0.03          --            0.03         (0.03)           --              (0.03) 
1995             1.00        0.06          --            0.06         (0.06)           --              (0.06) 
1996             1.00        0.05          --            0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1997             1.00        0.04          --            0.04         (0.04)           --              (0.04) 
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES 
1993 (3)        10.00        0.19        $ 0.07          0.26         (0.20)           --              (0.20) 
1994            10.06        0.44         (0.50)        (0.06)        (0.44)           --              (0.44) 
1995             9.56        0.56          0.15          0.71         (0.56)           --              (0.56) 
1996             9.71        0.55         (0.12)         0.43         (0.55)           --              (0.55) 
1997             9.59        0.56          0.34          0.90         (0.56)         $(0.02)           (0.58) 
INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 
1993 (4)        10.00        0.19         (0.02)         0.17         (0.19)           --              (0.19) 
1994             9.98        0.60         (0.57)         0.03         (0.60)           --              (0.60) 
1995             9.41        0.61          0.22          0.83         (0.61)           --              (0.61) 
1996             9.63        0.59         (0.21)         0.38         (0.59)          (0.01)           (0.60) 
1997             9.41        0.53          0.26          0.79         (0.53)           --              (0.53) 
AMERICAN VALUE 
1993 (5)        10.00        0.06         (0.01)         0.05          --              --               -- 
1994            10.05        0.03         (0.09)        (0.06)        (0.02)          (0.04)           (0.06) 
1995             9.93        0.14          3.15          3.29         (0.12)           --              (0.12) 
1996            13.10        0.09          1.17          1.26         (0.15)          (1.13)           (1.28) 
1997            13.08        0.02          5.12          5.14         (0.04)          (1.22)           (1.26) 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
*       After application of the Fund's expense limitation. 
+       Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day 
        of the period. 
++      Includes dividends from net investment income of $0.004 per share. 
(a)     Not annualized. 
(b)     Annualized. 

Commencement of operations: 
(1)     December 30, 1992.     (4) January 12, 1993. 
(2)     January 20, 1993.      (5) February 1, 1993. 
(3)     January 8, 1993. 

                                8           
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            RATIOS TO AVERAGE         RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET 
                                                NETASSETS                    ASSETS 
                                          (BEFORE EXPENSES WERE       (AFTER EXPENSES WERE 
                                                 ASSUMED)                   ASSUMED) 
                                        -------------------------- -------------------------- 
 NET ASSET                  NET ASSETS 
    VALUE        TOTAL        END OF                      NET                        NET       PORTFOLIO     AVERAGE 
   END OF     INVESTMENT      PERIOD                  INVESTMENT                 INVESTMENT     TURNOVER    COMMISSION 
   PERIOD       RETURN+      (000'S)      EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)   EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)     RATE      RATE PAID 
- -----------  ------------ ------------  ----------- -------------  ----------- -------------  ----------- ------------ 
<S>               <C>        <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>            <C>       
   $ 1.00         1.77%(a)   $ 1,081        1.30%(b)      0.53%(b)     0.14%(b)     3.02%(b)      N/A            N/A 
     1.00         3.48         1,524        2.50*         0.99          --          3.49          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.90        35,631        1.16          4.96          --          6.12          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.44        42,753        0.65          5.05         0.33         5.37          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         4.57        21,213        1.04          4.43         1.00         4.47          N/A            N/A 

     1.00         0.42 (a)       125        2.50* (b)    (0.95)(b)     2.13 (b)     0.83 (b)      N/A            N/A 
     1.00         3.52           555        2.50*         0.82          --          3.32          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.86        10,695        2.50*         3.62          --          6.12          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.23         6,628        0.82          4.75         0.37         5.21          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         4.51         4,041        1.20          4.17         1.00         4.37          N/A            N/A 

    10.06         2.60 (a)     1,756        1.81 (b)      0.33 (b)     0.18 (b)     3.66 (b)      --             N/A 
     9.56        (0.69)        2,954        2.50*         1.96          --          4.46           29 %          N/A 
     9.71         7.72         4,209        2.36          3.49          --          5.85           14            N/A 
     9.59         4.49         8,651        1.48          4.70         0.63         5.55           47            N/A 
     9.91         9.70        10,496        1.55          5.24         1.00         5.79           89            N/A 

     9.98         1.67 (a)       182        2.50* (b)     1.00 (b)     1.62 (b)     3.50 (b)      --             N/A 
     9.41         0.26           460        2.50*         3.64          --          6.14           40            N/A 
     9.63         9.22           994        2.50*         4.08          --          6.58           37            N/A 
     9.41         3.95         4,172        1.58          5.01         0.72         5.87          142            N/A 
     9.67         8.63         2,456        2.00          4.50         1.00         5.50          132            N/A 

    10.05         0.50 (a)       308        2.50*(b)     (0.66)(b)     0.74 (b)     1.10 (b)      121 (a)       -- 
     9.93        (0.59)        6,841        2.50*        (0.81)         --          1.69          136           -- 
    13.10        33.48        22,581        1.42          0.39          --          1.81          234           -- 
    13.08         9.83        40,321        1.18          0.23         0.65         0.76          301        $0.0543 
    16.96        41.62        54,214        1.21         (0.11)        1.00         0.10          261         0.0552 
</TABLE>

                                       9

<PAGE>

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Continued 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The following ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest 
outstanding throughout each period have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP, 
independent accountants. The financial highlights should be read in 
conjunction with the financial statements, notes thereto, and the unqualified 
report of independent accountants which are contained in the Statement of 
Additional Information. Further information about the performance of the 
Fund's Series is contained in the Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders, which 
may be obtained without charge upon request to the Fund. 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                            NET 
             NET ASSET                   REALIZED                                                      TOTAL 
    YEAR       VALUE          NET           AND       TOTAL FROM                   DISTRIBUTIONS     DIVIDENDS 
   ENDED     BEGINNING    INVESTMENT    UNREALIZED    INVESTMENT   DIVIDENDS TO         TO              AND 
  JULY 31    OF PERIOD   INCOME (LOSS)  GAIN (LOSS)   OPERATIONS   SHAREHOLDERS    SHAREHOLDERS    DISTRIBUTIONS 
- ----------  ----------- -------------  ------------ ------------  -------------- ---------------  --------------- 
<C>  <C>       <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>                  <C>
CAPITAL GROWTH 
1993 (4)       $10.00       $(0.02)       $(1.10)       $(1.12)         --              --               -- 
1994             8.88         0.13          0.45          0.58        $(0.04)           --             $(0.04) 
1995             9.42         0.10          1.77          1.87         (0.12)           --              (0.12) 
1996            11.17         0.07          1.55          1.62         (0.11)         $(0.07)           (0.18) 
1997            12.61        (0.03)         5.41          5.38         (0.01)          (0.32)           (0.33) 
DIVIDEND GROWTH 
1993 (1)        10.00         0.13          0.58          0.71         (0.10)           --              (0.10) 
1994            10.61         0.28          0.37          0.65         (0.23)          (0.01)           (0.24) 
1995            11.02         0.34          2.13          2.47         (0.31)          (0.10)           (0.41) 
1996            13.08         0.32          1.76          2.08         (0.36)          (0.19)           (0.55) 
1997            14.61         0.33          5.60          5.93         (0.33)          (0.52)           (0.85) 
UTILITIES 
1993 (2)        10.00         0.19          1.30          1.49         (0.14)           --              (0.14) 
1994            11.35         0.37         (0.95)        (0.58)        (0.34)          (0.01)           (0.35) 
1995            10.42         0.42          0.80          1.22         (0.37)          (0.02)           (0.39) 
1996            11.25         0.38          0.61          0.99         (0.45)           --              (0.45) 
1997            11.79         0.41          1.90          2.31         (0.32)           --              (0.32) 
VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
1993 (3)        10.00         0.05          0.02          0.07         (0.04)           --              (0.04) 
1994            10.03         0.24          0.65          0.89         (0.11)           --              (0.11) 
1995            10.81         0.21          2.16          2.37         (0.26)          (0.12)           (0.38) 
1996            12.80         0.25          1.17          1.42         (0.22)          (0.07)           (0.29) 
1997            13.93         0.21          5.58          5.79         (0.25)          (0.63)           (0.88) 
GLOBAL EQUITY 
1993 (2)        10.00         0.07         (0.03)         0.04          --              --               -- 
1994            10.04         0.08          0.58          0.66         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1995            10.65         0.14          0.49          0.63         (0.11)           --              (0.11) 
1996            11.17         0.09          0.71          0.80         (0.18)           --              (0.18) 
1997            11.79         0.09          2.98          3.07         (0.06)          (0.32)           (0.38) 
STRATEGIST 
1993 (1)        10.00         0.06         (0.23)        (0.17)         --              --               -- 
1994             9.83         0.23         (0.20)         0.03         (0.13)           --              (0.13) 
1995             9.73         0.24          1.49          1.73         (0.18)           --              (0.18) 
1996            11.28         0.25          1.63          1.88         (0.34)          (0.22)           (0.56) 
1997            12.60         0.37          2.96          3.33         (0.28)          (0.48)           (0.76) 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
*       After application of the Fund's expense limitation. 
+       Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day 
        of the period. 
(a)     Not annualized. 
(b)     Annualized. 

Commencement of operations: 
(1)     January 7, 1993. 
(2)     January 8, 1993. 
(3)     February 1, 1993. 
(4)     February 2, 1993. 

                               10           
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET      RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET 
                                                   ASSETS                     ASSETS 
                                           (BEFORE EXPENSES WERE       (AFTER EXPENSES WERE 
                                                  ASSUMED)                   ASSUMED) 
                                         -------------------------- ------------------------- 
 NET ASSET                   NET ASSETS 
    VALUE        TOTAL         END OF                      NET                       NET       PORTFOLIO     AVERAGE 
   END OF      INVESTMENT      PERIOD                  INVESTMENT                INVESTMENT     TURNOVER    COMMISSION 
   PERIOD       RETURN+       (000'S)      EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)  EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)     RATE      RATE PAID 
- -----------  ------------- ------------  ----------- -------------  ---------- -------------  ----------- ------------ 

<S>              <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>             <C>      <C>      
   $ 8.88        (11.20)%(a)  $    135       2.50%*(b)    (1.01)%(b)   1.97%(b)     (0.47)%(b)      2%(a)       -- 
     9.42          6.57            215       2.50*        (0.98)        --           1.52          11           -- 
    11.17         20.08            678       2.50*        (1.07)        --           1.43          20           -- 
    12.61         14.58          1,988       2.50*        (1.24)       0.76          0.50          68        $0.0536 
    17.66         43.46          3,670       3.16         (2.38)       1.00         (0.22)        147         0.0575 

    10.61          7.11  (a)     2,417       2.50* (b)     0.61  (b)   0.16 (b)      2.89  (b)      7 (a)       -- 
    11.02          6.13         12,821       1.51          1.78         --           3.29          13           -- 
    13.08         23.07         35,404       1.14          2.34         --           3.48          29           -- 
    14.61         16.09         69,763       1.00          2.07        0.63          2.44          18         0.0526 
    19.69         41.92        115,312       0.97          1.92        0.97          1.92          31         0.0537 

    11.35         14.98  (a)     1,334       2.50* (b)     1.59  (b)   0.30 (b)      3.79  (b)      8 (a)       -- 
    10.42         (5.23)         3,860       2.50*         1.62         --           4.14           5           -- 
    11.25         12.16          5,380       1.91          2.41         --           4.32          24           -- 
    11.79          8.76          7,593       1.52          2.31        0.62          3.20          17         0.0508 
    13.78         19.87          5,391       1.78          1.85        1.00          2.63          89         0.0508 

    10.03          0.71  (a)       640       2.50* (b)    (0.16) (b)   0.92 (b)      1.42  (b)      1 (a)       -- 
    10.81          8.89          5,133       1.82          0.70         --           2.53           8           -- 
    12.80         22.65         14,080       1.22          1.33         --           2.55           7           -- 
    13.93         11.19         20,379       0.78          1.58        0.47          1.89           8         0.0300 
    18.84         43.12         23,780       1.02          1.04        1.00          1.07          23         0.0300 

    10.04          0.40  (a)       322       2.50* (b)    (0.90) (b)   1.00 (b)      1.77  (b)    --            -- 
    10.65          6.54          2,020       2.50*         0.09         --           2.41           8           -- 
    11.17          6.08          7,286       2.25          0.48         --           2.73          55           -- 
    11.79          7.26         11,685       1.73         (0.15)       0.66          0.92          95         0.0500 
    14.48         26.66         19,797       1.85         (0.01)       1.00          0.84          80         0.0348 

     9.83         (1.70) (a)       551       2.50* (b)    (0.19) (b)   0.64 (b)      1.67  (b)     26 (a)       -- 
     9.73          0.12          1,276       2.50*         0.70         --           3.20          57           -- 
    11.28         18.21          6,759       2.14          1.97         --           4.11         115           -- 
    12.60         16.97         17,496       1.61          1.92        0.66          2.86         113         0.0525 
    15.17         27.35         26,459       1.40          2.50        1.00          2.90          90         0.0535 
</TABLE>

                                      11

<PAGE>

THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Dean Witter Retirement Series (the "Fund") is an open-end, no-load, 
management investment company consisting of eleven separate Series: the 
Liquid Asset Series, the U.S. Government Money Market Series, the U.S. 
Government Securities Series, the Intermediate Income Securities Series, the 
American Value Series, the Capital Growth Series, the Dividend Growth Series, 
the Strategist Series, the Utilities Series, the Value-Added Market Series, 
and the Global Equity Series. All of the Series, with the exception of the 
Strategist Series, are diversified. The Fund is a trust of the type commonly 
known as a "Massachusetts business trust" and was organized under the laws of 
Massachusetts on May 14, 1992. The Distributor and any of its affiliates are 
authorized, pursuant to a Plan of Distribution entered into by the Fund with 
the Distributor and Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR") in accordance with Rule 
12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), to make 
payments for expenses, out of their own resources, incurred in connection 
with the promotion of distribution of shares of the Fund. 

   Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital" or the "Investment 
Manager"), whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, 
is the Fund's Investment Manager. The Investment Manager, which was 
incorporated in July, 1992, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, 
Dean Witter, Discover & Co., a preeminent global financial services firm that 
maintains leading market positions in each of its three primary 
businesses--securities, asset management and credit services. 

   InterCapital and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dean Witter Services Company 
Inc., serve in various investment management, advisory, management and 
administrative capacities to a total of one hundred and two investment 
companies (the "Dean Witter Funds"), thirty of which are listed on the New 
York Stock Exchange, with combined assets of approximately $98.6 billion as 
of September 30, 1997. The Investment Manager also manages portfolios of 
pension plans, other institutions and individuals which aggregated 
approximately $3.7 billion at such date. 

   The Fund has retained the Investment Manager to provide administrative 
services, manage its business affairs and manage the investment of the Fund's 
assets, including the placing of orders for the purchase and sale of 
portfolio securities. Inter-Capital has retained Dean Witter Services Company 
Inc. to perform the aforementioned administrative services for the Fund. 

   The Fund's Board of Trustees review the various services provided by or 
under the direction of the Investment Manager to ensure that the Fund's general 
investment policies and programs are being properly carried out and that 
administrative services are being provided to the Fund in a satisfactory 
manner. 

   As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund 
and for expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays 
the Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the 
annual rate of 0.50% to the net assets of the Liquid Asset Series; 0.50% to 
the net assets of the U.S. Government Money Market Series; 0.65% to the net 
assets of the U.S. Government Securities Series; 0.65% to the net assets of 
the Intermediate Income Securities Series; 0.85% to the net assets of the 
American Value Series; 0.85% to the net assets of the Capital Growth Series; 
0.75% to the net assets of the Dividend Growth Series; 0.85% to the net 
assets of the Strategist Series; 0.75% to the net assets of the Utilities 
Series; 0.50% to the net assets of the Value-Added Market Series; and 1.0% to 
the Global Equity Series, each business day. The management fees set forth 
above for the American Value, Capital Growth, Dividend Growth, Strategist, 
Utilities and Global Equity Series are higher than those paid by most 
investment companies. Until December 31, 1995, the Investment Manager assumed 
all expenses relating to each Series' operations (except for any brokerage 
fees and a portion of organizational expenses) and waived the compensation 
provided for in its Management Agreement with respect to each Series. The 
Investment Manager has undertaken to continue to assume, until December 31, 
1997, such expenses and to waive the compensation provided for in its 
Management Agreement with respect to each Series to the extent that such 
expenses and compensation on an annualized basis exceed 1.00% of the daily 
net assets of the Series. 

   For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Series accrued total 
compensation to the Investment Manager and incurred total expenses, after 
assumption of expenses by the Investment Manager, each as a percentage of 
average daily net assets, as follows: 

                                COMPENSATION TO     TOTAL 
                              INVESTMENT MANAGER   EXPENSES 
                              ------------------ ---------- 
Liquid Asset.................        0.46%           1.00% 
U.S. Government Money 
 Market......................        0.30            1.00 
U.S. Government Securities ..        0.10            1.00 
Intermediate Income..........        0.00            1.00 
American Value...............        0.64            1.00 
Capital Growth...............        0.00            1.00 
Dividend Growth..............        0.75            0.97 
Strategist...................        0.45            1.00 
Utilities....................        0.00            1.00 
Value-Added Market...........        0.48            1.00 
Global Equity................        0.15            1.00 

                               12           
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

LIQUID ASSET SERIES 

   The investment objectives of the Liquid Asset Series are high current 
income, preservation of capital and liquidity. The investment objectives may 
not be changed without approval of the Series' shareholders. The Series seeks 
to achieve its objectives by investing in the following money market 
instruments: 

   U.S. Government Securities. Obligations issued or guaranteed as to 
principal and interest by the United States or its agencies (such as the 
Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Housing Administration, and 
Government National Mortgage Association) or its instrumentalities (such as 
the Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and Federal 
Land Bank), including Treasury bills, notes and bonds; 

   Bank Obligations. Obligations (including certificates of deposit, bank 
notes and bankers' acceptances) of banks subject to regulation by the U.S. 
Government and having total assets of $1 billion or more, and instruments 
secured by such obligations, not including obligations of foreign branches of 
domestic banks; 

   Obligations of Savings Institutions. Certificates of deposit of savings 
banks and savings and loan associations, having total assets of $1 billion or 
more; 

   Fully Insured Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit of banks 
and savings institutions having total assets of less than $1 billion, if the 
principal amount of the obligation is federally insured by the Bank Insurance 
Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund (each of which is administered 
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), limited to $100,000 principal 
amount per certificate and to 10% or less of the Series' total assets in all 
such obligations and in all illiquid assets, in the aggregate; 

   Commercial Paper and Corporate Obligations. Commercial paper and corporate 
debt obligations maturing in thirteen months or less which are rated in one 
of the two highest rating categories for short-term debt obligations or, if 
not rated, have been issued by issuers which have another short-term debt 
obligation that is comparable in priority and security to such non-rated 
securities and is so rated, by at least two nationally recognized statistical 
rating organizations ("NRSROs") (or one NRSRO if the instrument was rated by 
only one such organization) or which, if unrated, are of comparable quality 
as determined in accordance with procedures established by the Trustees. The 
NRSROs currently rating instruments of the type the Series may purchase are 
Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor's Corporation, Duff and 
Phelps, Inc., Fitch Investors Service, Inc., IBCA Limited and IBCA Inc., and 
Thomson BankWatch, Inc. Their rating criteria are described in the Appendix 
to the Fund's Statement of Additional Information. 

   The foregoing rating limitations apply at the time of acquisition of a 
security. Any subsequent change in any rating by a rating service will not 
require elimination of any security from the Series' portfolio. However, in 
accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund's Trustees pursuant to federal 
securities regulations governing money market funds, if the Investment 
Manager becomes aware that a portfolio security has received a new rating 
from an NRSRO that is below the second highest rating, then, unless the 
security is disposed of within five days, the Investment Manager will perform 
a creditworthiness analysis of any such downgraded securities, which analysis 
will be reported to the Trustees who will, in turn, determine whether the 
securities continue to present minimal credit risks to the Liquid Asset 
Series. 

   The ratings assigned by the NRSROs represent their opinions as to the 
quality of the securities they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, 
however, that the ratings are general and not absolute standards of quality. 

   Subject to the foregoing requirements, the Liquid Asset Series may invest 
in commercial paper which has been issued pursuant to the "private placement" 
exemption afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the 
"Securities Act") and which may be sold to institutional investors pursuant 
to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Management considers such legally 
restricted, but readily marketable, commercial paper to be liquid. However, 
pursuant to procedures approved by the Trustees of the Fund, if a particular 
investment in such commercial paper is determined to be illiquid, that 
investment will be included within the 10% limitation on illiquid investments 
(see "Investment Restrictions"). If at any time the Liquid Asset Series' 
investments in 

                               13           
<PAGE>
illiquid securities exceed 10% of the Series' total assets, the Series will 
dispose of illiquid securities in an orderly fashion to reduce the Series' 
holdings in such securities to less than 10% of its total assets. 

   Variable Rate and Floating Rate Obligations. Certain of the types of 
investments described above may be variable rate or floating rate 
obligations. The interest rates payable on variable rate or floating rate 
obligations are not fixed and may fluctuate based upon changes in market 
rates. The interest rate payable on a variable rate obligation may be 
adjusted at pre-designated periodic intervals and on a floating rate 
obligation whenever there is a change in the market rate of interest on which 
the interest rate payable is based. 

   Although the Liquid Asset Series will generally not seek profits through 
short-term trading, it may dispose of any portfolio security prior to its 
maturity if, on the basis of a revised credit evaluation of the issuer or 
other circumstances or considerations, it believes such disposition 
advisable. 

   The Liquid Asset Series will attempt to balance its objectives of high 
income, capital preservation and liquidity by investing in securities of 
varying maturities and risks. The Liquid Asset Series will not, however, 
invest in securities that mature in more than thirteen months from the date 
of purchase. The amounts invested in obligations of various maturities of 
thirteen months or less will depend on management's evaluation of the risks 
involved. Longer-term issues, while generally paying higher interest rates, 
are subject, as a result of general changes in interest rates, to greater 
fluctuations in value than shorter-term issues. Thus, when rates on new debt 
securities increase, the value of outstanding securities may decline, and 
vice versa. Such changes may also occur, but to a lesser degree, with 
short-term issues. These changes, if realized, may cause fluctuations in the 
amount of daily dividends and, in extreme cases, could cause the net asset 
value per share to decline (see "Determination of Net Asset Value"). 
Longer-term issues also increase the risk that the issuer may be unable to 
pay an installment of interest or principal at maturity. Also, in the event 
of unusually large redemption demands, such securities may have to be sold at 
a loss prior to maturity, or the Liquid Asset Series might have to borrow 
money and incur interest expense. Either occurrence would adversely impact 
the amount of daily dividend and could result in a decline in the daily net 
asset value per share. The Liquid Asset Series will attempt to minimize these 
risks by investing in longer-term securities when it appears to management 
that interest rates on such securities are not likely to increase 
substantially during the period of expected holding, and then only in 
securities of high quality which are readily marketable. However, there can 
be no assurance that the Series will be successful in achieving this or its 
other objectives. 

   Private Placements. As stated above, the Liquid Asset Series may invest in 
commercial paper issued in reliance on the so-called "private placement" 
exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 
1933 (the "Securities Act") and which may be sold to other institutional 
investors pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The adoption by the 
Securities and Exchange Commission of Rule 144A, which permits the resale of 
certain restricted securities to institutional investors, had the effect of 
broadening and increasing the liquidity of the institutional trading market 
for securities subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. 
Section 4(2) commercial paper sold pursuant to Rule 144A is restricted in 
that it can be resold only to qualified institutional investors. However, 
since institutions constitute virtually the entire market for such commercial 
paper, the market for such Section 4(2) commercial paper is, in reality, as 
liquid as that for other commercial paper. While the Liquid Asset Series 
generally holds to maturity commercial paper in its portfolio, the advent of 
Rule 144A has greatly simplified the ability to sell Section 4(2) commercial 
paper to other institutional investors. 

   Under procedures adopted by the Trustees of the Fund, the Liquid Asset 
Series may purchase Section 4(2) commercial paper without being subject to 
its limitation on illiquid investments and will be able to utilize Rule 144A 
to sell that paper to other institutional investors. The procedures require 
that the Investment Manager consider the following factors in determining 
that any restricted security eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144A be 
considered liquid: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security, 
(2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the 
number of other potential purchasers, (3) dealer undertakings to make a 
market in the security, and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of 
the marketplace trades (i.e., the time needed to dispose of the security, the 
method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer). The Investment 
Manager will report to the Trustees on a quarterly basis on all restricted 
securities held by the Liquid Asset Series 

                               14           
<PAGE>
with regard to their ongoing liquidity. In the event any Section 4(2) 
commercial paper or restricted security held by the Liquid Asset Series is 
determined to be illiquid by the Trustees and the Investment Manager, that 
investment would be included as an illiquid security subject to the 
limitation on illiquid investments referred to above. Investing in Rule 144A 
securities could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity to 
the extent a Series, at a particular point in time, may be unable to find 
qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing such securities. 

   The foregoing investment policies are not fund amental and may be changed 
by the Trustees without shareholder vote. 

U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES 

   The investment objectives of the U.S. Government Money Market Series are 
security of principal, high current income and liquidity. There is no 
assurance that the investment objectives will be achieved. These investment 
objectives may not be changed without the approval of the shareholders of the 
U.S. Government Money Market Series. The investment policies discussed below 
may be changed without shareholder approval. 

   The U.S. Government Money Market Series seeks to achieve its objectives by 
investing in U.S. Government securities, including a variety of securities 
which are issued and/or guaranteed, as to principal and interest, by the 
United States Treasury, by various agencies of the United States Government, 
and by various instrumentalities which have been established or sponsored by 
the United States Government, and in certain interests in the foregoing 
securities. Except for U.S. Treasury securities, these obligations, even 
those which are guaranteed by Federal agencies or instrumentalities, may or 
may not be backed by the "full faith and credit" of the United States. In the 
case of securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the United 
States, they may be backed, in part, by a line of credit with the U.S. 
Treasury (such as the Federal National Mortgage Association), or the U.S. 
Government Money Market Series must look to the agency issuing or 
guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment (such as securities of the 
Federal Farm Credit System), in which case the U.S. Government Money Market 
Series may not be able to assert a claim against the United States itself in 
the event the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitments. The 
assumption of the liabilities of these agencies or instrumentalities by the 
U.S. Government is discretionary and is not a lawful obligation. 

   Treasury securities include Treasury bills, Treasury notes, and Treasury 
bonds. Some of the government agencies and instrumentalities which issue or 
guarantee securities include the Federal Farm Credit System, the Federal Home 
Loan Banks, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Government 
National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the 
Farmers Home Administration, the Federal Land Banks, the Small Business 
Administration, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the Export-Import 
Bank, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and the Banks for Cooperatives. 

   The U.S. Government Money Market Series may invest in securities issued or 
guaranteed, as to principal and interest, by any of the foregoing entities or 
by any other agency or instrumentality established or sponsored by the United 
States Government. Such investments may take the form of participation 
interests in, and may be evidenced by deposit or safekeeping receipts for, 
any of the foregoing. Participation interests are pro rata interests in U.S. 
Government securities such as interests in pools of mortgages sold by the 
Government National Mortgage Association; instruments evidencing deposit or 
safekeeping are documentary receipts for such original securities held in 
custody by others. 

   The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is the administrative authority 
over the Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance Fund, 
which are the agencies of the U.S. Government which insure (including both 
principal and interest) the deposits of certain banks and savings and loan 
associations up to $100,000 per deposit. Current federal regulations also 
permit such institutions to issue insured negotiable certificates of deposit 
("CDs") in principal amounts of $100,000 or more without regard to the 
interest rate ceilings on other deposits. To remain fully insured as to 
principal, these investments must currently be limited to $100,000 per bank 
or savings and loan association. The interest on such investments is not 
insured. The U.S. Government Money Market Series may invest in such CDs of 
banks and savings and loan institutions limited to the insured amount of 
principal ($100,000) in each case and limited with regard to all such CDs and 
all illiquid assets, in the aggregate, to 10% of the U.S. Government Money 
Market Series' total assets. 

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   The U.S. Government Money Market Series intends normally to hold its 
portfolio securities to maturity. Historically, securities issued or 
guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities have 
involved minimal risk of loss of principal or interest, if held to maturity. 

   The U.S. Government Money Market Series will generally not seek profits 
through short-term trading, although it may dispose of any portfolio security 
prior to maturity if, on the basis of a revised evaluation or other 
circumstance or consideration, the Investment Manager deems such disposition 
advisable. 

   The U.S. Government Money Market Series will attempt to balance its 
objectives of security of principal, high current income and liquidity by 
investing in securities of varying maturities and risks. The U.S. Government 
Money Market Series will not, however, invest in securities with an effective 
maturity of more than thirteen months from the date of purchase. The amounts 
invested in obligations of various maturities of thirteen months or less will 
depend on management's evaluation of the risks involved. Longer-term U.S. 
Government issues, while generally paying higher interest rates, are subject 
to greater fluctuations in value resulting from general changes in interest 
rates than shorter-term issues. Thus, when rates on new securities increase, 
the value of outstanding securities may decline, and vice versa. Such changes 
may also occur, to a lesser degree, with short-term issues. 

   These changes, if realized, may cause fluctuations in the amount of daily 
dividends and, in extreme cases, could cause the net asset value per share to 
decline (see "Determination of Net Asset Value"). In the event of unusually 
large redemption demands, such securities may have to be sold at a loss prior 
to maturity, or the U.S. Government Money Market Series might have to borrow 
money and incur interest expenses. Either occurrence would adversely impact 
upon the amount of daily dividend and could result in a decline in daily net 
asset value per share or the redemption by the U.S. Government Money Market 
Series of shares held in a shareholder's account. The U.S. Government Money 
Market Series will attempt to minimize these risks by investing in relatively 
longer-term securities when it appears to management that yields on such 
securities are not likely to increase substantially during the period of 
expected holding, and then only in securities which are readily marketable. 
However, there can be no assurance that the U.S. Government Money Market 
Series will be successful in achieving this objective. 

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES 

   The investment objective of the U.S. Government Securities Series is high 
current income consistent with safety of principal. There is no assurance 
that the investment objective will be achieved. The investment objective may 
not be changed without approval of the U.S. Government Securities Series' 
shareholders. The investment policies discussed below may be changed without 
shareholder approval. 

   The U.S. Government Securities Series seeks to achieve its objective by 
investing in obligations issued and/or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or 
its instrumentalities ("U.S. Government Securities"). All such obligations 
are backed by the "full faith and credit" of the United States. Investments 
may be made in obligations of instrumentalities of the U.S. Government only 
where such obligations are guaranteed by the U.S. Government. 

   U.S. Government securities include U.S. Treasury securities consisting of 
Treasury bills, Treasury notes and Treasury bonds. Some of the other U.S. 
Government securities in which the U.S. Government Securities Series may 
invest include securities of the Federal Housing Administration, the 
Government National Mortgage Association, the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, the Export-Import Bank, the Farmers Home Administration, the 
General Services Administration, the Maritime Administration, Resolution 
Funding Corporation and the Small Business Administration. The maturities of 
such securities usually range from three months to thirty years. 

   The Series is not limited as to the maturities of the U.S. Government 
securities in which it may invest, except that the Series will not purchase 
zero coupon securities with remaining maturities of longer than ten years. 
For a discussion of the risks of investing in U.S. Government securities 
(including such securities purchased on a when-issued, delayed delivery or 
forward commitment basis and zero coupon securities), see "General Investment 
Techniques" below. 

   While the U.S. Government Securities Series has the ability to invest in 
any securities backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, it 
is currently anticipated that a substantial portion of the U.S. Government 
Securities Series' assets will be invested in Certificates of the Government 
National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"). Should market or economic conditions 
warrant, this policy is subject to change at any time at the discretion of 
the Investment Manager. 

                               16           
<PAGE>
   GNMA Certificates. GNMA Certificates are mortgage-backed securities. Each 
Certificate evidences an interest in a specific pool of mortgages insured by 
the Federal Housing Administration or the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) 
or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (VA). Scheduled payments of 
principal and interest are made to the registered holders of GNMA 
Certificates. The GNMA Certificates that the U.S. Government Securities 
Series will invest in are of the modified pass-through type. GNMA guarantees 
the timely payment of monthly installments of principal and interest on 
modified pass-through certificates at the time such payments are due, whether 
or not such amounts are collected by the issuer on the underlying mortgages. 
The National Housing Act provides that the full faith and credit of the 
United States is pledged to the timely payment of principal and interest by 
GNMA of amounts due on these GNMA Certificates. 

   The average life of GNMA Certificates varies with the maturities of the 
underlying mortgage instruments with maximum maturities of 30 years. The 
average life is likely to be substantially less than the original maturity of 
the mortgage pools underlying the securities as a result of prepayments or 
refinancing of such mortgages or foreclosure. Any prepayments are passed 
through to the registered holder with the regular monthly payments of 
principal and interest, which has the effect of reducing future payments. Due 
to the GNMA guarantee, foreclosures impose no risk to investment principal. 
The occurrence of mortgage prepayments is affected by factors including the 
level of interest rates, general economic conditions, the location and age of 
the mortgage and other social and demographic conditions. As prepayment rates 
vary widely, it is not possible to accurately predict the average life of a 
particular pool. However, statistics indicate that the average life of the 
type of mortgages backing the majority of GNMA Certificates is approximately 
twelve years. For this reason, it is standard practice to treat GNMA 
Certificates as 30-year mortgage-backed securities which prepay fully in the 
twelfth year. Pools of mortgages with other maturities or different 
characteristics will have varying assumptions for average life. The assumed 
average life of pools of mortgages having terms of less than 30 years is less 
than twelve years, but typically not less than five years. 

   The coupon rate of interest of GNMA Certificates is lower than the 
interest rate paid on the VA-guaranteed or FHA-insured mortgages underlying 
the Certificates, but only by the amount of the fees paid to GNMA and the 
issuer. 

   The U.S. Government Securities Series will invest in mortgage pass-through 
securities representing participation interests in pools of residential 
mortgage loans originated by United States governmental or private lenders 
such as banks, broker-dealers and financing corporations and guaranteed, to 
the extent provided in such securities, by the United States Government or 
one of its agencies or instrumentalities. Such securities, which are 
ownership interests in the underlying mortgage loans, differ from 
conventional debt securities, which provide for periodic payment of interest 
in fixed amounts (usually semi-annually) and principal payments at maturity 
or on specified call dates. Mortgage pass-through securities provide for 
monthly payments that are a "pass-through" of the monthly interest and 
principal payments (including any prepayments) made by the individual 
borrowers on the pooled mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the guarantor 
of such securities and the servicer of the underlying mortgage loans. The 
guaranteed mortgage pass-through securities in which the U.S. Government 
Securities Series may invest include those issued or guaranteed by GNMA or 
other entities which securities are backed by the full faith and credit of 
the United States. 

   Certificates for mortgage-backed securities evidence an interest in a 
specific pool of mortgages. These certificates are, in most cases, "modified 
pass-through" instruments, wherein the issuing agency guarantees the payment 
of principal and interest on mortgages underlying the certificates, whether 
or not such amounts are collected by the issuer on the underlying mortgages. 

   Yields on pass-through securities are typically quoted by investment 
dealers and vendors based on the maturity of the underlying instruments and 
the associated average life assumption. In periods of falling interest rates 
the rate of prepayment tends to increase, thereby shortening the actual 
average life of a pool of mortgage-related securities. Conversely, in periods 
of rising rates the rate of prepayment tends to decrease, thereby lengthening 
the actual average life of the pool. Reinvestment by the U.S. Government 
Securities Series of prepayments may occur at higher or lower interest rates 
than the original investment. Historically, actual average life has been 
consistent with the twelve-year assumption referred to above. The actual 
yield of each GNMA Certificate is influenced by the prepayment experience of 
the mortgage pool underlying the Certificates. Interest on GNMA Certificates 
is paid monthly rather than semi-annually as for traditional bonds. 

                               17           
<PAGE>
   Adjustable Rate Mortgage Securities. The U.S. Government Securities Series 
may also invest in adjustable rate mortgage securities ("ARMs"), which are 
pass-through mortgage securities collateralized by mortgages with adjustable 
rather than fixed rates. ARMs eligible for inclusion in a mortgage pool 
generally provide for a fixed initial mortgage interest rate for either the 
first three, six, twelve or thirteen scheduled monthly payments. Thereafter, 
the interest rates are subject to periodic adjustment based on changes to a 
designated benchmark index. 

   ARMs contain maximum and minimum rates beyond which the mortgage interest 
rate may not vary over the lifetime of the security. In addition, certain 
ARMs provide for additional limitations on the maximum amount by which the 
mortgage interest rate may adjust for any single adjustment period. 
Alternatively, certain ARMs contain limitations on changes in the required 
monthly payment. In the event that a monthly payment is not sufficient to pay 
the interest accruing on an ARM, any such excess interest is added to the 
principal balance of the mortgage loan, which is repaid through future 
monthly payments. If the monthly payment for such an instrument exceeds the 
sum of the interest accrued at the applicable mortgage interest rate and the 
principal payment required at such point to amortize the outstanding 
principal balance over the remaining term of the loan, the excess is utilized 
to reduce the then outstanding principal balance of the ARM. 

   Collateralized Mortgage Obligations and Multiclass Pass-Through 
Securities. The U.S. Government Securities Series may also invest in 
collateralized mortgage obligations or "CMOs," which are debt obligations 
collateralized by mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities. 
Typically, CMOs are collateralized by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC Certificates, but 
also may be collateralized by whole loans or private mortgage pass-through 
securities (such collateral collectively hereinafter referred to as "Mortgage 
Assets"). Multiclass pass-through securities are equity interests in a trust 
composed of Mortgage Assets. Payments of principal of and interest on the 
Mortgage Assets, and any reinvestment income thereon, provide the funds to 
pay debt service on the CMOs or make scheduled distributions on the 
multiclass pass-through securities. CMOs may be issued by agencies or 
instrumentalities of the United States Government, or by private originators 
of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, 
mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose 
subsidiaries of the foregoing. However, the U.S. Government Securities Series 
will only invest in CMOs which are backed by the full faith and credit of the 
United States. 

   The issuer of a series of CMOs may elect to be treated as a Real Estate 
Mortgage Investment Conduit ("REMIC"). REMICs include governmental and/or 
private entities that issue a fixed pool of mortgages secured by an interest 
in real property. REMICs are similar to CMOs in that they issue multiple 
classes of securities, but unlike CMOs, which are required to be structured 
as debt securities, REMICs may be structured as indirect ownership interests 
in the underlying assets of the REMICs themselves. However, there are no 
effects on the Series from investing in CMOs issued by entities that have 
elected to be treated as REMICs, and all future references to CMOs shall also 
be deemed to include REMICs. The Fund may invest without limitation in CMOs. 

   In a CMO, a series of bonds or certificates is issued in multiple classes. 
Each class of CMOs, often referred to as a "tranche", is issued at a specific 
fixed or floating coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final distribution 
date. Principal prepayments on the Mortgage Assets may cause the CMOs to be 
retired substantially earlier than their stated maturities or final 
distribution dates. Interest is paid or accrues on all classes of the CMOs on 
a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis. Certain CMOs may have variable or 
floating interest rates and others may be stripped (securities which provide 
only the principal or interest feature of the underlying security). 

   The principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets may be allocated 
among the several classes of a CMO series in a number of different ways. 
Generally, the purpose of the allocation of the cash flow of a CMO to the 
various classes is to obtain a more predictable cash flow to the individual 
tranches than exists with the underlying collateral of the CMO. As a general 
rule, the more predictable the cash flow is on a CMO tranche, the lower the 
anticipated yield will be on the tranche at the time of issuance relative to 
prevailing market yields on mortgage-backed securities. As part of the 
process of creating more predictable cash flows on most of the tranches in a 
series of CMOs, one or more tranches generally must be created that absorb 
most of the volatility in the cash flows on the underlying mortgage loans. 
The yields on these 

                               18           
<PAGE>
tranches are generally higher than prevailing market yields on 
mortgage-backed securities with similar maturities. As a result of the 
uncertainty of the cash flows of these tranches, the market prices of and 
yield on these tranches generally are more volatile. 

   The U.S. Government Securities Series also may invest in, among other 
things, parallel pay CMOs and Planned Amortization Class CMOs ("PAC Bond"). 
Parallel pay CMOs are structured to provide payments of principal on each 
payment date to more than one class. These simultaneous payments are taken 
into account in calculating the stated maturity date or final distribution 
date of each class, which, as with other CMO structures, must be retired by 
its stated maturity date or final distribution date, but may be retired 
earlier. PAC Bonds generally require payments of a specified amount of 
principal on each payment date. PAC Bonds always are parallel pay CMOs with 
the required principal payment on such securities having the highest priority 
after interest has been paid to all classes. 

INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES SERIES 

   The investment objective of the Intermediate Income Securities Series is 
high current income consistent with safety of principal. This investment 
objective may not be changed without approval of the Intermediate Income 
Securities Series' shareholders. There is no assurance that the investment 
objective will be achieved. The investment policies discussed below may be 
changed without shareholder approval. 

   The Intermediate Income Securities Series seeks to achieve its objective 
by investing at least 65% of its total assets in intermediate term, 
investment grade fixed-income securities. Such securities have a minimum 
remaining maturity of three years and a maximum remaining maturity of ten 
years. The Intermediate Income Securities Series will maintain an average 
dollar-weighted maturity of approximately seven years or less and may not 
invest in securities with remaining maturities greater than twelve years. 
Under normal conditions, the Intermediate Income Securities Series' average 
weighted maturity will not be less than three years. 

   Under normal circumstances, the Intermediate Income Securities Series will 
invest primarily in corporate debt securities and preferred stock of 
investment grade, which consists of securities which are rated at the time of 
purchase Baa or better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB 
or better by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"), or which, if unrated, are 
determined to be of comparable quality by the Fund's Trustees. While 
fixed-income securities rated Baa by Moody's and BBB by S&P are considered 
investment grade, they have speculative characteristics. (A more detailed 
description of bond ratings is contained in the Appendix to the Statement of 
Additional Information.) The Intermediate Income Securities Series may also 
purchase U.S. Government securities (securities guaranteed as to principal 
and interest by the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities) and 
investment grade securities, denominated in U.S. dollars, issued by foreign 
governments or issuers. U.S. Government securities in which the Intermediate 
Income Securities Series may invest include zero coupon securities and 
mortgage backed securities, such as securities issued by the Government 
National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association and 
the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. There can be no assurance that 
the investment objective of the Intermediate Income Securities Series will be 
achieved. 

   The Investment Manager believes that the Intermediate Income Securities 
Series' policies of purchasing intermediate term securities will reduce the 
volatility of the Intermediate Income Securities Series' net asset value over 
the long term. Although the values of fixed-income securities generally 
increase during periods of declining interest rates and decrease during 
periods of increasing interest rates, the extent of these fluctuations has 
historically generally been smaller for intermediate term securities than for 
securities with longer maturities. Conversely, the yield available on 
intermediate term securities has also historically been lower than those 
available from long term securities. 

   Investment by the Intermediate Income Securities Series in U.S. dollar 
denominated fixed-income securities issued by foreign governments and other 
foreign issuers may involve certain risks not associated with U.S. issued 
securities (see "Foreign Securities" under "General Portfolio Techniques" 
below). The Investment Manager believes that those risks are substantially 
lessened because the foreign securities in which the Intermediate Income 
Securities Series may invest are investment grade. 

   While the Intermediate Income Securities Series will invest primarily in 
investment grade fixed-income securities, under ordinary circumstances it may 
invest up to 35% of its total assets in money market instruments and 
repurchase agreements, as well as, with respect to up to 5% of its net 
assets, 

                               19           
<PAGE>
lower-rated fixed-income securities. No more than 5% of the Intermediate 
Income Securities Series' net assets may be invested in lower-rated 
fixed-income securities. 

   Lower-rated fixed-income securities, which are those rated from Ba or BB 
to C by Moody's or S&P, respectively, are considered to be speculative 
investments. Such lower-rated securities, while producing a higher yield than 
investment grade securities, are subject to credit risk to a greater extent 
than investment grade securities. The Intermediate Income Securities Series 
does not have any minimum quality rating standard with respect to the portion 
(up to 5%) of its net assets which may be invested in lower-rated securities. 
See the Statement of Additional Information for a description of the special 
risks and characteristics of lower-rated fixed-income securities. 

   There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the Investment 
Manager, market conditions warrant reduction of some or all of the 
Intermediate Income Securities Series' securities holdings. During such 
periods, the Intermediate Income Securities Series may adopt a temporary 
"defensive" posture in which greater than 35% of its total assets are 
invested in cash or money market instruments. Money market instruments in 
which the Intermediate Income Securities Series may invest are securities 
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government (Treasury bills, notes and bonds, 
including zero coupon securities); bank obligations; Eurodollar certificates 
of deposit; obligations of savings institutions; fully insured certificates 
of deposit; and commercial paper rated within the two highest grades by 
Moody's or Standard & Poor's or, if not rated, are issued by a company having 
an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's. 

AMERICAN VALUE SERIES 

   The investment objective of the American Value Series is long-term capital 
growth consistent with an effort to reduce volatility. There is no assurance 
that the American Value Series' objective will be achieved. The investment 
objective may not be changed without the approval of the shareholders of the 
American Value Series. The investment policies discussed below may be changed 
without shareholder approval. 

   The American Value Series seeks to achieve its investment objective by 
investing in a diversified portfolio of securities consisting principally of 
common stocks. The American Value Series utilizes an investment process that 
places primary emphasis on seeking to identify industries, rather than 
individual companies, as prospects for capital appreciation. The Investment 
Manager seeks to invest the assets of the Series in those industries that, at 
the time of investment, are attractively valued given their above average 
relative earnings growth potential at that time. Therefore, the Series is 
typically over-weighted in those sectors deemed to be attractive given their 
potential for above average earnings growth. 

   After selection of the American Value Series' target industries, specific 
company investments are selected. In this process, the Investment Manager 
seeks to identify companies whose prospects are deemed attractive on the 
basis of an evaluation of valuation screens and prospective company 
fundamentals. 

   The Investment Manager seeks to identify what stage of the business cycle 
the economy is in and which industry groups have historically outperformed 
the overall market during that stage of the cycle, i.e., typically, groups 
that tend to have the highest relative earnings growth at that point in the 
cycle. The Investment Manager also analyzes secular trends such as 
demographics, international trade, etc., that could cause the current cycle 
to differ from prior cycles and attempts to weight the portfolio 
appropriately, given those factors. 

   Following selection of the American Value Series' specific investments, 
the Investment Manager will attempt to allocate the assets of the American 
Value Series so as to reduce the volatility of its portfolio. In doing so, 
the American Value Series may hold a portion of its portfolio in fixed-income 
securities in an effort to moderate extremes of price fluctuations. The 
American Value Series may invest up to 35% of its total assets in common 
stocks of non-U.S. companies, including American Depository Receipts (which 
are custody receipts with respect to foreign securities) (see "Foreign 
Securities" under "General Portfolio Techniques" below), in companies in 
industries which have not been determined to be attractively valued or 
moderately attractively valued by the Investment Manager, and in convertible 
debt securities and warrants, convertible preferred securities, U.S. 
Government securities (securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and 
interest by the United States or its agencies and instrumentalities) and 
investment grade corporate debt securities when, in the opinion of the 
Invest- 

                               20           
<PAGE>
ment Manager, the projected total return on such securities is equal to or 
greater than the expected total return on common stocks, or when such 
holdings might be expected to reduce the volatility of the portfolio, and in 
money market instruments under any one or more of the following 
circumstances: (i) pending investment of proceeds of sale of shares of the 
American Value Series or of portfolio securities; (ii) pending settlement of 
purchases of portfolio securities; or (iii) to maintain liquidity for the 
purpose of meeting anticipated redemptions. Greater than 35% of the American 
Value Series' total assets may be invested in money market instruments to 
maintain, temporarily, a "defensive" posture when, in the opinion of the 
Investment Manager, it is advisable to do so because of economic or market 
conditions. The term investment grade consists of fixed-income securities 
rated Baa or higher by Moody's Investors Service Inc. or BBB or higher by 
Standard and Poor's Corporation, or, if not rated, determined to be of 
comparable quality by the Investment Manager. 

   Because prices of stocks fluctuate from day to day, the value of an 
investment in the American Value Series will vary based upon the Series' 
investment performance. The American Value Series is intended for long-term 
investors who can accept the risks involved in seeking long-term growth of 
capital through investment in the securities of large, medium and 
small-capitalization companies. Emphasis on attractive industries may run 
contrary to general market assessments and may involve risks associated with 
departure from typical S&P 500 industry weightings. It should be recognized 
that investing in small and medium-capitalization companies involves greater 
risk than is customarily associated with investing in more established 
companies. 

   Under normal circumstances, at least 65% of the American Value Series' 
total assets will be invested in common stocks of U.S. companies in 
industries which, at the time of purchase, were determined to be attractively 
valued or moderately attractively valued given their above average relative 
earnings growth potential. 

   The American Value Series may enter into repurchase agreements, invest in 
zero coupon securities, invest in real estate investment trusts, lend its 
portfolio securities, engage in futures contracts and options transactions, 
purchase securities which are issued in private placements or are otherwise 
not readily marketable, and purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed 
delivery basis or a "when, as and if issued" basis, and purchase or sell 
securities on a forward commitment basis, in each case in accordance with the 
description of these investments and techniques (and subject to the risks) 
set forth under "General Portfolio Techniques" below and in the Statement of 
Additional Information. 

   The foregoing limitations apply at the time of acquisition based on the 
last determined market value of the American Value Series' assets, and any 
subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting from market 
fluctuations or other changes in total assets will not require elimination of 
any security from the portfolio. 

CAPITAL GROWTH SERIES 

   The investment objective of the Capital Growth Series is long-term capital 
growth. There is no assurance that the objective will be achieved. The 
investment objective may not be changed without the approval of the majority 
of the shareholders of the Capital Growth Series. The following policies may 
be changed by the Trustees without approval by the shareholders of the 
Capital Growth Series. 

   The Capital Growth Series seeks to achieve its investment objective by 
investing, under normal circumstances, at least 65% of its total assets in 
common stocks. As part of its management of the Capital Growth Series, the 
Investment Manager utilizes a screening process designed to Find companies 
which have demonstrated a history of consistent growth in earnings and 
revenues for the past several years. Additionally, several companies will 
have solid future earnings growth characteristics and attractive valuations. 
Companies meeting these requirements will be potential candidates for 
investment within the Capital Growth portfolio. Subject to the Capital Growth 
Series' investment objective, the Investment Manager, without notice, may 
modify the foregoing screening process and/or may utilize additional or 
different screening processes in connection with the investment of the 
Series' assets. Dividend income will not be a consideration in the selection 
of stocks for purchase. 

   Although the Capital Growth Series invests primarily in common stocks, the 
Series may invest up to 35% of its total assets (taken at current value and 
subject to any restrictions appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus), in any 
combination of the following: (a) U.S. Government securities (securities 
issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government or 
its agencies or instrumentalities) and investment grade fixed-income 
securities; (b) convertible securities; (c) money market 

                               21           
<PAGE>
instruments; (d) options on equity and debt securities; and (e) futures 
contracts and related options thereon, as described below. The Capital Growth 
Series may also purchase unit offerings (where corporate debt securities are 
offered as a unit with convertible securities, preferred or common stocks, 
warrants, or any combination thereof). U.S. Government securities in which 
the Capital Growth Series may invest include zero coupon securities. 
Convertible securities in which the Capital Growth Series may invest include 
bonds, debentures, corporate notes, preferred stock and other securities. The 
Capital Growth Series may also purchase securities on a when-issued or 
delayed delivery basis, may purchase or sell securities on a forward 
commitment basis, and may purchase securities on a "when, as and if issued" 
basis. 

   There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the Investment 
Manager, market conditions warrant reduction of some or all of the Capital 
Growth Series' securities holdings. During such periods, the Series may adopt 
a temporary "defensive" posture in which greater than 35% of its total assets 
are invested in cash or money market instruments. Money market instruments in 
which the Capital Growth Series may invest are securities issued or 
guaranteed by the U.S. Government (Treasury bills, notes and bonds, including 
zero coupon securities); obligations of banks (such as certificates of 
deposit and banker's acceptances) subject to regulation by the U.S. 
Government and having total assets of $1 billion or more; Eurodollar 
certificates of deposit; obligations of savings banks and savings and loan 
associations having total assets of $1 billion or more; fully insured 
certificates of deposit; and commercial paper rated within the two highest 
grades by Moody's or S&P or, if not rated, are issued by a company having an 
outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's. 

DIVIDEND GROWTH SERIES 

   The investment objective of the Dividend Growth Series is to provide 
reasonable current income and long-term growth of income and capital. There 
is no assurance that the objective will be achieved. The investment objective 
may not be changed without the approval of the shareholders of the Dividend 
Growth Series. 

   The Dividend Growth Series seeks to achieve its investment objective 
primarily by investing at least 65% of its total assets in common stock of 
companies with a record of paying dividends and the potential for increasing 
dividends. The net asset value of the Dividend Growth Series' shares will 
fluctuate with changes in market values of portfolio securities. The Dividend 
Growth Series will attempt to avoid investing in securities with speculative 
characteristics. 

   The Dividend Growth Series may also invest in securities of foreign 
issuers in the form of American Depository Receipts (ADRs), European 
Depository Receipts (EDRs) or other similar securities convertible into 
securities of foreign issuers. These securities may not necessarily be 
denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be 
converted. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a United States bank or 
trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. EDRs are 
European receipts evidencing a similar arrangement. Generally, ADRs, in 
registered form, are designed for use in the United States securities markets 
and EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities 
markets. 

   The following investment policies may be changed without the approval of 
the Dividend Growth Series' shareholders: 

     (1) Up to 35% of the value of the Dividend Growth Series' total assets 
    may be invested in: (a) convertible debt securities, convertible pre 
    ferred securities, U.S. Government securities (securities issued or 
    guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States or its 
    agencies and instrumentalities), investment grade corporate debt 
    securities and/or money market instruments when, in the opinion of the 
    Investment Manager, the projected total return on such securities is equal 
    to or greater than the expected total return on equity securities or when 
    such holdings might be expected to reduce the volatility of the portfolio 
    (for purposes of this provision, the term "total return" means the 
    difference between the cost of a security and the aggregate of its market 
    value and dividends received); or (b) in money market instruments under 
    any one or more of the following circumstances: (i) pending investment of 
    proceeds of sale of Dividend Growth Series' shares or of portfolio 
    securities; (ii) pending settlement of purchases of portfolio securities; 
    or (iii) to maintain liquidity for the purpose of meeting anticipated 
    redemptions. 

     (2) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing limitations, the Dividend Growth 
    Series may invest more than 35% in money market in struments to maintain, 
    temporarily, a "defen- 

                               22           
<PAGE>
    sive" posture when, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, it is 
    advisable to do so because of economic or market conditions. 

   The foregoing limitations will apply at the time of acquisition based on 
the last determined value of the Dividend Growth Series' assets. Any 
subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting from fluctuations in 
value or other changes in total assets will not require elimination of any 
security from the portfolio. The Dividend Growth Series may purchase 
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, may purchase or sell 
securities on a forward commitment basis and may purchase securities on a 
"when, as and if issued" basis. 

STRATEGIST SERIES 

   The investment objective of the Strategist Series is to maximize the total 
return on its investments. This is a fundamental policy and cannot be changed 
without the approval of the Strategist Series' shareholders. In seeking to 
achieve its objective, the Series will actively allocate assets among the 
major asset categories of equity securities, fixed-income securities and 
money market instruments. Total return consists of current income (including 
dividends, interest and, in the case of discounted instruments, discount 
accruals) and capital appreciation (including realized and unrealized capital 
gains and losses). There can be no assurance that the investment objective of 
the Strategist Series will be achieved. 

   The achievement of the Strategist Series' investment objective depends 
upon the ability of the Investment Manager to correctly assess the effects of 
economic and market trends on different sectors of the market. The Investment 
Manager believes that superior investment returns at lower risk are 
achievable by actively allocating resources to the equity, debt and money 
market sectors of the market as opposed to relying solely on just one market. 
At times, the equity market may hold a higher potential return than the debt 
market and would warrant a higher asset allocation. The reverse would be true 
when the bond market's potential return is higher. Investments in the money 
market sector can be used to soften market declines when both bonds and 
equities are fully priced. Conserving capital during declining markets can 
contribute to maximizing total return over a longer period of time. In 
addition, the securities of companies within various economic sectors may at 
times offer higher returns than other sectors and can thus contribute to 
superior returns. Finally, the Investment Manager believes that superior 
stock selection can also contribute to superior total return. 

   To facilitate reallocation of the Strategist Series' assets in accordance 
with the Investment Manager's views as to shifts in the marketplace, the 
Investment Manager will employ transactions in futures contracts and options 
thereon. For example, if the Investment Manager believes that a ten percent 
increase in that portion of the Strategist Series' assets invested in fixed 
income securities and a concomitant decrease in that portion of the 
Strategist Series' assets invested in equity securities is timely, the 
Strategist Series might purchase interest rate futures, such as Treasury bond 
futures, and sell stock index futures, such as the Standard & Poor's 500 
Stock Index futures, in equivalent amounts. The utilization of futures 
transactions, rather than the purchase and sale of equity and fixed-income 
securities, increases the speed and efficacy of the Strategist Series' asset 
reallocations. 

   Within the equity sector, the Investment Manager will actively allocate 
funds to those economic sectors expected to benefit from major trends and to 
individual stocks which are deemed to have superior investment potential. The 
Strategist Series may purchase equity securities (including convertible debt 
obligations and convertible preferred stock) sold on the New York, American 
and other stock exchanges and in the over-the-counter market. In addition, 
the Strategist Series may purchase and sell warrants and purchase and write 
listed and over-the-counter options on individual stocks and stock indexes to 
hedge against adverse price movements in its equity portfolio and to increase 
its total return through the receipt of premium income. The Strategist Series 
may also purchase and sell stock index futures and options thereon to hedge 
against adverse price movements in its equity portfolio and to facilitate 
asset reallocations into and out of the equity area. 

   Within the fixed-income sector of the market, the Investment Manager will 
seek to maximize the return on its investments by adjusting maturities and 
coupon rates as well as by exploiting yield differentials among different 
types of investment grade bonds. Fixed-income securities in which the 
Strategist Series may invest may have maturities ranging from one year to 
greater than five years and may include debt securities, including U.S. 
Government securities (securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and 
interest by the United States or its agencies and instrumentalities) and 
corporate securities which are rated at the time of purchase Baa or 

                               23           
<PAGE>
better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB or better by 
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"), or which, if unrated, are deemed to be 
of comparable quality by the Fund's Trustees (a description of corporate bond 
ratings is contained in the Appendix to the Statement of Additional 
Information). While bonds rated Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P are considered 
investment grade, they have speculative characteristics as well. U.S. 
Government securities which may be purchased include zero coupon securities. 
In addition, the Strategist Series may purchase and write listed and 
over-the-counter options on fixed-income securities to hedge against adverse 
price movements in its fixed-income portfolio and to increase its total 
return through the receipt of premium income. The Strategist Series may also 
purchase and sell interest rate futures and options thereon to hedge against 
adverse price movements in its fixed-income portfolio and to facilitate asset 
reallocations into and out of the fixed-income area. 

   Within the money market sector of the market, the Investment Manager will 
seek to maximize returns by seeking out those short-term instruments with the 
highest yields. The money market portion of the Strategist Series will 
contain short-term (maturities of up to one year) fixed-income securities, 
issued by private and governmental institutions. Such securities may include: 
U.S. Government securities; bank obligations (such as certificates of deposit 
and banker's acceptances); Eurodollar certificates of deposit issued by 
foreign branches of domestic banks; obligations of savings institutions; 
fully insured certificates of deposit; and commercial paper rated within the 
two highest grades by S&P or the highest grade by Moody's or, if not rated, 
issued by a company having an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P 
or Aa by Moody's. To the extent the Strategist Series purchases Eurodollar 
certificates of deposit issued by foreign branches of domestic banks, 
consideration will be given to any risks attendant to their domestic 
marketability, the lower reserve requirements normally mandated for overseas 
banking operations, the possible impact of interruptions in the flow of 
international currency transactions, and future international political and 
economic developments which might adversely affect the payment of principal 
or interest. 

   Non-Diversified Status. The Strategist Series is a non-diversified 
investment company and, as such, is not subject to the diversification 
requirements of the Act. As a non-diversified investment company, the 
Strategist Series may invest a greater portion of its assets in the 
securities of a single issuer and thus is subject to greater exposure to 
risks such as a decline in the credit rating of that issuer. However, the 
Strategist Series has qualified and expects to continue to qualify as a 
regulated investment company under the federal income tax laws and, as such, 
is subject to the applicable diversification requirements of the Internal 
Revenue Code, as amended (the "Code"). As a regulated investment company 
under the Code, the Strategist Series may not, as of the end of any of its 
fiscal quarters, have invested more than 25% of its total assets in the 
securities of any one issuer (including a foreign government), or as to 50% 
of its total assets, have invested more than 5% of its total assets in the 
securities of a single issuer. 

UTILITIES SERIES 

   The investment objective of the Utilities Series is to provide current 
income and long-term growth of income and capital. There can be no assurance 
that the investment objective will be achieved. This objective is fundamental 
and may not be changed without shareholder approval. The investment policies 
discussed below may be changed without shareholder approval. 

   The Utilities Series seeks to achieve its invest ment objective by 
investing in equity and fixed-income securities of companies engaged in the 
public utilities industry. The term "public utilities industry" consists of 
companies engaged in the manufacture, production, generation, transmission, 
sale and distribution of gas and electric energy, as well as companies 
engaged in the communications field, including telephone, telegraph, 
satellite, microwave and other companies providing communication facilities 
for the public, but excluding public broadcasting companies. For purposes of 
the Utilities Series, a company will be considered to be in the public 
utilities industry if, during the most recent twelve month period, at least 
50% of the company's gross revenues, on a consolidated basis, are derived 
from the public utilities industry. Under ordinary circumstances, at least 
65% of the Utilities Series' total assets will be invested in securities of 
companies in the public utilities industry. 

   The Investment Manager believes the Utilities Series' investment policies 
are suited to benefit from certain characteristics and historical performance 
of the securities of public utility companies. Many of these companies have 
historically set a pattern of paying regular dividends and increasing their 
common stock dividends over time, and the average 

                               24           
<PAGE>
common stock dividend yield of utilities historically has substantially 
exceeded that of industrial stocks. The Investment Manager believes that 
these factors may not only provide current income but also generally tend to 
moderate risk and thus may enhance the opportunity for appreciation of 
securities owned by the Utilities Series, although the potential for capital 
appreciation has historically been lower for many utility stocks compared 
with most industrial stocks. There can be no assurance that the historical 
investment performance of the public utilities industry will be indicative of 
future events and performance. 

   The Utilities Series invests in both equity securities (common stocks and 
securities convertible into common stock) and fixed-income securities (bonds 
and preferred stock) in the public utilities industry. The Utilities Series 
will shift its asset allocation without restriction between types of 
utilities and between equity and fixed-income securities based upon the 
Investment Manager's determination of how to achieve the Utilities Series' 
investment objective in light of prevailing market, economic and financial 
conditions. 

   Criteria utilized by the Investment Manager in the selection of equity 
securities include the following screens: earnings and dividend growth; book 
value; dividend discount; and price/earnings relationships. In addition, the 
Investment Manager makes continuing assessments of management, the prevailing 
regulatory framework and industry trends. The Investment Manager may also 
utilize computer-based equity selection models. In keeping with the Utilities 
Series' objective, if in the opinion of the Investment Manager favorable 
conditions for capital growth of equity securities are not prevalent at a 
particular time, the Utilities Series may allocate its assets predominantly 
or exclusively in debt securities with the aim of obtaining current income as 
well as preserving capital and thus benefiting long term growth of capital. 

   The Utilities Series may purchase equity securities sold on the New York, 
American and other stock exchanges and in the over-the-counter market. 
Fixed-income securities in which the Utilities Series may invest are debt 
securities and preferred stocks, which are rated at the time of purchase Baa 
or better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or BBB or better by 
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"), or which, if unrated, are deemed to be 
of comparable quality by the Fund's Trustees. The Utilities Series may also 
purchase equity and fixed-income securities issued by foreign issuers 
(including American Depository Receipts, European Depositary Receipts or 
other similar securities convertible into securities of foreign issuers). 
Under normal circumstances the average weighted maturity of the fixed-income 
securities held by the Utilities Series is expected to be in excess of seven 
years. A description of corporate bond ratings is contained in the Appendix 
to the Statement of Additional Information. 

   Investments in fixed-income securities rated either BBB by S&P or Baa by 
Moody's (the lowest credit ratings designated "investment grade") have 
speculative characteristics and, therefore, changes in economic conditions or 
other circumstances are more likely to weaken their capacity to make 
principal and interest payments than would be the case with investments in 
securities with higher credit ratings. If a fixed-income security held by the 
Utilities Series is rated BBB or Baa and is subsequently downgraded by a 
rating agency, the Utilities Series will retain such security in its 
portfolio until the Investment Manager determines that it is practicable to 
sell the security without undue market or tax consequences to the Utilities 
Series. In the event that such downgraded securities constitute 5% or more of 
the Series' total assets, the Investment Manager will immediately sell 
securities sufficient to reduce the total to below 5%. 

   While the Utilities Series will invest primarily in the securities of 
public utility companies, under ordinary circumstances it may invest up to 
35% of its total assets in U.S. Government securities (securities issued or 
guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States or its agencies 
and instrumentalities), money market instruments, repurchase agreements, and 
options and futures, as described below. U.S. Government securities in which 
the Utilities Series may invest include zero coupon securities. 

   There may be periods during which, in the opinion of the Investment 
Manager, market conditions warrant reduction of some or all of the Utilities 
Series' securities holdings. During such periods, the Utilities Series may 
adopt a temporary "defensive" posture in which greater than 35% of its net 
assets are invested in cash or money market instruments. Money market 
instruments in which the Utilities Series may invest are securities issued or 
guaranteed by the U.S. Government (Treasury bills, notes and bonds, including 
zero coupon securities); bank obligations (such as certificates of deposit 
and bank- 

                               25           
<PAGE>
ers' acceptances); Eurodollar certificates of deposit; obligations of savings 
institutions; fully insured certificates of deposit; and commercial paper 
rated within the two highest grades by Moody's or S&P or, if not rated, are 
issued by a company having an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P 
or Aa by Moody's. 

   Electric Utilities Industry. Under normal circumstances, the Utilities 
Series will invest at least 25% of its total assets in debt and equity 
securities issued by companies in the electric utilities industry. For 
temporary defensive purposes, however, the Series may reduce its investments 
in the electric utilities industry to less than 25% of its total assets. The 
Utilities Series' policy of concentrating its investments in the electric 
utilities industry is fundamental and may not be changed without the approval 
of a majority of the Utilities Series' voting securities. 

   The electric utilities industry as a whole has certain characteristics and 
risks particular to that industry. Unlike industrial companies, the rates 
which utility companies may charge their customers generally are subject to 
review and limitation by governmental regulatory commissions. Although rate 
changes of a utility usually fluctuate in approximate correlation with 
financing costs, due to political and regulatory factors, rate changes 
ordinarily occur only following a delay after the changes in financing costs. 
This factor will tend to favorably affect a utility company's earnings and 
dividends in times of decreasing costs, but conversely will tend to adversely 
affect earnings and dividends when costs are rising. In addition, the value 
of electric utility debt securities (and, to a lesser extent, equity 
securities) tends to have an inverse relationship to the movement of interest 
rates. 

   Among the risks affecting the utilities industry are the following: risks 
of increases in fuel and other operating costs; the high cost of borrowing to 
finance capital construction during inflationary periods; restrictions on 
operations and increased costs and delays associated with compliance with 
environmental and nuclear safety regulations; the difficulties involved in 
obtaining natural gas for resale or fuel for generating electricity at 
reasonable prices; the risks in connection with the construction and 
operation of nuclear power plants; the effects of energy conservation, 
non-regulated competition, open access to transmission, and the effects of 
regulatory changes, such as linking future rate increases to inflation or 
other factors not directly related to the actual operating profits of the 
enterprise. 

VALUE-ADDED MARKET SERIES 

   The investment objective of the Value-Added Market Series is to achieve a 
high level of total return on its assets through a combination of capital 
appreciation and current income. This is a fundamental policy and cannot be 
changed without the approval of the shareholders of the Value-Added Market 
Series. There can be no assurance that the Value-Added Market Series' 
investment objective will be achieved. The investment policies discussed 
below may be changed without shareholder approval. 

   The Value-Added Market Series will seek to attain its investment objective 
by investing, on an equally-weighted basis, in a diversified portfolio of 
common stocks of the companies which are included in the Standard & Poor's 
500 Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P Index"). Standard & Poor's 500 is a 
trademark of Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") and has been licensed for 
use by the Fund. The Value-Added Market Series is not sponsored, endorsed, 
sold or promoted by S&P and S&P makes no representation regarding the 
advisability of investing in the Value-Added Market Series. The S&P Index 
consists of 500 common stocks selected by S&P, most of which are listed on 
the New York Stock Exchange. Inclusion of a stock in the S&P Index implies no 
opinion by S&P as to the quality of the stock as an investment. The S&P Index 
is determined, composed and calculated by S&P without regard to the 
Value-Added Market Series. S&P is neither a sponsor of, nor in any way 
affiliated with, the Value-Added Market Series, and S&P makes no 
representation or warranty, express or implied, on the advisability of 
investing in the Value-Added Market Series or as to the ability of the S&P 
Index to track general stock market performance, and S&P disclaims all 
warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with 
respect to the S&P Index or any data included therein. S&P has no connection 
with the Value-Added Market Series other than the licensing to the Investment 
Manager of the use of the S&P Index in connection with the Value-Added Market 
Series. 

   The Value-Added Market Series invests in the stocks included in the S&P 
Index on an equally-weighted basis; that is, to the extent practicable and 
subject to the specific investment policies and restrictions described below, 
an equal portion of the Value-Added Market Series' assets is invested in each 
of the 500 securities in the S&P Index. This differs from the S&P Index and 
nearly all other major 

                               26           
<PAGE>
indexes, which generally are weighted on a market-capitalization basis. For 
example, the 50 largest capitalization issuers in the S&P Index represent 
approximately 45% of the S&P Index. However, in accordance with its 
investment policies, the Value-Added Market Series will strive to maintain 
each stockholding equally, so that, subject to the specific investment 
policies and investment restrictions described below, approximately 0.20 of 
1% of the Value-Added Market Series' total invested assets will be invested 
in each of the 500 companies included in the S&P Index. The equal weighting 
technique is based on the Investment Manager's statistical analysis that most 
portfolio performance is usually generated by only one-quarter to one-third 
of the portfolio. Since there is no certainty that any specific company or 
industry selection, even within a broad-based index such as the S&P Index, 
will achieve superior performance, the Investment Manager believes 
equal-weighting may benefit the Value-Added Market Series in seeking to 
attain its investment objective. 

   The holdings of the Value-Added Market Series will be adjusted by the 
Investment Manager not less than quarterly to reflect changes in the 
Value-Added Market Series' asset levels and in the relative values of the 
common stocks held by the Value-Added Market Series so that following each 
adjustment the value of the Value-Added Market Series' investment in each 
security will be equal to the extent practicable. In addition, whenever a 
company is eliminated from or added to the S&P Index, the Value-Added Market 
Series will sell or purchase the stock of such company, as the case may be, 
as soon as practicable. Accordingly, securities may be purchased and sold by 
the Value-Added Market Series when such purchases and sales would not be made 
under traditional investment criteria. 

   In addition, while the Investment Manager will not actively manage the 
portfolio other than to follow the guidelines set forth above for following 
an equally-weighted S&P Index, it may eliminate one or more securities (or 
elect not to increase the Value-Added Market Series' position in such 
securities), notwithstanding the continued listing of such securities in the 
S&P Index, in the following circumstances: (a) the stock is no longer 
publicly traded, such as in the case of a leveraged buyout or merger; (b) an 
unexpected adverse development with respect to a company, such as bankruptcy 
or insolvency; (c) in the view of the Investment Manager, there is a high 
degree of risk with respect to a company that bankruptcy or insolvency will 
occur; or (d) in the view of the Investment Manager, based on its 
consideration of the price of a company's securities, the depth of the market 
in those securities and the amount of those securities held or to be held by 
the Value-Added Market Series, retaining shares of a company or making any 
additional purchases would be inadvisable because of liquidity risks. The 
Investment Manager will monitor on an ongoing basis all companies falling 
within any of the circumstances described in this paragraph, and will return 
such company's shares to the Value-Added Market Series' holdings, or 
recommence purchases, when and if those conditions cease to exist. 

   The Value-Added Market Series may purchase futures contracts on stock 
indexes at a time when it is not fully invested on account of additional cash 
invested in the Series or income received by the Series. Purchase of a 
futures contract in those circumstances serves as a temporary substitute for 
the purchase of individual stocks which may then be purchased in orderly 
fashion. 

   A portion of the Value-Added Market Series' assets, not exceeding 25% of 
its total assets, may be invested temporarily in money market instruments 
under any one or more of the following circumstances: (a) pending investment 
of proceeds of sale of shares of the Value-Added Market Series; (b) pending 
settlement of purchases of portfolio securities; or (c) to maintain liquidity 
for the purposes of meeting anticipated redemptions. The money market 
instruments in which the Value-Added Market Series may invest are 
certificates of deposit of U.S. domestic banks with assets of $1 billion or 
more; bankers' acceptances; time deposits; U.S. Government and U.S. 
Government agency securities; or commercial paper rated within the two 
highest grades by S&P or Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or, if not rated, 
are of comparable quality as determined by the Fund's Trustees, and which 
mature within one year from the date of purchase. 

GLOBAL EQUITY SERIES 

   The investment objective of the Global Equity Series is to seek to obtain 
total return on its assets primarily through long-term capital growth and to 
a lesser extent from income. There can be no assurance that the Global Equity 
Series will achieve its objective. The investment objective is a fundamental 
policy and cannot be changed without the approval of the shareholders of the 
Global Equity Series. The investment policies discussed below may be changed 
without shareholder approval. 

                               27           
<PAGE>
   The Global Equity Series will invest at least 65% of its total assets in 
equity securities issued by issuers located in various countries around the 
world. The Series' investment portfolio will, thereby, be invested in at 
least three separate countries. 

   The Global Equity Series will seek to achieve such objective through 
investments in all types of common stocks and equivalents (such as 
convertible debt securities and warrants), preferred stocks and bonds and 
other debt obligations of domestic and foreign companies and governments and 
international organizations. There is no limitation on the percent or amount 
of the Global Equity Series' assets which may be invested for growth or 
income. 

   The Global Equity Series will maintain a flexible investment policy and, 
based on a worldwide investment strategy, will invest in a diversified 
portfolio of securities of companies and governments located throughout the 
world. Such securities will generally be those with a record of paying 
dividends and the potential for increasing dividends. The percentage of the 
Global Equity Series' assets invested in particular geographic sectors will 
shift from time to time in accordance with the judgment of the Investment 
Manager. 

   Notwithstanding the Global Equity Series' investment objective of seeking 
total return, the Global Equity Series may, for defensive purposes, without 
limitation, invest in: obligations of the United States Government, its 
agencies or instrumentalities; cash and cash equivalents in major currencies; 
repurchase agreements; money market instruments; and commercial paper. 

   The Global Equity Series may also invest in securities of foreign issuers 
in the form of American Depository Receipts (ADRs), European Depository 
Receipts (EDRs) or other similar securities convertible into securities of 
foreign issuers. These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the 
same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. ADRs are 
receipts typically issued by a United States bank or trust company evidencing 
ownership of the underlying securities. EDRs are European receipts evidencing 
a similar arrangement. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for 
use in the United States securities markets and EDRs, in bearer form, are 
designed for use in European securities markets. 

   The Global Equity Series may purchase securities on a when-issued or 
delayed delivery basis, may purchase or sell securities on a forward 
commitment basis and may purchase securities on a "when, as and if issued" 
basis. 

GENERAL INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES 

   Repurchase Agreements. Each Series of the Fund may enter into repurchase 
agreements, which may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Series, 
and which typically involve the acquisition by a Series of debt securities 
from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan 
association or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Series will 
sell back to the institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the 
underlying security at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future, 
usually not more than seven days from the date of purchase. While repurchase 
agreements involve certain risks not associated with direct investments in 
debt securities, including the risks of default or bankruptcy of the selling 
financial institution, the Fund follows procedures designed to minimize those 
risks. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with 
large, well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions and 
maintaining adequate collateralization. 

   Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Liquid Asset, U.S. Government Money 
Market and Intermediate Income Securities Series may also use reverse 
repurchase agreements as part of their investment strategy. Reverse 
repurchase agreements involve sales by the Series of assets concurrently with 
an agreement by the Series to repurchase the same assets at a later date at a 
fixed price. Such transactions are only advantageous if the interest cost to 
the Series of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of 
otherwise obtaining the cash. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not 
always be available, and the Series intend to use the reverse repurchase 
technique only when it will be to their advantage to do so. Reverse 
repurchase agreements are considered borrowings by the Series and for 
purposes other than meeting redemptions may not exceed 5% of the Series' 
total assets. 

   When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments. From 
time to time, in the ordinary course of business, each Series of the Fund may 
purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may 
purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. When such 
transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed 

                               28           
<PAGE>
at the time of the commitment, but delivery and payment can take place a month
or more after the date of the commitment. While a Series will only purchase
securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis with
the intention of acquiring the securities, a Series may sell the securities
before the settlement date, if it is deemed advisable. The securities so
purchased or sold are subject to market fluctuation and no interest accrues to
the purchaser during this period. At the time a Series makes the commitment to
purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward
commitment basis, it will record the transaction and thereafter reflect the
value, each day, of such security purchased or, if a sale, the proceeds to be
received in determining its net asset value. At the time of delivery of the
securities, their value may be more or less than the purchase or sale price. A
Series will also establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in
which it will continually maintain cash or cash equivalents or other high grade
portfolio securities equal in value to commitments to purchase securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis. An increase in the
percentage of a Series' assets committed to the purchase of securities on a
when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis may increase the
volatility of a Series' net asset value.

   When, As and If Issued Securities. Each Series (other than the U.S. 
Government Money Market Series) may purchase securities on a "when, as and if 
issued" basis under which the issuance of the security depends upon the 
occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a merger, corporate 
reorganization or debt restructuring. The commitment for the purchase of any 
such security will not be recognized in the portfolio until the Investment 
Manager determines that the issuance of the security is probable, whereupon 
the accounting treatment for such commitment will be the same as for a 
commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery or 
forward commitment basis, described above and in the Statement of Additional 
Information. An increase in the percentage of a Series' assets committed to 
the purchase of securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis may increase 
the volatility of its net asset value. 

   Zero Coupon Securities. A portion of the fixed-income securities purchased 
by each Series may be zero coupon securities. Such securities are purchased 
at a discount from their face amount, giving the purchaser the right to 
receive their full value at maturity. The interest earned on such securities 
is, implicitly, automatically compounded and paid out at maturity. While such 
compounding at a constant rate eliminates the risk of receiving lower yields 
upon reinvestment of interest if prevailing interest rates decline, the owner 
of a zero coupon security will be unable to participate in higher yields upon 
reinvestment of interest received on interest-paying securities if prevailing 
interest rates rise. 

   A zero coupon security pays no interest to its holder during its life. 
Therefore, to the extent a Series invests in zero coupon securities, it will 
not receive current cash available for distribution to shareholders. In 
addition, zero coupon securities are subject to substantially greater price 
fluctuations during periods of changing prevailing interest rates than are 
comparable securities which pay interest on a current basis. Current federal 
tax law requires that a holder (such as a Series) of a zero coupon security 
accrue a portion of the discount at which the security was purchased as 
income each year even though the Series receives no interest payments in cash 
on the security during the year. 

   Warrants. Each Series (other than the Liquid Asset Series, the U.S. 
Government Money Market Series and the U.S. Government Securities Series) may 
acquire warrants attached to other securities and, in addition, each of the 
Dividend Growth Series, the American Value Series, Strategist Series, 
Utilities Series and Global Equity Series may invest up to 5% of the value of 
its total assets in warrants not attached to other securities, including up 
to 2% of such assets in warrants not listed on either the New York or 
American Stock Exchange. Warrants are, in effect, an option to purchase 
equity securities at a specific price, generally valid for a specific period 
of time, and have no voting rights, pay no dividends and have no rights with 
respect to the corporation issuing them. If warrants remain unexercised at 
the end of the exercise period, they will lapse and the Series' investment in 
them will be lost. The prices of warrants do not necessarily move parallel to 
the prices of the underlying securities. 

   Private Placements. The Liquid Asset, Intermediate Income Securities, 
American Value, Capital Growth, Dividend Growth, Strategist, Utilities, 
Value-Added Market and Global Equity Series may invest up to 15% (10% with 
respect to the Liquid Asset Series) of their net assets in securities which 
are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not been registered 
under the Securities Act or which are otherwise not readily marketable 
("illiquid securities"). These securities are generally referred 

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<PAGE>
to as private placements or restricted securities. Limitations on the resale of
such securities may have an adverse effect on their marketability, and may
prevent the Series from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices. The
Series may have to bear the expense of registering such securities for resale
and the risk of substantial delays in effecting such registration. The above
policy on purchase of illiquid securities may be changed by the Fund's
Trustees.

   Rule 144A under the Securities Act permits the Series to sell restricted 
securities to qualified institutional buyers without limitation. The Trustees 
of the Fund have adopted procedures for the Investment Manager to utilize in 
determining the liquidity of securities which may be sold pursuant to Rule 
144A. In addition, the Trustees have determined that, where such securities 
are determined to be liquid under these procedures, investment in such 
securities by the Series shall not be subject to the limitation on 
investments in illiquid securities referred to above. Investing in Rule 144A 
securities could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity to 
the extent a Series, at a particular point in time, may be unable to find 
qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing such securities. 

   Investments in Securities Rated Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P. The 
Intermediate Income Securities Series, American Value Series, Capital Growth 
Series, Dividend Growth Series, Strategist Series and Utilities Series may 
invest a portion of their assets in fixed-income securities rated at the time 
of purchase Baa or better by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or 
BBB or better by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P"). Investments in 
fixed-income securities rated either Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P (the lowest 
credit ratings designated "investment grade") may have speculative 
characteristics and, therefore, changes in economic conditions or other 
circumstances are more likely to weaken their capacity to make principal and 
interest payments than would be the case with investments in securities with 
higher credit ratings. If a bond held by a Series is downgraded by a rating 
agency to a rating of below Baa or BBB, the Series will retain such security 
in its portfolio until the Investment Manager determines that it is 
practicable to sell the security without undue market or tax consequences to 
the Series. 

   Convertible Securities. The American Value Series, Capital Growth Series, 
Dividend Growth Series, Strategist Series, Utilities Series and Global Equity 
Series may invest a portion of their assets in convertible securities. A 
convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other 
security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of 
common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of 
time at a specified price or formula. Convertible securities rank senior to 
common stocks in a corporation's capital structure and, therefore, entail 
less risk than the corporation's common stock. The value of a convertible 
security is a function of its "investment value" (its value as if it did not 
have a conversion privilege), and its "conversion value" (the security's 
worth if it were to be exchanged for the underlying security, at market 
value, pursuant to its conversion privilege). 

   To the extent that a convertible security's investment value is greater 
than its conversion value, its price will be primarily a reflection of such 
investment value and its price will be likely to increase when interest rates 
fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security 
(the credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also have an effect 
on the convertible security's value). If the conversion value exceeds the 
investment value, the price of the convertible security will rise above its 
investment value and, in addition, will sell at some premium over its 
conversion value. (This premium represents the price investors are willing to 
pay for the privilege of purchasing a fixed-income security with a 
possibility of capital appreciation due to the conversion privilege.) At such 
times the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly 
with the price of the underlying equity security. 

   Because of the special nature of certain of the Series' permitted 
investments in lower rated convertible securities, the Investment Manager 
must take account of certain special considerations in assessing the risks 
associated with such investments. The prices of lower rated securities have 
been found to be less sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates than 
higher rated investments, but are likely to be more sensitive to adverse 
economic changes or individual corporate developments. During an economic 
downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged 
issuers may experience financial stress which would adversely affect their 
ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet 
their projected business goals or to obtain additional financing. If the 
issuer of a lower rated convertible security owned by a Series defaults, such 
Series may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. In addition, periods 
of economic 

                               30           
<PAGE>
uncertainty and change can be expected to result in an increased volatility of
market prices of lower rated securities and a corresponding volatility in the
net asset value of a share of the Series.

   Real Estate Investment Trusts. Each Series, except the Liquid Asset 
Series, U.S. Government Money Market Series, U.S. Government Securities 
Series and Intermediate Income Securities Series may invest in real estate 
investment trusts, which pool investors' funds for investments primarily in 
commercial real estate properties. Investment in real estate investment 
trusts may be the most practical available means for the Series to invest in 
the real estate industry (the Series are prohibited from investing in real 
estate directly). As a shareholder in a real estate investment trust, a 
Series would bear its ratable share of the real estate investment trust's 
expenses, including its advisory and administration fees. At the same time 
the Series would continue to pay its own investment management fees and other 
expenses, as a result of which the Series and its shareholders in effect will 
be absorbing duplicate levels of fees with respect to investments in real 
estate investment trusts. Real estate investment trusts are not diversified 
and are subject to the risk of financing projects. They are also subject to 
heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers or tenants, 
self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free 
status under the Internal Revenue Code and failing to maintain exemption from 
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. 

   Lending of Portfolio Securities. Consistent with applicable regulatory 
requirements, each Series of the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to 
brokers, dealers and other financial institutions, provided that such loans 
are callable at any time by the Series (subject to certain notice provisions 
described in the Statement of Additional Information), and are at all times 
secured by cash or money market instruments, which are maintained in a 
segregated account pursuant to applicable regulations and that are equal to 
at least the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. As 
with any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in 
some cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the 
securities fail financially. However, loans of portfolio securities will only 
be made to firms deemed by the Investment Manager to be creditworthy and when 
the income which can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks. 

   Foreign Securities. The Global Equity Series will invest extensively in 
foreign securities. In addition, the American Value, Capital Growth, 
Strategist, Utilities and Intermediate Income Securities Series may, to a 
considerably lesser extent, invest in foreign securities. 

   Foreign securities investments may be affected by changes in currency 
rates or exchange control regulations, changes in governmental administration 
or economic or monetary policy (in the United States and abroad) or changed 
circumstances in dealings between nations. Fluctuations in the relative rates 
of exchange between the currencies of different nations will affect the value 
of a Series' investments denominated in foreign currency. Changes in foreign 
currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. 
dollar value of a Series' assets denominated in that currency and thereby 
impact upon the Series' total return on such assets. 

   Foreign currency exchange rates are determined by forces of supply and 
demand on the foreign exchange markets. These forces are themselves affected 
by the international balance of payments and other economic and financial 
conditions, government intervention, speculation and other factors. Moreover, 
foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by the regulatory control of 
the exchanges on which the currencies trade. The foreign currency 
transactions of a Series will be conducted on a spot basis or, in the case of 
the Global Equity Series, through forward contracts or futures contracts 
(described below under "Options and Futures Transactions"). The Series will 
incur certain costs in connection with these currency transactions. 

   Investments in foreign securities will also occasion risks relating to 
political and economic developments abroad, including the possibility of 
expropriations or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the use or transfer 
of Fund assets and any effects of foreign social, economic or political 
instability. Foreign companies are not subject to the regulatory requirements 
of U.S. companies and, as such, there may be less publicly available 
information about such companies. Moreover, foreign companies are not subject 
to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and 
requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. 

   Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid than comparable 
securities of U.S. issuers and, as such, their price changes may be more 
volatile. Furthermore, foreign exchanges and broker-dealers 

                               31           
<PAGE>
are generally subject to less government and exchange scrutiny and regulation
than their American counterparts. Brokerage commissions, dealer concessions and
other transaction costs may be higher on foreign markets than in the U.S. In
addition, differences in clearance and settlement procedures on foreign markets
may occasion delays in settlements of a Series' trades effected in such
markets. Inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement delays
could result in losses to a Series due to subsequent declines in value of such
securities and the inability of the Series to make intended security purchases
due to settlement problems could result in a failure of the Series to make
potentially advantageous investments. To the extent a Series purchases
Eurodollar certificates of deposit issued by foreign branches of domestic
United States banks, consideration will be given to their domestic
marketability, the lower reserve requirements normally mandated for overseas
banking operations, the possible impact of interruptions in the flow of
international currency transactions, and future international political and
economic developments which might adversely affect the payment of principal or
interest.

   Mortgage-Backed Securities. The U.S. Government Securities Series may 
invest in mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities have certain 
different characteristics than traditional debt securities. Among the major 
differences are that interest and principal payments are made more 
frequently, usually monthly, and that principal may be prepaid at any time 
because the underlying mortgage loans or other assets generally may be 
prepaid at any time. As a result, if the Series purchases such a security at 
a premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than expected may reduce yield to 
maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected may have the 
opposite effect of increasing yield to maturity. Alternatively, if the Series 
purchases these securities at a discount, faster than expected prepayments 
will increase, while slower than expected prepayments may reduce, yield to 
maturity. 

   Mortgage-backed securities, like all fixed-income securities, generally 
decrease in value as a result of increases in interest rates. In addition, 
although generally the value of fixed-income securities increases during 
periods of falling interest rates, mortgage-backed securities may benefit 
less than other fixed-income securities from declining interest rates because 
of the risk of prepayments. As discussed above under "GNMA Certificates," the 
assumed average life of mortgages backing the majority of GNMA Certificates 
is twelve years. This average life is likely to be substantially shorter than 
the original maturity of the mortgage pools underlying the certificates, as a 
pool's duration may be shortened by unscheduled or early payments of 
principal on the underlying mortgages. As prepayment rates vary widely, it is 
not possible to accurately predict the average life of a particular pool. 

   Although the extent of prepayments or a pool of mortgage loans depends on 
various factors, including the prevailing level of interest rates, general 
economic conditions, the location and age of the mortgage and other social 
and demographic conditions, as a general rule prepayments on fixed rate 
mortgage loans will increase during a period of falling interest rates and 
decrease during a period of rising interest rates. If the Series has 
purchased securities backed by pools containing mortgages whose yields exceed 
the prevailing interest rate any premium paid for such securities may be 
lost. As a result, the net asset value of shares of the U.S. Government 
Securities Series and the Series' ability to achieve its investment objective 
may be adversely affected by mortgage prepayments. Amounts available for 
reinvestment by the Series are likely to be greater during a period of 
declining interest rates and, as a result, likely to be reinvested at lower 
interest rates than during a period of rising interest rates. 

   There are certain risks associated specifically with CMOs. A number of 
different factors, including the extent of prepayment of principal of the 
Mortgage Assets, affect the availability of cash for principal payments by 
the CMO issuer on any payment date and, accordingly, affect the timing of 
principal payments on each CMO class. 

   Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. The American Value, Capital 
Growth, Strategist, Utilities and Global Equity Series may enter into forward 
foreign currency exchange contracts ("forward contracts") to facilitate 
settlement of foreign currency denominated portfolio securities. In addition, 
the Global Equity Series may enter into forward contracts in connection with 
its foreign securities investments under various other circumstances. 

   A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a currency 
at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the 
contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the 
contract. A Series may enter into forward contracts as a hedge against 
fluctuations in future foreign exchange rates. 

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<PAGE>
   When a Series enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a 
security denominated in a foreign currency, it may, for example, desire to 
"lock in" the price of the security in U.S. dollars or some other foreign 
currency which the Series is temporarily holding in its portfolio. By 
entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount 
of dollars or other currency, of the amount of foreign currency involved in 
the underlying security transactions, the Series will be able to protect 
itself against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the 
relationship between the U.S. dollar or other currency which is being used 
for the security purchase and the foreign currency in which the security is 
denominated during the period between the date on which the security is 
purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. 

   Other circumstances under which the Global Equity Series may enter into 
forward contracts are as follows. At times, when, for example, the Global 
Equity Series' Investment Manager believes that the currency of a particular 
foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar or 
some other foreign currency, the Global Equity Series may enter into a 
forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of dollars or other currency, 
the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the 
Series' securities holdings (or securities which the Series has purchased for 
its portfolio) denominated in such foreign currency. Under identical 
circumstances, the Series may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a 
fixed amount of U.S. dollars or other currency, an amount of foreign currency 
other than the currency in which the securities to be hedged are denominated 
approximating the value of some or all of the portfolio securities to be 
hedged. This method of hedging, called "cross-hedging," will be selected by 
the Investment Manager when it is determined that the foreign currency in 
which the portfolio securities are denominated has insufficient liquidity or 
is trading at a discount as compared with some other foreign currency with 
which it tends to move in tandem. 

   In addition, when the Global Equity Series' Investment Manager anticipates 
purchasing securities at some time in the future, and wishes to lock in the 
current exchange rate of the currency in which those securities are 
denominated against the U.S. dollar or some other foreign currency, the 
Series may enter into a forward contract to purchase an amount of currency 
equal to some or all of the value of the anticipated purchase, for a fixed 
amount of U.S. dollars or other currency. The Series may, however, close out 
the forward contract without purchasing the security which was the subject of 
the "anticipatory" hedge. 

   Lastly, the Global Equity Series is permitted to enter into forward 
contracts with respect to currencies in which certain of its portfolio 
securities are denominated and on which options have been written (see 
"Options and Futures Transactions"). 

   In all of the above circumstances, if the currency in which the Series' 
securities holdings (or anticipated portfolio securities) are denominated 
rises in value with respect to the currency which is being purchased (or 
sold), then the Series will have realized fewer gains than had the Series not 
entered into the forward contracts. Moreover, the precise matching of the 
forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not 
generally be possible, since the future value of such securities in foreign 
currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of 
those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and 
the date it matures. The Series are not required to enter into such 
transactions with regard to their foreign currency-denominated securities and 
will not do so unless deemed appropriate by the Investment Manager. 

   The Global Equity Series generally will not enter into a forward contract 
with a term of greater than one year, although it may enter into forward 
contracts for periods of up to five years. To the extent that the Global 
Equity Series enters into forward foreign currency contracts to hedge against 
a decline in the value of portfolio holdings denominated in a particular 
foreign currency resulting from currency fluctuations, there is a risk that 
the Series may nevertheless realize a gain or loss as a result of currency 
fluctuations after such portfolio holdings are sold if the Series is unable 
to enter into an "offsetting" forward foreign currency contract with the same 
party or another party. The Global Equity Series may be limited in its 
ability to enter into hedging transactions involving forward contracts by the 
Internal Revenue Code's requirements relating to qualifications as a 
regulated investment company (see "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes"). 

OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS 

   As noted above, each of the American Value, Capital Growth, Strategist, 
Utilities, Global Equity and Intermediate Income Securities Series may write 
covered call options and covered put options 

                               33           
<PAGE>
on eligible portfolio securities and on stock and bond indexes and purchase 
options of the same or similar series to effect closing transactions, and may 
hedge against potential changes in the market value of its investments (or 
anticipated investments) by purchasing put and call options on securities 
which it holds (or has the right to acquire) in its portfolio and engaging in 
transactions involving interest rate futures contracts and index futures 
contracts and options on such contracts. The Value-Added Market Series may 
purchase stock index futures as a temporary substitute for the purchase of 
individual stocks. The Global Equity Series may also hedge against potential 
changes in the market value of the currencies in which its investments (or 
anticipated investments) are denominated by purchasing put and call options 
on currencies and engaging in transactions involving currency futures 
contracts and options on such contracts. 

   Call and put options on U.S. Treasury notes, bonds and bills, on various 
foreign currencies and on equity securities are listed on Exchanges and are 
written in over-the-counter transactions ("OTC options"). Listed options are 
issued or guaranteed by the exchange on which they trade or by a clearing 
corporation such as the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC"). Ownership of a 
listed call option gives the Series the right to buy from the OCC (in the 
U.S.) or other clearing corporation or exchange the underlying security 
covered by the option at the stated exercise price (the price per unit of the 
underlying security) by filing an exercise notice prior to the expiration of 
the option. The writer (seller) of the option would then have the obligation 
to sell to the OCC (in the U.S.) or other clearing corporation or exchange 
the underlying security at that exercise price prior to the expiration date 
of the option, regardless of its then current market price. Ownership of a 
listed put option would give the Series the right to sell the underlying 
security to the OCC (in the U.S.) or other clearing corporation or exchange 
at the stated exercise price. Upon notice of exercise of the put option, the 
writer of the put would have the obligation to purchase the underlying 
security from the OCC (in the U.S.) or other clearing corporation or exchange 
at the exercise price. 

   Exchange-listed options are issued by the OCC (in the U.S.) or other 
clearing corporation or exchange which assures that all transactions in such 
options are properly executed. OTC options are purchased from or sold 
(written) to dealers or financial institutions which have entered into direct 
agreements with the Series. With OTC options, such variables as expiration 
date, exercise price and premium will be agreed upon between the Series and 
the transacting dealer, without the intermediation of a third party such as 
the OCC. If the transacting dealer fails to make or take delivery of the 
securities or currency underlying an option it has written, in accordance 
with the terms of that option, the Series would lose the premium paid for the 
option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. The Series will 
engage in OTC option transactions only with member banks of the Federal 
Reserve System or primary dealers in U.S. Government securities or with 
affiliates of such banks or dealers which have capital of at least $50 
million or whose obligations are guaranteed by an entity having capital of at 
least $50 million. 

   Covered Call Writing. Series are permitted to write covered call options 
on portfolio securities, without limit, in order to aid them in achieving 
their investment objectives. In the case of the Global Equity Series, such 
options may be denominated in either U.S. dollars or foreign currencies and 
may be on the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. As a writer of a call 
option, the Series has the obligation, upon notice of exercise of the option, 
to deliver the security (or amount of currency) underlying the option prior 
to the expiration date of the option (certain listed and OTC put options 
written by a Series will be exercisable by the purchaser only on a specific 
date). 

   Covered Put Writing. As a writer of covered put options, a Series incurs 
an obligation to buy the security underlying the option from the purchaser of 
the put, at the option's exercise price at any time during the option period, 
at the purchaser's election (certain listed and OTC put options written by a 
Series will be exercisable by the purchaser only on a specific date). Series 
will write put options for two purposes: (1) to receive the income derived 
from the premiums paid by purchasers; and (2) when the Series' management 
wishes to purchase the security underlying the option at a price lower than 
its current market price, in which case the Series will write the covered put 
at an exercise price reflecting the lower purchase price sought. The 
aggregate value of the obligations underlying the puts determined as of the 
date the options are sold will not exceed 50% of a Series' net assets. 

   Purchasing Call and Put Options. Series may purchase listed and OTC call 
and put options in amounts equalling up to 10% of their total assets. These 
Series may purchase call options either to 

                               34           
<PAGE>
close out a covered call position or to protect against an increase in the 
price of a security a Series anticipates purchasing or, in the case of call 
options on a foreign currency, to hedge against an adverse exchange rate 
change of the currency in which the security the Global Equity Series 
anticipates purchasing is denominated vis-a-vis the currency in which the 
exercise price is denominated. The Series may purchase put options on 
securities which it holds (or has the right to acquire) in its portfolio only 
to protect itself against a decline in the value of the security. Similarly, 
the Global Equity Series may purchase put options on currencies in which 
securities it holds are denominated only to protect itself against a decline 
in value of such currency vis-a-vis the currency in which the exercise price 
is denominated. The Series may also purchase put options to close out written 
put positions in a manner similar to call option closing purchase 
transactions. There are no other limits on the ability of these Series to 
purchase call and put options. 

   Stock Index Options. Series may invest in options on stock indexes, which 
are similar to options on stock except that, rather than the right to take or 
make delivery of stock at a specified price, an option on a stock index gives 
the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of 
cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based 
is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, 
the exercise price of the option. 

   Futures Contracts. The Intermediate Income Securities, American Value, 
Capital Growth, Strategist, Utilities, Value-Added Market and Global Equity 
Series may purchase and sell interest rate futures contracts that are 
currently traded, or may in the future be traded, on U.S. commodity exchanges 
on such underlying securities as U.S. Treasury bonds, notes, and bills and 
GNMA Certificates and stock and bond index futures contracts that are traded 
on U.S. commodity exchanges on such indexes as the Moody's Investment-Grade 
Corporate Bond Index, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and the New York Stock 
Exchange Composite Index. The Global Equity Series may also purchase and sell 
futures contracts that are currently traded, or may in the future be traded, 
on foreign commodity exchanges on such underlying securities as common stocks 
or any foreign government fixed-income security, on various currencies 
("currency futures") and on various indexes of foreign equity and 
fixed-income securities as may exist or come into being. As a futures 
contract purchaser, a Series incurs an obligation to take delivery of a 
specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a specified 
time in the future for a specified price. As a seller of a futures contract, 
a Series incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of the 
underlying obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon price. 

   Series will purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts and bond 
index futures contracts for the purpose of hedging their fixed-income 
portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) securities against changes in prevailing 
interest rates or, in the case of the Strategist and Utilities Series to 
alter the Series' asset allocations. Series will, generally, purchase or sell 
stock index futures contracts for the purpose of hedging their equity 
portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) securities against changes in their 
prices. The Value-Added Market Series will purchase stock index futures as a 
temporary substitute for the purchase or sale of individual stocks, which may 
then be purchased or sold in an orderly fashion. The Global Equity Series 
will purchase or sell currency futures on currencies in which its portfolio 
securities (or anticipated portfolio securities) are denominated for the 
purposes of hedging against anticipated changes in currency exchange rates. 
When, for example, either the Strategist or Utilities Series wishes to 
increase its allocation in fixed-income securities, it may purchase a futures 
contract on a bond index or on a U.S. Treasury bond, or a call option on such 
futures contract, thereby increasing its exposure to the fixed-income sector. 

   Options on Futures Contracts. The Intermediate Income Securities, American 
Value, Capital Growth, Strategist, Utilities and Global Equity Series may 
purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts which are traded 
on an exchange and enter into closing transactions with respect to such 
options to terminate an existing position. 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 (a long position if the option is a call and a 
short position if the option is a put) at a specified exercise price at any 
time during the term of the option. Series will only purchase and write 
options on futures contracts for identical purposes to those set forth above 
for the purchase of a futures contract (purchase of a call option or sale of 
a put option) and the sale of a futures contract (purchase of a put option or 
sale of a call option), or to close out a long or short position in futures 
contracts. 

                               35           
<PAGE>
   Risks of Options and Futures Transactions. A Series may close out its 
position as writer of an option, or as a buyer or seller of a futures 
contract, only if a liquid secondary market exists for options or futures 
contracts of that series. There is no assurance that such a market will 
exist, particularly in the case of OTC options, as such options will 
generally only be closed out by entering into a closing purchase transaction 
with the purchasing dealer. Also, exchanges limit the amount by which the 
price of a futures contract may move on any day. If the price moves equal the 
daily limit on successive days, then it may prove impossible to liquidate a 
futures position until the daily limit moves have ceased. 

   The extent to which a Series may enter into transactions involving options 
and futures contracts may be limited by the Internal Revenue Code's 
requirements for qualification of each Series as a regulated investment 
company and the Fund's intention to qualify each Series as such. See 
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes." 

   Futures contracts and options transactions may be considered speculative 
in nature and may involve greater risks than those customarily assumed by 
other investment companies which do not invest in such instruments. One such 
risk is that a Series' management could be incorrect in its expectations as 
to the direction or extent of various interest rate movements or the time 
span within which the movements take place. For example, if a Series sold 
interest rate futures contracts for the sale of securities in anticipation of 
an increase in interest rates, and then interest rates went down instead, 
causing bond prices to rise, the Series would lose money on the sale. Another 
risk which may arise in employing futures contracts to protect against the 
price volatility of portfolio securities is that the prices of securities, 
currencies and indexes subject to futures contracts (and thereby the futures 
contract prices) may correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the U.S. 
dollar cash prices of the portfolio securities (and, in the case of the 
Global Equity Series, the securities' denominated currencies). Another such 
risk is that prices of interest rate futures contracts may not move in tandem 
with the changes in prevailing interest rates against which the Series seeks 
a hedge. A correlation may also be distorted by the fact that the futures 
market is dominated by short-term traders seeking to profit from the 
difference between a contract or security price objective and their cost of 
borrowed funds. Such distortions are generally minor and would diminish as 
the contract approached maturity. 

   The Global Equity Series, by entering into transactions in foreign futures 
and options markets, will incur risks similar to those discussed above under 
"Foreign Securities." 

   New options and futures contracts and other financial products and various 
combinations thereof continue to be developed. The Series may invest in any 
such options, futures and other products as may be developed to the extent 
consistent with their investment objectives and applicable regulatory 
requirements, and will make any and all pertinent disclosures relating to 
such investments in its Prospectus and/or Statement of Additional 
Information. Except as otherwise noted above, and as set forth in other 
investment policies and investment restrictions, there are no limitations on 
any Series' ability to invest in options, futures or options on futures. 

PORTFOLIO TRADING 

   Although each Series does not intend to engage in short-term trading of 
portfolio securities as a means of achieving the investment objectives of the 
respective Series, each Series may sell portfolio securities without regard 
to the length of time they have been held whenever such sale will in the 
opinion of the Investment Manager strengthen the Series' position and 
contribute to its investment objectives. In determining which securities to 
purchase for the Series or hold in a Series, the Investment Manager will rely 
on information from various sources, including research, analysis and 
appraisals of brokers and dealers, the views of Trustees of the Fund and 
others regarding economic developments and interest rate trends, and the 
Investment Manager's own analysis of factors it deems relevant. 

   Personnel of the Investment Manager have substantial experience in the use 
of the investment techniques described above under the heading "Options and 
Futures Transactions," which techniques require skills different from those 
needed to select the portfolio securities underlying various options and 
futures contracts. 

   Brokerage commissions are not normally charged on the purchase or sale of 
money market instruments and U.S. Government obligations, or on currency 
conversions, but such transactions will involve costs in the form of spreads 
between bid and asked prices. Orders for transactions in portfolio securities 
and commodities may be placed for the Fund with a number of brokers and 
dealers, including DWR and other broker-dealer affiliates of the 

                               36           
<PAGE>
Investment Manager. Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange 
Commission, the Fund may effect principal transactions in certain money 
market instruments with DWR. In addition, the Fund may incur brokerage 
commissions on transactions conducted through DWR. 

   The Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series are expected to 
have high portfolio turnovers due to the short-term maturities of securities 
purchased, but this should not affect income or net asset value as brokerage 
commissions are not normally charged on the purchase or sale of money market 
instruments. It is not anticipated that the portfolio turnover rates of the 
Series will exceed the following percentages in any year: U.S. Government 
Securities Series, Capital Growth Series, Dividend Growth Series, Utilities 
Series, Value-Added Market Series and Global Equity Series: 100%; 
Intermediate Income Securities Series and Strategist Series: 200%; American 
Value Series: 400%. A portfolio turnover rate exceeding 100% in any one year 
is greater than that of many other investment companies. Each Series of the 
Fund will incur underwriting discount costs (on underwritten securities) 
and/or brokerage costs commensurate with its portfolio turnover rate. 
Short-term gains and losses may result from such portfolio transactions. See 
"Dividends, Distribution and Taxes" for a discussion of the tax implications 
of these trading policies. 

   The expenses of the Global Equity Series relating to its portfolio 
management are likely to be greater than those incurred by other investment 
companies investing primarily in securities issued by domestic issuers as 
custodial costs, brokerage commissions and other transaction charges related 
to investing in foreign markets are generally higher than in the United 
States. Short-term gains and losses may result from portfolio transactions. 
See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" for a discussion of the tax 
implications of the Series' trading policies. A more extensive discussion of 
the Series' brokerage policies is set forth in the Statement of Additional 
Information. 

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT 

   The following individuals are primarily responsible for the day-to-day 
management of certain of the Series of the Fund: Rajesh K. Gupta, Senior Vice 
President of InterCapital, has been the primary portfolio manager of the U.S. 
Government Securities Series since its inception; Mr. Gupta has been managing 
portfolios comprised of U.S. Government and other securities at InterCapital 
for over five years. Rochelle G. Siegel, Senior Vice President of 
InterCapital, has been the primary portfolio manager of the Intermediate 
Income Securities Series since its inception; Ms. Siegel has been managing 
portfolios comprised of fixed-income securities at InterCapital for over five 
years. Anita H. Kolleeny, Senior Vice President of InterCapital, has been the 
primary portfolio manager of the American Value Series since its inception; 
Ms. Kolleeny has been managing portfolios comprised of equity and other 
securities at InterCapital for over five years. Paul D. Vance, Senior Vice 
President of InterCapital, has been the primary portfolio manager of the 
Dividend Growth Series since its inception; Mr. Vance has been managing 
portfolios comprised of equity and other securities at InterCapital for over 
five years. Peter Hermann, Vice President of InterCapital, has been the 
primary portfolio manager of the Capital Growth Series since April, 1996; 
prior to joining InterCapital in March, 1994, Mr. Hermann was a portfolio 
manager at The Bank of New York. Mark Bavoso, Senior Vice President of 
InterCapital, has been the primary portfolio manager of the Strategist Series 
since January, 1994 and of the Global Equity Series since August, 1995; Mr. 
Bavoso has been a portfolio manager at InterCapital for over five years. 
Edward F. Gaylor, Senior Vice President of InterCapital, has been the primary 
portfolio manager of the Utilities Series since its inception; Mr. Gaylor has 
been managing portfolios comprised of equity and other securities at 
InterCapital for over five years. Kenton J. Hinchliffe, Senior Vice President 
of InterCapital; and Alice Weiss, Vice President of InterCapital, have been 
the primary portfolio managers of the Value-Added Market Series since its 
inception and September, 1997, respectively; Mr. Hinchliffe and Ms. Weiss 
have been managing portfolios comprised of equity and other securities at 
InterCapital for over five years. 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The investment restrictions listed below are among the restrictions that 
have been adopted as fundamental policies of the Intermediate Income 
Securities, American Value, Capital Growth, Dividend Growth, Utilities, 
Value-Added Market and Global Equity Series. In addition, the Liquid Asset 
Series has adopted restrictions two and five as fundamental policies and the 
Strategist Series has 

                               37           
<PAGE>
adopted restrictions three, four and five as fundamental policies. Under the 
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), a fundamental policy 
may not be changed with respect to a Series without the vote of a majority of 
the outstanding voting securities of that Series, as defined in the Act. 

   Each Series of the Fund may not: 

     1. As to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of the value of its 
    total assets in the securities of any one issuer (other than obligations 
    issued, or guaranteed by, the United States Government, its agencies or 
    instrumentalities). 

     2. As to 75% of its total assets, purchase more than 10% of all 
    outstanding voting securities or any class of securities of any one 
    issuer. (All of the Series of the Fund may, collectively, purchase more 
    than 10% of all outstanding voting securities or any class of securities 
    of any one issuer.) 

     3. With the exception of the Utilities Series, invest 25% or more of the 
    value of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry. 
    This restriction does not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the 
    United States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities. 

     4. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of 
    issuers having a record, together with predecessors, of less than three 
    years of continuous operation. This restriction shall not apply to any 
    obligation issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its 
    agencies or instrumentalities. 

     5. Invest more than 15% (10% with respect to the Liquid Asset and U.S. 
    Government Money Market Series) of its total assets in "illiquid 
    Securities" (securities for which market quota tions are not readily 
    available) and repurchase agreements which have a maturity of longer than 
    seven days. 

     Generally, OTC options and the assets used as "cover" for written OTC 
    options are illiquid securities. However, a Series is permitted to treat 
    the securities it uses as cover for written OTC options as liquid provided 
    it follows a procedure whereby it will sell OTC options only to qualified 
    dealers who agree that the Series may repurchase such options at a maximum 
    price to be calculated pursuant to a predetermined formula set forth in 
    the option agreement. The formula set forth in the option agreement may 
    vary from agreement to agreement, but is generally based on a multiple of 
    the premium received by the Series for writing the option plus the amount, 
    if any, of the option's intrinsic value. An OTC option is considered an 
    illiquid asset only to the extent that the maximum repurchase price under 
    the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. 

   The Liquid Asset Series has also adopted the following restrictions as 
fundamental policies: 

     1. With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase any securities, 
    other than obligations of the U.S. Government, or its agencies or in 
    strumentalities, if, immediately after such purchase, more than 5% of the 
    value of the Liquid Asset Series' total assets would be invested in 
    securities of any one issuer. (However, as a non-fundamental policy, the 
    Liquid Asset Series will not invest more than 10% of its total assets in 
    the securities of any one issuer. Furthermore, pursuant to current 
    regulatory requirements, the Liquid Asset Series may only invest more than 
    5% of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer (and only with 
    respect to one issuer at a time) for a period of not more than three 
    business days and only if the securities have received the highest quality 
    rating by at least two NRSROs.) 

     2. Purchase any securities, other than obligations of domestic banks or 
    of the U.S. Government, or its agencies or instrumentalities, if, 
    immediately after such purchase, more than 25% of the value of the Liquid 
    Asset Series' total assets would be invested in the securities of issuers 
    in the same industry; however, there is no limitation as to investments in 
    domestic bank obligations or in obligations issued or guaranteed by the 
    U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities. 

   All percentage limitations apply immediately after a purchase or initial 
investment, and any subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting 
from market fluctuations or other changes in the amount of total assets does 
not require elimination of any security from the Series. 

                               38           
<PAGE>
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The net asset value per share is calculated separately for each Series. In 
general, the net asset value per share is computed by taking the value of all 
the assets of the Series, subtracting all liabilities, dividing by the number 
of shares outstanding and adjusting the result to the nearest cent. The Fund 
will compute the net asset value per share of each Series once daily at 4:00 
p.m., New York time (or, on days when the New York Stock Exchange closes 
prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on each day the New York Stock 
Exchange is open for trading. The net asset value per share will not be 
determined on Good Friday and on such other federal and non-federal holidays 
as are observed by the New York Stock Exchange. 

   The Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series utilize the 
amortized cost method in valuing their portfolio securities, which method 
involves valuing a security at its cost adjusted by a constant amortization 
to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of 
fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument. The purpose 
of this method of calculation is to facilitate the maintenance of a constant 
net asset value per share of $1.00. However, there can be no assurance that 
the $1.00 net asset value will be maintained. 

   In the calculation of the net asset value of the Series other than the 
Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series: (1) an equity portfolio 
security listed or traded on the New York or American Stock Exchange or other 
domestic or foreign stock exchange is valued at its latest sale price on that 
exchange prior to the time assets are valued (if there were no sales that 
day, the security is valued at the closing bid price and in cases where 
securities are traded on more than one exchange, the securities are valued on 
the exchange designated as the primary market pursuant to procedures adopted 
by the Trustees); and (2) all other portfolio securities for which 
over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valued at the 
latest available bid price prior to the time of valuation. When market 
quotations are not readily available, including circumstances under which it 
is determined by the Investment Manager that sale or bid prices are not 
reflective of a security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at 
their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by 
and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees. Valuation of 
securities for which market quotations are not readily available may also be 
based upon current market prices of securities which are comparable in 
coupon, rating and maturity or an appropriate matrix utilizing similar 
factors. For valuation purposes, quotations of foreign portfolio securities, 
other assets and liabilities and forward contracts stated in foreign currency 
are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the prevailing market rates 
prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange. Dividends receivable are 
accrued as of the ex-dividend date except for certain dividends from foreign 
securities which are accrued as soon as the Fund is informed of such 
dividends after the ex-dividend date. 

   Certain of the portfolio securities of each Series may be valued by an 
outside pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees. The pricing service 
may utilize a matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and 
coupon as the evaluation model parameters, and/or research evaluations by its 
staff, including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, in 
determining what it believes is the fair valuation of the portfolio 
securities valued by such pricing service. 

   Short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less 
at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost, unless the Trustees 
determine such does not reflect the securities' market value, in which case 
these securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by the 
Trustees. Other short-term debt securities will be valued on a mark-to-market 
basis until such time as they reach a remaining maturity of sixty days, 
whereupon they will be valued at amortized cost using their value on the 61st 
day unless the Trustees determine such does not reflect the securities' 
market value, in which case these securities will be valued at their fair 
value as determined by the Trustees. Options are valued at the mean between 
their latest bid and asked prices. Futures are valued at the latest sale 
price on the commodities exchange on which they trade unless the Trustees 
determine that such price does not reflect their market value, in which case 
they will be valued at their fair value as determined by the Trustees. All 
other securities and other assets are valued at their fair value as 
determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the 
general supervision of the Trustees. 

                               39           
<PAGE>
   Generally, trading in foreign securities, as well as corporate bonds, 
United States government securities and money market instruments, is 
substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of the 
New York Stock Exchange. The values of such securities used in computing the 
net asset value of a Series' shares are determined as of such times. Foreign 
currency exchange rates are also generally determined prior to the close of 
the New York Stock Exchange. Occasionally, events which affect the values of 
such securities and such exchange rates may occur between the times at which 
they are determined and the close of the New York Stock Exchange and will 
therefore not be reflected in the computation of a Series' net asset value. 
If events materially affecting the value of such securities occur during such 
period, then those securities will be valued at their fair value as 
determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the 
supervision of the Trustees. 

PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Shares of the Fund are offered for sale to investors participating in 
various employee benefit plans and Individual Retirement Account ("IRA") 
rollover plans on a continuous basis, without a sales charge, at the net 
asset value per share of each Series. There is no minimum initial or 
subsequent purchase of shares of the Fund. 

   Pursuant to a Distribution Agreement between the Fund and Dean Witter 
Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of InterCapital, shares 
of the Fund are distributed by the Distributor and offered by DWR and other 
dealers who have entered into selected dealer agreements with the Distributor 
("Selected Broker-Dealers"). The principal executive office of the 
Distributor is located at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. 

   Initial and subsequent purchases may be made by contacting Dean Witter 
Trust FSB at P.O. Box 1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303, or by contacting an 
account executive of DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer. The Fund and/or 
the Distributor reserve the right to permit purchases by non-employee benefit 
plan investors. 

   All shares of the Fund, with the exception of shares of the Liquid Asset 
and U.S. Government Money Market Series, are sold through the Distributor on 
a normal three business day settlement basis; that is, payment is due on the 
third business day (settlement date) after the order is placed with the 
Distributor. The offering price of such shares will be the net asset value 
per share next determined following receipt of an order (see "Determination 
of Net Asset Value"). Shares of the U.S. Government Securities and 
Intermediate Income Securities Series which are purchased through the 
Distributor are entitled to dividends beginning on the next business day 
following settlement date and shares of these Series purchased through the 
Transfer Agent are entitled to dividends beginning on the next business day 
following receipt of a purchase order. Shares of the U.S. Government 
Securities Series and the Intermediate Income Securities Series will be 
entitled to receive capital gains distributions if the order is received by 
the close of business on the date prior to the record date for such 
distribution. Investors in the American Value, Capital Growth, Dividend 
Growth, Strategist, Utilities, Value-Added Market and Global Equity Series of 
the Fund will be entitled to receive income dividends and capital gains 
distributions if their order is received by the close of business on the day 
prior to the record date for such distributions. Since the Distributor 
forwards investors' funds on settlement date, it will benefit from the 
temporary use of the funds if payment is made prior thereto. As noted above, 
orders placed directly with the Transfer Agent must be accompanied by 
payment. The Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any 
purchase orders. 

   Sales personnel of a Selected Broker-Dealer are compensated for shares of 
the Fund sold by them by the Distributor or any of its affiliates and/or by a 
Selected Broker-Dealer. In addition, some sales personnel of the Selected 
Broker-Dealer will receive non-cash compensation as special sales incentives, 
including trips, educational and/or business seminars and merchandise. The 
Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase orders. 

   Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series. The offering price 
of the shares of the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series 
will be at their net asset value next determined after receipt of a purchase 
order and acceptance by the Transfer Agent in proper form and accompanied by 
payment in Federal Funds (i.e., monies of member banks within the Federal 
Reserve System held on deposit at a Federal Reserve Bank) available to the 
Fund for investment. Shares commence earning income on the day fol- 

                               40           
<PAGE>
lowing the date of purchase. Share certificates will not be issued unless 
requested in writing by the shareholder. 

   To initiate purchase by mail or wire, the investor should contact Dean 
Witter Trust FSB, at P.O. Box 1040, Jersey City, NJ 07303. Purchases by wire 
must be preceded by a call to the Transfer Agent advising it of the purchase 
and must be wired to Dean Witter Retirement Series: (name of Series), The 
Bank of New York, for credit to the Account of Dean Witter Trust FSB, 
Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, New Jersey, Account No. 
8900188413. Wire purchase instructions must include the name of the Fund and 
Series and the shareholder's account number. Purchases made by check are 
normally effective within two business days for checks drawn on Federal 
Reserve System member banks, and longer for most other checks. Wire purchases 
received by the Transfer Agent prior to 12 noon New York time are normally 
effective that day and wire purchases received after 12 noon New York time 
are normally effective the next business day. The Fund reserves the right to 
reject any purchase order. 

   Orders for the purchase of Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market 
Series shares placed by customers through the Distributor with payment in 
clearing house funds will be transmitted by the Distributor to the Fund with 
payment in Federal Funds on the business day following the day the order is 
placed by the customer with the Distributor. Investors desiring same day 
effectiveness should wire Federal Funds directly to the Transfer Agent. 

   For further information concerning purchases of the Fund's shares, contact 
the Distributor or consult the Statement of Additional Information. The Fund 
and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase orders. 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 

   The Fund has entered into a Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 
under the Act with the Distributor and DWR whereby the Distributor and any of 
its affiliates are authorized to utilize their own resources to finance 
certain activities in connection with the distribution of the Fund's shares. 
Among the activities and services which may be provided by the Distributor 
under the Plan are: (1) compensation to, and expenses of, account executives 
and other employees of the Distributor and others, including overhead and 
telephone expenses; (2) sales incentives and bonuses to sales representatives 
and to marketing personnel in connection with promoting sales of the Fund's 
shares; (3) expenses incurred in connection with promoting sales of the 
Fund's shares; (4) preparing and distributing sales literature; and (5) 
providing advertising and promotional activities, including direct mail 
solicitation and tele vision, radio, newspaper, magazine and other media 
advertisements. 

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions. All income dividends 
and capital gains distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional 
shares of the shareholders selected Series, unless the shareholder requests 
that they be paid in cash. Each purchase of shares of the Fund is made upon 
the condition that the Transfer Agent is thereby automatically appointed as 
agent of the investor to receive all dividends and capital gains 
distributions on shares owned by the investor. Such dividends and 
distributions will be paid in shares, at the net asset value per share, each 
day on which the Series' shares are valued (for the Liquid Asset and U.S. 
Government Money Market Series) and in shares of the U.S. Government 
Securities and Intermediate Income Securities Series on the monthly payment 
date, which will be no later than the last business day of the month for 
which the dividend or distribution is payable. Shareholders of the Liquid 
Asset, U.S. Government Money Market, U.S. Government Securities and 
Intermediate Income Securities Series who have requested to receive dividends 
in cash will normally receive their monthly dividend check during the first 
ten days of the following month. Dividends and distributions of the American 
Value, Capital Growth, Dividend Growth, Utilities, Strategist, Value-Added 
Market and Global Equity Series will be paid, at the net asset values per 
share of each Series, in shares of the Series (or in cash if the shareholder 
so requests) as of the close of business on the record date. At any time an 
investor may request the Transfer Agent in writing to have subsequent 
dividends and/or capital gains distributions paid to the investor in cash 
rather than shares. To assure sufficient time to process the change, such 
request must be received by the Transfer Agent at least five business days 
prior to the payment date for which it commences to take effect. In case of 
recently purchased shares for which registration instructions have not been 
re- 

                               41           
<PAGE>
ceived on the record date, cash payments will be made to DWR or other 
Selected Broker-Dealers through whom shares were purchased. 

   Systematic Withdrawal Plan. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal 
Plan") is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the Fund 
having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon the then current net asset 
value. The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or quarterly (March, June, 
September and December) checks in any dollar amount, not less than $25, or in 
any whole percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. Each 
withdrawal constitutes a redemption of shares and any gain or loss realized 
must be recognized for federal income tax purposes. 

   Shareholders wishing to enroll in the Withdrawal Plan should contact their 
DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer account executive or the Transfer Agent. 

   Systematic Payroll Deduction Plan. There is also available to employers a 
Systematic Payroll Deduction Plan by which their employees may invest in 
shares of the Fund. For further information please contact the Transfer Agent 
or Distributor. 

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE 

   An "Exchange Privilege," that is, the privilege of exchanging shares of 
one of the Fund's Series for another, is available to all shareholders. An 
exchange of shares into any Series other than the Liquid Asset and U.S. 
Government Money Market Series is effected on the basis of the next 
calculated net asset value per share of the respective Series after the 
exchange order is received. When exchanging into the Liquid Asset or U.S. 
Government Money Market Series, shares of the relevant Series are redeemed at 
their next calculated net asset value and exchanged for shares of the Liquid 
Asset or U.S. Government Money Market Series at their net asset value 
determined the following business day. 

   Purchases and exchanges should be made for investment purposes only. A 
pattern of frequent exchanges may be deemed by the Investment Manager to be 
abusive and contrary to the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders 
and, at the Investment Manager's discretion, may be limited by the Fund's 
refusal to accept additional purchases and/or exchanges from the investor. 
Although the Fund does not have any specific definition of what constitutes a 
pattern of frequent exchanges, and will consider all relevant factors in 
determining whether a particular situation is abusive and contrary to the 
best interests of the Fund and its other shareholders, investors should be 
aware that the Fund may, in its discretion, limit or otherwise restrict the 
number of times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any investor. Any 
such restriction will be made by the Fund on a prospective basis only, upon 
notice to the shareholder not later than ten days following such 
shareholder's most recent exchange. 

   The Exchange Privilege may be terminated or revised at any time by the 
Fund upon such notice as may be required by applicable regulatory agencies 
(presently sixty days' prior written notice for termination or material 
revision), and provided further that the Exchange Privilege may be terminated 
or materially revised without notice under certain unusual circumstances 
described in the Statement of Additional Information. Shareholders 
maintaining margin accounts with DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer are 
referred to their account executive regarding restrictions on exchanges of 
shares of the Fund pledged in their margin account. 

   The current prospectus of the Fund describes investment objective(s) and 
policies, and shareholders should read the disclosure relating to the Series 
into which shares are to be exchanged carefully before investing. In the case 
of any shareholder holding a share certificate or certificates, no exchanges 
may be made until all applicable share certificates have been received by the 
Transfer Agent and deposited in the shareholder's account. An exchange will 
be treated for federal income tax purposes the same as a repurchase or 
redemption of shares, on which the shareholder may realize a capital gain or 
loss (shareholders holding shares in a qualified employee benefit plan may 
not realize a capital gain or loss). However, the ability to deduct capital 
losses on an exchange is limited in situations where there is an exchange of 
shares within ninety days after the shares are purchased. The Exchange 
Privilege is only available in states where an exchange may legally be made. 

   If DWR or another Selected Broker-Dealer is the current dealer of record 
and its account numbers are part of the account information, shareholders may 
initiate an exchange of shares of any Series for shares of any other Series 
pursuant to this Ex-change Privilege by contacting their account executive 
(no Exchange Privilege Authorization Form is required). Other shareholders 
(and those sharehold-ers who are clients of DWR or another Selected 
Broker-Dealer but who wish to make exchanges directly by writing or 
telephoning the Transfer Agent) 

                               42           
<PAGE>
must complete and forward to the Transfer Agent an Exchange Privilege 
Authorization Form, copies of which may be obtained from the Transfer Agent, 
to initiate an exchange. If the Authorization Form is used, exchanges may be 
made in writing or by contacting the Transfer Agent at (800) 869-NEWS 
(toll-free). 

   The Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that exchange 
instructions communicated over the telephone are genuine. Such procedures 
include requiring various forms of personal identification such as name, 
mailing address, social security or other tax identification number and DWR 
or other Selected Broker-Dealer account number (if any). Telephone 
instructions will also be recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the 
Fund may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent 
instructions. 

   Telephone exchange instructions will be accepted if received by the 
Transfer Agent between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any day the 
New York Stock Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make an exchange 
who has previously filed an Exchange Privilege Authorization Form and who is 
unable to reach the Fund by telephone should contact his or her DWR or other 
Selected Broker-Dealer account executive, if appropriate, or make a written 
exchange request. Shareholders are advised that during periods of drastic 
economic or market changes it is possible that the telephone exchange 
procedures may be difficult to implement, although this has not been the case 
in the past with the Dean Witter Funds. 

   For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders 
should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer account executive or 
the Transfer Agent. 

   The availability of various shareholder services described above is 
determined by the parameters of the investor's employee benefit plan. 

REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Redemptions. Shares of the Fund may be redeemed for cash through the 
Transfer Agent (without redemption or other charge) on any day that the New 
York Stock Exchange is open (see "Determination of Net Asset Value"). 
Redemptions will be effected at the net asset value per share next determined 
after the receipt of a redemption request meeting the applicable requirements 
described below. In most instances, however, redemptions of shares will be 
governed by the parameters set forth in the investor's employee benefit plan. 

   With respect to the redemption of shares of all Series of the Fund with 
the exception of the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series, 
each request for redemption, whether or not accompanied by a share 
certificate (see below), must be sent to the Transfer Agent, which will 
redeem the shares at their net asset value next computed (see "Determination 
of Net Asset Value") after it receives the request, and certificates, if any, 
in good order. Any redemption request received after such computation will be 
redeemed at the next determined net asset value. The term "good order" means 
that the share certificate, if any, and request for redemption are properly 
signed, accompanied by any documentation required by the Transfer Agent, and 
bear signature guarantees when required by the Fund or the Transfer Agent. 

   Shares of the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series may be 
redeemed in the following manners: 

1. BY CHECK 

   The Transfer Agent will supply blank checks to any shareholder who has 
requested them. The shareholder may make checks payable to the order of 
anyone in any amount not less than $500 (checks written in amounts under $500 
will not be honored by the Transfer Agent). Shareholders must sign checks 
exactly as their shares are registered. If the account is a joint account, 
the check may contain one signature unless the joint owners have specifically 
specified otherwise on an investment application that all owners are required 
to sign checks. Only shareholders having accounts in which no share 
certificates have been issued will be permitted to redeem shares by check or 
enroll in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan. 

   Shares will be redeemed at their net asset value next determined (see 
"Determination of Net Asset Value") after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a 
check which does not exceed the value of the account. Payment of the proceeds 
of a check will normally be made on the next business day after receipt by 
the Transfer Agent of the check in proper form. Shares purchased by check 
(including a certified or bank cashier's check) are not normally 

                               43           
<PAGE>
available to cover redemption checks until fifteen days after receipt of the 
check used for investment by the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent will not 
honor a check in an amount exceeding the value of the account at the time the 
check is presented for payment. Since the dollar value of an account is 
constantly changing, it is not possible for a shareholder to determine in 
advance the total value of its account so as to write a check for the 
redemption of the entire account. 

2. BY TELEPHONE OR WIRE INSTRUCTIONS WITH 
   PAYMENT TO PREDESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT 

   A shareholder may redeem shares by telephoning or sending wire 
instructions to the Transfer Agent. Payment will be made by the Transfer 
Agent to the shareholder's bank account at any commercial bank designated by 
the shareholder in an Investment Application, by wire if the amount is $1,000 
or more and the shareholder so requests, and otherwise by mail. Normally, the 
Transfer Agent will transmit payment the next business day following receipt 
of a request for redemption in proper form. Only shareholders having accounts 
in which no share certificates have been issued will be permitted to redeem 
shares by wire instructions. 

   Redemption instructions must include the shareholder's name and account 
number and be called to the Transfer Agent at 800-869-NEWS (toll-free). 

   The Fund will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that redemption 
instructions communicated over the telephone are genuine. Such procedures 
include requiring various forms of personal identification such as name, 
mailing address, social security or other tax identification number and DWR 
or other Selected Broker-Dealer account number (if any). Telephone 
instructions will also be recorded. If such procedures are not employed, the 
Fund may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent 
instructions. 

   Telephone redemptions will be accepted if received by the Transfer Agent 
between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., New York time, on any day the New York Stock 
Exchange is open. Any shareholder wishing to make a telephone redemption and 
who is unable to reach the Fund by telephone should contact his or her DWR or 
other Selected Broker-Dealer account executive, if appropriate, or make a 
written redemption request. Shareholders are advised that during periods of 
drastic economic or market changes it is possible that the telephone 
redemption procedures may be difficult to implement, although this has not 
been the case in the past with other funds managed by the Investment Manager. 

3. BY MAIL 

   A shareholder may redeem shares by sending a letter to Dean Witter Trust 
FSB, P.O. Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303, requesting redemption and 
surrendering stock certificates if any have been issued. 

   Redemption proceeds will be mailed to the shareholder at his or her 
registered address or mailed or wired to his or her predesignated bank 
account, as he or she may request. Proceeds of redemption may also be sent to 
some other person, as requested by the shareholder in accordance with the 
general redemption requirements listed below. 

GENERAL REDEMPTION REQUIREMENTS 

   Written requests for redemption must be signed by the registered 
shareholder(s). Whether certificates are held by the shareholder or shares 
are held in a shareholder's account, if the proceeds are to be paid to anyone 
other than the registered shareholder(s) or sent to any address other than 
the shareholder's registered address or predesignated bank account, 
signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the 
Transfer Agent (shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent for a 
determination as to whether a particular institution is such an eligible 
guarantor). Additional documentation may be required where shares are held by 
a corporation, partnership, trust or other organization. 

   If shares to be redeemed are represented by a share certificate, the 
request for redemption must be accompanied by the share certificate and a 
stock power signed by the registered shareholder(s) exactly as the account is 
registered. Such signatures must also be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor 
acceptable to the Transfer Agent (shareholders should contact the Transfer 
Agent for a determination as to whether a particular institution is such an 
eligible guarantor). Additional documentation may be required where shares 
are held by a corporation, partnership, trust or other organization. A stock 
power may be obtained from any dealer or commercial bank. The Fund may change 
the signature guarantee requirements from time to time upon notice to 
shareholders, which may be by means of a new prospectus. 

                               44           
<PAGE>
   All requests for redemption should be sent to Dean Witter Trust FSB, P.O. 
Box 983, Jersey City, NJ 07303. 

   Generally, the Fund will attempt to make payment for all redemptions 
within one business day, and in no event later than seven days after receipt 
of such redemption request in proper form. However, if the shares being 
redeemed were purchased by check (including a certified or bank cashier's 
check), payment may be delayed for the minimum time needed to verify that the 
check used for investment has been honored (not more than fifteen days from 
the time of investment of the check by the Transfer Agent). In addition, the 
Fund may postpone redemptions at certain times when normal trading is not 
taking place on the New York Stock Exchange. 

   Repurchase. DWR and other Selected Broker-Dealers are authorized to 
repurchase, as agent for the Fund, shares represented by a share certificate 
which is delivered to any of their offices. Shares held in a shareholder's 
account without a share certificate may also be repurchased by DWR and other 
Selected Broker-Dealers upon the telephonic request of the shareholder. The 
repurchase price is the net asset value next determined (see "Purchase of 
Fund Shares--Determination of Net Asset Value") after such repurchase order 
is received. The offer by the Distributor to repurchase shares from 
shareholders may be suspended by the Distributor at any time. In that event, 
shareholders may redeem their shares through the Fund's Transfer Agent as set 
forth above under "Redemption." 

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Dividends and Distributions. The Liquid Asset, U.S. Government Money 
Market, U.S. Government Securities and Intermediate Income Securities Series 
declare dividends of substantially all of their daily net investment income 
on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business (see "Purchase 
of Fund Shares"). The Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series 
pay all dividends from net investment income (and net short-term capital 
gains, if any) to shareholders of record as of the close of business the 
preceding business day. The amount of the dividend payable by each Series may 
fluctuate from day to day and may be omitted on some days if net realized 
losses on portfolio securities exceed its net investment income. The U.S. 
Government Securities and Intermediate Income Securities Series will pay all 
dividends from net investment income monthly and distribute all distributions 
from net realized short-term capital gains, if any, in excess of any net 
realized long-term losses, at least once per year. The Dividend Growth and 
Utilities Series will declare and pay all dividends from net investment 
income and (it is anticipated) net short-term capital gains, if any, 
quarterly. The American Value, Capital Growth, Strategist, Value-Added Market 
and Global Equity Series will pay all dividends from net investment income 
and net short-term capital gains, if any, annually. Any net long-term capital 
gains realized by any Series will be distributed at least once each year. 
However, any Series may determine to distribute or to retain all or part of 
any long-term capital gains in any year for reinvestment. 

   All dividends and any capital gains distributions will be paid in 
additional Fund shares and automatically credited to the shareholder's 
account without issuance of a share certificate unless the shareholder 
requests in writing that all dividends and/or distributions be paid in cash. 

   Taxes. Because each Series of the Fund intends to distribute all of its 
net investment income and capital gains to shareholders and otherwise 
continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of 
the Internal Revenue Code, it is not expected that any Series will be 
required to pay any federal income tax. Shareholders normally subject to 
federal income tax will normally have to pay federal income taxes, and any 
state income taxes, on the dividends and distributions they receive from each 
Series of the Fund. Such dividends and distributions, to the extent that they 
are derived from net investment income or short-term capital gains, are 
taxable to the shareholder, who is normally subject to income tax as ordinary 
income regardless of whether the shareholder receives such payments in 
additional shares or in cash. Any dividends declared in the last quarter of 
any calendar year which are paid in the following year prior to February 1 
will be deemed received by the shareholder in the prior calendar year. 
Dividend payments will be eligible for the federal dividends received 
deduction available to the Fund's corporate shareholders only to the extent 
the aggregate dividends received by the Series would be eligible for the 
deduction if the Series were the shareholder claiming the dividends received 
deduction. In this 

                               45           
<PAGE>
regard, a 46-day holding period per dividend, generally, must be met. No 
portion of the dividends payable by the Liquid Asset Series, the U.S. 
Government Money Market Series, the U.S. Government Securities Series and the 
Intermediate Income Securities Series will be eligible for the federal 
dividends received deduction for corporations. 

   Gains or losses on a Series' transactions, if any, in listed options on 
non-equity securities, futures and options on futures generally are treated 
as 60% long-term and 40% short-term. When the Series engages in options and 
futures transactions, various tax regulations applicable to the Series may 
have the effect of causing the Series to recognize a gain or loss for tax 
purposes before that gain or loss is realized, or to defer recognition of a 
realized loss for tax purposes. Recognition, for tax purposes, of an 
unrealized loss may result in a lesser amount of the Series' realized net 
gains being available for distribution. 

   One of the requirements for a Series to remain qualified as a regulated 
investment company is that less than 30% of its gross income be derived from 
gains from the sale or other disposition of securities held for less than 
three months. Accordingly, the Series may be restricted in the writing of 
options on securities held for less than three months, in the writing of 
options which expire in less than three months, and in effecting closing 
transactions with respect to call or put options which have been written or 
purchased less than three months prior to such transactions. A Series may 
also be restricted in its ability to engage in transactions involving futures 
contracts. 

   Distributions of net long-term capital gains, if any, are taxable to 
shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder 
has held the Fund's shares and regardless of whether the distribution is 
received in additional shares or in cash. Capital gains distributions are not 
eligible for the dividends received deduction. 

   The Series may at times make payments from sources other than income or 
net capital gains. Payments from such sources will, in effect, represent a 
return of a portion of each shareholder's investment. All, or a portion, of 
such payments will not be taxable to shareholders. 

   At the end of the year, shareholders will be sent full information on 
their dividends and capital gains distributions for tax purposes, including 
information as to the portion taxable as ordinary income, the portion taxable 
as mid-term and long-term capital gains and the portion eligible for the 
dividends received deduction. To avoid being subject to a 31% federal backup 
withholding tax on taxable dividends, capital gains distributions and the 
proceeds of redemptions and repurchases, shareholders' taxpayer 
identification numbers must be furnished and certified as to their accuracy. 

   Shareholders should consult their tax advisers as to the applicability of 
the foregoing to their current situation. Moreover, shares of the Fund which 
are held in an employee benefit plan are subject to the distribution tax 
rules appropriate to that plan. With respect to all purchases, redemptions, 
repurchases, exchanges effected and distributions received on such shares of 
the Fund, shareholders should consult with their tax adviser. 

   Dividends, interest and gains received by the Fund (primarily by the 
Global Equity Series) may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by 
foreign countries. If it qualifies for and has made the appropriate election 
with the Internal Revenue Service, the Fund will report annually to its 
shareholders the amount per share of such taxes, to enable shareholders to 
deduct their pro rata portion of such taxes from their taxable income or 
claim United States foreign tax credits with respect to such taxes. In the 
absence of such an election, a Series would deduct foreign tax in computing 
the amount of its distributable income. 

   A portion of the dividend distributions from the U.S. Government 
Securities and U.S. Government Money Market Series may be exempt from certain 
state's personal income taxes. The benefit of this tax-exemption may be lost 
if the shares of such Series are held in a qualified plan which is exempt 
from state income taxation. 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   From time to time, the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market 
Series may advertise their "yields" and "effective yields." The "yield" of 
the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series refers to the income 
generated by an investment in the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money 
Market Series over a given period (which period will be stated in the 
advertisement). This income is then "annualized." That is, the amount of 
income generated by an investment during that 

                               46           
<PAGE>
seven-day period is assumed to be generated each seven-day period within a 
365-day period and is shown as a percentage of investment. The "effective 
yield" for a seven-day period is calculated similarly but, when annualized, 
the income earned by an investment in the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government 
Money Market Series is assumed to be reinvested each week within a 365-day 
period. The "effective yield" will be slightly higher than the "yield" 
because of the compounding effect of this assumed reinvestment. 

   From time to time the U.S. Government Securities and Intermediate Income 
Securities Series may quote their "yield" in advertisements and sales 
literature. The yield of a Series is computed by dividing the Series' net 
investment income over a 30-day period by an average value (using the average 
number of shares entitled to receive dividends and the net asset value per 
share at the end of the period), all in accordance with applicable regulatory 
requirements. Such amount is compounded for six months and then annualized 
for a twelve-month period to derive the Series' yield. 

   Each Series of the Fund may also quote its "total return" in 
advertisements and sales literature. The "average annual total return" of a 
Series refers to a figure reflecting the average annualized percentage 
increase (or decrease) in the value of an initial investment in the Fund of 
$1,000 over a period of one or five years, as well as over the life of the 
Series. Average annual total return reflects all income earned by a Series, 
any appreciation or depreciation of the Series' assets and all expenses 
incurred by the Series, for the stated period. It also assumes reinvestment 
of all dividends and distributions paid by the Series. 

   In addition to the foregoing, a Series may advertise its total return over 
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or 
other types of total return figures. The Series may also advertise the growth 
of hypothetical investments of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the 
Series. A Series from time to time may also advertise its performance 
relative to certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent 
organizations, such as mutual fund performance rankings of Lipper Analytical 
Services, Inc. 

   Both the yield and the total return of a Series are based on historical 
earnings and are not intended to indicate future performance. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The shares of beneficial interest of the Fund, with $0.01 par value, are 
divided into eleven separate Series, and the shares of each Series are equal 
as to earnings, assets and voting privileges with all other shares of that 
Series. There are no conversion, preemptive or other subscription rights. 
Upon liquidation of the Fund or any Series, shareholders of a Series are 
entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of that Series available for 
distribution to shareholders after all debts and expenses have been paid. The 
shares do not have cumulative voting rights. 

   The assets received by the Fund on the sale of shares of each Series and 
all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, subject only to the 
rights of creditors, are allocated to each Series, and constitute the assets 
of such Series. The assets of each Series are required to be segregated on 
the Fund's books of account. 

   Additional Series (the proceeds of which would be invested in separate, 
independently managed portfolios with distinct investment objectives, 
policies and restrictions) may be offered in the future, but such additional 
offerings would not affect the interests of the current shareholders in the 
existing Series. 

   On any matters affecting only one Series, only the shareholders of that 
Series are entitled to vote. On matters relating to all the Series but 
affecting the Series differently, separate votes by Series are required. 
Approval of an Investment Management Agreement and a change in fundamental 
policies would be regarded as matters requiring separate voting by each 
Series. 

   The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and, in 
ordinary circumstances, the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. 

   Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a business trust may, under 
certain limited circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for 
obligations of the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an 
express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the 
Fund, requires that Fund obligations include such disclaimer, and provides 
for indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property 
for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. 
Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of 
shareholder liability is 

                               47           
<PAGE>
limited to circumstances in which the Fund itself would be unable to meet its 
obligations. Given the above limitations on shareholder personal liability, 
and the nature of the Fund's assets and operations, in the opinion of 
Massachusetts counsel to the Fund, the risk to Fund shareholders of personal 
liability is remote. 

   Code of Ethics. Directors, officers and employees of InterCapital, Dean 
Witter Services Company Inc. and the Distributor are subject to a strict Code 
of Ethics adopted by those companies. The Code of Ethics is intended to 
ensure that the interests of shareholders and other clients are placed ahead 
of any personal interest, that no undue personal benefit is obtained from a 
person's employment activities and that actual and potential conflicts of 
interest are avoided. To achieve these goals and comply with regulatory 
requirements, the Code of Ethics requires, among other things, that personal 
securities transactions by employees of the companies be subject to an 
advance clearance process to monitor that no investment company managed or 
advised by InterCapital ("Dean Witter Fund") is engaged at the same time in a 
purchase or sale of the same security. The Code of Ethics bans the purchase 
of securities in an initial public offering, and also prohibits engaging in 
futures and options transactions and profiting on short-term trading (that 
is, a purchase within sixty days of a sale or a sale within sixty days of a 
purchase) of a security. In addition, investment personnel may not purchase 
or sell a security for their personal account within thirty days before or 
after any transaction in any Dean Witter Fund managed by them. Any violations 
of the Code of Ethics are subject to sanctions, including reprimand, demotion 
or suspension or termination of employment. The Code of Ethics comports with 
regulatory requirements and the recommendations in the 1994 report by the 
Investment Company Institute Advisory Group on Personal Investing. 

   Shareholder Inquiries. All inquiries regarding the Fund should be directed 
to the Fund at the telephone numbers or address set forth on the front cover 
of this Prospectus. 

   As of September 30, 1997, the following persons may be deemed to "control" 
the designated Series by virtue of ownership of over 25% of the outstanding 
shares of the Series: Glendale Elementary School Self-Insurance Account (U.S. 
Government Money Market Series); Private Business Inc. 401(k) Plan (Capital 
Growth Series); Pizzagalli Construction 401(k) Plan (Value-Added Market 
Series); and VVP America Inc. Retirement Plan (Global Equity Series). This is 
primarily a consequence of the relative sizes of the particular Series and 
the fact that the shareholders of record are in most cases employee benefit 
plans which are comprised of multiple beneficial shareholders. 

                               48           
<PAGE>
Dean Witter 
Retirement Series 
Two World Trade Center 
New York, New York 10048 

TRUSTEES 
Michael Bozic 
Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
Edwin J. Garn 
John R. Haire 
Wayne E. Hedien 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson 
Michael E. Nugent 
Philip J. Purcell 
John L. Schroeder 

OFFICERS 
Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 

Barry Fink 
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel 

Thomas F. Caloia 
Treasurer 

CUSTODIAN 
The Bank of New York 
90 Washington Street 
New York, New York 10286 

TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND 
DISBURSING AGENT 
Dean Witter Trust FSB 
Harborside Financial Center 
Plaza Two 
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311 

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 
Price Waterhouse LLP 
1177 Avenue of the Americas 
New York, New York 10036 

INVESTMENT MANAGER 
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. 




<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES                          Two World Trade Center, 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997               New York, New York 10048 


DEAR SHAREHOLDER: 

Following a modest increase in the federal-funds rate in late March, it 
appeared at first as if the Federal Reserve Board was poised for a series of 
further rate increases. However, a slight cooling off of recent economic 
data, an ongoing lack of inflationary pressure and progress toward a federal 
balanced budget agreement have argued against a quick succession of 
rate-tightening moves. 

As a result, interest rates actually declined during the second quarter of 
1997, with the yield on 30-year U.S. Treasury bonds down 32 basis points 
(0.32 percentage points) to 6.78 percent. While rates seem to be holding at 
these lower levels, the possibility exists that the Fed may again tighten 
policy in an attempt to ward off future inflationary pressure. Interest rates 
available on money-market securities held steady during the second quarter. 

AMID POSITIVE ECONOMIC NEWS, MIXED SIGNALS 

On the heels of stronger than expected economic activity for the first 
quarter, the second quarter began to show conflicting signals. Employment 
data for June, for example, provided mixed indicators on the strength of the 
economy by registering an increase in the unemployment rate to 5 percent, 
though growth in employment came in at a solid 217,000 new jobs. A sign of a 
possible slowing in the pace of economic activity came on July 1 with the 
release of the National Association of Purchasing Managers Index for June, 
which fell from May's levels. However, retail sales turned positive in June 
after falling for three consecutive months. 

The financial markets greeted constrained year-over-year wage increases and 
six consecutive months of declining producer prices with jubilation. Payroll 
growth has now risen by an average of 234,000 per month thus far in 1997, 
above a strong average monthly growth of 212,000 for 1996. Labor shortages 
exist in some metropolitan markets. Looking toward the third quarter, the Fed 
would seem to have justification to either raise its federal-funds target 
rate or hold steady, awaiting further economic evidence. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997, continued 


STOCK MARKETS CONTINUE TO FLY HIGH 

Most global equity markets enjoyed favorable performance in the first half of 
1997. In the United States, the stock market endured a correction of nearly 
10 percent after the Fed raised interest rates in March. The downturn was 
short-lived, however, as inflation data showed little, if any, pressure. 
While the stocks of large-capitalization companies have dominated the market 
year-to-date, smaller and mid-sized stocks are finally showing signs of 
breaking out of their slump. 

Latin American equity markets began the year on a strong note, gaining an 
average of 15 percent during the first quarter as robust corporate earnings 
growth and attractive valuations prompted strong capital inflows. The 
region's markets then rallied an additional 22 percent on average during the 
second quarter as macroeconomic and political fundamentals continued to 
improve and corporate earnings results were generally in line with 
expectations. 

Asian equity markets posted mixed results during the first half of 1997 as 
capital inflows tapered off from the high levels experienced at the end of 
1996. Investor sentiment was negatively affected by a general lack of 
earnings growth momentum and continued declines in export growth throughout 
much of the region. Investors were also somewhat nervous about the prospects 
for further asset deflation in the region, which has depressed the Thai and 
Korean stock markets over the past year. The Japanese market staged a 
recovery in the second quarter as the prospects for higher interest rates 
faded, sentiment for a self-sustaining economic recovery there rebounded and 
the selling pressure that crushed Japanese bank stocks subsided. 

The investment climate in the European emerging markets remains broadly 
positive. With the exception of Russia, the stock markets of eastern Europe 
were constrained by low investor confidence following a Czech currency 
crisis. Russian equities continued to post the region's strongest gains, 
surging 120 percent in U.S. dollar terms during the first half of 1997 as 
concerns surrounding President Yeltsin's health faded. 

On a cautionary note, global market volatility has picked up. Stock markets 
worldwide have fluctuated on U.S. interest-rate moves, economic data 
releases, earnings disappointments and election results. Despite this 
increase in volatility, equities continue to offer attractive total return 
potential in the current environment of fiscally tight government policies, 
strong global economic growth and low inflation. 

LIQUID ASSET SERIES 

As of the end of July 1997, the Liquid Asset Series had assets of 
approximately $21 million, with an average life of 29 days. The Series' total 
return for the twelve-month fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 was 4.57 percent 
and its annualized yield for July was 4.65 percent. 

At the end of the fiscal year, approximately 68 percent of the portfolio of 
the Liquid Asset Series consisted of high-quality commercial paper, 8 percent 
was invested in bankers' acceptances issued by major, financially strong 
commercial banks and the remaining 24 percent was invested in federal agency 
obligations. More than 93 percent of the Series' assets was due to mature in 
less than three months. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997, continued 


The Series is well positioned for stability of value with a high degree of 
liquidity. We continue to operate the Series in a straightforward 
conservative style without "structured notes" or derivatives, which could 
fluctuate excessively when interest rates change. 

U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES 

As of July 31, 1997, the U.S. Government Money Market Series had assets of 
approximately $4 million, with an average life of 31 days. The Series' total 
return for the twelve-month fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 was 4.51 percent 
and its annualized yield for July was 4.65 percent. 

On July 31, 1997, approximately 99 percent of the portfolio of the U.S. 
Government Money Market Series consisted of Federal agency obligations with 
the remaining 1 percent invested in U.S. Treasury bills. More than 91 percent 
of the Series' assets was due to mature in less than three months. 

The Series is well positioned for stability of value with a high degree of 
liquidity. We continue to operate the Series in a straightforward 
conservative style without "structured notes" or derivatives, which could 
fluctuate excessively when interest rates change. 


U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

      DATE                     FUND         LEHMAN IX       LIPPER IX
============================================================================
January 8, 1993              $10,000         $10,000         $10,000   
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1993                $10,260         $10,595         $10,500
============================================================================
July 31, 1994                $10,188         $10,581         $10,291
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1995                $10,975         $11,600         $11,158
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1996                $11,467         $12,198         $11,619
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1997                $12,579         $13,439         $12,763
============================================================================

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                        ONE YEAR        LIFE OF FUND
 
                        ============================
                        9.70%(1)           5.16%(1)
                        ============================

                               
               ================================================
               [   ] Fund    [   ] Lehman(2)    [   ] Lipper(3)
               ================================================
Past performance is not predictive of future returns.

- -------------------
(1)  Total return figures shown assume reinvestment of all distributions.

(2)  The Lehman Brothers General U.S. Government Index is a broad-based measure
     of all U.S. Government and U.S. Treasury Securities. The Index does not
     include any expenses, fees or charges. The index is unmanaged and should 
     not be considered an investment.

(3)  The Lipper General U.S. Government Funds Index is an equally-weighted
     performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in
     the Lipper General U.S. Government Funds objective. The Index, which is
     adjusted for capital distributions and income dividends, is unmanaged and
     should not be considered an investment. There are currently 30 funds
     represented.


For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the U.S. Government Securities 
Series posted a total return of 9.70 percent. This compares to a return of 
10.17 percent for the Lehman Brothers General U.S. Government Index (Lehman 
Index) and a return of 9.85 percent for the Lipper General U.S. Government 
Funds Index (Lipper Index). During the fiscal year, the Series paid dividends 
and distributions of approximately $0.58 per share. The accompanying chart 
illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the 
Series from inception (January 8, 1993) through the fiscal year ended July 
31, 1997, versus the performance of similar investments in the Lehman Index 
and Lipper Index. 

On July 31, 1997, the Series' net assets exceeded $10.4 million, with 
Government National Mortgage Association mortgage-backed securities (GNMAs) 
representing 82 percent of the portfolio, U.S. Treasury securities 13 percent 
and zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities 5 percent. At present, the Series' 
average maturity reflects a constructive position. Accordingly, as attractive 
investment opportunities become available, the average maturity 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997, continued 


may be gradually extended. On July 31, 1997, the average duration was 5.41 
years. (Duration is a measure of the portfolio's sensitivity to changes in 
interest rates.) 

We believe that GNMAs continue to offer significant long-term value and, in 
the current investment environment, offer not only an incremental yield 
incentive over U.S. Treasury securities of similar maturity but also provide 
the potential for better total returns. 


INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

      DATE                     FUND         LEHMAN IX       LIPPER IX
============================================================================
January 12, 1993             $10,000         $10,000         $10,000   
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1993                $10,167         $10,720         $10,544
============================================================================
July 31, 1994                $10,193         $10,725         $10,523
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1995                $11,133         $12,010         $11,484
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1996                $11,573         $12,680         $12,084
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1997                $12,572         $14,219         $13,307
============================================================================

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                        ONE YEAR        LIFE OF FUND
 
                        ============================
                        8.63%(1)           5.16%(1)
                        ============================

                               
               ================================================
               [   ] Fund    [   ] Lehman(2)    [   ] Lipper(3)
               ================================================
Past performance is not predictive of future returns.

- -------------------
(1)  Total return figures shown assume reinvestment of all distributions.

(2)  The Lehman Brothers Intermediate Investment Grade Debt Index is an 
     unmanaged index of 5 to 10 year investment-grade corporate debt 
     securities. The Index does not include any expenses, fees or charges. The
     index is unmanaged and should not be considered an investment.

(3)  The Lipper Intermediate Investment Grade Funds Index is an 
     equally-weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based 
     on net assets) in the Lipper Intermediate Investment Grade Debt Funds 
     Objective. The Index, which is adjusted for capital gains distributions 
     and income dividends, is unmanaged and should not be considered an 
     investment. There are currently 30 funds represented in this index.


For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Intermediate Income Securities 
Series posted a total return of 8.63 percent. This compares to a return of 
12.14 percent for the Lehman Brothers Intermediate Investment Grade Debt 
Index (Lehman Index) and a return of 10.12 percent for the Lipper 
Intermediate Investment Grade Funds Index (Lipper Index). During the fiscal 
year, the Series paid distributions exceeding $.52 per share. The 
accompanying chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 
investment in the Series from inception (January 12, 1993) through the fiscal 
year ended July 31, 1997, versus the performance of similar investments in 
the Lehman Index and Lipper Index. 

The Series' performance during the fiscal year was reflective of the overall 
decline in interest rates beginning in the second quarter of 1997. The Series 
underperformed the Lehman Index due to its somewhat greater commitment to 
U.S. Treasuries during the first part of the period, when they substantially 
underperformed corporate securities. Also affecting performance were 
unusually large cash flows in and out of the Series. Toward the end of 
October 1996, sizable share purchases caused the Series' assets to grow 
nearly 50 percent in one month. Subsequently, share redemptions in January 
and early February reduced net assets by more than 60 percent from their 
December 1996 levels. As a result of these redemptions, nearly all the U.S. 
Treasury positions held in the portfolio were sold. Although this provided 
the Series with the opportunity to raise its allocation to corporates, it 
also extended the average maturity of the portfolio to more than six years. 
This negatively influenced the Series' performance since interest rates were 
on the ascent. To offset the Series' longer duration, and improve liquidity, 
the cash reserves were allowed to increase and some of the better-performing 
corporates were replaced with shorter-maturity U.S. Treasuries. After 
reaching a high of 13 percent, cash reserves were reduced to 7.7 percent by 
July 31, 1997. New funds were invested in four-to seven-year U.S. Treasuries 
and corporates. Due to the Series' relatively small asset size, greater 
provisions were made for liquidity by greater U.S. Treasury allocations and 
investments in higher-quality corporates. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997, continued 


On July 31, 1997, 64 percent of the Series' noncash holdings was invested in 
corporate bonds, with U.S. Treasuries accounting for the remaining 36 
percent. The average maturity and duration of the portfolio were 4.84 years 
and 3.82 years, respectively. The average credit quality rating was A1. 


AMERICAN VALUE SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

     DATE                      FUND          S&P 500        LIPPER IX
============================================================================
February 1, 1993             $10,000         $10,000         $10,000   
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1993                $10,050         $10,271         $10,426
============================================================================
July 31, 1994                $ 9,990         $10,801         $10,916
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1995                $13,335         $13,613         $13,703
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1996                $14,645         $15,862         $14,917
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1997                $20,740         $24,123         $21,443
============================================================================

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                        ONE YEAR        LIFE OF FUND
 
                        ============================
                        41.62%(1)         17.63%(1)
                        ============================

                               
               ================================================
               [   ] Fund    [   ] S&P 500(2)   [   ] Lipper(3)
               ================================================
Past performance is not predictive of future returns.

- -------------------
(1)  Total return figures shown assume reinvestment of all distributions.

(2)  The Standard & Poor's Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500) is a 
     broad-based index, the performance of which is based on the average 
     performance of 500 widely held common stocks. The Index does not include 
     any expenses, fees or charges. The Index is unmanaged and should not be 
     considered an investment.

(3)  The Lipper Growth Funds Index is an equally-weighted performance index 
     of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper
     Growth Funds objective. The Index, which is adjusted for capital gains
     distributions and income dividends, is unmanaged and should not be 
     considered an investment. There are currently 30 funds represented in this
     Index.


For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the American Value Series posted a 
total return of 41.62 percent. This compares to a return of 52.08 percent for 
the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index) and a 
return of 43.76 percent for the Lipper Growth Funds Index (Lipper Index). The 
accompanying chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 
investment in the Series from inception (February 1, 1993) through the fiscal 
year ended July 31, 1997, versus the performance of similar investments in 
the S&P 500 Index and Lipper Index. 

At the end of July 1997, the Series was well diversified, both in terms of 
industries and in its market capitalization. On an industry front, the 
portfolio now has a slight tilt toward economically sensitive groups. At 35 
percent of net assets, technology continues to represent an important 
portfolio commitment. Driven by companies' need for each to be the low-cost 
producer in a competitive global environment, demand for technology is 
expected to rebound, with the fall typically being the strongest seasonal 
period for this sector. 

With real wages rising ahead of inflation, and unemployment at its lowest 
level in several decades, retailers (approximately 6 percent of the Series' 
portfolio) are expected to experience stronger relative earnings. Cyclical 
industries that we believe have strong secular strength include energy 
(approximately 6 percent of the portfolio), agriculture (approximately 4 
percent) and capital goods (approximately 4 percent), which all should 
benefit from increased exports to newly industrialized countries with 
developing middle classes. 

Health-care companies with proprietary products, including drug, medical 
device and biotechnology companies, are expected to continue to outpace 
general corporate earnings growth. They represent 12 percent of the Series' 
net assets. The secular trends of deregulation and consolidation are expected 
to continue to lift stocks in the financial sector, which represents 
approximately 16 percent of the portfolio. 

<PAGE>

The Series is also diversified in terms of market capitalization. As of July 
31, 1997, large-cap issues represented approximately 60 percent of the stock 
portfolio, mid-sized companies about 40 percent. Going forward, the American 
Value Series will be increasingly tilted in the direction of mid-cap issues, 
as the 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997, continued 


dollar seems to be breaking out of its seven-year range, a development that 
historically favors mid-sized companies, which typically have significantly 
lower currency exposures than larger companies. Additionally, relative 
valuations in this sector of the market have become compelling from their 
underperformance over the last few years. 


CAPITAL GROWTH SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

     DATE                      FUND          S&P 500        LIPPER IX
============================================================================
February 2, 1993             $10,000         $10,000         $10,000   
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1993                $ 8,880         $10,271         $10,426
============================================================================
July 31, 1994                $ 9,463         $10,800         $10,916
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1995                $11,363         $13,612         $13,703
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1996                $13,020         $15,860         $14,917
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1997                $18,680         $24,120         $21,443
============================================================================

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                        ONE YEAR        LIFE OF FUND
 
                        ============================
                        43.46%(1)         14.93%(1)
                        ============================

                               
               ================================================
               [   ] Fund    [   ] S&P 500(2)   [   ] Lipper(3)
               ================================================
Past performance is not predictive of future returns.

- -------------------
(1)  Total return figures shown assume reinvestment of all distributions.

(2)  The Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500) is a 
     broad-based index, the performance of which is based on the average 
     performance of 500 widely held common stocks. The Index does not include 
     any expenses, fees or charges. The Index is unmanaged and should not be 
     considered an investment.

(3)  The Lipper Growth Funds Index is an equally-weighted performance index 
     of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper 
     Growth Funds objective. The Index, which is adjusted for capital gains
     distributions and income dividends, is unmanaged and should not be 
     considered an investment. There are currently 30 funds represented in this
     Index.


For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Capital Growth Series posted a 
total return of 43.46 percent. This compares to a return of 52.08 percent for 
the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index) and a 
return of 43.76 percent for the Lipper Growth Funds Index (Lipper Index). The 
accompanying chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 
investment in the Series from inception (February 2, 1993) through the fiscal 
year ended July 31, 1997, versus the performance of similar investments in 
the S&P 500 Index and Lipper Index. 

As the fiscal year came to a close, the Series completed a transition begun 
during the early summer of 1996 when we modified its screening criteria. The 
new criteria widened the universe from which we could choose stocks for the 
portfolio and stated that companies considered for the portfolio must 
demonstrate a history of consistent growth in earnings and revenues for the 
past several years. These companies are also chosen for their solid future 
earnings growth characteristics and attractive valuations. 

During the fiscal year, the Series built up its positions in financial
services, upgraded its technology weighting, increased its exposure to the
retail industry and established positions in the energy sector. The Series also
increased its exposure to small-and mid-capitalization stocks and decreased its
former heavy weighting in large-capitalization securities. This shift was made
primarily because of the better valuation levels and higher growth potential
found in the newly increased sectors. As of July 31, 1997, the Series'
portfolio was weighted approximately 59 percent in large-cap stocks, with the
remaining percent in small-and mid-cap stocks. Although smaller issues
underperformed during much of this period, it is important to remember that,
historically, small-and mid-cap stocks have outperformed large caps over the
long term. Values in these issues began increasing relative to large caps
during the latter part of the fiscal year. We believe that investors will take
notice of this and begin to narrow the market's

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997, continued 


large-cap bias. The Series will continue to hold stocks of various market 
capitalizations, for diversification across both industry sectors and 
capitalization ranges. 


DIVIDEND GROWTH SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

     DATE                      FUND        S&P 500(2)      LIPPER IX(3)
============================================================================
January 7, 1993              $10,000         $10,000         $10,000   
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1993                $10,711         $10,577         $10,621
============================================================================
July 31, 1994                $11,368         $11,122         $11,280
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1995                $13,991         $14,018         $13,558
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1996                $16,242         $16,333         $15,337
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1997                $23,051         $24,839         $22,104
============================================================================

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                        ONE YEAR        LIFE OF FUND
 
                        ============================
                        41.92%(1)         20.09%(1)
                        ============================

                               
               ================================================
               [   ] Fund    [   ] S&P 500(2)   [   ] Lipper(3)
               ================================================
Past performance is not predictive of future returns.

- -------------------
(1)  Total return figures shown assume reinvestment of all distributions.

(2)  The Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500) is a 
     broad-based index, the performance of which is based on the average 
     performance of 500 widely held common stocks. The Index does not include 
     any expenses, fees or charges. The Index is unmanaged and should not be 
     considered an investment.

(3)  The Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index is an equally-weighted 
     performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) 
     in the Lipper Growth and Income Funds objective. The Index, which is 
     adjusted for capital gains distributions and income dividends, is 
     unmanaged and should not be considered an investment. There are currently
     30 funds in this Index.


For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Dividend Growth Series posted a 
total return of 41.92 percent. This compares to a return of 52.08 percent for 
the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index) and a 
return of 44.14 percent for the Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index (Lipper 
Index). The accompanying chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical 
$10,000 investment in the Series from inception (January 7, 1993) through the 
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, versus the performance of similar 
investments in the S&P 500 Index and Lipper Index. 

The Series' underperformance of the broad market was in large part due to 
exceptional strength in small-capitalization stocks at various times during 
the year, in particular technology, which afford little or no current yield. 

On July 31, 1997, the Series' net assets exceeded $115 million. On that date, 
the Series owned 38 equity issues spread among 30 different industry groups. 
Since its inception, the Series has utilized a proprietary screening process 
to assist in building its portfolio of common stocks. One new portfolio 
position, Unicom Corp., was established during the fiscal year. Also, a 
spin-off from Tenneco, Inc. during the period resulted in the receipt of 
shares of Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. and El Paso Natural Gas Co. These 
shares, along with our position in Pacific Gas & Electric Co., were sold 
prior to the end of the fiscal year. 

UTILITIES SERIES 

For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Utilities Series posted a total
return of 19.87 percent. This compares to a return of 52.08 percent for the
Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index) and 22.57
percent for the Lipper Utilities Fund Average (Lipper Average). The
accompanying chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000
investment in the Series from inception (January 8, 1993) through the fiscal
year ended July 31, 1997, versus the performance of similar investments in the
S&P 500 Index and Lipper Average.

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997, continued 


The utilities industry continues to react to uncertainty and confusion 
surrounding its deregulation and restructuring. This response was evident 
during the fiscal year as the industry underperformed the general market 
despite strong earnings and low inflation. More recently, however, it appears 
that investor confidence is improving as the form and direction of a 
competitive utilities industry take shape. This was seen by the resurgence in 
telecommunications stocks that occurred during the second half of the fiscal 
year as investors anticipated further industry consolidation and alliances, 
as well as in attractive earnings growth prospects from wireless services and 
value-added features. 


UTILITIES SERIES

                             GROWTH OF $10,000

     DATE                      FUND          S&P 500        LIPPER IX
============================================================================
January 8, 1993              $10,000         $10,000         $10,000   
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1993                $11,498         $10,618         $11,118
============================================================================
July 31, 1994                $10,896         $11,166         $10,365
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1995                $12,221         $14,073         $11,382
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1996                $13,291         $16,397         $12,642
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1997                $15,933         $24,937         $15,495
============================================================================

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                        ONE YEAR        LIFE OF FUND
 
                        ============================
                        19.87%(1)         10.76%(1)
                        ============================

                               
               ================================================
               [   ] Fund    [   ] S&P 500(2)   [   ] Lipper(3)
               ================================================
Past performance is not predictive of future returns.

- -------------------
(1)  Total return figures shown assume reinvestment of all distributions.

(2)  The Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500) is a 
     broad-based index, the performance of which is based on the average 
     performance of 500 widely held common stocks. The Index does not include 
     any expenses, fees or charges. The Index is unmanaged and should not be 
     considered an investment.

(3)  The Lipper Utility Funds Average tracks the performance of the funds which
     invest 65% of their equity portfolio in utility shares as reported by 
     Lipper Analytical Services.


The Series remained fully invested during the first half of 1997, with 95 
percent of its assets allocated to utility and utility-related equities on 
July 31, 1997, and the remaining 5 percent in cash and cash equivalents. The 
Series' equity portfolio reflected improved investor confidence, particularly 
in the electric utilities and telecommunications sectors, given their 
favorable growth outlook and the potential investment opportunities resulting 
from a competitive environment. Within this component of the portfolio, 49 
percent was allocated to electric utilities, 28 percent to telecommunications 
and 18 percent to natural gas. Further diversifying the Series' portfolio are 
selective foreign securities, primarily in the global telecommunications 
sector, which accounted for 11 percent of net assets. 

While the electric utility sector remained focused on making a balanced 
transition from a monopoly to a deregulated environment, mergers and 
acquisitions continued. The Series continues to invest selectively within the 
electric utility sector and remains committed to companies characterized by 
low energy cost and good earnings growth opportunities. Within the natural 
gas sector, the Series continues to focus on high-quality, well-diversified 
pipeline companies, given the favorable long-term outlook for the industry. 

Looking ahead, the Series anticipates a modest reduction of its equity 
allocation to electric utilities in favor of selective telecommunications and 
natural gas companies. The Fund may also increase its foreign exposure to 
capitalize on and participate in worldwide telecommunications infrastructure 
growth. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997, continued 

VALUE-ADDED SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

     DATE                      FUND          S&P 500        LIPPER IX
============================================================================
February 1, 1993             $10,000         $10,000         $10,000   
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1993                $10,071         $10,271         $10,465
============================================================================
July 31, 1994                $10,967         $10,801         $11,114
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1995                $13,450         $13,613         $13,359
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1996                $14,955         $15,862         $15,112
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1997                $21,405         $24,123         $21,780
============================================================================

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                        ONE YEAR        LIFE OF FUND
 
                        ============================
                        43.12%(1)         18.46%(1)
                        ============================

                               
               ================================================
               [   ] Fund    [   ] S&P 500(2)   [   ] Lipper(3)
               ================================================
Past performance is not predictive of future returns.

- -------------------
(1)  Total return figures shown assume reinvestment of all distributions.

(2)  The Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500) is a 
     broad-based index, the performance of which is based on the average 
     performance of 500 widely held common stocks. The Index does not include
     any expenses, fees or charges. The Index is unmanaged and should not be 
     considered an investment.

(3)  The Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index is an equally-weighted 
     performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) 
     in the Lipper Growth and Income Funds objective. The Index, which is 
     adjusted for capital gains distributions and income dividends, is 
     unmanaged and should not be considered an investment. There are currently 
     30 funds in this Index.


For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Value-Added Series posted a 
total return of 43.12 percent. This compares to a return of 52.08 percent for 
the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index) and 
44.14 percent for the Lipper Growth and Income Funds Index (Lipper Index). 
The accompanying chart illustrates the performance of a hypothetical $10,000 
investment in the Series from inception (February 1, 1993) through the fiscal 
year ended July 31, 1997, versus the performance of similar investments in 
the S&P 500 Index and Lipper Index. 

The Series is index oriented, investing in stocks that comprise the S&P 500, 
its benchmark. Unlike the S&P 500, however, the Series weights all the 
stocks' positions equally, thereby emphasizing the stocks of small-and 
mid-sized companies, which historically have outperformed larger stocks. 

While the Series performed well over the most recent six-and twelve-month 
periods, its results were overshadowed by the S&P 500's returns. During the 
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the S&P 500 was driven by 
large-capitalization multinationals and technology stocks. These sectors are 
more heavily weighted on the S&P 500 than in the Series' portfolio. 

GLOBAL EQUITY SERIES 

For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Global Equity Series posted a 
total return of 26.66 percent. This compares to a return of 52.08 percent for 
the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index), a 
return of 30.66 percent for the Morgan Stanley Capital International World 
Index (MSCI Index) and a return of 32.32 percent for the Lipper Global Funds 
Index (Lipper Index). The accompanying chart illustrates the performance of a 
hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Series from inception (January 8, 
1993) through the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, versus the performance of 
similar investments in the S&P 500 Index, MSCI Index and Lipper Index. 

On July 31, 1997, the Series' net assets exceeded $19.7 million, with 30 
percent in Europe, 32 percent in the United States, 20 percent in Japan, 9 
percent in the emerging markets of the Pacific Rim, 7 percent in 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997, continued 

Latin America and the remaining 2 percent scattered elsewhere. The Series' 
asset allocation represented overweightings in Europe, Japan, the Pacific Rim 
and Latin America. 


GLOBAL EQUITY SERIES


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

     DATE                  FUND       S&P 500       MSCI IX       LIPPER IX
============================================================================
January 8, 1993          $10,000      $10,000       $10,000        $10,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1993            $ 9,970      $10,618       $11,818        $11,239
============================================================================
July 31, 1994            $10,697      $11,166       $12,797        $13,168
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1995            $11,347      $14,073       $14,346        $14,509
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1996            $12,171      $16,397       $15,364        $15,516
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1997            $15,416      $24,937       $20,075        $20,531
============================================================================

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                        ONE YEAR        LIFE OF FUND
 
                        ============================
                        26.66%(1)          9.96%(1)
                        ============================

                               
    ========================================================================
    [   ] Fund    [   ] S&P 500(2)    [   ] MSCI IX(3)    [   ] Lipper IX(4)
    ========================================================================
Past performance is not predictive of future returns.

- -------------------
(1)  Total return figures shown assume reinvestment of all distributions.

(2)  The Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500) is a 
     broad-based index, the performance of which is based on the average 
     performance of 500 widely held common stocks. The Index does not include 
     any expenses, fees or charges. The Index is unmanaged and should not be 
     considered an investment.

(3)  The Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index (MSCI) measures the
     performance for a diverse range of global stock markets including the
     U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East. The index
     does not include any expenses, fees or charges or reinvestment of 
     dividends. The Index is unmanaged and should not be considered an 
     investment.

(4)  The Lipper Global Funds Index is an equally-weighted performance index of
     the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Global
     Funds objective. The Index, which is adjusted for capital gains 
     distributions and income dividends, is unmanaged and should not be
     considered an investment. There are currently 30 funds represented in 
     this Index.

                       
The Series' emphasis on European equities stems from the recovery there in 
economic growth and company earnings. European exports have benefited from 
the strong U.S. dollar, which has boosted corporate competitiveness. Also, 
European corporations have been embracing cost-cutting moves to reduce 
payroll, restructure business units and sell underperforming assets. Similar 
moves in the United States have boosted returns on equity capital and equity 
valuations. The Series also finds valuations in Asian markets attractive 
after two years of subpar performance and recent currency volatility there. 

Among the Series' key portfolio holdings are HSBC Holdings PLC (banking, Hong 
Kong), Siemens AG (telecommunications, Germany), Cemex, S.A. de C.V. 
(building materials, Mexico), Sony Corp. (electronics, Japan), Koninklijke 
Ahold NV (retail, the Netherlands), Novartis AG (pharmaceuticals, 
Switzerland) and Sun Microsystems, Inc. (computers-systems, United States). 

STRATEGIST SERIES 

For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Strategist Series posted a total 
return of 27.35 percent. This compares to a return of 52.08 percent for the 
Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index), a return 
of 10.79 percent for the Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index 
(Lehman Index) and 29.05 percent for the Lipper Flexible Portfolio Funds 
Index (Lipper Index). The accompanying chart illustrates the performance of a 
hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Series from inception (January 7, 
1993) through the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, versus the performance of 
similar investments in the S&P 500 Index, Lehman Index and Lipper Index. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997, continued 


During the fiscal year, the Series benefited from our decision to remain 
overweighted in long-dated financial assets. The table below summarizes the 
asset allocation changes made in the Strategist Series' portfolio during the 
fiscal year: 


STRATEGIST SERIES


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

     DATE                  FUND       S&P 500       LEHMAN        LIPPER IX
============================================================================
January 7, 1993          $10,000      $10,000       $10,000        $10,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1993            $ 9,830      $10,577       $10,617        $10,454
============================================================================
July 31, 1994            $ 9,842      $11,122       $10,603        $10,798
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1995            $11,634      $14,018       $11,677        $12,579
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1996            $13,608      $16,333       $12,297        $13,687
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1997            $17,330      $24,839       $13,624        $17,662
============================================================================

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                        ONE YEAR        LIFE OF FUND
 
                        ============================
                        27.35%(1)         12.81%(1)
                        ============================


     ====================================================================
     [   ] Fund    [   ] S&P 500(2)    [   ] Lehman(3)    [   ] Lipper(4)
     ====================================================================
Past performance is not predictive of future returns.

- -------------------
(1)  Total return figures shown assume reinvestment of all distributions.

(2)  The Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500) is a 
     broad-based index, the performance of which is based on the average 
     performance of 500 widely held common stocks. The Index does not include 
     any expenses, fees or charges. The Index is unmanaged and should not be 
     considered an investment.

(3)  The Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index tracks the
     performance of government and corporate obligations, including U.S. 
     government agency and U.S. treasury securities and corporate and yankee
     bonds, with maturities of one to ten years. The Index is unmanaged and 
     should not be considered an investment.

(4)  The Lipper Flexible Portfolio Funds Index is an equally-weighted 
     performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) 
     in the Lipper Flexible Portfolio Funds objective. The Index, which is 
     adjusted for capital gains distributions and income dividends, is 
     unmanaged and should not be considered an investment. There are currently 
     30 funds represented in this Index.



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           EQUITY      FIXED-INCOME          
                                        EXPOSURE (%)   EXPOSURE (%)  CASH (%) 
                                        ------------ --------------  -------- 
<S>                                          <C>            <C>         <C>
July 31, 1996  .......................       50             40          10 
April 28, 1997 .......................       50             20          30 
May 19, 1997  ........................       60             20          20 
June 26, 1997  .......................       65             20          15 
                
</TABLE>

As we enter the new fiscal year, the Series is allocated to reflect our 
positive stance toward the equity markets and more cautious view of bonds. 
With 58 percent of current assets invested in stocks, we believe that 
corporate earnings growth, especially in a few specific industry sectors, 
will continue to provide double-digit returns. Our equity portfolio, while 
well diversified with more than 45 holdings, is highly concentrated in 
industries we feel will provide above-average earnings growth and profit 
potential. These include technology (mainframe and workstation manufacturers, 
disk drive and software suppliers), financial services (insurance, banking, 
savings and loans), energy (domestic and international oil companies) and 
retailers (apparel and specialty stores, department store chains). We expect 
each of these sectors either to continue their impressive pattern of powerful 
earnings reports (technology and financials) or to begin a turnaround from 
depressed earnings levels (energy and retailing). 

Our underweighting in bonds, at only a 20 percent allocation, reflects our 
concern that the Federal Reserve Board may feel compelled to raise rates in 
the second half of 1997, thus keeping a lid on bond prices for the balance of 
the year. Longer term, we would view any drop in long bonds' prices as a 
buying opportunity and would likely use a portion of our 22 percent cash 
reserve to purchase issues along the yield curve. Currently, the bond 
portfolio is comprised of 12 government-issued securities and 12 corporate 
bonds, with a wide variety of yields and maturities. All carry 
investment-grade ratings. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS July 31, 1997, continued 


We appreciate your support of Dean Witter Retirement Series and look forward 
to continuing to serve your investment needs and objectives. 


Very truly yours, 

/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo 

CHARLES A. FIUMEFREDDO 
Chairman of the Board 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
RESULTS OF SPECIAL MEETING (unaudited) 


On May 21, 1997, a special meeting of the Series' shareholders was held for 
the purpose of voting on three separate matters, the results of which are as 
follows: 

(1) FOR EACH SERIES, APPROVAL OF A NEW INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT 
    BETWEEN THE SERIES AND DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC. IN CONNECTION WITH 
    THE MERGER OF MORGAN STANLEY GROUP INC. WITH DEAN WITTER, DISCOVER & CO.: 

Liquid Asset Series 
     For .....................    19,779,400 
     Against .................       106,527 
     Abstain .................       266,372 
U.S. Government Money Market Series 
     For .....................     4,502,076 
     Against .................             0 
     Abstain .................             0 
U.S. Government Securities Series 
     For .....................       696,109 
     Against .................         2,291 
     Abstain .................        69,551 
Intermediate Income Securities Series 
     For .....................       151,816 
     Against .................             0 
     Abstain .................         5,572 
American Value Series 
     For .....................     2,068,650 
     Against .................        40,170 
     Abstain .................       143,685 
Capital Growth Series 
     For .....................       102,824 
     Against .................             0 
     Abstain .................        38,633 
Dividend Growth Series 
     For .....................     3,623,000 
     Against .................       521,569 
     Abstain .................       256,271 
Utilities Series 
     For .....................       237,912 
     Against .................         2,108 
     Abstain .................        33,928 
Value-Added Market Series 
     For .....................       940,344 
     Against .................         2,261 
     Abstain .................        28,379 
Global Equity Series 
     For .....................       798,944 
     Against .................        17,237 
     Abstain .................       141,869 
Strategist Series 
     For .....................     1,294,809 
     Against .................           911 
     Abstain .................        33,360 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
RESULTS OF SPECIAL MEETING (unaudited) continued 


(2) ELECTION OF TRUSTEES: 

Michael Bozic 
For ..................  35,221,586 
Withheld .............     684,992 

Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
For ..................  35,221,869 
Withheld .............     684,709 

Edwin J. Garn 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

John R. Haire 
For ..................  35,221,786 
Withheld .............     684,792 

Wayne E. Hedien 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

Dr. Manuel H. Johnson 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

Michael E. Nugent 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

Philip J. Purcell 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

John L. Schroeder 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

(3) RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP AS INDEPENDENT 
    ACCOUNTANTS: 

    For ......................................................   34,484,382 
    Against ..................................................      545,576 
    Abstain ..................................................      876,620 
             
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - LIQUID ASSET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               ANNUALIZED 
 PRINCIPAL                                                                      YIELD ON 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                      DATE OF         MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                      PURCHASE          DATE           VALUE 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>                                                                <C>         <C>                    <C>
            COMMERCIAL PAPER (64.4%) 
            Automotive-Finance (8.5%) 
     $500   Ford Motor Credit Co. ...........................................     5.61%         08/25/97         $  498,150 
    1,000   General Motors Acceptance Corp. .................................  5.48-5.97   08/25/97-10/20/97        991,779 
      311   Toyota Motor Credit Corp. .......................................     5.71          08/14/97            310,360 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,800,289 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Bank Holding Companies (7.0%) 
      500   Bankers Trust New York Corp. ....................................     5.72          01/08/98            487,644 
    1,000   Barnett Banks, Inc.  ............................................     5.55          08/21/97            996,933 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,484,577 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Banks-Commercial (18.6%) 
      465   ABN-AMRO North America Finance Inc. .............................     5.74          09/05/97            462,446 
      500   Commerzbank U.S. Finance Inc.  ..................................     5.52          08/15/97            498,931 
    1,000   Internationale Nederlanden (U.S.) Funding Corp. .................     5.60          08/01/97          1,000,000 
      400   KfW International Finance Inc. ..................................     5.54          09/02/97            398,044 
      500   Societe Generale N.A., Inc. .....................................     5.61          09/10/97            496,917 
      600   UBS Finance (Delaware) Inc.  ....................................     5.53          08/07/97            599,449 
      500   WestPac Capital Corp.  ..........................................     5.54          09/05/97            497,326 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  3,953,113 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Brokerage (4.7%) 
    1,000   Goldman Sachs Group L.P.  .......................................  5.63-5.64   08/04/97-09/03/97        997,215 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Finance-Consumer (6.4%) 
      400   American Express Credit Corp. ...................................     5.63          08/01/97            400,000 
      950   American General Finance Corp. ..................................     5.64          08/05/97            949,409 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,349,409 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Finance-Diversified (8.4%) 
      400   Associates Corp. of North America ...............................     5.65          08/05/97            399,751 
      750   Commercial Credit Co. ...........................................     5.53          08/27/97            747,021 
      650   General Electric Capital Corp. ..................................  5.55-5.61   09/16/97-10/14/97        644,124 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,790,896 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Industrials (2.0%) 
      425   Weyerhaeuser Co. ................................................     5.54          08/20/97            423,764 
                                                                                                              ------------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - LIQUID ASSET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

                                                                               ANNUALIZED 
 PRINCIPAL                                                                      YIELD ON 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                      DATE OF         MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                      PURCHASE          DATE           VALUE 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Office Equipment (4.7%) 
   $1,000   Xerox Credit Corp. ..............................................    5.51%          08/19/97          $ 997,260 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Utilities-Finance (4.1%) 
      866   National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.  ............. 5.57-5.62    08/22/97-09/11/97        861,971 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            TOTAL COMMERCIAL PAPER (Amortized Cost $13,658,494)  ............................................    13,658,494 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY (23.2%) 
    4,930   Federal Home Loan 
             Mortgage Corp. 
             (Amortized Cost $4,926,600) .................................... 5.47-5.75    08/01/97-09/19/97      4,926,600 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES (7.2%) 
    1,014   BostonBank, N.A. ................................................ 5.71-5.88    09/30/97-01/20/98        993,499 
      541   Union Bank of California, N.A. ..................................    5.59           10/15/97            534,804 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            TOTAL BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES (Amortized Cost $1,528,303) ..........................................     1,528,303 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
            (Amortized Cost $20,113,397)(a) ...............................................       94.8%          20,113,397 
            CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES  ...............................        5.2            1,099,631 
                                                                                                 -----        ------------- 
            NET ASSETS ....................................................................      100.0%         $21,213,028 
                                                                                                 =====        ============= 
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)  Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         ANNUALIZED 
 PRINCIPAL                                YIELD ON 
 AMOUNT IN                                DATE OF        MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                PURCHASE         DATE           VALUE 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>                           <C>        <C>               <C>
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
             (98.7%) 
   $1,000   Federal Farm Credit Bank ..  5.52-5.77%  08/04/97-11/25/97 $  991,289 
    1,690   Federal Home Loan Banks ...  5.42-5.66   08/07/97-09/02/97  1,687,131 
      725    Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
             Corp. ....................  5.59-5.75   08/01/97-10/17/97    720,019 
      590    Federal National Mortgage 
             Association ..............  5.38-5.49   08/04/97-08/07/97    589,647 
                                                                       ---------- 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
            (Amortized Cost $3,988,086) ..............................  3,988,086 
                                                                       ---------- 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION (1.2%) 
       50   U.S. Treasury Bill 
            (Amortized Cost $48,650) ..     5.32         02/05/98          48,650 
                                                                       ---------- 
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
            (Amortized Cost $4,036,736)(a)..........       99.9%        4,036,736 
            CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS 
            OF LIABILITIES .........................        0.1             4,560 
                                                          -----        ----------
            NET ASSETS..............................      100.0%       $4,041,296 
                                                          ======       ==========
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)  Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                    COUPON       MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                     RATE          DATE           VALUE 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>                                                                <C>    <C>               <C>
            U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (98.6%) 
            Government National 
             Mortgage Assoc. I (71.4%) 
   $3,684   .................................................................  7.00 % 06/15/23-03/15/27  $ 3,688,923 
    3,737   .................................................................  7.50   01/15/24-01/15/27    3,802,491 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
                                                                                                           7,491,414 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
      971   Government National 
             Mortgage Assoc. II (9.2%) ......................................  7.00        03/20/26          968,255 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
            U.S. Treasury Notes (12.6%) 
    1,200   .................................................................  6.375       09/30/01        1,221,852 
      100   .................................................................  6.250       06/30/02          101,434 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
                                                                                                           1,323,286 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
      600   U.S. Treasury Principal Strips (5.4%) ...........................  0.00        08/15/98          567,120 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
            (Identified Cost $10,212,454)(a) .........................................       98.6%        10,350,075 
            CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES ...........................        1.4            146,232 
                                                                                            -----       ------------ 
            NET ASSETS ...............................................................      100.0%       $10,496,307 
                                                                                            =====       ============ 
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)       The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
          identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
          $202,248 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $64,627, 
          resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $137,621. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                    COUPON   MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                     RATE      DATE        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>         <C>                                                               <C>      <C>       <C>
            CORPORATE BONDS (56.8%) 
            Automobile-Rentals (4.0%) 
    $100    Hertz Corp. .....................................................  6.00 %  01/15/03     $ 97,979 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Automotive (0.8%) 
      20    Chrysler Corp. .................................................. 10.40    08/01/99       20,005 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Automotive-Finance (1.1%) 
      25    General Motors Acceptance Corp. .................................  8.40    10/15/99       26,177 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Banks (9.5%) 
     100    Bank One Corp. ..................................................  7.60    05/01/07      106,545 
     100    Long Island Savings Bank  .......................................  7.00    06/13/02      102,145 
      25    Star Bank N.A. ..................................................  6.375   03/01/04       24,764 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
                                                                                                     233,454 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Brokerage (4.1%) 
     100    Bear Stearns Companies, Inc.  ...................................  6.75    08/15/00      101,506 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Data Processing (4.1%) 
     100    Oracle Corp.  ...................................................  6.91    02/15/07      101,719 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Financial (8.4%) 
     100    Ikon Capital Inc. ...............................................  6.73    06/15/01      101,477 
     100    Nac Re Corp .....................................................  8.00    06/15/99      103,259 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
                                                                                                     204,736 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Foreign Government (4.0%) 
     100    State of Israel  ................................................  6.375   12/15/05       97,826 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Healthcare (1.0%) 
      25    Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp.  ..................................  6.87    09/15/03       25,403 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Industrials (4.1%) 
     100    Millennium America Inc.  ........................................  7.00    11/15/06      100,710 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Leisure (4.4%) 
     100    Royal Caribbean Cruises .........................................  8.25    04/01/05      108,221 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Manufacturing (2.0%) 
      50    Reebok International plc 
             (United Kingdom) ...............................................  6.75    09/15/05       49,374 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Paper & Forest Products (4.1%) 
     100    Noranda Forest, Inc. (Canada) ...................................  6.875   11/15/05      100,602 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Textiles (1.0%) 
      25    Burlington Industries, Inc.  ....................................  7.25    09/15/05       25,313 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Utilities - Electric (4.2%) 
     100    Connecticut Light & Power Co.  ..................................  7.875   06/01/01      102,208 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS 
            (Identified Cost $1,371,214) ........................................................  1,395,233 
                                                                                                 ------------ 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                    COUPON   MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                     RATE      DATE        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (34.7%) 
    $100    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  6.125%  03/31/98      $ 100,396 
     300    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  5.75    10/31/00        299,463 
     300    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  5.875   11/30/01        299,868 
     150    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  6.25    01/31/02        152,100 
                                                                                                  ------------ 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS 
            (Identified Cost $843,820) ..........................................................      851,827 
                                                                                                  ------------ 
            SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a)(4.1%) 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY 
     100    Federal Home Loan Banks 
            (Amortized Cost $100,000) .......................................  5.39    08/01/97        100,000 
                                                                                                  ------------ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          <S>                                                                      <C>      <C>
          TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
          (Identified Cost $2,315,034)(b) .........................................   95.6%   2,347,060 
          CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES...........................    4.4      108,712 
                                                                                   -------- ----------- 
          NET ASSETS ..............................................................  100.0%  $2,455,772 
                                                                                   ======== =========== 
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)        Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate 
           shown has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent 
           yield. 
(b)        The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
           identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
           $36,736 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $4,710, 
           resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $32,026. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                                <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (97.7%) 
             Agriculture Related (4.4%) 
     4,500   Case Corp.  .....................................................  $  280,969 
     4,500   Deere & Co.  ....................................................     255,937 
     5,500   Dekalb Genetics Corp. (Class B) .................................     420,406 
     7,000   Delta & Pine Land Co.  ..........................................     266,000 
    14,000   Monsanto Co.  ...................................................     697,375 
     6,500   Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. .............................     481,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,401,687 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks (7.1%) 
     6,000   Bank of New York Co., Inc.  .....................................     291,375 
     7,000   BankAmerica Corp.  ..............................................     528,500 
     4,000   Bankers Trust New York Corp. ....................................     404,750 
   250,000   Credito Italiano Spa (Italy)  ...................................     497,644 
     4,000   First Chicago NBD Corp.  ........................................     303,500 
     6,000   Fleet Financial Group, Inc.  ....................................     407,250 
    10,000   Mellon Bank Corp.  ..............................................     504,375 
     7,200   NationsBank Corp.  ..............................................     512,550 
     6,000   Washington Mutual, Inc.  ........................................     414,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,863,944 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Basic Cyclicals (0.7%) 
     2,300   Champion International Corp. ....................................     142,600 
     3,000   Reynolds Metals Co.  ............................................     234,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   376,600 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Biotechnology (2.4%) 
    21,000   Biochem Pharma, Inc. (Canada)*  .................................     603,750 
    13,000   Centocor, Inc.*  ................................................     499,687 
     2,000   Gilead Sciences, Inc.*  .........................................      56,250 
     3,500   Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*  ..................................     122,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,281,749 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Capital Equipment (4.3%) 
     2,000   Aeroquip-Vickers, Inc. ..........................................     109,625 
     5,500   Boeing Co.  .....................................................     323,469 
     3,000   Crane Co.  ......................................................     136,312 
     6,000   General Electric Co.  ...........................................     421,125 
     4,500   Kuhlman Corp.  ..................................................     139,500 
     3,200   Parker-Hannifin Corp.  ..........................................     206,000 
     2,200   Sundstrand Corp.  ...............................................     136,400 
    10,000   Timken Co.  .....................................................     351,875 
     2,000   Tyco International Ltd. .........................................     162,000 
     4,000   United Technologies Corp.  ......................................     338,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,324,556 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications Equipment (9.4%) 
     2,000   Advanced Fibre Communications, Inc.*  ...........................  $  139,250 
    21,000   Bay Networks, Inc.*  ............................................     640,500 
    15,000   Brightpoint, Inc.*  .............................................     447,187 
     3,000   CIENA Corp.*  ...................................................     168,000 
     6,000   Cisco Systems, Inc.*  ...........................................     476,625 
       700   Corsair Communications, Inc.*  ..................................      13,738 
    11,500   Ericsson (L.M.) Telephone Co. (Class B)(ADR)(Sweden)  ...........     520,375 
     7,000   Lucent Technologies Inc.  .......................................     594,562 
    10,000   Newbridge Networks Corp. (Canada)* ..............................     521,250 
     6,000   Nokia Corp. (ADR)(Finland) ......................................     513,750 
     5,000   Northern Telecom Ltd. (Canada) ..................................     522,812 
     2,000   Tekelec*  .......................................................     123,000 
     7,000   Tellabs, Inc.*  .................................................     418,687 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 5,099,736 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Equipment (3.1%) 
     4,000   Dell Computer Corp.*  ...........................................     342,000 
    12,000   EMC Corp.*  .....................................................     606,000 
     9,000   Kemet Corp.*  ...................................................     230,625 
     6,500   SCI Systems, Inc.*  .............................................     516,344 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,694,969 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Software (4.3%) 
    15,000   BEA Systems, Inc.*  .............................................     290,625 
     5,000   Compuware Corp.*  ...............................................     308,125 
       400   Great Plains Software, Inc.*  ...................................      10,700 
     4,100   Microsoft Corp.*  ...............................................     579,381 
     7,000   Oracle Corp.*  ..................................................     380,187 
     5,000   Peoplesoft, Inc.*  ..............................................     291,875 
     8,000   Veritas Software Corp.*  ........................................     494,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,354,893 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer-Noncyclical (4.5%) 
     9,000   Alberto-Culver Co. (Class B)  ...................................     252,562 
     2,500   Avon Products, Inc.  ............................................     181,406 
     3,800   Coca Cola Co.  ..................................................     263,150 
     1,600   Coca Cola FEMSA S.A. de C.V. (ADR)(Mexico) ......................      89,800 
     8,000   Colgate-Palmolive Co.  ..........................................     606,000 
    10,000   PanAmerican Beverages, Inc. (Class A)(Mexico) ...................     335,000 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    3,000    Procter & Gamble Co.  ...........................................  $  456,375 
    7,000    Sunbeam Corporation  ............................................     273,875 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,458,168 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer Business Services (1.4%) 
    8,000    AccuStaff, Inc.*  ...............................................     218,000 
    7,400    Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc.  ...............................     273,800 
    5,000    Corrections Corp. of America*  ..................................     221,562 
    2,000    Service Corp. International .....................................      68,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   781,362 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer Products (2.6%) 
    5,000    CVS Corp. .......................................................     284,375 
    4,000    Philips Electronics NV (Netherlands)  ...........................     327,250 
    3,500    Philips Electronics NV (Netherlands)  ...........................     283,962 
    1,900    Sony Corp. (Japan)  .............................................     189,134 
    3,100    Sony Corp. (ADR)(Japan)  ........................................     315,619 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,400,340 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Drugs (4.0%) 
    5,000    Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*  ....................................     194,062 
    4,500    Lilly (Eli) & Co.  ..............................................     508,500 
    5,000    Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (Class A)*  ........................     225,000 
      280    Novartis (Switzerland) ..........................................     449,742 
    4,400    Pfizer, Inc.  ...................................................     262,350 
    3,600    Warner-Lambert Co.  .............................................     502,875 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,142,529 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Energy (5.9%) 
    9,000    Baker Hughes, Inc. ..............................................     396,563 
    8,000    Cooper Cameron Corp.*  ..........................................     469,000 
    2,500    Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. .................................     233,125 
    5,000    EVI, Inc.*  .....................................................     244,375 
    8,000    Falcon Drilling Company, Inc.*  .................................     231,000 
   12,000    Halliburton Co.  ................................................     552,000 
    5,000    Halter Marine Group, Inc.*  .....................................     153,125 
    8,200    Schlumberger, Ltd.  .............................................     626,275 
    4,000    Smith International, Inc.*  .....................................     286,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,192,213 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Financial-Miscellaneous (7.1%) 
      400    Advanta Corp. (Class A)  ........................................      14,400 
    7,000    American Express Co. ............................................     586,250 
   15,000    Hambrecht & Quist Group*  .......................................     447,188 
             Kansas City Southern 
    2,000    Industries, Inc.  ...............................................     150,750 
    4,000    Legg Mason, Inc.  ...............................................  $  245,750 
   16,000    Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. ..................................     797,000 
    8,000    Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. .......................................     563,500 
    8,000    Paine Webber Group, Inc. ........................................     320,000 
    1,000    Price (T.) Rowe Associates, Inc. ................................      54,250 
   10,000    Providian Financial Corp.*  .....................................     391,875 
    4,500    Salomon, Inc.  ..................................................     285,469 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,856,432 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare Products & Services (2.9%) 
    7,000    HBO & Co.  ......................................................     540,750 
   16,000    Health Management Associates, Inc. (Class A)*  ..................     511,000 
   20,000    Healthsouth Corp.*  .............................................     530,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,581,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Insurance (2.3%) 
    3,000    Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.  ........................     261,375 
             Marsh & McLennan 
    7,000    Companies, Inc.  ................................................     542,063 
    5,000    Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (Class A)  ..................     151,250 
    4,000    Travelers Group, Inc. ...........................................     287,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,242,438 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Internet (3.0%) 
   10,000    America Online, Inc.*  ..........................................     675,000 
   10,000    E*TRADE Group, Inc.*  ...........................................     305,000 
   10,000    Sterling Commerce, Inc.*  .......................................     376,875 
    5,000    Yahoo! Inc.*  ...................................................     281,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,638,125 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Media Group (4.1%) 
    6,600    Clear Channel Communications, Inc.*  ............................     410,850 
             Evergreen Media Corp. 
    8,000    (Class A)*  .....................................................     367,000 
   10,000    Jacor Communications, Inc.*  ....................................     428,750 
   13,200    Outdoor Systems, Inc.*  .........................................     343,200 
    2,000    Univision Communications, Inc. (Class A)*  ......................      86,000 
   25,000    Westinghouse Electric Corp. .....................................     601,563 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,237,363 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Medical Supplies (2.4%) 
    6,000    Boston Scientific Corp.*  .......................................     430,500 
    5,500    Guidant Corp.  ..................................................     501,875 
    4,000    Medtronic, Inc.  ................................................     349,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,281,375 
                                                                              ------------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Retail (5.8%) 
    3,000    Barnes & Noble, Inc.*  .......................................... $   150,000 
   13,500    Costco Companies Inc.*  .........................................     511,313 
   10,000    Dayton-Hudson Corp.  ............................................     646,250 
    5,000    Dollar General Corp. ............................................     220,000 
   10,000    Family Dollar Stores, Inc.  .....................................     325,625 
    6,000    General Nutrition Companies, Inc.*  .............................     171,000 
    7,800    Home Depot, Inc.  ...............................................     389,025 
    3,000    Ross Stores, Inc.  ..............................................      94,500 
   17,000    Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  ..........................................     638,563 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,146,276 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Semiconductor Equipment (5.7%) 
    9,000    Applied Materials, Inc.*  .......................................     826,313 
    2,000    ASM Lithography Holding NV (Netherlands)* .......................     162,000 
    5,000    CFM Technologies, Inc.*  ........................................     129,375 
    1,000    DuPont Photomasks, Inc.* ........................................      50,750 
    3,000    Etec Systems, Inc.*  ............................................     160,875 
   13,000    KLA-Tencor Corp.*  ..............................................     786,500 
    7,000    LAM Research Corp.*  ............................................     370,125 
    7,000    PRI Automation, Inc.*  ..........................................     345,625 
    5,000    Teradyne, Inc.*  ................................................     233,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,065,313 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Semiconductors (9.2%) 
    4,000    Altera Corp.  ...................................................     241,000 
   17,000    Analog Devices, Inc.*  ..........................................     534,438 
   10,000    Burr-Brown Corp.*  ..............................................     348,125 
      700    Galileo Technology Ltd. (Israel)* ...............................      16,975 
    2,000    Intel Corp.  ....................................................     183,500 
    5,000    Lattice Semiconductor Corp.*  ...................................     335,625 
    5,000    Linear Technology Corp.  ........................................     333,750 
    8,000    Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.* ................................     553,000 
    2,500    MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.* ................................      72,500 
    4,000    Micrel, Inc.*  ..................................................     259,000 
    9,000    Micron Technology, Inc. *  ......................................     438,188 
    6,000    Motorola, Inc.  .................................................     481,875 
    6,000    Texas Instruments, Inc. .........................................     690,000 
   10,000    Vitesse Semiconductor Corp.*  ...................................     483,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 4,971,726 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Transportation (1.1%) 
             Continental Airlines, Inc. 
      900    (Class B)*  ..................................................... $    33,525 
    4,000    PACCAR, Inc. ....................................................     197,000 
    1,400    Ryanair Holdings PLC (ADR)(Ireland)*  ...........................      39,375 
    3,000    Teekay Shipping Corp.  ..........................................     104,813 
    6,000    US Airways Group, Inc.*  ........................................     229,877 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   604,590 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Identified Cost $42,913,438)  ..............  52,998,134 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   PRINCIPAL 
   AMOUNT IN 
   THOUSANDS 
- --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>            <C>                                    <C>
               SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (A) (1.7%) 
               U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY 
     $900      Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
                Corp. 5.75% due 08/01/97 
                (Amortized Cost $900,000)..........    900,000 
                                                   -----------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified Cost $43,813,438)(b) .          99.4%   53,898,134
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS          
OF LIABILITIES ...................           0.6       316,360
                                         -------- ------------
NET ASSETS........................         100.0%  $54,214,494
                                         ======== ============
</TABLE>                           

- ------------ 
ADR      American Depository Receipt. 
*        Non-income producing security. 
(a)      Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown 
         has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)      The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
         identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
         $10,364,753 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
         $280,057, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $10,084,696. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - CAPITAL GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (98.0%) 
             Auto Trucks & Parts (2.3%) 
    5,000    Miller Industries, Inc.* ........................................  $ 84,375 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Banking (4.8%) 
    1,450    State Street Corp. ..............................................    81,291 
    1,350    Washington Mutual, Inc. .........................................    93,150 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 174,441 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Commercial Services (1.4%) 
    1,900    Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (Class A)* ...................    51,537 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Communications - 
             Equipment & Software (3.8%) 
    1,100    3Com Corp.* .....................................................    60,087 
    1,350    Tellabs, Inc.* ..................................................    80,747 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 140,834 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computer Services (1.9%) 
    1,800    Sterling Commerce, Inc.* ........................................    67,837 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computer Software (8.9%) 
    1,100    Computer Associates International, Inc. .........................    74,869 
    2,200    Danka Business Systems PLC (ADR)(United Kingdom) ................   107,525 
      800    Electronics for Imaging, Inc.* ..................................    44,000 
      450    Microsoft Corp.* ................................................    63,591 
      700    Oracle Corp.* ...................................................    38,019 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 328,004 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computer - Systems (4.7%) 
    2,000    EMC Corp.* ......................................................   101,000 
      900    SCI Systems, Inc.* ..............................................    71,494 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 172,494 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Consumer Business Services (2.6%) 
    2,200    AccuStaff, Inc.* ................................................    59,950 
    1,000    Service Corp. International .....................................    34,000 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                  93,950 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Drugs (1.4%) 
    1,100    Elan Corp. PLC (ADR)(Ireland)* ..................................    52,250 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics (4.2%) 
      750    Hadco Corp.* ....................................................    49,406 
    1,800    Jabil Circuit, Inc.* ............................................    87,637 
      250    Sanmina Corp.* ..................................................    18,344 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 155,387 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics - Semiconductors/ 
             Components (1.2%) 
      400    Intel Corp. .....................................................    36,700 
      150    Photronics, Inc.* ...............................................     8,137 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                  44,837 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Enviromental Control (1.5%) 
    1,600    Newpark Resources, Inc.* ........................................  $ 55,300 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial - Miscellaneous (11.4%) 
    1,600    Green Tree Financial Corp. ......................................    75,400 
      700    Household International, Inc. ...................................    90,650 
    2,200    MBNA Corp. ......................................................    99,000 
    1,300    MGIC Investment Corp. ...........................................    68,331 
    1,400    SunAmerica, Inc. ................................................    84,700 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 418,081 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Healthcare - Diversified (2.2%) 
    2,000    Universal Health Services, Inc. (Class B)* ......................    81,250 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Hospital Management (1.5%) 
    1,200    Express Scripts, Inc. (Class A)* ................................    53,400 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances (3.1%) 
    1,200    American Standard Companies, Inc.* ..............................    59,625 
    1,000    Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc. .....................................    53,000 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 112,625 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Life Insurance (1.4%) 
    1,300    Providian Financial Corp.* ......................................    50,944 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Manufacturing - Diversified (2.7%) 
    1,200    Tyco International Ltd. .........................................    97,200 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Media (2.0%) 
    1,200    Clear Channel Communications, Inc.* .............................    74,700 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Oil & Gas Products (0.5%) 
      300    Camco International, Inc. .......................................    19,387 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Oil Drilling & Services (9.3%) 
    1,450    ENSCO International, Inc.* ......................................    95,881 
    2,900    Pride International, Inc.* ......................................    76,669 
    1,500    Tidewater, Inc. .................................................    75,750 
    2,400    Varco International, Inc.* ......................................    92,850 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 341,150 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Oil Equipment & Services (4.2%) 
    2,400    Falcon Drilling Company, Inc.* ..................................    69,300 
    1,200    Smith International, Inc.* ......................................    86,025 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 155,325 
             Pharmaceuticals (2.8%) 
    2,300    Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (Class A)* .........................   103,500 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail - Department Stores (3.7%)
    1,900    Dollar General Corp. ............................................    83,600 
      950    Proffitt's, Inc.* ...............................................    50,350 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 133,950 
                                                                              ------------ 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - CAPITAL GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
             Retail - Drugs Stores (1.7%) 
    1,100    Walgreen Co. ....................................................  $ 62,150 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail - Food Chains (4.1%) 
    2,400    Kroger Co.* .....................................................    70,950 
    1,500    Safeway, Inc.* ..................................................    80,438 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 151,388 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail - Specialty (6.0%) 
    1,562    Consolidated Stores Corp.* ......................................    62,871 
    2,700    General Nutrition Companies, Inc.* ..............................    76,950 
    3,200    Staples, Inc.* ..................................................    80,400 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 220,221 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Utilities - Electric (1.9%) 
      900    AES Corp.* ......................................................    71,100 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Utilities - Telephone (0.8%) 
      850    Airtouch Communications, Inc.* ..................................    27,997 
                                                                              ------------ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                 <C>      <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified Cost $2,725,382)(a) .    98.0%   3,595,614 
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS 
OF LIABILITIES...................     2.0       74,032 
                                    -----   ---------- 
NET ASSETS.......................   100.0%  $3,669,646 
                                    =====   ========== 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
(a)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $870,624 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $392, 
        resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $870,232. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - DIVIDEND GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                          VALUE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (100.0%) 
             Aerospace (2.7%) 
    55,000   Raytheon Co.  ...................................................  $3,073,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Aluminum (2.7%) 
    35,500   Aluminum Co. of America  ........................................   3,141,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Automotive (5.3%) 
    84,000   Chrysler Corp.  .................................................   3,118,500 
    74,000   Ford Motor Co.  .................................................   3,024,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 6,143,250 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Banks (2.7%) 
    43,000   NationsBank Corp.  ..............................................   3,061,062 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Banks - Money Center (2.7%) 
    41,000   BankAmerica Corp.  ..............................................   3,095,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks (2.7%) 
    81,000   PepsiCo Inc.  ...................................................   3,103,312 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Chemicals (5.1%) 
    44,000   Du Pont (E.I.) de Nemours & Co., Inc.  ..........................   2,945,250 
    49,500   Eastman Chemical Co.  ...........................................   2,994,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 5,940,000 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Computers - Systems (2.7%) 
    29,000   International Business Machines Corp.  ..........................   3,066,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Conglomerates (5.1%) 
    31,500   Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co.  ...........................   2,984,625 
    63,000   Tenneco, Inc.  ..................................................   2,937,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 5,922,000 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Drugs (2.6%) 
    38,000   Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.  .......................................   2,980,625 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Drugs & Healthcare (2.7%)  ...................................... 
    47,000   Abbott Laboratories  ............................................   3,075,562 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Electric - Major (2.6%) 
    42,300   General Electric Co.  ...........................................   2,968,931 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Energy (2.6%) 
    47,000   Kerr-McGee Corp.  ...............................................   2,943,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Foods (5.2%) 
    59,800   Quaker Oats Company (The)  ......................................   3,061,012 
    13,300   Unilever NV (ADR)(Netherlands)  .................................   2,899,400 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 5,960,412 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Machinery - Agricultural (2.6%) 
    53,600   Deere & Co.  ....................................................   3,048,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Manufacturing - Diversified (2.5%) 
    39,000   Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................  $2,912,813 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Metals - Miscellaneous (2.5%) 
    34,000   Phelps Dodge Corp.  .............................................   2,892,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Natural Gas (2.6%) 
    78,000   Enron Corp.  ....................................................   2,959,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Office Equipment (2.7%) 
    41,000   Pitney Bowes, Inc.  .............................................   3,080,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Oil - Domestic (5.3%) 
    32,000   Amoco Corp.  ....................................................   3,008,000 
    59,000   Ashland, Inc.  ..................................................   3,134,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 6,142,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Oil Integrated - International (2.7%) 
    48,200   Exxon Corp.  ....................................................   3,096,850 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Paper & Forest Products (2.7%) 
    51,000   Weyerhaeuser Co.  ...............................................   3,174,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Photography (2.6%) 
    45,500   Eastman Kodak Co.  ..............................................   3,048,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Railroads (2.8%) 
    51,500   CSX Corp.  ......................................................   3,180,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Retail - Department Stores (2.6%) 
    54,000   May Department Stores Co.  ......................................   3,017,250 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Retail - Food Chains (2.6%) 
   120,600   American Stores Co.  ............................................   3,045,150 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Steel (2.5%) 
    83,000   Timken Co.  .....................................................   2,920,563 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Telecommunications (5.3%) 
    41,000   Bell Atlantic Corp.  ............................................   2,975,063 
    63,000   Sprint Corp.  ...................................................   3,118,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 6,093,563 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Tobacco (2.6%) 
    67,000   Philip Morris Companies, Inc.  ..................................   3,023,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Utilities - Electric (8.0%) 
   142,000   Houston Industries, Inc.  .......................................   2,973,125 
    82,800   New England Electric System  ....................................   3,089,475 
   139,000   Unicom Corp.  ...................................................   3,153,563 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 9,216,163 
                                                                              -------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $86,532,718)  .................................. 115,327,006 
                                                                              -------------- 
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - DIVIDEND GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (0.7%) 
             REPURCHASE AGREEMENT 
             The Bank of New York 5.75%  due 08/01/97 (dated 07/31/97; 
      $757   proceeds $757,142)(a)  (Identified Cost $757,021)  .............   $ 757,021 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                 <C>      <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified Cost $87,289,739)(b)  .   100.7 %  116,084,027 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER 
ASSETS ............................    (0.7)      (772,518) 
                                    -------- ------------- 
NET ASSETS ........................   100.0 % $115,311,509 
                                    ======== ============= 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
(a)     Collateralized by $244,167 Federal National Mortgage Association 
        9.55% due 11/10/97 valued at $252,039, $400,000 Federal National 
        Mortgage Association 7.37% due 04/14/04 valued at $414,359 and 
        $99,269 Federal National Mortgage Association 7.50% due 04/16/07 
        valued at $105,764. 
(b)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $29,069,461 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $275,173, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $28,794,288. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - UTILITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (100.0%) 
             Natural Gas (19.1%) 
    5,000    American Water Works Company, Inc.  ............................. $  108,437 
    3,500    Brooklyn Union Gas Co. ..........................................    105,219 
    4,500    Calpine Corp.* ..................................................     88,875 
    3,500    Enron Corp. .....................................................    132,781 
    5,000    MCN Corp.  ......................................................    158,437 
    2,000    Mobil Corp. .....................................................    153,000 
    3,000    Pacific Enterprises .............................................    100,312 
    4,000    Williams Companies, Inc. ........................................    183,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                1,030,061 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications (29.1%) 
    3,000    Alltel Corp. ....................................................     98,625 
    3,000    AT&T Corp.  .....................................................    110,438 
    3,000    BellSouth Corp.  ................................................    142,125 
    3,500    Cable & Wireless PLC (ADR)(United Kingdom) ......................    105,219 
    2,500    Compania de Telefonos de Chile S.A. (ADR)(Chile) ................     82,344 
             Grupo Iusacell S.A. de C.V. 
    7,000    (Series L)(ADR)(Mexico)* ........................................    131,688 
    3,000    GTE Corp. .......................................................    139,500 
    2,000    Nokia Corp. (ADR)(Finland)* .....................................    171,250 
    3,000    Sprint Corp. ....................................................    148,500 
    3,000    Teleport Communications Group Inc. (Class A)* ...................    118,125 
    2,500    Vodafone Group PLC (ADR)(United Kingdom) ........................    126,250 
    5,500    WorldCom, Inc.* .................................................    192,156 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                1,566,220 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric (51.8%) 
    2,000    AES Corp.* ......................................................    158,000 
    3,000    American Electric Power Co. .....................................    134,250 
    4,000    CILCORP, Inc.  ..................................................    167,750 
    4,000    CINergy Corp.  ..................................................    134,500 
    4,000    CMS Energy Corp.  ...............................................    148,000 
    5,000    DPL, Inc.  ......................................................    123,125 
    4,050    DQE, Inc.  ......................................................    127,828 
    3,000    Duke Energy Corp. ...............................................    152,063 
    5,000    Edison International  ...........................................    126,250 
    4,000    Florida Progress Corp.  .........................................    128,750 
    4,000    General Public Utilities Corp.  .................................    138,750 
    6,000    MDU Resources Group, Inc.  ......................................    142,500 
    3,000    NIPSCO Industries, Inc. .........................................    126,375 
    5,500    PacifiCorp ......................................................    122,719 
    4,500    Pinnacle West Capital Corp.  ....................................    142,031 
    4,000    Public Service Company of Colorado .............................. $  166,500 
    4,500    Sierra Pacific Resources ........................................    143,719 
    6,000    Teco Energy, Inc.  ..............................................    152,250 
    4,000    Utilicorp United, Inc. ..........................................    119,250 
    4,000    Western Resources, Inc. .........................................    138,500 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                2,793,110 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $4,358,265) ....................................  5,389,391 
                                                                              ----------- 
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS 
- -----------
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (5.2%) 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY (a)(2.8%) 
             Federal National Mortgage Assoc. 5.48% due 08/04/97 
    $150     (Amortized Cost $149,931) .......................................    149,931 
                                                                              ----------- 
             REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (2.4%) 
             The Bank of New York 
             5.75% due 08/01/97 (dated 07/31/97; proceeds $132,571)(b) 
      133    (Identified Cost $132,550) ......................................    132,550 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 
             (Identified Cost $282,481) ......................................    282,481 
                                                                              ----------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                <C>       <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(IDENTIFIED COST $4,640,746) 
(C) .............  .............   105.2%    5,671,872 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER 
 ASSETS........................     (5.2)     (280,644) 
                                   -----   ----------- 
NET ASSETS.....................    100.0%  $ 5,391,228 
                                   =====   =========== 
</TABLE>

- --------------
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
(a)     Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown 
        has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     Collateralized by $30,477 U.S. Treasury Note 6.25% due 05/31/99 
        valued at $31,043 and $99,095 U.S. Treasury Note 7.125% due 09/30/99 
        valued at $104,158. 
(c)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $1,034,626 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $3,500, 
        resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $1,031,126. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (97.4%) 
             Aerospace & Defense (1.0%) 
      750    Boeing Co.  .....................................................  $   44,109 
      550    General Dynamics Corp.  .........................................      48,675 
      450    Lockheed Martin Corp.  ..........................................      47,925 
      550    McDonnell Douglas Corp.  ........................................      42,075 
      450    Northrop Grumman Corp.  .........................................      51,806 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   234,590 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Agriculture Related (0.2%) 
      600    Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. .............................      44,400 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Air Freight (0.2%) 
      800    Federal Express Corp.* ..........................................      51,650 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Airlines (0.8%) 
      450    AMR Corp.* ......................................................      48,403 
      450    Delta Air Lines, Inc.  ..........................................      39,994 
    1,550    Southwest Airlines Co.  .........................................      45,241 
    1,300    US Airways Group, Inc.* .........................................      49,806 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   183,444 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Aluminum (0.6%) 
    1,100    Alcan Aluminum Ltd. (Canada) ....................................      43,106 
      600    Aluminum Co. of America .........................................      53,100 
      550    Reynolds Metals Co.  ............................................      42,900 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   139,106 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Auto Parts - After Market (1.5%) 
    1,850    Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.  .......................................      46,134 
    1,150    Dana Corp.  .....................................................      52,253 
    1,250    Echlin, Inc.  ...................................................      46,328 
    1,275    Genuine Parts Co.  ..............................................      41,597 
      750    Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.  .....................................      48,422 
    1,500    ITT Industries, Inc.  ...........................................      42,469 
    1,000    Snap-On, Inc.  ..................................................      41,250 
      800    TRW, Inc.  ......................................................      46,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   365,253 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Auto Trucks & Parts (0.6%) 
      650    Cummins Engine Co., Inc.  .......................................      51,025 
    2,500    Navistar International Corp.* ...................................      51,562 
    1,050    PACCAR, Inc.  ...................................................      51,712 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   154,299 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Automobiles (0.6%) 
    1,100    Chrysler Corp.  .................................................      40,837 
    1,100    Ford Motor Co.  .................................................      44,962 
      800    General Motors Corp.  ...........................................      49,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   135,299 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Money Center (1.2%) 
      700    BankAmerica Corp.  ..............................................  $   52,850 
      450    Bankers Trust New York Corp.  ...................................      45,534 
      400    Chase Manhattan Corp.  ..........................................      45,425 
      350    Citicorp ........................................................      47,512 
      650    First Chicago NBD Corp.  ........................................      49,319 
      400    Morgan (J.P.) & Co., Inc.  ......................................      46,350 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   286,990 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Regional (4.4%) 
      950    Banc One Corp.  .................................................      53,319 
    1,100    Bank of New York Co., Inc.  .....................................      53,419 
      550    BankBoston Corp.  ...............................................      46,716 
      900    Barnett Banks, Inc.  ............................................      51,244 
      600    Comerica, Inc.  .................................................      45,375 
      700    CoreStates Financial Corp.  .....................................      43,181 
      825    Fifth Third Bancorp .............................................      52,078 
      550    First Bank System, Inc.  ........................................      48,950 
      450    First Union Corp.  ..............................................      45,647 
      700    Fleet Financial Group, Inc.  ....................................      47,512 
      700    KeyCorp .........................................................      43,531 
    1,000    Mellon Bank Corp.  ..............................................      50,437 
      750    National City Corp.  ............................................      44,625 
      700    NationsBank Corp.  ..............................................      49,831 
      750    Norwest Corp.  ..................................................      47,297 
      900    PNC Bank Corp.  .................................................      41,175 
      450    Republic New York Corp.  ........................................      51,975 
      700    SunTrust Banks, Inc.  ...........................................      44,931 
      750    U.S. Bancorp ....................................................      49,969 
      700    Wachovia Corp.  .................................................      45,150 
      800    Washington Mutual, Inc.  ........................................      55,200 
      150    Wells Fargo & Co.  ..............................................      41,241 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,052,803 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Beverages - Alcoholic (0.7%) 
    1,100    Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.  .................................      47,231 
      800    Brown-Forman Corp. (Class B) ....................................      39,000 
    1,650    Coors (Adolph) Co.  .............................................      51,872 
    1,100    Seagram Co. Ltd. (Canada) .......................................      42,144 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   180,247 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks (0.5%) 
      650    Coca Cola Co.  ..................................................      45,012 
    1,150    PepsiCo, Inc.  ..................................................      44,059 
    1,700    Whitman Corp.  ..................................................      42,925 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   131,996 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Biotechnology (0.2%) 
     700     Amgen, Inc.* ....................................................      41,125 
                                                                              ------------- 

                      SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Broadcast Media (0.6%) 
    2,200    Comcast Corp. (Class A Special) .................................   $ 49,637 
             Tele-Communications, Inc. 
    3,100    (Class A)* ......................................................     52,894 
    2,200    U.S. West Media Group* ..........................................     48,537 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  151,068 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Brokerage (0.2%) 
    1,000    Schwab (Charles) Corp.  .........................................     46,812 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Building Materials (0.7%) 
      600    Armstrong World Industries, Inc.  ...............................     44,287 
    1,000    Masco Corp.  ....................................................     46,875 
    1,000    Owens-Corning ...................................................     42,062 
    1,300    Sherwin-Williams Co.  ...........................................     41,681 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  174,905 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Business Services (0.2%) 
    1,200    Cognizant Corp.  ................................................     51,150 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals (1.5%) 
      550    Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.  .................................     48,503 
      450    Dow Chemical Co.  ...............................................     42,750 
      700    Du Pont (E.I.) De Nemours & Co., Inc.  ..........................     46,856 
      750    Eastman Chemical Co.  ...........................................     45,375 
      900    Monsanto Co.  ...................................................     44,831 
      800    Praxair, Inc.  ..................................................     44,100 
      450    Rohm & Haas Co.  ................................................     44,100 
      750    Union Carbide Corp.  ............................................     41,531 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  358,046 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals - Diversified (0.9%) 
    1,100    Avery Dennison Corp.  ...........................................     48,537 
    1,800    Engelhard Corp.  ................................................     38,700 
      550    FMC Corp.* ......................................................     47,162 
      950    Goodrich (B.F.) Co.  ............................................     42,928 
      700    PPG Industries, Inc.  ...........................................     44,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  222,127 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals - Specialty (1.5%) 
    1,000    Ecolab, Inc.  ...................................................     46,687 
      750    Grace (W. R.) & Co.  ............................................     46,125 
      850    Great Lakes Chemical Corp.  .....................................     42,553 
      850    Hercules, Inc.  .................................................     45,156 
      800    International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.  ........................     42,450 
    1,300    Morton International, Inc.  .....................................     43,469 
    1,050    Nalco Chemical Co.  .............................................     42,853 
    1,200    Sigma-Aldrich Corp.  ............................................     41,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  350,543 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications - 
             Equipment/Manufacturers (1.2%) 
    1,500    Andrew Corp.* ...................................................   $ 39,094 
    1,650    DSC Communications Corp.* .......................................     48,572 
    2,200    NextLevel Systems, Inc.* ........................................     43,862 
      500    Northern Telecom Ltd. (Canada) ..................................     52,281 
    2,300    Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.  .......................................     48,300 
      800    Tellabs, Inc.* ..................................................     47,850 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  279,959 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications Equipment (0.6%) 
      500    Harris Corp.  ...................................................     43,437 
      600    Lucent Technologies Inc.  .......................................     50,962 
      650    Motorola, Inc.  .................................................     52,203 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  146,602 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Software & Services (3.0%) 
      900    3Com Corp.* .....................................................     49,162 
    1,200    Adobe Systems, Inc.  ............................................     44,850 
    1,200    Autodesk, Inc.  .................................................     50,850 
      900    Automatic Data Processing, Inc.  ................................     44,550 
    1,650    Bay Networks, Inc.* .............................................     50,325 
    1,400    Cabletron Systems, Inc.* ........................................     47,425 
    1,000    Ceridian Corp.* .................................................     43,750 
      650    Cisco Systems, Inc.* ............................................     51,634 
      750    Computer Associates International, Inc.  ........................     51,047 
      600    Computer Sciences Corp.* ........................................     48,862 
      350    Microsoft Corp.* ................................................     49,459 
       10    Netscape Communications Corp.* ..................................        380 
    5,200    Novell, Inc.* ...................................................     39,325 
      950    Oracle Corp.* ...................................................     51,597 
      900    Parametric Technology Corp.* ....................................     44,100 
    5,800    Unisys Corp.* ...................................................     55,825 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  723,141 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Peripheral Equipment (0.4%) 
    1,050    EMC Corp.* ......................................................     53,025 
    1,000    Seagate Technology, Inc.* .......................................     41,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   94,087 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Systems (2.5%) 
    4,400    Amdahl Corp.* ...................................................     51,975 
    2,500    Apple Computer, Inc.* ...........................................     43,594 
      950    COMPAQ Computer Corp.* ..........................................     54,269 
    1,750    Data General Corp.* .............................................     52,828 
      600    Dell Computer Corp.* ............................................     51,300 
    1,100    Digital Equipment Corp.* ........................................     45,306 
      700    Hewlett-Packard Co.  ............................................     49,044 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      500    International Business Machines Corp.  ..........................   $ 52,875 
      800    Shared Medical Systems Corp.  ...................................     43,100 
    2,150    Silicon Graphics, Inc.* .........................................     53,750 
    1,150    Sun Microsystems, Inc.* .........................................     52,541 
    1,700    Tandem Computers Inc.* ..........................................     49,937 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  600,519 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Containers - Metal & Glass (0.4%) 
    1,400    Ball Corp.  .....................................................     41,650 
      900    Crown Cork & Seal Co., Inc.  ....................................     45,506 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   87,156 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Containers - Paper (0.7%) 
      900    Bemis Company, Inc.  ............................................     41,344 
    3,200    Stone Container Corp.  ..........................................     53,200 
      600    Temple-Inland, Inc.  ............................................     40,387 
      700    Union Camp Corp.  ...............................................     40,994 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  175,925 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Cosmetics (0.6%) 
    1,600    Alberto-Culver Co. (Class B) ....................................     44,900 
      600    Avon Products, Inc.  ............................................     43,537 
      450    Gillette Co.  ...................................................     44,550 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  132,987 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Data Processing (0.4%) 
    1,200    Equifax, Inc.  ..................................................     40,725 
    1,000    First Data Corp.  ...............................................     43,625 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   84,350 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Distributors - Consumer Products (0.7%) 
      700    Cardinal Health, Inc.  ..........................................     43,575 
    2,400    Fleming Companies., Inc.  .......................................     38,250 
    1,300    Supervalu, Inc.  ................................................     52,650 
    1,150    Sysco Corp.  ....................................................     42,909 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  177,384 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electrical Equipment (1.8%) 
    1,000    AMP, Inc.  ......................................................     52,250 
      700    Emerson Electric Co.  ...........................................     41,300 
      700    General Electric Co.  ...........................................     49,131 
      950    General Signal Corp.  ...........................................     46,728 
      550    Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................     41,078 
      550    Raychem Corp.  ..................................................     53,350 
      700    Rockwell International Corp.  ...................................     45,937 
      800    Thomas & Betts Corp.  ...........................................     45,700 
    1,950    Westinghouse Electric Corp.  ....................................     46,922 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  422,396 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronic Components (0.2%) 
      500    Grainger (W.W.), Inc.  ..........................................   $ 48,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - Defense (0.2%) 
      850    Raytheon Co.  ...................................................     47,494 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - Instrumentation (0.6%) 
    2,200    EG & G, Inc.  ...................................................     45,100 
      550    Perkin-Elmer Corp.  .............................................     44,894 
      750    Tektronix, Inc.  ................................................     46,312 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  136,306 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - Semiconductors (1.2%) 
    1,300    Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.* ...................................     45,581 
      500    Intel Corp.  ....................................................     45,875 
    1,500    LSI Logic Corp.* ................................................     47,344 
    1,150    Micron Technology, Inc.  ........................................     55,991 
    1,500    National Semiconductor Corp.* ...................................     47,250 
      450    Texas Instruments, Inc.  ........................................     51,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  293,791 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Engineering & Construction (0.6%) 
      700    Fluor Corp.  ....................................................     43,050 
      950    Foster Wheeler Corp.  ...........................................     42,156 
    1,700    McDermott International, Inc.  ..................................     51,956 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  137,162 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Entertainment (0.7%) 
    1,100    King World Productions, Inc.* ...................................     44,412 
      850    Time Warner, Inc.  ..............................................     46,378 
    1,400    Viacom, Inc. (Class B)* .........................................     43,225 
      500    Walt Disney Co.  ................................................     40,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  174,421 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Entertainment, Gaming & Lodging (0.2%) 
    2,400    Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.* ...................................     49,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Finance - Consumer (1.0%) 
      600    Beneficial Corp.  ...............................................     43,500 
    1,400    Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc.  ............................     49,350 
    1,100    Green Tree Financial Corp.  .....................................     51,837 
      400    Household International, Inc.  ..................................     51,800 
    1,150    MBNA Corp.  .....................................................     51,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  248,237 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Finance - Diversified (1.8%) 
      600    American Express Co.  ...........................................     50,250 
      950    American General Corp.  .........................................     50,587 
      900    Fannie Mae ......................................................     42,581 
    1,200    Freddie Mac .....................................................     43,275 
      400    MBIA Inc.  ......................................................     47,200 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      900    MGIC Investment Corp.  ..........................................   $ 47,306 
    1,050    Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. (Note 3) ............     54,928 
      700    SunAmerica, Inc.  ...............................................     42,350 
      500    Transamerica Corp.  .............................................     50,437 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  428,914 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Foods (2.4%) 
    2,100    Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.  .....................................     47,250 
      800    Campbell Soup Co.  ..............................................     41,500 
      700    ConAgra, Inc.  ..................................................     49,219 
      500    CPC International, Inc.  ........................................     47,969 
      600    General Mills, Inc.  ............................................     41,475 
      900    Heinz (H.J.) Co.  ...............................................     41,569 
      750    Hershey Foods Corp.  ............................................     41,437 
      500    Kellogg Co.  ....................................................     45,937 
      900    Quaker Oats Company (The) .......................................     46,069 
      500    Ralston-Ralston Purina Group ....................................     45,125 
      900    Sara Lee Corp.  .................................................     39,431 
      200    Unilever NV (ADR)(Netherlands) ..................................     43,600 
      600    Wrigley (Wm.) Jr. Co. (Class A) .................................     46,162 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  576,743 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Hardware & Tools (0.4%) 
    1,200    Black & Decker Corp.  ...........................................     50,550 
    1,100    Stanley Works ...................................................     49,844 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  100,394 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - Diversified (1.6%) 
      650    Abbott Laboratories .............................................     42,534 
    1,400    Allergan, Inc.  .................................................     44,712 
      600    American Home Products Corp.  ...................................     49,462 
      600    Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.  .......................................     47,062 
    1,800    Healthsouth Corp.* ..............................................     47,700 
      700    Johnson & Johnson ...............................................     43,619 
    1,300    Mallinckrodt Group, Inc.  .......................................     45,500 
      380    Warner-Lambert Co.  .............................................     53,081 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  373,670 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - Drugs (1.0%) 
      450    Lilly (Eli) & Co.  ..............................................     50,850 
      450    Merck & Co., Inc.  ..............................................     46,772 
      800    Pfizer, Inc.  ...................................................     47,700 
    1,200    Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc.  .......................................     45,300 
    1,000    Schering-Plough Corp.  ..........................................     54,562 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  245,184 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - Miscellaneous (0.4%) 
    2,900    Beverly Enterprises, Inc.* ......................................   $ 44,587 
    1,500    Manor Care, Inc.  ...............................................     49,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   94,087 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare HMOs (0.4%) 
    1,950    Humana, Inc.* ...................................................     47,531 
      850    United Healthcare Corp.  ........................................     48,450 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   95,981 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare Services (0.2%) 
    1,450    Alza Corp.* .....................................................     46,853 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Home Building (0.8%) 
      950    Centex Corp.  ...................................................     52,962 
    1,450    Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.  ....................................     47,034 
    2,450    Kaufman & Broad Home Corp.  .....................................     52,369 
    1,200    Pulte Corp.  ....................................................     48,975 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  201,340 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Hospital Management (0.4%) 
    1,300    Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp.  ..................................     41,925 
    1,600    Tenet Healthcare Corp.* .........................................     47,900 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   89,825 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Hotels/Motels (0.8%) 
      700    HFS, Inc.* ......................................................     40,775 
    1,400    Hilton Hotels Corp.  ............................................     44,012 
      750    ITT Corp.* ......................................................     47,953 
      750    Marriot International, Inc.  ....................................     51,562 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  184,302 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances (0.4%) 
    1,800    Maytag Corp.  ...................................................     52,537 
      900    Whirlpool Corp.  ................................................     45,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   97,537 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Household Products (0.8%) 
      340    Clorox Co.  .....................................................     47,472 
      700    Colgate-Palmolive Co.  ..........................................     53,025 
      900    Kimberly-Clark Corp.  ...........................................     45,619 
      300    Procter & Gamble Co.  ...........................................     45,637 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  191,753 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Housewares (0.6%) 
    1,200    Newell Co.  .....................................................     50,325 
    1,600    Rubbermaid, Inc.  ...............................................     41,700 
    1,300    Tupperware Corp.  ...............................................     45,175 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  137,200 
                                                                              ------------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Insurance Brokers (0.4%) 
      825    Aon Corp.  ......................................................   $ 46,200 
      700    Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.  ....................................     54,206 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  100,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Investment Banking/Brokerage (0.4%) 
      750    Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.  ......................................     52,828 
      750    Salomon, Inc.  ..................................................     47,578 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  100,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Leisure Time (0.2%) 
    1,350    Brunswick Corp.  ................................................     43,537 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Life Insurance (1.2%) 
      450    Aetna Inc.  .....................................................     51,272 
    1,000    Conseco, Inc.  ..................................................     40,750 
      600    Jefferson-Pilot Corp.  ..........................................     42,637 
    1,100    Providian Financial Corp.* ......................................     43,106 
      650    Torchmark Corp.  ................................................     51,756 
    1,100    UNUM Corp.  .....................................................     48,950 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  278,471 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Machine Tools (0.2%) 
    2,100    Giddings & Lewis, Inc.  .........................................     43,706 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Machinery -Diversified (2.3%) 
      800    Briggs & Stratton Corp.  ........................................     40,550 
      650    Case Corp.  .....................................................     40,584 
      900    Caterpillar, Inc.  ..............................................     50,400 
    1,700    Cincinnati Milacron, Inc.  ......................................     47,600 
      800    Cooper Industries, Inc.  ........................................     44,450 
      800    Deere & Co.  ....................................................     45,500 
      700    Dover Corp.  ....................................................     49,962 
    1,100    Harnischfeger Industries, Inc.  .................................     47,437 
      750    Ingersoll-Rand Co.  .............................................     51,047 
      650    NACCO Industries, Inc. (Class A) ................................     45,094 
    1,200    Thermo Electron Corp.* ..........................................     41,025 
    1,400    Timken Co.  .....................................................     49,262 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  552,911 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Manufacturing - Diversified (3.2%) 
      950    Aeroquip-Vickers, Inc.  .........................................     52,072 
      500    AlliedSignal, Inc.  .............................................     46,125 
      850    Corning, Inc.  ..................................................     52,541 
    1,150    Crane Co.  ......................................................     52,253 
      550    Eaton Corp.  ....................................................     49,672 
      900    Illinois Tool Works, Inc.  ......................................     46,688 
      900    Johnson Controls, Inc.  .........................................     40,331 
      900    Millipore Corp.  ................................................     39,769 
             Minnesota Mining & 
      450    Manufacturing Co.  ..............................................     42,638 
      900    National Service Industries, Inc.  ..............................   $ 44,381 
    1,700    Pall Corp.  .....................................................     42,713 
      800    Parker-Hannifin Corp.  ..........................................     51,500 
    1,000    Tenneco, Inc.  ..................................................     46,625 
      700    Textron Inc.  ...................................................     49,044 
      650    Tyco International Ltd. .........................................     52,650 
      500    United Technologies Corp.  ......................................     42,281 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  751,283 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Medical Products & Supplies (2.0%) 
    1,300    Bard (C.R.), Inc.  ..............................................     48,913 
    1,000    Bausch & Lomb, Inc.  ............................................     42,563 
      800    Baxter International, Inc.  .....................................     46,250 
      800    Becton, Dickinson & Co.  ........................................     42,900 
    2,500    Biomet, Inc.  ...................................................     49,844 
      700    Boston Scientific Corp.* ........................................     50,225 
      600    Guidant Corp.  ..................................................     54,750 
      500    Medtronic, Inc.  ................................................     43,625 
    1,200    St. Jude Medical, Inc.* .........................................     48,975 
    1,200    United States Surgical Corp.  ...................................     44,550 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  472,595 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Metals & Mining (1.5%) 
    1,350    ASARCO, Inc.  ...................................................     45,900 
    2,000    Barrick Gold Corp. (Canada) .....................................     45,625 
    7,300    Battle Mountain Gold Co.  .......................................     40,606 
    1,850    Cyprus Amax Minerals Co.  .......................................     46,944 
    7,800    Echo Bay Mines Ltd. (Canada) ....................................     39,000 
    2,900    Homestake Mining Co.  ...........................................     40,056 
    1,300    Newmont Mining Corp.  ...........................................     53,625 
    2,600    Placer Dome Inc. (Canada) .......................................     44,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  355,956 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Metals - Miscellaneous (0.5%) 
    1,400    Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold, Inc. (Class B) ..................     40,950 
    1,400    Inco Ltd. (Canada) ..............................................     43,313 
      500    Phelps Dodge Corp.  .............................................     42,531 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  126,794 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Miscellaneous (0.4%) 
    1,350    American Greetings Corp. (Class A) ..............................     45,056 
    1,800    Jostens, Inc.  ..................................................     46,468 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   91,524 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Multi-Line Insurance (1.2%) 
      450    American International Group, Inc. ..............................     47,925 
      250    CIGNA Corp.  ....................................................     49,875 
      550    Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. .........................     47,919 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      650    Lincoln National Corp.  .........................................   $ 46,231 
      400    Loews Corp.  ....................................................     43,250 
      700    Travelers Group, Inc.  ..........................................     50,356 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  285,556 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Natural Gas (0.3%) 
      600    Anardarko Petroleum Corp.  ......................................     41,925 
    1,100    Apache Corp.  ...................................................     38,775 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   80,700 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Office Equipment & Supplies (0.6%) 
    1,600    Ikon Office Solutions, Inc.  ....................................     46,700 
    2,100    Moore Corp. Ltd. (Canada) .......................................     45,544 
      600    Pitney Bowes, Inc.  .............................................     45,075 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  137,319 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil & Gas Drilling (1.5%) 
      950    Baker Hughes, Inc.  .............................................     41,859 
    1,250    Dresser Industries, Inc.  .......................................     52,188 
    1,100    Halliburton Co.  ................................................     50,600 
      700    Helmerich & Payne, Inc.  ........................................     47,119 
    1,600    Rowan Cos., Inc.* ...............................................     52,600 
      700    Schlumberger, Ltd. ..............................................     53,463 
      600    Western Atlas, Inc.* ............................................     47,738 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  345,567 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil & Gas Exploration (0.9%) 
      900    Burlington Resources, Inc.  .....................................     42,525 
      650    Kerr-McGee Corp.  ...............................................     40,706 
      680    Louisiana Land & Exploration Co. ................................     48,025 
    1,700    Oryx Energy Co.* ................................................     41,969 
    1,600    Union Pacific Resources Group, Inc. .............................     39,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  212,725 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - Domestic Integrated (1.5%) 
      750    Amerada Hess Corp.  .............................................     44,109 
      900    Ashland, Inc.  ..................................................     47,826 
    1,700    Occidental Petroleum Corp.  .....................................     42,606 
      650    Pennzoil Co.  ...................................................     50,781 
    1,000    Phillips Petroleum Co.  .........................................     46,063 
    1,300    Sun Co., Inc.  ..................................................     46,556 
    1,050    Unocal Corp.  ...................................................     42,000 
    1,450    USX-Marathon Group ..............................................     46,672 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  366,613 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - International Integrated (1.3%) 
      450    Amoco Corp.  ....................................................     42,300 
      600    Atlantic Richfield Co.  .........................................     44,888 
      550    Chevron Corp.  ..................................................     43,519 
      700    Exxon Corp.  ....................................................     44,975 
      600    Mobil Corp.  ....................................................     45,900 
      800    Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (Netherlands) .........................   $ 44,750 
      350    Texaco, Inc.  ...................................................     40,622 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  306,954 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Paper & Forest Products (2.1%) 
    1,200    Boise Cascade Corp.  ............................................     44,475 
      800    Champion International Corp.  ...................................     49,600 
      500    Georgia-Pacific Corp.  ..........................................     47,219 
      900    International Paper Co.  ........................................     50,400 
    1,100    James River Corp. of Virginia ...................................     45,306 
    1,800    Louisiana-Pacific Corp.  ........................................     41,288 
      600    Mead Corp.  .....................................................     43,200 
      900    Potlatch Corp.  .................................................     43,031 
    1,200    Westvaco Corp.  .................................................     40,125 
      800    Weyerhaeuser Co.  ...............................................     49,800 
      550    Willamette Industries, Inc.  ....................................     41,903 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  496,347 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Photography/Imaging (0.6%) 
      700    Eastman Kodak Co.  ..............................................     46,900 
      850    Polaroid Corp.  .................................................     50,575 
      650    Xerox Corp.  ....................................................     53,463 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  150,938 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Pollution Control (0.2%) 
    1,300    Waste Management Inc.  ..........................................     41,600 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Property - Casualty Insurance (1.2%) 
      600    Allstate Corp.  .................................................     47,400 
      700    Chubb Corp.  ....................................................     49,350 
      250    General Re Corp.  ...............................................     52,219 
      900    Safeco Corp.  ...................................................     43,088 
      600    St. Paul Companies, Inc.  .......................................     47,063 
    1,800    USF&G Corp.  ....................................................     44,213 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  283,333 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Publishing (0.9%) 
      950    Dow Jones & Co., Inc.  ..........................................     41,028 
    1,500    Dun & Bradstreet Corp.  .........................................     40,500 
      700    McGraw-Hill, Inc.  ..............................................     47,469 
    1,600    Meredith Corp.  .................................................     44,300 
      750    Times Mirror Co. (Class A) ......................................     40,969 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  214,266 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Publishing -Newspaper (0.8%) 
      450    Gannett Co., Inc.  ..............................................     44,691 
      900    Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc.  .................................     44,719 
     950     New York Times Co. (Class A) ....................................     47,738 
     950     Tribune Co.  ....................................................     50,291 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  187,439 
                                                                              ------------- 

                      SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Railroads (0.8%) 
      450    Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.  .............................   $ 43,453 
      750    CSX Corp.  ......................................................     46,313 
      450    Norfolk Southern Corp.  .........................................     49,838 
      550    Union Pacific Corp.  ............................................     39,428 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  179,032 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Restaurants (0.6%) 
    5,000    Darden Restaurants, Inc.  .......................................     47,813 
      750    McDonald's Corp.  ...............................................     40,313 
    1,750    Wendy's International, Inc.  ....................................     42,766 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  130,892 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Department Stores (1.4%) 
    1,200    Dillard Department Stores, Inc. (Class A) .......................     45,375 
    1,200    Federated Department Stores, Inc.* ..............................     52,575 
      850    Harcourt General, Inc.  .........................................     40,163 
      850    May Department Stores Co.  ......................................     47,494 
      750    Mercantile Stores Co., Inc.  ....................................     50,391 
      900    Nordstrom, Inc.  ................................................     50,963 
      800    Penney (J.C.) Co., Inc.  ........................................     46,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  333,761 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Drug Stores (0.8%) 
      850    CVS Corp.  ......................................................     48,344 
    1,500    Longs Drug Stores Corp.  ........................................     40,406 
      900    Rite Aid Corp.  .................................................     46,744 
      900    Walgreen Co.  ...................................................     50,850 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  186,344 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Food Chains (1.1%) 
    1,150    Albertson's, Inc.  ..............................................     42,622 
    1,600    American Stores Co.  ............................................     40,400 
    1,400    Giant Food, Inc. (Class A) ......................................     46,988 
    1,600    Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc.  .........................     43,900 
    1,400    Kroger Co.* .....................................................     41,388 
    1,250    Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.  ........................................     45,781 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  261,079 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - General Merchandise (1.1%) 
    1,400    Costco Companies Inc.* ..........................................     53,025 
      800    Dayton-Hudson Corp.  ............................................     51,700 
    4,000    Kmart Corp.* ....................................................     47,500 
      800    Sears, Roebuck & Co.  ...........................................     50,650 
    1,400    Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  ..........................................     52,588 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  255,463 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Specialty (1.6%) 
    1,600    AutoZone, Inc.* .................................................   $ 45,800 
    1,200    Circuit City Stores, Inc.  ......................................     43,500 
    1,050    Home Depot, Inc.  ...............................................     52,369 
    1,100    Lowe's Companies, Inc.  .........................................     41,388 
    1,300    Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack ......................................     43,225 
      800    Tandy Corp.  ....................................................     47,550 
    1,450    Toys 'R' Us, Inc.* ..............................................     49,391 
    1,800    Woolworth Corp.* ................................................     50,963 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  374,186 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Specialty Apparel (0.8%) 
    6,700    Charming Shoppes, Inc.* .........................................     39,363 
    1,200    Gap, Inc.  ......................................................     53,325 
    2,200    Limited (The), Inc.  ............................................     49,088 
    1,700    TJX Companies, Inc.  ............................................     50,788 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  192,564 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Savings & Loan Companies (0.4%) 
    1,000    Ahmanson (H.F.) & Co.  ..........................................     53,188 
      600    Golden West Financial Corp.  ....................................     50,475 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  103,663 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Semiconductor Equipment (0.2%) 
      550    Applied Materials, Inc.* ........................................     50,497 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Shoes (0.6%) 
      700    Nike, Inc. (Class B) ............................................     43,619 
      900    Reebok International Ltd. .......................................     46,463 
    3,200    Stride Rite Corp.  ..............................................     43,400 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  133,482 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Specialized Services (1.0%) 
    1,350    Block (H.&R.), Inc.  ............................................     51,722 
    1,900    CUC International, Inc.* ........................................     46,788 
    1,050    Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.  ...........................     46,988 
    2,550    Safety-Kleen Corp.  .............................................     44,784 
    1,200    Service Corp. International .....................................     40,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  231,082 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Specialty Printing (0.6%) 
    1,200    Deluxe Corp.  ...................................................     39,975 
    1,200    Donnelley (R.R.) & Sons Co.  ....................................     48,225 
    2,300    Harland (John H.) Co.  ..........................................     45,138 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  133,338 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Steel & Iron (1.3%) 
    1,600    Allegheny Teledyne Inc.  ........................................     49,800 
    7,400    Armco, Inc.* ....................................................     40,238 
    4,000    Bethlehem Steel Corp.* ..........................................     45,000 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    1,800    Inland Steel Industries, Inc.  ..................................  $   41,288 
      750    Nucor Corp.  ....................................................      46,547 
    1,150    USX-U.S. Steel Group, Inc.  .....................................      42,047 
    2,400    Worthington Industries, Inc.  ...................................      47,400 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   312,320 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Telecommunications - 
             Long Distance (1.0%) 
    1,300    AT&T Corp.  .....................................................      47,856 
    2,300    Frontier Corp.  .................................................      47,438 
    1,200    MCI Communications Corp.  .......................................      42,225 
      850    Sprint Corp.  ...................................................      42,075 
    1,500    WorldCom, Inc.* .................................................      52,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   232,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Telecommunications -Wireless (0.2%) 
    1,500    Airtouch Communications, Inc.* ..................................      49,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Textiles (0.9%) 
             Fruit of the Loom, Inc. 
    1,700    (Class A)* ......................................................      46,538 
      850    Liz Claiborne, Inc.  ............................................      40,694 
    1,400    Russell Corp.  ..................................................      40,863 
      900    Springs Industries, Inc. (Class A) ..............................      43,538 
      550    VF Corp.  .......................................................      49,363 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   220,996 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Tobacco (0.6%) 
    1,150    Fortune Brands, Inc.  ...........................................      40,753 
    1,050    Philip Morris Companies, Inc.  ..................................      47,381 
    1,500    UST, Inc.  ......................................................      43,594 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   131,728 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Toys (0.4%) 
    1,600    Hasbro Inc.  ....................................................      49,100 
    1,350    Mattel, Inc.  ...................................................      46,913 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                    96,013 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Truckers (0.4%) 
    1,300    Caliber System, Inc.  ...........................................      50,619 
    1,250    Ryder System, Inc.  .............................................      44,766 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                    95,385 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Electric (4.9%) 
      900    American Electric Power Co., Inc. ...............................      40,275 
    1,700    Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.  ...................................      47,281 
    1,300    Carolina Power & Light Co.  .....................................      46,313 
    2,300    Central & South West Corp.  .....................................      46,144 
    1,200    CINergy Corp.  ..................................................      40,350 
    1,400    Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc.  ......................  $   44,275 
    1,450    Detroit Edison Co.  .............................................      43,409 
    1,300    Dominion Resources, Inc.  .......................................      47,775 
    1,050    Duke Energy Corp.  ..............................................      53,222 
    1,700    Edison International ............................................      42,925 
    1,450    Entergy Corp.  ..................................................      39,603 
    1,000    FPL Group, Inc.  ................................................      47,875 
    1,200    General Public Utilities Corp.  .................................      41,625 
    2,200    Houston Industries, Inc.  .......................................      46,063 
    4,300    Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.* .....................................      40,044 
      800    Northern States Power Co.  ......................................      41,100 
    1,950    Ohio Edison Co.  ................................................      43,388 
    2,050    PacifiCorp ......................................................      45,741 
    2,100    PECO Energy Co.  ................................................      49,350 
    1,700    PG & E Corp.  ...................................................      42,181 
    2,300    PP&L Resources, Inc.  ...........................................      47,006 
    1,900    Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.  ..........................      47,025 
    1,900    Southern Co.  ...................................................      41,681 
    1,200    Texas Utilities Co.  ............................................      42,525 
    2,100    Unicom Corp.  ...................................................      47,644 
    1,200    Union Electric Co.  .............................................      46,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,161,020 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Natural Gas (2.4%) 
      800    Coastal Corp.  ..................................................      43,500 
      600    Columbia Gas System, Inc.  ......................................      41,250 
      700    Consolidated Natural Gas Co.  ...................................      40,513 
    1,300    Eastern Enterprises .............................................      46,556 
    1,200    Enron Corp.  ....................................................      45,525 
    1,900    ENSERCH Corp.  ..................................................      42,275 
    1,200    NICOR, Inc.  ....................................................      43,950 
    2,800    NorAm Energy Corp.  .............................................      44,800 
    1,250    ONEOK Inc.  .....................................................      43,750 
    1,200    Pacific Enterprises .............................................      40,125 
    1,100    Peoples Energy Corp.  ...........................................      42,213 
      900    Sonat, Inc.  ....................................................      44,888 
      900    Williams Cos., Inc.  ............................................      41,175 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   560,520 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Telephone (1.4%) 
    1,250    Alltel Corp.  ...................................................      41,094 
      650    Ameritech Corp.  ................................................      43,834 
      550    Bell Atlantic Corp.  ............................................      39,909 
      850    BellSouth Corp.  ................................................      40,269 
    1,000    GTE Corp.  ......................................................      46,500 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      700    NYNEX Corp.  .................................................... $    38,806 
      750    SBC Communications, Inc.  .......................................      44,391 
    1,100    U.S. West Communications Group, Inc. ............................      40,219 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   335,022 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Waste Management (0.4%) 
    1,200    Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc.  ...............................      44,400 
    2,900    Laidlaw Inc. (Class B)(Canada) ..................................      46,219 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                    90,619 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Identified Cost $14,805,322) ...............  23,156,111 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                                      VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                                  <C>          <C>
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a)(2.9%) 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY 
      $700   Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 
             5.75% due 08/01/97
             (Amortized Cost $700,000) ....................................                $   700,000 
                                                                                          ------------ 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified cost $15,505,322)(b) .                                                 100.3%   23,856,111 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF                                                        
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS.............                                                  (0.3)      (76,376) 
                                                                                   -----  ------------ 
NET ASSETS........................                                                 100.0%  $23,779,735 
                                                                                   =====  ============ 
</TABLE>                          

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
(a)     Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown 
        has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $8,490,682 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $139,893, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $8,350,789. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (93.8%) 
             ARGENTINA (0.7%) 
             Banks 
    1,700    Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires S.A. de C.V. (Class B)(ADR)  ....$    53,337 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Brewery 
    2,000    Quilmes Industrial S.A. (ADR)  ..................................     23,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    1,000    Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom S.A. (Class B)(ADR)  ....     57,813 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL ARGENTINA  ................................................    134,150 
                                                                              ----------- 
             AUSTRALIA (1.0%) 
             Business Services 
    4,800    Mayne Nickless Ltd.  ............................................     27,735 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Energy 
    2,500    Woodside Petroleum Ltd.  ........................................     21,268 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial Services 
   24,000    Tyndall Australia Ltd.  .........................................     41,083 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Foods & Beverages 
   30,000    Goodman Fielder Ltd.  ...........................................     46,263 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Metals & Mining 
   20,155    M.I.M. Holdings Ltd.  ...........................................     28,022 
   14,000    Pasminco Ltd.  ..................................................     27,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   55,022 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL AUSTRALIA  ................................................    191,371 
                                                                              ----------- 
             BELGIUM (0.2%) 
             Retail 
    1,000    G.I.B. Holdings Ltd.  ...........................................     48,471 
                                                                              ----------- 
             BRAZIL (2.3%) 
             Banks 
      600    Uniao de Bancos Brasileiros S.A. (GDR)*  ........................     24,150 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Brewery 
    4,500    Companhia Cervejaria Brahma -(ADR)  .............................     68,906 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Steel & Iron 
    2,000    Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. (ADR) -144A**  .........     23,700 
    3,000    Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. (S Shares)(ADR)  .......     35,550 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   59,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
      600    Telecommunicacoes Brasileiras S.A. (ADR)  .......................$    89,025 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
    2,000    Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais S.A. (ADR)  ................    112,500 
    5,000    Companhia Paranaense de Energia -Copel (Preference Shares)  .....     96,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  208,750 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL BRAZIL  ...................................................    450,081 
                                                                              ----------- 
             CANADA (0.7%) 
             Energy 
    5,000    Ranger Oil Ltd.  ................................................     48,970 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Department Stores 
    4,000    Hudson's Bay Co.  ...............................................     89,669 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL CANADA  ...................................................    138,639 
                                                                              ----------- 
             CHILE (0.7%) 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,300    Laboratorio Chile S.A. (ADR)  ...................................     38,431 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    3,000    Supermercados Unimarc S.A. (ADR)*  ..............................     51,938 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    1,487    Compania de Telecommunicaciones de Chile S.A. (ADR)  ............     48,978 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL CHILE  ....................................................    139,347 
                                                                              ----------- 
             CHINA (0.2%) 
             Transportation 
    1,000    China Southern Airlines Co. (ADR)  ..............................     31,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
             DENMARK (0.9%) 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,000    Novo-Nordisk AS (Series B)  .....................................    105,361 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
      700    Kobenhavns Lufthavne AS  ........................................     73,453 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL DENMARK  ..................................................    178,814 
                                                                              ----------- 
             FINLAND (0.7%) 
             Manufacturing 
      800    KCI Konecranes International  ...................................     32,104 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Paper Products 
    3,200    UPM-Kymmene OY Corp.  ...........................................$    77,810 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,000    Orion-yhtymae OY (B Shares)  ....................................     36,300 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL FINLAND  ..................................................    146,214 
                                                                              ----------- 
             FRANCE (3.6%) 
             Automotive 
    1,200    Michelin (B Shares)  ............................................     74,682 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computer Services 
      400    Axime (Ex Segin)  ...............................................     44,599 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Energy 
      700    Elf Aquitaine S.A.  .............................................     79,855 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial Services 
      350    Credit Local de France  .........................................     34,675 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Products 
      740    Societe BIC S.A.  ...............................................     61,015 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Insurance 
    2,000    AXA-UAP  ........................................................    130,730 
    1,400    Scor  ...........................................................     61,218 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  191,948 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Leisure 
      600    Accor S.A.  .....................................................     90,230 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
       80    Carrefour Supermarche  ..........................................     54,022 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Steel & Iron 
    4,500    Usinor Sacilor  .................................................     89,673 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL FRANCE  ...................................................    720,699 
                                                                              ----------- 
             GERMANY (3.8%) 
             Apparel 
      400    Adidas AG  ......................................................     46,995 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Automotive 
       90    Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG  ..............................     73,332 
      300    MAN AG  .........................................................     90,481 
      250    Volkswagen AG  ..................................................    191,188 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  355,001 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Chemicals 
    1,200    Bayer AG  .......................................................     50,519 
      600    SGL Carbon AG  ..................................................     79,793 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  130,312 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Machinery - Diversified 
      100    Mannesmann AG  ..................................................$    46,696 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,000    Gehe AG  ........................................................     62,605 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
      900    Siemens AG  .....................................................     62,709 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
      700    VEBA AG  ........................................................     40,702 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL GERMANY  ..................................................    745,020 
                                                                              ----------- 
             HONG KONG (4.9%) 
             Banking 
   12,000    Guoco Group Ltd.  ...............................................     67,743 
    3,140    HSBC Holdings PLC  ..............................................    109,521 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  177,264 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
   24,000    China Resources Enterprise Ltd.  ................................    119,984 
   12,000    Citic Pacific Ltd.  .............................................     76,114 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  196,098 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Finance & Brokerage 
   36,000    Peregrine Investments Holdings Ltd.  ............................     79,525 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Real Estate 
   10,000    Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd.  ....................................    111,097 
   24,000    New World Development Co., Ltd. .................................    172,846 
    6,000    Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.  ...................................     75,378 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  359,321 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities 
   36,600    Hong Kong & China Gas Co. Ltd. ..................................     79,431 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
   13,000    China Light & Power Co. Ltd.  ...................................     74,564 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL HONG KONG  ................................................    966,203 
                                                                              ----------- 
             IRELAND (0.3%) 
             Transportation 
    2,000    Ryanair Holdings PLC (ADR)*  ....................................     56,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
             ITALY (1.4%) 
             Energy 
    1,500    Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi SpA (ADR)  ...........................     88,219 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances 
    3,000    Industrie Natuzzi SpA (ADR)  ....................................     82,688 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Telecommunications 
   16,000    Telecom Italia SpA  .............................................$    101,703 
                                                                              ------------
             TOTAL ITALY  ....................................................     272,610 
                                                                              ------------
             JAPAN (19.5%) 
             Automotive 
    4,000    Honda Motor Co.  ................................................     133,626 
    6,000    Suzuki Motor Co. Ltd.  ..........................................      72,887 
                                                                              ------------
                                                                                   206,513 
                                                                              ------------
             Banking 
   14,000    Asahi Bank, Ltd.  ...............................................     104,876 
    3,000    Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd.  .................................      55,677 
    9,000    Sakura Bank Ltd.  ...............................................      55,045 
                                                                              ------------
                                                                                   215,598 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Building & Construction 
   12,000    Sekisui House Ltd.  .............................................     114,392 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Business Services 
    2,000    Secom Co.  ......................................................     146,280 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Chemicals 
    8,000    Kaneka Corp.  ...................................................      49,064 
    6,000    Nippon Shokubai K.K. Co.  .......................................      41,859 
    4,000    Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.  ...................................     114,054 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   204,977 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computers 
    6,000    Fujitsu, Ltd.  ..................................................      88,072 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Consumer Products 
    4,000    Kao Corp.  ......................................................      60,064 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics 
    6,000    Canon, Inc.  ....................................................     191,328 
    9,000    Hitachi, Ltd.  ..................................................     101,738 
    9,000    Hitachi Cable  ..................................................      81,238 
    6,000    Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.  .......................     125,021 
    8,000    Sharp Corp.  ....................................................     102,581 
    2,000    Sony Corp.  .....................................................     199,089 
    2,000    TDK Corp.  ......................................................     172,094 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   973,089 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics - Semiconductors/Components 
    1,000    Rohm Co., Ltd.  .................................................     130,758 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial Services 
    6,000    Nomura Securities Co. Ltd.  .....................................      85,035 
    2,000    Orix Corp.  .....................................................     161,296 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   246,331 
                                                                              ------------ 
             International Trade 
   10,000    Mitsui & Co.  ...................................................$     95,326 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Machine Tools 
    7,000    Asahi Diamond Industries Co. Ltd.  ..............................      57,576 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Machinery 
   10,000    Minebea Co., Ltd.  ..............................................     118,947 
   13,000    Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. ...............................      91,572 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   210,519 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    5,000    Eisai Co. Ltd.  .................................................     103,762 
    6,000    Fujisawa Pharmaceutical  ........................................      61,245 
    2,000    Sankyo Co. Ltd.  ................................................      71,368 
    2,000    Terumo Corp.  ...................................................      40,324 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   276,699 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Real Estate 
    5,000    Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.  .......................................      64,113 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Restaurants 
        5    Yoshinoya D & C Company Ltd.  ...................................      61,583 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail 
    2,000    Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd.  .......................................      59,895 
    4,000    Izumiya Co. Ltd.  ...............................................      50,953 
    2,000    Jusco Co.  ......................................................      55,677 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   166,525 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Steel & Iron 
   40,000    NKK Corp.  ......................................................      72,887 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Telecommunications 
       10    DDI Corp.  ......................................................      68,669 
       14    Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.  .............................     141,724 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   210,393 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Textiles 
   15,000    Teijin Ltd.  ....................................................      64,535 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Transportation 
       15    East Japan Railway Co.  .........................................      64,409 
    6,000    Yamato Transport Co. Ltd.  ......................................      75,924 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   140,333 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Wholesale Distributor 
    1,000    Softbank Corp.  .................................................      51,881 
                                                                              ------------
             TOTAL JAPAN  ....................................................   3,858,444 
                                                                              ------------

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             MALAYSIA (2.2%) 
             Banking 
    8,000    Malayan Banking Berhad  .........................................$    75,959 
   22,666    Public Bank Berhad  .............................................     32,540 
      550    RHB Sakura Merchant Bankers Berhad  .............................        856 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  109,355 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Building & Construction 
    9,000    United Engineers Malaysia Berhad  ...............................     62,894 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
   10,000    Road Builder (M) Holdings Berhad  ...............................     41,777 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Entertainment 
   37,000    Magnum Corporation Berhad  ......................................     47,497 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial Services 
   12,000    Arab Malaysian Finance Berhad 7.5% due 5/25/02 (Loan Stock)  ....      4,147 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Machinery 
   10,000    UMW Holdings Berhad  ............................................     39,499 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Natural Gas 
   15,000    Petronas Gas Berhad  ............................................     52,697 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
   20,000    Tenaga Nasional Berhad  .........................................     80,517 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL MALAYSIA  .................................................    438,383 
                                                                              ----------- 
             MEXICO (3.4%) 
             Banking 
             Grupo Financiero Banamex Accival S.A. de C.V. 
   29,391    (B Shares)*  ....................................................     90,414 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages 
    2,700    Pepsi-Gemex S.A. de C.V. (GDR)  .................................     39,150 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Brewery 
             Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V. 
    6,000    (Series C)  .....................................................     55,794 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Building Materials 
   15,087    Cemex, S.A. de C.V. (B Shares)  .................................     86,840 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
    1,707    DESC S.A. de C.V. (Series C)(ADR)  ..............................     62,732 
             Grupo Carso S.A. de C.V. 
    7,000    (Series A1)  ....................................................     56,856 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  119,588 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
    2,500    Grupo Industrial Maseca S.A. de C.V. (ADR)  .....................$    46,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Paper & Forest Products 
   14,000    Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (A Shares)  ..............     68,048 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    2,200    Grupo Elektra, S.A. de C.V. (GDR) ...............................     65,450 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    2,000    Telefonos de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (Series L)(ADR)  ...............    111,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL MEXICO  ...................................................    682,534 
                                                                              ----------- 
             NETHERLANDS (4.3%) 
             Building Materials 
      800    Hunter Douglas NV  ..............................................     37,205 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Business & Public Services 
      700    Randstad Holdings NV  ...........................................     74,946 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Chemicals 
      500    Akzo Nobel NV  ..................................................     77,462 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electronics 
    2,000    Philips Electronics NV  .........................................    162,264 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
      200    Nutricia Verenigde Bedrijven NV  ................................     33,998 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Furniture 
    1,400    Ahrend Groep NV  ................................................     47,327 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Insurance 
      500    Aegon NV  .......................................................     37,958 
      875    ING Groep NV  ...................................................     42,594 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   80,552 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Publishing 
    2,900    Elsevier NV  ....................................................     51,118 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
      950    Gucci Group NV  .................................................     59,969 
    2,700    Koninklijke Ahold NV  ...........................................     78,104 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  138,073 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Steel 
    1,100    Koninklijke Hoogovens NV  .......................................     66,668 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
    2,000    KLM Royal Dutch Air Lines NV  ...................................     71,377 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL NETHERLANDS  ..............................................    840,990 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES -GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             PERU (0.2%) 
             Banking 
    7,000    Banco Wiese (ADR)  ..............................................$    43,750 
                                                                              ----------- 
             PHILIPPINES (0.1%) 
             Telecommunications 
      600    Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (ADR)  ...................     20,137 
                                                                              ----------- 
             PORTUGAL (0.4%) 
             Telecommunications 
    1,100    Portugal Telecom S.A. (ADR)  ....................................     44,275 
      500    Telecel-Comunicacaoes Pessoais, S.A.*  ..........................     39,155 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL PORTUGAL  .................................................     83,430 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SINGAPORE (1.6%) 
             Banking 
    4,500    Development Bank of Singapore, Ltd.  ............................     58,422 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages 
    7,000    Fraser & Neave Ltd.  ............................................     47,580 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Hospital Management 
    6,000    Parkway Holdings Ltd.  ..........................................     27,529 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Publishing 
    4,000    Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.  ..................................     75,856 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
    3,700    Singapore International Airlines  ...............................     34,706 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Telecommunications 
   37,000    Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.  .............................     70,167 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SINGAPORE  ................................................    314,260 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SOUTH AFRICA (0.1%) 
             Brewers 
      700    South African Breweries Ltd. (ADR)  .............................     22,488 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SOUTH KOREA (0.3%) 
             Electronics 
    1,700    Samsung Electronics Co. (GDR)(Non-voting) -144A**  ..............     51,510 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SPAIN (1.7%) 
             Banks 
    3,300    Banco Bilbao Vizcaya  ...........................................     86,127 
      200    Banco Popular Espanol S.A.  .....................................     44,307 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  130,434 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Natural Gas 
      800    Gas Natural SDG S.A.  ...........................................$    39,132 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    3,100    Centros Comerciales Pryca, S.A.  ................................     59,857 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
      500    Telefonica de Espana S.A. (ADR)  ................................     39,375 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
    2,800    Empresa Nacional de Electricidad S.A.  ..........................     57,669 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SPAIN  ....................................................    326,467 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SWEDEN (1.4%) 
             Automotive 
    2,200    Scania AB (A Shares)  ...........................................     63,038 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Machinery 
    2,300    Kalmar Industries AB  ...........................................     38,563 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Manufacturing 
    1,200    Assa Abloy AB (Series B)  .......................................     26,276 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Paper Products 
             Stora Kopparbergs Aktiebolag 
    3,400    (A Shares)  .....................................................     55,731 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    2,250    Ericsson (L.M.) Telephone Co. AB (Series "B" Free)  .............    101,211 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SWEDEN  ...................................................    284,819 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SWITZERLAND (1.7%) 
             Engineering 
       40    ABB AG-Bearer  ..................................................     56,890 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
       70    Nestle S.A.  ....................................................     88,901 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
       32    Novartis AG  ....................................................     51,399 
       30    Novartis AG - Bearer  ...........................................     48,147 
       10    Roche Holdings AG  ..............................................     96,790 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  196,336 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SWITZERLAND  ..............................................    342,127 
                                                                              ----------- 
             UNITED KINGDOM (10.4%) 
             Aerospace 
   11,453    Rolls-Royce PLC  ................................................     43,939 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Aerospace & Defense 
    3,978    British Aerospace PLC  ..........................................     86,970 
    2,900    Smiths Industries PLC  ..........................................     38,274 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  125,244 
                                                                              ----------- 

                      SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Auto Parts - Original Equipment 
   26,200    LucasVarity PLC  ................................................$    80,755 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Banking 
    3,600    Abbey National PLC  .............................................     49,460 
    1,323    Barclays Bank, PLC  .............................................     27,872 
    7,103    National Westminster Bank PLC  ..................................    100,849 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  178,181 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages 
    5,800    Bass PLC  .......................................................     79,306 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Broadcast Media 
    3,600    Flextech PLC*  ..................................................     38,807 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Building & Construction 
    5,893    Blue Circle Industries PLC  .....................................     39,999 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Business Services 
    3,400    Compass Group PLC  ..............................................     34,171 
    3,000    Reuters Holdings PLC  ...........................................     32,315 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   66,486 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computer Software & Services 
    3,500    SEMA Group PLC  .................................................     80,622 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
    8,300    BTR PLC  ........................................................     25,787 
    9,302    Tomkins PLC  ....................................................     46,972 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   72,759 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Consumer Products 
    3,000    Unilever PLC  ...................................................     86,910 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Energy 
   27,300    Shell Transport & Trading Co. PLC  ..............................    201,860 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
   10,000    Devro PLC  ......................................................     64,104 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Products 
    7,000    Reckitt & Colman PLC  ...........................................    108,912 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Insurance 
    4,200    Britannic Assurance PLC  ........................................     53,813 
    5,700    Commercial Union PLC  ...........................................     64,061 
   10,441    Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group PLC  .......................     85,761 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  203,635 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Leisure 
    2,671    Granada Group PLC  ..............................................     36,785 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    6,220    Glaxo Wellcome PLC  .............................................    131,652 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Property - Casualty Insurance 
       65    General Accident PLC  ...........................................$       980 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    9,500    Sainsbury (J.) PLC  .............................................     66,195 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
   10,000    British Telecommunications PLC  .................................     70,007 
    9,602    Securicor PLC  ..................................................     43,607 
   11,900    Vodafone Group PLC  .............................................     60,091 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  173,705 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
    7,811    British Airways PLC  ............................................     84,896 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities 
    3,220    Thames Water PLC  ...............................................     42,392 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities -Electric 
    6,500    National Power PLC  .............................................     57,546 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM  ...........................................  2,065,670 
                                                                              ----------- 
             UNITED STATES (25.1%) 
             Aerospace & Defense 
    1,040    Lockheed Martin Corp.  ..........................................    110,760 
    6,130    Loral Space & Communications*  ..................................     95,781 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  206,541 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Aluminum 
    1,240    Aluminum Co. of America  ........................................    109,740 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Automotive 
    2,940    Chrysler Corp.  .................................................    109,147 
    2,870    Ford Motor Co.  .................................................    117,311 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  226,458 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Banks 
    1,970    First Tennessee National Corp.  .................................    102,440 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks 
    2,780    PepsiCo, Inc.  ..................................................    106,509 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Biotechnology 
    4,120    Biochem Pharma, Inc.*  ..........................................    118,450 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Chemicals 
    1,060    Dow Chemical Co.  ...............................................    100,700 
    2,250    Monsanto Co.  ...................................................    112,078 
    1,880    Praxair, Inc.  ..................................................    103,635 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  316,413 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Communications - Equipment & Software 
    1,850    Cisco Systems, Inc.*  ...........................................    146,959 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Computer Software 
    2,400    Oracle Systems Corp.*  ..........................................$   130,350 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computers 
    3,360    Gateway 2000, Inc.*  ............................................    128,310 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computers - Peripheral Equipment 
    1,900    Seagate Technology, Inc.*  ......................................     78,019 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computers - Systems 
    1,760    Hewlett-Packard Co.  ............................................    123,310 
    3,230    Sun Microsystems, Inc.*  ........................................    147,571 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  270,881 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electrical Equipment 
    1,260    Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................     94,106 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electronics - Defense 
    1,590    General Motors Corp. (Class H)  .................................     96,096 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electronics - Semiconductors/Components 
    1,300    Intel Corp.  ....................................................    119,275 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Entertainment 
    1,240    Walt Disney Productions  ........................................    100,207 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial - Miscellaneous 
    2,400    Ahmanson (H.F.) & Co.  ..........................................    127,650 
    1,460    American Express Co.  ...........................................    122,275 
    2,350    Fannie Mae  .....................................................    111,184 
    1,400    Golden West Financial Corp.  ....................................    117,775 
    1,770    Travelers Group, Inc.  ..........................................    127,329 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  606,213 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Foods 
    1,450    General Mills, Inc.  ............................................    100,231 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances 
    4,340    Maytag Corp.  ...................................................    126,674 
    2,800    Sunbeam Corp.  ..................................................    109,550 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  236,224 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Products 
    1,700    Colgate-Palmolive Co.  ..........................................    128,775 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Medical Products & Supplies 
    2,040    Baxter International, Inc.  .....................................    117,938 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Medical Services 
    2,000    HBO & Co.  ......................................................    154,500 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Oil Integrated -International 
    1,500    Atlantic Richfield Co.  .........................................$   112,219 
    1,480    Chevron Corp.  ..................................................    117,105 
    1,900    Exxon Corp.  ....................................................    122,075 
    1,520    Mobil Corp.  ....................................................    116,280 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  467,679 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,580    Abbott Laboratories  ............................................    103,391 
    1,480    American Home Products Corp.  ...................................    122,008 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  225,399 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Department Stores 
    1,800    Sears, Roebuck & Co.  ...........................................    113,963 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Specialty 
    3,670    Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*  .......................................    121,110 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Specialty Apparel 
    2,680    Gap, Inc.  ......................................................    119,093 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Semiconductor Equipment 
    3,140    Teradyne, Inc.*  ................................................    146,795 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Shoes 
    1,440    Nike, Inc. (Class B)  ...........................................     89,730 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL UNITED STATES  ............................................  4,978,404 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $15,100,950)  .................................. 18,572,282 
                                                                              ----------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
AMOUNT IN 
THOUSANDS 
- -----------
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (a)(7.1%) 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
             Federal Farm Credit Bank 
   $1,000     5.45% due 08/04/97  ............................................   999,546 
      400    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.  
             5.75% due 08/01/97  .............................................   400,000 
                                                                              ---------- 
             TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 
             (Amortized Cost $1,399,546)  .................................... 1,399,546 
                                                                              ---------- 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS                                                  
(Identified Cost $16,500,496)(b)  .................................  100.9%   19,971,828 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF CASH                                      
 AND OTHER ASSETS .................................................   (0.9)     (174,632) 
                                                                   -------- ------------ 
NET ASSETS ........................................................  100.0%  $19,797,196 
                                                                   ======== ============ 
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
GDR     Global Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
**      Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors. 
(a)     Securities were purchased on a discount basis. The interest rates 
        shown have been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $3,806,319 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $334,987, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $3,471,332. 

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS OPEN AT JULY 31, 1997: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            IN                        UNREALIZED 
   CONTRACTS TO          EXCHANGE        DELIVERY   APPRECIATION/ 
      RECEIVE              FOR             DATE     (DEPRECIATION) 
- ------------------ ------------------- ----------  --------------- 
<S>     <C>        <C>     <C>           <C>           <C>
$          64,633  ESP     10,034,338    08/01/97      $    50 
$           1,472  MXN         11,571    08/01/97           (8) 
DEM        69,082  $           37,698    08/04/97         (123) 
NLG       142,403  $           69,027    08/04/97         (257) 
yen     6,273,323  $           52,939    08/05/97          (18) 
MYR       199,255  $           75,936    08/05/97         (259) 
PTE     7,438,359  $           40,153    08/05/97         (119) 
$          93,976  ESP     14,622,742    08/07/97         (139) 
SGD        72,082  $           49,042    08/07/97          (47) 
$          22,998  AUD         30,870    08/08/97          (77) 
FRF       563,860  $           91,528    08/29/97         (546) 
                                                       -------
Net unrealized depreciation......................      $(1,543) 
                                                       =======
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO 
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 PERCENT OF 
INDUSTRY                             VALUE       NET ASSETS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                               <C>                <C>
Aerospace ......................  $    43,939        0.2% 
Aerospace & Defense ............      331,785        1.7 
Aluminum .......................      109,740        0.6 
Apparel ........................       46,995        0.2 
Auto Parts -Original Equipment         80,755        0.4 
Automotive .....................      925,692        4.7 
Banking ........................      872,984        4.4 
Banks ..........................      310,361        1.6 
Beverages ......................      166,036        0.8 
Beverages -Soft Drinks .........      106,509        0.5 
Biotechnology ..................      118,450        0.6 
Brewers ........................       22,488        0.1 
Brewery ........................      147,700        0.8 
Broadcast Media ................       38,807        0.2 
Building & Construction ........      217,285        1.1 
Building Materials .............      124,045        0.6 
Business & Public Services  ....       74,946        0.4 
Business Services ..............      240,501        1.2 
Chemicals ......................      729,164        3.7 
Communications -Equipment & 
 Software ......................      146,959        0.7 
Computer Services ..............       44,599        0.2 
Computer Software ..............      130,350        0.7 
Computer Software & Services ...       80,622        0.4 
Computers ......................      216,382        1.1 
Computers -Peripheral Equipment        78,019        0.4 
Computers -Systems .............      270,881        1.4 
Conglomerates ..................      430,222        2.2 
Consumer Products ..............      146,974        0.7 
Electrical Equipment ...........       94,106        0.5 
Electronics ....................    1,186,863        6.0 
Electronics -Defense ...........       96,096        0.5 
Electronics -Semiconductors/ 
 Components ....................      250,033        1.3 
Energy .........................      440,172        2.2 
Engineering ....................       56,890        0.3 
Entertainment ..................      147,704        0.8 
Finance & Brokerage ............       79,525        0.4 
Financial -Miscellaneous  ......      606,213        3.1 
Financial Services .............      326,236        1.6 
Food Processing ................      233,253        1.2 
Foods ..........................      100,231        0.5 
Foods & Beverages ..............       46,263        0.2 
Furniture ......................       47,327        0.2 
Hospital Management ............       27,529        0.1 
Household Furnishings & 
 Appliances ....................      318,912        1.6 
Household Products .............  $   298,702        1.5% 
Insurance ......................      476,135        2.4 
International Trade ............       95,326        0.5 
Leisure ........................      127,015        0.6 
Machine Tools ..................       57,576        0.3 
Machinery ......................      288,581        1.5 
Machinery -Diversified .........       46,696        0.2 
Manufacturing ..................       58,380        0.3 
Medical Products & Supplies  ...      117,938        0.6 
Medical Services ...............      154,500        0.8 
Metals & Mining ................       55,022        0.3 
Natural Gas ....................       91,829        0.5 
Oil Integrated -International  .      467,679        2.4 
Paper & Forest Products ........       68,048        0.3 
Paper Products .................      133,541        0.7 
Pharmaceuticals ................    1,072,783        5.4 
Property -Casualty Insurance ...          980        0.0 
Publishing .....................      126,974        0.6 
Real Estate ....................      423,434        2.1 
Restaurants ....................       61,583        0.3 
Retail .........................      650,531        3.3 
Retail -Department Stores  .....      203,632        1.0 
Retail -Specialty ..............      121,110        0.6 
Retail -Specialty Apparel  .....      119,093        0.6 
Semiconductor Equipment ........      146,795        0.7 
Shoes ..........................       89,730        0.5 
Steel ..........................       66,668        0.3 
Steel & Iron ...................      221,810        1.1 
Telecommunications .............    1,099,479        5.6 
Textiles .......................       64,535        0.3 
Transportation .................      492,015        2.5 
U.S. Government Agencies  ......    1,399,546        7.1 
Utilities ......................      121,823        0.6 
Utilities -Electric ............      519,748        2.6 
Utilities -Telecommunications ..       70,167        0.4 
Wholesale Distributor ..........       51,881        0.3 
                                 ------------- ------------ 
                                  $19,971,828      100.9% 
                                 ============= ============ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         PERCENT OF 
TYPE OF INVESTMENT           VALUE       NET ASSETS 
- --------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                       <C>               <C>
Common Stocks ..........  $18,572,282       93.8% 
Short-Term Investments      1,399,546        7.1 
                          -----------      -----  
                          $19,971,828      100.9% 
                          ===========      =====
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCKS (58.4%) 
             Aerospace & Defense (1.1%) 
    3,905    Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................  $  291,655 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Aluminum (0.5%) 
    1,600    Aluminum Co. of America .........................................     141,600 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Automotive (1.7%) 
    8,000    Chrysler Corp. ..................................................     297,000 
    3,500    Ford Motor Co.  .................................................     143,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   440,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Money Center (2.3%) 
    4,500    Citicorp ........................................................     610,875 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Regional (2.0%) 
    1,940    Wells Fargo & Co. ...............................................     533,379 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks (0.5%) 
    3,400    PepsiCo Inc.  ...................................................     130,262 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Cable/Cellular (0.8%) 
    9,400    U.S. West Media Group* ..........................................     207,387 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals (2.6%) 
    1,250    Dow Chemical Co. ................................................     118,750 
   11,450    Monsanto Co.  ...................................................     570,353 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   689,103 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications - Equipment & Software (0.6%) 
    1,840    Cisco Systems, Inc.*  ...........................................     146,165 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Software (1.6%) 
    1,800    Microsoft Corp.* ................................................     254,362 
    3,150    Oracle Corp.* ...................................................     171,084 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   425,446 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers (4.5%) 
   10,400    Dell Computer Corp.*  ...........................................     889,200 
    7,800    Gateway 2000, Inc.*  ............................................     297,862 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,187,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Peripheral Equipment (1.8%) 
   11,250    Seagate Technology, Inc.* .......................................     461,953 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Systems (3.7%) 
    3,450    Diebold, Inc.  ..................................................     173,362 
    9,500    Hewlett-Packard Co.  ............................................     665,594 
    3,300    Sun Microsystems, Inc.* .........................................     150,769 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   989,725 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer Products (1.8%) 
   14,000    Tupperware Corp.  ...............................................     486,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electrical Equipment (2.4%) 
    4,820    Emerson Electric Co. ............................................  $  284,380 
    5,160    General Electric Co.  ...........................................     362,167 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   646,547 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - 
             Semiconductors/Components (2.1%) 
    6,000    Intel Corp. .....................................................     550,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Entertainment/Gaming (0.7%) 
    7,000    Circus Circus Enterprises, Inc.* ................................     175,437 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Financial Services (2.0%) 
    5,000    American Express Co. ............................................     418,750 
    2,600    Fannie Mae ......................................................     123,013 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   541,763 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Foods (2.6%) 
    2,860    Campbell Soup Co.  ..............................................     148,363 
    7,900    General Mills, Inc.  ............................................     546,088 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   694,451 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Forest Products (2.4%) 
   10,100    Champion International Corp. ....................................     626,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - HMOs (1.0%) 
   11,200    Humana, Inc.*  ..................................................     273,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Household Appliances (1.2%) 
   11,000    Maytag Corp.  ...................................................     321,063 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Insurance (0.1%) 
             Aetna Inc. (Class C) 
      172    (Conv. Pref.) $4.75  ............................................      17,329 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - International Integrated (5.8%) 
    6,400    Atlantic Richfield Co.  .........................................     478,800 
    2,070    Chevron Corp.  ..................................................     163,789 
    2,800    Exxon Corp.  ....................................................     179,900 
    7,200    Mobil Corp. .....................................................     550,800 
    1,500    Texaco, Inc. ....................................................     174,094 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,547,383 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Pharmaceuticals (4.5%) 
    1,800    Abbott Laboratories .............................................     117,788 
    6,700    American Home Products Corp. ....................................     552,331 
    8,450    Johnson & Johnson ...............................................     526,541 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,196,660 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail -Specialty (3.2%) 
   10,000    Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*  .......................................     330,000 
    2,400    Costco Companies Inc.* ..........................................      90,900 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    3,450    Home Depot, Inc.  ............................................... $   172,069 
   14,250    Pier 1 Imports, Inc. ............................................     251,156 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   844,125 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Specialty Apparel (2.5%) 
   14,600    Gap, Inc. .......................................................     648,788 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Savings & Loans (0.5%) 
    1,500    Golden West Financial Corp. .....................................     126,187 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Shoes (0.7%) 
    3,000    Nike, Inc. (Class B) ............................................     186,938 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Steel (1.2%) 
    4,300    Inland Steel Industries, Inc.  ..................................      98,631 
    3,450    Nucor Corp. .....................................................     214,116 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   312,747 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON AND 
             PREFERRED STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $10,314,161)  ..................................  15,450,292 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS 
- ----------- 
<S>          <C>                                                               <C>
             CORPORATE BONDS (3.7%) 
             Automotive - Finance (0.1%) 
   $   15    Ford Capital BV (Netherlands) 
              9.375% due 05/15/01  ...........................................    16,545 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Banks (0.9%) 
      100    Bank One Corp 
              9.875% due 03/01/09  ...........................................   124,417 
             Central Fidelity Capital I 
      100    Series -144A** 
              6.75% due 04/15/27  ............................................   102,601 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 227,018 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial (0.4%) 
      100    Money Store Inc. (The) 
              8.375% due 04/15/04  ...........................................   105,497 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial Services (0.4%) 
             Centura Capital Trust I 
      100    Series 144A** 
              8.845% due 06/01/27  ...........................................   108,125 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Insurance (0.4%) 
      100    Vesta Capital Trust I -144A** 
              8.525% due 01/15/27  ...........................................   108,250 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Metals & Mining (0.4%) 
      100    Placer Dome, Inc. (Canada) 
              8.50% due 12/31/45  ............................................   102,750 
                                                                              ------------ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             Oil & Gas Products (0.4%) 
   $  100    Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. 
              6.75% due 02/15/04  ............................................  $  99,420 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - Domestic (0.2%) 
       50    Occidental Petroleum Corp. 
              11.125% due 08/01/10  ..........................................     67,914 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Steel (0.0%) 
       10    Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (South Korea) 
              7.50% due 08/01/02  ............................................     10,336 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Telecommunications (0.4%) 
      100    Total Access Communication -144A** (Thailand) 
              8.375% due 11/04/06  ...........................................     99,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Electric (0.1%) 
       20    Long Island Lighting Co. 
              6.25% due 07/15/01  ............................................     19,789 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS 
             (Identified Cost $919,525)  .....................................    964,894 
                                                                              ------------- 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (16.0%) 
      400    U.S. Treasury Bond 
              6.50% due 11/15/26  ............................................    408,984 
      315    U.S. Treasury Bond 
              6.875% due 08/15/25  ...........................................    336,414 
      150    U.S. Treasury Bond 
              7.625% due 02/15/25  ...........................................    174,529 
      550    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.125% due 11/30/98  ...........................................    546,364 
      950    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.25% due 12/31/97  ............................................    949,269 
      350    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.625% due 11/30/00  ...........................................    348,071 
      450    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.75% due 08/15/03  ............................................    445,927 
      100    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.875% due 11/30/01  ...........................................     99,956 
       50    U.S. Treasury Note 
              6.375% due 01/15/99  ...........................................     50,506 
      350    U.S. Treasury Note 
              6.50% due 05/15/05  ............................................    360,315 
      360    U.S. Treasury Note 
             6.875% due 08/31/99  ............................................    367,978 
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                                   VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>         <C>                                                                        <C>
  $ 140     U.S. Treasury Note 
             7.25% due 05/15/04  ........................................................ $  149,911 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS 
            (Identified Cost $4,145,542)  ...............................................  4,238,224 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (22.0%) 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (a)(21.2%) 
  5,000     Federal Farm Credit Bank 
             5.42% due 08/05/97  ........................................................  4,996,989 
    600     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 
             5.75% due 08/01/97  ........................................................    600,000 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
            (Amortized Cost $5,596,989)  ................................................  5,596,989 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (0.8%) 
    223     The Bank of New York 5.75% due 08/01/97 (dated 07/31/97; proceeds 
             $222,587)(b) (Identified Cost $222,551)  ...................................    222,551 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 
            (Identified Cost $5,819,540) ................................................  5,819,540 
                                                                                         ------------- 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified Cost $21,198,768)(c)  ..........................................     100.1%   26,472,950 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF                                                      
OTHER ASSETS ...............................................................      (0.1)      (13,530) 
                                                                               --------  -------------
NET ASSETS .................................................................     100.0%  $26,459,420 
                                                                               ========  ============= 
</TABLE>                           

- ------------ 
*       Non-income producing security. 
**      Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors. 
(a)     Securities were purchased on a discount basis. The interest rates 
        shown have been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     Collateralized by $120,000 U.S. Treasury Note 7.875% due 04/15/98 
        valued at $124,656, $93,651 U.S. Treasury Note 7.00% due 04/15/99 
        valued at $97,514 and $4,723 U.S. Treasury Note 5.625% due 08/31/97 
        valued at $4,832. 
(c)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $5,356,659 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $82,477, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $5,274,182. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 
July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      INTERMEDIATE 
                                                                    U.S. GOVERNMENT  U.S. GOVERNMENT     INCOME 
                                                     LIQUID ASSET    MONEY MARKET       SECURITIES     SECURITIES 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>
ASSETS: 
Investments in securities, at value*...............   $20,113,397     $4,036,736      $10,350,075      $2,347,060 
Cash ..............................................         8,427          2,213           78,974          86,163 
Receivable for: 
 Investments sold..................................        --             --               --              -- 
 Shares of beneficial interest sold................     1,135,082         10,301           22,677           3,462 
 Dividends.........................................        --             --               --              -- 
 Interest..........................................        --             --               76,764          33,314 
 Foreign withholding taxes reclaimed...............        --             --               --              -- 
Prepaid expenses and other assets..................        26,147          5,790            6,691          12,589 
Deferred organizational expenses...................         1,127          1,284            1,191           1,189 
Receivable from affiliate..........................        --              8,537           --               6,791 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
 TOTAL ASSETS......................................    21,284,180      4,064,861       10,536,372       2,490,568 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
LIABILITIES: 
Payable for: 
 Investments purchased.............................        --             --               --              -- 
 Shares of beneficial interest repurchased ........        38,541         --               11,416           8,580 
 Dividends to shareholders.........................        --             --                4,011             746 
 Investment management fee.........................         4,022         --                  110          -- 
Accrued expenses and other payables................        23,148         17,969           19,019          19,964 
Organizational expenses payable....................         5,441          5,596            5,509           5,506 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
 TOTAL LIABILITIES.................................        71,152         23,565           40,065          34,796 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
NET ASSETS: 
Paid-in-capital....................................    21,213,018      4,041,296       10,359,177       2,514,907 
Accumulated undistributed net investment income  ..            10         --               --                  46 
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain 
 (loss)............................................        --             --                 (491)        (91,207) 
Net unrealized appreciation........................        --             --              137,621          32,026 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
  NET ASSETS ......................................   $21,213,028     $4,041,296      $10,496,307      $2,455,772 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
 *IDENTIFIED COST..................................   $20,113,397     $4,036,736      $10,212,454      $2,315,034 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
  SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST OUTSTANDING  ......    21,213,018      4,042,542        1,059,510         253,850 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE 
 (unlimited authorized shares of $.01 par value) ..         $1.00          $1.00            $9.91           $9.67 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
</TABLE>




                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   AMERICAN       CAPITAL       DIVIDEND                   VALUE-ADDED      GLOBAL                  
     VALUE        GROWTH         GROWTH       UTILITIES       MARKET        EQUITY       STRATEGIST 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
<S>             <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>         
 $53,898,134    $3,595,614    $116,084,027   $5,671,872    $23,856,111    $19,971,828   $26,472,950 
      50,162        17,654         --            --             71,591         97,563        --     
                                                                                                    
   1,160,411       114,777         338,972       59,863        724,700        274,717        --     
     117,578        17,493         153,745       13,810         32,661         36,421        50,264 
      27,266           905         165,765       20,937         22,727         10,450        18,010 
      --            --                 121           21         --             --            81,793 
         101        --             --             1,065         --              8,996           144 
      13,270         4,338          11,076        5,646          8,501          9,554         7,169 
       1,376         1,379           1,186        1,191          1,379          1,191         1,189 
      --             5,185         --             2,057         --             25,572        --     
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
  55,268,298     3,757,345     116,754,892    5,776,462     24,717,670     20,436,292    26,631,519 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
                                                                                                    
     918,594        58,353       1,221,168      316,275        861,090        574,355        --     
      77,147         3,874         108,736       43,837         45,267         28,565       125,989 
      --            --             --            --             --             --            --     
      20,595        --              71,294       --              5,006         --            16,034 
      31,781        19,786          36,684       19,613         20,886         30,667        24,575 
       5,687         5,686           5,501        5,509          5,686          5,509         5,501 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
   1,053,804        87,699       1,443,383      385,234        937,935        639,096       172,099 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
                                                                                                    
  37,394,619     2,542,364      78,149,265    3,829,119     14,983,162     15,411,210    20,620,027 
      46,600        --             365,924       54,200        100,361        131,548       381,735 
   6,688,579       257,050       8,002,032      476,783        345,423        784,106       183,476 
  10,084,696       870,232      28,794,288    1,031,126      8,350,789      3,470,332     5,274,182 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
 $54,214,494    $3,669,646    $115,311,509   $5,391,228    $23,779,735    $19,797,196   $26,459,420 
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
 $43,813,438    $2,725,382    $ 87,289,739   $4,640,746    $15,505,322    $16,500,496   $21,198,768 
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
   3,197,235       207,826       5,855,243      391,125      1,262,502      1,367,161     1,744,091 
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
                                                                                                    
      $16.96        $17.66          $19.69       $13.78         $18.84         $14.48        $15.17   
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
</TABLE>                                                  

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
For the year ended July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      INTERMEDIATE 
                                                                    U.S. GOVERNMENT  U.S. GOVERNMENT     INCOME 
                                                     LIQUID ASSET    MONEY MARKET      SECURITIES      SECURITIES 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>                                                   <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>
NET INVESTMENT INCOME: 

INCOME 
Interest...........................................   $1,450,222       $393,765         $706,725        $245,036 
Dividends..........................................       --              --               --              -- 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  TOTAL INCOME.....................................    1,450,222        393,765          706,725         245,036 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
EXPENSES 
Investment management fees.........................      132,515         36,695           67,676          24,502 
Transfer agent fees and expenses...................       52,551          6,122           42,577           7,692 
Shareholder reports and notices....................       29,598          4,314            4,749           2,416 
Professional fees..................................       15,232         15,334           14,872          16,995 
Registration fees..................................       25,200         14,233           22,217          13,083 
Custodian fees.....................................       10,663          6,196            3,435           4,847 
Trustees' fees and expenses........................        3,655            321              753             250 
Organizational expenses............................        2,722          2,721            2,727           2,727 
Other..............................................        3,904          1,879            1,870           3,021 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  TOTAL EXPENSES...................................      276,040         87,815          160,876          75,533 
Less: amounts waived/reimbursed ...................      (11,009)       (14,427)         (56,757)        (37,837) 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  NET EXPENSES.....................................      265,031         73,388          104,119          37,696 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS).....................    1,185,191        320,377          602,606         207,340 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS): 
Net realized gain (loss)...........................       --              --               5,297         (62,395) 
Net change in unrealized 
 appreciation/depreciation.........................       --              --             365,249         151,066 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  NET GAIN.........................................       --              --             370,546          88,671 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
NET INCREASE.......................................   $1,185,191       $320,377         $973,152        $296,011 
                                                    ============== ===============  =============== ============== 
</TABLE>

- --------------
*      Net of $1,132, $10, $7,380, $972, $1,050, $18,695 and $63 foreign 
       withholding tax, respectively. 



                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   AMERICAN       CAPITAL      DIVIDEND                   VALUE-ADDED     GLOBAL 
     VALUE        GROWTH        GROWTH       UTILITIES      MARKET        EQUITY      STRATEGIST 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
<S>            <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
 $   147,964    $    8,415    $    69,357   $   41,817    $   34,670    $   67,144    $  673,048 
     357,714*       12,328*     2,522,140*     208,343*      368,546*      214,870*      153,990* 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
     505,678        20,743      2,591,497      250,160       403,216       282,014       827,038 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 

     390,217        22,697        672,098       51,738        97,479       153,656       180,204 
      77,489         3,914         86,989       18,120        18,607        37,093        51,763 
      20,768         1,692         38,212        3,853         8,952         5,415        10,295 
      12,798        11,302         13,936       15,840        15,314        15,207        10,489 
      18,634        28,006         32,684       19,450        20,656        27,047        20,879 
      28,005        12,249         12,104        7,964        24,785        28,694        13,942 
       3,312            47          6,141          285         1,131           819         1,050 
       2,720         2,717          2,724        2,727         2,717         2,727         2,721 
       3,530         1,744          3,851        2,533        10,004        13,075         5,095 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
     557,473        84,368        868,739      122,510       199,645       283,733       296,438 
     (98,395)      (57,660)        --          (53,527)       (4,686)     (130,077)      (84,434) 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
     459,078        26,708        868,739       68,983       194,959       153,656       212,004 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
      46,600        (5,965)     1,722,758      181,177       208,257       128,358       615,034 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 

   7,151,437       294,325      8,642,932      608,162       896,043       811,865       247,627 
   9,007,653       762,068     21,493,364      426,820     6,185,067     2,898,751     4,379,845 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
  16,159,090     1,056,393     30,136,296    1,034,982     7,081,110     3,710,616     4,627,472 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
 $16,205,690    $1,050,428    $31,859,054   $1,216,159    $7,289,367    $3,838,974    $5,242,506 
=============  ============ =============  ============ =============  ============ ============ 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS 
For the year ended July 31, 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  U.S. GOVERNMENT 
                                                                LIQUID ASSET                        MONEY MARKET 
                                                       ------------------------------- -------------------------------------- 
                                                            1997            1996            1997                1996 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                                                     <C>             <C>             <C>                 <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS: 
OPERATIONS: 
Net investment income (loss)..........................  $  1,185,191    $   3,416,056   $    320,377        $    727,122 
Net realized gain (loss)..............................       --               --             --                  -- 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation ...       --               --             --                  -- 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  NET INCREASE .......................................     1,185,191        3,416,056        320,377             727,122 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: 
Net investment income.................................    (1,185,223)      (3,416,043)      (321,625)           (727,125) 
Net realized gain.....................................       --               --             --                  -- 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  TOTAL...............................................    (1,185,223)      (3,416,043)      (321,625)           (727,125) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST: 
Net proceeds from sales...............................    29,266,419      177,956,895      8,809,340          27,880,399 
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions ..........     1,185,223        3,416,043        321,624             727,125 
Cost of shares repurchased............................   (51,991,220)    (174,251,486)   (11,716,197)        (32,674,558) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  NET INCREASE (DECREASE).............................   (21,539,578)       7,121,452     (2,585,233)         (4,067,034) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE)...........................   (21,539,610)       7,121,465     (2,586,481)         (4,067,037) 
NET ASSETS: 
Beginning of period...................................    42,752,638       35,631,173      6,627,777          10,694,814 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  END OF PERIOD.......................................  $ 21,213,028    $  42,752,638   $  4,041,296        $  6,627,777 
                                                        ============    =============   ============        ============
UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT INCOME...................  $         10    $          42        --             $          2 
                                                        ============    =============   ============        ============
SHARES ISSUED AND REPURCHASED: 
Sold..................................................    29,266,419      177,956,895      8,809,340          27,880,399 
Issued in reinvestment of dividends and 
 distributions........................................     1,185,223        3,416,043        321,624             727,125 
Repurchased...........................................   (51,991,220)    (174,251,486)   (11,716,197)        (32,674,558) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE)...............................   (21,539,578)       7,121,452     (2,585,233)         (4,067,034) 
                                                        ============    =============   ============        ============
</TABLE>



                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       U.S. GOVERNMENT               INTERMEDIATE 
         SECURITIES                INCOME SECURITIES              AMERICAN VALUE                    CAPITAL GROWTH 
- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------- ------------------------------------- 
     1997           1996          1997           1996           1997           1996          1997               1996 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
<S>            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>
 $   602,606    $   434,937    $   207,340   $   218,492    $     46,600   $   244,604    $   (5,965)        $    6,999 
       5,297         18,226        (62,395)      (27,045)      7,151,437     4,355,860       294,325             31,476 
     365,249       (149,772)       151,066      (116,038)      9,007,653    (2,487,467)      762,068             45,817 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
     973,152        303,391        296,011        75,409      16,205,690     2,112,997     1,050,428             84,292 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 

    (602,630)      (434,913)      (207,294)     (218,918)        (93,984)     (299,827)       (2,106)            (8,566) 
     (22,190)        --             --            (4,854)     (3,137,376)   (2,309,181)      (56,080)            (4,860) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
    (624,820)      (434,913)      (207,294)     (223,772)     (3,231,360)   (2,609,008)      (58,186)           (13,426) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 

   5,963,450      9,509,649      3,241,075     4,840,703      20,568,978    21,806,112     1,297,311          1,518,128 
     567,526        433,619        165,904       217,069       3,227,638     2,602,757        58,150             13,426 
  (5,033,814)    (5,369,758)    (5,211,640)   (1,731,472)    (22,877,816)   (6,172,981)     (665,910)          (292,073) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
   1,497,162      4,573,510     (1,804,661)    3,326,300         918,800    18,235,888       689,551          1,239,481 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
   1,845,494      4,441,988     (1,715,944)    3,177,937      13,893,130    17,739,877     1,681,793          1,310,347 

   8,650,813      4,208,825      4,171,716       993,779      40,321,364    22,581,487     1,987,853            677,506 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
 $10,496,307    $ 8,650,813    $ 2,455,772   $ 4,171,716    $ 54,214,494   $40,321,364    $3,669,646         $1,987,853 
=============  ============= =============  ============= ==============  ============= ============  ======================= 
 $                                           $                                            $ 
      --        $        24    $        46        --        $     46,600   $    93,984        --             $    2,106 
=============  ============= =============  ============= ==============  ============= ============  ======================= 

     616,600        971,490        340,574       499,259       1,422,680     1,603,955        91,240            119,028 
      58,481         44,420         17,479        22,618         237,676       203,340         4,317              1,087 
    (517,322)      (547,637)      (547,645)     (181,670)     (1,545,904)     (447,666)      (45,416)           (23,095) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
     157,759        468,273       (189,592)      340,207         114,452     1,359,629        50,141             97,020 
=============  ============= =============  ============= ==============  ============= ============  ======================= 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSSETS, continued 
For the year ended July 31, 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DIVIDEND GROWTH                 UTILITIES 
                                                       ----------------------------- -----------------------------
                                                            1997           1996           1997           1996 
- -----------------------------------------------------  -------------- -------------  ------------- ---------------
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>            <C>              <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS: 
OPERATIONS: 
Net investment income.................................  $  1,722,758    $ 1,244,989   $   181,177     $   205,110 
Net realized gain (loss)..............................     8,642,932      2,317,010       608,162         (13,965) 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation ...    21,493,364      2,701,826       426,820         257,350 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  NET INCREASE .......................................    31,859,054      6,263,825     1,216,159         448,495 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: 
Net investment income.................................    (1,707,024)    (1,199,564)     (160,780)       (230,987) 
Net realized gain.....................................    (2,463,125)      (590,466)       --              -- 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  TOTAL...............................................    (4,170,149)    (1,790,030)     (160,780)       (230,987) 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST: 
Net proceeds from sales...............................    37,149,898     36,503,267     2,818,978       3,456,194 
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions ..........     4,150,502      1,779,713       158,903         227,657 
Cost of shares repurchased............................   (23,440,408)    (8,398,184)   (6,235,329)     (1,687,882) 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  NET INCREASE (DECREASE).............................    17,859,992     29,884,796    (3,257,448)      1,995,969 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE)...........................    45,548,897     34,358,591    (2,202,069)      2,213,477 
NET ASSETS: 
Beginning of period...................................    69,762,612     35,404,021     7,593,297       5,379,820 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  END OF PERIOD.......................................  $115,311,509    $69,762,612   $ 5,391,228     $ 7,593,297 
                                                        ============    ===========   ===========     ===========
UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT INCOME...................  $    365,924    $   350,190   $    54,200     $    33,362 
                                                        ============    ===========   ===========     ===========
SHARES ISSUED AND REPURCHASED: 
Sold..................................................     2,205,684      2,524,798       222,951         288,411 
Issued in reinvestment of dividends and 
 distributions........................................       255,693        126,953        12,596          18,947 
Repurchased...........................................    (1,379,982)      (583,926)     (488,313)       (141,590) 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     -----------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE)...............................     1,081,395      2,067,825      (252,766)        165,768 
                                                        ============    ===========   ===========     ===========
</TABLE>



                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      VALUE-ADDED MARKET              GLOBAL EQUITY                        STRATEGIST 
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------------------- 
      1997           1996          1997           1996          1997                  1996 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
<S>             <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>
 $    208,257    $   331,372    $   128,358   $    84,531    $   615,034         $   287,670 
      896,043        186,832        811,865       434,795        247,627             730,868 
    6,185,067      1,044,025      2,898,751        47,491      4,379,845             291,438 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
    7,289,367      1,562,229      3,838,974       566,817      5,242,506           1,309,976 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 

     (279,999)      (257,479)       (70,000)     (126,784)      (408,002)           (244,742) 
     (698,399)       (78,439)      (367,529)       --           (699,994)           (159,285) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
     (978,398)      (335,918)      (437,529)     (126,784)    (1,107,996)           (404,027) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 

    6,558,038      6,512,239      7,696,263     6,329,119      7,519,070          12,101,707 
      948,925        329,833        435,668       121,869      1,107,086             403,090 
  (10,417,432)    (1,769,137)    (3,421,423)   (2,492,083)    (3,796,952)         (2,673,732) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
   (2,910,469)     5,072,935      4,710,508     3,958,905      4,829,204           9,831,065 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
    3,400,500      6,299,246      8,111,953     4,398,938      8,963,714          10,737,014 

   20,379,235     14,079,989     11,685,243     7,286,305     17,495,706           6,758,692 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
 $ 23,779,735    $20,379,235    $19,797,196   $11,685,243    $26,459,420         $17,495,706 
==============  ============= =============  ============= =============  ========================= 
 $    100,361    $   172,103    $   131,548   $    49,495    $   381,735         $   174,703 
==============  ============= =============  ============= =============  ========================= 

      416,960        468,279        606,253       542,027        549,814             972,731 
       62,594         24,706         35,887        10,862         83,616              34,364 
     (680,374)      (129,743)      (265,700)     (214,741)      (277,595)           (218,134) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
     (200,820)       363,242        376,440       338,148        355,835             788,961 
==============  ============= =============  ============= =============  ========================= 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997 


1. ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

Dean Witter Retirement Series (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment 
Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment 
company, consisting of eleven separate Series ("Series"). All of the Series, 
with the exception of Strategist, are diversified. 

The Fund was organized on May 14, 1992 as a Massachusetts business trust and 
each of the Series commenced operations as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           COMMENCEMENT                                  COMMENCEMENT 
                                          OF OPERATIONS                                  OF OPERATIONS 
                                          -------------                                  ------------- 
<S>                                       <C>                <C>                           <C>
Liquid Asset .......................      December 30, 1992  Dividend Growth ........       January 7, 1993 
U.S. Government Money Market  ......       January 20, 1993  Utilities ..............       January 8, 1993 
U.S. Government Securities .........        January 8, 1993  Value-Added Market  ....      February 1, 1993 
Intermediate Income Securities  ....       January 12, 1993  Global Equity ..........       January 8, 1993 
American Value .....................       February 1, 1993  Strategist .............       January 7, 1993 
Capital Growth .....................       February 2, 1993 
</TABLE>

The investment objectives of each Series are as follows: 

         SERIES                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liquid Asset            Seeks high current income, preservation of capital and
                        liquidity by investing in short-term money market
                        instruments.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government         Seeks high current income, preservation of capital and
Money Market            liquidity by investing primarily in money market
                        instruments which are issued and/or guaranteed by the
                        U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government         Seeks high current income consistent with safety of 
Securities              principal by investing in a diversified portfolio of
                        obligations issued and/or guaranteed by the U.S.
                        Government or its instrumentalities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intermediate Income     Seeks high current income consistent with safety of
Securities              principal by investing primarily in intermediate term,
                        investment grade fixed-income securities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Value          Seeks long-term growth consistent with an effort to
                        reduce volatility by investing principally in common
                        stock of companies in industries which, at the time of
                        investment, are believed to be undervalued in the
                        marketplace.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Growth          Seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily
                        in common stocks.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividend Growth         Seeks to provide reasonable current income and
                        long-term growth of income and capital by investing
                        primarily in common stock of companies with a record of
                        paying dividends and the potential for increasing
                        dividends.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

         SERIES                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Utilities               Seeks to provide current income and long-term growth of
                        income and capital by investing in equity and
                        fixed-income securities of companies in the public
                        utilities industry.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Value-Added             Seeks to achieve a high level of total return on its
Market                  assets through a combination of capital appreciation
                        and current income. It seeks to achieve this objective
                        by investing, on an equally weighted basis, in a
                        diversified portfolio of common stocks of the companies
                        which are represented in the Standard & Poor's 500
                        Composite Stock Price Index.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global Equity           Seeks to provide a high level of total return on its
                        assets, primarily through long-term capital growth and,
                        to a lesser extent, from income. It seeks to achieve
                        this objective through investments in all types of
                        common stocks and equivalents, preferred stocks and
                        bonds and other debt obligations of domestic and
                        foreign companies, governments and international
                        organizations.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strategist              Seeks a high total investment return through a fully
                        managed investment policy utilizing equity, investment
                        grade fixed income and money market securities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions 
that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ 
from those estimates. 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies: 

A. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS -- Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market: 
Securities are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. All 
remaining Series: (1) an equity security listed or traded on the New York, 
American or other domestic or foreign stock exchange is valued at its latest 
sale price on that exchange prior to the time when assets are valued; if 
there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the latest bid price 
(in cases where securities are traded on more than one exchange, the 
securities are valued on the exchange designated as the primary market 
pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees); (2) all other portfolio 
securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available 
are valued at the latest available bid price prior to the time of valuation; 
(3) when market quotations are not readily available, including circumstances 
under which it is determined by Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the 
"Investment Manager") that sale or bid prices are not reflective of a 
security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value 
as determined in good faith under procedures 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


established by and under the general supervision of the Trustees (valuation 
of securities for which market quotations are not readily available may also 
be based upon current market prices of securities which are comparable in 
coupon, rating and maturity, or an appropriate matrix utilizing similar 
factors); (4) certain portfolio securities may be valued by an outside 
pricing service approved by the Trustees. The pricing service may utilize a 
matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and coupon as the 
evaluation model parameters, and/or research and evaluations by its staff, 
including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, if available, in 
determining what it believes is the fair valuation of the securities valued 
by such pricing service; and (5) short-term debt securities having a maturity 
date of more than sixty days at time of purchase are valued on a 
mark-to-market basis until sixty days prior to maturity and thereafter at 
amortized cost based on their value on the 61st day. Short-term debt 
securities having a maturity date of sixty days or less at the time of 
purchase are valued at amortized cost. 

B. ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS -- Security transactions are accounted for on 
the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains 
and losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost 
method. Dividend income and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend 
date except for certain dividends on foreign securities which are recorded as 
soon as the Fund is informed after the ex-dividend date. Interest income is 
accrued daily. Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market amortize 
premiums and accrete discounts on securities owned; gains and losses realized 
upon the sale of such securities are based on their amortized cost. Discounts 
for all other Series are accreted over the life of the respective securities. 

C. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION -- The books and records of each Series 
investing in foreign currency denominated transactions are translated into 
U.S. dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency market value of investment 
securities, other assets and liabilities and forward foreign currency 
contracts are translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the 
period; and (2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated at the 
exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The 
resultant exchange gains and losses are included in the Statement of 
Operations as realized and unrealized gain/loss on foreign exchange 
transactions. Pursuant to U.S. Federal income tax regulations, certain 
foreign exchange gains/losses included in realized and unrealized gain/loss 
are included in or are a reduction of ordinary income for federal income tax 
purposes. The Series do not isolate that portion of the results of operations 
arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the changes 
in the market prices of the securities. 

D. FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS -- Some of the Series may enter into 
forward foreign currency contracts which are valued daily at the appropriate 
exchange rates. The resultant unrealized exchange 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


gains and losses are included in the Statement of Operations as unrealized 
foreign currency gain or loss. The Series record realized gains or losses on 
delivery of the currency or at the time the forward contract is extinguished 
(compensated) by entering into a closing transaction prior to delivery. 

E. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS -- It is the Fund's policy to comply 
individually for each Series with the requirements of the Internal Revenue 
Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of 
its taxable income to its shareholders. Accordingly, no federal income tax 
provision is required. 

F. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS -- The Fund records dividends 
and distributions to its shareholders on the record date. The amount of 
dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized 
capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax 
regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. 
These "book/tax" differences are either considered temporary or permanent in 
nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts 
are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis 
treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends 
and distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital 
gains for financial reporting purposes but not for tax purposes are reported 
as dividends in excess of net investment income or distributions in excess of 
net realized capital gains. To the extent they exceed net investment income 
and net realized capital gains for tax purposes, they are reported as 
distributions of paid-in-capital. 

G. EXPENSES -- Direct expenses are charged to the respective Series and 
general Fund expenses are allocated on the basis of relative net assets or 
equally among the Series. 

H. ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES -- The Investment Manager paid the organizational 
expenses of the Fund in the amount of $150,000 ($13,636 allocated to each of 
the Series) and will be reimbursed, exclusive of amounts waived. Such 
expenses have been deferred and are being amortized by the Fund on the 
straight line method over a period not to exceed five years from the 
commencement of operations. 

2. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT 

Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement"), the Fund 
pays the Investment Manager a management fee, accrued daily and payable 
monthly, by applying the following annual rates to each Series' net assets 
determined at the close of each business day: Liquid Asset, U.S. Government 
Money Market and Value-Added Market -0.50%; U.S. Government Securities and 
Intermediate Income Securities -0.65%; Dividend Growth and Utilities -0.75%; 
American Value, Capital Growth and Strategist -0.85%; and Global Equity -1.0%. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Fund's 
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books and 
records and furnishes, at its own expense, office space, facilities, 
equipment, clerical, bookkeeping and certain legal services and pays the 
salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund who are employees 
of the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of 
telephone services, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the 
Fund. 

For the period January 1, 1996 through December 31, 1997, the Investment 
Manager is waiving the management fee and reimbursing expenses to the extent 
they exceed 1.00% of daily net assets of each Series. At July 31, 1997, 
included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are receivables from an 
affiliate which represent expense reimbursements due to the Fund. 

3. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES 

Purchases and sales/maturities/prepayments of portfolio securities, excluding 
short-term investments (except for Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money 
Market), for the year ended July 31, 1997 were as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES               OTHER 
                                 ------------------------------ ------------------------------ 
                                                     SALES/ 
                                                  MATURITIES/                       SALES/ 
                                    PURCHASES     PREPAYMENTS      PURCHASES      MATURITIES 
                                 -------------- --------------  -------------- -------------- 
<S>                              <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>
Liquid Asset ...................  $395,220,670    $391,812,764   $353,719,078    $382,160,567 
U.S. Government Money Market  ..   661,528,098     664,513,285        --              -- 
U.S. Government Securities  ....    11,000,110       9,181,622        --              -- 
Intermediate Income Securities       2,742,469       4,820,820      2,019,750       1,836,116 
American Value .................     1,055,258       1,298,196    114,604,516     110,531,028 
Capital Growth .................        15,742          77,006      4,322,821       3,559,093 
Dividend Growth ................       --              --          44,208,359      27,461,961 
Utilities ......................       --              --           5,530,405       7,587,775 
Value-Added Market .............       --               25,784      4,396,277       8,131,744 
Global Equity ..................       --               46,580     15,006,072      11,195,792 
Strategist .....................     3,410,867       5,765,994     12,067,832       9,926,607 
</TABLE>

Included in the aforementioned purchases and sales/maturities of portfolio 
securities of Value-Added Market are common stock purchases and sales of 
Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co., an affiliate of the Investment 
Manager, of $12,464 and $75,839, respectively, including realized gains of 
$28,629. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


Included at July 31, 1997 in the payable for investments purchased and 
receivable for investments sold were unsettled trades with Dean Witter 
Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager, as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     CAPITAL    DIVIDEND                GLOBAL 
                                      GROWTH     GROWTH    UTILITIES    EQUITY 
                                    --------- ----------  ----------- ---------
<S>                                 <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>      
Payable for investments purchased    $ 4,319    $887,346    $200,025   $    --   
                                    ========= ==========  =========== =========
Receivable for investments sold  ..  $38,982    $149,533    $ 42,821   $91,462 
                                    ========= ==========  =========== =========
                                                                      
</TABLE>                                                              

For the year ended July 31, 1997, the following Series incurred brokerage 
commissions with DWR, for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of such 
Series, as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 AMERICAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND                GLOBAL 
   VALUE      GROWTH     GROWTH    UTILITIES    EQUITY   STRATEGIST 
- ----------  --------- ----------  ----------- --------  ------------ 
<S>         <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>
  $25,735     $1,487    $43,558     $13,830     $9,201     $6,861 
==========  ========= ==========  =========== ========  ============ 
</TABLE>

For the period May 31, 1997 through July 31, 1997, Capital Growth, Global 
Equity and American Value incurred brokerage commissions of $270, $168 and 
$1,365, respectively, with Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., an affiliate of the 
Investment Manager since May 31, 1997, for portfolio transactions executed on 
behalf of the Series. 

Dean Witter Trust Company, an affiliate of the Investment Manager, is the
Fund's transfer agent. At July 31, 1997 the following Series had approximate
transfer agent fees and expenses payable as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  INTERMEDIATE 
                U.S. GOVERNMENT  U.S. GOVERNMENT     INCOME        AMERICAN    CAPITAL 
 LIQUID ASSET     MONEY MARKET     SECURITIES      SECURITIES       VALUE       GROWTH 
- --------------  --------------- ---------------  -------------- ------------  --------- 
<S>             <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>           <C>
      $120            $100           $1,250           $150           $800        $90 
==============  =============== ===============  ============== ============  ========= 

  DIVIDEND                         VALUE-ADDED       GLOBAL 
   GROWTH          UTILITIES         MARKET          EQUITY      STRATEGIST 
- --------------  --------------- ---------------  -------------- ------------ 
   $280              $80             $140            $210           $500 
==============  =============== ===============  ============== ============ 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


4. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS 

At July 31, 1997, Intermediate Income Securities had a net capital loss 
carryover of approximately $30,200 of which $5,700 will be available through 
July 31, 2004 and $24,500 will be available through July 31, 2005 to offset 
future capital gains to the extent provided by regulations. During the year 
ended July 31, 1997, Utilities utilized its net capital loss carryover of 
approximately $102,000. 

Net capital and net currency losses incurred after October 31 ("post-October 
losses") within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business 
day of the Series' next taxable year. The following Series incurred and will 
elect to defer post-October losses during fiscal 1997: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  INTERMEDIATE 
U.S. GOVERNMENT      INCOME       GLOBAL 
   SECURITIES      SECURITIES     EQUITY 
- ---------------  -------------- -------- 
<S>              <C>            <C>
      $500           $57,800       $900 
===============  ============== ======== 
</TABLE>

At July 31, 1997, the primary reason(s) for temporary book/tax differences 
were as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES 
                                     ------------------------------- 
                                        POST-        CAPITAL LOSS 
                                       OCTOBER      DEFERRALS FROM 
                                        LOSSES        WASH SALES 
                                     ----------- ------------------ 
<S>                                       <C>             <C>
U.S. Government Securities .........      o 
Intermediate Income Securities  ....      o               o 
American Value .....................                      o 
Capital Growth .....................                      o 
Dividend Growth ....................                      o 
Utilities .......................... 
Value-Added Market..................                      o 
Global Equity.......................      o               o 
Strategist .........................                      o 
</TABLE>

Additionally, Global Equity had temporary differences attributable to income 
from the mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") and 
permanent differences attributable to tax adjustments on PFICs sold by the 
Series and Capital Growth had permanent differences attributable to a net 
operating loss. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


To reflect reclassifications arising from permanent book/tax differences for 
the year ended July 31, 1997, the following accounts were (charged) credited: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   ACCUMULATED     ACCUMULATED 
                  UNDISTRIBUTED   UNDISTRIBUTED 
                 NET INVESTMENT   NET REALIZED 
                     INCOME        GAIN (LOSS) 
                 -------------- --------------- 
<S>              <C>            <C>
Capital Growth       $ 5,965        $ (5,965) 
Global Equity  .     $23,695        $(23,695) 
</TABLE>

5. PURPOSES OF AND RISKS RELATING TO CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

Some of the Portfolios may enter into forward foreign currency contracts 
("forward contracts") to facilitate settlement of foreign currency 
denominated portfolio transactions or to manage foreign currency exposure 
associated with foreign currency denominated securities. 

Forward contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amounts 
reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Portfolios bear the 
risk of an unfavorable change in foreign exchange rates underlying the 
forward contracts. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts 
from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their 
contracts. 

At July 31, 1997, Global Equity had outstanding forward contracts to 
facilitate settlement of foreign currency denominated portfolio transactions. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 

Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest 
outstanding throughout each period: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             NET ASSET                      NET                                                         TOTAL 
    YEAR       VALUE         NET         REALIZED      TOTAL FROM     DIVIDENDS     DISTRIBUTIONS     DIVIDENDS 
   ENDED     BEGINNING    INVESTMENT  AND UNREALIZED   INVESTMENT        TO              TO              AND 
  JULY 31    OF PERIOD      INCOME      GAIN (LOSS)    OPERATIONS   SHAREHOLDERS    SHAREHOLDERS    DISTRIBUTIONS 
- ----------  ----------- ------------  -------------- ------------  -------------- ---------------  --------------- 
<S>            <C>          <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>               <C>
LIQUID ASSET 
1993 (1)       $ 1.00       $0.02           --           $ 0.02        $(0.02)           --             $(0.02) 
1994             1.00        0.03           --             0.03         (0.03)           --              (0.03) 
1995             1.00        0.06           --             0.06         (0.06)           --              (0.06) 
1996             1.00        0.05           --             0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1997             1.00        0.05           --             0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 

U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET 
1993 (2)         1.00          --++         --             --            --              --               -- 
1994             1.00        0.03           --             0.03         (0.03)           --              (0.03) 
1995             1.00        0.06           --             0.06         (0.06)           --              (0.06) 
1996             1.00        0.05           --             0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1997             1.00        0.04           --             0.04         (0.04)           --              (0.04) 

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES 
1993 (3)        10.00        0.19         $ 0.07           0.26         (0.20)           --              (0.20) 
1994            10.06        0.44          (0.50)         (0.06)        (0.44)           --              (0.44) 
1995             9.56        0.56           0.15           0.71         (0.56)           --              (0.56) 
1996             9.71        0.55          (0.12)          0.43         (0.55)           --              (0.55) 
1997             9.59        0.56           0.34           0.90         (0.56)         $(0.02)           (0.58) 

INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 
1993 (4)        10.00        0.19          (0.02)          0.17         (0.19)           --              (0.19) 
1994             9.98        0.60          (0.57)          0.03         (0.60)           --              (0.60) 
1995             9.41        0.61           0.22           0.83         (0.61)           --              (0.61) 
1996             9.63        0.59          (0.21)          0.38         (0.59)          (0.01)           (0.60) 
1997             9.41        0.53           0.26           0.79         (0.53)           --              (0.53) 

AMERICAN VALUE 
1993 (5)        10.00        0.06          (0.01)          0.05          --              --               -- 
1994            10.05        0.03          (0.09)         (0.06)        (0.02)          (0.04)           (0.06) 
1995             9.93        0.14           3.15           3.29         (0.12)           --              (0.12) 
1996            13.10        0.09           1.17           1.26         (0.15)          (1.13)           (1.28) 
1997            13.08        0.02           5.12           5.14         (0.04)          (1.22)           (1.26) 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
*       After application of the Fund's expense limitation. 
+       Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day 
        of the period. 
++      Includes dividends from net investment income of $0.004 per share. 
(a)     Not annualized. 
(b)     Annualized. 

Commencement of operations: 
(1)     December 30, 1992.     (4) January 12, 1993. 
(2)     January 20, 1993.      (5) February 1, 1993. 
(3)     January 8, 1993. 


                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET       RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET 
                                                  ASSETS                     ASSETS 
                                          (BEFORE EXPENSES WERE       (AFTER EXPENSES WERE 
                                                 ASSUMED)                   ASSUMED) 
                                        -------------------------- -------------------------- 
 NET ASSET                  NET ASSETS 
    VALUE        TOTAL        END OF                      NET                        NET       PORTFOLIO     AVERAGE 
   END OF     INVESTMENT      PERIOD                  INVESTMENT                 INVESTMENT     TURNOVER    COMMISSION 
   PERIOD       RETURN+      (000'S)      EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)   EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)     RATE      RATE PAID 
- -----------  ------------ ------------  ----------- -------------  ----------- -------------  ----------- ------------ 
<S>               <C>        <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>
   $ 1.00         1.77%(a)   $ 1,081        1.30%(b)      0.53%(b)     0.14%(b)     3.02%(b)      N/A            N/A 
     1.00         3.48         1,524        2.50 *        0.99          --          3.49          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.90        35,631        1.16          4.96          --          6.12          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.44        42,753        0.65          5.05         0.33         5.37          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         4.57        21,213        1.04          4.43         1.00         4.47          N/A            N/A 

     1.00         0.42 (a)       125        2.50* (b)    (0.95)(b)     2.13 (b)     0.83 (b)      N/A            N/A 
     1.00         3.52           555        2.50*         0.82          --          3.32          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.86        10,695        2.50*         3.62          --          6.12          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.23         6,628        0.82          4.75         0.37         5.21          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         4.51         4,041        1.20          4.17         1.00         4.37          N/A            N/A 

    10.06         2.60 (a)     1,756        1.81 (b)      0.33 (b)     0.18 (b)     3.66 (b)      --             N/A 
     9.56        (0.69)        2,954        2.50*         1.96          --          4.46           29%           N/A 
     9.71         7.72         4,209        2.36          3.49          --          5.85           14            N/A 
     9.59         4.49         8,651        1.48          4.70         0.63         5.55           47            N/A 
     9.91         9.70        10,496        1.55          5.24         1.00         5.79           89            N/A 

     9.98         1.67 (a)       182        2.50* (b)     1.00 (b)     1.62 (b)     3.50 (b)      --             N/A 
     9.41         0.26           460        2.50*         3.64          --          6.14           40            N/A 
     9.63         9.22           994        2.50*         4.08          --          6.58           37            N/A 
     9.41         3.95         4,172        1.58          5.01         0.72         5.87          142            N/A 
     9.67         8.63         2,456        2.00          4.50         1.00         5.50          132            N/A 

    10.05         0.50 (a)       308        2.50*(b)     (0.66)(b)     0.74 (b)     1.10 (b)      121 (a)       -- 
     9.93        (0.59)        6,841        2.50*        (0.81)         --          1.69          136           -- 
    13.10        33.48        22,581        1.42          0.39          --          1.81          234           -- 
    13.08         9.83        40,321        1.18          0.23         0.65         0.76          301        $0.0543 
    16.96        41.62        54,214        1.21         (0.11)        1.00         0.10          261         0.0552 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS, continued 

Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest 
outstanding throughout each period: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             NET ASSET                       NET                                                         TOTAL 
    YEAR       VALUE          NET         REALIZED      TOTAL FROM                   DISTRIBUTIONS     DIVIDENDS 
   ENDED     BEGINNING    INVESTMENT   AND UNREALIZED   INVESTMENT   DIVIDENDS TO         TO              AND 
  JULY 31    OF PERIOD   INCOME (LOSS)   GAIN (LOSS)    OPERATIONS   SHAREHOLDERS    SHAREHOLDERS    DISTRIBUTIONS 
- ----------  ----------- -------------  -------------- ------------  -------------- ---------------  --------------- 
<S>            <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>
CAPITAL GROWTH 
1993 (4)       $10.00       $(0.02)        $(1.10)        $(1.12)         --              --               -- 
1994             8.88         0.13           0.45           0.58        $(0.04)           --             $(0.04) 
1995             9.42         0.10           1.77           1.87         (0.12)           --              (0.12) 
1996            11.17         0.07           1.55           1.62         (0.11)         $(0.07)           (0.18) 
1997            12.61        (0.03)          5.41           5.38         (0.01)          (0.32)           (0.33) 

DIVIDEND GROWTH 
1993 (1)        10.00         0.13           0.58           0.71         (0.10)           --              (0.10) 
1994            10.61         0.28           0.37           0.65         (0.23)          (0.01)           (0.24) 
1995            11.02         0.34           2.13           2.47         (0.31)          (0.10)           (0.41) 
1996            13.08         0.32           1.76           2.08         (0.36)          (0.19)           (0.55) 
1997            14.61         0.33           5.60           5.93         (0.33)          (0.52)           (0.85) 

UTILITIES 
1993 (2)        10.00         0.19           1.30           1.49         (0.14)           --              (0.14) 
1994            11.35         0.37          (0.95)         (0.58)        (0.34)          (0.01)           (0.35) 
1995            10.42         0.42           0.80           1.22         (0.37)          (0.02)           (0.39) 
1996            11.25         0.38           0.61           0.99         (0.45)           --              (0.45) 
1997            11.79         0.41           1.90           2.31         (0.32)           --              (0.32) 

VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
1993 (3)        10.00         0.05           0.02           0.07         (0.04)           --              (0.04) 
1994            10.03         0.24           0.65           0.89         (0.11)           --              (0.11) 
1995            10.81         0.21           2.16           2.37         (0.26)          (0.12)           (0.38) 
1996            12.80         0.25           1.17           1.42         (0.22)          (0.07)           (0.29) 
1997            13.93         0.21           5.58           5.79         (0.25)          (0.63)           (0.88) 

GLOBAL EQUITY 
1993 (2)        10.00         0.07          (0.03)          0.04          --              --               -- 
1994            10.04         0.08           0.58           0.66         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1995            10.65         0.14           0.49           0.63         (0.11)           --              (0.11) 
1996            11.17         0.09           0.71           0.80         (0.18)           --              (0.18) 
1997            11.79         0.09           2.98           3.07         (0.06)          (0.32)           (0.38) 

STRATEGIST 
1993 (1)        10.00         0.06          (0.23)         (0.17)         --              --               -- 
1994             9.83         0.23          (0.20)          0.03         (0.13)           --              (0.13) 
1995             9.73         0.24           1.49           1.73         (0.18)           --              (0.18) 
1996            11.28         0.25           1.63           1.88         (0.34)          (0.22)           (0.56) 
1997            12.60         0.37           2.96           3.33         (0.28)          (0.48)           (0.76) 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
*       After application of the Fund's expense limitation. 
+       Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day 
        of the period. 
(a)     Not annualized. 
(b)     Annualized. 

Commencement of operations: 
(1)     January 7, 1993. 
(2)     January 8, 1993. 
(3)     February 1, 1993. 
(4)     February 2, 1993. 


                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET      RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET 
                                                   ASSETS                     ASSETS 
                                           (BEFORE EXPENSES WERE       (AFTER EXPENSES WERE 
                                                  ASSUMED)                   ASSUMED) 
                                         -------------------------- ------------------------- 
 NET ASSET                   NET ASSETS 
    VALUE        TOTAL         END OF                      NET                       NET       PORTFOLIO     AVERAGE 
   END OF      INVESTMENT      PERIOD                  INVESTMENT                INVESTMENT     TURNOVER    COMMISSION 
   PERIOD       RETURN+       (000'S)      EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)  EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)     RATE      RATE PAID 
- -----------  ------------- ------------  ----------- -------------  ---------- -------------  ----------- ------------ 
<S>               <C>         <C>            <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>         <C>
   $ 8.88        (11.20)%(a)  $    135       2.50%*(b)    (1.01)%(b)   1.97%(b)     (0.47)%(b)      2%(a)       -- 
     9.42          6.57            215       2.50*        (0.98)        --           1.52          11           -- 
    11.17         20.08            678       2.50 *       (1.07)        --           1.43          20           -- 
    12.61         14.58          1,988       2.50 *       (1.24)       0.76          0.50          68        $0.0536 
    17.66         43.46          3,670       3.16         (2.38)       1.00         (0.22)        147         0.0575 

    10.61          7.11  (a)     2,417       2.50* (b)     0.61  (b)   0.16 (b)      2.89  (b)      7 (a)       -- 
    11.02          6.13         12,821       1.51          1.78         --           3.29          13           -- 
    13.08         23.07         35,404       1.14          2.34         --           3.48          29           -- 
    14.61         16.09         69,763       1.00          2.07        0.63          2.44          18         0.0526 
    19.69         41.92        115,312       0.97          1.92        0.97          1.92          31         0.0537 

    11.35         14.98  (a)     1,334       2.50* (b)     1.59  (b)   0.30 (b)      3.79  (b)      8 (a)       -- 
    10.42         (5.23)         3,860       2.50*         1.62         --           4.14           5           -- 
    11.25         12.16          5,380       1.91          2.41         --           4.32          24           -- 
    11.79          8.76          7,593       1.52          2.31        0.62          3.20          17         0.0508 
    13.78         19.87          5,391       1.78          1.85        1.00          2.63          89         0.0508 

    10.03          0.71  (a)       640       2.50* (b)    (0.16) (b)   0.92 (b)      1.42  (b)      1 (a)       -- 
    10.81          8.89          5,133       1.82          0.70         --           2.53           8           -- 
    12.80         22.65         14,080       1.22          1.33         --           2.55           7           -- 
    13.93         11.19         20,379       0.78          1.58        0.47          1.89           8         0.0300 
    18.84         43.12         23,780       1.02          1.04        1.00          1.07          23         0.0300 

    10.04          0.40  (a)       322       2.50* (b)    (0.90) (b)   1.00 (b)      1.77  (b)    --            -- 
    10.65          6.54          2,020       2.50*         0.09         --           2.41           8           -- 
    11.17          6.08          7,286       2.25          0.48         --           2.73          55           -- 
    11.79          7.26         11,685       1.73         (0.15)       0.66          0.92          95         0.0500 
    14.48         26.66         19,797       1.85         (0.01)       1.00          0.84          80         0.0348 

     9.83         (1.70) (a)       551       2.50* (b)    (0.19) (b)   0.64 (b)      1.67  (b)     26 (a)       -- 
     9.73          0.12          1,276       2.50*         0.70         --           3.20          57           -- 
    11.28         18.21          6,759       2.14          1.97         --           4.11         115           -- 
    12.60         16.97         17,496       1.61          1.92        0.66          2.86         113         0.0525 
    15.17         27.35         26,459       1.40          2.50        1.00          2.90          90         0.0535 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 


TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TRUSTEES 
OF DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, 
including the portfolios of investments, and the related statements of 
operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present 
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Liquid Asset 
Series, the U.S. Government Money Market Series, the U.S. Government 
Securities Series, the Intermediate Income Securities Series, the American 
Value Series, the Capital Growth Series, the Dividend Growth Series, the 
Utilities Series, the Value-Added Market Series, the Global Equity Series, 
and the Strategist Series (constituting Dean Witter Retirement Series, 
hereafter referred to as the "Fund") at July 31, 1997, the results of each of 
their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net 
assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial 
highlights for each of the periods indicated, in conformity with generally 
accepted accounting principles. These financial statements and financial 
highlights (hereafter referred to as "financial statements") are the 
responsibility of the Fund's management; our responsibility is to express an 
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our 
audits of these financial statements in accordance with generally accepted 
auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain 
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of 
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence 
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing 
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, 
and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that 
our audits, which included confirmation of securities at July 31, 1997 by 
correspondence with the custodian and brokers and the application of 
alternative auditing procedures where confirmations from brokers were not 
received, provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. 

PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP 
1177 Avenue of the Americas 
New York, New York 10036 
September 12, 1997 

                   1997 FEDERAL INCOME TAX NOTICE (unaudited)

       During the year ended July 31, 1997, the Fund paid to shareholders 
       long-term capital gains per share as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 AMERICAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND   VALUE-ADDED    GLOBAL 
   VALUE      GROWTH     GROWTH       MARKET      EQUITY   STRATEGIST 
- ----------  --------- ----------  ------------- --------  ------------ 
<S>           <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
$0.31         $0.32      $0.47        $0.45       $0.05       $0.31 

</TABLE>

       Additionally, the following percentages of the income paid qualified 
       for the dividends received deduction available to corporations: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 AMERICAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND                VALUE-ADDED   GLOBAL 
   VALUE      GROWTH     GROWTH    UTILITIES      MARKET      EQUITY    STRATEGIST 
- ----------  --------- ----------  ----------- -------------  -------- ------------ 
<S>            <C>       <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>        <C>    
 5.58%         100%      99.92%      98.72%        74.37%      7.89%      19.47% 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

TRUSTEES 

Michael Bozic 
Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
Edwin J. Garn 
John R. Haire 
Wayne E. Hedien 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson 
Michael E. Nugent 
Philip J. Purcell 
John L. Schroeder 


OFFICERS 

Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 

Barry Fink 
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel 

Thomas F. Caloia 
Treasurer 


CUSTODIAN 

The Bank of New York 
90 Washington Street 
New York, New York 10286 


TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND 
DISBURSING AGENT 

Dean Witter Trust FSB 
Harborside Financial Center - Plaza Two 
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311 


INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 

Price Waterhouse LLP 
1177 Avenue of the Americas 
New York, New York 10036 


INVESTMENT MANAGER 

Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. 
Two World Trade Center 
New York, New York 10048 


This report is submitted for the general information of shareholders of the
Fund. For more detailed information about the Fund, its officers and trustees,
fees, expenses and other pertinent information, please see the prospectus of
the Fund.

This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the
Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.




ANNUAL REPORT
JULY 31, 1997


DEAN WITTER 
RETIREMENT SERIES



<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES                        TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER, 
                                                     NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS JANUARY 31, 1998
 
DEAR SHAREHOLDER:
 
We are pleased to present the semiannual report on the operations of Dean Witter
Retirement Series for the six-month period ended January 31, 1998.
 
Overall, the stock market was very generous to investors in 1997. However, in
August the Dow Jones Industrial Average appeared to have peaked at 8,340.
Bellwether multinational corporations such as Coca Cola began to guide earnings
estimates downward for the first time in many years on the basis of slower 
growth and the currency impact from the turmoil in Asia. While the NASDAQ 
Composite and Mid-Cap indexes peaked in early October, and the Standard & 
Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500) peaked in early December, 
uncertainty grew regarding earnings outlooks. Despite a flat to down fourth 
quarter for the various indexes, the stock market, as measured by the Dow 
Jones Industrial Average, increased by more than 20 percent for the third year 
in a row for the first time ever. As year-end approached, historically 
defensive sectors such as consumer goods and utilities outperformed the overall
market, while cyclical stocks lagged.
 
Over the past year the U.S. economy exhibited healthy growth with declining
inflation and strong employment growth. In this environment the Federal Reserve
Board periodically expressed concern that inflationary pressures could be on the
rise. However, inflation remains in check. Accordingly, the Federal Reserve
Board has left interest rates unchanged since March.
 
Demand for U.S. Treasury securities and the U.S. dollar increased as the crisis
in Asia induced an investor flight-to-quality. With many of the Southeast Asian
economies in turmoil, 1998 may see the United States inherit the deflationary
aspect of those markets. According to many analysts, this could benefit the
disinflationary trend here.
 
Real interest rates (market interest rates less inflation) in the United States
remain above historical norms. A realization of this situation by
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
investors, combined with the probability of a surplus in the U.S. budget
(leading to a reduction in the issuance of U.S. Treasury securities in 1998),
could cause interest rates to continue to decline in the months to come.
 
In mid-summer, Asian currencies with values pegged to the U.S. dollar came under
intense speculative attack. After sacrificing considerable reserves in an
attempt to defend the fixed levels, central banks succumbed to the pressure and
let their currencies float. These currencies then declined sharply relative to
the dollar. Thailand triggered the crisis in July. Next the Philippines was
affected, then Malaysia and Indonesia continued the trend in August. Hong Kong
and the northeastern Asian countries appeared to be able to overcome the crisis,
but pressure reemerged in October. Taiwan permitted a small further depreciation
in its currency. The result was a sharp upward movement in Hong Kong interest
rates, which severely affected its stock market given the significant exposure
to bank and real-estate-related stocks. By the end of 1997 Korea had also
succumbed to the currency assault.
 
Not one market was spared from the Asian crisis, not even the United States.
Fears that the Federal Reserve Board might increase interest rates were
virtually eliminated by the severity of financial disruptions in Asia. The
turmoil in Asia brought with it a flight to quality into U.S. government
securities and fears of a negative impact on the U.S. economy as its competitive
pricing edge eroded. Furthermore, the Asian crisis caused concern as to whether
demand for U.S. products would slow as well, eventually weakening the U.S.
economy. Higher interest rates would exacerbate the Asian currency situation by
making U.S.-dollar-denominated assets even more attractive. As the period
progressed, investor sentiment shifted once again toward the increased
probability of a move to lower interest rates. These factors combined to push
interest rates on intermediate and longer maturities down far more than
shorter-term securities. On January 30, 1998, 10-year Treasury notes were
yielding 5.51 percent compared to 5.31 percent for two-year notes and 5.22
percent for six-month bills. While 10-year notes had declined 50 basis points
over the six-month period under review, six-month bills were down only 9 basis
points, pointing to a continued complacency over future inflation.
 
After rising by about 25 basis points late in the first quarter of 1997, money
market yields held remarkably stable during the remainder of the year and
through January 1998. The target rate for federal funds remained constant at 5.5
percent from March 25, 1997, through the end of January. Overall economic
conditions in the United States continue to be excellent, with inflation
remaining quite moderate. The unemployment rate reached a 24-year low during the
year.
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
Despite Europe's sharp falls in October following the currency crisis in Asia,
European markets generally made a steady recovery during November and December.
Overall, 1997 was characterized by significant improvement in the economic
environment across Europe. In the United Kingdom low interest rates combined
with low inflation to result in strong economic growth and falling unemployment.
 
During the second half of the year Latin American markets, particularly Brazil
and Argentina, suffered as a result of turmoil in the Asian emerging markets.
Nevertheless, generally healthy economies and continued privatization programs
provided investors with a higher degree of confidence that these markets would
not be fundamentally disturbed by the situation in Asia.
 
LIQUID ASSET SERIES
 
As of January 31, 1998, Liquid Asset Series had assets of approximately $15
million, with an average maturity of 10 days. The Series' annualized net
investment income for the period under review was 4.61 percent.
 
On January 31, 1998, approximately 82 percent of the portfolio of the Liquid
Asset Series were invested in federal agency obligations and 18 percent in
high-quality commercial paper. One hundred percent of the Series' assets were
due to mature within one month.
 
We believe that Liquid Asset Series remains well positioned to meet its
objective of stability of principle. The Series continues to be operated in a
straight-forward, conservative style without structured notes or derivatives,
which could fluctuate excessively when interest rates change.
 
We do not expect the yields available in the money market in early 1998 to
differ dramatically from those available during the second half of 1997.
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES
 
As of January 31, 1998, the U.S. Government Money Market Series had net assets
totaling approximately $1.3 million, with an average maturity of 9 days. The
Series' annualized net investment income for the six-month period under review
was 4.53 percent. The Series' 30-day annualized yield for January was 4.48
percent.
 
On January 31, 1998, approximately 96 percent of U.S. Government Money Market
Series' assets were invested in federal agency obligations, with the remaining 4
percent invested in U.S. Treasury bills. One hundred percent of the portfolio's
assets were due to mature within one month.
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
We believe the Series is well positioned to meet its objective of security of
principal, high current income and liquidity. We continue to operate the
portfolio in a straight-forward, conservative style without structured notes or
derivatives, which could fluctuate excessively when interest rates change.
 
We do not expect the yields available in the money market in early 1998 to
differ dramatically from those available during the second half of 1997.
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES
 
For the six-month period ended January 31, 1998, the U.S. Government Securities
Series provided a total return of 4.53 percent compared to a total return of
4.53 percent for the Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. General U.S. Government
Funds Index and 5.39 percent for the Lehman Brothers General U.S. Government
Funds Index. The Series' performance includes income distributions totaling
$0.290996 per share and a change in net asset value from $9.91 per share on July
31, 1997, to $10.06 per share at the end of the period. On January 31, 1998, the
Series had net assets in excess of $9.1 million. Performance for the fiscal year
reflected the volatility of the market and the overall declining interest-rate
environment in 1997.
 
As of January 31, 1998, 81 percent of the Series' portfolio was invested in
Government National Mortgage Association mortgage-backed securities (GNMAs). The
balance of the Series' portfolio was invested in U.S. Treasury securities (19
percent). The Series' average duration stood at approximately 5.0 years.
(Duration measures a bond fund's sensitivity to interest-rate fluctuations.)
 
We believe that GNMAs continue to offer significant long-term value. Also, in
the current investment environment, they provide not only an incremental yield
incentive over U.S. Treasury securities of similar maturity, but also the
potential for attractive returns.
 
INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES SERIES
 
For the six-month period ended January 31, 1998, the Intermediate Income Series
had a total return of 3.92 percent. This compares to a total return of 4.13
percent for the Lipper Analytical Services Intermediate Investment Grade Funds
Index, and 4.16 percent for the Lehman Intermediate Government Corporate Bond
Index.
 
The Series' performance during the six-month period under review was reflective
of the fall in interest rates. The Series was negatively affected by the
inability of its corporate holdings to perform as well as comparable Treasury
maturities in the second part of the period. This is attributable primarily to
anticipated fall-out from Asia onto U.S. corporations. Corporate performance was
also constrained in January, from the impact on prices for outstanding debt of a
record amount of new
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
issues coming to market. As a result, the three new securities purchased by the
Series during the period, Citicorp, Dupont (E.I.) de Nemours & Co., Inc. and
Salomon, Inc. (which account for approximately 14 percent of net assets),
underperformed comparable Treasuries by 5 to 15 basis points, despite their
strong creditworthiness. All three issues were rated at least "A" by the major
rating services.
 
The Series' performance was aided by several transactions that resulted in a
modest inter-period extension of maturity. This allowed the Series to benefit,
to a greater extent, from the decline in interest rates. The Series also reduced
its Treasury and utility holdings, while investments in the bank and finance
sectors were increased. Temporary cash reserves were reduced early in the period
and ended January at 3.5 percent of net assets compared to 7.7 percent on July
31, 1997.
 
On January 31, 1998, U.S. Treasuries comprised approximately 26 percent of the
portfolio's holdings, with corporates accounting for the remainder (74 percent).
The average maturity of the Series, including cash reserves, was 5.07 years, the
average duration 3.97 years (duration gives investors an idea of a bond
portfolio's sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations). The average quality
rating was "A2." For the six-month period the Series paid dividends of $0.264433
per share.
 
AMERICAN VALUE SERIES
 
For the six-month period ended January 31, 1998, the American Value Series
produced a total return of 5.52 percent compared to 3.55 percent for the
Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500) and 3.18 percent for
the Lipper Analytical Services Inc. Growth Funds Index.
 
Based on recent analysis, the Series' portfolio manager expects U.S. economic
growth to slow to the 2.25 percent range in 1998, with earnings in the vicinity
of 5 percent. When earnings growth slips below the 10 percent range, the
market's leadership typically shifts from economically sensitive issues to
steady growth ones. In response, the Series has been tilted in this direction so
that steady growth stocks currently represent 60 percent of net assets.
 
On the cyclical side, the Series' 17.6 percent weighting in technology stocks
emphasizes software and services, which are more stable than other technology
sectors during economic slowdowns. Holdings in this area include Microsoft
Corp., Computer Associates International, Inc. and BMC Software, Inc. As of
January 31, 1998, the Series had a 8.1 percent weighting in retail stocks, which
is expected to be bolstered by a low unemployment level below 4.7 percent, and
by real wage growth and lower sourcing costs. The Series' retail positions
include Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Barnes & Noble, Inc.
 
On the growth side, the Series has increased its consumer staples weighting to
11.0 percent of net assets, emphasizing industries and companies with little or
no South American or Asian exposure.
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
This sector includes food chains such as Safeway, Inc., drugstores like Rite Aid
Corp., and such selected food companies as Nabisco Holdings Corp. In the
consumer/business services area, the Series continues to hold 12.5 percent of
its net assets in the radio/cable and newspaper industries. Commitments in these
sectors include Clear Channel Communications, Inc., CBS Corp., Comcast Corp. and
Gannett Co., Inc.
 
Health care, which remains overweighted in the Series at 16.6 percent, reflects
an emphasis on drugs, biotechnology and medical devices -- all industries with
patent protection and pricing power. Companies in these areas include Lilly
(Eli) & Co., Pfizer, Inc., Centocor, Inc. and Guidant Corp. The Series has also
maintained an overweighted position in interest-rate sensitive stocks, as
evidenced by its 18.6 percent commitment to the financial sector, where the
focus is on regional banks, brokerage houses, government agencies and utilities.
A sample of some of these holdings includes Summit Bancorp, Travelers Group,
Inc., and Fannie Mae.
 
Because an economic backdrop that is typically associated with falling interest
rates and more difficult corporate earnings is expected to remain in place, we
have established a four percent position in long-term U.S. Treasuries.
 
CAPITAL GROWTH SERIES
 
For the six-month period ended January 31, 1998, the Capital Growth Series
produced a return of -3.37 percent. This compares to a return of 3.55 percent
for the S&P 500 Index and a return of 3.18 percent for the Lipper Analytical
Services Growth Funds Index. Net assets of the Capital Growth Series totaled
slightly more than $3.1 million as of the end of the period. At that time the
Series owned 51 stocks.
 
The Series' weightings in small- and mid-cap stocks helped its performance
during the first quarter of 1997. However, with the stock market setback late in
1997, many small- and mid-cap issues failed to match the performance of
large-cap stocks recorded during the second quarter. Though the Series
outperformed the S&P 500 in the first half of the year, its greater than 50
percent exposure to mid-and small-cap stocks resulted in its underperforming the
index in the second half of the year. Additionally, many of the Series' holdings
in the mid-cap area were in the technology and oil-service sectors, among the
two areas that saw most of the significant price declines during the second
quarter of 1997. Both of these sectors had been overweighted. Earnings
disappointments in a few key companies also dampened performance.
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
We remain optimistic regarding Capital Growth Series' prospects for 1998. Stocks
in the portfolio are expected to have nearly a 30 percent earnings per share
growth rate for 1998 over 1997 and continue to have a very high return on equity
of approximately 20 percent, with a beta that is not much greater than that of
the overall markets.
 
DIVIDEND GROWTH SERIES
 
For the six-month period ended January 31, 1998, Dividend Growth Series had a
total return of 0.88 percent, compared to a total return of 3.55 percent for the
S&P 500 and 2.37 percent for the Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. Growth and
Income Funds Index. The Series' underperformance of its broad market indices was
in large part due to exceptional strength in technology stocks at times, a
sector which affords little or no current yield, and the Series' underweighting
in financial stocks.
 
Net assets of Dividend Growth Series totaled approximately $106 million on
January 31, 1998. As of January 31, 1998, the Series owned 38 equity issues
spread across 30 different industry groups. One new portfolio position was
established since our last report on July 31, 1997. A spinoff (a divestiture in
which a parent company establishes a subdivision or separate corporation) from
PepsiCo, Inc. during the period resulted in the receipt of shares of Tricon
Global Restaurants, Inc. These shares were subsequently liquidated.
 
UTILITIES SERIES
 
For the period ended January 31, 1998, the first half of the fiscal year, the
Utilities Series provided a total return of 14.05 percent compared to a total
return of 13.31 percent for the average Lipper Analytical Services Utility Funds
Index and 3.55 percent for the broad-based S&P 500.
 
During the past year, utilities benefited from a blend of improving industry
fundamentals, a favorable interest-rate environment and ongoing industry-wide
merger and acquisition activities. However, a primary event underpinning the
strong performance of the Series during the period was the Southeast Asian
economic crisis, which prompted a highly defensive investment mode in the U.S.
market.
 
Given this utility-friendly investment environment, electric utilities were the
primary beneficiaries of the cautious financial markets, with much of the
impetus being a flight to quality and safety. Additionally, electric utilities
continued to witness fair and balanced deregulation initiatives by many state
utility commissions, which tempered investors concerns and strengthened
shareholder confidence in this sector. Electric utility merger and acquisition
activity was consistently evident throughout the year as many companies enhanced
their earnings outlooks and expanded their product offerings and global presence
in preparation for the new competitive environment. The
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
telecommunications sector also showed very healthy performance, benefiting from
numerous merger and acquisition announcements. Furthermore, the telecom sector
overall showed robust earnings growth, fueled by a strong economy and
high-growth applications including wireless communications, data and selective
international investments. While natural gas pricing was adversely effected by
mild weather patterns toward the end of the year, the sectors overall market
performance was enhanced by a combination of industry-wide merger activity and
an expansion of diversified deregulated businesses.
 
Against this backdrop, the Utilities Series maintained a fully invested posture,
reflecting the underlying defensive theme across the financial markets.
Additionally, investor confidence continued to strengthen, due to the tempering
of regulatory concerns and more visible growth fundamentals within the utility
sectors. On January 31, 1998, 96 percent of the Series' assets were allocated to
utility and utility-related equities with 4 percent held in cash. Within the
equity component of the portfolio, 52 percent of assets were allocated to
electric utilities, 25 percent to telecommunications and 19 percent to natural
gas. Enhancing overall Series diversification are selective foreign securities,
which account for 5 percent of assets, and a focus on the growth area of global
telecommunications infrastructure.
 
We believe the Series remains uniquely diversified and structured to meet its
objective of providing shareholders with above average current income and
long-term growth of income and capital. Given the focus on Energy and
Telecommunications, the Utilities Series is well positioned to benefit from the
worldwide growth coming from globalization, privatization and strong product
demand.
 
VALUE-ADDED MARKET SERIES
 
For the six-month period ended January 31, 1998, the Value-Added Series produced
a total return of 1.52 percent compared to 3.55 percent for the S&P 500 and 2.37
percent for the Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. Growth and Income Funds Index.
While the Series outperformed the S&P 500 during the third quarter of 1997, it
fell behind in the fourth quarter as both small-cap and cyclical stocks came
under pressure. Since inception on February 1, 1993, the Series has posted an
average annual total return of 16.8 percent.
 
The Series invests in substantially all the stocks included in the S&P 500.
Unlike the index, the Series weights all stock positions equally, thereby
emphasizing the stocks of smaller- to medium-capitalized companies, which causes
performance to differ from that of the S&P 500 Index.
 
Historically, the strategy employed by the Series has led to strong relative
returns during periods when small-cap stocks have outperformed larger ones.
However, over the past three years large-capitalization stocks have been market
leaders overshadowing the solid returns provided by small-
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
and mid-cap stocks. We believe that we are now at a point in the economic cycle
where small caps may once again be positioned to outperform. Many relative
valuation measures, such as price-to-book, dividend yield and price-to-earnings
ratios, suggest that small-cap issues are currently undervalued relative to
large caps.
 
In addition, a continued strong U.S. dollar should reduce the relative earnings
growth of large multinationals, thus making small- and mid-caps more attractive.
Finally, because of the Asian currency crisis, investors in emerging markets may
decide to reconsider the attractiveness of the domestic small- and mid-cap
sectors. Such a scenario is expected to bode well for the equally weighted
strategy employed by the Series.
 
GLOBAL EQUITY SERIES
 
For the six-month period ended January 31, 1998, the Global Equity Series had a
total return of -6.07 percent. This compares to a total return of -3.59 percent
for the Lipper Analytical Services Global Funds Index, a return of 3.55 percent
for the S&P 500 and a return of -2.07 for the Morgan Stanley Capital
International World Index (MSCI Index).
 
As stated earlier, global markets in general were captivated by the widespread
plunge in Asian markets on the back of intense currency devaluations and ensuing
economic turmoil in that part of the world. Most Asian markets dropped between
60 and 70 percent, with Indonesia and Korea being hit the hardest. Even the Hong
Kong market, whose currency has not fluctuated in value, declined 44.5 percent
and the Japanese market disappointed investors again, falling 21.6 percent.
Japan's fragile economy slowed after the reversal of an income tax rebate and a
hike in its consumption tax. Investors also focused on the fragility of Japan's
financial system and the loss of credibility among politicians dealing with the
economic slump.
 
The European equity markets, with the dual catalysts of weak domestic currencies
and positive sentiment toward Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), mirrored the
U.S. market's rally. The following countries had exceptionally strong
performance during the period under review: Italy (24.90 percent), Spain (17.84
percent), Switzerland (11.95 percent) and the United Kingdom (10.90 percent).
The following core European markets lagged behind: France (3.78 percent),
Germany (-0.37 percent) and the Netherlands (-4.59 percent).
 
The Series' underperformance versus the MSCI Index is attributable to its
geographic allocation, which had more significant exposure to Japan and Asia
than the index. In response to the continuing market decline in Japan and the
economic crisis in the rest of Asia, the Series has since reduced
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
exposure to those markets. The Series' asset allocation targets now are 38
percent of net assets in Europe, 35 percent in the United States, 6 percent in
Japan, emerging Asia and Latin America and 1 percent in other markets deemed to
be attractive. The balance will be held in cash.
 
STRATEGIST SERIES
 
The Strategist Series posted a total return of 0.28 percent for the six-month
period ended January 31, 1998, versus 2.94 percent for the Lipper Analytical
Services Flexible Funds Index. Over the same period, the S&P 500 posted a total
return of 3.55 percent and the Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index
posted a total return of 5.12 percent.
 
The Series' underperformance for the period under review, August 1997 to January
1998, was due to our asset allocation, which favored stocks and underweighted
bonds. For the six-month period, the Strategist Series maintained an asset
allocation target of 70 percent equities, 20 percent U.S. government and
corporate bonds and 10 percent cash equivalents. This was a change from the
first half of 1997 when the Series was positioned at roughly a 50 percent/50
percent stock and bond/cash blend. The move was made because of our view that
corporate earnings growth would continue at an above average pace, therefore
leading us to take a more aggressive approach toward the equity markets. The
untimely currency crises in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand had the
compounding negative effect of pummeling technology stocks and causing a rapid
and significant flight to quality bond rally.
 
While the outperformance of bonds tied to the Asian Pacific crisis may have
affected our strategy during the second half of the year, January 1998 has been
a good month for the equity market. We would expect this trend to continue
through the first quarter of 1998, at the very least, and provide improved
returns to our shareholders based on our current allocation target.
 
The equity portion of the portfolio features an emphasis on the U.S. consumer,
who is enjoying unprecedented financial liquidity tied to low unemployment and
declining mortgage rates. We hold a number of retailers (Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
and Kmart Corp.), consumer products companies (Colgate-Palmolive Co. and Kellogg
Co.) and leisure-time service providers (Walt Disney Co.). The Series also holds
significant exposure to technology, financial services and energy stocks.
 
The fixed-income portion of the portfolio is well diversified among both
government and corporate issuers, varying in maturities, interest rates and
duration. At the end of the period, the Series' bond portfolio (21 issues in
all) had an average maturity of 9 1/4 years, an average yield of 6.25 percent
and an average duration of 5 1/3 years.
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
LETTER TO THE SHAREHOLDERS JANUARY 31, 1998, CONTINUED
 
As the equity market continues to outperform other asset classes, we will
gradually seek opportunities to decrease our exposure to stocks and raise our
weightings to bonds and cash, protecting profits while continuing to seek
attractive long-term total returns.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
 
We expect U.S. economic growth to remain relatively healthy in early 1998, with
the Federal Reserve Board unlikely to raise interest rates. However, the central
bank may need to reassess its current complacent stance on monetary policy
during the year, should inordinately strong economic growth cause an
unacceptable increase in inflation.
 
Asia's reestablishment of currency stability is paramount in order for the
region's stock markets to make a sustainable recovery. Although the situation in
Asia and its impact on European corporate earnings will continue to be monitored
carefully, the underlying fundamentals of the European markets remain positive.
 
We appreciate your support of Dean Witter Retirement Series and look forward to
continuing to serve your investment needs and objectives.
 
Very truly yours,
 
/s/  CHARLES A. FIUMEFREDDO

CHARLES A. FIUMEFREDDO
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - LIQUID ASSET
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)
 


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                        ANNUALIZED
PRINCIPAL                                                                YIELD ON
AMOUNT IN                                                                DATE OF        MATURITY
THOUSANDS                                                                PURCHASE         DATE            VALUE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                           <C>            <C>            <C>    
           COMMERCIAL PAPER (18.5%)
           AUTOMOTIVE - FINANCE (8.3%)
$    700   Chrysler Financial Corp....................................     5.50%        02/12/98       $   698,721
     500   Ford Motor Credit Co.......................................     5.50         02/13/98           499,012
                                                                                                       -----------
                                                                                                         1,197,733
                                                                                                       -----------
           FINANCE - COMMERCIAL (3.4%)
     500   CIT Group Holdings, Inc....................................     5.50         02/27/98           497,953
                                                                                                       -----------
           FINANCE - CONSUMER (3.4%)
     500   American Express Credit Corp...............................     5.51         02/20/98           498,478
                                                                                                       -----------
           FINANCE - DIVERSIFIED (3.4%)
     500   General Electric Capital Corp..............................     5.50         02/06/98           499,543
                                                                                                       -----------
 
           TOTAL COMMERCIAL PAPER
           (AMORTIZED COST $2,693,707)...............................................................    2,693,707
                                                                                                       -----------
 
           U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (82.0%)
   1,920   Federal Farm Credit Bank...................................  5.43-5.45   02/04/98-02/18/98    1,916,911
   5,255   Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp............................  5.44-5.57   02/02/98-02/04/98    5,253,204
   1,770   Federal National Mortgage Association......................  5.42-5.44   02/09/98-02/25/98    1,765,271
   1,000   Student Loan Marketing Association.........................     5.39         02/02/98           999,701
   2,000   Tennessee Valley Authority.................................     5.39         02/11/98         1,996,712
                                                                                                       -----------
 
           TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
           (AMORTIZED COST $11,931,799)..............................................................   11,931,799
                                                                                                       -----------

 

                                                                                               
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(AMORTIZED COST $14,625,506) (a)...........................................................  100.5%    14,625,506
 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF CASH AND OTHER ASSETS.............................................   (0.5)       (71,178)
                                                                                             ------  ------------
 
NET ASSETS.................................................................................  100.0%  $ 14,554,328
                                                                                             ------  ------------
                                                                                             ------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------------
 
(a)  Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)
 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                         ANNUALIZED
PRINCIPAL                                                                 YIELD ON
AMOUNT IN                                                                 DATE OF        MATURITY
THOUSANDS                                                                 PURCHASE         DATE           VALUE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                           <C>          <C>               <C>    
           U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (95.3%)
$   520    Federal Farm Credit Bank....................................  5.41-5.37%  02/04/98-02/11/98  $  519,377
    520    Federal Home Loan Banks.....................................     5.39         02/11/98          519,147
    240    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.............................     5.57         02/02/98          239,926
                                                                                                        ----------
 
           TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
           (AMORTIZED COST $1,278,450)................................................................   1,278,450
                                                                                                        ----------
 
           U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION (3.7%)
     50    U.S. Treasury Bill
             (AMORTIZED COST $49,964)..................................     5.32         02/05/98           49,964
                                                                                                        ----------


                                                                                                
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(AMORTIZED COST $1,328,414) (a).............................................................   99.0%    1,328,414
 
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES..............................................    1.0        13,475
                                                                                              ------  -----------
 
NET ASSETS..................................................................................  100.0%  $ 1,341,889
                                                                                              ------  -----------
                                                                                              ------  -----------
</TABLE>

 
- ---------------------
 
(a)  Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN                                                                            COUPON      MATURITY
THOUSANDS                                                                            RATE          DATE           VALUE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                       <C>     <C>                 <C>      
           U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (98.2%)
           Government National Mortgage Assoc. I (69.0%)
$  2,569     ......................................................................  7.00%   11/15/23-03/15/27  $2,607,904
   3,588     ......................................................................  7.50    01/15/24-01/15/27   3,694,826
                                                                                                                ----------
                                                                                                                 6,302,730
                                                                                                                ----------
     932   Government National Mortgage Assoc. II (10.3%)..........................  7.00        03/20/26          943,806
                                                                                                                ----------
     900   Resolution Funding Corp Zero Coupon Strips (5.9%).......................  0.00        04/15/07          534,384
                                                                                                                ----------
 
           U.S. Treasury Notes (13.0%)
     100     ......................................................................  5.625       01/31/98           99,969
   1,050     ......................................................................  6.375       09/30/01        1,083,201
                                                                                                                ----------
                                                                                                                 1,183,170
                                                                                                                ----------
 
           TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS
           (IDENTIFIED COST $8,706,194).......................................................................   8,964,090
                                                                                                                ----------
 
           SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (1.7%)
           REPURCHASE AGREEMENT
     158   The Bank of New York
             (dated 01/30/98;
             proceeds $158,237) (a)
             (IDENTIFIED COST $158,166)............................................  5.375       02/02/98          158,166
                                                                                                                ----------

 

                                                                                                         
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST $8,864,360) (b).....................................................................   99.9%    9,122,256
 
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES................................................................    0.1         6,187
                                                                                                       ------  -----------
 
NET ASSETS...........................................................................................  100.0%  $ 9,128,443
                                                                                                       ------  -----------
                                                                                                       ------  -----------
</TABLE>

 
- ---------------------
 
(a)  Collateralized by $115,874 U.S. Treasury Bond 8.75% due 08/15/20 valued at
     $161,330.
(b)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates identified
     cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $264,269 and the
     aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $6,373, resulting in net
     unrealized appreciation of $257,896.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN                                                                                     COUPON   MATURITY
THOUSANDS                                                                                      RATE      DATE      VALUE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                 <C>     <C>       <C>       
           CORPORATE BONDS (69.9%)
           AUTOMOBILE - RENTALS (4.4%)
$   100    Hertz Corp.......................................................................   6.00%   01/15/03  $   99,883
                                                                                                                 ----------
           AUTOMOTIVE - FINANCE (1.2%)
     25    General Motors Acceptance Corp...................................................   8.40    10/15/99      26,049
                                                                                                                 ----------
           BANK HOLDING COMPANIES (4.6%)
    100    Citicorp.........................................................................   7.125   09/01/05     104,775
                                                                                                                 ----------
           BANKS (10.9%)
    100    Bank One Corp....................................................................   7.60    05/01/07     108,623
    100    Shawmut Bank Connecticut, N.A....................................................   8.625   02/15/05     112,915
     25    Star Bank N.A....................................................................   6.375   03/01/04      25,207
                                                                                                                 ----------
                                                                                                                    246,745
                                                                                                                 ----------
           BROKERAGE (9.0%)
    100    Bear Stearns Companies, Inc......................................................   6.75    08/15/00     101,909
    100    Salomon, Inc.....................................................................   6.50    03/01/00     101,019
                                                                                                                 ----------
                                                                                                                    202,928
                                                                                                                 ----------
           CHEMICALS - DIVERSIFIED (4.5%)
    100    Dupont (E.I.) de Nemours & Co., Inc..............................................   6.50    09/01/02     102,621
                                                                                                                 ----------
           CHEMICALS - SPECIALTY (4.5%)
    100    Millennium America, Inc..........................................................   7.00    11/15/06     101,489
                                                                                                                 ----------
           DATA PROCESSING (4.6%)
    100    Oracle Corp......................................................................   6.91    02/15/07     103,316
                                                                                                                 ----------
           FINANCIAL (9.1%)
    100    Ikon Capital Inc.................................................................   6.73    06/15/01     102,350
    100    Nac Re Corp......................................................................   8.00    06/15/99     102,820
                                                                                                                 ----------
                                                                                                                    205,170
                                                                                                                 ----------
           FOREIGN GOVERNMENT (4.4%)
    100    State of Israel..................................................................   6.375   12/15/05      98,683
                                                                                                                 ----------
           LEISURE (4.8%)
    100    Royal Caribbean Cruises..........................................................   8.25    04/01/05     109,214
                                                                                                                 ----------
           MANUFACTURING (2.2%)
     50    Reebok International Ltd. (United Kingdom).......................................   6.75    09/15/05      50,081
                                                                                                                 ----------
           PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS (4.5%)
    100    Noranda Forest, Inc. (Canada)....................................................   6.875   11/15/05     102,122
                                                                                                                 ----------
           TEXTILES (1.2%)
     25    Burlington Industries, Inc.......................................................   7.25    09/15/05      25,896
                                                                                                                 ----------
 
           TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS
           (IDENTIFIED COST $1,537,322)........................................................................   1,578,972
                                                                                                                 ----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN                                                                                     COUPON   MATURITY
THOUSANDS                                                                                      RATE      DATE      VALUE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                <C>      <C>        <C>
           U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (24.8%)
$   100    U.S. Treasury Note...............................................................   6.125%  03/31/98  $  100,112
    100    U.S. Treasury Note...............................................................   6.625   06/30/01     103,776
    300    U.S. Treasury Note...............................................................   5.875   11/30/01     304,776
     50    U.S. Treasury Note...............................................................   6.25    01/31/02      51,480
                                                                                                                 ----------
 
           TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
           (IDENTIFIED COST $549,070)..........................................................................     560,144
                                                                                                                 ----------
 
           SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a) (3.3%)
           U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY
     75    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
             (AMORTIZED COST $74,989).......................................................   6.00    02/02/98      74,989
                                                                                                                 ----------

 

                                                                                                          
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST $2,161,381) (b)......................................................................   98.0%    2,214,105
 
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES........................................................    2.0        45,526
                                                                                                        ------  -----------
 
NET ASSETS............................................................................................  100.0%  $ 2,259,631
                                                                                                        ------  -----------
                                                                                                        ------  -----------
</TABLE>

 
- ---------------------
 
(a)  Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown has
     been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield.
(b)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates identified
     cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $54,790 and the
     aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $2,066, resulting in net
     unrealized appreciation of $52,724.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>        
           COMMON STOCKS (93.5%)
           AGRICULTURE RELATED (0.9%)
   2,000   Dekalb Genetics Corp. (Class B).........................................................  $    54,750
   7,333   Delta & Pine Land Co....................................................................      219,990
   2,000   Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc......................................................      200,125
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         474,865
                                                                                                     -----------
           AUTO RELATED (0.1%)
   2,000   Budget Group, Inc. (Class A)*...........................................................       69,875
                                                                                                     -----------
           BANKS (6.9%)
   5,000   AmSouth Bancorporation..................................................................      270,000
   1,200   City National Corp......................................................................       39,825
   1,000   Comerica, Inc...........................................................................       94,375
 200,000   Credito Italiano SpA (Italy)............................................................      746,959
   4,200   Crestar Financial Corp..................................................................      220,500
  17,000   Hibernia Corp. (Class A)................................................................      324,062
   5,000   Mellon Bank Corp........................................................................      301,875
   6,500   Northern Trust Corp.....................................................................      437,531
   4,000   PNC Bank Corp...........................................................................      206,250
   1,000   Southtrust Corp.........................................................................       56,437
   2,000   Summit Bancorp..........................................................................      100,000
   2,000   Union Planters Corp.....................................................................      123,000
   1,500   Wells Fargo & Co........................................................................      463,500
   2,000   Westamerica Bancorporation..............................................................      190,000
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       3,574,314
                                                                                                     -----------
           BIOTECHNOLOGY (2.2%)
   1,000   Arterial Vascular Engineering, Inc.*....................................................       73,250
  13,000   Centocor, Inc.*.........................................................................      520,812
   3,000   Genzyme Corp. General Division*.........................................................       80,062
   4,000   Gilead Sciences, Inc.*..................................................................      162,000
   7,000   IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp.*.............................................................      292,250
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       1,128,374
                                                                                                     -----------
           BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION (0.3%)
   7,000   D.R. Horton, Inc........................................................................      138,250
                                                                                                     -----------
           CABLE/CELLULAR (4.1%)
  16,000   Comcast Corp. (Class A Special).........................................................      499,000
   4,000   Comcast Corp. (Class A).................................................................      124,250
   7,000   Cox Communications, Inc. (Class A)*.....................................................      258,125
   7,000   HSN, Inc.*..............................................................................      333,375
  12,000   Tele-Communications, Inc. (Class A)*....................................................      336,000
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
   9,000   Time Warner, Inc........................................................................  $   577,687
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       2,128,437
                                                                                                     -----------
           CAPITAL GOODS (0.6%)
   4,000   General Electric Co.....................................................................      310,000
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT (2.5%)
   7,000   CIENA Corp.*............................................................................      385,437
   5,000   Cisco Systems, Inc.*....................................................................      315,312
   3,000   Lucent Technologies Inc.................................................................      265,500
   4,000   Nokia Corp. (ADR) (Finland).............................................................      304,000
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       1,270,249
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTER EQUIPMENT (0.7%)
   4,000   SCI Systems, Inc.*......................................................................      174,000
   4,000   Sun Microsystems, Inc.*.................................................................      191,750
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         365,750
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTER SOFTWARE (8.6%)
   5,000   Arbor Software Corp.*...................................................................      187,812
   4,500   BMC Software, Inc.*.....................................................................      304,875
   3,000   CBT Group PLC (ADR) (Ireland)*..........................................................      272,250
   1,000   Citrix Systems, Inc.*...................................................................       68,750
  10,000   Computer Associates International, Inc..................................................      531,875
  11,000   Compuware Corp.*........................................................................      429,000
   7,000   Electronic Arts, Inc.*..................................................................      251,562
   5,000   Legato Systems, Inc.*...................................................................      229,375
   7,000   Manugistics Group, Inc.*................................................................      281,750
   4,000   Microsoft Corp.*........................................................................      596,750
  13,000   PeopleSoft, Inc.*.......................................................................      455,812
   6,000   Platinum Technology, Inc.*..............................................................      168,000
   1,000   SAP AG (Pref.) (Germany)................................................................      363,040
   6,000   Veritas Software Corp.*.................................................................      294,750
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       4,435,601
                                                                                                     -----------
           CONSUMER - NONCYCLICAL (3.9%)
   9,000   Alberto-Culver Co. (Class B)............................................................      266,625
   6,000   Clorox Co...............................................................................      459,750
   8,000   Heinz (H.J.) Co.........................................................................      443,500
   5,000   Keebler Foods Co.*......................................................................      137,500
   6,000   Nabisco Holdings Corp. (Class A)........................................................      248,250
   3,000   Procter & Gamble Co.....................................................................      235,125
   2,500   Quaker Oats Company (The)...............................................................      134,375
   2,000   Sara Lee Corp...........................................................................      109,125
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       2,034,250
                                                                                                     -----------
           CONSUMER BUSINESS SERVICES (4.5%)
   8,000   Automatic Data Processing, Inc..........................................................      478,500
  19,224   Cendant Corp.*..........................................................................      651,213
  10,000   Corrections Corp. of America*...........................................................      368,750
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>
  10,000   Paychex, Inc............................................................................  $   478,750
   8,000   Sysco Corp..............................................................................      358,000
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       2,335,213
                                                                                                     -----------
           CONSUMER PRODUCTS (7.1%)
  10,000   Albertson's, Inc........................................................................      476,875
   4,600   CVS Corp................................................................................      301,587
   5,000   Dominick's Supermarkets, Inc.*..........................................................      198,125
  15,000   Fred Meyer, Inc.*.......................................................................      553,125
  15,000   Kroger Co.*.............................................................................      586,875
   8,000   Rite Aid Corp...........................................................................      499,500
   8,000   Safeway, Inc.*..........................................................................      531,500
  15,600   Walgreen Co.............................................................................      516,750
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       3,664,337
                                                                                                     -----------
           DRUGS (7.6%)
  10,000   ALZA Corp. (Class A)*...................................................................      356,250
   5,000   Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.................................................................      498,437
   2,000   Cardinal Health, Inc....................................................................      154,875
   3,000   Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*.............................................................      119,063
   8,000   Lilly (Eli) & Co........................................................................      540,000
   5,000   Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (Class A)*.................................................      232,500
     160   Novartis AG (Switzerland)...............................................................      274,255
   6,300   Pfizer, Inc.............................................................................      516,206
   8,000   Schering-Plough Corp....................................................................      579,000
   4,200   Warner-Lambert Co.......................................................................      632,100
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       3,902,686
                                                                                                     -----------
           ENERGY (1.2%)
   4,200   Halliburton Co..........................................................................      188,738
   5,800   Schlumberger, Ltd.......................................................................      427,388
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         616,126
                                                                                                     -----------
           FINANCIAL - MISCELLANEOUS (5.3%)
   2,000   American Express Co.....................................................................      167,375
   3,000   Associates First Capital Corp. (Class A)................................................      204,000
   2,200   Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Inc.......................................................      154,688
   6,350   Edwards (A.G.), Inc.....................................................................      240,506
   9,000   Fannie Mae..............................................................................      555,750
  12,000   Freddie Mac.............................................................................      534,000
   7,000   Hambrecht & Quist Group*................................................................      221,813
     500   Legg Mason, Inc.........................................................................       24,719
   4,000   Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc...........................................................      217,250
   6,500   Paine Webber Group, Inc.................................................................      206,781
   4,000   Providian Financial Corp................................................................      195,500
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       2,722,382
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS & SERVICES (4.0%)
  12,000   HBO & Co................................................................................  $   627,750
  24,000   Health Management Associates, Inc. (Class A)*...........................................      574,500
  14,000   Healthsouth Corp.*......................................................................      314,125
  10,000   Renal Treatment Centers, Inc.*..........................................................      320,625
   9,000   Total Renal Care Holdings, Inc.*........................................................      218,813
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       2,055,813
                                                                                                     -----------
           INSURANCE (2.6%)
   6,000   Allstate Corp...........................................................................      531,000
   3,000   Equitable Companies, Inc................................................................      138,000
   2,100   Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.........................................................      155,138
   5,100   SunAmerica, Inc.........................................................................      204,956
   1,500   Torchmark Corp..........................................................................       62,344
   5,500   Travelers Group, Inc....................................................................      272,250
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       1,363,688
                                                                                                     -----------
           INTERNET (3.5%)
   8,000   America Online, Inc.*...................................................................      765,500
   6,000   Checkfree Holdings Corp.*...............................................................      147,000
  14,000   Excite, Inc.*...........................................................................      596,750
   5,000   Yahoo! Inc.*............................................................................      316,875
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       1,826,125
                                                                                                     -----------
           MEDIA GROUP (8.4%)
  22,000   CBS Corp................................................................................      658,625
  14,000   Chancellor Media Corp.*.................................................................      481,250
   7,000   Clear Channel Communications, Inc.*.....................................................      539,000
   5,000   Gannett Co., Inc........................................................................      302,500
   8,000   Jacor Communications, Inc.*.............................................................      400,000
   7,000   News Corp., Ltd. (ADR) (Australia)......................................................      174,125
  19,800   Outdoor Systems, Inc.*..................................................................      475,200
   7,300   Tribune Co..............................................................................      443,475
   8,000   Univision Communications, Inc. (Class A)*...............................................      305,000
   5,000   Viacom, Inc. (Class B)*.................................................................      208,750
   3,500   Walt Disney Co..........................................................................      372,969
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       4,360,894
                                                                                                     -----------
           MEDICAL SUPPLIES (2.8%)
   5,000   Becton, Dickinson & Co..................................................................      315,625
   8,500   Guidant Corp............................................................................      546,125
   7,300   Medtronic, Inc..........................................................................      372,756
   3,700   Sofamor Danek Group, Inc.*..............................................................      231,713
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       1,466,219
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                      <C>
           MULTI-LINE INSURANCE (0.3%)
   2,000   Lincoln National Corp...................................................................  $   151,375
                                                                                                     -----------
           RESTAURANTS (0.7%)
  10,000   Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc...................................................      346,250
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL (8.1%)
   6,000   Barnes & Noble, Inc.*...................................................................      190,875
  20,000   Costco Companies, Inc.*.................................................................      867,500
     950   Dollar General Corp.....................................................................       34,556
  16,000   Family Dollar Stores, Inc...............................................................      510,000
   8,000   Gap, Inc................................................................................      312,500
   6,000   General Nutrition Companies, Inc.*......................................................      216,375
   9,500   Home Depot, Inc.........................................................................      572,969
   7,200   Lowe's Companies, Inc...................................................................      364,050
  12,000   Mattel, Inc.............................................................................      486,000
  10,000   Proffitt's, Inc.*.......................................................................      293,750
   8,200   Wal-Mart Stores, Inc....................................................................      326,975
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       4,175,550
                                                                                                     -----------
           SEMICONDUCTORS (1.1%)
   3,000   Linear Technology Corp..................................................................      198,000
   3,000   Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.*........................................................      103,875
   8,000   Micron Technology, Inc.*................................................................      277,000
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         578,875
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS (2.0%)
   6,000   Ameritech Corp..........................................................................      257,625
   4,000   Intermedia Communications Inc.*.........................................................      246,000
   9,000   LCI International, Inc.*................................................................      258,188
   5,000   Teleport Communications Group Inc. (Class A)*...........................................      279,063
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       1,040,876
                                                                                                     -----------
           UTILITIES (3.5%)
  13,000   Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc................................................      537,063
  30,000   DPL, Inc................................................................................      549,375
   5,000   GTE Corp................................................................................      272,813
   4,000   New York State Electric & Gas Corp......................................................      141,000
   5,000   SCANA Corp..............................................................................      140,938
   3,000   U.S. West Communications Group..........................................................      144,377
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       1,785,566
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
           (IDENTIFIED COST $42,086,011)...........................................................  $48,321,940
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS                                                                                               VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>
           U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION (4.0%)
$  1,900   U.S. Treasury Bond 6.375% due 08/15/27 (IDENTIFIED COST $1,918,109).....................  $ 2,040,220
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a) (3.1%)
           U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY
   1,600   Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 5.57% due 02/02/98
             (IDENTIFIED COST $1,599,752)..........................................................    1,599,752
                                                                                                     -----------

 

                                                                                               
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST $45,603,872) (b)..........................................................  100.6%    51,961,912
 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF CASH AND OTHER ASSETS.............................................   (0.6)      (306,378)
                                                                                             ------  ------------
 
NET ASSETS.................................................................................  100.0%  $ 51,655,534
                                                                                             ------  ------------
                                                                                             ------  ------------
</TABLE>

 
- ---------------------
 
ADR  American Depository Receipt.
 *   Non-income producing security.
(a)  Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown has
     been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield.
(b)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates identified
     cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $6,838,484 and the
     aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $480,444, resulting in net
     unrealized appreciation of $6,358,040.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                        <C>       
           COMMON STOCKS (102.3%)
           APPAREL & FOOTWEAR (0.9%)
     600   Nautica Enterprises, Inc.*...............................................................  $   16,800
     250   Tommy Hilfiger Corp.*....................................................................      10,891
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                          27,691
                                                                                                      ----------
           BANKING (1.1%)
     600   State Street Corp........................................................................      33,600
                                                                                                      ----------
           BUILDING MATERIALS (2.6%)
   1,300   Southdown, Inc...........................................................................      81,981
                                                                                                      ----------
           CAPITAL GOODS (2.1%)
   1,500   Tyco International Ltd...................................................................      66,562
                                                                                                      ----------
           COMPUTER SOFTWARE (7.7%)
     600   Cadence Design Systems, Inc.*............................................................      16,800
     900   Computer Associates International, Inc...................................................      47,869
   1,000   Microsoft Corp.*.........................................................................     149,187
     800   Security Dynamics Technologies, Inc.*....................................................      28,200
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                         242,056
                                                                                                      ----------
           COMPUTERS - SYSTEMS (3.3%)
   1,550   EMC Corp.*...............................................................................      50,472
   1,100   Sun Microsystems, Inc.*..................................................................      52,731
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                         103,203
                                                                                                      ----------
           CONSUMER SERVICES (2.5%)
   3,000   AccuStaff, Inc.*.........................................................................      77,250
                                                                                                      ----------
           DRUGS (12.6%)
   1,500   Elan Corp. PLC (ADR) (Ireland)*..........................................................      77,906
   1,800   Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (Class A)*..................................................      83,700
   1,100   Pfizer, Inc..............................................................................      90,131
     600   Warner-Lambert Co........................................................................      90,300
   1,500   Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*............................................................      55,125
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                         397,162
                                                                                                      ----------
           ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL (2.1%)
   4,000   Newpark Resources, Inc.*.................................................................      65,000
                                                                                                      ----------
           FINANCIAL - MISCELLANEOUS (11.8%)
     200   Household International, Inc.............................................................      24,900
   2,900   MBNA Corp................................................................................      90,081
   2,000   Providian Financial Corp.................................................................      97,750
   2,000   SunAmerica, Inc..........................................................................      80,375
   1,600   Travelers Group, Inc.....................................................................      79,200
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                         372,306
                                                                                                      ----------
           HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS & SERVICES (2.1%)
   1,100   Express Scripts, Inc. (Class A)*.........................................................      67,375
                                                                                                      ----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                
           HOME BUILDING (0.8%)
     700   Oakwood Homes Corp.......................................................................  $   25,156
                                                                                                      ----------
           HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT (3.7%)
   2,800   Quorum Health Group, Inc.*...............................................................      70,000
   1,000   Universal Health Services, Inc. (Class B)*...............................................      46,625
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                         116,625
                                                                                                      ----------
           HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS & APPLIANCES (2.3%)
   1,500   Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc...............................................................      71,812
                                                                                                      ----------
           INSURANCE (5.2%)
   1,800   Conseco, Inc.............................................................................      82,350
   1,200   MGIC Investment Corp.....................................................................      81,150
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                         163,500
                                                                                                      ----------
           MACHINERY - DIVERSIFIED (2.3%)
   1,400   Deere & Co...............................................................................      73,850
                                                                                                      ----------
           MEDIA (2.4%)
   1,000   Clear Channel Communications, Inc.*......................................................      77,000
                                                                                                      ----------
           OIL DRILLING & SERVICES (1.3%)
   1,300   R & B Falcon Corp.*......................................................................      39,325
                                                                                                      ----------
           OIL EQUIPMENT & SERVICES (3.5%)
   5,250   Global Industries Ltd.*..................................................................      76,453
   1,700   Varco International, Inc.*...............................................................      34,850
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                         111,303
                                                                                                      ----------
           RESTAURANTS (1.2%)
   1,000   Starbucks Corp.*.........................................................................      36,562
                                                                                                      ----------
           RETAIL - DEPARTMENT STORES (4.0%)
   2,700   Proffitt's, Inc.*........................................................................      79,313
   1,200   Stage Stores, Inc.*......................................................................      46,500
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                         125,813
                                                                                                      ----------
           RETAIL - DRUG STORES (2.0%)
     750   Rite Aid Corp............................................................................      46,828
     500   Walgreen Co..............................................................................      16,563
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                          63,391
                                                                                                      ----------
           RETAIL - FOOD CHAINS (4.8%)
   2,000   Kroger Co.*..............................................................................      78,250
   1,100   Safeway, Inc.*...........................................................................      73,081
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                         151,331
                                                                                                      ----------
           RETAIL - GENERAL MERCHANDISE (2.7%)
   1,100   Consolidated Stores Corp.*...............................................................      45,238
   1,100   Dollar General Corp......................................................................      40,013
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                          85,251
                                                                                                      ----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - CAPITAL GROWTH
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                        <C>
           RETAIL - SPECIALTY (3.9%)
   1,200   CompUSA, Inc.*...........................................................................  $   37,125
   2,400   General Nutrition Companies, Inc.*.......................................................      86,550
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                         123,675
                                                                                                      ----------
           RETAIL STORES (2.3%)
   2,600   Staples, Inc.*...........................................................................      70,850
                                                                                                      ----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS - LONG DISTANCE (2.7%)
   3,000   LCI International, Inc.*.................................................................      86,063
                                                                                                      ----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS - WIRELESS (2.4%)
   1,700   Airtouch Communications, Inc.*...........................................................      74,588
                                                                                                      ----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT (3.4%)
   2,100   Tellabs, Inc.*...........................................................................     107,363
                                                                                                      ----------
           UTILITIES - ELECTRIC (2.6%)
   1,900   AES Corp.*...............................................................................      81,344
                                                                                                      ----------
 
           TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
           (IDENTIFIED COST $2,757,715).............................................................   3,218,988
                                                                                                      ----------

 
<CAPTION>

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS                                                                                               VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>
           SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a) (1.9%)
           U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY
$     60   Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 5.57% due 02/02/98 (AMORTIZED COST $59,990).............  $   59,990
                                                                                                      ----------

 

                                                                                                
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST $2,817,705) (b)............................................................  104.2%    3,278,978
 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF CASH AND OTHER ASSETS..............................................   (4.2)     (133,479)
                                                                                              ------  -----------
 
NET ASSETS..................................................................................  100.0%  $ 3,145,499
                                                                                              ------  -----------
                                                                                              ------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------------
 
ADR  American Depository Receipt.
 *   Non-income producing security.
(a)  Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown has
     been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield.
(b)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates identified
     cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $505,750 and the
     aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $44,477, resulting in net
     unrealized appreciation of $461,273.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                     <C>
           COMMON STOCKS (102.1%)
           AEROSPACE (2.7%)
  55,000   Raytheon Co. (Class B).................................................................  $  2,866,875
                                                                                                    ------------
           ALUMINUM (2.8%)
  39,000   Aluminum Co. of America................................................................     2,978,625
                                                                                                    ------------
           AUTOMOTIVE (5.5%)
  82,000   Chrysler Corp..........................................................................     2,854,625
  58,000   Ford Motor Co..........................................................................     2,958,000
                                                                                                    ------------
                                                                                                       5,812,625
                                                                                                    ------------
           BANKS (2.5%)
  45,500   NationsBank Corp.......................................................................     2,730,000
                                                                                                    ------------
           BANKS - MONEY CENTER (2.7%)
  41,000   BankAmerica Corp.......................................................................     2,913,562
                                                                                                    ------------
           BEVERAGES - SOFT DRINKS (2.7%)
  80,500   PepsiCo Inc............................................................................     2,903,031
                                                                                                    ------------
           CHEMICALS (5.4%)
  50,500   Du Pont (E.I.) de Nemours & Co., Inc...................................................     2,859,562
  48,500   Eastman Chemical Co....................................................................     2,888,781
                                                                                                    ------------
                                                                                                       5,748,343
                                                                                                    ------------
           COMPUTERS - SYSTEMS (2.6%)
  28,300   International Business Machines Corp...................................................     2,792,856
                                                                                                    ------------
           CONGLOMERATES (5.4%)
  34,000   Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co....................................................     2,839,000
  72,000   Tenneco, Inc...........................................................................     2,920,500
                                                                                                    ------------
                                                                                                       5,759,500
                                                                                                    ------------
           DRUGS (2.7%)
  28,500   Bristol-Myers Squibb Co................................................................     2,841,094
                                                                                                    ------------
           DRUGS & HEALTHCARE (2.7%)
  41,000   Abbott Laboratories....................................................................     2,903,312
                                                                                                    ------------
           ELECTRIC - MAJOR (2.8%)
  38,000   General Electric Co....................................................................     2,945,000
                                                                                                    ------------
           ENERGY (2.7%)
  46,000   Kerr-McGee Corp........................................................................     2,880,750
                                                                                                    ------------
           FOODS (5.2%)
  53,200   Quaker Oats Company (The)..............................................................     2,859,500
  46,500   Unilever NV (ADR) (Netherlands)........................................................     2,653,406
                                                                                                    ------------
                                                                                                       5,512,906
                                                                                                    ------------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              
           MACHINERY - AGRICULTURAL (2.6%)
  53,000   Deere & Co.............................................................................  $  2,795,750
                                                                                                    ------------
           MANUFACTURING - DIVERSIFIED (2.8%)
  42,000   Honeywell, Inc.........................................................................     2,942,625
                                                                                                    ------------
           METALS - MISCELLANEOUS (2.7%)
  44,500   Phelps Dodge Corp......................................................................     2,931,438
                                                                                                    ------------
           NATURAL GAS (2.7%)
  69,000   Enron Corp.............................................................................     2,859,188
                                                                                                    ------------
           OFFICE EQUIPMENT (2.7%)
  64,000   Pitney Bowes, Inc......................................................................     2,936,000
                                                                                                    ------------
           OIL - DOMESTIC (5.4%)
  34,500   Amoco Corp.............................................................................     2,807,438
  55,000   Ashland, Inc...........................................................................     2,901,250
                                                                                                    ------------
                                                                                                       5,708,688
                                                                                                    ------------
           OIL - INTEGRATED - INTERNATIONAL (2.6%)
  46,200   Exxon Corp.............................................................................     2,740,238
                                                                                                    ------------
           PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS (2.7%)
  57,300   Weyerhaeuser Co........................................................................     2,854,256
                                                                                                    ------------
           PHOTOGRAPHY (2.7%)
  44,000   Eastman Kodak Co.......................................................................     2,871,000
                                                                                                    ------------
           RAILROADS (2.7%)
  54,000   CSX Corp...............................................................................     2,862,000
                                                                                                    ------------
           RETAIL - DEPARTMENT STORES (2.7%)
  54,000   May Department Stores Co...............................................................     2,838,375
                                                                                                    ------------
           RETAIL - FOOD CHAINS (2.7%)
 131,000   American Stores Co.....................................................................     2,849,250
                                                                                                    ------------
           STEEL (2.6%)
  87,000   Timken Co..............................................................................     2,805,750
                                                                                                    ------------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS (5.4%)
  31,400   Bell Atlantic Corp.....................................................................     2,906,463
  48,500   Sprint Corp............................................................................     2,879,687
                                                                                                    ------------
                                                                                                       5,786,150
                                                                                                    ------------
           TOBACCO (2.7%)
  68,500   Philip Morris Companies, Inc...........................................................     2,842,750
                                                                                                    ------------
           UTILITIES - ELECTRIC (8.0%)
 109,400   Houston Industries, Inc................................................................     2,858,075
  66,700   New England Electric System............................................................     2,801,400
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - DIVIDEND GROWTH
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                     <C>
90,500     Unicom Corp............................................................................  $  2,805,500
                                                                                                    ------------
                                                                                                       8,464,975
                                                                                                    ------------

 

                                                                                              
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST $87,103,223) (a).........................................................  102.1%    108,676,912
 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS.....................................................   (2.1)     (2,235,582)
                                                                                            ------  -------------
 
NET ASSETS................................................................................  100.0%  $ 106,441,330
                                                                                            ------  -------------
                                                                                            ------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------------
 
ADR  American Depository Receipt.
(a)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates identified
     cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $22,005,652 and the
     aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $431,963, resulting in net
     unrealized appreciation of $21,573,689.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - UTILITIES
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                           <C>       
           COMMON STOCKS (97.4%)
           NATURAL GAS (17.3%)
   4,000   Enron Corp...............................................................................  $  165,750
   4,000   KeySpan Energy Corp......................................................................     136,250
   5,000   MCN Corp.................................................................................     185,000
   2,000   Mobil Corp...............................................................................     136,250
   3,000   Pacific Enterprises......................................................................     108,187
   5,000   Swift Energy Co.*........................................................................      90,000
   6,000   Williams Companies, Inc..................................................................     171,000
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                         992,437
                                                                                                      ----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS (25.1%)
   4,000   BCE, Inc. (Canada).......................................................................     125,000
   2,500   BellSouth Corp...........................................................................     151,406
   5,000   Cincinnati Bell, Inc.....................................................................     179,375
   3,000   COLT Telecom Group plc (ADR) (United Kingdom)*...........................................     181,125
   4,000   GTE Corp.................................................................................     218,250
   4,000   LCI International, Inc.*.................................................................     114,750
   3,000   Sprint Corp..............................................................................     178,125
   2,000   Teleport Communications Group Inc. (Class A)*............................................     111,625
   5,000   WorldCom, Inc.*..........................................................................     179,062
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                       1,438,718
                                                                                                      ----------
           UTILITIES - ELECTRIC (52.6%)
   3,000   AES Corp.*...............................................................................     128,437
   3,000   American Electric Power Co...............................................................     147,937
   3,000   CILCORP, Inc.............................................................................     134,250
   4,000   CINergy Corp.............................................................................     138,000
   4,000   CMS Energy Corp..........................................................................     170,250
   8,250   DPL, Inc.................................................................................     151,078
   4,000   DQE, Inc.................................................................................     130,750
   3,000   Duke Power Co............................................................................     162,563
   4,500   Edison International.....................................................................     120,938
   5,000   Florida Progress Corp....................................................................     191,563
   4,000   GPU, Inc.................................................................................     157,250
   4,000   MDU Resources Group, Inc.................................................................     119,500
   4,500   New Century Energies, Inc................................................................     205,031
   3,000   NIPSCO Industries, Inc...................................................................     153,188
   4,500   PacifiCorp...............................................................................     104,344
   4,000   Pinnacle West Capital Corp...............................................................     160,000
   5,000   Sierra Pacific Resources.................................................................     176,875
   6,000   Teco Energy, Inc.........................................................................     155,625
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                
   4,000   Utilicorp United, Inc....................................................................  $  141,500
   4,000   Western Resources, Inc...................................................................     163,000
                                                                                                      ----------
                                                                                                       3,012,079
                                                                                                      ----------
           WATER (2.4%)
   5,000   American Water Works Company, Inc........................................................     135,000
                                                                                                      ----------
 
           TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
           (IDENTIFIED COST $4,211,298).............................................................   5,578,234
                                                                                                      ----------
<PAGE>
 
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
- ---------
<S>        <C>                                                                                        <C>
           SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (3.6%)
           REPURCHASE AGREEMENT
$    203   The Bank of New York 5.375% due 02/02/98 (dated 01/30/98; proceeds $202,961) (a)
             (IDENTIFIED COST $202,870).............................................................     202,870
                                                                                                      ----------

 

                                                                                                
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST $4,414,168) (b)............................................................  101.0%    5,781,104
 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS.......................................................   (1.0)      (55,368)
                                                                                              ------  -----------
 
NET ASSETS..................................................................................  100.0%  $ 5,725,736
                                                                                              ------  -----------
                                                                                              ------  -----------
</TABLE>

 
- ---------------------
 
ADR  American Depository Receipt.
 *   Non-income producing security.
(a)  Collateralized by $201,162 U.S. Treasury Note 6.75% due 05/31/99 valued at
     $206,927.
(b)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates identified
     cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $1,407,342 and the
     aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $40,406, resulting in net
     unrealized appreciation of $1,366,936.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)


1. ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Dean Witter Retirement Series (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company,
consisting of eleven separate Series ("Series"). All of the Series, with the
exception of Strategist, are diversified.
 
The Fund was organized on May 14, 1992 as a Massachusetts business trust and
each of the Series commenced operations as follows:
 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                            COMMENCEMENT                                                   COMMENCEMENT
                                            OF OPERATIONS                                                  OF OPERATIONS
                                          -----------------                                              -----------------
                                                                                                
<S>                                       <C>                  <C>                                        <C>    
Liquid Asset............................  December 30, 1992    Dividend Growth.........................    January 7, 1993
U.S. Government Money Market............   January 20, 1993    Utilities...............................    January 8, 1993
U.S. Government Securities..............    January 8, 1993    Value-Added Market......................   February 1, 1993
Intermediate Income Securities..........   January 12, 1993    Global Equity...........................    January 8, 1993
American Value..........................   February 1, 1993    Strategist..............................    January 7, 1993
Capital Growth..........................   February 2, 1993
</TABLE>

 
The investment objectives of each Series are as follows:
 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

        SERIES                               INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
                      
<S>                      <C>   
Liquid Asset             Seeks high current income, preservation of capital and
                         liquidity by investing in short-term money market
                         instruments.
U.S. Government Money    Seeks high current income, preservation of capital and
Market                   liquidity by investing primarily in money market instruments
                         which are issued and/or guaranteed by the U.S. Government,
                         its agencies or instrumentalities.
U.S. Government          Seeks high current income consistent with safety of principal
Securities               by investing in a diversified portfolio of obligations issued
                         and/or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its
                         instrumentalities.
Intermediate Income      Seeks high current income consistent with safety of principal
Securities               by investing primarily in intermediate term, investment grade
                         fixed-income securities.
American Value           Seeks long-term growth consistent with an effort to reduce
                         volatility by investing principally in common stock of
                         companies in industries which, at the time of investment, are
                         believed to be undervalued in the marketplace.
Capital Growth           Seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in
                         common stocks.
Dividend Growth          Seeks to provide reasonable current income and long-term
                         growth of income and capital by investing primarily in common
                         stock of companies with a record of paying dividends and the
                         potential for increasing dividends.
Utilities                Seeks to provide current income and long-term growth of
                         income and capital by investing in equity and fixed-income
                         securities of companies in the public utilities industry.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

 
DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        SERIES                               INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
<S>                      <C>
Value-Added Market       Seeks to achieve a high level of total return on its assets
                         through a combination of capital appreciation and current
                         income. It seeks to achieve this objective by investing, on
                         an equally weighted basis, in a diversified portfolio of
                         common stocks of the companies which are represented in the
                         Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index.
Global Equity            Seeks to provide a high level of total return on its assets,
                         primarily through long-term capital growth and, to a lesser
                         extent, from income. It seeks to achieve this objective
                         through investments in all types of common stocks and
                         equivalents, preferred stocks and bonds and other debt
                         obligations of domestic and foreign companies, governments
                         and international organizations.
Strategist               Seeks a high total investment return through a fully managed
                         investment policy utilizing equity, investment grade fixed
                         income and money market securities.
</TABLE>

 
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from
those estimates.
 
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
 
A. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS --  Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market:
Securities are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. All
remaining Series: (1) an equity security listed or traded on the New York,
American or other domestic or foreign stock exchange is valued at its latest
sale price on that exchange prior to the time when assets are valued; if there
were no sales that day, the security is valued at the latest bid price (in cases
where securities are traded on more than one exchange, the securities are valued
on the exchange designated as the primary market pursuant to procedures adopted
by the Trustees); (2) all other portfolio securities for which over-the-counter
market quotations are readily available are valued at the latest available bid
price prior to the time of valuation; (3) when market quotations are not readily
available, including circumstances under which it is determined by Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager") that sale or bid prices are not
reflective of a security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at
their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and
under the general supervision of the Trustees (valuation of securities for which
market quotations are not readily available may also be based upon current
market prices of securities which are comparable in coupon, rating and maturity,
or an appropriate matrix utilizing similar factors); (4) certain portfolio
securities may be valued by an outside pricing service approved by the Trustees.
The pricing service may utilize a matrix system incorporating security quality,
maturity and coupon as the evaluation model parameters, and/or research and
evaluations by its staff, including review of broker-dealer
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
 
market price quotations, if available, in determining what it believes is the
fair valuation of the securities valued by such pricing service; and (5)
short-term debt securities having a maturity date of more than sixty days at
time of purchase are valued on a mark-to-market basis until sixty days prior to
maturity and thereafter at amortized cost based on their value on the 61st day.
Short-term debt securities having a maturity date of sixty days or less at the
time of purchase are valued at amortized cost.
 
B. ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS --  Security transactions are accounted for on the
trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains and
losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost method.
Dividend income and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date except
for certain dividends on foreign securities which are recorded as soon as the
Fund is informed after the ex-dividend date. Interest income is accrued daily.
Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market amortize premiums and accrete
discounts on securities owned; gains and losses realized upon the sale of such
securities are based on their amortized cost. Discounts for all other Series are
accreted over the life of the respective securities.
 
C. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION --  The books and records of each Series
investing in foreign currency denominated transactions are translated into U.S.
dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency market value of investment
securities, other assets and liabilities and forward foreign currency contracts
are translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period; and
(2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated at the exchange rates
prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The resultant exchange
gains and losses are included in the Statement of Operations as realized and
unrealized gain/loss on foreign exchange transactions. Pursuant to U.S. Federal
income tax regulations, certain foreign exchange gains/losses included in
realized and unrealized gain/loss are included in or are a reduction of ordinary
income for federal income tax purposes. The Series do not isolate that portion
of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign
exchange rates from the changes in the market prices of the securities.
 
D. FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS --  Some of the Series may enter into
forward foreign currency contracts which are valued daily at the appropriate
exchange rates. The resultant unrealized exchange gains and losses are included
in the Statement of Operations as unrealized foreign currency gain or loss. The
Series record realized gains or losses on delivery of the currency or at the
time the forward contract is extinguished (compensated) by entering into a
closing transaction prior to delivery.

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
 
E. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS --  It is the Fund's policy to comply individually
for each Series with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to
regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to
its shareholders. Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.
 
F. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS --  The Fund records dividends
and distributions to its shareholders on the record date. The amount of
dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized capital
gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations which may
differ from generally accepted accounting principles. These "book/tax"
differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature. To the
extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified
within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment;
temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends and
distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains
for financial reporting purposes but not for tax purposes are reported as
dividends in excess of net investment income or distributions in excess of net
realized capital gains. To the extent they exceed net investment income and net
realized capital gains for tax purposes, they are reported as distributions of
paid-in-capital.
 
G. EXPENSES --  Direct expenses are charged to the respective Series and general
Fund expenses are allocated on the basis of relative net assets or equally among
the Series.
 
H. ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES --  The Investment Manager paid the organizational
expenses of the Fund in the amount of $150,000 ($13,636 allocated to each of the
Series) and will be reimbursed, exclusive of amounts waived. Such expenses were
deferred and fully amortized by the Fund as of January 31, 1998.
 
2. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
 
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement"), the Fund pays
the Investment Manager a management fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by
applying the following annual rates to each Series' net assets determined at the
close of each business day: Liquid Asset, U.S. Government Money Market and
Value-Added Market - 0.50%; U.S. Government Securities and Intermediate Income
Securities - 0.65%; Dividend Growth and Utilities - 0.75%; American Value,
Capital Growth and Strategist - 0.85%; and Global Equity - 1.0%.
 
Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Fund's
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books and
records and furnishes, at its own expense, office space, facilities, equipment,
clerical, bookkeeping and certain legal services and pays the salaries of
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
 
all personnel, including officers of the Fund who are employees of the
Investment Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of telephone
services, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the Fund.
 
For the period August 1, 1997 through January 31, 1998, the Investment Manager
has continued to waive its management fee and reimburse expenses to the extent
they exceeded 1.00% of daily net assets of each Series. The waiver and
reimbursement of expenses will continue until June 30, 1998. At January 31,
1998, included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are receivables from
an affiliate which represent expense reimbursements due to the Fund.
 
3. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
 
Purchases and sales/maturities/prepayments of portfolio securities, excluding
short-term investments (except for Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money
Market), for the six months ended January 31, 1998 were as follows:
 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                               U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES           OTHER
                                               --------------------------  ------------------------
                                                             SALES/MATURITIES/            SALES/
                                                PURCHASES    PREPAYMENTS    PURCHASES   MATURITIES
                                               ------------  ------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                            <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>        
Liquid Asset.................................  $465,238,660  $458,417,760  $40,745,922  $53,567,782
U.S. Government Money Market.................   135,205,272  137,983,856       --           --
U.S. Government Securities...................     2,685,761    4,370,987       --           --
Intermediate Income Securities...............       102,766      401,500       412,593      247,738
American Value...............................     5,697,516    2,979,522    63,095,393   71,417,357
Capital Growth...............................       --           --          3,007,969    3,284,177
Dividend Growth..............................       --           --         13,779,275   20,449,245
Utilities....................................       --           --          1,133,934    1,575,346
Value-Added Market...........................       --            14,947     1,464,974    3,171,601
Global Equity................................         8,407      --          6,994,819    8,140,516
Strategist...................................       632,891      889,618    12,838,780   12,657,535
</TABLE>

 
Included in the aforementioned sales/maturities of portfolio securities of
Value-Added Market are common stock sales of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter,
Discover & Co., an affiliate of the Investment Manager, of $14,436, including
realized gains of $8,276.
 
Included at January 31, 1998 in the payable for investments purchased and
receivable for investments sold were unsettled trades with Dean Witter Reynolds
Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager, as follows:
 


                                                    AMERICAN   DIVIDEND
                                                     VALUE      GROWTH
                                                    --------  ----------
                                                        
Payable for investments purchased.................     --     $   99,113
                                                    --------  ----------
                                                    --------  ----------
Receivable for investments sold...................  $394,607  $1,094,766
                                                    --------  ----------
                                                    --------  ----------

 
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
 
For the six months ended January 31, 1998, the following Series incurred
brokerage commissions with DWR for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of
such Series, as follows:
 


  AMERICAN    CAPITAL   DIVIDEND               GLOBAL
    VALUE     GROWTH     GROWTH    UTILITIES   EQUITY    STRATEGIST
  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------
                                          
  $ 18,575   $1,326     $25,890    $ 3,453    $  5,113   $   18,419
  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------
  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------

 
Included at January 31, 1998 in the payable for investments purchased and
receivable for investments sold were unsettled trades with Morgan Stanley & Co.,
Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Manager, as follows:
 


                                                    AMERICAN  CAPITAL
                                                     VALUE     GROWTH
                                                    --------  --------
                                                        
Payable for investments purchased.................  $447,382  $ 16,640
                                                    --------  --------
                                                    --------  --------
Receivable for investments sold...................  $332,289  $ 25,517
                                                    --------  --------
                                                    --------  --------

 
For the six months ended January 31, 1998, the following Series incurred
brokerage commissions with Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. for portfolio transactions
executed on behalf of such Series, as follows:
 


     AMERICAN VALUE        CAPITAL GROWTH       DIVIDEND GROWTH
  --------------------      -----------       --------------------
                                        
               $7,255         $404                  $645
               ------         ----                  ----
               ------         ----                  ----

 
Dean Witter Trust FSB, an affiliate of the Investment Manager, is the Fund's
transfer agent. At January 31, 1998 the following Series had approximate
transfer agent fees and expenses payable as follows:
 


                                               INTERMEDIATE
   LIQUID    U.S. GOVERNMENT  U.S. GOVERNMENT     INCOME      AMERICAN
    ASSET     MONEY MARKET      SECURITIES      SECURITIES      VALUE
  ---------  ---------------  ---------------  ------------  -----------
                                                           
   $5,700         $600            $1,040          $2,000       $2,000
   ------         ----            ------          ------       ------
   ------         ----            ------          ------       ------

 


   CAPITAL      DIVIDEND                          GLOBAL
   GROWTH        GROWTH          UTILITIES        EQUITY     STRATEGIST
  ---------  ---------------  ---------------  ------------  -----------
                                                           
  $    100   $      1,500     $        730     $      650    $    2,000
  ---------        ------           ------         ------    -----------
  ---------        ------           ------         ------    -----------

 
4. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS
 
At July 31, 1997, Intermediate Income Securities had a net capital loss
carryover of approximately $30,200 for which $5,700 will be available through
July 31, 2004 and $24,500 will be available through July 31, 2005 to offset
future capital gains to the extent provided by regulations.

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
 
Net capital and currency losses incurred after October 31 ("post-October
losses") within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day
of the Series' next taxable year. The following Series incurred and will elect
to defer post-October losses during fiscal 1997:
 


    U.S. GOVERNMENT         INTERMEDIATE
       SECURITIES        INCOME SECURITIES       GLOBAL EQUITY
  --------------------  --------------------  --------------------
                                        
          $500                $57,800               $900
          ----                -------               ----
          ----                -------               ----

 
At July 31, 1997, the primary reason(s) for temporary book/tax differences were
as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                            TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES
                                                    --------------------------------------
                                                     POST-OCTOBER   CAPITAL LOSS DEFERRALS
                                                        LOSSES         FROM WASH SALES
                                                    --------------  ----------------------
                                                              
<S>                                                 <C>             <C> 
U.S. Government Securities........................        -
Intermediate Income Securities....................        -                   -
American Value....................................                            -
Capital Growth....................................                            -
Dividend Growth...................................                            -
Value-Added Market................................                            -
Global Equity.....................................        -                   -
Strategist........................................                            -
</TABLE>

 
Additionally, Global Equity had temporary differences attributable to income
from the mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies.
 
5. PURPOSES OF AND RISKS RELATING TO CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
Some of the Portfolios may enter into forward foreign currency contracts
("forward contracts") to facilitate settlement of foreign currency denominated
portfolio transactions or to manage foreign currency exposure associated with
foreign currency denominated securities.
 
Forward contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amounts
reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Portfolios bear the
risk of an unfavorable change in foreign exchange rates underlying the forward
contracts. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the
potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.
 
At January 31, 1998, Global Equity had outstanding forward contracts to
facilitate settlement of foreign currency denominated portfolio transactions.
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                               NET ASSET     NET
                                 VALUE    INVESTMENT   NET REALIZED   TOTAL FROM    DIVIDENDS     DISTRIBUTIONS  TOTAL DIVIDENDS
                               BEGINNING    INCOME    AND UNREALIZED  INVESTMENT        TO             TO              AND
      YEAR ENDED JULY 31       OF PERIOD    (LOSS)     GAIN (LOSS)    OPERATIONS   SHAREHOLDERS   SHAREHOLDERS    DISTRIBUTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>       <C>     <C>                 <C>          <C>        <C>                <C>   
LIQUID ASSET
1993(1)                        $    1.00    $ 0.02        --            $ 0.02        $(0.02)        --             $(0.02)
1994                                1.00      0.03        --              0.03         (0.03)        --              (0.03)
1995                                1.00      0.06        --              0.06         (0.06)        --              (0.06)
1996                                1.00      0.05        --              0.05         (0.05)        --              (0.05)
1997                                1.00      0.05        --              0.05         (0.05)        --              (0.05)
1998*                               1.00      0.02        --              0.02         (0.02)        --              (0.02)
U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET
1993 (2)                            1.00     --   ++      --             --           --             --             --
1994                                1.00      0.03        --              0.03         (0.03)        --              (0.03)
1995                                1.00      0.06        --              0.06         (0.06)        --              (0.06)
1996                                1.00      0.05        --              0.05         (0.05)        --              (0.05)
1997                                1.00      0.04        --              0.04         (0.04)        --              (0.04)
1998*                               1.00      0.02        --              0.02         (0.02)        --              (0.02)
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
1993(3)                            10.00      0.19        $ 0.07          0.26         (0.20)        --              (0.20)
1994                               10.06      0.44         (0.50)        (0.06)        (0.44)        --              (0.44)
1995                                9.56      0.56          0.15          0.71         (0.56)        --              (0.56)
1996                                9.71      0.55         (0.12)         0.43         (0.55)        --              (0.55)
1997                                9.59      0.56          0.34          0.90         (0.56)        $(0.02)         (0.58)
1998*                               9.91      0.29          0.15          0.44         (0.29)        --              (0.29)
INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES
1993(4)                            10.00      0.19         (0.02)         0.17         (0.19)        --              (0.19)
1994                                9.98      0.60         (0.57)         0.03         (0.60)        --              (0.60)
1995                                9.41      0.61          0.22          0.83         (0.61)        --              (0.61)
1996                                9.63      0.59         (0.21)         0.38         (0.59)         (0.01)         (0.60)
1997                                9.41      0.53          0.26          0.79         (0.53)        --              (0.53)
1998*                               9.67      0.26          0.11          0.37         (0.26)        --              (0.26)
AMERICAN VALUE
1993(5)                            10.00      0.06         (0.01)         0.05        --             --             --
1994                               10.05      0.03         (0.09)        (0.06)        (0.02)         (0.04)         (0.06)
1995                                9.93      0.14          3.15          3.29         (0.12)        --              (0.12)
1996                               13.10      0.09          1.17          1.26         (0.15)         (1.13)         (1.28)
1997                               13.08      0.02          5.12          5.14         (0.04)         (1.22)         (1.26)
1998*                              16.96      0.00          0.81          0.81         (0.02)         (3.48)         (3.50)

 
</TABLE>
        
- ---------------------
    *      For the six months ended January 31, 1998 (unaudited).
   **      After application of the Fund's expense limitation.
    +      Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day
           of the period.
   ++      Includes dividends from net investment income of $0.004 per share.
   (a)     Not annualized.
   (b)     Annualized.
           Commencement of operations:
   (1)     December 30, 1992.
   (2)     January 20, 1993.
   (3)     January 8, 1993.
   (4)     January 12, 1993.
   (5)     February 1, 1993.

 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET       RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET
                                                                ASSETS                     ASSETS
                                                        (BEFORE EXPENSES WERE       (AFTER EXPENSES WERE
                                                               ASSUMED)                   ASSUMED)
                                                       ------------------------    -----------------------
                                           NET ASSETS                  NET                        NET
                   NET ASSET    TOTAL        END OF                 INVESTMENT                 INVESTMENT    PORTFOLIO    AVERAGE
                   VALUE END  INVESTMENT     PERIOD                   INCOME                     INCOME      TURNOVER    COMMISSION
                   OF PERIOD   RETURN+      (000'S)    EXPENSES       (LOSS)       EXPENSES      (LOSS)        RATE      RATE PAID
                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                    <C>       <C>         <C>        <C>             <C>        <C>             <C>         <C>         <C>    
LIQUID ASSET
1993(1)             $  1.00      1.77%(a)   $ 1,081     1.30%(b)        0.53%(b)    0.14%(b)       3.02%(b)     N/A         N/A
1994                   1.00      3.48         1,524     2.50**          0.99        --             3.49         N/A         N/A
1995                   1.00      5.90        35,631     1.16            4.96        --             6.12         N/A         N/A
1996                   1.00      5.44        42,753     0.65            5.05        0.33           5.37         N/A         N/A
1997                   1.00      4.57        21,213     1.04            4.43        1.00           4.47         N/A         N/A
1998*                  1.00      2.35(a)     14,554     1.30(b)         4.31(b)     1.00(b)        4.61(b)      N/A         N/A
U.S. GOVERNMENT
MONEY MARKET
1993 (2)               1.00      0.42(a)        125     2.50**(b)      (0.95)(b)    2.13(b)        0.83(b)      N/A         N/A
1994                   1.00      3.52           555     2.50**          0.82        --             3.32         N/A         N/A
1995                   1.00      5.86        10,695     2.50**          3.62        --             6.12         N/A         N/A
1996                   1.00      5.23         6,628     0.82            4.75        0.37           5.21         N/A         N/A
1997                   1.00      4.51         4,041     1.20            4.17        1.00           4.37         N/A         N/A
1998*                  1.00      2.31(a)      1,342     2.60(b)         2.93(b)     1.00(b)        4.53(b)      N/A         N/A
U.S. GOVERNMENT
SECURITIES
1993(3)               10.06      2.60(a)      1,756     1.81(b)         0.33(b)     0.18(b)        3.66(b)     --           N/A
1994                   9.56     (0.69)        2,954     2.50**          1.96        --             4.46          29%        N/A
1995                   9.71      7.72         4,209     2.36            3.49        --             5.85          14         N/A
1996                   9.59      4.49         8,651     1.48            4.70        0.63           5.55          47         N/A
1997                   9.91      9.70        10,496     1.55            5.24        1.00           5.79          89         N/A
1998*                 10.06      4.53(a)      9,128     1.68(b)         5.16(b)     1.00(b)        5.84(b)       28(a)      N/A
INTERMEDIATE
INCOME SECURITIES
1993(4)                9.98      1.67(a)        182     2.50**(b)       1.00(b)     1.62(b)        3.50(b)     --           N/A
1994                   9.41      0.26           460     2.50**          3.64        --             6.14          40         N/A
1995                   9.63      9.22           994     2.50**          4.08        --             6.58          37         N/A
1996                   9.41      3.95         4,172     1.58            5.01        0.72           5.87         142         N/A
1997                   9.67      8.63         2,456     2.00            4.50        1.00           5.50         132         N/A
1998*                  9.78      3.92(a)      2,260     3.20(b)         3.27(b)     1.00(b)        5.47(b)       24(a)      N/A
AMERICAN VALUE
1993(5)               10.05      0.50(a)        308     2.50**(b)      (0.66)(b)    0.74(b)        1.10(b)      121(a)      --
1994                   9.93     (0.59)        6,841     2.50**         (0.81)       --             1.69         136         --
1995                  13.10     33.48        22,581     1.42            0.39        --             1.81         234         --
1996                  13.08      9.83        40,321     1.18            0.23        0.65           0.76         301       $0.0543
1997                  16.96     41.62        54,214     1.21           (0.11)       1.00           0.10         261        0.0552
1998*                 14.27      5.52(a)     51,656     1.26(b)        (0.30)(b)    1.00(b)       (0.04)(b)     134(a)     0.0580
</TABLE>

 

  
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS, CONTINUED
 
Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout each period:
 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                               NET ASSET     NET
                                 VALUE    INVESTMENT   NET REALIZED   TOTAL FROM    DIVIDENDS     DISTRIBUTIONS  TOTAL DIVIDENDS
                               BEGINNING    INCOME    AND UNREALIZED  INVESTMENT        TO             TO              AND
      YEAR ENDED JULY 31       OF PERIOD    (LOSS)     GAIN (LOSS)    OPERATIONS   SHAREHOLDERS   SHAREHOLDERS    DISTRIBUTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>       <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>   
CAPITAL GROWTH
1993(4)                        $   10.00    $(0.02)       $(1.10)       $(1.12)       --             --             --
1994                                8.88      0.13          0.45          0.58        $(0.04)        --             $(0.04)
1995                                9.42      0.10          1.77          1.87         (0.12)        --              (0.12)
1996                               11.17      0.07          1.55          1.62         (0.11)        $(0.07)         (0.18)
1997                               12.61     (0.03)         5.41          5.38         (0.01)         (0.32)         (0.33)
1998*                              17.66     (0.05)        (0.70)        (0.75)       --              (2.69)         (2.69)
DIVIDEND GROWTH
1993(1)                            10.00      0.13          0.58          0.71         (0.10)        --              (0.10)
1994                               10.61      0.28          0.37          0.65         (0.23)         (0.01)         (0.24)
1995                               11.02      0.34          2.13          2.47         (0.31)         (0.10)         (0.41)
1996                               13.08      0.32          1.76          2.08         (0.36)         (0.19)         (0.55)
1997                               14.61      0.33          5.60          5.93         (0.33)         (0.52)         (0.85)
1998*                              19.69      0.16         (0.05)         0.11         (0.19)         (2.07)         (2.26)
UTILITIES
1993(2)                            10.00      0.19          1.30          1.49         (0.14)        --              (0.14)
1994                               11.35      0.37         (0.95)        (0.58)        (0.34)         (0.01)         (0.35)
1995                               10.42      0.42          0.80          1.22         (0.37)         (0.02)         (0.39)
1996                               11.25      0.38          0.61          0.99         (0.45)        --              (0.45)
1997                               11.79      0.41          1.90          2.31         (0.32)        --              (0.32)
1998*                              13.78      0.19          1.73          1.92         (0.27)         (1.68)         (1.95)
VALUE-ADDED MARKET
1993(3)                            10.00      0.05          0.02          0.07         (0.04)        --              (0.04)
1994                               10.03      0.24          0.65          0.89         (0.11)        --              (0.11)
1995                               10.81      0.21          2.16          2.37         (0.26)         (0.12)         (0.38)
1996                               12.80      0.25          1.17          1.42         (0.22)         (0.07)         (0.29)
1997                               13.93      0.21          5.58          5.79         (0.25)         (0.63)         (0.88)
1998*                              18.84      0.08          0.18          0.26         (0.16)         (0.77)         (0.93)
GLOBAL EQUITY
1993(2)                            10.00      0.07         (0.03)         0.04        --             --             --
1994                               10.04      0.08          0.58          0.66         (0.05)        --              (0.05)
1995                               10.65      0.14          0.49          0.63         (0.11)        --              (0.11)
1996                               11.17      0.09          0.71          0.80         (0.18)        --              (0.18)
1997                               11.79      0.09          2.98          3.07         (0.06)         (0.32)         (0.38)
1998*                              14.48      0.05         (0.96)        (0.91)        (0.17)         (0.62)         (0.79)
STRATEGIST
1993(1)                            10.00      0.06         (0.23)        (0.17)       --             --             --
1994                                9.83      0.23         (0.20)         0.03         (0.13)        --              (0.13)
1995                                9.73      0.24          1.49          1.73         (0.18)        --              (0.18)
1996                               11.28      0.25          1.63          1.88         (0.34)         (0.22)         (0.56)
1997                               12.60      0.37          2.96          3.33         (0.28)         (0.48)         (0.76)
1998*                              15.17      0.18         (0.24)        (0.06)        (0.38)         (1.90)         (2.28)
</TABLE>

 

        
- ---------------------
    *      For the six months ended January 31, 1998 (unaudited).
   **      After application of the Fund's expense limitation.
    +      Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day
           of the period.
   (a)     Not annualized.
   (b)     Annualized.
           Commencement of operations:
   (1)     January 7, 1993.
   (2)     January 8, 1993.
   (3)     February 1, 1993.
   (4)     February 2, 1993.

 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 


                                                        RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET       RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET
                                                                ASSETS                     ASSETS
                                                        (BEFORE EXPENSES WERE       (AFTER EXPENSES WERE
                                                               ASSUMED)                   ASSUMED)
                                                       ------------------------    -----------------------
                                           NET ASSETS                  NET                        NET
                   NET ASSET    TOTAL        END OF                 INVESTMENT                 INVESTMENT    PORTFOLIO    AVERAGE
                   VALUE END  INVESTMENT     PERIOD                   INCOME                     INCOME      TURNOVER    COMMISSION
                   OF PERIOD   RETURN+      (000'S)    EXPENSES       (LOSS)       EXPENSES      (LOSS)        RATE      RATE PAID
                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                   <C>       <C>           <C>       <C>            <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>        <C>   
CAPITAL GROWTH
1993(4)             $  8.88    (11.20)%(a)  $   135     2.50**%(b)     (1.01)%(b)   1.97%(b)      (0.47)%(b)      2%(a)     --
1994                   9.42      6.57           215     2.50**         (0.98)       --             1.52          11         --
1995                  11.17     20.08           678     2.50**         (1.07)       --             1.43          20         --
1996                  12.61     14.58         1,988     2.50**         (1.24)       0.76           0.50          68       $0.0536
1997                  17.66     43.46         3,670     3.16           (2.38)       1.00          (0.22)        147        0.0575
1998*                 14.22     (3.37)(a)     3,145     2.66(b)        (2.39)(b)    1.00(b)       (0.73) (b)     92(a)     0.0558
DIVIDEND GROWTH
1993(1)               10.61      7.11(a)      2,417     2.50**(b)       0.61(b)     0.16(b)        2.89(b)        7(a)      --
1994                  11.02      6.13        12,821     1.51            1.78        --             3.29          13         --
1995                  13.08     23.07        35,404     1.14            2.34        --             3.48          29         --
1996                  14.61     16.09        69,763     1.00            2.07        0.63           2.44          18        0.0526
1997                  19.69     41.92       115,312     0.97            1.92        0.97           1.92          31        0.0537
1998*                 17.54      0.88(a)    106,441     0.95(b)         1.61(b)     0.95(b)        1.61(b)       12(a)     0.0518
UTILITIES
1993(2)               11.35     14.98(a)      1,334     2.50**(b)       1.59(b)     0.30(b)        3.79(b)        8(a)      --
1994                  10.42     (5.23)        3,860     2.50**          1.62        --             4.14           5         --
1995                  11.25     12.16         5,380     1.91            2.41        --             4.32          24         --
1996                  11.79      8.76         7,593     1.52            2.31        0.62           3.20          17        0.0508
1997                  13.78     19.87         5,391     1.78            1.85        1.00           2.63          89        0.0508
1998*                 13.75     14.05(a)      5,726     2.02(b)         1.54(b)     1.00(b)        2.56(b)       22(a)     0.0507
VALUE-ADDED MARKET
1993(3)               10.03      0.71(a)        640     2.50**(b)      (0.16)(b)    0.92(b)        1.42(b)        1(a)      --
1994                  10.81      8.89         5,133     1.82            0.70        --             2.53           8         --
1995                  12.80     22.65        14,080     1.22            1.33        --             2.55           7         --
1996                  13.93     11.19        20,379     0.78            1.58        0.47           1.89           8        0.0300
1997                  18.84     43.12        23,780     1.02            1.04        1.00           1.07          23        0.0300
1998*                 18.17      1.52(a)     21,828     0.93(b)         0.81(b)     0.93(b)        0.81(b)        7(a)     0.0300
GLOBAL EQUITY
1993(2)               10.04      0.40(a)        322     2.50**(b)      (0.90)(b)    1.00(b)        1.77(b)     --           --
1994                  10.65      6.54         2,020     2.50**          0.09        --             2.41           8         --
1995                  11.17      6.08         7,286     2.25            0.48        --             2.73          55         --
1996                  11.79      7.26        11,685     1.73           (0.15)       0.66           0.92          95        0.0500
1997                  14.48     26.66        19,797     1.85           (0.01)       1.00           0.84          80        0.0348
1998*                 12.78     (6.07)(a)    16,540     1.79(b)        (0.24)(b)    1.00(b)        0.55(b)       41(a)     0.0345
STRATEGIST
1993(1)                9.83     (1.70)(a)       551     2.50**(b)      (0.19)(b)    0.64(b)        1.67(b)       26(a)      --
1994                   9.73      0.12         1,276     2.50**          0.70        --             3.20          57         --
1995                  11.28     18.21         6,759     2.14            1.97        --             4.11         115         --
1996                  12.60     16.97        17,496     1.61            1.92        0.66           2.86         113        0.0525
1997                  15.17     27.35        26,459     1.40            2.50        1.00           2.90          90        0.0535
1998*                 12.83      0.28(a)     22,393     1.36(b)         1.54(b)     1.00(b)        1.90(b)       67(a)     0.0512
</TABLE>

 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                        <C>        
           COMMON STOCKS (99.3%)
           ADVERTISING/MARKETING SERVICES (0.6%)
   1,000   Cognizant Corp..........................................................................  $    45,375
     900   Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.....................................................       44,156
   1,000   Omnicom Group, Inc......................................................................       40,562
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         130,093
                                                                                                     -----------
           AEROSPACE & DEFENSE (0.8%)
     850   Boeing Co...............................................................................       40,428
     550   General Dynamics Corp...................................................................       47,437
     450   Lockheed Martin Corp....................................................................       46,828
     350   Northrop Grumman Corp...................................................................       42,919
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         177,612
                                                                                                     -----------
           AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS (0.4%)
   2,105   Archer-Daniels-Midland Co...............................................................       44,337
     500   Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc......................................................       50,031
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          94,368
                                                                                                     -----------
           AIR FREIGHT (0.2%)
     700   Federal Express Corp.*..................................................................       45,544
                                                                                                     -----------
           AIRLINES (0.7%)
     300   AMR Corp.*..............................................................................       37,875
     350   Delta Air Lines, Inc....................................................................       39,944
   1,600   Southwest Airlines Co...................................................................       41,700
     700   US Airways Group Inc.*..................................................................       42,656
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         162,175
                                                                                                     -----------
           ALUMINUM (0.6%)
   1,400   Alcan Aluminium Ltd. (Canada)...........................................................       41,212
     600   Aluminum Co. of America.................................................................       45,825
     650   Reynolds Metals Co......................................................................       40,991
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         128,028
                                                                                                     -----------
           AUTO PARTS - AFTER MARKET (1.6%)
   1,850   Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.................................................................       44,516
   1,000   Dana Corp...............................................................................       50,125
   1,250   Echlin, Inc.............................................................................       44,453
   1,275   Genuine Parts Co........................................................................       42,314
     750   Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co...............................................................       46,969
   1,500   ITT Industries, Inc.....................................................................       46,505
   1,000   Snap-On, Inc............................................................................       39,187
     800   TRW, Inc................................................................................       40,700
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         354,769
                                                                                                     -----------
           AUTOMOBILES (0.6%)
   1,100   Chrysler Corp...........................................................................       38,294
     900   Ford Motor Co...........................................................................       45,900
     700   General Motors Corp.....................................................................       40,556
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         124,750
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           BANKS - MONEY CENTER (1.6%)
     700   BankAmerica Corp........................................................................  $    49,744
     450   Bankers Trust New York Corp.............................................................       46,941
     400   Chase Manhattan Corp....................................................................       42,875
     350   Citicorp................................................................................       41,650
     650   First Chicago NBD Corp..................................................................       48,506
     900   First Union Corp........................................................................       43,256
     400   Morgan (J.P.) & Co., Inc................................................................       40,475
     700   NationsBank Corp........................................................................       42,000
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         355,447
                                                                                                     -----------
           BANKS - REGIONAL (4.7%)
     800   Banc One Corp...........................................................................       44,700
     800   Bank of New York Co., Inc...............................................................       43,350
     550   BankBoston Corp.........................................................................       49,225
     650   BB & T Corp.............................................................................       38,309
     500   Comerica, Inc...........................................................................       47,187
     600   CoreStates Financial Corp...............................................................       45,900
     600   Fifth Third Bancorp.....................................................................       45,750
     700   Fleet Financial Group, Inc..............................................................       50,137
   1,200   Huntington Bancshares, Inc..............................................................       40,050
     700   KeyCorp.................................................................................       45,500
     800   Mellon Bank Corp........................................................................       48,300
     750   National City Corp......................................................................       45,141
     600   Northern Trust Corp.....................................................................       40,387
   1,200   Norwest Corp............................................................................       43,800
     800   PNC Bank Corp...........................................................................       41,250
     450   Republic New York Corp..................................................................       48,994
     700   State Street Corp.......................................................................       39,200
     800   Summit Bancorp..........................................................................       40,000
     700   SunTrust Banks, Inc.....................................................................       48,475
   1,200   Synovus Financial Corp..................................................................       39,525
     450   U.S. Bancorp............................................................................       49,275
     600   Wachovia Corp...........................................................................       46,650
     150   Wells Fargo & Co........................................................................       46,350
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       1,027,455
                                                                                                     -----------
           BEVERAGES - ALCOHOLIC (0.8%)
   1,100   Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc...........................................................       49,431
     800   Brown-Forman Corp. (Class B)............................................................       41,400
   1,350   Coors (Adolph) Co. (Class B)............................................................       42,356
   1,100   Seagram Co. Ltd. (Canada)...............................................................       37,537
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         170,724
                                                                                                     -----------
           BEVERAGES - SOFT DRINKS (0.4%)
     650   Coca Cola Co............................................................................       42,087
   1,050   PepsiCo, Inc............................................................................       37,866
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          79,953
                                                                                                     -----------
           BIOTECHNOLOGY (0.2%)
     800   Amgen Inc.*.............................................................................       39,950
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>

 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                        <C>
           BROADCAST MEDIA (1.1%)
   1,500   CBS Corp................................................................................  $    44,906
     600   Clear Channel Communications, Inc.*.....................................................       46,200
   1,500   Comcast Corp. (Class A Special).........................................................       46,781
   1,700   Tele-Communications, Inc. (Class A)*....................................................       47,600
   1,700   U.S. West Media Group, Inc.*............................................................       50,469
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         235,956
                                                                                                     -----------
           BUILDING MATERIALS (0.6%)
     600   Armstrong World Industries Inc..........................................................       42,750
   1,000   Masco Corp..............................................................................       49,250
   1,400   Owens Corning...........................................................................       38,937
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         130,937
                                                                                                     -----------
           CHEMICALS (1.3%)
     550   Air Products & Chemicals, Inc...........................................................       44,034
     450   Dow Chemical Co.........................................................................       40,500
     700   Du Pont (E.I.) De Nemours & Co., Inc....................................................       39,637
     750   Eastman Chemical Co.....................................................................       44,672
   1,000   Praxair, Inc............................................................................       41,437
     450   Rohm & Haas Co..........................................................................       38,587
     900   Union Carbide Corp......................................................................       39,431
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         288,298
                                                                                                     -----------
           CHEMICALS - DIVERSIFIED (0.9%)
   2,200   Engelhard Corp..........................................................................       36,850
     600   FMC Corp.*..............................................................................       40,350
     950   Goodrich (B.F.) Co......................................................................       39,841
     900   Monsanto Co.............................................................................       42,694
     700   PPG Industries, Inc.....................................................................       40,162
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         199,897
                                                                                                     -----------
           CHEMICALS - SPECIALTY (1.5%)
   1,700   Ecolab, Inc.............................................................................       46,537
     500   Grace (W. R.) & Co......................................................................       39,281
     850   Great Lakes Chemical Corp...............................................................       37,134
     850   Hercules, Inc...........................................................................       40,109
     900   International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.................................................       37,912
   1,300   Morton International, Inc...............................................................       42,900
   1,050   Nalco Chemical Co.......................................................................       39,375
   1,100   Sigma-Aldrich Corp......................................................................       42,625
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         325,873
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMMERCIAL & CONSUMER SERVICES (1.0%)
   1,000   Block (H.&R.), Inc......................................................................       43,875
   1,300   Cendant Corp.*..........................................................................       44,037
   1,400   Dun & Bradstreet Corp...................................................................       44,625
   2,900   Laidlaw, Inc. (Canada)..................................................................       41,325
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
   1,200   Service Corp. International.............................................................  $    46,800
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         220,662
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT (1.8%)
   1,600   Andrew Corp.*...........................................................................       44,000
   2,000   DSC Communications Corp.*...............................................................       40,000
   1,000   Harris Corp.............................................................................       47,625
     500   Lucent Technologies Inc.................................................................       44,250
     650   Motorola, Inc...........................................................................       38,634
   2,800   NextLevel Systems, Inc.*................................................................       48,650
   1,000   Northern Telecom Ltd. (Canada)..........................................................       45,125
   2,500   Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.................................................................       38,906
     800   Tellabs, Inc.*..........................................................................       40,900
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         388,090
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTER - NETWORKING (0.7%)
   1,200   3Com Corp.*.............................................................................       39,675
   1,400   Bay Networks, Inc.*.....................................................................       38,062
   2,700   Cabletron Systems, Inc.*................................................................       38,981
     700   Cisco Systems, Inc.*....................................................................       44,144
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         160,862
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTER SOFTWARE & SERVICES (2.2%)
   1,000   Adobe Systems, Inc......................................................................       38,437
   1,100   Autodesk, Inc...........................................................................       42,487
     800   Computer Associates International, Inc..................................................       42,550
     600   Computer Sciences Corp.*................................................................       50,925
     900   HBO & Co................................................................................       47,081
     300   Microsoft Corp.*........................................................................       44,756
   5,700   Novell, Inc.*...........................................................................       40,256
   1,800   Oracle Corp.*...........................................................................       41,850
     900   Parametric Technology Corp.*............................................................       45,675
     700   Shared Medical Systems Corp.............................................................       45,850
   2,700   Unisys Corp.*...........................................................................       44,550
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         484,417
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTERS - PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT (0.4%)
   1,500   EMC Corp.*..............................................................................       48,844
   1,800   Seagate Technology, Inc.*...............................................................       41,737
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          90,581
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTERS - SYSTEMS (1.8%)
   2,500   Apple Computer, Inc.*...................................................................       45,781
   1,384   COMPAQ Computer Corp....................................................................       41,606
   2,600   Data General Corp.*.....................................................................       40,137
     500   Dell Computer Corp.*....................................................................       49,719
     800   Digital Equipment Corp.*................................................................       45,250
     700   Hewlett-Packard Co......................................................................       42,000
     500   International Business Machines Corp....................................................       49,344
</TABLE>

 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                      <C>
   2,700   Silicon Graphics, Inc.*.................................................................  $    41,850
     900   Sun Microsystems, Inc.*.................................................................       43,144
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         398,831
                                                                                                     -----------
           CONSUMER - NONCYCLICAL (0.4%)
   1,000   American Greetings Corp. (Class A)......................................................       43,312
   1,800   Jostens, Inc............................................................................       40,612
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          83,924
                                                                                                     -----------
           CONTAINERS - METAL & GLASS (0.6%)
   1,400   Ball Corp...............................................................................       45,500
     900   Crown Cork & Seal Co., Inc..............................................................       44,550
   1,300   Owens-Illinois, Inc.*...................................................................       47,287
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         137,337
                                                                                                     -----------
           CONTAINERS - PAPER (0.7%)
   1,000   Bemis Company, Inc......................................................................       43,125
   3,100   Stone Container Corp....................................................................       39,525
     700   Temple-Inland, Inc......................................................................       38,850
     700   Union Camp Corp.........................................................................       40,031
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         161,531
                                                                                                     -----------
           DATA PROCESSING (0.8%)
     700   Automatic Data Processing, Inc..........................................................       41,869
   1,000   Ceridian Corp.*.........................................................................       45,312
   1,200   Equifax, Inc............................................................................       39,450
   1,500   First Data Corp.........................................................................       45,937
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         172,568
                                                                                                     -----------
           DISTRIBUTORS - FOOD & HEALTH (0.6%)
     600   Cardinal Health, Inc....................................................................       46,462
   1,000   Supervalu, Inc..........................................................................       43,875
     900   Sysco Corp..............................................................................       40,275
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         130,612
                                                                                                     -----------
           ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (1.6%)
   1,100   AMP, Inc................................................................................       44,000
     800   Emerson Electric Co.....................................................................       48,400
     600   General Electric Co.....................................................................       46,500
   1,000   General Signal Corp.....................................................................       39,000
     600   Honeywell, Inc..........................................................................       42,037
   1,100   Raychem Corp............................................................................       41,044
     800   Rockwell International Corp.............................................................       44,700
     800   Thomas & Betts Corp.....................................................................       39,500
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         345,181
                                                                                                     -----------
           ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (0.2%)
     500   Grainger (W.W.), Inc....................................................................       48,125
                                                                                                     -----------
           ELECTRONICS - DEFENSE (0.2%)
     850   Raytheon Co. (Class B)..................................................................       44,306
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           ELECTRONICS - INSTRUMENTATION (0.6%)
   1,800   EG & G, Inc.............................................................................  $    43,425
     700   Perkin-Elmer Corp.......................................................................       41,300
   1,125   Tektronix, Inc..........................................................................       47,531
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         132,256
                                                                                                     -----------
           ELECTRONICS - SEMICONDUCTORS (1.1%)
   2,000   Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.*...........................................................       40,125
     500   Intel Corp..............................................................................       40,500
   1,700   LSI Logic Corp.*........................................................................       40,800
   1,350   Micron Technology, Inc.*................................................................       46,744
   1,400   National Semiconductor Corp.*...........................................................       39,375
     700   Texas Instruments, Inc..................................................................       38,237
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         245,781
                                                                                                     -----------
           ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION (0.6%)
   1,100   Fluor Corp..............................................................................       41,456
   1,700   Foster Wheeler Corp.....................................................................       40,800
   1,400   McDermott International, Inc............................................................       44,625
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         126,881
                                                                                                     -----------
           ENTERTAINMENT (0.8%)
     800   King World Productions Inc.*............................................................       47,350
     700   Time Warner, Inc........................................................................       44,931
   1,000   Viacom, Inc. (Class B)*.................................................................       41,750
     400   Walt Disney Co..........................................................................       42,625
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         176,656
                                                                                                     -----------
           FACILITIES & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (0.2%)
   1,700   Safety-Kleen Corp.......................................................................       44,200
                                                                                                     -----------
           FINANCE - CONSUMER (1.3%)
     600   Beneficial Corp.........................................................................       46,575
   1,000   Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc......................................................       46,625
   2,100   Green Tree Financial Corp...............................................................       41,606
     400   Household International, Inc............................................................       49,800
   1,400   MBNA Corp...............................................................................       43,487
   1,000   Providian Financial Corp................................................................       48,875
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         276,968
                                                                                                     -----------
           FINANCE - DIVERSIFIED (1.7%)
     600   American Express Co.....................................................................       50,212
     700   American General Corp...................................................................       39,462
     800   Fannie Mae..............................................................................       49,400
   1,000   Freddie Mac.............................................................................       44,500
     700   MBIA Inc................................................................................       45,325
     700   MGIC Investment Corp....................................................................       47,337
     800   Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. (Note 3)....................................       46,700
</TABLE>

 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>
   1,050   SunAmerica, Inc.........................................................................  $    42,197
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         365,133
                                                                                                     -----------
           FOODS (2.5%)
     500   Bestfoods...............................................................................       48,750
     800   Campbell Soup Co........................................................................       42,800
   1,400   ConAgra, Inc............................................................................       44,275
     600   General Mills, Inc......................................................................       44,662
     800   Heinz (H.J.) Co.........................................................................       44,350
     750   Hershey Foods Corp......................................................................       47,766
     900   Kellogg Co..............................................................................       41,569
     800   Quaker Oats Company (The)...............................................................       43,000
     500   Ralston-Ralston Purina Group............................................................       46,937
     900   Sara Lee Corp...........................................................................       49,106
     800   Unilever NV (ADR) (Netherlands).........................................................       45,650
     600   Wrigley (Wm.) Jr. Co. (Class A).........................................................       44,362
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         543,227
                                                                                                     -----------
           FOOTWEAR (0.4%)
   1,000   Nike, Inc. (Class B)....................................................................       40,062
   1,400   Reebok International Ltd. (United Kingdom)*.............................................       37,362
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          77,424
                                                                                                     -----------
           GAMING, LOTTERY, & PARI-MUTUEL COMPANIES (0.4%)
   2,000   Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.*...........................................................       44,000
   1,700   Mirage Resorts, Inc.*...................................................................       39,206
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          83,206
                                                                                                     -----------
           GOLD & PRECIOUS METALS MINING (0.4%)
   2,000   Barrick Gold Corp. (Canada).............................................................       38,750
   7,300   Battle Mountain Gold Co.................................................................       41,062
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          79,812
                                                                                                     -----------
           HARDWARE & TOOLS (0.4%)
     900   Black & Decker Corp.....................................................................       43,369
   1,100   Stanley Works...........................................................................       48,675
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          92,044
                                                                                                     -----------
           HEALTHCARE - DIVERSIFIED (1.5%)
     650   Abbott Laboratories.....................................................................       46,028
   1,400   Allergan, Inc...........................................................................       47,600
     500   American Home Products Corp.............................................................       47,719
     400   Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.................................................................       39,875
     700   Johnson & Johnson.......................................................................       46,856
   1,300   Mallinckrodt Group, Inc.................................................................       46,069
     300   Warner-Lambert Co.......................................................................       45,150
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         319,297
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           HEALTHCARE - DRUGS (1.0%)
     700   Lilly (Eli) & Co........................................................................  $    47,250
     350   Merck & Co., Inc........................................................................       41,037
     600   Pfizer, Inc.............................................................................       49,162
   1,200   Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc.................................................................       46,125
     600   Schering-Plough Corp....................................................................       43,425
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         226,999
                                                                                                     -----------
           HEALTHCARE - HMOS (0.4%)
   1,950   Humana, Inc.*...........................................................................       39,122
     850   United Healthcare Corp..................................................................       43,562
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          82,684
                                                                                                     -----------
           HEALTHCARE - LONG TERM (0.4%)
   1,800   Healthsouth Corp.*......................................................................       40,387
   1,400   Manor Care, Inc.........................................................................       48,562
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          88,949
                                                                                                     -----------
           HEALTHCARE SERVICES (0.2%)
   1,200   ALZA Corp. (Class A)*...................................................................       42,750
                                                                                                     -----------
           HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS & PARTS (0.6%)
     800   Cummins Engine Co., Inc.................................................................       42,800
   1,700   Navistar International Corp.*...........................................................       45,900
     800   PACCAR, Inc.............................................................................       40,200
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         128,900
                                                                                                     -----------
           HOME BUILDING (0.8%)
     700   Centex Corp.............................................................................       43,925
   1,000   Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc..............................................................       41,625
   1,700   Kaufman & Broad Home Corp...............................................................       43,775
   1,100   Pulte Corp..............................................................................       46,887
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         176,212
                                                                                                     -----------
           HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT (0.4%)
   1,600   Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp............................................................       40,000
   1,300   Tenet Healthcare Corp.*.................................................................       44,850
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          84,850
                                                                                                     -----------
           HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS & APPLIANCES (0.4%)
   1,200   Maytag Corp.............................................................................       46,125
     800   Whirlpool Corp..........................................................................       46,250
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          92,375
                                                                                                     -----------
           HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS - NON-DURABLE (1.1%)
     600   Clorox Co...............................................................................       45,975
     600   Colgate-Palmolive Co....................................................................       43,950
   1,100   Fort James Corp.........................................................................       47,231
     900   Kimberly-Clark Corp.....................................................................       46,969
     600   Procter & Gamble Co.....................................................................       47,025
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         231,150
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>
           HOUSEWARES (0.8%)
   1,150   Fortune Brands, Inc.....................................................................  $    43,988
   1,200   Newell Co...............................................................................       49,275
   1,600   Rubbermaid, Inc.........................................................................       41,400
   1,500   Tupperware Corp.........................................................................       38,344
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         173,007
                                                                                                     -----------
           INSURANCE BROKERS (0.4%)
     825   Aon Corp................................................................................       46,045
     600   Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc..............................................................       44,325
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          90,370
                                                                                                     -----------
           INVESTMENT BANKING/BROKERAGE (0.6%)
     750   Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc...........................................................       40,734
     650   Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc................................................................       41,031
   1,200   Schwab (CHARLES) Corp...................................................................       43,800
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         125,565
                                                                                                     -----------
           LEISURE TIME - PRODUCTS (0.6%)
   1,350   Brunswick Corp..........................................................................       40,669
   1,400   Hasbro, Inc.............................................................................       48,300
   1,000   Mattel, Inc.............................................................................       40,500
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         129,469
                                                                                                     -----------
           LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE (1.2%)
     550   Aetna Inc...............................................................................       40,425
   1,000   Conseco, Inc............................................................................       45,750
     600   Jefferson-Pilot Corp....................................................................       49,013
   1,100   Torchmark Corp..........................................................................       45,719
     400   Transamerica Corp.......................................................................       41,100
   1,000   UNUM Corp...............................................................................       48,625
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         270,632
                                                                                                     -----------
           LODGING - HOTELS (0.6%)
   1,400   Hilton Hotels Corp......................................................................       39,638
     500   ITT Corp.*..............................................................................       40,000
     650   Marriot International, Inc..............................................................       44,931
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         124,569
                                                                                                     -----------
           MACHINERY - DIVERSIFIED (2.0%)
     700   Case Corp...............................................................................       40,819
     900   Caterpillar Inc.........................................................................       43,200
   1,700   Cincinnati Milacron, Inc................................................................       43,350
     800   Cooper Industries, Inc..................................................................       42,450
     800   Deere & Co..............................................................................       42,200
   1,400   Dover Corp..............................................................................       47,688
   1,100   Harnischfeger Industries, Inc...........................................................       38,500
   1,125   Ingersoll-Rand Co.......................................................................       44,719
     450   NACCO Industries, Inc. (Class A)........................................................       45,197
   1,400   Timken Co...............................................................................       45,150
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         433,273
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           MANUFACTURING - DIVERSIFIED (2.8%)
     850   Aeroquip-Vickers, Inc...................................................................  $    42,500
   1,100   AlliedSignal, Inc.......................................................................       42,831
   1,200   Corning, Inc............................................................................       40,800
   1,050   Crane Co................................................................................       45,347
     450   Eaton Corp..............................................................................       40,388
     800   Illinois Tool Works Inc.................................................................       44,550
     900   Johnson Controls, Inc...................................................................       45,619
     450   Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co.....................................................       37,575
     900   National Service Industries, Inc........................................................       45,000
   1,000   Tenneco, Inc............................................................................       40,563
     700   Textron, Inc............................................................................       41,869
   1,200   Thermo Electron Corp.*..................................................................       46,800
   1,000   Tyco International Ltd..................................................................       44,375
     600   United Technologies Corp................................................................       48,975
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         607,192
                                                                                                     -----------
           MANUFACTURING - SPECIALIZED (1.0%)
   1,100   Avery Dennison Corp.....................................................................       49,363
     900   Briggs & Stratton Corp..................................................................       39,656
   1,200   Millipore Corp..........................................................................       39,300
   1,900   Pall Corp...............................................................................       37,881
   1,000   Parker-Hannifin Corp....................................................................       43,688
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         209,888
                                                                                                     -----------
           MEDICAL PRODUCTS & SUPPLIES (2.0%)
   1,400   Bard (C.R.), Inc........................................................................       43,400
   1,000   Bausch & Lomb, Inc......................................................................       42,875
     800   Baxter International, Inc...............................................................       44,550
     800   Becton, Dickinson & Co..................................................................       50,500
   1,500   Biomet, Inc.............................................................................       42,938
     800   Boston Scientific Corp.*................................................................       40,600
     700   Guidant Corp............................................................................       44,975
     900   Medtronic, Inc..........................................................................       45,956
   1,300   St. Jude Medical, Inc.*.................................................................       42,250
   1,400   United States Surgical Corp.............................................................       39,988
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         438,032
                                                                                                     -----------
           METALS & MINING (1.4%)
   1,800   ASARCO, Inc.............................................................................       40,050
   2,600   Cyprus Amax Minerals Co.................................................................       40,950
   2,700   Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold, Inc. (Class B)..........................................       39,656
   3,900   Homestake Mining Co.....................................................................       37,050
   2,200   Inco Ltd. (Canada)......................................................................       39,050
   1,300   Newmont Mining Corp.....................................................................       37,050
     600   Phelps Dodge Corp.......................................................................       39,525
   2,800   Placer Dome Inc. (Canada)...............................................................       36,050
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         309,381
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>
           MULTI-LINE INSURANCE (1.2%)
     400   American International Group, Inc.......................................................  $    44,125
     250   CIGNA Corp..............................................................................       42,391
     550   Hartford Financial Services Group Inc...................................................       49,500
     650   Lincoln National Corp...................................................................       49,197
     400   Loews Corp..............................................................................       39,925
     900   Travelers Group, Inc....................................................................       44,550
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         269,688
                                                                                                     -----------
           OFFICE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES (0.4%)
   2,600   Moore Corp. Ltd. (Canada)...............................................................       39,000
   1,000   Pitney Bowes, Inc.......................................................................       45,875
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          84,875
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL & GAS - EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION (0.2%)
     450   Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.......................................................       39,038
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL & GAS - REFINING & MARKETING (0.4%)
     900   Ashland, Inc............................................................................       47,475
   1,300   Sun Co., Inc............................................................................       50,375
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          97,850
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL & GAS DRILLING (1.3%)
   1,100   Baker Hughes, Inc.......................................................................       42,419
   1,150   Dresser Industries, Inc.................................................................       41,113
     900   Halliburton Co..........................................................................       40,444
   1,500   Helmerich & Payne, Inc..................................................................       38,344
   1,500   Rowan Companies, Inc.*..................................................................       39,563
     600   Schlumberger, Ltd.......................................................................       44,213
     700   Western Atlas, Inc.*....................................................................       43,619
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         289,715
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL - EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION (0.8%)
     700   Anardarko Petroleum Corp................................................................       41,300
   1,200   Apache Corp.............................................................................       39,750
   1,037   Burlington Resources, Inc...............................................................       44,332
   1,700   Oryx Energy Co.*........................................................................       40,800
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         166,182
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL - INTEGRATED - DOMESTIC (1.7%)
     750   Amerada Hess Corp.......................................................................       41,016
     600   Atlantic Richfield Co...................................................................       44,625
     650   Kerr-McGee Corp.........................................................................       40,706
   1,600   Occidental Petroleum Corp...............................................................       40,800
     650   Pennzoil Co.............................................................................       42,006
   1,000   Phillips Petroleum Co...................................................................       44,000
   1,700   Union Pacific Resources Group, Inc......................................................       38,038
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
   1,200   Unocal Corp.............................................................................  $    41,250
   1,350   USX-Marathon Group......................................................................       45,309
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         377,750
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL - INTEGRATED - INTERNATIONAL (1.1%)
     500   Amoco Corp..............................................................................       40,688
     550   Chevron Corp............................................................................       41,147
     700   Exxon Corp..............................................................................       41,519
     600   Mobil Corp..............................................................................       40,875
     800   Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (ADR) (Netherlands)...........................................       41,000
     800   Texaco, Inc.............................................................................       41,650
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         246,879
                                                                                                     -----------
           PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS (1.8%)
   1,200   Boise Cascade Corp......................................................................       38,400
     800   Champion International Corp.............................................................       40,950
     700   Georgia-Pacific Corp....................................................................       38,588
     900   International Paper Co..................................................................       41,119
   2,100   Louisiana-Pacific Corp..................................................................       42,131
   1,200   Mead Corp...............................................................................       39,000
     900   Potlatch Corp...........................................................................       40,050
   1,200   Westvaco Corp...........................................................................       38,925
     800   Weyerhaeuser Co.........................................................................       39,850
   1,200   Willamette Industries, Inc..............................................................       40,200
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         399,213
                                                                                                     -----------
           PERSONAL CARE (0.6%)
   1,600   Alberto-Culver Co. (Class B)............................................................       47,400
     700   Avon Products, Inc......................................................................       42,000
     450   Gillette Co.............................................................................       44,438
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         133,838
                                                                                                     -----------
           PHOTOGRAPHY/IMAGING (0.8%)
     700   Eastman Kodak Co........................................................................       45,675
   1,600   Ikon Office Solutions, Inc..............................................................       50,400
   1,000   Polaroid Corp...........................................................................       41,063
     550   Xerox Corp..............................................................................       44,206
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         181,344
                                                                                                     -----------
           PROPERTY - CASUALTY INSURANCE (1.6%)
     500   Allstate Corp...........................................................................       44,250
     600   Chubb Corp..............................................................................       45,563
     300   Cincinnati Financial Corp...............................................................       38,250
     200   General Re Corp.........................................................................       41,625
     400   Progressive Corp........................................................................       43,750
     900   SAFECO Corp.............................................................................       44,944
     500   St. Paul Companies, Inc.................................................................       43,500
   2,000   USF&G Corp..............................................................................       47,625
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         349,507
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                      <C>
           PUBLISHING (0.8%)
     950   Dow Jones & Co., Inc....................................................................  $    47,738
     700   McGraw-Hill, Inc........................................................................       48,869
   1,100   Meredith Corp...........................................................................       43,106
     750   Times Mirror Co. (Class A)..............................................................       43,219
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         182,932
                                                                                                     -----------
           PUBLISHING - NEWSPAPER (0.8%)
     700   Gannett Co., Inc........................................................................       42,350
     800   Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc...........................................................       44,050
     600   New York Times Co. (Class A)............................................................       39,038
     850   Tribune Co..............................................................................       51,638
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         177,076
                                                                                                     -----------
           RAILROADS (0.5%)
     750   CSX Corp................................................................................       39,750
   1,250   Norfolk Southern Corp...................................................................       39,453
     650   Union Pacific Corp......................................................................       39,000
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         118,203
                                                                                                     -----------
           RESTAURANTS (0.8%)
   3,500   Darden Restaurants, Inc.................................................................       44,188
     850   McDonald's Corp.........................................................................       40,056
   1,500   TRICON Global Restaurants, Inc.*........................................................       40,875
   1,850   Wendy's International, Inc..............................................................       41,278
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         166,397
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL - BUILDING SUPPLIES (0.6%)
     700   Home Depot, Inc.........................................................................       42,219
     900   Lowe's Companies, Inc...................................................................       45,506
   1,400   Sherwin-Williams Co.....................................................................       39,900
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         127,625
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL - COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS (0.4%)
   1,200   Circuit City Stores, Inc................................................................       40,950
   1,200   Tandy Corp..............................................................................       46,500
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          87,450
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL - DEPARTMENT STORES (1.5%)
   1,200   Dillard Department Stores, Inc. (Class A)...............................................       42,150
   1,200   Federated Department Stores, Inc.*......................................................       50,850
     850   Harcourt General, Inc...................................................................       45,316
     850   May Department Stores Co................................................................       44,678
     750   Mercantile Stores Co., Inc..............................................................       44,625
     900   Nordstrom, Inc..........................................................................       45,731
     700   Penney (J.C.) Co., Inc..................................................................       47,163
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         320,513
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           RETAIL - DRUG STORES (0.8%)
     600   CVS Corp................................................................................  $    39,338
   1,500   Longs Drug Stores Corp..................................................................       43,406
     700   Rite Aid Corp...........................................................................       43,706
   1,400   Walgreen Co.............................................................................       46,375
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         172,825
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL - FOOD CHAINS (1.2%)
     900   Albertson's, Inc........................................................................       42,919
   1,800   American Stores Co......................................................................       39,150
   1,400   Giant Food, Inc. (Class A)..............................................................       45,588
   1,600   Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc...................................................       45,600
   1,200   Kroger Co.*.............................................................................       46,950
     900   Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc..................................................................       43,875
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         264,082
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL - GENERAL MERCHANDISE (1.0%)
   1,000   Costco Companies, Inc.*.................................................................       43,375
     600   Dayton-Hudson Corp......................................................................       43,163
   3,900   Kmart Corp.*............................................................................       42,900
     900   Sears, Roebuck & Co.....................................................................       41,456
   1,100   Wal-Mart Stores, Inc....................................................................       43,863
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         214,757
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL - SPECIALTY (1.0%)
   1,600   AutoZone, Inc.*.........................................................................       43,900
   1,000   Consolidated Stores Corp.*..............................................................       41,125
   1,800   Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack..............................................................       39,375
   1,600   Toys 'R' Us, Inc.*......................................................................       42,900
   2,000   Woolworth Corp.*........................................................................       43,500
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         210,800
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL - SPECIALTY APPAREL (0.8%)
   9,500   Charming Shoppes, Inc.*.................................................................       38,000
   1,200   Gap, Inc................................................................................       46,875
   1,700   Limited (The), Inc......................................................................       45,050
   1,300   TJX Companies, Inc......................................................................       44,038
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         173,963
                                                                                                     -----------
           SAVINGS & LOAN COMPANIES (0.6%)
     800   Ahmanson (H.F.) & Co....................................................................       46,650
     500   Golden West Financial Corp..............................................................       42,219
     700   Washington Mutual, Inc..................................................................       44,975
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         133,844
                                                                                                     -----------
           SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT (0.4%)
   1,200   Applied Materials, Inc.*................................................................       39,300
   1,000   KLA-Tencor Corp.*.......................................................................       37,500
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          76,800
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>
           SPECIALTY PRINTING (0.6%)
   1,200   Deluxe Corp.............................................................................  $    39,600
   1,200   Donnelley (R.R.) & Sons Co..............................................................       44,775
   2,500   Harland (John H.) Co....................................................................       38,438
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         122,813
                                                                                                     -----------
           STEEL & IRON (1.3%)
   1,600   Allegheny Teledyne Inc..................................................................       39,400
   7,900   Armco, Inc..............................................................................       37,031
   4,000   Bethlehem Steel Corp.*..................................................................       39,500
   2,000   Inland Steel Industries, Inc............................................................       39,875
     900   Nucor Corp..............................................................................       42,863
   1,150   USX-U.S. Steel Group, Inc...............................................................       38,381
   2,300   Worthington Industries, Inc.............................................................       38,669
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         275,719
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS - CELLULAR/WIRELESS (0.2%)
   1,000   Airtouch Communications, Inc.*..........................................................       43,875
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS - LONG DISTANCE (0.8%)
     700   AT&T Corp...............................................................................       43,838
   1,000   MCI Communications Corp.................................................................       46,438
     700   Sprint Corp.............................................................................       41,563
   1,400   WorldCom, Inc.*.........................................................................       50,138
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         181,977
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELEPHONES (1.6%)
   1,000   ALLTEL Corp.............................................................................       42,750
   1,000   Ameritech Corp..........................................................................       42,938
     450   Bell Atlantic Corp......................................................................       41,653
     700   BellSouth Corp..........................................................................       42,394
   1,700   Frontier Corp...........................................................................       44,306
     800   GTE Corp................................................................................       43,650
     500   SBC Communications, Inc.................................................................       38,875
     900   U.S. West Communications Group..........................................................       43,313
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         339,879
                                                                                                     -----------
           TEXTILES - APPAREL (0.8%)
   1,700   Fruit of the Loom, Inc. (Class A)*......................................................       40,800
   1,100   Liz Claiborne, Inc......................................................................       44,550
   1,600   Russell Corp............................................................................       39,500
   1,100   VF Corp.................................................................................       47,025
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         171,875
                                                                                                     -----------
           TEXTILES - HOME FURNISHINGS (0.2%)
     900   Springs Industries, Inc. (Class A)......................................................       47,363
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           TOBACCO (0.4%)
   1,050   Philip Morris Companies, Inc............................................................  $    43,575
   1,300   UST, Inc................................................................................       44,850
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          88,425
                                                                                                     -----------
           TRUCKERS (0.2%)
   1,250   Ryder System, Inc.......................................................................       41,875
                                                                                                     -----------
           UTILITIES - ELECTRIC (5.3%)
   1,200   Ameren Corp.............................................................................       43,950
     900   American Electric Power Co., Inc........................................................       44,381
   1,500   Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.............................................................       45,563
   1,100   Carolina Power & Light Co...............................................................       44,688
   1,700   Central & South West Corp...............................................................       46,006
   1,200   CINergy Corp............................................................................       41,400
   1,100   Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc................................................       45,444
   1,200   Detroit Edison Co.......................................................................       43,050
   1,100   Dominion Resources, Inc.................................................................       43,863
     800   Duke Power Co...........................................................................       43,350
   1,700   Edison International....................................................................       45,688
   1,550   Entergy Corp............................................................................       44,369
   1,600   FirstEnergy Corp.*......................................................................       46,400
     800   FPL Group, Inc..........................................................................       45,900
   1,200   GPU, Inc................................................................................       47,175
   1,700   Houston Industries, Inc.................................................................       44,413
   4,300   Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.*.............................................................       46,494
     800   Northern States Power Co................................................................       42,900
   2,050   PacifiCorp..............................................................................       47,534
   2,000   PECO Energy Co..........................................................................       37,875
   1,500   PG & E Corp.............................................................................       44,719
   2,000   PP & L Resources, Inc...................................................................       43,750
   1,500   Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc....................................................       46,500
   1,900   Southern Co.............................................................................       46,194
   1,100   Texas Utilities Co......................................................................       45,238
   1,500   Unicom Corp.............................................................................       46,500
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       1,163,344
                                                                                                     -----------
           UTILITIES - NATURAL GAS (2.2%)
     800   Coastal Corp............................................................................       46,400
     600   Columbia Gas System, Inc................................................................       45,525
     700   Consolidated Natural Gas Co.............................................................       38,019
   1,100   Eastern Enterprises.....................................................................       45,513
   1,200   Enron Corp..............................................................................       49,725
   1,200   NICOR, Inc..............................................................................       48,300
   1,250   ONEOK, Inc..............................................................................       42,734
   1,200   Pacific Enterprises.....................................................................       43,275
   1,100   Peoples Energy Corp.....................................................................       41,525
   1,000   Sonat, Inc..............................................................................       43,688
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                      <C>
   1,600   Williams Companies, Inc.................................................................  $    45,600
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         490,304
                                                                                                     -----------
           WASTE MANAGEMENT (0.4%)
   1,200   Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc.........................................................       41,475
   1,700   Waste Management Inc....................................................................       39,950
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          81,425
                                                                                                     -----------

 

                                                                                               
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST $14,359,063) (a)..........................................................   99.3%    21,680,008
 
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES......................................................    0.7        147,912
                                                                                             ------  ------------
 
NET ASSETS.................................................................................  100.0%  $ 21,827,920
                                                                                             ------  ------------
                                                                                             ------  ------------
</TABLE>

 
- ---------------------
 
ADR  American Depository Receipt.
 *   Non-income producing security.
(a)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates identified
     cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $7,720,997 and the
     aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $400,052, resulting in net
     unrealized appreciation of $7,320,945.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                        <C>        
           COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCKS (98.0%)
           ARGENTINA (0.6%)
           BANKING
   2,232   Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires S.A. de C.V. (Class B) (ADR)............................  $    48,964
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   1,300   Telefonica de Argentina S.A. (Class B) (ADR)............................................       45,013
                                                                                                     -----------
           TOTAL ARGENTINA.........................................................................       93,977
                                                                                                     -----------
           AUSTRALIA (1.7%)
           BANKING
   8,000   Westpac Banking Corp., Ltd..............................................................       54,840
                                                                                                     -----------
           ENERGY
   5,000   Woodside Petroleum Ltd..................................................................       34,446
                                                                                                     -----------
           FINANCIAL SERVICES
  24,000   Tyndall Australia Ltd...................................................................       40,637
                                                                                                     -----------
           FOODS & BEVERAGES
  30,000   Goodman Fielder Ltd.....................................................................       47,320
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   2,400   Telstra Corp., Ltd. (ADR)*..............................................................      108,450
                                                                                                     -----------
           TOTAL AUSTRALIA.........................................................................      285,693
                                                                                                     -----------
           BELGIUM (0.3%)
           RETAIL
   1,000   G.I.B. Holdings Ltd.....................................................................       48,988
                                                                                                     -----------
           BRAZIL (1.5%)
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   1,400   Telecommunicacoes Brasileiras S.A. (ADR)................................................      155,400
                                                                                                     -----------
           UTILITIES - ELECTRIC
   7,500   Companhia Paranaense de Energia - Copel (ADR)...........................................       90,000
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL BRAZIL............................................................................      245,400
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           CANADA (1.7%)
           BANKING
   2,000   Royal Bank of Canada....................................................................      104,891
                                                                                                     -----------
           BIOTECHNOLOGY
   5,500   BioChem Pharma, Inc.*...................................................................      112,062
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           COMPUTERS - SYSTEMS
   2,000   Geac Computer Corp., Ltd.*..............................................................  $    66,630
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL CANADA............................................................................      283,583
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           CHILE (0.6%)
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   2,000   Compania de Telecommunicaciones de Chile S.A. (ADR).....................................       48,125
                                                                                                     -----------
           UTILITIES - ELECTRIC
   2,000   Enersis S.A. (ADR)......................................................................       52,875
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL CHILE.............................................................................      101,000
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           CHINA (0.2%)
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   1,300   China Telecom (Hong Kong) Ltd. (ADR)*...................................................       40,869
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           DENMARK (1.4%)
           PHARMACEUTICALS
   1,000   Novo-Nordisk AS (Series B)..............................................................      143,462
                                                                                                     -----------
           TRANSPORTATION
     700   Kobenhavns Lufthavne AS.................................................................       80,840
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL DENMARK...........................................................................      224,302
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           FINLAND (0.4%)
           MANUFACTURING
     800   KCI Konecranes International............................................................       27,451
                                                                                                     -----------
           PHARMACEUTICALS
   1,400   Orion-yhtymae Oy (B Shares).............................................................       42,350
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL FINLAND...........................................................................       69,801
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           FRANCE (6.3%)
           AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
   3,000   Thomson CSF.............................................................................      102,765
                                                                                                     -----------
           AUTOMOTIVE
   1,200   Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin (B Shares)...............................       63,910
   1,200   Valeo S.A...............................................................................       83,837
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         147,747
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                      <C>
           BANKING
   1,600   Banque Nationale de Paris...............................................................  $    82,629
                                                                                                     -----------
           ENERGY
     700   Elf Aquitaine S.A.......................................................................       79,015
                                                                                                     -----------
           FINANCIAL SERVICES
   1,100   Compagnie Financiere de Paribas (A Shares)..............................................       98,328
     350   Dexia France............................................................................       41,620
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         139,948
                                                                                                     -----------
           INSURANCE
   1,400   AXA-UAP.................................................................................      116,238
                                                                                                     -----------
           LEISURE
     600   Accor S.A...............................................................................      118,033
                                                                                                     -----------
           MEDIA
     700   Havas S.A...............................................................................       49,978
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   3,000   France Telecom S.A. (ADR)*..............................................................      127,125
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
     600   Alcatel Alsthom.........................................................................       79,569
                                                                                                     -----------
           TOTAL FRANCE............................................................................    1,043,047
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           GERMANY (2.8%)
           APPAREL
     400   Adidas AG...............................................................................       58,721
      20   Hugo Boss AG (Pref.)....................................................................       28,431
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          87,152
                                                                                                     -----------
           AUTOMOTIVE
      90   Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG.......................................................       71,842
     300   MAN AG..................................................................................       80,536
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         152,378
                                                                                                     -----------
           CHEMICALS
   1,200   Bayer AG................................................................................       45,074
     600   SGL Carbon AG...........................................................................       75,451
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         120,525
                                                                                                     -----------
           MACHINERY - DIVERSIFIED
     100   Mannesmann AG...........................................................................       56,916
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
     900   Siemens AG..............................................................................       54,989
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL GERMANY...........................................................................      471,960
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
 
           HONG KONG (2.9%)
           BANKING
  12,000   Guoco Group Ltd.........................................................................  $    17,846
   3,140   HSBC Holdings PLC.......................................................................       69,638
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          87,484
                                                                                                     -----------
           CONGLOMERATES
  11,000   Hutchison Whampoa, Ltd..................................................................       64,723
                                                                                                     -----------
           REAL ESTATE
  15,000   Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd..............................................................       76,620
  14,000   New World Development Co., Ltd..........................................................       33,764
   6,000   Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.............................................................       30,803
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         141,187
                                                                                                     -----------
           UTILITIES
  36,600   Hong Kong & China Gas Co., Ltd..........................................................       61,528
                                                                                                     -----------
           UTILITIES - ELECTRIC
  23,000   CLP Holdings Ltd........................................................................      126,406
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL HONG KONG.........................................................................      481,328
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           INDIA (0.4%)
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   5,000   Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (GDR)*...................................................       75,312
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           ISRAEL (0.3%)
           RETAIL
   4,000   Supersol Ltd. (ADR).....................................................................       55,000
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           ITALY (2.1%)
           BANKING
  36,000   Banca Commerciale Italiana..............................................................      147,419
                                                                                                     -----------
           ENERGY
   1,500   Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi SpA (ADR)*...................................................       87,937
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
  16,000   Telecom Italia SpA......................................................................      110,825
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL ITALY.............................................................................      346,181
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           JAPAN (6.4%)
           AUTOMOTIVE
   2,000   Honda Motor Co..........................................................................       72,656
   4,000   Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd...................................................................       36,879
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         109,535
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                      <C>
           BANKING
  18,000   Sakura Bank Ltd.........................................................................  $    67,376
                                                                                                     -----------
           BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
   5,000   Sekisui House Ltd.......................................................................       41,371
                                                                                                     -----------
           BUSINESS SERVICES
   1,000   Secom Co................................................................................       63,042
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTERS
   6,000   Fujitsu, Ltd............................................................................       68,558
                                                                                                     -----------
           ELECTRONICS
   1,000   Sony Corp...............................................................................       92,199
                                                                                                     -----------
           ELECTRONICS - SEMICONDUCTORS/COMPONENTS
   1,000   Rohm Co., Ltd...........................................................................      109,535
                                                                                                     -----------
           FINANCIAL SERVICES
   5,000   Nomura Securities Co., Ltd..............................................................       66,982
                                                                                                     -----------
           INTERNATIONAL TRADE
  10,000   Mitsui & Co.............................................................................       66,351
                                                                                                     -----------
           MACHINERY
   5,000   Minebea Co., Ltd........................................................................       53,192
                                                                                                     -----------
           PHARMACEUTICALS
   2,000   Terumo Corp.............................................................................       32,151
                                                                                                     -----------
           REAL ESTATE
   5,000   Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.................................................................       49,645
                                                                                                     -----------
           RESTAURANTS
       5   Yoshinoya D & C Co., Ltd................................................................       47,281
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
      10   Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.......................................................       90,623
                                                                                                     -----------
           TIRE & RUBBER GOODS
   4,000   Bridgestone Corp........................................................................       96,139
                                                                                                     -----------
           TOTAL JAPAN.............................................................................    1,053,980
                                                                                                     -----------
           MALAYSIA (0.5%)
           NATURAL GAS
  20,000   Petronas Gas Berhad.....................................................................       44,205
                                                                                                     -----------
           UTILITIES - ELECTRIC
  20,000   Tenaga Nasional Berhad..................................................................       33,931
                                                                                                     -----------
           TOTAL MALAYSIA..........................................................................       78,136
                                                                                                     -----------
           MEXICO (2.8%)
           BANKING
  80,000   Grupo Financiero Bancomer, S.A. de C.V. (Series B)*.....................................       42,364
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           BEVERAGES - SOFT DRINKS
   6,900   Coca-Cola Femsa S.A. de C.V. (ADR)......................................................  $   127,650
                                                                                                     -----------
           BUILDING MATERIALS
  15,087   Cemex S.A. de C.V. (B Shares)*..........................................................       63,843
                                                                                                     -----------
           CONGLOMERATES
   1,207   DESC S.A. de C.V. (Series C) (ADR)......................................................       35,456
   7,000   Grupo Carso S.A. de C.V. (Series A1)....................................................       39,882
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          75,338
                                                                                                     -----------
           PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS
  14,000   Kimberly-Clark de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (A Shares)........................................       60,071
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   2,000   Telefonos de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (Series L) (ADR).......................................       98,500
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL MEXICO............................................................................      467,766
                                                                                                     -----------
           NETHERLANDS (4.0%)
           BUILDING MATERIALS
     800   Hunter Douglas NV.......................................................................       30,266
                                                                                                     -----------
           BUSINESS & PUBLIC SERVICES
   1,750   Randstad Holdings NV....................................................................       70,452
                                                                                                     -----------
           CHEMICALS
     750   Akzo Nobel NV...........................................................................      135,762
                                                                                                     -----------
           ELECTRONICS
   2,000   Philips Electronics NV..................................................................      135,034
                                                                                                     -----------
           FOOD PROCESSING
   1,000   Koninklijke Numico NV...................................................................       31,721
                                                                                                     -----------
           HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS & APPLIANCES
   1,400   Koninklijke Ahrend Groep NV.............................................................       42,577
                                                                                                     -----------
           INSURANCE
     500   Aegon NV................................................................................       47,703
     875   ING Groep NV............................................................................       40,064
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          87,767
                                                                                                     -----------
           PUBLISHING
   2,900   Elsevier NV.............................................................................       49,091
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL
   2,700   Koninklijke Ahold NV....................................................................       74,385
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL NETHERLANDS.......................................................................      657,055
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>
           PERU (0.2%)
           BANKING
   7,000   Banco Wiese (ADR).......................................................................  $    34,125
                                                                                                     -----------
           PHILIPPINES (0.3%)
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   1,700   Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (ADR)............................................       44,625
                                                                                                     -----------
           PORTUGAL (0.9%)
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   1,600   Portugal Telecom S.A. (ADR).............................................................       81,400
     500   Telecel-Comunicacoes Pessoais S.A.*.....................................................       64,112
                                                                                                     -----------
           TOTAL PORTUGAL..........................................................................      145,512
                                                                                                     -----------
           SINGAPORE (0.9%)
           BANKING
   4,500   Development Bank of Singapore, Ltd......................................................       28,905
                                                                                                     -----------
           UTILITIES - TELECOMMUNICATIONS
  59,000   Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.......................................................      117,139
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL SINGAPORE.........................................................................      146,044
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           SOUTH AFRICA (0.2%)
           COMPUTERS - SYSTEMS
   2,462   Dimension Data Holdings Ltd. (GDR) - 144A** *...........................................       35,084
                                                                                                     -----------
           SPAIN (2.2%)
           BANKING
   2,000   Banco Popular Espanol S.A...............................................................      150,870
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL
   5,100   Centros Comerciales Pryca S.A...........................................................       89,768
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
     700   Telefonica de Espana S.A. (ADR).........................................................       68,338
                                                                                                     -----------
           UTILITIES - ELECTRIC
   2,800   Endesa S.A..............................................................................       53,978
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL SPAIN.............................................................................      362,954
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           SWEDEN (0.9%)
           AUTOMOTIVE
   2,200   Scania AB (A Shares)....................................................................       47,752
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           MACHINERY
   2,300   Kalmar Industries AB....................................................................  $    35,031
                                                                                                     -----------
           MANUFACTURING
   1,200   Assa Abloy AB (Series B)................................................................       29,598
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
   1,000   Ericsson (L.M.) Telephone Co. AB (Series "B" Free)......................................       39,217
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL SWEDEN............................................................................      151,598
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           SWITZERLAND (2.8%)
           BUILDING MATERIALS
      50   Holderbank Financiere Glarus AG (B Shares)..............................................       41,192
                                                                                                     -----------
           ENGINEERING
      40   ABB AG - Bearer.........................................................................       50,949
                                                                                                     -----------
           FOOD PROCESSING
     100   Nestle S.A..............................................................................      159,553
                                                                                                     -----------
           PHARMACEUTICALS
      32   Novartis AG.............................................................................       54,851
      30   Novartis AG - Bearer....................................................................       51,524
      10   Roche Holdings AG.......................................................................      103,930
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         210,305
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL SWITZERLAND.......................................................................      461,999
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TAIWAN (0.3%)
           ELECTRONICS - SEMICONDUCTORS/COMPONENTS
   2,000   Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (ADR)*.....................................       47,500
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           UNITED KINGDOM (15.9%)
           AEROSPACE
  16,453   Rolls-Royce PLC.........................................................................       55,633
                                                                                                     -----------
           AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
   3,996   British Aerospace PLC...................................................................      103,787
                                                                                                     -----------
           AUTO PARTS - ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
  11,000   BBA Group PLC...........................................................................       64,507
  26,200   LucasVarity PLC.........................................................................       88,591
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         153,098
                                                                                                     -----------
           BANKING
   3,600   Abbey National PLC......................................................................       72,331
   7,103   National Westminster Bank PLC...........................................................      127,050
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         199,381
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                      <C>
           BEVERAGES
   5,800   Bass PLC................................................................................  $    91,901
                                                                                                     -----------
           BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION
   5,963   Blue Circle Industries PLC..............................................................       31,559
                                                                                                     -----------
           BUSINESS SERVICES
   3,400   Compass Group PLC.......................................................................       45,986
   3,000   Reuters Holdings PLC....................................................................       26,953
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                          72,939
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTER SOFTWARE & SERVICES
   3,500   SEMA Group PLC..........................................................................       99,194
                                                                                                     -----------
           CONGLOMERATES
   9,302   Tomkins PLC.............................................................................       50,143
                                                                                                     -----------
           ELECTRONICS
   6,000   General Electric Co. PLC................................................................       37,538
                                                                                                     -----------
           ENERGY
  17,300   Shell Transport & Trading Co. PLC.......................................................      117,560
                                                                                                     -----------
           FOOD PROCESSING
  10,000   Devro PLC...............................................................................       64,850
   6,000   Unilever PLC............................................................................       47,216
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         112,066
                                                                                                     -----------
           HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
   7,000   Reckitt & Colman PLC....................................................................      112,630
                                                                                                     -----------
           INSURANCE
   4,200   Britannic Assurance PLC.................................................................       81,985
   5,700   Commercial Union PLC....................................................................       92,178
  10,731   Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group PLC................................................      121,477
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         295,640
                                                                                                     -----------
           LEISURE
   2,671   Granada Group PLC.......................................................................       42,017
  15,000   Rank Group PLC..........................................................................       73,446
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         115,463
                                                                                                     -----------
           PHARMACEUTICALS
  12,000   British Biotech PLC*....................................................................       26,855
   8,286   Glaxo Wellcome PLC......................................................................      222,383
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         249,238
                                                                                                     -----------
           PUBLISHING
   7,000   Reed International PLC..................................................................       72,152
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL
   6,200   Next PLC................................................................................       74,185
   9,500   Sainsbury (J.) PLC......................................................................       77,126
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         151,311
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
  10,000   British Telecommunications PLC..........................................................  $    95,560
   4,300   Esat Telecom Group PLC (ADR)*...........................................................       72,563
   9,602   Securicor PLC...........................................................................       51,733
  12,000   Vodafone Group PLC......................................................................       92,227
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         312,083
                                                                                                     -----------
           TRANSPORTATION
   7,811   British Airways PLC.....................................................................       65,710
                                                                                                     -----------
           UTILITIES - ELECTRIC
  11,500   National Power PLC......................................................................      125,298
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM....................................................................    2,624,324
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           UNITED STATES (36.5%)
           AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
   6,200   Loral Space & Communications Ltd.*......................................................      136,788
                                                                                                     -----------
           ALUMINUM
   2,100   Aluminum Co. of America.................................................................      160,387
                                                                                                     -----------
           AUTOMOTIVE
   3,800   Chrysler Corp...........................................................................      132,287
   3,000   Ford Motor Co...........................................................................      153,000
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         285,287
                                                                                                     -----------
           BANKS
   2,300   First Tennessee National Corp...........................................................      135,412
                                                                                                     -----------
           BEVERAGES - SOFT DRINKS
   3,700   PepsiCo, Inc............................................................................      133,431
                                                                                                     -----------
           BUILDING MATERIALS
   3,200   Champion International Corp.............................................................      163,800
                                                                                                     -----------
           CHEMICALS
   1,400   Dow Chemical Co.........................................................................      126,000
   4,500   Georgia Gulf Corp.......................................................................      146,812
   3,200   Monsanto Co.............................................................................      151,800
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         424,612
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMMERCIAL SERVICES
  10,000   Actrade International, Ltd.*............................................................      221,250
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMMUNICATIONS - EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE
   2,400   Cisco Systems, Inc.*....................................................................      151,350
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTERS
   5,100   Gateway 2000, Inc.*.....................................................................      192,206
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTERS - SYSTEMS
   2,800   Diebold, Inc............................................................................      139,300
   2,300   Hewlett-Packard Co......................................................................      138,000
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>                                                                                     <C>
   3,500   Sun Microsystems, Inc.*.................................................................  $   167,781
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         445,081
                                                                                                     -----------
           ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
   2,000   Honeywell, Inc..........................................................................      140,125
                                                                                                     -----------
           ELECTRONICS - SEMICONDUCTORS/COMPONENTS
   1,800   Intel Corp..............................................................................      145,800
                                                                                                     -----------
           ENTERTAINMENT
   1,400   Walt Disney Co..........................................................................      149,188
                                                                                                     -----------
           FINANCIAL SERVICES
   1,700   American Express Co.....................................................................      142,269
   2,500   Fannie Mae..............................................................................      154,375
   2,500   Travelers Group, Inc....................................................................      123,750
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         420,394
                                                                                                     -----------
           FOODS
   1,900   General Mills, Inc......................................................................      141,431
                                                                                                     -----------
           HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS & APPLIANCES
   4,100   Maytag Corp.............................................................................      157,594
                                                                                                     -----------
           HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS - NON-DURABLE
   2,000   Colgate-Palmolive Co....................................................................      146,500
                                                                                                     -----------
           MEDICAL SERVICES
   3,100   HBO & Co................................................................................      162,169
                                                                                                     -----------
           OFFSHORE DRILLING
   2,900   Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc..........................................................      129,594
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL - INTEGRATED - DOMESTIC
   1,800   Atlantic Richfield Co...................................................................      133,875
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL - INTEGRATED - INTERNATIONAL
   1,800   Chevron Corp............................................................................      134,663
   2,200   Exxon Corp..............................................................................      130,488
   2,000   Mobil Corp..............................................................................      136,250
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         401,401
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL WELL EQUIPMENT & SERVICE
   1,800   Schlumberger, Ltd.......................................................................      132,638
                                                                                                     -----------
           PHARMACEUTICALS
   2,100   Abbott Laboratories.....................................................................      148,706
   2,000   American Home Products Corp.............................................................      190,875
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         339,581
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL - SPECIALTY
   4,100   Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*................................................................      162,463
   5,700   Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack..............................................................      124,688
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         287,151
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL - SPECIALTY APPAREL
   3,750   Gap, Inc................................................................................      146,484
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
 
           SAVINGS & LOAN COMPANIES
   2,300   Ahmanson (H.F.) & Co....................................................................  $   134,119
   1,500   Golden West Financial Corp..............................................................      126,656
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         260,775
                                                                                                     -----------
           STEEL
   2,800   Nucor Corp..............................................................................      133,350
                                                                                                     -----------
           TRUCKERS
   6,000   Yellow Corp.*...........................................................................      155,250
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL UNITED STATES.....................................................................    6,032,904
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCKS
           (IDENTIFIED COST $13,567,636)...........................................................   16,210,047
                                                                                                     -----------

<CAPTION>

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
- ---------
<S>        <C>                                                                                        <C>
           SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (3.9%)
           REPURCHASE AGREEMENT
$    637   The Bank of New York 5.375% due 02/02/98 (dated 01/30/98; proceeds $637,783) (IDENTIFIED
             COST $637,497) (a)....................................................................      637,497
                                                                                                     -----------

 

                                                                                               
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST $14,205,133) (b)..........................................................  101.9%    16,847,544
 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS......................................................   (1.9)      (307,800)
                                                                                             ------  ------------
 
NET ASSETS.................................................................................  100.0%  $ 16,539,744
                                                                                             ------  ------------
                                                                                             ------  ------------
</TABLE>

 
- ---------------------
 
ADR  American Depository Receipt.
GDR  Global Depository Receipt.
 *   Non-income producing security.
**   Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.
(a)  Collateralized by $632,131 U.S. Treasury Note 6.75% due 05/31/99 valued at
     $650,247.
(b)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates identified
     cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $3,318,087 and the
     aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $675,676, resulting in net
     unrealized appreciation of $2,642,411.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED
 
          FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS OPEN AT JANUARY 31, 1998:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                            IN                         UNREALIZED
   CONTRACTS TO          EXCHANGE        DELIVERY    APPRECIATION/
      RECEIVE               FOR            DATE      (DEPRECIATION)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           
<S>                  <C>                  <C>         <C>        
ESP  5,233,996       $          34,075    02/02/98     $     (330)
L       22,579       $          37,097    02/03/98           (215)
$       27,614       DEM        50,376    02/04/98             71
$       88,025       FRF       540,474    02/27/98           (136)
FRF    306,396       $          50,586    02/27/98           (607)
                                                          -------
      Net unrealized depreciation  ...............     $   (1,217)
                                                          -------
                                                          -------
</TABLE>
 

 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                  PERCENT OF
INDUSTRY                                                                                VALUE     NET ASSETS
                                                                                            
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                  <C>                <C>  
Aerospace..........................................................................  $    55,633        0.3%
Aerospace & Defense................................................................      343,340        2.1
Aluminum...........................................................................      160,387        1.0
Apparel............................................................................       87,152        0.5
Auto Parts - Original Equipment....................................................      153,098        0.9
Automotive.........................................................................      742,699        4.5
Banking............................................................................    1,049,248        6.4
Banks..............................................................................      135,412        0.8
Beverages..........................................................................       91,901        0.6
Beverages - Soft Drinks............................................................      261,081        1.6
Biotechnology......................................................................      112,062        0.7
Building & Construction............................................................       72,930        0.4
Building Materials.................................................................      299,101        1.8
Business & Public Services.........................................................       70,452        0.4
Business Services..................................................................      135,981        0.8
Chemicals..........................................................................      680,899        4.1
Commercial Services................................................................      221,250        1.3
Communications - Equipment & Software..............................................      151,350        0.9
Computer Software & Services.......................................................       99,194        0.6
Computers..........................................................................      260,764        1.6
Computers - Systems................................................................      546,795        3.3
Conglomerates......................................................................      190,204        1.2
Electrical Equipment...............................................................      140,125        0.9
Electronics........................................................................      264,771        1.6
Electronics - Semiconductors/Components............................................      302,835        1.8
Energy.............................................................................      318,958        1.9
Engineering........................................................................       50,949        0.3
Entertainment......................................................................      149,188        0.9
Financial Services.................................................................      667,961        4.0
Food Processing....................................................................      303,340        1.8
Foods..............................................................................      141,431        0.9
Foods & Beverages..................................................................       47,320        0.3
Household Furnishings & Appliances.................................................      200,171        1.2
Household Products.................................................................      112,630        0.7
Household Products - Non - Durable.................................................      146,500        0.9
Insurance..........................................................................      499,645        3.0
International Trade................................................................       66,351        0.4
 

                                                                                                  PERCENT OF
INDUSTRY                                                                                VALUE     NET ASSETS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            
Leisure............................................................................  $   233,496        1.4%
Machinery..........................................................................       88,223        0.5
Machinery - Diversified............................................................       56,916        0.3
Manufacturing......................................................................       57,049        0.3
Media..............................................................................       49,978        0.3
Medical Services...................................................................      162,169        1.0
Natural Gas........................................................................       44,205        0.3
Offshore Drilling..................................................................      129,594        0.8
Oil - Integrated - Domestic........................................................      133,875        0.8
Oil - Integrated - International...................................................      401,401        2.4
Oil Well Equipment & Service.......................................................      132,638        0.8
Paper & Forest Products............................................................       60,071        0.4
Pharmaceuticals....................................................................    1,017,087        6.2
Publishing.........................................................................      121,243        0.7
Real Estate........................................................................      190,832        1.2
Repurchase Agreement...............................................................      637,497        3.9
Restaurants........................................................................       47,281        0.3
Retail.............................................................................      419,452        2.5
Retail - Specialty.................................................................      287,151        1.7
Retail - Specialty Apparel.........................................................      146,484        0.9
Savings & Loan Companies...........................................................      260,775        1.6
Steel..............................................................................      133,350        0.8
Telecommunications.................................................................    1,565,006        9.5
Telecommunications Equipment.......................................................       79,569        0.5
Tire & Rubber Goods................................................................       96,139        0.6
Transportation.....................................................................      146,550        0.9
Truckers...........................................................................      155,250        0.9
Utilities..........................................................................       61,528        0.4
Utilities - Electric...............................................................      482,488        2.9
Utilities - Telecommunications.....................................................      117,139        0.7
                                                                                     -----------     -----
                                                                                     $16,847,544      101.9%
                                                                                     -----------     -----
                                                                                     -----------     -----

 


                                                                                                PERCENT OF
TYPE OF INVESTMENT                                                                  VALUE       NET ASSETS
                                                                                        
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stocks..................................................................  $16,181,616           97.8%
Preferred Stock................................................................       28,431            0.2
Short-Term Investment..........................................................      637,497            3.9
                                                                                 -----------         -----
                                                                                 $16,847,544          101.9%
                                                                                 -----------         -----
                                                                                 -----------         -----
</TABLE>

 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>
           COMMON STOCKS (68.6%)
           AEROSPACE & DEFENSE (2.0%)
   3,260   General Motors Corp. (Class H)..........................................................  $   112,877
   3,100   Honeywell, Inc..........................................................................      217,194
   1,300   Thiokol Corp............................................................................      112,125
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         442,196
                                                                                                     -----------
           AIRLINES (1.0%)
   4,875   Continental Airlines, Inc. (Class B)*...................................................      226,078
                                                                                                     -----------
           ALUMINUM (0.9%)
   2,700   Aluminum Co. of America.................................................................      206,212
                                                                                                     -----------
           AUTOMOTIVE (2.0%)
   6,000   Chrysler Corp...........................................................................      208,875
   4,460   Ford Motor Co...........................................................................      227,460
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         436,335
                                                                                                     -----------
           BANKS - MONEY CENTER (1.7%)
   1,800   Chase Manhattan Corp....................................................................      192,937
   1,550   Citicorp................................................................................      184,450
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         377,387
                                                                                                     -----------
           BANKS - REGIONAL (1.9%)
   3,350   NationsBank Corp........................................................................      201,000
     750   Wells Fargo & Co........................................................................      231,750
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         432,750
                                                                                                     -----------
           BEVERAGES - SOFT DRINKS (0.9%)
   5,640   PepsiCo Inc.............................................................................      203,392
                                                                                                     -----------
           BIOTECHNOLOGY (0.2%)
   2,500   BioChem Pharma, Inc. (Canada)*..........................................................       50,937
                                                                                                     -----------
           BROADCAST MEDIA (0.8%)
   2,420   Clear Channel Communications, Inc.*.....................................................      186,340
                                                                                                     -----------
           CABLE/CELLULAR (1.2%)
   8,960   U.S. West Media Group, Inc.*............................................................      266,000
                                                                                                     -----------
           CHEMICALS (2.6%)
   2,500   Dow Chemical Co.........................................................................      225,000
     880   Du Pont (E.I.) De Nemours & Co., Inc....................................................       49,830
   1,650   Georgia Gulf Corp.......................................................................       53,831
   5,500   Monsanto Co.............................................................................      260,906
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         589,567
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT (3.3%)
   1,870   Bay Networks, Inc.*.....................................................................       50,841
   4,095   Cisco Systems, Inc.*....................................................................      258,241
   2,500   Lucent Technologies Inc.................................................................      221,250
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
   3,830   Tellabs, Inc.*..........................................................................  $   195,809
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         726,141
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTER SOFTWARE (1.8%)
   1,070   HBO & Co................................................................................       55,974
   1,620   Microsoft Corp.*........................................................................      241,684
   2,000   Network Associates, Inc.*...............................................................      108,000
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         405,658
                                                                                                     -----------
           COMPUTERS (4.2%)
   2,220   Dell Computer Corp.*....................................................................      220,751
   4,730   Diebold, Inc............................................................................      235,318
   6,330   Gateway 2000, Inc.*.....................................................................      238,562
   4,880   Sun Microsystems, Inc.*.................................................................      233,935
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         928,566
                                                                                                     -----------
           CONSUMER PRODUCTS (1.0%)
   3,000   Colgate-Palmolive Co....................................................................      219,750
                                                                                                     -----------
           ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (1.6%)
   1,800   Emerson Electric Co.....................................................................      108,900
   3,160   General Electric Co.....................................................................      244,900
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         353,800
                                                                                                     -----------
           ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION (0.5%)
   2,900   Fluor Corp..............................................................................      109,294
                                                                                                     -----------
           ENTERTAINMENT (0.2%)
     500   Walt Disney Co..........................................................................       53,281
                                                                                                     -----------
           FINANCIAL SERVICES (2.9%)
   2,660   American Express Co.....................................................................      222,609
   3,400   Fannie Mae..............................................................................      209,950
   4,440   Travelers Group, Inc....................................................................      219,780
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         652,339
                                                                                                     -----------
           FOODS (2.1%)
   3,200   General Mills, Inc......................................................................      238,200
   5,100   Kellogg Co..............................................................................      235,556
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         473,756
                                                                                                     -----------
           HEALTHCARE - HMOS (0.8%)
   9,200   Humana, Inc.*...........................................................................      184,575
                                                                                                     -----------
           HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES (1.1%)
   6,630   Maytag Corp.............................................................................      254,841
                                                                                                     -----------
           INSURANCE (4.0%)
   2,250   Ace, Ltd. (Bermuda).....................................................................      209,391
   2,000   American International Group, Inc.......................................................      220,625
   3,080   Chubb Corp..............................................................................      233,888
   4,940   Equitable Companies, Inc................................................................      227,240
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         891,144
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>
           INTERNET (0.9%)
   2,100   America Online, Inc.*...................................................................  $   200,944
                                                                                                     -----------
           LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE (0.2%)
   1,170   Conseco, Inc............................................................................       53,528
                                                                                                     -----------
           OFFICE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES (0.2%)
   1,700   IKON Office Solutions, Inc..............................................................       53,550
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL - INTEGRATED - DOMESTIC (1.8%)
   3,600   Amerada Hess Corp.......................................................................      196,875
   2,670   Atlantic Richfield Co...................................................................      198,581
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         395,456
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL - INTEGRATED - INTERNATIONAL (4.0%)
   1,500   Chevron Corp............................................................................      112,219
   3,420   Exxon Corp..............................................................................      202,849
   2,960   Mobil Corp..............................................................................      201,650
   3,880   Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (ADR) (Netherlands)...........................................      198,850
   3,540   Texaco, Inc.............................................................................      184,301
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         899,869
                                                                                                     -----------
           PAPER PRODUCTS (1.7%)
   4,340   Bowater, Inc............................................................................      212,660
   3,400   Champion International Corp.............................................................      174,038
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         386,698
                                                                                                     -----------
           PHARMACEUTICALS (5.6%)
   3,400   Abbott Laboratories.....................................................................      240,763
   3,050   American Home Products Corp.............................................................      291,084
   3,660   Johnson & Johnson.......................................................................      244,991
   3,520   Lilly (Eli) & Co........................................................................      237,600
   1,570   Warner-Lambert Co.......................................................................      236,285
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       1,250,723
                                                                                                     -----------
           RAILROAD EQUIPMENT (0.5%)
   2,400   Trinity Industries, Inc.................................................................      108,600
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL - DEPARTMENT STORES (1.7%)
  15,500   Kmart Corp.*............................................................................      170,500
   4,070   May Department Stores Co................................................................      213,929
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         384,429
                                                                                                     -----------
           RETAIL - SPECIALTY (5.1%)
   5,200   Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*................................................................      206,050
   5,570   Costco Companies, Inc.*.................................................................      241,599
   4,000   Home Depot, Inc.........................................................................      241,250
   3,590   Payless ShoeSource, Inc.*...............................................................      233,574
   5,000   Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack..............................................................      109,375
   4,600   Pier 1 Imports, Inc.....................................................................      107,525
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                       1,139,373
                                                                                                     -----------
 

NUMBER OF
 SHARES                                                                                                 VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
           RETAIL - SPECIALTY APPAREL (2.3%)
   6,555   Gap, Inc. (The).........................................................................  $   256,055
   8,530   Wet Seal, Inc. (Class A)*...............................................................      260,698
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         516,753
                                                                                                     -----------
           SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATIONS (1.2%)
     540   Golden West Financial Corp..............................................................       45,596
   3,300   Washington Mutual, Inc..................................................................      212,025
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         257,621
                                                                                                     -----------
           SEMICONDUCTORS (0.9%)
   2,430   Intel Corp..............................................................................      196,830
                                                                                                     -----------
           STEEL (0.9%)
   4,130   Nucor Corp..............................................................................      196,691
                                                                                                     -----------
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS (0.9%)
   6,280   Winstar Communications, Inc.*...........................................................      205,278
                                                                                                     -----------
           TOBACCO (1.0%)
   5,300   Philip Morris Companies, Inc............................................................      219,950
                                                                                                     -----------
           TRANSPORTATION - MISCELLANEOUS (0.2%)
     740   Airborne Freight Corp...................................................................       52,633
                                                                                                     -----------
           TRUCKERS (0.8%)
   6,790   Yellow Corp.*...........................................................................      175,691
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
           (IDENTIFIED COST $12,748,839)...........................................................   15,364,956
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS
- ---------
<S>        <C>                                                                                        <C>
           CORPORATE BONDS (4.1%)
           BANKS (1.9%)
$    100   Central Fidelity Capital I Inc. (Series A)
             6.594%+ due 04/15/27..................................................................      101,925
     100   Centura Capital Trust I - 144A**
             8.845% due 06/01/27...................................................................      111,500
     100   MBNA Capital I (Series A)
             8.278% due 12/01/26...................................................................      104,288
     100   Norwest Financial, Inc.
             6.20% due 02/15/01....................................................................      101,140
                                                                                                     -----------
                                                                                                         418,853
                                                                                                     -----------
           BROKERAGE (0.5%)
     100   Bear Stearns Co., Inc.
             6.75% due 12/15/07....................................................................      101,716
                                                                                                     -----------
           CABLE & TELECOMMUNICATIONS (0.5%)
     100   Time Warner Entertainment Co.
             8.375% due 03/15/23...................................................................      114,351
                                                                                                     -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED) CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS                                                                                               VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                                                                       <C>
           OIL - DOMESTIC (0.3%)
$     50   Occidental Petroleum Corp.
             11.125% due 08/01/10..................................................................  $    69,469
                                                                                                     -----------
           OIL - INTEGRATED - DOMESTIC (0.4%)
     100   Mitchell Energy & Development Corp.
             6.75% due 02/15/04....................................................................      100,556
                                                                                                     -----------
           RECREATION (0.5%)
     100   Carnival Cruise Lines (Panama)
             7.20% due 10/01/23....................................................................      104,848
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS
           (IDENTIFIED COST $886,461)..............................................................      909,793
                                                                                                     -----------
           U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (17.2%)
     400   U.S. Treasury Bond 6.50% due 11/15/26...................................................      434,880
     200   U.S. Treasury Bond 6.625% due 02/15/27..................................................      221,034
     315   U.S. Treasury Bond 6.875% due 08/15/25..................................................      357,254
     150   U.S. Treasury Bond 7.625% due 02/15/25..................................................      185,241
     550   U.S. Treasury Note 5.125% due 11/30/98..................................................      549,224
     350   U.S. Treasury Note 5.625% due 11/30/00..................................................      352,418
     200   U.S. Treasury Note 5.75% due 08/15/03...................................................      202,894
     750   U.S. Treasury Note 5.875% due 04/30/98..................................................      750,938
      50   U.S. Treasury Note 6.375% due 01/15/99..................................................       50,505
     360   U.S. Treasury Note 6.875% due 08/31/99..................................................      368,388
     100   U.S. Treasury Note 6.875% due 05/15/06..................................................      108,634
     240   U.S. Treasury Note 7.25% due 05/15/04...................................................      262,490
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
           (IDENTIFIED COST $3,690,528)............................................................    3,843,900
                                                                                                     -----------
 

PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT IN
THOUSANDS                                                                                               VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
 
           SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (9.9%)
           U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY (a) (8.9%)
$  2,000   Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 5.57% due 02/02/98 (AMORTIZED COST $1,999,691).........  $ 1,999,691
 
           REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (1.0%)
     231   The Bank of New York 5.375% due 02/02/98 (dated 01/30/98;
             proceeds $231,243) (b) (IDENTIFIED COST $231,139).....................................      231,139
                                                                                                     -----------
 
           TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
           (IDENTIFIED COST $2,230,830)............................................................    2,230,830
                                                                                                     -----------

 

                                                                                               
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
(IDENTIFIED COST $19,556,658) (c)..........................................................   99.8%    22,349,479
 
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES......................................................    0.2         43,305
                                                                                             ------  ------------
 
NET ASSETS.................................................................................  100.0%  $ 22,392,784
                                                                                             ------  ------------
                                                                                             ------  ------------
</TABLE>

 
- ---------------------
 
ADR  American Depository Receipt.
 *   Non-income producing security.
**   Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.
 +   Floating rate security. Coupon rate shown is the rate in effect at January
     31, 1998.
(a)  Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown has
     been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield.
(b)  Collateralized by $229,194 U.S. Treasury Note 6.75% due 05/31/99 valued at
     $235,762.
(c)  The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates identified
     cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $3,083,220 and the
     aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $290,399, resulting in net
     unrealized appreciation of $2,792,821.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)
                                                   U.S.
                                                GOVERNMENT         U.S.        INTERMEDIATE
                                   LIQUID         MONEY         GOVERNMENT        INCOME
                                   ASSET          MARKET        SECURITIES      SECURITIES
<S>                             <C>           <C>             <C>             <C>          
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at
  value*......................  $ 14,625,506  $   1,328,414   $   9,122,256   $   2,214,105
Cash..........................         6,323          3,934              --           3,102
Receivable for:
    Investments sold..........            --             --              --              --
    Shares of beneficial
      interest sold...........           218             --          11,954          17,687
    Dividends.................            --             --              --              --
    Interest..................            --             --          68,587          40,162
    Foreign withholding taxes
      reclaimed...............            --             --              --              --
Prepaid expenses and other
  assets......................        24,491         14,766          16,932          15,312
Receivable from affiliate.....            --         13,513           3,774           9,215
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
     TOTAL ASSETS.............    14,656,538      1,360,627       9,223,503       2,299,583
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
LIABILITIES:
Payable for:
    Investments purchased.....            --             --              --              --
    Shares of beneficial
      interest repurchased....        75,004             13          73,280          17,685
    Dividends to
      shareholders............            --             --           2,887           1,552
    Investment management
      fee.....................         1,518             --              --              --
Payable to bank...............            --             --              --              --
Accrued expenses and other
  payables....................        20,247         13,129          13,399          15,208
Organizational expenses
  payable.....................         5,441          5,596           5,494           5,507
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
     TOTAL LIABILITIES........       102,210         18,738          95,060          39,952
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
NET ASSETS:
Paid-in-capital...............    14,554,269      1,341,889       8,848,631       2,293,628
Accumulated undistributed net
  investment income (loss)....            59             --           1,523              --
Accumulated undistributed net
  realized gain (loss)........            --             --          20,393         (86,721)
Net unrealized appreciation...            --             --         257,896          52,724
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
     NET ASSETS...............  $ 14,554,328  $   1,341,889   $   9,128,443   $   2,259,631
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
     *IDENTIFIED COST.........  $ 14,625,506  $   1,328,414   $   8,864,360   $   2,161,381
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
     SHARES OF BENEFICIAL
     INTEREST OUTSTANDING.....    14,554,269      1,343,135         907,586         231,029
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
(UNLIMITED AUTHORIZED SHARES
OF $.01 PAR VALUE)............         $1.00          $1.00          $10.06           $9.78
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                ------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
</TABLE>

 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                 AMERICAN     CAPITAL     DIVIDEND                 VALUE-ADDED    GLOBAL
                                   VALUE       GROWTH      GROWTH      UTILITIES     MARKET       EQUITY     STRATEGIST
                                                                                        
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>        
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, at
  value*......................  $51,961,912  $3,278,978  $108,676,912 $ 5,781,104  $21,680,008  $16,847,544  $22,349,479
Cash..........................       22,586       6,336           --           --           --           --           --
Receivable for:
    Investments sold..........    3,730,008      64,521    1,094,766           --    1,808,050      115,705           --
    Shares of beneficial
      interest sold...........      128,546       6,606      132,946        7,995       20,597       43,821       42,041
    Dividends.................       34,902         474      145,893       20,148       20,800       11,090       11,339
    Interest..................       55,955          --           --           61           --          190       84,739
    Foreign withholding taxes
      reclaimed...............          102          --           --          879           --        9,627           --
Prepaid expenses and other
  assets......................       18,335       9,813       23,369       12,180       15,058       14,726       17,968
Receivable from affiliate.....           --      10,073           --        4,399           --           --           --
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
     TOTAL ASSETS.............   55,952,346   3,376,801  110,073,886    5,826,766   23,544,513   17,042,703   22,505,566
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
LIABILITIES:
Payable for:
    Investments purchased.....    4,165,686      84,655      219,824           --      766,461      384,629       50,490
    Shares of beneficial
      interest repurchased....       73,077     127,301      536,067       82,058        2,166       90,818       31,313
    Dividends to
      shareholders............           --          --           --           --           --           --           --
    Investment management
      fee.....................       25,936          --       69,123           --        9,635        2,005        7,625
Payable to bank...............           --          --    2,776,964           --      916,944           --           --
Accrued expenses and other
  payables....................       26,426      13,659       25,077       13,463       15,700       19,998       17,853
Organizational expenses
  payable.....................        5,687       5,687        5,501        5,509        5,687        5,509        5,501
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
     TOTAL LIABILITIES........    4,296,812     231,302    3,632,556      101,030    1,716,593      502,959      112,782
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
NET ASSETS:
Paid-in-capital...............   42,372,269   2,629,962   80,897,846    4,191,598   13,822,383   14,340,215   20,050,426
Accumulated undistributed net
  investment income (loss)....       (9,930)    (12,000)     210,699       22,892        4,120      (29,347)      40,488
Accumulated undistributed net
  realized gain (loss)........    2,935,155      66,264    3,759,096      144,310      680,472     (412,723)    (490,951)
Net unrealized appreciation...    6,358,040     461,273   21,573,689    1,366,936    7,320,945    2,641,599    2,792,821
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
     NET ASSETS...............  $51,655,534  $3,145,499  $106,441,330 $ 5,725,736  $21,827,920  $16,539,744  $22,392,784
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
     *IDENTIFIED COST.........  $45,603,872  $2,817,705  $87,103,223  $ 4,414,168  $14,359,063  $14,205,133  $19,556,658
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
     SHARES OF BENEFICIAL
     INTEREST OUTSTANDING.....    3,619,409     221,216    6,067,310      416,454    1,201,316    1,294,028    1,745,060
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
(UNLIMITED AUTHORIZED SHARES
OF $.01 PAR VALUE)............       $14.27      $14.22       $17.54       $13.75       $18.17       $12.78       $12.83
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
 

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)
                                                   U.S.
                                                GOVERNMENT         U.S.        INTERMEDIATE
                                   LIQUID          MONEY        GOVERNMENT        INCOME
                                    ASSET         MARKET        SECURITIES      SECURITIES
                                                                   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>        
NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
 
INCOME
Interest......................  $     513,192  $    70,286     $   342,206     $    78,148
Dividends.....................             --           --              --              --
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
     TOTAL INCOME.............        513,192       70,286         342,206          78,148
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
EXPENSES
Investment management fee.....         45,737        6,359          32,484           7,860
Transfer agent fees and
  expenses....................         29,090        3,091          28,410           6,787
Shareholder reports and
  notices.....................          2,090        2,272           3,073           1,257
Professional fees.............          7,639        6,984           9,340           8,204
Trustees' fees and expenses...            654          194             191             161
Registration fees.............         25,676        8,283           6,649           9,771
Custodian fees................          5,784        3,425           1,414           1,981
Organizational expenses.......          1,127        1,284           1,198           1,189
Other.........................            867        1,112           1,353           1,449
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
     TOTAL EXPENSES...........        118,664       33,004          84,112          38,659
Less: amounts
  waived/reimbursed...........        (27,190)     (20,286)        (34,137)        (26,618)
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
     NET EXPENSES.............         91,474       12,718          49,975          12,041
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
     NET INVESTMENT INCOME
     (LOSS)...................        421,718       57,568         292,231          66,107
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED
GAIN (LOSS):
Net realized gain (loss) on:
    Investments...............             --           --          20,884           4,486
    Foreign exchange
      transactions............             --           --              --              --
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
     TOTAL GAIN (LOSS)........             --           --          20,884           4,486
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
Net change in unrealized
  appreciation on:
    Investments...............             --           --         120,275          20,698
    Translation of forward
      foreign currency
      contracts, other assets
      and liabilities
      denominated in foreign
      currencies..............             --           --              --              --
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
     NET
  APPRECIATION/DEPRECIATION...             --           --         120,275          20,698
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
     NET GAIN (LOSS)..........             --           --         141,159          25,184
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE).......  $     421,718  $    57,568     $   433,390     $    91,291
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
                                -------------  -------------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>

 
- ------------------
 
 *   Net of $214, $40, $2,918, $310, $581 and $8,092 foreign withholding tax,
     respectively.
 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998 (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                 AMERICAN     CAPITAL     DIVIDEND               VALUE-ADDED      GLOBAL
                                   VALUE       GROWTH      GROWTH     UTILITIES    MARKET         EQUITY        STRATEGIST
                                                                                          
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>              <C>         
NET INVESTMENT INCOME:
 
INCOME
Interest......................  $   110,855  $      713  $     9,439  $   8,680  $    11,805  $       17,773   $    269,126
Dividends.....................      149,796*      3,744*   1,422,606*    86,439*     190,780*        119,744*        94,051
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
     TOTAL INCOME.............      260,651       4,457    1,432,045     95,119      202,585         137,517        363,177
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
EXPENSES
Investment management fee.....      229,993      13,989      418,755     20,047       58,249          88,799        106,545
Transfer agent fees and
  expenses....................       48,915       2,411       57,705      9,175       13,452          24,150         31,512
Shareholder reports and
  notices.....................       12,904         878       18,040      1,419        5,764           4,941          6,365
Professional fees.............        7,940       8,372        7,113      8,410        7,932           3,415          7,968
Trustees' fees and expenses...        1,171          32        2,576         43          538             552            653
Registration fees.............       15,902       7,874        6,489      6,757        7,426          10,052          7,209
Custodian fees................       22,271       7,922       16,419      6,172        9,899          19,725          6,997
Organizational expenses.......        1,368       1,364        1,186      1,190        1,365           1,191          1,189
Other.........................        1,819         903        2,605        671        3,881           6,511          1,969
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
     TOTAL EXPENSES...........      342,283      43,745      530,888     53,884      108,506         159,336        170,407
Less: amounts
  waived/reimbursed...........      (71,703)    (27,288)          --    (27,155)          --         (70,537)       (45,059)
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
     NET EXPENSES.............      270,580      16,457      530,888     26,729      108,506          88,799        125,348
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
     NET INVESTMENT INCOME
     (LOSS)...................       (9,929)    (12,000)     901,157     68,390       94,079          48,718        237,829
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED
GAIN (LOSS):
Net realized gain (loss) on:
    Investments...............    6,670,506     308,540    7,240,475    294,455    1,275,998        (409,191)     2,217,573
    Foreign exchange
      transactions............           --          --           --         --           --            (965)            --
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
     TOTAL GAIN (LOSS)........    6,670,506     308,540    7,240,475    294,455    1,275,998        (410,156)     2,217,573
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
Net change in unrealized
  appreciation on:
    Investments...............   (3,726,656)   (408,959)  (7,220,599)   335,810   (1,029,844)       (828,921)    (2,481,361)
    Translation of forward
      foreign currency
      contracts, other assets
      and liabilities
      denominated in foreign
      currencies..............           --          --           --         --           --             188             --
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
     NET
  APPRECIATION/DEPRECIATION...   (3,726,656)   (408,959)  (7,220,599)   335,810   (1,029,844)       (828,733)    (2,481,361)
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
     NET GAIN (LOSS)..........    2,943,850    (100,419)      19,876    630,265      246,154      (1,238,889)      (263,788)
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE).......  $ 2,933,921  $ (112,419) $   921,033  $ 698,655  $   340,233  $   (1,190,171)  $    (25,959)
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
                                -----------  ----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  --------------   ------------
</TABLE>

 
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                        LIQUID ASSET          U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET
                                ----------------------------  -----------------------------
                                 FOR THE SIX                   FOR THE SIX
                                MONTHS ENDED                  MONTHS ENDED
                                 JANUARY 31,   FOR THE YEAR    JANUARY 31,    FOR THE YEAR
                                    1998           ENDED          1998            ENDED
                                 (UNAUDITED)   JULY 31, 1997   (UNAUDITED)    JULY 31, 1997
                                                                  
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>          
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
ASSETS:
 
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income
  (loss)......................  $     421,718  $   1,185,191  $     57,568    $     320,377
Net realized gain (loss)......             --             --            --               --
Net change in unrealized
  appreciation/depreciation...             --             --            --               --
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
     NET INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............        421,718      1,185,191        57,568          320,377
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
FROM:
Net investment income.........       (421,669)    (1,185,223)      (57,568)        (321,625)
Net realized gain.............             --             --            --               --
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
     TOTAL....................       (421,669)    (1,185,223)      (57,568)        (321,625)
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF
BENEFICIAL INTEREST:
Net proceeds from sales.......      4,996,727     29,266,419     3,589,536        8,809,340
Reinvestment of dividends and
  distributions...............        421,669      1,185,223        57,570          321,624
Cost of shares repurchased....    (12,077,145)   (51,991,220)   (6,346,513)     (11,716,197)
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
     NET INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............     (6,658,749)   (21,539,578)   (2,699,407)      (2,585,233)
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
     TOTAL INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............     (6,658,700)   (21,539,610)   (2,699,407)      (2,586,481)
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period...........     21,213,028     42,752,638     4,041,296        6,627,777
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
     END OF PERIOD............  $  14,554,328  $  21,213,028  $  1,341,889    $   4,041,296
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT
INCOME (LOSS).................  $          59  $          10  $         --    $          --
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
SHARES ISSUED AND REPURCHASED:
Sold..........................      4,996,727     29,266,419     3,589,536        8,809,340
Issued in reinvestment of
  dividends and
  distributions...............        421,669      1,185,223        57,570          321,624
Repurchased...................    (12,077,145)   (51,991,220)   (6,346,513)     (11,716,197)
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE).......     (6,658,749)   (21,539,578)   (2,699,407)      (2,585,233)
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
                                -------------  -------------  -------------   -------------
</TABLE>

 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 INTERMEDIATE INCOME
                                                                      SECURITIES
                                U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES    --------------------------          AMERICAN VALUE
                                ---------------------------                                -----------------------------
                                                              FOR THE SIX
                                FOR THE SIX                     MONTHS                      FOR THE SIX
                                MONTHS ENDED   FOR THE YEAR      ENDED      FOR THE YEAR   MONTHS ENDED
                                JANUARY 31,       ENDED       JANUARY 31,      ENDED        JANUARY 31,    FOR THE YEAR
                                    1998         JULY 31,        1998         JULY 31,         1998            ENDED
                                (UNAUDITED)        1997       (UNAUDITED)       1997        (UNAUDITED)    JULY 31, 1997
                                                                                         
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>          
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
ASSETS:
 
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income
  (loss)......................  $   292,231    $    602,606   $   66,107    $    207,340   $      (9,929)  $      46,600
Net realized gain (loss)......       20,884           5,297        4,486         (62,395)      6,670,506       7,151,437
Net change in unrealized
  appreciation/depreciation...      120,275         365,249       20,698         151,066      (3,726,656)      9,007,653
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
     NET INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............      433,390         973,152       91,291         296,011       2,933,921      16,205,690
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
FROM:
Net investment income.........     (290,708)       (602,630)     (66,153)       (207,294)        (46,601)        (93,984)
Net realized gain.............           --         (22,190)          --              --     (10,423,930)     (3,137,376)
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
     TOTAL....................     (290,708)       (624,820)     (66,153)       (207,294)    (10,470,531)     (3,231,360)
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF
BENEFICIAL INTEREST:
Net proceeds from sales.......    1,813,180       5,963,450      283,057       3,241,075       7,940,634      20,568,978
Reinvestment of dividends and
  distributions...............      285,087         567,526       65,091         165,904      10,456,727       3,227,638
Cost of shares repurchased....   (3,608,813)     (5,033,814)    (569,427)     (5,211,640)    (13,419,711)    (22,877,816)
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
     NET INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............   (1,510,546)      1,497,162     (221,279)     (1,804,661)      4,977,650         918,800
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
     TOTAL INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............   (1,367,864)      1,845,494     (196,141)     (1,715,944)     (2,558,960)     13,893,130
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period...........   10,496,307       8,650,813    2,455,772       4,171,716      54,214,494      40,321,364
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
     END OF PERIOD............  $ 9,128,443    $ 10,496,307   $2,259,631    $  2,455,772   $  51,655,534   $  54,214,494
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT
INCOME (LOSS).................  $     1,523    $         --   $       --    $         46   $      (9,930)  $      46,600
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
SHARES ISSUED AND REPURCHASED:
Sold..........................      182,904         616,600       29,319         340,574         475,241       1,422,680
Issued in reinvestment of
  dividends and
  distributions...............       28,729          58,481        6,741          17,479         759,385         237,676
Repurchased...................     (363,557)       (517,322)     (58,881)       (547,645)       (812,452)     (1,545,904)
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE).......     (151,924)        157,759      (22,821)       (189,592)        422,174         114,452
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
                                ------------   ------------   -----------   ------------   -------------   -------------
 <CAPTION>
 
                                     CAPITAL GROWTH
                                -------------------------
 
                                FOR THE SIX
                                  MONTHS        FOR THE
                                   ENDED         YEAR
                                JANUARY 31,      ENDED
                                   1998        JULY 31,
                                (UNAUDITED)      1997
                                        
- ------------------------------
<S>                            <C>            <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
ASSETS:
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income
  (loss)......................  $  (12,000)   $   (5,965)
Net realized gain (loss)......     308,540       294,325
Net change in unrealized
  appreciation/depreciation...    (408,959)      762,068
                                -----------   -----------
     NET INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............    (112,419)    1,050,428
                                -----------   -----------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
FROM:
Net investment income.........          --        (2,106)
Net realized gain.............    (499,326)      (56,080)
                                -----------   -----------
     TOTAL....................    (499,326)      (58,186)
                                -----------   -----------
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF
BENEFICIAL INTEREST:
Net proceeds from sales.......     490,054     1,297,311
Reinvestment of dividends and
  distributions...............     498,585        58,150
Cost of shares repurchased....    (901,041)     (665,910)
                                -----------   -----------
     NET INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............      87,598       689,551
                                -----------   -----------
     TOTAL INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............    (524,147)    1,681,793
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period...........   3,669,646     1,987,853
                                -----------   -----------
     END OF PERIOD............  $3,145,499    $3,669,646
                                -----------   -----------
                                -----------   -----------
UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT
INCOME (LOSS).................  $  (12,000)   $       --
                                -----------   -----------
                                -----------   -----------
SHARES ISSUED AND REPURCHASED:
Sold..........................      30,557        91,240
Issued in reinvestment of
  dividends and
  distributions...............      37,042         4,317
Repurchased...................     (54,209)      (45,416)
                                -----------   -----------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE).......      13,390        50,141
                                -----------   -----------
                                -----------   -----------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
 

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS, CONTINUED
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                         DIVIDEND GROWTH                        UTILITIES
                                ----------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                 FOR THE SIX                          FOR THE SIX
                                 MONTHS ENDED                         MONTHS ENDED
                                 JANUARY 31,       FOR THE YEAR       JANUARY 31,      FOR THE YEAR
                                     1998              ENDED              1998            ENDED
                                 (UNAUDITED)       JULY 31, 1997      (UNAUDITED)     JULY 31, 1997
                                                                          
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>                 <C>              <C>              <C>           
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
ASSETS:
 
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income.........  $      901,157      $    1,722,758   $      68,390    $      181,177
Net realized gain (loss)......       7,240,475           8,642,932         294,455           608,162
Net change in unrealized
  appreciation/depreciation...      (7,220,599)         21,493,364         335,810           426,820
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
     NET INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............         921,033          31,859,054         698,655         1,216,159
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
FROM:
Net investment income.........      (1,056,382)         (1,707,024)        (99,698)         (160,780)
Net realized gain.............     (11,483,411)         (2,463,125)       (626,928)               --
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
     TOTAL....................     (12,539,793)         (4,170,149)       (726,626)         (160,780)
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF
BENEFICIAL INTEREST:
Net proceeds from sales.......      11,895,670          37,149,898         766,131         2,818,978
Reinvestment of dividends and
  distributions...............      12,516,642           4,150,502         725,733           158,903
Cost of shares repurchased....     (21,663,731)        (23,440,408)     (1,129,385)       (6,235,329)
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
     NET INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............       2,748,581          17,859,992         362,479        (3,257,448)
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
     TOTAL INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............      (8,870,179)         45,548,897         334,508        (2,202,069)
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period...........     115,311,509          69,762,612       5,391,228         7,593,297
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
     END OF PERIOD............  $  106,441,330      $  115,311,509   $   5,725,736    $    5,391,228
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT
INCOME (LOSS).................  $      210,699      $      365,924   $      22,892    $       54,200
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
SHARES ISSUED AND REPURCHASED:
Sold..........................         626,873           2,205,684          53,835           222,951
Issued in reinvestment of
  dividends and
  distributions...............         731,871             255,693          52,861            12,596
Repurchased...................      (1,146,677)         (1,379,982)        (81,367)         (488,313)
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE).......         212,067           1,081,395          25,329          (252,766)
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
                                --------------   -----------------   --------------   --------------
</TABLE>

 
                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                   VALUE-ADDED MARKET            GLOBAL EQUITY                 STRATEGIST
                               --------------------------  --------------------------  --------------------------
                               FOR THE SIX                 FOR THE SIX                 FOR THE SIX
                               MONTHS ENDED  FOR THE YEAR  MONTHS ENDED  FOR THE YEAR  MONTHS ENDED  FOR THE YEAR
                               JANUARY 31,      ENDED      JANUARY 31,      ENDED      JANUARY 31,      ENDED
                                   1998        JULY 31,        1998        JULY 31,        1998        JULY 31,
                               (UNAUDITED)       1997      (UNAUDITED)       1997      (UNAUDITED)       1997
                                                                                   
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>         
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
ASSETS:
 
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income......... $    94,079   $    208,257  $    48,718   $    128,358  $   237,829   $    615,034
Net realized gain (loss)......   1,275,998        896,043     (410,156)       811,865    2,217,573        247,627
Net change in unrealized
  appreciation/depreciation...  (1,029,844)     6,185,067     (828,733)     2,898,751   (2,481,361)     4,379,845
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
     NET INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............     340,233      7,289,367   (1,190,171)     3,838,974      (25,959)     5,242,506
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
FROM:
Net investment income.........    (190,320)      (279,999)    (209,613)       (70,000)    (579,076)      (408,002)
Net realized gain.............    (940,949)      (698,399)    (786,673)      (367,529)  (2,892,000)      (699,994)
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
     TOTAL....................  (1,131,269)      (978,398)    (996,286)      (437,529)  (3,471,076)    (1,107,996)
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF
BENEFICIAL INTEREST:
Net proceeds from sales.......   2,714,845      6,558,038    2,499,146      7,696,263    3,032,517      7,519,070
Reinvestment of dividends and
  distributions...............   1,094,116        948,925      989,770        435,668    3,467,463      1,107,086
Cost of shares repurchased....  (4,969,740)   (10,417,432)  (4,559,911)    (3,421,423)  (7,069,581)    (3,796,952)
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
     NET INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............  (1,160,779)    (2,910,469)  (1,070,995)     4,710,508     (569,601)     4,829,204
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
     TOTAL INCREASE
     (DECREASE)...............  (1,951,815)     3,400,500   (3,257,452)     8,111,953   (4,066,636)     8,963,714
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of period...........  23,779,735     20,379,235   19,797,196     11,685,243   26,459,420     17,495,706
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
     END OF PERIOD............ $21,827,920   $ 23,779,735  $16,539,744   $ 19,797,196  $22,392,784   $ 26,459,420
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT
INCOME (LOSS)................. $     4,120   $    100,361  $   (29,347)  $    131,548  $    40,488   $    381,735
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
SHARES ISSUED AND REPURCHASED:
Sold..........................     145,290        416,960      186,903        606,253      207,847        549,814
Issued in reinvestment of
  dividends and
  distributions...............      62,095         62,594       80,798         35,887      282,597         83,616
Repurchased...................    (268,571)      (680,374)    (340,834)      (265,700)    (489,475)      (277,595)
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE).......     (61,186)      (200,820)     (73,133)       376,440          969        355,835
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                               ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

TRUSTEES
Michael Bozic
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Edwin J. Garn
John R. Haire
Wayne E. Hedien
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Michael E. Nugent
Philip J. Purcell
John L. Schroeder

OFFICERS
Charles A. Fiumefreddo
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Barry Fink
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

Thomas F. Caloia
Treasurer

CUSTODIAN
The Bank of New York
90 Washington Street
New York, New York 10286

TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND 
DISBURSING AGENT
Dean Witter Trust FSB
Harborside Financial Center -- Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036

INVESTMENT MANAGER
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048



DEAN WITTER
RETIREMENT SERIES



The financial statements included herein have been taken from the records of 
the Fund without examination by the independent accountants and accordingly 
they do not express an opinion thereon. 

This report is submitted for the general information of shareholders of the
Fund. For more detailed information about the Fund, its officers and trustees,
fees, expenses and other pertinent information, please see the prospectus of
the Fund.

This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the
Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.


SEMIANNUAL REPORT
JANUARY 31, 1998






<PAGE>
                DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST 
                                    PART B 
                     STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

   This Statement of Additional Information relates to the shares of U.S. 
Government Money Market Fund Inc. (the "Acquiring Fund") to be issued 
pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated April 30, 1998, 
between the Acquiring Fund and U.S. Government Money Market Series ("U.S. 
Government Money Market"), one of eleven portfolios of Dean Witter Retirement 
Series ("Retirement Series"), in connection with the acquisition by the 
Acquiring Fund of substantially all of the assets, subject to stated 
liabilities, of U.S. Government Money Market. This Statement of Additional 
Information does not constitute a prospectus. This Statement of Additional 
Information does not include all information that a shareholder should 
consider before voting on the proposals contained in the Proxy Statement and 
Prospectus, and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the related 
Proxy Statement and Prospectus, dated June   , 1998. A copy of the Proxy 
Statement and Prospectus may be obtained without charge by mailing a written 
request to the Acquiring Fund at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 
10048 or by calling Nina Maceda at Dean Witter Trust Company at (800) 
869-NEWS (TOLL FREE). Please retain this document for future reference. 

   The date of this Statement of Additional Information is June   , 1998. 

                               B-1           
<PAGE>
                              TABLE OF CONTENTS 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PAGE 
                                                  -------- 
<S>                                               <C>
INTRODUCTION ....................................    B-3 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT ACQUIRING FUND  ....    B-3 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ............................    B-4 
</TABLE>

                               B-2           
<PAGE>
                                 INTRODUCTION 

   This Statement of Additional Information is intended to supplement the 
information provided in the Proxy Statement and Prospectus dated June  , 1998 
(the "Proxy Statement and Prospectus"). The Proxy Statement and Prospectus 
has been sent to U.S. Government Money Market shareholders in connection with 
the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Trustees of U.S. Government Money 
Market to be voted at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of U.S. Government 
Money Market to be held on August 19, 1998. This Statement of Additional 
Information incorporates by reference the Statement of Additional Information 
of the Acquiring Fund dated March 2, 1998 and the Statement of Additional 
Information of Retirement Series dated October 31, 1997. 

               ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACQUIRING FUND 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES 

   For additional information about the Acquiring Fund's investment 
objectives and policies, see "Investment Practices and Policies" and 
"Investment Restrictions" in the Acquiring Fund's Statement of Additional 
Information. 

MANAGEMENT 

   For additional information about the Board of Trustees, officers and 
management personnel of the Acquiring Fund , see "The Trust and Its 
Management" and "Trustees and Officers" in the Acquiring Fund's Statement of 
Additional Information. 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES 

   For additional information about the Acquiring Fund's investment manager, 
see "The Trust and Its Management" in the Acquiring Fund's Statement of 
Additional Information. For additional information about the Acquiring Fund's 
independent auditors, see "Independent Accountants" in the Acquiring Fund's 
Statement of Additional Information. For additional information about other 
services provided to the Acquiring Fund see "Custodian and Transfer Agent" 
and in the Acquiring Fund's Statement of Additional Information. 

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE 

   For additional information about brokerage allocation practices, see 
"Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage" in the Acquiring Fund's Statement of 
Additional Information. 

DESCRIPTION OF FUND SHARES 

   For additional information about the voting rights and other 
characteristics of the shares of the Acquiring Fund, see "Shares of the 
Trust" in the Acquiring Fund's Statement of Additional Information. 

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES 

   For additional information about the purchase and redemption of the 
Acquiring Fund's shares and the determination of net asset value, see 
"Purchase of Trust Shares," "Redemption of Trust Shares" and "Financial 
Statements" in the Acquiring Fund's Statement of Additional Information. 

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAX STATUS 

   For additional information about the Acquiring Fund's policies regarding 
dividends and distributions and tax matters affecting the Acquiring Fund and 
its shareholders, see "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes" and "Financial 
Statements" in the Acquiring Fund's Statement of Additional Information. 

                               B-3           
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES 

   For additional information about the Acquiring Fund's distributor and the 
distribution agreement between the Acquiring Fund and its distributor, see 
"Purchase of Trust Shares" in the Acquiring Fund's Statement of Additional 
Information. 

PERFORMANCE DATA 

   For additional information about the Acquiring Fund's performance data, 
see "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes--Information on Computation of Yield" 
in the Acquiring Fund's Statement of Additional Information. 

                             FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

   The Acquiring Fund's most recent audited financial statements are set 
forth in its Prospectus, dated March 2, 1998, a copy of which accompanies and 
is incorporated by reference in, the Proxy Statement and Prospectus. U.S. 
Government Money Market's most recent audited financial statements are set 
forth in the Annual Report for Retirement Series for the fiscal year ended 
July 31, 1997, which is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement and 
Prospectus. 

                               B-4           

<PAGE>

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 

MARCH 2, 1998                                               DEAN WITTER
                                                            U.S. GOVERNMENT
                                                            MONEY MARKET
                                                            TRUST
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust (the "Trust") is an open-end
diversified management investment company whose investment objectives are
security of principal, high current income and liquidity. The Trust seeks to
achieve its objectives by investing primarily in money market instruments
maturing in thirteen months or less which are issued or guaranteed by the United
States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. (See "Investment Practices
and Policies".) Shares of the Trust are not sponsored, guaranteed, endorsed or
insured by the U.S. Government or any agency thereof.
 
    The Trust is authorized to reimburse for specific expenses incurred in
promoting the distribution of the Trust's shares pursuant to a Plan of
Distribution with Dean Witter Distributors Inc. pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Reimbursement may in no event exceed an amount
equal to payments at the annual rate of 0.15% of the average daily net assets of
the Trust.
 

    A Prospectus for the Trust, dated March 2, 1998, which provides the basic
information you should know before investing in the Trust, may be obtained
without charge by request of the Trust at its address or at one of the telephone
numbers listed below or from the Fund's Distributor, Dean Witter Distributors
Inc., or from Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. at any of its branch offices or from any
other Selected Broker-Dealer. This Statement of Additional Information is not a
Prospectus. It contains information in addition to and more detailed than that
set forth in the Prospectus. It is intended to provide additional information
regarding the activities and operations of the Trust, and should be read in
conjunction with the Prospectus.

 
Dean Witter
U.S. Government Money Market Trust
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048
(212) 392-2550 or (800) 869-NEWS (toll-free)

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                           <C>
The Trust and its Management...........................................................          3
Trustees and Officers..................................................................          6
Investment Practices and Policies......................................................         11
Investment Restrictions................................................................         13
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage...................................................         14
Purchase of Trust Shares...............................................................         16
Redemption of Trust Shares.............................................................         24
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.....................................................         25
Shares of the Trust....................................................................         26
Custodian and Transfer Agent...........................................................         27
Independent Accountants................................................................         27
Reports to Shareholders................................................................         27
Legal Counsel..........................................................................         28
Experts................................................................................         28
Registration Statement.................................................................         28
Financial Statements...................................................................         28
</TABLE>

 
                                       2
<PAGE>


THE TRUST AND ITS MANAGEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THE TRUST
 
    The Trust is a Trust of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business
trust" and was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on
November 18, 1981 under the name Sears U.S. Government Money Market Trust. On
January 18, 1983 the Trustees approved a change in the Trust's name, which
became effective March 21, 1983, to Dean Witter/Sears U.S. Government Money
Market Trust. On February 19, 1993, the Trustees changed the name of the Trust
to Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust.
 

    As of January 31, 1998, no shareholder was known to own beneficially or of
record as much as 5% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. The percentage
ownership of the Trust changes from time to time depending on purchases and
redemptions by shareholders and the total number of shares outstanding.

 
THE INVESTMENT MANAGER
 

    Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager" or "InterCapital"),
a Delaware corporation, whose address is Two World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048, is the Trust's Investment Manager. InterCapital is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("MSDWD"), a Delaware
corporation. In an internal reorganization which took place in January, 1993,
InterCapital assumed the investment advisory, administrative and management
activities previously performed by the InterCapital Division of Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), a broker-dealer affiliate of InterCapital. (As
hereinafter used in this Statement of Additional Information, the terms
"InterCapital" and "Investment Manager" refer to DWR's InterCapital Division
prior to the reorganization and to Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. thereafter.)
The daily management of the Trust and research relating to the Trust's portfolio
are conducted by or under the direction of officers of the Trust and of the
Investment Manager, subject to review by the Trust's Board of Trustees.
Information as to these Trustees and officers is contained under the caption
"Trustees and Officers."

 

    The Investment Manager is also the investment manager or investment adviser
of the following investment companies: Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.,
InterCapital Income Securities Inc., InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust,
InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust, InterCapital Insured Municipal Income
Trust, InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital
Insured Municipal Securities, InterCapital Insured California Municipal
Securities, InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust, InterCapital
Quality Municipal Income Trust, InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities,
InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities, InterCapital New York
Quality Municipal Securities, High Income Advantage Trust, High Income Advantage
Trust II, High Income Advantage Trust III, Dean Witter Government Income Trust,
Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc., Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust,
Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust, Dean Witter Tax-Exempt
Securities Trust, Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc., Dean
Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc., Dean Witter American Value Fund, Dean
Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund, Dean Witter Variable Investment
Series, Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust, Dean Witter U.S. Government
Securities Trust, Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund, Dean Witter New
York Tax-Free Income Fund, Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust, Dean Witter
Federal Securities Trust, Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series, Dean Witter
Utilities Fund, Dean Witter Strategist Fund, Dean Witter California Tax-Free
Daily Income Trust, Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust, Dean Witter
Intermediate Income Securities, Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities, Dean
Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust, Dean Witter European Growth Fund
Inc., Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc., Dean Witter Precious Metals and
Minerals Trust, Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc., Dean Witter
Multi-State Municipal Series Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust,
Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust, Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust, Dean
Witter Retirement Series, Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities, Dean
Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund, Dean
Witter Global Utilities Fund, Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund, Dean
Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series,
Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund, Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund, Dean
Witter Balanced Income Fund, Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust, Dean Witter
Capital Appreciation Fund, Dean Witter Information Fund, Dean Witter
Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust, Dean Witter Japan Fund, Dean Witter
Income Builder Fund, Dean Witter Special

 
                                       3
<PAGE>


Value Fund, Dean Witter Financial Services Trust, Dean Witter Market Leader
Trust, Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund, Dean Witter Fund of Funds, Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter Competitive Edge Fund, "BEST IDEAS" PORTFOLIO, Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter Growth Fund, Active Assets Tax-Free Trust, Active Assets California
Tax-Free Trust, Active Assets Government Securities Trust, Municipal Income
Trust, Municipal Income Trust II, Municipal Income Trust III, Municipal Income
Opportunities Trust, Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II, Municipal Income
Opportunities Trust III, Municipal Premium Income Trust and Prime Income Trust.
The foregoing investment companies, together with the Trust, are collectively
referred to as the Dean Witter Funds.

 

    In addition, Dean Witter Services Company Inc. ("DWSC"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of InterCapital, serves as manager for the following companies for
which TCW Funds Management, Inc. is the investment adviser: TCW/DW North
American Government Income Trust, TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund, TCW/DW
Income and Growth Fund, TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund, TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity
Trust, TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust, TCW/DW Total Return Trust, TCW/DW Emerging
Markets Opportunities Trust, TCW/DW Term Trust 2000, TCW/DW Term Trust 2002 and
TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (the "TCW/DW Funds"). InterCapital also serves as: (i)
administrator of The BlackRock Strategic Term Trust Inc., a closed-end
investment company; (ii) sub-administrator of MassMutual Participation Investors
and Templeton Global Governments Income Trust, closed-end investment companies;
and (iii) investment adviser of Offshore Dividend Growth Fund and Offshore Money
Market Fund, mutual funds established under the laws of the Cayman Islands and
available only to investors who are participants in DWR's International Active
Assets Account program and are neither citizens nor residents of the United
States.

 
    Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement") with the
Investment Manager, the Trust has retained the Investment Manager to manage the
investment of the Trust's assets, including the placing of orders for the
purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The Investment Manager obtains and
evaluates such information and advice relating to the economy, securities
markets and specific securities as it considers necessary or useful to
continuously manage the assets of the Trust in a manner consistent with its
investment objectives and policies.
 
    Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Trust's
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Trust's books and
records and furnishes, at its expense, such office space, facilities, equipment,
clerical help, bookkeeping and certain legal services as the Trust may
reasonably require in the conduct of its business, including the services of
personnel in connection with the pricing of the Trust's shares and the
preparation of prospectuses, proxy statements and reports required to be filed
with federal and state securities commissions (except insofar as the
participation or assistance of independent accountants and attorneys is, in the
opinion of the Investment Manager, necessary or desirable). In addition, the
Investment Manager pays the salaries of all personnel, including officers of the
Trust, who are employees of the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager also
bears the cost of telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities
provided to the Trust.
 
    Effective December 31, 1993, pursuant to a Services Agreement between
InterCapital and DWSC, DWSC began to provide the administrative services to the
Trust which were previously performed directly by InterCapital. On April 17,
1995, DWSC was reorganized in the State of Delaware, necessitating the entry
into a new Services Agreement by InterCapital and DWSC on that date. The
foregoing internal reorganizations did not result in any change in the nature or
scope of the administrative services being provided to the Trust or any of the
fees being paid by the Trust for the overall services being performed under the
terms of the existing Management Agreement.
 

    Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under the Agreement
or by the Distributor of the Trust's shares, Dean Witter Distributors Inc.
("Distributors" or the "Distributor"), (see "Purchase of Trust Shares") will be
paid by the Trust. Such expenses include, but are not limited to: the
distribution fee under the Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (see
"Purchase of Trust Shares"), charges and expenses of any registrar, custodian,
stock transfer and dividend disbursing agent; brokerage commissions; taxes;
engraving and printing certificates representing shares of the Trust;
registration costs of the Trust and its shares under federal and state
securities laws; the cost and expense of printing, including typesetting, and
distributing prospectuses of the Trust and supplements thereto to the Trust's

 
                                       4
<PAGE>


shareholders; all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of
printing, including typesetting, and mailing of proxy statements and reports to
shareholders; fees and travel expenses of Trustees or members of any advisory
board or committee who are not employees of the Investment Manager or any
corporate affiliate of the Investment Manager; all expenses incident to any
dividend, distribution, withdrawal or redemption options; fees and expenses of
legal counsel, including counsel to the Trustees who are not interested persons
of the Trust or of the Investment Manager (not including compensation or
expenses of attorneys who are employees of the Investment Manager) and
independent accountants; membership dues of industry associations; interest on
Trust borrowings; postage; insurance premiums on property or personnel
(including officers and Trustees) of the Trust which inure to its benefit;
extraordinary expenses (including, but not limited to, legal claims and
liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification relating thereto); and
all other costs of the Trust's operation.
 

    As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Trust
and expenses of the Trust assumed by the Investment Manager, the Trust pays the
Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying the
following annual rates to the net assets of the Trust determined as of the close
of each business day: 0.50% of the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding
$500 million; 0.425% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500
million but not exceeding $750 million; 0.375% of the portion of the daily net
assets exceeding $750 million but not exceeding $1 billion; 0.35% of the portion
of the daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $1.5 billion;
0.325% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.5 billion but not
exceeding $2 billion; 0.30% of the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2
billion but not exceeding $2.5 billion; 0.275% of the portion of the daily net
assets exceeding $2.5 billion but not exceeding $3 billion; and 0.25% of the
portion of the daily net assets exceeding $3 billion. For the fiscal years ended
January 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Trust accrued to the Investment Manager
total compensation of $4,061,755, $4,190,754 and $4,108,339, respectively.

 
    The Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, the
Investment Manager is not liable to the Trust or any of its investors for any
act or omission by the Investment Manager or for any losses sustained by the
Trust or its investors. The Agreement in no way restricts the Investment Manager
from acting as investment manager or adviser to others.
 

    The Agreement was initially approved by the Trustees on February 21, 1997
and by the shareholders of the Trust at a Meeting of Shareholders held on May
21, 1997. The Agreement is substantially identical to a prior investment
management agreement which was initially approved by the Trustees on October 30,
1992 and by the shareholders of the Trust at a Meeting of Shareholders held on
January 12, 1993. The Agreement took effect on May 31, 1997 upon the
consummation of the merger of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. with Morgan Stanley
Group Inc. The Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, on
thirty days' notice by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, by the holders of a
majority, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Act"), of the outstanding shares of the Trust, or by the Investment Manager.
The Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as
defined in the Act).

 

    Under its terms, the Agreement has an initial term ending April 30, 1999 and
will continue in effect from year to year thereafter, provided continuance of
the Agreement is approved at least annually by the vote of the holders of a
majority, as defined in the Act, of the outstanding shares of the Trust, or by
the Board of Trustees of the Trust; provided that in either event such
continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of
the Trust who are not parties to the Agreement or "interested persons" (as
defined in the Act) of any such party (the "Independent Trustees"), which vote
must be cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
approval.

 
    The Trust has acknowledged that the name "Dean Witter" is a property right
of DWR. The Trust has agreed that DWR or its parent company may use or, at any
time, permit others to use, the name "Dean Witter." The Trust has also agreed
that in the event the Agreement is terminated, or if the affiliation between
Dean Witter and its parent company is terminated, the Trust will eliminate the
name "Dean Witter" from its name if DWR or its parent company shall so request.
 
                                       5

<PAGE>


TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

    The Trustees and Executive Officers of the Trust, their principal business
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with
InterCapital and with the 85 Dean Witter Funds and the 11 TCW/DW Funds are shown
below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH TRUST AND ADDRESS              PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>                                                              
Michael Bozic (57)                          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture Corporation
Trustee                                     (since November, 1995); Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds;
c/o Levitz Furniture Corporation            formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of Hills Department
6111 Broken Sound Parkway, N.W.             Stores (May, 1991-July, 1995); formerly variously Chairman, Chief
Boca Raton, Florida                         Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer (1987-1991)
                                            of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck and Co.; Director of
                                            Eaglemark Financial Services, Inc., the United Negro College Fund and
                                            Weirton Steel Corporation.
 
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (64)                Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of InterCapital,
Chairman of the Board,                      Distributors and DWSC; Executive Vice President and Director of DWR;
President, Chief Executive                  Chairman, Director or Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
Officer and Trustee                         of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Two World Trade Center                      Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman and Director of Dean Witter
New York, New York                          Trust FSB ("DWT"); Director and/or officer of various MSDWD
                                            subsidiaries.
 
Edwin J. Garn (65)                          Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly United States
Trustee                                     Senator (R-Utah) (1974-1992) and Chairman, Senate Banking Committee
c/o Huntsman Corporation                    (1980-1986); formerly Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah (1971-1974);
500 Huntsman Way                            formerly Astronaut, Space Shuttle Discovery (April 12-19, 1985); Vice
Salt Lake City, Utah                        Chairman, Huntsman Corporation; Director of Franklin Covey (time
                                            management systems), John Alden Financial Corp. (health insurance),
                                            United Space Alliance (joint venture between Lockheed Martin and the
                                            Boeing Company) and Nuskin Asia Pacific (multilevel marketing);
                                            member of the board of various civic and charitable organizations.
 
John R. Haire (73)                          Chairman of the Audit Commitee and Chairman of the Committee of the
Trustee                                     Independent Directors or Trustees and Director or Trustee of the Dean
Two World Trade Center                      Witter Funds; Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the
New York, New York                          Committee of the Independent Trustees and Trustee of the TCW/DW
                                            Funds; formerly President, Council for Aid to Education (1978-1989)
                                            and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Anchor Corporation, an
                                            Investment Adviser (1964-1978).


 
                                       6
<PAGE>

<CAPTION>



NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH TRUST AND ADDRESS              PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>                                                                       
Wayne E. Hedien (64)                        Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Director of
Trustee                                     the PMI Group, Inc. (private mortgage insurance); Trustee and Vice
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky                  Chairman of The Field Museum of Natural History; formerly associated
 Weitzen Shalov & Wein                      with the Allstate Companies (1966-1994), most recently as Chairman of
Counsel to the Independent Trustees         The Allstate Corporation (March, 1993-December, 1994) and Chairman
114 West 47th Street                        and Chief Executive Officer of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Allstate
New York, New York                          Insurance Company (July, 1989-December, 1994); director of various
                                            other business and charitable organizations.
 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (49)                  Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a consulting firm;
Trustee                                     Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of Seven Council (G7C), an
c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc.       international economic commission; Director or Trustee of the Dean
1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.               Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Director of NASDAQ (since
Washington, DC                              June, 1995); Director of Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
                                            (broker-dealer); Chairman and Trustee of the Financial Accounting
                                            Foundation (oversight organization for the FASB); formerly Vice
                                            Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
                                            (1986-1990) and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury (1982-1986).
 
Michael E. Nugent (61)                      General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private investment
Trustee                                     partnership; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P.                   the TCW/DW Funds; formerly Vice President, Bankers Trust Company and
237 Park Avenue                             BT Capital Corporation (1984-1988); Director of various business
New York, New York                          organizations.
 
Philip J. Purcell* (54)                     Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of
Trustee                                     MSDWD, DWR and Novus Credit Services Inc.; Director of InterCapital,
1585 Broadway                               DWSC and Distributors; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds;
New York, New York                          Director and/or officer of various MSDWD subsidiaries.
 
John L. Schroeder (67)                      Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the
Trustee                                     TCW/DW Funds; Director of Citizens Utilities Company; formerly
c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky                  Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the Home
  Weitzen Shalov & Wein                     Insurance Company (August, 1991-September 1995).
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York
 
Barry Fink (43)                             Senior Vice President (since March, 1997) and Secretary and General
Vice President, Secretary and               Counsel (since February, 1997) of InterCapital and DWSC; Senior Vice
General Counsel                             President (since March, 1997) and Assistant Secretary and Assistant
Two World Trade Center                      General Counsel (since February, 1997) of Distributors; Assistant
New York, New York                          Secretary of DWR (since August, 1996); Vice President, Secretary and
                                            General Counsel of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds (since
                                            February, 1997); previously First Vice President (June,
                                            1993-February, 1997), Vice President (until June, 1993) and Assistant
                                            Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC and
                                            Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and TCW/DW Funds.


 
                                       7

<PAGE>

<CAPTION>


NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH TRUST AND ADDRESS              PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING LAST FIVE YEARS
- ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>                                                                      
Jonathan R. Page (51)                       Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various Dean
Vice President                              Witter Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York
 
Thomas F. Caloia (52)                       First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of InterCapital and
Treasurer                                   DWSC; Treasurer of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York

</TABLE>
 
- ---------
 *Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Trust, as defined in the
  Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
 

    In addition, Robert M. Scanlan, President and Chief Operating Officer of
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWT and
Director of DWT, Mitchell M. Merin, President and Chief Strategic Officer of
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWT, and
Director of DWT, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and
Director of DWR, and Director of SPS Transaction Services, Inc. and various
other MSDWD subsidiaries, Joseph J. McAlinden, Executive Vice President and
Chief Investment Officer of InterCapital and Director of DWT, Robert S.
Giambrone, Senior Vice President of InterCapital, DWSC, Distributors and DWT and
Director of DWT, and Peter M. Avelar, Paul D. Vance and James F. Willison,
Senior Vice Presidents of InterCapital, are Vice Presidents of the Trust and
Marilyn K. Cranney, First Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of
InterCapital and DWSC, LouAnne D. McInnis, Carsten Otto and Ruth Rossi, Vice
Presidents and Assistant General Counsels of InterCapital and DWSC, and Frank
Bruttomesso and Todd Lebo, staff attorneys with InterCapital, are Assistant
Secretaries of the Trust.

 
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, AND THE COMMITTEES
 

    The Board of Trustees consists of nine (9) trustees. These same individuals
also serve as directors or trustees for all of the Dean Witter Funds, and are
referred to in this section as Trustees. As of the date of this Statement of
Additional Information, there are a total of 85 Dean Witter Funds, comprised of
129 portfolios. As of January 31, 1998, the Dean Witter Funds had total net
assets of approximately $96 billion and more than five million shareholders.

 

    Seven Trustees (77% of the total number) have no affiliation or business
connection with InterCapital or any of its affiliated persons and do not own any
stock or other securities issued by InterCapital's parent company, MSDWD. These
are the "disinterested" or "independent" Trustees. The other two Trustees (the
"management Trustees") are affiliated with InterCapital. Four of the seven
independent Trustees are also Independent Trustees of the TCW/DW Funds.

 
    Law and regulation establish both general guidelines and specific duties for
the Independent Trustees. The Dean Witter Funds seek as Independent Trustees
individuals of distinction and experience in business and finance, government
service or academia; these are people whose advice and counsel are in demand by
others and for whom there is often competition. To accept a position on the
Funds' Boards, such individuals may reject other attractive assignments because
the Funds make substantial demands on their time. Indeed, by serving on the
Funds' Boards, certain Trustees who would otherwise be qualified and in demand
to serve on bank boards would be prohibited by law from doing so.
 

    All of the Independent Trustees serve as members of the Audit Committee and
the Committee of the Independent Trustees. Three of them also serve as members
of the Derivatives Committee. During the calendar year ended December 31, 1997,
the three Committees held a combined total of seventeen meetings. The Committees
hold some meetings at InterCapital's offices and some outside InterCapital.
Management Trustees or officers do not attend these meetings unless they are
invited for purposes of furnishing information or making a report.

 
                                       8

<PAGE>


    The Committee of the Independent Trustees is charged with recommending to
the full Board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts,
Rule 12b-1 plans and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually
reviewing Fund performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities,
brokerage commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading among
Funds in the same complex; and approving fidelity bond and related insurance
coverage and allocations, as well as other matters that arise from time to time.
The Independent Trustees are required to select and nominate individuals to fill
any Independent Trustee vacancy on the Board of any Fund that has a Rule 12b-1
plan of distribution. Most of the Dean Witter Funds have such a plan.
 
    The Audit Committee is charged with recommending to the full Board the
engagement or discharge of the Fund's independent accountants; directing
investigations into matters within the scope of the independent accountants'
duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the
independent accountants the audit plan and results of the auditing engagement;
approving professional services provided by the independent accountants and
other accounting firms prior to the performance of such services; reviewing the
independence of the independent accountants; considering the range of audit and
non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of the Fund's system of internal
controls; and preparing and submitting Committee meeting minutes to the full
Board.
 
    Finally, the Board of each Fund has formed a Derivatives Committee to
establish parameters for and oversee the activities of the Fund with respect to
derivative investments, if any, made by the Fund.
 
DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE OF THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES AND AUDIT COMMITTEE
 
    The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit
Committee maintains an office at the Funds' headquarters in New York. He is
responsible for keeping abreast of regulatory and industry developments and the
Funds' operations and management. He screens and/or prepares written materials
and identifies critical issues for the Independent Trustees to consider,
develops agendas for Committee meetings, determines the type and amount of
information that the Committees will need to form a judgment on various issues,
and arranges to have that information furnished to Committee members. He also
arranges for the services of independent experts and consults with them in
advance of meetings to help refine reports and to focus on critical issues.
Members of the Committees believe that the person who serves as Chairman of both
Committees and guides their efforts is pivotal to the effective functioning of
the Committees.
 
    The Chairman of the Committees also maintains continuous contact with the
Funds' management, with independent counsel to the Independent Trustees and with
the Funds' independent auditors. He arranges for a series of special meetings
involving the annual review of investment advisory, management and other
operating contracts of the Funds and, on behalf of the Committees, conducts
negotiations with the Investment Manager and other service providers. In effect,
the Chairman of the Committees serves as a combination of chief executive and
support staff of the Independent Trustees.
 

    The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit
Committee is not employed by any other organization and devotes his time
primarily to the services he performs as Committee Chairman and Independent
Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds and as an Independent Trustee and as Chairman
of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit Committee of the
TCW/DW Funds. The current Committee Chairman has had more than 35 years
experience as a senior executive in the investment company industry.

 
ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES FOR ALL DEAN
WITTER FUNDS
 
    The Independent Trustees and the Funds' management believe that having the
same Independent Trustees for each of the Dean Witter Funds avoids the
duplication of effort that would arise from having different groups of
individuals serving as Independent Trustees for each of the Funds or even of
sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same individuals serve as
Independent Trustees of all the Funds tends to increase their knowledge and
expertise regarding matters which affect the Fund complex generally and enhances
their ability to negotiate on behalf of each Fund with the Fund's service
providers. This arrangement also precludes the possibility of separate groups of
Independent Trustees
 
                                       9

<PAGE>


arriving at conflicting decisions regarding operations and management of the
Funds and avoids the cost and confusion that would likely ensue. Finally, having
the same Independent Trustees serve on all Fund Boards enhances the ability of
each Fund to obtain, at modest cost to each separate Fund, the services of
Independent Trustees, and a Chairman of their Committees, of the caliber,
experience and business acumen of the individuals who serve as Independent
Trustees of the Dean Witter Funds.
 
COMPENSATION OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
 

    The Trust pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $800 plus a per
meeting fee of $50 for meetings of the Board of Trustees or committees of the
Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee (the Trust pays the Chairman of the
Audit Committee an annual fee of $750 and pays the Chairman of the Committee of
the Independent Trustees an additional annual fee of $1,200). If a Board meeting
and a Committee meeting, or more than one Committee meeting, take place on a
single day, the Trustees are paid a single meeting fee by the Trust. The Trust
also reimburses such Trustees for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by them in connection with attending such meetings. Trustees and
officers of the Trust who are or have been employed by the Investment Manager or
an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the
Trust.

 

    The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Trust's
Independent Trustees by the Trust for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998.

 
                               TRUST COMPENSATION
 



                                                                   AGGREGATE
                                                                 COMPENSATION
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE                                     FROM THE TRUST
- --------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------
                                                             
Michael Bozic.................................................      $1,600
Edwin J. Garn.................................................       1,800
John R. Haire.................................................       3,750
Wayne E. Hedien...............................................         782
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson.........................................       1,750
Michael E. Nugent.............................................       1,800
John L. Schroeder.............................................       1,800


 

    The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Trust's
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1997 for services
to the 84 Dean Witter Funds and, in the case of Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Nugent
and Schroeder, the 14 TCW/DW Funds that were in operation at December 31, 1997.
With respect to Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder, the TCW/DW Funds
are included solely because of a limited exchange privilege between those Funds
and five Dean Witter Money Market Funds. Mr. Hedien's term as Director or
Trustee of each Dean Witter Fund commenced on September 1, 1997.

 

           CASH COMPENSATION FROM DEAN WITTER FUNDS AND TCW/DW FUNDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

 



                                                                   FOR SERVICE AS    FOR SERVICE
                                                                    CHAIRMAN OF          AS          TOTAL CASH
                                                                   COMMITTEES OF     CHAIRMAN OF    COMPENSATION
                               FOR SERVICE                          INDEPENDENT     COMMITTEES OF   FOR SERVICES
                              AS DIRECTOR OR                         DIRECTORS/      INDEPENDENT         TO
                               TRUSTEE AND       FOR SERVICE AS     TRUSTEES AND    TRUSTEES AND       84 DEAN
                             COMMITTEE MEMBER     TRUSTEE AND          AUDIT            AUDIT          WITTER
                                OF 84 DEAN      COMMITTEE MEMBER   COMMITTEES OF    COMMITTEES OF     FUNDS AND
NAME OF                           WITTER          OF 14 TCW/DW     84 DEAN WITTER     14 TCW/DW       14 TCW/DW
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE               FUNDS              FUNDS             FUNDS            FUNDS           FUNDS
- ---------------------------  ----------------   ----------------   --------------   -------------   -------------
<S>                              <C>             <C>                <C>              <C>              <C>     
Michael Bozic..............      $133,602           --                 --               --            $133,602
Edwin J. Garn..............       149,702           --                 --               --             149,702
John R. Haire..............       149,702           $73,725           $157,463        $ 25,350         406,240
Wayne E. Hedien............        39,010           --                 --               --              39,010
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson......       145,702            71,125            --               --             216,827
Michael E. Nugent..........       149,702            73,725            --               --             223,427
John L. Schroeder..........       149,702            73,725            --               --             223,427

</TABLE>

 
                                       10
<PAGE>

    As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, 57 of the Dean
Witter Funds, including the Trust, have adopted a retirement program under which
an Independent Trustee who retires after serving for at least five years (or
such lesser period as may be determined by the Board) as an Independent Director
or Trustee of any Dean Witter Fund that has adopted the retirement program (each
such Fund referred to as an "Adopting Fund" and each such Trustee referred to as
an "Eligible Trustee") is entitled to retirement payments upon reaching the
eligible retirement age (normally, after attaining age 72). Annual payments are
based upon length of service. Currently, upon retirement, each Eligible Trustee
is entitled to receive from the Adopting Fund, commencing as of his or her
retirement date and continuing for the remainder of his or her life, an annual
retirement benefit (the "Regular Benefit") equal to 25.0% of his or her Eligible
Compensation plus 0.4166666% of such Eligible Compensation for each full month
of service as an Independent Director or Trustee of any Adopting Fund in excess
of five years up to a maximum of 50.0% after ten years of service. The foregoing
percentages may be changed by the Board.(1) "Eligible Compensation" is one-fifth
of the total compensation earned by such Eligible Trustee for service to the
Adopting Fund in the five year period prior to the date of the Eligible
Trustee's retirement. Benefits under the retirement program are not secured or
funded by the Adopting Funds.
 

    The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to the
Trust's Independent Trustees by the Trust for the fiscal year ended January 31,
1998 and by the 57 Dean Witter Funds (including the Trust) for the year ended
December 31, 1997, and the estimated retirement benefits for the Trust's
Independent Trustees, to commence upon their retirement, from the Trust as of
January 31, 1998 and from the 57 Dean Witter Funds as of December 31, 1997.

 
          RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM THE TRUST AND ALL DEAN WITTER FUNDS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                       FOR ALL ADOPTING FUNDS
                                     ---------------------------                          ESTIMATED ANNUAL
                                      ESTIMATED                                               BENEFITS
                                       CREDITED                    RETIREMENT BENEFITS          UPON
                                        YEARS        ESTIMATED     ACCRUED AS EDPENSES     RETIREMENT(2)
                                      OF SERVICE     PERCENTAGE    --------------------   ----------------
                                          AT             OF                    BY ALL      FROM   FROM ALL
                                      RETIREMENT      ELIGIBLE      BY THE    ADOPTING     THE    ADOPTING
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE          (MAXIMUM 10)   COMPENSATION    TRUST       FUNDS     TRUST    FUNDS
- -----------------------------------  ------------   ------------   --------   --------    ------  --------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>       <C>     <C>     
Michael Bozic......................       10           50.0%       $  347      $20,499    $  825  $ 47,025
Edwin J. Garn......................       10           50.0           492       30,878       825    47,025
John R. Haire......................       10           50.0          (789)(3)  (19,823)(3) 2,260   127,897
Wayne E. Hedien                            9           42.5            52            0       701    39,971
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson..............       10           50.0           209       12,832       825    47,025
Michael E. Nugent..................       10           50.0           351       22,546       825    47,025
John L. Schroeder..................        8           41.7           667       39,350       693    39,504

</TABLE>

 
- ------------------------
(1) An Eligible Trustee may elect alternate payments of his or her retirement
    benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of such Eligible Trustee
    and his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible Trustee's retirement. The
    amount estimated to be payable under this method, through the remainder of
    the later of the lives of such Eligible Trustee and spouse, will be the
    actuarial equivalent of the Regular Benefit. In addition, the Eligible
    Trustee may elect that the surviving spouse's periodic payment of benefits
    will be equal to either 50% or 100% of the previous periodic amount, an
    election that, respectively, increases or decreases the previous periodic
    amount so that the resulting payments will be the actuarial equivalent of
    the Regular Benefit.
 
(2) Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also
    varies depending on the Trustee's elections described in Footnote (1) above.
 

(3) This number reflects the effect of the extension of Mr. Haire's term as
    Director or Trustee until June 1, 1998.

 
    As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the aggregate
number of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust owned by the Trust's
officers and Trustees as a group was less than 1 percent of the Trust's shares
of beneficial interest outstanding.
 
INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

    REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.  As discussed in the Prospectus, when cash may be
available to the Trust for only a few days, it may be invested by the Trust in
repurchase agreements until such time as it

 
                                       11
<PAGE>


may otherwise be invested or used for payments of obligations of the Trust.
These agreements, which may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Trust,
typically involve the acquisition by the Trust of debt securities from a selling
financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-
dealer. The agreement provides that the Trust will sell back to the institution,
and that the institution will repurchase, the underlying security
("collateral"), which is held by the Trust's custodian bank, at a specified
price and at a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven days from
the date of purchase. The Trust will receive interest from the institution until
the time when the repurchase is to occur. Although such date is deemed by the
Trust to be the maturity date of a repurchase agreement, the maturities of
securities subject to repurchase agreements are not subject to any limits and
may exceed thirteen months. While repurchase agreements involve certain risks
not associated with direct investments in debt securities, the Trust follows
procedures designed to minimize such risks. These procedures include effecting
repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established
financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the
Investment Manager. In addition, the value of the collateral underlying the
repurchase agreement will always be at least equal to the resale price, which
consists of the purchase price paid to the seller of the securities plus the
accrued resale premium which is defined as the amount specified in the
repurchase agreement or the daily amortization of the difference between the
purchase price and the resale price specified in the repurchase agreement. Such
collateral will consist entirely of securities that are direct obligations of,
or that are fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by, the United States
or any agency thereof, and/or certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances
which are eligible for acceptance by a Federal Reserve Bank, and, if the seller
is a bank, mortgage related securities (as such term is defined in section
3(a)(41) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that at the time the repurchase
agreement is entered into are rated in the highest rating category by the
"Requisite NRSROs" (see "Purchase of Trust Shares-- Determination of Net Asset
Value"). Additionally, the collateral must qualify the repurchase agreement for
preferential treatment under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act of the Federal
Bankruptcy Code. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial
institution, the Trust will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the
exercising of the Trust's right to liquidate such collateral could involve
certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a
default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the
Trust could suffer a loss. It is the current policy of the Trust not to invest
in repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such
investment, together with any other illiquid assets held by the Trust, amounts
to more than 10% of its total assets. The Trust's investments in repurchase
agreements may, at times, be substantial when, in the view of the Investment
Manager, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.

 
    REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.  As discussed in the Prospectus, the Trust
may also use reverse repurchase agreements as part of its investment strategy.
Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by the Trust of portfolio assets
concurrently with an agreement by the Trust to repurchase the same assets at a
later date at a fixed price. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is that
the Trust can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio
securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while
it will be able to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio
securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if the interest cost to the
Trust of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of obtaining
the cash otherwise. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be
available, and the Trust intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only
when it will be to its advantage to do so. The Trust will establish a segregated
account with its custodian bank in which it will maintain cash or cash
equivalents or other portfolio securities equal in value to its obligations in
respect of reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are
considered borrowings by the Trust and for purposes other than meeting
redemptions may not exceed 5% of the Trust's total assets.
 
    LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES.  Subject to investment restriction (11)
below, the Trust may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and financial
institutions, provided that cash equal to at least 100% of the market value of
the securities loaned is deposited by the borrower with the Trust and is
maintained each business day in a segregated account pursuant to applicable
regulations. While such securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Trust
any income accruing thereon, and the Trust may
 
                                       12

<PAGE>

invest the cash collateral in portfolio securities, thereby earning additional
income. The Trust will not lend its portfolio securities if such loans are not
permitted by the laws or regulations of any state in which its shares are
qualified for sale and will not lend more than 10% of the value of its total
assets. Loans would be subject to termination by the Trust on four business
days' notice, or by the borrower on one day's notice. Borrowed securities must
be returned when the loan is terminated. Any gain or loss in the market price of
the borrowed securities which occurs during the term of the loan inures to the
Trust and its shareholders. The Trust may pay reasonable finders, borrowers,
administrative, and custodial fees in connection with a loan.
 

    WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY SECURITIES.  As discussed in the
Prospectus, from time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Trust may
purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, i.e., delivery
and payment can take place between a month and 120 days after the date of the
transaction. At the time the Trust makes the commitment to purchase securities
on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, it will record the transaction and
thereafter reflect the value, each day, of such security in determining its net
asset value. At the time of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or
less than the purchase price. The Trust will also establish a segregated account
with its custodian bank in which it will maintain cash or cash equivalents or
other portfolio securities equal in value to commitments for such when-issued or
delayed delivery securities.

 
    The foregoing strategies, and those discussed in the Prospectus under the
heading "Investment Objectives and Policies," may subject the Trust to the
effects of interest rate fluctuations to a greater extent than would occur if
such strategies were not used. While these strategies may be used by the Trust
if, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, they will be advantageous to the
Trust, the Trust will be free to reduce or eliminate its activity in any of
those areas without changing its fundamental investment policies. Certain
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, related regulations, and rulings of the
Internal Revenue Service may also have the effect of reducing the extent to
which the previously cited techniques may be used by the Trust, either
individually or in combination. Furthermore, there is no assurance that any of
these strategies or any other strategies and methods of investment available to
the Trust will result in the achievement of its objectives.
 
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    The Trust has adopted certain investment restrictions as fundamental
policies which cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of a
"majority" of the outstanding shares of the Trust, as defined in the Act.
Majority is defined in the Act as the lesser of (a) sixty-seven percent or more
of the shares present at a meeting of shareholders, if the holders of more than
fifty percent of the outstanding shares of the Trust are present or represented
by proxy, or (b) more than fifty percent of the outstanding shares.
 
    These restrictions provide that the Trust may not:
 
        1.  Purchase common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, other equity
    securities, corporate bonds, municipal bonds or industrial revenue bonds;
 
        2.  Borrow money, except from banks for temporary or emergency purposes,
    including the meeting of redemption requests which might otherwise require
    the untimely disposition of securities; or through its transactions in
    reverse repurchase agreements. Borrowing in the aggregate, including reverse
    repurchase agreements, may not exceed 20%, and borrowing for purposes other
    than meeting redemptions may not exceed 5% of the value of the Trust's total
    assets (including the amount borrowed), less liabilities (not including the
    amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made. Borrowings in excess of
    5% will be repaid before additional investments are made;
 
        3.  Pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its assets,
    except in an amount up to 10% of the value of its net assets, but only to
    secure borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes;
 
                                       13

<PAGE>

        4.  Sell securities short or purchase securities on margin;
 
        5.  Write or purchase put or call options;
 
        6.  Underwrite the securities of other issuers or purchase restricted
    securities except insofar as the Trust may enter into any repurchase or
    reverse repurchase agreements;
 
        7.  Purchase or sell real estate, real estate investment trust
    securities, commodities or commodity contracts or oil and gas interests;
 
        8.  Make loans to others except through the purchase of qualified debt
    obligations, loans of portfolio securities and entry into repurchase
    agreements referred to under "Investment Practices and Policies" above and
    "Investment Objectives and Policies" in the Prospectus;
 
        9.  Issue senior securities as defined in the Act except insofar as the
    Trust may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of: (a)
    entering into any repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement; (b) borrowing
    money in accordance with restrictions described above; or (c) lending
    portfolio securities;
 
        10. Invest in securities of other investment companies, except as they
    may be acquired as part of a merger, consolidation, acquisition of assets or
    plan of reorganization;
 
        11. Lend its portfolio securities in excess of 10% of its total assets.
    Any loans of portfolio securities will be made according to guidelines
    established by the Trustees, including maintenance of cash collateral of the
    borrower equal at all times to the current market value of the securities
    loaned.
 

    Notwithstanding any other investment policy or restriction, the Trust may
seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing all or substantially all
of its assets in another investment company having substantially the same
investment objectives and policies as the Trust.

 
    If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment, a
later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from a change in values of
portfolio securities or amount of total or net assets will not constitute a
violation of any of the foregoing restrictions.
 
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Subject to the general supervision by the Trustees of the Trust, the
Investment Manager is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for
the Trust, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and
the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of
portfolio securities are normally transacted through issuers, underwriters or
major dealers in U.S. Government securities acting as principals. Such
transactions are made on a net basis and do not involve payment of brokerage
commissions. The cost of securities purchased from an underwriter usually
includes a commission paid by the issuer to the underwriters; transactions with
dealers normally reflect the spread between bid and asked prices. The Trust has
never paid any brokerage commissions.
 

    The Investment Manager currently serves as investment manager to a number of
clients, including other investment companies, and may in the future act as
investment manager or adviser to others. It is the practice of the Investment
Manager to cause purchase and sale transactions to be allocated among the Trust
and others whose assets it manages in such manner as it deems equitable. In
making such allocations among the Trust and other client accounts, various
factors may be considered, including the respective investment objectives, the
relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the
availability of cash for investment, the size of investment commitments
generally held and the opinions of the persons responsible for managing the
portfolios of the Trust and other client accounts. In the case of certain
initial and secondary public offerings, the Investment Manager may utilize a pro
rata allocation process based on the size of the Dean Witter Funds involved and
the number of shares available from the public offering.

 
    The policy of the Trust regarding purchases and sales of securities for its
portfolio is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most
favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions.
 
                                       14

<PAGE>

Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a
stock exchange, the Trust's policy is to pay commissions which are considered
fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible
commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Trust believes that a requirement
always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective
portfolio management and preclude the Trust and the Investment Manager from
obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to
determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction,
the Investment Manager relies upon its experience and knowledge regarding
commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in
evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker
effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and
imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for those services is not
ascertainable.
 
    In seeking to implement the Trust's policies, the Investment Manager effects
transactions with those brokers and dealers who the Investment Manager believes
provide the most favorable prices and are capable of providing efficient
executions. If the Investment Manager believes such prices and executions are
obtainable from more than one broker or dealer, it may give consideration to
placing portfolio transactions with those brokers and dealers who also furnish
research and other services to the Trust or the Investment Manager. Such
services may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the following:
information as to the availability of securities for purchase or sale;
statistical or factual information or opinions pertaining to investment; wire
services; and appraisals or evaluations of portfolio securities.
 
    The information and services received by the Investment Manager from brokers
and dealers may be of benefit to the Investment Manager in the management of
accounts of some of its other clients and may not in all cases benefit the Trust
directly. While the receipt of such information and services is useful in
varying degrees and would generally reduce the amount of research or services
otherwise performed by the Investment Manager and thereby reduce its expenses,
it is of indeterminable value and the management fee paid to the Investment
Manager is not reduced by any amount that may be attributable to the value of
such services.
 

    Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Trust
may effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments with DWR.
The Trust will limit its transactions with DWR to U.S. Government and Government
Agency Securities. Such transactions will be effected with DWR only when the
price available from DWR is better than that available from other dealers. The
Trust did not effect any such transactions with DWR during its fiscal years
ended January 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

 

    Consistent with the policy described above, brokerage transactions in
securities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may be
effected through DWR, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and other brokers and
dealers that are affiliates of the Investment Manager. In order for an
affiliated broker or dealer to effect any portfolio transactions for the Trust,
the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by the affiliated broker or
dealer must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees or other
remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with comparable transactions
involving similar securities being purchased or sold on an exchange during a
comparable period of time. This standard would allow the affiliated broker or
dealer to receive no more than the remuneration which would be expected to be
received by an unaffiliated broker in a commensurate arm's length transaction.
Furthermore, the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who
are not "interested" Trustees, have adopted procedures which are reasonably
designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an
affiliated broker or dealer are consistent with the foregoing standard. The
Trust has never paid any brokerage commissions to an affiliated broker or
dealer.

 
    Portfolio turnover rate is defined as the lesser of the value of the
securities purchased or securities sold, excluding all securities whose
maturities at time of acquisition were one year or less, divided by the average
monthly value of such securities owned during the year. Based on this
definition, it is anticipated that the Trust's policy of investing in government
securities with remaining maturities of less than one year will not result in a
quantifiable portfolio turnover rate. However, because of the short-term nature
of the Trust's portfolio securities, it is anticipated that the number of
purchases and sales or maturities of
 
                                       15

<PAGE>

such securities will be substantial. Nevertheless, as brokerage commissions are
not normally charged on purchases and sales of such securities, the large number
of these transactions does not have an adverse effect upon the net yield and net
asset value of the shares of the Trust.
 
PURCHASE OF TRUST SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

    As discussed in the Prospectus, the Trust offers its shares for sale to the
public on a continuous basis, without a sales charge. Pursuant to a Distribution
Agreement between the Trust and Dean Witter Distributors Inc. (the
"Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of MSDWD, shares of the Trust are distributed by the Distributor and
through certain selected broker-dealers who have entered into selected dealer
agreements with the Distributor ("Selected Broker-Dealers") at an offering price
equal to the net asset value per share next calculated following receipt of an
effective purchase order (accompanied by Federal Funds). Dealers in the
securities markets in which the Trust will invest usually require immediate
payment in Federal Funds. Since the payment by a Trust shareholder for his or
her other shares cannot be invested until it is converted into and available to
the Trust in Federal Funds, the Trust requires such payments to be so available
before a share purchase order can be considered effective. All checks submitted
for payment are accepted subject to collection at full face value in United
States funds and must be drawn in United States dollars on a United States bank.

 

    The Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who
are not and were not at the time of their vote "interested persons" (as defined
in the Act) of either party to the Distribution Agreement (the "Independent
Trustees"), approved, at its meeting held on April 24, 1997, the current
Distribution Agreement appointing the Distributor as exclusive distributor of
the Trust's shares and providing for the Distributor to bear distribution
expenses not borne by the Trust. By its terms, the Distribution Agreement has an
initial term ending April 30, 1998, and will remain in effect from year to year
thereafter if approved by the Board. The current Distribution Agreement took
effect on May 31, 1997 upon the consummation of the merger of Dean Witter,
Discover & Co. with Morgan Stanley Group Inc. and is substantially identical to
the Trust's prior Distribution Agreement except for its dates of effectiveness
and termination.

 

    SHAREHOLDER INVESTMENT ACCOUNT.  Upon the purchase of shares of the Trust, a
Shareholder Investment Account is opened for the investor on the books of the
Trust, maintained by the Trust's Transfer Agent, Dean Witter Trust FSB (the
"Transfer Agent"). This is an open account in which shares owned by the investor
are credited by the Transfer Agent in lieu of issuance of a share certificate.
Whenever a shareholder-instituted transaction takes place in the Shareholder
Investment Account directly through the Transfer Agent, the shareholder will be
mailed a written confirmation of such transaction.

 
    DIRECT INVESTMENTS THROUGH TRANSFER AGENT.  A shareholder may make
additional investments in shares of the Trust at any time through the
Shareholder Investment Account by sending a check, payable to Dean Witter U.S.
Government Money Market Trust, in any amount not less than $50, directly to the
Transfer Agent. The shares so purchased will be credited to the Shareholder
Investment Account.
 
    ACCOUNT STATEMENTS.  All purchases of shares of the Trust will be credited
to the shareholder in a Shareholder Investment Account maintained for the
shareholder by the Transfer Agent in full and fractional shares of the Trust
(rounded to the nearest 1/100 of a share, with the exception of purchases made
through reinvestment of dividends, which are rounded to the last 1/100 of a
share). A confirmation will be mailed to the shareholder after each shareholder
instituted purchase or redemption transaction effected through the Transfer
Agent. A quarterly statement of the account is sent to all shareholders.
 

    The Trust and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any order for the
purchase of shares of the Trust. In addition, the offering of shares of the
Trust may be suspended at any time and resumed at any time thereafter.

 
                                       16

<PAGE>

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
 

    As discussed in the Prospectus under the caption "Exchange Privilege", an
Exchange Privilege exists whereby investors who have purchased shares of any of
the Dean Witter Funds that are multiple class funds ("Dean Witter Multi-Class
Funds"), shares of Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust and Dean
Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust, which are Dean Witter Funds sold with a front-end
sales charge ("FSC Funds"), and shares of Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income
Fund Inc. ("Global Short-Term"), which is a Dean Witter Fund offered with a
contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC"), will be permitted, after the shares
of the fund acquired by purchase (not by exchange or dividend reinvestment) have
been held for 30 days, to redeem all or part of their shares in that fund, have
the proceeds invested in shares of the Trust, Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income
Trust, Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily
Income Trust and Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust (which five
funds are called "money market funds") or Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury
Trust, Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust, Dean Witter Short-Term Bond
Fund and Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust (these nine funds,
including the Trust, are collectively referred to herein as the "Exchange
Funds"). There is no waiting period for exchanges of shares acquired by exchange
or dividend reinvestment. Shares of the Exchange Funds received in an exchange
for shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund may be redeemed and exchanged only
for shares of the corresponding Class of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or for
shares of one of the other Exchange Funds, provided that shares of the Exchange
Funds received in an exchange for Class A shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class
Fund may also be redeemed and exchanged for shares of a FSC Fund, and shares of
the Exchange Funds received in an exchange for Class B shares of a Dean Witter
Multi-Class Fund may also be redeemed and exchanged for shares of Global
Short-Term. In addition, shares of the Exchange Funds received in an exchange
for shares of a FSC Fund may be redeemed and exchanged for Class A shares of a
Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or for shares of one of the other Exchange Funds,
and shares of the Exchange Funds received in an exchange for shares of Global
Short-Term may be redeemed and exchanged for Class B shares of a Dean Witter
Multi-Class Fund or for shares of one of the other Exchange Funds. Ultimately,
any applicable CDSC will have to be paid upon redemption of shares originally
purchased from Global Short-Term or a Class of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund
that imposes a CDSC. An exchange will be treated for federal income tax purposes
the same as a repurchase or redemption of shares, on which the shareholder may
realize a capital gain or loss.

 
    Any new account established through the Exchange Privilege will have the
same registration and cash dividend or dividend reinvestment plan as the present
account, unless the Transfer Agent receives written notification to the
contrary. For telephone exchanges, the exact registration of the existing
account and the account number must be provided.
 

    When shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or Global Short-Term are
exchanged for shares of the Trust or any other Exchange Funds, the exchange is
executed at no charge to the shareholder, without the imposition of the CDSC at
the time of the exchange. During the period of time the shareholder remains in
the Exchange Fund (calculated from the last day of the month in which the
Exchange Fund shares were acquired), the holding period or "year since purchase
payment made" is frozen. When shares are redeemed out of the Exchange Fund, they
will be subject to a CDSC which would be based upon the period of time the
shareholder held shares in a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or in Global
Short-Term. However, in the case of shares exchanged into an Exchange Fund on or
after April 23, 1990, upon redemption of shares which results in a CDSC being
imposed, a credit (not to exceed the amount of the CDSC) will be given in an
amount equal to the Exchange Fund 12b-1 distribution fees, if any, incurred on
or after that date which are attributable to those shares. Shareholders
acquiring shares of an Exchange Fund pursuant to this exchange privilege may
exchange those shares back into a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or Global
Short-Term from the Exchange Fund, with no CDSC being imposed on such exchange.
The holding period previously frozen when shares were first exchanged for shares
of an Exchange Fund resumes on the last day of the month in which shares of a
Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or Global Short-Term are reacquired. Thus, a CDSC
is imposed only upon an ultimate redemption, based upon the time (calculated as
described above) the shareholder was invested in a Dean Witter

 
                                       17

<PAGE>

Multi-Class Fund or in Global Short-Term. In the case of exchanges of Class A
shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund that are subject to a CDSC, the holding
period also includes the time (calculated as described above) the shareholder
was invested in a FSC fund.

 

    When shares initially purchased in a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund or in
Global Short-Term are exchanged for shares of a Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund,
shares of Global Short-Term, shares of a FSC Fund, or shares of an Exchange
Fund, the date of purchase of the shares of the fund exchanged into, for
purposes of the CDSC upon redemption, will be the last day of the month in which
the shares being exchanged were originally purchased. In allocating the purchase
payments between funds for purposes of the CDSC, the amount which represents the
current net asset value of shares at the time of the exchange which were (i)
purchased more than one, three or six years (depending on the CDSC schedule
applicable to the shares) prior to the exchange, (ii) originally acquired
through reinvestment of dividends or distributions and (iii) acquired in
exchange for shares of FSC Funds, or for shares of other Dean Witter Funds for
which shares of FSC Funds have been exchanged (all such shares called "Free
Shares"), will be exchanged first. After an exchange, all dividends earned on
shares in the Exchange Funds will be considered Free Shares. If the exchanged
amount exceeds the value of such Free Shares, an exchange is made, on a
block-by-block basis, of non-Free Shares held for the longest period of time
(except that if shares held for identical periods of time but subject to
different CDSC schedules are held in the same Exchange Privilege account, the
shares of that block that are subject to a lower CDSC rate will be exchanged
prior to the shares of that block that are subject to a higher CDSC rate).
Shares equal to any appreciation in the value of non-Free Shares exchanged will
be treated as Free Shares, and the amount of the purchase payments for the
non-Free Shares of the fund exchanged into will be equal to the lesser of (a)
the purchase payments for, or (b) the current net asset value of, the exchanged
non-Free Shares. If an exchange between funds would result in exchange of only
part of a particular block of non-Free Shares, then shares equal to any
appreciation in the value of the block (up to the amount of the exchange) will
be treated as Free Shares and exchanged first, and the purchase payment for that
block will be allocated on a pro rata basis between the non-Free Shares of that
block to be retained and the non-Free Shares to be exchanged. The prorated
amount of such purchase payment attributable to the retained non-Free Shares
will remain as the purchase payment for such shares, and the amount of purchase
payment for the exchanged non-Free Shares will be equal to the lesser of (a) the
prorated amount of the purchase payment for, or (b) the current net asset value
of, those exchanged non-Free Shares. Based upon the exchange procedures
described in the Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund Prospectus under the caption
"Purchase of Fund Shares" and in the Global Short-Term Prospectus under the
caption "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge," any applicable CDSC will be imposed
upon the ultimate redemption of shares of any fund, regardless of the number of
exchanges since those shares were originally purchased.

 
    With respect to the redemption or repurchase of shares of the Trust, the
application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the Trust or any other
of the funds and the general administration of the Exchange Privilege, the
Transfer Agent acts as agent for the Distributor and for the shareholder's
Selected Broker-Dealer, if any, in the performance of such functions. With
respect to exchanges, redemptions or repurchases, the Transfer Agent shall be
liable for its own negligence and not for the default or negligence of its
correspondents or for losses in transit. The Trust shall not be liable for any
default or negligence of the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or any Selected
Broker-Dealer.
 
    Exchange Privilege accounts may also be maintained for shareholders of the
money market funds who acquired their shares in exchange for shares of various
TCW/DW Funds, a group of funds distributed by the Distributor for which TCW
Funds Management, Inc. serves as Adviser, under the terms and conditions
described in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of each
TCW/DW Fund.
 

    The Distributor and any Selected Broker-Dealer have authorized and appointed
the Transfer Agent to act as their agent in connection with the application of
proceeds of any redemption of Trust shares to the purchase of the shares of any
other fund and the general administration of the Exchange Privilege. No
commission or discounts will be paid to the Distributor or any Selected
Broker-Dealer for any transactions pursuant to this Exchange Privilege.

 
                                       18


<PAGE>

    Shares of the Trust acquired pursuant to the Exchange Privilege will be held
by the Trust's Transfer Agent in an Exchange Privilege account distinct from any
account of the same shareholder who may have acquired shares of the Trust
directly. A shareholder of the Trust will not be permitted to make additional
investments in such Exchange Privilege account, except through the exchange of
additional shares of the fund in which the shareholder had initially invested,
and the proceeds of any shares redeemed from such Exchange Privilege account may
not thereafter be placed back into that Exchange Privilege account, except by
utilizing the Reinstatement Privilege (see "Redemptions and Repurchases --
Reinstatement Privilege" in the Dean Witter Multi-Class Fund, Global Short-Term
or FSC Fund Prospectus). If such a shareholder desires to make any additional
investments in the Trust, a separate account will be maintained for receipt of
such investments. The Trust will have additional costs for account maintenance
if a shareholder has more than one account with the Trust.

 
    The Trust also maintains Exchange Privilege Accounts for shareholders who
acquired their shares of the Trust pursuant to exchange privileges offered by
other investment companies with which the Investment Manager is not affiliated.
The Trust also expects to make available such exchange privilege accounts to
other investment companies that may hereafter be managed by the Investment
Manager.
 

    Exchanges are subject to the minimum investment requirement and any other
conditions imposed by each fund. (The minimum initial investment for the
Exchange Privilege account of each Class is $10,000 for Dean Witter Short-Term
U.S. Treasury Trust and $5,000 for Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust, Dean
Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc., Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Trust and
Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust, although those funds may, at
their discretion, accept initial investments of as low as $1,000. The minimum
initial investment for the Exchange Privilege account of each Class is $5,000
for Dean Witter Special Value Fund. The minimum initial investment for the
Exchange Privilege account of each Class of the Trust and all other Dean Witter
Funds for which the Exchange Privilege is available is $1,000.) Upon exchange
into an Exchange Fund, the shares of that fund will be held in a special
Exchange Privilege Account separately from accounts of those shareholders who
have acquired their shares directly from that fund. As a result, certain
services normally available to shareholders of money market funds, including the
check writing feature, will not be available for funds held in that account.

 

    The Trust and each of the other Dean Witter Funds may limit the number of
times this Exchange Privilege may be exercised by any investor within a
specified period of time. Also, the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or
revised at any time by any of the Dean Witter Funds, upon such notice as may be
required by applicable regulatory agencies (presently sixty days' prior written
notice for termination or material revision), provided that six months' prior
written notice of termination will be given to the shareholders who hold shares
of Exchange Funds or TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust, pursuant to
this Exchange Privilege, and provided further that the Exchange Privilege may be
terminated or materially revised at times (a) when the New York Stock Exchange
is closed for other than customary weekends and holidays, (b) when trading on
the Exchange is restricted, (c) when an emergency exists as a result of which
disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or
it is not reasonably practicable for the Trust fairly to determine the value of
its net assets, (d) during any other period when the Securities and Exchange
Commission by order so permits (provided that applicable rules and regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission shall govern as to whether the
conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist), or (e) if the Trust would be unable
to invest amounts effectively in accordance with its objective, policies and
restrictions.

 
    For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders
should contact their DWR or other Selected Broker-Dealer account executive or
the Transfer Agent.
 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

    As discussed in the Prospectus, the Trust has entered into a Plan of
Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act with the Distributor whereby
the expenses of certain activities in connection with the distribution of shares
of the Trust are reimbursed. A Plan was adopted by the Board of Trustees on
March 3, 1982 and an amendment to the Plan was adopted on March 21, 1983. The
first amended

 
                                       19

<PAGE>

Plan was initially approved by the Trustees on January 18, 1983 and by the
Trust's shareholders on March 17, 1983. In each case the vote of the Board of
Trustees included a majority of the Trustees who are not and were not at the
time of their vote interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the Act) and
who have and had at the time of their vote no direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of the Plan (the "Independent 12b-1 Trustees"), cast
in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Plan.

 

    The Plan provides that the Distributor will bear the expense of all
promotional and distribution related activities on behalf of the Trust,
including personal services to shareholders and maintenance of shareholder
accounts, except for expenses that the Trustees determine to reimburse, as
described below. The Distributor, DWR, its affiliates and any other Selected
Broker-Dealer may be reimbursed for the following expenses and services under
the Plan: (1) compensation to and expenses of account executives and other
employees of the Distributor, DWR, its affiliates and other Selected
Broker-Dealers, including overhead and telephone expenses; (2) sales incentives
and bonuses to sales representatives and to marketing personnel in connection
with promoting sales of the Trust's shares; (3) expenses incurred in connection
with promoting sales of the Trust's shares; (4) preparing and distributing sales
literature; and (5) providing advertising and promotional activities, including
direct mail solicitation and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other
media advertisements.

 

    The Trust is authorized to reimburse specific expenses incurred or to be
incurred in promoting the distribution of the Trust's shares. Reimbursement is
made through payments at the end of each month. The amount of each monthly
payment may in no event exceed an amount equal to a payment at the annual rate
of 0.15 of 1% of the Trust's average daily net assets during the month. No
interest or other financing charges, if any, incurred on any distribution
expense incurred pursuant to the Plan will be reimbursable under the Plan. In
the case of all expenses other than expenses representing a residual to account
executives, such amounts shall be determined at the beginning of each calendar
quarter by the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees.
Expenses representing a residual to account executives may be reimbursed without
prior determination. In the event that the Distributor proposes that monies
shall be reimbursed for other than such expenses, then in making quarterly
determinations of the amounts that may be expended by the Trust, the Distributor
will provide and the Trustees will review a quarterly budget of projected
incremental distribution expenses to be incurred on behalf of the Trust,
together with a report explaining the purposes and anticipated benefits of
incurring such expenses. The Trustees will determine which particular expenses,
and the portions thereof, that may be borne by the Trust, and in making such a
determination shall consider the scope of the Distributor's commitment to
promoting the distribution of the Trust's shares.

 

    The Distributor has informed the Trust that the entire amount of the fees
payable by the Trust each year pursuant to the Plan is characterized as a
"service fee" under the Rules of the Association of the National Association of
Securities Dealers (of which the Distributor is a member). Such fee is a payment
made for personal service and/or maintenance of shareholder accounts.

 

    At their meeting held on October 30, 1992, the Trustees of the Trust,
including all of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees, approved certain amendments to
the Plan which took effect in January, 1993 and were designed to reflect the
fact that upon an internal reorganization, the share distribution activities
theretofore performed by the Trust or for the Trust by DWR were assumed by the
Distributor and DWR's sales activities are now performed pursuant to the terms
of a selected dealer agreement between the Distributor and DWR. The amendments
provide that payments under the Plan will be made to the Distributor rather than
to the Investment Manager as before the amendment, and that the Distributor in
turn is authorized to make payments to DWR, its affiliates or other Selected
Broker-Dealers (or direct that the Trust pay such entities directly). The
Distributor is also authorized to retain part of such fee as compensation for
its own distribution-related expenses. At their meeting held on July 23, 1997,
the Trustees of the Trust, including all of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees,
approved amendments to the Plan to change the provisions regarding quarterly
budgets.

 
                                       20

<PAGE>

    DWR's account executives are credited with an annual residual commission,
currently a residual of up to 0.10% of the current value of the respective
accounts for which they are the account executives of record. The residual is a
charge which reflects residual commissions paid by DWR to its account executives
and expenses of DWR associated with the sale and promotion of Trust shares and
the servicing of shareholders' accounts, including the expenses of operating
branch offices in connection with the servicing of shareholders' accounts, which
expenses include lease costs, the salaries and employee benefits of operations
and sales support personnel, utility costs, communications costs and the costs
of stationery and supplies and other expenses relating to branch office
servicing of shareholder accounts.

 

    The Trust accrued $861,859 to the Distributor pursuant to the Plan, for the
fiscal year ended January 31, 1998. This is 0.10 of 1% of the Trust's average
daily net assets for its fiscal year ended January 31, 1998. Based upon the
total amounts spent by the Distributor during the period, it is estimated that
the amount paid by the Trust for distribution was spent in approximately the
following ways: (i) advertising -- $-0-; (ii) printing and mailing prospectuses
to other than current shareholders -- $-0-; (iii) compensation to underwriters
- -- $-0-; (iv) compensation to dealers -- $-0-; (v) compensation to sales
personnel -- $-0-; and (vi) other, which includes payments to DWR for expenses
substantially all of which relate to compensation of sales personnel and
associated overhead expenses -- $861,859.

 

    Under the Plan, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering services
to the Trust, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is not
liable to the Trust or any of its shareholders for any error of judgment or
mistake of law or for any act or omission or for any losses sustained by the
Trust or its shareholders.

 

    Under the Plan, the Distributor provides the Trust, for review by the
Trustees, and the Trustees review, promptly after the end of each calendar
quarter, a written report regarding the incremental distribution expenses
incurred by the Distributor on behalf of the Trust during such calendar quarter,
which report includes: (1) an itemization of the types of expenses and the
purposes therefor; (2) the amounts of such expenses; and (3) a description of
the benefits derived by the Trust. In the Trustees' quarterly review of the Plan
they consider its continued appropriateness and the level of compensation
provided therein.

 

    The Plan will continue from year to year, provided such continuance is
approved annually by a vote of the Trustees, including a majority of the
Independent 12b-1 Trustees. The most recent continuance of the Plan for one
year, until April 30, 1998, was approved by the Board of Trustees, including a
majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees, at their meeting held on April 24,
1997. Any amendment to increase materially the maximum amount authorized to be
spent under the Plan must be approved by the shareholders of the Trust, and all
material amendments to the Plan must be approved by the Trustees in the manner
described above. The Plan may be terminated at any time, without payment of any
penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees or by a vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust (as
defined in the Act) on not more than thirty days' written notice to any other
party to the Plan. So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection or nomination
of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees is committed to the discretion of the
Independent 12b-1 Trustees.

 

    No interested person of the Trust nor any Trustee of the Trust who is not an
interested person of the Trust, as defined in the Act, had any direct or
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan except to the extent
that the Distributor, InterCapital, DWSC, DWR or certain of their employees may
be deemed to have such an interest as a result of benefits derived from the
successful operation of the Plan or as a result of receiving a portion of the
amounts expended thereunder by the Trust.

 
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
 
    As discussed in the Prospectus, the net asset value of the Trust is
determined once daily at 4:00 p.m., New York time (or, on days when the New York
Stock Exchange closes prior to 4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on each day
that the New York Stock Exchange is open. The New York Stock Exchange
 
                                       21

<PAGE>

currently observes the following holidays: New Year's Day, Reverend Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence
Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 
    The Trust utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio
securities for purposes of determining the net asset value of the shares of the
Trust. The Trust utilizes the amortized cost method in valuing its portfolio
securities even though the portfolio securities may increase or decrease in
market value, generally, in connection with changes in interest rates. The
amortized cost method of valuation involves valuing a security at its cost
adjusted by a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium,
regardless of the impact of fluctuating interest rates on the market value of
the instrument. While this method provides certainty in valuation, it may result
in periods during which value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or
lower than the price the Trust would receive if it sold the instrument. During
such periods, the yield to investors in the Trust may differ somewhat from that
obtained in a similar company which uses mark to market values for all its
portfolio securities. For example, if the use of amortized cost resulted in a
lower (higher) aggregate portfolio value on a particular day, a prospective
investor in the Trust would be able to obtain a somewhat higher (lower) yield
than would result from investment in such a similar company and existing
investors would receive less (more) investment income. The purpose of this
method of calculation is to facilitate the maintenance of a constant net asset
value per share of $1.00.
 
    The Trust's use of the amortized cost method to value its portfolio
securities and the maintenance of the per share net asset value of $1.00 is
permitted pursuant to Rule 2a-7 of the Act (the "Rule"), and is conditioned on
its compliance with various conditions including: (a) the Trustees are
obligated, as a particular responsibility within the overall duty of care owed
to the Trust's shareholders, to establish procedures reasonably designed, taking
into account current market conditions and the Trust's investment objectives, to
stabilize the net asset value per share as computed for the purpose of
distribution and redemption at $1.00 per share; (b) the procedures include (i)
calculation, at such intervals as the Trustees determine are appropriate and as
are reasonable in light of current market conditions, of the deviation, if any,
between net asset value per share using amortized cost to value portfolio
securities and net asset value per share based upon available market quotations
with respect to such portfolio securities; (ii) periodic review by the Trustees
of the amount of deviation as well as methods used to calculate it; and (iii)
maintenance of written records of the procedures, the Trustees' considerations
made pursuant to them and any actions taken upon such considerations; (c) the
Trustees should consider what steps should be taken, if any, in the event of a
difference of more than 1/2 of 1% between the two methods of valuation; and (d)
the Trustees should take such action as they deem appropriate (such as
shortening the average portfolio maturity, realizing gains or losses or, as
provided by the Declaration of Trust, reducing the number of the outstanding
shares of the Trust) to eliminate or reduce to the extent reasonably practicable
material dilution or other unfair results to investors or existing shareholders.
Any reduction of outstanding shares will be effected by having each shareholder
proportionately contribute to the Trust's capital the necessary shares that
represent the amount of excess upon such determination. Each shareholder will be
deemed to have agreed to such contribution in these circumstances by investment
in the Trust.
 
    The Rule further requires that the Trust limit its investments to U.S.
dollar-denominated instruments which the Trustees determine present minimal
credit risks and which are Eligible Securities as defined below. The Rule also
requires the Trust to maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity (not
more than 90 days) appropriate to its objective of maintaining a stable net
asset value of $1.00 per share and precludes the purchase of any instrument with
a remaining maturity of more than thirteen months. Should the disposition of a
portfolio security result in a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of
more than 90 days, the Trust would be required to invest its available cash in
such a manner as to reduce such maturity to 90 days or less as soon as
reasonably practicable.
 
    Generally, for purposes of the procedures adopted under the Rule, the
maturity of a portfolio instrument is deemed to be the period remaining
(calculated from the trade date or such other date on
 
                                       22

<PAGE>

which the Trust's interest in the instrument is subject to market action) until
the date noted on the face of the instrument as the date on which the principal
amount must be paid, or in the case of an instrument called for redemption, the
date on which the redemption payment must be made.
 
    A variable rate obligation that is subject to a demand feature is deemed to
have a maturity equal to the longer of the period remaining until the next
readjustment of the interest rate or the period remaining until the principal
amount can be recovered through demand. A floating rate instrument that is
subject to a demand feature is deemed to have a maturity equal to the period
remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand.
 
    A "NRSRO" is a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. The
term "Requisite NRSROs" means (i) any two NRSROs that have issued a rating with
respect to a security or class of debt obligations of an issuer, or (ii) if only
one NRSRO has issued a rating with respect to such security or issuer at the
time a fund purchases or rolls over the security, that NRSRO.
 
    An Eligible Security is generally defined in the Rule to mean (i) a security
with a remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less that has received a
short-term rating (or that has been issued by an issuer that has received a
short-term rating with respect to a class of debt obligations, or any debt
obligation within that class, that is comparable in priority and security with
the security) by the Requisite NRSROs in one of the two highest short-term
rating categories (within which there may be sub-categories or gradations
indicating relative standing); or (ii) a security: (A) that at the time of
issuance had a remaining maturity of more than 397 calendar days but that has a
remaining maturity of 397 calendar days or less; and (B) whose issuer has
received from the Requisite NRSROs a rating with respect to a class of debt
obligations (or any debt obligation within that class) that is now comparable in
priority and security with the security, in one of the two highest short-term
rating categories (within which there may be sub-categories or gradations
indicating relative standing); or (iii) an unrated security that is of
comparable quality to a security meeting the requirements of (i) or (ii) above,
as determined by the money market fund's board of directors.
 
    As permitted by the Rule, the Trustees have delegated to the Trust's
Investment Manager, subject to the Trustees' oversight pursuant to guidelines
and procedures adopted by the Trustees, the authority to determine which
securities present minimal credit risks and which unrated securities are
comparable in quality to rated securities.
 
    If the Trustees determine that it is no longer in the best interests of the
Trust and its shareholders to maintain a stable price of $1.00 per share, or if
the Trustees believe that maintaining such price no longer reflects a
market-based net asset value per share, the Trustees have the right to change
from an amortized cost basis of valuation to valuation based on market
quotations. The Trust will notify shareholders of any such change.
 
    The Trust will manage its portfolio in an effort to maintain a constant
$1.00 per share price, but it cannot assure that the value of its shares will
never deviate from this price. Since dividends from net investment income (and
net short-term capital gains, if any) are declared and reinvested on a daily
basis, the net asset value per share, under ordinary circumstances, is likely to
remain constant. Otherwise, realized and unrealized gains and losses will not be
distributed on a daily basis but will be reflected in the Trust's net asset
value. The amounts of such gains and losses will be considered by the Trustees
in determining the action to be taken to maintain the Trust's $1.00 per share
net asset value. Such action may include distribution at any time of part or all
of the then accumulated undistributed net realized capital gains, or reduction
or elimination of daily dividends by an amount equal to part or all of the then
accumulated net realized capital losses. However, if realized losses should
exceed the sum of net investment income plus realized gains on any day, the net
asset value per share on that day might decline below $1.00 per share. In such
circumstances, the Trust may reduce or eliminate the payment of daily dividends
for a period of time in an effort to restore the Trust's $1.00 per share net
asset value. A decline in prices of securities could result in significant
unrealized depreciation on a mark to market
 
                                       23

<PAGE>

basis. Under these circumstances the Trust may reduce or eliminate the payment
of dividends and utilize a net asset value per share as determined by using
available market quotations or reduce the number of its shares outstanding.
 
REDEMPTION OF TRUST SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    As discussed in the Prospectus, shares of the Trust may be redeemed at net
asset value at any time. When a redemption is made by check and a check is
presented to the Transfer Agent for payment, the Transfer Agent will redeem a
sufficient number of full and fractional shares in the shareholder's account to
cover the amount of the check. This enables the shareholder to continue earning
daily income dividends until the check has cleared.
 
    A check drawn by a shareholder against his or her account in the Trust
constitutes a request for redemption of a number of shares sufficient to provide
proceeds equal to the amount of the check. Payment of the proceeds will normally
be made on the next business day after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the
check in proper form. If a check is presented for payment to the Transfer Agent
by a shareholder or payee in person, the Transfer Agent will make payment by
means of a check drawn on the Trust's account or, in the case of a shareholder
payee, to the shareholder's predesignated bank account, but will not make
payment in cash.
 
    The Trust reserves the right to suspend redemptions or postpone the date of
payment (1) for any periods during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed
(other than for customary weekend and holiday closings), (2) when trading on
that Exchange is restricted or an emergency exists, as determined by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, so that disposal of the Trust's investments
or determination of the Trust's net asset value is not reasonably practicable,
or (3) for such other periods as the Commission by order may permit for the
protection of the Trust's investors.
 
    As discussed in the Prospectus, due to the relatively high cost of handling
small investments, the Trust reserves the right to redeem, at net asset value,
the shares of any shareholder (other than shares held in an Individual
Retirement Account or custodial account under Section 403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue Code) whose shares due to redemptions by the shareholder have a value of
less than $500 or such lesser amounts as may be fixed by the Trustees. However,
before the Trust redeems such shares and sends the proceeds to the shareholder,
it will notify the shareholder that the value of his or her shares is less than
$500 and allow him or her sixty days to make an additional investment in an
amount which will increase the value of his or her account to $500 or more
before the redemption is processed.
 

    It has been and remains the Trust's policy and practice that, if checks for
redemption proceeds remain uncashed, no interest will accrue on amounts
represented by such uncashed checks.

 
    SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN.  As discussed in the Prospectus, a systematic
withdrawal plan is available for shareholders who own or purchase shares of the
Trust having a minimum value of at least $5,000, which provides for monthly or
quarterly checks in any dollar amount not less than $25 or in any whole
percentage of the account balance, on an annualized basis. The Transfer Agent
acts as agent for the shareholder in tendering to the Trust for redemption
sufficient full and fractional shares to provide the amount of the periodic
withdrawal payment designated in the application. The shares will be redeemed at
their net asset value determined, at the shareholder's option, on the tenth or
twenty-fifth day (or next business day) of the relevant month or quarter and
normally a check for the proceeds will be mailed by the Transfer Agent within
five days after the date of redemption. The withdrawal plan may be terminated at
any time by the Trust.
 
    Any shareholder who wishes to have payments under the withdrawal plan made
to a third party, or sent to an address other than the one listed on the
account, must send complete written instructions to the Transfer Agent to enroll
in the withdrawal plan. The shareholder's signature on such instructions must be
guaranteed by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the Transfer Agent
(shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent for a determination as to
whether a particular institution is such an eligible guarantor). A shareholder
may, at any time, change the amount and interval of withdrawal payments
 
                                       24

<PAGE>

through his or her Account Executive or by written notification to the Transfer
Agent. In addition, the party and/or the address to which checks are mailed may
be changed by written notification to the Transfer Agent, with signature
guarantees required in the manner described above. The shareholder may also
terminate the withdrawal plan at any time by written notice to the Transfer
Agent. In the event of such termination, the account will be continued as a
regular shareholder investment account. The shareholder may also redeem all or
part of the shares held in the withdrawal plan account (see "Redemption of Trust
Shares" in the Prospectus) at any time. If the number of shares redeemed is
greater than the number of shares paid as dividends, such redemptions may, of
course, eventually result in liquidation of all the shares in the account. The
systematic withdrawal plan is not available for shares held in an Exchange
Privilege Account.
 
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

    DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.  As discussed in the Prospectus, the Trust
intends to distribute all of its daily net investment income (and net short-term
capital gains, if any) to shareholders of record as of the close of business the
preceding business day. Net income, for dividend purposes, includes accrued
interest and amortization of acquisition, original issue and market discount,
plus or minus any short-term gains or losses realized on sales of portfolio
securities, less the amortization of market premium and the estimated expenses
of the Trust. Net income will be calculated immediately prior to the
determination of net asset value per share of the Trust.

 
    The Trustees of the Trust may revise the dividend policy, or postpone the
payment of dividends, if the Trust should have or anticipate any large
unexpected expense, loss or fluctuation in net assets which, in the opinion of
the Trustees, might have a significant adverse effect on shareholders. On
occasion, in order to maintain a constant $1.00 per share net asset value, the
Trustees may direct that the number of outstanding shares be reduced in each
shareholder's account. Such reduction may result in taxable income to a
shareholder in excess of the net increase (i.e., dividends, less such
reductions), if any, in the shareholder's account for a period of time.
Furthermore, such reduction may be realized as a capital loss when the shares
are liquidated.
 

    It has been and remains the Trust's policy and practice that, if checks for
dividends or distributions paid in cash remain uncashed, no interest will accrue
on amounts represented by such uncashed checks.

 
    TAXES.  The Trust has qualified and intends to remain qualified as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. If
so qualified, the Trust will not be subject to federal income taxes, provided
that it distributes all of its taxable net investment income and all of its net
realized gains.
 

    Shareholders will be subject to federal income tax on dividends paid from
interest income derived from taxable securities and on distributions of realized
net short-term capital gains and long-term capital gains. Interest and realized
net short-term capital gains distributions are taxable to the shareholder as
ordinary dividend income regardless of whether the shareholder receives such
distributions in additional shares or in cash. Since the Trust's income is
expected to be derived entirely from interest rather than dividends, none of
such distributions will be eligible for the federal dividends received deduction
available to corporations. Realized net long-term capital gains distributions,
which are taxable as long-term capital gains, are not eligible for the dividends
received deduction.

 
    Under present Massachusetts law, the Trust is not subject to any
Massachusetts income tax during any fiscal year in which the Trust qualifies as
a regulated investment company. The Trust might be subject to Massachusetts
income taxes for any taxable year in which it does not so qualify as a regulated
investment company.
 
    The Trust may be subject to tax or taxes in certain states where it does
business. Furthermore, in those states which have income tax laws, the tax
treatment of the Trust and of shareholders with respect to distributions by the
Trust may differ from federal tax treatment.
 
                                       25

<PAGE>

    Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding specific
questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
 
INFORMATION ON COMPUTATION OF YIELD
 

    The Trust's current yield for the seven days ending January 31, 1998 was
4.86%. The effective annual yield on 4.86% is 4.98%, assuming daily compounding.

 
    The Trust's annualized current yield, as may be quoted from time to time in
advertisements and other communications to shareholders and potential investors,
is computed by determining, for a stated seven-day period, the net change,
exclusive of capital changes and including the value of additional shares
purchased with dividends and any dividends declared therefrom (which reflect
deductions of all expenses of the Trust such as management fees), in the value
of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one share at the
beginning of the period, and dividing the difference by the value of the account
at the beginning of the base period to obtain the base period return, and then
multiplying the base period return by (365/7).
 
    The Trust's annualized effective yield, as may be quoted from time to time
in advertisements and other communications to shareholders and potential
investors, is computed by determining (for the same stated seven-day period as
the current yield), the net change, exclusive of capital changes and including
the value of additional shares purchased with dividends and any dividends
declared therefrom (which reflect deductions of all expenses of the Trust such
as management fees), in the value of a hypothetical pre-existing account having
a balance of one share at the beginning of the period, and dividing the
difference by the value of the account at the beginning of the base period to
obtain the base period return, and then compounding the base period return by
adding 1, raising the sum to a power equal to 365 divided by 7, and subtracting
1 from the result.
 
    The yields quoted in any advertisement or other communication should not be
considered a representation of the yields of the Trust in the future since the
yield is not fixed. Actual yields will depend not only on the type, quality and
maturities of the investments held by Trust and changes in interest rates on
such investments, but also on changes in the Trust's expenses during the period.
 
    Yield information may be useful in reviewing the performance of the Trust
and for providing a basis for comparison with other investment alternatives.
However, unlike bank deposits or other investments which typically pay a fixed
yield for a stated period of time, the Trust's yield fluctuates.
 

    The Trust may also advertise the growth of hypothetical investments of
$10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Trust by adding the sum of all
distributions on 10,000, 50,000 or 100,000 shares of the Trust since inception
to $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000, as the case may be. Investments of $10,000,
$50,000 and $100,000 in the Trust at inception (February 17, 1982) would have
grown to $25,736, $126,680 and $257,360, respectively, at January 31, 1998.

 
SHARES OF THE TRUST
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

    The shareholders of the Trust are entitled to a full vote for each full
share held. All of the Trustees have been elected by the shareholders of the
Trust, most recently at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on May 21, 1997.
The Trustees themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms of
office of the Trustees (as provided for in the Declaration of Trust), and they
may at any time lengthen or shorten their own terms or make their terms of
unlimited duration and appoint their own successors, provided that always at
least a majority of the Trustees has been elected by the shareholders of the
Trust. Under certain circumstances, the Trustees may be removed by action of the
Trustees. The shareholders also have the right, under certain circumstances, to
remove the Trustees. The voting rights of shareholders are not cumulative, so
that holders of more than fifty percent of the shares voting can, if they
choose, elect all Trustees being selected, while the holders of the remaining
shares would be unable to elect any Trustees.

 
                                       26

<PAGE>

    The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to authorize the creation of
additional series of shares (the proceeds of which would be invested in
separate, independently managed portfolios) and additional classes of shares
within any series (which would be used to distinguish among the rights of
different categories of shareholders, as might be required by future regulations
or other unforeseen circumstances). The Trustees have not presently authorized
any such additional series or classes of shares.
 
    The Declaration of Trust further provides that no Trustee, officer, employee
or agent of the Trust is liable to the Trust or to a shareholder, nor is any
Trustee, officer, employee or agent liable to any third persons in connection
with the affairs of the Trust, except as such liability may arise from his, her
or its own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless
disregard of his, her or its duties. It also provides that all third persons
shall look solely to the Trust property for satisfaction of claims arising in
connection with the affairs of the Trust. With the exceptions stated, the
Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee, officer, employee or agent is
entitled to be indemnified against all liability in connection with the affairs
of the Trust.
 
    The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial
interest. The Trust shall be of unlimited duration subject to the provisions in
the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the shareholders.
 
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, New York, New York 10286 is the
Custodian of the Trust's assets. Any of the Trust's cash balances with the
Custodian in excess of $100,000 are unprotected by Federal deposit insurance.
Such balances may, at times, be substantial.
 

    Dean Witter Trust FSB, Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City,
New Jersey 07311 is the Transfer Agent of the Trust's shares and Dividend
Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and distributions on Trust shares and
Agent for shareholders under various investment plans described herein. Dean
Witter Trust FSB is an affiliate of Dean Witter InterCapital Inc., the Trust's
Investment Manager, and Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the Trust's Distributor.
As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Dean Witter Trust FSB's
responsibilities include maintaining shareholder accounts, disbursing cash
dividends and reinvesting dividends, processing account registration changes,
handling purchase and redemption transactions, mailing prospectuses and reports,
mailing and tabulating proxies, processing share certificate transactions, and
maintaining shareholder records and lists. For these services Dean Witter Trust
FSB receives a per shareholder account fee from the Trust.

 
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Price Waterhouse LLP, 1177 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036
serves as the independent accountants of the Trust. The independent accountants
are responsible for auditing the annual financial statements of the Trust.
 
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    The Trust will send to shareholders, at least semi-annually, reports showing
the Trust's portfolio and other information. An annual report, containing
financial statements audited by independent accountants, will be sent to
shareholders each year.
 
    The Trust's fiscal year ends on January 31. The financial statements of the
Trust must be audited at least once a year by independent accountants whose
selection is made annually by the Trust's Board of Trustees.
 
                                       27

<PAGE>

LEGAL COUNSEL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    Barry Fink, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the
Investment Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Trust.
 
EXPERTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    The financial statements of the Trust included in the Prospectus and
incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information have been
so included and incorporated in reliance on the report of Price Waterhouse LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    This Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus do not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement the Trust has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete Registration
Statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

    The audited financial statements of the Trust for the fiscal year ended
January 31, 1998, and the report of the independent accountants thereon, are set
forth in the Trust's Prospectus, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 
                                       28

<PAGE>

                                                                   DEAN WITTER 
                                                             RETIREMENT SERIES 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
OCTOBER 31, 1997 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Dean Witter Retirement Series (the "Fund") is an open-end, no-load, 
management investment company which provides a selection of investment 
portfolios for institutional and individual investors participating in 
various employee benefit plans and Individual Retirement Account rollover 
plans. Each Series has its own investment objective and policies. Shares of 
the Fund are sold and redeemed at net asset value without the imposition of a 
sales charge. Dean Witter Distributors Inc., the Fund's Distributor (the 
"Distributor"), and any of its affiliates are authorized, pursuant to a Plan 
of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 
1940, as amended, entered into by the Fund with the Distributor and Dean 
Witter Reynolds Inc., to make payments, out of their own resources, for 
expenses incurred in connection with the promotion of distribution of shares 
of the Fund. 

   The LIQUID ASSET SERIES seeks high current income, preservation of capital 
and liquidity by investing in corporate and government money market 
instruments. 

   The U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES seeks security of principal, high 
current income and liquidity by investing primarily in money market 
instruments which are issued and/or guaranteed, as to principal and interest, 
by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. 

   The U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES seeks high current income consistent 
with safety of principal by investing in a diversified portfolio of 
obligations issued and/or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its 
instrumentalities. 

   The INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES SERIES seeks high current income 
consistent with safety of principal by investing primarily in intermediate 
term, investment grade fixed-income securities. 

   The AMERICAN VALUE SERIES seeks long-term growth consistent with an effort 
to reduce volatility by investing principally in common stock of companies in 
industries which, at the time of the investment, are believed to be 
attractively valued given their above average relative earnings growth 
potential at that time. 

   The CAPITAL GROWTH SERIES seeks long-term capital growth by investing 
primarily in common stocks selected through utilization of a computerized 
screening process. 

   The DIVIDEND GROWTH SERIES seeks to provide reasonable current income and 
long-term growth of income and capital by investing primarily in the common 
stock of companies with a record of paying dividends and the potential for 
increasing dividends. 

   The STRATEGIST SERIES seeks to maximize its total return by actively 
allocating its assets among the major asset categories of equity securities, 
fixed-income securities and money market instruments. 

   The UTILITIES SERIES seeks to provide current income and long-term growth 
of income and capital by investing in equity and fixed-income securities of 
companies in the public utilities industry. 

   The VALUE-ADDED MARKET SERIES' investment objective is to achieve a high 
level of total return on its assets through a combination of capital 
appreciation and current income. It seeks to achieve this objective by 
investing, on an equally-weighted basis, in a diversified portfolio of common 
stocks of the companies which are represented in the Standard & Poor's 500 
Composite Stock Price Index. 

   The GLOBAL EQUITY SERIES' investment objective is a high level of total 
return on its assets, primarily through long-term capital growth and, to a 
lesser extent, from income. It seeks to achieve this objective through 
investments in all types of common stocks and equivalents, preferred stocks 
and bonds and other debt obligations of domestic and foreign companies and 
governments and international organizations. 

   A Prospectus for the Fund dated October 31, 1997, which provides the basic 
information you should know before investing in the Fund, may be obtained 
without charge from the Fund at the address or telephone numbers listed 
below, from the Fund's Distributor, or from Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. at any 
of its branch offices. This Statement of Additional Information is not a 
Prospectus. It contains information in addition to and more detailed than 
that set forth in the Prospectus. It is intended to provide additional 
information regarding the activities and operations of the Fund, and should 
be read in conjunction with the Prospectus. 

Dean Witter 
Retirement Series 
Two World Trade Center 
New York, New York 10048 
(212) 392-2550 or 
(800) 869-NEWS (toll-free) 
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                    <C>
The Fund and its Management..........    3  
Trustees and Officers................    6 
Investment Practices and Policies ...   13 
Investment Restrictions..............   33 
Portfolio Transactions and 
 Brokerage...........................   35 
Determination of Net Asset Value ....   37 
Purchase of Fund Shares..............   39 
Shareholder Services.................   41 
Redemptions and Repurchases..........   43 
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes ..   43 
Performance Information..............   45 
Description of Shares................   48 
Custodian and Transfer Agent.........   49 
Independent Accountants..............   49 
Reports to Shareholders..............   49 
Legal Counsel........................   49 
Experts..............................   49 
Registration Statement...............   50 
Principal Securities Holders.........   50 
Financial Statements--July 31, 1997 .   51 
Report of Independent Accountants ...  106 
Appendix.............................  107 
</TABLE>

                                2           
<PAGE>
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

THE FUND 

   The Fund is a trust of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts 
business trust" and was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts on May 14, 1992. 

THE INVESTMENT MANAGER 

   Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the "Investment Manager" or 
"InterCapital"), a Delaware corporation, whose address is Two World Trade 
Center, New York, New York 10048, is the Fund's Investment Manager. 
InterCapital is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, 
Discover & Co. ("MSDWD"), a Delaware corporation. In an internal 
reorganization which took place in January, 1993, InterCapital assumed the 
investment advisory, administrative and management activities previously 
performed by the InterCapital Division of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), 
a broker-dealer affiliate of InterCapital. (As hereinafter used in this 
Statement of Additional Information, the terms "InterCapital" and "Investment 
Manager" refer to DWR's InterCapital Division prior to the internal 
reorganization and to Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. thereafter.) The daily 
management of the Fund and research relating to the portfolio of each Series 
of the Fund are conducted by or under the direction of officers of the Fund 
and of the Investment Manager, subject to review of investments by the Fund's 
Board of Trustees. Information as to these Trustees and officers is contained 
under the caption "Trustees and Officers." 

   InterCapital is also the investment manager (or investment adviser) of the 
following investment companies: 

                                OPEN-END FUNDS

   1     Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust Dean Witter Japan    
   2     Active Assets Government Securities Trust                    
   3     Active Assets Money Trust                                    
   4     Active Assets Tax-Free Trust                                 
   5     Dean Witter American Value Fund                              
   6     Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund                             
   7     Dean Witter Balanced Income Fund                             
   8     Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust
   9     Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund                  
  10     Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund                        
  11     Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities                
  12     Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust Dean Witter         
  13     Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust               
  14     Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust                         
  15     Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc.                  
  16     Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc.                        
  17     Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust                         
  18     Dean Witter Fund of Funds                                    
  19     Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund                     
  20     Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities                
  21     Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc.
  22     Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund                
  23     Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust Dean Witter Tax-Free      
  24     Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust                            
  25     Dean Witter High Income Securities                           
  26     Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc.                       
  27     Dean Witter Income Builder Fund                              
  28     Dean Witter Information Fund                                 
  29     Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities                   
  30     Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust
  31     Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund
  32     Dean Witter Japan Fund                           
  33     Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust         
  34     Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc.               
  35     Dean Witter Market Leader Trust                  
  36     Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund                  
  37     Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust   
  38     Dean Witter National Municipal Trust             
  39     Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc.
  40     Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust
  41     Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund        
  42     Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc.             
  43     Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust   
  44     Dean Witter Retirement Series                    
  45     Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund                   
  46     Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series  
  47     Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund   
  48     Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund                 
  49     Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust       
  50     Dean Witter Special Value Fund                   
  51     Dean Witter Strategist Fund                      
  52     Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust          
  53     Dean Witter Daily Income Trust                   
  54     Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust   
  55     Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust     
  56     Dean Witter Utilities Fund                       
  57     Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series            
  58     Dean Witter Variable Investment Series           
  59     Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust              
  60     Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust          

                                       3
<PAGE>

CLOSED-END FUNDS

   1     High Income Advantage Trust
   2     High Income Advantage Trust II
   3     High Income Advantage Trust III
   4     InterCapital Income Securities Inc.
   5     Dean Witter Government Income Trust
   6     InterCapital Insured Municipal Bond Trust
   7     InterCapital Insured Municipal Trust
   8     InterCapital Insured Municipal Income Trust
   9     InterCapital California Insured Municipal Income Trust
  10     InterCapital Insured Municipal Securities
  11     InterCapital Insured California Municipal Securities
  12     InterCapital Quality Municipal Investment Trust
  13     InterCapital Quality Municipal Income Trust
  14     InterCapital Quality Municipal Securities
  15     InterCapital California Quality Municipal Securities
  16     InterCapital New York Quality Municipal Securities
  17     Municipal Income Trust
  18     Municipal Income Trust II
  19     Municipal Income Trust III
  20     Municipal Income Opportunities Trust
  21     Municipal Income Opportunities II
  22     Municipal Income Opportunities III
  23     Prime Income Trust
  24     Municipal Premium Income Trust


   The foregoing investment companies, together with the Fund, are collectively
referred to as the Dean Witter Funds.

   In addition, Dean Witter Services Company Inc. ("DWSC"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of InterCapital, serves as manager for the following investment
companies for which TCW Funds Management, Inc. is the investment adviser (the
"TCW/DW Funds"):
                                        
   1     TCW/DW Core Equity Trust             
   2     TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust                        
   3     TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund    
   4     TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund        
   5     TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund         
   6     TCW/DW Balanced Fund
   7     TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust
   8     TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust
   9     TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust

CLOSED-END FUNDS              

   10     TCW/DW Term Trust 2000    
   11     TCW/DW Term Trust 2002    
   12     TCW/DW Term Trust 2003    
   13     TCW/DW Total Return Trust 
   14     TCW/DW Emerging Markets Opportunities Trust      

   InterCapital also serves as: (i) administrator of The BlackRock Strategic 
Term Trust Inc., a closed-end investment company; and (ii) sub-administrator 
of MassMutual Participation Investors and Templeton Global Governments Income 
Trust, closed-end investment companies. 

   Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement") with the 
Investment Manager, the Fund has retained the Investment Manager to manage 
the investment of the Fund's assets, including the placing of orders for the 
purchase and sale of portfolio securities. The Investment Manager obtains and 
evaluates such information and advice relating to the economy, securities 
markets, and specific securities as it considers necessary or useful to 
continuously manage the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its 
investment objective and policies. 

   Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Fund's 
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books and 
records and furnishes, at its own expense, such office space, facilities, 
equipment, clerical help and bookkeeping and certain legal services as the 
Fund may reasonably require in the conduct of its business, including the 
preparation of prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy 
statements and reports required to be filed with federal and state securities 
commissions (except insofar as the participation or assistance of independent 
accountants and attorneys is, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, 
necessary or desirable). In addition, the Investment Manager pays the 
salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund, who are employees 
of the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of 
telephone service, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the 
Fund. 

   Effective December 31, 1993, pursuant to a Services Agreement between 
InterCapital and DWSC, DWSC began to provide the administrative services to 
the Fund which were previously performed 

                                       4
<PAGE>

directly by InterCapital. On April 17, 1995, DWSC was reorganized in the 
State of Delaware, necessitating the entry into a new Services Agreement by 
InterCapital and DWSC on that date. The foregoing internal reorganizations 
did not result in any change in the nature or scope of the administrative 
services being provided to the Fund or any of the fees being paid by the Fund 
for the overall services being performed under the terms of the existing 
Management Agreement. 

   Expenses not expressly assumed by the Investment Manager under the 
Management Agreement (see below), or by the Distributor of the Fund's shares, 
Dean Witter Distributors Inc. ("Distributors") (see "The Distributor"), will 
be paid by the Fund. Each Series pays all other expenses incurred in its 
operation and a portion of the Fund's general administration expenses 
allocated on the basis of the asset size of the respective Series. Expenses 
that are borne directly by a Series include, but are not limited to: charges 
and expenses of any registrar, custodian, share transfer and dividend 
disbursing agent; brokerage commissions; certain taxes; registration costs of 
the Series and its shares under federal and state securities laws; 
shareholder servicing costs; charges and expenses of any outside service used 
for pricing of the shares of the Series; interest on borrowings by the 
Series; fees and expenses of legal counsel, including counsel to the Trustees 
who are not interested persons of the Fund or of the Investment Manager) not 
including compensation or expenses of attorneys who are employees of the 
Investment Manager and independent accountants; and all other expenses 
attributable to a particular Series. Expenses which are allocated on the 
basis of size of the respective Series include the costs and expenses of 
printing, including typesetting, and distributing prospectuses and statements 
of additional information of the Fund and supplements thereto to the Fund's 
shareholders; all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees' meetings and of 
preparing, printing and mailing proxy statements and reports to shareholders; 
fees and travel expenses of Trustees or members of any advisory board or 
committee who are not employees of the Investment Manager or any corporate 
affiliate of the Investment Manager; state franchise taxes; Securities and 
Exchange Commission fees; membership dues of industry associations; postage; 
insurance premiums on property or personnel (including officers and Trustees) 
of the Fund which inure to its benefit; and all other costs of the Fund's 
operations properly payable by the Fund and allocable on the basis of size of 
the respective Series. Depending on the nature of a legal claim, liability or 
lawsuit, litigation costs, payment of legal claims or liabilities and any 
indemnification relating thereto may be directly applicable to the Series or 
allocated on the basis of the size of the respective Series. The Trustees 
have determined that this is an appropriate method of allocation of expenses. 

   As full compensation for the services and facilities furnished to the Fund 
and expenses of the Fund assumed by the Investment Manager, the Fund pays the 
Investment Manager monthly compensation calculated daily by applying each of 
the following annual rates to the net assets of the respective Series of the 
Fund, each business day: 0.50% (Liquid Asset Series); 0.50% (U.S. Government 
Money Market Series); 0.65% (U.S. Government Securities Series); 0.65% 
(Intermediate Income Securities Series); 0.85% (American Value Series); 0.85% 
(Capital Growth Series); 0.75% (Dividend Growth Series); 0.85% (Strategist 
Series); 0.75% (Utilities Series); 0.50% (Value-Added Market Series); and 
1.0% (Global Equity Series). The management fees for the American Value, 
Capital Growth, Dividend Growth, Strategist, Utilities and Global Equity 
Series are higher than those paid by most investment policies. 

   The Investment Manager assumed all expenses (except for brokerage fees and 
a portion of organizational expenses) for each Series and waived the 
compensation provided for in the Agreement with respect to each Series during 
the fiscal years ended July 31, 1994 and 1995 and the period August 1, 1995 
through December 31, 1995 and has assumed all such expenses (except for 
brokerage fees and a portion of organizational expenses) and waived the 
compensation provided for in its Management Agreement with respect to any 
Series to the extent that such expenses and compensation exceeded 1.00% of 
the daily net assets of the Series for the period from January 1, 1996 
through July 31, 1997. The Investment Manager has undertaken to continue to 
assume, until December 31, 1997, all such expenses and waive compensation 
with respect to any Series to the extent that such expenses and compensation 
exceed 1.00% of the daily net assets of the Series. The Fund's Investment 
Manager paid the organizational expenses of the Fund in the amount of 
$150,000 ($13,636 allocated to each of the Series), which will be reimbursed 
by the Fund net of any amounts waived. 

                                       5
<PAGE>

   The Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad 
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, 
the Investment Manager is not liable to the Fund or any of its investors for 
any act or omission by the Investment Manager or for any losses sustained by 
the Fund or its investors. The Agreement in no way restricts the Investment 
Manager from acting as investment manager or adviser to others. 

   The Agreement was initially approved by the Board of Trustees on February 
21, 1997 and by the shareholders of the Fund at a Special Meeting of 
Shareholders held on May 21, 1997. The Agreement is substantially identical 
to a prior investment management agreement which was initially approved by 
the Board of Trustees on October 30, 1992 and, subsequently, by DWR as the 
then sole shareholder of the Fund on January 12, 1993. The Agreement took 
effect on May 31, 1997 upon the consummation of the merger of Dean Witter, 
Discover & Co. with Morgan Stanley Group Inc. The Agreement may be terminated 
at any time, without penalty, on thirty days' notice by the Board of Trustees 
of the Fund, by the holders of a majority, as defined in the Investment 
Company Act of 1940 (the "Act"), of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by 
the Investment Manager. The Agreement will automatically terminate in the 
event of its assignment (as defined in the Act). 

   Under its terms, the Agreement had an initial term ending April 30, 1999 
and will continue from year to year thereafter with respect to each Series, 
provided continuance of the Agreement is approved at least annually by the 
vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of that Series, 
as defined in the Act, or by the Trustees of the Fund; provided that in 
either event such continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority 
of the Trustees of the Fund who are not parties to the Agreement or 
"interested persons" (as defined in the Act) of any such party (the 
"Independent Trustees"), which vote must be cast in person at a meeting 
called for the purpose of voting on such approval. 

   The Fund has acknowledged that the name "Dean Witter" is a property right 
of DWR. The Fund has agreed that DWR or its parent company may use, or at any 
time permit others to use, the name "Dean Witter." The Fund has also agreed 
that in the event the Agreement is terminated, or if the affiliation between 
InterCapital and its parent company is terminated, the Fund will eliminate 
the name "Dean Witter" from its name if DWR or its parent company shall so 
request. 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The Trustees and Executive Officers of the Fund, their principal business 
occupations during the last five years and their affiliations, if any, with 
InterCapital and with the 85 Dean Witter Funds and the 14 TCW/DW Funds are 
shown below. 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS          PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS 
- --------------------------------------------  -------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                                          <C>
Michael Bozic (56)                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture 
 Trustee                                      Corporation (since November, 1995); Director or Trustee of 
 c/o Levitz Furniture Corporation             the Dean Witter Funds; formerly President and Chief Executive 
 6111 Broken Sound Parkway, N.W.              Officer of Hills Department Stores (May, 1991-July, 1995); 
 Boca Raton, Florida                          formerly variously Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, 
                                              President and Chief Operating Officer (1987-1991) of the Sears 
                                              Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck and Co.; Director of 
                                              Eaglemark Financial Services Inc., the United Negro College 
                                              Fund and Weirton Steel Corporation. 

                                       6
<PAGE>

  NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS          PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS 
- --------------------------------------------  -------------------------------------------------------- 
Charles A. Fiumefreddo* (64)                  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of InterCapital, 
 Chairman, President                          DWSC and Distributors; Executive Vice President and Director 
 Chief Executive Officer and Trustee          of DWR; Chairman, Director or Trustee, President and Chief 
 Two World Trade Center                       Executive Officer of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman, Chief 
 New York, New York                           Executive Officer and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; Chairman 
                                              and Director of Dean Witter Trust FSB ("DWT"); formerly Executive 
                                              Vice President and Director of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. 
                                              (until February, 1993); Director of various MSDWD subsidiaries 
                                              and affiliates. 

Edwin J. Garn (65)                            Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; formerly United 
 Trustee                                      States Senator (R-Utah)(1974-1992) and Chairman, Senate 
 c/o Huntsman Corporation                     Banking Committee (1980-1986); formerly Mayor of Salt Lake 
 500 Huntsman Way                             City, Utah (1971-1974); formerly Astronaut, Space Shuttle 
 Salt Lake City, Utah                         Discovery (April 12-19, 1985); Vice Chairman, Huntsman 
                                              Corporation (since January, 1993); Director of Franklin Quest 
                                              (time management systems) and John Alden Financial Corp. (health 
                                              insurance); Member of the board of various civic and charitable 
                                              organizations. 

John R. Haire (72)                            Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Committee 
 Trustee                                      of the Independent Directors or Trustees and Director or Trustee 
 Two World Trade Center                       of the Dean Witter Funds; Chairman of the Audit Committee 
 New York, New York                           and Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees 
                                              and Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly President, Council 
                                              for Aid to Education (1978-1989) and Chairman and Chief Executive 
                                              Officer of Anchor Corporation, an Investment Adviser 
                                              (1964-1978); Director of Washington National Corporation 
                                              (insurance). 

Wayne E. Hedien (63)                          Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Director 
 Trustee                                      of the PMI Group, Inc. (private mortgage insurance); Trustee 
 c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky                   and Vice Chairman of The Field Museum of Natural History; 
  Weitzen Shalov & Wein                       formerly associated with the Allstate Companies (1966-1994), 
 Counsel to the Independent Trustees          most recently as Chairman of The Allstate Corporation (March, 
 114 West 47th Street                         1993-December, 1994) and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 
 New York, New York                           of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Allstate Insurance Company 
                                              (July, 1989-December, 1994); director of various other business 
                                              and charitable organizations. 

                                       7
<PAGE>

  NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS          PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS 
- --------------------------------------------  -------------------------------------------------------- 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (48)                    Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a consulting 
 Trustee                                      firm; Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of Seven Council 
 c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc.        (G7C), an international economic commission; Director or 
 1133 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.                Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; 
 Washington, DC                               Director of NASDAQ (since June, 1995); Director of Greenwich 
                                              Capital Markets Inc. (broker-dealer); formerly Vice Chairman 
                                              of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 
                                              (1986-1990) and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury 
                                              (1982-1986). 

Michael E. Nugent (61)                        General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P., a private investment 
 Trustee                                      partnership; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; 
 c/o Triumph Capital, L.P.                    Trustee of the TCW/DW Funds; formerly Vice President, Bankers 
 237 Park Avenue                              Trust Company and BT Capital Corporation (1984-1988); Director 
 New York, New York                           of various business organizations. 

Philip J. Purcell* (54)                       Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer 
 Trustee                                      of MSDWD, DWR and Novus Credit Services Inc.; Director of 
 1585 Broadway                                InterCapital, DWSC and Distributors; Director or Trustee of 
 New York, New York                           the Dean Witter Funds; Director and/or officer of various 
                                              MSDWD subsidiaries. 

John L. Schroeder (67)                        Retired; Director or Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds; Trustee 
 Trustee                                      of the TCW/DW Funds; Director of Citizens Utilities Company; 
 c/o Gordon Altman Butowsky                   formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer 
  Weitzen Shalov & Wein                       of the Home Insurance Company (August, 1991-September, 1995). 
 Counsel to the Independent Trustees 
 114 West 47th Street 
 New York, New York 

Barry Fink (42)                               Senior Vice President (since March, 1997) and Secretary and 
 Vice President,                              General Counsel (since February, 1997) of InterCapital and 
 Secretary and General Counsel                DWSC; Senior Vice President (since March, 1997) and Assistant 
 Two World Trade Center                       Secretary and Assistant General Counsel (since February, 1997) 
 New York, New York                           of Distributors; Assistant Secretary of DWR (since August, 
                                              1996); Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the 
                                              Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW Funds (since February, 1997); 
                                              previously First Vice President (June, 1993-February, 1997), 
                                              Vice President (until June, 1993) and Assistant Secretary 
                                              and Assistant General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC and 
                                              Assistant Secretary of the Dean Witter Funds and TCW/DW Funds. 

Thomas F. Caloia (51)                         First Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of InterCapital 
 Treasurer                                    and DWSC; Treasurer of the Dean Witter Funds and the TCW/DW 
 Two World Trade Center                       Funds. 
 New York, New York 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
* Denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined in 
  the Act. 

                                       8
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  NAME, AGE, POSITION WITH FUND AND ADDRESS         PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING LAST FIVE YEARS 
- --------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>                                           <C>
Mark Bavoso (36)                              Senior Vice President of InterCapital (since June, 1993); 
 Vice President                               Vice President of various Dean Witter Funds; previously 
 Two World Trade Center                       Vice President of InterCapital. 
 New York, New York 

Patricia A. Cuddy (43)                        Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various 
 Vice President                               Dean Witter Funds. 
 Two World Trade Center 
 New York, New York 

Edward F. Gaylor (56)                         Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of 
 Vice President                               various Dean Witter Funds. 
 Two World Trade Center 
 New York, New York 

Rajesh K. Gupta (37)                          Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of 
 Vice President                               various Dean Witter Funds. 
 Two World Trade Center 
 New York, New York 

Peter Hermann (37)                            Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various 
 Vice President                               Dean Witter Funds. 
 Two World Trade Center 
 New York, New York 

Jonathan R. Page (51)                         Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of 
 Vice President                               various Dean Witter Funds. 
 Two World Trade Center 
 New York, New York 

Paul D. Vance (61)                            Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of 
 Vice President                               various Dean Witter Funds. 
 Two World Trade Center 
 New York, New York 

Anita H. Kolleeny (42)                        Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of 
 Vice President                               various Dean Witter Funds. 
 Two World Trade Center 
 New York, New York 

Paula LaCosta (46)                            Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various 
 Vice President                               Dean Witter Funds. 
 Two World Trade Center 
 New York, New York 

Rochelle G. Siegel (48)                       Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of 
 Vice President                               various Dean Witter Funds. 
 Two World Trade Center 
 New York, New York 

Kenton J. Hinchliffe (53)                     Senior Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of 
 Vice President                               various Dean Witter Funds. 
 Two World Trade Center 
 New York, New York 

Alice S. Weiss (49)                           Vice President of InterCapital; Vice President of various 
 Vice President                               Dean Witter Funds. 
 Two World Trade Center 
 New York, New York 
</TABLE>

                                       9
<PAGE>

   In addition, Robert M. Scanlan, President and Chief Operating Officer of 
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWT and 
Director of DWT, Mitchell M. Merin, President and Chief Strategic Officer of 
InterCapital and DWSC, Executive Vice President of Distributors and DWT and 
Director of DWT, Executive Vice President and Director of DWR, and Director 
of SPS Transaction Services, Inc. and various other MSDWD subsidiaries, 
Joseph J. McAlinden, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of 
InterCapital and Director of DWT and Robert S. Giambrone, Senior Vice 
President of InterCapital, DWSC, Distributors and DWT and Director of DWT, 
are Vice Presidents of the Fund. Marilyn K. Cranney, First Vice President and 
Assistant General Counsel of InterCapital and DWSC, and Lou Anne D. McInnis, 
Ruth Rossi and Carsten Otto, Vice Presidents and Assistant General Counsels 
of InterCapital and DWSC, and Frank Bruttomesso and Todd Lebo, Staff 
Attorneys with InterCapital, are Assistant Secretaries of the Fund. 

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, AND THE COMMITTEES 

   The Board of Trustees consists of nine (9) trustees. These same 
individuals also serve as directors or trustees for all of the Dean Witter 
Funds, and are referred to in this section as Trustees. As of the date of 
this Statement of Additional Information, there are a total of 85 Dean Witter 
Funds, comprised of 128 portfolios. As of September 30, 1997, the Dean Witter 
Funds had total net assets of approximately $93.2 billion and more than five 
million shareholders. 

   Seven Trustees (77% of the total number) have no affiliation or business 
connection with InterCapital or any of its affiliated persons and do not own 
any stock or other securities issued by InterCapital's parent company, MSDWD. 
These are the "disinterested" or "independent" Trustees. The other two 
Trustees (the "management Trustees") are affiliated with InterCapital. Four 
of the seven independent Trustees are also Independent Trustees of the TCW/DW 
Funds. 

   Law and regulation establish both general guidelines and specific duties 
for the Independent Trustees. The Dean Witter Funds seek as Independent 
Trustees individuals of distinction and experience in business and finance, 
government service or academia; these are people whose advice and counsel are 
in demand by others and for whom there is often competition. To accept a 
position on the Funds' Boards, such individuals may reject other attractive 
assignments because the Funds make substantial demands on their time. Indeed, 
by serving on the Funds' Boards, certain Trustees who would otherwise be 
qualified and in demand to serve on bank boards would be prohibited by law 
from doing so. 

   All of the Independent Trustees serve as members of the Audit Committee 
and the Committee of the Independent Trustees. Three of them also serve as 
members of the Derivatives Committee. During the calendar year ended December 
31, 1996, the three Committees held a combined total of sixteen meetings. The 
Committees hold some meetings at InterCapital's offices and some outside 
InterCapital. Management Trustees or officers do not attend these meetings 
unless they are invited for purposes of furnishing information or making a 
report. 

   The Committee of the Independent Trustees is charged with recommending to 
the full Board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts, 
Rule 12b-1 plans and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually 
reviewing Fund performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities, 
brokerage commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading 
among Funds in the same complex; and approving fidelity bond and related 
insurance coverage and allocations, as well as other matters that arise from 
time to time. The Independent Trustees are required to select and nominate 
individuals to fill any Independent Trustee vacancy on the Board of any Fund 
that has a Rule 12b-1 plan of distribution. Most of the Dean Witter Funds 
have such a plan. 

   The Audit Committee is charged with recommending to the full Board the 
engagement or discharge of the Fund's independent accountants; directing 
investigations into matters within the scope of the independent accountants' 
duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the 
independent accountants the audit plan and results of the auditing 
engagement; approving professional services provided by the independent 
accountants and other accounting firms prior to the performance 

                                       10
<PAGE>

of such services; reviewing the independence of the independent accountants; 
considering the range of audit and non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of 
the Fund's system of internal controls; and preparing and submitting 
Committee meeting minutes to the full Board. 

   Finally, the Board of each Fund has formed a Derivatives Committee to 
establish parameters for and oversee the activities of the Fund with respect 
to derivative investments, if any, made by the Fund. 

DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE OF THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES AND AUDIT 
COMMITTEE 

   The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit 
Committee maintains an office at the Funds' headquarters in New York. He is 
responsible for keeping abreast of regulatory and industry developments and 
the Funds' operations and management. He screens and/or prepares written 
materials and identifies critical issues for the Independent Trustees to 
consider, develops agendas for Committee meetings, determines the type and 
amount of information that the Committees will need to form a judgment on 
various issues, and arranges to have that information furnished to Committee 
members. He also arranges for the services of independent experts and 
consults with them in advance of meetings to help refine reports and to focus 
on critical issues. Members of the Committees believe that the person who 
serves as Chairman of both Committees and guides their efforts is pivotal to 
the effective functioning of the Committees. 

   The Chairman of the Committees also maintains continuous contact with the 
Funds' management, with independent counsel to the Independent Trustees and 
with the Funds' independent auditors. He arranges for a series of special 
meetings involving the annual review of investment advisory, management and 
other operating contracts of the Funds and, on behalf of the Committees, 
conducts negotiations with the Investment Manager and other service 
providers. In effect, the Chairman of the Committees serves as a combination 
of chief executive and support staff of the Independent Trustees. 

   The Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and the Audit 
Committee is not employed by any other organization and devotes his time 
primarily to the services he performs as Committee Chairman and Independent 
Trustee of the Dean Witter Funds and as an Independent Trustee and, since 
July 1, 1996, as Chairman of the Committee of the Independent Trustees and 
the Audit Committee of the TCW/DW Funds. The current Committee Chairman has 
had more than 35 years experience as a senior executive in the investment 
company industry. 

ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES FOR ALL DEAN 
WITTER FUNDS 

   The Independent Trustees and the Funds' management believe that having the 
same Independent Trustees for each of the Dean Witter Funds avoids the 
duplication of effort that would arise from having different groups of 
individuals serving as Independent Trustees for each of the Funds or even of 
sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same individuals serve as 
Independent Trustees of all the Funds tends to increase their knowledge and 
expertise regarding matters which affect the Fund complex generally and 
enhances their ability to negotiate on behalf of each Fund with the Fund's 
service providers. This arrangement also precludes the possibility of 
separate groups of Independent Trustees arriving at conflicting decisions 
regarding operations and management of the Funds and avoids the cost and 
confusion that would likely ensue. Finally, having the same Independent 
Trustees serve on all Fund Boards enhances the ability of each Fund to 
obtain, at modest cost to each separate Fund, the services of Independent 
Trustees, and a Chairman of their Committees, of the caliber, experience and 
business acumen of the individuals who serve as Independent Trustees of the 
Dean Witter Funds. 

COMPENSATION OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES 

   The Fund pays each Independent Trustee an annual fee of $1,000 plus a per 
meeting fee of $50 for meetings of the Board of Trustees or committees of the 
Board of Trustees attended by the Trustee (the Fund pays the Chairman of the 
Audit Committee an annual fee of $750 and pays the Chairman of the Committee 
of the Independent Trustees an additional annual fee of $1,200). If a Board 
meeting and a Committee meeting, or more than one Committee meeting, take 
place on a single day, the Trustees are paid a single meeting fee by the 
Fund. The Fund also reimburses such Trustees for travel and other 

                                       11
<PAGE>

out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with attending such 
meetings. Trustees and officers of the Fund who are or have been employed by 
the Investment Manager or an affiliated company receive no compensation or 
expense reimbursement from the Fund. 

   The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's 
Independent Trustees by the Fund for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997. Mr. 
Hedien's term as Trustee did not commence until September 1, 1997. 

                              FUND COMPENSATION 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                AGGREGATE 
                               COMPENSATION 
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE   FROM THE FUND 
- ---------------------------  --------------- 
<S>                          <C>
Michael Bozic ..............      $1,750 
Edwin J. Garn ..............       1,750 
John R. Haire ..............       3,750 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson  .....       1,800 
Michael E. Nugent...........       1,850 
John L. Schroeder...........       1,850 
</TABLE>

   The following table illustrates the compensation paid to the Fund's 
Independent Trustees for the calendar year ended December 31, 1996 for 
services to the 82 Dean Witter Funds and, in the case of Messrs. Haire, 
Johnson, Nugent and Schroeder, the 14 TCW/DW Funds that were in operation at 
December 31, 1996. With respect to Messrs. Haire, Johnson, Nugent and 
Schroeder, the TCW/DW Funds are included solely because of a limited exchange 
privilege between those Funds and five Dean Witter Money Market Funds. 

          CASH COMPENSATION FROM DEAN WITTER FUNDS AND TCW/DW FUNDS 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         FOR SERVICE AS 
                                                           CHAIRMAN OF 
                                                          COMMITTEES OF    FOR SERVICE AS 
                          FOR SERVICE                      INDEPENDENT      CHAIRMAN OF       TOTAL CASH 
                          AS DIRECTOR     FOR SERVICE      DIRECTORS/      COMMITTEES OF     COMPENSATION 
                          OR TRUSTEE      AS TRUSTEE      TRUSTEES AND      INDEPENDENT          PAID 
                         AND COMMITTEE   AND COMMITTEE        AUDIT           TRUSTEES     FOR SERVICES TO 
                           MEMBER OF       MEMBER OF    COMMITTEES OF 82     AND AUDIT      82 DEAN WITTER 
NAME OF                 82 DEAN WITTER     14 TCW/DW       DEAN WITTER    COMMITTEES OF 14   FUNDS AND 14 
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE          FUNDS           FUNDS            FUNDS         TCW/DW FUNDS     TCW/DW FUNDS 
- ----------------------  -------------- ---------------  ---------------- ----------------  --------------- 
<S>                        <C>              <C>             <C>               <C>              <C>
Michael Bozic .........    $138,850              --               --               --          $138,850 
Edwin J. Garn .........     140,900              --               --               --           140,900 
John R. Haire .........     106,400         $64,283         $195,450          $12,187           378,320 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson       137,100          66,483               --               --           203,583 
Michael E. Nugent  ....     138,850          64,283               --               --           203,133 
John L. Schroeder......     137,150          69,083               --               --           206,233 
</TABLE>

   As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, 57 of the Dean 
Witter Funds, not including the Fund, have adopted a retirement program under 
which an Independent Trustee who retires after serving for at least five 
years (or such lesser period as may be determined by the Board) as an 
Independent Director or Trustee of any Dean Witter Fund that has adopted the 
retirement program (each such Fund referred to as an "Adopting Fund" and each 
such Trustee referred to as an "Eligible Trustee") is entitled to retirement 
payments upon reaching the eligible retirement age (normally, after attaining 
age 72). Annual payments are based upon length of service. Currently, upon 
retirement, each Eligible Trustee is entitled to receive from the Adopting 
Fund, commencing as of his or her retirement date and continuing for the 
remainder of his or her life, an annual retirement benefit (the "Regular 
Benefit") equal to 25.0% of his or her Eligible Compensation plus 0.4166666% 
of such Eligible Compensation for each full month of service as an 
Independent Director or Trustee of any Adopting Fund in excess of five years 
up to a maximum of 50.0% after ten years of service. The foregoing 
percentages may be changed by the 

                                       12
<PAGE>

Board.(1) "Eligible Compensation" is one-fifth of the total compensation 
earned by such Eligible Trustee for service to the Adopting Fund in the five 
year period prior to the date of the Eligible Trustee's retirement. Benefits 
under the retirement program are not secured or funded by the Adopting Funds. 

   The following table illustrates the retirement benefits accrued to the 
Fund's Independent Trustees by the 57 Dean Witter Funds (not including the 
Fund) for the year ended December 31, 1996, and the estimated retirement 
benefits for the Fund's Independent Trustees, to commence upon their 
retirement, from the 57 Dean Witter Funds as of December 31, 1996. Mr. 
Hedien's term did not commence until September 1, 1997. 

                RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM ALL DEAN WITTER FUNDS 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             ESTIMATED 
                                                               RETIREMENT      ANNUAL 
                                ESTIMATED                       BENEFITS      BENEFITS 
                                 CREDITED                      ACCRUED AS       UPON 
                                  YEARS          ESTIMATED      EXPENSES     RETIREMENT 
                              OF SERVICE AT    PERCENTAGE OF     BY ALL       FROM ALL 
                                RETIREMENT       ELIGIBLE       ADOPTING      ADOPTING 
NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE    (MAXIMUM 10)    COMPENSATION       FUNDS      FUNDS (2) 
- ---------------------------  --------------- ---------------  ------------ ------------ 
<S>                                 <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>      
Michael Bozic ..............        10             50.0%         $20,147      $ 51,325 
Edwin J. Garn ..............        10             50.0           27,772        51,325 
John R. Haire ..............        10             50.0           46,952       129,550 
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson  .....        10             50.0           10,926        51,325 
Michael E. Nugent ..........        10             50.0           19,217        51,325 
John L. Schroeder...........         8             41.7           38,700        42,771 
</TABLE>

(1)    An Eligible Trustee may elect alternate payments of his or her 
       retirement benefits based upon the combined life expectancy of such 
       Eligible Trustee and his or her spouse on the date of such Eligible 
       Trustee's retirement. The amount estimated to be payable under this 
       method, through the remainder of the later of the lives of such 
       Eligible Trustee and spouse, will be the actuarial equivalent of the 
       Regular Benefit. In addition, the Eligible Trustee may elect that the 
       surviving spouse's periodic payment of benefits will be equal to either 
       50% or 100% of the previous periodic amount, an election that, 
       respectively, increases or decreases the previous periodic amount so 
       that the resulting payments will be the actuarial equivalent of the 
       Regular Benefit. 

(2)    Based on current levels of compensation. Amount of annual benefits also 
       varies depending on the Trustee's elections described in Footnote (1) 
       above. 

   As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the aggregate 
number of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund owned by the Fund's 
officers and Trustees as a group was less than 1 percent of the Fund's shares 
of beneficial interest outstanding. 

INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

LIQUID ASSET SERIES 

   Variable and Floating Rate Obligations. As stated in the Prospectus, the 
Liquid Asset Series may invest in variable and floating rate obligations. The 
interest rate payable on a variable rate obligation is adjusted at 
predesignated periodic intervals and, on floating rate obligations, whenever 
there is a change in the market rate of interest on which the interest rate 
payable is based. Other features may include the right whereby the Liquid 
Asset Series may demand prepayment of the principal amount of the obligation 
prior to its stated maturity (a "demand feature") and the right of the issuer 
to prepay the principal amount prior to maturity. The principal benefit of a 
variable rate obligation is that the interest rate adjustment minimizes 
changes in the market value of the obligation. As a result, the purchase of 
variable rate and floating rate obligations should enhance the ability of the 
Liquid Asset Series to maintain a stable net asset value per share (see "How 
Net Asset Value is Determined") and to sell obligations prior to maturity at 
a price approximating the full principal amount of the obligations. The 
principal benefit to the Liquid Asset Series of purchasing obligations with a 
demand feature is that liquidity, and the ability of the Liquid Asset Series 
to obtain repayment of the full principal amount of an obligation prior to 
maturity, is enhanced. The payment of principal and interest by issuers of 
certain obligations purchased by the 

                                       13
<PAGE>

Liquid Asset Series may be guaranteed by letters of credit or other credit 
facilities offered by banks or other financial institutions. Such guarantees 
will be considered in determining whether an obligation meets the Liquid 
Asset Series' investment quality requirements. 

INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES SERIES 

   As stated in the Prospectus, the Intermediate Income Securities Series may 
invest up to 5% of its net assets in lower rated fixed-income securities, 
sometimes referred to as high yield securities. Because of the special nature 
of high yield securities, the Investment Manager must take account of certain 
special considerations in assessing the risks associated with such 
investments. For example, as the high yield securities market is relatively 
new, its growth had paralleled a long economic expansion and, until recently, 
it had not faced adverse economic and market conditions. Therefore, an 
economic downturn or increase in interest rates is likely to have a negative 
effect on the high yield bond market and on the value of the high yield 
securities held by the Intermediate Income Securities Series, as well as on 
the ability of the securities' issuers to repay principal and interest on 
their borrowings. 

   The prices of high yield securities have been found to be less sensitive 
to changes in prevailing interest rates than higher-rated investments, but 
are likely to be more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual 
corporate developments. During an economic downturn or substantial period of 
rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial 
stress which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal 
and interest payment obligations, to meet their projected business goals or 
to obtain additional financing. If the issuer of a fixed-income security 
owned by the Intermediate Income Securities Series defaults, the Series may 
incur additional expenses to seek recovery. In addition, periods of economic 
uncertainty and change can be expected to result in an increased volatility 
of market prices of high yield securities and a concomitant volatility in the 
net asset value of a share of a Series. Moreover, the market prices of 
certain of the Intermediate Income Securities Series' securities which are 
structured as zero coupon and payment-in-kind securities are affected to a 
greater extent by interest rate changes and thereby tend to be more volatile 
than securities which pay interest periodically and in cash (see "Dividends, 
Distributions and Taxes" for a discussion of the tax ramifications of 
investments in such securities). 

   The secondary market for high yield securities may be less liquid than the 
markets for higher quality securities and, as such, may have an adverse 
effect on the market prices of certain securities. The limited liquidity of 
the market may also adversely affect the ability of the Fund's Trustees to 
arrive at a fair value for certain high yield securities at certain times and 
could make it difficult for the Intermediate Income Securities Series to sell 
certain securities. 

   New laws and proposed new laws may have a potentially negative impact on 
the market for high yield bonds. For example, recent legislation requires 
federally-insured savings and loan associations to divest their investments 
in high yield bonds. This legislation and other proposed legislation may have 
an adverse effect upon the value of high yield securities and a concomitant 
negative impact upon the net asset value of a share of the Intermediate 
Income Securities Series. 

AMERICAN VALUE SERIES 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, the American Value Series offers investors 
an opportunity to participate in a diversified portfolio of securities, 
consisting principally of common stocks. The portfolio reflects an investment 
decision-making process developed by the Investment Manager. 

   Industry Valuation Approach. As stated in the Prospectus, in managing the 
American Value Series, the Investment Manager generally seeks to identify 
industries, rather than individual companies, as prospects for capital 
appreciation. This approach is designed to capitalize on the basic 
assumptions that industry trends are a primary force governing company 
earnings; conventional forecasts may not fully reflect underlying industry 
conditions or changing economic cycles; the market's perception of industry 
trends is often transitory or exaggerated; and distortions in relative 
valuations beyond their normal ranges may provide significant buying or 
selling opportunities. 

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<PAGE>

   The Investment Manager generally seeks to invest assets of the American 
Value Series in industries it considers to exhibit underappreciated earnings 
potential at the time of purchase and to sell those it considers to have 
peaked in relative earnings potential. 

   The Investment Manager also uses models which employ economic indicators 
or other financial variables to evaluate the relative attractiveness of 
industries. Economic analysis includes traditional business cycle analysis 
and such signposts as current Federal Reserve monetary posture, direction of 
commodity prices, and global currency and economic trends. Economic 
indicators most relevant to particular industries are reviewed. Some 
industries analyzed, such as aerospace and energy, do not correlate with 
economic indicators and must be analyzed relative to their respective 
specific industry cycles. Financial variables under consideration may include 
corporate earnings growth and cashflow, corporate and industry asset 
valuation, absolute and relative price/earnings ratios and dividend discount 
valuations. 

   Once attractive industries have been identified, stocks to represent those 
industries are selected utilizing a multivariate process that includes size 
and quality of the company, earnings visibility of the company and various 
valuation parameters. Valuation screens may include dividend discount model 
values, price-to-book ratios, price to cashflow values, relative and absolute 
price-to-earnings ratios and ratios of price to earnings multiples to 
earnings growth. Price and earnings momentum ratings derived from external 
sources are also factored into the stock selection decision. The Investment 
Manager also evaluates fundamental company criteria such as product cycle 
analysis, revenue growth, margin analysis, consistency of earnings 
profitability, proprietary nature of the product and quality of management. 
Stocks may be selected from the three capitalization tiers of the market: 
large capitalization, medium capitalization, and small capitalization. 

   Based on the sum total of this analysis, approximately 40-60 industries 
are studied and classified as attractive, moderately attractive or 
unattractive. Attractive groups are purchased, moderately attractive groups 
are bought or held, and unattractive groups are sold. The Investment Manager 
may utilize services that examine historical industry relative 
price-to-earnings ranges for input on the Investment Manager's valuation 
analysis. 

   A basic tenet of the industry valuation approach is that there is no 
certainty of superior performance in any specific industry selection, but 
rather that approximately equal weighting of investments in a group of 
industries, each of which has been identified as underappreciated, can 
benefit from the performance probabilities of the total group. 

   The foregoing represents the main outlines of the industry valuation 
approach. The following describes its key features, all of which are subject 
to modification as described below or as result of applying the asset 
allocation disciplines described later. 

1. Equal Industry Weightings. 

   After determining the industries that it considers to be attractive, the 
Investment Manager generally attempts to invest approximately equal amounts 
of the equity portion of the portfolio in securities of companies in each of 
such industries, subject to adjustment for company weightings as set forth in 
the next paragraph. 

2. Equal Company Weightings. 

   From the total of all companies included in the industry valuation 
process, the Investment Manager selects a limited number from each industry 
as representative of that industry. Such selections are made on the basis of 
various criteria, including size and quality of a company, the visibility of 
earnings, product cycle analysis, historic track record and various valuation 
parameters. Valuation screens may include dividend discount model values, 
price-to-book ratios, price-to-cashflow values, relative and absolute 
price-to-earnings ratios and ratios of price-earnings multiples to earnings 
growth. Price and earnings momentum ratings derived from external sources are 
also factored into the stock selection decision. Those companies which are in 
attractive industries and which the Investment Manager believes to be 
attractive investments are finally selected for inclusion in the portfolio. 
When final selections are made, 

                                       15
<PAGE>

approximately equal amounts of the equity portion of the portfolio are 
invested in each of such companies. This may vary depending on whether the 
Investment Manager is in the process of building or reducing a stock 
position. Consideration will also be given to valuation, capitalization and 
liquidity profile. Stocks in industries not characterized as attractive may 
be underweighted. Also, smaller capitalization issues may not be equally 
weighted due to liquidity considerations. 

3. Relative Industry Values. 

   Industry selection only attempts to identify industries whose securities 
might be expected to perform relatively better than the market as represented 
by the S&P Index. It does not seek to identify securities which will 
experience an absolute increase in value notwithstanding market conditions. 
However, the process assumes that, despite interim fluctuations in stock 
market prices, the long-term trend in equity security values will be up. 

4. Practical Applications. 

   In applying the industry valuation approach to management of the American 
Value Series, the Investment Manager will make adjustments in the Series 
which reflect modifications of the underlying concepts whenever, in its 
opinion, such adjustments are necessary or desirable to achieve the American 
Value Series' objectives. Such adjustments may include, for example, 
weighting some industries or companies more or less than others, based upon 
the Investment Manager's judgment as to the investment merits of specific 
companies. In addition, without specific action by the Investment Manager, 
adjustments may result from fluctuations in market prices which distort 
previously established industry and company weightings. The portfolio may, at 
times, include securities of industries which are unattractive due to 
consideration of stage-of-cycle analysis or may not include representation in 
industries considered attractive due to considerations such as valuation 
criteria, stage-of-cycle analysis or lack of earnings visibility, balance 
sheet viability or management quality. Also, independent of the application 
of the industry valuation process, the American Value Series continuously 
sells and redeems its own shares, and, as a result, securities may have to be 
sold at times from the American Value Series' portfolio to meet redemptions 
and monies received upon sale of the American Value Series' shares. Such 
sales and purchases of portfolio securities will result in a portfolio that 
does not completely reflect equal weighting of investment in industries or 
companies. 

   Asset Allocation. Common stocks, particularly those sought for possible 
capital appreciation, have historically experienced a great amount of price 
fluctuation. The Investment Manager believes it is desirable to attempt to 
reduce the risks of extreme price fluctuations even if such an attempt 
results, as it likely will at times, in reducing the probabilities of 
obtaining greater capital appreciation. Accordingly, the Investment Manager's 
investment process incorporates elements which may reduce, although certainly 
not eliminate, the volatility of a portfolio. The American Value Series may 
hold a portion of its assets in fixed-income securities in an effort to 
moderate extremes of price fluctuation. The determination of the appropriate 
asset allocation as between equity and fixed-income investments will be made 
by the Investment Manager in its discretion, based upon its evaluation of 
economic and market conditions. 

CAPITAL GROWTH SERIES 

   As stated in the Prospectus, the money market instruments which the 
Capital Growth Series may purchase include U.S. Government securities, bank 
obligations, Eurodollar certificates of deposit, obligations of savings 
institutions, fully insured certificates of deposit and commercial paper. 
Such securities are limited to: 

   U.S. Government Securities. Obligations issued or guaranteed as to 
principal and interest by the United States or its agencies (such as the 
Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Housing Administration and 
Government National Mortgage Association) or its instrumentalities (such as 
the Federal Home Loan Bank), including Treasury bills, notes and bonds; 

   Bank Obligations. Obligations (including certificates of deposit, bankers' 
acceptances, commercial paper (see below) and other debt obligations) of 
banks subject to regulation by the U.S. Government and having total assets of 
$1 billion or more, and instruments secured by such obligations, not 
including obligations of foreign branches of domestic banks except as 
permitted below; 

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<PAGE>

   Eurodollar Certificates of Deposit. Eurodollar certificates of deposit 
issued by foreign branches of domestic banks having total assets of $1 
billion or more (investments in Eurodollar certificates may be affected by 
changes in currency rates or exchange control regulations, or changes in 
governmental administration or economic or monetary policy in the United 
States and abroad); 

   Obligations of Savings Institutions. Certificates of deposit of savings 
banks and savings and loan associations, having total assets of $1 billion or 
more (investments in savings institutions above $100,000 in principal amount 
are not protected by federal deposit insurance); 

   Fully Insured Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit of banks 
and savings institutions, having total assets of less than $1 billion, if the 
principal amount of the obligation is federally insured by the Bank Insurance 
Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund (each of which is administered 
by the FDIC), limited to $100,000 principal amount per certificate and to 15% 
or less of the Capital Growth Series' total assets in all such obligations 
and in all illiquid assets, in the aggregate; 

   Commercial Paper. Commercial paper rated within the two highest grades by 
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or the highest grade by Moody's 
Investors Service Inc. ("Moody's") or, if not rated, issued by a company 
having an outstanding debt issue rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's. 

GLOBAL EQUITY SERIES 

   Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. As discussed in the 
Prospectus, the Global Equity Series may enter into forward foreign currency 
exchange contracts ("forward contracts") as a hedge against fluctuations in 
future foreign exchange rates. The Series will conduct its foreign currency 
exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate 
prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into 
forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward contract 
involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future 
date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract 
agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These 
contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between 
currency traders (usually large, commercial and investment banks) and their 
customers. Such forward contracts will only be entered into with United 
States banks and their foreign branches or foreign banks whose assets total 
$1 billion or more. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, 
and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. 

   When management of the Series believes that the currency of a particular 
foreign country may suffer a substantial movement against the U.S. dollar, it 
may enter into a forward contract to purchase or sell, for a fixed amount of 
dollars or other currency, the amount of foreign currency approximating the 
value of some or all of the Series' portfolio securities denominated in such 
foreign currency. The Series will not enter into such forward contracts or 
maintain a net exposure to such contracts where the consummation of the 
contracts would obligate the Series to deliver an amount of foreign currency 
in excess of the value of the Series' portfolio securities or other assets 
denominated in that currency. Under normal circumstances, consideration of 
the prospect for currency parities will be incorporated into the longer term 
investment decisions made with regard to overall diversification strategies. 
However, the management of the Fund believes that it is important to have the 
flexibility to enter into such forward contracts when it determines that the 
best interests of the Series will be served. The Series' custodian bank will 
place cash, U.S. Government securities or other appropriate liquid portfolio 
securities in a segregated account of the Series in an amount equal to the 
value of the Series' total assets committed to the consummation of forward 
contracts entered into under the circumstances set forth above. If the value 
of the securities placed in the segregated account declines, additional cash 
or securities will be placed in the account on a daily basis so that the 
value of the account will equal the amount of the Series' commitments with 
respect to such contracts. 

   Where, for example, the Series is hedging a portfolio position consisting 
of foreign fixed-income securities denominated in a foreign currency against 
adverse exchange rate moves vis-a-vis the U.S. dollar, at the maturity of the 
forward contract for delivery by the Series of a foreign currency, the Series 
may either sell the portfolio security and make delivery of the foreign 
currency, or it may retain the security and terminate its contractual 
obligation to deliver the foreign currency by purchasing an 

                                       17
<PAGE>

"offsetting" contract with the same currency trader obligating it to 
purchase, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the foreign currency 
(however, the ability of the Series to terminate a contract is contingent 
upon the willingness of the currency trader with whom the contract has been 
entered into to permit an offsetting transaction). It is impossible to 
forecast the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of the 
contract. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Series to purchase 
additional foreign currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such 
purchase) if the market value of the security is less than the amount of 
foreign currency the Series is obligated to deliver and if a decision is made 
to sell the security and make delivery of the foreign currency. Conversely, 
it may be necessary to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency 
received upon the sale of the portfolio securities if its market value 
exceeds the amount of foreign currency the Series is obligated to deliver. 

   If the Series retains the portfolio securities and engages in an 
offsetting transaction, the Series will incur a gain or loss to the extent 
that there has been movement in spot or forward contract prices. If the 
Series engages in an offsetting transaction, it may subsequently enter into a 
new forward contract to sell the foreign currency. Should forward prices 
decline during the period between the Series' entering into a forward 
contract for the sale of a foreign currency and the date it enters into an 
offsetting contract for the purchase of the foreign currency, the Series will 
realize a gain to the extent the price of the currency it has agreed to sell 
exceeds the price of the currency it has agreed to purchase. Should forward 
prices increase, the Series will suffer a loss to the extent the price of the 
currency it has agreed to purchase exceeds the price of the currency it has 
agreed to sell. 

   If the Series purchases a fixed-income security which is denominated in 
U.S. dollars but which will pay out its principal based upon a formula tied 
to the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency, it may 
hedge against a decline in the principal value of the security by entering 
into a forward contract to sell an amount of the relevant foreign currency 
equal to some or all of the principal value of the security. 

   At times when the Series has written a call option on a security or the 
currency in which it is denominated, it may wish to enter into a forward 
contract to purchase or sell the foreign currency in which the security is 
denominated. A forward contract would, for example, hedge the risk of the 
security on which a call option has been written declining in value to a 
greater extent than the value of the premium received for the option. The 
Series will maintain with its Custodian at all times, cash, U.S. Government 
securities, or other appropriate liquid portfolio securities in a segregated 
account equal in value to all forward contract obligations and option 
contract obligations entered into in hedge situations such as this. 

   Although the Series values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it 
does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. 
dollars on a daily basis. It will, however, do so from time to time, and 
investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although 
foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize 
a profit based on the spread between the prices at which they are buying and 
selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign 
currency to the Series at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange 
should the Series desire to resell that currency to the dealer. 

GENERAL INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES 

   Repurchase Agreements. When cash may be available for only a few days, it
may be invested by a Series in repurchase agreements until such time as it may
otherwise be invested or used for payments of obligations of the Series. A
repurchase agreement may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Series
which typically involves the acquisition by the Series of government securities
from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan
association or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Series will sell
back to the institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the
underlying security ("collateral") at a specified price and at a fixed time in
the future, usually not more than seven days from the date of purchase. The
collateral will be maintained in a segregated account and will be marked to
market daily to determine that the full value of the collateral, as specified
in the agreement, does not decrease below the repurchase price plus accrued
interest. If such decrease occurs, additional collateral will be added to the
account to maintain full collateralization. In the event the original seller
defaults on its obligations to repurchase, as a result of its bankruptcy or
otherwise, the

                                       18
<PAGE>

Series will seek to sell the collateral, which action could involve costs or 
delays. In such case, the Series' ability to dispose of the collateral to 
recover its investment may be restricted or delayed. 

   The Series will, when received, accrue interest from the institution until 
the time when the repurchase is to occur. Although such date is deemed by the 
Series to be the maturity date of a repurchase agreement, the maturities of 
securities subject to repurchase agreements are not subject to any limits and 
may exceed one year. 

   While repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with 
direct investments in debt securities, each Series follows procedures 
designed to minimize such risks. Repurchase agreements will be transacted 
only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions 
whose financial condition will be continuously monitored by the Investment 
Manager subject to procedures established by the Trustees. The procedures 
also require that the collateral underlying the agreement be specified. 

   Reverse Repurchase Agreements. As stated in the Prospectus, the Liquid 
Asset, U.S. Government Money Market and Intermediate Income Securities Series 
may also use reverse repurchase agreements as part of their investment 
strategy. Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by the Series of assets 
concurrently with an agreement by the Series to repurchase the same assets at 
a later date at a fixed price. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is 
that the Series can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio 
securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, 
while it will be able to keep the interest income associated with those 
portfolio securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if the interest 
cost to the Series of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the 
cost of otherwise obtaining the cash. Opportunities to achieve this advantage 
may not always be available, and the Series intend to use the reverse 
repurchase technique only when it will be to its advantage to do so. The 
Series will establish a segregated account with its custodian bank in which 
it will maintain cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid portfolio 
securities equal in value to its obligations in respect of reverse repurchase 
agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings by the 
Series and for purposes other than meeting redemptions may not exceed 5% of 
the Series' total assets. 

   When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments. As 
discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time, in the ordinary course of 
business, a Series may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed 
delivery basis or may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment 
basis, i.e., delivery and payment can take place a month or more after the 
date of the transactions. The securities so purchased are subject to market 
fluctuation and no interest accrues to the purchaser during this period. 
While a Series will only purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed 
delivery or forward commitment basis with the intention of acquiring the 
securities, the Series may sell the securities before the settlement date, if 
it is deemed advisable. At the time the Series makes the commitment to 
purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the Series 
will record the transaction and thereafter reflect the value, each day, of 
such security in determining the net asset value of the Series. At the time 
of delivery of the securities, the value may be more or less than the 
purchase price. The Series will also establish a segregated account with the 
Series' custodian bank in which it will continuously maintain cash or U.S. 
Government securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal in value to 
commitments for such when-issued or delayed delivery securities; subject to 
this requirement, the Series may purchase securities on such basis without 
limit. An increase in the percentage of the Series' assets committed to the 
purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may 
increase the volatility of the Series' net asset value. The Investment 
Manager and the Trustees do not believe that any Series' net asset value or 
income will be adversely affected by its purchase of securities on such 
basis. 

   When, As and If Issued Securities. As discussed in the Prospectus, each 
Series (with the exception of the U.S. Government Money Market Series) may 
purchase securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis under which the 
issuance of the security depends upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, 
such as approval of a merger, corporate reorganization, leveraged buyout or 
debt restructuring. The commitment for the purchase of any such security will 
not be recognized by the Series until the Investment Manager determines that 
issuance of the security is probable. At such time, the Series will 

                                       19
<PAGE>

record the transaction and, in determining its net asset value, will reflect 
the value of the security daily. At such time, the Series will also establish 
a segregated account with its custodian bank in which it will continuously 
maintain cash or U.S. Government securities or other liquid portfolio 
securities equal in value to recognized commitments for such securities. 
Settlement of the trade will occur within five business days of the 
occurrence of the subsequent event. The value of the Series' commitments to 
purchase the securities of any one issuer, together with the value of all 
securities of such issuer owned by the Series, may not exceed 5% of the value 
of the Series' total assets at the time the initial commitment to purchase 
such securities is made (see "Investment Restrictions"). Subject to the 
foregoing restrictions, any Series may purchase securities on such basis 
without limit. An increase in the percentage of the Series' assets committed 
to the purchase of securities on a "when, as and if issued" basis may 
increase the volatility of its net asset value. The Investment Manager and 
the Trustees do not believe that the net asset value of any Series will be 
adversely affected by its purchase of securities on such basis. 

   Zero Coupon Securities. A portion of the U.S. Government securities 
purchased by each Series of the Fund may be "zero coupon" Treasury 
securities. These are U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds which have been 
stripped of their unmatured interest coupons and receipts or which are 
certificates representing interests in such stripped debt obligations and 
coupons. In addition, a portion of the fixed-income securities purchased by 
such Series may be "zero coupon" securities. "Zero coupon" securities are 
purchased at a discount from their face amount, giving the purchaser the 
right to receive their full value at maturity. A zero coupon security pays no 
interest to its holder during its life. Its value to an investor consists of 
the difference between its face value at the time of maturity and the price 
for which it was acquired, which is generally an amount significantly less 
than its face value (sometimes referred to as a "deep discount" price). 

   The interest earned on such securities is, implicitly, automatically 
compounded and paid out at maturity. While such compounding at a constant 
rate eliminates the risk of receiving lower yields upon reinvestment of 
interest if prevailing interest rates decline, the owner of a zero coupon 
security will be unable to participate in higher yields upon reinvestment of 
interest received if prevailing interest rates rise. For this reason, zero 
coupon securities are subject to substantially greater market price 
fluctuations during periods of changing prevailing interest rates than are 
comparable debt securities which make current distributions of interest. 
Current federal tax law requires that a holder (such as the Series) of a zero 
coupon security accrue a portion of the discount at which the security was 
purchased as income each year even though the Series receives no interest 
payments in cash on the security during the year. 

   Currently, the only U.S. Treasury security issued without coupons is the 
Treasury bill. However, in the last few years a number of banks and brokerage 
firms have separated ("stripped") the principal portions from the coupon 
portions of the U.S. Treasury bonds and notes and sold them separately in the 
form of receipts or certificates representing undivided interests in these 
instruments (which instruments are generally held by a bank in a custodial or 
trust account). 

   Lending of Portfolio Securities. Consistent with applicable regulatory 
requirements and subject to Investment Restriction (11) below, each Series of 
the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other 
financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at any time by 
the Series, and are at all times secured by cash or money market instruments, 
which are maintained in a segregated account pursuant to applicable 
regulations and that are equal to at least the market value, determined 
daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such loans is that the 
Series continues to receive the income on the loaned securities while at the 
same time earning interest on the cash amounts deposited as collateral, which 
will be invested in short-term obligations. A Series will not lend portfolio 
securities having a value of more than 10% of its total assets. 

   A loan may be terminated by the borrower on one business day's notice, or 
by a Series on four business days' notice. If the borrower fails to deliver 
the loaned securities within four days after receipt of notice, the Series 
could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the borrower 
liable 

                                       20
<PAGE>

for any excess of replacement cost over collateral. As with any extensions of 
credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some cases even loss of 
rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail 
financially. However, these loans of portfolio securities will only be made 
of firms deemed by the Fund's management to be creditworthy and when the 
income which can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks. 
Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the 
securities to the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan 
period would inure to the Series. 

   When voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to 
the borrower, a Series will follow the policy of calling the loaned 
securities, in whole or in part as may be appropriate, to be delivered within 
one day after notice, to permit the exercise of such rights if the matters 
involved would have a material effect on the Series' investment in such 
loaned securities. A Series will pay reasonable finder's, administrative and 
custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities. No Series lent 
any of its portfolio securities during the fiscal period ended July 31, 1997 
and no Series has any intention of lending any of its porfolio securities 
during the current fiscal year of the Fund. 

   U.S. Government Securities. As stated in the Prospectus, the Intermediate 
Income Securities and Utilities Series may invest in U.S. Government 
securities. Securities issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies or 
instrumentalities in which the Intermediate Income Securities and Utilities 
Series may invest include: 

       (1) U.S. Treasury bills (maturities of one year or less), U.S. Treasury
   notes (maturities of one to ten years) and U.S. Treasury bonds (generally
   maturities of greater than ten years), all of which are direct obligations
   of the U.S. Government and, as such, are backed by the "full faith and
   credit" of the United States.

       (2) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S.
   Government which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United
   States. Among the agencies and instrumentalities issuing such obligations
   are the Federal Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage
   Association ("GNMA"), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the
   Export Import Bank, the Farmers Home Administration; the General Services
   Administration, the Maritime Administration and the Small Business
   Administration. The maturities of such obligations range from three months
   to thirty years although the Fund may not invest in securities with
   maturities of more than twelve years.

       (3) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalies which are not
   backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but whose issuing
   agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow, to meet its obligations,
   from an existing line of credit with the U.S. Treasury. Among the agencies
   and instrumentalities issuing such obligations are the Tennessee Valley
   Authority, the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), the Federal
   Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") and the U.S. Postal Service.

       (4) Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not
   backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but which are
   backed by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. Among the
   agencies and instrumentalities issuing such obligations are the Federal Farm
   Credit System and the Federal Home Loan Bank.

OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, each of the Intermediate Income 
Securities, American Value, Capital Growth, Strategist, Utilities and Global 
Equity Series may write covered call options against securities held in its 
portfolio and covered put options on eligible portfolio securities (the 
Capital Growth Series may also write covered put and call options on stock 
and bond indexes) and purchase options of the same series to effect closing 
transactions, and may hedge against potential changes in the market value of 
investments (or anticipated investments) by purchasing put and call options 
on portfolio (or eligible portfolio) securities and engaging in transactions 
involving futures contracts and options on such 

                                       21
<PAGE>

contracts. The Global Equity Series may also hedge against potential changes 
in the market value of the currencies in which its investments (or 
anticipated investments) are denominated by purchasing put and call options 
on currencies and engage in transactions involving currency futures contracts 
and options on such contracts. 

   Call and put options on U.S. Treasury notes, bonds and bills and equity 
securities are listed on Exchanges and are written in over-the-counter 
transactions ("OTC options"). Listed options are issued by the Options 
Clearing Corporation ("OCC") and other clearing entities including foreign 
exchanges. Ownership of a listed call option gives a Series the right to buy 
from the OCC the underlying security covered by the option at the stated 
exercise price (the price per unit of the underlying security) by filing an 
exercise notice prior to the expiration date of the option. The writer 
(seller) of the option would then have the obligation to sell to the OCC the 
underlying security at that exercise price prior to the expiration date of 
the option, regardless of its then current market price. Ownership of a 
listed put option would give the Series the right to sell the underlying 
security to the OCC at the stated exercise price. Upon notice of exercise of 
the put option, the writer of the put would have the obligation to purchase 
the underlying security from the OCC at the exercise price. 

   Options on Treasury Bonds and Notes. Because trading in options written on 
Treasury bonds and notes tends to center on the most recently auctioned 
issues, the exchanges on which such securities trade will not continue 
indefinitely to introduce options with new expirations to replace expiring 
options on particular issues. Instead, the expirations introduced at the 
commencement of options trading on a particular issue will be allowed to run 
their course, with the possible addition of a limited number of new 
expirations as the original ones expire. Options trading on each issue of 
bonds or notes will thus be phased out as new options are listed on more 
recent issues, and options representing a full range of expirations will not 
ordinarily be available for every issue on which options are traded. 

   Options on Treasury Bills. Because a deliverable Treasury bill changes 
from week to week, writers of Treasury bill calls cannot provide in advance 
for their potential exercise settlement obligations by acquiring and holding 
the underlying security. However, if a Series holds a long position in 
Treasury bills with a principal amount of the securities deliverable upon 
exercise of the option, the position may be hedged from a risk standpoint by 
the writing of a call option. For so long as the call option is outstanding, 
the Series will hold the Treasury bills in a segregated account with its 
Custodian, so that they will be treated as being covered. 

   Options on GNMA Certificates. Currently, options on GNMA Certificates are 
only traded over-the-counter. Since the remaining principal balance of GNMA 
Certificates declines each month as a result of mortgage payments, a Series, 
as a writer of a GNMA call holding GNMA Certificates as "cover" to satisfy 
its delivery obligation in the event of exercise, may find that the GNMA 
Certificates it holds no longer have a sufficient remaining principal balance 
for this purpose. Should this occur, the Series will purchase additional GNMA 
Certificates from the same pool (if obtainable) or replacement GNMA 
Certificates in the cash market in order to maintain its cover. A GNMA 
Certificate held by the Series to cover an option position in any but the 
nearest expiration month may cease to represent cover for the option in the 
event of a decline in the GNMA coupon rate at which new pools are originated 
under the FHA/VA loan ceiling in effect at any given time, as such decline 
may increase the prepayments made on other mortgage pools. If this should 
occur, the Series will no longer be covered, and the Series will either enter 
into a closing purchase transaction or replace such Certificate with a 
Certificate which represents cover. When the Series closes out its position 
or replaces such Certificate, it may realize an unanticipated loss and incur 
transaction costs. 

   Options on Foreign Currencies. The Global Equity Series may purchase and 
write options on foreign currencies for purposes similar to those involved 
with investing in forward foreign currency exchange contracts. For example, 
in order to protect against declines in the dollar value of portfolio 
securities which are denominated in a foreign currency, the Global Equity 
Series may purchase put options on an amount of such foreign currency 
equivalent to the current value of the portfolio securities involved. As a 
result, the Global Equity Series would be enabled to sell the foreign 
currency for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars, thereby "locking in" the dollar 
value of the portfolio securities (less the amount 

                                       22
<PAGE>

of the premiums paid for the options). Conversely, the Global Equity Series 
may purchase call options on foreign currencies in which securities it 
anticipates purchasing are denominated to secure a set U.S. dollar price for 
such securities and protect against a decline in the value of the U.S. dollar 
against such foreign currency. The Global Equity Series may also purchase 
call and put options to close out written option positions. 

   The Global Equity Series may also write call options on foreign currency 
to protect against potential declines in its portfolio securities which are 
denominated in foreign currencies. If the U.S. dollar value of the portfolio 
securities falls as a result of a decline in the exchange rate between the 
foreign currency in which a security is denominated and the U.S. dollar, then 
a loss to the Series occasioned by such value decline would be ameliorated by 
receipt of the premium on the option sold. At the same time, however, the 
Series gives up the benefit of any rise in value of the relevant portfolio 
securities above the exercise price of the option and, in fact, only receives 
a benefit from the writing of the option to the extent that the value of the 
portfolio securities falls below the price of the premium received. The 
Global Equity Series may also write options to close out long call option 
positions. 

   The markets in foreign currency options are relatively new and the Global 
Equity Series' ability to establish and close out positions on such options 
is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. Although the 
Series will not purchase or write such options unless and until, in the 
opinion of management of the Series, the market for them has developed 
sufficiently to ensure that the risks in connection with such options are not 
greater than the risks in connection with the underlying currency, there can 
be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular 
option at any specific time. In addition, options on foreign currencies are 
affected by all of those factors which influence foreign exchange rates and 
investments generally. 

   The value of a foreign currency option depends upon the value of the 
underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the price of 
the option position may vary with changes in the value of either or both 
currencies and have no relationship to the investment merits of a foreign 
security, including foreign securities held in a "hedged" investment 
portfolio. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank 
market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved 
in the use of foreign currency options, investors may be disadvantaged by 
having to deal in an odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of 
less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that 
are less favorable than for round lots. 

   There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign 
currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through 
dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. 
Quotation information available is generally representative of very large 
transactions in the interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively 
smaller transactions (i.e., less than $1 million) where rates may be less 
favorable. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global, 
around-the-clock market. To the extent that the U.S. options markets are 
closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, 
significant price and rate movements may take place in the underlying markets 
that are not reflected in the options market. 

   OTC Options. Exchange-listed options are issued by the OCC (in the U.S.) 
or other clearing corporation or exchange which assures that all transactions 
in such options are properly executed. OTC options are purchased from or sold 
(written) to dealers or financial institutions which have entered into direct 
agreements with the relevant Series of the Fund. With OTC options, such 
variables as expiration date, exercise price and premium will be agreed upon 
between a Series and the transacting dealer, without the intermediation of a 
third party such as the OCC. If the transacting dealer fails to make or take 
delivery of the securities or amount of foreign currency underlying an option 
it has written, in accordance with the terms of the option, the Series would 
lose the premium paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of 
the transaction. The Fund will engage in OTC option transactions only with 
member banks of the Federal Reserve System or primary dealers in U.S. 
Government securities or with affiliates of such banks or dealers which have 
capital of at least $50 million or whose obligations are guaranteed by an 
entity having capital of at least $50 million. 

                                       23
<PAGE>

   Covered Call Writing. As stated in the Prospectus, the Series are 
permitted to write covered call options on portfolio securities, and the 
Global Equity Series is permitted to write covered call options on the U.S. 
dollar and foreign currencies, in each case without limit, in order to aid in 
achieving their investment objectives. Generally, a call option is "covered" 
if the Series owns, or has the right to acquire, without additional cash 
consideration (or for additional cash consideration held for the Series by 
its Custodian in a segregated account) the underlying security (currency) 
subject to the option except that in the case of call options on U.S. 
Treasury Bills, a Series might own U.S. Treasury Bills of a different series 
from those underlying the call option, but with a principal amount and value 
corresponding to the exercise price and a maturity date no later than that of 
the securities (currency) deliverable under the call option. A call option is 
also covered if the Series holds a call on the same security (currency) as 
the underlying security of the written option, where the exercise price of 
the call used for coverage is equal to or less than the exercise price of the 
call written or greater than the exercise price of the call written if the 
mark-to-market difference is maintained by the Series in cash, U.S. 
Government securities or other liquid portfolio securities which the Series 
holds in a segregated account maintained with the Series' Custodian. 

   The Series will receive from the purchaser, in return for a call it has 
written, a "premium," i.e., the price of the option. Receipt of these 
premiums may better enable the Series to achieve a high current income return 
for their shareholders or achieve a more consistent average total return than 
would be realized from holding the underlying securities (and, in the case of 
the Global Equity Series, currencies) alone. Moreover, the premium received 
will offset a portion of the potential loss incurred by the Series if the 
securities (currencies) underlying the option are ultimately sold (exchanged) 
by the Series at a loss. The value of the premium received will fluctuate 
with varying economic market conditions. If the market value of the portfolio 
securities (or the currencies in which they are denominated) upon which call 
options have been written increases, a Series may receive less total return 
from the portion of its portfolio upon which calls have been written than it 
would have had such calls not been written. 

   As regards listed options and certain over-the-counter ("OTC") options, 
during the option period, the Series may be required, at any time, to deliver 
the underlying security (currency) against payment of the exercise price on 
any calls it has written (exercise of certain listed and OTC options may be 
limited to specific expiration dates). This obligation is terminated upon the 
expiration of the option period or at such earlier time when the writer 
effects a closing purchase transaction. A closing purchase transaction is 
accomplished by purchasing an option of the same series as the option 
previously written. However, once the Series has been assigned an exercise 
notice, the Series will be unable to effect a closing purchase transaction. 

   Closing purchase transactions are ordinarily effected to realize a profit 
on an outstanding call option, to prevent an underlying security (currency) 
from being called, to permit the sale of an underlying security (or the 
exchange of the underlying currency) or to enable the Series to write another 
call option on the underlying security (currency) with either a different 
exercise price or expiration date or both. Also, effecting a closing purchase 
transaction will permit the cash or proceeds from the concurrent sale of any 
securities subject to the option to be used for other investments by the 
Series. The Series may realize a net gain or loss from a closing purchase 
transaction depending upon whether the amount of the premium received on the 
call option is more or less than the cost of effecting the closing purchase 
transaction. Any loss incurred in a closing purchase transaction may be 
wholly or partially offset by unrealized appreciation in the market value of 
the underlying security (currency). Conversely, a gain resulting from a 
closing purchase transaction could be offset in whole or in part or exceeded 
by a decline in the market value of the underlying security (currency). 

   If a call option expires unexercised, the Series realizes a gain in the 
amount of the premium on the option less the commission paid. Such a gain, 
however, may be offset by depreciation in the market value of the underlying 
security (currency) during the option period. If a call option is exercised, 
the Series realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security 
(currency) equal to the difference between the purchase price of the 
underlying security (currency) and the proceeds of the sale of the security 
(currency) plus the premium received when the option was written, less the 
commission paid. 

                                       24
<PAGE>

   Options written by a Series normally have expiration dates of up to 
eighteen months from the date written. The exercise price of a call option 
may be below, equal to or above the current market value of the underlying 
security (currency) at the time the option is written. See "Risks of Options 
and Futures Transactions," below. 

   The Series may also purchase put options to close out written put 
positions in a manner similar to call options closing purchase transactions. 
In addition, a Series may sell a put option which it has previously purchased 
prior to the sale of the securities (currency) underlying such option. Such a 
sale would result in a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount 
received on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction 
costs paid on the put option which is sold. Any such gain or loss could be 
offset in whole or in part by a change in the market value of the underlying 
security (currency). If a put option purchased by a Series expired without 
being sold or exercised, the premium would be lost. 

   Covered Put Writing. As stated in the Prospectus, as a writer of a covered 
put option, the Series incurs an obligation to buy the security underlying 
the option from the purchaser of the put, at the option's exercise price at 
any time during the option period, at the purchaser's election (certain 
listed and OTC put options written by the Series will be exercisable by the 
purchaser only on a specific date). A put is "covered" if the Series 
maintains, at all times, in a segregated account maintained on its behalf at 
its Custodian, cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid portfolio 
securities in an amount equal to at least the exercise price of the option, 
at all times during the option period. Similarly, a written put position 
could be covered by the Series by its purchase of a put option on the same 
security as the underlying security of the written option, where the exercise 
price of the purchased option is equal to or more than the exercise price of 
the put written or less than the exercise price of the put written if the 
mark-to-market difference is maintained by the Series in cash, U.S. 
Government securities or other liquid portfolio securities which the Series 
holds in a segregated account maintained at its Custodian. In writing puts, a 
Series assumes the risk of loss should the market value of the underlying 
security decline below the exercise price of the option (any loss being 
decreased by the receipt of the premium on the option written). In the case 
of listed options, during the option period, the Series may be required, at 
any time, to make payment of the exercise price against delivery of the 
underlying security. The operation of and limitations on covered put options 
in other respects are substantially identical to those of call options. 

   A Series will write put options for two purposes: (1) to receive the 
income derived from the premiums paid by purchasers; and (2) when the 
Investment Manager wishes to purchase the security underlying the option at a 
price lower than its current market price, in which case the Series will 
write the covered put at an exercise price reflecting the lower purchase 
price sought. The potential gain on a covered put option is limited to the 
premium received on the option (less the commissions paid on the transaction) 
while the potential loss equals the difference between the exercise price of 
the option and the current market price of the underlying securities when the 
put is exercised, offset by the premium received (less the commissions paid 
on the transaction). 

   Purchasing Call and Put Options. As stated in the Prospectus, the Series 
may purchase listed and OTC call and put options in amounts equalling up to 
10% of the total assets of the Series. The Series may purchase call options 
in order to close out a covered call position (see "Covered Call Writing" 
above) or purchase call options on securities they intend to purchase. The 
Global Equity Series may purchase a call option on foreign currency to hedge 
against an adverse exchange rate move of the currency in which the security 
it anticipates purchasing is denominated vis-a-vis the currency in which the 
exercise price is denominated. The purchase of the call option to effect a 
closing transaction or a call written over-the-counter may be a listed or an 
OTC option. In either case, the call purchased is likely to be on the same 
securities (currencies) and have the same terms as the written option. If 
purchased over-the-counter, the option would generally be acquired from the 
dealer or financial institution which purchased the call written by the 
Series. 

   Each Series may purchase put options on securities (and, in the case of 
the Global Equity Series, on currencies) which it holds (or has the right to 
acquire) in its portfolio only to protect itself against a decline in the 
value of the security (currency). If the value of the underlying security 
(currency) were to fall below the exercise price of the put purchased in an 
amount greater than the premium paid for the 

                                       25
<PAGE>

option, the Series would incur no additional loss. A Series may also purchase 
put options to close out written put positions in a manner similar to call 
options closing purchase transactions. In addition, a Series may sell a put 
option which it has previously purchased prior to the sale of the securities 
(currencies) underlying such option. Such a sale would result in a net gain 
or loss depending on whether the amount received on the sale is more or less 
than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put option when it 
was purchased. Any such gain or loss could be offset in whole or in part by a 
change in the market value of the underlying security (currency). If a put 
option purchased by a Series expired without being sold or exercised, the 
Series would realize a loss. 

   Risks of Options Transactions. The successful use of options depends on 
the ability of the Investment Manager to forecast correctly interest rates 
and market movements. If the market value of the portfolio securities (or, in 
the case of the Global Equity Series, the currencies in which they are 
denominated) upon which call options have been written increases, the Series 
may receive a lower total return from the portion of its portfolio upon which 
calls have been written than it would have had such calls not been written. 
In writing puts, the Series assumes the risk of loss should the market value 
of the underlying securities (or, in the case of the Global Equity Series, 
the currencies in which they are denominated) decline below the exercise 
price of the option (any loss being decreased by the receipt of the premium 
on the option written). During the option period, the covered call writer 
has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity for 
capital appreciation above the exercise price should the market price of the 
underlying security (or, in the case of the Global Equity Series, the value 
of the security's denominated currency) increase, but has retained the risk 
of loss should the price of the underlying security (or, in the case of the 
Global Equity Series, the value of the security's denominated currency) 
decline. The covered put writer also retains the risk of loss should the 
market value of the underlying security decline below the exercise price of 
the option less the premium received on the sale of the option. In both 
cases, the writer has no control over the time when it may be required to 
fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has 
received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction 
in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver or 
receive the underlying securities at the exercise price. A covered put option 
writer who is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to purchase 
an offsetting OTC option would continue to bear the risk of decline in the 
market price of the underlying security (or, in the case of the Global Equity 
Series, currency) until the option expires or is exercised. In addition, a 
covered put writer would be unable to utilize the amount held in cash or U.S. 
Government or other liquid portfolio securities as security for the put 
option for other investment purposes until the exercise or expiration of the 
option. 

   Prior to exercise or expiration, an option position can only be terminated 
by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. If a covered put 
call option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction or to 
purchase an offsetting OTC option, it cannot sell the underlying security 
until the option expires or the option is exercised. Accordingly, a covered 
call option writer may not be able to sell an underlying security (or, in the 
case of the Global Equity Series, currency) at a time when it might otherwise 
be advantageous to do so. 

   A Series' ability to close out its position as a writer of an option is 
dependent upon the existence of a liquid secondary market on option 
exchanges. There is no assurance that such a market will exist, particularly 
in the case of OTC options, as such options will generally only be closed out 
by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the purchasing dealer. 
However, a Series may be able to purchase an offsetting option which does not 
close out its position as a writer but constitutes an asset of equal value to 
the obligation under the option written. If the Series is not able to either 
enter into a closing purchase transaction or purchase an offsetting position, 
it will be required to maintain the securities subject to the call, or the 
collateral underlying the put, even though it might not be advantageous to do 
so, until a closing transaction can be entered into (or the option is 
exercised or expires). 

   Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary 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; (iv) interruption of the 
normal operations on an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an 
exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC") to handle 

                                       26
<PAGE>

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 secondary market on that exchange (or in that 
class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding 
options on that exchange that had been issued by the OCC as a result of 
trades on that exchange would generally continue to be exercisable in 
accordance with their terms. 

   In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which a Series engages 
in transactions in options, the Series could experience delays and/or losses 
in liquidating open positions purchased or sold through the broker and/or 
incur a loss of all or part of its margin deposits with the broker. 
Similarly, in the event of the bankruptcy of the writer of an OTC option 
purchased by a Series, the Series could experience a loss of all or part of 
the value of the option. Transactions are entered into by a Series only with 
brokers or financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the Fund's 
management. 

   Each of the exchanges has established limitations governing the maximum 
number of call or put options on the same underlying security or futures 
contract (whether or not covered) which may be written by a single investor, 
whether acting alone or in concert with others (regardless of whether such 
options are written on the same or different exchanges or are held or written 
on one or more accounts or through one or more brokers). An exchange may 
order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of these limits 
and it may impose other sanctions or restrictions. These position limits may 
restrict the number of listed options which a Series may write. 

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

   Stock Index Options. Series may also invest in options on stock indexes. 
As stated in the Prospectus, options on stock indexes are similar to options 
on stock except that, rather than the right to take or make delivery of stock 
at a specified price, an option on a stock index gives the holder the right 
to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing 
level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in 
the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of 
the option. This amount of cash is equal to such difference between the 
closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option expressed in 
dollars times a specified multiple (the "multiplier"). The multiplier for an 
index option performs a function similar to the unit of trading for a stock 
option. It determines the total dollar value per contract of each point in 
the difference between the exercise price of an option and the current level 
of the underlying index. A multiplier of 100 means that a one-point 
difference will yield $100. Options on different indexes may have different 
multipliers. The writer of the option is obligated, in return for the premium 
received, to make delivery of this amount. Unlike stock options, all 
settlements are in cash and a gain or loss depends on price movements in the 
stock market generally (or in a particular segment of the market) rather than 
the price movements in individual stocks. Currently, options are traded on, 
among other indexes, the Standard & Poor's 100 Index and the Standard & 
Poor's 500 Index on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the Major Market 
Index and the Computer Technology Index, Oil Index and Institutional Index on 
the American Stock Exchange and the NYSE Index and NYSE Beta Index on the New 
York Stock Exchange). The Financial News Composite Index on the Pacific Stock 
Exchange and the Value Line Index, National O-T-C Index and Utilities Index 
on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, each of which and any similar index on 
which options are traded in the future which include stocks that are not 
limited to any particular industry or segment of the market is referred to as 
a "broadly based stock market index." Options on broad-based stock indexes 
provide the Series with a means of protecting the Series against the risk of 
market-wide price movements. If the Investment Manager anticipates a market 
decline, the Series could purchase a stock index put option. If the expected 
market decline materialized, the resulting decrease in the value of the 
Series' portfolio would be offset to the extent of the increase in the value 
of the put option. If the Investment Manager anticipates a market rise, the 
Series may purchase a stock index call option to enable the Series to 
participate in such rise until completion of anticipated common stock 
purchases by the Series. Purchases and sales of stock index options also 
enable the Investment Manager to more speedily achieve changes in a Series' 
equity positions. 

                                       27
<PAGE>

   Series will be able to write put options on stock indexes only if such 
positions are covered by cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid 
portfolio securities equal to the aggregate exercise price of the puts, or by 
a put option on the same stock index with a strike price no lower than the 
strike price of the put option sold by the Series, which cover is held by the 
Series in a segregated account maintained for it by its Custodian. All call 
options on stock indexes written by a Series will be covered either by a 
portfolio of stocks substantially replicating the movement of the index 
underlying the call option or by holding a separate call option on the same 
stock index with a strike price no higher than the strike price of the call 
option sold by the Series. 

   Risks of Options on Indexes. Because exercises of stock index options are 
settled in cash, the Series, as a call writer, would not be able to provide 
in advance for their potential settlement obligations by acquiring and 
holding the underlying securities. A call writer can offset some of the risk 
of its position by holding a diversified portfolio of stocks similar to those 
on which the underlying index is based. However, most investors cannot, as a 
practical matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the same 
stocks as the underlying index, and, as a result, bear a risk that the value 
of the securities held will vary from the value of the index. Even if an 
index call writer could assemble a stock portfolio that exactly reproduced 
the composition of the underlying index, the writer still would not be fully 
covered from a risk standpoint because of the "timing risk" inherent in 
writing index options. When an index option is exercised, the amount of cash 
that the holder is entitled to receive is determined by the difference 
between the exercise price and the closing index level on the date when the 
option is exercised. As with other kinds of options, the writer will not 
learn that it has been assigned until the next business day, at the earliest. 
The time lag between exercise and notice of assignment poses no risk for the 
writer of a covered call on a specific underlying security, such as a common 
stock, because there the writer's obligation is to deliver the underlying 
security, not to pay its value as of a fixed time in the past. So long as the 
writer already owns the underlying security, it can satisfy its settlement 
obligations by simply delivering it, and the risk that its value may have 
declined since the exercise date is borne by the exercising holder. In 
contrast, even if the writer of an index call holds stocks that exactly match 
the composition of the underlying index, it will not be able to satisfy its 
assignment obligations by delivering those stocks against payment of the 
exercise price. Instead, it will be required to pay cash in an amount based 
on the closing index value on the exercise date; and by the time it learns 
that it has been assigned, the index may have declined, with a corresponding 
decline in the value of its stock portfolio. This "timing risk" is an 
inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to cover their risk 
exposure by holding stock positions. 

   A holder of an index option who exercises it before the closing index 
value for that day is available runs the risk that the level of the 
underlying index may subsequently change. If such a change causes the 
exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the exercising holder will be 
required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the 
exercise price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the 
assigned writer. 

   If dissemination of the current level of an underlying index is 
interrupted, or if trading is interrupted in stocks accounting for a 
substantial portion of the value of an index, the trading of options on that 
index will ordinarily be halted. If the trading of options on an underlying 
index is halted, an exchange may impose restrictions prohibiting the exercise 
of such options. 

   Futures Contracts. As stated in the Prospectus, the Utilities, American 
Value, Capital Growth, Strategist, Value-Added Market, Intermediate Income 
Securities and Global Equity Series may purchase and sell interest rate 
futures contracts that are traded, or may in the future be traded, on U.S. 
(and in the case of Global Equity Series, foreign) commodity exchanges on 
such underlying securities as U.S. Treasury bonds, notes, bills and GNMA 
Certificates and stock and bond index futures contracts that are traded, or 
may in the future be traded, on U.S. commodity exchanges on such indexes as 
the Moody's Investment-Grade Corporate Bond Index, S&P 500 Index and the New 
York Stock Exchange Composite Index. 

   As a futures contract purchaser, a Series incurs an obligation to take 
delivery of a specified amount of the obligation underlying the contract at a 
specified time in the future for a specified price. As a seller of a futures 
contract, a Series incurs an obligation to deliver the specified amount of 
the underlying obligation at a specified time in return for an agreed upon 
price. 

                                       28
<PAGE>

   Series will purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts for the 
purpose of hedging their fixed-income portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) 
securities against changes in prevailing interest rates or, to alter the 
Series' asset allocation in fixed-income securities. If it is anticipated 
that interest rates may rise and, concomitantly, the price of certain of its 
portfolio securities fall, a Series may sell an interest rate futures 
contract or a bond index futures contract. If declining interest rates are 
anticipated, or if the Investment Manager wishes to increase the Series' 
allocation of fixed-income securities, a Series may purchase an interest rate 
futures contract or a bond index futures contract to protect against a 
potential increase in the price of securities the Series intends to purchase. 
Subsequently, appropriate securities may be purchased by the Series in an 
orderly fashion; as securities are purchased, corresponding futures positions 
would be terminated by offsetting sales of contracts. 

   Series will purchase or sell stock index futures contracts for the purpose 
of hedging their equity portfolio (or anticipated portfolio) securities 
against changes in their prices. If the Investment Manager anticipates that 
the prices of stock held by a Series may fall or wishes to decrease the 
Series' asset allocation in equity securities, the Series may sell a stock 
index futures contract. Conversely, if the Investment Manager wishes to 
increase the assets of the Series which are invested in stocks or as a hedge 
against anticipated prices rises in those stocks which the Series intends to 
purchase, the Series may purchase stock index futures contracts. This allows 
the Series to purchase equities, in accordance with the asset allocations of 
the Series management, in an orderly and efficacious manner. 

   The Global Equity Series will purchase or sell futures contracts on 
currencies in which its portfolio securities (or anticipated portfolio 
securities) are denominated for the purposes of hedging against anticipated 
changes in currency exchange rates. The Global Equity Series will enter into 
currency futures contracts for the same reasons as set forth under the 
heading "Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts" under "The Global 
Equity Series" above for entering into forward foreign currency contracts; 
namely, to "lock-in" the value of a security purchased or sold in a given 
currency vis-a-vis a different currency or to hedge against an adverse 
currency exchange rate movement of a portfolio security's (or anticipated 
portfolio security's) denominated currency vis-a-vis a different currency. 

   In addition to the above, interest rate and bond index and stock index 
(and currency) futures contracts will be bought or sold in order to close out 
a short or long position in a corresponding futures contract. 

   Although most interest rate futures contracts call for actual delivery or 
acceptance of securities, the contracts usually are closed out before the 
settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. Index futures 
contracts provide for the delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified 
dollar amount times the difference between the index value at the open or 
close of the last trading day of the contract and the futures contract price. 
A futures contract sale is closed out by effecting a futures contract 
purchase for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of security (or, 
in the case of the Global Equity Series, currency) and the same delivery 
date. If the sale price exceeds the offsetting purchase price, the seller 
would be paid the difference and would realize a gain. If the offsetting 
purchase price exceeds the sale price, the seller would pay the difference 
and would realize a loss. Similarly, a futures contract purchase is closed 
out by effecting a futures contract sale for the same aggregate amount of the 
specific type of security (currency) and the same delivery date. If the 
offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, the purchaser would realize 
a gain, whereas if the purchase price exceeds the offseting sale price, the 
purchaser would realize a loss. There is no assurance that a Series will be 
able to enter into a closing transaction. 

   When a Series enters into a futures contract it is initially required to 
deposit with its Custodian, in an account in the name of the broker 
performing the transaction, an "initial margin" of cash or U.S. Government 
securities or other high grade short-term obligations equal to approximately 
2% (for interest rate futures contracts) of the contract amount. Initial 
margin requirements are established by the Exchanges on which futures 
contracts trade and may, from time to time, change. In addition, brokers may 
establish margin deposit requirements in excess of those required by the 
Exchanges. 

   Initial margin in futures contract transactions is different from margin 
in securities transactions in that initial margin does not involve the 
borrowing of funds by a broker's client but is, rather, a good faith 

                                       29
<PAGE>

deposit on the futures contract which will be returned to the Series upon the 
proper termination of the futures contract. The margin deposits made are 
marked-to-market daily and the Series may be required to make subsequent 
deposits of cash or U.S. Government securities, called "variation margin," 
with the Series' futures contract clearing broker, which are reflective of 
price fluctuations in the futures contract. Currently, interest rate futures 
contracts can be purchased on debt securities such as U.S. Treasury Bills and 
Bonds, U.S. Treasury Notes with maturities between 6-1/2 and 10 years, GNMA 
Certificates and Bank Certificates of Deposit. 

   Index Futures. As discussed in the Prospectus, the Series may also invest 
in stock index futures contracts. An index futures contract sale creates an 
obligation by the Series, as seller, to deliver cash at a specified future 
time. An index futures contract purchase would create an obligation by the 
Series, as purchaser, to take delivery of cash at a specified future time. 
Futures contracts on indexes do not require the physical delivery of 
securities, but provide for a final cash settlement on the expiration date 
which reflects accumulated profits and losses credited or debited to each 
party's account. 

   The Series is required to maintain margin deposits with brokerage firms 
through which it effects index futures contracts in a manner similar to that 
described above for interest rate futures contracts. Currently, the initial 
margin requirements range from 3% to 10% of the contract amount for index 
futures. In addition, due to current industry practice, daily variations in 
gains and losses on open contracts are required to be reflected in cash in 
the form of variation margin payments. The Series may be required to make 
additional margin payments during the term of the contract. 

   At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Series may 
elect to close the position by taking an opposite position which will operate 
to terminate the Series' position in the futures contract. A final 
determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required 
to be paid by or released to the Series and the Series realizes a loss or a 
gain. 

   Currently, index futures contracts can be purchased or sold with respect 
to, among others, the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Price Index and the 
Standard & Poor's 100 Stock Price Index on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, 
the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index on the New York Futures Exchange, 
the Major Market Index on the American Stock Exchange, the Value Line Stock 
Index on the Kansas City Board of Trade and the Moody's Investment-Grade 
Corporate Bond Index on the Chicago Board of Trade. 

   Currency Futures. As noted above, the Global Equity Series may invest in 
foreign currency futures. Generally, foreign currency futures provide for the 
delivery of a specified amount of a given currency, on the exercise date, for 
a set exercise price denominated in U.S. dollars or other currency. Foreign 
currency futures contracts would be entered into for the same reason and 
under the same circumstances as forward foreign currency exchange contracts. 
The Global Equity Series' management will assess such factors as cost 
spreads, liquidity and transaction costs in determining whether to utilize 
futures contracts or forward contracts in its foreign currency transactions 
and hedging strategy. Currently, currency futures exist for, among other 
foreign currencies, the Japanese yen, German mark, Canadian dollar, British 
pound, Swiss franc and European currency unit. 

   Purchasers and sellers of foreign currency futures contracts are subject 
to the same risks that apply to the buying and selling of futures generally. 
In addition, there are risks associated with foreign currency futures 
contracts and their use as a hedging device similar to those associated with 
options on foreign currencies described above. Further, settlement of a 
foreign currency futures contract must occur within the country issuing the 
underlying currency. Thus, the Global Equities Series must accept or make 
delivery of the underlying foreign currency in accordance with any U.S. or 
foreign restrictions or regulation regarding the maintenance of foreign 
banking arrangements by U.S. residents and may be required to pay any fees, 
taxes or charges associated with such delivery which are assessed in the 
issuing country. 

   Options on foreign currency futures contracts may involve certain 
additional risks. Trading options on foreign currency futures contracts is 
relatively new. The ability to establish and close out positions on such 
options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. To reduce 
this risk, the Global 

                                       30
<PAGE>

Equity Series will not purchase or write options on foreign currency futures 
contracts unless and until, in the opinion of the Series' management, the 
market for such options has developed sufficiently that the risks in 
connection with such options are not greater than the risks in connection 
with transactions in the underlying foreign currency futures contracts. 

   Options on Futures Contracts. The Series may purchase and write call and 
put options on futures contracts which are traded on an exchange and enter 
into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an 
existing position. 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 (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the 
option is a put) at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of 
the option. Upon the exericse of the option, the delivery of the futures 
position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option is 
accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer's futures 
margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the 
futures contract at the time of exercise exceeds, in the case of a call, or 
is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option on the 
futures contract. 

   The Series will only purchase and write options on futures contracts for 
identical purposes to those set forth above for the purchase of a futures 
contract (purchase of a call option or sale of a put option) and the sale of 
a futures contract (purchase of a put option or sale of a call option), or to 
close out a long or short position in futures contracts. If, for example, the 
Investment Manager wished to protect against an increase in interest rates 
and the resulting negative impact on the value of a portion of a Series' 
fixed-income portfolio, it might write a call option on an interest rate 
futures contract, the underlying security of which correlates with the 
portion of the portfolio the Series' management seeks to hedge. Any premiums 
received in the writing of options on futures contracts may, of course, 
augment the income of the Series and thereby provide a further hedge against 
losses resulting from price declines in portions of its portfolio. 

   The writer of an option on a futures contract is required to deposit 
initial and variation margin pursuant to requirements similar to those 
applicable to futures contracts. Premiums received from the writing of an 
option on a futures contract are included in initial margin deposits. 

   Limitations on Futures Contracts and Options on Futures. The Series may 
not enter into futures contracts or purchase related options thereon if, 
immediately thereafter, the amount committed to initial margin plus the 
amount paid for premiums for unexpired options on futures contracts exceeds 
5% of the value of the Series' total assets, after taking into account 
unrealized gains and unrealized losses on such contracts it has entered into, 
provided, however, that in the case of an option that is in-the-money (the 
exercise price of the call (put) option is less (more) than the market price 
of the underlying security) at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount 
may be excluded in calculating the 5%. However, there is no overall 
limitation on the percentage of a Series' assets which may be subject to a 
hedge position. In addition, in accordance with the regulations of the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") under which the Fund is 
exempted from registration as a commodity pool operator, Series may only 
enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts transactions 
for purposes of hedging a part or all of the Series' portfolio. If the CFTC 
changes its regulations so that the Fund would be permitted to write options 
on futures contracts for income purposes without CFTC registration, these 
Series may engage in such transactions for those purposes. Except as 
described above, there are no other limitations on the use of futures and 
options thereon by these Series. 

   Risks of Transactions in Futures Contracts and Related Options. The 
successful use of futures and related options depends on the ability of the 
Investment Manager to accurately predict market and interest rate movements. 
As stated in the Prospectus, a Series may sell a futures contract to protect 
against the decline in the value of securities (or, in the case of the Global 
Equity Series, the currency in which securities are denominated) held by the 
Series. However, it is possible that the futures market may advance and the 
value of securites (or, in the case of the Global Equity Series, the currency 
in which they are denominated) held in the Series may decline. If this 
occurred, the Series would lose money on the futures contract and also 
experience a decline in value of its portfolio securities. However, while 
this could occur for a very brief period or to a very small degree, over time 
the value of a diversified portfolio will tend to move in the same direction 
as the futures contracts. 

                                       31
<PAGE>

   If the Series purchases a futures contract to hedge against the increase 
in value of securities it intends to buy (or the currency in which they are 
denominated), and the value of such securities (currency) decreases, then the 
Series may determine not to invest in the securities as planned and will 
realize a loss on the futures contract that is not offset by a reduction in 
the price of the securities. 

   If a Series maintains a short position in a futures contract or has sold a 
call option on a futures contract, it will cover this position by holding, in 
a segregated account maintained at its Custodian, cash, U.S. Government 
securities or other high grade debt obligations equal in value (when added to 
any initial or variation margin on deposit) to the market value of the 
securities (currencies) underlying the futures contract or the exercise price 
of the option. Such a position may also be covered by owning the securities 
(currencies) underlying the futures contract (in the case of a stock index 
futures contract a portfolio of securities substantially replicating the 
relevant index), or by holding a call option permitting the Series to 
purchase the same contract at a price no higher than the price at which the 
short position was established. 

   In addition, if a Series holds a long position in a futures contract or 
has sold a put option on a futures contract, it will hold cash, U.S. 
Government securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal to the 
purchase price of the contract or the exercise price of the put option (less 
the amount of initial or variation margin on deposit) in a segregated account 
maintained for the Series by its Custodian. Alternatively, the Series could 
cover its long position by purchasing a put option on the same futures 
contract with an exercise price as high or higher than the price at which the 
short position was established. 

   In addition, if a Series holds a long position in a futures contract or 
has sold a put option on a futures contract, it will hold cash, U.S. 
Government securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal to the 
purchase price of the contract or the exercise price of the put option (less 
the amount of initial or variation margin on deposit) in a segregated account 
maintained for the Series by its Custodian. Alternatively, the Series could 
cover its long position by purchasing a put option on the same futures 
contract with an exercise price as high or higher than the price of the 
contract held by the Series. 

   Exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a futures contract may 
move on any day. If the price moves equal the daily limit on successive days, 
then it may prove impossible to liquidate a futures position until the daily 
limit moves have ceased. In the event of adverse price movements, the Series 
would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin 
on open futures positions. In such situations, if the Series has insufficient 
cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily variation margin 
requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, 
the Series may be required to take or make delivery of the instruments 
underlying interest rate futures contracts it holds at a time when it is 
disadvantageous to do so. The inability to close out options and futures 
positions could also have an adverse impact on the Series' ability to 
effectively hedge its portfolio. 

   With regard to the Global Equity Series, futures contracts and options 
thereon which are purchased or sold on foreign commodities exchanges may have 
greater price volatility than their U.S. counterparts. Furthermore, foreign 
commodities exchanges may be less regulated and under less governmental 
scrutiny than U.S. exchanges. Brokerage commissions, clearing costs and other 
transaction costs may be higher on foreign exchanges. Greater margin 
requirements may limit the Global Equity Series' ability to enter into 
certain commodity transactions on foreign exchanges. Moreover, differences in 
clearance and delivery requirements on foreign exchanges may occasion delays 
in the settlement of the Series' transactions effected on foreign exchanges. 

   In the event of the bankruptcy of a broker through which the Series 
engages in transactions in futures or options thereon, the Series could 
experience delays and/or losses in liquidating open positions purchased or 
sold through the broker and/or incur a loss of all or part of its margin 
deposits with the broker. Similarly, in the event of the bankruptcy of the 
writer of an OTC option purchased by the Series, the Series could experience 
a loss of all or part of the value of the option. Transactions are entered 
into by a Series only with brokers or financial institutions deemed 
creditworthy by the Series' management. 

   While the futures contracts and options transactions to be engaged in by a 
Series for the purpose of hedging the Series' portfolio securities are not 
speculative in nature, there are risks inherent in the use 

                                       32
<PAGE>

of such instruments. One such risk which may arise in employing futures 
contracts to protect against the price volatility of portfolio securities 
(and, for the Global Equity Series, the currencies in which they are 
denominated) is that the prices of securities and indexes subject to futures 
contracts (and thereby the futures contract prices) may correlate imperfectly 
with the behavior of the cash prices of the Series' portfolio securities (and 
the currencies in which they are denominated). Another such risk is that 
prices of interest rate futures contracts may not move in tandem with the 
changes in prevailing interest rates against which the Series seeks a hedge. 
A correlation may also be distorted by the fact that the futures market is 
dominated by short-term traders seeking to profit from the difference between 
a contract or security price objective and their cost of borrowed funds. Such 
distortions are generally minor and would diminish as the contract approached 
maturity. 

   As stated in the Prospectus, there may exist an imperfect correlation 
between the price movements of futures contracts purchased by the Series and 
the movements in the prices of the securities (currencies) which are the 
subject of the hedge. If participants in the futures market elect to close 
out their contracts through offsetting transactions rather than meet margin 
deposit requirements, distortions in the normal relationship between the debt 
securities and futures markets could result. Price distortions could also 
result if investors in futures contracts opt to make or take delivery of 
underlying securities rather than engage in closing transactions due to the 
resultant reduction in the liquidity of the futures market. In addition, due 
to the fact that, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit 
requirements in the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements 
in the cash market, increased participation by speculators in the futures 
market could cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of 
price distortions in the futures market and because of the imperfect 
correlation between movements in the prices of securities and movements in 
the prices of futures contracts, a correct forecast of interest rate trends 
may still not result in a successful hedging transaction. 

   As stated in the Prospectus, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary 
market will exist for futures contracts and related options in which Series 
may invest. In the event a liquid market does not exist, it may not be 
possible to close out a futures position, and in the event of adverse price 
movements, a Series would continue to be required to make daily cash payments 
of variation margin. In addition, limitations imposed by an exchange or board 
of trade on which futures contracts are traded may compel or prevent a Series 
from closing out a contract which may result in reduced gain or increased 
loss to the Series. The absence of a liquid market in futures contracts might 
cause the Series to make or take delivery of the underlying securities 
(currencies) at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. 

   The extent to which the Series may enter into transactions involving 
futures contracts and options thereon may be limited by the Internal Revenue 
Code's requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company and 
the Fund's intention to qualify each Series as such (see "Dividends, 
Distributions and Taxes" in the Prospectus). 

   Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the purchase of 
call or put options on futures contracts involves less potential risk to a 
Series because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options 
(plus transaction costs). However, there may be circumstances when the 
purchase of a call or put option on a futures contract would result in a loss 
to the Series notwithstanding that the purchase or sale of a futures contract 
would not result in a loss, as in the instance where there is no movement in 
the prices of the futures contract or underlying securities (currencies). 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   In addition to the investment restrictions enumerated in the Prospectus, 
the investment restrictions listed below have been adopted by the Fund as 
fundamental policies of the Series, except as otherwise indicated. Under the 
Act, a fundamental policy may not be changed with respect to a Series without 
the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Series, 
as defined in the Act. Such a majority is defined as the lesser of (a) 67% or 
more of the shares of the Series present at a meeting of shareholders of the 
Fund, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Series 
are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding 
shares of the Series. For purposes of the following restrictions and those 
contained in the Prospectus: (i) all percentage limitations 

                                       33
<PAGE>

apply immediately after a purchase or initial investment; and (ii) any 
subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting from market 
fluctuations or other changes in the amount of total or net assets does not 
require elimination of any security from the portfolio. 

RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL SERIES 

   Each Series of the Fund may not: 

   1. Borrow money, except from banks for temporary or emergency purposes, 
including the meeting of redemption requests which might otherwise require 
the untimely disposition of securities; or through its transactions in 
reverse repurchase agreements. Borrowing in the aggregate, including reverse 
repurchase agreements, may not exceed 5% (10% for Liquid Asset Series and 15% 
for U.S. Government Money Market Series), and borrowing for purposes other 
than meeting redemptions may not exceed 5% (10% for Liquid Asset Series) of 
the value of the Series' total assets (including the amount borrowed), less 
liabilities (not including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is 
made. 

   2. Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber them except to secure 
borrowings effected within the limitations set forth in restriction (1). For 
the purpose of this restriction, collateral arrangements with respect to the 
writing of options and collateral arrangements with respect to initial or 
variation margin for futures are not deemed to be pledges of assets. 

   3. Make short sales of securities. 

   4. Engage in the underwriting of securities, except insofar as the Series 
may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 in disposing of 
a portfolio security. 

   5. Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts, except that the 
Series may purchase or write interest rate, currency and stock and bond index 
futures contracts and related options thereon. 

   6. Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein (including real 
estate limited partnerships), although the Series may purchase securities of 
issuers which engage in real estate operations and securities secured by real 
estate or interests therein (as such, in case of default of such securities, 
a Series may hold the real estate securing such security). 

   7. Purchase oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty contracts 
or exploration or development programs, except that the Series may invest in 
the securities or companies which operate, invest in, or sponsor such 
programs. 

   8. Purchase securities on margin (but the Series may obtain such 
short-term loans as are necessary for the clearance of transactions). The 
deposit or payment by a Series of initial or variation margin in connection 
with futures contracts or related options thereon is not considered the 
purchase of a security on margin. 

   9. Issue senior securities as defined in the Act, except insofar as the 
Series may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason of (a) 
entering into any repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement; (b) purchasing 
any securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis; (c) purchasing or 
selling futures contracts, forward foreign exchange contracts or options; (d) 
borrowing money in accordance with restrictions described above; or (e) 
lending portfolio securities. 

   10. Purchase securities of any issuer for the purpose of exercising 
control or management. 

   11. Make loans of money or securities, except: (a) by the purchase of 
publicly distributed debt obligations in which the Series may invest 
consistent with its investment objectives and policies; (b) by investment in 
repurchase agreements; or (c) by lending its portfolio securities. 

   12. Participate on a joint or a joint and several basis in any securities 
trading account. The "bunching" of orders of two or more Series (or of one or 
more Series and of other accounts under the investment management of the 
Investment Manager) for the sale or purchase of portfolio securities shall 
not be considered participating in a joint securities trading account. 

                                       34
<PAGE>

   13. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in 
connection with a merger, consolidation, reorganization or acquisition of 
assets or in accordance with the provisions of Section 12(d) of the Act and 
any Rules promulgated thereunder. 

   In addition, as a nonfundamental policy, the Fund may not invest in 
securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the Fund, any officer or 
trustee of the Fund or any officer or director of the Investment Manager owns 
more than 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding securities of such issuer, and such 
officers, trustees and directors who own more than 1/2 of 1% own in the 
aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of such issuers. 

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, the 
Investment Manager is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities 
for each Series of the Fund, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect 
the transactions, and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. 
Purchases and sales of securities on a stock exchange are effected through 
brokers who charge a commission for their services. In the over-the-counter 
market, securities are generally traded on a "net" basis with dealers acting 
as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission, although the 
price of the security usually includes a profit to the dealer. In 
underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price which 
includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to 
as the underwriter's concession or discount. When securities are purchased or 
sold directly from or to an issuer, no commissions or discounts are paid. For 
the fiscal years ended July 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, the Series of the Fund 
paid brokerage commissions as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS  BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS 
                            PAID FOR FISCAL YEAR  PAID FOR FISCAL YEAR   PAID FOR FISCAL YEAR 
NAME OF SERIES                 ENDED 7/31/95          ENDED 7/31/96         ENDED 7/31/97 
- --------------                 -------------          -------------         ------------- 
<S>                               <C>                   <C>                    <C>      
American Value Series ....        $66,581               $140,058               $192,907 
Capital Growth Series ....            629                  3,207                  8,366 
Dividend Growth Series ...         37,711                 51,116                 79,426 
Strategist Series.........          6,628                 17,146                 12,242 
Utilities Series..........          4,444                  4,668                 16,017 
Value-Added Market 
 Series...................          7,693                  7,588                 10,509 
Global Equity Series .....         28,597                 78,153                 71,144 
</TABLE>

   Purchases of money market instruments are made from dealers, underwriters 
and issuers; sales, if any, prior to maturity, are made to dealers and 
issuers. The Fund does not normally incur brokerage commission expense on 
such transactions. Money market instruments are generally traded on a "net" 
basis with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a 
stated commission, although the price of the security usually includes a 
profit to the dealer. 

   The Investment Manager serves as investment adviser to a number of 
clients, including other investment companies, and may in the future act as 
investment manager or adviser to others. It is the practice of the Investment 
Manager to cause purchase and sale transactions to be allocated among the 
Series of the Fund and others whose assets it manages in such manner as it 
deems equitable. In making such allocations among the Series of the Fund and 
other client accounts, various factors may be considered, including the 
respective investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of 
the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment, 
the size of investment commitments generally held and the opinions of the 
persons responsible for managing the portfolios of the Fund and other client 
accounts. In the case of certain initial and secondary public offerings, the 
Investment Manager may utilize a pro rata allocation process based on the 
size of the Dean Witter Funds involved and the number of shares available 
from the public offering. This procedure may, under certain circumstances, 
have an adverse effect on the Fund or any of its Series. 

   The policy of the Fund regarding purchases and sales of securities for the 
various Series is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the 
most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent 
with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock 
exchange, 

                                       35
<PAGE>

the Fund's policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and 
reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible 
commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Fund believes that a 
requirement always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede 
effective portfolio management and preclude the Fund and the Investment 
Manager from obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In 
seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any 
transaction, the Investment Manager relies upon its experience and knowledge 
regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its 
judgment in evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the 
broker effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily 
subjective and imprecise, as in most cases an exact dollar value for those 
services is not ascertainable. 

   The Fund anticipates that certain of its transactions involving foreign 
securities will be effected on foreign securities exchanges. Fixed 
commissions on such transactions are generally higher than negotiated 
commissions on domestic transactions. There is also generally less government 
supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges and brokers than 
in the United States. 

   In seeking to implement the policies of the Series of the Fund, the 
Investment Manager effects transactions with those brokers and dealers who 
the Investment Manager believes provide the most favorable prices and are 
capable of providing efficient executions. If the Investment Manager believes 
such price and execution are obtainable from more than one broker or dealer, 
it may give consideration to placing portfolio transactions with those 
brokers and dealers who also furnish research and other services to the Fund 
or the Investment Manager. Such services may include, but are not limited to, 
any one or more of the following: information as to the availability of 
securities for purchase or sale; statistical or factual information or 
opinions pertaining to investment; wire services; and appraisals or 
evaluations of portfolio securities. The Fund will give no weight to any 
research services provided by a dealer, transacting with the Fund as 
principal, in determining the price of a security purchased from or sold to 
that dealer. 

   The information and services received by the Investment Manager from 
brokers and dealers may be of benefit to the Investment Manager or in the 
management of accounts of some of its other clients and may not in all cases 
benefit a Series of the Fund directly. While the receipt of such information 
and services is useful in varying degrees and would generally reduce the 
amount of research or services otherwise performed by the Investment Manager 
and thus reduce its expenses, it is of indeterminable value and the fees paid 
to the Investment Manager are not reduced by any amount that may be 
attributable to the value of such services. For the fiscal year ended July 
31, 1997, the Series of the Fund directed the payment of commissions in 
connection with transactions in the following aggregate amounts to brokers 
because of research services provided: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS     AGGREGATE DOLLAR 
                        DIRECTED IN CONNECTION  AMOUNT OF TRANSACTIONS 
                        WITH RESEARCH SERVICES      FOR WHICH SUCH 
                               PROVIDED         COMMISSIONS WERE PAID 
                            FOR FISCAL YEAR        FOR FISCAL YEAR 
NAME OF SERIES               ENDED 7/31/97          ENDED 7/31/97 
- ----------------------  ---------------------- ---------------------- 
<S>                            <C>                   <C>          
American Value Series .        $160,636              $123,574,975 
Capital Growth Series .           6,645                 3,724,582 
Dividend Growth 
 Series................          35,869                24,046,647 
Strategist Series......           5,214                 1,707,539 
Utilities Series.......           2,002                   821,559 
Global Equity Series ..          61,879                15,783,096 
</TABLE>

   Pursuant to an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund 
may effect principal transactions in certain money market instruments with 
DWR. The Fund will limit its transactions with DWR to U.S. Government and 
Government Agency Securities, Bank Money Instruments (i.e., Certificates of 
Deposit and Bankers' Acceptance) and Commercial Paper. Such transactions will 
be effected with DWR only when the price available from DWR is better than 
that available from other dealers. 

   Consistent with the policy described above, brokerage transactions in 
securities listed on exchanges or admitted to unlisted trading privileges may 
be effected through DWR and Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. 

                                       36
<PAGE>

("Morgan Stanley"), another broker-dealer affiliate of the Investment 
Manager. In order for an affiliated broker-dealer to effect any portfolio 
transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration 
received by the affiliated broker-dealer must be reasonable and fair compared 
to the commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to other brokers in 
connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being 
purchased or sold on an exchange during a comparable period of time. This 
standard would allow the affiliated broker-dealer to receive no more than the 
remuneration which would be expected to be received by an unaffiliated broker 
in a commensurate arm's-length transaction. Furthermore, the Trustees of the 
Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested" persons 
of the Fund, as defined in the Act, have adopted procedures which are 
reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other 
remuneration paid to these brokers are consistent with the foregoing 
standard. The Fund does not reduce the management fee it pays to the 
Investment Manager by any amount of the brokerage commissions it may pay to 
these affiliated brokers. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1995, the Series 
paid the following dollar amounts of brokerage commissions to DWR: American 
Value Series: $18,882; Capital Growth Series: $519; Dividend Growth Series: 
$28,711; Strategist Series: $5,710; Utilities Series: $3,970; and Global 
Equity Series: $3,713. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1996, the Series 
paid the following dollar amounts of brokerage commissions to DWR: American 
Value Series: $67,847; Capital Growth Series: $1,774; Dividend Growth Series: 
$30,759; Strategist Series: $10,751; Utilities Series: $4,140; and Global 
Equity Series: $5,635. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Series 
paid brokerage commissions to DWR for transactions as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE 
                                                                            DOLLAR AMOUNT OF 
                                                                           EXECUTED TRADES ON 
                         BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS  PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE     WHICH BROKERAGE 
                        PAID TO DWR FOR FISCAL   BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS   COMMISSIONS WERE PAID 
                                 YEAR            FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED   FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED 
NAME OF SERIES               ENDED 7/31/97              7/31/97                 7/31/97 
- ----------------------  ---------------------- -----------------------  ----------------------- 
<S>                             <C>                      <C>                     <C>    
American Value Series .         $25,735                  13.34%                  17.28% 
Capital Growth Series .           1,487                  17.77                   22.77 
Dividend Growth 
 Series................          43,558                  54.84                   65.14 
Strategist Series......           6,861                  56.04                   80.35 
Utilities Series.......          13,830                  86.35                   90.59 
Global Equity Series ..           9,201                  12.93                   30.64 
</TABLE>

   For the period June 1, 1997 through July 31, 1997, the Series paid 
brokerage commissions to Morgan Stanley as set forth in the chart below. 
Morgan Stanley became an affiliate of the Investment Manager on May 31, 1997 
upon consummation of the merger of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. with Morgan 
Stanley Group, Inc. 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE 
                                                                           DOLLAR AMOUNT OF 
                                                                          EXECUTED TRADES ON 
                        BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS  PERCENTAGE OF AGGREGATE     WHICH BROKERAGE 
                       PAID TO MORGAN STANLEY   BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS   COMMISSIONS WERE PAID 
                           FOR THE PERIOD          FOR THE PERIOD           FOR THE PERIOD 
NAME OF SERIES             6/1/97-7/31/97          6/1/97-7/31/97           6/1/97-7/31/97 
- ---------------------  ---------------------- -----------------------  ----------------------- 
<S>                            <C>                      <C>                      <C>   
American Value 
 Series...............         $1,365                   0.71%                    0.71% 
Capital Growth 
 Series...............            270                   3.23                     2.76 
Global Equity Series .            168                   0.24                     0.42 
</TABLE>

   During the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the American Value Series held 
common stock issued by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. with a market value of 
$563,500 and common stock issued by Lehman Brothers with a market value of 
$797,000. 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, the net asset value of the shares of each 
Series is determined once daily at 4:00 p.m., New York time (or, on days when 
the New York Stock Exchange closes prior to 

                                       37
<PAGE>

4:00 p.m., at such earlier time), on each day that the New York Stock 
Exchange is open for trading. The New York Stock Exchange currently observes 
the following holidays: New Year's Day, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, 
Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money 
Market Series each utilize the amortized cost method in valuing their 
portfolio securities for purposes of determining the net asset value of its 
shares. The Series utilize the amortized cost method in valuing their 
portfolio securities even though the portfolio securities may increase or 
decrease in market value, generally in connection with changes in interest 
rates. The amortized cost method of valuation involves valuing a security at 
its cost at the time of purchase adjusted by a constant amortization to 
maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of fluctuating 
interest rates on the market value of the instrument. While this method 
provides certainty in valuation, it may result in periods during which value, 
as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price the Series 
would receive if they sold the investment. During such periods, the yield to 
investors in the Series may differ somewhat from that obtained in a similar 
company which uses mark-to-market values for all of its portfolio securities. 
For example, if the use of amortized cost resulted in a lower (higher) 
aggregate portfolio value on a particular day, a prospective investor in a 
Series would be able to obtain a somewhat higher (lower) yield than would 
result from investment in such a similar company and existing investors would 
receive less (more) investment income. The purpose of this method of 
calculation is to facilitate the maintenance of a constant net asset value 
per share of $1.00. 

   The use of the amortized cost method to value the portfolio securities of 
the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series and the maintenance 
of the per share net asset value of $1.00 is permitted pursuant to Rule 2a-7 
under the Act (the "Rule") and is conditioned on its compliance with various 
conditions contained in the Rule including: (a) the Trustees are obligated, 
as a particular responsibility within the overall duty of care owed to the 
Series' shareholders, to establish procedures reasonably designed, taking 
into account current market conditions and the Series' investment objectives, 
to stabilize the net asset value per share as computed for the purpose of 
distribution and redemption at $1.00 per share; (b) the procedures include 
(i) calculation, at such intervals as the Trustees determine are appropriate 
and as are reasonable in light of current market conditions, of the 
deviation, if any, between net asset value per share using amortized cost to 
value portfolio securities and net asset value per share based upon available 
market quotations with respect to such portfolio securities; (ii) periodic 
review by the Trustees of the amount of deviation as well as methods used to 
calculate it; and (iii) maintenance of written records of the procedures, and 
the Trustees' considerations made pursuant to them and any actions taken upon 
such consideration; (c) the Trustees should consider what steps should be 
taken, if any, in the event of a difference of more than 1/2 of 1% between 
the two methods of valuation; and (d) the Trustees should take such action as 
they deem appropriate (such as shortening the average portfolio maturity, 
realizing gains or losses, withholding dividends or, as provided by the 
Declaration of Trust, reducing the number of outstanding shares of a Series) 
to eliminate or reduce to the extent reasonably practicable material dilution 
or other unfair results to investors or existing shareholders which might 
arise from differences between the two methods of valuation. Any reduction of 
outstanding shares will be effected by having each shareholder 
proportionately contribute to the Series' capital the necessary shares that 
represent the amount of excess upon such determination. 

   Generally, for purposes of the procedures adopted under the Rule, the 
maturity of a portfolio instrument is deemed to be the period remaining 
(calculated from the trade date or such other date on which the Series' 
interest in the instrument is subject to market action) until the date noted 
on the face of the instrument as the date on which the principal amount must 
be paid, or in the case of an instrument called for redemption, the date on 
which the redemption payment must be made. 

   A variable rate obligation that is subject to a demand feature is deemed 
to have a maturity equal to the longer of the period remaining until the next 
readjustment of the interest rate or the period remaining until the principal 
amount can be recovered through demand. A floating rate instrument that is 
subject to a demand feature is deemed to have a maturity equal to the period 
remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand. 

                                       38
<PAGE>

   An Eligible Security is defined in the Rule to mean a security which: (a) 
has a remaining maturity of thirteen months or less; (b)(i) is rated in the 
two highest short-term rating categories by any two nationally recognized 
statistical rating organizations ("NRSROs") that have issued a short-term 
rating with respect to the security or class of debt obligations of the 
issuer; or (ii) if only one NRSRO has issued a short-term rating with respect 
to the security, then by that NRSRO; (c) was a long-term security at the time 
of issuance whose issuer has outstanding a short-term debt obligation which 
is comparable in priority and security and has a rating as specified in 
clause (b) above; or (d) if no rating is assigned by any NRSRO as provided in 
clauses (b) and (c) above, the unrated security is determined by the Board to 
be of comparable quality to any such rated security. The Liquid Asset and 
U.S. Government Money Market Series will limit their investments to 
securities that meet the requirements for Eligible Securities including the 
required ratings by S&P or Moody's, as set forth in the prospectus. 

   As permitted by the Rule, the Board has delegated to the Fund's Investment 
Manager, subject to the Board's oversight pursuant to guidelines and 
procedures adopted by the Board, the authority to determine which securities 
present minimal credit risks and which unrated securities are comparable in 
quality to rated securities. 

   Also, as required by the Rule, the Series will limit their investments in 
securities, other than Government securities, so that, at the time of 
purchase: (a) except as further limited in (b) below with regard to certain 
securities, no more than 5% of their total assets will be invested in the 
securities of any one issuer; and (b) with respect to Eligible Securities 
that have received a rating in less than the highest category by any one of 
the NRSROs whose ratings are used to qualify the security as an Eligible 
Security, or that have been determined to be of comparable quality: (i) no 
more than 5% in the aggregate of the Series' total assets in all such 
securities, and (ii) no more than the greater of 1% of total assets, or $1 
million, in the securities on any one issuer. 

   The presence of a line of credit or other credit facility offered by a 
bank or other financial institution which guarantees the payment obligation 
of the issuer, in the event of a default in the payment of principal or 
interest of an obligation, may be taken into account in determining whether 
an investment is an Eligible Security, provided that the guarantee itself is 
an Eligible Security. 

   The Rule further requires that the Series limit their investments to U.S. 
dollar-denominated instruments which the Trustees determine present minimal 
credit risks and which are Eligible Securities. The Rule also requires the 
Series to maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity (not more 
than 90 days) appropriate to its objective of maintaining a stable net asset 
value of $1.00 per share and precludes the purchase of any instrument with a 
remaining maturity of more than 397 days. Should the disposition of a 
portfolio security result in a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of 
more than 90 days, the Series will invest its available cash in such a manner 
as to reduce such maturity to 90 days or less as soon as is reasonably 
practicable. 

   If the Board determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the 
Series and its shareholders to maintain a stable price of $1 per share or if 
the Board believes that maintaining such price no longer reflects a 
market-based net asset value per share, the Board has the right to change 
from an amortized cost basis of valuation to valuation based on market 
quotations. The Fund will notify shareholders of the Series of any such 
change. 

PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund are offered for sale on 
a continuous basis at an offering price equal to the net asset value per 
share of each Series next determined following a receipt of an order. The 
Trustees of the Fund have approved a Distribution Agreement appointing Dean 
Witter Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor") as exclusive distributor of the 
Fund's shares. The Distributor has entered into a selected dealer agreement 
with DWR, which through its own sales organization sells shares of the Fund. 
In addition, the Distributor may enter into similar agreements with other 
selected broker-dealers. The Distributor, a Delaware corporation, is a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of MSDWD. The Trustees who are not, and were not at 
the time they voted, interested persons of the Fund, as defined in the Act, 
(the "Independent Trustees") approved, at their meeting held on April 24, 
1997, the current 

                                       39
<PAGE>

Distribution Agreement appointing the Distributor as exclusive distributor of 
the Fund's shares and providing for the Distributor to bear distribution 
expenses not borne by the Fund. The Distribution Agreement took effect on May 
31, 1997 upon the consummation of the merger of Dean Witter, Discover & Co. 
with Morgan Stanley Group Inc. The Distribution Agreement is substantially 
identical to the Fund's previous distribution agreement which was approved by 
the Independent Trustees at their meeting held on October 30, 1992. By its 
terms, the Distribution Agreement has an initial term ending April 30, 1998 
and will remain in effect from year to year thereafter if approved by the 
Trustees. 

   The Distributor has agreed to pay certain expenses of the offering of the 
Fund's shares, including the costs of printing and distributing prospectuses 
and supplements thereto used in connection with the offering and sale of the 
Fund's shares. The Fund will bear the costs of initial typesetting, printing 
and distribution to shareholders. The Fund and the Distributor have agreed to 
indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under 
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund has entered into a Plan of 
Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act (the "Plan") with the 
Distributor and DWR whereby the Distributor and any of its affiliates are 
authorized to utilize their own resources to finance certain activities in 
connection with the distribution of shares of the Fund. The Plan was 
initially approved by the Trustees of the Fund on July 29, 1992 and, 
subsequently, by DWR as the then sole shareholder of the Fund. The vote of 
the Trustees included a majority of the Trustees who are not and were not at 
the time of their votes interested persons of the Fund and who have and had 
at the time of their votes no direct or indirect financial interest in the 
operation of the Plan (the "Independent 12b-1 Trustees"), cast in person at a 
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Plan. In determining to 
approve the Plan, the Trustees, including the Independent 12b-1 Trustees, 
concluded that, in their judgment, there is a reasonable likelihood that the 
Plan will benefit the Fund and its shareholders. 

   The Plan provides that the Fund authorizes the Distributor and DWR to bear 
the expense of all promotional and distribution-related activities on behalf 
of the Fund, except for expenses that the Trustees determine to reimburse. 
Among the activities and services which may be provided by the Distributor 
under the Plan are: (1) compensation to and expenses of account executives 
and other employees of the Distributor and other broker-dealers, including 
overhead and telephone expenses; (2) sales incentives and bonuses to sales 
representatives and to marketing personnel in connection with promoting sales 
of the Fund's shares; (3) expenses incurred in connection with promoting 
sales of the Fund's shares; (4) preparing and distributing sales literature; 
and (5) providing advertising and promotional activities, including direct 
mail solicitation and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other media 
advertisements. 

   DWR's account executives are paid a monthly residual commission, 
calculated based upon the current value of the respective accounts for which 
they are the account executives of record. The "gross residual" is a charge 
which reflects residual commissions paid by DWR to its account executives and 
DWR's expenses associated with the servicing of shareholders' accounts, 
including the expenses of operating DWR's branch offices in connection with 
the servicing of shareholders' accounts, which expenses include lease costs, 
the salaries and employee benefits of operations and sales support personnel, 
utility costs, communications costs and the costs of stationery and supplies 
and other expenses relating to branch office servicing of shareholder 
accounts. 

   Under the Plan, the Distributor uses its best efforts in rendering 
services to the Fund, but in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, 
gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations, the Distributor is 
not liable to the Fund or any of its shareholders for any error of judgment 
or mistake of law or for any act or omission or for any losses sustained by 
the Fund or its shareholders. 

   Under its terms, the Plan had an initial term ending April 30, 1993 and 
will remain in effect from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance 
is approved annually by a vote of the Trustees, including a majority of the 
Independent 12b-1 Trustees. An amendment to increase materially the maximum 
amount authorized to be spent under the Plan on behalf of any Series must be 
approved by the 

                                       40
<PAGE>

shareholders of such Series, and all material amendments to the Plan must be 
approved by the Trustees in the manner described above. The Plan may be 
terminated on behalf of any Series at any time, without payment of any 
penalty, by vote of the majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees or by a 
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Series (as 
defined in the Act) on not more than 30 days written notice to any other 
party to the Plan. The authority for the Distributor to finance distribution 
activities automatically terminates in the event of an assignment (as defined 
in the Act). After such an assignment, the Fund's authority to make payments 
to its Distributor would resume, subject to certain conditions. So long as 
the Plan is in effect, the selection or nomination of the Independent 12b-1 
Trustees is committed to the discretion of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees. 
Continuation of the Plan was most recently approved by the Trustees, 
including a majority of the Independent 12b-1 Trustees, on April 24, 1997, at 
a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Plan. 

   No interested person of the Fund nor any Trustee of the Fund who is not an 
interested person of the Fund, as defined in the Act, has any direct or 
indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan except to the extent 
that the Distributor or DWR or certain of their employees may be deemed to 
have such an interest as a result of benefits derived from the successful 
operation of the Plan or as a result of receiving a portion of the amounts 
expended thereunder by the Distributor. 

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Shareholder Investment Account. Upon purchase of shares of the Fund, a 
Shareholder Investment Account is opened for the investor on the books of 
each Series of the Fund owned by the investor, maintained by Dean Witter 
Trust FSB (the "Transfer Agent"), in full and fractional shares of the Series 
(rounded to the nearest 1/100 of a share). This is an open account in which 
shares owned by the investor are credited by the Transfer Agent in lieu of 
issuance of a share certificate. If a share certificate is desired, it must 
be requested in writing for each transaction. Certificates are issued only 
for full shares and may be redeposited in the account at any time. There is 
no charge to the investor for issuance of a certificate. No certificates will 
be issued for fractional shares or to shareholders who have elected the 
Systematic Withdrawal Plan or check writing privilege of withdrawing cash 
from their accounts. Whenever a shareholder-instituted transaction takes 
place in the Shareholder Investment Account, the shareholder will be mailed a 
statement by DWR or other selected broker-dealer, the Distributor or the 
Transfer Agent reflecting the status of such Account. 

   Automatic Investment of Dividends and Distributions. All dividends and 
capital gains distributions are automatically paid in full and fractional 
shares of the Fund, unless the shareholder requests that they be paid in 
cash. Each purchase of shares of the Fund is made upon the condition that the 
Transfer Agent is thereby automatically appointed as agent of the investor to 
receive all dividends and capital gains distributions on shares owned by the 
investor. An investor may terminate such agency at any time and may request 
the Transfer Agent in writing to have subsequent dividends and/or capital 
gains distributions paid in cash rather than shares. Such request must be 
received by the Transfer Agent at least five (5) business days prior to the 
record date for which it commences to take effect. In case of recently 
purchased shares for which registration instructions have not been received 
on the record date, cash payments will be made to the Distributor. It has 
been and remains the Fund's policy and practice that, if checks for dividends 
or distributions paid in cash remain uncashed, no interest will accrue on 
amounts represented by such uncashed checks. 

   Systematic Withdrawal Plan. As discussed in the Prospectus, a systematic 
withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal Plan") is available for shareholders who own 
or purchase shares of the Fund having a minimum value of $10,000 based upon 
the then current offering price. The Withdrawal Plan provides for monthly or 
quarterly (March, June, September and December) checks in any amount, not 
less than $25, or in any whole percentage of the account balance, on an 
annualized basis. 

   Dividends and capital gains distributions on shares held under the 
Withdrawal Plan will be invested in additional full and fractional shares at 
net asset value. Shares will be credited to an open account for the investor 
by the Transfer Agent; no share certificates will be issued. A shareholder is 
entitled to a share certificate upon written request to the Transfer Agent, 
although in that event the shareholder's Withdrawal Plan will be terminated. 

                                       41
<PAGE>

   The Transfer Agent acts as agent for the shareholder in tendering to the 
Fund for redemption sufficient full and fractional shares to provide the 
amount of the periodic withdrawal payment designated in the application. The 
shares will be redeemed at their net asset value determined, at the 
shareholder's option, on the tenth or twenty-fifth day (or next following 
business day) of the relevant month or quarter and normally a check for the 
proceeds will be mailed by the Transfer Agent within five business days after 
the date of redemption. The Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by 
the Fund. 

   Withdrawal Plan payments should not be considered as dividends, yields or 
income. If periodic withdrawal plan payments continuously exceed net 
investment income and net capital gains, the shareholder's original 
investment will be correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted. 

   A shareholder may, at any time change the amount and interval of 
withdrawal payments and the address to which checks are mailed by written 
notification to the Transfer Agent. The shareholder's signature on such 
notification must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor acceptable to the 
Transfer Agent (shareholders should contact the Transfer Agent for a 
determination as to whether a particular institution is such an eligible 
guarantor). The shareholder may also terminate the Withdrawal Plan at any 
time by written notice to the Transfer Agent. In the event of such 
termination, the account will be continued as a Shareholder Investment 
Account. The shareholder may also redeem all or part of the shares held in 
the Withdrawal Plan account (see "Redemptions and Repurchases" in the 
Prospectus) at any time. Shareholders wishing to enroll in the Withdrawal 
Plan should contact their account executive or the Transfer Agent. 

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund makes available to its 
shareholders an Exchange Privilege whereby shareholders of any Series of the 
Fund may exchange their shares for shares of any other Series of the Fund. 
There is no holding period for exchanges of shares. An exchange will be 
treated for federal income tax purposes the same as a repurchase or 
redemption of shares, on which the shareholder may realize a capital gain or 
loss, unless shares are held in a qualified retirement plan which is not 
subject to taxation. 

   Any new account established through the Exchange Privilege will have the 
same registration and cash dividend or dividend reinvestment plan as the 
present account, unless the Transfer Agent receives written notification to 
the contrary. For telephone exchanges, the exact registration of the existing 
Account and the account number must be provided. 

   Any shares held in certificate form cannot be exchanged but must be 
forwarded to the Transfer Agent and deposited into the shareholder's account 
before being eligible for exchange. (Certificates mailed in for deposit 
should not be endorsed.) 

   The Transfer Agent acts as agent for shareholders of the Fund in effecting 
redemptions of Fund shares and in applying the proceeds to the purchase of 
other fund shares. In the absence of negligence on its part, neither the 
Transfer Agent nor the Fund shall be liable for any redemption of Fund shares 
caused by unauthorized telephone or telegraph instructions. Accordingly, in 
such event the investor shall bear the risk of loss. The staff of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission is currently considering the propriety of 
such a policy. 

   With respect to the redemption or repurchase of shares of any Series of 
the Fund, the application of proceeds to the purchase of new shares in the 
Fund and the general administration of the Exchange Privilege, the Transfer 
Agent acts as agent for the Distributor and for the shareholder's selected 
broker-dealer, if any, in the performance of such functions. With respect to 
exchanges, redemptions or repurchases, the Transfer Agent shall be liable for 
its own negligence and not for the default or negligence of its 
correspondents or for losses in transit. The Fund shall not be liable for any 
default or negligence of the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or any selected 
broker-dealer. 

   The Distributor and any selected broker-dealer have authorized and 
appointed the Transfer Agent to act as their agent in connection with the 
application of proceeds of any redemption of Fund shares to the purchase of 
shares of any other Series and the general administration of the Exchange 
Privilege. No commission or discounts will be paid to the Distributor or any 
selected broker-dealer for any transactions pursuant to this Exchange 
Privilege. 

                                       42
<PAGE>

   The Fund may limit the number of times this Exchange Privilege may be 
exercised by any investor within a specified period of time. Also, the 
Exchange Privilege may be terminated or revised at any time by the Fund, upon 
such notice as may be required by applicable regulatory agencies (presently 
sixty days' prior written notice for termination or material revision), 
provided that the Exchange Privilege may be terminated or materially revised 
without notice at times (a) when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for 
other than customary weekends and holidays, (b) when trading on that Exchange 
is restricted, (c) when an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by 
the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not 
reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net 
assets, (d) during any other period when the Securities and Exchange 
Commission by order so permits (provided that applicable rules and 
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission shall govern as to 
whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist), or (e) if the Fund 
would be unable to invest amounts effectively in accordance with its 
investment objective, policies and restrictions. 

   For further information regarding the Exchange Privilege, shareholders 
should contact their DWR or other selected broker-dealer account executive or 
the Transfer Agent. 

REDEMPTIONS AND REPURCHASES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, shares of the Fund may be redeemed at net 
asset value on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open (see 
"Determination of Net Asset Value"). Redemptions will be effected at the net 
asset value per share next determined after the receipt of a redemption 
request meeting the applicable requirements discussed in the Prospectus. When 
a redemption is made by check and a check is presented to the Transfer Agent 
for payment, the Transfer Agent will redeem a sufficient number of full and 
fractional shares in the shareholder's account to cover the amount of the 
check. This enables the shareholder to continue earning daily income 
dividends until the check has cleared. It has been and remains the Fund's 
policy and practice that, if checks for redemption proceeds remain uncashed, 
no interest will accrue on amounts represented by such uncashed checks. 

   A check drawn by a shareholder against his or her account in the Fund 
constitutes a request for redemption of a number of shares sufficient to 
provide proceeds equal to the amount of the check. Payment of the proceeds of 
a check will normally be made on the next business day after receipt by the 
Transfer Agent of the check in proper form. If a check is presented for 
payment to the Transfer Agent by a shareholder or payee in person, the 
Transfer Agent will make payment by means of a check drawn on the Fund's 
account or, in the case of a shareholder payee, to the shareholder's 
predesignated bank account, but will not make payment in cash. 

   The Fund reserves the right to suspend redemptions or postpone the date of 
payment (1) for any periods during which the New York Stock Exchange is 
closed (other than for customary weekend and holiday closings), (2) when 
trading on that Exchange is restricted or an emergency exists, as determined 
by the Securities and Exchange Commission, so that disposal of the Fund's 
investments or determination of the Fund's net asset value is not reasonably 
practicable, or (3) for such other periods as the Commission by order may 
permit for the protection of the Fund's shareholders. 

   The Transfer Agent acts as agent for shareholders of the Fund in effecting 
redemptions of shares of the Fund. In the absence of negligence on its part, 
neither the Transfer Agent nor the Fund shall be liable for any redemption of 
Fund shares caused by unauthorized telephone or telegraph instructions. 

   The Prospectus describes redemption procedures by check, telephone or wire 
instructions with payment to a predesignated bank account, or by mail. 

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Liquid Asset Series and U.S. Government Money Market Series. As discussed 
in the Prospectus, dividends from net income on the Liquid Asset and U.S. 
Government Money Market Series will be declared payable on each day the New 
York Stock Exchange is open for business to shareholders of record as of the 
close of business the preceding business day. Net income, for dividend 
purposes, includes accrued interest and amortization of original issue and 
market discount, less the amortization of market premium and the estimated 
expenses of the Series. Net income will be calculated immediately 

                                       43
<PAGE>

prior to the determination of net asset value per share of the Series (see 
"Determination of Net Asset Value" above and in the Prospectus). The amount 
of dividend may fluctuate from day to day and may be omitted on some days if 
realized losses on portfolio securities exceed the Series' net investment 
income. The Trustees may revise the above dividend policy, or postpone the 
payment of dividends, if either Series should have or anticipate any large 
unexpected expense, loss or fluctuation in net assets which in the opinion of 
the Trustees might have a significant adverse effect on shareholders. On 
occasion, in order to maintain a constant $1.00 per share net asset value, 
the Trustees may direct that the number of outstanding shares of either 
Series be reduced in each shareholder's account. Such reduction may result in 
taxable income to a shareholder in excess of the net increase (i.e., 
dividends, less such reductions), if any, in the shareholder's account for a 
period. Furthermore, such reduction may be realized as a capital loss when 
the shares are liquidated. Any net realized capital gains will be declared 
and paid at least once per calendar year, except that net short-term gains 
may be paid more frequently, with the distribution of dividends from net 
investment income. 

   Other Series. The dividend policies of the U.S. Government Securities, 
Intermediate Income Securities, American Value, Capital Growth, Dividend 
Growth, Strategist, Utilities, Value-Added Market and Global Equity Series 
are discussed in the Prospectus. In computing interest income, these Series 
will not amortize any discount or premium resulting from the purchase of debt 
securities except those original issue discounts for which amortization is 
required for federal income tax purposes. Gains or losses resulting from 
unamortized market discount or premium on securities issued prior to July 19, 
1984 will be treated as capital gains or losses when realized. With respect 
to market discount on bonds issued after July 18, 1984, a portion of any 
capital gain realized upon disposition may be recharacterized as taxable 
ordinary income in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue 
Code (the "Code"). Dividends, interest and capital gains received by Series 
holding foreign securities may give rise to withholding and other taxes 
imposed by foreign countries. 

   Options and Futures. Exchange-traded futures contracts, listed options on 
futures contracts and certain listed options are classified as "Section 1256" 
contracts under the Code. Unless the Series makes an election as discussed 
below, the character of gain or loss resulting from the sale, disposition, 
closing out, expiration or other termination of Section 1256 contracts would 
generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 60 
percent thereof and short-term capital gain or loss to the extent of 40 
percent thereof and such Section 1256 contracts would also be required to be 
marked-to-market at the end of the Fund's fiscal year, for purposes of 
federal income tax calculations. 

   Over-the-counter options are not classified as Section 1256 contracts and 
are not subject to the mark-to-market or 60 percent-40 percent taxation 
rules. When call options written by a Series, or put options purchased by a 
Series, are exercised, the gain or loss realized on the sales of the 
underlying securities may be either short-term or long-term, depending upon 
the holding period of the securities. In determining the amount of gain or 
loss, the sales proceeds are reduced by the premium paid for over-the-counter 
puts or increased by the premium received for over-the-counter calls. 

   If a Series holds a security which is offset by a Section 1256 contract, 
the Series would by deemed to hold a "mixed straddle" position, as such is 
defined in the Code. A Series may elect to identify its mixed straddle 
positions pursuant to Section 1256(d) of the Code and thereby avoid 
application of both the mark-to-market and 60 percent/40 percent taxation 
rules. The Series may also make certain other elections with respect to mixed 
straddles which could avoid or limit the application of certain rules which 
could, in certain circumstances, cause deferral or disallowance of losses, 
change long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains, or change 
short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. 

   Whether the portfolio security constituting part of the identified mixed 
straddle is deemed to have been held for less than three months for purposes 
of determining qualification of the Series as a regulated investment company 
will be determined generally by the actual holding period of the security. In 
certain circumstances, entering into a mixed straddle could result in the 
recognition of unrealized gain or loss which would be taken into account in 
determining the amount of income available for the Series' distributions, and 
can result in an amount which is greater or less than the Series' net 
realized gains being available for distribution. If an amount which is less 
than the Series' net realized gains is available for distribution, the Series 
may elect to distribute more than such available amount, up to the full 
amount 

                                       44
<PAGE>

of such net realized gains. Such a distribution may, in part, constitute a 
return of capital to the shareholders. If the Series does not elect to 
identify a mixed straddle, no recognition of gain or loss on the securities 
in its portfolio will result when the mixed straddle is entered into. 
However, any losses realized on the straddle will be governed by a number of 
tax rules which might, under certain circumstances, defer or disallow the 
losses in whole or in part, change long-term gains into short-term gains, or 
change short-term losses into long-term losses. A deferral or disallowance of 
recognition of a realized loss may result in an amount being available for 
the Series' distributions which is greater than the Series' net realized 
gains. 

   Special Rules for Certain Foreign Currency Transactions (Global Equity 
Series). In general, gains from foreign currencies and from foreign currency 
options, foreign currency futures and forward foreign exchange contracts 
relating to investments in stock, securities or foreign currencies are 
currently considered to be qualifying income for purposes of determining 
whether the Global Equity Series qualifies as a regulated investment company. 
It is currently unclear, however, who will be treated as the issuer of 
certain foreign currency instruments or how foreign currency options, 
futures, or forward foreign currency contracts will be valued for purposes of 
the regulated investment company diversification requirements applicable to 
the Series. The Global Equity Series may request a private letter ruling from 
the Internal Revenue Service on some or all of these issues. 

   Under Code Section 988, special rules are provided for certain 
transactions in a foreign currency other than the taxpayer's functional 
currency (i.e., unless certain special rules apply, currencies other than the 
U.S. dollar). In general, foreign currency gains or losses from forward 
contracts, from futures contracts that are not "regulated futures contracts", 
and from unlisted options will be treated as ordinary income or loss under 
Code Section 988. Also, certain foreign exchange gains or losses derived with 
respect to foreign fixed-income securities are also subject to Section 988 
treatment. In general, therefore, Code Section 988 gains or losses will 
increase or decrease the amount of the Global Equity Series' investment 
company taxable income available to be distributed to shareholders as 
ordinary income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount of the 
Global Equity Series' net capital gain. Additionally, to the extent that Code 
Section 988 losses exceeded other investment company taxable income during a 
taxable year, the Global Equity Series' distributions for that year could 
constitute a return of capital (i.e., a return of the shareholder's 
investment). 

   If the Global Equity Series invests in an entity which is classified as a 
"passive foreign investment company" ("PFIC") for U.S. tax purposes, the 
application of certain technical tax provisions applying to such companies 
could result in the imposition of federal income tax with respect to such 
investments at the Series level which could not be eliminated by 
distributions to shareholders. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and, 
previously, the U.S.-Treasury issued proposed regulation section 1.1291-8 
establishes a mark-to-market regime which allows investment companies 
investing in PFICs to avoid most, if not all, of the difficulties posed by 
the PFIC rules. In any event, it is not anticipated that taxes on the Global 
Equity Series with respect to investments in PFICs would be significant. 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The annualized current yield of the Liquid Asset Series and U.S. 
Government Money Market Series, as may be quoted from time to time in 
advertisements and other communications to shareholders and potential 
investors, is computed by determining, for a stated seven-day period, the net 
change, exclusive of capital changes and including the value of additional 
shares purchased with dividends and any dividends declared therefrom, in the 
value of a hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one share at 
the beginning of the period, subtracting a hypothetical charge which reflects 
deductions from shareholder accounts (such as management fees), and dividing 
the difference by the value of the account at the beginning of the base 
period to obtain the base period return, and then multiplying the base period 
return by (365/7). 

   The Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series' annualized 
effective yield, as may be quoted from time to time in advertisements and 
other communications to shareholders and potential investors, is computed by 
determining (for the same stated seven-day period as for the current yield), 
the net change, exclusive of capital changes and including the value of 
additional shares purchased with 

                                       45
<PAGE>

dividends and any dividends declared therefrom, in the value of a 
hypothetical pre-existing account having a balance of one share at the 
beginning of the period, subtracting a hypothetical charge reflecting 
deductions from shareholder accounts, and dividing the difference by the 
value of the account at the beginning of the base period to obtain the base 
period return, and then compounding the base period return by adding 1, 
raising the sum to a power equal to 365 divided by 7, and subtracting 1 from 
the result. The annualized and effective yields for the seven-days ended July 
31, 1997 for the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series, were 
as follows: 4.65% and 4.76% for the Liquid Asset Series; and 4.65% and 4.67% 
for the U.S. Government Money Market Series. Had the Series been paying their 
investment management fees and had the Investment Manager not been assuming 
any of their expenses during the period, the annualized and effective yields 
for the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series would have been 
4.36% and 4.45%, and 3.51% and 3.56%, respectively. 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, from time to time the U.S. Government 
Securities and Intermediate Income Securities Series may quote their "yields" 
in advertisements and sales literature. Yield is calculated for any 30-day 
period as follows: the amount of interest and/or dividend income for each 
security in the Series' portfolio is determined in accordance with regulatory 
requirements; the total for the entire portfolio constitutes the Series' 
gross income for the period. Expenses accrued during the period are 
subtracted to arrive at "net investment income". The resulting amount is 
divided by the product of the net asset value per share on the last day of 
the period multiplied by the average number of Fund shares outstanding during 
the period that were entitled to dividends. This amount is added to 1 and 
raised to the sixth power. 1 is then subtracted from the result and the 
difference is multiplied by 2 to arrive at the annualized yield. For the 
30-day period ended July 31, 1997, the yields of the U.S. Government 
Securities and Intermediate Income Series were 6.03% and 5.65%, respectively, 
calculated pursuant to the above formula. Had these Series been paying their 
investment management fees and had the Investment Manager not been assuming 
any expenses during the period, the 30-day period yields for the U.S. 
Government Securities and the Intermediate Income Securities Series would 
have been 5.52% and 2.15%, respectively. 

                                       46
<PAGE>

   As discussed in the Prospectus, each Series of the Fund may quote its 
"total return" in advertisements and sales literature. A Series' "average 
annual return" represents an annualization of the Series' total return over a 
particular period and is computed by finding the annual percentage rate which 
will result in the ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 
investment made at the beginning of a one year period, or for the period from 
the date of commencement of the Series' operations, if shorter than any of 
the foregoing. For the purpose of this calculation, it is assumed that all 
dividends and distributions are reinvested. The formula for computing the 
average annual total return involves a percentage obtained by dividing the 
ending redeemable value by the amount of the initial investment, taking a 
root of the quotient (where the root is equivalent to the number of years in 
the period) and subtracting 1 from the result. The average annual total 
returns for the period from commencement of the Series' operations through 
July 31, 1997 and for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 were: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 WITHOUT FEE WAIVER AND        
                                                                                                   EXPENSE ASSUMPTION          
                                                                                          -------------------------------------
                                                    AVERAGE ANNUAL                           AVERAGE ANNUAL    AVERAGE ANNUAL  
                                                   TOTAL RETURN FOR   AVERAGE ANNUAL        TOTAL RETURN FOR    TOTAL RETURN   
                                                     PERIOD FROM       TOTAL RETURN            PERIOD FROM          FOR            
                                                   COMMENCEMENT OF   FOR FISCAL YEAR         COMMENCEMENT OF    FISCAL YEAR       
                                   COMMENCEMENT   OPERATIONS THROUGH      ENDED            OPERATIONS THROUGH      ENDED       
             SERIES               OF OPERATIONS     JULY 31, 1997     JULY 31, 1997           JULY 31, 1997    JULY 31, 1997
             ------               -------------     -------------     -------------           -------------    -------------
<S>                                   <C>                <C>               <C>                   <C>                <C>   
U.S. Government Securities  ....      1/8/93             5.16%             9.70%                 4.53%              9.03% 
Intermediate Income Securities       1/12/93             5.16              8.63                  4.29               7.06 
American Value .................      2/1/93            17.63             41.62                 17.37              41.37 
Capital Growth .................      2/2/93            14.93             43.46                 14.30              41.19 
Dividend Growth ................      1/7/93            20.09             41.92                    --                 -- 
Strategist .....................      1/7/93            12.81             27.35                 12.55              26.93 
Utilities ......................      1/8/93            10.76             19.87                  9.74              18.74 
Value-Added Market .............      2/1/93            18.46             43.12                 18.25              43.05 
Global Equity ..................      1/8/93             9.96             26.66                  9.52              25.87 
</TABLE>

   In addition to the foregoing, a Series may advertise its total return over 
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or 
other types of total return figures. A Series may also compute its aggregate 
total return for specified periods by determining the aggregate percentage 
rate which will result in the ending value of a hypothetical $1,000 
investment made at the beginning of the period. For the purpose of this 
calculation, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions are 
reinvested. The formula for computing aggregate total return involves a 
percentage obtained by dividing the ending value by the initial $1,000 
investment and subtracting 1 from the result. Based on the foregoing 
calculation, the total returns of the period from commencement of operations 
through July 31, 1997 and for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 were: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      TOTAL RETURN FROM      TOTAL RETURN FOR 
                                 COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS    FISCAL YEAR 
                                           THROUGH                ENDED 
           SERIES                       JULY 31, 1997         JULY 31, 1997 
- -------------------------------  -------------------------- ---------------- 
<S>                                         <C>                    <C>   
U.S. Government Securities  ....            25.79%                 9.70% 
Intermediate Income Securities              25.72                  8.63 
American Value .................           107.40                 41.62 
Capital Growth .................            86.80                 43.46 
Dividend Growth ................           130.51                 41.92 
Strategist .....................            73.30                 27.35 
Utilities ......................            59.33                 19.87 
Value-Added Market .............           114.05                 43.12 
Global Equity ..................            54.16                 26.66 
</TABLE>

   A Series may also advertise the growth of hypothetical investments of 
$10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in shares of the Series by adding 1 to the 
Series' aggregate total return to date (expressed as 

                                       47
<PAGE>

a decimal) and multiplying by 10,000, 50,000 or 100,000, as the case may be. 
Investments at commencement of operations of $10,000, $50,000 and $100,000 in 
each Series of the Fund would have grown to the following amounts as of July 
31, 1997: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          INVESTMENT AT 
                                  COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF 
                                 -------------------------------- 
           SERIES                 $10,000    $50,000   $100,000 
- -------------------------------  --------- ---------  ---------- 
<S>                               <C>       <C>        <C>      
Liquid Asset....................  $12,297   $ 61,485   $122,970 
U.S. Government Money Market ...   12,103     60,515    121,030 
U.S. Government Securities  ....   12,579     62,895    125,790 
Intermediate Income Securities     12,572     62,860    125,720 
American Value .................   20,740    103,700    207,400 
Capital Growth .................   18,680     93,400    186,800 
Dividend Growth ................   23,051    115,255    230,510 
Strategist .....................   17,330     86,650    173,300 
Utilities ......................   15,933     79,665    159,330 
Value-Added Market .............   21,405    107,025    214,050 
Global Equity ..................   15,416     77,080    154,160 
</TABLE>

   The yields quoted in any advertisement or other communication should not 
be considered a representation of the yields of the Liquid Asset and U.S. 
Government Money Market Series in the future since the yield is not fixed. 
Actual yields will depend not only on the type, quality and maturities of the 
investments held by the Series and changes in interest rates on such 
investments, but also on changes in the Series' expenses during the period. 

   Yield information may be useful in reviewing the performance of the Liquid 
Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series and for providing a basis for 
comparison with other investment alternatives. However unlike bank deposits 
or other investments which typically pay a fixed yield for a stated period of 
time, the Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market Series yields 
fluctuate. 

   The Fund may, from time to time, advertise the performance of a Series 
relative to certain performance rankings and indices compiled by independent 
organizations. 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   As discussed in the Prospectus, the shareholders of each Series of the 
Fund are entitled to a full vote for each full share held. The Trustees 
themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms of office of the 
Trustees as provided for in the Declaration of Trust, and they may at any 
time lengthen their own terms or make their terms of unlimited duration and 
appoint their own successors, provided that always at least a majority of the 
Trustees has been elected by the shareholders of the Fund. Under certain 
circumstances, Trustees may be removed by action of the Trustees. The 
shareholders also have the right under certain circumstances to remove the 
Trustees. The voting rights of shareholders are not cumulative, so that 
holders of more than 50 percent of the shares voting can, if they choose, 
elect all Trustees being elected, while the holders of the remaining shares 
would be unable to elect any Trustees. 

   The Fund is not required to hold Annual Meetings of Shareholders and, in 
ordinary circumstances, the Fund does not intend to hold such meetings. The 
Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholders 
vote as may be required by the Act or the Fund's Declaration of Trust. 

   The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to authorize the creation of 
additional series of shares (the proceeds of which would be invested in 
separate, independently managed portfolios) and additional classes of shares 
within any series (which would be used to distinguish among the rights of 
different categories of shareholders). The Trustees have not authorized any 
such additional series or classes of shares. 

                                       48
<PAGE>

   The Declaration of Trust further provides that no Trustee, officer, 
employee or agent of the Fund is liable to the Fund or to a shareholder, nor 
is any Trustee, officer, employee or agent liable to any third persons in 
connection with the affairs of the Fund, except as such liability may arise 
from his/her or its own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or 
reckless disregard of his/her or its duties. It also provides that all third 
persons shall look solely to the Fund's property for satisfaction of claims 
arising in connection with the affairs of the Fund. With the exceptions 
stated, the Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee, officer, employee 
or agent is entitled to be indemnified against all liability in connection 
with the affairs of the Fund. 

   The Fund shall be of unlimited duration subject to the provisions in the 
Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the shareholders. 

CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The Bank of New York, 90 Washington Street, New York, New York, 10286 is 
the Custodian of the Fund's assets. Any of the Fund's cash balances in excess 
of $100,000 are unprotected by federal deposit insurance. Such balances may, 
at times, be substantial. 

   Dean Witter Trust FSB, Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey 
City, New Jersey 07311 is the Transfer Agent of the Fund's shares and 
Dividend Disbursing Agent for payment of dividends and distributions of Fund 
shares and Agent for shareholders under various investment plans described 
herein. Dean Witter Trust FSB is an affiliate of Dean Witter InterCapital 
Inc., the Fund's Investment Manager, and of Dean Witter Distributors Inc., 
the Fund's Distributor. As Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent, Dean 
Witter Trust FSB's responsibilities include maintaining shareholder accounts, 
including providing subaccounting and recordkeeping services for certain 
retirement accounts; disbursing cash dividends and distributions and 
reinvesting dividends and distributions; processing account registration 
changes; handling purchase and redemption transactions; mailing prospectuses 
and reports; mailing and tabulating proxies; processing share certificate 
transactions; and maintaining shareholder records and lists. For these 
services, Dean Witter Trust FSB receives a per shareholder account fee from 
the Fund. 

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Price Waterhouse LLP serves as the independent accountants of the Fund. 
The independent accountants are responsible for auditing the annual financial 
statements of each Series of the Fund. 

REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The Fund, on behalf of each Series, will send to shareholders, at least 
semi-annually, reports showing each Series' portfolio and other information. 
An annual report, containing financial statements audited by independent 
accountants, together with their report, will be sent to shareholders each 
year. 

   The Fund's fiscal year ends on July 31. The financial statements of the 
Fund must be audited at least once a year by independent accountants whose 
selection is made annually by the Fund's Trustees. 

LEGAL COUNSEL 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Barry Fink, Esq., who is an officer and the General Counsel of the 
Investment Manager, is an officer and the General Counsel of the Fund. 

EXPERTS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The annual financial statements of each Series of the Fund for the year 
ended July 31, 1997, which are included in this Statement of Additional 
Information and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, have been so 
included and incorporated by reference in reliance on the report of Price 
Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm 
as experts in auditing and accounting. 

                                       49
<PAGE>

REGISTRATION STATEMENT 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   This Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus do not contain 
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement the Fund has 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete Registration 
Statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission upon 
payment of the fee prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Commission. 

PRINCIPAL SECURITIES HOLDERS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   The following parties held, as of September 30, 1997, five percent or more 
of the voting securities of the Series indicated, in the percentage amount 
indicated: Great Bay Distributors Inc., 2310 Starkey Road, Largo, FL (Liquid 
Asset Series: 7.4%); DWTC as Trustee for Willdan Association Profit Sharing 
Plan, Products 401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (Liquid Asset 
Series: 9.7%); DWTC as Trustee for Fenner Manheim Inc., Profit Sharing Plan, 
P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (Liquid Asset Series: 5.0%); DWTC as Trustee 
for Cygnus 401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (U.S. Government Money 
Market Series: 19.0%); Cartwright Employee Insurance Benefit Account, 3401 
North 67th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ (U.S. Government Money Market Series: 17.4%); 
Emjayco as Trustee for the benefit of Geer Tank Trucks Inc., 401(k) Plan 
90235, P.O. Box 17909, Milwaukee, WI (U.S. Government Money Market Series: 
5.6%); DWTC as Trustee for Willdan Association Profit Sharing Plan, Products 
401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (U.S. Government Securities 
Series: 9.4%); DWTC as Trustee for VVP America Inc. Retirement Plan, P.O. Box 
957, Jersey City, NJ (U.S. Government Securities Series: 6.6%); DWTC as 
Trustee for Foulke Management Corporation 401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey 
City, NJ (U.S. Government Securities Series: 10.6%); DWTC as Trustee for 
Bulkmatic Transport Company, Profit Sharing Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, 
NJ (U.S. Government Securities Series: 12.7%); DWTC as Trustee for Cygnus 
401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (Intermediate Income Securities 
Series: 7.5%); DWTC as Trustee for Zeus 401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey 
City, NJ (Intermediate Income Securities Series: 7.0%); DWTC as Trustee for 
Integrated Medical Systems 401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ 
(Intermediate Income Securities: 8.6%); Dean Witter as Trustee for Private 
Business Inc., 401(k) Plan, 9010 Overlook Boulevard, Brentwood, TN 
(Intermediate Income Securities: 23.3%); DWTC as Trustee for the benefit of 
VVP America Inc., Deferred Compensation Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ 
(Intermediate Income Securities: 7.1%); DWTC as Trustee for VVP America Inc. 
Retirement Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (American Value Series: 
12.0%); Charles E. Behr as Trustee of Charles E. Behr Trust, DTD 6/30/94, 802 
N. Ft. Harrison Avenue, Clearwater, FL (American Value Series: 6.2%); DWTC as 
Trustee for Bulkmatic Transport Company, Profit Sharing Plan, P.O. Box 957, 
Jersey City, NJ (American Value Series: 7.7%); DWTC as Trustee for St. 
Petersburg Kennel Club, 401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (Capital 
Growth Series: 11.0%); DWTC as Trustee for the benefit of VVP America Inc., 
Deferred Compensation Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (Capital Growth 
Series: 6.7%); DWR as Custodian for Candies for the benefit of Neil Cole and 
Gary Klein, VIP Plus 401(k) Plan, DTD 11/15/95, 2975 Westchester Avenue, 
Purchase, NY (Capital Growth Series: 7.2%); Cozad State Bank Co., 401(k) 
Profit Sharing Plan, DTD 12/5/65, Investment Manager Capital Growth Fund, Box 
2000, Cozad, NE (Capital Growth Series: 15.2%); The Chase Manhattan Bank, 
N.A. as Trustee for the benefit of The NFL Player Second Career Savings Plan, 
3 Chase Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY (Dividend Growth Series: 19.7%); DWTC 
as Trustee for VVP America Inc. Retirement Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, 
NJ (Dividend Growth Series: 9.5%); DWTC as Trustee for Pizzagalli 
Construction, 401(k) Plan, Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 
(Dividend Growth Series: 9.2%); DWTC as Trustee for Fenner Manheim Inc., 
Profit Sharing Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (Strategist Series: 8.3%); 
DWTC as Trustee for VVP America Inc. Retirement Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey 
City, NJ (Strategist Series: 16.6%); DWTC as Trustee for Pizzagalli 
Construction, 401(k) Plan, Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 
(Strategist Series: 24.8%); DWTC as Trustee for Bulkmatic Transport Company, 
Profit Sharing Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (Strategist Series: 7.0%); 
DWTC as Trustee for St. Petersburg Kennel Club, 401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, 
Jersey City, NJ (Utilities Series: 7.2%); DWTC as Trustee for Zeus 401(k) 
Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (Utilities Series: 11.9%); DWTC as 
Trustee for Integrated Medical Systems 401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey 
City, NJ (Utilities Series: 7.7%); DWTC as Trustee for Foulke Management 
Corporation 401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (Utilities Series: 
11.2%); DWTC as Trustee for D&H Manufacturing Co. 401(k) Plan, P.O. Box 957, 
Jersey City, NJ (Utilities Series: 17.4%); DWTC as Trustee for the benefit of 
Sunnyvale Value and Fitting Company, P.O. Box 957, Jersey City, NJ (Utilities 
Series: 5.7%). 

   In addition, at September 30, 1997, InterCapital held 5.2% of the 
outstanding shares of Intermediate Income Securities Series and 5.7% of the 
outstanding shares of Capital Growth Series. 

                                       50
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - LIQUID ASSET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               ANNUALIZED 
 PRINCIPAL                                                                      YIELD ON 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                      DATE OF         MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                      PURCHASE          DATE           VALUE 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>                                                                <C>         <C>                    <C>
            COMMERCIAL PAPER (64.4%) 
            Automotive-Finance (8.5%) 
     $500   Ford Motor Credit Co. ...........................................     5.61%         08/25/97         $  498,150 
    1,000   General Motors Acceptance Corp. .................................  5.48-5.97   08/25/97-10/20/97        991,779 
      311   Toyota Motor Credit Corp. .......................................     5.71          08/14/97            310,360 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,800,289 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Bank Holding Companies (7.0%) 
      500   Bankers Trust New York Corp. ....................................     5.72          01/08/98            487,644 
    1,000   Barnett Banks, Inc.  ............................................     5.55          08/21/97            996,933 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,484,577 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Banks-Commercial (18.6%) 
      465   ABN-AMRO North America Finance Inc. .............................     5.74          09/05/97            462,446 
      500   Commerzbank U.S. Finance Inc.  ..................................     5.52          08/15/97            498,931 
    1,000   Internationale Nederlanden (U.S.) Funding Corp. .................     5.60          08/01/97          1,000,000 
      400   KfW International Finance Inc. ..................................     5.54          09/02/97            398,044 
      500   Societe Generale N.A., Inc. .....................................     5.61          09/10/97            496,917 
      600   UBS Finance (Delaware) Inc.  ....................................     5.53          08/07/97            599,449 
      500   WestPac Capital Corp.  ..........................................     5.54          09/05/97            497,326 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  3,953,113 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Brokerage (4.7%) 
    1,000   Goldman Sachs Group L.P.  .......................................  5.63-5.64   08/04/97-09/03/97        997,215 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Finance-Consumer (6.4%) 
      400   American Express Credit Corp. ...................................     5.63          08/01/97            400,000 
      950   American General Finance Corp. ..................................     5.64          08/05/97            949,409 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,349,409 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Finance-Diversified (8.4%) 
      400   Associates Corp. of North America ...............................     5.65          08/05/97            399,751 
      750   Commercial Credit Co. ...........................................     5.53          08/27/97            747,021 
      650   General Electric Capital Corp. ..................................  5.55-5.61   09/16/97-10/14/97        644,124 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,790,896 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Industrials (2.0%) 
      425   Weyerhaeuser Co. ................................................     5.54          08/20/97            423,764 
                                                                                                              ------------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      51
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - LIQUID ASSET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

                                                                               ANNUALIZED 
 PRINCIPAL                                                                      YIELD ON 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                      DATE OF         MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                      PURCHASE          DATE           VALUE 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Office Equipment (4.7%) 
   $1,000   Xerox Credit Corp. ..............................................    5.51%          08/19/97          $ 997,260 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Utilities-Finance (4.1%) 
      866   National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.  ............. 5.57-5.62    08/22/97-09/11/97        861,971 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            TOTAL COMMERCIAL PAPER (Amortized Cost $13,658,494)  ............................................    13,658,494 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY (23.2%) 
    4,930   Federal Home Loan 
             Mortgage Corp. 
             (Amortized Cost $4,926,600) .................................... 5.47-5.75    08/01/97-09/19/97      4,926,600 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES (7.2%) 
    1,014   BostonBank, N.A. ................................................ 5.71-5.88    09/30/97-01/20/98        993,499 
      541   Union Bank of California, N.A. ..................................    5.59           10/15/97            534,804 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            TOTAL BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES (Amortized Cost $1,528,303) ..........................................     1,528,303 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
            (Amortized Cost $20,113,397)(a) ...............................................       94.8%          20,113,397 
            CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES  ...............................        5.2            1,099,631 
                                                                                                 -----        ------------- 
            NET ASSETS ....................................................................      100.0%         $21,213,028 
                                                                                                 =====        ============= 
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)  Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      52
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         ANNUALIZED 
 PRINCIPAL                                YIELD ON 
 AMOUNT IN                                DATE OF        MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                PURCHASE         DATE           VALUE 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>                           <C>        <C>               <C>
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
             (98.7%) 
   $1,000   Federal Farm Credit Bank ..  5.52-5.77%  08/04/97-11/25/97 $  991,289 
    1,690   Federal Home Loan Banks ...  5.42-5.66   08/07/97-09/02/97  1,687,131 
      725   Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
             Corp. ....................  5.59-5.75   08/01/97-10/17/97    720,019 
      590   Federal National Mortgage 
             Association ..............  5.38-5.49   08/04/97-08/07/97    589,647 
                                                                       ---------- 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
            (Amortized Cost $3,988,086) ..............................  3,988,086 
                                                                       ---------- 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION (1.2%) 
       50   U.S. Treasury Bill 
            (Amortized Cost $48,650) ..     5.32         02/05/98          48,650 
                                                                       ---------- 
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
            (Amortized Cost $4,036,736)(a)..........       99.9%        4,036,736 
            CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS 
            OF LIABILITIES .........................        0.1             4,560 
                                                          -----        ----------
            NET ASSETS..............................      100.0%       $4,041,296 
                                                          ======       ==========
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)  Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      53
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                    COUPON       MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                     RATE          DATE           VALUE 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>                                                                <C>    <C>               <C>
            U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (98.6%) 
            Government National 
             Mortgage Assoc. I (71.4%) 
   $3,684   .................................................................  7.00 % 06/15/23-03/15/27  $ 3,688,923 
    3,737   .................................................................  7.50   01/15/24-01/15/27    3,802,491 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
                                                                                                           7,491,414 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
      971   Government National 
             Mortgage Assoc. II (9.2%) ......................................  7.00        03/20/26          968,255 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
            U.S. Treasury Notes (12.6%) 
    1,200   .................................................................  6.375       09/30/01        1,221,852 
      100   .................................................................  6.250       06/30/02          101,434 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
                                                                                                           1,323,286 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
      600   U.S. Treasury Principal Strips (5.4%) ...........................  0.00        08/15/98          567,120 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
            (Identified Cost $10,212,454)(a) .........................................       98.6%        10,350,075 
            CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES ...........................        1.4            146,232 
                                                                                            -----       ------------ 
            NET ASSETS ...............................................................      100.0%       $10,496,307 
                                                                                            =====       ============ 
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)       The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
          identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
          $202,248 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $64,627, 
          resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $137,621. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      54
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                    COUPON   MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                     RATE      DATE        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>         <C>                                                               <C>      <C>       <C>
            CORPORATE BONDS (56.8%) 
            Automobile-Rentals (4.0%) 
    $100    Hertz Corp. .....................................................  6.00 %  01/15/03     $ 97,979 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Automotive (0.8%) 
      20    Chrysler Corp. .................................................. 10.40    08/01/99       20,005 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Automotive-Finance (1.1%) 
      25    General Motors Acceptance Corp. .................................  8.40    10/15/99       26,177 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Banks (9.5%) 
     100    Bank One Corp. ..................................................  7.60    05/01/07      106,545 
     100    Long Island Savings Bank  .......................................  7.00    06/13/02      102,145 
      25    Star Bank N.A. ..................................................  6.375   03/01/04       24,764 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
                                                                                                     233,454 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Brokerage (4.1%) 
     100    Bear Stearns Companies, Inc.  ...................................  6.75    08/15/00      101,506 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Data Processing (4.1%) 
     100    Oracle Corp.  ...................................................  6.91    02/15/07      101,719 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Financial (8.4%) 
     100    Ikon Capital Inc. ...............................................  6.73    06/15/01      101,477 
     100    Nac Re Corp .....................................................  8.00    06/15/99      103,259 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
                                                                                                     204,736 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Foreign Government (4.0%) 
     100    State of Israel  ................................................  6.375   12/15/05       97,826 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Healthcare (1.0%) 
      25    Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp.  ..................................  6.87    09/15/03       25,403 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Industrials (4.1%) 
     100    Millennium America Inc.  ........................................  7.00    11/15/06      100,710 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Leisure (4.4%) 
     100    Royal Caribbean Cruises .........................................  8.25    04/01/05      108,221 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Manufacturing (2.0%) 
      50    Reebok International plc 
             (United Kingdom) ...............................................  6.75    09/15/05       49,374 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Paper & Forest Products (4.1%) 
     100    Noranda Forest, Inc. (Canada) ...................................  6.875   11/15/05      100,602 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Textiles (1.0%) 
      25    Burlington Industries, Inc.  ....................................  7.25    09/15/05       25,313 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Utilities - Electric (4.2%) 
     100    Connecticut Light & Power Co.  ..................................  7.875   06/01/01      102,208 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS 
            (Identified Cost $1,371,214) ........................................................  1,395,233 
                                                                                                 ------------ 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      55
<PAGE>


DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                    COUPON   MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                     RATE      DATE        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (34.7%) 
    $100    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  6.125%  03/31/98      $ 100,396 
     300    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  5.75    10/31/00        299,463 
     300    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  5.875   11/30/01        299,868 
     150    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  6.25    01/31/02        152,100 
                                                                                                  ------------ 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS 
            (Identified Cost $843,820) ..........................................................      851,827 
                                                                                                  ------------ 
            SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a)(4.1%) 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY 
     100    Federal Home Loan Banks 
            (Amortized Cost $100,000) .......................................  5.39    08/01/97        100,000 
                                                                                                  ------------ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          <S>                                                                      <C>      <C>
          TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
          (Identified Cost $2,315,034)(b) .........................................   95.6%   2,347,060 
          CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES...........................    4.4      108,712 
                                                                                   -------- ----------- 
          NET ASSETS ..............................................................  100.0%  $2,455,772 
                                                                                   ======== =========== 
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)        Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate 
           shown has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent 
           yield. 
(b)        The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
           identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
           $36,736 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $4,710, 
           resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $32,026. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


                                      56
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                                <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (97.7%) 
             Agriculture Related (4.4%) 
     4,500   Case Corp.  .....................................................  $  280,969 
     4,500   Deere & Co.  ....................................................     255,937 
     5,500   Dekalb Genetics Corp. (Class B) .................................     420,406 
     7,000   Delta & Pine Land Co.  ..........................................     266,000 
    14,000   Monsanto Co.  ...................................................     697,375 
     6,500   Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. .............................     481,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,401,687 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks (7.1%) 
     6,000   Bank of New York Co., Inc.  .....................................     291,375 
     7,000   BankAmerica Corp.  ..............................................     528,500 
     4,000   Bankers Trust New York Corp. ....................................     404,750 
   250,000   Credito Italiano Spa (Italy)  ...................................     497,644 
     4,000   First Chicago NBD Corp.  ........................................     303,500 
     6,000   Fleet Financial Group, Inc.  ....................................     407,250 
    10,000   Mellon Bank Corp.  ..............................................     504,375 
     7,200   NationsBank Corp.  ..............................................     512,550 
     6,000   Washington Mutual, Inc.  ........................................     414,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,863,944 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Basic Cyclicals (0.7%) 
     2,300   Champion International Corp. ....................................     142,600 
     3,000   Reynolds Metals Co.  ............................................     234,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   376,600 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Biotechnology (2.4%) 
    21,000   Biochem Pharma, Inc. (Canada)*  .................................     603,750 
    13,000   Centocor, Inc.*  ................................................     499,687 
     2,000   Gilead Sciences, Inc.*  .........................................      56,250 
     3,500   Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*  ..................................     122,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,281,749 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Capital Equipment (4.3%) 
     2,000   Aeroquip-Vickers, Inc. ..........................................     109,625 
     5,500   Boeing Co.  .....................................................     323,469 
     3,000   Crane Co.  ......................................................     136,312 
     6,000   General Electric Co.  ...........................................     421,125 
     4,500   Kuhlman Corp.  ..................................................     139,500 
     3,200   Parker-Hannifin Corp.  ..........................................     206,000 
     2,200   Sundstrand Corp.  ...............................................     136,400 
    10,000   Timken Co.  .....................................................     351,875 
     2,000   Tyco International Ltd. .........................................     162,000 
     4,000   United Technologies Corp.  ......................................     338,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,324,556 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications Equipment (9.4%) 
     2,000   Advanced Fibre Communications, Inc.*  ...........................  $  139,250 
    21,000   Bay Networks, Inc.*  ............................................     640,500 
    15,000   Brightpoint, Inc.*  .............................................     447,187 
     3,000   CIENA Corp.*  ...................................................     168,000 
     6,000   Cisco Systems, Inc.*  ...........................................     476,625 
       700   Corsair Communications, Inc.*  ..................................      13,738 
    11,500   Ericsson (L.M.) Telephone Co. (Class B)(ADR)(Sweden)  ...........     520,375 
     7,000   Lucent Technologies Inc.  .......................................     594,562 
    10,000   Newbridge Networks Corp. (Canada)* ..............................     521,250 
     6,000   Nokia Corp. (ADR)(Finland) ......................................     513,750 
     5,000   Northern Telecom Ltd. (Canada) ..................................     522,812 
     2,000   Tekelec*  .......................................................     123,000 
     7,000   Tellabs, Inc.*  .................................................     418,687 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 5,099,736 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Equipment (3.1%) 
     4,000   Dell Computer Corp.*  ...........................................     342,000 
    12,000   EMC Corp.*  .....................................................     606,000 
     9,000   Kemet Corp.*  ...................................................     230,625 
     6,500   SCI Systems, Inc.*  .............................................     516,344 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,694,969 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Software (4.3%) 
    15,000   BEA Systems, Inc.*  .............................................     290,625 
     5,000   Compuware Corp.*  ...............................................     308,125 
       400   Great Plains Software, Inc.*  ...................................      10,700 
     4,100   Microsoft Corp.*  ...............................................     579,381 
     7,000   Oracle Corp.*  ..................................................     380,187 
     5,000   Peoplesoft, Inc.*  ..............................................     291,875 
     8,000   Veritas Software Corp.*  ........................................     494,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,354,893 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer-Noncyclical (4.5%) 
     9,000   Alberto-Culver Co. (Class B)  ...................................     252,562 
     2,500   Avon Products, Inc.  ............................................     181,406 
     3,800   Coca Cola Co.  ..................................................     263,150 
     1,600   Coca Cola FEMSA S.A. de C.V. (ADR)(Mexico) ......................      89,800 
     8,000   Colgate-Palmolive Co.  ..........................................     606,000 
    10,000   PanAmerican Beverages, Inc. (Class A)(Mexico) ...................     335,000 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      57
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    3,000    Procter & Gamble Co.  ...........................................  $  456,375 
    7,000    Sunbeam Corporation  ............................................     273,875 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,458,168 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer Business Services (1.4%) 
    8,000    AccuStaff, Inc.*  ...............................................     218,000 
    7,400    Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc.  ...............................     273,800 
    5,000    Corrections Corp. of America*  ..................................     221,562 
    2,000    Service Corp. International .....................................      68,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   781,362 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer Products (2.6%) 
    5,000    CVS Corp. .......................................................     284,375 
    4,000    Philips Electronics NV (Netherlands)  ...........................     327,250 
    3,500    Philips Electronics NV (Netherlands)  ...........................     283,962 
    1,900    Sony Corp. (Japan)  .............................................     189,134 
    3,100    Sony Corp. (ADR)(Japan)  ........................................     315,619 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,400,340 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Drugs (4.0%) 
    5,000    Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*  ....................................     194,062 
    4,500    Lilly (Eli) & Co.  ..............................................     508,500 
    5,000    Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (Class A)*  ........................     225,000 
      280    Novartis (Switzerland) ..........................................     449,742 
    4,400    Pfizer, Inc.  ...................................................     262,350 
    3,600    Warner-Lambert Co.  .............................................     502,875 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,142,529 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Energy (5.9%) 
    9,000    Baker Hughes, Inc. ..............................................     396,563 
    8,000    Cooper Cameron Corp.*  ..........................................     469,000 
    2,500    Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. .................................     233,125 
    5,000    EVI, Inc.*  .....................................................     244,375 
    8,000    Falcon Drilling Company, Inc.*  .................................     231,000 
   12,000    Halliburton Co.  ................................................     552,000 
    5,000    Halter Marine Group, Inc.*  .....................................     153,125 
    8,200    Schlumberger, Ltd.  .............................................     626,275 
    4,000    Smith International, Inc.*  .....................................     286,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,192,213 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Financial-Miscellaneous (7.1%) 
      400    Advanta Corp. (Class A)  ........................................      14,400 
    7,000    American Express Co. ............................................     586,250 
   15,000    Hambrecht & Quist Group*  .......................................     447,188 
    2,000    Kansas City Southern Industries, Inc.  ..........................     150,750 
    4,000    Legg Mason, Inc.  ...............................................  $  245,750 
   16,000    Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. ..................................     797,000 
    8,000    Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. .......................................     563,500 
    8,000    Paine Webber Group, Inc. ........................................     320,000 
    1,000    Price (T.) Rowe Associates, Inc. ................................      54,250 
   10,000    Providian Financial Corp.*  .....................................     391,875 
    4,500    Salomon, Inc.  ..................................................     285,469 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,856,432 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare Products & Services (2.9%) 
    7,000    HBO & Co.  ......................................................     540,750 
   16,000    Health Management Associates, Inc. (Class A)*  ..................     511,000 
   20,000    Healthsouth Corp.*  .............................................     530,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,581,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Insurance (2.3%) 
    3,000    Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.  ........................     261,375 
    7,000    Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.  ...............................     542,063 
    5,000    Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (Class A)  ..................     151,250 
    4,000    Travelers Group, Inc. ...........................................     287,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,242,438 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Internet (3.0%) 
   10,000    America Online, Inc.*  ..........................................     675,000 
   10,000    E*TRADE Group, Inc.*  ...........................................     305,000 
   10,000    Sterling Commerce, Inc.*  .......................................     376,875 
    5,000    Yahoo! Inc.*  ...................................................     281,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,638,125 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Media Group (4.1%) 
    6,600    Clear Channel Communications, Inc.*  ............................     410,850 
    8,000    Evergreen Media Corp. (Class A)*  ...............................     367,000 
   10,000    Jacor Communications, Inc.*  ....................................     428,750 
   13,200    Outdoor Systems, Inc.*  .........................................     343,200 
    2,000    Univision Communications, Inc. (Class A)*  ......................      86,000 
   25,000    Westinghouse Electric Corp. .....................................     601,563 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,237,363 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Medical Supplies (2.4%) 
    6,000    Boston Scientific Corp.*  .......................................     430,500 
    5,500    Guidant Corp.  ..................................................     501,875 
    4,000    Medtronic, Inc.  ................................................     349,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,281,375 
                                                                              ------------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      58
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Retail (5.8%) 
    3,000    Barnes & Noble, Inc.*  .......................................... $   150,000 
   13,500    Costco Companies Inc.*  .........................................     511,313 
   10,000    Dayton-Hudson Corp.  ............................................     646,250 
    5,000    Dollar General Corp. ............................................     220,000 
   10,000    Family Dollar Stores, Inc.  .....................................     325,625 
    6,000    General Nutrition Companies, Inc.*  .............................     171,000 
    7,800    Home Depot, Inc.  ...............................................     389,025 
    3,000    Ross Stores, Inc.  ..............................................      94,500 
   17,000    Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  ..........................................     638,563 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,146,276 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Semiconductor Equipment (5.7%) 
    9,000    Applied Materials, Inc.*  .......................................     826,313 
    2,000    ASM Lithography Holding NV (Netherlands)* .......................     162,000 
    5,000    CFM Technologies, Inc.*  ........................................     129,375 
    1,000    DuPont Photomasks, Inc.* ........................................      50,750 
    3,000    Etec Systems, Inc.*  ............................................     160,875 
   13,000    KLA-Tencor Corp.*  ..............................................     786,500 
    7,000    LAM Research Corp.*  ............................................     370,125 
    7,000    PRI Automation, Inc.*  ..........................................     345,625 
    5,000    Teradyne, Inc.*  ................................................     233,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,065,313 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Semiconductors (9.2%) 
    4,000    Altera Corp.  ...................................................     241,000 
   17,000    Analog Devices, Inc.*  ..........................................     534,438 
   10,000    Burr-Brown Corp.*  ..............................................     348,125 
      700    Galileo Technology Ltd. (Israel)* ...............................      16,975 
    2,000    Intel Corp.  ....................................................     183,500 
    5,000    Lattice Semiconductor Corp.*  ...................................     335,625 
    5,000    Linear Technology Corp.  ........................................     333,750 
    8,000    Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.* ................................     553,000 
    2,500    MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.* ................................      72,500 
    4,000    Micrel, Inc.*  ..................................................     259,000 
    9,000    Micron Technology, Inc. *  ......................................     438,188 
    6,000    Motorola, Inc.  .................................................     481,875 
    6,000    Texas Instruments, Inc. .........................................     690,000 
   10,000    Vitesse Semiconductor Corp.*  ...................................     483,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 4,971,726 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Transportation (1.1%) 
      900    Continental Airlines, Inc. (Class B)*  .......................... $    33,525 
    4,000    PACCAR, Inc. ....................................................     197,000 
    1,400    Ryanair Holdings PLC (ADR)(Ireland)*  ...........................      39,375 
    3,000    Teekay Shipping Corp.  ..........................................     104,813 
    6,000    US Airways Group, Inc.*  ........................................     229,877 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   604,590 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Identified Cost $42,913,438)  ..............  52,998,134 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   PRINCIPAL 
   AMOUNT IN 
   THOUSANDS 
- --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>            <C>                                    <C>
               SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a) (1.7%) 
               U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY 
     $900      Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
                Corp. 5.75% due 08/01/97 
                (Amortized Cost $900,000)..........    900,000 
                                                   -----------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified Cost $43,813,438)(b) .          99.4%   53,898,134
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS          
OF LIABILITIES ...................           0.6       316,360
                                         -------- ------------
NET ASSETS........................         100.0%  $54,214,494
                                         ======== ============
</TABLE>                           

- ------------ 
ADR      American Depository Receipt. 
*        Non-income producing security. 
(a)      Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown 
         has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)      The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
         identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
         $10,364,753 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
         $280,057, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $10,084,696. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      59
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - CAPITAL GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (98.0%) 
             Auto Trucks & Parts (2.3%) 
    5,000    Miller Industries, Inc.* ........................................  $ 84,375 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Banking (4.8%) 
    1,450    State Street Corp. ..............................................    81,291 
    1,350    Washington Mutual, Inc. .........................................    93,150 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 174,441 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Commercial Services (1.4%) 
    1,900    Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (Class A)* ...................    51,537 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Communications - 
             Equipment & Software (3.8%) 
    1,100    3Com Corp.* .....................................................    60,087 
    1,350    Tellabs, Inc.* ..................................................    80,747 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 140,834 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computer Services (1.9%) 
    1,800    Sterling Commerce, Inc.* ........................................    67,837 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computer Software (8.9%) 
    1,100    Computer Associates International, Inc. .........................    74,869 
    2,200    Danka Business Systems PLC (ADR)(United Kingdom) ................   107,525 
      800    Electronics for Imaging, Inc.* ..................................    44,000 
      450    Microsoft Corp.* ................................................    63,591 
      700    Oracle Corp.* ...................................................    38,019 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 328,004 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computer - Systems (4.7%) 
    2,000    EMC Corp.* ......................................................   101,000 
      900    SCI Systems, Inc.* ..............................................    71,494 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 172,494 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Consumer Business Services (2.6%) 
    2,200    AccuStaff, Inc.* ................................................    59,950 
    1,000    Service Corp. International .....................................    34,000 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                  93,950 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Drugs (1.4%) 
    1,100    Elan Corp. PLC (ADR)(Ireland)* ..................................    52,250 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics (4.2%) 
      750    Hadco Corp.* ....................................................    49,406 
    1,800    Jabil Circuit, Inc.* ............................................    87,637 
      250    Sanmina Corp.* ..................................................    18,344 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 155,387 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics - Semiconductors/ 
             Components (1.2%) 
      400    Intel Corp. .....................................................    36,700 
      150    Photronics, Inc.* ...............................................     8,137 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                  44,837 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Enviromental Control (1.5%) 
    1,600    Newpark Resources, Inc.* ........................................  $ 55,300 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial - Miscellaneous (11.4%) 
    1,600    Green Tree Financial Corp. ......................................    75,400 
      700    Household International, Inc. ...................................    90,650 
    2,200    MBNA Corp. ......................................................    99,000 
    1,300    MGIC Investment Corp. ...........................................    68,331 
    1,400    SunAmerica, Inc. ................................................    84,700 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 418,081 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Healthcare - Diversified (2.2%) 
    2,000    Universal Health Services, Inc. (Class B)* ......................    81,250 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Hospital Management (1.5%) 
    1,200    Express Scripts, Inc. (Class A)* ................................    53,400 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances (3.1%) 
    1,200    American Standard Companies, Inc.* ..............................    59,625 
    1,000    Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc. .....................................    53,000 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 112,625 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Life Insurance (1.4%) 
    1,300    Providian Financial Corp.* ......................................    50,944 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Manufacturing - Diversified (2.7%) 
    1,200    Tyco International Ltd. .........................................    97,200 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Media (2.0%) 
    1,200    Clear Channel Communications, Inc.* .............................    74,700 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Oil & Gas Products (0.5%) 
      300    Camco International, Inc. .......................................    19,387 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Oil Drilling & Services (9.3%) 
    1,450    ENSCO International, Inc.* ......................................    95,881 
    2,900    Pride International, Inc.* ......................................    76,669 
    1,500    Tidewater, Inc. .................................................    75,750 
    2,400    Varco International, Inc.* ......................................    92,850 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 341,150 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Oil Equipment & Services (4.2%) 
    2,400    Falcon Drilling Company, Inc.* ..................................    69,300 
    1,200    Smith International, Inc.* ......................................    86,025 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 155,325 
             Pharmaceuticals (2.8%) 
    2,300    Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (Class A)* .........................   103,500 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail - Department Stores (3.7%)
    1,900    Dollar General Corp. ............................................    83,600 
      950    Proffitt's, Inc.* ...............................................    50,350 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 133,950 
                                                                              ------------ 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      60
<PAGE>


DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - CAPITAL GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
             Retail - Drugs Stores (1.7%) 
    1,100    Walgreen Co. ....................................................  $ 62,150 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail - Food Chains (4.1%) 
    2,400    Kroger Co.* .....................................................    70,950 
    1,500    Safeway, Inc.* ..................................................    80,438 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 151,388 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail - Specialty (6.0%) 
    1,562    Consolidated Stores Corp.* ......................................    62,871 
    2,700    General Nutrition Companies, Inc.* ..............................    76,950 
    3,200    Staples, Inc.* ..................................................    80,400 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 220,221 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Utilities - Electric (1.9%) 
      900    AES Corp.* ......................................................    71,100 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Utilities - Telephone (0.8%) 
      850    Airtouch Communications, Inc.* ..................................    27,997 
                                                                              ------------ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                 <C>      <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified Cost $2,725,382)(a) .    98.0%   3,595,614 
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS 
OF LIABILITIES...................     2.0       74,032 
                                    -----   ---------- 
NET ASSETS.......................   100.0%  $3,669,646 
                                    =====   ========== 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
(a)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $870,624 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $392, 
        resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $870,232. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      61
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - DIVIDEND GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                          VALUE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (100.0%) 
             Aerospace (2.7%) 
    55,000   Raytheon Co.  ...................................................  $3,073,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Aluminum (2.7%) 
    35,500   Aluminum Co. of America  ........................................   3,141,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Automotive (5.3%) 
    84,000   Chrysler Corp.  .................................................   3,118,500 
    74,000   Ford Motor Co.  .................................................   3,024,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 6,143,250 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Banks (2.7%) 
    43,000   NationsBank Corp.  ..............................................   3,061,062 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Banks - Money Center (2.7%) 
    41,000   BankAmerica Corp.  ..............................................   3,095,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks (2.7%) 
    81,000   PepsiCo Inc.  ...................................................   3,103,312 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Chemicals (5.1%) 
    44,000   Du Pont (E.I.) de Nemours & Co., Inc.  ..........................   2,945,250 
    49,500   Eastman Chemical Co.  ...........................................   2,994,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 5,940,000 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Computers - Systems (2.7%) 
    29,000   International Business Machines Corp.  ..........................   3,066,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Conglomerates (5.1%) 
    31,500   Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co.  ...........................   2,984,625 
    63,000   Tenneco, Inc.  ..................................................   2,937,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 5,922,000 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Drugs (2.6%) 
    38,000   Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.  .......................................   2,980,625 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Drugs & Healthcare (2.7%)  ...................................... 
    47,000   Abbott Laboratories  ............................................   3,075,562 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Electric - Major (2.6%) 
    42,300   General Electric Co.  ...........................................   2,968,931 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Energy (2.6%) 
    47,000   Kerr-McGee Corp.  ...............................................   2,943,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Foods (5.2%) 
    59,800   Quaker Oats Company (The)  ......................................   3,061,012 
    13,300   Unilever NV (ADR)(Netherlands)  .................................   2,899,400 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 5,960,412 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Machinery - Agricultural (2.6%) 
    53,600   Deere & Co.  ....................................................   3,048,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Manufacturing - Diversified (2.5%) 
    39,000   Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................  $2,912,813 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Metals - Miscellaneous (2.5%) 
    34,000   Phelps Dodge Corp.  .............................................   2,892,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Natural Gas (2.6%) 
    78,000   Enron Corp.  ....................................................   2,959,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Office Equipment (2.7%) 
    41,000   Pitney Bowes, Inc.  .............................................   3,080,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Oil - Domestic (5.3%) 
    32,000   Amoco Corp.  ....................................................   3,008,000 
    59,000   Ashland, Inc.  ..................................................   3,134,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 6,142,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Oil Integrated - International (2.7%) 
    48,200   Exxon Corp.  ....................................................   3,096,850 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Paper & Forest Products (2.7%) 
    51,000   Weyerhaeuser Co.  ...............................................   3,174,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Photography (2.6%) 
    45,500   Eastman Kodak Co.  ..............................................   3,048,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Railroads (2.8%) 
    51,500   CSX Corp.  ......................................................   3,180,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Retail - Department Stores (2.6%) 
    54,000   May Department Stores Co.  ......................................   3,017,250 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Retail - Food Chains (2.6%) 
   120,600   American Stores Co.  ............................................   3,045,150 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Steel (2.5%) 
    83,000   Timken Co.  .....................................................   2,920,563 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Telecommunications (5.3%) 
    41,000   Bell Atlantic Corp.  ............................................   2,975,063 
    63,000   Sprint Corp.  ...................................................   3,118,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 6,093,563 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Tobacco (2.6%) 
    67,000   Philip Morris Companies, Inc.  ..................................   3,023,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Utilities - Electric (8.0%) 
   142,000   Houston Industries, Inc.  .......................................   2,973,125 
    82,800   New England Electric System  ....................................   3,089,475 
   139,000   Unicom Corp.  ...................................................   3,153,563 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 9,216,163 
                                                                              -------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $86,532,718)  .................................. 115,327,006 
                                                                              -------------- 
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      62
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - DIVIDEND GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (0.7%) 
             REPURCHASE AGREEMENT 
             The Bank of New York 5.75%  due 08/01/97 (dated 07/31/97; 
      $757   proceeds $757,142)(a)  (Identified Cost $757,021)  .............   $ 757,021 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                 <C>        <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS                             
(Identified Cost $87,289,739)(b)  .   100.7%     116,084,027 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER                
ASSETS ............................    (0.7)        (772,518) 
                                    --------   ------------- 
NET ASSETS ........................   100.0%    $115,311,509 
                                    ========   ============= 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
(a)     Collateralized by $244,167 Federal National Mortgage Association 
        9.55% due 11/10/97 valued at $252,039, $400,000 Federal National 
        Mortgage Association 7.37% due 04/14/04 valued at $414,359 and 
        $99,269 Federal National Mortgage Association 7.50% due 04/16/07 
        valued at $105,764. 
(b)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $29,069,461 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $275,173, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $28,794,288. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      63
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - UTILITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (100.0%) 
             Natural Gas (19.1%) 
    5,000    American Water Works Company, Inc.  ............................. $  108,437 
    3,500    Brooklyn Union Gas Co. ..........................................    105,219 
    4,500    Calpine Corp.* ..................................................     88,875 
    3,500    Enron Corp. .....................................................    132,781 
    5,000    MCN Corp.  ......................................................    158,437 
    2,000    Mobil Corp. .....................................................    153,000 
    3,000    Pacific Enterprises .............................................    100,312 
    4,000    Williams Companies, Inc. ........................................    183,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                1,030,061 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications (29.1%) 
    3,000    Alltel Corp. ....................................................     98,625 
    3,000    AT&T Corp.  .....................................................    110,438 
    3,000    BellSouth Corp.  ................................................    142,125 
    3,500    Cable & Wireless PLC (ADR)(United Kingdom) ......................    105,219 
    2,500    Compania de Telefonos de Chile S.A. (ADR)(Chile) ................     82,344 
    7,000    Grupo Iusacell S.A. de C.V. (Series L)(ADR)(Mexico)* ............    131,688 
    3,000    GTE Corp. .......................................................    139,500 
    2,000    Nokia Corp. (ADR)(Finland)* .....................................    171,250 
    3,000    Sprint Corp. ....................................................    148,500 
    3,000    Teleport Communications Group Inc. (Class A)* ...................    118,125 
    2,500    Vodafone Group PLC (ADR)(United Kingdom) ........................    126,250 
    5,500    WorldCom, Inc.* .................................................    192,156 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                1,566,220 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric (51.8%) 
    2,000    AES Corp.* ......................................................    158,000 
    3,000    American Electric Power Co. .....................................    134,250 
    4,000    CILCORP, Inc.  ..................................................    167,750 
    4,000    CINergy Corp.  ..................................................    134,500 
    4,000    CMS Energy Corp.  ...............................................    148,000 
    5,000    DPL, Inc.  ......................................................    123,125 
    4,050    DQE, Inc.  ......................................................    127,828 
    3,000    Duke Energy Corp. ...............................................    152,063 
    5,000    Edison International  ...........................................    126,250 
    4,000    Florida Progress Corp.  .........................................    128,750 
    4,000    General Public Utilities Corp.  .................................    138,750 
    6,000    MDU Resources Group, Inc.  ......................................    142,500 
    3,000    NIPSCO Industries, Inc. .........................................    126,375 
    5,500    PacifiCorp ......................................................    122,719 
    4,500    Pinnacle West Capital Corp.  ....................................    142,031 
    4,000    Public Service Company of Colorado .............................. $  166,500 
    4,500    Sierra Pacific Resources ........................................    143,719 
    6,000    Teco Energy, Inc.  ..............................................    152,250 
    4,000    Utilicorp United, Inc. ..........................................    119,250 
    4,000    Western Resources, Inc. .........................................    138,500 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                2,793,110 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $4,358,265) ....................................  5,389,391 
                                                                              ----------- 
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS 
- -----------
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (5.2%) 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY (a)(2.8%) 
             Federal National Mortgage Assoc. 5.48% due 08/04/97 
    $150     (Amortized Cost $149,931) .......................................    149,931 
                                                                              ----------- 
             REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (2.4%) 
             The Bank of New York 
             5.75% due 08/01/97 (dated 07/31/97; proceeds $132,571)(b) 
      133    (Identified Cost $132,550) ......................................    132,550 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 
             (Identified Cost $282,481) ......................................    282,481 
                                                                              ----------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                <C>       <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(IDENTIFIED COST $4,640,746) 
(C) .............  .............   105.2%    5,671,872 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER 
 ASSETS........................     (5.2)     (280,644) 
                                   -----   ----------- 
NET ASSETS.....................    100.0%  $ 5,391,228 
                                   =====   =========== 
</TABLE>

- --------------
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
(a)     Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown 
        has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     Collateralized by $30,477 U.S. Treasury Note 6.25% due 05/31/99 
        valued at $31,043 and $99,095 U.S. Treasury Note 7.125% due 09/30/99 
        valued at $104,158. 
(c)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $1,034,626 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $3,500, 
        resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $1,031,126. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      64
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (97.4%) 
             Aerospace & Defense (1.0%) 
      750    Boeing Co.  .....................................................  $   44,109 
      550    General Dynamics Corp.  .........................................      48,675 
      450    Lockheed Martin Corp.  ..........................................      47,925 
      550    McDonnell Douglas Corp.  ........................................      42,075 
      450    Northrop Grumman Corp.  .........................................      51,806 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   234,590 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Agriculture Related (0.2%) 
      600    Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. .............................      44,400 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Air Freight (0.2%) 
      800    Federal Express Corp.* ..........................................      51,650 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Airlines (0.8%) 
      450    AMR Corp.* ......................................................      48,403 
      450    Delta Air Lines, Inc.  ..........................................      39,994 
    1,550    Southwest Airlines Co.  .........................................      45,241 
    1,300    US Airways Group, Inc.* .........................................      49,806 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   183,444 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Aluminum (0.6%) 
    1,100    Alcan Aluminum Ltd. (Canada) ....................................      43,106 
      600    Aluminum Co. of America .........................................      53,100 
      550    Reynolds Metals Co.  ............................................      42,900 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   139,106 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Auto Parts - After Market (1.5%) 
    1,850    Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.  .......................................      46,134 
    1,150    Dana Corp.  .....................................................      52,253 
    1,250    Echlin, Inc.  ...................................................      46,328 
    1,275    Genuine Parts Co.  ..............................................      41,597 
      750    Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.  .....................................      48,422 
    1,500    ITT Industries, Inc.  ...........................................      42,469 
    1,000    Snap-On, Inc.  ..................................................      41,250 
      800    TRW, Inc.  ......................................................      46,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   365,253 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Auto Trucks & Parts (0.6%) 
      650    Cummins Engine Co., Inc.  .......................................      51,025 
    2,500    Navistar International Corp.* ...................................      51,562 
    1,050    PACCAR, Inc.  ...................................................      51,712 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   154,299 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Automobiles (0.6%) 
    1,100    Chrysler Corp.  .................................................      40,837 
    1,100    Ford Motor Co.  .................................................      44,962 
      800    General Motors Corp.  ...........................................      49,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   135,299 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Money Center (1.2%) 
      700    BankAmerica Corp.  ..............................................  $   52,850 
      450    Bankers Trust New York Corp.  ...................................      45,534 
      400    Chase Manhattan Corp.  ..........................................      45,425 
      350    Citicorp ........................................................      47,512 
      650    First Chicago NBD Corp.  ........................................      49,319 
      400    Morgan (J.P.) & Co., Inc.  ......................................      46,350 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   286,990 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Regional (4.4%) 
      950    Banc One Corp.  .................................................      53,319 
    1,100    Bank of New York Co., Inc.  .....................................      53,419 
      550    BankBoston Corp.  ...............................................      46,716 
      900    Barnett Banks, Inc.  ............................................      51,244 
      600    Comerica, Inc.  .................................................      45,375 
      700    CoreStates Financial Corp.  .....................................      43,181 
      825    Fifth Third Bancorp .............................................      52,078 
      550    First Bank System, Inc.  ........................................      48,950 
      450    First Union Corp.  ..............................................      45,647 
      700    Fleet Financial Group, Inc.  ....................................      47,512 
      700    KeyCorp .........................................................      43,531 
    1,000    Mellon Bank Corp.  ..............................................      50,437 
      750    National City Corp.  ............................................      44,625 
      700    NationsBank Corp.  ..............................................      49,831 
      750    Norwest Corp.  ..................................................      47,297 
      900    PNC Bank Corp.  .................................................      41,175 
      450    Republic New York Corp.  ........................................      51,975 
      700    SunTrust Banks, Inc.  ...........................................      44,931 
      750    U.S. Bancorp ....................................................      49,969 
      700    Wachovia Corp.  .................................................      45,150 
      800    Washington Mutual, Inc.  ........................................      55,200 
      150    Wells Fargo & Co.  ..............................................      41,241 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,052,803 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Beverages - Alcoholic (0.7%) 
    1,100    Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.  .................................      47,231 
      800    Brown-Forman Corp. (Class B) ....................................      39,000 
    1,650    Coors (Adolph) Co.  .............................................      51,872 
    1,100    Seagram Co. Ltd. (Canada) .......................................      42,144 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   180,247 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks (0.5%) 
      650    Coca Cola Co.  ..................................................      45,012 
    1,150    PepsiCo, Inc.  ..................................................      44,059 
    1,700    Whitman Corp.  ..................................................      42,925 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   131,996 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Biotechnology (0.2%) 
     700     Amgen, Inc.* ....................................................      41,125 
                                                                              ------------- 

                      SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

                                      65
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Broadcast Media (0.6%) 
    2,200    Comcast Corp. (Class A Special) .................................   $ 49,637 
    3,100    Tele-Communications, Inc. (Class A)* ............................     52,894 
    2,200    U.S. West Media Group* ..........................................     48,537 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  151,068 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Brokerage (0.2%) 
    1,000    Schwab (Charles) Corp.  .........................................     46,812 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Building Materials (0.7%) 
      600    Armstrong World Industries, Inc.  ...............................     44,287 
    1,000    Masco Corp.  ....................................................     46,875 
    1,000    Owens-Corning ...................................................     42,062 
    1,300    Sherwin-Williams Co.  ...........................................     41,681 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  174,905 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Business Services (0.2%) 
    1,200    Cognizant Corp.  ................................................     51,150 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals (1.5%) 
      550    Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.  .................................     48,503 
      450    Dow Chemical Co.  ...............................................     42,750 
      700    Du Pont (E.I.) De Nemours & Co., Inc.  ..........................     46,856 
      750    Eastman Chemical Co.  ...........................................     45,375 
      900    Monsanto Co.  ...................................................     44,831 
      800    Praxair, Inc.  ..................................................     44,100 
      450    Rohm & Haas Co.  ................................................     44,100 
      750    Union Carbide Corp.  ............................................     41,531 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  358,046 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals - Diversified (0.9%) 
    1,100    Avery Dennison Corp.  ...........................................     48,537 
    1,800    Engelhard Corp.  ................................................     38,700 
      550    FMC Corp.* ......................................................     47,162 
      950    Goodrich (B.F.) Co.  ............................................     42,928 
      700    PPG Industries, Inc.  ...........................................     44,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  222,127 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals - Specialty (1.5%) 
    1,000    Ecolab, Inc.  ...................................................     46,687 
      750    Grace (W. R.) & Co.  ............................................     46,125 
      850    Great Lakes Chemical Corp.  .....................................     42,553 
      850    Hercules, Inc.  .................................................     45,156 
      800    International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.  ........................     42,450 
    1,300    Morton International, Inc.  .....................................     43,469 
    1,050    Nalco Chemical Co.  .............................................     42,853 
    1,200    Sigma-Aldrich Corp.  ............................................     41,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  350,543 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications - 
             Equipment/Manufacturers (1.2%) 
    1,500    Andrew Corp.* ...................................................   $ 39,094 
    1,650    DSC Communications Corp.* .......................................     48,572 
    2,200    NextLevel Systems, Inc.* ........................................     43,862 
      500    Northern Telecom Ltd. (Canada) ..................................     52,281 
    2,300    Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.  .......................................     48,300 
      800    Tellabs, Inc.* ..................................................     47,850 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  279,959 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications Equipment (0.6%) 
      500    Harris Corp.  ...................................................     43,437 
      600    Lucent Technologies Inc.  .......................................     50,962 
      650    Motorola, Inc.  .................................................     52,203 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  146,602 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Software & Services (3.0%) 
      900    3Com Corp.* .....................................................     49,162 
    1,200    Adobe Systems, Inc.  ............................................     44,850 
    1,200    Autodesk, Inc.  .................................................     50,850 
      900    Automatic Data Processing, Inc.  ................................     44,550 
    1,650    Bay Networks, Inc.* .............................................     50,325 
    1,400    Cabletron Systems, Inc.* ........................................     47,425 
    1,000    Ceridian Corp.* .................................................     43,750 
      650    Cisco Systems, Inc.* ............................................     51,634 
      750    Computer Associates International, Inc.  ........................     51,047 
      600    Computer Sciences Corp.* ........................................     48,862 
      350    Microsoft Corp.* ................................................     49,459 
       10    Netscape Communications Corp.* ..................................        380 
    5,200    Novell, Inc.* ...................................................     39,325 
      950    Oracle Corp.* ...................................................     51,597 
      900    Parametric Technology Corp.* ....................................     44,100 
    5,800    Unisys Corp.* ...................................................     55,825 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  723,141 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Peripheral Equipment (0.4%) 
    1,050    EMC Corp.* ......................................................     53,025 
    1,000    Seagate Technology, Inc.* .......................................     41,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   94,087 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Systems (2.5%) 
    4,400    Amdahl Corp.* ...................................................     51,975 
    2,500    Apple Computer, Inc.* ...........................................     43,594 
      950    COMPAQ Computer Corp.* ..........................................     54,269 
    1,750    Data General Corp.* .............................................     52,828 
      600    Dell Computer Corp.* ............................................     51,300 
    1,100    Digital Equipment Corp.* ........................................     45,306 
      700    Hewlett-Packard Co.  ............................................     49,044 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      66
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      500    International Business Machines Corp.  ..........................   $ 52,875 
      800    Shared Medical Systems Corp.  ...................................     43,100 
    2,150    Silicon Graphics, Inc.* .........................................     53,750 
    1,150    Sun Microsystems, Inc.* .........................................     52,541 
    1,700    Tandem Computers Inc.* ..........................................     49,937 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  600,519 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Containers - Metal & Glass (0.4%) 
    1,400    Ball Corp.  .....................................................     41,650 
      900    Crown Cork & Seal Co., Inc.  ....................................     45,506 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   87,156 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Containers - Paper (0.7%) 
      900    Bemis Company, Inc.  ............................................     41,344 
    3,200    Stone Container Corp.  ..........................................     53,200 
      600    Temple-Inland, Inc.  ............................................     40,387 
      700    Union Camp Corp.  ...............................................     40,994 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  175,925 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Cosmetics (0.6%) 
    1,600    Alberto-Culver Co. (Class B) ....................................     44,900 
      600    Avon Products, Inc.  ............................................     43,537 
      450    Gillette Co.  ...................................................     44,550 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  132,987 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Data Processing (0.4%) 
    1,200    Equifax, Inc.  ..................................................     40,725 
    1,000    First Data Corp.  ...............................................     43,625 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   84,350 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Distributors - Consumer Products (0.7%) 
      700    Cardinal Health, Inc.  ..........................................     43,575 
    2,400    Fleming Companies., Inc.  .......................................     38,250 
    1,300    Supervalu, Inc.  ................................................     52,650 
    1,150    Sysco Corp.  ....................................................     42,909 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  177,384 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electrical Equipment (1.8%) 
    1,000    AMP, Inc.  ......................................................     52,250 
      700    Emerson Electric Co.  ...........................................     41,300 
      700    General Electric Co.  ...........................................     49,131 
      950    General Signal Corp.  ...........................................     46,728 
      550    Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................     41,078 
      550    Raychem Corp.  ..................................................     53,350 
      700    Rockwell International Corp.  ...................................     45,937 
      800    Thomas & Betts Corp.  ...........................................     45,700 
    1,950    Westinghouse Electric Corp.  ....................................     46,922 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  422,396 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronic Components (0.2%) 
      500    Grainger (W.W.), Inc.  ..........................................   $ 48,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - Defense (0.2%) 
      850    Raytheon Co.  ...................................................     47,494 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - Instrumentation (0.6%) 
    2,200    EG & G, Inc.  ...................................................     45,100 
      550    Perkin-Elmer Corp.  .............................................     44,894 
      750    Tektronix, Inc.  ................................................     46,312 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  136,306 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - Semiconductors (1.2%) 
    1,300    Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.* ...................................     45,581 
      500    Intel Corp.  ....................................................     45,875 
    1,500    LSI Logic Corp.* ................................................     47,344 
    1,150    Micron Technology, Inc.  ........................................     55,991 
    1,500    National Semiconductor Corp.* ...................................     47,250 
      450    Texas Instruments, Inc.  ........................................     51,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  293,791 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Engineering & Construction (0.6%) 
      700    Fluor Corp.  ....................................................     43,050 
      950    Foster Wheeler Corp.  ...........................................     42,156 
    1,700    McDermott International, Inc.  ..................................     51,956 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  137,162 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Entertainment (0.7%) 
    1,100    King World Productions, Inc.* ...................................     44,412 
      850    Time Warner, Inc.  ..............................................     46,378 
    1,400    Viacom, Inc. (Class B)* .........................................     43,225 
      500    Walt Disney Co.  ................................................     40,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  174,421 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Entertainment, Gaming & Lodging (0.2%) 
    2,400    Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.* ...................................     49,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Finance - Consumer (1.0%) 
      600    Beneficial Corp.  ...............................................     43,500 
    1,400    Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc.  ............................     49,350 
    1,100    Green Tree Financial Corp.  .....................................     51,837 
      400    Household International, Inc.  ..................................     51,800 
    1,150    MBNA Corp.  .....................................................     51,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  248,237 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Finance - Diversified (1.8%) 
      600    American Express Co.  ...........................................     50,250 
      950    American General Corp.  .........................................     50,587 
      900    Fannie Mae ......................................................     42,581 
    1,200    Freddie Mac .....................................................     43,275 
      400    MBIA Inc.  ......................................................     47,200 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      67
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      900    MGIC Investment Corp.  ..........................................   $ 47,306 
    1,050    Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. (Note 3) ............     54,928 
      700    SunAmerica, Inc.  ...............................................     42,350 
      500    Transamerica Corp.  .............................................     50,437 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  428,914 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Foods (2.4%) 
    2,100    Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.  .....................................     47,250 
      800    Campbell Soup Co.  ..............................................     41,500 
      700    ConAgra, Inc.  ..................................................     49,219 
      500    CPC International, Inc.  ........................................     47,969 
      600    General Mills, Inc.  ............................................     41,475 
      900    Heinz (H.J.) Co.  ...............................................     41,569 
      750    Hershey Foods Corp.  ............................................     41,437 
      500    Kellogg Co.  ....................................................     45,937 
      900    Quaker Oats Company (The) .......................................     46,069 
      500    Ralston-Ralston Purina Group ....................................     45,125 
      900    Sara Lee Corp.  .................................................     39,431 
      200    Unilever NV (ADR)(Netherlands) ..................................     43,600 
      600    Wrigley (Wm.) Jr. Co. (Class A) .................................     46,162 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  576,743 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Hardware & Tools (0.4%) 
    1,200    Black & Decker Corp.  ...........................................     50,550 
    1,100    Stanley Works ...................................................     49,844 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  100,394 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - Diversified (1.6%) 
      650    Abbott Laboratories .............................................     42,534 
    1,400    Allergan, Inc.  .................................................     44,712 
      600    American Home Products Corp.  ...................................     49,462 
      600    Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.  .......................................     47,062 
    1,800    Healthsouth Corp.* ..............................................     47,700 
      700    Johnson & Johnson ...............................................     43,619 
    1,300    Mallinckrodt Group, Inc.  .......................................     45,500 
      380    Warner-Lambert Co.  .............................................     53,081 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  373,670 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - Drugs (1.0%) 
      450    Lilly (Eli) & Co.  ..............................................     50,850 
      450    Merck & Co., Inc.  ..............................................     46,772 
      800    Pfizer, Inc.  ...................................................     47,700 
    1,200    Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc.  .......................................     45,300 
    1,000    Schering-Plough Corp.  ..........................................     54,562 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  245,184 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - Miscellaneous (0.4%) 
    2,900    Beverly Enterprises, Inc.* ......................................   $ 44,587 
    1,500    Manor Care, Inc.  ...............................................     49,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   94,087 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare HMOs (0.4%) 
    1,950    Humana, Inc.* ...................................................     47,531 
      850    United Healthcare Corp.  ........................................     48,450 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   95,981 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare Services (0.2%) 
    1,450    Alza Corp.* .....................................................     46,853 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Home Building (0.8%) 
      950    Centex Corp.  ...................................................     52,962 
    1,450    Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.  ....................................     47,034 
    2,450    Kaufman & Broad Home Corp.  .....................................     52,369 
    1,200    Pulte Corp.  ....................................................     48,975 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  201,340 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Hospital Management (0.4%) 
    1,300    Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp.  ..................................     41,925 
    1,600    Tenet Healthcare Corp.* .........................................     47,900 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   89,825 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Hotels/Motels (0.8%) 
      700    HFS, Inc.* ......................................................     40,775 
    1,400    Hilton Hotels Corp.  ............................................     44,012 
      750    ITT Corp.* ......................................................     47,953 
      750    Marriot International, Inc.  ....................................     51,562 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  184,302 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances (0.4%) 
    1,800    Maytag Corp.  ...................................................     52,537 
      900    Whirlpool Corp.  ................................................     45,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   97,537 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Household Products (0.8%) 
      340    Clorox Co.  .....................................................     47,472 
      700    Colgate-Palmolive Co.  ..........................................     53,025 
      900    Kimberly-Clark Corp.  ...........................................     45,619 
      300    Procter & Gamble Co.  ...........................................     45,637 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  191,753 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Housewares (0.6%) 
    1,200    Newell Co.  .....................................................     50,325 
    1,600    Rubbermaid, Inc.  ...............................................     41,700 
    1,300    Tupperware Corp.  ...............................................     45,175 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  137,200 
                                                                              ------------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      68
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Insurance Brokers (0.4%) 
      825    Aon Corp.  ......................................................   $ 46,200 
      700    Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.  ....................................     54,206 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  100,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Investment Banking/Brokerage (0.4%) 
      750    Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.  ......................................     52,828 
      750    Salomon, Inc.  ..................................................     47,578 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  100,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Leisure Time (0.2%) 
    1,350    Brunswick Corp.  ................................................     43,537 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Life Insurance (1.2%) 
      450    Aetna Inc.  .....................................................     51,272 
    1,000    Conseco, Inc.  ..................................................     40,750 
      600    Jefferson-Pilot Corp.  ..........................................     42,637 
    1,100    Providian Financial Corp.* ......................................     43,106 
      650    Torchmark Corp.  ................................................     51,756 
    1,100    UNUM Corp.  .....................................................     48,950 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  278,471 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Machine Tools (0.2%) 
    2,100    Giddings & Lewis, Inc.  .........................................     43,706 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Machinery - Diversified (2.3%) 
      800    Briggs & Stratton Corp.  ........................................     40,550 
      650    Case Corp.  .....................................................     40,584 
      900    Caterpillar, Inc.  ..............................................     50,400 
    1,700    Cincinnati Milacron, Inc.  ......................................     47,600 
      800    Cooper Industries, Inc.  ........................................     44,450 
      800    Deere & Co.  ....................................................     45,500 
      700    Dover Corp.  ....................................................     49,962 
    1,100    Harnischfeger Industries, Inc.  .................................     47,437 
      750    Ingersoll-Rand Co.  .............................................     51,047 
      650    NACCO Industries, Inc. (Class A) ................................     45,094 
    1,200    Thermo Electron Corp.* ..........................................     41,025 
    1,400    Timken Co.  .....................................................     49,262 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  552,911 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Manufacturing - Diversified (3.2%) 
      950    Aeroquip-Vickers, Inc.  .........................................     52,072 
      500    AlliedSignal, Inc.  .............................................     46,125 
      850    Corning, Inc.  ..................................................     52,541 
    1,150    Crane Co.  ......................................................     52,253 
      550    Eaton Corp.  ....................................................     49,672 
      900    Illinois Tool Works, Inc.  ......................................     46,688 
      900    Johnson Controls, Inc.  .........................................     40,331 
      900    Millipore Corp.  ................................................     39,769 
      450    Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co.  ...........................     42,638 
      900    National Service Industries, Inc.  ..............................   $ 44,381 
    1,700    Pall Corp.  .....................................................     42,713 
      800    Parker-Hannifin Corp.  ..........................................     51,500 
    1,000    Tenneco, Inc.  ..................................................     46,625 
      700    Textron Inc.  ...................................................     49,044 
      650    Tyco International Ltd. .........................................     52,650 
      500    United Technologies Corp.  ......................................     42,281 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  751,283 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Medical Products & Supplies (2.0%) 
    1,300    Bard (C.R.), Inc.  ..............................................     48,913 
    1,000    Bausch & Lomb, Inc.  ............................................     42,563 
      800    Baxter International, Inc.  .....................................     46,250 
      800    Becton, Dickinson & Co.  ........................................     42,900 
    2,500    Biomet, Inc.  ...................................................     49,844 
      700    Boston Scientific Corp.* ........................................     50,225 
      600    Guidant Corp.  ..................................................     54,750 
      500    Medtronic, Inc.  ................................................     43,625 
    1,200    St. Jude Medical, Inc.* .........................................     48,975 
    1,200    United States Surgical Corp.  ...................................     44,550 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  472,595 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Metals & Mining (1.5%) 
    1,350    ASARCO, Inc.  ...................................................     45,900 
    2,000    Barrick Gold Corp. (Canada) .....................................     45,625 
    7,300    Battle Mountain Gold Co.  .......................................     40,606 
    1,850    Cyprus Amax Minerals Co.  .......................................     46,944 
    7,800    Echo Bay Mines Ltd. (Canada) ....................................     39,000 
    2,900    Homestake Mining Co.  ...........................................     40,056 
    1,300    Newmont Mining Corp.  ...........................................     53,625 
    2,600    Placer Dome Inc. (Canada) .......................................     44,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  355,956 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Metals - Miscellaneous (0.5%) 
    1,400    Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold, Inc. (Class B) ..................     40,950 
    1,400    Inco Ltd. (Canada) ..............................................     43,313 
      500    Phelps Dodge Corp.  .............................................     42,531 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  126,794 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Miscellaneous (0.4%) 
    1,350    American Greetings Corp. (Class A) ..............................     45,056 
    1,800    Jostens, Inc.  ..................................................     46,468 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   91,524 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Multi-Line Insurance (1.2%) 
      450    American International Group, Inc. ..............................     47,925 
      250    CIGNA Corp.  ....................................................     49,875 
      550    Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. .........................     47,919 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      69
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      650    Lincoln National Corp.  .........................................   $ 46,231 
      400    Loews Corp.  ....................................................     43,250 
      700    Travelers Group, Inc.  ..........................................     50,356 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  285,556 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Natural Gas (0.3%) 
      600    Anardarko Petroleum Corp.  ......................................     41,925 
    1,100    Apache Corp.  ...................................................     38,775 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   80,700 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Office Equipment & Supplies (0.6%) 
    1,600    Ikon Office Solutions, Inc.  ....................................     46,700 
    2,100    Moore Corp. Ltd. (Canada) .......................................     45,544 
      600    Pitney Bowes, Inc.  .............................................     45,075 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  137,319 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil & Gas Drilling (1.5%) 
      950    Baker Hughes, Inc.  .............................................     41,859 
    1,250    Dresser Industries, Inc.  .......................................     52,188 
    1,100    Halliburton Co.  ................................................     50,600 
      700    Helmerich & Payne, Inc.  ........................................     47,119 
    1,600    Rowan Cos., Inc.* ...............................................     52,600 
      700    Schlumberger, Ltd. ..............................................     53,463 
      600    Western Atlas, Inc.* ............................................     47,738 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  345,567 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil & Gas Exploration (0.9%) 
      900    Burlington Resources, Inc.  .....................................     42,525 
      650    Kerr-McGee Corp.  ...............................................     40,706 
      680    Louisiana Land & Exploration Co. ................................     48,025 
    1,700    Oryx Energy Co.* ................................................     41,969 
    1,600    Union Pacific Resources Group, Inc. .............................     39,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  212,725 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - Domestic Integrated (1.5%) 
      750    Amerada Hess Corp.  .............................................     44,109 
      900    Ashland, Inc.  ..................................................     47,826 
    1,700    Occidental Petroleum Corp.  .....................................     42,606 
      650    Pennzoil Co.  ...................................................     50,781 
    1,000    Phillips Petroleum Co.  .........................................     46,063 
    1,300    Sun Co., Inc.  ..................................................     46,556 
    1,050    Unocal Corp.  ...................................................     42,000 
    1,450    USX-Marathon Group ..............................................     46,672 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  366,613 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - International Integrated (1.3%) 
      450    Amoco Corp.  ....................................................     42,300 
      600    Atlantic Richfield Co.  .........................................     44,888 
      550    Chevron Corp.  ..................................................     43,519 
      700    Exxon Corp.  ....................................................     44,975 
      600    Mobil Corp.  ....................................................     45,900 
      800    Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (Netherlands) .........................   $ 44,750 
      350    Texaco, Inc.  ...................................................     40,622 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  306,954 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Paper & Forest Products (2.1%) 
    1,200    Boise Cascade Corp.  ............................................     44,475 
      800    Champion International Corp.  ...................................     49,600 
      500    Georgia-Pacific Corp.  ..........................................     47,219 
      900    International Paper Co.  ........................................     50,400 
    1,100    James River Corp. of Virginia ...................................     45,306 
    1,800    Louisiana-Pacific Corp.  ........................................     41,288 
      600    Mead Corp.  .....................................................     43,200 
      900    Potlatch Corp.  .................................................     43,031 
    1,200    Westvaco Corp.  .................................................     40,125 
      800    Weyerhaeuser Co.  ...............................................     49,800 
      550    Willamette Industries, Inc.  ....................................     41,903 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  496,347 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Photography/Imaging (0.6%) 
      700    Eastman Kodak Co.  ..............................................     46,900 
      850    Polaroid Corp.  .................................................     50,575 
      650    Xerox Corp.  ....................................................     53,463 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  150,938 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Pollution Control (0.2%) 
    1,300    Waste Management Inc.  ..........................................     41,600 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Property - Casualty Insurance (1.2%) 
      600    Allstate Corp.  .................................................     47,400 
      700    Chubb Corp.  ....................................................     49,350 
      250    General Re Corp.  ...............................................     52,219 
      900    Safeco Corp.  ...................................................     43,088 
      600    St. Paul Companies, Inc.  .......................................     47,063 
    1,800    USF&G Corp.  ....................................................     44,213 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  283,333 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Publishing (0.9%) 
      950    Dow Jones & Co., Inc.  ..........................................     41,028 
    1,500    Dun & Bradstreet Corp.  .........................................     40,500 
      700    McGraw-Hill, Inc.  ..............................................     47,469 
    1,600    Meredith Corp.  .................................................     44,300 
      750    Times Mirror Co. (Class A) ......................................     40,969 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  214,266 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Publishing -Newspaper (0.8%) 
      450    Gannett Co., Inc.  ..............................................     44,691 
      900    Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc.  .................................     44,719 
     950     New York Times Co. (Class A) ....................................     47,738 
     950     Tribune Co.  ....................................................     50,291 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  187,439 
                                                                              ------------- 

                      SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

                                      70
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Railroads (0.8%) 
      450    Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.  .............................   $ 43,453 
      750    CSX Corp.  ......................................................     46,313 
      450    Norfolk Southern Corp.  .........................................     49,838 
      550    Union Pacific Corp.  ............................................     39,428 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  179,032 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Restaurants (0.6%) 
    5,000    Darden Restaurants, Inc.  .......................................     47,813 
      750    McDonald's Corp.  ...............................................     40,313 
    1,750    Wendy's International, Inc.  ....................................     42,766 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  130,892 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Department Stores (1.4%) 
    1,200    Dillard Department Stores, Inc. (Class A) .......................     45,375 
    1,200    Federated Department Stores, Inc.* ..............................     52,575 
      850    Harcourt General, Inc.  .........................................     40,163 
      850    May Department Stores Co.  ......................................     47,494 
      750    Mercantile Stores Co., Inc.  ....................................     50,391 
      900    Nordstrom, Inc.  ................................................     50,963 
      800    Penney (J.C.) Co., Inc.  ........................................     46,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  333,761 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Drug Stores (0.8%) 
      850    CVS Corp.  ......................................................     48,344 
    1,500    Longs Drug Stores Corp.  ........................................     40,406 
      900    Rite Aid Corp.  .................................................     46,744 
      900    Walgreen Co.  ...................................................     50,850 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  186,344 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Food Chains (1.1%) 
    1,150    Albertson's, Inc.  ..............................................     42,622 
    1,600    American Stores Co.  ............................................     40,400 
    1,400    Giant Food, Inc. (Class A) ......................................     46,988 
    1,600    Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc.  .........................     43,900 
    1,400    Kroger Co.* .....................................................     41,388 
    1,250    Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.  ........................................     45,781 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  261,079 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - General Merchandise (1.1%) 
    1,400    Costco Companies Inc.* ..........................................     53,025 
      800    Dayton-Hudson Corp.  ............................................     51,700 
    4,000    Kmart Corp.* ....................................................     47,500 
      800    Sears, Roebuck & Co.  ...........................................     50,650 
    1,400    Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  ..........................................     52,588 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  255,463 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Specialty (1.6%) 
    1,600    AutoZone, Inc.* .................................................   $ 45,800 
    1,200    Circuit City Stores, Inc.  ......................................     43,500 
    1,050    Home Depot, Inc.  ...............................................     52,369 
    1,100    Lowe's Companies, Inc.  .........................................     41,388 
    1,300    Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack ......................................     43,225 
      800    Tandy Corp.  ....................................................     47,550 
    1,450    Toys 'R' Us, Inc.* ..............................................     49,391 
    1,800    Woolworth Corp.* ................................................     50,963 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  374,186 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Specialty Apparel (0.8%) 
    6,700    Charming Shoppes, Inc.* .........................................     39,363 
    1,200    Gap, Inc.  ......................................................     53,325 
    2,200    Limited (The), Inc.  ............................................     49,088 
    1,700    TJX Companies, Inc.  ............................................     50,788 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  192,564 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Savings & Loan Companies (0.4%) 
    1,000    Ahmanson (H.F.) & Co.  ..........................................     53,188 
      600    Golden West Financial Corp.  ....................................     50,475 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  103,663 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Semiconductor Equipment (0.2%) 
      550    Applied Materials, Inc.* ........................................     50,497 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Shoes (0.6%) 
      700    Nike, Inc. (Class B) ............................................     43,619 
      900    Reebok International Ltd. .......................................     46,463 
    3,200    Stride Rite Corp.  ..............................................     43,400 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  133,482 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Specialized Services (1.0%) 
    1,350    Block (H.&R.), Inc.  ............................................     51,722 
    1,900    CUC International, Inc.* ........................................     46,788 
    1,050    Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.  ...........................     46,988 
    2,550    Safety-Kleen Corp.  .............................................     44,784 
    1,200    Service Corp. International .....................................     40,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  231,082 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Specialty Printing (0.6%) 
    1,200    Deluxe Corp.  ...................................................     39,975 
    1,200    Donnelley (R.R.) & Sons Co.  ....................................     48,225 
    2,300    Harland (John H.) Co.  ..........................................     45,138 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  133,338 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Steel & Iron (1.3%) 
    1,600    Allegheny Teledyne Inc.  ........................................     49,800 
    7,400    Armco, Inc.* ....................................................     40,238 
    4,000    Bethlehem Steel Corp.* ..........................................     45,000 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      71
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    1,800    Inland Steel Industries, Inc.  ..................................  $   41,288 
      750    Nucor Corp.  ....................................................      46,547 
    1,150    USX-U.S. Steel Group, Inc.  .....................................      42,047 
    2,400    Worthington Industries, Inc.  ...................................      47,400 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   312,320 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Telecommunications - 
             Long Distance (1.0%) 
    1,300    AT&T Corp.  .....................................................      47,856 
    2,300    Frontier Corp.  .................................................      47,438 
    1,200    MCI Communications Corp.  .......................................      42,225 
      850    Sprint Corp.  ...................................................      42,075 
    1,500    WorldCom, Inc.* .................................................      52,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   232,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Telecommunications -Wireless (0.2%) 
    1,500    Airtouch Communications, Inc.* ..................................      49,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Textiles (0.9%) 
    1,700    Fruit of the Loom, Inc. (Class A)* ..............................      46,538 
      850    Liz Claiborne, Inc.  ............................................      40,694 
    1,400    Russell Corp.  ..................................................      40,863 
      900    Springs Industries, Inc. (Class A) ..............................      43,538 
      550    VF Corp.  .......................................................      49,363 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   220,996 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Tobacco (0.6%) 
    1,150    Fortune Brands, Inc.  ...........................................      40,753 
    1,050    Philip Morris Companies, Inc.  ..................................      47,381 
    1,500    UST, Inc.  ......................................................      43,594 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   131,728 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Toys (0.4%) 
    1,600    Hasbro Inc.  ....................................................      49,100 
    1,350    Mattel, Inc.  ...................................................      46,913 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                    96,013 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Truckers (0.4%) 
    1,300    Caliber System, Inc.  ...........................................      50,619 
    1,250    Ryder System, Inc.  .............................................      44,766 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                    95,385 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Electric (4.9%) 
      900    American Electric Power Co., Inc. ...............................      40,275 
    1,700    Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.  ...................................      47,281 
    1,300    Carolina Power & Light Co.  .....................................      46,313 
    2,300    Central & South West Corp.  .....................................      46,144 
    1,200    CINergy Corp.  ..................................................      40,350 
    1,400    Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc.  ......................  $   44,275 
    1,450    Detroit Edison Co.  .............................................      43,409 
    1,300    Dominion Resources, Inc.  .......................................      47,775 
    1,050    Duke Energy Corp.  ..............................................      53,222 
    1,700    Edison International ............................................      42,925 
    1,450    Entergy Corp.  ..................................................      39,603 
    1,000    FPL Group, Inc.  ................................................      47,875 
    1,200    General Public Utilities Corp.  .................................      41,625 
    2,200    Houston Industries, Inc.  .......................................      46,063 
    4,300    Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.* .....................................      40,044 
      800    Northern States Power Co.  ......................................      41,100 
    1,950    Ohio Edison Co.  ................................................      43,388 
    2,050    PacifiCorp ......................................................      45,741 
    2,100    PECO Energy Co.  ................................................      49,350 
    1,700    PG & E Corp.  ...................................................      42,181 
    2,300    PP&L Resources, Inc.  ...........................................      47,006 
    1,900    Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.  ..........................      47,025 
    1,900    Southern Co.  ...................................................      41,681 
    1,200    Texas Utilities Co.  ............................................      42,525 
    2,100    Unicom Corp.  ...................................................      47,644 
    1,200    Union Electric Co.  .............................................      46,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,161,020 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Natural Gas (2.4%) 
      800    Coastal Corp.  ..................................................      43,500 
      600    Columbia Gas System, Inc.  ......................................      41,250 
      700    Consolidated Natural Gas Co.  ...................................      40,513 
    1,300    Eastern Enterprises .............................................      46,556 
    1,200    Enron Corp.  ....................................................      45,525 
    1,900    ENSERCH Corp.  ..................................................      42,275 
    1,200    NICOR, Inc.  ....................................................      43,950 
    2,800    NorAm Energy Corp.  .............................................      44,800 
    1,250    ONEOK Inc.  .....................................................      43,750 
    1,200    Pacific Enterprises .............................................      40,125 
    1,100    Peoples Energy Corp.  ...........................................      42,213 
      900    Sonat, Inc.  ....................................................      44,888 
      900    Williams Cos., Inc.  ............................................      41,175 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   560,520 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Telephone (1.4%) 
    1,250    Alltel Corp.  ...................................................      41,094 
      650    Ameritech Corp.  ................................................      43,834 
      550    Bell Atlantic Corp.  ............................................      39,909 
      850    BellSouth Corp.  ................................................      40,269 
    1,000    GTE Corp.  ......................................................      46,500 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      72
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      700    NYNEX Corp.  .................................................... $    38,806 
      750    SBC Communications, Inc.  .......................................      44,391 
    1,100    U.S. West Communications Group, Inc. ............................      40,219 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   335,022 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Waste Management (0.4%) 
    1,200    Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc.  ...............................      44,400 
    2,900    Laidlaw Inc. (Class B)(Canada) ..................................      46,219 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                    90,619 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Identified Cost $14,805,322) ...............  23,156,111 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                                      VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                                  <C>          <C>
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a)(2.9%) 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY 
      $700   Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 
             5.75% due 08/01/97
             (Amortized Cost $700,000) ....................................                $   700,000 
                                                                                          ------------ 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified cost $15,505,322)(b) .                                                 100.3%   23,856,111 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF                                                        
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS.............                                                  (0.3)      (76,376) 
                                                                                   -----  ------------ 
NET ASSETS........................                                                 100.0%  $23,779,735 
                                                                                   =====  ============ 
</TABLE>                          

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
(a)     Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown 
        has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $8,490,682 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $139,893, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $8,350,789. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      73
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (93.8%) 
             ARGENTINA (0.7%) 
             Banks 
    1,700    Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires S.A. de C.V. (Class B)(ADR)  ....$    53,337 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Brewery 
    2,000    Quilmes Industrial S.A. (ADR)  ..................................     23,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    1,000    Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom S.A. (Class B)(ADR)  ....     57,813 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL ARGENTINA  ................................................    134,150 
                                                                              ----------- 
             AUSTRALIA (1.0%) 
             Business Services 
    4,800    Mayne Nickless Ltd.  ............................................     27,735 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Energy 
    2,500    Woodside Petroleum Ltd.  ........................................     21,268 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial Services 
   24,000    Tyndall Australia Ltd.  .........................................     41,083 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Foods & Beverages 
   30,000    Goodman Fielder Ltd.  ...........................................     46,263 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Metals & Mining 
   20,155    M.I.M. Holdings Ltd.  ...........................................     28,022 
   14,000    Pasminco Ltd.  ..................................................     27,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   55,022 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL AUSTRALIA  ................................................    191,371 
                                                                              ----------- 
             BELGIUM (0.2%) 
             Retail 
    1,000    G.I.B. Holdings Ltd.  ...........................................     48,471 
                                                                              ----------- 
             BRAZIL (2.3%) 
             Banks 
      600    Uniao de Bancos Brasileiros S.A. (GDR)*  ........................     24,150 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Brewery 
    4,500    Companhia Cervejaria Brahma -(ADR)  .............................     68,906 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Steel & Iron 
    2,000    Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. (ADR) -144A**  .........     23,700 
    3,000    Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. (S Shares)(ADR)  .......     35,550 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   59,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
      600    Telecommunicacoes Brasileiras S.A. (ADR)  .......................$    89,025 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
    2,000    Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais S.A. (ADR)  ................    112,500 
    5,000    Companhia Paranaense de Energia -Copel (Preference Shares)  .....     96,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  208,750 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL BRAZIL  ...................................................    450,081 
                                                                              ----------- 
             CANADA (0.7%) 
             Energy 
    5,000    Ranger Oil Ltd.  ................................................     48,970 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Department Stores 
    4,000    Hudson's Bay Co.  ...............................................     89,669 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL CANADA  ...................................................    138,639 
                                                                              ----------- 
             CHILE (0.7%) 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,300    Laboratorio Chile S.A. (ADR)  ...................................     38,431 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    3,000    Supermercados Unimarc S.A. (ADR)*  ..............................     51,938 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    1,487    Compania de Telecommunicaciones de Chile S.A. (ADR)  ............     48,978 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL CHILE  ....................................................    139,347 
                                                                              ----------- 
             CHINA (0.2%) 
             Transportation 
    1,000    China Southern Airlines Co. (ADR)  ..............................     31,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
             DENMARK (0.9%) 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,000    Novo-Nordisk AS (Series B)  .....................................    105,361 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
      700    Kobenhavns Lufthavne AS  ........................................     73,453 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL DENMARK  ..................................................    178,814 
                                                                              ----------- 
             FINLAND (0.7%) 
             Manufacturing 
      800    KCI Konecranes International  ...................................     32,104 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      74
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Paper Products 
    3,200    UPM-Kymmene OY Corp.  ...........................................$    77,810 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,000    Orion-yhtymae OY (B Shares)  ....................................     36,300 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL FINLAND  ..................................................    146,214 
                                                                              ----------- 
             FRANCE (3.6%) 
             Automotive 
    1,200    Michelin (B Shares)  ............................................     74,682 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computer Services 
      400    Axime (Ex Segin)  ...............................................     44,599 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Energy 
      700    Elf Aquitaine S.A.  .............................................     79,855 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial Services 
      350    Credit Local de France  .........................................     34,675 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Products 
      740    Societe BIC S.A.  ...............................................     61,015 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Insurance 
    2,000    AXA-UAP  ........................................................    130,730 
    1,400    Scor  ...........................................................     61,218 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  191,948 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Leisure 
      600    Accor S.A.  .....................................................     90,230 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
       80    Carrefour Supermarche  ..........................................     54,022 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Steel & Iron 
    4,500    Usinor Sacilor  .................................................     89,673 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL FRANCE  ...................................................    720,699 
                                                                              ----------- 
             GERMANY (3.8%) 
             Apparel 
      400    Adidas AG  ......................................................     46,995 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Automotive 
       90    Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG  ..............................     73,332 
      300    MAN AG  .........................................................     90,481 
      250    Volkswagen AG  ..................................................    191,188 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  355,001 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Chemicals 
    1,200    Bayer AG  .......................................................     50,519 
      600    SGL Carbon AG  ..................................................     79,793 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  130,312 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Machinery - Diversified 
      100    Mannesmann AG  ..................................................$    46,696 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,000    Gehe AG  ........................................................     62,605 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
      900    Siemens AG  .....................................................     62,709 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
      700    VEBA AG  ........................................................     40,702 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL GERMANY  ..................................................    745,020 
                                                                              ----------- 
             HONG KONG (4.9%) 
             Banking 
   12,000    Guoco Group Ltd.  ...............................................     67,743 
    3,140    HSBC Holdings PLC  ..............................................    109,521 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  177,264 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
   24,000    China Resources Enterprise Ltd.  ................................    119,984 
   12,000    Citic Pacific Ltd.  .............................................     76,114 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  196,098 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Finance & Brokerage 
   36,000    Peregrine Investments Holdings Ltd.  ............................     79,525 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Real Estate 
   10,000    Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd.  ....................................    111,097 
   24,000    New World Development Co., Ltd. .................................    172,846 
    6,000    Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.  ...................................     75,378 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  359,321 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities 
   36,600    Hong Kong & China Gas Co. Ltd. ..................................     79,431 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
   13,000    China Light & Power Co. Ltd.  ...................................     74,564 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL HONG KONG  ................................................    966,203 
                                                                              ----------- 
             IRELAND (0.3%) 
             Transportation 
    2,000    Ryanair Holdings PLC (ADR)*  ....................................     56,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
             ITALY (1.4%) 
             Energy 
    1,500    Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi SpA (ADR)  ...........................     88,219 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances 
    3,000    Industrie Natuzzi SpA (ADR)  ....................................     82,688 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      75
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Telecommunications 
   16,000    Telecom Italia SpA  .............................................$    101,703 
                                                                              ------------
             TOTAL ITALY  ....................................................     272,610 
                                                                              ------------
             JAPAN (19.5%) 
             Automotive 
    4,000    Honda Motor Co.  ................................................     133,626 
    6,000    Suzuki Motor Co. Ltd.  ..........................................      72,887 
                                                                              ------------
                                                                                   206,513 
                                                                              ------------
             Banking 
   14,000    Asahi Bank, Ltd.  ...............................................     104,876 
    3,000    Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd.  .................................      55,677 
    9,000    Sakura Bank Ltd.  ...............................................      55,045 
                                                                              ------------
                                                                                   215,598 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Building & Construction 
   12,000    Sekisui House Ltd.  .............................................     114,392 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Business Services 
    2,000    Secom Co.  ......................................................     146,280 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Chemicals 
    8,000    Kaneka Corp.  ...................................................      49,064 
    6,000    Nippon Shokubai K.K. Co.  .......................................      41,859 
    4,000    Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.  ...................................     114,054 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   204,977 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computers 
    6,000    Fujitsu, Ltd.  ..................................................      88,072 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Consumer Products 
    4,000    Kao Corp.  ......................................................      60,064 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics 
    6,000    Canon, Inc.  ....................................................     191,328 
    9,000    Hitachi, Ltd.  ..................................................     101,738 
    9,000    Hitachi Cable  ..................................................      81,238 
    6,000    Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.  .......................     125,021 
    8,000    Sharp Corp.  ....................................................     102,581 
    2,000    Sony Corp.  .....................................................     199,089 
    2,000    TDK Corp.  ......................................................     172,094 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   973,089 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics - Semiconductors/Components 
    1,000    Rohm Co., Ltd.  .................................................     130,758 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial Services 
    6,000    Nomura Securities Co. Ltd.  .....................................      85,035 
    2,000    Orix Corp.  .....................................................     161,296 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   246,331 
                                                                              ------------ 
             International Trade 
   10,000    Mitsui & Co.  ...................................................$     95,326 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Machine Tools 
    7,000    Asahi Diamond Industries Co. Ltd.  ..............................      57,576 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Machinery 
   10,000    Minebea Co., Ltd.  ..............................................     118,947 
   13,000    Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. ...............................      91,572 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   210,519 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    5,000    Eisai Co. Ltd.  .................................................     103,762 
    6,000    Fujisawa Pharmaceutical  ........................................      61,245 
    2,000    Sankyo Co. Ltd.  ................................................      71,368 
    2,000    Terumo Corp.  ...................................................      40,324 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   276,699 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Real Estate 
    5,000    Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.  .......................................      64,113 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Restaurants 
        5    Yoshinoya D & C Company Ltd.  ...................................      61,583 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail 
    2,000    Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd.  .......................................      59,895 
    4,000    Izumiya Co. Ltd.  ...............................................      50,953 
    2,000    Jusco Co.  ......................................................      55,677 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   166,525 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Steel & Iron 
   40,000    NKK Corp.  ......................................................      72,887 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Telecommunications 
       10    DDI Corp.  ......................................................      68,669 
       14    Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.  .............................     141,724 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   210,393 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Textiles 
   15,000    Teijin Ltd.  ....................................................      64,535 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Transportation 
       15    East Japan Railway Co.  .........................................      64,409 
    6,000    Yamato Transport Co. Ltd.  ......................................      75,924 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   140,333 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Wholesale Distributor 
    1,000    Softbank Corp.  .................................................      51,881 
                                                                              ------------
             TOTAL JAPAN  ....................................................   3,858,444 
                                                                              ------------

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      76
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             MALAYSIA (2.2%) 
             Banking 
    8,000    Malayan Banking Berhad  .........................................$    75,959 
   22,666    Public Bank Berhad  .............................................     32,540 
      550    RHB Sakura Merchant Bankers Berhad  .............................        856 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  109,355 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Building & Construction 
    9,000    United Engineers Malaysia Berhad  ...............................     62,894 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
   10,000    Road Builder (M) Holdings Berhad  ...............................     41,777 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Entertainment 
   37,000    Magnum Corporation Berhad  ......................................     47,497 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial Services 
   12,000    Arab Malaysian Finance Berhad 7.5% due 5/25/02 (Loan Stock)  ....      4,147 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Machinery 
   10,000    UMW Holdings Berhad  ............................................     39,499 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Natural Gas 
   15,000    Petronas Gas Berhad  ............................................     52,697 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
   20,000    Tenaga Nasional Berhad  .........................................     80,517 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL MALAYSIA  .................................................    438,383 
                                                                              ----------- 
             MEXICO (3.4%) 
             Banking 
   29,391    Grupo Financiero Banamex Accival S.A. de C.V. (B Shares)*  ......     90,414 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages 
    2,700    Pepsi-Gemex S.A. de C.V. (GDR)  .................................     39,150 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Brewery 
             Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V. 
    6,000    (Series C)  .....................................................     55,794 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Building Materials 
   15,087    Cemex, S.A. de C.V. (B Shares)  .................................     86,840 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
    1,707    DESC S.A. de C.V. (Series C)(ADR)  ..............................     62,732 
             
    7,000    Grupo Carso S.A. de C.V. (Series A1)  ...........................     56,856 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  119,588 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
    2,500    Grupo Industrial Maseca S.A. de C.V. (ADR)  .....................$    46,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Paper & Forest Products 
   14,000    Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (A Shares)  ..............     68,048 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    2,200    Grupo Elektra, S.A. de C.V. (GDR) ...............................     65,450 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    2,000    Telefonos de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (Series L)(ADR)  ...............    111,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL MEXICO  ...................................................    682,534 
                                                                              ----------- 
             NETHERLANDS (4.3%) 
             Building Materials 
      800    Hunter Douglas NV  ..............................................     37,205 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Business & Public Services 
      700    Randstad Holdings NV  ...........................................     74,946 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Chemicals 
      500    Akzo Nobel NV  ..................................................     77,462 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electronics 
    2,000    Philips Electronics NV  .........................................    162,264 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
      200    Nutricia Verenigde Bedrijven NV  ................................     33,998 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Furniture 
    1,400    Ahrend Groep NV  ................................................     47,327 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Insurance 
      500    Aegon NV  .......................................................     37,958 
      875    ING Groep NV  ...................................................     42,594 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   80,552 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Publishing 
    2,900    Elsevier NV  ....................................................     51,118 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
      950    Gucci Group NV  .................................................     59,969 
    2,700    Koninklijke Ahold NV  ...........................................     78,104 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  138,073 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Steel 
    1,100    Koninklijke Hoogovens NV  .......................................     66,668 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
    2,000    KLM Royal Dutch Air Lines NV  ...................................     71,377 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL NETHERLANDS  ..............................................    840,990 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      77
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES -GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             PERU (0.2%) 
             Banking 
    7,000    Banco Wiese (ADR)  ..............................................$    43,750 
                                                                              ----------- 
             PHILIPPINES (0.1%) 
             Telecommunications 
      600    Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (ADR)  ...................     20,137 
                                                                              ----------- 
             PORTUGAL (0.4%) 
             Telecommunications 
    1,100    Portugal Telecom S.A. (ADR)  ....................................     44,275 
      500    Telecel-Comunicacaoes Pessoais, S.A.*  ..........................     39,155 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL PORTUGAL  .................................................     83,430 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SINGAPORE (1.6%) 
             Banking 
    4,500    Development Bank of Singapore, Ltd.  ............................     58,422 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages 
    7,000    Fraser & Neave Ltd.  ............................................     47,580 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Hospital Management 
    6,000    Parkway Holdings Ltd.  ..........................................     27,529 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Publishing 
    4,000    Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.  ..................................     75,856 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
    3,700    Singapore International Airlines  ...............................     34,706 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Telecommunications 
   37,000    Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.  .............................     70,167 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SINGAPORE  ................................................    314,260 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SOUTH AFRICA (0.1%) 
             Brewers 
      700    South African Breweries Ltd. (ADR)  .............................     22,488 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SOUTH KOREA (0.3%) 
             Electronics 
    1,700    Samsung Electronics Co. (GDR)(Non-voting) -144A**  ..............     51,510 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SPAIN (1.7%) 
             Banks 
    3,300    Banco Bilbao Vizcaya  ...........................................     86,127 
      200    Banco Popular Espanol S.A.  .....................................     44,307 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  130,434 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Natural Gas 
      800    Gas Natural SDG S.A.  ...........................................$    39,132 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    3,100    Centros Comerciales Pryca, S.A.  ................................     59,857 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
      500    Telefonica de Espana S.A. (ADR)  ................................     39,375 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
    2,800    Empresa Nacional de Electricidad S.A.  ..........................     57,669 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SPAIN  ....................................................    326,467 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SWEDEN (1.4%) 
             Automotive 
    2,200    Scania AB (A Shares)  ...........................................     63,038 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Machinery 
    2,300    Kalmar Industries AB  ...........................................     38,563 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Manufacturing 
    1,200    Assa Abloy AB (Series B)  .......................................     26,276 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Paper Products 
    3,400    Stora Kopparbergs Aktiebolag (A Shares)  ........................     55,731 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    2,250    Ericsson (L.M.) Telephone Co. AB (Series "B" Free)  .............    101,211 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SWEDEN  ...................................................    284,819 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SWITZERLAND (1.7%) 
             Engineering 
       40    ABB AG-Bearer  ..................................................     56,890 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
       70    Nestle S.A.  ....................................................     88,901 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
       32    Novartis AG  ....................................................     51,399 
       30    Novartis AG - Bearer  ...........................................     48,147 
       10    Roche Holdings AG  ..............................................     96,790 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  196,336 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SWITZERLAND  ..............................................    342,127 
                                                                              ----------- 
             UNITED KINGDOM (10.4%) 
             Aerospace 
   11,453    Rolls-Royce PLC  ................................................     43,939 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Aerospace & Defense 
    3,978    British Aerospace PLC  ..........................................     86,970 
    2,900    Smiths Industries PLC  ..........................................     38,274 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  125,244 
                                                                              ----------- 

                      SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

                                      78
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Auto Parts - Original Equipment 
   26,200    LucasVarity PLC  ................................................$    80,755 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Banking 
    3,600    Abbey National PLC  .............................................     49,460 
    1,323    Barclays Bank, PLC  .............................................     27,872 
    7,103    National Westminster Bank PLC  ..................................    100,849 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  178,181 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages 
    5,800    Bass PLC  .......................................................     79,306 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Broadcast Media 
    3,600    Flextech PLC*  ..................................................     38,807 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Building & Construction 
    5,893    Blue Circle Industries PLC  .....................................     39,999 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Business Services 
    3,400    Compass Group PLC  ..............................................     34,171 
    3,000    Reuters Holdings PLC  ...........................................     32,315 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   66,486 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computer Software & Services 
    3,500    SEMA Group PLC  .................................................     80,622 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
    8,300    BTR PLC  ........................................................     25,787 
    9,302    Tomkins PLC  ....................................................     46,972 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   72,759 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Consumer Products 
    3,000    Unilever PLC  ...................................................     86,910 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Energy 
   27,300    Shell Transport & Trading Co. PLC  ..............................    201,860 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
   10,000    Devro PLC  ......................................................     64,104 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Products 
    7,000    Reckitt & Colman PLC  ...........................................    108,912 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Insurance 
    4,200    Britannic Assurance PLC  ........................................     53,813 
    5,700    Commercial Union PLC  ...........................................     64,061 
   10,441    Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group PLC  .......................     85,761 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  203,635 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Leisure 
    2,671    Granada Group PLC  ..............................................     36,785 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    6,220    Glaxo Wellcome PLC  .............................................    131,652 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Property - Casualty Insurance 
       65    General Accident PLC  ...........................................$       980 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    9,500    Sainsbury (J.) PLC  .............................................     66,195 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
   10,000    British Telecommunications PLC  .................................     70,007 
    9,602    Securicor PLC  ..................................................     43,607 
   11,900    Vodafone Group PLC  .............................................     60,091 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  173,705 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
    7,811    British Airways PLC  ............................................     84,896 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities 
    3,220    Thames Water PLC  ...............................................     42,392 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities -Electric 
    6,500    National Power PLC  .............................................     57,546 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM  ...........................................  2,065,670 
                                                                              ----------- 
             UNITED STATES (25.1%) 
             Aerospace & Defense 
    1,040    Lockheed Martin Corp.  ..........................................    110,760 
    6,130    Loral Space & Communications*  ..................................     95,781 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  206,541 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Aluminum 
    1,240    Aluminum Co. of America  ........................................    109,740 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Automotive 
    2,940    Chrysler Corp.  .................................................    109,147 
    2,870    Ford Motor Co.  .................................................    117,311 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  226,458 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Banks 
    1,970    First Tennessee National Corp.  .................................    102,440 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks 
    2,780    PepsiCo, Inc.  ..................................................    106,509 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Biotechnology 
    4,120    Biochem Pharma, Inc.*  ..........................................    118,450 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Chemicals 
    1,060    Dow Chemical Co.  ...............................................    100,700 
    2,250    Monsanto Co.  ...................................................    112,078 
    1,880    Praxair, Inc.  ..................................................    103,635 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  316,413 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Communications - Equipment & Software 
    1,850    Cisco Systems, Inc.*  ...........................................    146,959 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      79
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Computer Software 
    2,400    Oracle Systems Corp.*  ..........................................$   130,350 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computers 
    3,360    Gateway 2000, Inc.*  ............................................    128,310 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computers - Peripheral Equipment 
    1,900    Seagate Technology, Inc.*  ......................................     78,019 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computers - Systems 
    1,760    Hewlett-Packard Co.  ............................................    123,310 
    3,230    Sun Microsystems, Inc.*  ........................................    147,571 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  270,881 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electrical Equipment 
    1,260    Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................     94,106 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electronics - Defense 
    1,590    General Motors Corp. (Class H)  .................................     96,096 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electronics - Semiconductors/Components 
    1,300    Intel Corp.  ....................................................    119,275 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Entertainment 
    1,240    Walt Disney Productions  ........................................    100,207 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial - Miscellaneous 
    2,400    Ahmanson (H.F.) & Co.  ..........................................    127,650 
    1,460    American Express Co.  ...........................................    122,275 
    2,350    Fannie Mae  .....................................................    111,184 
    1,400    Golden West Financial Corp.  ....................................    117,775 
    1,770    Travelers Group, Inc.  ..........................................    127,329 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  606,213 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Foods 
    1,450    General Mills, Inc.  ............................................    100,231 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances 
    4,340    Maytag Corp.  ...................................................    126,674 
    2,800    Sunbeam Corp.  ..................................................    109,550 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  236,224 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Products 
    1,700    Colgate-Palmolive Co.  ..........................................    128,775 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Medical Products & Supplies 
    2,040    Baxter International, Inc.  .....................................    117,938 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Medical Services 
    2,000    HBO & Co.  ......................................................    154,500 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Oil Integrated -International 
    1,500    Atlantic Richfield Co.  .........................................$   112,219 
    1,480    Chevron Corp.  ..................................................    117,105 
    1,900    Exxon Corp.  ....................................................    122,075 
    1,520    Mobil Corp.  ....................................................    116,280 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  467,679 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,580    Abbott Laboratories  ............................................    103,391 
    1,480    American Home Products Corp.  ...................................    122,008 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  225,399 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Department Stores 
    1,800    Sears, Roebuck & Co.  ...........................................    113,963 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Specialty 
    3,670    Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*  .......................................    121,110 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Specialty Apparel 
    2,680    Gap, Inc.  ......................................................    119,093 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Semiconductor Equipment 
    3,140    Teradyne, Inc.*  ................................................    146,795 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Shoes 
    1,440    Nike, Inc. (Class B)  ...........................................     89,730 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL UNITED STATES  ............................................  4,978,404 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $15,100,950)  .................................. 18,572,282 
                                                                              ----------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
AMOUNT IN 
THOUSANDS 
- -----------
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (a)(7.1%) 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
             Federal Farm Credit Bank 
   $1,000     5.45% due 08/04/97  ............................................   999,546 
      400    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.  
             5.75% due 08/01/97  .............................................   400,000 
                                                                              ---------- 
             TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 
             (Amortized Cost $1,399,546)  .................................... 1,399,546 
                                                                              ---------- 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS                                                  
(Identified Cost $16,500,496)(b)  .................................  100.9%   19,971,828 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF CASH                                      
 AND OTHER ASSETS .................................................   (0.9)     (174,632) 
                                                                   -------- ------------ 
NET ASSETS ........................................................  100.0%  $19,797,196 
                                                                   ======== ============ 
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      80
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
GDR     Global Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
**      Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors. 
(a)     Securities were purchased on a discount basis. The interest rates 
        shown have been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $3,806,319 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $334,987, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $3,471,332. 

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS OPEN AT JULY 31, 1997: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            IN                        UNREALIZED 
   CONTRACTS TO          EXCHANGE        DELIVERY   APPRECIATION/ 
      RECEIVE              FOR             DATE     (DEPRECIATION) 
- ------------------ ------------------- ----------  --------------- 
<S>     <C>        <C>     <C>           <C>           <C>
$          64,633  ESP     10,034,338    08/01/97      $    50 
$           1,472  MXN         11,571    08/01/97           (8) 
DEM        69,082  $           37,698    08/04/97         (123) 
NLG       142,403  $           69,027    08/04/97         (257) 
yen     6,273,323  $           52,939    08/05/97          (18) 
MYR       199,255  $           75,936    08/05/97         (259) 
PTE     7,438,359  $           40,153    08/05/97         (119) 
$          93,976  ESP     14,622,742    08/07/97         (139) 
SGD        72,082  $           49,042    08/07/97          (47) 
$          22,998  AUD         30,870    08/08/97          (77) 
FRF       563,860  $           91,528    08/29/97         (546) 
                                                       -------
Net unrealized depreciation......................      $(1,543) 
                                                       =======
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      81
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO 
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 PERCENT OF 
INDUSTRY                             VALUE       NET ASSETS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                               <C>                <C>
Aerospace ......................  $    43,939        0.2% 
Aerospace & Defense ............      331,785        1.7 
Aluminum .......................      109,740        0.6 
Apparel ........................       46,995        0.2 
Auto Parts-Original Equipment ..       80,755        0.4 
Automotive .....................      925,692        4.7 
Banking ........................      872,984        4.4 
Banks ..........................      310,361        1.6 
Beverages ......................      166,036        0.8 
Beverages-Soft Drinks ..........      106,509        0.5 
Biotechnology ..................      118,450        0.6 
Brewers ........................       22,488        0.1 
Brewery ........................      147,700        0.8 
Broadcast Media ................       38,807        0.2 
Building & Construction ........      217,285        1.1 
Building Materials .............      124,045        0.6 
Business & Public Services  ....       74,946        0.4 
Business Services ..............      240,501        1.2 
Chemicals ......................      729,164        3.7 
Communications-Equipment & 
 Software ......................      146,959        0.7 
Computer Services ..............       44,599        0.2 
Computer Software ..............      130,350        0.7 
Computer Software & Services ...       80,622        0.4 
Computers ......................      216,382        1.1 
Computers-Peripheral Equipment .       78,019        0.4 
Computers-Systems ..............      270,881        1.4 
Conglomerates ..................      430,222        2.2 
Consumer Products ..............      146,974        0.7 
Electrical Equipment ...........       94,106        0.5 
Electronics ....................    1,186,863        6.0 
Electronics-Defense ............       96,096        0.5 
Electronics-Semiconductors/ 
 Components ....................      250,033        1.3 
Energy .........................      440,172        2.2 
Engineering ....................       56,890        0.3 
Entertainment ..................      147,704        0.8 
Finance & Brokerage ............       79,525        0.4 
Financial-Miscellaneous  .......      606,213        3.1 
Financial Services .............      326,236        1.6 
Food Processing ................      233,253        1.2 
Foods ..........................      100,231        0.5 
Foods & Beverages ..............       46,263        0.2 
Furniture ......................       47,327        0.2 
Hospital Management ............       27,529        0.1 
Household Furnishings & 
 Appliances ....................      318,912        1.6 
Household Products .............  $   298,702        1.5% 
Insurance ......................      476,135        2.4 
International Trade ............       95,326        0.5 
Leisure ........................      127,015        0.6 
Machine Tools ..................       57,576        0.3 
Machinery ......................      288,581        1.5 
Machinery-Diversified ..........       46,696        0.2 
Manufacturing ..................       58,380        0.3 
Medical Products & Supplies  ...      117,938        0.6 
Medical Services ...............      154,500        0.8 
Metals & Mining ................       55,022        0.3 
Natural Gas ....................       91,829        0.5 
Oil Integrated-International ...      467,679        2.4 
Paper & Forest Products ........       68,048        0.3 
Paper Products .................      133,541        0.7 
Pharmaceuticals ................    1,072,783        5.4 
Property-Casualty Insurance ....          980        0.0 
Publishing .....................      126,974        0.6 
Real Estate ....................      423,434        2.1 
Restaurants ....................       61,583        0.3 
Retail .........................      650,531        3.3 
Retail-Department Stores  ......      203,632        1.0 
Retail-Specialty ...............      121,110        0.6 
Retail-Specialty Apparel  ......      119,093        0.6 
Semiconductor Equipment ........      146,795        0.7 
Shoes ..........................       89,730        0.5 
Steel ..........................       66,668        0.3 
Steel & Iron ...................      221,810        1.1 
Telecommunications .............    1,099,479        5.6 
Textiles .......................       64,535        0.3 
Transportation .................      492,015        2.5 
U.S. Government Agencies  ......    1,399,546        7.1 
Utilities ......................      121,823        0.6 
Utilities-Electric .............      519,748        2.6 
Utilities-Telecommunications ...       70,167        0.4 
Wholesale Distributor ..........       51,881        0.3 
                                 ------------- ------------ 
                                  $19,971,828      100.9% 
                                 ============= ============ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         PERCENT OF 
TYPE OF INVESTMENT           VALUE       NET ASSETS 
- --------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                       <C>               <C>
Common Stocks ..........  $18,572,282       93.8% 
Short-Term Investments      1,399,546        7.1 
                          -----------      -----  
                          $19,971,828      100.9% 
                          ===========      =====
</TABLE>

                                      82
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCKS (58.4%) 
             Aerospace & Defense (1.1%) 
    3,905    Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................  $  291,655 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Aluminum (0.5%) 
    1,600    Aluminum Co. of America .........................................     141,600 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Automotive (1.7%) 
    8,000    Chrysler Corp. ..................................................     297,000 
    3,500    Ford Motor Co.  .................................................     143,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   440,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Money Center (2.3%) 
    4,500    Citicorp ........................................................     610,875 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Regional (2.0%) 
    1,940    Wells Fargo & Co. ...............................................     533,379 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks (0.5%) 
    3,400    PepsiCo Inc.  ...................................................     130,262 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Cable/Cellular (0.8%) 
    9,400    U.S. West Media Group* ..........................................     207,387 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals (2.6%) 
    1,250    Dow Chemical Co. ................................................     118,750 
   11,450    Monsanto Co.  ...................................................     570,353 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   689,103 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications - Equipment & Software (0.6%) 
    1,840    Cisco Systems, Inc.*  ...........................................     146,165 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Software (1.6%) 
    1,800    Microsoft Corp.* ................................................     254,362 
    3,150    Oracle Corp.* ...................................................     171,084 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   425,446 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers (4.5%) 
   10,400    Dell Computer Corp.*  ...........................................     889,200 
    7,800    Gateway 2000, Inc.*  ............................................     297,862 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,187,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Peripheral Equipment (1.8%) 
   11,250    Seagate Technology, Inc.* .......................................     461,953 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Systems (3.7%) 
    3,450    Diebold, Inc.  ..................................................     173,362 
    9,500    Hewlett-Packard Co.  ............................................     665,594 
    3,300    Sun Microsystems, Inc.* .........................................     150,769 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   989,725 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer Products (1.8%) 
   14,000    Tupperware Corp.  ...............................................     486,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electrical Equipment (2.4%) 
    4,820    Emerson Electric Co. ............................................  $  284,380 
    5,160    General Electric Co.  ...........................................     362,167 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   646,547 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - 
             Semiconductors/Components (2.1%) 
    6,000    Intel Corp. .....................................................     550,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Entertainment/Gaming (0.7%) 
    7,000    Circus Circus Enterprises, Inc.* ................................     175,437 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Financial Services (2.0%) 
    5,000    American Express Co. ............................................     418,750 
    2,600    Fannie Mae ......................................................     123,013 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   541,763 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Foods (2.6%) 
    2,860    Campbell Soup Co.  ..............................................     148,363 
    7,900    General Mills, Inc.  ............................................     546,088 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   694,451 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Forest Products (2.4%) 
   10,100    Champion International Corp. ....................................     626,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - HMOs (1.0%) 
   11,200    Humana, Inc.*  ..................................................     273,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Household Appliances (1.2%) 
   11,000    Maytag Corp.  ...................................................     321,063 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Insurance (0.1%) 
             Aetna Inc. (Class C) 
      172    (Conv. Pref.) $4.75  ............................................      17,329 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - International Integrated (5.8%) 
    6,400    Atlantic Richfield Co.  .........................................     478,800 
    2,070    Chevron Corp.  ..................................................     163,789 
    2,800    Exxon Corp.  ....................................................     179,900 
    7,200    Mobil Corp. .....................................................     550,800 
    1,500    Texaco, Inc. ....................................................     174,094 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,547,383 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Pharmaceuticals (4.5%) 
    1,800    Abbott Laboratories .............................................     117,788 
    6,700    American Home Products Corp. ....................................     552,331 
    8,450    Johnson & Johnson ...............................................     526,541 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,196,660 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail -Specialty (3.2%) 
   10,000    Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*  .......................................     330,000 
    2,400    Costco Companies Inc.* ..........................................      90,900 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      83
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    3,450    Home Depot, Inc.  ............................................... $   172,069 
   14,250    Pier 1 Imports, Inc. ............................................     251,156 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   844,125 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Specialty Apparel (2.5%) 
   14,600    Gap, Inc. .......................................................     648,788 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Savings & Loans (0.5%) 
    1,500    Golden West Financial Corp. .....................................     126,187 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Shoes (0.7%) 
    3,000    Nike, Inc. (Class B) ............................................     186,938 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Steel (1.2%) 
    4,300    Inland Steel Industries, Inc.  ..................................      98,631 
    3,450    Nucor Corp. .....................................................     214,116 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   312,747 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON AND 
             PREFERRED STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $10,314,161)  ..................................  15,450,292 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS 
- ----------- 
<S>          <C>                                                               <C>
             CORPORATE BONDS (3.7%) 
             Automotive - Finance (0.1%) 
   $   15    Ford Capital BV (Netherlands) 
              9.375% due 05/15/01  ...........................................    16,545 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Banks (0.9%) 
      100    Bank One Corp 
              9.875% due 03/01/09  ...........................................   124,417 
      100    Central Fidelity Capital I Series -144A** 
              6.75% due 04/15/27  ............................................   102,601 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 227,018 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial (0.4%) 
      100    Money Store Inc. (The) 
              8.375% due 04/15/04  ...........................................   105,497 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial Services (0.4%) 
      100    Centura Capital Trust I Series 144A** 
              8.845% due 06/01/27  ...........................................   108,125 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Insurance (0.4%) 
      100    Vesta Capital Trust I -144A** 
              8.525% due 01/15/27  ...........................................   108,250 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Metals & Mining (0.4%) 
      100    Placer Dome, Inc. (Canada) 
              8.50% due 12/31/45  ............................................   102,750 
                                                                              ------------ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             Oil & Gas Products (0.4%) 
   $  100    Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. 
              6.75% due 02/15/04  ............................................  $  99,420 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - Domestic (0.2%) 
       50    Occidental Petroleum Corp. 
              11.125% due 08/01/10  ..........................................     67,914 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Steel (0.0%) 
       10    Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (South Korea) 
              7.50% due 08/01/02  ............................................     10,336 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Telecommunications (0.4%) 
      100    Total Access Communication -144A** (Thailand) 
              8.375% due 11/04/06  ...........................................     99,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Electric (0.1%) 
       20    Long Island Lighting Co. 
              6.25% due 07/15/01  ............................................     19,789 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS 
             (Identified Cost $919,525)  .....................................    964,894 
                                                                              ------------- 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (16.0%) 
      400    U.S. Treasury Bond 
              6.50% due 11/15/26  ............................................    408,984 
      315    U.S. Treasury Bond 
              6.875% due 08/15/25  ...........................................    336,414 
      150    U.S. Treasury Bond 
              7.625% due 02/15/25  ...........................................    174,529 
      550    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.125% due 11/30/98  ...........................................    546,364 
      950    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.25% due 12/31/97  ............................................    949,269 
      350    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.625% due 11/30/00  ...........................................    348,071 
      450    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.75% due 08/15/03  ............................................    445,927 
      100    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.875% due 11/30/01  ...........................................     99,956 
       50    U.S. Treasury Note 
              6.375% due 01/15/99  ...........................................     50,506 
      350    U.S. Treasury Note 
              6.50% due 05/15/05  ............................................    360,315 
      360    U.S. Treasury Note 
             6.875% due 08/31/99  ............................................    367,978 
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      84
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                                   VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>         <C>                                                                        <C>
  $ 140     U.S. Treasury Note 
             7.25% due 05/15/04  ........................................................ $  149,911 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS 
            (Identified Cost $4,145,542)  ...............................................  4,238,224 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (22.0%) 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (a)(21.2%) 
  5,000     Federal Farm Credit Bank 
             5.42% due 08/05/97  ........................................................  4,996,989 
    600     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 
             5.75% due 08/01/97  ........................................................    600,000 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
            (Amortized Cost $5,596,989)  ................................................  5,596,989 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (0.8%) 
    223     The Bank of New York 5.75% due 08/01/97 (dated 07/31/97; proceeds 
             $222,587)(b) (Identified Cost $222,551)  ...................................    222,551 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 
            (Identified Cost $5,819,540) ................................................  5,819,540 
                                                                                         ------------- 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified Cost $21,198,768)(c)  ..........................................     100.1%   26,472,950 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF                                                      
OTHER ASSETS ...............................................................      (0.1)      (13,530) 
                                                                               --------  -------------
NET ASSETS .................................................................     100.0%  $26,459,420 
                                                                               ========  ============= 
</TABLE>                           

- ------------ 
*       Non-income producing security. 
**      Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors. 
(a)     Securities were purchased on a discount basis. The interest rates 
        shown have been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     Collateralized by $120,000 U.S. Treasury Note 7.875% due 04/15/98 
        valued at $124,656, $93,651 U.S. Treasury Note 7.00% due 04/15/99 
        valued at $97,514 and $4,723 U.S. Treasury Note 5.625% due 08/31/97 
        valued at $4,832. 
(c)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $5,356,659 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $82,477, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $5,274,182. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                      85
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 
July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      INTERMEDIATE 
                                                                    U.S. GOVERNMENT  U.S. GOVERNMENT     INCOME 
                                                     LIQUID ASSET    MONEY MARKET       SECURITIES     SECURITIES 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>
ASSETS: 
Investments in securities, at value*...............   $20,113,397     $4,036,736      $10,350,075      $2,347,060 
Cash ..............................................         8,427          2,213           78,974          86,163 
Receivable for: 
 Investments sold..................................        --             --               --              -- 
 Shares of beneficial interest sold................     1,135,082         10,301           22,677           3,462 
 Dividends.........................................        --             --               --              -- 
 Interest..........................................        --             --               76,764          33,314 
 Foreign withholding taxes reclaimed...............        --             --               --              -- 
Prepaid expenses and other assets..................        26,147          5,790            6,691          12,589 
Deferred organizational expenses...................         1,127          1,284            1,191           1,189 
Receivable from affiliate..........................        --              8,537           --               6,791 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
 TOTAL ASSETS......................................    21,284,180      4,064,861       10,536,372       2,490,568 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
LIABILITIES: 
Payable for: 
 Investments purchased.............................        --             --               --              -- 
 Shares of beneficial interest repurchased ........        38,541         --               11,416           8,580 
 Dividends to shareholders.........................        --             --                4,011             746 
 Investment management fee.........................         4,022         --                  110          -- 
Accrued expenses and other payables................        23,148         17,969           19,019          19,964 
Organizational expenses payable....................         5,441          5,596            5,509           5,506 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
 TOTAL LIABILITIES.................................        71,152         23,565           40,065          34,796 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
NET ASSETS: 
Paid-in-capital....................................    21,213,018      4,041,296       10,359,177       2,514,907 
Accumulated undistributed net investment income  ..            10         --               --                  46 
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain 
 (loss)............................................        --             --                 (491)        (91,207) 
Net unrealized appreciation........................        --             --              137,621          32,026 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
  NET ASSETS ......................................   $21,213,028     $4,041,296      $10,496,307      $2,455,772 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
 *IDENTIFIED COST..................................   $20,113,397     $4,036,736      $10,212,454      $2,315,034 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
  SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST OUTSTANDING  ......    21,213,018      4,042,542        1,059,510         253,850 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE 
 (unlimited authorized shares of $.01 par value) ..         $1.00          $1.00            $9.91           $9.67 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
</TABLE>




                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                                          86
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   AMERICAN       CAPITAL       DIVIDEND                   VALUE-ADDED      GLOBAL                  
     VALUE        GROWTH         GROWTH       UTILITIES       MARKET        EQUITY       STRATEGIST 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
<S>             <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>         
 $53,898,134    $3,595,614    $116,084,027   $5,671,872    $23,856,111    $19,971,828   $26,472,950 
      50,162        17,654         --            --             71,591         97,563        --     
                                                                                                    
   1,160,411       114,777         338,972       59,863        724,700        274,717        --     
     117,578        17,493         153,745       13,810         32,661         36,421        50,264 
      27,266           905         165,765       20,937         22,727         10,450        18,010 
      --            --                 121           21         --             --            81,793 
         101        --             --             1,065         --              8,996           144 
      13,270         4,338          11,076        5,646          8,501          9,554         7,169 
       1,376         1,379           1,186        1,191          1,379          1,191         1,189 
      --             5,185         --             2,057         --             25,572        --     
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
  55,268,298     3,757,345     116,754,892    5,776,462     24,717,670     20,436,292    26,631,519 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
                                                                                                    
     918,594        58,353       1,221,168      316,275        861,090        574,355        --     
      77,147         3,874         108,736       43,837         45,267         28,565       125,989 
      --            --             --            --             --             --            --     
      20,595        --              71,294       --              5,006         --            16,034 
      31,781        19,786          36,684       19,613         20,886         30,667        24,575 
       5,687         5,686           5,501        5,509          5,686          5,509         5,501 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
   1,053,804        87,699       1,443,383      385,234        937,935        639,096       172,099 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
                                                                                                    
  37,394,619     2,542,364      78,149,265    3,829,119     14,983,162     15,411,210    20,620,027 
      46,600        --             365,924       54,200        100,361        131,548       381,735 
   6,688,579       257,050       8,002,032      476,783        345,423        784,106       183,476 
  10,084,696       870,232      28,794,288    1,031,126      8,350,789      3,470,332     5,274,182 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
 $54,214,494    $3,669,646    $115,311,509   $5,391,228    $23,779,735    $19,797,196   $26,459,420 
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
 $43,813,438    $2,725,382    $ 87,289,739   $4,640,746    $15,505,322    $16,500,496   $21,198,768 
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
   3,197,235       207,826       5,855,243      391,125      1,262,502      1,367,161     1,744,091 
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
                                                                                                    
      $16.96        $17.66          $19.69       $13.78         $18.84         $14.48        $15.17   
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
</TABLE>                                                  

                                      87
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
For the year ended July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      INTERMEDIATE 
                                                                    U.S. GOVERNMENT  U.S. GOVERNMENT     INCOME 
                                                     LIQUID ASSET    MONEY MARKET      SECURITIES      SECURITIES 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>                                                   <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>
NET INVESTMENT INCOME: 

INCOME 
Interest...........................................   $1,450,222       $393,765         $706,725        $245,036 
Dividends..........................................       --              --               --              -- 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  TOTAL INCOME.....................................    1,450,222        393,765          706,725         245,036 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
EXPENSES 
Investment management fees.........................      132,515         36,695           67,676          24,502 
Transfer agent fees and expenses...................       52,551          6,122           42,577           7,692 
Shareholder reports and notices....................       29,598          4,314            4,749           2,416 
Professional fees..................................       15,232         15,334           14,872          16,995 
Registration fees..................................       25,200         14,233           22,217          13,083 
Custodian fees.....................................       10,663          6,196            3,435           4,847 
Trustees' fees and expenses........................        3,655            321              753             250 
Organizational expenses............................        2,722          2,721            2,727           2,727 
Other..............................................        3,904          1,879            1,870           3,021 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  TOTAL EXPENSES...................................      276,040         87,815          160,876          75,533 
Less: amounts waived/reimbursed ...................      (11,009)       (14,427)         (56,757)        (37,837) 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  NET EXPENSES.....................................      265,031         73,388          104,119          37,696 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS).....................    1,185,191        320,377          602,606         207,340 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS): 
Net realized gain (loss)...........................       --              --               5,297         (62,395) 
Net change in unrealized 
 appreciation/depreciation.........................       --              --             365,249         151,066 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  NET GAIN.........................................       --              --             370,546          88,671 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
NET INCREASE.......................................   $1,185,191       $320,377         $973,152        $296,011 
                                                    ============== ===============  =============== ============== 
</TABLE>

- --------------
*      Net of $1,132, $10, $7,380, $972, $1,050, $18,695 and $63 foreign 
       withholding tax, respectively. 



                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                                         88
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   AMERICAN       CAPITAL      DIVIDEND                   VALUE-ADDED     GLOBAL 
     VALUE        GROWTH        GROWTH       UTILITIES      MARKET        EQUITY      STRATEGIST 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
<S>            <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
 $   147,964    $    8,415    $    69,357   $   41,817    $   34,670    $   67,144    $  673,048 
     357,714*       12,328*     2,522,140*     208,343*      368,546*      214,870*      153,990* 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
     505,678        20,743      2,591,497      250,160       403,216       282,014       827,038 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 

     390,217        22,697        672,098       51,738        97,479       153,656       180,204 
      77,489         3,914         86,989       18,120        18,607        37,093        51,763 
      20,768         1,692         38,212        3,853         8,952         5,415        10,295 
      12,798        11,302         13,936       15,840        15,314        15,207        10,489 
      18,634        28,006         32,684       19,450        20,656        27,047        20,879 
      28,005        12,249         12,104        7,964        24,785        28,694        13,942 
       3,312            47          6,141          285         1,131           819         1,050 
       2,720         2,717          2,724        2,727         2,717         2,727         2,721 
       3,530         1,744          3,851        2,533        10,004        13,075         5,095 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
     557,473        84,368        868,739      122,510       199,645       283,733       296,438 
     (98,395)      (57,660)        --          (53,527)       (4,686)     (130,077)      (84,434) 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
     459,078        26,708        868,739       68,983       194,959       153,656       212,004 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
      46,600        (5,965)     1,722,758      181,177       208,257       128,358       615,034 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 

   7,151,437       294,325      8,642,932      608,162       896,043       811,865       247,627 
   9,007,653       762,068     21,493,364      426,820     6,185,067     2,898,751     4,379,845 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
  16,159,090     1,056,393     30,136,296    1,034,982     7,081,110     3,710,616     4,627,472 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
 $16,205,690    $1,050,428    $31,859,054   $1,216,159    $7,289,367    $3,838,974    $5,242,506 
=============  ============ =============  ============ =============  ============ ============ 
</TABLE>

                                      89
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS 
For the year ended July 31, 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  U.S. GOVERNMENT 
                                                                LIQUID ASSET                        MONEY MARKET 
                                                       ------------------------------- -------------------------------------- 
                                                            1997            1996            1997                1996 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                                                     <C>             <C>             <C>                 <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS: 
OPERATIONS: 
Net investment income (loss)..........................  $  1,185,191    $   3,416,056   $    320,377        $    727,122 
Net realized gain (loss)..............................       --               --             --                  -- 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation ...       --               --             --                  -- 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  NET INCREASE .......................................     1,185,191        3,416,056        320,377             727,122 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: 
Net investment income.................................    (1,185,223)      (3,416,043)      (321,625)           (727,125) 
Net realized gain.....................................       --               --             --                  -- 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  TOTAL...............................................    (1,185,223)      (3,416,043)      (321,625)           (727,125) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST: 
Net proceeds from sales...............................    29,266,419      177,956,895      8,809,340          27,880,399 
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions ..........     1,185,223        3,416,043        321,624             727,125 
Cost of shares repurchased............................   (51,991,220)    (174,251,486)   (11,716,197)        (32,674,558) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  NET INCREASE (DECREASE).............................   (21,539,578)       7,121,452     (2,585,233)         (4,067,034) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE)...........................   (21,539,610)       7,121,465     (2,586,481)         (4,067,037) 
NET ASSETS: 
Beginning of period...................................    42,752,638       35,631,173      6,627,777          10,694,814 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  END OF PERIOD.......................................  $ 21,213,028    $  42,752,638   $  4,041,296        $  6,627,777 
                                                        ============    =============   ============        ============
UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT INCOME...................  $         10    $          42        --             $          2 
                                                        ============    =============   ============        ============
SHARES ISSUED AND REPURCHASED: 
Sold..................................................    29,266,419      177,956,895      8,809,340          27,880,399 
Issued in reinvestment of dividends and 
 distributions........................................     1,185,223        3,416,043        321,624             727,125 
Repurchased...........................................   (51,991,220)    (174,251,486)   (11,716,197)        (32,674,558) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE)...............................   (21,539,578)       7,121,452     (2,585,233)         (4,067,034) 
                                                        ============    =============   ============        ============
</TABLE>



                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                                          90
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       U.S. GOVERNMENT               INTERMEDIATE 
         SECURITIES                INCOME SECURITIES              AMERICAN VALUE                    CAPITAL GROWTH 
- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------- ------------------------------------- 
     1997           1996          1997           1996           1997           1996          1997               1996 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
<S>            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>
 $   602,606    $   434,937    $   207,340   $   218,492    $     46,600   $   244,604    $   (5,965)        $    6,999 
       5,297         18,226        (62,395)      (27,045)      7,151,437     4,355,860       294,325             31,476 
     365,249       (149,772)       151,066      (116,038)      9,007,653    (2,487,467)      762,068             45,817 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
     973,152        303,391        296,011        75,409      16,205,690     2,112,997     1,050,428             84,292 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 

    (602,630)      (434,913)      (207,294)     (218,918)        (93,984)     (299,827)       (2,106)            (8,566) 
     (22,190)        --             --            (4,854)     (3,137,376)   (2,309,181)      (56,080)            (4,860) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
    (624,820)      (434,913)      (207,294)     (223,772)     (3,231,360)   (2,609,008)      (58,186)           (13,426) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 

   5,963,450      9,509,649      3,241,075     4,840,703      20,568,978    21,806,112     1,297,311          1,518,128 
     567,526        433,619        165,904       217,069       3,227,638     2,602,757        58,150             13,426 
  (5,033,814)    (5,369,758)    (5,211,640)   (1,731,472)    (22,877,816)   (6,172,981)     (665,910)          (292,073) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
   1,497,162      4,573,510     (1,804,661)    3,326,300         918,800    18,235,888       689,551          1,239,481 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
   1,845,494      4,441,988     (1,715,944)    3,177,937      13,893,130    17,739,877     1,681,793          1,310,347 

   8,650,813      4,208,825      4,171,716       993,779      40,321,364    22,581,487     1,987,853            677,506 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
 $10,496,307    $ 8,650,813    $ 2,455,772   $ 4,171,716    $ 54,214,494   $40,321,364    $3,669,646         $1,987,853 
=============  ============= =============  ============= ==============  ============= ============  ======================= 
 $                                           $                                            $ 
      --        $        24    $        46        --        $     46,600   $    93,984        --             $    2,106 
=============  ============= =============  ============= ==============  ============= ============  ======================= 

     616,600        971,490        340,574       499,259       1,422,680     1,603,955        91,240            119,028 
      58,481         44,420         17,479        22,618         237,676       203,340         4,317              1,087 
    (517,322)      (547,637)      (547,645)     (181,670)     (1,545,904)     (447,666)      (45,416)           (23,095) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
     157,759        468,273       (189,592)      340,207         114,452     1,359,629        50,141             97,020 
=============  ============= =============  ============= ==============  ============= ============  ======================= 
</TABLE>

                                      91
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSSETS, continued 
For the year ended July 31, 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DIVIDEND GROWTH                 UTILITIES 
                                                       ----------------------------- -----------------------------
                                                            1997           1996           1997           1996 
- -----------------------------------------------------  -------------- -------------  ------------- ---------------
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>            <C>              <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS: 
OPERATIONS: 
Net investment income.................................  $  1,722,758    $ 1,244,989   $   181,177     $   205,110 
Net realized gain (loss)..............................     8,642,932      2,317,010       608,162         (13,965) 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation ...    21,493,364      2,701,826       426,820         257,350 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  NET INCREASE .......................................    31,859,054      6,263,825     1,216,159         448,495 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: 
Net investment income.................................    (1,707,024)    (1,199,564)     (160,780)       (230,987) 
Net realized gain.....................................    (2,463,125)      (590,466)       --              -- 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  TOTAL...............................................    (4,170,149)    (1,790,030)     (160,780)       (230,987) 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST: 
Net proceeds from sales...............................    37,149,898     36,503,267     2,818,978       3,456,194 
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions ..........     4,150,502      1,779,713       158,903         227,657 
Cost of shares repurchased............................   (23,440,408)    (8,398,184)   (6,235,329)     (1,687,882) 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  NET INCREASE (DECREASE).............................    17,859,992     29,884,796    (3,257,448)      1,995,969 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE)...........................    45,548,897     34,358,591    (2,202,069)      2,213,477 
NET ASSETS: 
Beginning of period...................................    69,762,612     35,404,021     7,593,297       5,379,820 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  END OF PERIOD.......................................  $115,311,509    $69,762,612   $ 5,391,228     $ 7,593,297 
                                                        ============    ===========   ===========     ===========
UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT INCOME...................  $    365,924    $   350,190   $    54,200     $    33,362 
                                                        ============    ===========   ===========     ===========
SHARES ISSUED AND REPURCHASED: 
Sold..................................................     2,205,684      2,524,798       222,951         288,411 
Issued in reinvestment of dividends and 
 distributions........................................       255,693        126,953        12,596          18,947 
Repurchased...........................................    (1,379,982)      (583,926)     (488,313)       (141,590) 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     -----------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE)...............................     1,081,395      2,067,825      (252,766)        165,768 
                                                        ============    ===========   ===========     ===========
</TABLE>



                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                                           92
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      VALUE-ADDED MARKET              GLOBAL EQUITY                     STRATEGIST                       
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------------------- 
      1997           1996          1997           1996          1997                  1996 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
<S>             <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>
 $    208,257    $   331,372    $   128,358   $    84,531    $   615,034         $   287,670 
      896,043        186,832        811,865       434,795        247,627             730,868 
    6,185,067      1,044,025      2,898,751        47,491      4,379,845             291,438 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
    7,289,367      1,562,229      3,838,974       566,817      5,242,506           1,309,976 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 

     (279,999)      (257,479)       (70,000)     (126,784)      (408,002)           (244,742) 
     (698,399)       (78,439)      (367,529)       --           (699,994)           (159,285) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
     (978,398)      (335,918)      (437,529)     (126,784)    (1,107,996)           (404,027) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 

    6,558,038      6,512,239      7,696,263     6,329,119      7,519,070          12,101,707 
      948,925        329,833        435,668       121,869      1,107,086             403,090 
  (10,417,432)    (1,769,137)    (3,421,423)   (2,492,083)    (3,796,952)         (2,673,732) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
   (2,910,469)     5,072,935      4,710,508     3,958,905      4,829,204           9,831,065 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
    3,400,500      6,299,246      8,111,953     4,398,938      8,963,714          10,737,014 

   20,379,235     14,079,989     11,685,243     7,286,305     17,495,706           6,758,692 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
 $ 23,779,735    $20,379,235    $19,797,196   $11,685,243    $26,459,420         $17,495,706 
==============  ============= =============  ============= =============  ========================= 
 $    100,361    $   172,103    $   131,548   $    49,495    $   381,735         $   174,703 
==============  ============= =============  ============= =============  ========================= 

      416,960        468,279        606,253       542,027        549,814             972,731 
       62,594         24,706         35,887        10,862         83,616              34,364 
     (680,374)      (129,743)      (265,700)     (214,741)      (277,595)           (218,134) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
     (200,820)       363,242        376,440       338,148        355,835             788,961 
==============  ============= =============  ============= =============  ========================= 
</TABLE>

                                      93
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997 


1. ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

Dean Witter Retirement Series (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment 
Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment 
company, consisting of eleven separate Series ("Series"). All of the Series, 
with the exception of Strategist, are diversified. 

The Fund was organized on May 14, 1992 as a Massachusetts business trust and 
each of the Series commenced operations as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           COMMENCEMENT                                  COMMENCEMENT 
                                          OF OPERATIONS                                  OF OPERATIONS 
                                          -------------                                  ------------- 
<S>                                       <C>                <C>                           <C>
Liquid Asset .......................      December 30, 1992  Dividend Growth ........       January 7, 1993 
U.S. Government Money Market  ......       January 20, 1993  Utilities ..............       January 8, 1993 
U.S. Government Securities .........        January 8, 1993  Value-Added Market  ....      February 1, 1993 
Intermediate Income Securities  ....       January 12, 1993  Global Equity ..........       January 8, 1993 
American Value .....................       February 1, 1993  Strategist .............       January 7, 1993 
Capital Growth .....................       February 2, 1993 
</TABLE>

The investment objectives of each Series are as follows: 

         SERIES                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liquid Asset            Seeks high current income, preservation of capital and
                        liquidity by investing in short-term money market
                        instruments.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government         Seeks high current income, preservation of capital and
Money Market            liquidity by investing primarily in money market
                        instruments which are issued and/or guaranteed by the
                        U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government         Seeks high current income consistent with safety of 
Securities              principal by investing in a diversified portfolio of
                        obligations issued and/or guaranteed by the U.S.
                        Government or its instrumentalities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intermediate Income     Seeks high current income consistent with safety of
Securities              principal by investing primarily in intermediate term,
                        investment grade fixed-income securities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Value          Seeks long-term growth consistent with an effort to
                        reduce volatility by investing principally in common
                        stock of companies in industries which, at the time of
                        investment, are believed to be undervalued in the
                        marketplace.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Growth          Seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily
                        in common stocks.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividend Growth         Seeks to provide reasonable current income and
                        long-term growth of income and capital by investing
                        primarily in common stock of companies with a record of
                        paying dividends and the potential for increasing
                        dividends.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      94
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

         SERIES                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Utilities               Seeks to provide current income and long-term growth of
                        income and capital by investing in equity and
                        fixed-income securities of companies in the public
                        utilities industry.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Value-Added             Seeks to achieve a high level of total return on its
Market                  assets through a combination of capital appreciation
                        and current income. It seeks to achieve this objective
                        by investing, on an equally weighted basis, in a
                        diversified portfolio of common stocks of the companies
                        which are represented in the Standard & Poor's 500
                        Composite Stock Price Index.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global Equity           Seeks to provide a high level of total return on its
                        assets, primarily through long-term capital growth and,
                        to a lesser extent, from income. It seeks to achieve
                        this objective through investments in all types of
                        common stocks and equivalents, preferred stocks and
                        bonds and other debt obligations of domestic and
                        foreign companies, governments and international
                        organizations.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strategist              Seeks a high total investment return through a fully
                        managed investment policy utilizing equity, investment
                        grade fixed income and money market securities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions 
that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ 
from those estimates. 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies: 

A. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS -- Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market: 
Securities are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. All 
remaining Series: (1) an equity security listed or traded on the New York, 
American or other domestic or foreign stock exchange is valued at its latest 
sale price on that exchange prior to the time when assets are valued; if 
there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the latest bid price 
(in cases where securities are traded on more than one exchange, the 
securities are valued on the exchange designated as the primary market 
pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees); (2) all other portfolio 
securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available 
are valued at the latest available bid price prior to the time of valuation; 
(3) when market quotations are not readily available, including circumstances 
under which it is determined by Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the 
"Investment Manager") that sale or bid prices are not reflective of a 
security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value 
as determined in good faith under procedures 

                                      95
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


established by and under the general supervision of the Trustees (valuation 
of securities for which market quotations are not readily available may also 
be based upon current market prices of securities which are comparable in 
coupon, rating and maturity, or an appropriate matrix utilizing similar 
factors); (4) certain portfolio securities may be valued by an outside 
pricing service approved by the Trustees. The pricing service may utilize a 
matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and coupon as the 
evaluation model parameters, and/or research and evaluations by its staff, 
including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, if available, in 
determining what it believes is the fair valuation of the securities valued 
by such pricing service; and (5) short-term debt securities having a maturity 
date of more than sixty days at time of purchase are valued on a 
mark-to-market basis until sixty days prior to maturity and thereafter at 
amortized cost based on their value on the 61st day. Short-term debt 
securities having a maturity date of sixty days or less at the time of 
purchase are valued at amortized cost. 

B. ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS -- Security transactions are accounted for on 
the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains 
and losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost 
method. Dividend income and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend 
date except for certain dividends on foreign securities which are recorded as 
soon as the Fund is informed after the ex-dividend date. Interest income is 
accrued daily. Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market amortize 
premiums and accrete discounts on securities owned; gains and losses realized 
upon the sale of such securities are based on their amortized cost. Discounts 
for all other Series are accreted over the life of the respective securities. 

C. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION -- The books and records of each Series 
investing in foreign currency denominated transactions are translated into 
U.S. dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency market value of investment 
securities, other assets and liabilities and forward foreign currency 
contracts are translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the 
period; and (2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated at the 
exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The 
resultant exchange gains and losses are included in the Statement of 
Operations as realized and unrealized gain/loss on foreign exchange 
transactions. Pursuant to U.S. Federal income tax regulations, certain 
foreign exchange gains/losses included in realized and unrealized gain/loss 
are included in or are a reduction of ordinary income for federal income tax 
purposes. The Series do not isolate that portion of the results of operations 
arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the changes 
in the market prices of the securities. 

D. FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS -- Some of the Series may enter into 
forward foreign currency contracts which are valued daily at the appropriate 
exchange rates. The resultant unrealized exchange 

                                      96
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


gains and losses are included in the Statement of Operations as unrealized 
foreign currency gain or loss. The Series record realized gains or losses on 
delivery of the currency or at the time the forward contract is extinguished 
(compensated) by entering into a closing transaction prior to delivery. 

E. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS -- It is the Fund's policy to comply 
individually for each Series with the requirements of the Internal Revenue 
Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of 
its taxable income to its shareholders. Accordingly, no federal income tax 
provision is required. 

F. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS -- The Fund records dividends 
and distributions to its shareholders on the record date. The amount of 
dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized 
capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax 
regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. 
These "book/tax" differences are either considered temporary or permanent in 
nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts 
are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis 
treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends 
and distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital 
gains for financial reporting purposes but not for tax purposes are reported 
as dividends in excess of net investment income or distributions in excess of 
net realized capital gains. To the extent they exceed net investment income 
and net realized capital gains for tax purposes, they are reported as 
distributions of paid-in-capital. 

G. EXPENSES -- Direct expenses are charged to the respective Series and 
general Fund expenses are allocated on the basis of relative net assets or 
equally among the Series. 

H. ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES -- The Investment Manager paid the organizational 
expenses of the Fund in the amount of $150,000 ($13,636 allocated to each of 
the Series) and will be reimbursed, exclusive of amounts waived. Such 
expenses have been deferred and are being amortized by the Fund on the 
straight line method over a period not to exceed five years from the 
commencement of operations. 

2. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT 

Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement"), the Fund 
pays the Investment Manager a management fee, accrued daily and payable 
monthly, by applying the following annual rates to each Series' net assets 
determined at the close of each business day: Liquid Asset, U.S. Government 
Money Market and Value-Added Market -0.50%; U.S. Government Securities and 
Intermediate Income Securities -0.65%; Dividend Growth and Utilities -0.75%; 
American Value, Capital Growth and Strategist -0.85%; and Global Equity -1.0%. 

                                      97
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Fund's 
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books and 
records and furnishes, at its own expense, office space, facilities, 
equipment, clerical, bookkeeping and certain legal services and pays the 
salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund who are employees 
of the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of 
telephone services, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the 
Fund. 

For the period January 1, 1996 through December 31, 1997, the Investment 
Manager is waiving the management fee and reimbursing expenses to the extent 
they exceed 1.00% of daily net assets of each Series. At July 31, 1997, 
included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are receivables from an 
affiliate which represent expense reimbursements due to the Fund. 

3. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES 

Purchases and sales/maturities/prepayments of portfolio securities, excluding 
short-term investments (except for Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money 
Market), for the year ended July 31, 1997 were as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES               OTHER 
                                 ------------------------------ ------------------------------ 
                                                     SALES/ 
                                                  MATURITIES/                       SALES/ 
                                    PURCHASES     PREPAYMENTS      PURCHASES      MATURITIES 
                                 -------------- --------------  -------------- -------------- 
<S>                              <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>
Liquid Asset ...................  $395,220,670    $391,812,764   $353,719,078    $382,160,567 
U.S. Government Money Market  ..   661,528,098     664,513,285        --              -- 
U.S. Government Securities  ....    11,000,110       9,181,622        --              -- 
Intermediate Income Securities       2,742,469       4,820,820      2,019,750       1,836,116 
American Value .................     1,055,258       1,298,196    114,604,516     110,531,028 
Capital Growth .................        15,742          77,006      4,322,821       3,559,093 
Dividend Growth ................       --              --          44,208,359      27,461,961 
Utilities ......................       --              --           5,530,405       7,587,775 
Value-Added Market .............       --               25,784      4,396,277       8,131,744 
Global Equity ..................       --               46,580     15,006,072      11,195,792 
Strategist .....................     3,410,867       5,765,994     12,067,832       9,926,607 
</TABLE>

Included in the aforementioned purchases and sales/maturities of portfolio 
securities of Value-Added Market are common stock purchases and sales of 
Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co., an affiliate of the Investment 
Manager, of $12,464 and $75,839, respectively, including realized gains of 
$28,629. 

                                      98
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


Included at July 31, 1997 in the payable for investments purchased and 
receivable for investments sold were unsettled trades with Dean Witter 
Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager, as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     CAPITAL    DIVIDEND                GLOBAL 
                                      GROWTH     GROWTH    UTILITIES    EQUITY 
                                    --------- ----------  ----------- ---------
<S>                                 <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>      
Payable for investments purchased    $ 4,319    $887,346    $200,025   $    --   
                                    ========= ==========  =========== =========
Receivable for investments sold  ..  $38,982    $149,533    $ 42,821   $91,462 
                                    ========= ==========  =========== =========
                                                                      
</TABLE>                                                              

For the year ended July 31, 1997, the following Series incurred brokerage 
commissions with DWR, for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of such 
Series, as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 AMERICAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND                GLOBAL 
   VALUE      GROWTH     GROWTH    UTILITIES    EQUITY   STRATEGIST 
- ----------  --------- ----------  ----------- --------  ------------ 
<S>         <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>
  $25,735     $1,487    $43,558     $13,830     $9,201     $6,861 
==========  ========= ==========  =========== ========  ============ 
</TABLE>

For the period May 31, 1997 through July 31, 1997, Capital Growth, Global 
Equity and American Value incurred brokerage commissions of $270, $168 and 
$1,365, respectively, with Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., an affiliate of the 
Investment Manager since May 31, 1997, for portfolio transactions executed on 
behalf of the Series. 

Dean Witter Trust Company, an affiliate of the Investment Manager, is the
Fund's transfer agent. At July 31, 1997 the following Series had approximate
transfer agent fees and expenses payable as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  INTERMEDIATE 
                U.S. GOVERNMENT  U.S. GOVERNMENT     INCOME        AMERICAN    CAPITAL 
 LIQUID ASSET     MONEY MARKET     SECURITIES      SECURITIES       VALUE       GROWTH 
- --------------  --------------- ---------------  -------------- ------------  --------- 
<S>             <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>           <C>
      $120            $100           $1,250           $150           $800        $90 
==============  =============== ===============  ============== ============  ========= 

  DIVIDEND                         VALUE-ADDED       GLOBAL 
   GROWTH          UTILITIES         MARKET          EQUITY      STRATEGIST 
- --------------  --------------- ---------------  -------------- ------------ 
   $280              $80             $140            $210           $500 
==============  =============== ===============  ============== ============ 
</TABLE>

                                      99
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


4. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS 

At July 31, 1997, Intermediate Income Securities had a net capital loss 
carryover of approximately $30,200 of which $5,700 will be available through 
July 31, 2004 and $24,500 will be available through July 31, 2005 to offset 
future capital gains to the extent provided by regulations. During the year 
ended July 31, 1997, Utilities utilized its net capital loss carryover of 
approximately $102,000. 

Net capital and net currency losses incurred after October 31 ("post-October 
losses") within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business 
day of the Series' next taxable year. The following Series incurred and will 
elect to defer post-October losses during fiscal 1997: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  INTERMEDIATE 
U.S. GOVERNMENT      INCOME       GLOBAL 
   SECURITIES      SECURITIES     EQUITY 
- ---------------  -------------- -------- 
<S>              <C>            <C>
      $500           $57,800       $900 
===============  ============== ======== 
</TABLE>

At July 31, 1997, the primary reason(s) for temporary book/tax differences 
were as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES 
                                     ------------------------------- 
                                        POST-        CAPITAL LOSS 
                                       OCTOBER      DEFERRALS FROM 
                                        LOSSES        WASH SALES 
                                     ----------- ------------------ 
<S>                                       <C>             <C>
U.S. Government Securities .........      o 
Intermediate Income Securities  ....      o               o 
American Value .....................                      o 
Capital Growth .....................                      o 
Dividend Growth ....................                      o 
Utilities .......................... 
Value-Added Market..................                      o 
Global Equity.......................      o               o 
Strategist .........................                      o 
</TABLE>

Additionally, Global Equity had temporary differences attributable to income 
from the mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") and 
permanent differences attributable to tax adjustments on PFICs sold by the 
Series and Capital Growth had permanent differences attributable to a net 
operating loss. 

                                      100
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


To reflect reclassifications arising from permanent book/tax differences for 
the year ended July 31, 1997, the following accounts were (charged) credited: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   ACCUMULATED     ACCUMULATED 
                  UNDISTRIBUTED   UNDISTRIBUTED 
                 NET INVESTMENT   NET REALIZED 
                     INCOME        GAIN (LOSS) 
                 -------------- --------------- 
<S>              <C>            <C>
Capital Growth       $ 5,965        $ (5,965) 
Global Equity  .     $23,695        $(23,695) 
</TABLE>

5. PURPOSES OF AND RISKS RELATING TO CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

Some of the Portfolios may enter into forward foreign currency contracts 
("forward contracts") to facilitate settlement of foreign currency 
denominated portfolio transactions or to manage foreign currency exposure 
associated with foreign currency denominated securities. 

Forward contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amounts 
reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Portfolios bear the 
risk of an unfavorable change in foreign exchange rates underlying the 
forward contracts. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts 
from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their 
contracts. 

At July 31, 1997, Global Equity had outstanding forward contracts to 
facilitate settlement of foreign currency denominated portfolio transactions. 

                                      101
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 

Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest 
outstanding throughout each period: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             NET ASSET                      NET                                                         TOTAL 
    YEAR       VALUE         NET         REALIZED      TOTAL FROM     DIVIDENDS     DISTRIBUTIONS     DIVIDENDS 
   ENDED     BEGINNING    INVESTMENT  AND UNREALIZED   INVESTMENT        TO              TO              AND 
  JULY 31    OF PERIOD      INCOME      GAIN (LOSS)    OPERATIONS   SHAREHOLDERS    SHAREHOLDERS    DISTRIBUTIONS 
- ----------  ----------- ------------  -------------- ------------  -------------- ---------------  --------------- 
<S>            <C>          <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>               <C>
LIQUID ASSET 
1993 (1)       $ 1.00       $0.02           --           $ 0.02        $(0.02)           --             $(0.02) 
1994             1.00        0.03           --             0.03         (0.03)           --              (0.03) 
1995             1.00        0.06           --             0.06         (0.06)           --              (0.06) 
1996             1.00        0.05           --             0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1997             1.00        0.05           --             0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 

U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET 
1993 (2)         1.00          --++         --             --            --              --               -- 
1994             1.00        0.03           --             0.03         (0.03)           --              (0.03) 
1995             1.00        0.06           --             0.06         (0.06)           --              (0.06) 
1996             1.00        0.05           --             0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1997             1.00        0.04           --             0.04         (0.04)           --              (0.04) 

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES 
1993 (3)        10.00        0.19         $ 0.07           0.26         (0.20)           --              (0.20) 
1994            10.06        0.44          (0.50)         (0.06)        (0.44)           --              (0.44) 
1995             9.56        0.56           0.15           0.71         (0.56)           --              (0.56) 
1996             9.71        0.55          (0.12)          0.43         (0.55)           --              (0.55) 
1997             9.59        0.56           0.34           0.90         (0.56)         $(0.02)           (0.58) 

INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 
1993 (4)        10.00        0.19          (0.02)          0.17         (0.19)           --              (0.19) 
1994             9.98        0.60          (0.57)          0.03         (0.60)           --              (0.60) 
1995             9.41        0.61           0.22           0.83         (0.61)           --              (0.61) 
1996             9.63        0.59          (0.21)          0.38         (0.59)          (0.01)           (0.60) 
1997             9.41        0.53           0.26           0.79         (0.53)           --              (0.53) 

AMERICAN VALUE 
1993 (5)        10.00        0.06          (0.01)          0.05          --              --               -- 
1994            10.05        0.03          (0.09)         (0.06)        (0.02)          (0.04)           (0.06) 
1995             9.93        0.14           3.15           3.29         (0.12)           --              (0.12) 
1996            13.10        0.09           1.17           1.26         (0.15)          (1.13)           (1.28) 
1997            13.08        0.02           5.12           5.14         (0.04)          (1.22)           (1.26) 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
*       After application of the Fund's expense limitation. 
+       Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day 
        of the period. 
++      Includes dividends from net investment income of $0.004 per share. 
(a)     Not annualized. 
(b)     Annualized. 

Commencement of operations: 
(1)     December 30, 1992.     (4) January 12, 1993. 
(2)     January 20, 1993.      (5) February 1, 1993. 
(3)     January 8, 1993. 


                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                                        102
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET       RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET 
                                                  ASSETS                     ASSETS 
                                          (BEFORE EXPENSES WERE       (AFTER EXPENSES WERE 
                                                 ASSUMED)                   ASSUMED) 
                                        -------------------------- -------------------------- 
 NET ASSET                  NET ASSETS 
    VALUE        TOTAL        END OF                      NET                        NET       PORTFOLIO     AVERAGE 
   END OF     INVESTMENT      PERIOD                  INVESTMENT                 INVESTMENT     TURNOVER    COMMISSION 
   PERIOD       RETURN+      (000'S)      EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)   EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)     RATE      RATE PAID 
- -----------  ------------ ------------  ----------- -------------  ----------- -------------  ----------- ------------ 
<S>               <C>        <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>
   $ 1.00         1.77%(a)   $ 1,081        1.30%(b)      0.53%(b)     0.14%(b)     3.02%(b)      N/A            N/A 
     1.00         3.48         1,524        2.50 *        0.99          --          3.49          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.90        35,631        1.16          4.96          --          6.12          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.44        42,753        0.65          5.05         0.33         5.37          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         4.57        21,213        1.04          4.43         1.00         4.47          N/A            N/A 

     1.00         0.42 (a)       125        2.50* (b)    (0.95)(b)     2.13 (b)     0.83 (b)      N/A            N/A 
     1.00         3.52           555        2.50*         0.82          --          3.32          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.86        10,695        2.50*         3.62          --          6.12          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         5.23         6,628        0.82          4.75         0.37         5.21          N/A            N/A 
     1.00         4.51         4,041        1.20          4.17         1.00         4.37          N/A            N/A 

    10.06         2.60 (a)     1,756        1.81 (b)      0.33 (b)     0.18 (b)     3.66 (b)      --             N/A 
     9.56        (0.69)        2,954        2.50*         1.96          --          4.46           29%           N/A 
     9.71         7.72         4,209        2.36          3.49          --          5.85           14            N/A 
     9.59         4.49         8,651        1.48          4.70         0.63         5.55           47            N/A 
     9.91         9.70        10,496        1.55          5.24         1.00         5.79           89            N/A 

     9.98         1.67 (a)       182        2.50* (b)     1.00 (b)     1.62 (b)     3.50 (b)      --             N/A 
     9.41         0.26           460        2.50*         3.64          --          6.14           40            N/A 
     9.63         9.22           994        2.50*         4.08          --          6.58           37            N/A 
     9.41         3.95         4,172        1.58          5.01         0.72         5.87          142            N/A 
     9.67         8.63         2,456        2.00          4.50         1.00         5.50          132            N/A 

    10.05         0.50 (a)       308        2.50*(b)     (0.66)(b)     0.74 (b)     1.10 (b)      121 (a)       -- 
     9.93        (0.59)        6,841        2.50*        (0.81)         --          1.69          136           -- 
    13.10        33.48        22,581        1.42          0.39          --          1.81          234           -- 
    13.08         9.83        40,321        1.18          0.23         0.65         0.76          301        $0.0543 
    16.96        41.62        54,214        1.21         (0.11)        1.00         0.10          261         0.0552 
</TABLE>

                                                            103
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES n
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS, continued 

Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest 
outstanding throughout each period: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             NET ASSET                       NET                                                         TOTAL 
    YEAR       VALUE          NET         REALIZED      TOTAL FROM                   DISTRIBUTIONS     DIVIDENDS 
   ENDED     BEGINNING    INVESTMENT   AND UNREALIZED   INVESTMENT   DIVIDENDS TO         TO              AND 
  JULY 31    OF PERIOD   INCOME (LOSS)   GAIN (LOSS)    OPERATIONS   SHAREHOLDERS    SHAREHOLDERS    DISTRIBUTIONS 
- ----------  ----------- -------------  -------------- ------------  -------------- ---------------  --------------- 
<S>            <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>
CAPITAL GROWTH 
1993 (4)       $10.00       $(0.02)        $(1.10)        $(1.12)         --              --               -- 
1994             8.88         0.13           0.45           0.58        $(0.04)           --             $(0.04) 
1995             9.42         0.10           1.77           1.87         (0.12)           --              (0.12) 
1996            11.17         0.07           1.55           1.62         (0.11)         $(0.07)           (0.18) 
1997            12.61        (0.03)          5.41           5.38         (0.01)          (0.32)           (0.33) 

DIVIDEND GROWTH 
1993 (1)        10.00         0.13           0.58           0.71         (0.10)           --              (0.10) 
1994            10.61         0.28           0.37           0.65         (0.23)          (0.01)           (0.24) 
1995            11.02         0.34           2.13           2.47         (0.31)          (0.10)           (0.41) 
1996            13.08         0.32           1.76           2.08         (0.36)          (0.19)           (0.55) 
1997            14.61         0.33           5.60           5.93         (0.33)          (0.52)           (0.85) 

UTILITIES 
1993 (2)        10.00         0.19           1.30           1.49         (0.14)           --              (0.14) 
1994            11.35         0.37          (0.95)         (0.58)        (0.34)          (0.01)           (0.35) 
1995            10.42         0.42           0.80           1.22         (0.37)          (0.02)           (0.39) 
1996            11.25         0.38           0.61           0.99         (0.45)           --              (0.45) 
1997            11.79         0.41           1.90           2.31         (0.32)           --              (0.32) 

VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
1993 (3)        10.00         0.05           0.02           0.07         (0.04)           --              (0.04) 
1994            10.03         0.24           0.65           0.89         (0.11)           --              (0.11) 
1995            10.81         0.21           2.16           2.37         (0.26)          (0.12)           (0.38) 
1996            12.80         0.25           1.17           1.42         (0.22)          (0.07)           (0.29) 
1997            13.93         0.21           5.58           5.79         (0.25)          (0.63)           (0.88) 

GLOBAL EQUITY 
1993 (2)        10.00         0.07          (0.03)          0.04          --              --               -- 
1994            10.04         0.08           0.58           0.66         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1995            10.65         0.14           0.49           0.63         (0.11)           --              (0.11) 
1996            11.17         0.09           0.71           0.80         (0.18)           --              (0.18) 
1997            11.79         0.09           2.98           3.07         (0.06)          (0.32)           (0.38) 

STRATEGIST 
1993 (1)        10.00         0.06          (0.23)         (0.17)         --              --               -- 
1994             9.83         0.23          (0.20)          0.03         (0.13)           --              (0.13) 
1995             9.73         0.24           1.49           1.73         (0.18)           --              (0.18) 
1996            11.28         0.25           1.63           1.88         (0.34)          (0.22)           (0.56) 
1997            12.60         0.37           2.96           3.33         (0.28)          (0.48)           (0.76) 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
*       After application of the Fund's expense limitation. 
+       Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day 
        of the period. 
(a)     Not annualized. 
(b)     Annualized. 

Commencement of operations: 
(1)     January 7, 1993. 
(2)     January 8, 1993. 
(3)     February 1, 1993. 
(4)     February 2, 1993. 


                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                                         104
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET      RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET 
                                                   ASSETS                     ASSETS 
                                           (BEFORE EXPENSES WERE       (AFTER EXPENSES WERE 
                                                  ASSUMED)                   ASSUMED) 
                                         -------------------------- ------------------------- 
 NET ASSET                   NET ASSETS 
    VALUE        TOTAL         END OF                      NET                       NET       PORTFOLIO     AVERAGE 
   END OF      INVESTMENT      PERIOD                  INVESTMENT                INVESTMENT     TURNOVER    COMMISSION 
   PERIOD       RETURN+       (000'S)      EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)  EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)     RATE      RATE PAID 
- -----------  ------------- ------------  ----------- -------------  ---------- -------------  ----------- ------------ 
<S>               <C>         <C>            <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>         <C>
   $ 8.88        (11.20)%(a)  $    135       2.50%*(b)    (1.01)%(b)   1.97%(b)     (0.47)%(b)      2%(a)       -- 
     9.42          6.57            215       2.50*        (0.98)        --           1.52          11           -- 
    11.17         20.08            678       2.50 *       (1.07)        --           1.43          20           -- 
    12.61         14.58          1,988       2.50 *       (1.24)       0.76          0.50          68        $0.0536 
    17.66         43.46          3,670       3.16         (2.38)       1.00         (0.22)        147         0.0575 

    10.61          7.11  (a)     2,417       2.50* (b)     0.61  (b)   0.16 (b)      2.89  (b)      7 (a)       -- 
    11.02          6.13         12,821       1.51          1.78         --           3.29          13           -- 
    13.08         23.07         35,404       1.14          2.34         --           3.48          29           -- 
    14.61         16.09         69,763       1.00          2.07        0.63          2.44          18         0.0526 
    19.69         41.92        115,312       0.97          1.92        0.97          1.92          31         0.0537 

    11.35         14.98  (a)     1,334       2.50* (b)     1.59  (b)   0.30 (b)      3.79  (b)      8 (a)       -- 
    10.42         (5.23)         3,860       2.50*         1.62         --           4.14           5           -- 
    11.25         12.16          5,380       1.91          2.41         --           4.32          24           -- 
    11.79          8.76          7,593       1.52          2.31        0.62          3.20          17         0.0508 
    13.78         19.87          5,391       1.78          1.85        1.00          2.63          89         0.0508 

    10.03          0.71  (a)       640       2.50* (b)    (0.16) (b)   0.92 (b)      1.42  (b)      1 (a)       -- 
    10.81          8.89          5,133       1.82          0.70         --           2.53           8           -- 
    12.80         22.65         14,080       1.22          1.33         --           2.55           7           -- 
    13.93         11.19         20,379       0.78          1.58        0.47          1.89           8         0.0300 
    18.84         43.12         23,780       1.02          1.04        1.00          1.07          23         0.0300 

    10.04          0.40  (a)       322       2.50* (b)    (0.90) (b)   1.00 (b)      1.77  (b)    --            -- 
    10.65          6.54          2,020       2.50*         0.09         --           2.41           8           -- 
    11.17          6.08          7,286       2.25          0.48         --           2.73          55           -- 
    11.79          7.26         11,685       1.73         (0.15)       0.66          0.92          95         0.0500 
    14.48         26.66         19,797       1.85         (0.01)       1.00          0.84          80         0.0348 

     9.83         (1.70) (a)       551       2.50* (b)    (0.19) (b)   0.64 (b)      1.67  (b)     26 (a)       -- 
     9.73          0.12          1,276       2.50*         0.70         --           3.20          57           -- 
    11.28         18.21          6,759       2.14          1.97         --           4.11         115           -- 
    12.60         16.97         17,496       1.61          1.92        0.66          2.86         113         0.0525 
    15.17         27.35         26,459       1.40          2.50        1.00          2.90          90         0.0535 
</TABLE>

                                                            105
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 


TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TRUSTEES 
OF DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, 
including the portfolios of investments, and the related statements of 
operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present 
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Liquid Asset 
Series, the U.S. Government Money Market Series, the U.S. Government 
Securities Series, the Intermediate Income Securities Series, the American 
Value Series, the Capital Growth Series, the Dividend Growth Series, the 
Utilities Series, the Value-Added Market Series, the Global Equity Series, 
and the Strategist Series (constituting Dean Witter Retirement Series, 
hereafter referred to as the "Fund") at July 31, 1997, the results of each of 
their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net 
assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial 
highlights for each of the periods indicated, in conformity with generally 
accepted accounting principles. These financial statements and financial 
highlights (hereafter referred to as "financial statements") are the 
responsibility of the Fund's management; our responsibility is to express an 
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our 
audits of these financial statements in accordance with generally accepted 
auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain 
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of 
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence 
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing 
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, 
and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that 
our audits, which included confirmation of securities at July 31, 1997 by 
correspondence with the custodian and brokers and the application of 
alternative auditing procedures where confirmations from brokers were not 
received, provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. 

PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP 
1177 Avenue of the Americas 
New York, New York 10036 
September 12, 1997 

                   1997 FEDERAL INCOME TAX NOTICE (unaudited)

       During the year ended July 31, 1997, the Fund paid to shareholders 
       long-term capital gains per share as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 AMERICAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND   VALUE-ADDED    GLOBAL 
   VALUE      GROWTH     GROWTH       MARKET      EQUITY   STRATEGIST 
- ----------  --------- ----------  ------------- --------  ------------ 
<S>           <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
$0.31         $0.32      $0.47        $0.45       $0.05       $0.31 

</TABLE>

       Additionally, the following percentages of the income paid qualified 
       for the dividends received deduction available to corporations: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 AMERICAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND                VALUE-ADDED   GLOBAL 
   VALUE      GROWTH     GROWTH    UTILITIES      MARKET      EQUITY    STRATEGIST 
- ----------  --------- ----------  ----------- -------------  -------- ------------ 
<S>            <C>       <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>        <C>    
 5.58%         100%      99.92%      98.72%        74.37%      7.89%      19.47% 
</TABLE>

                                      106
<PAGE>

APPENDIX 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

   Description of the highest commercial paper, bond and other short-and 
long-term rating categories assigned by Standard & Poor's Corporation 
("S&P"), Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Fitch Investors 
Service, Inc. ("Fitch"), Duff and Phelps, Inc. ("Duff"), IBCA Limited and 
IBCA Inc. ("IBCA") and Thomson BankWatch, Inc. ("Thomson"): 

COMMERCIAL PAPER AND SHORT-TERM RATINGS 

   The designation A-1 by S&P indicates that the degree of safety regarding 
timely payment is either overwhelming or very strong. Those issues determined 
to possess overwhelming safety characteristics are denoted with a plus sign 
(+) designation. Capacity for timely payment on issues with an A-2 
designation is strong. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high 
as for issues designated A-1. 

   The rating Prime-1 (P-1) is the highest commercial paper rating assigned 
by Moody's. Issuers of P-1 paper must have a superior capacity for repayment 
of short-term promissory obligations and ordinarily will be evidenced by 
leading market positions in well established industries, high rates of return 
of funds employed, conservative capitalization structures with moderate 
reliance on debt and ample asset protection, broad margins in earnings 
coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation, and 
well established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources 
of alternate liquidity. Issues rated Prime-2 (P-2) have a strong capacity for 
repayment of short-term promissory obligations. This ordinarily will be 
evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. 
Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to 
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be 
more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is 
maintained. 

   The rating Fitch-1 (Highest Grade) is the highest commercial paper rating 
assigned by Fitch. Paper rated Fitch-1 is regarded as having the strongest 
degree of assurance for timely payment. The rating Fitch-2 (Very Good Grade) 
is the second highest commercial paper rating assigned by Fitch which 
reflects an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than the 
strongest issues. 

   The rating Duff-1 is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by Duff. 
Paper rated Duff-1 is regarded as having very high certainty of timely 
payment with excellent liquidity factors which are supported by good 
fundamental protection factors. Risk factors are minor. Duff applies the 
modifiers (+) and (-) to the rating Duff-1 in recognition of significant 
quality differences within the highest tier. Paper rated Duff-2 is regarded 
as having good certainty of timely payment, good access to capital markets 
and sound liquidity factors and company fundamentals. Risk factors are small. 

   The designation A1 by IBCA indicates that the obligation is supported by a 
very strong capacity for timely repayment. Those obligations rated A1+ are 
supported by the highest capacity for timely repayment. The designation A2 by 
IBCA indicates that the obligation is supported by a strong capacity for 
timely repayment, although such capacity may be susceptible to adverse 
changes in business, economic, or financial conditions. 

   The rating TBW-1 is the highest short-term rating assigned by Thomson and 
indicates a very high degree of likelihood that principal and interest will 
be paid on a timely basis. The rating TBW-2 by Thomson is its second highest 
rating; while the degree of safety regarding timely repayment of principal 
and interest is strong, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for 
issues rated TBW-1. 

BOND AND LONG-TERM RATINGS 

   Bonds rated AAA are considered by S&P to be the highest grade obligations 
and possess an extremely strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal. 
Bonds rated AA by S&P are judged by S&P to have a very strong capacity to pay 
interest and repay principal, and differ only in small degrees from issues 
rated AAA. 

                                      107
<PAGE>

   Bonds which are rated Aaa by Moody's are judged to be of the best quality. 
Bonds rated Aa by Moody's are judged by Moody's to be of high quality by all 
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known 
as high-grade bonds. Aa bonds are rated lower than Aaa bonds because margins 
of protection may not be as large or fluctuations of protective elements may 
be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the 
long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa rated bonds. Moody's 
applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in the Aa rating category. The 
modifier 1 indicates a ranking for the security in the higher end of this 
rating category, the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking, and the 
modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of the rating category. 

   Bonds rated AAA by Fitch are judged by Fitch to be strictly high grade, 
broadly marketable, suitable for investment by trustees and fiduciary 
institutions and liable to but slight market fluctuation other than through 
changes in the money rate. The prime feature of an AAA bond is a showing of 
earnings several times or many times interest requirements, with such 
stability of applicable earnings that safety is beyond reasonable question 
whatever changes occur in conditions. Bonds rated AA by Fitch are judged by 
Fitch to be of safety virtually beyond question and are readily salable, 
whose merits are not unlike those of the AAA class, but whose margin of 
safety is less strikingly broad. The issue may be the obligation of a small 
company, strongly secured but influenced as to rating by the lesser financial 
power of the enterprise and more local type of market. 

   Bonds rated AAA by Duff are considered to be of the highest credit quality 
with negligible risk factors that are only slightly more than for risk-free 
U.S. Treasury debt. Bonds rated AA are judged by Duff to be of high credit 
quality with strong protection factors; risk is modest but may vary slightly 
from time to time because of economic conditions. Duff applies modifiers of 
(+) and (-) to the AA category. 

   Obligations rated AAA by IBCA have the lowest expectation of investment 
risk. Capacity for timely repayment of principal and interest is substantial, 
such that adverse changes in business, economic or financial conditions are 
unlikely to increase investment risk significantly. Obligations rated AA have 
a very low expectation of investment risk. Capacity for timely repayment of 
principal and interest is substantial. Adverse changes in business, economic 
or financial conditions may increase investment risk albeit not very 
significantly. 

   IBCA also assigns a rating to certain international and U.S. banks. An 
IBCA bank rating represents IBCA's current assessment of the strength of the 
bank and whether such bank would receive support should it experience 
difficulties. In its assessment of a bank, IBCA uses a dual rating system 
comprised of Legal Ratings and Individual Ratings. In addition, IBCA assigns 
banks Long-and Short-Term Ratings as used in the corporate ratings discussed 
above. Legal Ratings, which range in gradation from 1 through 5, address the 
question of whether the bank would receive support by central banks or 
shareholders if it experienced difficulties, and such ratings are considered 
by IBCA to be a prime factor in its assessment of credit risk. Individual 
Ratings, which range in gradations from A through E, represent IBCA's 
assessment of a bank's economic merits and address the question of how the 
bank would be viewed if it were entirely independent and could not rely on 
support from state authorities or its owners. 

   Companies rated A are considered by Thomson to possess an exceptionally 
strong balance sheet and earnings record, translating into an excellent 
reputation and unquestioned access to their natural money markets; if 
weakness or vulnerability exists in any aspect of a company's business, it is 
entirely mitigated by the strengths of the organization. Companies rated 
A/B-by Thomson are judged by Thomson to be financially very solid with a 
favorable track record and no readily apparent weakness; their overall risk 
profiles, while low, are not quite as favorable as for companies in the 
highest rating category. 

                                      108

<PAGE>
                DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST 

                                    PART C 
                              OTHER INFORMATION 

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION 

   The response to this item is incorporated herein by reference to Item 27 
of, and Exhibits 2 to, Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 to Registrant's 
Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated March 18, 1997 was filed 
electronically pursuant to Regulation S-T on March 15, 1997 ("Post-Effective 
Amendment No.16") as an amendment to Registrant's Registration Statement on 
Form N-1A (File Nos. 811-3326 and 2-74980) filed on March 15, 1997 (the 
"Registration Statement"). 

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS 

(1)     Declaration of Trust dated November 18, 1991 ("Declaration of Trust") 
        (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of Registrant's 
        initial Registration Statement) 

(2)     Amended and Restated By-Laws of Registrant 

(3)     Not Applicable 

(4)     Copy of Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (filed herewith as 
        Exhibit A to the Proxy Statement and Prospectus) 

(5)     Not Applicable 

(6)     Investment Management Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to 
        Exhibit 5 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 14) 

(7)  (a)   Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Dean Witter 
           Distributors Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 
           6(a) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 14) 

     (b)   Form of Selected Dealer's Agreement (incorporated herein by 
           reference to Exhibit 6(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 to 
           Registrant's Registration Statement ("Post-Effective Amendment No. 
           14")) 

(8)     Not Applicable 

(9)  (a)   Custody Agreement dated September 20, 1991 (incorporated herein by 
           reference to Exhibit 8 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 16) 

     (b)   Amendment to the Custodian Agreement dated April 17, 1996 
           (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 8 to Post-Effective 
           Amendment No. 17) 

     (c)   Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Services Agreement 

(10)    Amended and Restated Plan of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1, 
        dated January 4, 1993 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 15 
        to Post-Effective Amendment No. 13) 

(11) (a)   Opinion and consent of Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & 
           Wein 

     (b)   Opinion and consent of Lane Altman & Owens LLP 

(12)    Opinion and consent of Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein 
        regarding tax matters 

(13)    Form of Services Agreement between Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. and 
        Dean Witter Services Company Inc. (incorporated herein by reference 
        to Exhibit 9 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 16) 

                               C-1           
<PAGE>
(14)    Consent of Independent Accountants 

(15)    Not Applicable 

(16)    Powers of Attorney 

(17) (a)   Registrant's Rule 24f-2 Notice pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the 
           Investment Company Act of 1940, for its fiscal year ended January 
           31, 1998 (incorporated herein by reference to Form 24f-2 filed 
           with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 1998) 

    (b)    Form of Proxy 

ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS 

   1. The undersigned Registrant agrees that prior to any public reoffering 
of the securities registered through the use of the prospectus which is a 
part of this registration statement on Form N-14 by any person or party who 
is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c) of the 
Securities Act of 1933, the reoffering prospectus will contain the 
information called for by the applicable registration form for reofferings by 
persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called 
for by the other items of the applicable form. 

   2. The undersigned Registrant agrees that every prospectus that is filed 
under paragraph (1) above will be filed as a part of an amendment to this 
registration statement on Form N-14 and will not be used until the amendment 
is effective, and that, in determining any liability under the Securities Act 
of 1933, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new 
registration statement for the securities offered therein, and the offering 
of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide 
offering of them. 

                               C-2           


<PAGE>
                                  SIGNATURES 

   As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has 
been signed on behalf of the registrant, in the City of New York and State of 
New York, on the 30th day of April 1998. 

                                    DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET 
                                    TRUST 
                                    By: /s/ Barry Fink 
                                        .................................... 
                                        Barry Fink 
                                        Vice President and Secretary 

   As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has 
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates 
indicated. 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             SIGNATURE                         TITLE                    DATE 
- ---------------------------------  ---------------------------- ------------------ 
<S>                                <C>                          <C>
1. Principal Executive Officer                                  April 30, 1998 
   /s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo      Chief Executive Officer, 
   .............................   Trustee and Chairman 
   Charles A. Fiumefreddo 

2. Principal Financial Officer                                  April 30, 1998 
   /s/ Thomas F. Caloia            Treasurer 
   ............................. 
   Thomas F. Caloia 

3. Majority of Trustees                                         April 30, 1998 
   /s/ Michael Bozic               Trustee 
   ............................. 
   Michael Bozic 

  /s/ Edwin J. Garn                Trustee                      April 30, 1998 
   .............................. 
  Edwin J. Garn 

  /s/ John R. Haire                Trustee                      April 30, 1998 
   ............................. 
  John R. Haire 

  /s/ Manuel H. Johnson            Trustee                      April 30, 1998 
   ............................. 
  Manuel H. Johnson 

  /s/ Michael E. Nugent            Trustee                      April 30, 1998 
   ............................. 
  Michael E. Nugent 

  /s/ John L. Schroeder            Trustee                      April 30, 1998 
   ............................. 
  John L. Schroeder 

  /s/ Philip J. Purcell            Trustee                      April 30, 1998 
   ............................. 
  Philip J. Purcell 

  /s/ Wayne E. Hedien              Trustee                      April 30, 1998 
   ............................. 
  Wayne E. Hedien 
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
                                EXHIBIT INDEX 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   EXHIBIT                                                                                  PAGE 
   NUMBER                                      EXHIBIT                                     NUMBER 
- -----------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- 
<S>          <C>                                                                        <C>
     (2)     Amended and Restated By-Laws of Registrant 

     (9)     (c) Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Services Agreement 

    (11)     (a) Opinion and consent of Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein 
             (b) Opinion and consent of Lane Altman & Owens LLP 

    (12)     Opinion and consent of Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein 
             regarding tax matters 

    (14)     Consent of Independent Accountants 

    (16)     Powers of Attorney 

    (17)     (b) Form of Proxy 
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
                                   BY-LAWS 

                                      OF 

                DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST 

                 AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF OCTOBER 23, 1997 

                                  ARTICLE I 
                                 DEFINITIONS 

   The terms "Commission," "Declaration," "Distributor," "Investment 
Adviser," "Majority Shareholder Vote," "1940 Act," "Shareholder," "Shares," 
"Transfer Agent," "Trust," "Trust Property," and "Trustees" have the 
respective meanings given them in the Declaration of Trust of Dean Witter 
U.S. Government Money Market Trust (formerly known as Dean Witter/Sears U.S. 
Government Money Market Trust) dated November 18, 1981, as amended from time 
to time. 

                                  ARTICLE II 
                                   OFFICES 

   SECTION 2.1. Principal Office. Until changed by the Trustees, the 
principal office of the Trust in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be 
in the City of Boston, County of Suffolk. 

   SECTION 2.2. Other Offices. In addition to its principal office in the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Trust may have an office or offices in the 
City of New York, State of New York, and at such other places within and 
without the Commonwealth as the Trustees may from time to time designate or 
the business of the Trust may require. 

                                 ARTICLE III 
                            SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS 

   SECTION 3.1. Place of Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at 
such place, within or without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as may be 
designated from time to time by the Trustees. 

   SECTION 3.2. Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders of the Trust shall be held 
whenever called by the Trustees or the President of the Trust and whenever 
election of a Trustee or Trustees by Shareholders is required by the 
provisions of Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act, for that purpose. Meetings of 
Shareholders shall also be called by the Secretary upon the written request 
of the holders of Shares entitled to vote not less than twenty-five percent 
(25%) of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such request 
shall state the purpose or purposes of such meeting and the matters proposed 
to be acted on thereat. The Secretary shall inform such Shareholders of the 
reasonable estimated cost of preparing and mailing such notice of the 
meeting, and upon payment to the Trust of such costs, the Secretary shall 
give notice stating the purpose or purposes of the meeting to all entitled to 
vote at such meeting. No meeting need be called upon the request of the 
holders of Shares entitled to cast less than a majority of all votes entitled 
to be cast at such meeting, to consider any matter which is substantially the 
same as a matter voted upon at any meeting of Shareholders held during the 
preceding twelve months. 

   SECTION 3.3. Notice of Meetings. Written or printed notice of every 
Shareholders' meeting stating the place, date, and purpose or purposes 
thereof, shall be given by the Secretary not less than ten (10) nor more than 
ninety (90) days before such meeting to each Shareholder entitled to vote at 
such meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the 
United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Shareholder at his 
address as it appears on the records of the Trust. 

   SECTION 3.4. Quorum and Adjournment of Meetings. Except as otherwise 
provided by law, by the Declaration or by these By-Laws, at all meetings of 
Shareholders, the holders of a majority of the Shares issued and outstanding 
and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, 
shall be 


<PAGE>
requisite and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In 
the absence of a quorum, the Shareholders present or represented by proxy and 
entitled to vote thereat shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from 
time to time. The Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at 
any meeting and entitled to vote thereat also shall have the power to adjourn 
the meeting from time to time if the vote required to approve or reject any 
proposal described in the original notice of such meeting is not obtained 
(with proxies being voted for or against adjournment consistent with the 
votes for and against the proposal for which the required vote has not been 
obtained). The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares 
then present in person or represented by proxy shall be required to adjourn 
any meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be reconvened without further notice 
or change in record date. At any reconvened meeting at which a quorum shall 
be present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at 
the meeting as originally called. 

   SECTION 3.5. Voting Rights, Proxies. At each meeting of Shareholders, each 
holder of record of Shares entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to one 
vote in person or by proxy, executed in writing by the Shareholder or his 
duly authorized attorney-in-fact, for each Share of beneficial interest of 
the Trust and for the fractional portion of one vote for each fractional 
Share entitled to vote so registered in his name on the records of the Trust 
on the date fixed as the record date for the determination of Shareholders 
entitled to vote at such meeting. No proxy shall be valid after eleven months 
from its date, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. At all meetings of 
Shareholders, unless the voting is conducted by inspectors, all questions 
relating to the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies and the 
acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided by the chairman of the 
meeting. Pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the Trustees, proxies may 
be solicited in the name of one or more Trustees or Officers of the Trust. 

   SECTION 3.6. Vote Required. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the 
Declaration of Trust, or by these By-Laws, at each meeting of Shareholders at 
which a quorum is present, all matters shall be decided by Majority 
Shareholder Vote. 

   SECTION 3.7. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of 
Shareholders, the Trustees may appoint Inspectors of Election to act at the 
meeting or any adjournment thereof. If Inspectors of Election are not so 
appointed, the chairman of any meeting of Shareholders may, and on the 
request of any Shareholder or his proxy shall, appoint Inspectors of Election 
of the meeting. In case any person appointed as Inspector fails to appear or 
fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the 
Trustees in advance of the convening of the meeting or at the meeting by the 
person acting as chairman. The Inspectors of Election shall determine the 
number of Shares outstanding, the Shares represented at the meeting, the 
existence of a quorum, the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies, 
shall receive votes, ballots or consents, shall hear and determine all 
challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to 
vote, shall count and tabulate all votes or consents, determine the results, 
and do such other acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with 
fairness to all Shareholders. On request of the chairman of the meeting, or 
of any Shareholder or his proxy, the Inspectors of Election shall make a 
report in writing of any challenge or question or matter determined by them 
and shall execute a certificate of any facts found by them. 

   SECTION 3.8. Inspection of Books and Records. Shareholders shall have such 
rights and procedures of inspection of the books and records of the Trust as 
are granted to Shareholders under the Corporations and Associations Law of 
the State of Maryland. 

   SECTION 3.9. Action by Shareholders Without Meeting. Except as otherwise 
provided by law, the provisions of these By-Laws relating to notices and 
meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, any action required or permitted to 
be taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a 
majority of the Shareholders entitled to vote upon the action consent to the 
action in writing and such consents are filed with the records of the Trust. 
Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting 
of Shareholders. 

   SECTION 3.10. Presence at Meetings. Presence at meetings of shareholders 
requires physical attendance by the shareholder or his or her proxy at the 
meeting site and does not encompass attendance by telephonic or other 
electronic means. 

                                2           
<PAGE>
                                  ARTICLE IV 
                                   TRUSTEES 

   SECTION 4.1. Meetings of the Trustees. The Trustees may in their 
discretion provide for regular or special meetings of the Trustees. Regular 
meetings of the Trustees may be held at such time and place as shall be 
determined from time to time by the Trustees without further notice. Special 
meetings of the Trustees may be called at any time by the President and shall 
be called by the President or the Secretary upon the written request of any 
two (2) Trustees. 

   SECTION 4.2. Notice of Special Meetings. Written notice of special 
meetings of the Trustees, stating the place, date and time thereof, shall be 
given not less than two (2) days before such meeting to each Trustee, 
personally, by telegram, by mail, or by leaving such notice at his place of 
residence or usual place of business. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed 
to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, 
directed to the Trustee at his address as it appears on the records of the 
Trust. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, notice or waiver of notice 
need not specify the purpose of any special meeting. 

   SECTION 4.3. Telephone Meetings. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 
Act, any Trustee, or any member or members of any committee designated by the 
Trustees, may participate in a meeting of the Trustees, or any such 
committee, as the case may be, by means of a conference telephone or similar 
communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear 
each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means 
constitutes presence in person at the meeting. 

   SECTION 4.4. Quorum, Voting and Adjournment of Meetings. At all meetings 
of the Trustees, a majority of the Trustees shall be requisite to and shall 
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is present, 
the affirmative vote of a majority of the Trustees present shall be the act 
of the Trustees, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is expressly 
required for such action by law, the Declaration or these By-Laws. If at any 
meeting of the Trustees there be less than a quorum present, the Trustees 
present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice 
other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall have been 
obtained. 

   SECTION 4.5. Action by Trustees Without Meeting. The provisions of these 
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and 
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at 
any meeting of the Trustees may be taken without a meeting if a consent in 
writing setting forth the action shall be signed by all of the Trustees 
entitled to vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the 
minutes of proceedings of the Trustees. 

   SECTION 4.6. Expenses and Fees. Each Trustee may be allowed expenses, if 
any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Trustees, and 
each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of the Trust or of its 
investment manager or underwriter or of any corporate affiliate of any of 
said persons shall receive for services rendered as a Trustee of the Trust 
such compensation as may be fixed by the Trustees. Nothing herein contained 
shall be construed to preclude any Trustee from serving the Trust in any 
other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. 

   SECTION 4.7.  Execution of Instruments and Documents and Signing of Checks 
and Other Obligations and Transfers. All instruments, documents and other 
papers shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Trust and all 
checks, notes, drafts and other obligations for the payment of money by the 
Trust shall be signed, and all transfer of securities standing in the name of 
the Trust shall be executed, by the Chairman, the President, any Vice 
President or the Treasurer or by any one or more officers or agents of the 
Trust as shall be designated for that purpose by vote of the Trustees; 
notwithstanding the above, nothing in this Section 4.7 shall be deemed to 
preclude the electronic authorization, by designated persons, of the Trust's 
Custodian (as described herein in Section 9.1) to transfer assets of the 
Trust, as provided for herein in Section 9.1. 

   SECTION 4.8. Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, Employees and 
Agents. (a) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is 
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed 
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or 
investigative 

                                3           
<PAGE>
(other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by reason of the fact 
that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust. The 
indemnification shall be against expenses, including attorneys' fees, 
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably 
incurred by him in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding, if he 
acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not 
opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal 
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was 
unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, 
order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its 
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did 
not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in 
or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any 
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his 
conduct was unlawful. 

   (b) The Trust shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is 
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action 
or suit by or on behalf of the Trust to obtain a judgment or decree in its 
favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, 
or agent of the Trust. The indemnification shall be against expenses, 
including attorneys' fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in 
connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit, if he acted 
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed 
to the best interests of the Trust; except that no indemnification shall be 
made in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which the person has 
been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of 
his duty to the Trust, except to the extent that the court in which the 
action or suit was brought, or a court of equity in the county in which the 
Trust has its principal office, determines upon application that, despite the 
adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, the 
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for those expenses 
which the court shall deem proper, provided such Trustee, officer, employee 
or agent is not adjudged to be liable by reason of his willful misfeasance, 
bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in 
the conduct of his office. 

   (c) To the extent that a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust 
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit 
or proceeding referred to in subsection (a) or (b) or in defense of any 
claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses, 
including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in 
connection therewith. 

   (d) (1) Unless a court orders otherwise, any indemnification under 
subsections (a) or (b) of this section may be made by the Trust only as 
authorized in the specific case after a determination that indemnification of 
the Trustee, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances 
because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in 
subsections (a) or (b). 

       (2) The determination shall be made: 

       (i) By the Trustees, by a majority vote of a quorum which consists of 
    Trustees who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding; or 

      (ii) If the required quorum is not obtainable, or if a quorum of 
    disinterested Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a 
    written opinion; or 

     (iii) By the Shareholders. 

     (3) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 4.8, no person shall 
    be entitled to indemnification for any liability, whether or not there is 
    an adjudication of liability, arising by reason of willful misfeasance, 
    bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties as described 
    in Section 17(h) and (i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 
    ("disabling conduct"). A person shall be deemed not liable by reason of 
    disabling conduct if, either: 

       (i) a final decision on the merits is made by a court or other body 
    before whom the proceeding was brought that the person to be indemnified 
    ("indemnitee") was not liable by reason of disabling conduct; or 

      (ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination, 
    based upon a review of the facts, that the indemnitee was not liable by 
    reason of disabling conduct, is made by either-- 

                                4           
<PAGE>
          (A) a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither "interested 
         persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 
         Investment Company Act of 1940, nor parties to the action, suit or 
         proceeding, or 

          (B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. 

   (e) Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by a Trustee, officer, 
employee or agent of the Trust in defending a civil or criminal action, suit 
or proceeding may be paid by the Trust in advance of the final disposition 
thereof if: 

        (1) authorized in the specific case by the Trustees; and 

        (2) the Trust receives an undertaking by or on behalf of the Trustee, 
    officer, employee or agent of the Trust to repay the advance if it is not 
    ultimately determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by 
    the Trust; and 

        (3) either, (i) such person provides a security for his undertaking, 
    or 

           (ii) the Trust is insured against losses by reason of any lawful 
         advances, or 

          (iii) a determination, based on a review of readily available 
         facts, that there is reason to believe that such person ultimately 
         will be found entitled to indemnification, is made by either-- 

              (A) a majority of a quorum which consists of Trustees who are 
             neither "interested persons" of the Trust, as defined in Section 
             2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, nor parties to the action, suit or 
             proceeding, or 

              (B) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. 

   (f) The indemnification provided by this Section shall not be deemed 
exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled under any 
by-law, agreement, vote of Shareholders or disinterested Trustees or 
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in 
another capacity while holding the office, and shall continue as to a person 
who has ceased to be a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent and inure to the 
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person; provided 
that no person may satisfy any right of indemnity or reimbursement granted 
herein or to which he may be otherwise entitled except out of the property of 
the Trust, and no Shareholder shall be personally liable with respect to any 
claim for indemnity or reimbursement or otherwise. 

   (g) The Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person 
who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust, against 
any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, 
or arising out of his status as such. However, in no event will the Trust 
purchase insurance to indemnify any officer or Trustee against liability for 
any act for which the Trust itself is not permitted to indemnify him. 

   (h) Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to protect any 
Trustee or officer of the Trust against any liability to the Trust or to its 
security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful 
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties 
involved in the conduct of his office. 

                                  ARTICLE V 
                                  COMMITTEES 

   SECTION 5.1. Executive and Other Committees. The Trustees, by resolution 
adopted by a majority of the Trustees, may designate an Executive Committee 
and/or committees, each committee to consist of two (2) or more of the 
Trustees of the Trust and may delegate to such committees, in the intervals 
between meetings of the Trustees, any or all of the powers of the Trustees in 
the management of the business and affairs of the Trust. In the absence of 
any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, 
whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a Trustee to act in 
place of such absent member. Each such committee shall keep a record of its 
proceedings. 

                                5           
<PAGE>
   The Executive Committee and any other committee shall fix its own rules or 
procedure, but the presence of at least fifty percent (50%) of the members of 
the whole committee shall in each case be necessary to constitute a quorum of 
the committee and the affirmative vote of the majority of the members of the 
committee present at the meeting shall be necessary to take action. 

   All actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Trustees 
at the meeting thereof next succeeding to the taking of such action. 

   SECTION 5.2. Advisory Committee. The Trustees may appoint an advisory 
committee which shall be composed of persons who do not serve the Trust in 
any other capacity and which shall have advisory functions with respect to 
the investments of the Trust but which shall have no power to determine that 
any security or other investment shall be purchased, sold or otherwise 
disposed of by the Trust. The number of persons constituting any such 
advisory committee shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees. The 
members of any such advisory committee may receive compensation for their 
services and may be allowed such fees and expenses for the attendance at 
meetings as the Trustees may from time to time determine to be appropriate. 

   SECTION 5.3. Committee Action Without Meeting. The provisions of these 
By-Laws covering notices and meetings to the contrary notwithstanding, and 
except as required by law, any action required or permitted to be taken at 
any meeting of any Committee of the Trustees appointed pursuant to Section 
5.1 of these By-Laws may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing 
setting forth the action shall be signed by all members of the Committee 
entitled to vote upon the action and such written consent is filed with the 
records of the proceedings of the Committee. 

                                  ARTICLE VI 
                                   OFFICERS 

   SECTION 6.1. Executive Officers. The executive officers of the Trust shall 
be a Chairman of the Board , a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a 
Secretary and a Treasurer. The Chairman of the Board shall be selected from 
among the Trustees but none of the other executive officers need be a member 
of the Board of Trustees. Two or more offices, except those of President and 
any Vice President, may be held by the same person, but no officer shall 
execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one capacity. The 
executive officers of the Trust shall be elected annually by the Board of 
Trustees and each executive officer so elected shall hold office until his 
successor is elected and has qualified. 

   SECTION 6.2. Other Officers and Agents. The Board of Trustees may also 
elect one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and 
Assistant Treasurers and may elect, or may delegate to the President the 
power to appoint, such other officers and agents as the Board of Trustees 
shall at any time or from time to time deem advisable. 

   SECTION 6.3. Term and Removal and Vacancies. Each officer of the Trust 
shall hold office until his successor is elected and has qualified. Any 
officer or agent of the Trust may be removed by the Trustees whenever, in its 
judgment, the best interests of the Trust will be served thereby, but such 
removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the 
person so removed. 

   SECTION 6.4. Compensation of Officers. The compensation of officers and 
agents of the Trust shall be fixed by the Board of Trustees, or by the 
President to the extent provided by the Board of Trustees with respect to 
officers appointed by the President. 

   SECTION 6.5. Power and Duties. All officers and agents of the Trust, as 
between themselves and the Trust, shall have such authority and perform such 
duties in the management of the Trust as may be provided in or pursuant to 
these By-Laws, or to the extent not so provided, as may be prescribed by the 
Board of Trustees; provided, that no rights of any third party shall be 
affected or impaired by any such By-Law or resolution of the Trustees unless 
he has knowledge thereof. 

   SECTION 6.6. The Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall 
preside at all meetings of the shareholders and of the Board of Trustees, 
shall be a signatory on all Annual and Semi-Annual Reports as may be sent to 
shareholders, and he shall perform such other duties as the Board of Trustees 
may from time to time prescribe. 

                                6           
<PAGE>
   SECTION 6.7. The President.  (a) The President shall be the chief 
executive officer of the Trust; he shall have general and active management 
of the business of the Trust, shall see that all orders and resolutions of 
the Board of Trustees are carried into effect, and, in connection therewith, 
shall be authorized to delegate to one or more Vice Presidents such of his 
powers and duties at such times and in such manner as he may deem advisable. 

   (b) In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at all 
meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Trustees; and he shall perform 
such other duties as the Board of Trustees may from time to time prescribe. 

   SECTION 6.8. The Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents shall be of such 
number and shall have such titles as may be determined from time to time by 
the Board of Trustees. The Vice President, or, if there be more than one, the 
Vice Presidents in the order of their seniority as may be determined from 
time to time by the Trustees or the President, shall, in the absence or 
disability of the President, exercise the powers and perform the duties of 
the President, and he or they shall perform such other duties as the Board of 
Trustees or the President may from time to time prescribe. 

   SECTION 6.9. The Assistant Vice Presidents. The Assistant Vice President, 
or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Vice Presidents, shall perform 
such duties and have such powers as may be assigned them from time to time by 
the Board of Trustees or the President. 

   SECTION 6.10. The Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of 
the Board of Trustees and all meetings of the Shareholders and record all the 
proceedings of the meetings of the Shareholders and of the Board of Trustees 
in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for the 
standing committees when required. He shall give, or cause to be given, 
notice of all meetings of the Shareholders and special meetings of the Board 
of Trustees, and shall perform such other duties and have such powers as the 
Board of Trustees, or the President, may from time to time prescribe. He 
shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Trust and affix or cause the same 
to be affixed to any instrument requiring it, and, when so affixed, it shall 
be attested by his signature or by the signature of an Assistant Secretary. 

   SECTION 6.11. The Assistant Secretaries. The Assistant Secretary, or, if 
there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by 
the Board of Trustees or the President, shall, in the absence or disability 
of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary 
and shall perform such duties and have such other powers as the Board of 
Trustees or the President may from time to time prescribe. 

   SECTION 6.12. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial 
officer of the Trust. He shall keep or cause to be kept full and accurate 
accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Trust, and 
he shall render to the Board of Trustees and the President, whenever any of 
them require it, an account of his transactions as Treasurer and of the 
financial condition of the Trust; and he shall perform such other duties as 
the Board of Trustees, or the President, may from time to time prescribe. 

   SECTION 6.13. The Assistant Treasurers. The Assistant Treasurer, or, if 
there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order 
determined by the Board of Trustees or the President, shall, in the absence 
or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of 
the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers 
as the Trustees, or the President, may from time to time prescribe. 

   SECTION 6.14. Delegation of Duties. Whenever an officer is absent or 
disabled, or whenever for any reason the Board of Trustees may deem it 
desirable, the Board may delegate the powers and duties of an officer or 
officer to any other officer or officers or to any Trustee or Trustees. 

                                 ARTICLE VII 
                         DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS 

   Subject to any applicable provisions of law and the Declaration, dividends 
and distributions upon the Shares may be declared at such intervals as the 
Trustees may determine, in cash, in securities or other property, or in 
Shares, from any sources permitted by law, all as the Trustees shall from 
time to time determine. 

                                7           
<PAGE>
   Inasmuch as the computation of net income and net profits from the sales 
of securities or other properties for federal income tax purposes may vary 
from the computation thereof on the records of the Trust, the Trustees shall 
have power, in their discretion, to distribute as income dividends and as 
capital gain distributions, respectively, amounts sufficient to enable the 
Trust to avoid or reduce liability for federal income taxes. 

                                 ARTICLE VIII 
                            CERTIFICATES OF SHARES 

   SECTION 8.1. Certificates of Shares. Certificates for Shares of each 
series or class of Shares shall be in such form and of such design as the 
Trustees shall approve, subject to the right of the Trustees to change such 
form and design at any time or from time to time, and shall be entered in the 
records of the Trust as they are issued. Each such certificate shall bear a 
distinguishing number; shall exhibit the holder's name and certify the number 
of full Shares owned by such holder; shall be signed by or in the name of the 
Trust by the President, or a Vice President, and countersigned by the 
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer and an Assistant 
Treasurer of the Trust; shall be sealed with the seal; and shall contain such 
recitals as may be required by law. Where any certificate is signed by a 
Transfer Agent or by a Registrar, the signature of such officers and the seal 
may be facsimile, printed or engraved. The Trust may, at its option, 
determine not to issue a certificate or certificates to evidence Shares owned 
of record by any Shareholder. 

   In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile 
signature or signatures shall appear on, any such certificate or certificates 
shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Trust, whether because of 
death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates 
shall have been delivered by the Trust, such certificate or certificates 
shall, nevertheless, be adopted by the Trust and be issued and delivered as 
though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or 
whose facsimile signature or signatures shall appear therein had not ceased 
to be such officer or officers of the Trust. 

   No certificate shall be issued for any share until such share is fully 
paid. 

   SECTION 8.2. Lost, Stolen, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates. The 
Trustees may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place 
of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Trust alleged to 
have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon satisfactory proof of such loss, 
theft, or destruction; and the Trustees may, in their discretion, require the 
owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal 
representative, to give to the Trust and to such Registrar, Transfer Agent 
and/or Transfer Clerk as may be authorized or required to countersign such 
new certificate or certificates, a bond in such sum and of such type as they 
may direct, and with such surety or sureties, as they may direct, as 
indemnity against any claim that may be against them or any of them on 
account of or in connection with the alleged loss, theft or destruction of 
any such certificate. 

                                  ARTICLE IX 
                                  CUSTODIAN 

   SECTION 9.1. Appointment and Duties. The Trust shall at times employ a 
bank or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at 
least five million dollars ($5,000,000) as custodian with authority as its 
agent, but subject to such restrictions, limitations and other requirements, 
if any, as may be contained in these By-Laws and the 1940 Act: 

     (1) to receive and hold the securities owned by the Trust and deliver 
    the same upon written or electronically transmitted order; 

     (2) to receive and receipt for any moneys due to the Trust and deposit 
    the same in its own banking department or elsewhere as the Trustees may 
    direct; 

     (3) to disburse such funds upon orders or vouchers; 

                                8           
<PAGE>
all upon such basis of compensation as may be agreed upon between the 
Trustees and the custodian. If so directed by a Majority Shareholder Vote, 
the custodian shall deliver and pay over all property of the Trust held by it 
as specified in such vote. 

   The Trustees may also authorize the custodian to employ one or more 
sub-custodians from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of 
the custodian and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon 
between the custodian and such sub-custodian and approved by the Trustees 
provided that in every case such sub-custodian shall be a bank or trust 
company organized under the laws of the United States or one of the states 
thereof and having capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least five 
million dollars ($5,000,000). 

   SECTION 9.2. Central Certificate System. Subject to such rules, 
regulations and orders as the Commission may adopt, the Trustees may direct 
the custodian to deposit all or any part of the securities owned by the Trust 
in a system for the central handling of securities established by a national 
securities exchange or a national securities association registered with the 
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other person as 
may be permitted by the Commission, or otherwise in accordance with the 1940 
Act, pursuant to which system all securities of any particular class or 
series of any issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and 
may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery 
of such securities, provided that all such deposits shall be subject to 
withdrawal only upon the order of the Trust. 

                                  ARTICLE X 
                               WAIVER OF NOTICE 

   Whenever any notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting of 
Shareholders, Trustees, or of any committee is required to be given in 
accordance with law or under the provisions of the Declaration or these 
By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons 
entitled to such notice and filed with the records of the meeting, whether 
before or after the holding thereof, or actual attendance at the meeting of 
shareholders, Trustees or committee, as the case may be, in person, shall be 
deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice to such person. 

                                  ARTICLE XI 
                                MISCELLANEOUS 

   SECTION 11.1. Location of Books and Records. The books and records of the 
Trust may be kept outside the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at such place or 
places as the Trustees may from time to time determine, except as otherwise 
required by law. 

   SECTION 11.2. Record Date. The Trustees may fix in advance a date as the 
record date for the purpose of determining the Shareholders entitled to (i) 
receive notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, or (ii) 
receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or in order 
to make a determination of Shareholders for any other proper purpose. The 
record date, in any case, shall not be more than one hundred eighty (180) 
days, and in the case of a meeting of Shareholders not less than ten (10) 
days, prior to the date on which such meeting is to be held or the date on 
which such other particular action requiring determination of Shareholders is 
to be taken, as the case may be. In the case of a meeting of Shareholders, 
the meeting date set forth in the notice to Shareholders accompanying the 
proxy statement shall be the date used for purposes of calculating the 180 
day or 10 day period, and any adjourned meeting may be reconvened without a 
change in record date. In lieu of fixing a record date, the Trustees may 
provide that the transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not 
to exceed, in any case, twenty (20) days. If the transfer books are closed 
for the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled to notice of a vote at a 
meeting of Shareholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10) 
days immediately preceding the meeting. 

   SECTION 11.3. Seal. The Trustees shall adopt a seal, which shall be in 
such form and shall have such inscription thereon as the Trustees may from 
time to time provide. The seal of the Trust may be affixed to any document, 
and the seal and its attestation may be lithographed, engraved or otherwise 

                                9           
<PAGE>
printed on any document with the same force and effect as if it had been 
imprinted and attested manually in the same manner and with the same effect 
as if done by a Massachusetts business corporation under Massachusetts law. 

   SECTION 11.4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on such 
date as the Trustees may by resolution specify, and the Trustees may by 
resolution change such date for future fiscal years at any time and from time 
to time. 

   SECTION 11.5. Orders for Payment of Money. All orders or instructions for 
the payment of money of the Trust, and all notes or other evidences of 
indebtedness issued in the name of the Trust, shall be signed by such officer 
or officers or such other person or persons as the Trustees may from time to 
time designate, or as may be specified in or pursuant to the agreement 
between the Trust and the bank or trust company appointed as Custodian of the 
securities and funds of the Trust. 

                                 ARTICLE XII 
                     COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS 

   The Trustees are hereby empowered to take such action as they may deem to 
be necessary, desirable or appropriate so that the Trust is or shall be in 
compliance with any federal or state statute, rule or regulation with which 
compliance by the Trust is required. 

                                 ARTICLE XIII 
                                  AMENDMENTS 

   These By-Laws may be amended, altered, or repealed, or new By-Laws may be 
adopted, (a) by a Majority Shareholder Vote, or (b) by the Trustees; 
provided, however, that no By-Law may be amended, adopted or repealed by the 
Trustees if such amendment, adoption or repeal requires, pursuant to law, the 
Declaration, or these By-Laws, a vote of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall 
in no event adopt By-Laws which are in conflict with the Declaration, and any 
apparent inconsistency shall be construed in favor of the related provisions 
in the Declaration. 

                                 ARTICLE XIV 
                             DECLARATION OF TRUST 

   The Declaration of Trust establishing Dean Witter U.S. Government Money 
Market Trust, dated November 18, 1981, together with all amendments thereto, 
a copy of which is on file in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts, provides that the name Dean Witter U.S. Government Money 
Market Trust refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as 
Trustees, but not as individuals or personally; and no Trustee, Shareholder, 
officer, employee or agent of Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust 
shall be held to any personal liability, nor shall resort be had to their 
private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or 
otherwise, in connection with the affairs of said Dean Witter U.S. Government 
Money Market Trust, but the Trust Estate only shall be liable. 

                               10           



<PAGE>
                             AMENDED AND RESTATED 
                    TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT 
                                     WITH 
                            DEAN WITTER TRUST FSB 

[OPEN-END FUNDS] 

666568 


<PAGE>
                              TABLE OF CONTENTS 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      PAGE 
                                                                   -------- 
<S>             <C>                                                <C>
Article 1       Terms of Appointment...............................    1 
Article 2       Fees and Expenses..................................    2 
Article 3       Representations and Warranties of DWTFSB ..........    3 
Article 4       Representations and Warranties of the Fund ........    3 
Article 5       Duty of Care and Indemnification...................    3 
Article 6       Documents and Covenants of the Fund and DWTFSB ....    4 
Article 7       Duration and Termination of Agreement..............    5 
Article 8       Assignment ........................................    5 
Article 9       Affiliations.......................................    6 
Article 10      Amendment..........................................    6 
Article 11      Applicable Law.....................................    6 
Article 12      Miscellaneous......................................    6 
Article 13      Merger of Agreement................................    7 
Article 14      Personal Liability.................................    7 
</TABLE>

                                i           






<PAGE>
          AMENDED AND RESTATED TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT 

   AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT made as of the 23rd day of October, 1997 by 
and between each of the Funds listed on the signature pages hereof, each of 
such Funds acting severally on its own behalf and not jointly with any of 
such other Funds (each such Fund hereinafter referred to as the "Fund"), each 
such Fund having its principal office and place of business at Two World 
Trade Center, New York, New York, 10048, and DEAN WITTER TRUST FSB 
("DWTFSB"), a federally chartered savings bank, having its principal office 
and place of business at Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, 
New Jersey 07311. 

   WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint DWTFSB as its transfer agent, 
dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent and DWTFSB desires 
to accept such appointment; 

   NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, 
the parties hereto agree as follows: 

Article 1 Terms of Appointment; Duties of DWTFSB 

   1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the 
Fund hereby employs and appoints DWTFSB to act as, and DWTFSB agrees to act 
as, the transfer agent for each series and class of shares of the Fund, 
whether now or hereafter authorized or issued ("Shares"), dividend disbursing 
agent and shareholder servicing agent in connection with any accumulation, 
open-account or similar plans provided to the holders of such Shares 
("Shareholders") and set out in the currently effective prospectus and 
statement of additional information ("prospectus") of the Fund, including 
without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal 
program. 

   1.2 DWTFSB agrees that it will perform the following services: 

     (a) In accordance with procedures established from time to time by 
    agreement between the Fund and DWTFSB, DWTFSB shall: 

        (i)  Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares, and 
       promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation therefor to the 
       custodian of the assets of the Fund (the "Custodian"); 

        (ii) Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of 
       Shares and issue certificates therefor or hold such Shares in book 
       form in the appropriate Shareholder account; 

        (iii) Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption 
       directions and deliver the appropriate documentation therefor to the 
       Custodian; 

        (iv) At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid to 
       it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay over or cause 
       to be paid over in the appropriate manner such monies as instructed by 
       the redeeming Shareholders; 

        (v) Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof upon 
       receipt of appropriate instructions; 

        (vi) Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions 
       declared by the Fund; 

        (vii) Calculate any sales charges payable by a Shareholder on 
       purchases and/or redemptions of Shares of the Fund as such charges may 
       be reflected in the prospectus; 

        (viii) Maintain records of account for and advise the Fund and its 
       Shareholders as to the foregoing; and 

        (ix) Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund and maintain pursuant 
       to Rule 17Ad-10(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934 
       Act") a record of the total number of Shares of the Fund which are 
       authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Fund, and issued and 
       outstanding. DWTFSB shall also provide to the Fund on a regular basis 
       the total number of Shares that are authorized, issued and outstanding 
       and shall notify the Fund in case any proposed issue of Shares by the 
       Fund would result in an overissue. In case any issue of Shares 

                                1           
<PAGE>
       would result in an overissue, DWTFSB shall refuse to issue such Shares 
       and shall not countersign and issue any certificates requested for 
       such Shares. When recording the issuance of Shares, DWTFSB shall have 
       no obligation to take cognizance of any Blue Sky laws relating to the 
       issue of sale of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole 
       responsibility of the Fund. 

     (b) In addition to and not in lieu of the services set forth in the above 
    paragraph (a), DWTFSB shall: 

        (i) perform all of the customary services of a transfer agent, 
       dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant, shareholder servicing 
       agent in connection with dividend reinvestment, accumulation, 
       open-account or similar plans (including without limitation any 
       periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program), including 
       but not limited to, maintaining all Shareholder accounts, preparing 
       Shareholder meeting lists, mailing proxies, receiving and tabulating 
       proxies, mailing shareholder reports and prospectuses to current 
       Shareholders, withholding taxes on U.S. resident and non-resident 
       alien accounts, preparing and filing appropriate forms required with 
       respect to dividends and distributions by federal tax authorities for 
       all Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation forms and 
       statements of account to Shareholders for all purchases and 
       redemptions of Shares and other confirmable transactions in 
       Shareholder accounts, preparing and mailing activity statements for 
       Shareholders and providing Shareholder account information; 

        (ii) open any and all bank accounts which may be necessary or 
       appropriate in order to provide the foregoing services; and 

        (iii) provide a system that will enable the Fund to monitor the total 
       number of Shares sold in each State or other jurisdiction. 

     (c) In addition, the Fund shall: 

        (i) identify to DWTFSB in writing those transactions and assets to be 
       treated as exempt from Blue Sky reporting for each State; and 

        (ii) verify the inclusion on the system prior to activation of each 
       State in which Fund shares may be sold and thereafter monitor the 
       daily purchases and sales for shareholders in each State. The 
       responsibility of DWTFSB for the Fund's status under the securities 
       laws of any State or other jurisdiction is limited to the inclusion on 
       the system of each State as to which the Fund has informed DWTFSB that 
       shares may be sold in compliance with state securities laws and the 
       reporting of purchases and sales in each such State to the Fund as 
       provided above and as agreed from time to time by the Fund and DWTFSB. 

     (d) DWTFSB shall provide such additional services and functions not 
    specifically described herein as may be mutually agreed between DWTFSB and 
    the Fund. Procedures applicable to such services may be established from 
    time to time by agreement between the Fund and DWTFSB. 

Article 2 Fees and Expenses 

   2.1 For performance by DWTFSB pursuant to this Agreement, each Fund agrees 
to pay DWTFSB an annual maintenance fee for each Shareholder account and 
certain transactional fees, if applicable, as set out in the respective fee 
schedule attached hereto as Schedule A. Such fees and out-of-pocket expenses 
and advances identified under Section 2.2 below may be changed from time to 
time subject to mutual written agreement between the Fund and DWTFSB. 

   2.2 In addition to the fees paid under Section 2.1 above, the Fund agrees 
to reimburse DWTFSB for out of pocket expenses in connection with the 
services rendered by DWTFSB hereunder. In addition, any other expenses 
incurred by DWTFSB at the request or with the consent of the Fund will be 
reimbursed by the Fund. 

   2.3 The Fund agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within a 
reasonable period of time following the mailing of the respective billing 
notice. Postage for mailing of dividends, proxies, Fund reports and other 
mailings to all Shareholder accounts shall be advanced to DWTFSB by the Fund 
upon request prior to the mailing date of such materials. 

                                2           
<PAGE>
Article 3 Representations and Warranties of DWTFSB 

   DWTFSB represents and warrants to the Fund that: 

   3.1 It is a federally chartered savings bank whose principal office is in 
New Jersey. 

   3.2 It is and will remain registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange 
Commission ("SEC") as a Transfer Agent pursuant to the requirements of 
Section 17A of the 1934 Act. 

   3.3 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its charter and By-Laws 
to enter into and perform this Agreement. 

   3.4 All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to 
enter into and perform this Agreement. 

   3.5 It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, 
equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this 
Agreement. 

Article 4 Representations and Warranties of the Fund 

   The Fund represents and warrants to DWTFSB that: 

   4.1 It is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good standing 
under the laws of Delaware or Maryland or a trust duly organized and existing 
and in good standing under the laws of Massachusetts, as the case may be. 

   4.2 It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of 
Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as the case may be, and under its 
By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement. 

   4.3 All corporate proceedings necessary to authorize it to enter into and 
perform this Agreement have been taken. 

   4.4 It is an investment company registered with the SEC under the 
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). 

   4.5 A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 
Act") is currently effective and will remain effective, and appropriate state 
securities law filings have been made and will continue to be made, with 
respect to all Shares of the Fund being offered for sale. 

Article 5 Duty of Care and Indemnification 

   5.1 DWTFSB shall not be responsible for, and the Fund shall indemnify and 
hold DWTFSB harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, 
charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or 
attributable to: 

     (a) All actions of DWTFSB or its agents or subcontractors required to be 
    taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are taken in 
    good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct. 

     (b) The Fund's refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this 
    Agreement, or which arise out of the Fund's lack of good faith, negligence 
    or willful misconduct or which arise out of breach of any representation 
    or warranty of the Fund hereunder. 

     (c) The reliance on or use by DWTFSB or its agents or subcontractors of 
    information, records and documents which (i) are received by DWTFSB or its 
    agents or subcontractors and furnished to it by or on behalf of the Fund, 
    and (ii) have been prepared and/or maintained by the Fund or any other 
    person or firm on behalf of the Fund. 

     (d) The reliance on, or the carrying out by DWTFSB or its agents or 
    subcontractors of, any instructions or requests of the Fund. 

     (e) The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any requirement under the 
    federal securities laws or regulations or the securities or Blue Sky laws 
    of any State or other jurisdiction that notice of 

                                3           
<PAGE>
    offering of such Shares in such State or other jurisdiction or in 
    violation of any stop order or other determination or ruling by any 
    federal agency or any State or other jurisdiction with respect to the 
    offer or sale of such Shares in such State or other jurisdiction. 

   5.2 DWTFSB shall indemnify and hold the Fund harmless from or against any 
and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments, expenses and 
liability arising out of or attributable to any action or failure or omission 
to act by DWTFSB as a result of the lack of good faith, negligence or willful 
misconduct of DWTFSB, its officers, employees or agents. 

   5.3 At any time, DWTFSB may apply to any officer of the Fund for 
instructions, and may consult with legal counsel to the Fund, with respect to 
any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by DWTFSB 
under this Agreement, and DWTFSB and its agents or subcontractors shall not 
be liable and shall be indemnified by the Fund for any action taken or 
omitted by it in reliance upon such instructions or upon the opinion of such 
counsel. DWTFSB, its agents and subcontractors shall be protected and 
indemnified in acting upon any paper or document furnished by or on behalf of 
the Fund, reasonably believed to be genuine and to have been signed by the 
proper person or persons, or upon any instruction, information, data, records 
or documents provided to DWTFSB or its agents or subcontractors by machine 
readable input, telex, CRT data entry or other similar means authorized by 
the Fund, and shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of 
any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Fund. DWTFSB, 
its agents and subcontractors shall also be protected and indemnified in 
recognizing stock certificates which are reasonably believed to bear the 
proper manual or facsimile signature of the officers of the Fund, and the 
proper countersignature of any former transfer agent or registrar, or of a 
co-transfer agent or co-registrar. 

   5.4 In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under 
the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or 
transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other causes 
reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to 
the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise 
from such causes. 

   5.5 Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for 
consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any act or 
failure to act hereunder. 

   5.6 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Article 
5 shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which either party may be 
required to indemnify the other, the party seeking indemnification shall 
promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other 
party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The 
party who may be required to indemnify shall have the option to participate 
with the party seeking indemnification in the defense of such claim. The 
party seeking indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any 
compromise in any case in which the other party may be required to indemnify 
it except with the other party's prior written consent. 

Article 6 Documents and Covenants of the Fund and DWTFSB 

   6.1 The Fund shall promptly furnish to DWTFSB the following, unless 
previously furnished to Dean Witter Trust Company, the prior transfer agent 
of the Fund: 

     (a) If a corporation: 

        (i) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of 
       the Fund authorizing the appointment of DWTFSB and the execution and 
       delivery of this Agreement; 

        (ii) A certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of 
       the Fund and all amendments thereto; 

        (iii) Certified copies of each vote of the Board of Directors 
       designating persons authorized to give instructions on behalf of the 
       Fund and signature cards bearing the signature of any officer of the 
       Fund or any other person authorized to sign written instructions on 
       behalf of the Fund; 

        (iv) A specimen of the certificate for Shares of the Fund in the form 
       approved by the Board of Directors, with a certificate of the 
       Secretary of the Fund as to such approval; 

                                4           
<PAGE>
     (b) If a business trust: 

        (i) A certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of 
       the Fund authorizing the appointment of DWTFSB and the execution and 
       delivery of this Agreement; 

        (ii) A certified copy of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the 
       Fund and all amendments thereto; 

        (iii) Certified copies of each vote of the Board of Trustees 
       designating persons authorized to give instructions on behalf of the 
       Fund and signature cards bearing the signature of any officer of the 
       Fund or any other person authorized to sign written instructions on 
       behalf of the Fund; 

        (iv) A specimen of the certificate for Shares of the Fund in the form 
       approved by the Board of Trustees, with a certificate of the Secretary 
       of the Fund as to such approval; 

     (c) The current registration statements and any amendments and 
    supplements thereto filed with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of the 
    1933 Act or the 1940 Act; 

     (d) All account application forms or other documents relating to 
    Shareholder accounts and/or relating to any plan, program or service 
    offered or to be offered by the Fund; and 

     (e) Such other certificates, documents or opinions as DWTFSB deems to be 
    appropriate or necessary for the proper performance of its duties. 

   6.2 DWTFSB hereby agrees to establish and maintain facilities and 
procedures reasonably acceptable to the Fund for safekeeping of Share 
certificates, check forms and facsimile signature imprinting devices, if any; 
and for the preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such 
certificates, forms and devices. 

   6.3 DWTFSB shall prepare and keep records relating to the services to be 
performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable and as 
required by applicable laws and regulations. To the extent required by 
Section 31 of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, DWTFSB 
agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by DWTFSB relating to the 
services performed by DWTFSB hereunder are the property of the Fund and will 
be preserved, maintained and made available in accordance with such Section 
31 of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and will be 
surrendered promptly to the Fund on and in accordance with its request. 

   6.4 DWTFSB and the Fund agree that all books, records, information and 
data pertaining to the business of the other party which are exchanged or 
received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement 
shall remain confidential and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other 
person except as may be required by law or with the prior consent of DWTFSB 
and the Fund. 

   6.5 In case of any request or demands for the inspection of the 
Shareholder records of the Fund, DWTFSB will endeavor to notify the Fund and 
to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such 
inspection. DWTFSB reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder 
records to any person whenever it is advised by its counsel that it may be 
held liable for the failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such 
person. 

Article 7 Duration and Termination of Agreement 

   7.1 This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until August 1, 
2000 and from year-to-year thereafter unless terminated by either party as 
provided in Section 7.2 hereof. 

   7.2 This Agreement may be terminated by the Fund on 60 days written 
notice, and by DWTFSB on 90 days written notice, to the other party without 
payment of any penalty. 

   7.3 Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-pocket 
expenses associated with the movement of records and other materials will be 
borne by the Fund. Additionally, DWTFSB reserves the right to charge for any 
other reasonable fees and expenses associated with such termination. 

Article 8 Assignment 

   8.1 Except as provided in Section 8.3 below, neither this Agreement nor 
any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party without 
the written consent of the other party. 

                                5           
<PAGE>
   8.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the 
parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. 

   8.3 DWTFSB may, in its sole discretion and without further consent by the 
Fund, subcontract, in whole or in part, for the performance of its 
obligations and duties hereunder with any person or entity including but not 
limited to companies which are affiliated with DWTFSB; provided, however, 
that such person or entity has and maintains the qualifications, if any, 
required to perform such obligations and duties, and that DWTFSB shall be as 
fully responsible to the Fund for the acts and omissions of any agent or 
subcontractor as it is for its own acts or omissions under this Agreement. 

Article 9 Affiliations 

   9.1 DWTFSB may now or hereafter, without the consent of or notice to the 
Fund, function as transfer agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for any 
other investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act and for 
any other issuer, including without limitation any investment company whose 
adviser, administrator, sponsor or principal underwriter is or may become 
affiliated with Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. or any of its 
direct or indirect subsidiaries or affiliates. 

   9.2 It is understood and agreed that the Directors or Trustees (as the 
case may be), officers, employees, agents and shareholders of the Fund, and 
the directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders of the Fund's 
investment adviser and/or distributor, are or may be interested in DWTFSB as 
directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders or otherwise, and 
that the directors, officers, employees, agents and shareholders of DWTFSB 
may be interested in the Fund as Directors or Trustees (as the case may be), 
officers, employees, agents and shareholders or otherwise, or in the 
investment adviser and/or distributor as directors, officers, employees, 
agents, shareholders or otherwise. 

Article 10 Amendment 

   10.1 This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written agreement 
executed by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution of the 
Board of Directors or the Board of Trustees (as the case may be) of the Fund. 

Article 11 Applicable Law 

   11.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof 
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. 

Article 12 Miscellaneous 

   12.1 In the event that one or more additional investment companies managed 
or administered by Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. or any of its affiliates 
("Additional Funds") desires to retain DWTFSB to act as transfer agent, 
dividend disbursing agent and/or shareholder servicing agent, and DWTFSB 
desires to render such services, such services shall be provided pursuant to 
a letter agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between 
DWTFSB and each Additional Fund. 

   12.2 In the event of an alleged loss or destruction of any Share 
certificate, no new certificate shall be issued in lieu thereof, unless there 
shall first be furnished to DWTFSB an affidavit of loss or non-receipt by the 
holder of Shares with respect to which a certificate has been lost or 
destroyed, supported by an appropriate bond satisfactory to DWTFSB and the 
Fund issued by a surety company satisfactory to DWTFSB, except that DWTFSB 
may accept an affidavit of loss and indemnity agreement executed by the 
registered holder (or legal representative) without surety in such form as 
DWTFSB deems appropriate indemnifying DWTFSB and the Fund for the issuance of 
a replacement certificate, in cases where the alleged loss is in the amount 
of $1,000 or less. 

   12.3 In the event that any check or other order for payment of money on 
the account of any Shareholder or new investor is returned unpaid for any 
reason, DWTFSB will (a) give prompt notification to the Fund's distributor 
("Distributor") (or to the Fund if the Fund acts as its own distributor) of 
such non-payment; and (b) take such other action, including imposition of a 
reasonable processing or handling fee, as DWTFSB may, in its sole discretion, 
deem appropriate or as the Fund and, if applicable, the Distributor may 
instruct DWTFSB. 

                                6           
<PAGE>
   12.4 Any notice or other instrument authorized or required by this 
Agreement to be given in writing to the Fund or to DWTFSB shall be 
sufficiently given if addressed to that party and received by it at its 
office set forth below or at such other place as it may from time to time 
designate in writing. 

To the Fund: 

[Name of Fund] 
Two World Trade Center 
New York, New York 10048 

Attention: General Counsel 

To DWTFSB: 

Dean Witter Trust FSB 
Harborside Financial Center 
Plaza Two 
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311 

Attention: President 

Article 13 Merger of Agreement 

   13.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties 
hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter 
hereof whether oral or written. 

Article 14 Personal Liability 

   14.1 In the case of a Fund organized as a Massachusetts business trust, a 
copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this 
instrument is executed on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Fund as 
Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are 
not binding upon any of the Trustees or shareholders individually but are 
binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund; provided, however, 
that the Declaration of Trust of the Fund provides that the assets of a 
particular Series of the Fund shall under no circumstances be charged with 
liabilities attributable to any other Series of the Fund and that all persons 
extending credit to, or contracting with or having any claim against, a 
particular Series of the Fund shall look only to the assets of that 
particular Series for payment of such credit, contract or claim. 

   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and 
Restated Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and 
through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above 
written. 

DEAN WITTER FUNDS 

   MONEY MARKET FUNDS 

 1. Dean Witter Liquid Asset Fund Inc. 
 2. Active Assets Money Trust 
 3. Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust 
 4. Active Assets Government Securities Trust 
 5. Dean Witter Tax-Free Daily Income Trust 
 6. Active Assets Tax-Free Trust 
 7. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust 
 8. Dean Witter New York Municipal Money Market Trust 
 9. Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust 

   EQUITY FUNDS 

10. Dean Witter American Value Fund 
11. Dean Witter Mid-Cap Growth Fund 

                                7           
<PAGE>
12. Dean Witter Dividend Growth Securities Inc. 
13. Dean Witter Capital Growth Securities 
14. Dean Witter Global Dividend Growth Securities 
15. Dean Witter Income Builder Fund 
16. Dean Witter Natural Resource Development Securities Inc. 
17. Dean Witter Precious Metals and Minerals Trust 
18. Dean Witter Developing Growth Securities Trust 
19. Dean Witter Health Sciences Trust 
20. Dean Witter Capital Appreciation Fund 
21. Dean Witter Information Fund 
22. Dean Witter Value-Added Market Series 
23. Dean Witter World Wide Investment Trust 
24. Dean Witter European Growth Fund Inc. 
25. Dean Witter Pacific Growth Fund Inc. 
26. Dean Witter International SmallCap Fund 
27. Dean Witter Japan Fund 
28. Dean Witter Utilities Fund 
29. Dean Witter Global Utilities Fund 
30. Dean Witter Special Value Fund 
31. Dean Witter Financial Services Trust 
32. Dean Witter Market Leader Trust 
33. Dean Witter Managers' Select Fund 
34. Dean Witter Fund of Funds 
35. Dean Witter S&P 500 Index Fund 

   BALANCED FUNDS 

36. Dean Witter Balanced Growth Fund 
37. Dean Witter Balanced Income Trust 

   ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS 

38. Dean Witter Strategist Fund 
39. Dean Witter Global Asset Allocation Fund 

   FIXED INCOME FUNDS 

40. Dean Witter High Yield Securities Inc. 
41. Dean Witter High Income Securities 
42. Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust 
43. Dean Witter Intermediate Income Securities 
44. Dean Witter Short-Term Bond Fund 
45. Dean Witter World Wide Income Trust 
46. Dean Witter Global Short-Term Income Fund Inc. 
47. Dean Witter Diversified Income Trust 
48. Dean Witter U.S. Government Securities Trust 
49. Dean Witter Federal Securities Trust 
50. Dean Witter Short-Term U.S. Treasury Trust 
51. Dean Witter Intermediate Term U.S. Treasury Trust 
52. Dean Witter Tax-Exempt Securities Trust 
53. Dean Witter National Municipal Trust 
55. Dean Witter Limited Term Municipal Trust 
55. Dean Witter California Tax-Free Income Fund 
56. Dean Witter New York Tax-Free Income Fund 
57. Dean Witter Hawaii Municipal Trust 
58. Dean Witter Multi-State Municipal Series Trust 
59. Dean Witter Select Municipal Reinvestment Fund 

                                8           
<PAGE>
   SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS 

60. Dean Witter Retirement Series 
61. Dean Witter Variable Investment Series 
62. Dean Witter Select Dimensions Investment Series 

   TCW/DW FUNDS 

63. TCW/DW Core Equity Trust 
64. TCW/DW North American Government Income Trust 
65. TCW/DW Latin American Growth Fund 
66. TCW/DW Income and Growth Fund 
67. TCW/DW Small Cap Growth Fund 
68. TCW/DW Balanced Fund 
69. TCW/DW Total Return Trust 
70. TCW/DW Global Telecom Trust 
71. TCW/DW Strategic Income Trust 
72. TCW/DW Mid-Cap Equity Trust 

                                                By: 
                                                    -------------------------- 
                                                    Barry Fink 
                                                    Vice President and 
                                                    General Counsel 

ATTEST: 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Assistant Secretary 

                                                DEAN WITTER TRUST FSB 
                                                By: 
                                                    -------------------------- 
                                                    John Van Heuvelen 
                                                    President 

ATTEST: 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Executive Vice President 

                                9           


<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT A 

Dean Witter Trust FSB 
Harborside Financial Center 
Plaza Two 
Jersey City, NJ 07311 

Gentlemen: 

   The undersigned, (insert name of investment company) a (Massachusetts 
business trust/Maryland corporation) (the "Fund"), desires to employ and 
appoint Dean Witter Trust FSB ("DWTFSB") to act as transfer agent for each 
series and class of shares of the Fund, whether now or hereafter authorized 
or issued ("Shares"), dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing 
agent, registrar and agent in connection with any accumulation, open-account 
or similar plan provided to the holders of Shares, including without 
limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal plan. 

   The Fund hereby agrees that, in consideration for the payment by the Fund 
to DWTFSB of fees as set out in the fee schedule attached hereto as Schedule 
A, DWTFSB shall provide such services to the Fund pursuant to the terms and 
conditions set forth in the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement annexed 
hereto, as if the Fund was a signatory thereto. 

   Please indicate DWTFSB's acceptance of employment and appointment by the 
Fund in the capacities set forth above by so indicating in the space provided 
below. 

                                          Very truly yours, 
                                          (name of fund) 
                                          By: 
                                              ------------------------------- 
                                              Barry Fink 
                                              Vice President and General 
                                              Counsel 
ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO: 
DEAN WITTER TRUST FSB 
By: 
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Its: 
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Date: 
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 

                               10           

<PAGE>





                                  SCHEDULE A


Fund:    Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust

Fees:    (1) Annual maintenance fee of $15.00* per shareholder account,
         payable monthly.

         (2) A fee equal to 1/12 of the fee set forth in (1) above, for
         providing Forms 1099 for accounts closed during the year, payable
         following the end of the calendar year.

         (3) Out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with Section 2.2 of the
         Agreement.

         (4) Fees for additional services not set forth in this Agreement
         shall be as negotiated between the parties.

         Note: * Actual fee rate for will be waived to $9.50 for the first
         50,000 accounts and $5.00 per account above 50,000 accounts. 






<PAGE>
                                                                April 30, 1998 

Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust 
Two World Trade Center 
New York, New York 10048 

Ladies and Gentlemen: 

   This opinion is being furnished to Dean Witter U.S. Government Money 
Market Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), in connection 
with the Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the "Registration Statement") 
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), to be filed by 
the Trust in connection with the acquisition by the Trust of substantially 
all the assets of U.S. Government Money Market Series ("U.S. Government Money 
Market"), one of eleven portfolios of Dean Witter Retirement Series 
("Retirement Series"), in exchange for shares of beneficial interest, par 
value $.01, of the Trust ("Shares") and the assumption by the Trust of 
certain stated liabilities of U.S. Government Money Market pursuant to an 
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of January 29, 1998, between 
the Trust and Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. Government Money Market 
(the "Reorganization Agreement"). We have examined such statutes, 
regulations, corporate records and other documents and reviewed such 
questions of law that we deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of 
this opinion. 

   As to matters of Massachusetts law contained in this opinion, we have 
relied upon the opinion of Lane Altman & Owens LLP, dated April 30, 1998. 

   Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares when 
issued, as described in the Reorganization Agreement, will be duly authorized 
and, assuming receipt of the consideration to be paid therefor, upon delivery 
as provided in the Reorganization Agreement, will be legally issued, fully 
paid and non-assessable (except for the potential liability of shareholders 
described in the Trust's Prospectus dated March 2, 1998 under the caption 
"Additional Information"). 

   We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the 
Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption "Legal 
Matters" in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. We 
do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent 
is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of 
the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. 

                                                 Very truly yours, 

                                                 /s/ Gordon Altman Butowsky 
                                                 Weitzen Shalov & Wein 

                        1           

<PAGE>
                     [LANE ALTMAN & OWENS LLP LETTERHEAD] 

                                                                April 30, 1998 

Gordon Altman Butowsky 
 Weitzen Shalov & Wein 
114 West 47th Street 
New York, NY 10036 

Dear Sirs: 

   We understand that the trustees of Dean Witter U.S. Government Money 
Market Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), intend, on or 
about April 30, 1998, to cause to be filed on behalf of the Trust a 
Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the "Registration Statement") in 
connection with the acquisition (the "Acquisition") by the Trust of 
substantially all the assets of U.S. Government Money Market Series ("Money 
Market Series"), one of eleven Portfolios of Dean Witter Retirement Series 
("Retirement Series"), in exchange for shares of beneficial interest of the 
Trust (the "Shares"), and the assumption by the Trust of certain stated 
liabilities of Money Market Series pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of 
Reorganization dated as of April 30, 1998 between the Trust and Retirement 
Series (the "Agreement"). We further understand that the Shares will be 
issued pursuant to the Agreement. 

   You have requested that we act as special counsel to the Trust with 
respect to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on certain specified 
matters, and in such capacity we are furnishing you with this opinion. You 
have not asked for, and we do not offer, an opinion on any other matter or 
transaction related to the Trust, Money Market Series, Retirement Series, the 
Acquisition, the Agreement or any matter related thereto, except as 
specifically set forth below. 

   The Trust is a business trust created under an Agreement and Declaration 
of Trust finally executed and delivered in Boston, Massachusetts on November 
18, 1981 (as amended, the "Trust Agreement"). The Board of Trustees of the 
Trust (as defined in the Trust Agreement) (the "Trustees") have the powers 
set forth in the Trust Agreement, subject to the terms, provisions and 
conditions provided therein. 

   In connection with our opinions delivered herein, we have examined the 
following items some of which have been provided to us by, or on behalf of, 
you: (i) a copy of the Agreement in the form to be executed by the Trust and 
Retirement Series; (ii) a copy of the Trust Agreement; (iii) a copy of the 
Amended and Restated By-laws of the Trust effective as of October 23, 1997 
("By-laws"); (iv) a Certificate of Legal Existence for the Trust provided by 
the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts dated April 27, 
1998; and (v) copies of the Registration Statement on Form N-14 to be filed 
by the Trust and the Trust's current Prospectus and Statement of Additional 
Information each dated March 2, 1998. 

   In rendering this opinion we have assumed, without independent 
verification, (i) the due authority of all individuals signing in 
representative capacities and the genuineness of signatures, (ii) the 
authenticity, completeness and continued effectiveness of all documents or 
copies furnished to us, (iii) that resolutions approving the Registration 
Statement, the Acquisition and the Agreement have been duly adopted by the 
Trustees, (iv) that no amendments, agreements, resolutions or actions have 
been approved, executed or adopted which would limit, supersede or modify the 
items described above, and (v) that the Trust Agreement and the By-laws 
provided to us have been duly adopted by the Trustees, have not been amended, 
modified or replaced since the date of adoption thereof, and remain in full 
force and effect as of the date hereof. We have also examined such questions 
of law as we have concluded necessary or appropriate for purposes of the 
opinions expressed below. Where documents relevant to this opinion are 
referred to in the Registration Statement, we assume such documents are the 
same as in the most recent form provided to us, whether as an exhibit to the 
Registration Statement, or otherwise. When any opinion set forth below 
relates to the existence or standing of the Trust, such opinion is based 
entirely upon and is limited by the items referred to above, and we 
understand that the foregoing assumptions, limitations and qualifications are 
acceptable to you. 

   Based upon the foregoing, and with respect to Massachusetts law only 
(except that no opinion is herein expressed with respect to compliance with 
the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act), to the 

                                1           
<PAGE>
extent that Massachusetts law may be applicable, and without reference to the 
laws of any of the other several states or of the United States of America, 
including State and Federal securities laws, we are of the opinion that: 

   1. The Trust is a business trust with transferable shares, organized in 
compliance with the requirements of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and 
the Trust Agreement is legal and valid. 

   2. The Shares to be issued as described in the Registration Statement, 
including any Exhibits thereto, have been duly authorized and, assuming 
receipt of the consideration to be paid therefor, upon delivery as provided 
in the Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable 
(except for the potential liability of shareholders described in the Trust's 
Prospectus dated March 19, 1997, under the caption "Additional Information"). 

   We understand that you will rely on this opinion solely in connection with 
your opinion to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an 
Exhibit to the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to such use of this 
opinion and we also consent to the filing of said opinion with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission. In so consenting, we do not thereby admit to be 
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of 
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. 

                                          Very truly yours, 
                                          /s/ Lane Altman & Owens LLP 
                                          LANE ALTMAN & OWENS LLP 

                                2           


<PAGE>
                 GORDON ALTMAN BUTOWSKY WEITZEN SHALOV & WEIN 

                                                                April 30, 1998 

Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust 
Two World Trade Center 
New York, New York 10048 

Dean Witter Retirement Series 
U.S. Government Money Market Series 
Two World Trade Center 
New York, New York 10048 

Gentlemen: 

   You have requested our opinion as to the Federal income tax consequences 
of the transaction (the "Reorganization") described below pursuant to which 
(i) substantially all assets of U.S. Government Money Market Series ("U.S. 
Government Money Market"), one of eleven portfolios of Dean Witter Retirement 
Series ("Retirement Series"), a Massachusetts business trust, will be 
combined with those of Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust, a 
Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), in exchange for shares of the 
Trust ("Trust Shares"), and the assumption by the Trust of certain 
liabilities of U.S. Government Money Market (the "Liabilities"); (ii) U.S. 
Government Money Market will be liquidated; and (iii) the Trust Shares will 
be distributed to the holders ("U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders") 
of shares in U.S. Government Money Market ("U.S. Government Money Market 
Shares"). 

   We have examined and are familiar with such documents, records and other 
instruments as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of this opinion 
letter, including the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 on Form N-14, relating 
to the Trust Shares (the "Registration Statement") which includes, as a part 
thereof, the proxy statement of Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. 
Government Money Market (the "U.S. Government Money Market Proxy"), which 
will be used to solicit proxies of U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders 
in connection with the Special Meeting of U.S. Government Money Market 
Shareholders and the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and between the 
Trust and Retirement Series, on behalf of U.S. Government Money Market (the 
"Plan"). 

   In rendering this opinion, we have assumed that such documents as yet 
unexecuted will, when executed, conform to the proposed forms of such 
documents that we have examined. We have further assumed that the 
Reorganization will be carried out pursuant to the terms of the Plan, that 
factual statements and information contained in the Registration Statement, 
the U.S. Government Money Market Proxy and other documents, records and 
instruments supplied to us are correct and that there will be no material 
change with respect to such facts or information prior to the time of the 
Reorganization. In rendering our opinion, we have also relied on the 
representations and facts discussed below which have been provided to us by 
Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. ("InterCapital"), the Trust and Retirement 
Series, and we have assumed that such representations and facts will remain 
correct at the time of the Reorganization. 

                                    FACTS 

   The Trust is an open-end diversified management investment company engaged 
in the continuous offering of its shares to the public. Since its inception, 
the Trust has conducted its affairs so as to qualify, and has elected to be 
taxed, as a regulated investment company under Section 851 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). 

   Retirement Series is an open-end diversified management investment company 
engaged in the continuous offering of shares of U.S. Government Money Market 
to the public. U.S. Government Money 

                                1           
<PAGE>
Market is one of eleven portfolios of Retirement Series, a series fund. Since 
its inception, U.S. Government Money Market has conducted its affairs so as 
to qualify, and has elected to be taxed, as a regulated investment company 
under Section 851 of the Code. 
The Board of Trustees of each of the Trust and Retirement Series have 
determined, for valid business reasons, that it is advisable to combine the 
assets of the Trust and U.S. Government Money Market into one fund. 

   In view of the above, the Board of Trustees of Retirement Series adopted 
the Plan, subject to, among other things, approval by U.S. Government Money 
Market Shareholders. Pursuant to the Plan, U.S. Government Money Market will 
transfer all of its assets to the Trust in exchange for the Trust Shares 
(including fractional Trust Shares) and the assumption by the Trust of the 
Liabilities. Immediately thereafter, U.S. Government Money Market will 
distribute the Trust Shares to U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders in 
exchange for and in cancellation of their U.S. Government Money Market Shares 
and in complete liquidation of U.S. Government Money Market. 

   Each of the following representations, among other representations, has 
been made to us in connection with the Reorganization by InterCapital, 
Retirement Series and by the Trust. 

   (1) To the best of the knowledge of the management of InterCapital, 
Retirement Series, the Trust, and their affiliates, there is no plan or 
intention on the part of U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders, to 
redeem, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of a number of Trust Shares that 
would reduce U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders' ownership of Trust 
Shares to a number of Trust Shares having a value, as of the date of the 
Reorganization, of less than fifty percent of the value of all of the 
formerly outstanding U.S. Government Money Market Shares as of such date; 

   (2) The Trust has no plan or intention to reacquire any of the Trust 
Shares to be issued pursuant to the Reorganization except to the extent 
necessary to comply with its legal obligation to redeem its own shares; 

   (3) The Liabilities to be assumed by or transferred to the Trust were 
incurred by U.S. Government Money Market in the ordinary course of business 
and are associated with the assets being transferred to the Trust; 

   (4) The amount of the Liabilities will not exceed the aggregate adjusted 
basis of U.S. Government Money Market for its assets transferred to the 
Trust; 

   (5) The Trust has no plan or intention to sell or otherwise dispose of 
more than fifty percent of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market 
acquired in the Reorganization, except for dispositions made in the ordinary 
course of business; 

   (6) There is no indebtedness between U.S. Government Money Market and the 
Trust that was issued, acquired or will be settled at a discount; 

   (7) U.S. Government Money Market has been a regulated investment company 
within the meaning of Section 851 of the Code since the date of its 
organization through the end of its last complete taxable year and will 
qualify as a regulated investment company for its taxable year ending on the 
date of the Reorganization; 

   (8) The Trust has been a regulated investment company within the meaning 
of Section 851 of the Code since the date of its organization through the 
date hereof and will qualify as a regulated investment company for its 
taxable year ending on January 31, 1998; 

   (9) U.S. Government Money Market will have no accumulated earnings and 
profits as of the close of its taxable year ending on the date of the 
Reorganization. 

                                   OPINION 

   Based on the Code, Treasury Regulations issued thereunder, Internal 
Revenue Service Rulings and the relevant case law, as of the date hereof, and 
on the facts, representations and assumptions set forth above, and the 
documents, records and other instruments we have reviewed, it is our opinion 
that the 

                                2           
<PAGE>
Federal income tax consequences of the Reorganization to the Trust, U.S. 
Government Money Market and the U.S. Government Money Market Shareholders 
will be as follows: 

   (1) The transfer of substantially all of U.S. Government Money Market's 
assets in exchange for the Trust Shares and the assumption by the Trust of 
certain stated Liabilities of U.S. Government Money Market, followed by the 
distribution by U.S. Government Money Market of the Trust Shares to the U.S. 
Government Money Market Shareholders in exchange for their U.S. Government 
Money Market Shares, will constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning of 
Section 368(a)(1)(C) the Code, and U.S. Government Money Market and the Trust 
will each be a "party to a reorganization" within the meaning of Section 
368(b) of the Code; 

   (2) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Trust upon the receipt of 
the assets of U.S. Government Money Market solely in exchange for the Trust 
Shares and the assumption of the Liabilities by the Trust; 

   (3) No gain or loss will be recognized by U.S. Government Money Market 
upon the transfer of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market to the Trust, 
in exchange for the Trust Shares and the assumption of the Liabilities by the 
Trust, or upon the distribution of the Trust Shares to U.S. Government Money 
Market Shareholders in exchange for their U.S. Government Money Market Shares 
as provided in the Plan; 

   (4) No gain or loss will be recognized by U.S. Government Money Market 
Shareholders upon the exchange of their U.S. Government Money Market Shares 
for the Trust Shares; 

   (5) The aggregate tax basis for the Trust Shares received by each U.S. 
Government Money Market Shareholder pursuant to the Reorganization will be 
the same as the aggregate tax basis of the U.S. Government Money Market 
Shares held by each such U.S. Government Money Market Shareholder immediately 
prior to the Reorganization; 

   (6) The holding period of the Trust Shares to be received by each U.S. 
Government Money Market Shareholder will include the period during which the 
U.S. Government Money Market Shares surrendered in exchange therefor were 
held (provided such U.S. Government Money Market Shares were held as capital 
assets on the date of the Reorganization); 

   (7) The tax basis of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market acquired 
by the Trust will be the same as the tax basis of such assets to U.S. 
Government Money Market immediately prior to the Reorganization; and 

   (8) The holding period of the assets of U.S. Government Money Market in 
the hands of the Trust will include the period during which those assets were 
held by U.S. Government Money Market. 

   We are not expressing an opinion as to any aspect of the Reorganization 
other than those opinions expressly stated above. 

   As noted above, this opinion is based upon our analysis of the Code, 
Treasury Regulations issued thereunder, Internal Revenue Service Rulings and 
case law which we deem relevant as of the date hereof. No assurances can be 
given that there will not be a change in the existing law or that the 
Internal Revenue Service will not alter its present views, either 
prospectively or retroactively, or adopt new views with regard to any of the 
matters upon which we are rendering this opinion, nor can any assurances be 
given that the Internal Revenue Service will not audit or question the 
treatment accorded to the Reorganization on the Federal income tax returns of 
the Trust, U.S. Government Money Market or the U.S. Government Money Market 
Shareholders. 

   We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the 
Registration Statement and to the use of our name and any reference to our 
firm in the Registration Statement and the U.S. Government Money Market Proxy 
constituting a part thereof. 

                                 Very truly yours, 

                                 /s/ Gordon Altman Butowsky 
                                     Weitzen Shalov & Wein 
                                    ----------------------- 

                                3           



<PAGE>
                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement 
and Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information constituting parts 
of this registration statement on Form N-14 (the "Registration Statement") of 
our report dated February 18, 1998, relating to the financial statements and 
financial highlights appearing in the January 31, 1998 Annual Report to 
Shareholders of Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust (the "Fund"), 
which is also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and 
to the reference to us under the heading "Financial Statements and Experts" 
in such Proxy Statement and Prospectus. We also consent to the references to 
us under the headings "Independent Accountants" and "Experts" in the Fund's 
Statement of Additional Information dated March 2, 1998 and to the reference 
to us under the heading "Financial Highlights" in the Fund's Prospectus dated 
March 2, 1998, which Statement of Additional Information and Prospectus have 
been incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. We also 
consent to the incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement and 
Prospectus of our report dated September 12, 1997 relating to the July 31, 
1997 financial statements and financial highlights of Dean Witter Retirement 
Series -U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio, which appears in that fund's 
Statement of Additional Information dated October 31, 1997 which is 
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to the 
incorporation by reference of our report into that fund's Prospectus dated 
October 31, 1997 which is incorporated by reference into this Registration 
Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings 
"Independent Accountants" and "Experts" in that fund's Statement of 
Additional Information and to the reference to us under the heading 
"Financial Highlights" in that fund's Prospectus. 

Price Waterhouse LLP 
1177 Avenue of the Americas 
New York, New York 10036 
May 6, 1998 







<PAGE>
                              POWER OF ATTORNEY 

   KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears 
below constitutes and appoints David M. Butowsky, Stuart M. Strauss and 
Ronald M. Feiman and each and any one of them, his true and lawful 
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and 
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all 
capacitites, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective 
amendments) to the Registration Statement on Form N-14 relating to each of 
the funds listed on Appendix A attached hereto, and to file the same, with 
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and 
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and 
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the 
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in 
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and 
agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes, may lawfully do or cause 
to be done by virtue hereof. 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         SIGNATURE                 TITLE                 DATE 
- -------------------------  -------------------- -------------------- 
<S>                        <C>                  <C>
/s/ Michael Bozic             Trustee/Director       January 29, 1998 
- -------------------------- 
Michael Bozic 

/s/ Edwin J. Garn             Trustee/Director       January 29, 1998 
- -------------------------- 
Edwin J. Garn 

/s/ John R. Haire             Trustee/Director       January 29, 1998 
- -------------------------- 
John R. Haire 

/s/ Manuel H. Johnson         Trustee/Director       January 29, 1998 
- -------------------------- 
Manuel H. Johnson 

/s/ Michael E. Nugent         Trustee/Director       January 29, 1998 
- -------------------------- 
Michael E. Nugent 

/s/ John L. Schroeder         Trustee/Director       January 29, 1998 
- -------------------------- 
John L. Schroeder 

/s/ Wayne E. Hedien           Trustee/Director       January 29, 1998 
- -------------------------- 
Wayne E. Hedien 
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
                                  APPENDIX A 

DEAN WITTER LIQUID ASSET FUND INC. 

DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST 

DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST 

DEAN WITTER DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES INC. 

DEAN WITTER CAPITAL GROWTH SECURITIES 

DEAN WITTER UTILITIES FUND 

DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 

DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND 

DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES 

DEAN WITTER AMERICAN VALUE FUND 

DEAN WITTER VALUE-ADDED MARKET SERIES 

          

<PAGE>
                              POWER OF ATTORNEY 

   KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears 
below constitutes and appoints Barry Fink and Marilyn K. Cranney and each and 
any one of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full 
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and 
stead, in any and all capacitites, to sign any or all amendments (including 
post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement on Form N-14 
relating to each of the funds listed on Appendix A attached hereto, and to 
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection 
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said 
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to 
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be 
done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he 
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said 
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes, 
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           SIGNATURE                    TITLE                 DATE 
- ------------------------------  -------------------- -------------------- 
<S>                             <C>                  <C>
/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo         Trustee/Director       January 29, 1998 
- ------------------------------- 
Charles A. Fiumefreddo 

/s/ Philip J. Purcell              Trustee/Director       January 29, 1998 
- ------------------------------- 
Philip J. Purcell 

</TABLE>


<PAGE>
                                  APPENDIX A 

DEAN WITTER LIQUID ASSET FUND INC. 

DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET TRUST 

DEAN WITTER U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST 

DEAN WITTER DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES INC. 

DEAN WITTER CAPITAL GROWTH SECURITIES 

DEAN WITTER UTILITIES FUND 

DEAN WITTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 

DEAN WITTER STRATEGIST FUND 

DEAN WITTER GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SECURITIES 

DEAN WITTER AMERICAN VALUE FUND 

DEAN WITTER VALUE-ADDED MARKET SERIES 

          


<PAGE>
                        DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
                     U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES 

                  PROXY FOR SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS 
                          TO BE HELD AUGUST 19, 1998 

The undersigned shareholder of the U.S. Government Money Market Series ("U.S. 
Government Money Market"), one of eleven portfolios of Dean Witter Retirement 
Series, does hereby appoint BARRY FINK, ROBERT M. SCANLAN and ROBERT 
GIAMBRONE and each of them, as attorneys-in-fact and proxies of the 
undersigned, each with the full power of substitution, to attend the Special 
Meeting of Shareholders of U.S. Government Money Market to be held on August 
19, 1998, at the Career Development Room, 61st Floor, Two World Trade Center, 
New York, New York at 9:00 A.M., New York time, and at all adjournments 
thereof and to vote the shares held in the name of the undersigned on the 
record date for said meeting for the Proposal specified on the reverse side 
hereof. Said attorneys-in-fact shall vote in accordance with their best 
judgment as to any other matter. 

                         (Continued on reverse side) 

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN 
BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE 
VOTED "FOR" THE PROPOSAL SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF AND AS RECOMMENDED 
BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 

     IMPORTANT--This Proxy must be signed and dated on the reverse side. 

           
<PAGE>
[X] PLEASE MARK BOXES 
    IN BLACK OR BLUE INK 

  The Proposal:                                     FOR    AGAINST   ABSTAIN
  Approval of the Agreement and Plan of             [ ]      [ ]       [ ]
  Reorganization, dated as of April 30, 1998, 
  pursuant to which substantially all of the assets 
  of U.S. Government Money Market would be combined with 
  those of Dean Witter U.S. Government Money Market Trust and shareholders of 
  U.S. Government Money Market would become shareholders of Dean Witter U.S. 
  Government Money Market Trust receiving shares in Dean Witter U.S. 
  Government Money Market Trust with a value equal to the value of their 
  holdings in U.S. Government Money Market. 

  Please Sign personally. If the shares are registered in more than one name, 
  each joint owner or each fiduciary 
  should sign personally. Only authorized officers should sign for 
  corporations. 

                                           Date 
                                                --------------------------

Please make sure to sign and date this Proxy using black or blue ink. 

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------


- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Shareholder sign in the box above 


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Co-Owner (if any) sign in the box above 





- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   [arrow up]          [arrow up]              [arrow up]          [arrow up]

PDX 00107                          PLEASE DETACH AT PERFORATION



                        DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
                     U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES 


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  IMPORTANT 

                   PLEASE SEND IN YOUR PROXY.........TODAY! 

 YOU ARE URGED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ATTACHED PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN 
 THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. THIS WILL HELP SAVE THE EXPENSE OF FOLLOW-UP LETTERS 
 TO SHAREHOLDERS WHO HAVE NOT RESPONDED. 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                


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