AMERICAN CENTURY TARGET MATURITIES TRUST
485BPOS, 1999-01-29
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               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                    Washington, D.C.   20549

                           FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933               [X]

     File No. 2-94608

     Pre-Effective Amendment No.                                      [ ]

     Post-Effective Amendment No. 31                                  [X]

                             and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940       [X]
     
     File No. 811-4165

     Amendment No. 33                                                 [X]

                        (Check appropriate box or boxes.)


                    AMERICAN CENTURY TARGET MATURITIES TRUST
       _________________________________________________________________
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


                     4500 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
       _________________________________________________________________
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (816) 531-5575


            William M. Lyons, 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
       _________________________________________________________________
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

         Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: February 1, 1999

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check
appropriate box)

     [ ] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
     [X] on February 1, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (b)
     [ ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
     [ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
     [ ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
     [ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

     [ ] This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a 
         previously filed post-effective amendment.
<PAGE>
   
                                   PROSPECTUS

                                February 1, 1999
    

                        [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                    American
                                    Century

                                  Target 2000
                                  Target 2005
                                  Target 2010
                                  Target 2015
                                  Target 2020
                                  Target 2025

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                INVESTOR CLASS

 The Securities and Exchange Commission  has not approved or disapproved these
 securities or  determined if this Prospectus is accurate or complete.  Anyone
                who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.

                    Distributed by Funds Distributor, Inc.


Dear Investor,

   Reading a prospectus  doesn't have to be a chore. We've done the hard work so
you can focus on what's  important--learning about the funds. Take a look inside
and you'll see this  prospectus is different  from others.  It takes a clear-cut
approach to fund information.

   
   Here's what you'll find
    

    *   The funds' primary investments and risks

    *   A description of who may or may not want to invest in the funds

    *   Fund  performance,  including  returns  for each  year,  best and  worst
        quarters and average annual returns compared to the funds' benchmarks

    *   An overview of ways to best manage your accounts

    *   Helpful tips and definitions of key investment terms

   
   Whether you're a current  investor or investing in mutual funds for the first
time, this prospectus will give you a clear  understanding  of the funds. If you
have questions,  our Investor Services Representatives are available weekdays, 7
a.m. to 7 p.m.,  and  Saturdays,  9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,  Central time. Our toll-free
number is 1-800-345-2021.  We look forward to helping you achieve your financial
goals.

                               Sincerely,
                               /s/Mark Killen
                               Mark Killen
                               Senior Vice President
                               American Century Investment Services, Inc.
    


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

Throughout  this  book  you'll  find  definitions  of key  investment  terms and
phrases.  When you see a word printed in GREEN ITALICS,  look for its definition
in the left margin.

+ This symbol highlights special information and helpful tips.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
An Overview of the Funds ..................................................    2
Fees and Expenses .........................................................    3
Information about the Funds ...............................................    4
     Target 2000
     Target 2005
     Target 2010
     Target 2015
     Target 2020
     Target 2025
Basics of Fixed Income Investing ..........................................    8
Management ................................................................   11
Investing with American Century ...........................................   14
Share Price and Distributions .............................................   17
Taxes .....................................................................   18
Multiple Class Information ................................................   19
Financial Highlights ......................................................   20
At Your Service ...........................................................   29
    


                                                    American Century Investments


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

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

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDS

WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT GOALS?

These funds seek the highest return  consistent with investment in U.S. Treasury
securities.

WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' PRIMARY INVESTMENTS AND RISKS?

   
The funds invest in  zero-coupon  U.S.  Treasury  securities.  Each of the funds
invests in  different  types of these  municipal  debt  securities  and involves
different risks. The chart below shows the primary  differences among the funds.
Additional  information about the funds' investment  strategies and risks begins
on page 4.
    


<TABLE>
   
                    Fund           Primary Investments                    Primary Risks             
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                 <C>            <C>                                    <C>                      
Shorter Term        Target 2000    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   Lowest interest rate risk 
Less Volatile       --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      ^             Target 2005    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   Low interest rate risk    
      |             --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      |             Target 2010    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   Interest rate risk        
      |             --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      |             Target 2015    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   High interest rate risk   
      |             --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      v             Target 2020    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   Higher interest rate risk 
Longer Term         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More Volatile       Target 2025    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   Highest interest rate risk
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUNDS?

The funds may be a good investment if you are

* investing through an IRA or other tax-advantaged retirement plan

* seeking  long-term  financial  goals that correspond to the year identified in
  the name of a particular fund

* comfortable with  fluctuating  share  prices,  which  increase  as each funds'
  maturity year increases

* comfortable with the funds' other investment risks

WHO MAY NOT WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUNDS?

The funds may not be a good investment if you are

* seeking current tax-free income

* a short-term investor

* investing for long-term capital appreciation

* looking for the added security of FDIC insurance


 2     American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

+ Use this example to compare the costs of investing in other funds.  Of course,
your actual costs may be higher or lower.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

   
FEES AND EXPENSES


There are no sales loads, fees or other charges

*  to buy fund shares directly from American Century
*  to reinvest dividends in additional shares
*  to exchange into the Investor Class shares of other American Century funds

The following  table describes the fees and expenses you will pay if you buy and
hold shares of the funds.

Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets)

              Management  Distribution and      Other        Total Annual Fund
              Fee(1)      Service (12b-1) Fees  Expenses(2)  Operating Expenses
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000   0.59%       None                  0.00%        0.59%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005   0.59%       None                  0.00%        0.59%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010   0.59%       None                  0.00%        0.59%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015   0.59%       None                  0.00%        0.59%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020   0.59%       None                  0.00%        0.59%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025   0.59%       None                  0.00%        0.59%

(1) Based on expenses  incurred  during the funds' most recent fiscal year.  The
funds have  stepped  fee  schedules.  As a result,  the funds'  management  fees
generally  decrease as fund assets  increase.  Please  consult the  Statement of
Additional  Information  for more details  about the funds'  management  fees. A
portion of the management fee may be paid by the funds' advisor to  unaffiliated
third parties who provide  recordkeeping and administrative  services that would
otherwise be performed by an affiliate of the advisor.

(2)  Other  expenses,  which  include  the  fees  and  expenses  of  the  funds'
independent trustees, their legal counsel,  interest and extraordinary expenses,
were less than 0.005% for the most recent fiscal year.

Example

The examples in the table below are intended to help you compare the costs of
investing in a fund with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. Assuming
you . . .

* invest $10,000 in the fund
* redeem  all of your  shares at the end of the  periods  shown  below 
* earn 5% return each year
* incur the same operating expenses as shown above

 . . . your cost of investing in the fund would be:

                   1 year        3 years        5 years         10 years
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000        $60           $189           $329            $736
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005        $60           $189           $329            $736
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010        $60           $189           $329            $736
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015        $60           $189           $329            $736
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020        $60           $189           $329            $736
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025        $60           $189           $329            $736

    
   www.americancentury.com                  American Century Investments    3


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WEIGHTED AVERAGE MATURITY is  a measure of a fund's interest rate  sensitivity.
See "Weighted Average  Maturity," page 8.
    

+ Because all of the interest and principal is paid when the securities  mature,
zero-coupon securities are bought and sold at prices below their face value.

A fund's  ANTICIPATED  GROWTH RATE is a calculation  of the  annualized  rate of
growth that an investor may expect from the purchase  date to the fund's  target
maturity date.

The ANTICIPATED VALUE AT MATURITY is the calculated value of a fund's investment
portfolio. It is based on the maturity values of the fund's zero-coupon Treasury
securities.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS

TARGET 2000 
TARGET 2005 
TARGET 2010 
TARGET 2015 
TARGET 2020 
TARGET 2025

WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES?

   
These funds seek the highest return  consistent with investment in U.S. Treasury
securities.
    

HOW DO THE FUNDS IMPLEMENT THEIR INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES?

Each fund invests primarily in zero-coupon U.S. Treasury  securities.  Each fund
is  designed  to provide an  investment  experience  that is similar to a direct
investment in a zero-coupon investment.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE FUNDS?

Each fund is managed to mature in the year  identified  in its name;  therefore,
the funds' WEIGHTED AVERAGE MATURITIES are different. Funds with longer weighted
average maturities have the most volatile share prices. For example, Target 2000
has the shortest weighted average  maturity,  and its share price will fluctuate
the least.

WHAT ARE ZERO-COUPON TREASURY SECURITIES?

   
U.S.  Treasury bonds have a traditional  design.  Interest is paid  periodically
until maturity,  when the principal is repaid.  Zero-coupon Treasury securities,
however,  do not  make  any  periodic  interest  payments.  Instead,  all of the
interest and principal is paid when the securities mature.
    

Zero-coupon Treasury securities are created by separating a traditional Treasury
bond's interest and principal parts. Each part can be used to create zero-coupon
Treasury  securities.  Zero-coupon  Treasury securities are created by financial
institutions  (like a  dealer),  the U.S.  Treasury  and other  agencies  of the
federal  government.  The important  characteristic  is that the final  maturity
value of a zero-coupon Treasury security is supported by Treasury securities.

   
Zero-coupon  Treasury securities are beneficial for investors who wish to invest
for a fixed  period of time at a selected  rate.  When an  investor  purchases a
traditional  bond, it is paid periodic  interest at a  predetermined  rate. This
interest payment must be reinvested elsewhere.  However, the investor may not be
able to  reinvest  this  interest  payment  in an  investment  that has a return
similar  to a  traditional  bond.  This is  called  reinvestment  risk.  Because
zero-coupon   securities  do  not  pay  interest   periodically,   there  is  no
reinvestment risk.
    

HOW IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUNDS LIKE AN INVESTMENT IN ZERO-COUPON U.S.
TREASURY SECURITIES?

   
If you invest in a fund,  reinvest all  distributions and hold your shares until
the fund is liquidated, your investment experience will be similar to that of an
investment in a zero-coupon  U.S.  Treasury  security that matures at the end of
the fund's maturity year.  Each fund is managed to provide an investment  return
that does not differ  substantially  from the ANTICIPATED  GROWTH RATE (AGR) and
ANTICIPATED  VALUE AT  MATURITY  (AVM)  calculated  on the day the  shares  were
purchased.
    


 4     American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


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+ This table is  designed  to show the narrow  ranges in which each  fund's AVMs
vary. There is no guarantee that the funds' AVMs will fluctuate as little in the
future.

+ The  investment  performance  of the funds is  designed  to be  similar  to an
investment in an equivalent  zero-coupon U.S.  Treasury  security.  However,  an
investment in the funds involves different risks.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

   
The advisor  calculates  each fund's AGR and AVM each business  day.  While many
factors can  influence  each fund's  daily AGR and AVM,  the AGR and AVM tend to
fluctuate  within narrow ranges.  The following  table shows how each fund's AVM
has fluctuated in the last five years.
    

Anticipated Values at Maturity

   
                   9/30/94     9/30/95      9/30/96      9/30/97       9/30/98
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000        $100.86      $100.99      $101.10     $101.13        $101.78
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005        $100.58      $100.32      $100.71     $100.85        $101.53
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010        $101.38      $101.02      $102.53     $103.40        $104.85
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015        $107.95      $109.62      $110.11     $110.52        $112.63
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020        $102.11      $102.31      $103.60     $104.84        $106.96
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025          N/A          N/A        $109.24     $110.88        $112.23
    

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A FUND REACHES ITS MATURITY YEAR?

   
*  The fund managers may begin buying traditional Treasury securities consistent
   with a fund's investment objective and pending maturity.

*  As a fund's  zero-coupon  Treasury  securities  mature,  its proceeds will be
   invested in Treasury bills.
    

*  In January of the year following maturity, the fund will be liquidated.

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUNDS?

   
The funds have different weighted average maturities. Because of this, the funds
will  respond  differently  to  changes in  interest  rates.  Funds with  longer
weighted  average  maturities are more sensitive to interest rate changes.  When
interest  rates rise,  the values of the funds usually  fall,  but the values of
funds with longer weighted average maturities generally will fall farther.  This
interest rate sensitivity is greater in the funds than for traditional  Treasury
funds.

The funds' share values will fluctuate.  In general,  the funds that have higher
potential  income  have a higher  potential  loss.  If you sell your shares when
their value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.
    

While we recommend that  shareholders  hold their investment in the funds, we do
not restrict your (or any other shareholders')  ability to redeem shares. When a
fund's  shareholders  redeem  their  shares  before  the target  maturity  year,
unanticipated capital gains or losses may result. The fund will distribute these
capital gains and losses to all shareholders.

   
The funds are designed to provide an investment  that is similar to investing in
a zero-coupon U.S.  Treasury security that matures in the year identified in its
name.  The fund  managers  adhere to  investment  policies  that are designed to
ensure that this happens.  However, precise forecasts of a fund's final maturity
value and its yield to maturity are not possible.
    


   www.americancentury.com                    American Century Investments  5


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

   
+ The performance  information on this page is designed to help you see how fund
returns can vary.  Keep in mind that past  performance  does not predict how the
funds will perform in the future.
    

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

FUND PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Annual Total Returns

   
The  following  bar chart shows the  performance  of the funds'  Investor  Class
shares for each of the last 10 calendar  years or for each full calendar year in
the life of the fund if less than 10 years.  It indicates the  volatility of the
funds' historical returns from year to year.

[bar chart]
          Target    Target    Target    Target    Target    Target
           2000      2005      2010      2015      2020      2025

1998      7.36%     12.87%    15.07%    14.60%    16.49%    21.81%
1997      7.05%     11.63%    16.75%    22.92%    28.62%    30.11%
1996      1.99%     -1.24%    -3.54%    -6.03%    -8.42%
1995     20.74%     32.65%    42.09%    52.72%    61.34%
1994     -6.89%     -8.90%   -11.56%   -14.08%   -17.66%
1993     15.46%     21.56%    26.28%    30.51%    35.62%
1992      8.47%      9.56%     9.78%     7.77%     8.33%
1991     20.66%     21.47%    21.06%    22.47%    17.36%
1990      6.31%      3.58%     0.27%    -3.38%    -4.50%
1989     19.81%     23.89%    28.02%    33.49%
    


  6   American Century Investments                              1-800-345-2021


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

+ For  current  performance  information,  including  yields,  please call us at
1-800-345-2021 or visit American Century's Web site at www.americancentury.com

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns

   
The  highest  and  lowest  returns  of the funds'  Investor  Class  shares for a
calendar  quarter  during the period  reflected by the  preceding  bar chart are
provided in the  following  chart to indicate the funds'  historical  short-term
volatility.  Shareholders should be aware,  however, that the funds are intended
for investors whose  investment  horizon permits them to hold a fund until it is
liquideated. The funds are not managed for results before maturity.
    

[bar chart]
                     Lowest                Highest

Target 2000      -4.93% 1Q 1994        14.65% 2Q 1989
Target 2005      -7.65% 1Q 1990        18.27% 2Q 1989
Target 2010     -10.88% 1Q 1990        23.61% 2Q 1989
Target 2015     -13.82% 1Q 1996        27.42% 2Q 1989
Target 2020     -16.61% 1Q 1996        21.44% 2Q 1995
Target 2025     -10.19% 1Q 1997        14.68% 4Q 1997

Average Annual Returns

   
The  following  table shows the average  annual  returns of the funds'  Investor
Class shares for the periods  indicated during the last 10 calendar years or for
the life of the fund if less than 10 years. The benchmarks are unmanaged indices
(except as noted) that have no operating costs and are included in the table for
performance comparison.

For the calendar year
ended December 31, 1998           1 year     5 years   10 years  Life of Fund(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000                        7.36%      5.67%      9.75%       12.12%

11/15/00 Maturity STRIPS Issue(2)  7.91%      6.15%     10.33%       13.43%

Merrill Lynch Long-Term
Treasury Index                    13.55%      9.34%     11.48%       12.53%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005                       12.87%      8.50%     12.05%       14.43%

11/15/05 Maturity STRIPS Issue(2) 13.45%      8.73%     12.39%       16.03%

Merrill Lynch Long-Term
Treasury Index                    13.55%      9.34%     11.48%       12.53%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010                       15.07%     10.24%     13.37%       16.03%

11/15/10 Maturity STRIPS Issue(2) 16.09%     10.94%     14.09%       17.51%

Merrill Lynch Long-Term
Treasury Index                    13.55%      9.34%     11.48%       12.53%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015                       14.60%     11.68%     14.45%       11.62%

11/15/15 Maturity STRIPS Issue(2) 15.13%     12.19%     15.11%       11.62%

Merrill Lynch Long-Term
Treasury Index                    13.55%      9.34%     11.48%        9.72%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020                       16.49%     12.76%       N/A        12.98%

11/15/20 Maturity STRIPS Issue(2) 17.59%     13.25%       N/A        12.61%

Merrill Lynch Long-Term
Treasury Index                    13.55%      9.34%       N/A        10.69%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025                       21.81%       N/A        N/A        16.92%

11/15/25 Maturity STRIPS Issue(2) 22.67%       N/A        N/A        18.31%

Merrill Lynch Long-Term
Treasury Index                    13.55%       N/A        N/A        11.44%

(1) The inception dates are: Target 2000, Target 2005 and Target 2010: March 25,
1985; Target 2015: September 1, 1986; Target 2020: December 29, 1989; and Target
2025: February 15, 1996.

(2) The Target funds are designed to have a performance  behavior that is like a
zero-coupon  security of the maturity  suggested by each fund's name. The STRIPS
issues listed in this table are examples of these  zero-coupon  securities.  The
STRIPS issues are not indices, but are important benchmarks of the Target funds'
performance.
    

   www.americancentury.com                American Century Investments      7


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WEIGHTED  AVERAGE  MATURITY is a tool that the fund managers use to  approximate
the remaining maturity of a fund's investment portfolio.
    

+ The longer a fund's  weighted  average  maturity,  the more sensitive it is to
changes in interest rates.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

BASICS OF FIXED INCOME INVESTING

DEBT SECURITIES

   
When a fund  buys a debt  security,  which  also is also  called a fixed  income
security,  it is essentially  lending money to the issuer of the security.  Debt
securities  also are  referred  to as fixed  income  securities.  Notes,  bonds,
commercial paper and Treasury bills are examples of debt  securities.  After the
debt  security is first sold by the  issuer,  it may be bought and sold by other
investors.  The price of the  security  may rise or fall based on many  factors,
including changes in interest rates, inflation and liquidity.
    

The fund managers decide which debt securities to buy and sell by

   
*  determining which securities help a fund meet its maturity requirements
    

*  identifying securities that do not satisfy a fund's credit quality
   requirements

*  evaluating the current economic conditions and assessing the risk of
   inflation

*  evaluating special features of the securities that may make them more or less
   attractive

WEIGHTED AVERAGE MATURITY

Like most loans,  debt  securities  eventually must be repaid (or refinanced) at
some date.  This date is called the maturity  date. The number of days left to a
debt  security's  maturity date is called the remaining  maturity.  The longer a
debt  security's  remaining  maturity,  the more  sensitive  it is to changes in
interest rates.

   
Because a bond fund will own many debt securities,  the fund managers  calculate
the average of the remaining maturities of all the debt securities the fund owns
to evaluate the interest rate sensitivity of the entire portfolio.  This average
is  weighted  according  to the size of the fund's  individual  holdings  and is
called WEIGHTED AVERAGE  MATURITY.  The following chart shows how a fund manager
would  calculate  the weighted  average  maturity for a fund that owned only two
debt securities.
    

                     Amount of          Percent of     Remaining      Weighted
                     Security Owned     Portfolio      Maturity       Maturity
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt Security A      $100,000           25%            1,000 days      250 days
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt Security B      $300,000           75%           10,000 days    7,500 days
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted Average Maturity                                            7,750 days

TYPES OF RISK

The basic types of risk that the funds face are described below.

Interest Rate Risk

Generally,  interest  rates and the prices of debt  securities  move in opposite
directions.  So when  interest  rates fall,  the prices of most debt  securities
rise; when interest rates rise, prices fall.  Because the funds invest primarily
in  debt   securities,   changes  in  interest  rates  will  affect  the  funds'
performance.

   
The degree to which interest rate changes affect the funds'  performance  varies
and is related to the weighted average maturity of each fund. For example,  when
interest  rates rise, you can expect the share value of a long-term bond fund to
fall more than that of a short-term  bond fund. When rates fall, the opposite is
true. This sensitivity to interest rate changes is called interest rate risk.
    


  8   American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


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+ Credit  quality may be lower when the issuer has 
* a high debt level
* a short operating history
* a senior level of debt
* a difficult, competitive environment

+ The Statement of Additional  Information  provides a detailed  description  of
These securities ratings.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

When interest rates change, longer maturity bonds experience a greater change in
price.  The following  table shows the effect of a 1% increase in interest rates
on the price of 7% coupon bonds of differing maturities:

   
Remaining Maturity   Current Price  Price After 1% Increase   Change in Price
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 year               $100.00        $99.06                      -0.94%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 years              $100.00        $97.38                      -2.62%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 years             $100.00        $93.20                      -6.80%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 years             $100.00        $88.69                     -11.31%
    

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk that an obligation won't be paid and a loss will result.
A high  credit  rating  indicates  a high  degree of  confidence  by the  rating
organization  that  the  issuer  will  be able to  withstand  adverse  business,
financial  and economic  conditions  and be able to make  interest and principal
payments on time.  Generally,  a lower credit rating indicates a greater risk of
nonpayment.  A lower rating also may indicate  that the issuer has a more senior
series of debt  securities,  which  means that if the  issuer  has  difficulties
making  its  payments,  the  more  senior  series  of debt is  first in line for
payment.

   
It's not as simple as buying the highest-rated debt securities,  though.  Higher
credit ratings  usually mean lower interest  rates,  so investors often purchase
securities that aren't the highest rated to increase return. If a fund purchases
lower-rated securities, it assumes additional credit risk.

The following  chart shows the  authorized  credit  quality ranges for the funds
offered by this Prospectus.
    

- -------------------------------------------
                  Quality
- -------------------------------------------
        High Quality
- -----------------------------
                         A-1          A-2         A-3
                         P-1          P-2         P-3
                         MIG-1        MIG-2       MIG-3
                         SP-1         SP-2        SP-3
                 AAA     AA     A     BBB    BB    B    CCC   CC    C    D
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
         INVESTMENT GRADE                          NON-INVESTMENT GRADE
- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------

   
Strictly  speaking,  U.S.  Treasury  securities  are not "rated"  AAA.  However,
Treasury  securities  are  backed  by the full  faith and  credit of the  United
States,  and are considered among the safest securities in the world. The rating
on U.S. Treasury securities is, therefore, considered to be equivalent to AAA.

Liquidity Risk

Debt securities can become  difficult to sell for a variety of reasons,  such as
lack of an active trading market.  When a fund's investments become difficult to
sell, it is said to have a problem with  liquidity.  The chance that a fund will
have liquidity issues is called liquidity risk.

Inflation Risk

The safest investments usually have the lowest potential income and performance.
During  periods  of  high  inflation,   shorter-term  fixed  income  investments
typically  perform better.  This reflects the high  short-term  demand for money
when inflation is high. The risk that your  short-term  performance  will suffer
during periods of high inflation is called inflation risk.



   www.americancentury.com                  American Century Investments     9


A COMPARISON OF BASIC RISK FACTORS

The  following  chart  depicts the basic risks of investing in the funds.  It is
designed to help you compare  these funds with each other;  it shouldn't be used
to compare these funds with other mutual funds.

          Interest Rate Risk  Credit Risk(1)  Liquidity Risk(2)  Inflation Risk
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000     Lowest            Same            Same               Lowest
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005     Low               Same            Same               Low
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010     Medium            Same            Same               Medium
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015     Medium            Same            Same               Medium
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020     High              Same            Same               High
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025     Highest           Same            Same               Highest

(1) Because the funds all invest in zero-coupon Treasury securities, there is no
    difference  in  credit  risk.  The  funds are  considered  among the  safest
    securities in the world because  Treasury  securities are backed by the full
    faith and  credit of the United  States.  The funds all  feature  low credit
    risk.

(2) The Treasury market is considered the most liquid in the world.

The funds  engage in a variety of  investment  techniques  as they pursue  their
investment  objectives.  Each technique has its own characteristics and may pose
some  level of risk to the funds.  If you would  like to learn more about  these
techniques,  you should review the Statement of  Additional  Information  before
making an investment.

    
  10   American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


   
MANAGEMENT

WHO MANAGES THE FUNDS?

The Board of  Trustees,  investment  advisor and fund  management  team play key
roles in the management of the funds.
    

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

   
The Board of Trustees  oversees the  management  of the funds and meets at least
quarterly  to  review  reports  about  fund  operations.  Although  the Board of
Trustees does not manage the funds, it has hired an investment advisor to do so.
More than half of the Trustees are independent of the funds'  advisor;  that is,
they are not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor.
    

THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR

   
The funds' investment  advisor is American Century Investment  Management,  Inc.
The advisor has been  managing  mutual  funds  since 1958.  American  Century is
headquartered at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
    

The advisor is responsible  for managing the investment  portfolios of the funds
and directing the purchase and sale of their investment securities.  The advisor
also arranges for transfer agency,  custody and all other services necessary for
the funds to operate.

   
For the  services it provided to the funds  during the most recent  fiscal year,
the  advisor  received a unified  management  fee based on a  percentage  of the
average net assets of the Investor Class of shares of the funds. The rate of the
management fee for a fund is determined on a class-by-class  basis monthly using
a two-step  formula that takes into account the fund's  strategy  (money market,
bond or equity) and the total amount of mutual fund assets the advisor  manages.
The Statement of Additional  Information contains detailed information about the
calculation  of the  management  fee.  Out of that  fee,  the  advisor  paid all
expenses of managing and operating the funds except brokerage  expenses,  taxes,
interest, fees and expenses of the independent trustees (including legal counsel
fees) and extraordinary expenses.

Management Fees Paid by the Funds to the Advisor as a Percentage of Average  Net
Assets for the Most Recent Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000                                                              0.59%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005                                                              0.59%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010                                                              0.59%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015                                                              0.59%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020                                                              0.59%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025                                                              0.59%
    


   www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments  11


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+ CODE OF ETHICS
American  Century has a Code of Ethics  designed to ensure that the interests of
fund  shareholders come before the interests of the people who manage the funds.
Among other  provisions,  the Code of Ethics  prohibits  portfolio  managers and
other investment  personnel from buying securities in an initial public offering
or from  profiting  from the  purchase and sale of the same  security  within 60
calendar days. In addition,  the Code of Ethics requires  portfolio managers and
other  employees  with  access  to  information  about the  purchase  or sale of
securities by the funds to obtain approval before executing  permitted  personal
trades.
    

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

THE FUND MANAGEMENT TEAM

   
The advisor uses teams of portfolio  managers,  assistant portfolio managers and
analysts to manage the funds.  Teams meet regularly to review portfolio holdings
and to discuss purchase and sale activity.  Team members buy and sell securities
for a fund as they  see fit,  guided  by the  fund's  investment  objective  and
strategy.
    

The portfolio managers on the investment team are identified below:

DAVID SCHROEDER

Mr. Schroeder, Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager, has been a member of
the team that manages the Target funds since  joining  American  Century in July
1990. He has a bachelor of arts from Pomona College.

JEREMY FLETCHER

   
Mr. Fletcher,  Associate  Portfolio Manager,  has been a member of the team that
manages the Target  funds  since  August  1997.  He joined  American  Century in
October 1991 as an Investor Services  Representative.  He has bachelor's degrees
in economics and mathematics from Claremont McKenna College.
    


  12   American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

Fundamental  investment  policies  contained  in  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information  and the  investment  objectives  of the  funds  may not be  changed
without a shareholder  vote. The Board of Trustees may change any other policies
and investment strategies.

YEAR 2000 ISSUES

Many of the world's  computer  systems  currently  cannot properly  recognize or
process date-sensitive information relating to the Year 2000 and beyond. Because
this may impact the computer systems of various American  Century-affiliated and
external service providers for the funds,  American Century formally initiated a
Year 2000  readiness  project in July 1997.  It  involves a team of  information
technology  professionals  assisted  by  outside  consultants  and  guided  by a
senior-level steering committee.  The team's goal is to assess the impact of the
Year 2000 on  American  Century's  systems,  renovate  or  replace  noncompliant
critical systems and test those systems. In addition,  the team has been working
to gather  information  about the Year 2000  efforts of the funds'  other  major
service providers.

Although  American Century believes its critical systems will function  properly
in the Year 2000, this is not guaranteed.  If the efforts of American Century or
its  external  service  providers  are  not  successful,  the  funds'  business,
particularly the provision of shareholder services, may be hampered.

   
In  addition,  the  issuers  of  securities  the funds own could  have Year 2000
computer  problems.  These problems could  negatively  affect the value of their
securities, which, in turn, could impact the funds' performance. The advisor has
established a process to gather publicly  available  information  about the Year
2000  readiness  of these  issuers.  However,  this  process may not uncover all
relevant  information,  and the  information  gathered  may not be complete  and
accurate.  Moreover, an issuer's Year 2000 readiness is only one of many factors
the fund  managers  may consider  when making  investment  decisions,  and other
factors may receive greater weight.
    


   www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   13


INVESTING WITH AMERICAN CENTURY

SERVICES AUTOMATICALLY AVAILABLE TO YOU

   
You  automatically  will have access to the services  listed below when you open
your account.  If you do not want these services,  see  "Conducting  Business in
Writing" below.
    

CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN WRITING

   
If you prefer to conduct  business in writing only, you can indicate this on the
account  application.  If you  choose  this  option,  you must  provide  written
instructions  to invest,  exchange  and  redeem.  All  account  owners must sign
transaction  instructions (with signatures  guaranteed for redemptions in excess
of $100,000).  If you want to add services  later,  you can complete an Investor
Service Options form.


WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BY TELEPHONE

Investor Services
1-800-345-2021

Corporate; Not-For-Profit; Foundations; Endowments; Keogh;
SEP-, SARSEP- and SIMPLE-IRA; and 403(b) Services
1-800-345-3533

Automated Information Line
1-800-345-8765

[illustration of telephone]

OPEN AN ACCOUNT

If you are a current investor, you can open an account by exchanging shares from
another  American  Century  account.  (This service is not available if you have
chosen to do business in writing only.)

EXCHANGE SHARES

Call us or use our  Automated  Information  Line if you  have  authorized  us to
accept telephone instructions.

MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS

Call us or use our  Automated  Information  Line if you  have  authorized  us to
invest from your bank account.

SELL SHARES

Call an Investor Services Representative.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BY MAIL OR FAX

P.O. Box 419200 Kansas City, MO 64141-6200

Fax
816-340-7962

[illustration of envelope]

OPEN AN ACCOUNT

Send a signed and  completed  application  and check or money  order  payable to
American Century Investments.

EXCHANGE SHARES

Send us written  instructions to exchange your shares from one American  Century
account to another.

MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS

Send us your check or money  order for at least $50 with an  investment  slip or
$250 without an investment slip. If you don't have an investment  slip,  include
your name, address and account number on your check or money order.

SELL SHARES

Send us written  instructions to sell shares or send us a redemption  form. Call
an Investor Services Representative to request a form.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ONLINE

www.americancentury.com

[illustration of computer and monitor]

OPEN AN ACCOUNT

If you are a current investor, you can open an account by exchanging shares from
another  American  Century  account.  (This service is not available if you have
chosen to do business in writing only.)

EXCHANGE SHARES

Exchange shares from another American Century account.

MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS

Make an additional  investment into an established  American  Century account if
you have authorized us to invest from your bank account.

SELL SHARES

Not available.


   14   American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


A NOTE ABOUT MAILINGS TO SHAREHOLDERS

To reduce  expenses and show respect for our  environment,  we will deliver most
financial reports, prospectuses and account statements to households in a single
envelope,  even if the accounts are registered  under  different  names.  If you
would like additional  copies of financial  reports and prospectuses or separate
mailing of account statements, please call us.

YOUR GUIDE TO SERVICES AND POLICIES

When you open an account,  you will receive a services guide, which explains the
services available to you and the policies of the fund and the transfer agent.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BY WIRE


+  Please remember that if you request redemptions by wire, $10 will be deducted
from the amount redeemed. Your bank also may charge a fee.

[illustration of fax machine]

OPEN AN ACCOUNT

Call us to set up your  account or mail a completed  application  to the address
provided in the "By mail" section and give your bank the following information:

o Our bank information
       Commerce Bank N.A.
       Routing No. 101000019
       Account No. 2804918
o The fund name
o Your American Century account number* 
o Your name 
* For additional investments only

MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS

Follow the wire instructions provided in the "Open an account" section.

SELL SHARES

You can  receive  redemption  proceeds  by wire or  electronic  transfer.  (This
service is not available if you have chosen to do business in writing only.)

EXCHANGE SHARES

Not applicable.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AUTOMATICALLY

[illustration of three arrows forming a circle]

OPEN AN ACCOUNT

Not available.

EXCHANGE SHARES

Send us written  instructions to set up an automatic exchange of shares from one
American Century account to another.

MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS

Select "Establish  Automatic  Investments" on your application to make automatic
purchases of shares on a regular  basis.  You must invest at least $600 per year
per account.

SELL SHARES

If you have at least  $10,000 in your  account,  sell  shares  automatically  by
establishing a Check-A-Month or an Automatic Redemption.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IN PERSON

[illustration of a person]

If you prefer to handle your  transactions in person,  visit one of the Investor
Centers  listed  below.  A  representative  can help you open an  account,  make
additional investments and sell or exchange shares.

4500 Main Street Kansas City, Missouri 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday - Friday

1665 Charleston Road Mountain View, California 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Frida

4917 Town Center Dr. Leawood, Kansas 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday -- Friday 8 a.m.
to noon, Saturday

2000 S. Colorado Blvd. Denver, Colorado 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday


   www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   15


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

+ Financial  intermediaries include banks,  broker-dealers,  insurance companies
and investment advisors.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

MINIMUM INITIAL INVESTMENT AMOUNTS

To open an account, the minimum investments are:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual or Joint                                         $2,500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traditional IRA                                             $1,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roth IRA                                                    $1,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Education IRA                                               $500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UGMA/UTMA                                                   $1,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
403(b)                                                      No minimum

If you  establish an automatic  investment  plan of at least $50 per month,  the
minimum may be waived.

REDEMPTION OF SHARES IN LOW-BALANCE ACCOUNTS

If your  redemption  activity  causes  your  account  balance  to fall below the
minimum initial  investment  amount,  we will notify you and give you 90 days to
meet the minimum,  or to establish an automatic  monthly  investment of at least
$50. If you do not meet the deadline, American Century will redeem the shares in
the account and send the proceeds to your address of record.
    
INVESTING THROUGH FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you do business  with us through a  financial  intermediary  or a  retirement
plan,  your ability to purchase,  exchange and redeem  shares will depend on the
policies of that entity. Some policy differences may include

* minimum investment requirements
* exchange policies
* fund choices
* cut-off time for investments

Please  contact  your  financial  intermediary  or plan  sponsor  for a complete
description  of its policies.  Copies of the funds' annual  reports,  semiannual
reports  and  Statements  of  Additional  Information  are  available  from your
intermediary or plan sponsor.

   
Certain  financial  intermediaries  perform for their clients  recordkeeping and
administrative  services that would otherwise be performed by American Century's
transfer agent.  In some  circumstances,  American  Century will pay the service
provider a fee for performing those services.
    

Although  transactions in fund shares may be made directly with American Century
at no charge,  you also may purchase,  redeem and exchange  fund shares  through
financial  intermediaries that charge a transaction-based or other fee for their
services. Those charges are retained by the intermediary and are not shared with
American Century or the funds.

   
American Century has contracts with certain financial  intermediaries  requiring
them to track  the time  investment  orders  are  received  and to  comply  with
procedures  relating to the  transmission  of orders.  The funds have authorized
those  intermediaries  to accept  orders on their behalf up to the time at which
the net asset value is determined.  If those orders are  transmitted to American
Century and paid for in accordance with the contract, they will be priced at the
net asset value next determined  after your request is received in good order by
the intermediary on a fund's behalf.
    


  16   American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

The NET ASSET VALUE of a fund is the price of the fund's shares.

   
CAPITAL GAINS are increases in the values of capital assets, such as stock, from
the time the assets are  purchased.  Tax  becomes  due on capital  gains once an
asset is sold.
    

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

SHARE PRICE AND DISTRIBUTIONS

SHARE PRICE

   
American  Century  determines  the NET  ASSET  VALUE of the funds as of ONE HOUR
BEFORE the close of regular  trading on the New York Stock  Exchange  (usually 4
p.m.  Eastern  time) each day the Exchange is open. On days when the Exchange is
not open, we do not calculate the net asset value. The net asset value of a fund
share is the current value of the fund's assets, minus any liabilities,  divided
by the number of fund shares outstanding.

If current prices of securities  owned by a fund are not readily  available from
an independent  pricing  service,  the advisor may determine their fair value in
accordance with procedures adopted by the funds' Board of Trustees.
    

We will price your purchase,  exchange or redemption at the net asset value next
determined after we receive your transaction request in good order.

DISTRIBUTIONS

   
Federal tax laws require each fund to make  distributions to its shareholders in
order  to  qualify  as a  "regulated  investment  company."  Qualification  as a
regulated  investment  company means that the funds will not be subject to state
or federal  income  tax on  amounts  distributed.  The  distributions  generally
consist of dividends and interest received, as well as CAPITAL GAINS realized on
the sale of investment  securities.  Each fund generally pays distributions from
net income and capital gains,  if any, once a year in December.  A fund may make
more frequent distributions,  if necessary, to comply with Internal Revenue code
provisions.

You will begin to participate in fund  distributions the day after your purchase
is effective.  If you redeem shares, you will receive the distribution  declared
for  the day  you  redeem.  If you  redeem  all  shares,  we  will  include  the
distribution on the redeemed shares with your redemption proceeds.

Participants in employer-sponsored retirement or savings plans must reinvest all
distributions.  For shareholders  investing  through taxable  accounts,  we will
reinvest  distributions unless you elect to receive them in cash. Please consult
your services guide for further  information  regarding  distributions  and your
distribution options.

REVERSE SHARE SPLITS

When a fund pays its  distributions,  the Board also  declares  a reverse  share
split  for  each  fund  that  exactly  offsets  the  per-share   amount  of  the
distribution.  If you reinvest  your  dividends,  this reverse share split means
that you will hold exactly the same number of shares after a dividend as you did
before. This reverse share split makes changes in the funds' share prices behave
like changes in the values of zero-coupon securities.

FUND LIQUIDATION

During a fund's target maturity year, you will be asked how you want your shares
liquidated. You can choose one of the following

* cash
* shares of another American Century mutual fund

If you do not tell us by December 31 of the target year how you want your shares
liquidated, your money will be exchanged for shares of Capital Preservation,  an
American Century Treasury money market fund.
    


  www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments     17


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

   
+ BUYING A DIVIDEND
Purchasing  fund shares in a taxable  account  shortly before a distribution  is
sometimes known as buying a dividend.  In taxable accounts,  you must pay income
taxes on the  distribution  whether you reinvest the  distribution or take it in
cash. In addition,  you will have to pay taxes on the  distribution  whether the
value of your  investment  decreased,  increased  or remained the same after you
bought the fund shares.

The risk in buying a dividend is that a fund's  portfolio may build up a taxable
gains throughout the period covered by a distribution, as securities are sold at
a profit. We distribute those gains to you, after  subtracting any losses,  even
if you did not own the shares when the gains occurred.
    

If you buy a  dividend,  you incur the full tax  liability  of the  distribution
period,  but you may not enjoy the full  benefit  of the gains  realized  in the
fund's portfolio.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

TAXES

TAX-DEFERRED ACCOUNTS

If you purchase fund shares through a tax-deferred  account, such as a qualified
employer-sponsored   retirement  or  savings  plan,  income  and  capital  gains
distributions  usually  will  not be  subject  to  current  taxation,  but  will
accumulate in your account under the plan on a tax-deferred basis.

   
Complex tax rules govern employer-sponsored retirement and savings plans. If you
elect to participate in your employer's plan,  consult your plan  administrator,
your summary plan  description or a professional  tax advisor  regarding the tax
consequences  of  participation   in,   contributions  to,  and  withdrawals  or
distributions from the plan.
    

TAXABLE ACCOUNTS

   
Fund dividends and distributions  are taxable to most investors.  The tax status
of any  distribution  is not  affected  by how long you have been in the fund or
whether you  reinvest  your  distributions  or take them as income.  In general,
distributions are taxable at the federal level as follows:
    

Type of distribution         Tax rate for 15% bracket  Tax rate for 28% bracket
or above
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income                       Ordinary income rate      Ordinary income rate
Short-term capital gains     Ordinary income rate      Ordinary income rate
Long-term capital gains      10%                       20%


American  Century  will  detail  the tax status of fund  distributions  for each
calendar year in an annual tax statement from the fund.

   
Distributions  also may be subject to state and local taxes.  Because everyone's
tax situation is unique,  always  consult your tax  professional  about federal,
state and local tax consequences.

Taxes on Transactions
    

Your  redemptions -- including  exchanges to other American Century funds -- are
subject to capital gains tax. A capital gain or loss is the  difference  between
the cost of your shares and the price you receive when you sell them.

The table above can provide a general  guide for your  potential  tax  liability
when selling or exchanging  fund shares.  Short-term  capital gains are gains on
fund shares held less than or equal to 12 months.  Long-term  capital  gains are
gains on fund shares held for more than 12 months.


  18    American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


MULTIPLE CLASS INFORMATION

American  Century may offer up to two classes of the funds:  Investor  Class and
Advisor Class.  The shares offered by this  Prospectus are Investor Class shares
and have no up-front or deferred charges, commissions, or 12b-1 fees.

   
American  Century  offers the other class of shares  primarily to  institutional
investors   or   through   institutional    distribution   channels,   such   as
employer-sponsored retirement plans or through banks, broker-dealers,  insurance
companies  or  financial  intermediaries.  The other class has  different  fees,
expenses,  and/or minimum  investment  requirements than the Investor Class. The
difference  in the fee  structures  between  the  classes is the result of their
separate  arrangements  for  shareholder and  distribution  services and not the
result of any difference in amounts  charged by the advisor for core  investment
advisory  services.  Accordingly,  the core investment  advisory expenses do not
vary by  class.  Different  fees  and  expenses  will  affect  performance.  For
additional  information concerning the other class of shares not offered by this
Prospectus,  call us at  1-800-345-3533  or  contact a sales  representative  or
financial intermediary who offers that class of shares.

Except as  described  below,  all  classes  of  shares of a fund have  identical
voting,  dividend,   liquidation  and  other  rights,  preferences,   terms  and
conditions.  The only differences  between the classes are (a) each class may be
subject to  different  expenses  specific  to that  class;  (b) each class has a
different  identifying  designation or name; (c) each class has exclusive voting
rights with respect to matters solely  affecting such class;  and (d) each class
may have different exchange privileges.
    


    www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments    19


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

UNDERSTANDING THE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   
The tables on the next pages  itemize what  contributed  to the changes in share
price  during the period.  They also show changes in share price for this period
in  comparison  to changes over the last five fiscal years or less, if the share
class is not five years old.

On a per-share basis, each table includes

* share price at the beginning of the period
* investment income and capital gains or losses
* distributions of income and capital gains paid to shareholders 
* reverse share split 
* share price at the end of the period

Each table also includes some key statistics for the period

* Total Return--the overall percentage of return of the fund, assuming the
  reinvestment of all distributions
* Expense Ratio--operating  expenses as a percentage of average net assets 
* Net Income Ratio--net investment income as a percentage of average net assets 
* Portfolio Turnover--the percentage of the fund's buying and selling activity

The Financial Highlights for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, have been
audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants.  Their report is
included in the funds' annual report,  which is  incorporated  by reference into
the Statement of Additional  Information,  and is available upon request.  Prior
years' information was audited by other independent auditors,  whose report also
is incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information.



  20  American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


TARGET 2000

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PER-SHARE DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

<S>                                      <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>        
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ...   $     86.05     $     79.95     $     76.86     $     66.93     $     72.40
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Income From Investment Operations
      Net Investment Income(1) .......   $      5.13     $      5.10     $      4.75     $      4.37     $      3.99

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .....   $      2.60     $      1.00     $     (1.66)    $      5.56     $     (9.46)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total From Investment Operations   $      7.73     $      6.10     $      3.09     $      9.93     $     (5.47)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Distributions(2)

      From Net Investment Income .....   $     (5.64)    $     (5.20)    $     (3.94)    $     (3.42)    $     (3.25)

      From Net Realized Gains ........          --              --              --              --       $     (2.95)

      In Excess of Net Realized Gains           --              --              --              --       $     (1.20)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total Distributions ............   $     (5.64)    $     (5.20)    $     (3.94)    $     (3.42)    $     (7.40)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Reverse Share Split ..................   $      5.64     $      5.20     $      3.94     $      3.42     $      7.40
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Year .........   $     93.78     $     86.05     $     79.95     $     76.86     $     66.93
                                         ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========


Total Return(3) ......................          8.97%           7.64%           4.01%          14.84%          (7.54)%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Ratio of Operating Expenses to
Average Net Assets ...................          0.59%           0.56%           0.53%           0.63%           0.59%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets ...................          5.75%           6.14%           5.99%           6.13%           5.74%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ..............            82%             10%             29%             53%             89%

Net Assets, End of Year
(in thousands) .......................   $   237,525     $   248,377     $   267,757     $   294,736     $   243,895

(1) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the year.

(2) For years ended prior to September 30, 1997,  distributions  were calculated
    using average shares  outstanding during the year.  Distributions  indicated
    for those years will be different than the actual per-share distributions to
    shareholders.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any.


  www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments     21


TARGET 2005

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ...   $     64.54     $     57.83     $     56.61     $     45.22     $     51.84
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Income From Investment Operations

      Net Investment Income(1) .......   $      3.84     $      3.74     $      3.50     $      3.33     $      3.11

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .....   $      8.34     $      2.97     $     (2.28)    $      8.06     $     (9.73)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total From Investment Operations   $     12.18     $      6.71     $      1.22     $     11.39     $     (6.62)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Distributions(2)

      From Net Investment Income .....   $     (3.61)    $     (3.61)    $     (2.06)    $     (2.41)    $     (2.70)

      From Net Realized Gains ........   $     (0.27)    $     (0.44)    $     (0.58)    $     (0.67)    $     (8.47)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total Distributions ............   $     (3.88)    $     (4.05)    $     (2.64)    $     (3.08)    $    (11.17)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Reverse Share Split ..................   $      3.88     $      4.05     $      2.64     $      3.08     $     11.17
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Year .........   $     76.72     $     64.54     $     57.83     $     56.61     $     45.22
                                         ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========

Total Return(3) ......................         18.87%          11.60%           2.15%          25.16%         (12.75)%


RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Ratio of Operating Expenses to
Average Net Assets ...................          0.59%           0.57%           0.58%           0.71%           0.64%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets ...................          5.53%           6.15%           6.05%           6.58%           6.37%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ..............            35%             15%             31%             34%             68%

Net Assets, End of Year
(in thousands) .......................   $   533,986     $   281,677     $   238,864     $   183,452     $    96,207

(1) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the year.

(2) For years ended prior to September 30, 1997,  distributions  were calculated
    using average shares  outstanding during the year.  Distributions  indicated
    for those years will be different than the actual per-share distributions to
    shareholders.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any.


 22  American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


TARGET 2010

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995           1994

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ...   $     49.16     $     42.47     $     42.14     $     31.67    $     38.13
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    -----------

Income From Investment Operations

      Net Investment Income(1) .......   $      2.94     $      2.79     $      2.58     $      2.41    $      2.24

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .....   $      9.88     $      3.90     $     (2.25)    $      8.06    $     (8.70)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    ----------- 

      Total From Investment Operations   $     12.82     $      6.69     $      0.33     $     10.47    $     (6.46)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    ----------- 

Distributions(2)
      From Net Investment Income .....   $     (2.46)    $     (2.82)    $     (1.57)    $     (1.48)   $     (1.46)

      From Net Realized Gains ........   $     (0.29)    $     (1.17)           --       $     (0.48)   $     (4.31)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    ----------- 

      Total Distributions ............   $     (2.75)    $     (3.99)    $     (1.57)    $     (1.96)   $     (5.77)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    ----------- 

Reverse Share Split ..................   $      2.75     $      3.99     $      1.57     $      1.96    $      5.77
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Year .........   $     61.98     $     49.16     $     42.47     $     42.14    $     31.67
                                         ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========    ===========

Total Return(3) ......................         26.08%          15.75%           0.78%          33.06%        (16.92)%


RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995           1994

Ratio of Operating Expenses to
Average Net Assets ...................          0.59%           0.62%           0.67%           0.71%          0.68%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets ...................          5.39%           6.15%           5.98%           6.56%          6.35%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ..............            34%             26%             24%             26%            35%

Net Assets, End of Year
(in thousands) .......................   $   283,828     $   124,812     $   111,117     $    95,057    $    46,312

(1) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the year.

(2) For years ended prior to September 30, 1997,  distributions  were calculated
    using average shares  outstanding during the year.  Distributions  indicated
    for those years will be different than the actual per-share distributions to
    shareholders.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any.


     www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments  23


TARGET 2015

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ...   $     38.34     $     31.96     $     32.20     $     22.79     $     29.04
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Income From Investment Operations

      Net Investment Income(1) .......   $      2.17     $      2.00     $      1.85     $      1.71     $      1.57

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .....   $      9.36     $      4.38     $     (2.09)    $      7.70     $     (7.82)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total From Investment Operations   $     11.53     $      6.38     $     (0.24)    $      9.41     $     (6.25)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Distributions(2)

      From Net Investment Income .....   $     (2.11)    $     (2.05)    $     (1.28)    $     (0.87)    $     (1.19)

      From Net Realized Gains ........   $     (1.40)    $     (0.34)    $     (1.61)           --       $     (7.08)

      In Excess of Net Realized Gains           --              --              --              --       $     (0.37)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total Distributions ............   $     (3.51)    $     (2.39)    $     (2.89)    $     (0.87)    $     (8.64)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Reverse Share Split ..................   $      3.51     $      2.39     $      2.89     $      0.87     $      8.64
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Year .........   $     49.87     $     38.34     $     31.96     $     32.20     $     22.79
                                         ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========

Total Return(3) ......................         30.07%          19.96%          (0.74)%         41.29%         (21.52)%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Ratio of Operating Expenses to
Average Net Assets ...................          0.59%           0.61%           0.65%           0.71%           0.68%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets ...................          4.96%           5.79%           5.63%           6.40%           5.97%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ..............            31%             21%             17%             70%             65%

Net Assets, End of Year
(in thousands) .......................   $   170,081     $   114,900     $   115,654     $   114,647     $    66,073

(1) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the year.

(2) For years ended prior to September 30, 1997,  distributions  were calculated
    using average shares  outstanding during the year.  Distributions  indicated
    for those years will be different than the actual per-share distributions to
    shareholders.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any.


  24   American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


TARGET 2020

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ...   $     27.17     $     22.00     $     22.47     $     15.28     $     20.72
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Income From Investment Operations

      Net Investment Income(1) .......   $      1.53     $      1.51     $      1.41     $      1.19     $      1.13

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .....   $      8.25     $      3.66     $     (1.88)    $      6.00     $     (6.57)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total From Investment Operations   $      9.78     $      5.17     $     (0.47)    $      7.19     $     (5.44)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Distributions(2)

      From Net Investment Income .....   $     (2.35)    $     (1.45)    $     (0.40)    $     (0.21)    $     (0.28)

      From Net Realized Gains ........   $     (2.19)           --       $     (0.04)           --       $     (1.31)

      In Excess of Net Realized Gains           --              --              --              --       $     (1.18)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

      Total Distributions ............   $     (4.54)    $     (1.45)    $     (0.44)    $     (0.21)    $     (2.77)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Reverse Share Split ..................   $      4.54     $      1.45     $      0.44     $      0.21     $      2.77
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Year .........   $     36.95     $     27.17     $     22.00     $     22.47     $     15.28
                                         ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========

Total Return(3) ......................         36.00%          23.50%          (2.09)%         47.05%         (26.25)%


RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994


Ratio of Operating Expenses to
Average Net Assets ...................          0.59%           0.53%           0.61%           0.72%           0.70%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets ...................          4.83%           6.29%           6.25%           6.24%           6.28%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ..............            18%             14%             47%             78%            116%

Net Assets, End of Year
(in thousands) .......................   $   486,052     $   553,551     $   926,319     $   574,702     $    58,535

(1) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the year.

(2) For years ended prior to September 30, 1997,  distributions  were calculated
    using average shares  outstanding during the year.  Distributions  indicated
    for those years will be different than the actual per-share distributions to
    shareholders.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any.


 www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments      25


TARGET 2025

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30 (except as noted)

PER-SHARE DATA

                                                  1998            1997           1996(1)

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period ...   $     22.27     $     17.91    $     19.85
                                           -----------     -----------    -----------

Income From Investment Operations

      Net Investment Income(2) .........   $      1.33     $      1.21    $      0.72

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .......   $      8.07     $      3.15    $     (2.66)
                                           -----------     -----------    -----------

      Total From Investment Operations .   $      9.40     $      4.36    $     (1.94)
                                           -----------     -----------    ----------- 

Distributions

      From Net Investment Income .......   $     (0.70)    $     (0.72)          --

      From Net Realized Gains ..........   $     (0.05)           --             --
                                           -----------     -----------    -----------

      Total Distributions ..............   $     (0.75)    $     (0.72)          --
                                           -----------     -----------    -----------

Reverse Share Split ....................   $      0.75     $      0.72           --
                                           -----------     -----------    -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Period .........   $     31.67     $     22.27    $     17.91
                                           ===========     ===========    ===========

Total Return(3) ........................         42.21%          24.34%         (9.77)%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                  1998            1997           1996(1)

Ratio of Operating Expenses
to Average Net Assets ..................          0.59%           0.62%          0.67%(4)

Ratio of Net Investment
Income to Average Net Assets ...........          4.94%           6.14%          6.57%(4)

Portfolio Turnover Rate ................            52%             58%            61%

Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands)   $   356,122          $73,82    $    35,661
</TABLE>

(1) February 15, 1996 (inception) through September 30, 1996.

(2) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions,  if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not
    annualized.

(4) Annualized.
    

  26   American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


NOTES


  www.americancentury.com                 American Century Investments      27


NOTES


  28   American Century Investments                             1-800-345-2021


AT YOUR SERVICE

   
MAKE TRANSACTIONS ONLINE ANYTIME

The next time you're  surfing the Net,  stop by American  Century's  Web site at
www.americancentury.com.   Current   shareholders   can  open  new  accounts  by
exchanging  shares  (provided  the account  registration  does not  change).  In
addition,  you can view transactions and check your account  balances.  You also
can sign up to receive annual updates to your prospectuses and financial reports
via the Net instead of through the mail.
    

EXPAND YOUR INVESTMENT OPTIONS WITH AMERICAN CENTURY BROKERAGE

If  you're  looking  for  a  wide  range  of  investment  options--from  trading
individual  securities  to  purchasing  mutual  funds  offered  by  hundreds  of
companies--look to American Century Brokerage. With this new investment service,
you  can  take  advantage  of  24-hour  trading  on our Web  site or  TeleSelect
automated  telephone  service.  Or, if you prefer,  you can do business directly
with a Brokerage Associate.

   
With  service  features  including  a Gold  MasterCard(reg.tm)  ATM/Debit  Card,
unlimited CheckWriting and cost-basis reporting (all available with the American
Century Brokerage Access  Account(SM)),  our brokerage service can simplify your
life now while you prepare  financially  for the years to come. For  information
about opening a brokerage  account,  please call an American  Century  Brokerage
Associate at 1-888-345-2071.
    

SEND YOUR DISTRIBUTIONS STRAIGHT TO THE BANK

   
It will save you time and a trip to the bank.  If you opt to have your  dividend
and capital gain  distributions paid to you in cash rather than reinvesting them
into your account, consider an electronic transfer to your bank account. Call an
Investor Services Representative for more information.
    

CHECK OUT OUR LIBRARY

   
Are you looking for additional information on bond basics? Or, are you trying to
decide if municipal bonds have a place in your portfolio? Perhaps you would like
to test your knowledge of bonds and how they work. These are subjects covered in
our  Financial  FYIs,  a series of one-page  resources  that clearly and quickly
explains a variety of financial subjects. To request one of these articles, call
an Investor Services Representative.
    

<TABLE>
   
FUND REFERENCE

                                               Fund Code    Ticker   Newspaper Listing
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>         <C>           <C> 
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2000   963         BTMTX        Tg2000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2005   964         BTFIX        Tg2005
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2010   965         BTTNX        Tg2010
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2015   966         BTFTX        Tg2015
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2020   967         BTTTX        Tg2020
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2025   968         BTTRX        Tg2025
</TABLE>
    


  www.americancentury.com                    American Century Investments    29


   
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS IS CONTAINED IN THESE DOCUMENTS
    

ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL REPORTS

These reports  contain more  information  about the funds'  investments  and the
market  conditions and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the
funds' performance during the most recent fiscal period.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)

The SAI contains a more detailed,  legal  description of the funds'  operations,
investment  restrictions,  policies and practices.  The SAI is  incorporated  by
reference  into this  Prospectus.  This means  that it is  legally  part of this
Prospectus, even if you don't request a copy.

   
You also can get  information  about  the  funds  (including  the SAI)  from the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

* In person                SEC Public Reference Room
                           Washington, D.C. 
                           Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for location  
                           and hours.

* On the Internet          www.sec.gov

* By mail                  SEC Public Reference Section
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-6009 
                           (The SEC will charge a fee for copying the
                           documents.)
    

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENTS 
P.O. Box 419200 
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6200

INVESTOR SERVICES: 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575

AUTOMATED INFORMATION LINE: 1-800-345-8765

WWW.AMERICANCENTURY.COM

FAX: 816-340-7962

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR THE DEAF  1-800-634-4113 or 816-444-3485

CORPORATE; NOT-FOR-PROFIT; FOUNDATIONS; ENDOWMENTS; KEOGH; SEP-, SARSEP- AND
SIMPLE-IRA; AND 403(B) SERVICES 1-800-345-3533

Investment Company Act File No. 811-4165
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[american century logo(reg.sm)]
American
Century

American Century Investments
P.O. Box 419200
Kansas City, MO 64141-6200
www.americancentury.com

                                                                       BULK RATE
                                                               U.S. POSTAGE PAID
                                                               AMERICAN CENTURY
                                                                       COMPANIES
    

SH-PRS-14872   9901
<PAGE>
   
                                  PROSPECTUS

                               February 1, 1999
    

                        [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                    American
                                    Century

                                  Target 2000
                                  Target 2005
                                  Target 2010
                                  Target 2015
                                  Target 2020
                                  Target 2025

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ADVISOR CLASS

 The Securities and Exchange Commission  has not approved or disapproved these
 securities or  determined if this Prospectus is accurate or complete.  Anyone
                who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.

                    Distributed by Funds Distributor, Inc.


Dear Investor,

   Reading a prospectus  doesn't have to be a chore. We've done the hard work so
you can focus on what's  important--learning about the funds. Take a look inside
and you'll see this  prospectus is different  from others.  It takes a clear-cut
approach to fund information.

   
   Here's what you'll find
    

    *   The funds' primary investments and risks

    *   A description of who may or may not want to invest in the funds

    *   Fund  performance,  including  returns  for each  year,  best and  worst
        quarters and average annual returns compared to the funds' benchmarks

    *   An overview of ways to best manage your accounts

    *   Helpful tips and definitions of key investment terms

   
   Whether you're a current  investor or investing in mutual funds for the first
time, this prospectus will give you a clear  understanding  of the funds. If you
have questions,  our Service Representatives are available weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5
p.m.  Central time. Our toll-free number is  1-800-345-3533.  We look forward to
helping you achieve your financial goals.

                               Sincerely,
                               /s/Mark Killen
                               Mark Killen
                               Senior Vice President
                               American Century Investment Services, Inc.
    


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

Throughout  this  book  you'll  find  definitions  of key  investment  terms and
phrases.  When you see a word printed in GREEN ITALICS,  look for its definition
in the left margin.

+ This symbol highlights special information and helpful tips.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
An Overview of the Funds ..................................................    2
Fees and Expenses .........................................................    3
Information about the Funds ...............................................    4
     Target 2000
     Target 2005
     Target 2010
     Target 2015
     Target 2020
     Target 2025
Basics of Fixed Income Investing ..........................................    7
Management ................................................................   10
Investing with American Century ...........................................   13
Share Price and Distributions .............................................   14
Taxes .....................................................................   15
Multiple Class Information ................................................   16
Financial Highlights ......................................................   17
Performance Information of Other Class ....................................   21
    


                                               American Century Investments


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

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

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDS

WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT GOALS?

These funds seek the highest return  consistent with investment in U.S. Treasury
securities.

WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' PRIMARY INVESTMENTS AND RISKS?

   
The funds invest in  zero-coupon  U.S.  Treasury  securities.  Each of the funds
invests in  different  types of these  municipal  debt  securities  and involves
different risks. The chart below shows the primary  differences among the funds.
Additional  information about the funds' investment  strategies and risks begins
on page 4.
    

<TABLE>
   
                    Fund           Primary Investments                    Primary Risks             
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                 <C>            <C>                                    <C>                      
Shorter Term        Target 2000    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   Lowest interest rate risk 
Less Volatile       --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      ^             Target 2005    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   Low interest rate risk    
      |             --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      |             Target 2010    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   Interest rate risk        
      |             --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      |             Target 2015    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   High interest rate risk   
      |             --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      v             Target 2020    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   Higher interest rate risk 
Longer Term         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More Volatile       Target 2025    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities   Highest interest rate risk
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    

WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUNDS?

The funds may be a good investment if you are

* investing through an IRA or other tax-advantaged retirement plan

   
* seeking  long-term  financial  goals that correspond to the year identified in
  the name of a particular fund

* comfortable  with  fluctuating  share prices,  which  increase  as each funds'
  maturity year increases
    

* comfortable with the funds' other investment risks

WHO MAY NOT WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUNDS?

The funds may not be a good investment if you are

* seeking current tax-free income
* a short-term investor
* investing for long-term capital appreciation
* looking for the added security of FDIC insurance


 2   American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

+ Use this example to compare the costs of investing in other funds.  Of course,
your actual costs may be higher or lower.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

FEES AND EXPENSES

   
There are no sales loads, fees or other charges

*  to buy fund shares directly from American Century
*  to reinvest dividends in additional shares
*  to exchange into the Advisor Class shares of other American Century funds


The following  table describes the fees and expenses you will pay if you buy and
hold shares of the funds.

<TABLE>
Annual Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from fund assets)

              Management  Distribution and         Other        Total Annual Fund
              Fee(1)      Service (12b-1) Fees(2)  Expenses(3)  Operating Expenses
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>          <C>         <C>                      <C>          <C>  
Target 2000   0.34%       0.50%                    0.00%        0.84%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005   0.34%       0.50%                    0.00%        0.84%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010   0.34%       0.50%                    0.00%        0.84%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015   0.34%       0.50%                    0.00%        0.84%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020   0.34%       0.50%                    0.00%        0.84%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025   0.34%       0.50%                    0.00%        0.84%
</TABLE>

(1) Based on expenses  incurred  during the funds' most recent fiscal year.  The
    funds have stepped fee schedules.  As a result,  the funds'  management fees
    generally decrease as fund assets increase.  Please consult the Statement of
    Additional Information for more details about the funds' management fees.

(2) The 12b-1 fee is designed to permit  investors  to  purchase  Advisor  Class
    shares  through   broker-dealers,   banks,  insurance  companies  and  other
    financial  intermediaries.  A portion of the fee is used to compensate  them
    for ongoing  recordkeeping and administrative  services that would otherwise
    be  performed  by an  affiliate  of the  advisor,  and a portion  is used to
    compensate  them  for  distribution  and  other  shareholder  services.  See
    "Service and Distribution Fees," page 12.

(3) Other  expenses,   which  include  the  fees  and  expenses  of  the  funds'
    independent  trustees,  their  legal  counsel,  interest  and  extraordinary
    expenses, were less than 0.005% for the most recent fiscal year.

Example

The examples in the table below are intended to help you compare the costs of
investing in a fund with the costs of investing in other mutual funds. Assuming
you . . .

* invest $10,000 in the fund
* redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods shown below
* earn 5% return each year
* incur the same operating expenses as shown above

 . . . your cost of investing in the fund would be:

                             1 year     3 years      5 years       10 years
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000                  $86        $268         $465          $1,034
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005                  $86        $268         $465          $1,034
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010                  $86        $268         $465          $1,034
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015                  $86        $268         $465          $1,034
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020                  $86        $268         $465          $1,034
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025                  $86        $268         $465          $1,034


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WEIGHTED AVERAGE MATURITY is  a measure of a fund's interest rate  sensitivity.
See "Weighted Average  Maturity," page 8.

+ Because all of the interest and principal is paid when the securities  mature,
zero-coupon securities are bought and sold at prices below their face value.

A fund's  ANTICIPATED  GROWTH RATE is a calculation  of the  annualized  rate of
growth that an investor may expect from the purchase  date to the fund's  target
maturity date.

The ANTICIPATED VALUE AT MATURITY is the calculated value of a fund's investment
portfolio. It is based on the maturity values of the fund's zero-coupon Treasury
securities.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS

TARGET 2000 
TARGET 2005 
TARGET 2010 
TARGET 2015 
TARGET 2020 
TARGET 2025

WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES?

These funds seek the highest return  consistent with investment in U.S. Treasury
securities.

HOW DO THE FUNDS IMPLEMENT THEIR INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES?

Each fund invests primarily in zero-coupon U.S. Treasury  securities.  Each fund
is  designed  to provide an  investment  experience  that is similar to a direct
investment in a zero-coupon investment.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE FUNDS?

Each fund is managed to mature in the year  identified  in its name;  therefore,
the funds' weighted average maturities are different. Funds with longer WEIGHTED
AVERAGE MATURITIES have the most volatile share prices. For example, Target 2000
has the shortest weighted average  maturity,  and its share price will fluctuate
the least.

WHAT ARE ZERO-COUPON TREASURY SECURITIES?

U.S. Treasury bonds have a traditional design. Interest is paid periodically
until maturity, when the principal is repaid. Zero-coupon Treasury securities,
however, do not make any periodic interest payments. Instead, all of the
interest and principal is paid when the securities mature.

Zero-coupon Treasury securities are created by separating a traditional Treasury
bond's interest and principal parts. Each part can be used to create zero-coupon
Treasury  securities.  Zero-coupon  Treasury securities are created by financial
institutions  (like a  dealer),  the U.S.  Treasury  and other  agencies  of the
federal  government.  The important  characteristic  is that the final  maturity
value of a zero-coupon Treasury security is supported by Treasury securities.

Zero-coupon  Treasury securities are beneficial for investors who wish to invest
for a fixed  period of time at a selected  rate.  When an  investor  purchases a
traditional  bond, it is paid periodic  interest at a  predetermined  rate. This
interest payment must be reinvested elsewhere.  However, the investor may not be
able to  reinvest  this  interest  payment  in an  investment  that has a return
similar  to a  traditional  bond.  This is  called  reinvestment  risk.  Because
zero-coupon   securities  do  not  pay  interest   periodically,   there  is  no
reinvestment risk.

HOW IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUNDS LIKE AN INVESTMENT IN ZERO-COUPON U.S.
TREASURY SECURITIES?

If you invest in a fund,  reinvest all  distributions and hold your shares until
the fund is liquidated, your investment experience will be similar to that of an
investment in a zero-coupon  U.S.  Treasury  security that matures at the end of
the fund's maturity year.  Each fund is managed to provide an investment  return
that does not differ  substantially  from the ANTICIPATED  GROWTH RATE (AGR) and
ANTICIPATED  VALUE AT  MATURITY  (AVM)  calculated  on the day the  shares  were
purchased.


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+ This table is  designed  to show the narrow  ranges in which each  fund's AVMs
vary. There is no guarantee that the funds' AVMs will fluctuate as little in the
future.

+ The  investment  performance  of the funds is  designed  to be  similar  to an
investment in an equivalent  zero-coupon U.S.  Treasury  security.  However,  an
investment in the funds involves different risks.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

The advisor  calculates  each fund's AGR and AVM each business  day.  While many
factors can  influence  each fund's  daily AGR and AVM,  the AGR and AVM tend to
fluctuate  within narrow ranges.  The following  table shows how each fund's AVM
has fluctuated in the last five years.

Anticipated Values at Maturity

                   9/30/94      9/30/95      9/30/96       9/30/97      9/30/98
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000        $100.86       $100.99      $101.10      $101.13       $101.78
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005        $100.58       $100.32      $100.71      $100.85       $101.53
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010        $101.38       $101.02      $102.53      $103.40       $104.85
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015        $107.95       $109.62      $110.11      $110.52       $112.63
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020        $102.11       $102.31      $103.60      $104.84       $106.96
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025          N/A           N/A        $109.24      $110.88       $112.23

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A FUND REACHES ITS MATURITY YEAR?

*   The  fund  managers  may  begin  buying  traditional   Treasury   securities
    consistent with a fund's investment objective and pending maturity.

*   As a fund's  zero-coupon  Treasury  securities  mature, its proceeds will be
    invested in Treasury bills.

*   In January of the year following maturity, the fund will be liquidated.

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUNDS?

The funds have different weighted average maturities. Because of this, the funds
will  respond  differently  to  changes in  interest  rates.  Funds with  longer
weighted  average  maturities are more sensitive to interest rate changes.  When
interest  rates rise,  the values of the funds usually  fall,  but the values of
funds with longer weighted average maturities generally will fall farther.  This
interest rate sensitivity is greater in the funds than for traditional  Treasury
funds.

The funds' share values will fluctuate.  In general,  the funds that have higher
potential  income  have a higher  potential  loss.  If you sell your shares when
their value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

While we recommend that  shareholders  hold their investment in the funds, we do
not restrict your (or any other shareholders')  ability to redeem shares. When a
fund's  shareholders  redeem  their  shares  before  the target  maturity  year,
unanticipated capital gains or losses may result. The fund will distribute these
capital gains and losses to all shareholders.

The funds are designed to provide an investment  that is similar to investing in
a zero-coupon U.S.  Treasury security that matures in the year identified in its
name.  The fund  managers  adhere to  investment  policies  that are designed to
ensure that this happens.  However, precise forecasts of a fund's final maturity
value and its yield to maturity are not possible.


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+ For  current  performance  information,  including  yields,  please call us at
1-800-345-2021 or visit American Century's Web site at www.americancentury.com

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

FUND PERFORMANCE HISTORY

When the Advisor  Class of a fund has  investment  results  for a full  calendar
year, this section will feature charts that show

* Annual Total Returns
* Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns
* Average Annual Returns, including a comparison of these returns to a
  benchmark index for the Advisor Class of each of the funds

In addition,  investors can examine the performance of the funds' Investor Class
of shares.  This class has a total  expense  ratio that is 0.25%  lower than the
Advisor Class.  If the Advisor Class had existed  during the periods  presented,
its performance would have been lower because of the additional expense.

All past  performance  information is designed to help show you how fund returns
can vary. Keep in mind that past performance does not predict how the funds will
perform in the future.
    

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WEIGHTED  AVERAGE  MATURITY is a tool that the fund managers use to  approximate
the remaining maturity of a fund's investment portfolio.

+ The longer a fund's  weighted  average  maturity,  the more sensitive it is to
changes in interest rates.
    

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

BASICS OF FIXED INCOME INVESTING

DEBT SECURITIES

   
When a fund buys a debt security,  which also is called a fixed income security,
it is essentially  lending money to the issuer of the security.  Debt securities
also are referred to as fixed income securities.  Notes, bonds, commercial paper
and Treasury bills are examples of debt  securities.  After the debt security is
first  sold by the  issuer,  it may be bought and sold by other  investors.  The
price of the security may rise or fall based on many factors,  including changes
in interest rates, inflation and liquidity.
    

The fund managers decide which debt securities to buy and sell by

*   determining which securities help a fund meet its maturity requirements

*   identifying   securities  that  do  not  satisfy  a  fund's  credit  quality
    requirements

*   evaluating  the  current  economic  conditions  and  assessing  the  risk of
    inflation

*   evaluating  special  features of the  securities  that may make them more or
    less attractive

WEIGHTED AVERAGE MATURITY

Like most loans,  debt  securities  eventually must be repaid (or refinanced) at
some date.  This date is called the maturity  date. The number of days left to a
debt  security's  maturity date is called the remaining  maturity.  The longer a
debt  security's  remaining  maturity,  the more  sensitive  it is to changes in
interest rates.

   
Because a bond fund will own many debt securities,  the fund managers  calculate
the average of the remaining maturities of all the debt securities the fund owns
to evaluate the interest rate sensitivity of the entire portfolio.  This average
is  weighted  according  to the size of the fund's  individual  holdings  and is
called WEIGHTED AVERAGE  MATURITY.  The following chart shows how a fund manager
would  calculate  the weighted  average  maturity for a fund that owned only two
debt securities.
    

                       Amount of        Percent of   Remaining        Weighted
                       Security Owned   Portfolio    Maturity         Maturity
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt Security A        $100,000         25%            1,000 days     250 days
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt Security B        $300,000         75%          10,000 days    7,500 days
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted Average Maturity                                           7,750 days

TYPES OF RISK

The basic types of risk that the funds face are described below.

Interest Rate Risk

Generally,  interest  rates and the prices of debt  securities  move in opposite
directions.  So when  interest  rates fall,  the prices of most debt  securities
rise; when interest rates rise, prices fall.  Because the funds invest primarily
in  debt   securities,   changes  in  interest  rates  will  affect  the  funds'
performance.

   
The degree to which interest rate changes affect the funds'  performance  varies
and is related to the weighted average maturity of each fund. For example,  when
interest  rates rise, you can expect the share value of a long-term bond fund to
fall more than that of a short-term  bond fund. When rates fall, the opposite is
true. This sensitivity to interest rate changes is called interest rate risk.
    


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+ Credit  quality may be lower when the issuer has 
* a high debt level
* a short operating history
* a senior level of debt
* a difficult, competitive environment

   
+ The Statement of Additional  Information  provides a detailed  description  of
These securities ratings.
    

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

When interest rates change, longer maturity bonds experience a greater change in
price.  The following  table shows the effect of a 1% increase in interest rates
on the price of 7% coupon bonds of differing maturities:

   
Remaining Maturity   Current Price   Price After 1% Increase    Change in Price
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 year                  $100.00                $99.06                -0.94%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 years                 $100.00                $97.38                -2.62%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 years                $100.00                $93.20                -6.80%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 years                $100.00                $88.69                -11.31%
    

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk that an obligation won't be paid and a loss will result.
A high  credit  rating  indicates  a high  degree of  confidence  by the  rating
organization  that  the  issuer  will  be able to  withstand  adverse  business,
financial  and economic  conditions  and be able to make  interest and principal
payments on time.  Generally,  a lower credit rating indicates a greater risk of
nonpayment.  A lower rating also may indicate  that the issuer has a more senior
series of debt  securities,  which  means that if the  issuer  has  difficulties
making  its  payments,  the  more  senior  series  of debt is  first in line for
payment.

   
It's not as simple as buying the highest-rated debt securities,  though.  Higher
credit ratings  usually mean lower interest  rates,  so investors often purchase
securities that aren't the highest rated to increase return. If a fund purchases
lower-rated securities, it assumes additional credit risk.

The following  chart shows the  authorized  credit  quality ranges for the funds
offered by this Prospectus.
    

- -------------------------------------------
                  Quality
- -------------------------------------------
        High Quality
- -----------------------------
                         A-1          A-2         A-3
                         P-1          P-2         P-3
                         MIG-1        MIG-2       MIG-3
                         SP-1         SP-2        SP-3
                 AAA     AA     A     BBB    BB    B    CCC   CC    C    D
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025       X
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
         INVESTMENT GRADE                          NON-INVESTMENT GRADE
- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------

   
Strictly  speaking,  U.S.  Treasury  securities  are not "rated"  AAA.  However,
Treasury  securities  are  backed  by the full  faith and  credit of the  United
States,  and are considered among the safest securities in the world. The rating
on U.S. Treasury securities is, therefore, considered to be equivalent to AAA.

Liquidity Risk

Debt securities can become  difficult to sell for a variety of reasons,  such as
lack of an active trading market.  When a fund's investments become difficult to
sell, it is said to have a problem with  liquidity.  The chance that a fund will
have liquidity issues is called liquidity risk.

Inflation Risk

The safest investments usually have the lowest potential income and performance.
During  periods  of  high  inflation,   shorter-term  fixed  income  investments
typically  perform better.  This reflects the high  short-term  demand for money
when inflation is high. The risk that your  short-term  performance  will suffer
during periods of high inflation is called inflation risk.



 8    American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


A COMPARISON OF BASIC RISK FACTORS

The  following  chart  depicts the basic risks of investing in the funds.  It is
designed to help you compare  these funds with each other;  it shouldn't be used
to compare these funds with other mutual funds.

<TABLE>
              Interest Rate Risk   Credit Risk(1)  Liquidity Risk(2)  Inflation Risk
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>           <C>                  <C>            <C>                 <C> 
Target 2000   Lowest               Same            Same               Lowest
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005   Low                  Same            Same               Low
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010   Medium               Same            Same               Medium
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015   Medium               Same            Same               Medium
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020   High                 Same            Same               High
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025   Highest              Same            Same               Highest
</TABLE>

(1) Because the funds invest in  zero-coupon  Treasury  securities,  there is no
    difference  in  credit  risk.  The  funds are  considered  among the  safest
    securities in the world because  Treasury  securities are backed by the full
    faith and  credit of the United  States.  The funds all  feature  low credit
    risk.

(2) The Treasury market is considered the most liquid in the world.

The funds  engage in a variety of  investment  techniques  as they pursue  their
investment  objectives.  Each technique has its own characteristics and may pose
some  level of risk to the funds.  If you would  like to learn more about  these
techniques,  you should review the Statement of  Additional  Information  before
making an investment.
    

  www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments    9


MANAGEMENT

WHO MANAGES THE FUNDS?

The Board of  Trustees,  investment  advisor and fund  management  team play key
roles in the management of the funds.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

   
The Board of Trustees  oversees the  management  of the funds and meets at least
quarterly  to  review  reports  about  fund  operations.  Although  the Board of
Trustees does not manage the funds, it has hired an investment advisor to do so.
More than half of the Trustees are independent of the funds'  advisor;  that is,
they are not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor.
    

THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR

   
The funds' investment  advisor is American Century Investment  Management,  Inc.
The advisor has been  managing  mutual  funds  since 1958.  American  Century is
headquartered at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
    

The advisor is responsible  for managing the investment  portfolios of the funds
and directing the purchase and sale of their investment securities.  The advisor
also arranges for transfer agency,  custody and all other services necessary for
the funds to operate.

   
For the  services it provided to the funds  during the most recent  fiscal year,
the  advisor  received a unified  management  fee based on a  percentage  of the
average net assets of the Advisor Class of shares of the funds.  The rate of the
management fee for a fund is determined on a class-by-class  basis monthly using
a two-step  formula that takes into account the fund's  strategy  (money market,
bond or equity) and the total amount of mutual fund assets the advisor  manages.
The Statement of Additional  Information contains detailed information about the
calculation  of the  management  fee.  Out of that  fee,  the  advisor  paid all
expenses of managing and operating the funds except brokerage  expenses,  taxes,
interest, fees and expenses of the independent trustees (including legal counsel
fees) and extraordinary expenses.

Management Fees Paid by the Funds to the Advisor as a Percentage of Average  Net
Assets for the Most Recent Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000                                                              0.34%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005                                                              0.34%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010                                                              0.34%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015                                                              0.34%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020                                                              0.34%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025                                                              0.34%
    


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+ CODE OF ETHICS
American  Century has a Code of Ethics  designed to ensure that the interests of
fund  shareholders come before the interests of the people who manage the funds.
Among other  provisions,  the Code of Ethics  prohibits  portfolio  managers and
other investment  personnel from buying securities in an initial public offering
or from  profiting  from the  purchase and sale of the same  security  within 60
calendar days. In addition,  the Code of Ethics requires  portfolio managers and
other  employees  with  access  to  information  about the  purchase  or sale of
securities by the funds to obtain approval before executing  permitted  personal
trades.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

THE FUND MANAGEMENT TEAM

   
The advisor uses teams of portfolio  managers,  assistant portfolio managers and
analysts to manage the funds.  Teams meet regularly to review portfolio holdings
and to discuss purchase and sale activity.  Team members buy and sell securities
for a fund as they  see fit,  guided  by the  fund's  investment  objective  and
strategy.

The portfolio managers on the investment team are identified below:
    

DAVID SCHROEDER

Mr. Schroeder, Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager, has been a member of
the team that manages the Target funds since  joining  American  Century in July
1990. He has a bachelor of arts from Pomona College.

JEREMY FLETCHER

   
Mr. Fletcher,  Associate  Portfolio Manager,  has been a member of the team that
manages the Target  funds  since  August  1997.  He joined  American  Century in
October 1991 as an Investor Services  Representative.  He has bachelor's degrees
in economics and mathematics from Claremont McKenna College.
    


 www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments      11


FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

Fundamental  investment  policies  contained  in  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information  and the  investment  objectives  of the  funds  may not be  changed
without a shareholder  vote. The Board of Trustees may change any other policies
and investment strategies.

SERVICE AND DISTRIBUTION FEES

   
Investment Company Act Rule 12b-1 permits mutual funds that adopt a written plan
to pay out of fund assets certain  expenses  associated with the distribution of
their shares. The funds' Advisor Class shares have a 12b-1 Plan. Under the Plan,
the  funds  pay an  annual  fee of  0.50%  of  fund  assets,  half  for  certain
shareholder and administrative  services and half for distribution services. The
advisor,  as paying  agent for the funds,  pays all or a portion of such fees to
the  banks,  broker-dealers  and  insurance  companies  that  make  such  shares
available.  Because  these fees are paid out of the funds'  assets on an ongoing
basis,  over time these fees will increase the cost of your  investment  and may
cost  you  more  than  paying  other  types of  sales  charges.  For  additional
information  about the Plan and its terms,  see  "Multiple  Class  Structure  --
Master  Distribution  and  Shareholder   Services  Plan"  in  the  Statement  of
Additional Information.
    

YEAR 2000 ISSUES

Many of the world's  computer  systems  currently  cannot properly  recognize or
process date-sensitive information relating to the Year 2000 and beyond. Because
this may impact the computer systems of various American  Century-affiliated and
external service providers for the funds,  American Century formally initiated a
Year 2000  readiness  project in July 1997.  It  involves a team of  information
technology  professionals  assisted  by  outside  consultants  and  guided  by a
senior-level steering committee.  The team's goal is to assess the impact of the
Year 2000 on  American  Century's  systems,  renovate  or  replace  noncompliant
critical systems and test those systems. In addition,  the team has been working
to gather  information  about the Year 2000  efforts of the funds'  other  major
service providers.

Although  American Century believes its critical systems will function  properly
in the Year 2000, this is not guaranteed.  If the efforts of American Century or
its  external  service  providers  are  not  successful,  the  funds'  business,
particularly the provision of shareholder services, may be hampered.

   
In  addition,  the  issuers  of  securities  the funds own could  have Year 2000
computer  problems.  These problems could  negatively  affect the value of their
securities, which, in turn, could impact the funds' performance. The advisor has
established a process to gather publicly  available  information  about the Year
2000  readiness  of these  issuers.  However,  this  process may not uncover all
relevant  information,  and the  information  gathered  may not be complete  and
accurate.  Moreover, an issuer's Year 2000 readiness is only one of many factors
the fund  managers  may consider  when making  investment  decisions,  and other
factors may receive greater weight.
    


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+ Financial  intermediaries include banks,  broker-dealers,  insurance companies
and investment advisors.
    

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

INVESTING WITH AMERICAN CENTURY

INVESTING THROUGH FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

Because the funds are offered  through a financial  intermediary or a retirement
plan,  your ability to purchase,  exchange and redeem  shares will depend on the
policies of that entity. Some policy differences may include

*minimum investment requirements
*exchange policies
*fund choices
*cut-off time for investments

Please  contact  your  financial  intermediary  or plan  sponsor  for a complete
description  of its policies.  Copies of the funds' annual  reports,  semiannual
reports  and  Statements  of  Additional  Information  are  available  from your
intermediary or plan sponsor.

   
Certain  financial  intermediaries  perform for their clients  recordkeeping and
administrative  services that would otherwise be performed by American Century's
transfer agent.  In some  circumstances,  American  Century will pay the service
provider a fee for performing those services.
    

Although  transactions in fund shares may be made directly with American Century
at no charge,  you also may purchase,  redeem and exchange  fund shares  through
financial  intermediaries that charge a transaction-based or other fee for their
services. Those charges are retained by the intermediary and are not shared with
American Century or the funds.

   
American Century has contracts with certain financial  intermediaries  requiring
them to track  the time  investment  orders  are  received  and to  comply  with
procedures  relating to the  transmission  of orders.  The funds have authorized
those  intermediaries  to accept  orders on their behalf up to the time at which
the net asset value is determined.  If those orders are  transmitted to American
Century and paid for in accordance with the contract, they will be priced at the
net asset value next determined  after your request is received in good order by
the intermediary on a fund's behalf.
    

A NOTE ABOUT MAILINGS TO SHAREHOLDERS

   
To reduce  expenses and show respect for our  environment,  we will deliver most
financial reports, prospectuses and account statements to households in a single
envelope,  even if the accounts are registered  under  different  names.  If you
would like additional  copies of financial  reports and prospectuses or separate
mailing of account statements, please call us.
    


  www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments    13

[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

The NET ASSET VALUE of a fund is the price of the fund's shares.

   
CAPITAL GAINS are increases in the values of capital assets, such as stock, from
the time the assets are  purchased.  Tax  becomes  due on capital  gains once an
asset is sold.
    

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

SHARE PRICE AND DISTRIBUTIONS

SHARE PRICE

   
American  Century  determines  the NET  ASSET  VALUE of the funds as of ONE HOUR
BEFORE the close of regular  trading on the New York Stock  Exchange  (usually 4
p.m.  Eastern  time) each day the Exchange is open. On days when the Exchange is
not open, we do not calculate the net asset value. The net asset value of a fund
share is the current value of the fund's assets, minus any liabilities,  divided
by the number of fund shares outstanding.

If current prices of securities  owned by a fund are not readily  available from
an independent  pricing  service,  the advisor may determine their fair value in
accordance with procedures adopted by the funds' Board of Trustees.
    

We will price your purchase,  exchange or redemption at the net asset value next
determined after we receive your transaction request in good order.

DISTRIBUTIONS

   
Federal tax laws require each fund to make  distributions to its shareholders in
order  to  qualify  as a  "regulated  investment  company."  Qualification  as a
regulated  investment  company means that the funds will not be subject to state
or federal  income  tax on  amounts  distributed.  The  distributions  generally
consist of dividends and interest received, as well as CAPITAL GAINS realized on
the sale of investment  securities.  Each fund generally pays distributions from
net income and capital gains,  if any, once a year in December.  A fund may make
more frequent distributions,  if necessary, to comply with Internal Revenue code
provisions.

You will begin to participate in fund  distributions the day after your purchase
is effective.  If you redeem shares, you will receive the distribution  declared
for  the day  you  redeem.  If you  redeem  all  shares,  we  will  include  the
distribution on the redeemed shares with your redemption proceeds.

Participants in employer-sponsored retirement or savings plans must reinvest all
distributions.  For shareholders  investing  through taxable  accounts,  we will
reinvest  distributions unless you elect to receive them in cash. Please consult
your services guide for further  information  regarding  distributions  and your
distribution options.

REVERSE SHARE SPLITS

When a fund pays its  distributions,  the Board also  declares  a reverse  share
split  for  each  fund  that  exactly  offsets  the  per-share   amount  of  the
distribution.  If you reinvest  your  dividends,  this reverse share split means
that you will hold exactly the same number of shares after a dividend as you did
before. This reverse share split makes changes in the funds' share prices behave
like changes in the values of zero-coupon securities.

FUND LIQUIDATION

During a fund's target maturity year, you will be asked how you want your shares
liquidated. You can choose one of the following

* cash
* shares of another American Century mutual fund

If you do not tell us by December 31 of the target year how you want your shares
liquidated, your money will be exchanged for shares of Capital Preservation,  an
American Century Treasury money market fund.
    


 14     American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

   
+ BUYING A DIVIDEND
Purchasing  fund shares in a taxable  account  shortly before a distribution  is
sometimes known as buying a dividend.  In taxable accounts,  you must pay income
taxes on the  distribution  whether you reinvest the  distribution or take it in
cash. In addition,  you will have to pay taxes on the  distribution  whether the
value of your  investment  decreased,  increased  or remained the same after you
bought the fund shares.

The risk in buying a dividend is that a fund's  portfolio may build up a taxable
gains throughout the period covered by a distribution, as securities are sold at
a profit. We distribute those gains to you, after  subtracting any losses,  even
if you did not own the shares when the gains occurred.
    

If you buy a  dividend,  you incur the full tax  liability  of the  distribution
period,  but you may not enjoy the full  benefit  of the gains  realized  in the
fund's portfolio.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

TAXES

TAX-DEFERRED ACCOUNTS

If you purchase fund shares through a tax-deferred  account, such as a qualified
employer-sponsored   retirement  or  savings  plan,  income  and  capital  gains
distributions  usually  will  not be  subject  to  current  taxation,  but  will
accumulate in your account under the plan on a tax-deferred basis.

   
Complex tax rules govern employer-sponsored retirement and savings plans. If you
elect to participate in your employer's plan,  consult your plan  administrator,
your summary plan  description or a professional  tax advisor  regarding the tax
consequences  of  participation   in,   contributions  to,  and  withdrawals  or
distributions from the plan.
    

TAXABLE ACCOUNTS

   
Fund dividends and distributions  are taxable to most investors.  The tax status
of any  distribution  is not  affected  by how long you have been in the fund or
whether you  reinvest  your  distributions  or take them as income.  In general,
distributions are taxable at the federal level as follows:
    

Type of distribution       Tax rate for 15% bracket  Tax rate for 28% bracket
                                                     or above
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income                     Ordinary income rate      Ordinary income rate
Short-term capital gains   Ordinary income rate      Ordinary income rate
Long-term capital gains    10%                       20%

   
American  Century  will  detail  the tax status of fund  distributions  for each
calendar year in an annual tax statement.

Distributions  also may be subject to state and local taxes.  Because everyone's
tax situation is unique,  always  consult your tax  professional  about federal,
state and local tax consequences.

Taxes on Transactions
    

Your  redemptions -- including  exchanges to other American Century funds -- are
subject to capital gains tax. A capital gain or loss is the  difference  between
the cost of your shares and the price you receive when you sell them.

The table above can provide a general  guide for your  potential  tax  liability
when selling or exchanging  fund shares.  Short-term  capital gains are gains on
fund shares held less than or equal to 12 months.  Long-term  capital  gains are
gains on fund shares held for more than 12 months.


 www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments      15


MULTIPLE CLASS INFORMATION

American  Century may offer up to two classes of the funds:  Investor  Class and
Advisor Class.  The shares  offered by this  Prospectus are Advisor Class shares
and are offered  primarily to  institutional  investors,  through  institutional
distribution channels,  such as employer-sponsored  retirement plans, or through
banks, broker-dealers and insurance companies.

   
American Century offers another class of shares that has no up-front or deferred
charges,  commissions,  or 12b-1  fees.  The  other  class has  different  fees,
expenses,  and/or minimum  investment  requirements  than the Advisor Class. The
difference  in the fee  structures  between  the  classes is the result of their
separate  arrangements  for  shareholder and  distribution  services and not the
result of any difference in amounts  charged by the advisor for core  investment
advisory  services.  Accordingly,  the core investment  advisory expenses do not
vary by  class.  Different  fees  and  expenses  will  affect  performance.  For
additional  information concerning the other class of shares not offered by this
Prospectus,  call us at  1-800-345-3533  or  contact a sales  representative  or
financial intermediary who offers that class of shares.

Except as  described  below,  all  classes  of  shares of a fund have  identical
voting,  dividend,   liquidation  and  other  rights,  preferences,   terms  and
conditions.  The only differences  between the classes are (a) each class may be
subject to  different  expenses  specific  to that  class;  (b) each class has a
different  identifying  designation or name; (c) each class has exclusive voting
rights with respect to matters solely  affecting such class;  and (d) each class
may have different exchange privileges.
    


 16     American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

UNDERSTANDING THE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   
The tables on the next pages  itemize what  contributed  to the changes in share
price during the period.

On a per-share basis, each table includes

* share price at the beginning of the period
* investment income and capital gains or losses
* distributions of income and capital gains paid to shareholders (if any)
* reverse share split (if any)
* share price at the end of the period

Each table also includes some key statistics for the period
    

* Total Return--the overall percentage of return of the fund, assuming the
  reinvestment of all distributions

* Expense Ratio--operating expenses as a percentage of average net assets

* Net Income Ratio--net investment income as a percentage of average net assets

* Portfolio Turnover--the percentage of the fund's buying and selling activity

   
The Financial Highlights for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, have been
audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants.  Their report is
included in the funds' annual report,  which is  incorporated  by reference into
the Statement of Additional  Information,  and is available upon request.  Prior
years' information was audited by other independent auditors,  whose report also
is incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information.



 www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments      17


TARGET 2000

ADVISOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period Indicated

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                                   1998(1)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period                               $91.41
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income From Investment Operations
    Net Investment Income(2)                                       $ 0.54

    Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investment Transactions    $ 1.81
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total From Investment Operations                               $ 2.35
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, End of Period                                     $93.76
=============================================================================
Total Return(3)                                                     2.57%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                                   1998(1)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets                   0.84%(4)

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets                5.06%(4)

Portfolio Turnover Rate                                               82%

Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands)                              $64

(1) August 20, 1998 (commencement of sale) through September 30, 1998.

(2) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any. Total return is not annualized.

(4) Annualized.


 18     American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


TARGET 2005

ADVISOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period Indicated

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                                   1998(1)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period                               $70.91
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income From Investment Operations
    Net Investment Income(2)                                       $ 0.58

    Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investment Transactions    $ 5.20
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total From Investment Operations                               $ 5.78
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, End of Period                                     $76.69
==============================================================================
Total Return(3)                                                     8.15%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                                   1998(1)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets                  0.84%(4)

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets               4.87%(4)

Portfolio Turnover Rate                                              35%

Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands)                             $100

(1) August 3, 1998 (commencement of sale) through September 30, 1998.

(2) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any. Total return is not annualized.

(4) Annualized.


  www.americancentury.com                    American Century Investments    19


TARGET 2025

ADVISOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period Indicated

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                                   1998(1)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period                               $27.27
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income From Investment Operations

    Net Investment Income(2)                                       $ 0.41

    Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investment Transactions    $ 3.96
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total From Investment Operations                               $ 4.37
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, End of Period                                     $31.64
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Return(3)                                                    16.02%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                                   1998(1)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets                  0.84%(4)

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets               4.37%(4)

Portfolio Turnover Rate                                              52%

Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands)                             $89

(1) June 1, 1998 (commencement of sale) through September 30, 1998.

(2) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any. Total return is not annualized.

(4) Annualized.


 20    American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION OF OTHER CLASS

The following  financial  information is provided to show the performance of the
funds' original class of shares.  This class,  the Investor  Class,  has a total
expense ratio that is 0.25% lower than the Advisor  Class.  If the Advisor Class
had existed during the periods presented,  its performance would have been lower
because of the additional expense.

The tables on the next pages  itemize what  contributed  to the changes in share
price  during the period.  They also show changes in share price for this period
in  comparison to changes over the last five fiscal years (or less, if the share
class is not five years old).

On a per-share basis, each table includes

* share price at the beginning of the period
* investment income and capital gains or losses
* distributions of income and capital gains paid to shareholders 
* reverse share split
* share price at the end of the period

Each table also includes some key statistics for the period

*   Total  Return--the  overall  percentage of return of the fund,  assuming the
    reinvestment of all distributions

*   Expense Ratio--operating expenses as a percentage of average net assets

*   Net Income  Ratio--net  investment  income as a  percentage  of average  net
    assets

*   Portfolio Turnover--the percentage of the fund's buying and selling activity

The following Financial Highlights for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998,
have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants.  Their
report is  included  in the  funds'  annual  report,  which is  incorporated  by
reference  into the Statement of Additional  Information,  and is available upon
request.  Prior years'  information was audited by other  independent  auditors,
whose report is also  incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional
Information.


 www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments     21


TARGET 2000

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PER-SHARE DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

<S>                                      <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>        
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ...   $     86.05     $     79.95     $     76.86     $     66.93     $     72.40
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Income From Investment Operations
      Net Investment Income(1) .......   $      5.13     $      5.10     $      4.75     $      4.37     $      3.99

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .....   $      2.60     $      1.00     $     (1.66)    $      5.56     $     (9.46)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total From Investment Operations   $      7.73     $      6.10     $      3.09     $      9.93     $     (5.47)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Distributions(2)

      From Net Investment Income .....   $     (5.64)    $     (5.20)    $     (3.94)    $     (3.42)    $     (3.25)

      From Net Realized Gains ........          --              --              --              --       $     (2.95)

      In Excess of Net Realized Gains           --              --              --              --       $     (1.20)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total Distributions ............   $     (5.64)    $     (5.20)    $     (3.94)    $     (3.42)    $     (7.40)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Reverse Share Split ..................   $      5.64     $      5.20     $      3.94     $      3.42     $      7.40
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Year .........   $     93.78     $     86.05     $     79.95     $     76.86     $     66.93
                                         ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========


Total Return(3) ......................          8.97%           7.64%           4.01%          14.84%          (7.54)%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Ratio of Operating Expenses to
Average Net Assets ...................          0.59%           0.56%           0.53%           0.63%           0.59%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets ...................          5.75%           6.14%           5.99%           6.13%           5.74%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ..............            82%             10%             29%             53%             89%

Net Assets, End of Year
(in thousands) .......................   $   237,525     $   248,377     $   267,757     $   294,736     $   243,895

(1) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the year.

(2) For years ended prior to September 30, 1997,  distributions  were calculated
    using average shares  outstanding during the year.  Distributions  indicated
    for those years will be different than the actual per-share distributions to
    shareholders.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any.


 22    American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


TARGET 2005

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ...   $     64.54     $     57.83     $     56.61     $     45.22     $     51.84
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Income From Investment Operations

      Net Investment Income(1) .......   $      3.84     $      3.74     $      3.50     $      3.33     $      3.11

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .....   $      8.34     $      2.97     $     (2.28)    $      8.06     $     (9.73)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total From Investment Operations   $     12.18     $      6.71     $      1.22     $     11.39     $     (6.62)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Distributions(2)

      From Net Investment Income .....   $     (3.61)    $     (3.61)    $     (2.06)    $     (2.41)    $     (2.70)

      From Net Realized Gains ........   $     (0.27)    $     (0.44)    $     (0.58)    $     (0.67)    $     (8.47)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total Distributions ............   $     (3.88)    $     (4.05)    $     (2.64)    $     (3.08)    $    (11.17)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Reverse Share Split ..................   $      3.88     $      4.05     $      2.64     $      3.08     $     11.17
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Year .........   $     76.72     $     64.54     $     57.83     $     56.61     $     45.22
                                         ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========

Total Return(3) ......................         18.87%          11.60%           2.15%          25.16%         (12.75)%


RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Ratio of Operating Expenses to
Average Net Assets ...................          0.59%           0.57%           0.58%           0.71%           0.64%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets ...................          5.53%           6.15%           6.05%           6.58%           6.37%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ..............            35%             15%             31%             34%             68%

Net Assets, End of Year
(in thousands) .......................   $   533,986     $   281,677     $   238,864     $   183,452     $    96,207

(1) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the year.

(2) For years ended prior to September 30, 1997,  distributions  were calculated
    using average shares  outstanding during the year.  Distributions  indicated
    for those years will be different than the actual per-share distributions to
    shareholders.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments       23


TARGET 2010

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995           1994

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ...   $     49.16     $     42.47     $     42.14     $     31.67    $     38.13
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    -----------

Income From Investment Operations

      Net Investment Income(1) .......   $      2.94     $      2.79     $      2.58     $      2.41    $      2.24

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .....   $      9.88     $      3.90     $     (2.25)    $      8.06    $     (8.70)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    ----------- 

      Total From Investment Operations   $     12.82     $      6.69     $      0.33     $     10.47    $     (6.46)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    ----------- 

Distributions(2)
      From Net Investment Income .....   $     (2.46)    $     (2.82)    $     (1.57)    $     (1.48)   $     (1.46)

      From Net Realized Gains ........   $     (0.29)    $     (1.17)           --       $     (0.48)   $     (4.31)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    ----------- 

      Total Distributions ............   $     (2.75)    $     (3.99)    $     (1.57)    $     (1.96)   $     (5.77)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    ----------- 

Reverse Share Split ..................   $      2.75     $      3.99     $      1.57     $      1.96    $      5.77
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------    -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Year .........   $     61.98     $     49.16     $     42.47     $     42.14    $     31.67
                                         ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========    ===========

Total Return(3) ......................         26.08%          15.75%           0.78%          33.06%        (16.92)%


RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995           1994

Ratio of Operating Expenses to
Average Net Assets ...................          0.59%           0.62%           0.67%           0.71%          0.68%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets ...................          5.39%           6.15%           5.98%           6.56%          6.35%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ..............            34%             26%             24%             26%            35%

Net Assets, End of Year
(in thousands) .......................   $   283,828     $   124,812     $   111,117     $    95,057    $    46,312

(1) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the year.

(2) For years ended prior to September 30, 1997,  distributions  were calculated
    using average shares  outstanding during the year.  Distributions  indicated
    for those years will be different than the actual per-share distributions to
    shareholders.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any.


 24    American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


TARGET 2015

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ...   $     38.34     $     31.96     $     32.20     $     22.79     $     29.04
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Income From Investment Operations

      Net Investment Income(1) .......   $      2.17     $      2.00     $      1.85     $      1.71     $      1.57

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .....   $      9.36     $      4.38     $     (2.09)    $      7.70     $     (7.82)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total From Investment Operations   $     11.53     $      6.38     $     (0.24)    $      9.41     $     (6.25)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Distributions(2)

      From Net Investment Income .....   $     (2.11)    $     (2.05)    $     (1.28)    $     (0.87)    $     (1.19)

      From Net Realized Gains ........   $     (1.40)    $     (0.34)    $     (1.61)           --       $     (7.08)

      In Excess of Net Realized Gains           --              --              --              --       $     (0.37)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total Distributions ............   $     (3.51)    $     (2.39)    $     (2.89)    $     (0.87)    $     (8.64)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Reverse Share Split ..................   $      3.51     $      2.39     $      2.89     $      0.87     $      8.64
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Year .........   $     49.87     $     38.34     $     31.96     $     32.20     $     22.79
                                         ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========

Total Return(3) ......................         30.07%          19.96%          (0.74)%         41.29%         (21.52)%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Ratio of Operating Expenses to
Average Net Assets ...................          0.59%           0.61%           0.65%           0.71%           0.68%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets ...................          4.96%           5.79%           5.63%           6.40%           5.97%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ..............            31%             21%             17%             70%             65%

Net Assets, End of Year
(in thousands) .......................   $   170,081     $   114,900     $   115,654     $   114,647     $    66,073

(1) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the year.

(2) For years ended prior to September 30, 1997,  distributions  were calculated
    using average shares  outstanding during the year.  Distributions  indicated
    for those years will be different than the actual per-share distributions to
    shareholders.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any.


  www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments     25


TARGET 2020

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ...   $     27.17     $     22.00     $     22.47     $     15.28     $     20.72
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Income From Investment Operations

      Net Investment Income(1) .......   $      1.53     $      1.51     $      1.41     $      1.19     $      1.13

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .....   $      8.25     $      3.66     $     (1.88)    $      6.00     $     (6.57)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

      Total From Investment Operations   $      9.78     $      5.17     $     (0.47)    $      7.19     $     (5.44)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Distributions(2)

      From Net Investment Income .....   $     (2.35)    $     (1.45)    $     (0.40)    $     (0.21)    $     (0.28)

      From Net Realized Gains ........   $     (2.19)           --       $     (0.04)           --       $     (1.31)

      In Excess of Net Realized Gains           --              --              --              --       $     (1.18)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

      Total Distributions ............   $     (4.54)    $     (1.45)    $     (0.44)    $     (0.21)    $     (2.77)
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ----------- 

Reverse Share Split ..................   $      4.54     $      1.45     $      0.44     $      0.21     $      2.77
                                         -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------     -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Year .........   $     36.95     $     27.17     $     22.00     $     22.47     $     15.28
                                         ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========     ===========

Total Return(3) ......................         36.00%          23.50%          (2.09)%         47.05%         (26.25)%


RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                1998            1997            1996            1995            1994


Ratio of Operating Expenses to
Average Net Assets ...................          0.59%           0.53%           0.61%           0.72%           0.70%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets ...................          4.83%           6.29%           6.25%           6.24%           6.28%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ..............            18%             14%             47%             78%            116%

Net Assets, End of Year
(in thousands) .......................   $   486,052     $   553,551     $   926,319     $   574,702     $    58,535

(1) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the year.

(2) For years ended prior to September 30, 1997,  distributions  were calculated
    using average shares  outstanding during the year.  Distributions  indicated
    for those years will be different than the actual per-share distributions to
    shareholders.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any.


 26     American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


TARGET 2025

INVESTOR CLASS

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended September 30 (except as noted)

PER-SHARE DATA

                                                  1998            1997           1996(1)

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period ...   $     22.27     $     17.91    $     19.85
                                           -----------     -----------    -----------

Income From Investment Operations

      Net Investment Income(2) .........   $      1.33     $      1.21    $      0.72

      Net Realized and
      Unrealized Gain (Loss)
      on Investment Transactions .......   $      8.07     $      3.15    $     (2.66)
                                           -----------     -----------    -----------

      Total From Investment Operations .   $      9.40     $      4.36    $     (1.94)
                                           -----------     -----------    ----------- 

Distributions

      From Net Investment Income .......   $     (0.70)    $     (0.72)          --

      From Net Realized Gains ..........   $     (0.05)           --             --
                                           -----------     -----------    -----------

      Total Distributions ..............   $     (0.75)    $     (0.72)          --
                                           -----------     -----------    -----------

Reverse Share Split ....................   $      0.75     $      0.72           --
                                           -----------     -----------    -----------

Net Asset Value, End of Period .........   $     31.67     $     22.27    $     17.91
                                           ===========     ===========    ===========

Total Return(3) ........................         42.21%          24.34%         (9.77)%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                  1998            1997           1996(1)

Ratio of Operating Expenses
to Average Net Assets ..................          0.59%           0.62%          0.67%(4)

Ratio of Net Investment
Income to Average Net Assets ...........          4.94%           6.14%          6.57%(4)

Portfolio Turnover Rate ................            52%             58%            61%

Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands)   $   356,122          $73,82    $    35,661
</TABLE>

(1) February 15, 1996 (inception) through September 30, 1996.

(2) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions,  if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not
    annualized.

(4) Annualized.


 www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments      27


NOTES


 28     American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


FUND REFERENCE

                                                             Fund Code
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2000                 963
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2005                 964
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2010                 965
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2015                 966
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2020                 967
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Target Maturities Trust: 2025                 968
    

 www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments      29


   
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS IS CONTAINED IN THESE DOCUMENTS
    

ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL REPORTS

These reports  contain more  information  about the funds'  investments  and the
market  conditions and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the
funds' performance during the most recent fiscal period.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)

The SAI contains a more detailed,  legal  description of the funds'  operations,
investment  restrictions,  policies and practices.  The SAI is  incorporated  by
reference  into this  Prospectus.  This means  that it is  legally  part of this
Prospectus, even if you don't request a copy.


   
You also can get  information  about  the  funds  (including  the SAI)  from the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

* In person                SEC Public Reference Rm.
                           Washington, D.C. 
                           Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for location  
                           and hours.

* On the Internet          www.sec.gov

* By mail                  SEC Public Reference Section
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-6009 
                           (The SEC will charge a fee for copying the
                           documents.)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENTS
P.O. Box 419385
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6385

SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE: 1-800-345-3533 or 816-531-5575

AUTOMATED INFORMATION LINE: 1-800-345-8765

WWW.AMERICANCENTURY.COM

FAX: 816-340-4655

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR THE DEAF
1-800-345-1833 or 816-444-3038

CORPORATE; NOT-FOR-PROFIT; FOUNDATIONS; ENDOWMENTS; KEOGH; SEP-, SARSEP- AND
SIMPLE-IRA; AND 403(B) SERVICES 1-800-345-3533

Investment Company Act File No. 811-4165
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[american century logo(reg.sm)]
American
Century

American Century Investments
P.O. Box 419385
Kansas City, MO 64141-6385
www.americancentury.com
                                                                       BULK RATE
                                                               U.S. POSTAGE PAID
                                                               AMERICAN CENTURY
                                                                       COMPANIES
SH-PRS-14873   9901
    
<PAGE>
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                               February 1, 1999

                        [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                    American
                                    Century

                                  Target 2000
                                  Target 2005
                                  Target 2010
                                  Target 2015
                                  Target 2020
                                  Target 2025

                   AMERICAN CENTURY TARGET MATURITIES TRUST

This  Statement of Additional  Information  adds to the discussion in the funds'
Prospectus, dated February 1, 1999, but is not a prospectus. If you would like a
copy of the  Prospectus,  please contact us at one of the addresses or telephone
numbers  listed  on the  back  cover  or visit  American  Century's  Web site at
www.americancentury.com.

This  Statement of  Additional  Information  incorporates  by reference  certain
information that appears in the funds' annual and semiannual reports,  which are
delivered to all  shareholders.  You may obtain a free copy of the funds' annual
or semiannual reports by calling 1-800-345-2021.

                    Distributed by Funds Distributor, Inc.


                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                               FEBRUARY 1, 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
The Funds' History ........................................................    2
Fund Investment Guidelines ................................................    2
Detailed Information About the Funds ......................................    2
    Investment Strategies and Risks .......................................    2
    Coupon-Bearing U.S. Treasury Securities ...............................    5
    Cash Management .......................................................    5
    Loans of Portfolio Securities .........................................    5
    Investment Policies ...................................................    6
    Temporary Defensive Measures ..........................................    7
    Portfolio Turnover ....................................................    7
Management ................................................................    8
    The Board of Trustees .................................................    8
    Officers ..............................................................   10
The Funds' Principal Shareholders .........................................   12
Service Providers .........................................................   12
    Investment Advisor ....................................................   12
    Distributor ...........................................................   14
    Transfer Agent and Administrator ......................................   14
Other Service Providers ...................................................   15
    Custodian Banks .......................................................   15
    Independent Accountants ...............................................   15
Brokerage Allocation ......................................................   15
Information About Fund Shares .............................................   15
    Fund Liquidations .....................................................   16
    Multiple Class Structure ..............................................   16
    Rule 12b-1 ............................................................   16
    Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan .....................   17
    Buying and Selling Fund Shares ........................................   18
    Valuation of a Fund's Securities ......................................   19
Taxes .....................................................................   19
    Federal Income Tax ....................................................   19
How Fund Performance Information Is Calculated ............................   20
Financial Statements ......................................................   22
Explanation of Fixed Income Securities Ratings ............................   22
    


Statement of Additional Information                                           1


THE FUNDS' HISTORY

   
    American Century Target Maturities Trust is a registered open-end management
investment company that was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on March
25, 1985.  The Trust was known as Benham Target  Maturities  Trust until January
1997.  Throughout this Statement of Additional  Information we refer to American
Century Target Maturities Trust as the Trust.

    Each  fund  described  in this  Statement  of  Additional  Information  is a
separate  series of the Trust and  operates  for many  purposes as if it were an
independent  company.  Each  fund has its own  investment  objective,  strategy,
management team, assets, tax identification and stock registration number.
    

FUND INVESTMENT GUIDELINES

   
    This  section  explains  the  extent to which the funds'  advisor,  American
Century Investment  Management,  Inc., can use various  investment  vehicles and
strategies  in  managing  a  fund's  assets.   Descriptions  of  the  investment
techniques  and risks  associated  with each appear in the section,  "Investment
Strategies  and  Risks,"  which  begins on this page.  In the case of the funds'
principal investment  strategies,  these descriptions  elaborate upon discussion
contained in the Prospectus.
    

    Each fund is a  diversified  open-end  investment  company as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Investment  Company Act).  Diversified means
that,  with respect to 75% of its total  assets,  each fund will not invest more
than 5% of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer.

   
    To meet federal tax requirements for qualification as a regulated investment
company,  each fund  must  limit  its  investments  so that at the close of each
quarter  of its  taxable  year (1) no more  than  25% of its  total  assets  are
invested in the securities of a single issuer (other than the U.S. government or
a regulated  investment  company),  and (2) with  respect to at least 50% of its
total assets, no more than 5% of its total assets are invested in the securities
of a single issuer.
    

DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

    This section describes various  investment  vehicles and strategies that the
fund  managers  can use in managing a fund's  assets.  It also details the risks
associated  with each,  because each  technique  contributes to a fund's overall
risk profile.

   
ZERO-COUPON SECURITIES

    Zero-coupon U.S. Treasury  securities (or zeros) are the unmatured  interest
coupons and underlying  principal  portions of U.S. Treasury bonds.  Originally,
these  securities were created by  broker-dealers  who bought Treasury bonds and
deposited these securities with a custodian bank. The  broker-dealers  then sold
receipts  representing  ownership interests in the coupons or principal portions
of the bonds.  Some examples of zero-coupon  securities  sold through  custodial
receipt  programs  are CATS  (Certificates  of Accrual on Treasury  Securities),
TIGRs (Treasury Investment Growth Receipts) and generic TRs (Treasury Receipts)
    

    The U.S. Treasury subsequently  introduced a program called Separate Trading
of Registered  Interest and Principal of Securities  (STRIPS),  through which it
exchanges  eligible  securities  for their  component  parts and then allows the
component parts to trade in book-entry form.  (Book-entry trading eliminates the
bank credit risks associated with broker-dealer-sponsored custodial receipt

<TABLE>
Fund-Class                      Inception Date   Ticker Symbol    Inception Date  Ticker Symbol
                               (Investor Class) (Investor Class) (Advisor Class) (Advisor Class)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>                 <C>             <C>           <C>
American Century
Target Maturities Trust: 2000     03/25/1985         BTMTX          08/20/1998          N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century
Target Maturities Trust: 2005     03/25/1985         BTFIX          08/03/1998          N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century
Target Maturities Trust: 2010     03/25/1985         BTTNX          N/A                 N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century
Target Maturities Trust: 2015     09/01/1986         BTFTX          N/A                 N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century
Target Maturities Trust: 2020     12/29/1989         BTTTX          N/A                 N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century
Target Maturities Trust: 2025     02/15/1996         BTTRX           06/01/1998          N/A
</TABLE>


2                                                  American Century Investments


programs.)  STRIPS are direct  obligations  of the U.S.  government and have the
same credit risks as other U.S. Treasury securities.

    The Resolution  Funding  Corporation  (REFCORP)  issues bonds whose interest
payments are  guaranteed by the U.S.  Treasury and whose  principal  amounts are
secured by zero-coupon  U.S.  Treasury  securities held in a separate  custodial
account  at the  Federal  Reserve  Bank of New York.  The  principal  amount and
maturity  date of REFCORP bonds are the same as the par amount and maturity date
of the  corresponding  zeros;  upon maturity,  REFCORP bonds are repaid from the
proceeds of the zeros.  REFCORP  zeros are the  unmatured  coupons and principal
portions of Resolution Funding  Corporation  bonds. The U.S.  government and its
agencies may issue securities in zero-coupon form. These securities are referred
to as original issue zero-coupon securities.

MANAGING TO THE TARGET YEAR

ANTICIPATED VALUE AT MATURITY

    The maturity values of zero-coupon bonds are specified at the time the bonds
are issued,  and this feature,  combined with the ability to calculate  yield to
maturity,  has made these instruments  popular investment vehicles for investors
seeking reliable investments to meet long-term financial goals.

    To provide a comparable investment  opportunity while allowing investors the
flexibility  to  purchase  or  redeem  shares  each  day the  Trust  is open for
business,  each fund  consists  primarily of  zero-coupon  bonds but is actively
managed to accommodate  shareholder  activity and to take advantage of perceived
market  opportunities.  Because of this  active  management  approach,  the fund
advisor does not  guarantee  that a certain  price per share will be attained by
the time a fund is liquidated.  Instead,  the fund managers attempt to track the
price behavior of a directly held zero-coupon bond by:

   
    (1) Maintaining  a  weighted  average  maturity  within  the  fund's  target
        maturity year;
    

    (2) Investing at least 90% of assets in  securities  that mature  within one
        year of the fund's target maturity year;

    (3) Investing a substantial  portion of assets in Treasury  STRIPS (the most
        liquid Treasury zero);

    (4) Under normal conditions, maintaining a cash balance of less than 1%;

    (5) Executing   portfolio   transactions   necessary  to   accommodate   net
        shareholder purchases or redemptions on a daily basis; and

    (6) Whenever feasible, contacting several U.S. government securities dealers
        for each intended  transaction  in an effort to obtain the best price on
        each transaction.

    These measures enable the fund managers to calculate an anticipated value at
maturity (AVM) for each fund that approximates the price per share the fund will
achieve  by its  weighted  average  maturity  date.  The AVM  calculation  is as
follows:

                        AVM = P(1+AGR/2)(2T)

where P = the fund's  current price per share, T = the fund's  weighted  average
term to maturity in years, and AGR = the anticipated growth rate.

    This calculation assumes that the shareholder will reinvest all dividend and
capital gain  distributions  (if any).  It also  assumes an expense  ratio and a
portfolio  composition  that remain  constant for the life of the fund.  Because
fund expenses and composition do not remain constant, however, the fund managers
calculate AVM for each fund each day the Trust is open for business.

   
    In addition to the measures  described above, which the advisor believes are
adequate to ensure close correspondence  between the price behavior of each fund
and the price  behavior  of  directly  held  zero-coupon  bonds with  comparable
maturities, the Trust has made an undertaking to the staff of the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  (SEC)  that each fund will  invest at least 90% of its net
assets in zero-coupon bonds until it is within four years of its target maturity
year and at least 80% of its net assets in zero-coupon securities while the fund
is within two to four years of its target maturity year. This undertaking may be
revoked if the market supply of zero-coupon securities diminishes  unexpectedly,
although it will not be revoked without prior  consultation  with the SEC staff.
In addition,  the advisor has undertaken that any coupon-bearing  bond purchased
on behalf of a fund will have a  duration  that falls  within the fund's  target
maturity year.
    


Statement of Additional Information                                            3


ANTICIPATED GROWTH RATE

   
    The fund managers also calculate an  anticipated  growth rate (AGR) for each
fund  each day the  Trust  is open for  business.  AGR is a  calculation  of the
annualized  rate of growth an investor may expect from his or her purchase  date
to the fund's target maturity date. As is the case with calculations of AVM, the
AGR  calculation  assumes that the investor  will  reinvest  all  dividends  and
capital  gain  distributions  (if any) and that the  fund's  expense  ratio  and
portfolio composition will remain constant.  Each fund's AGR changes from day to
day primarily  because of changes in interest rates and, to a lesser extent,  to
changes in portfolio  composition and other factors that affect the value of the
fund's investments.
    

    The advisor expects that  shareholders  who hold their shares until a fund's
weighted  average  maturity date and who reinvest all dividends and capital gain
distributions  (if any),  will realize an investment  return and maturity  value
that do not differ  substantially from the AGR and AVM calculated on the day his
or her shares were purchased.

   
    The following  table  illustrates  investor  experience  with Target 1990, a
series  of the Trust  that was first  offered  on March 25,  1985,  and that was
liquidated  on January  25,  1991.  This table is not  indicative  of the future
performance of the existing funds.

    Calculations in the table may not reconcile precisely due to rounding to two
decimal points of share price, AGR and weighted average maturity.
    

<TABLE>
Date             Share Price (P)     AGR      Weighted Average Maturity (T)     AVM
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>               <C>              <C>         <C>                              <C>      
April 1985        $  56.03         10.58       5.64                             $  100.25
June              $  60.62          9.68       5.42                             $  101.17
September         $  62.72          9.44       5.08                             $  100.23
December          $  67.75          8.26       4.95                             $  101.15
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 1986        $  73.60          6.86       4.69                             $  100.98
June              $  74.80          6.83       4.38                             $  100.38
September         $  76.82          6.59       4.16                             $  100.63
December          $  79.01          6.27       3.86                             $  100.26
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 1987        $  79.88          6.34       3.59                             $  99.93
June              $  79.01          7.21       3.27                             $  99.63
September         $  77.28          8.57       3.14                             $  100.62
December          $  81.02          7.52       2.76                             $  99.33
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 1988        $  83.61          6.98       2.51                             $  99.33
June              $  83.97          6.55       2.62                             $  99.42
September         $  84.96          6.97       2.09                             $  98.04
December          $  85.70          8.39       1.68                             $  98.38
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 1989        $  86.76          9.18       1.50                             $  99.25
June              $  90.47          7.57       1.23                             $  99.16
September         $  91.91          7.81       0.98                             $  99.08
December          $  94.00          7.38       0.74                             $  99.17
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 1990        $  95.62          7.68       0.52                             $  99.44
June              $  97.48          7.44       0.32                             $  99.82
September         $  99.32          6.73       0.15                             $  100.31
December          $  101.13         4.33       0.07                             $  101.43
</TABLE>


4                                                  American Century Investments


    Note that the Target  1990's share price on December  31, 1990,  was not the
same as its AVM on that date  because the fund had not yet been  liquidated  and
still held short-term Treasury  securities with a 25-day maturity.  The fund was
liquidated on January 25, 1991, at a final share price of $101.46.

    As a further  demonstration  of how the funds have  behaved  over time,  the
following tables show each fund's AGR and AVM as of September 30 for each of the
past five years.

    The funds' share prices and growth rates are not  guaranteed by the Trust or
any of its affiliates. There is no guarantee that the funds' AVMs will fluctuate
as little in the future as they have in the past.

COUPON-BEARING U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES

   
    U.S.  Treasury  bills,  notes and bonds are direct  obligations  of the U.S.
Treasury.  Historically, they have involved no risk of loss of principal if held
to  maturity.  Between  issuance  and  maturity,  however,  the  prices of these
securities   change  in   response   to  changes  in  market   interest   rates.
Coupon-bearing  securities  generate  current interest  payments,  and part of a
fund's return may come from reinvesting interest earned on these securities.
    

CASH MANAGEMENT

    Each fund may invest in any money market fund,  including  those  managed by
the  advisor,  provided  that the  investment  is  consistent  with  the  fund's
investment policies and restrictions.

    Up to 5% of each fund's total assets may be invested in this manner.

LOANS OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

    Each fund may lend its portfolio  securities to earn additional income. If a
borrower defaults on a securities loan, the lending fund could experience delays
in recovering  the securities it loaned;  if the value of the loaned  securities
increased  over the value of the  collateral,  the fund could suffer a loss.  To
minimize the risk of default on securities loans, the advisor,  American Century
Investment  Management,  Inc., adheres to the following guidelines prescribed by
the Board of Trustees governing lending of securities. These guidelines strictly
govern (1) the type and amount of collateral  that must be received by the fund;
(2) the  circumstances  under which additions to that collateral must be made by
borrowers; (3) the return received by the fund on the loaned securities; (4) the
limitations  on the  percentage  of fund  assets  on  loan;  and (5) the  credit
standards applied in evaluating potential borrowers of portfolio securities.  In
addition,  the guidelines require that the fund have the option to terminate any
loan of a portfolio  security at any time and set  requirements  for recovery of
securities from borrowers.

<TABLE>
Anticipated Growth Rate        9/30/94      9/30/95      9/30/96     9/30/97     9/30/98
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>  
Target 2000                     6.76%        5.37%        5.75%       5.24%       3.81%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005                     7.33%        5.75%        6.17%       5.57%       3.98%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010                     7.54%        6.04%        6.44%       5.80%       4.41%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015                     7.56%        6.21%        6.58%       5.93%       4.81%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020                     7.52%        6.20%        6.59%       5.98%       4.90%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025                      N/A          N/A         6.43%       5.86%       4.80%


Anticipated Value at Maturity  9/30/94      9/30/95      9/30/96     9/30/97     9/30/98
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000                    $100.86      $100.99      $101.10     $101.13     $101.78
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005                    $100.58      $100.32      $100.71     $100.85     $101.53
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010                    $101.38      $101.02      $102.53     $103.40     $104.85
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015                    $107.95      $109.62      $110.11     $110.52     $112.63
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020                    $102.11      $102.31      $103.60     $104.84     $106.96
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025                      N/A          N/A        $109.24     $110.88     $112.23
</TABLE>


Statement of Additional Information                                            5


INVESTMENT POLICIES

    Unless otherwise indicated, with the exception of the percentage limitations
on borrowing,  the restrictions apply at the time transactions are entered into.
Accordingly,  any later  increase or decrease  beyond the  specified  limitation
resulting  from a change  in a fund's  net  assets  will  not be  considered  in
determining whether it has complied with its investment restrictions.

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

    The funds'  investment  restrictions  are set forth below.  These investment
restrictions  are  fundamental  and may not be  changed  without  approval  of a
majority of the  outstanding  votes of  shareholders of a fund, as determined in
accordance with the Investment Company Act.

    For purposes of the investment restriction relating to concentration, a fund
shall not purchase any  securities  that would cause 25% or more of the value of
the fund's total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities
of one or more issuers  conducting  their principal  business  activities in the
same  industry,  provided  that  (a)  there is no  limitation  with  respect  to
obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, any state, territory or
possession  of the United  States,  the  District  of  Columbia  or any of their
authorities,   agencies,   instrumentalities   or  political   subdivisions  and
repurchase  agreements  secured by such  instruments,  (b) wholly owned  finance
companies  will be considered to be in the  industries of their parents if their
activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents, (c)
utilities will be divided  according to their  services,  for example,  gas, gas
transmission, electric and gas, electric and telephone will each be considered a
separate  industry,  and (d) personal credit and business credit businesses will
be considered separate industries.

   
Subject              Policy
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Securities    A fund may not issue senior  securities,  except
                     as permitted under the Investment Company Act.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borrowing            A fund may not borrow money, except for temporary or
                     emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an
                     amount not exceeding 33-1/3% of the fund's total assets
                     (including the amount  borrowed) less liabilities (other
                     than borrowings).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lending              A fund may not lend any security or make any other loan if,
                     as a result, more than 33-1/3% of the fund's total assets
                     would be lent to other parties, except, (i) through the
                     purchase of debt securities in accordance with its
                     investment objective, policies and limitations or (ii) by
                     engaging in repurchase agreements with respect to portfolio
                     securities.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Real Estate          A fund may not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired
                     as a result of ownership of securities or other
                     instruments. This policy shall not prevent a fund from
                     investing in securities or other instruments backed by real
                     estate or securities of companies that deal in real estate
                     or are engaged in the real estate business.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concentration        A fund may not concentrate its investments in securities of
                     issuers in a particular industry (other than securities
                     issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its
                     agencies or instrumentalities).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Underwriting         A fund may not act as an underwriter of securities issued
                     by others, except to the extent that the fund may be
                     considered an underwriter within the meaning of the
                     Securities  Act of 1933 in the  disposition  of  restricted
                     securities.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commodities          A fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities unless
                     acquired as a result of  ownership of  securities  or other
                     instruments;   provided  that  this  limitation  shall  not
                     prohibit the fund from  purchasing  or selling  options and
                     futures  contracts or from investing in securities or other
                     instruments backed by physical commodities.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Control              A fund may not invest for  purposes of  exercising  control
                     over management.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    


6                                                  American Century Investments


NONFUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

  In  addition,  the funds are subject to the  following  additional  investment
restrictions  that  are not  fundamental  and may be  changed  by the  Board  of
Trustees.

Subject              Policy
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diversification      A fund may not purchase additional investment securities at
                     any time during which  outstanding  borrowings exceed 5% of
                     the total assets of the fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liquidity            A fund may not purchase any security or enter into a
                     repurchase agreement if, as a result, more than 15% of its
                     net assets would be invested in repurchase agreements not
                     entitling the holder to payment of  principal and interest
                     within seven days and in securities that are illiquid by
                     virtue of legal or contractual restrictions on resale or
                     the absence of a readily available market.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short Sales          A fund may not sell securities short,  unless it owns
                     or has the right to obtain  securities  equivalent  in kind
                     and amount to the securities sold short,  and provided that
                     transactions  in  futures  contracts  and  options  are not
                     deemed to constitute selling securities short.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Margin               A fund may not purchase securities on margin, except to
                     obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the
                     clearance of transactions, and provided that margin
                     payments in connection with futures contracts and options
                     on futures contracts shall not constitute purchasing
                     securities on margin.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
    The Investment  Company Act imposes  certain  additional  restrictions  upon
acquisition  by the  corporation  of securities  issued by insurance  companies,
broker-dealers,  underwriters or investment advisors, and upon transactions with
affiliated persons as therein defined.  It also defines and forbids the creation
of cross and circular ownership.  Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission
nor  any  other  agency  of the  federal  or  state  agency  participates  in or
supervises  the  management  of the  funds  or  their  investment  practices  or
policies.

    The Investment  Company Act also provides that the funds may not invest more
than 25% of their  assets  in the  securities  of  issuers  engaged  in a single
industry.  In determining industry groups for purposes of this restriction,  the
SEC ordinarily uses the Standard Industry  Classification codes developed by the
United  States  Office of  Management  and Budget.  In the  interest of ensuring
adequate diversification,  the funds monitor industry concentration using a more
restrictive  list of industry groups than that recommended by the SEC. The funds
believe that these  classifications are reasonable and are not so broad that the
primary  economic  characteristics  of  the  companies  in a  single  class  are
materially different. The use of these restrictive industry classifications may,
however,  cause the funds to forego investment  possibilities that may otherwise
be available to them under the Investment Company Act.
    

TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE MEASURES

   
    For temporary defensive  purposes,  a fund may invest in securities that may
not fit its  investment  objective  or its  stated  market.  During a  temporary
defensive  period,  a fund may  direct its  assets to the  following  investment
vehicles

    * interest-bearing bank accounts or certificates  of deposit
    

    * U.S. government securities and repurchase agreements collateralized by
      U.S. government securities

    * money market funds

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

    Under normal conditions,  the funds' annual portfolio turnover rates are not
expected to exceed 100%.  Because a higher  turnover rate increases  transaction
costs and may increase taxable capital gains,  the advisor  carefully weighs the
potential  benefits of short-term  investing against these  considerations.  The
funds' portfolio turnover rates are listed in the Financial  Highlights table in
the Prospectus.


Statement of Additional Information                                            7


MANAGEMENT

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

    The Board of  Trustees  oversees  the  management  of the funds and meets at
least quarterly to review reports about fund  operations.  Although the Board of
Trustees does not manage the funds, it has hired the advisor to do so. More than
half of the trustees are "independent" of the funds' advisor,  that is, they are
not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor.

   
    The  individuals  listed in the  table on this page and the next page  whose
names are  marked by an  asterisk  (*) are  interested  persons of the funds (as
defined in the Investment Company Act) by virtue of, among other considerations,
their  affiliation  with  either  the  advisor,   American  Century   Investment
Management,  Inc.  (ACIM);  the funds'  agent for  transfer  and  administrative
services,  American Century Services  Corporation (ACSC); the parent corporation
of ACIM and ACSC, American Century Companies,  Inc. (ACC) or ACC's subsidiaries;
the funds'  distribution agent and  co-administrator,  Funds  Distributor,  Inc.
(FDI);  the funds or other funds  advised by the advisor.  Each  trustee  listed
below serves as a trustee or director of seven registered  investment  companies
in the American Century family of funds, which are also advised by the advisor.

Name (Age)             Position(s) Held     Principal Occupation(s)
Address                    With Fund        During Past Five Years
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albert A. Eisenstat (68)   Trustee   General Partner, Discovery Ventures 
1665 Charleston Road                 (venture capital firm, since 1996) 
Mountain View, CA 94043              Independent Director, Commercial Metals Co.
                                     (since 1982)
                                     Independent Director, Sungard Data Systems
                                     (since 1991)
                                     Independent Director, Business Objects S/A
                                     (software & programming, since 1994)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ronald J. Gilson (52)      Trustee   Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and
1665 Charleston Road                 Business, Stanford Law School (since 1979)
Mountain View, CA  94043             Marck and Eva Stern Professor of Law and
                                     Business, Columbia University School of Law
                                     (since 1992)
                                     Counsel, Marron, Reid & Sheehy (a San
                                     Francisco law firm, since 1984)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William M. Lyons* (43)     Trustee   Director, President, Chief Operating
4500 Main Street                     Officer a Assistant Secretary, ACC
Kansas City, MO 64111                Director, Executive Vice President, Chief
                                     Operating Officer, Secretary and Director,
                                     ACSC, ACIM and ACIS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Myron S. Scholes (57)      Trustee   Principal, Long-Term Capital Management
1665 Charleston Road                 (investment advisor, since 1993)
Mountain View, CA  94043             Frank E. Buck Professor Emeritus of
                                     Finance,   Stanford   Graduate   School  of
                                     Business (since 1983) Director, Dimensional
                                     Fund Advisors  (investment  advisor,  since
                                     1982)  Director,  Smith  Breeden  Family of
                                     Funds  (since  1992)   Managing   Director,
                                     Salomon    Brothers    Inc.     (securities
                                     brokerage, 1991 to 1993)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenneth E. Scott (70)      Trustee   Ralph M. Parsons Professor of Law and
1665 Charleston Road                 Business, Stanford Law School (since 1972)
Mountain View, CA  94043             Director, RCM Capital Funds, Inc. (since
                                     1994)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

                                                       (continued on next page)


8                                                  American Century Investments


   
Name (Age)             Position(s) Held     Principal Occupation(s)
Address                    With Fund        During Past  Five Years
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isaac Stein (52)           Trustee   President, Waverley Associates, Inc.
1665 Charleston Road                 (private investment firm, since 1983)
Mountain View, CA  94043             Director, ALZA Corporation
                                     (pharmaceuticals,   since  1987)  Director,
                                     Raychem Corporation  (electrical equipment,
                                     since 1993)  Trustee,  Stanford  University
                                     (since  1994)  Chairman,   Stanford  Health
                                     Services (since
                                     1994)
                                     Director, CV Therapeutics, Inc.
                                     (biotechnology, since 1995)
                                     Director, Symyx Technologies (combinatorial
                                     materials production, since 1995)
                                     Director, Knowmed, Inc. (healthcare
                                     services, since 1996)
                                     Director, Maxygen, Inc. (biotechnology,
                                     since 1997)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James E. Stowers III* (39) Trustee,  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
4500 Main Street           Chairman  Director, ACC Chief Executive Officer and
Kansas City, MO 64111      of the    Director, ACSC, ACIM and ACIS
                           Board
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeanne D. Wohlers (53)     Trustee   Director and Partner, Windy Hill
1665 Charleston Road                 Productions, (education software, since
Mountain View, CA  94043             1994)
                                     Director, Quintus Corporation (automation
                                     solutions, since 1995)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

COMMITTEES

  The Board has four  committees  to oversee  specific  functions of the Trust's
operations.  Only  independent  trustees  serve  on the  Audit,  Nominating  and
Portfolio  committees.  Information about these committees  appears in the table
below:

Committee          Members              Function of Committee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Audit              Albert A. Eisenstat  The Audit Committee selects and oversees
                   Kenneth E. Scott     the activities of the Trust's
                   Jeanne D. Wohlers    independent auditor. The Committee
                                        Receives   reports  from  the  advisor's
                                        Internal  Audit  Department,   which  is
                                        accountable solely to the Committee. The
                                        Committee also receives  reporting about
                                        compliance matters affecting the
                                        Trust.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nominating         Albert A. Eisenstat  The Nominating Committee primarily
                   Ronald J. Gilson     considers and recommends
                   Myron S. Scholes     individuals for nomination as trustees.
                   Kenneth E. Scott     The names of potential trustee
                   Isaac Stein          candidates are drawn from a number of
                   Jeanne D. Wohlers    sources, including recommendations from
                                        members of the Board, management and
                                        shareholders. This committee also
                                        reviews and makes recommendations to
                                        the   Board   with    respect   to   the
                                        composition  of  Board   committees  and
                                        other Board-related  matters,  including
                                        its  organization,   size,  composition,
                                        responsibilities,      functions     and
                                        compensation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio          Ronald J. Gilson     The Portfolio Committee reviews
                   Myron S. Scholes     quarterly the investment activities and
                   Isaac Stein          strategies used to manage fund assets.
                                        The Committee regularly receives reports
                                        from portfolio managers, credit analysts
                                        and    other    investment     personnel
                                        concerning the funds' investments.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quality of Service Ronald J. Gilson     The Quality of Service Committee reviews
                   Myron S. Scholes     the level and quality of transfer
                    (ad hoc)            agent and administrative
                   William M. Lyons     services provided to the funds and Isaac
                                        Stein  their  shareholders.  It receives
                                        and  reviews  reports   comparing  those
                                        services to fund  competitors  and seeks
                                        to improve such services  where feasible
                                        and appropriate.


Statement of Additional Information                                            9


COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES

   
    The  trustees  also serve as trustees for six  American  Century  investment
companies other than American Century Target  Maturities Trust. Each trustee who
is not an "interested  person" as defined in the Investment Company Act receives
compensation  for  service as a member of the Board of all seven such  companies
based on a schedule that takes into account the number of meetings  attended and
the assets of the funds for which the meetings are held. These fees and expenses
are divided among the seven  investment  companies  based,  in part,  upon their
relative  net  assets.  Under the  terms of the  management  agreement  with the
advisor, the funds are responsible for paying such fees and expenses.

    The table below shows the aggregate  compensation  paid by the Trust for the
periods  indicated and by the American  Century  family of funds to each trustee
who is not an "interested person" as defined in the Investment Company Act.

Aggregate Trustee Compensation for Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Total              Total Compensation
                                  Compensation                from the
                                    from the              American Century
Name of Trustee(1)                  Funds(1)             Family of Funds(2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albert A. Eisenstat                  $7,725                    $68,500
Ronald J. Gilson                     $8,074                    $71,750
Myron S. Scholes                     $7,077                    $62,250
Kenneth E. Scott                     $7,920                    $70,250
Isaac Stein                          $7,418                    $65,500
Jeanne D. Wohlers                    $7,920                    $70,250
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1)  Includes  compensation  paid to the  trustees  during the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1998,  and also includes  amounts  deferred at the election of the
trustees under the American Century Mutual Funds Deferred  Compensation Plan for
Non-Interested Directors and Trustees. The total amount of deferred compensation
included  in the  preceding  table is as follows:  Mr.  Eisenstat,  $1,303;  Mr.
Gilson, $1,652; Mr. Scholes, $813 and Mr. Scott, $828.

(2)  Includes  compensation  paid by the 13  investment  company  members of the
American Century family of funds.

    The Trust has adopted the American  Century Deferred  Compensation  Plan for
Non-Interested  Directors and Trustees. Under the plan, the independent trustees
may defer  receipt of all or any part of the fees to be paid to them for serving
as trustees of the funds.

    All deferred fees are credited to an account  established in the name of the
trustees.  The amounts credited to the account then increase or decrease, as the
case may be, in accordance  with the  performance of one or more of the American
Century funds that are selected by the trustee. The account balance continues to
fluctuate in accordance with the performance of the selected fund or funds until
final payment of all amounts is credited to the account. Trustees are allowed to
change their designation of mutual funds from time to time.
    

    No deferred fees are payable until such time as a trustee  resigns,  retires
or  otherwise  ceases  to be a member  of the Board of  Trustees.  Trustees  may
receive  deferred  fee  account  balances  either  in a lump sum  payment  or in
substantially equal installment  payments to be made over a period not to exceed
10 years.  Upon the death of a  trustee,  all  remaining  deferred  fee  account
balances are paid to the  trustee's  beneficiary  or, if none,  to the trustee's
estate.

    The plan is an unfunded plan and,  accordingly,  the Trust has no obligation
to segregate  assets to secure or fund the deferred fees. The rights of trustees
to receive their  deferred fee account  balances are the same as the rights of a
general unsecured  creditor of the Trust. The plan may be terminated at any time
by the  administrative  committee of the plan. If  terminated,  all deferred fee
account balances will be paid in a lump sum.

    No deferred  fees were paid to any trustee  under the plan during the fiscal
year ended September 30, 1998.

OFFICERS

   
    Background information for the officers of the Trust is provided on the next
page.  All  persons  named as  officers  of the  Trust  also  serve  in  similar
capacities for the 12 other investment  companies  advised by American  Century.
Not all officers of the Trust are listed; only those officers with policy-making
functions  for the Trust are listed.  No officer is  compensated  for his or her
service as an officer of the  Trust.  The  individuals  listed in this table are
interested  persons of the funds (as defined in the  Investment  Company Act) by
virtue of, among other considerations,  their affiliation with either the funds,
ACIM, ACSC, FDI, ACC or ACC's subsidiaries as specified in the table.
    


10                                                 American Century Investments


   
                        Position(s)
Name (Age)              Held With       Principal Occupation(s)
Address                 Fund            During Past Five Years
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
George A. Rio (44)      President       Executive Vice President and Director of
4500 Main Street                        Client Services, FDI (March 1998 to
Kansas City, MO 64111                   present)
                                        Senior  Vice  President  and  Senior Key
                                        Account  Manager,  Putnam  Mutual  Funds
                                        (June  1995  to  March  1998)   Director
                                        Business    Development,    First   Data
                                        Corporation  (May  1994  to  June  1995)
                                        Senior  Vice  President  and  Manager of
                                        Client Services and Director of Internal
                                        Audit,   The   Boston   Company,    Inc.
                                        (September 1983 to May 1994)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mary A. Nelson (34)      Vice President Vice President and Manager of Treasury
4500 Main Street                        Services and Administration, FDI (1994
Kansas City, MO 6411                    to present)
                                        Assistant Vice President and Client
                                        Manager, The Boston Company, Inc. (1989
                                        to 1994)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maryanne Roepke, CPA (42) Vice President Senior Vice President, Treasurer and
4500 Main Street                        Principal Accounting Officer, ACSC
Kansas City, MO 64111                   and Treasurer
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Tucker (40)        Vice President Senior Vice President and General
4500 Main Street                        Counsel, ACSC and ACIM (June 1998
Kansas City, MO 64111                   to present)
                                        General Counsel, ACC (June 1998 to
                                        present)
                                        Consultant to Mutual Fund Industry (May
                                        1997 to April 1998) Vice President and
                                        General Counsel, Janus Companies (1990
                                        to  May 1997)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher J. Kelley (34) Vice President Vice President and Associate General
4500 Main Street                        Counsel, FDI (since July 1996) Assistant
Kansas City, MO 64111                   Counsel, Forum Financial Group (April
                                        1994 to July 1996)
                                        Compliance Officer, Putnam Investments
                                        (1992 to April 1994)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Douglas A. Paul (52)    Secretary and   Vice President and Associate General
1665 Charleston Road    Vice President  Counsel, ACSC
Mountain View, CA  94043
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Jean Wade (34)       Controller      Controller -- Fund Accounting, ACSC
4500 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jon Zindel (31)         Tax Officer     Director of Taxation, ACSC (since 1996)
4500 Main Street                        Tax Manager, Price Waterhouse LLP (1989)
Kansas City, MO 64111
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    


Statement of Additional Information                                           11


THE FUNDS' PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

  As of December 31, 1998,  the  following  companies  were the record owners of
more than 5% of a fund's outstanding shares:

   
                                                              Percentage
                                                              of Shares
Fund                  Shareholder                             Outstanding
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000           Charles Schwab & Co.
                      101 Montgomery Street
                      San Francisco, CA 94101                 16.1%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2005           Charles Schwab & Co.
                      101 Montgomery Street
                      San Francisco, CA 94101                 11.7%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2010           Charles Schwab & Co.
                      101 Montgomery Street
                      San Francisco, CA 94101                 20.4%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2015           Charles Schwab & Co.
                      101 Montgomery Street
                      San Francisco, CA 94101                 24.2%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2020           Charles Schwab & Co.
                      101 Montgomery Street
                      San Francisco, CA 94101                 28.3%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2025           Charles Schwab & Co.
                      101 Montgomery Street
                      San Francisco, CA 94101                 33.3%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The funds are unaware of any other  shareholders,  beneficial  or of record,
who own more than 5% of a fund's  outstanding  shares.  As of December 31, 1998,
the  officers  and  trustees of the funds,  as a group,  own less than 1% of any
fund's outstanding shares.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

    The funds have no employees.  To conduct the funds'  day-to-day  activities,
the Trust has hired a number of service  providers.  Each service provider has a
specific function to fill on behalf of the Trust and is described below.
    

    The advisor and ACSC are both wholly  owned by ACC.  James E.  Stowers  Jr.,
Chairman of ACC,  controls  ACC by virtue of his  ownership of a majority of its
common stock.

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

    Each fund has an investment management agreement with the advisor,  American
Century  Investment  Management,  Inc., dated August 1, 1997. This agreement was
approved by the shareholders of each of the funds on July 30, 1997.

   
    A  description  of  the  responsibilities  of  the  advisor  appears  in the
Prospectus under the heading, "Management."

    For the services provided to the funds, the  advisor receives a monthly fee
based on a percentage of the average net assets of the fund. The annual rate at
which this fee is assessed is determined monthly in a two-step process. First, a
fee rate schedule is applied to the assets of all of the funds  in a fund's
investment category which are managed by the advisor (the "Investment Category
Fee"). For
    


12                                                 American Century Investments


example,  when calculating the fee for a money market fund, all of the assets of
the  money  market  funds  managed  by the  advisor  are  aggregated.  The three
investment  categories  are money  market  funds,  bond funds and equity  funds.
Second,  a  separate  fee rate  schedule  is applied to the assets of all of the
funds managed by the advisor (the "Complex  Fee").  The Investment  Category Fee
and the  Complex Fee are then added to  determine  the  unified  management  fee
payable by the fund to the advisor.

   
    The Investment  Category Fee is determined  according to the schedule on the
table below.
    

INVESTMENT CATEGORY FEE SCHEDULE

   
Category Assets                                     Fee Rate
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First $1 billion                                    0.3600%
Next $1 billion                                     0.3080%
Next $3 billion                                     0.2780%
Next $5 billion                                     0.2580%
Next $15 billion                                    0.2450%
Next $25 billion                                    0.2430%
Thereafter                                          0.2425%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Complex Fee is determined according to the schedule on the table below.
    

COMPLEX FEE SCHEDULE

   
Complex Assets                                      Fee Rate
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First $2.5 billion                                  0.3100%
Next $7.5 billion                                   0.3000%
Next $15 billion                                    0.2985%
Next $25 billion                                    0.2970%
Next $50 billion                                    0.2960%
Next $100 billion                                   0.2950%
Next $100 billion                                   0.2940%
Next $200 billion                                   0.2930%
Next $250 billion                                   0.2920%
Next $500 billion                                   0.2910%
Thereafter                                          0.2900%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    


    On the first  business day of each month,  the funds pay a management fee to
the  advisor  for the  previous  month at the  specified  rate.  The fee for the
previous month is calculated by  multiplying  the applicable fee for the fund by
the  aggregate  average  daily  closing  value of a fund's net assets during the
previous  month by a fraction,  the  numerator of which is the number of days in
the previous month and the denominator of which is 365 (366 in leap years).

    The management  agreement  shall continue in effect until the earlier of the
expiration  of two  years  from the date of its  execution  or until  the  first
meeting of  shareholders  following such execution and for as long thereafter as
its  continuance  is  specifically  approved at least annually by (1) the funds'
Board of Trustees, or by the vote of a majority of outstanding votes (as defined
in the Investment Company Act) and (2) the vote of a majority of the trustees of
the funds who are not  parties to the  agreement  or  interested  persons of the
advisor,  cast in person at a meeting  called for the  purpose of voting on such
approval.

    The  management  agreement  provides  that it may be  terminated at any time
without payment of any penalty by the funds' Board of Trustees,  or by a vote of
a majority of outstanding votes, on 60 days' written notice to the advisor,  and
that it shall be automatically terminated if it is assigned.

   
    The  management  agreement  provides that the advisor shall not be liable to
the funds or their shareholders for anything other than willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.
    

    The  management  agreement  also provides that the advisor and its officers,
trustees and employees may engage in other  business,  devote time and attention
to any other  business  whether of a similar or  dissimilar  nature,  and render
services to others.

   
    Certain  investments  may be  appropriate  for the  funds and also for other
clients  advised by the advisor.  Investment  decisions  for the funds and other
clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives
after  consideration of such factors as their current holdings,  availability of
cash for investment  and the size of their  investment  generally.  A particular
security  may be bought or sold for only one  client  or fund,  or in  different
amounts  and at  different  times for more than one but less than all clients or
funds. In addition,  purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two
or more clients or funds on the same date. Such  transactions  will be allocated
among  clients in a manner  believed by the advisor to be equitable to each.  In
some cases this procedure could have an adverse effect on the price or amount of
the securities purchased or sold by a fund.
    


Statement of Additional Information                                           13


    The  advisor  may  aggregate  purchase  and sale  orders of the  funds  with
purchase  and sale orders of its other  clients when the advisor  believes  that
such aggregation  provides the best execution for the funds. The funds' Board of
Trustees has approved the policy of the advisor with respect to the  aggregation
of portfolio  transactions.  Where portfolio  transactions have been aggregated,
the funds  participate at the average share price for all  transactions  in that
security on a given day and share  transaction  costs on a pro rata  basis.  The
advisor  will not  aggregate  portfolio  transactions  of the  funds  unless  it
believes such  aggregation is consistent with its duty to seek best execution on
behalf  of the  funds and the terms of the  management  agreement.  The  advisor
receives  no  additional  compensation  or  remuneration  as a  result  of  such
aggregation.

    Prior to  August  1,  1997,  Benham  Management  Corporation  served  as the
investment advisor to the funds.  Benham Management  Corporation was merged into
the advisor in late 1997.

    Investment  management  fees paid by each fund for the fiscal  periods ended
September 30, 1998,  1997 and 1996,  are indicated in the following  table.  Fee
amounts  are net of amounts  reimbursed  or recouped  under the funds'  previous
investment advisory agreement with Benham Management Corporation.

   
MANAGEMENT FEES*

Fund                  1998                  1997                 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Target 2000          $1,410,866             $902,194             $815,109

Target 2005          $2,246,858             $875,825             $672,052

Target 2010          $1,092,458             $380,066             $368,802

Target 2015            $845,121             $386,638             $410,846

Target 2020          $3,309,715           $2,691,970           $2,525,244

Target 2025          $1,240,147             $181,630              $13,420
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

*Net of reimbursements

OTHER ADVISORY RELATIONSHIPS

    In addition to managing the funds,  the advisor  also acts as an  investment
advisor  to  nine  institutional   accounts  and  to  the  following  registered
investment companies:

    American Century Mutual Funds, Inc.

    American Century World Mutual Funds, Inc.

    American Century Premium Reserves, Inc.

    American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.

    American Century Capital Portfolios, Inc.

    American Century Strategic Asset Allocations, Inc.

    American Century Municipal Trust

    American Century Government Income Trust

    American Century Investment Trust

    American Century California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds

    American Century Quantitative Equity Funds

    American Century International Bond Funds

DISTRIBUTOR

    The funds' shares are distributed by Funds  Distributor,  Inc., a registered
broker-dealer.  The distributor is a wholly owned indirect  subsidiary of Boston
Institutional  Group,  Inc. The distributor's  principal  business address is 60
State Street, Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.

    The  distributor  is the principal  underwriter  of the funds'  shares.  The
distributor makes a continuous,  best-efforts underwriting of the funds' shares.
This means that the distributor has no liability for unsold shares.

TRANSFER AGENT AND ADMINISTRATOR

    American  Century  Services  Corporation,  4500 Main  Street,  Kansas  City,
Missouri 64111, acts as transfer agent and dividend-paying  agent for the funds.
It provides  physical  facilities,  computer hardware and software and personnel
for the day-to-day  administration of the funds and of the advisor.  The advisor
pays American Century Services Corporation for such services.

    From time to time,  special  services  may be  offered to  shareholders  who
maintain  higher  share  balances  in our family of funds.  These  services  may
include the waiver of minimum investment requirements, expedited confirmation of
shareholder  transactions,  newsletters and a team of personal  representatives.
Any expenses associated with these special services will be paid by the advisor

    Pursuant  to  a  Sub-Administration   Agreement  with  the  advisor,   Funds
Distributor,  Inc. (FDI) serves as the  Co-Administrator  for the funds.  FDI is
responsible for (i) providing  certain  officers of the funds and (ii) reviewing
and filing  marketing and sales  literature on behalf of the funds. The fees and
expenses of FDI are paid by the advisor out of its unified fee.


14                                                 American Century Investments


    Prior  to  August  1,  1997,  the  funds  paid  American   Century  Services
Corporation  directly  for its  services  as transfer  agent and  administrative
services agent.

   
    Administrative  service  and  transfer  agent fees paid by each fund for the
fiscal years ended September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, are indicated in the table
below. Fee amounts are net of expense limitations.
    

ADMINISTRATIVE FEES

Fund                   Fiscal 1998(1)       Fiscal 1997            Fiscal 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000                                    $207,663               $274,837
Target 2005                                    $193,216               $217,047
Target 2010                                     $85,820               $106,951
Target 2015                                     $89,672               $117,664
Target 2020                                    $685,160               $744,692
Target 2025                                     $42,716                $14,090
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRANSFER AGENT FEES

Fund                   Fiscal 1998(1)       Fiscal 1997           .Fiscal 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000                                    $196,492               $267,353
Target 2005                                    $213,613               $266,687
Target 2010                                    $131,294               $178,493
Target 2015                                    $132,040               $178,562
Target 2020                                    $618,798               $858,442
Target 2025                                     $57,380                $32,597
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1)      Administrative fees and transfer agent fees are included in the unified
         management fees effective August 1, 1997.

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

CUSTODIAN BANKS

    Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  770  Broadway,  10th  Floor,  New  York,  New  York
10003-9598,  and Commerce Bank, N.A., 1000 Walnut,  Kansas City, Missouri 64105,
each serves as custodian of the assets of the funds. The custodians take no part
in  determining  the  investment  policies  of the  funds or in  deciding  which
securities are purchased or sold by the funds. The funds, however, may invest in
certain  obligations  of  the  custodians  and  may  purchase  or  sell  certain
securities from or to the custodians.

   
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

    PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP is the independent  accountant of the funds. The
address of  Pricewater-houseCoopers  LLP is, 1055 Broadway,  10th floor,  Kansas
City,   Missouri   64105.   As  the   independent   accountant   of  the  funds,
PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP services  includes (1) audit of the annual financial
statements,  (2) assistance and  consultation in connection with SEC filings and
(3) review of the annual federal income tax return filed for each fund.
    

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION

   
    Under the  management  agreement  between  the funds  and the  advisor,  the
advisor  has the  responsibility  of  selecting  brokers  and dealers to execute
portfolio  transactions.  In many  transactions,  the selection of the broker or
dealer  is  determined  by the  availability  of the  desired  security  and its
offering price. In other transactions,  the selection of a broker or dealer is a
function of the selection of market and the negotiation of price, as well as the
broker's  general  execution and operational  and financial  capabilities in the
type of transaction  involved.  The advisor will seek to obtain prompt execution
of orders at the most  favorable  prices or yields.  The  advisor  may choose to
purchase and sell portfolio  securities to and from dealers who provide services
or research,  statistical and other information to the funds and to the advisor.
Such  information  or  services  will be in  addition  to and not in lieu of the
services  required  to be  performed  by the  advisor,  and the  expenses of the
advisor  will not  necessarily  be  reduced  as a result of the  receipt of such
supplemental information.
    

INFORMATION ABOUT FUND SHARES

   
    The Declaration of Trust permits the Board of Trustees to issue an unlimited
number of full and fractional  shares of beneficial  interest without par value,
which may be issued in series  (or  funds).  Shares  issued  are fully  paid and
nonassessable and have no preemptive, conversion or similar rights.
    

    Each fund votes  separately  on  matters  affecting  that fund  exclusively.
Voting rights are not cumulative, so that investors holding more than 50% of the
Trust's (i.e.,  all funds')  outstanding  shares may be able to elect a Board of
Trustees.  The Trust instituted  dollar-based voting, meaning that the number of
votes you are  entitled to is based upon the dollar  amount of your  investment.
The  election of trustees is  determined  by the votes  received  from all Trust
shareholders  without  regard to  whether a  majority  of shares of any one fund
voted in favor of a particular nominee or all nominees as a group.


Statement of Additional Information                                           15


    Each shareholder has rights to dividends and  distributions  declared by the
fund he or she owns and to the net assets of such fund upon its  liquidation  or
dissolution  proportionate  to his or her share ownership  interest in the fund.
Shares  of each  fund  have  equal  voting  rights,  although  each  fund  votes
separately on matters affecting that fund exclusively.

    Shareholders  of  a  Massachusetts   business  trust  could,  under  certain
circumstances,  be held  personally  liable for its  obligations.  However,  the
Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for
acts or  obligations  of the Trust.  The  Declaration of Trust also provides for
indemnification and reimbursement of expenses of any shareholder held personally
liable for obligations of the Trust.  The Declaration of Trust provides that the
Trust  will,  upon  request,  assume the  defense of any claim made  against any
shareholder  for any act or  obligation  of the Trust and satisfy  any  judgment
thereon.  The Declaration of Trust further  provides that the Trust may maintain
appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity,  bonding, and errors and omissions
insurance)  for  the  protection  of  the  Trust,  its  shareholders,  trustees,
officers,  employees and agents to cover  possible  tort and other  liabilities.
Thus,  the  risk  of a  shareholder  incurring  financial  loss as a  result  of
shareholder  liability  is limited  to  circumstances  in which both  inadequate
insurance exists and the Trust is unable to meet its obligations.

FUND LIQUIDATIONS

    On or before  January 31st of the year  following a fund's  target  maturity
year, its investments will be sold or allowed to mature; its liabilities will be
discharged,  or a provision will be made for their  discharge,  and its accounts
will be closed.  A shareholder  may choose to redeem his or her shares in one of
the following  ways: (1) by receiving  redemption  proceeds or (2) by exchanging
shares for shares of another  American  Century  fund.  If the fund  receives no
instructions from a shareholder,  his or her shares will be exchanged for shares
of American  Century  Capital  Preservation  Fund (or a similar  fund if Capital
Preservation Fund is not available).  The estimated  expenses of terminating and
liquidating a fund will be accrued ratably over its target maturity year.  These
expenses, which are charged to income (as are all expenses), are not expected to
exceed  significantly  the  ordinary  annual  expenses  incurred  by a fund and,
therefore, should have little or no effect on the maturity value of the fund.

MULTIPLE CLASS STRUCTURE

   
    The  funds'  Board of  Trustees  has  adopted  a  multiple  class  plan (the
"Multiclass  Plan") pursuant to Rule 18f-3 adopted by the SEC.  Pursuant to such
plan, the funds may issue up to three classes of shares:  an Investor  Class, an
Institutional Class and an Advisor Class. Not all funds offer all three classes

    The Investor  Class is made  available to investors  directly by the advisor
through its affiliated  broker-dealer,  American  Century  Investment  Services,
Inc., for a single unified  management fee, without any load or commission.  The
Institutional   and  Advisor   Classes  are  made  available  to   institutional
shareholders or through  financial  intermediaries  that do not require the same
level of shareholder  and  administrative  services from the advisor as Investor
Class  shareholders.  As a result, the advisor is able to charge these classes a
lower unified  management fee. In addition to the management fee,  however,  the
Advisor  Class  shares are  subject  to a Master  Distribution  and  Shareholder
Services  Plan.  The plan has been  adopted by the funds'  Board of Trustees and
initial  shareholder in accordance  with Rule 12b-1 adopted by the SEC under the
Investment Company Act.
    

RULE 12B-1

    Rule 12b-1 permits an investment company to pay expenses associated with the
distribution  of its shares in accordance  with a plan adopted by the investment
company's Board of Trustees and approved by its  shareholders.  Pursuant to such
rule, the Board of Trustees and initial  shareholder of the funds' Advisor Class
have approved and entered into a Master  Distribution  and Shareholder  Services
Plan,  with respect to the Advisor Class (the "Plan").  The Master  Distribution
and Shareholder Services Plan is described below.

    In adopting  the Plan,  the Board of Trustees  [including a majority who are
not "interested persons" of the funds (as defined in the Investment Company Act)
, hereafter referred to as the "independent trustees"] determined that there was
a reasonable likelihood that


16                                                  American Century Investments


the Plan would  benefit the funds and the  shareholders  of the affected  class.
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1,  information with respect to revenues and expenses under
the Plan is presented to the Board of Trustees  quarterly for its  consideration
in  connection  with  its  deliberations  as to the  continuance  of  the  Plan.
Continuance  of the Plan must be approved by the Board of Trustees  (including a
majority of the  independent  trustees)  annually.  The Plan may be amended by a
vote of the Board of Trustees (including a majority of the independent trustees)
, except that the Plan may not be amended to  materially  increase the amount to
be spent for distribution  without majority  approval of the shareholders of the
affected class. The Plan terminates  automatically in the event of an assignment
and may be terminated upon a vote of a majority of the  independent  trustees or
by vote of a majority  of the  outstanding  voting  securities  of the  affected
class.

    All fees paid under the Plan will be made in  accordance  with Section 26 of
the Rules of Fair Practice of the National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers
(NASD).

MASTER DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER  SERVICES PLAN

   
    As described in the  Prospectuses,  the funds'  Advisor  Class of shares are
made available to participants in employer-sponsored retirement or savings plans
and to  persons  purchasing  through  financial  intermediaries,  such as banks,
broker-  dealers and insurance  companies.  The funds'  distributor  enters into
contracts  with various  banks,  broker-dealers,  insurance  companies and other
financial  intermediaries,  with respect to the sale of the funds' shares and/or
the use of the funds'  shares in various  investment  products or in  connection
with various financial services.
    

    Certain  recordkeeping and administrative  services that are provided by the
funds' transfer agent for the Investor Class  shareholders may be performed by a
plan sponsor (or its agents) or by a financial  intermediary for shareholders in
the Advisor Class.  In addition to such services,  the financial  intermediaries
provide various distribution services.

   
    To enable  the funds'  shares to be made  available  through  such plans and
financial  intermediaries,  and to compensate them for such services, the funds'
advisor has reduced its  management  fee by 0.25% per annum with  respect to the
Advisor  Class  shares,  and the funds'  Board of Trustees  has adopted a Master
Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan (the "Distribution  Plan").  Pursuant
to such  Plan,  the  Advisor  Class  shares pay the  Distributor  a fee of 0.50%
annually of the  aggregate  average  daily  assets of the funds'  Advisor  Class
shares,  0.25% of which is paid for shareholder  services  (described below) and
0.25% of which is paid for distribution services.

    Payments may be made for a variety of shareholder services,  including,  but
are not limited to, (a) receiving, aggregating and processing purchase, exchange
and redemption  requests from beneficial  owners  (including  contract owners of
insurance  products  that utilize the funds as underlying  investment  media) of
shares and placing  purchase,  exchange  and  redemption  orders with the funds'
distributor;  (b) providing  shareholders with a service that invests the assets
of their accounts in shares pursuant to specific or pre-authorized instructions;
(c)  processing  dividend  payments  from a fund on behalf of  shareholders  and
assisting  shareholders in changing dividend options,  account  designations and
addresses; (d) providing and maintaining elective services such as check writing
and wire transfer services;  (e) acting as shareholder of record and nominee for
beneficial owners; (f) maintaining account records for shareholders and/or other
beneficial  owners;  (g) issuing  confirmations of  transactions;  (h) providing
subaccounting  with respect to shares  beneficially  owned by customers of third
parties  or  providing  the   information  to  a  fund  as  necessary  for  such
subaccounting;  (i) preparing and forwarding shareholder communications from the
funds (such as proxies,  shareholder reports,  annual and semi-annual  financial
statements and dividend,  distribution  and tax notices) to shareholders  and/or
other  beneficial  owners;  (j)  providing  other  similar   administrative  and
sub-transfer agency services; and (k) paying "service fees" for the provision of
personal, continuing services to investors, as contemplated by the Rules of Fair
Practice  of the NASD  (collectively  referred  to as  "Shareholder  Services").
Shareholder  services do not include  those  activities  and  expenses  that are
primarily intended to result in the sale of additional shares of the funds.
    


Statement of Additional Information                                           17


   
    Distribution  services  include any activity  undertaken or expense incurred
that is primarily intended to result in the sale of Advisor Class shares,  which
services  may  include  but  are  not  limited  to,  (a) the  payment  of  sales
commission,   ongoing  commissions  and  other  payments  to  brokers,  dealers,
financial  institutions  or others who sell  Advisor  Class  shares  pursuant to
Selling  Agreements;  (b)  compensation to registered  representatives  or other
employees of  distributor  who engage in or support  distribution  of the funds'
Advisor Class shares; (c) compensation to, and expenses  (including overhead and
telephone  expenses)  of the  distributor;  (d) the  printing  of  prospectuses,
statements  of  additional  information  and  reports  for other  than  existing
shareholders; (e) the preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature
and advertising  materials  provided to the funds'  shareholders and prospective
shareholders;  (f)  receiving  and  answering  correspondence  from  prospective
shareholders,  including  distributing  prospectuses,  statements  of additional
information,  and shareholder reports; (g) the providing of facilities to answer
questions  from  prospective  investors  about fund shares;  (h) complying  with
federal and state  securities  laws  pertaining to the sale of fund shares;  (i)
assisting  investors in completing  application forms and selecting dividend and
other  account  options;  (j) the  providing of other  reasonable  assistance in
connection  with  the  distribution  of  fund  shares;  (k) the  organizing  and
conducting  of  sales  seminars  and  payments  in  the  form  of  transactional
compensation  or promotional  incentives;  (l) profit on the foregoing;  (m) the
payment of "service fees" for the provision of personal,  continuing services to
investors,  as  contemplated  by the Rules of Fair  Practice of the NASD and (n)
such other distribution and services activities as the advisor determines may be
paid for by the funds  pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and in accordance
with Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act.

BUYING AND SELLING FUND SHARES

    Information about buying, selling and exchanging fund shares is contained in
the  American  Century  Investor  Services  Guide.  This guide is  available  to
investors without charge and may be obtained by calling us.

VALUATION OF A FUND'S SECURITIES
    

    Each  fund's net asset value per share  (NAV) is  calculated  as of one hour
before the close of  business  of the New York Stock  Exchange  (the  Exchange),
usually at 2 p.m.  Central time each day the Exchange is open for business.  The
Exchange has designated the following holiday closings for 1999: New Year's Day,
Martin  Luther  King Jr.  Day,  Presidents'  Day,  Good  Friday,  Memorial  Day,
Independence  Day, Labor Day,  Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  Although the
funds  expect the same  holiday  schedule  to be  observed  in the  future,  the
Exchange may modify its holiday schedule at any time.

    The  advisor  typically  completes  its  trading  on  behalf of each fund in
various  markets before the Exchange closes for the day. Each fund's share price
is calculated by adding the value of all portfolio  securities and other assets,
deducting   liabilities  and  dividing  the  result  by  the  number  of  shares
outstanding.  Expenses and interest  earned on portfolio  securities are accrued
daily.

    Securities  held by the funds normally are priced by an independent  pricing
service,  provided  that such prices are  believed by the advisor to reflect the
fair market value of portfolio securities.

    Because there are hundreds of thousands of municipal issues outstanding, and
the majority of them do not trade daily, the prices provided by pricing services
are generally  determined  without regard to bid or last sale prices. In valuing
securities,  the pricing  services  generally  take into  account  institutional
trading activity,  trading in similar groups of securities, and any developments
related to specific securities.  The methods used by the pricing service and the
valuations  so  established  are  reviewed  by the  advisor  under  the  general
supervision  of the Board of  Trustees.  There are a number of pricing  services
available,  and the  advisor,  on the  basis  of  ongoing  evaluation  of  these
services,  may use other pricing  services or discontinue the use of any pricing
service in whole or in part.

    Securities  not priced by a pricing  service are valued at the mean  between
the most recently  quoted bid and ask prices  provided by broker-  dealers.  The
municipal bond market is typically a "dealer  market";  that is, dealers buy and
sell bonds for their own accounts rather than for customers. As a


18                                                  American Century Investments


result,  the spread,  or  difference,  between bid and asked  prices for certain
municipal bonds may differ substantially among dealers.

    Securities  maturing  within 60 days of the valuation  date may be valued at
cost,  plus or minus any  amortized  discount  or premium,  unless the  trustees
determine  that this would not  result in fair  valuation  of a given  security.
Other assets and securities for which  quotations are not readily  available are
valued in good faith at their fair value using methods  approved by the Board of
Trustees.

TAXES

FEDERAL INCOME TAX

    Each fund  intends to qualify  annually  as a regulated  investment  company
under  Subchapter  M of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as  amended  (the
"Code").  By so  qualifying,  a fund will be exempt from federal income taxes to
the extent that it distributes  substantially  all of its net investment  income
and net  realized  capital  gains (if any) to  shareholders.  If a fund fails to
qualify  as a  regulated  investment  company,  it will  be  liable  for  taxes,
significantly   reducing  its  distributions  to  shareholders  and  eliminating
shareholders'  ability to treat  distributions  of the funds in the manner  they
were realized by the funds.

   
    Certain  bonds  purchased  by the funds may be  treated  as bonds  that were
originally issued at a discount. Original issue discount represents interest for
federal  income tax  purposes  and can  generally  be defined as the  difference
between the price at which a security was issued and its stated redemption price
at maturity.  Although no cash is actually received by a fund until the maturity
of the bond,  original issue discount is treated for federal income tax purposes
as income  earned by a fund over the term of the bond,  and therefore is subject
to the distribution requirements of the Code. The annual amount of income earned
on such a bond by a fund  generally  is  determined  on the basis of a  constant
yield to maturity that takes into account the semiannual  compounding of accrued
interest.  Original  issue discount on an obligation  with interest  exempt from
federal income tax will constitute tax-exempt interest income to the fund.

    In addition, some of the bonds may be purchased by a fund at a discount that
exceeds the  original  issue  discount on such bonds,  if any.  This  additional
discount  represents  market discount for federal income tax purposes.  The gain
realized on the disposition of any bond having market discount generally will be
treated as taxable  ordinary income to the extent it does not exceed the accrued
market discount on such bond (unless a fund elects to include market discount in
income in tax years to which it is  attributable  or if the amount is considered
de  minimis).  Generally,  if the fund elects to include the discount in income,
market discount accrues on a daily basis for each day the bond is held by a fund
on a constant yield to maturity basis. In the case of any debt security having a
fixed  maturity  date of not more than one year  from  date of  issue,  the gain
realized on disposition generally will be treated as short-term capital gain. In
general,  gain realized on  disposition of a security held less than one year is
treated as  short-term  capital  gain  taxable to the  shareholder  as  ordinary
income.
    

    It is intended  that each fund's  assets  will be  sufficiently  invested in
municipal  securities so that each fund will be eligible to pay  exempt-interest
dividends (as defined in the Code) to shareholders.  A fund's dividends  payable
from net tax-exempt interest earned from municipal securities will qualify to be
designated as exempt-interest  dividends if, at the close of each quarter of the
fund's  taxable  year,  at least 50% of the  value of the  fund's  total  assets
consists of  municipal  securities.  Exempt-interest  dividends  distributed  to
shareholders are not included in shareholders'  gross income for regular federal
income tax  purposes.  The  percentage  of income that is  tax-exempt is applied
uniformly  to all income  distributions  made during each  calendar  year.  This
percentage may differ from the actual  percentage of tax-exempt  income received
during any particular month.

   
    Distributions of net investment income received by a fund from investment in
debt  securities  other than municipal  securities,  or ordinary income realized
upon the disposition of tax-exempt  market discount bonds,  and any net realized
short-term capital gains distributed by the fund, will be taxable
    


Statement of Additional Information                                           19


to  shareholders as ordinary  income.  Because the funds'  investment  income is
derived from interest rather than dividends, no portion of such distributions is
eligible for the dividends-received deduction available to corporations.

    Under the Code, any distribution of a fund's net realized  long-term capital
gains  designated  by  the  fund  as a  capital  gain  dividend  is  taxable  to
shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time shares
are held.  If a capital  gain  dividend is paid with  respect to any shares of a
fund sold at a loss after  being  held for six months or less,  the loss will be
treated as a long-term  capital loss for tax  purposes.  The Code also  provides
that if a  shareholder  holds  shares  of a fund for six  months  or  less,  the
deduction of any loss on the sale or exchange of those shares is  disallowed  to
the extent that the shareholder received exempt-interest  dividends with respect
to those shares.

    When a fund has a capital  loss  carryover,  it does not make  capital  gain
distributions until the loss has been offset or expired.

    Interest on certain types of industrial  development bonds (small issues and
obligations issued to finance certain exempt facilities that may be leased to or
used by persons  other than the  issuer) is not exempt from  federal  income tax
when received by "substantial  users" or persons related to substantial users as
defined  in the Code.  The term  "substantial  user"  includes  any  "non-exempt
person" who regularly uses in trade or business part of a facility financed from
the proceeds of industrial  development bonds. The funds may invest periodically
in  industrial  development  bonds  and,  therefore,   may  not  be  appropriate
investments  for entities that are substantial  users of facilities  financed by
industrial   development  bonds  or  "related  persons"  of  substantial  users.
Generally,  an individual  will not be a related  person of a  substantial  user
under the Code unless he or his immediate  family  (spouse,  brothers,  sisters,
ancestors and lineal  descendants) owns directly or indirectly in aggregate more
than 50% in the equity value of the substantial user.

    From  time to time,  proposals  have been  introduced  in  Congress  for the
purpose of  restricting  or  eliminating  the federal  income tax  exemption for
interest on municipal securities, and similar proposals may be introduced in the
future.  If  such  a  proposal  were  enacted,  the  availability  of  municipal
securities  for  investment  by the funds and the funds' NAVs would be adversely
affected.  Under these circumstances,  the trustees would re-evaluate the funds'
investment  objectives  and policies and would  consider  either  changes in the
structure of the Trust or its dissolution.

   
    The  information  above is only a summary of some of the tax  considerations
affecting the funds and their shareholders.  No attempt has been made to discuss
individual tax consequences.  A prospective  investor should consult with his or
her tax advisor or state or local tax authorities to determine whether the funds
are suitable investments.
    

HOW FUND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION IS CALCULATED

    The funds may quote  performance  in various  ways.  Historical  performance
information will be used in advertising and sales literature.

    Yield quotations are based on the investment  income per share earned during
a  particular  30-day  period,  less  expenses  accrued  during the period  (net
investment  income),  and are  computed  by dividing  the fund's net  investment
income  by its  share  price  on the  last day of the  period  according  to the
following formula:

                  YIELD = (2 [(a - b + 1)6 - 1])
                              -------
                                cd

where a = dividends and interest earned during the period,  b = expenses accrued
for the period (net of  reimbursements),  c = the average daily number of shares
outstanding during the period that were entitled to receive  dividends,  and d =
the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.


20                                                 American Century Investments


FUND YIELDS
(30-day period ended September 30, 1998)

   
                                 30-Day Yield              30-Day Yield
Fund                             Investor Class            Advisor Class
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000                      4.22%                     3.97%
Target 2005                      4.28%                     4.04%
Target 2010                      4.60%                     N/A
Target 2015                      4.92%                     N/A
Target 2020                      5.03%                     N/A
Target 2025                      4.84%                     4.61%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

    Total returns quoted in advertising and sales literature reflect all aspects
of a fund's return,  including the effect of  reinvesting  dividends and capital
gain distributions (if any) and any change in the fund's NAV during the period.

    Average  annual total returns are  calculated by  determining  the growth or
decline in value of a  hypothetical  historical  investment  in a fund  during a
stated period and then calculating the annually compounded  percentage rate that
would have  produced  the same  result if the rate of growth or decline in value
had been constant  throughout the period. For example, a cumulative total return
of 100% over 10 years would produce an average annual return of 7.18%,  which is
the steady annual rate that would equal 100% growth on a compounded  basis in 10
years.  While average  annual total returns are a convenient  means of comparing
investment alternatives, investors should realize that the funds' performance is
not constant over time,  but changes from year to year,  and that average annual
total  returns  represent  averaged  figures as  opposed to actual  year-to-year
performance.

    The  following  tables set forth the  average  annual  total  return for the
various classes of the funds for the periods indicated as of September 30, 1998

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - INVESTOR CLASS

(Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 1998)

Fund                  1 year      5 years       10 years     Life of fund(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000           8.97%        5.31%          9.98%          12.31%
Target 2005          18.87%        8.16%         12.72%          14.79%
Target 2010          26.08%       10.21%         14.46%          16.53%
Target 2015          30.07%       11.42%         15.58%          12.09%
Target 2020          36.00%       12.27%           N/A           13.71%
Target 2025          42.21%         N/A            N/A           19.50%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) The inception dates are: Target 2000, Target 2005 and Target 2010: March 25,
1985; Target 2015: September 1, 1986; Target 2020: December 29, 1989; and Target
2025: February 15, 1996.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS - ADVISOR CLASS

(Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 1998)

Fund                                                           Life of fund(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target 2000                                                    2.57%
Target 2005                                                    8.15%
Target 2010                                                     N/A
Target 2015                                                     N/A
Target 2020                                                     N/A
Target 2025                                                   16.02%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) The inception dates are: Target 2000:  August 20, 1998;  Target 2005: August
3, 1998; and Target 2025: June 1, 1998. Target 2010, Target 2015 and Target 2020
had not commenced operations as of the fiscal year end September 30, 1998.

    In addition to average annual total returns,  each fund may quote unaveraged
or  cumulative  total  returns  reflecting  the  simple  change  in  value of an
investment over a stated period. Average annual and cumulative total returns may
be quoted as percentages or as dollar amounts and may be calculated for a single
investment,  a series of investments,  or a series of redemptions  over any time
period.  Total  returns may be broken down into their  components  of income and
capital  (including  capital gains and changes in share price) to illustrate the
relationship of these factors and their contributions to total return.


Statement of Additional Information                                           21


   
    The funds'  performance may be compared with the performance of other mutual
funds  tracked by mutual  fund rating  services or with other  indices of market
performance.  This may include  comparisons with funds that, unlike the American
Century funds, are sold with a sales charge or deferred sales charge. Sources of
economic  data that may be used for such  comparisons  may include,  but are not
limited to, U.S. Treasury bill, note and bond yields,  money market fund yields,
U.S.  government debt and percentage held by foreigners,  the U.S. money supply,
net  free  reserves,  and  yields  on  current-coupon  GNMAs  (source:  Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve  System);  the federal funds and discount rates
(source:  Federal  Reserve  Bank of New York);  yield  curves for U.S.  Treasury
securities and AA/AAA-rated  corporate  securities (source:  Bloomberg Financial
Markets);  yield curves for AAA-rated  tax-free  municipal  securities  (source:
Telerate);  yield curves for foreign government  securities (sources:  Bloomberg
Financial  Markets and Data  Resources,  Inc.);  total  returns on foreign bonds
(source:  J.P.  Morgan  Securities  Inc.);  various U.S. and foreign  government
reports;  the junk bond market (source:  Data Resources,  Inc.); the CRB Futures
Index  (source:  Commodity  Index Report);  the price of gold  (sources:  London
a.m./p.m.  fixing and New York Comex Spot Price); rankings of any mutual fund or
mutual fund category tracked by Lipper,  Inc. or Morningstar,  Inc.; mutual fund
rankings published in major, nationally distributed  periodicals;  data provided
by the Investment Company Institute; Ibbotson Associates,  Stocks, Bonds, Bills,
and  Inflation;  major  indices of stock  market  performance;  and  indices and
historical data supplied by major  securities  brokerage or investment  advisory
firms.  The funds  also may  utilize  reprints  from  newspapers  and  magazines
furnished by third parties to illustrate historical performance.
    

MULTIPLE CLASS PERFORMANCE ADVERTISING

    Pursuant to the Multiple Class Plan, the funds may issue additional  classes
of existing  funds or introduce  new funds with multiple  classes  available for
purchase.  To the extent a new class is added to an existing  fund,  the manager
may, in compliance with SEC and NASD rules,  regulations and guidelines,  market
the new class of shares  using the  historical  performance  information  of the
original class of shares. When quoting performance information for the new class
of shares for  periods  prior to the first full  quarter  after  inception,  the
original class's performance will be restated to reflect the expenses of the new
class.  For  periods  after the  first  full  quarter  after  inception,  actual
performance of the new class will be used.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
    The financial statements of the funds, including the Statement of Assets and
Liabilities  as of September 30, 1998, the Statements of Operations for the year
then ended, the Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the two years then ended
and the  financial  highlights  for the five years in the period  then ended are
included  in the Annual  Reports to  shareholders.  Information  included in the
Annual  Report for years  ended 1997,  1996,  1995 and 1994 was audited by other
auditors. The Annual Report for each such reporting period has been incorporated
herein by reference.  You may receive copies of the reports  without charge upon
request to  American  Century at the address  and  telephone  number on the back
cover of this Statement of Additional Information.
    

EXPLANATION OF FIXED INCOME SECURITIES RATINGS

    As  described  in the  Prospectus,  the  funds may  invest  in fixed  income
securities.  Those investments,  however,  are subject to certain credit quality
restrictions,  as noted in the  Prospectus.  The  following  is a summary of the
rating categories referenced in the prospectus disclosure.


22                                                  American Century Investments


BOND RATINGS

S&P   Moody's   Description
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AAA   Aaa       These are the highest ratings assigned by S&P and Moody's to a
                debt obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to
                pay interest and repay principal.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AA    Aa        Debt rated in this category is considered to have a very strong
                capacity to pay  interest and repay  principal  and differs from
                AAA/Aaa issues only in a small degree.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A     A         Debt rated A has a strong  capacity to pay  interest and repay
                principal  although  it is  somewhat  more  susceptible  to  the
                adverse  effects  of  changes  in  circumstances   and  economic
                conditions than debt in higher-rated categories.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBB   Baa       Debt  rated  BBB/Baa  is  regarded  as  having  an  adequate
                capacity  to  Pay  interest  and  repay  principal.  Whereas  it
                normally  exhibits  adequate  protection   parameters,   adverse
                economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to
                lead to a weakened  capacity to pay interest and repay principal
                for debt in this category than in higher-rated categories.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BB    Ba        Debt rated BB/Ba has less near-term  vulnerability to default
                than other speculative  issues.  However, it faces major ongoing
                uncertainties  or exposure  to adverse  business,  financial  or
                economic  conditions  that could lead to inadequate  capacity to
                meet  timely  interest  and  principal  payments.  The BB rating
                category also is used for debt  subordinated to senior debt that
                is assigned an actual or implied BBB-rating.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B     B         Debt  rated  B has a  greater  vulnerability  to  default  but
                currently  has  the  capacity  to  meet  interest  payments  and
                principal  repayments.  Adverse business,  financial or economic
                conditions  will likely impair  capacity or  willingness  to pay
                interest and repay principal. The B rating category is also used
                for debt  subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual
                or implied BB/Ba or BB-/Ba3 rating.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CCC   Caa       Debt rated CCC/Caa has a currently identifiable vulnerability to
                default and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and
                economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and
                repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business,
                financial or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the
                capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC/Caa rating
                category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that
                is assigned an actual or implied B or B-/B3 rating.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CC    Ca        The rating CC/Ca typically is applied to debt subordinated to
                senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC/Caa rating
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C     C         The rating C typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior
                debt, which is assigned an actual or implied CCC-/Caa3 debt
                rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a
                bankruptcy petition has been  filed, but debt service payments
                are continued.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CI    --        The  rating  CI is  reserved  for  income  bonds  on which no
                interest is being paid.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D     D         Debt rated D is in payment  default.  The D rating category is
                used when interest  payments or principal  payments are not made
                on the date  due even if the  applicable  grace  period  has not
                expired,  unless S&P believes  that such  payments  will be made
                during  such grace  period.  The D rating also will be used upon
                the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are
                jeopardized.


Statement of Additional Information                                           23


    To provide  more  detailed  indications  of credit  quality,  the Standard &
Poor's ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus
sign to show relative standing within these major rating categories.  Similarly,
Moody's adds numerical  modifiers (1,2,3) to designate  relative standing within
its major bond rating categories. Fitch Investors Service, Inc. also rates bonds
and uses a ratings system that is substantially similar to that used by Standard
& Poor's.

COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
S&P      Moody's         Description
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-1      Prime-1         This indicates that the degree of safety regarding
         (P-1)           timely payment is strong. Standard & Poor's
                         rates  those  issues  determined  to possess  extremely
                         strong safety characteristics as A-1+.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-2      Prime-2         Capacity for timely payment on commercial paper is
         (P-2)           satisfactory, but the relative degree of
                         safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1.
                         Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will
                         be more subject to variation. Capitalization
                         characteristics, while still appropriated, may be more
                         affected by external conditions. Ample alternate
                         liquidity is maintained.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-3      Prime-3         Satisfactory capacity for timely repayment. Issues that
         (P-3)           carry this rating are somewhat more vulnerable to the
                         adverse changes in circumstances than obligations
                         carrying the higher designations.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NOTE RATINGS

S&P      Moody's         Description
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SP-1     MIG-1; VMIG-1   Notes are of the highest quality enjoying
                         strong  protection from established cash flows of funds
                         for their servicing or from established and broad-based
                         access to the market for refinancing, or both.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SP-2     MIG-2; VMIG-2   Notes are of high quality,  with margins
                         of  protection  ample,  although not so large as in the
                         preceding group.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SP-3     MIG-3; VMIG-3   Notes are of favorable quality, with all security
                         elements accounted for, but lacking the undeniable
                         strength of the preceding grades. Market access for
                         refinancing, in particular, is likely to be less well
                         established.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SP-4     MIG-4; VMIG-4   Notes are of adequate quality, carrying specific risk
                         but having protection and not distinctly or
                         predominantly speculative.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


24                                                 American Century Investments


   
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS IS CONTAINED IN THESE DOCUMENTS

ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL REPORTS

    These contain more information  about the funds'  investments and the market
conditions  and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the funds'
performance  during the most recent  fiscal  period.  The annual and  semiannual
reports are  incorporated  by reference into this SAI. This means that these are
legally part of this SAI.

You can receive a free copy of the annual and semiannual  reports,  for free and
ask any questions  about the funds,  by contacting us at one of the addresses or
phone numbers listed below.

If you own or are considering purchasing fund shares through

* an employer-sponsored retirement plan
* a bank
* a broker-dealer
* an insurance company
* another financial intermediary

you can receive the annual and semiannual reports directly from them.

You also can get  information  about the funds from the  Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC).

* In person                  SEC Public Reference Room
                             Washington, D.C.
                             Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for location and hours.

* On the Internet            www.sec.gov

* By mail                    SEC Public Reference Section
                             Washington, D.C.  20549-6009
                             (The SEC will charge a fee for copying the
                             documents.)
    
                              Investment Company Act File No. 811-4165

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[american century logo(reg.sm)]
American
Century

AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENTS
P.O. Box 419200
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6200

INVESTOR SERVICES
1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575

AUTOMATED INFORMATION LINE
1-800-345-8765

WWW.AMERICANCENTURY.COM

FAX  816-340-7962

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR THE DEAF
1-800-634-4113 or 816-444-3485

   
CORPORATE; NOT-FOR-PROFIT; FOUNDATIONS; ENDOWMENTS; KEOGH; SEP-, SARSEP- AND
SIMPLE-IRA; AND 403(B) SERVICES  1-800-345-3533
    

SH-BKT-14874   9902
<PAGE>
AMERICAN CENTURY TARGET MATURITIES TRUST

1933 Act Post-Effective Amendment No. 31
1940 Act Amendment No. 33
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART C    OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 23   EXHIBITS (all  exhibits  not filed  herewith  are  being  incorporated
          herein by reference).

          (a)  (1) Agreement and  Declaration of Trust dated May 31, 1995 (filed
               electronically as Exhibit 1(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24
               to the  Registration  Statement on November  29,  1995,  File No.
               2-94608).

               (2) Amendment to the  Declaration of Trust dated October 21, 1996
               (filed  electronically as Exhibit 1 to  Post-Effective  Amendment
               No. 27 to the Registration Statement on August 28, 1997, File No.
               2-94608).

               (3)  Amendment to the  Declaration  of Trust dated August 1, 1997
               (filed  electronically as Exhibit 1 to  Post-Effective  Amendment
               No. 27 to the Registration Statement on August 28, 1997, File No.
               2-94608).

          (b)  Amended  and   Restated   Bylaws,   dated  May  17,  1995  (filed
               electronically as Exhibit 2 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to
               the  Registration  Statement  on  November  29,  1995,  File  No.
               2-94608).

          (c)  Registrant hereby incorporates by reference,  as though set forth
               fully herein,  Article III,  Article VIII,  Article X, Article XI
               and Article XII of Registrant's  Declaration of Trust , appearing
               as Exhibit (1)(b) to Post-Effective  Amendment No. 24 and Exhibit
               (1)  to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  27 to  the  Registration
               Statements  on  Form  N-1A of the  Registrant;  and  Article  II,
               Article VII and Article VIII of Registrant's Amended and Restated
               Bylaws,  appearing as Exhibit (b) to Post-Effective Amendment No.
               24 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of the Registrant.

          (d)  (1)  Investor  Class  Investment   Management  Agreement  between
               American  Century Target  Maturities  Trust and American  Century
               Investment   Management,   Inc.,  dated  August  1,  1997  (filed
               electronically as Exhibit 5 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to
               the Registration  Statement of American Century Government Income
               Trust on July 31, 1997, File No. 2-99222).

               (2)  Advisor  Class  Investment   Management   Agreement  between
               American  Century  Target  Maturities  Trust,   American  Century
               Government  Income Trust,  American  Century  International  Bond
               Funds,  and American  Century  Quantitative  Equity Funds,  dated
               August   1,  1997   (filed   electronically   as   Exhibit  5  of
               Post-Effective  Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement on
               August 28, 1997, File No. 2-94608).

          (e)  (1)  Distribution   Agreement  between  American  Century  Target
               Maturities Trust and Funds  Distributor,  Inc., dated January 15,
               1998  (filed   electronically  as  Exhibit  6  to  Post-Effective
               Amendment  No. 28 to the  Registration  Statement  on January 30,
               1998, File No. 2-94608).

               (2)  Amendment  No.  1  to  the  Distribution  Agreement  between
               American Century Target  Maturities Trust and Funds  Distributor,
               Inc., dated June 1, 1998 (filed  electronically  as Exhibit 6b to
               Post-Effective  Amendment No. 11 to the Registration Statement of
               American Century Capital Portfolios,  Inc. on June 26, 1998, File
               No. 33-64872).

               (3) Amendment No. 2 to Distribution  Agreement  between  American
               Century  Target  Maturities  Trust and Funds  Distributor,  Inc.,
               dated December 1, 1998 (filed electronically as Exhibit (e)(3) to
               Post-Effective  Amendment No. 12 to the Registration Statement of
               American Century World Mutual Funds,  Inc., on November 13, 1998,
               File No. 33-39242).

               (4) Amendment No. 3 to Distribution  Agreement  between  American
               Century  Target  Maturities  Trust and Funds  Distributor,  Inc.,
               dated January 29, 1999 (filed electronically as Exhibit (e)(4) to
               Post-Effective  Amendment No. 24 to the Registration Statement of
               American Century Variable Portfolios,  Inc., on January 15, 1999,
               File No. 811-5188).

          (f)  Not applicable.

          (g)  Custodian   Agreement   between  American   Century   Investments
               (including  American Century Target  Maturities  Trust),  and The
               Chase Manhattan Bank, dated August 9, 1996 (filed  electronically
               as  Exhibit  8  of   Post-Effective   Amendment  No.  31  to  the
               Registration  Statement  of American  Century  Government  Income
               Trust on February 7, 1997, File No. 2-99222).

          (h)  (1) Transfer Agency  Agreement  between  American  Century Target
               Maturities Trust and American Century Services Corporation, dated
               August   1,  1997   (filed   electronically   as   Exhibit  9  of
               Post-Effective  Amendment No. 33 to the Registration Statement of
               American Century  Government  Income Trust on July 31, 1997, File
               No. 2-99222).

               (2)  Amendment  to Transfer  Agency  Agreement  between  American
               Century Target  Maturities  Trust and American  Century  Services
               Corporation, dated June 29, 1998 (filed electronically as Exhibit
               9b  to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  23  to  the  Registration
               Statement of American Century  Quantitative  Equity Funds on June
               29, 1998, File No. 33-19589).

          (i)  Opinion and consent of counsel is included herein.

          (j)  (1) Consent  of    PricewaterhouseCoopers,    LLP,    independent
               accountants, is included herein.

               (2) Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick,  LLP, independent  auditors, is
               included herein.

               (3) Power  of   Attorney   dated   December   18,   1998   (filed
               electronically as Exhibit (j)(3) to Post-Effective  Amendment No.
               30 to the  Registration  Statement  on January 8, 1999,  File No.
               2-94608).

          (k)  Not applicable.

          (l)  Not applicable.

          (m)  (1) Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan of American
               Century Government Income Trust,  American Century  International
               Bond Fund,  American Century Target Maturities Trust and American
               Century Quantitative Equity Funds (Advisor Class) dated August 1,
               1997  (filed  electronically  as  Exhibit  15  to  Post-Effective
               Amendment No. 27 to the  Registration  Statement  filed on August
               28, 1997, filed No. 2-94608).

               (2)  Amendment  No.  1 to  Master  Distribution  and  Shareholder
               Services  Plan  of  American  Century  Target   Maturities  Trust
               (Advisor  Class)  dated June 29,  1998 (filed  electronically  as
               Exhibit  15b  to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  23 of  American
               Century  Quantitative  Equity Funds filed on June 29, 1998,  File
               No. 33-19589).

          (n)  (1) Financial Data Schedule for American  Century - Benham Target
               Maturities Trust: 2000 is included herein.

               (2) Financial Data Schedule for American  Century - Benham Target
               Maturities Trust: 2005 is included herein.

               (3) Financial Data Schedule for American  Century - Benham Target
               Maturities Trust: 2010 is included herein.

               (4) Financial Data Schedule for American  Century - Benham Target
               Maturities Trust: 2015 is included herein.

               (5) Financial Data Schedule for American  Century - Benham Target
               Maturities Trust: 2020 is included herein.

               (6) Financial Data Schedule for American  Century - Benham Target
               Maturities Trust: 2025 is included herein.

          (o)  (1) Multiple Class Plan of American Century  California  Tax-Free
               and Municipal Funds,  American Century  Government  Income Trust,
               American  Century  International  Bond  Funds,  American  Century
               Investment  Trust,  American Century  Municipal  Trust,  American
               Century Target Maturities Trust and American Century Quantitative
               Equity  Funds  dated  August 1,  1997  (filed  electronically  as
               Exhibit 18 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration
               Statement on August 28, 1997, File No. 2-94608).

               (2) Amendment to Multiple  Class Plan of American  Century Target
               Maturities  Trust dated June 29, 1998  (filed  electronically  as
               Exhibit  (o)(2)  to  Post-Effective   Amendment  No.  23  to  the
               Registration  Statement of American Century  Quantitative  Equity
               Funds on June 29, 1998, File No. 33-19589).

Item 24. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant.

         Not applicable.


Item 25. Indemnification.

As stated in Article VII,  Section 3 of the  Declaration of Trust,  incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the  Registration  Statement,  "The Trustees
shall be entitled  and  empowered  to the  fullest  extent  permitted  by law to
purchase  insurance  for and to  provide  by  resolution  or in the  Bylaws  for
indemnification  out  of  Trust  assets  for  liability  and  for  all  expenses
reasonably  incurred  or paid or  expected to be paid by a Trustee or officer in
connection  with any  claim,  action,  suit,  or  proceeding  in which he or she
becomes  involved by virtue of his or her capacity or former  capacity  with the
Trust.  The  provisions,  including any  exceptions and  limitations  concerning
indemnification,  may be set forth in detail  in the  Bylaws or in a  resolution
adopted by the Board of Trustees."

Registrant hereby  incorporates by reference,  as though set forth fully herein,
Article  VI  of  the  Registrant's  Bylaws,  amended  on  May  17,  1995  (filed
electronically  as  Exhibit  2(b)  of  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  24 to the
Registration Statement on November 29, 1995, File No. 2-94608).


Item 26. Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisor.

         None.

Item 27. Principal Underwriters.

         (a)  Funds  Distributor,  Inc. (the  "Distributor")  acts  as principal
              underwriter for the following investment companies.

          American Century California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds
          American Century Capital Portfolios, Inc.
          American Century Government Income Trust
          American Century International Bond Funds
          American Century Investment Trust                  
          American Century Municipal Trust                   
          American Century Mutual Funds, Inc.                
          American Century Premium Reserves, Inc.            
          American Century Quantitative Equity Funds         
          American Century Strategic Asset Allocations, Inc. 
          American Century Target Maturities Trust           
          American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.         
          American Century World Mutual Funds, Inc.          
          BJB Investment Funds                               
          The Brinson Funds                                  
          Dresdner RCM Capital Funds, Inc.                   
          Dresdner RCM Equity Funds, Inc.                    
          Founders Funds, Inc.                               
          Harris Insight Funds Trust                         
          HT Insight Funds, Inc. d/b/a Harris Insight Funds  
          J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds                    
          J.P. Morgan Funds                                  
          JPM Series Trust                                   
          JPM Series Trust II                                
          LaSalle Partners Funds, Inc.
          Kobrick - Cendant Investment Trust                       
          Monetta Fund, Inc.                                 
          Monetta Trust                                      
          The Montgomery Funds I                             
          The Montgomery Funds II                            
          The Munder Framlington Funds Trust            
          The Munder Funds Trust                        
          The Munder Funds, Inc.                        
          National Investors Cash Management Fund, Inc. 
          Orbitex Group of Funds                        
          SG Cowen Funds, Inc.                          
          SG Cowen Income + Growth Fund, Inc.           
          SG Cowen Standby Reserve Fund, Inc.           
          SG Cowen Standby Tax-Exempt Reserve Fund, Inc.
          SG Cowen Series Funds, Inc.                   
          St. Clair Funds, Inc.                         
          The Skyline Funds                             
          Waterhouse Investors Family of Funds, Inc.    
          WEBS Index Fund, Inc.                         

          The  Distributor  is  registered  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
          Commission  as  a  broker-dealer  and  is a  member  of  the  National
          Association of Securities  Dealers.  The  Distributor is located at 60
          State Street, Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. The Distributor
          is an indirect wholly-owned  subsidiary of Boston Institutional Group,
          Inc., a holding company all of whose  outstanding  shares are owned by
          key employees.

         (b)  The following  is a list of the executive officers,  directors and
              partners of the Distributor:

<TABLE>
Name and Principal Business          Positions and Offices with          Positions and Offices with
Address*                             Underwriter                         Registrant
<S>                                  <C>                                <C>
Marie E. Connolly                    Director, President and Chief       None
                                     Executive Officer

George A. Rio                        Executive Vice President            President, Principal Executive
                                                                         and Principal Financial Officer

Donald R. Roberson                   Executive Vice President            None

William S. Nichols                   Executive Vice President            None

Margaret W. Chambers                 Senior Vice President, General      None
                                     Counsel, Chief Compliance
                                     Officer, Secretary and Clerk
Michael S. Petrucelli                Senior Vice President               None

Joseph F. Tower, III                 Director, Senior Vice President,    None
                                     Treasurer and Chief Financial
                                     Officer

Paula R. David                       Senior Vice President               None

Allen B. Closser                     Senior Vice President               None

Bernard A. Whalen                    Senior Vice President               None

William J. Nutt                      Chairman and Director               None
- --------------------
* All addresses are 60 State Street, Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
</TABLE>
         (c)  Not applicable.


Item 28. Location of Accounts and Records.

All  accounts,  books and other  documents  required to be maintained by Section
31(a)  of the  1940  Act,  and  the  rules  promulgated  thereunder,  are in the
possession of Registrant,  American  Century  Services  Corporation and American
Century  Investment  Management,  Inc., all located at 4500 Main Street,  Kansas
City, Missouri 64111.


Item 29. Management Services.

Not applicable.


Item 30. Undertakings.

Not applicable.
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all the requirements
for  effectiveness  of this 1933  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 31 and 1940 Act
Amendment  No.  33  to  its  Registration  Statement  pursuant  to  Rule  485(b)
promogulated  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and has duly caused
this Post-Effective Amendment No. 31/Amendment No. 33 to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of Kansas City, and
State of Missouri, on the 29th day of January, 1999.

                     AMERICAN CENTURY TARGET MATURITIES TRUST


                     By:  /*/George A. Rio
                          George A. Rio
                          President and Principal Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this  Post-Effective
Amendment No. 31/Amendment No. 33 has been signed below by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Date
<S>                                  <C>                                           <C>
*                                    President, Principal Executive and            January 29, 1999
- ---------------------------------    Principal Financial Officer
George A. Rio

*                                    Vice President and Treasurer                  January 29, 1999
- ---------------------------------
Maryanne Roepke

*                                    Chairman of the Board and Trustee             January 29, 1999
- ---------------------------------    
James E. Stowers III

*                                    Trustee                                       January 29, 1999
- ---------------------------------    
William M. Lyons

*                                    Trustee                                       January 29, 1999
- ---------------------------------
Albert A. Eisenstat

*                                    Trustee                                       January 29, 1999
- ---------------------------------
Ronald J. Gilson

*                                    Trustee                                       January 29, 1999
- ---------------------------------
Myron S. Scholes

*                                    Trustee                                       January 29, 1999
- ---------------------------------
Kenneth E. Scott

*                                    Trustee                                       January 29, 1999
- ---------------------------------
Isaac Stein

*                                    Trustee                                       January 29, 1999
- ---------------------------------
Jeanne D. Wohlers

</TABLE>
/s/Charles C.S. Park
*by Charles C.S.  Park,  Attorney in Fact (pursuant to a Power of Attorney dated
December 18, 1998).


EXHIBIT     DESCRIPTION

EX-99.a1    Agreement  and  Declaration  of Trust dated May 31, 1995 (filed as a
            part  of  Post-Effective   Amendment  No.  24  to  the  Registration
            Statement on Form N-1A of the Registrant, File No. 2-94608, filed on
            November 29, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.a2    Amendment to the  Declaration of Trust dated October 21, 1996 (filed
            as a part of  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 27 to the  Registration
            Statement on Form N-1A of the Registrant, File No. 2-94608, filed on
            August 28, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.a3    Amendment to the Declaration of Trust dated August 1, 1997 (filed as
            a part  of  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  27 to  the  Registration
            Statement on Form N-1A of the Registrant, File No. 2-94608, filed on
            August 28, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.b     Amended and Restated Bylaws,  dated May 17, 1995 (filed as a part of
            Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 24 to the  Registration  Statement on
            Form N-1A of the Registrant, File No. 2-94608, filed on November 29,
            1995 and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.d1    Investor Class  Investment  Management  Agreement  between  American
            Century  Target  Maturities  Trust and American  Century  Investment
            Management,  Inc.,  dated  August  1,  1997  (filed  as  a  part  of
            Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 33 to the  Registration  Statement on
            Form N-1A of American  Century  Government  Income  Trust,  File No.
            2-99222, filed July 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.d2    Advisor  Class  Investment  Management  Agreement  between  American
            Century Target Maturities Trust,  American Century Government Income
            Trust,  American  Century  International  Bond Funds,  and  American
            Century  Quantitative Equity Funds, dated August 1, 1997 (filed as a
            part  of  Post-Effective   Amendment  No.  27  to  the  Registration
            Statement on Form N-1A of the Registrant, File No. 2-94608, filed on
            August 28, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.e1    Distribution  Agreement  between American Century Target  Maturities
            Trust and Funds Distributor,  Inc., dated January 15, 1998 (filed as
            a part  of  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  28 to  the  Registration
            Statement on Form N-1A of the Registrant, File No. 2-94608, filed on
            January 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.e2    Amendment  No.  1 to the  Distribution  Agreement  between  American
            Century Target Maturities Trust and Funds  Distributor,  Inc., dated
            June 1, 1998 (filed as a part of Post-Effective  Amendment No. 11 to
            the Registration  Statement on Form N-1A of American Century Capital
            Portfolios,  Inc.,  File No.  33-64872,  filed on June 26,  1998 and
            incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.e3    Amendment No. 2 to Distribution  Agreement  between American Century
            Target  Maturities  Trust and Funds  Distributor,  Inc., dated as of
            December 1, 1998 (filed as a part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 12
            to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of American Century World
            Mutual Funds,  Inc., File No. 33-39242,  filed on November 13, 1998,
            and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.e4    Amendment No. 3 to Distribution  Agreement  between American Century
            Target  Maturities  Trust and Funds  Distributor,  Inc., dated as of
            January 29, 1999 (filed as a part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24
            to the  Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of  American  Century
            Varible  Portfolios,  Inc., File No. 811-5188,  filed on January 15,
            1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  
EX-99.g     Custodian Agreement between American Century Investments  (including
            American Century Target Maturities  Trust),  and The Chase Manhattan
            Bank,  dated  August  9,  1996  (filed  as a part of  Post-Effective
            Amendment  No.  31 to the  Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of
            American Century  Government Income Trust,  File No. 2-99222,  filed
            February 7, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.h1    Transfer Agency Agreement between American Century Target Maturities
            Trust and American  Century  Services  Corporation,  dated August 1,
            1997  (filed  as a part of  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 33 to the
            Registration  Statement on Form N-1A of American Century  Government
            Income  Trust,  File  No.  2-99222,  filed  on  July  31,  1997  and
            incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.h2    Amendment to Transfer  Agency  Agreement  between  American  Century
            Target  Maturities Trust and American  Century Services  Corporation
            dated June 29, 1998 (filed as a part of Post-Effective Amendment No.
            23 to the  Registration  Statement on Form N-1A of American  Century
            Quantitative  Equity  Funds,  File No.  33-19589,  filed on June 29,
            1998, and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.i     Opinion and consent of counsel.

EX-99.j1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, independent accountants.

EX-99.j2    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP, independent auditors.

EX-99.j3    Power of  Attorney  dated  December  18,  1998  (filed  as a part of
            Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 30 to the  Registration  Statement on
            Form N-1A of the Registrant,  File No. 2-94608,  filed on January 8,
            1999 and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.m1    Master  Distribution  and  Shareholder  Services  Plan  of  American
            Century Government Income Trust, American Century International Bond
            Fund,  American Century Target Maturities Trust and American Century
            Quantitative  Equity  Funds  (Advisor  Class)  dated  August 1, 1997
            (filed  as  a  part  of  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  27  to  the
            Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of the  Registrant,  File No.
            2-94608,  filed on  August  28,  1997  and  incorporated  herein  by
            reference).

EX-99.m2    Amendment No. 1 to Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan
            of American  Century Target  Maturities  Trust (Advisor Class) dated
            June 29, 1998 (filed as a part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to
            the  Registration   Statement  on  Form  N-1A  of  American  Century
            Quantitative Equity Funds, File No. 33-19589, filed on June 29, 1998
            and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.o1    Multiple  Class Plan of American  Century  California  Tax-Free  and
            Municipal Funds,  American Century Government Income Trust, American
            Century International Bond Funds, American Century Investment Trust,
            American Century Municipal Trust, American Century Target Maturities
            Trust and American Century Quantitative Equity Funds dated August 1,
            1997  (filed  as a part of  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 27 of the
            Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of the  Registrant,  File No.
            2-94608,  filed on  August  28,  1997  and  incorporated  herein  by
            reference).

EX-99.o2    Amendment  to  Multiple  Class  Plan  of  American   Century  Target
            Maturities   Trust   dated  June  29,  1998  (filed  as  a  part  of
            Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 23 to the  Registration  Statement on
            Form N-1A of American Century  Quantitative  Equity Funds,  File No.
            33-19589,  filed  on  June  29,  1998  and  incorporated  herein  by
            reference).

EX-27.5.1   Financial  Data  Schedule  for  American  Century  -  Benham  Target
            Maturities Trust: 2000

EX-27.5.2   Financial  Data  Schedule  for  American  Century  -  Benham  Target
            Maturities Trust: 2005 

EX-27.5.3   Financial  Data  Schedule  for  American  Century  -  Benham  Target
            Maturities Trust: 2010 

EX-27.5.4   Financial  Data  Schedule  for  American  Century  -  Benham  Target
            Maturities Trust: 2015 

EX-27.5.5   Financial  Data  Schedule  for  American  Century  -  Benham  Target
            Maturities Trust: 2020 

EX-27.5.6   Financial  Data  Schedule  for  American  Century  -  Benham  Target
            Maturities Trust: 2025 

                               CHARLES C.S. PARK
                                ATTORNEY AT LAW

                              1665 CHARLESTON ROAD
                        MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA 94043

                            TELEPHONE (650)965-8300
                            TELECOPIER (650)964-9591

January 29, 1999

American Century Target Maturities Trust
American Century Tower
4500 Main Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64111

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     As counsel to American Century Target Maturities Trust (the "Trust"),  I am
generally familiar with its affairs.  Based upon this familiarity,  and upon the
examination  of such documents as I deemed  relevant,  it is my opinion that the
shares of the Trust  described in 1933 Act  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 31 and
1940 Act  Amendment  No. 33 to its  Registration  Statement on Form N-1A,  to be
filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission on January 29, 1999,  will,
when issued, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     For the  record,  it should be stated  that I am an  employee  of  American
Century  Services  Corporation,  an affiliated  corporation of American  Century
Investment Management, Inc., the investment advisor of the Trust.

     I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 31 and Amendment No. 33, referenced above.

                                 Very truly yours,

                                 /s/Charles C.S. Park
                                 Charles C.S. Park

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in Post-Effective  Amendment No. 33
to the Registration  Statement of the American  Century-Benham Target Maturities
Trust:  2000, the American  Century-Benham  Target Maturities  Trust:  2005, the
American   Century-Benham   Target   Maturities   Trust:   2010,   the  American
Century-Benham Target Maturities Trust: 2015, the American Century-Benham Target
Maturities Trust: 2020, and the American Century-Benham Target Maturities Trust:
2025 (all of the funds comprising the American Century Target Maturities Trust),
on Form  N1-A of our  report  dated  November  11,  1998  on our  audits  of the
financial  statements  and financial  highlights of the American  Century-Benham
Target Maturities  Trust:  2000, the American  Century-Benham  Target Maturities
Trust:  2005, the American  Century-Benham  Target Maturities  Trust:  2010, the
American   Century-Benham   Target   Maturities   Trust:   2015,   the  American
Century-Benham  Target Maturities Trust:  2020, and the American  Century-Benham
Target Maturities Trust:  2025, which report is included in the Annual Report to
Shareholders  for the year ended  September  30, 1998 which is  incorporated  by
reference in Post-Effective  Amendment No. 33 to the Registration  Statement. We
also consent to the reference in the Statement of Additional  Information to our
Firm under the caption "Independent Accountants."



/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP


Kansas City, Missouri
January 27, 1999

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT





The Board of Trustees
American Century Target Maturities Trust:



We consent to the use of our report  dated  November  3, 1997  included  in your
registration statement.




/s/KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Kansas City, Missouri
January 28, 1999

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  TARGET  MATURITIES  TRUST AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  REPORT.  INFORMATION  PRESENTED IS A TOTAL OF ALL
CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE SUCH PRESENTATION IS NOT POSSIBLE(SUCH AS PER SHARE DATA).
IN THOSE CASES, ONLY THE INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000757928
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY TARGET MATURITIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 2
   <NAME> BENHAM TARGET MATURITIES - 2000 PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                  SEP-30-1998              <F1>
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                     230,516,406
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                    238,739,903
<RECEIVABLES>                                                       0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                584,484
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            239,324,387
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                            0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                   1,735,889
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                         1,735,889
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                     0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                  216,542,478
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                       2,533,390
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                       3,349,052
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                  10,075,324
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                              0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                     2,747,199
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                            0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                    8,223,497
<NET-ASSETS>                                              237,588,498
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                   0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                          15,205,216
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                      0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                              1,420,550
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                    13,784,666
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                    6,149,330
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                     679,135
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                      20,613,131
<EQUALIZATION>                                                      0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                  15,765,056
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                               0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                       645,063
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                 1,189,038
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                           191,104
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                   (10,788,636)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                             0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                 (4,592,691)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                             0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                          0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                       1,410,866
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                  0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                             1,420,550
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                      239,827,115
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                           86.05  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                  5.13  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                          2.60  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                             5.64  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                        0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                             0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                             93.78  <F2>
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                  0.59  <F2>
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                              0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                             0.00
        
<FN>
<F1> SCHEDULE REFLECTS THE TOTAL FOR ALL CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED.
<F2> INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION ONLY.
</FN>

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  TARGET  MATURITIES  TRUST AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  REPORT.  INFORMATION  PRESENTED IS A TOTAL OF ALL
CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE SUCH PRESENTATION IS NOT POSSIBLE(SUCH AS PER SHARE DATA).
IN THOSE CASES, ONLY THE INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000757928
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY TARGET MATURITIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 3
   <NAME> BENHAM TARGET MATURITIES - 2005 PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998       <F1>
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                               461,237,944
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                              522,621,174
<RECEIVABLES>                                                 0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       12,567,939
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                          0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      535,189,113
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                      0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                             1,103,003
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                   1,103,003
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                               0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                            534,086,110
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                 6,961,639
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                 4,130,406
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            16,898,403
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                        0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                               5,127,099
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                      0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             61,383,230
<NET-ASSETS>                                        534,086,110
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                             0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    23,436,080
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                        2,258,272
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              21,177,808
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                              5,444,663
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                            42,618,545
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                69,241,016
<EQUALIZATION>                                                0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            15,987,498
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                              1,217,264
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                         0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                               4,722,020
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                           2,395,346
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                     270,807
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                              252,408,969
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                       0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                             1,315,502
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                       0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                    0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                 2,246,858
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                            0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                       2,258,272
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                382,708,125
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                     64.54  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                            3.84  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                    8.34  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                       3.61  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                  0.27  <F2>
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                       0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                       76.72  <F2>
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                            0.59  <F2>
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                        0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                       0.00
        
<FN>
<F1> SCHEDULE REFLECTS THE TOTAL FOR ALL CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED.
<F2> INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION ONLY.
</FN>

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  TARGET  MATURITIES  TRUST AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  REPORT.  INFORMATION  PRESENTED IS A TOTAL OF ALL
CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE SUCH PRESENTATION IS NOT POSSIBLE(SUCH AS PER SHARE DATA).
IN THOSE CASES, ONLY THE INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000757928
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY TARGET MATURITIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 4
   <NAME> BENHAM TARGET MATURITIES - 2010 PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                    SEP-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                          235,163,514
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                         281,100,203
<RECEIVABLES>                                                            0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                   5,814,617
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                     0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                 286,914,820
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                  0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                        3,086,476
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                              3,086,476
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                          0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                       227,800,198
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                            4,579,373
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                            2,616,128
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                        8,023,524
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                          2,067,933
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                        45,936,689
<NET-ASSETS>                                                   283,828,344
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                        0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                               11,127,377
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                           0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                   1,101,180
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                         10,026,197
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                         2,154,470
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                       34,621,133
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                           46,801,800
<EQUALIZATION>                                                           0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                        7,102,391
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                           850,424
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                    0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                          4,025,597
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                      2,145,135
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                159,789
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                         159,016,515
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                          5,195,418
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                        2,583,986
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                  0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                               0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                            1,092,458
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                  1,101,180
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                           186,094,779
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                49.16
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                       2.94
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                               9.88
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                  2.46
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                             0.29
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                  0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                  61.98
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                       0.59
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                   0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                  0.00
        
<FN>
<F1> SCHEDULE REFLECTS THE TOTAL FOR ALL CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED.
<F2> INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION ONLY.
</FN>

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  TARGET  MATURITIES  TRUST AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  REPORT.  INFORMATION  PRESENTED IS A TOTAL OF ALL
CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE SUCH PRESENTATION IS NOT POSSIBLE(SUCH AS PER SHARE DATA).
IN THOSE CASES, ONLY THE INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000757928
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY TARGET MATURITIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 5
   <NAME> BENHAM TARGET MATURITIES - 2015 PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                SEP-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                   109,651,361
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                  169,450,389
<RECEIVABLES>                                                     0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                            1,312,614
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                              0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          170,763,003
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                          0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                   681,756
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                         681,756
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                   0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                104,510,486
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                     3,410,207
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                     3,618,424
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                 5,500,951
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                            0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                     270,782
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                          0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                 59,799,028
<NET-ASSETS>                                            170,081,247
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                 0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                         7,985,961
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                    0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                              853,280
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                   7,132,681
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                    298,681
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                29,541,335
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                    36,972,697
<EQUALIZATION>                                                    0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                 6,501,208
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                  4,326,524
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                             0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                   2,651,059
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                               2,519,163
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                         281,652
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                   55,181,678
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                   5,247,463
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                   642,639
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                           0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                        0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                       845,121
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                             853,280
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                    143,892,968
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                         38.34
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                2.17
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                        9.36
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                           2.11
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                      1.40
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                           0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                           49.87
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                0.59
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                            0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                           0.00
        
<FN>
<F1> SCHEDULE REFLECTS THE TOTAL FOR ALL CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED.
<F2> INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION ONLY.
</FN>

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  TARGET  MATURITIES  TRUST AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  REPORT.  INFORMATION  PRESENTED IS A TOTAL OF ALL
CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE SUCH PRESENTATION IS NOT POSSIBLE(SUCH AS PER SHARE DATA).
IN THOSE CASES, ONLY THE INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000757928
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY TARGET MATURITIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 6
   <NAME> BENHAM TARGET MATURITIES - 2020 PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                      301,124,307
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                     487,013,557
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                               2,351,356
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             489,364,923
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                    3,313,152
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                          3,313,152
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                   228,403,297
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                       13,152,689
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                       42,102,669
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                   19,544,059
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                     52,215,155
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                   185,889,260
<NET-ASSETS>                                               486,051,771
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                           30,415,786
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                 105,570
<EXPENSES-NET>                                               3,324,484
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                     27,196,872
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                    55,277,618
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                   86,449,383
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                      168,923,873
<EQUALIZATION>                                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                   44,888,306
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                    41,866,720
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                     13,812,474
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                 21,343,946
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                          3,356,693
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                    (67,499,256)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                     39,687,073
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                  (6,273,172)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                        3,309,715
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                              3,324,484
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                       563,167,475
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                            27.17  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                   1.53  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                           8.25  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                              2.35  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                         2.19  <F2>
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                              36.95  <F2>
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                   0.59  <F2>
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                              0.00
        
<FN>
<F1> SCHEDULE REFLECTS THE TOTAL FOR ALL CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED.
<F2> INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION ONLY.
</FN>

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  TARGET  MATURITIES  TRUST AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH  REPORT.  INFORMATION  PRESENTED IS A TOTAL OF ALL
CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE SUCH PRESENTATION IS NOT POSSIBLE(SUCH AS PER SHARE DATA).
IN THOSE CASES, ONLY THE INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000757928
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY TARGET MATURITIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 7
   <NAME> BENHAM TARGET MATURITIES - 2025 PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                            SEP-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                   284,665,108
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                  354,568,140
<RECEIVABLES>                                                14,607
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                            4,512,005
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                              0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          359,094,752
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                          0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                 2,883,204
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                       2,883,204
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                   0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                276,368,990
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                    11,248,635
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                     1,991,656
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                 8,762,384
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                            0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                   1,177,142
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                          0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                 69,903,032
<NET-ASSETS>                                            356,211,548
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                 0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                        11,622,041
<OTHER-INCOME>                                               66,911
<EXPENSES-NET>                                            1,249,537
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                  10,439,415
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                  1,681,458
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                60,753,235
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                    72,874,108
<EQUALIZATION>                                                    0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                 4,549,154
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                    305,669
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                             0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                  24,090,981
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                              16,359,125
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                         199,765
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                  282,390,233
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                     997,384
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                 (501,349)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                           0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                        0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                     1,240,147
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                           1,249,537
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                    211,310,907
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                         22.27  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                1.33  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                        8.07  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                           0.70  <F2>
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                      0.05  <F2>
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                           0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                           31.67  <F2>
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                0.59  <F2>
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                            0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                           0.00
        
<FN>
<F1> SCHEDULE REFLECTS THE TOTAL FOR ALL CLASSES, EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED.
<F2> INVESTOR CLASS INFORMATION ONLY.
</FN>

</TABLE>


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