Prospectus Supplement 42312
4/98
dated April 6, 1998 to:
_________________________________________________________________
Putnam Balanced Retirement Fund (the "fund")
Prospectuses dated February 28, 1998
In the section "How the fund is managed," the chart indicating
the officers of Putnam Investment Management, Inc. ("Putnam
Management") that have primary responsibility for the day-to-day
management of the fund is replaced with the following:
Business experience
Year (at least 5 years)
---- -----------------
Edward P. Bousa 1992 Employed as an investment
Senior Vice President professional by
Putnam Management since 1992.
Jeffrey J. Kobylarz 1997 Employed as an investment
Senior Vice President professional by
Putnam Management since 1993.
Prior to May, 1993, Mr.
Kobylarz was an Assistant Vice
President and Analyst at Dean
Witter Intercapital.
Charles G. Pohl 1996 Employed as an investment
Senior Vice President professional by
Putnam Management since 1983.
James Prusko 1998 Employed as an investment
Vice President
professional by Putnam
Management since 1992.
David L. Waldman 1998 Employed as an investment
Vice President
professional by Putnam
Management since 1997. Prior
to June, 1997, Mr. Waldman was
a Senior Portfolio Manager at
Lazard Freres, and prior to
April, 1995, he held various
positions at Goldman Sachs,
including Analyst, Associate,
Portfolio Manager and Vice
President.
