<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 09/30/97
000 C000000 0000826733
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 THE EVERGREEN AMERICAN RETIREMENT TRUST
001 B000000 811-5434
001 C000000 6172103571
002 A000000 200 BERKELEY ST
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02116
002 D020000 5034
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 1
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 THE EVERGREEN AMERICAN RETIREMENT FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 THE EVERGREEN SMALL CAP EQUITY INCOME FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 EVERGREEN MANAGEMENT
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-8327
008 D01AA01 BOSTON
008 D02AA01 MA
008 D03AA01 02116
008 A00AA02 LIEBER & CO.
008 B00AA02 S
008 C00AA02 801-5923
008 D01AA02 PURCHASE
008 D02AA02 NY
008 D03AA02 10577
010 A00AA01 EVERGREEN INVESTMENT SERVICES INC.
010 C01AA01 BOSTON
<PAGE> PAGE 2
010 C02AA01 MA
010 C03AA01 02116
010 C04AA01 5034
011 A00AA01 EVERGREEN DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-395
011 C01AA01 NEW YORK
011 C02AA01 NY
011 C03AA01 10019
012 A00AA01 EVERGREEN SERVICE CO.
012 B00AA01 84-1571
012 C01AA01 BOSTON
012 C02AA01 MA
012 C03AA01 02116
012 C04AA01 5034
013 A00AA01 KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
013 B01AA01 BOSTON
013 B02AA01 MA
013 B03AA01 02116
014 A00AA01 LIEBER & CO.
014 B00AA01 8-14923
014 A00AA02 FIRST UNION BROKERAGE SERVICES, INC.
014 B00AA02 8-24369
015 A00AA01 STATE STREET BANK & TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 NORTH QUINCY
015 C02AA01 MA
015 C03AA01 02171
015 E01AA01 X
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 71
019 C00AA00 EVERGREENS
020 A000001 LIEBER & CO.
020 B000001 13-2639722
020 C000001 38
020 A000002 INSTINET CORP.
020 B000002 13-2596491
020 C000002 2
020 A000003 PARIBAS CORP.
020 B000003 13-3235334
020 C000003 2
020 A000004 BEAR STEARNS SECURITIES
020 B000004 13-3299949
020 C000004 1
020 A000005 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER
020 B000005 13-5674085
020 C000005 1
020 A000006 DLJ SECURITIES
020 B000006 13-2741729
020 C000006 1
020 A000007 JP MORGAN SECURITIES
<PAGE> PAGE 3
020 B000007 13-3224016
020 C000007 1
020 A000008 LEHMAN BROTHERS
020 C000008 1
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 47
022 A000001 JP MORGAN SECURITIES
022 B000001 13-3224016
022 C000001 23727
022 D000001 9235
022 A000002 CHEMICAL SECURITIES
022 B000002 13-3379014
022 C000002 17370
022 D000002 7930
022 A000003 OPPENHEIMER & CO., INC.
022 B000003 13-2798343
022 C000003 24614
022 D000003 0
022 A000004 GOLDMAN SACHS
022 B000004 13-5108880
022 C000004 18885
022 D000004 3790
022 A000005 CHASE SECURITIES
022 B000005 13-3112953
022 C000005 12638
022 D000005 1948
022 A000006 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER
022 B000006 13-5674085
022 C000006 7753
022 D000006 1892
022 A000007 BANK OF AMERICA NT & SA
022 B000007 94-1687665
022 C000007 6968
022 D000007 2193
022 A000008 ROBERTSON, STEPHENS & CO.
022 B000008 94-2524501
022 C000008 1000
022 D000008 4095
022 A000009 ALEX BROWN
022 B000009 52-1319768
022 C000009 3484
022 D000009 730
022 A000010 DLJ SECURITIES
022 B000010 13-2741729
022 C000010 3661
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 132228
023 D000000 47298
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 4
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 N
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 N
077 P000000 Y
077 Q010000 Y
078 000000 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
024 000100 N
025 D000101 0
025 D000102 0
025 D000103 0
025 D000104 0
025 D000105 0
025 D000106 0
025 D000107 0
025 D000108 0
028 A010100 8240
028 A020100 0
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 2097
028 B010100 6188
028 B020100 0
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 1717
028 C010100 5231
028 C020100 1037
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 3248
028 D010100 7994
028 D020100 0
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 2510
028 E010100 6013
<PAGE> PAGE 5
028 E020100 316
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 1172
028 F010100 5902
028 F020100 1075
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 1253
028 G010100 39568
028 G020100 2428
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 11997
028 H000100 6074
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 224
030 B000100 4.75
030 C000100 0.00
031 A000100 50
031 B000100 0
032 000100 174
033 000100 0
034 000100 Y
035 000100 15
036 A000100 N
036 B000100 0
037 000100 N
038 000100 0
039 000100 N
040 000100 Y
041 000100 Y
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 0
042 D000100 100
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 526
044 000100 0
045 000100 Y
046 000100 N
047 000100 Y
048 000100 0.000
048 A010100 750000
048 A020100 0.750
048 B010100 250000
048 B020100 0.700
048 C010100 0
048 C020100 0.000
048 D010100 0
048 D020100 0.000
<PAGE> PAGE 6
048 E010100 0
048 E020100 0.000
048 F010100 0
048 F020100 0.000
048 G010100 0
048 G020100 0.000
048 H010100 0
048 H020100 0.000
048 I010100 0
048 I020100 0.000
048 J010100 0
048 J020100 0.000
048 K010100 1000000
048 K020100 0.700
049 000100 N
050 000100 N
051 000100 N
052 000100 N
053 A000100 Y
053 B000100 N
053 C000100 N
054 A000100 Y
054 B000100 Y
054 C000100 Y
054 D000100 N
054 E000100 N
054 F000100 N
054 G000100 Y
054 H000100 N
054 I000100 N
054 J000100 N
054 K000100 N
054 L000100 Y
054 M000100 Y
054 N000100 N
054 O000100 N
055 A000100 N
055 B000100 N
056 000100 Y
057 000100 N
058 A000100 N
059 000100 Y
060 A000100 Y
060 B000100 Y
061 000100 1000
062 A000100 N
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 7
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 0.0
062 N000100 0.0
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
063 A000100 0
063 B000100 0.0
066 A000100 Y
066 B000100 N
066 C000100 N
066 D000100 N
066 E000100 Y
066 F000100 N
066 G000100 N
067 000100 Y
068 A000100 N
068 B000100 N
069 000100 N
070 A010100 N
070 A020100 N
070 B010100 Y
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 N
070 E020100 N
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 N
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 N
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 N
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 Y
070 L020100 Y
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 8
070 N010100 Y
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 Y
070 R020100 N
071 A000100 65990
071 B000100 27760
071 C000100 145268
071 D000100 19
072 A000100 6
072 B000100 1958
072 C000100 1708
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 590
072 G000100 0
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 169
072 J000100 24
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 0
072 M000100 5
072 N000100 0
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 0
072 S000100 0
072 T000100 526
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 81
072 X000100 1395
072 Y000100 2
072 Z000100 2273
072AA000100 3896
072BB000100 0
072CC010100 20451
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 631
072DD020100 1572
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.2700
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
<PAGE> PAGE 9
074 A000100 7
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 14163
074 D000100 68552
074 E000100 25440
074 F000100 85755
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 2332
074 K000100 958
074 L000100 982
074 M000100 85
074 N000100 198274
074 O000100 13463
074 P000100 435
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 0
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 184376
074 U010100 1408
074 U020100 10134
074 V010100 0.00
074 V020100 0.00
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 10913
074 Y000100 0
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 156976
076 000100 0.00
080 A000100 ICI MUTUAL INSURNACE CO.
080 C000100 50000
081 A000100 Y
081 B000100 70
082 A000100 N
082 B000100 0
083 A000100 N
083 B000100 0
084 A000100 N
084 B000100 0
085 A000100 Y
085 B000100 N
024 000200 N
025 D000201 0
025 D000202 0
025 D000203 0
025 D000204 0
025 D000205 0
<PAGE> PAGE 10
025 D000206 0
025 D000207 0
025 D000208 0
028 A010200 16136
028 A020200 0
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 111
028 B010200 0
028 B020200 0
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 0
028 C010200 0
028 C020200 0
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 0
028 D010200 0
028 D020200 0
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 0
028 E010200 0
028 E020200 0
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 0
028 F010200 0
028 F020200 0
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 0
028 G010200 16136
028 G020200 0
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 111
028 H000200 2173
029 000200 Y
030 A000200 73
030 B000200 4.75
030 C000200 0.00
031 A000200 7
031 B000200 0
032 000200 66
033 000200 0
034 000200 Y
035 000200 5
036 A000200 N
036 B000200 0
037 000200 N
038 000200 0
039 000200 N
040 000200 Y
041 000200 Y
042 A000200 0
042 B000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 11
042 C000200 0
042 D000200 100
042 E000200 0
042 F000200 0
042 G000200 0
042 H000200 0
043 000200 22
044 000200 0
045 000200 Y
046 000200 N
047 000200 Y
048 000200 0.000
048 A010200 750000
048 A020200 1.000
048 B010200 250000
048 B020200 0.900
048 C010200 0
048 C020200 0.000
048 D010200 0
048 D020200 0.000
048 E010200 0
048 E020200 0.000
048 F010200 0
048 F020200 0.000
048 G010200 0
048 G020200 0.000
048 H010200 0
048 H020200 0.000
048 I010200 0
048 I020200 0.000
048 J010200 0
048 J020200 0.000
048 K010200 1000000
048 K020200 0.800
049 000200 N
050 000200 N
051 000200 N
052 000200 N
053 A000200 Y
053 B000200 Y
053 C000200 N
054 A000200 Y
054 B000200 N
054 C000200 N
054 D000200 N
054 E000200 N
054 F000200 N
054 G000200 N
054 H000200 Y
054 I000200 N
054 J000200 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 12
054 K000200 N
054 L000200 N
054 M000200 Y
054 N000200 N
054 O000200 N
055 A000200 N
055 B000200 N
056 000200 Y
057 000200 N
058 A000200 N
059 000200 Y
060 A000200 Y
060 B000200 Y
061 000200 1000
062 A000200 N
062 B000200 0.0
062 C000200 0.0
062 D000200 0.0
062 E000200 0.0
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 0.0
062 H000200 0.0
062 I000200 0.0
062 J000200 0.0
062 K000200 0.0
062 L000200 0.0
062 M000200 0.0
062 N000200 0.0
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 0.0
062 Q000200 0.0
062 R000200 0.0
063 A000200 0
063 B000200 0.0
066 A000200 Y
066 B000200 N
066 C000200 N
066 D000200 N
066 E000200 Y
066 F000200 N
066 G000200 N
067 000200 N
068 A000200 N
068 B000200 N
069 000200 N
070 A010200 Y
070 A020200 N
070 B010200 Y
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 N
070 C020200 N
<PAGE> PAGE 13
070 D010200 N
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 N
070 E020200 N
070 F010200 Y
070 F020200 N
070 G010200 N
070 G020200 N
070 H010200 N
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 Y
070 J020200 N
070 K010200 Y
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 Y
070 L020200 Y
070 M010200 N
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 Y
070 N020200 N
070 O010200 Y
070 O020200 N
070 P010200 Y
070 P020200 N
070 Q010200 N
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 Y
070 R020200 N
071 A000200 42725
071 B000200 3893
071 C000200 29097
071 D000200 13
072 A000200 7
072 B000200 215
072 C000200 442
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
072 F000200 180
072 G000200 0
072 H000200 0
072 I000200 22
072 J000200 24
072 K000200 0
072 L000200 8
072 M000200 4
072 N000200 42
072 O000200 0
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 14
072 R000200 17
072 S000200 0
072 T000200 22
072 U000200 3
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 4
072 X000200 326
072 Y000200 54
072 Z000200 385
072AA000200 1108
072BB000200 0
072CC010200 6035
072CC020200 0
072DD010200 373
072DD020200 0
072EE000200 0
073 A010200 0.0000
073 A020200 0.5000
073 B000200 0.0000
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 12
074 B000200 0
074 C000200 1734
074 D000200 6594
074 E000200 4435
074 F000200 44309
074 G000200 0
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 0
074 J000200 217
074 K000200 0
074 L000200 1781
074 M000200 28
074 N000200 59110
074 O000200 173
074 P000200 0
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 92
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 58845
074 U010200 2698
074 U020200 1052
074 V010200 15.69
074 V020200 0.00
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 1133
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 15
075 B000200 30983
076 000200 0.00
080 A000200 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C000200 50000
081 A000200 Y
081 B000200 74
082 A000200 N
082 B000200 0
083 A000200 N
083 B000200 0
084 A000200 N
084 B000200 0
085 A000200 Y
085 B000200 N
SIGNATURE J. KEVIN KENELY
TITLE V.P. FUND ADMIN.
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> EVERGREEN AMERICAN RETIREMENT FUND CLASS A
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 162,507,133
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 193,909,739
<RECEIVABLES> 4,271,597
<ASSETS-OTHER> 92,534
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 198,273,870
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 13,463,401
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 433,972
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 13,897,373
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 149,184,528
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,407,993
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,062,020
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 79,873
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 3,709,490
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 31,402,606
<NET-ASSETS> 184,376,497
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,707,937
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,957,588
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,392,928)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,272,597
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3,896,003
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 20,451,552
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 26,620,152
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (306,948)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (50,054)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 409,427
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (85,786)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 22,332
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,140,448
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 11,347
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 238,416
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (590,274)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (1,392,928)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 18,611,806
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.74
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.25
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.32
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.25)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.03)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.03
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.36
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> EVERGREEN AMERICAN RETIREMENT FUND CLASS B
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 162,507,133
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 193,909,739
<RECEIVABLES> 4,271,597
<ASSETS-OTHER> 92,534
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 198,273,870
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 13,463,401
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 433,972
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 13,897,373
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 149,184,528
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 7,532,121
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5,617,901
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 79,873
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 3,709,490
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 31,402,606
<NET-ASSETS> 184,376,497
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,707,937
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,957,588
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,392,928)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,272,597
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3,896,003
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 20,451,552
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 26,620,152
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,243,406)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (268,074)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,083,865
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (264,741)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 95,096
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 28,294,388
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 11,347
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 238,416
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (590,274)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (1,392,928)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 98,426,084
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.67
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.2
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.3
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.19)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.03)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.95
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.11
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> EVERGREEN AMERICAN RETIREMENT FUND CLASS C
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 162,507,133
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 193,909,739
<RECEIVABLES> 4,271,597
<ASSETS-OTHER> 92,534
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 198,273,870
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 13,463,401
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 433,972
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 13,897,373
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 149,184,528
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 133,304
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 129,121
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 79,873
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 3,709,490
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 31,402,606
<NET-ASSETS> 184,376,497
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,707,937
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,957,588
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,392,928)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,272,597
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3,896,003
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 20,451,552
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 26,620,152
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (22,372)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (5,025)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 36,303
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (33,868)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,748
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 82,096
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 11,347
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 238,416
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (590,274)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (1,392,928)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,833,792
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.7
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.2
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.3
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.19)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.03)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 15.98
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.11
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> EVERGREEN AMERICAN RETIREMENT FUND CLASS Y
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 162,507,133
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 193,909,739
<RECEIVABLES> 4,271,597
<ASSETS-OTHER> 92,534
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 198,273,870
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 13,463,401
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 433,972
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 13,897,373
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 149,184,528
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,468,868
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,710,150
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 79,873
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 3,709,490
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 31,402,606
<NET-ASSETS> 184,376,497
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,707,937
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,957,588
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,392,928)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,272,597
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3,896,003
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 20,451,552
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 26,620,152
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (631,345)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (101,776)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 147,975
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (428,371)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 39,114
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (3,517,976)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 11,347
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 238,416
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (590,274)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (1,392,928)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 38,104,728
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.74
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.29
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.3
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.27)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.03)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.03
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.1
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
