DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES
N-30D, 1997-10-01
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<PAGE>

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


DEAR SHAREHOLDER: 

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

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

AMID POSITIVE ECONOMIC NEWS, MIXED SIGNALS 

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

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

<PAGE>

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


STOCK MARKETS CONTINUE TO FLY HIGH 

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

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

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

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

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

LIQUID ASSET SERIES 

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

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

<PAGE>

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


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

U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET SERIES 

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

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

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


U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

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

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

<PAGE>

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


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

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


INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

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

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

<PAGE>

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


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


AMERICAN VALUE SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

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

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

<PAGE>

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

<PAGE>

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


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


CAPITAL GROWTH SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

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

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

<PAGE>

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


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


DIVIDEND GROWTH SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

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

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

UTILITIES SERIES 

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

<PAGE>

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


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


UTILITIES SERIES

                             GROWTH OF $10,000

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

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

<PAGE>

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

VALUE-ADDED SERIES 


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

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

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

GLOBAL EQUITY SERIES 

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

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

<PAGE>

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

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


GLOBAL EQUITY SERIES


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

     DATE                  FUND       S&P 500       MSCI IX       LIPPER IX
============================================================================
January 8, 1993          $10,000      $10,000       $10,000        $10,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1993            $ 9,970      $10,618       $11,818        $11,239
============================================================================
July 31, 1994            $10,697      $11,166       $12,797        $13,168
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1995            $11,347      $14,073       $14,346        $14,509
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1996            $12,171      $16,397       $15,364        $15,516
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1997            $15,416      $24,937       $20,075        $20,531
============================================================================

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                        ONE YEAR        LIFE OF FUND
 
                        ============================
                        26.66%(1)          9.96%(1)
                        ============================

                               
    ========================================================================
    [   ] Fund    [   ] S&P 500(2)    [   ] MSCI IX(3)    [   ] Lipper IX(4)
    ========================================================================
Past performance is not predictive of future returns.

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

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

(3)  The Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index (MSCI) measures the
     performance for a diverse range of global stock markets including the
     U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East. The index
     does not include any expenses, fees or charges or reinvestment of 
     dividends. The Index is unmanaged and should not be considered an 
     investment.

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

                       
The Series' emphasis on European equities stems from the recovery there in 
economic growth and company earnings. European exports have benefited from 
the strong U.S. dollar, which has boosted corporate competitiveness. Also, 
European corporations have been embracing cost-cutting moves to reduce 
payroll, restructure business units and sell underperforming assets. Similar 
moves in the United States have boosted returns on equity capital and equity 
valuations. The Series also finds valuations in Asian markets attractive 
after two years of subpar performance and recent currency volatility there. 

Among the Series' key portfolio holdings are HSBC Holdings PLC (banking, Hong 
Kong), Siemens AG (telecommunications, Germany), Cemex, S.A. de C.V. 
(building materials, Mexico), Sony Corp. (electronics, Japan), Koninklijke 
Ahold NV (retail, the Netherlands), Novartis AG (pharmaceuticals, 
Switzerland) and Sun Microsystems, Inc. (computers-systems, United States). 

STRATEGIST SERIES 

For the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Strategist Series posted a total 
return of 27.35 percent. This compares to a return of 52.08 percent for the 
Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index), a return 
of 10.79 percent for the Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index 
(Lehman Index) and 29.05 percent for the Lipper Flexible Portfolio Funds 
Index (Lipper Index). The accompanying chart illustrates the performance of a 
hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Series from inception (January 7, 
1993) through the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, versus the performance of 
similar investments in the S&P 500 Index, Lehman Index and Lipper Index. 

<PAGE>

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


During the fiscal year, the Series benefited from our decision to remain 
overweighted in long-dated financial assets. The table below summarizes the 
asset allocation changes made in the Strategist Series' portfolio during the 
fiscal year: 


STRATEGIST SERIES


                             GROWTH OF $10,000

     DATE                  FUND       S&P 500       LEHMAN        LIPPER IX
============================================================================
January 7, 1993          $10,000      $10,000       $10,000        $10,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1993            $ 9,830      $10,577       $10,617        $10,454
============================================================================
July 31, 1994            $ 9,842      $11,122       $10,603        $10,798
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1995            $11,634      $14,018       $11,677        $12,579
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1996            $13,608      $16,333       $12,297        $13,687
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 1997            $17,330      $24,839       $13,624        $17,662
============================================================================

                        AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                        ONE YEAR        LIFE OF FUND
 
                        ============================
                        27.35%(1)         12.81%(1)
                        ============================


     ====================================================================
     [   ] Fund    [   ] S&P 500(2)    [   ] Lehman(3)    [   ] Lipper(4)
     ====================================================================
Past performance is not predictive of future returns.

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

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

(3)  The Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index tracks the
     performance of government and corporate obligations, including U.S. 
     government agency and U.S. treasury securities and corporate and yankee
     bonds, with maturities of one to ten years. The Index is unmanaged and 
     should not be considered an investment.

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



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           EQUITY      FIXED-INCOME          
                                        EXPOSURE (%)   EXPOSURE (%)  CASH (%) 
                                        ------------ --------------  -------- 
<S>                                          <C>            <C>         <C>
July 31, 1996  .......................       50             40          10 
April 28, 1997 .......................       50             20          30 
May 19, 1997  ........................       60             20          20 
June 26, 1997  .......................       65             20          15 
                
</TABLE>

As we enter the new fiscal year, the Series is allocated to reflect our 
positive stance toward the equity markets and more cautious view of bonds. 
With 58 percent of current assets invested in stocks, we believe that 
corporate earnings growth, especially in a few specific industry sectors, 
will continue to provide double-digit returns. Our equity portfolio, while 
well diversified with more than 45 holdings, is highly concentrated in 
industries we feel will provide above-average earnings growth and profit 
potential. These include technology (mainframe and workstation manufacturers, 
disk drive and software suppliers), financial services (insurance, banking, 
savings and loans), energy (domestic and international oil companies) and 
retailers (apparel and specialty stores, department store chains). We expect 
each of these sectors either to continue their impressive pattern of powerful 
earnings reports (technology and financials) or to begin a turnaround from 
depressed earnings levels (energy and retailing). 

Our underweighting in bonds, at only a 20 percent allocation, reflects our 
concern that the Federal Reserve Board may feel compelled to raise rates in 
the second half of 1997, thus keeping a lid on bond prices for the balance of 
the year. Longer term, we would view any drop in long bonds' prices as a 
buying opportunity and would likely use a portion of our 22 percent cash 
reserve to purchase issues along the yield curve. Currently, the bond 
portfolio is comprised of 12 government-issued securities and 12 corporate 
bonds, with a wide variety of yields and maturities. All carry 
investment-grade ratings. 

<PAGE>

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


We appreciate your support of Dean Witter Retirement Series and look forward 
to continuing to serve your investment needs and objectives. 


Very truly yours, 

/s/ Charles A. Fiumefreddo 

CHARLES A. FIUMEFREDDO 
Chairman of the Board 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
RESULTS OF SPECIAL MEETING (unaudited) 


On May 21, 1997, a special meeting of the Series' shareholders was held for 
the purpose of voting on three separate matters, the results of which are as 
follows: 

(1) FOR EACH SERIES, APPROVAL OF A NEW INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT 
    BETWEEN THE SERIES AND DEAN WITTER INTERCAPITAL INC. IN CONNECTION WITH 
    THE MERGER OF MORGAN STANLEY GROUP INC. WITH DEAN WITTER, DISCOVER & CO.: 

Liquid Asset Series 
     For .....................    19,779,400 
     Against .................       106,527 
     Abstain .................       266,372 
U.S. Government Money Market Series 
     For .....................     4,502,076 
     Against .................             0 
     Abstain .................             0 
U.S. Government Securities Series 
     For .....................       696,109 
     Against .................         2,291 
     Abstain .................        69,551 
Intermediate Income Securities Series 
     For .....................       151,816 
     Against .................             0 
     Abstain .................         5,572 
American Value Series 
     For .....................     2,068,650 
     Against .................        40,170 
     Abstain .................       143,685 
Capital Growth Series 
     For .....................       102,824 
     Against .................             0 
     Abstain .................        38,633 
Dividend Growth Series 
     For .....................     3,623,000 
     Against .................       521,569 
     Abstain .................       256,271 
Utilities Series 
     For .....................       237,912 
     Against .................         2,108 
     Abstain .................        33,928 
Value-Added Market Series 
     For .....................       940,344 
     Against .................         2,261 
     Abstain .................        28,379 
Global Equity Series 
     For .....................       798,944 
     Against .................        17,237 
     Abstain .................       141,869 
Strategist Series 
     For .....................     1,294,809 
     Against .................           911 
     Abstain .................        33,360 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
RESULTS OF SPECIAL MEETING (unaudited) continued 


(2) ELECTION OF TRUSTEES: 

Michael Bozic 
For ..................  35,221,586 
Withheld .............     684,992 

Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
For ..................  35,221,869 
Withheld .............     684,709 

Edwin J. Garn 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

John R. Haire 
For ..................  35,221,786 
Withheld .............     684,792 

Wayne E. Hedien 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

Dr. Manuel H. Johnson 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

Michael E. Nugent 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

Philip J. Purcell 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

John L. Schroeder 
For ..................  35,221,881 
Withheld .............     684,697 

(3) RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP AS INDEPENDENT 
    ACCOUNTANTS: 

    For ......................................................   34,484,382 
    Against ..................................................      545,576 
    Abstain ..................................................      876,620 
             
<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - LIQUID ASSET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               ANNUALIZED 
 PRINCIPAL                                                                      YIELD ON 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                      DATE OF         MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                      PURCHASE          DATE           VALUE 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>                                                                <C>         <C>                    <C>
            COMMERCIAL PAPER (64.4%) 
            Automotive-Finance (8.5%) 
     $500   Ford Motor Credit Co. ...........................................     5.61%         08/25/97         $  498,150 
    1,000   General Motors Acceptance Corp. .................................  5.48-5.97   08/25/97-10/20/97        991,779 
      311   Toyota Motor Credit Corp. .......................................     5.71          08/14/97            310,360 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,800,289 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Bank Holding Companies (7.0%) 
      500   Bankers Trust New York Corp. ....................................     5.72          01/08/98            487,644 
    1,000   Barnett Banks, Inc.  ............................................     5.55          08/21/97            996,933 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,484,577 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Banks-Commercial (18.6%) 
      465   ABN-AMRO North America Finance Inc. .............................     5.74          09/05/97            462,446 
      500   Commerzbank U.S. Finance Inc.  ..................................     5.52          08/15/97            498,931 
    1,000   Internationale Nederlanden (U.S.) Funding Corp. .................     5.60          08/01/97          1,000,000 
      400   KfW International Finance Inc. ..................................     5.54          09/02/97            398,044 
      500   Societe Generale N.A., Inc. .....................................     5.61          09/10/97            496,917 
      600   UBS Finance (Delaware) Inc.  ....................................     5.53          08/07/97            599,449 
      500   WestPac Capital Corp.  ..........................................     5.54          09/05/97            497,326 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  3,953,113 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Brokerage (4.7%) 
    1,000   Goldman Sachs Group L.P.  .......................................  5.63-5.64   08/04/97-09/03/97        997,215 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Finance-Consumer (6.4%) 
      400   American Express Credit Corp. ...................................     5.63          08/01/97            400,000 
      950   American General Finance Corp. ..................................     5.64          08/05/97            949,409 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,349,409 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Finance-Diversified (8.4%) 
      400   Associates Corp. of North America ...............................     5.65          08/05/97            399,751 
      750   Commercial Credit Co. ...........................................     5.53          08/27/97            747,021 
      650   General Electric Capital Corp. ..................................  5.55-5.61   09/16/97-10/14/97        644,124 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                                                  1,790,896 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Industrials (2.0%) 
      425   Weyerhaeuser Co. ................................................     5.54          08/20/97            423,764 
                                                                                                              ------------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - LIQUID ASSET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

                                                                               ANNUALIZED 
 PRINCIPAL                                                                      YIELD ON 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                      DATE OF         MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                      PURCHASE          DATE           VALUE 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Office Equipment (4.7%) 
   $1,000   Xerox Credit Corp. ..............................................    5.51%          08/19/97          $ 997,260 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            Utilities-Finance (4.1%) 
      866   National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.  ............. 5.57-5.62    08/22/97-09/11/97        861,971 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            TOTAL COMMERCIAL PAPER (Amortized Cost $13,658,494)  ............................................    13,658,494 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY (23.2%) 
    4,930   Federal Home Loan 
             Mortgage Corp. 
             (Amortized Cost $4,926,600) .................................... 5.47-5.75    08/01/97-09/19/97      4,926,600 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES (7.2%) 
    1,014   BostonBank, N.A. ................................................ 5.71-5.88    09/30/97-01/20/98        993,499 
      541   Union Bank of California, N.A. ..................................    5.59           10/15/97            534,804 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            TOTAL BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES (Amortized Cost $1,528,303) ..........................................     1,528,303 
                                                                                                              ------------- 
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
            (Amortized Cost $20,113,397)(a) ...............................................       94.8%          20,113,397 
            CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES  ...............................        5.2            1,099,631 
                                                                                                 -----        ------------- 
            NET ASSETS ....................................................................      100.0%         $21,213,028 
                                                                                                 =====        ============= 
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)  Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         ANNUALIZED 
 PRINCIPAL                                YIELD ON 
 AMOUNT IN                                DATE OF        MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                PURCHASE         DATE           VALUE 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>                           <C>        <C>               <C>
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
             (98.7%) 
   $1,000   Federal Farm Credit Bank ..  5.52-5.77%  08/04/97-11/25/97 $  991,289 
    1,690   Federal Home Loan Banks ...  5.42-5.66   08/07/97-09/02/97  1,687,131 
      725    Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
             Corp. ....................  5.59-5.75   08/01/97-10/17/97    720,019 
      590    Federal National Mortgage 
             Association ..............  5.38-5.49   08/04/97-08/07/97    589,647 
                                                                       ---------- 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
            (Amortized Cost $3,988,086) ..............................  3,988,086 
                                                                       ---------- 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION (1.2%) 
       50   U.S. Treasury Bill 
            (Amortized Cost $48,650) ..     5.32         02/05/98          48,650 
                                                                       ---------- 
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
            (Amortized Cost $4,036,736)(a)..........       99.9%        4,036,736 
            CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS 
            OF LIABILITIES .........................        0.1             4,560 
                                                          -----        ----------
            NET ASSETS..............................      100.0%       $4,041,296 
                                                          ======       ==========
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)  Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                    COUPON       MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                     RATE          DATE           VALUE 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>         <C>                                                                <C>    <C>               <C>
            U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (98.6%) 
            Government National 
             Mortgage Assoc. I (71.4%) 
   $3,684   .................................................................  7.00 % 06/15/23-03/15/27  $ 3,688,923 
    3,737   .................................................................  7.50   01/15/24-01/15/27    3,802,491 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
                                                                                                           7,491,414 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
      971   Government National 
             Mortgage Assoc. II (9.2%) ......................................  7.00        03/20/26          968,255 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
            U.S. Treasury Notes (12.6%) 
    1,200   .................................................................  6.375       09/30/01        1,221,852 
      100   .................................................................  6.250       06/30/02          101,434 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
                                                                                                           1,323,286 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
      600   U.S. Treasury Principal Strips (5.4%) ...........................  0.00        08/15/98          567,120 
                                                                                                        ------------ 
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
            (Identified Cost $10,212,454)(a) .........................................       98.6%        10,350,075 
            CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES ...........................        1.4            146,232 
                                                                                            -----       ------------ 
            NET ASSETS ...............................................................      100.0%       $10,496,307 
                                                                                            =====       ============ 
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)       The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
          identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
          $202,248 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $64,627, 
          resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $137,621. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                    COUPON   MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                     RATE      DATE        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>         <C>                                                               <C>      <C>       <C>
            CORPORATE BONDS (56.8%) 
            Automobile-Rentals (4.0%) 
    $100    Hertz Corp. .....................................................  6.00 %  01/15/03     $ 97,979 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Automotive (0.8%) 
      20    Chrysler Corp. .................................................. 10.40    08/01/99       20,005 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Automotive-Finance (1.1%) 
      25    General Motors Acceptance Corp. .................................  8.40    10/15/99       26,177 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Banks (9.5%) 
     100    Bank One Corp. ..................................................  7.60    05/01/07      106,545 
     100    Long Island Savings Bank  .......................................  7.00    06/13/02      102,145 
      25    Star Bank N.A. ..................................................  6.375   03/01/04       24,764 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
                                                                                                     233,454 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Brokerage (4.1%) 
     100    Bear Stearns Companies, Inc.  ...................................  6.75    08/15/00      101,506 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Data Processing (4.1%) 
     100    Oracle Corp.  ...................................................  6.91    02/15/07      101,719 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Financial (8.4%) 
     100    Ikon Capital Inc. ...............................................  6.73    06/15/01      101,477 
     100    Nac Re Corp .....................................................  8.00    06/15/99      103,259 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
                                                                                                     204,736 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Foreign Government (4.0%) 
     100    State of Israel  ................................................  6.375   12/15/05       97,826 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Healthcare (1.0%) 
      25    Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp.  ..................................  6.87    09/15/03       25,403 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Industrials (4.1%) 
     100    Millennium America Inc.  ........................................  7.00    11/15/06      100,710 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Leisure (4.4%) 
     100    Royal Caribbean Cruises .........................................  8.25    04/01/05      108,221 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Manufacturing (2.0%) 
      50    Reebok International plc 
             (United Kingdom) ...............................................  6.75    09/15/05       49,374 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Paper & Forest Products (4.1%) 
     100    Noranda Forest, Inc. (Canada) ...................................  6.875   11/15/05      100,602 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Textiles (1.0%) 
      25    Burlington Industries, Inc.  ....................................  7.25    09/15/05       25,313 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            Utilities - Electric (4.2%) 
     100    Connecticut Light & Power Co.  ..................................  7.875   06/01/01      102,208 
                                                                                                 ------------ 
            TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS 
            (Identified Cost $1,371,214) ........................................................  1,395,233 
                                                                                                 ------------ 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN                                                                    COUPON   MATURITY 
 THOUSANDS                                                                     RATE      DATE        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (34.7%) 
    $100    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  6.125%  03/31/98      $ 100,396 
     300    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  5.75    10/31/00        299,463 
     300    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  5.875   11/30/01        299,868 
     150    U.S. Treasury Note ..............................................  6.25    01/31/02        152,100 
                                                                                                  ------------ 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS 
            (Identified Cost $843,820) ..........................................................      851,827 
                                                                                                  ------------ 
            SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a)(4.1%) 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY 
     100    Federal Home Loan Banks 
            (Amortized Cost $100,000) .......................................  5.39    08/01/97        100,000 
                                                                                                  ------------ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          <S>                                                                      <C>      <C>
          TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
          (Identified Cost $2,315,034)(b) .........................................   95.6%   2,347,060 
          CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES...........................    4.4      108,712 
                                                                                   -------- ----------- 
          NET ASSETS ..............................................................  100.0%  $2,455,772 
                                                                                   ======== =========== 
</TABLE>

- --------------
(a)        Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate 
           shown has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent 
           yield. 
(b)        The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
           identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
           $36,736 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $4,710, 
           resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $32,026. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                                <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (97.7%) 
             Agriculture Related (4.4%) 
     4,500   Case Corp.  .....................................................  $  280,969 
     4,500   Deere & Co.  ....................................................     255,937 
     5,500   Dekalb Genetics Corp. (Class B) .................................     420,406 
     7,000   Delta & Pine Land Co.  ..........................................     266,000 
    14,000   Monsanto Co.  ...................................................     697,375 
     6,500   Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. .............................     481,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,401,687 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks (7.1%) 
     6,000   Bank of New York Co., Inc.  .....................................     291,375 
     7,000   BankAmerica Corp.  ..............................................     528,500 
     4,000   Bankers Trust New York Corp. ....................................     404,750 
   250,000   Credito Italiano Spa (Italy)  ...................................     497,644 
     4,000   First Chicago NBD Corp.  ........................................     303,500 
     6,000   Fleet Financial Group, Inc.  ....................................     407,250 
    10,000   Mellon Bank Corp.  ..............................................     504,375 
     7,200   NationsBank Corp.  ..............................................     512,550 
     6,000   Washington Mutual, Inc.  ........................................     414,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,863,944 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Basic Cyclicals (0.7%) 
     2,300   Champion International Corp. ....................................     142,600 
     3,000   Reynolds Metals Co.  ............................................     234,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   376,600 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Biotechnology (2.4%) 
    21,000   Biochem Pharma, Inc. (Canada)*  .................................     603,750 
    13,000   Centocor, Inc.*  ................................................     499,687 
     2,000   Gilead Sciences, Inc.*  .........................................      56,250 
     3,500   Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*  ..................................     122,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,281,749 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Capital Equipment (4.3%) 
     2,000   Aeroquip-Vickers, Inc. ..........................................     109,625 
     5,500   Boeing Co.  .....................................................     323,469 
     3,000   Crane Co.  ......................................................     136,312 
     6,000   General Electric Co.  ...........................................     421,125 
     4,500   Kuhlman Corp.  ..................................................     139,500 
     3,200   Parker-Hannifin Corp.  ..........................................     206,000 
     2,200   Sundstrand Corp.  ...............................................     136,400 
    10,000   Timken Co.  .....................................................     351,875 
     2,000   Tyco International Ltd. .........................................     162,000 
     4,000   United Technologies Corp.  ......................................     338,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,324,556 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications Equipment (9.4%) 
     2,000   Advanced Fibre Communications, Inc.*  ...........................  $  139,250 
    21,000   Bay Networks, Inc.*  ............................................     640,500 
    15,000   Brightpoint, Inc.*  .............................................     447,187 
     3,000   CIENA Corp.*  ...................................................     168,000 
     6,000   Cisco Systems, Inc.*  ...........................................     476,625 
       700   Corsair Communications, Inc.*  ..................................      13,738 
    11,500   Ericsson (L.M.) Telephone Co. (Class B)(ADR)(Sweden)  ...........     520,375 
     7,000   Lucent Technologies Inc.  .......................................     594,562 
    10,000   Newbridge Networks Corp. (Canada)* ..............................     521,250 
     6,000   Nokia Corp. (ADR)(Finland) ......................................     513,750 
     5,000   Northern Telecom Ltd. (Canada) ..................................     522,812 
     2,000   Tekelec*  .......................................................     123,000 
     7,000   Tellabs, Inc.*  .................................................     418,687 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 5,099,736 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Equipment (3.1%) 
     4,000   Dell Computer Corp.*  ...........................................     342,000 
    12,000   EMC Corp.*  .....................................................     606,000 
     9,000   Kemet Corp.*  ...................................................     230,625 
     6,500   SCI Systems, Inc.*  .............................................     516,344 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,694,969 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Software (4.3%) 
    15,000   BEA Systems, Inc.*  .............................................     290,625 
     5,000   Compuware Corp.*  ...............................................     308,125 
       400   Great Plains Software, Inc.*  ...................................      10,700 
     4,100   Microsoft Corp.*  ...............................................     579,381 
     7,000   Oracle Corp.*  ..................................................     380,187 
     5,000   Peoplesoft, Inc.*  ..............................................     291,875 
     8,000   Veritas Software Corp.*  ........................................     494,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,354,893 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer-Noncyclical (4.5%) 
     9,000   Alberto-Culver Co. (Class B)  ...................................     252,562 
     2,500   Avon Products, Inc.  ............................................     181,406 
     3,800   Coca Cola Co.  ..................................................     263,150 
     1,600   Coca Cola FEMSA S.A. de C.V. (ADR)(Mexico) ......................      89,800 
     8,000   Colgate-Palmolive Co.  ..........................................     606,000 
    10,000   PanAmerican Beverages, Inc. (Class A)(Mexico) ...................     335,000 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    3,000    Procter & Gamble Co.  ...........................................  $  456,375 
    7,000    Sunbeam Corporation  ............................................     273,875 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,458,168 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer Business Services (1.4%) 
    8,000    AccuStaff, Inc.*  ...............................................     218,000 
    7,400    Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc.  ...............................     273,800 
    5,000    Corrections Corp. of America*  ..................................     221,562 
    2,000    Service Corp. International .....................................      68,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   781,362 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer Products (2.6%) 
    5,000    CVS Corp. .......................................................     284,375 
    4,000    Philips Electronics NV (Netherlands)  ...........................     327,250 
    3,500    Philips Electronics NV (Netherlands)  ...........................     283,962 
    1,900    Sony Corp. (Japan)  .............................................     189,134 
    3,100    Sony Corp. (ADR)(Japan)  ........................................     315,619 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,400,340 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Drugs (4.0%) 
    5,000    Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*  ....................................     194,062 
    4,500    Lilly (Eli) & Co.  ..............................................     508,500 
    5,000    Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (Class A)*  ........................     225,000 
      280    Novartis (Switzerland) ..........................................     449,742 
    4,400    Pfizer, Inc.  ...................................................     262,350 
    3,600    Warner-Lambert Co.  .............................................     502,875 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,142,529 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Energy (5.9%) 
    9,000    Baker Hughes, Inc. ..............................................     396,563 
    8,000    Cooper Cameron Corp.*  ..........................................     469,000 
    2,500    Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. .................................     233,125 
    5,000    EVI, Inc.*  .....................................................     244,375 
    8,000    Falcon Drilling Company, Inc.*  .................................     231,000 
   12,000    Halliburton Co.  ................................................     552,000 
    5,000    Halter Marine Group, Inc.*  .....................................     153,125 
    8,200    Schlumberger, Ltd.  .............................................     626,275 
    4,000    Smith International, Inc.*  .....................................     286,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,192,213 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Financial-Miscellaneous (7.1%) 
      400    Advanta Corp. (Class A)  ........................................      14,400 
    7,000    American Express Co. ............................................     586,250 
   15,000    Hambrecht & Quist Group*  .......................................     447,188 
             Kansas City Southern 
    2,000    Industries, Inc.  ...............................................     150,750 
    4,000    Legg Mason, Inc.  ...............................................  $  245,750 
   16,000    Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. ..................................     797,000 
    8,000    Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. .......................................     563,500 
    8,000    Paine Webber Group, Inc. ........................................     320,000 
    1,000    Price (T.) Rowe Associates, Inc. ................................      54,250 
   10,000    Providian Financial Corp.*  .....................................     391,875 
    4,500    Salomon, Inc.  ..................................................     285,469 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,856,432 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare Products & Services (2.9%) 
    7,000    HBO & Co.  ......................................................     540,750 
   16,000    Health Management Associates, Inc. (Class A)*  ..................     511,000 
   20,000    Healthsouth Corp.*  .............................................     530,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,581,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Insurance (2.3%) 
    3,000    Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.  ........................     261,375 
             Marsh & McLennan 
    7,000    Companies, Inc.  ................................................     542,063 
    5,000    Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (Class A)  ..................     151,250 
    4,000    Travelers Group, Inc. ...........................................     287,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,242,438 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Internet (3.0%) 
   10,000    America Online, Inc.*  ..........................................     675,000 
   10,000    E*TRADE Group, Inc.*  ...........................................     305,000 
   10,000    Sterling Commerce, Inc.*  .......................................     376,875 
    5,000    Yahoo! Inc.*  ...................................................     281,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,638,125 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Media Group (4.1%) 
    6,600    Clear Channel Communications, Inc.*  ............................     410,850 
             Evergreen Media Corp. 
    8,000    (Class A)*  .....................................................     367,000 
   10,000    Jacor Communications, Inc.*  ....................................     428,750 
   13,200    Outdoor Systems, Inc.*  .........................................     343,200 
    2,000    Univision Communications, Inc. (Class A)*  ......................      86,000 
   25,000    Westinghouse Electric Corp. .....................................     601,563 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 2,237,363 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Medical Supplies (2.4%) 
    6,000    Boston Scientific Corp.*  .......................................     430,500 
    5,500    Guidant Corp.  ..................................................     501,875 
    4,000    Medtronic, Inc.  ................................................     349,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,281,375 
                                                                              ------------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - AMERICAN VALUE 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Retail (5.8%) 
    3,000    Barnes & Noble, Inc.*  .......................................... $   150,000 
   13,500    Costco Companies Inc.*  .........................................     511,313 
   10,000    Dayton-Hudson Corp.  ............................................     646,250 
    5,000    Dollar General Corp. ............................................     220,000 
   10,000    Family Dollar Stores, Inc.  .....................................     325,625 
    6,000    General Nutrition Companies, Inc.*  .............................     171,000 
    7,800    Home Depot, Inc.  ...............................................     389,025 
    3,000    Ross Stores, Inc.  ..............................................      94,500 
   17,000    Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  ..........................................     638,563 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,146,276 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Semiconductor Equipment (5.7%) 
    9,000    Applied Materials, Inc.*  .......................................     826,313 
    2,000    ASM Lithography Holding NV (Netherlands)* .......................     162,000 
    5,000    CFM Technologies, Inc.*  ........................................     129,375 
    1,000    DuPont Photomasks, Inc.* ........................................      50,750 
    3,000    Etec Systems, Inc.*  ............................................     160,875 
   13,000    KLA-Tencor Corp.*  ..............................................     786,500 
    7,000    LAM Research Corp.*  ............................................     370,125 
    7,000    PRI Automation, Inc.*  ..........................................     345,625 
    5,000    Teradyne, Inc.*  ................................................     233,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 3,065,313 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Semiconductors (9.2%) 
    4,000    Altera Corp.  ...................................................     241,000 
   17,000    Analog Devices, Inc.*  ..........................................     534,438 
   10,000    Burr-Brown Corp.*  ..............................................     348,125 
      700    Galileo Technology Ltd. (Israel)* ...............................      16,975 
    2,000    Intel Corp.  ....................................................     183,500 
    5,000    Lattice Semiconductor Corp.*  ...................................     335,625 
    5,000    Linear Technology Corp.  ........................................     333,750 
    8,000    Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.* ................................     553,000 
    2,500    MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.* ................................      72,500 
    4,000    Micrel, Inc.*  ..................................................     259,000 
    9,000    Micron Technology, Inc. *  ......................................     438,188 
    6,000    Motorola, Inc.  .................................................     481,875 
    6,000    Texas Instruments, Inc. .........................................     690,000 
   10,000    Vitesse Semiconductor Corp.*  ...................................     483,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 4,971,726 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Transportation (1.1%) 
             Continental Airlines, Inc. 
      900    (Class B)*  ..................................................... $    33,525 
    4,000    PACCAR, Inc. ....................................................     197,000 
    1,400    Ryanair Holdings PLC (ADR)(Ireland)*  ...........................      39,375 
    3,000    Teekay Shipping Corp.  ..........................................     104,813 
    6,000    US Airways Group, Inc.*  ........................................     229,877 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   604,590 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Identified Cost $42,913,438)  ..............  52,998,134 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   PRINCIPAL 
   AMOUNT IN 
   THOUSANDS 
- --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>            <C>                                    <C>
               SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (A) (1.7%) 
               U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY 
     $900      Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
                Corp. 5.75% due 08/01/97 
                (Amortized Cost $900,000)..........    900,000 
                                                   -----------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified Cost $43,813,438)(b) .          99.4%   53,898,134
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS          
OF LIABILITIES ...................           0.6       316,360
                                         -------- ------------
NET ASSETS........................         100.0%  $54,214,494
                                         ======== ============
</TABLE>                           

- ------------ 
ADR      American Depository Receipt. 
*        Non-income producing security. 
(a)      Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown 
         has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)      The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
         identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
         $10,364,753 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
         $280,057, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $10,084,696. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - CAPITAL GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (98.0%) 
             Auto Trucks & Parts (2.3%) 
    5,000    Miller Industries, Inc.* ........................................  $ 84,375 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Banking (4.8%) 
    1,450    State Street Corp. ..............................................    81,291 
    1,350    Washington Mutual, Inc. .........................................    93,150 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 174,441 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Commercial Services (1.4%) 
    1,900    Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (Class A)* ...................    51,537 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Communications - 
             Equipment & Software (3.8%) 
    1,100    3Com Corp.* .....................................................    60,087 
    1,350    Tellabs, Inc.* ..................................................    80,747 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 140,834 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computer Services (1.9%) 
    1,800    Sterling Commerce, Inc.* ........................................    67,837 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computer Software (8.9%) 
    1,100    Computer Associates International, Inc. .........................    74,869 
    2,200    Danka Business Systems PLC (ADR)(United Kingdom) ................   107,525 
      800    Electronics for Imaging, Inc.* ..................................    44,000 
      450    Microsoft Corp.* ................................................    63,591 
      700    Oracle Corp.* ...................................................    38,019 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 328,004 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computer - Systems (4.7%) 
    2,000    EMC Corp.* ......................................................   101,000 
      900    SCI Systems, Inc.* ..............................................    71,494 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 172,494 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Consumer Business Services (2.6%) 
    2,200    AccuStaff, Inc.* ................................................    59,950 
    1,000    Service Corp. International .....................................    34,000 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                  93,950 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Drugs (1.4%) 
    1,100    Elan Corp. PLC (ADR)(Ireland)* ..................................    52,250 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics (4.2%) 
      750    Hadco Corp.* ....................................................    49,406 
    1,800    Jabil Circuit, Inc.* ............................................    87,637 
      250    Sanmina Corp.* ..................................................    18,344 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 155,387 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics - Semiconductors/ 
             Components (1.2%) 
      400    Intel Corp. .....................................................    36,700 
      150    Photronics, Inc.* ...............................................     8,137 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                  44,837 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Enviromental Control (1.5%) 
    1,600    Newpark Resources, Inc.* ........................................  $ 55,300 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial - Miscellaneous (11.4%) 
    1,600    Green Tree Financial Corp. ......................................    75,400 
      700    Household International, Inc. ...................................    90,650 
    2,200    MBNA Corp. ......................................................    99,000 
    1,300    MGIC Investment Corp. ...........................................    68,331 
    1,400    SunAmerica, Inc. ................................................    84,700 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 418,081 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Healthcare - Diversified (2.2%) 
    2,000    Universal Health Services, Inc. (Class B)* ......................    81,250 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Hospital Management (1.5%) 
    1,200    Express Scripts, Inc. (Class A)* ................................    53,400 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances (3.1%) 
    1,200    American Standard Companies, Inc.* ..............................    59,625 
    1,000    Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc. .....................................    53,000 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 112,625 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Life Insurance (1.4%) 
    1,300    Providian Financial Corp.* ......................................    50,944 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Manufacturing - Diversified (2.7%) 
    1,200    Tyco International Ltd. .........................................    97,200 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Media (2.0%) 
    1,200    Clear Channel Communications, Inc.* .............................    74,700 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Oil & Gas Products (0.5%) 
      300    Camco International, Inc. .......................................    19,387 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Oil Drilling & Services (9.3%) 
    1,450    ENSCO International, Inc.* ......................................    95,881 
    2,900    Pride International, Inc.* ......................................    76,669 
    1,500    Tidewater, Inc. .................................................    75,750 
    2,400    Varco International, Inc.* ......................................    92,850 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 341,150 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Oil Equipment & Services (4.2%) 
    2,400    Falcon Drilling Company, Inc.* ..................................    69,300 
    1,200    Smith International, Inc.* ......................................    86,025 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 155,325 
             Pharmaceuticals (2.8%) 
    2,300    Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (Class A)* .........................   103,500 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail - Department Stores (3.7%)
    1,900    Dollar General Corp. ............................................    83,600 
      950    Proffitt's, Inc.* ...............................................    50,350 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 133,950 
                                                                              ------------ 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - CAPITAL GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
             Retail - Drugs Stores (1.7%) 
    1,100    Walgreen Co. ....................................................  $ 62,150 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail - Food Chains (4.1%) 
    2,400    Kroger Co.* .....................................................    70,950 
    1,500    Safeway, Inc.* ..................................................    80,438 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 151,388 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail - Specialty (6.0%) 
    1,562    Consolidated Stores Corp.* ......................................    62,871 
    2,700    General Nutrition Companies, Inc.* ..............................    76,950 
    3,200    Staples, Inc.* ..................................................    80,400 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 220,221 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Utilities - Electric (1.9%) 
      900    AES Corp.* ......................................................    71,100 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Utilities - Telephone (0.8%) 
      850    Airtouch Communications, Inc.* ..................................    27,997 
                                                                              ------------ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                 <C>      <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified Cost $2,725,382)(a) .    98.0%   3,595,614 
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS 
OF LIABILITIES...................     2.0       74,032 
                                    -----   ---------- 
NET ASSETS.......................   100.0%  $3,669,646 
                                    =====   ========== 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
(a)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $870,624 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $392, 
        resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $870,232. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - DIVIDEND GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                          VALUE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (100.0%) 
             Aerospace (2.7%) 
    55,000   Raytheon Co.  ...................................................  $3,073,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Aluminum (2.7%) 
    35,500   Aluminum Co. of America  ........................................   3,141,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Automotive (5.3%) 
    84,000   Chrysler Corp.  .................................................   3,118,500 
    74,000   Ford Motor Co.  .................................................   3,024,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 6,143,250 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Banks (2.7%) 
    43,000   NationsBank Corp.  ..............................................   3,061,062 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Banks - Money Center (2.7%) 
    41,000   BankAmerica Corp.  ..............................................   3,095,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks (2.7%) 
    81,000   PepsiCo Inc.  ...................................................   3,103,312 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Chemicals (5.1%) 
    44,000   Du Pont (E.I.) de Nemours & Co., Inc.  ..........................   2,945,250 
    49,500   Eastman Chemical Co.  ...........................................   2,994,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 5,940,000 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Computers - Systems (2.7%) 
    29,000   International Business Machines Corp.  ..........................   3,066,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Conglomerates (5.1%) 
    31,500   Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co.  ...........................   2,984,625 
    63,000   Tenneco, Inc.  ..................................................   2,937,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 5,922,000 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Drugs (2.6%) 
    38,000   Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.  .......................................   2,980,625 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Drugs & Healthcare (2.7%)  ...................................... 
    47,000   Abbott Laboratories  ............................................   3,075,562 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Electric - Major (2.6%) 
    42,300   General Electric Co.  ...........................................   2,968,931 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Energy (2.6%) 
    47,000   Kerr-McGee Corp.  ...............................................   2,943,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Foods (5.2%) 
    59,800   Quaker Oats Company (The)  ......................................   3,061,012 
    13,300   Unilever NV (ADR)(Netherlands)  .................................   2,899,400 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 5,960,412 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Machinery - Agricultural (2.6%) 
    53,600   Deere & Co.  ....................................................   3,048,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Manufacturing - Diversified (2.5%) 
    39,000   Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................  $2,912,813 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Metals - Miscellaneous (2.5%) 
    34,000   Phelps Dodge Corp.  .............................................   2,892,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Natural Gas (2.6%) 
    78,000   Enron Corp.  ....................................................   2,959,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Office Equipment (2.7%) 
    41,000   Pitney Bowes, Inc.  .............................................   3,080,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Oil - Domestic (5.3%) 
    32,000   Amoco Corp.  ....................................................   3,008,000 
    59,000   Ashland, Inc.  ..................................................   3,134,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 6,142,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Oil Integrated - International (2.7%) 
    48,200   Exxon Corp.  ....................................................   3,096,850 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Paper & Forest Products (2.7%) 
    51,000   Weyerhaeuser Co.  ...............................................   3,174,750 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Photography (2.6%) 
    45,500   Eastman Kodak Co.  ..............................................   3,048,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Railroads (2.8%) 
    51,500   CSX Corp.  ......................................................   3,180,125 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Retail - Department Stores (2.6%) 
    54,000   May Department Stores Co.  ......................................   3,017,250 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Retail - Food Chains (2.6%) 
   120,600   American Stores Co.  ............................................   3,045,150 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Steel (2.5%) 
    83,000   Timken Co.  .....................................................   2,920,563 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Telecommunications (5.3%) 
    41,000   Bell Atlantic Corp.  ............................................   2,975,063 
    63,000   Sprint Corp.  ...................................................   3,118,500 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 6,093,563 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Tobacco (2.6%) 
    67,000   Philip Morris Companies, Inc.  ..................................   3,023,375 
                                                                              -------------- 
             Utilities - Electric (8.0%) 
   142,000   Houston Industries, Inc.  .......................................   2,973,125 
    82,800   New England Electric System  ....................................   3,089,475 
   139,000   Unicom Corp.  ...................................................   3,153,563 
                                                                              -------------- 
                                                                                 9,216,163 
                                                                              -------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $86,532,718)  .................................. 115,327,006 
                                                                              -------------- 
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - DIVIDEND GROWTH 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (0.7%) 
             REPURCHASE AGREEMENT 
             The Bank of New York 5.75%  due 08/01/97 (dated 07/31/97; 
      $757   proceeds $757,142)(a)  (Identified Cost $757,021)  .............   $ 757,021 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                 <C>      <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified Cost $87,289,739)(b)  .   100.7 %  116,084,027 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER 
ASSETS ............................    (0.7)      (772,518) 
                                    -------- ------------- 
NET ASSETS ........................   100.0 % $115,311,509 
                                    ======== ============= 
</TABLE>

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
(a)     Collateralized by $244,167 Federal National Mortgage Association 
        9.55% due 11/10/97 valued at $252,039, $400,000 Federal National 
        Mortgage Association 7.37% due 04/14/04 valued at $414,359 and 
        $99,269 Federal National Mortgage Association 7.50% due 04/16/07 
        valued at $105,764. 
(b)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $29,069,461 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $275,173, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $28,794,288. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - UTILITIES 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (100.0%) 
             Natural Gas (19.1%) 
    5,000    American Water Works Company, Inc.  ............................. $  108,437 
    3,500    Brooklyn Union Gas Co. ..........................................    105,219 
    4,500    Calpine Corp.* ..................................................     88,875 
    3,500    Enron Corp. .....................................................    132,781 
    5,000    MCN Corp.  ......................................................    158,437 
    2,000    Mobil Corp. .....................................................    153,000 
    3,000    Pacific Enterprises .............................................    100,312 
    4,000    Williams Companies, Inc. ........................................    183,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                1,030,061 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications (29.1%) 
    3,000    Alltel Corp. ....................................................     98,625 
    3,000    AT&T Corp.  .....................................................    110,438 
    3,000    BellSouth Corp.  ................................................    142,125 
    3,500    Cable & Wireless PLC (ADR)(United Kingdom) ......................    105,219 
    2,500    Compania de Telefonos de Chile S.A. (ADR)(Chile) ................     82,344 
             Grupo Iusacell S.A. de C.V. 
    7,000    (Series L)(ADR)(Mexico)* ........................................    131,688 
    3,000    GTE Corp. .......................................................    139,500 
    2,000    Nokia Corp. (ADR)(Finland)* .....................................    171,250 
    3,000    Sprint Corp. ....................................................    148,500 
    3,000    Teleport Communications Group Inc. (Class A)* ...................    118,125 
    2,500    Vodafone Group PLC (ADR)(United Kingdom) ........................    126,250 
    5,500    WorldCom, Inc.* .................................................    192,156 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                1,566,220 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric (51.8%) 
    2,000    AES Corp.* ......................................................    158,000 
    3,000    American Electric Power Co. .....................................    134,250 
    4,000    CILCORP, Inc.  ..................................................    167,750 
    4,000    CINergy Corp.  ..................................................    134,500 
    4,000    CMS Energy Corp.  ...............................................    148,000 
    5,000    DPL, Inc.  ......................................................    123,125 
    4,050    DQE, Inc.  ......................................................    127,828 
    3,000    Duke Energy Corp. ...............................................    152,063 
    5,000    Edison International  ...........................................    126,250 
    4,000    Florida Progress Corp.  .........................................    128,750 
    4,000    General Public Utilities Corp.  .................................    138,750 
    6,000    MDU Resources Group, Inc.  ......................................    142,500 
    3,000    NIPSCO Industries, Inc. .........................................    126,375 
    5,500    PacifiCorp ......................................................    122,719 
    4,500    Pinnacle West Capital Corp.  ....................................    142,031 
    4,000    Public Service Company of Colorado .............................. $  166,500 
    4,500    Sierra Pacific Resources ........................................    143,719 
    6,000    Teco Energy, Inc.  ..............................................    152,250 
    4,000    Utilicorp United, Inc. ..........................................    119,250 
    4,000    Western Resources, Inc. .........................................    138,500 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                2,793,110 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $4,358,265) ....................................  5,389,391 
                                                                              ----------- 
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS 
- -----------
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (5.2%) 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY (a)(2.8%) 
             Federal National Mortgage Assoc. 5.48% due 08/04/97 
    $150     (Amortized Cost $149,931) .......................................    149,931 
                                                                              ----------- 
             REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (2.4%) 
             The Bank of New York 
             5.75% due 08/01/97 (dated 07/31/97; proceeds $132,571)(b) 
      133    (Identified Cost $132,550) ......................................    132,550 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 
             (Identified Cost $282,481) ......................................    282,481 
                                                                              ----------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                <C>       <C>
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(IDENTIFIED COST $4,640,746) 
(C) .............  .............   105.2%    5,671,872 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER 
 ASSETS........................     (5.2)     (280,644) 
                                   -----   ----------- 
NET ASSETS.....................    100.0%  $ 5,391,228 
                                   =====   =========== 
</TABLE>

- --------------
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
(a)     Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown 
        has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     Collateralized by $30,477 U.S. Treasury Note 6.25% due 05/31/99 
        valued at $31,043 and $99,095 U.S. Treasury Note 7.125% due 09/30/99 
        valued at $104,158. 
(c)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $1,034,626 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $3,500, 
        resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $1,031,126. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (97.4%) 
             Aerospace & Defense (1.0%) 
      750    Boeing Co.  .....................................................  $   44,109 
      550    General Dynamics Corp.  .........................................      48,675 
      450    Lockheed Martin Corp.  ..........................................      47,925 
      550    McDonnell Douglas Corp.  ........................................      42,075 
      450    Northrop Grumman Corp.  .........................................      51,806 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   234,590 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Agriculture Related (0.2%) 
      600    Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. .............................      44,400 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Air Freight (0.2%) 
      800    Federal Express Corp.* ..........................................      51,650 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Airlines (0.8%) 
      450    AMR Corp.* ......................................................      48,403 
      450    Delta Air Lines, Inc.  ..........................................      39,994 
    1,550    Southwest Airlines Co.  .........................................      45,241 
    1,300    US Airways Group, Inc.* .........................................      49,806 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   183,444 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Aluminum (0.6%) 
    1,100    Alcan Aluminum Ltd. (Canada) ....................................      43,106 
      600    Aluminum Co. of America .........................................      53,100 
      550    Reynolds Metals Co.  ............................................      42,900 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   139,106 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Auto Parts - After Market (1.5%) 
    1,850    Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.  .......................................      46,134 
    1,150    Dana Corp.  .....................................................      52,253 
    1,250    Echlin, Inc.  ...................................................      46,328 
    1,275    Genuine Parts Co.  ..............................................      41,597 
      750    Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.  .....................................      48,422 
    1,500    ITT Industries, Inc.  ...........................................      42,469 
    1,000    Snap-On, Inc.  ..................................................      41,250 
      800    TRW, Inc.  ......................................................      46,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   365,253 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Auto Trucks & Parts (0.6%) 
      650    Cummins Engine Co., Inc.  .......................................      51,025 
    2,500    Navistar International Corp.* ...................................      51,562 
    1,050    PACCAR, Inc.  ...................................................      51,712 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   154,299 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Automobiles (0.6%) 
    1,100    Chrysler Corp.  .................................................      40,837 
    1,100    Ford Motor Co.  .................................................      44,962 
      800    General Motors Corp.  ...........................................      49,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   135,299 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Money Center (1.2%) 
      700    BankAmerica Corp.  ..............................................  $   52,850 
      450    Bankers Trust New York Corp.  ...................................      45,534 
      400    Chase Manhattan Corp.  ..........................................      45,425 
      350    Citicorp ........................................................      47,512 
      650    First Chicago NBD Corp.  ........................................      49,319 
      400    Morgan (J.P.) & Co., Inc.  ......................................      46,350 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   286,990 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Regional (4.4%) 
      950    Banc One Corp.  .................................................      53,319 
    1,100    Bank of New York Co., Inc.  .....................................      53,419 
      550    BankBoston Corp.  ...............................................      46,716 
      900    Barnett Banks, Inc.  ............................................      51,244 
      600    Comerica, Inc.  .................................................      45,375 
      700    CoreStates Financial Corp.  .....................................      43,181 
      825    Fifth Third Bancorp .............................................      52,078 
      550    First Bank System, Inc.  ........................................      48,950 
      450    First Union Corp.  ..............................................      45,647 
      700    Fleet Financial Group, Inc.  ....................................      47,512 
      700    KeyCorp .........................................................      43,531 
    1,000    Mellon Bank Corp.  ..............................................      50,437 
      750    National City Corp.  ............................................      44,625 
      700    NationsBank Corp.  ..............................................      49,831 
      750    Norwest Corp.  ..................................................      47,297 
      900    PNC Bank Corp.  .................................................      41,175 
      450    Republic New York Corp.  ........................................      51,975 
      700    SunTrust Banks, Inc.  ...........................................      44,931 
      750    U.S. Bancorp ....................................................      49,969 
      700    Wachovia Corp.  .................................................      45,150 
      800    Washington Mutual, Inc.  ........................................      55,200 
      150    Wells Fargo & Co.  ..............................................      41,241 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,052,803 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Beverages - Alcoholic (0.7%) 
    1,100    Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.  .................................      47,231 
      800    Brown-Forman Corp. (Class B) ....................................      39,000 
    1,650    Coors (Adolph) Co.  .............................................      51,872 
    1,100    Seagram Co. Ltd. (Canada) .......................................      42,144 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   180,247 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks (0.5%) 
      650    Coca Cola Co.  ..................................................      45,012 
    1,150    PepsiCo, Inc.  ..................................................      44,059 
    1,700    Whitman Corp.  ..................................................      42,925 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   131,996 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Biotechnology (0.2%) 
     700     Amgen, Inc.* ....................................................      41,125 
                                                                              ------------- 

                      SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Broadcast Media (0.6%) 
    2,200    Comcast Corp. (Class A Special) .................................   $ 49,637 
             Tele-Communications, Inc. 
    3,100    (Class A)* ......................................................     52,894 
    2,200    U.S. West Media Group* ..........................................     48,537 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  151,068 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Brokerage (0.2%) 
    1,000    Schwab (Charles) Corp.  .........................................     46,812 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Building Materials (0.7%) 
      600    Armstrong World Industries, Inc.  ...............................     44,287 
    1,000    Masco Corp.  ....................................................     46,875 
    1,000    Owens-Corning ...................................................     42,062 
    1,300    Sherwin-Williams Co.  ...........................................     41,681 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  174,905 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Business Services (0.2%) 
    1,200    Cognizant Corp.  ................................................     51,150 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals (1.5%) 
      550    Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.  .................................     48,503 
      450    Dow Chemical Co.  ...............................................     42,750 
      700    Du Pont (E.I.) De Nemours & Co., Inc.  ..........................     46,856 
      750    Eastman Chemical Co.  ...........................................     45,375 
      900    Monsanto Co.  ...................................................     44,831 
      800    Praxair, Inc.  ..................................................     44,100 
      450    Rohm & Haas Co.  ................................................     44,100 
      750    Union Carbide Corp.  ............................................     41,531 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  358,046 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals - Diversified (0.9%) 
    1,100    Avery Dennison Corp.  ...........................................     48,537 
    1,800    Engelhard Corp.  ................................................     38,700 
      550    FMC Corp.* ......................................................     47,162 
      950    Goodrich (B.F.) Co.  ............................................     42,928 
      700    PPG Industries, Inc.  ...........................................     44,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  222,127 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals - Specialty (1.5%) 
    1,000    Ecolab, Inc.  ...................................................     46,687 
      750    Grace (W. R.) & Co.  ............................................     46,125 
      850    Great Lakes Chemical Corp.  .....................................     42,553 
      850    Hercules, Inc.  .................................................     45,156 
      800    International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.  ........................     42,450 
    1,300    Morton International, Inc.  .....................................     43,469 
    1,050    Nalco Chemical Co.  .............................................     42,853 
    1,200    Sigma-Aldrich Corp.  ............................................     41,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  350,543 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications - 
             Equipment/Manufacturers (1.2%) 
    1,500    Andrew Corp.* ...................................................   $ 39,094 
    1,650    DSC Communications Corp.* .......................................     48,572 
    2,200    NextLevel Systems, Inc.* ........................................     43,862 
      500    Northern Telecom Ltd. (Canada) ..................................     52,281 
    2,300    Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.  .......................................     48,300 
      800    Tellabs, Inc.* ..................................................     47,850 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  279,959 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications Equipment (0.6%) 
      500    Harris Corp.  ...................................................     43,437 
      600    Lucent Technologies Inc.  .......................................     50,962 
      650    Motorola, Inc.  .................................................     52,203 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  146,602 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Software & Services (3.0%) 
      900    3Com Corp.* .....................................................     49,162 
    1,200    Adobe Systems, Inc.  ............................................     44,850 
    1,200    Autodesk, Inc.  .................................................     50,850 
      900    Automatic Data Processing, Inc.  ................................     44,550 
    1,650    Bay Networks, Inc.* .............................................     50,325 
    1,400    Cabletron Systems, Inc.* ........................................     47,425 
    1,000    Ceridian Corp.* .................................................     43,750 
      650    Cisco Systems, Inc.* ............................................     51,634 
      750    Computer Associates International, Inc.  ........................     51,047 
      600    Computer Sciences Corp.* ........................................     48,862 
      350    Microsoft Corp.* ................................................     49,459 
       10    Netscape Communications Corp.* ..................................        380 
    5,200    Novell, Inc.* ...................................................     39,325 
      950    Oracle Corp.* ...................................................     51,597 
      900    Parametric Technology Corp.* ....................................     44,100 
    5,800    Unisys Corp.* ...................................................     55,825 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  723,141 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Peripheral Equipment (0.4%) 
    1,050    EMC Corp.* ......................................................     53,025 
    1,000    Seagate Technology, Inc.* .......................................     41,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   94,087 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Systems (2.5%) 
    4,400    Amdahl Corp.* ...................................................     51,975 
    2,500    Apple Computer, Inc.* ...........................................     43,594 
      950    COMPAQ Computer Corp.* ..........................................     54,269 
    1,750    Data General Corp.* .............................................     52,828 
      600    Dell Computer Corp.* ............................................     51,300 
    1,100    Digital Equipment Corp.* ........................................     45,306 
      700    Hewlett-Packard Co.  ............................................     49,044 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      500    International Business Machines Corp.  ..........................   $ 52,875 
      800    Shared Medical Systems Corp.  ...................................     43,100 
    2,150    Silicon Graphics, Inc.* .........................................     53,750 
    1,150    Sun Microsystems, Inc.* .........................................     52,541 
    1,700    Tandem Computers Inc.* ..........................................     49,937 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  600,519 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Containers - Metal & Glass (0.4%) 
    1,400    Ball Corp.  .....................................................     41,650 
      900    Crown Cork & Seal Co., Inc.  ....................................     45,506 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   87,156 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Containers - Paper (0.7%) 
      900    Bemis Company, Inc.  ............................................     41,344 
    3,200    Stone Container Corp.  ..........................................     53,200 
      600    Temple-Inland, Inc.  ............................................     40,387 
      700    Union Camp Corp.  ...............................................     40,994 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  175,925 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Cosmetics (0.6%) 
    1,600    Alberto-Culver Co. (Class B) ....................................     44,900 
      600    Avon Products, Inc.  ............................................     43,537 
      450    Gillette Co.  ...................................................     44,550 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  132,987 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Data Processing (0.4%) 
    1,200    Equifax, Inc.  ..................................................     40,725 
    1,000    First Data Corp.  ...............................................     43,625 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   84,350 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Distributors - Consumer Products (0.7%) 
      700    Cardinal Health, Inc.  ..........................................     43,575 
    2,400    Fleming Companies., Inc.  .......................................     38,250 
    1,300    Supervalu, Inc.  ................................................     52,650 
    1,150    Sysco Corp.  ....................................................     42,909 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  177,384 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electrical Equipment (1.8%) 
    1,000    AMP, Inc.  ......................................................     52,250 
      700    Emerson Electric Co.  ...........................................     41,300 
      700    General Electric Co.  ...........................................     49,131 
      950    General Signal Corp.  ...........................................     46,728 
      550    Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................     41,078 
      550    Raychem Corp.  ..................................................     53,350 
      700    Rockwell International Corp.  ...................................     45,937 
      800    Thomas & Betts Corp.  ...........................................     45,700 
    1,950    Westinghouse Electric Corp.  ....................................     46,922 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  422,396 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronic Components (0.2%) 
      500    Grainger (W.W.), Inc.  ..........................................   $ 48,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - Defense (0.2%) 
      850    Raytheon Co.  ...................................................     47,494 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - Instrumentation (0.6%) 
    2,200    EG & G, Inc.  ...................................................     45,100 
      550    Perkin-Elmer Corp.  .............................................     44,894 
      750    Tektronix, Inc.  ................................................     46,312 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  136,306 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - Semiconductors (1.2%) 
    1,300    Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.* ...................................     45,581 
      500    Intel Corp.  ....................................................     45,875 
    1,500    LSI Logic Corp.* ................................................     47,344 
    1,150    Micron Technology, Inc.  ........................................     55,991 
    1,500    National Semiconductor Corp.* ...................................     47,250 
      450    Texas Instruments, Inc.  ........................................     51,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  293,791 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Engineering & Construction (0.6%) 
      700    Fluor Corp.  ....................................................     43,050 
      950    Foster Wheeler Corp.  ...........................................     42,156 
    1,700    McDermott International, Inc.  ..................................     51,956 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  137,162 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Entertainment (0.7%) 
    1,100    King World Productions, Inc.* ...................................     44,412 
      850    Time Warner, Inc.  ..............................................     46,378 
    1,400    Viacom, Inc. (Class B)* .........................................     43,225 
      500    Walt Disney Co.  ................................................     40,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  174,421 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Entertainment, Gaming & Lodging (0.2%) 
    2,400    Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.* ...................................     49,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Finance - Consumer (1.0%) 
      600    Beneficial Corp.  ...............................................     43,500 
    1,400    Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc.  ............................     49,350 
    1,100    Green Tree Financial Corp.  .....................................     51,837 
      400    Household International, Inc.  ..................................     51,800 
    1,150    MBNA Corp.  .....................................................     51,750 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  248,237 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Finance - Diversified (1.8%) 
      600    American Express Co.  ...........................................     50,250 
      950    American General Corp.  .........................................     50,587 
      900    Fannie Mae ......................................................     42,581 
    1,200    Freddie Mac .....................................................     43,275 
      400    MBIA Inc.  ......................................................     47,200 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      900    MGIC Investment Corp.  ..........................................   $ 47,306 
    1,050    Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. (Note 3) ............     54,928 
      700    SunAmerica, Inc.  ...............................................     42,350 
      500    Transamerica Corp.  .............................................     50,437 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  428,914 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Foods (2.4%) 
    2,100    Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.  .....................................     47,250 
      800    Campbell Soup Co.  ..............................................     41,500 
      700    ConAgra, Inc.  ..................................................     49,219 
      500    CPC International, Inc.  ........................................     47,969 
      600    General Mills, Inc.  ............................................     41,475 
      900    Heinz (H.J.) Co.  ...............................................     41,569 
      750    Hershey Foods Corp.  ............................................     41,437 
      500    Kellogg Co.  ....................................................     45,937 
      900    Quaker Oats Company (The) .......................................     46,069 
      500    Ralston-Ralston Purina Group ....................................     45,125 
      900    Sara Lee Corp.  .................................................     39,431 
      200    Unilever NV (ADR)(Netherlands) ..................................     43,600 
      600    Wrigley (Wm.) Jr. Co. (Class A) .................................     46,162 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  576,743 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Hardware & Tools (0.4%) 
    1,200    Black & Decker Corp.  ...........................................     50,550 
    1,100    Stanley Works ...................................................     49,844 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  100,394 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - Diversified (1.6%) 
      650    Abbott Laboratories .............................................     42,534 
    1,400    Allergan, Inc.  .................................................     44,712 
      600    American Home Products Corp.  ...................................     49,462 
      600    Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.  .......................................     47,062 
    1,800    Healthsouth Corp.* ..............................................     47,700 
      700    Johnson & Johnson ...............................................     43,619 
    1,300    Mallinckrodt Group, Inc.  .......................................     45,500 
      380    Warner-Lambert Co.  .............................................     53,081 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  373,670 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - Drugs (1.0%) 
      450    Lilly (Eli) & Co.  ..............................................     50,850 
      450    Merck & Co., Inc.  ..............................................     46,772 
      800    Pfizer, Inc.  ...................................................     47,700 
    1,200    Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc.  .......................................     45,300 
    1,000    Schering-Plough Corp.  ..........................................     54,562 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  245,184 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - Miscellaneous (0.4%) 
    2,900    Beverly Enterprises, Inc.* ......................................   $ 44,587 
    1,500    Manor Care, Inc.  ...............................................     49,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   94,087 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare HMOs (0.4%) 
    1,950    Humana, Inc.* ...................................................     47,531 
      850    United Healthcare Corp.  ........................................     48,450 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   95,981 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare Services (0.2%) 
    1,450    Alza Corp.* .....................................................     46,853 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Home Building (0.8%) 
      950    Centex Corp.  ...................................................     52,962 
    1,450    Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.  ....................................     47,034 
    2,450    Kaufman & Broad Home Corp.  .....................................     52,369 
    1,200    Pulte Corp.  ....................................................     48,975 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  201,340 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Hospital Management (0.4%) 
    1,300    Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp.  ..................................     41,925 
    1,600    Tenet Healthcare Corp.* .........................................     47,900 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   89,825 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Hotels/Motels (0.8%) 
      700    HFS, Inc.* ......................................................     40,775 
    1,400    Hilton Hotels Corp.  ............................................     44,012 
      750    ITT Corp.* ......................................................     47,953 
      750    Marriot International, Inc.  ....................................     51,562 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  184,302 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances (0.4%) 
    1,800    Maytag Corp.  ...................................................     52,537 
      900    Whirlpool Corp.  ................................................     45,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   97,537 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Household Products (0.8%) 
      340    Clorox Co.  .....................................................     47,472 
      700    Colgate-Palmolive Co.  ..........................................     53,025 
      900    Kimberly-Clark Corp.  ...........................................     45,619 
      300    Procter & Gamble Co.  ...........................................     45,637 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  191,753 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Housewares (0.6%) 
    1,200    Newell Co.  .....................................................     50,325 
    1,600    Rubbermaid, Inc.  ...............................................     41,700 
    1,300    Tupperware Corp.  ...............................................     45,175 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  137,200 
                                                                              ------------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Insurance Brokers (0.4%) 
      825    Aon Corp.  ......................................................   $ 46,200 
      700    Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.  ....................................     54,206 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  100,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Investment Banking/Brokerage (0.4%) 
      750    Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.  ......................................     52,828 
      750    Salomon, Inc.  ..................................................     47,578 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  100,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Leisure Time (0.2%) 
    1,350    Brunswick Corp.  ................................................     43,537 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Life Insurance (1.2%) 
      450    Aetna Inc.  .....................................................     51,272 
    1,000    Conseco, Inc.  ..................................................     40,750 
      600    Jefferson-Pilot Corp.  ..........................................     42,637 
    1,100    Providian Financial Corp.* ......................................     43,106 
      650    Torchmark Corp.  ................................................     51,756 
    1,100    UNUM Corp.  .....................................................     48,950 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  278,471 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Machine Tools (0.2%) 
    2,100    Giddings & Lewis, Inc.  .........................................     43,706 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Machinery -Diversified (2.3%) 
      800    Briggs & Stratton Corp.  ........................................     40,550 
      650    Case Corp.  .....................................................     40,584 
      900    Caterpillar, Inc.  ..............................................     50,400 
    1,700    Cincinnati Milacron, Inc.  ......................................     47,600 
      800    Cooper Industries, Inc.  ........................................     44,450 
      800    Deere & Co.  ....................................................     45,500 
      700    Dover Corp.  ....................................................     49,962 
    1,100    Harnischfeger Industries, Inc.  .................................     47,437 
      750    Ingersoll-Rand Co.  .............................................     51,047 
      650    NACCO Industries, Inc. (Class A) ................................     45,094 
    1,200    Thermo Electron Corp.* ..........................................     41,025 
    1,400    Timken Co.  .....................................................     49,262 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  552,911 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Manufacturing - Diversified (3.2%) 
      950    Aeroquip-Vickers, Inc.  .........................................     52,072 
      500    AlliedSignal, Inc.  .............................................     46,125 
      850    Corning, Inc.  ..................................................     52,541 
    1,150    Crane Co.  ......................................................     52,253 
      550    Eaton Corp.  ....................................................     49,672 
      900    Illinois Tool Works, Inc.  ......................................     46,688 
      900    Johnson Controls, Inc.  .........................................     40,331 
      900    Millipore Corp.  ................................................     39,769 
             Minnesota Mining & 
      450    Manufacturing Co.  ..............................................     42,638 
      900    National Service Industries, Inc.  ..............................   $ 44,381 
    1,700    Pall Corp.  .....................................................     42,713 
      800    Parker-Hannifin Corp.  ..........................................     51,500 
    1,000    Tenneco, Inc.  ..................................................     46,625 
      700    Textron Inc.  ...................................................     49,044 
      650    Tyco International Ltd. .........................................     52,650 
      500    United Technologies Corp.  ......................................     42,281 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  751,283 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Medical Products & Supplies (2.0%) 
    1,300    Bard (C.R.), Inc.  ..............................................     48,913 
    1,000    Bausch & Lomb, Inc.  ............................................     42,563 
      800    Baxter International, Inc.  .....................................     46,250 
      800    Becton, Dickinson & Co.  ........................................     42,900 
    2,500    Biomet, Inc.  ...................................................     49,844 
      700    Boston Scientific Corp.* ........................................     50,225 
      600    Guidant Corp.  ..................................................     54,750 
      500    Medtronic, Inc.  ................................................     43,625 
    1,200    St. Jude Medical, Inc.* .........................................     48,975 
    1,200    United States Surgical Corp.  ...................................     44,550 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  472,595 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Metals & Mining (1.5%) 
    1,350    ASARCO, Inc.  ...................................................     45,900 
    2,000    Barrick Gold Corp. (Canada) .....................................     45,625 
    7,300    Battle Mountain Gold Co.  .......................................     40,606 
    1,850    Cyprus Amax Minerals Co.  .......................................     46,944 
    7,800    Echo Bay Mines Ltd. (Canada) ....................................     39,000 
    2,900    Homestake Mining Co.  ...........................................     40,056 
    1,300    Newmont Mining Corp.  ...........................................     53,625 
    2,600    Placer Dome Inc. (Canada) .......................................     44,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  355,956 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Metals - Miscellaneous (0.5%) 
    1,400    Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold, Inc. (Class B) ..................     40,950 
    1,400    Inco Ltd. (Canada) ..............................................     43,313 
      500    Phelps Dodge Corp.  .............................................     42,531 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  126,794 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Miscellaneous (0.4%) 
    1,350    American Greetings Corp. (Class A) ..............................     45,056 
    1,800    Jostens, Inc.  ..................................................     46,468 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   91,524 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Multi-Line Insurance (1.2%) 
      450    American International Group, Inc. ..............................     47,925 
      250    CIGNA Corp.  ....................................................     49,875 
      550    Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. .........................     47,919 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      650    Lincoln National Corp.  .........................................   $ 46,231 
      400    Loews Corp.  ....................................................     43,250 
      700    Travelers Group, Inc.  ..........................................     50,356 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  285,556 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Natural Gas (0.3%) 
      600    Anardarko Petroleum Corp.  ......................................     41,925 
    1,100    Apache Corp.  ...................................................     38,775 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   80,700 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Office Equipment & Supplies (0.6%) 
    1,600    Ikon Office Solutions, Inc.  ....................................     46,700 
    2,100    Moore Corp. Ltd. (Canada) .......................................     45,544 
      600    Pitney Bowes, Inc.  .............................................     45,075 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  137,319 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil & Gas Drilling (1.5%) 
      950    Baker Hughes, Inc.  .............................................     41,859 
    1,250    Dresser Industries, Inc.  .......................................     52,188 
    1,100    Halliburton Co.  ................................................     50,600 
      700    Helmerich & Payne, Inc.  ........................................     47,119 
    1,600    Rowan Cos., Inc.* ...............................................     52,600 
      700    Schlumberger, Ltd. ..............................................     53,463 
      600    Western Atlas, Inc.* ............................................     47,738 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  345,567 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil & Gas Exploration (0.9%) 
      900    Burlington Resources, Inc.  .....................................     42,525 
      650    Kerr-McGee Corp.  ...............................................     40,706 
      680    Louisiana Land & Exploration Co. ................................     48,025 
    1,700    Oryx Energy Co.* ................................................     41,969 
    1,600    Union Pacific Resources Group, Inc. .............................     39,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  212,725 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - Domestic Integrated (1.5%) 
      750    Amerada Hess Corp.  .............................................     44,109 
      900    Ashland, Inc.  ..................................................     47,826 
    1,700    Occidental Petroleum Corp.  .....................................     42,606 
      650    Pennzoil Co.  ...................................................     50,781 
    1,000    Phillips Petroleum Co.  .........................................     46,063 
    1,300    Sun Co., Inc.  ..................................................     46,556 
    1,050    Unocal Corp.  ...................................................     42,000 
    1,450    USX-Marathon Group ..............................................     46,672 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  366,613 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - International Integrated (1.3%) 
      450    Amoco Corp.  ....................................................     42,300 
      600    Atlantic Richfield Co.  .........................................     44,888 
      550    Chevron Corp.  ..................................................     43,519 
      700    Exxon Corp.  ....................................................     44,975 
      600    Mobil Corp.  ....................................................     45,900 
      800    Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (Netherlands) .........................   $ 44,750 
      350    Texaco, Inc.  ...................................................     40,622 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  306,954 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Paper & Forest Products (2.1%) 
    1,200    Boise Cascade Corp.  ............................................     44,475 
      800    Champion International Corp.  ...................................     49,600 
      500    Georgia-Pacific Corp.  ..........................................     47,219 
      900    International Paper Co.  ........................................     50,400 
    1,100    James River Corp. of Virginia ...................................     45,306 
    1,800    Louisiana-Pacific Corp.  ........................................     41,288 
      600    Mead Corp.  .....................................................     43,200 
      900    Potlatch Corp.  .................................................     43,031 
    1,200    Westvaco Corp.  .................................................     40,125 
      800    Weyerhaeuser Co.  ...............................................     49,800 
      550    Willamette Industries, Inc.  ....................................     41,903 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  496,347 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Photography/Imaging (0.6%) 
      700    Eastman Kodak Co.  ..............................................     46,900 
      850    Polaroid Corp.  .................................................     50,575 
      650    Xerox Corp.  ....................................................     53,463 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  150,938 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Pollution Control (0.2%) 
    1,300    Waste Management Inc.  ..........................................     41,600 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Property - Casualty Insurance (1.2%) 
      600    Allstate Corp.  .................................................     47,400 
      700    Chubb Corp.  ....................................................     49,350 
      250    General Re Corp.  ...............................................     52,219 
      900    Safeco Corp.  ...................................................     43,088 
      600    St. Paul Companies, Inc.  .......................................     47,063 
    1,800    USF&G Corp.  ....................................................     44,213 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  283,333 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Publishing (0.9%) 
      950    Dow Jones & Co., Inc.  ..........................................     41,028 
    1,500    Dun & Bradstreet Corp.  .........................................     40,500 
      700    McGraw-Hill, Inc.  ..............................................     47,469 
    1,600    Meredith Corp.  .................................................     44,300 
      750    Times Mirror Co. (Class A) ......................................     40,969 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  214,266 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Publishing -Newspaper (0.8%) 
      450    Gannett Co., Inc.  ..............................................     44,691 
      900    Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc.  .................................     44,719 
     950     New York Times Co. (Class A) ....................................     47,738 
     950     Tribune Co.  ....................................................     50,291 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  187,439 
                                                                              ------------- 

                      SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Railroads (0.8%) 
      450    Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.  .............................   $ 43,453 
      750    CSX Corp.  ......................................................     46,313 
      450    Norfolk Southern Corp.  .........................................     49,838 
      550    Union Pacific Corp.  ............................................     39,428 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  179,032 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Restaurants (0.6%) 
    5,000    Darden Restaurants, Inc.  .......................................     47,813 
      750    McDonald's Corp.  ...............................................     40,313 
    1,750    Wendy's International, Inc.  ....................................     42,766 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  130,892 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Department Stores (1.4%) 
    1,200    Dillard Department Stores, Inc. (Class A) .......................     45,375 
    1,200    Federated Department Stores, Inc.* ..............................     52,575 
      850    Harcourt General, Inc.  .........................................     40,163 
      850    May Department Stores Co.  ......................................     47,494 
      750    Mercantile Stores Co., Inc.  ....................................     50,391 
      900    Nordstrom, Inc.  ................................................     50,963 
      800    Penney (J.C.) Co., Inc.  ........................................     46,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  333,761 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Drug Stores (0.8%) 
      850    CVS Corp.  ......................................................     48,344 
    1,500    Longs Drug Stores Corp.  ........................................     40,406 
      900    Rite Aid Corp.  .................................................     46,744 
      900    Walgreen Co.  ...................................................     50,850 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  186,344 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Food Chains (1.1%) 
    1,150    Albertson's, Inc.  ..............................................     42,622 
    1,600    American Stores Co.  ............................................     40,400 
    1,400    Giant Food, Inc. (Class A) ......................................     46,988 
    1,600    Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc.  .........................     43,900 
    1,400    Kroger Co.* .....................................................     41,388 
    1,250    Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.  ........................................     45,781 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  261,079 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - General Merchandise (1.1%) 
    1,400    Costco Companies Inc.* ..........................................     53,025 
      800    Dayton-Hudson Corp.  ............................................     51,700 
    4,000    Kmart Corp.* ....................................................     47,500 
      800    Sears, Roebuck & Co.  ...........................................     50,650 
    1,400    Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  ..........................................     52,588 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  255,463 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Specialty (1.6%) 
    1,600    AutoZone, Inc.* .................................................   $ 45,800 
    1,200    Circuit City Stores, Inc.  ......................................     43,500 
    1,050    Home Depot, Inc.  ...............................................     52,369 
    1,100    Lowe's Companies, Inc.  .........................................     41,388 
    1,300    Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack ......................................     43,225 
      800    Tandy Corp.  ....................................................     47,550 
    1,450    Toys 'R' Us, Inc.* ..............................................     49,391 
    1,800    Woolworth Corp.* ................................................     50,963 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  374,186 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Specialty Apparel (0.8%) 
    6,700    Charming Shoppes, Inc.* .........................................     39,363 
    1,200    Gap, Inc.  ......................................................     53,325 
    2,200    Limited (The), Inc.  ............................................     49,088 
    1,700    TJX Companies, Inc.  ............................................     50,788 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  192,564 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Savings & Loan Companies (0.4%) 
    1,000    Ahmanson (H.F.) & Co.  ..........................................     53,188 
      600    Golden West Financial Corp.  ....................................     50,475 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  103,663 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Semiconductor Equipment (0.2%) 
      550    Applied Materials, Inc.* ........................................     50,497 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Shoes (0.6%) 
      700    Nike, Inc. (Class B) ............................................     43,619 
      900    Reebok International Ltd. .......................................     46,463 
    3,200    Stride Rite Corp.  ..............................................     43,400 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  133,482 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Specialized Services (1.0%) 
    1,350    Block (H.&R.), Inc.  ............................................     51,722 
    1,900    CUC International, Inc.* ........................................     46,788 
    1,050    Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.  ...........................     46,988 
    2,550    Safety-Kleen Corp.  .............................................     44,784 
    1,200    Service Corp. International .....................................     40,800 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  231,082 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Specialty Printing (0.6%) 
    1,200    Deluxe Corp.  ...................................................     39,975 
    1,200    Donnelley (R.R.) & Sons Co.  ....................................     48,225 
    2,300    Harland (John H.) Co.  ..........................................     45,138 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                  133,338 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Steel & Iron (1.3%) 
    1,600    Allegheny Teledyne Inc.  ........................................     49,800 
    7,400    Armco, Inc.* ....................................................     40,238 
    4,000    Bethlehem Steel Corp.* ..........................................     45,000 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    1,800    Inland Steel Industries, Inc.  ..................................  $   41,288 
      750    Nucor Corp.  ....................................................      46,547 
    1,150    USX-U.S. Steel Group, Inc.  .....................................      42,047 
    2,400    Worthington Industries, Inc.  ...................................      47,400 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   312,320 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Telecommunications - 
             Long Distance (1.0%) 
    1,300    AT&T Corp.  .....................................................      47,856 
    2,300    Frontier Corp.  .................................................      47,438 
    1,200    MCI Communications Corp.  .......................................      42,225 
      850    Sprint Corp.  ...................................................      42,075 
    1,500    WorldCom, Inc.* .................................................      52,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   232,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Telecommunications -Wireless (0.2%) 
    1,500    Airtouch Communications, Inc.* ..................................      49,406 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Textiles (0.9%) 
             Fruit of the Loom, Inc. 
    1,700    (Class A)* ......................................................      46,538 
      850    Liz Claiborne, Inc.  ............................................      40,694 
    1,400    Russell Corp.  ..................................................      40,863 
      900    Springs Industries, Inc. (Class A) ..............................      43,538 
      550    VF Corp.  .......................................................      49,363 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   220,996 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Tobacco (0.6%) 
    1,150    Fortune Brands, Inc.  ...........................................      40,753 
    1,050    Philip Morris Companies, Inc.  ..................................      47,381 
    1,500    UST, Inc.  ......................................................      43,594 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   131,728 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Toys (0.4%) 
    1,600    Hasbro Inc.  ....................................................      49,100 
    1,350    Mattel, Inc.  ...................................................      46,913 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                    96,013 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Truckers (0.4%) 
    1,300    Caliber System, Inc.  ...........................................      50,619 
    1,250    Ryder System, Inc.  .............................................      44,766 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                    95,385 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Electric (4.9%) 
      900    American Electric Power Co., Inc. ...............................      40,275 
    1,700    Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.  ...................................      47,281 
    1,300    Carolina Power & Light Co.  .....................................      46,313 
    2,300    Central & South West Corp.  .....................................      46,144 
    1,200    CINergy Corp.  ..................................................      40,350 
    1,400    Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc.  ......................  $   44,275 
    1,450    Detroit Edison Co.  .............................................      43,409 
    1,300    Dominion Resources, Inc.  .......................................      47,775 
    1,050    Duke Energy Corp.  ..............................................      53,222 
    1,700    Edison International ............................................      42,925 
    1,450    Entergy Corp.  ..................................................      39,603 
    1,000    FPL Group, Inc.  ................................................      47,875 
    1,200    General Public Utilities Corp.  .................................      41,625 
    2,200    Houston Industries, Inc.  .......................................      46,063 
    4,300    Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.* .....................................      40,044 
      800    Northern States Power Co.  ......................................      41,100 
    1,950    Ohio Edison Co.  ................................................      43,388 
    2,050    PacifiCorp ......................................................      45,741 
    2,100    PECO Energy Co.  ................................................      49,350 
    1,700    PG & E Corp.  ...................................................      42,181 
    2,300    PP&L Resources, Inc.  ...........................................      47,006 
    1,900    Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.  ..........................      47,025 
    1,900    Southern Co.  ...................................................      41,681 
    1,200    Texas Utilities Co.  ............................................      42,525 
    2,100    Unicom Corp.  ...................................................      47,644 
    1,200    Union Electric Co.  .............................................      46,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,161,020 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Natural Gas (2.4%) 
      800    Coastal Corp.  ..................................................      43,500 
      600    Columbia Gas System, Inc.  ......................................      41,250 
      700    Consolidated Natural Gas Co.  ...................................      40,513 
    1,300    Eastern Enterprises .............................................      46,556 
    1,200    Enron Corp.  ....................................................      45,525 
    1,900    ENSERCH Corp.  ..................................................      42,275 
    1,200    NICOR, Inc.  ....................................................      43,950 
    2,800    NorAm Energy Corp.  .............................................      44,800 
    1,250    ONEOK Inc.  .....................................................      43,750 
    1,200    Pacific Enterprises .............................................      40,125 
    1,100    Peoples Energy Corp.  ...........................................      42,213 
      900    Sonat, Inc.  ....................................................      44,888 
      900    Williams Cos., Inc.  ............................................      41,175 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   560,520 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Telephone (1.4%) 
    1,250    Alltel Corp.  ...................................................      41,094 
      650    Ameritech Corp.  ................................................      43,834 
      550    Bell Atlantic Corp.  ............................................      39,909 
      850    BellSouth Corp.  ................................................      40,269 
    1,000    GTE Corp.  ......................................................      46,500 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      700    NYNEX Corp.  .................................................... $    38,806 
      750    SBC Communications, Inc.  .......................................      44,391 
    1,100    U.S. West Communications Group, Inc. ............................      40,219 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   335,022 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Waste Management (0.4%) 
    1,200    Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc.  ...............................      44,400 
    2,900    Laidlaw Inc. (Class B)(Canada) ..................................      46,219 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                    90,619 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Identified Cost $14,805,322) ...............  23,156,111 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                                      VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                                  <C>          <C>
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (a)(2.9%) 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY 
      $700   Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 
             5.75% due 08/01/97
             (Amortized Cost $700,000) ....................................                $   700,000 
                                                                                          ------------ 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified cost $15,505,322)(b) .                                                 100.3%   23,856,111 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF                                                        
CASH AND OTHER ASSETS.............                                                  (0.3)      (76,376) 
                                                                                   -----  ------------ 
NET ASSETS........................                                                 100.0%  $23,779,735 
                                                                                   =====  ============ 
</TABLE>                          

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
(a)     Security was purchased on a discount basis. The interest rate shown 
        has been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $8,490,682 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $139,893, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $8,350,789. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON STOCKS (93.8%) 
             ARGENTINA (0.7%) 
             Banks 
    1,700    Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires S.A. de C.V. (Class B)(ADR)  ....$    53,337 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Brewery 
    2,000    Quilmes Industrial S.A. (ADR)  ..................................     23,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    1,000    Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom S.A. (Class B)(ADR)  ....     57,813 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL ARGENTINA  ................................................    134,150 
                                                                              ----------- 
             AUSTRALIA (1.0%) 
             Business Services 
    4,800    Mayne Nickless Ltd.  ............................................     27,735 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Energy 
    2,500    Woodside Petroleum Ltd.  ........................................     21,268 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial Services 
   24,000    Tyndall Australia Ltd.  .........................................     41,083 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Foods & Beverages 
   30,000    Goodman Fielder Ltd.  ...........................................     46,263 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Metals & Mining 
   20,155    M.I.M. Holdings Ltd.  ...........................................     28,022 
   14,000    Pasminco Ltd.  ..................................................     27,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   55,022 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL AUSTRALIA  ................................................    191,371 
                                                                              ----------- 
             BELGIUM (0.2%) 
             Retail 
    1,000    G.I.B. Holdings Ltd.  ...........................................     48,471 
                                                                              ----------- 
             BRAZIL (2.3%) 
             Banks 
      600    Uniao de Bancos Brasileiros S.A. (GDR)*  ........................     24,150 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Brewery 
    4,500    Companhia Cervejaria Brahma -(ADR)  .............................     68,906 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Steel & Iron 
    2,000    Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. (ADR) -144A**  .........     23,700 
    3,000    Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. (S Shares)(ADR)  .......     35,550 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   59,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
      600    Telecommunicacoes Brasileiras S.A. (ADR)  .......................$    89,025 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
    2,000    Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais S.A. (ADR)  ................    112,500 
    5,000    Companhia Paranaense de Energia -Copel (Preference Shares)  .....     96,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  208,750 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL BRAZIL  ...................................................    450,081 
                                                                              ----------- 
             CANADA (0.7%) 
             Energy 
    5,000    Ranger Oil Ltd.  ................................................     48,970 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Department Stores 
    4,000    Hudson's Bay Co.  ...............................................     89,669 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL CANADA  ...................................................    138,639 
                                                                              ----------- 
             CHILE (0.7%) 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,300    Laboratorio Chile S.A. (ADR)  ...................................     38,431 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    3,000    Supermercados Unimarc S.A. (ADR)*  ..............................     51,938 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    1,487    Compania de Telecommunicaciones de Chile S.A. (ADR)  ............     48,978 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL CHILE  ....................................................    139,347 
                                                                              ----------- 
             CHINA (0.2%) 
             Transportation 
    1,000    China Southern Airlines Co. (ADR)  ..............................     31,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
             DENMARK (0.9%) 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,000    Novo-Nordisk AS (Series B)  .....................................    105,361 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
      700    Kobenhavns Lufthavne AS  ........................................     73,453 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL DENMARK  ..................................................    178,814 
                                                                              ----------- 
             FINLAND (0.7%) 
             Manufacturing 
      800    KCI Konecranes International  ...................................     32,104 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Paper Products 
    3,200    UPM-Kymmene OY Corp.  ...........................................$    77,810 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,000    Orion-yhtymae OY (B Shares)  ....................................     36,300 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL FINLAND  ..................................................    146,214 
                                                                              ----------- 
             FRANCE (3.6%) 
             Automotive 
    1,200    Michelin (B Shares)  ............................................     74,682 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computer Services 
      400    Axime (Ex Segin)  ...............................................     44,599 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Energy 
      700    Elf Aquitaine S.A.  .............................................     79,855 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial Services 
      350    Credit Local de France  .........................................     34,675 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Products 
      740    Societe BIC S.A.  ...............................................     61,015 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Insurance 
    2,000    AXA-UAP  ........................................................    130,730 
    1,400    Scor  ...........................................................     61,218 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  191,948 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Leisure 
      600    Accor S.A.  .....................................................     90,230 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
       80    Carrefour Supermarche  ..........................................     54,022 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Steel & Iron 
    4,500    Usinor Sacilor  .................................................     89,673 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL FRANCE  ...................................................    720,699 
                                                                              ----------- 
             GERMANY (3.8%) 
             Apparel 
      400    Adidas AG  ......................................................     46,995 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Automotive 
       90    Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG  ..............................     73,332 
      300    MAN AG  .........................................................     90,481 
      250    Volkswagen AG  ..................................................    191,188 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  355,001 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Chemicals 
    1,200    Bayer AG  .......................................................     50,519 
      600    SGL Carbon AG  ..................................................     79,793 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  130,312 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Machinery - Diversified 
      100    Mannesmann AG  ..................................................$    46,696 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,000    Gehe AG  ........................................................     62,605 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
      900    Siemens AG  .....................................................     62,709 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
      700    VEBA AG  ........................................................     40,702 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL GERMANY  ..................................................    745,020 
                                                                              ----------- 
             HONG KONG (4.9%) 
             Banking 
   12,000    Guoco Group Ltd.  ...............................................     67,743 
    3,140    HSBC Holdings PLC  ..............................................    109,521 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  177,264 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
   24,000    China Resources Enterprise Ltd.  ................................    119,984 
   12,000    Citic Pacific Ltd.  .............................................     76,114 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  196,098 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Finance & Brokerage 
   36,000    Peregrine Investments Holdings Ltd.  ............................     79,525 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Real Estate 
   10,000    Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd.  ....................................    111,097 
   24,000    New World Development Co., Ltd. .................................    172,846 
    6,000    Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.  ...................................     75,378 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  359,321 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities 
   36,600    Hong Kong & China Gas Co. Ltd. ..................................     79,431 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
   13,000    China Light & Power Co. Ltd.  ...................................     74,564 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL HONG KONG  ................................................    966,203 
                                                                              ----------- 
             IRELAND (0.3%) 
             Transportation 
    2,000    Ryanair Holdings PLC (ADR)*  ....................................     56,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
             ITALY (1.4%) 
             Energy 
    1,500    Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi SpA (ADR)  ...........................     88,219 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances 
    3,000    Industrie Natuzzi SpA (ADR)  ....................................     82,688 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Telecommunications 
   16,000    Telecom Italia SpA  .............................................$    101,703 
                                                                              ------------
             TOTAL ITALY  ....................................................     272,610 
                                                                              ------------
             JAPAN (19.5%) 
             Automotive 
    4,000    Honda Motor Co.  ................................................     133,626 
    6,000    Suzuki Motor Co. Ltd.  ..........................................      72,887 
                                                                              ------------
                                                                                   206,513 
                                                                              ------------
             Banking 
   14,000    Asahi Bank, Ltd.  ...............................................     104,876 
    3,000    Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd.  .................................      55,677 
    9,000    Sakura Bank Ltd.  ...............................................      55,045 
                                                                              ------------
                                                                                   215,598 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Building & Construction 
   12,000    Sekisui House Ltd.  .............................................     114,392 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Business Services 
    2,000    Secom Co.  ......................................................     146,280 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Chemicals 
    8,000    Kaneka Corp.  ...................................................      49,064 
    6,000    Nippon Shokubai K.K. Co.  .......................................      41,859 
    4,000    Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.  ...................................     114,054 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   204,977 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Computers 
    6,000    Fujitsu, Ltd.  ..................................................      88,072 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Consumer Products 
    4,000    Kao Corp.  ......................................................      60,064 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics 
    6,000    Canon, Inc.  ....................................................     191,328 
    9,000    Hitachi, Ltd.  ..................................................     101,738 
    9,000    Hitachi Cable  ..................................................      81,238 
    6,000    Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.  .......................     125,021 
    8,000    Sharp Corp.  ....................................................     102,581 
    2,000    Sony Corp.  .....................................................     199,089 
    2,000    TDK Corp.  ......................................................     172,094 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   973,089 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Electronics - Semiconductors/Components 
    1,000    Rohm Co., Ltd.  .................................................     130,758 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial Services 
    6,000    Nomura Securities Co. Ltd.  .....................................      85,035 
    2,000    Orix Corp.  .....................................................     161,296 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   246,331 
                                                                              ------------ 
             International Trade 
   10,000    Mitsui & Co.  ...................................................$     95,326 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Machine Tools 
    7,000    Asahi Diamond Industries Co. Ltd.  ..............................      57,576 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Machinery 
   10,000    Minebea Co., Ltd.  ..............................................     118,947 
   13,000    Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. ...............................      91,572 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   210,519 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    5,000    Eisai Co. Ltd.  .................................................     103,762 
    6,000    Fujisawa Pharmaceutical  ........................................      61,245 
    2,000    Sankyo Co. Ltd.  ................................................      71,368 
    2,000    Terumo Corp.  ...................................................      40,324 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   276,699 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Real Estate 
    5,000    Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.  .......................................      64,113 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Restaurants 
        5    Yoshinoya D & C Company Ltd.  ...................................      61,583 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Retail 
    2,000    Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd.  .......................................      59,895 
    4,000    Izumiya Co. Ltd.  ...............................................      50,953 
    2,000    Jusco Co.  ......................................................      55,677 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   166,525 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Steel & Iron 
   40,000    NKK Corp.  ......................................................      72,887 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Telecommunications 
       10    DDI Corp.  ......................................................      68,669 
       14    Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.  .............................     141,724 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   210,393 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Textiles 
   15,000    Teijin Ltd.  ....................................................      64,535 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Transportation 
       15    East Japan Railway Co.  .........................................      64,409 
    6,000    Yamato Transport Co. Ltd.  ......................................      75,924 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                   140,333 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Wholesale Distributor 
    1,000    Softbank Corp.  .................................................      51,881 
                                                                              ------------
             TOTAL JAPAN  ....................................................   3,858,444 
                                                                              ------------

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             MALAYSIA (2.2%) 
             Banking 
    8,000    Malayan Banking Berhad  .........................................$    75,959 
   22,666    Public Bank Berhad  .............................................     32,540 
      550    RHB Sakura Merchant Bankers Berhad  .............................        856 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  109,355 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Building & Construction 
    9,000    United Engineers Malaysia Berhad  ...............................     62,894 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
   10,000    Road Builder (M) Holdings Berhad  ...............................     41,777 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Entertainment 
   37,000    Magnum Corporation Berhad  ......................................     47,497 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial Services 
   12,000    Arab Malaysian Finance Berhad 7.5% due 5/25/02 (Loan Stock)  ....      4,147 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Machinery 
   10,000    UMW Holdings Berhad  ............................................     39,499 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Natural Gas 
   15,000    Petronas Gas Berhad  ............................................     52,697 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
   20,000    Tenaga Nasional Berhad  .........................................     80,517 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL MALAYSIA  .................................................    438,383 
                                                                              ----------- 
             MEXICO (3.4%) 
             Banking 
             Grupo Financiero Banamex Accival S.A. de C.V. 
   29,391    (B Shares)*  ....................................................     90,414 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages 
    2,700    Pepsi-Gemex S.A. de C.V. (GDR)  .................................     39,150 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Brewery 
             Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V. 
    6,000    (Series C)  .....................................................     55,794 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Building Materials 
   15,087    Cemex, S.A. de C.V. (B Shares)  .................................     86,840 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
    1,707    DESC S.A. de C.V. (Series C)(ADR)  ..............................     62,732 
             Grupo Carso S.A. de C.V. 
    7,000    (Series A1)  ....................................................     56,856 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  119,588 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
    2,500    Grupo Industrial Maseca S.A. de C.V. (ADR)  .....................$    46,250 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Paper & Forest Products 
   14,000    Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (A Shares)  ..............     68,048 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    2,200    Grupo Elektra, S.A. de C.V. (GDR) ...............................     65,450 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    2,000    Telefonos de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (Series L)(ADR)  ...............    111,000 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL MEXICO  ...................................................    682,534 
                                                                              ----------- 
             NETHERLANDS (4.3%) 
             Building Materials 
      800    Hunter Douglas NV  ..............................................     37,205 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Business & Public Services 
      700    Randstad Holdings NV  ...........................................     74,946 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Chemicals 
      500    Akzo Nobel NV  ..................................................     77,462 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electronics 
    2,000    Philips Electronics NV  .........................................    162,264 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
      200    Nutricia Verenigde Bedrijven NV  ................................     33,998 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Furniture 
    1,400    Ahrend Groep NV  ................................................     47,327 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Insurance 
      500    Aegon NV  .......................................................     37,958 
      875    ING Groep NV  ...................................................     42,594 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   80,552 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Publishing 
    2,900    Elsevier NV  ....................................................     51,118 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
      950    Gucci Group NV  .................................................     59,969 
    2,700    Koninklijke Ahold NV  ...........................................     78,104 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  138,073 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Steel 
    1,100    Koninklijke Hoogovens NV  .......................................     66,668 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
    2,000    KLM Royal Dutch Air Lines NV  ...................................     71,377 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL NETHERLANDS  ..............................................    840,990 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES -GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             PERU (0.2%) 
             Banking 
    7,000    Banco Wiese (ADR)  ..............................................$    43,750 
                                                                              ----------- 
             PHILIPPINES (0.1%) 
             Telecommunications 
      600    Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (ADR)  ...................     20,137 
                                                                              ----------- 
             PORTUGAL (0.4%) 
             Telecommunications 
    1,100    Portugal Telecom S.A. (ADR)  ....................................     44,275 
      500    Telecel-Comunicacaoes Pessoais, S.A.*  ..........................     39,155 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL PORTUGAL  .................................................     83,430 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SINGAPORE (1.6%) 
             Banking 
    4,500    Development Bank of Singapore, Ltd.  ............................     58,422 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages 
    7,000    Fraser & Neave Ltd.  ............................................     47,580 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Hospital Management 
    6,000    Parkway Holdings Ltd.  ..........................................     27,529 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Publishing 
    4,000    Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.  ..................................     75,856 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
    3,700    Singapore International Airlines  ...............................     34,706 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Telecommunications 
   37,000    Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.  .............................     70,167 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SINGAPORE  ................................................    314,260 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SOUTH AFRICA (0.1%) 
             Brewers 
      700    South African Breweries Ltd. (ADR)  .............................     22,488 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SOUTH KOREA (0.3%) 
             Electronics 
    1,700    Samsung Electronics Co. (GDR)(Non-voting) -144A**  ..............     51,510 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SPAIN (1.7%) 
             Banks 
    3,300    Banco Bilbao Vizcaya  ...........................................     86,127 
      200    Banco Popular Espanol S.A.  .....................................     44,307 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  130,434 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Natural Gas 
      800    Gas Natural SDG S.A.  ...........................................$    39,132 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    3,100    Centros Comerciales Pryca, S.A.  ................................     59,857 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
      500    Telefonica de Espana S.A. (ADR)  ................................     39,375 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities - Electric 
    2,800    Empresa Nacional de Electricidad S.A.  ..........................     57,669 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SPAIN  ....................................................    326,467 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SWEDEN (1.4%) 
             Automotive 
    2,200    Scania AB (A Shares)  ...........................................     63,038 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Machinery 
    2,300    Kalmar Industries AB  ...........................................     38,563 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Manufacturing 
    1,200    Assa Abloy AB (Series B)  .......................................     26,276 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Paper Products 
             Stora Kopparbergs Aktiebolag 
    3,400    (A Shares)  .....................................................     55,731 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
    2,250    Ericsson (L.M.) Telephone Co. AB (Series "B" Free)  .............    101,211 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SWEDEN  ...................................................    284,819 
                                                                              ----------- 
             SWITZERLAND (1.7%) 
             Engineering 
       40    ABB AG-Bearer  ..................................................     56,890 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
       70    Nestle S.A.  ....................................................     88,901 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
       32    Novartis AG  ....................................................     51,399 
       30    Novartis AG - Bearer  ...........................................     48,147 
       10    Roche Holdings AG  ..............................................     96,790 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  196,336 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL SWITZERLAND  ..............................................    342,127 
                                                                              ----------- 
             UNITED KINGDOM (10.4%) 
             Aerospace 
   11,453    Rolls-Royce PLC  ................................................     43,939 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Aerospace & Defense 
    3,978    British Aerospace PLC  ..........................................     86,970 
    2,900    Smiths Industries PLC  ..........................................     38,274 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  125,244 
                                                                              ----------- 

                      SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Auto Parts - Original Equipment 
   26,200    LucasVarity PLC  ................................................$    80,755 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Banking 
    3,600    Abbey National PLC  .............................................     49,460 
    1,323    Barclays Bank, PLC  .............................................     27,872 
    7,103    National Westminster Bank PLC  ..................................    100,849 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  178,181 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages 
    5,800    Bass PLC  .......................................................     79,306 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Broadcast Media 
    3,600    Flextech PLC*  ..................................................     38,807 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Building & Construction 
    5,893    Blue Circle Industries PLC  .....................................     39,999 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Business Services 
    3,400    Compass Group PLC  ..............................................     34,171 
    3,000    Reuters Holdings PLC  ...........................................     32,315 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   66,486 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computer Software & Services 
    3,500    SEMA Group PLC  .................................................     80,622 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Conglomerates 
    8,300    BTR PLC  ........................................................     25,787 
    9,302    Tomkins PLC  ....................................................     46,972 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                   72,759 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Consumer Products 
    3,000    Unilever PLC  ...................................................     86,910 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Energy 
   27,300    Shell Transport & Trading Co. PLC  ..............................    201,860 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Food Processing 
   10,000    Devro PLC  ......................................................     64,104 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Products 
    7,000    Reckitt & Colman PLC  ...........................................    108,912 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Insurance 
    4,200    Britannic Assurance PLC  ........................................     53,813 
    5,700    Commercial Union PLC  ...........................................     64,061 
   10,441    Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group PLC  .......................     85,761 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  203,635 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Leisure 
    2,671    Granada Group PLC  ..............................................     36,785 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    6,220    Glaxo Wellcome PLC  .............................................    131,652 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Property - Casualty Insurance 
       65    General Accident PLC  ...........................................$       980 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail 
    9,500    Sainsbury (J.) PLC  .............................................     66,195 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Telecommunications 
   10,000    British Telecommunications PLC  .................................     70,007 
    9,602    Securicor PLC  ..................................................     43,607 
   11,900    Vodafone Group PLC  .............................................     60,091 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  173,705 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Transportation 
    7,811    British Airways PLC  ............................................     84,896 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities 
    3,220    Thames Water PLC  ...............................................     42,392 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Utilities -Electric 
    6,500    National Power PLC  .............................................     57,546 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM  ...........................................  2,065,670 
                                                                              ----------- 
             UNITED STATES (25.1%) 
             Aerospace & Defense 
    1,040    Lockheed Martin Corp.  ..........................................    110,760 
    6,130    Loral Space & Communications*  ..................................     95,781 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  206,541 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Aluminum 
    1,240    Aluminum Co. of America  ........................................    109,740 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Automotive 
    2,940    Chrysler Corp.  .................................................    109,147 
    2,870    Ford Motor Co.  .................................................    117,311 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  226,458 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Banks 
    1,970    First Tennessee National Corp.  .................................    102,440 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks 
    2,780    PepsiCo, Inc.  ..................................................    106,509 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Biotechnology 
    4,120    Biochem Pharma, Inc.*  ..........................................    118,450 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Chemicals 
    1,060    Dow Chemical Co.  ...............................................    100,700 
    2,250    Monsanto Co.  ...................................................    112,078 
    1,880    Praxair, Inc.  ..................................................    103,635 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  316,413 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Communications - Equipment & Software 
    1,850    Cisco Systems, Inc.*  ...........................................    146,959 
                                                                              ----------- 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                        VALUE 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             Computer Software 
    2,400    Oracle Systems Corp.*  ..........................................$   130,350 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computers 
    3,360    Gateway 2000, Inc.*  ............................................    128,310 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computers - Peripheral Equipment 
    1,900    Seagate Technology, Inc.*  ......................................     78,019 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Computers - Systems 
    1,760    Hewlett-Packard Co.  ............................................    123,310 
    3,230    Sun Microsystems, Inc.*  ........................................    147,571 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  270,881 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electrical Equipment 
    1,260    Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................     94,106 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electronics - Defense 
    1,590    General Motors Corp. (Class H)  .................................     96,096 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Electronics - Semiconductors/Components 
    1,300    Intel Corp.  ....................................................    119,275 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Entertainment 
    1,240    Walt Disney Productions  ........................................    100,207 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Financial - Miscellaneous 
    2,400    Ahmanson (H.F.) & Co.  ..........................................    127,650 
    1,460    American Express Co.  ...........................................    122,275 
    2,350    Fannie Mae  .....................................................    111,184 
    1,400    Golden West Financial Corp.  ....................................    117,775 
    1,770    Travelers Group, Inc.  ..........................................    127,329 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  606,213 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Foods 
    1,450    General Mills, Inc.  ............................................    100,231 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Furnishings & Appliances 
    4,340    Maytag Corp.  ...................................................    126,674 
    2,800    Sunbeam Corp.  ..................................................    109,550 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  236,224 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Household Products 
    1,700    Colgate-Palmolive Co.  ..........................................    128,775 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Medical Products & Supplies 
    2,040    Baxter International, Inc.  .....................................    117,938 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Medical Services 
    2,000    HBO & Co.  ......................................................    154,500 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Oil Integrated -International 
    1,500    Atlantic Richfield Co.  .........................................$   112,219 
    1,480    Chevron Corp.  ..................................................    117,105 
    1,900    Exxon Corp.  ....................................................    122,075 
    1,520    Mobil Corp.  ....................................................    116,280 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  467,679 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Pharmaceuticals 
    1,580    Abbott Laboratories  ............................................    103,391 
    1,480    American Home Products Corp.  ...................................    122,008 
                                                                              ----------- 
                                                                                  225,399 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Department Stores 
    1,800    Sears, Roebuck & Co.  ...........................................    113,963 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Specialty 
    3,670    Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*  .......................................    121,110 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Retail - Specialty Apparel 
    2,680    Gap, Inc.  ......................................................    119,093 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Semiconductor Equipment 
    3,140    Teradyne, Inc.*  ................................................    146,795 
                                                                              ----------- 
             Shoes 
    1,440    Nike, Inc. (Class B)  ...........................................     89,730 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL UNITED STATES  ............................................  4,978,404 
                                                                              ----------- 
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $15,100,950)  .................................. 18,572,282 
                                                                              ----------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
AMOUNT IN 
THOUSANDS 
- -----------
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (a)(7.1%) 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
             Federal Farm Credit Bank 
   $1,000     5.45% due 08/04/97  ............................................   999,546 
      400    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.  
             5.75% due 08/01/97  .............................................   400,000 
                                                                              ---------- 
             TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 
             (Amortized Cost $1,399,546)  .................................... 1,399,546 
                                                                              ---------- 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS                                                  
(Identified Cost $16,500,496)(b)  .................................  100.9%   19,971,828 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF CASH                                      
 AND OTHER ASSETS .................................................   (0.9)     (174,632) 
                                                                   -------- ------------ 
NET ASSETS ........................................................  100.0%  $19,797,196 
                                                                   ======== ============ 
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

- ------------ 
ADR     American Depository Receipt. 
GDR     Global Depository Receipt. 
*       Non-income producing security. 
**      Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors. 
(a)     Securities were purchased on a discount basis. The interest rates 
        shown have been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $3,806,319 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $334,987, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $3,471,332. 

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS OPEN AT JULY 31, 1997: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            IN                        UNREALIZED 
   CONTRACTS TO          EXCHANGE        DELIVERY   APPRECIATION/ 
      RECEIVE              FOR             DATE     (DEPRECIATION) 
- ------------------ ------------------- ----------  --------------- 
<S>     <C>        <C>     <C>           <C>           <C>
$          64,633  ESP     10,034,338    08/01/97      $    50 
$           1,472  MXN         11,571    08/01/97           (8) 
DEM        69,082  $           37,698    08/04/97         (123) 
NLG       142,403  $           69,027    08/04/97         (257) 
yen     6,273,323  $           52,939    08/05/97          (18) 
MYR       199,255  $           75,936    08/05/97         (259) 
PTE     7,438,359  $           40,153    08/05/97         (119) 
$          93,976  ESP     14,622,742    08/07/97         (139) 
SGD        72,082  $           49,042    08/07/97          (47) 
$          22,998  AUD         30,870    08/08/97          (77) 
FRF       563,860  $           91,528    08/29/97         (546) 
                                                       -------
Net unrealized depreciation......................      $(1,543) 
                                                       =======
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO 
SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 PERCENT OF 
INDUSTRY                             VALUE       NET ASSETS 
- ----------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                               <C>                <C>
Aerospace ......................  $    43,939        0.2% 
Aerospace & Defense ............      331,785        1.7 
Aluminum .......................      109,740        0.6 
Apparel ........................       46,995        0.2 
Auto Parts -Original Equipment         80,755        0.4 
Automotive .....................      925,692        4.7 
Banking ........................      872,984        4.4 
Banks ..........................      310,361        1.6 
Beverages ......................      166,036        0.8 
Beverages -Soft Drinks .........      106,509        0.5 
Biotechnology ..................      118,450        0.6 
Brewers ........................       22,488        0.1 
Brewery ........................      147,700        0.8 
Broadcast Media ................       38,807        0.2 
Building & Construction ........      217,285        1.1 
Building Materials .............      124,045        0.6 
Business & Public Services  ....       74,946        0.4 
Business Services ..............      240,501        1.2 
Chemicals ......................      729,164        3.7 
Communications -Equipment & 
 Software ......................      146,959        0.7 
Computer Services ..............       44,599        0.2 
Computer Software ..............      130,350        0.7 
Computer Software & Services ...       80,622        0.4 
Computers ......................      216,382        1.1 
Computers -Peripheral Equipment        78,019        0.4 
Computers -Systems .............      270,881        1.4 
Conglomerates ..................      430,222        2.2 
Consumer Products ..............      146,974        0.7 
Electrical Equipment ...........       94,106        0.5 
Electronics ....................    1,186,863        6.0 
Electronics -Defense ...........       96,096        0.5 
Electronics -Semiconductors/ 
 Components ....................      250,033        1.3 
Energy .........................      440,172        2.2 
Engineering ....................       56,890        0.3 
Entertainment ..................      147,704        0.8 
Finance & Brokerage ............       79,525        0.4 
Financial -Miscellaneous  ......      606,213        3.1 
Financial Services .............      326,236        1.6 
Food Processing ................      233,253        1.2 
Foods ..........................      100,231        0.5 
Foods & Beverages ..............       46,263        0.2 
Furniture ......................       47,327        0.2 
Hospital Management ............       27,529        0.1 
Household Furnishings & 
 Appliances ....................      318,912        1.6 
Household Products .............  $   298,702        1.5% 
Insurance ......................      476,135        2.4 
International Trade ............       95,326        0.5 
Leisure ........................      127,015        0.6 
Machine Tools ..................       57,576        0.3 
Machinery ......................      288,581        1.5 
Machinery -Diversified .........       46,696        0.2 
Manufacturing ..................       58,380        0.3 
Medical Products & Supplies  ...      117,938        0.6 
Medical Services ...............      154,500        0.8 
Metals & Mining ................       55,022        0.3 
Natural Gas ....................       91,829        0.5 
Oil Integrated -International  .      467,679        2.4 
Paper & Forest Products ........       68,048        0.3 
Paper Products .................      133,541        0.7 
Pharmaceuticals ................    1,072,783        5.4 
Property -Casualty Insurance ...          980        0.0 
Publishing .....................      126,974        0.6 
Real Estate ....................      423,434        2.1 
Restaurants ....................       61,583        0.3 
Retail .........................      650,531        3.3 
Retail -Department Stores  .....      203,632        1.0 
Retail -Specialty ..............      121,110        0.6 
Retail -Specialty Apparel  .....      119,093        0.6 
Semiconductor Equipment ........      146,795        0.7 
Shoes ..........................       89,730        0.5 
Steel ..........................       66,668        0.3 
Steel & Iron ...................      221,810        1.1 
Telecommunications .............    1,099,479        5.6 
Textiles .......................       64,535        0.3 
Transportation .................      492,015        2.5 
U.S. Government Agencies  ......    1,399,546        7.1 
Utilities ......................      121,823        0.6 
Utilities -Electric ............      519,748        2.6 
Utilities -Telecommunications ..       70,167        0.4 
Wholesale Distributor ..........       51,881        0.3 
                                 ------------- ------------ 
                                  $19,971,828      100.9% 
                                 ============= ============ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         PERCENT OF 
TYPE OF INVESTMENT           VALUE       NET ASSETS 
- --------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                       <C>               <C>
Common Stocks ..........  $18,572,282       93.8% 
Short-Term Investments      1,399,546        7.1 
                          -----------      -----  
                          $19,971,828      100.9% 
                          ===========      =====
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCKS (58.4%) 
             Aerospace & Defense (1.1%) 
    3,905    Honeywell, Inc.  ................................................  $  291,655 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Aluminum (0.5%) 
    1,600    Aluminum Co. of America .........................................     141,600 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Automotive (1.7%) 
    8,000    Chrysler Corp. ..................................................     297,000 
    3,500    Ford Motor Co.  .................................................     143,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   440,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Money Center (2.3%) 
    4,500    Citicorp ........................................................     610,875 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Banks - Regional (2.0%) 
    1,940    Wells Fargo & Co. ...............................................     533,379 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Beverages - Soft Drinks (0.5%) 
    3,400    PepsiCo Inc.  ...................................................     130,262 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Cable/Cellular (0.8%) 
    9,400    U.S. West Media Group* ..........................................     207,387 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Chemicals (2.6%) 
    1,250    Dow Chemical Co. ................................................     118,750 
   11,450    Monsanto Co.  ...................................................     570,353 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   689,103 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Communications - Equipment & Software (0.6%) 
    1,840    Cisco Systems, Inc.*  ...........................................     146,165 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computer Software (1.6%) 
    1,800    Microsoft Corp.* ................................................     254,362 
    3,150    Oracle Corp.* ...................................................     171,084 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   425,446 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers (4.5%) 
   10,400    Dell Computer Corp.*  ...........................................     889,200 
    7,800    Gateway 2000, Inc.*  ............................................     297,862 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,187,062 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Peripheral Equipment (1.8%) 
   11,250    Seagate Technology, Inc.* .......................................     461,953 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Computers - Systems (3.7%) 
    3,450    Diebold, Inc.  ..................................................     173,362 
    9,500    Hewlett-Packard Co.  ............................................     665,594 
    3,300    Sun Microsystems, Inc.* .........................................     150,769 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   989,725 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Consumer Products (1.8%) 
   14,000    Tupperware Corp.  ...............................................     486,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electrical Equipment (2.4%) 
    4,820    Emerson Electric Co. ............................................  $  284,380 
    5,160    General Electric Co.  ...........................................     362,167 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   646,547 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Electronics - 
             Semiconductors/Components (2.1%) 
    6,000    Intel Corp. .....................................................     550,500 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Entertainment/Gaming (0.7%) 
    7,000    Circus Circus Enterprises, Inc.* ................................     175,437 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Financial Services (2.0%) 
    5,000    American Express Co. ............................................     418,750 
    2,600    Fannie Mae ......................................................     123,013 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   541,763 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Foods (2.6%) 
    2,860    Campbell Soup Co.  ..............................................     148,363 
    7,900    General Mills, Inc.  ............................................     546,088 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   694,451 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Forest Products (2.4%) 
   10,100    Champion International Corp. ....................................     626,200 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Healthcare - HMOs (1.0%) 
   11,200    Humana, Inc.*  ..................................................     273,000 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Household Appliances (1.2%) 
   11,000    Maytag Corp.  ...................................................     321,063 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Insurance (0.1%) 
             Aetna Inc. (Class C) 
      172    (Conv. Pref.) $4.75  ............................................      17,329 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - International Integrated (5.8%) 
    6,400    Atlantic Richfield Co.  .........................................     478,800 
    2,070    Chevron Corp.  ..................................................     163,789 
    2,800    Exxon Corp.  ....................................................     179,900 
    7,200    Mobil Corp. .....................................................     550,800 
    1,500    Texaco, Inc. ....................................................     174,094 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,547,383 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Pharmaceuticals (4.5%) 
    1,800    Abbott Laboratories .............................................     117,788 
    6,700    American Home Products Corp. ....................................     552,331 
    8,450    Johnson & Johnson ...............................................     526,541 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                 1,196,660 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail -Specialty (3.2%) 
   10,000    Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*  .......................................     330,000 
    2,400    Costco Companies Inc.* ..........................................      90,900 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

 NUMBER OF 
   SHARES                                                                         VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    3,450    Home Depot, Inc.  ............................................... $   172,069 
   14,250    Pier 1 Imports, Inc. ............................................     251,156 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   844,125 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Retail - Specialty Apparel (2.5%) 
   14,600    Gap, Inc. .......................................................     648,788 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Savings & Loans (0.5%) 
    1,500    Golden West Financial Corp. .....................................     126,187 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Shoes (0.7%) 
    3,000    Nike, Inc. (Class B) ............................................     186,938 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Steel (1.2%) 
    4,300    Inland Steel Industries, Inc.  ..................................      98,631 
    3,450    Nucor Corp. .....................................................     214,116 
                                                                              ------------- 
                                                                                   312,747 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL COMMON AND 
             PREFERRED STOCKS 
             (Identified Cost $10,314,161)  ..................................  15,450,292 
                                                                              ------------- 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS 
- ----------- 
<S>          <C>                                                               <C>
             CORPORATE BONDS (3.7%) 
             Automotive - Finance (0.1%) 
   $   15    Ford Capital BV (Netherlands) 
              9.375% due 05/15/01  ...........................................    16,545 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Banks (0.9%) 
      100    Bank One Corp 
              9.875% due 03/01/09  ...........................................   124,417 
             Central Fidelity Capital I 
      100    Series -144A** 
              6.75% due 04/15/27  ............................................   102,601 
                                                                              ------------ 
                                                                                 227,018 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial (0.4%) 
      100    Money Store Inc. (The) 
              8.375% due 04/15/04  ...........................................   105,497 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Financial Services (0.4%) 
             Centura Capital Trust I 
      100    Series 144A** 
              8.845% due 06/01/27  ...........................................   108,125 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Insurance (0.4%) 
      100    Vesta Capital Trust I -144A** 
              8.525% due 01/15/27  ...........................................   108,250 
                                                                              ------------ 
             Metals & Mining (0.4%) 
      100    Placer Dome, Inc. (Canada) 
              8.50% due 12/31/45  ............................................   102,750 
                                                                              ------------ 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                        VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>          <C>                                                              <C>
             Oil & Gas Products (0.4%) 
   $  100    Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. 
              6.75% due 02/15/04  ............................................  $  99,420 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Oil - Domestic (0.2%) 
       50    Occidental Petroleum Corp. 
              11.125% due 08/01/10  ..........................................     67,914 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Steel (0.0%) 
       10    Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (South Korea) 
              7.50% due 08/01/02  ............................................     10,336 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Telecommunications (0.4%) 
      100    Total Access Communication -144A** (Thailand) 
              8.375% due 11/04/06  ...........................................     99,250 
                                                                              ------------- 
             Utilities - Electric (0.1%) 
       20    Long Island Lighting Co. 
              6.25% due 07/15/01  ............................................     19,789 
                                                                              ------------- 
             TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS 
             (Identified Cost $919,525)  .....................................    964,894 
                                                                              ------------- 
             U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS (16.0%) 
      400    U.S. Treasury Bond 
              6.50% due 11/15/26  ............................................    408,984 
      315    U.S. Treasury Bond 
              6.875% due 08/15/25  ...........................................    336,414 
      150    U.S. Treasury Bond 
              7.625% due 02/15/25  ...........................................    174,529 
      550    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.125% due 11/30/98  ...........................................    546,364 
      950    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.25% due 12/31/97  ............................................    949,269 
      350    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.625% due 11/30/00  ...........................................    348,071 
      450    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.75% due 08/15/03  ............................................    445,927 
      100    U.S. Treasury Note 
              5.875% due 11/30/01  ...........................................     99,956 
       50    U.S. Treasury Note 
              6.375% due 01/15/99  ...........................................     50,506 
      350    U.S. Treasury Note 
              6.50% due 05/15/05  ............................................    360,315 
      360    U.S. Treasury Note 
             6.875% due 08/31/99  ............................................    367,978 
</TABLE>

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES - STRATEGIST 
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 PRINCIPAL 
 AMOUNT IN 
 THOUSANDS                                                                                   VALUE 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>         <C>                                                                        <C>
  $ 140     U.S. Treasury Note 
             7.25% due 05/15/04  ........................................................ $  149,911 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS 
            (Identified Cost $4,145,542)  ...............................................  4,238,224 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (22.0%) 
            U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (a)(21.2%) 
  5,000     Federal Farm Credit Bank 
             5.42% due 08/05/97  ........................................................  4,996,989 
    600     Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. 
             5.75% due 08/01/97  ........................................................    600,000 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
            (Amortized Cost $5,596,989)  ................................................  5,596,989 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (0.8%) 
    223     The Bank of New York 5.75% due 08/01/97 (dated 07/31/97; proceeds 
             $222,587)(b) (Identified Cost $222,551)  ...................................    222,551 
                                                                                         ------------- 
            TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 
            (Identified Cost $5,819,540) ................................................  5,819,540 
                                                                                         ------------- 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 
(Identified Cost $21,198,768)(c)  ..........................................     100.1%   26,472,950 
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF                                                      
OTHER ASSETS ...............................................................      (0.1)      (13,530) 
                                                                               --------  -------------
NET ASSETS .................................................................     100.0%  $26,459,420 
                                                                               ========  ============= 
</TABLE>                           

- ------------ 
*       Non-income producing security. 
**      Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors. 
(a)     Securities were purchased on a discount basis. The interest rates 
        shown have been adjusted to reflect a money market equivalent yield. 
(b)     Collateralized by $120,000 U.S. Treasury Note 7.875% due 04/15/98 
        valued at $124,656, $93,651 U.S. Treasury Note 7.00% due 04/15/99 
        valued at $97,514 and $4,723 U.S. Treasury Note 5.625% due 08/31/97 
        valued at $4,832. 
(c)     The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates 
        identified cost. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is 
        $5,356,659 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is 
        $82,477, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $5,274,182. 

                       SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 
July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      INTERMEDIATE 
                                                                    U.S. GOVERNMENT  U.S. GOVERNMENT     INCOME 
                                                     LIQUID ASSET    MONEY MARKET       SECURITIES     SECURITIES 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>
ASSETS: 
Investments in securities, at value*...............   $20,113,397     $4,036,736      $10,350,075      $2,347,060 
Cash ..............................................         8,427          2,213           78,974          86,163 
Receivable for: 
 Investments sold..................................        --             --               --              -- 
 Shares of beneficial interest sold................     1,135,082         10,301           22,677           3,462 
 Dividends.........................................        --             --               --              -- 
 Interest..........................................        --             --               76,764          33,314 
 Foreign withholding taxes reclaimed...............        --             --               --              -- 
Prepaid expenses and other assets..................        26,147          5,790            6,691          12,589 
Deferred organizational expenses...................         1,127          1,284            1,191           1,189 
Receivable from affiliate..........................        --              8,537           --               6,791 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
 TOTAL ASSETS......................................    21,284,180      4,064,861       10,536,372       2,490,568 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
LIABILITIES: 
Payable for: 
 Investments purchased.............................        --             --               --              -- 
 Shares of beneficial interest repurchased ........        38,541         --               11,416           8,580 
 Dividends to shareholders.........................        --             --                4,011             746 
 Investment management fee.........................         4,022         --                  110          -- 
Accrued expenses and other payables................        23,148         17,969           19,019          19,964 
Organizational expenses payable....................         5,441          5,596            5,509           5,506 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
 TOTAL LIABILITIES.................................        71,152         23,565           40,065          34,796 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
NET ASSETS: 
Paid-in-capital....................................    21,213,018      4,041,296       10,359,177       2,514,907 
Accumulated undistributed net investment income  ..            10         --               --                  46 
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain 
 (loss)............................................        --             --                 (491)        (91,207) 
Net unrealized appreciation........................        --             --              137,621          32,026 
                                                      -----------     ----------      -----------      ---------- 
  NET ASSETS ......................................   $21,213,028     $4,041,296      $10,496,307      $2,455,772 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
 *IDENTIFIED COST..................................   $20,113,397     $4,036,736      $10,212,454      $2,315,034 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
  SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST OUTSTANDING  ......    21,213,018      4,042,542        1,059,510         253,850 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE 
 (unlimited authorized shares of $.01 par value) ..         $1.00          $1.00            $9.91           $9.67 
                                                      ===========     ==========      ===========      ==========
</TABLE>




                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   AMERICAN       CAPITAL       DIVIDEND                   VALUE-ADDED      GLOBAL                  
     VALUE        GROWTH         GROWTH       UTILITIES       MARKET        EQUITY       STRATEGIST 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
<S>             <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>         
 $53,898,134    $3,595,614    $116,084,027   $5,671,872    $23,856,111    $19,971,828   $26,472,950 
      50,162        17,654         --            --             71,591         97,563        --     
                                                                                                    
   1,160,411       114,777         338,972       59,863        724,700        274,717        --     
     117,578        17,493         153,745       13,810         32,661         36,421        50,264 
      27,266           905         165,765       20,937         22,727         10,450        18,010 
      --            --                 121           21         --             --            81,793 
         101        --             --             1,065         --              8,996           144 
      13,270         4,338          11,076        5,646          8,501          9,554         7,169 
       1,376         1,379           1,186        1,191          1,379          1,191         1,189 
      --             5,185         --             2,057         --             25,572        --     
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
  55,268,298     3,757,345     116,754,892    5,776,462     24,717,670     20,436,292    26,631,519 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
                                                                                                    
     918,594        58,353       1,221,168      316,275        861,090        574,355        --     
      77,147         3,874         108,736       43,837         45,267         28,565       125,989 
      --            --             --            --             --             --            --     
      20,595        --              71,294       --              5,006         --            16,034 
      31,781        19,786          36,684       19,613         20,886         30,667        24,575 
       5,687         5,686           5,501        5,509          5,686          5,509         5,501 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
   1,053,804        87,699       1,443,383      385,234        937,935        639,096       172,099 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
                                                                                                    
  37,394,619     2,542,364      78,149,265    3,829,119     14,983,162     15,411,210    20,620,027 
      46,600        --             365,924       54,200        100,361        131,548       381,735 
   6,688,579       257,050       8,002,032      476,783        345,423        784,106       183,476 
  10,084,696       870,232      28,794,288    1,031,126      8,350,789      3,470,332     5,274,182 
- -------------  ------------ --------------  ------------  ------------- -------------  -------------
 $54,214,494    $3,669,646    $115,311,509   $5,391,228    $23,779,735    $19,797,196   $26,459,420 
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
 $43,813,438    $2,725,382    $ 87,289,739   $4,640,746    $15,505,322    $16,500,496   $21,198,768 
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
   3,197,235       207,826       5,855,243      391,125      1,262,502      1,367,161     1,744,091 
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
                                                                                                    
      $16.96        $17.66          $19.69       $13.78         $18.84         $14.48        $15.17   
=============  ============ ==============  ============  ============= =============  =============
</TABLE>                                                  

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
For the year ended July 31, 1997 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      INTERMEDIATE 
                                                                    U.S. GOVERNMENT  U.S. GOVERNMENT     INCOME 
                                                     LIQUID ASSET    MONEY MARKET      SECURITIES      SECURITIES 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
<S>                                                   <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>
NET INVESTMENT INCOME: 

INCOME 
Interest...........................................   $1,450,222       $393,765         $706,725        $245,036 
Dividends..........................................       --              --               --              -- 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  TOTAL INCOME.....................................    1,450,222        393,765          706,725         245,036 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
EXPENSES 
Investment management fees.........................      132,515         36,695           67,676          24,502 
Transfer agent fees and expenses...................       52,551          6,122           42,577           7,692 
Shareholder reports and notices....................       29,598          4,314            4,749           2,416 
Professional fees..................................       15,232         15,334           14,872          16,995 
Registration fees..................................       25,200         14,233           22,217          13,083 
Custodian fees.....................................       10,663          6,196            3,435           4,847 
Trustees' fees and expenses........................        3,655            321              753             250 
Organizational expenses............................        2,722          2,721            2,727           2,727 
Other..............................................        3,904          1,879            1,870           3,021 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  TOTAL EXPENSES...................................      276,040         87,815          160,876          75,533 
Less: amounts waived/reimbursed ...................      (11,009)       (14,427)         (56,757)        (37,837) 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  NET EXPENSES.....................................      265,031         73,388          104,119          37,696 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS).....................    1,185,191        320,377          602,606         207,340 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS): 
Net realized gain (loss)...........................       --              --               5,297         (62,395) 
Net change in unrealized 
 appreciation/depreciation.........................       --              --             365,249         151,066 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
  NET GAIN.........................................       --              --             370,546          88,671 
                                                    -------------- ---------------  --------------- -------------- 
NET INCREASE.......................................   $1,185,191       $320,377         $973,152        $296,011 
                                                    ============== ===============  =============== ============== 
</TABLE>

- --------------
*      Net of $1,132, $10, $7,380, $972, $1,050, $18,695 and $63 foreign 
       withholding tax, respectively. 



                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   AMERICAN       CAPITAL      DIVIDEND                   VALUE-ADDED     GLOBAL 
     VALUE        GROWTH        GROWTH       UTILITIES      MARKET        EQUITY      STRATEGIST 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
<S>            <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
 $   147,964    $    8,415    $    69,357   $   41,817    $   34,670    $   67,144    $  673,048 
     357,714*       12,328*     2,522,140*     208,343*      368,546*      214,870*      153,990* 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
     505,678        20,743      2,591,497      250,160       403,216       282,014       827,038 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 

     390,217        22,697        672,098       51,738        97,479       153,656       180,204 
      77,489         3,914         86,989       18,120        18,607        37,093        51,763 
      20,768         1,692         38,212        3,853         8,952         5,415        10,295 
      12,798        11,302         13,936       15,840        15,314        15,207        10,489 
      18,634        28,006         32,684       19,450        20,656        27,047        20,879 
      28,005        12,249         12,104        7,964        24,785        28,694        13,942 
       3,312            47          6,141          285         1,131           819         1,050 
       2,720         2,717          2,724        2,727         2,717         2,727         2,721 
       3,530         1,744          3,851        2,533        10,004        13,075         5,095 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
     557,473        84,368        868,739      122,510       199,645       283,733       296,438 
     (98,395)      (57,660)        --          (53,527)       (4,686)     (130,077)      (84,434) 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
     459,078        26,708        868,739       68,983       194,959       153,656       212,004 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
      46,600        (5,965)     1,722,758      181,177       208,257       128,358       615,034 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 

   7,151,437       294,325      8,642,932      608,162       896,043       811,865       247,627 
   9,007,653       762,068     21,493,364      426,820     6,185,067     2,898,751     4,379,845 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
  16,159,090     1,056,393     30,136,296    1,034,982     7,081,110     3,710,616     4,627,472 
- -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ -------------  ------------ ------------ 
 $16,205,690    $1,050,428    $31,859,054   $1,216,159    $7,289,367    $3,838,974    $5,242,506 
=============  ============ =============  ============ =============  ============ ============ 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS 
For the year ended July 31, 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  U.S. GOVERNMENT 
                                                                LIQUID ASSET                        MONEY MARKET 
                                                       ------------------------------- -------------------------------------- 
                                                            1997            1996            1997                1996 
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
<S>                                                     <C>             <C>             <C>                 <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS: 
OPERATIONS: 
Net investment income (loss)..........................  $  1,185,191    $   3,416,056   $    320,377        $    727,122 
Net realized gain (loss)..............................       --               --             --                  -- 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation ...       --               --             --                  -- 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  NET INCREASE .......................................     1,185,191        3,416,056        320,377             727,122 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: 
Net investment income.................................    (1,185,223)      (3,416,043)      (321,625)           (727,125) 
Net realized gain.....................................       --               --             --                  -- 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  TOTAL...............................................    (1,185,223)      (3,416,043)      (321,625)           (727,125) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST: 
Net proceeds from sales...............................    29,266,419      177,956,895      8,809,340          27,880,399 
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions ..........     1,185,223        3,416,043        321,624             727,125 
Cost of shares repurchased............................   (51,991,220)    (174,251,486)   (11,716,197)        (32,674,558) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  NET INCREASE (DECREASE).............................   (21,539,578)       7,121,452     (2,585,233)         (4,067,034) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE)...........................   (21,539,610)       7,121,465     (2,586,481)         (4,067,037) 
NET ASSETS: 
Beginning of period...................................    42,752,638       35,631,173      6,627,777          10,694,814 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
  END OF PERIOD.......................................  $ 21,213,028    $  42,752,638   $  4,041,296        $  6,627,777 
                                                        ============    =============   ============        ============
UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT INCOME...................  $         10    $          42        --             $          2 
                                                        ============    =============   ============        ============
SHARES ISSUED AND REPURCHASED: 
Sold..................................................    29,266,419      177,956,895      8,809,340          27,880,399 
Issued in reinvestment of dividends and 
 distributions........................................     1,185,223        3,416,043        321,624             727,125 
Repurchased...........................................   (51,991,220)    (174,251,486)   (11,716,197)        (32,674,558) 
                                                        ------------    -------------   ------------        ------------ 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE)...............................   (21,539,578)       7,121,452     (2,585,233)         (4,067,034) 
                                                        ============    =============   ============        ============
</TABLE>



                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       U.S. GOVERNMENT               INTERMEDIATE 
         SECURITIES                INCOME SECURITIES              AMERICAN VALUE                    CAPITAL GROWTH 
- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------- ------------------------------------- 
     1997           1996          1997           1996           1997           1996          1997               1996 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
<S>            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>
 $   602,606    $   434,937    $   207,340   $   218,492    $     46,600   $   244,604    $   (5,965)        $    6,999 
       5,297         18,226        (62,395)      (27,045)      7,151,437     4,355,860       294,325             31,476 
     365,249       (149,772)       151,066      (116,038)      9,007,653    (2,487,467)      762,068             45,817 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
     973,152        303,391        296,011        75,409      16,205,690     2,112,997     1,050,428             84,292 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 

    (602,630)      (434,913)      (207,294)     (218,918)        (93,984)     (299,827)       (2,106)            (8,566) 
     (22,190)        --             --            (4,854)     (3,137,376)   (2,309,181)      (56,080)            (4,860) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
    (624,820)      (434,913)      (207,294)     (223,772)     (3,231,360)   (2,609,008)      (58,186)           (13,426) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 

   5,963,450      9,509,649      3,241,075     4,840,703      20,568,978    21,806,112     1,297,311          1,518,128 
     567,526        433,619        165,904       217,069       3,227,638     2,602,757        58,150             13,426 
  (5,033,814)    (5,369,758)    (5,211,640)   (1,731,472)    (22,877,816)   (6,172,981)     (665,910)          (292,073) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
   1,497,162      4,573,510     (1,804,661)    3,326,300         918,800    18,235,888       689,551          1,239,481 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
   1,845,494      4,441,988     (1,715,944)    3,177,937      13,893,130    17,739,877     1,681,793          1,310,347 

   8,650,813      4,208,825      4,171,716       993,779      40,321,364    22,581,487     1,987,853            677,506 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
 $10,496,307    $ 8,650,813    $ 2,455,772   $ 4,171,716    $ 54,214,494   $40,321,364    $3,669,646         $1,987,853 
=============  ============= =============  ============= ==============  ============= ============  ======================= 
 $                                           $                                            $ 
      --        $        24    $        46        --        $     46,600   $    93,984        --             $    2,106 
=============  ============= =============  ============= ==============  ============= ============  ======================= 

     616,600        971,490        340,574       499,259       1,422,680     1,603,955        91,240            119,028 
      58,481         44,420         17,479        22,618         237,676       203,340         4,317              1,087 
    (517,322)      (547,637)      (547,645)     (181,670)     (1,545,904)     (447,666)      (45,416)           (23,095) 
- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- --------------  ------------- ------------  ----------------------- 
     157,759        468,273       (189,592)      340,207         114,452     1,359,629        50,141             97,020 
=============  ============= =============  ============= ==============  ============= ============  ======================= 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSSETS, continued 
For the year ended July 31, 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DIVIDEND GROWTH                 UTILITIES 
                                                       ----------------------------- -----------------------------
                                                            1997           1996           1997           1996 
- -----------------------------------------------------  -------------- -------------  ------------- ---------------
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>            <C>              <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS: 
OPERATIONS: 
Net investment income.................................  $  1,722,758    $ 1,244,989   $   181,177     $   205,110 
Net realized gain (loss)..............................     8,642,932      2,317,010       608,162         (13,965) 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation ...    21,493,364      2,701,826       426,820         257,350 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  NET INCREASE .......................................    31,859,054      6,263,825     1,216,159         448,495 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM: 
Net investment income.................................    (1,707,024)    (1,199,564)     (160,780)       (230,987) 
Net realized gain.....................................    (2,463,125)      (590,466)       --              -- 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  TOTAL...............................................    (4,170,149)    (1,790,030)     (160,780)       (230,987) 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST: 
Net proceeds from sales...............................    37,149,898     36,503,267     2,818,978       3,456,194 
Reinvestment of dividends and distributions ..........     4,150,502      1,779,713       158,903         227,657 
Cost of shares repurchased............................   (23,440,408)    (8,398,184)   (6,235,329)     (1,687,882) 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  NET INCREASE (DECREASE).............................    17,859,992     29,884,796    (3,257,448)      1,995,969 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE)...........................    45,548,897     34,358,591    (2,202,069)      2,213,477 
NET ASSETS: 
Beginning of period...................................    69,762,612     35,404,021     7,593,297       5,379,820 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     ----------- 
  END OF PERIOD.......................................  $115,311,509    $69,762,612   $ 5,391,228     $ 7,593,297 
                                                        ============    ===========   ===========     ===========
UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT INCOME...................  $    365,924    $   350,190   $    54,200     $    33,362 
                                                        ============    ===========   ===========     ===========
SHARES ISSUED AND REPURCHASED: 
Sold..................................................     2,205,684      2,524,798       222,951         288,411 
Issued in reinvestment of dividends and 
 distributions........................................       255,693        126,953        12,596          18,947 
Repurchased...........................................    (1,379,982)      (583,926)     (488,313)       (141,590) 
                                                        ------------    -----------   -----------     -----------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE)...............................     1,081,395      2,067,825      (252,766)        165,768 
                                                        ============    ===========   ===========     ===========
</TABLE>



                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      VALUE-ADDED MARKET              GLOBAL EQUITY                        STRATEGIST 
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------------------- 
      1997           1996          1997           1996          1997                  1996 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
<S>             <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>
 $    208,257    $   331,372    $   128,358   $    84,531    $   615,034         $   287,670 
      896,043        186,832        811,865       434,795        247,627             730,868 
    6,185,067      1,044,025      2,898,751        47,491      4,379,845             291,438 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
    7,289,367      1,562,229      3,838,974       566,817      5,242,506           1,309,976 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 

     (279,999)      (257,479)       (70,000)     (126,784)      (408,002)           (244,742) 
     (698,399)       (78,439)      (367,529)       --           (699,994)           (159,285) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
     (978,398)      (335,918)      (437,529)     (126,784)    (1,107,996)           (404,027) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 

    6,558,038      6,512,239      7,696,263     6,329,119      7,519,070          12,101,707 
      948,925        329,833        435,668       121,869      1,107,086             403,090 
  (10,417,432)    (1,769,137)    (3,421,423)   (2,492,083)    (3,796,952)         (2,673,732) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
   (2,910,469)     5,072,935      4,710,508     3,958,905      4,829,204           9,831,065 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
    3,400,500      6,299,246      8,111,953     4,398,938      8,963,714          10,737,014 

   20,379,235     14,079,989     11,685,243     7,286,305     17,495,706           6,758,692 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
 $ 23,779,735    $20,379,235    $19,797,196   $11,685,243    $26,459,420         $17,495,706 
==============  ============= =============  ============= =============  ========================= 
 $    100,361    $   172,103    $   131,548   $    49,495    $   381,735         $   174,703 
==============  ============= =============  ============= =============  ========================= 

      416,960        468,279        606,253       542,027        549,814             972,731 
       62,594         24,706         35,887        10,862         83,616              34,364 
     (680,374)      (129,743)      (265,700)     (214,741)      (277,595)           (218,134) 
- --------------  ------------- -------------  ------------- -------------  ------------------------- 
     (200,820)       363,242        376,440       338,148        355,835             788,961 
==============  ============= =============  ============= =============  ========================= 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997 


1. ORGANIZATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

Dean Witter Retirement Series (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment 
Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment 
company, consisting of eleven separate Series ("Series"). All of the Series, 
with the exception of Strategist, are diversified. 

The Fund was organized on May 14, 1992 as a Massachusetts business trust and 
each of the Series commenced operations as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           COMMENCEMENT                                  COMMENCEMENT 
                                          OF OPERATIONS                                  OF OPERATIONS 
                                          -------------                                  ------------- 
<S>                                       <C>                <C>                           <C>
Liquid Asset .......................      December 30, 1992  Dividend Growth ........       January 7, 1993 
U.S. Government Money Market  ......       January 20, 1993  Utilities ..............       January 8, 1993 
U.S. Government Securities .........        January 8, 1993  Value-Added Market  ....      February 1, 1993 
Intermediate Income Securities  ....       January 12, 1993  Global Equity ..........       January 8, 1993 
American Value .....................       February 1, 1993  Strategist .............       January 7, 1993 
Capital Growth .....................       February 2, 1993 
</TABLE>

The investment objectives of each Series are as follows: 

         SERIES                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liquid Asset            Seeks high current income, preservation of capital and
                        liquidity by investing in short-term money market
                        instruments.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government         Seeks high current income, preservation of capital and
Money Market            liquidity by investing primarily in money market
                        instruments which are issued and/or guaranteed by the
                        U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Government         Seeks high current income consistent with safety of 
Securities              principal by investing in a diversified portfolio of
                        obligations issued and/or guaranteed by the U.S.
                        Government or its instrumentalities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intermediate Income     Seeks high current income consistent with safety of
Securities              principal by investing primarily in intermediate term,
                        investment grade fixed-income securities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Value          Seeks long-term growth consistent with an effort to
                        reduce volatility by investing principally in common
                        stock of companies in industries which, at the time of
                        investment, are believed to be undervalued in the
                        marketplace.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Growth          Seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily
                        in common stocks.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividend Growth         Seeks to provide reasonable current income and
                        long-term growth of income and capital by investing
                        primarily in common stock of companies with a record of
                        paying dividends and the potential for increasing
                        dividends.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 

         SERIES                        INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Utilities               Seeks to provide current income and long-term growth of
                        income and capital by investing in equity and
                        fixed-income securities of companies in the public
                        utilities industry.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Value-Added             Seeks to achieve a high level of total return on its
Market                  assets through a combination of capital appreciation
                        and current income. It seeks to achieve this objective
                        by investing, on an equally weighted basis, in a
                        diversified portfolio of common stocks of the companies
                        which are represented in the Standard & Poor's 500
                        Composite Stock Price Index.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global Equity           Seeks to provide a high level of total return on its
                        assets, primarily through long-term capital growth and,
                        to a lesser extent, from income. It seeks to achieve
                        this objective through investments in all types of
                        common stocks and equivalents, preferred stocks and
                        bonds and other debt obligations of domestic and
                        foreign companies, governments and international
                        organizations.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strategist              Seeks a high total investment return through a fully
                        managed investment policy utilizing equity, investment
                        grade fixed income and money market securities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions 
that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ 
from those estimates. 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies: 

A. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS -- Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market: 
Securities are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. All 
remaining Series: (1) an equity security listed or traded on the New York, 
American or other domestic or foreign stock exchange is valued at its latest 
sale price on that exchange prior to the time when assets are valued; if 
there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the latest bid price 
(in cases where securities are traded on more than one exchange, the 
securities are valued on the exchange designated as the primary market 
pursuant to procedures adopted by the Trustees); (2) all other portfolio 
securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available 
are valued at the latest available bid price prior to the time of valuation; 
(3) when market quotations are not readily available, including circumstances 
under which it is determined by Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. (the 
"Investment Manager") that sale or bid prices are not reflective of a 
security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value 
as determined in good faith under procedures 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


established by and under the general supervision of the Trustees (valuation 
of securities for which market quotations are not readily available may also 
be based upon current market prices of securities which are comparable in 
coupon, rating and maturity, or an appropriate matrix utilizing similar 
factors); (4) certain portfolio securities may be valued by an outside 
pricing service approved by the Trustees. The pricing service may utilize a 
matrix system incorporating security quality, maturity and coupon as the 
evaluation model parameters, and/or research and evaluations by its staff, 
including review of broker-dealer market price quotations, if available, in 
determining what it believes is the fair valuation of the securities valued 
by such pricing service; and (5) short-term debt securities having a maturity 
date of more than sixty days at time of purchase are valued on a 
mark-to-market basis until sixty days prior to maturity and thereafter at 
amortized cost based on their value on the 61st day. Short-term debt 
securities having a maturity date of sixty days or less at the time of 
purchase are valued at amortized cost. 

B. ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENTS -- Security transactions are accounted for on 
the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains 
and losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost 
method. Dividend income and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend 
date except for certain dividends on foreign securities which are recorded as 
soon as the Fund is informed after the ex-dividend date. Interest income is 
accrued daily. Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money Market amortize 
premiums and accrete discounts on securities owned; gains and losses realized 
upon the sale of such securities are based on their amortized cost. Discounts 
for all other Series are accreted over the life of the respective securities. 

C. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION -- The books and records of each Series 
investing in foreign currency denominated transactions are translated into 
U.S. dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency market value of investment 
securities, other assets and liabilities and forward foreign currency 
contracts are translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the 
period; and (2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated at the 
exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The 
resultant exchange gains and losses are included in the Statement of 
Operations as realized and unrealized gain/loss on foreign exchange 
transactions. Pursuant to U.S. Federal income tax regulations, certain 
foreign exchange gains/losses included in realized and unrealized gain/loss 
are included in or are a reduction of ordinary income for federal income tax 
purposes. The Series do not isolate that portion of the results of operations 
arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the changes 
in the market prices of the securities. 

D. FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS -- Some of the Series may enter into 
forward foreign currency contracts which are valued daily at the appropriate 
exchange rates. The resultant unrealized exchange 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


gains and losses are included in the Statement of Operations as unrealized 
foreign currency gain or loss. The Series record realized gains or losses on 
delivery of the currency or at the time the forward contract is extinguished 
(compensated) by entering into a closing transaction prior to delivery. 

E. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS -- It is the Fund's policy to comply 
individually for each Series with the requirements of the Internal Revenue 
Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of 
its taxable income to its shareholders. Accordingly, no federal income tax 
provision is required. 

F. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS -- The Fund records dividends 
and distributions to its shareholders on the record date. The amount of 
dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized 
capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax 
regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. 
These "book/tax" differences are either considered temporary or permanent in 
nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts 
are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis 
treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends 
and distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital 
gains for financial reporting purposes but not for tax purposes are reported 
as dividends in excess of net investment income or distributions in excess of 
net realized capital gains. To the extent they exceed net investment income 
and net realized capital gains for tax purposes, they are reported as 
distributions of paid-in-capital. 

G. EXPENSES -- Direct expenses are charged to the respective Series and 
general Fund expenses are allocated on the basis of relative net assets or 
equally among the Series. 

H. ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES -- The Investment Manager paid the organizational 
expenses of the Fund in the amount of $150,000 ($13,636 allocated to each of 
the Series) and will be reimbursed, exclusive of amounts waived. Such 
expenses have been deferred and are being amortized by the Fund on the 
straight line method over a period not to exceed five years from the 
commencement of operations. 

2. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT 

Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement"), the Fund 
pays the Investment Manager a management fee, accrued daily and payable 
monthly, by applying the following annual rates to each Series' net assets 
determined at the close of each business day: Liquid Asset, U.S. Government 
Money Market and Value-Added Market -0.50%; U.S. Government Securities and 
Intermediate Income Securities -0.65%; Dividend Growth and Utilities -0.75%; 
American Value, Capital Growth and Strategist -0.85%; and Global Equity -1.0%. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


Under the terms of the Agreement, in addition to managing the Fund's 
investments, the Investment Manager maintains certain of the Fund's books and 
records and furnishes, at its own expense, office space, facilities, 
equipment, clerical, bookkeeping and certain legal services and pays the 
salaries of all personnel, including officers of the Fund who are employees 
of the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager also bears the cost of 
telephone services, heat, light, power and other utilities provided to the 
Fund. 

For the period January 1, 1996 through December 31, 1997, the Investment 
Manager is waiving the management fee and reimbursing expenses to the extent 
they exceed 1.00% of daily net assets of each Series. At July 31, 1997, 
included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are receivables from an 
affiliate which represent expense reimbursements due to the Fund. 

3. SECURITY TRANSACTIONS AND TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES 

Purchases and sales/maturities/prepayments of portfolio securities, excluding 
short-term investments (except for Liquid Asset and U.S. Government Money 
Market), for the year ended July 31, 1997 were as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES               OTHER 
                                 ------------------------------ ------------------------------ 
                                                     SALES/ 
                                                  MATURITIES/                       SALES/ 
                                    PURCHASES     PREPAYMENTS      PURCHASES      MATURITIES 
                                 -------------- --------------  -------------- -------------- 
<S>                              <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>
Liquid Asset ...................  $395,220,670    $391,812,764   $353,719,078    $382,160,567 
U.S. Government Money Market  ..   661,528,098     664,513,285        --              -- 
U.S. Government Securities  ....    11,000,110       9,181,622        --              -- 
Intermediate Income Securities       2,742,469       4,820,820      2,019,750       1,836,116 
American Value .................     1,055,258       1,298,196    114,604,516     110,531,028 
Capital Growth .................        15,742          77,006      4,322,821       3,559,093 
Dividend Growth ................       --              --          44,208,359      27,461,961 
Utilities ......................       --              --           5,530,405       7,587,775 
Value-Added Market .............       --               25,784      4,396,277       8,131,744 
Global Equity ..................       --               46,580     15,006,072      11,195,792 
Strategist .....................     3,410,867       5,765,994     12,067,832       9,926,607 
</TABLE>

Included in the aforementioned purchases and sales/maturities of portfolio 
securities of Value-Added Market are common stock purchases and sales of 
Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co., an affiliate of the Investment 
Manager, of $12,464 and $75,839, respectively, including realized gains of 
$28,629. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


Included at July 31, 1997 in the payable for investments purchased and 
receivable for investments sold were unsettled trades with Dean Witter 
Reynolds Inc. ("DWR"), an affiliate of the Investment Manager, as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     CAPITAL    DIVIDEND                GLOBAL 
                                      GROWTH     GROWTH    UTILITIES    EQUITY 
                                    --------- ----------  ----------- ---------
<S>                                 <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>      
Payable for investments purchased    $ 4,319    $887,346    $200,025   $    --   
                                    ========= ==========  =========== =========
Receivable for investments sold  ..  $38,982    $149,533    $ 42,821   $91,462 
                                    ========= ==========  =========== =========
                                                                      
</TABLE>                                                              

For the year ended July 31, 1997, the following Series incurred brokerage 
commissions with DWR, for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of such 
Series, as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 AMERICAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND                GLOBAL 
   VALUE      GROWTH     GROWTH    UTILITIES    EQUITY   STRATEGIST 
- ----------  --------- ----------  ----------- --------  ------------ 
<S>         <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>
  $25,735     $1,487    $43,558     $13,830     $9,201     $6,861 
==========  ========= ==========  =========== ========  ============ 
</TABLE>

For the period May 31, 1997 through July 31, 1997, Capital Growth, Global 
Equity and American Value incurred brokerage commissions of $270, $168 and 
$1,365, respectively, with Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., an affiliate of the 
Investment Manager since May 31, 1997, for portfolio transactions executed on 
behalf of the Series. 

Dean Witter Trust Company, an affiliate of the Investment Manager, is the
Fund's transfer agent. At July 31, 1997 the following Series had approximate
transfer agent fees and expenses payable as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  INTERMEDIATE 
                U.S. GOVERNMENT  U.S. GOVERNMENT     INCOME        AMERICAN    CAPITAL 
 LIQUID ASSET     MONEY MARKET     SECURITIES      SECURITIES       VALUE       GROWTH 
- --------------  --------------- ---------------  -------------- ------------  --------- 
<S>             <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>           <C>
      $120            $100           $1,250           $150           $800        $90 
==============  =============== ===============  ============== ============  ========= 

  DIVIDEND                         VALUE-ADDED       GLOBAL 
   GROWTH          UTILITIES         MARKET          EQUITY      STRATEGIST 
- --------------  --------------- ---------------  -------------- ------------ 
   $280              $80             $140            $210           $500 
==============  =============== ===============  ============== ============ 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


4. FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS 

At July 31, 1997, Intermediate Income Securities had a net capital loss 
carryover of approximately $30,200 of which $5,700 will be available through 
July 31, 2004 and $24,500 will be available through July 31, 2005 to offset 
future capital gains to the extent provided by regulations. During the year 
ended July 31, 1997, Utilities utilized its net capital loss carryover of 
approximately $102,000. 

Net capital and net currency losses incurred after October 31 ("post-October 
losses") within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business 
day of the Series' next taxable year. The following Series incurred and will 
elect to defer post-October losses during fiscal 1997: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  INTERMEDIATE 
U.S. GOVERNMENT      INCOME       GLOBAL 
   SECURITIES      SECURITIES     EQUITY 
- ---------------  -------------- -------- 
<S>              <C>            <C>
      $500           $57,800       $900 
===============  ============== ======== 
</TABLE>

At July 31, 1997, the primary reason(s) for temporary book/tax differences 
were as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES 
                                     ------------------------------- 
                                        POST-        CAPITAL LOSS 
                                       OCTOBER      DEFERRALS FROM 
                                        LOSSES        WASH SALES 
                                     ----------- ------------------ 
<S>                                       <C>             <C>
U.S. Government Securities .........      o 
Intermediate Income Securities  ....      o               o 
American Value .....................                      o 
Capital Growth .....................                      o 
Dividend Growth ....................                      o 
Utilities .......................... 
Value-Added Market..................                      o 
Global Equity.......................      o               o 
Strategist .........................                      o 
</TABLE>

Additionally, Global Equity had temporary differences attributable to income 
from the mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") and 
permanent differences attributable to tax adjustments on PFICs sold by the 
Series and Capital Growth had permanent differences attributable to a net 
operating loss. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS July 31, 1997, continued 


To reflect reclassifications arising from permanent book/tax differences for 
the year ended July 31, 1997, the following accounts were (charged) credited: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   ACCUMULATED     ACCUMULATED 
                  UNDISTRIBUTED   UNDISTRIBUTED 
                 NET INVESTMENT   NET REALIZED 
                     INCOME        GAIN (LOSS) 
                 -------------- --------------- 
<S>              <C>            <C>
Capital Growth       $ 5,965        $ (5,965) 
Global Equity  .     $23,695        $(23,695) 
</TABLE>

5. PURPOSES OF AND RISKS RELATING TO CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

Some of the Portfolios may enter into forward foreign currency contracts 
("forward contracts") to facilitate settlement of foreign currency 
denominated portfolio transactions or to manage foreign currency exposure 
associated with foreign currency denominated securities. 

Forward contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amounts 
reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Portfolios bear the 
risk of an unfavorable change in foreign exchange rates underlying the 
forward contracts. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts 
from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their 
contracts. 

At July 31, 1997, Global Equity had outstanding forward contracts to 
facilitate settlement of foreign currency denominated portfolio transactions. 

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 

Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest 
outstanding throughout each period: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             NET ASSET                      NET                                                         TOTAL 
    YEAR       VALUE         NET         REALIZED      TOTAL FROM     DIVIDENDS     DISTRIBUTIONS     DIVIDENDS 
   ENDED     BEGINNING    INVESTMENT  AND UNREALIZED   INVESTMENT        TO              TO              AND 
  JULY 31    OF PERIOD      INCOME      GAIN (LOSS)    OPERATIONS   SHAREHOLDERS    SHAREHOLDERS    DISTRIBUTIONS 
- ----------  ----------- ------------  -------------- ------------  -------------- ---------------  --------------- 
<S>            <C>          <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>               <C>
LIQUID ASSET 
1993 (1)       $ 1.00       $0.02           --           $ 0.02        $(0.02)           --             $(0.02) 
1994             1.00        0.03           --             0.03         (0.03)           --              (0.03) 
1995             1.00        0.06           --             0.06         (0.06)           --              (0.06) 
1996             1.00        0.05           --             0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1997             1.00        0.05           --             0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 

U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET 
1993 (2)         1.00          --++         --             --            --              --               -- 
1994             1.00        0.03           --             0.03         (0.03)           --              (0.03) 
1995             1.00        0.06           --             0.06         (0.06)           --              (0.06) 
1996             1.00        0.05           --             0.05         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1997             1.00        0.04           --             0.04         (0.04)           --              (0.04) 

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES 
1993 (3)        10.00        0.19         $ 0.07           0.26         (0.20)           --              (0.20) 
1994            10.06        0.44          (0.50)         (0.06)        (0.44)           --              (0.44) 
1995             9.56        0.56           0.15           0.71         (0.56)           --              (0.56) 
1996             9.71        0.55          (0.12)          0.43         (0.55)           --              (0.55) 
1997             9.59        0.56           0.34           0.90         (0.56)         $(0.02)           (0.58) 

INTERMEDIATE INCOME SECURITIES 
1993 (4)        10.00        0.19          (0.02)          0.17         (0.19)           --              (0.19) 
1994             9.98        0.60          (0.57)          0.03         (0.60)           --              (0.60) 
1995             9.41        0.61           0.22           0.83         (0.61)           --              (0.61) 
1996             9.63        0.59          (0.21)          0.38         (0.59)          (0.01)           (0.60) 
1997             9.41        0.53           0.26           0.79         (0.53)           --              (0.53) 

AMERICAN VALUE 
1993 (5)        10.00        0.06          (0.01)          0.05          --              --               -- 
1994            10.05        0.03          (0.09)         (0.06)        (0.02)          (0.04)           (0.06) 
1995             9.93        0.14           3.15           3.29         (0.12)           --              (0.12) 
1996            13.10        0.09           1.17           1.26         (0.15)          (1.13)           (1.28) 
1997            13.08        0.02           5.12           5.14         (0.04)          (1.22)           (1.26) 
</TABLE>

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

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


                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

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

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS, continued 

Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest 
outstanding throughout each period: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             NET ASSET                       NET                                                         TOTAL 
    YEAR       VALUE          NET         REALIZED      TOTAL FROM                   DISTRIBUTIONS     DIVIDENDS 
   ENDED     BEGINNING    INVESTMENT   AND UNREALIZED   INVESTMENT   DIVIDENDS TO         TO              AND 
  JULY 31    OF PERIOD   INCOME (LOSS)   GAIN (LOSS)    OPERATIONS   SHAREHOLDERS    SHAREHOLDERS    DISTRIBUTIONS 
- ----------  ----------- -------------  -------------- ------------  -------------- ---------------  --------------- 
<S>            <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>
CAPITAL GROWTH 
1993 (4)       $10.00       $(0.02)        $(1.10)        $(1.12)         --              --               -- 
1994             8.88         0.13           0.45           0.58        $(0.04)           --             $(0.04) 
1995             9.42         0.10           1.77           1.87         (0.12)           --              (0.12) 
1996            11.17         0.07           1.55           1.62         (0.11)         $(0.07)           (0.18) 
1997            12.61        (0.03)          5.41           5.38         (0.01)          (0.32)           (0.33) 

DIVIDEND GROWTH 
1993 (1)        10.00         0.13           0.58           0.71         (0.10)           --              (0.10) 
1994            10.61         0.28           0.37           0.65         (0.23)          (0.01)           (0.24) 
1995            11.02         0.34           2.13           2.47         (0.31)          (0.10)           (0.41) 
1996            13.08         0.32           1.76           2.08         (0.36)          (0.19)           (0.55) 
1997            14.61         0.33           5.60           5.93         (0.33)          (0.52)           (0.85) 

UTILITIES 
1993 (2)        10.00         0.19           1.30           1.49         (0.14)           --              (0.14) 
1994            11.35         0.37          (0.95)         (0.58)        (0.34)          (0.01)           (0.35) 
1995            10.42         0.42           0.80           1.22         (0.37)          (0.02)           (0.39) 
1996            11.25         0.38           0.61           0.99         (0.45)           --              (0.45) 
1997            11.79         0.41           1.90           2.31         (0.32)           --              (0.32) 

VALUE-ADDED MARKET 
1993 (3)        10.00         0.05           0.02           0.07         (0.04)           --              (0.04) 
1994            10.03         0.24           0.65           0.89         (0.11)           --              (0.11) 
1995            10.81         0.21           2.16           2.37         (0.26)          (0.12)           (0.38) 
1996            12.80         0.25           1.17           1.42         (0.22)          (0.07)           (0.29) 
1997            13.93         0.21           5.58           5.79         (0.25)          (0.63)           (0.88) 

GLOBAL EQUITY 
1993 (2)        10.00         0.07          (0.03)          0.04          --              --               -- 
1994            10.04         0.08           0.58           0.66         (0.05)           --              (0.05) 
1995            10.65         0.14           0.49           0.63         (0.11)           --              (0.11) 
1996            11.17         0.09           0.71           0.80         (0.18)           --              (0.18) 
1997            11.79         0.09           2.98           3.07         (0.06)          (0.32)           (0.38) 

STRATEGIST 
1993 (1)        10.00         0.06          (0.23)         (0.17)         --              --               -- 
1994             9.83         0.23          (0.20)          0.03         (0.13)           --              (0.13) 
1995             9.73         0.24           1.49           1.73         (0.18)           --              (0.18) 
1996            11.28         0.25           1.63           1.88         (0.34)          (0.22)           (0.56) 
1997            12.60         0.37           2.96           3.33         (0.28)          (0.48)           (0.76) 
</TABLE>

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

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


                                           SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET      RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET 
                                                   ASSETS                     ASSETS 
                                           (BEFORE EXPENSES WERE       (AFTER EXPENSES WERE 
                                                  ASSUMED)                   ASSUMED) 
                                         -------------------------- ------------------------- 
 NET ASSET                   NET ASSETS 
    VALUE        TOTAL         END OF                      NET                       NET       PORTFOLIO     AVERAGE 
   END OF      INVESTMENT      PERIOD                  INVESTMENT                INVESTMENT     TURNOVER    COMMISSION 
   PERIOD       RETURN+       (000'S)      EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)  EXPENSES   INCOME (LOSS)     RATE      RATE PAID 
- -----------  ------------- ------------  ----------- -------------  ---------- -------------  ----------- ------------ 
<S>               <C>         <C>            <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>         <C>
   $ 8.88        (11.20)%(a)  $    135       2.50%*(b)    (1.01)%(b)   1.97%(b)     (0.47)%(b)      2%(a)       -- 
     9.42          6.57            215       2.50*        (0.98)        --           1.52          11           -- 
    11.17         20.08            678       2.50 *       (1.07)        --           1.43          20           -- 
    12.61         14.58          1,988       2.50 *       (1.24)       0.76          0.50          68        $0.0536 
    17.66         43.46          3,670       3.16         (2.38)       1.00         (0.22)        147         0.0575 

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

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

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

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

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

<PAGE>

DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 


TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TRUSTEES 
OF DEAN WITTER RETIREMENT SERIES 

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, 
including the portfolios of investments, and the related statements of 
operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present 
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Liquid Asset 
Series, the U.S. Government Money Market Series, the U.S. Government 
Securities Series, the Intermediate Income Securities Series, the American 
Value Series, the Capital Growth Series, the Dividend Growth Series, the 
Utilities Series, the Value-Added Market Series, the Global Equity Series, 
and the Strategist Series (constituting Dean Witter Retirement Series, 
hereafter referred to as the "Fund") at July 31, 1997, the results of each of 
their operations for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net 
assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial 
highlights for each of the periods indicated, in conformity with generally 
accepted accounting principles. These financial statements and financial 
highlights (hereafter referred to as "financial statements") are the 
responsibility of the Fund's management; our responsibility is to express an 
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our 
audits of these financial statements in accordance with generally accepted 
auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain 
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of 
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence 
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing 
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, 
and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that 
our audits, which included confirmation of securities at July 31, 1997 by 
correspondence with the custodian and brokers and the application of 
alternative auditing procedures where confirmations from brokers were not 
received, provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. 

PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP 
1177 Avenue of the Americas 
New York, New York 10036 
September 12, 1997 

                   1997 FEDERAL INCOME TAX NOTICE (unaudited)

       During the year ended July 31, 1997, the Fund paid to shareholders 
       long-term capital gains per share as follows: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 AMERICAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND   VALUE-ADDED    GLOBAL 
   VALUE      GROWTH     GROWTH       MARKET      EQUITY   STRATEGIST 
- ----------  --------- ----------  ------------- --------  ------------ 
<S>           <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
$0.31         $0.32      $0.47        $0.45       $0.05       $0.31 

</TABLE>

       Additionally, the following percentages of the income paid qualified 
       for the dividends received deduction available to corporations: 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 AMERICAN    CAPITAL    DIVIDEND                VALUE-ADDED   GLOBAL 
   VALUE      GROWTH     GROWTH    UTILITIES      MARKET      EQUITY    STRATEGIST 
- ----------  --------- ----------  ----------- -------------  -------- ------------ 
<S>            <C>       <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>        <C>    
 5.58%         100%      99.92%      98.72%        74.37%      7.89%      19.47% 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>



















































                (This page has been left blank intentionally.)

<PAGE>

TRUSTEES 

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


OFFICERS 

Charles A. Fiumefreddo 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 

Barry Fink 
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel 

Thomas F. Caloia 
Treasurer 


CUSTODIAN 

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


TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND 
DISBURSING AGENT 

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


INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 

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


INVESTMENT MANAGER 

Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. 
Two World Trade Center 
New York, New York 10048 


This report is submitted for the general information of shareholders of the
Fund. For more detailed information about the Fund, its officers and trustees,
fees, expenses and other pertinent information, please see the prospectus of
the Fund.

This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the
Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.


ANNUAL REPORT
JULY 31, 1997


DEAN WITTER 
RETIREMENT SERIES



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