RAINIER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT MUTUAL FUNDS
485BPOS, 1999-07-23
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                  As filed with the Commission on July 23, 1999

                                                               File Nos.33-73792
                                                                        811-8270
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM N-1A


             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           Pre-Effective Amendment No.                       [ ]
                          Post-Effective Amendment No. 7                     [X]

                                     and/or

         REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
                                Amendment No. 10                             [X]
                        (Check appropriate box or boxes)



                   RAINIER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT MUTUAL FUNDS
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

                          601 Union Street, Suite 2801
                                Seattle, WA 98101
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

                                 (206) 464-0400
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)

                        J. Glenn Haber, Managing Director
                       Rainier Investment Management, Inc.
                            601 Union St., Ste. 2801
                                Seattle, WA 98101
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:


              [ ] Immediately upon filing pursuant to Rule 485 (b)
              [X] On July 30 pursuant to Rule 485(b)
              [ ] 60 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485(a)(1)
              [ ] On pursuant to Rule 485(a)(1)
              [ ] 75 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485(a)(2)
              [ ] On ____________, pursuant to Rule 485(a)(2)


If appropriate, check the following box:

              [ ] this post-effective amendment designates a new effective
                  date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

                                   ----------

                     Please send copy of Communications to:

David A. Hearth                           Steven J. Paggioli
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP     Investment Company Administration, LLC
345 California Street, 29th Floor         915 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94104                   New York, NY 10010
================================================================================
<PAGE>
                   RAINIER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT MUTUAL FUNDS


                                   Prospectus
                                  July 30, 1999



                                  Small/Mid Cap
                                Equity Portfolio

                                   Core Equity
                                    Portfolio

                                    Balanced
                                    Portfolio

                                  Intermediate
                                  Fixed Income
                                    Portfolio



AS WITH ALL MUTUAL FUNDS, THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION DOES NOT
APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF THIS SHARES OR DETERMINE WHETHER THE INFORMATION IN
THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE FOR ANYONE TO
INFORM YOU OTHERWISE.

<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

An Overview of the Portfolios .....................................   3
    Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio ................................   3
    Core Equity Portfolio .........................................   5
    Balanced Portfolio ............................................   7
    Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio ...........................   9
Fees and Expenses .................................................  11
More Information About the Portfolios' Principal
  Investment Strategies ...........................................  12
    Growth at a Reasonable Price Investment Philosophy ............  12
    Fixed-Income Security Selection ...............................  12
    Cash Equivalent Securities ....................................  13
    Portfolio Turnover ............................................  13
Other Principal Risks .............................................  13
Organization and Management .......................................  14
    Investment Advisor and Advisory Fees ..........................  14
    Portfolio Managers ............................................  14
    Portfolio Expenses ............................................  15
Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Shares .........................  15
    Purchasing ....................................................  15
    Selling Shares (Redemptions) ..................................  17
    Exchanging Shares .............................................  19
Pricing of Portfolio Shares .......................................  20
Dividends and Distributions .......................................  21
Tax Consequences ..................................................  21
Rule 12b-1 Fees ...................................................  21
Financial Highlights ..............................................  22
Appendix-Description of Indices ...................................  27

                                        2
<PAGE>
                          AN OVERVIEW OF THE PORTFOLIOS

SMALL/MID CAP EQUITY PORTFOLIO


THE  PORTFOLIO'S  GOAL - The  SMALL/MID CAP EQUITY  PORTFOLIO  seeks to maximize
long-term appreciation.

PRINCIPAL  INVESTMENT  STRATEGIES - In pursuing that goal, the Portfolio invests
primarily in the common stocks of smaller U.S.  companies  with the prospects of
strong earnings growth selling at attractive valuations.  The Portfolio normally
will invest at least 65% of its total assets in equity  securities  of companies
with small- and medium-sized capitalizations.  The Advisor, however, anticipates
that the  Portfolio  will  invest  over  90% of its  assets  in  these  types of
securities.  The Portfolio will purchase  companies with market  capitalizations
between $100 million and $10 billion.  Additionally,  companies that are members
of, or fall within,  the  capitalization  range of readily  available  small- or
mid-cap  indices may be candidates for purchase.  Investments in companies which
grow above these maximum capitalization  criteria may continue to be held if the
Advisor considers them to be particularly attractive.

The Advisor refers to its stock selection  philosophy as "Growth at a Reasonable
Price"  ("GARP").  Stock  selection  focuses  on  companies  that are  likely to
demonstrate superior earnings growth relative to their peers, and whose equities
are selling at attractive valuations.  As a result, the Portfolio will invest in
a  blend  of both  "growth"  and  "value"  stocks.  Further,  the  Portfolio  is
diversified over a broad cross section of economic sectors and industries.  As a
risk control measure,  extreme  overweighting or underweighting of the Portfolio
relative to the Russell 2500 (TM) Index economic  sector  weightings is normally
avoided.


PRINCIPAL  RISKS - Since the  Portfolio is invested in equity  securities  whose
prices change daily,  there is the risk that an investor  could lose money.  The
Portfolio's  share price may be affected by sudden  declines in the market value
of an investment, or by an overall decline in the stock market. Like all managed
funds,  there is a risk that the  Advisor's  strategy for managing the Portfolio
may not  achieve  the  desired  results  or may be  less  effective  than  other
strategies  in a particular  market  environment.  Investments  in securities of
small and medium size companies  involve  greater risk of loss than investing in
larger  companies and their prices can change more frequently and  dramatically.
The  Portfolio  may be  appropriate  for  investors  who  are  comfortable  with
above-average risk and can make a long-term investment commitment.

THE PORTFOLIO'S PAST PERFORMANCE


The following  information  shows the Portfolio's  performance over time and can
illustrate the risks of investing in the Portfolio.  The bar chart shows how the
Portfolio's  total return has varied from year to year.  The table  compares the
Portfolio's  average annual return for the periods  indicated to two broad-based
indices.  A  description  of the indices is  contained  in the  Appendix to this
Prospectus. This past performance will not necessarily continue in the future.


                                        3
<PAGE>
[The following is the bar chart]

CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS*

        1995: 47.48%
        1996: 22.56%
        1997: 32.23%
        1998:  2.97%


* The year-to-date total return for the Portfolio as of June 30, 1999 was 1.62%


Best Quarter:   up 22.25%; fourth quarter, 1998
Worst Quarter:  -21.08%; third quarter, 1998

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998

                                                              Since Inception
                                            1 year             May 10, 1994
                                            ------             ------------
Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio               2.97%                22.95%
Russell 2500(R) Index                        0.38%                16.14%
Russell 2000(R) Index                       -2.55%                13.19%

                                        4
<PAGE>
CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO


THE PORTFOLIO'S  GOAL - The CORE EQUITY  PORTFOLIO  seeks to maximize  long-term
capital appreciation.

PRINCIPAL  INVESTMENT  STRATEGIES - In pursuing that goal, the Portfolio invests
primarily  in the  common  stocks  of  U.S.  companies  of all  sizes  with  the
prospectus of strong earnings growth selling at attractive values. The Portfolio
normally  will  invest at least 65% of its assets in equity  securities  of core
equity companies.  To the Advisor,  the term "Core Equity" denotes a diversified
portfolio invested in small-, medium- and large-capitalization  companies. In an
effort to diversify  and enhance  safety,  the Portfolio may invest in stocks of
companies of all sizes.


The Advisor refers to its stock selection  philosophy as "Growth at a Reasonable
Price"  ("GARP").  Stock  selection  focuses  on  companies  that are  likely to
demonstrate superior earnings growth relative to their peers, and whose equities
are selling at attractive valuations.  As a result, the Portfolio will invest in
a  blend  of both  "growth"  and  "value"  stocks.  Further,  the  Portfolio  is
diversified over a broad cross section of economic sectors and industries.  As a
risk control measure,  extreme  overweighting or underweighting of the Portfolio
relative to the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index economic sector  weightings is
normally avoided.


PRINCIPAL  RISKS - Since the  Portfolio is invested in equity  securities  whose
prices change daily,  there is the risk that an investor  could lose money.  The
Portfolio's  share price may be affected by sudden  declines in the market value
of an investment, or by an overall decline in the stock market. Like all managed
funds,  there is a risk that the  Advisor's  strategy for managing the Portfolio
may not  achieve  the  desired  results  or may be  less  effective  than  other
strategies  in a particular  market  environment.  Investments  in securities of
small and medium size companies  involve  greater risk of loss than investing in
larger  companies and their prices can change more frequently and  dramatically.
The  Portfolio  may be  appropriate  for  investors  who  are  comfortable  with
above-average risk and can make a long-term investment commitment.


THE PORTFOLIO'S PAST PERFORMANCE

The following  information  shows the Portfolio's  performance over time and can
illustrate the risks of investing in the Portfolio.  The bar chart shows how the
Portfolio's  total return has varied from year to year.  The table  compares the
Portfolio's  average annual return for the periods  indicated to two broad-based
indices.  A  description  of the indices is  contained  in the  Appendix to this
Prospectus. This past performance will not necessarily continue in the future.

                                        5
<PAGE>
[The following is the bar chart]

CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS*

1995: 47.16%
1996: 23.28%
1997: 33.87%
1998: 20.67%


* The year-to-date total return for the Portfolio as of June 30, 1999 was 10.58%


Best Quarter:   up 25.09%; fourth quarter, 1998
Worst Quarter: down 14.34%; third quarter, 1998

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998

                                                              Since Inception
                                            1 year             May 10, 1994
                                            ------             ------------
Core Equity Portfolio                       20.67%                27.34%
S&P 500 Stock Index                         28.57%                27.06%
Russell 1000(R) Index                       27.02%                26.48%

                                        6
<PAGE>
BALANCED PORTFOLIO


THE PORTFOLIO'S GOAL - The BALANCED  PORTFOLIO seeks to provide investors with a
balance of long-term capital appreciation and current income.

PRINCIPAL  INVESTMENT   STRATEGIES  -  The  Portfolio  invests  primarily  in  a
diversified  portfolio of common stocks of U.S.  companies and investment grade,
intermediate-term  debt securities and cash equivalent  securities.  The Advisor
seeks to provide  long-term  capital  appreciation  and income  with less return
variability and risk than that of the stock market.  The Portfolio's assets will
be  allocated  among  equity,  fixed-income,   and  short-term  cash  equivalent
securities.  Equity  securities will normally  constitute from 25% to 65% of the
Portfolio's net assets. Fixed-income securities will normally represent from 30%
to 55% of the Portfolio's net assets.  Cash equivalent  securities will normally
constitute from 0% to 35% of the Portfolio's net assets. The Advisor utilizes an
approach of "strategic" long-term asset allocation,  where the equity allocation
remains between 45% and 65% unless extreme short-term market conditions indicate
a more cautious or aggressive  allocation.  Aggressive market timing is avoided.
Shifts  from  one  asset  class  to  another  are  normally  made  in 5% to  10%
increments.


The equity  securities in which the Portfolio  invests are the type and have the
same GARP selection  criteria as those  described on page __ for the Core Equity
Portfolio. Fixed-income securities held by the Portfolio will be of the type and
have  the  same  selection  criteria  as  those  described  on  page  __ for the
Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio.


PRINCIPAL  RISKS - Since the  Portfolio  is invested in equity and  fixed-income
securities  whose prices change daily,  there is the risk that an investor could
lose money.  The Portfolio's  share price will be affected by sudden declines in
the market value of an investment, or by an overall decline in the stock market.
A rise in interest rates may cause the  Portfolio's  shares to decline in value.
Like all managed funds, there is a risk that the Advisor's strategy for managing
the Portfolio may not achieve the desired  results or may be less effective than
other  strategies  in a particular  market  environment.  The  Portfolio  may be
appropriate  for  investors  who are  comfortable  with the risks of equity  and
fixed-income investing and can make a long-term investment commitment.


THE PORTFOLIO'S PAST PERFORMANCE

The following  information  shows the Portfolio's  performance over time and can
illustrate the risks of investing in the Portfolio.  The bar chart shows how the
Portfolio's  total return has varied from year to year.  The table  compares the
Portfolio's  average  annual  return for the periods  indicated to a broad-based
stock index, fixed-income index and a blended custom index. A description of the
indices is contained in the Appendix to this  Prospectus.  This past performance
will not necessarily continue in the future.

                                        7
<PAGE>
[The following is the bar chart]

CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS*

        1995: 33.16%
        1996: 14.04%
        1997: 23.94%
        1998: 15.46%


* The year-to-date total return for the Portfolio as of June 30, 1999 was 1.46%


Best Quarter:   up 15.20%; fourth quarter, 1998
Worst Quarter:  down 8.48%; third quarter, 1998

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998


                                                             Since Inception
                                            1 year            May 10, 1994
                                            ------            ------------
Balanced Portfolio                          15.46%               18.98%
Lehman Brothers Govt./Corp.
  Intermediate Bond Index                    8.42%                7.94%
S&P 500 Stock Index                         28.57%               22.06%
Balanced Index                              18.46%               17.10%

The Balanced Index consists of 50% Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index, 40% Lehman
Brothers Government/Corporate  Intermediate Bond Index, 20% 91-Day U.S. Treasury
Bill Index.


                                        8
<PAGE>
INTERMEDIATE FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO


THE PORTFOLIO'S GOAL - The INTERMEDIATE  FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO seeks to provide
investors with current income.

PRINCIPAL   INVESTMENT   STRATEGIES - The  Portfolio   invests  primarily  in  a
diversified  portfolio of investment  grade,  intermediate-term  debt securities
providing  current income.  The Portfolio  normally  invests at least 65% of its
total assets in investment grade,  intermediate-term  debt securities  providing
current income. Most of its investments are debt securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S.  Government or its agencies,  and  corporate  issuers.  The Advistor
intends,  but is  not  obligated,  to  construct  the  Portfolio  with a  higher
proportion of corporate issues than government or government agency  securities.
Investment grade debt securities are generally  considered to be those rated Baa
or better by Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.  ("Moody's") or BBB or better by
Standard  & Poor's  Ratings  Group  ("S&P").  Securities  which are rated Baa by
Moody's or BBB by S&P,  the  lowest  tier of  investment  grade,  are  generally
regarded as having adequate  capacity to pay interest and repay  principal,  but
may  have  some  speculative  characteristics.  The  Advisor  intends  to  limit
investment in securities Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P to no more than 10% of the
Portfolio's total assets.

The  Portfolio  may  purchase  bonds of any  maturity,  but the  Portfolio  will
normally have a  dollar-weighted  average  maturity between three and ten years.
The average  maturity  may be less than three  years if the  Advisor  believes a
temporary  defensive  posture is  appropriate.  The Advisor  plans to manage the
Portfolio  within a  duration  range of +/-25%  of the  duration  of the  Lehman
Brothers  Government/Corporate  Intermediate  Bond Index.  If, for example,  the
duration of the Lehman  Index were 4.0 years,  the  Portfolio's  duration  would
normally  range  between 3.0 and 5.0 years.  Typically,  duration  measures  the
sensitivity of a fixed-income portfolio to interest-rate changes. To illustrate,
if a portfolio  had average  effective  duration of 5.0 years,  a 1% decrease in
market  interest rates would cause the principal  value of the portfolio to gain
approximately 5%.

PRINCIPAL  RISKS - Since the  Portfolio is invested in  securities  whose prices
change  daily,  there is the risk that an investor  could lose money.  A rise in
interest  rates may cause the  Portfolio's  shares  to  decline  in value.  When
interest rates are low, the  Portfolio's  income  distributions  may be reduced.
Also,  the  value of any of the  Portfolio's  investments  may also  decline  in
response to events  affecting the issuer or its credit rating.  Like all managed
funds,  there is a risk that the  Advisor's  strategy for managing the Portfolio
may not  achieve  the  desired  results  or may be  less  effective  than  other
strategies in a particular market environment.  The Portfolio may be appropriate
for investors who are comfortable  with the risks of fixed-income  investing and
seek high current  income with  greater  stability in the value of shares than a
long term fixed-income fund.


THE PORTFOLIO'S PAST PERFORMANCE

The following  information  shows the Portfolio's  performance over time and can
illustrate the risks of investing in the Portfolio.  The bar chart shows how the
Portfolio's  total return has varied from year to year.  The table  compares the
Portfolio's  average annual return for the periods  indicated to two broad-based
fixed-income  indices. A description of the indices is contained in the Appendix
to this Prospectus.  This past performance will not necessarily  continue in the
future.

                                        9
<PAGE>
The following is the bar chart]

CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS*

         1995:  13.35%
         1996:   2.93%
         1997:   7.32%
         1998:   8.61%


* The year-to-date total return for the Portfolio as of June 30, 1999 was -1.11%


Best Quarter:   up 5.20%; third quarter, 1998
Worst Quarter:  down 0.67%; first quarter, 1996

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998

                                                              Since Inception
                                               1 year          May 10, 1994
                                               ------          ------------
Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio             8.61%              7.17%
Lehman Brothers Govt./Corp.                     8.42%              7.94%
Intermediate Bond Index
91-Day Treasury Bill Index                      5.05%              5.25%

                                       10
<PAGE>
                                FEES AND EXPENSES

This table  describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the Portfolios.


                                Small/mid                           Intermediate
                                Cap Equity  Core Equity  Balanced   Fixed Income
                                Portfolio    Portfolio   Portfolio    Portfolio
                                ---------   -----------  ---------  ------------
SHAREHOLDER FEES
(fees paid directly from your
  investment)                      None         None        None        None

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES*
(expenses that are deducted
  from Portfolio assets)

Management fees                    0.85%        0.75%       0.70%       0.50%
Distribution and Service
 (12b-1) fees                      0.25%        0.25%       0.25%       0.10%
Other expenses                     0.15%        0.13%       0.27%       0.44%
                                   ----         ----       -----       -----
Total Annual Fund Operating
 Expenses                          1.25%        1.13%       1.22%       1.04%
                                   ----         ----       -----       -----
Fee Reduction and/or Expense
 Reimbursement                      -0-          -0-       (0.03%)     (0.49%)
                                   ----         ----       -----       -----
Net Expenses                       1.25%        1.13%       1.19%       0.55%
                                   ====         ====       =====       =====

- ----------
* The Advisor has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses
to limit each Portfolio's total annual operating  expenses  (excluding  interest
and taxes) as  follows:  Small/Mid  Cap Equity  Portfolio  - 1.48%;  Core Equity
Portfolio - 1.29%;  Balanced  Portfolio - 1.19%; and  Intermediate  Fixed Income
Portfolio - 0.55%.  This contract has a one-year  term,  renewable at the end of
each fiscal year.


EXAMPLE

This example is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in shares of
the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example  assumes that you invest $10,000 in a Portfolio for the time periods
indicated  and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those  periods.  The
Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the
Portfolio's  operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may
be higher or lower, under these assumptions, your costs would be:

                                       11
<PAGE>

                         Small/mid                                 Intermediate
                         Cap Equity   Core Equity     Balanced     Fixed Income
                         Portfolio     Portfolio      Portfolio      Portfolio
                         ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------
One year                  $  127         $  115         $  121         $   56
Three years                  396            358            383            282
Five years                   685            621            666            525
Ten years                  1,506          1,370          1,470          1,223

     MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PORTFOLIOS' PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES


GROWTH AT A REASONABLE PRICE INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY

The  Advisor  refers to its  investment  philosophy  with  respect to the equity
portion of the Portfolios as "Growth at a Reasonable Price" ("GARP").  Since the
GARP  strategy  combines  some aspects of both  "value" and "growth"  investment
styles, a primary benefit of the GARP strategy in the view of the Advisor is the
ability to generate  competitive  investment  returns in many  different  market
environments.  In selecting  securities for purchase in the Small/Mid Cap Equity
Portfolio,  the Core Equity  Portfolio and the Balanced  Portfolio,  the Advisor
emphasizes  companies that are likely to demonstrate  superior  earnings  growth
relative to their peers,  positive  earnings  surprises,  and whose equities are
selling at attractive  valuations.  The Advisor  favors  companies  that exhibit
advantageous   competitive   strategies  or  operate  in  favorable  competitive
environments.  Strong  management with a significant  ownership  position in the
company is desired,  as are companies with balance sheet integrity and financial
strength.

The Advisor  considers the sale of specific equity securities when they approach
predetermined  target  prices;  when  fundamental   prospects  or  earnings  are
deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate;  or when there are more attractive
equity  securities  on  a  risk/reward  basis  in  the  same  industry,  thereby
warranting a swap.

FIXED-INCOME  SECURITY  SELECTION.  In determining whether or not to invest in a
particular debt security, the Advisor considers a number of factors, including

    *  the price of the security
    *  the coupon of the security
    *  the relationship between long-term and short-term rates
    *  the credit quality of the issuer
    *  the issuer's cash flow and related coverage ratios
    *  the property, if any, securing the obligation
    *  the terms of the debt instrument, including subordination, default,
       sinking fund and early redemption provisions
    *  the rating assigned to the security by Moody's and S&P

Fixed-income  securities  may  be  sold  if  downgraded,  or as a swap  to  more
attractive values.

                                       12
<PAGE>
CASH EQUIVALENT SECURITIES. Cash equivalent securities, which may be held by any
of the four Portfolios,  are high-quality debt obligations  maturing in one year
or less from the date of purchase.  These  include U.S.  Government  securities,
certificates  of  deposit,  bankers'  acceptances,   repurchase  agreements  and
commercial  paper.  The Advisor  considers  obligations  that have been rated at
least  A-1 by S&P or  Prime-1  by  Moody's,  have an  outstanding  issue of debt
securities rated at least A by S&P or Moody's,  or are of comparable  quality in
the opinion of the Advisor, to be "high-quality."

Under normal  market  conditions,  each  Portfolio  will stay fully  invested in
stocks  and/or  bonds.  However,  a Portfolio  may  temporarily  depart from its
principal  investment  strategies  by  making  short-term  investments  in  cash
equivalents  in response to adverse  market,  economic or political  conditions.
This may result in the Portfolio not achieving its investment objective.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

Due to a sell  discipline  based in part on price targets,  all the  Portfolios,
except the Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio,  may be actively traded. This is
particularly  true in a market  environment  where securities  prices are rising
rapidly. Generally, the rate of portfolio turnover will not be a deciding factor
in  determining  whether to sell or hold  securities.  The Small/Mid Cap Equity,
Core Equity and Balanced Portfolios may have a portfolio turnover rate in excess
of 100%.  A high  portfolio  turnover  rate (100% or more) has the  potential to
result in the  realization  and  distribution  to shareholders of higher capital
gains. This may mean that you would be likely to have a higher tax liability.  A
high portfolio turnover rate also leads to higher transaction costs, which would
negatively affect a Portfolio's performance.  Active trading,  however, can also
be defensive and actually add to a Portfolio's  performance  if, for example,  a
fully  valued  investment  is sold  before  a price  decline  or in  favor of an
investment with better appreciation potential.

                              OTHER PRINCIPAL RISKS

The principal risks of investing in the Portfolios that may adversely affect the
value of a  Portfolio's  shares  or  total  return  are  discussed  above  under
"Principal Risks." Further elements on risk are discussed below.

MARKET RISK. An investor in any  Portfolio  faces the risk that the market value
of a security may move up and down,  sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.  These
fluctuations  may cause a security  to be worth  less than the price  originally
paid for it, or less  than it was  worth at an  earlier  time.  Market  risk may
affect a single  issuer,  industry,  sector of the  economy  or the  market as a
whole.

SMALL  COMPANY  RISK.  The  Small/Mid  Cap  Equity,  Core  Equity  and  Balanced
Portfolios may invest in smaller companies that can benefit from the development
of new  products and  services.  These  smaller  companies  may present  greater
opportunities for capital appreciation,  but may also involve greater risks than
larger companies. Such smaller companies may have limited product lines, markets

                                       13
<PAGE>
or financial  resources,  and their  securities may trade less frequently and in
more limited volume than the securities of larger,  more mature companies.  As a
result,  the prices of the securities of such smaller companies may fluctuate to
a greater degree than the prices of the securities of other issuers.

DEBT SECURITIES RISK. The Balanced and Intermediate  Fixed Income Portfolios may
invest in debt securities.  The market value of debt securities are sensitive to
prevailing  interest  rates.  Generally,  when  interest  rates  rise,  the debt
security's  value  declines and when interest  rates  decline,  its market value
rises.  Generally,  the longer the remaining maturity of a security, the greater
the effect of interest  rate  changes on the market  value of the  security.  In
addition,  changes in the ability of an issuer to make  payments of interest and
principal and in the market's perception of an issuer's  creditworthiness affect
the market value of the debt securities of that issuer.

YEAR 2000 RISK. Investors also face the risk that a Portfolio could be adversely
affected if the computer systems used by the Advisor and other service providers
do not properly  process and calculate  information  related to dates  beginning
January  1,  2000.  This is  commonly  known as the "Year  2000  Problem."  This
situation may negatively impact the companies in which the Portfolios invest and
by extension the value of the  Portfolios'  shares.  Although  each  Portfolio's
service  providers  are taking steps to address  this issue,  there may still be
some risk of adverse effects.

                           ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND ADVISORY FEES

Rainier  Investment  Management,  Inc.("RIM"),  incorporated in 1989,  serves as
investment advisor to the Portfolios.  RIM's address is 601 Union Street,  Suite
2801,  Seattle,  WA 98101.  RIM currently  manages $5.3 billion of discretionary
assets for various clients including corporations,  public and corporate pension
plans,  foundations and charitable  endowments,  and high net worth individuals.
The  Advisor  is owned  and  operated  by its five  principals.  Subject  to the
direction and control of the Trustees,  the Advisor formulates and implements an
investment  program  for  each  Portfolio,   which  includes  determining  which
securities  should be bought and sold. The Advisor also provides  certain of the
officers of the Trust.  For the fiscal year ending March 31,  1999,  the Advisor
received  advisory  fees computed as a percentage  of each  Portfolio's  average
daily net assets as follows: 0.85% for the Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio; 0.75%
for the Core Equity Portfolio;  0.70% for the Balanced Portfolio; and 0.45%, net
of fee reduction, for the Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The portfolio  managers of the  Small/Mid Cap Equity and Core Equity  Portfolios
are: James R. Margard,  CFA; David A. Veterane,  CFA; Peter M. Musser,  CFA; and
Mark H. Dawson,  CFA. The portfolio  managers of the  Intermediate  Fixed Income
Portfolio  are  Patricia  L.  Frost and  Michael E.  Raney,  CFA.  The  Balanced
Portfolio is team managed by the Advisor's Investment  Committee,  whose members
are firm principals and/or equity and fixed-income  portfolio managers.  Current
members are:  Patricia L. Frost, CEO and Principal;  J. Glenn Haber,  Principal;

                                       14
<PAGE>
James R.  Margard,  CFA,  Principal;  Peter M.  Musser,  CFA,  Senior  Portfolio
Manager;  Michael E. Raney, CFA, Principal;  David A. Veterane,  CFA, Principal;
and Mark H. Dawson,  CFA, Senior Portfolio  Manager.  Each portfolio manager has
been  associated  with the Advisor in the position  noted for more than the past
five years except for Mr.  Dawson,  who was  employed by Badgley,  Phelps & Bell
Inc. as an Investment Counselor and Research Analyst until he joined the Advisor
in 1996.

PORTFOLIO EXPENSES

The  Portfolios are  responsible  for paying their own operating  expenses.  The
Advisor has agreed in an Operating  Expense Agreement to reduce its advisory fee
or reimburse the expenses of each Portfolio to the extent  necessary so that its
ratio of total  operating  expenses  to average  net assets  will not exceed the
following levels:  Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio-1.48%;  Core Equity Portfolio-
1.29%; Balanced Portfolio-1.19%; Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio-0.55%. That
agreement  has a one-year  term,  renewable at the end of each fiscal year.  Any
reductions  made by the  Advisor in its fees or  payments  or  reimbursement  of
expenses which are the Portfolio's  obligation are subject to  reimbursement  by
the Portfolios,  provided the Portfolio is able to effect such reimbursement and
remain in  compliance  with any  applicable  expense  limitations.  The Trustees
believe that it is likely that the  Portfolios  will be of a sufficient  size to
permit the reimbursement of any such reductions or payments.

                    PURCHASING, SELLING AND EXCHANGING SHARES

PURCHASING SHARES

MINIMUM INVESTMENT AMOUNT

The  minimum  initial  investment  in  each  Portfolio  is  $25,000.  Additional
investments may be made at any time with $1,000 or more. The minimum  investment
requirements may be waived from time to time by the Funds.

PURCHASING BY MAIL

Shares of the  Portfolios  may be  purchased  by mail.  If you wish to invest by
mail,  simply  complete  an Account  Application  and mail it with a check (made
payable to "Rainier  Investment  Management  Mutual  Funds") to the  Portfolios'
Transfer Agent, Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC, at the following address:

         Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
         P.O. Box 701
         Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701

All purchases by check should be in U.S.  dollars.  Third-party  checks and cash
will not be accepted. If your purchase check is returned for insufficient funds,
the Portfolio may charge you a fee of $20.00.

                                       15
<PAGE>
BY OVERNIGHT DELIVERY

If you wish to send your Account Application and check via an overnight delivery
service,  delivery cannot be made to a post office box. In that case, you should
use the following address:

         Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
         615 Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
         Milwaukee, WI 53202

PURCHASING BY WIRE

Shares of the  Portfolios  may be purchased the same day with a wire transfer of
money.  Before sending a wire,  please call (800) 248-6314 between 9:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on a day when the NYSE is open for trading, in order to
receive an account number.  The following  information  will be requested:  your
name, address, tax identification number, dividend distribution election, amount
being wired and wiring  bank.  It is  important to call and receive this account
number,  because  if your wire is sent  without  it or  without  the name of the
Portfolio, your investment may be delayed. Please wire money to:

         Firstar Mutual Fund Services, LLC
         ABA  No. 075000022
         For credit to Firstar Trust Co.
         Account No. 112-952-137
         For further credit to Rainier Investment
         Management [Portfolio name]
         Account of [your account number and account name]

Your bank may charge you a fee for sending a wire to the Portfolios.

PURCHASING WITH SECURITIES

In certain situations, Portfolio shares may be purchased by tendering payment in
kind in the form of shares of stock,  bonds or other securities.  Any securities
used to buy  Portfolio  shares  must be readily  marketable,  their  acquisition
consistent  with the  Portfolio's  objective  and  otherwise  acceptable  to the
Advisor.  Prior to making  such a  purchase,  you  should  call the  Adviser  to
determine if the securities you wish to use to make a purchase are appropriate.

PURCHASES THROUGH AN INVESTMENT BROKER OR DEALER

Shares of the  Portfolios  are  available  through  certain  brokers  (and their
agents) that have made arrangements with the Funds to sell shares.  When placing
an order with such a broker or its authorized  agent, the order is treated as if
it had been placed  directly with the Portfolios'  Transfer Agent,  and you will
pay or receive the next price calculated by the Portfolio. The broker (or agent)
may hold your shares in an omnibus  account in the broker's  (or agent's)  name,
and the broker (or agent)  maintains  your  individual  ownership  records.  The
Portfolios  may pay the  broker (or agent) for  maintaining  these  records  and
providing other shareholder services. The broker (or agent) may charge a fee for
handling the order.  The broker (or agent) is responsible  for  processing  your
order  correctly  and promptly,  advising your of the status of your  individual
account,  confirming your  transactions  and ensuring that you receive copies of
the Funds' prospectus.

                                       16
<PAGE>
RETIREMENT PLANS

Shares of the  Portfolios are available for purchase by most  retirement  plans,
including 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans, and IRAs.

SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENTS

Additional  shares of a Portfolio  are  available  for  purchase,  in amounts of
$1,000 or more,  by sending a check  together  with the  remittance  form from a
confirmation  statement, to the Transfer Agent. Please write your account number
on the check.  If you do not have a  remittance  form,  please send the Transfer
Agent a letter giving the name of the Portfolio,  your name and account  number.
To send additional money for investment by wire,  follow the instructions  noted
above.  It is not necessary,  however,  to call the Transfer Agent before making
your subsequent wire investment.

PURCHASE ORDER PROCESSING

Any money received for investment in a Portfolio, whether sent by check or wire,
is  invested at the net asset value of the  Portfolio  which is next  calculated
after  your  order is  received  in proper  form.  An order in proper  form must
include all correct and complete information,  documents and signatures required
to process the order, as well as a check or bank wire payment properly drawn and
collectable.  Orders  received  from dealers are invested at the net asset value
next calculated  after the order is received.  The net asset value is calculated
at the close of regular trading of the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time. A
check or wire received after the NYSE closes is invested at the  next-calculated
net asset value of the Portfolio, normally the following business day.

OTHER INFORMATION

The Funds and its  distributor  reserve the right to reject any  investment,  in
whole or in part. Federal tax law requires that you provide a certified taxpayer
identification  number and other certifications upon opening an account. This is
necessary to avoid  backup  withholding  of taxes.  The Funds do not issue share
certificates  unless you  specifically  request  them by writing to the Transfer
Agent. All shares are normally held in a  non-certificated  form on the books of
the Portfolios,  for your account.  The Advisor may close and reopen a Portfolio
to new accounts or investments from time to time.

SELLING SHARES (REDEMPTIONS)

Shareholders may sell (redeem) Portfolio shares on any day the Portfolio is open
for business  either  directly to the Portfolio or through  certain  brokers (or
agents).

SELLING BY MAIL

You may sell your  shares by simply  sending a written  request to the  Transfer
Agent. Specify the name of the Portfolio,  the number of shares or dollar amount
you  want  redeemed  and  your  name  and  account  number.   Also  enclose  any
certificated  shares that you wish to redeem. The letter should be signed by all

                                       17
<PAGE>
of the shareholders whose names appear on the account registration. In addition,
a signature guarantee is required if a redemption is requested by a corporation,
partnership, trust or fiduciary. Send your redemption request to:

         Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
         P.O. Box 701
         Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701

Overnight courier deliveries should be sent to:

         Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
         615 E. Michigan St., 3rd Floor
         Milwaukee, WI 53202

SIGNATURE GUARANTEES

Certain  redemption  requests  require that the  signature or  signatures on the
account be guaranteed.  Signature guarantees are required if the proceeds of the
redemption:  (1) exceed $100,000;  (2) are to be paid to a person other than the
record  owner;  (3) are to be sent to an address  other than the  address on the
Transfer Agent's records;  or (4) are to be paid to a corporation,  partnership,
trust or  fiduciary.  The  signature(s)  on the  redemption  request  and on the
certificates,  if any,  or stock  powers,  must be  guaranteed  by an  "eligible
guarantor." An eligible  guarantor  includes  certain banks,  brokers,  dealers,
credit unions, securities exchanges, clearing agencies and savings associations.
A notary public is not an eligible guarantor.

SELLING BY TELEPHONE

You may establish  telephone  redemption  privileges by checking the appropriate
box and supplying the necessary information on the Account Application.  You may
then redeem  shares of a Portfolio by  telephoning  the Transfer  Agent at (800)
248-6314,  between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  (Eastern time) on a day
when the NYSE is open for normal  trading.  Redemptions  by telephone must be at
least $1,000.  Proceeds will be mailed to the shareholder the following business
day after the sale is executed. Upon request,  redemption proceeds will be wired
to the bank account designated on your Account  Application.  The minimum amount
that may be wired is $1,000.  Telephone redemptions cannot be made if you notify
the Transfer  Agent of an account  change  within 30 days before the  redemption
request. Telephone redemption is not available for retirement plan accounts.

When establishing telephone privileges,  you are authorizing a Portfolio and its
Transfer Agent to act upon the telephone  instructions  of the person or persons
you have designated in your account  application.  Such persons may request that
the shares in your account be either exchanged or redeemed.  Before executing an
instruction  received by  telephone,  the Funds and the Transfer  Agent will use
procedures  to  confirm  that the  telephone  instructions  are  genuine.  These
procedures will include recording the telephone call and asking the caller for a
form of personal  identification.  If the Funds and the  Transfer  agent  follow
these procedures,  they will not be liable for any loss, expense or cost arising
out of any telephone  redemption or exchange request that is reasonably believed
to be genuine. This includes any fraudulent or unauthorized request.

                                       18
<PAGE>
You may have difficulty making a telephone redemption during periods of abnormal
market activity. If this occurs, please make your redemption request in writing.

AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN

Automatic withdrawals may be made from a Portfolio in an amount of $100 or more,
either  monthly or  quarterly.  Your  Portfolio  account must have a value of at
least $10,000 to  participate  in this plan.  This plan may be terminated at any
time by the Funds. Please call the Transfer Agent for further information.

REDEMPTION OF SMALL ACCOUNTS

In order to reduce  expenses,  the Funds may redeem shares in any account if the
total  value of your  account is less than  $10,000 as a result of  redemptions.
This does not apply to  retirement  plan or Uniform Gift to Minors Act accounts.
Shareholders  will be notified and given 30 days in which to make an  additional
investment  to bring the value of their  account to at least  $10,000  before an
involuntary redemption occurs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If shares are purchased by personal  check, a Portfolio may delay payment of the
redemption  proceeds  for up to 15 days  from  purchase  or until  the check has
cleared,  whichever occurs first.  Additionally,  redemption proceeds for shares
redeemed by telephone  will not be processed  for payment until 15 calendar days
after the purchase date of the shares.  If shares are sold through the Automated
Clearing House (ACH),  a Portfolio may delay payment of redemption  proceeds for
up to 15 days from purchase or until the payment clears, whichever occurs first.
If you stop payment on a redemption  check,  the  Portfolios may charge a fee of
$20.

Each Portfolio has the right to pay redemption proceeds in whole or in part with
a distribution by the Portfolio of securities in its portfolio equal in value to
the sales  price.  It is not  expected  that a  Portfolio  would do so except in
unusual circumstances.

EXCHANGING SHARES

Shareholders  may  exchange  shares  of any  Portfolio  for  shares of any other
Portfolio on any day the Funds are open for business.

You may also  exchange  shares of any  Portfolio for shares of the Firstar Money
Market Fund or Firstar U.S.  Government  Money  Market Fund,  if such shares are
offered in your state of residence. Prior to making such an exchange, you should
obtain and carefully  read the  prospectus  for the Firstar Money Market Fund or
Firstar  U.S.  Government  Money Market Fund.  The exchange  privilege  does not
constitute an offering or  recommendation on the part of the Funds or Advisor of
an investment in the Firstar Funds.  The Firstar Funds are not  affiliated  with
the Funds or the Advisor.

Excessive  exchanges can disrupt  management of the  Portfolios  and raise their
expenses.  The Funds have  established  a policy which limits  exchanges to four

                                       19
<PAGE>
during any one  twelve-month  period.  The Funds reserve the right to reject any
exchange order and may modify the exchange  privilege by giving 60 days' written
notice to shareholders.

EXCHANGING BY MAIL

Shareholders  may  exchange  shares by  sending a written  request to the Funds'
Transfer Agent.  You should specify the names of the  Portfolios,  the number of
shares or dollar  amount to be exchanged and your name and account  number.  The
letter should be signed by all of the shareholders whose
names appear in the account registration.  Please send your exchange request to:

         Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
         P.O. Box 701
         Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701

EXCHANGING BY TELEPHONE

If your account has telephone privileges, you may also exchange Portfolio shares
by calling the Transfer Agent at (800)  248-6314  between the hours of 9:00 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m.  (Eastern time) on a day when the NYSE is open for normal trading.
If  you  exchange   shares  by  telephone,   you  will  be  subject  to  certain
identification procedures which are listed above under "Selling Shares."

EXCHANGE PROCESSING

All exchanges  will be made on the basis of the relative net asset values of the
Portfolios next determined after a completed  request is received.  Requests for
exchanges received before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on a day the NYSE is open for
normal  trading  will be  processed  as of the  close of  trading  on that  day.
Otherwise, processing will occur on the next business day.

                           PRICING OF PORTFOLIO SHARES

The price of a Portfolio's  shares is based on the  Portfolio's net asset value.
The net asset value is calculated by dividing the Portfolio's assets,  minus its
liabilities,  by the number of shares outstanding.  A Portfolio's assets are the
market  value of  securities  held in its  portfolio,  plus  any cash and  other
assets.  A Portfolio's  liabilities are fees and expenses owed by the Portfolio.
The number of Portfolio  shares  outstanding  is the amount of shares which have
been issued to  shareholders.  The price an investor pays to purchase  Portfolio
shares or the amount an investor receives when selling Portfolio shares is based
on the net asset  value next  calculated  after the order is  received in proper
form. An order in proper form must include all correct and complete information,
documents and signatures required to process the purchase or redemption, as well
as a check or bank wire payment  properly drawn and  collectable.  The net asset
value of shares  of each  Portfolio  is  determined  as of the close of  regular
trading on the NYSE,  normally 4:00 p.m.  (Eastern time).  Portfolio shares will
not be priced on days that the NYSE is closed  for  trading  (including  certain
U.S. holidays).

                                       20
<PAGE>
                           DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The  Small/Mid  Cap Equity and Core Equity  Portfolios  intend to pay  dividends
annually.  The  Balanced  Portfolio  intends  to pay  dividends  quarterly.  The
Intermediate  Fixed Income  Portfolio  intends to pay  dividends  monthly.  Each
Portfolio  makes  distributions  of its net  capital  gains,  if any,  at  least
annually.  The Board of Trustees  may  determine to declare  dividends  and make
distributions more or less frequently.

It is expected that  distributions from the Small/Mid Cap Equity and Core Equity
Portfolios  will  primarily  consist  of  capital  gains.  It is  expected  that
distributions  from the Balanced Portfolio will consist of dividends and capital
gains.  It is expected that  distributions  from the  Intermediate  Fixed Income
Portfolio will primarily consist of dividends.

Dividends  and  capital  gain  distributions  are  automatically  reinvested  in
additional  shares  of the  Portfolio  at the net  asset  value per share on the
reinvestment  date  unless  you have  previously  requested  in  writing  to the
Transfer Agent or on the new Account Application that payment be made in cash.

                                TAX CONSEQUENCES

Each  Portfolio  intends to make  distributions  of dividends and capital gains.
Dividends  are  taxable  to  shareholders  as  ordinary  income.   The  rates  a
shareholder  pays on  capital  gain  distributions  will  depend on how long the
Portfolio  held the  securities  that  generated the gains,  not on how long the
shareholder owned the Portfolio  shares.  Shareholders will be taxed in the same
manner whether they receive dividends and capital gain  distributions in cash or
reinvest them in additional Portfolio shares.

Selling  or  exchanging  Portfolio  shares is  considered  a  taxable  event for
shareholders.  Depending on the purchase  price and the sale price of the shares
exchanges or sold, a gain or a loss may result on the transaction.  Shareholders
are responsible for any tax liabilities generated by their
transactions.

                                 RULE 12b-1 FEES

The Funds have a  distribution  plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows each Portfolio
to pay  distribution  fees for the sale and  distribution  of its shares and for
services  provided to its  shareholders.  The plan provides for the payment of a
distribution and service fee of up to 0.25% of the Portfolio's average daily net
assets. This fee is payable to the Advisor, as Distribution  Coordinator.  These
fees  may  be  used  to pay  certain  brokers,  transfer  agents  and  financial
intermediaries for providing shareholder services. The Advisor may also retain a
portion of these fees to reimburse itself for marketing and servicing  expenses,
including a portion of its overhead and staff devoted to marketing the shares of
the Portfolios.  Because these fees are paid out of the Portfolio's assets on an
on-going  basis,  over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment
in shares of the  Portfolio  and may cost you more than  paying  other  types of
sales charges.

                                       21
<PAGE>
                              FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The  financial  highlights  tables  are  intended  to help  you  understand  the
financial  performance of each Portfolio for up to the past five years.  Certain
information  reflects  financial results for a single Portfolio share. The total
returns in the tables represent the rates that an investor would have earned (or
lost) on an investment in each Portfolio (assuming reinvestment of all dividends
and  distributions).  The information has been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent  auditors,  whose  report,  along  with  the  Portfolios'  financial
statements, are included in the Annual Report, which is available upon request.

                                       22
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                            SMALL/MID CAP EQUITY PORTFOLIO
                                            --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              From
                                                  For the fiscal year ended March 31,       05/10/94*
                                            --------------------------------------------     through
                                              1999          1998        1997       1996     03/31/95
                                            --------      --------    --------   -------    --------
<S>                                         <C>           <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period        $  24.92      $  18.54    $  17.89   $ 13.89     $ 12.00
Income from investment operations
   Net investment income (loss)                (0.01)        (0.01)       0.05      0.05        0.10
   Net realized and unrealized gains on
   investments                                 (4.24)         8.71        2.43      5.17        2.18
                                            --------      --------    --------   -------     -------
      Total from investment operations         (4.25)         8.70        2.48      5.22        2.28
                                            --------      --------    --------   -------     -------
Distributions
   From net investment income                  (0.01)        (0.01)      (0.06)    (0.06)      (0.07)
   From net realized gains                     (0.85)(1)     (2.31)      (1.77)    (1.16)      (0.32)
                                            --------      --------    --------   -------     -------
      Total distributions                      (0.86)        (2.32)      (1.83)    (1.22)      (0.39)
                                            --------      --------    --------   -------     -------
Net asset value, end of period              $  19.81      $  24.92    $  18.54   $ 17.89     $ 13.89
                                            ========      ========    ========   =======     =======

Total return                                  (17.18%)       48.68%      14.57%    38.38%      19.38%+
                                            ========      ========    ========   =======     =======

Net assets at end of period (in 000's)      $430,028      $515,682    $136,341   $79,495     $10,120
                                            ========      ========    ========   =======     =======
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
   Before expense reimbursement/recoupment      1.25%         1.26%       1.33%     1.46%       2.93%++
   After expense reimbursement/recoupment        n/a           n/a        1.40%     1.48%       1.48%++
                                            ========      ========    ========   =======     =======
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets, net of expense
reimbursement/ recoupment                      (0.04%)       (0.06%)      0.27%     0.66%       1.40%++
                                            ========      ========    ========   =======     =======

Portfolio turnover rate                       143.70%       107.17%     130.54%   151.37%     152.21%
                                            ========      ========    ========   =======     =======

</TABLE>
                                       23
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              From
                                                  For the fiscal year ended March 31,       05/10/94*
                                            --------------------------------------------     through
                                              1999          1998        1997       1996     03/31/95
                                            --------      --------    --------   -------    --------
<S>                                         <C>           <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period        $  24.67      $  18.97   $  17.53   $  13.84    $ 12.00
Income from investment operations
   Net investment income                        0.05          0.07       0.13       0.11       0.11
   Net realized and unrealized gains on
   investments                                  1.95          8.86       2.86       5.13       2.00
                                            --------      --------   --------   --------    -------
      Total from investment operations          2.00          8.93       2.99       5.24       2.11
                                            --------      --------   --------   --------    -------
Distributions
   From net investment income                  (0.07)        (0.07)     (0.13)     (0.11)     (0.07)
   From net realized gains                     (1.26)(2)     (3.16)     (1.42)     (1.44)     (0.20)
                                            --------      --------   --------   --------    -------
      Total distributions                      (1.33)        (3.23)     (1.55)     (1.55)     (0.27)
                                            --------      --------   --------   --------    -------
Net asset value, end of period              $  25.34      $  24.67     $18.97   $  17.53    $ 13.84
                                            ========      ========   ========   ========    =======

Total return                                    8.64%        49.64%     17.88%     38.64%     17.87%+
                                            ========      ========   ========   ========    =======

Net assets at end of period (in 000's)      $910,587      $698,665   $260,629   $107,665    $20,430
                                            ========      ========   ========   ========    =======
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
   Before expense reimbursement/recoupment      1.13%         1.14%      1.18%      1.30%      1.86%++
   After expense reimbursement/recoupment        n/a           n/a       1.22%      1.29%      1.29%++
                                            ========      ========   ========   ========    =======
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets, net of expense
reimbursement/recoupment                        0.23%         0.37%      0.74%      1.07%      1.25%++
                                            ========      ========   ========   ========    =======

Portfolio turnover rate                       132.91%       119.88%    146.12%    138.02%    133.18%
                                            ========      ========   ========   ========    =======
</TABLE>

*  Commencement of operations 05/10/94.
+  Not Annualized.
++ Annualized.

(1)  Of this amount,  the fund  designates  $0.17 as a capital gain dividend per
     IRC Section 852(b)(3).
(2)  Of this amount,  the fund  designates  $0.68 as a capital gain dividend per
     IRC Section 852(b)(3).


                                       24
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              BALANCED PORTFOLIO
                                            -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              From
                                                  For the fiscal year ended March 31,       05/10/94*
                                            --------------------------------------------     through
                                              1999          1998        1997       1996     03/31/95
                                            --------      --------    --------   -------    --------
<S>                                         <C>         <C>       <C>        <C>         <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period        $ 16.78       $ 14.76     $ 14.53    $ 12.96     $ 12.00
Income from investment operations
   Net investment income                       0.28          0.35        0.37       0.38        0.30
   Net realized and unrealized gains on
   investments                                 0.85          4.46        1.28       2.82        1.13
                                            -------       -------     -------    -------     -------
      Total from investment operations         1.13          4.81        1.65       3.20        1.43
                                            -------       -------     -------    -------     -------
Distributions
   From net investment income                 (0.28)        (0.35)      (0.37)     (0.37)      (0.31)
   From net realized gains                    (0.93)(1)     (2.44)      (1.05)     (1.26)      (0.16)
                                            -------       -------     -------    -------     -------
      Total distributions                     (1.21)        (2.79)      (1.42)     (1.63)      (0.47)
                                            -------       -------     -------    -------     -------
Net asset value, end of period              $ 16.70       $ 16.78     $ 14.76    $ 14.53      $12.96
                                            =======       =======     =======    =======     =======

Total return                                   7.22%        34.57%      11.83%     25.58%      12.23%+
                                            =======       =======     =======    =======     =======

Net assets at end of period (in 000's)      $96,844       $72,724     $40,630    $32,080     $13,724
                                            =======       =======     =======    =======     =======
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
   Before expense reimbursement/recoupment     1.22%         1.28%       1.31%      1.50%       2.29%++
   After expense reimbursement/recoupment      1.19%         1.19%       1.19%      1.19%       1.19%++
                                            =======       =======     =======    =======     =======
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets, net of expense
reimbursement/ recoupment                      1.78%         2.09%       2.50%      2.76%       3.04%++
                                            =======       =======     =======    =======     =======

Portfolio turnover rate                      108.28%       102.98%     133.68%    114.85%      92.40%
                                            =======       =======     =======    =======     =======
</TABLE>

                                       25
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      INTERMEDIATE FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO
                                            ------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              From
                                                  For the fiscal year ended March 31,       05/10/94*
                                            --------------------------------------------     through
                                              1999          1998        1997       1996     03/31/95
                                            --------      --------    --------   -------    --------
<S>                                         <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period        $ 12.45       $ 12.08     $ 12.33     $12.00      $12.00
Income from investment operations
   Net investment income                       0.68          0.71        0.65       0.70        0.57
   Net realized and unrealized gains on
   investments                                 0.11          0.37       (0.25)      0.34          --
                                            -------       -------     -------     ------      ------
      Total from investment operations         0.79          1.08        0.40       1.04        0.57
                                            -------       -------     -------     ------      ------
Distributions
   From net investment income                 (0.68)        (0.71)      (0.64)     (0.70)      (0.57)
   From net realized gains                    (0.32)(2)        --       (0.01)     (0.01)         --
                                            -------       -------     -------     ------      ------
      Total distributions                     (1.00)        (0.71)      (0.65)     (0.71)      (0.57)
                                            -------       -------     -------     ------      ------
Net asset value, end of period              $ 12.24       $ 12.45     $ 12.08     $12.33      $12.00
                                            =======       =======     =======     ======      ======

Total return                                   6.49%         9.11%       3.35%      8.85%       4.92%+
                                            =======       =======     =======     ======      ======

Net assets at end of period (in 000s)       $20,405       $19,961     $19,303     $9,740      $6,370
                                            =======       =======     =======     ======      ======
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
   Before expense reimbursement/recoupment     1.04%         1.19%       1.53%      2.17%       2.44%++
   After expense reimbursement/recoupment      0.55%         0.55%       0.95%      0.95%       0.95%++
                                            =======       =======     =======     ======      ======
Ratio of net investment income (loss)
to average net assets, net of expense
reimbursement/ recoupment                      5.39%         5.73%       5.42%      5.69%       5.57%++
                                            =======       =======     =======     ======      ======
Portfolio turnover rate                       54.59%        15.99%       8.37%     15.49%       5.21%
                                            =======       =======     =======     ======      ======
</TABLE>

*  Commencement of operations.
+  Not Annualized.
++ Annualized.

(1)  Of this amount,  the fund  designates  $0.17 as a capital gain dividend per
     IRC Section 852(b)(3).
(2)  Of this amount,  the fund  designates  $0.68 as a capital gain dividend per
     IRC Section 852(b)(3).


                                       26
<PAGE>
                                    APPENDIX
                             DESCRIPTION OF INDICES

Balanced  Index is a custom blended index  consisting of the  performance of the
S&P 500 Stock Index (50%), the Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Intermediate
Bond Index (40%) and the 91-Day U.S.  Treasury  Bill Index (10%).  This combined
index mirrors the long-term allocation of the
Balanced Portfolio.

Russell  2000(TM)  Index is an  unmanaged  index  which is composed os the 2,000
smallest  stocks in the Russell  3000(R)  Index,  and is widely  regarded in the
industry as the premier measure of small cap stocks.

Lehman  Brothers  Government/Corporate  Intermediate  Bond Index is an unmanaged
index composed of all bonds covered by the Lehman Brothers  Government/Corporate
Index with maturities between one and 9.99 years.

Russell  1000(TM)  Index is an  unmanaged  index  which is composed of the 1,000
largest  companies  in the Russell  3000(R)  Index.  The  Russell  3000 Index is
composed  of  the  3,000   largest   U.S.   companies   as  measured  by  market
capitalization, and represents about 98% of the U.S. stock market.

Russell  2500(TM)  Index is an  unmanaged  index  which is composed of the 2,500
smallest  companies  in the Russell  3000(R)  Index.  The Russell  3000 Index is
composed  of  the  3,000   largest   U.S.   companies   as  measured  by  market
capitalization, and represents about 98% of the U.S. stock market.

S&P 500 Stock Index is an unmanaged index generally representative of the market
for the stocks of large-sized U.S. companies.

Salomon Brothers  3-Month Treasury Index ("91-Day U.S.  Treasury Bill Index") is
an  unmanaged  index of equal  dollar  amounts  of three  month  Treasury  bills
purchased at the beginning of each of three consecutive months.

                                       27
<PAGE>
                         SMALL/MID CAP EQUITY PORTFOLIO
                              CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO
                               BALANCED PORTFOLIO
                      INTERMEDIATE FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO,
       SERIES OF RAINIER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT MUTUAL FUNDS (THE "FUNDS")

For more information about the Portfolios, the following documents are available
free upon request:

ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL   REPORTS:   Additional  information  about  the  Portfolios'
investments is available in the Portfolios'  Annual and  Semi-annual  Reports to
Shareholders.  In the Annual  Reports,  you will find a discussion of the market
conditions  and  investment   strategies   that   significantly   affected  each
Portfolio's performance during the last fiscal year.

STATEMENT  OF  ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION  (SAI):  The SAI provides  more  detailed
information  about the  Portfolios  and is  incorporated  by reference into this
Prospectus.

To  receive  free  copies of the  Portfolios'  reports  and SAI,  request  other
information or discuss your questions concerning the Portfolios,  please contact
the Funds at:

                   Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
                                601 Union Street
                                   Suite 2801
                            Seattle, Washington 98101
                                 (800) 248-6314

To review and copy information  including the Portfolios' reports and SAI at the
Public  Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange  Commission in Washington,
D.C.,  please  contact  the Public  Reference  Room by  calling  1-800-SEC-0330.
Text-only copies are available:

For a  fee,  by  writing  to  the  Public  Reference  Room  of  the  Commission,
Washington, DC 20549-6009, or

For a fee, by calling 1-800-SEC-0330, or

Free of charge from the Commission's Internet website at http://www.sec.gov


                                     (The Funds' SEC Investment Company Act file
                                      number is 811-8270)
<PAGE>
                   RAINIER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT MUTUAL FUNDS

                       Statement of Additional Information


                               Dated July 30, 1999

This  Statement of Additional  Information  ("SAI") is not a prospectus,  and it
should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated July 30, 1999 of Rainier
Investment  Management  Mutual Funds (the  "Trust").  The Trust consists of four
separate  portfolios:  the  Small/Mid  Cap  Equity  Portfolio,  the Core  Equity
Portfolio,  the Balanced  Portfolio and the Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio.
(In this SAI, all four Portfolios may be referred to as the "Portfolios" and the
Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio,  Core Equity Portfolio,  and Balanced Portfolios
may be referred to as the "Equity Portfolios").  Rainier Investment  Management,
Inc.(R) ("RIM" or the "Advisor") is the Advisor to the Trust and the Portfolios.
A copy of the  Prospectus  may be obtained from the Trust at 601 Union St., Ste.
2801, Seattle, WA 98101 or by calling (800) 248-6314.


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE TRUST................................................................. B-2
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES........................................ B-2
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS................................................... B-7
MANAGEMENT................................................................ B-9
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE...................................... B-16
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER ....................................................... B-17
NET ASSET VALUE........................................................... B-17
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION............................ B-18
TAXATION.................................................................. B-20
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS............................................... B-21
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION................................................... B-21
GENERAL INFORMATION....................................................... B-23
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS...................................................... B-24
APPENDIX.................................................................. B-25

                                       B-1
<PAGE>
                                    THE TRUST

Rainier  Investment  Management  Mutual  Funds  (the  "Trust")  is  an  open-end
investment  company organized as a Delaware business trust on December 15, 1993.
The Trust consists of four separate,  diversified portfolios,  each of which has
it own objective,  assets,  liabilities and net assets. This SAI relates only to
the  Portfolios.  Rainier  Investment  Management,  Inc.(R) serves as investment
advisor to the Trust and the Portfolios.

                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

The  following  information   supplements  the  discussion  of  the  Portfolios'
investment objectives and policies as forth in their Prospectus. There can be no
guarantee that the objective of any Portfolio will be attained.

The  SMALL/MID  CAP  EQUITY  PORTFOLIO  seeks  to  maximize   long-term  capital
appreciation.  The Portfolio  invests  primarily in a  diversified  portfolio of
common stocks of companies with small and medium-size capitalizations.

The CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO seeks to maximize long-term capital appreciation.  The
Portfolio invests primarily in a diversified  portfolio of common stocks of U.S.
companies.

The BALANCED  PORTFOLIO  seeks to provide  investors with a balance of long-term
capital  appreciation and current income.  The Portfolio  invests primarily in a
diversified  portfolio of common stocks of U.S.  companies and investment grade,
intermediate-term debt securities and cash equivalent securities.

The  INTERMEDIATE  FIXED INCOME  PORTFOLIO seeks to provide current income.  The
Portfolio  invests  primarily in a diversified  portfolio of  investment  grade,
intermediate-term   debt  securities   issued  by  corporations   and  the  U.S.
Government.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

Repurchase agreements are transactions in which a Portfolio purchases a security
from a bank or recognized securities dealer and simultaneously commits to resell
that security to the bank or dealer at an agreed-upon  date and price reflecting
a market  rate of  interest  unrelated  to the coupon  rate or  maturity  of the
purchased  security.  The majority of these transactions run from day to day and
not more than seven days from the original  purchase.  The  purchaser  maintains
custody  of the  underlying  securities  prior  to  their  repurchase;  thus the
obligation of the bank or dealer to pay the repurchase  price on the date agreed
to is, in effect,  secured by such underlying  securities.  If the value of such
securities is less than the repurchase  price,  the other party to the agreement
will provide  additional  collateral  so that at all times the  collateral is at
least equal to the repurchase price.

Although  repurchase  agreements  carry certain risks not associated with direct
investments  in  securities,  the  Portfolios  intend to enter  into  repurchase
agreements  only with  banks and  dealers  believed  by the  Advisor  to present
minimum credit risks in accordance with  guidelines  established by the Board of
Trustees.  The Advisor  will review and  monitor  the  creditworthiness  of such
institutions  under the  Board's  general  supervision.  To the extent  that the
proceeds  from  any sale of  collateral  upon a  default  in the  obligation  to
repurchase  were less than the repurchase  price,  the purchaser  would suffer a
loss. If the other party to the repurchase agreement petitions for bankruptcy or
otherwise becomes subject to bankruptcy or other liquidation proceedings,  there
might be restrictions on the purchaser's  ability to sell the collateral and the
purchaser could suffer a loss. However,  with respect to financial  institutions
whose bankruptcy or liquidation  proceedings are subject to the U.S.  Bankruptcy
Code, the Portfolios intend to comply with provisions under such Code that would
allow them immediately to resell the collateral.

                                       B-2
<PAGE>
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES

The Portfolios may from time to time purchase  securities on a "when-issued"  or
delayed  delivery  basis,  generally in connection with an underwriting or other
offering.  The price of such securities,  which may be expressed in yield terms,
is fixed at the time the  commitment  to  purchase  is made,  but  delivery  and
payment for the when-issued securities take place at a later date. Normally, the
settlement  date  occurs  within  one month of the  purchase;  during the period
between  purchase  and  settlement,  no payment is made by the  Portfolio to the
issuer and no interest accrues to the Portfolio.  To the extent that assets of a
Portfolio are held in cash pending the  settlement of a purchase of  securities,
the Portfolio  would earn no income.  While  when-issued  securities may be sold
prior to the settlement date, the Portfolios  intend to purchase such securities
with the purpose of actually  acquiring them unless a sale appears desirable for
investment reasons. At the time the Portfolio makes the commitment to purchase a
security on a when-issued  basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the
value of the security in  determining  its net asset value.  The market value of
the  when-issued  securities  may be more or less than the purchase  price.  The
Advisor does not believe that the  Portfolios' net asset value or income will be
adversely  affected by the purchase of securities  on a when- issued basis.  The
Portfolios  will  segregate  liquid assets with the Custodian  equal in value to
commitments for  when-issued  securities.  Such  segregated  assetss either will
mature or, if necessary, be sold on or before the settlement date.

ILLIQUID SECURITIES; RULE 144A SECURITIES

There  is  no  present  intention  for  the  Portfolios  to  hold  any  illiquid
securities. Each Portfolio has the right to invest in such securities but not to
the extent of more than 15% of its net assets.  Illiquid  securities include (a)
securities for which there is no available  market,  (b) securities  that at the
time of purchase have legal or contractual restrictions on resale, (c)repurchase
agreements  having more than seven days to maturity and (d) fixed time  deposits
subject to withdrawal penalties (other than those with a term of less than seven
days).

Mutual funds do not typically  hold a significant  amount of restricted or other
illiquid   securities  because  of  the  potential  for  delays  on  resale  and
uncertainty  in valuation.  Limitations  on resale may have an adverse effect on
the marketability of portfolio securities,  and a Portfolio might not be able to
dispose of such  securities  promptly or at reasonable  prices and might thereby
experience  difficulty  satisfying  redemptions.  A Portfolio might also have to
register such  restricted  securities in order to dispose of them,  resulting in
additional expense and delay.

In recent years, however, a large institutional market has developed for certain
securities that are not registered  under the Securities Act of 1933,  including
repurchase   agreements,   commercial  paper,   foreign  securities,   municipal
securities and corporate bonds and notes.  Institutional  investors depend on an
efficient institutional market in which the unregistered security can be readily
resold or on an issuer's ability to honor a demand for repayment.  The fact that
there are  contractual or legal  restrictions on resale to the general public or
to  certain  institutions  may  not be  indicative  of  the  liquidity  of  such
investments.  If such securities are subject to purchase by institutional buyers
in accord with Rule 144A promulgated by the Securities and Exchange  Commission,
the Trustees may determine that such securities are not illiquid notwithstanding
their legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS

U.S.  Government  securities  include  direct  obligations  issued by the United
States Treasury,  such as Treasury bills  (maturities of one year or less), U.S.
Treasury  notes  (maturities  of one to  ten  years)  and  U.S.  Treasury  bonds
(generally  maturities  of  greater  than ten  years).  They also  include  U.S.
Government agencies and  instrumentalities  that issue or guarantee  securities,
such as the Federal Home Loan Banks, The Mederal National  Mortgage  Association
and the Student Loan Marketing Association. Except for U.S. Treasury securities,

                                       B-3
<PAGE>
obligations of U.S. Government agencies and  instrumentalities may or may not be
supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Some, such as those
of the Federal Home Loan Banks,  are backed by the right of the issuer to borrow
from the Treasury,  others by discretionary  authority of the U.S. Government to
purchase the agencies' obligations, while still others, such as the Student Loan
Marketing Association,  are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality.
In the case of securities  not backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States, the investor must look principally to the agency issuing or guaranteeing
the  obligation  for  ultimate  repayment  and may not be able to  asset a claim
against the United States itself in the event the agency or instrumentality does
not meet its commitment.

MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES

The Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio and Balanced Portfolio reserve the right
to invest in  mortgage-related  securities.  These  securities  include mortgage
pass-through  securities,  which  represent  interests  in pools of mortgages in
which  payments of both interest and principal on the  securities  are generally
made  monthly,  in  effect  "passing  through"  monthly  payments  made  by  the
individual  borrowers  on the  residential  mortgage  loans which  underlie  the
securities  (net of fees paid to the  issuer or  guarantor  of the  securities).
Early repayment of principal on mortgage  pass-through  securities (arising from
prepayments of principal due to the sale of underlying property, refinancing, or
foreclosure, net of fees and costs which may be incurred) may expose a Portfolio
to a lower rate of return upon  reinvestment  of principal.  Also, if a security
subject to repayment has been purchased at a premium, in the event of prepayment
the value of the premium would be lost.

Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage pass-through  securities (but
not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full
faith and credit of the U. S.  Government (in the case of securities  guaranteed
by GNMA), or by agencies and  instrumentalities  of the U.S.  Government (in the
case of  securities  guaranteed  by  FNMA  or the  Federal  Home  Loan  Mortgage
Corporation ("FHLMC"),  which are supported only by the discretionary  authority
of  the  U.S.  Government  to  purchase  the  agency's  obligations).   Mortgage
pass-through securities created by non-governmental  issuers (such as commercial
banks,  savings and loan  institutions,  private mortgage  insurance  companies,
mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be supported by various
forms of insurance or guarantees,  including  individual loan,  title,  pool and
hazard  insurance,  and letters of credit,  which may be issued by  governmental
entities, private insurers or the mortgage poolers.

Collateralized  mortgage  obligations  ("CMO's")  are  hybrid  instruments  with
characteristics  of  both  mortgage-backed   bonds  and  mortgage   pass-through
securities. Similar to a bond, interest and prepaid principal on a CMO are paid,
in most cases,  semi-annually.  CMO's may be  collateralized  by whole  mortgage
loans  but  are  more  typically   collateralized   by  portfolios  of  mortgage
pass-through securities guaranteed by GNMA, FHLMC, or FNMA. CMO's are structured
into  multiple  classes,  with each class bearing a different  stated  maturity.
Monthly  payments of principal,  including  prepayments,  are first  returned to
investors  holding the shortest  maturity  class.  Investors  holding the longer
maturity classes receive  principal only after the first class has been retired.
Other  mortgage  related  securities  include  those that directly or indirectly
represent a  participation  in or are secured by and payable from mortgage loans
on real property, such as CMO residuals or stripped mortgage-backed  securities,
and may be structured in classes with rights to receive  varying  proportions of
principal  and  interest.   Certain  of  these  government   interest-only   and
principal-only fixed  mortgage-backed  securities may be considered liquid under
guidelines  to  be  established  by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  if,  under  such
procedures,  they can be disposed of promptly in the ordinary course of business
at a value  reasonably  close to that used in the calculation of net asset value
per share. Any interest-only and principal-only  securities not determined to be
liquid under these guidelines will be subject to the Portfolios'  limitations on
illiquid  securities  as set forth in the  prospectus.  The  Portfolios  have no
present intention to invest in such interest-only and principal-only securities.

                                       B-4
<PAGE>
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES

Each Portfolio may invest in asset-backed receivables, which represent undivided
fractional  interests  in a trust with assets  consisting  of a pool of domestic
loans such as motor vehicle retail  installment  sales  contracts or credit card
receivables.  Asset-backed  receivables  are generally  issued by  governmental,
government-  related and private  organizations.  Payments  are  typically  made
monthly,  consisting  of both  principal  and  interest  payments.  Asset-backed
securities may be prepaid prior to maturity and,  hence,  the actual life of the
security  cannot be accurately  predicted.  During  periods of falling  interest
rates,  prepayments may accelerate,  which would require a Portfolio to reinvest
the proceeds at a lower interest.  Although generally rated investment grade, it
is possible that the securities  could become  illiquid or experience  losses of
guarantors or insurers defaults.

SECURITIES LENDING

The  Portfolios  have  the  ability  to lend  securities,  but  have no  present
intention to do so. The Portfolios may lend their securities in an amount not to
exceed 30% of their assets to financial  institutions  such as banks and brokers
if the loan is collateralized in accordance with applicable  regulations.  Under
the present regulatory  requirements which govern loans of portfolio securities,
the loan collateral  must, on each business day, at least equal the value of the
loaned securities and must consist of cash,  letters of credit of domestic banks
or domestic  branches of foreign banks or  securities of the U.S.  Government or
its agencies.

FOREIGN SECURITIES

Each Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in foreign  securities.  These
include U.S. dollar denominated  securities of foreign issuers and securities of
foreign  issuers  that are listed and traded on a domestic  national  securities
exchange.  Currently, the Advisor intends to invest only U.S. dollar denominated
securities of foreign issuers or American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). ADRs are
receipts,  usually issued by a U.S. bank or trust company,  evidencing ownership
of the underlying  securities.  Generally,  ADRs are issued in registered  form,
denominated  in U.S.  dollars and are  designed  for use in the U.S.  securities
markets.  A depositary  may issue  sponsored  and  unsponsored  ADRs without the
consent of the foreign issuer of securities, in which case the holder of the ADR
may incur  higher costs and receive less  information  about the foreign  issuer
than the holder of a sponsored ADR.

There are risks  associated with investing in foreign  securities.  There may be
less publicly available  information about these issuers than is available about
companies in the U.S. and foreign auditing requirements may not be comparable to
those in the U.S. Interest or dividends on foreign  securities may be subject to
foreign  withholding  taxes.  Investments in foreign countries may be subject to
the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory  taxation,  exchange  controls,
political or social  instability or diplomatic  developments that could aversely
affect the value of those  investments.  The value of foreign  securities may be
adversely affected by movements in the exchange rates between foreign currencies
(including  the  "euro") and the U.S.  dollar,  as well as other  political  and
economic developments.

FUTURES

To the extent  consistent  with their  investment  objectives and policies,  the
Portfolios  may  purchase and sell  futures  contracts  with respect to interest
rates and securities  indices.  The Portfolios may use these techniques to hedge
against  changes  in  interest  rates or  securities  prices or as part of their
overall investment strategies.

An interest rate or index futures  contract  provides for the future sale by one
party and  purchase  by another  party of a  specified  quantity  of a financial
instrument  or the cash  value of an index at a  specified  price  and  time.  A
futures contract on an index is an agreement pursuant to which two parties agree

                                       B-5
<PAGE>
to take or make  delivery of an amount of cash equal to the  difference  between
the value of the index at the close of the last  trading day of the contract and
the price at which the index contract was originally written. Although the value
of an index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, no
physical delivery of these securities is made. A public market exists in futures
contracts  covering  a  number  of  indices  as well as  financial  instruments,
including:  the S&P 500; the S&P 100;  the S&P Midcap 400;  the NYSE  composite;
U.S. Treasury bonds; U.S.  Treasury notes; GNMA  Certificates;  three-month U.S.
Treasury bills; 90-day commercial paper; and bank certificates of deposit.

Each  Portfolio  will use futures  contracts in accordance  with the  applicable
rules of the Commodity Futures Trading  Commission under which the Trust and the
Portfolios  avoid being deemed a "commodity pool" and the Advisor being deemed a
"commodity  pool operator."  Accordingly,  each Portfolio  intends  generally to
limit its use of futures contracts as described below.

A Portfolio might use futures contracts to hedge against  anticipated changes in
interest rates or securities prices that might adversely affect either the value
of the Portfolio's  securities or the price of the securities that the Portfolio
intends to purchase.  A Portfolio might also buy futures contracts on securities
indexes  with  respect to a large cash  investment  in a Portfolio  pending full
investment of that cash in stocks.

A Portfolio will enter into only those futures  contracts that are  standardized
and traded on a U.S.  exchange,  board of trade, or similar entity, or quoted on
an automated quotation system.

When a  purchase  or sale of a  futures  contract  is made by a  Portfolio,  the
Portfolio  is  required to deposit  with its  custodian  (or broker,  if legally
permitted) a specified  amount of assets  determined to be liquid by the Advisor
in accordance  with  procedures  established by the Board of Trustees  ("initial
margin").  The margin required for a futures  contract is set by the exchange on
which  the  contract  is  traded  and may be  modified  during  the  term of the
contract.  Each day the  Portfolio  pays or  receives  cash,  called  "variation
margin,"  equal to the  daily  change  in value of the  futures  contract.  This
process is known as "marking to market."  Variation  margin does not represent a
borrowing  or loan by a  Portfolio  but is  instead  a  settlement  between  the
Portfolio  and the broker of the  amount one would owe the other if the  futures
contract  expired.  In computing daily net asset value, each Portfolio will mark
to market its open futures positions.

Although  some  futures  contracts  call for  making or taking  delivery  of the
underlying  securities,  generally  these  obligations  are  closed out prior to
delivery by offsetting  purchases or sales of matching  futures  contracts (same
exchange, underlying security or index, and delivery month).

The  Portfolios  will enter into  positions in futures  contracts for "bona fide
hedging" purposes and for other investment  purposes.  With respect to positions
in futures that do not constitute bona fide hedging positions,  a Portfolio will
not enter into a futures  contract or futures  option  contract if,  immediately
thereafter,  the aggregate  initial margin  deposits  relating to such positions
(plus premiums paid by it for open futures  positions,  less the amount by which
any such  futures are  "in-the-money")  would exceed 5% of the  Portfolio's  net
assets.

When   purchasing  a  futures   contract,   a  Portfolio   will  designate  (and
mark-to-market  on a daily basis) assets  determined to be liquid by the Advisor
in accordance with procedures  established by the Board of Trustees,  that, when
added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are
equal to the contract value of the futures contract.

There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts. A purchase
or sale of a futures  contract may result in losses  substantially  in excess of
the amount  invested in the futures  contract.  There can be no  guarantee  that
there will be a correlation  between price  movements in the hedging vehicle and
in the Portfolio  securities  being hedged.  In addition,  there are significant

                                       B-6
<PAGE>
differences  between the securities and futures  markets that could result in an
imperfect  correlation between the markets,  causing a given futures transaction
not to achieve its  objectives.  A decision  as to whether,  when and how to use
futures  involves the exercise of skill and judgment,  and even a well-conceived
investment  may be  unsuccessful  to some degree  because of market  behavior or
unexpected interest rate or securities price trends.

There  can be no  assurance  that a liquid  market  will  exist at a time when a
Portfolio seeks to close out a futures contract, and that Portfolio would remain
obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed.

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

Each Portfolio may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:

CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT,  BANKERS' ACCEPTANCES AND TIME DEPOSITS. Each Portfolio
may hold  certificates  of  deposit,  bankers'  acceptances  and time  deposits.
Certificates  of  deposit  are  negotiable  certificates  issued  against  funds
deposited  in a  commercial  bank for a  definite  period of time and  earning a
specified  return.  Bankers'  acceptances  are  negotiable  drafts  or  bills of
exchange,  normally  drawn  by an  importer  or  exporter  to pay  for  specific
merchandise,  which are  "accepted"  by a bank,  meaning in effect that the bank
unconditionally  agrees to pay the face  value of the  instrument  on  maturity.
Certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances acquired by a Portfolio will be
dollar-denominated  obligations of domestic banks, savings and loan associations
or financial institutions which, at the time of purchase, have capital,  surplus
and  undivided  profits  in excess  of $100  million  (including  assets of both
domestic and foreign branches),  based on latest published reports, or less than
$100 million if the principal  amount of such bank obligations are fully insured
by the U.S. Government.

In  addition  to buying  certificates  of deposit and  bankers'  acceptances,  a
Portfolio also may make interest-bearing time or other interest-bearing deposits
in  commercial  or savings  banks.  Time  deposits are  non-negotiable  deposits
maintained  at a  banking  institution  for a  specified  period  of  time  at a
specified interest rate.

COMMERCIAL  PAPER AND SHORT-TERM  NOTES.  Each Portfolio may invest a portion of
its assets in commercial paper and short-term  notes.  Commercial paper consists
of unsecured  promissory  notes  issued by  corporations.  Commercial  paper and
short-term  notes will  normally  have  maturities  of less than nine months and
fixed rates of return,  although such  instruments  may have maturities of up to
one year.

Commercial  paper and short-term  notes will consist of issues rated at the time
of purchase  "A-2" or higher by Standard & Poor's  Ratings  Group,  "Prime-1" or
"Prime-2" by Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.,  or similarly  rated by another
nationally  recognized  statistical rating organization or, if unrated,  will be
determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.  These rating symbols are
described in the Appendix.

                             INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Trust,  on behalf of the Portfolios,  has adopted the following  fundamental
investment   policies  and   restrictions   in  addition  to  the  policies  and
restrictions  discussed in the prospectus.  With respect to each Portfolio,  the
policies and restrictions listed below cannot be changed without approval by the
holders of a "majority of the outstanding  voting  securities" of that Portfolio
(which is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") to mean
the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares  represented at a meeting at which more than
50% of the  outstanding  shares  are  represented  or (ii)  more than 50% of the
outstanding  shares.  As a matter of  fundamental  policy,  the  Portfolios  are
diversified; i.e., as to 75% of the value of a Portfolio's total assets, no more
than 5% of the value of its total  assets may be invested in the  securities  of
any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities).

                                       B-7
<PAGE>
In addition, no Portfolio may:

1. Issue senior  securities,  borrow  money or pledge its assets,  except that a
Portfolio may borrow on an unsecured basis from banks for temporary or emergency
purposes or for the  clearance of  transactions  in amounts not exceeding 10% of
its total assets (not including the amount borrowed),  provided that it will not
make  investments  while  borrowings  in  excess of 5% of the value of its total
assets are outstanding;

2. Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except for short
sales against the box;

3.  Purchase  securities  on margin,  except such  short-term  credits as may be
necessary for the clearance of transactions;

4. Write put or call options,  except that the  Portfolios  reserve the right to
write put or call options for hedging or other purposes as may  subsequently  be
described in their Prospectus and permitted under  applicable  federal and state
laws and regulations;

5. Act as  underwriter  (except to the extent a Portfolio may be deemed to be an
underwriter  in  connection  with  the  sale  of  securities  in its  investment
portfolio);

6. Invest 25% or more of its total  assets,  calculated  at the time of purchase
and taken at market  value,  in any one  industry,  other  than U.S.  Government
securities, (except that the Portfolios reserve the right to invest all of their
assets in shares of another investment company);

7.  Purchase  or sell real  estate or  interests  in real  estate or real estate
limited  partnerships  (although any Portfolio may purchase and sell  securities
which are secured by real estate and  securities  of  companies  which invest or
deal in real estate);

8. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity futures contracts,  except that the
Portfolios may purchase and sell stock index futures contracts and interest rate
futures  contracts  to the  extent  described  in  their  Prospectus  or in this
Statement of Additional  Information and as permitted under  applicable  federal
and state laws and regulations;

9. Make loans  (except for  purchases  of debt  securities  consistent  with the
investment policies of the Portfolios and except for repurchase agreements);

10. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management; or

11. Invest in oil and gas limited partnerships or oil, gas or mineral leases.

The Portfolios  observe the following  restrictions as a matter of operating but
not  fundamental  policy,  pursuant  to  positions  taken by federal  regulatory
authorities:

No Portfolio may:

1. Purchase any security if as a result the Portfolio  would then hold more than
10% of any class of voting  securities  of an issuer  (taking  all common  stock
issues as a single class,  all preferred stock issues as a single class, and all
debt issues as a single class) except that each Portfolio  reserves the right to
invest  all of its  assets  in a class of  voting  securities  of an  investment
company;

2.  Invest  more than 10% of its assets in the  securities  of other  investment
companies  or purchase  more than 3% of any other  investment  company's  voting

                                       B-8
<PAGE>
securities or make any other investment in other investment  companies except as
permitted by federal law.  (Each  Portfolio  reserves the right to invest all of
its assets in another investment company).

3. Invest, in the aggregate,  more than 15% of its net assets in securities with
legal or contractual  restrictions on resale,  securities  which are not readily
marketable and repurchase agreements with more than seven days to maturity.

                                   MANAGEMENT

The overall  management  of the business and affairs of the Trust is vested with
its Board of Trustees. The Board approves all significant agreements between the
Trust  and  persons  or  companies  furnishing  services  to it,  including  the
agreements with the Advisor,  Administrator,  Custodian and Transfer Agent.  The
day to day  operations  of the Trust and the  Portfolios  are delegated to their
officers,  subject to their  investment  objectives  and policies and to general
supervision by their Boards of Trustees.

The  following  table lists the Trustees and officers of the Trust,  their ages,
business addresses and principal  occupations during the past five years. Unless
otherwise noted, each individual has held the position listed for more than five
years.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       Position(s) Held       Principal Occupation(s)
Name and Address                           with Trust          During Past Five Years
- -------------------------              ----------------       -----------------------
<S>                                    <C>                    <C>

J. Glenn Haber, 3/15/52 *              Trustee,               Principal of the Advisor
601 Union St., Ste. 2801               President,
Seattle, WA 98101                      Secretary, and
                                       Treasurer

Patricia L. Frost 11/4/44*             Trustee and            Principal and Chief Executive Officer of
601 Union St., Ste. 2801               Vice President         the Advisor
Seattle, WA 98101

James E. Diamond, Jr., 11/13/46        Trustee                President and Chief Financial Officer of
3217 NW Yeon Ave.                                             Paul O. Giesey Adcrafters, Inc. (printing
Portland, OR 97210                                            and typography).

John W. Ferris, 12/12/40               Trustee                Partner of Peterson Sullivan & Co.
Peterson, Sullivan & Co.                                      (certified public accountants).
2330 Two Union Square
Seattle, WA 98101

Gary L. Sundem, 11/8/44                Trustee                Associate Dean and Professor of
University of Washington                                      Accounting; University of Washington
School of Business Administration

James R. Margard, 9/25/52*             Vice President         Principal of the Advisor
601 Union St., Ste. 2801
Seattle, WA 98101

Michael E. Raney, 9/13/48*             Vice President         Principal of the Advisor
601 Union St. Ste. 2801
Seattle, WA 98101

</TABLE>
                                          B-9
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                       Position(s) Held       Principal Occupation(s)
Name and Address                           with Trust          During Past Five Years
- -------------------------              ----------------       -----------------------
<S>                                  <C>                    <C>
David A. Veterane, 7/22/41*            Vice President         Principal of the Advisor
601 Union St., Ste. 2801
Seattle, WA 98101
</TABLE>


- ----------
* Denotes "interested person" as defined in the 1940 Act.

The  officers of the Trust,  and the  Trustees  who are  considered  "interested
persons"  of the  Trust  receive  no  compensation  directly  from the Trust for
performing the duties of their offices. However, those officers and Trustees who
are officers or  principals of the Advisor may receive  remuneration  indirectly
because the Advisor receives a management fee from the Portfolios.  The Trustees
who are not  affiliated  with the Advisor  receive an annual  retainer of $6,000
plus $1,500 per  meeting.  These  unaffiliated  Trustees  also  receive a fee of
$1,500 for any  committee  meetings  held on dates other than a scheduled  board
meeting date.  Such Trustees also are  reimbursed  for any expenses  incurred in
attending  meetings.  The aggregate  compensation  paid by each Portfolio of the
Trust to each of the Trustees during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999 is set
forth below:


                                              Deferred
                          Aggregate         Compensation
                      Compensation Paid    Accrued as Part    Total Compensation
Name of Trustee          from Trust       of Trust Expenses       from Trust
- ---------------       -----------------   -----------------   ------------------
J. Glenn Haber                 $0                  $0                 $0
Patricia L. Frost              $0                  $0                 $0
James E. Diamond, Jr.     $10,000                  $0            $10,000
Gary L. Sundem            $10,000                  $0            $10,000
John W. Ferris             $4,000              $6,283            $10,283


The Portfolios do not maintain pension or retirement plans for Trustees.

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS


As of June 30, 1999,  the current  Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group
held of record and beneficially  less than 1% of the outstanding  shares of each
Portfolio.  To the best knowledge of the Portfolios,  shareholders  owning 5% or
more of the  outstanding  shares of the  Portfolio  as of  record  are set forth
below:

                              Shareholder                          % held as of
Portfolio                     Name & Address                       June 30, 1999
- ---------                     --------------                       -------------
Small/Mid Cap                 Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.               31.33%
Equity Portfolio              Special Custody Account for
                              Exclusive Benefit of Customers
                              Attn: Mutual Funds
                              101 Montgomery St.
                              San Francisco, CA 94104-4122


                                      B-10

<PAGE>

                              Shareholder                          % held as of
Portfolio                     Name & Address                       June 30, 1999
- ---------                     --------------                       -------------
                              National Financial Services             10.38%
                              For the Exclusive Benefit
                                of Our Customers
                              Attn Omnibus Reconciliation
                              1 World Financial Ctr
                              New York, NY 10281-1003

                              South California UFCW                    6.60%
                              Unions & Drug Emp Pens Fnd
                              Los Feliz Station
                              P.O. Box 27920
                              Los Angeles, CA 90027-0920

Core Equity Portfolio         Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.               33.46%
                              Special Custody Account for
                              Exclusive Benefit of Customers
                              Attn: Mutual Funds
                              101 Montgomery St.
                              San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

                              National Financial Services             10.07%
                              For the Exclusive Benefit
                                of Our Customers
                              Attn Omnibus Reconciliation
                              1 World Financial Ctr
                              New York, NY 10281-1003

Balanced Portfolio            Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.               19.01%
                              Special Custody Account for
                              Exclusive Benefit of Customers
                              Attn: Mutual Funds
                              101 Montgomery St.
                              San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

                              Wendel & Co                             13.03%
                              A/C #195705
                              C/O The Bank of New York
                              Attn Mutual Funds/Reorg Dept
                              P.O. Box 1066 Wall Street Station
                              New York, NY 10286

                              Copeland Lumber Co 401K                  6.52%
                              Profit Sharing Trust
                              Copper Mountain Trust Copr TR
                              1211 SW 5th Ave. Ste. 1900
                              Portland, OR 97204-3719

                              Northwestern Trust Company               6.34%
                              1201 3rd Ave Ste 2010
                              Seattle, WA 98101-3000


                                             B-11

<PAGE>

                              Shareholder                          % held as of
Portfolio                     Name & Address                       June 30, 1999
- ---------                     --------------                       -------------
                              National Financial Services              6.14%
                              For the Exclusive Benefit
                                of Our Customers
                              Attn Omnibus Reconciliation
                              1 World Financial Ctr
                              New York, NY 10281-1003

Int. Fixed Income Portfolio   Key Trust Company of Alaska Cust        15.87%
                              Under Agreement DTD 10/20/95
                              With Koniag Inc.
                              PO Box 94871
                              Cleveland, OH 44101-4871

                              Northwest Roofers & Employers           20.35%
                              Heath & Security Trust Fund
                              Michael S. Hendrickson TR
                              PO Box 34203
                              Seattle, WA 98124-1203

                              Machinist Health & Welfare Trust         9.58%
                              Welfare & Pension Admin
                              Attn Michael Hendrickson
                              PO Box 34203
                              Seattle, WA 98124-1203

                              Wendel & Co                              6.60%
                              A/C #382771 Wall Street Station PO Box
                              1066 New York, NY 10268-1066

                              Wendel & Co                              5.02%
                              A/C #728249
                              Manson Construction & Engineering
                              c/o The Bank of New York
                              PO Box 1066
                              New York, NY 10268-1066

                              Western Building Materials               6.42%
                              Insurance Trust
                              FBD Casey Voophees
                              PO Box 1699
                              Olympia, WA 98507-1699

                              Key Trust Company of Alaska Cust         5.60%
                              Under Agreement DTD 10/20/95
                              With Koniag Inc.
                              Collateral Holding
                              PO Box 94871
                              Cleveland, OH 44101-4871


                                      B-12
<PAGE>
THE ADVISOR

Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees,  investment  management and
services  are  provided  to  the  Portfolios  by  the  Advisor,  pursuant  to an
Investment  Advisory  Agreement (the "Advisory  Agreement").  Under the Advisory
Agreement,  the  Advisor  provides  a  continuous  investment  program  for  the
Portfolios and makes decisions and places orders to buy, sell or hold particular
securities.   In  addition   to  the  fees   payable  to  the  Advisor  and  the
Administrator,  the Portfolios and the Trust are responsible for their operating
expenses,  including: (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage commissions;  (iii)
insurance premiums;  (iv) compensation and expenses of Trustees other than those
affiliated with the Advisor or the Administrator;  (v) legal and audit expenses;
(vi) fees and  expenses  of the  custodian,  shareholder  service  and  transfer
agents;  (vii) fees and expenses for  registration or qualification of the Trust
and its shares  under  federal or state  securities  laws;  (viii)  expenses  of
preparing,   printing  and  mailing  reports,  notices  and  proxy  material  to
shareholders;   (ix)  other  expenses  incidental  to  holding  any  shareholder
meetings;  (x) dues or assessments of or contributions to the Investment Company
Institute  or any  successor;  (xi) such  non-recurring  expenses  as may arise,
including  litigation  affecting  the  Trust  or the  Portfolios  and the  legal
obligations  with  respect  to which  the  Trust or the  Portfolios  may have to
indemnify  their officers and Trustees;  and (xii)  amortization of organization
costs.

Under the Advisory  Agreement,  the Advisor is not liable to the  Portfolios for
any error of  judgment  by the  Advisor  or any loss  sustained  by the Trust or
Portfolios  except in the case of a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the
receipt of compensation for services (in which case any award of damages will be
limited as provided in the 1940 Act) or of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of duty.

The Advisory  Agreement  continues  automatically for successive annual periods,
provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by
a majority vote of the  Independent  Trustees cast in person at a meeting called
for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) by the Board of Trustees or
by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities.

The Advisory  Agreement is terminable by vote of the Board of Trustees or by the
holders of a majority of the outstanding  voting securities of the Portfolios at
any time without penalty, on 60 days written notice to the Advisor. The Advisory
Agreement also may be terminated by the Advisor on 60 days written notice to the
Portfolios.  The Advisory Agreement terminates automatically upon its assignment
(as defined in the 1940 Act).

Advisory fees, waiver and expense  reimbursements/(recoupment)for the last three
fiscal years were as follows:

                                      B-13
<PAGE>

                                                             Expenses Waived or
                                               Gross            Reimbursed/
                                            Advisory Fee         (Recouped)
                                            ------------     ------------------
FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1999:
Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio               $4,406,813                 $0
Core Equity Portfolio                         6,039,183                  0
Balanced Portfolio                              592,133             27,004
Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio              92,971             90,188

FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1998:
Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio               $2,479,135                 $0
Core Equity Portfolio                         3,230,869                  0
Balanced Portfolio                              370,829             45,162
Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio             102,469            135,484

FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1997:
Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio                 $920,491          ($74,038)
Core Equity Portfolio                         1,402,959           (74,294)
Balanced Portfolio                              274,557             47,467
Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio              73,573             85,255


THE ADMINISTRATOR

The   Trust   has  an   Administration   Agreement   with   Investment   Company
Administration, LLC (the "Administrator"), a corporation with offices at 4455 E.
Camelback Rd., Ste.  261-E,  Phoenix,  AZ 85018.  The  Administration  Agreement
provides that the  Administrator  will prepare and coordinate  reports and other
materials supplied to the Trustees; prepare and/or supervise the preparation and
filing of all securities  filings,  periodic  financial  reports,  prospectuses,
statements  of  additional  information,   marketing  materials,   tax  returns,
shareholder  reports  and other  regulatory  reports or filings  required of the
Portfolios;  prepare all required filings  necessary to maintain the Portfolios'
qualification  and/or  registration  to sell  shares  in all  states  where  the
Portfolios currently do, or intends to do business;  coordinate the preparation,
printing and mailing of all materials (e.g., annual reports) required to be sent
to  shareholders;  coordinate the preparation  and payment of  Portfolio-related
expenses; monitor and oversee the activities of the Portfolios' servicing agents
(i.e., transfer agent, custodian, fund accountants,  etc.); review and adjust as
necessary the Portfolios'  daily expense  accruals;  and perform such additional
services  as may be  agreed  upon by the Trust  and the  Administrator.  For its
services,  the  Administrator  receives a monthly fee from each Portfolio at the
annual  rate of 0.10% of the first $100  million of  average  daily net  assets,
0.05% of the next $100 million,  and 0.03% of assets over $200 million,  subject
to an annual minimum of $40, 000. For the fiscal year  beginning  April 1, 1998,
the   Administrator  has  agreed  to  waive  its  annual  minimum  fee  for  the
Intermediate   Fixed  Income  Portfolio.   Each  Portfolio  paid  the  following
administration fees for the fiscal years ended March 31:


                                              1999          1998          1997
                                              ----          ----          ----
Small/mid Cap Equity Portfolio              $245,534      $176,247      $101,871
Core Equity Portfolio                        331,567       219,235       140,667
Balanced Portfolio                            84,586        52,913        40,000
Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio           18,598        40,000        40,000


                                      B-14
<PAGE>
THE DISTRIBUTOR

First  Fund  Distributors,  Inc.  (the  "Distributor"),   an  affiliate  of  the
Administrator,  acts as the  Portfolios'  principal  underwriter in a continuous
public offering of each Portfolio's  shares. The Distribution  Agreement between
the Trust and the Distributor  continues in effect from year to year if approved
at least  annually by (i) the Board of Trustees or the vote of a majority of the
outstanding  shares of the  Portfolios  (as  defined in the 1940 Act) and (ii) a
majority of the Trustees who are not  interested  persons of any such party,  in
each case cast in person at a meeting  called for the  purpose of voting on such
approval.  The Distribution  Agreement may be terminated  without penalty by the
parties  thereto  ,  upon  sixty  days'  written  notice,  and is  automatically
terminated in the event of its assignment as defined in the 1940 Act.

Each  Portfolio has adopted a  Distribution  Plan in accordance  with Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act.  Each Plan  provides  that a Portfolio  may pay a fee to the
Advisor,  as Distribution  Coordinator,  at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the
average daily net assets of each Portfolio.  The fee is paid to the Advisor,  as
Distribution  Coordinator,  as reimbursement for or in anticipation of, expenses
incurred  for  distribution  related  activities.  The Advisor  has  voluntarily
limited the  distribution  fee for the  Intermediate  Fixed Income  Portfolio to
0.10% of the  Portfolio's  average annual net assets.  Expenses  permitted to be
paid by each Portfolio under its Plan include: preparation, printing and mailing
or  prospectuses,  shareholder  reports such as semi-annual  and annual reports,
performance  reports and  newsletters;  sales  literature and other  promotional
material to prospective investors; direct mail solicitation; advertising; public
relations;  compensation of sales personnel, advisors or other third parties for
their  assistance with respect to the  distribution  of the Portfolio's  shares;
payments to financial  intermediaries,  including ERISA  third-party  retirement
plan  administrators,  for shareholder  support;  administrative  and accounting
services  with  respect to the  shareholders  of the  Portfolio;  the  Advisor's
internal  distribution  and  shareholder  servicing  expenses;  and  such  other
expenses as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Trustees.

The  Advisor,  out of its  own  funds,  also  may  pay  these  expenses  and may
compensate broker-dealers who have signed dealer agreements for the distribution
of a  Portfolio's  shares  as  well  as  other  service  providers  who  provide
shareholder and administrative services.

Each Portfolio paid the following 12b-1 fees for the fiscal year ended March 31,
1999:


                     Advertising &    Travel &    Wages &               Total
                       Marketing   Entertainment  Benefits   Other*   12b-1 fees
                     ------------  -------------  --------   ------   ----------
Small/Mid Cap Equity
  Portfolio            $1,290,163     $12,749     $164,473   $29,080  $1,496,465
Core Equity Portfolio   1,984,127      19,837      255,911    45,247   2,305,122
Balanced Portfolio        154,727       2,083       26,872     4,751     188,433
Int. Fixed Income
  Portfolio                12,097         457        5,900     1,043      19,479

- ----------
* Other expenses include: dues and subscriptions, license and registration fees,
postage, telephone, supplies and equipment.


                                      B-15
<PAGE>
                      PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

In all  purchases  and  sales of  securities  for the  Portfolios,  the  primary
consideration  is to obtain the most  favorable  price and execution  available.
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement,  the Advisor determines which securities are
to be purchased and sold by the Portfolios and which broker-dealers are eligible
to execute portfolio transactions,  subject to the instructions of and review by
the Trust's Board of Trustees.

Purchases  of portfolio  securities  may be made  directly  from issuers or from
underwriters.  Where possible,  purchase and sale  transactions will be effected
through dealers  (including  banks) which  specialize in the types of securities
which the  Portfolios  will be holding,  unless better  executions are available
elsewhere.  Dealers and  underwriters  usually act as  principals  for their own
accounts.  Purchases  from  underwriters  will include a commission  paid by the
issuer to the  underwriter  and  purchases  from dealers will include the spread
between the bid and the asked price.  If the execution and price offered by more
than one dealer or underwriter are substantially the same, the Advisor will also
consider whether that  Broker/Dealer  has provided research or other services as
discussed below.

In placing  portfolio  transactions,  the Advisor  will use its best  efforts to
choose a broker-dealer capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the
most  favorable  price and  execution  available.  The full range and quality of
services  available will be considered in making these  determinations,  such as
the size of the order, the difficulty of execution,  the operational  facilities
of the firm involved, the firm's risk in positioning a block of securities,  and
other factors.

In  those  instances  where  it is  reasonably  determined  that  more  than one
broker-dealer  can offer the services  needed to obtain the most favorable price
and execution  available and the  transaction  involves a brokerage  commission,
consideration  may be given to those  broker-dealers  which  furnish  or  supply
research  and  statistical  information  to the Advisor that it may lawfully and
appropriately use in its investment advisory capacity for the Portfolios and for
other  accounts,  as well as provide  other  services in  addition to  execution
services.  The Advisor considers such information,  which is in addition to, and
not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by it under the Agreement,
to be useful in  varying  degrees,  but of  indeterminable  value.  The Board of
Trustees  reviews  all  brokerage  allocations  where  services  other than best
price/execution  capabilities  are a factor  to ensure  that the other  services
provided meet the tests outlined above and produce a benefit to the Portfolios.

The placement of portfolio  transactions with  broker-dealers who sell shares of
the  Portfolios  is subject  to rules  adopted by the  National  Association  of
Securities Dealers,  Inc. ("NASD").  Provided the Trust's officers are satisfied
that  the  Portfolio  is  receiving  the  most  favorable  price  and  execution
available, the Advisor may also consider the sale of the Portfolios' shares as a
factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute its portfolio transactions.

Investment  decisions for the  Portfolios are made  independently  from those of
other client accounts of the Advisor. Nevertheless, it is possible that at times
the same securities will be acceptable for the Portfolios and for one or more of
such client accounts. To the extent any of these client accounts and a Portfolio
seek to acquire the same  security at the same time,  the  Portfolio  may not be
able to acquire as large a portion of such  security  as it  desires,  or it may
have to pay a higher price to obtain a lower yield for such security. Similarly,
a  Portfolio  may not be able to  obtain  as high a price  for,  or as  large an
execution of, an order to sell any particular  security at the same time. If one
or more of such  client  accounts  simultaneously  purchases  or sells  the same
security that a Portfolio is purchasing or selling,  each day's  transactions in
such  security  will be  allocated  between  the  Portfolio  and all such client
accounts in a manner  deemed  equitable by the Advisor,  taking into account the
respective  sizes of the accounts,  the amount being purchased or sold and other
factors deemed relevant by the Advisor. It is recognized that in some cases this
system  could have a  detrimental  effect on the price or value of the  security
insofar as the Portfolio is concerned.  In other cases,  however, it is believed
that the ability of the  Portfolio to  participate  in volume  transactions  may
produce better executions for the Portfolio.

                                      B-16
<PAGE>
Depending on the Advisor's view of market conditions, a Portfolio may or may not
purchase  debt  securities  with the  expectation  of holding  them to maturity,
although its general policy is to hold securities to maturity.  A Portfolio may,
however, sell securities prior to maturity to meet redemptions or as a result of
a revised management evaluation of the issuer.

The Portfolios do not effect securities  transactions through  broker-dealers in
accordance with any formula, nor do they effect securities  transactions through
such  broker-dealers  solely for selling shares of the Portfolios.  However,  as
stated above,  broker-dealers  who execute  transactions  for the Portfolios may
from  time to time  effect  purchase  of  shares  of the  Portfolios  for  their
customers.


For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999,  the  Small/Mid  Cap Equity  Portfolio
paid  $1,809,812  in  brokerage  commissions,  of which  $1,790,569  was paid to
brokers who furnished  research  services.  For the fiscal years ended March 31,
1998 and 1997,  the Small/Mid Cap Equity  Portfolio  paid $897,422 and $357,414,
respectively,  in  brokerage  commissions.  For the fiscal  year ended March 31,
1999, the Core Equity  Portfolio paid  $2,315,169 in brokerage  commissions,  of
which $2,303,479 was paid to brokers who furnished  research  services.  For the
fiscal  years  ended March 31, 1998 and 1997,  the Core  Equity  Portfolio  paid
$1,190,049 and $659,957,  respectively, in brokerage commissions. For the fiscal
year ended March 31, 1999,  the Balanced  Portfolio  paid  $181,674 in brokerage
commissions,  of which  $180,337  was paid to  brokers  who  furnished  research
services.  For the fiscal  years  ended March 31,  1998 and 1997,  the  Balanced
Portfolio paid $109,055 and $90,613, respectively, in brokerage commissions. The
Intermediate  Fixed  Income  Portfolio  paid no  brokerage  commissions  for the
periods indicated herein.


                               PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

Although  the  Portfolios  generally  will not  invest  for  short-term  trading
purposes,  portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time
they  have  been  held  when,   in  the  opinion  of  the  Advisor,   investment
considerations  warrant such action.  Portfolio  turnover  rate is calculated by
dividing (1) the lesser of purchases  or sales of portfolio  securities  for the
fiscal  year by (2) the  monthly  average of the value of  portfolio  securities
owned  during the  fiscal  year.  A 100%  turnover  rate would  occur if all the
securities in a Portfolio's  portfolio,  with the exception of securities  whose
maturities  at the time of  acquisition  were one  year or less,  were  sold and
either  repurchased  or  replaced  within  one year.  A high  rate of  portfolio
turnover (100% or more) generally leads to transaction costs and may result in a
greater  number  of  taxable  transactions.   See  "Portfolio  Transactions  and
Brokerage."  Each  Portfolio's  rate of portfolio  turnover for the fiscal years
ended March 31 is as follows:


                                                      1999              1998
                                                     ------            -------
Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio                       143.70%           107.17%
Core Equity Portfolio                                132.91%           119.88
Balanced Portfolio                                   108.28%           102.98
Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio                   54.59%            15.99


                                 NET ASSET VALUE

As noted in the Prospectus,  the net asset value and offering price of shares of
the Portfolios  will be determined  once daily as of the close of public trading
on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m.  Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open
for trading.  The  Portfolios  do not expect to determine the net asset value of
their  shares on any day when the NYSE is not open for trading  even if there is
sufficient trading in its portfolio securities on such days to materially affect
the net asset value per share.  However,  the net asset  value of a  Portfolio's
shares may be  determined on days the NYSE is closed or at times other than 4:00
p.m. if the Board of Trustees decides it is necessary.

                                      B-17
<PAGE>
In valuing the  Portfolios'  assets for  calculating  net asset  value,  readily
marketable  portfolio  securities listed on a national securities exchange or on
NASDAQ are valued at the last sale  price on the  business  day as of which such
value is being  determined.  If there  has been no sale on such  exchange  or on
NASDAQ on such day, the security is valued at the closing bid price on such day.
Readily marketable securities traded only in the over-the-counter market and not
on NASDAQ  are valued at the  current or last bid price.  If no bid is quoted on
such day,  the security is valued by such method as the Board of Trustees of the
Trust shall determine in good faith to reflect the security's  fair value.  Debt
securities  with remaining  maturities of 60 days or less are normally valued at
amortized cost, unless the Board of Trustees determined that amortized cost does
not  represent  fair value.  Cash and  receivables  will be valued at their face
amounts. Interest will be recorded as accrued, and dividends will be recorded on
their  ex-dividend  date.  All other assets of the Portfolios are valued in such
manner as the Board of Trustees in good faith deems appropriate to reflect their
fair value.

The net asset value per share of each  Portfolio is calculated  as follows:  all
liabilities  incurred or accrued are deducted from the valuation of total assets
which includes accrued but  undistributed  income;  the resulting net assets are
divided by the number of shares of the Portfolio  outstanding at the time of the
valuation  and the result  (adjusted to the nearest cent) is the net asset value
per share.

The net asset value of the  Portfolios'  shares will fluctuate and is determined
as of the close of  trading on the New York Stock  Exchange  ("NYSE"),  normally
4:00 p.m. Eastern time, each business day. The NYSE annually  announces the days
on which it will not be open for trading. The most recent announcement indicates
that it will not be open on the following  days:  New Year's Day,  Martin Luther
King Jr. Day,  Presidents'  Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,  Independence  Day,
Labor Day,  Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  However,  the NYSE may close on
days  not  included  in that  announcement.  The  Portfolios  do not  expect  to
determine the net asset value of shares on any day when the NYSE is not open for
trading even if there is  sufficient  trading in their  portfolio  securities on
such dates to materially affect the net asset value per share.  However, the net
asset value of Portfolio  shares may be determined on days the NYSE is closed or
at times other than 4:00 p.m. if the Board of Trustees decides it is necessary.

                 ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

The information  provided below  supplements  the  information  contained in the
Portfolios'  Prospectus  regarding  the  purchase  and  redemption  of Portfolio
shares.

HOW TO BUY SHARES

You may purchase  shares of a Portfolio from the Transfer Agent or from selected
securities  brokers,  dealers  or  financial  intermediaries.  Investors  should
contact  these  agents  directly  for  appropriate  instructions,   as  well  as
information  pertaining to accounts and any service or transaction fees that may
be charged by those agents. Purchase orders through securities brokers,  dealers
and other financial intermediaries are effected at the next-determined net asset
value  after  receipt of the order by such agent  before the  Portfolio's  daily
cutoff  time.  Orders  received  after  that  time  will  be  purchased  at  the
next-determined net asset value.

The Trust reserves the right in its sole discretion (i) to suspend the continued
offering of a Portfolio's  shares, (ii) to reject purchase orders in whole or in
part when in the judgment of the Advisor or the Distributor such rejection is in
the best  interest of a Portfolio,  and (iii) to reduce or waive the minimum for
initial and  subsequent  investments  for certain  retirement and other employee
benefit plans, for the Advisor's  employees,  clients or their  affiliates,  for
advisors or financial  institutions  offering investors a program of services or
any other person or organization deemed appropriate by the Trust.

The U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services are not agents of
the Trust. Therefore, a deposit in the mail or with such services, or receipt at

                                      B-18

<PAGE>
Firstar  Trust  Company's  post  office box of  purchase  applications  does not
constitute  receipt by  Firstar  Trust  Company or the Trust.  The Trust and the
Transfer Agent are not responsible for the consequences of delays resulting from
the  banking  or  Federal  Reserve  Wire  system,   or  from  incomplete  wiring
instructions.

HOW TO SELL SHARES

Payments  to  shareholders  for  Portfolio  shares  redeemed  directly  from the
Portfolio  will be made as  promptly  as  possible  but no later than seven days
after  receipt by the 's Transfer  Agent of the written  request in proper form,
with the  appropriate  documentation  as stated in the  Portfolios'  Prospectus,
except that a Portfolio may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date
of payment  during  any period  when (a)  trading on the NYSE is  restricted  as
determined  by the  SEC or the  NYSE is  closed  for  other  than  weekends  and
holidays;  (b) an emergency  exists as determined by the SEC making  disposal of
portfolio securities or valuation of net assets of the Portfolios not reasonably
practicable;  or (c)  for  such  other  period  as the SEC  may  permit  for the
protection of the Portfolios' shareholders. At various times, a Portfolio may be
requested  to redeem  shares for which it has not yet received  confirmation  of
good payment. In this circumstance, the Portfolio may delay the redemption until
payment for the purchase of such shares has been  collected and confirmed to the
Portfolio.

SELLING SHARES DIRECTLY TO THE PORTFOLIO

Send a signed letter of  instruction to the Transfer  Agent.  The price you will
receive is the next net asset value calculated after the Transfer Agent receives
your request in proper form. In order to receive that day's net asset value, the
Transfer Agent must receive your request before the close of regular  trading on
the NYSE.

SELLING SHARES THROUGH YOUR INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIVE

Your  investment  representative  must receive your request  before the close of
regular  trading  on the NYSE to  receive  that  day's  net  asset  value.  Your
investment  representative  will be  responsible  for  furnishing  all necessary
documentation to the Transfer Agent, and may charge you for its services.

DELIVERY OF PROCEEDS

Each  Portfolio  generally  sends you payment for your shares the  business  day
after your  request is received  in proper  form,  assuming  the  Portfolio  has
collected  payment  of  the  purchase  price  of  your  shares.   Under  unusual
circumstances, a Portfolio may suspend redemptions, or postpone payment for more
than seven days, but only as authorized by SEC rules.

TELEPHONE REDEMPTIONS

Upon receipt of any  instructions  or inquiries by telephone  from a shareholder
or, if held in a joint account,  from either party,  or from any person claiming
to be the  shareholder,  each  Portfolio  or its  agent is  authorized,  without
notifying  the  shareholder  or  joint  account   parties,   to  carry  out  the
instructions or to respond to the inquiries, consistent with the service options
chosen by the  shareholder or joint  shareholders in his or their latest Account
Application  or  other  written  request  for  services,  including  purchasing,
exchanging or redeeming  shares of a Portfolio and  depositing  and  withdrawing
monies from the bank  account  specified  in the  shareholder's  latest  Account
Application or as otherwise properly specified to the Portfolio in writing.  The
Trust reserves the right to refuse a telephone redemption request if it believes
that the person  making the  request is neither  the record  owner of the shares
being  redeemed  nor  otherwise  authorized  by the  shareholder  to request the
redemption.

                                      B-19
<PAGE>
The Transfer Agent will employ these and other reasonable  procedures to confirm
that instructions  communicated by telephone are genuine;  if it fails to employ
reasonable  procedures,   the  Trust  may  be  liable  for  any  losses  due  to
unauthorized or fraudulent  instructions.  An investor agrees,  however, that if
such procedures are used, neither the Trust nor any Portfolio or its agents will
be liable for any loss, liability, cost or expense arising out of any redemption
request,  including any fraudulent or  unauthorized  request.  For  information,
consult the Transfer Agent.

During  periods of unusual  market  changes and  shareholder  activity,  you may
experience delays in contacting the Transfer Agent by telephone.  In this event,
you may  wish to  submit a  written  redemption  request,  as  described  in the
Prospectus, or contact your investment representative.  The Telephone Redemption
Privilege  is not  available  if you were  issued  certificates  for shares that
remain  outstanding.  The  Telephone  Redemption  Privilege  may be  modified or
terminated without notice.

REDEMPTIONS-IN-KIND

Subject to compliance with applicable regulations,  the Portfolios have reserved
the  right to pay the  redemption  price  of their  shares,  either  totally  or
partially,  by a distribution in kind of readily marketable portfolio securities
(instead of cash).  The  securities so  distributed  would be valued at the same
amount as that  assigned  to them in  calculating  the net  asset  value for the
shares  being  sold.  If a  shareholder  receives a  distribution  in kind,  the
shareholder  could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities
to cash. The Trust has filed an election  under Rule 18f-1  committing to pay in
cash all  redemptions by a shareholder of record up to amounts  specified by the
rule (approximately $250,000).

                                    TAXATION

The  Portfolios are each taxed as separate  entities under the Internal  Revenue
Code (the  "Code"),  and each intends to continue to qualify for  treatment as a
regulated  investment  company  ("RIC") under  Subchapter M of the Code. In each
taxable  year  that the  Portfolios  qualify,  the  Portfolios  (but  not  their
shareholders)  will not be subject  to federal  income tax on that part of their
investment company taxable income (consisting generally of interest and dividend
income,  net  short-term  capital  gain and net  realized  gains  from  currency
transactions) and net capital gain that is distributed to shareholders.

In order to qualify for  treatment  as a RIC,  the  Portfolios  must  distribute
annually to shareholders at least 90% of their investment company taxable income
and must meet several additional requirements.  Among these requirements are the
following:  (1) at least 90% of each Portfolio's  gross income each taxable year
must be derived from  dividends,  interest,  payments with respect to securities
loans and gains  from the sale or other  disposition  of  securities  or foreign
currencies, or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in
securities or currencies;  (2) at the close of each quarter of each  Portfolio's
taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets must be  represented
by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs and
other  securities,  limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does
not exceed 5% of the value of the  Portfolio  and that does not  represent  more
than 10% of the  outstanding  voting  securities of such issuer;  and (3) at the
close of each quarter of each Portfolio's taxable year, not more than 25% of the
value of its assets may be invested in  securities  (other than U.S.  Government
securities or the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer.

Each Portfolio will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the extent it
fails to  distribute by the end of any calendar  year  substantially  all of its
ordinary  income for that year and  capital  gain net  income  for the  one-year
period ending on October 31 of that year, plus certain other amounts.

Under  the Code,  each  Portfolio  will be  required  to report to the  Internal
Revenue Service all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as

                                      B-20
<PAGE>
gross  proceeds from the redemption of Portfolio  shares,  except in the case of
exempt  shareholders,  which includes most corporations.  Pursuant to the backup
withholding  provisions  of the Code,  distributions  of any taxable  income and
capital  gains and  proceeds  from the  redemption  of  Portfolio  shares may be
subject to  withholding  of federal  income tax at the rate of 31 percent in the
case of non-exempt  shareholders  who fail to furnish the  Portfolio  with their
taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their
status  under the federal  income tax law.  If the  withholding  provisions  are
applicable,  any  such  distributions  and  proceeds,  whether  taken in cash or
reinvested in additional  shares,  will be reduced by the amounts required to be
withheld.  Corporate and other exempt  shareholders should provide the Portfolio
with their  taxpayer  identification  numbers or certify  their exempt status in
order to avoid possible erroneous  application of backup withholding.  The Trust
reserves the right to refuse to open a Portfolio  account for any person failing
to provide a certified taxpayer identification number.

                           DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Dividends from a Portfolio's  investment company taxable income (whether paid in
cash or  invested  in  additional  shares)  will be taxable to  shareholders  as
ordinary  income  to  the  extent  of  the  Portfolio's  earnings  and  profits.
Distributions  of a  Portfolio's  net  capital  gain  (whether  paid  in cash or
invested in  additional  shares)  will be taxable to  shareholders  as long-term
capital gain, regardless of how long they have held their Portfolio shares.

Any dividend or distribution  paid by a Portfolio has the effect of reducing the
net asset value per share on the reinvestment date by the amount of the dividend
or distribution.  Investors should note that a dividend or distribution  paid on
shares purchased  shortly before such dividend or distribution was declared will
be subject to income  taxes as  discussed  above,  even  though the  dividend or
distribution  represents,  in  substance,  a partial  return of  capital  to the
shareholder.

Dividends  declared by a Portfolio in October,  November or December of any year
and  payable to  shareholders  of record on a date in one of such months will be
deemed to have been paid by the  Portfolio and received by the  shareholders  on
the record date if the  dividends  are paid by a Portfolio  during the following
January.  Accordingly, such dividends will be taxed to shareholders for the year
in which the record date falls.

                             PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

TOTAL RETURN

From time to time, the Portfolios may state their total return in advertisements
and investor communications.  Total return may be stated for any relevant period
as specified in the  advertisement  or  communication.  Any  statements of total
return will be  accompanied by  information  on the  Portfolios'  average annual
compounded rate of return for the most recent one, five and ten year periods, or
shorter periods from inception,  through the most recent calendar  quarter.  The
Portfolios  may also  advertise  aggregate and average total return  information
over different periods of time.

Average annual total return  quotations  used in a Portfolio's  advertising  and
promotional materials are calculated according to the following formula:

                 n
         P(1 + T)  = ERV

where "P" equals a hypothetical  initial  payment of $1,000;  "T" equals average
annual total return; "n" equals the number of years; and "ERV" equals the ending
redeemable value at the end of the period of a hypothetical  $1,000 payment made
at the beginning of the period. Average annual total return, or "T" in the above

                                      B-21
<PAGE>
formula,  is computed by finding the average annual  compounded  rates of return
over the period  that would  equate the  initial  amount  invested to the ending
redeemable  value.  Average annual total return assumes the  reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions.


Average  annual total  return for the one year period  ending March 31, 1999 and
from  inception  on May 10,  1994  through  March  31,  1999  were  as  follows,
respectively:  Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio:  -17.18% and 18.89%;  Core Equity
Portfolio: 8.64% and 26.29%; Balanced Portfolio: 7.22% and 18.29%;  Intermediate
Fixed Income Portfolio: 6.49% and 6.67%.


YIELD

Annualized  yield  quotations used in a Portfolio's  advertising and promotional
materials  are  calculated  by dividing the  Portfolio's  interest  income for a
specified  thirty-day period,  net of expenses,  by the average number of shares
outstanding  during the  period,  and  expressing  the  result as an  annualized
percentage (assuming  semi-annual  compounding) of the net asset value per share
at the end of the period.  Yield  quotations  are  calculated  according  to the
following formula:

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

where "a" equals  dividends and interest  earned  during the period;  "b" equals
expenses accrued for the period, net of  reimbursements;  "c" equals the average
daily  number of shares  outstanding  during the  period  that are  entitled  to
receive  dividends  and "d" equals the maximum  offering  price per share on the
last day of the period.  Except as noted below,  in  determining  net investment
income  earned  during  the  period  ("a" in the  above  formula),  a  Portfolio
calculates  interest earned on the debt obligations held by it during the period
by (1) computing the obligation's  yield to maturity,  based on the market value
of the obligation  (including  actual accrued interest) on the last business day
of the  period or, if the  obligation  was  purchased  during  the  period,  the
purchase price plus accrued interest;  (2) dividing the yield to maturity by 360
and  multiplying  the resulting  quotient by the market value of the  obligation
(including actual accrued interest) and;  (3)totaling the interest earned on all
debt obligations and all dividends  accrued on all equity  securities during the
period.


Yield for Intermediate  Fixed Income Portfolio for the 30-day period ended March
31, 1999 was 5.08%


For purposes of these  calculations,  the maturity of an obligation  with one or
more call  provisions  is  assumed  to be the next date on which the  obligation
reasonably can be expected to be called or, if none, the maturity date.

OTHER PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

In  addition  to  standardized  return,  performance  advertisements  and  sales
literature   may   also   include   other   total   return    performance   data
("non-standardized  return"). Non standardized return may be quoted for the same
or different  periods as those for which  standardized  return is quoted and may
consist  of  aggregate  or average  annual  percentage  rate of  return,  actual
year-by-year rates or any combination thereof.

Performance  data of a Portfolio  quoted in  advertising  and other  promotional
materials represents past performance and is not intended to predict or indicate
future  results.  The return and principal value of an investment in a Portfolio
will fluctuate,  and an investor's  redemption proceeds may be more or less than
the original  investment  amount.  In advertising  and  promotional  materials a
Portfolio may compare its performance  with data published by Lipper  Analytical
Services, Inc. ("Lipper"),  Morningstar,  Inc. ("Morningstar") or CDA Investment
Technologies,  Inc.  ("CDA").  A Portfolio  also may refer in such  materials to
mutual fund  performance  rankings and other data,  such as  comparative  asset,

                                      B-22
<PAGE>
expense and fee levels, published by Lipper, CDA or Morningstar. Advertising and
promotional  materials  also  may  refer  to  discussions  of  a  Portfolio  and
comparative  mutual fund data and ratings  reported in  independent  periodicals
including,  but not limited to, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, MONEY, FORBES, BUSINESS
WEEK, FINANCIAL WORLD and BARRON'S.

The Advisor, in advertising and sales material, may also refer to its investment
philosophy with respect to the Equity Portfolios or components of the Portfolios
as the "Growth at a  Reasonable  Price  ("GARP")"  investment  philosophy.  Such
references  connote the Advisor's  structuring  of the  Portfolios to provide an
opportunity  to invest in companies  with superior  earnings  growth,  and whose
equity securities are selling at attractive  valuations.  The result is expected
to be equity  portfolios  whose average earnings growth is normally greater than
the market averages and whose  price-to-earnings ratio is often below the market
averages.  In this regard,  the Advisor believes the appropriate  market average
reference  points are the Russell  MidcapTM Index and the Russell  2000(R) Index
for the  Small/Mid  Cap  Portfolio and the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and
the Russell  1000(R) Index for the Core Equity  Portfolio and equity  portion of
the Balanced Portfolio.

A primary benefit of the GARP strategy in the view of the Advisor is the ability
to  generate   competitive   investment   returns  in  many   different   market
environments.  The Advisor  believes that earnings  growth is the primary factor
influencing capital  appreciation of equity investments.  At the same time, many
companies  with good  earnings  growth  prospects can be purchased at attractive
valuations. The Advisor believes that this disciplined analysis of both earnings
growth and valuations is one of the primary  factors  influencing the ability to
generate competitive investment returns in a variety of market conditions.

                               GENERAL INFORMATION

The  Declaration  of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited  number of
full and fractional  shares of beneficial  interest and to divide or combine the
shares into a greater or lesser number of shares  without  thereby  changing the
proportionate  beneficial  interest in a  Portfolio.  Each share  represents  an
interest  in a  Portfolio  proportionately  equal to the  interest of each other
share. Upon the Trust's  liquidation,  all shareholders  would share pro rata in
the net assets of the  Portfolio  in  question  available  for  distribution  to
shareholders.   If  they  deem  it  advisable   and  in  the  best  interest  of
shareholders, the Board of Trustees may create additional series of shares which
differ from each other only as to  dividends.  The Board of Trustees has created
four series of shares,  and may create  additional  series in the future,  which
have  separate  assets  and  liabilities.  Income  and  operating  expenses  not
specifically  attributable to a particular  Portfolio are allocated fairly among
the  Portfolios  by the  Trustees,  generally  on the basis of the  relative net
assets of each Portfolio.

Shareholders  are entitled to one vote for each full share (and fractional votes
for  fractional  shares) and may vote in the  election of Trustees  and on other
matters  submitted  to meetings of  shareholders.  It is not  contemplated  that
regular annual meetings of  shareholders  will be held. The Declaration of Trust
provides that the shareholders  have the right,  upon the declaration in writing
or vote of more than two-thirds of its outstanding  shares, to remove a Trustee.
The  Trustees  will call a meeting of  shareholders  to vote on the removal of a
Trustee upon the written request of the record holders of 10% of its shares.  In
addition,  ten  shareholders  holding  the lesser of $25,000  worth or 1% of the
shares may advise the  Trustees in writing  that they wish to  communicate  with
other shareholders for the purpose of requesting a meeting to remove a Trustee.

Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that as to any  investment  company which
has two or more series outstanding and as to any matter required to be submitted
to shareholder  vote, such matter is not deemed to have been  effectively  acted
upon unless  approved by the holders of a "majority" (as defined in the Rule) of
the voting  securities  of each series  affected by the  matter.  Such  separate

                                      B-23
<PAGE>
voting requirements do not apply to the election of Trustees or the ratification
of the selection of accountants.  The Rule contains special provisions for cases
in which an advisory contract is approved by one or more, but not all, series. A
change in  investment  policy may go into effect as to one or more series  whose
holders so approve the change even though the  required  vote is not obtained as
to the holders of other affected series.

Investors will be informed of the Portfolios' progress through periodic reports.
Financial  statements  certified  by  independent  public  accountants  will  be
submitted to shareholders at least annually.

The Trust's  custodian,  Firstar Trust Company,  is responsible  for holding the
Portfolios'  assets,  and  also  acts as the  Trust's  transfer  and  accounting
services agent.  KPMG LLP has been selected as the  independent  auditor for the
Trust. KPMG LLP provides audit services,  tax return  preparation and assistance
and  consultation in connection  with review of certain  Securities and Exchange
Commission filings.

                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Incorporated  by reference  herein are portions of the Trust's  Annual Report to
shareholders  for the fiscal  year  ending  March 31,  1999 under the  headings:
"Independent Auditor's Report," "Schedule of Investments."  "Statement of Assets
and  Liabilities,"  "Statement  of  Operations,"  "Statement  of  Changes in Net
Assets," "Financial  Highlights," and "Notes to Financial Statements." A copy of
the Trust's  Annual Report  accompanies  this SAI and also can be obtained at no
charge by calling  the toll free  number on page 1 or  writing  the Trust on the
front page of this SAI.


                                      B-24
<PAGE>
                                    APPENDIX
                             DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.: CORPORATE BOND RATINGS

Aaa--Bonds  which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best  quality  and carry
the smallest  degree of investment  risk.  Interest  payments are protected by a
large or by an exceptionally  stable margin, and principal is secure.  While the
various  protective  elements  are  likely to  change,  such  changes  as can be
visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such
issues.

Aa--Bonds  which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade
bonds.  They are rated lower than the best bonds  because  margins of protection
may not be as large as in Aaa securities or  fluctuation of protective  elements
may be of greater  amplitude or there may be other  elements  present which make
the long term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.

Moody's  applies  numerical  modifiers  "1",  "2" and "3" to both the Aaa and Aa
rating  classifications.  The modifier "1" indicates  that the security ranks in
the higher end of its generic  rating  category;  the modifier  "2"  indicates a
mid-range  ranking;  and the modifier "3" indicates  that the issue ranks in the
lower end of its generic rating category.

A--Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment  attributes and are
to be considered as upper medium-grade  obligations.  Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which
suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

Baa--Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium-grade obligations, i.e.,
they are neither  highly  protected nor poorly  secured.  Interest  payments and
principal  security  appear  adequate  for the present  but  certain  protective
elements may be lacking or may be  characteristically  unreliable over any great
period of time. Such bonds lack outstanding  investment  characteristics  and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.

STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP: CORPORATE BOND RATINGS

AAA--This  is the  highest  rating  assigned  by  Standard  &  Poor's  to a debt
obligation  and  indicates an extremely  strong  capacity to pay  principal  and
interest.

AA--Bonds rated AA also qualify as high-quality  debt  obligations.  Capacity to
pay principal and interest is very strong, and in the majority of instances they
differ from AAA issues only in a small degree.

A--Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay principal and interest,  although
they are  somewhat  more  susceptible  to the  adverse  effects  of  changes  in
circumstances and economic conditions.

BBB--Bonds  rated  BBB are  regarded  as  having  an  adequate  capacity  to pay
principal  and  interest.  Whereas they  normally  exhibit  adequate  protection
parameters,  adverse  economic  conditions  or changing  circumstances  are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay principal and interest for bonds in
this category than for bonds in the A category.

                                      B-25

<PAGE>
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

Moody's  commercial  paper ratings are  assessments  of the issuer's  ability to
repay  punctually  promissory  obligations.  Moody's employs the following three
designations,  all judged to be  investment  grade,  to  indicate  the  relative
repayment capacity of rated issuers:  Prime 1--highest quality;  Prime 2--higher
quality; Prime 3-- high quality.

A Standard  & Poor's  commercial  paper  rating is a current  assessment  of the
likelihood of timely payment.  Ratings are graded into four categories,  ranging
from "A" for the highest quality obligations to "D" for the lowest.

Issues  assigned  the highest  rating,  A, are  regarded as having the  greatest
capacity for timely  payment.  Issues in this category are  delineated  with the
numbers  "1",  "2" and "3" to  indicate  the  relative  degree  of  safety.  The
designation A-1 indicates that the degree of safety  regarding timely payment is
either overwhelming or very strong. A "+" designation is applied to those issues
rated "A-1" which possess extremely strong safety characteristics.  Capacity for
timely  payment on issues with the  designation  "A-2" is strong.  However,  the
relative  degree of safety is not as high as for issues  designated  A-1. Issues
carrying the designation "A-3" have a satisfactory  capacity for timely payment.
They are, however,  somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effect of changes in
circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.

                                      B-26
<PAGE>
                   RAINIER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT MUTUAL FUNDS

                                    FORM N-1A

                                     PART C

ITEM 23. EXHIBITS.


         (1)  Declaration of Trust*
         (2)  By-Laws*
         (3)  Specimen Share Certificate**
         (4)  Management Agreement**
         (5)  Distribution Agreement**
         (6)  Not applicable
         (7)  Form of Custodian Agreement**
         (8a) Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement**
         (8b) Transfer Agent Agreement**
         (8c) Administration Agreement**
         (8d) Services Agreement**
         (9)  Consent and Opinion of Counsel
         (10) Consent of Auditors
         (11) Not applicable
         (12) Letter of Understanding relating to initial capital***
         (13) Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1**
         (14) Not applicable
         (15) Not applicable


*    Filed  with  the  Registrant's  initial  Registration  Statement,  File No.
     33-73792 on January 5, 1994.

**   Filed with Pre-Effective  Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's  Registration
     Statement, File No. 33- 73792 on February 23, 1994.

***  Filed with Pre-Effective  Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant's  Registration
     Statement, File No. 33- 73792 on April 6, 1994.

ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT.

     As of the date of this amendment to this Registration Statement,  there are
no persons controlled or under common control with the Registrant.
<PAGE>
ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION

     Article VII, Section 2 of the Registrant's Declaration of Trust provides as
follows:

     "Section 2. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability. The Trustees shall
not be  responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrong-doing of any
officer,  agent,  employee,  Manager or Principal  Underwriter of the Trust, nor
shall any Trustee be  responsible  for the act or omission of any other Trustee,
and the Trust out of its assets shall indemnify and hold harmless each and every
Trustee from and against any and all claims and demands  whatsoever  arising out
of or related to each  Trustee's  performance  of his duties as a Trustee of the
Trust; provided that nothing herein contained shall indemnify,  hold harmless or
protect  any  Trustee  from  or  against  any  liability  to  the  Trust  or any
Shareholder  to which  he would  otherwise  be  subject  by  reason  of  willful
misfeasance,  bad faith,  gross  negligence or reckless  disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office.

     Every note,  bond,  contract,  instrument,  certificate or undertaking  and
every other act or thing whatsoever issued,  executed or done by or on behalf of
the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in  connection  with the Trust shall be
conclusively  deemed  to have  been  issued,  executed  or done  only in or with
respect to their or his  capacity as Trustees or Trustee,  and such  Trustees or
Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon."

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of  1933  ("Securities  Act")  may  be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and
controlling  persons of the Registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is  against  public  policy as
expressed in the  Securities  Act and is therefore  unenforceable.  In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than payment by
the  Registrant  of  expenses  incurred  or  paid  by  a  director,  officer  or
controlling  person of the Registrant in connection with the successful  defense
of any action,  suit or proceeding)  is asserted  against the Registrant by such
director,  officer or  controlling  person in  connection  with the shares being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as  expressed  in the  Securities  Act and will be  governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

ITEM 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.

     The response to this item is  incorporated  by reference to its Form ADV as
amended (File No. 801-35638).
<PAGE>
ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS.

     (a) First Fund  Distributors,  Inc. (the  "Distributor")  acts as principal
underwriter for the following other investment companies:

               Advisors Series Trust
               RNC Mutual Fund Group
               PIC Investment Trust
               Professionally Managed Portfolios
               Guinness Flight Investment Funds
               Jurika & Voyles Fund Group
               Masters Select Investment Trust
               Kayne Anderson Mutual Funds
               O'Shaugnessy Funds, Inc.
               Purisima Funds
               Fleming Mutual Fund Group
               Fremont Mutual Funds
               Brandes Investment Trust
               UBS Private Investor Funds

     b. The officers of the Distributor are:

              Robert H. Wadsworth                  President and Treasurer
              Eric Banhazl                         Vice President
              Steven J. Paggioli                   Vice President and Secretary

     Each officer's  business  address with the Distributor is 4455 E. Camelback
Rd., Ste. 261-E, Phoenix, AZ 85018.

     c. Not applicable

ITEM 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.

     The  accounts,  books and other  documents  required  to be  maintained  by
Registrant  pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment  Company Act of 1940 and
the  rules  promulgated  thereunder  are  in  the  possession  the  Registrant's
custodian  and  transfer  agent,  except  those  records  relating to  portfolio
transactions and the basic  organizational and Trust documents of the Registrant
(see  Subsections  (2) (iii).  (4),  (5),  (6),  (7), (9), (10) and (11) of Rule
31a-1(b)),  which are kept by the Trust at 601 Union St., Ste. 2810,  Seattle WA
98101.

ITEM 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

     There are no management-related  service contracts not discussed in Parts A
and B.

ITEM 30. UNDERTAKINGS

     Registrant undertakes that if requested to do so by the holders of at least
10%  of  the  registrant's  outstanding  shares,  it  will  call  a  meeting  of
shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of a trustee
or trustees and to assist in communications  with other shareholders as required
by Section 16(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933  and  the
Investment   Company  Act  of  1940,   the  Registrant   represents   that  this
Post-Effective  Amendment  meets  all  of  the  requirements  for  effectiveness
pursuant to Rule  485(b)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933 and has duly caused
this  Post-Effective  Amendment  to be signed on its behalf by the  undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of Seattle in the State of Washington on
the 21st day of July, 1999.

                                        RAINIER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
                                        MUTUAL FUNDS


                                        By: /s/ J. Glenn Haber
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            J. Glenn Haber, President

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Post-Effective Amendment to this Registration Statement has been signed below by
the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


/s/ J. Glenn Haber                  President, Treasurer           July 21, 1999
- ------------------------------      Chief Financial Officer
J. Glenn Haber                      and Trustee


/s/ Patricia Louise Frost           Vice President and             July 21, 1999
- ------------------------------      Trustee
Patricia Louise Frost


*Gary L. Sundem                     Trustee                        July 21, 1999
- ------------------------------
Gary L. Sundem


*James E. Diamond, Jr.              Trustee                        July 21, 1999
- ------------------------------
James E. Diamond, Jr.


*John W. Ferris                     Trustee                        July 21, 1999
- ------------------------------
John W. Ferris


* By  /s/ J. Glenn Haber
      ------------------------
      J. Glenn Haber, Attorney-in-Fact
      under powers of attorney as filed
      with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1
      to the Registration Statement.


<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBITS


               Exhibit No.               Description
               -----------               -----------
               99.B9                     Opinion and Consent of Counsel
               99.B10                    Consent of Auditors


                                 Law Offices of
                      Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
                              345 California Street
                      San Francisco, California 94104-2635
                            Telephone (415) 835-1600
                            Facsimile (415) 217-5333
                              Internet www.phjw.com


                                  July 22, 1999


(415) 835-1600
27348.82745


Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
601 Union Street, Suite 2801
Seattle, Washington  98101

         Re: Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio
             Core Equity Portfolio
             Balanced Portfolio
             Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds, a
Delaware business trust (the "Trust"), in connection with Post-Effective
Amendment No. 7 to the Trust's Registration Statement filed on Form N-1A with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Post-Effective Amendment"),
relating to the issuance by the Trust of an indefinite number of $0.01 par value
shares of beneficial interest (the "Shares") by the following series of the
Trust: Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio, Core Equity Portfolio, Balanced
Portfolio, and Intermediate Fixed Income Portfolio (each a "Fund" and,
collectively, the "Funds").

     In connection with this opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all
records, documents and instruments submitted to us as originals, the genuineness
of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons and the conformity to
the originals of all records, documents and instruments submitted to us as
copies. We have based our opinion upon our review of the following records,
documents and instruments:

     (a)  the Trust's Certificate of Trust, as filed with the Delaware Secretary
          of State on December 15, 1993, certified to us by an officer of the
          Trust as being in effect on the date hereof;

     (b)  the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated December 13, 1993
          (the "Declaration of Trust"), certified to us by an officer of the
          Trust as being true and complete and in effect on the date hereof;

     (c)  the By-Laws of the Trust, certified to us by an officer of the Trust
          as being true and complete and in effect on the date hereof;

<PAGE>
Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
July 22, 1999
Page 2


     (d)  resolutions of the Trustees of the Trust adopted by written consent
          dated January 12, 1994 and at a meeting held on March 8, 1994,
          authorizing the establishment of the Funds and the issuance of their
          Shares, certified to us by an officer of the Trust as being true and
          complete and in effect on the date hereof;

     (e)  the Post-Effective Amendment;

     (f)  a Certificate of Good Standing as issued by the Delaware Secretary of
          State on July 15, 1999; and

     (g)  a certificate of an officer of the Trust concerning certain factual
          matters relevant to this opinion.

     Our opinion below is limited to the federal law of the United States of
America and the business trust law of the State of Delaware. We are not licensed
to practice law in the State of Delaware, and we have based our opinion below
solely on our review of Title 12, Chapter 38 of the Delaware Code and the case
law interpreting such Chapter as reported in The Delaware Law of Corporations
and Business Organizations Statutory Handbook (Aspen Law & Business, 1999
Edition) as updated on Westlaw on July 13, 1999. We have not undertaken a review
of other Delaware law or of any administrative or court decisions in connection
with rendering this opinion. We disclaim any opinion as to any law other than
that of the United States of America and the business trust law of the State of
Delaware as described above, and we disclaim any opinion as to any statute,
rule, regulation, ordinance, order or other promulgation of any regional or
local governmental authority.

     Based on the foregoing and our examination of such questions of law as we
have deemed necessary and appropriate for the purpose of this opinion, and
assuming that: (i) all of the Shares will be issued and sold for cash at the
per-share public offering price on the date of their issuance in accordance with
statements in the Fund's Prospectus included in the Post-Effective Amendment,
and in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, (ii) all consideration for the
Shares will be actually received by the Trust, and (iii) all applicable
securities laws will be complied with; it is our opinion that the Shares will be
legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable when issued and sold by the Trust.

     This opinion is rendered to you solely in connection with the
Post-Effective Amendment and is solely for your benefit. We hereby consent to
the Trust's filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Trust's Registration
Statement. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose. Nor
may any other person, firm, corporation or other entity rely on this opinion
without our prior written consent. We disclaim any obligation to advise you of
any developments in areas covered by this opinion that occur after the date of
this opinion.



                                       Very truly yours,

                                       /s/ Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

KMPG
Three Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111


                          Independent Auditors' Consent


The Board of Trustees and Shareholders
Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds, Inc.:

We consent to the  incorporation  by reference of our report dated May 17, 1999,
on  the  statement  of  assets  and  liabilities,  including  the  schedules  of
investments,  of Rainier Investment  Management Mutual Funds, Inc. (comprised of
Small/Mid  Cap Equity,  Core  Equity,  Balanced  and  Intermediate  Fixed Income
Portfolios) as of March 31, 1999,  and the related  statements of operations for
the year then  ended,  the  statements  of changes in net assets for each of the
years in the two-year  period then ended,  and the financial  highlights for the
periods indicated therein,  in the Rainier  Investment  Management Mutual Funds,
Inc.'s Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement No. 33-73792
on Form  N-1A  under  the  Securities  Act of 1933 and  Amendment  No. 10 to the
Registration  Statement No.  811-8270 on Form N-1A under the Investment  Company
Act of 1940. We also consent to the  incorporation by reference of our report in
the Statement of Additional Information.

We also  consent  to the  reference  to our Firm  under the  heading  "Financial
Highlights" in the Prospectus and under the heading "General Information" in the
Statement of Additional Information.

                                             /s/ KPMG LLP


San Francisco, California
July 16, 1999


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