SARATOGA ADVANTAGE TRUST
497, 1999-01-06
Previous: SPORTS CLUB CO INC, SC 13G, 1999-01-06
Next: COMMERCE FUNDS, N-30D, 1999-01-06






CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
Class I Shares
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Form N-1A
Item
Part A      Caption                                                Prospectus
- ------      -------                                                ----------
<S>                                                     <C>

1.Cover Page                                              Cover Page
2.Synopsis                                                Summary
3.Condensed Financial Information                         Financial Highlights
4.General Description of Registrant                       Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios;  Certain
                                                          Securities and Investment Techniques; Risk Factors;
                                                          Additional Information; Cover Page
5.Management of the Fund                                  Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios; Management
                                                          of the Trust; Custodian and
                                                          Transfer Agent
5A.Management's Discussion of Fund Performance            Not Applicable
6.Capital Stock and Other Securities                      Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Redemption of
                                                          Shares;  Additional Information
7.Purchase of Securities                                  Purchase of Shares
8.Redemption or Repurchase                                Redemption of Shares
9.Legal Proceedings                                       N/A


Part B        Caption                                     Statement of Additional Information
- ------        -------                                     -----------------------------------

10.Cover Page                                             Cover Page
11.Table of Contents                                      Table of Contents
12.General Information and History                        Not Applicable
13.Investment Objective and Policies                      Investment of the Trust's Assets; Investment
                                                          Restrictions
14.Management of the Fund                                 Trustees and Officers
15.Control Persons and Principal                          Principal Holders of Securities and Control Persons of
   Holders of Securities                                  the Portfolios; Trustees and Officers
16.Investment Advisory and Other                          Management and Other Services;  Investment Advisory
   Services                                               Services; Additional Information
17.Brokerage Allocation                                   Investment Advisory Services
18.Capital Stock and Other Securities                     Additional Information
19.Purchase, Redemption and Pricing                       Determination of Net Asset Value
   of Securities
20.Tax Status                                             Additional Information
21.Underwriters                                           Additional Information
22.Calculations of Performance Data                       Portfolio Yield and Total Return
                                                          Information
23.Financial Statements                                   Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
Class B Shares and Class C Shares
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Form N-1A
Item
Part A      Caption                                                Prospectus
- ------      -------                                                ----------
<S>                                                     <C>

1.Cover Page                                              Cover Page
2.Synopsis                                                Summary
3.Condensed Financial Information                         Financial Highlights
4.General Description of Registrant                       Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios;  Certain
                                                          Securities and Investment Techniques; Risk Factors;
                                                          Additional Information; Cover Page
5.Management of the Fund                                  Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios; Management
                                                          of the Trust; Custodian and
                                                          Transfer Agent
5A.Management's Discussion of Fund Performance            Not Applicable
6.Capital Stock and Other Securities                      Dividends, Distributions and Taxes; Redemption of
                                                          Shares;  Additional Information
7.Purchase of Securities                                  Purchase of Shares; Plan of Distribution
8.Redemption or Repurchase                                Redemption of Shares; Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
9.Legal Proceedings                                       N/A


Part B        Caption                                     Statement of Additional Information
- ------        -------                                     -----------------------------------

10.Cover Page                                             Cover Page
11.Table of Contents                                      Table of Contents
12.General Information and History                        Not Applicable
13.Investment Objective and Policies                      Investment of the Trust's Assets; Investment
                                                          Restrictions
14.Management of the Fund                                 Trustees and Officers
15.Control Persons and Principal                          Principal Holders of Securities and Control Persons of
   Holders of Securities                                  the Portfolios; Trustees and Officers
16.Investment Advisory and Other                          Management and Other Services;  Investment Advisory
   Services                                               Services; Additional Information
17.Brokerage Allocation                                   Investment Advisory Services
18.Capital Stock and Other Securities                     Additional Information
19.Purchase, Redemption and Pricing                       Determination of Net Asset Value
   of Securities
20.Tax Status                                             Additional Information
21.Underwriters                                           Additional Information
22.Calculations of Performance Data                       Portfolio Yield and Total Return
                                                          Information
23.Financial Statements                                   Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                                 Class I Shares
                        PROSPECTUS Dated January 1, 1999

                T H E   S A R A T O G A   A D V A N T A G E   T R U S T


The Saratoga Advantage Trust (the "Trust") is an open-end, management investment
company  providing  a  convenient  means of  investing  in a series of  separate
investment portfolios professionally managed by Saratoga Capital Management (the
"Manager").  Each  of  the  Portfolios  is  diversified  and  is  provided  with
discretionary   advisory  services  by  a  registered  investment  advisor  (the
"Advisor") identified,  retained, supervised and compensated by the Manager. The
Trust is a series  company that currently  includes the following  Class I share
portfolios (the "Portfolios") to which this Prospectus relates:


         Income Portfolios:

  ( -    U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio

  ( -    Investment Quality Bond Portfolio

  ( -    Municipal Bond Portfolio

         Equity Portfolios:

  ( -    Large Capitalization Value Portfolio

  ( -    Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio

  ( -    Small Capitalization Portfolio

  ( -    International Equity Portfolio

AN INVESTMENT IN THE U.S.  GOVERNMENT  MONEY MARKET  PORTFOLIO IS NOT INSURED OR
GUARANTEED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE  CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT
AGENCY.  ALTHOUGH THE U.S.  GOVERNMENT  MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO SEEKS TO PRESERVE
THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT AT $1.00 PER SHARE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO LOSE MONEY BY
INVESTING IN THE PORTFOLIO.

Effective  October 9, 1998,  all existing  shares of each Portfolio were renamed
Class I shares.

Shares of the  Portfolios  are offered to  participants  in investment  advisory
programs that provide asset allocation  recommendations to investors based on an
evaluation of the  investor's  investment  objectives  and risk  tolerance.  The
advisors  in  certain of these  investment  advisory  programs  may use an asset
allocation  methodology developed by the Manager, the Saratoga Strategic Horizon
Asset Reallocation  Program (sm) (the "Saratoga Sharp (sm) Program"),  to assist
them in translating investor needs, preferences and attitudes identified from an
investment  questionnaire into suggested  portfolio  allocations.  Shares of the
Portfolios  are  also  available  to other  investors  and  investment  advisory
services.  Investors  purchasing  shares through an investment  advisory service
will be subject  to the  payment of a  separate  fee  imposed by the  investment
advisor for such  services.  See  "Purchase of Shares - General."  The operating
expenses of the  Portfolios,  when  combined with any  investment  advisory fees
separately  paid,  may involve  greater fees and expenses than other  investment
companies  whose shares are  purchased  without the benefit of the  professional
consulting and asset allocation services rendered by the investment advisors.

This  Prospectus  sets  forth  concisely  certain  information  about the Trust,
including  expenses,  that prospective  investors will find helpful in making an
investment decision.  Investors are encouraged to read this Prospectus carefully
and retain it for future reference.

Additional information about the Trust is contained in a Statement of Additional
Information  dated January 1, 1999,  which is available upon request and without
charge by calling or writing the Trust or Saratoga  Capital  Management  at 1501
Franklin Avenue, Mineola, New York 11501-4803,  800-807-FUND (800-807-3863). The
Statement of Additional  Information,  which has been filed with the  Securities
and Exchange  Commission,  is  incorporated by reference into this Prospectus in
its entirety.

SHARES OF THE  PORTFOLIOS  ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR  OBLIGATIONS  OF OR GUARANTEED OR
ENDORSED BY ANY BANK AND THE SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS ARE NOT FEDERALLY  INSURED
BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE  CORPORATION,  THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY
OTHER AGENCY AND INVOLVE  INVESTMENT  RISKS,  INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT INVESTED.

THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

<PAGE>





                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page
Summary................................................................       
Summary of Trust Expenses..............................................       
Financial Highlights...................................................       
Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios..............................       
Certain Securities and Investment Techniques...........................      
Risk Factors...........................................................      
Certain Investment Policies............................................      
Management of the Trust................................................      
Purchase of Shares.....................................................      
Redemption of Shares...................................................      
Net Asset Value........................................................      
Exchange Privilege.....................................................      
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.....................................      
Custodian and Transfer Agent...........................................      
Performance of the Portfolios..........................................      
Additional Information.................................................      



SUMMARY

The  following  summary  is  qualified  in its  entirety  by the  more  detailed
information included elsewhere in this Prospectus.

The Trust. The Trust is a management  investment  company providing a convenient
means of investing in separate Portfolios professionally managed by the Manager.
The assets of each of the Portfolios are invested on a discretionary  basis by a
separate  Advisor.  See "Management of the Trust." The Trust is a series company
currently consisting of the following 7 Portfolios:

         Income Portfolios:

( -      U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio, whose Advisor is Sterling
         Capital Management Company.

( -      Investment Quality Bond Portfolio, whose Advisor is Fox Asset
         Management, Inc.

( -      Municipal Bond Portfolio, whose Advisor is OpCap Advisors.

         Equity Portfolios:

( -      Large Capitalization Value Portfolio, whose Advisor is OpCap Advisors.

( -      Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio, whose Advisor is Harris Bretall
         Sullivan & Smith, L.L.C.

( -      Small Capitalization Portfolio, whose Advisor is Thorsell, Parker
         Partners, Inc.

( -      International Equity Portfolio, whose Advisor is Friends Ivory & 
         Sime, Inc.



<PAGE>

MANAGEMENT.  Saratoga Capital Management is the Manager of the Portfolios.  Each
of the  Portfolios is provided with the  discretionary  advisory  services of an
Advisor identified, retained, supervised and compensated by the Manager. Unified
Fund  Services,  Inc.  serves as the Trust's  administrator  and, in  connection
therewith,  provides administration services to each Portfolio.  See "Management
of the Trust."

INVESTMENT   ADVISORY  SERVICES.   Shares  of  the  Portfolios  are  offered  to
participants in certain investment  advisory programs and to other investors and
investment  advisory  services.  Generally,  the  investment  advisors  for  the
investment  advisory  programs  provide asset  allocation  recommendations  with
respect to the  Portfolios  based on an evaluation  of an investor's  investment
objectives  and risk  tolerance.  Certain  investment  advisors  offering  asset
allocation programs may enter into agreements with the Manager pursuant to which
the  Manager  will make  available  its  Saratoga  Sharp SM Program  and provide
various   administrative   services  to  the  investment  advisor   ("Consulting
Programs").  The investment  advisory fee for these Consulting  Programs will be
determined by the investment advisors and their clients.  The fee is paid to the
client's  investment advisor either directly or by redeeming a sufficient number
of  Portfolio  shares.  The  Manager  is paid a fee by the  client's  investment
advisor for services  provided to the investment  advisor in connection with the
investment advisory program. See "Purchase of Shares-General."

PURCHASE AND  REDEMPTION  OF SHARES.  Shares of the  Portfolios  are offered for
purchase and redemption at their  respective  net asset values next  determined,
WITHOUT IMPOSITION OF ANY SALES CHARGE. See "Purchase of Shares" and "Redemption
of Shares."

RISK  FACTORS AND SPECIAL  CONSIDERATIONS.  No  assurance  can be given that the
Portfolios will achieve their investment objectives.  Investing in an investment
company  that invests in  securities  of companies  and  governments  of foreign
countries,  particularly developing countries, involves risks that go beyond the
usual risks inherent in an investment  company limiting its holdings to domestic
investments.  Certain  Portfolios  may also be subject to certain risks in using
investment  techniques  and  strategies  such as entering into forward  currency
contracts,  repurchase  agreements,  trading  futures  contracts  and options on
futures  contracts.  In addition,  the Investment Quality Bond Portfolio and the
Municipal Bond  Portfolio may invest in zero coupon  securities,  which,  due to
changes  in  interest  rates,  may be more  speculative  and  subject to greater
fluctuations  in  value  than  securities  that  pay  interest  currently.   See
"Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios,"  "Certain Securities and Investment
Techniques" and "Risk Factors."

Investors  should be aware that the Manager  receives a fee from the  investment
advisor for each  participant in a Consulting  Program for services  rendered to
the investment advisor in connection with the investment advisory program.  This
fee does not vary  based on the  Portfolios  recommended  for the  participant's
investments.  The Manager also serves as the Trust's Manager with responsibility
for  identifying,  retaining,  supervising  and  compensating  each  Portfolio's
Advisor and receives a fee from each Portfolio.  The portion of each Portfolio's
management  fee that is  retained  by the  Manager  does  not vary  based on the
Portfolio  involved.  The Manager's  decisions as to the retention of particular
Advisors and specific  amount of the  Manager's  compensation  to be paid to the
Advisor  are  subject  to review  and  approval  by a  majority  of the Board of
Trustees and separately by a majority of the

<PAGE>

Trustees who are not affiliated with the Manager or any of its  affiliates.  See
"Management    of   the    Trust-Investment    Manager"    and    "Purchase   of
Shares-General-Investment Advisory Programs."

The Portfolios are intended primarily as vehicles for the implementation of long
term asset allocation  strategies  rendered through investment advisory programs
that are based on an evaluation of an investor's  investment objectives and risk
tolerance.  Because  these asset  allocation  strategies  are designed to spread
investment  risk across the various  segments of the securities  markets through
investment  in a number  of  Portfolios,  each  individual  Portfolio  generally
intends to be  substantially  fully  invested in accordance  with its investment
objectives and policies during most market conditions. Although the Advisor of a
Portfolio may, upon the concurrence of the Manager,  take a temporary  defensive
position during adverse market  conditions,  it can be expected that a defensive
posture will be adopted  less  frequently  than would be by other mutual  funds.
This policy may impede an  Advisor's  ability to protect a  Portfolio's  capital
during declines in the particular segment of the market to which the Portfolio's
assets are committed.  Consequently,  no single Portfolio should be considered a
complete  investment  program and an investment  among the Portfolios  should be
regarded as a long term  commitment  that should be held through  several market
cycles.  In  addition,  although  the  investment  advisors  for the  Consulting
Programs  may  recommend  adjustments  in the  allocation  of  assets  among the
Portfolios based on, among other things, anticipated market trends, there can be
no assurance that these recommendations can be developed,  transmitted and acted
upon in a manner sufficiently timely to avoid market shifts, which can be sudden
and   substantial.   Participants  in  Consulting   Programs  should  note  that
responsibility for investment  recommendations  rests solely with the investment
advisor  for the  program  or the  client  itself  and not with the Trust or the
Manager.  Investors  intending to purchase  Portfolio shares through  investment
advisory  programs should evaluate  carefully whether the service is ongoing and
continuous,  as well as their  investment  advisors'  ability to anticipate  and
respond to market trends.  See "Objectives and Policies of the  Portfolios," and
"Certain Securities and Investment Techniques-Temporary Investments."

DIVIDENDS AND  DISTRIBUTIONS.  Each Portfolio intends to distribute  annually to
its  shareholders  substantially  all of its net  investment  income and its net
realized long and short term capital  gains.  Dividends  from the net investment
income of the U.S.  Government Money Market  Portfolio,  the Investment  Quality
Bond  Portfolio,  and the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio are declared daily and paid
monthly.  Dividends from the net investment  income of the remaining  Portfolios
are declared and paid annually.  Distributions of any net realized long term and
short term  capital  gains  earned by a  Portfolio  will be made  annually.  See
"Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."

TAXATION.  Each of the Portfolios  intends to qualify as a regulated  investment
company for U.S.  federal income tax purposes.  As such,  the Trust  anticipates
that no  Portfolio  will be  subject  to U.S.  federal  income tax on income and
gains, if any, that are distributed to shareholders. It is expected that certain
capital  gains and certain  dividends and interest  earned by the  International
Equity Portfolio will be subject to foreign  withholding  taxes. These taxes may
be deductible or creditable in whole or in part by shareholders of the Portfolio
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."

CUSTODIAN  AND  TRANSFER  AGENT.  State  Street Bank and Trust  Company  ("State
Street") acts as the  custodian of the Trust's U.S. and non-U.S.  assets and may
employ sub-custodians  outside the United States approved by the Trustees of the
Trust in accordance with  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission
(the "SEC").  State Street also serves as the transfer agent for the Portfolios'
shares. See "Custodian and Transfer Agent."

<PAGE>

                            SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES

Annual  Portfolio  Operating  Expenses.  The following table lists the costs and
expenses that an investor will incur as a shareholder  of each of the Portfolios
based on  operating  expenses  incurred  during the fiscal year ended August 31,
1998. There are no shareholder transaction expenses, sales loads or distribution
fees.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                           U.S. 
                           Government     Investment                   Large           Large                                  
                           Money          Quality       Municipal      Capitalization  Capitalization  Small           International
                           Market         Bond          Bond           Value           Growth          Capitalization  Equity
                           Portfolio      Portfolio     Portfolio      Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio
                           ---------      ---------     ---------      ---------       ---------       ---------       ---------
<S>                        <C>          <C>            <C>           <C>              <C>              <C>

Shareholder Transaction
Expenses                     None          None           None          None             None            None            None

Annual Portfolio
Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of
average net assets)

  Management Fees            .475%          .55%          .55%           .65%            .65%             .65%            .75%

  Distribution (Rule
   12b-1 Expenses)           None          None           None          None             None            None            None

Other Expenses
(after reimbursement)        .65%           .65%          .65%           .65%            .60%             .65%            .65%
                             ---            ---           ---            ---             ---              ---             --- 
                            
Total Operating 
Expenses (after
reimbursement)               1.125%         1.20%         1.20%          1.30%           1.25%            1.30%          1.40%

</TABLE>

MANAGEMENT  FEES AND OTHER  EXPENSES:  Each Portfolio pays the Manager a fee for
its services  that is computed  daily and paid monthly at an annual rate ranging
from  .475%  to .75%  of the  value  of the  average  daily  net  assets  of the
Portfolio.  The fees of each Advisor are paid by the Manager.  The nature of the
services provided to, and the aggregate  management fees paid by, each Portfolio
are  described  under  "Management  of the Trust." The expenses set forth in the
above table reflect voluntary expense limitations currently in effect and can be
changed at any time.  For the year ended August 31, 1998, the Manager waived all
or a portion of its  management  fee for each  Portfolio,  and  assumed  certain
operating expenses of the Municipal Bond Portfolio. In addition,  expense offset
arrangements with the Trust's Custodian Bank were in effect with respect to each
Portfolio. The amount of the expense offset for each respective Portfolio was as
follows:  U.S.  Government Money Market,  0%;  Investment  Quality Bond,  0.10%;
Municipal Bond,  0.01%;  Large  Capitalization  Value, 0%; Large  Capitalization
Growth, 0.07%; Small Capitalization,  0%; and International Equity, 0.26%. Under
applicable SEC regulations,  the amount by which Portfolio  expenses are reduced
by an expense offset  arrangement  is required to be added to "Other  Expenses."
The .65%  figure set forth  above  with  respect  to each  Portfolio  (.60% with
respect to Large Capitalization Growth) for "Other Expenses" above, reflects the
actual "Other  Expenses" of each  respective  Portfolio,  plus the amount of the
expense offset arrangement,  reduced by the amount of the expense reimbursement.
Without such voluntary waivers,  expense assumptions and expense offsets,  total
operating  expenses of each of the Portfolios  would have been as follows:  U.S.
Government Money Market  Portfolio,  1.30%;  Investment  Quality Bond Portfolio,
1.37%;  Municipal Bond Portfolio,  2.15%; Large  Capitalization Value Portfolio,
1.39%;  Large  Capitalization  Growth  Portfolio,  1.25%;  Small  Capitalization
Portfolio,  1.44%; and International  Equity Portfolio,  1.96%. "Other Expenses"
include fees for shareholder services, administration, custodial fees, legal and
accounting  fees,  printing  costs,  registration  fees, the costs of regulatory
compliance,  a  Portfolio's  allocated  portion  of the  costs  associated  with
maintaining  the Trust's legal  existence and the costs  involved in the Trust's
communications  with  shareholders.  The table does not reflect any fees paid by
investors pursuant to Consulting Programs.

<PAGE>
Example. The following example demonstrates the projected dollar amount of total
cumulative  expenses that would be incurred over various periods with respect to
a hypothetical  investment in the  Portfolios.  These amounts are based upon (i)
payment by the  Portfolios of operating  expenses at the levels set forth in the
table above and (ii) the specific assumptions stated below:

A shareholder would pay the following  expenses on a $1,000 investment  assuming
(i) a 5% annual return and (ii) redemption at the end of each time period:
<TABLE>

               U.S. 
            Government     Investment                     Large           Large                                  
              Money         Quality      Municipal   Capitalization  Capitalization      Small          International
              Market         Bond          Bond           Value           Growth     Capitalization       Equity
            Portfolio      Portfolio     Portfolio      Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio
            ---------      ---------     ---------      ---------       ---------       ---------       ---------
<S>            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>

1 year           $11         $12            $12           $13             $13             $13            $14

3 years           36          38             38            41              40              41             44
                                                                                                     
5 years           62          66             66            71              69              71             77
                                                                                                     
10 years         137         145            145           157             151             157            168

</TABLE>
The purpose of this  example is to assist an investor in  understanding  various
costs and  expenses  that an  investor in a Portfolio  will bear.  THIS  EXAMPLE
SHOULD NOT BE  CONSIDERED  TO BE A  REPRESENTATION  OF PAST OR FUTURE  EXPENSES;
ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. Moreover,  although the
table assumes a 5% annual return, a Portfolio's actual performance will vary and
may result in an actual return greater or less than 5%. 

<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (For a share outstanding throughout each period)

The  following  schedules of per share data and ratios for the fiscal year ended
August 31, 1998 have been audited by Ernst & Young, LLP,  independent  auditors,
whose report thereon is included in the 1998 Annual Report to Shareholders which
is incorporated by reference in the Statement of Additional Information. The per
share data and ratios for the other  periods  presented  were audited by another
"big six"  independent  accounting  firm whose report  thereon was  unqualified.
These  Schedules  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  other  financial
statements and notes thereto  included in the Annual Report,  which is available
without charge by calling the Manager at 1-800-807-3863.

<TABLE>
<S>             <C>                 <C>                       <C>                    <C>                      <C>        <C>


                                INCOME FROM               DIVIDENDS AND
                          INVESTMENT OPERATIONS            DISTRIBUTIONS                                         RATIOS
                     -----------------------------   -----------------------                      ----------------------------------

                                   Net                Dividends Distributions                       Ratio
                                   Realized           to        to                                  of 
                   Net             and        Total   Share-    Shareholders Net            Net    Net         Ratio of Net
                   Asset     Net   Unrealized from    holders   from Net     Asset         Assets  Operating   Investment
                   Value,    Invest Gain(Loss)Invest- from      Realized     Value         End     Expenses    Income
                   Beginning ment  On         ment    Net       Gains        End           of      to          (Loss)      Portfolio
                   of        Income Invest    Opera-  Investment on          of     Total  Period  Average     to Average  Turnover
                   Period   (Loss) ments      tions   Income    Investments  Period Return*(000's) Net Assets  Net Assets  Rate


U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio

Year Ended August 31,
   1998            $1.000   $0.045 $0.000     0.045   ($0.045)      --       $1.000  4.59% $38,492  1.12% (1)   4.41% (1)    --
Year Ended August 31,
   1997             1.000    0.043  0.000     0.043    (0.043)      --        1.000  4.41%  28,572  1.12% (1)   4.31% (1)    --
Year Ended August 31,
   1996             1.000    0.044  0.000     0.044    (0.044)      --        1.000  4.47%  22,906  1.13% (1)   4.30% (1)    --
 September 2, 1994 (2)
   to August 31, 1995 
                    1.000(3) 0.052  0.000     0.052    (0.052)      --        1.000  5.36%   5,072  0.40% (1,4) 5.38% (1,4)  --

(1)  During  the fiscal  year ended  August  31,1998  and the fiscal  year ended
     August  31,1997,  Saratoga  Capital  Management  waived  a  portion  of its
     management fees.  During all other time periods  presented above,  Saratoga
     Capital  Management  waived  all of its fees and  assumed a portion  of the
     operating  expenses.  Additionally,  for the periods  presented  above, the
     Portfolio  benefited from an expense offset  arrangement with its custodian
     bank.  If such  waivers,  assumptions  and expense  offsets had not been in
     effect for the respective periods,  the ratios of net operating expenses to
     average  daily net assets and of net  investment  income  (loss) to average
     daily net assets  would have been  1.30% and 4.24%,  respectively,  for the
     year ended  August  31,1998,  1.35% and 4.08%,  respectively,  for the year
     ended August  31,1997,  1.79% and 3.64%,  respectively,  for the year ended
     August  31,1996 and 6.69% and (0.91%),  annualized,  respectively,  for the
     period September 2, 1994 (commencement of operations) to August 31,1995.


Investment Quality Bond Portfolio

Year Ended August 31,
   1998               $10.09 $0.50  $0.21    $0.71     ($0.50)    ($0.01)   $10.29  7.21%  $35,724  1.19% (1)   4.86% (1)      44%
Year Ended August 31,
   1997                 9.91  0.51   0.18     0.69      (0.51)      0.00     10.09  7.16%   22,507  1.28% (1)   5.03% (1)      30%
Year Ended August 31,
   1996                10.08  0.48  (0.16)    0.32      (0.48)     (0.01)     9.91  3.23%   16,864  1.31% (1)   4.84% (1)      55%
 September 2, 1994 (2)
   to August 31, 1995 10.00(3)0.60   0.08     0.68      (0.60)      --       10.08  7.12%    4,503  0.45% (1,4) 5.77% (1,4)    18%

(1)  During  the fiscal  year ended  August  31,1998  and the fiscal  year ended
     August  31,1997,  Saratoga  Capital  Management  waived  a  portion  of its
     management fees.  During all other time periods  presented above,  Saratoga
     Capital  Management  waived  all of its fees and  assumed a portion  of the
     operating  expenses.  Additionally,  for the periods  presented  above, the
     Portfolio  benefited from an expense offset  arrangement with its custodian
     bank.  If such  waivers,  assumptions  and expense  offsets had not been in
     effect for the respective periods,  the ratios of net operating expenses to
     average  daily net assets and of net  investment  income  (loss) to average
     daily net assets  would have been  1.37% and 4.69%,  respectively,  for the
     year ended  August  31,1998,  1.52% and 4.71%,  respectively,  for the year
     ended August  31,1997,  2.12% and 3.90%,  respectively,  for the year ended
     August  31,1996 and 7.93% and (1.71%),  annualized,  respectively,  for the
     period September 2, 1994 (commencement of operations) to August 31,1995.

<PAGE>
                               INCOME FROM                 DIVIDENDS AND
                          INVESTMENT OPERATIONS            DISTRIBUTIONS                                         RATIOS
                     -----------------------------   -----------------------                      ----------------------------------

                                   Net                Dividends Distributions                       Ratio
                                   Realized           to        to                                  of 
                   Net             and        Total   Share-    Shareholders Net            Net    Net         Ratio of Net
                   Asset     Net   Unrealized from    holders   from Net     Asset         Assets  Operating   Investment
                   Value,    Invest Gain(Loss)Invest- from      Realized     Value         End     Expenses    Income
                   Beginning ment  On         ment    Net       Gains        End           of      to          (Loss)      Portfolio
                   of        Income Invest    Opera-  Investment on          of     Total  Period  Average     to Average  Turnover
                   Period   (Loss) ments      tions   Income    Investments  Period Return*(000's) Net Assets  Net Assets  Rate

Municipal Bond Portfolio


Year Ended August 31,
   1998                $10.33  $0.43  $0.42   $0.85     ($0.44)    ($0.02)  $10.72   8.42%  $9,794   1.20% (1)   4.07% (1)     18%
Year Ended August 31,
   1997                 10.00   0.43   0.33    0.76      (0.43)      --      10.33   7.67%   7,223   1.21% (1)   4.19% (1)     20%
Year Ended August 31,
   1996                  9.93   0.41   0.07    0.48      (0.41)      --      10.00   4.88%   4,708   1.23% (1)   4.03% (1)     12%
 September 2, 1994 (2)
   to August 31, 1995   10.00(3)0.51  (0.07)   0.44      (0.51)      --       9.93   4.65%   1,477   0.37% (1,4) 4.79% (1,4)   27%

(1)  During  the fiscal  year ended  August  31,1998  and the fiscal  year ended
     August 31,1997,  Saratoga Capital  Management  waived all of its management
     fees.  During all other time  periods  presented  above,  Saratoga  Capital
     Management  waived all of its fees and  assumed a portion of the  operating
     expenses.  Additionally,  for the periods  presented  above,  the Portfolio
     benefited from an expense offset  arrangement  with its custodian  bank. If
     such waivers,  assumptions  and expense  offsets had not been in effect for
     the  respective  periods,  the ratios of net operating  expenses to average
     daily net assets and of net  investment  income (loss) to average daily net
     assets  would have been 2.15% and 3.12%,  respectively,  for the year ended
     August 31,1998,  2.96% and 2.43%,  respectively,  for the year ended August
     31,1997, 5.32% and (0.12%), respectively, for the year ended August 31,1996
     and 20.15% and (14.99%), annualized, respectively, for the period September
     2, 1994 (commencement of operations) to August 31,1995.
                                                                                    
                              
Large Capitalization Value Portfolio

Year Ended August 31,
   1998             $18.57   $0.14  $0.07     $0.21   ($0.39)    ($0.24)    $18.15   0.96% $42,641   1.30% (1)  0.69% (1)    54%
Year Ended August 31,                                                                                    
   1997              14.45    0.09   4.37      4.46    (0.08)     (0.26)     18.57  31.37%  29,676   1.31% (1)  0.60% (1)    25%
Year Ended August 31,
   1996              12.30    0.07   2.33      2.40    (0.11)     (0.14)     14.45  19.73%  18,274   1.28% (1)  0.97% (1)    26%
 September 2, 1994 (2)
   to August 31, 
       1995          10.00(3) 0.15   2.20      2.35    (0.05)      --        12.30  23.60%   5,515   0.40%(1,4) 2.29% (1,4)  33%

(1)  During  the fiscal  year ended  August  31,1998  and the fiscal  year ended
     August  31,1997,  Saratoga  Capital  Management  waived  a  portion  of its
     management fees.  During all other time periods  presented above,  Saratoga
     Capital  Management  waived  all of its fees and  assumed a portion  of the
     operating  expenses.  Additionally,  for the periods  presented  above, the
     Portfolio  benefited from an expense offset  arrangement with its custodian
     bank.  If such  waivers,  assumptions  and expense  offsets had not been in
     effect for the respective periods,  the ratios of net operating expenses to
     average  daily net assets and of net  investment  income  (loss) to average
     daily net assets  would have been  1.39% and 0.60%,  respectively,  for the
     year ended  August  31,1998,  1.56% and 0.35%,  respectively,  for the year
     ended August  31,1997,  2.19% and 0.04%,  respectively,  for the year ended
     August  31,1996 and 6.54% and (3.85%),  annualized,  respectively,  for the
     period September 2, 1994 (commencement of operations) to August 31,1995.

<PAGE>

                              INCOME FROM                 DIVIDENDS AND
                         INVESTMENT OPERATIONS            DISTRIBUTIONS                                         RATIOS
                     -----------------------------   -----------------------                      ----------------------------------

                                   Net                Dividends Distributions                       Ratio
                                   Realized           to        to                                  of 
                   Net             and        Total   Share-    Shareholders Net            Net    Net         Ratio of Net
                   Asset     Net   Unrealized from    holders   from Net     Asset         Assets  Operating   Investment
                   Value,    Invest Gain(Loss)Invest- from      Realized     Value         End     Expenses    Income
                   Beginning ment  On         ment    Net       Gains        End           of      to          (Loss)      Portfolio
                   of        Income Invest    Opera-  Investment on          of     Total  Period  Average     to Average  Turnover
                   Period   (Loss) ments      tions   Income    Investments  Period Return*(000's) Net Assets  Net Assets  Rate

Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio

Year Ended August 31,
   1998              $17.87  ($0.07)  $0.81     $0.74     --      ($0.78)   $17.83   3.91%  $66,537  1.18% (1)   (0.34%)(1)   45%
Year Ended August 31,
   1997               13.16   (0.02)   4.73      4.71     --        --        17.87  35.79%  47,197  1.36% (1)   (0.12%)(1)   53%
Year Ended August 31,
   1996               12.86   (0.02)   0.35      0.33    (0.01)    (0.02)    13.16    2.56%  33,962  1.34% (1)   (0.13%)(1)   50%
 September 2, 1994 (2)
   to August 31, 199510.00 (3) 0.02    2.85      2.87    (0.01)      --      12.86   28.77%  11,107  0.51% (1,4)  0.32% (1,4) 23%

(1)  During  the fiscal  year ended  August  31,1998  and the fiscal  year ended
     August  31,1997,  Saratoga  Capital  Management  waived  a  portion  of its
     management fees.  During all other time periods  presented above,  Saratoga
     Capital  Management  waived  all of its fees and  assumed a portion  of the
     operating  expenses.  Additionally,  for the periods  presented  above, the
     Portfolio  benefited from an expense offset  arrangement with its custodian
     bank.  If such  waivers,  assumptions  and expense  offsets had not been in
     effect for the respective periods,  the ratios of net operating expenses to
     average  daily net assets and of net  investment  income  (loss) to average
     daily net assets would have been 1.25% and (0.41%),  respectively,  for the
     year ended August 31,1998,  1.36% and (0.20%),  respectively,  for the year
     ended August 31,1997, 1.67% and (0.60%),  respectively,  for the year ended
     August  31,1996 and 5.00% and (4.17%),  annualized,  respectively,  for the
     period September 2, 1994 (commencement of operations) to August 31,1995.


Small Capitalization Portfolio

Year Ended August 31,
   1998             $15.05   ($0.10) ($4.20)   ($4.30)     --       ($0.93)  $9.82  (30.64%)  $23,235  1.28% (1)  (0.63%)(1)   96%
Year Ended August 31,
   1997              13.58    (0.07)   2.37      2.30      --        (0.83)  15.05   18.07%    28,781  1.30% (1)  (0.70%)(1)   162%
Year Ended August 31,
   1996              12.62    (0.09)   1.44      1.35    ($0.00)     (0.39)  13.58   11.03%    22,071  1.25% (1)  (0.83%)(1)    95%
 September 2, 1994 (2)
   to August 31, 199510.00(3)  0.02    2.61      2.63     (0.01)      --     12.62   26.38%    15,103  0.42% (1,4) 0.07% (1,4) 111%

(1)  During  the fiscal  year ended  August  31,1998  and the fiscal  year ended
     August  31,1997,  Saratoga  Capital  Management  waived  a  portion  of its
     management fees.  During all other time periods  presented above,  Saratoga
     Capital  Management  waived  all of its fees and  assumed a portion  of the
     operating  expenses.  Additionally,  for the periods  presented  above, the
     Portfolio  benefited from an expense offset  arrangement with its custodian
     bank.  If such  waivers,  assumptions  and expense  offsets had not been in
     effect for the respective periods,  the ratios of net operating expenses to
     average  daily net assets and of net  investment  income  (loss) to average
     daily net assets  would have been  1.44% and 0.98%,  respectively,  for the
     year ended August 31,1998,  1.64% and (1.04%),  respectively,  for the year
     ended August 31,1997, 1.84% and (1.42%),  respectively,  for the year ended
     August  31,1996 and 3.57% and (3.08%),  annualized,  respectively,  for the
     period September 2, 1994 (commencement of operations) to August 31,1995.

<PAGE>
                              INCOME FROM                 DIVIDENDS AND
                         INVESTMENT OPERATIONS            DISTRIBUTIONS                                         RATIOS
                     -----------------------------   -----------------------                      ----------------------------------

                                   Net                Dividends Distributions                       Ratio
                                   Realized           to        to                                  of 
                   Net             and        Total   Share-    Shareholders Net            Net    Net         Ratio of Net
                   Asset     Net   Unrealized from    holders   from Net     Asset         Assets  Operating   Investment
                   Value,    Invest Gain(Loss)Invest- from      Realized     Value         End     Expenses    Income
                   Beginning ment  On         ment    Net       Gains        End           of      to          (Loss)      Portfolio
                   of        Income Invest    Opera-  Investment on          of     Total  Period  Average     to Average  Turnover
                   Period   (Loss) ments      tions   Income    Investments  Period Return*(000's) Net Assets  Net Assets  Rate

International
 Equity Portfolio

Year Ended August 31,
   1998             $10.74  $0.13   $0.09     $0.22    ($0.04)     --       $10.92   2.08% $18,967  1.40% (1)   1.14% (1)      58%
Year Ended August 31,
   1997               9.59   0.23    1.12      1.35     (0.20)     --        10.74  14.39%  10,389  1.64% (1)   0.32% (1)      58%
Year Ended August 31,
   1996               9.33   0.00    0.34      0.34     (0.03)    (0.05)      9.59   3.68%   6,857  1.65% (1)   0.23% (1)      58%
 September 2, 1994 (2)
   to August 31, 199510.00(3)0.05   (0.71)    (0.66)    (0.01)      --        9.33  (6.61%)  2,907  0.38% (1,4) 1.03% (1,4)    36%

(1)  During  the fiscal  year ended  August  31,1998  and the fiscal  year ended
     August  31,1997,  Saratoga  Capital  Management  waived  a  portion  of its
     management fees.  During all other time periods  presented above,  Saratoga
     Capital  Management  waived  all of its fees and  assumed a portion  of the
     operating  expenses.  Additionally,  for the periods  presented  above, the
     Portfolio  benefited from an expense offset  arrangement with its custodian
     bank.  If such  waivers,  assumptions  and expense  offsets had not been in
     effect for the respective periods,  the ratios of net operating expenses to
     average  daily net assets and of net  investment  income  (loss) to average
     daily net assets  would have been  1.96% and 0.59%,  respectively,  for the
     year ended August 31,1998,  2.76% and (1.00%),  respectively,  for the year
     ended August 31,1997, 3.91% and (2.33%),  respectively,  for the year ended
     August  31,1996 and 8.96% and (7.53%),  annualized,  respectively,  for the
     period September 2, 1994 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 1995.


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

(2) Commencement of operations.
(3) Initial offering price.
(4) Annualized.
 


*    Assumes  reinvestment  of all dividends and  distributions.  Aggregate (not
     annualized) total return is shown for any period shorter than one year.

</TABLE>

OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Set forth below is a description  of the  investment  objectives and policies of
each  Portfolio.  There can be no assurance  that any Portfolio will achieve its
investment objectives. Further information about the investment policies of each
Portfolio,  including a list of those restrictions on its investment  activities
that cannot be changed without shareholder approval, appears in the Statement of
Additional Information.

U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO is advised by Sterling Capital Management
Company.  The  Portfolio's  investment  objective is to provide  maximum current
income to the  extent  consistent  with the  maintenance  of  liquidity  and the
preservation of capital by investing exclusively in short term securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government,  its agencies or instrumentalities  ("U.S.
Government   Securities")  and  repurchase  agreements  with  respect  to  those
securities.   The  Portfolio  may  purchase   securities  on  a  when-issued  or
delayed-delivery  basis. See "Certain Securities and Investment Techniques." The
Portfolio will invest only in securities  that are purchased with and payable in
U.S. dollars and that have remaining  maturities of 397 days or less at the time
of  purchase.  The  Portfolio  maintains  a  dollar-weighted  average  portfolio
maturity  of 90  days  or  less.  All  securities  purchased  by the  Portfolio,
including  repurchase  agreements,  will  present  minimal  credit  risks in the
opinion of the Advisor acting pursuant to criteria  adopted by the Trust's Board
of  Trustees.  The  Portfolio  follows  these  policies  in order to  maintain a
constant net asset value of $1.00 per share,  although there can be no assurance
it can do so on a continuing  basis.  The Portfolio is not insured or guaranteed
by the U.S.  Government.  The yield attained by the Portfolio may not be as high
as that of other funds that invest in lower quality or longer term securities.

All  investment  decisions  for  the  Portfolio  are  made by  Sterling  Capital
Management  Company's  investment  committee which is primarily  responsible for
management of the Portfolio.

INVESTMENT  QUALITY  BOND  PORTFOLIO  is advised by Fox Asset  Management,  Inc.
("Fox"). The Portfolio seeks, as its investment  objectives,  current income and
reasonable stability of principal. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objectives
through  investment in investment quality fixed income securities and the active
management of such  securities.  The average  maturity of the securities held by
the Portfolio may be shortened,  but not below three years, in order to preserve
capital if the Advisor  anticipates a rise in interest  rates.  Conversely,  the
average  maturity  may be  lengthened,  but not beyond ten  years,  to  maximize
returns if interest rates are expected to decline.

Under normal conditions, the Portfolio will invest at least 65% of its assets in
debt  instruments  including  U.S.  Government   Securities,   corporate  bonds,
debentures,  Eurodollar  bonds,  Yankee bonds and foreign  currency  denominated
bonds.  In addition,  the Portfolio may invest in  non-convertible  fixed income
preferred stock and mortgage pass-through  securities.  The Portfolio limits its
investments to investment  grade  securities,  which are securities rated within
the four highest  categories  established  by Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.
("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's  Corporation  ("S&P"),  and unrated  securities
determined  by the Advisor to be of  comparable  quality.  The  Portfolio is not
obligated to dispose of  securities  that fall below such ratings due to changes
made by the rating  agencies  subsequent to the purchase of the  securities  but
will dispose of any such securities in order to limit its holdings of securities
rated  below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P to no more than 5% of its net  assets.
See the Appendix to the Statement of Additional Information for a description of
Moody's  and S&P ratings  and "Risk  Factors_Medium  and Lower Rated and Unrated
Securities" for a description of certain risks associated with securities in the
fourth  highest rating  category.  Although the Portfolio is authorized to hedge
against  unfavorable  changes in interest  rates by entering  into interest rate
futures  contracts and purchasing and writing put and call options thereon,  its
Advisor has no present  intention of using such  techniques.  The Portfolio also
may engage in repurchase agreements,  purchase temporary  investments,  purchase
securities  on a  when-issued  basis  and lend  its  portfolio  securities.  See
"Certain Securities and Investment Techniques."

The  Portfolio  is  managed  by J.  Peter  Skirkanich,  John  Sampson  and James
O'Mealia.  Mr. Skirkanich is the President and Chief Investment  Officer at Fox.
He founded the firm in 1985. Mr. Sampson is a Managing  Director and Director of
Fixed Income Research at Fox. He joined the firm in 1998 from Pharos  Management
LLC, a consulting firm in fixed income  investments.  Mr. O'Mealia is a Managing
Director of Fox.  He joined the firm in 1998 from  Sunnymeath  Asset  Management
Inc., where he was President.

MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO is advised by OpCap Advisors.  The Portfolio  seeks, as
its investment objective,  a high level of interest income that is excluded from
federal  income  taxation  to the  extent  consistent  with  prudent  investment
management and the  preservation of capital.  The Portfolio seeks to achieve its
objectives through investment in a diversified  portfolio of general obligation,
revenue and private activity bonds, including lease obligations,  and notes that
are issued by or on behalf of states,  territories and possessions of the United
States and the District of Columbia and their political  subdivisions,  agencies
and instrumentalities,  or multi-state agencies or authorities,  the interest on
which,  in the opinion of counsel to the issuer of the  instrument,  is excluded
from gross income for federal income tax purposes ("Municipal Obligations"). See
"Municipal Obligations" on page 16.

Portfolio  composition  generally  covers a full range of maturities  with broad
geographic and issuer diversification. The Portfolio may also invest in variable
rate Municipal  Obligations,  most of which permit the holder thereof to receive
the  principal  amount on demand upon seven days'  notice.  The  Portfolio  will
invest  primarily  in municipal  bonds rated at the time of purchase  within the
four highest ratings  assigned by Moody's,  S&P or by Fitch  Municipal  Division
("Fitch")  or, if  unrated,  which are of  comparable  quality in the opinion of
OpCap  Advisors.  See the Appendix to the SAI for a description  of such ratings
and  "Risk  Factors_Medium  and  Lower  Rated  and  Unrated  Securities"  for  a
description of certain risks  associated  with  securities in the fourth highest
rating  category.  The Portfolio is not obligated to dispose of securities  that
fall below such ratings due to changes made by the rating agencies subsequent to
purchase of the securities  but will dispose of any such  securities in order to
limit its  holdings  of  securities  rated below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P or
Fitch to no more than 5% of its net assets.

It is a fundamental  policy of the Portfolio that under normal  circumstances at
least 80% of its assets will be  invested in  Municipal  Obligations.  Also,  at
least 65% of its assets will be invested in bonds. The Portfolio will not invest
more than 25% of its total assets in  Municipal  Obligations  whose  issuers are
located in the same state.  The Portfolio  will also not invest more than 25% of
its assets in private  activity bonds of similar  projects.  It is possible that
the  Portfolio  from time to time will  invest  more than 25% of its assets in a
particular segment of the municipal  securities market, such as hospital revenue
bonds, housing agency bonds,  industrial  development bonds or airport bonds, or
in  securities  the interest on which is paid from revenues of a similar type of
project. In such circumstances,  economic,  business, political or other changes
affecting  one bond (such as proposed  legislation  affecting the financing of a
project;  shortages or price increases of needed materials; or declining markets
or needs for the  projects)  might also affect other bonds in the same  segment,
thereby potentially increasing market risk.

The Portfolio may invest without limit in private  activity  bonds,  although it
does not currently expect to invest more than 20% of its total assets in private
activity  bonds.  Dividends  attributable to interest income on certain types of
private  activity  bonds issued after August 7, 1986 to finance  nongovernmental
activities  are a specific  tax  preference  item for  purposes  of the  federal
individual and corporate alternative minimum tax.

When the Portfolio is maintaining a temporary defensive position,  it may invest
in short  term  investments,  some of which  may not be tax  exempt.  Securities
eligible  for short term  investment  by the  Portfolio  are tax exempt notes of
municipal  issuers  having,  at the time of  purchase,  a rating  within the two
highest  grades  of  Moody's  or S&P  or,  if not  rated,  having  an  issue  of
outstanding  Municipal  Obligations  rated  within the three  highest  grades by
Moody's  or  S&P,   and   taxable   short  term   instruments   having   quality
characteristics comparable to those for Municipal Obligations. The Portfolio may
invest in temporary  investments  for  defensive  reasons in  anticipation  of a
market decline. At no time will more than 20% of the Portfolio's total assets be
invested in temporary  investments  unless the Portfolio has adopted a defensive
investment policy. The Portfolio will purchase tax exempt temporary  investments
pending the investment of the proceeds from the sale of the  securities  held by
the Portfolio or from the purchase of the Portfolio's  shares by investors or in
order  to  have  highly  liquid   securities   available  to  meet   anticipated
redemptions.  To the extent that the Portfolio holds temporary  investments,  it
may not achieve its investment objective.  The Portfolio may purchase securities
on a when-issued  basis, lend its portfolio  securities and purchase stock index
futures  contracts  and write  options  thereon.  See  "Certain  Securities  and
Investment Techniques."

The Portfolio is managed by Matthew  Greenwald,  Vice  President of  Oppenheimer
Capital,  the parent of OpCap  Advisors.  Mr.  Greenwald has been a fixed income
portfolio manager and financial analyst for Oppenheimer Capital since 1989. From
1984-1989 he was a fixed income portfolio  manager with  PaineWebber's  Mitchell
Hutchins Asset Management.

LARGE CAPITALIZATION VALUE PORTFOLIO is advised by OpCap Advisors. The Portfolio
seeks,  as  its  investment  objective,   total  return  consisting  of  capital
appreciation  and  dividend  income  by  investing  primarily  in a  diversified
portfolio of highly liquid  equity  securities  that, in the Advisor's  opinion,
have above average  price  appreciation  potential at the time of purchase.  For
purposes of the Portfolio's  investment  policies,  equity securities consist of
common and preferred  stock and  securities  such as bonds,  rights and warrants
that are  convertible  into common  stock.  In  general,  these  securities  are
characterized  as having above average  dividend  yields and below average price
earnings  ratios  relative to the stock  market in  general,  as measured by the
Standard  & Poor's 500  Composite  Stock  Price  Index  (the "S&P  500").  Other
factors,  such as earnings,  the ability of the issuer to generate  cash flow in
excess of business needs and to sustain above average profitability,  as well as
industry outlook and market share, also are considered. Under normal conditions,
at least 80% of the  Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common  stocks.  No
less than 65% of the  Portfolio's  assets will be  invested in common  stocks of
issuers with total market capitalization of $1 billion or greater at the time of
purchase.  The Portfolio may purchase  temporary  investments and purchase stock
index futures  contracts and purchase and write options  thereon.  The Portfolio
also may lend its portfolio  securities.  See "Certain Securities and Investment
Techniques."

The Portfolio is managed by Eileen  Rominger,  Managing  Director of Oppenheimer
Capital,  the parent of OpCap  Advisors.  Ms.  Rominger  has been an analyst and
portfolio manager at Oppenheimer Capital since 1981.

LARGE  CAPITALIZATION  GROWTH  PORTFOLIO is advised by Harris Bretall Sullivan &
Smith, L.L.C.  ("Harris Bretall").  The Portfolio seeks capital  appreciation by
investing  primarily in a  diversified  portfolio of common  stocks that, in the
Advisor's  opinion,  are  characterized by a growth of earnings at a rate faster
than that of the S&P 500. Dividend income is an incidental  consideration in the
selection of investments. In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor
evaluates  factors  believed to be favorable to long-term  capital  appreciation
including  specific  financial  characteristics of the issuer such as historical
earnings growth,  sales growth,  profitability and return on equity. The Advisor
also analyzes the issuer's  position  within its industry as well as the quality
and experience of the issuer's management. Under normal conditions, at least 80%
of the Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common stocks and at least 65% of
the  Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common stocks of issuers with total
market capitalization of $1 billion or greater at the time of purchase. Although
the Portfolio is authorized to purchase temporary investments and purchase stock
index futures contracts and purchase and write options thereon,  its Advisor has
no present  intention  of using such  techniques  during  the coming  year.  The
Portfolio also may lend its portfolio  securities.  See "Certain  Securities and
Investment Techniques." 

Stock  selections  for the Portfolio will be made by the Strategy and Investment
Committees  of Harris  Bretall.  The  Portfolio is managed by Jack  Sullivan and
Gordon  Ceresino.  Mr.  Sullivan  is a partner  of Harris  Bretall  and has been
associated  with the firm since 1981. Mr. Ceresino is a Vice President of Harris
Bretall and has been associated with the firm since 1991. Prior thereto,  he was
Senior Vice President of Capitol  Associates and was  responsible  for sales and
marketing.

SMALL  CAPITALIZATION  PORTFOLIO is advised by Thorsell,  Parker Partners,  Inc.
(Prior to April 14,  1997,  the Small  Capitalization  Portfolio  was advised by
Axe-Houghton   Associates,   Inc.).  The  Portfolio  seeks,  as  its  investment
objective, maximum capital appreciation. Under normal conditions at least 80% of
the  Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common stocks,  at least 65% of the
Portfolio's assets will be invested in common stock of issuers with total market
capitalization of less than $1 billion and at least one third of the Portfolio's
assets  will be  invested  in  common  stocks of  companies  with  total  market
capitalization of $550 million or less at the time of purchase.  Dividend income
is not a consideration in the selection of investments. In selecting investments
for the Portfolio,  the Advisor seeks small capitalization growth companies that
it believes are undervalued in the  marketplace.  These companies  typically are
under-followed  by  investment  firms and  undervalued  relative to their growth
prospects. The Portfolio may also invest in companies that offer the possibility
of  accelerating  earnings  growth due to internal  changes  such as new product
introductions,  synergistic  acquisitions or  distribution  channels or external
changes  affecting  the  marketplace  for the  company's  products and services.
External factors can be demographics,  regulatory,  legislative,  technological,
social or economic.  Although the Portfolio is authorized to purchase  temporary
investments  and purchase  stock index futures  contracts and purchase and write
options thereon,  its Advisor has no present  intention of using such techniques
during the coming year. The Portfolio also may lend its portfolio securities.
See "Certain Securities and Investment Techniques."

The  Portfolio is managed by Richard  Thorsell.  Mr.  Thorsell has been Managing
Partner of Thorsell since 1991.

INTERNATIONAL  EQUITY  PORTFOLIO  is advised by Friends  Ivory & Sime,  Inc. The
investment  objective of the Portfolio is long-term  capital  appreciation.  The
Portfolio  ordinarily invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of
companies  domiciled outside the United States.  For purposes of the Portfolio's
investment policies, equity securities consist of common and preferred stock and
securities such as bonds,  rights and warrants that are convertible  into common
stock.  The Portfolio has no present  intention of investing in bonds other than
bonds convertible into common stock.

Under normal market  conditions,  at least 65% of the Portfolio's assets will be
invested in securities of issuers domiciled in at least three foreign countries.
The  Portfolio  may  invest  25% or more of its total  assets in  securities  of
issuers domiciled in one country. The Portfolio presently intends to invest more
than 25% of its total assets in Japan.  Accordingly,  the investment performance
of the  Portfolio  will be subject  to social,  political  and  economic  events
occurring in Japan to a greater  extent than those  occurring  in other  foreign
countries.  Investments  may be  made  in  companies  in  developed  as  well as
developing countries. It is the present intention of the Portfolio not to invest
more than 20% of its total assets in securities of issuers located in developing
countries.  Investing in the equity  markets of  developing  countries  involves
exposure to  economies  that are  generally  less  diverse  and  mature,  and to
political  systems  that can be expected to have less  stability,  than those of
developed  countries.  The Advisor  attempts to limit exposure to investments in
developing countries where both liquidity and sovereign risks are high. Although
there is no established definition, a developing country is generally considered
to be a country  that is in the initial  stages of its  industrialization  cycle
with  per  capita  gross  national  product  of  less  than  $5,000.  Historical
experience  indicates  that the markets of developing  countries  have been more
volatile than the markets of developed countries,  although securities traded in
the former  markets have  provided  higher rates of return to  investors.  For a
discussion of the risks  associated  with investing in foreign  securities,  see
"Risk Factors-Foreign Securities."

It is expected that the Portfolio will invest primarily in securities of foreign
issuers  in  the  form  of  American  Depositary  Receipts  ("ADRs")  or  Global
Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), which are U.S. dollar-denominated  receipts, which
represent and may be converted into the underlying  foreign security,  typically
issued by domestic  banks or trust  companies  that  represent  the deposit with
those entities of securities of a foreign  issuer.  Issuers of the stock of ADRs
or GDRs  sponsored  by banks or trust  companies  are not  obligated to disclose
material  information  in the United  States and  therefore,  there may not be a
correlation  between such information and the market value of such ADRs or GDRs.
ADRs or GDRs are publicly traded on exchanges or  over-the-counter in the United
States.  The Portfolio may purchase  temporary  investments,  lend its portfolio
securities  and purchase  stock index  futures  contracts and purchase and write
options thereon. See "Certain Securities and Investment Techniques."

John Stubbs,  Chief  Investment  Officer  ("CIO") and Chairman of the Investment
Committee at Friends Ivory & Sime plc has been  overseeing the management of the
Portfolio  since  January 31, 1997.  Mr.  Stubbs has been CIO of Friends Ivory &
Sime plc since April 1995.  Previously,  he was head of UK equities  with Hermes
Pensions  Management Ltd.  During his 29 year  investment  career Mr. Stubbs has
managed money in most of the world's major markets.  Individual stock selections
are made by the following  regional  specialists:  Dr. Michael Woodward,  Thomas
Maxwell, Julie Dent, James Anderson and Jonathan Harrison.  Each of the regional
specialists  has  been  responsible  for  individual  stock  selections  for the
Portfolio since its inception,  with the exception of Mr. Maxwell,  who began on
January 31, 1997. Prior to assuming the position of regional  specialist for the
Portfolio,  each  Portfolio  regional  specialist  acted in the same capacity at
Friends Ivory & Sime plc.

Except as indicated,  the Portfolios'  limitations on investments and investment
policies are non-fundamental and can be changed without a vote of shareholders.

CERTAIN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES

TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS.  For temporary defensive purposes during periods when the
Advisor of a Portfolio,  other than the U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio,
believes,  with the  concurrence of the Manager,  that pursuing the  Portfolio's
basic  investment  strategy may be  inconsistent  with the best interests of its
shareholders, the Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its assets in the following
money market instruments:  U.S. Government Securities (including those purchased
in the form of  custodial  receipts),  repurchase  agreements,  certificates  of
deposit  and  bankers'   acceptances   issued  by  banks  or  savings  and  loan
associations  having assets of at least $500 million as of the end of their most
recent fiscal year and high quality commercial paper. In addition,  for the same
purposes  the  Advisor  of the  International  Equity  Portfolio  may  invest in
obligations  issued or  guaranteed  by  foreign  governments  or by any of their
political  subdivisions,  authorities,  agencies or  instrumentalities  that are
rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's or, if unrated,  are determined by the
Advisor to be of  equivalent  quality.  See  "Foreign  Securities"  below.  Each
Portfolio  also may hold a portion of its assets in money market  instruments or
cash in amounts  designed to pay expenses,  to meet  anticipated  redemptions or
pending  investments  in  accordance  with  its  objectives  and  policies.  Any
temporary  investments  may be purchased on a when-issued  basis.  A Portfolio's
investment  in any other  short  term debt  instruments  would be subject to the
Portfolio's  investment objectives and policies,  and to approval by the Trust's
Board of Trustees.

The Portfolios are intended  primarily as vehicles for the  implementation  of a
long term investment  program  utilizing asset  allocation  strategies  rendered
through  investment  advisory  programs  that are based on an  evaluation  of an
investor's  investment  objectives  and  risk  tolerance.  Because  these  asset
allocation  strategies are designed to spread investment risk across the various
segments of the securities markets through investment in a number of Portfolios,
each individual  Portfolio  generally intends to be substantially fully invested
in accordance  with its investment  objectives  and policies  during most market
conditions. Although the Advisor of a Portfolio may, upon the concurrence of the
Manager,  take a temporary  defensive position during adverse market conditions,
it can be expected that a defensive posture will be adopted less frequently than
would be by other mutual funds.  This policy may impede an Advisor's  ability to
protect a Portfolio's  capital during declines in the particular  segment of the
market to which the Portfolio's  assets are committed.  Consequently,  no single
Portfolio  should be  considered a complete  investment  program.  An investment
among the Portfolios should be regarded as a long term commitment that should be
held  through  several  market  cycles.  In addition,  although  the  investment
advisors for the Consulting Programs may recommend adjustments in the allocation
of assets among the Portfolios based on, among other things,  anticipated market
trends,  there can be no assurance that these  recommendations can be developed,
transmitted  and acted  upon in a manner  sufficiently  timely  to avoid  market
shifts, which can be sudden and substantial. Participants in Consulting Programs
should note that responsibility for investment recommendations rests solely with
the  investment  advisor for the  program or the client  itself and not with the
Trust or the Manager.  Investors  intending to purchase Portfolio shares through
investment  advisory  programs should evaluate  carefully whether the service is
ongoing  and  continuous,  as well as  their  investment  advisors'  ability  to
anticipate and respond to market trends.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.  Each of the Portfolios
may engage in  repurchase  agreement and (except for the U.S.  Government  Money
Market Portfolio) reverse repurchase agreement transactions.  Under the terms of
a typical  repurchase  agreement,  a Portfolio  would acquire an underlying debt
obligation  for a  relatively  short  period  (usually  not more  than one week)
subject to an  obligation  of the seller to  repurchase,  and the  Portfolio  to
resell, the obligation at an agreed-upon price and time, thereby determining the
yield during the Portfolio's holding period. This arrangement results in a fixed
rate of return that is not subject to market fluctuations during the Portfolio's
holding period. A Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements with respect to
U.S.  Government  Securities with member banks of the Federal Reserve System and
certain non-bank dealers  approved by the Board of Trustees.  The  International
Equity  Portfolio will not engage in repurchase  agreements with foreign brokers
or dealers. Under each repurchase agreement, the selling institution is required
to maintain the value of the securities  subject to the repurchase  agreement at
not less than their repurchase price. The Portfolio's Advisor,  acting under the
supervision  of the Board of Trustees,  reviews on an ongoing basis the value of
the collateral and the  creditworthiness of those non-bank dealers with whom the
Portfolio  enters into repurchase  agreements.  A Portfolio will not invest in a
repurchase  agreement  maturing  in more  than  seven  days  if the  investment,
together with illiquid  securities  held by the Portfolio,  exceeds 15% (10% for
the U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio) of the Portfolio's total assets. See
"Certain  Investment  Policies."  In entering  into a  repurchase  agreement,  a
Portfolio  bears a risk of  loss  in the  event  that  the  other  party  to the
transaction  defaults  on its  obligations  and  the  Portfolio  is  delayed  or
prevented from  exercising  its right to dispose of the  underlying  securities,
including  the  risk  of a  possible  decline  in the  value  of the  underlying
securities  during the period in which the Portfolio  seeks to assert its rights
to them, the risk of incurring  expenses  associated with asserting those rights
and the risk of losing all or a part of the income from the  agreement.  Under a
reverse  repurchase  agreement,  a  Portfolio  sells  securities  and  agrees to
repurchase  them at a mutually  agreed date and price. At the time the Portfolio
enters into a reverse  repurchase  agreement,  it will  establish and maintain a
segregated  account  with an  approved  custodian  containing  liquid high grade
securities having a value not less than the repurchase price (including  accrued
interest).  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value
of the  securities  retained in lieu of sale by the  Portfolio  may decline more
than or  appreciate  less  than the  securities  the  Portfolio  has sold but is
obligated to  repurchase.  In the event the buyer of securities  under a reverse
repurchase  agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes  insolvent,  such buyer or
its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to
enforce  the  Portfolio's  obligation  to  repurchase  the  securities  and  the
Portfolio's  use of  the  proceeds  of the  reverse  repurchase  agreements  may
effectively be restricted pending such decisions.  Reverse repurchase agreements
create leverage,  a speculative  factor,  and will be considered  borrowings for
purposes of a Portfolio's limitation on borrowing.

U.S.  GOVERNMENT  SECURITIES.  Each  Portfolio  may  invest  in U.S.  Government
Securities,  which are obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.  Government,
its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities. Some U.S. Government Securities,
such as U.S.  Treasury bills,  Treasury notes and Treasury  bonds,  which differ
only in their interest rates,  maturities and time of issuance, are supported by
the full faith and credit of the United States. Others are supported by: (i) the
right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury,  such as securities of the
Federal Home Loan Bank; (ii) the discretionary  authority of the U.S. Government
to purchase the agency's  obligations,  such as securities of the FNMA; or (iii)
only the credit of the issuer,  such as securities of the Student Loan Marketing
Association.  No assurance  can be given that the U.S.  Government  will provide
financial  support in the future to U.S.  Government  agencies,  authorities  or
instrumentalities  that are not  supported  by the full  faith and credit of the
United States.

Securities  guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government,  its
agencies, authorities or instrumentalities include: (i) securities for which the
payment of principal and interest is backed by an  irrevocable  letter of credit
issued  by  the  U.S.  Government  or  any  of  its  agencies,   authorities  or
instrumentalities;  and (ii) participation in loans made to foreign  governments
or other  entities that are so guaranteed.  The secondary  market for certain of
these participations is limited and, therefore, may be regarded as illiquid.

U.S.  Government  Securities  may  include  zero coupon  securities  that may be
purchased when yields are attractive and/or to enhance portfolio liquidity. Zero
coupon  U.S.  Government  Securities  are debt  obligations  that are  issued or
purchased at a significant  discount from face value. The discount  approximates
the total  amount of interest the  security  will accrue and  compound  over the
period  until  maturity or the  particular  interest  payment  date at a rate of
interest  reflecting  the market rate of the  security at the time of  issuance.
Zero coupon U.S.  Government  Securities do not require the periodic  payment of
interest.  These investments  benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash
to meet  debt  service,  but also  require a higher  rate of  return to  attract
investors  who are  willing to defer  receipt  of cash.  These  investments  may
experience  greater volatility in market value than U.S.  Government  Securities
that make regular  payments of  interest.  A Portfolio  accrues  income on these
investments  for  tax  and  accounting  purposes,   which  is  distributable  to
shareholders and which,  because no cash is received at the time of accrual, may
require the liquidation of other portfolio securities to satisfy the Portfolio's
distribution  obligations,  in which case the Portfolio will forego the purchase
of  additional  income  producing  assets  with these  funds.  Zero  coupon U.S.
Government  Securities  include  STRIPS and CUBES,  which are issued by the U.S.
Treasury as  component  parts of U.S.  Treasury  bonds and  represent  scheduled
interest and principal payments on the bonds.

CUSTODIAL  RECEIPTS.  Each Portfolio other than the U.S. Government Money Market
Portfolio may acquire  custodial  receipts or certificates,  such as CATS, TIGRs
and FICO  Strips,  underwritten  by  securities  dealers or banks that  evidence
ownership of future  interest  payments,  principal  payments or both on certain
notes or bonds  issued by the U.S.  Government,  its  agencies,  authorities  or
instrumentalities. The underwriters of these certificates or receipts purchase a
U.S.  Government  Security and deposit the security in an  irrevocable  trust or
custodial  account  with  a  custodian  bank,  which  then  issues  receipts  or
certificates that evidence  ownership of the periodic  unmatured coupon payments
and the final  principal  payment  on the U.S.  Government  Security.  Custodial
receipts  evidencing specific coupon or principal payments have the same general
attributes as zero coupon U.S. Government Securities,  described above. Although
typically  under the terms of a custodial  receipt a Portfolio is  authorized to
assert its rights directly against the issuer of the underlying obligation,  the
Portfolio may be required to assert  through the  custodian  bank such rights as
may exist  against the  underlying  issuer.  Thus,  in the event the  underlying
issuer  fails to pay  principal  and/or  interest  when due, a Portfolio  may be
subject to delays,  expenses  and risks that are  greater  than those that would
have been involved if the  Portfolio  had  purchased a direct  obligation of the
issuer.  In addition,  in the event that the trust or custodial account in which
the  underlying  security has been  deposited is determined to be an association
taxable as a  corporation,  instead of a  non-taxable  entity,  the yield on the
underlying security would be reduced in respect of any taxes paid.

LENDING PORTFOLIO  SECURITIES.  To generate income for the purpose of helping to
meet its operating expenses, each Portfolio other than the U.S. Government Money
Market  Portfolio may lend  securities to brokers,  dealers and other  financial
organizations.  These  loans,  if and when  made,  may not  exceed  33 1/3% of a
Portfolio's  assets taken at value.  A Portfolio's  loans of securities  will be
collateralized by cash,  letters of credit or U.S.  Government  Securities.  The
cash or instruments  collateralizing  a Portfolio's  loans of securities will be
maintained at all times in a segregated account with the Portfolio's  custodian,
or with a designated  sub-custodian,  in an amount at least equal to the current
market value of the loaned securities. In lending securities to brokers, dealers
and other financial organizations,  a Portfolio is subject to risks, which, like
those associated with other extensions of credit, include delays in recovery and
possible loss of rights in the collateral  should the borrower fail financially.
State  Street  arranges  for  each  Portfolio's  securities  loans  and  manages
collateral  received in  connection  with these loans.  See  "Management  of the
Trust-Administration."

WHEN-ISSUED   AND   DELAYED-DELIVERY   SECURITIES.   To  secure   prices  deemed
advantageous at a particular  time, each Portfolio may purchase  securities on a
when-issued or delayed-delivery  basis, in which case delivery of the securities
occurs  beyond the normal  settlement  period;  payment  of or  delivery  of the
securities  would be made  prior to the  reciprocal  delivery  or payment by the
other party to the  transaction.  A  Portfolio  will enter into  when-issued  or
delayed-delivery  transactions  for the purpose of acquiring  securities and not
for the purpose of leverage.  When-issued  securities purchased by the Portfolio
may include securities purchased on a "when, as and if issued" basis under which
the issuance of the securities  depends on the occurrence of a subsequent event,
such as approval of a merger,  corporate  reorganization or debt  restructuring.
The  Portfolio  will  establish  with  its  custodian,   or  with  a  designated
sub-custodian,   a  segregated  account  consisting  of  cash,  U.S.  Government
Securities or other liquid high grade debt obligations in an amount equal to the
amount of its when-issued or delayed-delivery purchase commitments.

Securities  purchased on a when-issued  or  delayed-delivery  basis may expose a
Portfolio to risk because the securities may  experience  fluctuations  in value
prior to their  actual  delivery.  The  Portfolio  does not accrue  income  with
respect  to a  when-issued  or  delayed-delivery  security  prior to its  stated
delivery date. Purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery  basis
can involve the additional  risk that the yield available in the market when the
delivery takes place may be higher than that obtained in the transaction itself.

FIXED INCOME  SECURITIES.  The market value of fixed income  obligations  of the
Portfolios  will be  affected by general  changes in  interest  rates which will
result in increases or  decreases  in the value of the  obligations  held by the
Portfolios.  The market  value of the  obligations  held by a  Portfolio  can be
expected to vary inversely to changes in prevailing  interest  rates.  Investors
also  should  recognize  that,  in  periods  of  declining   interest  rates,  a
Portfolio's  yield will tend to be somewhat higher than prevailing  market rates
and, in periods of rising  interest  rates, a Portfolio's  yield will tend to be
somewhat  lower.  Also,  when interest rates are falling,  the inflow of net new
money to a  Portfolio  from the  continuous  sale of its shares  will tend to be
invested  in  instruments  producing  lower  yields  than  the  balance  of  its
portfolio,  thereby reducing the Portfolio's current yield. In periods of rising
interest rates,  the opposite can be expected to occur. In addition,  securities
in which a Portfolio may invest may not yield as high a level of current  income
as might be  achieved by  investing  in  securities  with less  liquidity,  less
creditworthiness or longer maturities.

Ratings made  available by S&P and Moody's are relative and  subjective  and are
not absolute  standards of quality.  Although these ratings are initial criteria
for the selection of portfolio investments, a Portfolio's Advisor also will make
its  own  evaluation  of  these  securities.  Among  the  factors  that  will be
considered  are the long  term  ability  of the  issuers  to pay  principal  and
interest and general economic trends.

MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS.  The term "Municipal Obligations" generally is understood
to include debt obligations  issued to obtain funds for various public purposes,
the interest on which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, excluded
from gross income for federal income tax purposes.  In addition, if the proceeds
from private activity bonds are used for the construction,  equipment, repair or
improvement  of privately  operated  industrial  or commercial  facilities,  the
interest paid on such bonds may be excluded from gross income for federal income
tax purposes, although current federal tax laws place substantial limitations on
the size of these issues.

The  two  principal   classifications  of  Municipal  Obligations  are  "general
obligation" and "revenue"  bonds.  General  obligation  bonds are secured by the
issuer's  pledge of its  faith,  credit,  and  taxing  power for the  payment of
principal and interest. Revenue bonds are payable from the revenues derived from
a  particular  facility  or class of  facilities  or,  in some  cases,  from the
proceeds of a special excise or the specific  revenue  source,  but not from the
general taxing power.  Sizable investments in these obligations could involve an
increased risk to the Portfolio should any of the related facilities  experience
financial  difficulties.  Private activity bonds are in most cases revenue bonds
and do not generally carry the pledge of the credit of the issuing municipality.
Included  within  the  revenue  bonds  category  are   participations  in  lease
obligations or installment purchase contracts  (hereinafter  collectively called
"lease obligations") of municipalities. States and local agencies or authorities
issue lease obligations to acquire equipment and facilities.

Lease obligations may have risks not normally associated with general obligation
or other revenue bonds.  Lease obligations and conditional sale contracts (which
may provide for title to the leased  asset to pass  eventually  to the  issuer),
have  developed  as a means for  government  issuers  to  acquire  property  and
equipment  without  the  necessity  of  complying  with the  constitutional  and
statutory  requirements  generally  applicable for the issuance of debt. Certain
lease  obligations  contain  "non-appropriation"  clauses  that provide that the
governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or
contract  unless  money is  appropriated  for such  purposes by the  appropriate
legislative body on an annual or other periodic basis.  Consequently,  continued
lease payments on those lease obligations containing "non-appropriation" clauses
are dependent on future legislative  actions. If such legislative actions do not
occur,  the  holders  of the  lease  obligation  may  experience  difficulty  in
exercising their rights, including disposition of the property.

In  addition,  lease  obligations  may  not  have  the  depth  of  marketability
associated with other municipal  obligations,  and as a result,  certain of such
lease obligations may be considered illiquid securities. To determine whether or
not the Municipal Bond  Portfolio  will consider such  securities to be illiquid
(the  Portfolio  may not  invest  more than 15% of its net  assets  in  illiquid
securities),  the following  guidelines  have been  established to determine the
liquidity  of a lease  obligation.  The factors to be  considered  in making the
determination  include:  (1) the  frequency of trades and quoted  prices for the
obligation;  (2) the number of dealers  willing to purchase or sell the security
and the number of other potential purchasers;  (3) the willingness of dealers to
undertake  to  make  a  market  in the  security;  and  (4)  the  nature  of the
marketplace  trades,  including the time needed to dispose of the security,  the
method of soliciting  offers,  and the mechanics of the transfer.  There are, of
course,  variations  in the  security of  Municipal  Obligations,  both within a
particular classification and between classifications.

MORTGAGE RELATED SECURITIES. The Investment Quality Bond Portfolio may invest in
mortgage related securities including modified pass-through certificates.  There
are several risks associated with mortgage related securities generally.  One is
that the monthly cash inflow from the underlying  loans may not be sufficient to
meet the monthly payment requirements of the mortgage related security.

Prepayment of principal by mortgagors or mortgage  foreclosures will shorten the
term of the  underlying  mortgage pool for a mortgage  related  security.  Early
returns of  principal  will  affect the  average  life of the  mortgage  related
securities remaining in the Portfolio. The occurrence of mortgage prepayments is
affected by factors  including  the level of interest  rates,  general  economic
conditions,  the  location  and  age  of  the  mortgage  and  other  social  and
demographic  conditions.  In  periods  of  rising  interest  rates,  the rate of
prepayment tends to decrease,  thereby lengthening the average life of a pool of
mortgage related  securities.  Conversely,  in periods of falling interest rates
the rate of prepayment tends to increase, thereby shortening the average life of
a pool.  Reinvestment of prepayments may occur at higher or lower interest rates
than the original investment, thus affecting the yield of the Portfolio. Because
prepayments of principal  generally occur when interest rates are declining,  it
is likely that the Portfolio  will have to reinvest the proceeds of  prepayments
at lower interest rates than those at which the assets were previously invested.
If this  occurs,  the  Portfolio's  yield will  correspondingly  decline.  Thus,
mortgage related securities may have less potential for capital  appreciation in
periods  of  falling  interest  rates  than other  fixed  income  securities  of
comparable  maturity,  although these  securities may have a comparable  risk of
decline in market value in periods of rising  interest rates. To the extent that
the Portfolio  purchases mortgage related  securities at a premium,  unscheduled
prepayments,  which  are  made  at  par,  will  result  in a loss  equal  to any
unamortized premium.

The Investment  Quality Bond  Portfolio may invest in a type of  mortgage-backed
security known as modified pass-through certificates. Each certificate evidences
an interest in a specific pool of mortgages that have been grouped  together for
sale and provides investors with payments of interest and principal.  The issuer
of modified  pass-through  certificates  guarantees the payment of the principal
and  interest  whether  or not the  issuer  has  collected  such  amounts on the
underlying mortgage.

The  average  life  of  these  securities  varies  with  the  maturities  of the
underlying mortgage  instruments  (generally up to 30 years) and with the extent
of  prepayments or the mortgages  themselves.  Any such  prepayments  are passed
through to the  certificate  holder,  reducing  the  stream of future  payments.
Prepayments  tend to rise in periods of falling  interest rates,  decreasing the
average life of the  certificate and generating cash which must be invested in a
lower  interest  rate  environment.  This  could  also  limit  the  appreciation
potential of the certificates  when compared to similar debt  obligations  which
may not be paid down at will, and could cause losses on  certificates  purchased
at a  premium  or gains on  certificates  purchased  at a  discount.  Government
National Mortgage  Association  ("Ginnie Mae")  certificates  represent pools of
mortgages  insured by the Federal  Housing  Administration  or the Farmers  Home
Administration or guaranteed by the Veteran's  Administration.  The guarantee of
payments under these  certificates is backed by the full faith and credit of the
United  States.  Federal  National  Mortgage  Association  ("Fannie  Mae")  is a
government-sponsored  corporation  owned entirely by private  stockholders.  The
guarantee of payments under these  instruments is that of Fannie Mae only.  They
are not backed by the full  faith and  credit of the United  States but the U.S.
Treasury may extend credit to Fannie Mae through discretionary  purchases of its
securities.  The U.S.  Government has no obligation to assume the liabilities of
Fannie Mae.  Federal Home Loan  Mortgage  Corp.  ("Freddie  Mac") is a corporate
instrumentality  of the United  States  government  whose  stock is owned by the
Federal Home Loan Banks.  Certificates  issued by Freddie Mac represent interest
in mortgages  from its  portfolio.  Freddie Mac  guarantees  payments  under its
certificates  but this  guarantee  is not backed by the full faith and credit of
the United  States and  Freddie Mac does not have  authority  to borrow from the
U.S. Treasury.

The coupon  rate of these  instruments  is lower than the  interest  rate on the
underlying mortgages by the amount of fees paid to the issuing agencies, usually
approximately  1/2  of 1%.  Mortgage-backed  securities,  due  to the  scheduled
periodic repayment of principal, and the possibility of accelerated repayment of
underlying mortgage  obligations,  fluctuate in value in a different manner than
other, non-redeemable debt securities.

CMOs are  obligations  fully  collateralized  by a  portfolio  of  mortgages  or
mortgage related  securities.  Although the Portfolio is authorized to invest in
CMOs, it has no present intention of doing so.

FUTURES  CONTRACTS  AND  RELATED  OPTIONS.  Each  Portfolio  other than the U.S.
Government Money Market Portfolio may enter into futures  contracts and purchase
and write  (sell)  options  on these  contracts,  including  but not  limited to
interest rate,  securities index and foreign currency futures  contracts and put
and call options on these futures  contracts.  These  contracts  will be entered
into only upon the  concurrence of the Manager that such contracts are necessary
or appropriate in the management of the Portfolio's assets. These contracts will
be  entered  into on  exchanges  designated  by the  Commodity  Futures  Trading
Commission ("CFTC") or, consistent with CFTC regulations,  on foreign exchanges.
These  transactions  may be  entered  into  for  bona  fide  hedging  and  other
permissible risk management  purposes including  protecting against  anticipated
changes in the value of securities a Portfolio intends to purchase.

So long as Commodities  Futures Trading Commission rules so require, a Portfolio
will not enter  into any  financial  futures  or options  contract  unless  such
transactions  are for bona-fide  hedging  purposes or for other purposes only if
the  aggregate   initial  margins  and  premiums   required  to  establish  such
non-hedging  positions  would  not  exceed  5% of the  liquidation  value of the
Portfolio's  total assets.  All futures and options on futures positions will be
covered by owning the underlying security or segregation of assets. With respect
to long positions in a futures  contract or option (e.g.,  futures  contracts to
purchase the  underlying  instrument  and call options  purchased or put options
written on these futures contracts or instruments),  the underlying value of the
futures  contract at all times will not exceed the sum of cash,  short term U.S.
debt  obligations  or other high quality  obligations  set aside in a segregated
account with the Trust's Custodian for this purpose.

A  Portfolio  may  lose  the  expected  benefit  of  these  futures  or  options
transactions  and may incur losses if the prices of the  underlying  commodities
move in an  unanticipated  manner.  In  addition,  changes  in the  value of the
Portfolio's  futures and options positions may not prove to be perfectly or even
highly  correlated  with  changes  in the  value  of its  portfolio  securities.
Successful use of futures and related options is subject to an Advisor's ability
to predict  correctly  movements  in the  direction  of the  securities  markets
generally,  which  ability  may require  different  skills and  techniques  than
predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. Moreover, futures and
options   contracts  may  only  be  closed  out  by  entering  into   offsetting
transactions  on the  exchange  where the position was entered into (or a linked
exchange),  and as a result of daily price  fluctuation  limits  there can be no
assurance  that  an  offsetting   transaction   could  be  entered  into  at  an
advantageous price at any particular time. Consequently, a Portfolio may realize
a loss on a futures  contract or option that is not offset by an increase in the
value of its portfolio  securities  that are being hedged or a Portfolio may not
be able to close a futures or options position  without  incurring a loss in the
event of adverse price movements.

GOVERNMENT STRIPPED MORTGAGE RELATED SECURITIES. Although the Investment Quality
Bond  Portfolio  may  invest in certain  government  stripped  mortgage  related
securities  issued  and  guaranteed  by GNMA,  FNMA or FHLMC,  it has no present
intention of doing so.

RISK FACTORS

MEDIUM AND LOWER RATED AND UNRATED  SECURITIES.  Securities  rated in the fourth
highest category by S&P or Moody's,  although considered  investment grade, have
speculative  characteristics,  and changes in economic or other  conditions  are
more  likely to impair  the  ability  of  issuers  of these  securities  to make
interest  and  principal  payments  than is the case with  respect to issuers of
higher grade bonds.

Subsequent to its purchase by a Portfolio,  an issue of securities  may cease to
be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by
the  Portfolio.  Neither  event will  require  sale of these  securities  by the
Portfolio, but the Advisor will dispose of any such securities in order to limit
the holdings by a Portfolio of securities rated below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S
& P to no more than 5% of its net assets.  It is the intention of the Portfolios
to invest  no more than 5% of their  respective  net  assets in debt  securities
rated  below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S & P (commonly  known as "high  yield" or
"junk bonds").

NON-PUBLICLY TRADED SECURITIES. Each Portfolio may invest in non-publicly traded
securities,  which may be less liquid than publicly traded securities.  Although
these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions,  the prices
realized  from  these  sales  could be less than  those  originally  paid by the
Portfolios. In addition,  companies whose securities are not publicly traded are
not subject to the disclosure and other investor  protection  requirements  that
may be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.

SMALL CAPITALIZATION COMPANIES.  Smaller capitalization companies may experience
higher  growth  rates and higher  failure  rates  than do larger  capitalization
companies.  Companies in which the Small  Capitalization  Portfolio is likely to
invest may have limited  product lines,  markets or financial  resources and may
lack   management   depth.   The  trading   volume  of   securities  of  smaller
capitalization  companies  is normally  less than that of larger  capitalization
companies  and,  therefore,  may  disproportionately  affect their market price,
tending  to make them rise more in  response  to buying  demand and fall more in
response  to  selling  pressure  than is the  case  with  larger  capitalization
companies.

FOREIGN  SECURITIES.  All the Portfolios  except for the U.S.  Government  Money
Market  Portfolio  and the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio  may  invest  in  foreign
securities.  The Investment Quality Bond Portfolio and the Large  Capitalization
Value Portfolio do not intend to invest more than 20% of their  respective total
assets in foreign securities.  The Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio and the
Small  Capitalization  Portfolio do not intend to purchase foreign securities in
an amount  more than 5% of each  Portfolio's  total  assets.  The  International
Equity  Portfolio  expects  to  invest at least  80% of its  assets  in  foreign
securities.  Investing in securities issued by foreign companies and governments
involves  considerations  and  potential  risks not  typically  associated  with
investing  in   obligations   issued  by  the  U.S.   Government   and  domestic
corporations.  Less  information may be available  about foreign  companies than
about  domestic  companies  and foreign  companies  generally are not subject to
uniform  accounting,  auditing  and  financial  reporting  standards or to other
regulatory practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to domestic
companies. The values of foreign investments are affected by changes in currency
rates or exchange  control  regulations,  restrictions  or  prohibitions  on the
repatriation of foreign currencies,  application of foreign tax laws,  including
withholding  taxes,  changes  in  governmental  administration  or  economic  or
monetary  policy (in the United  States or abroad) or changed  circumstances  in
dealings between nations. Costs are also incurred in connection with conversions
between  various  currencies.  In addition,  foreign  brokerage  commissions and
custody fees are generally  higher than those charged in the United States,  and
foreign securities markets may be less liquid, more volatile and less subject to
governmental  supervision  than in the  United  States.  Investments  in foreign
countries  could be affected by other factors not present in the United  States,
including  expropriation,  confiscatory taxation, lack of uniform accounting and
auditing   standards  and  potential   difficulties  in  enforcing   contractual
obligations and could be subject to extended clearance settlement periods.  Many
European countries are about to adopt a single European Currency, the euro ("the
Euro Conversion").  The consequences of the Euro Conversion for foreign exchange
rates, interest rates and the value of European Securities eligible for purchase
by the Portfolios are presently unclear.  Such consequences may adversely affect
the value and/or increase the volatility of securities held by the Portfolios.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES. A Portfolio's share value may change significantly when
the currencies, other than the U.S. dollar, in which the Portfolio's investments
are denominated strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar.  Currency exchange
rates generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign
exchange  markets  of  investments  in  different  countries  as  seen  from  an
international  perspective.   Currency  exchange  rates  can  also  be  affected
unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or
by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad.

FORWARD  CURRENCY   CONTRACTS.   Each  Portfolio  that  may  invest  in  foreign
currency-denominated   securities  may  hold   currencies  to  meet   settlement
requirements  for  foreign  securities  and  may  engage  in  currency  exchange
transactions  in order to  protect  against  uncertainty  in the level of future
exchange  rates  between a particular  foreign  currency and the U.S.  dollar or
between  foreign  currencies in which the  Portfolio's  securities are or may be
denominated.  Forward currency contracts are agreements to exchange one currency
for  another-for  example,  to exchange a certain  amount of U.S.  dollars for a
certain  amount of French  francs at a future  date.  The date (which may be any
agreed-upon  fixed number of days in the  future),  the amount of currency to be
exchanged and the price at which the exchange will take place will be negotiated
with a currency  trader and fixed for the term of the  contract at the time that
the  Portfolio  enters into the contract.  To assure that a Portfolio's  forward
currency  contracts are not used to achieve investment  leverage,  the Portfolio
will segregate cash or high grade  securities with its custodian in an amount at
all times equal to or exceeding the Portfolio's commitment with respect to these
contracts.

In hedging specific  portfolio  positions,  a Portfolio may enter into a forward
contract  with  respect  to  either  the  currency  in which the  positions  are
denominated or another currency deemed  appropriate by the Portfolio's  Advisor.
The amount the Portfolio may invest in forward currency  contracts is limited to
the amount of the Portfolio's aggregate investments in foreign currencies. Risks
associated with entering into forward currency contracts include the possibility
that the market for forward  currency  contracts  may be limited with respect to
certain currencies and, upon a contract's maturity, the inability of a Portfolio
to negotiate  with the dealer to enter into an offsetting  transaction.  Forward
currency  contracts  may be  closed  out only by the  parties  entering  into an
offsetting  contract.  In addition,  the  correlation  between  movements in the
prices of those  contracts and movements in the price of the currency  hedged or
used for cover will not be perfect. There is no assurance that an active forward
currency  contract  market will always  exist.  These  factors  will  restrict a
Portfolio's  ability to hedge against the risk of  devaluation  of currencies in
which a Portfolio  holds a substantial  quantity of securities and are unrelated
to the qualitative rating that may be assigned to any particular  security.  See
the  Statement of  Additional  Information  for further  information  concerning
forward  currency  contracts.   See  also  "Certain  Securities  and  Investment
Techniques-Futures  Contracts  and  Related  Options"  on page  18 and  "Certain
Investment Policies-Portfolio Turnover" on page 22.

YEAR 2000.  The  investment  management  services  provided  to the Trust by the
Manager  and the  Advisors  and the  services  provided to  shareholders  by the
Distributor  and the Transfer  Agent depend on the smooth  functioning  of their
computer  systems.  Many computer software systems in use today cannot recognize
the year 2000, but revert to 1900 or some other date, due to the manner in which
dates were encoded and calculated. That failure, as well as others, could have a
negative  impact on the  handling  of  securities  trades,  pricing  and account
services.  The Manager, the Advisors,  the Distributor,  the Transfer Agent, and
other Trust service providers have been actively working on necessary changes in
their own  computer  systems to prepare  for the year 2000 and expect that their
systems will be adapted  before that date,  but there can be no  assurance  that
they will be successful,  or that interaction with other  noncomplying  computer
systems will not inpair their services at that time.

In addition,  it is possible  that the markets for  securities in which the Fund
invests  may be  detrimentally  affected  by computer  failures  throughout  the
financial  services industry beginning January 1, 2000.  Improperly  functioning
trading  systems may result in  settlement  problems and  liquidity  issues.  In
addition,  corporate  and  governmental  data  processing  errors  may result in
production problems for individual companies and overall economic uncertainties.
Earnings of individual  issuers will be affected by remediation costs, which may
be substantial and may be reported  inconsistently in U.S. and foreign financial
statements. Accordingly, the Trust's investments my be adversely affected.

CERTAIN INVESTMENT POLICIES

FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES.  The Trust on behalf of each Portfolio has adopted certain
investment  restrictions  that are  enumerated  in  detail in the  Statement  of
Additional Information.  Among other restrictions,  each Portfolio may not, with
respect to 75% of its total assets taken at market value, invest more than 5% of
its total assets in the  securities  of any one issuer,  except U.S.  Government
Securities,  or  acquire  more than 10% of any class of the  outstanding  voting
securities  of any one  issuer.  In  addition,  except as  described  above with
respect to the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio,  each Portfolio may not invest 25% or
more of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry. The Trust
on behalf of a Portfolio  may borrow money as a temporary  measure from banks in
an aggregate  amount not  exceeding  one-third  of the value of the  Portfolio's
total assets to meet  redemptions and for other temporary or emergency  purposes
not  involving  leveraging.  A  Portfolio  may  not  purchase  securities  while
borrowings exceed 5% of the value of the Portfolio's assets. The Portfolios each
may purchase  securities  which are not  registered  under the Securities Act of
1933 ("1933 Act") but which can be sold to "qualified  institutional  buyers" in
accordance  with Rule 144A  under the 1933 Act.  Any such  security  will not be
considered  illiquid so long as it is determined by the Board of Trustees or the
Portfolio's  Adviser,  acting under  guidelines  approved  and  monitored by the
Board,  which has the ultimate  responsibility  for any determination  regarding
liquidity,  that an  adequate  trading  market  exists for that  security.  This
investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity
in each of the Portfolios during any period that qualified  institutional buyers
become  uninterested in purchasing these restricted  securities.  The ability to
sell to qualified  institutional  buyers under Rule 144A is a recent development
and it is not possible to predict how this market will  develop.  The Board will
carefully monitor any investments by each of the Portfolios in these securities.

The investment  restrictions listed above as well as the Portfolios'  investment
objectives  are  fundamental  policies and  accordingly  may not be changed with
respect to any Portfolio  without the approval of a majority of the  outstanding
shares of that Portfolio,  as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"1940 Act").

NON-FUNDAMENTAL  POLICIES.  A Portfolio  will not invest more than 15% (10% with
respect to the U.S.  Government Money Market  Portfolio) of the value of its net
assets in securities that are illiquid,  including certain  government  stripped
mortgage related securities,  repurchase  agreements maturing in more than seven
days and that cannot be  liquidated  prior to maturity and  securities  that are
illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market. Securities that
have legal or contractual  restrictions  on resale but have a readily  available
market  are  deemed  not  illiquid  for this  purpose.  These  policies  are not
fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees.

Portfolio Turnover

Active trading will increase a Portfolio's rate of turnover, certain transaction
expenses  and the  incidence  of short term  capital  gains  taxable as ordinary
income. An annual turnover rate of 100% would occur when all the securities held
by the Portfolio are replaced one time during a period of one year.  The Advisor
of the  International  Equity Portfolio  anticipates that the annual turnover in
that  Portfolio  will  not be in  excess  of  100%.  The  Advisor  of the  Small
Capitalization  Portfolio anticipates that the annual turnover in that Portfolio
will not be in  excess of 150%.  The  Advisors  of each of the other  Portfolios
anticipate that the annual turnover in those Portfolios will not exceed 80%. The
U.S.  Government  Money Market  Portfolio's  turnover is expected to be zero for
regulatory reporting purposes.

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

Board of Trustees

Overall  responsibility  for  management  and  supervision  of the Trust and the
Portfolios  rests with the Trust's Board of Trustees.  The Trustees  approve all
significant  agreements  between the Trust and the persons  and  companies  that
furnish services to the Trust and the Portfolios,  including agreements with the
Trust's  distributor,  custodian,  transfer  agent,  the  Manager,  Advisors and
administrator. One of the Trustees and all of the Trust's executive officers are
affiliated with the Manager.  The Statement of Additional  Information  contains
background  information  regarding  each  Trustee and  executive  officer of the
Trust.

Investment Manager

Saratoga Capital Management,  a registered  investment advisor,  located at 1501
Franklin Avenue, Mineola, New York, 11501-4803, serves as the Trust's Manager.

Saratoga Capital Management is a Delaware general  partnership which is owned by
certain  executives of Saratoga Capital  Management and by Mr. Ronald J. Goguen,
whose address is Major Drilling Group International Inc., 111 St. George Street,
Suite 200,  Moncton,  New  Brunswick,  Canada  E1C177,  Mr. John Schiavi,  whose
address is Schiavi  Enterprises,  985 Main Street,  Oxford, Maine 04270, and Mr.
Thomas Browne,  whose address is Pontil PTY Limited, 14 Jannali Road, Dubbo, NSW
Australia 2830.

The Trust has entered into an investment  management  agreement (the "Management
Agreement")  with the  Manager  which,  in turn,  has  entered  into an advisory
agreement ("Advisory  Agreement") with each Advisor selected for the Portfolios.
It is the Manager's responsibility to select, subject to the review and approval
of the Board of Trustees,  Advisors who have  distinguished  themselves  by able
performance in their  respective  areas of expertise in asset  management and to
review their continued performance.

Subject to the supervision  and direction of the Trust's Board of Trustees,  the
Manager  provides  to  the  Trust  investment   management  evaluation  services
principally by performing initial due diligence on prospective Advisors for each
Portfolio  and  thereafter   monitoring  Advisor   performance.   In  evaluating
prospective Advisors, the Manager considers, among other factors, each Advisor's
level of expertise,  relative  performance  and  consistency  of  performance to
investment  discipline or  philosophy;  personnel and  financial  strength;  and
quality of service and client communications. The Manager has responsibility for
communicating  performance  expectations  and  evaluations  to the  Advisors and
ultimately  recommending  to the  Board of  Trustees  of the Trust  whether  the
Advisors'  contracts  should be  renewed,  modified or  terminated.  The Manager
provides  reports  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  regarding  the  results  of its
evaluation  and  monitoring  functions.  The  Manager  is also  responsible  for
conducting all operations of the Trust except those operations contracted to the
Advisors,  custodian,   distributor,  transfer  agent  and  administrator.  Each
Portfolio  pays the Manager a fee for its  services  that is computed  daily and
paid monthly at the annual rate specified  below of the value of the average net
assets of the Portfolios.  The Manager pays a portion of its fee to each Advisor
for the advisory  services  provided to the Portfolio that is computed daily and
paid monthly at the annual rate specified  below of the value of the Portfolio's
average daily net assets:


                                                              Portion
                                                              of the
                                                              Manager's
                                              Manager's       Fee Paid
Portfolio                                     Fee             to the Advisor
- ---------                                     ---             --------------
U.S. Government Money market Portfolio......  .475%              .125%
Investment Quality Bond Portfolio...........   .55%               .20%
Municipal Bond Portfolio....................   .55%               .20%
Large Capitalization Value Portfolio........   .65%               .30%
Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio.......   .65%               .30%
Small Capitalization Portfolio..............   .65%               .30%
International Equity Portfolio..............   .75%               .40%


The  Manager,  subject to the  approval  of the  Trustees,  appoints  investment
advisers,  enters into investment  advisory  agreements,  and may amend existing
investment advisory agreements without shareholder approval whenever the Manager
and  the  Trustees  believe  such  actions  will  benefit  a  Portfolio  and its
shareholders.  The Board of Trustees  evaluates and approves all new  investment
advisory  agreements between the Manager and the Advisors.  This policy provides
the Manager with  flexibility and eliminates the  unnecessary  delay and expense
associated  with holding  shareholder  meetings.  The total amount of investment
managment  fees  payable  by each  Portfolio  to the  Manager  cannot be changed
without shareholder approval.

Advisors

The Advisors have agreed to the foregoing  fees,  which are generally lower than
the  fees  they  charge  to  institutional  accounts  for  which  they  serve as
investment  advisor and perform all  administrative  functions  associated  with
serving  in  that  capacity  in  recognition   of  the  reduced   administrative
responsibilities they have undertaken with respect to the Portfolios. Subject to
the  supervision  and  direction  of the Manager and,  ultimately,  the Board of
Trustees,  each Advisor's  responsibilities are to manage the securities held by
the Portfolio it serves in accordance  with the  Portfolio's  stated  investment
objective and policies,  make  investment  decisions for the Portfolio and place
orders to purchase and sell securities on behalf of the Portfolio.

The following sets forth certain information about each of the Advisors:

OpCap Advisors ("OpCap"), a registered investment advisor,  located at One World
Financial  Center,  New York, NY 10281,  serves as Advisor to the Municipal Bond
Portfolio and Large  Capitalization  Value Portfolio.  OpCap is a majority owned
subsidiary of Oppenheimer Capital, a registered  investment advisor,  founded in
1968. PIMCO Advisors,  L.P. ("PIMCO"),  a publicly traded money management firm,
and its  affiliate,  PA  Holdings,  Inc.,  hold a 33%  interest  in  Oppenheimer
Capital,  and Oppenheimer  Capital,  L.P., a Delaware limited  partnership whose
units  are  traded  on the New York  Stock  Exchange  and of  which  Oppenheimer
Financial  Corp is the sole general  partner,  owns the  remaining 67% interest.
PIMCO and PA Holdings also own a 1% interest in OpCap Advisors and a 1% interest
in Oppenheimer Capital,  L.P. As of September 30, 1998,  Oppenheimer Capital and
its subsidiary OpCap had assets under management of approximately $58 billion.

Fox Asset Management,  Inc. ("Fox"), a registered investment advisor,  serves as
Advisor to the Investment Quality Bond Portfolio. Fox was formed in 1985. Fox is
owned by its current  employees,  with a  controlling  interest held by J. Peter
Skirkanich,  President,  Managing  Director  and  Chairman  of Fox's  Investment
Committee.  Fox is located at 44 Sycamore Avenue, Little Silver, NJ 07739. As of
September  30, 1998,  assets under  management  by Fox were  approximately  $4.5
billion.

Harris  Bretall  Sullivan  & Smith,  L.L.C.  ("Harris  Bretall"),  a  registered
investment  advisor,  serves  as  Advisor  to the  Large  Capitalization  Growth
Portfolio.  The firm's  predecessor,  Harris Bretall Sullivan & Smith, Inc., was
founded in 1971.  Value  Asset  Management,  Inc.,  a holding  company  owned by
BancBoston  Ventures,  Inc., is the majority owner.  Located at One Post Street,
San   Francisco,   CA  94104,   the  firm   managed   assets  of   approximately
$2.6 billion as of September 30, 1998.

Thorsell,  Parker Partners,  Inc. ("Thorsell"),  a registered investment advisor
serves as Advisor to the Small Capitalization  Portfolio. The firm is located at
265 Post  Road  West,  Westport,  Connecticut  06880.  Thorsell  is owned by its
current  employees  with a  controlling  interest  (approximately  70%)  held by
Richard L.  Thorsell.  As of  September  30,  1998,  the firm had  approximately
$352 million of assets under management.

Sterling  Capital  Management  Company  ("Sterling"),  a  registered  investment
advisor, is the Advisor to the U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio.  Sterling
is a North  Carolina  corporation  formed in 1970 and located at One First Union
Center, 301 S. College Street, Suite 3200,  Charlotte,  NC 28202.  Sterling is a
wholly-owned  subsidiary  of United Asset  Management  Corporation  and provides
investment  management  services to  corporations,  pension  and  profit-sharing
plans, trusts,  estates and other institutions and individuals.  As of September
30, 1998,  Sterling had  approximately  $2.8 billion in assets under management.
Since  1982,  Sterling  has been  involved  with the  distribution  of the North
Carolina  Capital   Management   Trust,  a  money  market  mutual  fund  offered
exclusively  to public units in the state,  the first such fund to be registered
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As of September 30, 1998, the asset
value of this fund was approximately $2.9 billion.

Friends Ivory & Sime, Inc.  ("FIS"),  a registered  investment  advisor,  is the
Advisor to the International Equity Portfolio and, in connection therewith,  has
entered into a sub-investment  advisory  agreement with Friends Ivory & Sime plc
of London, England. Pursuant to such sub-investment advisory agreement,  Friends
Ivory & Sime plc performs investment advisory and portfolio transaction services
for  such  Portfolio.  While  Friends  Ivory & Sime plc is  responsible  for the
day-to-day   management  of  the  Portfolio's  assets,  FIS  reviews  investment
performance, policies and guidelines,  facilitates communication between Friends
Ivory & Sime plc and the Manager and  maintains  certain  books and records.  As
compensation  for its  services as  investment  advisor,  the Manager pays FIS a
monthly fee at the annual  rate of .40% of the  average  daily net assets of the
International Equity Portfolio. As compensation for its services,  Friends Ivory
& Sime plc receives  from FIS 78% of the net monthly fees paid by the Manager to
FIS pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Manager and FIS.

FIS (formerly Ivory & Sime International, Inc.) was organized in 1978, and as of
February,  1998 is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Friends Ivory & Sime plc. FIS
offers  clients in the United States the services of Friends Ivory & Sime plc in
global securities  markets.  Friends Ivory & Sime plc is a subsidiary of Friends
Provident  Group.  Friends  Provident was founded in 1832,  and is a mutual life
assurance company registered in England.  As of September 30, 1998, the firm and
its affiliates managed  approximately $40 billion of global equity  investments.
FIS is located at One World Trade Center,  Suite 2101,  New York, NY 10048,  and
Friends Ivory & Sime plc is located at Princes Court, 7 Princes Street,  London,
England EC2R8AQ.

Administration

State Street Bank and Trust Company  ("State  Street"),  located at One Heritage
Drive, North Quincy,  Massachusetts 02171, calculates the net asset value of the
Portfolios'  shares and creates and  maintains  the  Trust's  financial  records
required by Section 31 of the 1940 Act.

Unified Fund Services,  Inc.  provides  administrative  services and manages the
administrative affairs of the Trust pursuant to an Administration Agreement with
the Trust. Such services include the preparation of proxy statements and reports
filed with federal and state securities  commissions  (except to the extent that
the participation of independent accountants and attorneys is, in the opinion of
Unified Fund Services,  Inc., necessary or desirable),  preparation of materials
for  regular and  special  meetings  of the Board of Trustees of the Trust,  and
supervising the determination of the net asset value of the Trust's  Portfolios.
For these  services,  each Portfolio pays Unified Fund Services,  Inc. an annual
rate of .12% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets per year with a monthly
cap.

Expenses of The Portfolios

Each Portfolio  bears its own expenses,  which  generally  include all costs not
specifically borne by the Manager,  the Advisors,  State Street and Unified Fund
Services,  Inc. as  Administrator  to the Trust.  Included  among a  Portfolio's
expenses are: costs incurred in connection  with the  Portfolio's  organization;
investment  management and administration fees; fees for necessary  professional
and brokerage services; fees for any pricing service; costs of the determination
of net asset value;  the costs of regulatory  compliance;  and costs  associated
with  maintaining  the Trust's legal existence and  shareholder  relations.  The
Trust's  agreement  with the Manager  provides  that the Manager will reduce its
fees to a Portfolio to the extent required by applicable  state laws for certain
expenses that are described in the Statement of Additional Information.

Portfolio Transactions

To the extent consistent with the applicable  provisions of the 1940 Act and the
rules  and  exemptions  adopted  by the SEC  under  the 1940  Act,  the Board of
Trustees of the Trust has determined that brokerage transactions for a Portfolio
may be executed  through  affiliated  broker-dealers  if, in the judgment of the
Advisor, the use of an affiliated broker-dealer is likely to result in price and
execution at least as favorable as those of other qualified broker-dealers. When
selecting  broker-dealers,  the Advisors  may consider  their record of sales of
shares of the Portfolios.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

General

Purchases of shares of a Portfolio by a participant in a Consulting Program must
be made  through an entity  having a sales  agreement  with  Unified  Management
Corporation,  the Trust's general distributor (the  "Distributor")  ("Consulting
Brokers") or directly through the Distributor.

Shares of the Portfolio are available to participants in Consulting Programs and
to other investors and investment  advisory  services.  The Trust is designed to
allow  Consulting  Programs and other  investment  advisory  programs to relieve
investors of the burden of devising an asset  allocation  strategy to meet their
individual needs as well as selecting  individual  investments within each asset
category among the myriad choices available.

The Trust offers several Classes of shares to investors designed to provide them
with the flexibility of selecting an investment best suited to their needs.

INVESTMENT  ADVISORY  PROGRAMS.   Generally,  the  Consulting  Programs  provide
advisory  services  in  connection  with  investments  among the  Portfolios  by
identifying  the investor's  risk tolerance and  investment  objectives  through
evaluation  of  an  investor  questionnaire;  identifying  and  recommending  an
appropriate  allocation  of assets  among the  Portfolios  that is  intended  to
conform to such risk tolerance and objectives in a recommendation; and providing
on a periodic  basis,  an analysis and evaluation of the investor's  account and
recommending  any  appropriate  changes in the  allocation  of assets  among the
Portfolios.  The  investment  advisors  for the  Consulting  Programs  are  also
responsible for reviewing the asset allocation  recommendations  and performance
reports with the investor, providing any interpretations,  monitoring identified
changes in the investor's  financial  characteristics  and the implementation of
investment decisions.

The  investment  advisors  in the  Consulting  Programs  may use  the  Manager's
Saratoga  Sharp(sm)  Program in assisting their clients in translating  investor
needs,  preferences  and attitudes  into  suggested  portfolio  allocations.  In
addition,  the Manager may provide some or all of the  following  administrative
services  to  the  investment   advisers  for  the  Consulting   Programs:   the
preparation, printing and processing of investment questionnaires and investment
literature and other client communications.

The fee for the Consulting Programs is subject to negotiation between the client
and his or her investment  advisor and is paid directly by each advisory  client
to his or her investment  advisor either by redemption of Portfolio shares or by
separate payment.

Investors  should be aware that the Manager  receives a fee from the  investment
advisor to each participant in a Consulting Program for services rendered to the
investment advisor in connection with the investment advisory program.  This fee
does  not  vary  based  on the  Portfolios  recommended  for  the  participant's
investments. Also, the Manager serves as the Trust's Manager with responsibility
for  identifying,  retaining,  supervising  and  compensating  each  Portfolio's
Advisor  under the  supervision  of the Trust's Board of Trustees and receives a
fee from each Portfolio.

Other Advisory Programs

Shares of the Portfolios  are also available for purchase by certain  registered
investment  advisors  (other than the  investment  advisors  for the  Consulting
Programs) as a means of implementing asset allocation  recommendations  based on
an investor's investment  objectives and risk tolerance.  In order to qualify to
purchase  shares  on behalf  of its  clients,  the  investment  advisor  must be
approved by the Manager.  Investors  purchasing  shares through these investment
advisory  programs will bear different fees for different  levels of services as
agreed upon with the  investment  advisors  offering  the  programs.  Registered
investment  advisors  interested  in utilizing the  Portfolios  for the purposes
described above should call 800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

Continuous Offering

For  participants  in  Consulting  Programs,  shares  of the  Portfolios  may be
purchased  from  Consulting  Brokers only after the completion and processing of
such  documentation as may be required by the Consulting Broker for the Program.
The  offering  price is the net  asset  value per share  next  determined  after
receipt of an order by the  Distributor.  Shareholders  will not  receive  share
certificates because the Trust does not issue share certificates.

The Trust offers an Automatic  Investment  Plan under which  purchase  orders of
$100 or more may be placed periodically in the Trust. The purchase price is paid
automatically  from  cash  held in the  shareholder's  designated  account.  For
further information regarding the Automatic Investment Plan, shareholders should
contact their Consulting Broker or the Trust at 800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

For Class I shares of the Trust, the minimum initial  investment in the Trust is
$10,000 and the minimum  investment in any individual  Portfolio (other than the
U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio) is $250; there is no minimum investment
for the U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio.  For employees and relatives of:
the  Manager,  firms  distributing  shares of the Trust,  and the Trust  service
providers and their affiliates, the minimum initial investment is $1,000 with no
individual  Portfolio  minimum.  There  is no  minimum  initial  investment  for
employee benefit plans,  associations,  and individual retirement accounts.  The
minimum  subsequent  investment  in the  Trust is $100 and  there is no  minimum
subsequent  investment  for any  Portfolio.  The Trust reserves the right at any
time to vary the initial and subsequent investment minimums.

The sale of shares will be suspended during any period when the determination of
net asset value is  suspended  and may be  suspended by the Board of Trustees of
the Trust  whenever the Board judges it to be in the best  interest of the Trust
to do so.  The  Distributor  in its sole  discretion,  may  accept or reject any
purchase order.

The  Distributor  will from time to time  provide  compensation  to  dealers  in
connection  with  sales of  shares  of the  Trust  including  promotional  gifts
(including gift certificates,  dinners and other items), financial assistance to
dealers in connection  with  conferences,  sales or training  programs for their
employees, seminars for the public and advertising campaigns.

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

Redemption in General

Shares of a Portfolio may be redeemed at no charge on any day that the Portfolio
calculates  its net asset  value as  described  below  under "Net Asset  Value."
Redemption  requests  received  in proper  form  prior to the  close of  regular
trading on the NYSE will be effected at the net asset value per share determined
on that day.  Redemption requests received after the close of regular trading on
the NYSE will be effected at the net asset value next determined. A Portfolio is
required to transmit redemption proceeds for credit to the shareholder's account
at no charge  within  seven  days  after  receipt  of a  redemption  request.  A
shareholder  who pays for  Portfolio  shares by personal  check will be credited
with the  proceeds of a redemption  of those shares when the purchase  check has
been collected,  which may take up to 15 days.  Shareholders  who anticipate the
need for more immediate  access to their  investment  should  purchase shares by
Federal funds or bank wire or by a certified or cashier's check.

Redemption requests may be given to the shareholder's  Consulting Broker (who is
responsible for transmitting  them to the Trust's Transfer Agent) or directly to
the Transfer  Agent,  if the  shareholder  purchased  shares  directly  from the
Distributor.  In order to be  effective,  a redemption  request of a shareholder
other than an  individual  may  require the  submission  of  documents  commonly
required to assure the safety of a particular account.

The agreement relating to participation in a Consulting Program between a client
and the investment  advisor will provide that,  absent  separate  payment by the
participant,  fees  charged  pursuant  to that  agreement  may be  paid  through
automatic redemptions of a portion of the participant's Trust account.

The Trust may suspend  redemption  procedures  and postpone  redemption  payment
during any period when the NYSE is closed  other than for  customary  weekend or
holiday  closing  or when the SEC has  determined  an  emergency  exists  or has
otherwise permitted such suspension or postponement.

If the Board of Trustees  determines  that it would be  detrimental  to the best
interests of a Portfolio's  shareholders to make a redemption  payment wholly in
cash,  the Portfolio  may pay, in accordance  with rules adopted by the SEC, any
portion  of a  redemption  in excess  of the  lesser  of  $250,000  or 1% of the
Portfolio's  net  assets  by a  distributions  in  kind  of  readily  marketable
portfolio securities in lieu of cash. Redemptions failing to meet this threshold
must be made in cash.  Shareholders receiving distributions in kind of portfolio
securities may incur brokerage commissions when subsequently  disposing of those
securities.

Certain  requests  require a signature  guarantee.  To protect you and the Trust
from fraud,  certain transactions and redemption requests must be in writing and
must include a signature  guarantee in the  following  situations  (there may be
other  situations also requiring a signature  guarantee in the discretion of the
Trust or Transfer Agent):

1.  Re-registration of the account.
2.  Changing bank wiring instructions on the account.
3.  Name change on the account.
4.  Setting up/changing systematic withdrawal plan to a secondary address.
5.  Redemptions greater than $25,000.
6.  Any redemption check that is made payable to someone other than the
    shareholder(s).
7.  Any redemption check that is being mailed to a different address than the
    address of record.

You can obtain a signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, credit union,
broker-dealer,  securities  exchange or association,  clearing agency or savings
association, as defined by federal law.

Involuntary Redemptions

Due to the relatively  high cost of maintaining  small  accounts,  the Trust may
redeem  an  account  having a  current  value of  $7,500  or less as a result of
redemptions,  but not as a result of a fluctuation  in a  Portfolio's  net asset
value or redemptions to pay fees for Consulting Programs,  after the shareholder
has been given at least 30 days in which to increase the account balance to more
than that amount.  Investors  should be aware that  involuntary  redemptions may
result in the  liquidation  of  Portfolio  holdings  at a time when the value of
those holdings is lower than the investor's cost of the investment or may result
in the realization of taxable capital gains.

NET ASSET VALUE

Each Portfolio's net asset value per share is calculated by State Street on each
day, Monday through Friday, except on days on which the NYSE is closed. The NYSE
is currently  scheduled to be closed on New Year's Day, Dr.  Martin Luther King,
Jr. Day,  Presidents' Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,  Independence  Day, Labor
Day,  Thanksgiving and Christmas,  and on the preceding Friday when one of those
holidays  falls on a  Saturday  or on the  subsequent  Monday  when one of those
holidays falls on a Sunday.

Net asset value per share is  determined  as of the close of trading on the NYSE
and is computed by dividing the value of a  Portfolio's  net assets by the total
number of its shares  outstanding.  Generally,  a  Portfolio's  investments  are
valued at market  value or, in the absence of a market  value,  at fair value as
determined by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees.

Securities that are primarily  traded on foreign  exchanges are generally valued
for  purposes of  calculating  a  Portfolio's  net asset value at the  preceding
closing values of the  securities on their  respective  exchanges,  except that,
when an occurrence  subsequent to the time a value was so  established is likely
to have changed that value,  the fair market value of those  securities  will be
determined  by  consideration  of other factors by or under the direction of the
Board of Trustees.  A security that is primarily traded on a domestic or foreign
stock exchange is valued at the last sale price on that exchange or, if no sales
occurred  during  the day,  at the  current  quoted  bid  price.  All  portfolio
securities  held by the U.S.  Government  Money Market  Portfolio and short term
dollar-denominated investments of the other Portfolios that mature in 60 days or
less are  valued on the basis of  amortized  cost  (which  involves  valuing  an
investment  at its cost and,  thereafter,  assuming a constant  amortization  to
maturity of any  discount or premium,  regardless  of the effect of  fluctuating
interest rates on the market value of the investment) when the Board of Trustees
has  determined  that amortized cost  represents  fair value.  An option that is
written  by the Fund is  generally  valued  at the last  sale  price  or, in the
absence  of the last  sale  price,  the last  offer  price.  An  option  that is
purchased by the Portfolio is generally valued at the last sale price or, in the
absence  of the last  sale  price,  the last bid  price.  The value of a futures
contact  is  equal  to the  unrealized  gain  or loss  on the  contract  that is
determined  by marking the contract to the current  settlement  price for a like
contract on the valuation date of the futures  contract.  A settlement price may
not be used if the  market  makes a limit  move  with  respect  to a  particular
futures contract if the securities  underlying the futures  contract  experience
significant price  fluctuations after the determination of the settlement price.
When a settlement  price  cannot be used,  futures  contracts  will be valued at
their fair market value as  determined by or under the direction of the Board of
Trustees.

All assets and liabilities  initially  expressed in foreign currency values will
be  converted  into U.S.  dollar  values at the mean between the bid and offered
quotations  of the  currencies  against  U.S.  dollars  as  last  quoted  by any
recognized dealer. If the bid and offered quotations are not available, the rate
of exchange will be determined in good faith by or under the direction of by the
Board of Trustees. In carrying out the Board's valuation policies,  State Street
may consult with an independent  pricing service retained by the Trust.  Further
information  regarding the  Portfolio's  valuation  policies is contained in the
Statement of Additional Information.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

Shares of a Portfolio may be exchanged  without  payment of any exchange fee for
shares of  another  Portfolio  of the same Class at their  respective  net asset
values.

An exchange of shares is treated for federal income tax purposes as a redemption
(sale)  of  shares  given in  exchange  by the  shareholder,  and an  exchanging
shareholder  may,  therefore,  realize a taxable gain or loss in connection with
the  exchange.  Shareholders  exchanging  shares of a  Portfolio  for  shares of
another  Portfolio should review the disclosure  provided herein relating to the
exchanged-for  shares  carefully  prior to  making  an  exchange.  The  exchange
privilege is available to shareholders  residing in any state in which Portfolio
shares being acquired may be legally sold.

The Manager  reserves the right to reject any exchange  request and the exchange
privilege  may  be  modified  or  terminated  upon  notice  to  shareholders  in
accordance  with  applicable  rules  adopted  by  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.

The Distributor and the Trust's transfer agent will employ reasonable procedures
for  telephone  redemptions  and  exchanges  to  confirm  that the  instructions
received from shareholders or their account  representatives are genuine, and if
they do not, the  Distributor or the transfer agent may be liable for any losses
due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Shareholders will be required to
provide  their  name,  address,  social  security  number and other  identifying
information. Account representatives must identify themselves and their firm and
the Distributor  will confirm that such firm has a valid selling  agreement with
the  Distributor and that the  representative  is authorized to act on behalf of
the firm.

Because  excessive  trading  (including  short-term  "market timing" trading can
limit a Portfolio's  performance,  each Portfolio may refuse any exchange orders
(1) if  they  appear  to be  market-timing  transactions  involving  significant
portions  of a  Portfolio's  assets or (2) from any  shareholder  account if the
shareholder  or his or her  broker-dealer  has been advised that previous use of
the exchange privilege is considered excessive.  Accounts under common ownership
or  control,  including  those  with the  same  taxpayer  ID  number  and  those
administered so as to redeem or purchase shares based upon certain predetermined
market indicators, will be considered one account for this purpose.

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

Dividends and Distributions

Net  investment  income  (i.e.,  income  other than long and short term  capital
gains) and net  realized  long and short term capital  gains will be  determined
separately for each Portfolio.  Dividends derived from net investment income and
distributions  of net  realized  long and short  term  capital  gains  paid by a
Portfolio to a  shareholder  will be  automatically  reinvested  (at current net
asset value) in additional  shares of that Portfolio (which will be deposited in
the  shareholder's  account)  unless the  shareholder  instructs  the Trust,  in
writing, to pay all dividends and distributions in cash. Dividends  attributable
to the net investment income of the U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio,  the
Municipal  Bond  Portfolio and the  Investment  Quality Bond  Portfolio  will be
declared  daily  and paid  monthly.  Shareholders  of those  Portfolios  receive
dividends  from the day  following  the purchase up to and including the date of
redemption. Dividends attributable to the net investment income of the remaining
Portfolios  are declared and paid  annually.  Distributions  of any net realized
long term and short  term  capital  gains  earned  by a  Portfolio  will be made
annually.

Taxes

As each  Portfolio  will be treated as a separate  entity for federal income tax
purposes,  the amounts of net investment  income and net realized  capital gains
subject to tax will be determined  separately for each Portfolio (rather than on
a Trust-wide basis).

Each Portfolio  intends to qualify each year as a regulated  investment  company
for federal income tax purposes.  The  requirements  for  qualification  (i) may
cause  a  Portfolio,   among  other  things,  to  restrict  the  extent  of  its
transactions in warrants, currencies,  options, futures or forward contracts and
(ii)  will  cause  each  of the  Portfolios  to  maintain  a  diversified  asset
portfolio.

A regulated  investment company will not be subject to federal income tax on its
net investment income and its capital gains that it distributes to shareholders,
so  long  as it  meets  certain  overall  distribution  requirements  and  other
conditions  under the Code.  Each  Portfolio  intends to satisfy  these  overall
distribution requirements and any other required conditions.  Dividends declared
by a Portfolio in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable
to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month shall be deemed to
have been received by each  shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year and
to have been paid by the Portfolio not later than such December 31 provided that
such dividend is actually paid by the Portfolio  during January of the following
year.

Dividends  derived  from  a  Portfolio's   taxable  net  investment  income  and
distributions  of a Portfolio's net realized short term capital gains (including
short term gains from investments in tax exempt  obligations) will be taxable to
shareholders as ordinary  income for federal income tax purposes,  regardless of
how long shareholders have held their Portfolio shares and whether the dividends
or  distributions  are  received in cash or  reinvested  in  additional  shares.
Distributions  of net  realized  long term  capital  gains  will be  taxable  to
shareholders  as long  term  capital  gains for  federal  income  tax  purposes,
regardless of how long a shareholder  has held his Portfolio  shares and whether
the  distributions  are received in cash or  reinvested  in  additional  shares.
Dividends and distributions paid by the U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio,
the  Investment  Quality Bond  Portfolio  and the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio and
distributions  of capital gains paid by all the Portfolios  will not qualify for
the dividend received deduction for corporations.  As a general rule,  dividends
paid by a  Portfolio,  to the extent  derived  from  dividends  attributable  to
certain  types  of stock  issued  by U.S.  corporations,  will  qualify  for the
dividend  received  deduction for corporations  which hold shares in a Portfolio
for more  than 45 days.  Some  states,  if  certain  asset  and  diversification
requirements  are satisfied,  permit  shareholders  to treat their portions of a
Portfolio's  dividends  that  are  attributable  to  interest  on U.S.  Treasury
securities and certain U.S. Government  Securities as income that is exempt from
state and local income taxes.  Dividends  attributable  to repurchase  agreement
earnings are, as a general rule, subject to state and local taxation.

Dividends  paid by the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio that are derived from interest
earned on qualifying tax-exempt obligations are expected to be "exempt-interest"
dividends  that  shareholders  may exclude from their gross  incomes for federal
income  tax  purposes  if  the  Portfolio  satisfies  certain  asset  percentage
requirements. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in bonds, the interest on
which  is a  specific  tax  preference  item for  federal  income  tax  purposes
("AMT-Subject  Bonds"),  any exempt-interest  dividends derived from interest on
AMT-Subject  Bonds will be a specific  tax  preference  item for purposes of the
federal   individual  and  corporate   alternative   minimum  taxes.   Dividends
distributed  by the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio  may not be exempt from state or
local taxation.  Shareholders  will receive  notification  annually  stating the
portion of the Municipal Bond  Portfolio's  tax-exempt  income  attributable  to
issuers in each  state.  You  should  contact  your tax  advisor if you have any
questions, particularly with regard to state and local taxes.

Net  investment  income or capital gains earned by the  Portfolios  investing in
foreign  securities  may be subject  to foreign  income  taxes  withheld  at the
source.  The United  States has  entered  into tax  treaties  with many  foreign
countries that entitle the Portfolios to a reduced rate of tax or exemption from
tax on this  related  income  and  gains.  It is  impossible  to  determine  the
effective  rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of these  Portfolios'
assets to be invested  within  various  countries is not known.  The  Portfolios
intend  to  operate  so as to  qualify  for  treaty-reduced  rates of tax  where
applicable.  Furthermore,  if a Portfolio  qualifies  as a regulated  investment
company and if more than 50% of the value of the Portfolio's assets at the close
of each fiscal quarter consists of stock or securities of foreign  corporations,
the Portfolio may elect, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: conduit treatment
by passing  through to its  shareholders  the ability to take either the foreign
tax credit or the  deduction for foreign taxes with respect to the foreign taxes
paid by the  regulated  investment  company.  The  Trust  anticipates  that  the
International  Equity Portfolio will qualify for and make this election in most,
but not  necessarily  all, of its taxable years.  If a Portfolio were to make an
election,  an amount  equal to the foreign  income  taxes paid by the  Portfolio
would be included in the income of its shareholders  and the shareholders  would
be entitled to credit  their  portions of this  amount  against  their U.S.  tax
liabilities,  if any, or to deduct such portions from their U.S. taxable income,
if any. Shortly after any year for which it makes an election,  a Portfolio will
report to its shareholders, in writing, the amount per share of foreign tax that
must be included in each shareholder's gross income and the amount which will be
available for deduction or credit. No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed
by a shareholder who does not itemize  deductions.  Certain  limitations will be
imposed on the extent to which the credit  (but not the  deduction)  for foreign
taxes may be claimed.

As noted above,  shareholders  who are  participants  in Consulting  Programs or
other investment  advisory  services will pay an investment  advisory fee out of
their own assets. For certain shareholders who are individuals, this fee will be
treated as a "miscellaneous itemized deduction" for federal income tax purposes.
Under current  federal income tax law, an  individual's  miscellaneous  itemized
deductions  for any  taxable  year shall be allowed as a  deduction  only to the
extent that the  aggregate  of these  deductions  exceeds 2% of  adjusted  gross
income.

As discussed  above,  an exchange of shares in a Portfolio for shares in another
Portfolio,  including  exchanges by  participants  in a Consulting  Program,  is
treated for federal  income tax  purposes as a  redemption  (sale) of shares and
taxable gain or loss may be realized.

Statements   as  to  the  tax  status  of  each   shareholder's   dividends  and
distributions  are  mailed  annually.   Shareholders   will  also  receive,   if
appropriate,  various written notices after the close of the Portfolios' taxable
year with respect to certain  foreign taxes paid by the  Portfolios  and certain
dividends  and  distributions  that  were,  or were  deemed to be,  received  by
shareholders  from the  Portfolios  during the  Portfolios'  prior taxable year.
Shareholders  should consult with their own tax advisors with specific reference
to their own tax situations.

CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

State  Street Bank and Trust  Company is located at One  Heritage  Drive,  North
Quincy,  Massachusetts  02171  and  serves  as  the  Custodian  of  the  Trust's
investments and the Trust's  transfer agent.  The Shareholder  Services Group is
the subtransfer agent for certain retirement plan accounts. Cash balances of the
Portfolios  with the Custodian in excess of $100,000 are  unprotected by Federal
deposit insurance. Such uninsured balances may at times be substantial.

PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Yield

The Trust may, from time to time,  include the yield and effective  yield of the
U.S.   Government  Money  Market  Portfolio  in  advertisements  or  reports  to
shareholders  or prospective  investors.  Current yield for the U.S.  Government
Money  Market  Portfolio  will be based on  income  received  by a  hypothetical
investment  over a given  seven-day  period (less  expenses  accrued  during the
period), and then "annualized" (i.e., assuming that the seven-day yield would be
received  for 52 weeks,  stated in terms of an annual  percentage  return on the
investment).  "Effective  yield" for the U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio
will be calculated in a manner similar to that used to calculate yield, but will
reflect the compounding effect of earnings on reinvested dividends.

For the Investment Quality Bond Portfolio and the Municipal Bond Portfolio, from
time to time, the Trust may advertise the  thirty-day  "yield" and, with respect
to the Municipal Bond Portfolio,  an "equivalent  taxable yield." The yield of a
Portfolio  refers to the income generated by an investment in the Portfolio over
the  thirty-day  period  identified  in the  advertisement  and is  computed  by
dividing the net investment  income per share earned by the Portfolio during the
period by the net asset  value  per  share on the last day of the  period.  This
income is  "annualized"  by assuming that the amount of income is generated each
month over a one-year  period and is compounded  semi-annually.  The  annualized
income is then shown as a percentage of the net asset value.

Equivalent Taxable Yield

The equivalent  taxable yield of the Municipal Bond Portfolio  demonstrates  the
yield on a taxable  investment  necessary to produce an after-tax yield equal to
the Portfolio's tax-exempt yield. It is calculated by increasing the yield shown
for the Portfolio,  calculated as described  above,  to the extent  necessary to
reflect the payment of specified tax rates.  Thus, the equivalent  taxable yield
always will exceed the Portfolio's yield.

Total Return

From time to time,  the Trust may advertise a  Portfolio's  (other than the U.S.
Government Money Market Portfolio's)  "average annual total return" over various
periods of time. This total return figure shows the average percentage change in
value of an investment in the Portfolio from the beginning date of the measuring
period to the ending date of the measuring  period.  The figure reflects changes
in the price of the  Portfolio's  shares and assumes that any income,  dividends
and/or capital gains  distributions  made by the Portfolio during the period are
reinvested  in shares of the  Portfolio.  Figures will be given for recent one-,
five-and  ten-year periods (if applicable) and may be given for other periods as
well  (such  as  from  commencement  of  the  Portfolio's  operations  or  on  a
year-by-year basis). When considering "average" total return figures for periods
longer than one year, investors should note that Portfolio's annual total return
for any one year in the period  might have been greater or less than the average
for the entire period. A Portfolio also may use "aggregate" total return figures
for  various  periods,  representing  the  cumulative  change  in  value  of  an
investment in the Portfolio for the specific period (again reflecting changes in
the  Portfolio's  share  price  and  assuming   reinvestment  of  dividends  and
distributions).  Aggregate  total  returns  may be shown by means of  schedules,
charts or graphs,  and may indicate subtotals of the various components of total
return (that is, the change in value of initial investment, income dividends and
capital gains distributions).

It is  important  to note  that  yield  and total  return  figures  are based on
historical  earnings and are not intended to indicate  future  performance.  The
Statement of  Additional  Information  describes  the method used to determine a
Portfolio's yield and total return.  Shareholders may make inquiries regarding a
Portfolio,  including  current yield quotations or total return figures,  to any
Consulting Broker or the Trust at 800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

In reports or other communications to shareholders or in advertising material, a
Portfolio may compare its performance  with that of other mutual funds as listed
in the rankings prepared by Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc.,  Morningstar or
similar  independent  services that monitor the  performance  of mutual funds or
with other  appropriate  indices of  investment  securities,  such as the Lehman
Brothers  Government/Corporate  Bond Index,  the S&P 500, the  S&P/Barra  Growth
Index and S&P/Barra Value Index,  the EAFE Index and the Russell 2000 Index. The
performance information also may include evaluations of the Portfolios published
by nationally recognized ranking services and by financial publications that are
nationally  recognized,  such as Business Week, Forbes,  Fortune,  Institutional
Investor,  Morningstar,  Barron's,  Investor's  Business Daily,  The Wall Street
Journal, USA Today, The New York Times and Money.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Trust was organized as an  unincorporated  business  trust under the laws of
Delaware  on April 8, 1994 and is a trust  fund  commonly  known as a  "business
trust."

The  shareholders  of the  Portfolios  are each entitled to a full vote for each
full  share  of  beneficial  interest  (par  value  $.001  per  share)  held and
fractional  votes for fractional  shares.  Each Class will have exclusive voting
privileges  with  respect to matters  relating to  distribution  expenses  borne
solely by such  Class or any other  matter in which the  interests  of one Class
differ from the interests of any other Class. In addition,  Class B shareholders
will  have the  right to vote on any  proposed  material  increase  in Class I's
expenses,  if such  proposal is submitted  separately  to Class I  shareholders.
Shares of each Portfolio are entitled to vote as a class to the extent  required
by the  provisions  of the 1940 Act or as otherwise  permitted by the  Trustees.
When issued,  shares of each  Portfolio  are fully paid and have no  preemptive,
conversion  or other  subscription  rights.  The  shares do not have  cumulative
voting rights.

It is the  intention of the Trust not to hold Annual  Meetings of  Shareholders.
The Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote  as may be  required  by the  1940  Act  or  the  Master  Trust  Agreement.
Shareholders  have certain rights,  including the right to call a meeting upon a
vote of the Trust's  outstanding shares for the purpose of voting on the removal
of one or more  Trustees.  The  Trust  may  from  time to  time  add  additional
Portfolios  to the Trust or with  approval  of the  shareholders  of an existing
Portfolio, if necessary, terminate one or more of the Portfolios.

Shareholder Inquiries

All  inquiries  regarding  the Trust  should be  directed  to  Saratoga  Capital
Management at 800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

Major Shareholders 

To the knowledge of the Trust,  the only person who as of September 30, 1998 had
beneficial  ownership  of more than 25% of the voting  securities  of any of the
Portfolios is the American Medical  Association Pension Trust, which held 32.86%
of the  outstanding  shares of the Small  Capitalization  Portfolio,  and may be
deemed to control the Small Capitalization  Portfolio until such time as it owns
less than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Small Capitalization Portfolio.


                                   PROSPECTUS

Trust Manager:
Saratoga Capital Management
1501 Franklin Avenue
Mineola, NY  11501
(800) 807-FUND
         (3863)

Transfer and Shareholder
Servicing Agent:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
P.O. Box 8514
Boston, MA 02266

General Distributor:
Unified Management Corporation
431 North Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 917-7000

(-       U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio

(-       Investment Quality Bond Portfolio

(-       Municipal Bond Portfolio

(-       Large Capitalization Value Portfolio

(-       Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio

(-       Small Capitalization Portfolio

(-       International Equity Portfolio


No  person  has  been  authorized  to  give  any  information  or  to  make  any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus,  the Statement of
Additional  Information or the Trust's  official sales  literature in connection
with the offering of shares,  and if given or made,  such other  information  or
representations  must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Trust.
This  prospectus  does not constitute an offer in any state in which,  or to any
person to whom, such offer may not lawfully be made.

<PAGE>

                                 CLASS B SHARES
                        PROSPECTUS Dated January 1, 1999


                T H E   S A R A T O G A   A D V A N T A G E   T R U S T

         The Saratoga  Advantage Trust (the "Trust") is an open-end,  management
investment  company  providing a  convenient  means of  investing in a series of
separate  investment  portfolios  professionally  managed  by  Saratoga  Capital
Management  (the  "Manager").  Each  of the  Portfolios  is  diversified  and is
provided with discretionary advisory services by a registered investment advisor
(the "Advisor") identified, retained, supervised and compensated by the Manager.
The Trust is a series  company that  currently  includes the  following  Class B
share portfolios (the "Portfolios") to which this Prospectus relates:

         Income Portfolios:

  ( -    U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio

  ( -    Investment Quality Bond Portfolio

  ( -    Municipal Bond Portfolio

         Equity Portfolios:

  ( -    Large Capitalization Value Portfolio

  ( -    Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio

  ( -    Small Capitalization Portfolio

  ( -    International Equity Portfolio

AN INVESTMENT IN THE U.S.  GOVERNMENT  MONEY MARKET  PORTFOLIO IS NOT INSURED OR
GUARANTEED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE  CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT
AGENCY.  ALTHOUGH THE U.S.  GOVERNMENT  MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO SEEKS TO PRESERVE
THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT AT $1.00 PER SHARE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO LOSE MONEY BY
INVESTING IN THE PORTFOLIO.


The  Trust is  designed  to help  investors  to  implement  an asset  allocation
strategy to meet their individual needs as well as select individual investments
within each asset category among the myriad choices  available.  The Trust makes
available assistance to help certain investors identify their risk tolerance and
investment objectives through use of an investor questionnaire, and to select an
appropriate  model  allocation  of  assets  among  the  Portfolios.  As  further
assistance,  the Trust  makes  available  to  certain  investors  the  option of
automatic  reallocation or rebalancing of their selected  model.  The Trust also
provides,  on a periodic basis, a report to the investor  containing an analysis
and evaluation of the investor's account.

This  Prospectus  sets  forth  concisely  certain  information  about the Trust,
including  expenses,  that prospective  investors will find helpful in making an
investment decision.  Investors are encouraged to read this Prospectus carefully
and retain it for future reference.

Additional information about the Trust is contained in a Statement of Additional
Information  dated January 1, 1999,  which is available upon request and without
charge by calling or writing the Trust or Saratoga  Capital  Management  at 1501
Franklin Avenue, Mineola, New York 11501-4803,  800-807-FUND (800-807-3863). The
Statement of Additional  Information,  which has been filed with the  Securities
and Exchange  Commission,  is  incorporated by reference into this Prospectus in
its entirety.

SHARES OF THE  PORTFOLIOS  ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR  OBLIGATIONS  OF OR GUARANTEED OR
ENDORSED BY ANY BANK AND THE SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS ARE NOT FEDERALLY  INSURED
BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE  CORPORATION,  THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY
OTHER AGENCY AND INVOLVE  INVESTMENT  RISKS,  INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT INVESTED.

THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.





<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page
Summary................................................................       
Summary of Trust Expenses..............................................       
Financial Highlights...................................................       
Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios..............................       
Certain Securities and Investment Techniques...........................      
Risk Factors...........................................................      
Certain Investment Policies............................................      
Management of the Trust................................................      
Purchase of Shares.....................................................      
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge.......................................
Plan of Distribution...................................................
Redemption of Shares...................................................      
Net Asset Value........................................................      
Exchange Privilege.....................................................      
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.....................................      
Custodian and Transfer Agent...........................................      
Performance of the Portfolios..........................................      
Additional Information.................................................      



SUMMARY

The  following  summary  is  qualified  in its  entirety  by the  more  detailed
information included elsewhere in this Prospectus.

The Trust. The Trust is a management  investment  company providing a convenient
means of investing in separate Portfolios professionally managed by the Manager.
The assets of each of the Portfolios are invested on a discretionary  basis by a
separate  Advisor.  See "Management of the Trust." The Trust is a series company
currently consisting of the following 7 Portfolios:

         Income Portfolios:

( -      U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio, whose Advisor is Sterling
         Capital Management Company.

( -      Investment Quality Bond Portfolio, whose Advisor is Fox Asset
         Management, Inc.

( -      Municipal Bond Portfolio, whose Advisor is OpCap Advisors.

         Equity Portfolios:

( -      Large Capitalization Value Portfolio, whose Advisor is OpCap Advisors.

( -      Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio, whose Advisor is Harris Bretall
         Sullivan & Smith, L.L.C.

( -      Small Capitalization Portfolio, whose Advisor is Thorsell, Parker
         Partners, Inc.

( -      International Equity Portfolio, whose Advisor is Friends Ivory & 
         Sime, Inc.


<PAGE>




MANAGEMENT.  Saratoga Capital Management is the Manager of the Portfolios.  Each
of the  Portfolios is provided with the  discretionary  advisory  services of an
Advisor identified, retained, supervised and compensated by the Manager. Unified
Fund  Services,  Inc.  serves as the Trust's  administrator  and, in  connection
therewith,  provides administration services to each Portfolio.  See "Management
of the Trust."

PURCHASE AND  REDEMPTION  OF SHARES.  Shares of the  Portfolios  are offered for
purchase  at  their  respective  net  asset  values  next  determined,   WITHOUT
IMPOSITION OF ANY SALES CHARGE.  Shares are redeemable by the shareholder at net
asset value less any applicable  contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC").  See
"Purchase of Shares" and "Redemption of Shares."

RISK  FACTORS AND SPECIAL  CONSIDERATIONS.  No  assurance  can be given that the
Portfolios will achieve their investment objectives.  Investing in an investment
company  that invests in  securities  of companies  and  governments  of foreign
countries,  particularly developing countries, involves risks that go beyond the
usual risks inherent in an investment  company limiting its holdings to domestic
investments.  Certain  Portfolios  may also be subject to certain risks in using
investment  techniques  and  strategies  such as entering into forward  currency
contracts,  repurchase  agreements,  trading  futures  contracts  and options on
futures  contracts.  In addition,  the Investment Quality Bond Portfolio and the
Municipal Bond  Portfolio may invest in zero coupon  securities,  which,  due to
changes  in  interest  rates,  may be more  speculative  and  subject to greater
fluctuations  in  value  than  securities  that  pay  interest  currently.   See
"Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios,"  "Certain Securities and Investment
Techniques" and "Risk Factors."

The Portfolios are intended primarily as vehicles for the implementation of long
term asset  allocation  strategies.  Because  asset  allocation  strategies  are
designed to spread investment risk across the various segments of the securities
markets through investment in a number of Portfolios,  each individual Portfolio
generally  intends to be  substantially  fully  invested in accordance  with its
investment  objectives and policies during most market conditions.  Although the
Advisor  of a  Portfolio  may,  upon  the  concurrence  of the  Manager,  take a
temporary  defensive  position  during  adverse  market  conditions,  it  can be
expected that a defensive  posture will be adopted less frequently than would be
by other mutual funds.  This policy may impede an Advisor's ability to protect a
Portfolio's  capital during declines in the particular  segment of the market to
which the Portfolio's  assets are committed.  Consequently,  no single Portfolio
should be considered a complete  investment  program and an investment among the
Portfolios  should be  regarded  as a long term  commitment  that should be held
through several market cycles.  See "Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios,"
and "Certain Securities and Investment Techniques-Temporary Investments."

DIVIDENDS AND  DISTRIBUTIONS.  Each Portfolio intends to distribute  annually to
its  shareholders  substantially  all of its net  investment  income and its net
realized long and short term capital  gains.  Dividends  from the net investment
income of the U.S.  Government Money Market  Portfolio,  the Investment  Quality
Bond  Portfolio,  and the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio are declared daily and paid
monthly.  Dividends from the net investment  income of the remaining  Portfolios
are declared and paid annually.  Distributions of any net realized long term and
short term capital  gains earned by a Portfolio  will be made  annually.  Shares
acquired by dividend and  distribution  reinvestment  will not be subject to any
CDSC.  See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."

TAXATION.  Each of the Portfolios  intends to qualify as a regulated  investment
company for U.S.  federal income tax purposes.  As such,  the Trust  anticipates
that no  Portfolio  will be  subject  to U.S.  federal  income tax on income and
gains, if any, that are distributed to shareholders. It is expected that certain
capital  gains and certain  dividends and interest  earned by the  International
Equity Portfolio will be subject to foreign  withholding  taxes. These taxes may
be deductible or creditable in whole or in part by shareholders of the Portfolio
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."

CUSTODIAN  AND  TRANSFER  AGENT.  State  Street Bank and Trust  Company  ("State
Street") acts as the  custodian of the Trust's U.S. and non-U.S.  assets and may
employ sub-custodians  outside the United States approved by the Trustees of the
Trust in accordance with  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission
(the "SEC").  State Street also serves as the transfer agent for the Portfolios'
shares. See "Custodian and Transfer Agent."

<PAGE>

                            SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                           U.S. 
                           Government     Investment                   Large           Large                                  
                           Money          Quality       Municipal      Capitalization  Capitalization  Small           International
                           Market         Bond          Bond           Value           Growth          Capitalization  Equity
                           Portfolio      Portfolio     Portfolio      Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio
                           ---------      ---------     ---------      ---------       ---------       ---------       ---------
<S>                        <C>          <C>            <C>           <C>              <C>              <C>

Shareholder Transaction
Expenses 

  Maximum Sales Charge on
  Purchases of Shares 
  (as a % of offering price)   None         None          None            None          None            None            None       

  Sales Charge on Reinvested
  Dividends (as a % of
  offering price)              None         None          None            None          None            None            None

  Maximum Contingent 
  Deferred Sales Charge
  (as a % of net asset value
  at the time of purchase
  or sale, whichever
  is less)(1)                    5%            5%            5%            5%             5%              5%               5%   

  Exchange Fee                 None         None          None            None          None            None            None   

Annual Portfolio
Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of
average net assets)

  Management Fees            .475%          .55%          .55%           .65%            .65%             .65%            .75%

  Distribution Expenses
   (Rule 12b-1)(2)(3)         1.0%           1.0%          1.0%          1.0%            1.0%             1.0%            1.0%

Other Expenses
(after reimbursement)        .65%           .65%          .65%           .65%            .65%             .65%            .65%
                             ---            ---           ---            ---             ---              ---             --- 
                            
Total Operating 
Expenses(4)                  2.125%         2.20%         2.20%          2.30%           2.30%            2.30%          2.40%
(after reimbursement)
</TABLE>

MANAGEMENT  FEES AND OTHER  EXPENSES:  Each Portfolio pays the Manager a fee for
its services  that is computed  daily and paid monthly at an annual rate ranging
from  .475%  to .75%  of the  value  of the  average  daily  net  assets  of the
Portfolio.  The fees of each Advisor are paid by the Manager.  The nature of the
services provided to, and the aggregate  management fees paid by, each Portfolio
are  described  under  "Management  of the Trust." The expenses set forth in the
above table reflect voluntary expense limitations currently in effect and can be
changed at any time. The Class B shares intend to commence  operation on January
1, 1999. Management Fees and Other Expenses are based on actual Class I expenses
for fiscal  1998.  In addition,  expense  offset  arrangements  with the Trust's
Custodian Bank were in effect with respect to each Portfolio.  The amount of the
expense offset for each  respective  Portfolio was as follows:  U.S.  Government
Money Market, 0%; Investment  Quality Bond, 0.10%;  Municipal Bond, 0.01%; Large
Capitalization   Value,   0%;  Large   Capitalization   Growth,   0.07%;   Small
Capitalization,  0%; and  International  Equity,  0.26%.  Under  applicable  SEC
regulations,  the amount by which  Portfolio  expenses are reduced by an expense
offset  arrangement is required to be added to "Other Expenses." The .65% figure
set forth  above with  respect to each  Portfolio  for "Other  Expenses"  above,
reflects the actual  "Other  Expenses" of each  respective  Portfolio,  plus the
amount of the expense offset  arrangement,  reduced by the amount of the expense
reimbursement.  Without such voluntary waivers,  expense assumptions and expense
offsets, total operating expenses of each of the Portfolios for fiscal year 1999
are expected to be: U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio,  2.30%;  Investment
Quality  Bond  Portfolio,   2.37%;   Municipal  Bond  Portfolio,   3.15%;  Large
Capitalization Value Portfolio,  2.39%; Large  Capitalization  Growth Portfolio,
2.25%;  Small   Capitalization   Portfolio,   2.44%;  and  International  Equity
Portfolio,  2.96%.  "Other  Expenses"  include  fees for  shareholder  services,
administration,  custodial  fees,  legal and accounting  fees,  printing  costs,
registration fees, the costs of regulatory  compliance,  a Portfolio's allocated
portion of the costs associated with maintaining the Trust's legal existence and
the costs involved in the Trust's  communications  with shareholders.  Long-term
shareholders  of Class B may pay more in sales charges,  including  distribution
fees,  than the  economic  equivalent  of the maximum  front-end  sales  charges
permitted by the NASD.

(1) The CDSC is scaled  down to 1.00%  during  the  sixth  year,  reaching  zero
thereafter.
(2) The 12b-1 fee is accrued daily and payable  monthly.  A portion of the 12b-1
fee  payable  equal  to 0.25% of the  average  daily  net  assets  is  currently
characterized  as a service fee within the meaning of  National  Association  of
Securities Dealers,  Inc. ("NASD") guidelines and are payments made for personal
service and/or maintenance of shareholder  accounts.  The remainder of the 12b-1
fee is an  asset-based  sales  charge,  and is a  distribution  fee  paid to the
Distributor or other entities to compensate  them for the services  provided and
the expenses  borne by the  Distributor  and others in the  distribution  of the
Portfolios' shares (see "Plan of Distribution").
(3) Upon conversion of Class B shares to Class I shares, such shares will not be
subject to a 12b-1 fee. No sales charge is imposed at the time of  conversion of
Class B shares  to Class I  shares  (see  "Contingent  Deferred  Sales  Charge -
Conversion to Class I Shares").
(4) "Total Fund Operating  Expenses," as shown above,  are based upon the sum of
12b-1 Fees, Management Fees and "Other Expenses."
<PAGE>

Example. The following example demonstrates the projected dollar amount of total
cumulative  expenses that would be incurred over various periods with respect to
a hypothetical  investment in the  Portfolios.  These amounts are based upon (i)
payment by the  Portfolios of operating  expenses at the levels set forth in the
table above and (ii) the specific assumptions stated below:

A shareholder would pay the following  expenses on a $1,000 investment  assuming
(i) a 5% annual return and (ii) redemption at the end of each time period:


<TABLE>

                 U.S. 
              Government Investment                  Large          Large                                  
                Money     Quality    Municipal  Capitalization  Capitalization      Small       International
                Market      Bond       Bond          Value         Growth      Capitalization       Equity
               Portfolio  Portfolio  Portfolio     Portfolio      Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio
               ---------  ---------  ---------     ---------      ---------       ---------       ---------
<S>            <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>             <C>             <C>           <C>

1 year           $73        $74        $75            $75            $75             $75             $76

3 years          110        112        115            115            115             115             118
                                                                                                     
5 years          137        141        146            146            146             146             151
                                                                                                     
10 years         246        253        264            264            264             264             274

</TABLE>

A shareholder would pay the following  expenses on a $1,000 investment  assuming
(i) a 5% annual return and (ii) no redemption at the end of each time period:

<TABLE>

                 U.S. 
              Government Investment                  Large          Large                                  
                Money     Quality    Municipal  Capitalization  Capitalization      Small       International
                Market      Bond       Bond          Value         Growth      Capitalization       Equity
               Portfolio  Portfolio  Portfolio     Portfolio      Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio
               ---------  ---------  ---------     ---------      ---------       ---------       ---------
<S>            <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>             <C>             <C>           <C>

1 year           $21        $22        $23            $23            $23             $23             $24

3 years           67         69         72             72             72              72              75

5 years          114        118        123            123            123             123             128

10 years         246        253        264            264            264             264             274
</TABLE>

The purpose of these examples is to assist an investor in understanding  various
costs and expenses  that an investor in a Portfolio  will bear.  THESE  EXAMPLES
SHOULD NOT BE  CONSIDERED  TO BE A  REPRESENTATION  OF PAST OR FUTURE  EXPENSES;
ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. Moreover,  although the
tables assume a 5% annual return, a Portfolio's actual performance will vary and
may result in an actual return greater or less than 5%.

<PAGE>

OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Set forth below is a description  of the  investment  objectives and policies of
each  Portfolio.  There can be no assurance  that any Portfolio will achieve its
investment objectives. Further information about the investment policies of each
Portfolio,  including a list of those restrictions on its investment  activities
that cannot be changed without shareholder approval, appears in the Statement of
Additional Information.

U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO is advised by Sterling Capital Management
Company.  The  Portfolio's  investment  objective is to provide  maximum current
income to the  extent  consistent  with the  maintenance  of  liquidity  and the
preservation of capital by investing exclusively in short term securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government,  its agencies or instrumentalities  ("U.S.
Government   Securities")  and  repurchase  agreements  with  respect  to  those
securities.   The  Portfolio  may  purchase   securities  on  a  when-issued  or
delayed-delivery  basis. See "Certain Securities and Investment Techniques." The
Portfolio will invest only in securities  that are purchased with and payable in
U.S. dollars and that have remaining  maturities of 397 days or less at the time
of  purchase.  The  Portfolio  maintains  a  dollar-weighted  average  portfolio
maturity  of 90  days  or  less.  All  securities  purchased  by the  Portfolio,
including  repurchase  agreements,  will  present  minimal  credit  risks in the
opinion of the Advisor acting pursuant to criteria  adopted by the Trust's Board
of  Trustees.  The  Portfolio  follows  these  policies  in order to  maintain a
constant net asset value of $1.00 per share,  although there can be no assurance
it can do so on a continuing  basis.  The Portfolio is not insured or guaranteed
by the U.S.  Government.  The yield attained by the Portfolio may not be as high
as that of other funds that invest in lower quality or longer term securities.

All  investment  decisions  for  the  Portfolio  are  made by  Sterling  Capital
Management  Company's  investment  committee which is primarily  responsible for
management of the Portfolio.

INVESTMENT  QUALITY  BOND  PORTFOLIO  is advised by Fox Asset  Management,  Inc.
("Fox"). The Portfolio seeks, as its investment  objectives,  current income and
reasonable stability of principal. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objectives
through  investment in investment quality fixed income securities and the active
management of such  securities.  The average  maturity of the securities held by
the Portfolio may be shortened,  but not below three years, in order to preserve
capital if the Advisor  anticipates a rise in interest  rates.  Conversely,  the
average  maturity  may be  lengthened,  but not beyond ten  years,  to  maximize
returns if interest rates are expected to decline.

Under normal conditions, the Portfolio will invest at least 65% of its assets in
debt  instruments  including  U.S.  Government   Securities,   corporate  bonds,
debentures,  Eurodollar  bonds,  Yankee bonds and foreign  currency  denominated
bonds.  In addition,  the Portfolio may invest in  non-convertible  fixed income
preferred stock and mortgage pass-through  securities.  The Portfolio limits its
investments to investment  grade  securities,  which are securities rated within
the four highest  categories  established  by Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.
("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's  Corporation  ("S&P"),  and unrated  securities
determined  by the Advisor to be of  comparable  quality.  The  Portfolio is not
obligated to dispose of  securities  that fall below such ratings due to changes
made by the rating  agencies  subsequent to the purchase of the  securities  but
will dispose of any such securities in order to limit its holdings of securities
rated  below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P to no more than 5% of its net  assets.
See the Appendix to the Statement of Additional Information for a description of
Moody's  and S&P ratings  and "Risk  Factors_Medium  and Lower Rated and Unrated
Securities" for a description of certain risks associated with securities in the
fourth  highest rating  category.  Although the Portfolio is authorized to hedge
against  unfavorable  changes in interest  rates by entering  into interest rate
futures  contracts and purchasing and writing put and call options thereon,  its
Advisor has no present  intention of using such  techniques.  The Portfolio also
may engage in repurchase agreements,  purchase temporary  investments,  purchase
securities  on a  when-issued  basis  and lend  its  portfolio  securities.  See
"Certain Securities and Investment Techniques."

The  Portfolio  is  managed  by J.  Peter  Skirkanich,  John  Sampson  and James
O'Mealia.  Mr. Skirkanich is the President and Chief Investment  Officer at Fox.
He founded the firm in 1985. Mr. Sampson is a Managing  Director and Director of
Fixed Income Research at Fox. He joined the firm in 1998 from Pharos  Management
LLC, a consulting firm in fixed income  investments.  Mr. O'Mealia is a Managing
Director of Fox.  He joined the firm in 1998 from  Sunnymeath  Asset  Management
Inc., where he was President.

MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO is advised by OpCap Advisors.  The Portfolio  seeks, as
its investment objective,  a high level of interest income that is excluded from
federal  income  taxation  to the  extent  consistent  with  prudent  investment
management and the  preservation of capital.  The Portfolio seeks to achieve its
objectives through investment in a diversified  portfolio of general obligation,
revenue and private activity bonds, including lease obligations,  and notes that
are issued by or on behalf of states,  territories and possessions of the United
States and the District of Columbia and their political  subdivisions,  agencies
and instrumentalities,  or multi-state agencies or authorities,  the interest on
which,  in the opinion of counsel to the issuer of the  instrument,  is excluded
from gross income for federal income tax purposes ("Municipal Obligations"). See
"Municipal Obligations" on page 16.

Portfolio  composition  generally  covers a full range of maturities  with broad
geographic and issuer diversification. The Portfolio may also invest in variable
rate Municipal  Obligations,  most of which permit the holder thereof to receive
the  principal  amount on demand upon seven days'  notice.  The  Portfolio  will
invest  primarily  in municipal  bonds rated at the time of purchase  within the
four highest ratings  assigned by Moody's,  S&P or by Fitch  Municipal  Division
("Fitch")  or, if  unrated,  which are of  comparable  quality in the opinion of
OpCap  Advisors.  See the Appendix to the SAI for a description  of such ratings
and  "Risk  Factors_Medium  and  Lower  Rated  and  Unrated  Securities"  for  a
description of certain risks  associated  with  securities in the fourth highest
rating  category.  The Portfolio is not obligated to dispose of securities  that
fall below such ratings due to changes made by the rating agencies subsequent to
purchase of the securities  but will dispose of any such  securities in order to
limit its  holdings  of  securities  rated below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P or
Fitch to no more than 5% of its net assets.

It is a fundamental  policy of the Portfolio that under normal  circumstances at
least 80% of its assets will be  invested in  Municipal  Obligations.  Also,  at
least 65% of its assets will be invested in bonds. The Portfolio will not invest
more than 25% of its total assets in  Municipal  Obligations  whose  issuers are
located in the same state.  The Portfolio  will also not invest more than 25% of
its assets in private  activity bonds of similar  projects.  It is possible that
the  Portfolio  from time to time will  invest  more than 25% of its assets in a
particular segment of the municipal  securities market, such as hospital revenue
bonds, housing agency bonds,  industrial  development bonds or airport bonds, or
in  securities  the interest on which is paid from revenues of a similar type of
project. In such circumstances,  economic,  business, political or other changes
affecting  one bond (such as proposed  legislation  affecting the financing of a
project;  shortages or price increases of needed materials; or declining markets
or needs for the  projects)  might also affect other bonds in the same  segment,
thereby potentially increasing market risk.

The Portfolio may invest without limit in private  activity  bonds,  although it
does not currently expect to invest more than 20% of its total assets in private
activity  bonds.  Dividends  attributable to interest income on certain types of
private  activity  bonds issued after August 7, 1986 to finance  nongovernmental
activities  are a specific  tax  preference  item for  purposes  of the  federal
individual and corporate alternative minimum tax.

When the Portfolio is maintaining a temporary defensive position,  it may invest
in short  term  investments,  some of which  may not be tax  exempt.  Securities
eligible  for short term  investment  by the  Portfolio  are tax exempt notes of
municipal  issuers  having,  at the time of  purchase,  a rating  within the two
highest  grades  of  Moody's  or S&P  or,  if not  rated,  having  an  issue  of
outstanding  Municipal  Obligations  rated  within the three  highest  grades by
Moody's  or  S&P,   and   taxable   short  term   instruments   having   quality
characteristics comparable to those for Municipal Obligations. The Portfolio may
invest in temporary  investments  for  defensive  reasons in  anticipation  of a
market decline. At no time will more than 20% of the Portfolio's total assets be
invested in temporary  investments  unless the Portfolio has adopted a defensive
investment policy. The Portfolio will purchase tax exempt temporary  investments
pending the investment of the proceeds from the sale of the  securities  held by
the Portfolio or from the purchase of the Portfolio's  shares by investors or in
order  to  have  highly  liquid   securities   available  to  meet   anticipated
redemptions.  To the extent that the Portfolio holds temporary  investments,  it
may not achieve its investment objective.  The Portfolio may purchase securities
on a when-issued  basis, lend its portfolio  securities and purchase stock index
futures  contracts  and write  options  thereon.  See  "Certain  Securities  and
Investment Techniques."

The Portfolio is managed by Matthew  Greenwald,  Vice  President of  Oppenheimer
Capital,  the parent of OpCap  Advisors.  Mr.  Greenwald has been a fixed income
portfolio manager and financial analyst for Oppenheimer Capital since 1989. From
1984-1989 he was a fixed income portfolio  manager with  PaineWebber's  Mitchell
Hutchins Asset Management.

LARGE CAPITALIZATION VALUE PORTFOLIO is advised by OpCap Advisors. The Portfolio
seeks,  as  its  investment  objective,   total  return  consisting  of  capital
appreciation  and  dividend  income  by  investing  primarily  in a  diversified
portfolio of highly liquid  equity  securities  that, in the Advisor's  opinion,
have above average  price  appreciation  potential at the time of purchase.  For
purposes of the Portfolio's  investment  policies,  equity securities consist of
common and preferred  stock and  securities  such as bonds,  rights and warrants
that are  convertible  into common  stock.  In  general,  these  securities  are
characterized  as having above average  dividend  yields and below average price
earnings  ratios  relative to the stock  market in  general,  as measured by the
Standard  & Poor's 500  Composite  Stock  Price  Index  (the "S&P  500").  Other
factors,  such as earnings,  the ability of the issuer to generate  cash flow in
excess of business needs and to sustain above average profitability,  as well as
industry outlook and market share, also are considered. Under normal conditions,
at least 80% of the  Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common  stocks.  No
less than 65% of the  Portfolio's  assets will be  invested in common  stocks of
issuers with total market capitalization of $1 billion or greater at the time of
purchase.  The Portfolio may purchase  temporary  investments and purchase stock
index futures  contracts and purchase and write options  thereon.  The Portfolio
also may lend its portfolio  securities.  See "Certain Securities and Investment
Techniques."

The Portfolio is managed by Eileen  Rominger,  Managing  Director of Oppenheimer
Capital,  the parent of OpCap  Advisors.  Ms.  Rominger  has been an analyst and
portfolio manager at Oppenheimer Capital since 1981.

LARGE  CAPITALIZATION  GROWTH  PORTFOLIO is advised by Harris Bretall Sullivan &
Smith, L.L.C.  ("Harris Bretall").  The Portfolio seeks capital  appreciation by
investing  primarily in a  diversified  portfolio of common  stocks that, in the
Advisor's  opinion,  are  characterized by a growth of earnings at a rate faster
than that of the S&P 500. Dividend income is an incidental  consideration in the
selection of investments. In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor
evaluates  factors  believed to be favorable to long-term  capital  appreciation
including  specific  financial  characteristics of the issuer such as historical
earnings growth,  sales growth,  profitability and return on equity. The Advisor
also analyzes the issuer's  position  within its industry as well as the quality
and experience of the issuer's management. Under normal conditions, at least 80%
of the Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common stocks and at least 65% of
the  Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common stocks of issuers with total
market capitalization of $1 billion or greater at the time of purchase. Although
the Portfolio is authorized to purchase temporary investments and purchase stock
index futures contracts and purchase and write options thereon,  its Advisor has
no present  intention  of using such  techniques  during  the coming  year.  The
Portfolio also may lend its portfolio  securities.  See "Certain  Securities and
Investment Techniques." 

Stock  selections  for the Portfolio will be made by the Strategy and Investment
Committees  of Harris  Bretall.  The  Portfolio is managed by Jack  Sullivan and
Gordon  Ceresino.  Mr.  Sullivan  is a partner  of Harris  Bretall  and has been
associated  with the firm since 1981. Mr. Ceresino is a Vice President of Harris
Bretall and has been associated with the firm since 1991. Prior thereto,  he was
Senior Vice President of Capitol  Associates and was  responsible  for sales and
marketing.

SMALL  CAPITALIZATION  PORTFOLIO is advised by Thorsell,  Parker Partners,  Inc.
(Prior to April 14,  1997,  the Small  Capitalization  Portfolio  was advised by
Axe-Houghton   Associates,   Inc.).  The  Portfolio  seeks,  as  its  investment
objective, maximum capital appreciation. Under normal conditions at least 80% of
the  Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common stocks,  at least 65% of the
Portfolio's assets will be invested in common stock of issuers with total market
capitalization of less than $1 billion and at least one third of the Portfolio's
assets  will be  invested  in  common  stocks of  companies  with  total  market
capitalization of $550 million or less at the time of purchase.  Dividend income
is not a consideration in the selection of investments. In selecting investments
for the Portfolio,  the Advisor seeks small capitalization growth companies that
it believes are undervalued in the  marketplace.  These companies  typically are
under-followed  by  investment  firms and  undervalued  relative to their growth
prospects. The Portfolio may also invest in companies that offer the possibility
of  accelerating  earnings  growth due to internal  changes  such as new product
introductions,  synergistic  acquisitions or  distribution  channels or external
changes  affecting  the  marketplace  for the  company's  products and services.
External factors can be demographics,  regulatory,  legislative,  technological,
social or economic.  Although the Portfolio is authorized to purchase  temporary
investments  and purchase  stock index futures  contracts and purchase and write
options thereon,  its Advisor has no present  intention of using such techniques
during the coming year. The Portfolio also may lend its portfolio securities.
See "Certain Securities and Investment Techniques."

The  Portfolio is managed by Richard  Thorsell.  Mr.  Thorsell has been Managing
Partner of Thorsell since 1991.

INTERNATIONAL  EQUITY  PORTFOLIO  is advised by Friends  Ivory & Sime,  Inc. The
investment  objective of the Portfolio is long-term  capital  appreciation.  The
Portfolio  ordinarily invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of
companies  domiciled outside the United States.  For purposes of the Portfolio's
investment policies, equity securities consist of common and preferred stock and
securities such as bonds,  rights and warrants that are convertible  into common
stock.  The Portfolio has no present  intention of investing in bonds other than
bonds convertible into common stock.

Under normal market  conditions,  at least 65% of the Portfolio's assets will be
invested in securities of issuers domiciled in at least three foreign countries.
The  Portfolio  may  invest  25% or more of its total  assets in  securities  of
issuers domiciled in one country. The Portfolio presently intends to invest more
than 25% of its total assets in Japan.  Accordingly,  the investment performance
of the  Portfolio  will be subject  to social,  political  and  economic  events
occurring in Japan to a greater  extent than those  occurring  in other  foreign
countries.  Investments  may be  made  in  companies  in  developed  as  well as
developing countries. It is the present intention of the Portfolio not to invest
more than 20% of its total assets in securities of issuers located in developing
countries.  Investing in the equity  markets of  developing  countries  involves
exposure to  economies  that are  generally  less  diverse  and  mature,  and to
political  systems  that can be expected to have less  stability,  than those of
developed  countries.  The Advisor  attempts to limit exposure to investments in
developing countries where both liquidity and sovereign risks are high. Although
there is no established definition, a developing country is generally considered
to be a country  that is in the initial  stages of its  industrialization  cycle
with  per  capita  gross  national  product  of  less  than  $5,000.  Historical
experience  indicates  that the markets of developing  countries  have been more
volatile than the markets of developed countries,  although securities traded in
the former  markets have  provided  higher rates of return to  investors.  For a
discussion of the risks  associated  with investing in foreign  securities,  see
"Risk Factors-Foreign Securities."

It is expected that the Portfolio will invest primarily in securities of foreign
issuers  in  the  form  of  American  Depositary  Receipts  ("ADRs")  or  Global
Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), which are U.S. dollar-denominated  receipts, which
represent and may be converted into the underlying  foreign security,  typically
issued by domestic  banks or trust  companies  that  represent  the deposit with
those entities of securities of a foreign  issuer.  Issuers of the stock of ADRs
or GDRs  sponsored  by banks or trust  companies  are not  obligated to disclose
material  information  in the United  States and  therefore,  there may not be a
correlation  between such information and the market value of such ADRs or GDRs.
ADRs or GDRs are publicly traded on exchanges or  over-the-counter in the United
States.  The Portfolio may purchase  temporary  investments,  lend its portfolio
securities  and purchase  stock index  futures  contracts and purchase and write
options thereon. See "Certain Securities and Investment Techniques."

John Stubbs,  Chief  Investment  Officer  ("CIO") and Chairman of the Investment
Committee at Friends Ivory & Sime plc has been  overseeing the management of the
Portfolio  since  January 31, 1997.  Mr.  Stubbs has been CIO of Friends Ivory &
Sime plc since April 1995.  Previously,  he was head of UK equities  with Hermes
Pensions  Management Ltd.  During his 29 year  investment  career Mr. Stubbs has
managed money in most of the world's major markets.  Individual stock selections
are made by the following  regional  specialists:  Dr. Michael Woodward,  Thomas
Maxwell, Julie Dent, James Anderson and Jonathan Harrison.  Each of the regional
specialists  has  been  responsible  for  individual  stock  selections  for the
Portfolio since its inception,  with the exception of Mr. Maxwell,  who began on
January 31, 1997. Prior to assuming the position of regional  specialist for the
Portfolio,  each  Portfolio  regional  specialist  acted in the same capacity at
Friends Ivory & Sime plc.

Except as indicated,  the Portfolios'  limitations on investments and investment
policies are non-fundamental and can be changed without a vote of shareholders.

CERTAIN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES

TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS.  For temporary defensive purposes during periods when the
Advisor of a Portfolio,  other than the U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio,
believes,  with the  concurrence of the Manager,  that pursuing the  Portfolio's
basic  investment  strategy may be  inconsistent  with the best interests of its
shareholders, the Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its assets in the following
money market instruments:  U.S. Government Securities (including those purchased
in the form of  custodial  receipts),  repurchase  agreements,  certificates  of
deposit  and  bankers'   acceptances   issued  by  banks  or  savings  and  loan
associations  having assets of at least $500 million as of the end of their most
recent fiscal year and high quality commercial paper. In addition,  for the same
purposes  the  Advisor  of the  International  Equity  Portfolio  may  invest in
obligations  issued or  guaranteed  by  foreign  governments  or by any of their
political  subdivisions,  authorities,  agencies or  instrumentalities  that are
rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's or, if unrated,  are determined by the
Advisor to be of  equivalent  quality.  See  "Foreign  Securities"  below.  Each
Portfolio  also may hold a portion of its assets in money market  instruments or
cash in amounts  designed to pay expenses,  to meet  anticipated  redemptions or
pending  investments  in  accordance  with  its  objectives  and  policies.  Any
temporary  investments  may be purchased on a when-issued  basis.  A Portfolio's
investment  in any other  short  term debt  instruments  would be subject to the
Portfolio's  investment objectives and policies,  and to approval by the Trust's
Board of Trustees.

The Portfolios are intended  primarily as vehicles for the  implementation  of a
long term investment  program  utilizing asset  allocation  strategies.  Because
these asset allocation  strategies are designed to spread investment risk across
the various segments of the securities markets through investment in a number of
Portfolios,  each individual  Portfolio  generally  intends to be  substantially
fully invested in accordance with its investment  objectives and policies during
most  market  conditions.  Although  the Advisor of a  Portfolio  may,  upon the
concurrence of the Manager,  take a temporary  defensive position during adverse
market  conditions,  it can be expected that a defensive posture will be adopted
less frequently  than would be by other mutual funds.  This policy may impede an
Advisor's  ability to  protect a  Portfolio's  capital  during  declines  in the
particular  segment of the market to which the Portfolio's assets are committed.
Consequently,  no single  Portfolio  should be considered a complete  investment
program.  An investment  among the Portfolios  should be regarded as a long term
commitment  that should be held  through  several  market  cycles.  

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.  Each of the Portfolios
may engage in  repurchase  agreement and (except for the U.S.  Government  Money
Market Portfolio) reverse repurchase agreement transactions.  Under the terms of
a typical  repurchase  agreement,  a Portfolio  would acquire an underlying debt
obligation  for a  relatively  short  period  (usually  not more  than one week)
subject to an  obligation  of the seller to  repurchase,  and the  Portfolio  to
resell, the obligation at an agreed-upon price and time, thereby determining the
yield during the Portfolio's holding period. This arrangement results in a fixed
rate of return that is not subject to market fluctuations during the Portfolio's
holding period. A Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements with respect to
U.S.  Government  Securities with member banks of the Federal Reserve System and
certain non-bank dealers  approved by the Board of Trustees.  The  International
Equity  Portfolio will not engage in repurchase  agreements with foreign brokers
or dealers. Under each repurchase agreement, the selling institution is required
to maintain the value of the securities  subject to the repurchase  agreement at
not less than their repurchase price. The Portfolio's Advisor,  acting under the
supervision  of the Board of Trustees,  reviews on an ongoing basis the value of
the collateral and the  creditworthiness of those non-bank dealers with whom the
Portfolio  enters into repurchase  agreements.  A Portfolio will not invest in a
repurchase  agreement  maturing  in more  than  seven  days  if the  investment,
together with illiquid  securities  held by the Portfolio,  exceeds 15% (10% for
the U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio) of the Portfolio's total assets. See
"Certain  Investment  Policies."  In entering  into a  repurchase  agreement,  a
Portfolio  bears a risk of  loss  in the  event  that  the  other  party  to the
transaction  defaults  on its  obligations  and  the  Portfolio  is  delayed  or
prevented from  exercising  its right to dispose of the  underlying  securities,
including  the  risk  of a  possible  decline  in the  value  of the  underlying
securities  during the period in which the Portfolio  seeks to assert its rights
to them, the risk of incurring  expenses  associated with asserting those rights
and the risk of losing all or a part of the income from the  agreement.  Under a
reverse  repurchase  agreement,  a  Portfolio  sells  securities  and  agrees to
repurchase  them at a mutually  agreed date and price. At the time the Portfolio
enters into a reverse  repurchase  agreement,  it will  establish and maintain a
segregated  account  with an  approved  custodian  containing  liquid high grade
securities having a value not less than the repurchase price (including  accrued
interest).  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value
of the  securities  retained in lieu of sale by the  Portfolio  may decline more
than or  appreciate  less  than the  securities  the  Portfolio  has sold but is
obligated to  repurchase.  In the event the buyer of securities  under a reverse
repurchase  agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes  insolvent,  such buyer or
its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to
enforce  the  Portfolio's  obligation  to  repurchase  the  securities  and  the
Portfolio's  use of  the  proceeds  of the  reverse  repurchase  agreements  may
effectively be restricted pending such decisions.  Reverse repurchase agreements
create leverage,  a speculative  factor,  and will be considered  borrowings for
purposes of a Portfolio's limitation on borrowing.

U.S.  GOVERNMENT  SECURITIES.  Each  Portfolio  may  invest  in U.S.  Government
Securities,  which are obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.  Government,
its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities. Some U.S. Government Securities,
such as U.S.  Treasury bills,  Treasury notes and Treasury  bonds,  which differ
only in their interest rates,  maturities and time of issuance, are supported by
the full faith and credit of the United States. Others are supported by: (i) the
right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury,  such as securities of the
Federal Home Loan Bank; (ii) the discretionary  authority of the U.S. Government
to purchase the agency's  obligations,  such as securities of the FNMA; or (iii)
only the credit of the issuer,  such as securities of the Student Loan Marketing
Association.  No assurance  can be given that the U.S.  Government  will provide
financial  support in the future to U.S.  Government  agencies,  authorities  or
instrumentalities  that are not  supported  by the full  faith and credit of the
United States.

Securities  guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government,  its
agencies, authorities or instrumentalities include: (i) securities for which the
payment of principal and interest is backed by an  irrevocable  letter of credit
issued  by  the  U.S.  Government  or  any  of  its  agencies,   authorities  or
instrumentalities;  and (ii) participation in loans made to foreign  governments
or other  entities that are so guaranteed.  The secondary  market for certain of
these participations is limited and, therefore, may be regarded as illiquid.

U.S.  Government  Securities  may  include  zero coupon  securities  that may be
purchased when yields are attractive and/or to enhance portfolio liquidity. Zero
coupon  U.S.  Government  Securities  are debt  obligations  that are  issued or
purchased at a significant  discount from face value. The discount  approximates
the total  amount of interest the  security  will accrue and  compound  over the
period  until  maturity or the  particular  interest  payment  date at a rate of
interest  reflecting  the market rate of the  security at the time of  issuance.
Zero coupon U.S.  Government  Securities do not require the periodic  payment of
interest.  These investments  benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash
to meet  debt  service,  but also  require a higher  rate of  return to  attract
investors  who are  willing to defer  receipt  of cash.  These  investments  may
experience  greater volatility in market value than U.S.  Government  Securities
that make regular  payments of  interest.  A Portfolio  accrues  income on these
investments  for  tax  and  accounting  purposes,   which  is  distributable  to
shareholders and which,  because no cash is received at the time of accrual, may
require the liquidation of other portfolio securities to satisfy the Portfolio's
distribution  obligations,  in which case the Portfolio will forego the purchase
of  additional  income  producing  assets  with these  funds.  Zero  coupon U.S.
Government  Securities  include  STRIPS and CUBES,  which are issued by the U.S.
Treasury as  component  parts of U.S.  Treasury  bonds and  represent  scheduled
interest and principal payments on the bonds.

CUSTODIAL  RECEIPTS.  Each Portfolio other than the U.S. Government Money Market
Portfolio may acquire  custodial  receipts or certificates,  such as CATS, TIGRs
and FICO  Strips,  underwritten  by  securities  dealers or banks that  evidence
ownership of future  interest  payments,  principal  payments or both on certain
notes or bonds  issued by the U.S.  Government,  its  agencies,  authorities  or
instrumentalities. The underwriters of these certificates or receipts purchase a
U.S.  Government  Security and deposit the security in an  irrevocable  trust or
custodial  account  with  a  custodian  bank,  which  then  issues  receipts  or
certificates that evidence  ownership of the periodic  unmatured coupon payments
and the final  principal  payment  on the U.S.  Government  Security.  Custodial
receipts  evidencing specific coupon or principal payments have the same general
attributes as zero coupon U.S. Government Securities,  described above. Although
typically  under the terms of a custodial  receipt a Portfolio is  authorized to
assert its rights directly against the issuer of the underlying obligation,  the
Portfolio may be required to assert  through the  custodian  bank such rights as
may exist  against the  underlying  issuer.  Thus,  in the event the  underlying
issuer  fails to pay  principal  and/or  interest  when due, a Portfolio  may be
subject to delays,  expenses  and risks that are  greater  than those that would
have been involved if the  Portfolio  had  purchased a direct  obligation of the
issuer.  In addition,  in the event that the trust or custodial account in which
the  underlying  security has been  deposited is determined to be an association
taxable as a  corporation,  instead of a  non-taxable  entity,  the yield on the
underlying security would be reduced in respect of any taxes paid.

LENDING PORTFOLIO  SECURITIES.  To generate income for the purpose of helping to
meet its operating expenses, each Portfolio other than the U.S. Government Money
Market  Portfolio may lend  securities to brokers,  dealers and other  financial
organizations.  These  loans,  if and when  made,  may not  exceed  33 1/3% of a
Portfolio's  assets taken at value.  A Portfolio's  loans of securities  will be
collateralized by cash,  letters of credit or U.S.  Government  Securities.  The
cash or instruments  collateralizing  a Portfolio's  loans of securities will be
maintained at all times in a segregated account with the Portfolio's  custodian,
or with a designated  sub-custodian,  in an amount at least equal to the current
market value of the loaned securities. In lending securities to brokers, dealers
and other financial organizations,  a Portfolio is subject to risks, which, like
those associated with other extensions of credit, include delays in recovery and
possible loss of rights in the collateral  should the borrower fail financially.
State  Street  arranges  for  each  Portfolio's  securities  loans  and  manages
collateral  received in  connection  with these loans.  See  "Management  of the
Trust-Administration."

WHEN-ISSUED   AND   DELAYED-DELIVERY   SECURITIES.   To  secure   prices  deemed
advantageous at a particular  time, each Portfolio may purchase  securities on a
when-issued or delayed-delivery  basis, in which case delivery of the securities
occurs  beyond the normal  settlement  period;  payment  of or  delivery  of the
securities  would be made  prior to the  reciprocal  delivery  or payment by the
other party to the  transaction.  A  Portfolio  will enter into  when-issued  or
delayed-delivery  transactions  for the purpose of acquiring  securities and not
for the purpose of leverage.  When-issued  securities purchased by the Portfolio
may include securities purchased on a "when, as and if issued" basis under which
the issuance of the securities  depends on the occurrence of a subsequent event,
such as approval of a merger,  corporate  reorganization or debt  restructuring.
The  Portfolio  will  establish  with  its  custodian,   or  with  a  designated
sub-custodian,   a  segregated  account  consisting  of  cash,  U.S.  Government
Securities or other liquid high grade debt obligations in an amount equal to the
amount of its when-issued or delayed-delivery purchase commitments.

Securities  purchased on a when-issued  or  delayed-delivery  basis may expose a
Portfolio to risk because the securities may  experience  fluctuations  in value
prior to their  actual  delivery.  The  Portfolio  does not accrue  income  with
respect  to a  when-issued  or  delayed-delivery  security  prior to its  stated
delivery date. Purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery  basis
can involve the additional  risk that the yield available in the market when the
delivery takes place may be higher than that obtained in the transaction itself.

FIXED INCOME  SECURITIES.  The market value of fixed income  obligations  of the
Portfolios  will be  affected by general  changes in  interest  rates which will
result in increases or  decreases  in the value of the  obligations  held by the
Portfolios.  The market  value of the  obligations  held by a  Portfolio  can be
expected to vary inversely to changes in prevailing  interest  rates.  Investors
also  should  recognize  that,  in  periods  of  declining   interest  rates,  a
Portfolio's  yield will tend to be somewhat higher than prevailing  market rates
and, in periods of rising  interest  rates, a Portfolio's  yield will tend to be
somewhat  lower.  Also,  when interest rates are falling,  the inflow of net new
money to a  Portfolio  from the  continuous  sale of its shares  will tend to be
invested  in  instruments  producing  lower  yields  than  the  balance  of  its
portfolio,  thereby reducing the Portfolio's current yield. In periods of rising
interest rates,  the opposite can be expected to occur. In addition,  securities
in which a Portfolio may invest may not yield as high a level of current  income
as might be  achieved by  investing  in  securities  with less  liquidity,  less
creditworthiness or longer maturities.

Ratings made  available by S&P and Moody's are relative and  subjective  and are
not absolute  standards of quality.  Although these ratings are initial criteria
for the selection of portfolio investments, a Portfolio's Advisor also will make
its  own  evaluation  of  these  securities.  Among  the  factors  that  will be
considered  are the long  term  ability  of the  issuers  to pay  principal  and
interest and general economic trends.

MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS.  The term "Municipal Obligations" generally is understood
to include debt obligations  issued to obtain funds for various public purposes,
the interest on which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, excluded
from gross income for federal income tax purposes.  In addition, if the proceeds
from private activity bonds are used for the construction,  equipment, repair or
improvement  of privately  operated  industrial  or commercial  facilities,  the
interest paid on such bonds may be excluded from gross income for federal income
tax purposes, although current federal tax laws place substantial limitations on
the size of these issues.

The  two  principal   classifications  of  Municipal  Obligations  are  "general
obligation" and "revenue"  bonds.  General  obligation  bonds are secured by the
issuer's  pledge of its  faith,  credit,  and  taxing  power for the  payment of
principal and interest. Revenue bonds are payable from the revenues derived from
a  particular  facility  or class of  facilities  or,  in some  cases,  from the
proceeds of a special excise or the specific  revenue  source,  but not from the
general taxing power.  Sizable investments in these obligations could involve an
increased risk to the Portfolio should any of the related facilities  experience
financial  difficulties.  Private activity bonds are in most cases revenue bonds
and do not generally carry the pledge of the credit of the issuing municipality.
Included  within  the  revenue  bonds  category  are   participations  in  lease
obligations or installment purchase contracts  (hereinafter  collectively called
"lease obligations") of municipalities. States and local agencies or authorities
issue lease obligations to acquire equipment and facilities.

Lease obligations may have risks not normally associated with general obligation
or other revenue bonds.  Lease obligations and conditional sale contracts (which
may provide for title to the leased  asset to pass  eventually  to the  issuer),
have  developed  as a means for  government  issuers  to  acquire  property  and
equipment  without  the  necessity  of  complying  with the  constitutional  and
statutory  requirements  generally  applicable for the issuance of debt. Certain
lease  obligations  contain  "non-appropriation"  clauses  that provide that the
governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or
contract  unless  money is  appropriated  for such  purposes by the  appropriate
legislative body on an annual or other periodic basis.  Consequently,  continued
lease payments on those lease obligations containing "non-appropriation" clauses
are dependent on future legislative  actions. If such legislative actions do not
occur,  the  holders  of the  lease  obligation  may  experience  difficulty  in
exercising their rights, including disposition of the property.

In  addition,  lease  obligations  may  not  have  the  depth  of  marketability
associated with other municipal  obligations,  and as a result,  certain of such
lease obligations may be considered illiquid securities. To determine whether or
not the Municipal Bond  Portfolio  will consider such  securities to be illiquid
(the  Portfolio  may not  invest  more than 15% of its net  assets  in  illiquid
securities),  the following  guidelines  have been  established to determine the
liquidity  of a lease  obligation.  The factors to be  considered  in making the
determination  include:  (1) the  frequency of trades and quoted  prices for the
obligation;  (2) the number of dealers  willing to purchase or sell the security
and the number of other potential purchasers;  (3) the willingness of dealers to
undertake  to  make  a  market  in the  security;  and  (4)  the  nature  of the
marketplace  trades,  including the time needed to dispose of the security,  the
method of soliciting  offers,  and the mechanics of the transfer.  There are, of
course,  variations  in the  security of  Municipal  Obligations,  both within a
particular classification and between classifications.

MORTGAGE RELATED SECURITIES. The Investment Quality Bond Portfolio may invest in
mortgage related securities including modified pass-through certificates.  There
are several risks associated with mortgage related securities generally.  One is
that the monthly cash inflow from the underlying  loans may not be sufficient to
meet the monthly payment requirements of the mortgage related security.

Prepayment of principal by mortgagors or mortgage  foreclosures will shorten the
term of the  underlying  mortgage pool for a mortgage  related  security.  Early
returns of  principal  will  affect the  average  life of the  mortgage  related
securities remaining in the Portfolio. The occurrence of mortgage prepayments is
affected by factors  including  the level of interest  rates,  general  economic
conditions,  the  location  and  age  of  the  mortgage  and  other  social  and
demographic  conditions.  In  periods  of  rising  interest  rates,  the rate of
prepayment tends to decrease,  thereby lengthening the average life of a pool of
mortgage related  securities.  Conversely,  in periods of falling interest rates
the rate of prepayment tends to increase, thereby shortening the average life of
a pool.  Reinvestment of prepayments may occur at higher or lower interest rates
than the original investment, thus affecting the yield of the Portfolio. Because
prepayments of principal  generally occur when interest rates are declining,  it
is likely that the Portfolio  will have to reinvest the proceeds of  prepayments
at lower interest rates than those at which the assets were previously invested.
If this  occurs,  the  Portfolio's  yield will  correspondingly  decline.  Thus,
mortgage related securities may have less potential for capital  appreciation in
periods  of  falling  interest  rates  than other  fixed  income  securities  of
comparable  maturity,  although these  securities may have a comparable  risk of
decline in market value in periods of rising  interest rates. To the extent that
the Portfolio  purchases mortgage related  securities at a premium,  unscheduled
prepayments,  which  are  made  at  par,  will  result  in a loss  equal  to any
unamortized premium.

The Investment  Quality Bond  Portfolio may invest in a type of  mortgage-backed
security known as modified pass-through certificates. Each certificate evidences
an interest in a specific pool of mortgages that have been grouped  together for
sale and provides investors with payments of interest and principal.  The issuer
of modified  pass-through  certificates  guarantees the payment of the principal
and  interest  whether  or not the  issuer  has  collected  such  amounts on the
underlying mortgage.

The  average  life  of  these  securities  varies  with  the  maturities  of the
underlying mortgage  instruments  (generally up to 30 years) and with the extent
of  prepayments or the mortgages  themselves.  Any such  prepayments  are passed
through to the  certificate  holder,  reducing  the  stream of future  payments.
Prepayments  tend to rise in periods of falling  interest rates,  decreasing the
average life of the  certificate and generating cash which must be invested in a
lower  interest  rate  environment.  This  could  also  limit  the  appreciation
potential of the certificates  when compared to similar debt  obligations  which
may not be paid down at will, and could cause losses on  certificates  purchased
at a  premium  or gains on  certificates  purchased  at a  discount.  Government
National Mortgage  Association  ("Ginnie Mae")  certificates  represent pools of
mortgages  insured by the Federal  Housing  Administration  or the Farmers  Home
Administration or guaranteed by the Veteran's  Administration.  The guarantee of
payments under these  certificates is backed by the full faith and credit of the
United  States.  Federal  National  Mortgage  Association  ("Fannie  Mae")  is a
government-sponsored  corporation  owned entirely by private  stockholders.  The
guarantee of payments under these  instruments is that of Fannie Mae only.  They
are not backed by the full  faith and  credit of the United  States but the U.S.
Treasury may extend credit to Fannie Mae through discretionary  purchases of its
securities.  The U.S.  Government has no obligation to assume the liabilities of
Fannie Mae.  Federal Home Loan  Mortgage  Corp.  ("Freddie  Mac") is a corporate
instrumentality  of the United  States  government  whose  stock is owned by the
Federal Home Loan Banks.  Certificates  issued by Freddie Mac represent interest
in mortgages  from its  portfolio.  Freddie Mac  guarantees  payments  under its
certificates  but this  guarantee  is not backed by the full faith and credit of
the United  States and  Freddie Mac does not have  authority  to borrow from the
U.S. Treasury.

The coupon  rate of these  instruments  is lower than the  interest  rate on the
underlying mortgages by the amount of fees paid to the issuing agencies, usually
approximately  1/2  of 1%.  Mortgage-backed  securities,  due  to the  scheduled
periodic repayment of principal, and the possibility of accelerated repayment of
underlying mortgage  obligations,  fluctuate in value in a different manner than
other, non-redeemable debt securities.

CMOs are  obligations  fully  collateralized  by a  portfolio  of  mortgages  or
mortgage related  securities.  Although the Portfolio is authorized to invest in
CMOs, it has no present intention of doing so.

FUTURES  CONTRACTS  AND  RELATED  OPTIONS.  Each  Portfolio  other than the U.S.
Government Money Market Portfolio may enter into futures  contracts and purchase
and write  (sell)  options  on these  contracts,  including  but not  limited to
interest rate,  securities index and foreign currency futures  contracts and put
and call options on these futures  contracts.  These  contracts  will be entered
into only upon the  concurrence of the Manager that such contracts are necessary
or appropriate in the management of the Portfolio's assets. These contracts will
be  entered  into on  exchanges  designated  by the  Commodity  Futures  Trading
Commission ("CFTC") or, consistent with CFTC regulations,  on foreign exchanges.
These  transactions  may be  entered  into  for  bona  fide  hedging  and  other
permissible risk management  purposes including  protecting against  anticipated
changes in the value of securities a Portfolio intends to purchase.

So long as Commodities  Futures Trading Commission rules so require, a Portfolio
will not enter  into any  financial  futures  or options  contract  unless  such
transactions  are for bona-fide  hedging  purposes or for other purposes only if
the  aggregate   initial  margins  and  premiums   required  to  establish  such
non-hedging  positions  would  not  exceed  5% of the  liquidation  value of the
Portfolio's  total assets.  All futures and options on futures positions will be
covered by owning the underlying security or segregation of assets. With respect
to long positions in a futures  contract or option (e.g.,  futures  contracts to
purchase the  underlying  instrument  and call options  purchased or put options
written on these futures contracts or instruments),  the underlying value of the
futures  contract at all times will not exceed the sum of cash,  short term U.S.
debt  obligations  or other high quality  obligations  set aside in a segregated
account with the Trust's Custodian for this purpose.

A  Portfolio  may  lose  the  expected  benefit  of  these  futures  or  options
transactions  and may incur losses if the prices of the  underlying  commodities
move in an  unanticipated  manner.  In  addition,  changes  in the  value of the
Portfolio's  futures and options positions may not prove to be perfectly or even
highly  correlated  with  changes  in the  value  of its  portfolio  securities.
Successful use of futures and related options is subject to an Advisor's ability
to predict  correctly  movements  in the  direction  of the  securities  markets
generally,  which  ability  may require  different  skills and  techniques  than
predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. Moreover, futures and
options   contracts  may  only  be  closed  out  by  entering  into   offsetting
transactions  on the  exchange  where the position was entered into (or a linked
exchange),  and as a result of daily price  fluctuation  limits  there can be no
assurance  that  an  offsetting   transaction   could  be  entered  into  at  an
advantageous price at any particular time. Consequently, a Portfolio may realize
a loss on a futures  contract or option that is not offset by an increase in the
value of its portfolio  securities  that are being hedged or a Portfolio may not
be able to close a futures or options position  without  incurring a loss in the
event of adverse price movements.

GOVERNMENT STRIPPED MORTGAGE RELATED SECURITIES. Although the Investment Quality
Bond  Portfolio  may  invest in certain  government  stripped  mortgage  related
securities  issued  and  guaranteed  by GNMA,  FNMA or FHLMC,  it has no present
intention of doing so.

RISK FACTORS

MEDIUM AND LOWER RATED AND UNRATED  SECURITIES.  Securities  rated in the fourth
highest category by S&P or Moody's,  although considered  investment grade, have
speculative  characteristics,  and changes in economic or other  conditions  are
more  likely to impair  the  ability  of  issuers  of these  securities  to make
interest  and  principal  payments  than is the case with  respect to issuers of
higher grade bonds.

Subsequent to its purchase by a Portfolio,  an issue of securities  may cease to
be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by
the  Portfolio.  Neither  event will  require  sale of these  securities  by the
Portfolio, but the Advisor will dispose of any such securities in order to limit
the holdings by a Portfolio of securities rated below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S
& P to no more than 5% of its net assets.  It is the intention of the Portfolios
to invest  no more than 5% of their  respective  net  assets in debt  securities
rated  below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S & P (commonly  known as "high  yield" or
"junk bonds").

NON-PUBLICLY TRADED SECURITIES. Each Portfolio may invest in non-publicly traded
securities,  which may be less liquid than publicly traded securities.  Although
these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions,  the prices
realized  from  these  sales  could be less than  those  originally  paid by the
Portfolios. In addition,  companies whose securities are not publicly traded are
not subject to the disclosure and other investor  protection  requirements  that
may be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.

SMALL CAPITALIZATION COMPANIES.  Smaller capitalization companies may experience
higher  growth  rates and higher  failure  rates  than do larger  capitalization
companies.  Companies in which the Small  Capitalization  Portfolio is likely to
invest may have limited  product lines,  markets or financial  resources and may
lack   management   depth.   The  trading   volume  of   securities  of  smaller
capitalization  companies  is normally  less than that of larger  capitalization
companies  and,  therefore,  may  disproportionately  affect their market price,
tending  to make them rise more in  response  to buying  demand and fall more in
response  to  selling  pressure  than is the  case  with  larger  capitalization
companies.

FOREIGN  SECURITIES.  All the Portfolios  except for the U.S.  Government  Money
Market  Portfolio  and the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio  may  invest  in  foreign
securities.  The Investment Quality Bond Portfolio and the Large  Capitalization
Value Portfolio do not intend to invest more than 20% of their  respective total
assets in foreign securities.  The Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio and the
Small  Capitalization  Portfolio do not intend to purchase foreign securities in
an amount  more than 5% of each  Portfolio's  total  assets.  The  International
Equity  Portfolio  expects  to  invest at least  80% of its  assets  in  foreign
securities.  Investing in securities issued by foreign companies and governments
involves  considerations  and  potential  risks not  typically  associated  with
investing  in   obligations   issued  by  the  U.S.   Government   and  domestic
corporations.  Less  information may be available  about foreign  companies than
about  domestic  companies  and foreign  companies  generally are not subject to
uniform  accounting,  auditing  and  financial  reporting  standards or to other
regulatory practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to domestic
companies. The values of foreign investments are affected by changes in currency
rates or exchange  control  regulations,  restrictions  or  prohibitions  on the
repatriation of foreign currencies,  application of foreign tax laws,  including
withholding  taxes,  changes  in  governmental  administration  or  economic  or
monetary  policy (in the United  States or abroad) or changed  circumstances  in
dealings between nations. Costs are also incurred in connection with conversions
between  various  currencies.  In addition,  foreign  brokerage  commissions and
custody fees are generally  higher than those charged in the United States,  and
foreign securities markets may be less liquid, more volatile and less subject to
governmental  supervision  than in the  United  States.  Investments  in foreign
countries  could be affected by other factors not present in the United  States,
including  expropriation,  confiscatory taxation, lack of uniform accounting and
auditing   standards  and  potential   difficulties  in  enforcing   contractual
obligations and could be subject to extended clearance settlement periods.  Many
European countries are about to adopt a single European Currency, the euro ("the
Euro Conversion").  The consequences of the Euro Conversion for foreign exchange
rates, interest rates and the value of European Securities eligible for purchase
by the Portfolios are presently unclear.  Such consequences may adversely affect
the value and/or increase the volatility of securities held by the Portfolios.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES. A Portfolio's share value may change significantly when
the currencies, other than the U.S. dollar, in which the Portfolio's investments
are denominated strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar.  Currency exchange
rates generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign
exchange  markets  of  investments  in  different  countries  as  seen  from  an
international  perspective.   Currency  exchange  rates  can  also  be  affected
unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or
by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad.

FORWARD  CURRENCY   CONTRACTS.   Each  Portfolio  that  may  invest  in  foreign
currency-denominated   securities  may  hold   currencies  to  meet   settlement
requirements  for  foreign  securities  and  may  engage  in  currency  exchange
transactions  in order to  protect  against  uncertainty  in the level of future
exchange  rates  between a particular  foreign  currency and the U.S.  dollar or
between  foreign  currencies in which the  Portfolio's  securities are or may be
denominated.  Forward currency contracts are agreements to exchange one currency
for  another-for  example,  to exchange a certain  amount of U.S.  dollars for a
certain  amount of French  francs at a future  date.  The date (which may be any
agreed-upon  fixed number of days in the  future),  the amount of currency to be
exchanged and the price at which the exchange will take place will be negotiated
with a currency  trader and fixed for the term of the  contract at the time that
the  Portfolio  enters into the contract.  To assure that a Portfolio's  forward
currency  contracts are not used to achieve investment  leverage,  the Portfolio
will segregate cash or high grade  securities with its custodian in an amount at
all times equal to or exceeding the Portfolio's commitment with respect to these
contracts.

In hedging specific  portfolio  positions,  a Portfolio may enter into a forward
contract  with  respect  to  either  the  currency  in which the  positions  are
denominated or another currency deemed  appropriate by the Portfolio's  Advisor.
The amount the Portfolio may invest in forward currency  contracts is limited to
the amount of the Portfolio's aggregate investments in foreign currencies. Risks
associated with entering into forward currency contracts include the possibility
that the market for forward  currency  contracts  may be limited with respect to
certain currencies and, upon a contract's maturity, the inability of a Portfolio
to negotiate  with the dealer to enter into an offsetting  transaction.  Forward
currency  contracts  may be  closed  out only by the  parties  entering  into an
offsetting  contract.  In addition,  the  correlation  between  movements in the
prices of those  contracts and movements in the price of the currency  hedged or
used for cover will not be perfect. There is no assurance that an active forward
currency  contract  market will always  exist.  These  factors  will  restrict a
Portfolio's  ability to hedge against the risk of  devaluation  of currencies in
which a Portfolio  holds a substantial  quantity of securities and are unrelated
to the qualitative rating that may be assigned to any particular  security.  See
the  Statement of  Additional  Information  for further  information  concerning
forward  currency  contracts.   See  also  "Certain  Securities  and  Investment
Techniques-Futures  Contracts  and  Related  Options"  on page  18 and  "Certain
Investment Policies-Portfolio Turnover" on page 22.

YEAR 2000.  The  investment  management  services  provided  to the Trust by the
Manager  and the  Advisors  and the  services  provided to  shareholders  by the
Distributor  and the Transfer  Agent depend on the smooth  functioning  of their
computer  systems.  Many computer software systems in use today cannot recognize
the year 2000, but revert to 1900 or some other date, due to the manner in which
dates were encoded and calculated. That failure, as well as others, could have a
negative  impact on the  handling  of  securities  trades,  pricing  and account
services.  The Manager, the Advisors,  the Distributor,  the Transfer Agent, and
other Trust service providers have been actively working on necessary changes in
their own  computer  systems to prepare  for the year 2000 and expect that their
systems will be adapted  before that date,  but there can be no  assurance  that
they will be successful,  or that interaction with other  noncomplying  computer
systems will not inpair their services at that time.

In addition,  it is possible  that the markets for  securities in which the Fund
invests  may be  detrimentally  affected  by computer  failures  throughout  the
financial  services industry beginning January 1, 2000.  Improperly  functioning
trading  systems may result in  settlement  problems and  liquidity  issues.  In
addition,  corporate  and  governmental  data  processing  errors  may result in
production problems for individual companies and overall economic uncertainties.
Earnings of individual  issuers will be affected by remediation costs, which may
be substantial and may be reported  inconsistently in U.S. and foreign financial
statements. Accordingly, the Trust's investments my be adversely affected.

CERTAIN INVESTMENT POLICIES

FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES.  The Trust on behalf of each Portfolio has adopted certain
investment  restrictions  that are  enumerated  in  detail in the  Statement  of
Additional Information.  Among other restrictions,  each Portfolio may not, with
respect to 75% of its total assets taken at market value, invest more than 5% of
its total assets in the  securities  of any one issuer,  except U.S.  Government
Securities,  or  acquire  more than 10% of any class of the  outstanding  voting
securities  of any one  issuer.  In  addition,  except as  described  above with
respect to the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio,  each Portfolio may not invest 25% or
more of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry. The Trust
on behalf of a Portfolio  may borrow money as a temporary  measure from banks in
an aggregate  amount not  exceeding  one-third  of the value of the  Portfolio's
total assets to meet  redemptions and for other temporary or emergency  purposes
not  involving  leveraging.  A  Portfolio  may  not  purchase  securities  while
borrowings exceed 5% of the value of the Portfolio's assets. The Portfolios each
may purchase  securities  which are not  registered  under the Securities Act of
1933 ("1933 Act") but which can be sold to "qualified  institutional  buyers" in
accordance  with Rule 144A  under the 1933 Act.  Any such  security  will not be
considered  illiquid so long as it is determined by the Board of Trustees or the
Portfolio's  Adviser,  acting under  guidelines  approved  and  monitored by the
Board,  which has the ultimate  responsibility  for any determination  regarding
liquidity,  that an  adequate  trading  market  exists for that  security.  This
investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity
in each of the Portfolios during any period that qualified  institutional buyers
become  uninterested in purchasing these restricted  securities.  The ability to
sell to qualified  institutional  buyers under Rule 144A is a recent development
and it is not possible to predict how this market will  develop.  The Board will
carefully monitor any investments by each of the Portfolios in these securities.

The investment  restrictions listed above as well as the Portfolios'  investment
objectives  are  fundamental  policies and  accordingly  may not be changed with
respect to any Portfolio  without the approval of a majority of the  outstanding
shares of that Portfolio,  as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"1940 Act").

NON-FUNDAMENTAL  POLICIES.  A Portfolio  will not invest more than 15% (10% with
respect to the U.S.  Government Money Market  Portfolio) of the value of its net
assets in securities that are illiquid,  including certain  government  stripped
mortgage related securities,  repurchase  agreements maturing in more than seven
days and that cannot be  liquidated  prior to maturity and  securities  that are
illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market. Securities that
have legal or contractual  restrictions  on resale but have a readily  available
market  are  deemed  not  illiquid  for this  purpose.  These  policies  are not
fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees.

Portfolio Turnover

Active trading will increase a Portfolio's rate of turnover, certain transaction
expenses  and the  incidence  of short term  capital  gains  taxable as ordinary
income. An annual turnover rate of 100% would occur when all the securities held
by the Portfolio are replaced one time during a period of one year.  The Advisor
of the  International  Equity Portfolio  anticipates that the annual turnover in
that  Portfolio  will  not be in  excess  of  100%.  The  Advisor  of the  Small
Capitalization  Portfolio anticipates that the annual turnover in that Portfolio
will not be in  excess of 150%.  The  Advisors  of each of the other  Portfolios
anticipate that the annual turnover in those Portfolios will not exceed 80%. The
U.S.  Government  Money Market  Portfolio's  turnover is expected to be zero for
regulatory reporting purposes.

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

Board of Trustees

Overall  responsibility  for  management  and  supervision  of the Trust and the
Portfolios  rests with the Trust's Board of Trustees.  The Trustees  approve all
significant  agreements  between the Trust and the persons  and  companies  that
furnish services to the Trust and the Portfolios,  including agreements with the
Trust's  distributor,  custodian,  transfer  agent,  the  Manager,  Advisors and
administrator. One of the Trustees and all of the Trust's executive officers are
affiliated with the Manager.  The Statement of Additional  Information  contains
background  information  regarding  each  Trustee and  executive  officer of the
Trust.

Investment Manager

Saratoga Capital Management,  a registered  investment advisor,  located at 1501
Franklin Avenue, Mineola, New York, 11501-4803, serves as the Trust's Manager.

Saratoga Capital Management is a Delaware general  partnership which is owned by
certain  executives of Saratoga Capital  Management and by Mr. Ronald J. Goguen,
whose address is Major Drilling Group International Inc., 111 St. George Street,
Suite 200,  Moncton,  New  Brunswick,  Canada  E1C177,  Mr. John Schiavi,  whose
address is Schiavi  Enterprises,  985 Main Street,  Oxford, Maine 04270, and Mr.
Thomas Browne,  whose address is Pontil PTY Limited, 14 Jannali Road, Dubbo, NSW
Australia 2830.

The Trust has entered into an investment  management  agreement (the "Management
Agreement")  with the  Manager  which,  in turn,  has  entered  into an advisory
agreement ("Advisory  Agreement") with each Advisor selected for the Portfolios.
It is the Manager's responsibility to select, subject to the review and approval
of the Board of Trustees,  Advisors who have  distinguished  themselves  by able
performance in their  respective  areas of expertise in asset  management and to
review their continued performance.

Subject to the supervision  and direction of the Trust's Board of Trustees,  the
Manager  provides  to  the  Trust  investment   management  evaluation  services
principally by performing initial due diligence on prospective Advisors for each
Portfolio  and  thereafter   monitoring  Advisor   performance.   In  evaluating
prospective Advisors, the Manager considers, among other factors, each Advisor's
level of expertise,  relative  performance  and  consistency  of  performance to
investment  discipline or  philosophy;  personnel and  financial  strength;  and
quality of service and client communications. The Manager has responsibility for
communicating  performance  expectations  and  evaluations  to the  Advisors and
ultimately  recommending  to the  Board of  Trustees  of the Trust  whether  the
Advisors'  contracts  should be  renewed,  modified or  terminated.  The Manager
provides  reports  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  regarding  the  results  of its
evaluation  and  monitoring  functions.  The  Manager  is also  responsible  for
conducting all operations of the Trust except those operations contracted to the
Advisors,  custodian,   distributor,  transfer  agent  and  administrator.  Each
Portfolio  pays the Manager a fee for its  services  that is computed  daily and
paid monthly at the annual rate specified  below of the value of the average net
assets of the Portfolios.  The Manager pays a portion of its fee to each Advisor
for the advisory  services  provided to the Portfolio that is computed daily and
paid monthly at the annual rate specified  below of the value of the Portfolio's
average daily net assets:


                                                              Portion
                                                              of the
                                                              Manager's
                                              Manager's       Fee Paid
Portfolio                                     Fee             to the Advisor
- ---------                                     ---             --------------
U.S. Government Money market Portfolio......  .475%              .125%
Investment Quality Bond Portfolio...........   .55%               .20%
Municipal Bond Portfolio....................   .55%               .20%
Large Capitalization Value Portfolio........   .65%               .30%
Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio.......   .65%               .30%
Small Capitalization Portfolio..............   .65%               .30%
International Equity Portfolio..............   .75%               .40%


The  Manager,  subject to the  approval  of the  Trustees,  appoints  investment
advisers,  enters into investment  advisory  agreements,  and may amend existing
investment advisory agreements without shareholder approval whenever the Manager
and  the  Trustees  believe  such  actions  will  benefit  a  Portfolio  and its
shareholders.  The Board of Trustees  evaluates and approves all new  investment
advisory  agreements between the Manager and the Advisors.  This policy provides
the Manager with  flexibility and eliminates the  unnecessary  delay and expense
associated  with holding  shareholder  meetings.  The total amount of investment
managment  fees  payable  by each  Portfolio  to the  Manager  cannot be changed
without shareholder approval.
         
In addition, the Manager may provide some or all of the following administrative
services  to the  Trust  including  but  not  limited  to:  the  preparation  of
investment   questionnaires  and  investment  literature,   answering  inquiries
regarding the Trust and its special features,  other client communications,  and
other permissable administrative services.

Advisors

The Advisors have agreed to the foregoing  fees,  which are generally lower than
the  fees  they  charge  to  institutional  accounts  for  which  they  serve as
investment  advisor and perform all  administrative  functions  associated  with
serving  in  that  capacity  in  recognition   of  the  reduced   administrative
responsibilities they have undertaken with respect to the Portfolios. Subject to
the  supervision  and  direction  of the Manager and,  ultimately,  the Board of
Trustees,  each Advisor's  responsibilities are to manage the securities held by
the Portfolio it serves in accordance  with the  Portfolio's  stated  investment
objective and policies,  make  investment  decisions for the Portfolio and place
orders to purchase and sell securities on behalf of the Portfolio.

The following sets forth certain information about each of the Advisors:

OpCap Advisors ("OpCap"), a registered investment advisor,  located at One World
Financial  Center,  New York, NY 10281,  serves as Advisor to the Municipal Bond
Portfolio and Large  Capitalization  Value Portfolio.  OpCap is a majority owned
subsidiary of Oppenheimer Capital, a registered  investment advisor,  founded in
1968. PIMCO Advisors,  L.P. ("PIMCO"),  a publicly traded money management firm,
and its  affiliate,  PA  Holdings,  Inc.,  hold a 33%  interest  in  Oppenheimer
Capital,  and Oppenheimer  Capital,  L.P., a Delaware limited  partnership whose
units  are  traded  on the New York  Stock  Exchange  and of  which  Oppenheimer
Financial  Corp is the sole general  partner,  owns the  remaining 67% interest.
PIMCO and PA Holdings also own a 1% interest in OpCap Advisors and a 1% interest
in Oppenheimer Capital,  L.P. As of September 30, 1998,  Oppenheimer Capital and
its subsidiary OpCap had assets under management of approximately $58 billion.

Fox Asset Management,  Inc. ("Fox"), a registered investment advisor,  serves as
Advisor to the Investment Quality Bond Portfolio. Fox was formed in 1985. Fox is
owned by its current  employees,  with a  controlling  interest held by J. Peter
Skirkanich,  President,  Managing  Director  and  Chairman  of Fox's  Investment
Committee.  Fox is located at 44 Sycamore Avenue, Little Silver, NJ 07739. As of
September  30, 1998,  assets under  management  by Fox were  approximately  $4.5
billion.

Harris  Bretall  Sullivan  & Smith,  L.L.C.  ("Harris  Bretall"),  a  registered
investment  advisor,  serves  as  Advisor  to the  Large  Capitalization  Growth
Portfolio.  The firm's  predecessor,  Harris Bretall Sullivan & Smith, Inc., was
founded in 1971.  Value  Asset  Management,  Inc.,  a holding  company  owned by
BancBoston  Ventures,  Inc., is the majority owner.  Located at One Post Street,
San   Francisco,   CA  94104,   the  firm   managed   assets  of   approximately
$2.6 billion as of September 30, 1998.

Thorsell,  Parker Partners,  Inc. ("Thorsell"),  a registered investment advisor
serves as Advisor to the Small Capitalization  Portfolio. The firm is located at
265 Post  Road  West,  Westport,  Connecticut  06880.  Thorsell  is owned by its
current  employees  with a  controlling  interest  (approximately  70%)  held by
Richard L.  Thorsell.  As of  September  30,  1998,  the firm had  approximately
$352 million of assets under management.

Sterling  Capital  Management  Company  ("Sterling"),  a  registered  investment
advisor, is the Advisor to the U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio.  Sterling
is a North  Carolina  corporation  formed in 1970 and located at One First Union
Center, 301 S. College Street, Suite 3200,  Charlotte,  NC 28202.  Sterling is a
wholly-owned  subsidiary  of United Asset  Management  Corporation  and provides
investment  management  services to  corporations,  pension  and  profit-sharing
plans, trusts,  estates and other institutions and individuals.  As of September
30, 1998,  Sterling had  approximately  $2.8 billion in assets under management.
Since  1982,  Sterling  has been  involved  with the  distribution  of the North
Carolina  Capital   Management   Trust,  a  money  market  mutual  fund  offered
exclusively  to public units in the state,  the first such fund to be registered
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As of September 30, 1998, the asset
value of this fund was approximately $2.9 billion.

Friends Ivory & Sime, Inc.  ("FIS"),  a registered  investment  advisor,  is the
Advisor to the International Equity Portfolio and, in connection therewith,  has
entered into a sub-investment  advisory  agreement with Friends Ivory & Sime plc
of London, England. Pursuant to such sub-investment advisory agreement,  Friends
Ivory & Sime plc performs investment advisory and portfolio transaction services
for  such  Portfolio.  While  Friends  Ivory & Sime plc is  responsible  for the
day-to-day   management  of  the  Portfolio's  assets,  FIS  reviews  investment
performance, policies and guidelines,  facilitates communication between Friends
Ivory & Sime plc and the Manager and  maintains  certain  books and records.  As
compensation  for its  services as  investment  advisor,  the Manager pays FIS a
monthly fee at the annual  rate of .40% of the  average  daily net assets of the
International Equity Portfolio. As compensation for its services,  Friends Ivory
& Sime plc receives  from FIS 78% of the net monthly fees paid by the Manager to
FIS pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Manager and FIS.

FIS (formerly Ivory & Sime International, Inc.) was organized in 1978, and as of
February,  1998 is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Friends Ivory & Sime plc. FIS
offers  clients in the United States the services of Friends Ivory & Sime plc in
global securities  markets.  Friends Ivory & Sime plc is a subsidiary of Friends
Provident  Group.  Friends  Provident was founded in 1832,  and is a mutual life
assurance company registered in England.  As of September 30, 1998, the firm and
its affiliates managed  approximately $40 billion of global equity  investments.
FIS is located at One World Trade Center,  Suite 2101,  New York, NY 10048,  and
Friends Ivory & Sime plc is located at Princes Court, 7 Princes Street,  London,
England EC2R8AQ.

Administration

State Street Bank and Trust Company  ("State  Street"),  located at One Heritage
Drive, North Quincy,  Massachusetts 02171, calculates the net asset value of the
Portfolios'  shares and creates and  maintains  the  Trust's  financial  records
required by Section 31 of the 1940 Act.

Unified Fund Services,  Inc.  provides  administrative  services and manages the
administrative affairs of the Trust pursuant to an Administration Agreement with
the Trust. Such services include the preparation of proxy statements and reports
filed with federal and state securities  commissions  (except to the extent that
the participation of independent accountants and attorneys is, in the opinion of
Unified Fund Services,  Inc., necessary or desirable),  preparation of materials
for  regular and  special  meetings  of the Board of Trustees of the Trust,  and
supervising the determination of the net asset value of the Trust's  Portfolios.
For these  services,  each Portfolio pays Unified Fund Services,  Inc. an annual
rate of .12% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets per year with a monthly
cap.

Expenses of The Portfolios

Each Portfolio  bears its own expenses,  which  generally  include all costs not
specifically borne by the Manager,  the Advisors,  State Street and Unified Fund
Services,  Inc. as  Administrator  to the Trust.  Included  among a  Portfolio's
expenses are: costs incurred in connection  with the  Portfolio's  organization;
investment  management and administration fees; fees for necessary  professional
and brokerage services; fees for any pricing service; costs of the determination
of net asset value;  the costs of regulatory  compliance;  and costs  associated
with  maintaining  the Trust's legal existence and  shareholder  relations.  The
Trust's  agreement  with the Manager  provides  that the Manager will reduce its
fees to a Portfolio to the extent required by applicable  state laws for certain
expenses that are described in the Statement of Additional Information.

Portfolio Transactions

To the extent consistent with the applicable  provisions of the 1940 Act and the
rules  and  exemptions  adopted  by the SEC  under  the 1940  Act,  the Board of
Trustees of the Trust has determined that brokerage transactions for a Portfolio
may be executed  through  affiliated  broker-dealers  if, in the judgment of the
Advisor, the use of an affiliated broker-dealer is likely to result in price and
execution at least as favorable as those of other qualified broker-dealers. When
selecting  broker-dealers,  the Advisors  may consider  their record of sales of
shares of the Portfolios.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

General

Purchases of shares of a Portfolio must be made through an entity having a sales
agreement with Unified Management  Corporation,  the Trust's general distributor
(the "Distributor") ("Dealers"), or directly through the Distributor.

The  Trust is  designed  to help  investors  to  implement  an asset  allocation
strategy to meet their individual needs as well as select individual investments
within each asset category among the myriad choices available.  The Trust offers
several  Classes  of shares  to  investors  designed  to  provide  them with the
flexibility of selecting an investment best suited to their needs.

The Trust makes available  assistance to help certain  investors  identify their
risk   tolerance  and   investment   objectives   through  use  of  an  investor
questionnaire, and to select an appropriate model allocation of assets among the
Portfolios.  As  further  assistance,  the  Trust  makes  available  to  certain
investors the option of automatic  reallocation or rebalancing of their selected
model.  The Trust also provides,  on a periodic  basis, a report to the investor
containing an analysis and evaluation of the investor's account.

CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

Shares are sold at net asset  value  next  determined  without an initial  sales
charge so that the full amount of an investor's purchase payment may be invested
in the Trust. A CDSC,  however,  will be imposed on most shares  redeemed within
six years after  purchase.  The CDSC will be imposed on any redemption of shares
if after such  redemption  the  aggregate  current  value of an account with the
Trust falls below the aggregate amount of the investor's  purchase  payments for
shares made during the six years preceding the redemption.  In addition,  shares
are subject to an annual 12b-1 fee of 1.0% of the average daily net assets.

Shares  of the  Trust  which  are held  for six  years  or more  after  purchase
will not be subject to any CDSC upon  redemption.  Shares redeemed  earlier than
six years  after  purchase  may,  however,  be subject to a CDSC which will be a
percentage  of the dollar  amount of shares  redeemed and will be assessed on an
amount equal to the lesser of the current market value or the cost of the shares
being redeemed. The size of this percentage will depend upon how long the shares
have been held, as set forth in the following table:
   
 Year Since
 Purchase                                   CDSC as a Percentage
Payment Made                                 of Amount Redeemed
- ------------                                 ------------------

First...........................................     5.0%
Second..........................................     4.0%
Third...........................................     4.0%
Fourth..........................................     3.0%
Fifth...........................................     2.0%
Sixth...........................................     1.0%
Seventh and thereafter..........................     None

CDSC Waivers.  A CDSC will not be imposed on: (i) any amount which represents an
increase  in value of  shares  purchased  within  the six  years  preceding  the
redemption;  (ii) the current net asset value of shares  purchased more than six
years prior to the  redemption;  and (iii) the current net asset value of shares
purchased  through  reinvestment  of dividends or  distributions.  Moreover,  in
determining  whether  a CDSC  is  applicable  it will be  assumed  that  amounts
described in (i), (ii), and (iii) above (in that order) are redeemed first.

In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case of:

         (1)  redemptions  of  shares  held at the  time a  shareholder  dies or
becomes  disabled,  only if the shares are: (a) registered either in the name of
an individual shareholder (not a trust), or in the names of such shareholder and
his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship;  or (b) held in a
qualified  corporate or  self-employed  retirement plan,  Individual  Retirement
Account  ("IRA") or Custodial  Account under  Section  403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue  Code  ("403(b)  Custodial  Account"),  provided in either case that the
redemption is requested within one year of the death or initial determination of
disability;

         (2)  redemptions  in  connection  with the  following  retirement  plan
distributions: (a) lump-sum or other distributions from a qualified corporate or
self-employed  retirement  plan following  retirement (or, in the case of a "key
employee"  of a "top  heavy"  plan,  following  attainment  of age 59 1/2);  (b)
distributions  from an IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account  following  attainment of
age 70 1/2; or (c) a tax-free return of an excess contribution to an IRA;

         (3)  certain  redemptions   pursuant  to  the  Portfolio's   Systematic
Withdrawal Plan (see "Redemption of Shares - Systematic Withdrawal Plan").

With  reference to (1) above,  for the purpose of  determining  disability,  the
Distributor  utilizes the definition of disability contained in Section 72(m)(7)
of the  Internal  Revenue  Code,  which  relates to the  inability  to engage in
gainful  employment.  With reference to (2) above, the term  "distribution" does
not encompass a direct transfer of IRA, 403(b)  Custodial  Account or retirement
plan assets to a successor  custodian  or trustee.  All waivers  will be granted
only  following  receipt  by the  Distributor  of  written  confirmation  of the
shareholder's entitlement.

Conversion to Class I Shares. Class B shares will convert automatically to Class
I  shares,  based on the  relative  net asset  values  of the  shares of the two
Classes on the  conversion  date,  which will be  approximately  eight (8) years
after the date of the original purchase, or if acquired through an exchange or a
series of  exchanges,  from the date the  original  shares were  purchased.  The
conversion  of  shares  will  take  place  in the  month  following  the  eighth
anniversary  of the  purchase.  There will also be  converted  at that time such
proportion of shares acquired  through  automatic  reinvestment of dividends and
distributions  owned by the shareholder as the total number of his or her shares
converting at the time bears to the total number of outstanding shares purchased
and owned by the shareholder.

Effectiveness   of  the   conversion   feature  is  subject  to  the  continuing
availability  of a ruling of the  Internal  Revenue  Service  or an  opinion  of
counsel that (i) the  conversion  of shares does not  constitute a taxable event
under the Internal Revenue Code, (ii) Class I shares received on conversion will
have  a  basis  equal  to  the  shareholder's  basis  in  the  converted  shares
immediately  prior to the  conversion,  and  (iii)  Class I shares  received  on
conversion  will have a holding  period that includes the holding  period of the
converted  shares.  The  conversion  feature may be  suspended  if the ruling or
opinion is no longer  available.  In such  event,  shares  would  continue to be
subject to 12b-1 fees.
     
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Portfolios have adopted a Plan of Distribution  pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the Act with respect to the  distribution of shares of the Portfolios.  The Plan
provides that each Portfolio  will pay the  Distributor or other entities a fee,
which is  accrued  daily and paid  monthly,  at the  annual  rate of 1.0% of the
average net assets. Up to 0.25% of average daily net assets may be paid directly
to the Manager for support services.  The fee is treated by each Portfolio as an
expense in the year it is accrued.  A portion of the fee payable pursuant to the
Plan, equal to 0.25% of the average daily net assets, is currently characterized
as a service fee. A service fee is a payment made for  personal  service  and/or
the maintenance of shareholder accounts.

Additional  amounts  paid  under the Plan are paid to the  Distributor  or other
entities for services  provided and the expenses  borne by the  Distributor  and
others in the  distribution of the shares,  including the payment of commissions
for sales of the shares and  incentive  compensation  to and expenses of Dealers
and  others  who  engage in or  support  distribution  of shares or who  service
shareholder  accounts,  including overhead and telephone expenses;  printing and
distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of
the  Portfolios'  shares to other than current  shareholders;  and  preparation,
printing and  distribution  of sales  literature and advertising  materials.  In
addition,  the  Distributor  or other entities may utilize fees paid pursuant to
the Plan to compensate  Dealers or other entities for their opportunity costs in
advancing such amounts,  which  compensation  would be in the form of a carrying
charge on any unreimbursed expenses.

At any given time, the expenses in distributing  shares of each Portfolio may be
in excess of the total of (i) the payments made by the Portfolio pursuant to the
Plan,  and (ii) the proceeds of CDSCs paid by investors  upon the  redemption of
shares.  For  example,  if $1 million in  expenses in  distributing  shares of a
Portfolio  had been  incurred and $750,000 had been received as described in (i)
and (ii) above, the excess expense would amount to $250,000. Because there is no
requirement  under the Plan that the Distributor or other entities be reimbursed
for all distribution expenses or any requirement that the Plan be continued from
year to  year,  such  excess  amount  does not  constitute  a  liability  of the
Portfolio.  Although  there  is no legal  obligation  for the  Portfolio  to pay
expenses  incurred in excess of payments made to the Distributor under the Plan,
and the proceeds of CDSCs paid by investors  upon  redemption of shares,  if for
any reason the Plan is  terminated  the Trustees  will consider at that time the
manner in which to treat such expenses.  Any cumulative  expenses incurred,  but
not  yet  recovered  through  distribution  fees  or  CDSCs,  may or may  not be
recovered through future distribution fees or CDSCs. If expenses in distributing
shares are less than payments made for distributing  shares,  the Distributor or
other entities will retain the full amount of the payments.

Continuous Offering

The Trust  offers its shares for sale to the public on a continuous  basis.  The
offering price is the net asset value per share next determined after receipt of
an order by the Distributor.  Shareholders  will not receive share  certificates
because the Trust does not issue share certificates.

The Trust offers an Automatic  Investment  Plan under which  purchase  orders of
$100 or more may be placed periodically in the Trust. The purchase price is paid
automatically  from  cash  held in the  shareholder's  designated  account.  For
further information regarding the Automatic Investment Plan, shareholders should
contact their Dealer or the Trust at 800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

For Class B shares of the Trust, the minimum initial  investment in the Trust is
$10,000 and the minimum  investment in any individual  Portfolio (other than the
U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio) is $250; there is no minimum investment
for the U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio.  For employees and relatives of:
the  Manager,  firms  distributing  shares of the Trust,  and the Trust  service
providers and their affiliates, the minimum initial investment is $1,000 with no
individual  Portfolio  minimum.  There  is no  minimum  initial  investment  for
employee benefit plans,  associations,  and individual retirement accounts.  The
minimum  subsequent  investment  in the  Trust is $100 and  there is no  minimum
subsequent  investment  for any  Portfolio.  The Trust reserves the right at any
time to vary the initial and subsequent investment minimums.

The sale of shares will be suspended during any period when the determination of
net asset value is  suspended  and may be  suspended by the Board of Trustees of
the Trust  whenever the Board judges it to be in the best  interest of the Trust
to do so.  The  Distributor  in its sole  discretion,  may  accept or reject any
purchase order.

The  Distributor  will from time to time  provide  compensation  to  Dealers  in
connection  with  sales of  shares  of the  Trust  including  promotional  gifts
(including gift certificates,  dinners and other items), financial assistance to
dealers in connection  with  conferences,  sales or training  programs for their
employees, seminars for the public and advertising campaigns.

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

Redemption in General

Shares of a Portfolio may be redeemed at no charge on any day that the Portfolio
calculates  its net asset  value as  described  below  under "Net Asset  Value."
Redemption  requests  received  in proper  form  prior to the  close of  regular
trading on the NYSE will be effected at the net asset value per share determined
on that day less the amount of any applicable CDSC. Redemption requests received
after the close of regular trading on the NYSE will be effected at the net asset
value next  determined  less the amount of any  applicable  CDSC. A Portfolio is
required to transmit redemption proceeds for credit to the shareholder's account
at no charge  within  seven  days  after  receipt  of a  redemption  request.  A
shareholder  who pays for  Portfolio  shares by personal  check will be credited
with the  proceeds of a redemption  of those shares when the purchase  check has
been collected,  which may take up to 15 days.  Shareholders  who anticipate the
need for more immediate  access to their  investment  should  purchase shares by
Federal funds or bank wire or by a certified or cashier's check.

Redemption requests may be given to the shareholder's Dealer (who is responsible
for transmitting them to the Trust's Transfer Agent) or directly to the Transfer
Agent, if the shareholder  purchased  shares directly from the  Distributor.  In
order to be  effective,  a  redemption  request of a  shareholder  other than an
individual may require the submission of documents  commonly  required to assure
the safety of a particular account.
        
The Trust may suspend  redemption  procedures  and postpone  redemption  payment
during any period when the NYSE is closed  other than for  customary  weekend or
holiday  closing  or when the SEC has  determined  an  emergency  exists  or has
otherwise permitted such suspension or postponement.

If the Board of Trustees  determines  that it would be  detrimental  to the best
interests of a Portfolio's  shareholders to make a redemption  payment wholly in
cash,  the Portfolio  may pay, in accordance  with rules adopted by the SEC, any
portion  of a  redemption  in excess  of the  lesser  of  $250,000  or 1% of the
Portfolio's  net  assets  by a  distributions  in  kind  of  readily  marketable
portfolio securities in lieu of cash. Redemptions failing to meet this threshold
must be made in cash.  Shareholders receiving distributions in kind of portfolio
securities may incur brokerage commissions when subsequently  disposing of those
securities.

Certain  requests  require a signature  guarantee.  To protect you and the Trust
from fraud,  certain transactions and redemption requests must be in writing and
must include a signature  guarantee in the  following  situations  (there may be
other  situations also requiring a signature  guarantee in the discretion of the
Trust or Transfer Agent):

1.  Re-registration of the account.
2.  Changing bank wiring instructions on the account.
3.  Name change on the account.
4.  Setting up/changing systematic withdrawal plan to a secondary address.
5.  Redemptions greater than $25,000.
6.  Any redemption check that is made payable to someone other than the
    shareholder(s).
7.  Any redemption check that is being mailed to a different address than the
    address of record.

You can obtain a signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, credit union,
broker-dealer,  securities  exchange or association,  clearing agency or savings
association, as defined by federal law.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal Plan")
is available for shareholders. Any Portfolio from which redemptions will be made
pursuant to the Plan will be referred to as a "SWP  Portfolio".  The  Withdrawal
Plan  provides for monthly,  quarterly,  semi- annual or annual  payments in any
amount  not less than $25,  or in any whole  percentage  of the value of the SWP
Portfolio's  shares, on an annualized basis. Any applicable CDSC will be imposed
on shares  redeemed under the  Withdrawal  Plan (see "Purchase of Fund Shares"),
except that the CDSC, if any, will be waived on redemptions under the Withdrawal
Plan of up to 12% annually of the value of each SWP Portfolio account,  based on
the  Share  values  next  determined  after  the  shareholder   establishes  the
Withdrawal Plan. Redemptions for which this CDSC waiver policy applies may be in
amounts up to 1% per month, 3% per quarter,  6%  semi-annually  or 12% annually.
Under this CDSC waiver  policy,  amounts  withdrawn  each period will be paid by
first  redeeming  shares not subject to a CDSC because the shares were purchased
by the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions, the CDSC period
has elapsed or some other  waiver of the CDSC  applies.  If shares  subject to a
CDSC  must be  redeemed,  shares  held for the  longest  period  of time will be
redeemed  first  followed by shares held the next  longest  period of time until
shares  held  the  shortest  period  of  time  are  redeemed.   Any  shareholder
participating  in the Withdrawal Plan will have sufficient  shares redeemed from
his or her  account so that the  proceeds  (net of any  applicable  CDSC) to the
shareholder  will be the designated  monthly,  quarterly,  semi-annual or annual
amount.

A shareholder may suspend or terminate  participation  in the Withdrawal Plan at
any time. A shareholder  who has  suspended  participation  may resume  payments
under the Withdrawal Plan,  without requiring a new determination of the account
value for the 12% CDSC waiver.  The Withdrawal Plan may be terminated or revised
at any time by the Portfolios.

The addition of a new SWP  Portfolio  will not change the account  value for the
12% CDSC waiver for the SWP Portfolios  already  participating in the Withdrawal
Plan.

Withdrawal Plan payments should not be considered  dividends,  yields or income.
If periodic  Withdrawal Plan payments  continuously exceed net investment income
and  net  capital  gains,  the   shareholder's   original   investment  will  be
correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted.  Each withdrawal constitutes a
redemption  of  shares  and any gain or loss  realized  must be  recognized  for
federal   income  tax  purposes.   Shareholders   should  contact  their  Dealer
representative or the Manager for further information about the Withdrawal Plan.

Reinstatement Privilege. A shareholder who has had his or her shares redeemed or
repurchased and has not previously  exercised this reinstatement  privilege may,
within 35 days after the date of the  redemption  or  repurchase,  reinstate any
portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption or repurchase in shares of the
Portfolios   in  the  same  Class  from  which  such  shares  were  redeemed  or
repurchased,  at net asset value next determined  after a reinstatement  request
(made in writing to and approved by the Manager), together with the proceeds, is
received by the Transfer  Agent and receive a pro-rata  credit for any CDSC paid
in connection with such redemption or repurchase.

Involuntary Redemptions

Due to the relatively  high cost of maintaining  small  accounts,  the Trust may
redeem  an  account  having a  current  value of  $7,500  or less as a result of
redemptions,  but not as a result of a fluctuation  in a  Portfolio's  net asset
value,  after  the  shareholder  has  been  given  at  least 30 days in which to
increase the account balance to more than that amount. Investors should be aware
that involuntary redemptions may result in the liquidation of Portfolio holdings
at a time when the value of those holdings is lower than the investor's  cost of
the  investment or may result in the  realization of taxable  capital gains.  No
CDSC will be imposed on any involuntary redemption.

NET ASSET VALUE

Each Portfolio's net asset value per share is calculated by State Street on each
day, Monday through Friday, except on days on which the NYSE is closed. The NYSE
is currently  scheduled to be closed on New Year's Day, Dr.  Martin Luther King,
Jr. Day,  Presidents' Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,  Independence  Day, Labor
Day,  Thanksgiving and Christmas,  and on the preceding Friday when one of those
holidays  falls on a  Saturday  or on the  subsequent  Monday  when one of those
holidays falls on a Sunday.

Net asset value per share is  determined  as of the close of trading on the NYSE
and is computed by dividing the value of a  Portfolio's  net assets by the total
number of its shares  outstanding.  Generally,  a  Portfolio's  investments  are
valued at market  value or, in the absence of a market  value,  at fair value as
determined by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees.

Securities that are primarily  traded on foreign  exchanges are generally valued
for  purposes of  calculating  a  Portfolio's  net asset value at the  preceding
closing values of the  securities on their  respective  exchanges,  except that,
when an occurrence  subsequent to the time a value was so  established is likely
to have changed that value,  the fair market value of those  securities  will be
determined  by  consideration  of other factors by or under the direction of the
Board of Trustees.  A security that is primarily traded on a domestic or foreign
stock exchange is valued at the last sale price on that exchange or, if no sales
occurred  during  the day,  at the  current  quoted  bid  price.  All  portfolio
securities  held by the U.S.  Government  Money Market  Portfolio and short term
dollar-denominated investments of the other Portfolios that mature in 60 days or
less are  valued on the basis of  amortized  cost  (which  involves  valuing  an
investment  at its cost and,  thereafter,  assuming a constant  amortization  to
maturity of any  discount or premium,  regardless  of the effect of  fluctuating
interest rates on the market value of the investment) when the Board of Trustees
has  determined  that amortized cost  represents  fair value.  An option that is
written  by the Fund is  generally  valued  at the last  sale  price  or, in the
absence  of the last  sale  price,  the last  offer  price.  An  option  that is
purchased by the Portfolio is generally valued at the last sale price or, in the
absence  of the last  sale  price,  the last bid  price.  The value of a futures
contact  is  equal  to the  unrealized  gain  or loss  on the  contract  that is
determined  by marking the contract to the current  settlement  price for a like
contract on the valuation date of the futures  contract.  A settlement price may
not be used if the  market  makes a limit  move  with  respect  to a  particular
futures contract if the securities  underlying the futures  contract  experience
significant price  fluctuations after the determination of the settlement price.
When a settlement  price  cannot be used,  futures  contracts  will be valued at
their fair market value as  determined by or under the direction of the Board of
Trustees.

All assets and liabilities  initially  expressed in foreign currency values will
be  converted  into U.S.  dollar  values at the mean between the bid and offered
quotations  of the  currencies  against  U.S.  dollars  as  last  quoted  by any
recognized dealer. If the bid and offered quotations are not available, the rate
of exchange will be determined in good faith by or under the direction of by the
Board of Trustees. In carrying out the Board's valuation policies,  State Street
may consult with an independent  pricing service retained by the Trust.  Further
information  regarding the  Portfolio's  valuation  policies is contained in the
Statement of Additional Information.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

Shares of a Portfolio may be exchanged  without  payment of any exchange fee for
shares of  another  Portfolio  of the same Class at their  respective  net asset
values.  No CDSC is imposed at the time of any exchange of shares,  although any
applicable CDSC will be imposed upon ultimate  redemption.  The Trust may in the
future offer an exchange feature  involving shares of an unaffiliated Fund group
subject to receipt of  appropriate  regulatory  relief.  Portfolios  acquired in
exchange for shares of a CDSC Fund having a different CDSC schedule than that of
these  Portfolios  will be  subject to the higher  CDSC  schedule,  even if such
shares are  subsequently  re-exchanged  for shares of a Portfolio or Fund with a
lower CDSC schedule.

An exchange of shares,  including  an exchange  resulting  from a  shareholder's
instruction  to  automatically  or otherwise  reallocate or rebalance his or her
shares,  is treated for federal  income tax purposes as a  redemption  (sale) of
shares given in exchange by the shareholder,  and an exchanging shareholder may,
therefore,  realize  a taxable  gain or loss in  connection  with the  exchange.
Shareholders  exchanging  shares of a Portfolio for shares of another  Portfolio
should  review the  disclosure  provided  herein  relating to the  exchanged-for
shares  carefully  prior to  making  an  exchange.  The  exchange  privilege  is
available to shareholders  residing in any state in which Portfolio shares being
acquired may be legally sold.

The Manager  reserves the right to reject any exchange  request and the exchange
privilege  may  be  modified  or  terminated  upon  notice  to  shareholders  in
accordance  with  applicable  rules  adopted  by  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.

The Distributor and the Trust's transfer agent will employ reasonable procedures
for  telephone  redemptions  and  exchanges  to  confirm  that the  instructions
received from shareholders or their account  representatives are genuine, and if
they do not, the  Distributor or the transfer agent may be liable for any losses
due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Shareholders will be required to
provide  their  name,  address,  social  security  number and other  identifying
information. Account representatives must identify themselves and their firm and
the Distributor  will confirm that such firm has a valid selling  agreement with
the  Distributor and that the  representative  is authorized to act on behalf of
the firm.

Because  excessive  trading  (including  short-term  "market timing" trading can
limit a Portfolio's  performance,  each Portfolio may refuse any exchange orders
(1) if  they  appear  to be  market-timing  transactions  involving  significant
portions  of a  Portfolio's  assets or (2) from any  shareholder  account if the
shareholder  or his or her  broker-dealer  has been advised that previous use of
the exchange privilege is considered excessive.  Accounts under common ownership
or  control,  including  those  with the  same  taxpayer  ID  number  and  those
administered so as to redeem or purchase shares based upon certain predetermined
market indicators, will be considered one account for this purpose.

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

Dividends and Distributions

Net  investment  income  (i.e.,  income  other than long and short term  capital
gains) and net  realized  long and short term capital  gains will be  determined
separately for each Portfolio.  Dividends derived from net investment income and
distributions  of net  realized  long and short  term  capital  gains  paid by a
Portfolio to a  shareholder  will be  automatically  reinvested  (at current net
asset value) in additional  shares of that Portfolio (which will be deposited in
the  shareholder's  account)  unless the  shareholder  instructs  the Trust,  in
writing,  to pay all dividends and  distributions  in cash.  Shares  acquired by
dividend and distribution  reinvestment will not be subject to any CDSC and will
be eligible for conversion on a pro rata basis.  Dividends  attributable  to the
net  investment  income  of the U.S.  Government  Money  Market  Portfolio,  the
Municipal  Bond  Portfolio and the  Investment  Quality Bond  Portfolio  will be
declared  daily  and paid  monthly.  Shareholders  of those  Portfolios  receive
dividends  from the day  following  the purchase up to and including the date of
redemption. Dividends attributable to the net investment income of the remaining
Portfolios  are declared and paid  annually.  Distributions  of any net realized
long term and short  term  capital  gains  earned  by a  Portfolio  will be made
annually.

Taxes

As each  Portfolio  will be treated as a separate  entity for federal income tax
purposes,  the amounts of net investment  income and net realized  capital gains
subject to tax will be determined  separately for each Portfolio (rather than on
a Trust-wide basis).

Each Portfolio  intends to qualify each year as a regulated  investment  company
for federal income tax purposes.  The  requirements  for  qualification  (i) may
cause  a  Portfolio,   among  other  things,  to  restrict  the  extent  of  its
transactions in warrants, currencies,  options, futures or forward contracts and
(ii)  will  cause  each  of the  Portfolios  to  maintain  a  diversified  asset
portfolio.

A regulated  investment company will not be subject to federal income tax on its
net investment income and its capital gains that it distributes to shareholders,
so  long  as it  meets  certain  overall  distribution  requirements  and  other
conditions  under the Code.  Each  Portfolio  intends to satisfy  these  overall
distribution requirements and any other required conditions.  Dividends declared
by a Portfolio in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable
to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month shall be deemed to
have been received by each  shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year and
to have been paid by the Portfolio not later than such December 31 provided that
such dividend is actually paid by the Portfolio  during January of the following
year.

Dividends  derived  from  a  Portfolio's   taxable  net  investment  income  and
distributions  of a Portfolio's net realized short term capital gains (including
short term gains from investments in tax exempt  obligations) will be taxable to
shareholders as ordinary  income for federal income tax purposes,  regardless of
how long shareholders have held their Portfolio shares and whether the dividends
or  distributions  are  received in cash or  reinvested  in  additional  shares.
Distributions  of net  realized  long term  capital  gains  will be  taxable  to
shareholders  as long  term  capital  gains for  federal  income  tax  purposes,
regardless of how long a shareholder  has held his Portfolio  shares and whether
the  distributions  are received in cash or  reinvested  in  additional  shares.
Dividends and distributions paid by the U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio,
the  Investment  Quality Bond  Portfolio  and the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio and
distributions  of capital gains paid by all the Portfolios  will not qualify for
the dividend received deduction for corporations.  As a general rule,  dividends
paid by a  Portfolio,  to the extent  derived  from  dividends  attributable  to
certain  types  of stock  issued  by U.S.  corporations,  will  qualify  for the
dividend  received  deduction for corporations  which hold shares in a Portfolio
for more  than 45 days.  Some  states,  if  certain  asset  and  diversification
requirements  are satisfied,  permit  shareholders  to treat their portions of a
Portfolio's  dividends  that  are  attributable  to  interest  on U.S.  Treasury
securities and certain U.S. Government  Securities as income that is exempt from
state and local income taxes.  Dividends  attributable  to repurchase  agreement
earnings are, as a general rule, subject to state and local taxation.

Dividends  paid by the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio that are derived from interest
earned on qualifying tax-exempt obligations are expected to be "exempt-interest"
dividends  that  shareholders  may exclude from their gross  incomes for federal
income  tax  purposes  if  the  Portfolio  satisfies  certain  asset  percentage
requirements. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in bonds, the interest on
which  is a  specific  tax  preference  item for  federal  income  tax  purposes
("AMT-Subject  Bonds"),  any exempt-interest  dividends derived from interest on
AMT-Subject  Bonds will be a specific  tax  preference  item for purposes of the
federal   individual  and  corporate   alternative   minimum  taxes.   Dividends
distributed  by the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio  may not be exempt from state or
local taxation.  Shareholders  will receive  notification  annually  stating the
portion of the Municipal Bond  Portfolio's  tax-exempt  income  attributable  to
issuers in each  state.  You  should  contact  your tax  advisor if you have any
questions, particularly with regard to state and local taxes.

Net  investment  income or capital gains earned by the  Portfolios  investing in
foreign  securities  may be subject  to foreign  income  taxes  withheld  at the
source.  The United  States has  entered  into tax  treaties  with many  foreign
countries that entitle the Portfolios to a reduced rate of tax or exemption from
tax on this  related  income  and  gains.  It is  impossible  to  determine  the
effective  rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of these  Portfolios'
assets to be invested  within  various  countries is not known.  The  Portfolios
intend  to  operate  so as to  qualify  for  treaty-reduced  rates of tax  where
applicable.  Furthermore,  if a Portfolio  qualifies  as a regulated  investment
company,  and if more  than 50% of the  value of the  Portfolio's  assets at the
close  of each  fiscal  quarter  consists  of  stock or  securities  of  foreign
corporations,  the Portfolio may elect,  for U.S.  federal  income tax purposes:
conduit  treatment by passing  through to its  shareholders  the ability to take
either the foreign tax credit or the deduction for foreign taxes with respect to
the  foreign  taxes  paid  by  the  regulated   investment  company.  The  Trust
anticipates  that the  International  Equity Portfolio will qualify for and make
this  election in most,  but not  necessarily  all, of its taxable  years.  If a
Portfolio were to make an election,  an amount equal to the foreign income taxes
paid by the Portfolio  would be included in the income of its  shareholders  and
the  shareholders  would be  entitled  to credit  their  portions of this amount
against  their U.S. tax  liabilities,  if any, or to deduct such  portions  from
their U.S. taxable income,  if any. Shortly after any year for which it makes an
election,  a Portfolio will report to its shareholders,  in writing,  the amount
per share of  foreign  tax that must be  included  in each  shareholder's  gross
income and the amount  which  will be  available  for  deduction  or credit.  No
deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize
deductions.  Certain  limitations  will be  imposed  on the  extent to which the
credit (but not the deduction) for foreign taxes may be claimed.

As discussed  above,  an exchange of shares in a Portfolio for shares in another
Portfolio  resulting  from  a  shareholder's  instruction  to  automatically  or
otherwise  reallocate or rebalance their shares of the Portfolios is treated for
federal income tax purposes as a redemption  (sale) of shares and a taxable gain
or loss may be realized.

Statements   as  to  the  tax  status  of  each   shareholder's   dividends  and
distributions  are  mailed  annually.   Shareholders   will  also  receive,   if
appropriate,  various written notices after the close of the Portfolios' taxable
year with respect to certain  foreign taxes paid by the  Portfolios  and certain
dividends  and  distributions  that  were,  or were  deemed to be,  received  by
shareholders  from the  Portfolios  during the  Portfolios'  prior taxable year.
Shareholders  should consult with their own tax advisors with specific reference
to their own tax situations.

CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

State  Street Bank and Trust  Company is located at One  Heritage  Drive,  North
Quincy,  Massachusetts  02171  and  serves  as  the  Custodian  of  the  Trust's
investments and the Trust's  transfer agent.  The Shareholder  Services Group is
the subtransfer agent for certain retirement plan accounts. Cash balances of the
Portfolios  with the Custodian in excess of $100,000 are  unprotected by Federal
deposit insurance. Such uninsured balances may at times be substantial.

PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Yield

The Trust may, from time to time,  include the yield and effective  yield of the
U.S.   Government  Money  Market  Portfolio  in  advertisements  or  reports  to
shareholders  or prospective  investors.  Current yield for the U.S.  Government
Money  Market  Portfolio  will be based on  income  received  by a  hypothetical
investment  over a given  seven-day  period (less  expenses  accrued  during the
period), and then "annualized" (i.e., assuming that the seven-day yield would be
received  for 52 weeks,  stated in terms of an annual  percentage  return on the
investment).  "Effective  yield" for the U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio
will be calculated in a manner similar to that used to calculate yield, but will
reflect the compounding effect of earnings on reinvested dividends.

For the Investment Quality Bond Portfolio and the Municipal Bond Portfolio, from
time to time, the Trust may advertise the  thirty-day  "yield" and, with respect
to the Municipal Bond Portfolio,  an "equivalent  taxable yield." The yield of a
Portfolio  refers to the income generated by an investment in the Portfolio over
the  thirty-day  period  identified  in the  advertisement  and is  computed  by
dividing the net investment  income per share earned by the Portfolio during the
period by the net asset  value  per  share on the last day of the  period.  This
income is  "annualized"  by assuming that the amount of income is generated each
month over a one-year  period and is compounded  semi-annually.  The  annualized
income is then shown as a percentage of the net asset value.

Equivalent Taxable Yield

The equivalent  taxable yield of the Municipal Bond Portfolio  demonstrates  the
yield on a taxable  investment  necessary to produce an after-tax yield equal to
the Portfolio's tax-exempt yield. It is calculated by increasing the yield shown
for the Portfolio,  calculated as described  above,  to the extent  necessary to
reflect the payment of specified tax rates.  Thus, the equivalent  taxable yield
always will exceed the Portfolio's yield.

Total Return

From time to time,  the Trust may advertise a  Portfolio's  (other than the U.S.
Government Money Market Portfolio's)  "average annual total return" over various
periods of time. This total return figure shows the average percentage change in
value of an investment in the Portfolio from the beginning date of the measuring
period to the ending date of the measuring  period.  The figure reflects changes
in the price of the  Portfolio's  shares and assumes that any income,  dividends
and/or capital gains  distributions  made by the Portfolio during the period are
reinvested  in shares of the  Portfolio.  Figures will be given for recent one-,
five-and  ten-year periods (if applicable) and may be given for other periods as
well  (such  as  from  commencement  of  the  Portfolio's  operations  or  on  a
year-by-year basis). When considering "average" total return figures for periods
longer than one year, investors should note that Portfolio's annual total return
for any one year in the period  might have been greater or less than the average
for the entire period. A Portfolio also may use "aggregate" total return figures
for  various  periods,  representing  the  cumulative  change  in  value  of  an
investment in the Portfolio for the specific period (again reflecting changes in
the  Portfolio's  share  price  and  assuming   reinvestment  of  dividends  and
distributions).  Aggregate  total  returns  may be shown by means of  schedules,
charts or graphs,  and may indicate subtotals of the various components of total
return (that is, the change in value of initial investment, income dividends and
capital gains distributions).

It is  important  to note  that  yield  and total  return  figures  are based on
historical  earnings and are not intended to indicate  future  performance.  The
Statement of  Additional  Information  describes  the method used to determine a
Portfolio's yield and total return.  Shareholders may make inquiries regarding a
Portfolio,  including  current yield quotations or total return figures,  to any
Dealer or the Trust at 800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

In reports or other communications to shareholders or in advertising material, a
Portfolio may compare its performance  with that of other mutual funds as listed
in the rankings prepared by Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc.,  Morningstar or
similar  independent  services that monitor the  performance  of mutual funds or
with other  appropriate  indices of  investment  securities,  such as the Lehman
Brothers  Government/Corporate  Bond Index,  the S&P 500, the  S&P/Barra  Growth
Index and S&P/Barra Value Index,  the EAFE Index and the Russell 2000 Index. The
performance information also may include evaluations of the Portfolios published
by nationally recognized ranking services and by financial publications that are
nationally  recognized,  such as Business Week, Forbes,  Fortune,  Institutional
Investor,  Morningstar,  Barron's,  Investor's  Business Daily,  The Wall Street
Journal, USA Today, The New York Times and Money.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Trust was organized as an  unincorporated  business  trust under the laws of
Delaware  on April 8, 1994 and is a trust  fund  commonly  known as a  "business
trust."

The  shareholders  of the  Portfolios  are each entitled to a full vote for each
full  share  of  beneficial  interest  (par  value  $.001  per  share)  held and
fractional  votes for fractional  shares.  Each Class will have exclusive voting
privileges  with  respect to matters  relating to  distribution  expenses  borne
solely by such  Class or any other  matter in which the  interests  of one Class
differ from the interests of any other Class. In addition,  Class B shareholders
will  have the  right to vote on any  proposed  material  increase  in Class I's
expenses,  if such  proposal is submitted  separately  to Class I  shareholders.
Shares of each Portfolio are entitled to vote as a class to the extent  required
by the  provisions  of the 1940 Act or as otherwise  permitted by the  Trustees.
When issued,  shares of each  Portfolio  are fully paid and have no  preemptive,
conversion  or other  subscription  rights.  The  shares do not have  cumulative
voting rights.

It is the  intention of the Trust not to hold Annual  Meetings of  Shareholders.
The Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote  as may be  required  by the  1940  Act  or  the  Master  Trust  Agreement.
Shareholders  have certain rights,  including the right to call a meeting upon a
vote of the Trust's  outstanding shares for the purpose of voting on the removal
of one or more  Trustees.  The  Trust  may  from  time to  time  add  additional
Portfolios  to the Trust or with  approval  of the  shareholders  of an existing
Portfolio, if necessary, terminate one or more of the Portfolios.

Shareholder Inquiries

All  inquiries  regarding  the Trust  should be  directed  to  Saratoga  Capital
Management at 800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

Major Shareholders 

To the knowledge of the Trust,  the only person who as of September 30, 1998 had
beneficial  ownership  of more than 25% of the voting  securities  of any of the
Portfolios is the American Medical  Association Pension Trust, which held 32.86%
of the  outstanding  shares of the Small  Capitalization  Portfolio,  and may be
deemed to control the Small Capitalization  Portfolio until such time as it owns
less than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Small Capitalization Portfolio.


                                   PROSPECTUS

Trust Manager:
Saratoga Capital Management
1501 Franklin Avenue
Mineola, NY  11501
(800) 807-FUND
         (3863)

Transfer and Shareholder
Servicing Agent:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
P.O. Box 8514
Boston, MA 02266

General Distributor:
Unified Management Corporation
431 North Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 917-7000

(-       U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio

(-       Investment Quality Bond Portfolio

(-       Municipal Bond Portfolio

(-       Large Capitalization Value Portfolio

(-       Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio

(-       Small Capitalization Portfolio

(-       International Equity Portfolio


No  person  has  been  authorized  to  give  any  information  or  to  make  any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus,  the Statement of
Additional  Information or the Trust's  official sales  literature in connection
with the offering of shares,  and if given or made,  such other  information  or
representations  must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Trust.
This  prospectus  does not constitute an offer in any state in which,  or to any
person to whom, such offer may not lawfully be made.

<PAGE>


                                 CLASS C SHARES
                        PROSPECTUS Dated January 1, 1999


                T H E   S A R A T O G A   A D V A N T A G E   T R U S T

         The Saratoga  Advantage Trust (the "Trust") is an open-end,  management
investment  company  providing a  convenient  means of  investing in a series of
separate  investment  portfolios  professionally  managed  by  Saratoga  Capital
Management  (the  "Manager").  Each  of the  Portfolios  is  diversified  and is
provided with discretionary advisory services by a registered investment advisor
(the "Advisor") identified, retained, supervised and compensated by the Manager.
The Trust is a series  company that  currently  includes the  following  Class C
share portfolios (the "Portfolios") to which this Prospectus relates:

         Income Portfolios:

  ( -    U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio

  ( -    Investment Quality Bond Portfolio

  ( -    Municipal Bond Portfolio

         Equity Portfolios:

  ( -    Large Capitalization Value Portfolio

  ( -    Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio

  ( -    Small Capitalization Portfolio

  ( -    International Equity Portfolio


AN INVESTMENT IN THE U.S.  GOVERNMENT  MONEY MARKET  PORTFOLIO IS NOT INSURED OR
GUARANTEED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE  CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT
AGENCY.  ALTHOUGH THE U.S.  GOVERNMENT  MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO SEEKS TO PRESERVE
THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT AT $1.00 PER SHARE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO LOSE MONEY BY
INVESTING IN THE PORTFOLIO.

The  Trust is  designed  to help  investors  to  implement  an asset  allocation
strategy to meet their individual needs as well as select individual investments
within each asset category among the myriad choices  available.  The Trust makes
available assistance to help certain investors identify their risk tolerance and
investment objectives through use of an investor questionnaire, and to select an
appropriate  model  allocation  of  assets  among  the  Portfolios.  As  further
assistance,  the Trust  makes  available  to  certain  investors  the  option of
automatic  reallocation or rebalancing of their selected  model.  The Trust also
provides,  on a periodic basis, a report to the investor  containing an analysis
and evaluation of the investor's account.

This  Prospectus  sets  forth  concisely  certain  information  about the Trust,
including  expenses,  that prospective  investors will find helpful in making an
investment decision.  Investors are encouraged to read this Prospectus carefully
and retain it for future reference.

Additional information about the Trust is contained in a Statement of Additional
Information  dated January 1, 1999,  which is available upon request and without
charge by calling or writing the Trust or Saratoga  Capital  Management  at 1501
Franklin Avenue, Mineola, New York 11501-4803,  800-807-FUND (800-807-3863). The
Statement of Additional  Information,  which has been filed with the  Securities
and Exchange  Commission,  is  incorporated by reference into this Prospectus in
its entirety.

SHARES OF THE  PORTFOLIOS  ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR  OBLIGATIONS  OF OR GUARANTEED OR
ENDORSED BY ANY BANK AND THE SHARES OF THE PORTFOLIOS ARE NOT FEDERALLY  INSURED
BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE  CORPORATION,  THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY
OTHER AGENCY AND INVOLVE  INVESTMENT  RISKS,  INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT INVESTED.

THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.




<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page
Summary................................................................       
Summary of Trust Expenses..............................................       
Financial Highlights...................................................       
Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios..............................       
Certain Securities and Investment Techniques...........................      
Risk Factors...........................................................      
Certain Investment Policies............................................      
Management of the Trust................................................      
Purchase of Shares.....................................................      
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge.......................................
Plan of Distribution...................................................
Redemption of Shares...................................................      
Net Asset Value........................................................      
Exchange Privilege.....................................................      
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.....................................      
Custodian and Transfer Agent...........................................      
Performance of the Portfolios..........................................      
Additional Information.................................................      



SUMMARY

The  following  summary  is  qualified  in its  entirety  by the  more  detailed
information included elsewhere in this Prospectus.

The Trust. The Trust is a management  investment  company providing a convenient
means of investing in separate Portfolios professionally managed by the Manager.
The assets of each of the Portfolios are invested on a discretionary  basis by a
separate  Advisor.  See "Management of the Trust." The Trust is a series company
currently consisting of the following 7 Portfolios:

         Income Portfolios:

( -      U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio, whose Advisor is Sterling
         Capital Management Company.

( -      Investment Quality Bond Portfolio, whose Advisor is Fox Asset
         Management, Inc.

( -      Municipal Bond Portfolio, whose Advisor is OpCap Advisors.

         Equity Portfolios:

( -      Large Capitalization Value Portfolio, whose Advisor is OpCap Advisors.

( -      Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio, whose Advisor is Harris Bretall
         Sullivan & Smith, L.L.C.

( -      Small Capitalization Portfolio, whose Advisor is Thorsell, Parker
         Partners, Inc.

( -      International Equity Portfolio, whose Advisor is Friends Ivory & 
         Sime, Inc.


<PAGE>


MANAGEMENT.  Saratoga Capital Management is the Manager of the Portfolios.  Each
of the  Portfolios is provided with the  discretionary  advisory  services of an
Advisor identified, retained, supervised and compensated by the Manager. Unified
Fund  Services,  Inc.  serves as the Trust's  administrator  and, in  connection
therewith,  provides administration services to each Portfolio.  See "Management
of the Trust."

PURCHASE AND  REDEMPTION  OF SHARES.  Shares of the  Portfolios  are offered for
purchase  at  their  respective  net  asset  values  next  determined,   WITHOUT
IMPOSITION OF ANY SALES CHARGE.  Shares are redeemable by the shareholder at net
asset value less any applicable  contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC").  See
"Purchase of Shares" and "Redemption of Shares."

RISK  FACTORS AND SPECIAL  CONSIDERATIONS.  No  assurance  can be given that the
Portfolios will achieve their investment objectives.  Investing in an investment
company  that invests in  securities  of companies  and  governments  of foreign
countries,  particularly developing countries, involves risks that go beyond the
usual risks inherent in an investment  company limiting its holdings to domestic
investments.  Certain  Portfolios  may also be subject to certain risks in using
investment  techniques  and  strategies  such as entering into forward  currency
contracts,  repurchase  agreements,  trading  futures  contracts  and options on
futures  contracts.  In addition,  the Investment Quality Bond Portfolio and the
Municipal Bond  Portfolio may invest in zero coupon  securities,  which,  due to
changes  in  interest  rates,  may be more  speculative  and  subject to greater
fluctuations  in  value  than  securities  that  pay  interest  currently.   See
"Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios,"  "Certain Securities and Investment
Techniques" and "Risk Factors."

The Portfolios are intended primarily as vehicles for the implementation of long
term asset  allocation  strategies.  Because  asset  allocation  strategies  are
designed to spread investment risk across the various segments of the securities
markets through investment in a number of Portfolios,  each individual Portfolio
generally  intends to be  substantially  fully  invested in accordance  with its
investment  objectives and policies during most market conditions.  Although the
Advisor  of a  Portfolio  may,  upon  the  concurrence  of the  Manager,  take a
temporary  defensive  position  during  adverse  market  conditions,  it  can be
expected that a defensive  posture will be adopted less frequently than would be
by other mutual funds.  This policy may impede an Advisor's ability to protect a
Portfolio's  capital during declines in the particular  segment of the market to
which the Portfolio's  assets are committed.  Consequently,  no single Portfolio
should be considered a complete  investment  program and an investment among the
Portfolios  should be  regarded  as a long term  commitment  that should be held
through several market cycles.  See "Objectives and Policies of the Portfolios,"
and "Certain Securities and Investment Techniques-Temporary Investments."

DIVIDENDS AND  DISTRIBUTIONS.  Each Portfolio intends to distribute  annually to
its  shareholders  substantially  all of its net  investment  income and its net
realized long and short term capital  gains.  Dividends  from the net investment
income of the U.S.  Government Money Market  Portfolio,  the Investment  Quality
Bond  Portfolio,  and the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio are declared daily and paid
monthly.  Dividends from the net investment  income of the remaining  Portfolios
are declared and paid annually.  Distributions of any net realized long term and
short term capital  gains earned by a Portfolio  will be made  annually.  Shares
acquired by dividend and  distribution  reinvestment  will not be subject to any
CDSC.  See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."

TAXATION.  Each of the Portfolios  intends to qualify as a regulated  investment
company for U.S.  federal income tax purposes.  As such,  the Trust  anticipates
that no  Portfolio  will be  subject  to U.S.  federal  income tax on income and
gains, if any, that are distributed to shareholders. It is expected that certain
capital  gains and certain  dividends and interest  earned by the  International
Equity Portfolio will be subject to foreign  withholding  taxes. These taxes may
be deductible or creditable in whole or in part by shareholders of the Portfolio
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See "Dividends, Distributions and Taxes."

CUSTODIAN  AND  TRANSFER  AGENT.  State  Street Bank and Trust  Company  ("State
Street") acts as the  custodian of the Trust's U.S. and non-U.S.  assets and may
employ sub-custodians  outside the United States approved by the Trustees of the
Trust in accordance with  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission
(the "SEC").  State Street also serves as the transfer agent for the Portfolios'
shares. See "Custodian and Transfer Agent."
<PAGE>
                            SUMMARY OF TRUST EXPENSES



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                           U.S. 
                           Government     Investment                   Large           Large                                  
                           Money          Quality       Municipal      Capitalization  Capitalization  Small           International
                           Market         Bond          Bond           Value           Growth          Capitalization  Equity
                           Portfolio      Portfolio     Portfolio      Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio
                           ---------      ---------     ---------      ---------       ---------       ---------       ---------
<S>                        <C>          <C>            <C>           <C>              <C>              <C>

Shareholder Transaction
Expenses 

  Maximum Sales Charge on
  Purchases of Shares 
  (as a % of offering price)   None         None          None            None          None            None            None       

  Sales Charge on Reinvested
  Dividends (as a % of
  offering price)              None         None          None            None          None            None            None

  Maximum Contingent 
  Deferred Sales Charge
  (as a % of net asset value
  at the time of purchase
  or sale, whichever
  is less)(1)                    1%            1%            1%            1%             1%              1%               1%   

  Exchange Fee                 None         None          None            None          None            None            None   

Annual Portfolio
Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of
average net assets)

  Management Fees            .475%          .55%          .55%           .65%            .65%             .65%            .75%

  Distribution Expenses
   (Rule 12b-1)(2)            1.0%           1.0%          1.0%          1.0%            1.0%             1.0%            1.0%

Other Expenses
(after reimbursement)        .65%           .65%          .65%           .65%            .65%             .65%            .65%
                             ---            ---           ---            ---             ---              ---             ---   
Total Operating 
Expenses(3)                 2.125%         2.20%         2.20%          2.30%           2.30%            2.30%          2.40%
(after reimbursement)

</TABLE>

MANAGEMENT  FEES AND OTHER  EXPENSES:  Each Portfolio pays the Manager a fee for
its services  that is computed  daily and paid monthly at an annual rate ranging
from  .475%  to .75%  of the  value  of the  average  daily  net  assets  of the
Portfolio.  The fees of each Advisor are paid by the Manager.  The nature of the
services provided to, and the aggregate  management fees paid by, each Portfolio
are  described  under  "Management  of the Trust." The expenses set forth in the
above table reflect voluntary expense limitations currently in effect and can be
changed at any time. The Class C shares intend to commence  operation on January
1, 1999. Management Fees and Other Expenses are based on actual Class I expenses
for fiscal  1998.  In addition,  expense  offset  arrangements  with the Trust's
Custodian Bank were in effect with respect to each Portfolio.  The amount of the
expense offset for each  respective  Portfolio was as follows:  U.S.  Government
Money Market, 0%; Investment  Quality Bond, 0.10%;  Municipal Bond, 0.01%; Large
Capitalization   Value,   0%;  Large   Capitalization   Growth,   0.07%;   Small
Capitalization,  0%; and  International  Equity,  0.26%.  Under  applicable  SEC
regulations,  the amount by which  Portfolio  expenses are reduced by an expense
offset  arrangement is required to be added to "Other Expenses." The .65% figure
set forth  above with  respect to each  Portfolio  for "Other  Expenses"  above,
reflects the actual  "Other  Expenses" of each  respective  Portfolio,  plus the
amount of the expense offset  arrangement,  reduced by the amount of the expense
reimbursement.  Without such voluntary waivers,  expense assumptions and expense
offsets, total operating expenses of each of the Portfolios for fiscal year 1999
are expected to be: U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio,  2.30%;  Investment
Quality  Bond  Portfolio,   2.37%;   Municipal  Bond  Portfolio,   3.15%;  Large
Capitalization Value Portfolio,  2.39%; Large  Capitalization  Growth Portfolio,
2.25%;  Small   Capitalization   Portfolio,   2.44%;  and  International  Equity
Portfolio,  2.96%.  "Other  Expenses"  include  fees for  shareholder  services,
administration,  custodial  fees,  legal and accounting  fees,  printing  costs,
registration fees, the costs of regulatory  compliance,  a Portfolio's allocated
portion of the costs associated with maintaining the Trust's legal existence and
the costs involved in the Trust's  communications  with shareholders.  Long-term
shareholders  of Class C may pay more in sales charges,  including  distribution
fees,  than the  economic  equivalent  of the maximum  front-end  sales  charges
permitted by the NASD.

(1) Only  applicable  to  redemptions  made within one year after  purchase (see
"Contingent Deferred Sales Charge").
(2) The 12b-1 fee is accrued daily and payable  monthly.  A portion of the 12b-1
fee  payable  equal  to 0.25% of the  average  daily  net  assets  is  currently
characterized  as a service fee within the meaning of  National  Association  of
Securities Dealers,  Inc. ("NASD") guidelines and are payments made for personal
service and/or maintenance of shareholder  accounts.  The remainder of the 12b-1
fee is an  asset-based  sales  charge,  and is a  distribution  fee  paid to the
Distributor or other entities to compensate  them for the services  provided and
the expenses  borne by the  Distributor  and others in the  distribution  of the
Portfolios' shares (see "Plan of Distribution").
(3) "Total Fund Operating  Expenses," as shown above,  are based upon the sum of
12b-1 Fees, Management Fees and "Other Expenses."
<PAGE>

Example. The following example demonstrates the projected dollar amount of total
cumulative  expenses that would be incurred over various periods with respect to
a hypothetical  investment in the  Portfolios.  These amounts are based upon (i)
payment by the  Portfolios of operating  expenses at the levels set forth in the
table above and (ii) the specific assumptions stated below:

A shareholder would pay the following  expenses on a $1,000 investment  assuming
(i) a 5% annual return and (ii) redemption at the end of each time period:

<TABLE>

                 U.S. 
              Government Investment                  Large          Large                                  
                Money     Quality    Municipal  Capitalization  Capitalization      Small       International
                Market      Bond       Bond          Value         Growth      Capitalization       Equity
               Portfolio  Portfolio  Portfolio     Portfolio      Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio
               ---------  ---------  ---------     ---------      ---------       ---------       ---------
<S>            <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>             <C>             <C>           <C>

1 year           $32        $33        $34            $34            $34             $34             $35

3 years           67         69         72             72             72              72              75
                                                                                                     
5 years          114        118        123            123            123             123             128
                                                                                                     
10 years         246        253        264            264            264             264             274

</TABLE>

A shareholder would pay the following  expenses on a $1,000 investment  assuming
(i) a 5% annual return and (ii) no redemption at the end of each time period:

<TABLE>

                 U.S. 
              Government Investment                  Large          Large                                  
                Money     Quality    Municipal  Capitalization  Capitalization      Small       International
                Market      Bond       Bond          Value         Growth      Capitalization       Equity
               Portfolio  Portfolio  Portfolio     Portfolio      Portfolio       Portfolio       Portfolio
               ---------  ---------  ---------     ---------      ---------       ---------       ---------
<S>            <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>             <C>             <C>           <C>

1 year           $21        $22        $23            $23            $23             $23             $24

3 years           67         69         72             72             72              72              75

5 years          114        118        123            123            123             123             128

10 years         246        253        264            264            264             264             274
</TABLE>

The purpose of these examples is to assist an investor in understanding  various
costs and expenses  that an investor in a Portfolio  will bear.  THESE  EXAMPLES
SHOULD NOT BE  CONSIDERED  TO BE A  REPRESENTATION  OF PAST OR FUTURE  EXPENSES;
ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. Moreover,  although the
tables assume a 5% annual return, a Portfolio's actual performance will vary and
may result in an actual return greater or less than 5%.

<PAGE>

OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Set forth below is a description  of the  investment  objectives and policies of
each  Portfolio.  There can be no assurance  that any Portfolio will achieve its
investment objectives. Further information about the investment policies of each
Portfolio,  including a list of those restrictions on its investment  activities
that cannot be changed without shareholder approval, appears in the Statement of
Additional Information.

U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO is advised by Sterling Capital Management
Company.  The  Portfolio's  investment  objective is to provide  maximum current
income to the  extent  consistent  with the  maintenance  of  liquidity  and the
preservation of capital by investing exclusively in short term securities issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government,  its agencies or instrumentalities  ("U.S.
Government   Securities")  and  repurchase  agreements  with  respect  to  those
securities.   The  Portfolio  may  purchase   securities  on  a  when-issued  or
delayed-delivery  basis. See "Certain Securities and Investment Techniques." The
Portfolio will invest only in securities  that are purchased with and payable in
U.S. dollars and that have remaining  maturities of 397 days or less at the time
of  purchase.  The  Portfolio  maintains  a  dollar-weighted  average  portfolio
maturity  of 90  days  or  less.  All  securities  purchased  by the  Portfolio,
including  repurchase  agreements,  will  present  minimal  credit  risks in the
opinion of the Advisor acting pursuant to criteria  adopted by the Trust's Board
of  Trustees.  The  Portfolio  follows  these  policies  in order to  maintain a
constant net asset value of $1.00 per share,  although there can be no assurance
it can do so on a continuing  basis.  The Portfolio is not insured or guaranteed
by the U.S.  Government.  The yield attained by the Portfolio may not be as high
as that of other funds that invest in lower quality or longer term securities.

All  investment  decisions  for  the  Portfolio  are  made by  Sterling  Capital
Management  Company's  investment  committee which is primarily  responsible for
management of the Portfolio.

INVESTMENT  QUALITY  BOND  PORTFOLIO  is advised by Fox Asset  Management,  Inc.
("Fox"). The Portfolio seeks, as its investment  objectives,  current income and
reasonable stability of principal. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its objectives
through  investment in investment quality fixed income securities and the active
management of such  securities.  The average  maturity of the securities held by
the Portfolio may be shortened,  but not below three years, in order to preserve
capital if the Advisor  anticipates a rise in interest  rates.  Conversely,  the
average  maturity  may be  lengthened,  but not beyond ten  years,  to  maximize
returns if interest rates are expected to decline.

Under normal conditions, the Portfolio will invest at least 65% of its assets in
debt  instruments  including  U.S.  Government   Securities,   corporate  bonds,
debentures,  Eurodollar  bonds,  Yankee bonds and foreign  currency  denominated
bonds.  In addition,  the Portfolio may invest in  non-convertible  fixed income
preferred stock and mortgage pass-through  securities.  The Portfolio limits its
investments to investment  grade  securities,  which are securities rated within
the four highest  categories  established  by Moody's  Investors  Service,  Inc.
("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's  Corporation  ("S&P"),  and unrated  securities
determined  by the Advisor to be of  comparable  quality.  The  Portfolio is not
obligated to dispose of  securities  that fall below such ratings due to changes
made by the rating  agencies  subsequent to the purchase of the  securities  but
will dispose of any such securities in order to limit its holdings of securities
rated  below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P to no more than 5% of its net  assets.
See the Appendix to the Statement of Additional Information for a description of
Moody's  and S&P ratings  and "Risk  Factors_Medium  and Lower Rated and Unrated
Securities" for a description of certain risks associated with securities in the
fourth  highest rating  category.  Although the Portfolio is authorized to hedge
against  unfavorable  changes in interest  rates by entering  into interest rate
futures  contracts and purchasing and writing put and call options thereon,  its
Advisor has no present  intention of using such  techniques.  The Portfolio also
may engage in repurchase agreements,  purchase temporary  investments,  purchase
securities  on a  when-issued  basis  and lend  its  portfolio  securities.  See
"Certain Securities and Investment Techniques."

The  Portfolio  is  managed  by J.  Peter  Skirkanich,  John  Sampson  and James
O'Mealia.  Mr. Skirkanich is the President and Chief Investment  Officer at Fox.
He founded the firm in 1985. Mr. Sampson is a Managing  Director and Director of
Fixed Income Research at Fox. He joined the firm in 1998 from Pharos  Management
LLC, a consulting firm in fixed income  investments.  Mr. O'Mealia is a Managing
Director of Fox.  He joined the firm in 1998 from  Sunnymeath  Asset  Management
Inc., where he was President.

MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO is advised by OpCap Advisors.  The Portfolio  seeks, as
its investment objective,  a high level of interest income that is excluded from
federal  income  taxation  to the  extent  consistent  with  prudent  investment
management and the  preservation of capital.  The Portfolio seeks to achieve its
objectives through investment in a diversified  portfolio of general obligation,
revenue and private activity bonds, including lease obligations,  and notes that
are issued by or on behalf of states,  territories and possessions of the United
States and the District of Columbia and their political  subdivisions,  agencies
and instrumentalities,  or multi-state agencies or authorities,  the interest on
which,  in the opinion of counsel to the issuer of the  instrument,  is excluded
from gross income for federal income tax purposes ("Municipal Obligations"). See
"Municipal Obligations" on page 16.

Portfolio  composition  generally  covers a full range of maturities  with broad
geographic and issuer diversification. The Portfolio may also invest in variable
rate Municipal  Obligations,  most of which permit the holder thereof to receive
the  principal  amount on demand upon seven days'  notice.  The  Portfolio  will
invest  primarily  in municipal  bonds rated at the time of purchase  within the
four highest ratings  assigned by Moody's,  S&P or by Fitch  Municipal  Division
("Fitch")  or, if  unrated,  which are of  comparable  quality in the opinion of
OpCap  Advisors.  See the Appendix to the SAI for a description  of such ratings
and  "Risk  Factors_Medium  and  Lower  Rated  and  Unrated  Securities"  for  a
description of certain risks  associated  with  securities in the fourth highest
rating  category.  The Portfolio is not obligated to dispose of securities  that
fall below such ratings due to changes made by the rating agencies subsequent to
purchase of the securities  but will dispose of any such  securities in order to
limit its  holdings  of  securities  rated below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S&P or
Fitch to no more than 5% of its net assets.

It is a fundamental  policy of the Portfolio that under normal  circumstances at
least 80% of its assets will be  invested in  Municipal  Obligations.  Also,  at
least 65% of its assets will be invested in bonds. The Portfolio will not invest
more than 25% of its total assets in  Municipal  Obligations  whose  issuers are
located in the same state.  The Portfolio  will also not invest more than 25% of
its assets in private  activity bonds of similar  projects.  It is possible that
the  Portfolio  from time to time will  invest  more than 25% of its assets in a
particular segment of the municipal  securities market, such as hospital revenue
bonds, housing agency bonds,  industrial  development bonds or airport bonds, or
in  securities  the interest on which is paid from revenues of a similar type of
project. In such circumstances,  economic,  business, political or other changes
affecting  one bond (such as proposed  legislation  affecting the financing of a
project;  shortages or price increases of needed materials; or declining markets
or needs for the  projects)  might also affect other bonds in the same  segment,
thereby potentially increasing market risk.

The Portfolio may invest without limit in private  activity  bonds,  although it
does not currently expect to invest more than 20% of its total assets in private
activity  bonds.  Dividends  attributable to interest income on certain types of
private  activity  bonds issued after August 7, 1986 to finance  nongovernmental
activities  are a specific  tax  preference  item for  purposes  of the  federal
individual and corporate alternative minimum tax.

When the Portfolio is maintaining a temporary defensive position,  it may invest
in short  term  investments,  some of which  may not be tax  exempt.  Securities
eligible  for short term  investment  by the  Portfolio  are tax exempt notes of
municipal  issuers  having,  at the time of  purchase,  a rating  within the two
highest  grades  of  Moody's  or S&P  or,  if not  rated,  having  an  issue  of
outstanding  Municipal  Obligations  rated  within the three  highest  grades by
Moody's  or  S&P,   and   taxable   short  term   instruments   having   quality
characteristics comparable to those for Municipal Obligations. The Portfolio may
invest in temporary  investments  for  defensive  reasons in  anticipation  of a
market decline. At no time will more than 20% of the Portfolio's total assets be
invested in temporary  investments  unless the Portfolio has adopted a defensive
investment policy. The Portfolio will purchase tax exempt temporary  investments
pending the investment of the proceeds from the sale of the  securities  held by
the Portfolio or from the purchase of the Portfolio's  shares by investors or in
order  to  have  highly  liquid   securities   available  to  meet   anticipated
redemptions.  To the extent that the Portfolio holds temporary  investments,  it
may not achieve its investment objective.  The Portfolio may purchase securities
on a when-issued  basis, lend its portfolio  securities and purchase stock index
futures  contracts  and write  options  thereon.  See  "Certain  Securities  and
Investment Techniques."

The Portfolio is managed by Matthew  Greenwald,  Vice  President of  Oppenheimer
Capital,  the parent of OpCap  Advisors.  Mr.  Greenwald has been a fixed income
portfolio manager and financial analyst for Oppenheimer Capital since 1989. From
1984-1989 he was a fixed income portfolio  manager with  PaineWebber's  Mitchell
Hutchins Asset Management.

LARGE CAPITALIZATION VALUE PORTFOLIO is advised by OpCap Advisors. The Portfolio
seeks,  as  its  investment  objective,   total  return  consisting  of  capital
appreciation  and  dividend  income  by  investing  primarily  in a  diversified
portfolio of highly liquid  equity  securities  that, in the Advisor's  opinion,
have above average  price  appreciation  potential at the time of purchase.  For
purposes of the Portfolio's  investment  policies,  equity securities consist of
common and preferred  stock and  securities  such as bonds,  rights and warrants
that are  convertible  into common  stock.  In  general,  these  securities  are
characterized  as having above average  dividend  yields and below average price
earnings  ratios  relative to the stock  market in  general,  as measured by the
Standard  & Poor's 500  Composite  Stock  Price  Index  (the "S&P  500").  Other
factors,  such as earnings,  the ability of the issuer to generate  cash flow in
excess of business needs and to sustain above average profitability,  as well as
industry outlook and market share, also are considered. Under normal conditions,
at least 80% of the  Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common  stocks.  No
less than 65% of the  Portfolio's  assets will be  invested in common  stocks of
issuers with total market capitalization of $1 billion or greater at the time of
purchase.  The Portfolio may purchase  temporary  investments and purchase stock
index futures  contracts and purchase and write options  thereon.  The Portfolio
also may lend its portfolio  securities.  See "Certain Securities and Investment
Techniques."

The Portfolio is managed by Eileen  Rominger,  Managing  Director of Oppenheimer
Capital,  the parent of OpCap  Advisors.  Ms.  Rominger  has been an analyst and
portfolio manager at Oppenheimer Capital since 1981.

LARGE  CAPITALIZATION  GROWTH  PORTFOLIO is advised by Harris Bretall Sullivan &
Smith, L.L.C.  ("Harris Bretall").  The Portfolio seeks capital  appreciation by
investing  primarily in a  diversified  portfolio of common  stocks that, in the
Advisor's  opinion,  are  characterized by a growth of earnings at a rate faster
than that of the S&P 500. Dividend income is an incidental  consideration in the
selection of investments. In selecting securities for the Portfolio, the Advisor
evaluates  factors  believed to be favorable to long-term  capital  appreciation
including  specific  financial  characteristics of the issuer such as historical
earnings growth,  sales growth,  profitability and return on equity. The Advisor
also analyzes the issuer's  position  within its industry as well as the quality
and experience of the issuer's management. Under normal conditions, at least 80%
of the Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common stocks and at least 65% of
the  Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common stocks of issuers with total
market capitalization of $1 billion or greater at the time of purchase. Although
the Portfolio is authorized to purchase temporary investments and purchase stock
index futures contracts and purchase and write options thereon,  its Advisor has
no present  intention  of using such  techniques  during  the coming  year.  The
Portfolio also may lend its portfolio  securities.  See "Certain  Securities and
Investment Techniques." 

Stock  selections  for the Portfolio will be made by the Strategy and Investment
Committees  of Harris  Bretall.  The  Portfolio is managed by Jack  Sullivan and
Gordon  Ceresino.  Mr.  Sullivan  is a partner  of Harris  Bretall  and has been
associated  with the firm since 1981. Mr. Ceresino is a Vice President of Harris
Bretall and has been associated with the firm since 1991. Prior thereto,  he was
Senior Vice President of Capitol  Associates and was  responsible  for sales and
marketing.

SMALL  CAPITALIZATION  PORTFOLIO is advised by Thorsell,  Parker Partners,  Inc.
(Prior to April 14,  1997,  the Small  Capitalization  Portfolio  was advised by
Axe-Houghton   Associates,   Inc.).  The  Portfolio  seeks,  as  its  investment
objective, maximum capital appreciation. Under normal conditions at least 80% of
the  Portfolio's  assets will be invested in common stocks,  at least 65% of the
Portfolio's assets will be invested in common stock of issuers with total market
capitalization of less than $1 billion and at least one third of the Portfolio's
assets  will be  invested  in  common  stocks of  companies  with  total  market
capitalization of $550 million or less at the time of purchase.  Dividend income
is not a consideration in the selection of investments. In selecting investments
for the Portfolio,  the Advisor seeks small capitalization growth companies that
it believes are undervalued in the  marketplace.  These companies  typically are
under-followed  by  investment  firms and  undervalued  relative to their growth
prospects. The Portfolio may also invest in companies that offer the possibility
of  accelerating  earnings  growth due to internal  changes  such as new product
introductions,  synergistic  acquisitions or  distribution  channels or external
changes  affecting  the  marketplace  for the  company's  products and services.
External factors can be demographics,  regulatory,  legislative,  technological,
social or economic.  Although the Portfolio is authorized to purchase  temporary
investments  and purchase  stock index futures  contracts and purchase and write
options thereon,  its Advisor has no present  intention of using such techniques
during the coming year. The Portfolio also may lend its portfolio securities.
See "Certain Securities and Investment Techniques."

The  Portfolio is managed by Richard  Thorsell.  Mr.  Thorsell has been Managing
Partner of Thorsell since 1991.

INTERNATIONAL  EQUITY  PORTFOLIO  is advised by Friends  Ivory & Sime,  Inc. The
investment  objective of the Portfolio is long-term  capital  appreciation.  The
Portfolio  ordinarily invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of
companies  domiciled outside the United States.  For purposes of the Portfolio's
investment policies, equity securities consist of common and preferred stock and
securities such as bonds,  rights and warrants that are convertible  into common
stock.  The Portfolio has no present  intention of investing in bonds other than
bonds convertible into common stock.

Under normal market  conditions,  at least 65% of the Portfolio's assets will be
invested in securities of issuers domiciled in at least three foreign countries.
The  Portfolio  may  invest  25% or more of its total  assets in  securities  of
issuers domiciled in one country. The Portfolio presently intends to invest more
than 25% of its total assets in Japan.  Accordingly,  the investment performance
of the  Portfolio  will be subject  to social,  political  and  economic  events
occurring in Japan to a greater  extent than those  occurring  in other  foreign
countries.  Investments  may be  made  in  companies  in  developed  as  well as
developing countries. It is the present intention of the Portfolio not to invest
more than 20% of its total assets in securities of issuers located in developing
countries.  Investing in the equity  markets of  developing  countries  involves
exposure to  economies  that are  generally  less  diverse  and  mature,  and to
political  systems  that can be expected to have less  stability,  than those of
developed  countries.  The Advisor  attempts to limit exposure to investments in
developing countries where both liquidity and sovereign risks are high. Although
there is no established definition, a developing country is generally considered
to be a country  that is in the initial  stages of its  industrialization  cycle
with  per  capita  gross  national  product  of  less  than  $5,000.  Historical
experience  indicates  that the markets of developing  countries  have been more
volatile than the markets of developed countries,  although securities traded in
the former  markets have  provided  higher rates of return to  investors.  For a
discussion of the risks  associated  with investing in foreign  securities,  see
"Risk Factors-Foreign Securities."

It is expected that the Portfolio will invest primarily in securities of foreign
issuers  in  the  form  of  American  Depositary  Receipts  ("ADRs")  or  Global
Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"), which are U.S. dollar-denominated  receipts, which
represent and may be converted into the underlying  foreign security,  typically
issued by domestic  banks or trust  companies  that  represent  the deposit with
those entities of securities of a foreign  issuer.  Issuers of the stock of ADRs
or GDRs  sponsored  by banks or trust  companies  are not  obligated to disclose
material  information  in the United  States and  therefore,  there may not be a
correlation  between such information and the market value of such ADRs or GDRs.
ADRs or GDRs are publicly traded on exchanges or  over-the-counter in the United
States.  The Portfolio may purchase  temporary  investments,  lend its portfolio
securities  and purchase  stock index  futures  contracts and purchase and write
options thereon. See "Certain Securities and Investment Techniques."

John Stubbs,  Chief  Investment  Officer  ("CIO") and Chairman of the Investment
Committee at Friends Ivory & Sime plc has been  overseeing the management of the
Portfolio  since  January 31, 1997.  Mr.  Stubbs has been CIO of Friends Ivory &
Sime plc since April 1995.  Previously,  he was head of UK equities  with Hermes
Pensions  Management Ltd.  During his 29 year  investment  career Mr. Stubbs has
managed money in most of the world's major markets.  Individual stock selections
are made by the following  regional  specialists:  Dr. Michael Woodward,  Thomas
Maxwell, Julie Dent, James Anderson and Jonathan Harrison.  Each of the regional
specialists  has  been  responsible  for  individual  stock  selections  for the
Portfolio since its inception,  with the exception of Mr. Maxwell,  who began on
January 31, 1997. Prior to assuming the position of regional  specialist for the
Portfolio,  each  Portfolio  regional  specialist  acted in the same capacity at
Friends Ivory & Sime plc.

Except as indicated,  the Portfolios'  limitations on investments and investment
policies are non-fundamental and can be changed without a vote of shareholders.

CERTAIN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES

TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS.  For temporary defensive purposes during periods when the
Advisor of a Portfolio,  other than the U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio,
believes,  with the  concurrence of the Manager,  that pursuing the  Portfolio's
basic  investment  strategy may be  inconsistent  with the best interests of its
shareholders, the Portfolio may invest up to 100% of its assets in the following
money market instruments:  U.S. Government Securities (including those purchased
in the form of  custodial  receipts),  repurchase  agreements,  certificates  of
deposit  and  bankers'   acceptances   issued  by  banks  or  savings  and  loan
associations  having assets of at least $500 million as of the end of their most
recent fiscal year and high quality commercial paper. In addition,  for the same
purposes  the  Advisor  of the  International  Equity  Portfolio  may  invest in
obligations  issued or  guaranteed  by  foreign  governments  or by any of their
political  subdivisions,  authorities,  agencies or  instrumentalities  that are
rated at least AA by S&P or Aa by Moody's or, if unrated,  are determined by the
Advisor to be of  equivalent  quality.  See  "Foreign  Securities"  below.  Each
Portfolio  also may hold a portion of its assets in money market  instruments or
cash in amounts  designed to pay expenses,  to meet  anticipated  redemptions or
pending  investments  in  accordance  with  its  objectives  and  policies.  Any
temporary  investments  may be purchased on a when-issued  basis.  A Portfolio's
investment  in any other  short  term debt  instruments  would be subject to the
Portfolio's  investment objectives and policies,  and to approval by the Trust's
Board of Trustees.

The Portfolios are intended  primarily as vehicles for the  implementation  of a
long term investment  program  utilizing asset  allocation  strategies.  Because
these asset allocation  strategies are designed to spread investment risk across
the various segments of the securities markets through investment in a number of
Portfolios,  each individual  Portfolio  generally  intends to be  substantially
fully invested in accordance with its investment  objectives and policies during
most  market  conditions.  Although  the Advisor of a  Portfolio  may,  upon the
concurrence of the Manager,  take a temporary  defensive position during adverse
market  conditions,  it can be expected that a defensive posture will be adopted
less frequently  than would be by other mutual funds.  This policy may impede an
Advisor's  ability to  protect a  Portfolio's  capital  during  declines  in the
particular  segment of the market to which the Portfolio's assets are committed.
Consequently,  no single  Portfolio  should be considered a complete  investment
program.  An investment  among the Portfolios  should be regarded as a long term
commitment  that should be held  through  several  market  cycles.  

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.  Each of the Portfolios
may engage in  repurchase  agreement and (except for the U.S.  Government  Money
Market Portfolio) reverse repurchase agreement transactions.  Under the terms of
a typical  repurchase  agreement,  a Portfolio  would acquire an underlying debt
obligation  for a  relatively  short  period  (usually  not more  than one week)
subject to an  obligation  of the seller to  repurchase,  and the  Portfolio  to
resell, the obligation at an agreed-upon price and time, thereby determining the
yield during the Portfolio's holding period. This arrangement results in a fixed
rate of return that is not subject to market fluctuations during the Portfolio's
holding period. A Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements with respect to
U.S.  Government  Securities with member banks of the Federal Reserve System and
certain non-bank dealers  approved by the Board of Trustees.  The  International
Equity  Portfolio will not engage in repurchase  agreements with foreign brokers
or dealers. Under each repurchase agreement, the selling institution is required
to maintain the value of the securities  subject to the repurchase  agreement at
not less than their repurchase price. The Portfolio's Advisor,  acting under the
supervision  of the Board of Trustees,  reviews on an ongoing basis the value of
the collateral and the  creditworthiness of those non-bank dealers with whom the
Portfolio  enters into repurchase  agreements.  A Portfolio will not invest in a
repurchase  agreement  maturing  in more  than  seven  days  if the  investment,
together with illiquid  securities  held by the Portfolio,  exceeds 15% (10% for
the U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio) of the Portfolio's total assets. See
"Certain  Investment  Policies."  In entering  into a  repurchase  agreement,  a
Portfolio  bears a risk of  loss  in the  event  that  the  other  party  to the
transaction  defaults  on its  obligations  and  the  Portfolio  is  delayed  or
prevented from  exercising  its right to dispose of the  underlying  securities,
including  the  risk  of a  possible  decline  in the  value  of the  underlying
securities  during the period in which the Portfolio  seeks to assert its rights
to them, the risk of incurring  expenses  associated with asserting those rights
and the risk of losing all or a part of the income from the  agreement.  Under a
reverse  repurchase  agreement,  a  Portfolio  sells  securities  and  agrees to
repurchase  them at a mutually  agreed date and price. At the time the Portfolio
enters into a reverse  repurchase  agreement,  it will  establish and maintain a
segregated  account  with an  approved  custodian  containing  liquid high grade
securities having a value not less than the repurchase price (including  accrued
interest).  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value
of the  securities  retained in lieu of sale by the  Portfolio  may decline more
than or  appreciate  less  than the  securities  the  Portfolio  has sold but is
obligated to  repurchase.  In the event the buyer of securities  under a reverse
repurchase  agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes  insolvent,  such buyer or
its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to
enforce  the  Portfolio's  obligation  to  repurchase  the  securities  and  the
Portfolio's  use of  the  proceeds  of the  reverse  repurchase  agreements  may
effectively be restricted pending such decisions.  Reverse repurchase agreements
create leverage,  a speculative  factor,  and will be considered  borrowings for
purposes of a Portfolio's limitation on borrowing.

U.S.  GOVERNMENT  SECURITIES.  Each  Portfolio  may  invest  in U.S.  Government
Securities,  which are obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.  Government,
its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities. Some U.S. Government Securities,
such as U.S.  Treasury bills,  Treasury notes and Treasury  bonds,  which differ
only in their interest rates,  maturities and time of issuance, are supported by
the full faith and credit of the United States. Others are supported by: (i) the
right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury,  such as securities of the
Federal Home Loan Bank; (ii) the discretionary  authority of the U.S. Government
to purchase the agency's  obligations,  such as securities of the FNMA; or (iii)
only the credit of the issuer,  such as securities of the Student Loan Marketing
Association.  No assurance  can be given that the U.S.  Government  will provide
financial  support in the future to U.S.  Government  agencies,  authorities  or
instrumentalities  that are not  supported  by the full  faith and credit of the
United States.

Securities  guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government,  its
agencies, authorities or instrumentalities include: (i) securities for which the
payment of principal and interest is backed by an  irrevocable  letter of credit
issued  by  the  U.S.  Government  or  any  of  its  agencies,   authorities  or
instrumentalities;  and (ii) participation in loans made to foreign  governments
or other  entities that are so guaranteed.  The secondary  market for certain of
these participations is limited and, therefore, may be regarded as illiquid.

U.S.  Government  Securities  may  include  zero coupon  securities  that may be
purchased when yields are attractive and/or to enhance portfolio liquidity. Zero
coupon  U.S.  Government  Securities  are debt  obligations  that are  issued or
purchased at a significant  discount from face value. The discount  approximates
the total  amount of interest the  security  will accrue and  compound  over the
period  until  maturity or the  particular  interest  payment  date at a rate of
interest  reflecting  the market rate of the  security at the time of  issuance.
Zero coupon U.S.  Government  Securities do not require the periodic  payment of
interest.  These investments  benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash
to meet  debt  service,  but also  require a higher  rate of  return to  attract
investors  who are  willing to defer  receipt  of cash.  These  investments  may
experience  greater volatility in market value than U.S.  Government  Securities
that make regular  payments of  interest.  A Portfolio  accrues  income on these
investments  for  tax  and  accounting  purposes,   which  is  distributable  to
shareholders and which,  because no cash is received at the time of accrual, may
require the liquidation of other portfolio securities to satisfy the Portfolio's
distribution  obligations,  in which case the Portfolio will forego the purchase
of  additional  income  producing  assets  with these  funds.  Zero  coupon U.S.
Government  Securities  include  STRIPS and CUBES,  which are issued by the U.S.
Treasury as  component  parts of U.S.  Treasury  bonds and  represent  scheduled
interest and principal payments on the bonds.

CUSTODIAL  RECEIPTS.  Each Portfolio other than the U.S. Government Money Market
Portfolio may acquire  custodial  receipts or certificates,  such as CATS, TIGRs
and FICO  Strips,  underwritten  by  securities  dealers or banks that  evidence
ownership of future  interest  payments,  principal  payments or both on certain
notes or bonds  issued by the U.S.  Government,  its  agencies,  authorities  or
instrumentalities. The underwriters of these certificates or receipts purchase a
U.S.  Government  Security and deposit the security in an  irrevocable  trust or
custodial  account  with  a  custodian  bank,  which  then  issues  receipts  or
certificates that evidence  ownership of the periodic  unmatured coupon payments
and the final  principal  payment  on the U.S.  Government  Security.  Custodial
receipts  evidencing specific coupon or principal payments have the same general
attributes as zero coupon U.S. Government Securities,  described above. Although
typically  under the terms of a custodial  receipt a Portfolio is  authorized to
assert its rights directly against the issuer of the underlying obligation,  the
Portfolio may be required to assert  through the  custodian  bank such rights as
may exist  against the  underlying  issuer.  Thus,  in the event the  underlying
issuer  fails to pay  principal  and/or  interest  when due, a Portfolio  may be
subject to delays,  expenses  and risks that are  greater  than those that would
have been involved if the  Portfolio  had  purchased a direct  obligation of the
issuer.  In addition,  in the event that the trust or custodial account in which
the  underlying  security has been  deposited is determined to be an association
taxable as a  corporation,  instead of a  non-taxable  entity,  the yield on the
underlying security would be reduced in respect of any taxes paid.

LENDING PORTFOLIO  SECURITIES.  To generate income for the purpose of helping to
meet its operating expenses, each Portfolio other than the U.S. Government Money
Market  Portfolio may lend  securities to brokers,  dealers and other  financial
organizations.  These  loans,  if and when  made,  may not  exceed  33 1/3% of a
Portfolio's  assets taken at value.  A Portfolio's  loans of securities  will be
collateralized by cash,  letters of credit or U.S.  Government  Securities.  The
cash or instruments  collateralizing  a Portfolio's  loans of securities will be
maintained at all times in a segregated account with the Portfolio's  custodian,
or with a designated  sub-custodian,  in an amount at least equal to the current
market value of the loaned securities. In lending securities to brokers, dealers
and other financial organizations,  a Portfolio is subject to risks, which, like
those associated with other extensions of credit, include delays in recovery and
possible loss of rights in the collateral  should the borrower fail financially.
State  Street  arranges  for  each  Portfolio's  securities  loans  and  manages
collateral  received in  connection  with these loans.  See  "Management  of the
Trust-Administration."

WHEN-ISSUED   AND   DELAYED-DELIVERY   SECURITIES.   To  secure   prices  deemed
advantageous at a particular  time, each Portfolio may purchase  securities on a
when-issued or delayed-delivery  basis, in which case delivery of the securities
occurs  beyond the normal  settlement  period;  payment  of or  delivery  of the
securities  would be made  prior to the  reciprocal  delivery  or payment by the
other party to the  transaction.  A  Portfolio  will enter into  when-issued  or
delayed-delivery  transactions  for the purpose of acquiring  securities and not
for the purpose of leverage.  When-issued  securities purchased by the Portfolio
may include securities purchased on a "when, as and if issued" basis under which
the issuance of the securities  depends on the occurrence of a subsequent event,
such as approval of a merger,  corporate  reorganization or debt  restructuring.
The  Portfolio  will  establish  with  its  custodian,   or  with  a  designated
sub-custodian,   a  segregated  account  consisting  of  cash,  U.S.  Government
Securities or other liquid high grade debt obligations in an amount equal to the
amount of its when-issued or delayed-delivery purchase commitments.

Securities  purchased on a when-issued  or  delayed-delivery  basis may expose a
Portfolio to risk because the securities may  experience  fluctuations  in value
prior to their  actual  delivery.  The  Portfolio  does not accrue  income  with
respect  to a  when-issued  or  delayed-delivery  security  prior to its  stated
delivery date. Purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery  basis
can involve the additional  risk that the yield available in the market when the
delivery takes place may be higher than that obtained in the transaction itself.

FIXED INCOME  SECURITIES.  The market value of fixed income  obligations  of the
Portfolios  will be  affected by general  changes in  interest  rates which will
result in increases or  decreases  in the value of the  obligations  held by the
Portfolios.  The market  value of the  obligations  held by a  Portfolio  can be
expected to vary inversely to changes in prevailing  interest  rates.  Investors
also  should  recognize  that,  in  periods  of  declining   interest  rates,  a
Portfolio's  yield will tend to be somewhat higher than prevailing  market rates
and, in periods of rising  interest  rates, a Portfolio's  yield will tend to be
somewhat  lower.  Also,  when interest rates are falling,  the inflow of net new
money to a  Portfolio  from the  continuous  sale of its shares  will tend to be
invested  in  instruments  producing  lower  yields  than  the  balance  of  its
portfolio,  thereby reducing the Portfolio's current yield. In periods of rising
interest rates,  the opposite can be expected to occur. In addition,  securities
in which a Portfolio may invest may not yield as high a level of current  income
as might be  achieved by  investing  in  securities  with less  liquidity,  less
creditworthiness or longer maturities.

Ratings made  available by S&P and Moody's are relative and  subjective  and are
not absolute  standards of quality.  Although these ratings are initial criteria
for the selection of portfolio investments, a Portfolio's Advisor also will make
its  own  evaluation  of  these  securities.  Among  the  factors  that  will be
considered  are the long  term  ability  of the  issuers  to pay  principal  and
interest and general economic trends.

MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS.  The term "Municipal Obligations" generally is understood
to include debt obligations  issued to obtain funds for various public purposes,
the interest on which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, excluded
from gross income for federal income tax purposes.  In addition, if the proceeds
from private activity bonds are used for the construction,  equipment, repair or
improvement  of privately  operated  industrial  or commercial  facilities,  the
interest paid on such bonds may be excluded from gross income for federal income
tax purposes, although current federal tax laws place substantial limitations on
the size of these issues.

The  two  principal   classifications  of  Municipal  Obligations  are  "general
obligation" and "revenue"  bonds.  General  obligation  bonds are secured by the
issuer's  pledge of its  faith,  credit,  and  taxing  power for the  payment of
principal and interest. Revenue bonds are payable from the revenues derived from
a  particular  facility  or class of  facilities  or,  in some  cases,  from the
proceeds of a special excise or the specific  revenue  source,  but not from the
general taxing power.  Sizable investments in these obligations could involve an
increased risk to the Portfolio should any of the related facilities  experience
financial  difficulties.  Private activity bonds are in most cases revenue bonds
and do not generally carry the pledge of the credit of the issuing municipality.
Included  within  the  revenue  bonds  category  are   participations  in  lease
obligations or installment purchase contracts  (hereinafter  collectively called
"lease obligations") of municipalities. States and local agencies or authorities
issue lease obligations to acquire equipment and facilities.

Lease obligations may have risks not normally associated with general obligation
or other revenue bonds.  Lease obligations and conditional sale contracts (which
may provide for title to the leased  asset to pass  eventually  to the  issuer),
have  developed  as a means for  government  issuers  to  acquire  property  and
equipment  without  the  necessity  of  complying  with the  constitutional  and
statutory  requirements  generally  applicable for the issuance of debt. Certain
lease  obligations  contain  "non-appropriation"  clauses  that provide that the
governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or
contract  unless  money is  appropriated  for such  purposes by the  appropriate
legislative body on an annual or other periodic basis.  Consequently,  continued
lease payments on those lease obligations containing "non-appropriation" clauses
are dependent on future legislative  actions. If such legislative actions do not
occur,  the  holders  of the  lease  obligation  may  experience  difficulty  in
exercising their rights, including disposition of the property.

In  addition,  lease  obligations  may  not  have  the  depth  of  marketability
associated with other municipal  obligations,  and as a result,  certain of such
lease obligations may be considered illiquid securities. To determine whether or
not the Municipal Bond  Portfolio  will consider such  securities to be illiquid
(the  Portfolio  may not  invest  more than 15% of its net  assets  in  illiquid
securities),  the following  guidelines  have been  established to determine the
liquidity  of a lease  obligation.  The factors to be  considered  in making the
determination  include:  (1) the  frequency of trades and quoted  prices for the
obligation;  (2) the number of dealers  willing to purchase or sell the security
and the number of other potential purchasers;  (3) the willingness of dealers to
undertake  to  make  a  market  in the  security;  and  (4)  the  nature  of the
marketplace  trades,  including the time needed to dispose of the security,  the
method of soliciting  offers,  and the mechanics of the transfer.  There are, of
course,  variations  in the  security of  Municipal  Obligations,  both within a
particular classification and between classifications.

MORTGAGE RELATED SECURITIES. The Investment Quality Bond Portfolio may invest in
mortgage related securities including modified pass-through certificates.  There
are several risks associated with mortgage related securities generally.  One is
that the monthly cash inflow from the underlying  loans may not be sufficient to
meet the monthly payment requirements of the mortgage related security.

Prepayment of principal by mortgagors or mortgage  foreclosures will shorten the
term of the  underlying  mortgage pool for a mortgage  related  security.  Early
returns of  principal  will  affect the  average  life of the  mortgage  related
securities remaining in the Portfolio. The occurrence of mortgage prepayments is
affected by factors  including  the level of interest  rates,  general  economic
conditions,  the  location  and  age  of  the  mortgage  and  other  social  and
demographic  conditions.  In  periods  of  rising  interest  rates,  the rate of
prepayment tends to decrease,  thereby lengthening the average life of a pool of
mortgage related  securities.  Conversely,  in periods of falling interest rates
the rate of prepayment tends to increase, thereby shortening the average life of
a pool.  Reinvestment of prepayments may occur at higher or lower interest rates
than the original investment, thus affecting the yield of the Portfolio. Because
prepayments of principal  generally occur when interest rates are declining,  it
is likely that the Portfolio  will have to reinvest the proceeds of  prepayments
at lower interest rates than those at which the assets were previously invested.
If this  occurs,  the  Portfolio's  yield will  correspondingly  decline.  Thus,
mortgage related securities may have less potential for capital  appreciation in
periods  of  falling  interest  rates  than other  fixed  income  securities  of
comparable  maturity,  although these  securities may have a comparable  risk of
decline in market value in periods of rising  interest rates. To the extent that
the Portfolio  purchases mortgage related  securities at a premium,  unscheduled
prepayments,  which  are  made  at  par,  will  result  in a loss  equal  to any
unamortized premium.

The Investment  Quality Bond  Portfolio may invest in a type of  mortgage-backed
security known as modified pass-through certificates. Each certificate evidences
an interest in a specific pool of mortgages that have been grouped  together for
sale and provides investors with payments of interest and principal.  The issuer
of modified  pass-through  certificates  guarantees the payment of the principal
and  interest  whether  or not the  issuer  has  collected  such  amounts on the
underlying mortgage.

The  average  life  of  these  securities  varies  with  the  maturities  of the
underlying mortgage  instruments  (generally up to 30 years) and with the extent
of  prepayments or the mortgages  themselves.  Any such  prepayments  are passed
through to the  certificate  holder,  reducing  the  stream of future  payments.
Prepayments  tend to rise in periods of falling  interest rates,  decreasing the
average life of the  certificate and generating cash which must be invested in a
lower  interest  rate  environment.  This  could  also  limit  the  appreciation
potential of the certificates  when compared to similar debt  obligations  which
may not be paid down at will, and could cause losses on  certificates  purchased
at a  premium  or gains on  certificates  purchased  at a  discount.  Government
National Mortgage  Association  ("Ginnie Mae")  certificates  represent pools of
mortgages  insured by the Federal  Housing  Administration  or the Farmers  Home
Administration or guaranteed by the Veteran's  Administration.  The guarantee of
payments under these  certificates is backed by the full faith and credit of the
United  States.  Federal  National  Mortgage  Association  ("Fannie  Mae")  is a
government-sponsored  corporation  owned entirely by private  stockholders.  The
guarantee of payments under these  instruments is that of Fannie Mae only.  They
are not backed by the full  faith and  credit of the United  States but the U.S.
Treasury may extend credit to Fannie Mae through discretionary  purchases of its
securities.  The U.S.  Government has no obligation to assume the liabilities of
Fannie Mae.  Federal Home Loan  Mortgage  Corp.  ("Freddie  Mac") is a corporate
instrumentality  of the United  States  government  whose  stock is owned by the
Federal Home Loan Banks.  Certificates  issued by Freddie Mac represent interest
in mortgages  from its  portfolio.  Freddie Mac  guarantees  payments  under its
certificates  but this  guarantee  is not backed by the full faith and credit of
the United  States and  Freddie Mac does not have  authority  to borrow from the
U.S. Treasury.

The coupon  rate of these  instruments  is lower than the  interest  rate on the
underlying mortgages by the amount of fees paid to the issuing agencies, usually
approximately  1/2  of 1%.  Mortgage-backed  securities,  due  to the  scheduled
periodic repayment of principal, and the possibility of accelerated repayment of
underlying mortgage  obligations,  fluctuate in value in a different manner than
other, non-redeemable debt securities.

CMOs are  obligations  fully  collateralized  by a  portfolio  of  mortgages  or
mortgage related  securities.  Although the Portfolio is authorized to invest in
CMOs, it has no present intention of doing so.

FUTURES  CONTRACTS  AND  RELATED  OPTIONS.  Each  Portfolio  other than the U.S.
Government Money Market Portfolio may enter into futures  contracts and purchase
and write  (sell)  options  on these  contracts,  including  but not  limited to
interest rate,  securities index and foreign currency futures  contracts and put
and call options on these futures  contracts.  These  contracts  will be entered
into only upon the  concurrence of the Manager that such contracts are necessary
or appropriate in the management of the Portfolio's assets. These contracts will
be  entered  into on  exchanges  designated  by the  Commodity  Futures  Trading
Commission ("CFTC") or, consistent with CFTC regulations,  on foreign exchanges.
These  transactions  may be  entered  into  for  bona  fide  hedging  and  other
permissible risk management  purposes including  protecting against  anticipated
changes in the value of securities a Portfolio intends to purchase.

So long as Commodities  Futures Trading Commission rules so require, a Portfolio
will not enter  into any  financial  futures  or options  contract  unless  such
transactions  are for bona-fide  hedging  purposes or for other purposes only if
the  aggregate   initial  margins  and  premiums   required  to  establish  such
non-hedging  positions  would  not  exceed  5% of the  liquidation  value of the
Portfolio's  total assets.  All futures and options on futures positions will be
covered by owning the underlying security or segregation of assets. With respect
to long positions in a futures  contract or option (e.g.,  futures  contracts to
purchase the  underlying  instrument  and call options  purchased or put options
written on these futures contracts or instruments),  the underlying value of the
futures  contract at all times will not exceed the sum of cash,  short term U.S.
debt  obligations  or other high quality  obligations  set aside in a segregated
account with the Trust's Custodian for this purpose.

A  Portfolio  may  lose  the  expected  benefit  of  these  futures  or  options
transactions  and may incur losses if the prices of the  underlying  commodities
move in an  unanticipated  manner.  In  addition,  changes  in the  value of the
Portfolio's  futures and options positions may not prove to be perfectly or even
highly  correlated  with  changes  in the  value  of its  portfolio  securities.
Successful use of futures and related options is subject to an Advisor's ability
to predict  correctly  movements  in the  direction  of the  securities  markets
generally,  which  ability  may require  different  skills and  techniques  than
predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. Moreover, futures and
options   contracts  may  only  be  closed  out  by  entering  into   offsetting
transactions  on the  exchange  where the position was entered into (or a linked
exchange),  and as a result of daily price  fluctuation  limits  there can be no
assurance  that  an  offsetting   transaction   could  be  entered  into  at  an
advantageous price at any particular time. Consequently, a Portfolio may realize
a loss on a futures  contract or option that is not offset by an increase in the
value of its portfolio  securities  that are being hedged or a Portfolio may not
be able to close a futures or options position  without  incurring a loss in the
event of adverse price movements.

GOVERNMENT STRIPPED MORTGAGE RELATED SECURITIES. Although the Investment Quality
Bond  Portfolio  may  invest in certain  government  stripped  mortgage  related
securities  issued  and  guaranteed  by GNMA,  FNMA or FHLMC,  it has no present
intention of doing so.

RISK FACTORS

MEDIUM AND LOWER RATED AND UNRATED  SECURITIES.  Securities  rated in the fourth
highest category by S&P or Moody's,  although considered  investment grade, have
speculative  characteristics,  and changes in economic or other  conditions  are
more  likely to impair  the  ability  of  issuers  of these  securities  to make
interest  and  principal  payments  than is the case with  respect to issuers of
higher grade bonds.

Subsequent to its purchase by a Portfolio,  an issue of securities  may cease to
be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by
the  Portfolio.  Neither  event will  require  sale of these  securities  by the
Portfolio, but the Advisor will dispose of any such securities in order to limit
the holdings by a Portfolio of securities rated below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S
& P to no more than 5% of its net assets.  It is the intention of the Portfolios
to invest  no more than 5% of their  respective  net  assets in debt  securities
rated  below Baa by Moody's or BBB by S & P (commonly  known as "high  yield" or
"junk bonds").

NON-PUBLICLY TRADED SECURITIES. Each Portfolio may invest in non-publicly traded
securities,  which may be less liquid than publicly traded securities.  Although
these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions,  the prices
realized  from  these  sales  could be less than  those  originally  paid by the
Portfolios. In addition,  companies whose securities are not publicly traded are
not subject to the disclosure and other investor  protection  requirements  that
may be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.

SMALL CAPITALIZATION COMPANIES.  Smaller capitalization companies may experience
higher  growth  rates and higher  failure  rates  than do larger  capitalization
companies.  Companies in which the Small  Capitalization  Portfolio is likely to
invest may have limited  product lines,  markets or financial  resources and may
lack   management   depth.   The  trading   volume  of   securities  of  smaller
capitalization  companies  is normally  less than that of larger  capitalization
companies  and,  therefore,  may  disproportionately  affect their market price,
tending  to make them rise more in  response  to buying  demand and fall more in
response  to  selling  pressure  than is the  case  with  larger  capitalization
companies.

FOREIGN  SECURITIES.  All the Portfolios  except for the U.S.  Government  Money
Market  Portfolio  and the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio  may  invest  in  foreign
securities.  The Investment Quality Bond Portfolio and the Large  Capitalization
Value Portfolio do not intend to invest more than 20% of their  respective total
assets in foreign securities.  The Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio and the
Small  Capitalization  Portfolio do not intend to purchase foreign securities in
an amount  more than 5% of each  Portfolio's  total  assets.  The  International
Equity  Portfolio  expects  to  invest at least  80% of its  assets  in  foreign
securities.  Investing in securities issued by foreign companies and governments
involves  considerations  and  potential  risks not  typically  associated  with
investing  in   obligations   issued  by  the  U.S.   Government   and  domestic
corporations.  Less  information may be available  about foreign  companies than
about  domestic  companies  and foreign  companies  generally are not subject to
uniform  accounting,  auditing  and  financial  reporting  standards or to other
regulatory practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to domestic
companies. The values of foreign investments are affected by changes in currency
rates or exchange  control  regulations,  restrictions  or  prohibitions  on the
repatriation of foreign currencies,  application of foreign tax laws,  including
withholding  taxes,  changes  in  governmental  administration  or  economic  or
monetary  policy (in the United  States or abroad) or changed  circumstances  in
dealings between nations. Costs are also incurred in connection with conversions
between  various  currencies.  In addition,  foreign  brokerage  commissions and
custody fees are generally  higher than those charged in the United States,  and
foreign securities markets may be less liquid, more volatile and less subject to
governmental  supervision  than in the  United  States.  Investments  in foreign
countries  could be affected by other factors not present in the United  States,
including  expropriation,  confiscatory taxation, lack of uniform accounting and
auditing   standards  and  potential   difficulties  in  enforcing   contractual
obligations and could be subject to extended clearance settlement periods.  Many
European countries are about to adopt a single European Currency, the euro ("the
Euro Conversion").  The consequences of the Euro Conversion for foreign exchange
rates, interest rates and the value of European Securities eligible for purchase
by the Portfolios are presently unclear.  Such consequences may adversely affect
the value and/or increase the volatility of securities held by the Portfolios.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES. A Portfolio's share value may change significantly when
the currencies, other than the U.S. dollar, in which the Portfolio's investments
are denominated strengthen or weaken against the U.S. dollar.  Currency exchange
rates generally are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign
exchange  markets  of  investments  in  different  countries  as  seen  from  an
international  perspective.   Currency  exchange  rates  can  also  be  affected
unpredictably by intervention by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks or
by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad.

FORWARD  CURRENCY   CONTRACTS.   Each  Portfolio  that  may  invest  in  foreign
currency-denominated   securities  may  hold   currencies  to  meet   settlement
requirements  for  foreign  securities  and  may  engage  in  currency  exchange
transactions  in order to  protect  against  uncertainty  in the level of future
exchange  rates  between a particular  foreign  currency and the U.S.  dollar or
between  foreign  currencies in which the  Portfolio's  securities are or may be
denominated.  Forward currency contracts are agreements to exchange one currency
for  another-for  example,  to exchange a certain  amount of U.S.  dollars for a
certain  amount of French  francs at a future  date.  The date (which may be any
agreed-upon  fixed number of days in the  future),  the amount of currency to be
exchanged and the price at which the exchange will take place will be negotiated
with a currency  trader and fixed for the term of the  contract at the time that
the  Portfolio  enters into the contract.  To assure that a Portfolio's  forward
currency  contracts are not used to achieve investment  leverage,  the Portfolio
will segregate cash or high grade  securities with its custodian in an amount at
all times equal to or exceeding the Portfolio's commitment with respect to these
contracts.

In hedging specific  portfolio  positions,  a Portfolio may enter into a forward
contract  with  respect  to  either  the  currency  in which the  positions  are
denominated or another currency deemed  appropriate by the Portfolio's  Advisor.
The amount the Portfolio may invest in forward currency  contracts is limited to
the amount of the Portfolio's aggregate investments in foreign currencies. Risks
associated with entering into forward currency contracts include the possibility
that the market for forward  currency  contracts  may be limited with respect to
certain currencies and, upon a contract's maturity, the inability of a Portfolio
to negotiate  with the dealer to enter into an offsetting  transaction.  Forward
currency  contracts  may be  closed  out only by the  parties  entering  into an
offsetting  contract.  In addition,  the  correlation  between  movements in the
prices of those  contracts and movements in the price of the currency  hedged or
used for cover will not be perfect. There is no assurance that an active forward
currency  contract  market will always  exist.  These  factors  will  restrict a
Portfolio's  ability to hedge against the risk of  devaluation  of currencies in
which a Portfolio  holds a substantial  quantity of securities and are unrelated
to the qualitative rating that may be assigned to any particular  security.  See
the  Statement of  Additional  Information  for further  information  concerning
forward  currency  contracts.   See  also  "Certain  Securities  and  Investment
Techniques-Futures  Contracts  and  Related  Options"  on page  18 and  "Certain
Investment Policies-Portfolio Turnover" on page 22.

YEAR 2000.  The  investment  management  services  provided  to the Trust by the
Manager  and the  Advisors  and the  services  provided to  shareholders  by the
Distributor  and the Transfer  Agent depend on the smooth  functioning  of their
computer  systems.  Many computer software systems in use today cannot recognize
the year 2000, but revert to 1900 or some other date, due to the manner in which
dates were encoded and calculated. That failure, as well as others, could have a
negative  impact on the  handling  of  securities  trades,  pricing  and account
services.  The Manager, the Advisors,  the Distributor,  the Transfer Agent, and
other Trust service providers have been actively working on necessary changes in
their own  computer  systems to prepare  for the year 2000 and expect that their
systems will be adapted  before that date,  but there can be no  assurance  that
they will be successful,  or that interaction with other  noncomplying  computer
systems will not inpair their services at that time.

In addition,  it is possible  that the markets for  securities in which the Fund
invests  may be  detrimentally  affected  by computer  failures  throughout  the
financial  services industry beginning January 1, 2000.  Improperly  functioning
trading  systems may result in  settlement  problems and  liquidity  issues.  In
addition,  corporate  and  governmental  data  processing  errors  may result in
production problems for individual companies and overall economic uncertainties.
Earnings of individual  issuers will be affected by remediation costs, which may
be substantial and may be reported  inconsistently in U.S. and foreign financial
statements. Accordingly, the Trust's investments my be adversely affected.

CERTAIN INVESTMENT POLICIES

FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES.  The Trust on behalf of each Portfolio has adopted certain
investment  restrictions  that are  enumerated  in  detail in the  Statement  of
Additional Information.  Among other restrictions,  each Portfolio may not, with
respect to 75% of its total assets taken at market value, invest more than 5% of
its total assets in the  securities  of any one issuer,  except U.S.  Government
Securities,  or  acquire  more than 10% of any class of the  outstanding  voting
securities  of any one  issuer.  In  addition,  except as  described  above with
respect to the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio,  each Portfolio may not invest 25% or
more of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry. The Trust
on behalf of a Portfolio  may borrow money as a temporary  measure from banks in
an aggregate  amount not  exceeding  one-third  of the value of the  Portfolio's
total assets to meet  redemptions and for other temporary or emergency  purposes
not  involving  leveraging.  A  Portfolio  may  not  purchase  securities  while
borrowings exceed 5% of the value of the Portfolio's assets. The Portfolios each
may purchase  securities  which are not  registered  under the Securities Act of
1933 ("1933 Act") but which can be sold to "qualified  institutional  buyers" in
accordance  with Rule 144A  under the 1933 Act.  Any such  security  will not be
considered  illiquid so long as it is determined by the Board of Trustees or the
Portfolio's  Adviser,  acting under  guidelines  approved  and  monitored by the
Board,  which has the ultimate  responsibility  for any determination  regarding
liquidity,  that an  adequate  trading  market  exists for that  security.  This
investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity
in each of the Portfolios during any period that qualified  institutional buyers
become  uninterested in purchasing these restricted  securities.  The ability to
sell to qualified  institutional  buyers under Rule 144A is a recent development
and it is not possible to predict how this market will  develop.  The Board will
carefully monitor any investments by each of the Portfolios in these securities.

The investment  restrictions listed above as well as the Portfolios'  investment
objectives  are  fundamental  policies and  accordingly  may not be changed with
respect to any Portfolio  without the approval of a majority of the  outstanding
shares of that Portfolio,  as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"1940 Act").

NON-FUNDAMENTAL  POLICIES.  A Portfolio  will not invest more than 15% (10% with
respect to the U.S.  Government Money Market  Portfolio) of the value of its net
assets in securities that are illiquid,  including certain  government  stripped
mortgage related securities,  repurchase  agreements maturing in more than seven
days and that cannot be  liquidated  prior to maturity and  securities  that are
illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market. Securities that
have legal or contractual  restrictions  on resale but have a readily  available
market  are  deemed  not  illiquid  for this  purpose.  These  policies  are not
fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees.

Portfolio Turnover

Active trading will increase a Portfolio's rate of turnover, certain transaction
expenses  and the  incidence  of short term  capital  gains  taxable as ordinary
income. An annual turnover rate of 100% would occur when all the securities held
by the Portfolio are replaced one time during a period of one year.  The Advisor
of the  International  Equity Portfolio  anticipates that the annual turnover in
that  Portfolio  will  not be in  excess  of  100%.  The  Advisor  of the  Small
Capitalization  Portfolio anticipates that the annual turnover in that Portfolio
will not be in  excess of 150%.  The  Advisors  of each of the other  Portfolios
anticipate that the annual turnover in those Portfolios will not exceed 80%. The
U.S.  Government  Money Market  Portfolio's  turnover is expected to be zero for
regulatory reporting purposes.

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

Board of Trustees

Overall  responsibility  for  management  and  supervision  of the Trust and the
Portfolios  rests with the Trust's Board of Trustees.  The Trustees  approve all
significant  agreements  between the Trust and the persons  and  companies  that
furnish services to the Trust and the Portfolios,  including agreements with the
Trust's  distributor,  custodian,  transfer  agent,  the  Manager,  Advisors and
administrator. One of the Trustees and all of the Trust's executive officers are
affiliated with the Manager.  The Statement of Additional  Information  contains
background  information  regarding  each  Trustee and  executive  officer of the
Trust.

Investment Manager

Saratoga Capital Management,  a registered  investment advisor,  located at 1501
Franklin Avenue, Mineola, New York, 11501-4803, serves as the Trust's Manager.

Saratoga Capital Management is a Delaware general  partnership which is owned by
certain  executives of Saratoga Capital  Management and by Mr. Ronald J. Goguen,
whose address is Major Drilling Group International Inc., 111 St. George Street,
Suite 200,  Moncton,  New  Brunswick,  Canada  E1C177,  Mr. John Schiavi,  whose
address is Schiavi  Enterprises,  985 Main Street,  Oxford, Maine 04270, and Mr.
Thomas Browne,  whose address is Pontil PTY Limited, 14 Jannali Road, Dubbo, NSW
Australia 2830.

The Trust has entered into an investment  management  agreement (the "Management
Agreement")  with the  Manager  which,  in turn,  has  entered  into an advisory
agreement ("Advisory  Agreement") with each Advisor selected for the Portfolios.
It is the Manager's responsibility to select, subject to the review and approval
of the Board of Trustees,  Advisors who have  distinguished  themselves  by able
performance in their  respective  areas of expertise in asset  management and to
review their continued performance.

Subject to the supervision  and direction of the Trust's Board of Trustees,  the
Manager  provides  to  the  Trust  investment   management  evaluation  services
principally by performing initial due diligence on prospective Advisors for each
Portfolio  and  thereafter   monitoring  Advisor   performance.   In  evaluating
prospective Advisors, the Manager considers, among other factors, each Advisor's
level of expertise,  relative  performance  and  consistency  of  performance to
investment  discipline or  philosophy;  personnel and  financial  strength;  and
quality of service and client communications. The Manager has responsibility for
communicating  performance  expectations  and  evaluations  to the  Advisors and
ultimately  recommending  to the  Board of  Trustees  of the Trust  whether  the
Advisors'  contracts  should be  renewed,  modified or  terminated.  The Manager
provides  reports  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  regarding  the  results  of its
evaluation  and  monitoring  functions.  The  Manager  is also  responsible  for
conducting all operations of the Trust except those operations contracted to the
Advisors,  custodian,   distributor,  transfer  agent  and  administrator.  Each
Portfolio  pays the Manager a fee for its  services  that is computed  daily and
paid monthly at the annual rate specified  below of the value of the average net
assets of the Portfolios.  The Manager pays a portion of its fee to each Advisor
for the advisory  services  provided to the Portfolio that is computed daily and
paid monthly at the annual rate specified  below of the value of the Portfolio's
average daily net assets:


                                                              Portion
                                                              of the
                                                              Manager's
                                              Manager's       Fee Paid
Portfolio                                     Fee             to the Advisor
- ---------                                     ---             --------------
U.S. Government Money market Portfolio......  .475%              .125%
Investment Quality Bond Portfolio...........   .55%               .20%
Municipal Bond Portfolio....................   .55%               .20%
Large Capitalization Value Portfolio........   .65%               .30%
Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio.......   .65%               .30%
Small Capitalization Portfolio..............   .65%               .30%
International Equity Portfolio..............   .75%               .40%


The  Manager,  subject to the  approval  of the  Trustees,  appoints  investment
advisers,  enters into investment  advisory  agreements,  and may amend existing
investment advisory agreements without shareholder approval whenever the Manager
and  the  Trustees  believe  such  actions  will  benefit  a  Portfolio  and its
shareholders.  The Board of Trustees  evaluates and approves all new  investment
advisory  agreements between the Manager and the Advisors.  This policy provides
the Manager with  flexibility and eliminates the  unnecessary  delay and expense
associated  with holding  shareholder  meetings.  The total amount of investment
managment  fees  payable  by each  Portfolio  to the  Manager  cannot be changed
without shareholder approval.
        
In addition, the Manager may provide some or all of the following administrative
services  to the  Trust  including  but  not  limited  to:  the  preparation  of
investment   questionnaires  and  investment  literature,   answering  inquiries
regarding the Trust and its special features,  other client communications,  and
other permissable administrative services.

Advisors

The Advisors have agreed to the foregoing  fees,  which are generally lower than
the  fees  they  charge  to  institutional  accounts  for  which  they  serve as
investment  advisor and perform all  administrative  functions  associated  with
serving  in  that  capacity  in  recognition   of  the  reduced   administrative
responsibilities they have undertaken with respect to the Portfolios. Subject to
the  supervision  and  direction  of the Manager and,  ultimately,  the Board of
Trustees,  each Advisor's  responsibilities are to manage the securities held by
the Portfolio it serves in accordance  with the  Portfolio's  stated  investment
objective and policies,  make  investment  decisions for the Portfolio and place
orders to purchase and sell securities on behalf of the Portfolio.

The following sets forth certain information about each of the Advisors:

OpCap Advisors ("OpCap"), a registered investment advisor,  located at One World
Financial  Center,  New York, NY 10281,  serves as Advisor to the Municipal Bond
Portfolio and Large  Capitalization  Value Portfolio.  OpCap is a majority owned
subsidiary of Oppenheimer Capital, a registered  investment advisor,  founded in
1968. PIMCO Advisors,  L.P. ("PIMCO"),  a publicly traded money management firm,
and its  affiliate,  PA  Holdings,  Inc.,  hold a 33%  interest  in  Oppenheimer
Capital,  and Oppenheimer  Capital,  L.P., a Delaware limited  partnership whose
units  are  traded  on the New York  Stock  Exchange  and of  which  Oppenheimer
Financial  Corp is the sole general  partner,  owns the  remaining 67% interest.
PIMCO and PA Holdings also own a 1% interest in OpCap Advisors and a 1% interest
in Oppenheimer Capital,  L.P. As of September 30, 1998,  Oppenheimer Capital and
its subsidiary OpCap had assets under management of approximately $58 billion.

Fox Asset Management,  Inc. ("Fox"), a registered investment advisor,  serves as
Advisor to the Investment Quality Bond Portfolio. Fox was formed in 1985. Fox is
owned by its current  employees,  with a  controlling  interest held by J. Peter
Skirkanich,  President,  Managing  Director  and  Chairman  of Fox's  Investment
Committee.  Fox is located at 44 Sycamore Avenue, Little Silver, NJ 07739. As of
September  30, 1998,  assets under  management  by Fox were  approximately  $4.5
billion.

Harris  Bretall  Sullivan  & Smith,  L.L.C.  ("Harris  Bretall"),  a  registered
investment  advisor,  serves  as  Advisor  to the  Large  Capitalization  Growth
Portfolio.  The firm's  predecessor,  Harris Bretall Sullivan & Smith, Inc., was
founded in 1971.  Value  Asset  Management,  Inc.,  a holding  company  owned by
BancBoston  Ventures,  Inc., is the majority owner.  Located at One Post Street,
San   Francisco,   CA  94104,   the  firm   managed   assets  of   approximately
$2.6 billion as of September 30, 1998.

Thorsell,  Parker Partners,  Inc. ("Thorsell"),  a registered investment advisor
serves as Advisor to the Small Capitalization  Portfolio. The firm is located at
265 Post  Road  West,  Westport,  Connecticut  06880.  Thorsell  is owned by its
current  employees  with a  controlling  interest  (approximately  70%)  held by
Richard L.  Thorsell.  As of  September  30,  1998,  the firm had  approximately
$352 million of assets under management.

Sterling  Capital  Management  Company  ("Sterling"),  a  registered  investment
advisor, is the Advisor to the U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio.  Sterling
is a North  Carolina  corporation  formed in 1970 and located at One First Union
Center, 301 S. College Street, Suite 3200,  Charlotte,  NC 28202.  Sterling is a
wholly-owned  subsidiary  of United Asset  Management  Corporation  and provides
investment  management  services to  corporations,  pension  and  profit-sharing
plans, trusts,  estates and other institutions and individuals.  As of September
30, 1998,  Sterling had  approximately  $2.8 billion in assets under management.
Since  1982,  Sterling  has been  involved  with the  distribution  of the North
Carolina  Capital   Management   Trust,  a  money  market  mutual  fund  offered
exclusively  to public units in the state,  the first such fund to be registered
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As of September 30, 1998, the asset
value of this fund was approximately $2.9 billion.

Friends Ivory & Sime, Inc.  ("FIS"),  a registered  investment  advisor,  is the
Advisor to the International Equity Portfolio and, in connection therewith,  has
entered into a sub-investment  advisory  agreement with Friends Ivory & Sime plc
of London, England. Pursuant to such sub-investment advisory agreement,  Friends
Ivory & Sime plc performs investment advisory and portfolio transaction services
for  such  Portfolio.  While  Friends  Ivory & Sime plc is  responsible  for the
day-to-day   management  of  the  Portfolio's  assets,  FIS  reviews  investment
performance, policies and guidelines,  facilitates communication between Friends
Ivory & Sime plc and the Manager and  maintains  certain  books and records.  As
compensation  for its  services as  investment  advisor,  the Manager pays FIS a
monthly fee at the annual  rate of .40% of the  average  daily net assets of the
International Equity Portfolio. As compensation for its services,  Friends Ivory
& Sime plc receives  from FIS 78% of the net monthly fees paid by the Manager to
FIS pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Manager and FIS.

FIS (formerly Ivory & Sime International, Inc.) was organized in 1978, and as of
February,  1998 is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Friends Ivory & Sime plc. FIS
offers  clients in the United States the services of Friends Ivory & Sime plc in
global securities  markets.  Friends Ivory & Sime plc is a subsidiary of Friends
Provident  Group.  Friends  Provident was founded in 1832,  and is a mutual life
assurance company registered in England.  As of September 30, 1998, the firm and
its affiliates managed  approximately $40 billion of global equity  investments.
FIS is located at One World Trade Center,  Suite 2101,  New York, NY 10048,  and
Friends Ivory & Sime plc is located at Princes Court, 7 Princes Street,  London,
England EC2R8AQ.

Administration

State Street Bank and Trust Company  ("State  Street"),  located at One Heritage
Drive, North Quincy,  Massachusetts 02171, calculates the net asset value of the
Portfolios'  shares and creates and  maintains  the  Trust's  financial  records
required by Section 31 of the 1940 Act.

Unified Fund Services,  Inc.  provides  administrative  services and manages the
administrative affairs of the Trust pursuant to an Administration Agreement with
the Trust. Such services include the preparation of proxy statements and reports
filed with federal and state securities  commissions  (except to the extent that
the participation of independent accountants and attorneys is, in the opinion of
Unified Fund Services,  Inc., necessary or desirable),  preparation of materials
for  regular and  special  meetings  of the Board of Trustees of the Trust,  and
supervising the determination of the net asset value of the Trust's  Portfolios.
For these  services,  each Portfolio pays Unified Fund Services,  Inc. an annual
rate of .12% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets per year with a monthly
cap.

Expenses of The Portfolios

Each Portfolio  bears its own expenses,  which  generally  include all costs not
specifically borne by the Manager,  the Advisors,  State Street and Unified Fund
Services,  Inc. as  Administrator  to the Trust.  Included  among a  Portfolio's
expenses are: costs incurred in connection  with the  Portfolio's  organization;
investment  management and administration fees; fees for necessary  professional
and brokerage services; fees for any pricing service; costs of the determination
of net asset value;  the costs of regulatory  compliance;  and costs  associated
with  maintaining  the Trust's legal existence and  shareholder  relations.  The
Trust's  agreement  with the Manager  provides  that the Manager will reduce its
fees to a Portfolio to the extent required by applicable  state laws for certain
expenses that are described in the Statement of Additional Information.

Portfolio Transactions

To the extent consistent with the applicable  provisions of the 1940 Act and the
rules  and  exemptions  adopted  by the SEC  under  the 1940  Act,  the Board of
Trustees of the Trust has determined that brokerage transactions for a Portfolio
may be executed  through  affiliated  broker-dealers  if, in the judgment of the
Advisor, the use of an affiliated broker-dealer is likely to result in price and
execution at least as favorable as those of other qualified broker-dealers. When
selecting  broker-dealers,  the Advisors  may consider  their record of sales of
shares of the Portfolios.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

General

Purchases of shares of a Portfolio must be made through an entity having a sales
agreement with Unified Management  Corporation,  the Trust's general distributor
(the "Distributor") ("Dealers"), or directly through the Distributor.

The  Trust is  designed  to help  investors  to  implement  an asset  allocation
strategy to meet their individual needs as well as select individual investments
within each asset category among the myriad choices available.  The Trust offers
several  Classes  of shares  to  investors  designed  to  provide  them with the
flexibility of selecting an investment best suited to their needs.

The Trust makes available  assistance to help certain  investors  identify their
risk   tolerance  and   investment   objectives   through  use  of  an  investor
questionnaire, and to select an appropriate model allocation of assets among the
Portfolios.  As  further  assistance,  the  Trust  makes  available  to  certain
investors the option of automatic  reallocation or rebalancing of their selected
model.  The Trust also provides,  on a periodic  basis, a report to the investor
containing an analysis and evaluation of the investor's account.

CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

Shares are sold at net asset  value  next  determined  without an initial  sales
charge so that the full amount of an investor's purchase payment may be invested
in the Trust.  A CDSC of 1%,  however,  will be imposed on most shares  redeemed
within one year after  purchase.  The CDSC will be imposed on any  redemption of
shares if after such  redemption the aggregate  current value of an account with
the Trust falls below the aggregate amount of the investor's  purchase  payments
for shares made  during the one year  preceding  the  redemption.  In  addition,
shares  are  subject  to an annual  12b-1 fee of 1.0% of the  average  daily net
assets.  Shares of the Trust which are held for one year or more after  purchase
will not be subject to any CDSC upon redemption.

CDSC Waivers.  A CDSC will not be imposed on: (i) any amount which represents an
increase  in  value of  shares  purchased  within  the one  year  preceding  the
redemption;  (ii) the current net asset value of shares  purchased more than one
year prior to the  redemption;  and (iii) the  current net asset value of shares
purchased  through  reinvestment  of dividends or  distributions.  Moreover,  in
determining  whether  a CDSC  is  applicable  it will be  assumed  that  amounts
described in (i), (ii), and (iii) above (in that order) are redeemed first.

In addition, the CDSC, if otherwise applicable, will be waived in the case of:

         (1)  redemptions  of  shares  held at the  time a  shareholder  dies or
becomes  disabled,  only if the shares are: (a) registered either in the name of
an individual shareholder (not a trust), or in the names of such shareholder and
his or her spouse as joint tenants with right of survivorship;  or (b) held in a
qualified  corporate or  self-employed  retirement plan,  Individual  Retirement
Account  ("IRA") or Custodial  Account under  Section  403(b)(7) of the Internal
Revenue  Code  ("403(b)  Custodial  Account"),  provided in either case that the
redemption is requested within one year of the death or initial determination of
disability;

         (2)  redemptions  in  connection  with the  following  retirement  plan
distributions: (a) lump-sum or other distributions from a qualified corporate or
self-employed  retirement  plan following  retirement (or, in the case of a "key
employee"  of a "top  heavy"  plan,  following  attainment  of age 59 1/2);  (b)
distributions  from an IRA or 403(b) Custodial Account  following  attainment of
age 70 1/2; or (c) a tax-free return of an excess contribution to an IRA;

         (3)  certain  redemptions   pursuant  to  the  Portfolio's   Systematic
Withdrawal Plan (see "Redemption of Shares - Systematic Withdrawal Plan").

With  reference to (1) above,  for the purpose of  determining  disability,  the
Distributor  utilizes the definition of disability contained in Section 72(m)(7)
of the  Internal  Revenue  Code,  which  relates to the  inability  to engage in
gainful  employment.  With reference to (2) above, the term  "distribution" does
not encompass a direct transfer of IRA, 403(b)  Custodial  Account or retirement
plan assets to a successor  custodian  or trustee.  All waivers  will be granted
only  following  receipt  by the  Distributor  of  written  confirmation  of the
shareholder's entitlement.
    
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Portfolios have adopted a Plan of Distribution  pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the Act with respect to the  distribution of shares of the Portfolios.  The Plan
provides that each Portfolio  will pay the  Distributor or other entities a fee,
which is  accrued  daily and paid  monthly,  at the  annual  rate of 1.0% of the
average net assets. Up to 0.25% of average daily net assets may be paid directly
to the Manager for support services.  The fee is treated by each Portfolio as an
expense in the year it is accrued.  A portion of the fee payable pursuant to the
Plan, equal to 0.25% of the average daily net assets, is currently characterized
as a service fee. A service fee is a payment made for  personal  service  and/or
the maintenance of shareholder accounts.

Additional  amounts  paid  under the Plan are paid to the  Distributor  or other
entities for services  provided and the expenses  borne by the  Distributor  and
others in the  distribution of the shares,  including the payment of commissions
for sales of the shares and  incentive  compensation  to and expenses of Dealers
and  others  who  engage in or  support  distribution  of shares or who  service
shareholder  accounts,  including overhead and telephone expenses;  printing and
distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of
the  Portfolios'  shares to other than current  shareholders;  and  preparation,
printing and  distribution  of sales  literature and advertising  materials.  In
addition,  the  Distributor  or other entities may utilize fees paid pursuant to
the Plan to compensate  Dealers or other entities for their opportunity costs in
advancing such amounts,  which  compensation  would be in the form of a carrying
charge on any unreimbursed expenses.

At any given time, the expenses in distributing  shares of each Portfolio may be
in excess of the total of (i) the payments made by the Portfolio pursuant to the
Plan,  and (ii) the proceeds of CDSCs paid by investors  upon the  redemption of
shares.  For  example,  if $1 million in  expenses in  distributing  shares of a
Portfolio  had been  incurred and $750,000 had been received as described in (i)
and (ii) above, the excess expense would amount to $250,000. Because there is no
requirement  under the Plan that the Distributor or other entities be reimbursed
for all distribution expenses or any requirement that the Plan be continued from
year to  year,  such  excess  amount  does not  constitute  a  liability  of the
Portfolio.  Although  there  is no legal  obligation  for the  Portfolio  to pay
expenses  incurred in excess of payments made to the Distributor under the Plan,
and the proceeds of CDSCs paid by investors  upon  redemption of shares,  if for
any reason the Plan is  terminated  the Trustees  will consider at that time the
manner in which to treat such expenses.  Any cumulative  expenses incurred,  but
not  yet  recovered  through  distribution  fees  or  CDSCs,  may or may  not be
recovered through future distribution fees or CDSCs. If expenses in distributing
shares are less than payments made for distributing  shares,  the Distributor or
other entities will retain the full amount of the payments.

Continuous Offering

The Trust  offers its shares for sale to the public on a continuous  basis.  The
offering price is the net asset value per share next determined after receipt of
an order by the Distributor.  Shareholders  will not receive share  certificates
because the Trust does not issue share certificates.

The Trust offers an Automatic  Investment  Plan under which  purchase  orders of
$100 or more may be placed periodically in the Trust. The purchase price is paid
automatically  from  cash  held in the  shareholder's  designated  account.  For
further information regarding the Automatic Investment Plan, shareholders should
contact their Dealer or the Trust at 800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

For Class C shares of the Trust, the minimum initial  investment in the Trust is
$100,000 and the minimum investment in any individual  Portfolio (other than the
U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio) is $250; there is no minimum investment
for the U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio.  For employees and relatives of:
the  Manager,  firms  distributing  shares of the Trust,  and the Trust  service
providers and their affiliates, the minimum initial investment is $1,000 with no
individual  Portfolio  minimum.  There  is no  minimum  initial  investment  for
employee benefit plans,  associations,  and individual retirement accounts.  The
minimum  subsequent  investment  in the  Trust is $100 and  there is no  minimum
subsequent  investment  for any  Portfolio.  The Trust reserves the right at any
time to vary the initial and subsequent investment minimums.

The sale of shares will be suspended during any period when the determination of
net asset value is  suspended  and may be  suspended by the Board of Trustees of
the Trust  whenever the Board judges it to be in the best  interest of the Trust
to do so.  The  Distributor  in its sole  discretion,  may  accept or reject any
purchase order.

The  Distributor  will from time to time  provide  compensation  to  Dealers  in
connection  with  sales of  shares  of the  Trust  including  promotional  gifts
(including gift certificates,  dinners and other items), financial assistance to
dealers in connection  with  conferences,  sales or training  programs for their
employees, seminars for the public and advertising campaigns.

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

Redemption in General

Shares of a Portfolio may be redeemed at no charge on any day that the Portfolio
calculates  its net asset  value as  described  below  under "Net Asset  Value."
Redemption  requests  received  in proper  form  prior to the  close of  regular
trading on the NYSE will be effected at the net asset value per share determined
on that day less the amount of any applicable CDSC. Redemption requests received
after the close of regular trading on the NYSE will be effected at the net asset
value next  determined  less the amount of any  applicable  CDSC. A Portfolio is
required to transmit redemption proceeds for credit to the shareholder's account
at no charge  within  seven  days  after  receipt  of a  redemption  request.  A
shareholder  who pays for  Portfolio  shares by personal  check will be credited
with the  proceeds of a redemption  of those shares when the purchase  check has
been collected,  which may take up to 15 days.  Shareholders  who anticipate the
need for more immediate  access to their  investment  should  purchase shares by
Federal funds or bank wire or by a certified or cashier's check.

Redemption requests may be given to the shareholder's Dealer (who is responsible
for transmitting them to the Trust's Transfer Agent) or directly to the Transfer
Agent, if the shareholder  purchased  shares directly from the  Distributor.  In
order to be  effective,  a  redemption  request of a  shareholder  other than an
individual may require the submission of documents  commonly  required to assure
the safety of a particular account.         

The Trust may suspend  redemption  procedures  and postpone  redemption  payment
during any period when the NYSE is closed  other than for  customary  weekend or
holiday  closing  or when the SEC has  determined  an  emergency  exists  or has
otherwise permitted such suspension or postponement.

If the Board of Trustees  determines  that it would be  detrimental  to the best
interests of a Portfolio's  shareholders to make a redemption  payment wholly in
cash,  the Portfolio  may pay, in accordance  with rules adopted by the SEC, any
portion  of a  redemption  in excess  of the  lesser  of  $250,000  or 1% of the
Portfolio's  net  assets  by a  distributions  in  kind  of  readily  marketable
portfolio securities in lieu of cash. Redemptions failing to meet this threshold
must be made in cash.  Shareholders receiving distributions in kind of portfolio
securities may incur brokerage commissions when subsequently  disposing of those
securities.

Certain  requests  require a signature  guarantee.  To protect you and the Trust
from fraud,  certain transactions and redemption requests must be in writing and
must include a signature  guarantee in the  following  situations  (there may be
other  situations also requiring a signature  guarantee in the discretion of the
Trust or Transfer Agent):

1.  Re-registration of the account.
2.  Changing bank wiring instructions on the account.
3.  Name change on the account.
4.  Setting up/changing systematic withdrawal plan to a secondary address.
5.  Redemptions greater than $25,000.
6.  Any redemption check that is made payable to someone other than the
    shareholder(s).
7.  Any redemption check that is being mailed to a different address than the
    address of record.

You can obtain a signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, credit union,
broker-dealer,  securities  exchange or association,  clearing agency or savings
association, as defined by federal law.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan. A systematic withdrawal plan (the "Withdrawal Plan")
is available for shareholders. Any Portfolio from which redemptions will be made
pursuant to the Plan will be referred to as a "SWP  Portfolio".  The  Withdrawal
Plan  provides for monthly,  quarterly,  semi- annual or annual  payments in any
amount  not less than $25,  or in any whole  percentage  of the value of the SWP
Portfolio's  shares, on an annualized basis. Any applicable CDSC will be imposed
on shares  redeemed under the  Withdrawal  Plan (see "Purchase of Fund Shares"),
except that the CDSC, if any, will be waived on redemptions under the Withdrawal
Plan of up to 12% annually of the value of each SWP Portfolio account,  based on
the  Share  values  next  determined  after  the  shareholder   establishes  the
Withdrawal Plan. Redemptions for which this CDSC waiver policy applies may be in
amounts up to 1% per month, 3% per quarter,  6%  semi-annually  or 12% annually.
Under this CDSC waiver  policy,  amounts  withdrawn  each period will be paid by
first  redeeming  shares not subject to a CDSC because the shares were purchased
by the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions, the CDSC period
has elapsed or some other  waiver of the CDSC  applies.  If shares  subject to a
CDSC  must be  redeemed,  shares  held for the  longest  period  of time will be
redeemed  first  followed by shares held the next  longest  period of time until
shares  held  the  shortest  period  of  time  are  redeemed.   Any  shareholder
participating  in the Withdrawal Plan will have sufficient  shares redeemed from
his or her  account so that the  proceeds  (net of any  applicable  CDSC) to the
shareholder  will be the designated  monthly,  quarterly,  semi-annual or annual
amount.

A shareholder may suspend or terminate  participation  in the Withdrawal Plan at
any time. A shareholder  who has  suspended  participation  may resume  payments
under the Withdrawal Plan,  without requiring a new determination of the account
value for the 12% CDSC waiver.  The Withdrawal Plan may be terminated or revised
at any time by the Portfolios.

The addition of a new SWP  Portfolio  will not change the account  value for the
12% CDSC waiver for the SWP Portfolios  already  participating in the Withdrawal
Plan.

Withdrawal Plan payments should not be considered  dividends,  yields or income.
If periodic  Withdrawal Plan payments  continuously exceed net investment income
and  net  capital  gains,  the   shareholder's   original   investment  will  be
correspondingly reduced and ultimately exhausted.  Each withdrawal constitutes a
redemption  of  shares  and any gain or loss  realized  must be  recognized  for
federal   income  tax  purposes.   Shareholders   should  contact  their  Dealer
representative or the Manager for further information about the Withdrawal Plan.

Reinstatement Privilege. A shareholder who has had his or her shares redeemed or
repurchased and has not previously  exercised this reinstatement  privilege may,
within 35 days after the date of the  redemption  or  repurchase,  reinstate any
portion or all of the proceeds of such redemption or repurchase in shares of the
Portfolios   in  the  same  Class  from  which  such  shares  were  redeemed  or
repurchased,  at net asset value next determined  after a reinstatement  request
(made in writing to and approved by the Manager), together with the proceeds, is
received by the Transfer  Agent and receive a pro-rata  credit for any CDSC paid
in connection with such redemption or repurchase.

Involuntary Redemptions

Due to the relatively  high cost of maintaining  small  accounts,  the Trust may
redeem  an  account  having a  current  value of  $7,500  or less as a result of
redemptions,  but not as a result of a fluctuation  in a  Portfolio's  net asset
value,  after  the  shareholder  has  been  given  at  least 30 days in which to
increase the account balance to more than that amount. Investors should be aware
that involuntary redemptions may result in the liquidation of Portfolio holdings
at a time when the value of those holdings is lower than the investor's  cost of
the  investment or may result in the  realization of taxable  capital gains.  No
CDSC will be imposed on any involuntary redemption.

NET ASSET VALUE

Each Portfolio's net asset value per share is calculated by State Street on each
day, Monday through Friday, except on days on which the NYSE is closed. The NYSE
is currently  scheduled to be closed on New Year's Day, Dr.  Martin Luther King,
Jr. Day,  Presidents' Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,  Independence  Day, Labor
Day,  Thanksgiving and Christmas,  and on the preceding Friday when one of those
holidays  falls on a  Saturday  or on the  subsequent  Monday  when one of those
holidays falls on a Sunday.

Net asset value per share is  determined  as of the close of trading on the NYSE
and is computed by dividing the value of a  Portfolio's  net assets by the total
number of its shares  outstanding.  Generally,  a  Portfolio's  investments  are
valued at market  value or, in the absence of a market  value,  at fair value as
determined by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees.

Securities that are primarily  traded on foreign  exchanges are generally valued
for  purposes of  calculating  a  Portfolio's  net asset value at the  preceding
closing values of the  securities on their  respective  exchanges,  except that,
when an occurrence  subsequent to the time a value was so  established is likely
to have changed that value,  the fair market value of those  securities  will be
determined  by  consideration  of other factors by or under the direction of the
Board of Trustees.  A security that is primarily traded on a domestic or foreign
stock exchange is valued at the last sale price on that exchange or, if no sales
occurred  during  the day,  at the  current  quoted  bid  price.  All  portfolio
securities  held by the U.S.  Government  Money Market  Portfolio and short term
dollar-denominated investments of the other Portfolios that mature in 60 days or
less are  valued on the basis of  amortized  cost  (which  involves  valuing  an
investment  at its cost and,  thereafter,  assuming a constant  amortization  to
maturity of any  discount or premium,  regardless  of the effect of  fluctuating
interest rates on the market value of the investment) when the Board of Trustees
has  determined  that amortized cost  represents  fair value.  An option that is
written  by the Fund is  generally  valued  at the last  sale  price  or, in the
absence  of the last  sale  price,  the last  offer  price.  An  option  that is
purchased by the Portfolio is generally valued at the last sale price or, in the
absence  of the last  sale  price,  the last bid  price.  The value of a futures
contact  is  equal  to the  unrealized  gain  or loss  on the  contract  that is
determined  by marking the contract to the current  settlement  price for a like
contract on the valuation date of the futures  contract.  A settlement price may
not be used if the  market  makes a limit  move  with  respect  to a  particular
futures contract if the securities  underlying the futures  contract  experience
significant price  fluctuations after the determination of the settlement price.
When a settlement  price  cannot be used,  futures  contracts  will be valued at
their fair market value as  determined by or under the direction of the Board of
Trustees.

All assets and liabilities  initially  expressed in foreign currency values will
be  converted  into U.S.  dollar  values at the mean between the bid and offered
quotations  of the  currencies  against  U.S.  dollars  as  last  quoted  by any
recognized dealer. If the bid and offered quotations are not available, the rate
of exchange will be determined in good faith by or under the direction of by the
Board of Trustees. In carrying out the Board's valuation policies,  State Street
may consult with an independent  pricing service retained by the Trust.  Further
information  regarding the  Portfolio's  valuation  policies is contained in the
Statement of Additional Information.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

Shares of a Portfolio may be exchanged  without  payment of any exchange fee for
shares of  another  Portfolio  of the same Class at their  respective  net asset
values.  No CDSC is imposed at the time of any exchange of shares,  although any
applicable CDSC will be imposed upon ultimate  redemption.  The Trust may in the
future offer an exchange feature  involving shares of an unaffiliated Fund group
subject to receipt of  appropriate  regulatory  relief.  Portfolios  acquired in
exchange for shares of a CDSC Fund having a different CDSC schedule than that of
these  Portfolios  will be  subject to the higher  CDSC  schedule,  even if such
shares are  subsequently  re-exchanged  for shares of a Portfolio or Fund with a
lower CDSC schedule.

An exchange of shares,  including  an exchange  resulting  from a  shareholder's
instruction  to  automatically  or otherwise  reallocate or rebalance his or her
shares,  is treated for federal  income tax purposes as a  redemption  (sale) of
shares given in exchange by the shareholder,  and an exchanging shareholder may,
therefore,  realize  a taxable  gain or loss in  connection  with the  exchange.
Shareholders  exchanging  shares of a Portfolio for shares of another  Portfolio
should  review the  disclosure  provided  herein  relating to the  exchanged-for
shares  carefully  prior to  making  an  exchange.  The  exchange  privilege  is
available to shareholders  residing in any state in which Portfolio shares being
acquired may be legally sold.

The Manager  reserves the right to reject any exchange  request and the exchange
privilege  may  be  modified  or  terminated  upon  notice  to  shareholders  in
accordance  with  applicable  rules  adopted  by  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission.

The Distributor and the Trust's transfer agent will employ reasonable procedures
for  telephone  redemptions  and  exchanges  to  confirm  that the  instructions
received from shareholders or their account  representatives are genuine, and if
they do not, the  Distributor or the transfer agent may be liable for any losses
due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Shareholders will be required to
provide  their  name,  address,  social  security  number and other  identifying
information. Account representatives must identify themselves and their firm and
the Distributor  will confirm that such firm has a valid selling  agreement with
the  Distributor and that the  representative  is authorized to act on behalf of
the firm.

Because  excessive  trading  (including  short-term  "market timing" trading can
limit a Portfolio's  performance,  each Portfolio may refuse any exchange orders
(1) if  they  appear  to be  market-timing  transactions  involving  significant
portions  of a  Portfolio's  assets or (2) from any  shareholder  account if the
shareholder  or his or her  broker-dealer  has been advised that previous use of
the exchange privilege is considered excessive.  Accounts under common ownership
or  control,  including  those  with the  same  taxpayer  ID  number  and  those
administered so as to redeem or purchase shares based upon certain predetermined
market indicators, will be considered one account for this purpose.

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

Dividends and Distributions

Net  investment  income  (i.e.,  income  other than long and short term  capital
gains) and net  realized  long and short term capital  gains will be  determined
separately for each Portfolio.  Dividends derived from net investment income and
distributions  of net  realized  long and short  term  capital  gains  paid by a
Portfolio to a  shareholder  will be  automatically  reinvested  (at current net
asset value) in additional  shares of that Portfolio (which will be deposited in
the  shareholder's  account)  unless the  shareholder  instructs  the Trust,  in
writing,  to pay all dividends and  distributions  in cash.  Shares  acquired by
dividend and distribution  reinvestment will not be subject to any CDSC and will
be eligible for conversion on a pro rata basis.  Dividends  attributable  to the
net  investment  income  of the U.S.  Government  Money  Market  Portfolio,  the
Municipal  Bond  Portfolio and the  Investment  Quality Bond  Portfolio  will be
declared  daily  and paid  monthly.  Shareholders  of those  Portfolios  receive
dividends  from the day  following  the purchase up to and including the date of
redemption. Dividends attributable to the net investment income of the remaining
Portfolios  are declared and paid  annually.  Distributions  of any net realized
long term and short  term  capital  gains  earned  by a  Portfolio  will be made
annually.

Taxes

As each  Portfolio  will be treated as a separate  entity for federal income tax
purposes,  the amounts of net investment  income and net realized  capital gains
subject to tax will be determined  separately for each Portfolio (rather than on
a Trust-wide basis).

Each Portfolio  intends to qualify each year as a regulated  investment  company
for federal income tax purposes.  The  requirements  for  qualification  (i) may
cause  a  Portfolio,   among  other  things,  to  restrict  the  extent  of  its
transactions in warrants, currencies,  options, futures or forward contracts and
(ii)  will  cause  each  of the  Portfolios  to  maintain  a  diversified  asset
portfolio.

A regulated  investment company will not be subject to federal income tax on its
net investment income and its capital gains that it distributes to shareholders,
so  long  as it  meets  certain  overall  distribution  requirements  and  other
conditions  under the Code.  Each  Portfolio  intends to satisfy  these  overall
distribution requirements and any other required conditions.  Dividends declared
by a Portfolio in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable
to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month shall be deemed to
have been received by each  shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year and
to have been paid by the Portfolio not later than such December 31 provided that
such dividend is actually paid by the Portfolio  during January of the following
year.

Dividends  derived  from  a  Portfolio's   taxable  net  investment  income  and
distributions  of a Portfolio's net realized short term capital gains (including
short term gains from investments in tax exempt  obligations) will be taxable to
shareholders as ordinary  income for federal income tax purposes,  regardless of
how long shareholders have held their Portfolio shares and whether the dividends
or  distributions  are  received in cash or  reinvested  in  additional  shares.
Distributions  of net  realized  long term  capital  gains  will be  taxable  to
shareholders  as long  term  capital  gains for  federal  income  tax  purposes,
regardless of how long a shareholder  has held his Portfolio  shares and whether
the  distributions  are received in cash or  reinvested  in  additional  shares.
Dividends and distributions paid by the U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio,
the  Investment  Quality Bond  Portfolio  and the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio and
distributions  of capital gains paid by all the Portfolios  will not qualify for
the dividend received deduction for corporations.  As a general rule,  dividends
paid by a  Portfolio,  to the extent  derived  from  dividends  attributable  to
certain  types  of stock  issued  by U.S.  corporations,  will  qualify  for the
dividend  received  deduction for corporations  which hold shares in a Portfolio
for more  than 45 days.  Some  states,  if  certain  asset  and  diversification
requirements  are satisfied,  permit  shareholders  to treat their portions of a
Portfolio's  dividends  that  are  attributable  to  interest  on U.S.  Treasury
securities and certain U.S. Government  Securities as income that is exempt from
state and local income taxes.  Dividends  attributable  to repurchase  agreement
earnings are, as a general rule, subject to state and local taxation.

Dividends  paid by the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio that are derived from interest
earned on qualifying tax-exempt obligations are expected to be "exempt-interest"
dividends  that  shareholders  may exclude from their gross  incomes for federal
income  tax  purposes  if  the  Portfolio  satisfies  certain  asset  percentage
requirements. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in bonds, the interest on
which  is a  specific  tax  preference  item for  federal  income  tax  purposes
("AMT-Subject  Bonds"),  any exempt-interest  dividends derived from interest on
AMT-Subject  Bonds will be a specific  tax  preference  item for purposes of the
federal   individual  and  corporate   alternative   minimum  taxes.   Dividends
distributed  by the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio  may not be exempt from state or
local taxation.  Shareholders  will receive  notification  annually  stating the
portion of the Municipal Bond  Portfolio's  tax-exempt  income  attributable  to
issuers in each  state.  You  should  contact  your tax  advisor if you have any
questions, particularly with regard to state and local taxes.

Net  investment  income or capital gains earned by the  Portfolios  investing in
foreign  securities  may be subject  to foreign  income  taxes  withheld  at the
source.  The United  States has  entered  into tax  treaties  with many  foreign
countries that entitle the Portfolios to a reduced rate of tax or exemption from
tax on this  related  income  and  gains.  It is  impossible  to  determine  the
effective  rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of these  Portfolios'
assets to be invested  within  various  countries is not known.  The  Portfolios
intend  to  operate  so as to  qualify  for  treaty-reduced  rates of tax  where
applicable.  Furthermore,  if a Portfolio  qualifies  as a regulated  investment
company,  and if more  than 50% of the  value of the  Portfolio's  assets at the
close  of each  fiscal  quarter  consists  of  stock or  securities  of  foreign
corporations,  the Portfolio may elect,  for U.S.  federal  income tax purposes:
conduit  treatment by passing  through to its  shareholders  the ability to take
either the foreign tax credit or the deduction for foreign taxes with respect to
the  foreign  taxes  paid  by  the  regulated   investment  company.  The  Trust
anticipates  that the  International  Equity Portfolio will qualify for and make
this  election in most,  but not  necessarily  all, of its taxable  years.  If a
Portfolio were to make an election,  an amount equal to the foreign income taxes
paid by the Portfolio  would be included in the income of its  shareholders  and
the  shareholders  would be  entitled  to credit  their  portions of this amount
against  their U.S. tax  liabilities,  if any, or to deduct such  portions  from
their U.S. taxable income,  if any. Shortly after any year for which it makes an
election,  a Portfolio will report to its shareholders,  in writing,  the amount
per share of  foreign  tax that must be  included  in each  shareholder's  gross
income and the amount  which  will be  available  for  deduction  or credit.  No
deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize
deductions.  Certain  limitations  will be  imposed  on the  extent to which the
credit (but not the deduction) for foreign taxes may be claimed.

As discussed  above,  an exchange of shares in a Portfolio for shares in another
Portfolio  resulting  from  a  shareholder's  instruction  to  automatically  or
otherwise  reallocate or rebalance their shares of the Portfolios is treated for
federal income tax purposes as a redemption  (sale) of shares and a taxable gain
or loss may be realized.

Statements   as  to  the  tax  status  of  each   shareholder's   dividends  and
distributions  are  mailed  annually.   Shareholders   will  also  receive,   if
appropriate,  various written notices after the close of the Portfolios' taxable
year with respect to certain  foreign taxes paid by the  Portfolios  and certain
dividends  and  distributions  that  were,  or were  deemed to be,  received  by
shareholders  from the  Portfolios  during the  Portfolios'  prior taxable year.
Shareholders  should consult with their own tax advisors with specific reference
to their own tax situations.

CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

State  Street Bank and Trust  Company is located at One  Heritage  Drive,  North
Quincy,  Massachusetts  02171  and  serves  as  the  Custodian  of  the  Trust's
investments and the Trust's  transfer agent.  The Shareholder  Services Group is
the subtransfer agent for certain retirement plan accounts. Cash balances of the
Portfolios  with the Custodian in excess of $100,000 are  unprotected by Federal
deposit insurance. Such uninsured balances may at times be substantial.

PERFORMANCE OF THE PORTFOLIOS

Yield

The Trust may, from time to time,  include the yield and effective  yield of the
U.S.   Government  Money  Market  Portfolio  in  advertisements  or  reports  to
shareholders  or prospective  investors.  Current yield for the U.S.  Government
Money  Market  Portfolio  will be based on  income  received  by a  hypothetical
investment  over a given  seven-day  period (less  expenses  accrued  during the
period), and then "annualized" (i.e., assuming that the seven-day yield would be
received  for 52 weeks,  stated in terms of an annual  percentage  return on the
investment).  "Effective  yield" for the U.S.  Government Money Market Portfolio
will be calculated in a manner similar to that used to calculate yield, but will
reflect the compounding effect of earnings on reinvested dividends.

For the Investment Quality Bond Portfolio and the Municipal Bond Portfolio, from
time to time, the Trust may advertise the  thirty-day  "yield" and, with respect
to the Municipal Bond Portfolio,  an "equivalent  taxable yield." The yield of a
Portfolio  refers to the income generated by an investment in the Portfolio over
the  thirty-day  period  identified  in the  advertisement  and is  computed  by
dividing the net investment  income per share earned by the Portfolio during the
period by the net asset  value  per  share on the last day of the  period.  This
income is  "annualized"  by assuming that the amount of income is generated each
month over a one-year  period and is compounded  semi-annually.  The  annualized
income is then shown as a percentage of the net asset value.

Equivalent Taxable Yield

The equivalent  taxable yield of the Municipal Bond Portfolio  demonstrates  the
yield on a taxable  investment  necessary to produce an after-tax yield equal to
the Portfolio's tax-exempt yield. It is calculated by increasing the yield shown
for the Portfolio,  calculated as described  above,  to the extent  necessary to
reflect the payment of specified tax rates.  Thus, the equivalent  taxable yield
always will exceed the Portfolio's yield.

Total Return

From time to time,  the Trust may advertise a  Portfolio's  (other than the U.S.
Government Money Market Portfolio's)  "average annual total return" over various
periods of time. This total return figure shows the average percentage change in
value of an investment in the Portfolio from the beginning date of the measuring
period to the ending date of the measuring  period.  The figure reflects changes
in the price of the  Portfolio's  shares and assumes that any income,  dividends
and/or capital gains  distributions  made by the Portfolio during the period are
reinvested  in shares of the  Portfolio.  Figures will be given for recent one-,
five-and  ten-year periods (if applicable) and may be given for other periods as
well  (such  as  from  commencement  of  the  Portfolio's  operations  or  on  a
year-by-year basis). When considering "average" total return figures for periods
longer than one year, investors should note that Portfolio's annual total return
for any one year in the period  might have been greater or less than the average
for the entire period. A Portfolio also may use "aggregate" total return figures
for  various  periods,  representing  the  cumulative  change  in  value  of  an
investment in the Portfolio for the specific period (again reflecting changes in
the  Portfolio's  share  price  and  assuming   reinvestment  of  dividends  and
distributions).  Aggregate  total  returns  may be shown by means of  schedules,
charts or graphs,  and may indicate subtotals of the various components of total
return (that is, the change in value of initial investment, income dividends and
capital gains distributions).

It is  important  to note  that  yield  and total  return  figures  are based on
historical  earnings and are not intended to indicate  future  performance.  The
Statement of  Additional  Information  describes  the method used to determine a
Portfolio's yield and total return.  Shareholders may make inquiries regarding a
Portfolio,  including  current yield quotations or total return figures,  to any
Dealer or the Trust at 800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

In reports or other communications to shareholders or in advertising material, a
Portfolio may compare its performance  with that of other mutual funds as listed
in the rankings prepared by Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc.,  Morningstar or
similar  independent  services that monitor the  performance  of mutual funds or
with other  appropriate  indices of  investment  securities,  such as the Lehman
Brothers  Government/Corporate  Bond Index,  the S&P 500, the  S&P/Barra  Growth
Index and S&P/Barra Value Index,  the EAFE Index and the Russell 2000 Index. The
performance information also may include evaluations of the Portfolios published
by nationally recognized ranking services and by financial publications that are
nationally  recognized,  such as Business Week, Forbes,  Fortune,  Institutional
Investor,  Morningstar,  Barron's,  Investor's  Business Daily,  The Wall Street
Journal, USA Today, The New York Times and Money.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Trust was organized as an  unincorporated  business  trust under the laws of
Delaware  on April 8, 1994 and is a trust  fund  commonly  known as a  "business
trust."

The  shareholders  of the  Portfolios  are each entitled to a full vote for each
full  share  of  beneficial  interest  (par  value  $.001  per  share)  held and
fractional  votes for fractional  shares.  Each Class will have exclusive voting
privileges  with  respect to matters  relating to  distribution  expenses  borne
solely by such  Class or any other  matter in which the  interests  of one Class
differ from the  interests  of any other  Class.  Shares of each  Portfolio  are
entitled to vote as a class to the extent required by the provisions of the 1940
Act or as otherwise  permitted  by the  Trustees.  When  issued,  shares of each
Portfolio  are  fully  paid  and  have  no   preemptive,   conversion  or  other
subscription rights. The shares do not have cumulative voting rights.

It is the  intention of the Trust not to hold Annual  Meetings of  Shareholders.
The Trustees may call Special Meetings of Shareholders for action by shareholder
vote  as may be  required  by the  1940  Act  or  the  Master  Trust  Agreement.
Shareholders  have certain rights,  including the right to call a meeting upon a
vote of the Trust's  outstanding shares for the purpose of voting on the removal
of one or more  Trustees.  The  Trust  may  from  time to  time  add  additional
Portfolios  to the Trust or with  approval  of the  shareholders  of an existing
Portfolio, if necessary, terminate one or more of the Portfolios.

Shareholder Inquiries

All  inquiries  regarding  the Trust  should be  directed  to  Saratoga  Capital
Management at 800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

Major Shareholders 

To the knowledge of the Trust,  the only person who as of September 30, 1998 had
beneficial  ownership  of more than 25% of the voting  securities  of any of the
Portfolios is the American Medical  Association Pension Trust, which held 32.86%
of the  outstanding  shares of the Small  Capitalization  Portfolio,  and may be
deemed to control the Small Capitalization  Portfolio until such time as it owns
less than 25% of the outstanding shares of the Small Capitalization Portfolio.

                                   PROSPECTUS

Trust Manager:
Saratoga Capital Management
1501 Franklin Avenue
Mineola, NY  11501
(800) 807-FUND
         (3863)

Transfer and Shareholder
Servicing Agent:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
P.O. Box 8514
Boston, MA 02266

General Distributor:
Unified Management Corporation
431 North Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 917-7000

(-       U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio

(-       Investment Quality Bond Portfolio

(-       Municipal Bond Portfolio

(-       Large Capitalization Value Portfolio

(-       Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio

(-       Small Capitalization Portfolio

(-       International Equity Portfolio


No  person  has  been  authorized  to  give  any  information  or  to  make  any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus,  the Statement of
Additional  Information or the Trust's  official sales  literature in connection
with the offering of shares,  and if given or made,  such other  information  or
representations  must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Trust.
This  prospectus  does not constitute an offer in any state in which,  or to any
person to whom, such offer may not lawfully be made.

<PAGE>
                             THE SARATOGA ADVANTAGE TRUST


                         Statement of Additional Information

INCOME PORTFOLIOS:

U. S. Government Money Market Portfolio

Investment Quality Bond Portfolio

Municipal Bond Portfolio


EQUITY PORTFOLIOS:

Large Capitalization Value Portfolio

Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio

Small Capitalization Portfolio

International Equity Portfolio


1501 Franklin Avenue
Mineola, NY  11501-4803
800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

This Statement of Additional  Information (the "Additional  Statement") is not a
Prospectus. Investors should understand that this Additional Statement should be
read in  conjunction  with the Trust's Class I  Prospectus,  the Trust's Class B
Prospectus,  or the Trust's Class C  Prospectus,  all dated January 1, 1999 (the
"Prospectus").  A copy of the Prospectus  may be obtained by written  request to
Saratoga Capital Management at the address or phone listed above.

The date of this Additional Statement is January 1, 1999.
                                                 




<PAGE>






                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                  Page

INVESTMENT OF THE TRUST'S ASSETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES AND
CONTROL PERSONS OF THE PORTFOLIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

PORTFOLIO YIELD AND TOTAL RETURN INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . 

TAXES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

APPENDIX A - RATINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .





<PAGE>





                           INVESTMENT OF THE TRUST'S ASSETS


     The  investment  objective and policies of each  Portfolio are described in
the  Prospectus.  A further  description  of each  Portfolio's  investments  and
investment methods appears below.

     COLLATERALIZED  MORTGAGE  OBLIGATIONS.  In addition to securities issued by
Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, another type of mortgage-backed security
is the  "collateralized  mortgage  obligation,"  which is  secured  by groups of
individual  mortgages but is similar to a  conventional  bond where the investor
looks only to the issuer for payment of  principal  and  interest.  Although the
obligations are recourse  obligations to the issuer, the issuer typically has no
significant assets, other than assets pledged as collateral for the obligations,
and the market value of the  collateral,  which is  sensitive  to interest  rate
movements, may affect the market value of the obligations. A public market for a
particular  collateralized  mortgage obligation may or may not develop and thus,
there can be no guarantee of liquidity of an investment in such obligations.

     INFORMATION  ON TIME DEPOSITS AND VARIABLE RATE NOTES.  The  Portfolios may
invest in fixed time deposits,  whether or not subject to withdrawal  penalties;
however,  investment in such deposits which are subject to withdrawal penalties,
other  than  overnight  deposits,  are  subject  to the 15%  limit  on  illiquid
investments set forth in the Prospectus for each Portfolio.

     The commercial paper obligations which the Portfolios may buy are unsecured
and may include  variable  rate notes.  The nature and terms of a variable  rate
note (i.e., a "Master Note") permit a Portfolio to invest fluctuating amounts at
varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct  arrangement  between a Portfolio
as lender, and the issuer, as borrower.  It permits daily changes in the amounts
borrowed.  The Portfolio  has the right at any time to increase,  up to the full
amount stated in the note agreement, or to decrease the amount outstanding under
the note.  The issuer may prepay at any time and without  penalty any part of or
the full  amount of the  note.  The note may or may not be backed by one or more
bank  letters of credit.  Because  these notes are direct  lending  arrangements
between the Portfolio and the issuer, it is not generally contemplated that they
will be traded;  moreover,  there is  currently  no  secondary  market for them.
Except as specifically  provided in the Prospectus there is no limitation on the
type of issuer from whom these notes will be purchased;  however,  in connection
with such purchase and on an ongoing basis, a Portfolio's  Advisor will consider
the earning power,  cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer,  and its
ability to pay principal and interest on demand,  including a situation in which
all  holders of such notes made  demand  simultaneously.  A  Portfolio  will not
invest more than 5% of its total assets in variable  rate notes.  Variable  rate
notes  are  subject  to  the  Portfolio's  investment  restriction  on  illiquid
securities  unless  such  notes can be put back to the  issuer on demand  within
seven days.

     CONVERTIBLE  SECURITIES.  As  specified in the  Prospectus,  certain of the
Portfolios may invest in  fixed-income  securities  which are  convertible  into
common  stock.  Convertible  securities  rank  senior  to  common  stocks  in  a
corporation's  capital  structure  and,  therefore,  entail  less  risk than the
corporation's common stock. The value of a convertible security is a function of
its "investment value" (its value as if it did not have a conversion privilege),
and its "conversion value" (the security's worth if it were to be


<PAGE>



exchanged  for  the  underlying  security,  at  market  value,  pursuant  to its
conversion privilege).

     To the extent that a  convertible  security's  investment  value is greater
than its  conversion  value,  its price will be primarily a  reflection  of such
investment  value and its price will be likely to increase when  interest  rates
fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as with a fixed-income security (the
credit  standing of the issuer and other  factors may also have an effect on the
convertible  security's  value).  If the conversion value exceeds the investment
value,  the price of the  convertible  security  will rise above its  investment
value and, in addition,  the convertible security will sell at some premium over
its conversion value.  (This premium  represents the price investors are willing
to  pay  for  the  privilege  of  purchasing  a  fixed-income  security  with  a
possibility of capital  appreciation  due to the conversion  privilege.) At such
times the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with
the price of the  underlying  equity  security.  Convertible  securities  may be
purchased by the  Portfolios  at varying  price  levels  above their  investment
values  and/or  their   conversion   values  in  keeping  with  the  Portfolios'
objectives.

     INSURED  BANK  OBLIGATIONS.   The  Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation
("FDIC")  insures the deposits of federally  insured  banks and savings and loan
associations  (collectively  referred to as "banks") up to $100,000. A Portfolio
may,  within the limits set forth in the Prospectus,  purchase bank  obligations
which are fully insured as to principal by the FDIC. Currently,  to remain fully
insured as to principal, these investments must be limited to $100,000 per bank;
if the principal  amount and accrued  interest  together  exceed  $100,000,  the
excess  principal  and  accrued  interest  will  not be  insured.  Insured  bank
obligations  may have  limited  marketability.  Unless  the  Board  of  Trustees
determines  that a readily  available  market  exists  for such  obligations,  a
Portfolio  will treat such  obligations as subject to the 15% limit for illiquid
investments set forth in the Prospectus  unless such  obligations are payable at
principal  amount plus  accrued  interest  on demand or within  seven days after
demand.

     WHEN-ISSUED  SECURITIES.  All Portfolios may take advantage of offerings of
eligible portfolio  securities on a "when-issued"  basis, i.e.,  delivery of and
payment for such securities  take place sometime after the  transaction  date on
terms  established  on  such  date.  Normally,  settlement  on  U.S.  Government
securities  takes place within ten days. A Portfolio only will make  when-issued
commitments on eligible  securities with the intention of actually acquiring the
securities.  If a  Portfolio  chooses  to  dispose  of the  right to  acquire  a
when-issued  security  (prior  to  its  acquisition),  it  could,  as  with  the
disposition  of any  other  Portfolio  obligation,  incur a gain or loss  due to
market  fluctuation.  No when-issued  commitments  will be made if, as a result,
more than 15% of the net assets of a Portfolio would be so committed.

     HEDGING.   Certain  Portfolios  may  use  certain  Hedging  Instruments  as
described, and subject to the restrictions stated, in the Prospectus.  To engage
in short hedging, a Portfolio would: (i) sell financial  futures;  (ii) purchase
puts  on  such  futures  or on  individual  securities  held  by it  ("Portfolio
securities") or securities indexes; or (iii) write calls on Portfolio securities
or on financial  futures or securities  indexes.  To engage in long  hedging,  a
Portfolio would: (i) purchase financial futures, or (ii) purchase calls or write
puts on such futures or on Portfolio securities or securities indexes.


<PAGE>



Additional  information  about the Hedging  Instruments  a Portfolio  may use is
provided below.


     FINANCIAL  FUTURES.  No price is paid or  received  upon the  purchase of a
financial future. Upon entering into a futures transaction,  a Portfolio will be
required to deposit an initial margin payment equal to a specified percentage of
the contract value. Initial margin payments will be deposited with a Portfolio's
custodian  bank in an account  registered in the futures  commission  merchant's
name;  however the futures  commission  merchant can gain access to that account
only under  specified  conditions.  As the future is marked to market to reflect
changes in its market value, subsequent payments,  called variation margin, will
be made to or from the futures  commission  merchant on a daily basis.  Prior to
expiration of the future,  if the Portfolio  elects to close out its position by
taking an opposite position,  a final determination of variation margin is made,
additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Portfolio,  and any
loss or gain is realized for tax purposes.  Although  financial futures by their
terms  call  for the  actual  delivery  or  acquisition  of the  specified  debt
security, in most cases the obligation is fulfilled by closing out the position.
All futures  transactions  are effected through a clearing house associated with
the exchange on which the contracts are traded. At present, no Portfolio intends
to enter into  financial  futures and options on such  futures if after any such
purchase,  the sum of initial  margin  deposits on futures and premiums  paid on
futures options would exceed 5% of a Portfolio's  total assets.  This limitation
is not a fundamental policy.

     ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION ON PUTS AND CALLS.  When a Portfolio writes a call,
it receives a premium and agrees to sell the callable  securities to a purchaser
of a corresponding  call during the call period (usually not more than 9 months)
at a fixed  exercise  price  (which  may  differ  from the  market  price of the
underlying  securities)  regardless  of market  price  changes  during  the call
period. If the call is exercised, the Portfolio forgoes any possible profit from
an increase in market price over the  exercise  price.  A Portfolio  may, in the
case of listed options,  purchase calls in "closing  purchase  transactions"  to
terminate a call obligation.  A profit or loss will be realized,  depending upon
whether  the net of the  amount of  option  transaction  costs  and the  premium
received  on the  call  written  is more or less  than  the  price  of the  call
subsequently purchased. A profit may be realized if the call lapses unexercised,
because the Portfolio retains the underlying  security and the premium received.
Sixty  percent of any such  profits  are  considered  long-term  gains and forty
percent are considered short-term gains for tax purposes. If, due to a lack of a
market,  a Portfolio could not effect a closing purchase  transaction,  it would
have to hold the callable  securities until the call lapsed or was exercised.  A
Portfolio's Custodian, or a securities depository acting for the Custodian, will
act as the  Portfolio's  escrow  agent,  through the  facilities  of the Options
Clearing  Corporation  ("OCC")  in  connection  with  listed  calls,  as to  the
securities on which the Portfolio has written calls,  or as to other  acceptable
escrow securities, so that no margin will be required for such transactions. OCC
will  release  the  securities  on the  expiration  of the  calls  or  upon  the
Portfolio's entering into a closing purchase transaction.

     When a  Portfolio  purchases  a call  (other  than  in a  closing  purchase
transaction),  it  pays a  premium  and  has the  right  to buy  the  underlying
investment from a seller of a corresponding  call on the same investment  during
the call  period  (or on a certain  date for OTC  options)  at a fixed  exercise
price. A Portfolio benefits only if the call is sold at a profit or if, during


<PAGE>



the call period, the market price of the underlying investment is above the call
price plus the transaction  costs and the premium paid for the call and the call
is  exercised.  If a call is not exercised or sold (whether or not at a profit),
it will become  worthless at its expiration date and the Portfolio will lose its
premium payment and the right to purchase the underlying investment.

     With OTC options,  such  variables as expiration  date,  exercise price and
premium will be agreed upon between the  Portfolio and the  transacting  dealer,
without the  intermediation  of a third party such as the OCC. If a  transacting
dealer fails to make delivery on the U.S.  Government  securities  underlying an
option it has written, in accordance with the terms of that option as written, a
Portfolio  could lose the premium paid for the option as well as any anticipated
benefit  of  the   transaction.   The  Portfolios  will  engage  in  OTC  option
transactions only with primary U.S. Government  securities dealers recognized by
the  Federal  Reserve  Bank of New  York.  In the  event  that  any  OTC  option
transaction  is not subject to a forward  price at which the  Portfolio  has the
absolute  right to repurchase the OTC option which it has sold, the value of the
OTC option  purchased and of the Portfolio assets used to "cover" the OTC option
will be considered "illiquid securities" and will be subject to the 15% limit on
illiquid securities.  The "formula" on which the forward price will be based may
vary among contracts with different  primary dealers,  but it will be based on a
multiple of the premium  received by the  Portfolio  for writing the option plus
the amount, if any, of the option's  intrinsic value, i.e., current market value
of the underlying securities minus the option's strike price.

     A put  option  gives the  purchaser  the right to sell,  and the writer the
obligation to buy, the  underlying  investment at the exercise  price during the
option  period  (or  on  a  certain  date  for  OTC  options).   The  investment
characteristics  of writing a put covered by  segregated  liquid assets equal to
the  exercise  price of the put are similar to those of writing a covered  call.
The premium paid on a put written by a Portfolio represents a profit, as long as
the  price of the  underlying  investment  remains  above  the  exercise  price.
However, a Portfolio has also assumed the obligation during the option period to
buy the underlying  investment  from the buyer of the put at the exercise price,
even though the value of the  investment may fall below the exercise  price.  If
the put expires  unexercised,  the Portfolio (as writer)  realizes a gain in the
amount of the premium.  If the put is exercised,  the Portfolio must fulfill its
obligation to purchase the underlying  investment at the exercise  price,  which
will usually  exceed the market value of the  investment  at that time.  In that
case, the Portfolio may incur a loss upon  disposition,  equal to the sum of the
sale price of the underlying  investment and the premium  received minus the sum
of the exercise price and any transaction costs incurred.

     When  writing  put  options,  to  secure  its  obligation  to pay  for  the
underlying  security,  a Portfolio will maintain in a segregated  account at its
Custodian liquid assets with a value equal to at least the exercise price of the
option.  As a result,  the  Portfolio  forgoes  the  opportunity  of trading the
segregated  assets  or  writing  calls  against  those  assets.  As  long as the
Portfolio's obligation as a put writer continues,  the Portfolio may be assigned
an  exercise  notice by the  broker-dealer  through  whom such  option was sold,
requiring  the  Portfolio  to purchase the  underlying  security at the exercise
price.  A Portfolio  has no control over when it may be required to purchase the
underlying  security,  since it may be assigned  an exercise  notice at any time
prior to the  termination  of its  obligation  as the  writer  of the put.  This
obligation  terminates  upon the  earlier of the  expiration  of the put, or the
consummation by the Portfolio of a closing purchase  transaction by purchasing a
put of the same  series  as that  previously  sold.  Once a  Portfolio  has been
assigned an exercise  notice,  it is thereafter  not allowed to effect a closing
purchase transaction.

     A Portfolio may effect a closing  purchase  transaction to realize a profit
on an outstanding put option it has written or to prevent an underlying security
from being put to it. Furthermore, effecting such a closing purchase transaction
will  permit the  Portfolio  to write  another put option to the extent that the
exercise  price  thereof is secured by the deposited  assets,  or to utilize the
proceeds from the sale of such assets for other  investments  by the  Portfolio.
The Portfolio will realize a profit or loss from a closing purchase  transaction
if the cost of the  transaction  is less or more than the premium  received from
writing the option.

     When a  Portfolio  purchases  a put, it pays a premium and has the right to
sell the  underlying  investment  at a fixed  exercise  price  to a seller  of a
corresponding put on the same investment during the put period if it is a listed
option (or on a certain date if it is an OTC option). Buying a put on securities
or futures  held by it permits a Portfolio to attempt to protect  itself  during
the put period against a decline in the value of the underlying investment below
the exercise price. In the event of a decline in the market, the Portfolio could
exercise,  or sell the put option at a profit  that would  offset some or all of
its loss on the  Portfolio  securities.  If the market  price of the  underlying
investment  is  above  the  exercise  price  and  as a  result,  the  put is not
exercised,  the  put  will  become  worthless  at its  expiration  date  and the
purchasing  Portfolio  will  lose the  premium  paid  and the  right to sell the
underlying  securities;  the put  may,  however,  be sold  prior  to  expiration
(whether or not at a profit). Purchasing a put on futures or securities not held
by it permits a Portfolio to protect its Portfolio  securities against a decline
in the  market  to the  extent  that the  prices  of the  future  or  securities
underlying the put move in a similar  pattern to the prices of the securities in
the Portfolio's portfolio.

     An  option  position  may be  closed  out only on a market  which  provides
secondary trading for options of the same series, and there is no assurance that
a liquid  secondary  market will exist for any particular  option. A Portfolio's
option  activities may affect its turnover rate and brokerage  commissions.  The
exercise of calls  written by a Portfolio  may cause the  Portfolio to sell from
its Portfolio securities to cover the call, thus increasing its turnover rate in
a manner beyond the Portfolio's  control.  The exercise of puts on securities or
futures will increase portfolio  turnover.  Although such exercise is within the
Portfolio's  control,  holding  a put  might  cause  a  Portfolio  to  sell  the
underlying  investment  for reasons  which would not exist in the absence of the
put. A Portfolio  will pay a brokerage  commission  every time it  purchases  or
sells a put or a call or purchases or sells a related  investment  in connection
with the exercise of a put or a call.

     REGULATORY  ASPECTS OF HEDGING  INSTRUMENTS.  Transactions  in options by a
Portfolio are subject to limitations established (and changed from time to time)
by each of the exchanges  governing  the maximum  number of options which may be
written or held by a single  investor or group of  investors  acting in concert,
regardless  of whether  the options  were  written or  purchased  on the same or
different  exchanges or are held in one or more  accounts or through one or more
different exchanges or through one or more brokers.  Thus, the number of options
which a Portfolio  may write or hold may be affected by options  written or held
by other  investment  companies and  discretionary  accounts of the  Portfolio's
Advisor,  including other investment  companies having the same or an affiliated
investment  adviser. An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to
be in violation of those limits and may impose certain other sanctions.

     Due to requirements  under the Act when a Portfolio sells a future, it will
maintain in a segregated  account or accounts with its custodian  bank,  cash or
readily marketable short-term (maturing in one year or less) debt instruments in
an amount  equal to the market  value of such  future,  less the margin  deposit
applicable to it.

     The Trust and each Portfolio must operate within certain restrictions as to
its positions in futures and options  thereon under a rule ("CFTC Rule") adopted
by the  Commodity  Futures  Trading  Commission  ("CFTC")  under  the  Commodity
Exchange  Act (the "CEA"),  which  excludes  the Trust and each  Portfolio  from
registration  with the CFTC as a "commodity pool operator" (as defined under the
CEA).  Under those  restrictions,  a Portfolio  may not enter into any financial
futures or options  contract unless such  transactions are for bona fide hedging
purposes,  or for other  purposes  only if the  aggregate  initial  margins  and
premiums required to establish such non-hedging positions would not exceed 5% of
the liquidation value of its assets.  Each Portfolio may use futures and options
thereon  for bona fide  hedging or for other  purposes  within the  meaning  and
intent of the applicable provisions of the CEA.

         TAX ASPECTS OF HEDGING INSTRUMENTS. Each Portfolio in the Trust intends
to qualify as a "regulated  investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code.
One of the tests for such qualification is that at least 90% of its gross income
must be  derived  from  dividends,  interest  and  gains  from the sale or other
disposition of securities. In connection with the 90% test, recent amendments to
the Internal  Revenue Code specify that income from  options,  futures and other
gains derived from investments in securities is qualifying  income under the 90%
test.

     Regulated futures contracts,  options on broad-based stock indices, options
on stock index  futures,  certain  other futures  contracts and options  thereon
(collectively,  "Section 1256 contracts") held by a Portfolio at the end of each
taxable  year may be required  to be "marked to market"  for federal  income tax
purposes  (that is,  treated as having been sold at that time at market  value).
Any  unrealized  gain or loss  taxed  pursuant  to this  rule  will be  added to
realized  gains  or  losses  recognized  on  Section  1256  contracts  sold by a
Portfolio  during  the year,  and the  resulting  gain or loss will be deemed to
consist of 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or
loss.  A  Portfolio  may  elect  to  exclude  certain   transactions   from  the
mark-to-market  rule  although  doing so may have the effect of  increasing  the
relative  proportion  of short-term  capital gain  (taxable as ordinary  income)
and/or increasing the amount of dividends that must be


<PAGE>



distributed annually to meet income distribution requirements, currently at 98%.

     It should also be noted that under certain  circumstances,  the acquisition
of positions in hedging  instruments may result in the elimination or suspension
of the holding  period for tax purposes of other assets held by a Portfolio with
the result that the relative  proportion of short-term capital gains (taxable as
ordinary  income) could increase and the amount of dividends  qualifying for the
dividends received deduction could decrease.

     POSSIBLE RISK FACTORS IN HEDGING.  In addition to the risks with respect to
futures and options  discussed in the Prospectus  and above,  there is a risk in
selling futures that the prices of futures will correlate  imperfectly  with the
behavior of the cash (i.e.,  market value)  prices of a Portfolio's  securities.
The ordinary  spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets are subject
to distortions  due to differences in the natures of those markets.  First,  all
participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance
requirements.  Rather  than  meeting  additional  margin  deposit  requirements,
investors may close out futures contracts through offsetting  transactions which
could  distort the normal  relationship  between  the cash and futures  markets.
Second,  the liquidity of the futures  market depends on  participants  entering
into  offsetting  transactions  rather  than making or taking  delivery.  To the
extent  participants  decide to make or take delivery,  liquidity in the futures
market could be reduced,  thus producing  distortion.  Third,  from the point of
view of  speculators,  the deposit  requirements  in the futures market are less
onerous than margin requirements in the securities market. Therefore,  increased
participation  by speculators in the futures  market may cause  temporary  price
distortions.

     When a  Portfolio  uses  appropriate  Hedging  Instruments  to  establish a
position in the market as a temporary  substitute for the purchase of individual
securities (long hedging) by buying futures and/or calls on such futures or on a
particular  security,  it is  possible  that  the  market  may  decline.  If the
Portfolio then  concludes not to invest in such  securities at that time because
of concerns as to possible further market decline or for other reasons,  it will
realize a loss on the Hedging  Instruments  that is not offset by a reduction in
the price of the securities purchased.

     TYPE OF SECURITIES IN WHICH THE INTERNATIONAL  EQUITY PORTFOLIO MAY INVEST.
As discussed in the  Prospectus,  the  International  Equity  Portfolio seeks to
achieve  its  investment  objectives  through  investment  primarily  in  equity
securities.  It is  expected  that the  Portfolio  will  invest  principally  in
American Depositary  Receipts ("ADRs"),  Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs") and
European  Depositary  Receipts  ("EDRs") although it also may invest directly in
equity securities.  Generally,  ADRs and GDRs in registered form are U.S. dollar
denominated  securities designed for use in the U.S.  securities markets,  which
represent and may be converted into the underlying  foreign  security.  EDRs are
typically  issued  in  bearer  form  and are  designed  for use in the  European
securities  markets.  Issuers  of the  stock  of  ADRs  not  sponsored  by  such
underlying  issuers are not obligated to disclose  material  information  in the
United  States  and,  therefore,  there may not be a  correlation  between  such
information  and the market value of such ADRs.  The Portfolio also may purchase
shares of investment  companies or trusts which invest principally in securities
in which the Portfolio is authorized  to invest.  The return on the  Portfolio's
investments in investment  companies will be reduced by the operating  expenses,
including  investment advisory and administrative  fees, of such companies.  The
Portfolio's  investment  in an  investment  company may require the payment of a
premium above the net asset value of the investment  company's  shares,  and the
market price of the investment company thereafter may decline without any change
in the value of the investment  company's assets.  The Portfolio will not invest
in any  investment  company or trust  unless it is believed  that the  potential
benefits of such  investment  are  sufficient to warrant the payment of any such
premium. Under the Act, the Portfolio may not invest more than 10% of its assets
in investment companies or more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of
any one  investment  company,  nor may it own  more  than 3% of the  outstanding
voting  securities of any such company.  To the extent the Portfolio  invests in
securities in bearer form it may be more difficult to recover  securities in the
event such securities are lost or stolen.

         If the Portfolio invests in an entity which is classified as a "passive
foreign investment  company" ("PFIC") for U.S. tax purposes,  the application of
certain technical tax provisions  applying to such companies could result in the
imposition  of  federal  income  tax with  respect  to such  investments  at the
Portfolio level which could not be eliminated by  distributions to shareholders.
The U.S. Treasury has issued regulations which establish a mark-to-market regime
that allows a regulated investment company ("RIC") to avoid most, if not all, of
the difficulties posed by the PFIC rules.

     PRIVATE  PLACEMENTS.  The  Portfolios  may invest in  securities  which are
subject to restriction on resale because they have not been registered under the
Securities  Act of 1933, or which are otherwise  not readily  marketable.  These
securities  are  generally  referred  to as  private  placements  or  restricted
securities.  Limitations  on the resale of such  securities  may have an adverse
effect on their marketability,  and may prevent the Portfolios from disposing of
them promptly at reasonable  prices. A Portfolio may have to bear the expense of
registering  such  securities  for  resale  and risk the  substantive  delays in
effecting  such  registration.  However,  as  described in the  Prospectus,  the
Portfolios may avail  themselves of recently adopted  regulatory  changes to the
Securities  Act of 1933 ("Rule  144A") which permit the  Portfolios  to purchase
securities  which  have been  privately  placed and resell  such  securities  to
certain  qualified  institutional  buyers without  restriction.  Since it is not
possible  to predict  with  assurance  exactly  how this  market for  restricted
securities sold and offered under Rule 144A will develop,  the Board of Trustees
will carefully monitor the Portfolios' investments in these securities, focusing
on  such  important   factors,   among  others,  as  valuation,   liquidity  and
availability of information.  This investment  practice could have the effect of
increasing  the  level of  illiquidity  in the  Portfolios  to the  extent  that
qualified  institutional  buyers become, for a time,  uninterested in purchasing
these restricted securities.

     Securities of foreign  issuers  often have not been  registered in the U.S.
Accordingly,  if a Portfolio wishes to sell unregistered  foreign  securities in
the U.S. it will avail itself of Rule 144A.

     FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS.  When a Portfolio agrees to purchase or sell
a security in a foreign market it will generally be obligated to pay or entitled
to  receive a  specified  amount of  foreign  currency  and will then  generally
convert  dollars to that  currency in the case of a purchase or that currency to
dollars  in the  case of a sale.  The  Portfolios  will  conduct  their  foreign
currency exchange  transactions  either on a spot basis (i.e., cash) at the spot
rate prevailing in the foreign  currency  exchange  market,  or through entering
into forward foreign  currency  contracts  ("forward  contracts") to purchase or
sell foreign  currencies.  A Portfolio may enter into forward contracts in order
to lock in the U.S.  dollar  amount  it must pay or  expects  to  receive  for a
security it has agreed to buy or sell.  A Portfolio  may also enter into forward
currency contracts with respect to the Portfolio's  portfolio  positions when it
believes that a particular currency may change unfavorably  compared to the U.S.
dollar. A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific
currency at a future  date,  which may be any fixed number of days from the date
of the contract  agreed upon by the  parties,  at a price set at the time of the
contract.  These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly
between currency traders (usually large,  commercial banks) and their customers.
A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement,  and no commissions are
charged at any stage for trades.

     A Portfolio's custodian bank will place cash, U.S. Government securities or
debt securities in a separate account of the Portfolio in an amount equal to the
value of the Portfolio's  total assets committed to the consummation of any such
contract  in such  account  and if the  value of the  securities  placed  in the
separate account  declines,  additional cash or securities will be placed in the
account on a daily basis so that the value of the account  will equal the amount
of the  Portfolio's  commitments  with  respect to such forward  contracts.  If,
rather  than  cash,  portfolio  securities  are used to  secure  such a  forward
contract,  on the  settlement  of  the  forward  contract  for  delivery  by the
Portfolio of a foreign  currency,  the  Portfolio  may either sell the portfolio
security  and make  delivery  of the  foreign  currency,  or it may  retain  the
security  and  terminate  its  contractual  obligation  to deliver  the  foreign
currency by purchasing an "offsetting"  contract  obligating it to purchase,  on
the same settlement date, the same amount of foreign currency.

     The Portfolios may effect currency hedging transactions in foreign currency
futures contracts,  exchange-listed and over-the-counter call and put options on
foreign currency futures contracts and on foreign currencies. The use of forward
futures or options  contracts will not eliminate  fluctuations in the underlying
prices of the securities which the Portfolios own or intend to purchase or sell.
They  simply  establish  a  rate  of  exchange  for  a  future  point  in  time.
Additionally,  while these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a
decline  in the  value of the  hedged  currency,  their  use  tends to limit any
potential  gain which might result from the increase in value of such  currency.
In addition, such transactions involve costs and may result in losses.

     Although each Portfolio  values its assets daily in terms of U.S.  dollars,
it does not intend to convert  its  holdings  of  foreign  currencies  into U.S.
dollars  on a daily  basis.  It will,  however,  do so from  time to  time,  and
investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion.  Although foreign
exchange  dealers do not charge a fee for  conversion,  they do realize a profit
based on the spread  between  the  prices at which  they are buying and  selling
various  currencies.  Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to the
Portfolio  at one rate,  while  offering a lesser  rate of  exchange  should the
Portfolio desire to resell that currency to the dealer.

     Under  Internal  Revenue Code Section 988,  special  rules are provided for
certain transactions in a currency other than the taxpayer's functional currency
(i.e.,  unless  certain  special  rules  apply,  currencies  other than the U.S.
dollar).  In general,  foreign currency gains or losses from forward  contracts,
futures contracts that are not "regulated futures contracts",  and from unlisted
options will be treated as ordinary income or loss under Code Section 988. Also,
certain  foreign  exchange gains or losses derived with respect to  fixed-income
securities  are also subject to Section 988  treatment.  In general,  therefore,
Code  Section  988 gains or losses will  increase or decrease  the amount of the
Portfolio's  investment  company  taxable income  available to be distributed to
shareholders as ordinary income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount
of the  Portfolio's net capital gain.  Additionally,  if Code Section 988 losses
exceed  other  investment  company  taxable  income  during a  taxable  year,  a
Portfolio would not be able to make any ordinary income distributions.

     FOREIGN  CUSTODY.  Rules  adopted  under the Act permit each  Portfolio  to
maintain its  securities  and cash in the custody of certain  eligible banks and
securities  depositories.  The  Portfolios'  portfolios of securities of issuers
located  outside of the U.S.  will be held by their  sub-custodians  who will be
approved by the Trustees in accordance with such Rules. Such  determination will
be made pursuant to such Rules following a consideration of a number of factors,
including,  but not limited to, the reliability  and financial  stability of the
institution;  the ability of the institution to perform  custodial  services for
the Trust;  the  reputation  of the  institution  in its  national  market;  the
political  and  economic  stability of the country in which the  institution  is
located;  and the risks of potential  nationalization  or  expropriation  of the
Portfolio's  assets.  However,  no  assurances  can be given that the  Trustees'
appraisal of the risks in connection with foreign  custodial  arrangements  will
always be correct or that  expropriation,  nationalization,  freezes  (including
currency  blockage),  or confiscations of assets that would affect assets of the
Portfolios will not occur, and shareholders bear the risk of losses arising from
those or other similar events.

     ADDITIONAL RISKS. Securities in which the Portfolios may invest are subject
to the provisions of bankruptcy,  insolvency and other laws affecting the rights
and remedies of creditors and shareholders, such as the federal Bankruptcy Code,
and laws,  if any,  which may be enacted by Congress  or the state  legislatures
extending  the time for payment of principal  or  interest,  or both or imposing
other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations.

     RATINGS OF CORPORATE  AND MUNICIPAL  DEBT  OBLIGATIONS.  Moody's  Investors
Service,  Inc.  ("Moody's"),  Standard & Poor's  Corporation  ("S&P")  and Fitch
Municipal  Division  ("Fitch") are private  services that provide ratings of the
credit quality of debt obligations,  including issues of corporate and municipal
securities.  A  description  of the range of ratings  assigned to corporate  and
municipal securities by Moody's, S&P and Fitch is included in Appendix A to this
Statement of Additional  Information.  The Investment Quality Bond Portfolio and
the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio may use these ratings in  determining  whether to
purchase,  sell or hold a security.  These ratings represent Moody's,  S&P's and
Fitch's  opinions as to the quality of the  securities  that they  undertake  to
rate.  It should be  emphasized,  however,  that ratings are general and are not
absolute standards of quality. Consequently,  securities with the same maturity,
interest rate and rating may have  different  market  prices.  Subsequent to its
purchase  by  the  Investment  Quality  Bond  Portfolio  or the  Municipal  Bond
Portfolio,  an issue of  securities  may cease to be rated or its  rating may be
reduced below the minimum  rating  required for purchase by the  Portfolio.  The
advisers  to the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio  and the  Investment  Quality  Bond
Portfolio  will  consider  such an event in  determining  whether the  Portfolio
should  continue to hold the obligation  but will dispose of such  securities in
order to limit the holdings of debt securities  rated below  investment grade to
less than 5% of the assets of the respective Portfolio.

     Opinions  relating  to the  validity  of  municipal  securities  and to the
exemption of interest thereon from federal income tax (and also, when available,
from the federal  alternative  minimum  tax) are rendered by bond counsel to the
issuing  authorities  at the  time  of  issuance.  Neither  the  Municipal  Bond
Portfolio nor the Portfolio's  Advisor will review the  proceedings  relating to
the issuance of municipal securities or the basis for such opinions. An issuer's
obligations  under its  municipal  securities  are subject to the  provisions of
bankruptcy,  insolvency  and other laws  affecting  the rights and  remedies  of
creditors  (such as the federal  bankruptcy  laws) and federal,  state and local
laws  that may be  enacted  to  extend  the time for  payment  of  principal  or
interest,  or both,  or to impose other  constraints  upon  enforcement  of such
obligations.  There also is the  possibility  that, as a result of litigation or
other conditions,  the power or ability of issuers to meet their obligations for
the payment of principal of and interest on their  municipal  securities  may be
materially adversely affected.

     MUNICIPAL NOTES. For liquidity  purposes,  pending  investment in municipal
bonds,  or on a  temporary  or  defensive  basis due to market  conditions,  the
Municipal Bond Portfolio may invest in tax-exempt  short-term  debt  obligations
(maturing in one year or less). These  obligations,  known as "municipal notes,"
include tax, revenue and bond  anticipation  notes,  construction loan notes and
tax-exempt  commercial paper which are issued to obtain funds for various public
purposes;  the  interest  from these Notes is also exempt  from  federal  income
taxes.  The Municipal  Bond  Portfolio  will limit its  investments in municipal
notes to those which are rated, at the time of purchase,  within the two highest
grades  assigned by Moody's or the two highest grades  assigned by S&P or Fitch,
or if unrated, which are of comparable quality in the opinion of the Advisor.

     MUNICIPAL  BONDS.  Municipal  bonds include debt  obligations of a state, a
territory,  or a possession of the United States,  or any political  subdivision
thereof (e.g., counties, cities, towns, villages, districts, authorities) or the
District of Columbia issued to obtain funds for various purposes,  including the
construction  of a wide range of public  facilities  such as airports,  bridges,
highways,  housing,  hospitals, mass transportation,  schools, streets and water
and sewer works.  Other public  purposes for which municipal bonds may be issued
include the refunding of outstanding  obligations,  obtaining  funds for general
operating  expenses  and the  obtaining  of funds to loan to public  or  private
institutions for the construction of facilities such as education,  hospital and
housing facilities. In addition,  certain types of private activity bonds may be
issued  by or on  behalf  of  public  authorities  to  obtain  funds to  provide
privately-operated  housing facilities,  sports facilities,  convention or trade
show facilities, airport, mass transit, port or parking facilities, air or water
pollution control facilities and certain local facilities for water supply, gas,
electricity or sewage or solid waste  disposal.  Such  obligations  are included
within the term  municipal  bonds if the interest paid thereon is at the time of
issuance,  in the opinion of the  issuer's  bond  counsel,  exempt from  federal
income tax.  The  current  federal tax laws,  however,  substantially  limit the
amount of such obligations that can be issued in each state.

     The  two  principal   classifications   of  municipal  bonds  are  "general
obligation" and limited obligation or "revenue" bonds.  General obligation bonds
are secured by the issuer's pledge of its faith, credit and taxing power for the
payment of principal and interest,  whereas  revenue bonds are payable only from
the revenues  derived from a particular  facility or class of facilities  or, in
some cases,  from the proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue
source.  Private  activity  bonds  that are  municipal  bonds are in most  cases
revenue  bonds and do not generally  constitute  the pledge of the credit of the
issuer of such bonds.  The credit quality of private  activity  revenue bonds is
usually directly related to the credit standing of the industrial user involved.
There are,  in  addition,  a variety of hybrid and  special  types of  municipal
obligations  as well as  numerous  differences  in the  collateral  security  of
municipal  bonds,  both  within and between  the two  principal  classifications
described above.

                            INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS


         FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES. The Trust's significant  investment  restrictions
applicable to each Portfolio are described in the Prospectus.  The following are
also  fundamental  policies  and,  together  with  the  restrictions  and  other
fundamental policies described in the Prospectus,  cannot be changed without the
vote of a majority of the outstanding  voting  securities of that Portfolio,  as
defined in the Act.  Such a majority is defined as the lesser of (a) 67% or more
of the  shares of the  Portfolio  present at a meeting  of  shareholders  of the
Trust,  if the  holders  of  more  than  50% of the  outstanding  shares  of the
Portfolio  are  present  or  represented  by proxy  or (b) more  than 50% of the
outstanding shares of the Portfolio.  For purposes of the following restrictions
and those  contained in the  Prospectus:  (i) all percentage  limitations  apply
immediately  after a purchase  or initial  investment;  and (ii) any  subsequent
change in any applicable  percentage resulting from market fluctuations or other
changes  in the  amount of total  assets  does not  require  elimination  of any
security from a Portfolio.

     Under these additional  restrictions,  each Portfolio cannot: (a) Invest in
physical  commodities or physical commodity  contracts or speculate in financial
commodity  contracts,  but all  Portfolios  are  authorized to purchase and sell
financial futures  contracts and options on such futures  contracts  exclusively
for hedging and other  non-speculative  purposes to the extent  specified in the
Prospectus;  (b)  Invest in real  estate  or real  estate  limited  partnerships
(direct participation programs); however, each Portfolio may purchase securities
of issuers  which  engage in real estate  operations  and  securities  which are
secured by real estate or interests therein; (c) Underwrite  securities of other
companies  except in so far as the Portfolio may be deemed to be an  underwriter
under the  Securities  Act of 1933 in  disposing  of a  security;  (d)  Purchase
warrants if as a result the Portfolio would then have either more than 5% of its
total assets (determined at the time of investment) invested in warrants or more
than 2% of its total  assets  invested in warrants not listed on the New York or
American Stock Exchange;  (e) Pledge its assets or assign or otherwise  encumber
its assets in excess of 33 1/3% of its net assets  (taken at market value at the
time of  pledging)  and then  only to  secure  borrowings  effected  within  the
limitations set forth in the Prospectus;  (f) Issue senior securities as defined
in the Act except insofar as the Portfolio may be deemed to have issued a senior
security  by  reason  of:  (i)  entering  into any  repurchase  agreement;  (ii)
borrowing  money in  accordance  with  restrictions  described  above;  or (iii)
lending  Portfolio  securities;  and (g) make loans to any person or  individual
except that  Portfolio  securities  may be loaned by all  Portfolios  within the
limitations set forth in the Prospectus. 

     In  addition  each  Portfolio  may not with  respect to 75% of its  assets,
invest more than 5% of the value of its total  assets in the  securities  of any
one issuer.

         NON-FUNDAMENTAL  POLICIES. The following policies may be changed by the
Board of Trustees  without  shareholder  approval.  Each portfolio  cannot:  (a)
Purchase securities on margin (except for such short-term loans as are necessary
for the clearance of purchases of Portfolio  securities)  or make short sales of
securities except "against the box" (collateral  arrangements in connection with
transactions  in futures and options are not deemed to be margin  transactions);
(b)  Invest for the  purpose of  exercising  control  or  management  of another
company. 



                                 PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF
                   SECURITIES AND CONTROL PERSONS OF THE PORTFOLIOS


         To the knowledge of the Trust,  the only person who as of September 30,
1998,  had  beneficial  ownership  of five  percent or more of the shares of any
Portfolio is the American  Medical  Association  Pension Trust,  515 North State
Street,   Chicago,   Illinois   60610-4320   which  held  32.86%  of  the  Small
Capitalization Portfolio.


                              TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

         The trustees and officers of the Trust, and their principal occupations
during the past five years,  are set forth below.  Trustees who are  "interested
persons," as defined in the Act, are denoted by an asterisk. As of September 30,
1998,  the  trustees  and officers of the Trust as a group owned less than 1% of
the outstanding shares of each Portfolio.

Bruce E. Ventimiglia, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees*
1501 Franklin Avenue
Mineola, NY  11501
Age 43

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Capital Management;
prior thereto,  Senior Vice President of Oppenheimer Capital and OpCap Advisors;
Senior Vice President of Prudential Securities, Inc.

Patrick H. McCollough, Trustee
One Michigan Avenue Building
120 North Washington Square
Lansing, Michigan  48933
Age 56

Partner  with the law firm of  Cawthorne,  McCollough  &  Cavanagh  since  1987;
Michigan State Senator from 1971 to 1978 and 1982 to 1986.


Udo W. Koopmann, Trustee
11500 Governors's Drive
Chapel Hill, NC  27514
Age 56

President,   The  CapCo  Group,   LLC;  prior  thereto,   Chief   Financial  and
Administrative  Executive  of the North  American  subsidiary  of  Klockner  and
Company AG, a  multi-national  company;  member of National  Committee  of Steel
Service Centre Institute.


<PAGE>



Floyd E. Seal, Trustee
7565 Industrial Ct.
Alpharetta, GA  30004
Age 48

Chief  Executive  Officer  and 50% owner of  TARAHILL,  INC.,  d.b.a.  Pet Goods
Manufacturing & Imports, Alpharetta, GA; Partner of S&W Management, Gwinnet, GA.

Scott C. Kane, Vice President and Secretary
1501 Franklin Avenue
Mineola, NY  11501
Age 39

Managing  Director  and Chief Sales and  Marketing  Officer of Saratoga  Capital
Management; prior thereto, he was Vice President of Prudential Securities, Inc.

Stephen Ventimiglia, Vice President
1501 Franklin Avenue
Mineola, NY  11501
Age 42

Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Saratoga Capital Management; prior
thereto, he was First Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of Prudential
Securities, Inc.

William Marra, Treasurer
1501 Franlin Avenue
Mineola, NY  11501
Age 47

Chief  Financial  Officer of  Saratoga  Capital  Management  since  1997;  prior
thereto,  he  was an  account  Representative  at  MetLife,  1995-1997;  various
positions held at Prudential Securities from 1978-1994.

Bruce Ventimiglia and Stephen Ventimiglia are brothers.



         REMUNERATION OF OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES. All of the above officers of the
Trust are officers of Saratoga Capital  Management and all officers of the Trust
receive no salary or fee from the Trust. Until a Portfolio has net assets of $25
million,  no trustees fees will be paid by that Portfolio.  When a Portfolio has
net assets of at least $25 million but not more than $50 million,  the Trustees,
other than Mr.  Ventimiglia,  will be paid an annual fee of $1,750 plus $250 for
each trustees'  meeting attended and $100 for each committee  meeting  attended.
When a Portfolio has net assets in excess of $50 million,  the  Trustees,  other
than Mr.  Ventimiglia,  will be paid an annual fee of $3,500  plus $500 for each
trustees'  meeting attended and $100 for each committee  meeting  attended.  The
following table sets forth the aggregate  compensation paid by the Trust to each
of the Trustees for the year ended August 31, 1998.



<PAGE>



Name of Trustee         Aggregate Compensation
                             From the Trust




Bruce Ventimiglia                  0

Patrick McCollough             $11,400   

Udo Koopmann                   $11,400

Floyd Seal                     $11,400




                            MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES


     The manager of the Trust is Saratoga Capital Management  ("Saratoga" or the
"Manager"),  1501 Franklin Avenue,  Mineola,  New York 11501. See "Management of
the Trust" in the Prospectus.

     Pursuant  to the  Management  Agreement  with the  Trust  (the  "Management
Agreement"),  Saratoga,  subject  to  the  supervision  of the  Trustees  and in
conformity with the stated policies of the Trust,  manages the operations of the
Trust and reviews the performance of the Advisors,  and makes recommendations to
the Trustees with respect to the retention and renewal of contracts.

         The following table sets forth the annual  management fee rates payable
by each Portfolio to Saratoga pursuant to the Management Agreement, expressed as
a percentage of the Portfolio's average daily net assets:

                                             Total          Amount
                                             Management     Retained by
Portfolio                                    Fee            Manager
- ---------                                    ---            -------
Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio        0.65%          0.35%

Large Capitalization Value Portfolio         0.65%          0.35%

Small Capitalization Portfolio               0.65%          0.35%

International Equity Portfolio               0.75%          0.35%

Investment Quality Bond Portfolio            0.55%          0.35%

Municipal Bond Portfolio                     0.55%          0.35%

U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio      0.475%          0.35%


The fee is  computed  daily and  payable  monthly.  Currently,  the  Manager  is
voluntarily limiting expenses of the Portfolios as follows:  1.125% with respect
to U.S.  Government  Money Market  Portfolio,  1.20% with respect to  Investment
Quality Bond Portfolio,  1.20% with respect to Municipal Bond  Portfolio,  1.30%
with  respect to Large  Capitalization  Value  Portfolio,  1.30% with respect to
Large   Capitalization   Growth   Portfolio,   1.30%   with   respect  to  Small
Capitalization   Portfolio  and  1.40%  with  respect  to  International  Equity
Portfolio.  For the year ended August 31, 1996, the Manager  voluntarily  waived
all or a portion of its management fees and assumed $26,822, $28,600,  $108,803,
$30,550 and $75,530 in other operating  expenses for the U.S.  Government  Money
Market,  Investment Quality Bond, Municipal Bond, Large Capitalization Value and
International  Equity  Portfolios,  respectively.  For the year ended August 31,
1997, the Manager voluntarily waived its management fees and assumed $73,464 and
$31,195 in other operating expenses for Municipal Bond and International  Equity
Portfolios,  respectively. The Manager also voluntarily waived $57,918; $48,882;
$59,602;  and  $80,307 in  management  fees for U.S.  Government  Money  Market,
Investment Quality Bond, Large Capitalization  Value, and Small  Capitalization,
respectively. For the year ended August 31, 1998, the Manager voluntarily waived
all of its management fees and assumed  $32,002 in other operating  expenses for
Municipal Bond. The Manager also voluntarily  waived $33,711;  $7,982;  $52,919;
$43,500;  $21,840 and $53,369 in management fees for Large Capitalization Value,
Large  Capitalization   Growth,  Small  Capitalization,   International  Equity,
Investment Quality Bond and U.S. Government Money Market  respectively,  for the
year ended August 31, 1998.

         Expenses  not  expressly  assumed  by  Saratoga  under  the  Management
Agreement or by Unified Fund Services,  Inc. under the Administration  Agreement
are paid by the Trust.  Expenses incurred by a Portfolio are allocated among the
various  Classes of shares  pro rata  based on the net  assets of the  Portfolio
attributable  to each  Class,  except that 12b-1 fees  relating to a  particular
Class  are  allocated  directly  to that  Class.  In  addition,  other  expenses
associated  with a particular  Class,  except advisory or custodial fees, may be
allocated  directly to that Class,  provided that such  expenses are  reasonably
identified as specifically attributable to that Class, and the direct allocation
to that Class is approved by the Trust's Board of Trustees.  The fees payable to
each Advisor pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreements between each Advisor
and Saratoga  with  respect to the  Portfolios  are paid by Saratoga.  Under the
terms of the Management  Agreement,  the Trust is responsible for the payment of
the following  expenses:  (a) the fees payable to the Manager,  (b) the fees and
expenses  of  Trustees  who are not  affiliated  persons  of the  Manager or the
Trust's  Advisors,  (c) the fees  and  certain  expenses  of the  Custodian  and
Transfer  and  Dividend  Disbursing  Agent,  including  the cost of  maintaining
certain required records of the Trust and of pricing the Trust's shares, (d) the
charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent accountants for the Trust,
(e)  brokerage  commissions  and any issue or transfer  taxes  chargeable to the
Trust  in  connection  with  its  securities  transactions,  (f) all  taxes  and
corporate fees payable by the Trust to  governmental  agencies,  (g) the fees of
any trade association of which the Trust may be a member,  (h) the cost of share
certificates  representing  shares of the Trust,  (i) the cost of  fidelity  and
liability  insurance,  (j) the fees and  expenses  involved in  registering  and
maintaining registration of the Trust and of its shares with the SEC, qualifying
its shares under state securities  laws,  including the preparation and printing
of the Trust's registration  statements and prospectuses for such purposes,  (k)
all expenses of shareholders and Trustees meetings (including travel expenses of
trustees and officers of the Trust who are  directors,  officers or employees of
the Manager or Advisors) and of preparing,  printing and mailing reports,  proxy
statements  and  prospectuses  to  shareholders  in  the  amount  necessary  for
distribution to the shareholders and (l) litigation and indemnification expenses
and other  extraordinary  expenses not  incurred in the  ordinary  course of the
Trust's business.

     The Management  Agreement provides that Saratoga will not be liable for any
error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust in  connection  with the
matters to which the Management Agreement relates,  except a loss resulting from
willful misfeasance,  bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty.
The  Management  Agreement will continue in effect for a period of more than two
years  from  the  date  of  execution  only  so  long  as  such  continuance  is
specifically  approved  at least  annually  in  conformity  with  the  Act.  The
Management  Agreement was approved by the Trustees of the Trust including all of
the Trustees who are not parties to the  contract or  interested  persons of any
such party as defined in the Act on February 3, 1997 and by the  Shareholders of
the Trust on April 11, 1997.

     ADMINISTRATION  AGREEMENT.  Unified Fund Services, Inc. acts as the Trust's
Administrator pursuant to an Administration  Agreement which was approved by the
Trust's trustees on February 3, 1997. The  Administration  Agreement will remain
in effect for two years from the date of its effectiveness,  April 14, 1997, and
may be  continued  annually  thereafter  if  approved  in  accordance  with  the
requirements  of the Act.  Prior to the  Administration  Agreement  currently in
effect,  OpCap Advisors served as the Trust's  Adminstrator.  For the year ended
August 31, 1996, each portfolio accrued $42,000 in administrative  fees. For the
year ended August 31, 1997,  each  portfolio  accrued the  following  amounts in
adminstrative  fees: U.S. Government Money Market,  $39,242;  Investment Quality
Bond, $36,802;  Municipal Bond, $30,728;  Large Capitalization  Value,  $38,957;
Large  Capitalization  Growth,  $46,248;  Small  Capitalization,   $37,893;  and
International  Equity,  $31,899.  For the  year  ended  August  31,  1998,  each
portfolio accrued the following amounts in administrative  fees: U.S. Government
Money Market, $35,159; Investment Quality Bond, $31,607; Municipal Bond, $9,425;
Large Capitalization Value, $43,563; Large Capitalization Growth, $70,934; Small
Capitalization, $38,677; and International Equity, $16,802.


                             INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES

     As noted in the Prospectus, subject to the supervision and direction of the
Manager and, ultimately,  the Trustees, each Advisor manages the securities held
by the Portfolio it serves in accordance with the Portfolio's  stated investment
objectives and policies, makes investment decisions for the Portfolio and places
orders to purchase and sell securities on behalf of the Portfolio.

         The Advisory  Agreement  for the  International  Equity  Portfolio  was
approved  by the  Trustees,  including a majority  of the  Trustees  who are not
parties to such contract or interested  persons of any such parties,  on January
9, 1998. The Advisory  Agreements for the other  Portfolios were approved by the
Trustees,  including  a majority  of the  Trustees  who are not  parties to such
contract or  interested  persons of any such parties,  on February 3, 1997,  and
were approved by the Shareholders of the Trust on April 11, 1997.


         Each Advisory Agreement provides that it will terminate in the event of
its  assignment  (as  defined  in  the  Act).  Each  Advisory  Agreement  may be
terminated by the Trust,  Saratoga,  or by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting  securities of the Trust,  upon written notice to the Advisor,  or by the
Advisor upon at least 100 days' written notice. Each Advisory Agreement provides
that it will  continue  in effect  for a period of more than two years  from its
execution  only so long as such  continuance is  specifically  approved at least
annually in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

     ADVISORS.  The  Advisors  have  agreed  to the  following  fees,  which are
generally  lower than the fees they charge to  institutional  accounts for which
they serve as investment adviser.


<PAGE>





                                                           PORTION
                                                           PAID BY
                                         TOTAL             MANAGER
                                         MANAGEMENT        TO THE
PORTFOLIO                                FEE               ADVISOR
- ---------                                ---               -------
Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio    0.65%              0.30%

Large Capitalization Value Portfolio     0.65%              0.30%

Small Capitalization Portfolio           0.65%              0.30%

International Equity Portfolio           0.75%              0.40%

Investment Quality Bond Portfolio        0.55%              0.20%

Municipal Bond Portfolio                 0.55%              0.20%

U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio  0.475%             0.125%


         For the year  ended  August 31,  1996,  the  Manager  waived all of its
management fees for each Portfolio except Large Capitalization  Growth and Small
Capitalization  for which the  Manager  waived  $75,686 of  $149,335 in fees and
$106,549 of $118,415,  respectively.  For the year ended  August 31,  1996,  the
Manager paid advisory fees to the Advisors as follows: $18,350, $21,723, $6,135,
$34,934,  $68,924,  $54,653  and  $20,077  for  U.S.  Government  Money  Market,
Investment  Quality Bond,  Municipal Bond,  Large  Capitalization  Value,  Large
Capitalization   Growth,   Small   Capitalization   and  International   Equity,
respectively.  For the year ended August 31, 1997, the Manager waived all of its
management  fees for Municipal Bond and  International  Equity  Portfolios.  The
manager  also  waived  $57,918  of  $124,468,  $48,881 of  $112,373,  $59,601 of
$159137,  and  $80,307  of  $150753 in fees for U.S.  Government  Money  Market,
Investment Quality Bond, Large  Capitalization  Value, and Small  Capitalization
Portfolios,  respectively.  For the year ended August 31, 1997, the Manager paid
advisory fees to the Advisors as follows:  $32,755;  $40,863,  $12,586; $73,448;
$124,637;  $69,578,  and $34,266 for U.S.  Government  Money Market,  Investment
Quality Bond, Municipal Bond, Large  Capitalization  Value, Large Capitalization
Growth, Small Capitalization, and International Equity Portfolios, respectively.
For the year ended August 31,  1998,  the Manager  waived all of its  management
fees for the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio.  The Manager  also  waived  $33,711 of
$248,449, $7,982 of $403,645,  $52,919 of $219,800, $43,500 of $110,905, $21,840
of $152,374, and $53,369 of $146,517 in management fees for Large Capitalization
Value, Large Capitalization Growth, Small Capitalization,  International Equity,
Investment Quality Bond, and U.S. Government Money Market, respectively. For the
year ended August 31, 1998,  the Manager paid  advisory  fees to the Advisors as
follows: $38,557; $55,408; $16,626;  $114,658;  $186,298;  $101,443; and $59,149
for U.S. Government Money Market, Investment Quality Bond, Municipal Bond, Large
Capitalization  Value, Large Capitalization  Growth, Small  Capitalization,  and
International Equity, respectively.  For the year ended August 31, 1996, and for
the period September 1, 1996 to April 16, 1997,  Axe-Houghton  served as Advisor
to the Small Capitalization Portfolio.

     Subject to the  supervision  and direction of the Manager and,  ultimately,
the  Trustees,  each  Adviser's  responsibilities  are limited to  managing  the
securities  held by the Portfolio it serves in accordance  with the  Portfolio's
stated investment  objective and policies,  making investment  decisions for the
Portfolio  and placing  orders to purchase and sell  securities on behalf of the
Portfolio.

         PLAN OF  DISTRIBUTION.  The  Trust has  adopted a Plan of  Distribution
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act (the "Plan")  pursuant to which each Class,
other than Class I, pays the Distributor or other entities  compensation accrued
daily and payable monthly at the annual rate of 1.0% of average daily net assets
of Class B and Class C,  respectively.  The  Distributor  or other entities also
receive the proceeds and contingent  deferred  sales charges  imposed on certain
redemptions of shares,  which are separate and apart from payments made pursuant
to the Plan.

         The  Distributor  has  informed  the Trust  that a portion  of the fees
payable each year  pursuant to the Plan equal to 0.25% of such  Class's  average
daily net assets are currently each  characterized  as a "service fee" under the
Rules of the National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc. (of which the
Distributor  is a member).  The  "service  fee" is a payment  made for  personal
service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. The remaining portion of
the Plan fees  payable  by a Class is  characterized  as an  "asset-based  sales
charge" as defined in the aforementioned Rules of the Association.

         The Plan was  adopted  by a  majority  vote of the  Board of  Trustees,
including all of the Trustees of the Trust who are not  "interested  persons" of
the Trust (as defined in the Act) and who have no direct or  indirect  finanical
interest in the operation of the Plan (the "Independent  12b-1 Trustees"),  cast
in person at a meeting  called for the purpose of voting on the Plan, on October
9, 1998.

         Under the Plan and as required by Rule 12b-1,  the Trustees receive and
review promptly after the end of each calendar quarter a written report provided
by the Distributor of the amounts  extended by the Distributor or other entities
under the Plan and the purpose for which such expenditures were made.

         Under its terms,  the Plan has an initial term ending  October 9, 2000,
and it will  remain  in  effect  from  year to year  thereafter,  provided  such
continuance  is  approved  annually  by a vote  of the  Trustees  in the  manner
described above.

         The Plan may not be amended  to  increase  materially  the amount to be
spent for the services described therein without approval of the shareholders of
the affected Class or Classes of the Trust,  and all material  amendments of the
Plan must also be approved by the Trustees in the manner  described  above.  The
Plan may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by vote of a
majority  of the  Independent  12b-1  Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding  voting  securities of the Trust (as defined in the Act) on not more
than thirty days' written  notice to any other party to the Plan. So long as the
Plan is in effect, the election and nomination of Independent  Trustees shall be
committed to the discretion of the Independent Trustees.

     PORTFOLIO  TRANSACTIONS.  Each Advisor is responsible  for decisions to buy
and sell securities,  futures  contracts and options  thereon,  the selection of
brokers, dealers and futures commission merchants to effect the transactions and
the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. As most, if not all, purchases
made by the Income  Portfolios are principal  transactions at net prices,  those
Portfolios pay no brokerage  commissions;  however,  prices of debt  obligations
reflect mark-ups and mark-downs  which constitute  compensation to the executing
dealer. Each Portfolio will pay brokerage  commissions on transactions in listed
options and equity  securities.  Prices of portfolio  securities  purchased from
underwriters of new issues include a commission or concession paid by the issuer
to the underwriter, and prices of debt securities purchased from dealers include
a spread  between the bid and asked prices.  Each Advisor seeks to obtain prompt
execution  of  orders  at the most  favorable  net  price.  Transactions  may be
directed  to dealers  during the course of an  underwriting  in return for their
brokerage and research  services,  which are  intangible  and on which no dollar
value can be  placed.  There is no formula  for such  allocation.  The  research
information  may or may not be  useful to one or more of the  Portfolios  and/or
other accounts of the Advisors; information received in connection with directed
orders of other  accounts  managed by the Advisors or its  affiliates may or may
not be  useful  to one or more of the  Portfolios.  Such  information  may be in
written  or oral form and  includes  information  on  particular  companies  and
industries  as well as market,  economic or  institutional  activity  areas.  It
serves to  broaden  the scope and  supplement  the  research  activities  of the
Advisors,  to make available  additional views for consideration and comparison,
and to enable the Advisors to obtain  market  information  for the  valuation of
securities held in a Portfolio's assets.

     Sales of shares of each Portfolio, subject to applicable rules covering the
Distributor's  activities  in this area,  will also be considered as a factor in
the direction of portfolio  transactions to dealers, but only in conformity with
the price,  execution and other  considerations and practices discussed above. A
Portfolio  will not purchase any  securities  from or sell any  securities  to a
broker that is affiliated with any of the Advisors (an "affiliated broker") that
is acting as  principal  for its own  account.  Each of the  Advisors  currently
serves as investment manager to a number of clients,  including other investment
companies, and may in the future act as investment manager or advisor to others.
It is the practice of each Advisor to cause purchase or sale  transactions to be
allocated among the Portfolios and others whose assets it manages in such manner
as it deems equitable. In making such allocations among the Portfolios and other
client  accounts,  the main factors  considered  are the  respective  investment
objectives,  the relative  size of Portfolio  holdings of the same or comparable
securities,  the  availability  of cash for  investment,  the size of investment
commitments  generally  held and the  opinions  of the persons  responsible  for
managing the Portfolios of each Portfolio and other client accounts. When orders
to purchase or sell the same security on identical terms are placed by more than
one of the Portfolios  and/or other advisory  accounts  managed by an Advisor or
its affiliates, the transactions are generally executed as received,  although a
Portfolio or advisory  account that does not direct trades to a specific  broker
("free  trades")  usually  will have its order  executed  first.  Purchases  are
combined where possible for the purpose of  negotiating  brokerage  commissions,
which in some cases  might have a  detrimental  effect on the price or volume of
the security in a particular  transaction  as far as the Portfolio is concerned.
Orders placed by accounts that direct trades to a specific broker will generally
be executed after the free trades.  All orders placed on behalf of the Portfolio
are considered free trades.  However, having an order placed first in the market
does not necessarily guarantee the most favorable price.

     Subject  to the above  considerations,  an  affiliated  broker may act as a
securities broker or futures commission  merchant for the Trust. In order for an
affiliate of an Advisor or Saratoga to effect any Portfolio transactions for the
Trust, the  commissions,  fees or other  remuneration  received by an affiliated
broker must be reasonable  and fair compared to the  commissions,  fees or other
remuneration  paid to other brokers in connection with  comparable  transactions
involving similar  securities being purchased or sold during a comparable period
of time. This standard would allow an affiliated  broker to receive no more than
the  remuneration  which would be  expected  to be  received by an  unaffiliated
broker in a commensurate  arm's-length transaction.  Furthermore,  the Trustees,
including a majority of the  Trustees  who are not  "interested"  persons,  have
adopted   procedures   which  are  reasonably   designed  to  provide  that  any
commissions,  fees or  other  remuneration  paid  to an  affiliated  broker  are
consistent with the foregoing standard.

         The  following  tables  present  information  as to the  allocation  of
brokerage  commissions by the Portfolios of the Trust for the years ended August
31, 1996,  and August 31,  1997,  to Hoenig & Co, Inc.  ("Hoenig"),  which is an
affiliated  person of  Axe-Houghton  Associates,  Inc.,  and was  considered  an
affiliated broker of the Trust during those time periods,  and information as to
the  allocation of brokerage  commissions  by the Portfolios for the years ended
August 31, 1996, August 31, 1997, and August 31, 1998 to Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.
("Opco"),  which was an affiliated person of OpCap Advisors,  and was considered
an affiliated broker of the Trust during those time periods.


<TABLE>
<S>     <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>

                                             Commissions Paid          % of total             % of total dollar
Portfolio                      Period            to Hoenig          commissions paid       amount of transactions
- ---------                      ------            ---------          ----------------       ----------------------


Small Capitalization         Year ended             $40                   0.2%                   0.4%
                               8/31/96
                                
                             Year ended          $3,300                   3.7%                   1.4%
                               8/31/97

Investment Quality           Year ended            $500                  51.8%                  54.1%
Bond                           8/31/96
                              
                             Year ended              $0                   0.0%                   0.0%  
                               8/31/97
                              
                                


*  Most  transactions  for  the  Investment  Quality  Bond  Portfolio  are  on a
   principal basis; however transactions with Hoenig & Co, Inc. were on an agency
   basis since  principal  transactions  between the Portfolio and an affiliated
   broker are restricted by the Investment Company Act of 1940.


                                                          
                                             Commissions Paid          % of total             % of total dollar
Portfolio                      Period            to OpCo            commissions paid       amount of transactions
- ---------                      ------            ---------          ----------------       ----------------------

Large Capitalization         Year ended           $6,138                  38.4%                      42.5%
Value                          8/31/96
                                                           
                             Year ended             $275                   1.8%                       0.3%
                               8/31/97

                             Year ended            $1045                   2.2%                       2.2%
                               8/31/98

Small Capitalization         Year ended             $180                   1.0%                       1.3%
                               8/31/96
                             
                             Year ended               $0                   0.0%                       0.0% 
                               8/31/97

                             Year ended               $0                   0.0%                       0.0%
                               8/31/98                      
                             
                               


</TABLE>

                        DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

         The net  asset  value  per  share  for  each  class of  shares  of each
Portfolio is determined each day the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") is
open,  as of the close of the regular  trading  session of the Exchange that day
(currently  4:00 p.m.  Eastern Time), by dividing the value of a Portfolio's net
assets by the number of its shares outstanding.

         The  Exchange's  most recent annual  announcement  (which is subject to
change) states that it will close on New Year's Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day,  President's Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,  Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. It may also close on other days.

     Securities listed on a national  securities exchange or designated national
market system securities are valued at the last reported sale price on that day,
or,  if there has been no sale on such day or on the  previous  day on which the
Exchange was open (if a week has not elapsed between such days),  then the value
of such  security is taken to be the  reported bid price at the time as of which
the   value  is  being   ascertained.   Securities   actively   traded   in  the
over-the-counter  market but not designated as national market system securities
are valued at the last  quoted bid price.  Any  securities  or other  assets for
which current market  quotations  are not readily  available are valued at their
fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under
the general supervision and responsibility of the Trust's Board of Trustees. The
value of a foreign  security is  determined  in its  national  currency and that
value is then  converted into its US dollar  equivalent at the foreign  exchange
rate in effect on the date of valuation.

     The Trust's Board of Trustees has approved the use of nationally recognized
bond pricing services for the valuation of each Portfolio's debt securities. The
services  selected  create and maintain  price  matrices of U.S.  Government and
other  securities  from which  individual  holdings are valued shortly after the
close of business each trading day. Debt  securities  not covered by the pricing
services are valued upon bid prices obtained from dealers who maintain an active
market therein or, if no readily  available market quotations are available from
dealers,  such securities  (including restricted securities and OTC options) are
valued at fair value under the Board's procedures. Short-term (having a maturity
of 60 days or less) debt securities are valued at amortized cost.

     Puts and calls are valued at the last sales  price  therefor,  or, if there
are no transactions,  at the last reported sales price that is within the spread
between the  closing bid and asked  prices on the  valuation  date.  Futures are
valued based on their daily settlement value. When a Portfolio writes a call, an
amount equal to the premium received is included in the Portfolio's Statement of
Assets  and  Liabilities  as an  asset,  and an  equivalent  deferred  credit is
included  in  the   liability   section.   The   deferred   credit  is  adjusted
("marked-to-market")  to reflect the current market value of the call. If a call
written by a Portfolio is exercised,  the proceeds on the sale of the underlying
securities are increased by the premium received.  If a call or put written by a
Portfolio  expires on its stipulated  expiration  date or if a Portfolio  enters
into a closing transaction,  it will realize a gain or loss depending on whether
thepremium  was more or less  than the  transaction  costs,  without  regard  to
unrealized  appreciation or depreciation on the underlying securities.  If a put
held by a Portfolio is exercised by it, the amount the Portfolio receives on its
sale of the  underlying  investment is reduced by the amount of the premium paid
by the Portfolio.

     The U.S.  Government  Money Market  Portfolio  utilizes the amortized  cost
method in valuing its portfolio  securities for purposes of determining  the net
asset value of the shares of the Portfolio. The Portfolio utilizes the amortized
cost  method in valuing  its  portfolio  securities  even  though the  portfolio
securities  may increase or decrease in market value,  generally,  in connection
with changes in interest rates. The amortized cost method of valuation  involves
valuing a security at its cost adjusted by a constant  amortization  to maturity
of any discount or premium,  regardless  of the impact of  fluctuating  interest
rates  on the  market  value  of the  instrument.  While  this  method  provides
certainty  in  valuation,  it may  result in  periods  during  which  value,  as
determined  by amortized  cost,  is higher or lower than the price the Portfolio
would  receive if it sold the  instrument.  During  such  periods,  the yield to
investors in the Portfolio  may differ  somewhat from that obtained in a similar
company which uses mark to market values from all its portfolio securities.  For
example,  if the use of amortized  cost resulted in a lower  (higher)  aggregate
portfolio  value on a particular  day, a  prospective  investor in the Portfolio
would be able to obtain a somewhat  higher  (lower) yield than would result from
investment in such a similar  company and existing  investors would receive less
(more)  investment  income.  The  purpose of this  method of  calculation  is to
facilitate the maintenance of a constant net asset value per share of $1.00.

     The  Portfolio's  use of the  amortized  cost method to value its portfolio
securities  and the  maintenance  of the per share  net asset  value of $1.00 is
permitted  pursuant to Rule 2a-7 of the Act (the "Rule"),  and is conditioned on
its  compliance  with  various  conditions  including:   (a)  the  Trustees  are
obligated,  as a particular  responsibility within the overall duty of care owed
to the Portfolio's  shareholders,  to establish procedures  reasonably designed,
taking into account  current market  conditions and the  Portfolio's  investment
objectives,  to  stabilize  the net asset  value per share as  computed  for the
purpose of  distribution  and redemption at $1.00 per share;  (b) the procedures
include  (i)  calculation,  at such  intervals  as the  Trustees  determine  are
appropriate and as are reasonable in light of current market conditions,  of the
deviation,  if any,  between net asset value per share using  amortized  cost to
value  portfolio  securities  and net asset value per share based upon available
market  quotations  with respect to such  portfolio  securities;  (ii)  periodic
review by the  Trustees of the amount of  deviation  as well as methods  used to
calculate it; and (iii)  maintenance of written records of the  procedures,  the
Trustees'  considerations  made pursuant to them and any actions taken upon such
considerations;  (c) the Trustees should consider what steps should be taken, if
any, in the event of a  difference  of more than 2 of 1% between the two methods
of  valuation;  and (d) the  Trustees  should  take  such  action  as they  deem
appropriate (such as shortening the average portfolio maturity,  realizing gains
or losses or as provided by the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, reducing the
number of the outstanding  shares of the Portfolio to eliminate or reduce to the
extent  reasonably  practicable  material  dilution or other  unfair  results to
investors or existing shareholders). Any reduction of outstanding shares will be
effected  by  having  each   shareholder   proportionately   contribute  to  the
Portfolio's  capital the  necessary  shares that  represent the amount of excess
upon such determination.  Each shareholder will be deemed to have agreed to such
contribution in these circumstances by investment in the Portfolio.

     The Rule further  requires that the Portfolio limit its investments to U.S.
dollar-denominated  instruments  which the Trustees  determine  present  minimal
credit risks and which are Eligible Securities (as defined below). The Rule also
requires the Portfolio to maintain a dollar-weighted  average portfolio maturity
(not more than 90 days) appropriate to its objective of maintaining a stable net
asset value of $1.00 per share and precludes the purchase of any instrument with
remaining  maturity of more than thirteen  months.  Should the  disposition of a
portfolio  security result in a dollar-weighted  average  portfolio  maturity of
more than 90 days, the Portfolio  would be required to invest its available cash
in  such a  manner  as to  reduce  such  maturity  to 90 days or less as soon as
reasonably practicable.

     Generally,  for  purposes of the  procedures  adopted  under the Rule,  the
maturity  of a  portfolio  instrument  is  deemed  to be  the  period  remaining
(calculated  from the trade  date or such  other  date on which the  Portfolio's
interest in the  instrument is subject to market action) until the date noted on
the face of the  instrument  as the date on which the  principal  amount must be
paid, or in the case of an instrument  called for redemption,  the date on which
the redemption payment must be made.

     A variable rate obligation that is subject to a demand feature is deemed to
have a  maturity  equal to the  longer of the  period  remaining  until the next
readjustment  of the interest rate or the period  remaining  until the principal
amount can be recovered  through  demand.  A floating  rate  instrument  that is
subject to a demand  feature  is deemed to have a  maturity  equal to the period
remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand.

     An Eligible  Security is defined in the Rule to mean a security which:  (a)
has a remaining maturity of thirteen months or less; (b) (i) is rated in the two
highest   short-term  rating   categories  by  any  two  nationally   recognized
statistical rating organizations ("NRSROs") that have issued a short-term rating
with respect to the security or class of debt obligations of the issuer, or (ii)
if only one NRSRO has issued a short-term  rating with respect to the  security,
then by that NRSRO;  (c) was a long-term  security at the time of issuance whose
issuer has  outstanding  a short-term  debt  obligation  which is  comparable in
priority and security and has a rating as specified in clause (b) above;  or (d)
if no rating is  assigned by any NRSRO as provided in clauses (b) and (c) above,
the unrated  security is determined by the Board to be of comparable  quality to
any such rated security.

     As permitted by the Rule,  the Trustees have  delegated to the  Portfolio's
Advisor,   subject  to  the  Trustees'  oversight  pursuant  to  guidelines  and
procedures adopted by the Trustees,  the authority to determine which securities
present  minimal  credit risks and which unrated  securities  are  comparable in
quality to rated securities.

     If the Trustees determine that it is no longer in the best interests of the
Portfolio and its shareholders to maintain a stable price of $1.00 per share, or
if the  Trustees  believe  that  maintaining  such  price no longer  reflects  a
market-based  net asset value per share,  the Trustees  have the right to change
from an  amortized  cost  basis  of  valuation  to  valuation  based  on  market
quotations. The Trust will notify shareholders of any such change.

     The Portfolio will manage its portfolio in an effort to maintain a constant
$1.00 per share  price,  but it cannot  assure that the value of its shares will
never deviate from this price.  Since  dividends from net investment  income are
declared and reinvested on a daily basis,  the net asset value per share,  under
ordinary circumstances,  is likely to remain constant.  Otherwise,  realized and
unrealized gains and losses will not be distributed on a daily basis but will be
reflected  in the  Portfolio's  net asset  value.  The amounts of such gains and
losses will be considered by the Trustees in determining  the action to be taken
to maintain the Trust's $1.00 per share net asset value. Such action may include
distribution  at any time of part or all of the then  accumulated  undistributed
net realized capital gains, or reduction or elimination of daily dividends by an
amount equal to part or all of the then accumulated net realized capital losses.
However,  if realized losses should exceed the sum of net investment income plus
realized  gains on any day,  the net  asset  value  per  share on that day might
decline below $1.00 per share.  In such  circumstances,  the Trust may reduce or
eliminate  the payment of daily  dividends  for a period of time in an effort to
restore  the  Trust's  $1.00 per share net asset  value.  A decline in prices of
securities  could result in  significant  unrealized  depreciation  on a mark to
market basis.  Under these  circumstances  the Portfolio may reduce or eliminate
the payment of dividends  and utilize a net asset value per share as  determined
by using  available  market  quotations  or  reduce  the  number  of its  shares
outstanding.

                     PORTFOLIO YIELD AND TOTAL RETURN INFORMATION

                               PERFORMANCE INFORMATION


U.S. GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO

     CURRENT  YIELD  AND  EFFECTIVE  YIELD.  The  Trust  may  from  time to time
advertise the current yield and  effective  annual yield of the U.S.  Government
Money Market Portfolio  calculated over a 7-day period. The yield quoted will be
the simple  annualized  yield for an identified  seven calendar day period.  The
yield  calculation  will be based on a hypothetical  account having a balance of
exactly one share at the  beginning  of the  seven-day  period.  The base period
return will be the change in the value of the  hypothetical  account  during the
seven-day  period,  including  dividends  declared on any shares  purchased with
dividends on the share but excluding any capital changes. The yield will vary as
interest rates and other conditions  affecting money market instruments  change.
Yield also depends on the quality, length of maturity and type of instruments in
the  Portfolio,  and its operating  expenses.  The Portfolio may also prepare an
effective annual yield computed by compounding the unannualized seven-day period
return as follows: by adding 1 to the unannualized 7-day period return,  raising
the sum to a power equal to 365 divided by 7, and subtracting 1 from the result.

     Effective Yield = [(base period return +1)365/7]-1]

Other Portfolios

     YIELDS.  Yield  information  may be  useful to  investors  in  reviewing  a
Portfolio's  performance.  However,  a number of  factors  should be  considered
before using yield information as a basis for comparison with other investments.
An investment in any of the Portfolios of the Trust is not insured; yield is not
guaranteed and normally will fluctuate on a daily basis. The yield for any given
past period is not an indication or  representation of future yields or rates of
return.  Yield is affected by Portfolio  quality,  Portfolio  maturity,  type of
instruments held and operating expenses. When comparing a Portfolio's yield with
that of other  investments,  investors  should  understand  that  certain  other
investment  alternatives  such as  money-market  instruments  or  bank  accounts
provide fixed yields and also that bank accounts may be insured.

     The Trust  may from time to time  advertise  the  yield of a  Portfolio  as
calculated  over a 30-day  period.  This yield will be computed by dividing  the
Trust's net investment  income per share earned during this 30-day period by the
maximum  offering  price per share on the last day of this  period.  The average
number of shares used in determining the net investment income per share will be
the average  daily number of shares  outstanding  during the 30-day  period that
were  eligible to receive  dividends.  In  accordance  with  regulations  of the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  income will be computed by totaling  the
interest earned on all debt obligations during the 30-day period and subtracting
from that amount the total of all  expenses  incurred  during the period,  which
include management and distribution fees. The 30-day yield is then annualized on
a bond-equivalent basis assuming semi-annual reinvestment and compounding of net
investment income, as described in the Prospectus. Yield is calculated according
to the following formula:


                          --------------------------------
                                         x       6
                              YIELD = 2(---- + 1)  - 1
                                         cd
                          --------------------------------

Where:

x=   daily net investment income, based upon the subtraction of daily accrued
     expenses from daily accrued income of the Portfolio.  Income is accrued
     daily for each day of the indicated period based upon yield-to-maturity of
     each obligation held in the Portfolio as of the day before the beginning of
     any thirty-day period or as of contractual settlement date for securities
     acquired during the period.  Mortgage and other receivables-backed
     securities calculate income using coupon rate and outstanding principal
     amount.

c=   the average daily number of shares  outstanding during the period that were
     entitled to receive dividends.

d=   the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.

     Yield does not reflect capital gains or losses,  non-recurring or irregular
income.  Gain or loss  attributable  to actual  monthly  paydowns on mortgage or
other  receivables-backed  obligations  purchased  at a  discount  or premium is
reflected as an increase or decrease in interest income during the period.

     TAX  EQUIVALENT  YIELD is computed by dividing  that portion of the current
yield (computed as described  above) which is tax exempt by 1 minus a stated tax
rate and  adding  the  quotient  to that  portion,  if any,  of the yield of the
Portfolio that is not tax exempt.



- ---------------------------
                          E
TAX EQUIVALENT YIELD =  -----  + t
                         1-P
- ---------------------------     Where:    E = tax exempt yield
                                          P = stated income tax rate
                                          t = taxable yield


     The Municipal Bond Portfolio may advertise tax-equivalent yields at varying
assumed tax rates.

     AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN

         The Trust may from time to time  advertise  the  average  annual  total
return of a Portfolio.  These figures are computed separately for Class I, Class
B and Class C shares.  Average  annual  total  return is computed by finding the
average annual compounded rates of return over the 1, 5 and 10 year periods that
would  equate  the  initial  amount  invested  to the  ending  redeemable  value
according to the following formula:


          P (1+t)n = ERV

Where:    P =   a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000
          t =   average annual total return
          n =   number of years
        ERV =   ending redeemable value of P at the end of each period

     Total  return  information  may be  useful  to  investors  in  reviewing  a
Portfolio's  performance.  However,  certain factors should be considered before
using this information as a basis for comparison with alternate investments.  No
adjustment is made for taxes payable on distributions.  The total return for any
given past period is not an  indication  or  representation  by the Portfolio of
future rates of return on its shares.

     Total returns  quoted in  advertising  reflect all aspects of a Portfolio's
return   including  the  effect  of  reinvesting   dividends  and  capital  gain
distributions,  and any change in a  Portfolio's  net asset value per share over
the period.  Average annual returns are calculated by determining  the growth or
decline  in value of a  hypothetical  investment  in a  Portfolio  over a stated
period, and then calculating the annually compounded  percentage rate that would
have produced the same result if the rate of growth or decline in value had been
constant  over the period.  For example,  a  cumulative  return of 100% over ten
years  would  produce an  average  annual  return of 7.18%,  which is the steady
annual return that would equal 100% growth on a compounded basis in ten years.


<PAGE>




     AGGREGATE TOTAL RETURN

     The Trust may from time to time  advertise the aggregate  total return of a
Portfolio. A Portfolio's aggregate total return figures represent the cumulative
change in the value of an investment  in the Portfolio for the specified  period
and are computed by the following formula:

                         ERV - P
                        -------
                            P

     Where:  P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1000.

     ERV = Ending  Redeemable Value of a hypothetical  $1,000 investment made at
     the  beginning  of the 1, 5, or 10 year period at the end of the 1, 5 or 10
     year period (or fractional portion thereof).

     Unaveraged or cumulative  total returns  reflect the simple change in value
of an investment  over a stated  period.  Average  annual and  cumulative  total
returns  may  be  quoted  as a  percentage  or as a  dollar  amount  and  may be
calculated for a single  investment,  a series of investments and/or a series of
redemptions  over  any  time  period.   Total  returns  and  other   performance
information  may  be  quoted  numerically  or  in  a  table,  graph  or  similar
illustration.

         The average annual total return on an investment  made in shares of the
Portfolios  for the year ended  August 31, 1998 and for the period of  inception
through year ended August 31, 1998 are as follows: 


                                   Average Annual Total          Average Annual
Name of Portfolio                Return for the year ended      Total Return for
                                      August 31, 1998*       period of inception
                                                              through year ended
                                                               August 31, 1998*

Large Capitalization Value Portfolio          .96%                      18.36%

Large Capitalization Growth Portfolio        3.91%                      16.83%

Small Capitalization Portfolio             -30.64%                       3.55%

International Equity Portfolio               2.08%                       3.09%

Investment Quality Bond Portfolio            7.21%                       6.16%

Municipal Bond Portfolio                     8.42%                       6.39%

* During the year ended August 31, 1998,  the Manager waived all or a portion of
its management fee for each portfolio. The Manager also assumed a portion of the
operating  expenses of the Municipal Bond Portfolio.  All Portfolios  benefitted
from expense offset  arrangements with the custodian bank. Without such waivers,
expense assumptions and expense offsets, the returns would have been lower.


                             YIELD FOR 30-DAY PERIOD
                              ENDED AUGUST 31, 1998*

Portfolio                         
- ---------                        
Investment Quality Bond Portfolio              4.53%                    

Municipal Bond Portfolio                       3.87%                    


* Reflects  the  waiver of  management  fees,  assumption  of certain  operating
expenses of the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio,  and the benefit of expense  offset
arrangements.  Without such waivers, assumptions and expense offsets, the yields
would have been 4.47% for the  Investment  Quality Bond  Portfolio and 2.92% for
the Municipal Bond Portfolio.


                     TAX EQUIVALENT YIELD FOR 30 DAY PERIOD


<TABLE>
<S>              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>               <C>    

                                    At Federal       At Federal        At Federal        At Federal
                  30 Day            Income Tax       Income Tax        Income Tax        Income Tas
                  Period            Rate of          Rate of           Rate of           Rate of
Portfolio         Ended                28%              31%               36%              39.6%
- ---------         -----                ---              ---               ---              -----


Municipal
Bond              8/31/98*            5.38%            5.61%             6.05%             6.41%
                  

</TABLE>


* During the 30 day  period  ended  August  31,  1998,  the  Manager  waived the
management  fee,  assumed  certain  expenses and benefitted  from expense offset
arrangements  for the Municipal Bond  Portfolio.  Without such waivers,  expense
assumptions  and expense  offsets,  the yields for the Municipal  Bond Portfolio
would  have been  4.06% at the 28%  Federal  income  tax rate,  4.23% at the 31%
Federal  income tax rate,  4.56% at the 36% Federal income tax rate and 4.83% at
the 39.6%  Federal  income tax rate for the  period  ended  August 31,  1998.


                           YIELD FOR SEVEN DAY PERIOD*


Portfolio                     Period Ended       Current        Effective
- ---------                     ------------       -------        ---------
U.S. Government Money
Market Portfolio              August 31, 1998     4.40%          4.49%
                              


* During the seven day period ended August 31, 1998 the Manager waived a portion
of the entire management fee, assumed certain  expenses,  and benefitted from an
expense  offset  arrangement  with respect to the U.S.  Government  Money Market
Portfolio.  Without such waiver,  expense  assumptions and expense offsets,  the
current yield and effective yield would have been 4.26% and 4.35%, respectively.

     From time to time the  Portfolios may refer in  advertisements  to rankings
and performance  statistics  published by (1) recognized mutual fund performance
rating services  including but not limited to Lipper Analytical  Services,  Inc.
and Morningstar,  Inc., (2) recognized  indexes including but not limited to the
Standard & Poors  Composite  Stock Price Index,  Russell  2000 Index,  Dow Jones
Industrial   Average,   Consumer  Price  Index,  EAFE  Index,   Lehman  Brothers
Government/Corporate  Bond Index,  the S & P Barra/ Growth Index,  the S&P/Barra
Value  Index,  Lehman  Municipal  Bond  Index and (3) Money  Magazine  and other
financial  publications  including but not limited to magazines,  newspapers and
newsletters.  Performance statistics may include yields, total returns, measures
of  volatility,  standard  deviation or other methods of portraying  performance
based on the method used by the  publishers  of the  information.  In  addition,
comparisons  may be made  between  yields on  certificates  of deposit  and U.S.
government  securities and corporate  bonds, and between value stocks and growth
stocks,  and may refer to current or historic  financial  or economic  trends or
conditions.

     The  performance of the  Portfolios  may be compared to the  performance of
other mutual funds in general,  or to the  performance  of  particular  types of
mutual  funds.  These  comparisons  may be  expressed  as mutual  fund  rankings
prepared by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. ("Lipper"),  an independent service
located in Summit,  New Jersey that  monitors the  performance  of mutual funds.
Lipper generally ranks funds on the basis of total return, assuming reinvestment
of  distributions,  but does not take  sales  charges  or  redemption  fees into
consideration,  and is prepared without regard to tax consequences.  In addition
to the  mutual  fund  rankings,  performance  may be  compared  to  mutual  fund
performance indices prepared by Lipper.

     From time to time, a Portfolio's  performance also may be compared to other
mutual funds tracked by financial or business publications and periodicals.  For
example,  the  Portfolio  may  quote  Morningstar,   Inc.,  in  its  advertising
materials.  Morningstar,  Inc. is a mutual fund rating service that rates mutual
funds on the basis of risk-adjusted performance.

     Saratoga  Capital  Management  or  Unified   Management   Corporation  (the
"Distributor")(which  replaced  OCC  Distributors  as  the  Trust's  distributor
effective April 14, 1997) may provide  information  designed to help individuals
understand their investment goals and explore various financial  strategies such
as general principles of investing,  such as asset allocation,  diversification,
risk  tolerance;  goal setting;  and a  questionnaire  designed to help create a
personal financial profile.

     Ibbotson Associates of Chicago,  Illinois  ("Ibbotson") provides historical
returns of the capital  markets in the United States,  including  common stocks,
small  capitalization  stocks,  long-term  corporate  bonds,   intermediate-term
government bonds,  long-term government bonds,  Treasury bills, the U.S. rate of
inflation  (based on CPI), and  combinations  of various  capital  markets.  The
performance  of these  capital  markets  is based on the  returns  of  different
indices.

     Saratoga  Capital  Management or the Distributor may use the performance of
these  capital  markets  in  order  to  demonstrate  general  risk-versus-reward
investment  scenarios.  Performance  comparisons may also include the value of a
hypothetical  investment in any of these capital  markets.  The risks associated
with the security types in any capital market may or may not correspond directly
to those of the Portfolios.  The Portfolios may also compare performance to that
of other compilations or indices that may be developed and made available in the
future.

         In advertising materials,  the Distributor may reference or discuss its
products  and  services,  which may  include:  retirement  investing;  brokerage
products  and  services;  the effects of  dollar-cost  averaging  and saving for
college; and the risks of market timing. In addition,  the Distributor may quote
financial or business  publications and periodicals,  including model portfolios
or allocations,  as they relate to fund management,  investment philosophy,  and
investment techniques.

     The Portfolios may present their fund number, Quotron number, CUSIP number,
and discuss or quote their current portfolio manager.

     Volatility.  The  Portfolios  may quote various  measures of volatility and
benchmark  correlation in advertising.  In addition,  the Portfolios may compare
these measures to those of other funds. Measures of volatility seek to compare a
fund's  historical  share  price  fluctuations  or total  returns  to those of a
benchmark.  Measures of benchmark  correlation  indicate how valid a comparative
benchmark  may be. All measures of volatility  and  correlation  are  calculated
using averages of historical data.

     Momentum  Indicators  indicate the Portfolios price movements over specific
periods of time. Each point on the momentum indicator represents the Portfolio's
percentage change in price movements over that period.

     The Portfolios may advertise examples of the effects of periodic investment
plans,  including the principle of dollar cost averaging.  In such a program, an
investor invests a fixed dollar amount in a fund at periodic intervals,  thereby
purchasing  fewer  shares  when  prices are high and more shares when prices are
low. While such a strategy does not assure a profit or guard against a loss in a
declining  market,  the  investor's  average cost per share can be lower than if
fixed numbers of shares are purchased at the same intervals.  In evaluating such
a plan,  investors should consider their ability to continue  purchasing  shares
during periods of low price levels.

     The Portfolios may be available for purchase  through  retirement  plans or
other programs  offering  deferral of or exemption from income taxes,  which may
produce superior  after-tax returns over time. For example,  a $1,000 investment
earning a taxable return of 10% annually would have an after-tax value of $1,949
after ten years,  assuming tax was  deducted  from the return each year at a 28%
rate. An equivalent  tax-deferred  investment  would have an after-tax  value of
$2,100  after  ten  years,  assuming  tax was  deducted  at a 31% rate  from the
tax-deferred earnings at the end of the ten-year period.





<PAGE>



                                        TAXES

THE MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

     Because  the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio  will  distribute  exempt-interest
dividends,  interest on  indebtedness  incurred by a shareholder  to purchase or
carry  shares of the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio is not  deductible  for Federal
income tax purposes.  If a shareholder of the Municipal Bond Portfolio  receives
exempt-interest dividends with respect to any share and if such share is held by
the shareholder for six months or less, then any loss on the sale or exchange of
such share may, to the extent of such exempt-interest  dividends, be disallowed.
In  addition,  the  Code  may  require  a  shareholder,  if he or  she  receives
exempt-interest  dividends,  to treat as  taxable  income a portion  of  certain
otherwise  non-taxable social security and railroad retirement benefit payments.
Furthermore,  that portion of any exempt-interest dividend paid by the Municipal
Bond Portfolio which represents  income derived from private activity bonds held
by the  Portfolio  may not  retain  its  tax-exempt  status  in the  hands  of a
shareholder who is a "substantial user" of a facility financed by such bonds, or
a "related person" thereof.  Moreover,  as noted in the Prospectus,  some of the
Municipal  Bond  Portfolio's  dividends may be a specific  preference  item or a
component of an  adjustment  item,  for purposes of the Federal  individual  and
corporate  alternative minimum taxes. In addition,  the receipt of dividends and
distributions  from the  Municipal  Bond  Portfolio  also may  affect a  foreign
corporate  shareholder's Federal "branch profits" tax liability and a Subchapter
S corporate  shareholder's  Federal  "excess net passive  income" tax liability.
Shareholders  should  consult  their own tax advisors as to whether they are (a)
substantial users with respect to a facility or related to such users within the
meaning of the Code or (b) subject to a Federal  alternative  minimum  tax,  the
Federal  environmental tax, the Federal branch profits tax or the Federal excess
net passive income tax.

     Each  shareholder  of the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio will receive after the
close of the  calendar  year an annual  statement  as to the Federal  income tax
status of his or her  dividends  and  distributions  from the  Portfolio for the
prior  calendar  year.  These  statements  also  will  designate  the  amount of
exempt-interest  dividends that is a specified  preference  item for purposes of
the Federal individual and corporate alternative minimum taxes. Each shareholder
of the Municipal Bond Portfolio will also receive a report of the percentage and
source on a  state-by-state  basis of interest  income on municipal  obligations
received by the Portfolio during the preceding year. Shareholders should consult
their tax advisors as to any other state and local taxes that may apply to these
dividends  and  distributions.  In the event that the Municipal  Bond  Portfolio
derives  taxable  net  investment  income,  it intends to  designate  as taxable
dividends the same  percentage of each day's  dividend as its actual taxable net
investment  income bears to its total  taxable net  investment  income earned on
that day.  Therefore,  the  percentage  of each  day's  dividend  designated  as
taxable, if any, may vary from day to day.
   
ALL PORTFOLIOS

     At August 31, 1998,  the following  portfolios  had, for Federal income tax
purposes,  unused capital loss carryforwards  available to offset future capital
gains through the following fiscal years ended August 31:

   Name of Portfolio           Total       2003      2004      2005      2006
   -----------------           -----       ----      ----      ----      ----

International Equity          $270,290     --        --       $8,875    $261,415
U.S. Government Money Market      $219     --        --          $32        $187

     As described  above and in the  Prospectus,  the  Portfolios  may invest in
futures contracts and options.  Each Portfolio anticipates that these investment
activities will not prevent the Trust from qualifying as a regulated  investment
company.  As a general  rule,  these  investment  activities  will  increase  or
decrease the amount of long-term and short-term capital gains or losses realized
by a  Portfolio  and,  accordingly,  will  affect the  amount of  capital  gains
distributed to the Portfolio's shareholders.

     Any net long-term capital gains realized by a Portfolio will be distributed
annually as described  in the  Prospectus.  Such  distributions  ("capital  gain
dividends")  will  be  taxable  to  shareholders  as  long-term  capital  gains,
regardless of how long a  shareholder  has held shares of the Portfolio and will
be  designated  as capital  gain  dividends  in a written  notice  mailed by the
Portfolio to shareholders after the close of the Portfolio's  taxable year. If a
shareholder  receives a capital gain  dividend  with respect to any share and if
the share has been held by the shareholder for six months or less, then any loss
(to the extent not  disallowed  pursuant to the other  six-month  rule described
above  relating to  exempt-interest  dividends)  on the sale or exchange of such
share will be treated as a long-term  capital  loss to the extent of the capital
gain dividend. Short-term capital gains will be distributed annually as ordinary
income as required by the Internal Revenue Code.

     If a shareholder fails to furnish a correct taxpayer identification number,
fails to fully report dividend or interest income or fails to certify that he or
she has provided a correct taxpayer  identification number and that he or she is
not subject to backup withholding,  then the shareholder may be subject to a 31%
"backup   withholding   tax,"  with  respect  to  (a)  taxable   dividends   and
distributions, and (b) the proceeds of any redemptions of shares of a Portfolio.
An  individual's  taxpayer  identification  number is his or her social security
number. The backup withholding tax is not an additional tax and will be credited
against a taxpayer's regular Federal income tax liability.

     From time to time,  proposals have been introduced  before Congress for the
purpose of  restricting  or  eliminating  the federal  income tax  exemption for
interest on municipal  securities.  Similar  proposals  may be introduced in the
future.  If  such  a  proposal  were  enacted,  the  availability  of  municipal
securities for investment by the Municipal Bond Portfolio could be affected.  In
that event the Board of Trustees of the Trust would  reevaluate  the  investment
objections and policies of the Municipal Bond Portfolio.

     The  foregoing  is only a summary of certain tax  considerations  generally
affecting the  Portfolios,  and is not intended as a substitute  for careful tax
planning.  Individuals  are often  exempt from state and local  personal  income
taxes on distributions of tax-exempt interest income derived from obligations of
issuers located in the state in which they reside when these  distributions  are
received  directly from these issuers,  but are usually subject to such taxes on
income derived from obligations of issuers located in other  jurisdictions.  The
discussion does not purport to deal with all of the Federal, state and local tax
consequences  applicable to an investment in the Municipal Bond Portfolio, or to
all  categories  of  investors,  some of which may be subject to special  rules.
Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific  reference to
their own tax situations.

                                ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     DESCRIPTION  OF THE TRUST.  The Trust was formed under the laws of Delaware
on April 8,  1994.  It is not  contemplated  that  regular  annual  meetings  of
shareholders  will be held.  Shareholders of each Portfolio have the right, upon
the  declaration in writing or vote by two-thirds of the  outstanding  shares of
the  Portfolio,  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 (for at least six months) of 10% of its  outstanding  shares.  In
addition,  10 shareholders  holding the lesser of $25,000 or 1% of a Portfolio's
outstanding  shares  may  advise  the  Trustees  in  writing  that  they wish to
communicate  with  other  shareholders  of that  Portfolio  for the  purpose  of
requesting a meeting to remove a Trustee. The Trustees will then either give the
applicants  access to the Portfolio's  shareholder  list or mail the applicants'
communication to all other shareholders at the applicants' expense.

         When  issued,  shares  of  each  class  are  fully  paid  and  have  no
preemptive,  conversion  (except Class B Shares) or other  subscription  rights.
Each  class  of  shares  represents   identical   interests  in  the  applicable
Portfolio's investment Portfolio. As such, they have the same rights, privileges
and preferences,  except with respect to: (a) the designation of each class, (b)
the effect of the  respective  sales  charges,  if any, for each class,  (c) the
distribution fees borne by each class, (d) the expenses allocable exclusively to
each class,  (e) voting rights on matters  exclusively  affecting a single class
and (f) the exchange  privilege of each class.  Upon liquidation of the Trust or
any Portfolio,  shareholders of each class of shares of a Portfolio are entitled
to share pro rata in the net assets of that class available for  distribution to
shareholders after all debts and expenses have been paid. The shares do not have
cumulative voting rights.

     The assets  received  by the Trust on the sale of shares of each  Portfolio
and all income,  earnings,  profits and  proceeds  thereof,  subject only to the
rights of creditors,  are allocated to each Portfolio, and constitute the assets
of such Portfolio. The assets of each Portfolio are required to be segregated on
the  Trust's  books  of  account.  Expenses  not  otherwise  identified  with  a
particular  Portfolio will be allocated  fairly among two or more  Portfolios by
the Board of Trustees.  The Trust's  Board of Trustees has agreed to monitor the
Portfolio  transactions and management of each of the Portfolios and to consider
and resolve any conflict that may arise.

     The Agreement and  Declaration of Trust  contains an express  disclaimer of
shareholder liability for each Portfolio's  obligations,  and provides that each
Portfolio shall indemnify any shareholder who is held personally  liable for the
obligations  of that  Portfolio.  It also  provides  that each  Portfolio  shall
assume, upon request,  the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for
any act or obligation of that Portfolio and shall satisfy any judgment thereon.

     POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL PORTFOLIO SERIES. If additional  Portfolios are created
by the Board of Trustees, shares of each such Portfolio will be entitled to vote
as a group  only to the  extent  permitted  by the 1940 Act  (see  below)  or as
permitted by the Board of Trustees.

     Under Rule 18f-2 of the 1940 Act, any matter  required to be submitted to a
vote of  shareholders  of any  investment  company  which has two or more series
outstanding is not deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by
the holders of a "majority"  (as defined in that Rule) of the voting  securities
of each series affected by the matter.  Such separate voting requirements do not
apply to the  election of  trustees  or the  ratification  of the  selection  of
accountants.  Approval of an investment  management or  distribution  plan and a
change in fundamental  policies would be regarded as matters requiring  separate
voting by each  Portfolio.  The Rule contains  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.

         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. Ernst & Young, LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York,
New York  10019  serves  as the  independent  auditors  of the Trust and of each
Portfolio.  Their services include auditing the annual financial  statements and
financial highlights of each Portfolio as well as other related services.

     CUSTODIAN,  TRANSFER AGENT AND SHAREHOLDER  SERVICING  AGENT.  State Street
Bank and Trust Company acts as transfer agent,  shareholder  servicing agent and
custodian of the assets of the Trust.

     DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS.  Shareholders may change their distribution options
by giving the Transfer Agent three days prior notice in writing.

         TAX INFORMATION. The Federal tax treatment of the Portfolios' dividends
and  distributions is explained in the Prospectus under the heading  "Dividends,
Distributions  and Taxes." A  Portfolio  will be subject to a  nondeductible  4%
excise tax to the extent that it fails to  distribute by the end of any calendar
year  substantially  all its ordinary income for that year and capital gains for
the one year period ending on October 31 of that year.
         
     RETIREMENT  PLANS. The Distributor may print  advertisements  and brochures
concerning  retirement  plans,  lump sum  distributions  and 401-k plans.  These
materials may include  descriptions  of tax rules,  strategies for reducing risk
and descriptions of 401-k programs.  From time to time  hypothetical  investment
programs illustrating various tax-deferred investment strategies will be used in
brochures, sales literature,  and omitting prospectuses.  The following examples
illustrate the general  approaches  that will be followed.  These  hypotheticals
will be modified with different investment amounts,  reflecting the amounts that
can be invested in different types of retirement programs, different assumed tax
rates,  and assumed rates of return.  They should not be viewed as indicative of
past or future performance of any of the Distributor's products.


EXAMPLES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------
Benefits of Long Term Tax-Free Compounding -
Single Sum
- ---------------------------------------------------
              Amount of Contribution:$100,000
- ---------------------------------------------------
                       Rates of Return
          -----------------------------------------
Years
             8.00%         10.00%         12.00%
          -----------------------------------------
                        Value at end
- ---------------------------------------------------
<S>      <C>            <C>            <C>
  5      $  146,933     $  161,051     $  176,234
 10      $  215,892     $  259,374     $  310,585
 15      $  317,217     $  417,725     $  547,357
 20      $  466,096     $  672,750     $  964,629
 25      $  684,848     $1,083,471     $1,700,006
 30      $1,006,266     $1,744,940     $2,995,992
- ---------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------
Benefits of Long Term Tax-Free Compounding -
Periodic Investment
- ---------------------------------------------------
                Amount Invested Annually: $2,000
- ---------------------------------------------------
                      Rates of Return
            ---------------------------------------
Years
              8.00%         10.00%         12.00%
            ---------------------------------------
                          Value at End
- ---------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>            <C>            <C>
  5        $ 12,672       $ 13,431       $ 14,230
 10        $ 31,291       $ 35,062       $ 39,309
 15        $ 58,649       $ 69,899       $ 83,507
 20        $ 98,846       $126,005       $161,397
 25        $157,909       $216,364       $298,668
 30        $244,692       $361,887       $540,585
- ---------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of Taxable and Tax-Free Investing -- Periodic Investments
(Assumed Tax Rate : 28%)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
            Amount of Annual Contribution (Pre-Tax):$2,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

            -----------------------------------------------------------
                            Tax Deferred Rates of Return
Years       -----------------------------------------------------------
              8.00%                   10.00%                   12.00%
            -----------------------------------------------------------
                                   Value at end
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                     <C>                       <C>
  5        $ 12,672                 $ 13,431                 $ 14,230
 10        $ 31,291                 $ 35,062                 $ 39,309
 15        $ 58,649                 $ 69,899                 $ 83,507
 20        $ 98,846                 $126,005                 $161,397
 25        $157,909                 $216,364                 $298,668
 30        $244,692                 $361,887                 $540,585
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
             Annual Contribution (After Tax): $1,440
            -----------------------------------------------------------
                              Fully Taxed Rates of Return
Years       -----------------------------------------------------------
              5.76%                    7.20%                    8.64%
            -----------------------------------------------------------
                                    Value at End
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  5        $  8,544                 $  8,913                 $  9,296
 10        $ 19,849                 $ 21,531                 $ 23,364
 15        $ 34,807                 $ 39,394                 $ 44,654
 20        $ 54,598                 $ 64,683                 $ 76,874
 25        $ 80,785                 $100,485                 $125,635
 30        $115,435                 $151,171                 $199,429
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Comparison of Tax Deferred Investing
                              -- Deducting Taxes at End
                            (Assumed Tax Rate at End: 28%)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Amount of Annual Contribution: $2,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Tax Deferred Rates of Return
            -----------------------------------------------------------
              8.00%                   10.00%                   12.00%
Years       -----------------------------------------------------------
                                    Value at End
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                      <C>                      <C>
  5        $ 11,924                 $ 12,470                 $ 13,046
 10        $ 28,130                 $ 30,485                 $ 33,903
 15        $ 50,627                 $ 58,728                 $ 68,525
 20        $ 82,369                 $101,924                 $127,406
 25        $127,694                 $169,782                 $229,041
 30        $192,978                 $277,359                 $406,021
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The  financial  statements  and  independent  auditor's  report  required  to be
included in this Statement of Additional  Information are incorporated herein by
reference to the Trust's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended August
31, 1998.  The Trust will provide the Annual Report  without charge upon request
by calling the Trust at 1-800-807-FUND (800-807-3863).

<PAGE>




                                APPENDIX A -- RATINGS

DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S CORPORATE BOND RATINGS:

    Aaa.  Bonds  rated Aaa are  judged to be the best  quality.  They  carry the
smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt edge."
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 these 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.

    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
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding  investment  characteristics  and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.

    Ba. Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements;  their
future  payments  cannot be considered as well assured.  Often the protection of
interest and  principal  may be very  moderate and thereby not well  safeguarded
during  both  good  and bad  times  over the  future.  Uncertainty  of  position
characterizes bonds in this class.

    B. Bonds which are rated B generally lack  characteristics  of the desirable
investment.  Assurance of interest and principal  payments or of  maintenance of
other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.

    Moody's  applies the numerical  modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating
classification  from Aa through B. 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.



DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S MUNICIPAL 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. They are rated lower than the Aaa 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 made
the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.

    A. Bonds which are rated A are judged to be upper medium grade  obligations.
Security for 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
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding  investment  characteristics  and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.

    Ba.  Bonds which are rated Ba are judges to have  speculative  elements  and
their future  cannot be  considered  as well  assured.  Often the  protection of
interest and  principal  payments may be very  moderate,  and therefore not well
safeguarded   during   both  good  and  bad  times.   Uncertainty   of  position
characterizes bonds in this class.

    B. Bonds which are rated B generally lack the characteristics of a desirable
investment.  Assurance of interest and  principal  payments or of other terms of
the contract over long periods may be small.


    Caa.    Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be
in default or there may be elements of danger present with respect to principal
or interest.

DESCRIPTION OF S&P CORPORATE BOND RATINGS:

     AAA.  Bonds  rated AAA have the  highest  rating  assigned by S&P to a debt
obligation. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

     AA.  Bonds rated AA have a very strong  capacity to pay  interest and repay
principal and differ from the highest rated issues only in small degree.

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

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

     BB AND B. Bonds rated BB and B are regarded,  on balance,  as predominantly
speculative  with  respect to capacity to pay  interest  and repay  principal in
accordance  with the terms of the  obligation.  BB  represents a lower degree of
speculation  than B.  While  such  bonds  will  likely  have  some  quality  and
protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major
risk exposures to adverse conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF S&P'S MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS

     AAA. Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to pay
interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

     AA. Debt rated AA has a very  strong  capacity  to pay  interest  and repay
principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree. The AA
rating may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show  relative
standing within the AA rating category.

     A. Debt rated A is  regarded  as safe.  This  rating  differs  from the two
higher ratings because,  with respect to general obligation bonds, there is some
weakness which, under certain adverse circumstances, might impair the ability of
the issuer to meet debt obligations at some future date. With respect to revenue
bonds,  debt  service  coverage is good but not  exceptional  and  stability  of
pledged revenues could show some variations because of increased  competition or
economic influences in revenues.

    BBB.  Bonds  rated BBB are  regarded  as  having  adequate  capacity  to pay
principal and interest.  Whereas they normally  exhibit  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  capacity
than for bonds in the A category.

    BB. Debt rated BB has less  near-term  vulnerability  to default  than other
speculative  grade  debt,  however,  it faces  major  ongoing  uncertainties  or
exposure to adverse business,  financial or economic conditions which could lead
to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payment.


    B. Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but presently has the
capacity to meet interest and principal payments. Adverse business, financial or
economic  conditions would likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest
and repay principal.

    CCC. Debt rated CCC has a current identifiable  vulnerability to default and
is dependent upon favorable business,  financial and economic conditions to meet
timely  payments of principal.  In the event of adverse  business,  financial or
economic  conditions,  it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and
repay principal.


DESCRIPTION OF FITCH'S MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS.

    Debt rated "AAA",  the highest  rating by Fitch,  is considered to be of the
highest credit quality.  The obligor has an exceptionally  strong ability to pay
interest  and repay  principal,  which is unlikely to be affected by  reasonably
foreseeable events.

    Debt rated "AA" is  regarded  as very high  credit  quality.  The  obligor's
ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong.

    Debt  rated "A" is of high  credit  quality.  The  obligor's  ability to pay
interest  and  repay  principal  is  considered  to be  strong,  but may be more
vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than debt
with higher ratings.

    Debt rated "BBB" is of satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to
pay  interest  and repay  principal  is  adequate,  however a change in economic
conditions may adversely affect timely payment.

    Debt rated "BB" is  considered  speculative.  The  obligor's  ability to pay
interest  and repay  principal  may be  affected  over time by adverse  economic
changes,  however,  business and financial  alternatives can be identified which
could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements.

    Debt rated "B" is considered highly  speculative.  While bonds in this class
are currently  meeting debt service  requirements,  the probability of continued
timely payment of principal and interest  reflects the obligor's  limited margin
of safety and the need for reasonable  business and economic activity throughout
the life of the issue.

    Debt rated  "CCC" has certain  identifiable  characteristics  which,  if not
remedied,  may lead to  default.  The  ability to meet  obligations  requires an
advantageous business and economic environment.

    Plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used with a rating  symbol  (except AAA) to
indicate the relative position within the category.


DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S RATINGS OF STATE AND MUNICIPAL NOTES AND OTHER SHORT-TERM
LOANS

    Moody's ratings for state and municipal notes and other short-term loans are
designated  "Moody's  Investment  Grade"  ("MIG").  Such ratings  recognize  the
differences  between  short-term  credit risk and  long-term  risk. A short-term
rating designated VMIG may also be assigned on an issue having a demand feature.
Factors affecting the liquidity of the borrower and short-term cyclical elements
are critical in short-term borrowing. Symbols used will be as follows:

    MIG-1/VMIG-1. This designation denotes best quality. There is present strong
protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated
broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

    MIG-2/VMIG-2.  This designation denotes high quality.  Margins of protection
are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.



DESCRIPTION OF S&P'S RATINGS OF STATE AND MUNICIPAL NOTES AND OTHER SHORT-TERM
LOANS

    Standard & Poor's tax exempt note ratings are generally  given to such notes
that  mature in three years or less.  The two higher  rating  categories  are as
follows:

    SP-1.  Very strong or strong  capacity to pay principal and interest.  These
    issues determined to possess  overwhelming  safety  characteristics  will be
    given a plus (+) designation.

    SP-2.  Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS

    Commercial paper rated Prime-1 by Moody's are judged by Moody's to be of the
best quality.  Their  short-term debt  obligations  carry the smallest degree of
investment risk. Margins of support for current indebtedness are large or stable
with cash flow and asset  protection well assured.  Current  liquidity  provides
ample  coverage  of  near-term  liabilities  and  unused  alternative  financing
arrangements are generally available.  While protective elements may change over
the  intermediate  or longer term,  such changes are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of short-term obligations.

    Issuers (or related  supporting  institutions)  rated  Prime-2 have a strong
capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations.  This will normally
be evidenced by many of the characteristics  cited above but to a lesser degree.
Earnings  trends and  coverage  ratios,  while  sound,  will be more  subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics,  while still appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

    Commercial  paper  rated  A  by  S&P  have  the  following  characteristics.
Liquidity ratios are better than industry average. Long-term debt rating is A or
better. The issuer has access to at least two additional  channels of borrowing.
Basic earnings and cash flow are in an upward trend. Typically,  the issuer is a
strong  company in a  well-established  industry  and has  superior  management.
Issuers  rated A are  further  refined  by use of  numbers 1, 2, and 3 to denote
relative  strength within this highest  classification.  Those issuers rated A-1
that are determined by S&P to possess  overwhelming  safety  characteristics are
denoted with a plus (+) sign designation.

    Fitch's  commercial  paper  ratings  represent  Fitch's  assessment  of  the
issuer's  ability to meet its  obligations  in a timely  manner.  The assessment
places  emphasis on the  existence of  liquidity.  Ratings range from F-1+ which
represents  exceptionally  strong credit  quality to F-4 which  represents  weak
credit quality.

    Duff & Phelps'  short-term  ratings apply to all obligations with maturities
of under  one  year,  including  commercial  paper,  the  uninsured  portion  of
certificates   of  deposit,   unsecured  bank  loans,   master  notes,   bankers
acceptances,  irrevocable  letters of credit and current maturities of long-term
debt.  Emphasis  is  placed on  liquidity.  Ratings  range  from Duff 1+ for the
highest quality to Duff 5 for the lowest, issuers in default.  Issues rated Duff
1+ are regarded as having the highest certainty of timely payment.  Issues rated
Duff 1 are regarded as having very high certainty of timely payment.



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission