MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FD INSURED SER 405 DEF ASSET FDS
497, 2000-12-15
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                           DEFINED ASSET FUNDS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-
                           ----------------------------------------------------

                           MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND
                           INSURED SERIES--405
                           (A UNIT INVESTMENT TRUST)

                           -  PORTFOLIO OF INSURED LONG TERM MUNICIPAL BONDS
                           -  DESIGNED TO BE FREE OF REGULAR FEDERAL INCOME TAX
                           -  INCOME DISTRIBUTIONS TWICE A YEAR

SPONSORS:
MERRILL LYNCH,             -----------------------------------------------------
PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH     The Securities and Exchange Commission has not
INCORPORATED               approved or disapproved these Securities or passed
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.  upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED   representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.  Prospectus dated December 15, 2000.

<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Defined Asset Funds-Registered Trademark-
Defined Asset Funds-Registered Trademark- is America's oldest and largest family
of unit investment trusts, with over $160 billion sponsored over the last 28
years. Defined Asset Funds has been a leader in unit investment trust research
and product innovation. Our family of Funds helps investors work toward their
financial goals with a full range of quality investments, including municipal,
corporate and government bond portfolios, as well as domestic and international
equity portfolios.

Defined Asset Funds offer a number of advantages:
   - A disciplined strategy of buying and holding with a long-term view is the
     cornerstone of Defined Asset Funds.
   - Fixed portfolio: Defined Funds follow a buy and hold investment strategy;
     funds are not managed and portfolio changes are limited.
   - Defined Portfolios: We choose the stocks and bonds in advance, so you know
     what you're investing in.
   - Professional research: Our dedicated research team seeks out stocks or
     bonds appropriate for a particular fund's objectives.
   - Ongoing supervision: We monitor each portfolio on an ongoing basis.

No matter what your investment goals, tolerance for risk or time horizon,
there's probably a Defined Asset Fund that suits your investment style. Your
financial professional can help you select a Defined Asset Fund that works best
for your investment portfolio.

THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS AS OF THE EVALUATION DATE,
SEPTEMBER 30, 2000.

CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PAGE
                                                    ----
<S>                                                 <C>
Risk/Return Summary...............................    3
What You Can Expect From Your Investment..........    7
  Income Twice a Year.............................    7
  Return Figures..................................    7
  Records and Reports.............................    7
The Risks You Face................................    8
  Interest Rate Risk..............................    8
  Call Risk.......................................    8
  Reduced Diversification Risk....................    8
  Liquidity Risk..................................    8
  Concentration Risk..............................    8
  Bond Quality Risk...............................    9
  Insurance Related Risk..........................    9
  Litigation and Legislation Risks................    9
Selling or Exchanging Units.......................    9
  Sponsors' Secondary Market......................    9
  Selling Units to the Trustee....................   10
  Exchange Option.................................   10
How The Fund Works................................   11
  Pricing.........................................   11
  Evaluations.....................................   11
  Income..........................................   11
  Expenses........................................   11
  Portfolio Changes...............................   12
  Fund Termination................................   12
  Certificates....................................   13
  Trust Indenture.................................   13
  Legal Opinion...................................   14
  Auditors........................................   14
  Sponsors........................................   14
  Trustee.........................................   14
  Underwriters' and Sponsors' Profits.............   14
  Public Distribution.............................   15
  Code of Ethics..................................   15
Taxes.............................................   15
Supplemental Information..........................   17
Financial Statements..............................  D-1
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY

 1. WHAT IS THE FUND'S OBJECTIVE?
   The Fund seeks interest income that is exempt from regular federal income
   taxes by investing in a fixed portfolio consisting primarily of insured
   municipal revenue bonds.

 2. WHAT ARE MUNICIPAL REVENUE BONDS?
   Municipal revenue bonds are bonds issued by states, municipalities and public
   authorities to finance the cost of buying, building or improving various
   projects intended to generate revenue, such as airports, health care
   facilities, housing and municipal electric, water and sewer utilities.
   Generally, payments on these bonds depend solely on the revenues generated by
   the projects, excise taxes or state appropriations, and are not backed by the
   government's taxing power.

 3. WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT STRATEGY?
 - The Fund plans to hold to maturity 10 insured long-term tax-exempt municipal
   bonds with a current aggregate face amount of $9,585,000 and some short-term
   bonds reserved to pay the deferred sales charge.
 - The Fund is a unit investment trust which means that, unlike a mutual fund,
   the Fund's portfolio is not managed.
 - The bonds are rated AAA or Aaa by Standard & Poor's, Moody's or Fitch.
 - Many of the bonds can be called at a premium declining over time to par
   value. Some bonds may be called earlier at par for extraordinary reasons.
 - 100% of the bonds are insured by insurance companies. Insurance guarantees
   timely payments of principal and interest on the bonds (but not Fund units or
   the market value of the bonds before they mature).
   The Portfolio consists of municipal bonds of the following types:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    APPROXIMATE
                                                     PORTFOLIO
                                                    PERCENTAGE
<S>                                                 <C>
-Airports/Ports/Highways                                  20%
-General Obligation                                       22%
-Hospitals/Health Care                                    31%
-Municipal Water/Sewer Utilities                          18%
-Special Tax                                               9%
</TABLE>

 4. WHAT ARE THE SIGNIFICANT RISKS?
   YOU CAN LOSE MONEY BY INVESTING IN THE FUND. THIS CAN HAPPEN FOR VARIOUS
   REASONS, INCLUDING:
 - Rising interest rates, an issuer's worsening financial condition or a drop in
   bond ratings can reduce the price of your units.
 - Because the Fund is concentrated in hospitals/health care bonds, adverse
   developments in this sector may affect the value of your units.
 - Assuming no changes in interest rates, when you sell your units, they will
   generally be worth less than your cost because your cost included a sales
   fee.
 - The Fund will receive early returns of principal if bonds are called or sold
   before they mature. If this happens your income will decline and you may not
   be able to reinvest the money you receive at as high a yield or as long a
   maturity.

 5. IS THIS FUND APPROPRIATE FOR YOU?
   Yes, if you want income free from regular federal income tax. You will
   benefit from a professionally selected and supervised portfolio whose risk is
   reduced by investing in bonds of several different issuers.
   The Fund is NOT appropriate for you if you want a speculative investment that
   changes to take advantage of market movements, if you do not want a
   tax-advantaged investment or if you cannot tolerate any risk.

                                       3
<PAGE>
                              DEFINING YOUR INCOME

<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
WHAT YOU MAY EXPECT (Payable on the 25th day of
each May and November):
Regular Semi-annual Income per 1,000 units          $26.24
Annual Income per 1,000 units                       $52.48
RECORD DAY: 10th day of each May and November
THESE FIGURES ARE ESTIMATES ON THE EVALUATION DATE; ACTUAL
PAYMENTS MAY VARY.
</TABLE>

 6. WHAT ARE THE FUND'S FEES AND EXPENSES?
   This table shows the costs and expenses you may pay, directly or indirectly,
   when you invest in the Fund.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
INVESTOR FEES
Maximum Sales Fee (Load) on new
purchases (as a percentage of
$1,000 invested)                                    2.90%
</TABLE>

   You will pay an up-front sales fee of 1.714% as well as a total deferred
   sales fee of $9.48 per unit (paid in quarterly installments November,
   February, May and August, through November, 2001).

   Employees of some of the Sponsors and their affiliates may be charged a
   reduced sales fee of no less than $5.00 per unit.

   The maximum sales fee is reduced if you invest at least $100,000, as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    YOUR MAXIMUM
                                                     SALES FEE
                  IF YOU INVEST:                      WILL BE:
                  --------------                    ------------
<S>                                                 <C>
Less than $100,000                                        2.90%
$100,000 to $249,999                                      2.65%
$250,000 to $499,999                                      2.40%
$500,000 to $999,999                                      2.15%
$1,000,000 and over                                       1.90%

Maximum Exchange Fee                                      1.90%
</TABLE>

   ESTIMATED ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        AMOUNT
                                                    PER 1,000 UNITS
                                                    ---------------
<S>                                                 <C>
Trustee's Fee                                            $0.62
Portfolio Supervision,
 Bookkeeping and
 Administrative Fees
 (including updating
 expenses)                                               $0.50
Evaluator's Fee                                          $0.14
Other Operating Expenses                                 $0.26
                                                         -----
TOTAL                                                    $1.52
</TABLE>

   The Sponsors historically paid updating expenses.

 7. HOW HAVE SIMILAR FUNDS PERFORMED IN THE PAST?
   IN THE FOLLOWING CHART WE SHOW PAST PERFORMANCE OF PRIOR MUNICIPAL INSURED
   SERIES, WHICH HAD THE SAME INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES AND TYPES OF
   BONDS AS THIS FUND. These prior Insured Series were offered after 1987 and
   were outstanding on September 30, 2000. OF COURSE, PAST PERFORMANCE OF PRIOR
   SERIES IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS OF THIS FUND.

   AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND TOTAL RETURNS
                    FOR PRIOR SERIES
     REFLECTING ALL EXPENSES. FOR PERIODS ENDED 9/30/00.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       WITH SALES FEE                          NO SALES FEE
               1 YEAR      5 YEARS     10 YEARS       1 YEAR      5 YEARS     10 YEARS
<S>         <C>           <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>         <C>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High               7.33%      5.34%       6.51%           7.84%      6.51%       7.04%
Average            3.84       4.40        6.20            6.18       5.49        6.78
Low                2.36       2.98        5.80            4.03       3.80        6.39
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Sales fee          2.08%      5.28%       5.69%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

NOTE: ALL RETURNS REPRESENT CHANGES IN UNIT PRICE WITH DISTRIBUTIONS REINVESTED
INTO THE MUNICIPAL FUND INVESTMENT ACCUMULATION PROGRAM.

 8. IS THE FUND MANAGED?
   Unlike a mutual fund, the Fund is not managed and bonds are not sold because
   of market changes. Rather, experienced Defined Asset Funds financial analysts
   regularly review the bonds in the Fund. The Fund may sell a bond if certain
   adverse credit or other conditions exist.

 9. HOW DO I BUY UNITS?
   The minimum investment is $250.

   You can buy units from any of the Sponsors and other broker-dealers. The
   Sponsors are listed later in this prospectus. Some banks may offer units for
   sale through special arrangements with the Sponsors, although certain legal
   restrictions may apply.

                                       4
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
UNIT PRICE PER 1,000 UNITS                          $973.29
(as of September 30, 2000)
</TABLE>

   Unit price is based on the net asset value of the Fund plus the sales fee. An
   amount equal to any principal cash, as well as net accrued but undistributed
   interest on the unit, is added to the unit price. An independent evaluator
   prices the bonds at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time every business day. Unit price
   changes every day with changes in the prices of the bonds in the Fund.

10. HOW DO I SELL UNITS?
   You may sell your units at any time to any Sponsor or the Trustee for the net
   asset value determined at the close of business on the date of sale, less any
   remaining deferred sales fee. You will not pay any other fee when you sell
   your units.

11. HOW ARE DISTRIBUTIONS MADE AND TAXED?
   The Fund pays income twice a year. In the opinion of bond counsel when each
   bond was issued, interest on the bonds in this Fund is generally 100% exempt
   from regular federal income tax.

   A portion of the income may also be exempt from state and local personal
   income taxes, depending on where you live.

   You will also receive principal payments if bonds are sold or called or
   mature, when the cash available is more than $10.00 per 1,000 units. You will
   be subject to tax on any gain realized by the Fund on the disposition of
   bonds.

12. WHAT OTHER SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE?

   REINVESTMENT
   You will receive your income in cash unless you choose to compound your
   income by reinvesting with no sales fee in the Municipal Fund Investment
   Accumulation Program, Inc. This program is an open-end mutual fund with a
   comparable investment objective, but those bonds generally will not be
   insured. Income from this program will generally be subject to state and
   local income taxes. FOR MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM,
   INCLUDING CHARGES AND FEES, ASK THE TRUSTEE FOR THE PROGRAM'S PROSPECTUS.
   READ IT CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU INVEST. THE TRUSTEE MUST RECEIVE YOUR WRITTEN
   ELECTION TO REINVEST AT LEAST 10 DAYS BEFORE THE RECORD DAY OF AN INCOME
   PAYMENT.

   EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES
   You may exchange units of this Fund for units of certain other Defined Asset
   Funds. You may also exchange into this Fund from certain other funds. We
   charge a reduced sales fee on exchanges.

                                       5
<PAGE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    TAX-FREE VS. TAXABLE INCOME: A COMPARISON OF TAXABLE AND TAX-FREE YIELDS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        EFFECTIVE
    TAXABLE INCOME 2000*                  % TAX                            TAX-FREE YIELD OF
    SINGLE RETURN       JOINT RETURN     BRACKET     3%     3.5%     4%     4.5%     5%      5.5%      6%      6.5%
                                                                  IS EQUIVALENT TO A TAXABLE YIELD OF
    <S>               <C>               <C>        <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    $      0- 26,250  $      0- 43,850     15.00    3.53    4.12    4.71    5.29     5.88     6.47     7.06     7.65
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    $ 26,251- 63,550  $ 43,851-105,950     28.00    4.17    4.86    5.56    6.25     6.94     7.64     8.33     9.03
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    $ 63,551-132,600  $105,951-161,450     31.00    4.35    5.07    5.80    6.52     7.25     7.97     8.70     9.42
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    $132,601-288,350  $161,451-288,350     36.00    4.69    5.47    6.25    7.03     7.81     8.59     9.38    10.16
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       OVER $288,350     OVER $288,350     39.60    4.97    5.79    6.62    7.45     8.28     9.11     9.93    10.76
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

To compare the yield of a taxable security with the yield of a federally
tax-free security, find your taxable income and read across. The table
incorporates 2000 federal income tax rates and assumes that all income would
otherwise be taxed at a U.S. investor's highest tax rate. Yield figures are for
example only.

* Based upon net amount subject to federal income tax after deductions and
exemptions. This table does not reflect the possible effect of other tax
factors, such as alternative minimum tax, personal exemptions, the phase out of
exemptions, itemized deductions, the possible partial disallowance of deductions
or state or local taxation. Consequently, you should consult your own tax
advisers in this regard.

                                       6
<PAGE>
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM YOUR INVESTMENT

INCOME TWICE A YEAR

The Fund will pay you regular semi-annual income. Your income may vary because
of:

  - elimination of one or more bonds from the Fund's portfolio because of calls,
    redemptions or sales;
  - a change in the Fund's expenses; or
  - the failure by a bond's issuer to pay interest.

Changes in interest rates generally will not affect your income because the
portfolio is fixed.

Along with your income, you will receive your share of any available bond
principal.

RETURN FIGURES

We cannot predict your actual return, which will vary with unit price, how long
you hold your investment and changes in the portfolio, interest income and
expenses.

ESTIMATED CURRENT RETURN equals the estimated annual cash to be received from
the bonds in the Fund less estimated annual Fund expenses, divided by the Unit
Price (including the maximum sales fee):

<TABLE>
<S>               <C><C>
Estimated Annual        Estimated
Interest Income   -  Annual Expenses
------------------------------------
             Unit Price
</TABLE>

ESTIMATED LONG TERM RETURN is a measure of the estimated return over the
estimated life of the Fund. Unlike Estimated Current Return, Estimated Long Term
Return reflects maturities, discounts and premiums of the bonds in the Fund. It
is an average of the yields to maturity (or in certain cases, to an earlier call
date) of the individual bonds in the portfolio, adjusted to reflect the Fund's
maximum sales fee and estimated expenses. We calculate the average yield for the
portfolio by weighting each bond's yield by its market value and the time
remaining to the call or maturity date.

Yields on individual bonds depend on many factors including general conditions
of the bond markets, the size of a particular offering and the maturity and
quality rating of the particular issues. Yields can vary among bonds with
similar maturities, coupons and ratings.

These return quotations are designed to be comparative rather than predictive.

RECORDS AND REPORTS

You will receive:

- a statement of income payments and any principal payments;
- a notice from the Trustee when new bonds are deposited in exchange or
  substitution for bonds originally deposited;
- an annual report on Fund activity; and
- annual tax information. THIS WILL ALSO BE SENT TO THE IRS. YOU MUST REPORT THE
  AMOUNT OF TAX-EXEMPT INTEREST RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR.

You may request:

- copies of bond evaluations to enable you to comply with federal and state tax
  reporting requirements; and
- audited financial statements of the Fund.

You may inspect records of Fund transactions at the Trustee's office during
regular business hours.

                                       7
<PAGE>
THE RISKS YOU FACE

INTEREST RATE RISK

Investing involves risks, including the risk that your investment will decline
in value if interest rates rise. Generally, bonds with longer maturities will
change in value more than bonds with shorter maturities. Bonds in the Fund are
more likely to be called when interest rates decline. This would result in early
returns of principal to you and may result in early termination of the Fund. Of
course, we cannot predict how interest rates may change.

CALL RISK

Many bonds can be prepaid or "called" by the issuer before their stated
maturity.

For example, an issuer might call its bonds if it no longer needs the money for
the original purpose or, during periods of falling interest rates, if the
issuer's bonds have a coupon higher than current market rates. If the bonds are
called, your income will decline and you may not be able to reinvest the money
you receive at as high a yield or as long a maturity. An early call at par of a
premium bond will reduce your return.

REDUCED DIVERSIFICATION RISK

If many investors sell their units, the Fund will have to sell bonds. This could
reduce the diversification of your investment and increase your share of Fund
expenses.

LIQUIDITY RISK

The bonds will generally trade in the over-the-counter market. We cannot assure
you that a liquid trading market will exist, especially since current law may
restrict the Fund from selling bonds to any Sponsor. The value of the bonds, and
of your investment, may be reduced if trading in bonds is limited or absent.

CONCENTRATION RISK

When a certain type of bond makes up 25% or more of the portfolio, the Fund is
said to be "concentrated" in that bond type, which makes the Fund less
diversified.

Here is what you should know about the Fund's concentration in hospital and
health care bonds:

  - payment for these bonds depends on revenues from private third-party payors
    and government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, which have
    generally undertaken cost containment measures to limit payments to
    healthcare providers;
  - hospitals face increasing competition resulting from hospital mergers and
    affiliations;
  - hospitals need to reduce costs as HMOs increase market penetration and
    hospital supply and drug companies raise prices;
  - hospitals and health care providers are subject to various legal claims by
    patients and others and are adversely affected by increasing costs of
    insurance;
  - many hospitals are aggressively buying physician practices and assuming risk
    contracts to gain market share. If revenues do not increase accordingly,
    this practice could reduce profits;
  - Medicare is changing its reimbursement system for nursing homes. Many
    nursing home providers are not sure how they will be treated. In many cases,
    the

                                       8
<PAGE>
    providers may receive lower reimbursements and these would have to cut
    expenses to maintain profitability; and
  - most retirement/nursing home providers rely on entrance fees for operating
    revenues. If people live longer than expected and turnover is lower than
    budgeted, operating revenues would be adversely affected by less than
    expected entrance fees.

Changes to the portfolio from bond redemptions, maturities and sales may affect
the Fund's concentration over time.

BOND QUALITY RISK

A reduction in a bond's rating may decrease its value and, indirectly, the value
of your investment in the Fund.

INSURANCE RELATED RISK

The bonds are backed by insurance companies (as shown under Defined Portfolio).
Insurance policies generally make payments only according to a bond's original
payment schedule and do not make early payments when a bond defaults or becomes
taxable. Although the federal government does not regulate the insurance
business, various state laws and federal initiatives and tax law changes could
significantly affect the insurance business. The claims-paying ability of the
insurance companies is generally rated A or better by Standard & Poor's or
another nationally recognized rating organization. The insurance company ratings
are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the rating agencies.

LITIGATION AND LEGISLATION RISKS

We do not know of any pending litigation that might have a material adverse
effect upon the Fund.
Future tax legislation could affect the value of the portfolio by:

  - limiting real property taxes,
  - reducing tax rates,
  - imposing a flat or other form of tax, or
  - exempting investment income from tax.

SELLING OR EXCHANGING UNITS

You can sell your units at any time for a price based on net asset value. Your
net asset value is calculated each business day by:

  - ADDING the value of the bonds, net accrued interest, cash and any other Fund
    assets;
  - SUBTRACTING accrued but unpaid Fund expenses, unreimbursed Trustee advances,
    cash held to buy back units or for distribution to investors and any other
    Fund liabilities; and
  - DIVIDING the result by the number of outstanding units.

Your net asset value when you sell may be more or less than your cost because of
sales fees, market movements and changes in the portfolio.

If you sell your units before the final deferred sales fee installment, the
amount of any remaining installments will be deducted from your proceeds.

SPONSORS' SECONDARY MARKET

While we are not obligated to do so, we will buy back units at net asset value
without any other fee or charge other than any

                                       9
<PAGE>
remaining deferred sales fee. We may resell the units to other buyers or to the
Trustee. You should consult your financial professional for current market
prices to determine if other broker-dealers or banks are offering higher prices.

We have maintained a secondary market continuously for over 28 years, but we
could discontinue it without prior notice for any business reason.

SELLING UNITS TO THE TRUSTEE

Regardless of whether we maintain a secondary market, you can sell your units to
the Trustee at any time by sending the Trustee a letter (with any outstanding
certificates if you hold unit certificates). You must properly endorse your
certificates (or execute a written transfer instrument with signatures
guaranteed by an eligible institution). Sometimes, additional documents are
needed such as a trust document, certificate of corporate authority, certificate
of death or appointment as executor, administrator or guardian.

Within seven days after your request and the necessary documents are received,
the Trustee will mail a check to you. Contact the Trustee for additional
information.

As long as we are maintaining a secondary market, the Trustee will sell your
units to us at a price based on net asset value. If there is no secondary
market, the Trustee may sell your units in the over-the-counter market for a
higher price, but it is not obligated to do so. In that case, you will receive
the net proceeds of the sale.

If the Fund does not have cash available to pay you for units you are selling,
the agent for the Sponsors will select bonds to be sold. Bonds will be selected
based on market and credit factors. These sales could be made at times when the
bonds would not otherwise be sold and may result in your receiving less than the
unit par value and also reduce the size and diversity of the Fund.

If you acquire 25% or more of the outstanding units of the Fund and you sell
units with a value exceeding $250,000, the Trustee may choose to pay you "in
kind" by distributing bonds and cash with a total value equal to the price of
those units. The Trustee will try to distribute bonds in the portfolio pro rata,
but it reserves the right to distribute only one or a few bonds. The Trustee
will act as your agent in an in kind distribution and will either hold the bonds
for your account or sell them as you instruct. You must pay any transaction
costs as well as transfer and ongoing custodial fees on sales of bonds
distributed in kind.

There could be a delay in paying you for your units:

  - if the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and
    holiday closings);
  - if the SEC determines that trading on the New York Stock Exchange is
    restricted or that an emergency exists making sale or evaluation of the
    bonds not reasonably practicable; and
  - for any other period permitted by SEC order.

EXCHANGE OPTION

You may exchange units of certain Defined Asset Funds for units of this Fund at
a maximum exchange fee of 1.90%. You may exchange units of this Fund for units
of

                                       10
<PAGE>
certain other funds at a reduced sales fee if your investment goals change. In
addition, you may exchange into this Fund from certain other Defined Asset Funds
and unit trusts. To exchange units, you should talk to your financial
professional about what funds are exchangeable, suitable and currently
available.

Normally, an exchange is taxable and you must recognize any gain or loss on the
exchange. However, the IRS may try to disallow a loss if the portfolios of the
two funds are not materially different; you should consult your own tax adviser.

We may amend or terminate this exchange option at any time without notice.

HOW THE FUND WORKS

PRICING

The price of a unit includes interest accrued on the bonds, less expenses, from
the most recent Record Day up to, but not including, the settlement date, which
is usually three business days after the purchase date of the unit.

A portion of the price of a unit consists of cash so that the Trustee can
provide you with regular income. When you sell your units you will receive your
share of this cash.

In addition, as with mutual funds, the Fund (and therefore the investors) pay
all or some of the costs of organizing the Fund including:

  - cost of initial preparation of legal documents;
  - federal and state registration fees;
  - initial fees and expenses of the Trustee;
  - initial audit; and
  - legal expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses.

These costs are amortized over the first five years of the Fund.

EVALUATIONS

An independent Evaluator values the bonds on each business day (excluding
Saturdays, Sundays and the following holidays as observed by the New York Stock
Exchange: New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Good
Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas).
Bond values are based on current bid or offer prices for the bonds or comparable
bonds. In the past, the difference between bid and offer prices of publicly
offered tax-exempt bonds has ranged from 0.5% of face amount on actively traded
issues to 3.5% on inactively traded issues; the difference has averaged between
1 and 2%.

INCOME

The Trustee credits interest to an Income Account and other receipts to a
Capital Account. The Trustee may establish a Reserve Account by withdrawing from
these accounts amounts it considers appropriate to pay any material liability.
These accounts do not bear interest.

EXPENSES

The Trustee is paid monthly. It also benefits when it holds cash for the Fund in
non-interest bearing accounts. The Trustee may also receive additional amounts:

  - to reimburse the Trustee for the Fund's operating expenses;

                                       11
<PAGE>
  - for extraordinary services and costs of indemnifying the Trustee and the
    Sponsors;
  - costs of actions taken to protect the Fund and other legal fees and
    expenses;
  - expenses for keeping the Fund's registration statement current; and
  - Fund termination expenses and any governmental charges.

The Sponsors are currently reimbursed up to 55 CENTS per $1,000 face amount
annually for providing portfolio supervisory, bookkeeping and administrative
services and for any other expenses properly chargeable to the Fund. Legal,
typesetting, electronic filing and regulatory filing fees and expenses
associated with updating the Portfolio's registration statement yearly are also
now chargeable to the Portfolio. While this fee may exceed the amount of these
costs and expenses attributable to this Fund, the total of these fees for all
Series of Defined Asset Funds will not exceed the aggregate amount attributable
to all of these Series for any calendar year. The Fund also pays the Evaluator's
fees.

The Trustee's, Sponsors' and Evaluator's fees may be adjusted for inflation
without investors' approval.

Quarterly deferred sales charges you owe are paid with interest and principal
from certain bonds. If these amounts are not enough, the rest will be paid out
of distributions to you from the Fund's Capital and Income Accounts.

The Sponsors will pay advertising and selling expenses at no charge to the Fund.
If Fund expenses exceed initial estimates, the Fund will owe the excess. The
Trustee has a lien on Fund assets to secure reimbursement of Fund expenses and
may sell bonds if cash is not available.

PORTFOLIO CHANGES

The Sponsors and Trustee are not liable for any default or defect in a bond.

Unlike a mutual fund, the portfolio is designed to remain intact and we may keep
bonds in the portfolio even if their credit quality declines or other adverse
financial circumstances occur. However, we may sell a bond in certain cases if
we believe that certain adverse credit conditions exist or if a bond becomes
taxable.

If we maintain a secondary market in units but are unable to sell the units that
we buy in the secondary market, we will redeem units, which may affect the
composition of the portfolio. Units offered in the secondary market may not
represent the same face amount of bonds that they did originally.

We decide whether or not to offer units for sale that we acquire in the
secondary market after reviewing:

  - diversity of the portfolio;
  - size of the Fund relative to its original size;
  - ratio of Fund expenses to income;
  - current and long-term returns;
  - degree to which units may be selling at a premium over par; and
  - cost of maintaining a current prospectus.

FUND TERMINATION

The Fund will terminate following the stated maturity or sale of the last bond
in the portfolio. The Fund may also terminate earlier with the consent of
investors holding

                                       12
<PAGE>
51% of the units or if total assets of the Fund have fallen below 40% of the
face amount of bonds deposited. We will decide whether to terminate the Fund
early based on the same factors used in deciding whether or not to offer units
in the secondary market.

When the Fund is about to terminate you will receive a notice, and you will be
unable to sell your units after that time. On or shortly before termination, we
will sell any remaining bonds, and you will receive your final distribution. Any
bond that cannot be sold at a reasonable price may continue to be held by the
Trustee in a liquidating trust pending its final sale.

You will pay your share of the expenses associated with termination, including
brokerage costs in selling bonds. This may reduce the amount you receive as your
final distribution.

CERTIFICATES

Certificates for units are issued on request. You may transfer certificates by
complying with the requirements for redeeming certificates, described above. You
can replace lost or mutilated certificates by delivering satisfactory indemnity
and paying the associated costs.

TRUST INDENTURE

The Fund is a "unit investment trust" governed by a Trust Indenture, a contract
among the Sponsors, the Trustee and the Evaluator, which sets forth their duties
and obligations and your rights. A copy of the Indenture is available to you on
request to the Trustee. The following summarizes certain provisions of the
Indenture.

The Sponsors and the Trustee may amend the Indenture without your consent:

  - to cure ambiguities;
  - to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision;
  - to make any amendment required by any governmental agency; or
  - to make other changes determined not to be materially adverse to your best
    interest (as determined by the Sponsors).

Investors holding 51% of the units may amend the Indenture. Every investor must
consent to any amendment that changes the 51% requirement. No amendment may
reduce your interest in the Fund without your written consent.

The Trustee may resign by notifying the Sponsors. The Sponsors may remove the
Trustee without your consent if:

  - it fails to perform its duties and the Sponsors determine that its
    replacement is in your best interest; or
  - it becomes incapable of acting or bankrupt or its affairs are taken over by
    public authorities.

Investors holding 51% of the units may remove the Trustee. The Evaluator may
resign or be removed by the Sponsors and the Trustee without the consent of
investors. The resignation or removal of either becomes effective when a
successor accepts appointment. The Sponsors will try to appoint a successor
promptly; however, if no successor has accepted within 30 days after notice of
resignation, the resigning Trustee or Evaluator may petition a court to appoint
a successor.

                                       13
<PAGE>
Any Sponsor may resign as long as one Sponsor with a net worth of $2 million
remains and agrees to the resignation. The remaining Sponsors and the Trustee
may appoint a replacement. If there is only one Sponsor and it fails to perform
its duties or becomes bankrupt the Trustee may:

  - remove it and appoint a replacement Sponsor;
  - liquidate the Fund; or
  - continue to act as Trustee without a Sponsor.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated acts as agent for the
Sponsors.

The Trust Indenture contains customary provisions limiting the liability of the
Trustee, the Sponsors and the Evaluator.

LEGAL OPINION

Davis Polk & Wardwell, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, as
special counsel for the Sponsors, has given an opinion that the units are
validly issued.

AUDITORS

Deloitte & Touche LLP, 2 World Financial Center, New York, New York 10281,
independent accountants, audited the Statement of Condition included in this
prospectus.

SPONSORS

The Sponsors are:

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED (a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.)
P.O. Box 9051,
Princeton, NJ 08543-9051

SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC. (an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Citigroup
Inc.)
388 Greenwich Street--23rd Floor,
New York, NY 10013

DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC. (a principal operating subsidiary of Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter & Co.)
Two World Trade Center--59th Floor,
New York, NY 10048

PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED (a wholly-owned subsidiary of PaineWebber Group Inc.)
1285 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY 10019

Each Sponsor is a Delaware corporation and it, or its predecessor, has acted as
sponsor to many unit investment trusts. As a registered broker-dealer each
Sponsor buys and sells securities (including investment company shares) for
others (including investment companies) and participates as an underwriter in
various selling groups.

TRUSTEE

The Chase Manhattan Bank, Unit Investment Trust Department, 4 New York
Plaza--6th Floor, New York, New York 10004, is the Trustee. It is supervised by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System and New York State banking authorities.

UNDERWRITERS' AND SPONSORS' PROFITS

Underwriters receive sales charges when they sell units. The Sponsors also
realized a profit or loss on the initial deposit of the bonds. Any cash made
available by you to the Sponsors before the settlement date for those units may
be used in the Sponsors'

                                       14
<PAGE>
businesses to the extent permitted by federal law and may benefit the Sponsors.

A Sponsor or Underwriter may realize profits or sustain losses on bonds in the
Fund which were acquired from underwriting syndicates of which it was a member.

In maintaining a secondary market, the Sponsors will also realize profits or
sustain losses in the amount of any difference between the prices at which they
buy units and the prices at which they resell or redeem them.

PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

The Sponsors do not intend to qualify units for sale in any foreign countries.
This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell units in any country where
units cannot lawfully be sold.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Fund and the Agent for the Sponsors have each adopted a code of ethics
requiring reporting of personal securities transactions by its employees with
access to information on Fund transactions. Subject to certain conditions, the
codes permit employees to invest in Fund securities for their own accounts. The
codes are designed to prevent fraud, deception and misconduct against the Fund
and to provide reasonable standards of conduct. These codes are on file with the
Commission and you may obtain a copy by contacting the Commission at the address
listed on the back cover of this prospectus.

TAXES

The following summary describes some of the important income tax consequences of
holding units. It assumes that you are not a dealer, financial institution,
insurance company or other investor with special circumstances or subject to
special rules. You should consult your own tax adviser about your particular
circumstances.

At the date of issue of each bond, counsel for the issuer delivered an opinion
to the effect that interest on the bond is exempt from regular federal income
tax. However, interest may be subject to state and local taxes and may be taken
into account in determining your preference items for alternative minumum tax
purposes. Neither we nor our counsel have reviewed the issuance of the bonds,
related proceedings or the basis for the opinions of counsel for the issuers. We
cannot assure you that the issuers (or other users of bond proceeds) have
complied or will comply with any requirements necessary for a bond to be
tax-exempt. If any of the bonds were determined not to be tax-exempt, you could
be required to pay income tax for current and prior years, and if the Fund were
to sell the bond, it might have to sell it at a substantial discount.

In the opinion of our counsel, under existing law:

GENERAL TREATMENT OF THE FUND AND YOUR INVESTMENT

The Fund will not be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, and
you will be considered to own directly your share of each bond in the Fund.

                                       15
<PAGE>
GAIN OR LOSS UPON DISPOSITION

When all or part of your share of a bond is disposed of (for example, when the
Fund sells, exchanges or redeems a bond or when you sell or exchange your
units), you will generally recognize capital gain or loss. Your gain, however,
will generally be ordinary income to the extent of any accrued "market
discount". Generally you will have market discount to the extent that your basis
in a bond when you purchase a unit is less than its stated redemption price at
maturity (or, if it is an original issue discount bond, the issue price
increased by original issue discount that has accrued on the bond before your
purchase). You should consult your tax adviser in this regard.

If your net long-term capital gains exceed your net short-term capital losses,
the excess may be subject to tax at a lower rate than ordinary income. Any
capital gain from the Fund will be long-term if you are considered to have held
your investment on each bond for more than one year and short-term otherwise.
Because the deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations, you may
not be able to deduct all of your capital losses.

YOUR BASIS IN THE BONDS

Your aggregate basis in the bonds will be equal to the cost of your units,
including any sales charges and the organizational expenses you pay, adjusted to
reflect any accruals of "original issue discount," "acquisition premium" and
"bond premium". You should consult your tax adviser in this regard.

EXPENSES

If you are not a corporate investor, you will not be entitled to a deduction for
your share of fees and expenses of the Fund. Also, if you borrowed money in
order to purchase or carry your units, you will not be able to deduct the
interest on this borrowing for federal income tax purposes. The IRS may treat
your purchase of units as made with borrowed money even if the money is not
directly traceable to the purchase of units.

NEW YORK TAXES

Under the income tax laws of the State and City of New York, the Fund will not
be taxed as a corporation. If you are a New York taxpayer, your income from the
Fund will not be tax-exempt in New York except to the extent that the income is
earned on bonds that are tax-exempt for New York purposes. Depending on where
you live, your income from the Fund may be subject to state and local taxation.
You should consult your tax adviser in this regard.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

You can receive at no cost supplemental information about the Fund by calling
the Trustee. The supplemental information includes more detailed risk disclosure
about the types of bonds that may be in the Fund's portfolio, general risk
disclosure concerning any insurance securing certain bonds, and general
information about the structure and operation of the Fund. The supplemental
information is also available from the SEC.

                                       16
<PAGE>

          MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND,
          INSURED SERIES - 405,
          DEFINED ASSET FUNDS


          REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

          The Sponsors, Trustee and Holders
          of Municipal Investment Trust Fund,
          Insured Series - 405,
          Defined Asset Funds:

          We have audited the accompanying statement of condition of Municipal
          Investment Trust Fund, Insured Series - 405, Defined Asset Funds,
          including the portfolio, as of September 30, 2000 and the related
          statements of operations and of changes in net assets for the period
          October 16, 1999 to September 30, 2000. These financial statements are
          the responsibility of the Trustee. Our responsibility is to express an
          opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

          We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally
          accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that
          we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about
          whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An
          audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the
          amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Securities owned
          at September 30, 2000, as shown in such portfolio, were confirmed to
          us by The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Trustee. An audit also includes
          assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
          made by the Trustee, as well as evaluating the overall financial
          statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a
          reasonable basis for our opinion.

          In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present
          fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Municipal
          Investment Trust Fund, Insured Series - 405, Defined Asset Funds at
          September 30, 2000 and the results of its operations and changes in
          its net assets for the above-stated period in conformity with
          accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
          America.


          DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP


          New York, N.Y.
          November 27, 2000


                                     D - 1.
<PAGE>

     MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND,
     INSURED SERIES - 405,
     DEFINED ASSET FUNDS


     STATEMENT OF CONDITION
     As of September 30, 2000

<TABLE>
     <S>                                                                                <C>             <C>
     TRUST PROPERTY:
       Investment in marketable securities -
          at value (cost $8,690,109 )(Note 1) .........                                                 $ 8,989,859
       Accrued interest ...............................                                                     152,799
       Accrued interest on Segregated Bonds(Note 5) ...                                                       1,139
       Prepaid Trustee's fees and expenses ............                                                       3,483
       Income payments payable ........................                                                       1,000
       Cash - income ..................................                                                      39,220
       Cash - income on Segregated Bonds ..............                                                       7,425
       Cash - principal ...............................                                                       4,679
                                                                                                        -----------
         Total trust property .........................                                                   9,199,604

     LESS LIABILITIES:
       Deferred sales charge payable (Note 5)..........                              $        4,679
       Principal payments payable (Segregated Bonds) ..                                      63,710
       Accrued Sponsors' fees .........................                                       3,491          71,880
                                                                                     --------------     -----------


     NET ASSETS, REPRESENTED BY:
        9,397,699 units of fractional undivided
          interest outstanding (Note 3)................                                   8,934,713

       Undistributed net investment income ............                                     193,011     $ 9,127,724
                                                                                        -----------     ===========

     UNIT VALUE ($  9,127,724 / 9,397,699 units) ......                                                 $    .97127
                                                                                                        ===========
</TABLE>

                       See Notes to Financial Statements.


                                     D - 2.
<PAGE>

     MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND,
     INSURED SERIES - 405,
     DEFINED ASSET FUNDS


     STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   October 16, 1999
                                                                                           to
                                                                                      September 30,
                                                                                          2000
                                                                                          ----

     <S>                                                                              <C>
     INVESTMENT INCOME:
       Interest income ........................                                       $   499,723
       Interest income on Segregated
         Bonds (Note 5) .......................                                             8,564
       Trustee's fees and expenses ............                                            (5,570)
       Sponsors' fees .........................                                            (4,452)
                                                                                      ------------
       Net investment income ..................                                           498,265
                                                                                      ------------


     REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)
       ON INVESTMENTS:
       Realized loss on
         securities sold or redeemed ..........                                            (5,957)
       Unrealized appreciation
         of investments .......................                                           299,750
                                                                                      ------------
       Net realized and unrealized
          gain on investments .................                                           293,793
                                                                                      ------------


     NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS
       RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS ..............                                       $   792,058
                                                                                      ============
</TABLE>

                       See Notes to Financial Statements.


                                     D - 3.
<PAGE>

     MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND,
     INSURED SERIES - 405,
     DEFINED ASSET FUNDS


     STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   October 16, 1999
                                                                                           to
                                                                                      September 30,
                                                                                          2000
                                                                                          ----

     <S>                                                                              <C>
     OPERATIONS:
       Net investment income ..................                                       $   498,265
       Realized loss on
         securities sold or redeemed ..........                                            (5,957)
       Unrealized appreciation
         of investments .......................                                           299,750
                                                                                      ------------
       Net increase in net assets
         resulting from operations ............                                           792,058
                                                                                      ------------

     INCOME DISTRIBUTIONS TO
        HOLDERS (Note 2).......................                                          (285,907)
                                                                                      ------------

     SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
       Deferred sales charge (Note 5):
         Principal ............................                                           (78,543)

       Redemption amounts:
         Income ...............................                                           (10,783)
         Principal ............................                                          (544,479)
                                                                                      ------------
       Net share transactions .................                                          (633,805)
                                                                                      ------------

     NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS ...............                                          (127,654)

     NET ASSETS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD ........                                         9,255,378
                                                                                      ------------
     NET ASSETS AT END OF PERIOD ..............                                       $ 9,127,724
                                                                                      ============
     PER UNIT:
       Income distributions during
         period ...............................                                       $    .02993
                                                                                      ============
       Net asset value at end of
         period ...............................                                       $    .97127
                                                                                      ============
     TRUST UNITS:
       Redeemed during period .................                                           602,301
       Outstanding at end of period ...........                                         9,397,699
                                                                                      ============
</TABLE>

                       See Notes to Financial Statements.


                                     D - 4.
<PAGE>

          MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND,
          INSURED SERIES - 405,
          DEFINED ASSET FUNDS

          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     1.   SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

          The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a
          Unit Investment Trust. The following is a summary of significant
          accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the
          preparation of its financial statements. The policies are in
          conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
          States of America.

           (A)      Securities are stated at value as determined by the
                    Evaluator based on bid side evaluations for the securities,
                    except that value on October 16, 1999 was based upon
                    offering side evaluations at October 14, 1999, the day prior
                    to the Date of Deposit. Cost of securities at October 16,
                    1999 was also based on such offering side evaluations.

           (B)      The Fund is not subject to income taxes. Accordingly, no
                    provision for such taxes is required.

           (C)      Interest income is recorded as earned.

     2.   DISTRIBUTIONS

          Semi-annual distributions of net investment income are made to
          Holders. Receipts other than interest, after deductions for
          redemptions and applicable expenses, are also distributed
          periodically.

     3.   NET CAPITAL

<TABLE>
     <S>                                                                                                <C>
          Cost of  9,397,699 units at Date of Deposit ................                                  $ 8,697,926
          Transfer to capital of interest on Segregated Bonds (Note 5)                                        8,564
          Redemptions of units - net cost of 602,301 units redeemed
            less redemption amounts (principal).......................                                       12,973
          Deferred sales charge (Note 5) .............................                                      (78,543)
          Realized loss on securities sold or redeemed ...............                                       (5,957)
          Net unrealized appreciation of investments .................                                      299,750
                                                                                                        -----------

          Net capital applicable to Holders ..........................                                  $ 8,934,713
                                                                                                        ===========
</TABLE>

     4.   INCOME TAXES

          As of September 30, 2000, net unrealized appreciation of investments,
          based on cost for Federal income tax purposes, aggregated $299,750, of
          which $301,636 related to appreciated securities and $1,886 related to
          depreciated securities. The cost of investment securities for Federal
          income tax purposes was $8,690,109 at September 30, 2000.


                                     D - 5.
<PAGE>

          MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND,
          INSURED SERIES - 405,
          DEFINED ASSET FUNDS

          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


     5.   DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

          $90,000 face amount of the City of Mesquite, TX, Pub. Prop. Fin.
          Contractual Oblig., Ser. 1998 and $90,000 face amount of Iowa Fin.
          Auth., Hosp. Rev. Bonds (Sisters of Mercy Hlth. Corp. Oblig.
          Grp.),Ser. 1992 A, have been segregated to fund the deferred sales
          charges. The sales charges are being paid for with the interest and
          proceeds received by periodic sales or maturity of these bonds, as
          well as principal proceeds received in conjunction with the
          disposition on the unsegregated bonds in the portfolio. A deferred
          sales charge of $2.38 per 1,000 Units is charged on a quarterly basis
          in the first year and $2.37 per 1,000 Units is charged on a quarterly
          basis in the second year, and paid to the Sponsors periodically by
          Trustee on behalf of the Holders, up to an aggregate of $19 per 1,000
          Unit over the first two years of the life of the Fund. Should a Holder
          redeem Units prior to the second anniversary of the Fund, the
          remaining balance of the deferred sales charge will be charged.


                                     D - 6.
<PAGE>

     MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND,
     INSURED SERIES - 405,
     DEFINED ASSET FUNDS

     PORTFOLIO
     As of September 30, 2000

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Rating of                                            Optional
     Portfolio No. and Title of                Issues       Face                                 Redemption
            Securities                        (1) (4)       Amount     Coupon      Maturities(3) Provisions(3)   Cost(2)    Value(2)
            ----------                       ---------  ----------- -----------   -------------  ------------  ----------  ---------
<S>                                          <C>        <C>         <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>
   1 City of Chicago, IL, Chicago Midway        AAA     $   870,000     5.000 %      2035      01/01/09     $   726,502 $   757,257
     Arpt., Rev. Bonds, Ser. 1998 B (MBIA Ins.)                                                @  101.000

   2 Massachusetts Tpke. Auth., Metro. Hwy.     AAA       1,000,000     5.000        2039      01/01/09         834,270     870,620
     Sys. Rev. Bonds, Ser. 1999 A (AMBAC Ins.)                                                 @  101.000

   3 District of Columbia, G.O. Rfdg. Bonds,    AAA       1,000,000     5.250        2026      06/01/08         893,010     923,180
     Ser. 1998 B (FSA Ins.)                                                                    @  101.000

   4 The City of Seattle, WA, Ltd. Tax G.O.     AAA       1,000,000     5.750        2028      12/01/09         965,690   1,000,670
     Bonds, Ser. 1999 B (FSA Ins.)                                                             @  101.000

   5 City of Mesquite, TX, Pub. Prop. Fin.      AAA          90,000     4.150        2002      None              90,000      89,481
     Contractual Oblig., Ser. 1998 (FSA Ins.)
     (5)

   6 Indiana Hlth. Fac. Fin. Auth., Hosp. Rev.  Aaa(m)    1,000,000     5.000        2029      05/01/09         843,270     868,050
     Bonds (Sisters of St. Francis Hlth. Svc.,                                                 @  101.000
     Inc. Proj.), Ser. 1999 A (MBIA Ins.)

   7 Illinois Hlth. Fac. Auth., Rev. Bonds      AAA       1,000,000     5.000        2025      01/01/09         853,510     875,280
     (Alexian Brothers Med. Ctr., Inc. Proj.),                                                 @  101.000
     Ser. 1992 A (FSA Ins.)

   8 Travis Cnty., TX, Hlth. Fac. Dev. Corp.,   AAA         855,000     5.875        2024      11/15/09         820,860     857,197
     Rev. Bonds (Ascension Hlth. Credit Grp.),                                                 @  101.000
     Ser. 1999 A (AMBAC Ins.)

   9 Iowa Fin. Auth., Hosp. Rev. Bonds          AAA          90,000     5.750        2001      None              91,788      90,421
     (Sisters of Mercy Hlth. Corp. Oblig.
     Grp.), Ser. 1992 N (FSA Ins.) (5)
</TABLE>


                                     D - 7.
<PAGE>

     MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND,
     INSURED SERIES - 405,
     DEFINED ASSET FUNDS

     PORTFOLIO
     As of September 30, 2000

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Rating of                                            Optional
     Portfolio No. and Title of                Issues       Face                                 Redemption
            Securities                        (1) (4)       Amount    Coupon      Maturities(3) Provisions(3)    Cost(2)   Value(2)
            ----------                       ---------  ----------- -----------   ------------  ------------  ----------  ---------
<S>                                          <C>        <C>         <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>
  10 Jefferson Cnty., AL, Swr. Rev. Rfdg.       AAA     $ 1,000,000     5.375 %      2027      02/01/07     $   916,480 $   949,350
     Warrants, Ser. 1997 A (Financial Guaranty                                                 @  100.000
     Ins.)

  11 The City of Seattle, WA, Wtr. Sys. Rev.    AAA         770,000     6.000        2029      07/01/09         770,000     794,586
     Bonds, Ser. 1999 B (Financial Guaranty                                                    @  101.000
     Ins.)

  12 City of Austin, TX, Hotel Occup. Tax.      AAA         910,000     5.800        2029      11/15/09         884,729     913,767
     Sub. Lein Rfdg. Bonds, Ser. 1999 (AMBAC                                                   @  100.000
     Ins.)
                                                          ---------                                           ---------   ---------
     TOTAL                                              $ 9,585,000                                         $ 8,690,109 $ 8,989,859
                                                          =========                                           =========   =========
</TABLE>

                             See Notes to Portfolio.


                                     D - 8.
<PAGE>

     MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND,
     INSURED SERIES - 405,
     DEFINED ASSET FUNDS

     NOTES TO PORTFOLIO
     As of September 30, 2000

    (1)   The ratings of the bonds are by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or by
          Moody's Investors Service, Inc. if followed by "(m)", or by Fitch
          Investors Service, Inc. if followed by "(f)"; "NR" indicates that this
          bond is not currently rated by any of the above-mentioned rating
          services. These ratings have been furnished by the Evaluator but not
          confirmed with the rating agencies.

    (2)   See Notes to Financial Statements.

    (3)   Optional redemption provisions, which may be exercised in whole or in
          part, are initially at prices of par plus a premium, then subsequently
          at prices declining to par. Certain securities may provide for
          redemption at par prior or in addition to any optional or mandatory
          redemption dates or maturity, for example, through the operation of a
          maintenance and replacement fund, if proceeds are not able to be used
          as contemplated, the project is condemned or sold or the project is
          destroyed and insurance proceeds are used to redeem the securities.
          Many of the securities are also subject to mandatory sinking fund
          redemption commencing on dates which may be prior to the date on which
          securities may be optionally redeemed. Sinking fund redemptions are at
          par and redeem only part of the issue. Some of the securities have
          mandatory sinking funds which contain optional provisions permitting
          the issuer to increase the principal amount of securities called on a
          mandatory redemption date. The sinking fund redemptions with optional
          provisions may, and optional refunding redemptions generally will,
          occur at times when the redeemed securities have an offering side
          evaluation which represents a premium over par. To the extent that the
          securities were acquired at a price higher than the redemption price,
          this will represent a loss of capital when compared with the Public
          Offering Price of the Units when acquired. Distributions will
          generally be reduced by the amount of the income which would otherwise
          have been paid with respect to redeemed securities and there will be
          distributed to Holders any principal amount and premium received on
          such redemption after satisfying any redemption requests for Units
          received by the Fund. The estimated current return may be affected by
          redemptions.

    (4)   Insured by AAA-rated insurance companies that guarantee timely
          payments of principal and interest on the bonds (but not Fund units or
          the market value of the bonds before they mature).

    (5) These bonds have been segregated to fund the deferred sales charges.


                                     D - 9.
<PAGE>
              Defined
            Asset Funds-Registered Trademark-

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<S>                                      <C>
HAVE QUESTIONS ?                         MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND
Request the most recent free             INSURED SERIES--405
Information Supplement                   (A Unit Investment Trust)
that gives more details about            ---------------------------------------
the Fund, by calling:                    This Prospectus does not contain
The Chase Manhattan Bank                 complete information about the
1-800-323-1508                           investment company filed with the
                                         Securities and Exchange Commission in
                                         Washington, D.C. under the:
                                         - Securities Act of 1933 (file no.
                                         333-88767) and
                                         - Investment Company Act of 1940 (file
                                         no. 811-1777).
                                         TO OBTAIN COPIES AT PRESCRIBED RATES--
                                         WRITE: Public Reference Section of the
                                         Commission
                                         450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
                                         D.C. 20549-6009
                                         CALL: 1-800-SEC-0330.
                                         VISIT: http://www.sec.gov.
                                         No person is authorized to give any
                                         information or representations about
                                         this Fund not contained in this
                                         Prospectus or the Information
                                         Supplement, and you should not rely on
                                         any other information.
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         When units of this Fund are no longer
                                         available, this Prospectus may be used
                                         as a preliminary prospectus for a
                                         future series, but some of the
                                         information in this Prospectus will be
                                         changed for that series.
                                         UNITS OF ANY FUTURE SERIES MAY NOT BE
                                         SOLD NOR MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED
                                         UNTIL THAT SERIES HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE
                                         WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                         COMMISSION. NO UNITS CAN BE SOLD IN ANY
                                         STATE WHERE A SALE WOULD BE ILLEGAL.
                                                                 100444RR--12/00
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