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Re:
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Wilshire Variable Insurance Trust (the “Registrant” or the “Trust”)
Registration Nos. 333-15881 and 811-07917
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1.
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Cover Page (comments apply to all funds)
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a.
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Comment: Please confirm that the fund name on the front cover page of the prospectus is and will continue to be the same as the EDGAR identifiers associated with the prospectus.
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b.
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Comment: Please confirm that the fund does not have an exchange ticker symbol that should be disclosed pursuant to Form N-1A, Item 1(a).
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2.
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Back Cover Page (comment applies to all funds)
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a.
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Comment: Please explain how shareholders may make inquiries to the Trust or to a fund and provide a toll-free number to call with respect to those inquiries and to request other information about the fund. See Form N-1A, Item 1(b).
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3.
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Summary (p. 1) (comments apply to all funds)
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a.
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Comment: If the Trust intends to use the summary prospectus for this fund, please include the legend required by Rule 498(b)(1)(iii) and (v) at the beginning of each summary prospectus. See 17 C.F.R. sec. 230.498(b)(1)(iii), (v). Please provide staff with a copy of the legend that will be included in that 497k filing.
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b.
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Comment: Please ensure that the Principal Strategies summary section provided in response to Item 2 discusses all strategies that entail any of the risks discussed in the Principal Risks summary section and vice-versa. Please also ensure that the Principal Strategies summary and the Principal Risks summary sections provided in response to Item 2 summarize all strategies and risks discussed in the principal investment strategies and principal risks sections provided in response to Item 9 and vice-versa.
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4.
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Equity Fund – Fund Fees and Expenses (p. 1) (comments apply to all funds in Prospectus 1)
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a.
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Comment: Please disclose in the introductory paragraph to the fee tables that the table does not reflect variable insurance product expenses and if such expenses were reflected, fees would be higher.
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b.
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Comment: Please confirm to staff that there are no breakpoint discounts to disclose pursuant to Item 3 of Form N-1A.
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c.
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Comment: Please provide updated fee table information for staff review, particularly given the new requirements of Form N-1A, Item 3.
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d.
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Comment: Please confirm that the table does not reflect any waiver/reimbursement agreements. See Form N-1A, Item 3, Instruction 3(e).
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e.
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Comment: Please confirm that the fund has no acquired find fees and expenses in excess of one basis point as per Item 3, Instruction 3(f)(i) of Form N-1A. Given the Equity Fund’s particular investments in underlying funds, the lack of acquired fund fees seems unusual for this particular fund. See discussion below.
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5.
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Equity Fund – Example (p. 1) (comments apply to all funds in Prospectus 1)
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a.
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Comment: Please add a statement to the introductory language before the example to disclose that variable insurance product fees have not been reflected in the example and that if such variable insurance fees were reflected, your expenses would be higher.
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6.
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Equity Fund – Portfolio Turnover Rate (p. 2) (comments apply to all funds in Prospectus 1)
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a.
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Comment: Please provide updated information.
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b.
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Comment: Please note that any portfolio with a turnover rate in excess of 100% must include active trading risk (e.g., higher brokerage costs) as a principal risk.
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7.
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Equity Fund – Summary of Principal Investment Strategies (pp. 1-2) (comment applies only to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: Please disclose if the Wilshire Large Cap Core 130/30 Fund focuses on a particular capitalization range and clarify the significance of the 130/30 designation. Please also disclose any particular investment percentage in the 130/30 Fund.
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b.
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Comment: Please explain to staff why the fee table for this fund does not reflect acquired fund expenses inasmuch as the fund invests in the 130/30 Fund as a principal investment strategy.
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8.
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Equity Fund – Summary of Principal Investment Risks (pp. 2-3) (comments a. – c. apply only to this fund, d. and e. to all funds in Prospectus 1)
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a.
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Comment: Please address risks of investing in preferred stock and convertible securities (e.g., their hybrid nature and fixed income risks) inasmuch as such investments are listed in the principal investment strategies summary section. Please make any necessary changes in the Item 9 Principal Risks disclosure.
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b.
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Comment: Please address the risk associated with investing in securities of foreign issuers inasmuch as such investments are listed in the principal investment strategies summary section. Please make any necessary changes in the Item 9 Principal Risks disclosure.
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c.
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Comment: Please clarify why the multi-manager aspect is a risk. Please make any necessary parallel changes in the Item 9 Principal Risks disclosure.
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d.
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Comment: As already noted, please revise all prospectuses so that the discussion of principal strategies parallels the discussion of principal risks (i.e., there is a correspondence between each strategy and risk). (Comment applies to all funds.)
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e.
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Comment: Please remove the statement in the first full paragraph at the top of page 3 that concerns additional risks. Item 3 of Form N-1A does not provide for such disclosure.
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9.
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Equity Fund – Performance (p. 3) (comments apply to all funds in Prospectus 1)
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a.
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Comment: Please remove the word “Past” before Performance in the heading for this section pursuant to Item 4 of Form N-1A.
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b.
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Comment: Please provide updated performance information.
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c.
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Comment: In the introductory language to the performance information, please reference returns for 1, 5, and 10 years unless some different time period is reflected in which case the fund’s inception date should be reflected in parentheses in the performance table.
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d.
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Comment: Please remove the starred footnote to the average annual total returns table that describes the index inasmuch as Form N-1A, Item 4, Instruction 2(b) does not provide for such disclosure concerning the primary index.
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e.
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Comment: Please delete any footnotes describing secondary indices (e.g., Balanced Fund). These may be discussed in the preceding narrative.
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f.
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Comment: Please confirm supplementally that no updated performance information for any fund will be made available or if the fund is planning to do so, provide additional information in the prospectus as to how that updated information may be obtained. See Form N-1A, Item 4(b)(2)(i).
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10.
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Equity Fund – Fund Management (pp. 3-4) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 1)
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a.
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Comment: Please disclose the length of service of the various portfolio managers pursuant to Item 5(b) of Form N-1A. Please provide this disclosure wherever it has been omitted in this filing.
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b.
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Comment: Please clarify the relationship between Madison Square Investors, LLC and Victory Capital Management Inc. and how each entity is responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund. If there is more than one sub-adviser, describe what assets each manages, summarize differences in approach, and include asset allocation as a risk.
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11.
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Balanced Fund (pp. 5-7 comments apply to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: In the annual fund operating expenses table at page 5, please remove the parenthetical after the Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses caption. See Form N-1A, Item 3, Instruction 3(f). Please confirm that those expenses have been calculated in conformance with that section.
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b.
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Comment: In the principal investment strategies summary section on page 5, please give the full names of the Income Fund and the 130/30 Fund.
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c.
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Comment: In the principal investment strategies summary at the top of page 6, please revise the percentages describing the Balanced Fund’s investment in the Income Fund and the 130/30 Fund so that the total equals 100% instead of 105% (unless there is some basis for the latter percentage).
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d.
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Comment: In the principal investment strategies summary, please disclose the strategies of the underlying Income Fund that, in the aggregate are expected to be principal strategies of the Balanced Fund. Please also disclose principal risks associated with the principal strategies in the risk summary (e.g., the risks of fixed income securities and the risks of the 130/30 Fund). The cross-reference to the Income Fund at the top of page 6 is not adequate. In addition Item 4 of Form N-1A does not provide for such cross-reference and that disclosure should be removed. Please make any necessary parallel changes to Item 9 disclosure.
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e.
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Comment: In the principal investment strategies summary at page 6, please disclose the strategies of the underlying 130/30 Fund only to the extent that those strategies in the aggregate are expected to be principal strategies of the Balanced Fund. Please summarize all risks entailed in the principal strategies described in the strategies summary in the principal risks summary. Please make any necessary parallel changes to Item 9 disclosure.
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f.
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Comment: In the principal strategies summary on page 6, please disclose the capitalization range of any indexes named, e.g., Russell 1000 Index.
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g.
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Comment: In the principal risks summary on pp. 6-7, please disclose the various risks associated with fixed income securities inasmuch as the Balanced Fund intends to invest 55% of its assets in such securities as stated in the principal strategies summary on page 6.
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h.
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Comment: In the principal risks summary on pp. 6-7, please describe the risks associated with the principal strategies resulting from the Balanced Fund’s investment in the Income Fund. The cross-reference to the Income Fund’s summary is inadequate and this disclosure at the bottom of page 6 should be removed inasmuch as Form N-1A, Item 4 does not provide for such disclosure.
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i.
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Comment: In the principal risks summary on pp. 6-7, please describe risks associated with principal strategies resulting from the Balanced Fund’s investment in the 130/30 Fund, e.g., risks associated with convertible securities, selling long, warrants, real estate investment trusts, exchange traded funds and other pooled investments, and derivatives (all of which are currently described in the principal strategies summary). Please also revise the Equity Fund’s principal strategies/risk disclosure to the extent that that fund’s investment in the 130/30 Fund entails the principal strategies described on page 6.
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j.
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Comment: In the Performance section on page 8, please remove the first starred footnote to the average annual total returns table that describes the primary index inasmuch Form N-1A, Item 4, Instruction 2(b) does not provide for such disclosure.
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k.
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Comment: In the Performance section on page 8, please remove the latter two footnotes to the average annual total returns table and put any description of the additional indexes in the narrative before the bar chart and table. See Form N-1A, Item 4, Instruction 2(b).
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l.
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Comment: Please provide updated management information on page 8 including how the Balanced Fund is multi-managed as described on page 7.
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m.
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Comment: Inasmuch as the fund invests in more than one fund, please include asset allocation as a risk.
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12.
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Income Fund (pp. 9-12) (comments apply only to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: In the principal strategies summary on page 9, please clarify the reference to agency mortgage pass-through securities.
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b.
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Comment: In the principal risks summary on pp. 9-10, please disclose risks associated with mortgage pass through securities and asset backed securities.
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c.
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Comment: Please include liquidity risk as a principal risk.
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13.
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Small Cap Growth Fund (pp. 13-16) (comment a. applies to all funds, comments b, c., and d. apply only to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: In the annual fund operating expenses table on page 13, please delete the starred footnote concerning voluntary waivers inasmuch as Form N-1A, Item 3 does not provide for such disclosure. Please remove any footnotes describing such voluntary waivers from the annual fund operating expenses tables of all funds in the Trust.
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b.
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Comment: In the principal investment strategies summary on page 14, please disclose the capitalization range of the cited indexes. Please also clarify the relationship between the three indexes cited and how they relate to the Small Cap Growth Fund’s principal investment strategies.
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c.
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Comment: In the principal risks summary on page 15, the fund discloses turnover risk. Please more clearly disclose in the principal strategies summary the principal strategy that generates this risk (unless the turnover rate is in excess of 100%). Please make any necessary revisions to Item 9 disclosure.
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d.
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Comment: In the management section on pp. 15-16, please provided updated information and clarify the relationship between Copper Rock Capital Partners LLC and Mellon Capital Management Corporation and how each entity is responsible for the day-today management of the fund. Please also explain why multi-manager risk has not been described in the risks summary as well as referenced in the principal strategies section. Please also note asset allocation as a risk.
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14.
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International Equity Fund (pp. 17-20) (comments apply only to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: In the annual fund operating expenses table on page 17, please delete the starred footnote concerning voluntary waivers inasmuch as Form N-1A, Item 3 does not provide for such disclosure.
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b.
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Comment: In the management section on pp. 19-20, please provided updated information and clarify the relationship between PanAgora Asset Management, Inc. and Thomas White International Ltd. and how each entity is responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund. Please also explain why multi-manager risk has not been described in the risks summary as well as referenced in the principal strategies section. Please also include asset allocation as a risk.
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15.
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Socially Responsible Fund (pp. 21-24) (comments apply only to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: In the principal strategies summary on pp. 22-23, please clarify the last bullet regarding “acceptable” environmental policies, e.g., acceptable by whom. Please also include more information on how the adviser picks among “acceptable” issuers.
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b.
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Comment: In the principal risks summary on page 22, please address risks associated with investing in preferred stock and convertible securities inasmuch as such investments are listed in the principal investment strategies summary section. Please make any necessary changes in the Item 9 Principal Risks disclosure.
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c.
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Comment: Please delete any footnotes describing a primary index from the performance table on page 23 inasmuch as Form N-1A, Item 4 does not provide for such disclosure.
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16.
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Tax Information (p. 25) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 1)
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a.
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Comment: Please revise the tax disclosure to reflect that although the funds expect to make distributions of income and/or capital gains, if any, on an annual basis, the individual investor does not own shares of the funds directly. Rather the shares are sold through separate accounts of the insurance company from which the investor has purchased a variable annuity, variable life insurance contract, and/or retirement plan. Please also state that the investor should refer to the prospectus for the variable annuity or variable life insurance contract or to the retirement plan documents for tax information regarding those products.
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17.
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Financial Intermediary Compensation (p. 25) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 1)
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a.
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Comment: Please revise the disclosure to more accurately reflect that these funds are not sold directly to the general public but instead are offered as underlying investment options of variable insurance contracts. Then please disclose whether there may be direct or indirect payments to the insurance companies, its affiliates or broker-dealers for distribution and/or other services that could create a conflict of interest as to whether these parties recommend the purchase of fund shares. See Item 8 of Form N-1A.
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18.
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Fund Details, More About Risks, and Types of Investments – General Comments
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a.
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Comment: It is unclear the extent to which this section describes principal strategies or non-principal strategies. Please make this clear and segregate any discussion of principal strategies from non-principal strategies.
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b.
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Comment: Notwithstanding that the prospectus includes a “More about Risks” section, the Types of Investments section includes a discussion of risks as well (see, e.g., Foreign Securities on page 50). To avoid confusion, please either keep information regarding principal risks separate from the discussion of principal strategies, or revise the headings to clearly state that the two are being discussed together.
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c.
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Comment: It is insufficient for Item 9 purposes for the prospectus to simply note, as it does in the Types of Investments section that the Balanced Fund invests in certain underlying funds. This disclosure must discuss in detail those investments and activities that the registrant has summarized in response to Item 4 requirements.
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d.
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Comment: Please clarify if the disclosure on pp. 46-49 is intended to be a description of principal risks for all funds or more of a glossary for a more detailed description of certain principal risks. Or does this list include risks other than principal risks? If this disclosure is intended to be a glossary how has it been referenced earlier in the prospectuses for the funds?
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19.
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Equity Fund – Investment Objective and Strategies (pp. 26-28) (comments apply only to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: Please state the fund’s investment objectives and if applicable state that those objectives may be changed without shareholder approval. See Form N-1A, Item 9(a).
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b.
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Comment: Please clarify if the disclosure on pp. 26-28 represents Item 9 principal strategies disclosure. If not please provide such disclosure.
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c.
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Comment: The description of principal investment strategies on page 26 and the description of principal investment strategies in the summary on pp. 1-2 are not consistent. For example the summary makes no mention of “a quantitative process” described in the third and fourth paragraphs on page 26, of large cap core investments as described in the sixth paragraph on page 26, or of many of the investment strategies described on pp. 27-28 that are attributed to the 130/30 Fund (which may or may not be principal strategies of the Equity Fund). Conversely the Item 9 disclosure on pp. 26-28 does not seem to mention investment in U.S. dollar denominated securities of foreign issuers or investment in domestic companies as described on pp. 1-2. Nor do risks for all of these types of investments appear in the principal risks summary for the fund on page 2 or in an Item 9 principal risks discussion. Please revise accordingly.
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d.
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Comment: Please put the fourth paragraph of the principal investment strategies discussion on page 26 into plain English.
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e.
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Comment: Please clarify at page 26 how the Equity Fund’s assets are allocated between the two sub-advisors.
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f.
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Comment: Please clarify which of the 130/30 Fund’s strategies as described on pp. 27-28 represent principal strategies for the Equity Fund. Please also clarify which manager is responsible for the Equity Fund’s investments in the 130/30 Fund.
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g.
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Comment: Please clarify the phrase “long positions” in the seventh and eighth paragraphs on page 27 and how the fund can hold in excess of 100% in long positions.
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20.
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Balanced Fund – Investment Objective and Strategies (pp. 29-31) (comments apply only to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: Please state the fund’s investment objectives and if applicable state that those objectives may be changed without shareholder approval. See Form N-1A, Item 9(a).
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b.
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Comment: Please clarify if the disclosure on pp. 29-31 represents Item 9 principal strategies disclosure, particularly which strategies of the 130/30 Fund constitute principal strategies for the Balanced Fund. If this is not Item 9 disclosure, please provide such disclosure of principal strategies and provide a separate discussion of other strategies.
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21.
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Income Fund – Investment Objective and Strategies (pp. 33-34) (comments apply only to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: Please state the fund’s investment objectives and if applicable state that those objectives may be changed without shareholder approval. See Form N-1A, Item 9(a).
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b.
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Comment: Please clarify if the disclosure on pp. 33-34 represents Item 9 principal investment strategies disclosure. If not please provide such disclosure and provide a separate discussion of other strategies.
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c.
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Comment: The description of principal investment strategies on pp. 33-34 and the description of principal investment strategies in the summary on page 9 are not consistent. For example the summary makes no mention of investments in commercial paper described in the third bullet on page 33, in debt obligations of foreign issuers described in the fourth and fifth bullets on page 33, and in convertible securities, warrants, debt obligations rated below A (junk bonds??), and derivatives as described in the third full paragraph on page 33. Nor do risks for all of these types of investments appear in the principal risks summary for the fund on page 10 or in an Item 9 principal risks discussion. Please revise accordingly.
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d.
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Comment: Please disclose the capitalization range of the Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index or otherwise briefly describe that index in the second paragraph on page 33.
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22.
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Small Cap Growth Fund – Investment Objective and Strategies (pp. 34-35) (comments apply only to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: Please state the fund’s investment objectives and if applicable state that those objectives may be changed without shareholder approval. See Form N-1A, Item 9(a).
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b.
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Comment: Please clarify if the disclosure on pp. 34-35 represents Item 9 principal strategies disclosure. If not please provide such disclosure and provide a separate discussion of other strategies.
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c.
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Comment: The description of principal investment strategies on pp. 34-35 and the description of the principal investment strategies in the summary on page 14 are not consistent. For example the summary makes no mention of investments in warrants described at the bottom of page 34. In addition the disclosure on page 34 states that the advisor seeks to maintain a portfolio which is intended to replicate the performance of the Russell 2000 Growth Index whereas the summary at page 14 implies that the advisor chooses securities with growth rate estimates that exceed the average for that index. Nor is the strategy related to turnover risk disclosed here. Please revise accordingly.
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d.
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Comment: Please disclose the capitalization range of the Russell 2000 Growth Index or otherwise briefly describe that index on page 34.
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23.
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International Equity Fund – Investment Objective and Strategies (pp. 35-37) (comments apply only to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: Please state the fund’s investment objectives and if applicable state that those objectives may be changed without shareholder approval. See Form N-1A, Item 9(a).
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b.
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Comment: Please clarify if the disclosure on pp. 35-37 represents Item 9 principal strategies disclosure. If not please provide such disclosure and provide a separate discussion of other strategies.
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c.
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Comment: The description of principal investment strategies on pp. 35-36 and the description of the principal investment strategies in the summary on page 17 are not consistent. For example the summary makes no mention of the relevance of the MSCI EAFE Index or the use of a global model as described on page 35 or of investment in undervalued securities as described on page 36. Conversely, the disclosure on pp. 35-36 makes no mention of investment in no less than three different countries and in fixed income securities as described in the summary on page 18. Please revise accordingly.
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d.
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Comment: Please put the two sentences at the top of page 36 beginning “the optimization process seeks . . .” into plain English.
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e.
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Comment: Please describe the MSCI EAFE Index as referenced on page 35.
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f.
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Comment: Please clarify at page 26 how the Equity Fund’s assets are allocated between the two sub-advisors.
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24.
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Socially Responsible Fund – Investment Objective and Strategies (pp. 38-40) (comments apply only to this fund)
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a.
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Comment: Please state the fund’s investment objectives and if applicable state that those objectives may be changed without shareholder approval. See Form N-1A, Item 9(a). Accordingly, no disclosure has been added.
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b.
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Comment: Please clarify if the disclosure on pp. 38-40 represents Item 9 principal strategies disclosure. If not please provide such disclosure and provide a separate discussion of other strategies.
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c.
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Comment: Please amend the principal strategies summary to more completely describe those principal strategies based on the Item 9 disclosure on pp. 38-40. For example, consider adding with respect to the appreciation strategy that the manager looks for growth and value stocks consisting primarily of blue chip companies dominant in their industries as well as companies with sustained earnings growth and/or a cyclical earnings record. Please also consider adding some of the most important bullets on page 38, particularly regarding undervalued companies and companies with superior demonstrated growth whose stocks are reasonably priced. Please also consider adding with respect to the large cap core strategy that the manager looks for companies believed be able to increase earnings and retain cash for growth and to construct an investment portfolio similar to the S&P 500 Index of Composite Stocks.
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25.
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Portfolio Holdings (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 1)
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a.
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Comment: Please state that a description of the fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the fund’s portfolio securities is available in the fund’s SAI and on the fund’s website if applicable. See Form N-1A, Item 9(d).
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26.
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Management (pp. 54-64) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 1)
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a.
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Comment: Please provide updated advisory fees including the aggregate fee paid to the adviser for the most recent fiscal year at page 55. See Form N-1A, Item 10(a)(1)(ii).
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b.
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Comment: Please provide the disclosure required by Item 10 of Form N-1A for Pyramis Global Advisors on page 63, for Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC on page 64, and for TWIN Capital Management, Inc. on page 64.
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c.
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Comment: Please clarify Mr. Stephen Walsh’s experience for the past five years (mentioned on page 58 but omitted on page 59). Please do the same for Ms. Wong (page 60).
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d.
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Comment: Please clarify what “Fund” is being referred to in the discussion of Pyramis and UBS on page 63, and clarify whether these entities are subadvisers to that fund. If they are, please provide responsive disclosure as to portfolio managers. If they are not, please clarify the point of the disclosure on pages 62 and 63.
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27.
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Financial Highlights (pp. 68-74) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 1)
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a.
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Comment: Please disclose in the introductory paragraph on page 68 that the financial highlights do not reflect fees for variable insurance products and if such fees were included performance would be lower.
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28.
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Back Cover Page (comment applies to all funds)
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a.
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Comment: Please explain how shareholders may make inquiries to the Trust or to a fund and provide a toll-free number to call with respect to those inquiries and to request other information about the fund. See Form N-1A, Item 1(b).
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29.
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Wilshire 2015 ETF Fund – Investment Objective (p. 1) (comments apply to all finds in Prospectus 2)
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a.
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Comment: Please give the full phrase for the abbreviation ETF the first time it is used.
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b.
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Comment: Please explain to staff whether the fund of funds’ structure is based upon an exemptive order obtained from the SEC or is in compliance with applicable sections and rules under the 1940 Act. If the former, please provide staff with the release number of the exemptive relief. If the latter, please explain to staff how the fund’s structure complies with applicable sections and rules under the 1940 Act.
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30.
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Wilshire 2015 ETF Fund – Fund Fees and Expenses (p. 1) (comments apply to all funds in Prospectus 2)
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a.
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Comment: Please disclose at page 1 in the introductory paragraph to the fee tables that the table does not reflect variable insurance product expenses and if such expenses were reflected, fees would be higher.
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b.
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Comment: Please confirm to staff that there are no breakpoint discounts to disclose pursuant to Item 3 of Form N-1A.
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c.
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Comment: Please revise on page 1 the annual fund operating expenses table to follow the format of Form N-1A, Item 3. See in particular Item 3, Instruction 3(e) which states that if there are expense reimbursement or fee waiver arrangements, a fund may add two captions to the table, one caption showing the amount of the waiver and a second caption showing net expenses after subtracting the waiver from total fund operating expenses, and those captions are placed below the total annual fund operating expenses caption.
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d.
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Comment: Please provide updated fee table information for staff review, particularly given the new requirements of Form N-1A, Item 3. Please note that waiver agreements can only be reflected in the table and described in a footnote if they are contractual in nature and the advisor does not have any right to cancel the agreement for one year from the effective date of the prospectus. Furthermore the waiver must actually reduce fund operating expenses to be reflected in the disclosure. See Instruction 3(e) to Item 3 of Form N-1A.
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e.
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Comment: Please delete footnotes 1, 2, the third sentence of footnote 3 and footnote 4 to the fund operating expenses table inasmuch as Form N-1A, Item 3 does not provide for such disclosure.
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31.
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Wilshire 2015 ETF Fund – Example (pp. 1-2) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 2)
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a.
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Comment: Please add a statement to the introductory language before the example to disclose that variable insurance product fees have not been reflected in the example and that if such variable insurance fees were reflected, your expenses would be higher.
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32.
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Wilshire 2015 ETF Fund – Portfolio Turnover Rate (p. 2) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 2)
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a.
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Comment: Please provide updated information.
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33.
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Wilshire 2015 ETF Fund – Principal Investment Strategies Summary (p. 2) (comments apply to all funds in Prospectus 2)
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a.
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Comment: Please clarify the concept of an exchange traded fund and the relationship between this fund and the underlying ETFs. Please also clarify the relationship between the underlying ETF and any relevant index or benchmark as referenced in the second sentence of this section on page 2.
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b.
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Comment: Please disclose how the specific allocation percentages consistent with each fund of ETFs’ risk level are chosen and what factors are used to determine when those allocation percentages should be changed.
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c.
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Comment: Please add disclosure that more specifically describes the investments of the underlying funds in which this particular fund intends to invest. For example, add the first few sentences of the third paragraph of this section. This is particularly important because the second sentence of the third paragraph states that the current target allocation is approximately 57% equity and 43% fixed income (which is apparently still accurate based on the disclosure on page 15) and this description differs from the statement at the end of the first paragraph which states that within 5-10 years the fund’s asset allocation will be approximately 80% fixed income and 20% equity securities. Please clarify and resolve apparent discrepancies.
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d.
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Comment: Please also clarify if this fund intends to invest in ETFs that invest in foreign securities as well as debt, commodities, money market securities, futures, and other instruments as described in the second sentence of the first paragraph. If those strategies in the aggregate rise to the level of principal strategies for this fund, please disclose. Otherwise please delete the reference to those investments.
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e.
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Comment: Please note that the description of principal investment strategies (as well as principal risks) for this fund (Wilshire 2015 ETF Fund) is identical to the disclosure for the Wilshire 2025 ETF Fund (at page 6) and the disclosure for the Wilshire 2035 ETF Fund (at page 11), even with respect to the asset allocation in 5-10 years. Please make disclosure specific to each fund.
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f.
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Comment: Please confirm to staff that the principal strategies summary discloses all strategies of the underlying funds that in the aggregate are expected to be principal strategies of the fund of funds.
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g.
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Comment: Please make any necessary revisions to Item 9 principal strategies disclosure for this fund.
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h.
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Comment: Please confirm to staff whether the exchange-traded futures on major foreign stock market indices are contractually required to settle in cash.
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34.
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Wilshire 2015 ETF Fund – Principal Investment Risks Summary (pp. 3-4) (comments apply to all funds in Prospectus 2)
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a.
|
Comment: Please disclose risks associated with fixed income investments which are described in the principal strategies summary as a significant investment for the fund.
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b.
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Comment: If this fund intends to invest in ETFs that invest in foreign securities as well as debt, commodities, money market securities, futures, and other instruments as described in the second sentence of the first paragraph and those investments represent principal investment strategies, consider whether the risks associated with those strategies rise to the level of principal risks and add disclosure that addresses those risks.
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c.
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Comment: Please make the risk disclosure specific to this fund and do so by summarizing all risks entailed in the principal strategies outlined in the principal strategies summary.
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d.
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Comment: Please remove the statement in the first full paragraph at the top of page 4 that concerns additional risks. Item 3 of Form N-1A does not provide for such disclosure. Furthermore the statement needs to be put into plain English.
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e.
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Comment: Please make any necessary revisions to Item 9 risk disclosure for this fund.
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35.
|
Wilshire 2015 ETF Fund – Performance (p. 4) (comments apply to all funds in Prospectus 2)
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a.
|
Comment: Please remove the word “Past” before Performance in the heading for this section pursuant to Item 4 of Form N-1A.
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b.
|
Comment: Please provide updated performance information.
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c.
|
Comment: In the introductory language to the performance information, please reference returns for 1, 5, and 10 years unless some different time period is reflected in which case the fund’s inception date should be reflected in parentheses in the performance table.
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d.
|
Comment: Please add a heading before the table that describes it as the Average Annual Total Returns table pursuant to Form N-1A, Item 4.
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e.
|
Comment: Please remove the first starred footnote to the average annual total returns table that describes the index inasmuch as Form N-1A, Item 4, Instruction 2(b) does not provide for such disclosure concerning the primary index.
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f.
|
Comment: Please remove the second and third starred footnotes to the average annual total returns table and put any description of the additional indexes in the narrative before the bar chart and table. See Form N-1A, Item 4, Instruction 2(b), (c).
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g.
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Comment: Please confirm supplementally that no updated performance information for any fund will be made available or if the fund is planning to do so, provide additional information in the prospectus as to how that updated information may be obtained. See Form N-1A, Item 4(b)(2)(i).
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36.
|
Tax Information (p. 14) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 2)
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|
a.
|
Comment: Please revise the tax disclosure to reflect that although the funds expect to make distributions of income and/or capital gains, if any, on an annual basis, the individual investor does not own shares of the funds directly. Rather the shares are sold through accurate accounts of the insurance company from which the investor has purchased a variable annuity, variable life insurance contract, and/or retirement plan. Please also state that the investor should refer to the prospectus for the variable annuity or variable life insurance contract or to the retirement plan documents for tax information regarding those products.
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37.
|
Financial Intermediary Compensation (p. 14) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 2)
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|
a.
|
Comment: Please revise the disclosure to more accurately reflect that these funds are not sold directly to the general public but instead are offered as underlying investment options of variable insurance contracts. Then please disclose whether there may be direct or indirect payments to the insurance companies, its affiliates or broker-dealers for distribution and/or other services that could create a conflict of interest as to whether these parties recommend the purchase of fund shares. See Item 8 of Form N-1A.
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38.
|
Wilshire 2015, 2025, 2035 ETF Funds - Investment Objective, Strategies and Risks (pp. 15-16) (comments apply to all funds in Prospectus 2)
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|
a.
|
Comment: Please clarify if the disclosure on pp. 33-34 represents Item 9 principal investment strategies disclosure. If not please provide such disclosure and provide a separate discussion of other strategies.
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b.
|
Comment: Please supplement the description of top tier fund principal investment strategies on pp. 15-16 with underlying fund strategies that are specific to each fund consistent with Item 9(b)(1), (2) of Form N-1A.
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c.
|
Comment: Please disclose the principal risks of investing in the fund based on the summary of principal risks we have asked for in the preceding comments.
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d.
|
Comment: Please state that a description of the fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the fund’s portfolio securities is available in the fund’s SAI and on the fund’s website if applicable. See Form N-1A, Item 9(d).
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e.
|
Comment: For this affiliated fund of funds, the disclosure should state that in effectuating the fundamental policies, the fund of funds will look through to the investments of the underlying funds.
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f.
|
Comment: To the extent that the Registrant is relying upon the underlying ETFs’ orders to allow for investments in certain unnamed ETFs, disclose that Registrant will comply with any conditions regarding sales and 12b-1 fees that would have been required for the Registrant to obtain its own order.
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39.
|
More About Risks of Investing in the Funds (pp. 19-22) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 2)
|
|
a.
|
Comment: Please clarify if the disclosure on pp. 19-22 is intended to be a description of principal risks for all funds or more of a glossary for a more detailed description of certain principal risks.
|
|
b.
|
Comment: Please ensure that all underlying fund principal risks we have asked that you summarize in response to Item 4 requirements are summarized in the “More About Risks” section.
|
|
c.
|
Comment: Does this list include risks other than principal risks? If so please segregate out non-principal risks. If this disclosure is intended to be a glossary how has it been in the referenced prospectuses for the funds?
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40.
|
Management (p. 26-27) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 2)
|
|
a.
|
Comment: Please provide updated advisory fees including the aggregate fee paid to the adviser for the most recent fiscal year at page 26. See Form N-1A, Item 10(a)(1)(ii).
|
|
b.
|
Comment: Please clarify Mr. Kaye’s business experience for the last five years pursuant to 10(a)(2) of Form N-1A.
|
41.
|
Financial Highlights (pp. 32-35) (comment applies to all funds in Prospectus 2)
|
|
a.
|
Comment: Please disclose in the introductory paragraph on page 68 that the financial highlights do not reflect fees for variable insurance products and if such fees were included performance would be lower.
|
42.
|
Statement of Additional Information (comments apply to all funds)
|
|
a.
|
Comment: Please update the SAI to reflect appropriate dates, compensation, fees, and any other changes and submit a marked copy for staff review.
|
|
b.
|
Comment: In the SAI disclosure addressing investment policies for the Wilshire ETF Funds, please disclose how many ETFs each fund invests in; whether they are affiliated or unaffiliated; whether the fund will treat each ETF as an issuer or an investment company when applying the Section 5 diversification requirements (and if the fund is treating ETFs as investment companies, will the fund look to the underlying ETF investments to determine diversification); how the fund will comply with the investment limitations of Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940; and whether the fund will invest in creation units or purchase exchange traded shares and if the latter, the fund must include disclosure regarding the related broker costs.
|
|
c.
|
Comment: In the portfolio holdings disclosure on page 65, either list all third parties to whom the Trust releases nonpublic information or give a specific reference to where that information can be found. See Form N-1A, Item 16(f)(2).
|
|
d.
|
Comment: Please confirm to staff that the Registrant intends to comply with the new requirements for Form N-1A, Item 17, set forth in the Proxy Disclosure Enhancements rule, Securities Act Release No. 9089 (Dec. 16, 2009), 74 FR 68334 (Dec. 23, 2009).
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43.
|
Financial Statements, Exhibits, and Other Information (comments apply to all funds)
|
|
a.
|
Comment: Please provide any financial statements, exhibits, consents, and other required disclosure not included in this post-effective amendment.
|
44.
|
Tandy Representation (comment applies to all funds)
|
|
a.
|
Comment: We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure in the filings reviewed by the staff to be certain that they have provided all information investors require. Since the registrant and its management are in possession of facts relating to a fund’s disclosure, they are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure they have made.
|
|
·
|
the registrant is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filings;
|
|
·
|
staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments in the filings reviewed by the staff do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and
|
|
·
|
the registrant may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.
|
|
Re:
|
Wilshire Variable Insurance Trust (the “Registrant”)
Registration Statement on Form N-1A
Registration Numbers 333-15881; 811-07917
|
By:
|
/s/ Lawrence E. Davanzo
|
Name:
|
Lawrence E. Davanzo
|
Title:
|
Trustee and President
|