MADISON, Wis. - To help underscore its commitment to and focus on improving portfolio returns, MEMBERS Mutual Funds has undergone several changes. Four mutual funds in the nine-fund family have been renamed to reflect fund realignment. Capital Appreciation is now Large Cap Growth Fund; Growth and Income is now Large Cap Value Fund; Mid Cap Fund is now Mid Cap Value Fund; and Multi Cap Growth Fund is now Mid Cap Growth Fund. The names of the remaining funds- Balanced Fund, Bond Fund, High Income Fund and International Stock Fund are unchanged. Fund managers have also been realigned to enhance responsibility and accountability for each portfolio, according to MEMBERS Capital Advisors, investment advisor affiliate of CUNA Mutual Group and manager of the funds. Portfolio managers, in addition to being analysts, will be supported by a team of analysts, increasing the fund's staff by 20%. "Our goal is to provide a strong, competitive fund family," said David Marks, president of MEMBERS Capital and chief investment officer of CUNA Mutual. "Equity investors in these funds will have the opportunity to capture coverage of most of the total market without substantial risk of overlap. It will make it easier for investors and advisors to use these funds effectively and to know instantly from the name what each piece of the portfolio does." According to CUNA Mutual, the fund managers, who have worked for companies including Jefferson Pilot, State Street, Principal Financial, Merrill Lynch, First Chicago, and Kemper, "have national and international reputations and proven, competitive performance records." "We've moved from a team approach to a single portfolio manager, who is responsible for the inclusion of the team's ideas into the portfolio," Marks said. "Analysts are held accountable for the strength of their recommendations." MEMBERS Mutual Funds has also augmented and enhanced its technology to aid in research and analysis, adding new tools to help effectively position portfolio growth, CUNA Mutual said. It has relationships with sub-advisors Wellington Management, Shenkman, and Lazard. -
msamaad@cutimes.com
