Securian Funds Trust

04/26/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/26/2024 08:01

Summary Prospectus by Investment Company - Form 497K

497K
SFT Core Bond Fund

a Series of Securian Funds Trust
Class 1 or Class 2 Shares
Summary Prospectus | May 1, 2024
This summary prospectus is designed to provide investors with key Fund information in a clear and concise format. Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's complete prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund's prospectus and other information about the Fund online at www.securianfunds.com/prospectus. You can also get this information at no cost by calling (844) 208-2412 or by sending an e-mail request to [email protected]. If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the prospectus and other information will also be available from your financial intermediary. The Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information, both dated May 1, 2024, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus and may be obtained free of charge, at the website, phone number or e-mail address noted above.
Investment Objective
The Fund seeks as high a level of a long-term total rate of return as is consistent with prudent investment risk. The Fund also seeks preservation of capital as a secondary objective.
Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell Class 1 or Class 2 shares of the Fund. The table does not reflect charges assessed in connection with the variable life policies or variable annuity contracts, or qualified plans, that invest in the Fund. If these charges were included, the expenses shown in the table below would be higher.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Not Applicable
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Class 1
Class 2
Management Fees
0.40
%
0.40
%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees
-
0.25
%
Other Expenses
0.11
%
0.11
%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
0.51
%
0.76
%
Expense Example. This example is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other Funds.
The example assumes an investment of $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then a redemption of all shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that the investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. The example does not reflect the other fees and expenses related to a variable life insurance policy, variable annuity contract or qualified plan that invests in the Fund. If these other fees and expenses were included, the expenses shown in the example below would be higher. Although actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, costs would be:
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
Class 1
$52
$164
$285
$640
Class 2
$78
$243
$422
$942
Summary Information  1
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 209.9% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in a variety of debt securities. It is the Fund's policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in investment grade bonds (for this purpose, "bonds" includes any debt security). Up to 20% of the Fund's nets assets may be invested in securities rated below investment grade (commonly known as "junk bonds") or unrated securities determined to be of comparable quality. These debt securities include, among other things, corporate and mortgage-backed securities, debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities (including the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association), asset-backed securities and other debt obligations of U.S. banks or savings and loan associations. The Fund may invest in debt securities issued by domestic companies in a variety of industries. The Fund may also invest in securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws. Examples may include certain bonds that are only available to institutional buyers.
The Fund invests in the U.S. and abroad, including emerging markets, and may purchase securities of varying maturities issued by domestic and foreign corporates and governments. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign securities which amount may include up to 15% of its net assets in non-U.S. dollar denominated foreign securities, and up to 10% of its net assets in emerging market securities.
The Fund may also invest in non-government securities, which may include but are not limited to securities issued by non-government entities secured by obligations of residential mortgage borrowers. Non-government securities also may include asset-backed securities (which may include but are not limited to interests in auto, rail cars, shipping containers, credit card, manufactured housing, collateralized debt obligations that in turn include collateralized bond obligations and collateralized loan obligations and/or other consumer loans), bank loans, U.S. and non-U.S. money market securities, municipal securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities (which represent interests in commercial mortgage loans and receivables), derivatives, including credit default swaps and other swaps, futures, options and currency forward contracts, defaulted debt securities, private placements and restricted securities. Investments by the Fund may be long-term, intermediate-term or short-term debt securities and may have interest rates that are fixed, variable or floating.
Derivatives are used in an effort to hedge investments, for risk management, or to increase income or gains for the Fund. The fund may also seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques.
In selecting securities, the Fund's investment sub-adviser focuses on areas of the bond market that it believes to be relatively undervalued, based on its analysis of quality, sector, coupon or maturity, and that the sub-adviser believes offer attractive prospective risk-adjusted returns compared to other segments of the bond market.
Principal Risks
An investment in the Fund may result in the loss of money, and may be subject to various risks, which may be even greater during periods of market disruption or volatility, including the following types of principal risks:
▲Market Risk - Markets can be volatile, and stock prices change daily, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. As a result, the Fund's holdings can decline in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments or conditions that may cause a broad market decline. Different parts of the market, including different sectors and different types of securities, can react differently to these developments. Stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and periods of falling prices. During a general downturn in the financial markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value. When markets perform well, there can be no assurance that specific investments held by the Fund will rise in value. At times, the Fund may hold a relatively high percentage of its assets in stocks of a particular market sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector. Additionally, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, meaning that conditions in one country or region may adversely affect issuers in another country or region, which in turn may adversely affect securities held by the Fund. In addition, certain events, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war, regional or global instability and other geopolitical events, have led, and may in the future lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on world economies and markets generally.
▲Interest Rate Risk - the risk that the value of a debt security or fixed income obligation will decline due to an increase in market interest rates. Long-term debt securities, mortgage-backed securities and fixed income obligations are generally
2  Summary Information
more sensitive to interest rate changes. The negative impact on a debt security or fixed income obligation from resulting rate increases could be swift and significant, including falling market values and reduced liquidity. Substantial redemptions from the Fund and other fixed income funds may worsen the impact. Other types of securities also may be adversely affected from an increase in interest rates. In addition, interest rates may decline further resulting in lower yields which make the Fund less attractive to investors who are seeking higher rates of returns. Also a lower yield may not be sufficient to cover the expenses of the Fund.
▲Credit Risk - the risk that an issuer of bonds may fail to make interest payments and repay principal when due, in whole or in part. Changes in an issuer's financial strength or in a security's credit rating may affect a security's value.
Lower-rated securities. Securities rated below investment grade, sometimes called "junk bonds," generally have more credit risk than higher-rated securities. Issuers of lower-rated or high yield, fixed-income securities are not as strong financially as those issuing higher credit quality debt securities. These issuers are generally considered predominantly speculative by the applicable rating agencies as these issuers are more likely to encounter financial difficulties and are more vulnerable to changes in the economy, such as a recession or a sustained period of rising interest rates, that could affect their ability to make interest and principal payments when due.
The prices of high yield debt securities fluctuate more than those of higher-credit-quality. Prices are especially sensitive to developments affecting the issuer's business and to changes in the ratings assigned by rating agencies. In addition, the entire high yield securities market can experience sudden and sharp price swings due to changes in economic conditions, stock market activity, large sustained sales by major investors, a high-profile default, or other factors. High yield debt securities generally are more illiquid (harder to sell) and harder to value than higher-quality securities. Many of these securities do not trade frequently, and when they do their prices may be significantly higher or lower than expected.
▲Foreign Investments and Emerging Markets Risk - The Fund's investments in securities of foreign issuers or issuers with significant exposure to foreign markets involve additional risk as compared to investments in U.S. securities or issuers with predominantly domestic exposure, such as less liquid, less transparent, less regulated and more volatile markets. The value of the Fund's investments may decline because of factors affecting the particular issuer as well as foreign markets and issuers generally, such as unfavorable or unsuccessful government actions, reduction of government or central bank support, inadequate accounting standards, lack of information and political, economic, financial or social instability. To the extent the Fund focuses its investments in a single country or only a few countries in a particular geographic region, economic, political, regulatory or other conditions affecting such country or region may have a greater impact on fund performance relative to a more geographically diversified fund.
The value of investments in securities denominated in foreign currencies increases or decreases as the rates of exchange between those currencies and the U.S. dollar change. Currency conversion costs and currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates can be volatile, and are affected by factors such as general economic conditions, the actions of the U.S. and foreign governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls and speculation.
Less developed markets are more likely to experience problems with the clearing and settling of trades and the holding of securities by local banks, agents and depositories. Settlement of trades in these markets can take longer than in other markets and the Fund may not receive its proceeds from the sale of certain securities for an extended period (possibly several weeks or even longer).
The risks of foreign investments are heightened when investing in issuers in emerging market countries. Emerging market countries tend to have economic, political and legal systems that are less developed and are less stable than those of more developed countries. They are often particularly sensitive to market movements because their market prices tend to reflect speculative expectations. Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and in extreme price volatility.
▲Hedging Risk - the risk that the Fund's use of derivatives for hedging purposes, although designed to help manage volatility and offset negative movements in the securities in which the Fund invests, will not always be successful. Hedging can cause the Fund to lose money and can reduce the opportunity for gain.
▲Income Risk - the risk that the Fund may experience a decline in its income due to falling interest rates, earnings declines or income decline within a security.
▲Liquidity Risk - the risk that the Fund's ability to sell particular securities at an advantageous price or in a timely manner will be impaired due to low trading volume, lack of a market maker, or legal restrictions. The recent increase in capital requirements and potential for increased regulation may negatively impact market liquidity going forward. In the event certain securities experience low trading volumes, the prices of such securities may display abrupt or erratic movements. In
Summary Information  3
addition, it may be more difficult for the Fund to buy and sell significant amounts of such securities without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices. As a result, these securities may be difficult to sell at a favorable price at the time when the investment adviser believes it is desirable to do so. Investment in securities that are less actively traded (or over time experience decreased trading volume) may restrict the Fund's ability to take advantage of other market opportunities.
▲Portfolio Turnover Risk - High portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund's performance and increase transaction costs, which could increase the Fund's expenses. High portfolio turnover may also result in the distribution of higher capital gains when compared to a fund with less active trading policies, which could have an adverse tax impact if the Fund's shares are held in a taxable account.
▲Short-Term Trading Risk - the risk that the Fund may trade securities frequently and hold securities for one year or less, which will increase the Fund's transaction costs.
▲Prepayment Risk - the risk that falling interest rates could cause prepayments of securities to occur more quickly than expected, causing the Fund to reinvest the proceeds in other securities with generally lower interest rates.
▲Extension Risk - the risk that rising interest rates could cause property owners to prepay their mortgages more slowly than expected, resulting in slower than anticipated prepayments of mortgage-backed securities. This risk is greater for residential mortgage-backed securities.
▲Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk - the risk that mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities represent interests in "pools" of mortgages or other assets such as consumer loans or receivables held in trust and often involve risks that are different from or possibly more acute than risks associated with other types of debt instruments. Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed rate mortgage-related securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, if a Fund holds mortgage-related securities, it may exhibit additional volatility since individual mortgage holders are less likely to exercise prepayment options, thereby putting additional downward pressure on the value of these securities and potentially causing the Fund to lose money. This is known as extension risk. Mortgage-backed securities can be highly sensitive to rising interest rates, such that even small movements can cause an investing Fund to lose value. Mortgage-backed securities, and in particular those not backed by a government guarantee, are subject to credit risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of a Fund because the Fund may have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. A Fund's investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets. Payment of principal and interest on asset-backed securities may be largely dependent upon the cash flows generated by the assets backing the securities, and asset-backed securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets.
▲Government Securities Risk - the risk a fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as securities issued by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac). U.S. government securities are subject to market risk, interest rate risk, and credit risk. Securities such as those issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae or the U.S. Treasury, that are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity, and the market prices for such securities will fluctuate. Notwithstanding that these securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, circumstances could arise that would prevent the payment of interest or principal. This would result in losses to a fund. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-related organizations, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support. Therefore, U.S. government-related organizations may not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future. U.S. government securities include zero coupon securities, which tend to be subject to greater market risk and interest rate risk than interest-paying securities of similar maturities.
▲Non-Government Securities Risk - the risk that payments on a non-government security will not be made when due, or the value of such security will decline, because the security is not issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. government or by agencies or authorities controlled or supervised by and acting as instrumentalities of the U.S. government. These securities may include but are not limited to securities issued by non-government entities which can include instruments secured by obligations of residential mortgage borrowers. Non-agency securities also may include asset-backed securities (which represent interests in auto, consumer and/or credit card loans) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (which represent interests in commercial mortgage loans).
4  Summary Information
▲Leveraging Risk - the risk that certain transactions of the Fund, such as transactions in derivative instruments, may give rise to leverage, causing the Fund to be more volatile than if it had not been leveraged.
▲IBOR Risk - the risk that changes related to the use of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or similar interbank offered rates ("IBORs," such as the Euro Overnight Index Average (EONIA)) could have adverse impacts on financial instruments that reference LIBOR or a similar rate. While some instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR or a similar rate is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate setting methodology, not all instruments have such fallback provisions and the effectiveness of replacement rates is uncertain. The abandonment of LIBOR and similar rates could affect the value and liquidity of instruments that reference such rates, especially those that do not have fallback provisions. The use of alternative reference rate products may impact investment strategy performance.
▲Management Risk - the risk that the Fund's performance is primarily dependent on the investment adviser's or investment sub-adviser's skill in evaluating and managing the Fund's holdings. There can be no guarantee that its decisions will produce the desired results, and the Fund may not perform as well as other similar mutual funds.
▲Active Management Risk - The Fund is subject to the risk that the investment sub-adviser's judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the Fund's investments may prove to be incorrect. If the securities selected and strategies employed by the Fund fail to produce the intended results, the Fund could underperform other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.
Performance
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and how the Fund's average annual returns over time compare to the return of a broad based index. The chart and table do not reflect the charges and other expenses associated with the variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts, or qualified plans which invest in the Fund. If such charges and expenses were included, the returns shown below would be lower. The past performance of the Fund does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future and reflects the performance of Securian Asset Management, Inc. (Securian AM).
Calendar Year Total Returns for Class 2 Shares (a)
Best Quarter
4Q '23 | 7.37%
Worst Quarter
3Q '22 | -6.03%
(a)
The performance shown in the bar chart above is for Class 2 shares and reflects a 0.25% 12b-1 distribution fee that is not charged to Class 1 shares. The returns for Class 1 shares would be substantially similar to the returns shown in the bar chart, but for the 12b-1 fee associated with Class 2 shares.
Summary Information  5
Average Annual Total Return
(for periods ending December 31, 2023)
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Core Bond Fund - Class 1
5.98
%
1.25
%
2.20
%
Core Bond Fund - Class 2
5.72
%
0.99
%
1.94
%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no
deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
5.53
%
1.10
%
1.81
%
Management
The Fund is advised by Securian Asset Management, Inc. and sub-advised by Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC (MetWest). The following individual serves as the Fund's primary portfolio manager:
Name and Title
Primary Manager Since
Jerry Cudzil
Group Managing Director and Generalist Portfolio
Manager,
MetWest
September 6, 2023
Ruben Hovhannisyan, CFA
Managing Director and Generalist Portfolio Manager,
MetWest
September 6, 2023
Stephen M. Kane, CFA
Group Managing Director and Generalist Portfolio
Manager,
MetWest
August 1, 2022
Bryan T. Whalen, CFA
Group Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer and
Generalist Portfolio Manager,
MetWest
August 1, 2022
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Fund shares are sold only to participating life insurance company separate accounts and qualified plans (financial intermediaries) and are not offered directly to the public. Purchases and sales of Fund shares may be effected only through a participating life insurance company or qualified plan. Please refer to the appropriate separate account prospectus or plan documents for detail.
Taxes
For information concerning the tax consequences to purchasers of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies issued by Minnesota Life Insurance Company (Minnesota Life) or other participating life insurance companies, please see the appropriate prospectus for those contracts.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
When you purchase Fund shares through a life insurance company in connection with its variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies, or through another financial intermediary such as a broker-dealer that sells variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies, the Fund or its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the life insurance company or broker-dealer to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's web site for more information.
6  Summary Information
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