In addition, markets and market participants are increasingly reliant on information data systems. Inaccurate data, software or other technology malfunctions, programming inaccuracies, unauthorized use or access, and similar circumstances may impair the performance of these systems and may have an adverse impact upon a single issuer, a group of issuers, or the market at large.
Asset Allocation Risk -The Portfolio's investment performance depends upon how its assets are allocated across various asset classes and how its assets are invested within those asset classes. Some asset classes and investments may perform below expectations, or below the securities markets generally, over short and extended periods. The allocation strategies used and the allocation and investment decisions made could cause the Portfolio to lose value and may not produce the desired results.
Interest Rate Risk -Changes in interest rates may affect the yield, liquidity and value of investments in income producing or debt securities. Changes in interest rates also may affect the value of other securities. When interest rates rise, the value of the Portfolio's debt securities generally declines. Conversely, when interest rates decline, the value of the Portfolio's debt securities generally rises. Typically, the longer the maturity (i.e., the term of a debt security) or duration (i.e., a measure of the sensitivity of a debt security to changes in market interest rates, based on the entire cash flow associated with the security) of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest rates could have on the security's price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Portfolio's debt securities to interest rate risk will increase the greater the duration of those securities. Changes in government or central bank monetary policy may have a substantial and immediate impact on interest rates, which could result in losses to the Portfolio.
Credit Risk -The Portfolio is subject to the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security, or the counterparty to a transaction, is unable or unwilling, or is perceived as unable or unwilling, to make timely interest or principal payments or otherwise honor its obligations, or defaults completely, which may cause the Portfolio's holdings to lose value. The downgrade of a security's credit rating may decrease its value. Lower credit quality also may lead to greater volatility in the price of a security and may negatively affect a security's liquidity. The credit quality of a security can deteriorate suddenly and rapidly. The Portfolio may experience a significant or complete loss on a fixed income security or a transaction.
Equity Risk -In general, the values of stocks and other equity securities fluctuate, and sometimes widely fluctuate, in response to changes in a company's financial condition as well as general market, economic and political conditions and other factors. Stock markets tend to run in cycles, with periods when stock prices generally go up and periods when stock prices generally go down. However, stock markets also can move up and down rapidly and unpredictably. In addition, common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, which increase borrowing costs and the costs of capital. The Portfolio may experience a significant or complete loss on its investment in an equity security.
Volatility Management Risk -The Portfolio may invest from time to time in Underlying Portfolios managed by the Adviser that may employ various volatility management techniques or make strategic adjustments to their asset mix (such as by using futures and options to manage equity exposure). Although these actions are intended to reduce the overall risk of investing in an Underlying Portfolio, they may not work as intended and may result in losses by an Underlying Portfolio, and in turn, the Portfolio, or periods of underperformance, particularly during periods when market values are increasing but market volatility is high or when an Underlying Portfolio has reduced its equity exposure but market changes do not impact equity returns adversely to the extent predicted by the Adviser.
The result of any volatility management strategy will be subject to the Adviser's ability to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the relevant market index and the metrics used by the Adviser to measure market volatility. Since the characteristics of many securities change as markets change or time passes, the result of any volatility management strategy also will be subject to the Adviser's ability to continually recalculate, readjust, and execute volatility management techniques in an efficient manner. In addition, market conditions change, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, and the Adviser may be unable to execute the volatility management strategy in a timely manner or at all.
The Adviser to the Underlying Portfolios uses proprietary modeling tools to implement the volatility management strategy. If the proprietary modeling tools prove to be flawed or for other reasons do not produce the desired results, any decisions based on the modeling tools may expose an Underlying Portfolio, and in turn, the Portfolio, to additional risks and losses. The use of modeling tools has inherent risks, and the success of using a modeling tool depends, among other things, on the accuracy and completeness of the tool's development, implementation and maintenance; on the tool's assumptions and methodologies; and on the accuracy and reliability of the inputs and output of the tool. The Adviser from time to time may make changes to its proprietary modeling tools that do not require shareholder notice.
Moreover, volatility management strategies may expose an Underlying Portfolio, and in turn, the Portfolio, to costs, such as increased portfolio transaction costs, which could cause or increase losses or reduce gains. In addition, it is not possible to manage volatility fully or perfectly. Futures contracts and other instruments used in connection with the volatility management strategy are not necessarily