Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2019
Securities Act of 1933 File No. 002-80859
Investment Company Act of 1940 File No. 811-03651
 
 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM N-1A
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 x
 
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
 
Post-Effective Amendment No. 197
and/or
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 x
 
Amendment No. 197
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
 
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 
303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code (800) 638-8194
 
Jill T. McGruder, 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
 
Copies to:
 
Deborah Bielicke Eades, Esq.
Vedder Price P.C.
222 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 609-7661
 
Renee M. Hardt, Esq.
Vedder Price P.C.
222 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 609-7616
 
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
¨ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
x on April 30, 2019 pursuant to paragraph (b)
¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)
¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)
¨ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
¨ This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
 




April 30, 2019
Prospectus
 
Touchstone Strategic Trust
 
 
Class A
 
Class C
 
Class Y
 
Institutional Class
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund
TDEAX
 
TDECX
 
TDEYX
 
TDELX
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund
TSAAX
 
TSACX
 
TSAYX
 
 
Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
TBAAX
 
TBACX
 
TBAYX
 
 
Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
TSMAX
 
TSMCX
 
TSMYX
 
 
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Touchstone Funds' annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the shareholder reports from Touchstone Funds or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will be available on the Touchstone Funds' website (TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

You may elect to receive all future annual and semi-annual shareholder reports in paper, free of charge. If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. To elect to receive paper copies of shareholder reports through the mail or otherwise change your delivery method, contact your financial intermediary, or if you hold your shares directly through Touchstone Funds, visit TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources/Edelivery or call Touchstone Funds toll-free at 1.800.543.0407. Your election to receive shareholder reports in paper will apply to all Touchstone Funds that you hold through your financial intermediary or directly with Touchstone.




Table of Contents
 
Page
 
 
 
TOUCHSTONE DYNAMIC EQUITY FUND SUMMARY
 
TOUCHSTONE CONTROLLED GROWTH WITH INCOME FUND SUMMARY
 
TOUCHSTONE DYNAMIC DIVERSIFIED INCOME FUND SUMMARY
 
TOUCHSTONE DYNAMIC GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND SUMMARY
 
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
 
THE FUNDS’ MANAGEMENT
 
CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES
 
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS
 
INVESTING WITH TOUCHSTONE
 
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
APPENDIX A - INTERMEDIARY-SPECIFIC SALES CHARGES WAIVERS AND DISCOUNTS
 
 




TOUCHSTONE DYNAMIC EQUITY FUND SUMMARY

The Fund’s Investment Goal

The Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to obtain long-term capital appreciation from hedged equity investments with less risk than a fully invested, unhedged equity portfolio.
The Fund’s Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.   You may qualify for sales charge discounts for Class A shares of Touchstone equity funds and Touchstone fixed income funds if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 or $50,000 , respectively, in Touchstone funds.   More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional, in the section titled “Choosing a Class of Shares” in the Fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") on page 48 and 43 , respectively, and in Appendix A–Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to the Fund's prospectus.
 
Class A
 
Class C
 
Class Y
 
Institutional
Class
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
5.00
 %
 
None

 
None

 
None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)(as a percentage of original purchase price or the amount redeemed, whichever is less)
None

 
1.00%

 
None

 
None

Wire Redemption Fee
Up to $15
 
Up to $15
 
Up to $15
 
Up to $15
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management Fees
0.85
 %
 
0.85
 %
 
0.85
%
 
0.85
%
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fees
0.25
 %
 
1.00
 %
 
None

 
None

Other Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       Dividend and Interest Expenses on Securities Sold Short
0.75
 %
 
0.75
 %
 
0.75
%
 
0.75
%
Other Operating Expenses
0.55
 %
 
0.64
 %
 
0.35
%
 
0.36
%
Total Other Expenses
1.30
 %
 
1.39
 %
 
1.10
%
 
1.11
%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
2.40
 %
 
3.24
 %
 
1.95
%
 
1.96
%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (1)
(0.10
)%
 
(0.19
)%
 
0.00
%
 
0.00
%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (1)
2.30
 %
 
3.05
 %
 
1.95
%
 
1.96
%
___________________________________________
(1) Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the "Advisor" or "Touchstone Advisors") and Touchstone Strategic Trust (the "Trust") have entered into a contractual expense limitation agreement whereby Touchstone Advisors will waive a portion of its fees or reimburse certain Fund expenses (excluding dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions and other transaction costs; portfolio transaction and investment related expenses, including expenses associated with the Fund's liquidity providers; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” if any; and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) in order to limit annual Fund operating expenses to 1.55%, 2.30%, 1.30%, and 1.25% of average daily net assets for Classes A, C, Y and Institutional Class shares, respectively. This contractual expense limitation is effective through April 29, 2020, but can be terminated by a vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) if it deems the termination to be beneficial to the Fund’s shareholders. The terms of the contractual expense limitation agreement provide that Touchstone Advisors is entitled to recoup, subject to approval by the Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the date on which the Advisor reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Fund. The Fund will make repayments to the Advisor only if such repayment does not cause the annual Fund operating expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed both (1) the expense cap in place when such amounts were waived or reimbursed and (2) the Fund’s current expense limitation. 

Example. This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.  The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year,

3



that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same and that all fee waivers or expense limits for the Fund will expire after one year.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
Assuming Redemption at End of Period
 
Assuming No Redemption
Class A
 
Class C
 
Class Y
 
Institutional Class
 
Class C
1 Year
$
721

 
$
408

 
$
198

 
$
199

 
$
308

3 Years
$
1,202

 
$
980

 
$
612

 
$
615

 
$
980

5 Years
$
1,708

 
$
1,676

 
$
1,052

 
$
1,057

 
$
1,676

10 Years
$
3,092

 
$
3,527

 
$
2,275

 
$
2,285

 
$
3,527


Portfolio Turnover.   The Fund pays transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in total 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 267% of the average value of its portfolio.
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund’s sub-advisor, Wells Capital Management, Inc. (“Wells Capital” ), seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment goal by investing the Fund’s assets in a combination of equity securities, high quality short-term debt securities, and derivative instruments.
Equity Strategy: The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. This is a non-fundamental investment policy that can be changed by the Fund upon 60 days prior notice to shareholders. The Fund invests primarily in long and short positions in U.S. large-cap stocks included in the Russell 1000 ® Index (the “Index”), although the Fund may invest in small- and mid-cap equity securities. The Fund buys securities “long” that Wells Capital believes will outperform the Index and sells securities “short” that Wells Capital believes will underperform the Index. The Fund intends to take long and short equity positions that may vary over time based on Wells Capital’s assessment of market conditions and other factors. The Fund’s long equity exposure is ordinarily expected to range from 80% to 130% and its short equity exposure from 0% to 70% of the Fund’s net assets, excluding cash. The Fund may take short positions at the higher end of this range when it has reduced its written call options positions under the options strategy (as described below) and may during these periods hold a substantial portion of the Fund’s total assets in high quality short-term debt securities, cash, or cash equivalents.

Wells Capital selects common stocks and other equity securities for the Fund using a proprietary system that ranks securities according to a quantitative model. The model attempts to determine a security’s intrinsic value by evaluating variables such as relative valuation, price momentum, company fundamentals, liquidity, and risk.

Options Strategy: Wells Capital seeks to reduce the overall portfolio risk through the use of options. The Fund’s options strategy primarily focuses on the use of writing (selling) call options on equity indexes or exchange-traded index funds (“ETFs”). The Fund may sell call options on broad-based domestic equity indexes or ETFs, such as the S&P 100 ® Index, as well as on narrower market indexes or ETFs or on indexes or ETFs of companies in a particular industry or sector. The Fund seeks to write options on broad and narrow-based indexes and ETFs that correlate with the price movements of the Fund’s equity securities.

The Fund may also buy index put options to help protect it from potential market declines. The value of these options tends to move inversely to the underlying index. The Fund may also write (sell) covered call options on individual equity securities. The Fund may also purchase put options on individual equity securities which it owns.

The Fund may engage in frequent and active trading of securities as part of its principal investment strategy. Wells Capital generally considers selling a security when it reaches its fair value estimate, when the company’s fundamentals do not appear to justify the current price, when there has been or there is an expectation of an adverse change in the company’s fundamentals, when the risks of the security unexpectedly rise, or when other investment opportunities appear more attractive.

The Fund’s Principal Risks

The Fund’s share price will fluctuate. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund and the Fund could also return less than other investments.   Investments in the Fund are not bank guaranteed, are not deposits, and are not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment

4



goal.  You can find more information about the Fund’s investments and risks under the “Principal Investment Strategies and Risks” section of the Fund’s prospectus. The Fund is subject to the principal risks summarized below.
Call Options Risk:   Writing index and exchange-traded fund call options is intended to reduce an underlying fund’s volatility and provide income, although it may also reduce an underlying fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of its equity portfolio.

Counterparty Risk:   A counterparty (the other party to a transaction or an agreement or the party with whom an underlying fund executes transactions) to a transaction with an underlying fund may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations.

Covered Call Options Risk: Investments in covered calls involve certain risks. These risks include:

Limited Gains. When the Fund writes a covered call option, the Fund makes an obligation to deliver a security it already owns at an agreed-upon strike price on or before a predetermined date in the future in return for a premium. By selling a covered call option, the Fund may forego the opportunity to benefit from an increase in the price of the underlying stock above the exercise price, but continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying stock.

Lack of Liquidity for the Option. A liquid market may not exist for a covered call option. If the Fund is not able to close out an option transaction, the Fund will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or is exercised.

Lack of Liquidity for the Security. The Fund’s investment strategy may also result in a lack of liquidity of portfolio securities. Because the Fund will generally hold the stocks underlying the call option, the Fund may be less likely to sell the stocks in its portfolio to take advantage of new investment opportunities.

Tax Consequences . The Fund expects to generate premiums from its sale of call options. These premiums typically will result in short-term capital gains to the Fund for federal income tax purposes. Transactions involving the disposition of the Fund’s underlying securities (whether pursuant to the exercise of a call option or otherwise) will give rise to capital gains or losses. Due to the tax treatment of securities on which call options have been written, the holding period of the underlying security may be affected and some or all of the gains from the sale of the underlying security may be short-term capital gains.

Derivatives Risk: The use of derivatives may expose the Fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives. Risks associated with derivatives may include the risk that the derivative does not correlate well with the security, index, or currency to which it relates, the risk that the Fund will be unable to sell or close out the derivative due to an illiquid market, the risk that the counterparty may be unwilling or unable to meet its obligations, and the risk that the derivative could expose the Fund to the risk of magnified losses resulting from leverage. These additional risks could cause the Fund to experience losses to which it would otherwise not be subject.

Forward Currency Exchange Contract Risk: A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date and at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a change in value of a currency, but they also limit any potential gains and do not protect against fluctuations in the value of the underlying position.

Futures Contracts Risk: The risks associated with the Fund’s futures positions include liquidity and counterparty risks associated with derivative instruments.

Leverage Risk: Leverage occurs when the Fund uses borrowings, derivatives (such as futures or options), or similar instruments or techniques to gain exposure to investments in an amount that exceeds the Fund's initial investment. The use of leverage magnifies changes in the Fund's net asset value and thus may result in increased portfolio volatility and increased risk of loss. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund’s overall returns. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.

Options Risk: Options trading is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the sub-advisor is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations. Options, whether exchange traded or over-the-counter, may also be illiquid .

Equity Securities Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of

5



securities issued by these companies may decline in response to such developments, which could result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s shares.
Large-Cap Risk: Large-cap companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

Mid-Cap Risk:  Stocks of mid-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Mid-sized companies may have limited product lines or financial resources, and may be dependent upon a particular niche of the market.

Small-Cap Risk: Stocks of smaller companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Small companies may have limited product lines or financial resources and may be dependent upon a small or inexperienced management group.

Fixed-Income Risk: The market value of the Fund’s fixed-income securities responds to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual issuers, including governments. Generally, the Fund’s fixed-income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall. Normally, the longer the maturity or duration of the fixed-income securities the Fund owns, the more sensitive the value of the Fund’s shares will be to changes in interest rates.

LIBOR Transition Risk: The Fund may invest in securities or derivatives that are based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). LIBOR transition risk is the risk that the transition from LIBOR to alternative interest rate benchmarks is not orderly, occurs over various time periods or has unintended consequences.

High Cash Balance Risk: From time to time, the Fund may hold a substantial portion of its total assets in high quality short-term debt securities, cash, or cash equivalents. When the Fund has a significant cash balance for a sustained period, the benefit to the Fund of any market upswing will be reduced, and the Fund’s performance will be adversely affected. When the Fund has a significant cash balance, it may not achieve its investment goal.

Management Risk: In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the Advisor engages one or more sub-advisors to make investment decisions for a portion of or the entire portfolio. There is a risk that the Advisor may be unable to identify and retain sub-advisors who achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisors.

Portfolio Turnover Risk: Frequent and active trading may result in greater expenses to the Fund, which may lower the Fund's performance and may result in the realization of substantial capital gains, including net short-term capital gains. As a result, high portfolio turnover may reduce the Fund's returns.

Short Sales Risk: In a short sale, the Fund sells a security or other financial instrument, such as a futures contract, that it does not own. To complete the transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund is then obligated to replace the borrowed security by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of replacement. If the price of the security sold short rises between the time the Fund sells the security short and the time the Fund replaces the security sold short, the Fund will realize a loss on the transaction.  

The Fund’s Performance

The bar chart and performance table below illustrate some indication of the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for one year, five years, and ten years compare with the S&P 500 ® Index and the FTSE 3-Month T-Bill Index. The bar chart does not reflect any sales charges, which would reduce your return. The performance table reflects any applicable sales charges. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information is available at no cost by visiting TouchstoneInvestments.com or by calling 1.800.543.0407.








6



Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund - Class A Shares Total Return as of December 31

CHART-75797F1E68D75A53938.JPG
Best Quarter: Fourth Quarter 2011 10.93%
 
Worst Quarter: Fourth Quarter 2018 (12.10)%

After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual marginal federal income tax rates in effect on a given distribution reinvestment date and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may differ from those shown and depend on your tax situation. The after-tax returns do not apply to shares held in an individual retirement account ("IRA"), 401(k), or other tax-advantaged account. The after-tax returns shown in the table are for Class A shares only. The after-tax returns for other classes of shares offered by the Fund will differ from the Class A shares' after-tax returns.
 
Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2018

 
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund - Class A
 
 
 
Return Before Taxes
(15.50)%
1.03%
4.80%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
(15.50)%
0.93%
4.74%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (1)
(9.18)%
0.80%
3.83%
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund - Class C
 
 
 
Return Before Taxes
(11.90)%
1.46%
4.62%
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund - Institutional Class
 
 
 
Return Before Taxes
(10.03)%
2.57%
5.72%
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund - Class Y
 
 
 
Return Before Taxes
(10.04)%
2.56%
5.72%
S&P 500 ®  Index  (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(4.38)%
8.49%
13.12%
FTSE 3-Month T-Bill Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1.86%
0.60%
0.35%
(1) The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be greater than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss on the sale of Fund shares.










7




The Fund’s Management

Investment Advisor

Touchstone Advisors, Inc.

Sub-Advisor
Portfolio Manager(s)
Investment Experience with the Fund
Primary Title with Sub-Advisor
Wells Capital Management, Inc.
Harindra de Silva, Ph.D., CFA
Since August 1995
President and Portfolio Manager
 
Dennis Bein, CFA
Since August 1995
Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager
 
Gregory McMurran
Since June 1978
Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager
 
Ryan Brown, CFA
Since April 2010
Portfolio Manager

Buying and Selling Fund Shares

Minimum Investment Requirements

 
Classes A, C, and Y

Initial
Investment

Additional
Investment
Regular Account
$
2,500


$
50

Retirement Account or Custodial Account under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act
$
1,000


$
50

Investments through the Automatic Investment Plan
$
100


$
50

 
Institutional Class
 
Initial
Investment

Additional
Investment
Regular Account
$
500,000


$
50


Fund shares may be purchased and sold on days that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Existing Class A, C and Institutional Class shareholders may purchase shares directly through Touchstone Funds via the transfer agent, BNY Mellon, or through their financial intermediary. Class Y shares are available only through financial intermediaries who have appropriate selling agreements in place with Touchstone Securities. Shares may be purchased or sold by writing to Touchstone Securities at P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, calling 1.800.543.0407, or visiting the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000. Shares held in IRA accounts and qualified retirement plans cannot be sold via the Internet. If your shares are held by a processing organization or financial intermediary you will need to follow its purchase and redemption procedures. For more information about buying and selling shares see the section “Investing with Touchstone” of the Fund’s prospectus or call 1.800.543.0407.

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains except when shares are held through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. Withdrawals from a tax-advantaged account, however, may be taxable.

Financial Intermediary Compensation

If you purchase shares in the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and 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 broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.  Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

8



TOUCHSTONE CONTROLLED GROWTH WITH INCOME FUND SUMMARY

The Fund’s Investment Goal

The Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investors with growth and income.
 
The Fund’s Fees and Expenses
 
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.   You may qualify for sales charge discounts for Class A shares of Touchstone equity funds and Touchstone fixed income funds if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 or $50,000 , respectively, in Touchstone funds.   More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional, in the section titled “Choosing a Class of Shares” in the Fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") on page  48 and 43 , respectively, and in Appendix A–Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to the Fund's prospectus.
 
Class A
 
Class C
 
Class Y
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
 

 
 

 
 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
5.00
 %
 
None

 
None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or the amount redeemed, whichever is less)
None

 
1.00
 %
 
None

Wire Redemption Fee
Up to $15

 
Up to $15

 
Up to $15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 

 
 

 
 

Management Fees
0.20
 %
 
0.20
 %
 
0.20
 %
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fees
0.25
 %
 
1.00
 %
 
None

Other Expenses
0.59
 %
 
0.73
 %
 
0.57
 %
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)
1.32
 %
 
1.32
 %
 
1.32
 %
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (1)
2.36
 %
 
3.25
 %
 
2.09
 %
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (2)
(0.55
)%
 
(0.69
)%
 
(0.53
)%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (1)(2)
1.81
 %
 
2.56
 %
 
1.56
 %
___________________________________________
(1) Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and will differ from the ratios of expenses to average net assets that is included in the Fund's annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
(2) Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the "Advisor" or "Touchstone Advisors") and Touchstone Strategic Trust (the "Trust") have entered into a contractual expense limitation agreement whereby Touchstone Advisors will waive a portion of its fees or reimburse certain Fund expenses (excluding dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions and other transaction costs; portfolio transaction and investment related expenses, including expenses associated with the Fund's liquidity providers; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” if any; and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) in order to limit annual Fund operating expenses to 0.49%, 1.24% and 0.24% of average daily net assets for Classes A, C and Y shares, respectively.  This contractual expense limitation is effective through April 29, 2020, but can be terminated by a vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) if it deems the termination to be beneficial to the Fund’s shareholders. The terms of the contractual expense limitation agreement provide that Touchstone Advisors is entitled to recoup, subject to approval by the Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the date on which the Advisor reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Fund. The Fund will make repayments to the Advisor only if such repayment does not cause the annual Fund operating expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed both (1) the expense cap in place when such amounts were waived or reimbursed and (2) the Fund’s current expense limitation. 



9



Example. This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.  The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same and that all fee waivers or expense limits for the Fund will expire after one year.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
Assuming Redemption at End of Period
 
Assuming No Redemption
 
Class A
 
Class C
 
Class Y
 
Class C
1 Year
$
675

 
$
359

 
$
159

 
$
259

3 Years
$
1,150

 
$
937

 
$
604

 
$
937

5 Years
$
1,650

 
$
1,638

 
$
1,075

 
$
1,638

10 Years
$
3,021

 
$
3,502

 
$
2,379

 
$
3,502

 
Portfolio Turnover.   The Fund pays transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in total 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 62% of the average value of its portfolio.
 
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund is a “fund-of-funds,” which seeks to achieve its investment goal by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of underlying equity, fixed-income, and alternative funds (although a portion of its assets may be invested in cash, cash equivalents, or in money market funds). These underlying funds, in turn, invest in a variety of U.S. and foreign equity securities, fixed-income instruments and other investments.  The Fund will allocate a significant portion of its assets to underlying funds utilizing alternative or nontraditional investment strategies, such as long-short and merger arbitrage strategies.  The majority of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests will be affiliated funds; however, the Fund will have the ability to invest in unaffiliated underlying funds, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), to the extent that the desired asset class exposure is not available through Touchstone Funds.
 
The following table details, under normal circumstances, how the Fund generally expects to allocate its assets among equity, fixed-income and alternative funds, as of the date of this prospectus.
 
Allocations
 
Approximate Allocation Range
 
Approximate Strategic Allocation
Equity Fund Allocation
 
0-25%
 
10%
Fixed-Income Fund Allocation
 
25-50%
 
25%
Alternative Fund Allocation
 
50-75%
 
65%
 
The Fund may invest up to 45% of its assets in any individual underlying fund. Several of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests may invest without limit in securities of issuers outside of the United States.  As a result, the Fund will have exposure to foreign markets. The Fund, through its investment in underlying funds, may also be exposed to equity securities of companies of all market capitalizations, including small-, mid-, and large-cap companies.  Though not expected to be a substantial part of the overall strategy of the Fund, the Fund, through its investment in underlying funds, will gain exposure to additional strategies and instruments of the underlying funds, including:  collateralized loan obligations, derivatives (such as futures contracts, options, and swaps), and real estate investments.
 
The Fund’s sub-advisor, Wilshire Associates Incorporated (“Wilshire”), seeks to develop an optimal allocation among underlying funds in accordance with these principles:

“Controlled” Growth — seeks growth through lower volatility equities and alternative strategy exposure
Rising Rate Protection — seeks lower duration and lower bond correlation
Attractive Income — seeks higher yielding debt to produce attractive income
 
Wilshire and the Fund’s Advisor periodically agree on the universe of underlying funds that Wilshire may consider when making allocation decisions.  Wilshire, subject to approval by the Fund’s Advisor, may change the Fund’s target allocation to each asset class, the underlying funds in each asset class (including the addition or removal of funds from the universe of underlying funds), or target allocations to each underlying fund without prior approval from or notice to shareholders.

10



 
For information on the underlying funds, please see the section entitled “Additional Information Regarding the Underlying Funds” under “Principal Investment Strategies and Risks” in the Fund’s prospectus.
 
The Fund’s Principal Risks

The Fund’s share price will fluctuate.   You could lose money on your investment in the Fund and the Fund could return less than other investments.   The Fund is subject to direct risks and indirect risks as a result of its investments in underlying funds. Investments in the Fund are not bank guaranteed, are not deposits, and are not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goal.  You can find more information about the Fund’s investments and risks under the “Principal Investment Strategies and Risks” section of the Fund’s prospectus. The Fund is subject to the principal risks summarized below.

Management Risk: In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the Advisor engages one or more sub-advisors to make investment decisions for a portion of or the entire portfolio. There is a risk that the Advisor may be unable to identify and retain sub-advisors who achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisors.
 
Fund-of-Funds Structure Risk : The value of an investment in the Fund is based on the performance of the underlying funds in which it invests and the allocation of its assets among those funds.  The underlying funds may change their investment goals, policies or practices and there can be no assurance that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment goals.  Because the Fund invests in mutual funds, it bears a proportionate share of the expenses charged by the underlying funds in which it invests.  The principal risks of an investment in the Fund include the principal risks of investing in the underlying funds.
 
The Fund is exposed to the risks of the underlying funds in which it invests in direct proportion to the amount of assets the Fund allocates to each underlying fund.  One underlying fund may buy the same security that another underlying fund is selling.  You would indirectly bear the costs of both trades.  In addition, you may receive taxable gains from portfolio transactions by the underlying funds, as well as taxable gains from the Fund’s transactions in shares of the underlying funds.  The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment goal depends, in part, upon Wilshire’s skill in selecting an optimal mix of underlying funds.
 
The underlying funds in which the Fund may invest are expected to be subject to the following principal risks.
 
Call Options Risk:   Writing index and exchange-traded fund call options is intended to reduce an underlying fund’s volatility and provide income, although it may also reduce an underlying fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of its equity portfolio.
 
Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk:   Typically, collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) are privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, an underlying fund may in certain circumstances characterize its investments in CLOs as illiquid.  In assessing liquidity, an underlying fund will consider various factors including whether the CLO may be purchased and sold in Rule 144A transactions and whether an active dealer market exists.  CLOs are subject to the typical risks associated with debt instruments (i.e., interest rate risk and credit risk). Additional risks of CLOs include the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will be insufficient to make interest or other payments, the potential for a decline in the quality of the collateral, and the possibility that an underlying fund may invest in a subordinate tranche of a CLO.
 
Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are subject to the risks of both debt securities and equity securities. The values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates rise and, due to the conversion feature, tend to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying security.
 
Counterparty Risk:   A counterparty (the other party to a transaction or an agreement or the party with whom an underlying fund executes transactions) to a transaction with an underlying fund may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations.
 
Covered Call Options Risk: Investments in covered calls involve certain risks. These risks include:
 
Limited Gains.   When an underlying fund writes a covered call option, the underlying fund makes an obligation to deliver a security it already owns at an agreed-upon strike price on or before a predetermined date in the future in return for a premium.  By selling a covered call option, an underlying fund may forego the opportunity to benefit from an increase in the price of the underlying stock above the exercise price, but continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying stock.

11



 
Lack of Liquidity.   If an underlying fund is not able to close out an option transaction, the underlying fund will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or is exercised. Because an underlying fund will generally hold the stocks underlying the call option, an underlying fund may be less likely to sell the stocks in its portfolio to take advantage of new investment opportunities.
 
Derivatives Risk:  The use of derivatives may expose an underlying fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives. Risks associated with derivatives may include correlation risk, which is the risk that the derivative does not correlate well with the security, index, or currency to which it relates, and the risk that the derivative may not have the intended effects. The use of derivatives to hedge risk may reduce the opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable price movements.
 
Forward Currency Exchange Contract Risk: A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date and at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a change in value of a currency, but they also limit any potential gains and do not protect against fluctuations in the value of the underlying position.

Futures Contracts Risk:  The risks associated with an underlying fund’s futures positions include liquidity and counterparty risks associated with derivative instruments.

Leverage Risk:  Leverage occurs when an underlying fund uses derivatives (such as futures or options), or similar instruments or techniques to gain exposure to investments in an amount that exceeds an underlying fund’s initial investment. The use of leverage magnifies changes in an underlying fund’s net asset value and thus results in increased portfolio volatility and increased risk of loss. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.

Options Risk: Options trading is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the sub-advisor is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations. Options, whether exchange traded or over-the-counter, may also be illiquid .

Swap Agreement Risk:  Swap agreements (“swaps”) are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Swaps may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the underlying fund and its share price. The performance of swaps may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. A swap can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.

Equity Securities Risk: An underlying fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by these companies may decline in response to developments, which could result in a decline in the value of the underlying fund’s shares.

Large-Cap Risk: Large-cap companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.
 
Mid-Cap Risk:  Stocks of mid-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Mid-sized companies may have limited product lines or financial resources, and may be dependent upon a particular niche of the market.
 
Preferred Stock Risk: In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline.
 
Real Estate Investment Trust Risk:  Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) are pooled investment vehicles that primarily invest in commercial real estate or real estate-related loans. REITs are susceptible to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, such as declines in property values and rental rates and increases in property taxes. Additionally, REITs typically incur fees that are separate from those of an underlying fund.
 

12



Small-Cap Risk: Stocks of smaller companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Small companies may have limited product lines or financial resources and may be dependent upon a small or inexperienced management group.
 
Fixed-Income Risk: The market value of an underlying fund’s fixed-income investments responds to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual issuers. Generally, an underlying fund’s fixed-income investments will decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall. Normally, the longer an underlying fund’s maturity or duration, the more sensitive the value of an underlying fund’s shares will be to changes in interest rates.
 
Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Asset-backed securities are fixed-income securities backed by other assets such as credit card, automobile or consumer loan receivables, retail installment loans, or participations in pools of leases. The values of these securities are sensitive to changes in the credit quality of the underlying collateral, the credit strength of any credit enhancement feature, changes in interest rates, and, at times, the financial condition of the issuer.

Corporate Loan Risk:   The corporate loans in which an underlying fund invests may be rated below investment grade.  As a result, such corporate loans will be considered speculative with respect to the borrowers’ ability to make payments of interest and principal and will otherwise generally bear risks similar to those associated with non-investment grade securities.  There is a high risk that an underlying fund could suffer a loss from investments in lower rated corporate loans as a result of a default by the borrower.

Credit Risk: The fixed-income securities in an underlying fund’s portfolio are subject to the possibility that a deterioration, whether sudden or gradual, in the financial condition of an issuer, or a deterioration in general economic conditions, could cause an issuer to fail to make timely payments of principal or interest, when due. This may cause the issuer’s securities to decline in value.

Interest Rate Risk: As interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities the underlying fund owns will likely decrease. The price of debt securities is generally linked to the prevailing market interest rates. In general, when interest rates rise, the prices of debt securities fall, and when interest rates fall, the prices of debt securities rise. The price volatility of a debt security also depends on its maturity. Longer-term securities are generally more volatile, so the longer the average maturity or duration of these securities, the greater their price risk.

Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk: Investment-grade debt securities may be downgraded by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (" NRSRO") to below-investment-grade status, which would increase the risk of holding these securities. Investment-grade debt securities rated in the lowest rating category by a NRSRO involve a higher degree of risk than fixed-income securities with higher credit ratings.

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: Some underlying funds may invest in mortgage-backed securities, some of which may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to call risk and extension risk. Because of these risks, mortgage-backed securities react differently to changes in interest rates than other bonds. Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain mortgage-backed securities.

Non-Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk:   Non-investment-grade debt securities are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds” and are considered speculative with respect to their issuers’ ability to make payments of interest and principal. There is a high risk that an underlying fund could suffer a loss from investments in non-investment-grade debt securities caused by the default of an issuer of such securities. Non-investment-grade debt securities may also be less liquid than investment-grade debt securities.

Stressed and Distressed Securities Risk:  Distressed securities are speculative and involve significant risks in addition to the risks generally applicable to non-investment grade debt securities.  Distressed securities bear a substantial risk of default, and may be in default at the time of investment.  An underlying fund will generally not receive interest payments on distressed securities, and there is a significant risk that principal will not be repaid, in full or at all.  Distressed securities will likely be illiquid and may be subject to restrictions on resale.
 
U.S. Government Agencies Securities Risk:  Certain U.S. government agency securities are backed by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury while others are supported only by the credit of the issuer or instrumentality.  While the U.S. government is able to provide financial support to U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it will always do so.

13



 
Foreign Securities Risk: Investing in foreign securities poses additional risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers, while such events may not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of an underlying fund’s investments. There are also risks associated with foreign accounting standards, government regulation, market information, and clearance and settlement procedures. Foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. markets and offer less protection to investors.
 
Depositary Receipts Risk: Foreign receipts, which include ADRs, Global Depositary Receipts, and European Depositary Receipts, are securities that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer. The risks of depositary receipts include many risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.
 
Liquidity Risk:  Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. This can reduce an underlying fund’s returns because an underlying fund may be unable to transact at advantageous times or prices, or at all.

Merger Arbitrage Risk: Investments in companies that are expected to be, or already are, the subject of a publicly announced transaction carry the risk that the proposed or expected transaction may not be completed or may be completed on less favorable terms than originally expected.

Non-Diversification Risk: An underlying fund may be non-diversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets than a diversified mutual fund in the securities of a limited number of issuers. The use of a non-diversified investment strategy may increase the volatility of an underlying fund’s investment performance, as an underlying fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political, or regulatory event.

Pay-In-Kind Bonds Risk:  Pay-in-kind bonds, a type of mezzanine financing, are securities that, at the issuer’s option, pay interest in either cash or additional securities for a specified period. Pay-in-kind bonds, like zero coupon bonds, are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow. Pay-in-kind bonds are expected to reflect the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last payment. Pay-in-kind bonds are usually less volatile than zero coupon bonds, but more volatile than cash pay securities.

Portfolio Turnover Risk: An underlying fund may engage in active and frequent trading, which may result in increased transaction costs to the underlying fund. This risk also applies to the Fund, which may engage in active and frequent trading of underlying funds resulting in increased transaction costs to the Fund.

Rule 144A Securities Risk: Rule 144A securities are restricted securities that may be purchased only by qualified institutional buyers in reliance on an exemption from federal registration requirements. Investing in Rule 144A securities may reduce the liquidity of the Fund's portfolio if an adequate institutional trading market for these securities does not exist. Prices of Rule 144A securities often reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable exchange-listed securities for which a liquid trading market exists.

Short Sales Risk:   In a short sale, an underlying fund sells a security or other financial instrument, such as a futures contract, that it does not own.  To complete the transaction, the underlying fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer.  An underlying fund is then obligated to replace the borrowed security by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of replacement.  If the price of the security sold short rises between the time an underlying fund sells the security short and the time an underlying fund replaces the security sold short, an underlying fund will realize a loss on the transaction.

Value Investing Risk:  Value investing presents the risk that an underlying fund’s security holdings may never reach their full market value because the market fails to recognize what the portfolio managers consider the true business value or because the portfolio managers have misjudged those values. In addition, value investing may fall out of favor and underperform growth or other styles of investing during given certain periods.
 
The Fund’s Performance

The bar chart and performance table below illustrate some indication of the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for one year, five years, and ten years compare with the ICE BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index and Wilshire Liquid Alternative Index SM .  The bar chart does not reflect any sales charges, which would reduce your return.  The performance table reflects any applicable sales charges. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate

14



how the Fund will perform in the future.  More recent performance information is available at no cost by visiting TouchstoneInvestments.com or by calling 1.800.543.0407.
 
On November 23, 2015, the Fund changed its name, principal investment strategies and sub-advisor.  Consequently, prior period performance may have been different if the Fund had not been managed by the prior sub-advisor using that sub-advisor’s asset allocation strategy.
 
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund — Class A Shares Total Return as of December 31
 
CHART-F3BBA86EB2A55ACEB7D.JPG

Best Quarter: Second Quarter 2009 9.23%
 
Worst Quarter: Fourth Quarter 2018 (5.79)%
 
After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual marginal federal income tax rates in effect on a given distribution reinvestment date and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may differ from those shown and depend on your tax situation. The after-tax returns do not apply to shares held in an individual retirement account ("IRA"), 401(k), or other tax-advantaged account. The after-tax returns shown in the table are for Class A shares only. The after-tax returns for other classes of shares offered by the Fund will differ from the Class A shares' after-tax returns.
 

15




Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2018
 
 
1 Year
 
5 Years
 
10 Years
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund — Class A
 

 
 

 
 

Return Before Taxes
(10.07
)%
 
0.58
 %
 
4.41
%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
(10.75
)%
 
(0.31
)%
 
3.20
%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (1)
(5.75
)%
 
0.17
 %
 
3.03
%
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund — Class C
 
 
 

 
 

Return Before Taxes
(6.26
)%
 
1.01
 %
 
4.24
%
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund — Class Y
 

 
 
 
 

Return Before Taxes
(4.32
)%
 
2.05
 %
 
5.30
%
ICE BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)
1.87
 %
 
0.63
 %
 
0.37
%
Wilshire Liquid Alternative Index SM  (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(4.24
)%
 
0.19
 %
 
2.28
%
(1) The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be greater than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss on the sale of Fund shares.

The Fund’s Management

 
Investment Advisor
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
Sub-Advisor
 
Portfolio Manager(s)
 
Investment Experience with the Fund
 
Primary Title with Sub-Advisor
Wilshire Associates Incorporated
 
Nathan Palmer, CFA
 
Since 2015
 
Managing Director, Portfolio Manager
 
 
Anthony Wicklund, CFA, CAIA
 
Since 2015
 
Managing Director, Portfolio Manager
 
Buying and Selling Fund Shares


Minimum Investment Requirements
 
Classes A, C & Y
 
Initial
Investment
 
Additional
Investment
Regular Account
$
2,500

 
$
50

Retirement Account or Custodial Account under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act
$
1,000

 
$
50

Investments through the Automatic Investment Plan
$
100

 
$
50

 
Fund shares may be purchased and sold on days that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.  Existing Class A and C shareholders may purchase shares directly through Touchstone Funds via the transfer agent, BNY Mellon or through their financial intermediary.  Class Y shares are available only through financial intermediaries who have appropriate selling agreements in place with Touchstone Securities. Shares may be purchased or sold by writing to Touchstone Securities at P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, calling 1.800.543.0407, or visiting the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000. Shares held in IRA accounts and qualified retirement plans cannot be sold via the Internet. If your shares are held by a processing organization or financial intermediary you will need to follow its purchase and redemption procedures. For more information about buying and selling shares, see the section “Investing with Touchstone” of the Fund’s prospectus or call 1.800.543.0407.


16



As of the close of business on or about May 10, 2019, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund will reorganize into the Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund. Effective as of the close of business on May 8, 2019, all classes of the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund will be closed to investments by new investors.
 
Tax Information
 
The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains except when shares are held through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. Withdrawals from a tax-advantaged account, however, may be taxable.

Financial Intermediary Compensation
 
If you purchase shares in the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and 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 broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.  Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

17



TOUCHSTONE DYNAMIC DIVERSIFIED INCOME FUND SUMMARY
 
The Fund’s Investment Goal

The Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investors with current income.
 
The Fund’s Fees and Expenses
 
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.   You may qualify for sales charge discounts for Class A shares of Touchstone equity funds and Touchstone fixed income funds if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 or $50,000 , respectively, in Touchstone funds.   More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional, in the section titled “Choosing a Class of Shares” in the Fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") on page  48 and 43 , respectively, and in Appendix A–Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to the Fund's prospectus.
 
Class A

Class C

Class Y
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
 

 
 

 
 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
5.00
 %
 
None

 
None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or the amount redeemed, whichever is less)
None

 
1.00
 %
 
None

Wire Redemption Fee
Up to $15

 
Up to $15

 
Up to $15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 

 
 

 
 

Management Fees
0.20
 %
 
0.20
 %
 
0.20
 %
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fees
0.25
 %
 
1.00
 %
 
None

Other Expenses
0.48
 %
 
0.52
 %
 
0.83
 %
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)
0.73
 %
 
0.73
 %
 
0.73
 %
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (1)
1.66
 %
 
2.45
 %
 
1.76
 %
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (2)
(0.44
)%
 
(0.48
)%
 
(0.79
)%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (1)(2)
1.22
 %
 
1.97
 %
 
0.97
 %
___________________________________________
(1) Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and will differ from the ratios of expenses to average net assets that is included in the Fund's annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
(2)   Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the "Advisor" or "Touchstone Advisors") and Touchstone Strategic Trust (the "Trust") have entered into a contractual expense limitation agreement whereby Touchstone Advisors will waive a portion of its fees or reimburse certain Fund expenses (excluding dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions and other transaction costs; portfolio transaction and investment related expenses, including expenses associated with the Fund's liquidity providers; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” if any; and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) in order to limit annual Fund operating expenses to 0.49%, 1.24% and 0.24% of average daily net assets for Classes A, C and Y shares, respectively.  This contractual expense limitation is effective through April 29, 2020, but can be terminated by a vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) if it deems the termination to be beneficial to the Fund’s shareholders. The terms of the contractual expense limitation agreement provide that Touchstone Advisors is entitled to recoup, subject to approval by the Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the date on which the Advisor reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Fund. The Fund will make repayments to the Advisor only if such repayment does not cause the annual Fund operating expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed both (1) the expense cap in place when such amounts were waived or reimbursed and (2) the Fund’s current expense limitation. 
 

18



Example. This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.  The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same and that all fee waivers or expense limits for the Fund will expire after one year.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
Assuming Redemption at End of Period

Assuming No Redemption
 
Class A

Class C

Class Y

Class C
1 Year
$
618

 
$
300

 
$
99

 
$
200

3 Years
$
956

 
$
718

 
$
477

 
$
718

5 Years
$
1,318

 
$
1,262

 
$
880

 
$
1,262

10 Years
$
2,332

 
$
2,750

 
$
2,008

 
$
2,750

 
Portfolio Turnover.   The Fund pays transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in total 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 20% of the average value of its portfolio.
 
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund is a “fund-of-funds,” which seeks to achieve its investment goal by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of fixed-income and equity-income oriented underlying funds (although a portion of its assets may be invested in cash, cash equivalents, or in money market funds). The majority of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests will be affiliated funds; however, the Fund will have the ability to invest in unaffiliated underlying funds, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), to the extent that the desired asset class exposure is not available through Touchstone Funds.
 
The following table details, under normal circumstances, how the Fund generally expects to allocate its assets among equity, fixed-income, and alternative funds, as of the date of this prospectus.
Allocations
 
Approximate Allocation Range
 
Approximate Strategic Allocation
Equity Fund Allocation
 
25-55%
 
40%
Fixed-Income Fund Allocation
 
25-55%
 
40%
Alternative Fund Allocation
 
0-30%
 
20%
 
The Fund may invest up to 45% of its assets in any individual underlying fund. Though not expected to be a substantial part of the overall strategy of the Fund, the Fund, through its investment in underlying funds, will gain exposure to additional strategies and instruments of the underlying funds, including:  collateralized loan obligations, derivatives (such as futures contracts, options, and swaps), and real estate investments. Several of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests may invest without limit in securities of issuers outside of the United States.  As a result, the Fund will have exposure to foreign markets (including emerging markets). The Fund, through its investment in underlying funds, may also be exposed to equity securities of companies of all market capitalizations, including small-, mid-, and large-cap companies.
 
The Fund’s sub-advisor, Wilshire Associates Incorporated (“Wilshire”), seeks to develop an optimal model allocation among underlying funds that seeks to maximize “income efficiency,” or yield achieved per unit of risk.  The Fund primarily invests in fixed-income and equity-income oriented funds, ETFs, and ETNs and is dynamically managed as yield and volatility environments change.
 
Wilshire and the Fund’s Advisor routinely agree on the universe of underlying funds that Wilshire may consider when making allocation decisions.

Wilshire, subject to approval by the Fund’s Advisor, may change the Fund’s target allocation to each asset class, the underlying funds or other securities in each asset class (including the addition or removal of funds from the universe of underlying funds), or target allocations to each underlying fund without prior approval from or notice to shareholders.
 
For information on the underlying funds, please see the section entitled “Additional Information Regarding the Underlying Funds” under “Principal Investment Strategies and Risks” in the Fund’s prospectus.

19



The Fund’s Principal Risks

The Fund’s share price will fluctuate.   You could lose money on your investment in the Fund and the Fund could return less than other investments.   The Fund is subject to direct risks and indirect risks as a result of its investments in underlying funds. Investments in the Fund are not bank guaranteed, are not deposits, and are not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goal.  You can find more information about the Fund’s investments and risks under the “Principal Investment Strategies and Risks” section of the Fund’s prospectus. The Fund is subject to the principal risks summarized below.
 
Management Risk: In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the Advisor engages one or more sub-advisors to make investment decisions for a portion of or the entire portfolio. There is a risk that the Advisor may be unable to identify and retain sub-advisors who achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisors.
 
Fund-of-Funds Structure Risk : The value of an investment in the Fund is based on the performance of the underlying funds in which it invests and the allocation of its assets among those funds.  The underlying funds may change their investment goals, policies or practices and there can be no assurance that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment goals.  Because the Fund invests in mutual funds, it bears a proportionate share of the expenses charged by the underlying funds in which it invests.  The principal risks of an investment in the Fund include the principal risks of investing in the underlying funds.
 
The Fund is exposed to the risks of the underlying funds in which it invests in direct proportion to the amount of assets the Fund allocates to each underlying fund.  One underlying fund may buy the same security that another underlying fund is selling.  You would indirectly bear the costs of both trades.  In addition, you may receive taxable gains from portfolio transactions by the underlying funds, as well as taxable gains from the Fund’s transactions in shares of the underlying funds.  The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment goal depends, in part, upon Wilshire’s skill in selecting an optimal mix of underlying funds.

The underlying funds in which the Fund may invest are expected to be subject to the following principal risks.
 
Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk:   Typically, collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) are privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, an underlying fund may in certain circumstances characterize its investments in CLOs as illiquid.  In assessing liquidity, an underlying fund will consider various factors including whether the CLO may be purchased and sold in Rule 144A transactions and whether an active dealer market exists.  CLOs are subject to the typical risks associated with debt instruments (i.e., interest rate risk and credit risk). Additional risks of CLOs include the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will be insufficient to make interest or other payments, the potential for a decline in the quality of the collateral, and the possibility that an underlying fund may invest in a subordinate tranche of a CLO.

Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are subject to the risks of both debt securities and equity securities. The values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates rise and, due to the conversion feature, tend to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying security.

Counterparty Risk:   A counterparty (the other party to a transaction or an agreement or the party with whom an underlying fund executes transactions) to a transaction with an underlying fund may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations.

Derivatives Risk:  The use of derivatives may expose an underlying fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives. Risks associated with derivatives may include correlation risk, which is the risk that the derivative does not correlate well with the security, index, or currency to which it relates, and the risk that the derivative may not have the intended effects. The use of derivatives to hedge risk may reduce the opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable price movements.

Forward Currency Exchange Contract Risk: A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date and at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a change in value of a currency, but they also limit any potential gains and do not protect against fluctuations in the value of the underlying position.

Futures Contracts Risk:  The risks associated with an underlying fund’s futures positions include liquidity and counterparty risks associated with derivative instruments.


20



Leverage Risk:  Leverage occurs when an underlying fund uses derivatives (such as futures or options), or similar instruments or techniques to gain exposure to investments in an amount that exceeds an underlying fund’s initial investment. The use of leverage magnifies changes in an underlying fund’s net asset value and thus results in increased portfolio volatility and increased risk of loss. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.

Options Risk: Options trading is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the sub-advisor is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations. Options, whether exchange traded or over-the-counter, may also be illiquid .
 
Swap Agreement Risk:  Swap agreements (“swaps”) are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Swaps may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the underlying fund and its share price. The performance of swaps may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. A swap can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.
 
Equity Securities Risk: An underlying fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by these companies may decline in response to developments, which could result in a decline in the value of the underlying fund’s shares.
 
Large-Cap Risk: Large-cap companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.
 
Mid-Cap Risk:  Stocks of mid-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Mid-sized companies may have limited product lines or financial resources, and may be dependent upon a particular niche of the market.

Preferred Stock Risk: In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline.

Real Estate Investment Trust Risk:  Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) are pooled investment vehicles that primarily invest in commercial real estate or real estate-related loans. REITs are susceptible to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, such as declines in property values and rental rates and increases in property taxes. Additionally, REITs typically incur fees that are separate from those of an underlying fund.

Small-Cap Risk: Stocks of smaller companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Small companies may have limited product lines or financial resources and may be dependent upon a small or inexperienced management group.
 
Fixed-Income Risk: The market value of an underlying fund’s fixed-income investments responds to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual issuers. Generally, an underlying fund’s fixed-income investments will decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall. Normally, the longer an underlying fund’s maturity or duration, the more sensitive the value of an underlying fund’s shares will be to changes in interest rates.
 
Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Asset-backed securities are fixed-income securities backed by other assets such as credit card, automobile or consumer loan receivables, retail installment loans, or participations in pools of leases. The values of these securities are sensitive to changes in the credit quality of the underlying collateral, the credit strength of any credit enhancement feature, changes in interest rates, and, at times, the financial condition of the issuer.
 
Corporate Loan Risk:   The corporate loans in which an underlying fund invests may be rated below investment grade.  As a result, such corporate loans will be considered speculative with respect to the borrowers’ ability to make payments of interest and principal and will otherwise generally bear risks similar to those associated with non-investment grade securities.  There is a high risk that an underlying fund could suffer a loss from investments in lower rated corporate loans as a result of a default by the borrower.

21



 
Credit Risk: The fixed-income securities in an underlying fund’s portfolio are subject to the possibility that a deterioration, whether sudden or gradual, in the financial condition of an issuer, or a deterioration in general economic conditions, could cause an issuer to fail to make timely payments of principal or interest, when due. This may cause the issuer’s securities to decline in value.

Interest Rate Risk: As interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities the underlying fund owns will likely decrease. The price of debt securities is generally linked to the prevailing market interest rates. In general, when interest rates rise, the prices of debt securities fall, and when interest rates fall, the prices of debt securities rise. The price volatility of a debt security also depends on its maturity. Longer-term securities are generally more volatile, so the longer the average maturity or duration of these securities, the greater their price risk.

Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk: Investment-grade debt securities may be downgraded by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (" NRSRO") to below-investment-grade status, which would increase the risk of holding these securities. Investment-grade debt securities rated in the lowest rating category by a NRSRO involve a higher degree of risk than fixed-income securities with higher credit ratings.

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: Some underlying funds may invest in mortgage-backed securities, some of which may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to call risk and extension risk. Because of these risks, mortgage-backed securities react differently to changes in interest rates than other bonds. Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain mortgage-backed securities.
 
Non-Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk:   Non-investment-grade debt securities are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds” and are considered speculative with respect to their issuers’ ability to make payments of interest and principal. There is a high risk that an underlying fund could suffer a loss from investments in non-investment-grade debt securities caused by the default of an issuer of such securities. Non-investment-grade debt securities may also be less liquid than investment-grade debt securities.

Stressed and Distressed Securities Risk:  Distressed securities are speculative and involve significant risks in addition to the risks generally applicable to non-investment grade debt securities.  Distressed securities bear a substantial risk of default, and may be in default at the time of investment.  An underlying fund will generally not receive interest payments on distressed securities, and there is a significant risk that principal will not be repaid, in full or at all.  Distressed securities will likely be illiquid and may be subject to restrictions on resale.

U.S. Government Agencies Securities Risk:  Certain U.S. government agency securities are backed by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury while others are supported only by the credit of the issuer or instrumentality.  While the U.S. government is able to provide financial support to U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it will always do so.
 
Foreign Securities Risk: Investing in foreign securities poses additional risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers, while such events may not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of an underlying fund’s investments. There are also risks associated with foreign accounting standards, government regulation, market information, and clearance and settlement procedures. Foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. markets and offer less protection to investors.
 
Depositary Receipts Risk: Foreign receipts, which include ADRs, Global Depositary Receipts, and European Depositary Receipts, are securities that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer. The risks of depositary receipts include many risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

Emerging Markets Risk: Emerging markets may be more likely to experience political turmoil or rapid changes in market or economic conditions than more developed countries. In addition, the financial stability of issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may be more precarious than that of issuers in other countries.
 
Liquidity Risk:  Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. This can reduce an underlying fund’s returns because an underlying fund may be unable to transact at advantageous times or prices, or at all.


22



Non-Diversification Risk: An underlying fund may be non-diversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets than a diversified mutual fund in the securities of a limited number of issuers. The use of a non-diversified investment strategy may increase the volatility of an underlying fund’s investment performance, as an underlying fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political, or regulatory event.

Pay-In-Kind Bonds Risk:  Pay-in-kind bonds, a type of mezzanine financing, are securities that, at the issuer’s option, pay interest in either cash or additional securities for a specified period. Pay-in-kind bonds, like zero coupon bonds, are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow. Pay-in-kind bonds are expected to reflect the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last payment. Pay-in-kind bonds are usually less volatile than zero coupon bonds, but more volatile than cash pay securities.

Portfolio Turnover Risk: An underlying fund may engage in active and frequent trading, which may result in increased transaction costs to the underlying fund. This risk also applies to the Fund, which may engage in active and frequent trading of underlying funds resulting in increased transaction costs to the Fund.

Prepayment Risk: The risk that a debt security may be paid off and proceeds invested earlier than anticipated. Prepayment impacts both the interest rate sensitivity of the underlying asset, such as an asset-backed or mortgage-backed security and its cash flow projections. Therefore, prepayment risk may make it difficult to calculate the average duration of an underlying fund’s asset- or mortgage-backed securities which in turn would make it difficult to assess the interest rate risk of an underlying fund.

Real Estate Industry Risk:   Since an underlying fund’s investments may be concentrated in the real estate industry, it is subject to the risk that the real estate industry will underperform the broader market, as well as the risk that issuers in the industry will be similarly impacted by market conditions, legislative or regulatory changes, or competition. The real estate industry is particularly sensitive to economic downturns.
 
Rule 144A Securities Risk: Rule 144A securities are restricted securities that may be purchased only by qualified institutional buyers in reliance on an exemption from federal registration requirements. Investing in Rule 144A securities may reduce the liquidity of the Fund's portfolio if an adequate institutional trading market for these securities does not exist. Prices of Rule 144A securities often reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable exchange-listed securities for which a liquid trading market exists.

Short Sales Risk:   In a short sale, an underlying fund sells a security or other financial instrument, such as a futures contract, that it does not own.  To complete the transaction, the underlying fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer.  An underlying fund is then obligated to replace the borrowed security by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of replacement.  If the price of the security sold short rises between the time an underlying fund sells the security short and the time an underlying fund replaces the security sold short, an underlying fund will realize a loss on the transaction.

Value Investing Risk:  Value investing presents the risk that an underlying fund’s security holdings may never reach their full market value because the market fails to recognize what the portfolio managers consider the true business value or because the portfolio managers have misjudged those values. In addition, value investing may fall out of favor and underperform growth or other styles of investing during given certain periods.

The Fund’s Performance

The bar chart and performance table below illustrate some indication of the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for one year, five years, and ten years compare with the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI).  The bar chart does not reflect any sales charges, which would reduce your return.  The performance table reflects any applicable sales charges. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.  More recent performance information is available at no cost by visiting TouchstoneInvestments.com or by calling 1.800.543.0407.
 
On November 23, 2015, the Fund changed its name, principal investment strategies and sub-advisor.  Consequently, prior period performance may have been different if the Fund had not been managed by the prior sub-advisor using that sub-advisor’s asset allocation strategy.




23



Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund — Class A Shares Total Return as of December 31
 
CHART-F56E7051D6C75361B2E.JPG
Best Quarter: Second Quarter 2009 14.84%
 
Worst Quarter: Third Quarter 2011 (9.94)%
 
After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual marginal federal income tax rates in effect on a given distribution reinvestment date and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may differ from those shown and depend on your tax situation. The after-tax returns do not apply to shares held in an individual retirement account ("IRA"), 401(k), or other tax-advantaged account. The after-tax returns shown in the table are for Class A shares only. The after-tax returns for other classes of shares offered by the Fund will differ from the Class A shares' after-tax returns.

Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2018

 
1 Year
 
5 Years
 
10 Years
Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund — Class A
 

 
 

 
 

Return Before Taxes
(10.16
)%
 
1.41
%
 
6.45
%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
(11.47
)%
 
0.32
%
 
5.35
%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (1)
(5.85
)%
 
0.70
%
 
4.75
%
Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund — Class C
 

 
 

 
 

Return Before Taxes
(6.25
)%
 
1.85
%
 
6.29
%
Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund — Class Y
 

 
 

 
 

Return Before Taxes
(4.40
)%
 
2.89
%
 
7.36
%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index  (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
0.01
 %
 
2.52
%
 
3.48
%
MSCI ACWI (2)  (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(9.42
)%
 
4.26
%
 
9.46
%
(1) The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be greater than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss on the sale of Fund shares.
(2)  The MSCI ACWI returns disclosed are net of withholding taxes.

The Fund’s Management
 
Investment Advisor
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.

24



Sub-Advisor
 
Portfolio Manager(s)
 
Investment Experience with the Fund
 
Primary Title with Sub-Advisor
Wilshire Associates Incorporated
 
Nathan Palmer, CFA
 
Since 2015
 
Managing Director, Portfolio Manager
 
 
Anthony Wicklund, CFA, CAIA
 
Since 2015
 
Managing Director, Portfolio Manager

Buying and Selling Fund Shares


Minimum Investment Requirements
 
Classes A, C & Y
 
Initial
Investment
 
Additional
Investment
Regular Account
$
2,500

 
$
50

Retirement Account or Custodial Account under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act
$
1,000

 
$
50

Investments through the Automatic Investment Plan
$
100

 
$
50

 
Fund shares may be purchased and sold on days that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.  Existing Class A and C shareholders may purchase shares directly through Touchstone Funds via the transfer agent, BNY Mellon or through their financial intermediary.  Class Y shares are available only through financial intermediaries who have appropriate selling agreements in place with Touchstone Securities.  Shares may be purchased or sold by writing to Touchstone Securities at P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, calling 1.800.543.0407, or visiting the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000. Shares held in IRA accounts and qualified retirement plans cannot be sold via the Internet. If your shares are held by a processing organization or financial intermediary you will need to follow its purchase and redemption procedures. For more information about buying and selling shares see the section “Investing with Touchstone” of the Fund’s prospectus or call 1.800.543.0407.

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains except when shares are held through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. Withdrawals from a tax-advantaged account, however, may be taxable.
 
Financial Intermediary Compensation
 
If you purchase shares in the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and 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 broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.  Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

25



TOUCHSTONE DYNAMIC GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND SUMMARY
 
The Fund’s Investment Goal

The Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investors with capital appreciation.
 
The Fund’s Fees and Expenses
 
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.   You may qualify for sales charge discounts for Class A shares of Touchstone equity funds and Touchstone fixed income funds if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 or $50,000 , respectively, in Touchstone funds.   More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional, in the section titled “Choosing a Class of Shares” in the Fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") on page 48 and 43 , respectively, and in Appendix A–Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to the Fund's prospectus.
 
 
Class A
 
Class C
 
Class Y
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
 
 

 
 

 
 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
 
5.00
 %
 
None

 
None

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or the amount redeemed, whichever is less)
 
None

 
1.00
 %
 
None

Wire Redemption Fee
 
Up to $15

 
Up to $15

 
Up to $15

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 
 

 
 

 
 

Management Fees
 
0.25
 %
 
0.25
 %
 
0.25
 %
Distribution and/or Shareholder Service (12b-1) Fees
 
0.25
 %
 
1.00
 %
 
None

Other Expenses
 
0.42
 %
 
0.43
 %
 
0.60
 %
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)
 
0.72
 %
 
0.72
 %
 
0.72
 %
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (1)
 
1.64
 %
 
2.40
 %
 
1.57
 %
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (2)
 
(0.43
)%
 
(0.44
)%
 
(0.61
)%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (1)(2)
 
1.21
 %
 
1.96
 %
 
0.96
 %
__________________________________________
(1) Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and will differ from the ratios of expenses to average net assets that is included in the Fund's annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
(2) Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the "Advisor" or "Touchstone Advisors") and Touchstone Strategic Trust (the "Trust") have entered into a contractual expense limitation agreement whereby Touchstone Advisors will waive a portion of its fees or reimburse certain Fund expenses (excluding dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions and other transaction costs; portfolio transaction and investment related expenses, including expenses associated with the Fund's liquidity providers; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” if any; and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) in order to limit annual Fund operating expenses to 0.49%, 1.24% and 0.24% of average daily net assets for Classes A, C and Y shares, respectively.  This contractual expense limitation is effective through April 29, 2020, but can be terminated by a vote of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) if it deems the termination to be beneficial to the Fund’s shareholders. The terms of the contractual expense limitation agreement provide that Touchstone Advisors is entitled to recoup, subject to approval by the Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the date on which the Advisor reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Fund. The Fund will make repayments to the Advisor only if such repayment does not cause the annual Fund operating expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed both (1) the expense cap in place when such amounts were waived or reimbursed and (2) the Fund’s current expense limitation.  
 

26



Example. This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.  The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same and that all fee waivers or expense limits for the Fund will expire after one year.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
 
Assuming Redemption at End of Period

Assuming No Redemption
 
Class A

Class C

Class Y

Class C
1 Year
$
617

 
$
299

 
$
98

 
$
199

3 Years
$
951

 
$
707

 
$
436

 
$
707

5 Years
$
1,309

 
$
1,241

 
$
797

 
$
1,241

10 Years
$
2,312

 
$
2,703

 
$
1,816

 
$
2,703


Portfolio Turnover.   The Fund pays transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in total 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 40% of the average value of its portfolio.
 
The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund is a “fund-of-funds,” which seeks to achieve its investment goal by primarily investing in a diversified portfolio of underlying equity and fixed-income funds. These underlying funds, in turn, invest in a variety of U.S. and foreign equity and fixed-income securities (although a portion of its assets may be invested in cash, cash equivalents, or in money market funds). The majority of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests will be affiliated funds; however, the Fund will have the ability to invest in unaffiliated underlying funds, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), to the extent that the desired asset class exposure is not available through Touchstone Funds.  Under normal circumstances, the Fund (through its investment in underlying funds) will invest at least 40% of its portfolio in securities of issuers outside of the United States.
 
The following table details, under normal circumstances, how the Fund generally expects to allocate its assets among equity and fixed-income funds, as of the date of this prospectus.
Allocations
 
Approximate Allocation Range
 
Approximate Strategic Allocation
Equity Fund Allocation
 
45-75%
 
60%
Fixed-Income Fund Allocation
 
25-55%
 
40%

The Fund may invest up to 45% of its assets in any individual underlying fund. Several of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests may invest without limit in securities of issuers outside of the United States.  As a result, the Fund will have exposure to foreign markets (including emerging markets). The Fund, through its investment in underlying funds, may also be exposed to equity securities of companies of all market capitalizations, including small-, mid-, and large-cap companies. Though not expected to be a substantial part of the overall strategy of the Fund, the Fund, through its investment in underlying funds, will gain exposure to additional strategies and instruments of the underlying funds, including:  collateralized loan obligations, derivatives (such as futures contracts, options, and swaps), and real estate investments.
 
The Fund’s sub-advisor, Wilshire Associates Incorporated (“Wilshire”), seeks to develop an optimal model allocation among underlying funds that seeks to provide capital appreciation through global exposure to a broad array of assets classes and investment strategies. The underlying funds encompass funds with both growth and income objectives.
 
Wilshire and the Fund’s Advisor routinely agree on the universe of underlying funds that Wilshire may consider when making allocation decisions. Wilshire, subject to approval by the Fund’s Advisor, may change the Fund’s target allocation to each asset class, the underlying funds in each asset class (including the addition or removal of funds from the universe of underlying funds), or target allocations to each underlying fund without prior approval from or notice to shareholders.
 
For information on the underlying funds, please see the section entitled “Additional Information Regarding the Underlying Funds” under “Principal Investment Strategies and Risks” in the Fund’s prospectus.
 

27



The Fund’s Principal Risks

The Fund’s share price will fluctuate.   You could lose money on your investment in the Fund and the Fund could return less than other investments.   The Fund is subject to direct risks and indirect risks as a result of its investments in underlying funds. Investments in the Fund are not bank guaranteed, are not deposits, and are not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency. As with any mutual fund, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goal.  You can find more information about the Fund’s investments and risks under the “Principal Investment Strategies and Risks” section of the Fund’s prospectus. The Fund is subject to the principal risks summarized below.
 
Management Risk: In managing the Fund’s portfolio, the Advisor engages one or more sub-advisors to make investment decisions for a portion of or the entire portfolio. There is a risk that the Advisor may be unable to identify and retain sub-advisors who achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisors.  
 
Fund-of-Funds Structure Risk : The value of an investment in the Fund is based on the performance of the underlying funds in which it invests and the allocation of its assets among those funds.  The underlying funds may change their investment goals, policies or practices and there can be no assurance that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment goals.  Because the Fund invests in mutual funds, it bears a proportionate share of the expenses charged by the underlying funds in which it invests.  The principal risks of an investment in the Fund include the principal risks of investing in the underlying funds.
 
The Fund is exposed to the risks of the underlying funds in which it invests in direct proportion to the amount of assets the Fund allocates to each underlying fund.  One underlying fund may buy the same security that another underlying fund is selling.  You would indirectly bear the costs of both trades.  In addition, you may receive taxable gains from portfolio transactions by the underlying funds, as well as taxable gains from the Fund’s transactions in shares of the underlying funds.  The Fund’s ability to achieve its investment goal depends, in part, upon Wilshire’s skill in selecting an optimal mix of underlying funds.
 
The underlying funds in which the Fund may invest are expected to be subject to the following principal risks.
 
Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk:   Typically, collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) are privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, an underlying fund may in certain circumstances characterize its investments in CLOs as illiquid.  In assessing liquidity, an underlying fund will consider various factors including whether the CLO may be purchased and sold in Rule 144A transactions and whether an active dealer market exists.  CLOs are subject to the typical risks associated with debt instruments (i.e., interest rate risk and credit risk). Additional risks of CLOs include the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will be insufficient to make interest or other payments, the potential for a decline in the quality of the collateral, and the possibility that an underlying fund may invest in a subordinate tranche of a CLO.
 
Convertible Securities Risk: Convertible securities are subject to the risks of both debt securities and equity securities. The values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates rise and, due to the conversion feature, tend to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying security.
 
Counterparty Risk:   A counterparty (the other party to a transaction or an agreement or the party with whom an underlying fund executes transactions) to a transaction with an underlying fund may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations.

Derivatives Risk:  The use of derivatives may expose an underlying fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives. Risks associated with derivatives may include correlation risk, which is the risk that the derivative does not correlate well with the security, index, or currency to which it relates, and the risk that the derivative may not have the intended effects. The use of derivatives to hedge risk may reduce the opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable price movements.
 
Forward Currency Exchange Contract Risk: A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date and at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a change in value of a currency, but they also limit any potential gains and do not protect against fluctuations in the value of the underlying position.
 
Futures Contracts Risk:  The risks associated with an underlying fund’s futures positions include liquidity and counterparty risks associated with derivative instruments.


28



Leverage Risk:  Leverage occurs when an underlying fund uses derivatives (such as futures or options), or similar instruments or techniques to gain exposure to investments in an amount that exceeds an underlying fund’s initial investment. The use of leverage magnifies changes in an underlying fund’s net asset value and thus results in increased portfolio volatility and increased risk of loss. Leverage can create an interest expense that may lower the Fund's overall returns. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.

Options Risk: Options trading is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the sub-advisor is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations. Options, whether exchange traded or over-the-counter, may also be illiquid .

Swap Agreement Risk:  Swap agreements (“swaps”) are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Swaps may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the underlying fund and its share price. The performance of swaps may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. A swap can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.
 
Equity Securities Risk: An underlying fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by these companies may decline in response to developments, which could result in a decline in the value of the underlying fund’s shares.

Large-Cap Risk: Large-cap companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

Mid-Cap Risk:  Stocks of mid-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Mid-sized companies may have limited product lines or financial resources, and may be dependent upon a particular niche of the market.

Preferred Stock Risk: In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline.

Real Estate Investment Trust Risk:  Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) are pooled investment vehicles that primarily invest in commercial real estate or real estate-related loans. REITs are susceptible to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, such as declines in property values and rental rates and increases in property taxes. Additionally, REITs typically incur fees that are separate from those of an underlying fund.

Small-Cap Risk: Stocks of smaller companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Small companies may have limited product lines or financial resources and may be dependent upon a small or inexperienced management group.

Fixed-Income Risk: The market value of an underlying fund’s fixed-income investments responds to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual issuers. Generally, an underlying fund’s fixed-income investments will decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall. Normally, the longer an underlying fund’s maturity or duration, the more sensitive the value of an underlying fund’s shares will be to changes in interest rates.
 
Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Asset-backed securities are fixed-income securities backed by other assets such as credit card, automobile or consumer loan receivables, retail installment loans, or participations in pools of leases. The values of these securities are sensitive to changes in the credit quality of the underlying collateral, the credit strength of any credit enhancement feature, changes in interest rates, and, at times, the financial condition of the issuer.
 
Corporate Loan Risk:   The corporate loans in which an underlying fund invests may be rated below investment grade.  As a result, such corporate loans will be considered speculative with respect to the borrowers’ ability to make payments of interest and principal and will otherwise generally bear risks similar to those associated with non-investment grade securities.  There is a high risk that an underlying fund could suffer a loss from investments in lower rated corporate loans as a result of a default by the borrower.

29



 
Credit Risk: The fixed-income securities in an underlying fund’s portfolio are subject to the possibility that a deterioration, whether sudden or gradual, in the financial condition of an issuer, or a deterioration in general economic conditions, could cause an issuer to fail to make timely payments of principal or interest, when due. This may cause the issuer’s securities to decline in value.
 
Interest Rate Risk: As interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities the underlying fund owns will likely decrease. The price of debt securities is generally linked to the prevailing market interest rates. In general, when interest rates rise, the prices of debt securities fall, and when interest rates fall, the prices of debt securities rise. The price volatility of a debt security also depends on its maturity. Longer-term securities are generally more volatile, so the longer the average maturity or duration of these securities, the greater their price risk.

Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk: Investment-grade debt securities may be downgraded by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (" NRSRO") to below-investment-grade status, which would increase the risk of holding these securities. Investment-grade debt securities rated in the lowest rating category by a NRSRO involve a higher degree of risk than fixed-income securities with higher credit ratings.

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: Some underlying funds may invest in mortgage-backed securities, some of which may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to call risk and extension risk. Because of these risks, mortgage-backed securities react differently to changes in interest rates than other bonds. Small movements in interest rates (both increases and decreases) may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain mortgage-backed securities.
 
Non-Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk:   Non-investment-grade debt securities are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds” and are considered speculative with respect to their issuers’ ability to make payments of interest and principal. There is a high risk that an underlying fund could suffer a loss from investments in non-investment-grade debt securities caused by the default of an issuer of such securities. Non-investment-grade debt securities may also be less liquid than investment-grade debt securities.

Stressed and Distressed Securities Risk:  Distressed securities are speculative and involve significant risks in addition to the risks generally applicable to non-investment grade debt securities.  Distressed securities bear a substantial risk of default, and may be in default at the time of investment.  An underlying fund will generally not receive interest payments on distressed securities, and there is a significant risk that principal will not be repaid, in full or at all.  Distressed securities will likely be illiquid and may be subject to restrictions on resale.

U.S. Government Agencies Securities Risk:  Certain U.S. government agency securities are backed by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury while others are supported only by the credit of the issuer or instrumentality.  While the U.S. government is able to provide financial support to U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it will always do so.
 
Foreign Securities Risk: Investing in foreign securities poses additional risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers, while such events may not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of an underlying fund’s investments. There are also risks associated with foreign accounting standards, government regulation, market information, and clearance and settlement procedures. Foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. markets and offer less protection to investors.
 
Depositary Receipts Risk: Foreign receipts, which include ADRs, Global Depositary Receipts, and European Depositary Receipts, are securities that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer. The risks of depositary receipts include many risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.
 
Emerging Markets Risk: Emerging markets may be more likely to experience political turmoil or rapid changes in market or economic conditions than more developed countries. In addition, the financial stability of issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may be more precarious than that of issuers in other countries.

Frontier Markets Risk:  Frontier markets have similar risks to emerging markets, except that these risks are often magnified in a frontier market due to its smaller and less developed economy. As a result, frontier markets may experience

30



greater changes in market or economic conditions, financial stability, price volatility, currency fluctuations, and other risks inherent in foreign securities.
 
Growth-Investing Risk:   Growth-oriented funds may underperform when value investing is in favor, and growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth of earnings potential.

Liquidity Risk:  Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. This can reduce an underlying fund’s returns because an underlying fund may be unable to transact at advantageous times or prices, or at all.

Non-Diversification Risk: An underlying fund may be non-diversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets than a diversified mutual fund in the securities of a limited number of issuers. The use of a non-diversified investment strategy may increase the volatility of an underlying fund’s investment performance, as an underlying fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political, or regulatory event.

Pay-In-Kind Bonds Risk:  Pay-in-kind bonds, a type of mezzanine financing, are securities that, at the issuer’s option, pay interest in either cash or additional securities for a specified period. Pay-in-kind bonds, like zero coupon bonds, are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow. Pay-in-kind bonds are expected to reflect the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last payment. Pay-in-kind bonds are usually less volatile than zero coupon bonds, but more volatile than cash pay securities.
 
Portfolio Turnover Risk: An underlying fund may engage in active and frequent trading, which may result in increased transaction costs to the underlying fund. This risk also applies to the Fund, which may engage in active and frequent trading of underlying funds resulting in increased transaction costs to the Fund.

Prepayment Risk: The risk that a debt security may be paid off and proceeds invested earlier than anticipated. Prepayment impacts both the interest rate sensitivity of the underlying asset, such as an asset-backed or mortgage-backed security and its cash flow projections. Therefore, prepayment risk may make it difficult to calculate the average duration of an underlying fund’s asset- or mortgage-backed securities which in turn would make it difficult to assess the interest rate risk of an underlying fund.

Real Estate Industry Risk:   Since an underlying fund’s investments may be concentrated in the real estate industry, it is subject to the risk that the real estate industry will underperform the broader market, as well as the risk that issuers in the industry will be similarly impacted by market conditions, legislative or regulatory changes, or competition. The real estate industry is particularly sensitive to economic downturns.

Rule 144A Securities Risk: Rule 144A securities are restricted securities that may be purchased only by qualified institutional buyers in reliance on an exemption from federal registration requirements. Investing in Rule 144A securities may reduce the liquidity of the Fund's portfolio if an adequate institutional trading market for these securities does not exist. Prices of Rule 144A securities often reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable exchange-listed securities for which a liquid trading market exists.

Sector Focus Risk : An underlying fund may invest a high percentage of its assets in specific sectors of the market in order to achieve a potentially greater investment return. As a result, an underlying fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, and regulatory developments in a particular sector of the market, positive or negative, and may experience increased volatility of the underlying fund’s net asset value with a magnified effect on the total return.

Short Sales Risk:   In a short sale, an underlying fund sells a security or other financial instrument, such as a futures contract, that it does not own.  To complete the transaction, the underlying fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer.  An underlying fund is then obligated to replace the borrowed security by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of replacement.  If the price of the security sold short rises between the time an underlying fund sells the security short and the time an underlying fund replaces the security sold short, an underlying fund will realize a loss on the transaction.

Value Investing Risk:  Value investing presents the risk that an underlying fund’s security holdings may never reach their full market value because the market fails to recognize what the portfolio managers consider the true business value or because the portfolio managers have misjudged those values. In addition, value investing may fall out of favor and underperform growth or other styles of investing during given certain periods.

 

31



The Fund’s Performance
 
T he bar chart and performance table below illustrate some indication of the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from calendar year to calendar year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for one year, five years and ten years compare with the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) and Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Index.  The bar chart does not reflect any sales charges, which would reduce your return.  The performance table reflects any applicable sales charges. Past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.  More recent performance information is available at no cost by visiting TouchstoneInvestments.com or by calling 1.800.543.0407.
 
On November 23, 2015, the Fund changed its name, principal investment strategies and sub-advisor.  Consequently, prior period performance may have been different if the Fund had not been managed by the prior sub-advisor using that sub-advisor’s asset allocation strategy.
 
Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund — Class A Shares Total Return as of December 31
 
CHART-CB79EA74513A5B72A48.JPG
Best Quarter: Second Quarter 2009 17.73%
 
Worst Quarter: Third Quarter 2011 (13.67)%

After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual marginal federal income tax rates in effect on a given distribution reinvestment date and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may differ from those shown and depend on your tax situation. The after-tax returns do not apply to shares held in an individual retirement account ("IRA"), 401(k), or other tax-advantaged account. The after-tax returns shown in the table are for Class A shares only. The after-tax returns for other classes of shares offered by the Fund will differ from the Class A shares' after-tax returns.


32




Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2018

 
1 Year

5 Years

10 Years
Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund—Class A
 

 
 

 
 

Return Before Taxes
(13.23
)%
 
0.70
 %
 
6.85
%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
(15.06
)%
 
(0.97
)%
 
5.60
%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (1)
(6.70
)%
 
0.25
 %
 
5.23
%
Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund—Class C
 

 
 

 
 

Return Before Taxes
(9.40
)%
 
1.12
 %
 
6.68
%
Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund—Class Y
 

 
 

 
 

Return Before Taxes
(7.69
)%
 
2.13
 %
 
7.74
%
MSCI ACWI (2)  (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(9.42
)%
 
4.26
 %
 
9.46
%
Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
(1.20
)%
 
1.08
 %
 
2.49
%

(2) The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares may be greater than other returns for the same period due to a tax benefit of realizing a capital loss on the sale of Fund shares.
(3) The MSCI ACWI returns disclosed are net of withholding taxes.

The Fund’s Management
 
Investment Advisor
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
Sub-Advisor
 
Portfolio Manager(s)
 
Investment Experience with the Fund
 
Primary Title with Sub-Advisor
Wilshire Associates Incorporated
 
Nathan Palmer, CFA
 
Since 2015
 
Managing Director, Portfolio Manager
 
 
Anthony Wicklund, CFA, CAIA
 
Since 2015
 
Managing Director, Portfolio Manager

Buying and Selling Fund Shares


Minimum Investment Requirements
 
Classes A, C & Y
 
Initial
Investment
 
Additional
Investment
Regular Account
$
2,500

 
$
50

Retirement Account or Custodial Account under the Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act
$
1,000

 
$
50

Investments through the Automatic Investment Plan
$
100

 
$
50

 
Fund shares may be purchased and sold on days that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.  Existing Class A and C shareholders may purchase shares directly through Touchstone Funds via the transfer agent, BNY Mellon or through their financial intermediary. Class Y shares are available only through financial intermediaries who have appropriate selling agreements in place with Touchstone Securities.  Shares may be purchased or sold by writing to Touchstone Securities at P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, calling 1.800.543.0407, or visiting the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000. Shares held in IRA accounts and qualified retirement plans cannot be sold via the Internet. If your shares are held by a processing organization or financial intermediary you will need to follow its purchase and redemption procedures. For more information about buying and selling shares see the section “Investing with Touchstone” of the Fund’s prospectus or call 1.800.543.0407.



33



Tax Information
 
The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains except when shares are held through a tax-advantaged account, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA. Withdrawals from a tax-advantaged account, however, may be taxable.

Financial Intermediary Compensation
 
If you purchase shares in the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and 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 broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.  Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.


34



PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

How Do The Funds Implement Their Investment Goal?

The investment goal(s) and principal investment strategies of Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund ("Dynamic Equity Fund"), Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund (“Controlled Growth with Income Fund”), Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund (“Dynamic Diversified Income Fund”), and Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund (“Dynamic Global Allocation Fund”) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) are described in the "Principal Investment Strategies" sections in each Fund's summary above.
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund. In implementing the Fund's objectives and strategies, Wells Capital Management, Inc. ("Wells Capital") selects common stocks and other equity securities for the Fund using a proprietary system that ranks securities according to a quantitative model. The model attempts to determine a security’s intrinsic value by evaluating variables such as relative valuation, price momentum, company fundamentals, liquidity, and risk. Wells Capital seeks to reduce the overall portfolio risk through the use of options. The Fund’s options strategy primarily focuses on the use of writing (selling) call options on equity indexes or exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"). The Fund may also buy index put options to help protect it from potential market declines. The value of these options tends to move inversely to the underlying index. When the market declines, the value of index put options increases as the prices of the stocks constituting the index decrease. During periods of market appreciation, the value of the index put option decreases as these stocks increase in price. The Fund may also write (sell) covered call options on individual equity securities. The Fund may also purchase put options on individual equity securities which it owns.
Wells Capital generally considers selling a security when it reaches its fair value estimate, when the company’s fundamentals do not appear to justify the current price, when there has been or there is an expectation of an adverse change in the company’s fundamentals, when the risks of the security unexpectedly rise, or when other investment opportunities appear more attractive.

Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund, and Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund (collectively, the "Allocation Funds"). Each Allocation Fund is a “fund-of-funds,” which seeks to achieve its investment goal by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of underlying funds. In implementing each Allocation Fund's investment goals and strategies, Wilshire Associates Incorporated ("Wilshire") and the Fund’s Advisor periodically agree on the universe of underlying funds that Wilshire may consider when making allocation decisions.  Wilshire believes that both qualitative and quantitative components are crucial elements towards constructing portfolios.  The process seeks to generate target allocation exposures that integrate Wilshire’s macroeconomic views, strategy insights, and robust analytics to develop a portfolio that performs in a variety of market environments.

Wilshire, subject to approval by the Fund’s Advisor, may change a Fund’s target allocation to each asset class, the underlying funds in each asset class (including the addition or removal of funds from the universe of underlying funds), or target allocations to each underlying fund without prior approval from or notice to shareholders.

Decisions to sell shares of the underlying funds are made to adjust an Allocation Fund's target allocation based on Wilshire’s view of the underlying fund’s characteristics and other allocation criteria, to facilitate redemptions, or as a result of periodic rebalancing of an Allocation Fund’s holdings. For information on the underlying funds, please see the section entitled “Additional Information Regarding the Underlying Funds” below.

Can a Fund Depart From its Principal Investment Strategies?
 
In addition to the investments and strategies described in this prospectus, each Fund may invest in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices. These permitted investments and strategies are described in detail in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

Each Fund’s investment goal is non-fundamental, and may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the "Board") without shareholder approval.  Shareholders will be notified at least 60 days before any change takes effect.
 
The investments and strategies described throughout this prospectus are those that the Funds use under normal circumstances.  During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, each Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, repurchase agreements, and short-term obligations (i.e., fixed and variable rate securities and high quality debt securities of corporate and government issuers) that would not ordinarily be consistent with the Funds’ goals.  This defensive investing may increase a Fund’s taxable income, and when a Fund is invested defensively, it may not achieve its investment goal.  A Fund will do so only if the Fund’s sub-advisor believes that the risk of loss in using the Fund’s normal strategies and investments outweighs the opportunity for gains.  Of course, there can be no guarantee that any Fund will achieve its investment goal.

35




80% Investment Policy. The Dynamic Equity Fund has adopted a policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of its “assets” in certain types of investments suggested by its name (the “80% Policy”). For purposes of this 80% Policy, the term “assets” means net assets plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes. The Fund must comply with its 80% Policy at the time the Fund invests its assets. Accordingly, when the Fund no longer meets the 80% requirement as a result of circumstances beyond its control, such as changes in the value of portfolio holdings, it would not have to sell its holdings but would have to make any new investments in such a way as to comply with the 80% Policy. This policy may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified at least 60 days' before any change in the Fund's 80% Policy takes effect.

Other Investment Companies.   A Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) staff interpretations thereof, or applicable exemptive relief granted by the SEC.
 
Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Funds may lend their portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, and financial institutions under guidelines adopted by the Board, including a requirement that a Fund must receive collateral equal to no less than 100% of the market value of the securities loaned. The risk in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consists of possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. In determining whether to lend securities, the Advisor will consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower. More information on securities lending is available in the SAI.

ReFlow Liquidity Program . The Funds may participate in the ReFlow liquidity program, which is designed to provide an alternative liquidity source for mutual funds experiencing net redemptions of their shares. Pursuant to the program, ReFlow Fund, LLC ( ReFlow ) provides participating mutual funds with a source of cash to meet net shareholder redemptions by standing ready each business day to purchase fund shares up to the value of the net shares redeemed by other shareholders that are to settle the next business day. Following purchases of Fund shares, ReFlow then generally redeems those shares when the Fund experiences net sales, at the end of a maximum holding period determined by ReFlow, or at other times at ReFlow’s discretion. While ReFlow holds Fund shares, it will have the same rights and privileges with respect to those shares as any other shareholder. In the event the Fund uses the ReFlow service, the Fund will pay a fee to ReFlow each time ReFlow purchases Fund shares, calculated by applying to the purchase amount a fee rate determined through an automated daily auction among participating mutual funds. ReFlow’s purchases of Fund shares through the liquidity program are made on an investment-blind basis without regard to the Fund’s objective, policies or anticipated performance. In accordance with federal securities laws, ReFlow is prohibited from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
 
Additional Information Regarding the Underlying Funds.
 
The following is a summary of the investment goals and principal investments of the affiliated underlying funds in which the Allocation Funds may invest.  The majority of the underlying funds in which the Allocation Funds invest will be affiliated funds; however, the Allocation Funds have the ability to invest in unaffiliated underlying funds, including ETFs and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), to the extent that the desired asset class exposure is not available through Touchstone Funds.
 
The underlying funds in which the Allocation Funds may invest may change from time to time and the Allocation Funds may invest in other underlying funds (including unaffiliated funds) that are not listed below at the discretion of Wilshire, the Allocation Funds' sub-advisor, subject to approval by Touchstone Advisors, without prior notice to or approval by shareholders.  These summaries do not reflect all of the investment policies and strategies that are disclosed in each affiliated underlying fund’s prospectus.  For a complete description of the affiliated underlying funds’ investment strategies and policies, please see the affiliated underlying funds’ prospectuses and statements of additional information, which are available without charge on the Touchstone Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com or by calling 1.800.543.0407.

Underlying Funds
 
Investment Goal
 
Principal Investments
Touchstone Arbitrage Fund
 
The Fund seeks to achieve positive absolute returns over the long-term regardless of market conditions.
 
The Fund primarily invests, under normal market conditions, in equity securities of U.S. and foreign issuers.
 
 
 
 
 

36



Touchstone Credit Opportunities Fund
 
The Fund seeks absolute total return, primarily from income and capital appreciation.
 
The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets (including the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in U.S. and non-U.S. debt instruments.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund
 
The Fund seeks to obtain long-term capital appreciation from hedged equity investments with less risk than a fully invested, unhedged equity portfolio.
 
 The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund
 
The Fund seeks total return through a combination of income and capital appreciation.
 
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its assets in income-producing securities such as investment grade corporate bonds, high yield bonds (i.e., junk bonds), preferred stocks, municipal bonds, and U.S. Treasuries.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone Focused Fund
 
The Fund seeks capital appreciation.
 
The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in equity securities.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund
 
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
 
The Fund invests primarily in stocks of domestic growth companies.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone High Yield Fund
 
The Fund seeks to achieve a high level of income as its main goal.  Capital appreciation is a secondary consideration.
 
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in non-investment-grade debt securities.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone Impact Bond Fund
 
The Fund seeks current income.  Capital appreciation is a secondary goal.
 
The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including borrowings for investment purposes) in fixed-income securities.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone International Growth Opportunities Fund
 
The Fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation.
 
Under normal circumstances, the Fund primarily invests its assets in equity securities of foreign issuers. Equity securities include, but are not limited to, common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, rights and warrants.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone International Small Cap Fund
 
The Fund seeks to provide investors with capital appreciation.
 
The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of non-U.S. small capitalization companies, including companies located in emerging markets countries.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone Mid Cap Fund
 
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth. 
 
The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in common stocks of medium capitalization U.S. listed companies.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone Premium Yield Equity Fund
 
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and high-current income.
 
The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in equity securities without regard to market capitalization.
 
 
 
 
 

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Touchstone Sands Capital Institutional Growth Fund
 
The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
 
The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in common stocks of U.S. companies that the Fund's sub-advisor believes to have above-average potential for revenue and earnings growth.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone Small Cap Value Fund
 
The Fund seeks long-term capital growth.
 
The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in common stocks of companies with small market capitalizations.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone Ultra Short Duration Fixed Income Fund
 
The Fund seeks maximum total return consistent with the preservation of capital.
 
The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in fixed-income securities.
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstone Value Fund
 
The Fund seeks to provide investors with long-term capital growth.
 
The Fund normally invests in equity securities of large and mid capitalization companies (generally, companies with market capitalizations of approximately $2.5 billion or above) that the Fund’s sub-advisor believes are undervalued.
 
What are the Principal Risks of Investing in the Funds?
 
The risks that may apply to your investment in a Fund, including a Fund's investments in underlying funds, are listed below in a table of principal risks followed by a description of each risk. Each Allocation Fund is exposed to the risks of the underlying funds in which it invests in direct proportion to the amount of assets an Allocation Fund allocates to each underlying fund.  To the extent that an Allocation Fund invests more of its assets in one underlying fund than another, an Allocation Fund will have greater exposure to the risks of that underlying fund.  One underlying fund may buy the same security that another underlying fund is selling.  You would indirectly bear the costs of both trades.  In addition, you may receive taxable gains from portfolio transactions by the underlying funds, as well as taxable gains from an Allocation Fund’s transactions in shares of the underlying funds.  Each Allocation Fund’s ability to achieve its investment goal depends, in part, upon Wilshire’s skill in selecting the best mix of underlying funds.  There is the risk that Wilshire’s evaluations and assumptions regarding the underlying funds may be incorrect in view of actual market conditions. Further information about investment strategies and risks is available in the Funds’ SAI:

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Allocation Funds
 
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
Controlled Growth
with Income  Fund (1)
 
Dynamic Diversified  Income
Fund (1)
 
Dynamic Global  Allocation
Fund (1)
Call Options Risk
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
Convertible Securities Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
Counterparty Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
Covered Call Options Risk (including sub-risks)
X
 
X
 
 
 
 
Derivatives Risk (including sub-risks)
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
Equity Securities Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    Large-Cap Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    Mid-Cap Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    Preferred Stock Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    Real Estate Investment Trust Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    Small-Cap Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
Fixed-Income Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    Asset-Backed Securities Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    Corporate Loan Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    Credit Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    Interest Rate Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    LIBOR Transition Risk
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
·                    Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                 Non-Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                    Stressed and Distressed Securities Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
·                   U.S. Government Agency Securities Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
Foreign Securities Risk (including sub-risks)
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
Fund-of-Funds Structure Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
Growth Investing Risk
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
High Cash Balance Risk
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liquidity Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
Management Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
Merger Arbitrage Risk
 
 
X
 
 
 
 
Non-Diversification Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
Pay-In-Kind ("PIK") Bonds Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
Portfolio Turnover Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
Prepayment Risk
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
Real Estate Industry Risk
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
Rule 144A Securities Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
Sector Focus Risk
 
 
 
 
 
 
X
Short Sales Risk
X
 
X
 
X
 
X
Value Investing Risk
 
 
X
 
X
 
X
   (1) Includes risks applicable to underlying funds in which the Allocation Funds may invest.

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Call Options Risk:   Writing index and exchange-traded fund call options is intended to reduce a Fund's volatility and provide income, although it may also reduce a Fund's ability to profit from increases in the value of its equity portfolio.

Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk (Allocation Funds Only):   A collateralized loan obligation is a type of asset-backed security that is an obligation of a trust typically collateralized by pools of loans, which may include domestic and foreign senior secured and unsecured loans and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade, or equivalent unrated loans.  The cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, which vary in risk and yield. The riskier portion is the residual, or “equity,” tranche, which bears some or all of the risk of default by the loans in the trust. The risks of an investment in a CLO largely depend on the type of underlying collateral securities and the tranche in which an underlying fund invests. Typically, CLOs are privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, an underlying fund may in certain circumstances characterize its investments in CLOs as illiquid.  In assessing liquidity, an underlying fund will consider various factors including whether the CLO may be purchased and sold in Rule 144A transactions and whether an active dealer market exists.  CLOs are subject to the typical risks associated with debt instruments (i.e., interest rate risk and credit risk). Additional risks of CLOs include the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will be insufficient to make interest or other payments, the potential for a decline in the quality of the collateral, and the possibility that an underlying fund may invest in a subordinate tranche of a CLO. In addition, due to the complex nature of a CLO, an investment in a CLO may not perform as expected. An investment in a CLO also is subject to the risk that the issuer and the investors may interpret the terms of the instrument differently, giving rise to disputes.

Convertible Securities Risk (Allocation Funds Only):  Convertible securities are subject to the risks of both debt securities and equity securities.  The values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates rise and, due to the conversion feature, tend to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying security.
 
Counterparty Risk:   A counterparty (the other party to a transaction or an agreement or the party with whom an underlying fund executes transactions) to a transaction with a Fund may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations.
 
Covered Call Options Risk:   Investments in covered calls involve certain risks.  These risks include:
 
Limited Gains.   When a Fund writes a covered call option, the Fund makes an obligation to deliver a security it already owns at an agreed-upon strike price on or before a predetermined date in the future in return for a premium.  By selling a covered call option, a Fund may forego the opportunity to benefit from an increase in the price of the stock above the exercise price, but continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of the stock.  While a Fund receives a premium for writing the call option, the price a Fund realizes from the sale of stock upon exercise of the option could be substantially below its prevailing market price.
 
Lack of Liquidity for the Option.   A liquid market may not exist for a covered call option.  If a Fund is not able to close out an option transaction, the Fund will not be able to sell the security until the option expires or is exercised.
 
Lack of Liquidity for the Security.   A Fund's investment strategy may also result in a lack of liquidity of the portfolio securities.  Because a Fund will generally hold the stocks underlying the call option, a Fund may be less likely to sell the stocks in its portfolio to take advantage of new investment opportunities.

Tax Consequences. A Fund expects to generate premiums from its sale of call options. These premiums typically will result in short-term capital gains to a Fund for federal income tax purposes. Transactions involving the disposition of a Fund’s underlying securities (whether pursuant to the exercise of a call option or otherwise) will give rise to capital gains or losses. Due to the tax treatment of securities on which call options have been written, the holding period of the underlying security may be affected and some or all of the gains from the sale of the underlying security may be short-term capital gains. Short-term capital gains are taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes when distributed to shareholders. Because a Fund does not have control over the exercise of the call options it writes, shareholder redemptions or corporate events involving its equity securities investments (such as mergers, acquisitions, or reorganizations) may force it to realize capital gains or losses at inopportune times.
 
Derivatives Risk: The use of derivatives may expose the Fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives. Risks associated with derivatives may include correlation risk, which is the risk that the derivative does not correlate well with the security, index, or currency to which it relates. Other risks include liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund may be unable to sell or close out the derivative due to an illiquid market, counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty to a derivative instrument may be unwilling or unable to make required

40



payments or otherwise meet its obligations, and leverage risk, which is the risk that a derivative could expose the Fund to magnified losses resulting from leverage. The use of derivatives for hedging purposes may result in losses that partially or completely offset gains in portfolio positions. Using derivatives can increase the volatility of the Fund’s share price. For some derivatives, it is possible for the Fund to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative instrument. Derivatives may, for federal income tax purposes, affect the character of gain and loss realized by the Fund, accelerate recognition of income to the Fund, affect the holding periods for certain of the Fund’s assets and defer recognition of certain of the Fund’s losses. The Fund’s ability to invest in derivatives may be restricted by certain provisions of the federal income tax laws relating to the Fund’s qualification as a regulated investment company (“RIC”). These additional risks could cause the Fund to experience losses to which it would otherwise not be subject.
 
Forward Currency Exchange Contract Risk: A forward foreign currency exchange contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specific currency at a future date and at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a change in value of a currency, but they also limit any potential gains and do not protect against fluctuations in the value of the underlying position and are subject to counterparty risk. The forecasting of currency market movement is extremely difficult, and whether any hedging strategy will be successful is highly uncertain. Moreover, it is impossible to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of a forward foreign currency contract. Accordingly, a Fund may be required to buy or sell additional currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such transaction) if the sub-advisor’s predictions regarding the movement of foreign currency or securities markets prove inaccurate. Because foreign currency forward contracts are privately negotiated transactions, there can be no assurance that a Fund will have flexibility to rollover a forward foreign currency contract upon its expiration if it desires to do so. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the other party to the contract will perform its services under the contract.
 
Futures Contracts Risk: Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future time and at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option. There are risks associated with these activities, including the following: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by a Fund and the prices of futures and options on futures; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (5) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and futures options.
 
Leverage Risk:  Leverage occurs when a Fund uses derivatives or similar instruments or techniques to gain exposure to investments in an amount that exceeds a Fund’s initial investment. The use of leverage magnifies changes in a Fund’s net asset value and thus results in increased portfolio volatility and increased risk of loss. Leverage can also create an interest expense that may lower a Fund’s overall returns. There can be no guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful.

Options Risk:   Options trading is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the Sub-Advisor is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations. The successful use of options for hedging purposes also depends in part on the ability of the Sub-Advisor to predict future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities markets. When options are purchased over the counter, the Fund bears counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty that wrote the option will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the option contract. Such options may also be illiquid, and in such cases, the Fund may have difficulty closing out its position.

Swap Agreement Risk:  Swap agreements (“swaps”) are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices, indexes or inflation rates. Swaps may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the Fund and its share price. The performance of swaps may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. Additionally, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of a swap may decline. If the counterparty is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults, or becomes insolvent, the Fund may not be able to recoup the money it expected to receive under the contract. Finally, a swap can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.
 

41



Equity Securities Risk:   A Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by these companies may decline in response to such developments, which could result in a decline in the value of the Funds’ shares. These factors contribute to price volatility. In addition, common stocks represent a share of ownership in a company, and rank after bonds and preferred stock in their claim on the company’s assets in the event of liquidation.
 
Large-Cap Risk: A Fund is subject to the risk that stocks of larger companies may underperform relative to those of small- and mid-sized companies. Large-cap companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.
 
Mid-Cap Risk:  A Fund is subject to the risk that medium capitalization stocks may underperform other types of stocks or the equity markets as a whole. Stocks of mid-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Mid-sized companies may have limited product lines or financial resources, and may be dependent upon a particular niche of the market.
 
Preferred Stock Risk (Allocation Funds Only):   Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred stock may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as provisions allowing the stock to be called or redeemed prior to its maturity, which can have a negative impact on the stock’s price when interest rates decline.

Real Estate Investment Trust Risk (Allocation Funds Only):  Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) are pooled investment vehicles that primarily invest in commercial real estate or real estate-related loans. REITs are susceptible to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, such as declines in property values and rental rates, increases in property taxes, operating expenses, rising interest rates, competition, overbuilding, zoning changes, and losses from casualty or condemnation. REITs typically incur fees that are separate from those of an underlying fund. Accordingly, a Fund’s investments in REITs will result in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the REITs’ operating expenses in addition to paying their share of the Fund's fees and expenses.

Small-Cap Risk:  The Fund is subject to the risk that small capitalization stocks may underperform other types of stocks or the equity markets as a whole. Stocks of smaller companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than stocks of larger, more established companies. Small companies may have limited product lines or financial resources, or may be dependent upon a small or inexperienced management group. In addition, small-cap stocks typically are traded in lower volume, and their issuers typically are subject to greater degrees of changes in their earnings and prospects.

Fixed Income Risk: The market value of the Fund’s fixed-income securities responds to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual issuers, including governments. Generally, the Fund’s fixed-income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall. Normally, the longer the maturity or duration of the fixed-income securities the Fund owns, the more sensitive the value of the Fund’s shares will be to changes in interest rates.

Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Asset-backed securities are fixed income securities backed by other assets such as credit card, automobile or consumer loan receivables, retail installment loans, or participations in pools of leases. Credit support for these securities may be based on the structural features such as subordination or overcollateralization and/or provided through credit enhancements by a third party. Even with a credit enhancement by a third party, there is still risk of loss. There could be inadequate collateral or no collateral for asset-backed securities. The values of these securities are sensitive to changes in the credit quality of the underlying collateral, the credit strength of the credit enhancement, changes in interest rates, and, at times, the financial condition of the issuer. Some asset-backed securities also may receive prepayments that can change the securities’ effective durations.

Corporate Loan Risk:   The corporate loans in which a Fund invests may be rated below investment grade. As a result, even though the corporate loans will typically be secured by a first or second priority lien on the borrower’s assets, such corporate loans will be considered speculative with respect to the borrowers’ ability to make payments of interest and principal and will otherwise generally bear risks similar to those associated with non-investment grade securities. There is a high risk that a Fund could suffer a loss from investments in lower rated corporate loans as a result of a default by

42



the borrower. In addition, there can be no assurance that the liquidation of any collateral securing a corporate loan would satisfy the borrower’s obligation to a Fund in the event of non-payment of interest or principal, whether when due or upon acceleration, or that the collateral could be liquidated, readily or otherwise. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of a borrower, a Fund could experience delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of the collateral, if any, securing a corporate loan, and the collateral securing a corporate loan, if any, may lose all or substantially all of its value in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of a borrower. Corporate loans are also subject to a number of risks described elsewhere in this prospectus, including credit risk, interest rate risk and liquidity risk. Each of these risks will be heightened with respect to corporate loans that are subordinated in payment or secured by a second or lower priority lien on the borrower’s assets.

Credit Risk: The fixed-income securities in the Fund’s portfolio are subject to the possibility that a deterioration, whether sudden or gradual, in the financial condition of an issuer, or a deterioration in general economic conditions, could cause an issuer to fail to make timely payments of principal or interest when due. This may cause the issuer’s securities to decline in value. Credit risk is particularly relevant to those portfolios that invest a significant amount of their assets in non-investment grade (or "junk") bonds or lower-rated securities.

Interest Rate Risk:  The market price of debt securities is generally linked to the prevailing market interest rates. In general, when interest rates rise, the prices of debt securities fall, and when interest rates fall, the prices of debt securities rise. The price volatility of a debt security also depends on its maturity. Longer-term securities are generally more volatile, so the longer the average maturity or duration of these securities, the greater their price risk. Duration is a measure of the expected life, taking into account any prepayment or call features of the security, that is used to determine the price sensitivity of the security for a given change in interest rates. Specifically, duration is the change in the value of a fixed-income security that will result from a 1% change in interest rates, and generally is stated in years. For example, as a general rule a 1% rise in interest rates means a 1% fall in value for every year of duration. Maturity, on the other hand, is the date on which a fixed-income security becomes due for payment of principal. There may be less governmental intervention in the securities markets in the near future. An increase in interest rates could negatively impact a Fund’s net asset value.
 
Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk:  Investment-grade debt securities may be downgraded by a NRSRO to below-investment-grade status, which would increase the risk of holding these securities. Investment-grade debt securities rated in the lowest rating category by a NRSRO involve a higher degree of risk than fixed-income securities with higher credit ratings. While such securities are considered investment-grade quality and are deemed to have adequate capacity for payment of principal and interest, such securities lack outstanding investment characteristics and may share certain speculative characteristics with non-investment-grade securities.

LIBOR Transition Risk: Certain instruments in which the Fund may invest rely in some fashion upon the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, has announced plans to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. There remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate, and any potential effects of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund or on certain instruments in which the Fund invests are not known. The transition process may involve, among other things, increased volatility or illiquidity in markets for instruments that currently rely on LIBOR. The transition may also result in a reduction in the value of certain instruments held by the Fund or reduce the effectiveness of related Fund transactions such as hedges. Any such effects of the transition away from LIBOR, as well as other unforeseen effects, could result in losses to the Fund.

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities representing an interest in a pool of underlying mortgage loans. Mortgage-backed securities are sensitive to changes in interest rates, but may respond to these changes differently from other fixed income securities due to the possibility of prepayment of the underlying mortgage loans. As a result, it may not be possible to determine in advance the actual maturity date or average life of a mortgage-backed security. Rising interest rates tend to discourage re-financings, with the result that the average life and volatility of the security will increase, exacerbating its decrease in market price. When interest rates fall, however, mortgage-backed securities may not gain as much in market value because of the expectation of additional mortgage prepayments that must be reinvested at lower interest rates. Prepayment risk may make it difficult to calculate the average duration of the Fund’s mortgage-backed securities and, therefore, to fully assess the interest rate risk of the Fund. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the mortgages held by a mortgage pool may adversely affect the value of mortgage-backed securities and could result in losses to the Fund. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the cases of mortgage pools that include subprime mortgages. Subprime mortgages refer to loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with lower capacity to make timely payments on their mortgages. In addition, mortgage-backed securities may fluctuate in price based on deterioration in the perceived or actual value of the collateral underlying the pool of

43



mortgage loans, typically residential or commercial real estate, which may result in negative amortization or negative equity meaning that the value of the collateral would be worth less than the remaining principal amount owed on the mortgages in the pool.
 
Non-Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk: Non-investment-grade debt securities are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds” and are considered speculative with respect to their issuers’ ability to make payments of interest and principal. There is a high risk that a Fund could suffer a loss from investments in non-investment-grade debt securities caused by the default of an issuer of such securities. Part of the reason for this high risk is that non-investment-grade debt securities are generally unsecured and therefore, in the event of a default or bankruptcy, holders of non-investment-grade debt securities generally will not receive payments until the holders of all other debt have been paid. Non-investment-grade debt securities may also be less liquid than investment-grade debt securities.

Stressed and Distressed Securities Risk:  Distressed securities are speculative and involve significant risks in addition to the risks generally applicable to non-investment grade debt securities. Distressed securities bear a substantial risk of default, and may be in default at the time of investment. A Fund will generally not receive interest payments on distressed securities, and there is a significant risk that principal will not be repaid, in full or at all. A Fund may incur costs to protect its investment in distressed securities, which may include seeking recovery from the issuer in bankruptcy. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to the issuer of distressed securities, a Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Distressed securities, and any securities received in exchange for distressed securities, will likely be illiquid and may be subject to restrictions on resale.

U.S. Government Agency Securities Risk:  Certain U.S. government agency securities are backed by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury while others are supported only by the credit of the issuer or instrumentality. While the U.S. government is able to provide financial support to U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it will always do so. Such securities are neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
 
Foreign Securities Risk (Allocation Funds Only) : Investing in foreign securities poses additional risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers, while such events may not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of an underlying fund’s investments. There are also risks associated with foreign accounting standards, government regulation, market information, and clearance and settlement procedures. Foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. markets and offer less protection to investors. Investments in securities of foreign issuers may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes.   In addition, it may be more difficult and costly for an underlying fund to seek recovery from an issuer located outside the United States in the event of a default on a portfolio security or an issuer’s insolvency proceeding.
 
Depositary Receipts Risk: Foreign receipts, which include American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depositary Receipts, and European Depositary Receipts, are securities that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities issued by a foreign issuer. The risks of depositary receipts include many risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities, such as individual country risk and liquidity risk. Unsponsored ADRs, which are issued by a depositary bank without the participation or consent of the issuer, involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply, and the issuing bank will recover shareholder distribution costs from movement of share prices and payment of dividends.

Emerging Markets Risk:   Emerging markets may be more likely to experience political turmoil or rapid changes in market or economic conditions than more developed countries. In addition, the financial stability of issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may be more precarious than that of issuers in other countries. As a result, there will tend to be an increased risk of price volatility associated with the Fund’s investments in securities of issuers located in emerging market countries, which may be magnified by currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar.

Frontier Markets Risk:  Frontier markets have similar risks to emerging markets, except that these risks are often magnified in a frontier market due to its smaller and less developed economy. As a result, frontier markets may experience greater changes in market or economic conditions, financial stability, price volatility, currency fluctuations, and other risks inherent in foreign securities.


44



Fund-of-Funds Structure Risk:  The value of an investment in an Allocation Fund is based on the performance of the underlying funds in which it invests and the allocation of its assets among those funds.  The underlying funds may change their investment goals, policies or practices and there can be no assurance that the underlying funds will achieve their respective investment goals.  Because each Allocation Fund invests in mutual funds, each Allocation Fund bears a proportionate share of the expenses charged by the underlying funds in which it invests.  The principal risks of an investment in the Allocation Fund include the principal risks of investing in the underlying funds.

Growth-Investing Risk:   Growth-oriented funds may underperform when value investing is in favor, and growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth of earnings potential. Also, because growth companies usually reinvest a high portion of earnings in their businesses, growth stocks may lack the dividends of some value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market.

High Cash Balance Risk (Dynamic Equity Fund Only): From time to time, including when the Dynamic Equity Fund takes short positions at the higher end of its stated range when it has reduced its written call options positions under the Fund’s options strategy, the Fund may hold a substantial portion of its total assets in high quality short-term debt securities, cash, or cash equivalents. When the Fund has a significant cash balance for a sustained period, the benefit to the Fund of any market upswing will be reduced, and the Fund’s performance will be adversely affected. When the Fund has a significant cash balance, it may not achieve its investment objective.

Liquidity Risk (Allocation Funds Only):  Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. This can reduce a Fund’s returns because a Fund may be unable to transact at advantageous times or prices, or at all.
 
Management Risk:   In managing a Fund’s portfolio, the Advisor may engage one or more sub-advisors to make investment decisions on a portion of or the entire portfolio.  There is a risk that the Advisor may be unable to identify and retain sub-advisors who achieve superior investment returns relative to other similar sub-advisors.  The value of your investment may decrease if the sub-advisor incorrectly judges the attractiveness, value, or market trends affecting a particular security, issuer, industry, or sector.

Merger Arbitrage Risk:  Investments in companies that are expected to be, or already are, the subject of a publicly announced transaction carry the risk that the proposed or expected transaction may not be completed or may be completed on less favorable terms than originally expected.

Non-Diversification Risk (Allocation Funds Only):  An underlying fund may be non-diversified, which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its assets than a diversified mutual fund in the securities of a limited number of issuers. The use of a non-diversified investment strategy may increase the volatility of an underlying fund’s investment performance, as an underlying fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political, or regulatory event.

Pay-In-Kind (“PIK”) Bonds Risk (Allocation Funds Only):  Pay-in-kind bonds are securities that, at the issuer’s option, pay interest in either cash or additional securities for a specified period. Pay-in-kind bonds, like zero coupon bonds, are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow. Pay-in-kind bonds are expected to reflect the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last payment. Pay-in-kind bonds are usually less volatile than zero coupon bonds, but more volatile than cash pay securities.
 
Portfolio Turnover Risk: Each Fund may sell its portfolio securities, regardless of the length of time that they have been held, if the sub-advisor determines that it would be in the Fund’s best interest to do so. It may be appropriate to buy or sell portfolio securities due to economic, market, or other factors that are not within the sub-advisor’s control. These transactions will increase a Fund’s “portfolio turnover.” A 100% portfolio turnover rate would occur if all of the securities in the Fund were replaced during a given period. Frequent and active trading may result in greater expenses to the Fund, which may lower the Fund’s performance and may result in the realization of substantial capital gains, including net short-term capital gains. As a result, high portfolio turnover may reduce the Fund’s returns.
 
Prepayment Risk: Prepayment risk is the risk that a debt security may be paid off and proceeds invested earlier than anticipated. Prepayment risk is more prevalent during periods of falling interest rates. Prepayment impacts both the interest rate sensitivity of the underlying asset, such as an asset-backed or mortgage-backed security, and its cash flow projections. Therefore, prepayment risk may make it difficult to calculate the average duration of the Fund's asset- or mortgage-backed securities which in turn would make it difficult to assess the interest rate risk of the Fund.

Real Estate Industry Risk:   Since an underlying fund’s investments may be concentrated in the real estate industry, it is subject to the risk that the real estate industry will underperform the broader market, as well as the risk that issuers in the

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industry will be similarly impacted by market conditions, legislative or regulatory changes, or competition. The real estate industry is particularly sensitive to economic downturns.  The values of companies in the real estate industry may go through cycles of relative under-performance and outperformance in comparison to equity securities markets in general.

Rule 144A Securities Risk (Allocation Funds Only):  Rule 144A securities are restricted securities that may be purchased only by qualified institutional buyers in reliance on an exemption from federal registration requirements.  Investing in Rule 144A securities may reduce the liquidity of an underlying fund’s portfolio if an adequate institutional trading market for these securities does not exist.  An underlying fund may be unable to sell Rule 144A securities at advantageous prices or times, or at all, if an insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers is interested in purchasing such securities.  Prices of Rule 144A securities often reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable exchange-listed securities for which a liquid trading market exists.  An underlying fund may also have to bear the expense of registering Rule 144A securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration.

Sector Focus Risk:  An underlying fund may invest a high percentage of its assets in specific sectors of the market in order to achieve a potentially greater investment return. As a result, an underlying fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, and regulatory developments in a particular sector of the market, positive or negative, and may experience increased volatility of the underlying fund’s net asset value with a magnified effect on the total return.

Short Sales Risk:   In a short sale, a Fund sells a security or other financial instrument, such as a futures contract, that it does not own.  To complete the transaction, a Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer.  A Fund is then obligated to replace the borrowed security by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of replacement.  If the price of the security sold short rises between the time a Fund sells the security short and the time a Fund replaces the security sold short, a Fund will realize a loss on the transaction.  Although a Fund’s potential gain on a short sale is limited to the amount at which the Fund sells the security short, a Fund’s potential loss on a short sale is limited only by the maximum attainable price of the security less the price at which the security was sold short.
 
Value Investing Risk (Allocation Funds Only):  Value investing presents the risk that an underlying fund’s security holdings may never reach their full market value because the market fails to recognize what the portfolio managers consider the true business value or because the portfolio managers have misjudged those values. In addition, value investing may fall out of favor and underperform growth or other styles of investing during given certain periods.
 
Where Can I Find Information About the Funds’ Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies?

A description of the Funds’ policies and procedures for disclosing portfolio securities to any person is available in the SAI and can also be found on the Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.

THE FUNDS’ MANAGEMENT
 
Investment Advisor

Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Touchstone Advisors has been a registered investment advisor since 1994.   As of March 31, 2019, Touchstone Advisors had approximately $17.5 billion in assets under management.  As the Funds’ investment advisor, Touchstone Advisors reviews, supervises, and administers the Funds’ investment programs and also ensures compliance with the Funds’ investment policies and guidelines.
 
Touchstone Advisors is responsible for selecting each Fund’s sub-advisor(s), subject to approval by the Board.  Touchstone Advisors selects a sub-advisor that has shown good investment performance in its areas of expertise.  Touchstone Advisors considers various factors in evaluating a sub-advisor, including:
 
Level of knowledge and skill;
Performance as compared to its peers or benchmark;
Consistency of performance over 5 years or more;
Level of compliance with investment rules and strategies;
Employees, facilities and financial strength; and
Quality of service.
 

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Touchstone Advisors will also continually monitor each sub-advisor’s performance through various analyses and through in-person, telephone, and written consultations with a sub-advisor.  Touchstone Advisors discusses its expectations for performance with each sub-advisor and provides evaluations and recommendations to the Board of Trustees, including whether or not a sub-advisor’s contract should be renewed, modified, or terminated.
 
The SEC has granted an exemptive order that permits Touchstone Strategic Trust (the "Trust") or Touchstone Advisors, under certain conditions, to select or change unaffiliated sub-advisors, enter into new sub-advisory agreements, or amend existing sub-advisory agreements without first obtaining shareholder approval.  The Funds must still obtain shareholder approval of any sub-advisory agreement with a sub-advisor affiliated with the Trust or Touchstone Advisors other than by reason of serving as a sub-advisor to one or more Funds. Shareholders of a Fund will be notified of any changes in its sub-advisor.
 
Two or more sub-advisors may manage a Fund, from time to time, with each managing a portion of the Fund’s assets.  If a Fund has more than one sub-advisor, Touchstone Advisors allocates how much of a Fund’s assets are managed by each sub-advisor. Touchstone Advisors may change these allocations from time to time, often based upon the results of its evaluations of the sub-advisors.
 
Touchstone Advisors is also responsible for running all of the operations of the Funds, except those that are subcontracted to a sub-advisor, custodian, transfer agent, sub-administrative agent or other parties.  For its services, Touchstone Advisors is entitled to receive an investment advisory fee from each Fund at an annualized rate, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund.  The Annual Fee Rate below is the fee paid to Touchstone Advisors by each Fund, net of any advisory fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.  Touchstone Advisors, and not the Funds, pays sub-advisory fees to each sub-advisor from its advisory fee.  
Fund
 
Net Annual Fee Rate as a % of Average Daily Net Assets
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
0.85
%
Controlled Growth with Income Fund*
 
%
Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
 
0.04
%
Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
 
0.11
%
* As a result of the contractual expense limitation agreement, Touchstone Advisors did not receive an investment advisory fee for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreement Approval. A discussion of the basis for the Board's approval of the Funds’ advisory and sub-advisory agreements can be found in the Trust’s December 31, 2018 annual report.

Additional Information

The Trustees of the Trust oversee generally the operations of each Fund and the Trust. The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Funds' investment advisor, custodian, transfer agent, accountants and distributor, who provide services to each Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any such individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

This prospectus provides information concerning the Trust and the Funds that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of a Fund. The Funds may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or a Fund and its shareholders, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any such individual shareholder or group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

Sub-Advisors and Portfolio Managers
 
Listed below are the sub-advisors and their respective portfolio managers that have responsibility for the day-to-day management of each Fund. A brief biographical description of each portfolio manager is also provided. The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ investments in the Fund or Funds that they manage, a description of their compensation structure, and information regarding other accounts that they manage.


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Wells Capital Management, Inc. ("Wells Capital"), located at 525 Market Street, 12 th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as sub-advisor to the Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund. As sub-advisor, Wells Capital makes investment decisions for the Fund and also ensures compliance with the Fund’s investment policies and guidelines. Wells Capital serves pension and profit-sharing plans, endowments, foundations, corporate investment portfolios, mutual savings banks and insurance companies. As of December 31, 2018, Wells Capital had $361.3 billion in assets under management. The following individuals are jointly and primarily responsible for the management of the Dynamic Equity Fund.

Dynamic Equity Fund

Harindra de Silva , Ph.D., CFA, serves as President and Portfolio Manager, positions he has held since 1995. Dr. de Silva is responsible for Wells Capital’s strategic direction and the ongoing development of its investment processes. Dr. de Silva focuses on the ongoing research and portfolio management efforts for the firm’s U.S. equity strategies and Tactical Asset Allocation strategies.
Dennis Bein , CFA, serves as Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager, positions he has held since 2004. Mr. Bein is responsible for the ongoing research for Wells Capital’s U.S. equity strategies as well as the day-to-day portfolio management and trading of those accounts.
Gregory McMurran , has served as Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager at Wells Capital since 1976.
Ryan Brown , CFA serves as Portfolio Manager, a position he has held since April 2010. Mr. Brown served as a Portfolio Analyst with Wells Capital from January 2007 to April 2010. Mr. Brown is responsible for the ongoing research efforts for U.S. equity-based investment strategies.
Wilshire Associates Incorporated (“Wilshire”), located at 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401, serves as sub-advisor to the Allocation Funds effective November 23, 2015.  Wilshire is a registered investment advisor founded in 1972. Wilshire Funds Management, the global investment management business unit of Wilshire, advises more than $49.5billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2018.  Wilshire, an independent firm for over 40 years, is supported by a global network of offices in the U.S., Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The following individuals are jointly and primarily responsible for the management of the Allocation Funds.
 
Controlled Growth with Income Fund, Dynamic Diversified Income Fund and Dynamic Global Allocation Fund

Nathan Palmer, CFA, Portfolio Manager,  is a Managing Director with Wilshire and heads Wilshire Funds Management’s portfolio management group.  Mr. Palmer has more than 19 years of industry experience and is responsible for creating multi-asset class, multi-manager investment solutions for financial intermediary clients. Prior to joining Wilshire in 2011, Mr. Palmer provided investment advice to endowment, foundation, and family office clients at Convergent Wealth Advisors since 2009.
 
Anthony Wicklund, CFA, CAIA, Portfolio Manager, is a Managing Director with Wilshire and a Portfolio Manager with Wilshire Funds Management. Mr. Wicklund has more than 16 years of industry experience and is a Portfolio Manager for multi-manager portfolios, including target-risk, target-date, and alternative portfolios for a range of financial intermediary clients. Prior to joining Wilshire in 2013, Mr. Wicklund was the Director of Risk Management at Convergent Wealth Advisors, where he led the firm’s investment risk management and operational due diligence efforts since 2006. 
 
CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES

Share Class Offerings.   Each class of shares has different sales charges and distribution fees.  The amount of sales charges and distribution fees you pay will depend on which class of shares you decide to purchase. Each Allocation Fund offers Class A, Class C and Class Y shares.  The Dynamic Equity Fund offers Class A, Class C, Class Y and Institutional Class shares. In addition, certain intermediaries may provide different sales charge discounts and waivers. These sales charge variations and the applicable intermediaries are described in Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to this prospectus.

Class A Shares (all Funds)

The offering price of Class A shares of each Fund is equal to its net asset value (“NAV”) plus a front-end sales charge that you pay when you buy your shares. The front-end sales charge is generally deducted from the amount of your investment. Class A shares are subject to a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets allocable to Class A shares.


48



C lass A Sales Charge. The following table shows the amount of front-end sales charge you will pay on purchases of Class A shares of the Funds based on the total amount of your investment in the Touchstone Fund Complex. All funds managed by the Advisor are part of the "Touchstone Fund Complex."
Amount of Your Investment
Sales Charge as % of
Offering Price

Sales Charge as % of
Net Amount Invested

Dealer Reallowance as %
of Offering Price
Under $25,000
5.00
%

5.26
%

4.50
%
$25,000 but less than $50,000
4.50
%

4.71
%

4.25
%
$50,000 but less than $100,000
4.00
%

4.17
%

3.75
%
$100,000 but less than $250,000
3.00
%

3.09
%

2.75
%
$250,000 but less than $1 million
2.00
%

2.04
%

1.75
%
$1 million or more
0.00
%

0.00
%

None


Waiver of Class A Sales Charge. *There is no front-end sales charge on Class A shares of the Funds if you invest $1 million or more in the Touchstone Fund Complex. If you redeem Class A shares that were part of a $1 million breakpoint purchase within one year of that purchase, you may pay a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") of up to 1.00% on the shares redeemed if a commission was paid by Touchstone Securities, Inc. (the "Distributor" or "Touchstone Securities") to a participating unaffiliated broker-dealer. There is no front-end sales charge on exchanges between Funds with the same load schedule or from a higher load schedule to a lower load schedule. In addition, there is no front-end sales charge on the following purchases:
 
Purchases by registered representatives or other employees** (and their immediate family members***) of financial intermediaries having selling agreements with Touchstone Securities.
Purchases in accounts as to which a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary charges an asset management fee economically comparable to a sales charge, provided the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary has a selling agreement with Touchstone Securities.
Purchases by a trust department of any financial intermediary serving in a fiduciary capacity as trustee to any trust over which it has discretionary trading authority.
Purchases through a financial intermediary that has agreements with Touchstone Securities, or whose programs are available through financial intermediaries that have agreements with Touchstone Securities relating to mutual fund supermarket programs, fee-based wrap or asset allocation programs.
Purchases by an employee benefit plan having more than 25 eligible employees or a minimum of $250,000 in plan assets.  This waiver applies to any investing employee benefit plan meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and whose transactions are executed through a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to use the Touchstone Funds in connection with the plan’s accounts.  The term “employee benefit plan” applies to qualified pension, profit-sharing, or other employee benefit plans.
Purchases by an employee benefit plan that is provided administrative services by a third party administrator that has entered into a special service arrangement with Touchstone Securities.
Reinvestment of redemption proceeds from Class A shares of any Touchstone Fund if the reinvestment occurs within 90 days of redemption.

* Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Merrill Lynch, Morgan St anley, Ameriprise Financial and Raymond James.
**The term “employee” is deemed to include current and retired employees.
***Immediate family members are defined as the parents, mother-in-law or father-in-law, spouse, brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, niece or nephew and children of a registered representative or employee, and any other individual to whom the registered representative or employee provides material support.

Touchstone Securities has agreed to waive the Class A sales charge for clients of financial intermediaries that have entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to offer shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee to their customers. As of the date of this Prospectus, this arrangement applies to shareholders purchasing Fund shares through platforms at the following intermediaries:
Merrill Lynch
RBC
JP Morgan Securities
Morgan Stanley
Ameriprise Financial
Raymond James

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Please see  Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts  in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Ameriprise Financial, and Raymond James. You should ask your financial intermediary if it offers and you are eligible to participate in such a mutual fund program and whether participation in the program is consistent with your investment goals.  The intermediaries sponsoring or participating in these mutual fund programs may also offer their clients other classes of shares of the funds and investors may receive different levels of services or pay different fees depending upon the class of shares included in the program.  Investors should carefully consider any separate transaction fee or other fees charged by these programs in connection with investing in each available share class before selecting a share class.
 
You must notify your financial intermediary (or Touchstone Securities for purchases made directly from the Funds) at the time of purchase that you believe you qualify for a sales charge waiver, in addition to providing appropriate proof of your eligibility. Failure to provide such notification and proof may result in you not receiving the sales charge waiver to which you are otherwise entitled. For direct purchases through Touchstone Securities you may apply for a waiver by marking the appropriate section on the investment application and completing the “Special Account Options” form.  You can obtain the application and form by calling Touchstone at 1.800.543.0407 or by visiting the Touchstone Funds' website: TouchstoneInvestments.com.  Purchases at NAV may be made for investment only, and the shares may not be resold except through redemption by or on behalf of the Fund.  At the option of the Fund, the front-end sales charge may be included on future purchases.
 
Reduced Class A Sales Charge. You may also purchase Class A shares of a Fund at the reduced sales charges shown in the table above through the Rights of Accumulation Program or by signing a Letter of Intent.  The following purchasers (“Qualified Purchasers”) may qualify for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:
 
an individual, an individual’s spouse, or an individual’s children under the age of 21; or
a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single fiduciary account although more than one beneficiary is involved.

The following accounts ("Qualified Accounts") held in the Touchstone Fund Complex may be grouped together to qualify for the reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program or Letter of Intent:
 
Individual accounts
Joint tenant with rights of survivorship accounts
Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act (“UGTMA”) Accounts
Trust accounts
Estate accounts
Guardian/Conservator accounts
Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs"), including Traditional, Roth, Simplified Employee Pension Plans ("SEP") and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees ("SIMPLE")
Coverdell Education Savings Accounts ("Education IRAs")

Please see  Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts  in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Ameriprise Financial, and Raymond James.

Rights of Accumulation Program. Under the Rights of Accumulation Program, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge by aggregating your investments in the Touchstone Fund Complex held in Qualified Accounts.  You or your dealer must notify Touchstone Securities at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program and must provide either a list of account numbers or copies of account statements verifying your qualification.  If your shares are held directly in a Touchstone Fund or through a dealer, you may combine the historical cost or current NAV (whichever is higher) of your existing shares of any Touchstone Fund with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge.  Historical cost is the price you actually paid for the shares you own, plus your reinvested dividends and capital gains.  If you are using historical cost to qualify for a reduced sales charge, you should retain any records to substantiate your historical costs since the Fund, its transfer agent or your broker-dealer may not maintain this information.
 
If your shares are held through a financial intermediary, you may combine the current NAV of your existing shares of any Touchstone Fund with the amount of your current purchase in order to take advantage of the reduced sales charge.  You or your financial intermediary must notify Touchstone at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge under the Rights of Accumulation Program and must provide copies of account statements dated within three months of your current purchase verifying your qualification.
 

50



Upon receipt of the above referenced supporting documentation, Touchstone Securities will calculate the combined value of all of the Qualified Purchaser’s Qualified Accounts to determine if the current purchase is eligible for a reduced sales charge.  Purchases made for nominee or street name accounts (securities held in the name of a dealer or another nominee such as a bank trust department instead of the customer) may not be aggregated with purchases for other accounts and may not be aggregated with other nominee or street name accounts unless otherwise qualified as described above.

* Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Merrill Lynch, Morgan St anley, Ameriprise Financial and Raymond James.
 
Letter of Intent. If you plan to invest at least $25,000 in the Touchstone Fund Complex (excluding any reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions) during the next 13 months, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge of Class A shares of any Touchstone Equity Fund by completing the Letter of Intent section of your account application." to "If you plan to invest at least $25,000 in the Touchstone Fund Complex (excluding any reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions) during the next 13 months, you may qualify for a reduced sales charge of Class A shares of the Funds by completing the Letter of Intent section of your account application

Please see  Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts  in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Ameriprise Financial and Raymond James.

Other Information.  Information about the Touchstone Fund Complex Class A share sales charges and breakpoints is also available in a clear and prominent format on the Touchstone Funds' website: TouchstoneInvestments.com. You can access this information by selecting the “Mutual Funds” link and then the "Sales Charges for Class A Shares [PDF]" link under the heading "Sales Charges and Breakpoints."  For more information about qualifying for a reduced or waived sales charge, contact your financial advisor or contact Touchstone at 1.800.543.0407.
 
Class C Shares (all Funds)

Class C shares of the Funds are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment may be immediately invested in the Funds.  Class C shares are subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee.  A CDSC of 1.00% will be charged on Class C shares redeemed within 1 year after you purchased them.  In most cases it is more advantageous to purchase Class A shares for amounts of $1 million or more.  Therefore, a request to purchase Class C shares for $1 million or more will be considered as a purchase request for Class A shares or declined.

Effective January 1, 2019 (the “Effective Date”), Class C shares of each Fund will automatically convert into Class A shares of the same Fund after they have been held for 10 years. The conversion will not be considered a taxable event for federal income tax purposes. These automatic conversions will be executed without any sales charge (including CDSCs), redemption or transaction fee, or other charge. After such a conversion takes place, the shares will be subject to all features, rights and expenses of Class A shares. If you hold Class C shares through certain financial intermediaries, such as an omnibus account or group retirement recordkeeping platform, your intermediary may not be able to track the amount of time you held your Class C shares purchased before January 1, 2019. In these instances, Class C shares held prior to the Effective Date would convert to Class A shares 10 years after the Effective Date and every 10 years thereafter.

Class Y Shares (all Funds)

Class Y shares of the Funds are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment may be immediately invested in the Funds.  Class Y shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee or CDSC. In addition, Class Y shares may be purchased through certain mutual fund programs sponsored by qualified intermediaries, such as broker-dealers and investment advisors.  In each case, the intermediary has entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to include the Touchstone Funds in their program where the intermediary provides investors participating in their program with additional services, including advisory, asset allocation, recordkeeping or other services.  You should ask your financial institution if it offers and you are eligible to participate in such a mutual fund program and whether participation in the program is consistent with your investment goals.  The intermediaries sponsoring or participating in these mutual fund programs may also offer their clients other classes of shares of the funds and investors may receive different levels of services or pay different fees depending upon the class of shares included in the program.  Investors should carefully consider any separate transaction fee or other fees charged by these programs in connection with investing in each available share class before selecting a share class.



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Institutional Class Shares (Dynamic Equity Fund Only)

Institutional Class shares of the Dynamic Equity Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase payment may be immediately invested in the Fund.  Institutional Class shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee or CDSC.
 
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS
 
Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plans. Each Fund offering Class A shares and Class C shares has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The plans allow each Fund to pay distribution and other fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to shareholders. Under the Class A plan, the Funds pay an annual fee of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class A shares. Under the Class C plan, the Funds pay an annual fee of up to 1.00% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class C shares (of which up to 0.75% is a distribution fee and up to 0.25% is a shareholder servicing fee). Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment and over time may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
 
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries.  Touchstone Securities, the Trust’s principal underwriter, at its expense (from a designated percentage of its income) currently provides additional compensation to certain dealers.  Touchstone Securities pursues a focused distribution strategy with a limited number of dealers who have sold shares of a Fund or other Touchstone Funds.  Touchstone Securities reviews and makes changes to the focused distribution strategy on a periodic basis.  These payments are generally based on a pro rata share of a dealer’s sales.  Touchstone Securities may also provide compensation in connection with conferences, sales or training programs for employees, seminars for the public, advertising and other dealer-sponsored programs.
 
Touchstone Advisors, at its own expense, may also provide additional compensation to certain affiliated and unaffiliated dealers, financial intermediaries or service providers for certain services including distribution, administrative, sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency and/or shareholder servicing activities.  These additional cash payments to a financial intermediary are payments over and above sales commissions or reallowances, distribution fees or servicing fees (including networking, administration and sub-transfer agency fees).  These additional cash payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary bears certain costs in connection with providing shareholder services to Fund shareholders.  Touchstone Advisors may also reimburse Touchstone Securities for making these payments.
 
Touchstone Advisors and its affiliates may also pay cash compensation in the form of finders’ fees or referral fees that vary depending on the dollar amount of shares sold.  The amount and value of additional cash payments vary for each financial intermediary.  The additional cash payment arrangement between a particular financial intermediary and Touchstone Advisors or its affiliates may provide for increased rates of compensation as the dollar value of the Fund’s shares or particular class of shares sold or invested through such financial intermediary increases.  The availability of these additional cash payments, the varying fee structure within a particular additional cash payment arrangement and the basis for and manner in which a financial intermediary compensates its sales representatives may create a financial incentive for a particular financial intermediary and its sales representatives to recommend a Fund’s shares over the shares of other mutual funds based, at least in part, on the level of compensation paid.  You should consult with your financial advisor and review carefully any disclosure by the financial firm as to compensation received by your financial advisor.  Although the Funds may use financial firms that sell the Funds’ shares to effect portfolio transactions for the Funds, the Funds and Touchstone Advisors will not consider the sale of a Fund’s shares as a factor when choosing financial firms to effect those transactions.  For more information on payment arrangements, please see the section entitled “Touchstone Securities” in the SAI.
 
INVESTING WITH TOUCHSTONE

Choosing the Appropriate Investments to Match Your Goals.  Investing well requires a plan.  We recommend that you meet with your financial advisor to plan a strategy that will best meet your financial goals.

Purchasing Your Shares
 
Please read this prospectus carefully and then determine how much you want to invest.
Classes A and C shares may be purchased directly through Touchstone Securities or through your financial advisor.
Class Y shares are available through certain financial intermediaries who have appropriate selling agreements in place with Touchstone Securities.
Institutional Class shares (Dynamic Equity Fund only) may be purchased directly through Touchstone Securities or through your financial intermediary.


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In order to open an account you must complete an investment application. You can obtain an investment application from Touchstone Securities, your financial advisor or other financial intermediary, or by visiting TouchstoneInvestments.com.  You may purchase shares in the Fund on a day when the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open for trading ("Business Day"). For more information about how to purchase shares, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407.

As of the close of business on or about May 10, 2019, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund will reorganize into the Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund. Effective as of the close of business on May 8, 2019, all classes of the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund will be closed to investments by new investors.

Investor Alert:  Each Touchstone Fund reserves the right to restrict or reject any purchase request, including exchanges from other Touchstone Funds, which it regards as disruptive to efficient portfolio management.  For example, a purchase request could be rejected because of the timing of the investment or because of a history of excessive trading by the investor.  (See “Market Timing Policy” in this prospectus.)  Touchstone Securities may change applicable initial and additional investment minimums at any time.

Opening an Account
 
Important Information About Procedures for Opening an Account. Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.  What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, residential address, date of birth, government identification number and other information that will allow us to identify you.  We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents.  If we do not receive these required pieces of information, there will be a delay in processing your investment request, which could subject your investment to market risk.  If we are unable to immediately verify your identity, the Fund may restrict further investment until your identity is verified.  However, if we are unable to completely verify your identity through our verification process, the Fund reserves the right to close your account without notice and return your investment to you at the price determined at the end of business (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time ), on the day that your account is closed.  If we close your account because we are unable to completely verify your identity, your investment will be subject to market fluctuation, which could result in a loss of a portion of your principal investment.
 
Investing in the Funds
 
By mail or through your financial advisor
 
Please make your check (drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars) payable to the Touchstone Funds.  We do not accept third party checks for initial investments.
Send your check with the completed investment application by regular mail to Touchstone Investments, P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, or by overnight mail to Touchstone Investments, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581.
Your application will be processed subject to your check clearing.  If your check is returned for insufficient funds or uncollected funds, you may be charged a fee and you will be responsible for any resulting loss to the Fund.
You may also open an account through your financial advisor.
 
By wire or Automated Clearing House (“ACH”)
 
You may open an account by purchasing shares by wire or ACH transfer.  Call Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407 for wire or ACH instructions.
Touchstone Securities will not process wire or ACH purchases until it receives a completed investment application.
There is no charge imposed by the Funds to make a wire or ACH purchase.  Your bank, financial intermediary or processing organization may charge a fee to send a wire or ACH purchase to Touchstone Securities.
 
Through your financial intermediary
 
You may invest in certain share classes by establishing an account through financial intermediaries that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities.
Your financial intermediary will act as the shareholder of record of your shares.
Financial intermediaries may set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements, may impose other restrictions or may charge you fees for their services.
Financial intermediaries may designate intermediaries to accept purchase and sales orders on the Funds’ behalf.

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Your financial intermediaries may receive compensation from the Funds, Touchstone Securities, Touchstone Advisors or their affiliates.
Before investing in the Funds through your financial intermediary, you should read any materials provided by your financial intermediary together with this prospectus.
 
By exchange. Touchstone Funds may be exchanged pursuant to the exchange rules outlined below:
 
Class A shares may be exchanged into Class A shares of any other Touchstone Fund at NAV, although Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
Class C shares may be exchanged into Class C shares of any other Touchstone Fund, although Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
Class Y shares of a Fund are exchangeable for Class Y shares of any other Touchstone Fund, as long as investment minimums and proper selling agreement requirements are met. Class Y shares may be available through financial intermediaries that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities, or through “processing organizations” (e.g., mutual fund supermarkets) that purchase shares for their customers. Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
Institutional Class shares of the Funds are exchangeable for Institutional Class shares of any other Touchstone Fund as long as investment minimums and proper selling agreement requirements are met, although Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
Class A, C, and Y shareholders who are eligible to invest in Institutional Class shares are eligible to exchange their Class A shares, Class C shares, and Class Y shares for Institutional Class shares of the same Fund, if offered in their state, and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial intermediary.  Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information under “Choosing a Class of Shares.”
Class A and Class C shareholders who are eligible to invest in Class Y shares are eligible to exchange their Class A shares and/or Class C shares for Class Y shares of the same Fund, if offered in their state and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial intermediary. Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges.
Shares otherwise subject to a CDSC will not be charged a CDSC in an exchange.  However, when you redeem the shares acquired through the exchange, the shares you redeem may be subject to a CDSC, depending on when you originally purchased the exchanged shares.  For purposes of computing the CDSC, the length of time you have owned your shares will be measured from the date of original purchase and will not be affected by any exchange.
Before making an exchange of your Fund shares, you should carefully review the disclosure provided in the prospectus relating to the Fund into which you are exchanging. Touchstone Funds that are closed to new investors may not accept exchanges. You do not have to pay any exchange fee for your exchange, but if you exchange from a Fund with a lower load schedule to a Fund with a higher load schedule you may be charged the load differential.
You may realize a taxable gain if you exchange shares of a Fund for shares of another Fund.  See “Distributions and Taxes — Federal Income Tax Information” for more information and the federal income tax consequences of such an exchange.

Through retirement plans. You may invest in certain Funds through various retirement plans.  These include individual retirement plans and employer sponsored retirement plans.
 
Individual Retirement Plans
 
Traditional IRAs
SIMPLE IRAs
Spousal IRAs
Roth IRAs
Education IRAs
SEP IRAs

Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans
 
Defined benefit plans
Defined contribution plans (including 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans and money purchase plans)
457 plans
 
To determine which type of retirement plan is appropriate for you, please contact your tax advisor.
 

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For further information about any of the plans, agreements, applications and annual fees, contact Touchstone at 1.800.543.0407 or contact your financial intermediary.
 
Through a processing organization. You may also purchase shares of the Funds through a “processing organization,” (e.g., a mutual fund supermarket) which is a broker-dealer, bank or other financial institution that purchases shares for its customers.  Some of the Touchstone Funds have authorized certain processing organizations (“Authorized Processing Organizations”) to receive purchase and sales orders on their behalf.  Before investing in the Funds through a processing organization, you should read any materials provided by the processing organization together with this prospectus.  You should also ask the processing organization if they are authorized by Touchstone Securities to receive purchase and sales orders on their behalf.  If the processing organization is not authorized, then your purchase order could be rejected which could subject your investment to market risk.  When shares are purchased through an Authorized Processing Organization, there may be various differences compared to investing directly with Touchstone Securities.  The Authorized Processing Organization may:
 
Charge a fee for its services
Act as the shareholder of record of the shares
Set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements
Impose other charges and restrictions
Designate intermediaries to accept purchase and sales orders on the Funds’ behalf
 
Touchstone Securities considers a purchase or sales order as received when an Authorized Processing Organization, or its authorized designee, receives the order in proper form.
 
Shares held through an Authorized Processing Organization may be transferred into your name following procedures established by your Authorized Processing Organization and Touchstone Securities.  Certain Authorized Processing Organizations may receive compensation from the Funds, Touchstone Securities, Touchstone Advisors or their affiliates. It is the responsibility of an Authorized Processing Organization to transmit properly completed orders so that they will be received by Touchstone Securities in a timely manner.
 
Pricing of Purchases
 
Purchase orders received in proper form by Touchstone Securities, an Authorized Processing Organization, or a financial intermediary, by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, are processed at that day’s public offering price (NAV plus any applicable sales charge). Purchase orders received after the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE are processed at the public offering price determined on the following business day. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization to transmit orders that will be received by Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.

Adding to Your Account
 
By check
 
Complete the investment form provided with a recent account statement.
Make your check (drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars) payable to Touchstone Funds.
Write your account number on the check.
Either mail the check with the investment form to (1) Touchstone Securities; or (2) to your financial intermediary at the address printed on your account statement. Your financial advisor or financial intermediary is responsible for forwarding payment promptly to Touchstone Securities.
If your check is returned for insufficient funds or uncollected funds, you may be charged a fee and you will be responsible for any resulting loss to the Fund.

Through Touchstone Securities - By telephone or Internet
 
You can exchange your shares over the telephone by calling Touchstone Securities 1.800.543.0407, unless you have specifically declined this option. If you do not wish to have this ability, you must mark the appropriate section of the investment application.
You may also exchange your shares online via the Touchstone Funds’ website TouchstoneInvestments.com. You may only sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000.
In order to protect your investment assets, Touchstone Securities will only follow instructions received by telephone that it reasonably believes to be genuine. However, there is no guarantee that the instructions relied upon will always be

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genuine and Touchstone Securities will not be liable, in those cases. Touchstone Securities has certain procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine. If it does not follow such procedures in a particular case, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Some of these procedures may include:

Requiring personal identification.
Making checks payable only to the owner(s) of the account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Mailing checks only to the account address shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Directing wires only to the bank account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Providing written confirmation for transactions requested by telephone.
Digitally recording instructions received by telephone.

By wire or ACH
 
Contact your bank and ask it to wire or ACH funds to Touchstone Securities.  Specify your name and account number when remitting the funds.
Your bank may charge a fee for handling wire transfers.  ACH transactions take 2-3 business days but can be transferred from most banks without a fee.
If you hold your shares directly with Touchstone Securities and have ACH instructions on file for your non-retirement individual or joint account you may initiate a purchase transaction through the Touchstone Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
Purchases in the Funds will be processed at that day’s NAV (or public offering price, if applicable) if Touchstone Securities receives a properly executed wire or ACH by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on a day when the NYSE is open for regular trading.
Contact Touchstone Securities or your financial intermediary for further instructions.

By exchange
 
You may add to your account by exchanging shares from another Touchstone Fund.
For information about how to exchange shares among the Touchstone Funds, see “Investing in the Funds - By exchange” in this prospectus.
Exchange transactions can also be initiated for non-retirement individual or joint accounts via the Touchstone Funds’ website TouchstoneInvestments.com.

Purchases with Securities
 
Shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of marketable securities, including but not limited to, shares of common stock, provided the acquisition of such securities is consistent with the applicable Fund’s investment goal and is otherwise acceptable to Touchstone Advisors. Transactions of this type are generally a taxable transaction.  Shareholders should consult with their particular tax advisor regarding their personal tax situation.

Automatic Investment Options
 
The various ways that you can automatically invest in the Funds are outlined below.  Touchstone Securities does not charge any fees for these services.  For further details about these services, call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407.  If you hold your shares through a financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization, please contact them for further details on automatic investment options.
 
Automatic Investment Plan. You can pre-authorize monthly investments in a Fund of $50 or more to be processed electronically from a checking or savings account.  You will need to complete the appropriate section in the investment application or special account options to do this.  Amounts that are automatically invested in a Fund will not be available for redemption until three business days after the automatic reinvestment.
 
Reinvestment/Cross Reinvestment. Dividends and capital gains can be automatically reinvested in the Fund that pays them or in another Touchstone Fund within the same class of shares without a fee or sales charge. Dividends and capital gains will be reinvested in the Fund that pays them, unless you indicate otherwise on your investment application. You may also choose to have your dividends or capital gains paid to you in cash if such amounts are greater than $25; lesser amounts will be automatically reinvested in the Fund. Dividends are taxable for federal income tax purposes whether you reinvest such dividends in additional shares of a Fund or choose to receive cash. If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash for a non–retirement account and the payment (1) is returned and marked as “undeliverable” or (2) is not cashed for six months, your cash election will be

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changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the payable date. In addition, any undeliverable checks from non-retirement accounts will be deposited into an account for potential escheatment to your state of residence. Checks from open non-retirement accounts that are not cashed for six months will be cancelled and then reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation, which may be higher or lower than the NAV at which your shares were initially redeemed. Otherwise, no action will be taken regarding undeliverable or uncashed checks.
 
Direct Deposit Purchase Plan. You may automatically invest Social Security checks, private payroll checks, pension payouts or any other pre-authorized government or private recurring payments in our Funds.
 
Dollar Cost Averaging. Our dollar cost averaging program allows you to diversify your investments by investing the same amount on a regular basis.  You can set up periodic automatic exchanges of at least $50 from one Touchstone Fund to any other.  The applicable sales charge, if any, will be assessed.
 
Selling Your Shares
 
If you elect to receive your redemption proceeds from a non–retirement account in cash, the payment is not cashed for six months and the account remains open, the redemption check will be cancelled and then reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation, which may be higher or lower than the NAV at which your shares were initially redeemed. Otherwise, no action will be taken.

Through Touchstone Securities - By telephone or Internet
 
You can sell your shares over the telephone by calling Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407, unless you have specifically declined this option.  If you do not wish to have this ability, you must mark the appropriate section of the investment application.
You may also sell your shares online via the Touchstone Funds’ website: TouchstoneInvestments.com.
You may sell shares over the telephone or via the Internet only if the value of the shares sold is less than or equal to $100,000.
Shares held in qualified retirement plans cannot be sold via Internet.
If we receive your sale request by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on a day when the NYSE is open for regular trading, the sale of your shares will be processed at the next determined NAV on that Business Day.  Otherwise it will occur on the next Business Day.
Interruptions in telephone or Internet service could prevent you from selling your shares when you want to.  When you have difficulty making telephone or Internet sales, you should mail to Touchstone Securities (or send by overnight delivery) a written request for the sale of your shares.
In order to protect your investment assets, Touchstone Securities will only follow instructions received by telephone that it reasonably believes to be genuine.  However, there is no guarantee that the instructions relied upon will always be genuine and Touchstone Securities will not be liable, in those cases.  Touchstone Securities has certain procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine.  If it does not follow such procedures in a particular case, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.  Some of these procedures may include:
Requiring personal identification.
Making checks payable only to the owner(s) of the account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Mailing checks only to the account address shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Directing wires only to the bank account shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
Providing written confirmation for transactions requested by telephone.
Digitally recording instructions received by telephone.
 
Through Touchstone Securities - By mail
 
Write to Touchstone Securities, P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940.
Indicate the number of shares or dollar amount to be sold.
Include your name and account number.
Sign your request exactly as your name appears on your investment application.
You may be required to have your signature guaranteed.  (See “Signature Guarantees” in this prospectus for more information).
 
Through Touchstone Securities - By wire
 
Complete the appropriate information on the investment application.

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If your proceeds are $1,000 or more, you may request that Touchstone Securities wire them to your bank account.
You may be charged a fee of up to $15 by a Fund or a Fund’s Authorized Processing Organization for wiring redemption proceeds.  You may also be charged a fee by your bank. Certain institutional shareholders who trade daily are not charged wire redemption fees.
Your redemption proceeds may be deposited directly into your bank account through an ACH transaction.  There is no fee imposed by the Funds for ACH transactions, however, you may be charged a fee by your bank to receive an ACH transaction.  Contact Touchstone Securities for more information.
If you hold your shares directly with Touchstone Securities and have ACH or wire instructions on file for your non-retirement account you may transact through the Touchstone Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
 
Through Touchstone Securities - Through a systematic withdrawal plan
 
You may elect to receive, or send to a third party, withdrawals of $50 or more if your account value is at least $5,000.
Systematic withdrawals can be made monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually.
There is no fee for this service.
There is no minimum account balance required for retirement plans.
 
Through your financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization
 
You may also sell shares by contacting your financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization, which may charge you a fee for this service.  Shares held in street name must be sold through your financial intermediary or, if applicable, the Authorized Processing Organization.
Your intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization is responsible for making sure that sale requests are transmitted to Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.
Your financial intermediary may charge you a fee for selling your shares.
Redemption proceeds will only be wired to your account at the financial intermediary.
 
Investor Alert: Unless otherwise specified, proceeds will be sent to the record owner at the address shown on Touchstone Securities’ records.
 
Pricing of Redemptions

Redemption orders received in proper form by Touchstone Securities, an Authorized Processing Organization, or a financial intermediary, by the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, are processed at that day’s NAV. Redemption orders received after the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE are processed at the NAV determined on the following business day. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary or Authorized Processing Organization to transmit orders that will be received by Touchstone Securities in proper form and in a timely manner.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (“CDSC”)
 
If you purchased Class A shares of the Funds at NAV due to an overall investment of $1 million or more in the Touchstone Fund Complex and a Finder's Fee was paid, a CDSC of up to 1.00% may be charged on redemptions made within one year of your purchase. Additionally, when a Finder's Fee is paid on Class A shares of a Fund, the Fund will withhold any 12b-1 fee for the first 12 months following the purchase date. If you redeem Class C shares within 12 months of your purchase, a CDSC of 1.00% may be charged.
 
The CDSC will not apply to redemptions of shares you received through reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions and may be waived under certain circumstances described below.  The CDSC will be assessed on the lesser of your shares’ NAV at the time of redemption or the time of purchase.  The CDSC is paid to Touchstone Securities to reimburse expenses incurred in providing distribution-related services to the Funds.
 
All sales charges imposed on redemptions are paid to Touchstone Securities.  In determining whether the CDSC is payable, it is assumed that shares not subject to the CDSC are the first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time.  The CDSC will not be imposed upon shares representing reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions, or upon amounts representing share appreciation.
 
No CDSC is applied if:
 

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Any partial or complete redemption following death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) of a shareholder (including one who owns the shares with his or her spouse as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship) from an account in which the deceased or disabled is named. Touchstone Securities may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge, including death certificates, physicians’ certificates, etc.
Redemptions from a systematic withdrawal plan. The CDSC will be waived if the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed dollar amount or number of shares and systematic withdrawal redemptions are limited to no more than 10% of your account value or number of shares per year, as of the date the transfer agent receives your request. If the systematic withdrawal plan must be based on a fixed percentage of your account value, each redemption is limited to an amount that would not exceed 10% of your annual account value at the time of withdrawal.
Redemptions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code. The CDSC will be waived for benefit payments made by Touchstone Securities directly to plan participants.  Benefit payments will include, but are not limited to, payments resulting from death, disability, retirement, separation from service, required minimum distributions (as described under Section 401(a)(9) of the Code), in-service distributions, hardships, loans and qualified domestic relations orders.  The CDSC waiver will not apply in the event of termination of the plan or transfer of the plan to another financial intermediary.
The redemption is for a mandatory withdrawal from a traditional IRA account after age 70½.
 
The above mentioned CDSC waivers do not apply to Class A share redemptions made within one year of the date of purchase where a Finder's Fee was paid. The SAI contains further details about the CDSC and the conditions for waiving the CDSC. Please see Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Ameriprise Financial, and Raymond James.

Signature Guarantees
 
Some circumstances require that your request to sell shares be made in writing accompanied by an original Medallion Signature Guarantee.  A Medallion Signature Guarantee helps protect you against fraud.  You can obtain one from most banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public.  Each Fund reserves the right to require a signature guarantee for any request related to your account including, but not limited to:
 
Proceeds to be paid when information on your account has been changed within the last 30 days (including a change in your name or your address, or the name or address of a payee).
Proceeds are being sent to an address other than the address of record.
Proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred from unlike registrations such as a joint account to an individual’s account.
Sending proceeds via wire or ACH when bank instructions have been added or changed within 30 days of your redemption request.
Proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred between accounts with different account registrations.
 
Market Timing Policy
 
Market timing or excessive trading in accounts that you own or control may disrupt portfolio investment strategies, may increase brokerage and administrative costs, and may negatively impact investment returns for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs. The Funds will take reasonable steps to discourage excessive short-term trading and will not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by shareholders. The Board of Trustees has adopted the following policies and procedures with respect to market timing of the Funds by shareholders. The Funds will monitor selected trades on a daily basis in an effort to deter excessive short-term trading. If a Fund has reason to believe that a shareholder has engaged in excessive short-term trading, the Fund may ask the shareholder to stop such activities, or restrict or refuse to process purchases or exchanges in the shareholder’s accounts. While a Fund cannot assure the prevention of all excessive trading and market timing, by making these judgments the Fund believes it is acting in a manner that is in the best interests of its shareholders. However, because the Funds cannot prevent all market timing, shareholders may be subject to the risks described above.
 
Generally, a shareholder may be considered a market timer if he or she has (i) requested an exchange or redemption out of any of the Touchstone Funds within 2 weeks of an earlier purchase or exchange request into any Touchstone Fund, or (ii) made more than 2 “round-trip” exchanges within a rolling 90 day period.  A “round-trip” exchange occurs when a shareholder exchanges from one Touchstone Fund to another Touchstone Fund and back to the original Touchstone Fund.  If a shareholder exceeds these limits, the Funds may restrict or suspend that shareholder’s exchange privileges and subsequent exchange requests during the suspension will not be processed.  The Funds may also restrict or refuse to process purchases by the shareholder.  These exchange limits and excessive trading policies generally do not apply to systematic purchases and redemptions.

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Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisors and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Funds for their customers through which transactions are placed.  If a Fund identifies excessive trading in such an account, the Fund may instruct the intermediary to restrict the investor responsible for the excessive trading from further trading in the Fund.  In accordance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Funds have entered into information sharing agreements with certain financial intermediaries.  Under these agreements, a financial intermediary is obligated to: (1) enforce during the term of the agreement, the Funds’ market-timing policy; (2) furnish the Funds, upon their request, with information regarding customer trading activities in shares of the Funds; and (3) enforce the Funds’ market-timing policy with respect to customers identified by the Funds as having engaged in market timing.  When information regarding transactions in the Funds’ shares is requested by a Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Funds have an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Funds, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Funds on behalf of other persons.
 
The Funds apply these policies and procedures uniformly to all shareholders believed to be engaged in market timing or excessive trading. The Funds have no arrangements to permit any investor to trade frequently in shares of the Funds, nor will they enter into any such arrangements in the future.
 
Householding Policy (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities)

Each Fund you invest in will send one copy of its prospectuses and shareholder reports to households containing multiple shareholders with the same last name. This process, known as “householding”, reduces costs and provides a convenience to shareholders. If you share the same last name and address with another shareholder and you prefer to receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, call Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407 and we will begin separate mailings to you within 30 days of your request. If you or others in your household invest in the Funds through a financial intermediary, you may receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, regardless of whether or not you have consented to householding on your investment application.

In addition, eDelivery is available for statements, confirms, prospectuses and shareholder reports for  shareholders holding accounts directly with Touchstone Securities, please contact Shareholder Services at 1-800-534-0407 for more information. If you hold your account through a Broker Dealer or Financial Intermediary please contact them directly to inquire about eDelivery opportunities.
 
Receiving Sale Proceeds
 
Touchstone Securities will forward the proceeds of your sale to you (or to your financial intermediary) within 7 days (normally within 3 business days) after receipt of a proper request. Under normal conditions, each Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests through the use of the Fund's holdings of cash or cash equivalents, lines of credit, an interfund loan (as discussed in the SAI) or by selling other Fund assets. A redemption-in-kind may be used under unusual circumstances and is discussed below in more detail.
 
Proceeds Sent to Financial Intermediaries or Authorized Processing Organizations or Financial Institutions. Proceeds that are sent to your Authorized Processing Organization or financial intermediary will not usually be reinvested for you unless you provide specific instructions to do so.  Therefore, the financial advisor, Authorized Processing Organization or financial institution may benefit from the use of your money.
 
Fund Shares Purchased by Check (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities). We may delay the processing and payment of redemption proceeds for shares you recently purchased by check until your check clears, which may take up to 15 days. If you believe you may need your money sooner, you should purchase shares by bank wire.
 
Reinstatement Privilege (Classes A and C shares only). You may, within 90 days of redemption, including redemption proceeds reinvested from an unaffiliated money market fund, reinvest all or part of your sale proceeds by sending a written request and a check to Touchstone Securities. If the redemption proceeds were from the sale of Class A shares and the sales load that you incurred on the initial purchase is less than the sales charge for the Fund in which you are reinvesting, you will incur a sales charge representing the difference. Reinvestment will be at the NAV next calculated after Touchstone Securities receives your request. If the reinvestment proceeds were from the sale of your Class C shares, you can reinvest those proceeds into Class C shares of any Touchstone Fund. If you paid a CDSC on the reinstated amount, that CDSC will be reimbursed to you upon reinvestment. For federal income tax purposes, an exchange of Fund shares is treated as the sale of the shares of one Fund and the purchase of

60



the shares of the other Fund. As a result, the exchange may result in a tax consequence if you have a capital gain or loss in the Fund shares you are selling.
 
Low Account Balances (only applicable for shares held directly through Touchstone Securities). If your balance falls below the minimum amount required for your account, based on actual amounts you have invested (as opposed to a reduction from market changes), Touchstone Securities may sell your shares and send the proceeds to you.  This involuntary sale does not apply to retirement accounts or custodian accounts under the UGTMA.  Touchstone Securities will notify you if your shares are about to be sold and you will have 30 days to increase your account balance to the minimum amount.
 
Delay of Payment. It is possible that the payment of your sale proceeds could be postponed or your right to sell your shares could be suspended during certain circumstances.  These circumstances can occur:
 
When the NYSE is closed on days other than customary weekends and holidays;
When trading on the NYSE is restricted; or
During any other time when the SEC, by order, permits.
 
Redemption in-Kind. Under unusual circumstances (such as a market emergency), when the Board deems it appropriate, a Fund may make payment for shares redeemed in portfolio securities of the Fund taken at current value in order to meet redemption requests. Shareholders may incur transaction and brokerage costs when they sell these portfolio securities. Until such time as the shareholder sells the securities they receive in-kind, the securities are subject to market risk. Redemptions in-kind are taxable for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as redemptions for cash. The Funds may also use redemption in–kind for certain Fund shares held by ReFlow.
 
Pricing of Fund Shares
 
Each Fund’s share price (also called “NAV”) and public offering price (NAV plus a sales charge, if applicable) is determined as of the close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) every day the NYSE is open. Each Fund calculates its NAV per share for each class, generally using market prices, by dividing the total value of its net assets by the number of shares outstanding.
 
The Funds’ equity investments are valued based on market value or, if no market value is available, based on fair value as determined by the Board (or under its direction). The Funds may use pricing services to determine market value for investments. Some specific pricing strategies follow:
 
All short-term dollar-denominated investments that mature in 60 days or less may be valued on the basis of amortized cost which the Board has determined as fair value.
Securities mainly traded on a U.S. exchange are valued at the last sale price on that exchange or, if no sales occurred during the day, at the last quoted bid price.
 
Any foreign securities held by a Fund will be priced as follows:
 
All assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currency values will be converted into U.S. dollar values.
Securities mainly traded on a non-U.S. exchange are generally valued according to the preceding closing values on that exchange.  However, if an event that may change the value of a security occurs after the time that the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange was determined, but before the close of regular trading on the NYSE, the security may be priced based on fair value.  This may cause the value of the security on the books of the Fund to be significantly different from the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange and may affect the calculation of the NAV.

Because portfolio securities that are primarily listed on a non-U.S. exchange may trade on weekends or other days when a Fund does not price its shares, a Fund’s NAV may change on days when shareholders will not be able to buy or sell shares.
 
Securities held by a Fund that do not have readily available market quotations are priced at their fair value using procedures approved by the Board.  Any debt securities held by a Fund for which market quotations are not readily available are generally priced at their most recent bid prices as obtained from one or more of the major market makers for such securities.  The Funds may use fair value pricing under the following circumstances, among others:
 
If the validity of market quotations is deemed to be not reliable.
If the value of a security has been materially affected by events occurring before the Fund’s pricing time but after the close of the primary markets on which the security is traded.
If a security is so thinly traded that reliable market quotations are unavailable due to infrequent trading.

61



If the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closes early or if trading in a particular portfolio security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the Fund’s NAV calculation.

The use of fair value pricing has the effect of valuing a security based upon the price a Fund might reasonably expect to receive if it sold that security but does not guarantee that the security can be sold at the fair value price. The Funds have established fair value policies and procedures that delegate fair value responsibilities to the Advisor. These policies and procedures outline the fair value method for the Advisor. The Advisor’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors established by the Board, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that the Fund assigns to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available. With respect to any portion of a Fund’s assets that is invested in other mutual funds, that portion of the Fund’s NAV is calculated based on the NAV of that mutual fund. The prospectus for the other mutual fund explains the circumstances and effects of fair value pricing for that mutual fund.
 
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
 
The Funds intend to distribute to their shareholders substantially all of their net investment income and capital gains.  The Funds distribute their income, if any, quarterly to shareholders, except Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund, which distributes its income, if any, annually to shareholders. Each Fund makes distributions of capital gains, if any, at least annually.  If you own shares on a Fund’s distribution record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.
 
You will receive income dividends and distributions of capital gains in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. Cash payments will only be made for amounts equal to or exceeding $25; for amounts less than $25, the dividends and distributions will be automatically reinvested in the paying Fund and class.  To elect cash payments, you must notify the Funds in writing or by phone prior to the date of distribution.  Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after we receive your notice.  To cancel your election, simply send written notice to Touchstone Investments, P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, or by overnight mail to Touchstone Investments, c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581, or call Touchstone Securities at 1.800.543.0407.  If you hold your shares through a financial institution, you must contact the institution to elect cash payment.  If you elect to receive dividends and distributions in cash and the payment (1) is returned and marked as “undeliverable” or (2) is not cashed for six months, your cash election will be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of payment.
 
A Fund’s dividends and other distributions are taxable to shareholders (other than retirement plans and other tax-exempt investors) whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund.  A dividend or distribution paid by a Fund has the effect of reducing the NAV per share on the ex-dividend date by the amount of the dividend or distribution.  A dividend or distribution declared shortly after a purchase of shares by an investor would, therefore, represent, in substance, a return of capital to the shareholder with respect to such shares even though it would be subject to federal income taxes.
 
For most shareholders, a statement will be sent to you within 45 days after the end of each year detailing the federal income tax status of your distributions.  Please see “Federal Income Tax Information” below for more information on the federal income tax consequences of dividends and other distributions made by a Fund.
 
Federal Income Tax Information
 
The tax information in this prospectus is provided only for general information purposes for U.S. taxpayers and should not be considered as tax advice or relied on by a shareholder or prospective investor.
 
General. The Funds intend to qualify annually to be treated as regulated investment companies (“RICs”) under the Code.  As such, the Funds will not be subject to federal income taxes on the earnings they distribute to shareholders provided they satisfy certain requirements and restrictions of the Code, one of which is to distribute to a Fund’s shareholders substantially all of the Fund’s net investment income and net short-term capital gains each year.  If for any taxable year a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC: (1) it will be subject to tax in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and thus will be subject to federal income tax at the corporate tax rate; and (2) distributions from its earnings and profits (as determined under federal income tax principles) will be taxable as ordinary dividend income eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders and for “qualified dividend income” treatment for non-corporate shareholders.
 
Distributions. The Funds will make distributions to you that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.  The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, foreign, state and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation.  Distributions are taxable whether you reinvest such distributions in additional shares of the Fund or choose to receive cash.  Taxable

62



Fund distributions are taxable to a shareholder even if the distributions are paid from income or gains earned by a Fund prior to the shareholder’s investment and, thus, were included in the price the shareholder paid for the shares. For example, a shareholder who purchases shares on or just before the record date of a Fund distribution will pay full price for the shares and may receive a portion of the investment back as a taxable distribution. Distributions declared by a Fund during October, November or December to shareholders of record during such month and paid by January 31 of the following year are treated for federal income tax purposes as if received by shareholders and paid by the Fund on December 31 of the year in which the distribution was declared .
 
Ordinary Income. Net investment income, except for qualified dividend income and income designated as tax-exempt, and short-term capital gains that are distributed to you are taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes regardless of how long you have held your Fund shares.  Certain dividends distributed to non-corporate shareholders and designated by a Fund as “qualified dividend income” are eligible for the long-term capital gains rate, provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied.
 
Net Capital Gains. Net capital gains (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) distributed to you, if any, are taxable as long-term capital gains for federal income tax purposes regardless of how long you have held your Fund shares.
 
Sale or Exchange of Shares . It is a taxable event for you if you sell shares of a Fund or exchange shares of a Fund for shares of another Touchstone Fund.  Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you sell or exchange, you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction.  Any realized gain or loss, generally, will be a capital gain or loss, assuming you held the shares of the Fund as a capital asset.  The capital gain will be long-term or short-term depending on how long you have held your shares in the Fund.  Sales of shares of a Fund that you have held for twelve months or less will be a short-term capital gain or loss and if held for more than twelve months will constitute a long-term capital gain or loss.  Any loss realized by a shareholder on a disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of capital gain dividends received by the shareholder and disallowed to the extent of any distributions of exempt-interest dividends, if any, received by the shareholder with respect to such shares unless the Fund declares exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis in an amount equal to at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest and distributes such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis.
 
Returns of Capital.  If a Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, and thereafter as capital gain.  A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares.
 
Backup Withholding. A Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on all distributions and sales proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that they are subject to backup withholding.
 
Medicare Tax.   An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including dividends and distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.

Fund-of-Funds Structure.   An Allocation Fund’s use of a fund-of-funds structure could affect the amount, timing and type of distributions from an Allocation Fund and, therefore, may increase the amount of taxes payable by you.  Generally, the character of the dividends and distributions an Allocation Fund receives from another investment company will “pass through” to you, subject to certain exceptions, as long as the Allocation Fund and the underlying fund each qualify as a RIC under the Code.
 
Foreign Taxes.   Income received by a Fund or underlying fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes.  If a Fund qualifies (by having more than 50% of the value of its total assets at the close of the taxable year consist of stock or securities in foreign corporations or by being a qualified fund of funds) and elects to pass through foreign taxes paid on its investments during the year, such taxes will be reported to you as income. You may, however, be able to claim an offsetting tax credit or deduction on your federal income tax return, depending on your particular circumstances and provided you meet certain holding period and other requirements. Tax-exempt holders of Fund shares, such as qualified tax-advantaged retirement plans, will not benefit from such a deduction or credit.
 
Non-U.S. Shareholders.   Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax as a result of an investment in a Fund.  This prospectus does not discuss the U.S. or foreign tax consequences of an investment by a non-U.S. shareholder in a Fund.  Accordingly, non-

63



U.S. shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors as to the U.S. and foreign tax consequences of an investment in a Fund.
 
Statements and Notices. You will receive an annual statement outlining the tax status of your distributions.  You may also receive written notices of certain foreign taxes paid by a Fund during the prior taxable year.
 
Important Tax Reporting Considerations. The Funds are required to report cost basis and holding period information to both the IRS and shareholders for gross proceeds from the sales of Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012 ("covered shares").  This information is reported on Form 1099-B.  The average cost method will be used to determine the cost basis of covered shares unless the shareholder instructs a Fund in writing that the shareholder wants to use another available method for cost basis reporting (for example, First In, First Out (FIFO), Last In, First Out (LIFO), Specific Lot Identification (SLID) or High Cost, First Out (HIFO)). If the shareholder designates SLID as the shareholder’s tax cost basis method, the shareholder will also need to designate a secondary cost basis method (Secondary Method). If a Secondary Method is not provided, a Fund will designate FIFO as the Secondary Method and will use the Secondary Method with respect to systematic withdrawals. If you hold shares of a Fund through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary will be responsible for this reporting and the financial intermediary’s default cost basis method may apply.  Please consult your tax adviser for additional information regarding cost basis reporting and your situation.
 
Redemptions by S corporations of covered shares are required to be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-B. If a shareholder is a corporation and has not instructed the Fund that it is a C corporation in its Account Application or by written instruction, the Fund will treat the shareholder as an S corporation and file a Form 1099-B.
 
This section is only a summary of some important federal income tax considerations that may affect your investment in a Fund.  More information regarding these considerations is included in the Funds’ SAI.  You are urged and advised to consult your own tax advisor regarding the effects of an investment in a Fund on your tax situation, including the application of foreign, state, local and other tax laws to your particular situation.


64



FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand each Fund’s financial performance for the past five years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The financial highlights for each Fund were audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. The report of Ernst & Young LLP, along with each Fund’s financial statements and related notes, are included in the Funds’ annual report. You can obtain the annual report at no charge by calling 1.800.543.0407 or by downloading a copy from the Touchstone Investments website at: TouchstoneInvestments.com/home/formslit/.


 
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period  
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
2016
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
16.06

 
 
 
$
15.18

 
 
 
$
14.52

 
 
 
$
13.59

 
$
13.15

 
 
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net investment income (loss)
 
(0.04
)
 
(A)  
 
0.06

 
(A)  
 
0.19

 
(A)  
 
0.13

 

 
(A)(B)  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(1.63
)
 
 
 
1.04

 
 
 
0.53

 
 
 
0.80

 
0.48

 
 
Total from investment operations
 
(1.67
)
 
 
 
1.10

 
 
 
0.72

 
 
 
0.93

 
0.48

 
 
Distributions from:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net investment income
 

 
 
 
(0.22
)
 
 
 
(0.06
)
 
 
 

 
(0.04
)
 
 
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
14.39

 
 
 
$
16.06

 
 
 
$
15.18

 
 
 
$
14.52

 
$
13.59

 
 
Total return (C)
 
(10.40
)%
 
 
 
7.18
%
 
 
 
4.95
%
 
 
 
6.84
%
 
3.64
%
 
 
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
7,542

 
 
 
$
12,752

 
 
 
$
15,525

 
 
 
$
12,029

 
$
11,546

 
 
Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) (D)
 
2.30
 %
 
 
 
1.94
%
 
 
 
1.90
%
 
 
 
2.01
%
 
2.07
%
 
 
Gross expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) (E)
 
2.40
 %
 
 
 
2.00
%
 
 
 
1.91
%
 
 
 
2.16
%
 
2.18
%
 
 
Net investment income (loss)
 
(0.22
)%
 
 
 
0.40
%
 
 
 
1.30
%
 
 
 
0.87
%
 
0.01
%
 
 
Portfolio turnover rate
 
267
 %
 
 
 
236
%
 
 
 
245
%
 
 
 
235
%
 
236
%
 
 
(A)
The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B)
Less than $0.005 per share.
(C)
Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(D)
The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short was 1.55%, 1.55%, 1.55%, 1.55% and 1.55% for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(E)
The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short was 1.65%, 1.61%, 1.56%, 1.70% and 1.66% for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 


65



Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
2016
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
14.90

 
 
 
$
14.03

 
 
 
$
13.47

 
 
 
$
12.70

 
$
12.35

 
 
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net investment income (loss)
 
(0.14
)
 
(A)  
 
(0.05
)
 
(A)  
 
0.07

 
(A)  
 
0.02

 
(0.09
)
 
(A)  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(1.51
)
 
 
 
0.95

 
 
 
0.49

 
 
 
0.75

 
0.44

 
 
Total from investment operations
 
(1.65
)
 
 
 
0.90

 
 
 
0.56

 
 
 
0.77

 
0.35

 
 
Distributions from:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net investment income
 

 
 
 
(0.03
)
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

 
 
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
13.25

 
 
 
$
14.90

 
 
 
$
14.03

 
 
 
$
13.47

 
$
12.70

 
 
Total return (B)
 
(11.06
)%
 
 
 
6.37
 %
 
 
 
4.16
%
 
 
 
6.06
%
 
2.83
 %
 
 
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
5,748

 
 
 
$
7,727

 
 
 
$
12,256

 
 
 
$
10,911

 
$
10,486

 
 
Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) (C)
 
3.05
 %
 
 
 
2.69
 %
 
 
 
2.65
%
 
 
 
2.76
%
 
2.82
 %
 
 
Gross expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) (D)
 
3.24
 %
 
 
 
2.81
 %
 
 
 
2.71
%
 
 
 
2.90
%
 
2.96
 %
 
 
Net investment income (loss)
 
(0.97
)%
 
 
 
(0.35
)%
 
 
 
0.55
%
 
 
 
0.12
%
 
(0.74
)%
 
 
Portfolio turnover rate
 
267
 %
 
 
 
236
 %
 
 
 
245
%
 
 
 
235
%
 
236
 %
 
 
(A)
The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B)
Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(C)
The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short was 2.30%, 2.30%, 2.30%, 2.30% and 2.30% for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(D)
The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short was 2.49%, 2.42%, 2.36%, 2.44% and 2.44% for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.



66



Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period  
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
2016
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
16.32

 
 
 
$
15.45

 
 
 
$
14.76

 
 
 
$
13.80

 
$
13.37

 
 
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net investment income
 
0.02

 
(A)  
 
0.12

 
(A)  
 
0.24

 
(A)  
 
0.17

 
0.04

 
(A)  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(1.66
)
 
 
 
1.05

 
 
 
0.54

 
 
 
0.81

 
0.49

 
 
Total from investment operations
 
(1.64
)
 
 
 
1.17

 
 
 
0.78

 
 
 
0.98

 
0.53

 
 
Distributions from:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net investment income
 
(0.15
)
 
 
 
(0.30
)
 
 
 
(0.09
)
 
 
 
(0.02
)
 
(0.10
)
 
 
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
14.53

 
 
 
$
16.32

 
 
 
$
15.45

 
 
 
$
14.76

 
$
13.80

 
 
Total return
 
(10.04
)%
 
 
 
7.59
%
 
 
 
5.31
%
 
 
 
7.12
%
 
3.95
%
 
 
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
59,586

 
 
 
$
82,004

 
 
 
$
96,807

 
 
 
$
64,986

 
$
43,349

 
 
Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Net expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) (B)
 
1.95
 %
 
 
 
1.60
%
 
 
 
1.57
%
 
 
 
1.71
%
 
1.78
%
 
(C)  
Gross expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) (D)
 
1.95
 %
 
 
 
1.60
%
 
 
 
1.57
%
 
 
 
1.71
%
 
1.76
%
 
 
Net investment income
 
0.13
 %
 
 
 
0.74
%
 
 
 
1.64
%
 
 
 
1.17
%
 
0.30
%
 
 
Portfolio turnover rate
 
267
 %
 
 
 
236
%
 
 
 
245
%
 
 
 
235
%
 
236
%
 
 
(A)
The net investment income per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B)
The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short was 1.20%, 1.21%, 1.22%, 1.25% and 1.26% for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(C)
Net expenses include amounts recouped by the Advisor.
(D)
The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short was 1.20%, 1.21%, 1.22%, 1.25% and 1.24% for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
 


67



Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund—Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period  
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
2016
 
 
 
2015
 
 
 
2014
 
 
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
16.38

 
 
 
$
15.51

 
 
 
$
14.82

 
 
 
$
13.83

 
 
 
$
13.39

 
 
Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Net investment income
 
0.02

 
(A)  
 
0.11

 
(A)  
 
0.24

 
(A)  
 
0.16

 
 
 
0.04

 
(A)  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(1.66
)
 
 
 
1.06

 
 
 
0.54

 
 
 
0.83

 
 
 
0.49

 
 
Total from investment operations
 
(1.64
)
 
 
 
1.17

 
 
 
0.78

 
 
 
0.99

 
 
 
0.53

 
 
Distributions from:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Net investment income
 
(0.15
)
 
 
 
(0.30
)
 
 
 
(0.09
)
 
 
 

 
(B)  
 
(0.09
)
 
 
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
14.59

 
 
 
$
16.38

 
 
 
$
15.51

 
 
 
$
14.82

 
 
 
$
13.83

 
 
Total return
 
(10.03
)%
 
 
 
7.54
%
 
 
 
5.27
%
 
 
 
7.19
%
 
 
 
3.98
%
 
 
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
11,749

 
 
 
$
14,964

 
 
 
$
18,879

 
 
 
$
9,242

 
 
 
$
12,297

 
 
Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Net expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) (C)
 
1.96
 %
 
 
 
1.62
%
 
 
 
1.59
%
 
(D)  
 
1.71
%
 
 
 
1.77
%
 
(D)  
Gross expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) (E)
 
1.96
 %
 
 
 
1.62
%
 
 
 
1.54
%
 
 
 
1.72
%
 
 
 
1.76
%
 
 
Net investment income
 
0.11
 %
 
 
 
0.72
%
 
 
 
1.61
%
 
 
 
1.17
%
 
 
 
0.31
%
 
 
Portfolio turnover rate
 
267
 %
 
 
 
236
%
 
 
 
245
%
 
 
 
235
%
 
 
 
236
%
 
 
(A)
The net investment income per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B)
Less than $0.005 per share.
(C)
The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short was 1.21%, 1.23%, 1.24%, 1.25% and 1.25% for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(D)
Net expenses include amounts recouped by the Advisor.
(E)
The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short was 1.21%, 1.23%, 1.19%, 1.26% and 1.24% for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
 


68



Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period  
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
11.26

 
$
11.22

 
$
10.83

 
 
 
$
11.08

 
$
10.93

Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
0.22

 
0.22

 
0.15

 
 
 
0.14

 
0.21

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(0.73
)
 
0.36

 
0.47

 
 
 
(0.22
)
 
0.17

Total from investment operations
 
(0.51
)
 
0.58

 
0.62

 
 
 
(0.08
)
 
0.38

Distributions from:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
(0.18
)
 
(0.33
)
 
(0.23
)
 
 
 
(0.17
)
 
(0.23
)
Realized capital gains
 
(0.08
)
 
(0.21
)
 
(—)

 
(A)  
 

 

Total distributions
 
(0.26
)
 
(0.54
)
 
(0.23
)
 
 
 
(0.17
)
 
(0.23
)
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
10.49

 
$
11.26

 
$
11.22

 
 
 
$
10.83

 
$
11.08

Total return (B)
 
(4.56
)%
 
5.23
%
 
5.82
%
 
 
 
(0.68
)%
 
3.51
%
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
12,316

 
$
13,700

 
$
15,327

 
 
 
$
15,542

 
$
17,408

Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net expenses (C)
 
0.49
 %
 
0.49
%
 
0.49
%
 
 
 
0.49
 %
 
0.46
%
Gross expenses (C)
 
1.04
 %
 
1.03
%
 
1.04
%
 
 
 
0.96
 %
 
0.89
%
Net investment income
 
1.92
 %
 
1.85
%
 
1.38
%
 
 
 
1.25
 %
 
1.79
%
Portfolio turnover rate
 
62
 %
 
39
%
 
41
%
 
 
 
92
 %
 
11
%
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
11.21

 
$
11.16

 
$
10.78

 
 
 
$
11.03

 
$
10.88

Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
0.17

 
0.15

 
0.07

 
 
 
0.06

 
0.12

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(0.76
)
 
0.35

 
0.46

 
 
 
(0.22
)
 
0.18

Total from investment operations
 
(0.59
)
 
0.50

 
0.53

 
 
 
(0.16
)
 
0.30

Distributions from:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
(0.09
)
 
(0.24
)
 
(0.15
)
 
 
 
(0.09
)
 
(0.15
)
Realized capital gains
 
(0.08
)
 
(0.21
)
 
(—)

 
(A)  
 

 

Total distributions
 
(0.17
)
 
(0.45
)
 
(0.15
)
 
 
 
(0.09
)
 
(0.15
)
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
10.45

 
$
11.21

 
$
11.16

 
 
 
$
10.78

 
$
11.03

Total return (B)
 
(5.28
)%
 
4.52
%
 
4.95
%
 
 
 
(1.45
)%
 
2.76
%
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
5,509

 
$
7,301

 
$
9,986

 
 
 
$
11,281

 
$
14,357

Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net expenses (C)
 
1.24
 %
 
1.24
%
 
1.24
%
 
 
 
1.24
 %
 
1.21
%
Gross expenses (C)
 
1.93
 %
 
1.83
%
 
1.81
%
 
 
 
1.68
 %
 
1.65
%
Net investment income
 
1.17
 %
 
1.10
%
 
0.63
%
 
 
 
0.50
 %
 
1.04
%
Portfolio turnover rate
 
62
 %
 
39
%
 
41
%
 
 
 
92
 %
 
11
%
(A)
Less than $0.005 per share.
(B)
Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(C)
Ratio does not include expenses of the underlying funds.


69



Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
11.26

 
$
11.21

 
$
10.83

 
 
 
$
11.08

 
$
10.93

Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
0.27

 
0.23

 
0.16

 
 
 
0.17

 
0.25

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(0.75
)
 
0.39

 
0.48

 
 
 
(0.22
)
 
0.16

Total from investment operations
 
(0.48
)
 
0.62

 
0.64

 
 
 
(0.05
)
 
0.41

Distributions from:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
(0.21
)
 
(0.36
)
 
(0.26
)
 
 
 
(0.20
)
 
(0.26
)
Realized capital gains
 
(0.08
)
 
(0.21
)
 
(—)

 
(A)  
 

 

Total distributions
 
(0.29
)
 
(0.57
)
 
(0.26
)
 
 
 
(0.20
)
 
(0.26
)
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
10.49

 
$
11.26

 
$
11.21

 
 
 
$
10.83

 
$
11.08

Total return
 
(4.32
)%
 
5.59
%
 
5.99
%
 
 
 
(0.43
)%
 
3.78
%
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
29,070

 
$
25,563

 
$
13,782

 
 
 
$
8,802

 
$
11,931

Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Net expenses (B)
 
0.24
 %
 
0.24
%
 
0.24
%
 
 
 
0.24
 %
 
0.21
%
Gross expenses (B)
 
0.77
 %
 
0.82
%
 
0.90
%
 
 
 
0.79
 %
 
0.65
%
Net investment income
 
2.17
 %
 
2.10
%
 
1.63
%
 
 
 
1.50
 %
 
2.04
%
Portfolio turnover rate
 
62
 %
 
39
%
 
41
%
 
 
 
92
 %
 
11
%
 
(A)
Less than $0.005 per share.
(B)
Ratio does not include expenses of the underlying funds.
 


70



Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
13.23

 
$
12.73

 
$
12.15

 
$
12.66

 
$
12.37

Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
0.47

 
0.44

 
0.48

 
0.18

 
0.22

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(1.07
)
 
0.53

 
0.58

 
(0.50
)
 
0.33

Total from investment operations
 
(0.60
)
 
0.97

 
1.06

 
(0.32
)
 
0.55

Distributions from:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
(0.51
)
 
(0.47
)
 
(0.48
)
 
(0.19
)
 
(0.26
)
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
12.12

 
$
13.23

 
$
12.73

 
$
12.15

 
$
12.66

Total return (A)
 
(4.66
)%
 
7.74
%
 
8.81
%
 
(2.54
)%
 
4.46
%
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
26,892

 
$
31,264

 
$
28,316

 
$
29,754

 
$
35,689

Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net expenses (B)
 
0.49
 %
 
0.49
%
 
0.49
%
 
0.49
 %
 
0.46
%
Gross expenses (B)
 
0.93
 %
 
0.90
%
 
0.90
%
 
0.86
 %
 
0.83
%
Net investment income
 
3.61
 %
 
3.44
%
 
3.73
%
 
1.38
 %
 
1.61
%
Portfolio turnover rate
 
20
 %
 
25
%
 
32
%
 
77
 %
 
11
%
 
Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period  
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
13.26

 
$
12.75

 
$
12.17

 
$
12.67

 
$
12.36

Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
0.40

 
0.38

 
0.38

 
0.09

 
0.11

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(1.09
)
 
0.50

 
0.58

 
(0.50
)
 
0.33

Total from investment operations
 
(0.69
)
 
0.88

 
0.96

 
(0.41
)
 
0.44

Distributions from:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
(0.41
)
 
(0.37
)
 
(0.38
)
 
(0.09
)
 
(0.13
)
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
12.16

 
$
13.26

 
$
12.75

 
$
12.17

 
$
12.67

Total return (A)
 
(5.33
)%
 
6.93
%
 
7.98
%
 
(3.22
)%
 
3.59
%
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
13,075

 
$
17,792

 
$
25,197

 
$
27,414

 
$
32,961

Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net expenses (B)
 
1.24
 %
 
1.24
%
 
1.24
%
 
1.24
 %
 
1.21
%
Gross expenses (B)
 
1.72
 %
 
1.64
%
 
1.63
%
 
1.57
 %
 
1.57
%
Net investment income
 
2.86
 %
 
2.69
%
 
2.98
%
 
0.63
 %
 
0.86
%
Portfolio turnover rate
 
20
 %
 
25
%
 
32
%
 
77
 %
 
11
%
(A)
Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(B)
Ratio does not include expenses of the underlying funds.
 


71



Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period  
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
13.26

 
$
12.75

 
$
12.17

 
$
12.68

 
$
12.39

Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
0.56

 
0.54

 
0.55

 
0.22

 
0.27

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(1.13
)
 
0.47

 
0.54

 
(0.51
)
 
0.31

Total from investment operations
 
(0.57
)
 
1.01

 
1.09

 
(0.29
)
 
0.58

Distributions from:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
(0.54
)
 
(0.50
)
 
(0.51
)
 
(0.22
)
 
(0.29
)
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
12.15

 
$
13.26

 
$
12.75

 
$
12.17

 
$
12.68

Total return
 
(4.40
)%
 
8.06
%
 
9.06
%
 
(2.29
)%
 
4.72
%
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
4,368

 
$
6,675

 
$
10,391

 
$
18,168

 
$
23,466

Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net expenses (A)
 
0.24
 %
 
0.24
%
 
0.24
%
 
0.24
 %
 
0.21
%
Gross expenses (A)
 
1.03
 %
 
0.84
%
 
0.73
%
 
0.65
 %
 
0.58
%
Net investment income
 
3.86
 %
 
3.69
%
 
3.98
%
 
1.63
 %
 
1.86
%
Portfolio turnover rate
 
20
 %
 
25
%
 
32
%
 
77
 %
 
11
%
(A) Ratio does not include expenses of the underlying funds.
 


72



Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period  
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
2014
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
12.56

 
$
11.56

 
$
12.01

 
$
12.89

 
 
 
$
12.99

Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net investment income
 
0.20

 
0.21

 
0.28

 
0.18

 
 
 
0.20

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(1.16
)
 
1.39

 
0.06

 
(0.57
)
 
 
 
0.46

Total from investment operations
 
(0.96
)
 
1.60

 
0.34

 
(0.39
)
 
 
 
0.66

Distributions from:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net investment income
 
(0.26
)
 
(0.26
)
 
(0.28
)
 
(0.19
)
 
 
 
(0.25
)
Realized capital gains
 
(0.71
)
 
(0.34
)
 
(0.51
)
 
(0.30
)
 
 
 
(0.51
)
Total distributions
 
(0.97
)
 
(0.60
)
 
(0.79
)
 
(0.49
)
 
 
 
(0.76
)
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
10.63

 
$
12.56

 
$
11.56

 
$
12.01

 
 
 
$
12.89

Total return (A)
 
(7.91
)%
 
13.96
%
 
2.80
%
 
(3.09
)%
 
 
 
5.06
%
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
54,871

 
$
67,562

 
$
62,689

 
$
71,201

 
 
 
$
56,893

Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net expenses (B)
 
0.49
 %
 
0.49
%
 
0.49
%
 
0.49
 %
 
 
 
0.46
%
Gross expenses (B)
 
0.92
 %
 
0.91
%
 
0.92
%
 
0.90
 %
 
 
 
0.89
%
Net investment income
 
1.57
 %
 
1.72
%
 
2.26
%
 
1.75
 %
 
 
 
1.44
%
Portfolio turnover rate
 
40
 %
 
32
%
 
39
%
 
68
 %
 
(C)  
 
11
%
(A)
Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(B)
Ratio does not include expenses of the underlying funds.
(C)
Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of the Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund acquired on November 23, 2015. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.




























73



Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
2014
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
12.28

 
$
11.31

 
$
11.77

 
$
12.67

 
 
 
$
12.79

Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net investment income
 
0.11

 
0.12

 
0.19

 
0.10

 
 
 
0.09

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(1.13
)
 
1.35

 
0.05

 
(0.58
)
 
 
 
0.45

Total from investment operations
 
(1.02
)
 
1.47

 
0.24

 
(0.48
)
 
 
 
0.54

Distributions from:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net investment income
 
(0.17
)
 
(0.16
)
 
(0.19
)
 
(0.12
)
 
 
 
(0.15
)
Realized capital gains
 
(0.71
)
 
(0.34
)
 
(0.51
)
 
(0.30
)
 
 
 
(0.51
)
Total distributions
 
(0.88
)
 
(0.50
)
 
(0.70
)
 
(0.42
)
 
 
 
(0.66
)
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
10.38

 
$
12.28

 
$
11.31

 
$
11.77

 
 
 
$
12.67

Total return (A)
 
(8.55
)%
 
13.10
%
 
2.00
%
 
(3.81
)%
 
 
 
4.20
%
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
24,897

 
$
33,039

 
$
44,946

 
$
53,417

 
 
 
$
43,844

Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net expenses (B)
 
1.24
 %
 
1.24
%
 
1.24
%
 
1.24
 %
 
 
 
1.21
%
Gross expenses (B)
 
1.68
 %
 
1.66
%
 
1.65
%
 
1.62
 %
 
 
 
1.62
%
Net investment income
 
0.82
 %
 
0.97
%
 
1.51
%
 
1.00
 %
 
 
 
0.69
%
Portfolio turnover rate
 
40
 %
 
32
%
 
39
%
 
68
 %
 
(C)  
 
11
%
(A)
Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(B)
Ratio does not include expenses of the underlying funds.
(C)
Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of the Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund acquired on November 23, 2015. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.


74



Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period  
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
2014
Net asset value at beginning of period
 
$
12.67

 
$
11.66

 
$
12.11

 
$
12.98

 
 
 
$
13.09

Income (loss) from investment operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net investment income
 
0.27

 
0.24

 
0.32

 
0.23

 
 
 
0.28

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
 
(1.21
)
 
1.40

 
0.05

 
(0.58
)
 
 
 
0.40

Total from investment operations
 
(0.94
)
 
1.64

 
0.37

 
(0.35
)
 
 
 
0.68

Distributions from:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net investment income
 
(0.29
)
 
(0.29
)
 
(0.31
)
 
(0.22
)
 
 
 
(0.28
)
Realized capital gains
 
(0.71
)
 
(0.34
)
 
(0.51
)
 
(0.30
)
 
 
 
(0.51
)
Total distributions
 
(1.00
)
 
(0.63
)
 
(0.82
)
 
(0.52
)
 
 
 
(0.79
)
Net asset value at end of period
 
$
10.73

 
$
12.67

 
$
11.66

 
$
12.11

 
 
 
$
12.98

Total return
 
(7.69
)%
 
14.21
%
 
3.03
%
 
(2.75
)%
 
 
 
5.21
%
Ratios and supplemental data:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net assets at end of period (000's)
 
$
5,525

 
$
12,758

 
$
14,678

 
$
17,711

 
 
 
$
16,719

Ratio to average net assets:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Net expenses (A)
 
0.24
 %
 
0.24
%
 
0.24
%
 
0.24
 %
 
 
 
0.21
%
Gross expenses (A)
 
0.85
 %
 
0.78
%
 
0.75
%
 
0.72
 %
 
 
 
0.62
%
Net investment income
 
1.82
 %
 
1.97
%
 
2.51
%
 
2.00
 %
 
 
 
1.69
%
Portfolio turnover rate
 
40
 %
 
32
%
 
39
%
 
68
 %
 
(B)  
 
11
%
(A)
Ratio does not include expenses of the underlying funds.
(B)
Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of the Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund acquired on November 23, 2015. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.
 


75





TOUCHSTONE INVESTMENTS*

DISTRIBUTOR
Touchstone Securities, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
1.800.638.8194

INVESTMENT ADVISOR
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.*
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203

TRANSFER AGENT
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, Massachusetts 01581

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
1.800.543.0407
*A Member of Western & Southern Financial Group
The following are federal trademark registrations and applications owned by IFS Financial Services, Inc., a member of Western & Southern Financial Group: Touchstone, Touchstone Funds, Touchstone Investments, Touchstone Family of Funds and Touchstone Select.

















76





TILOGODATAGLINERGB.JPG

303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203

Go paperless, sign up today at:
TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources/Edelivery


For investors who want more information about the Funds, the following documents are available free upon request:
Appendix A: Appendix A – Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts is a separate document that provides additional information about the availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts and is incorporated into this prospectus, which means it is legally a part of this prospectus.
Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI provides more detailed information about the Funds and is incorporated herein by reference, which means it is legally a part of this prospectus.
Annual/Semiannual Reports (“Financial Reports”): The Funds’ Financial Reports provide additional information about the Funds’ investments. In the annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected a Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.
You can get free copies of Appendix A, the SAI, the Financial Reports, other information and answers to your questions about the Funds by contacting your financial advisor or by contacting Touchstone Investments at 1.800.543.0407.  Appendix A, the SAI and Financial Reports are also available on the Touchstone Investments website at: TouchstoneInvestments.com/Resources.

Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR database of the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov.  You may obtain copies of these reports and other information after paying a duplicating fee, by sending an e-mail request to: publicinfo@sec.gov.

Investment Company Act File No. 811-03651     












TSF-54CC-TST-1904


77



Appendix A

Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts

As noted in the Funds' prospectus, the availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from a Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load (“CDSC”) waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify a Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. The sales charge waivers and discounts described in this Appendix A are available only if you purchase shares through the designated intermediary. The information disclosed in this Appendix A is part of, and incorporated in, the Funds' prospectus.

* * * * * *

Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Merrill Lynch

The following information is provided by Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch"): Effective April 10, 2017, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.

Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Merrill Lynch

Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan
Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan
Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program
Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch’s platform
Shares purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family)
Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e. level-load) shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 10-year anniversary of the purchase date
Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members
Trustees of the Fund, and employees of Touchstone Advisors or any of its affiliates, as described in this Prospectus
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the Touchstone family of mutual funds, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as rights of reinstatement)

CDSC Waivers on Class A Shares and Class C Shares Available at Merrill Lynch

Death or disability of the shareholder
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in this Prospectus
Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½
Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initialed by Merrill Lynch
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to certain fee based accounts or platforms (applicable to Class A shares and Class C shares only)

Front-end Load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation, and Letters of Intent

Breakpoints as described in this Prospectus
Rights of Accumulation (ROA), which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Merrill

78



Lynch. Eligible fund family assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets
Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable)

* * * * * *

Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Morgan Stanley

The following information is provided by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC ("Morgan Stanley"): Effective July 1, 2018, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in the Funds' prospectus or SAI.

Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans
Morgan Stanley employee and employee-related accounts according to Morgan Stanley’s account linking rules
Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund
Shares purchased through a Morgan Stanley self-directed brokerage account
Class C (i.e., level-load) shares that are no longer subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and are converted to Class A shares of the same fund pursuant to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s share class conversion program
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (i) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (ii) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (iii) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge.

* * * * * *
Shareholders Purchasing Fund Shares Through Ameriprise Financial
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers Available at Ameriprise Financial:
The following information applies to Class A shares purchases if you have an account with or otherwise purchase Fund shares through Ameriprise Financial:
Effective June 1, 2018, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account will be eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI:
Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.
Shares purchased through an Ameriprise Financial investment advisory program (if an Advisory or similar share class for such investment advisory program is not available).
Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Ameriprise Financial’s platform (if an Advisory or similar share class for such investment advisory program is not available).
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Fund (but not any other fund within the same fund family).
Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 10-year anniversary of the purchase date. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to such shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply to exchanges following such shorter period. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares for load waived shares, that waiver will also apply to such exchanges.
Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates and their immediate family members.
Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial advisor and/or the advisor’s spouse, advisor’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor’s lineal descendant (son, step-son, daughter, step-daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant.

79



Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement).

 

Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services & Raymond James affiliates
(“Raymond James”)

Effective March 1, 2019, shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s prospectus or SAI.

Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available at Raymond James
Shares purchased in an investment advisory program.
Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family).
Employees and registered representatives of Raymond James or its affiliates and their family members as designated by Raymond James.
Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement).
A shareholder in the Fund’s Class C shares will have their shares converted at net asset value to Class A shares (or the appropriate share class) of the Fund if the shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and the conversion is in line with the policies and procedures of Raymond James.

CDSC Waivers on Classes A, B and C shares available at Raymond James

Death or disability of the shareholder.
Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s prospectus.
Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account.
Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½ as described in the fund’s prospectus.
Shares sold to pay Raymond James fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Raymond James.
Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement.

Front-end load discounts available at Raymond James: breakpoints, and/or Rights of
Accumulation

Breakpoints as described in this prospectus.
Rights of accumulation which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser’s household at Raymond James. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the rights of accumulation calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.














80



TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
 
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
April 30, 2019
 
 
Class A
 
Class C
 
Class Y
 
Institutional Class
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund
TDEAX
 
TDECX
 
TDEYX
 
TDELX
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund
TSAAX
 
TSACX
 
TSAYX
 
 
Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
TBAAX
 
TBACX
 
TBAYX
 
 
Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
TSMAX
 
TSMCX
 
TSMYX
 
 
 
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and relates only to the above-referenced Funds (each a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”).  It is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”) and should be read in conjunction with the Funds’ prospectus dated April 30, 2019, as may be amended.  The Funds’ audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and the report of Ernst & Young LLP thereon, included in the annual report to shareholders (the “Annual Report”), are hereby incorporated into this SAI by reference.   A copy of the prospectus and the Annual Report may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust at P.O. Box 9878, Providence, Rhode Island 02940, by calling 1-800-543-0407, or by downloading a copy at TouchstoneInvestments.com.




STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
Touchstone Strategic Trust
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 
Page
 
 
THE TRUST

PERMITTED INVESTMENTS AND RISK FACTORS

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

THE ADVISOR

THE SUB-ADVISORS AND PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

THE ADMINISTRATOR

TOUCHSTONE SECURITIES

DISTRIBUTION PLANS AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

PROXY VOTING

CODE OF ETHICS

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
40

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES

OTHER PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

DISTRIBUTIONS

FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SECURITY HOLDERS

CUSTODIAN

LEGAL COUNSEL

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

TRANSFER AND SUB-ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

APPENDIX A: DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

APPENDIX B: PROXY VOTING POLICIES


2



THE TRUST
 
Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company that was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on November 18, 1982.  This SAI relates to the following separate series of the Trust: Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund (“Dynamic Equity Fund”), Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund (“Controlled Growth with Income Fund”), Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund (“Dynamic Diversified Income Fund”), and Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund (“Dynamic Global Allocation Fund”) (each, a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds"). The Controlled Growth with Income Fund, the Dynamic Diversified Income Fund and the Dynamic Global Allocation Fund are collectively referred to as the “Allocation Funds.” The Funds are diversified, open–end management investment companies.

As of the close of business on or about May 10, 2019, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund will reorganize into the Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund. Effective as of the close of business on May 8, 2019, all classes of the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund will be closed to investments by new investors.
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor” or “Touchstone Advisors”) is the investment advisor and administrator for each Fund.  The Advisor has selected one or more sub-advisor(s) to manage, on a daily basis, the assets of each Fund.  The Advisor has sub-contracted certain of the Trust complex's administrative and accounting services to The Bank of New York Mellon and the Trust complex's transfer agent services to BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (collectively referred to herein as “BNY Mellon”).  Touchstone Securities, Inc. (“Touchstone Securities” or the “Distributor”) is the principal distributor of the Funds’ shares.  The Distributor is an affiliate of the Advisor.
 
The Trust offers four separate classes of shares: Classes A, C, Y and Institutional Class shares.  Institutional Class shares are currently only offered by the Dynamic Equity Fund. The shares of a Fund represent an interest in the same assets of that Fund.  The shares have the same rights and are identical in all material respects except that (i) each class of shares may bear different (or no) distribution fees; (ii) each class of shares may be subject to different (or no) sales charges; (iii) certain other class specific expenses will be borne solely by the class to which such expenses are attributable, including transfer agent fees attributable to a specific class of shares, printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials to current shareholders of a specific class, registration fees incurred by a specific class of shares, the expenses of administrative personnel and services required to support the shareholders of a specific class, litigation or other legal expenses relating to a class of shares, Trustees’ fees or expenses incurred as a result of issues relating to a specific class of shares and accounting fees and expenses relating to a specific class of shares; (iv) each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to its own distribution arrangements; and (v) certain classes offer different features and services to shareholders and may have different investment minimums.  The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) may classify and reclassify the shares of a Fund into additional classes of shares at a future date.
 
Under Massachusetts law, under certain circumstances, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust could be deemed to have the same type of personal liability for the obligations of the Trust as does a partner of a partnership.  However, numerous investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) have been formed as Massachusetts business trusts and the Trust is not aware of an instance where such result has occurred.  In addition, the Trust’s Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and provides for the indemnification out of the Trust property for all losses and expenses of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.  Moreover, it provides that the Trust will, upon request, assume the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon.  As a result, and particularly because the Trust assets are readily marketable and ordinarily substantially exceed liabilities, management believes that the risk of shareholder liability is slight and limited to circumstances in which the Trust itself would be unable to meet its obligations.  Management believes that, in view of the above, the risk of personal liability is remote.
 
History of the Funds
 
The Dynamic Equity Fund commenced operations on July 1, 1978.

Effective November 23, 2015, the Touchstone Conservative Allocation Fund (the “Conservative Fund”) changed its name to the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund, the Touchstone Balanced Allocation Fund (the “Balanced Fund”) changed its name to the Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund, and the Touchstone Moderate Growth Allocation Fund (the “Moderate Growth Fund”) changed its name to the Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund. At that time, each Allocation Fund adopted certain changes to its principal investment strategy, and changed its sub-advisor to Wilshire Associates Incorporated.  In addition, on November 20, 2015, each Allocation Fund reclassified its Institutional Class shares as Class Y shares.  As of November 23, 2015, the Allocation Funds no longer offer Institutional Class shares.
 

3



Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of October 27, 2015, the Moderate Growth Fund acquired the assets of the Touchstone Growth Allocation Fund (the “Growth Fund”). The Moderate Growth Fund was the accounting survivor of the reorganization. Accordingly, performance prior to November 23, 2015 reflects the performance of the Moderate Growth Fund (now, the Dynamic Global Allocation Fund).
 
Before each Fund identified below commenced operations, all of the assets and liabilities of the corresponding predecessor fund identified below were transferred to the Fund in a tax-free reorganization as set forth in an agreement and plan of reorganization (each an “Old Mutual Reorganization”) between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and Old Mutual Funds I, on behalf of the predecessor funds.  Each Old Mutual Reorganization occurred on April 16, 2012.  As a result of each Old Mutual Reorganization, the Fund assumed the performance and accounting history of its corresponding predecessor fund. Shareholders of the predecessor funds who owned Class Z shares received Class Y shares of the corresponding Touchstone Fund in the Old Mutual Reorganizations.  Financial and performance information prior to April 16, 2012 is that of the predecessor funds.
Old Mutual Predecessor Funds
 
Touchstone Funds
Old Mutual Asset Allocation Balanced Portfolio
 
Balanced Fund
Old Mutual Asset Allocation Conservative Portfolio
 
Conservative Fund
Old Mutual Asset Allocation Moderate Growth Portfolio
 
Moderate Growth Fund
Old Mutual Asset Allocation Growth Portfolio
 
Growth Fund*
Subsequent to the Old Mutual Reorganizations, all of the assets and liabilities of the corresponding Fifth Third predecessor funds identified below were transferred to the applicable Touchstone Fund in a tax-free reorganization as set forth in an agreement and plan of reorganization (each a “Fifth Third Reorganization”) between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and Fifth Third Funds, on behalf of the Fifth Third predecessor funds.  Each Fifth Third Reorganization occurred on September 10, 2012.
Fifth Third Predecessor Funds
 
Touchstone Funds
Fifth Third LifeModel Aggressive Fund
 
Growth Fund*
Fifth Third LifeModel Moderately Aggressive Fund
 
Moderate Growth Fund
Fifth Third LifeModel Moderate Fund
 
Balanced Fund
Fifth Third LifeModel Conservative Fund
 
Conservative Fund
Fifth Third LifeModel Moderately Conservative Fund
 
Conservative Fund
* On November 20, 2015, the Moderate Growth Fund acquired the Growth Fund.
 
PERMITTED INVESTMENTS AND RISK FACTORS
 
The Allocation Funds
Each Allocation Fund’s principal investment strategies and principal risks are described in the Allocation Funds’ prospectus.  The following supplements the information contained in the prospectus concerning each Allocation Fund’s principal investment strategies and principal risks.  In addition, although not principal strategies of the Allocation Funds, the Allocation Funds may invest in other types of securities and engage in other investment practices as described in the prospectus or in this SAI.  Unless otherwise indicated, each Allocation Fund is permitted to engage in each of the investment techniques listed below consistent with the Allocation Funds’ investment goals, investment limitations, policies and strategies.  In addition to the investment limitations set forth under the section of this SAI entitled "Investment Limitations", the investment limitations below are considered to be non-fundamental policies, which may be changed at any time by a vote of the Trust’s Board, unless designated as a “Fundamental” policy.  In addition, any stated percentage limitations are measured at the time of the purchase of a security.
 
Each Allocation Fund seeks to achieve its investment goal by primarily investing in a diversified portfolio of underlying funds (although a portion of its assets may be invested in cash, cash equivalents, or in money market funds).  These underlying funds, in turn, invest in a variety of U.S. and foreign equity, fixed-income, and alternative investments, as applicable. The majority of the underlying funds in which each Allocation Fund invests will be affiliated funds; however, each Allocation Fund will have the ability to invest in unaffiliated underlying funds, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), to the extent that the desired asset class exposure is not available through Touchstone Funds.  Each Allocation Fund’s investments are subject to limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and applicable SEC staff interpretations thereof, or applicable exemptive relief granted by the SEC.  These limitations currently provide, in part, that no Allocation Fund may purchase shares of an investment company if (a) such a purchase would cause an Allocation Fund to own in the aggregate more than  3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the investment company or (b) such a purchase would cause an Allocation Fund to have more than 5% of its total assets invested in the investment company or (c) more than 10% of an Allocation Fund’s total assets would be invested in the aggregate in all investment companies.  As a shareholder of a Fund that invests in another investment company, a Fund shareholder would bear his or her pro-rata portion of the underlying investment company’s expenses, including

4



advisory fees, in addition to the expenses of the Fund.  Although the 1940 Act restricts investments by registered investment companies in the securities of other investment companies as noted above, certain fund-of-funds are permitted to invest in investment companies that are part of the same group of investment companies under certain circumstances.  In addition, the 1940 Act permits an affiliated fund-of-funds to acquire securities of funds that are not part of the same group of investment companies subject to certain limitations.  Thus, the Allocation Funds are able to invest in other Touchstone Funds as well as unaffiliated funds so long as such investments are consistent with the requirements of Sections 12(d)(1)(F) and 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act, the rules promulgated thereunder, and any applicable exemptive relief issued by the SEC.
 
The underlying funds may use a variety of investment techniques as described in the Funds' prospectus under the headings “The Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies,” “The Fund’s Principal Risks” and “Principal Investment Strategies and Risks”.  For a complete description of the underlying funds’ investment strategies and policies, please see the underlying funds’ prospectuses and statements of additional information, which are available without charge on the Funds’ website at TouchstoneInvestment.com or by calling 1.800.543.0407.

The Dynamic Equity Fund
The following provides additional information about the permitted investments of the Dynamic Equity Fund. The Dynamic Equity Fund is referred to in this section as “the Fund.”

ADRs, ADSs, EDRs, CDRs, and GDRs. The Fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and other similar instruments. ADRs and American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) are U.S. dollar-denominated receipts typically issued by domestic banks or trust companies that represent the deposit with those entities of securities of a foreign issuer.  They are publicly traded on exchanges or over-the-counter in the United States.  European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), which are sometimes referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts (“CDRs”), and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) may also be purchased by the Fund. EDRs, CDRs and GDRs are generally issued by foreign banks and evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic securities.  Certain institutions issuing ADRs, ADSs, GDRs or EDRs may not be sponsored by the issuer of the underlying foreign securities.  A non-sponsored depositary may not provide the same shareholder information that a sponsored depositary is required to provide under its contractual arrangements with the issuer of the underlying foreign securities.  Holders of an unsponsored depositary receipt generally bear all the costs of the unsponsored facility.  The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through to the holders of the receipts voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in securities of foreign issuers. ADRs are not considered by the Fund to be securities of foreign issuers for purposes of this limitation.

Borrowing and Leveraging. The Fund may borrow money from banks (including their custodian bank) or from lenders to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") requires the Fund to maintain asset coverage (total assets, including assets acquired with borrowed funds, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of at least 300% for all such borrowings. If at any time the value of the Fund's assets should fail to meet this 300% coverage test, the Fund, within 3 days (not including Sundays and holidays), will reduce the amount of its borrowings to the extend necessary to meet this test. The fund will not make any borrowings or enter into a reverse repurchase agreement or dollar roll transaction that would cause its outstanding borrowings to exceed one-third of the value of its total assets.

Leveraging the Fund through borrowing or other means (e.g., certain uses of derivatives) creates an opportunity for increase net income, but at the same time, creates special risk considerations. Leveraging creates interest expenses for the Fund which could exceed the income from the assets retained. To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest that the Fund will have to pay, the Fund's net income will be greater than if leveraging were not used. Conversely, if the income from the assets retained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the net income of the Fund will be less than if leveraging were not used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to shareholders as dividends will be reduced. Interest rate arbitrage transactions, reverse repurchase agreements and dollar roll transactions create leverage and must be fully collateralized by assets segregated or earmarked by the Fund’s custodian or otherwise “covered.” In an interest rate arbitrage transaction, the Fund borrows money at one interest rate and lends the proceeds at another, higher interest rate. These leverage transactions involve a number of risks; including the risk that the borrower will fail or otherwise become insolvent or that there will be a significant change in prevailing interest rates. The Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio securities at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so in order to make payments with respect to any borrowing.

Business Development Companies (“BDCs”). BDCs are a type of closed-end fund regulated under the 1940 Act. BDCs are publicly-traded mezzanine/private equity funds that typically invest in and lend to small and medium-sized private companies that may not have access to public equity markets for capital raising. BDCs are unique in that at least 70% of their investments must be made to private U.S. businesses and BDCs are required to make available significant managerial assistance to their portfolio

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companies. BDCs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). BDCs have expenses associated with their operations. Accordingly, the Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management and other expenses, and of any performance based fees, charged by the BDCs in which it invests.

Investments in BDCs are subject to various risks, including management’s ability to meet the BDC’s investment objective, and to manage the BDC’s portfolio when the underlying securities are redeemed or sold, during periods of market turmoil and as investors’ perceptions regarding a BDC or its underlying investments change. BDC shares are not redeemable at the option of the BDC shareholder and, as with shares of other closed-end funds; they may trade in the secondary market at a discount to their net asset value.

Canadian Income Trusts. A Canadian Income Trust is a qualified income trust as designated by the Canada Revenue Agency that operates as a profit-seeking corporation.  This type of income trust, which pays out all earnings to unit holders before paying taxes, is usually traded publicly on a securities exchange.  Canadian income trusts enjoy special Canadian corporate tax privileges.

Common Stocks. Common stocks are securities that represent units of ownership in a company.  Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends.  Unlike preferred stocks, which are described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the board of directors of the issuing company.  

Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are corporate securities that are exchangeable for a set number of another security at a pre-stated price. Convertible securities typically have characteristics of both fixed-income and equity securities. Because of the conversion feature, the market value of a convertible security tends to move with the market value of the underlying stock. The value of a convertible security is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provisions.

A synthetic convertible security is a combination investment in which the Fund purchases both (i) high-grade cash equivalents or a high grade debt obligation of an issuer or U.S. government securities and (ii) call options or warrants on the common stock of the same or different issuer with some or all of the anticipated interest income from the associated debt obligation that is earned over the holding period of the option or warrant.

While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar non-convertible security), a convertible security also affords a shareholder the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation attendant upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock.  A synthetic convertible position has similar investment characteristics, but may differ with respect to credit quality, time to maturity, trading characteristics and other factors.  Because the Fund will create synthetic convertible positions only out of high grade fixed-income securities, the credit rating associated with the Fund’s synthetic convertible investments is generally expected to be higher than that of the average convertible security, many of which are rated below high grade.  However, because the options used to create synthetic convertible positions will generally have expirations between one month and three years of the time of purchase, the maturity of these positions will generally be shorter than average for convertible securities.  Since the option component of a convertible security or synthetic convertible position is a wasting asset (in the sense of losing “time value” as maturity approaches), a synthetic convertible position may lose such value more rapidly than a convertible security of longer maturity; however, the gain in option value due to appreciation of the underlying stock may exceed such time value loss.  The market price of the option component generally reflects these differences in maturities, and the Advisor and applicable sub-advisor take such differences into account when evaluating such positions.  When a synthetic convertible position “matures” because of the expiration of the associated option, the Fund may extend the maturity by investing in a new option with longer maturity on the common stock of the same or different issuer.  If the Fund does not so extend the maturity of a position, it may continue to hold the associated fixed-income security.

Cyber Security Risk. The Fund and its service providers may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber security breaches. Cyber security breaches may result from deliberate cyber attacks, although unintentional events may have effects similar to those caused by cyber attacks. Cyber attacks may include the stealing or corrupting of data maintained online or digitally, denial-of-service attacks on Fund websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or other operational disruption. Successful cyber attacks against, or security breaches of, the Fund or the Advisor, a sub-advisor, Touchstone Securities, custodians, the transfer agent, selling agents and/or other third party service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities or other instruments in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment therein to lose value.
 
Derivatives. The Fund may invest in various instruments that are commonly known as derivatives. Generally, a derivative is a financial arrangement, the value of which is based on, or “derived” from, a traditional security, asset, or market index. Some

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“derivatives” such as certain mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities are in many respects like any other investment, although they may be more volatile or less liquid than more traditional debt securities. There are, in fact, many different types of derivatives and many different ways to use them. There is a range of risks associated with those uses. Futures and options are commonly used for traditional hedging purposes to attempt to protect the Fund from exposure to changing interest rates, securities prices, or currency exchange rates and as a low cost method of gaining exposure to a particular securities market without investing directly in those securities. However, some derivatives are used for leverage, which tends to magnify the effects of an instrument’s price changes as market conditions change. Leverage involves the use of a small amount of money to control a large amount of financial assets, and can in some circumstances, lead to significant losses. A sub-advisor will use derivatives only in circumstances where the sub-advisor believes they offer the most economic means of improving the risk/reward profile of the Fund. Derivatives will not be used to increase portfolio risk above the level that could be achieved using only traditional investment securities or to acquire exposure to changes in the value of assets or indexes that by themselves would not be purchased for the Fund. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered speculative. A description of the derivatives that the Fund may use and some of their associated risks is found above and below.

Pursuant to a claim for exemption filed with the National Futures Association on behalf of the Funds, the Advisor is not deemed to be a commodity pool operator or the Funds commodity pools, under the Commodity Exchange Act ("CEA") Rule 4.5 and neither the Funds nor the Advisor are subject to registration as such under the CEA.

Equity-Linked Notes ("ELNs"). The Fund may purchase ELNs.  The principal or coupon payment on an ELN is linked to the performance of an underlying security or index.  ELNs may be used, among other things, to provide the Fund with exposure to international markets while providing a mechanism to reduce foreign tax or regulatory restrictions imposed on foreign investors.  The risks associated with purchasing ELNs include the creditworthiness of the issuer and the risk of counterparty default.  Further, the Fund’s ability to dispose of an ELN will depend on the availability of liquid markets in the instruments.  The purchase and sale of an ELN is also subject to the risks regarding adverse market movements, possible intervention by governmental authorities, and the effects of other political and economic events.

Equity-Linked Warrants. Equity-linked warrants provide a way for investors to access markets where entry is difficult and time consuming due to regulation. Typically, a broker issues warrants to an investor and then purchases shares in the local market and issues a call warrant hedged on the underlying holding. If the investor exercises his call and closes his position, the shares are sold and the warrant is redeemed with the proceeds.

Each warrant represents one share of the underlying stock. Therefore, the price, performance and liquidity of the warrant are all directly linked to the underlying stock. The warrants can be redeemed for 100% of the value of the underlying stock (less transaction costs). Being American style warrants, they can be exercised at any time. The warrants are U.S. dollar denominated and priced daily on several international stock exchanges.
 
Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”). The Fund may invest in ETFs. An ETF is a fund that holds a portfolio of common stocks designed to track the performance of a particular securities index or sector of an index, such as the S&P ® 500 Index, or a portfolio of bonds that may be designed to track a bond index. Because they may be traded like stocks on a securities exchange (e.g., the New York Stock Exchange; the NYSE MKT or NASDAQ Stock Market ), ETFs may be purchased and sold throughout the trading day based on their market price. Each share of an ETF represents an undivided ownership interest in the portfolio held by an ETF. ETFs that track indices or sectors of indices hold either:

shares of all of the companies (or, for a fixed-income ETF, bonds) that are represented by a particular index in the same proportion that is represented in the index itself; or
shares of a sampling of the companies (or, for a fixed-income ETF, bonds) that are represented by a particular index in a proportion meant to track the performance of the entire index.

ETFs are generally registered as investment companies and issue large blocks of shares (typically 50,000) called “creation units” in exchange for a specified portfolio of the ETF’s underlying securities, plus a cash payment generally equal to accumulated dividends of the securities (net of expenses) up to the time of deposit. Creation units are redeemed in kind for a portfolio of the underlying securities (based on the ETF’s net asset value), together with a cash payment generally equal to accumulated dividends as of the date of redemption. As investment companies, ETFs incur fees and expenses such as trustee fees, operating expenses, licensing fees, registration fees, and marketing expenses, each of which will be reflected in the net asset value of ETFs. Accordingly, ETF shareholders pay their proportionate share of these expenses.

Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers and in sponsored and unsponsored ADRs and other depositary receipts. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers may subject the Fund to investment risks that differ in some respects from those related to investments in securities of U.S. issuers. Such risks include future adverse political and economic

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developments, possible imposition of withholding taxes on income, possible seizure, nationalization or expropriation of foreign deposits, possible establishment of exchange controls or taxation at the source or greater fluctuation in value due to changes in exchange rates. Foreign issuers of securities often engage in business practices different from those of domestic issuers of similar securities, and there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers. In addition, foreign issuers are, generally speaking, subject to less government supervision and regulation than are those in the United States. Investments in securities of foreign issuers are frequently denominated in foreign currencies and the value of the Fund’s assets measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control regulations, and the Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies.
Foreign Market Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk that, because there are generally fewer investors on foreign exchanges and a smaller number of shares traded each day, it may be difficult for the Fund to buy and sell securities on those exchanges. In addition, prices of foreign securities may fluctuate more than prices of securities traded in the United States. Investments in foreign markets may also be adversely affected by governmental actions such as the imposition of punitive taxes. In addition, the governments of certain countries may prohibit or impose substantial restrictions on foreign investing in their capital markets or in certain industries. Any of these actions could severely affect security prices, impair the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer the Fund’s assets or income back into the United States or otherwise adversely affect the Fund’s operations. Other potential foreign market risks include exchange controls, difficulties in pricing securities, defaults on foreign government securities, difficulties in enforcing favorable legal judgments in foreign courts and political and social conditions, such as diplomatic relations, confiscatory taxation, expropriation, limitation on the removal of funds or assets or imposition of (or change in) exchange control regulations. Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be less extensive than those available to investors in the United States. In addition, changes in government administrations or economic or monetary policies in the United States or abroad could result in appreciation or depreciation of portfolio securities and could favorably or adversely affect the Fund’s operations.

Public Availability of Information. In general, less information is publicly available with respect to foreign issuers than is available with respect to U.S. companies. Most foreign companies are also not subject to the uniform accounting and financial reporting requirements applicable to issuers in the United States. While the volume of transactions effected on foreign stock exchanges has increased in recent years, it remains appreciably below that of the New York Stock Exchange. Accordingly, the Fund’s foreign investments may be less liquid and their prices may be more volatile than comparable investments in securities in U.S. companies. In addition, there is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers in foreign countries than in the United States.

Settlement Risk. Settlement and clearance procedures in certain foreign markets differ significantly from those in the United States. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations also may involve certain risks (such as delays in payment for or delivery of securities) not typically generated by the settlement of U.S. investments. Communications between the United States and certain non-U.S. countries may be unreliable, increasing the risk of delayed settlements or losses of security certificates in markets that still rely on physical settlement. Settlements in certain foreign countries at times have not kept pace with the number of securities transactions; these problems may make it difficult for the Fund to carry out transactions. If the Fund cannot settle or is delayed in settling a purchase of securities, it may miss attractive investment opportunities and certain of its assets may be uninvested with no return earned thereon for some period. If the Fund cannot settle or is delayed in settling a sale of securities, it may lose money if the value of the security then declines or, if it has contracted to sell the security to another party; the Fund could be liable to that party for any losses incurred. Dividends or interest on, or proceeds from the sale of, foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes on income from sources in such countries.

Governmental Supervision and Regulation/Accounting Standards. Many foreign governments supervise and regulate stock exchanges, brokers and the sale of securities less than the United States does. Some countries may not have laws to protect investors comparable to the U.S. securities laws. For example, some foreign countries may have no laws or rules against insider trading. Insider trading occurs when a person buys or sells a company’s securities based on nonpublic information about that company. In addition, the U.S. government has from time to time in the past imposed restrictions, through penalties and otherwise, on foreign investments by U.S. investors, such as the Fund. Accounting standards in other countries are not necessarily the same as in the United States. If the accounting standards in another country do not require as much detail as U.S. accounting standards, it may be harder for the Fund to completely and accurately determine a company’s financial condition. Also, brokerage commissions and other costs of buying or selling securities often are higher in foreign countries than they are in the United States. This reduces the amount the Fund can earn on its investments.

Foreign Currency Risk. While the Fund’s net assets are valued in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impair the investments denominated in a foreign currency are: (1) it may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa; (2)

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complex political and economic factors may significantly affect the values of various currencies, including U.S. dollars, and their exchange rates; (3) government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces; (4) there may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis; (5) available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and (6) the inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, certain markets may not always reflect significant price and rate movements.

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts. The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts to manage foreign currency exposure and as a hedge against possible variations in foreign exchange rates. The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts to hedge a specific security transaction or to hedge a portfolio position. These contracts may be bought or sold to protect the Fund, to some degree, against possible losses resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. The Fund also may invest in foreign currency futures and in options on currencies. A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency amount at a future date, agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. The Fund may enter into a contract to sell, for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars or other appropriate currency, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the Fund’s securities denominated in such foreign currency.

By entering into forward foreign currency contracts, the Fund will seek to protect the value of its investment securities against a decline in the value of a currency. However, these forward foreign currency contracts will not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. Rather, they simply establish a rate of exchange which one can obtain at some future point in time. Although such contracts tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, they also tend to limit any potential gain which might result should the value of such currency increase. At the maturity of a forward contract, the Fund may either sell a portfolio security and make delivery of the foreign currency, or it may retain the security and terminate its contractual obligation to deliver the foreign currency by purchasing an “offsetting” contract with the same currency trader, obligating it to purchase, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the foreign currency. The Fund may realize a gain or loss from currency transactions.
When entering into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security in a foreign currency, the Fund may enter into a forward foreign currency contract for the amount of the purchase or sale price to protect against variations, between the date the security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received, in the value of the foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar or other foreign currency.
Also, when the Fund’s sub-advisor anticipates that a particular foreign currency may decline substantially relative to the U.S. dollar or other leading currencies, in order to reduce risk, the Fund may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of its securities denominated in such foreign currency. With respect to any such forward foreign currency contract, it will not generally be possible to match precisely the amount covered by that contract and the value of the securities involved due to changes in the values of such securities resulting from market movements between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures. In addition, while forward foreign currency contracts may offer protection from losses resulting from declines in value of a particular foreign currency, they also limit potential gains which might result from increases in the value of such currency. The Fund will also incur costs in connection with forward foreign currency contracts and conversions of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars. The Fund will place assets in a segregated account or otherwise earmark assets as cover to assure that its obligations under forward foreign currency contracts are covered.
Emerging Market Securities. Emerging market countries are generally countries that are included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) Emerging Markets Index, or otherwise excluded from the MSCI World Index. As of March 31, 2019, the countries in the MSCI World Index included: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The country composition of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and the MSCI World Index can change over time.

Investments in the securities of issuers domiciled in countries with emerging capital markets involve certain additional risks that do not generally apply to investments in securities of issuers in more developed capital markets, such as (i) low or non-existent trading volume, resulting in a lack of liquidity and increased volatility in prices for such securities, as compared to securities of comparable issuers in more developed capital markets; (ii) uncertain national policies and social, political and economic instability, increasing the potential for expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, high rates of inflation or unfavorable diplomatic developments; (iii) possible fluctuations in exchange rates, differing legal systems and the existence or possible imposition of exchange controls, custodial restrictions or other foreign or U.S. governmental laws or restrictions applicable to such investments;

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(iv) national policies that may limit the Fund’s investment opportunities such as restrictions on investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests; and (v) the lack or relatively early development of legal structures governing private and foreign investments and private property. In addition to withholding taxes on investment income, some countries with emerging markets may impose capital gains taxes on foreign investors.
Political and economic structures in emerging market countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and these countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. In such a dynamic environment, there can be no assurance that any or all of these capital markets will continue to present viable investment opportunities for the Fund. Some of these countries may have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. There is no assurance that such expropriations will not reoccur. In such an event, it is possible that the Fund could lose the entire value of its investments in the affected market. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of investments in these countries and the availability to the Fund of additional investments. The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in certain of these countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in these countries may make investments in the countries illiquid and more volatile than investments in Japan or most Western European countries.

Also, there may be less publicly available information about issuers in emerging markets than would be available about issuers in more developed capital markets, and such issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those to which U.S. companies are subject. In certain countries with emerging capital markets, reporting standards vary widely. As a result, traditional investment measurements used in the United States, such as price/earnings ratios, may not be applicable. Emerging market securities may be substantially less liquid and more volatile than those of mature markets, and company shares may be held by a limited number of persons. This may adversely affect the timing and pricing of the Fund’s acquisition or disposal of securities.
Practices in relation to settlement of securities transactions in emerging markets involve higher risks than those in developed markets, in part because the Fund will need to use brokers and counterparties that are less well capitalized, and custody and registration of assets in some countries may be unreliable. The possibility of fraud, negligence, undue influence being exerted by the issuer or refusal to recognize ownership exists in some emerging markets, and, along with other factors, could result in ownership registration being completely lost. The Fund would absorb any loss resulting from such registration problems and may have no successful claim for compensation.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future time and at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option. The Fund may use futures contracts and related options for bona fide hedging purposes, to offset changes in the value of securities held or expected to be acquired or be disposed of, to minimize fluctuations in foreign currencies, or to gain exposure to a particular market or instrument. Some strategies reduce the Fund’s exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its exposure. The Fund will minimize the risk that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures contracts which are traded on national futures exchanges. In addition, the Fund will only sell covered futures contracts and options on futures contracts.
Stock and bond index futures are futures contracts for various stock and bond indices that are traded on registered securities exchanges.  Stock and bond index futures contracts obligate the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take) an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific stock or bond index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made.

Stock and bond index futures contracts are bilateral agreements pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the stock or bond index value at the close of trading of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck.  No physical delivery of the stocks or bonds comprising the index is made; generally contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contracts.

No price is paid upon entering into futures contracts. Instead, the Fund would be required to deposit an amount of cash or U.S. Treasury securities known as “initial margin.” Subsequent payments, called “variation margin,” to and from the broker, would be made on a daily basis as the value of the futures position varies (a process known as “marking to market”). The margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith deposit on a futures contract.

There are risks associated with these activities, including the following: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2)

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there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures and options on futures; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (5) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and futures options.

The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts and related options to manage its exposure to changing interest rates and securities prices.  Some strategies reduce the Fund’s exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure.  Futures and options on futures can be volatile instruments and involve certain risks that could negatively impact the Fund’s return.  When the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, or sells an option thereon, the Fund is required to “cover” its position in order to limit the risk associated with the use of leverage and other related risks. To cover its position, the Fund may maintain with its custodian bank (and marked-to-market on a daily basis), a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. If the Fund continues to engage in the described investment techniques and properly covers its investment in the manner described above, the segregated account or other form of coverage will function as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund may undertake and on the potential increase in the speculative character of the Fund’s outstanding investments. Additionally, such coverage will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the Fund arising from such investment activities.

The Fund may use futures contracts to seek to gain broad market exposure or to hedge against market and other risks in its portfolio.

Illiquid Securities. Subject to the limitations in the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC staff interpretations thereunder, the Fund may invest in illiquid securities. No Fund may acquire illiquid security if, immediately after acquisition, it would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Certain Funds may have additional limitations in investments in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are securities that cannot besold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calender days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the security.

Illiquid securities include, among others, demand instruments with demand notice periods exceeding seven days, securities for which there is no active secondary market, and repurchase agreements with maturities of over seven days in length. The Fund may invest in securities that are neither listed on a stock exchange nor traded over-the-counter, including privately placed securities.  Investing in such unlisted equity securities, including investments in new and early stage companies, may involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses.  As a result of the absence of a public trading market for these securities, they may be less liquid than publicly traded securities.  Because these types of securities are thinly traded, if at all, and market prices for these types of securities are generally not readily available, the Fund typically determines the price for these types of securities in good faith in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Board.  Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid by the Fund, or less than what may be considered the fair value of such securities.  Further, companies whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements which might be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. If such securities are required to be registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Fund may be required to bear the expenses of registration.

In addition, the Fund believes that carefully selected investments in joint ventures, cooperatives, partnerships, private placements, unlisted securities and other similar situations (collectively, “special situations”) could enhance the Fund’s capital appreciation potential.  To the extent these investments are deemed illiquid, the Fund’s investment in them will be consistent with their applicable restriction on investment in illiquid securities.  Investments in special situations and certain other instruments may be liquid, as determined by the Fund’s Advisor and/or sub-advisors based on criteria approved by the Board.
 
Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”). Due to the typically small size of the IPO allocation available to the Fund and the nature and market capitalization of the companies involved in IPOs, the sub-advisors will often purchase IPO shares that would qualify as a permissible investment for the Fund but will instead decide to allocate those IPO purchases to other funds they advise. Any such allocation will be done in a fair and equitable manner according to a specific and consistent process.  Because IPO shares frequently are volatile in price, the Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time.  This may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs.  By selling shares of an IPO, the Fund may realize taxable capital gains that it will subsequently distribute to shareholders.

Most IPOs involve a high degree of risk not normally associated with offerings of more seasoned companies.  Companies involved in IPOs generally have limited operating histories, and their prospects for future profitability are uncertain.  These companies often are engaged in new and evolving businesses and are particularly vulnerable to competition and to changes in technology, markets and economic conditions.  They may be dependent on certain key managers and third-parties, need more personnel and

11



other resources to manage growth and require significant additional capital.  They may also be dependent on limited product lines and uncertain property rights and need regulatory approvals.  Investors in IPOs can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.  Stock prices of IPOs can also be highly unstable, due to the absence of a prior public market, the small number of shares available for trading and limited investor information.

Interests in Publicly Traded Limited Partnerships. Interests in publicly traded limited partnerships (limited partnership interests or units) represent equity interests in the assets and earnings of the partnership’s trade or business.  Unlike common stock in a corporation, limited partnership interests have limited or no voting rights.  However, many of the risks of investing in common stocks are still applicable to investments in limited partnership interests.  In addition, limited partnership interests are subject to risks not present in common stock.  For example, income generated from limited partnerships deemed not to be “publicly traded” may not be considered “qualifying income” under the Code, and may trigger adverse tax consequences (please refer to the “Federal Income Taxes” section of this SAI for a discussion of relevant tax risks).  Also, since publicly traded limited partnerships are a less common form of organizational structure than corporations, the limited partnership units may be less liquid than publicly traded common stock.  Also, because of the difference in organizational structure, the fair value of limited partnership units in the Fund’s portfolio may be based either upon the current market price of such units, or if there is no current market price, upon the pro rata value of the underlying assets of the partnership.  Limited partnership units also have the risk that the limited partnership might, under certain circumstances, be treated as a general partnership giving rise to broader liability exposure to the limited partners for activities of the partnership.  Further, the general partners of a limited partnership may be able to significantly change the business or asset structure of a limited partnership without the limited partners having any ability to disapprove any such changes.  In certain limited partnerships, limited partners may also be required to return distributions previously made in the event that excess distributions have been made by the partnership, or in the event that the general partners, or their affiliates, are entitled to indemnification.

Interfund Lending. A SEC exemptive order permits the Fund to participate in an interfund lending program with other funds in the Touchstone family of funds. This program allows the Touchstone Funds to borrow money from, and lend money to, each other for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to satisfy redemption requests or to cover unanticipated cash shortfalls. A Fund may not borrow through the interfund lending program for leverage purposes. To the extent permitted by its investment objective, strategies, and policies, a Fund may (1) lend uninvested cash to other Touchstone Funds in an amount up to 15% of the lending Fund's net assets at the time of the loan (including lending up to 5% of its net assets to any single Touchstone Fund) and (2) borrow money from other Touchstone Funds provided that total outstanding borrowings from all sources do not exceed 33 1/3% of its total assets. A Fund may borrow through the interfund lending program on an unsecured basis (i.e., without posting collateral) if its aggregate borrowings from all sources immediately after the interfund borrowing represent 10% or less of the Fund’s total assets. However, if a Fund’s aggregate borrowings from all sources immediately after the interfund borrowing would exceed 10% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund may borrow through the interfund lending program on a secured basis only. Any Fund that has outstanding interfund borrowings may not cause its outstanding borrowings, from all sources, to exceed 10% of its total assets without first securing each interfund loan. If a Fund has any outstanding secured borrowings from other sources, including another fund, at the time it requests an interfund loan, the Fund's interfund borrowing will be secured on at least an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding collateralized loan.

Any loan made through the interfund lending program is required to be more beneficial to a borrowing Fund (i.e., at a lower interest rate) than borrowing from a bank and more beneficial to a lending Fund (i.e., at a higher rate of return) than an alternative short-term investment. The term of an interfund loan is limited to the time required to obtain sufficient cash to repay the loan through either the sale of the Fund's portfolio securities or net sales of Fund shares, but in no event more than seven days. In addition, an interfund loan is callable with one business day’s notice.

The limitations discussed above, other conditions of the SEC exemptive order, and related policies and procedures implemented by Touchstone are designed to minimize the risks associated with interfund lending for both borrowing Funds and lending Funds. However, no borrowing or lending activity is without risk. When a Fund borrows money from another Touchstone Fund, there is a risk that the loan could be called on one business day’s notice or not renewed, in which case the Fund may need to borrow from a bank at higher rates if an interfund loan were not available from another Touchstone Fund. Furthermore, a delay in repayment to a lending Fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional lending costs.

Micro-Cap Securities. The Fund may invest in companies whose total market capitalization at the time of investment is generally between $30 million and $500 million, referred to as micro-cap companies.  Micro-cap companies may not be well-known to the investing public, may not have significant institutional ownership and may have cyclical, static or only moderate growth prospects.  Micro-cap companies may have greater risk and volatility than large companies and may lack the management depth of larger, mature issuers.  Micro-cap companies may have relatively small revenues and limited product lines, markets, or financial resources, and their securities may trade less frequently and in more limited volume than those of larger, more mature companies.  In

12



addition, micro-cap companies may be developing or marketing new products or services for which markets are not yet established and may never become established.  As a result, the prices of their securities may fluctuate more than those of larger issuers.  

Money Market Instruments. Money market securities are high-quality, dollar-denominated, short-term debt instruments.  They include: (i) bankers’ acceptances, certificates of deposits, notes and time deposits of highly-rated U.S. banks and U.S. branches of foreign banks; (ii) U.S. Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by the agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government; (iii) high-quality commercial paper issued by U.S. and foreign corporations; (iv) debt obligations with a maturity of one year or less issued by corporations with outstanding high-quality commercial paper ratings; and (v) repurchase agreements involving any of the foregoing obligations entered into with highly-rated banks and broker-dealers.
 
Obligations of Supranational Entities. Obligations of supranational entities are obligations of entities established through the joint participation of several governments, such as the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), African Development Bank, European Economic Community, European Investment Bank and the Nordic Investment Bank.

Options. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period. The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract. The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an “opening transaction.” In order to close out an option position, the Fund may enter into a “closing transaction,” which is simply the sale (purchase) of an option contract on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option contract originally opened.  If the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or the Fund delivers the security upon exercise.

The Fund may purchase put and call options to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities in its portfolio or to anticipate an increase in the market value of securities that the Fund may seek to purchase in the future.  The Fund will pay a premium when purchasing put and call options.  If price movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of the options would not be profitable for the Fund, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an increase in the value of the Fund’s securities or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of securities by the Fund.

The Fund may write both covered call and put options. The Fund may write covered call options as a means of increasing the yield on its portfolio and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in its market value.  When the Fund sells an option, if the underlying securities do not increase or decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to the holder thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and the Fund will realize as profit the premium received for such option.  When a call option written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund will be required to sell the underlying securities to the option holder at the strike price, and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price.  When a put option written by the Fund is exercised, the Fund will be required to purchase the underlying securities at the strike price, which may be in excess of the market value of such securities.

The Fund may purchase and write options on an exchange or over-the-counter.  Over-the-counter options (“OTC options”) differ from exchange-traded options in several respects.  They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and therefore entail the risk of non-performance by the dealer.  OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded options.  Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference to information from a market maker.  It is the position of the staff of the SEC that OTC options are generally illiquid.

The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currencies (traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or over-the-counter markets) to manage its exposure to exchange rates.  Call options on foreign currencies written by the Fund will be “covered,” which means that the Fund will own an equal amount of the underlying foreign currency.  With respect to put options on foreign currency written by the Fund, the Fund will establish a segregated account with its custodian consisting of cash or liquid, high grade debt securities in an amount equal to the amount the Fund would be required to pay upon exercise of the put, earmark assets as cover or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations.
Buyers and sellers of foreign currency options are subject to the same risks that apply to options generally. There are certain additional risks associated with foreign currency options. The markets in foreign currency options are relatively new, and the Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid secondary market. There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific time. In addition, options on foreign currencies are affected by all of those factors that influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally.

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The value of a foreign currency option depends upon the value of the underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the price of the option position may vary with changes in the value of either or both currencies and may have no relationship to the investment merits of a foreign security. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of foreign currency options, investors may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots.
There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Available quotation information is generally representative of very large transactions in the interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively smaller transactions ( i.e ., less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that the U.S. option markets are closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements may take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets until they reopen.

The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on indices and enter into related closing transactions.  Put and call options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option.  This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number.  Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.  The Fund may choose to terminate an option position by entering into a closing transaction.  The ability of the Fund to enter into closing transactions depends upon the existence of a liquid secondary market for such transactions.

All options written on indices must be covered.  When the Fund writes an option on an index, it will establish a segregated account containing cash or liquid securities with its custodian in an amount at least equal to the market value of the option and will maintain the account while the option is open or will otherwise cover the transaction.

The Fund will not engage in transactions involving interest rate futures contracts for speculation but only as a hedge against changes in the market values of debt securities held or intended to be purchased by the Fund and where the transactions are appropriate to reduce the Fund’s interest rate risks.  There can be no assurance that hedging transactions will be successful.  The Fund also could be exposed to risks if it cannot close out its futures or options positions because of any illiquid secondary market.

Futures and options have effective durations that, in general, are closely related to the effective duration of the securities that underlie them.  Holding purchased futures or call option positions (backed by segregated cash or other liquid securities) will lengthen the duration of the Fund’s portfolio.

Risks associated with options transactions include: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for options; and (4) while the Fund will receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may not participate fully in a rise in the market value of the underlying security.
Ordinary Shares. Ordinary shares are shares of foreign issuers that are traded abroad and on a United States exchange.  Ordinary shares may be purchased with and sold for U.S. dollars.  Investing in foreign companies may involve risks not typically associated with investing in United States companies.  See “Foreign Securities.”  

Other Investment Companies: Investment companies include open-and closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, and any other pool pooled investment vehicle that meets the definition of an investment company under the 1940 Act, whether such companies are required to register under the 1940 Act or not. As a shareholder of another investment company, the Fund would be subject to the same risks as any other investor in that investment company. The Fund's purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying Fund expenses. Investments in registered investment company shares are subject to limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act and its rules, and applicable SEC staff interpretations or applicable exemptive relief granted by the SEC. The 1940 Act currently provides, in part, that the Fund generally may not purchase shares of a registered investment if (a) such a purchase would cause the Fund to own in the aggregate more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the investment company to (b) such a purchase would cause the Fund to have more than 5% of its total assets invested in the investment company or (c) more than 10% of the Fund's total assets would be invested in the aggregate

14



in all registered investment companies.

Over-The-Counter Stocks. The Fund may invest in over-the-counter stocks.  In contrast to the securities exchanges, the over-the-counter market is not a centralized facility that limits trading activity to securities of companies which initially satisfy certain defined standards.  Generally, the volume of trading in an unlisted or over-the-counter common stock is less than the volume of trading in a listed stock.  This means that the depth of market liquidity of some stocks in which each Fund invests may not be as great as that of other securities and, if the Fund was to dispose of such a stock, it might have to offer the shares at a discount from recent prices, or sell the shares in small lots over an extended period of time.
 
Preferred Stock. Preferred stock has a preference over common stock in liquidation (and generally for dividend receipt as well) but is subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer in all respects. As a general rule, the market value of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk, while the market price of convertible preferred stock generally also reflects some element of conversion value. Because preferred stock is junior to debt securities and other obligations of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior debt security with similar stated yield characteristics. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, preferred stock dividends generally are payable only if declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Preferred stock also may be subject to optional or mandatory redemption provisions.

Privatization. Privatizations are foreign government programs for selling all or part of the interests in government owned or controlled enterprises. The ability of a U.S. entity to participate in privatizations in certain foreign countries may be limited by local law, or the terms on which the Fund may be permitted to participate may be less advantageous than those applicable for local investors. There can be no assurance that foreign governments will continue to sell their interests in companies currently owned or controlled by them or that privatization programs will be successful.
 
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”). The Fund may invest in REITs, which pool investors’ money for investment in income producing commercial real estate or real estate related loans or interests.

A REIT is not subject to federal income tax on income distributed to its shareholders or unitholders if it complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income, and with a regulatory requirement that it distribute to its shareholders or unitholders at least 90% of its taxable income for each taxable year.  Generally, REITs can be classified as Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and Hybrid REITs.  Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains from appreciation realized through property sales.  Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments.  Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both Equity and Mortgage REITs.  A shareholder in the Fund should realize that by investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, he or she will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also indirectly, similar expenses of underlying REITs.

The Fund may be subject to certain risks associated with the direct investments of the REITs.  REITs may be affected by changes in their underlying properties and by defaults by borrowers or tenants.  Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of the credit extended.  Furthermore, REITs are dependent on specialized management skills.  Some REITs may have limited diversification and may be subject to risks inherent in financing a limited number of properties.  REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders, and may be subject to defaults by borrowers and to self-liquidations.  In addition, the performance of a REIT may be affected by its failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code or its failure to maintain exemption from registration under the 1940 Act.

ReFlow Liquidity Program. The Fund may participate in the ReFlow liquidity program, which is designed to provide an alternative liquidity source for mutual funds experiencing redemptions of their shares. In order to pay cash to shareholders who redeem their shares on a given day, a mutual fund typically must hold cash in its portfolio, liquidate portfolio securities, or borrow money, all of which impose certain costs on the fund. ReFlow Fund, LLC ("ReFlow") provides participating mutual funds with another source of cash by standing ready to purchase shares from a fund up to the amount of the fund’s net redemptions on a given day. ReFlow then generally redeems those shares when the fund experiences net sales. In return for this service, a Fund will pay a fee to ReFlow at a rate determined by a daily auction with other participating mutual funds. The costs to a Fund for participating in ReFlow are expected to be influenced by and comparable to the cost of other sources of liquidity, such as a Fund’s short-term lending arrangements or the costs of selling portfolio securities to meet redemptions. In accordance with federal securities laws, ReFlow is prohibited from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. There is no assurance that ReFlow will have sufficient funds available to meet a Fund's liquidity needs on a particular day. Investments in the Funds by ReFlow in connection with the ReFlow liquidity program are not subject to the market timing limitations described in the Funds' prospectus.


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Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements are transactions by which a fund purchases a security and simultaneously commits to resell that security to the seller at an agreed upon time and price, thereby determining the yield during the term of the agreement. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default of the seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses. To minimize these possibilities, the Fund intends to enter into repurchase agreements only with its custodian, with banks having assets in excess of $10 billion and with broker-dealers who are recognized as primary dealers in U.S. government obligations by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Collateral for repurchase agreements is held in safekeeping in the customer-only account of the Fund’s custodian at the Federal Reserve Bank. The Fund will not enter into a repurchase agreement not terminable within seven days if, as a result thereof, more than 15% of the value of its net assets would be invested in such securities and other illiquid securities.

Although the securities subject to a repurchase agreement might bear maturities exceeding one year, settlement for the repurchase would never be more than one year after the Fund’s acquisition of the securities and normally would be within a shorter period of time. The resale price will be in excess of the purchase price, reflecting an agreed upon market rate effective for the period of time the Fund’s money will be invested in the securities, and will not be related to the coupon rate of the purchased security. At the time the Fund enters into a repurchase agreement, the value of the underlying security, including accrued interest, will equal or exceed the value of the repurchase agreement, and in the case of a repurchase agreement exceeding one day, the seller will agree that the value of the underlying security, including accrued interest, will at all times equal or exceed the value of the repurchase agreement. The collateral securing the seller’s obligation must consist of cash or securities that are issued or guaranteed by the United States government or its agencies. The collateral will be held by the custodian or in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System.

For purposes of the 1940 Act, a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan from the Fund to the seller subject to the repurchase agreement and is therefore subject to the Fund’s investment restriction applicable to loans. It is not clear whether a court would consider the securities purchased by the Fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by the Fund or as being collateral for a loan by the Fund to the seller. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the securities before repurchase of the security under a repurchase agreement, the Fund may encounter delays and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Delays may involve loss of interest or decline in price of the security. If a court characterized the transaction as a loan and the Fund has not perfected a security interest in the security, the Fund may be required to return the security to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, the Fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction. As with any unsecured debt obligation purchased for the Fund, the sub-advisor seeks to minimize the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of the obligor, in this case, the seller. Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the security, in which case the Fund may incur a loss if the proceeds to the Fund of the sale of the security to a third party are less than the repurchase price. However, if the market value of the securities subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including interest), the Fund involved will direct the seller of the security to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase price. It is possible that the Fund will be unsuccessful in seeking to enforce the seller’s contractual obligation to deliver additional securities.
Reverse Repurchase Agreement, Dollar Roll, and Reverse Dollar Roll Transactions. A reverse repurchase agreement involves a sale by the Fund of securities that it holds to a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same securities at an agreed-upon price and date.  Reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowing by the Fund and are subject to the Fund’s limitations on borrowing.  A dollar roll transaction involves a sale by the Fund of an eligible security to a financial institution concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase a similar eligible security from the institution at a later date at an agreed-upon price.  A reverse dollar roll transaction involves a purchase by the Fund of an eligible security from a financial institution concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to resell a similar security to the institution at a later date at an agreed-upon price. The Fund will fully collateralize its reverse repurchase agreements, dollar roll and reverse dollar roll transactions in an amount at least equal to the Fund’s obligations under the reverse repurchase agreement, dollar roll or reverse dollar roll transaction by segregating cash or other liquid securities, earmarking cash or other liquid securities or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations.

Royalty Trusts. Royalty trusts are structured similarly to REITs. A royalty income trust generally acquires an interest in natural resource companies or chemical companies and distributes the income it receives to the investors of the royalty income trust.  A sustained decline in demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products could adversely affect income and royalty trust revenues and cash flows. Factors that could lead to a decrease in market demand include a recession or other adverse economic conditions, an increase in the market price of the underlying commodity, higher taxes or other regulatory actions that increase costs, or a shift in consumer demand for such products. A rising interest rate environment could adversely impact the performance of royalty trusts. Rising interest rates could limit the capital appreciation of royalty trusts because of the increased availability of alternative investments at more competitive yields.  

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Rule 144A Securities. The Fund invests in Rule 144A securities, which are securities exempt from registration on resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”).  Rule 144A securities are traded in the institutional market pursuant to this registration exemption, and, as a result, may not be as liquid as exchange-traded securities since they may only be resold to certain qualified institutional investors.  Due to the relatively limited size of this institutional market, these securities may affect the liquidity of Rule 144A securities to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing such securities.  Nevertheless, Rule 144A securities may be treated as liquid securities pursuant to guidelines adopted by the Trust’s Board.  

Securities Lending. In order to generate additional income, the Fund may lend its securities pursuant to agreements requiring that the loan be continuously secured by collateral consisting of: (1) cash in U.S. dollars; (2) securities issued or fully guaranteed by the United States government or issued and unconditionally guaranteed by any agencies thereof; or (3) irrevocable performance letters of credit issued by banks approved by the Fund.  All collateral must equal at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities.  The Fund continues to receive interest on the loaned securities while simultaneously earning interest on the investment of cash collateral.  Collateral is marked to market daily.  There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially or become insolvent. In addition, cash collateral invested by the lending Fund is subject to investment risk and the Fund may experience losses with respect to its collateral investments. The SEC currently requires that the following conditions must be met whenever the Fund’s portfolio securities are loaned:  (1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral from the borrower; (2) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (3) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities, and any increase in market value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees approved by the Board in connection with the loan; (6) while voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, the Fund must have the ability to terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, and (7) the Fund may not loan its portfolio securities so that the value of the loaned securities is more than one-third of its total asset value, including collateral received from such loans.

The dollar amounts of income and fees and compensation paid to all service providers related to the Funds that participated in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 were as follows:

Fund Name
Investment Income
Premium Income
Compensation
Agency Fee
Admin Fee
Rebate Paid to Borrower
Indemnification Fee
Other Fee
Fees paid for Cash Collateral Management
Aggregate Fees
Net Income
Average on Loan Value
Dynamic Equity
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Controlled Growth with Income
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Dynamic Diversified Income
$27,360
$18,444
$45,804
$5,702
$0
$7,793
$0
$0
$2,089
$15,584
$30,220
$1,392,603
Dynamic Global Allocation
$2,407
$433
$2,840
$324
$0
$683
$0
$0
$179
$1,186
$1,654
$119,482

Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by the Fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities, such as certain borrowings, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation.

Short Sales. In a short sale, the Fund sells a security, which it does not own, in anticipation of a decline in the market value of the security. To complete the sale, the Fund must borrow the security (generally from the broker through which the short sale is made) in order to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund must replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. The Fund is said to have a “short position” in the securities sold until it delivers them to the broker. The period during which the Fund has a short position can range from one day to more than a year. Until the Fund replaces the security, the proceeds of the short sale are retained by the broker, and the Fund must pay to the broker a negotiated portion of any dividends or interest, which accrues during the period of the loan. A short sale is “against the box” if at all times during which the short position is open, the Fund owns at least an equal amount of the securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable

17



without further consideration for, securities of the same issue as the securities that are sold short. A short sale against the box is a taxable transaction to the Fund with respect to the securities that are sold short.
In the view of the SEC, a short sale involves the creation of a “senior security” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, unless the sale is “against the box” and the securities sold short are placed in a segregated account (not with the broker), or unless the Fund’s obligation to deliver the securities sold short is otherwise “covered,” whether by placing assets in a segregated account or otherwise earmarking assets as cover in an amount equal to the difference between the market value of the securities sold short at the time of the short sale and any such collateral required to be deposited with a broker in connection with the sale (not including the proceeds from the short sale), which difference is adjusted daily for changes in the value of the securities sold short, or otherwise. If the Fund engages in short sales, it will comply with these requirements.
 
Stand-By Commitments. When the Fund purchases municipal obligations, it may also acquire stand-by commitments from banks and broker-dealers with respect to such municipal obligations.  A stand-by commitment is the equivalent of a put option acquired by the Fund with respect to a particular municipal obligation held in its portfolio.  A stand-by commitment is a security independent of the municipal obligation to which it relates.  The amount payable by a bank or dealer during the time a stand-by commitment is exercisable, absent unusual circumstances relating to a change in market value, would be substantially the same as the value of the underlying municipal obligation.  A stand-by commitment might not be transferable by the Fund, although it could sell the underlying municipal obligation to a third-party at any time.
The Fund expects that stand-by commitments generally will be available without the payment of direct or indirect consideration.  However, if necessary and advisable, the Fund may pay for stand-by commitments either separately in cash or by paying a higher price for portfolio securities which are acquired subject to such a commitment (thus reducing the yield to maturity otherwise available for the same securities).  The total amount paid in either manner for outstanding stand-by commitments held by the Fund will not exceed 10% of the value of the Fund’s total assets calculated immediately after each stand-by commitment is acquired.  The Fund will enter into stand-by commitments only with banks and broker-dealers that, in the judgment of the Advisor or sub-advisor, as the case may be, present minimal credit risks.
 
Swap Agreements. A swap is a financial instrument that typically involves the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indices, etc.  The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount.  Swaps are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices, indexes or inflation rates.
Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the Fund and its share price.  The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund.  If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due.  In addition, if the counter-party’s creditworthiness declines, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.
Generally, swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties.  The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date only under limited circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party.  The Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party.  If the counter-party is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, the Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the contract.
A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.  If the Fund enters into a swap agreement on a net basis, it will segregate assets with a daily value at least equal to the excess, if any, of the Fund’s accrued obligations under the swap agreement over the accrued amount the Fund is entitled to receive under the agreement.  If the Fund enters into a swap agreement on other than a net basis, it will segregate assets with a value equal to the full amount of the Fund’s accrued obligations under the agreement.

Equity Swaps. In a typical equity swap, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, stock index or basket of stocks in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Equity index swaps involve not only the risk associated with investment in the securities represented in the index, but also the risk that the performance of such securities, including dividends, will not exceed the return on the interest rate that the Fund will be committed to pay.
 

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Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are “fixed-for floating rate swaps,” “termed basis swaps” and “index amortizing swaps.” Fixed-for floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for floating swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met.
 
Like a traditional investment in a debt security, the Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.
 
Currency Swaps. A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has one currency and desires a different currency. Typically the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. Changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.
 
Credit Default Swaps (“CDSs”). A CDS is an agreement between the Fund and a counterparty that enables the Fund to buy or sell protection against a credit event related to a referenced debt obligation. One party, acting as a “protection buyer,” makes periodic payments to the other party, a “protection seller,” in exchange for a promise by the protection seller to make a payment to the protection buyer if a negative credit event (such as a delinquent payment or default) occurs with respect to a referenced bond or group of bonds. Acting as a protection seller allows the Fund to create an investment exposure similar to owning a bond. Acting as a protection buyer allows the Fund potentially to reduce its credit exposure to a bond it owns or to take a “short” position in a bond it does not own.

As the protection buyer in a CDS, the Fund may pay a premium (by means of periodic payments) in return for the right to deliver specified bonds or loans to the protection seller and receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value upon default or similar events by the issuer of the underlying reference obligation. If no default occurs, the protection seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligations to the Fund. As the protection buyer, the Fund bears the risk that the investment might expire worthless or that the protection seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the Fund in the event of a default or similar event. In addition, when a Fund is a protection buyer, the Fund’s purchase of a CDS would only generate income in the event of an actual default or similar event by the issuer of the underlying reference obligation.
 
The Fund may also use credit default swaps for investment purposes by selling a CDS, in which case, the Fund, as the protection seller, would be required to pay the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the protection buyer in the event of a default or similar event by the third-party issuer of the underlying reference obligation. In return for its obligation, the Fund would receive from the protection buyer a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract. If no credit event occurs, the Fund would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. As the protection seller in a CDS, the Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. Consistent with SEC staff guidance, if the Fund sells a CDS it will segregate assets equal to the full notional amount of the swap in order to cover its obligations under the instrument.
 
In addition to the risks applicable to derivatives generally, CDSs involve special risks because they may be difficult to value, are highly susceptible to liquidity and credit risk, and generally pay a return to the party that has paid the premium only in the event of an actual default by the issuer of the underlying obligation (as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial difficulty).

Options on Swap Agreements (“swaptions”). The Fund also may enter into swaptions. A swaption is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions. Depending on the terms of the particular swaption, the Fund will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swaption than it will incur when it purchases a swaption. When the Fund purchases a swaption, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swaption, upon exercise of the option by the buyer of the option, the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying swap agreement.

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Whether the Fund’s use of swap agreements or swaptions will be successful in furthering its investment goals will depend on the sub-advisors’ ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty.
Time Deposits. Time deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds. Like a certificate of deposit, it earns a specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, it cannot be traded in the secondary market. Time deposits with a withdrawal penalty are considered to be illiquid securities.
Temporary Defensive Investments. The Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest up to 100% of its total assets in money market instruments (including U.S. government securities, bank obligations, commercial paper rated in the highest rating category by an NRSRO and repurchase agreements involving the foregoing securities), shares of money market investment companies (to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain restrictions) and cash.
 
Warrants and Rights. Warrants are instruments giving holders the right, but not the obligation, to buy equity or fixed-income securities of a company at a given price during a specified period. Rights are similar to warrants but normally have a short life span to expiration.  The purchase of warrants or rights involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a warrant or right if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the warrants’ and rights’ expiration.  Also, the purchase of warrants and/or rights involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrants and/or rights added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.  Buying a warrant does not make a Fund the shareholder of the underlying stock.  The warrant holder has no voting or dividend rights with respect to the underlying stock.  A warrant does not carry any right to assets of the issuer, and for this reason investment in warrants may be more speculative than other equity-based investments.

When-Issued, Delayed Delivery Securities, and Forward Commitment Transactions. The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, in which case delivery of the securities occurs beyond the normal settlement period; payment for or delivery of the securities would be made prior to the reciprocal delivery or payment by the other party to the transaction.  When-issued or delayed delivery securities are subject to market fluctuations due to changes in market interest rates and it is possible that the market value at the time of settlement could be higher or lower than the purchase price if the general level of interest rates has changed.  Although the Fund generally purchases securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis with the intention of actually acquiring the securities for its investment portfolio, the Fund may dispose of a when-issued security or forward commitment prior to settlement if it deems appropriate.
 
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
 
Fundamental Investment Limitations (FOR ALL FUNDS).
 
The Trust has adopted certain fundamental investment limitations (or policies) designed to reduce the risk of an investment in the Funds.  These limitations may not be changed with respect to any Fund without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of that Fund.  The vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of a Fund means the vote of the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund present at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.  Except for the limitations on borrowings, if a percentage restriction on investment or use of assets set forth below is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing market values or other circumstances will not be considered a deviation from these policies.
 
Several of these fundamental investment limitations include the defined term “1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions.”  This term means the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as such statutes, rules and regulations are amended from time to time or are interpreted from time to time by the staff of the SEC and any exemptive order or similar relief granted to a Fund.
 
The following fundamental investment limitations apply to each Fund:
 
1.
Each Fund is a “diversified company” as defined in the 1940 Act.  This means that a Fund will not purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, the Fund would fail to be a diversified company within the meaning of the 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions.  This restriction does not prevent a Fund from purchasing the securities of other investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions.
 
Please refer to number 1 of the “Non-Fundamental Investment Limitations” section for further information.
 

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2.
A Fund may not borrow money or issue senior securities, except as permitted by the 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions.
 
Please refer to number 2 of the “Non-Fundamental Investment Limitations” section for further information.
 
3.
A Fund may not underwrite the securities of other issuers.  This restriction does not prevent a Fund from engaging in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities, regardless of whether the Fund may be considered to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act.

4.
A Fund will not make investments that will result in the concentration (as that term may be defined or interpreted by the 1940 Act, Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions) of its investments in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in the same industry.  This restriction does not limit a Fund’s investments in (i) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, (ii) tax-exempt obligations issued by governments or political subdivisions of governments or (iii) repurchase agreements collateralized by such obligations.
 
5.
A Fund may not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments.  This restriction does not prevent a Fund from investing in issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein, or investing in securities that are secured by real estate or interests therein.
 
6.
A Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments.  This restriction does not prevent a Fund from engaging in transactions involving futures contracts and options thereon or investing in securities that are secured by physical commodities.
 
7.
A Fund may not make personal loans or loans of its assets to persons who control or are under common control with the Fund, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act Laws, Interpretations and Exemptions.  This restriction does not prevent a Fund from, among other things, purchasing debt obligations, entering repurchase agreements, lending portfolio securities or investing in loans, including assignments and participation interests.
 
Please refer to number 3 of the “Non-Fundamental Investment Limitations” section for further information.
 
Non-Fundamental Investment Limitations (FOR ALL FUNDS).
 
Each Fund also has adopted certain non-fundamental investment limitations.  A non-fundamental investment limitation may be amended by the Board without a vote of shareholders upon 60 day's notice to shareholders. The non-fundamental investment limitations listed below are in addition to other on-fundamental investment limitations disclosed elsewhere in this SAI and in the prospectus.
 
The following non-fundamental investment limitations apply to each Fund:
 
1.
In complying with the fundamental investment restriction regarding issuer diversification, a Fund will not, with respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities), if, as a result, (i) more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or (ii) the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer.
 
2.
In complying with the fundamental investment restriction regarding borrowing and issuing senior securities, a Fund may borrow money in an amount not exceeding 33 1 / 3 % of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings).
 
3.
In complying with the fundamental investment restriction with regard to making loans, a Fund may not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1 / 3 % of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) engage in securities lending as described in this SAI.

4. The Funds will not invest in any illiquid investment if, immediately after such acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.
 
A Fund will determine compliance with the fundamental and non-fundamental investment restriction percentages above (with the exception of the restriction relating to borrowing) and other investment restrictions in this SAI immediately after and as a result

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of its acquisition of such security or other asset.  Accordingly, a Fund will not consider changes in values, net assets, or other circumstances when determining whether the investment complies with its investment restrictions.


TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
 
The following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust, the length of time served, principal occupations for the past five years, and, for the Trustees, number of funds overseen in the Touchstone Fund Complex and other directorships held.  All funds managed by the Advisor, the "Touchstone Funds", are part of the “Touchstone Fund Complex.”  The Touchstone Fund Complex consists of the Trust, Touchstone Variable Series Trust, Touchstone Funds Group Trust and Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust.  The Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.”
 
Interested Trustee (1) :
Name
Address
Year of Birth
 
Position
Held
with
Trust
 
Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served
 
Principal
Occupation(s) During
Past 5 Years
 
Number of
Funds
Overseen
in the
Touchstone
Fund
Complex (2)
 
Other Directorships
Held During the Past 5
Years (3)
Jill T. McGruder
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1955
 
Trustee and President
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until she resigns or is removed
 
Trustee since 1999
 
President and CEO of IFS Financial Services, Inc. (a holding company).
 
46
 
IFS Financial Services, Inc. (a holding company) from 1999 to the present; Integrity and National Integrity Life Insurance Co. from 2005 to the present; Touchstone Securities (the Trust’s distributor) from 1999 to the present; Touchstone Advisors Inc. (the Trust’s investment advisor and administrator) from 1999 to the present; W&S Brokerage Services (a brokerage company) from 1999 to the present; W&S Financial Group Distributors (a distribution company) from 1999 to the present; Cincinnati Analysts, Inc. from 2012 to the present; Columbus Life Insurance Co. from 2016 to the present; The Lafayette Life Insurance Co. from 2016 to the present; Taft Museum of Art from 2007 to the present; YWCA of Greater Cincinnati from 2012 to the present; and LL Global, Inc. from 2016 to the present.



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Independent Trustees:
Name
Address
Year of Birth
 
Position
Held
with
Trust
 
Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served
 
Principal
Occupation(s) During
Past 5 Years
 
Number of
Funds
Overseen in
the
Touchstone
Fund
Complex (2)
 
Other Directorships
Held During the Past 5
Years (3)
Phillip R. Cox
 
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1947
 
Trustee
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
 
Trustee since 1999
 
President and Chief Executive Officer of Cox Financial Corp. (a financial services company) from 1971 to the present.
 
46
 
Director of Cincinnati Bell (a communications company) from 1994 to the present; Bethesda Inc. (a hospital) from 2005 to the present; Timken Co. (a manufacturing company) from 2004 to 2014; TimkenSteel from 2014 to the present; Diebold, Inc. (a technology solutions company) from 2004 to the present; and Ohio Business Alliance for Higher Education and the Economy from 2005 to the present.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
William C. Gale
 
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1952
 
Trustee
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
 
Trustee since 2013
 
Retired; formerly Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (from 2003 to January 2015) of Cintas Corporation (a business services company).
 
46
 
None.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Susan J. Hickenlooper
 
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1946
 
Trustee
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until she resigns or is removed
 
Trustee since 2009
 
Retired; formerly Financial Analyst for Impact 100 (charitable organization) from November 2012 to 2013.
 
46
 
Trustee of Diocese of Southern Ohio from 2014 to the present; and Trustee of Cincinnati Parks Foundation from 2000 to 2016.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Name
Address
Year of Birth
 
Position
Held
with
Trust
 
Term of Office
And Length of
Time Served
 
Principal
Occupation(s) During
Past 5 Years
 
Number of
Funds
Overseen in
the
Touchstone
Fund
Complex (2)
 
Other Directorships
Held During the Past 5
Years (3)
Kevin A. Robie
 
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1956
 
Trustee
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
 
Trustee since 2013
 
 
Vice President of Portfolio Management at Soin International LLC (a private multinational holding company) from 2004 to the present.
 
46
 
Director of SaverSystems, Inc. from 2015 to the present; Director of Buckeye EcoCare, Inc. (a lawn care company) from 2013 to the present; Trustee of Dayton Region New Market Fund, LLC (a private fund) from 2010 to the present; and Trustee of the Entrepreneurs Center, Inc. (a small business incubator) from 2006 to the present.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edward J. VonderBrink
 
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1944
 
Trustee
 
Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
 
Trustee since 2013
 
 
Consultant, VonderBrink Consulting LLC from 2000 to the present.
 
46
 
Director of Streamline Health Solutions, Inc. (healthcare IT) from 2006 to 2015; Mercy Health from 2013 to the present; Mercy Health Foundation (healthcare nonprofit) from 2008 to the present; Al Neyer Inc. (a construction company) from 2013 to the present; and BASCO Shower Door from 2010 to the present.
(1) Ms. McGruder, as a director of the Advisor and the Distributor, and an officer of affiliates of the Advisor and the Distributor, is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
(2) As of April 30, 2019, the Touchstone Fund Complex consisted of 21 series of the Trust, 14 series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, 1 series of Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and 10 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
(3) Each Trustee is also a Trustee of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
 

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Principal Officers:
 
Name
Address
Year of Birth
 
Position
Held with Trust (1)
 
Term of Office and Length of
Time Served
 
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5
Years
Jill T. McGruder
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1955
 
President  and Trustee
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
 
President since 2006
 
See biography above.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Steven M. Graziano
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1954
 
Vice President
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
 
Vice President since 2009
 
President of Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Timothy D. Paulin
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1963
 
Vice President
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
 
Vice President since 2010
 
Senior Vice President of Investment Research and Product Management of Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Timothy S. Stearns
 
Touchstone Advisors Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1963
 
Chief Compliance Officer
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
 
Chief Compliance Officer since 2013
 
Chief Compliance Officer of Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1962
 
Controller and Treasurer
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
 
Controller and Treasurer since 2006
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer, of IFS Financial Services, Inc. (a holding company).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meredyth A. Whitford
 
Western & Southern Financial Group
400 Broadway Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 
Year of Birth: 1981

 
Secretary
 
Until resignation, removal or disqualification
 
Secretary since 2018
 
Counsel - Securities/Mutual Funds of Western & Southern Financial Group (2015 to present); Associate at Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP (law firm) (2014 to 2015); Associate at Bingham McCutchen LLP (law firm) (2008 to 2014)


(1) Each officer also holds the same office with Touchstone Funds Group Trust, Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
 
Additional Information about the Trustees
 
The Board believes that each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that the Trustees possess the requisite experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills to serve on the Board.  The Board believes that the Trustees’ ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them; to interact effectively with the Advisor, sub-advisors, other service providers, counsel and

25



independent auditors; and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties, support this conclusion.  The Board has also considered the contributions that each Trustee can make to the Board and the Funds.
 
In addition, the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills apply as to each Trustee: Ms. McGruder has experience as a chief executive officer of a financial services company and director of various other businesses, as well as executive and leadership roles within the Advisor; Mr. Cox has experience as a chief executive officer of a financial services company and as a director of companies from varied industries; Mr. Gale has experience as a chief financial officer, an internal auditor of various global companies, and has accounting experience as a manager at a major accounting firm; Ms. Hickenlooper has executive and board experience at various businesses, foundations and charitable organizations; Mr. Robie has portfolio management experience at a private multinational holding company; and Mr. VonderBrink has experience as a consultant and director of other corporations.  In its periodic self-assessment of its effectiveness, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Funds. References to the qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility on any Trustee or on the Board by reason thereof.
 
Board Structure
 
The Board is composed of five Independent Trustees and one Interested Trustee, Jill T. McGruder, who is Chairperson of the Board.  The full Board has appointed Phillip R. Cox to serve as the Lead Independent Trustee.  Ms. McGruder oversees the day-to-day business affairs of the Trust and communicates with Mr. Cox regularly on various Trust issues, as appropriate.  Mr. Cox, among other things, chairs meetings of the Independent Trustees, serves as a spokesperson for the Independent Trustees, and serves as a liaison between the Independent Trustees and the Trust’s management between Board meetings.  Except for any duties specified, the designation of Lead Independent Trustee does not impose on such Independent Trustee any duties, obligations, or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations, or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally.  The Independent Trustees are advised at these meetings, as well as at other times, by separate, independent legal counsel.
 
The Board holds four regular meetings each year to consider and address matters involving the Trust and its Funds.  The Board also may hold special meetings to address matters arising between regular meetings.  The Independent Trustees also regularly meet outside the presence of management and are advised by independent legal counsel.  These meetings may take place in-person or by telephone.
 
The Board has established a committee structure that includes an Audit Committee and a Governance Committee (discussed in more detail below).  The Board conducts much of its work through these Committees.  Each Committee is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees, which ensures that the Funds have effective and independent governance and oversight.
 
The Board reviews its structure regularly and believes that its leadership structure, including having a super-majority of Independent Trustees, coupled with an Interested Chairperson and a Lead Independent Trustee, is appropriate and in the best interests of the Trust because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over matters under its purview, and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight.  The Board believes that having an Interested Chairperson is appropriate and in the best interests of the Trust given:  (1) the extensive oversight provided by the Trust’s Advisor over the affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisors that conduct the day-to-day management of the Funds of the Trust; (2) the extent to which the work of the Board is conducted through the standing Committees; (3) the extent to which the Independent Trustees meet regularly, together with independent legal counsel, in the absence of the Interested Chairperson; and (4) the Interested Chairperson’s additional roles as a director of the Advisor and the Distributor and senior executive of IFS Financial Services, Inc., the Advisor’s parent company, and of other affiliates of the Advisor, which enhance the Board’s understanding of the operations of the Advisor and the role of the Trust and the Advisor within Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.  The Board also believes that the role of the Lead Independent Trustee within the leadership structure is integral to promoting independent oversight of the Funds’ operations and meaningful representation of the shareholders’ interests.  In addition, the Board believes its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Independent Trustees from the Trust’s management.
 
Board Oversight of Risk
 
Consistent with its responsibilities for oversight of the Trust and its Funds, the Board, among other things, oversees risk management of each Fund’s investment program and business affairs directly and through the committee structure that it has established.  Risks to the Funds include, among others, investment risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk and operational risk, as well as the overall business risk relating to the Funds.  The Board has adopted, and periodically reviews, policies and procedures designed

26



to address these risks.  Under the overall oversight of the Board, the Advisor, sub-advisors, and other key service providers to the Funds, including the administrator, the distributor, the transfer agent, the custodian, and the independent auditors, have also implemented a variety of processes, procedures and controls to address these risks.  Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks.  These processes include those that are embedded in the conduct of regular business by the Board and in the responsibilities of officers of the Trust and other service providers.
 
The Board requires senior officers of the Trust, including the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), to report to the Board on a variety of matters at regular and special meetings of the Board, including matters relating to risk management.  The Board and the Audit Committee receive regular reports from the Trust’s independent auditors on internal control and financial reporting matters.  On at least a quarterly basis, the Board meets with the Trust’s CCO, including meetings in executive sessions, to discuss issues related to portfolio compliance and, on at least an annual basis, receives a report from the CCO regarding the effectiveness of the Trust’s compliance program.  In addition, the Board also receives reports from the Advisor on the investments and securities trading of the Funds, including their investment performance and asset weightings compared to appropriate benchmarks, as well as reports regarding the valuation of those investments.  The Board also receives reports from the Trust’s primary service providers on a periodic or regular basis, including the sub-advisors to the Funds.
 
Standing Committees of the Board
 
The Board is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws and the Trust’s Declaration of Trust.  The Board has established the following Committees to assist in its oversight functions.  Each Committee is composed entirely of Independent Trustees.
 
Audit Committee.   All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies, practices and internal controls. Mr. Gale is chair of the Audit Committee.  During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the Audit Committee held six meetings.
 
Governance Committee.  All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s compliance program and compliance issues, procedures for valuing securities and responding to any pricing issues. Ms. Hickenlooper is chair of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee held four meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
 
In addition, the Governance Committee is responsible for recommending candidates to serve on the Board. The Governance Committee will consider shareholder recommendations for nomination to the Board only in the event that there is a vacancy on the Board.  Shareholders who wish to submit recommendations for nominations to the Board to fill the vacancy must submit their recommendations in writing to Ms. Susan Hickenlooper, Chair of the Governance Committee, c/o Touchstone Funds, 303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Shareholders should include appropriate information on the background and qualifications of any person recommended to the Governance Committee (e.g., a resume), as well as the candidate’s contact information and a written consent from the candidate to serve if nominated and elected.  Shareholder recommendations for nominations to the Board will be accepted on an ongoing basis and such recommendations will be kept on file for consideration in the event of a future vacancy on the Board.
 
Trustee Ownership in the Touchstone Fund Complex
 
The following table reflects the Trustees’ beneficial ownership in the Funds (i.e. dollar range of securities in each Fund) and the Touchstone Fund Complex as of December 31, 2018.


27



 
 
Trustees
 
 
Interested
Trustee
 
Independent Trustees
Fund
 
Jill T. McGruder
 
Phillip R.
Cox
 
William C.
Gale
 
Susan J.
Hickenlooper
 
Kevin A. Robie
 
Edward J.
VonderBrink
Dynamic Equity
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
$50,000 -$100,000
 
None
 
None
Controlled Growth with Income
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
Dynamic Diversified Income
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
Dynamic Global Allocation
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
None
Aggregate Dollar Range of Securities in the Touchstone Fund Complex (1)
 
Over $100,000
 
None
 
None
 
Over $100,000
 
None
 
Over $100,000
(1) As of April 30, 2019, the Touchstone Fund Complex consisted of 21 series of the Trust, 14 series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, 1 series of Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and 10 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
 
Trustee Compensation
 
The following table shows the compensation paid to the Trustees by the Trust and the aggregate compensation paid by the Touchstone Fund Complex during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
 
Name
 
Compensation from the Trust
 
Aggregate Compensation from the Touchstone Fund Complex (1)
Interested Trustee
 
 

 
 

Jill T. McGruder
 
$
0

 
$
0

Independent Trustees (2)
 
 

 
 

Phillip R. Cox
 
$
79,141

 
$
155,000

William C. Gale
 
$
73,115

 
$
143,000

Susan J. Hickenlooper
 
$
73,115

 
$
143,000

Kevin A. Robie
 
$
67,088

 
$
131,000

Edward J. VonderBrink
 
$
67,088

 
$
131,000

(1) As of April 30, 2019, the Touchstone Fund Complex consisted of 21 series of the Trust, 14 series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, 1 series of Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust and 10 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
(2) The Independent Trustees are eligible to participate in the Touchstone Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan, which allows them to defer payment of a specific amount of their Trustee compensation, subject to a minimum quarterly reduction of $1,000.  The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the Independent Trustees from the Touchstone Fund Complex during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 was $131,000.
 
The following table shows the Trustee quarterly compensation schedule:
 
 
Retainer
 
Governance
Committee Meeting Attendance Fees
 
Audit
Committee Meeting Attendance Fees
 
Board
Meeting 
Attendance Fees
Compensation



 
$
18,000

 
$
4,500

 
$
4,500

 
$
5,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lead Independent Trustee Fees

 
$
6,000

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Committee Chair Fees
 
$
1,000

 
$
2,000

 
$
2,000

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Telephonic Meeting Attendance Fee = $1,500

Independent Trustee compensation and Trustee and officer expenses are typically divided equally among the series comprising the Touchstone Fund Complex.
 

28



THE ADVISOR
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (previously defined as the “Advisor” or “Touchstone Advisors”), is the Funds’ investment advisor under the terms of an advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) dated March 1, 2006.  Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor reviews, supervises, and administers the Funds’ investment program, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Board of the Trust (the “Trustees”).  The Advisor determines the appropriate allocation of assets to each Fund’s sub-advisor(s).
 
The Advisory Agreement provides that the Advisor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in carrying out its duties, but shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties.
 
The continuance of the Advisory Agreement as to the Funds after the first two years must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Board or by a vote of the shareholders of the Fund, and, in either case, (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Board who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.  The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or, with respect to a Fund, by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, on not less than 30-day nor more than 60-day written notice to the Advisor, or by the Advisor on 90-day written notice to the Trust.
 
The Advisor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IFS Financial Services, Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western-Southern Life Assurance Company. Western-Southern Life Assurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company (“Western & Southern”).  Western & Southern is located at 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.  Ms. Jill T. McGruder may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Advisor because she is a Director of the Advisor and an officer of affiliates of the Advisor.  Ms. McGruder, by reason of these affiliations, may directly or indirectly receive benefits from the advisory fees paid to the Advisor.
 
Manager-of-Managers Structure
 
The SEC has granted an exemptive order that permits the Trust or the Advisor, under certain circumstances, to select or change unaffiliated sub-advisors, enter into new sub-advisory agreements or amend existing sub-advisory agreements without first obtaining shareholder approval (a “manager-of-managers structure”).  The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, seeks to achieve its investment goal by using a “manager-of-managers” structure.  Under a manager-of-managers structure, the Advisor acts as investment advisor, subject to direction from and oversight by the Board, to allocate and reallocate the Fund’s assets among sub-advisors, and to recommend that the Trustees hire, terminate or replace unaffiliated sub-advisors without shareholder approval.  By reducing the number of shareholder meetings that may have to be held to approve new or additional sub-advisors for the Fund, the Trust anticipates that there will be substantial potential cost savings, as well as the opportunity to achieve certain management efficiencies, with respect to any fund in which the manager-of-managers approach is chosen.  Shareholders of a Fund will be notified of a change in its sub-advisor.
 
Fees Paid to the Advisor
 
For its services, the Advisor is entitled to receive an investment advisory fee from each Fund at an annualized rate, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, as set forth below. Each Fund’s advisory fee is accrued daily and paid monthly.

29



Fund
 
Investment Advisory Fee
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
0.85% on the first $300 million of average daily net assets;
0.80% on the next $200 million of assets;
0.75% on the next $250 million of assets;
0.70% on the next $250 million of assets;
0.65% on the next $500 million of assets;
0.60% on the next $500 million of assets; and
0.55% on the assets over $2 billion.
Controlled Growth with Income Fund
 
0.20% on the first $1 billion of  average daily net assets;
0.175% on the next $1 billion of assets;
0.15% on the next $1 billion of assets; and
0.125% on the assets over $3 billion.
Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
 
0.20% on the first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.175% on the next $1 billion of assets;
0.15% on the next $1 billion of assets; and
0.125% on the assets over $3 billion.
Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
 
0.25% on the first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.225% on the next $1 billion of assets;
0.20% on the next $1 billion of assets; and
0.175% on the assets over $3 billion.
Each Fund shall pay the expenses of its operation, including but not limited to the following: (i) charges and expenses of outside pricing services, (ii) the charges and expenses of auditors; (iii) the charges and expenses of its custodian, transfer agent and administrative agent appointed by the Trust with respect to a Fund; (iv) brokers’ commissions, and issue and transfer taxes chargeable to a Fund in connection with securities transactions to which a Fund is a party; (v) insurance premiums, interest charges, dues and fees for membership in trade associations and all taxes and fees payable to federal, state or other governmental agencies; (vi) fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registrations of the Funds with the SEC, state or blue sky securities agencies and foreign countries; (vii) all expenses of meetings of Trustees and of shareholders of the Trust and of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses, notices, proxy statements and all reports to shareholders and to governmental agencies; (viii) charges and expenses of legal counsel to the Trust and the Independent Trustees; (ix) compensation of the Independent Trustees of the Trust; (x) compliance fees and expenses; and (xi) interest on borrowed money, if any.  The compensation and expenses of any officer, Trustee or employee of the Trust who is an affiliated person of the Advisor are paid by the Advisor. Each class of shares of a Fund pays its respective pro rata portion of the advisory fee payable by the Fund.
 
Expense Limitation Agreement.   Touchstone Advisors has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to ensure each Fund’s total annual operating expenses (excluding dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other transaction costs; portfolio transaction and investment related expenses, including expenses associated with the Fund's liquidity providers; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” if any, and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business) do not exceed the contractual limits set forth in the Funds' fee table. Expenses that are not waived or reimbursed by the Advisor include dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions and other transaction costs; portfolio transaction and investment related expenses; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” if any; and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business (collectively, “Excluded Expenses”).  The Fund bears the costs of these Excluded Expenses.  The contractual limits set forth in the fee table have been adjusted to include the effect of Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder servicing fees and other anticipated class specific expenses, if applicable. Fee waivers or expense reimbursements are calculated and applied monthly, based on the Fund’s average daily net assets.  The terms of Touchstone Advisors’ contractual waiver agreement provide that Touchstone Advisors is entitled to recoup, subject to approval by the Fund’s Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the date on which Touchstone Advisors reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Fund.  The Fund will make repayments to the Advisor only if such repayment does not cause the Fund’s contractual limit set (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed both (1) the expense cap in place when such amounts were waived and (2) the Fund’s current expense limitation. 

Advisory Fees and Fee Waivers or Reimbursements. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, each of the Funds listed below paid the following advisory fees and received waivers as shown below: 

30



 
 
Advisory Fees Paid
Fund
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
$
1,113,635

 
$
1,052,361

 
$
904,841

Controlled Growth with Income Fund
 
$
70,109

 
$
80,042

 
$
117,404

Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
 
$
145,708

 
$
119,824

 
$
100,366

Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
 
$
328,445

 
$
293,109

 
$
258,462

 
 
Fee Waivers or Reimbursements
Fund
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
$
8,574

 
$
20,143

 
$
22,532

Controlled Growth with Income Fund
 
$
204,341

 
$
228,813

 
$
324,281

Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
 
$
306,923

 
$
261,196

 
$
244,131

Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
 
$
567,634

 
$
507,682

 
$
459,868


THE SUB-ADVISORS AND PORTFOLIO MANAGERS
 
The Advisor has selected sub-advisors (each a "Sub-Advisor" or collectively, the “Sub-Advisors”) to manage all or a portion of a Fund’s assets, as allocated by the Advisor.  The Sub-Advisors make the investment decisions for the Fund assets allocated to it, and continuously reviews, supervises and administers a separate investment program, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Board.
 
Each sub-advisory agreement provides that a Sub-Advisor shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder.
 
For their respective services, the Sub-Advisors receive fees from the Advisor, and not from the Fund, with respect to each Fund that it sub-advises.  As described in the prospectus, each Sub-Advisor receives sub-advisory fees with respect to each Fund that it sub-advises. Each Sub-Advisor’s fee with respect to each Fund is accrued daily and paid monthly, based on the Fund’s average net assets allocated to that Sub-Advisor during the current month.
 
The compensation of any officer, director or employee of each Sub-Advisor who is rendering services to a Fund is paid by each Sub-Advisor. For the fiscal years ended 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Advisor paid the following sub-advisory fees with respect to each Fund:
 
Fund
 
2016
2017
 
2018
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
$
589,572

$
557,132

 
$
479,034

Controlled Growth with Income Fund
 
$
28,043

$
32,017

 
$
46,962

Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
 
$
58,283

$
47,930

 
$
40,146

Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
 
$
105,102

$
93,795

 
$
82,708

 
The following charts list for each of the Funds’ portfolio managers (i) the number of their other managed accounts per investment category; (ii) the number of and total assets of such other investment accounts managed where the advisory fee is based in the performance of the account: and (iii) their beneficial ownership in their managed Fund(s) at the end of the December 31, 2018 fiscal year.  Listed below the charts applicable to each Sub-Advisor's group of portfolio managers is (i) a description of the portfolio managers’ compensation structure as of December 31, 2018, and (ii) a description of any material conflicts that may arise in connection with the portfolio manager’s management of the Fund’s investments and the investments of the other accounts included in the chart and any material conflicts in allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager as of December 31, 2018.

 




31



Sub-Advisor Control. This section presents the Sub-Advisor’s control persons.

Wells Capital is an SEC registered investment adviser. The firm is located at 525 Market Street, San Francisco, California, is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company.

Wilshire Associates Incorporated ("Wilshire") is a privately held Subchapter S corporation that is 100% owned by its active key employees. Dennis Tito, Founder, Chief Executive Office and Chairman of the Board of Wilshire, beneficially owns a majority of the outstanding shares of Wilshire. Wilshire has no other outside owners.

Dynamic Equity Fund
Sub-Advisor: Wells Capital

Portfolio Manager/ Types of Accounts
 
Total
Number of
Other
Accounts
Managed
 
Total Other
Assets
(million)
 
Number of
Other Accounts
Managed subject
to a Performance
Based Advisory
Fee
 
Total Other
Assets Managed
subject to a
Performance
Based Advisory
Fee (million)
Harindra de Silva, CFA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered Investment Companies
 
17
 
$5,740
 
0
 
$0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
 
21
 
$6,325
 
3
 
$462
Other Accounts
 
21
 
$5,268
 
2
 
$294
Dennis Bein, CFA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered Investment Companies
 
15
 
$5,540
 
0
 
$0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
 
20
 
$6,310
 
3
 
$462
Other Accounts
 
20
 
$4,583
 
2
 
$294
Greg McMurran
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered Investment Companies
 
2
 
$200
 
0
 
0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
 
1
 
$15
 
0
 
0
Other Accounts
 
1
 
$685
 
0
 
0
Ryan Brown, CFA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered Investment Companies
 
8
 
$3,021
 
0
 
$0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
 
5
 
$2,907
 
0
 
$0
Other Accounts
 
13
 
$2,934
 
1
 
$265

Ownership of Shares of the Fund. The following table indicates for the Fund, the dollar range of shares beneficially owned by the portfolio managers as of December 31, 2018:

 
 
Dollar Range of Beneficial Ownership
 
Portfolio Manager
 
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
Harindra de Silva, CFA
 
$500,001 - $1,000,000
 
Dennis Bein, CFA
 
None
 
Greg McMurran
 
$500,001 - $1,000,000
 
Ryan Brown, CFA
 
None
 

Compensation.   The compensation structure for Wells Capital Management's Portfolio Managers includes a competitive fixed base salary plus variable incentives, payable annually and over a longer term period. Wells Capital Management participates in third party investment management compensation surveys for market-based compensation information to help support individual pay decisions. In addition to surveys, Wells Capital Management also considers prior professional experience, tenure, seniority and a Portfolio Manager's team size, scope and assets under management when determining his/her fixed base salary. In addition, Portfolio Managers, who meet the eligibility requirements, may participate in Wells Fargo's 401(k) plan that features a limited matching contribution. Eligibility for and participation in this plan is on the same basis for all employees.
Wells Capital Management's investment incentive program plays an important role in aligning the interests of our portfolio managers, investment team members, clients and shareholders. Incentive awards for portfolio managers are determined based on

32



a review of relative investment and business/team performance. Investment performance is generally evaluated for 1, 3, and 5 year performance results, with a predominant weighting on the 3- and 5- year time periods, versus the relevant benchmarks and/or peer groups consistent with the investment style. In the case of each Fund, the benchmark(s) against which the performance of the Fund's portfolio may be compared for these purposes generally are indicated in the "Average Annual Total Returns" table in the Prospectus. Once determined, incentives are awarded to portfolio managers annually, with a portion awarded as annual cash and a portion awarded as long term incentive. The long term portion of incentives generally carry a pro-rated vesting schedule over a three year period. For many of our portfolio managers, Wells Capital Management further requires a portion of their annual long-term award be allocated directly into each strategy they manage through a deferred compensation vehicle. In addition, our investment team members who are eligible for long term awards also have the opportunity to invest up to 100% of their awards into investment strategies they support (through a deferred compensation vehicle).
Material Conflicts of Interest. Wells Capital’s Portfolio Managers often provide investment management for separate accounts advised in the same or similar investment style as that provided to mutual funds. While management of multiple accounts could potentially lead to conflicts of interest over various issues such as trade allocation, fee disparities and research acquisition, Wells Capital’s has implemented policies and procedures for the express purpose of ensuring that clients are treated fairly and that potential conflicts of interest are minimized.
The Portfolio Managers face inherent conflicts of interest in their day-to-day management of the Funds and other accounts because the Funds may have different investment objectives, strategies and risk profiles than the other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers. For instance, to the extent that the Portfolio Managers manage accounts with different investment strategies than the Funds, they may from time to time be inclined to purchase securities, including initial public offerings, for one account but not for a Fund. Additionally, some of the accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers may have different fee structures, including performance fees, which are or have the potential to be higher or lower, in some cases significantly higher or lower, than the fees paid by the Funds. The differences in fee structures may provide an incentive to the Portfolio Managers to allocate more favorable trades to the higher-paying accounts.
To minimize the effects of these inherent conflicts of interest, Wells Capital’s has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, that they believe address the potential conflicts associated with managing portfolios for multiple clients and are designed to ensure that all clients are treated fairly and equitably. Accordingly, security block purchases are allocated to all accounts with similar objectives in a fair and equitable manner. Furthermore, Wells Capital’s has adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) to address potential conflicts associated with managing the Funds and any personal accounts the Portfolio Managers may maintain.

Controlled Growth with Income Fund, Dynamic Diversified Income Fund, Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
Sub-Advisor: Wilshire

Portfolio Manager/ Types of Accounts
 
Total
Number of
Other
Accounts
Managed
 
Total Other
Assets
(million)
 
Number of
Other Accounts
Managed subject
to a Performance
Based Advisory
Fee
 
Total Other
Assets Managed
subject to a
Performance
Based Advisory
Fee (million)
Nathan Palmer, CFA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered Investment Companies
 
32
 
$3,825
 
0
 
$0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
 
0
 
$0
 
0
 
$0
Other Accounts
 
0
 
$0
 
0
 
$0
Anthony Wicklund, CFA, CAIA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registered Investment Companies
 
25
 
$2,468
 
0
 
$0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
 
0
 
$0
 
0
 
$0
Other Accounts
 
0
 
$0
 
0
 
$0

Ownership of Shares of the Funds. The following table indicates for the s, the dollar range of shares beneficially owned by the portfolio managers as of December 31, 2018:


33



 
 
Dollar Range of Beneficial Ownership
 
Portfolio Manager
 
Controlled Growth with
Income Fund
 
Dynamic Diversified
Income Fund
 
Dynamic Global
Allocation Fund
 
Nathan Palmer, CFA
 
None
 
None
 
None
 
Anthony Wicklund, CFA, CAIA
 
None
 
None
 
None
 

Compensation.   Wilshire compensates its portfolio managers for their management of the Funds.  The portfolio managers’ compensation consists of salary plus bonus based on established management goals and overall company results.
 
Material Conflicts of Interest.   The portfolio managers’ management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Funds’ investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other account, on the other.  The other account may have the same investment objective as a Fund.  Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby the portfolio managers could favor one account over another.  Another potential conflict could include the portfolio managers’ knowledge about the size, timing, and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby the portfolio managers could use this information to the advantage of another account and to the disadvantage of the Fund.
 
THE ADMINISTRATOR
 
The Advisor entered into an Administration Agreement with the Trust, whereby the Advisor is responsible for: supplying executive and regulatory compliance services; supervising the preparation of tax returns; coordinating the preparation of reports to shareholders and reports to, and filings with, the Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities authorities, as well as materials for meetings of the Board of Trustees; calculating the daily net asset value per share; and maintaining the financial books and records of the Funds.

For its services, the Advisor’s annual administrative fee is:
 
0.145% on the first $20 billion of the aggregate average daily net assets;
0.11% on the next $10 billion of aggregate average daily net assets;
0.09% on the next $10 billion of aggregate average daily net assets; and
0.07% on the aggregate average daily net assets over $40 billion.
 
The fee is computed and allocated among the Touchstone Fund Complex (excluding Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust) on the basis of relative daily net assets.
 
The Advisor has engaged BNY Mellon as the sub-administrative and transfer agent to the Trust. BNY Mellon provides administrative, accounting, and transfer agent services to the Trust and is compensated directly by the Advisor, not the Trust.  (See “Transfer and Sub-Administrative Agent” in this SAI.)
 
The following shows administration fees incurred by the Funds listed below for the three most recent fiscal years ended December 31.
 
 
 
Administrative Fees Paid
Fund
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
$
189,973

 
$
179,520

 
$
154,355

Controlled Growth with Income Fund
 
$
50,829

 
$
58,030

 
$
85,118

Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
 
$
105,638

 
$
86,872

 
$
72,765

Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
 
$
190,498

 
$
170,003

 
$
149,908

 
TOUCHSTONE SECURITIES
 
Touchstone Securities, Inc. (“Touchstone Securities” or the “Distributor”), and the Trust are parties to a distribution agreement (“Distribution Agreement”) with respect to the Funds.  The Distributor’s principal place of business is 303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer, and an affiliate of the Advisor by reason of common ownership.  The Distributor is obligated to sell shares on a best efforts basis only against purchase orders for the shares.  Shares of each Fund are offered to the public on a continuous basis.  The Distributor currently allows concessions to dealers who sell

34



shares of the Funds.  The Distributor retains that portion of the sales charge that is not re-allowed to dealers who sell shares of a Fund.  The Distributor retains the entire sales charge on all direct initial investments in a Fund and on all investments in accounts with no designated dealer of record.
 
The table below sets forth the aggregate underwriting commissions on sales of the Funds and the amounts of underwriting commissions retained by the Distributor for the three most recent fiscal years ended December 31.
Fund
 
Aggregate
Underwriting
Commissions on
Sales
 
 
Amount Retained in
Underwriting
Commissions
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
 
 
 
 
2018
 
$
3,845

 
 
$
646

2017
 
$
2,698

 
 
$
391

2016
 
$
44,117

 
 
$
11,393

Controlled Growth with Income Fund
 
 

 
 
 

2018
 
$
5,787

 
 
$
756

2017
 
$
5,709

 
 
$
822

2016
 
$
23,987

 
 
$
3,622

Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
 
 

 
 
 

2018
 
$
14,422

 
 
$
1,774

2017
 
$
30,126

 
 
$
4,384

2016
 
$
23,472

 
 
$
3,402

Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
 
 

 
 
 

2018
 
$
37,468

 
 
$
5,098

2017
 
$
41,326

 
 
$
5,951

2016
 
$
59,933

 
 
$
9,524

 
The Distributor retains the contingent deferred sales charge on redemptions of Class C shares of the Funds that are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. The following table shows the amounts retained from sales loads and CDSCs for the three most
recent fiscal years ended December 31.
 
Amount Retained CDSC
 
 
Class C Shares
Fund
 
 
2016
 
2017
2018
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
 
$
647

 
$
780

$
47

Controlled Growth with Income Fund
 
 
$
367

 
$
336

$
249

Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
 
 
$
131

 
$
137

$
37

Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
 
 
$
857

 
$
168

$
311

 
Ms. McGruder may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Distributor because she is a Director of the Distributor and an officer of affiliates of the Distributor.  Ms. McGruder, by reason of such affiliation, may directly or indirectly be deemed to receive benefits from the underwriting fees paid to the Distributor.
 
The Distribution Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of two years after the effective date of the agreement and is renewable annually thereafter.  The Distribution Agreement may be terminated as to any Fund at any time by (i) the Trust, (a) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust or the Distributor, (b) by vote of the Board of the Trust, or (c) by the “vote of majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund, or (ii) by the Distributor, in any case without payment of any penalty on not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice to the other party.  The Distribution Agreement shall also automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.
 
Touchstone Securities may pay from its own resources cash bonuses or other incentives to selected dealers in connection with the sale of shares of the Funds.  On some occasions, such bonuses or incentives may be conditioned upon the sale of a specified minimum dollar amount of the shares of the Funds or other funds in the Touchstone Fund Complex during a specific period of time.  Such bonuses or incentives may include financial assistance to dealers in connection with conferences, sales or training programs for their employees, seminars for the public, advertising, sales campaigns, and other dealer-sponsored programs or events.  The Advisor, at its expense, may also provide additional compensation to certain affiliated and unaffiliated dealers, financial

35



intermediaries or service providers for distribution, administrative or shareholder servicing activities.  The Advisor may also reimburse the Distributor for making these payments.
 
Touchstone Securities, at its expense, may provide additional compensation to financial intermediaries which sell or arrange for the sale of shares of the Touchstone Funds.  Other compensation may be offered to the extent not prohibited by federal or state laws or any self-regulatory agency, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
 
The Distributor makes payments for entertainment events it deems appropriate, subject to its guidelines and applicable law.  These payments may vary depending upon the nature of the event or the relationship.  As of March 31, 2019, the Distributor anticipates that the following broker-dealers or their affiliates will receive additional payments as described in the Fund’s prospectus and SAI:
Name of Broker-Dealer
American Enterprise Investment Services, Inc.
Equity Services Inc.
First Command Financial Planning, Inc.
First Clearing, LLC/Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Great West Life & Annuity Insurance Company
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
LPL Financial Corporation
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc.
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Pershing LLC
PNC Investments, LLC
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets Corporation
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Waddell & Reed, Inc.
 
Touchstone Securities is motivated to make payments to the broker-dealers described above because they promote the sale of Fund shares and the retention of those investments by clients of financial advisors.  To the extent financial advisors sell more shares of the Funds or retain shares of the Funds in their clients’ accounts, the Advisor benefits from the incremental management and other fees paid to the Advisor by the Funds with respect to those assets.
 
Your financial intermediary may charge you additional fees or commissions other than those disclosed in this SAI.  You can ask your financial intermediary about any payments it receives from Touchstone Securities or the Funds, as well as about fees or commissions it charges.  You should consult disclosures made by your financial advisor at the time of purchase.
 
The Funds may compensate dealers, including the Distributor and its affiliates, based on the average balance of all accounts in the Funds for which the dealer is designated as the party responsible for the account.
 
DISTRIBUTION PLANS AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
 
Certain Funds have adopted a distribution or shareholder servicing plan for certain classes of shares which permits a Fund to pay for expenses incurred in the distribution and promotion of its shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and account maintenance and other shareholder services in connection with maintaining such account.  Touchstone Securities may provide those services itself or enter into arrangements under which third-parties provide such services and are compensated by the Distributor.
 
Class A Shares.   With respect to its Class A shares, each Fund has adopted a plan of distribution and shareholder service (the “Class A Plan”) under which the Distributor is paid up to, but not exceeding, twenty-five basis points (0.25%) for distribution payments.  Of the total compensation authorized, the Fund may pay for shareholder services in an amount up to 0.25%.
 
Class C Shares.   With respect to its Class C shares, each Fund has adopted a plan of distribution and shareholder service (the “Class C Plan” and, together with the Class A Plan, the "Plans") under which the Distributor is paid up to, but not exceeding, one hundred basis points (1.00%) in the aggregate, with up to twenty-five basis points (0.25%) for shareholder service fees and up to seventy-five basis points (0.75%) for distribution payments.

36



 
General Information.   In connection with the distribution of shares, the Distributor may use the payments for: (i) compensation for its services in distribution assistance; or (ii) payments to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund supermarkets, and the Distributor’s affiliates and subsidiaries as compensation for services or reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance.
 
In addition, the Distributor may use payments to provide or enter into written agreements with service providers who will provide shareholder services, including: (i) maintaining accounts relating to shareholders that invest in shares; (ii) arranging for bank wires; (iii) responding to client inquiries relating to the services performed by the Distributor or service providers; (iv) responding to inquiries from shareholders concerning their investment in shares; (v) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (vi) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their position in shares; (vii) forwarding shareholder communications from the Funds such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, dividend distribution and tax notices to shareholders; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Funds or the service providers; (ix) processing dividend payments from the Funds on behalf of shareholders; and (x) providing such other similar services as the Fund may reasonably request.
 
Agreements implementing the Plans (the “Implementation Agreements”), including agreements with dealers wherein such dealers agree for a fee to act as agents for the sale of the Funds’ shares, are in writing and have been approved by the Board.  All payments made pursuant to the Plans are made in accordance with written Implementation Agreements.  Some financial intermediaries charge fees in excess of the amounts available under the Plans, in which case the Advisor pays the additional fees.
 
The continuance of the Plans and the Implementation Agreements must be specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Trust’s Board, and by a vote of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans or any Implementation Agreement at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance.  A Plan may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of a Fund or the applicable class of a Fund.  In the event a Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms, the affected Fund (or class) will not be required to make any payments for expenses incurred by the Distributor after the termination date.  Each Implementation Agreement terminates automatically in the event of its assignment and may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of a Fund (or the applicable class) on not more than 60 days’ written notice to any other party to the Implementation Agreement.  The Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for distribution without shareholder approval.  All material amendments to the Plans must be approved by a vote of the Trust’s Board and by a vote of the Independent Trustees.
 
In approving the Plans, the Trustees determined, in the exercise of their business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties as Trustees, that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plans will benefit the Funds and their shareholders.  The Board believes that expenditure of the Funds’ assets for distribution expenses under the Plans should assist in the growth of the Funds, which will benefit each Fund and its shareholders through increased economies of scale, greater investment flexibility, greater portfolio diversification, and less chance of disruption of planned investment strategies.  The Plans will be renewed only if the Trustees make a similar determination for each subsequent year of the Plans.  There can be no assurance that the benefits anticipated from the expenditure of the Funds’ assets for distribution will be realized.  While the Plans are in effect, all amounts spent by the Funds pursuant to the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made must be reported quarterly to the Board for its review.  Distribution expenses attributable to the sale of more than one class of shares of a Fund will be allocated at least annually to each class of shares based upon the ratio in which the sales of each class of shares bears to the sales of all the shares of the Fund.  In addition, the selection and nomination of those Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust are committed to the discretion of the Independent Trustees during such period.
 
Jill T. McGruder, as an interested person of the Trust, may be deemed to have a financial interest in the operation of the Plans and the Implementation Agreements.
 
The Funds paid the following in distribution and shareholder servicing fees for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018:
 

37



 
 
12b-1 and Shareholder Service Plan Expenses
Fund
 
Printing and
Mailing
 
Distribution
Services
 
Compensation to
Broker Dealers
 
Compensation to
Sales Personnel
 
Service
Providers
 
Total
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Class A
 
$
47

 
$
10,770

 
$
14,282

 
$
1,174

 
$
0

 
$
26,273

  Class C
 
$
41

 
$
16,680

 
$
48,898

 
$
1,101

 
$
0

 
$
66,720

Controlled Growth with Income Fund
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Class A
 
$
49

 
$
11,960

 
$
15,909

 
$
5,520

 
$
0

 
$
33,438

Class C
 
$
37

 
$
14,991

 
$
45,448

 
$
4,214

 
$
0

 
$
64,690

Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Class A
 
$
157

 
$
23,258

 
$
50,125

 
$
287

 
$
0

 
$
73,827

Class C
 
$
104

 
$
25,069

 
$
129,561

 
$
313

 
$
0

 
$
155,047

Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Class A
 
$
348

 
$
49,887

 
$
108,461

 
$
831

 
$
0

 
$
159,527

Class C
 
$
206

 
$
47,850

 
$
255,488

 
$
603

 
$
0

 
$
304,147

 
BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS
 
Decisions to buy and sell securities for the Funds and the placing of the Funds’ securities transactions and negotiation of commission rates where applicable are made by the Sub-Advisor and are subject to oversight by the Advisor and the Board.  In the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, the Sub-Advisor’s primary objective will be to obtain the most favorable price and execution for a Fund, taking into account such factors as the overall direct net economic result to a Fund (including commissions, which may not be the lowest available but ordinarily should not be higher than the generally prevailing competitive range), the financial strength and stability of the broker, the efficiency with which the transaction will be effected, the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is involved and the availability of the broker or dealer to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future.
 
Each Sub-Advisor is specifically authorized, subject to certain limitations, to pay a trading commission to a broker who provides research services that is higher than the amount of trading commission another broker would have charged for the same transaction. This excess commission recognizes the additional research services rendered by the broker, but only if the Sub-Advisor determines in good faith that the excess commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the research services provided and that a Fund derives or will derive a reasonably significant benefit from such research services.

Research services include securities and economic analyses, reports on issuers’ financial conditions and future business prospects, newsletters and opinions relating to interest trends, general advice on the relative merits of possible investment securities for the Funds and statistical services and information with respect to the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities.  Although this information is useful to the Funds and the Sub-Advisors, it is not possible to place a dollar value on it.  Research services furnished by brokers through whom a Fund effects securities transactions may be used by the Sub-Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Sub-Advisor in connection with a Fund.
 
The Funds have no obligation to deal with any broker or dealer in the execution of securities transactions.  However, the Funds may execute securities transactions on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market conducted on an agency basis.  A Fund will not execute any brokerage transactions in its portfolio securities with an affiliated broker if such transactions would be unfair or unreasonable to its shareholders.  Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal market makers or with broker-dealers.  Although the Funds do not anticipate any ongoing arrangements with other brokerage firms, brokerage business may be transacted with other firms.  Affiliated broker-dealers of the Trust will not receive reciprocal brokerage business as a result of the brokerage business transacted by the Funds with other brokers.  The Funds may direct transactions to certain brokers in order to reduce brokerage commissions through a commission recapture program offered by Frank Russell Securities, Inc. and Cowen and Company LLC.
 
In certain instances, there may be securities that are suitable for a Fund as well as for one or more of the respective Sub-Advisor’s other clients. The Sub-Advisor makes investment decisions for a Fund and for its other clients to achieve their respective investment objectives. The Sub-Advisor may buy or sell a particular security for one client even though it is buying, selling, or holding the same security for another client. Some simultaneous transactions are inevitable when several clients receive investment advice from the same investment advisor, particularly when the same security is suitable for the investment objectives of more than one

38



client. When two or more clients are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, the Sub-Advisor will allocate the securities among clients in a fair and equitable manner. This system may detrimentally affect the price of a security purchased, sold, or held by the Fund, but this detrimental effect may be offset by a Fund’s ability to participate in volume transactions, which could lead to better executions for the Fund.

  For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 , the Funds paid the following in aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:

Fund
Aggregate Brokerage Commissions
2016
2017
2018
Dynamic Equity Fund
$177,238
$125,180
$96,087
Controlled Growth with Income Fund
N/A
N/A
N/A
Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
$4,845
$3,479
$2,787
Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
$6,639
$6,203
$2,509

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the Funds did not direct any brokerage transactions and related commissions to brokers due to research services.
 
The total amount of securities of regular broker-dealers held by each Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 was as follows:
Fund
Broker-Dealer
Aggregate Value
Dynamic Equity Fund
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
$
833,675

Controlled Growth with Income Fund
N/A
N/A

Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
$
2,417,479

Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
N/A
N/A


PROXY VOTING
 
The Dynamic Equity Fund has adopted its Sub-Advisor's policies and procedures for voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund. A copy of the proxy voting policies of the Dynamic Equity Fund's Sub-Advisor is attached in Appendix B.

The Allocation Funds are each structured as a fund-of-funds.  As such, the Allocation Funds will own shares in certain other underlying affiliated Touchstone Funds and may own shares in other unaffiliated underlying funds.  The Allocation Funds, in their capacity as shareholders in the underlying funds, may be requested to vote on matters relating to those funds.  A potential conflict of interest could arise because the Allocation Funds may be large shareholders of an underlying affiliated Touchstone Fund.  To reduce this potential conflict, the Allocation Funds vote their shares of underlying affiliated Touchstone Funds in the same proportion as the votes of all other shareholders in such underlying affiliated Touchstone Funds.  Each Allocation Fund has adopted its Sub-Advisor's policies and procedures for voting proxies relating to shares of unaffiliated underlying funds held by the Fund. A copy of the proxy voting policies of the Allocation Funds' Sub-Advisor is attached in Appendix B.

Information about how the Funds voted proxies relating to their portfolio securities during the most recent year ending June 30 is available by August 31st of that year without charge, upon requesting by calling 1.800.543.0470 and on the Touchstone website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.

CODE OF ETHICS
 
The Trust has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act.  In addition, the Advisor, each Sub-Advisor and Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1.  These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of Trustees, officers, and certain employees (“access persons”).  Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons.  Under each Code of Ethics, access persons are permitted to invest in securities (including securities that may be purchased or held by a Fund), but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes.  In addition, certain access persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements.  Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.
 

39



PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
 
A Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year.  High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund.  High turnover may result in a Fund recognizing greater amounts of income and capital gains, which would increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders and increase the amount of commissions paid by the Fund.  A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of a Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period.  The rate of portfolio turnover will depend upon market and other conditions, and will not be a limiting factor when the sub-advisor believes that portfolio changes are appropriate.  A Fund may engage in active trading to achieve its investment goals and, as a result, may have substantial portfolio turnover.
 
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, the portfolio turnover rate for each Fund was as follows:
 
 
Portfolio Turnover Rate
Fund
 
2017
 
2018
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
236
%
 
267
%
Controlled Growth with Income Fund
 
39
%
 
62
%
Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
 
25
%
 
20
%
Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
 
32
%
 
40
%


DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
 
The Touchstone Funds have adopted policies and procedures for disclosing the Funds’ portfolio holdings to any person requesting this information.  These policies and procedures are monitored by the Board through periodic reporting by the Funds’ CCO.  No compensation will be received by a Fund, the Advisor, any sub-advisor, or any other party in connection with the disclosure of information about portfolio securities.
 
The procedures prohibit the disclosure of portfolio holdings except under the following conditions:
 
1)
A request made by a Sub-Advisor for a Fund (or that portion of a Fund) that it manages.
 
2)
A request by executive officers of the Advisor for routine oversight and management purposes.
 
3)
For use in preparing and distributing routine shareholder reports, including disclosure to the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, typesetter, and printer.  Routine shareholder reports are filed as of the end of each fiscal quarter with the SEC within 60 days after the quarter end and routine shareholder reports are distributed to shareholders within 60 days after the applicable six-month semi-annual period.  The Funds provide their full holdings to their independent registered public accounting firm annually, as of the end of their fiscal year, within one to ten business days after fiscal year end. The Funds provide their full holdings to their typesetter at least 50 days after the end of the calendar quarter.  The Funds provide their full holdings to their printer at least 50 days after the applicable six-month semi-annual period.
 
4)
A request by service providers to fulfill their contractual duties relating to the Fund, subject to approval by the CCO.
 
5)
A request by a newly hired Sub-Advisor or Sub-Advisor candidate prior to the commencement of its duties to facilitate its transition as a new Sub-Advisor, subject to the conditions set forth in Item 8.
 
6)
A request by a potential merger candidate for the purpose of conducting due diligence, subject to the conditions set forth in Item 8.
 
7)
A request by a rating or ranking agency, subject to the conditions set forth in Item 8.
 
Other portfolio holdings disclosure policies of the Funds include:
 
The Funds provide their top ten holdings on their publicly available website and to market data agencies monthly, as of the end of a calendar month, at least seven business days after month end.

40



The Funds provide their full holdings on their publicly available website, and to market data agencies, their typesetter and printer, quarterly, as of the end of a calendar quarter, at least fifteen days after quarter end.
 
You may access the public website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
 
8)
The CCO may authorize disclosing non-public portfolio holdings to third-parties more frequently or at different periods than as described above prior to when such information is made public, provided that certain conditions are met.  The third-party must (i) specifically request in writing the more current non-public portfolio holdings, providing a reasonable basis for the request; (ii) execute an agreement to keep such information confidential, to only use the information for the authorized purpose, and not to use the information for their personal benefit; (iii) agree not to trade on such information, either directly or indirectly; and (iv) unless specifically approved by the Chief Compliance Officer in writing, the non-public portfolio holdings are subject to a ten-day time delay before dissemination.  Any non-public portfolio holdings that are disclosed will not include any material information about a Fund’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions.
 
As of March 31, 2019, one or more Touchstone Funds discloses portfolio holdings information to the following parties based on ongoing arrangements:

Bloomberg LP
Morningstar, Inc.
 
Employees of the Advisor and the Funds’ sub-advisors that are access persons under the Funds’ Code of Ethics have access to Fund holdings on a regular basis, but are subject to confidentiality requirements and trading prohibitions in the Code of Ethics.  In addition, custodians of the Funds’ assets and the Funds’ accounting services agent, each of whose agreements contains a confidentiality provision (which includes a duty not to trade on non-public information), have access to the current Fund holdings on a daily basis.
 
The CCO is authorized to determine whether disclosure of a Fund’s portfolio securities is for a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.  Any conflict between the interests of shareholders and the interests of the Advisor, the Distributor, or any affiliates, will be reported to the Board, which will make a determination that is in the best interests of shareholders.

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
 
The securities of each Fund are valued under the direction of the Advisor and under the general oversight of the Trustees. The Advisor or its delegates may use independent pricing services to obtain valuations of securities. The pricing services rely primarily on prices of actual market transactions as well as on trade quotations obtained from third parties. Prices are generally determined using readily available market prices. For the Allocation Funds, shares of the underlying funds are valued at the net asset value of the underlying fund.  If market prices are unavailable or believed to be unreliable, the Sub-Administrative Agent will initiate a process by which the Trust’s Fair Value Committee will make a good faith determination as to the “fair value” of the security using procedures approved by the Trustees. The pricing services may use a matrix system to determine valuations of fixed-income securities when market prices are not readily available.  This system considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations.  The procedures used by any such pricing service and its valuation results are reviewed by the officers of the Trust under the general oversight of the Trustees. Some Funds may hold portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges.  Under certain circumstances, these investments may be valued under the Fund’s fair value policies and procedures, such as when U.S. exchanges are open but a foreign exchange is closed.

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
 
The Trust’s Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Funds and shares of each Fund.  Each share of a Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that Fund with each other share.  Upon liquidation, shares are entitled to a pro rata share in the net assets of the Fund, after taking into account additional distribution and shareholder servicing expenses attributable to the Class.  Shareholders have no preemptive rights.  The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees of the Trust may create additional series of shares or separate classes of funds.  All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any portfolio or separate class and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that portfolio or separate class and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto.  Share certificates representing shares will not be issued.
 
The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a Massachusetts business trust.  The Trust’s Declaration of Trust states that neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any

41



shareholder, nor, except as specifically provided therein, to call upon any shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay.
 
The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisors, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person.  The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust.  However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.
 
Each whole share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote.  Shares issued by each Fund have no preemptive, conversion, or subscription rights.  Voting rights are not cumulative.  Each Fund, as a separate series of the Trust, votes separately on matters affecting only that Fund.  Shareholders of each Class of each Fund will vote separately on matters pertaining solely to that Fund or that class.  The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders, but approval will be sought for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of Trustees under certain circumstances.
 
In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.  In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.
 
Derivative Claims of Shareholders

The Trust’s Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”) contain provisions regarding derivative claims of shareholders. Under these provisions, a shareholder must make a pre-suit demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Board, or a majority of any committee of the Board established to consider the merits of such action, has a personal financial interest in the transaction at issue, and a Trustee shall not be deemed interested in a transaction or otherwise disqualified from ruling on the merits of a shareholder demand by virtue of the fact that such Trustee receives remuneration for his service on the Board or on the boards of one or more Trusts that are under common management with or otherwise affiliated with the Trust.

Unless a demand is not required under the foregoing paragraph, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim. The Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action.

Forum for Adjudication of Disputes

The By-Laws provide that, unless the Trust consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Trust, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Trustee, officer, or other employee of the Trust to the Trust or the Trust’s shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts or the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (each, a “Covered Action”). The By-Laws further provide that if any Covered Action is filed in a court other than the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts or the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any shareholder, such shareholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts or the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in connection with any action brought in any such courts to enforce the preceding sentence (an “Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such shareholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such shareholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such shareholder.

The By-Laws provide that any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of beneficial interest of the Trust shall be (i) deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of the foregoing paragraph and (ii) deemed to have waived any argument relating to the inconvenience of the forums referenced above in connection with any action or proceeding described in the foregoing paragraph.

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This forum selection provision may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with Trustees, officers or other agents of the Trust and its service providers, which may discourage such lawsuits with respect to such claims. If a court were to find the forum selection provision contained in the By-Laws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, the Trust may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions.

CHOOSING A CLASS OF SHARES
 
The Funds participate in fund “supermarket” arrangements.  In such an arrangement, a program is made available by a broker or other institution (a sponsor) that allows investors to purchase and redeem shares of the Funds through the sponsor of the fund supermarket.  In connection with these supermarket arrangements, each Fund has authorized one or more brokers to accept on its behalf purchase and redemption orders.  In turn, the brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Funds’ behalf.  As such, a Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker’s authorized designee, accepts the order.  The customer order will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after acceptance by an authorized broker or the broker’s authorized designee.  In addition, a broker may charge transaction fees on the purchase or sale of Fund shares.  Also in connection with fund supermarket arrangements, the performance of a participating Fund may be compared in publications to the performance of various indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available and compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services.  The Funds' annual report contains additional performance information and will be made available to investors upon request and without charge.
 
The Touchstone Funds are intended for sale to residents of the U.S., and, with very limited exceptions, are not registered or otherwise offered for sale in other jurisdictions. The above restrictions are generally not applicable to sales in the U.S. territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands or to diplomatic staff members or members of the U.S. military with an APO or FPO address outside of the U.S. Investors are responsible for compliance with tax, securities, currency exchange or other regulations applicable to redemption and purchase transactions in any state or jurisdiction to which they may be subject. Investors should consult with their financial intermediary and appropriate tax and legal advisors to obtain information on the rules applicable to these transactions.
 
The shares of the Funds may not be directly or indirectly offered or distributed in any country outside of the U.S. If an investor becomes a resident of another jurisdiction after purchasing shares of the Touchstone Funds, the investor will not be able to purchase any additional shares of the Funds (other than reinvestment of dividends and capital gains) or exchange shares of the Touchstone Funds for other U.S. registered Touchstone Funds.
 
Class A Shares. For purchases bringing your total investment in the Touchstone Fund Complex up to $1 million or more and subsequent purchases further increasing the size of your account, participating dealers may receive compensation of up to 1.00% (a “Finder's Fee”) of such purchases from Touchstone Securities according to the following schedule:
 
Amount of Investment
 
Finder's Fee
$1 million but less than $3 million
 
1.00
%
$3 million but less than $5 million
 
0.75
%
$5 million but less than $25 million
 
0.50
%
$25 million or more
 
0.25
%
 
The Distributor does not have an annual reset for Finder’s Fees.  In determining a dealer’s eligibility for a Finder’s Fee, the value of all shares owned in the Touchstone Fund Complex may be combined for that individual shareholder in accordance with a Fund's Right's of Accumulation Program. Please see the "Choosing a Class of Shares - Reduced Class A Sales Charge" and "Choosing a Class of Shares - Rights of Accumulation Program" sections in the Funds' prospectus to determine whether accounts may be aggregated for purposes of determining eligibility for a Finder's Fee. If a Finder’s Fee was paid to a participating dealer, that dealer is not eligible to receive 12b-1 fees on the shares that were used to generate the Finder’s Fee until they have aged for a period of one year.  Additionally, if a Finder’s Fee was paid and the Class A shares are redeemed within a year of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of up to 1.00% will be charged on the redemption. Dealers should contact the Distributor for more information on the calculation of the dealer’s commission in the case of combined purchases.

A dealer is eligible for a Finder's Fee only if the dealer has not previously received a Dealer Fee on the assets used to meet the amount of investment requirement. Similarly, an exchange from any other Touchstone Fund will not qualify for a Dealer Fee

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unless the dealer did not receive any compensation on those assets at the time of the initial investment. In all cases the Distributor reserves the right to deny payment of a Dealer Fee if it reasonably believes such a fee has already been paid on those assets.
 
Share Class Conversions. Class A and Class C shareholders who are eligible to invest in Class Y shares or Institutional Class shares are eligible to exchange their Class A shares and/or Class C shares for Class Y or Institutional Class shares of the same Fund, if offered in their state and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial institution. Class Y shares may be available through financial institutions that have appropriate selling agreements with Touchstone Securities, or through “processing organizations” (e.g., mutual fund supermarkets) that purchase shares for their customers.  Additionally, Class C shareholders may exchange their Class C shares for Class A shares of the same Fund, if offered in their state and such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial institution. No front-end sales charges will apply to any such exchange, however, if the Class C shares have been held less than 12 months, a CDSC of 1% may be assessed on the exchange transaction, which may be processed as a liquidation and a purchase. Class Y shareholders that meet the required minimum for Institutional Class shares may exchange their Class Y shares for Institutional Class shares within the same Fund if offered in their state and if such an exchange can be accommodated by their financial institution.

Effective January 1, 2019 (the "Effective Date"), Class C shares of each Fund will automatically convert into Class A shares of the same Fund after they have been held for 10 years. The conversion will not be considered a taxable event for federal income tax purposes. These automatic conversions will be executed without any sales charge (including CDSCs) redemption or transaction fee, or other charge. After such conversation takes place, the shares will be subject to all features, rights, and expenses of Class A shares. If you hold Class C shares through certain financial intermediaries, such as an omnibus account or group retirement recordkeeping platform, your intermediary may not be able to track the amount of time you held your Class C shares purchased before January 1, 2019. In these instances, Class C shares held prior to the Effective Date will automatically convert to Class A shares 10 years after the Effective Date and every 10 years thereafter.
 
For federal income tax purposes, exchanges of one share class for a different share class of the same Fund (even if processed as a liquidation and a purchase) should not result in the realization by the investor of a capital gain or loss.  There can be no assurance of any particular tax treatment, however, and you are urged and advised to consult with your own tax advisor before entering into a share class exchange.

Financial intermediaries may convert shares in a customer or client’s account to a more expensive share class if prior to the conversion the intermediary determines that the higher priced share class is more suitable to the customer’s interests and the intermediary discloses any additional compensation to the customer, including revenue sharing arrangements with the Advisor or Distributor.
 
If a financial institution, processing organization or intermediary (a “converting entity”) is initiating a share class conversion(s) for Touchstone Funds on a platform, then the converting entity should contact Touchstone Securities at least 60 days in advance and obtain Touchstone Securities’ approval of the share class conversion.
 
Additional Information on the CDSC. The CDSC is waived under the following circumstances:
 
Any partial or complete redemption following death or disability (as defined in the Code) of a shareholder (including one who owns the shares with his or her spouse as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship) from an account in which the deceased or disabled is named.  Touchstone Securities may require documentation prior to waiver of the charge, including death certificates, physicians’ certificates, etc.
Redemptions from a systematic withdrawal plan.  If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed dollar amount or number of shares, systematic withdrawal redemptions are limited to no more than 10% of your account value or number of shares per year, as of the date the transfer agent receives your request.  If the systematic withdrawal plan is based on a fixed percentage of your account value, each redemption is limited to an amount that would not exceed 10% of your annual account value at the time of withdrawal.
Redemptions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code.  The CDSC will be waived for benefit payments made by Touchstone directly to plan participants.  Benefit payments will include, but are not limited to, payments resulting from death, disability, retirement, separation from service, required minimum distributions (as described under Section 401(a)(9) of the Code), in-service distributions, hardships, loans and qualified domestic relations orders.  The CDSC waiver will not apply in the event of termination of the plan or transfer of the plan to another financial institution.
Redemptions that are mandatory withdrawals from a traditional IRA account after age 70½.
Please see Appendix A - Intermediary-Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts in the prospectus for a description of variation in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Merill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Ameriprise Financial and Raymond James.
 

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General.   The above mentioned CDSC waivers do not apply to Class A share redemptions made within one year of the date of purchase where a Finder's Fee was paid by Touchstone Securities due to an investment in the Touchstone Fund Complex totaling $1 million or more. All sales charges imposed on redemptions are paid to the Distributor.  In determining whether the CDSC is payable, it is assumed that shares not subject to the CDSC are the first redeemed followed by other shares held for the longest period of time.  The CDSC will not be imposed upon shares representing reinvested dividends or capital gains distributions, or upon amounts representing share appreciation.
 
CDSC for Certain Redemptions of Class A Shares.  A CDSC is imposed upon certain redemptions of Class A shares of the Funds (or shares into which such Class A shares were exchanged) purchased at NAV due to an individual shareholder investment amount in the Touchstone Fund Complex of $1 million or more where a Finder's Fee was paid by the Distributor and the shares were redeemed within one year from the date of purchase.  The CDSC will be paid to the Distributor and will be equal to the commission percentage paid at the time of purchase as applied to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the Class A shares being redeemed, or (2) the NAV of such Class A shares at the time of redemption.  If a purchase of Class A shares is subject to the CDSC, you will be notified on the confirmation you receive for your purchase.  Redemptions of such Class A shares of the Funds held for at least one year will not be subject to the CDSC.
 
Examples.  The following example will illustrate the operation of the CDSC.  Assume that you open an account and purchase 1,000 shares at $10 per share and that six months later the NAV per share is $12 and, during such time, you have acquired then 50 additional shares through reinvestment of distributions.  If, at such time you should redeem 450 shares (totaling proceeds of $5,400), then 50 shares will not be subject to the charge because of dividend reinvestment.  With respect to the remaining 400 shares, the charge is applied only to the original cost of $10 per share and not to the increase in NAV to $12 per share.  Therefore, $4,000 of the $5,400 redemption proceeds will pay the charge.  At the rate of 1.00%, the CDSC would be $40 for redemptions of Class C shares.  In determining whether an amount is available for redemption without incurring a deferred sales charge, the purchase payments made for all shares in your account are aggregated.
 
OTHER PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
 
Waiver of Minimum Investment Requirements.   The minimum and subsequent investment requirements for purchases in the Funds may not apply to:
 
1.
Any director, officer or other employee* (and their immediate family members**, as defined below) of Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. or any of its affiliates or any portfolio advisor or service provider to the Trust.
 
2.
Any employee benefit plan that is provided administrative services by a third-party administrator that has entered into a special service arrangement with Touchstone Securities.

The minimum investment waivers are not available for the Institutional Class shares of the Dynamic Equity Fund.
 
Waiver of Class A Sales Charges.   In addition to the categories of purchasers described in the prospectus for whom the sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of the Funds may be waived, Class A shares issued or purchased in the following transactions are not subject to sales charges (and no concessions are paid by the Distributor on such purchases):
 
1.
Purchases into a Fund by any director, officer, employee* (and their immediate family members**, as defined below), or current separate account client of or referral by a sub-advisor to that particular Fund;
 
2.
Purchases by any director, officer or other employee* (and their immediate family members**) of Western & Southern Financial Group or any of its affiliates; and
 
3.
Purchases by any employees of BNY Mellon who provide services for the Touchstone Funds, Touchstone Advisors, or Touchstone Securities.
 
Exemptions must be qualified in advance by the Distributor.  At the option of the Trust, the front-end sales charge may be included on purchases by such persons in the future.

 * The term "employee" is deemed to include current and retired employees.
**Immediate family members are defined as the parents, mother-in-law or father-in-law, spouse, brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, and children, of a registered representative or employee and any other individual to whom the registered representative or employee provides material support. 


45



Waiver of Class A Sales Charge for Clients of Financial Intermediaries.   Touchstone Securities has agreed to waive the Class A sales charge for clients of financial intermediaries that have entered into an agreement with Touchstone Securities to offer shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee to their customers. As of the date of this SAI, this arrangement applies to shareholders purchasing fund shares through platforms at the following intermediaries:

Merrill Lynch
RBC
JP Morgan Securities
Morgan Stanley
Ameriprise Financial
Raymond James

Please see Appendix A - Intermediary Specific Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts to the Funds to the Funds’ prospectus for a description of variations in sales charges and waivers for Fund shares purchased through Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Ameriprise Financial and Raymond James.
 
Waiver of Class A Sales Charge for former Constellation Shareholders.   Shareholders who owned shares of the Trust as of November 17, 2006 who are purchasing additional shares for their accounts or opening new accounts in any Touchstone Fund are not subject to the front-end sales charge for purchases of Class A shares.  If you are purchasing shares through a financial intermediary, you must notify the intermediary at the time of purchase that a purchase qualifies for a sales load waiver and you may be required to provide copies of account statements verifying your qualification.
 
Shareholders who are eligible for the sales charge waivers listed above may open an account with the Fund directly to receive the sales charge waiver.
 
Class Y Shares “Grandfather” Clause.   New purchases of the Class Y shares are no longer available directly through Touchstone Securities.  Those shareholders who owned Class Y shares purchased directly through Touchstone Securities prior to February 2, 2009, or those former Old Mutual shareholders who owned Class Z shares which became Class Y shares on April 16, 2012, or those former Fifth Third Mutual Fund Shareholders who owned Institutional Class shares which became Class Y shares on September 10, 2012 may continue to hold Class Y shares of the corresponding Fund(s).  In addition, those shareholders may continue to make subsequent purchases into existing accounts of Class Y shares of the Fund(s) they owned prior to February 2, 2009, April 16, 2012, and September 10, 2012, respectively.
 
Purchases in-Kind.   In limited circumstances and subject to the prior consent of the Fund, the Fund may accept payment for shares in securities. Shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of marketable securities, including but not limited to shares of common stock, provided the acquisition of such securities is consistent with the applicable Fund’s investment goal and is otherwise acceptable to the Advisor.  Transactions of this type are generally a taxable transaction.  Before purchasing shares by tendering payment in-kind, investors are urged and advised to consult with their own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of such a transaction.
 
Redemptions in-Kind.   Under unusual circumstances, when the Board deems it in the best interests of a Fund’s shareholders, the Fund may make payment for shares repurchased or redeemed in whole or in part in securities of the Fund taken at current value.  Should payment be made in securities, the redeeming shareholder will bear the market risk until the securities are sold and the redeeming shareholder will generally incur brokerage costs and other costs in converting such securities to cash.  Portfolio securities that are issued in an in-kind redemption will be readily marketable.  The Trust has filed an irrevocable election with the SEC under Rule 18f-1 of the 1940 Act wherein the Funds are committed to pay redemptions in cash, rather than in-kind, to any shareholder of record of a Fund who redeems during any ninety-day period, the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of a Fund’s NAV at the beginning of such period.  Redemptions in-kind are taxable for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as redemptions for cash. The Funds may also use redemption in-kind for certain Fund shares held by ReFlow.
 
Undeliverable Checks. Dividend and distribution checks issued from non–retirement accounts for less than $25 will be automatically reinvested in the Fund that pays them. If your redemption proceeds, dividend, or distribution check is returned as “undeliverable”, your account will be considered a lost shareholder account, correspondence will be sent to you requesting that you contact the Fund, and the outstanding payment will be deposited into an account for potential escheatment to your state of residence. If you contact the Fund and provide proper documentation to update the address on the account, the Fund will no longer consider your account to be a lost shareholder account, and your outstanding payment will be reissued to your corrected address. Also, if your dividend or distribution check is returned as “undeliverable”, your cash election will be changed automatically and future dividends will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the payable date.
 

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Uncashed Checks. All uncashed checks on your account will appear with your monthly or quarterly statement for your convenience. If your redemption proceeds, dividend, or distribution check from a non–retirement account is not cashed within six months (an “outstanding payment”) and the account remains open, the outstanding payment on your account will be cancelled and the proceeds will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the date of cancellation, which may be higher or lower than the NAV at which your shares were initially redeemed. In addition, if the payment was for dividends or distributions, your cash election will be automatically changed and future dividends and distributions will be reinvested in the Fund at the per share NAV determined as of the payable date. For outstanding payments in retirement accounts, no action will be taken.
 
Fund Shares Purchased by Check.   We may delay the processing and payment of a redemption request for shares you recently purchased by check until your check clears, which may take up to 15 days.  If you need your money sooner, you should purchase shares by bank wire.
 
Low Account Balances (Only applicable for shares held through Touchstone Securities directly).   If your balance falls below the minimum amount required for your account, based on actual amounts you have invested (as opposed to a reduction from market changes) Touchstone Securities may sell your shares and send the proceeds to you.  Touchstone Securities will notify you if your shares are about to be sold and you will have 30 days to increase your account balance to the minimum amount.
 
A Fund’s dividends and other distributions are taxable to shareholders (other than retirement plans and other tax-exempt investors) whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. A dividend or distribution paid by a Fund has the effect of reducing the NAV per share on the ex-dividend date by the amount of the dividend or distribution. A dividend or distribution declared shortly after a purchase of shares by an investor would, therefore, represent, in substance, a return of capital to the shareholder with respect to such shares even though it would be subject to federal income taxes.
 
For most shareholders, a statement will be sent to you within 60 days after the end of each year detailing the federal income tax status of your distributions. Please see “Taxes” below for more information on the federal income tax consequences of dividends and other distributions made by the Funds.
 
Facilitated Transfers. In the event an existing Touchstone fund shareholder wishes to move money between their Touchstone mutual fund account and a money market fund, Touchstone Advisors, has partnered with The Dreyfus Corporation to help facilitate this type of transaction pursuant to certain limitations. Please contact Touchstone Shareholder Services at 1.800.543.0407 for more information if you are interested in pursuing this type of transaction.

DISTRIBUTIONS
 
A Fund’s dividends and other distributions are taxable to shareholders (other than retirement plans and other tax-exempt investors) whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund.  A dividend or distribution paid by a Fund has the effect of reducing the NAV per share on the ex-dividend date by the amount of the dividend or distribution.  A dividend or distribution declared shortly after a purchase of shares by an investor would, therefore, represent, in substance, a return of capital to the shareholder with respect to such shares even though it would be subject to federal income taxes.
 
For most shareholders, a statement will be sent to you within 45 days after the end of each year detailing the federal income tax status of your distributions.  Please see “ Federal Income Taxes” below for more information on the federal income tax consequences of dividends and other distributions made by the Funds.

FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
 
The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Funds and their shareholders.  This discussion is for general information only and does not purport to consider all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that might be relevant to beneficial owners of shares of the Funds.  Therefore, the summary discussion that follows may not be considered to be individual tax advice and may not be relied upon by any shareholder.  The summary is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations (the “Regulations”), and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, which change could be retroactive, and may affect the conclusions expressed herein.  The summary applies only to beneficial owners of a Fund’s shares in whose hands such shares are capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, and may not apply to certain types of beneficial owners of a Fund’s shares, including, but not limited to insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, shareholders holding a Fund’s shares through tax-advantaged accounts (such as an individual retirement account (an “IRA”), a 401(k) plan account, or other qualified retirement account), financial institutions, pass-through entities, broker-dealers, entities that are not organized under the laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, persons who are neither a citizen nor resident of the United States, shareholders holding a Fund’s shares as part of a hedge, straddle or conversion transaction, and shareholders who are subject to

47



the alternative minimum tax.  Persons who may be subject to tax in more than one country should consult the provisions of any applicable tax treaty to determine the potential tax consequences to them.
 
No Fund has requested nor will any Fund request an advance ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) as to the federal income tax matters described below.  The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such positions could be sustained.  In addition, the following discussion applicable to shareholders of a Fund addresses only some of the federal income tax considerations generally affecting investments in such Fund.
 
Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of the ownership, purchase and disposition of an investment in a Fund including, but not limited to, the applicability of state, local, foreign and other tax laws affecting the particular shareholder and to possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
 
General.   For federal income tax purposes, each Fund is treated as a separate corporation.  Each Fund has elected, and intends to continue to qualify for, taxation as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under the Code.  By qualifying as a RIC, a Fund (but not the shareholders) will not be subject to federal income tax on that portion of its investment company taxable income and realized net capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders.
 
Shareholders should be aware that investments made by a Fund, some of which are described below, may involve complex tax rules some of which may result in income or gain recognition by the Fund without the concurrent receipt of cash.  Although each Fund seeks to avoid significant noncash income, such noncash income could be recognized by a Fund, in which case it may distribute cash derived from other sources in order to meet the minimum distribution requirements described below.  Cash to make the required minimum distributions may be obtained from sales proceeds of securities held by a Fund (even if such sales are not advantageous) or, if permitted by its governing documents and other regulatory restrictions, through borrowing the amounts required to be distributed.
 
Qualification As A Regulated Investment Company.   Qualification as a RIC under the Code requires, among other things, that each Fund: (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and (ii) net income from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships (together with (i), the “Qualifying Income Requirement”); (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the close of each quarter of the taxable year: (i) at least 50% of the value of its total assets is comprised of cash, cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with those other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of its total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers controlled by it and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (together with (i) the “Diversification Requirement”); and (c) distribute for each taxable year at least the sum of (i) 90% of its investment company taxable income (which includes dividends, taxable interest, taxable original issue discount income, market discount income, income from securities lending, net short-term capital gain in excess of net long-term capital loss, certain net realized foreign currency exchange gains, and any other taxable income other than “net capital gain” as defined below and is reduced by deductible expenses) determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid; and (ii) 90% of its tax-exempt interest, if any, net of certain expenses allocable thereto (“net tax-exempt interest”).
 
The U.S. Treasury Department is authorized to promulgate regulations under which gains from foreign currencies (and options, futures, and forward contracts on foreign currency) would constitute qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement only if such gains are directly related to the principal business of a Fund of investing in stock or securities or options and futures with respect to stock or securities.  To date, the U.S. Treasury Department has not issued such regulations.
 
As a RIC, a Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders in any taxable year for which it distributes, in compliance with the Code’s timing and other requirements at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest.  Each Fund may retain for investment all or a portion of its net capital gain (i.e., the excess of its net long-term capital gain over its net short-term capital loss).  If a Fund retains any investment company taxable income or net capital gain, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained.  If a Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, who will be (i) required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount; and (ii) entitled to credit their proportionate shares of tax paid by such Fund against their federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities.  For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of the

48



shares owned by a shareholder of a Fund will be increased by the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholder’s gross income and decreased by the federal income tax paid by such Fund on that amount of capital gain.
 
The Qualifying Income Requirement and Diversification Requirement that must be met under the Code in order for a Fund to qualify as a RIC, as described above, may limit the extent to which it will be able to engage in derivative transactions.  Rules governing the federal income tax aspects of derivatives, including swap agreements, are not entirely clear in certain respects, particularly in light of two IRS revenue rulings issued in 2006.  Revenue Ruling 2006-1 held that income from a derivative contract with respect to a commodity index is not qualifying income for a RIC.  Subsequently, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2006-31 in which it stated that the holding in Revenue Ruling 2006-1 “was not intended to preclude a conclusion that the income from certain instruments (such as certain structured notes) that create a commodity exposure for the holder is qualifying income.”  Accordingly, the Qualifying Income Requirement may limit each Fund’s ability to invest in commodity related derivative transactions and other derivative transactions.  Each Fund will account for any investments in commodity derivative transactions in a manner it deems to be appropriate; the IRS, however, might not accept such treatment.  If the IRS did not accept such treatment, the status of such Fund as a RIC might be jeopardized.
 
In general, for purposes of the Qualifying Income Requirement described above, income derived from a partnership is treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized directly by the RIC.  However, all of the net income of a RIC derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (defined as a partnership (x) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, and (y) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in clause (i) of the Qualifying Income Requirement described above) will be treated as qualifying income.  In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes if they meet the passive income requirement under Section 7704(c)(2) of the Code.  In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.
 
For purposes of the Diversification Requirement described above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership.
 
If a Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income Requirement or the Diversification Requirement in any taxable year, such Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements.  Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures to satisfy the Diversification Requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period of time.  If the applicable relief provisions are not available or cannot be met, such Fund will fail to qualify as a RIC and will be subject to federal income tax in the same manner as an ordinary corporation at a tax rate of 21% and all distributions from earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles) to its shareholders will be taxable as ordinary dividend income eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders and for qualified dividend income treatment for non-corporate shareholders.
 
Excise Tax.   If a Fund fails to distribute by December 31 of each calendar year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its taxable ordinary income (excluding capital gains and losses) for such year, (2) at least 98.2% of the excess of its capital gains over its capital losses (as adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the twelve month period ending on October 31 of such year, and (3) all taxable ordinary income and the excess of capital gains over capital losses for the prior year that were not distributed during such year and on which it did not pay federal income tax, such Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) on the undistributed amounts.  A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of the calendar year if it is declared by a Fund in October, November, or December of that year to shareholders of record on a date in such month and paid by it during January of the following year.  Such distributions will be taxable to shareholders (other than those not subject to federal income tax) in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.  Each Fund generally intends to actually distribute or be deemed to have distributed substantially all of its net income and gain, if any, by the end of each calendar year in compliance with these requirements so that it will generally not be required to pay the Excise Tax.  A Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate its investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid the Excise Tax liability at a time when its Advisor might not otherwise have chosen to do so.  Liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of a Fund to satisfy the requirements for qualification as a RIC.  However, no assurances can be given that a Fund will not be subject to the Excise Tax and, in fact, in certain instances if warranted, a Fund may choose to pay the Excise Tax as opposed to making an additional distribution.
 
Capital Loss Carryforwards.   The excess of a Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gain is treated as short-term capital losses arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year and the excess of a Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gain is treated as long-term capital losses arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year.  If carried forward capital losses offset future gains, such future capital gains are not subject to Fund-level federal income

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taxation, regardless of whether they are distributed to shareholders.  A Fund cannot carry back or carry forward any net operating losses.
 
Original Issue Discount And Market Discount.   A Fund may acquire debt securities that are treated as having original issue discount (“OID”) (generally a debt obligation with a purchase price less than its principal amount, such as a zero coupon bond).  Generally, a Fund will be required to include the OID in income over the term of the debt security, even though it will not receive cash payments for such OID until a later time, usually when the debt security matures.  A Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having OID which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.  Inflation-protected bonds generally can be expected to produce OID income as their principal amounts are adjusted upward for inflation.  The IRS may treat a portion of the OID includible in income with respect to certain high-yield corporate debt securities as a dividend for federal income tax purposes.
 
A debt security acquired in the secondary market by a Fund may be treated as having market discount if acquired at a price below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount.  The Fund’s market discount accrues ratably, on a daily basis, over the period from the date of acquisition to the date of maturity even though the Fund will not receive cash. Absent an election by a Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on its disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.
 
In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though a Fund holding such securities receives no interest payments in cash on such securities during the year.
 
Each Fund generally will be required to make distributions to shareholders representing the income accruing on the securities, described above, that is currently includable in income, even though cash representing such income may not have been received by such Fund.  Cash to pay these distributions may be obtained from sales proceeds of securities held by a Fund (even if such sales are not advantageous) or, if permitted by such Fund’s governing documents, through borrowing the amounts required to be distributed.  In the event a Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would have in the absence of such transactions.
 
Options, Futures, And Forward Contracts.   The writing (selling) and purchasing of options and futures contracts and entering into forward currency contracts, involves complex rules that will determine for federal income tax purposes the amount, character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses a Fund realizes in connection with such transactions.
 
Gains and losses on the sale, lapse, or other termination of options and futures contracts, options thereon and certain forward contracts (except certain foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts) will generally be treated as capital gains and losses.  Some regulated futures contracts, certain foreign currency contracts, and certain non-equity options (such as certain listed options or options on broad based securities indexes) held by a Fund (“Section 1256 contracts”), other than contracts on which it has made a “mixed-straddle election”, will be required to be “marked-to-market” for federal income tax purposes, that is, treated as having been sold at their market value on the last day of such Fund’s taxable year.  These provisions may require a Fund to recognize income or gains without a concurrent receipt of cash.  Any gain or loss recognized on actual or deemed sales of Section 1256 contracts will be treated as 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary income or loss as described below.  Transactions that qualify as designated hedges are exempt from the mark-to-market rule, but may require a Fund to defer the recognition of losses on futures contracts, foreign currency contracts and certain options to the extent of any unrecognized gains on related positions held by it.
 
The tax provisions described above applicable to options, futures and forward contracts may affect the amount, timing, and character of a Fund’s distributions to its shareholders.  For example, the Section 1256 rules described above may operate to increase the amount a Fund must distribute to satisfy the minimum distribution requirement for the portion treated as short-term capital gain which will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income, and to increase the net capital gain it recognizes, without, in either case, increasing the cash available to it.  A Fund may elect to exclude certain transactions from the operation of Section 1256, although doing so may have the effect of increasing the relative proportion of net short-term capital gain (taxable as ordinary income) and thus increasing the amount of dividends it must distribute.  Section 1256 contracts also may be marked-to-market for purposes of the Excise Tax.
 
When a covered call or put option written (sold) by a Fund expires such Fund will realize a short-term capital gain equal to the amount of the premium it received for writing the option.  When a Fund terminates its obligations under such an option by entering into a closing transaction, it will realize a short-term capital gain (or loss), depending on whether the cost of the closing transaction is less than (or exceeds) the premium received when it wrote the option.  When a covered call option written by a Fund is exercised, such Fund will be treated as having sold the underlying security, producing long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending

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upon the holding period of the underlying security and whether the sum of the option price received upon the exercise plus the premium received when it wrote the option is more or less than the basis of the underlying security.
 
Straddles.   Section 1092 deals with the taxation of straddles which also may affect the taxation of options in which a Fund may invest.  Offsetting positions held by a Fund involving certain derivative instruments, such as options, futures and forward currency contracts, may be considered, for federal income tax purposes, to constitute “straddles.”  Straddles are defined to include offsetting positions in actively traded personal property.  In certain circumstances, the rules governing straddles override or modify the provisions of Section 1256, described above.  If a Fund is treated as entering into a straddle and at least one (but not all) of its positions in derivative contracts comprising a part of such straddle is governed by Section 1256, then such straddle could be characterized as a “mixed straddle.”  A Fund may make one or more elections with respect to mixed straddles.  Depending on which election is made, if any, the results with respect to a Fund may differ.  Generally, to the extent the straddle rules apply to positions established by a Fund, losses realized by it may be deferred to the extent of unrealized gain in any offsetting positions.  Moreover, as a result of the straddle rules, short-term capital loss on straddle positions may be characterized as long-term capital loss, and long-term capital gain may be characterized as short-term capital gain.  In addition, the existence of a straddle may affect the holding period of the offsetting positions and cause such sales to be subject to the “wash sale” and “short sale” rules.  As a result, the straddle rules could cause distributions that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend income” to fail to satisfy the applicable holding period requirements, described below, and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income.  Further, a Fund may be required to capitalize, rather than deduct currently, any interest expense and carrying charges applicable to a position that is part of a straddle.  Because the application of the straddle rules may affect the character and timing of gains and losses from affected straddle positions, the amount which must be distributed to shareholders, and which will be taxed to shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased substantially as compared to the situation where a Fund had not engaged in such transactions.
 
In circumstances where a Fund has invested in certain pass-through entities, the amount of long-term capital gain that it may recognize from certain derivative transactions with respect to interests in such pass-through entities is limited under the Code’s constructive ownership rules.  The amount of long-term capital gain is limited to the amount of such gain a Fund would have had if it directly invested in the pass-through entity during the term of the derivative contract.  Any gain in excess of this amount is treated as ordinary income.  An interest charge is imposed on the amount of gain that is treated as ordinary income.
 
Swaps And Derivatives.   As a result of entering into swap or derivative agreements, a Fund may make or receive periodic net payments.  A Fund may also make or receive a payment when a swap or derivative is terminated prior to maturity through an assignment of the swap or derivative or other closing transaction.  Periodic net payments will generally constitute ordinary income or deductions, while termination of a swap or derivative will generally result in capital gain or loss (which will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the Fund has been a party to a swap or derivative for more than one year).  With respect to certain types of swaps or derivatives, a Fund may be required to currently recognize income or loss with respect to future payments on such swaps or derivatives or may elect under certain circumstances to mark such swaps or derivatives to market annually for tax purposes as ordinary income or loss.
 
Rules governing the tax aspects of swap or derivative agreements are not entirely clear in certain respects, in particular whether income generated is Qualifying Income.  Accordingly, while each Fund intends to account for such transactions in a manner it deems appropriate, the IRS might not accept such treatment.  If the IRS did not accept such treatment, the status of the Fund as a RIC might be adversely affected.  The Funds intend to monitor developments in this area.  Certain requirements that must be met under the Code in order for each Fund to qualify as a RIC may limit the extent to which a Fund will be able to engage in swap agreements and certain derivatives.
 
Constructive Sales.   Certain rules may affect the timing and character of gain if a Fund engages in transactions that reduce or eliminate its risk of loss with respect to appreciated financial positions.  If a Fund enters into certain transactions (including a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract, a futures or forward contract, or other transactions identified in U.S. Treasury regulations) in property while holding an appreciated financial position in substantially identical property, it will be treated as if it had sold and immediately repurchased the appreciated financial position and will be taxed on any gain (but not loss) from the constructive sale.  The character of gain from a constructive sale will depend upon a Fund’s holding period in the appreciated financial position.  Loss from a constructive sale would be recognized when the position was subsequently disposed of, and its character would depend on a Fund’s holding period and the application of various loss deferral provisions of the Code.

In addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short sale, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially identical property by a Fund will be deemed a constructive sale.  The foregoing will not apply, however, to a Fund’s transaction during any taxable year that otherwise would be treated as a constructive sale if the transaction is closed within 30 days after the end of that year and such Fund holds the appreciated financial position unhedged for 60 days after that closing ( i.e ., at no time during that 60-day period is such Fund’s risk of loss regarding the position reduced by reason of certain specified transactions with respect

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to substantially identical or related property, such as having an option to sell, being contractually obligated to sell, making a short sale or granting an option to buy substantially identical stock or securities).
 
Wash Sales.   A Fund may in certain circumstances be impacted by special rules relating to “wash sales.”  In general, the wash sale rules prevent the recognition of a loss by a Fund from the disposition of stock or securities at a loss in a case in which identical or substantially identical stock or securities (or an option to acquire such property) is or has been acquired by it within 30 days before or 30 days after the sale.
 
Short Sales.   A Fund may make short sales of securities.  Short sales may increase the amount of short-term capital gain realized by a Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to its shareholders.  Short sales also may be subject to the “Constructive Sales” rules, discussed above.
 
Tax Credit Bonds.   If a Fund holds (directly or indirectly) one or more “tax credit bonds” (defined below) on one or more specified dates during a Fund’s taxable year, and it satisfies the minimum distribution requirement, it may elect for U.S. federal income tax purposes to pass through to shareholders tax credits otherwise allowable to it for that year with respect to such tax credit bonds.  A tax credit bond is defined in the Code as a “qualified tax credit bond” (which includes a qualified forestry conservation bond, a new clean renewable energy bond, a qualified energy conservation bond, or a qualified zone academy bond, each of which must meet certain requirements specified in the Code), a “build America bond” (which includes certain qualified bonds issued before January 1, 2011) or certain other bonds specified in the Code. New tax credit bonds may not be issued after December 31, 2017. If a Fund were to make an election, a shareholder of such Fund would be required to include in gross income an amount equal to such shareholder’s proportionate share of the interest income attributable to such credits and would be entitled to claim as a tax credit an amount equal to a proportionate share of such credits.  Certain limitations may apply on the extent to which the credit may be claimed.
 
Other Regulated Investment Companies.  The use of a fund-of-funds structure by the Allocation Funds could affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions from the Funds, and, therefore, may increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders. Because each Allocation Fund will invest a large portion of its assets in shares of other funds, the distributable income and gains of an Allocation Fund will normally consist largely of distributions from the underlying funds in which the Allocation Fund invests and gains and losses on disposition of shares of the underlying funds.
 
Generally, the character of the income or capital gains that a Fund receives from another investment company will pass through to the Fund’s shareholders as long as the Fund and the other investment company each qualify as RICs under the Code.  However, to the extent that another investment company that qualifies as a RIC realizes net losses on its investments for a given taxable year, a Fund will not be able to recognize its share of those losses until it disposes of shares of such investment company.  Moreover, even when a Fund does make such a disposition, a portion of its loss may be recognized as a long-term capital loss.
 
In addition, in certain circumstances, the “wash sale” rules may apply to a Fund’s sales of underlying fund shares that have generated losses.  A wash sale occurs if shares of an underlying fund are sold by a Fund at a loss and the Fund acquires additional shares of that same underlying fund or other substantially identical stock or securities 30 days before or after the date of the sale.  The wash sale rules could defer losses in a Fund’s hands on sales of underlying fund shares (to the extent such sales are wash sales) for extended (and, in certain cases, potentially indefinite) periods of time.  As a result of the foregoing rules, and certain other special rules, it is possible that the amounts of net investment income and net capital gains that a Fund will be required to distribute to shareholders will be greater than such amounts would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the investment companies in which it invests, rather than investing in shares of the investment companies.  For similar reasons, the character of distributions from a Fund (e.g., long-term capital gain, qualified dividend income, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the investment companies in which it invests.
 
If an Allocation Fund is a “qualified fund-of-funds” (i.e., a RIC that invests at least 50% of its total assets in other RICs at the close of each quarter of its taxable year), it may elect to pass through to its own shareholders foreign tax credits received from underlying funds that make the election to pass such foreign tax credits through to their shareholders (see “Foreign Taxation” below).

The foregoing is only a general description of the federal income tax consequences of a fund-of-funds structure. Accordingly, prospective purchasers of shares of an Allocation Fund are urged to consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situation, including the potential application of state, local and foreign taxes.
 
Passive Foreign Investment Companies.   A Fund may invest in a non-U.S. corporation, which could be treated as a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”) or become a PFIC under the Code.  A PFIC is generally defined as a foreign corporation that meets either of the following tests: (1) at least 75% of its gross income for its taxable year is income from passive sources

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(such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains); or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, such passive income.  If a Fund acquires any equity interest in a PFIC, such Fund could be subject to federal income tax and interest charges on “excess distributions” received with respect to such PFIC stock or on any gain from the sale of such PFIC stock (collectively “PFIC income”), even if such Fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders.  The balance of the PFIC income will be included in such Fund’s investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it to the extent it distributes that income to its shareholders.  A Fund’s distributions of PFIC income will be taxable as ordinary income even though, absent the application of the PFIC rules, some portion of the distributions may have been classified as capital gain.
 
A Fund will not be permitted to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for taxes and interest charges incurred with respect to a PFIC.  Payment of this tax would therefore reduce a Fund’s economic return from its investment in PFIC shares.  To the extent a Fund invests in a PFIC, it may elect to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”), then instead of the tax and interest obligation described above on excess distributions, such Fund would be required to include in income each taxable year its pro rata share of the QEF’s annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain.  As a result of a QEF election, a Fund would likely have to distribute to its shareholders an amount equal to the QEF’s annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain to satisfy the Code’s minimum distribution requirement described herein and avoid imposition of the Excise Tax, even if the QEF did not distribute those earnings and gain to such Fund.  In most instances it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to make this election because of certain requirements in making the election.
 
A Fund may elect to “mark-to-market” its stock in any PFIC.  “Marking-to-market,” in this context, means including in ordinary income each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the PFIC stock over such Fund’s adjusted basis therein as of the end of that year.  Pursuant to the election, a Fund also may deduct (as an ordinary, not capital, loss) the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in the PFIC stock over the fair market value thereof as of the taxable year-end, but only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains with respect to that stock it included in income for prior taxable years under the election.  A Fund’s adjusted basis in its PFIC stock subject to the election would be adjusted to reflect the amounts of income included and deductions taken thereunder.  In either case, a Fund may be required to recognize taxable income or gain without the concurrent receipt of cash.
 
Foreign Currency Transactions.   Foreign currency gains and losses realized by a Fund in connection with certain transactions involving foreign currency-denominated debt instruments, certain options, futures contracts, forward contracts, and similar instruments relating to foreign currency, foreign currencies, and foreign currency-denominated payables and receivables are subject to Section 988 of the Code, which causes such gains and losses to be treated as ordinary income or loss and may affect the amount and timing of recognition of such Fund’s income.  In some cases elections may be available that would alter this treatment, but such elections could be detrimental to a Fund by creating current recognition of income without the concurrent recognition of cash.  If a foreign currency loss treated as an ordinary loss under Section 988 were to exceed a Fund’s investment company taxable income (computed without regard to such loss) for a taxable year the resulting loss would not be deductible by it or its shareholders in future years.  The foreign currency income or loss will also increase or decrease a Fund’s investment company income distributable to its shareholders.
 
Foreign Taxation.   Income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes.  Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes.  If more than 50% of a Fund’s total assets at the close of any taxable year consist of stock or securities of foreign corporations, or if a Fund is a qualified fund-of-funds (i.e., a RIC that invests at least 50% of its total assets in other RICs at the close of each quarter of its taxable year), and the Fund meets the distribution requirements described above, such Fund may file an election (the “pass-through election”) with the IRS pursuant to which shareholders of the Fund would be required to (i) include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) their pro rata shares of foreign income taxes paid by the Fund, or in the case of a qualified fund-of-funds, such taxes paid by an underlying fund that has made the pass-through election, even though not actually received by such shareholders; and (ii) treat such respective pro rata portions as foreign income taxes paid by them.  Each Fund will furnish its shareholders with a written statement providing the amount of foreign taxes paid by the Fund that will “pass-through” for the year, if any.
 
Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder’s U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign source taxable income.  For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of a Fund’s income will flow through to shareholders.  The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income.  Shareholders may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by a Fund.  Various limitations, including a minimum holding period requirement, apply to limit the credit and deduction for foreign taxes for purposes of regular federal income tax and alternative minimum tax.
 
REITs.   A Fund may invest in REITs.  Investments in REIT equity securities may require a Fund to accrue and distribute taxable income without the concurrent receipt of cash.  To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, a Fund may be

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required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold.  A Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in its receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if such Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to its shareholders for federal income tax purposes.  Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT will not qualify for the corporate dividends received deduction and generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.
 
A Fund may invest in REITs that hold residual interests in REMICs or taxable mortgage pools (TMPs), or such REITs may themselves constitute TMPs.  Under an IRS notice, and U.S. Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of a Fund’s income from a REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a REMIC or a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to federal income tax in all events.  This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a RIC, such as the Funds, will be allocated to shareholders of the RIC in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or invested in the TMP directly.  As a result, the Fund may not be a suitable investment for certain tax exempt-shareholders, including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan and other tax-exempt entities.  See “Tax-Exempt Shareholders.”
 
MLPs. A Fund may invest to a limited degree in MLPs that are treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships for federal income tax purposes. Net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership is included in the sources of income that satisfy the Qualifying Income Requirement. However, under the Diversification Requirement, no more than 25% of the value of a RIC’s total assets at the end of each fiscal quarter may be invested in securities of qualified publicly traded partnerships. If an MLP in which a Fund invests is taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, the Fund will be taxable on its allocable share of the MLP’s income regardless of whether the Fund receives any distribution from the MLP. Thus, the Fund may be required to sell other securities in order to satisfy the distribution requirements to qualify as a RIC and to avoid federal income tax and the Excise Tax. Distributions to a Fund from an MLP that is taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital to the extent of the Fund’s basis in its interest in the MLP. If a Fund’s basis is reduced to zero, distributions will generally constitute capital gain for federal income tax purposes.
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, certain income from investments in MLPs is included in the "combined qualified business income amount" are treated as “qualified business income” that is eligible for a 20% federal income tax deduction in the case of individuals, trusts and estates. The Code currently does not contain a provision permitting a RIC to pass the special character of this income through to its shareholders. As a result, direct investors in MLPs may be entitled to this deduction while investors that invest in a Fund that invests in MLPs will not.
Distributions.   Distributions paid out of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined at the end of the year), whether reinvested in additional shares or paid in cash, are generally taxable and must be reported by each shareholder who is required to file a federal income tax return.  Distributions in excess of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, as computed for federal income tax purposes, will first be treated as a return of capital up to the amount of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares and then as capital gain.
 
For federal income tax purposes, distributions of net investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income, and distributions of gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is owning) for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income.  Distributions designated by a Fund as “capital gain dividends” (distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital losses) will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain regardless of the length of time they have held their shares of such Fund.  Such dividends do not qualify as dividends for purposes of the dividends received deduction or for qualified dividend income purposes as described below.
 
Distributions of “qualified dividend income” received by non-corporate shareholders of a Fund may be eligible for the long-term capital gain rate.  A Fund’s distribution will be treated as qualified dividend income and therefore eligible for the long-term capital gain rate to the extent the Fund receives dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met.  A corporate shareholder of a Fund may be eligible for the dividends received deduction on such Fund’s distributions attributable to dividends received by such Fund from domestic corporations, which, if received directly by the corporate shareholder, would qualify for such a deduction.  For eligible corporate shareholders, the dividends received deduction may be subject to certain reductions, and a distribution by a Fund attributable to dividends of a domestic corporation will be eligible for the deduction only if certain holding period and other requirements are met.

Shareholders may also be subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on net investment income including interest (excluding tax-exempt interest), dividends, and capital gains of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) and of estates and trusts.

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For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, qualified REIT dividends (i.e., REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income) are eligible for a 20% federal income tax deduction in the case of individuals, trusts and estates. A Fund that receives qualified REIT dividends may elect to pass the special character of this income through to its shareholders. To be eligible to treat distributions from a Fund as qualified REIT dividends, a shareholder must hold shares of the Fund for more than 45 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which the shares become ex‑dividend with respect to such dividend and the shareholder must not be under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. If a Fund does not elect to pass the special character of this income through to shareholders or if a shareholder does not satisfy the above holding period requirements, the shareholder will not be entitled to the 20% deduction for the shareholder’s share of the Fund’s qualified REIT dividend income while direct investors in REITs may be entitled to the deduction.
Each Fund will furnish a statement to shareholders providing the federal income tax status of its dividends and distributions including the portion of such dividends, if any, that qualifies as long-term capital gain.
 
Different tax treatment, including penalties on certain excess contributions and deferrals, certain pre-retirement and post-retirement distributions, and certain prohibited transactions, is accorded to accounts maintained as qualified retirement plans. 

Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors for more information.
 
Purchases Of Fund Shares.   Prior to purchasing shares in a Fund, the impact of dividends or distributions which are expected to be or have been declared, but not paid, should be carefully considered.  Any dividend or distribution declared shortly after a purchase of shares of a Fund prior to the record date will have the effect of reducing the per share NAV by the per share amount of the dividend or distribution, and to the extent the distribution consists of the Fund’s taxable income, the purchasing shareholder will be taxed on the taxable portion of the dividend or distribution received even though some or all of the amount distributed is effectively a return of capital.

Sales, Exchanges Or Redemptions.   Upon the disposition of shares of a Fund (whether by redemption, sale or exchange), a shareholder may realize a capital gain or loss.  Such capital gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending upon the shareholder’s holding period for the shares.  The capital gain will be long-term if the shares were held for more than 12 months and short-term if held for 12 months or less.  If a shareholder sells or exchanges Fund shares within 90 days of having acquired such shares and if, before January 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year of the sale or exchange, as a result of having initially acquired those shares, the shareholder subsequently pays a reduced sales charge on a new purchase of shares of the Fund or another Fund, the sales charge previously incurred in acquiring the Fund’s shares generally shall not be taken into account (to the extent the previous sales charges do not exceed the reduction in sales charges on the new purchase) for the purpose of determining the amount of gain or loss on the disposition, but generally will be treated as having been incurred in the new purchase.  Any loss realized on a disposition will be disallowed under the “wash sale” rules to the extent that the shares disposed of by the shareholder are replaced by the shareholder (including through dividend reinvestment) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition.  In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.  Any loss realized by a shareholder on a disposition of shares held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of capital gain dividends received by the shareholder and disallowed to the extent of any distributions of exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholder with respect to such shares.  Capital losses are generally deductible only against capital gains except that individuals may deduct up to $3,000 of capital losses against ordinary income.
 
The 3.8% Medicare contribution tax (described above) will apply to gains from the sale or exchange of a Fund’s shares.
 
Backup Withholding.   Each Fund generally is required to withhold, and remit to the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain exemptions, an amount equal to 24% of all distributions and redemption proceeds paid or credited to a shareholder of such Fund if (i) the shareholder fails to furnish such Fund with the correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) certified under penalties of perjury, (ii) the shareholder fails to provide a certified statement that the shareholder is not subject to backup withholding, or (iii) the IRS or a broker has notified such Fund that the number furnished by the shareholder is incorrect or that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report interest or dividend income.  If the backup withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions or proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.  Backup withholding is not an additional tax.  Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
 

55



State And Local Taxes.   State and local laws often differ from federal income tax laws with respect to the treatment of specific items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit.
 
Non-U.S. Shareholders.   Distributions made to non-U.S. shareholders attributable to net investment income generally are subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding at a 30% rate (or such lower rate provided under an applicable income tax treaty).  However, the Fund will generally not be required to withhold tax on any amounts paid to a non-U.S. investor with respect to dividends attributable to “qualified short-term gain” (i.e., the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) designated as such by the Fund and dividends attributable to certain U.S. source interest income that would not be subject to federal withholding tax if earned directly by a non-U.S. person, provided such amounts are properly designated by the Fund. A Fund may choose not to designate such amounts.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a distribution described above is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by a non-U.S. shareholder within the United States (or, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States), federal income tax withholding and exemptions attributable to foreign persons will not apply and such distribution will be subject to the federal income tax, reporting and withholding requirements generally applicable to U.S. persons described above.
 
Under U.S. federal tax law, a non-U.S. shareholder is not, in general, subject to federal income tax or withholding tax on capital gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of a Fund or on capital gain dividends, provided that the Fund obtains a properly completed and signed certificate of foreign status, unless (i) such gains or distributions are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by the non-U.S. shareholder within the United States (or, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States of the non-U.S. shareholder); (ii) in the case of an individual non-U.S. shareholder, the shareholder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale and certain other conditions are met; or (iii) the shares of the Fund constitute U.S. real property interests (USRPIs), as described below.
 
Special rules apply to foreign persons who receive distributions from a Fund that are attributable to gains from USRPIs.  The Code defines USRPIs to include direct holdings of U.S. real property and any interest (other than an interest solely as a creditor) in a “United States real property holding corporation” or former United States real property holding corporation.  The Code defines a United States real property holding corporation as any corporation whose USRPIs make up 50% or more of the fair market value of its USRPIs, its interests in real property located outside the United States, plus any other assets it uses in a trade or business.  In general, if a Fund is a United States real property holding corporation (determined without regard to certain exceptions), distributions by the Fund that are attributable to (a) gains realized on the disposition of USRPIs by the Fund and (b) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier RIC or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands will retain their character as gains realized from USRPIs in the hands of the foreign persons and will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, such distributions could result in foreign shareholder being required to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax on the distribution at regular U.S. federal income taxes rates. The consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder, including the rate of such withholding and character of such distribution (e.g., ordinary income or USRPI gain) will vary depending on the extent of the non-U.S. shareholder's current and past ownership of a Fund.
 
In addition, if a Fund is a United States real property holding corporation or former United States real property holding corporation, the Fund may be required to withhold U.S. tax upon a redemption of shares by a greater-than-5% shareholder that is a foreign person, and that shareholder would be required to file a U.S. income tax return for the year of the disposition of the USRPI and pay any additional tax due on the gain. However, no such withholding is generally required with respect to amounts paid in redemption of shares of a fund if the fund was a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, or, in certain other limited cases, if a fund (whether or not domestically controlled) holds substantial investments in RICs that are domestically controlled qualified investment entities. 
 
Subject to the additional rules described herein, federal income tax withholding will apply to distributions attributable to dividends and other investment income distributed by the Funds.  The federal income tax withholding rate may be reduced (and, in some cases, eliminated) under an applicable tax treaty between the United States and the non-U.S. shareholder’s country of residence or incorporation.  In order to qualify for treaty benefits, a non-U.S. shareholder must comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its foreign status (generally by providing a Fund with a properly completed Form W-8BEN).
 
Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, the "Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act" or "FATCA") generally requires a Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders.  If a shareholder fails to provide this information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA, a Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on Fund dividends and distributions and on the proceeds of the sale, redemption, or exchange of Fund shares.  A Fund may disclose the information that it receives from (or concerning)

56



its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA, related intergovernmental agreements or other applicable law or regulation. Each investor is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.
 
Foreign Bank And Financial Accounts And Foreign Financial Assets Reporting Requirements.   A shareholder that owns directly or indirectly more than 50% by vote or value of a Fund, is urged and advised to consult its own tax advisor regarding its filing obligations with respect to FinCen Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts.
 
Tax-Exempt Shareholders.   A tax-exempt shareholder could realize unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) by virtue of its investment in a Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Code Section 514(b).
 
It is possible that a tax-exempt shareholder of a Fund will also recognize UBTI if such Fund recognizes “excess inclusion income” (as described above) derived from direct or indirect investments in REMIC residual interests or TMPs.  Furthermore, any investment in a residual interest of a CMO that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can create complex tax consequences, especially if a Fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders.
 
In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”) that invest in RICs that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or in TMPs.
 
Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations.   Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.  The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper.  Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
 
Shareholders are urged and advised to consult their own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of an investment in a Fund including, but not limited to, the applicability of state, local, foreign and other tax laws affecting the particular shareholder and to possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
 
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SECURITY HOLDERS
 
Persons or organizations beneficially owning more than 25% of the outstanding shares of a Fund are presumed to “control” the Fund.  As a result, those persons or organizations could have the ability to influence an action taken by a Fund if such action requires a shareholder vote.  As of April 2, 2019, the name, address and percentage ownership of each entity that owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class of a Fund are as follows:

Fund
Name and Address
Percentage of Class 
DYNAMIC EQUITY FUND
CLASS A
MLPF & S THE SOLE BENEFIT OF FOR ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST-2ND FLR
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246
22.16
%
 
 
PERSHING LLC 1 PERSHING PLAZA JERSEY CITY, NJ 07399
13.70
%
 
 
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
2801 MARKET STREET
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63103

10.87
%
 
 
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF ITS CUTOMERS
1 NEW YORK PLAZA FL 12
NEW YORK NY 10004-1901


9.84
%
 

57



 
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT
FOR BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-4151
7.38
%
 
 
UBS WM USA FBO
SPEC CDY A/C EXL BEN CUSTOMERS
OF UBSFSI
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN, NJ 07086

6.60
%
 
 
LPL FINANCIAL
4707 EXECUTIVE DRIVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92121-3091

6.26
%
 
DYNAMIC EQUITY FUND
CLASS C
LPL FINANCIAL
4707 EXECUTIVE DRIVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92121-3091

30.85
%
 
 
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF ITS CUTOMERS
1 NEW YORK PLAZA FL 12
NEW YORK NY 10004-1901


21.10
%
 
 
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
2801 MARKET STREET
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63103
17.40
%
 
 
UBS WM USA FBO
SPEC CDY A/C EXL BEN CUSTOMERS
OF UBSFSI
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN, NJ 07086

11.05
%
 
 
MLPF & S THE SOLE BENEFIT OF FOR ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST-2ND FLR
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246
7.85
%
 
DYNAMIC EQUITY FUND
CLASS Y
UBS WM USA FBO
SPEC CDY A/C EXL BEN CUSTOMERS
OF UBSFSI
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN, NJ 07086

15.77
%
 
 
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP (FBO) OUR CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPARTMENT 4TH FL
499 WASHINGTON BLVD
JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-2010

11.30
%
 
 
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT
FOR BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-4151


10.54
%
 
 
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF ITS CUTOMERS
1 NEW YORK PLAZA FL 12
NEW YORK NY 10004-1901

9.15
%
 
 
PERSHING LLC 1 PERSHING PLAZA JERSEY CITY, NJ 07399

6.28
%
 
 
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
2801 MARKET STREET
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63103

5.19
%
 

58



DYNAMIC EQUITY FUND
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS 
TOUCHSTONE CONTROLLED GROWTH WITH INCOME FUND
303 BROADWAY ST STE 1100
CINCINNATI, OH 45202-4220
99.06
%
*,**,***
CONTROLLED GROWTH WITH INCOME FUND
CLASS A
MG TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO RDM ELECTRIC CO INC 700 17TH ST STE 300 DENVER, CO 80202-3531
14.22
%
 
 
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
2801 MARKET STREET
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63103
 7.94%

 
 
MLPF & S
THE SOLE BENEFIT OF FOR ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST-2ND FLR
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246
7.09
%
 
CONTROLLED GROWTH WITH INCOME FUND
CLASS C
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
2801 MARKET STREET
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63103


38.52
%
 
 
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105
12.23
%
 
 
UBS WM USA FBO
SPEC CDY A/C EXL BEN CUSTOMERS
OF UBSFSI
1000 HARBOR BLVD
WEEHAWKEN, NJ 07086

9.49
%
 
 
RAYMOND JAMES
OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
880 CARILLON PARKWAY
ST PETERSBURG, FL 33716

7.14
%
 
 
MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC
FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF ITS CUTOMERS
1 NEW YORK PLAZA FL 12
NEW YORK NY 10004-1901

6.74
%
 
CONTROLLED GROWTH WITH INCOME FUND
CLASS Y
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63103
16.25
%
 
 
PERSHING LLC 1 PERSHING PLAZA JERSEY CITY, NJ 07399
7.72%

 
 
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105


6.31
%
 
DYNAMIC DIVERSIFIED INCOME FUND
CLASS A
MLPF & S
THE SOLE BENEFIT OF  FOR ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST-2ND FLR
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246

10.69
%
 
 
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63103
8.25%

 
 
LPL FINANCIAL
4707 EXECUTIVE DRIVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92121-3091
5.67%

 
DYNAMIC DIVERSIFIED INCOME FUND
CLASS C
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63103

15.96
%
 

59



 
LPL FINANCIAL
4707 EXECUTIVE DRIVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92121-3091
11.81%

 
 
MLPF & S
THE SOLE BENEFIT OF FOR ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST-2ND FLR
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246


11.11
%
 
 
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105
7.88%

 
 
PERSHING LLC 1 PERSHING PLAZA JERSEY CITY, NJ 07399
6.16
%
 
DYNAMIC DIVERSIFIED INCOME FUND
CLASS Y
FIFTH THIRD BANK TTEE
VARIOUS FASCORE LLC RECORDKEPT PLAN
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD 2T2
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO 80111
45.00
%
 
 
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63103

9.86
%
 
 
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105

9.59
%
 
DYNAMIC GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND CLASS A
MLPF & S
THE SOLE BENEFIT OF FOR ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST-2ND FLR
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246
9.31
%
 
 
LPL FINANCIAL
4707 EXECUTIVE DRIVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92121-3091
5.31
%
 
DYNAMIC GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND CLASS C

LPL FINANCIAL
4707 EXECUTIVE DRIVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92121-3091

15.48
%
 
 
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES
2801 MARKET ST
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63103

7.31%

 
 
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105

6.73
%
 
DYNAMIC GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND CLASS Y
FIFTH THIRD BANK TTEE
VARIOUS FASCORE LLC RECORDKEPT PLAN
C/O FASCORE LLC
8515 E ORCHARD RD 2T2
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO 80111
43.10
%
 
 
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
211 MAIN STREET
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105

12.26
%
 
 
MLPF & S
THE SOLE BENEFIT OF FOR ITS CUSTOMERS
ATTN FUND ADMINISTRATION
4800 DEER LAKE DR EAST-2ND FLR
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246

5.76
%
 

60



 
RAYMOND JAMES
OMNIBUS FOR MUTUAL FUNDS
880 CARILLON PARKWAY
ST PETERSBURG FL 33716
5.44
%
 
*Indicates that shares are held beneficially.
**May be deemed to control a Fund because it owned beneficially more than 25% of the outstanding shares of a Fund as of April 2, 2019. Western & Southern Financial Group is a corporation organized under the laws of Ohio and is a wholly–owned subsidiary of Western–Southern Mutual Holding Company.
***The Allocation Funds are each structured as a fund-of-funds. Pursuant to the proxy voting policies of Touchstone Advisors, the Allocation Funds vote their shares in the same proportion as the votes of all other shareholders in an underlying Touchstone Fund.
 
As of April 1, 2019 the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group owned of record or beneficially less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust and of each Fund (or class thereof).
 
CUSTODIAN
 
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”), 50 Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, is the Trust’s custodian.  BBH acts as the Trust’s depository, safe keeps its portfolio securities, collects all income and other payments with respect thereto, disburses money as instructed and maintains records in connection with its duties.
 
LEGAL COUNSEL
 
Vedder Price P.C., 222 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601, serves as counsel to the Trust.
 
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
The firm of Ernst & Young LLP ("E&Y"), 312 Walnut Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, has been selected as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.  E&Y will perform an annual audit of the Trust’s financial statements and advise the Trust as to certain accounting matters.

TRANSFER AND SUB-ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
 
Transfer Agent.   The Trust’s transfer agent is BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. ( “BNY Mellon IS”), 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581. BNY Mellon IS maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, answers shareholders’ inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of the Funds’ shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent and performs other shareholder servicing functions.  For providing transfer agent and shareholder services to the Trust, BNY Mellon IS receives a monthly per account fee from each Fund, plus out of-pocket expenses.

The Funds may also pay a fee to certain servicing organizations (such as broker-dealers and financial institutions) that provide sub-transfer agency services.  These services include maintaining shareholder records, processing shareholder transactions and distributing communications to shareholders.
 
Sub-Administrative Agent.  The Advisor provides administrative services to the Trust under an Administrative Agreement and has sub-contracted certain accounting and administrative services to The Bank of New York Mellon. The sub-administrative services sub-contracted to The Bank of New York Mellon include accounting and pricing services, SEC and state security filings, providing executive and administrative services and providing reports for meetings of the Board.  The Advisor pays The Bank of New York Mellon a sub-administrative fee out of its administration fee.
 
Set forth below are the sub-administrative fees paid by the Advisor to BNY Mellon during the stated periods:
 
 
 
Sub-Administration Fees Paid
Fund
 
2017
 
2018
Dynamic Equity Fund
 
$
41,391

 
$
38,659

Controlled Growth with Income Fund
 
$
36,569

 
$
41,209

Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
 
$
40,605

 
$
39,439

Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
 
$
52,252

 
$
50,469


61



 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
The Funds’ audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, including the notes thereto and the report of Ernst & Young LLP, included in the Trust’s Annual Report are incorporated into this SAI by reference.  No other parts of the Trust’s Annual Report are hereby incorporated by reference. The Annual Report may be obtained free of charge by calling the Trust at 1.800.543.0407 or by downloading a copy at TouchstoneInvestments.com.  You may also obtain the annual report or unaudited semi-annual report, as well as other information about the Trust, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

62



APPENDIX A
 
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS
 
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s ® (“S&P”) are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality of debt obligations.  A description of the ratings assigned by Moody’s and S&P are provided below.  These ratings represent the opinions of these rating services as to the quality of the securities that they undertake to rate.  It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality.  An advisor attempts to discern variations in credit rankings of the rating services and to anticipate changes in credit ranking.  However, subsequent to purchase by a fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by the fund.  In that event, an advisor will consider whether it is in the best interest of a fund to continue to hold the securities.
 
Moody’s credit ratings are current opinions of the relative future credit risk of entities, credit commitments, or debt or debt-like securities.  Moody’s defines credit risk as the risk that an entity may not meet its contractual, financial obligations as they come due and any estimated financial loss in the event of default.  Credit ratings do not address any other risk, including but not limited too: liquidity risk, market value risk, or price volatility.  Credit ratings are not statements of current or historical fact.  Credit ratings do not constitute investment or financial advice, and credit ratings are not recommendations to purchase, sell, or hold particular securities.  Credit ratings do not comment on the suitability of an investment for any particular investor.  Moody’s issues its credit ratings with the expectation and understanding that each investor will make its own study and evaluation of each security that is under consideration for purchase, holding, or sale.
 
An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs).  It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
 
Short-Term Credit Ratings
 
Moody’s
 
Moody’s short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations.  Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments.  Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.
 
Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:
 
“P-1” - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
 
“P-2” - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
 
“P-3” - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
 
“NP” - Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
 
Note: Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the issuer, its guarantor or support-provider.
 
S&P
 
S&P’s short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market.  In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days-including commercial paper.  Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations.  The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating.
 
The following summarizes the rating categories used by S&P for short-term issues:

A-1



 
“A-1” - Obligations are rated in the highest category and indicate that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.  Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).  This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
 
“A-2” - Obligations are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
 
“A-3” - Obligations exhibit adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
“B” - Obligations are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.
 
“C” - Obligations are currently vulnerable to nonpayment and are dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
“D” - Obligations are in payment default. The “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period.  However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
 
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Country risk considerations are a standard part of S&P’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue.  Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis.  An obligor’s capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt.  These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues.  Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.
 
Long-Term Credit Ratings
 
Moody’s
 
Moody’s long-term ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more.  They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised.  Such ratings use Moody’s Global Scale and reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss suffered in the event of default.
 
The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:
 
“Aaa” - Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
 
“Aa” - Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
 
“A” - Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
 
“Baa” - Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
 
“Ba” - Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
 
“B” - Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
 
“Caa” - Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
 
“Ca” - Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
 

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“C” - Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.
 
Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.”  The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
 
S&P
 
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:
 
Likelihood of payment — capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

Nature of and provisions of the obligation;
 
Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.
 
Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default.  Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above.  (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
 
The following summarizes the ratings used by S&P for long-term issues:
 
“AAA” - An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by S&P.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
 
“AA” - An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
 
“A” - An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
 
“BBB” - An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC,” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
 
“BB” - An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
“B” - An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB,” but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
“CCC” - An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
“CC” - An obligation rated "CC" is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The "CC" rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

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“C” - An obligation rated "C" is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

“D” - An obligation rated "D" is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the "D" rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The "D" rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to "D" if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
 
Plus (+) or minus (-) - The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
 
“NR” - This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
 
Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Country risk considerations are a standard part of S&P’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue.  Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis.  An obligor’s capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt.  These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues.  Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.
 
Municipal Note Ratings
 
Moody’s
 
Moody’s uses three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered investment grade.  These ratings are designated as Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) and are divided into three levels - “MIG 1” through “MIG 3”.  In addition, those short-term obligations that are of speculative quality are designated “SG”, or speculative grade.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation.
 
The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for these short-term obligations:
 
“MIG 1” - This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
 
“MIG 2” - This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
 
“MIG 3” - This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
 
“SG” - This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
 
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned; a long- or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”).  The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” rating scale.
 
When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated “NR”, e.g ., “Aaa/NR” or “NR/VMIG 1”.
 
VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.
 

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“VMIG 1” - This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
“VMIG 2” - This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
“VMIG 3” - This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
“SG” - This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
S&P
 
An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to notes.  Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating.  Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:
 
Amortization schedule-the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
 
Source of payment-the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.
 
Note rating symbols are as follows:
 
“SP-1” - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  Those issues determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service are given a plus (+) designation.
 
“SP-2” - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
 
“SP-3” - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
 

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Appendix B
W ELLS F ARGO A SSET M ANAGEMENT
P ROXY V OTING P OLICIES AND P ROCEDURES
E FFECTIVE AS OF J ANUARY 1, 2019
 
Wells Fargo Asset Management (“WFAM”) Stewardship
As fiduciaries, we are committed to effective stewardship of the assets we manage on behalf of our clients. To us, good stewardship reflects responsible, active ownership and includes both engaging with investee companies and voting proxies in a manner that we believe will maximize the long-term value of our investments.
 
Scope of Policies and Procedures . These Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies and Procedures”) are used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities held in client accounts managed by WFAM. With respect to client accounts of Funds Management, this includes, among others, Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust, Wells Fargo
Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Global Dividend Opportunity Fund, Wells Fargo Income
Opportunities Fund, Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund, and Wells Fargo Utilities and High Income Fund (the “Trusts”) (hereafter, all series of the Trusts, and all such Trusts not having separate series, are referred to as the “Funds”). In addition, these Policies and Procedures are used to determine how to vote proxies for the assets managed on behalf of WellsCap’s clients. Not all clients delegate proxy-voting authority to WellsCap, however, and WellsCap will not vote proxies, or provide advice to clients on how to vote proxies in the absence of specific delegation of authority, a pre-existing contractual agreement, or an obligation under the applicable law (e.g., securities that are held in an investment advisory account for which WellsCap exercises no investment discretion are not voted by WellsCap).
 
Voting Philosophy . WFAM, comprised of investment advisers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, has adopted these Policies and Procedures to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of clients without regard to any relationship that any affiliated person of the WFAM (or an affiliated person of such affiliated person) may have with the issuer. WFAM exercises its voting responsibility as a fiduciary with the goal of maximizing value to clients consistent with governing laws and the investment policies of each client. While securities are not purchased to exercise control or to seek to effect corporate change through share ownership activism, WFAM supports sound corporate governance practices at companies in which client assets are invested.
 
Proxy Administrator
The proxy voting process is administered by WFAM’s Operations Department (“Proxy Administrator”), who reports to WFAM’s Chief Operations Officer. The Proxy Administrator is responsible for administering and overseeing the proxy voting process to ensure the implementation of the Policies and Procedures, including regular operational reviews, typically conducted on a weekly basis. The Proxy Administrator monitors third party voting of proxies to ensure it is being done in a timely and responsible manner, including review of scheduled vendor reports. The Proxy Administrator in conjunction with the Proxy Committee reviews the continuing appropriateness of the Policies and Procedures set forth herein, and recommends revisions as necessary.
 
Third Party Proxy Voting Vendor . WFAM has retained a third-party proxy voting service, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), to assist in the implementation of certain proxy voting-related functions including: 1.) Providing research on proxy matters 2.) Providing technology to facilitate the sharing of research and discussions related to proxy votes 3.) Vote proxies in accordance with WFAM’s guidelines 4.) Handle administrative and reporting items 5.) Maintain records of proxy statements received in connection with proxy votes and provide copies/analyses upon request. Except in instances where clients have retained voting authority, WFAM retains the responsibility for proxy voting decisions.
 
Proxy Committee and Sub-Committees . The WFAM Proxy Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the proxy voting process to ensure its implementation in conformance with these Policies and Procedures. The WFAM Proxy Committee shall coordinate with Wells Fargo Asset
Management Risk and Compliance to monitor ISS, the proxy voting agent currently retained by WFAM, to determine that ISS is accurately applying the Policies and Procedures as set forth herein and operates as an independent proxy voting agent. WFAM’s ISS Vendor Oversight process includes an assessment of ISS’ Policy and Procedures (“P&P”), including conflict controls and monitoring, receipt and review of routine performance-related reporting by ISS to WFAM and periodic onsite due diligence meetings. Due diligence meetings typically include: meetings with key staff, P&P related presentations and discussions, technology-related demonstrations and assessments, and some sample testing, if appropriate. The WFAM Proxy Committee shall review the continuing appropriateness of the Policies and Procedures set forth herein. The WFAM Proxy Committee may delegate

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certain powers and responsibilities to subcommittees consisting of a “Proxy Voting Sub-Committee” and a “Proxy Governance SubCommittee.”
 
Proxy Voting Sub-Committee . Among other delegated matters, the Proxy Voting SubCommittee, in accordance with these Policies and Procedures, reviews and votes on routine proxy proposals that it considers under these Policies and Procedures in a timely manner. If necessary, the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee escalates issues to the Proxy Governance SubCommittee that are determined to be material by the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee or otherwise in accordance with these Policies and Procedures. The Proxy Voting Sub-Committee coordinates with Wells Fargo Asset Management Risk and Compliance to review the performance and independence of ISS in exercising its proxy voting responsibilities.
 
Proxy Governance Sub-Committee . The Proxy Governance Sub-Committee reviews and, in accordance with these Policies and Procedures, votes on issues that have been escalated from the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee. Members of the Proxy Governance Sub-Committee also oversee the implementation of WFAM Proxy Committee recommendations for the respective functional areas in WFAM that they represent.
 
Meetings; Committee Actions . The WFAM Proxy Committee shall convene or act through written consent, including through the use of electronic systems of record, of a majority of WFAM Proxy Committee members as needed and when discretionary voting determinations need to be considered. Any sub-committee of the WFAM Proxy Committee shall have the authority on matters delegated to it to act by vote or written consent, including through the use of electronic systems of record, of a majority of the sub-committee members available at that time. The WFAM Proxy Committee shall also meet at least annually (each calendar year and within 15 months of the last meeting) to review the Policies and Procedures.
 
Membership . Members are selected based on subject matter expertise for the specific deliverables the committee is required to complete. The voting members of the Proxy Committee are identified in the WFAM Proxy Charter. Changes to the membership of the Proxy Committee will be made only with approval of the WFAM Proxy Committee. Upon departure from Wells Fargo Asset Management, a member’s position on the WFAM Proxy Committee will automatically terminate.
 
Voting Procedures . Unless otherwise required by applicable law, Where provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) specify the manner in which items for any third party registered investment companies (e.g., mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds) and business development companies (as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the 1940 Act) (“Third Party Fund Holding Voting Matters”) held by the Funds, WFAM shall vote the Third Party Fund Holding Voting Matter on behalf of the Fund accordingly. proxies will be voted in accordance with the following steps and in the following order of consideration:
1.
First, any voting items related to WFAM “Top-of-House” voting principles (as described below under the heading “WFAM Proxy Voting Principles/Guidelines”) will generally be voted in accordance with a custom voting policy with ISS (“Custom Policy”) designed to implement the WFAM’s Top-of-House voting principles. The WFAM Proxy Committee may determine that additional review of a Top-of-House voting matter is warranted. For example, voting matters for declassified boards or annual election of directors of public operating and holding companies that have certain long-term business commitments (e.g., developing proprietary technology; or having an important strategic alliance in place) may warrant referral to the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee (or escalation to the Proxy Governance Sub-Committee) for case-by-case review and vote determination.
2.
Second, any voting items for meetings deemed of “high importance” The term “high importance” is defined as those items designated Proxy Level 6, 5, or 4 by ISS, which include proxy contests, mergers, capitalization proposals and anti-takeover defenses. (e.g., proxy contests, mergers and acquisitions, capitalization proposals and anti-takeover proposals) where ISS opposes management recommendations will be referred to the Portfolio Management teams for recommendation or the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee (or escalated to the Proxy Governance Sub-Committee) for case-by-case review and vote determination.
3.
Third, with respect to any voting items where ISS Sustainability Voting Guidelines ISS’s Sustainability Voting Guidelines seeks to promote support for recognized global governing bodies encouraging sustainable business practices advocating for stewardship of environment, fair labor practices, nondiscrimination, and the protection of human rights. provide a different recommendation than ISS Standard Voting Guidelines, the following steps are taken:
a.
The WFAM Portfolio Risk Management and Analytics team (the “PRMA team”) evaluates the matter for materiality and any other relevant considerations.
b.
If the PRMA team recommends further review, the voting item is then referred to the Portfolio Management teams for recommendation or the Proxy Voting SubCommittee (or escalated to the Proxy Governance Sub-Committee) for case-bycase review and vote determination.
c.
If the PRMA team does not recommend further review, the matter is voted in accordance with ISS Standard Voting Guidelines.
4.
Fourth, any remaining proposals are voted in accordance with ISS Standard Voting Guidelines. The voting of proxies for Taft Hartley clients may incorporate the use of ISS’s Taft Hartley voting guidelines.

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Commitment to the Principles of Responsible Investment . As a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment, WFAM has integrated certain environmental, social, and governance factors into its investment processes, which includes the proxy process. As described under Voting Procedures above, WFAM considers ISS’s Sustainability Voting Guidelines as a point of reference in certain cases deemed to be material to a company’s long-term shareholder value.
 
Voting Discretion. In all cases, the Proxy Committee (and any sub-committee thereof) will exercise its voting discretion in accordance with the voting philosophy of these Policies and Procedures. In cases where a proxy item is forwarded by ISS to the Proxy Committee or a subcommittee thereof, the Proxy Committee or its sub-committee may be assisted in its voting decision through receipt of: (i) independent research and voting recommendations provided by ISS or other independent sources; (ii) input from the investment sub-adviser responsible for purchasing the security; and (iii) information provided by company management and shareholder groups.
 
Portfolio Manager and Sub-Adviser Input . The WFAM Proxy Committee may consult with portfolio management teams and Fund sub-advisers on specific proxy voting issues as it deems appropriate. In addition, portfolio management teams or Fund sub-advisers may proactively make recommendations to the Proxy Committee regarding any proxy voting issue. In this regard, the process takes into consideration expressed views of portfolio management teams and Fund sub-advisers given their deep knowledge of investee companies. For any proxy vote, portfolio management teams and Fund sub-advisers may make a case to vote against the ISS or Proxy Committee’s recommendation (which is described under Voting Procedures above). Any portfolio management team’s or Fund sub-adviser’s opinion should be documented in a brief write-up for consideration by the Proxy Voting Committee who will determine, or escalate to the Proxy Governance Committee, the final voting decision.
 
Consistent Voting . Proxies will be voted consistently on the same matter when securities of an issuer are held by WFAM multiple client accounts unless there are special circumstances such as, for example, proposals concerning corporate actions such as mergers, tender offers, and acquisitions or as reasonably necessary to implement a particular mandate specifically applicable to one or more accounts.
 
WFAM Top-of-House Proxy Voting Principles/Guidelines. The following reflects WFAM’s Top-of-House Voting Principles in effect as of the date of these Policies and Procedures. WFAM has put in place a custom voting policy with ISS to implement these voting principles.
 
Boards of Directors . We believe that Boards of Directors should have strong, independent leadership and should adopt structures and practices that enhance their effectiveness. We believe it is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to create, enhance, and protect shareholder value. We recognize that the optimal board size and governance structure can vary by company size, industry, region of operations, and circumstances specific to the company.
We generally vote for the election of Directors in uncontested elections. We reserve the right to vote on a case-by-case basis when directors fail to meet their duties as a board member, such as failing to act in the best economic interest of shareholders; failing to maintain independent audit, compensation, nominating committees; and failing to attend at least 75% of meetings, etc.
We generally vote for an independent board that has a majority of outside directors who are not affiliated with the top executives and have minimal or no business dealings with the company to avoid potential conflicts of interests.
Generally speaking, we believe Directors should sit on no more than 4 public boards at any given time. Directors serving on an excessive number of boards could result in time constraints and an inability to fulfill their duties.
We generally support adopting a declassified board structure for public operating and holding companies. We reserve the right to vote on a case-by-case basis when companies have certain long-term business commitments.
We generally support annual election of directors of public operating and holding companies. We reserve the right to vote on a case-by-case basis when companies have certain long-term business commitments.
 
Fund Voting Reporting Coordination . Voting decisions made by the WFAM Proxy Committee on behalf of the Funds will be reported to ISS to ensure that votes are registered in a timely manner and included in Form N-PX reporting.
 
Practical Limitations to Proxy Voting . While WFAM uses its reasonable best efforts to vote proxies, in certain circumstances, it may be impractical or impossible for WFAM to vote proxies (e.g., limited value or unjustifiable costs).
 
Securities on Loan . As a general matter, securities on loan will not be recalled to facilitate proxy voting (in which case the borrower of the security shall be entitled to vote the proxy). However, as it relates to portfolio holdings of the Funds, if the WFAM Proxy Committee is aware of an item in time to recall the security and has determined in good faith that the importance of the matter to be voted upon outweighs the loss in lending revenue that would result from recalling the security (e.g., if there is a controversial upcoming merger or acquisition, or some other significant matter), the security will be recalled for voting.

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Share Blocking. Proxy voting in certain countries requires ‘share blocking’. Shareholders wishing to vote their proxies must deposit their shares with a designated depositary before the date of the meeting. Consequently, the shares may not be sold in the period preceding the proxy vote. Absent compelling reasons, WFAM believes that the benefit derived from voting these shares is outweighed by the burden of limited trading. Therefore, if share blocking is required in certain markets, WFAM will not participate and refrain from voting proxies for those clients impacted by share blocking.
 
Conflicts of Interest . WFAM may have a conflict of interest regarding a proxy to be voted upon if, for example, WFAM or its affiliates have other relationships with the issuer of the proxy. In most instances, conflicts of interest are avoided through a strict and objective application of the voting guidelines. However, when the Proxy Administrator is aware of a material conflict of interest regarding a matter that would otherwise require a vote by the Proxy Committee or that, in the determination of the Proxy Committee, otherwise warrants the taking of additional steps to mitigate the conflict, the Proxy Committee or the Proxy Administrator shall address the material conflict by using any of the following methods:
 
1.
Instructing ISS to vote in accordance with the recommendation ISS makes to its clients;
2.
With respect to any matters involving a portfolio holding of the Funds, disclosing the conflict to the Board of the Funds and obtaining its consent before voting with respect to shares held by the Funds;
3.
With respect to any matters involving a portfolio holding of the Funds, submitting the matter to the Board of the Funds to exercise its authority to vote on such matter with respect to shares held by the Funds;
4.
Engaging an independent fiduciary who will direct the Proxy Committee how to vote on such matter following consultation with the Board of the Funds if the conflict pertains to a matter involving a portfolio holding of the Funds;
5.
Consulting with outside legal counsel for guidance on resolution of the conflict of interest;
6.
Erecting information barriers around the person or persons making voting decisions following consultation with the Board of the Funds if the conflict pertains to a matter involving a portfolio holding of the Funds;
7.
Voting in proportion to other shareholders (“mirror voting”) following consultation with the Board of the Funds if the conflict pertains to a matter involving a portfolio holding of the Funds; or
8.
Voting in other ways that are consistent with WFAM’s obligation to vote in the best interests of its shareholders.
 
The Proxy Committee will not permit its votes to be influenced by any conflict of interest that exists for any other affiliated person of WFAM (such as a sub-adviser or principal underwriter) or any affiliated persons of such affiliated persons and the Proxy Committee will vote all such matters without regard to the conflict.
 
Vendor Oversight : The WFAM Proxy Administrator monitors the ISS proxy process against specific criteria in order to identify potential issues relating to account reconciliation, unknown and rejected ballot reviews, upcoming proxy reviews, share reconciliation oversight, etc.

III.      Other Provisions
Policy Review and Ad Hoc Meetings
The Proxy Governance Committee meets at least annually to review this Policy and consider any appropriate changes. Meetings may be convened more frequently (for example, to discuss a specific proxy agenda or proposal) as requested by the Manager of Proxy Administration, any member of the Proxy Committee, or WFAM’s Chief Compliance Officer. The Proxy Committee includes representation from Portfolio Management, Operations, Portfolio Risk Management and Analytics and, in a non-voting consultative capacity, Compliance.
Records Retention
The WFAM Proxy Administrator will maintain the following records relating to the implementation of the Policies and Procedures:
A copy of these proxy voting policies and procedures;
Proxy statements received for client securities (which will be satisfied by relying on ISS);
Records of votes cast on behalf of Funds and separate account clients (which ISS maintains on behalf of WFAM);
Records of each written client request for proxy voting records and WFAM’s written response to any client request (written or oral) for such records; and
Any documents prepared by WFAM or ISS that were material to making a proxy voting decision.
 
Such proxy voting books and records shall be maintained at an office of WFAM in an easily accessible place for a period of six years.
Disclosure of Policies and Procedures
WFAM will disclose to its separate clients a summary description of its proxy voting policy and procedures via mail. A summary of the proxy voting policy and procedures will be disclosed in the registration statements for the open-end Trusts. A detailed copy of the policy and procedures will be provided to clients upon request by calling 1-800-736-2316.
 

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WFAM will also provide to clients proxy statements and any records as to how WFAM voted proxies on behalf its client upon request. Clients may contact their relationship manager for assistance, or call WFAM at 1-800-259-3305 or by e-mail at wellscapclientadmin@wellsfargo.com to request a record of proxies voted on their behalf.
 
Except as otherwise required by law, WFAM has a general policy of not disclosing to any issuer or third party how its separate account client proxies are voted.
 
Approved by the Proxy Committee: December, 2018


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Appendix B
Wilshire Funds Management Proxy Voting Policy
 
Wilshire Funds Management (“WFM”), a division of Wilshire Associates Incorporated, votes proxies for each client that has specifically authorized us to vote them in the investment management contract. These policies and procedures are intended to fulfill WFM’s obligations in accordance with Rule 206(4)-6 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Act”), to vote client securities in the best interest of clients.
 
I.                 POLICY
 
When voting proxies for securities directly held by a client, WFM will attempt to consider all factors reasonably believed to be relevant which could affect the value of the investments and will vote proxies in the manner that it believes is consistent with efforts to maximize shareholder value.
 
Attached to this policy as Appendix A are Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Guidelines”) that WFM will use when voting proxies. The Guidelines seek to ensure WFM fulfills its duty of care and loyalty to clients when voting proxies.
 
1.
Duty of Care
 
WFM’s proxy policy mandates the monitoring of corporate events and the voting of client proxies. However, there may be occasions when WFM determines that not voting a proxy may be in the best interests of its clients; for example, when the cost of voting the proxy exceeds the expected benefit to the client. There may also be times when clients have instructed WFM not to vote proxies or direct WFM to vote proxies in a certain manner. WFM will maintain written instructions from clients with respect to directed proxy votes.
 
2.
Duty of Loyalty
 
WFM will ensure proxy votes are cast in a manner consistent with the best interests of the client. WFM will use the following process to address conflicts of interest: a) identify potential conflicts of interest; b) determine which conflicts, if any, are material; and c) establish procedures to ensure that WFM’s voting decisions are based on the best interests of clients and are not a product of the conflict.
 
a.
Identify Potential Conflicts of Interest
 
Conflicts of interest may occur due to business, personal or family relationships. Potential conflicts may include votes affecting WFM or Wilshire Associates Incorporated.
 
b.
Determine which Conflicts are Material
 
A “material” conflict is one that is reasonably likely to be viewed as important by the average shareholder. For example, an issue may not be viewed as material unless it has the potential to affect at least 1% of an adviser’s annual revenue.
 
c.
Establish Procedures to Address Material Conflicts.
 
WFM has established multiple methods to address voting items it has identified as those in which it may have a material conflict of interest.
 
i.
Use an independent third party to recommend how a proxy presenting a conflict should be voted or authorize the third party to vote the proxy.
 
ii.
Refer the proposal to the client and obtain the client’s instruction on how to vote.
 
iii.
Disclose the conflict to the client and obtain the client’s consent to WFM’s vote.





B-6




3.
Proxy Referrals

For securities held within an account whose strategy either involves passive management or whose stock selection is based solely upon quantitative analysis and/or does not involve fundamental analysis of the issuer, proxies will be referred to a third party proxy service for voting in accordance with their policies and guidelines.


4.
WFM may have different voting policies and procedures for different clients and may vote proxies of different clients differently, if appropriate in the fulfillment of its duties.
 

II.            DOCUMENTATION
 
WFM shall maintain the following types of records relating to proxy voting:
 
1.
Wilshire Funds Management Proxy Voting Policy and all amendments thereto
 
2.
Proxy statements received for client securities. WFM may rely on proxy statements filed on EDGAR instead of keeping copies or, if applicable, rely on statements maintained by a proxy voting service provided that WFM has obtained an undertaking from the service that it will provide a copy of the statements promptly upon request.
 
3.
Records of votes cast on behalf of clients.
 
4.
Any document prepared by WFM that is material to making a proxy voting decision or that memorialized the basis for that decision.
 
Such records shall be maintained for the period of time specified in Rule 204-2 of the Act. To the extent that WFM is authorized to vote proxies for a United States Registered Investment Company, WFM shall maintain such records as are necessary to allow such fund to comply with its recordkeeping, reporting and disclosure obligations under applicable laws, rules and regulations.

B-7



Wilshire Funds Management Proxy Voting Policy
 
Appendix A of the Proxy Voting Guidelines
 
The following guidelines, which may be amended from time to time, will be used when deciding how to vote proxies on behalf of clients. These guidelines may be superseded in accordance with WFM’s duty to act in the best interest of the client.
 
A.
Election of Directors
 
a.
We generally vote for all director nominees, except in situations where there is a potential conflict of interest, including but not limited to the nomination of a director who also serves on the compensation committee, audit committee or other relevant committee of the company’s board.
 
B.
Auditors
 
a.
Ratifying Auditors — we generally vote in favor for such proposals, unless the auditor is affiliated or has a financial interest in the company.
 
b.
Financial Statements & Auditor Reports — we generally vote in favor of approving financial and auditor reports.
 
c.
Compensation — we generally vote in favor for such proposals.
 
d.
Indemnification — we vote against indemnification of auditors.
 
C.
Executive & Director Compensation
 
a.
We generally vote in favor for such proposals.
 
D.
Miscellaneous and Non-Routine matters
 
a.
We vote miscellaneous proposals on a case-by-case basis, in the best interest of shareholders.
 



















TSF-54CC-TST-SAI-1904




B-8



PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28.   Exhibits:

(a)(1)
 
Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 19, 1993 and Amendment No. 1 dated May 24, 1994, Amendment No. 2 dated February 28, 1997 and Amendment No. 3 dated August 11, 1997, are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 36 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 002-80859), filed with the SEC on July 31, 1998.
 
 
 
(a)(2)
 
Amendment No. 4 to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated February 12, 1998 and Amendments to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 16, 2000 and April 6, 2000 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 002-80859), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2000.

 
 
 
(a)(3)
 
Amendments to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 21, 2000 and March 27, 2001 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2001.
 
 
 
(a)(4)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 28, 2002 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on September 6, 2002.
 
 
 
(a)(5)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated November 7, 2002 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2003.
 
 
 
(a)(6)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 14, 2004 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 30, 2004.
 
 
 
(a)(7)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 3, 2006 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 1, 2006.
 
 
 
(a)(8)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 30, 2004 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009.
 
 
 
(a)(9)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated February 22, 2006 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009.
 
 
 
(a)(10)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 15, 2006 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009.
 
 
 
(a)(11)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 22, 2007 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on February 2, 2009.
  
(a)(12)
 
Amendments to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1)(l) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on November 30, 2011.
 
 
 
(a)(13)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012.
 
 
 

1



(a)(14)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 31, 2013 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 22, 2014.
 
 
 
(a)(15)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated July 9, 2014 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 9, 2014.
 
 
 
(a)(16)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 19, 2016 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 137 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 28, 2016.
 
 
 
(a)(17)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated November 17, 2016 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 152 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2017.
 
 
 
(a)(18)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 18, 2017 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 154 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 6, 2017.
 
 
 
(a)(19)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated June 29, 2017 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(18) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 154 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 6, 2017.
 
 
 
(a)(20)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 17, 2018 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(20) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 29, 2018.
 
 
 
(a)(21)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 16, 2018 is filed herewith.
 
 
 
(a)(22)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 16, 2018 is filed herewith.
 
 
 
(b)
 
Amended and Restated By-Laws dated November 19, 2015 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 133 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016.
 
 
 
(c)
 
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012.
 
 
 
(d)(1)(i)
 
Advisory Agreement with Touchstone Advisors, Inc. dated May 1, 2000, is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2007.
 
 
 
(d)(1)(ii)
 
Amended Schedule 1 dated February 16, 2018 to the Advisory Agreement dated May 1, 2000 between the Registrant and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 29, 2018.
 
 
 
(d)(1)(iii)
 
Amendment to the Advisory Agreement with Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(c) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012.
 
 
 
(d)(2)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated May 15, 2008 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. with respect to the Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2008.
 
 
 

2



(d)(3)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 12, 2010 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. with respect to the Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2010.
 
 
 
(d)(4)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC with respect to the Touchstone Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(n) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012.
(d)(5)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Copper Rock Capital Partners, LLC with respect to the Touchstone International Small Cap Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(o) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012.
 
 
 
(d)(6)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 16, 2012 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Focused Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (6)(s) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012.
 
 
 
(d)(7)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated November 30, 2018 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Bramshill Investments LLC with respect to the Touchstone Flexible Income Fund is filed herewith.
 
 
 
(d)(8)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated April 23, 2014 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Sands Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 23, 2014.
 
 
 
(d)(9)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated July 9, 2014 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company with respect to the Touchstone Large Cap Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 9, 2014.
 
 
 
(d)(10)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated March 1, 2018 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Rockefeller & Co. LLC with respect to the Touchstone Sustainability and Impact Equity Fund (formerly the Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund) is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(12)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 29, 2018.
  
(d)(11)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated August 31, 2015 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Ares Capital Management II, LLC with respect to the Touchstone Credit Opportunities Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 31, 2015.
 
 
 
(d)(12)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated November 23, 2015 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Wilshire Associates Incorporated with respect to the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund, and Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on November 24, 2015.
 
 
 
(d)(13)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated August 15, 2016 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and DSM Capital Partners LLC with respect to the Touchstone International Growth Opportunities Fund are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(19) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), both filed with the SEC on August 15, 2016.
 
 
 

3



(d)(14)
 
Amendment to Sub-Advisory Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and DSM Capital Partners LLC with respect to Touchstone International Growth Opportunities Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 29, 2018.
 
 
 
(d)(15)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated August 15, 2016 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and DSM Capital Partners LLC with respect to the Touchstone Large Company Growth Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(19) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 139 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), both filed with the SEC on August 14, 2016.
 
 
 
(d)(16)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated December 16 2016 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(20) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 162 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 26, 2017.
 
 
 
(d)(17)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated October 28, 2017 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Balanced Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(22) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 178 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 28, 2018.
 
 
 
(d)(18)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated October 28, 2017 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Touchstone International Equity Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(22) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 178 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 28, 2018.
 
 
 
(d)(19)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated October 28, 2017 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Large Cap Focused Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(22) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 178 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 28, 2018.
 
 
 
(d)(20)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated October 28, 2017 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Touchstone Small Company Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(22) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 178 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 28, 2018.
 
 
 
(d)(21)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated November 1, 2018 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Wells Capital Management, Inc. with respect to Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund is filed herewith.
 
 
 
(e)(1)
 
Distribution Agreement with Touchstone Securities, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2001.
 
 
 
(e)(2)
 
Form of Underwriter’s Dealer Agreement is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on September 10, 2004.
 
 
 
(f)
 
Touchstone Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (f) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 29, 2009.
 
 
 
(g)(1)
 
Custodian Agreement with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2008.
 
 
 

4



(g)(2)
 
Amended Schedule of Global Services & Charges to the Custodian Agreement dated February 1, 2013 between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 28, 2017.

 
 
 
(h)(1)
 
Recordkeeping Agreement is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(vii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 5, 2004.
 
 
 
(h)(2)
 
Amended Administration Agreement with Touchstone Advisors, Inc. dated January 1, 2007 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2007.
 
 
 
(h)(3)
 
Amended Schedule, dated January 1, 2015, to the Administration Agreement with Touchstone Advisors, Inc., dated February 17, 2006, as amended January 1, 2007, is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 24, 2015.
 
 
 
(h)(4)
 
Amended and Restated Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. dated January 1, 2015 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 5, 2015.
 
 
 
(h)(5)
 
Amended and Restated Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. dated January 1, 2015 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 5, 2015.
 
 
 
(h)(6)(i)
 
State Filing Services Agreement between the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., dated December 5, 2011 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012.
 
 
 
(h)(6)(ii)
 
Amended and Restated Schedule A to the State Filing Services Agreement between the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (13)(h) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-177597), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012.
 
 
 
(h)(6)(iii)
 
Amended and Restated Schedule A dated September 6, 2012 to the State Filing Services Agreement dated December 5, 2011 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (13)(o) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-182177), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2012.
 
 
 
(h)(7)
 
Allocation Agreement for Allocation of Fidelity Bond Proceeds is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012.
 
 
 
(h)(8)(i)
 
Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between the Registrant and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 22, 2014.
 
 
 
(h)(8)(ii)
 
Amended Schedule A dated July 30, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between the Registrant and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 189 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 27, 2018.
 
 
 

5



(h)(8)(iii)
 
Amended Schedule B dated October 30, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between the Registrant and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 29, 2018.

 
 
 
(h)(8)(iv)
 
Amended Schedule C, dated April 30, 2019, to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between the Registrant and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is filed herewith.
 
 
 
(h)(8)(v)
 
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between the Registrant and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(8)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 31, 2015.
 
 
 
(h)(8)(vi)
 
Amendment dated August 31, 2017 to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between the Registrant and Touchstone Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)8)(vi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 182 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2018.
 
 
 
(h)(9)
 
Securities Lending Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. dated February 1, 2013 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 25, 2013.
 
 
 
(h)(10)
 
Interfund Lending Agreement dated December 15, 2017 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 29, 2018.
 
 
 
(h)(11)
 
Amended & Restated Class Action Services Agreement dated February 16, 2018 between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(12) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 29, 2018.
 
 
 
(i)
 
Not applicable.
 
 
 
(j)
 
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP is filed herewith.

 
 
 
(k)
 
Not applicable.
 
 
 
(l)
 
Copy of Letter of Initial Stockholder, which was filed as an Exhibit to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1, is hereby incorporated by reference.
 
 
 
(m)(1)
 
Registrant’s Plans of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class A shares and Class C shares are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2000.
 
 
 
(m)(2)
 
Registrant’s Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class B shares is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 1, 2001.
 
 
 
(m)(3)
 
Registrant’s Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class A shares with respect to the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund, Touchstone Flexible Income Fund, Touchstone Focused Fund, Touchstone International Equity Fund, Touchstone International Small Cap Fund, and Touchstone Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012.
 
 
 
(m)(4)
 
Registrant’s Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class C shares with respect to the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund, Touchstone Flexible Income Fund, Touchstone Focused Fund, Touchstone International Equity Fund, Touchstone International Small Cap Fund, and Touchstone Value Fund is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012.
 
 
 
(m)(5)
 
Registrant’s Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class T shares to be filed by amendment.
 
 
 
(n)(1)
 
Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan dated January 1, 2019 is filed herewith.
 
 
 
(n)(2)
 
Amended Schedule A dated November 16, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan is filed herewith.

 
 
 
(o)
 
Reserved.
 
 
 
(p)(1)
 
Code of Ethics for Touchstone Advisors, Inc., the Registrant and Touchstone Securities, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 24, 2015.
 
 
 
(p)(2)
 
Code of Ethics for Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on October 29, 2018.
 
 
 
(p)(3)
 
Code of Ethics for Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 29, 2013.

6



 

7



 
 
 
(p)(4)
 
Code of Ethics for Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2012.
 
 
 
(p)(5)
 
Code of Ethics for Copper Rock Capital Partners, LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 10, 2012.
 
 
 
(p)(6)
 
Code of Ethics for Sands Capital Management, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on July 28, 2015.
 
 
 
(p)(7)
 
Code of Ethics for London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 033-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 25, 2014.
 
 
 
(p)(8)
 
Code of Ethics for Rockefeller & Co., Inc. is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on March 5, 2015.

 
 
 
(p)(9)
 
Code of Ethics for Ares Capital Management II, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 120 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2015.
 
 
 
(p)(10)
 
Code of Ethics for Wilshire Associates Incorporated is filed herewith.
.
 
 
 
(p)(11)
 
Code of Ethics for DSM Capital Partners LLC is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on August 15, 2016.
 
 
 
(p)(12)
 
Code of Ethics for Wells Capital Management is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 152 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on April 27, 2017.
 
 
 
(q)
 
Power of Attorney is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit (q) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 002-80859 and 811-03651), filed with the SEC on September 30, 2016.

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Registrant
 
None.
 

8



Item 30. Indemnification
 
(a)  Article VI of the Registrant’s Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification of officers and Trustees as follows:

Section 6.4 Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc.
 
The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers, including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, and except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office (“disabling conduct”).  Anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, no Covered Person shall be indemnified for any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject unless (1) a final decision on the merits is made by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Covered Person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of disabling conduct or, (2) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination is made, based upon a review of the facts, that the Covered Person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct, by (a) the vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither “interested persons” of the Company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended nor parties to the proceeding (“disinterested, non-party Trustees”), or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
 
Section 6.5 Advances of Expenses.
 
The Trust shall advance attorneys’ fees or other expenses incurred by a Covered Person in defending a proceeding, upon the undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person to repay the advance unless it is ultimately determined that such Covered Person is entitled to indemnification, so long as one of the following conditions is met: (i) the Covered Person shall provide security for his undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the disinterested non-party Trustees of the Trust, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
 
Section 6.6 Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc.
 
The right of indemnification provided by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled.  As used in this Article VI, “Covered Person” shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators, an “interested Covered Person” is one against whom the action, suit or other proceeding in question or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or threatened, and a “disinterested” person is a person against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending or threatened.  Nothing contained in this article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees and officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.
 
(b)  The Registrant maintains a mutual fund and investment advisory professional and directors and officer’s liability policy.  The policy provides coverage to the Registrant, its trustees and officers and includes losses by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.  The Registrant may not pay for insurance that protects the Trustees and officers against liabilities arising from action involving willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of their offices.
 
The advisory agreements and the sub-advisory agreements provide that Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (or a sub-advisor) shall not be liable for any act or omission in the course of rendering services, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence or reckless disregard by Touchstone (or a sub-advisor) of its obligations under the agreement.
 

9



Item 31.   Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser
 
A.
TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC. (the “Advisor”) is a registered investment advisor that provides investment advisory services to the Touchstone Fund Complex. The following list sets forth the business and other connections of the directors and executive officers of the Advisor.  Unless otherwise noted, the address of the corporations listed below is 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

*The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
 
(1)
Jill T. McGruder — CEO and Director Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
(a)
President and Chief Executive Officer — IFS Financial Services, Inc.

(b)
President and Chief Executive Officer — Integrity Life Insurance Co.

(c)
President and Chief Executive Officer — National Integrity Life Insurance Co.

(d)
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer - Cincinnati Analysts, Inc.

(e)
Trustee and President — Touchstone Fund Complex

(f)
Senior Vice President — Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*

(g)
Senior Vice President — W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*

(h)
Director and Chief Executive Officer — Touchstone Securities, Inc.

(i)
Director — Western & Southern Financial Group*, Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., IFS Financial Services, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*, LaRosa’s, Inc. (2334 Boudinot Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45238)

(2)
Donald J. Wuebbling — Director - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
(a)
Director — Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Company,* National Integrity Life Insurance Company,* Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, IFS Financial Services, Inc., Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*, Columbus Life Insurance Company
 
(3)
James J. Vance — Senior Vice President and Treasurer - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
(a)
Vice President and Treasurer — The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company*, IFS Financial Services, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, Columbus Life Insurance Company*, Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company

(b)
Treasurer — Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*, Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC, Insurance Profillment Solutions*, Tristate Ventures, LLC*, Touchstone Securities, Inc., Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
 
(4)
Terrie A. Wiedenheft — Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.

(a)
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer - IFS Financial Services, Inc. 

(b)
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*

(c)
Chief Financial Officer - Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., Touchstone Securities, Inc.

(d)
Senior Vice President - Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. 


10



(e)
Vice President, Commission Accounting and Finance - Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company 

(f)
Treasurer and Controller - Touchstone Fund Complex
 
(5)
James N. Clark — Director - Touchstone Advisors, Inc.Vice President, Director and Secretary — Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company*, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*, Western & Southern Life Assurance Company*

(b)
Director — Columbus Life Insurance Company*, Eagle Realty Group, LLC*, Eagle Realty Investments, Inc.*, Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc.*, Cincinnati Analysts, Inc., IFS Financial Services, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company*

(6)
Sarah S. Herron — Secretary — Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
(a)
Secretary — Touchstone Securities, Inc.,

(b)
Corporate Secretary — W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*

(c)
Senior Counsel — Securities — Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc.*
 
(7)
Steven M. Graziano — President — Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
(a)
Vice President — Touchstone Fund Complex 

(b)
President — Touchstone Securities, Inc.
 
(8)
Timothy S. Stearns — Chief Compliance Officer — Touchstone Advisors, Inc., Touchstone Fund Complex, W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.*
 
(9)
Timothy D. Paulin — Senior Vice President, Investment Research and Product Management — Touchstone Advisors, Inc.

(a)
Vice President — Touchstone Fund Complex

(10) Daniel R. Larson — Vice President — Touchstone Advisors, Inc.

(a) Vice President — Touchstone Securities, Inc.

 
B.
FORT WASHINGTON INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC. (“Fort Washington”) is a registered investment adviser that provides sub-advisory services to the Funds. Fort Washington serves as the Sub-Advisor to the Touchstone Focused Fund, Touchstone Balanced Fund, Touchstone International Equity Fund, Touchstone Large Cap Focused Fund, Touchstone Small Company Fund, Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Fund and certain series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust. Fort Washington also provides investment advice to institutional and individual clients.  The address of Fort Washington is 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
 
The following list sets forth the business and other connections of the directors and executive officers of Fort Washington.

*The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

(1)    Maribeth S. Rahe, President & Chief Executive Officer

(a)  Board Member, Executive/Foundation Committee of Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber; Leadership Development, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce; Life Trustee, New York Landmarks Conservancy; Life Trustee, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center; Board Member, Consolidated Communications Illinois Holdings Inc.; Chair, Audit Committee, Consolidated Communications Illinois Holdings, Inc.; Member, Nominating/Governance and Compensation Committees, Consolidated Communications Illinois Holdings, Inc.; Vice Chairman, Executive/Finance Committee, Cincinnati Arts Association; Advisory Board, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur; Advisory Board, Williams College of Business, Xavier University; Advisory Board, CincyTech USA; Member, Partner-In-Action; Investment

11



Committee, United Way of Cincinnati; Board Member, First Financial Bank; Member, Audit/Trust/M&A Committees, First Financial Bank; Executive Committee, Commonwealth Club

(b)   President & CEO of Tristate Ventures, LLC*

(c)   President, Buckeye Venture Partners, LLC

(d)    Director, Eagle Realty Group, Eagle Realty Investments

(e)    President, W&S Investment Holdings, LLC

(f)   Manager, President & CEO, Peppertree Partners, LLC

(g)   Director, Chairman of the Board - Cincinnati Analysts, Inc.

(h)    President & CEO of Fort Washington Capital Partners, LLC

(2)     Nicholas P. Sargen, Director, Chief Economist

(a)  Senior Vice President, Chief Economist & Senior Investment Advisor, Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc., Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company

(b)   Board of Trustees & Treasurer, Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation

(c)   Advisory Board, Xavier Department of Economics

(3)     John F. Barrett, Director

(a)   Chairman of Board & CEO, The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc., Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company

(b)   Director & Chairman, Columbus Life Insurance Company, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company

(c)    Director, Eagle Realty Group, Eagle Realty Investments

(d)    President & Trustee, Western & Southern Financial Fund

(e)    Board Member, Convergys Corp, Cintas Corporation

(f)     Director, American Council of Life Insurers; Director, Financial Services Roundtable; Board Member, Americans for the Arts; Member & Executive Committee, Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation; Board of Governors, Cincinnati USA Partnership for Economic Development; Member, Cincinnati Business Committee; Co-Chairman, Greater Cincinnati Scholarship Association; Member, Cincinnati Equity Fund; Honorary Trustee, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation; Chairman, Medical Center Fund, UC; Advisory Board, Barrett Cancer Center; Vice Chairman, UC Foundation Capital Campaign; Honorary Chairman, UC Presidential Bicentennial Commission

(4)    Brendan M. White, Senior Vice President Co-Chief Investment Officer

(5)   
Roger M. Lanham, Senior Vice President, Co-Chief Investment Officer

(6)        Michele Hawkins, Chief Compliance Officer & Managing Director

(a)    Advisory Board Member, Xavier University Cintas Institute for Business Ethics & Social Responsibility

(b)    Chief Compliance Officer, Peppertree Partners, LLC

(7)          James J. Vance, Treasurer - See biography above

12




(8)  
Martin W. Flesher, Managing Director of Business Development and Sales

(9)         Jonathan D. Niemeyer, Director

(a)     Board of Directors, The Pro Foundation Inc., Board of Advisors, David Pollack’s Empower Foundation

(b)     Sr. Vice President & General Counsel, Columbus Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company, The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc., Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company

(c)    Assistant Secretary, Peppertree Partners, LLC

(d)    Secretary, W&S Investment Holdings, LLC

(e)     Director, Insurance Profillment Solutions, LLC

(f)     Board Member, Association of Life Insurance Counsel

(10)       Donald J.  Wuebbling, Director

(a)     Secretary & Counsel, The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western- Southern Life Assurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc., Western & Southern Mutual Holding Company, Columbus Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company

(b)    Director, Touchstone Advisors, Inc., Touchstone Securities, Inc., W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc., IFS Financial Services, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Company, W&S Brokerage Services, Inc., Eagle Realty Group, Eagle Realty Investments, Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Agency, Inc.

(11)       Eric J. Walzer, Vice President , Investment Operations

(12) David T. Henderson, Chief Risk Officer

(13) Jeffrey L. Stainton, Secretary

(14) Gerald J. Ulland, Chief Financial Officer
 
 
C.    Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P. (“Westfield”) is a registered investment advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund and Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund.  The address of Westfield is One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111.  The following are executive officers and directors of Westfield:
 
Westfield is 100% employee owned. Strategic business decisions are managed and controlled by an executive management committee composed of William A. Muggia, Morton L. Fearey, II, Hamlen Thompson, Bruce Jacobs, Richard Lee, Robert Flores, Ethan Meyers and John Montgomery.
 
D.     Wells Capital Management, Inc. (“Wells Capital”) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Strategic Trust.  The address of Wells Capital is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105.
 
The directors and officers of Wells Capital are provided on Wells Capital’s most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 104973; SEC File No. 801-21122, which is incorporated herein by reference.  No director or officer of Wells Capital has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.

E.     Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss LLC (“Barrow Hanley”) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Value Fund.  The address of Barrow Hanley is 2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor Dallas, TX 75201.

13



 
The directors and officers of Barrow Hanley are provided on Barrow Hanley’s most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 105519; SEC File No. 801-31237), which is incorporated herein by reference.  The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Barrow Hanley’s directors and officers is with Barrow Hanley and its affiliated companies.
 
F.    Copper Rock Capital Partners LLC (“Copper Rock”) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone International Small Cap Fund and certain series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust.  The address of Copper Rock is 200 Clarendon Street, 51st Floor Boston, MA 02116.
 
The directors and officers of Copper Rock are provided on Copper Rock’s most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 134176; SEC File No. 801-63900), which is incorporated herein by reference.  The only employment of a substantial nature of each of Copper Rock’s directors and officers is with Copper Rock and its affiliated companies.
 
G.     Bramshill Investments, LLC (“Bramshill”), is a registered investment advisor that serves as the sub-advisor to the Flexible Income Fund. The address of Bramshill is 411 Hackensack Avenue, 9th Floor, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601.
 
The directors and officers of Bramshill are provided on Bramshill’s most recently filed Schedule A of Form ADV (IARD No. 162492; SEC File No. 801-74578), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 
H.    Sands Capital Management, LLC (“Sands Capital”) is a registered investment advisor that provides sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund, certain series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, and Touchstone Institutional Funds Trust.  The Address of Sands Capital is 1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 2300, Arlington, VA 22209.  No director, officer, or partner of Sands Capital has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
 
I.    London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company (“TLC”) is a registered investment advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Large Cap Fund, certain series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust, and Touchstone Variable Series Trust. The address of TLC is 1800 Bayberry Court, Suite 301, Richmond, Virginia, 23226. No director, officer or partner of TLC has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
 
J.    Rockefeller & Co., LLC (“Rockefeller”) is a registered investment advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Sustainability and Impact Equity Fund. The address of Rockefeller is 10 Rockefeller Plaza, Third Floor, New York, New York 10020. No director, officer or partner of Rockefeller has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
 
K.    Ares Capital Management II, LLC (“Ares”) is a registered investment advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Credit Opportunities Fund.  The address of Ares is 525 Market Street, 12 th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. No director, officer or partner of Ares has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.
 
L.    Wilshire Associates Incorporated (“Wilshire”) is a registered investment advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund, the Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund, and the Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund and certain series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust. The address of Wilshire is 1299 Ocean Avenue Suite 700, Santa Monica, CA 90401. No director, officer or partner of Wilshire has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.

M.    DSM Capital Partners LLC ("DSM") is a registered investment advisor providing sub-advisory services to the Touchstone International Growth Opportunities Fund and the Touchstone Large Company Growth Fund. The address of DSM is 7111 Fairway Drive, Suite 350, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418. No director, officer or partner of DSM has been engaged in any other business or profession of a substantial nature during the past two fiscal years.


Item 32.       Principal Underwriters
 
 
(a)
Touchstone Securities, Inc. acts as underwriter for the Touchstone Fund Complex.

(b)
Unless otherwise noted, the address of the persons named below is 303 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.


14



*The address is 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
 
 
POSITION WITH
 
POSITION WITH
NAME
 
UNDERWRITER
 
REGISTRANT
Steven M. Graziano
 
President
 
Vice President
Jill T. McGruder
 
Director & CEO
 
Trustee and President
James N. Clark*
 
Director
 
None
Donald J. Wuebbling*
 
Director
 
None
Daniel L. Larson
 
Vice President
 
None
James J. Vance*
 
Treasurer
 
None
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
Controller and Treasurer
Thomas A. Shoemake
 
Chief Compliance Officer
 
None
Sarah S. Herron
 
Secretary
 
None
Sharon L. Karp
 
Vice President
 
None
Kathleen A. Cornelius
 
AVP and Assistant Treasurer
 
None
Jay V. Johnson
 
AVP and Assistant Treasurer
 
None
John S. Musgrove
 
AVP and Assistant Treasurer
 
None
Timothy D. Speed
 
Assistant Treasurer
 
None
Cheryl J. Stotts
 
Assistant Treasurer
 
None
 
 
(c)
None

Item 33.       Location of Accounts and Records
 
Books or other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and the rules promulgated thereunder, are maintained as follows:
 
(a)   With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1); (2)(a) and (b); (3); (6); (8); (12); and 31a-1(d), the required books and records will be maintained at the offices of Registrant’s Custodian:
 
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
40 Water Street
Boston, MA 02109
 
(b)   With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1), (4); (2)(C) and (D); (4); (5); (6); (8); (9); (10); (11); and 31a-1(f), the required books and records are maintained at the offices of the Registrant’s Administrator and Sub-Administrator.
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202
 
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
 
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
201 Washington Street, 34th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
 
(c)  With respect to Rules 31a-1(b)(5), (6), (9) and (10) and 31a-1(f), the required books and records are maintained at the principal offices of the Registrant’s investment advisors:
 

15



All Funds:
 
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202
 
Touchstone Focused Fund, Touchstone Balanced Fund, Touchstone International Equity Fund, Touchstone Large Cap Focused Fund, Touchstone Small Company Fund and Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway, Suite 1200
Cincinnati, OH 45202
 
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund and Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund
Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02111
 
Touchstone Large Cap Fund
London Company of Virginia d/b/a The London Company (“TLC”)
1801 Bayberry Court, Suite 301
Richmond, VA 23226
 
Touchstone Sustainability and Impact Equity Fund
Rockefeller & Co., Inc.
10 Rockefeller Plaza, Third Floor
New York, NY 10020
 
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund
Wells Capital Management, Inc.
525 Market Street, 12th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
 
Touchstone Value Fund
Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss LLC
2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor
Dallas, TX 75201
 
Touchstone International Small Cap Fund
Copper Rock Capital Partner LLC
200 Clarendon Street, 51st Floor
Boston, MA 02116
 
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund, and Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
Wilshire Associates Incorporated
1299 Ocean Avenue, Suite 700
Santa Monica, CA 90401
 
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund
Bramshill Investments, LLC
411 Hackensack Avenue, 9th Floor
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
 
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund
Sands Capital Management, LLC
1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 2300
Arlington, VA 22209

16




 Touchstone Credit Opportunities Fund
Ares Capital Management II, LLC
2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Touchstone Large Company Growth Fund and Touchstone Touchstone International Growth Opportunities Fund
DSM Capital Partners LLC
7111 Fairway Drive
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

Item 34.       Management Services Not Discussed in Part A or Part B
 
None.
 
Item 35.       Undertakings
 
None.

17



SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 197 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, on April 29, 2019.

 
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Jill T. McGruder
 
 
Jill T. McGruder
 
 
President
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 197 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
*
 
Trustee
 
April 29, 2019
Phillip R. Cox
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
 
Trustee
 
April 29, 2019
William C. Gale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
 
Trustee
 
April 29, 2019
Susan J. Hickenlooper
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
 
Trustee
 
April 29, 2019
Kevin A. Robie
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
 
Trustee
 
April 29, 2019
Edward J. VonderBrink
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jill T. McGruder
 
Trustee and President
 
April 29, 2019
Jill T. McGruder
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
Controller, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
 
April 29, 2019
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
 
 
 
 
*By:
/s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
 
 
April 29, 2019
 
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
 
 
 
 
(Attorney-in-Fact Pursuant to Power of Attorney filed with PEA No. 143)
 
 

18



EXHIBIT INDEX
 
(a)(21)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 16, 2018
 
 
 
(a)(22)
 
Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 16, 2018
 
 
 
(d)(7)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated November 30, 2018 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Bramshill Investments LLC with respect to the Touchstone Flexible Income Fund
 
 
 
(d)(21)
 
Sub-Advisory Agreement dated November 1, 2018 between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Wells Capital Management, Inc. with respect to Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund
 
 
 
(h)(8)(iv)
 
Amended Schedule C, dated April 30, 2019, to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated July 29, 2013 between the Registrant and Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
 
 
 
(j)
 
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
 
 
 
(n)(1)
 
Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan dated January 1, 2019
 
 
 
(n)(2)
 
Amended Schedule A dated November 16, 2018 to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan

 
 
 
(p)(10)
 
Code of Ethics for Wilshire Associates Incorporated
.
 
 
 


19



TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
AMENDMENT TO
RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
The undersigned, being a majority of the Trustees of Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”), acting pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 7.3 of the Trust’s Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated May 19, 1993, as amended (the “Declaration”), hereby adopt the following resolutions:

WHEREAS, pursuant to a Plan of Liquidation for the Touchstone International Growth Fund (the “Fund”) executed by the Trust pursuant to authorization granted by the Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) at a meeting of the Trustees held on May 17, 2018 pursuant to notice duly given and at which a quorum was present, the Fund has ceased normal business operations, liquidated its assets, provided for the payment or discharge of its liabilities, and, as of the date hereof, distributed to each remaining shareholder of the Fund such shareholder’s proportionate interest in the remaining net assets of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, there are no shares outstanding of the Touchstone International Growth Fund.
RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Declaration, the Shares of the Touchstone International Growth Fund, and the establishment and designation thereof, are hereby abolished; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that Section 4.2 of the Declaration is hereby amended to remove the Touchstone International Growth Fund as a Series of the Trust, and following execution of such amendment to the Declaration (the “Amendment”), the proper officers of the Trust be, and they hereby are, authorized to file or cause to be filed such Amendment with the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Clerk of the City of Boston.
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this amendment to the Declaration have the meanings otherwise assigned to them in the Declaration.
[Signature Page Follows]






IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, hereunto set their hand this 16 th day of August, 2018.
/s/ Philip R. Cox
Philip R. Cox
/s/ Jill T. McGruder
Jill T. McGruder
/s/ William C. Gale
William C. Gale
/s/ Kevin A. Robie
Kevin A. Robie
/s/ Susan J. Hickenlooper
Susan J. Hickenlooper
/s/ Edward J. VonderBrink
Edward J. VonderBrink





TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
AMENDMENT TO
RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
The undersigned, being a majority of the Trustees of Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”), acting pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 7.3 of the Trust’s Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated May 19, 1993, as amended (the “Declaration”), hereby adopt the following resolutions:

WHEREAS, pursuant to an amendment to the Declaration, dated April 21, 2014, the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund was established and designated as a new series of the Trust, and the Shares of the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund were established with an indefinite and unlimited number of Shares designated as Class Y and Institutional Class.
RESOLVED, that, pursuant to Article IV of the Declaration, there are hereby established and designated two additional Sub-Series, referred to herein as a “Class,” of the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund, each with an unlimited number of Shares, and the additional Classes are hereby designated “Class A” and “Class C;”
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the relative rights and preferences as between the different Classes of Shares as to right of redemption and the price, terms and manner of redemption, special and relative rights as to dividends and other distributions and on liquidation, sinking or purchase fund provisions, conversions rights, and conditions under which the several Classes shall have separate voting rights or no voting rights, are as described in the prospectus and statement of additional information contained in the Trust’s currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, to the extent pertaining to the offering of Shares of the Classes, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time (the “Registration Statement”);
FURTHER RESOLVED, that all Shares of each Class are of equal rank and have the same powers, preferences and rights, except for such differences among such Classes as the Trustees have from time to time determined in accordance with the Declaration, and as are set forth from time to time in the Registration Statement pertaining to the offering of such Class or Classes;
FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 7.3 of the Declaration, the Declaration be, and it hereby is, amended to incorporate such additional Classes, and following execution of such amendment to the Declaration (the “Amendment”), the proper officers of the Trust be, and they hereby are, authorized to file or cause

 
 
 
CHICAGO/#3175421.4



to be filed such Amendment with the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Clerk of the City of Boston.

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this amendment to the Declaration have the meanings otherwise assigned to them in the Declaration.
[Signature Page Follows]


 
 
 
CHICAGO/#3175421.4



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, hereunto set their hand this 16 th day of August, 2018.
/s/ Philip R. Cox
Philip R. Cox
/s/ Jill T. McGruder
Jill T. McGruder
/s/ William C. Gale
William C. Gale
/s/ Kevin A. Robie
Kevin A. Robie
/s/ Susan J. Hickenlooper
Susan J. Hickenlooper
/s/ Edward J. VonderBrink
Edward J. VonderBrink



 
[Amendment to Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust - Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund shares classes]
 
CHICAGO/#3175421


SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT

Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund
a series of
Touchstone Strategic Trust


This Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of November 1, 2018, between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor”), and Wells Capital Management, Inc. (the “Sub-Advisor”).

WHEREAS, Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”) is a Massachusetts business trust organized pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 19, 1993, as amended, and registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and

WHEREAS, the Advisor is an investment advisor registered under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”) and has been retained by the Trust to provide investment advisory services with respect to the Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund (the “Fund”); and

WHEREAS, the Sub-Advisor also is an investment advisor registered under the Advisers Act; and

WHEREAS, the Advisor desires to retain the Sub-Advisor to furnish it with portfolio management services in connection with the Advisor’s investment advisory activities on behalf of the Fund, and the Sub-Advisor has agreed to furnish such services to the Advisor and the Fund;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and conditions set forth below, it is agreed as follows:

1.     Appointment of the Sub-Advisor. In accordance with and subject to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor, attached as Exhibit A (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Advisor appoints the Sub-Advisor to manage the investment and reinvestment of that portion of the assets of the Fund allocated to it by the Advisor (the “Fund Assets”), in conformity with the Fund’s currently effective registration statement, including its prospectus and statement of additional information, as amended (collectively, the “Disclosure Documents”), and subject to the control and direction of the Advisor and the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor accepts such appointment and agrees during such period to render the services and to perform the duties called for by this Agreement for the compensation provided in Section 3 of this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor shall at all times maintain its registration as an investment advisor under the Advisers Act and shall otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal. For purposes of this Agreement, the Sub-Advisor shall be deemed an independent contractor and shall, except as expressly provided or authorized by written

1


Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund


Agreement with the Advisor, Fund, or Trust, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust or the Fund.

2.     Duties of the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor will provide the following services and undertake the following duties:

a. The Sub-Advisor will manage the investment and reinvestment of the Fund Assets, subject to and in accordance with the investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the Fund, and in conformity with the Fund’s currently effective Disclosure Documents, and, to the extent they do not contradict the Fund’s currently effective Disclosure Documents, any written directions which the Advisor or the Trust’s Board may give pursuant to this Agreement. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Sub-Advisor will make all determinations with respect to the investment of the Fund Assets and the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and shall take such steps as may be necessary or advisable to implement the same. The Sub-Advisor also will determine the manner in which voting rights, rights to consent to corporate action, and any other rights pertaining to the portfolio securities will be exercised.

b. As reasonably requested, the Sub-Advisor will render regular reports to the Trust’s Board and to the Advisor (or such other service providers as the Advisor shall engage to assist it in the evaluation of the performance and activities of the Sub-Advisor). Such reports shall be made in such form and manner and with respect to such matters regarding the Fund and the Sub-Advisor as the Trust or the Advisor shall reasonably request; provided, however, that in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, the individual primarily responsible for management of Fund Assets for the Sub-Advisor will not be required to attend in-person more than one meeting per year with the Trust’s Board.

c. The Sub-Advisor may utilize the services of a third-party service provider to research and vote proxies on its behalf and on behalf of the Fund.

d. The Sub-Advisor shall not have custody of any of the Fund Assets and is not authorized to provide the Fund with legal or tax advice or to engage the Fund in any legal proceedings, including responding to class action claims; provided, however, that the Sub-Advisor shall promptly forward any notices it receives relating to class action claims to the Fund’s custodian or other duly designated Fund agent. The Sub-Advisor shall assist the custodian or other duly designated Fund agent in evaluating such securities class action claims, as reasonably requested in writing (provided that in so doing the Sub-Advisor shall not incur any extraordinary costs), but the Sub-Advisor will not be responsible for filing such claims. The Advisor acknowledges that the Fund’s custodian or other duly designated Fund agent will be responsible for evaluating and making all decisions regarding class action claims involving securities presently or formerly held by the Fund.




Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund


e. The Sub-Advisor may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate purchase and sale orders of securities placed with respect to the Fund Assets with similar orders being made simultaneously for other accounts managed by the Sub-Advisor or its affiliates, if, in the Sub-Advisor’s reasonable judgment, such aggregation shall result in an overall economic benefit to the Fund. In forming this judgment the Sub-Advisor shall consider the selling or purchase price, brokerage commissions, and other expenses. In the event that a purchase or sale of the Fund Assets occurs as part of any aggregate sale or purchase order, the objective of the Sub-Advisor and any of its affiliates involved in such transaction shall be to allocate the securities so purchased or sold, as well as expenses incurred in the transaction, among the Fund and other accounts in a fair and equitable manner.

f. Whenever the Fund and one or more other investment advisory clients of the Sub-Advisor have available funds for investment, investments suitable and appropriate for each will be allocated in a manner believed by the Sub-Advisor to be fair and equitable to each. Moreover, it is possible that due to differing investment objectives or for other reasons, the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates may purchase securities of an issuer for one client and at approximately the same time recommend selling or sell the same or similar types of securities for another client, including the Fund.

g.    The Sub-Advisor will not arrange purchases or sales of securities between the Fund and other accounts advised by the Sub-Advisor or its affiliates unless (a) such purchases or sales are in accordance with applicable law and regulation (including Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act) and the Fund’s policies and procedures, (b) the Sub-Advisor determines the purchase or sale is in the best interests of the Fund, and (c) the Fund’s Board has approved these types of transactions.

h.    The Sub-Advisor shall promptly notify the Advisor if the Sub-Advisor reasonably believes that the value of any security held by the Fund and reflected on the books and records of the Fund may not reflect fair value. The Sub-Advisor agrees to provide any pricing information of which the Sub-Advisor is aware to the Advisor and any Fund pricing agent to assist in the determination of the fair value of any Fund holdings for which market quotations are not readily available or as otherwise required in accordance with the 1940 Act or the Fund’s adopted valuation procedures, which may be amended by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties recognize that the Sub-Advisor is not an official pricing source and has no responsibility for calculating the Fund’s net asset value.

i.     Regulatory Compliance.

(i) The Sub-Advisor will comply in all material respects with federal and state securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”), the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, each as amended, and the rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodities



Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund


Futures Trading Commission, or state securities regulator that are applicable to a registered investment advisor providing services to registered open-end investment companies including, without limitation, Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act.

(ii) The Sub-Advisor shall cause the Fund to comply with the diversification and source of income requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for qualification as a regulated investment company.

(iii) The Sub-Advisor will cooperate fully with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officers in the execution of his or her responsibilities to monitor service providers to the Trust pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act.

(iv) Subject to the Advisor’s supervision, the Sub-Advisor will prepare and cause to be filed in a timely manner Form 13F and, if required, Schedule 13G, each under the 1934 Act, with respect to securities held for the account of the Fund.

(v) The Sub-Advisor has adopted a written code of ethics that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Code of Ethics”). The Sub-Advisor will provide its Code of Ethics to the Advisor and the Fund. The Sub-Advisor shall ensure that its Access Persons (as defined in the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics) comply in all material respects with the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics, as in effect. Upon request, the Sub-Advisor shall provide the Fund with (i) a copy of the Sub-Advisor’s current Code of Ethics, as in effect, and (ii) a certification that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics. No less frequently than annually, the Sub-Advisor shall furnish to the Fund and the Advisor a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, concerning the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics. The Sub-Advisor shall promptly respond to any requests for information from the Advisor as to violations of the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics by Access Persons and the sanctions imposed by the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor shall promptly notify the Advisor of any material violation of the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics, whether or not such violation relates to a security held by the Fund.

(vi) The Sub-Advisor shall notify the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and Advisor immediately upon detection of (i) any material failure to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and policies or any applicable law; or (ii) any material breach of any of the Fund’s or the Advisor’s policies, guidelines, or procedures (to the extent such policies, guidelines, or procedures have been provided to the Sub-Advisor). In addition, the Sub-Advisor shall provide a quarterly report regarding its compliance with applicable law, including but not limited to the 1940 Act and the Code, and the Fund’s and the Advisor’s investment objectives policies, guidelines, or procedures as applicable to the Sub-Advisor’s



Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund


obligations under this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Advisor may, in its sole discretion, provide such quarterly compliance certifications to the Board. The Sub-Advisor agrees to correct any such failure promptly and to take any action that the Board or the Advisor may reasonably request in connection with any such breach. The Sub-Advisor shall also provide the officers of the Trust with supporting certifications in connection with certifications of the Fund’s financial statements and disclosure controls pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended. The Sub-Advisor will promptly notify the Trust in the event (i) the Sub-Advisor is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board, or body, involving the affairs of the Trust (excluding class action suits in which the Fund is a member of the plaintiff class by reason of the Fund’s ownership of shares in the defendant) or the compliance by the Sub-Advisor with the federal or state securities laws in connection with the services provided to the Fund under this Agreement or (ii) the controlling stockholder of the Sub-Advisor changes or an actual change in control resulting in an “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act) has occurred or is otherwise proposed to occur.

(vii) The Sub-Advisor shall maintain separate books and detailed records of all matters pertaining to the Fund Assets advised by the Sub-Advisor as required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by the Advisor, custodian, or transfer agent appointed by the Fund), and relating to its responsibilities under this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor shall preserve such records for the periods and in a manner prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act (the “Fund Books and Records”). The Fund Books and Records shall be available to the Advisor and the Board, which shall be delivered upon request to the Trust, at the Advisor’s expense, upon the termination of this Agreement and shall be available for telecopying without delay during any day the Fund is open for business. The Sub-Advisor may retain a copy of the Fund Books and Records for its own recordkeeping purposes.

j.    The Sub-Advisor shall provide support to the Advisor with respect to the marketing of the Fund, including but not limited to: (i) permission to use the Sub-Advisor’s name and logo in accordance with Section 6 of this Agreement; (ii) permission to use the past performance and investment history of the Sub-Advisor with respect to a composite of accounts managed by the Sub-Advisor that are comparable, in investment objective and composition, to the Fund; (iii) access to the individual(s) responsible for day-to-day management of the Fund for marketing conferences, teleconferences, and other activities involving the promotion of the Fund, subject to the reasonable request of the Advisor; (iv) permission to use biographical and historical data of the Sub-Advisor and individual portfolio manager(s); and (v) permission to use photos of individual portfolio manager(s) in connection with the marketing of the Fund.




Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund


k.    The Sub-Advisor will, in the name of the Fund, place orders for the execution of all portfolio transactions in accordance with the policies set forth in the Fund’s Disclosure Documents. When placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Sub-Advisor’s primary objective shall be to obtain the most favorable price and execution available for the Fund, and in placing such orders the Sub-Advisor may consider a number of factors, including, without limitation, the overall direct net economic result to the Fund (including commissions, which may not be the lowest available but ordinarily should not be higher than the generally prevailing competitive range); the financial strength and stability of the broker; the efficiency with which the transaction will be effected; the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is involved; and the availability of the broker or dealer to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future. Consistent with the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and subject to seeking most favorable price and execution and compliance with Rule 12b-1(h) under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Advisor may select brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions of the Fund that promote or sell shares of the Fund. The Sub-Advisor is specifically authorized, to the extent authorized by law (including, without limitation, Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act), to pay a broker or dealer who provides research services to the Sub-Advisor an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting such transaction. This excess payment (often referred to as “soft dollar” payments) in recognition of such additional research services rendered by the broker or dealer shall only be made if the Sub-Advisor determines in good faith that the excess commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of the particular transaction or the Sub-Advisor’s overall responsibilities with respect to discretionary accounts that it manages, and that the Fund derives or will derive a reasonable benefit from such research services. The Sub-Advisor will present a written report to the Board, at least quarterly, indicating total brokerage expenses, actual or imputed, as well as the services obtained in consideration for such expenses, broken down by broker-dealer and containing such information as the Board reasonably shall request.

l.    The Sub-Advisor shall maintain errors and omissions insurance coverage in an appropriate amount and shall provide prior written notice to the Trust (i) of any material changes in its insurance policies or insurance coverage; or (ii) if any material claims will be made on its insurance policies related to the services provided to the Trust under this Agreement. Furthermore, the Sub-Advisor shall, upon reasonable request, provide the Trust with any information it may reasonably require concerning the amount of or scope of such insurance.

m.    In the event of any reorganization or other material change in the Sub-Advisor, the Sub-Advisor shall give the Advisor and the Board written notice of such reorganization or change within a reasonable time (but not later than 30 days) after such reorganization or change.




Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund


n.    The Sub-Advisor will bear its expenses of providing services to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement except such expenses as are expressly undertaken by the Advisor or the Fund.

o.    The Advisor and Sub-Advisor acknowledge and agree that the Sub-Advisor shall be required to provide only the services expressly described in this Agreement, and shall have no responsibility to provide any other services to the Advisor or the Fund except as required by law. The Advisor shall remain responsible for the Fund’s overall compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

p.    The Advisor agrees to provide the Sub-Advisor with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Sub-Advisor in connection with its activities under this Agreement, including, without limitation, information concerning the Fund; its cash available, or to become available, for investment; and generally as to the conditions of the Fund or its affairs.

q.    The Advisor will provide the Sub-Advisor with advance notice of, and the opportunity to comment on, any change in the Fund’s investment objectives, investment policy risks, and restrictions as stated in the Disclosure Documents, or in any procedures and policies adopted by the Board of the Trust or the Advisor that may affect the Sub-Advisor’s management of the Fund. The Sub-Advisor shall, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, manage the Fund Assets in compliance with such changes following reasonable notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Advisor. In addition to such notice, the Advisor shall provide to the Sub-Advisor a copy of any amendments or supplements to the Disclosure Documents. The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Disclosure Documents will at all times be in compliance with all disclosure requirements under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to the Fund.

r.    The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Sub-Advisor does not guarantee the future performance or any specific level of performance for the Fund Assets, the success of any investment decision or strategy that the Sub-Advisor may use, or the success of the Sub-Advisor’s overall management of the Fund Assets. The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that investment decisions made with regard to the Fund Assets by the Sub-Advisor are subject to various market, currency, economic, political, and business risks, and that those investment decisions will not always be beneficial to the Fund. Additionally, there may be loss or depreciation of the value of the Fund Assets because of fluctuation of market values. These risks will be disclosed in the Fund’s Disclosure Documents.

3.     Compensation of the Sub-Advisor.

a.    As compensation for the services to be rendered and duties undertaken under this Agreement by the Sub-Advisor, the Advisor will pay to the Sub-Advisor a monthly fee equal on an annual basis to XX the first $300 million of average daily net assets of the Fund,



Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund


XX of the next $200 million of average daily net assets of the Fund, XX of the next $250 million of average daily net assets of the Fund, XX of the next $250 million of average daily net assets of the Fund, XX of the next $500 million of average daily net assets of the Fund, XX of the next $500 million of average daily net assets of the Fund and XX of the average daily net assets of the Fund in excess of $2 billion; without regard to any total expense limitation or other fee waiver applied by the Trust or the Advisor. Such fee shall be computed and accrued daily. If the Sub-Advisor serves in such capacity for less than the whole of any period specified in Section 12(a) of this Agreement, the compensation to the Sub-Advisor shall be prorated. For purposes of calculating the Sub-Advisor’s fee, the daily value of the Fund Assets shall be computed by the same method as the Trust uses to compute the Fund’s net asset value for purposes of purchases and redemptions of shares.

b.    The Sub-Advisor reserves the right to waive all or a part of its fees.
    
4.     Ongoing Reporting of the Sub-Advisor.

a.      Financial Reporting. The Sub-Advisor will report to the Board (at regular quarterly meetings and at such other times as the Board reasonably shall request, subject to the limitation on personal attendance at such meetings set forth in Section 2(b) of this Agreement): (i) the financial condition and financial prospects of the Sub-Advisor, (ii) the nature and amount of transactions that may be reasonably expected to effect the Fund that involve the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates, (iii) information regarding any potential conflicts of interest arising by reason of the Sub-Advisor’s continuing provision of advisory services to the Fund and to its other accounts, and (iv) such other information including but not limited to the performance of the specific strategy used to manage the Fund Assets and the capacity of the Sub-Advisor as it relates to the continuing ability of the Sub-Advisor to accept additional cash flow from the Advisor into the Fund. Upon request by the Advisor or the Board, the Sub-Advisor agrees to discuss with the Board its plans for the allocation of remaining capacity in the strategy used to manage the Fund, with respect to the Fund and to the Sub-Advisor’s other clients.

The Sub-Advisor will annually provide the Advisor with the Sub-Advisor’s financial statements, unless the Fund’s Board requests reports on a more frequent basis. For purposes of this Section 4(a), “financial statements” shall include the Sub-Advisor’s balance sheet, income statement, and notes to the financial statements.

b.      Key Personnel Reporting. The Sub-Advisor agrees to promptly notify the Advisor upon becoming aware of any incapacity, resignation, termination, or other material change of key personnel. For purposes of this Section 4(b), “key personnel” include: (i) any portfolio manager of the Fund; and (ii) any chief executive officer, chief compliance officer, chief operations officer, chief investment officer, chief financial officer, chief administration officer, or any other principal or officer of similar title or position with the Sub-Advisor; and (iii) any member of its investment (or comparable) committee.




Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund


5.     Representations of the Advisor. The Advisor represents that: (a) the Advisor has been duly appointed by the Board to provide investment services to the Fund Assets as contemplated in this Agreement; (b) the Advisor has all necessary power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement on behalf of the Trust, and such execution, delivery, and performance will not violate any applicable law, regulation, organizational document, policy, or agreement binding on the Trust or its property; (c) the Trust has the full power and authority to enter into all transactions contemplated under this Agreement, to perform its obligations under such transactions and to authorize the Advisor to procure the Sub-Advisor to enter into such transactions on the Trust’s and Fund’s behalf; (d) the Advisor’s decision to appoint the Sub-Advisor was made in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law and the governing documents, contracts, or other material agreements or instruments governing the Fund’s investment or trading activities; (e) the Advisor will deliver to the Sub-Advisor a true and complete copy of the Fund’s Disclosure Documents, such other documents or instruments governing the investments of Fund Assets, and such other information as is necessary for the Sub-Advisor to carry out its obligations under this Agreement; and (f) the Trust is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

6.     Use of Names.

a. Neither the Advisor nor the Trust shall use the name of the Sub-Advisor in any prospectus, sales literature, or other material relating to the Advisor or the Trust in any manner not approved in advance by the Sub-Advisor; provided, however, that the Sub-Advisor will approve all uses of its name which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment or which are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or a state securities commission; and provided further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld.

b. The Sub-Advisor shall not use the name of the Advisor or the Trust in any material relating to the Sub-Advisor in any manner not approved in advance by the Advisor or the Trust, as the case may be; provided, however, that the Advisor and the Trust will each approve all uses of their respective names which merely refer in accurate terms to the appointment of the Sub-Advisor as the Fund’s Sub-Advisor under this Agreement or which are required by the SEC or a state securities commission; and, provided further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld.

c. Upon termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 12, the Advisor shall cease using any references to the Sub-Advisor in Fund and Advisor documents unless such reference is required by law. Similarly, the Sub-Advisor shall cease using any references to the Advisor or Fund in any documents unless such reference is required by law. For purposes of this paragraph, documents include but are not limited to, marketing materials, regulatory filings, and performance reporting.

7.     Liability of the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Advisor, and all their affiliated persons (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15 of the 1933 Act) against any and



Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund


all direct losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (including reasonable legal and other expenses) (collectively, “Losses”) incurred by reason of or arising out of: (a) the Sub-Advisor being in material violation of any applicable federal or state law, rule, or regulation or any investment policy or restriction set forth in the Fund’s Disclosure Documents or any written guidelines or instruction provided in writing by the Board; or (b) the Sub-Advisor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.

8. Liability of the Advisor. The Advisor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Advisor and all affiliated persons (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15 of the 1933 Act) against any and all direct Losses incurred by reason of or arising out of: (a) the Advisor being in material violation of any applicable federal or state law, rule, or regulation; or (b) the Advisor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.

9.     Limitation of Trust’s Liability. The Sub-Advisor acknowledges that it has received notice of and accepts the limitations upon the Trust’s liability set forth in its Declaration of Trust. The Sub-Advisor agrees that (i) the Trust’s obligations to the Sub-Advisor under this Agreement (or indirectly under the Advisory Agreement) shall be limited in any event to the Fund Assets and (ii) the Sub-Advisor shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders of the Fund, other than the Advisor, nor from any Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust.

10.     Force Majeure. The Sub-Advisor shall not be liable for delays or errors occurring by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, work stoppages, fire, flood, catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riot, or failure of communication or power supply. In the event of equipment breakdowns beyond its control, the Sub-Advisor shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions.

11.     Confidentiality. Each party expressly undertakes to protect and to preserve the confidentiality of all information and know-how made available under or in connection with this Agreement, or the parties’ activities that are either designated as being confidential or which, by the nature of the circumstances surrounding the disclosure, ought in good faith to be treated as proprietary or confidential (collectively, the “Confidential Information”). Each party shall take reasonable security precautions, at least as great as the precautions it takes to protect its own confidential information but in any event using a commercially reasonable standard of care, to keep confidential the Confidential Information. Neither party shall disclose Confidential Information except: (a) to its employees, directors, officers, legal advisors, or auditors having a need to know such Confidential Information; (b) in accordance with a judicial or other governmental order or when such disclosure is required by law, provided that prior to such disclosure the receiving party shall provide the disclosing party with written notice and shall comply with any protective order or equivalent; or (c) in accordance with a regulatory audit or inquiry, without prior notice to the disclosing party, provided that the receiving party shall obtain a confidentiality undertaking from the regulatory agency where possible.

Neither party will make use of any Confidential Information except as expressly authorized in this Agreement or as agreed to in writing between the parties. However, the receiving party shall



Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund


have no obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information that: (a) it received rightfully from another party prior to its receipt from the disclosing party; (b) the disclosing party discloses generally without any obligation of confidentiality; (c) is or subsequently becomes publicly available without the receiving party’s breach of any obligation owed the disclosing party; or (d) is independently developed by the receiving party without reliance upon or use of any Confidential Information. Each party’s obligations under this clause shall survive for a period of three years following the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, each party to this Agreement may disclose any information with respect to the United States federal income tax treatment and tax structure (and any fact that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transaction) of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.

12.     Renewal, Termination and Amendment.

a.    This Agreement shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated under this Agreement, through [ ], 2020; and it shall thereafter continue for successive annual terms provided that such continuance is specifically approved by the parties and, in addition, at least annually by (i) the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or (ii) by vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board including the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

b.    This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, (i) by the Advisor upon not more than 60-days’ nor less than 30-days’ prior written notice delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the Sub-Advisor; (ii) by the Sub-Advisor upon not less than 60-days’ prior written notice delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the Advisor; or (iii) by the Trust, upon either (y) the majority vote of the Board or (z) the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
    
c.    This Agreement may be amended at any time by the parties, subject to approval by the Board and, if required by applicable SEC rules and regulations, a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund affected by such change.
    
d.    The terms “assignment,” “interested persons” and “majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the meaning set forth for such terms in the 1940 Act.

13.     Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall become or shall be found to be invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected.




Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund


14.     Notice. Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent to the address or facsimile number, as applicable, of the party receiving such notice or instruction and (a) delivered personally; (b) sent by electronic mail (“email”) or facsimile transmission, with notice or confirmation of receipt received; (c) delivered by a nationally recognized overnight courier; or (d) sent by prepaid first-class mail. Until further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the addresses of the parties shall be:

Trust and Advisor :     303 Broadway, Suite 1100, Cincinnati, OH 45202, Attn: President, Touchstone Investments
With a copies to: Tim.Paulin@TouchstoneInvestments.com and
Meredyth.Whitford@WSLife.com

Sub-Advisor :    [ ]

15.     Miscellaneous. Each party agrees to perform such further actions and execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Ohio. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or delimit any of the Agreement provisions or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

16.     Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including any attached Schedules, constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Agreement’s subject matter.

17.      Customer Notification . By executing this Agreement, the Advisor acknowledges that as required by the Advisers Act the Sub-Advisor has supplied to the Advisor and the Trust copies of the Sub-Advisor’s Form ADV with all exhibits and attachments (including the Sub-Advisor’s statement of financial condition, if required) and will promptly supply to the Advisor copies of all amendments or restatements of such document.

Signatures on next page.



Sub-Advisory Agreement
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund




The parties’ duly authorized officers have signed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first above written.

TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC.


BY:     /s/ Timothy D. Paulin             BY: /s/ Steven Graziano             
Name: Timothy D. Paulin             Name: Steven Graziano        
Title:     Senior Vice President,                  Title: President        
Investment Research and Product Manager                 


WELLS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.


BY:     /s/ Jennifer Keliher             
Name: Jennifer Kelliher             
Title: Client Service Manager                 





SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund
a series of
Touchstone Strategic Trust


This Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of November 30, 2018, between Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor”), and Bramshill Investments LLC (the “Sub-Advisor”).

WHEREAS, Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”) is a Massachusetts business trust organized pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated May 19, 1993, as amended, and registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and

WHEREAS, the Advisor is an investment advisor registered under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”) and has been retained by the Trust to provide investment advisory services with respect to the Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (the “Fund”); and

WHEREAS, the Sub-Advisor also is an investment advisor registered under the Advisers Act; and

WHEREAS, the Advisor desires to retain the Sub-Advisor to furnish it with portfolio management services in connection with the Advisor’s investment advisory activities on behalf of the Fund, and the Sub-Advisor has agreed to furnish such services to the Advisor and the Fund;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and conditions set forth below, it is agreed as follows:

1. Appointment of the Sub-Advisor. In accordance with and subject to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor, attached as Exhibit A (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Advisor appoints the Sub-Advisor to manage the investment and reinvestment of that portion of the assets of the Fund allocated to it by the Advisor (the “Fund Assets”), in conformity with the Fund’s currently effective registration statement, including its prospectus and statement of additional information, as amended (collectively, the “Disclosure Documents”), and subject to the control and direction of the Advisor and the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor accepts such appointment and agrees during such period to render the services and to perform the duties called for by this Agreement for the compensation provided in Section
3 of this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor shall at all times maintain its registration as an investment advisor under the Advisers Act and shall otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal. For purposes of this Agreement, the Sub-Advisor shall be deemed an independent contractor and shall, except as


1






expressly provided or authorized by written Agreement with the Advisor, Fund, or Trust, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust or the Fund.

2. Duties of the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor will provide the following services and undertake the following duties:

a.      The Sub-Advisor, in its sole discretion, has the full authority to and will manage the investment and reinvestment of the Fund Assets, subject to and in accordance with the investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the Fund as detailed in the Fund’s currently effective Disclosure Documents (e.g. prospectus). The Sub-Advisor also will determine the manner in which voting rights, rights to consent to corporate action, and any other rights pertaining to the portfolio securities will be exercised. To the extent they do not contradict the Fund’s currently effective Disclosure Documents, the Sub-Advisor will also abide by any written directions which the Advisor or the Trust’s Board may give pursuant to this Agreement.

b.      As reasonably requested, the Sub-Advisor will render regular reports to the Trust’s Board and to the Advisor (or such other service providers as the Advisor shall engage to assist it in the evaluation of the performance and activities of the Sub- Advisor). Such reports shall be made in such form and manner and with respect to such matters regarding the Fund and the Sub-Advisor as the Trust or the Advisor shall reasonably request; provided, however, that in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, the individual primarily responsible for management of Fund Assets for the Sub-Advisor will not be required to attend in-person more than one meeting per year with the Trust’s Board.

c.      The Sub-Advisor may utilize the services of a third-party service provider to research and vote proxies on its behalf and on behalf of the Fund.

d.      The Sub-Advisor shall not have custody of any of the Fund Assets and is not authorized to provide the Fund with legal or tax advice or to engage the Fund in any legal proceedings, including responding to class action claims; provided, however, that the Sub-Advisor shall promptly forward any notices it receives relating to class action claims to the Fund’s custodian or other duly designated Fund agent. The Sub-Advisor shall assist the custodian or other duly designated Fund agent in evaluating such securities class action claims, as reasonably requested in writing (provided that in so doing the Sub-Advisor shall not incur any extraordinary costs), but the Sub-Advisor will not be responsible for filing such claims. The Advisor acknowledges that the Fund’s custodian or other duly designated Fund agent will be responsible for evaluating and making all decisions regarding class action claims involving securities presently or formerly held by the Fund.







e.      The Sub-Advisor may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate purchase and sale orders of securities placed with respect to the Fund Assets with similar orders being made simultaneously for other accounts managed by the Sub-Advisor or its affiliates, if, in the Sub-Advisor’s reasonable judgment, such aggregation shall result in an overall economic benefit to the Fund. In forming this judgment the Sub-Advisor shall consider the selling or purchase price, brokerage commissions, and other expenses. In the event that a purchase or sale of the Fund Assets occurs as part of any aggregate sale or purchase order, the objective of the Sub-Advisor and any of its affiliates involved in such transaction shall be to allocate the securities so purchased or sold, as well as expenses incurred in the transaction, among the Fund and other accounts in a fair and equitable manner.

f.      Whenever the Fund and one or more other investment advisory clients of the Sub-Advisor have available funds for investment, investments suitable and appropriate for each will be allocated in a manner believed by the Sub-Advisor to be fair and equitable to each. Moreover, it is possible that due to differing investment objectives or for other reasons, the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates may purchase securities of an issuer for one client and at approximately the same time recommend selling or sell the same or similar types of securities for another client, including the Fund.

g.      The Sub-Advisor will not arrange purchases or sales of securities between the Fund and other accounts advised by the Sub-Advisor or its affiliates unless (a) such purchases or sales are in accordance with applicable law and regulation (including Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act) and the Fund’s policies and procedures,
(b) the Sub-Advisor determines the purchase or sale is in the best interests of the Fund, and (c) the Fund’s Board has approved these types of transactions.
h.      The Sub-Advisor shall promptly notify the Advisor if the Sub-Advisor reasonably believes that the value of any security held by the Fund and reflected on the books and records of the Fund may not reflect fair value. The Sub-Advisor agrees to provide any pricing information of which the Sub-Advisor is aware to the Advisor and any Fund pricing agent to assist in the determination of the fair value of any Fund holdings for which market quotations are not readily available or as otherwise required in accordance with the 1940 Act or the Fund’s adopted valuation procedures, which may be amended by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties recognize that the Sub-Advisor is not an official pricing source and has no responsibility for calculating the Fund’s net asset value.

i.
Regulatory Compliance.

(i)      The Sub-Advisor will comply in all material respects with federal and state securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”), the Commodity Exchange Act of 1936, each as amended, and the rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission,







the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, or state securities regulator that are applicable to a registered investment advisor providing services to registered open-end investment companies including, without limitation, Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act.

(ii)      The Sub-Advisor shall cause the Fund to comply with the diversification and source of income requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for qualification as a regulated investment company.

(iii)      The Sub-Advisor will cooperate fully with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officers in the execution of his or her responsibilities to monitor service providers to the Trust pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act.

(iv)      Subject to the Advisor’s supervision, the Sub-Advisor will prepare and cause to be filed in a timely manner Form 13F and, if required, Schedule 13G, each under the 1934 Act, with respect to securities held for the account of the Fund.

(v)      The Sub-Advisor has adopted a written code of ethics that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Code of Ethics”). The Sub-Advisor will provide its Code of Ethics to the Advisor and the Fund. The Sub-Advisor shall ensure that its Access Persons (as defined in the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics) comply in all material respects with the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics, as in effect. Upon request, the Sub-Advisor shall provide the Fund with (i) a copy of the Sub- Advisor’s current Code of Ethics, as in effect, and (ii) a certification that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics. No less frequently than annually, the Sub-Advisor shall furnish to the Fund and the Advisor a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, concerning the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics. The Sub- Advisor shall promptly respond to any requests for information from the Advisor as to violations of the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics by Access Persons and the sanctions imposed by the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor shall promptly notify the Advisor of any material violation of the Sub-Advisor’s Code of Ethics, whether or not such violation relates to a security held by the Fund.

(vi)      The Sub-Advisor shall notify the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and Advisor immediately upon detection of (i) any material failure to manage the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and policies or any applicable law; or (ii) any material breach of any of the Fund’s or the Advisor’s policies, guidelines, or procedures (to the extent such policies, guidelines, or procedures have been provided to the Sub-Advisor). In addition, the Sub- Advisor shall provide a quarterly report regarding its compliance with







applicable law, including but not limited to the 1940 Act and the Code, and the Fund’s and the Advisor’s investment objectives policies, guidelines, or procedures as applicable to the Sub-Advisor’s obligations under this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Advisor may, in its sole discretion, provide such quarterly compliance certifications to the Board. The Sub-Advisor agrees to correct any such failure promptly and to take any action that the Board or the Advisor may reasonably request in connection with any such breach. The Sub-Advisor shall also provide the officers of the Trust with supporting certifications in connection with certifications of the Fund’s financial statements and disclosure controls pursuant to the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002, as amended. The Sub-Advisor will promptly notify the Trust in the event (i) the Sub-Advisor is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board, or body, involving the affairs of the Trust (excluding class action suits in which the Fund is a member of the plaintiff class by reason of the Fund’s ownership of shares in the defendant) or the compliance by the Sub-Advisor with the federal or state securities laws in connection with the services provided to the Fund under this Agreement or (ii) the controlling stockholder of the Sub-Advisor changes or an actual change in control resulting in an “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act) has occurred or is otherwise proposed to occur.

(vii)      The Sub-Advisor shall maintain separate books and detailed records of all matters pertaining to the Fund Assets advised by the Sub-Advisor as required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by the Advisor, custodian, or transfer agent appointed by the Fund), and relating to its responsibilities under this Agreement. The Sub-Advisor shall preserve such records for the periods and in a manner prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act (the “Fund Books and Records”). The Fund Books and Records shall be available to the Advisor and the Board, which shall be delivered upon request to the Trust, at the Advisor’s expense, upon the termination of this Agreement and shall be available for telecopying without delay during any day the Fund is open for business. The Sub-Advisor may retain a copy of the Fund Books and Records for its own recordkeeping purposes.

j.      The Sub-Advisor shall provide reasonable support to the Advisor with respect to the marketing of the Fund, including but not limited to: (i) permission to use the Sub-Advisor’s name and logo in accordance with Section 6 of this Agreement; (ii) permission to use the past performance and investment history of the Sub-Advisor with respect to a composite of accounts managed by the Sub-Advisor that are comparable, in investment objective and composition, to the Fund; (iii) reasonable access to the individual(s) responsible for day-to-day management of the Fund for marketing conferences, teleconferences, and other activities involving the promotion of the Fund, subject to the reasonable request of the Advisor; (iv) permission to use biographical and historical data of the Sub-Advisor and individual portfolio manager(s); and (v)







permission to use photos of individual portfolio manager(s) in connection with the marketing of the Fund.

k.      The Sub-Advisor will, in the name of the Fund, place orders for the execution of all portfolio transactions in accordance with the policies set forth in the Fund’s Disclosure Documents. When placing orders with brokers and dealers, the Sub- Advisor’s primary objective shall be to obtain the most favorable price and execution available for the Fund, and in placing such orders the Sub-Advisor may consider a number of factors, including, without limitation, the overall direct net economic result to the Fund (including commissions, which may not be the lowest available but ordinarily should not be higher than the generally prevailing competitive range); the financial strength and stability of the broker; the efficiency with which the transaction will be effected; the ability to effect the transaction at all where a large block is involved; and the availability of the broker or dealer to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future. Consistent with the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and subject to seeking most favorable price and execution and compliance with Rule 12b-1(h) under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Advisor may select brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions of the Fund that promote or sell shares of the Fund. The Sub-Advisor is specifically authorized, to the extent authorized by law (including, without limitation, Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act), to pay a broker or dealer who provides research services to the Sub-Advisor an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting such transaction. This excess payment (often referred to as “soft dollar” payments) in recognition of such additional research services rendered by the broker or dealer shall only be made if the Sub-Advisor determines in good faith that the excess commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of the particular transaction or the Sub-Advisor’s overall responsibilities with respect to discretionary accounts that it manages, and that the Fund derives or will derive a reasonable benefit from such research services. The Sub-Advisor will present a written report to the Board, at least quarterly, indicating total brokerage expenses, actual or imputed, as well as the services obtained in consideration for such expenses, broken down by broker-dealer and containing such information as the Board reasonably shall request.

l.      The Sub-Advisor shall maintain errors and omissions insurance coverage in an appropriate amount and shall provide prior written notice to the Trust (i) of any material changes in its insurance policies or insurance coverage; or (ii) if any material claims will be made on its insurance policies related to the services provided to the Trust under this Agreement. Furthermore, the Sub-Advisor shall, upon reasonable request, provide the Trust with any information it may reasonably require concerning the amount of or scope of such insurance.

m.      In the event of any reorganization or other material change in the Sub- Advisor, the Sub-Advisor shall give the Advisor and the Board written notice of such





reorganization or change within a reasonable time (but not later than 30 days) after such reorganization or change.



n.      The Sub-Advisor will bear its expenses of providing services to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement except such expenses as are expressly undertaken by the Advisor or the Fund.

o.      The Advisor and Sub-Advisor acknowledge and agree that the Sub- Advisor shall be required to provide only the services expressly described in this Agreement, and shall have no responsibility to provide any other services to the Advisor or the Fund except as required by law. The Advisor shall remain responsible for the Fund’s overall compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

p.      The Advisor agrees to provide the Sub-Advisor with such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Sub-Advisor in connection with its activities under this Agreement, including, without limitation, information concerning the Fund; its cash available, or to become available, for investment; and generally as to the conditions of the Fund or its affairs.

q.      The Advisor will provide the Sub-Advisor with advance notice of, and the opportunity to comment on, any change in the Fund’s investment objectives, investment policy risks, and restrictions as stated in the Disclosure Documents, or in any procedures and policies adopted by the Board of the Trust or the Advisor that may affect the Sub-Advisor’s management of the Fund. The Sub-Advisor shall, in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, manage the Fund Assets in compliance with such changes following reasonable notice of the effectiveness of such changes from the Advisor. In addition to such notice, the Advisor shall provide to the Sub-Advisor a copy of any amendments or supplements to the Disclosure Documents. The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Disclosure Documents will at all times be in compliance with all disclosure requirements under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations relating to the Fund.

r.      The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the Sub-Advisor does not guarantee the future performance or any specific level of performance for the Fund Assets, the success of any investment decision or strategy that the Sub-Advisor may use, or the success of the Sub-Advisor’s overall management of the Fund Assets. The Advisor acknowledges and agrees that investment decisions made with regard to the Fund Assets by the Sub-Advisor are subject to various market, currency, economic, political, and business risks, and that those investment decisions will not always be beneficial to the Fund. Additionally, there may be loss or depreciation of the value of the Fund Assets because of fluctuation of market values. These risks will be disclosed in the Fund’s Disclosure Documents.

3.
Compensation of the Sub-Advisor.






a.      As compensation for the services to be rendered and duties undertaken under this Agreement by the Sub-Advisor, the Advisor will pay to the Sub-Advisor a


monthly fee equal on an annual basis to XX on the first $1.5 billion of Fund assets and XX on assets over $1.5 billion; without regard to any total expense limitation or other fee waiver applied by the Trust or the Advisor. Such fee shall be computed and accrued daily. If the Sub-Advisor serves in such capacity for less than the whole of any period specified in Section 12(a) of this Agreement, the compensation to the Sub-Advisor shall be prorated. For purposes of calculating the Sub-Advisor’s fee, the daily value of the Fund Assets shall be computed by the same method as the Trust uses to compute the Fund’s net asset value for purposes of purchases and redemptions of shares.

b.
The Sub-Advisor reserves the right to waive all or a part of its fees.

4.
Ongoing Reporting of the Sub-Advisor.

a.      Financial Reporting. The Sub-Advisor will report to the Board (at regular quarterly meetings and at such other times as the Board reasonably shall request, subject to the limitation on personal attendance at such meetings set forth in Section 2(b) of this Agreement): (i) the financial condition and financial prospects of the Sub- Advisor, (ii) the nature and amount of transactions that may be reasonably expected to effect the Fund that involve the Sub-Advisor and its affiliates, (iii) information regarding any potential conflicts of interest arising by reason of the Sub-Advisor’s continuing provision of advisory services to the Fund and to its other accounts, and (iv) such other information including but not limited to the performance of the specific strategy used to manage the Fund Assets and the capacity of the Sub-Advisor as it relates to the continuing ability of the Sub-Advisor to accept additional cash flow from the Advisor into the Fund. Upon request by the Advisor or the Board, the Sub-Advisor agrees to discuss with the Board its plans for the allocation of remaining capacity in the strategy used to manage the Fund, with respect to the Fund and to the Sub-Advisor’s other clients.

The Sub-Advisor will annually provide the Advisor with the Sub-Advisor’s financial statements, unless the Fund’s Board requests reports on a more frequent basis. For purposes of this Section 4(a), “financial statements” shall include the Sub-Advisor’s balance sheet, income statement, and notes to the financial statements.

b.      Key Personnel Reporting. The Sub-Advisor agrees to promptly notify the Advisor upon becoming aware of any incapacity, resignation, termination, or other material change of key personnel. For purposes of this Section 4(b), “key personnel” include: (i) any portfolio manager of the Fund; and (ii) any chief executive officer, chief compliance officer, chief operations officer, chief investment officer, chief financial officer, chief administration officer, or any other principal or officer of similar title or position with the Sub-Advisor; and (iii) any member of its investment (or comparable) committee.






5. Representations of the Advisor. The Advisor represents that: (a) the Advisor has been duly appointed by the Board to provide investment services to the Fund Assets as contemplated in this Agreement; (b) the Advisor has all necessary power and authority to


execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement on behalf of the Trust, and such execution, delivery, and performance will not violate any applicable law, regulation, organizational document, policy, or agreement binding on the Trust or its property; (c) the Trust has the full power and authority to enter into all transactions contemplated under this Agreement, to perform its obligations under such transactions and to authorize the Advisor to procure the Sub-Advisor to enter into such transactions on the Trust’s and Fund’s behalf; (d) the Advisor’s decision to appoint the Sub-Advisor was made in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law and the governing documents, contracts, or other material agreements or instruments governing the Fund’s investment or trading activities; (e) the Advisor will deliver to the Sub-Advisor a true and complete copy of the Fund’s Disclosure Documents, such other documents or instruments governing the investments of Fund Assets, and such other information as is necessary for the Sub-Advisor to carry out its obligations under this Agreement; and (f) the Trust is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

6.
Use of Names.

a.      Neither the Advisor nor the Trust shall use the name of the Sub-Advisor in any prospectus, sales literature, or other material relating to the Advisor or the Trust in any manner not approved in advance by the Sub-Advisor; provided, however, that the Sub- Advisor will approve all uses of its name which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment or which are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or a state securities commission; and provided further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld.

b.      The Sub-Advisor shall not use the name of the Advisor or the Trust in any material relating to the Sub-Advisor in any manner not approved in advance by the Advisor or the Trust, as the case may be; provided, however, that the Advisor and the Trust will each approve all uses of their respective names which merely refer in accurate terms to the appointment of the Sub-Advisor as the Fund’s Sub-Advisor under this Agreement or which are required by the SEC or a state securities commission; and, provided further, that in no event shall such approval be unreasonably withheld.

c.      Upon termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 12, the Advisor shall cease using any references to the Sub-Advisor in Fund and Advisor documents unless such reference is required by law. Similarly, the Sub-Advisor shall cease using any references to the Advisor or Fund in any documents unless such reference is required by law. For purposes of this paragraph, documents include but are not limited to, marketing materials, regulatory filings, and performance reporting.

7. Liability of the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Advisor, and all their affiliated persons (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the





1940 Act) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15 of the 1933 Act) against any and all direct losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (including reasonable legal and other expenses) (collectively, “Losses”) incurred by reason of or arising out of: (a) the Sub- Advisor being in material violation of any applicable federal or state law, rule, or regulation or any investment policy or restriction set forth in the Fund’s Disclosure Documents or any written


guidelines or instruction provided in writing by the Board; or (b) the Sub-Advisor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.

8. Liability of the Advisor. The Advisor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Advisor and all affiliated persons (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15 of the 1933 Act) against any and all direct Losses incurred by reason of or arising out of: (a) the Advisor being in material violation of any applicable federal or state law, rule, or regulation; or (b) the Advisor’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.

9. Limitation of Trust’s Liability. The Sub-Advisor acknowledges that it has received notice of and accepts the limitations upon the Trust’s liability set forth in its Declaration of Trust. The Sub-Advisor agrees that (i) the Trust’s obligations to the Sub-Advisor under this Agreement (or indirectly under the Advisory Agreement) shall be limited in any event to the Fund Assets and (ii) the Sub-Advisor shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders of the Fund, other than the Advisor, nor from any Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust.

10. Force Majeure. The Sub-Advisor shall not be liable for delays or errors occurring by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, work stoppages, fire, flood, catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riot, or failure of communication or power supply. In the event of equipment breakdowns beyond its control, the Sub-Advisor shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions.

11. Confidentiality. Each party expressly undertakes to protect and to preserve the confidentiality of all information and know-how made available under or in connection with this Agreement, or the parties’ activities that are either designated as being confidential or which, by the nature of the circumstances surrounding the disclosure, ought in good faith to be treated as proprietary or confidential (collectively, the “Confidential Information”). Each party shall take reasonable security precautions, at least as great as the precautions it takes to protect its own confidential information but in any event using a commercially reasonable standard of care, to keep confidential the Confidential Information. Neither party shall disclose Confidential Information except: (a) to its employees, directors, officers, legal advisors, or auditors having a need to know such Confidential Information in furtherance of the objectives set forth under this Agreement; (b) in accordance with a judicial or other governmental order or when such disclosure is required by law, provided that prior to such disclosure the receiving party shall provide the disclosing party with written notice and shall comply with any protective order or equivalent; or (c) in accordance with a regulatory audit or inquiry, without prior notice to the disclosing party, provided that the receiving party shall obtain a confidentiality undertaking from the regulatory agency where possible.





Further, neither party shall use the other’s Confidential Information regarding prospective or current client lists for reasons other than in furtherance of this Agreement and will not use such Confidential Information to solicit, market or advertise to such clients without the express written consent of the other party. Each party agrees to act in


good faith and will not use the Confidential Information of the other to interfere with the other’s then current or prospective commercial relationships with such clients.

Neither party will make use of any Confidential Information except as expressly authorized in this Agreement or as agreed to in writing between the parties. However, the receiving party shall have no obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information that: (a) it received rightfully from another party prior to its receipt from the disclosing party; (b) the disclosing party discloses generally without any obligation of confidentiality; (c) is or subsequently becomes publicly available without the receiving party’s breach of any obligation owed the disclosing party; or (d) is independently developed by the receiving party without reliance upon or use of any Confidential Information. Each party’s obligations under this clause shall survive for a period of three years following the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, each party to this Agreement may disclose any information with respect to the United States federal income tax treatment and tax structure (and any fact that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transaction) of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.

12.
Renewal, Termination and Amendment.

a.      This Agreement shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated under this Agreement, through November 30, 2020; and it shall thereafter continue for successive annual terms provided that such continuance is specifically approved by the parties and, in addition, at least annually by (i) the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or (ii) by vote of a majority of the Trust’s Board including the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of either the Advisor or the Sub-Advisor, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

b.      This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, (i) by the Advisor upon not more than 60-days’ nor less than 30-days’ prior written notice delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the Sub-Advisor; (ii) by the Sub- Advisor upon not less than 60-days’ prior written notice delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the Advisor; or (iii) by the Trust, upon either (y) the majority vote of the Board or (z) the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.

c.      This Agreement may be amended at any time by the parties, subject to approval by the Board and, if required by applicable SEC rules and regulations, a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund affected by such change.






d.      The terms “assignment,” “interested persons” and “majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the meaning set forth for such terms in the 1940 Act.


13. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall become or shall be found to be invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected.

14. Notice. Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent to the address or facsimile number, as applicable, of the party receiving such notice or instruction and
(a) delivered personally; (b) sent by electronic mail (“email”) or facsimile transmission, with notice or confirmation of receipt received; (c) delivered by a nationally recognized overnight courier; or (d) sent by prepaid first-class mail. Until further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the addresses of the parties shall be:

Trust and Advisor :
303    Broadway,    Suite    1100,    Cincinnati,    OH    45202,    Attn: President, Touchstone Investments
With a copies to: Tim.Paulin@TouchstoneInvestments.com and Meredyth.Whitford@WSLife.com

Sub-Advisor :
Bramshill    Investments,    LLC,    Attn:    Chief    Executive    Officer,    411 Hackensack Avenue, 9 th Fl., Hackensack, NJ 07601

15. Miscellaneous. Each party agrees to perform such further actions and execute such further documents as are necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Ohio. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or delimit any of the Agreement provisions or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including any attached Schedules, constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the parties with respect to the Agreement’s subject matter.

17. Customer Notification . By executing this Agreement, the Advisor acknowledges that as required by the Advisers Act the Sub-Advisor has supplied to the Advisor and the Trust copies of the Sub-Advisor’s Form ADV with all exhibits and attachments (including the Sub-Advisor’s statement of financial condition, if required) and will promptly supply to the Advisor copies of all amendments or restatements of such document.

Signatures on next page.








The parties’ duly authorized officers have signed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first above written.

TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC.


BY: /s/ Steven Graziano         BY: /s/ Timothy D. Paulin     
Name: Steven Graziano         Name: Timothy D. Paulin      Title: President         Title: Senior Vice President     


BRAMSHILL INVESTMENTS LLC


BY: /s/ Steven Selver     
Name: Steven Selver      Title: CEO    



Schedule C
Dated April 30, 2019
To The
Expense Limitation Agreement
Dated July 29, 2013
Between
Touchstone Strategic Trust and Touchstone Advisors, Inc.


FYE 12/31
Class
Expense Limit
Termination Date
Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund
A
1.55%
April 30, 2020
 
C
2.30%
April 30, 2020
 
Y
1.30%
April 30, 2020
 
Institutional
1.25%
April 30, 2020
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund
A
0.49%
April 30, 2020
 
C
1.24%
April 30, 2020
 
Y
0.24%
April 30, 2020
Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
A
0.49%
April 30, 2020
 
C
1.24%
April 30, 2020
 
Y
0.24%
April 30, 2020
Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
A
0.49%
April 30, 2020
 
C
1.24%
April 30, 2020
 
Y
0.24%
April 30, 2020


This Schedule C to the Expense Limitation Agreement is hereby executed as of the date first set forth above.




 
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST
 
 
 


 
By:
/s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




Terrie A. Wiedenheft
Controller and Treasurer
 
 
 
 
TOUCHSTONE ADVISORS, INC.
 
 
 
 


 
 
By:
/s/ Steven M. Graziano
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




Steven M. Graziano
President

 
By:
/s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
Chief Financial Officer




CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the references to our firm under the captions “Financial Highlights” in the Prospectus and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and “Financial Statements” in the Statement of Additional Information and to the incorporation by reference of our report dated February 19, 2019 on the financial statements and financial highlights of Touchstone Strategic Trust (comprising, respectively, Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund, Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund, Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund and Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund), included in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, in Post-Effective Amendment Number 197 to the Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (Form N-1A, No. 002-80859), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Cincinnati, Ohio
April 25, 2019




TOUCHSTONE FUNDS GROUP TRUST
TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST

AMENDED AND RESTATED RULE 18F-3
MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN

Touchstone Funds Group Trust and Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trusts”), registered investment companies that currently consist of a number of separately managed series, have elected to rely on Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), in offering multiple classes of units of beneficial interest (“Shares”) in each series as set forth on Schedule A hereto (each a “Fund” and together the “Funds”) to persons who may from time to time beneficially own Shares (“Shareholders”). The Board of Trustees of the Trusts (the “Trustees”) may add Funds to and/or delete Funds from Schedule A, or discontinue the offering of classes of Shares of the Funds, from time to time.
A.
Attributes of Share Classes
1.      The rights of each class of Shares of the Funds shall be as set forth in the respective Certificate of Class Designation for each class (each a “Certificate”) as each such Certificate is approved by the Trustees and attached hereto as an Exhibit.
2.      With respect to each class of Shares created hereunder, each Share of a Fund will represent an equal pro rata interest in the Fund’s assets and liabilities, including income, realized gains and losses, and unrealized appreciation and depreciation, and will have identical terms, conditions, rights, and obligations, except (i) as set forth in the Certificate relating to such class; (ii) each new class will have a different class name (or other designation) that identifies the class as separate from any other class; (iii) each class will be offered and sold only to investors meeting the qualifications set forth in the Certificate and disclosed in a Fund’s current prospectus, as supplemented (“Prospectus”); and (iv) Shareholders of each class will have exclusive voting rights regarding any matter submitted to Shareholders that relates solely to such class (such as a 12b-1 Plan, defined below), and will have separate voting rights on any matter submitted to Shareholders in which the interests of that class differ from the interests of any other class.
B.
Expense Allocations
With respect to each Fund, the expenses of each class shall be allocated as follows: (i) each class will bear the expenses of the Fund’s operations which are directly attributable to such class, incurred in a different amount by that class, or to the extent that the class receives services of a different kind or to a different degree than other classes (“Class Expenses”), provided that Class Expenses shall not include advisory fees or other expenses related to the management of the Fund’s assets or custodial fees; (ii) each class will separately bear any distribution fees that are payable in connection with a distribution plan regarding that class adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (a “12b-1 Plan”), and separately bear any other service fees that are payable under any service agreement entered into with respect to that class which are not contemplated by or within the scope of the 12b-1 Plan; and (iii) any incremental transfer agency fees relating to a particular class are (or will be) borne exclusively by that class.





Non-class specific expenses of a Fund shall be allocated on the basis of the relative net assets of the classes thereof.
C.
Amendment of Plan; Periodic Review
This Plan must be amended to properly describe (through additional Exhibits hereto) each new class of Shares upon its approval by the Trustees.
The Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act, must approve any material amendment of the Plan as it relates to any class of any Fund covered by the Plan. In approving any material amendment to the Plan, the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, must find that the amendment is in the best interests of each class individually and the Trust as a whole.
* * * * *

As Amended: January 1, 2019
              

CHICAGO/#3087852.4



AMENDED SCHEDULE A
to the
AMENDED AND RESTATED RULE 18F-3
MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN
Dated November 16, 2018

The Trusts’ Funds and Classes that are currently offered are listed below:

Trust
Funds
Class A
Class C
Class Y
Class Z
Institutional Class
Class S
Touchstone Funds Group Trust
Touchstone Active Bond Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Arbitrage Fund

x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone High Yield Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Merger Arbitrage Fund

x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Mid Cap Fund
x
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Mid Cap Value Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Premium Yield Equity Fund
x
x
x
 
 
 
Touchstone Sands Capital Select Growth Fund
x
x
x
x
 
 
Touchstone Small Cap Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Small Cap Value Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Anti-Benchmark International Core Equity Fund
 
 
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Anti-Benchmark US Core Equity Fund
 
 
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Impact Bond Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Ultra Short Duration Fixed Income Fund
x
x
x
x
x
x










Trust
Funds
Class A
Class C
Class Y
Institutional
Class
Class
R6
Touchstone Strategic Trust

Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
x
x
x
 
 
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund
x
x
x
 
 
Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
x
x
x
 
 
Touchstone Value Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Focused Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone International Small Cap Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Sustainability and Impact Equity Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone International Value Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Large Cap Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Credit Opportunities Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone International Growth Opportunities Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Balanced Fund
x
x
x
 
 
Touchstone International Equity Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Large Cap Focused Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Small Company Fund
x
x
x
x
x









This Amended Schedule A to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan is executed as of the date first set forth above.

 
TOUCHSTONE FUNDS GROUP TRUST and  TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST , each by itself and on behalf of the series listed in this Schedule A
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name:
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
Title:
Treasurer and Controller
 
 
 

    






EXHIBIT A

CERTIFICATE OF CLASS DESIGNATION

Class A Shares

1.
Class-Specific Distribution and Servicing Arrangements; Other Expenses.

Class A Shares are offered at the then-current net asset value plus a front-end sales charge, if any. The front-end sales charge shall be in such amount as is disclosed in a Fund’s current Prospectus and shall be subject to such reductions for larger purchasers and such waivers or reductions as are disclosed in a Fund’s current Prospectus or Prospectus supplement. Class A shares are subject to annual distribution and service fees as set forth in a Fund’s then-effective plan of distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and current Prospectus.
2.
Eligibility of Purchasers

Class A Shares are subject to the minimum purchase requirements as set forth in a Fund’s current Prospectus.

3.
Exchange Privileges

Class A Shares are subject to the exchange privileges as set forth in a Fund’s current Prospectus.

4.
Voting Rights

Each Class A shareholder will have one vote for each full Share held and a fractional vote for each fractional Share held. Class A Shareholders will have exclusive voting rights regarding any matter submitted to Shareholders that relates solely to Class A (such as a distribution plan), and will have separate voting rights on any other matter submitted to Shareholders in which the interests of the Class A Shareholders differ from the interests of holders of any other class.

5.
Conversion Rights

Class A Shares do not have a conversion feature.

6.
Redemption Fee

Class A Shares may be subject to a redemption fee as disclosed in a Fund’s current Prospectus.





EXHIBIT B

CERTIFICATE OF CLASS DESIGNATION

Class C Shares

1.
Class-Specific Distribution and Servicing Arrangements; Other Expenses.

Class C Shares are offered at the then-current net asset value without a front-end sales charge, but are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) in such amount as is disclosed in a Fund’s current Prospectus, which may waived or reduced as disclosed in a Fund’s current Prospectus or statement of additional information. Class C Shares are also subject to annual distribution and service fees as set forth in a Fund’s then-effective plan of distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and current Prospectus.
2.
Eligibility of Purchasers

Class C Shares are subject to the minimum purchase requirements as set forth in a Fund’s current Prospectus.

3.
Exchange Privileges

Class C Shares are subject to the exchange privileges as set forth in a Fund’s current Prospectus.

4.
Voting Rights

Each Class C shareholder will have one vote for each full Share held and a fractional vote for each fractional Share held. Class C Shareholders will have exclusive voting rights regarding any matter submitted to Shareholders that relates solely to Class C (such as a distribution plan), and will have separate voting rights on any other matter submitted to Shareholders in which the interests of the Class C Shareholders differ from the interests of holders of any other class.

5.
Conversion Rights

Class C Shares will automatically convert to Class A Shares at the end of a specified number of years as described in a Fund’s current Prospectus.

6.
Redemption Fee

Class C Shares may be subject to a redemption fee as disclosed in a Fund’s current Prospectus.





EXHIBIT C

CERTIFICATE OF CLASS DESIGNATION

Class Y Shares

1.
Class-Specific Distribution and Servicing Arrangements; Other Expenses.

Class Y Shares are offered at the then-current net asset value without a sales charge and are not subject to Rule 12b-1 or shareholder servicing fees.

2.
Eligibility of Purchasers

Class Y Shares are subject to the minimum purchase requirements as set forth in a Fund’s current Prospectus.

3.
Exchange Privileges

Class Y Shares are subject to the exchange privileges as set forth in a Fund’s current Prospectus.

4.
Voting Rights

Each Class Y shareholder will have one vote for each full Class Y Share held and a fractional vote for each fractional Share held. Class Y Shareholders will have exclusive voting rights regarding any matter submitted to Shareholders that relates solely to Class Y (such as a distribution plan relating to Class Y), and will have separate voting rights on any other matter submitted to Shareholders in which the interests of Class Y Shareholders differ from the interests of holders of any other class.

5.
Conversion Rights

Class Y Shares do not have a conversion feature.

6.
Redemption Fee

Class Y Shares may be subject to a redemption fee as disclosed in a Fund’s current Prospectus.





EXHIBIT D

CERTIFICATE OF CLASS DESIGNATION

Class Z Shares

1.
Class-Specific Distribution and Servicing Arrangements; Other Expenses.

Class Z Shares are offered at the then-current net asset value without a sales charge, but are subject to shareholder servicing fees as set forth in a Fund’s then-effective Shareholder Services Plan (the “Plan”) and current Prospectus.

2.
Eligibility of Purchasers

Class Z Shares are subject to the minimum purchase requirements as set forth in a Fund’s current Prospectus. Effective November 18, 2006, Class Z Shares will be closed to new fund direct investors; however, Class Z shareholders with accounts existing on or before November 17, 2006 are permitted to continue to invest in Class Z Shares.

3.
Exchange Privileges

Class Z Shares may be exchanged for Class A Shares of any other Fund of the Trust, without the assessment of the applicable Class A Share front-end sales charge, in accordance with the procedures disclosed in the Fund’s Prospectus and subject to any applicable limitations resulting from the closing of Funds to new investors. For Class Z Shareholders with accounts existing on or before November 17, 2006, Class Z Shares may be exchanged for Class Z Shares of any other Fund of the Trust in accordance with the procedures disclosed in the Fund’s Prospectus and subject to any applicable limitations resulting from the closing of Funds to new investors.

4.
Voting Rights

Each Class Z shareholder will have one vote for each full Class Z Share held and a fractional vote for each fractional Share held. Class Z Shareholders will have exclusive voting rights regarding any matter submitted to Shareholders that relates solely to Class Z (such as a distribution plan relating to Class Z), and will have separate voting rights on any other matter submitted to Shareholders in which the interests of Class Z Shareholders differ from the interests of holders of any other class.

5.
Conversion Rights

Class Z Shares do not have a conversion feature.

6.
Redemption Fee

Class Z Shares may be subject to a redemption fee as disclosed in a Fund’s current Prospectus.






EXHIBIT E

CERTIFICATE OF CLASS DESIGNATION

Institutional Shares

1.    Class-Specific Distribution and Servicing Arrangements; Other Expenses.

Institutional Shares are offered at the then-current net asset value without a sales charge and are not subject to Rule 12b-1 or shareholder servicing fees.

2. Eligibility of Purchasers

Institutional Shares are subject to the minimum purchase requirements as set forth in a Fund’s current Prospectus.

3.
Exchange Privileges

Institutional Shares are subject to the exchange privileges as set forth in a Fund’s current Prospectus.

4.
Voting Rights

Each Institutional shareholder will have one vote for each full Institutional Share held and a fractional vote for each fractional Share held. Institutional Shareholders will have exclusive voting rights regarding any matter submitted to Shareholders that relates solely to Institutional Shares (such as a distribution plan relating to Institutional Shares), and will have separate voting rights on any other matter submitted to Shareholders in which the interests of Institutional Shareholders differ from the interests of holders of any other class.

5.
Conversion Rights

Institutional Shares do not have a conversion feature.

6.
Redemption Fee

Institutional Shares may be subject to a redemption fee as disclosed in a Fund’s current Prospectus.





EXHIBIT F

CERTIFICATE OF CLASS DESIGNATION

Class S Shares

1.    Class-Specific Distribution and Servicing Arrangements; Other Expenses.

Class S Shares are offered are offered at the then-current net asset value without a sales charge, but are subject to annual distribution and service fees as set forth in each Fund’s then-effective plan of distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act and current Prospectus.
2.
Eligibility of Purchasers

Class S Shares are subject to the minimum purchase requirements as set forth in a Fund’s current Prospectus.

3.
Exchange Privileges

Class S Shares are subject to the exchange privileges as set forth in a Fund’s current Prospectus.

4.
Voting Rights

Each Class S shareholder will have one vote for each Class S Share held and a fractional vote for each fractional Share held. Class S Shareholders will have exclusive voting rights regarding any matter submitted to Shareholders that relates solely to Class S Shares (such as a distribution plan relating to Class S Shares), and will have separate voting rights on any other matter submitted to Shareholders in which the interests of Class S Shareholders differ from the interests of holders of any other class.

5.
Conversion Rights

Class S Shares do not have a conversion feature.

6.
Redemption Fee

Class S Shares may be subject to a redemption fee as disclosed in the Fund’s Prospectus.






EXHIBIT G

CERTIFICATE OF CLASS DESIGNATION

Class R6 Shares

1.    Class-Specific Distribution and Servicing Arrangements; Other Expenses.

Class R6 Shares are offered at the then-current net asset value without a sales charge and are not subject to Rule 12b-1 or shareholder servicing fees.
2.
Eligibility of Purchasers

Class R6 Shares of a Fund are subject to the minimum and subsequent purchase amount and Shareholder eligibility requirements as set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus.

3.
Exchange Privileges

Class R6 Shares of a Fund may only be exchanged for shares of another investment company as provided for in the Fund’s Prospectus.

4.
Conversion Rights

Class R6 Shares do not have a conversion feature.

5.
Redemption Fee

Class R6 Shares of a Fund may be subject to a redemption fee as disclosed in the Fund’s Prospectus.




AMENDED SCHEDULE A
to the
AMENDED AND RESTATED RULE 18F-3
MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN
Dated November 16, 2018

The Trusts’ Funds and Classes that are currently offered are listed below:

Trust
Funds
Class A
Class C
Class Y
Class Z
Institutional Class
Class S
Touchstone Funds Group Trust
Touchstone Active Bond Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Arbitrage Fund

x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone High Yield Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Merger Arbitrage Fund

x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Mid Cap Fund
x
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Mid Cap Value Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Premium Yield Equity Fund
x
x
x
 
 
 
Touchstone Sands Capital Select Growth Fund
x
x
x
x
 
 
Touchstone Small Cap Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Small Cap Value Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Anti-Benchmark International Core Equity Fund
 
 
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Anti-Benchmark US Core Equity Fund
 
 
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Impact Bond Fund
x
x
x
 
x
 
Touchstone Ultra Short Duration Fixed Income Fund
x
x
x
x
x
x








Trust
Funds
Class A
Class C
Class Y
Institutional
Class
Class
R6
Touchstone Strategic Trust

Touchstone Dynamic Equity Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Dynamic Diversified Income Fund
x
x
x
 
 
Touchstone Controlled Growth with Income Fund
x
x
x
 
 
Touchstone Dynamic Global Allocation Fund
x
x
x
 
 
Touchstone Value Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Focused Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone International Small Cap Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Sustainability and Impact Equity Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone International Value Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Large Cap Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Credit Opportunities Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Large Cap Growth Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone International Growth Opportunities Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Ohio Tax-Free Bond Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Balanced Fund
x
x
x
 
 
Touchstone International Equity Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Large Cap Focused Fund
x
x
x
x
 
Touchstone Small Company Fund
x
x
x
x
x




This Amended Schedule A to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan is executed as of the date first set forth above.




 
TOUCHSTONE FUNDS GROUP TRUST and  TOUCHSTONE STRATEGIC TRUST , each by itself and on behalf of the series listed in this Schedule A
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name:
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
 
Title:
Treasurer and Controller
 
 
 




Wilshire Associates Incorporated Code of Ethics

September 2018


GENERAL PRINCIPLES

The Code of Ethics (the “Code”) for Wilshire Associates Incorporated (“Wilshire or the “Firm”) has been adopted in compliance with the requirements of the Investment Advisers Act Rule 204A-1 and Investment Company Act Rule 17j-1. The principles emphasize Wilshire’s overarching fiduciary duty to our investment management and consulting clients and the obligation of the Firm’s personnel to uphold that fundamental duty. Wilshire “Personnel” (including employees, directors and relevant agents) may have additional responsibilities as outlined in Wilshire’s Compliance Manual (the Manual”). The Code includes securities- related conduct and focuses principally on personal securities transactions, insider trading, and securities reporting requirements.

The general principles include:

1.
The duty at all times to place the interests of clients first;

2.
The requirement that all personal securities transactions be conducted in such a manner as to be consistent with the Code and to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of Personnel’s position of trust and responsibility;

3.
The principle that investment adviser personnel should not take inappropriate advantage of their positions;

4.
The principle that information concerning the identity of security holdings and financial circumstances of clients is confidential; and

5.
The principle that independence in the investment decision-making process is paramount.

In addition, Wilshire places great importance on the Firm’s reputation, as well as principles of honesty, integrity, and professionalism. Failure to comply with Wilshire’s Code may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

The Code is not exhaustive; it provides guidance for all Personnel to carry out their responsibilities on behalf of Wilshire and observe the highest standards of ethical conduct. Because the Code does not address every possible situation, it is important that all Personnel exercise good judgment, apply ethical principles and raise questions when in doubt. It is possible to adhere to the technical requirements of the Code, while still violating the spirit. For example, an access person may not engage in a series of trades, each of which meet the de minimis guidelines, but in aggregate can be deemed to constitute a

single transaction intended to circumvent the pre-clearance requirement. In addition, pre- clearance cannot negate an access person ’s affirmative duty to not trade based on information obtained through employment at Wilshire. Such activity should be avoided.





SCOPE OF THE CODE

A.
Persons Covered by the Code . Wilshire has designated two categories of persons covered by the Code. Rule 204A-1 requires the Code to cover an adviser’s “supervised persons.” A subset of supervised persons known as “access persons” are required to comply with specific reporting requirements under both Rule 204A-1 and Rule 17j-1.

1.
Supervised Person includes:

a.
Directors and officers of Wilshire (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions);

b.
Employees of Wilshire; and

c.
Any other person who acts as an agent on behalf of Wilshire and is subject to Wilshire’s supervision and control (including temporary workers; consultants; certain employees of affiliates; or particular persons designated by the Chief Compliance Officer).

2.
Access Person includes:

a.
All members of Wilshire’s Board of Directors;

b.
Any supervised person who has access to nonpublic information regarding any clients’ purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any reportable fund; or

c.
Any supervised person who is involved in making securities recommendations to clients, or has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic.


3.
Access Person for Mutual Funds includes:

a.
Directors, officers and trustees of the Investment Companies; and

b.
“Advisory persons” –employees and certain control persons (and their employees) who make, participate in, or obtain information regarding fund securities transactions or whose functions relate to the making of recommendations with respect to Investment Company transactions.

c.
Exempt from this definition are Directors of Wilshire’s advised Investment Companies who are not employees of Wilshire or the Investment Companies, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act, and who

do not have access to confidential information regarding client security transactions or recommendations (“Independent Fund Directors”).

B.
Securities Covered by the Code . Covered Security means any stock, bond, future, investment contract or any other instrument that is considered a “security” under




the Investment Advisers Act. The term “ Covered Security ” is very broad and includes items you might not ordinarily think of as “securities,” such as:

1.
Options on securities, on indexes, and on currencies;

2.
All kinds of limited partnerships;

3.
Foreign unit trusts and foreign mutual funds; and

4.
Private investment funds, hedge funds, and investment clubs.

Covered Security does not include:

1.
Direct obligations of the U.S. government ( e.g., treasury securities);

2.
Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high quality short-term debt obligations, including repurchase agreements;

3.
Shares issued by money market funds;

4.
Shares of open-end mutual funds that are not advised or sub-advised by Wilshire (or certain affiliates, where applicable); and

5.
Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds, none of which are advised or sub-advised by Wilshire (or certain affiliates, where applicable).

STANDARDS OF BUSINESS CONDUCT

A.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations. All supervised persons must respect and obey all of the laws, rules and regulations applicable to our business, including those applicable to, without limitation, investment advisers, investment companies, securities transactions, and other federal and state laws. The Manual is designed specifically to meet applicable laws, rules and regulations and all supervised persons are required to be familiar and comply with the requirements in that manual. Likewise, all supervised persons are responsible for being familiar and complying with the procedures applicable to their business unit. Although you are not expected to know the details of each law governing our business, you are expected to be familiar with and comply with the company-wide policies and procedures and those that apply to your business unit. When in doubt, seek advice from supervisors, managers or other appropriate personnel as outlined in the Code.

1.
S upervised persons are not permitted, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of a security held or to be acquired by an Investment

Company, as defined by the Investment Company Act, to which Wilshire is an investment adviser:

a.
To engage in any act, practice or course of conduct which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon such client;





b.
To mislead clients, including by making a statement that omits material facts;

c.
To engage in any manipulative practice with respect to a client; or

d.
To engage in any manipulative practice with respect to securities, including price manipulation.

B.
Personal Securities Transactions. All access persons, in their personal securities transactions, are subject to Wilshire’s Personal Trading Policies, as defined in the Manual and detailed in this Code.

C.
Designated Broker Program. To facilitate implementation of Wilshire’s Code, all employees are required to maintain Securities Accounts with a brokerage firm approved by Wilshire and which provides data feeds to Schwab CT. A list of Wilshire approved Designated Brokerages can be found in Schwab CT under Forms. Wilshire also has special arrangements with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), TD Ameritrade (“TD Ameritrade”) and Fidelity Investments (“Fidelity”) which may be beneficial to its employees. For more information contact Compliance or visit the designated sites:

Schwab: www.schwab.com/803268
TD Ameritrade: http://www.tdameritrade.com/dbs/wilshire.html
Fidelity: www.fidelity.com/non-finra-firms

Accounts for the above listed brokerage firms should be opened through the relevant Wilshire links or as otherwise instructed by Compliance. Additional paperwork may be required to provide Compliance access to your accounts. Please inform Compliance once your account has been opened.

A “Securities Account” is an account in which reportable securities can be held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Personnel or an “Applicable Related Party”. An “Applicable Related Party” is the Personnel’s spouse, domestic partner, and any minor children. In addition, there is a rebuttable presumption that any other relative or dependents living with the Personnel are also an Applicable Related Party. Reportable securities include all securities, except: (i) Transactions and holdings in direct obligations of the government of the United States; (ii) Money market instruments — bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, repurchase agreements and other high quality short-term debt instruments; (iii) Shares of money market funds; (iv) Transactions and holdings in shares of open-end mutual funds, unless the adviser or a control affiliate acts as the investment adviser or principal underwriter for the fund (The Wilshire Mutual Funds); and (v) Transactions in units of a unit investment trust if the unit investment trust is invested exclusively in unaffiliated mutual funds. You are required to report shares of mutual funds advised by Wilshire or Wilshire’s affiliates.


Personnel with Securities Account(s) not approved by Wilshire are required to either transfer their account to an approved firm within two weeks of their hire date or to request an exception in writing from Compliance by submitting a Designated Brokerage Account Exception through Schwab CT. Exceptions are rare and will be provided exclusively at the discretion of Compliance. If provided with an exception it is your responsibility to ensure Compliance is provided with the relevant




information to ensure your compliance with the Code in any manner as reasonably requested from Compliance.

Annually, all Personnel will be required to certify in writing that they are aware of Wilshire’s policies and procedures regarding personal securities accounts and have complied with these policies and procedures during the preceding year.

D.
IPOs and Private Offerings. In addition, access persons are required to pre-clear participation in all initial public offerings (“IPOs”) and private offerings. Prior approval should take into account, among other factors, whether the opportunity is being offered to an individual by virtue of his or her position with the adviser. The Chief Compliance Officer, or his/her designee, shall review all such requests and render a decision to approve or decline the request. Documentation of any approvals and the reason supporting the approvals will be maintained in the Compliance Department files.
E.
Trading. In the normal course of business, Wilshire Personnel may come into possession of material nonpublic information about various companies. It is illegal under various securities laws to trade in a security while in possession of material non-public information ("Insider Trading "); "), to share material non-public information with another person ("Tipping") or to assist anyone to engage in such behavior. Insider Trading and Tipping are subject to both criminal and civil prosecution and could result in criminal and or civil prosecution of Wilshire as well as the Personnel involved. All supervised persons are prohibited from Insider Trading and from Tipping.

1.
Material Non-Public Information.

Whether a particular item of information is material may depend on how specific it is, the extent to which it differs from public information, and its reliability in light of its source, its nature, and the circumstances under which it was received. When information relates to a possible future event, materiality is determined by balancing the probability of occurrence of the event and the anticipated magnitude of the event in light of the totality of the activity of the company affected. Whether information is material is difficult to evaluate in the abstract and is generally assessed on the basis of hindsight. Generally, information is "material" if it would be likely to affect the Company's stock price, or if it would be relevant to a reasonable investor in making a decision about whether to buy, hold or sell a security. Either positive or negative information may be material. Assuming that it is not publicly known, examples of material inside information could be:

a.
Financial results and other earnings information;

b.
Financial forecasts and plans;


c.
Possible acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and other major transactions;

d.
Major personnel or management changes;

e.
Information that would have an impact on earnings (such as unanticipated write-downs or gains and operating losses or gains including underfunded pensions);





f.
The gain or loss of a significant customer or supplier;

g.
A major lawsuit or governmental investigation;

h.
Development of a significant new product or process;

i.
Significant labor disputes;

j.
A change in auditor, substantial changes in accounting methodologies or auditor notification that an issuer may no longer rely on an audit report;

k.
A new issuance of stock or debt or other significant financing developments (e.g. defaults, repurchase plans, stock splits); and

l.
A possible change in control.

Material information about a security should be considered to be non-public unless there is a certainty that it is publicly available, for example the information has been disclosed in the press, in a public filing made with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") (such as a report filed on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K) or in materials sent to shareholders (such as an annual report, investor letter, prospectus or proxy statement).

All non-public information relating to this Firm's activities, including investment analyses, investment recommendations, and proposed and actual trades for the Firm or our clients, is proprietary to the Firm, must be kept confidential and should be treated as material, nonpublic information - that is, you must not trade on it for your own account, and you must not disclose it to anyone inside or outside the Firm who does not need the information in the course of our business.

2.
Transactions.

All Personnel of the Firm are prohibited from trading, for themselves, the Firm or any client, in any security while in possession of material, nonpublic information. Limited exceptions to this policy may exist (depending on the circumstances). However, any and all transactions that would be exceptions must be cleared in advance by the Chief Compliance Officer in accordance with the pre-clearance procedure detailed below.

If at any time you believe that you may have come into possession of material, nonpublic information, or if you believe the Firm's activities may have created material, nonpublic information, the following procedures must be followed:

a.
Immediately cease all trading in securities of the company that is the subject of the material, nonpublic information, including trading on behalf of the Firm and its clients, and trading in any accounts in which you have any interest or over which you have discretion.

b.
Immediately cease recommending any transaction in any of the securities of the subject company to anyone, including clients of the Firm and your business associates, friends or relatives. This prohibition includes making




any comment about the Firm that could in any way be interpreted as a recommendation. Do not solicit clients or potential clients to buy or sell the securities.

c.
Immediately inform the Chief Compliance Officer of all details of the situation, so that appropriate security procedures can be implemented firm wide. Do not discuss the material nonpublic information with anyone except as required by these policies, and especially avoid referring to the information in hallways, elevators, restaurants, taxis or any other place where you may be overheard.

F.
Political Contributions (For U.S. Citizens). Employees may participate in the political process and may make personal political contributions, as long as their political activities are conducted in accordance with the law and Wilshire policy, as detailed in the Compliance Manual, Section IX, Undue Influence and Anti-Corruption.

G.
Conflicts of Interest. Wilshire seeks to mitigate conflicts of interest through appropriate controls, transparency and oversight. Wilshire generally manages conflicts of interest through disclosure and/or acknowledgement, and through the imposition of Ethical Walls within the Wilshire organization. For more complete details, please see our “Conflicts of Interest” policies and procedures. (Appendix II).
H.
Confidentiality. All confidentiality provisions start with the basic premise that information concerning the identity of security holdings and financial circumstances of clients is confidential.

1.
Wilshire’s Duties. Wilshire keeps all information about clients (including former clients) in accordance with the policy detailed in the Compliance Manual, Section II., Company Property, Proprietary Information and Confidentiality.

2.
Supervised Persons’ Duties. Supervised persons are prohibited from disclosing to persons outside the Firm any material nonpublic information about any client, the securities investments made by the Firm on behalf of a client, information about contemplated securities transactions, or information regarding the Firm’s trading strategies, except as required to effectuate

securities transactions on behalf of a client or for other legitimate business purposes (including adherence to Investment Company policies).

3.
Internal Walls. Access persons are prohibited from disclosing nonpublic information concerning clients or securities transactions and holdings to non- access persons within the Firm, except for legitimate business purposes (including adherence to Investment Company policies).





COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND RECORDKEEPING

Wilshire utilizes Schwab Compliance Technologies (“SchwabCT”), a third- party system, to report and maintain records required to be kept for the Code, as set forth below.


A.
Affirmation of Compliance.

1.
Initial Affirmation. Wilshire is required to provide all supervised persons with a copy of the Code. All supervised persons shall affirm that they have: (a) received a copy of the Code; (b) read and understand all provisions of the Code; and (c) agreed to comply with the terms of the Code. The most current copy of the Code is maintained for employee access in SchwabCT.

2.
Acknowledgement of Amendments. Wilshire shall provide supervised person s with any amendments to the Code and supervised persons shall be required to affirm on SchwabCT that they have received, read, and understood the amendments to the Code.

3.
Annual Affirmation . All supervised persons shall annually affirm that they have read, understood, and complied with the Code. In addition, the affirmation shall include a representation that the supervised person has made all of the reports required by the Code and has not engaged in any prohibited conduct. Conversely, if any Personnel are unable to make such a representation, they are required to self-report any violations.

B.
Personal Securities Transaction Procedures and Reporting.

1.
Monitoring of Personal Securities Transactions . The Compliance Department is responsible for reviewing personal securities transactions and holdings reports of all access persons .

2.
Restricted Companies List. To assist in implementing the Personal Trading Policies and Wilshire’s Code, Compliance shall maintain and publish a Restricted Companies List (“RCL”) of securities in which Personnel are prohibited from trading. Each division shall monthly provide Compliance with the names of publicly traded companies for which Personnel may come into contact with material non-public information or for which Wilshire may believe it is prudent to restrict trading for other reasons (e.g. publicly traded companies that are clients of the Firm’s Funds Management, Consulting, or Private

Markets business units (excluding Wilshire Compass clients), public companies for which Personnel may obtain research reports that contain non- public information, or publicly traded companies for which Wilshire could be in possession of material non-public information for any other reason). Business unit heads, or their designees, in consultation with Compliance will determine whether or not to include such companies on the RCL and companies should be removed from the RCL once there is no further risk of obtaining material non-public information.

If a company is listed on the RCL, then trading in securities of that company is restricted for access persons . A security of a company means a security as defined in section 202(a)(18) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and




generally includes any stock, note, bond, or debenture of a company as well as any option contract on that company. No relevant Personnel shall execute a transaction in any security of a company on the RCL until either a) the company has been removed from the RCL; b) the transaction has been pre- approved by the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee in advance; or c) the trade is considered to be de minimis in nature. For the purposes of this Code, a de minimis trade is any trade, or aggregation of trades in a rolling 30 day period, that is valued at less than $2,000. For options trades, the de minimis amount applies to the notional value of the option (i.e., the value of the underlying security, where Contract Size * Underlying Price = Notional Value). It is the Personnel’s obligation to review the RCL prior to placing any trades to ensure compliance with this policy. The RCL is maintained in SchwabCT for easy reference by all personnel.

3.
Pre-Clearance Procedures. Prior to acquiring securities in an IPO or prior to an investment in a private placement, or prior to placing any transaction (that does not qualify for a de minimis exemption) in any security of a company on the RCL, access persons are required to obtain pre-clearance from Compliance. Should you participate in any add-on investments of the issuer or make an investment in the issuer for an advised account, you are required to disclose your investment to the Compliance Department. Pre-clearance may be made using SchwabCT.

a.
Approval for IPOs may not be available to Personnel of registered broker-dealers due to certain laws and regulations (e.g., FINRA rules in the U.S.).

b.
If you have any questions as to whether a particular offering constitutes an IPO, consult Compliance before submitting an indication of interest to purchase the security.

4.
Reporting Requirements.

a.
Holdings Reports . All access persons are required to submit to the Compliance Department a report of all holdings in covered securities within 10 days of becoming an access person and thereafter on an annual basis. The holdings report must include: (i) the title and exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, type of security, number of shares and principal amount (if applicable) of each covered security in which the access person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership; (ii) the name of any broker, dealer

or bank with which the access person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the access person’s direct or indirect benefit; and (iii) the date the report is submitted. Information in the holding report must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the person became an access person or the date the report was submitted, as applicable.

b.
Quarterly Transaction Reports. All access persons are required to submit to the Compliance Department transaction reports no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter covering all transactions in covered securities during the quarter. The transaction reports must include information about each transaction involving a covered security in which the access person had, or as a result of the transaction acquired, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership. The reports must include: (i) the date of the transaction, the title and exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, the




interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount (if applicable) of each covered security involved; (ii) the nature of the transaction ( e.g., purchase, sale); (iii) the price of the security at which the transaction was effected; (iv) the name of the broker, dealer, or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and (v) the date the report is submitted.

c.
Brokerage Account Reports. Access persons shall disclose promptly following hire the following information about any account containing securities held for the direct or indirect benefit of the access person : (i) the name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the access person established the account; (ii) the date the account was established; and (iii) the date the report is submitted. Access persons shall disclose the same information about any account opened during the quarter that contains securities held for the direct or indirect benefit of the access person . New accounts should be reported promptly using SchwabCT. Additional policies and procedures regarding Brokerage Accounts are found in the Manual.

d.
Independent Fund Directors need only to report a transaction in a security if such director, at the time of the transaction knew, or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his official duties as a director, should have known that, during the 15-day period immediately preceding or after the date of the transaction by the director, such security is or was purchased or sold by the Investment Company or is or was being considered for purchase or sale by the Investment Company or its investment adviser. Such reports will include the information described in sub-section b above.

ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE CODE

A.
Form ADV Disclosure. Wilshire shall include in Form ADV, Part 2A a description of the Firm’s Code along with a statement that Wilshire will provide a copy of the Code to any client or prospective client upon request. In addition, Wilshire shall review and update the Firm’s Part 2A disclosure in connection with making amendments to the Code.

B.
Training and Education. The Chief Compliance Officer, or his/her designee, will be responsible for training and educating supervised persons regarding the Code. Training will occur periodically and all supervised persons shall be required to attend any training sessions or read any applicable materials.

Remedial training may be provided on an as-needed basis for personnel that have violated any provision of the Code, as may be determined by the CCO or his designee.

C.
Annual Review . The Chief Compliance Officer shall review at least annually the adequacy of the Code and the effectiveness of its implementation.

D.
Board Approval . Wilshire shall have the Code approved by the board of directors of any mutual funds it advises or sub-advises. The boards shall also approve any material amendments to the Code.

E.
Report to Board. The Chief Compliance Officer shall provide an annual written report to the board of the directors of Wilshire and of the funds it advises or sub-




advises that describes any issues arising under the Code since the last report, including information about material violations of the Code and sanctions imposed in response to such violations. The report will include a discussion of whether any waivers that might be considered important by the board were granted during the period. The report will also certify that the adviser has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent access persons from violating the Code.

F.
Reporting Violations. All supervised persons are required to report violations of the Firm’s Code promptly to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee.

1.
Confidentiality. Such reports shall be treated confidentially to the extent permitted by law and investigated promptly and appropriately.

2.
Alternate Designee. General Counsel is designated as the alternate person to whom Personnel may report violations in case the Chief Compliance Officer is involved in the violation or is unreachable. If unreachable, the Chief Compliance Officer shall be copied on any report submitted to the General Counsel.

3.
Types of Reporting. Examples of the types of reporting required, include, but are not limited to: noncompliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations; noncompliance with the Code; fraud or illegal acts involving any aspect of the Firm’s business; material misstatements in regulatory filings, internal books and records, clients records or reports; activity that is harmful to clients, including fund shareholders; and deviations from required controls and procedures that safeguard clients and the Firm.

G.
Sanctions. Any violation of the Code may result in disciplinary action deemed appropriate, including but not limited to a warning, fines, disgorgement, suspension, demotion, or termination of employment. In addition to sanctions, violations may result in referral to civil or criminal authorities where appropriate.


1.
Any Personnel who violates the provisions of the Code three times within a rolling two year period is subject to termination. Violations include all violations of the Code, including, but not limited to, the pre-clearance and trading procedures, and the reporting requirements.

H.
Recordkeeping. Wilshire shall maintain the following records in a readily accessible place:

1.
A copy of each Code that has been in effect at any time during the past five years;

2.
A record of any violation of the Code and any action taken as a result of such violation for five years from the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred;

3.
A record of all written acknowledgments of receipt of the Code and amendments for each person who is currently, or within the past five years was, a supervised person ;

4.
Holdings and transactions reports made pursuant to the Code;





5.
A list of the names of persons who are currently, or within the past five years were, access persons ; and

6.
A record of any decision, and the support for the decision, to approve the acquisition of any securities by access persons requiring pre-approval under the Code, for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted.

I.
Further Information Regarding the Code. Supervised persons may obtain additional information about the Code or any other ethics-related questions by contacting any member of Wilshire’s Compliance Department.

POLICY UPDATES:
Amended: January 2011 Amended: June 2014 Amended: September 2016 Amended: June 2018 Amended: September 2018