Quick Answer
Packaged products require three disclosure documents: the prospectus, the summary prospectus, and the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). The prospectus, or the summary prospectus in its place, must reach investors before or at the time of sale. The SAI is delivered only when the investor requests it, containing detailed financial and legal information.
Investors must receive specific documents before buying packaged products. This unit covers what those documents are, what they contain, and when they must be delivered.
Prospectus
The prospectus is the primary disclosure document for mutual funds and variable annuities:
- Must be delivered to investors before or at the time of sale
- Required for both mutual funds and variable annuities
A prospectus contains:
- Investment objectives and strategies
- Risks associated with the investment
- Fee table (sales charges, expense ratio, 12b-1 fees)
- Performance history
- Management information (portfolio managers, investment adviser)
- How to purchase and redeem shares
Think of it this way: The prospectus is like the nutrition label on food. Before you "consume" the investment, the law requires you to see exactly what is inside: the risks, the costs, and what you are buying. No label, no sale.
Summary Prospectus
- A shorter version permitted for mutual funds
- Contains the most essential information in a condensed format
- The investor may request the full (statutory) prospectus at any time
- The summary prospectus must provide instructions for obtaining the full prospectus
Exam Tip: Gotchas
- The prospectus must be delivered before or at the time of sale, not after. If a question asks about delivery timing, "after the sale" is always wrong.
- A summary prospectus is allowed for mutual funds, but the full (statutory) prospectus must remain available on request.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
The Statement of Additional Information (SAI) provides more detailed information beyond what the prospectus covers:
- Available upon request (not automatically delivered to investors)
- Sometimes called "Part B" of the registration statement
The SAI contains:
- Detailed financial statements
- Information about directors and officers
- Tax information
- Fund policies and procedures
- Legal and compliance details
| Document | Delivery | Content Level | Automatically Provided? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary prospectus | Before or at sale (if the fund elects this option) | Essential highlights | Yes, on its own; satisfies the delivery requirement |
| Statutory prospectus | Before or at sale (traditional delivery), OR available online and on request when the fund delivers the summary prospectus instead | Comprehensive | Sometimes: yes when the fund uses traditional delivery, otherwise on request |
| SAI | Upon request only | Detailed supplement | No - must be requested |
Exam Tip: Gotchas
- The SAI is not automatically delivered. An investor must specifically request it.
- The prospectus (or summary prospectus), on the other hand, must be delivered before or at the time of sale. If a question asks which document is delivered automatically, the answer is the prospectus, not the SAI.
What Should You Check on Exam Day?
- Can you state when the prospectus must be delivered relative to the time of sale?
- Do you know the difference between a summary prospectus and the full statutory prospectus?
- Can you explain why the SAI is not automatically delivered to investors?
- Do you know what information the SAI contains that the prospectus does not?
- Can you explain what a summary prospectus must include so investors can obtain the full prospectus?