Putnam Income

Objective And Strategy

Objective
High current income consistent with what Putnam Management believes to be prudent risk.

Strategy
Invest mainly in bonds that are securitized debt instruments (such as mortgage-backed investments) and other obligations of companies and governments worldwide denominated in U.S. dollars, are either investment-grade or below investment-grade (sometimes referred to as "junk bonds") and have intermediate- to long-term maturities (three years or longer).
Tax Inefficient Fund

Principal Risks

* This portfolio can leverage or use leveraged instruments or derivatives. Portfolios that use leverage, that is, borrow money, are subject to the risk that the cost of borrowing money to leverage will exceed the returns for the securities purchased or that the securities purchased may actually go down in value. Thus, the portfolio's net asset value can decrease more quickly than if the portfolio had not borrowed. Portfolios that use leveraged instruments or derivatives such as futures, options and swap agreements, may expose the portfolio to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives. The more a portfolio invests in leveraged instruments, the more the leverage will magnify any gains or losses on those investments.

* Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer's credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer's financial strength may affect a security's value, and thus, impact the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio's performance.

* Income Risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio's income to decline.