Rules Seek to Keep Mutual Fund Investors Informed

The SEC finalized a rule requiring mutual funds to provide investors with a concise summary of the key information they need to make informed investment decisions. The new summary prospectus will appear at the front of a fund’s prospectus. The SEC also approved a new rule that permits sending a summary prospectus to satisfy prospectus delivery requirements provided that the mutual fund’s summary prospectus, statutory prospectus, and other specified information are available online. The rule changes are effective March 31, 2009, and funds must begin complying with the form changes on Jan. 1, 2010. The full text of the SEC’s final rules is available at www.sec.gov/rules/final/2009/33-8998.pdf.