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Invest with an endowment

It turns out what makes SPFFX appropriate for defined contribution plans can also make it attractive for endowments: broad diversification, low fees, and low stranded asset risk.

A number of family offices and institutions have already exited the fossil fuel industry, often citing worrying economic factors and a need to protect long-term value as a driving force for decisions, including the Rockefeller Foundation, the New York State Pension Fund, and the Harvard Endowment.

Investing in SPFFX has the double impact of both directing your dollars for climate action, and also helping to make climate-friendly retirement savings available to everyone. Contributing to growing the fund’s assets under management (AUM) can help make it qualify for more 401(k) platforms, where minimum thresholds on AUM are common.

We don't invest in fossil fuels

The first step in addressing climate change is to send a message to fossil fuel companies loud and clear: no more business as usual. It’s time for the status quo to change.

We do vote your shares for the planet.

Did you know that mutual funds vote on company shareholder proposals on your behalf? Most funds automatically vote however the board recommends. SFPPX votes for the planet.

A fund that can check all the boxes.

Affordable

Environmentally-friendly funds often are priced at a premium. SPFFX is priced 8.5x lower than most climate-friendly funds, and is more in line with standard index funds. This pricing is intended to make it appropriate for 401(k) plans.

Expense ratio comparison

0.07%

Sphere 500 Climate Fund (SPFFX)

0.61%

A typical climate-friendly fund

Simple to start

SPFFX is designed to be added to existing 401(k) plans, so you don't have to switch providers to offer a climate-friendly choice.

Platforms include:

Vanguard

Ascensus

Invest with
confidence

Invest with
conscience

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As with all investments, there are risks involved with investing in SPFFX. Climate Investing Consideration Risk-Considerations related to climate risk, such as environmental criteria (e.g., fossil fuel screens), applied to the Index’s construction may limit the number of investment opportunities available to the Fund, and as a result, at times, the Fund may underperform funds that are not subject to similar investment restrictions. For example, the Index may exclude certain securities due to climate-focused considerations when other investment considerations would suggest that investing in such securities would be advantageous. The Fund may also underperform funds that invest in the energy and utilities sectors, particularly in times of rising oil, gas and energy prices. Other risks include, but are not limited to general market risk, small fund risk, large cap risk, common stock risk, sector risk, industry concentration risk, passive investment risk, index calculation risk, limited operating history risk, cybersecurity risk, tracking error risk, operation risk, and third-party data risks as it relates to the composition of the Index. For a detailed explanation of the risks associated with SPFFX and the underlying Index, please read the prospectus.

The Sphere 500 Climate Fund tracks the Sphere 500 Fossil-Free Index (SPFFXI). The Index is constructed beginning with the largest 500 U.S. companies that trade on regulated U.S. exchanges by market capitalization. The index administrator, BITA GmbH, then eliminates companies from this investable universe using data obtained from As You Sow, an unaffiliated non-profit organization that promotes environmental responsibility through shareholder advocacy. As You Sow eliminates companies from the Index based primarily on their risk profile of being exposed to the fossil fuel industry and secondarily, by other exclusionary screens, including companies engaged in deforestation activities, civilian and military firearms manufacturing and related guns/arms sales, prison and border security operations, and tobacco and e-cigarette manufacturing. The elimination of these companies from the Index is intended to foster and support the climate-focused, social investing goals of the Fund. The fund may invest in companies that use fossil fuels as a part of their business or have used fossil fuels in the past. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Index returns do not reflect the effects of fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

The performance data quoted represents past performance. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted above. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call toll-free 844-2-SPHERE.

Index performance is discussed for illustrative purposes only as a benchmark for each strategy’s performance and does not predict or depict performance of that strategy. While index comparisons may be useful to provide a benchmark for a strategy’s performance, it must be noted that investments are not limited to the investments comprising the indices. Each of the strategy benchmark indices are unmanaged and cannot be purchased directly by investors. Past performance does not guarantee future results. No portion of the content should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell shares of the fund in any jurisdiction where the solicitation or offer would be deemed unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The Sphere 500 Climate Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, member of FINRA and SIPC, which is not affiliated with Sphere or SPFFX. NOT FDIC INSURED NOT BANK GUARANTEED. MAY LOSE VALUE.