Strategy. The portfolios sub-adviser, Aegon USA Investment Management, LLC (the sub-adviser), invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the portfolios net assets (plus the amount of borrowings, if any, for investment purposes) in U.S. government debt obligations, or obligations guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or government sponsored entities and mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or government-sponsored entities. These securities may include: U.S. Treasury obligations Obligations issued by or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or government-sponsored entities, including inflation-protected bonds. Obligations guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or government-sponsored entities include issues by non-government-sponsored entities (like financial institutions) that carry direct guarantees from U.S. government agencies as part of government initiatives in response to the market … Show more… The portfolios sub-adviser, Aegon USA Investment Management, LLC (the sub-adviser), invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the portfolios net assets (plus the amount of borrowings, if any, for investment purposes) in U.S. government debt obligations, or obligations guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or government sponsored entities and mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or government-sponsored entities. These securities may include: U.S. Treasury obligations Obligations issued by or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or government-sponsored entities, including inflation-protected bonds. Obligations guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or government-sponsored entities include issues by non-government-sponsored entities (like financial institutions) that carry direct guarantees from U.S. government agencies as part of government initiatives in response to the market crisis or otherwise Mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae or other U.S. government agencies or government-sponsored entities such as Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae Collateralized mortgage obligations issued by private issuers for which the underlying mortgage-backed securities serving as collateral are backed by the U.S. government or its agencies and government-sponsored entities The weighted average duration of the portfolio will generally range from four to eight years. The portfolio may invest up to 20% of its net assets in investment grade corporate bonds, short-term corporate debt securities, asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities not guaranteed by the U.S. government, zero coupon bonds, interest only or principal only securities, high yield debt securities, debt securities of foreign corporate or sovereign issuers in developed countries, and obligations of U.S. banks and foreign banks denominated in U.S. dollars or other currencies. Investment grade debt securities carry a rating of at least BBB from Standard & Poors or Fitch or Baa from Moodys or are of comparable quality as determined by the portfolios sub-adviser. The portfolio invests in debt obligations that the sub-adviser believes offer attractive yields and are undervalued relative to issues of similar credit quality and interest rate sensitivity. In managing the portfolios assets, the sub-adviser uses a combination of global top-down analysis of the macroeconomic and interest rate environment and proprietary bottom-up research of government debt and other debt instruments. In the sub-advisers top-down approach, the sub-adviser analyzes various fundamental, technical, sentiment, and valuation factors that the sub-adviser believes affect the movement of markets and securities prices worldwide. This information helps to inform the sub-advisers decisions regarding the portfolios duration, yield-curve positioning and level of exposure to various asset classes. In its proprietary bottom-up research, the sub-adviser considers various fundamental and other factors, such as creditworthiness, cash flows, capital structure and, as applicable, collateral. The portfolio may, but is not required to, engage in certain investment strategies involving derivatives, such as options, futures (including regularly employing interest rate futures), forward currency contracts and swaps, including, but not limited to, interest rate, total return and credit default swaps. These investment strategies may be employed as a hedging technique, as a means of altering investment characteristics of the portfolio (such as shortening or lengthening duration), in an attempt to enhance returns or for other purposes. The use of derivatives may be deemed to involve the use of leverage because the portfolio is not required to invest the full market value of the contract upon entering into the contract but participates in gains and losses on the full contract price and because the portfolios use of derivative instruments may result in its exposure exceeding 100% of portfolio value. The portfolio may maintain a significant percentage of its assets in cash and cash equivalent instruments, some of which may serve as margin for the portfolios obligations under derivatives transactions. The portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery, to be announced or forward commitment basis. The portfolio may also invest in dollar rolls. Show less