Strategy. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in equity securities of growth companies. For these purposes, equity securities include equity securities of any type, including common stocks; preferred securities; warrants to purchase common stocks and preferred securities; convertible debt securities that are either in the money or immediately convertible into common stocks or preferred securities; common and preferred securities issued by master limited partnerships and real estate investment trusts; depositary receipts; and other securities with equity characteristics. The Fund invests primarily in equity securities that Teachers Advisors, LLC (Advisors) believes present the opportunity for growth. Growth companies are those that are constituents … Show more… Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in equity securities of growth companies. For these purposes, equity securities include equity securities of any type, including common stocks; preferred securities; warrants to purchase common stocks and preferred securities; convertible debt securities that are either in the money or immediately convertible into common stocks or preferred securities; common and preferred securities issued by master limited partnerships and real estate investment trusts; depositary receipts; and other securities with equity characteristics. The Fund invests primarily in equity securities that Teachers Advisors, LLC (Advisors) believes present the opportunity for growth. Growth companies are those that are constituents of at least one of the following indexes on the last business day of the month in which its most recent reconstitution was completed (as adjusted by changes to an index between reconstitutions): Russell 3000 Growth Index, S&P 1500 Growth Index, MSCI World IMI Growth Index. Generally, these equity securities will be those of large capitalization companies in new and emerging areas of the economy and companies with distinctive products or promising markets. Advisors looks for companies that it believes have the potential for strong earnings and/or sales growth, or that appear to be mispriced based on current earnings, assets or growth prospects. The Fund may invest in companies Advisors identifies as large, well-known, and established, particularly when Advisors believes that the companies offer new or innovative products, services or processes that may enhance their future earnings. The Fund may also purchase and sell futures, options, swaps and other equity derivatives to carry out the Funds investment strategies. The Funds benchmark index is the Russell 1000 Growth Index. The Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), which means it may invest a significant portion of its assets in a relatively small number of issuers, which may increase risk as compared to a fund that is classified as a diversified investment company. The Fund also seeks to invest in companies expected to benefit from prospective acquisitions, reorganizations, corporate restructurings or other special situations. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in foreign investments. Show less