0000356476 gwfi:S000038789Member 2011-10-31 2012-10-30 0000356476 gwfi:S000038789Member gwfi:C000119487Member 2011-10-31 2012-10-30 0000356476 2011-10-31 2012-10-30 0000356476 gwfi:S000038789Member gwfi:C000119488Member 2011-10-31 2012-10-30 pure iso4217:USD Example The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Funds performance. <center>Fund Summary </center> <center>Great-West Real Estate Index Fund </center> Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 72 <div style="display:none">~ http://www.greatwestfunds.com/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpensesGreat-WestRealEstateIndexFund column period compact * ~</div> 485BPOS 2012-10-30 GREAT-WEST FUNDS INC This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. The table does not reflect the fees and expenses of any Permitted Account. If reflected, the expenses shown would be higher. This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not reflect the fees and expenses of any Permitted Account. If reflected, the expenses in the Example would be higher. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that all dividends and capital gains are reinvested, and that the Funds operating expenses are the amount shown in the fee table and remain the same for the years shown. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be: Principal Investment Strategies Non-Diversification Risk - The Fund is classified as non-diversified, which means a relatively high percentage of its assets may be invested in securities of a limited number of issuers. 97 2012-10-30 false 2012-10-30 0000356476 Investment Objective Fees and Expenses of the Fund Portfolio Turnover Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities included in the Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT IndexSM (the Benchmark Index). The Benchmark Index is a market capitalization-weighted index of publicly traded equity REITs. The portfolio managers may also use various techniques, such as buying and selling futures contracts, swaps, and exchange traded funds, for cash management purposes. The Funds investment objective and principal investment strategies are non-fundamental and can be changed by the Funds Board of Directors without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days prior written notice to shareholders of any change in its 80% policy as described above. The following is a summary of the principal investment risks of investing in the Fund: Market Risk - Stock markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments in the U.S. and in other countries. Market risk may affect a single company, sector of the economy or the market as a whole. Industry Concentration Risk - Changes in real estate values or economic downturns can have a significant negative effect on issuers in the real estate industry. Because the Fund concentrates its assets in REIT stocks, industry concentration risk is high. Index Risk - It is possible the Benchmark Index may perform unfavorably and/or underperform the market as a whole. Tracking Error Risk - The Fund may not be able to precisely track the performance of the Benchmark Index. Investment Style Risk - Returns from REIT stocks which typically are small- or mid-capitalization stocks may trail returns from the overall stock market. Interest Rate Risk - REIT stock prices overall may decline because of rising interest rates. Interest rate risk is high for the Fund. Derivative Risk - Using derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for gains when stock prices, currency rates or interest rates are changing. The Fund may not fully benefit from or may lose money on derivatives if changes in their value do not correspond accurately to changes in the value of the Funds holdings. The other parties to certain derivative contracts present the same types of credit risk as issuers of fixed income securities. Derivatives can also make a fund less liquid and harder to value, especially in declining markets. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) Risk - An ETF is subject to the risks associated with direct ownership of the securities comprising the index on which the ETF is based. Fund shareholders indirectly bear their proportionate share of the expenses of the ETFs in which the Fund invests. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile. Non-Diversification Risk - The Fund is classified as non-diversified, which means a relatively high percentage of its assets may be invested in securities of a limited number of issuers. Management Risk - A strategy used by the portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended results. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit with a bank, is not insured, endorsed or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency, and is subject to possible loss of your original investment. is subject to possible loss of your original investment. 0 0.0025 0.007 0.0095 224 303 2012-10-30 The Fund seeks investment results, before fees and expenses, that track the total return of a benchmark index that measures the performance of publicly traded equity real estate investment trusts (REITs). Principal Investment Risks An investment in the Fund is not a deposit with a bank, is not insured, endorsed or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency Performance No performance data is provided because the Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. The information will appear in a future version of this Prospectus after the Fund has annual returns for one complete calendar year. No performance data is provided because the Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. The information will appear in a future version of this Prospectus after the Fund has annual returns for one complete calendar year. 0.007 0.007 0 0 <div style="display:none">~ http://www.greatwestfunds.com/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposedGreat-WestRealEstateIndexFund column period compact * ~</div>