XML 280 R69.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.22.1
Label Element Value
Guardian Growth & Income VIP Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Guardian Growth & Income VIP Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table shows the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. The table does not reflect charges, fees or expenses that are, or may be, imposed under your variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy through which Fund shares are offered as an investment option. If those charges, fees or expenses were reflected, the fees and expenses shown in the table would be higher. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the fee table or example below. For information about these charges, fees and expenses, please refer to the applicable contract or policy prospectus.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination Apr. 30, 2023
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

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 the Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. For the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 26% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 26.00%
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text] rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement have been restated to reflect the current expense limitation arrangement.
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

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 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 and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. This Example does not reflect charges, fees or expenses that are, or may be, imposed under your variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy, and would be higher if it did. The Example reflects contractual fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements only for the duration of the current commitment, if applicable. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests primarily in the equity securities of U.S. companies that AllianceBernstein L.P., the Fund's subadviser (the "Subadviser"), believes are undervalued, focusing on dividend-paying securities. Although the Fund invests primarily in large capitalization companies, the Fund may invest in companies with different market capitalizations (i.e., mid-capitalization). The Subadviser defines large capitalization companies as companies with market capitalizations similar

to companies in the Russell 1000® Value Index (the "Index") at the time of purchase. Although expected to change frequently, the market capitalization range of the Index was approximately $135 million to $1.8 trillion as of March 31, 2022. The Fund may also invest in foreign securities.

The Subadviser believes that, over time, a company's stock price will come to reflect its intrinsic economic value. The Subadviser depends heavily upon the fundamental analysis and research of its internal research staff in making investment decisions for the Fund. The research staff follows a primary research universe of approximately 500 primarily U.S. companies. In determining a company's intrinsic economic value, the Subadviser takes into account many fundamental and financial factors that it believes bear on the company's ability to perform in the future, including earnings growth, prospective cash flows, dividend growth and growth in book value. The Subadviser then ranks each of the companies in its research universe in the relative order of disparity between their intrinsic economic values and their current stock prices, with companies with the greatest disparities receiving the highest rankings (i.e., being considered the most undervalued). The Subadviser anticipates that the Fund's portfolio normally will include companies ranking in the top three deciles of the Subadviser's valuation model.

The Subadviser recognizes that the perception of what is a "value" stock is relative and the factors considered in determining whether a stock is a "value" stock may, and often will, have differing relative significance in different phases of an economic cycle. Also, at different times, and as a result of how individual companies are valued in the market, the Fund may be attracted to investments in companies engaged in particular types of business (e.g., banks and other financial institutions), although the Fund does not intend to concentrate in any particular industries or businesses. The Fund's emphasis upon particular industries or sectors will be a by-product of the stock selection process rather than the result of assigned targets or ranges.

The Subadviser may also consider environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") factors as part of its fundamental analysis where the Subadviser believes such factors could materially impact the economic value or risk profile of an issuer. ESG factors considered may include, but are not limited to, climate change, an issuer's governance structure and practices, and diversity and labor practices. The evaluation of ESG risks and opportunities is based on proprietary research as well as third-party research and data. The Subadviser uses ESG factors to screen the investment universe.

The Subadviser typically may sell investments when it believes that they no longer offer attractive future returns compared with other investment opportunities or that they present undesirable risks or in an attempt to limit losses on investments that may decline or have declined in value.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Investment Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

The risks summarized below are the principal risks of investing in the Fund. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.

Market Risk. The financial and securities markets are volatile and may be affected by political, regulatory, social, economic, and other global market developments and disruptions, including those arising out of geopolitical events, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious diseases, pandemics and epidemics), natural disasters, terrorism, and governmental or quasi-governmental actions. The market value of securities in which the Fund invests is based upon the market's perception of value and is not necessarily an objective measure of the securities' value. Such changes may be rapid and unpredictable. These events may negatively affect issuers, industries and markets worldwide and adversely affect the Fund. The price, value or liquidity of the Fund's investments may decline and will fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, in response to general market conditions or other factors. Different sectors of the market, issuers, and security types may react differently to such developments.

Issuer Risk. The Fund's investments may be adversely affected by a number of factors that directly relate to the issuer of securities held by the Fund, such as its earnings prospects and overall financial position. In addition, an issuer in which the Fund invests, or to which it has exposure, may perform poorly because of poor management decisions or other events, conditions, or factors, which could also negatively affect the Fund.

Active Management Risk. The Fund is actively managed by the Subadviser. There is no guarantee that the Subadviser's investment techniques, risk analysis, and judgment implemented in making investment decisions for the Fund will be accurate or will produce the desired outcome. As a result, the Fund may be adversely affected and may underperform its benchmark index or funds with similar investment objectives. The Fund may actively and frequently trade portfolio securities, which may lead to higher transaction costs that may negatively affect the Fund's performance.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Considerations Risk. To the extent the Subadviser uses ESG factors to evaluate investments, the consideration of such factors may adversely affect the Fund's performance. Not every ESG

factor may be identified or evaluated for every investment. ESG characteristics are not the only factors considered and, as a result, the issuers in which the Fund invests may not be issuers with favorable ESG characteristics or high ESG ratings. The application of ESG factors may result in the Fund performing differently than other funds and strategies in its peer group that do not consider ESG factors.

Equity Securities Risk. The price or value of the Fund's investments in a company's equity securities, such as common or preferred stock, may rise or fall rapidly or unpredictably and are subject to real or perceived changes in the company's financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. Equity securities are normally more volatile than fixed-income investments. Common stocks generally represent the riskiest investment in a company and preferred stocks generally rank junior to a company's debt with respect to dividends, which the company may or may not declare.

Large-Capitalization Company Risk. Large-capitalization companies may be unable to attain the same growth rate of small- or mid-capitalization companies. In addition, large-capitalization companies may be unable to respond to competitive challenges or opportunities as quickly as smaller companies.

Value Investment Style Risk. Different investment styles tend to perform differently and shift in and out of favor depending on changes in market and economic sentiment and conditions. The Fund invests in stocks believed by the Subadviser to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. Thus, the Fund may underperform other equity funds that employ a different investment style during such periods.

Mid-Capitalization Company Risk. Securities of mid-capitalization companies may be more speculative, volatile and less liquid than securities of large-capitalization companies. Mid-capitalization companies tend to have limited product and market diversification and financial resources, which may negatively affect their performance. In addition, mid-capitalization companies may have less experienced management and be more vulnerable to adverse developments than larger companies.

Sector Risk. To the extent the Fund's investments focus on one or more sectors of the economy, the Fund's performance will be particularly susceptible to conditions and developments relating to such sector(s). In addition, the Fund will be more exposed to price movements affecting companies in such sector(s) than a more broadly invested fund.

Dividend-Paying Stock Risk. As a category, dividend-paying stocks may underperform non-dividend paying stocks (and the stock market as a whole) over any period of time. In addition, issuers of dividend-paying stocks may have discretion to defer or stop paying dividends for a stated period of time or may be unable to pay a dividend during certain periods as a result of, among other things, legal or regulatory restrictions. If the dividend-paying stocks held by the Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund's ability to generate income may be adversely affected. During certain periods, dividend-paying stocks, including those that meet the Fund's investment criteria, may not be widely available and/or may be highly concentrated in only a few market sectors.

Foreign Investment and Currency Risk. Foreign investments, or exposure to foreign markets, present greater risks than investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign securities are particularly susceptible to liquidity and valuation risk and may be especially volatile. These investments are subject to additional risks, including: smaller markets; differing reporting, accounting, and auditing standards; nationalization, expropriation, or confiscatory taxation; foreign currency fluctuations, currency blockage, or replacement; potential for default on sovereign debt; and political changes or diplomatic developments, which may include the imposition of economic sanctions or other measures by the United States or other governments and supranational organizations. The Fund's foreign investments that are denominated in or provide exposure to a foreign currency may be negatively affected by a decline in the foreign currency's value relative to the U.S. dollar. The value of foreign currencies may fluctuate quickly and significantly. Foreign investments may also be subject to risk of loss because of more or less foreign government regulation, less public information, and less stringent investor protections and disclosure standards.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Past Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the 1 year, 5 year and since inception periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at www.guardianlife.com or by calling the phone number on the back of the Prospectus. Variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy fees, expenses and charges are not reflected in the returns shown in the bar chart and table below. If they were, returns would be less than those shown.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the 1 year, 5 year and since inception periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.guardianlife.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Annual Returns (by calendar year)
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy fees, expenses and charges are not reflected in the returns shown in the bar chart and table below.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Highest Quarterly Return – 18.09% (4th Q 2020)
Lowest Quarterly Return – -27.53% (1st Q 2020)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Highest Quarterly Return
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2020
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 18.09%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Lowest Quarterly Return
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2020
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (27.53%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2021)
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Guardian Growth & Income VIP Fund | Russell 1000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 25.16%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 11.16%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.76%
Guardian Growth & Income VIP Fund | Guardian Growth & Income VIP Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.63%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.10%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.98%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [1],[2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.97% [2]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 98
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 310
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 540
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,200
Annual Return 2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 20.09%
Annual Return 2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (8.09%)
Annual Return 2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 23.96%
Annual Return 2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 2.12%
Annual Return 2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 28.23%
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 28.23%
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 12.37%
Average Annual Returns, Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 12.98%
Average Annual Returns, Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 01, 2016
[1] Park Avenue Institutional Advisers LLC, the Fund's investment manager (the "Manager"), has contractually agreed through April 30, 2023 to waive certain fees and/or reimburse certain expenses incurred by the Fund to the extent necessary to limit the Fund's Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement to 0.96% of the Fund's average daily net assets (excluding, if applicable, any acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, transaction costs and brokerage commissions, litigation and extraordinary expenses). The limitation may not be increased or terminated prior to this time without action by the Board of Trustees.
[2] Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement have been restated to reflect the current expense limitation arrangement.