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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName GREAT-WEST FUNDS INC
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Apr. 30, 2018
Great-West Putnam High Yield Bond Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Fund Summary
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The Fund seeks to obtain high current income
Objective, Secondary [Text Block] rr_ObjectiveSecondaryTextBlock with capital appreciation as a secondary objective when consistent with the primary objective.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. This table does not reflect the fees and expenses of any Permitted Account. If the fees and expenses imposed by a Permitted Account were reflected, the fees and expenses shown below would be higher.
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 April 30, 2019
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 annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s turnover rate was 59% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 59.00%
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates Other Expenses are estimated for Class L shares because the class has not yet commenced operations.
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 does not reflect the fees and expenses of any Permitted Account. If the fees and expenses of any Permitted Account were reflected, the fees and expenses in the Example would be higher.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and applies whether you hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of each period. The Example also assumes that the expense reimbursement is in place for the first year, that your investment has a 5% return each year, that all dividends and capital gains are reinvested, and that the Fund’s 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:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock The following is a summary of the principal investment strategies of the Fund:

The Fund will, under normal circumstances, invest a minimum of 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in high yield-high risk (i.e., “junk” or rated below investment grade) corporate fixed income securities (fixed or floating rate securities), which may include zero-coupon bonds, convertible securities, preferred stock, bank loans (term and revolving loans), pay-in-kind bonds as well as “toggle bonds” (issuer’s option to pay in kind) and Rule 144A fixed income securities that are subject to resale restrictions. The Fund invests mainly in securities that have intermediate to long-term maturities (three years or longer). Up to 20% of the total assets of the Fund may be invested in non-corporate fixed income securities and equity securities, including convertible preferred stock, common stock, and warrants.

High yield bonds are fixed income securities that are rated below investment grade. Below investment grade securities are rated BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings (“S&P”) or which have a comparable rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or which the portfolio managers believe are of comparable quality if unrated. Fixed income securities that are not rated by an NRSRO may also be high yield bonds. No more than 35% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in securities rated below B3/B- by all NRSROs who rate such securities, or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality by the Sub-Adviser.

The Fund may invest in foreign securities, and make forward commitments. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in securities not denominated in U.S. Dollars. The Fund may, but need not, use derivative contracts, such as futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies; options on these futures; forward currency contracts; credit default swaps and credit default swap indices; and interest rate or currency swaps. Investments in derivatives may be applied toward meeting a requirement to invest in a particular kind of investment if the derivatives have economic characteristics similar to that investment.

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments, which may be considered speculative and which may be difficult to sell. The sale of many of these investments is limited by law.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Investment Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock The following is a summary of the principal investment risks of investing in the Fund:

Bank Loan Risk - Bank loans often involve borrowers whose financial conditions are troubled or uncertain and companies that are highly leveraged. The market for bank loans may not be highly liquid and the Fund may have difficulty selling bank loans. These investments expose the Fund to the credit risk of both the financial institution and the underlying borrower. Bank loans generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. In addition, bank loans may have trade settlement periods extending beyond seven days. Bank loans may be structured such that they are not securities under securities laws and subject to securities laws protections against fraud and misrepresentation. As such, there can be no assurances that fraud or misrepresentation will not occur with respect to bank loans in which the Fund invests.

Convertible Securities Risk - Convertible securities, particularly securities that are convertible into securities of an issuer other than the issuer of the convertible securities, may be illiquid.

Credit Risk - An issuer may default on its obligations to pay principal and/or interest. A security’s value may be affected by changes in its credit quality rating or its issuer’s financial conditions.

Currency Risk - Adverse fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar and other currencies may cause the Fund to lose money on investments denominated in foreign currencies.

Derivatives Risk - The Fund may invest in derivative instruments, including but not limited to, futures and options on securities, securities indices or currencies; options on these futures; forward currency contracts; credit default swaps and credit default swap indices; and interest rate or currency swaps. 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 Fund’s 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, and may increase the Fund’s volatility. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of derivative contracts will work as intended, and it is possible for the Fund to lose more than its original investment.

Foreign Securities Risk - Foreign markets can be more volatile than the U.S. market due to increased risks of adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, currency valuation or economic developments. In addition, emerging markets may be more volatile and less liquid than the markets of more mature economies, and the securities of emerging markets issuers often are subject to rapid and large changes in price.

High Yield Securities Risk - Below investment grade (“high yield-high risk” or “junk”) bonds have a higher degree of credit risk and interest rate risk and may be less liquid and subject to greater volatility in market value than investment grade bonds.

Interest Rate Risk - The market value of a fixed income security is affected significantly by changes in interest rates. When interest rates rise, the market value of fixed income securities generally declines and when interest rates decline, market values of such securities generally rise. The longer a security’s maturity, that is, the time remaining until the final payment on the security is due, the greater the risk and the higher its yield. Conversely, the shorter a security’s maturity, the lower the risk and the lower its yield. In general, the longer the maturity or duration of a security, the greater its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Recent and potential future changes in monetary policy may affect the level of interest rates.

Liquidity Risk - The fixed income securities and bank loans in which the Fund invests may be less readily marketable and may be subject to greater fluctuation in price than other securities. When there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities at or near their perceived value. In such a market, the value of such securities and the Fund’s share price may fall dramatically. Extraordinary and sudden changes in interest rates could disrupt the market for fixed-income securities and result in fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value. Increased redemptions due to a rise in interest rates may require the Fund to liquidate its holdings at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse or disadvantageous conditions which may negatively affect the Fund. Investments in many, but not all, foreign securities tend to have greater exposure to liquidity risk than domestic securities.

Management Risk - A strategy used by the portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended results.

Market Risk - The market values of securities owned by the Fund will go up and down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. A security's market value may be reduced by market activity or other results of supply and demand unrelated to the issuer. This is a basic risk associated with all securities. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to rise.

Preferred Stock Risk - Preferred stocks are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk.

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 the possible loss of your original investment.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney is subject to the possible loss of your original investment.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution 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,
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risk of investment in the Fund by showing changes in the performance of the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the last ten calendar years and by comparing the Fund’s Institutional Class and Investor Class average annual total return to the performance of a broad-based securities market index. No Class L share performance data is provided because Class L shares have not commenced operations. Class L share performance information will appear in future versions of this Prospectus after Class L shares have annual returns for at least one complete calendar year. The returns shown below are historical and are not an indication of future performance. Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions and include the effect of the Fund’s recurring expenses, but do not include fees and expenses of any Permitted Account. If those fees and expenses were reflected, the performance shown would have been lower.

On August 3, 2009, the Fund replaced the prior sub-adviser with the current Sub-Adviser. Consequently, the Fund’s total returns shown below for the periods prior to August 3, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the performance of the Fund, as it is currently managed.

Updated performance information may be obtained at www.greatwestfunds.com (the website does not form a part of this Prospectus).
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart and table below provide an indication of the risk of investment in the Fund by showing changes in the performance of the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the last ten calendar years and by comparing the Fund’s Institutional Class and Investor Class average annual total return to the performance of a broad-based securities market index.
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess No Class L share performance data is provided because Class L shares have not commenced operations.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.greatwestfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The returns shown below are historical and are not an indication of future performance.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Calendar Year Total Returns
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions and include the effect of the Fund’s recurring expenses, but do not include fees and expenses of any Permitted Account. If those fees and expenses were reflected, the performance shown would have been lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
  Quarter Ended Total Return
Best Quarter June 2009 23.67%
Worst Quarter December 2008 -22.98%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2017
Great-West Putnam High Yield Bond Fund | Institutional Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.72%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.07% [1]
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.07%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.79%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.04% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.75%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 77
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 248
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 435
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 974
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 77
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 248
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 435
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 974
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 7.03%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 5.19% [3]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 01, 2015
Great-West Putnam High Yield Bond Fund | Investor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.72%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.23% [1]
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.58%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.30%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.20% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.10%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 112
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 392
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 694
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,550
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 112
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 392
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 694
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,550
2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (32.37%)
2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 51.21%
2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 13.80%
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 2.24%
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 15.00%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 7.65%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 2.09%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (4.69%)
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 15.54%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 6.62%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 23.67%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (22.98%)
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 6.62%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.23%
Ten Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 5.85%
Great-West Putnam High Yield Bond Fund | Class L  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.72%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.35%
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.23% [1]
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.58%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.55%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.20% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.35%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 137
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 470
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 826
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,829
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 137
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 470
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 826
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,829
Great-West Putnam High Yield Bond Fund | J.P. Morgan Developed High Yield Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Institutional Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 7.81%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.09% [3]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 01, 2015
Great-West Putnam High Yield Bond Fund | J.P. Morgan Developed High Yield Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | Investor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
One Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 7.81%
Five Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.15%
Ten Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.29%
[1] Other Expenses are estimated for Class L shares because the class has not yet commenced operations.
[2] GWCM has contractually agreed to waive fees or reimburse expenses that exceed 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to each Class, excluding Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees, Shareholder Services Fees, brokerage expenses, taxes, dividend interest on short sales, interest expenses, and any extraordinary expenses, including litigation costs (the “Expense Limit”). The agreement’s current term ends on April 30, 2019 and automatically renews for one-year terms unless it is terminated by Great-West Funds or GWCM upon written notice within 90 days of the end of the current term or upon termination of the investment advisory agreement. Under the agreement, GWCM may recoup, subject to Board approval, these waivers and reimbursements in future periods, not exceeding three years following the particular waiver/reimbursement, provided Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of a Class plus such recoupment do not exceed the lesser of the Expense Limit that was in place at the time of the waiver/reimbursement or the Expense Limit in place at the time of recoupment.
[3] Since inception on May 1, 2015