Real Estate Index Fund

Management Discussion

The Fund’s sub-adviser is Irish Life Investment Managers Limited (“ILIM”)

Fund Performance

For the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2022, the Fund (Investor Class shares) returned -26.40%, relative to a -25.96% return for the Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index, the Fund’s benchmark index.

ILIM Commentary

2022 was a difficult year for equity markets. Despite rising to new all-time highs in early January, U.S. equities ended the year significantly lower. Inflation proved to be higher and more persistent than expected, rising to the highest levels in over 40 years. The outbreak of the greatest military conflict in Europe, since World War 2, exacerbated the existing underlying inflation pressures. The unexpected persistence of high inflation resulted in a major policy shift at the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) with the most aggressive tightening of monetary policy in several decades through a combination of rising interest rates and balance sheet reduction.

Real estate investment trust (“REIT”) stocks were weak and underperformed the overall market in 2022. A slower growth backdrop with downward revisions to growth during the year negatively impacted the sector given its sensitivity to the underlying growth environment. REITs were also impacted by the rise in funding costs during the year as the Fed raised interest rates by 425 basis points (“bps”), the most aggressive pace of policy tightening in several decades.

A deteriorating growth backdrop and increasing fears over a possible recession in 2023 dampened demand in several property related sectors of the economy, most notably in the housing and office spaces. Many REITs saw their discount to net asset value widen during 2022 as uncertainty around growth and the impact of rising interest rates created uncertainties and headwinds for stocks.

At a sector level, hotel and resort REITs outperformed, falling only -4.6% as the sector benefited from the ongoing reopening post-Covid and increased spending on leisure activities which had been curtailed during the pandemic. Retail REITs also outperformed, declining -15.7%, boosted by strong consumer balance sheets which supported spending. Office REITs underperformed, falling -35.8% as the sector was impacted by hybrid work models with occupancy levels falling. Residential REITs also underperformed, falling -33.9%.

The views and opinions in this report were current as of December 31, 2022 and are subject to change at any time. They are not guarantees of performance or investment results and should not be taken as investment advice. Fund holdings are subject to change at any time. Fund returns are net of fees unless otherwise noted.

Growth of $10,000 (unaudited)

This graph compares the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the past 10 fiscal year periods or since inception (for funds lacking 10-year records) with the performance of the Fund’s benchmark index. Results include the reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains distributions. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The graph does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Performance does not include any fees or expenses of variable insurance contracts, individual retirement accounts (“IRA(s)”), qualified retirement plans or college savings programs. If such fees and expenses were included, returns would be lower.

Note: Performance for the Institutional Class shares may vary due to their differing fee structure. See returns table below.

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2022 (unaudited)

	One Year	Five Year	Ten Year / Since Inception^(a)
Institutional Class	-26.11%	2.15%	3.39%
Investor Class	-26.40%	1.80%	4.99%

(a) Institutional Class inception date was May 1, 2015.

Results include the reinvestment of all dividends and capital gains distributions. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Performance does not include any fees or expenses of variable insurance contracts, IRAs, qualified retirement plans or college savings programs. If such fees and expenses were included, returns would be lower.

Summary of Investments by Sector as of December 31, 2022 (unaudited)

Sector	Percentage of Fund Investments
Financial	99.19%
Short Term Investments	0.81
Total	100.00%

Shareholder Expense Example (unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022).

Actual Expenses

The first row of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this row, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first row under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second row of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, the second row of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.

EMPOWER REAL ESTATE INDEX FUND

Schedule of Investments

As of December 31, 2022

Shares		Fair Value
COMMON STOCK
Apartment REITS — 15.41%
189,405	American Homes 4 Rent REIT Class A	$ 5,708,667
92,516	Apartment Income Corp REIT	3,174,224
94,367	Apartment Investment & Management Co REIT Class A	671,893
86,326	AvalonBay Communities Inc REIT	13,943,376
65,735	Camden Property Trust REIT	7,354,432
9,309	Centerspace REIT	546,159
209,881	Equity Residential REIT	12,382,979
39,958	Essex Property Trust Inc REIT	8,467,899
137,235	Independence Realty Trust Inc REIT	2,313,782
358,415	Invitation Homes Inc REIT	10,623,421
71,256	Mid-America Apartment Communities Inc REIT	11,186,479
14,183	NexPoint Residential Trust Inc REIT	617,244
188,827	UDR Inc REIT	7,313,270
		84,303,825
Diversified REITS — 13.54%
31,654	American Assets Trust Inc REIT	838,831
106,824	Broadstone Net Lease Inc REIT	1,731,617
177,420	Digital Realty Trust Inc REIT	17,789,903
54,206	Elme Communities REIT	964,867
46,293	EPR Properties REIT	1,746,172
57,102	Equinix Inc REIT	37,403,523
65,052	Global Net Lease Inc REIT	817,704
170,465	LXP Industrial Trust REIT	1,708,059
82,514	Necessity Retail Inc REIT	489,308
32,865	UMH Properties Inc REIT	529,127
128,369	WP Carey Inc REIT	10,032,037
		74,051,148
Health Care REITS — 10.23%
59,196	CareTrust Inc REIT	1,099,862
14,106	Community Healthcare Trust Inc REIT	504,995
150,840	Diversified Healthcare Trust REIT	97,563
38,213	Global Medical Inc REIT	362,259
234,838	Healthcare Realty Trust Inc REIT	4,525,328
331,697	Healthpeak Properties Inc REIT	8,315,644
25,105	LTC Properties Inc REIT	891,981
369,004	Medical Properties Trust Inc REIT^(a)	4,110,704
27,048	National Health Investors Inc REIT	1,412,447
144,505	Omega Healthcare Investors Inc REIT	4,038,915
7,620	Universal Health Realty Income Trust REIT	363,703

Shares		Fair Value
Health Care REITS — (continued)
246,651	Ventas Inc REIT	$ 11,111,627
291,575	Welltower Inc REIT	19,112,741
		55,947,769
Hotels REITS — 3.79%
130,682	Apple Hospitality Inc REIT	2,062,162
21,568	Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc REIT^(b)	96,409
29,217	Chatham Lodging Trust REIT	358,493
129,768	DiamondRock Hospitality Co REIT	1,062,800
18,630	Hersha Hospitality Trust REIT Class A	158,728
436,616	Host Hotels & Resorts Inc REIT	7,007,687
139,076	Park Hotels & Resorts Inc REIT	1,639,706
80,147	Pebblebrook Hotel Trust REIT	1,073,168
100,975	RLJ Lodging Trust REIT	1,069,325
34,133	Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc REIT	2,791,397
101,551	Service Properties Trust REIT	740,307
65,932	Summit Hotel Properties Inc REIT	476,029
129,437	Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc REIT	1,250,361
70,752	Xenia Hotels & Resorts Inc REIT	932,511
		20,719,083
Manufactured Homes REITS — 3.27%
107,952	Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc REIT	6,973,699
76,448	Sun Communities Inc REIT	10,932,064
		17,905,763
Office Property REITS — 7.62%
92,140	Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc REIT	13,422,034
88,023	Boston Properties Inc REIT	5,948,594
104,882	Brandywine Realty Trust REIT	645,024
25,703	City Office Inc REIT	215,391
69,373	Corporate Office Properties Trust REIT	1,799,536
92,841	Cousins Properties Inc REIT	2,347,949
108,541	Douglas Emmett Inc REIT	1,701,923
56,373	Easterly Government Properties Inc REIT^(a)	804,443
79,453	Empire State Realty Trust Inc REIT Class A	535,513
67,857	Equity Commonwealth REIT	1,694,389
58,447	Franklin Street Properties Corp REIT	159,560
64,914	Highwoods Properties Inc REIT	1,816,294
77,550	Hudson Pacific Properties Inc REIT	754,561
60,323	JBG SMITH Properties REIT	1,144,931

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.

EMPOWER REAL ESTATE INDEX FUND

Schedule of Investments

As of December 31, 2022

Shares		Fair Value
Office Property REITS — (continued)
65,216	Kilroy Realty Corp REIT	$ 2,521,903
30,203	Office Properties Income Trust REIT	403,210
34,088	Orion Office Inc REIT	291,112
99,884	Paramount Group Inc REIT	593,311
77,734	Piedmont Office Realty Trust Inc REIT Class A	712,821
39,535	SL Green Realty Corp REIT	1,333,120
49,469	Veris Residential Inc REIT^(b)	788,041
98,914	Vornado Realty Trust REIT	2,058,400
		41,692,060
Regional Malls REITS — 4.82%
133,408	Macerich Co REIT	1,502,174
201,746	Simon Property Group Inc REIT	23,701,120
65,099	Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc REIT	1,167,876
		26,371,170
Shopping Centers REITS — 5.72%
57,717	Acadia Realty Trust REIT	828,239
185,066	Brixmor Property Group Inc REIT	4,195,446
45,101	Federal Realty Investment Trust REIT	4,557,005
381,630	Kimco Realty Corp REIT	8,082,923
135,468	Kite Realty Group Trust REIT	2,851,601
33,210	NETSTREIT Corp REIT	608,739
95,034	Regency Centers Corp REIT	5,939,625
76,159	Retail Opportunity Investments Corp REIT	1,144,670
51,563	RPT Realty REIT	517,693
114,282	SITE Centers Corp REIT	1,561,092
72,351	Urban Edge Properties REIT	1,019,426
		31,306,459
Single Tenant REITS — 8.49%
54,656	Agree Realty Corp REIT	3,876,750
87,455	Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc REIT	2,052,569
51,922	Four Corners Property Trust Inc REIT	1,346,338
26,637	Getty Realty Corp REIT	901,662
110,289	National Retail Properties Inc REIT	5,046,825
386,994	Realty Income Corp REIT	24,547,029
86,179	Spirit Realty Capital Inc REIT	3,441,128
163,969	STORE Capital Corp REIT	5,256,846
		46,469,147
Storage REITS — 9.53%
138,578	CubeSmart REIT	5,577,764
82,639	Extra Space Storage Inc REIT	12,162,808
52,449	Life Storage Inc REIT	5,166,227
52,526	National Storage Affiliates Trust REIT	1,897,239

Shares		Fair Value
Storage REITS — (continued)
97,541	Public Storage REIT	$ 27,330,013
		52,134,051
Warehouse/Industry REITS — 16.69%
166,237	Americold Realty Trust Inc REIT	4,706,170
26,888	EastGroup Properties Inc REIT	3,981,037
81,536	First Industrial Realty Trust Inc REIT	3,934,927
40,815	Industrial Logistics Properties Trust REIT	133,465
17,261	Innovative Industrial Properties Inc REIT	1,749,402
24,550	Plymouth Industrial Inc REIT	470,869
569,596	Prologis Inc REIT	64,210,557
113,226	Rexford Industrial Realty Inc REIT	6,186,669
110,587	STAG Industrial Inc REIT	3,573,066
41,038	Terreno Realty Corp REIT	2,333,831
		91,279,993
TOTAL COMMON STOCK — 99.11% (Cost $574,751,657)		$542,180,468
Principal Amount
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS
Repurchase Agreements — 0.81%
$1,053,827	Undivided interest of 0.97% in a repurchase agreement (principal amount/value $108,937,825 with a maturity value of $108,989,873) with Bank of America Securities Inc, 4.30%, dated 12/31/22 to be repurchased at $1,053,827 on 1/3/23 collateralized by Federal National Mortgage Association securities, 1.50% - 6.50%, 5/1/37 - 5/1/58, with a value of $111,116,581.^(c)	1,053,827
1,053,827	Undivided interest of 1.50% in a repurchase agreement (principal amount/value $70,517,679 with a maturity value of $70,551,371) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc, 4.30%, dated 12/31/22 to be repurchased at $1,053,827 on 1/3/23 collateralized by a U.S. Treasury security and various U.S. Government Agency securities, 0.00% - 5.50%, 8/28/23 - 12/1/52, with a value of $71,928,033.^(c)	1,053,827

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.

EMPOWER REAL ESTATE INDEX FUND

Schedule of Investments

As of December 31, 2022

Principal Amount		Fair Value
Repurchase Agreements — (continued)
$1,053,827	Undivided interest of 1.29% in a repurchase agreement (principal amount/value $81,850,151 with a maturity value of $81,889,257) with Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc, 4.30%, dated 12/31/22 to be repurchased at $1,053,827 on 1/3/23 collateralized by Government National Mortgage Association securities, 3.00% - 4.00%, 11/20/48 - 8/20/52, with a value of $83,487,154.^(c)	$ 1,053,827
1,053,827	Undivided interest of 0.96% in a repurchase agreement (principal amount/value $109,701,194 with a maturity value of $109,753,607) with RBC Capital Markets Corp, 4.30%, dated 12/31/22 to be repurchased at $1,053,827 on 1/3/23 collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency securities, 2.00% - 6.00%, 9/1/24 - 10/20/52, with a value of $111,895,218.^(c)	1,053,827

Principal Amount		Fair Value
Repurchase Agreements — (continued)
$ 217,639	Undivided interest of 12.58% in a repurchase agreement (principal amount/value $1,735,883 with a maturity value of $1,736,707) with TD Securities (USA) Inc, 4.27%, dated 12/31/22 to be repurchased at $217,639 on 1/3/23 collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities, 0.38% - 1.88%, 10/31/23 - 7/31/26, with a value of $1,770,601.^(c)	$ 217,639
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.81% (Cost $4,432,947)		$ 4,432,947
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 99.92% (Cost $579,184,604)		$546,613,415
OTHER ASSETS & LIABILITIES, NET — 0.08%		$ 446,613
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.00%		$547,060,028

^(a)	All or a portion of the security is on loan at December 31, 2022.
^(b)	Non-income producing security.
^(c)	Collateral received for securities on loan.
^REIT	Real Estate Investment Trust

At December 31, 2022, the Fund held the following outstanding exchange traded futures contracts:
Description	Number of Contracts		Notional Amount	Expiration Date	Fair Value and Net Unrealized Depreciation
Long
S&P 500® Emini Futures	23	USD	4,440,150	March 2023	$(30,183)

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

As of December 31, 2022

	Empower Real Estate Index Fund
ASSETS:
Investments in securities, fair value (including $4,293,835 of securities on loan)^(a)	$542,180,468
Repurchase agreements, fair value^(b)	4,432,947
Cash	7,602,678
Cash pledged on futures contracts	794,004
Dividends receivable	2,412,082
Subscriptions receivable	761,588
Total Assets	558,183,767
LIABILITIES:
Payable for director fees	8,130
Payable for investments purchased	5,624,187
Payable for other accrued fees	80,418
Payable for shareholder services fees	96,029
Payable to investment adviser	141,976
Payable upon return of securities loaned	4,432,947
Redemptions payable	727,690
Variation margin on futures contracts	12,362
Total Liabilities	11,123,739
NET ASSETS	$547,060,028
NET ASSETS REPRESENTED BY:
Capital stock, $0.10 par value	$5,899,640
Paid-in capital in excess of par	594,349,988
Undistributed/accumulated deficit	(53,189,600)
NET ASSETS	$547,060,028
NET ASSETS BY CLASS
Investor Class	$324,531,969
Institutional Class	$222,528,059
CAPITAL STOCK:
Authorized
Investor Class	135,000,000
Institutional Class	200,000,000
Issued and Outstanding
Investor Class	30,053,306
Institutional Class	28,943,095
NET ASSET VALUE, REDEMPTION PRICE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE:
Investor Class	$10.80
Institutional Class	$7.69
^(a) Cost of investments	$574,751,657
^(b) Cost of repurchase agreements	$4,432,947

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.

Statement of Operations

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022

	Empower Real Estate Index Fund
INVESTMENT INCOME:
Interest	$51,631
Income from securities lending	6,748
Dividends	13,797,554
Total Income	13,855,933
EXPENSES:
Management fees	1,690,605
Shareholder services fees – Investor Class	1,049,143
Audit and tax fees	45,261
Custodian fees	24,421
Directors fees	34,044
Legal fees	10,169
Pricing fees	326
Registration fees	69,800
Shareholder report fees	44,748
Transfer agent fees	8,632
Other fees	14,207
Total Expenses	2,991,356
Less amount waived by investment adviser	204,188
Net Expenses	2,787,168
NET INVESTMENT INCOME	11,068,765
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS):
Net realized gain on investments	9,718,568
Net realized loss on futures contracts	(1,876,467)
Net Realized Gain	7,842,101
Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments	(182,667,918)
Net change in unrealized depreciation on futures contracts	(142,043)
Net Change in Unrealized Depreciation	(182,809,961)
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss	(174,967,860)
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS	$(163,899,095)

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021

Empower Real Estate Index Fund	2022	2021
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income	$11,068,765	$4,740,070
Net realized gain	7,842,101	18,408,000
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)	(182,809,961)	134,651,131
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations	(163,899,095)	157,799,201
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:
From return of capital
Investor Class	(941,481)	-
Institutional Class	(786,910)	-
From return of capital	(1,728,391)	0
From net investment income and net realized gains
Investor Class	(12,930,645)	(4,651,131)
Institutional Class	(15,042,269)	(8,768,217)
From net investment income and net realized gains	(27,972,914)	(13,419,348)
Total Distributions	(29,701,305)	(13,419,348)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
Shares sold
Investor Class	169,266,999	247,994,768
Institutional Class	72,072,135	52,143,484
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions
Investor Class	13,872,126	4,651,131
Institutional Class	15,829,179	8,768,217
Shares redeemed
Investor Class	(66,492,526)	(46,838,876)
Institutional Class	(76,585,923)	(151,460,549)
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions	127,961,990	115,258,175
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets	(65,638,410)	259,638,028
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of year	612,698,438	353,060,410
End of year	$547,060,028	$612,698,438
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS - SHARES:
Shares sold
Investor Class	13,660,473	18,124,074
Institutional Class	8,103,150	5,486,333
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions
Investor Class	1,276,339	308,613
Institutional Class	2,024,130	827,617
Shares redeemed
Investor Class	(5,158,803)	(3,485,065)
Institutional Class	(8,139,707)	(16,460,596)
Net Increase	11,765,582	4,800,976

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.

EMPOWER REAL ESTATE INDEX FUND

Financial Highlights

Selected data for a share of capital stock of the Fund throughout the periods indicated.

		Income (Loss) from Investment Operations:			Less Distributions:
	Net asset value, beginning of year	Net investment income^(a)	Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	Total from investment operations	From return of capital	From net investment income	From net realized gains	Total Distributions	Net asset value, end of year	Total Return^(b)(c)
Investor Class
12/31/2022	$15.36	0.24	(4.29)	(4.05)	(0.04)	(0.18)	(0.29)	(0.51)	$10.80	(26.40%)
12/31/2021	$10.86	0.15	4.65	4.80	—	(0.09)	(0.21)	(0.30)	$15.36	44.31%
12/31/2020	$12.50	0.27	(1.74)	(1.47)	—	(0.17)	—	(0.17)	$10.86	(11.59%)
12/31/2019	$10.68	0.15	2.24	2.39	—	(0.12)	(0.45)	(0.57)	$12.50	22.40%
12/31/2018	$11.68	0.30	(0.86)	(0.56)	(0.01)	(0.22)	(0.21)	(0.44)	$10.68	(4.86%)
Institutional Class
12/31/2022	$11.18	0.20	(3.12)	(2.92)	(0.03)	(0.25)	(0.29)	(0.57)	$ 7.69	(26.11%)
12/31/2021	$ 7.96	0.11	3.43	3.54	—	(0.11)	(0.21)	(0.32)	$11.18	44.73%
12/31/2020	$ 9.26	0.23	(1.29)	(1.06)	—	(0.24)	—	(0.24)	$ 7.96	(11.23%)
12/31/2019	$ 8.05	0.12	1.71	1.83	—	(0.17)	(0.45)	(0.62)	$ 9.26	22.81%
12/31/2018	$ 8.97	0.26	(0.67)	(0.41)	(0.01)	(0.29)	(0.21)	(0.51)	$ 8.05	(4.58%)

	Net assets, end of year (000)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets (before reimbursement and/or waiver, if applicable)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets (after reimbursement and/or waiver, if applicable)	Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (after reimbursement and/or waiver, if applicable)	Portfolio turnover rate^(d)
Investor Class
12/31/2022	$324,532	0.72%	0.67%	1.90%	14%
12/31/2021	$311,334	0.76%	0.70%	1.09%	33%
12/31/2020	$ 57,840	0.76%	0.70%	2.62%	44%
12/31/2019	$ 63,048	0.75%	0.70%	1.24%	19%
12/31/2018	$ 63,673	0.75%	0.70%	2.64%	21%
Institutional Class
12/31/2022	$222,528	0.34%	0.32%	2.16%	14%
12/31/2021	$301,365	0.37%	0.35%	1.17%	33%
12/31/2020	$295,220	0.37%	0.35%	3.01%	44%
12/31/2019	$291,797	0.36%	0.35%	1.33%	19%
12/31/2018	$248,225	0.37%	0.35%	3.04%	21%

^(a)	Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.
^(b)	Total return does not include any fees or expenses of variable insurance contracts, if applicable. If such fees or expenses were included, the return shown would have been lower.
^(c)	Total return shown net of expenses reimbursed and/or waived, if applicable. Without the expense reimbursement and/or waiver, the return shown would have been lower.
^(d)	Portfolio turnover is calculated at the Fund level.

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.

EMPOWER REAL ESTATE INDEX FUND

Notes to Financial Statements

1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Empower Funds, Inc. (Empower Funds), a Maryland corporation, was organized on December 7, 1981 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) as an open-end management investment company. Empower Funds presently consists of forty-five funds. Interests in the Empower Real Estate Index Fund (the Fund) are included herein.

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek 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"). The Fund is non-diversified as defined in the 1940 Act. The Fund is available as an investment option to insurance company separate accounts for certain variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies, to individual retirement account custodians or trustees, to plan sponsors of qualified retirement plans, to college savings programs, and to asset allocation funds that are a series of Empower Funds.

The Fund offers two share classes, referred to as Investor Class and Institutional Class shares. All shares of the Fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, expenses (other than those attributable to a specific class) and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets represented by such class. Operating expenses directly attributable to a specific class are charged against operations of that class. Expenses incurred by Empower Funds, which are not Fund specific, are allocated based on relative net assets or other appropriate allocation methods.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund is also an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services - Investment Companies. The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies of the Fund.

Security Valuation

The Board of Directors of the Fund has adopted policies and procedures for the valuation of the Fund’s securities and assets, and has appointed the Fair Value Pricing Committee of the investment adviser, Empower Capital Management, LLC (ECM or the Adviser), to complete valuation determinations under those policies and procedures. Effective September 8, 2022, pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board of Directors approved the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s investments, subject to oversight by the Board of Directors.

The Fund generally values its securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The net asset value (NAV) of each class of the Fund's shares is determined by dividing the net assets attributable to each class of shares of the Fund by the number of issued and outstanding shares of each class of the Fund on each valuation date.

For securities that are traded on only one exchange, the last sale price as of the close of business of that exchange will be used. If the closing price is not available, the current bid as of the close of business will be used. For securities traded on more than one exchange, or upon one or more exchanges and in the over-the-counter (OTC) market, the last sale price as of the close of business on the market which the security is traded most extensively will be used. If the closing price is not available, the current bid as of the close of business will be used. For securities that principally trade on the NASDAQ National Market System, the NASDAQ official closing price will be used.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

Short term securities purchased with less than 60 days remaining until maturity and all U.S. Treasury Bills are valued on the basis of amortized cost, which has been determined to approximate fair value. Short term securities purchased with more than 60 days remaining until maturity are valued using pricing services, or in the event a price is not available from a pricing service, may be priced using other methodologies approved by the Board of Directors, including model pricing or pricing on the basis of quotations from brokers or dealers, and will continue to be priced until final maturity.

For derivatives that are traded on an exchange, the last sale price as of the close of business of the exchange will be used. For derivatives traded over-the-counter (OTC), independent pricing services will be utilized when possible. If a price cannot be located from the primary source, other appropriate sources, which may include the use of an internally developed valuation model, another external pricing vendor or sourcing a price from a broker, may be used.

Independent pricing services are approved by the Board of Directors and are utilized for all investment types when available. In some instances valuations from independent pricing services are not available or do not reflect events in the market between the time the market closed and the valuation time and therefore fair valuation procedures are implemented. The fair value for some securities may be obtained from pricing services or other pricing sources. The inputs used by the pricing services are reviewed quarterly or when the pricing vendor issues updates to its pricing methodologies. Broker quotes are analyzed through an internal review process, which includes a review of known market conditions and other relevant data. Developments that might trigger fair value pricing could be natural disasters, government actions or fluctuations in domestic and foreign markets.

The following table provides examples of the inputs that are commonly used for valuing particular classes of securities. These classifications are not exclusive, and any inputs may be used to value any other security class.

Class	Inputs
Common Stock	Exchange traded close price, bids, evaluated bids, open and close price of the local exchange, exchange rates, fair values based on significant market movement and various index data.
Short Term Investments	Maturity date, credit quality and interest rates.
Futures Contracts	Exchange traded close price.

The Fund classifies its valuations into three levels based upon the observability of inputs to the valuation of the Fund’s investments. The valuation levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with the underlying investment. Classification is based on the lowest level of input significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices for identical securities in active markets.

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable either directly or indirectly. These may include quoted prices for similar assets in active markets.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs to the extent observable inputs are not available and may include prices obtained from single broker quotes. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions and would be based on the best information available under the circumstances.

As of December 31, 2022, all of the Fund’s investments are valued using Level 1 inputs, except for Short Term Investments, which are valued using Level 2 inputs. More information regarding the sector classifications, as applicable, are included in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may engage in repurchase agreement transactions with institutions that the Fund’s investment adviser has determined are creditworthy. The Fund will purchase securities at a specified price with an agreement to sell the securities to the same counterparty at a specified time, price and interest rate. The Fund’s custodian and/or securities lending agent receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing a repurchase agreement. Collateral is at least equal to the value of the repurchase obligation including interest. A repurchase agreement transaction involves certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the counterparty. These risks include possible delays or restrictions upon a Fund’s ability to dispose of the underlying securities and a possible decline in the value of the underlying securities during the period while the Fund seeks to assert its rights.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

Security Transactions

Security transactions are accounted for on the date the security is purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses from investments sold are determined on a specific lot selection. Dividend income for the Fund is accrued as of the ex-dividend date and interest income, including amortization of discounts and premiums, is recorded daily.

The Fund recharacterizes distributions received from REIT investments based on information provided by the REIT into the following categories: ordinary income, long-term capital gains, and return of capital. If information is not available on a timely basis from the REIT, the recharacterization will be estimated based on available information which may include the previous year’s allocation. If new or additional information becomes available from the REIT at a later date, a recharacterization will be made in the following year.

Federal Income Taxes and Distributions to Shareholders

The Fund intends to comply with provisions under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income, including any net realized gain on investments not offset by capital loss carryforwards, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income or excise tax provision is required. The Fund files income tax returns in U.S. federal and applicable state jurisdictions. The statute of limitations on the Fund’s tax return filings generally remains open for the three preceding fiscal reporting period ends. State tax returns may remain open for an additional fiscal year.

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared and paid semi-annually. Capital gain distributions of the Fund, if any, are declared and paid at least annually. Distributions are reinvested in additional shares of the Fund at net asset value and are declared separately for each class. Distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

The Fund makes investments in REITs which pay dividends to their shareholders based upon funds available from operations. It is common for these dividends to exceed the REITs’ taxable earnings and profits, resulting in the excess portion of such dividends being designated as a return of capital. If the Fund distributes such amounts, it may constitute a return of capital to shareholders for income tax purposes.

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:

	2022	2021
Ordinary income	$13,376,331	$9,148,116
Long-term capital gain	14,596,583	4,271,232
Return of capital	1,728,391	-
	$29,701,305	$13,419,348

Net investment income (loss) and net realized gain (loss) for federal income tax purposes may differ from those reported on the financial statements because of temporary and permanent book-tax basis differences. Book-tax differences may include but are not limited to the following: wash sales, distribution adjustments and adjustments for real estate investment trusts.

Capital accounts within the financial statements are adjusted for permanent book-tax differences, and are not adjusted for temporary book-tax differences which will reverse in a subsequent period. Accordingly, the Fund has reclassified $1,728,391 from Paid-in capital to Undistributed/accumulated earnings for December 31, 2022. Net assets of the Fund were unaffected by the reclassifications.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

The tax components of capital shown in the following table represent distribution requirements the Fund must satisfy under the income tax regulations, losses the Fund may be able to offset against income and gains realized in future years and unrealized appreciation or depreciation for federal income tax purposes. At December 31, 2022, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

Undistributed net investment income	$—
Undistributed long-term capital gains	—
Capital loss carryforwards	—
Post-October losses	(2,419,179)
Net unrealized depreciation	(50,553,578)
Tax composition of capital	$(52,972,757)

The Fund has elected to defer to the next fiscal year the following Post-October losses:

Post-October Ordinary Losses		Post-October Capital Losses
$—		$(2,419,179)

The aggregate cost of securities and other investments and the composition of unrealized appreciation and depreciation for federal income tax purposes as of December 31, 2022 were as follows:

Federal tax cost of investments	$597,136,810
Gross unrealized appreciation on investments	42,149,558
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments	(92,703,136)
Net unrealized depreciation on investments	$(50,553,578)

2. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Fund's investment objective allows the Fund to enter into various types of derivative contracts, including futures contracts. Derivatives are investments whose value is primarily derived from underlying assets, indices or reference rates.

In pursuit of the Fund's investment objectives, the Fund may seek to use derivatives to increase or decrease its exposure to the following market risks:

Equity Risk - The risk that relates to the change in value of equity securities as they relate to increases or decreases in the general market.

The Fund is also exposed to additional risks from investing in derivatives, such as liquidity and counterparty credit risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund will be unable to sell or close out the derivative in the open market in a timely manner. Counterparty credit risk is the risk that the counterparty will not be able to fulfill its obligations to the Fund. Investing in derivatives may also involve greater risks than investing directly in the underlying assets, such as losses in excess of any initial investment and collateral received. In addition, there may be the risk that the change in value of the derivative contract does not correspond to the change in value of the underlying instrument.

Futures Contracts

The Fund uses futures contracts to equitize cash. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy or sell a specified underlying investment for a fixed price at a specified future date. Futures contracts are generally entered into on a regulated futures exchange and cleared through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange. The use of futures contracts may involve risks such as the possibility of illiquid markets or imperfect correlation between the value of the contracts and the underlying securities that comprise the index, or that the clearinghouse will fail to perform its obligations.

Futures contracts are reported in a table following the Schedule of Investments. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to pledge to the broker an amount of cash and/or other assets equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount (initial margin deposit). Receipts or payments, known as variation margin, are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the fair value of the underlying security. This is recorded as variation margin on futures contracts on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When the Fund enters into a closing transaction, it will realize, for book

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

purposes, a gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the futures contract at the time it was opened or purchased and its value at the time it was closed, and is reflected in net realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations. The Fund held an average of 32 long futures contracts and an average of 0 short futures contracts for the reporting period.

Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure

Valuation of derivative investments as of December 31, 2022 is as follows:

	Liability Derivatives
Risk Exposure	Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location	Fair Value
Equity contracts (futures contracts)	Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts	$(30,183) ^(a)

^(a)Includes cumulative depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The effect of derivative investments for the year ended December 31, 2022 is as follows:

	Realized Gain or (Loss)		Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation)
Risk Exposure	Statement of Operations Location		Statement of Operations Location
Equity contracts (futures contracts)	Net realized loss on futures contracts	$(1,876,467)	Net change in unrealized depreciation on futures contracts	$(142,043)

3. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Empower Funds entered into an investment advisory agreement with ECM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America (Empower of America). Effective April 29, 2022, as compensation for its services to Empower Funds, the Adviser receives monthly compensation at the annual rate of 0.29% of the Fund’s average daily net assets up to $1 billion dollars, 0.24% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $1 billion dollars and 0.19% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $2 billion dollars. Prior to April 29, 2022 the management fees were 0.34% of the Fund’s average daily net assets up to $1 billion dollars, 0.29% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $1 billion dollars and 0.24% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $2 billion dollars. Certain administration and accounting services fees for the Fund are included in the investment advisory agreement.

Effective April 29, 2022, the Adviser contractually agreed to waive fees or reimburse expenses that exceed an annual rate of 0.30% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to each Class, including management fees and expenses paid directly by the Fund, excluding shareholder service fees and certain extraordinary expenses (the "Expense Limit"). Prior to April 29, 2022, the Expense Limit was 0.35%. The agreement's current term ends on April 30, 2023 and automatically renews for one-year unless terminated upon written notice within 90 days of the end of the current term or upon termination of the investment advisory agreement. The amount waived or reimbursed, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations.

The Adviser is permitted upon approval by the Board of Directors to recoup amounts waived or reimbursed by the Fund in future periods, not exceeding three years following the particular waiver/reimbursement, provided the total annual operating expenses of each Class of the Fund 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. At December 31, 2022, the amounts subject to recoupment were as follows:

Expires December 31, 2023		Expires December 31, 2024		Expires December 31, 2025		Recoupment of Past Reimbursed Fees by the Adviser
$120,053		$117,418		$204,188		$0

The Adviser and Empower Funds entered into a sub-advisory agreement with Irish Life Investment Managers Limited (ILIM), an affiliate of the Adviser and Empower of America. The Adviser is responsible for compensating the Sub-Adviser for its services.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

The Adviser is responsible for compensating ILIM, which receives monthly compensation for its services at the annual rate of 0.02% of the Fund's net assets.

Empower Funds entered into a shareholder services agreement with Empower Retirement, LLC (Empower), an affiliate of ECM and subsidiary of Empower of America. Pursuant to the shareholder services agreement, Empower provides various recordkeeping, administrative and shareholder services to shareholders and receives from the Investor Class shares of the Fund a fee equal to 0.35% of the average daily net asset value of the share class.

Empower Financial Services, Inc. (the Distributor), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Empower of America and the principal underwriter to distribute and market the Fund.

Certain officers of Empower Funds are also directors and/or officers of Empower of America or its subsidiaries. No officer or interested director of Empower Funds receives any compensation directly from Empower Funds. The total compensation paid to the independent directors with respect to all forty-five funds for which they serve as directors was $1,258,500 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

4. PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments (excluding all U.S. Government securities and short-term securities) were $193,257,101 and $77,742,156, respectively. For the same period, there were no purchases or sales of long-term U.S. Government securities.

5. SECURITIES LOANED

The Fund has entered into a securities lending agreement with its custodian as securities lending agent. Under the terms of the agreement the Fund receives income after deductions of other amounts payable to the securities lending agent or to the borrower from lending transactions. In exchange for such fees, the securities lending agent is authorized to loan securities on behalf of the Fund against receipt of cash collateral at least equal in value at all times to the value of the securities loaned plus accrued interest. The fair value of the loaned securities is determined daily at the close of business of the Fund and necessary collateral adjustments are made between the Fund and its counterparties on the next business day through the delivery or receipt of additional collateral. The Fund also continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. Cash collateral is invested in securities approved by the Board of Directors. The Fund bears the risk of any deficiency in the amount of collateral available for return to a borrower due to a loss in an approved investment. As of December 31, 2022, the Fund had securities on loan valued at $4,293,835 and received collateral as reported on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities of $4,432,947 for such loan which was invested in Repurchase Agreements collateralized by U.S. Government or U.S. Government Agency securities. The Repurchase Agreements can be jointly purchased with other lending agent clients and in the event of a default by the counterparty, all lending agent clients would share ratably in the collateral.

Under the securities lending agreement, the collateral pledged is, by definition, the securities loaned against the cash borrowed. At December 31, 2022, the class of securities loaned consisted entirely of common stock. The remaining contractual maturity of all of the securities lending transactions is overnight and continuous. Additional information regarding the Fund's securities on loan is included in the Schedule of Investments.

6. INDEMNIFICATIONS

The Fund’s organizational documents provide current and former officers and directors with a limited indemnification against liabilities arising in connection with the performance of their duties to the Fund. In the normal course of business, the Fund may also enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would be dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has reviewed all events subsequent to December 31, 2022, including the estimates inherent in the process of preparing these financial statements through the date the financial statements were issued. No subsequent events requiring adjustments or disclosures have occurred.

Annual Report - December 31, 2022

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Empower Funds, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of the Empower Real Estate Index Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds of Empower Funds, Inc., as of December 31, 2022, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2022, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund's financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2022, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Denver, Colorado

February 23, 2023

We have served as the auditor of one or more Empower investment companies since 1982.

Fund Directors and Officers

Empower Funds is organized under Maryland law, and is governed by the Board of Directors. The following table provides information about each of the Directors and executive officers of Empower Funds.

Independent Directors*
Name, Address, and Age	Positions(s) Held with Empower Funds	Term of Office and Length of Time Served**	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years	Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen by Director	Other Directorships Held by Director
Gail H. Klapper 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 79	Chair & Independent Director	Since 2016 (as Chair) Since 2007 (as Independent Director)	Managing Attorney, Klapper Law Firm; Member/Director, The Colorado Forum; Director, Gold, Inc; Member, Colorado State Fair Board Authority; Manager, 6K Ranch, LLC; and former Director, Guaranty Bancorp	45	N/A
James A. Hillary*** 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 59	Independent Director	Since 2017	Principal and Founding Partner, Fios Capital, LLC; Member, Fios Partners LLC, Fios Holdings LLC; Sole Member, Fios Companies LLC, Resolute Capital Asset Partners LLC; Manager, Applejack Holdings, LLC; and Manager and Member, Prestige Land Holdings, LLC	45	N/A
R. Timothy Hudner**** 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 63	Independent Director	Since 2017	Director, Colorado State Housing Board; and former Director, Grand Junction Housing Authority; Counseling and Education Center	45	N/A
Steven A. Lake 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 68	Independent Director	Since 2017	Managing Member, Lake Advisors, LLC; Member, Gart Capital Partners, LLC; and Executive Member, Sage Enterprise Holdings, LLC	45	N/A

Independent Directors*
Name, Address, and Age	Positions(s) Held with Empower Funds	Term of Office and Length of Time Served**	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years	Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen by Director	Other Directorships Held by Director
Stephen G. McConahey 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 79	Independent Director & Audit Committee Chair	Since 2011 (as Independent Director) Since 2015 (as Audit Committee Chair)	Chairman, SGM Capital, LLC; Partner, Iron Gate Capital, LLC; Director, The IMA Financial Group, Inc.; and former Director, Guaranty Bancorp	45	N/A
Interested Director*****
Name, Address, and Age	Positions(s) Held with Empower Funds	Term of Office and Length of Time Served	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years	Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen by Director	Other Directorships Held by Director
Jonathan D. Kreider 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 39	Director, President & Chief Executive Officer	Since 2020	Senior Vice President & Head of Empower Investments, Empower, Empower of America and Empower Life & Annuity Insurance Company of New York (“Empower of NY”); President, Chief Executive Officer & Manager, ECM; formerly, Vice President, Empower Funds Investment Products and Empower Advisory Group, LLC (“EAG”)	45	N/A

Officers
Name, Address, and Age	Positions(s) Held with Empower Funds	Term of Office and Length of Time Served	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years	Number of Fund in Fund Complex Overseen by Director	Other Directorships Held by Director
Jonathan D. Kreider 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 39	Director, President & Chief Executive Officer	Since 2020	Senior Vice President & Head of Empower Investments, Empower, Empower of America and Empower of NY; President, Chief Executive Officer & Manager, ECM; formerly, Vice President, Empower Funds Investment Products and Empower Advisory Group, LLC (“EAG”)	45	N/A
Katherine Stoner 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 66	Chief Compliance Officer	Since 2016	Head of Compliance, Empower Investments, Empower; Chief Compliance Officer, ECM and EAG	N/A	N/A

Officers
Name, Address, and Age	Positions(s) Held with Empower Funds	Term of Office and Length of Time Served	Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years	Number of Fund in Fund Complex Overseen by Director	Other Directorships Held by Director
Ryan L. Logsdon 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 48	Chief Legal Officer & Secretary	Since 2010 (as Secretary) Since 2021 (as Chief Legal Officer)	Deputy General Counsel, Empower; Vice President and Counsel, ECM; Secretary, Empower of America; Corporate Secretary, Empower of NY; formerly, Vice President & Counsel, Empower Funds; Vice President, Counsel & Secretary, EAG & EFSI	N/A	N/A
Kelly B. New 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 47	Treasurer	Since 2016 (Assistant Treasurer) Since 2021 (as Treasurer)	Vice President, Fund Administration, Empower; Treasurer, ECM; Vice President & Treasurer, Empower Trust Company, LLC (“ETC”); formerly, Assistant Treasurer Empower Funds & ETC	N/A	N/A
John A. Clouthier 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 55	Assistant Treasurer	Since 2007	Assistant Vice President, Investment Administration, Empower; Assistant Treasurer, ECM; Assistant Vice President and Assistant Treasurer, ETC	N/A	N/A
Abhijit Dande 8515 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 42	Derivatives Risk Manager	Since 2022	Assistant Vice President, Financial Risk Management, Empower; Derivatives Risk Manager, ECM	N/A	N/A

* A Director who is not an “interested person” of Empower Funds (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, as amended) is referred to as an “Independent Director.”

** Each Director serves until the next shareholders’ meeting (and until the election and qualification of a successor), or until death, resignation, removal or retirement which takes effect no later than May 1 following his or her 75th birthday unless otherwise determined by the remaining directors. The remaining Independent Directors determined that Ms. Klapper and Mr. McConahey should continue on the Board until at least May 1, 2024. Officers are elected by the Board on an annual basis to serve until their successors have been elected and qualified.

*** Mr. Hillary is the sole member of Resolute Capital Asset Partners LLC, which is the general partner for Resolute Capital Asset Partners Fund I LP. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, the clearing agent and custodian for Resolute Capital Asset Partners Fund I LP, is the parent company of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, LP, the Sub-Adviser of the Empower Core Strategies: Inflation-Protected

Securities, Empower Inflation-Protected Securities and Empower Mid Cap Value Funds; and a Sub-Adviser of the Empower Core Bond Fund. Mr. Hillary has personal banking accounts with an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., a Sub-Adviser of the Empower Core Strategies: U.S. Equity, Empower International Growth and Empower Large Cap Growth Funds. Mr. Hillary receives no special treatment due to the relationship.

**** Mr. Hudner’s daughter is employed by JP Morgan Chase, N.A., an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., a Sub-Adviser of the Empower Core Strategies: U.S. Equity, Empower International Growth and Empower Large Cap Growth Funds. Mr. Hudner has personal investments in the following: (1) a mutual fund advised by Massachusetts Financial Services Company, a Sub-Adviser of the Empower International Value Fund, (2) a mutual fund advised by Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc., an affiliate of Virtus Fixed Income Advisers, LLC, a Sub-Adviser of the Empower Multi-Sector Bond Fund, and (3) a mutual fund advised by Lazard Asset Management LLC, a Sub-Adviser of the Empower Emerging Markets Equity Fund. Mr. Hudner receives no special treatment due to his ownership of such mutual funds.

***** An “Interested Director” refers to a Director who is an “interested person” of Empower Funds (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, as amended) by virtue of their affiliation with ECM.

There are no arrangements or understandings between any Director or officer and any other person(s) pursuant to which s/he was elected as Director or officer.

Additional information about Empower Funds and its Directors is available in the Empower Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), which can be obtained free of charge upon request to: Secretary, Empower Funds, Inc., 8525 East Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111; (866) 831-7129. The SAI is also available on the Fund’s web site at https://www.greatwestinvestments.com.

Availability of Quarterly Portfolio Schedule

Empower Funds files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit on Form N-PORT. Empower Funds’ Forms N-PORT are available on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

A description of the policies and procedures that Empower Funds uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling (866) 831-7129, and of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Availability of Proxy Voting Record

Information regarding how Empower Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling (866) 831-7129, and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

(a) As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party.

(b) For purposes of this Item, "code of ethics" means written standards that are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:

(1) Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

(2) Full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the Commission and in other public communications made by the registrant;

(3) Compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations;

(4) The prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the code; and

(5) Accountability for adherence to the code.

(d) During the period covered by this report, the registrant has not granted any express or implicit waivers from the provisions of the Code of Ethics.

(e) Registrant’s Code of Ethics is attached hereto.

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Mr. Stephen A. Lake is the audit committee financial expert and is "independent," pursuant to general instructions on Form N-CSR, Item 3.

An “audit committee financial expert” is not an “expert” for any purpose, including for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated as an “audit committee financial expert.” Further, the designation of a person as an “audit committee financial expert” does not mean that the person has any greater duties, obligations, or liability than those imposed on the person without the “audit committee financial expert” designation. Similarly, the designation of a person as an “audit committee financial expert” does not affect the duties, obligations, or liability of any other member of the Audit Committee or Board of Directors.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

(a) Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years were: $996,300 for fiscal year 2021 and $1,031,500 for fiscal year 2022.

(b) Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were: $40,000 for fiscal year 2021 and $42,000 for fiscal year 2022. The nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed under this category involved performance of 17f-2 (self-custody) audits and administrative services related to the audit.

(c) Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were: $0 for fiscal year 2021 and $0 for fiscal year 2022.

(d) All Other Fees. There were no fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs ((a) through (c) of this Item).

(e) (1) Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.

Pre-Approval of Audit Services. The Audit Committee must approve prior to retention all audit, review or attest engagements required under the securities laws that are provided to Empower Funds by its independent auditors. The Audit Committee will not grant such approval to any auditors that are proposed to perform an audit for Empower Funds if a chief executive officer, controller, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or any person serving in an equivalent position for Empower Funds that is responsible for the financial reporting or operations of Empower Funds was employed by those auditors and participated in any capacity in an audit of Empower Funds during the year period (or such other period proscribed under SEC rules) preceding the date of initiation of such audit.

Pre-Approval of Non-Audit Services. The Audit Committee must pre-approve any non-audit services, including tax services, to be provided to Empower Funds by its independent auditors (except those within applicable de minimis statutory or regulatory exceptions)¹ provided that Empower Funds’ auditors will not provide the following non-audit services to Empower Funds: (a) bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of Empower Funds; (b) financial information systems design and implementation; (c) appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports; (d) actuarial services; (e) internal audit outsourcing services; (f) management functions or human resources; (g) broker-dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services; (h) legal services; (i) expert services unrelated to the audit; and (j) any other service that the

¹No pre-approval is required as to non-audit services provided to Empower Funds if: (a) the aggregate amount of all non-audit services provided to Empower Funds constitute not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by Empower Funds to the independent auditors during the fiscal year in which the services are provided; (b) these services were not recognized by Empower Funds at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (c) the services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit.

Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible. ²

Pre-approval with respect to Non-Empower Funds Entities. The Audit Committee must pre-approve any non-audit services that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of Empower Funds (except those within applicable de minimis statutory or regulatory exceptions)³ to be provided by Empower Funds’ auditors to (a) Empower Funds’ investment adviser; and (b) any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser if that entity provides ongoing services to Empower Funds.⁴ The Audit Committee may approve audit and non-audit services on a case-by-case basis or adopt pre-approval policies and procedures that are detailed as to a particular service, provided that the Audit Committee is informed promptly of each service, or use a combination of these approaches.

Delegation. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of the Audit Committee's members. Any member or members to whom such pre-approval authority is delegated must report any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

(f) (2) 100% of the services described pursuant to paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item 4 of Form N-CSR were approved by the Audit Committee, and no such services were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(g) Not Applicable.

(h) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for fiscal year 2021 equaled $2,255,405 and for fiscal year 2022 equaled $1,022,840.

(i) The registrant’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any subadviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by

²With respect to the prohibitions on (a) bookkeeping; (b) financial information systems design and implementation; (c) appraisal, valuation, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports; (d) actuarial; and (e) internal audit outsourcing, such services are permitted to be provided if it is reasonable to conclude that the results of these services will not be subject to audit procedures during an audit of the audit client's financial statements.

³For non-audit services provided to the adviser and entities in a control relationship with the adviser, no pre-approval is required if: (a) the aggregate amount of all non-audit services provided constitute not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid to the independent auditors during the fiscal year in which the services are provided to Empower Funds, Empower Funds’ investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser if that entity provides ongoing services to Empower Funds; (b) these services were not recognized by Empower Funds at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (c) the services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit.

⁴No pre-approval is required by the Audit Committee as to non-audit services provided to any Empower Funds sub-adviser that primarily provides portfolio management services and is under the direction of another investment adviser and is not affiliated with Empower Funds’ primary investment adviser.

another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS.

(a) The schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

(b) Not applicable.

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 9. PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Not applicable.

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors that were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to this Item.

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based upon their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that these disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that material information required to be disclosed by the registrant in the report it files or submits on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the commission's rules and forms and that such material information is accumulated and communicated to the registrant's management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer are aware of no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

	Beginning Account Value	Ending Account Value	Expenses Paid During Period*
	(07/01/22)	(12/31/22)	(07/01/22 – 12/31/22)
Institutional Class
Actual	$1,000.00	$ 938.90	$1.56
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)	$1,000.00	$1,023.60	$1.63
Investor Class
Actual	$1,000.00	$ 937.30	$3.27
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)	$1,000.00	$1,021.80	$3.41