497K 1 visc497k.htm AFIS - GLOBAL SMALL CAPITALIZATION FUND visc497k.htm 
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[LOGO] American Funds/R/                 The right choice for the long term(R)

GLOBAL SMALL CAPITALIZATION FUND            American Funds Insurance Series(R)



SUMMARY PROSPECTUS                                 CLASS 1 SHARES  MAY 1, 2010


 BEFORE YOU INVEST, YOU MAY WANT TO REVIEW THE FUND'S PROSPECTUS AND STATEMENT
 OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WHICH CONTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND AND
 ITS RISKS. YOU CAN FIND THE FUND'S PROSPECTUS, STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
 INFORMATION AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND ONLINE AT
 WWW.AMERICANFUNDS.COM/AFIS. YOU CAN ALSO GET THIS INFORMATION AT NO COST BY
 CALLING 800/421-9900, EXT. 65413 OR BY SENDING AN E-MAIL REQUEST TO
 AFISCLASS1@AMERICANFUNDS.COM. THE CURRENT PROSPECTUS AND STATEMENT OF
 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED MAY 1, 2010, ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO
 THIS SUMMARY PROSPECTUS.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The fund's investment objective is to provide you with long-term growth of
capital.

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

This table describes the fees and expenses associated with an investment in the
fund. It does not reflect insurance contract fees and expenses. If insurance
contract fees and expenses were reflected, expenses shown would be higher.

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT YOU PAY EACH YEAR AS A
 PERCENTAGE OF THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT)                            CLASS 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee.........................................................  0.72%
Other expenses.........................................................  0.04
Total annual fund operating expenses...................................  0.76

EXAMPLE

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that
you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem
your shares at the end of the periods. The example also assumes that your
investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses
remain the same. The example does not reflect insurance contract expenses. If
insurance contract expenses were reflected, expenses shown would be higher.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:

                                                1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class 1                                          $78    $243    $422     $942

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

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 and may result in higher taxes when fund
shares are held in a taxable account. 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 portfolio turnover
rate was 55% of the average value of its portfolio.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Normally, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in growth-oriented
common stocks and other equity type securities (such as preferred stocks,
convertible preferred stocks and convertible bonds) of companies with small
market capitalizations, measured at the time of purchase. However, the fund's
holdings of small capitalization stocks may fall below the 80% threshold due to
subsequent




                                                                                        ---
AMERICAN FUNDS INSURANCE SERIES  GLOBAL SMALL CAPITALIZATION FUND / SUMMARY PROSPECTUS  1
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<PAGE>

market action. The investment adviser currently defines "small market
capitalization" companies to be companies with market capitalizations of $3.5
billion or less. The investment adviser has periodically re-evaluated and
adjusted this definition and may continue to do so in the future.

Under normal circumstances, the fund invests a significant portion of its
assets outside the United States. The fund may also invest a portion of its
assets in common stocks and other securities of companies in countries with
developing economies and/or markets. The fund expects to be invested in
numerous countries around the world.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in
managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is
divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their
respective segments will be invested.

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make
decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment
philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively
valued companies that, in its opinion, represent above-average, long-term
investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way
to accomplish this is through fundamental analysis, which may include meeting
with company executives and employees, suppliers, customers and competitors.
Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer
represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

YOU MAY LOSE MONEY BY INVESTING IN THE FUND. THE LIKELIHOOD OF LOSS MAY BE
GREATER IF YOU INVEST FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.

Investors in the fund should have a long-term perspective and, for example, be
able to tolerate potentially sharp declines in value.

MARKET RISKS -- The prices of the common stocks and other securities held by
the fund may decline in response to certain events taking place around the
world, including those directly involving the issuers whose securities are
owned by the fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market
changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability;
governmental or governmental agency responses to economic conditions; and
currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.

GROWTH STOCK RISKS -- The growth-oriented common stocks and other equity-type
securities, such as preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks and
convertible bonds, generally purchased by the fund may involve large price
swings and potential for loss, particularly in the case of smaller
capitalization stocks.

SMALL CAPITALIZATION RISKS -- Investing in smaller companies may pose
additional risks as it is often more difficult to value or dispose of small
company stocks, more difficult to obtain information about smaller companies,
and the prices of their stocks may be more volatile than stocks of larger, more
established companies.

RISKS OF INVESTING OUTSIDE THE U.S. -- Investments in securities issued by
entities based outside the United States may be subject to the risks described
above to a greater extent. These investments may also be affected by currency
controls; different accounting, auditing, financial reporting, disclosure, and
regulatory and legal standards and practices; expropriation; changes in tax
policy; greater market volatility; different securities market structures;
higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as
delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment
of dividends. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in
developing countries. Investments in securities issued by entities domiciled in
the United States may also be subject to many of these risks.

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES RISKS -- Developing countries may have less developed
legal and accounting systems. The governments of these countries may be more
unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or
industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale
proceeds of securities from the country, and/or impose punitive taxes that
could adversely affect security prices. In addition, the economies of these
countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more
susceptible to local and global changes. Securities markets in these countries
are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. As a
result, securities issued in these countries may be more volatile and less
liquid than securities issued in countries with more developed economies or
markets.

Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government
agency, entity or person.




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2   GLOBAL SMALL CAPITALIZATION FUND / SUMMARY PROSPECTUS  AMERICAN FUNDS INSURANCE SERIES
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INVESTMENT RESULTS

The following information shows how the fund's investment results have varied
from year to year and how the fund's average annual total returns for various
periods compare with different broad measures of market performance. The fund
has selected the MSCI All Country World Small Cap Index to replace the S&P
Global (less than)$3 Billion Index as its broad-based securities market index.
The fund's investment adviser believes that the MSCI All Country World Small
Cap Index better reflects the market sectors and securities in which the fund
primarily invests than the S&P Global (less than)$3 Billion Index. The Lipper
Global Small-Cap Funds Average includes mutual funds that disclose investment
objectives that are reasonably comparable to those of the fund. This
information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund.
Past results are not predictive of future results. Figures shown reflect fees
and expenses associated with an investment in the fund, but do not reflect
insurance contract fees and expenses. If insurance contract fees and expenses
were included, results would have been lower.


Calendar year total returns


                                    [CHART]

  2000    2001    2002   2003   2004    2005    2006   2007    2008    2009
------- ------- ------- ------ ------  ------  ------ ------ -------  ------
-16.33% -12.63% -18.83% 53.92% 21.13%  25.66%  24.35% 21.73% -53.39%  61.63%


The fund's highest/lowest quarterly results during this time period were:

HIGHEST   29.27% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)
LOWEST   -31.20% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

For periods ended December 31, 2009:



                                                                              LIFETIME
                                                                             (FROM FUND
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS                         1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS INCEPTION)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fund (inception date -- 4/30/98)                     61.63%  7.46%    4.72%    10.24%
MSCI All Country World Small Cap Index
 (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or
 taxes)                                              51.30   5.24     6.10      6.55
S&P Global (less than)$3 Billion Index (reflects no
 deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)              50.67   5.43     7.36      7.06
Lipper Global Small-Cap Funds Average
 (reflects no deduction for fees or taxes)           46.05   3.30     2.66      6.01





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AMERICAN FUNDS INSURANCE SERIES  GLOBAL SMALL CAPITALIZATION FUND / SUMMARY PROSPECTUS  3
                                                                                        ---


<PAGE>

MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT ADVISER

Capital Research and Management Company

PORTFOLIO COUNSELORS

The individuals primarily responsible for the portfolio management of the fund
are:



PORTFOLIO COUNSELOR          PORTFOLIO COUNSELOR EXPERIENCE  PRIMARY TITLE WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER
Series title (if applicable)          IN THIS FUND
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      GORDON CRAWFORD                  12 years              Senior Vice President - Capital Research Global Investors
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      MARK E. DENNING                  12 years              Senior Vice President - Capital Research Global Investors
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      J. BLAIR FRANK                   7 years               Senior Vice President - Capital Research Global Investors
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      HAROLD H. LA                     2 years               Senior Vice President - Capital Research Global Investors


TAX INFORMATION

See your variable insurance contract prospectus for information regarding the
federal income tax treatment of the contracts and distributions to the separate
accounts.

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial
intermediary (such as a bank), the fund and the fund's distributor or its
affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related
services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the
broker-dealer or other intermediary and your individual financial adviser to
recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your individual financial
adviser or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
The fund is not sold directly to the general public but instead is offered as
an underlying investment option for variable insurance contracts. In addition
to payments described above, the fund and its related companies may make
payments to the sponsoring insurance company (or its affiliates) for
distribution and/or other services. These payments may be a factor that the
insurance company considers in including the fund as an underlying investment
option in the variable insurance contract. The prospectus (or other offering
document) for your variable insurance contract may contain additional
information about these payments.



INAFIP-475-0510P Litho in USA CGD/8024                                      Investment Company File No. 811-3857
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES
American Funds  Capital Research and Management  Capital International  Capital Guardian  Capital Bank and Trust





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4   GLOBAL SMALL CAPITALIZATION FUND / SUMMARY PROSPECTUS  AMERICAN FUNDS INSURANCE SERIES
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[LOGO] American Funds/R/                 The right choice for the long term(R)

GLOBAL SMALL CAPITALIZATION FUND            American Funds Insurance Series(R)



SUMMARY PROSPECTUS                                 CLASS 2 SHARES  MAY 1, 2010


 BEFORE YOU INVEST, YOU MAY WANT TO REVIEW THE FUND'S PROSPECTUS AND STATEMENT
 OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WHICH CONTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND AND
 ITS RISKS. YOU CAN FIND THE FUND'S PROSPECTUS, STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
 INFORMATION AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND ONLINE AT
 WWW.AMERICANFUNDS.COM/AFIS. YOU CAN ALSO GET THIS INFORMATION AT NO COST BY
 CALLING 800/421-9900, EXT. 65413 OR BY SENDING AN E-MAIL REQUEST TO
 AFISCLASS2@AMERICANFUNDS.COM. THE CURRENT PROSPECTUS AND STATEMENT OF
 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DATED MAY 1, 2010, ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO
 THIS SUMMARY PROSPECTUS.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The fund's investment objective is to provide you with long-term growth of
capital.

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

This table describes the fees and expenses associated with an investment in the
fund. It does not reflect insurance contract fees and expenses. If insurance
contract fees and expenses were reflected, expenses shown would be higher.

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (EXPENSES THAT YOU PAY EACH YEAR AS A
 PERCENTAGE OF THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT)                            CLASS 2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee.........................................................  0.72%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees...............................  0.25
Other expenses.........................................................  0.04
Total annual fund operating expenses...................................  1.01

EXAMPLE

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that
you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem
your shares at the end of the periods. The example also assumes that your
investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses
remain the same. The example does not reflect insurance contract expenses. If
insurance contract expenses were reflected, expenses shown would be higher.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions,
your costs would be:

                                                1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class 2                                          $103   $322    $558    $1,236

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

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 and may result in higher taxes when fund
shares are held in a taxable account. 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 portfolio turnover
rate was 55% of the average value of its portfolio.



                                                                                        ---
AMERICAN FUNDS INSURANCE SERIES  GLOBAL SMALL CAPITALIZATION FUND / SUMMARY PROSPECTUS  1
                                                                                        ---


<PAGE>



PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Normally, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in growth-oriented
common stocks and other equity type securities (such as preferred stocks,
convertible preferred stocks and convertible bonds) of companies with small
market capitalizations, measured at the time of purchase. However, the fund's
holdings of small capitalization stocks may fall below the 80% threshold due to
subsequent market action. The investment adviser currently defines "small
market capitalization" companies to be companies with market capitalizations of
$3.5 billion or less. The investment adviser has periodically re-evaluated and
adjusted this definition and may continue to do so in the future.

Under normal circumstances, the fund invests a significant portion of its
assets outside the United States. The fund may also invest a portion of its
assets in common stocks and other securities of companies in countries with
developing economies and/or markets. The fund expects to be invested in
numerous countries around the world.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in
managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is
divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their
respective segments will be invested.

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make
decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment
philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively
valued companies that, in its opinion, represent above-average, long-term
investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way
to accomplish this is through fundamental analysis, which may include meeting
with company executives and employees, suppliers, customers and competitors.
Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer
represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.

PRINCIPAL RISKS

YOU MAY LOSE MONEY BY INVESTING IN THE FUND. THE LIKELIHOOD OF LOSS MAY BE
GREATER IF YOU INVEST FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.

Investors in the fund should have a long-term perspective and, for example, be
able to tolerate potentially sharp declines in value.

MARKET RISKS -- The prices of the common stocks and other securities held by
the fund may decline in response to certain events taking place around the
world, including those directly involving the issuers whose securities are
owned by the fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market
changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability;
governmental or governmental agency responses to economic conditions; and
currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.

GROWTH STOCK RISKS -- The growth-oriented common stocks and other equity-type
securities, such as preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks and
convertible bonds, generally purchased by the fund may involve large price
swings and potential for loss, particularly in the case of smaller
capitalization stocks.

SMALL CAPITALIZATION RISKS -- Investing in smaller companies may pose
additional risks as it is often more difficult to value or dispose of small
company stocks, more difficult to obtain information about smaller companies,
and the prices of their stocks may be more volatile than stocks of larger, more
established companies.

RISKS OF INVESTING OUTSIDE THE U.S. -- Investments in securities issued by
entities based outside the United States may be subject to the risks described
above to a greater extent. These investments may also be affected by currency
controls; different accounting, auditing, financial reporting, disclosure, and
regulatory and legal standards and practices; expropriation; changes in tax
policy; greater market volatility; different securities market structures;
higher transaction costs; and various administrative difficulties, such as
delays in clearing and settling portfolio transactions or in receiving payment
of dividends. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in
developing countries. Investments in securities issued by entities domiciled in
the United States may also be subject to many of these risks.

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES RISKS -- Developing countries may have less developed
legal and accounting systems. The governments of these countries may be more
unstable and more likely to impose capital controls, nationalize a company or
industry, place restrictions on foreign ownership and on withdrawing sale
proceeds of securities from the country, and/or impose punitive taxes that
could adversely affect security prices. In addition, the economies of these
countries may be dependent on relatively few industries that are more
susceptible to local and global changes. Securities markets in these countries
are also relatively small and have substantially lower trading volumes. As a
result, securities issued in these countries may be more volatile and less
liquid than securities issued in countries with more developed economies or
markets.

Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government
agency, entity or person.



----
2   GLOBAL SMALL CAPITALIZATION FUND / SUMMARY PROSPECTUS  AMERICAN FUNDS INSURANCE SERIES
----


<PAGE>



INVESTMENT RESULTS

The following information shows how the fund's investment results have varied
from year to year and how the fund's average annual total returns for various
periods compare with different broad measures of market performance. The fund
has selected the MSCI All Country World Small Cap Index to replace the S&P
Global (less than)$3 Billion Index as its broad-based securities market index.
The fund's investment adviser believes that the MSCI All Country World Small
Cap Index better reflects the market sectors and securities in which the fund
primarily invests than the S&P Global (less than)$3 Billion Index. The Lipper
Global Small-Cap Funds Average includes mutual funds that disclose investment
objectives that are reasonably comparable to those of the fund. This
information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund.
Past results are not predictive of future results. Figures shown reflect fees
and expenses associated with an investment in the fund, but do not reflect
insurance contract fees and expenses. If insurance contract fees and expenses
were included, results would have been lower.

Calendar year total returns.


                                    [CHART]

  2000    2001     2002    2003    2004    2005    2006   2007    2008    2009
 ------  ------   ------  ------  ------  ------  ------ ------ -------  ------
-16.53% -12.85%  -19.05%  53.53%  20.88%  25.35%  24.05% 21.43% -53.52%  61.30%


The fund's highest/lowest quarterly results during this time period were:

HIGHEST   29.12% (quarter ended June 30, 2009)
LOWEST   -31.28% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

For periods ended December 31, 2009:

                                                                  LIFETIME
                                                                 (FROM FUND
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS             1 YEAR 5 YEARS 10 YEARS INCEPTION)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fund (inception date -- 4/30/98)         61.30%  7.20%    4.46%     9.98%
MSCI All Country World Small Cap Index
 (reflects no deduction for fees,
 expenses or taxes)                      51.30   5.24     6.10      6.55
S&P Global (less than)$3 Billion Index
 (reflects no deduction for fees,
 expenses or taxes)                      50.67   5.43     7.36      7.06
Lipper Global Small-Cap Funds
 Average (reflects no deduction for
 fees or taxes)                          46.05   3.30     2.66      6.01



                                                                                        ---
AMERICAN FUNDS INSURANCE SERIES  GLOBAL SMALL CAPITALIZATION FUND / SUMMARY PROSPECTUS  3
                                                                                        ---


<PAGE>



MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT ADVISER

Capital Research and Management Company

PORTFOLIO COUNSELORS

The individuals primarily responsible for the portfolio management of the fund
are:



PORTFOLIO COUNSELOR          PORTFOLIO COUNSELOR EXPERIENCE  PRIMARY TITLE WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER
Series title (if applicable)          IN THIS FUND
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      GORDON CRAWFORD                  12 years              Senior Vice President - Capital Research Global Investors
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      MARK E. DENNING                  12 years              Senior Vice President - Capital Research Global Investors
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      J. BLAIR FRANK                   7 years               Senior Vice President - Capital Research Global Investors
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      HAROLD H. LA                     2 years               Senior Vice President - Capital Research Global Investors


TAX INFORMATION

See your variable insurance contract prospectus for information regarding the
federal income tax treatment of the contracts and distributions to the separate
accounts.

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

If you purchase shares of the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial
intermediary (such as a bank), the fund and the fund's distributor or its
affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related
services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the
broker-dealer or other intermediary and your individual financial adviser to
recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your individual financial
adviser or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
The fund is not sold directly to the general public but instead is offered as
an underlying investment option for variable insurance contracts. In addition
to payments described above, the fund and its related companies may make
payments to the sponsoring insurance company (or its affiliates) for
distribution and/or other services. These payments may be a factor that the
insurance company considers in including the fund as an underlying investment
option in the variable insurance contract. The prospectus (or other offering
document) for your variable insurance contract may contain additional
information about these payments.




INAFIP-575-0510P Litho in USA CGD/8024                                      Investment Company File No. 811-3857
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES
American Funds  Capital Research and Management  Capital International  Capital Guardian  Capital Bank and Trust




----
4   GLOBAL SMALL CAPITALIZATION FUND / SUMMARY PROSPECTUS  AMERICAN FUNDS INSURANCE SERIES
----