N-CSR 1 a_lifeseries.htm FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS a_lifeseries.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
--------
 
FORM N-CSR
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CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT 
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
 
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NUMBER 811-4325

 

FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

55 Broadway
New York, NY 10006
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Joseph I. Benedek
First Investors Management Company, Inc.
Raritan Plaza I
Edison, NJ 08837-3620
(Name and address of agent for service)

REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE:
1-212-858-8000

DATE OF FISCAL YEAR END: DECEMBER 31

DATE OF REPORTING PERIOD: DECEMBER 31, 2012



Item 1.  Reports to Stockholders 
 
  The annual report to stockholders follows 

 





FOREWORD

 

This report is for the information of the shareholders of the Funds. It is the policy of each Fund described in this report to mail only one copy of a Fund’s prospectus, annual report, semi-annual report and proxy statements to all shareholders who share the same mailing address and share the same last name and have invested in a Fund covered by the same document. You are deemed to consent to this policy unless you specifically revoke this policy and request that separate copies of such documents be mailed to you. In such case, you will begin to receive your own copies within 30 days after our receipt of the revocation. You may request that separate copies of these disclosure documents be mailed to you by writing to us at: Administrative Data Management Corp., Raritan Plaza I, Edison, NJ 08837-3620 or calling us at 1-800-423-4026.

You may obtain a free prospectus for any of the Funds by contacting your representative, calling 1-800-423-4026, writing to us at the following address: First Investors Corporation, 55 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, or by visiting our website at www.firstinvestors.com. You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund, and should be read carefully before investing.

An investment in a Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. Although the Cash Management Fund seeks to preserve a net asset value at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in it, just as it is possible to lose money by investing in any of the other Funds. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

A Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for any of the Funds may also be obtained, without charge, upon request by calling 1-800-423-4026, writing to us at our address or by visiting our website listed above. The SAI contains more detailed information about the Funds, including information about their Trustees.



Portfolio Manager’s Letter
CASH MANAGEMENT FUND

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Cash Management Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 0%. The Fund maintained a $1.00 net asset value per share for each class of shares throughout the year.

The key driver of short-term interest rates, and consequently the return that money market funds can offer their shareholders, is the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy. That policy has targeted short-term rates at very close to zero for the last few years. Given the extended period of extremely low interest rates, the market offered few opportunities to realize incremental return during the period without assuming excessive risk. As a result, the Fund invested conservatively during the period, as risk was insufficiently compensated. The Fund maintained a higher-than-historical percentage of its assets in U.S. government and government agency securities in an effort to minimize credit risk.

First Investors Management Company (“FIMCO”), the investment advisor, continued to reimburse expenses of the Fund and waive management fees in an effort to avoid a negative yield to its shareholders. FIMCO expects short-term interest rates to remain near zero. Consequently, the yield to shareholders should remain near current levels for the foreseeable future.

Although money market funds in general are relatively conservative vehicles, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share. Money market mutual funds are neither insured nor guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


1

 



Understanding Your Fund’s Expenses
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS

As a mutual fund shareholder, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, and (2) ongoing costs, including advisory fees and other 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 examples are based on an investment of $1,000 in each Fund at the beginning of the period, July 1, 2012, and held for the entire six-month period ended December 31, 2012. The calculations assume that no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.

Actual Expense Example:

These amounts help you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the Fund’s actual return, and the “Expenses Paid During Period” shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the period.

To estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period simply divide your ending account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.60), then multiply the result by the number given for your Fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period”.

Hypothetical Expense Example:

These amounts provide 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 and help you compare your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, the hypothetical expense example 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.

2

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
CASH MANAGEMENT FUND

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (7/1/12) (12/31/12) (7/1/12–12/31/12)*
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $0.70
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,024.44 $0.71

 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .14%, multiplied by the average account value over
the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid during the period
are net of expenses waived and/or assumed.

 

Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

3

 



Portfolio of Investments
CASH MANAGEMENT FUND
December 31, 2012

               
 
 
Principal   Interest    
Amount   Security     Rate *  Value
  U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY      
  OBLIGATIONS—59.6%      
  Fannie Mae:      
$600M 2/6/13 0.15 % $     599,913
500M 2/13/13 0.08   499,952
400M 3/1/13 0.14   399,908
850M 3/13/13 0.13   849,782
  Federal Home Loan Bank:      
300M 1/17/13 0.12   299,984
300M 1/23/13 0.13   299,976
300M 2/1/13 0.13   299,966
315M 2/27/13 0.13   314,938
500M 3/13/13 0.12   499,882
600M 4/19/13 0.11   599,802
350M 6/7/13 0.15   349,779
250M 7/17/13 0.30   250,009
  Freddie Mac:      
400M 2/25/13 0.09   399,945
500M 3/5/13 0.13   499,886
700M   4/4/13     0.11   699,801
Total Value of U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $6,863,523)         6,863,523
  VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE NOTES—18.7%    
  Federal Farm Credit Bank:      
400M 3/6/13 0.24   400,011
340M 10/15/13 0.31   340,243
150M Federal Home Loan Bank, 11/8/2013 0.17   150,026
370M Freddie Mac, 3/21/2013 0.17   370,033
400M Mississippi Business Finance Corp.      
  (Chevron USA, Inc.), 12/1/2030 0.11   400,000
  Valdez, Alaska Marine Terminal Rev.:      
200M Exxon Pipeline Co. Project B 12/1/33 0.11   200,000
300M   Exxon Pipeline Co. Project C 12/1/33     0.11   300,000
Total Value of Variable and Floating Rate Notes (cost $2,160,313)         2,160,313
  CORPORATE NOTES—13.9%      
400M Coca-Cola Co., 1/25/2013 (a) 0.19   399,949
300M Northwest Natural Gas Co., 2/13/2013 (a) 0.30   299,892
400M Proctor & Gamble Co., 3/8/2013 (a) 0.16   399,883
500M   Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 1/24/2013 (a)     0.11   499,965
Total Value of Corporate Notes (cost $1,599,689)         1,599,689

 

4

 



               
 
 
Principal   Interest  
Amount   Security     Rate * Value
  SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT    
  OBLIGATIONS—11.7%    
  U.S. Treasury Bills:    
$500M 1/10/13 0.01 % $     499,999
400M 3/7/13 0.13 399,906
450M   3/14/13     0.11   449,906
Total Value of Short-Term U.S. Government Obligations (cost $1,349,811)   1,349,811
Total Value of Investments (cost $11,973,336)** 103.9 % 11,973,336
Excess of Liabilities Over Other Assets (3.9 )     (448,762)
Net Assets     100.0 %     $11,524,574

 

The interest rates shown are the effective rates at the time of purchase by the Fund. The interest
rates shown on variable and floating rate notes are adjusted periodcally; the rates shown are the
rates in effect at December 31, 2012.
 
**  Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is the same.
 
(a)  Security exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 (see Note 5).

 

5

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
CASH MANAGEMENT FUND
December 31, 2012

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
U.S. Government Agency            
Obligations $ $ 6,863,523 $ $ 6,863,523
Variable and Floating Rate Notes:            
U.S. Government Agency            
Obligations   1,260,313   1,260,313
Corporate Notes   500,000   500,000
Municipal Bonds   400,000   400,000
Corporate Notes   1,599,689   1,599,689
Short-Term U.S. Government            
Obligations     1,349,811     1,349,811
Total Investments in Securities $ $ 11,973,336 $ $ 11,973,336

 

There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

 

6 See notes to financial statements

 



Portfolio Manager’s Letter
EQUITY INCOME FUND*

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for First Investors Life Equity Income Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the period the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 11.20%, including dividends of 29.6 cents per share.

The markets had a tremendous rally over the past year. In fact, we are not far from all-time highs. Global monetary easing has helped risked-based assets move higher. The Federal Reserve’s (“the Fed’s”) policy of continued quantitative easing and the lowering of interest rates have forced investors to seek out higher returns and one of the beneficiaries has been the equity markets. Companies have taken advantage of these favorable interest rates by borrowing money and putting that cash to work in various forms. We have seen record numbers of dividends paid out this year. Special dividends have become a more common event. Companies have borrowed money to make acquisitions to enhance product lines, or increase market positions. Share buybacks, while not a record number, are still very healthy and remain an effective use of company cash. Many of the investments in the Fund have benefited from these types of corporate actions.

The Fund’s underperformance relative to its benchmark comes from the fact that high-quality dividend-paying stocks were somewhat out of favor this year. The Fund seeks to invest primarily in equities that offer its shareholders high dividend income on top of absolute return. Higher-yielding stocks tend to be more mature, slower-growing companies that can be defensive in nature. The S&P 500 Index has more stocks that do not pay a dividend and offer much higher growth opportunities that tend to outperform in rising markets, such as we saw this past year.

The Fund’s performance was attributable to positive stock selection in the industrials, financials and health care sectors. In industrials, getting smaller proved to be a winner for one of the Fund’s core holdings, Tyco International, which split into three separate companies this year. The stock’s performance can be attributed to the higher valuation assigned to each separate company in the marketplace. ADT, the security monitoring company, was spun out to shareholders. Tyco’s pump and valve business merged with Pentair. The remainder of Tyco will focus on commercial fire and security.

The Fund increased its commitment to TAL International, which leases freight-shipping containers. The company has taken advantage of strong pricing due to the continued tight global supply of containers. TAL is one of the highest-yielding stocks in the portfolio and offers an avenue of future growth having purchased an increasing number of containers, thus leveraging their earning power. Generac, a maker of portable generators, rewarded its shareholders this past year with record earnings and a $6.00 special dividend. Damage from Hurricane Sandy created incremental demand for generators and an increased awareness for the need of reliable backup power for both commercial and residential customers.

In health care, the Fund saw strong performance from some of its core holdings. Abbott Laboratories split into two separate companies trying to unlock value for its fast growing nutritional and medical device businesses. Covidien is also separating into two companies later this year, as they try to create value for their pharmaceutical division.

In financials, Protective Life’s ability to improve their return on equity by organically growing their business and getting better pricing helped propel the stock higher. The company has also repurchased their stock throughout the year, while paying out an attractive dividend. M&T Bank has been one of the rare banks able to grow their business, while maintaining their margins. Mortgage banking has been strong, while consumers look to refinance at record low rates. M&T’s credit quality has been outstanding and we believe recent acquisitions should drive future earnings even higher.

7

 



Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
EQUITY INCOME FUND*

On a relative basis, the Fund outperformed in the industrials, utilities and materials sectors. Outperformance in industrials can be attributed to the stocks already mentioned. In materials, the Fund seeks high-yielding basic material companies that can leverage earnings power and grow their free cash flow, which can be returned to shareholders in the form of stock buybacks or higher dividends. In LyondellBasell, we got both. The chemical and polymer maker has seen a strong rebound in automotive and consumer packaging. They have also benefited from a reduction in the price of natural gas liquids, a major manufacturing cost, and thus improved their margins. For a company that was in bankruptcy just a few years ago, it is now solidly in the black and using their cash to pay higher dividends and buy back stock. Glatfelter, a small-cap manufacturer of specialty paper and air-laid fabrics essential for making tea bag paper and coffee pouches, has profited from the rising popularity of the single-serve K-cup coffee market and their dominant market position. The company instituted a new share buyback program and supports a solid dividend.

Despite the Fund’s strong performance in financials, it did underperform on a relative basis due to our underweighting of the sector. The Fund tends to invest in high quality financial stocks with solid balance sheets and potential catalysts that may unlock value. The continued quantitative easing by the Fed has led to strong gains in lower-quality financial companies that do not fit the Fund’s investment criteria. This may have hurt relative performance in the short run, but over time, we think it is prudent to remain invested in only the highest quality financial institutions.

In technology, the Fund was hurt by poor stock selection in a few companies, as well as the S&P 500 Index overweighting Apple, which has the highest weighting for the Index at more than 430 basis points. The Fund underperformed on a relative basis because of the outsized position the Index owned. The Fund’s investment in Hewlett-Packard detracted from relative performance. Despite the low valuation and high dividend yield, Hewlett-Packard has been hurt by poor acquisitions and high employee turnover from the CEO on down. They have not been able to keep a consistent vision for the company and are now faced with deteriorating trends in computers and printing.

Going forward, the Fund will remain focused on investing in high-quality companies that pay out a high dividend yield, or companies that we believe can grow their dividends over time. It has been proven that these types of companies can offer great returns for patient investors.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


* Effective September 4, 2012, the Fund changed its name from the First Investors Life Value Fund to the First Investors Life Equity Income Fund.

8

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
EQUITY INCOME FUND

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (7/1/12) (12/31/12) (7/1/12–12/31/12)*
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $1,054.81 $4.34
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,020.92 $4.27

 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .84%, multiplied by the average account value over
the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

Portfolio Composition
TOP TEN SECTORS

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

9

 



Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
EQUITY INCOME FUND

Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Equity Income Fund and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.


The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Equity Income Fund beginning 12/31/02 with a theoretical investment in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (the “Index”). The Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of such stocks, which represent all major industries. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.

* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/12.

The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Standard & Poor’s and all other figures are from First Investors Management Company, Inc.

10

 



Portfolio of Investments
EQUITY INCOME FUND
December 31, 2012

 
  
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  COMMON STOCKS—94.4%    
  Consumer Discretionary—10.4%    
23,300 Comcast Corporation – Special Shares “A” $     837,635
14,300 Dana Holding Corporation   223,223
20,200 * Delphi Automotive, PLC   772,650
6,100 Genuine Parts Company   387,838
16,500 GNC Holdings, Inc. – Class “A”   549,120
9,300 Home Depot, Inc.   575,205
19,550 Lowe’s Companies, Inc.   694,416
4,400 McDonald’s Corporation   388,124
37,300 Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.   830,671
21,900 * Orient-Express Hotels, Ltd. – Class “A”   256,011
17,800 Regal Entertainment Group – Class “A”   248,310
24,600 Staples, Inc.   280,440
7,900 Target Corporation   467,443
12,466 Time Warner, Inc.   596,249
12,900   Walt Disney Company   642,291
        7,749,626
  Consumer Staples—11.6%    
37,000 Altria Group, Inc.   1,162,540
10,500 Avon Products, Inc.   150,780
5,200 Beam, Inc.   317,668
20,400 Coca-Cola Company   739,500
23,600 ConAgra Foods, Inc.   696,200
17,300 CVS Caremark Corporation   836,455
8,600 Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.   379,948
8,600 Kimberly-Clark Corporation   726,098
8,066 Kraft Foods Group, Inc.   366,761
4,000 Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. – Class “A”   148,200
7,046 PepsiCo, Inc.   482,158
10,300 Philip Morris International, Inc.   861,492
17,000 * Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc.   340,510
10,400 Procter & Gamble Company   706,056
10,300   Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.   702,769
        8,617,135
  Energy—9.8%    
13,150 Chevron Corporation   1,422,041
12,300 ConocoPhillips   713,277
7,400 Devon Energy Corporation   385,096
8,550   Ensco, PLC – Class “A”   506,844

 

11

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
EQUITY INCOME FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  Energy (continued)    
14,700 ExxonMobil Corporation $     1,272,285
12,900 Marathon Oil Corporation   395,514
7,100 Marathon Petroleum Corporation   447,300
8,300 Occidental Petroleum Corporation   635,863
15,200 Royal Dutch Shell, PLC – Class “A” (ADR)   1,048,040
12,800   Seadrill, Ltd.   471,040
        7,297,300
  Financials—12.6%    
8,000 ACE, Ltd.   638,400
3,800 Ameriprise Financial, Inc.   237,994
18,500 Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.   441,410
3,922 Chubb Corporation   295,405
23,800 Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF)   390,320
28,400 FirstMerit Corporation   402,996
7,400 Invesco, Ltd.   193,066
5,700 iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund (ETF)   225,834
29,800 JPMorgan Chase & Company   1,310,306
7,500 M&T Bank Corporation   738,525
18,700 New York Community Bancorp, Inc.   244,970
13,600 People’s United Financial, Inc.   164,424
9,000 PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.   524,790
10,600 Protective Life Corporation   302,948
10,900 Select Income REIT (REIT)   269,993
10,500 Tompkins Financial Corporation   416,220
6,200 Travelers Companies, Inc.   445,284
12,900 U.S. Bancorp   412,026
16,500 Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. – Class “A” (REIT)   324,720
35,500 Wells Fargo & Company   1,213,390
24,500   Westfield Financial, Inc.   177,135
        9,370,156
  Health Care—12.5%    
16,100 Abbott Laboratories   1,054,550
8,400 Baxter International, Inc.   559,944
12,400 Covidien, PLC   715,976
14,600 GlaxoSmithKline, PLC (ADR)   634,662
23,350 Johnson & Johnson   1,636,835
36,070 Merck & Company, Inc.   1,476,706
13,000 Novartis AG (ADR)   822,900
66,900   Pfizer, Inc.   1,677,852

 

12

 



 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  Health Care (continued)    
5,900 UnitedHealth Group, Inc. $     320,016
30,500   Warner Chilcott, PLC – Class “A”   367,220
        9,266,661
  Industrials—12.9%    
7,400 3M Company   687,090
12,112 ADT Corporation   563,087
12,000 Altra Holdings, Inc.   264,600
6,700 Dover Corporation   440,257
4,800 Dun & Bradstreet Corporation   377,520
10,400 Eaton Corporation, PLC   563,680
3,700 * Esterline Technologies Corporation   235,357
12,400 Generac Holdings, Inc.   425,444
3,100 General Dynamics Corporation   214,737
55,400 General Electric Company   1,162,846
13,500 Honeywell International, Inc.   856,845
12,250 ITT Corporation   287,385
3,989 Pentair, Ltd.   196,059
15,900 TAL International Group, Inc.   578,442
14,100 Textainer Group Holdings, Ltd.   443,586
10,500 Triumph Group, Inc.   685,650
16,625 Tyco International, Ltd.   486,281
4,100 United Parcel Service, Inc. – Class “B”   302,293
7,600 United Technologies Corporation   623,276
7,100   Xylem, Inc.   192,410
        9,586,845
  Information Technology—8.5%    
7,100 Automatic Data Processing, Inc.   404,771
48,400 Cisco Systems, Inc.   951,060
47,900 Intel Corporation   988,177
43,400 Intersil Corporation – Class “A”   359,786
7,300 Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.   214,620
53,750 Microsoft Corporation   1,436,739
12,150 Molex, Inc.   332,059
9,500 Oracle Corporation   316,540
10,000 QUALCOMM, Inc.   620,200
18,350   TE Connectivity, Ltd.   681,152
        6,305,104

 

13

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
EQUITY INCOME FUND
December 31, 2012

         
 
Shares or      
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Materials—5.0%    
5,900 Cytec Industries, Inc. $     406,097
12,500 Dow Chemical Company   404,000
11,790 DuPont (E.I.) de Nemours & Company   530,196
10,450 Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.   357,390
15,500 Glatfelter   270,940
17,800 International Paper Company   709,152
6,100 LyondellBasell Industries NV – Class “A”   348,249
5,300 Rock-Tenn Company – Class “A”   370,523
11,100   Sonoco Products Company   330,003
        3,726,550
  Telecommunication Services—6.3%    
46,810 AT&T, Inc.   1,577,965
45,500 CenturyLink, Inc.   1,779,960
16,500 NTELOS Holdings Corporation   216,315
26,500   Verizon Communications, Inc.   1,146,655
        4,720,895
  Utilities—4.8%    
16,800 American Electric Power Company, Inc.   717,024
9,400 NextEra Energy, Inc.   650,386
23,000 NiSource, Inc.   572,470
21,600 Portland General Electric Company   590,976
14,600 PPL Corporation   417,998
20,200   Vectren Corporation   593,880
        3,542,734
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $58,180,731)   70,183,006
  PREFERRED STOCKS—.3%    
  Financials    
9,000   Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc., 7.125% Series F (cost $225,000)   233,910
  SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT    
  OBLIGATIONS—2.7%    
$ 2,000M   U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.07%, 1/10/2013 (cost $1,999,965)   1,999,965

 

14

 



               
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security         Value
  SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY  
  OBLIGATIONS—1.3%    
$ 1,000M   Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.025%, 1/16/2013 (cost $999,990)       $      999,990
Total Value of Investments (cost $61,405,686) 98.7 % 73,416,871
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 1.3       943,599
Net Assets     100.0 %     $74,360,470

 

Non-income producing
 
Summary of Abbreviations:
ADR American Depositary Receipts
ETF Exchange Traded Fund
REIT Real Estate Investment Trust

 

15

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
EQUITY INCOME FUND
December 31, 2012

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
Common Stocks $ 70,183,006 $ $ $ 70,183,006
Preferred Stocks 233,910         233,910
Short-Term U.S. Government            
Obligations   1,999,965   1,999,965
Short-Term U.S. Government            
Agency Obligations     999,990     999,990
Total Investments in Securities* $ 70,416,916 $ 2,999,955 $ $ 73,416,871

 

* The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common stocks and preferred stocks.

There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

16 See notes to financial statements

 



Portfolio Managers’ Letter
FUND FOR INCOME*

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Fund For Income for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 13.51%, including dividends of 44.1 cents per share.

Risk assets, including U.S. high yield, posted strong returns for the year despite some temporary pullbacks related to the European sovereign debt crisis, global growth concerns and, most recently, the looming U.S. fiscal cliff. European sovereign debt fears were largely muted during the first few months of the year given a second Greek bailout and the Long Term Refinancing Operation (LTRO). Sovereign debt fears reared their head again in May, however, with the election of left-leaning parties in both France and Greece. The turning point came in July, when the European Central Bank announced it would “do whatever it takes” to preserve the Euro. Strong corporate fundamentals and reduced fears surrounding the disintegration of Europe pushed risk assets higher, even in the United States. Given a lack of yield-producing options, investors dedicated new money to high yield bonds throughout the year. High-yield companies took advantage of historically low interest rates to issue a record amount of bonds. The primary use of the proceeds was the refinancing of existing debt. This helped push out the debt maturity wall well beyond 2015. As such, the default outlook remains exceptionally benign for 2013 and 2014 with JP Morgan forecasting default rates of less than 2% for each of those years.

In a strong year for U.S. high yield, the Fund performed much as we would have expected. It underperformed the benchmark net of fees and expenses, but performed in line with the higher-quality high-yield market-rated BB and B on a gross basis. Even in a strong market, we continue to manage the Fund toward our goal of delivering competitive risk-adjusted performance over full market cycles, without chasing momentum in more speculative names when the market is “surging.” Our Fund is always built with today’s returns and future returns in mind.

From an industry perspective, we enjoyed strong gains across much of the Fund, most notably outperforming in the broadcasting space where the companies we selected benefited from strong earnings growth in a hotly contested U.S. election. We trailed the market in metals and mining where we have maintained an overweight exposure to the coal industry. After weak commodity prices and warm weather delayed a sector recovery we have been anticipating, our coal positions returned strongly in December and offer reason for continued optimism in this sector for 2013.

17

 



Portfolio Managers’ Letter (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME*

As an additional boon to returns this year, we identified and capitalized on a number of “rising star” situations in which we anticipated the upgrade from high yield to investment grade of companies including Ford, LyondellBasell, Omega Healthcare, Jabil Circuit and others. These upgrades returned strongly for the Fund which, we believe, has materially less credit risk than the market as a whole — a hallmark of our targeted investment style.

2012 was a strong year for corporate credit. What can 2013 do for us? From a fundamental perspective, the market appears as solidly attractive in 2013 as at any point last year. For example, less than $60 billion in U.S. high-yield bonds and bank loans combined comes due in 2013. As a result, high-yield spreads — designed to compensate investors for increased default risk — remain appealing even if the overall yield environment remains low.

While we do not expect capital appreciation to lead the high-yield markets in 2013, we believe that investors should continue to find the asset class’s balance of risk and reward compelling. We would not rule out a short-lived market repricing in response to headline news outside of the high-yield markets — both U.S. and European countries have postponed serious questions of dealing with government debt into 2013 — but we would anticipate such corrections to be shallow with short-lived buying opportunities for the Fund.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


* Effective December 17, 2012, the Fund changed its name from First Investors Life High Yield Fund to First Investors Life Fund For Income.

18

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
FUND FOR INCOME

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (7/1/12) (12/31/12) (7/1/12–12/31/12)*
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $1,070.76 $4.58
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,020.72 $4.47

 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .88%, multiplied by the average account
value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

19

 



Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
FUND FOR INCOME

Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Fund For Income and the Bank of America (“BofA”) Merrill Lynch BB-B U.S. Cash Pay High Yield Constrained Index.


The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Fund For Income beginning 12/31/02 with a theoretical investment in the BofA Merrill Lynch BB-B U.S. Cash Pay High Yield Constrained Index (the “Index”). The Index contains all securities in the BofA Merrill Lynch US Cash Pay High Yield Index rated BB1 through B3, based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, but caps issuer exposure at 2%. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, based on their current amount outstanding, provided the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 2%. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.

* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/12.

The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The issuers of the high yield bonds in which the Fund primarily invests pay higher interest rates because they have a greater likelihood of financial difficulty, which could result in their inability to repay the bonds fully when due. Prices of high yield bonds are also subject to greater fluctuations. Index figures from Bank of America Merrill Lynch & Co. and all other figures are from First Investors Management Company, Inc.

20

 



Portfolio of Investments
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2012

         
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  CORPORATE BONDS—91.0%    
  Automotive—3.8%    
$     150M American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., 6.625%, 10/15/2022 $     153,000
  Chrysler Group, LLC/CG Co-Issuer, Inc.:    
200M 8%, 6/15/2019   219,000
375M 8.25%, 6/15/2021   414,375
400M Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., 8%, 12/15/2019   450,000
300M Cooper-Standard Automotive, Inc., 8.5%, 5/1/2018   324,000
375M Exide Technologies, 8.625%, 2/1/2018   319,688
250M Ford Motor Co., 6.625%, 10/1/2028   289,965
300M Oshkosh Corp., 8.5%, 3/1/2020   333,750
  Schaeffler Finance BV:    
200M 7.75%, 2/15/2017 (a)   223,000
400M   8.5%, 2/15/2019 (a)   454,000
        3,180,778
  Building Materials—1.3%    
  Building Materials Corp.:    
475M 6.875%, 8/15/2018 (a)   515,375
200M 7.5%, 3/15/2020 (a)   221,000
300M   Texas Industries, Inc., 9.25%, 8/15/2020   323,250
        1,059,625
  Chemicals—2.2%    
400M Ferro Corp., 7.875%, 8/15/2018   363,000
225M Orion Engineered Carbons Bondco GmbH, 9.625%, 6/15/2018 (a)   246,938
325M PolyOne Corp., 7.375%, 9/15/2020   356,688
800M   Rhodia SA, 6.875%, 9/15/2020 (a)   902,262
        1,868,888
  Consumer Non-Durables—2.9%    
350M Easton-Bell Sports, Inc., 9.75%, 12/1/2016   376,723
  Levi Strauss & Co.:    
350M 7.625%, 5/15/2020   383,250
375M 6.875%, 5/1/2022   404,063
150M Libbey Glass, Inc., 6.875%, 5/15/2020   162,000
325M Phillips Van-Heusen Corp., 7.375%, 5/15/2020   366,031
400M   Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc., 5.75%, 10/15/2020 (a)   414,000

 

21

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Consumer Non-Durables (continued)    
  Spectrum Brands Escrow Corp.:    
$    100M 6.375%, 11/15/2020 (a) $     105,250
125M 6.625%, 11/15/2022 (a)   134,375
75M   Tempur-Pedic International, Inc., 6.875%, 12/15/2020 (a)   77,531
        2,423,223
  Energy—15.4%    
  AmeriGas Finance, LLC:    
50M 6.75%, 5/20/2020   55,125
200M 7%, 5/20/2022   223,500
  Basic Energy Services, Inc.:    
150M 7.75%, 2/15/2019   150,000
275M 7.75%, 10/15/2022 (a)   269,500
325M Berry Petroleum Co., 6.375%, 9/15/2022   339,625
325M Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP, 9.625%, 8/1/2020 (a)   355,062
350M Chesapeake Energy Corp., 7.25%, 12/15/2018   383,250
  Concho Resources, Inc.:    
325M 8.625%, 10/1/2017   355,469
175M 5.5%, 4/1/2023   184,187
  Consol Energy, Inc.:    
225M 8%, 4/1/2017   244,687
525M 8.25%, 4/1/2020   570,937
  Copano Energy, LLC:    
75M 7.75%, 6/1/2018   79,406
200M 7.125%, 4/1/2021   215,750
200M Crosstex Energy, LP, 8.875%, 2/15/2018   217,000
350M Eagle Rock Energy Partners, LP/Eagle Rock Energy    
  Finance, 8.375%, 6/1/2019 (a)   358,750
375M El Paso Corp., 6.5%, 9/15/2020   425,300
415M Expro Finance Luxembourg SCA, 8.5%, 12/15/2016 (a)   435,750
  Ferrellgas Partners, LP:    
475M 9.125%, 10/1/2017   516,563
190M 8.625%, 6/15/2020   190,950
300M Forest Oil Corp., 7.25%, 6/15/2019   303,000
450M Genesis Energy, LP, 7.875%, 12/15/2018   482,625
225M Hilcorp Energy I, LP, 8%, 2/15/2020 (a)   247,500
250M Inergy Midstream, LP/NRGM Finance, 6%, 12/15/2020 (a)   258,750
400M Legacy Reserves, LP/Finance Corp., 8%, 12/1/2020 (a)   410,000
  Linn Energy, LLC:    
400M 6.25%, 11/1/2019 (a)   404,000
125M 8.625%, 4/15/2020   136,875
100M   7.75%, 2/1/2021   107,000

 

22

 



         
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Energy (continued)    
$      275M MEG Energy Corp., 6.375%, 1/30/2023 (a) $     288,062
400M Murray Energy Corp., 10.25%, 10/15/2015 (a)   390,000
50M Newfield Exploration Co., 7.125%, 5/15/2018   53,000
  Penn Virginia Resource Partners, LP:    
275M 8.25%, 4/15/2018   292,875
100M 8.375%, 6/1/2020 (a)   108,250
200M Petrohawk Energy Corp., 10.5%, 8/1/2014   213,077
  Plains Exploration & Production Co.:    
250M 6.125%, 6/15/2019   273,750
125M 6.5%, 11/15/2020   139,062
175M 6.625%, 5/1/2021   193,594
100M 6.75%, 2/1/2022   112,750
200M 6.875%, 2/15/2023   229,500
  Quicksilver Resources, Inc.:    
125M 8.25%, 8/1/2015   116,250
175M 11.75%, 1/1/2016   173,687
300M 9.125%, 8/15/2019   268,500
200M Rain CII Carbon, LLC/CII Carbon Corp., 8.25%, 1/15/2021 (a)   205,500
425M Samson Investment Co., 9.75%, 2/15/2020 (a)   451,562
250M Sawgrass Merger Sub, Inc./TCP Group, Inc., 8.75%, 12/15/2020 (a)   253,125
150M SESI, LLC, 6.375%, 5/1/2019   161,250
  SM Energy Co.:    
75M 6.625%, 2/15/2019   79,500
150M 6.5%, 11/15/2021   161,250
150M 6.5%, 1/1/2023   161,250
  Suburban Propane Partners, LP:    
274M 7.5%, 10/1/2018   296,605
77M 7.375%, 8/1/2021   84,122
175M Tesoro Logistics, LP, 5.875%, 10/1/2020 (a)   182,438
200M   Western Refining, Inc., 11.25%, 6/15/2017 (a)   219,750
        13,029,270
  Financials—4.7%    
  Algeco Scotsman Global Finance, PLC:    
400M 8.5%, 10/15/2018 (a)   416,000
200M 10.75%, 10/15/2019 (a)   198,000
  Ally Financial, Inc.:    
525M 6.25%, 12/1/2017   583,258
725M 8%, 3/15/2020   891,750
100M CNH Capital, LLC, 6.25%, 11/1/2016   110,750
300M   Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, 5.875%, 8/2/2021   349,963

 

23

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Financials (continued)    
  International Lease Finance Corp.:    
$     50M 5.875%, 5/1/2013 $     50,875
750M 8.625%, 9/15/2015   845,625
275M 8.75%, 3/15/2017   319,000
200M   8.25%, 12/15/2020   239,000
        4,004,221
  Food/Drug—1.3%    
475M NBTY, Inc., 9%, 10/1/2018   539,125
  Tops Holding Corp./Tops Markets, LLC:    
200M 10.125%, 10/15/2015   211,125
325M   8.875%, 12/15/2017 (a)   338,813
        1,089,063
  Forest Products/Containers—2.3%    
200M Ardagh Packaging Finance, PLC, 7.375%, 10/15/2017 (a)   218,500
325M Ball Corp., 7.375%, 9/1/2019   363,188
325M Clearwater Paper Corp., 7.125%, 11/1/2018   355,875
200M Greif, Inc., 7.75%, 8/1/2019   232,000
200M Sappi Papier Holdings GmbH, 8.375%, 6/15/2019 (a)   219,250
200M Sealed Air Corp., 8.125%, 9/15/2019 (a)   226,000
300M   Tekni-Plex, Inc., 9.75%, 6/1/2019 (a)   328,500
        1,943,313
  Gaming/Leisure—.5%    
200M National CineMedia, LLC, 7.875%, 7/15/2021   222,500
225M   Six Flags Entertainment Corp., 5.25%, 1/15/2021 (a)   225,563
        448,063
  Health Care—5.5%    
250M AMERIGROUP Corp., 7.5%, 11/15/2019   301,250
115M Aviv Healthcare Properties, LP, 7.75%, 2/15/2019   122,475
  Community Health Systems, Inc.:    
250M 8%, 11/15/2019   271,875
225M 7.125%, 7/15/2020   240,469
  DaVita, Inc.:    
200M 6.375%, 11/1/2018   215,000
125M   5.75%, 8/15/2022   132,344

 

24

 



 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Health Care (continued)    
  Fresenius Medical Care US Finance II, Inc.:    
$150M 5.625%, 7/31/2019 (a) $     161,812
125M 5.875%, 1/31/2022 (a)   136,250
600M Genesis Health Ventures, Inc., 9.75%, 6/15/2005 (b)(c)   375
  HCA, Inc.:    
100M 6.375%, 1/15/2015   108,625
75M 8%, 10/1/2018   87,000
75M 8.5%, 4/15/2019   84,000
50M 6.5%, 2/15/2020   56,375
25M 7.25%, 9/15/2020   27,812
150M 6.25%, 2/15/2021   154,125
275M 7.75%, 5/15/2021   299,750
300M 7.5%, 2/15/2022   345,000
  Healthsouth Corp.:    
136M 7.25%, 10/1/2018   148,240
117M 7.75%, 9/15/2022   128,846
225M Sky Growth Acquisition Corp., 7.375%, 10/15/2020 (a)   225,000
250M Universal Hospital Services, Inc., 7.625%, 8/15/2020 (a)   264,062
100M Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., 6.375%, 10/15/2020 (a)   107,500
  Vanguard Health Holding Co. II, LLC:    
250M 8%, 2/1/2018   260,000
225M 7.75%, 2/1/2019 (a)   234,000
450M   VPI Escrow Corp., 6.375%, 10/15/2020 (a)   484,875
        4,597,060
  Information Technology—4.5%    
325M Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., 7.5%, 8/15/2022 (a)   268,937
275M Audatex North America, Inc., 6.75%, 6/15/2018 (a)   295,625
200M CyrusOne, LP/CyrusOne Finance, 6.375%, 11/15/2022 (a)   209,500
  Equinix, Inc.:    
250M 8.125%, 3/1/2018   276,562
175M 7%, 7/15/2021   194,906
  Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.:    
175M 7.625%, 7/15/2017   191,187
325M 7.875%, 7/15/2020   369,281
  Hewlett-Packard Co.:    
200M 4.3%, 6/1/2021   198,447
150M 4.375%, 9/15/2021   148,963
400M   Infor (US), Inc., 9.375%, 4/1/2019   451,000

 

25

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Information Technology (continued)    
  Jabil Circuit, Inc.:    
$     50M 7.75%, 7/15/2016 $     59,000
550M 8.25%, 3/15/2018   671,000
250M Lender Processing Services, Inc., 5.75%, 4/15/2023   260,625
275M   MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc., 7.75%, 4/1/2019   232,375
        3,827,408
  Manufacturing—3.6%    
200M Amsted Industries, 8.125%, 3/15/2018 (a)   215,000
  Bombardier, Inc.:    
325M 7.5%, 3/15/2018 (a)   363,594
250M 7.75%, 3/15/2020 (a)   285,000
515M Case New Holland, Inc., 7.875%, 12/1/2017   611,563
325M Dematic SA/DH Services Luxembourg SarL, 7.75%, 12/15/2020 (a)   326,625
425M Edgen Murray Corp., 8.75%, 11/1/2020 (a)   431,375
300M EDP Finance BV, 6%, 2/2/2018 (a)   316,046
475M   Rexel SA, 6.125%, 12/15/2019 (a)   501,125
        3,050,328
  Media-Broadcasting—3.7%    
325M Allbritton Communication Co., 8%, 5/15/2018   354,250
  Belo Corp.:    
100M 7.75%, 6/1/2027   103,625
25M 7.25%, 9/15/2027   24,969
375M Block Communications, Inc., 7.25%, 2/1/2020 (a)   400,313
425M Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc./Nexstar Finance, Inc.,    
  6.875%, 11/15/2020 (a)   438,281
350M Nexstar/Mission Broadcasting, Inc., 8.875%, 4/15/2017   385,875
575M Sinclair Television Group, Inc., 9.25%, 11/1/2017 (a)   635,375
700M   XM Satellite Radio, Inc., 7.625%, 11/1/2018 (a)   784,000
        3,126,688
  Media-Cable TV—7.8%    
75M AMC Networks, Inc., 4.75%, 12/15/2022   75,750
  Cablevision Systems Corp.:    
400M 8.625%, 9/15/2017   468,500
100M   7.75%, 4/15/2018   111,750

 

26

 



 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Media-Cable TV (continued)    
  CCO Holdings, LLC:    
$     150M 7.25%, 10/30/2017 $     164,250
225M 7.875%, 4/30/2018   243,281
150M 7%, 1/15/2019   162,562
175M 7.375%, 6/1/2020   195,125
100M 5.125%, 2/15/2023   100,250
  Cequel Communications Holdings I, LLC:    
500M 8.625%, 11/15/2017 (a)   537,500
225M 6.375%, 9/15/2020 (a)   235,406
  Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc.:    
25M 7.625%, 3/15/2020 Series “A”   25,062
350M 7.625%, 3/15/2020 Series “B”   354,375
150M 6.5%, 11/15/2022 Series “A” (a)   154,875
375M 6.5%, 11/15/2022 Series “B” (a)   390,938
  DISH DBS Corp.:    
525M 7.875%, 9/1/2019   624,750
125M 5%, 3/15/2023 (a)   125,625
225M Echostar DBS Corp., 7.125%, 2/1/2016   253,125
400M Gray Television, Inc., 7.5%, 10/1/2020 (a)   411,000
225M Harron Communications, LP, 9.125%, 4/1/2020 (a)   247,500
600M Nara Cable Funding, Ltd., 8.875%, 12/1/2018 (a)   613,500
  Quebecor Media, Inc.:    
251M 7.75%, 3/15/2016   257,902
200M 5.75%, 1/15/2023 (a)   211,750
575M   UPC Holding BV, 9.875%, 4/15/2018 (a)   652,625
        6,617,401
  Media-Diversified—1.5%    
382M Entravision Communications Corp., 8.75%, 8/1/2017   416,380
350M Griffey Intermediate, Inc./Griffey Finance Sub, LLC,    
  7%, 10/15/2020 (a)   359,625
475M   Lamar Media Corp., 7.875%, 4/15/2018   527,250
        1,303,255
  Metals/Mining—8.8%    
200M Aleris International, Inc., 7.875%, 11/1/2020 (a)   200,750
  ArcelorMittal:    
150M 5%, 2/25/2017   151,550
725M 10.35%, 6/1/2019   870,597
125M 6%, 3/1/2021   124,841
200M   6.5%, 2/25/2022   210,261

 

27

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Metals/Mining (continued)    
  Arch Coal, Inc.:    
$      50M 7%, 6/15/2019 $     46,750
375M 7.25%, 10/1/2020   349,687
400M 7.25%, 6/15/2021   371,000
  FMG Resources (August 2006) Property, Ltd.:    
175M 6.375%, 2/1/2016 (a)   182,000
125M 6%, 4/1/2017 (a)   128,125
300M 6.875%, 2/1/2018 (a)   310,875
200M 8.25%, 11/1/2019 (a)   214,000
100M 6.875%, 4/1/2022 (a)   102,625
425M JMC Steel Group, 8.25%, 3/15/2018 (a)   446,250
150M Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 8.25%, 6/1/2020   164,250
425M Molycorp, Inc., 10%, 6/1/2020 (a)   397,375
  Novelis, Inc.:    
700M 8.375%, 12/15/2017   775,250
50M 8.75%, 12/15/2020   56,000
  Peabody Energy Corp.:    
325M 6%, 11/15/2018   346,937
175M 6.5%, 9/15/2020   188,562
400M 6.25%, 11/15/2021   427,000
  Steel Dynamics, Inc.:    
175M 6.125%, 8/15/2019 (a)   186,375
100M 6.375%, 8/15/2022 (a)   106,500
  United States Steel Corp.:    
75M 7%, 2/1/2018   80,437
125M 7.375%, 4/1/2020   134,062
100M 7.5%, 3/15/2022   105,750
  Vulcan Materials Co.:    
175M 6.5%, 12/1/2016   193,812
525M   7%, 6/15/2018   582,750
        7,454,371
  Real Estate Investment Trusts—.5%    
225M Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc., 6.75%, 10/15/2022   245,813
200M   Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc., 7.75%, 4/15/2020 (a)   213,000
        458,813
  Retail-General Merchandise—3.8%    
257M CKE Restaurants, Inc., 11.375%, 7/15/2018   296,835
175M J.C. Penney Corp., Inc., 7.95%, 4/1/2017   168,875
275M Landry’s, Inc., 9.375%, 5/1/2020 (a)   291,500
300M   Limited Brands, Inc., 8.5%, 6/15/2019   367,500

 

28

 



 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Retail-General Merchandise (continued)    
  Michaels Stores, Inc.:    
$     75M 7.75%, 11/1/2018 (a) $     82,688
175M 7.75%, 11/1/2018   192,938
275M Monitronics International, Inc., 9.125%, 4/1/2020   284,625
600M Needle Merger Sub Corp., 8.125%, 3/15/2019 (a)   613,500
300M Party City Holdings, Inc., 8.875%, 8/1/2020 (a)   323,250
125M PVH Corp., 4.5%, 12/15/2022   126,875
200M QVC, Inc., 7.5%, 10/1/2019 (a)   220,755
200M   Sally Holdings, LLC/Sally Capital, Inc., 6.875%, 11/15/2019   222,000
        3,191,341
  Services—3.9%    
425M 313 Group, Inc., 6.375%, 12/1/2019 (a)   423,406
375M Brickman Group Holdings, Inc., 9.125%, 11/1/2018 (a)   394,688
275M CoreLogic, Inc., 7.25%, 6/1/2021   300,438
200M Covanta Holding Corp., 6.375%, 10/1/2022   218,194
  Iron Mountain, Inc.:    
225M 7.75%, 10/1/2019   254,813
300M 8.375%, 8/15/2021   334,500
200M Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., 7%, 9/1/2020 (a)   209,750
  PHH Corp.:    
400M 9.25%, 3/1/2016   469,000
200M 7.375%, 9/1/2019   223,000
375M   Reliance Intermediate Holdings, LP, 9.5%, 12/15/2019 (a)   427,500
        3,255,289
  Telecommunications—6.5%    
75M CenturyLink, Inc., 5.8%, 3/15/2022   79,426
  Citizens Communications Co.:    
750M 7.125%, 3/15/2019   819,375
300M 9%, 8/15/2031   331,500
350M GCI, Inc., 8.625%, 11/15/2019   373,625
750M Inmarsat Finance, PLC, 7.375%, 12/1/2017 (a)   810,000
  Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA:    
550M 8.5%, 11/1/2019   617,375
125M 7.25%, 10/15/2020 (a)   136,250
100M PAETEC Holding Corp., 9.875%, 12/1/2018   115,000
150M Qwest Communications International, Inc., 7.125%, 4/1/2018   157,073
50M   Qwest Corp., 6.5%, 6/1/2017   58,437

 

29

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Telecommunications (continued)    
  Sprint Capital Corp.:    
$     300M 6.9%, 5/1/2019 $      328,500
400M 6.875%, 11/15/2028   418,000
225M Telesat Canada/Telesat, LLC, 6%, 5/15/2017 (a)   237,375
  Wind Acquisition Finance SA:    
200M 11.75%, 7/15/2017 (a)   210,500
200M 7.25%, 2/15/2018 (a)   203,500
  Windstream Corp.:    
225M 7.875%, 11/1/2017   254,250
300M   7.75%, 10/15/2020   325,500
        5,475,686
  Transportation—1.3%    
200M Aircastle, Ltd., 6.25%, 12/1/2019 (a)   209,500
350M CHC Helicopter SA, 9.25%, 10/15/2020   370,125
  Navios Maritime Holdings:    
225M 8.875%, 11/1/2017   225,563
350M   8.125%, 2/15/2019   306,250
        1,111,438
  Utilities—3.0%    
  AES Corp.:    
125M 9.75%, 4/15/2016   150,000
100M 8%, 10/15/2017   116,000
100M 7.375%, 7/1/2021   111,500
500M Atlantic Power Corp., 9%, 11/15/2018   525,000
350M Calpine Construction Finance Co., LP, 8%, 6/1/2016 (a)   373,625
42M Calpine Corp., 7.875%, 7/31/2020 (a)   47,355
75M DPL, Inc., 7.25%, 10/15/2021   80,625
175M Indiantown Cogeneration Utilities, LP, 9.77%, 12/15/2020   186,087
400M Intergen NV, 9%, 6/30/2017 (a)   360,000
275M NRG Energy, Inc., 7.625%, 5/15/2019   295,625
298M   NSG Holdings, LLC, 7.75%, 12/15/2025 (a)   308,430
        2,554,247
  Waste Management—.3%    
275M   ADS Waste Holdings, Inc., 8.25%, 10/1/2020 (a)   290,125

 

30

 



 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Wireless Communications—1.9%    
$     275M Cricket Communications, Inc., 7.75%, 10/15/2020 $     281,875
  MetroPCS Wireless, Inc.:    
275M 7.875%, 9/1/2018   299,063
100M 6.625%, 11/15/2020   106,625
  Sprint Nextel Corp.:    
175M 8.375%, 8/15/2017   204,313
250M 9.125%, 3/1/2017   295,625
175M 7%, 8/15/2020   192,063
175M   6%, 11/15/2022   180,688
        1,560,252
Total Value of Corporate Bonds (cost $73,374,697)   76,920,146
  LOAN PARTICIPATIONS—4.4%    
  Building Materials—.3%    
224M   MRC Global, Inc., 6.25%, 10/15/2019 (d)   226,121
  Chemicals—.7%    
298M PL Propylene, LLC, 7%, 3/23/2017 (d)   302,588
298M   PolyOne Corp., 5%, 12/20/2017 (d)   300,424
        603,012
  Energy—.3%    
225M   Samson Investment Co., 6%, 9/25/2018 (d)   227,721
  Forest Products/Containers—.3%    
222M   Sealed Air Corp., 4%, 10/31/2019 (d)   225,758
  Information Technology—.5%    
150M Genpact, Ltd., 4.25%, 8/17/2019 (d)   151,028
280M   Kronos, Inc., 5.5%, 10/26/2019 (d)   283,721
        434,749
  Media-Diversified—.1%    
75M   Getty Images, Inc., 4.75%, 10/18/2019 (d)   75,197
  Metals/Mining—.9%    
373M Arch Coal, Inc., 5.75%, 5/16/2018 (d)   377,732
400M   Metals USA, Inc., 6.25%, 10/31/2018 (d)   398,000
        775,732

 

31

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2012

 
 
Principal      
Amount      
or Shares   Security         Value
  Retail-General Merchandise—.9%    
$ 298M Academy, Ltd., 4.75%, 8/3/2018 (d)   $ 300,926
150M Burger King Corp., 3.75%, 9/27/2019 (d)   150,663
300M   General Nutrition Centers, Inc., 3.75%, 3/2/2018 (d)       301,114
              752,703
  Telecommunications—.4%    
300M   Intelsat Jackson Holdings, Ltd., 3.21%, 2/1/2014 (d)       300,375
Total Value of Loan Participations (cost $3,575,888)         3,621,368
  COMMON STOCKS—.0%    
  Telecommunications    
3 * Viatel Holding (Bermuda), Ltd. (b)  
5,970 * World Access, Inc. (b)        
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $97,360)        
Total Value of Investments (cost $77,047,945) 95.4 % 80,541,514
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 4.6       3,852,501
Net Assets     100.0 %     $84,394,015

 

Non-income producing
 
(a)  Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 (see Note 5).
 
(b)  Securities valued at fair value (see Note 1A).
 
(c)  In default as to principal and/or interest payment
 
(d)  Interest rates are determined and reset periodically. The interest rates above are the rates in effect
at December 31, 2012.

 

32

 



Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
Corporate Bonds $ $ 76,919,771 $ 375 $ 76,920,146
Loan Participations   3,621,368   3,621,368
Common Stocks        
Total Investments in Securities* $ $ 80,541,139 $ 375 $ 80,541,514

 

* The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for corporate bonds, loan participations and common stocks.

There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

33

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2012

The following is a reconciliation of Fund investments valued using Level 3 inputs for the year:

    Investments   Investments    
    in Corporate   in Common    
    Bonds   Stocks   Total
Balance, December 31, 2011 $ 375 $ $ 375
Purchases      
Sales      
Change in unrealized            
depreciation     (4)   (4)
Realized gain (loss)      
Transfer into Level 3     4   4
Transfer out of Level 3      
Balance, December 31, 2012 $ 375 $ $ 375
The following is a summary of Level 3 inputs by industry:        
Health Care $ 375        
Telecommunications          
  $ 375        

 

The following table presents additional information about valuation methodologies and inputs used for investments that are measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 as of December 31, 2012.

 

            Impact to
    Fair Value       Valuation from
  December 31,  Valuation Unobservable   and Increase
    2012 Methodologies Input(s)(1) Range in Input(2)
 
Fixed Income $ 375 Market Market 100% Increase
      Comparables Comparables/    
        Bankruptcy    
 
Common Stock $ Market Market 100% Increase
      Comparables Comparables/    
        Bankruptcy    

 

(1)  In determining certain of these inputs, management evaluates a variety of factors including eco-
nomic conditions, industry and market developments, market valuations of comparable compa-
nies and company specific developments including exit strategies and realization opportunities.
Management has determined that market participants would take these inputs into account when
valuing the investments.
 
(2)  This column represents the directional change in the fair value of the Level 3 investments
that would result from an increase to the corresponding unobservable input. A decrease to the
unobservable input would have the opposite effect.

 

34 See notes to financial statements

 



Portfolio Managers’ Letter
GOVERNMENT FUND

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Government Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 1.95%, including dividends of 31.0 cents per share.

2012 was characterized by continued, modest economic recovery as U.S. Gross Domestic Product grew by approximately 2% and the unemployment rate fell from 8.5% to 7.8%. Of note, the housing market bottomed with housing starts and new home sales increasing 37% and 9%, respectively. Inflation remained a non-issue as the core consumer price index (which excludes the volatile food and energy components) rose 1.9% year-over-year.

Given the modest recovery, the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”) took further measures to help spur growth. Over the course of the year, it committed both to keeping the federal funds rate at its historically low level through at least mid-2015, and to purchasing an unlimited amount of mortgage-backed securities until the unemployment rate falls to an acceptable level.

The Fed’s very accommodative monetary policy forced investors to take on additional risk in search of higher yields. At times during the year this “risk-on” trade encountered several hurdles, such as the European sovereign debt crisis, the U.S. Presidential election and the “fiscal cliff.” In fact, concern about the European sovereign debt crisis triggered a flight-to-safety into the U.S. Treasury market in July that pushed long-term Treasury yields down to all-time lows. But, as each of these concerns were resolved (to some extent) over the course of the year, riskier markets increasingly gained traction.

The broad bond market returned 4.5% during the review period, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Benchmark U.S. Treasury rates were little changed: the two-year U.S. Treasury note yield — which is anchored by the Fed’s commitment to keep short-term rates very low — moved only one basis point (.01%) year-over-year to 0.25%, and the 10-year Treasury note yield fell from 1.88% to 1.76%. Returns by sector varied substantially with riskier asset classes providing the best performance. Specifically, high-yield and investment-grade corporate bonds gained 15.6% and 10.4%, respectively, while high-quality mortgage-backed bonds and Treasury securities returned only 2.6% and 2.2%, respectively. Money market investments returned essentially 0% due to the Fed’s very accommodative monetary policy. Lastly, the municipal bond market gained 7.3% largely due to substantial investor demand and limited supply.

35

 



Portfolio Managers’ Letter (continued)
GOVERNMENT FUND

The Fund slightly underperformed its benchmark, the Citigroup Government/Mortgage Index. The Fund had an average allocation during the year, as a percent of assets, of 60% in mortgage-backed securities, 33% in U.S. agency securities, 5% in U.S. Treasuries and 2% in cash. This represented a substantial overweight in mortgage-backed and agency securities and a commensurate underweight in Treasury securities versus the benchmark. Given the outperformance of agency and mortgage-backed securities versus Treasuries, this weighting helped Fund performance.

The positive impact of the Fund’s sector weightings was offset by adverse security selection. Security selection was driven by the decision to maintain a shorter duration (i.e., less interest rate risk) than peer group funds. As a result, the Fund was underweight in current coupon mortgage-backed securities and had no exposure to the 10+ year sector of the yield curve in either Treasuries or agencies. Current coupon mortgage-backed securities and 10+ year Treasury and agency securities had higher total returns than the general market due to the modest rally in the bond market and, in the case of the mortgage-backed market, purchases of current coupons by the Fed.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


* Effective December 3, 2012, Rodwell Chadehumbe became Co-Portfolio Manager of the First Investors Life Government Fund.

36

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
GOVERNMENT FUND

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (7/1/12) (12/31/12) (7/1/12–12/31/12)*
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $1,008.71 $3.74
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,021.42 $3.76

 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .74%, multiplied by the average account
value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid
during the period are net of expenses waived.

 

Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

37

 



Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)

GOVERNMENT FUND

Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Government Fund and the Citigroup Government/Mortgage Index.


The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Government Fund beginning 12/31/02 with a theoretical investment in the Citigroup Government/Mortgage Index (the “Index”). The Index is an unmanaged index that is a combination of the Citigroup Government Index and the Citigroup Mortgage Index. The Government Index tracks the performance of the U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored indices within the Citigroup U.S. Broad Investment Grade Bond Index. The Mortgage Index tracks the performance of the mortgage component of the Citigroup U.S. Broad Investment Grade Bond Index, which is comprised of 30- and 15-year GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC pass-throughs and FNMA and FHLMC balloon mortgages. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.

* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/12. During the periods shown, some of the expenses of the Fund were waived or assumed. If such expenses had been paid by the Fund, the Average Annual Total Returns for One Year, Five Years and Ten Years would have been 1.80%, 4.51% and 4.14%, respectively.

The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Citigroup and all other figures are from First Investors Management Company, Inc.

38

 



Portfolio of Investments
GOVERNMENT FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
Principal    
Amount   Security   Value
  RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED  
  SECURITIES—62.1%  
  Fannie Mae—8.0%  
$1,000M 3%, 1/14/2043 (a) $      1,048,594
1,058M 5.5%, 7/1/2034 – 10/1/2039 1,176,915
193M 9%, 11/1/2026 239,008
98M   11%, 10/1/2015   107,418
        2,571,935
  Freddie Mac—3.8%  
385M 4%, 12/1/2040 416,318
730M   5.5%, 11/1/2038   799,283
        1,215,601
  Government National Mortgage Association I  
  Program—40.6%  
3,652M 4%, 7/15/2040 – 11/15/2041 4,034,068
2,830M 4.5%, 6/15/2039 – 8/15/2040 3,136,127
3,847M 5%, 6/15/2033 – 6/15/2040 4,276,281
1,198M 5.5%, 2/15/2033 – 11/15/2038 1,345,919
241M   6%, 11/15/2032 – 4/15/2036   272,483
        13,064,878
  Government National Mortgage Association II  
  Program—9.7%  
998M 3%, 11/20/2042 1,065,959
991M 3.5%, 9/20/2042 1,078,383
895M   4%, 3/20/2042 – 5/20/2042   975,732
        3,120,074
Total Value of Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (cost $19,177,203)   19,972,488
  U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY  
  OBLIGATIONS—28.8%  
  Fannie Mae:  
1,500M 1.625%, 10/26/2015 1,552,837
1,000M 1.25%, 1/30/2017 1,026,186
1,000M 0.875%, 8/28/2017 1,004,028
1,000M Federal Farm Credit Bank, 1.75%, 2/21/2013 1,002,114
1,250M   Federal Home Loan Bank, 5.375%, 5/18/2016   1,457,131

 

39

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
GOVERNMENT FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security         Value
  Freddie Mac:    
$1,000M 3%, 7/28/2014   $ 1,042,605
1,000M 1.25%, 8/1/2019   1,002,963
1,000M   Tennessee Valley Authority, 4.5%, 4/1/2018         1,180,565
Total Value of U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $9,076,390)       9,268,429
  U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS—6.4%  
421M FDA Queens, LP, 6.99%, 6/15/2017 (b)   462,697
1,500M   U.S. Treasury Note, 1.875%, 9/30/2017         1,584,141
Total Value of U.S. Government Obligations (cost $2,060,548)       2,046,838
Total Value of Investments (cost $30,314,141) 97.3 % 31,287,755
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 2.7       857,711
Net Assets     100.0 %     $32,145,466

 

(a)  A portion or all of the security purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis
(see Note 1G).
 
(b)  Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of Securities Act of 1933 (see Note 5).

 

40

 



Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
Residential Mortgage-Backed            
Securities $ $ 19,972,488 $ $ 19,972,488
U.S. Government Agency            
Obligations   9,268,429   9,268,429
U.S. Government Obligations     2,046,838     2,046,838
Total Investments in Securities $ $ 31,287,755 $ $ 31,287,755

 

There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

 

See notes to financial statements 41

 



Portfolio Manager’s Letter
GROWTH & INCOME FUND

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Growth & Income Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 17.45%, including dividends of 44.0 cents per share.

The Fund had a good year both in terms of absolute performance and relative to the S&P 500 Index. The Fund’s performance was attributable to broad-based positive stock selection in the industrials, health care, energy and consumer discretionary sectors. In industrials, the Fund benefited from strong stock selection and an overweighted allocation to the sector.

Several investments were key to performance. TAL International, a leasor of intermodal freight containers, benefited from strong pricing due to the continued tight global supply of containers. Tyco International split into three separate companies this year and the stock’s performance can be attributed to the higher valuation assigned to each separate company by the marketplace. Snap-on, the professional toolmaker, continues to reap the gains of a rebounding U.S. auto sector and the expansion of their products into emerging markets. Armstrong World Industries, a domestic manufacturer of floors and ceilings, paid a large special dividend to shareholders this year; their second such dividend in the last two years. The company took advantage of their ability to generate strong free cash flow and favorable debt markets to return excess cash to shareholders.

In health care, relative outperformance can be attributed to good stock selection and the takeover of Par Pharmaceuticals, a generic drug manufacturer. Private equity firms recognized the value we saw in the upcoming launches of Par’s new products and the positive regulatory environment. Additionally, our investment in Watson Pharmaceuticals, now the third largest generic drug manufacturer, benefited from a recent acquisition of Actavis, the Iceland-based generic pharmaceutical company, that will greatly improve the bottom line through the launch of numerous new products and cost savings programs.

In the energy sector, the Fund benefited from corporate reorganizations. Marathon Petroleum, the refining spin-off from our holding in Marathon Oil, was up significantly on strong earnings and share buybacks. The refiners have benefited from the price differential between International Brent prices and domestic West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) prices. Typically, the wider the differential, the higher the margins for the company. Phillips 66, the refiner spun out from ConocoPhillips, has also benefited from the higher spreads, as the stock jumped dramatically since it was spun out.

42

 



In consumer discretionary, the Fund’s top performers all had the common theme of returning excess cash to shareholders. Wyndham Worldwide, a hospitality company that manages hotels, rents vacation properties and sells time shares, has prospered from their ability to get higher pricing. The company generates a tremendous amount of free cash flow that they have been using to buy back stock, increase the dividend and grow the company through acquisitions.

Another holding, Pier 1 Imports, is bearing the fruits of their successful turnaround in their merchandise and store layouts. Management has improved the products, lowered costs, increased margins and improved sales at individual store levels. This has led to an increase in cash flow, which the company has used to aggressively buy back stock and restart their dividend. We have also benefited from the return of CBS to prominence in television ratings, which has led to higher returns in their stock price. Strong ratings have also led to strong pricing in both syndication and for international buyers of their content. They have used their cash flow to buy back stock and raise their dividend.

On a relative basis the Fund performed well, beating its benchmark. The Fund’s underweight allocation to financials was the main detractor from relative performance. Our strategy tends to invest in high-quality financial stocks with solid balance sheets and apparent growth catalysts. The continued quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve has led to strong gains in lower-quality financial companies that do not fit the Fund’s investment criteria. The quantitative easing has lowered bond yields and this, in turn, has also lowered profit margins for banks. With seemingly no end to quantitative easing, and increased cost from more regulation as the result of the upcoming Dodd Frank rules, banking profits will be harder to come by in the future.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


43

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
GROWTH & INCOME FUND

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (7/1/12) (12/31/12) (7/1/12–12/31/12)*
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $1,075.76 $4.07
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,021.22 $3.96

 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .78%, multiplied by the average account
value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

44

 



Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
GROWTH & INCOME FUND

Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Growth & Income Fund and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.


The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Growth & Income Fund beginning 12/31/02 with a theoretical investment in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (the “Index”). The Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of such stocks, which represent all major industries. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.

* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/12.

The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Standard & Poor’s and all other figures are from First Investors Management Company, Inc.

45

 



Portfolio of Investments
GROWTH & INCOME FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  COMMON STOCKS—99.8%    
  Consumer Discretionary—15.0%    
100,500 Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. $     2,052,210
111,300 Best Buy Company, Inc.   1,318,905
32,900 * BorgWarner, Inc.   2,356,298
142,185 CBS Corporation – Class “B”   5,410,139
20,064 Coach, Inc.   1,113,753
175,600 Dana Holding Corporation   2,741,116
74,200 * Delphi Automotive, PLC   2,838,150
117,900 GNC Holdings, Inc. – Class “A”   3,923,712
51,300 Home Depot, Inc.   3,172,905
89,800 Limited Brands, Inc.   4,225,988
49,200 Lowe’s Companies, Inc.   1,747,584
32,700 McDonald’s Corporation   2,884,467
151,243 Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.   3,368,182
114,100 Pier 1 Imports, Inc.   2,282,000
187,500 Staples, Inc.   2,137,500
42,898 * Steiner Leisure, Ltd.   2,067,255
180,870 Stewart Enterprises, Inc. – Class “A”   1,381,847
31,800 * TRW Automotive Holdings Corporation   1,704,798
18,900 Tupperware Brands Corporation   1,211,490
46,000 Walt Disney Company   2,290,340
65,883   Wyndham Worldwide Corporation   3,505,634
        53,734,273
  Consumer Staples—9.1%    
120,600 Altria Group, Inc.   3,789,252
96,600 Avon Products, Inc.   1,387,176
123,978 Coca-Cola Company   4,494,202
81,300 CVS Caremark Corporation   3,930,855
6,900 McCormick & Company, Inc.   438,357
91,527 Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. – Class “A”   3,391,075
36,200 PepsiCo, Inc.   2,477,166
79,300 Philip Morris International, Inc.   6,632,652
39,013 Procter & Gamble Company   2,648,593
50,250   Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.   3,428,558
        32,617,886

 

46

 



 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  Energy—10.8%    
39,400 Anadarko Petroleum Corporation $     2,927,814
41,700 Chevron Corporation   4,509,438
65,700 ConocoPhillips   3,809,943
15,700 Devon Energy Corporation   817,028
41,400 Ensco, PLC – Class “A”   2,454,192
68,711 ExxonMobil Corporation   5,946,937
9,600 Hess Corporation   508,416
99,522 Marathon Oil Corporation   3,051,344
40,911 Marathon Petroleum Corporation   2,577,393
37,950 National Oilwell Varco, Inc.   2,593,882
89,000 Noble Corporation   3,098,980
32,850 Phillips 66   1,744,335
16,994 Sasol, Ltd. (ADR)   735,670
14,200 Schlumberger, Ltd.   983,918
86,407   Suncor Energy, Inc.   2,849,703
        38,608,993
  Financials—9.8%    
65,806 American Express Company   3,782,529
39,800 Ameriprise Financial, Inc.   2,492,674
96,000 Brookline Bancorp, Inc.   816,000
54,643 Discover Financial Services   2,106,488
26,600 Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF)   436,240
83,500 FirstMerit Corporation   1,184,865
37,100 Invesco, Ltd.   967,939
113,488 JPMorgan Chase & Company   4,990,067
36,100 M&T Bank Corporation   3,554,767
34,700 MetLife, Inc.   1,143,018
27,000 Morgan Stanley   516,240
71,500 New York Community Bancorp, Inc.   936,650
47,400 PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.   2,763,894
27,000 SPDR S&P Regional Banking (ETF)   755,190
103,279 * Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (REIT)   1,106,118
101,588 U.S. Bancorp   3,244,721
102,000 Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. – Class “A” (REIT)   2,007,360
67,767   Wells Fargo & Company   2,316,276
        35,121,036

 

47

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
GROWTH & INCOME FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  Health Care—11.7%    
83,200 Abbott Laboratories $     5,449,600
28,730 Baxter International, Inc.   1,915,142
33,700 Covidien, PLC   1,945,838
58,922 * Express Scripts Holding Company   3,181,788
53,000 * Gilead Sciences, Inc.   3,892,850
77,275 Johnson & Johnson   5,416,977
17,400 McKesson Corporation   1,687,104
87,443 Merck & Company, Inc.   3,579,916
244,039 Pfizer, Inc.   6,120,498
69,843 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.   4,454,587
50,800 Warner Chilcott, PLC – Class “A”   611,632
39,100 * Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.   3,362,600
        41,618,532
  Industrials—17.5%    
53,094 3M Company   4,929,778
53,546 ADT Corporation   2,489,354
83,000 Altra Holdings, Inc.   1,830,150
50,100 Armstrong World Industries, Inc.   2,541,573
30,800 Caterpillar, Inc.   2,759,064
34,537 Chicago Bridge & Iron Company NV – NY Shares   1,600,790
27,900 Dun & Bradstreet Corporation   2,194,335
41,000 * Esterline Technologies Corporation   2,608,010
13,900 Gardner Denver, Inc.   952,150
70,000 Generac Holdings, Inc.   2,401,700
110,296 General Electric Company   2,315,113
60,040 Honeywell International, Inc.   3,810,739
51,453 IDEX Corporation   2,394,108
94,050 ITT Corporation   2,206,413
12,700 Lockheed Martin Corporation   1,172,083
48,119 * Mobile Mini, Inc.   1,002,319
65,296 Pentair, Ltd.   3,209,298
17,500 Raytheon Company   1,007,300
28,500 Snap-on, Inc.   2,251,215
150,900 TAL International Group, Inc.   5,489,742
114,500 Textainer Group Holdings, Ltd.   3,602,170
39,300 Triumph Group, Inc.   2,566,290
106,293 Tyco International, Ltd.   3,109,070
44,300 United Technologies Corporation   3,633,043
19,600   Xylem, Inc.   531,160
        62,606,967

 

48

 



 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  Information Technology—17.7%    
12,000 Apple, Inc. $     6,396,360
169,200 * Arris Group, Inc.   2,527,848
51,200 Avago Technologies, Ltd.   1,620,992
27,300 * CACI International, Inc. – Class “A”   1,502,319
193,400 Cisco Systems, Inc.   3,800,310
28,500 * eBay, Inc.   1,454,070
171,300 * EMC Corporation   4,333,890
91,800 Hewlett-Packard Company   1,308,150
166,852 Intel Corporation   3,442,157
43,629 International Business Machines Corporation   8,357,135
142,900 Intersil Corporation – Class “A”   1,184,641
250,500 Microsoft Corporation   6,695,865
76,600 * NeuStar, Inc. – Class “A”   3,211,838
100,000 Oracle Corporation   3,332,000
47,855 * Parametric Technology Corporation   1,077,216
74,188 QUALCOMM, Inc.   4,601,140
108,560 * Symantec Corporation   2,042,014
78,600 TE Connectivity, Ltd.   2,917,632
172,600 * Yahoo!, Inc.   3,434,740
        63,240,317
  Materials—5.4%    
45,700 Celanese Corporation – Series “A”   2,035,021
43,600 Cytec Industries, Inc.   3,000,988
77,240 Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.   2,641,608
104,300 International Paper Company   4,155,312
78,900 Kronos Worldwide, Inc.   1,538,550
36,800 LyondellBasell Industries NV – Class “A”   2,100,912
11,600 Praxair, Inc.   1,269,620
20,900 Rock-Tenn Company – Class “A”   1,461,119
38,050   RPM International, Inc.   1,117,148
        19,320,278
  Telecommunication Services—2.6%    
124,283 AT&T, Inc.   4,189,580
113,100   Verizon Communications, Inc.   4,893,837
        9,083,417

 

49

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
GROWTH & INCOME FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security         Value
  Utilities—.2%    
14,426   Atmos Energy Corporation         $       506,641
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $260,010,150) 99.8 % 356,458,340
Other Assets, Less Liabilities .2       778,161
Net Assets     100.0 %     $357,236,501

 

*  Non-income producing
 
Summary of Abbreviations:
ADR American Depositary Receipts
ETF Exchange Traded Fund
REIT Real Estate Investment Trust

 

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
Common Stocks* $ 356,458,340 $ $ $ 356,458,340

 

* The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common stocks.

There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

50 See notes to financial statements

 



Portfolio Manager’s Letter
INTERNATIONAL FUND

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for the First Investors Life International Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 20.85%, including dividends of 27.1 cents per share. The Fund outperformed the MSCI EAFE Index for the period.

2012 was characterized by surprisingly strong market performance in a difficult macroeconomic environment. Growth slowed in many emerging countries and economic recovery was sluggish in more developed nations, yet many stock markets delivered positive returns for investors.

The situation in Europe continues to be difficult. Progress is being made but not a lot has improved structurally. The European Central Bank’s monetary easing program has taken pressure off bond markets and created greater stability. Many countries have taken the bitter medicine by implementing austerity measures in an effort to meet more fiscally responsible budget deficit targets. These actions often included a double-edged sword of tax increases and painful public sector cost cuts. Progress also has been made toward a banking union that could strengthen the sector by establishing shared rules and protections.

These positive steps spurred optimism in European markets. However, given the magnitude and speed of the markets’ run, coupled with the reality of the time frames required to solve Europe’s problems, people may be too optimistic at this point. That optimism may temper in coming quarters if the market grows impatient. Life is still very difficult in Europe and we expect it will stay that way for some time. The good news is that, although the journey may be long, things appear to be moving in the right direction.

Emerging markets also experienced some major economic developments during 2012. In India, the government of Manmohan Singh made a serious effort to introduce reforms that could drive the country to a new phase of development. The solid re-election of Narendra Modi as Chief Minister of the business-friendly west coast state of Gujarat delivered a strong message to politicians across the country: deliver growth and you will be rewarded. Under Modi’s direction, the state of Gujarat’s GDP growth has exceeded that of the country for eight of the last 10 years. As a result, the state, which has just 5% of India’s population, generated 18% of the country’s output by value and 22% of its total exports in 2010.

In China, pressure on margins created by currency strength was exacerbated by a relentless rise in salaries, particularly on the coasts. The flip side of higher incomes is that consumer spending, a significant secular growth driver, has remained on track. We anticipate consumer spending, along with the availability of credit to millions of families for the first time, will underwrite solid long-term growth opportunities for well-managed franchises across a variety of industries including consumer staples and consumer discretionary sectors.

51

 



Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
INTERNATIONAL FUND

Slowing economic growth across emerging countries has led to increased risk of abrupt regulation changes in a number of countries and sectors. Brazil is a prime example. A sharp slowdown led to a sudden change of operating framework for banks and electric utilities.

During 2012, the Fund continued to reap the rewards of seeds sown during the crisis years. Exposure to consumer staples companies has decreased, as we harvested some gains, and increased exposure to new sectors, such as financials, which have delivered surprisingly strong performance during the year.

The top-performing sectors during 2012 were consumer staples and health care, with stock selection in both sectors the primary contributor to relative performance. The Fund’s selection of companies in the materials sector, and its underweight to the financials sector, detracted from performance during the year.

Countries around the world continue to struggle with issues stemming from the financial crisis and economic downturn. Extremely accommodative monetary policy has helped provide stability for now. Equity valuations, generally speaking, aren’t stretched if we continue to see progress. The question is always the timing and magnitude of the progress. No one can look back and say stocks are as cheap as they once were. Clearly, 2008, 2009 and 2010 were more of a feasting period. We’ve reaped gains from investments made during that period and have worked hard during 2012, tilling the financial garden and planting seeds that we expect will yield benefits for investors during the next three to five years.

As you know, the strategy has delivered several years of meaningful absolute and relative outperformance. It’s inevitable that it will underperform at some point, particularly if lower-quality businesses come back into favor or economic growth accelerates rapidly. Our fundamentals-driven, bottom-up investment process was designed to build portfolios that participate in rising markets and help protect capital during market declines. Our goal is to outperform over full market cycles.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


52

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
INTERNATIONAL FUND

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (7/1/12) (12/31/12) (7/1/12–12/31/12)*
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $1,119.56 $4.85
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,020.57 $4.62

 

*   Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .91%, multiplied by the average account
value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

53

 



Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
INTERNATIONAL FUND

Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series International Fund, the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) EAFE Index (Gross) and the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) EAFE Index (Net).


The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series International Fund beginning 12/31/02 with theoretical investments in the MSCI EAFE Index (Gross) and the MSCI EAFE Index (Net) (the “Indices”). The Indices are free float-adjusted market capitalization indices that measure developed foreign market equity performance, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The MSCI EAFE Index (Gross) is calculated on a total-return basis with the maximum possible dividend reinvestment (before taxes). The MSCI EAFE Index (Net) is calculated on a total-return basis with the minimum possible dividend reinvestment (after taxes). The Indices are unmanaged and it is not possible to invest directly in these Indices. In addition, the Indices do not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.

* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/12.

The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Indices figures are from Morgan Stanley & Company, Inc. and all other figures are from First Investors Management Company, Inc.

54

 



Portfolio of Investments
INTERNATIONAL FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  COMMON STOCKS—98.1%    
  United Kingdom—25.9%    
223,442 * Barratt Developments, PLC $      763,644
141,358 British American Tobacco, PLC   7,190,520
112,785 Diageo, PLC   3,287,145
187,963 Domino’s Pizza Group, PLC   1,535,384
66,680 Fresnillo, PLC   2,046,485
358,016 HSBC Holdings, PLC   3,796,238
62,413 Imperial Tobacco Group, PLC   2,421,396
99,728 Persimmon, PLC   1,309,926
132,518 * Rolls-Royce Holdings, PLC   1,901,972
10,071,368 * Rolls-Royce Holdings, PLC – “C” Shares (a)   16,371
80,467 SABMiller, PLC   3,736,950
135,845   Standard Chartered, PLC   3,517,880
        31,523,911
  India—13.2%    
363,822 HDFC Bank, Ltd.   4,535,741
3,219 HDFC Bank, Ltd. (ADR)   131,078
73,146 Hindustan Unilever, Ltd.   704,641
367,092 Housing Development Finance Corporation, Ltd.   5,607,993
613,512 ITC, Ltd.   3,230,660
13,042 Nestle India, Ltd.   1,188,348
32,031   Tata Consultancy Services, Ltd.   737,998
        16,136,459
  Switzerland—13.1%    
16,200 * DKSH Holding, Ltd.   1,170,873
574 * Lindt & Spruengli AG   1,870,446
72,085 Nestle SA – Registered   4,699,479
1,089 SGS SA – Registered   2,416,888
368,880 * UBS AG – Registered   5,768,145
        15,925,831
  Canada—8.7%    
46,345 Enbridge, Inc.   2,001,441
59,603 Goldcorp, Inc.   2,179,517
12,621 TransCanada Corporation   595,495
98,078 * Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.   5,842,127
        10,618,580

 

55

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
INTERNATIONAL FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  Netherlands—7.6%    
20,696 Core Laboratories NV $     2,262,280
44,817 Royal Dutch Shell, PLC – Class “A”   1,540,789
141,220   Unilever NV – CVA   5,397,204
        9,200,273
  United States—6.6%    
24,916 Accenture, PLC – Class “A”   1,656,914
75,591   Philip Morris International, Inc.   6,322,431
        7,979,345
  France—5.1%    
25,804 Bureau Veritas SA   2,889,979
15,057 Essilor International SA   1,516,814
15,896   Pernod Ricard SA   1,842,091
        6,248,884
  Denmark—3.3%    
24,889   Novo Nordisk A/S – Series “B”   4,047,972
  Hong Kong—2.8%    
299,438 L’Occitane International SA   958,152
540,681   Sands China, Ltd.   2,417,203
        3,375,355
  Germany—2.7%    
41,613   SAP AG   3,342,260
  Belgium—2.6%    
36,869   Anheuser-Busch InBev NV   3,206,929
  Australia—2.5%    
78,594 Coca-Cola Amatil, Ltd.   1,104,237
81,389 Newcrest Mining, Ltd.   1,903,440
914   Ramsay Health Care, Ltd.   26,063
        3,033,740
  Ireland—1.9%    
27,888   Paddy Power, PLC   2,285,088

 

56

 



 
 
Shares or      
Principal      
Amount   Security         Value
  Mexico—1.1%    
430,882   Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV         $ 1,399,554
  Japan—1.0%    
12,300   Daito Trust Construction Company, Ltd.         1,164,760
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $84,446,914)         119,488,941
  SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT    
  OBLIGATIONS—.8%    
$1,000M   U.S. Treasury Bills, Zero Coupon, 1/3/2013 (cost $1,000,000)       1,000,000
Total Value of Investments (cost $85,446,914) 98.9 % 120,488,941
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 1.1       1,296,470
Net Assets     100.0 %     $121,785,411

 

Non-income producing
 
(a)  Securities valued at fair value (see Note 1A).
 
Summary of Abbreviations:
ADR American Depositary Receipts

 

57

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
INTERNATIONAL FUND
December 31, 2012

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
Common Stocks              
United Kingdom $ $ 31,507,540 $ 16,371 $ 31,523,911
India   131,078   16,005,381   16,136,459
Switzerland     15,925,831   15,925,831
Canada   10,618,580     10,618,580
Netherlands   2,262,280   6,937,993   9,200,273
United States   7,979,345     7,979,345
France     6,248,884   6,248,884
Denmark     4,047,972   4,047,972
Hong Kong     3,375,355   3,375,355
Germany     3,342,260   3,342,260
Belgium     3,206,929   3,206,929
Australia     3,033,740   3,033,740
Ireland     2,285,088   2,285,088
Mexico   1,399,554     1,399,554
Japan     1,164,760   1,164,760
Short-Term U.S. Government              
Obligations     1,000,000     1,000,000
Total Investments in Securities* $ 22,390,837 $ 98,081,733 $ 16,371 $ 120,488,941

 

* Includes certain foreign securities that were fair valued due to fluctuations in U.S. securities markets exceeding a predetermined level or a foreign market being closed; therefore, $97,081,733 of investment securities were classified as Level 2 instead of Level 1.

 

58

 



During the year ended December 31, 2012, there were no transfers between Level 1 investments and Level 2 investments that had a material impact to the Fund. This does not include transfers between Level 1 investments and Level 2 investments due to the Fund utilizing international fair value pricing during the year. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

The following is a reconciliation of Fund investments valued using Level 3 inputs for the year:

    Investments
    in Common
    Stocks
Balance, December 31, 2011 $ 6,846
Purchases  
Sales   (28,877)
Change in unrealized    
appreciation   9,525
Realized gain (loss)   28,877
Transfer into Level 3  
Transfer out of Level 3  
Balance, December 31, 2012 $ 16,371

 

The following is a summary of Level 3 inputs by industry:

 

Industrials $ 16,371

 

See notes to financial statements 59

 



Portfolio Managers’ Letter
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Investment Grade Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 11.23%, including dividends of 48.6 cents per share.

The Fund invests in investment grade fixed income securities. The majority of the Fund’s assets were invested in investment grade corporate bonds during the review period.

Long-term interest rates continued their multi-year decline during 2012, falling to all-time lows in July before rising. Several factors contributed to this low interest rate environment: the Federal Reserve’s (“the Fed’s”) very accommodative monetary policy, the subpar economic recovery, and safe haven flows from overseas into the U.S. bond market. Reviewing benchmark U.S. Treasury yields, the two-year U.S. Treasury note yield, which is anchored by the Fed’s commitment to keep short-term rates very low, barely moved during the review period, ending at 0.25%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield fell from 1.88% to 1.76%.

The U.S. Broad Market Index returned 4.5%, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Riskier fixed income sectors had very strong performance, as the Fed’s success in depressing risk-free yields forced investors to take more risk. Consequently, high yield — or “junk” bonds — returned 15.6% and investment grade corporate bonds gained 10.4%. Higher-quality sectors had notably lower, although positive, returns. The broad mortgage-backed market returned 2.6%. The Treasury market returned 2.2%. Money market investments returned essentially 0% due to the Fed’s very accommodative monetary policy. The municipal bond market returned 7.3%.

The corporate bond market’s strong returns in 2012 were driven by tighter spreads between benchmark Treasury securities and corporate bonds. As the year began, deleveraging of corporate balance sheets, credit availability and accommodative monetary policy pointed toward a favorable outlook for investment grade corporate credit. Over the next few months, the positive tone was somewhat offset by challenges associated with fallout from the European debt crisis and fear of a global economic slowdown.

However, the Fed’s announcement of another iteration of its quantitative easing program, and the European Central Bank’s details of its bond-buying program, gave an indication to investors that global central banks were highly disposed toward continued monetary support. The constraint of low yields continued to dominate asset allocation behavior during the review period, favoring investment grade credit, particularly corporate bonds.

60

 



However, at the end of the review period, fears of the “fiscal cliff” began to weigh on the corporate bond market.

The Fund outperformed the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Corporate Index during the review period. The relative performance was predominantly a function of the Fund’s overweight in corporate bonds. Specifically, the Fund benefited from its overweight in BBB-rated corporate bonds, which had the highest returns during the review period. This was somewhat offset by the Fund’s underweight in corporate bonds with maturities greater than 10 years, which benefited from falling 30-year U.S. Treasury yields.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


61

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (7/1/12) (12/31/12) (7/1/12–12/31/12)*
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $1,057.59 $3.62
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,021.62 $3.56

 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .70%, multiplied by the average account
value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid
during the period are net of expenses waived.

 

Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

62

 



Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND

Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Investment Grade Fund and the Bank of America (“BofA”) Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate Master Index.


The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Investment Grade Fund beginning 12/31/02 with a theoretical investment in the BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate Master Index (the “Index”). The Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated investment grade corporate public debt issued in the U.S. domestic bond market. Qualifying bonds must have at least one year remaining term to maturity, a fixed coupon schedule and a minimum amount outstanding of $250 million. Bonds must be rated investment grade based on a composite of Moody’s and S&P. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.

* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/12. During the periods shown, some of the expenses of the Fund were waived or assumed. If such expenses had been paid by the Fund, the Average Annual Total Returns for One Year, Five Years and Ten Years would have been 11.07%, 6.50% and 5.50%, respectively.

The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Bank of America Merrill Lynch & Co. and all other figures are from First Investors Management Company, Inc.

63

 



Portfolio of Investments
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  CORPORATE BONDS—96.7%    
  Aerospace/Defense—.4%    
$200M   BAE Systems Holdings, Inc., 4.95%, 6/1/2014 (a) $     210,155
  Agriculture—1.7%    
340M Cargill, Inc., 6%, 11/27/2017 (a)   409,498
450M   CF Industries, Inc., 7.125%, 5/1/2020   567,182
        976,680
  Automotive—.7%    
400M   Daimler Finance NA, LLC, 2.95%, 1/11/2017 (a)   419,502
  Chemicals—.8%    
400M   Dow Chemical Co., 4.25%, 11/15/2020   446,189
  Consumer Durables—.6%    
300M   Stanley Black & Decker, 5.2%, 9/1/2040   348,842
  Energy—10.6%    
400M Canadian Oil Sands, Ltd., 7.75%, 5/15/2019 (a)   510,390
200M DCP Midstream, LLC, 9.75%, 3/15/2019 (a)   264,890
500M Enbridge Energy Partners, LP, 4.2%, 9/15/2021   538,437
400M Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, LP, 3.45%, 2/15/2023   412,820
429M Maritime & Northeast Pipeline, LLC, 7.5%, 5/31/2014 (a)   451,330
400M Nabors Industries, Inc., 6.15%, 2/15/2018   470,942
400M ONEOK Partners, LP, 3.375%, 10/1/2022   408,462
500M Petrobras International Finance Co., 5.375%, 1/27/2021   565,410
400M Reliance Holdings USA, Inc., 4.5%, 10/19/2020 (a)   419,514
400M Spectra Energy Capital, LLC, 6.2%, 4/15/2018   487,611
489M Suncor Energy, Inc., 6.85%, 6/1/2039   677,981
300M Valero Energy Corp., 9.375%, 3/15/2019   413,160
400M   Weatherford International, Inc., 6.35%, 6/15/2017   458,278
        6,079,225
  Financial Services—12.9%    
250M Aflac, Inc., 8.5%, 5/15/2019   340,927
600M American Express Co., 7%, 3/19/2018   758,916
600M American International Group, Inc., 4.875%, 9/15/2016   671,663
400M Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., 3.4%, 1/31/2022   431,728
400M BlackRock, Inc., 5%, 12/10/2019   479,329
350M CoBank, ACB, 7.875%, 4/16/2018 (a)   445,201
200M   Compass Bank, 6.4%, 10/1/2017   215,515

 

64

 



 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Financial Services (continued)    
$500M ERAC USA Finance Co., 4.5%, 8/16/2021 (a) $     545,815
600M Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, 5%, 5/15/2018   663,562
  General Electric Capital Corp.:    
400M 5.625%, 9/15/2017   472,386
300M 5.5%, 1/8/2020   355,641
400M Glencore Funding, LLC, 6%, 4/15/2014 (a)   422,594
400M Harley-Davidson Funding Corp., 5.75%, 12/15/2014 (a)   437,038
400M Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 4.95%, 5/1/2022 (a)   436,776
400M Protective Life Corp., 7.375%, 10/15/2019   486,880
200M   Prudential Financial, Inc., 6%, 12/1/2017   240,238
        7,404,209
  Financials—18.4%    
  Bank of America Corp.:    
200M 5.65%, 5/1/2018   232,961
200M 5%, 5/13/2021   228,727
100M 5.875%, 2/7/2042   125,242
600M Barclays Bank, PLC, 5.125%, 1/8/2020   684,382
300M Bear Stearns Cos., Inc., 7.25%, 2/1/2018   376,325
  Citigroup, Inc.:    
450M 6.375%, 8/12/2014   486,481
800M 6.125%, 11/21/2017   953,152
200M 4.5%, 1/14/2022   223,560
400M Fifth Third Bancorp, 3.5%, 3/15/2022   420,049
  Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.:    
600M 6.15%, 4/1/2018   705,666
200M 5.75%, 1/24/2022   236,871
400M 6.75%, 10/1/2037   454,775
  JPMorgan Chase & Co.:    
600M 6%, 1/15/2018   719,110
200M 4.5%, 1/24/2022   226,674
  Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.:    
400M 5%, 1/15/2015   427,529
400M 6.4%, 8/28/2017   470,224
  Morgan Stanley:    
600M 5.95%, 12/28/2017   680,184
500M 6.625%, 4/1/2018   589,954
600M SunTrust Banks, Inc., 6%, 9/11/2017   709,713
600M   UBS AG, 4.875%, 8/4/2020   698,308

 

65

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Financials (continued)    
  Wells Fargo & Co.:    
$400M 5.625%, 12/11/2017 $     477,607
200M 4.6%, 4/1/2021   230,449
200M   3.5%, 3/8/2022   213,751
        10,571,694
  Food/Beverage/Tobacco—8.1%    
500M Altria Group, Inc., 9.7%, 11/10/2018   700,799
500M Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc., 5.375%, 1/15/2020   609,432
300M Bottling Group, LLC, 5.125%, 1/15/2019   354,697
300M Bunge Ltd. Finance Corp., 3.2%, 6/15/2017   313,415
400M Corn Products International, Inc., 4.625%, 11/1/2020   447,372
400M Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., 6.82%, 5/1/2018   504,558
400M Lorillard Tobacco Co., 6.875%, 5/1/2020   488,274
300M Mead Johnson Nutrition Co., 4.9%, 11/1/2019   342,882
400M Philip Morris International, Inc., 5.65%, 5/16/2018   485,530
400M   SABMiller Holdings, Inc., 3.75%, 1/15/2022 (a)   432,765
        4,679,724
  Forest Products/Container—.7%    
300M   International Paper Co., 9.375%, 5/15/2019   409,634
  Gaming/Leisure—.7%    
400M   Marriott International, Inc., 3.25%, 9/15/2022   400,946
  Health Care—3.8%    
  Aristotle Holding, Inc.:    
300M 4.75%, 11/15/2021 (a)   341,073
150M 3.9%, 2/15/2022 (a)   162,050
400M Biogen IDEC, Inc., 6.875%, 3/1/2018   496,021
400M Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings, 3.75%, 8/23/2022   425,029
400M Mylan, Inc., 3.125%, 1/15/2023 (a)   397,398
200M Novartis Securities Investments, Ltd., 5.125%, 2/10/2019   239,355
100M   Roche Holdings, Inc., 6%, 3/1/2019 (a)   124,645
        2,185,571
  Information Technology—5.3%    
400M Corning, Inc., 4.75%, 3/15/2042   422,934
400M Dell, Inc., 5.875%, 6/15/2019   461,880
400M Harris Corp., 4.4%, 12/15/2020   433,423
500M   Motorola Solutions, Inc., 6%, 11/15/2017   587,698

 

66

 



 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Information Technology (continued)    
$400M Pitney Bowes, Inc., 5.75%, 9/15/2017 $     428,086
400M Symantec Corp., 3.95%, 6/15/2022   406,775
300M   Western Union Co., 6.2%, 11/17/2036   304,515
        3,045,311
  Manufacturing—4.2%    
380M CRH America, Inc., 8.125%, 7/15/2018   459,396
300M General Electric Co., 5.25%, 12/6/2017   354,136
400M Ingersoll-Rand Global Holdings Co., Ltd., 6.875%, 8/15/2018   489,021
300M Johnson Controls, Inc., 5%, 3/30/2020   341,480
300M Tyco Electronics Group SA, 6.55%, 10/1/2017   360,109
400M   Tyco Flow Control International, Ltd., 3.15%, 9/15/2022 (a)   400,622
        2,404,764
  Media-Broadcasting—3.2%    
400M British Sky Broadcasting Group, PLC, 9.5%, 11/15/2018 (a)   557,433
400M Comcast Corp., 6.55%, 7/1/2039   527,000
300M DirecTV Holdings, LLC, 3.8%, 3/15/2022   310,096
300M   Time Warner Entertainment Co., LP, 8.375%, 3/15/2023   424,807
        1,819,336
  Media-Diversified—1.4%    
  McGraw-Hill Cos., Inc.:    
200M 5.9%, 11/15/2017   232,557
200M 6.55%, 11/15/2037   230,079
300M   Vivendi SA, 6.625%, 4/4/2018 (a)   353,092
        815,728
  Metals/Mining—4.9%    
500M Alcoa, Inc., 6.15%, 8/15/2020   546,909
400M ArcelorMittal, 6.125%, 6/1/2018   405,862
400M Newmont Mining Corp., 5.125%, 10/1/2019   461,801
500M Rio Tinto Finance USA, Ltd., 3.75%, 9/20/2021   535,647
400M Vale Overseas, Ltd., 5.625%, 9/15/2019   456,803
400M   Xstrata Canada Financial Corp., 4.95%, 11/15/2021 (a)   430,401
        2,837,423
  Real Estate Investment Trusts—5.9%    
500M Boston Properties, LP, 5.875%, 10/15/2019   597,057
500M Digital Realty Trust, LP, 5.25%, 3/15/2021   554,319
500M   HCP, Inc., 5.375%, 2/1/2021   570,326

 

67

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security   Value
  Real Estate Investment Trusts (continued)    
$400M ProLogis, LP, 6.625%, 5/15/2018 $     483,690
300M Realty Income Corp., 3.25%, 10/15/2022   294,284
400M Simon Property Group, LP, 5.75%, 12/1/2015   450,860
400M   Ventas Realty, LP, 4.75%, 6/1/2021   438,177
        3,388,713
  Retail-General Merchandise—1.9%    
500M GAP, Inc., 5.95%, 4/12/2021   572,969
400M   Home Depot, Inc., 5.875%, 12/16/2036   527,563
        1,100,532
  Telecommunications—3.0%    
300M BellSouth Corp., 6.55%, 6/15/2034   360,791
105M BellSouth Telecommunications, 6.375%, 6/1/2028   126,069
300M Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV, 4.875%, 3/6/2042 (a)   321,526
309M GTE Corp., 6.84%, 4/15/2018   387,302
400M   Verizon New York, Inc., 7.375%, 4/1/2032   531,504
        1,727,192
  Transportation—2.1%    
300M Con-way, Inc., 7.25%, 1/15/2018   347,884
400M GATX Corp., 4.75%, 6/15/2022   420,160
400M   Penske Truck Leasing Co., LP, 4.875%, 7/11/2022 (a)   413,985
        1,182,029
  Utilities—4.9%    
400M Arizona Public Service Co., 4.5%, 4/1/2042   427,164
300M E.ON International Finance BV, 5.8%, 4/30/2018 (a)   364,879
300M Electricite de France SA, 6.5%, 1/26/2019 (a)   367,727
400M Exelon Generation Co., LLC, 5.2%, 10/1/2019   454,110
  Great River Energy Co.:    
113M 5.829%, 7/1/2017 (a)   120,000
298M 4.478%, 7/1/2030 (a)   328,826
400M Ohio Power Co., 5.375%, 10/1/2021   485,572
200M   Sempra Energy, 9.8%, 2/15/2019   280,371
        2,828,649

 

68

 



 
 
 
Principal      
Amount   Security         Value
  Waste Management—.5%    
$265M   Republic Services, Inc., 3.8%, 5/15/2018         $ 291,693
Total Value of Corporate Bonds (cost $50,111,490) 96.7 % 55,573,741
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 3.3       1,891,043
Net Assets     100.0 %     $57,464,784

 

(a)  Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 (see Note 5).

 

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
Corporate Bonds* $ $ 55,573,741 $ $ 55,573,741

 

* The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization.

There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

See notes to financial statements 69

 



Portfolio Managers’ Letter
OPPORTUNITY FUND

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Opportunity Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012. The Fund commenced operations on December 17, 2012. During the short period December 17, 2012 to December 31, 2012, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 0.60%.

The Fund seeks long-term capital growth and invests primarily in mid- and small-size companies that we believe offer strong growth opportunities. The Fund uses a “bottom-up” approach to selecting investments and uses fundamental research to find companies that have one or more of the following: a strong balance sheet, experienced management, above-average earnings growth potential, and stocks that are attractively priced. The Fund attempts to stay broadly diversified, but it may emphasize certain industry sectors based upon economic and market conditions.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


70

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
OPPORTUNITY FUND

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (12/17/12) (12/31/12) (12/17/12–12/31/12)
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $1,006.00 $6.92*
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $940.48 $82.14**

 

Actual expenses only reflect the period from the commencement of operations to the end of the
period covered (December 17, 2012 to December 31, 2012). Therefore, expenses shown are lower
than would be expected for a six-month period. Actual expenses for the six-month period will be
reflected in future reports. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of 16.84% multiplied
by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 15/366 (to reflect the inception period).
Expenses paid during the period are net of expenses waived and/or assumed.
 
**  Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of 16.84% multiplied by the average account
value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid
during the period are net of expenses waived and/or assumed.

 

Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

71

 



Portfolio of Investments
OPPORTUNITY FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  COMMON STOCKS—98.1%    
  Consumer Discretionary—17.2%    
400 Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. $     8,168
150 * BorgWarner, Inc.   10,743
150 Coach, Inc.   8,327
700 Dana Holding Corporation   10,927
350 * Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Inc.   5,456
400 * Delphi Automotive, PLC   15,300
300 * Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc. – Class “A”   4,971
350 GNC Holdings, Inc. – Class “A”   11,648
300 Limited Brands, Inc.   14,118
500 Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.   11,135
100 Nordstrom, Inc.   5,350
400 * Orient-Express Hotels, Ltd. – Class “A”   4,676
550 Pier 1 Imports, Inc.   11,000
50 Ralph Lauren Corporation   7,496
1,000 Stewart Enterprises, Inc. – Class “A”   7,640
100 * Tempur-Pedic International, Inc.   3,149
50 Tiffany & Company   2,867
250 * TRW Automotive Holdings Corporation   13,403
150 Tupperware Brands Corporation   9,615
200   Wyndham Worldwide Corporation   10,642
        176,631
  Consumer Staples—4.4%    
250 Avon Products, Inc.   3,590
100 McCormick & Company, Inc.   6,353
350 Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. – Class “A”   12,967
1,000 * Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc.   20,030
100   Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.   2,592
        45,532
  Energy—7.6%    
50 * Dril-Quip, Inc.   3,652
250 Ensco, PLC – Class “A”   14,820
100 EOG Resources, Inc.   12,079
150 EQT Corporation   8,847
100 Hess Corporation   5,296
250   National Oilwell Varco, Inc.   17,087

 

72

 



 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  Energy (continued)    
200 * Plains Exploration & Production Company $     9,388
400 Talisman Energy, Inc.   4,532
200  * Weatherford International, Ltd.   2,238
        77,939
  Financials—13.2%    
100 Ameriprise Financial, Inc.   6,263
300 Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.   7,158
450 Brookline Bancorp, Inc.   3,825
200 City National Corporation   9,904
300 Discover Financial Services   11,565
250 Douglas Emmett, Inc. (REIT)   5,825
50 Federal Realty Investment Trust (REIT)   5,201
150 Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF)   2,460
400 FirstMerit Corporation   5,676
100 IBERIABANK Corporation   4,912
250 Invesco, Ltd.   6,523
150 M&T Bank Corporation   14,770
400 NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.   10,004
250 New York Community Bancorp, Inc.   3,275
200 Oritani Financial Corporation   3,064
600 Protective Life Corporation   17,148
150 SPDR S&P Regional Banking (ETF)   4,195
100 Tompkins Financial Corporation   3,964
300   Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. – Class “A”   10,446
        136,178
  Health Care—8.6%    
150 DENTSPLY International, Inc.   5,941
150 * Gilead Sciences, Inc.   11,017
150 McKesson Corporation   14,544
50 Perrigo Company   5,202
150 * Sirona Dental Systems, Inc.   9,669
200 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.   12,756
650 Warner Chilcott, PLC – Class “A”   7,826
250 * Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.   21,500
        88,455

 

73

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
OPPORTUNITY FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  Industrials—23.2%    
150 A.O. Smith Corporation $     9,461
400 Altra Holdings, Inc.   8,820
200 Armstrong World Industries, Inc.   10,146
200 Chicago Bridge & Iron Company NV – NY Shares   9,270
100 Dun & Bradstreet Corporation   7,865
200 * EnerSys, Inc.   7,526
200 * Esterline Technologies Corporation   12,722
100 Gardner Denver, Inc.   6,850
300 Generac Holdings, Inc.   10,293
300 IDEX Corporation   13,959
500 ITT Corporation   11,730
150 J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.   8,956
300 * Mobile Mini, Inc.   6,249
250 Pentair, Ltd.   12,288
100 Regal-Beloit Corporation   7,047
100 Roper Industries, Inc.   11,148
150 Snap-on, Inc.   11,849
550 TAL International Group, Inc.   20,009
350 Textainer Group Holdings, Ltd.   11,011
150 Timken Company   7,175
350 Triumph Group, Inc.   22,855
250 * United Rentals, Inc.   11,380
        238,609
  Information Technology—11.8%    
700 * Arris Group, Inc.   10,458
250 * ATMI, Inc.   5,220
350 Avago Technologies, Ltd.   11,081
150 * CACI International, Inc. – Class “A”   8,254
100 * Fiserv, Inc.   7,903
350 Intersil Corporation – Class “A”   2,901
150 Intuit, Inc.   8,925
450 * NeuStar, Inc. – Class “A”   18,869
900 NVIDIA Corporation   11,061
450 * Symantec Corporation   8,465
450 TE Connectivity, Ltd.   16,704
400   Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF)   11,580
        121,421

 

74

 



 
 
 
 
Shares   Security         Value
  Materials—7.8%    
150 Agrium, Inc.   $ 14,986
100 Cabot Corporation   3,979
150 Cytec Industries, Inc.   10,324
150 Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.   5,130
360 International Paper Company   14,342
150 Kronos Worldwide, Inc.   2,925
100 Praxair, Inc.   10,945
150 Rock-Tenn Company – Class “A”   10,487
100   Sigma-Aldrich Corporation         7,358
              80,476
  Telecommunication Services—.6%    
450   NTELOS Holdings Corporation         5,900
  Utilities—3.7%    
200 AGL Resources, Inc.   7,994
200 Portland General Electric Company   5,472
250 SCANA Corporation   11,410
350   Wisconsin Energy Corporation         12,898
              37,774
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $998,009) 98.1 % 1,008,915
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 1.9       20,031
Net Assets     100.0 %     $1,028,946

 

Non-income producing
 
Summary of Abbreviations:
ETF Exchange Traded Fund
REIT Real Estate Investment Trust

 

75

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
OPPORTUNITY FUND
December 31, 2012

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
Common Stocks* $ 1,008,915 $ $ $ 1,008,915

 

* The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization.

There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

76 See notes to financial statements

 



Portfolio Manager’s Letter
SELECT GROWTH FUND

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Select Growth Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 13.30%, including dividends of 0.5 cents per share.

The Fund’s performance during the first quarter of 2012 continued to build on the strong performance seen during 2011. The market gained almost 15% and the Fund outperformed the benchmark by a small margin. However, as the year progressed, investors became increasingly fearful that Europe would be unable to solve its problems and that the U.S. economy was slowing down. This led to a significant correction in April and May. The upward trajectory resumed in June and carried on through the end of the fiscal year. During this correction and recovery, investors favored the perceived safety of larger companies and companies that paid dividends. The Fund’s exposure to these attributes was relatively low and thus the Fund underperformed during the balance of the year.

From a sector perspective, the consumer staples and materials sectors generated most of the positive performance. In the consumer staples sector, positions in Whole Foods Market and Ingredion produced significant positive performance, as investors recognized the growth these companies were experiencing. The stocks returned 35% and 25%, respectively, for the Fund. In the materials sector, the Fund benefited from owning fertilizer manufacturer CF Industries, as the stock gained 41% during the year.

On the negative side, the information technology and industrials sectors proved challenging during the year. In information technology, Check Point Software Technologies and Global Payments were detrimental to performance, as both stocks posted negative returns for the Fund. Check Point Software Technologies, a manufacturer of network security software and hardware, provided a more cautious outlook, as customers traded down to lower-priced solutions, causing the shares to decline 21%. Global Payments, a provider of electronic payment processing services, saw its stock drop after announcing a security breach involving 1.5 million credit card numbers. Shares of the company had reached a new high, but return for the holding period dropped to a negative 9% following the bad news.

In the industrials sector, positions in Ryder System and Rockwell Automation contributed to underperformance. Both companies are sensitive to economic growth and the negative sentiment took a toll on expectations. Ryder System shares declined 34% during the holding period and Rockwell Automation shares slid 11%.

77

 



Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
SELECT GROWTH FUND

We are pleased that the market continued to recognize the strong business performance of the companies held in the Fund during the year, as the Fund outperformed the market during the first quarter and kept pace during the second half. However, the Fund’s underperformance during the market correction and recovery mid-year caused full-year results to be disappointing. Nevertheless, we are encouraged that investors still favor companies with strong fundamental drivers under normal market conditions. We continue to believe our focus on high-quality companies with strong earnings expectations are the key to generating excess return over the long term.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


78

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
SELECT GROWTH FUND

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (7/1/12) (12/31/12) (7/1/12–12/31/12)*
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $1,037.92 $4.46
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,020.77 $4.42

 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .87%, multiplied by the average account
value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

79

 



Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
SELECT GROWTH FUND

Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Select Growth Fund and the Russell 3000 Growth Index.


The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Select Growth Fund beginning 12/31/02 with a theoretical investment in the Russell 3000 Growth Index (the “Index”). The Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of those Russell 3000 Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values (the Russell 3000 Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization). It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.

* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/12.

The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Frank Russell and Company and all other figures are from First Investors Management Company, Inc.

80

 



Portfolio of Investments
SELECT GROWTH FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  COMMON STOCKS—96.0%    
  Consumer Discretionary—12.6%    
11,960 * Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. $     668,684
11,975 Home Depot, Inc.   740,654
11,100 Mattel, Inc.   406,482
13,980 Ross Stores, Inc.   757,017
7,600   Tupperware Brands Corporation   487,160
        3,059,997
  Consumer Staples—14.5%    
5,800 Costco Wholesale Corporation   572,866
8,690 Ingredion, Inc.   559,897
6,200 Kimberly-Clark Corporation   523,466
22,500 Kroger Company   585,450
5,400 Philip Morris International, Inc.   451,656
9,350   Whole Foods Market, Inc.   853,935
        3,547,270
  Energy—6.0%    
4,850 Chevron Corporation   524,479
4,160 ExxonMobil Corporation   360,048
6,280 Helmerich & Payne, Inc.   351,743
2,980   Occidental Petroleum Corporation   228,298
        1,464,568
  Financials—8.3%    
10,550 American Express Company   606,414
18,230 East West Bancorp, Inc.   391,763
6,400 Travelers Companies, Inc.   459,648
18,100   U.S. Bancorp   578,114
        2,035,939
  Health Care—14.6%    
7,290 Cooper Companies, Inc.   674,179
5,000 Johnson & Johnson   350,500
6,120 McKesson Corporation   593,395
12,100 Omnicare, Inc.   436,810
16,800 ResMed, Inc.   698,376
9,310 * Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.   800,660
        3,553,920

 

81

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
SELECT GROWTH FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security         Value
  Industrials—8.8%      
9,400 * Alaska Air Group, Inc.   $      405,046
17,620 AMETEK, Inc.     661,983
14,300 Robert Half International, Inc.     455,026
7,100   Wabtec Corporation         621,534
              2,143,589
  Information Technology—25.8%      
12,167 Accenture, PLC – Class “A”     809,105
1,700 Apple, Inc.     906,151
97,200 * Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.     518,076
66,200 * Cadence Design Systems, Inc.     894,362
12,900 IAC/InterActiveCorp     610,170
2,390 International Business Machines Corporation     457,805
9,310 Motorola Solutions, Inc.     518,381
18,490 * Nuance Communications, Inc.     412,697
17,900 Oracle Corporation     596,428
5,900 * VMware, Inc. – Class “A”         555,426
              6,278,601
  Materials—3.2%      
3,820   CF Industries Holdings, Inc.         776,071
  Utilities—2.2%      
27,500   Centerpoint Energy, Inc.         529,375
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $18,699,138) 96.0 %   23,389,330
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 4.0       986,444
Net Assets     100.0 %   $24,375,774

 

Non-income producing

 

82

 



Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
Common Stocks* $ 23,389,330 $ $ $ 23,389,330

 

* The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization.

There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

See notes to financial statements 83

 



Portfolio Managers’ Letter
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND*

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Special Situations Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 10.01%, including dividends of 20.0 cents per share and capital gains of $3.39 per share.

Fund performance for the year was positive. However, it did not keep up with the broader market in the second half of the year, as stocks rallied in anticipation of another round of quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”). The Fund, given its focus on strong cash flow and balance sheet metrics, has often underperformed in rallies and in periods of sharp momentum, but has usually managed to outperform over a full market cycle. We believe this will continue to be the case in the future. Our underperformance this year was exacerbated, in part, by poor stock selection on our part, and also by the market’s rotation into more highly leveraged companies, especially in the financials sector, as interest rates fell.

Material’s was the top-performing sector for the reporting period. Westlake Chemical was our top-performing stock in the sector, up 109%. Westlake is an integrated plastics manufacturer, and has prospered as feedstock costs, based on natural gas prices, have dropped. In fact, costs have declined so much for Westlake that it is now exporting product to China. Management has also done an excellent job of expanding capacity in response to these declines in feedstock costs. Chemtura was another top performer for us in the materials sector, up 87%. Chemtura is a broad-based chemical manufacturer that restructured during the financial crisis. We were able to purchase shares at a 25% discount to comparable peers.

Financials, our worst-performing sector, accounted for much of our underperformance over the reporting period, in a reversal of the previous four years. We have consistently managed the financials portion of the Fund with investments that we believed did not have significant credit risk. We also have underweighted banks, precisely because of our concern about credit exposure. This year, however, with interest rates at historic lows and a nascent housing recovery, bank stocks — especially leveraged bank stocks — have rallied strongly. Two poor performers in the portfolio included Knight Capital and First Niagara. Knight Capital had a trading malfunction whose losses cut into the firm’s capital base. First Niagara made a large acquisition at a price the market viewed as unfavorable. We exited both positions.

The stock market has been on a roller-coaster ride over the past year: up sharply in the winter; down sharply in the spring, after lower-than-expected U.S. economic data

84

 



and worsening economic news from Europe and China; and up again in the summer and fall following another round of stimulus from the Fed. We remain concerned about the slow growth rate in the U.S. and abroad, but we are heartened that the country did not have a protracted battle about the fiscal cliff at the end of the year; and we believe the economy can grow somewhat faster than in 2012, absent another debilitating debt ceiling debate this year.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


* Effective December 17, 2012, the Fund changed its name from the First Investors Life Series Discovery Fund to the First Investors Life Series Special Situations Fund.

85

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (7/1/12) (12/31/12) (7/1/12–12/31/12)*
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $1,081.18 $4.24
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,021.07 $4.12

 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .81%, multiplied by the average account
value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

86

 



Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND

Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Special Situations Fund and the Russell 2000 Index.


The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Special Situations Fund beginning 12/31/02 with a theoretical investment in the Russell 2000 Index (the “Index”). The Index is an unmanaged Index that measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Index is a subset of the Russell 3000 Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. The Index includes approximately 2000 of the smallest securities in the Russell 3000 Index based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table, it is assumed that all dividend and distributions were reinvested.

* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/12.

The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Frank Russell and Company and all other figures are from First Investors Management Company, Inc.

87

 



Portfolio of Investments
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  COMMON STOCKS—96.1%    
  Consumer Discretionary—18.0%    
65,425 American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. $     1,341,867
194,375 American Greetings Corporation – Class “A”   3,282,994
88,750 * Deckers Outdoor Corporation   3,573,962
257,375 * Express, Inc.   3,883,789
46,300 Foot Locker, Inc.   1,487,156
35,875 Hillenbrand, Inc.   811,134
68,550 * Iconix Brand Group, Inc.   1,530,036
82,150 Men’s Wearhouse, Inc.   2,559,794
31,200 PVH Corporation   3,463,512
213,350 Regal Entertainment Group – Class “A”   2,976,233
20,000 * Visteon Corporation   1,076,400
157,425 * WMS Industries, Inc.   2,754,938
        28,741,815
  Consumer Staples—1.1%    
16,575 Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.   666,647
90,566 * Dole Food Company, Inc.   1,038,792
        1,705,439
  Energy—6.7%    
70,175 * Approach Resources, Inc.   1,755,077
89,100 * Denbury Resources, Inc.   1,443,420
138,962 * Matrix Service Company   1,598,063
148,850 * Midstates Petroleum Company, Inc.   1,025,577
292,675 * PetroQuest Energy, Inc.   1,448,741
83,700 * Stone Energy Corporation   1,717,524
39,100 * Whiting Petroleum Corporation   1,695,767
        10,684,169
  Financials—18.1%    
7,652 * Alleghany Corporation   2,566,634
62,200 American Financial Group, Inc.   2,458,144
277,425 Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation (REIT)   1,603,516
96,350 Aspen Insurance Holdings, Ltd.   3,090,908
350,600 Capitol Federal Financial, Inc.   4,098,514
115,950 * EZCORP, Inc. – Class “A”   2,302,767
1,700 * Markel Corporation   736,814
473,500 MFA Financial, Inc. (REIT)   3,840,085
69,450   Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (REIT)   4,496,888

 

88

 



 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  Financials (continued)    
76,925 Montpelier Re Holdings, Ltd. $     1,758,506
81,350 * PHH Corporation   1,850,712
        28,803,488
  Health Care—9.1%    
43,325 * Life Technologies Corporation   2,126,391
83,400 * Magellan Health Services, Inc.   4,086,600
45,625 * MEDNAX, Inc.   3,628,100
114,600 * Myriad Genetics, Inc.   3,122,850
48,350   PerkinElmer, Inc.   1,534,629
        14,498,570
  Industrials—9.2%    
66,700 Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.   2,802,067
64,475 EMCOR Group, Inc.   2,231,480
60,175 GATX Corporation   2,605,578
8,975 * Greenbrier Companies, Inc.   145,126
41,700 Kennametal, Inc.   1,668,000
15,450 Precision Castparts Corporation   2,926,539
33,700 Ryder System, Inc.   1,682,641
23,550 * TriMas Corporation   658,458
        14,719,889
  Information Technology—21.3%    
113,900 * Avnet, Inc.   3,486,479
274,450 * Comverse Technology, Inc.   1,053,888
27,445 * Comverse, Inc.   783,006
190,950 Convergys Corporation   3,133,489
151,625 Cypress Semiconductor Corporation   1,643,615
92,625 * Demand Media, Inc.   860,486
371,000 * Emulex Corporation   2,708,300
41,450 IAC/InterActiveCorp   1,960,585
82,775 j2 Global, Inc.   2,531,259
232,175 * Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.   2,783,778
152,650 * Microsemi Corporation   3,211,756
401,825 * QLogic Corporation   3,909,757
504,760 * TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.   2,443,038
332,800 * Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.   3,537,664
        34,047,100

 

89

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
Shares or        
Principal        
Amount   Security         Value
  Materials—11.4%      
55,400 * Allied Nevada Gold Corporation   $     1,669,202
47,200 AptarGroup, Inc.     2,252,384
136,600 * Chemtura Corporation     2,904,116
146,525 Huntsman Corporation     2,329,747
29,800 Innospec, Inc.     1,027,802
114,000 Olin Corporation     2,461,260
40,550 Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. – Class “A”     1,229,881
53,275 Sensient Technologies Corporation     1,894,459
31,175   Westlake Chemical Corporation         2,472,177
              18,241,028
  Telecommunication Services—1.2%      
199,925 * Premiere Global Services, Inc.         1,955,267
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $125,788,122)         153,396,765
  SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY    
  OBLIGATIONS—3.4%      
$  5,000M Fannie Mae, 0.115%, 2/27/2013     4,999,089
500M   Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.025%, 1/16/2013       499,995
Total Value of Short-Term U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $5,499,084) 5,499,084
Total Value of Investments (cost $131,287,206) 99.5 %   158,895,849
Other Assets, Less Liabilities .5       749,348
Net Assets     100.0 %   $159,645,197

 

Non-income producing
 
Summary of Abbreviations:
REIT Real Estate Investment Trust

 

90

 



Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
Common Stocks $ 153,396,765 $ $ $ 153,396,765
Short-Term U.S. Government            
Agency Obligations     5,499,084     5,499,084
Total Investments in Securities* $ 153,396,765 $ 5,499,084 $ $ 158,895,849

 

* The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common stocks.

There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

See notes to financial statements 91

 



Portfolio Managers’ Letter
TARGET MATURITY 2015 FUND

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Target Maturity 2015 Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 0.84%, including dividends of 65.7 cents per share and capital gains of 16.4 cents per share.

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek a predictable compounded return —consistent with preservation of capital — for the investors who hold the Fund’s shares until maturity. To meet this objective, the Fund is fully invested in high-quality zero coupon bonds that are due to mature on or around the Fund’s maturity date.

The primary factor affecting the performance of the Fund was the movement of three-year U.S. Treasury note interest rates. Because of the Federal Reserve’s commitment to keep short-term interest rates at their current very low levels through at least mid-2015, three-year Treasury rates barely moved over the course of the review period. Consequently, almost all of the Fund’s return was due to the accretion of its zero coupon holdings as they moved closer to maturity in 2015.

The Fund underperformed its benchmark, the Citigroup Treasury/Government Sponsored Index. The Fund’s duration — a measurement of interest rate risk — was less than that of the Index because the Fund is nearing its target maturity date. As a result, the Fund did not benefit from the decline in longer-term interest rates that occurred in 2012.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


* Effective December 3, 2012, Rodwell Chadehumbe became Co-Portfolio Manager of First Investors Life Target Maturity 2015 Fund.

92

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
TARGET MATURITY 2015 FUND

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (7/1/12) (12/31/12) (7/1/12–12/31/12)*
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $1,003.87 $3.68
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,021.47 $3.71

 

Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .73%, multiplied by the average account
value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid
during the period are net of expenses waived.

 

Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

93

 



Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
TARGET MATURITY 2015 FUND

Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Target Maturity 2015 Fund and the Citigroup Treasury/Government Sponsored Index.


The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Target Maturity 2015 Fund beginning 12/31/02 with a theoretical investment in the Citigroup Treasury/Government Sponsored Index (the “Index”). The Index is a market capitalization-weighted index that consists of debt issued by the U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government sponsored agencies. Every issue included in the Index is trader-priced, and the Index follows consistent and realistic availability limits, including only those securities with sufficient amounts outstanding. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.

* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/12. During the periods shown, some of the expenses of the Fund were waived or assumed. If such expenses had been paid by the Fund, the Average Annual Total Returns for One Year, Five Years and Ten Years would have been 0.69%, 5.45% and 5.38%, respectively.

The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Citigroup and all other figures are from First Investors Management Company, Inc.

94

 



Portfolio of Investments
TARGET MATURITY 2015 FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
Principal     Effective  
Amount   Security     Yield Value
  U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY ZERO COUPON  
  OBLIGATIONS—60.2%      
  Agency For International Development – Israel:    
$ 698M 9/15/2015   0.57 % $     687,411
2,234M 11/15/2015   0.59 2,196,643
  Fannie Mae:      
243M 8/12/2015   0.78 238,134
600M 9/23/2015   0.78 587,357
3,033M 11/15/2015   0.79 2,964,721
650M Federal Judiciary Office Building, 2/15/2015   1.09 635,103
  Freddie Mac:      
550M 3/15/2015   0.76 540,920
930M 9/15/2015   0.81 909,768
830M 9/15/2015   0.82 811,918
210M Government Trust Certificate – Turkey Trust, 5/15/2015 1.13 204,463
200M International Bank for Reconstruction &      
  Development, 2/15/2015   0.71 197,033
2,727M Resolution Funding Corporation, 10/15/2015   0.42 2,695,165
2,000M   Tennessee Valley Authority, 11/1/2015     0.85   1,952,680
Total Value of U.S. Government Agency Zero      
Coupon Obligations (cost $12,806,878)         14,621,316
  U.S. GOVERNMENT ZERO COUPON      
  OBLIGATIONS—39.4%      
9,660M   U.S. Treasury Strips, 11/15/2015 (cost $8,202,492)   0.29   9,579,107
Total Value of Investments (cost $21,009,370) 99.6 %   24,200,423
Other Assets, Less Liabilities .4       98,059
Net Assets     100.0 %      $24,298,482

 

†  The effective yields shown for the zero coupon obligations are the effective yields at
December 31, 2012.

 

95

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
TARGET MATURITY 2015 FUND
December 31, 2012

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
U.S. Government Agency Zero            
Coupon Obligations $ $ 14,621,316 $ $ 14,621,316
U.S. Government Zero Coupon            
Obligations     9,579,107     9,579,107
Total Investments in Securities $ $ 24,200,423 $ $ 24,200,423

 

There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

 

96 See notes to financial statements

 



Portfolio Managers’ Letter
TOTAL RETURN FUND

Dear Investor:

This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Total Return Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012. The Fund commenced operations on December 17, 2012. During the short period December 17, 2012 to December 31, 2012, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was –0.70%.

The Fund seeks high, long-term total investment return consistent with moderate investment risk, and allocates its assets among stocks, bonds and money market instruments. While the percentage of assets allocated to each asset class is flexible rather than fixed, the Fund normally invests at least 50% of its net assets in stocks and at least 35% in bonds, cash and money market instruments. At the end of the review period, the Fund was invested as follows: 56% in equities, 35% in bonds, and 9% in cash.

Thank you for placing your trust in First Investors. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.


97

 



Fund Expenses (unaudited)
TOTAL RETURN FUND

The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 2 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.

       
  Beginning Ending  
  Account Account Expenses Paid
  Value Value During Period
  (12/17/12) (12/31/12) (12/17/12–12/31/12)
Expense Examples      
Actual $1,000.00 $993.00 $6.94*
Hypothetical      
(5% annual return before expenses) $1,000.00 $939.73 $82.84**

 

Actual expenses only reflect the period from the commencement of operations to the end of the
period covered (December 17, 2012 to December 31, 2012). Therefore, expenses shown are lower
than would be expected for a six-month period. Actual expenses for the six-month period will be
reflected in future reports. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of 16.99% multiplied
by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 15/366 (to reflect the inception period).
Expenses paid during the period are net of expenses waived and/or assumed.
 
**  Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of 16.99% multiplied by the average account
value over the period, multiplied by 184/366 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid
during the period are net of expenses waived and/or assumed.

 

Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR

 


Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2012,
and are based on the total value of investments.

 

98

 



Portfolio of Investments
TOTAL RETURN FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  COMMON STOCKS—55.9%    
  Consumer Discretionary—8.4%    
150 Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. $     3,063
200 Best Buy Company, Inc.   2,370
50 * BorgWarner, Inc.   3,581
250 CBS Corporation – Class “B”   9,512
50 Coach, Inc.   2,775
300 Dana Holding Corporation   4,683
100 * Delphi Automotive, PLC   3,825
200 GNC Holdings, Inc. – Class “A”   6,656
100 Home Depot, Inc.   6,185
150 Limited Brands, Inc.   7,059
100 Lowe’s Companies, Inc.   3,552
50 McDonald’s Corporation   4,410
250 Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.   5,568
200 Pier 1 Imports, Inc.   4,000
300 Staples, Inc.   3,420
300 Stewart Enterprises, Inc – Class “A”   2,292
50 * TRW Automotive Holdings Corporation   2,681
50 Tupperware Brands Corporation   3,205
100 Walt Disney Company   4,979
100   Wyndham Worldwide Corporation   5,321
        89,137
  Consumer Staples—5.1%    
200 Altria Group, Inc.   6,284
150 Avon Products, Inc.   2,154
200 Coca-Cola Company   7,250
150 CVS Caremark Corporation   7,252
150 Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. – Class “A”   5,558
50 PepsiCo, Inc.   3,422
150 Philip Morris International, Inc.   12,546
50 Procter & Gamble Company   3,395
100   Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.   6,823
        54,684
  Energy—5.2%    
50 Anadarko Petroleum Corporation   3,715
100 Chevron Corporation   10,814
100 ConocoPhillips   5,799
50 Ensco, PLC – Class “A”   2,964
100   ExxonMobil Corporation   8,655

 

99

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
TOTAL RETURN FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  Energy (continued)    
150 Marathon Oil Corporation $     4,599
50 Marathon Petroleum Corporation   3,150
50 National Oilwell Varco, Inc.   3,418
150 Noble Corporation   5,223
50 Phillips 66   2,655
150   Suncor Energy, Inc.   4,947
        55,939
  Financials—5.2%    
100 American Express Company   5,748
100 Ameriprise Financial, Inc.   6,263
150 Brookline Bancorp, Inc.   1,275
100 Discover Financial Services   3,855
150 FirstMerit Corporation   2,128
50 Invesco, Ltd.   1,305
200 JPMorgan Chase & Company   8,794
50 M&T Bank Corporation   4,923
50 MetLife, Inc.   1,647
100 New York Community Bancorp, Inc.   1,310
100 PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.   5,831
150 * Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (REIT)   1,607
150 U.S. Bancorp   4,791
150 Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. – Class “A” (REIT)   2,952
100   Wells Fargo & Company   3,418
        55,847
  Health Care—6.7%    
150 Abbott Laboratories   9,825
50 Baxter International, Inc.   3,333
50 Covidien, PLC   2,887
100 * Express Scripts Holding Company   5,400
100 * Gilead Sciences, Inc.   7,345
150 Johnson & Johnson   10,515
50 McKesson Corporation   4,848
150 Merck & Company, Inc.   6,141
400 Pfizer, Inc.   10,032
100 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.   6,378
50 * Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.   4,300
        71,004

 

100

 



 
 
 
 
Shares   Security   Value
  Industrials—10.4%    
100 3M Company $     9,285
100 ADT Corporation   4,649
150 Altra Holdings, Inc.   3,307
100 Armstrong World Industries, Inc.   5,073
50 Caterpillar, Inc.   4,479
50 Chicago Bridge & Iron Company NV – NY Shares   2,317
50 Dun & Bradstreet Corporation   3,932
100 * Esterline Technologies Corporation   6,361
100 Gardner Denver, Inc.   6,850
100 Generac Holdings, Inc.   3,431
200 General Electric Company   4,198
100 Honeywell International, Inc.   6,347
100 IDEX Corporation   4,653
150 ITT Corporation   3,519
100 * Mobile Mini, Inc.   2,083
100 Pentair, Ltd.   4,915
50 Snap-on, Inc.   3,950
250 TAL International Group, Inc.   9,095
200 Textainer Group Holdings, Ltd.   6,292
50 Triumph Group, Inc.   3,265
150 Tyco International, Ltd.   4,388
100   United Technologies Corporation   8,201
        110,590
  Information Technology—10.3%    
25 Apple, Inc.   13,326
300 * Arris Group, Inc.   4,482
100 Avago Technologies, Ltd.   3,166
300 Cisco Systems, Inc.   5,895
50 * eBay, Inc.   2,551
300 * EMC Corporation   7,590
150 Hewlett-Packard Company   2,137
300 Intel Corporation   6,189
100 International Business Machines Corporation   19,155
250 Intersil Corporation – Class “A”   2,072
400 Microsoft Corporation   10,692
100 * NeuStar, Inc. – Class “A”   4,193
150 Oracle Corporation   4,998
100 * Parametric Technology Corporation   2,251
150   QUALCOMM, Inc.   9,303

 

101

 



Portfolio of Investments (continued)
TOTAL RETURN FUND
December 31, 2012

 
 
 
 
Shares   Security         Value
  Information Technology (continued)      
200 * Symantec Corporation   $     3,762
100 TE Connectivity, Ltd.     3,712
250 * Yahoo!, Inc.         4,975
              110,449
  Materials—3.2%      
100 Celanese Corporation – Series “A”     4,453
100 Cytec Industries, Inc.     6,883
150 Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.     5,130
200 International Paper Company     7,968
100 Lyondellbasell Industries NV – Class “A”     5,709
50   Rock-Tenn Company – Class “A”         3,496
              33,639
  Telecommunication Services—1.4%      
200 AT&T, Inc.     6,742
200   Verizon Communications, Inc.         8,654
              15,396
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $597,072)         596,685
  EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS—35.4%    
  Bond Fund      
  Financials      
4,500   Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (cost $378,153)       378,135
Total Value of Investments (cost $975,225) 91.3 %   974,820
Other Assets, Less Liabilities 8.7       92,548
Net Assets     100.0 %   $1,067,368

 

Non-income producing
 
Summary of Abbreviations:
ETF Exchange Traded Fund
REIT Real Estate Investment Trust

 

102

 



Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012:

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
Common Stocks $ 596,685 $ $ $ 596,685
Exchange Traded Funds   378,135       378,135
Total Investments in Securities* $ 974,820 $ $ $ 974,820

 

* The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common stocks and exchange traded funds.

There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting year.

See notes to financial statements 103

 


Statements of Assets and Liabilities
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2012

   
    CASH   EQUITY     FUND FOR           GROWTH &        
    MANAGEMENT      INCOME       INCOME      GOVERNMENT      INCOME      INTERNATIONAL  
Assets                                  
Investments in securities:                                  
At identified cost $ 11,973,336 $ 61,405,686   $ 77,047,945   $ 30,314,141   $ 260,010,150   $ 85,446,914  
   
At value (Note 1A) $ 11,973,336 $ 73,416,871   $ 80,541,514   $ 31,287,755   $ 356,458,340   $ 120,488,941  
Cash   359,293   1,285,129     2,656,065     1,725,488     1,235,903     1,256,079  
Receivables:                                  
Investment securities sold     1,052,834     2,297              
Interest and dividends   826   106,480     1,226,504     131,507     305,958     117,027  
Trust shares sold   66,820   199,841     90,690     94,469     180,246     122,102  
Other assets   578   4,268     4,625     1,784     19,639     6,932  
   
Total Assets   12,400,853   76,065,423     84,521,695     33,241,003     358,200,086     121,991,081  
   
Liabilities                                  
Payables:                                  
Investment securities purchased     1,609,431         1,051,396     634,328     26,099  
Trust shares redeemed   864,558   16,946     52,878     13,680     75,681     34,528  
Accrued advisory fees     46,990     53,315     16,201     222,889     77,434  
Accrued expenses   11,721   31,586     21,487     14,260     30,687     67,609  
   
Total Liabilities   876,279   1,704,953     127,680     1,095,537     963,585     205,670  
   
Net Assets $ 11,524,574 $ 74,360,470   $ 84,394,015   $ 32,145,466   $ 357,236,501   $ 121,785,411  
   
Net Assets Consist of:                                  
Capital paid in $ 11,524,574 $ 61,896,599   $ 98,301,226   $ 30,819,890   $ 274,374,443   $ 105,960,063  
Undistributed net investment income     1,722,322     4,812,094     821,463     6,511,086     1,658,461  
Accumulated net realized loss on investments     (1,269,636 )   (22,212,874 )   (469,501 )   (20,097,218 )   (20,875,816 )
Net unrealized appreciation in value of investments     12,011,185     3,493,569     973,614     96,448,190     35,042,703  
   
Total $ 11,524,574 $ 74,360,470   $ 84,394,015   $ 32,145,466   $ 357,236,501   $ 121,785,411  
   
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (Note 2)   11,524,574   4,546,455     12,385,086     3,084,493     10,800,796     6,222,044  
   
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share —                                  
(Net assets divided by shares outstanding) $ 1.00 $ 16.36   $ 6.81   $ 10.42   $ 33.08   $ 19.57  

 

104 See notes to financial statements 105

 



Statements of Assets and Liabilities
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2012

   
    INVESTMENT         SELECT     SPECIAL   TARGET   TOTAL  
    GRADE     OPPORTUNITY   GROWTH     SITUATIONS   MATURITY 2015   RETURN  
Assets                              
Investments in securities:                              
At identified cost $ 50,111,490   $ 998,009 $ 18,699,138   $ 131,287,206 $ 21,009,370 $ 975,225  
   
At value (Note 1A) $ 55,573,741   $ 1,008,915 $ 23,389,330   $ 158,895,849 $ 24,200,423 $ 974,820  
   
Cash   1,251,039     24,856   960,323     553,115   112,799   403,330  
Receivables:                              
Investment securities sold             162,201      
Interest and dividends   662,558     469   18,611     171,386     297  
Trust shares sold   159,976     1,281   55,899     102,222   37,318   73,647  
Other assets   2,828       795     8,610   1,796    
   
Total Assets   57,650,142     1,035,521   24,424,958     159,893,383   24,352,336   1,452,094  
   
Liabilities                              
Payables:                              
Investment securities purchased   116,861           65,899     378,153  
Trust shares redeemed   24,257       20,397     58,638   27,383    
Accrued advisory fees   28,938     292   15,399     100,090   12,343   290  
Accrued expenses   15,302     6,283   13,388     23,559   14,128   6,283  
   
Total Liabilities   185,358     6,575   49,184     248,186   53,854   384,726  
   
Net Assets $ 57,464,784    $ 1,028,946 $ 24,375,774   $ 159,645,197 $ 24,298,482 $ 1,067,368  
   
Net Assets Consist of:                              
Capital paid in $ 53,328,995   $ 1,018,040 $ 22,400,138   $ 123,125,108 $ 19,772,667 $ 1,068,941  
Undistributed net investment income   1,742,316       134,082     1,691,846   1,016,088    
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments                              
and foreign currency transactions   (3,068,778 )     (2,848,638 )   7,219,600   318,674   (1,168 )
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in value of                              
investments and foreign currency transactions   5,462,251     10,906   4,690,192     27,608,643   3,191,053   (405 )
   
Total $ 57,464,784   $ 1,028,946 $ 24,375,774   $ 159,645,197 $ 24,298,482 $ 1,067,368  
   
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (Note 2)   4,966,895     102,305   2,543,826     5,056,994   1,559,230   107,514  
   
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share —                              
(Net assets divided by shares outstanding) $ 11.57   $ 10.06 $ 9.58   $ 31.57 $ 15.58 $ 9.93  

 

106 See notes to financial statements 107

 



Statements of Operations
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
Year Ended December 31, 2012

   
    CASH     EQUITY     FUND FOR           GROWTH &        
    MANAGEMENT     INCOME     INCOME   GOVERNMENT     INCOME   INTERNATIONAL  
Investment Income                                    
Income:                                    
Interest $ 12,774   $ 1,357   $ 5,552,756   $ 857,200   $ 399   $ 137  
Dividends       2,350,630 (a)           9,286,332 (b)   2,827,820 (c)
 
Total income   12,774     2,351,987     5,552,756     857,200     9,286,731     2,827,957  
 
Expenses (Notes 1 and 4):                                    
Advisory fees   78,986     545,435     596,116     225,707     2,586,621     860,265  
Professional fees   12,196     44,972     21,130     12,929     72,148     26,548  
Custodian fees and expenses   4,003     6,969     14,663     9,610     16,992     126,806  
Reports and notices to shareholders   3,550     10,500     12,150     4,825     37,008     14,500  
Registration fees   1,350     1,301     1,406     1,300     1,349     1,301  
Trustees’ fees   576     3,865     4,208     1,596     18,860     6,075  
Other expenses   4,307     16,954     48,531     14,202     44,294     41,740  
 
Total expenses   104,968     629,996     698,204     270,169     2,777,272     1,077,235  
Less: Expenses waived and/or assumed   (91,996 )           (45,141 )        
Expenses paid indirectly   (198 )   (362 )   (323 )   (122 )   (1,735 )   (571 )
 
Net expenses   12,774     629,634     697,881     224,906     2,775,537     1,076,664  
 
Net investment income       1,722,353     4,854,875     632,294     6,511,194     1,751,293  
 
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments                                    
and Foreign Currency Transactions (Note 3):                                    
Net realized gain (loss) on:                                    
Investments       2,596,405     1,987,179     128,376     12,684,018     11,133,896  
Foreign currency transactions                       (93,095 )
 
Net realized gain on investments and                                    
foreign currency transactions       2,596,405     1,987,179     128,376     12,684,018     11,040,801  
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of                                    
Investments       3,298,775     3,252,443     (169,676 )   35,740,929     8,782,115  
Foreign currency transactions                       3,032  
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on                                    
investments and foreign currency transactions       3,298,775     3,252,443     (169,676 )   35,740,929     8,785,147  
Net gain (loss) on investments and foreign                                    
currency transactions       5,895,180     5,239,622     (41,300 )   48,424,947     19,825,948  
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting                                    
from Operations $   $ 7,617,533   $ 10,094,497   $ 590,994   $ 54,936,141   $ 21,577,241  

 

(a) Net of $16,662 foreign taxes withheld
(b) Net of $40,703 foreign taxes withheld
(c) Net of $232,993 foreign taxes withheld

 

108 See notes to financial statements 109

 



Statements of Operations
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
Year Ended December 31, 2012

   
    INVESTMENT           SELECT     SPECIAL     TARGET     TOTAL  
    GRADE     OPPORTUNITY*     GROWTH     SITUATIONS     MATURITY 2015     RETURN*  
Investment Income                                    
Income:                                    
Interest $ 2,307,175   $   $   $ 5,489   $ 1,200,486   $ 58  
Dividends       1,394 (d)   327,087     2,967,555         775  
 
Total income   2,307,175     1,394     327,087     2,973,044     1,200,486     833  
 
Expenses (Notes 1 and 4):                                    
Advisory fees   390,313     292     165,687     1,186,963     190,580     290  
Professional fees   15,582     5,210     11,656     32,579     12,989     5,210  
Custodian fees and expenses   8,657     467     2,562     7,911     3,453     467  
Reports and notices to shareholders   7,900     23     4,100     19,899     4,400     23  
Registration fees   1,301     47     1,196     1,456     1,196     47  
Trustees’ fees   2,744         1,152     8,418     1,368      
Other expenses   17,433     536     6,751     24,729     8,616     536  
 
Total expenses   443,930     6,575     193,104     1,281,955     222,602     6,573  
Less: Expenses waived   (78,062 )               (38,116 )    
Expenses paid indirectly   (212 )       (110 )   (787 )   (103 )    
 
Net expenses   365,656     6,575     192,994     1,281,168     184,383     6,573  
 
Net investment income (loss)   1,941,519     (5,181 )   134,093     1,691,876     1,016,103     (5,740 )
 
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments                                    
(Note 3):                                    
Net realized gain (loss) on investments   1,033,660         416,200     7,699,139     332,440     (507 )
 
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments   2,457,373     10,906     1,945,866     5,480,027     (1,133,929 )   (405 )
 
Net gain (loss) on investments   3,491,033     10,906     2,362,066     13,179,166     (801,489 )   (912 )
 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting                                    
from Operations $ 5,432,552   $ 5,725   $ 2,496,159   $ 14,871,042   $ 214,614   $ (6,652 )

 

*  From December 17, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012.
(d) Net of $13 foreign taxes withheld

 

110 See notes to financial statements 111

 



Statements of Changes in Net Assets
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS

   
    CASH MANAGEMENT     EQUITY INCOME     FUND FOR INCOME     GOVERNMENT  
Year Ended December 31   2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011  
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations                                                
Net investment income $   $   $ 1,722,353   $ 1,353,420   $ 4,854,875   $ 4,849,380   $ 632,294   $ 742,203  
Net realized gain on investments           2,596,405     1,526,763     1,987,179     1,754,843     128,376     187,200  
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)                                                
of investments           3,298,775     (1,786,349 )   3,252,443     (2,638,654 )   (169,676 )   523,119  
 
Net increase in net assets resulting                                                
from operations           7,617,533     1,093,834     10,094,497     3,965,569     590,994     1,452,522  
 
Dividends to Shareholders                                                
Net investment income           (1,353,452 )   (1,450,240 )   (5,098,995 )   (5,160,095 )   (863,206 )   (941,760 )
 
Trust Share Transactions *                                                
Proceeds from shares sold   22,717,335     19,090,967     4,046,518     3,050,864     5,820,019     4,622,171     5,659,459     3,093,518  
Reinvestment of dividends           1,353,452     1,450,240     5,098,995     5,160,095     863,206     941,760  
Cost of shares redeemed   (23,616,279 )   (19,006,323 )   (6,328,801 )   (6,072,655 )   (5,739,644 )   (5,024,156 )   (2,655,218 )   (3,715,216 )
 
Net increase (decrease) from trust share transactions   (898,944 )   84,644     (928,831 )   (1,571,551 )   5,179,370     4,758,110     3,867,447     320,062  
 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets   (898,944 )   84,644     5,335,250     (1,927,957 )   10,174,872     3,563,584     3,595,235     830,824  
 
Net Assets                                                
Beginning of year   12,423,518     12,338,874     69,025,220     70,953,177     74,219,143     70,655,559     28,550,231     27,719,407  
 
End of year † $ 11,524,574   $ 12,423,518   $ 74,360,470   $ 69,025,220   $ 84,394,015   $ 74,219,143   $ 32,145,466   $ 28,550,231  
 
†Includes undistributed net investment income of $   $   $ 1,722,322   $ 1,353,421   $ 4,812,094   $ 4,885,090   $ 821,463   $ 863,187  
 
*Trust Shares Issued and Redeemed                                                
Sold   22,717,335     19,090,967     256,064     206,479     891,423     727,521     544,276     299,693  
Issued for dividends reinvested           86,372     93,685     809,364     822,982     84,297     94,082  
Redeemed   (23,616,279 )   (19,006,323 )   (401,229 )   (407,406 )   (882,225 )   (793,138 )   (255,947 )   (360,711 )
 
Net increase (decrease) in trust shares outstanding   (898,944 )   84,644     (58,793 )   (107,242 )   818,562     757,365     372,626     33,064  

 

112 See notes to financial statements 113

 



Statements of Changes in Net Assets
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS

   
    GROWTH & INCOME     INTERNATIONAL     INVESTMENT GRADE   OPPORTUNITY  
Year Ended December 31   2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011     2012 **
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations                                          
Net investment income (loss) $ 6,511,194   $ 3,252,549   $ 1,751,293   $ 2,458,163   $ 1,941,519   $ 1,860,511   $ (5,181 )
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign                                          
currency transactions   12,684,018     (1,087,059 )   11,040,801     334,514     1,033,660     460,960      
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments                                          
and foreign currency transactions   35,740,929     2,777,781     8,785,147     (2,120,866 )   2,457,373     393,923     10,906  
 
Net increase in net assets resulting                                          
from operations   54,936,141     4,943,271     21,577,241     671,811     5,432,552     2,715,394     5,725  
 
Dividends to Shareholders                                          
Net investment income   (4,893,388 )   (3,610,453 )   (1,731,413 )   (2,350,061 )   (2,108,865 )   (2,081,740 )    
 
Trust Share Transactions *                                          
Proceeds from shares sold   6,558,564     4,407,456     2,944,238     3,039,700     8,746,998     5,741,661     1,023,221  
Value of shares issued for acquisition***       117,568,238                      
Reinvestment of dividends   4,893,388     3,610,453     1,731,413     2,350,061     2,108,865     2,081,740      
Cost of shares redeemed   (25,063,569 )   (13,413,938 )   (8,402,525 )   (6,592,964 )   (3,666,506 )   (4,328,690 )    
 
Net increase (decrease) from trust share transactions   (13,611,617 )   112,172,209     (3,726,874 )   (1,203,203 )   7,189,357     3,494,711     1,023,221  
 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets   36,431,136     113,505,027     16,118,954     (2,881,453 )   10,513,044     4,128,365     1,028,946  
 
Net Assets                                          
Beginning of year   320,805,365     207,300,338     105,666,457     108,547,910     46,951,740     42,823,375      
 
End of year † $ 357,236,501   $ 320,805,365   $ 121,785,411   $ 105,666,457   $ 57,464,784   $ 46,951,740   $ 1,028,946  
 
†Includes undistributed net investment income of $ 6,511,086   $ 4,893,280   $ 1,658,461   $ 1,731,352   $ 1,742,316   $ 1,731,388   $  
 
*Trust Shares Issued and Redeemed                                          
Sold   208,180     154,857     162,937     181,946     779,078     537,386     102,305  
Issued for acquisition***       4,117,061                      
Issued for dividends reinvested   156,288     122,264     97,107     144,619     195,446     201,329      
Redeemed   (796,099 )   (468,691 )   (464,973 )   (398,041 )   (329,679 )   (405,249 )    
 
Net increase (decrease) in trust shares outstanding   (431,631 )   3,925,491     (204,929 )   (71,476 )   644,845     333,466     102,305  

 

**From December 17, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012.
***See Note 10

 

114 See notes to financial statements 115

 



Statements of Changes in Net Assets
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS

 
    SELECT GROWTH     SPECIAL SITUATIONS     TARGET MATURITY 2015   TOTAL RETURN  
Year Ended December 31   2012     2011     2012     2011     2012     2011     2012 **
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations                                          
Net investment income (deficit) $ 134,093   $ 12,004   $ 1,691,876   $ 932,450   $ 1,016,103   $ 1,049,168   $ (5,740 )
Net realized gain (loss) on investments   416,200     1,073,811     7,699,139     16,714,011     332,440     261,798     (507 )
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)                                          
of investments   1,945,866     (363,301 )   5,480,027     (14,223,874 )   (1,133,929 )   550,646     (405 )
 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting                                          
from operations   2,496,159     722,514     14,871,042     3,422,587     214,614     1,861,612     (6,652 )
 
Distributions to Shareholders                                          
Net investment income   (12,001 )   (22,822 )   (932,467 )   (777,234 )   (1,049,176 )   (1,064,158 )    
Net realized gains           (15,843,166 )       (261,791 )   (375,599 )    
 
Total distributions   (12,001 )   (22,822 )   (16,775,633 )   (777,234 )   (1,310,967 )   (1,439,757 )    
 
Trust Share Transactions*                                          
Proceeds from shares sold   4,809,095     4,173,308     4,401,985     3,766,864     934,426     1,139,303     1,074,020  
Reinvestment of distributions   12,001     22,822     16,775,633     777,234     1,310,967     1,439,757      
Cost of shares redeemed   (985,335 )   (713,416 )   (9,904,431 )   (8,807,286 )   (3,342,303 )   (4,478,784 )    
 
Net increase (decrease) from trust share transactions   3,835,761     3,482,714     11,273,187     (4,263,188 )   (1,096,910 )   (1,899,724 )   1,074,020  
 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets   6,319,919     4,182,406     9,368,596     (1,617,835 )   (2,193,263 )   (1,477,869 )   1,067,368  
 
Net Assets                                          
Beginning of year   18,055,855     13,873,449     150,276,601     151,894,436     26,491,745     27,969,614      
 
End of year † $ 24,375,774   $ 18,055,855   $ 159,645,197   $ 150,276,601   $ 24,298,482   $ 26,491,745   $ 1,067,368  
 
†Includes undistributed net investment income of $ 134,082   $ 11,990   $ 1,691,846   $ 932,437   $ 1,016,088   $ 1,049,153   $  
 
*Trust Shares Issued and Redeemed                                          
Sold   513,581     492,470     140,935     117,185     58,817     71,562     107,514  
Issued for distributions reinvested   1,282     2,660     527,370     23,326     84,688     94,659      
Redeemed   (105,429 )   (84,770 )   (315,816 )   (274,625 )   (212,093 )   (283,849 )    
 
Net increase (decrease) in trust shares outstanding   409,434     410,360     352,489     (134,114 )   (68,588 )   (117,628 )   107,514  

 

** From December 17, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012.

 

116 See notes to financial statements 117

 


Notes to Financial Statements
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2012

1. Significant Accounting Policies—First Investors Life Series Funds, a Delaware statutory trust (“the Trust”), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end management investment company. The Trust operates as a series fund, issuing shares of beneficial interest in the Cash Management Fund, Equity Income Fund (formerly Value Fund), Fund For Income (formerly High Yield Fund), Government Fund, Growth & Income Fund, International Fund, Investment Grade Fund, Opportunity Fund, Select Growth Fund, Special Situations Fund (formerly Discovery Fund), Target Maturity 2015 Fund and Total Return Fund (each a “Fund”, collectively, “the Funds”), and accounts separately for the assets, liabilities and operations of each Fund. The objective of each Fund as of December 31, 2012 is as follows:

Cash Management Fund seeks to earn a high rate of current income consistent with the preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity.

Equity Income Fund seeks total return.

Fund For Income seeks high current income.

Government Fund seeks to achieve a significant level of current income which is consistent with security and liquidity of principal.

Growth & Income Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and current income.

International Fund primarily seeks long-term capital growth.

Investment Grade Fund seeks to generate a maximum level of income consistent with investment in investment grade debt securities.

Opportunity Fund seeks long-term capital growth.

Select Growth Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

Special Situations Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

Target Maturity 2015 Fund seeks a predictable compounded investment return for investors who hold their Fund shares until the Fund’s maturity, consistent with the preservation of capital.

Total Return Fund seeks high, long-term total investment return consistent with moderate investment risk.

A. Security Valuation—Except as provided below, a security listed or traded on an exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market is valued at its last sale price on the exchange or market where the security is principally traded, and lacking any sales, the security is valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Securities traded

118

 



in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market (including securities listed on exchanges whose primary market is believed to be OTC) are valued at the mean between the last bid and asked prices based on quotes furnished by a market maker for such securities. Securities may also be priced by pricing services approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (“the Board”). The pricing services consider security type, rating, market condition and yield data as well as market quotations, prices provided by market makers and other available information in determining value. Short-term debt securities that mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost.

The Funds monitor for significant events occurring prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange that could have a material impact on the value of any securities that are held by the Funds. Examples of such events include trading halts, natural disasters, political events and issuer-specific developments. If First Investors Management Company, Inc.’s (“FIMCO”) Valuation Committee decides that such events warrant using fair value estimates, it will take such events into consideration in determining the fair values of such securities. If market quotations or prices are not readily available or determined to be unreliable, the securities will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board. The Funds also use a pricing service to fair value foreign equity securities in the event that fluctuations in U.S. securities markets exceed a predetermined level or if a foreign market is closed. For valuation purposes, where applicable, quotations of foreign securities in foreign currency are translated to U.S. dollar equivalents using the foreign exchange quotation in effect. As of December 31, 2012, the Fund For Income Fund held three securities that were fair valued by FIMCO’s Valuation Committee with an aggregate value of $375 representing 0% of the Fund’s net assets and the International Fund held one security that was fair valued by FIMCO’s Valuation Committee with a value of $16,371 representing 0% of the Fund’s net assets. At December 31, 2012, fair value estimates were used for certain foreign securities in the International Fund.

The Cash Management Fund values its portfolio securities in accordance with the amortized cost method of valuation under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. Amortized cost is an approximation of market value of an instrument, whereby the difference between its acquisition cost and market value at maturity is amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining life of the instrument. The effect of changes in the market value of a security as a result of fluctuating interest rates is not taken into account and thus the amortized cost method of valuation may result in the value of a security being higher or lower than its actual market value.

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”), investments held by the Funds are

119

 



Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2012

carried at “fair value”. As defined by ASC 820, fair value is the price that a fund would receive upon selling an investment in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment under current market conditions. Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Funds’ investments.

In addition to defining fair value, ASC 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

Equity securities traded on an exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy to the extent that they are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied. Foreign securities that are fair valued in the event that fluctuations in U.S. securities markets exceed a predetermined level or if a foreign market is closed are categorized in Level 2. Corporate and municipal bonds, asset backed, U.S. Government and U.S. Government Agency securities and Loan Participations are categorized in Level 2 to the extent that the inputs are observable and timely, otherwise they would be categorized as Level 3. Short-term notes that are valued at amortized cost are categorized in Level 2. Foreign exchange contracts that are considered derivative instruments and are valued at the net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on the instruments are categorized in Level 2. Restricted securities and securities that are fair valued by FIMCO’s Valuation Committee may be categorized in either Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy depending on the relative significance of valuation inputs.

The aggregate value by input level, as of December 31, 2012, for each Fund’s investments is included at the end of each Fund’s portfolio of investments.

120

 



B. Federal Income Tax—No provision has been made for federal income taxes on net income or capital gains since it is the policy of each Fund to continue to comply with the special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to investment companies, and to make sufficient distributions of income and capital gains (in excess of any available capital loss carryovers), to relieve each Fund from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. At December 31, 2012, capital loss carryovers were as follows:

  Year Capital Loss Carryovers Expire   Not Subject to Expiration
Fund   Total   2013   2014   2015   2016   2017   2018   Long Term  Short Term
Equity Income $ 1,238,569 $ $ $ $ 106,976 $ 1,131,593 $ $ $
Fund For Income*   22,211,374   635,915   1,944,836 433,726   3,694,844 15,502,053      
Government   469,501   193,688   177,059   37,942       60,812
Growth & Income**   18,461,897         6,158,650 8,039,673   4,263,574    
International   20,303,269         10,881,287 8,389,229   1,032,753    
Investment Grade   3,068,778         1,923,677 1,145,101      
Select Growth   2,848,145         1,345,614 1,502,531      

*Due to a tax free reorganization on November 16, 2007 with the Special Bond Fund that was approved by the Life Series Funds’ Board of Trustees, the Fund will have available for utilization $427,333 in capital loss carryovers that will become available for the taxable year 2013 and will expire in 2014.

**Due to a tax free reorganization on December 9, 2011 with the Blue Chip Fund that was approved by the Life Series Funds’ Board of Trustees, the Fund will have available for utilization $1,487,287 in capital loss carryovers that will become available for the taxable year 2013 and will expire in 2017 (see Note 10).

As a result of the passage of the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“the Modernization Act of 2010”), losses incurred in this fiscal year and beyond retain their character as short-term or long-term, have no expiration date and are utilized prior to capital loss carryovers occurring prior to the enactment of the Modernization Act of 2010.

The Funds recognize the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions, and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions taken on returns filed for open tax years 2009–2011, or expected to be taken in the Funds’ 2012 tax returns. The Funds identify their major tax jurisdictions as U.S. Federal, New York State, New York City and foreign jurisdictions where the Funds make significant investments; however, the Funds are not aware of any tax position for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next twelve months.

121

 



Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2012

C. Foreign Currency Translations and Transactions—The accounting records of the International Fund (the “Fund”) are maintained in U.S. dollars. Portfolio securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the date of valuation. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend income and certain expenses are translated to U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions.

The Fund does not isolate that portion of gains and losses on investments which is due to changes in foreign exchange rates from that which is due to changes in market prices of the investments. These changes are included with the net realized and unrealized gains and losses from investments.

The Fund may enter into spot currency transactions in connection with the settlement of transactions in securities traded in foreign currency to manage exposure to foreign exchange risk between the trade date and the settlement date of such transactions. The Fund could be exposed to risk if counter parties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts or if the value of the foreign currency changes unfavorably. Net realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions include gains and losses from the sales of spot currency transactions and gains and losses on accrued foreign dividends and related withholding taxes.

D. Distributions to Shareholders—Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized capital gains are generally declared and paid annually on all Funds, except for the Cash Management Fund which declares dividends, if any, from the total of net investment income (plus or minus all realized short-term gains and losses on investments) daily and pays monthly. Dividends from net investment income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments for capital loss carryforwards, deferral of wash sale losses, late loss deferrals, post-October capital losses, net operating losses and foreign currency transactions.

E. Expense Allocation—Expenses directly charged or attributable to a Fund are paid from the assets of that Fund. General expenses of the Trust are allocated among and charged to the assets of each Fund on a fair and equitable basis, which may be based on the relative assets of each Fund or the nature of the services performed and relative applicability to each Fund.

F. Use of Estimates—The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires

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management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

G. Other—Security transactions are generally accounted for on the first business day following the date the securities are purchased or sold, except for financial reporting purposes which is trade date. Investments in securities issued on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis are generally reflected in the assets of the Funds and the Funds segregate assets for these transactions on the first business day following the date the securities are purchased. Cost is determined and gains and losses are based on the identified cost basis for securities for both financial statement and federal income tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign dividends, as soon as the Fund becomes aware of the dividends. Interest income and estimated expenses are accrued daily. Bond premiums and discounts are accreted or amortized using the interest method. Interest income on zero coupon bonds and step bonds is accrued daily at the effective interest rate. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates. The Bank of New York Mellon, custodian for the Cash Management, Fund For Income, Government, Investment Grade and Target Maturity 2015 Funds, may provide credits against custodian charges based on uninvested cash balances of the Funds. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the Funds did not receive any credits. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. serves as custodian for the Equity Income, Growth & Income, International, Opportunity, Select Growth, Special Situations and Total Return Funds. The Funds reduced expenses through brokerage service arrangements. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the Funds’ expenses were reduced by $4,523 under these arrangements.

2. Trust Shares—The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest without par value. The Trust consists of the Funds listed on the cover page, each of which is a separate and distinct series of the Trust. Shares in the Funds are acquired through the purchase of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts sold by First Investors Life Insurance Company.

3. Security Transactions—For the year ended December 31, 2012, purchases and sales (including paydowns on Government Fund) of securities and long-term U.S. Government obligations (excluding short-term U.S. Government obligations, foreign currencies and short-term securities), were as follows:

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Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2012

            Long-Term U.S.
    Securities   Government Obligations
    Cost of   Proceeds   Cost of   Proceeds
Fund   Purchases   of Sales   Purchases   of Sales
Equity Income $27,002,067 $27,146,037 $              $              
Fund For Income   50,906,480   46,428,334    
Government   8,210,476   6,642,242   8,826,516   6,974,193
Growth & Income   72,961,012   81,188,916    
International   46,619,917   51,445,295    
Investment Grade   21,435,547   14,440,696    
Opportunity   998,009      
Select Growth   15,068,771   11,083,605    
Special Situations   91,120,407   92,298,985    
Target Maturity 2015     2,639,742    
Total Return   1,603,475   627,752    

At December 31, 2012, aggregate cost and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of securities for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

                Net
        Gross   Gross   Unrealized
    Aggregate   Unrealized   Unrealized   Appreciation
Fund   Cost   Appreciation   Depreciation (Depreciation)
Equity Income 61,436,752 13,512,697 1,532,579 $11,980,118
Fund For Income   77,404,723   4,428,010   1,291,219   3,136,791
Government   30,314,141   1,052,750   79,136   973,614
Growth & Income   261,645,470   105,347,645   10,534,776   94,812,869
International   86,019,461   36,097,020   1,627,541   34,469,479
Investment Grade   50,616,289   5,017,145   59,693   4,957,452
Opportunity   998,009   20,139   9,233   10,906
Select Growth   18,699,631   4,939,391   249,692   4,689,699
Special Situations   131,916,557   31,541,972   4,562,680   26,979,292
Target Maturity 2015   21,015,972   3,184,451     3,184,451
Total Return   976,393   7,158   8,731   (1,573)

4. Advisory Fee and Other Transactions With Affiliates—Certain officers and trustees of the Trust are officers and trustees of the Trusts’ investment adviser, FIMCO and its transfer agent, Administrative Data Management Corp. (“ADM”). Trustees of the Trust who are not officers or directors of FIMCO or its affiliates are remunerated by the Funds. For the year ended December 31, 2012, total trustee fees accrued by the Funds amounted to $48,862.

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The Investment Advisory Agreement provides as compensation to FIMCO for each Fund, an annual fee, payable monthly, at the rate of .75% on the first $250 million of each Fund’s average daily net assets, .72% on the next $250 million, .69% on the next $250 million, .66% on the next $500 million, declining by .02% on each $500 million thereafter, down to .60% on average daily net assets over $2.25 billion. For the year ended December 31, 2012, FIMCO has voluntarily waived $45,141 in advisory fees on Government Fund, $78,062 in advisory fees on Investment Grade Fund and $38,116 in advisory fees on Target Maturity 2015 Fund. During the year ended December 31, 2012, FIMCO has voluntarily waived $41,600 in advisory fees to limit the Cash Management Fund’s over all expense ratio to .60%. Also, FIMCO has voluntarily waived an additional $37,386 in advisory fees and assumed $13,010 of other Fund expenses to prevent a negative yield on the Fund’s shares. For the year ended December 31, 2012, total advisory fees accrued to FIMCO were $6,827,255 of which $240,305 was voluntarily waived by FIMCO as noted above.

Muzinich & Co., Inc. serves as investment subadviser to the Fund For Income, Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. serves as investment subadviser to the International Fund, Smith Asset Management Group, L.P. serves as investment subadviser to the Select Growth Fund, and Paradigm Capital Management, Inc. serves as investment subadviser to the Special Situations Fund. The subadvisers are paid by FIMCO and not by the Funds.

5. Restricted Securities—Certain restricted securities are exempt from the registration requirements under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 and may only be sold to qualified institutional investors. Unless otherwise noted, 144A securities are deemed to be liquid. At December 31, 2012, the Fund For Income held ninety-seven 144A securities with an aggregate value of $29,988,567 representing 35.5% of the Fund’s net assets, the Government Fund held one 144A security with a value of $462,697 representing 1.4% of the Fund’s net assets, and the Investment Grade Fund held twenty-seven 144A securities with an aggregate value of $10,089,125 representing 17.6% of the Fund’s net assets. Certain restricted securities are exempt from the registration requirements under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and may only be sold to qualified investors. Unless otherwise noted, these Section 4(2) securities are deemed to be liquid. At December 31, 2012, the Cash Management Fund held four Section 4(2) securities with an aggregate value of $1,599,689 representing 13.9% of the Fund’s net assets. These securities are valued as set forth in Note 1A.

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Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2012

6. High Yield Credit Risk—The investments of Fund For Income in high yield securities, whether rated or unrated, may be considered speculative and subject to greater market fluctuations and risks of loss of income and principal than lower-yielding, higher-rated, fixed-income securities. The risk of loss due to default by the issuer may be significantly greater for the holders of high-yielding securities, because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors of the issuer.

7. Tax Components of Capital and Distributions to Shareholders—The tax character of distributions declared for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

    Distributions       Distributions    
    Declared in 2012       Declared in 2011    
    Ordinary Long-Term       Ordinary Long-Term    
Fund   Income  Capital Gain   Total   Income  Capital Gain   Total
Equity Income $1,353,452 $               1,353,452 $1,450,240 $           $1,450,240
Fund For Income   5,098,995   5,098,995   5,160,095     5,160,095
Government   863,206   863,206   941,760     941,760
Growth & Income   4,893,388   4,893,388   3,610,453     3,610,453
International   1,731,413   1,731,413   2,350,061     2,350,061
Investment Grade   2,108,865   2,108,865   2,081,740     2,081,740
Select Growth   12,001   12,001   22,822     22,822
Special Situations   4,679,567 12,096,066   16,775,633   777,234     777,234
Target Maturity 2015   1,049,169 261,798   1,310,967   1,064,158 375,599   1,439,757

 

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As of December 31, 2012, the components of distributable earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

                              Total  
    Undistributed   Accumulated   Capital     Other     Unrealized      Distributable  
    Ordinary   Capital   Loss     Accumulated     Appreciation     Earnings  
Fund   Income   Gains   Carryover     Losses *      (Depreciation )    (Deficit) ** 
Equity Income $1,722,322 $            (1,238,569 ) $                 $11,980,118   $12,463,871  
Fund For Income   5,167,372     (21,784,041 )   (427,333 )   3,136,791     (13,907,211 )
Government   821,463     (469,501 )       973,614     1,325,576  
Growth & Income   6,511,086     (16,974,610 )   (1,487,287 )   94,812,869     82,862,058  
International   1,658,461     (20,303,269 )       34,470,156     15,825,348  
Investment Grade   2,247,115     (3,068,778 )       4,957,452     4,135,789  
Opportunity               10,906     10,906  
Select Growth   134,082     (2,848,145 )       4,689,699     1,975,636  
Special Situations   3,382,568   6,158,229           26,979,292     36,520,089  
Target Maturity 2015   1,016,088   325,276           3,184,451     4,525,815  
Total Return               (1,573 )   (1,573 )

*Other accumulated losses consist of capital loss carryovers that cannot yet be utilized.

**Differences between book distributable earnings and tax distributable earnings consist primarily of wash sales, foreign currency transactions and amortization of bond premiums.

For the year ended December 31, 2012, the following reclassifications were made to reflect permanent differences between book and tax reporting which are primarily due to the differences between book and tax treatment of investments in real estate trusts, bond premium amortization, foreign currency transactions, paydowns on securities and expiration of capital loss carryovers.

                Accumulated  
    Capital     Undistributed     Capital  
Fund   Paid In     Ordinary Income     Gains (Losses)  
Fund For Income $        $171,123   $(171,123 )
Government   (51,149 )   189,188     (138,039 )
International       (92,771 )   92,771  
Investment Grade       178,275     (178,275 )
Opportunity   (5,181 )   5,181      
Target Maturity 2015 .       8     (8 )
Total Return   (5,079 )   5,740     (661 )

 

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Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2012

8. New Accounting Pronouncements—In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (“ASU 2011-11”). ASU 2011-11 relates to disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. The amendments in ASU 2011-11 require an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. The ASU 2011-11 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The guidance requires retrospective application for all comparative periods presented. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of ASU 2011-11 and its impact on the financial statements.

9. Subsequent Events—Subsequent events occurring after December 31, 2012 have been evaluated for potential impact to this report through the date the financial statements were issued. There were no subsequent events to report that would have a material impact on the Funds’ financial statements.

10. Reorganization of Blue Chip Fund into Growth & Income Fund—On December 9, 2011, the Growth & Income Fund acquired all of the net assets of the Blue Chip Fund in connection with a tax-free reorganization that was approved by the Life Series Funds’ Board of Trustees. The Growth & Income Fund issued 4,117,061 shares to the Blue Chip Fund in connection with the reorganization. In return, it received net assets of $117,568,238 from the Blue Chip Fund (which included $30,313,013 of unrealized appreciation and $9,290,761 of accumulated net realized losses). The Growth & Income Fund’s shares were issued at their current net asset values as of the date of the reorganization. The aggregate net assets of the Growth & Income Fund and Blue Chip Fund immediately before the acquisition were $323,102,548 consisting of, with respect to Growth & Income Fund, $205,534,310 and, with respect to Blue Chip Fund, $117,568,238.

11. Litigation—The Blue Chip and Equity Income Funds have been named, and have received notice that they may be putative members of the proposed defendant class of shareholders, in a lawsuit filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on November 1, 2010, by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Tribune Company (the “Committee”). The Committee is seeking to recover all payments made to beneficial owners of common stock in connection with a leveraged buyout of the Tribune Company (“LBO”), including payments made in connection

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with a 2007 tender offer into which the Blue Chip and Equity Income Funds tendered their shares of common stock of the Tribune Company. On December 9, 2011, the Blue Chip Fund was reorganized into the Growth & Income Fund pursuant to a Plan of Reorganization and Termination, whereby all of the assets of the Blue Chip Fund were transferred to the Growth & Income Fund, the Growth & Income Fund assumed all of the liabilities of the Blue Chip Fund, including any contingent liabilities with respect to pending or threatened litigation or actions, and shareholders of Blue Chip Fund became shareholders of Growth & Income Fund. The adversary proceeding by the Committee has been stayed since it was filed (other than for limited discovery and service of the complaint). The adversary proceeding brought by the Committee has been transferred to the Southern District of New York and consolidated with other similar suits as discussed below. In addition, on June 2, 2011, the Blue Chip and Equity Income Funds were named as defendants in a lawsuit brought in connection with the Tribune Company’s LBO by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its capacity as successor indenture trustee for a certain series of Senior Notes, Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, in its capacity as successor indenture trustee for a certain series of Senior Notes, and Wilmington Trust Company, in its capacity as successor indenture trustee for the PHONES Notes (together, the “Bondholder Plaintiffs”) in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Also on June 2, 2011, the Blue Chip and Equity Income Funds were named as defendants in a lawsuit brought in connection with the Tribune LBO by certain former employees of Tribune (the “Employee Plaintiffs”) in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. (Both of these suits have been removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and consolidated with other substantially similar suits against other former Tribune shareholders.) The Bondholder and Employee Plaintiffs also seek to recover payments of the proceeds of the LBO. The extent of the Funds’ potential liability in any such actions has not been determined. The Funds have been advised by counsel that the Funds could be held liable to return all or part of the proceeds received in any of these actions, as well as interest and court costs, even though the Funds had no knowledge of, or participation in, any misconduct. The Equity Income Fund received proceeds of $376,754 in connection with the LBO, representing 0.51% of its net assets as of December 31, 2012. The Blue Chip Fund received proceeds of $288,456 in connection with the LBO, representing 0.08% of the net assets of Growth & Income Fund as of December 31, 2012. The Equity Income and Growth & Income Funds cannot predict the outcomes of these proceedings, and thus have not accrued any of the amounts sought in the various actions in the accompanying financial statements.

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Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2012

12. Name Changes—Effective September 4, 2012, the name of the First Investors Life Series Value Fund was changed to the First Investors Life Series Equity Income Fund. In connection with this name change, the Board approved a new policy for the Fund to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its new assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in equities. The Board also approved a policy that the Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice before changing this 80% policy. No other changes to the Fund’s objective, principal investment strategies or risks as described in the prospectus have been made. The purpose of the change is to more closely align the Fund’s name with its investment strategy.

Effective December 17, 2012, the name of the First Investors Discovery Fund was changed to the First Investors Special Situations Fund and the name of the First Investors Life Series High Yield Fund was changed to the First Investors Life Series Fund For Income. No other changes to the Funds’ objectives, principal investment strategies or risks as described in the prospectus have been made. The purpose of these changes were to more closely align the Funds’ names with their investment strategy.

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Financial Highlights
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS

The following table sets forth the per share operating performance data for a trust share outstanding,
total return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for each fiscal year ended
December 31, except as otherwise indicated.

 
            P E R  S H A R E  D A T A                      R A T I O S / S U P P L E M E N T A L  D A T A  
                        Less Distributions                         Ratio to Average Net      
        Investment Operations     from                    Ratio to Average Net   Assets Before Expenses      
    Net Asset       Net Realized                       Net Asset         Assets**   Waived or Assumed      
    Value,   Net   and Unrealized      Total from     Net   Net       Value,       Net Assets Expenses   Net       Net    Portfolio  
    Beginning   Investment   Gain (Loss) on      Investment       Investment    Realized   Total   End of Total     End of Year Before Fee   Investment       Investment   Turnover  
    of Year   Income   Investments      Operations     Income   Gains   Distributions   Year Return *    (in millions) Credits (a) Income     Expenses    Income (Loss)   Rate  
CASH MANAGEMENT FUND  
2008 $ 1.00 $.020     $  .020   $.020   $.020 $ 1.00 2.03 % $13 .71 %(b) 2.02 % .96 % 1.77 % N/A  
2009   1.00   .002       .002     .002     .002   1.00 .17     11 .56 (b) .18   .98   (.24 ) N/A  
2010   1.00                   1.00 .00     12 .23 (b) .00   1.04   (.81 ) N/A  
2011   1.00                   1.00 .00     12 .13 (b) .00   .99   (.86 ) N/A  
2012   1.00                   1.00 .00     12 .12 (b) .00   .99   (.87 ) N/A  
EQUITY INCOME FUND(c)  
2008 $16.70 $ .40 $ (5.24 ) $ (4.84 ) $ .29   $ .29 $11.57 (29.41 )% $58 .85 % 2.47 % N/A   N/A   15 %
2009   11.57   .29   1.96     2.25     .36     .36   13.46 21.03     66 .88   2.45   N/A   N/A   11  
2010   13.46   .31   1.58     1.89     .29     .29   15.06 14.32     71 .86   2.25   N/A   N/A   21  
2011   15.06   .30   (.06 )   .24     .31     .31   14.99 1.53     69 .87   1.94   N/A   N/A   32  
2012   14.99   .38   1.29     1.67     .30     .30   16.36 11.20     74 .87   2.37   N/A   N/A   39  
FUND FOR INCOME(d)  
2008 $ 7.61 $ .56 $ (2.39 ) $ (1.83 ) $ .59   $ .59 $ 5.19 (25.86 )% $52 .86 % 8.27 % N/A   N/A   17 %
2009   5.19   .51   1.12     1.63     .58     .58   6.24 35.15     66 .90   8.66   N/A   N/A   102  
2010   6.24   .48   .31     .79     .49     .49   6.54 13.71     71 .87   7.43   N/A   N/A   71  
2011   6.54   .43   (.07 )   .36     .48     .48   6.42 5.66     74 .88   6.68   N/A   N/A   63  
2012   6.42   .41   .42     .83     .44     .44   6.81 13.51     84 .88   6.11   N/A   N/A   61  
GOVERNMENT FUND  
2008 $10.07 $ .44 $   .24   $   .68   $ .45    $ .45 $10.30 6.93 % $24 .79 % 4.56 % .94 % 4.41 % 39 %
2009   10.30   .42       .42     .43     .43   10.29 4.28     26 .80   3.87   .95   3.72   51  
2010   10.29   .32   .16     .48     .42     .42   10.35 4.82     28 .78   3.11   .93   2.96   54  
2011   10.35   .28   .26     .54     .36     .36   10.53 5.41     29 .81   2.70   .96   2.55   33  
2012   10.53   .20       .20     .31     .31   10.42 1.95     32 .75   2.10   .90   1.95   46  
GROWTH & INCOME FUND  
2008 $33.39 $ .40 $(11.38 ) $(10.98 ) $ .41 $2.24 $2.65 $19.76 (35.22 )% $155 .83 % 1.48 % N/A   N/A   28 %
2009   19.76   .27   5.06     5.33     .40     .40   24.69 28.05     187 .84   1.27   N/A   N/A   25  
2010   24.69   .50   3.45     3.95     .27     .27   28.37 16.19     207 .82   1.91   N/A   N/A   27  
2011   28.37   .44   .25     .69     .50     .50   28.56 2.37     321 .81   1.51   N/A   N/A   26  
2012   28.56   .61   4.35     4.96     .44     .44   33.08 17.45     357 .80   1.87   N/A   N/A   21  
 

 

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Financial Highlights (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS

 
              P E R  S H A R E  D A T A                 R A T I O S / S U P P L E M E N T A L   D A T A  
                          Less Distributions                      

 

Ratio to Average Net      
        Investment Operations     from               Ratio to Average Net   Assets Before Expenses      
    Net Asset   Net     Net Realized                       Net Asset       Assets**   Waived or Assumed      
    Value,   Investment     and Unrealized      Total from     Net   Net       Value,     Net Assets Expenses   Net       Net    Portfolio  
    Beginning   Income     Gain (Loss) on       Investment      Investment    Realized   Total   End of Total   End of Period Before Fee   Investment       Investment    Turnover  
    of Period   (Loss)     Investments      Operations     Income   Gains   Distributions   Period Return *  (in millions) Credits (a) Income (Loss)    Expenses   Income   Rate  
INTERNATIONAL FUND  
2008 $24.70 $ .30   $ (9.68 ) $(9.38 ) $.04 $2.65 $2.69 $12.63 (41.89 )% $  85 .94 % 1.41 % N/A   N/A   128 %
2009   12.63   .65     2.03     2.68     .59     .59   14.72 23.24   101 1.01   2.30   N/A   N/A   53  
2010   14.72   .34     1.64     1.98           16.70 13.45   109 .99   2.15   N/A   N/A   35  
2011   16.70   .39     (.29 )   .10     .36     .36   16.44 .64   106 .96   2.26   N/A   N/A   32  
2012   16.44   .28     3.12     3.40     .27     .27   19.57 20.85   122 .94   1.53   N/A   N/A   41  
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND  
2008 $10.92 $ .41   $ (1.60 ) $(1.19 ) $.57   $ .57 $ 9.16 (11.60 )% $  32 .74 % 5.30 % .89 % 5.15 % 133 %
2009   9.16   .69     1.10     1.79     .60     .60   10.35 20.94   39 .76   5.38   .91   5.23   79  
2010   10.35   .51     .41     .92     .53     .53   10.74 9.26   43 .73   4.62   .88   4.47   55  
2011   10.74   .47     .17     .64     .52     .52   10.86 6.23   47 .71   4.17   .86   4.02   29  
2012   10.86   .43     .76     1.19     .48     .48   11.57 11.23   57 .70   3.73   .85   3.58   28  
OPPORTUNITY FUND  
2012(e) $10.00 $(.05 ) $   .11   .06         $10.06 .60 %† $   1 16.84 %†† (13.27 )%†† N/A N/A   0 %
SELECT GROWTH FUND  
2008 $10.47   $ (4.31 ) $(4.31 ) $.01 $ .09 $ .10 $ 6.06 (41.47 )% $   9 .99 % (.05 )% N/A   N/A   107 %
2009   6.06   .01     .59     .60           6.66 9.90   10 1.00   .22   N/A   N/A   102  
2010   6.66   .01     1.39     1.40     .01     .01   8.05 21.10   14 .98   .20   N/A   N/A   87  
2011   8.05   .01     .41     .42     .01     .01   8.46 5.25   18 .90   .07   N/A   N/A   61  
2012   8.46   .05     1.08     1.13     .01     .01   9.58 13.30   24 .87   .61   N/A   N/A   52  
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND(f)  
2008 $30.80 $ .30   $(10.11 ) $(9.81 ) $.11 $1.44 $1.55 $19.44 (33.25 )% $101 .83 % 1.15 % N/A   N/A   52 %
2009   19.44   .22     5.63     5.85     .27     .27   25.02 30.77   127 .84   1.03   N/A   N/A   66  
2010   25.02   .16     6.43     6.59     .22     .22   31.39 26.57   152 .83   .59   N/A   N/A   64  
2011   31.39   .20     .51     .71     .16     .16   31.94 2.24   150 .81   .61   N/A   N/A   59  
2012   31.94   .34     2.88     3.22     .20   3.39   3.59   31.57 10.01   160 .81   1.07   N/A   N/A   61  
 

 

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Financial Highlights (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS

  
 
          P E R  S H A R E  D A T A             R A T I O S / S U P P L E M E N T A L  D A T A      
                          Less Distributions                         Ratio to Average Net    
        Investment Operations     from               Ratio to Average Net   Assets Before Expenses    
    Net Asset   Net     Net Realized                       Net Asset       Assets**   Waived or Assumed    
    Value,   Investment     and Unrealized     Total from     Net   Net       Value,     Net Assets Expenses   Net       Net Portfolio  
    Beginning   Income     Gain (Loss) on       Investment   Investment   Realized   Total   End of Total   End of Period Before Fee   Investment       Investment Turnover  
    of Period   (Loss)     Investments      Operations     Income   Gains   Distributions   Period Return *  (in millions) Credits (a)   Income (Loss)   Expenses   Income Rate  
TARGET MATURITY 2015 FUND  
2008 $14.94 $ .63   $ 1.49   $2.12   $.58 $ $.58 $16.48 14.56 % $29 .69 % 4.01 % .84 % 3.86 %   0 %
2009   16.48   .62     (1.00 )   (.38 )   .63   .02   .65   15.45 (2.22 ) 27 .71   3.91   .86   3.76 0  
2010   15.45   .63     .66     1.29     .64   .08   .72   16.02 8.58   28 .71   3.87   .86   3.72 4  
2011   16.02   .65     .44     1.09     .62   .22   .84   16.27 7.14   26 .72   3.87   .87   3.72 0  
2012   16.27   .66     (.53 )   .13     .66   .16   .82   15.58 .84   24 .73   4.00   .88   3.85 0  
TOTAL RETURN FUND  
2012(e) $10.00 $(.05 ) (.02 ) $(.07 )       $ 9.93 (.70 )%† $ 1 16.99 %†† (14.84 )%††  N/A   N/A 64 %
 

 

* The effect of fees and charges incurred at the separate account level are not reflected in these
  performance figures.
** Net of expenses waived or assumed by the investment adviser (Note 4).
Not annualized
†† Annualized
(a) The ratios do not include a reduction of expenses from cash balances maintained with the Bank of
  New York Mellon or from brokerage service arrangements (Note 1G).
(b) For the year ended December 31, 2008, the expense ratio after fee credits was .70%. FIMCO
  voluntarily waived advisory fees to limit the Fund’s overall expense ratio to .70%. For the year ended
  December 31, 2009, the expense ratio after fee credits was .56%. FIMCO voluntarily waived
  advisory fees to limit the Fund’s overall expense ratio to .70% for the period January 1, 2009 to
  January 31, 2009 and .60% for the period February 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. For the year
  ended December 31, 2010, the expense ratio after fee credits was .23%. FIMCO voluntarily
  waived advisory fees to limit the Fund’s overall expense ratio to .60%. For the year ended
  December 31, 2011, the expense ratio after fee credits was .13%. FIMCO voluntarily
  waived advisory fees to limit the Fund’s overall expense ratio to .60%. For the year ended December 31,
  2012, the expense ratio after fee credits was .12%. FIMCO voluntarily waived advisory fees
  to limit the Fund’s overall expense ratio to .60% (Note 4).
(c) Prior to September 4, 2012, known as Value Fund (Note 12).
(d) Prior to December 17, 2012, known as High Yield Fund (Note 12).
(e) For the period December 17, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012.
(f) Prior to December 17, 2012, known as Discovery Fund (Note 12).

 

  See notes to financial statements  
136   137

 


Report of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
First Investors Life Series Funds

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of the twelve Funds comprising First Investors Life Series Funds, including the portfolios of investments, as of December 31, 2012, the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the periods indicated thereon, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated thereon. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Life Series Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 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. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2012, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the twelve Funds comprising First Investors Life Series Funds, as of December 31, 2012, and the results of their operations, changes in their net assets, and their financial highlights for the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

  Tait, Weller & Baker LLP
 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  
February 27, 2013  

 

138

 



Board Considerations of Advisory Contracts and Fees
(unaudited)
OPPORTUNITY FUND
TOTAL RETURN FUND

Consideration of the Investment Advisory Agreement with First Investors Management Company, Inc. with respect to the First Investors Life Series Opportunity Fund and First Investors Life Series Total Return Fund

At the August 16, 2012 meeting (the “Meeting”) of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the First Investors Life Series Funds (the “Trust”), the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, discussed and approved, for the new First Investors Life Series Opportunity Fund and First Investors Life Series Total Return Fund (collectively, the “New Funds”), the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with First Investors Management Company, Inc. (“FIMCO”).

The Trustees were provided with detailed materials relating to the New Funds in advance of and at the Meeting. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the approval of each New Fund’s Advisory Agreement are discussed below. In addition, the Trustees met in person with FIMCO, Trust counsel, independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Legal Counsel”) and others to receive information on, and discuss the approval of, each New Fund’s Advisory Agreement.

In making their determinations, the Trustees took into account management style, investment strategies, investment philosophy and process, FIMCO’s past performance in managing similar funds and FIMCO’s personnel that would be serving the Fund. In evaluating each New Fund’s Advisory Agreement, the Trustees also reviewed information provided by FIMCO, including the terms of the Advisory Agreement information regarding fee arrangements, including the structure of the advisory fees, the method of computing fees, and the frequency of payment of fees. The Trustees also reviewed reports from Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent provider of invest ment company data, comparing each New Fund’s advisory fee and total expenses a peer group created by Lipper of similar funds.

After extensive discussion and consideration among themselves, and with FIMCO, Trust counsel and Independent Legal Counsel, including during an executive session with Independent Legal Counsel, the Trustees concluded the following with respect to each New Fund:

• The nature and extent of the investment advisory services to be provided to the  New Fund by FIMCO were consistent with the terms of the Advisory Agreement.

• The prospects for satisfactory investment performance of the New Fund were reasonable;

139

 



Board Considerations of Advisory Contracts and Fees (continued)
(unaudited)
OPPORTUNITY FUND
TOTAL RETURN FUND

• Shareholders of the New Fund may benefit from economies of scale in the future as assets grow due to breakpoints included in the fee schedule for the Advisory Agreement;

• The cost of services to be provided by FIMCO to the New Fund was fair and reasonable in relation to the services and benefits to be provided to the New Fund and that profits to be realized by FIMCO and its affiliates from their relationship with the New Fund would be assessed after a reasonable period of New Fund operations; and

• FIMCO may receive certain “fall out” or ancillary benefits by obtaining research and other services from broker-dealers that execute brokerage transactions for the New Fund.

Based on all relevant information and factors, none of which was individually determinative of the outcome, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the approval of each New Fund’s Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the New Fund and its shareholders and unanimously approved such Agreement.

140

 



FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
Trustees and Officers*

    Length of    
    Time Served Number of Other
  Position(s) (including with Portfolios in Trusteeships/
Name, Year of Birth Held with Predecessor Fund Complex Directorships
and Address Funds Funds) Overseen Held
 
  DISINTERESTED TRUSTEES  
 
Susan E. Artmann (1954) Trustee Since 11/1/12 39 None
c/o First Investors Corp.        
Legal Department        
55 Broadway        
New York, NY 10006        
 
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of HSBC Insurance North America (since 2012); Executive Vice
President and President (2008-2011) and Chief Financial Officer (2000-2008) of HSBC Taxpayer Financial Services.
 
 
Mary J. Barneby (1952) Trustee Since 11/1/12 39 None
c/o First Investors Corp.        
Legal Department        
55 Broadway        
New York, NY 10006        
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Connecticut (since October 2012); Executive Director of UBS Financial
Services, Inc. and Head of Stamford Private Wealth Office (2002-2012).    
 
 
Charles R. Barton, III (1965) Trustee Since 1/1/06 39 None
c/o First Investors Corp.        
Legal Department        
55 Broadway        
New York, NY 10006        
 
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
Chief Operating Officer (since 2007), Board Director (since 1989, currently Ex-Officio) and Trustee (since 1994)
of The Barton Group/Barton Mines Corporation (mining and industrial abrasives distribution); President of Noe
Pierson Corporation (land holding and management services provider) (since 2004).  
 
 
Stefan L. Geiringer (1934) Trustee Since 1/1/06 39 None
c/o First Investors Corp.        
Legal Department        
55 Broadway        
New York, NY 10006        
 
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
President of Caliqua Enterprises LLC (natural gas shipper) (since June 2012); President and owner of SLG Energy
LLC (energy consulting) (since 2010); Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Real Time Energy Solutions, Inc.
(energy consulting) 2005-2010; President and owner of SLG, Inc. (natural gas shipper) (since 2003).

 

141

 



FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
Trustees and Officers
* (continued)

    Length of    
    Time Served Number of Other
  Position(s) (including with Portfolios in Trusteeships/
Name, Year of Birth Held with Predecessor Fund Complex Directorships
and Address Funds Funds) Overseen Held
 
  DISINTERESTED TRUSTEES (continued)  
 
Robert M. Grohol (1932) Trustee and Trustee since 39 None
c/o First Investors Chairman** 6/30/00 and    
Legal Department   Chairman    
55 Broadway   since 1/1/10.    
New York, NY 10006   Retired effective    
    12/31/12    
 
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
None/Retired        
 
 
Arthur M. Scutro, Jr. (1941) Trustee and Trustee since 39 None
c/o First Investors Chairman** 1/1/06 and    
Legal Department   Chairman since    
55 Broadway   1/1/13    
New York, NY 10006        
 
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
None/Retired        
 
 
Mark R. Ward (1952) Trustee Since 1/1/10 39 None
c/o First Investors        
Legal Department        
55 Broadway        
New York, NY 10006        
 
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
Self-employed, consultant (since 2008); Senior Partner, Ernst & Young, LLP, Leader, Mid-Atlantic Asset
Management Practice (2003-2007).      

 

*Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term with the Funds, until his/her successor is elected.
**Effective January 1, 2013, Mr. Arthur M. Scutro, Jr. became Chairman of the Board. Mr. Robert M.
Grohol retired as Trustee and Chairman of the Board effective December 31, 2012.

 

142

 



    Length of    
    Time Served Number of Other
  Position(s) (including with Portfolios in Trusteeships/
Name, Year of Birth Held with Predecessor Fund Complex Directorships
and Address Funds Funds) Overseen Held
 
OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES
 
Derek Burke (1963) President Since 2012 N/A None
c/o First Investors        
Management Company, Inc.        
Raritan Plaza I        
Edison, NJ 08837        
 
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
Director (since 2012) and President (since 2011) of First Investors Management Company, Inc., and Administrative
Data Management Corp.; Board of Managers and Chief Executive Officer of First Investors Advisory Services,
LLC (since 2012); Consultant, Burke Consulting (2010-2011); UBS - Managing Director, Co-Head of Investment
Solutions (2009-2010) and Managing Director, Head of Institutional, Retirement and Fund Services (2004-2009).
 
 
William Lipkus (1964) Vice President Since 2012 N/A None
c/o First Investors Corp.        
Legal Department        
55 Broadway        
New York, NY 10006        
 
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
Chief Executive Officer (since 2012), President (since 2012), Treasurer (since 1999), Chief Financial Officer
(since 1997) and Chief Administrative Officer (since 2012) of First Investors Consolidated Corporation; Chair-
man (since 2012), Director (since 2007), Chief Financial Officer (since 1998) and Chief Administrative Officer
(since 2012) of First Investors Management Company, Inc.; Chairman (since 2012), Director (since 2012),
Treasurer (since 1999), Chief Financial Officer (since 1997) and Chief Administrative Officer (since 2012) of
Administrative Data Management Corp.; Vice President (since 1996), Treasurer (since 2008), Chief Financial
Officer (since 1998) and Chief Administrative Officer (since 2012) of First Investors Life Insurance Company;
and Board of Managers and Chief Financial Officer of First Investors Advisory Services, LLC (since 2012).

 

143

 



FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
Trustees and Officers* (continued)

    Length of    
    Time Served Number of Other
  Position(s) (including with Portfolios in Trusteeships/
Name, Year of Birth Held with Predecessor Fund Complex Directorships
and Address Funds Funds) Overseen Held
 
OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES (continued)
 
Joseph I. Benedek (1957) Treasurer Since 1988 N/A None
c/o First Investors        
Management Company, Inc.        
Raritan Plaza I        
Edison, NJ 08837        
 
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
Treasurer of First Investors Management Company, Inc.      
 
 
Mary Carty (1950) Secretary Since 2010 N/A None
c/o First Investors Corp.        
Legal Department        
55 Broadway        
New York, NY 10006        
 
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
General Counsel of First Investors Management Company, Inc. and various affiliated companies since
December 2012; Assistant Counsel of First Investors Management Company, Inc., (2010-2012). Special Counsel
and Associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (1998-2009).    
 
 
Marc S. Milgram (1957) Chief Since 2010 N/A None
c/o First Investors Corp. Compliance      
Legal Department Officer      
55 Broadway        
New York, NY 10006        
 
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years:      
Investment Compliance Manager of First Investors Management Company, Inc., (2009-2010); First Investors
Federal Savings Bank, President (2000-2011), Treasurer (1987-2011) and Director (2004-2011); First Investors
Corporation, Vice President (2008-2009); Administrative Data Management Corp., Vice President (2008-2009);
and First Investors Name Saver, Inc. f/k/a/ School Financial Management Services, Inc., Treasurer since 1992
and Director (1992-2007).        

 

144

 



FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS

Shareholder Information  

 

Investment Adviser Custodian
First Investors Management (Cash Management, Fund For Income,
Company, Inc. Government, Investment Grade and
55 Broadway Target Maturity 2015 Funds)
New York, NY 10006 The Bank of New York Mellon
  One Wall Street
  New York, NY 10286
 
Subadviser Custodian
(Fund For Income) (Equity Income, Growth & Income,
Muzinich & Co., Inc. International, Opportunity, Select Growth,
450 Park Avenue Special Situations and Total Return Funds)
New York, NY 10022 Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
  40 Water Street
  Boston, MA 02109
 
Subadviser Transfer Agent
(International Fund) Administrative Data Management Corp.
Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. Raritan Plaza I – 8th Floor
1540 Broadway, 38th Floor Edison, NJ 08837-3620
New York, NY 10036  
 
Subadviser Independent Registered
(Select Growth Fund) Public Accounting Firm
Smith Asset Management Group, L.P. Tait, Weller & Baker LLP
100 Crescent Court 1818 Market Street
Dallas, TX 75201 Philadelphia, PA 19103
 
Subadviser Legal Counsel
(Special Situations Fund) K&L Gates LLP
Paradigm Capital Management, Inc. 1601 K Street, N.W.
Nine Elk Street Washington, D.C. 20006
Albany, NY 12207  

 

145

 



A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to vote proxies relating to a portfolio’s securities is available, without charge, upon request by calling toll free 1-800-423-4026 or can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) internet website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended December 31, is available, without charge, upon request in writing or by calling 1-800-423-4026 and on the SEC’s internet website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year. The Funds’ Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov; and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. The schedule of portfolio holdings is available, without charge, upon request in writing or by calling 1-800-423-4026.

146

 



NOTES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  147

 



NOTES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

148

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 





Item 2. Code of Ethics

As of December 31, 2012, the Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer.

For the year ended December 31, 2012, there were no waivers granted from a provision of the code of ethics. On December 13, 2012 revisions were made to the code of ethics to (i) reflect the current membership of the Disclosure Committee, and (ii) designate Derek Burke as Principal Executive Officer of the Funds.

A copy of the Registrant's code of ethics is filed under Item 12(a)(1).

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert

During the reporting period the Registrant's Board determined that it had at least two "audit committee financial experts" serving on its audit committee. Arthur M. Scutro, Jr. and Mark R. Ward were the "audit committee financial experts" during all or part of the period and were considered to be "independent" as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

    Fiscal Year Ended 
    December 31, 
    ------------------------------- 
  2012  2011   
  ----  ----   
(a) Audit Fees  $  115,600  $  126,800 
 
(b) Audit-Related Fees  $  0  $  2,500* 

 

*Fees included in the audit-related fees category are those associated with the review of Form N-14 for the reorganization of Blue Chip Fund into Growth & Income Fund.

 

 
(c) Tax Fees  $  37,000  $  35,200 

 

Nature of services: tax returns preparation and tax compliance

 

 
(d) All Other Fees  $  0  $  0 

 

(e)(1) Audit committee's pre-approval policies

The Charter of the Audit Committee requires the Audit Committee (a) to pre-approve, and to recommend to the full Board, the selection, retention or termination of the independent auditors to provide audit, review or attest services to the First Investors Funds (“Funds”) and, in connection



therewith, evaluate the independence of the auditors and to obtain the auditors’ specific representations as to their independence; (b) to pre-approve all non-audit services to be provided to the Funds by the independent auditor; and (c) to pre-approve all non-audit services to be provided by the Funds’ independent auditor to the Funds’ investment adviser or to any entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Funds’ investment adviser and that provides ongoing services to the Funds, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds. The Audit Committee has not adopted pre-approval policies or procedures to permit the services in (b) and (c) above to be pre-approved by other means.

(e)(2) None, or 0%, of the services relating to the Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees paid by the Registrant and Related Entities disclosed above were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (which permits audit committee approval after the start of the engagement with respect to services other than audit review or attest services, if certain conditions are satisfied).

(f) Not Applicable

(g) Aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Registrant's accountant for services rendered to the Registrant and the Registrant's investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant for the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were $49,500 and $47,500, respectively.

(h) Not Applicable

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

Not applicable

Item 6. Schedule of Investments

Schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies & Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

Not applicable

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

Not applicable



Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers

Not applicable

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

There were no material changes to the procedure by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant's Board of Trustees.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures

(a) The Registrant's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) are effective, based on their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.

(b) There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits

(a)(1) Code of Ethics - Filed herewith

(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Filed herewith

(b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Filed herewith



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

First Investors Life Series Funds 
 
By  /S/  DEREK BURKE 
  Derek Burke 
  President and Principal Executive Officer 
 
Date:  March 8, 2013 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By  /S/  DEREK BURKE 
  Derek Burke 
  President and Principal Executive Officer 
 
 
By  /S/  JOSEPH I. BENEDEK 
  Joseph I. Benedek 
  Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer 
 
Date:  March 8, 2013