LVIP Vanguard Domestic Equity ETF Fund

(Standard and Service Class)

Summary Prospectus

May 1, 2021

 

 Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund’s Prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s Prospectus, reports to shareholders, and other information about the Fund online at www.LincolnFinancial.com/lvip. You can also get this information at no cost by calling 877 ASK LINCOLN (877-275-5462). The Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, both dated May 1, 2021, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus.

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the LVIP Vanguard Domestic Equity ETF Fund (the “Fund”) is to seek long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. This table does not reflect any variable contract expenses. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. If variable contract expenses were included, the expenses shown would be higher.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

	Standard Class	Service Class
Management Fee	0.25%	0.25%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) fees	None	0.25%
Other Expenses	0.06%	0.06%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)	0.06%	0.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (including AFFE)1	0.37%	0.62%
Less Fee Waiver2	(0.05%)	(0.05%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (After Fee Waiver)	0.32%	0.57%

1

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets appearing in the Financial Highlights table, which reflects only the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include AFFE.

2

Lincoln Investment Advisors Corporation (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive the following portion of its advisory fee: 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The agreement will continue at least through April 30, 2022 and cannot be terminated before that date without the mutual agreement of the Fund’s Board of Trustees and the Adviser.

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over the time periods indicated if you invest $10,000 in the Fund’s shares. The example also assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5% a year and that operating expenses remain the same. This example reflects the net operating expenses with fee waiver for the one-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without fee waiver for the remaining time periods shown below. Your actual costs may be higher or lower than this example. This example does not reflect any variable contract expenses. If variable contract expenses were included, the expenses shown would be higher. The results apply whether or not you redeem your investment at the end of the given period.

 

	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Standard Class	$33	$114	$203	$463
Service Class	$58	$193	$341	$769

LVIP Vanguard Domestic Equity ETF Fund1

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund operates under a “fund of funds” structure. The Fund, under normal circumstances, invests at least 80% of its assets in exchange-traded funds (the “Underlying ETFs” or “ETFs”) which invest in U.S. equity securities (stocks). The ETFs primarily are Vanguard ETFs®*. The Vanguard Group, Inc., the investment adviser of the Vanguard ETFs®, is not affiliated with the Fund or its investment adviser, Lincoln Investment Advisors Corporation (the “Adviser”).

The Adviser develops the Fund's asset allocation strategy based on the Fund's investment strategy. Through its investment in Underlying ETFs, the Fund allocates a large percentage of assets across a broad and diverse range of domestic stocks, including large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap stocks and those with growth and value characteristics. The Fund may allocate a smaller percentage of assets to ETFs whose assets are invested in U.S. real estate securities. ETFs are typically funds that track an index and whose shares are listed and traded on a stock exchange or otherwise traded in the over-the-counter market, and may be purchased and sold throughout the trading day based on their market price.

On at least an annual basis, the Adviser will reassess and may make revisions in the Fund's asset allocation strategy consistent with the Fund's investment strategy and objective, including revising the weightings among the investments described above and adding Underlying ETFs to or removing Underlying ETFs from the asset allocation strategy. The Adviser will also periodically rebalance the weightings in the Underlying ETFs held by the Fund to the current asset allocation strategy. In general, the Adviser does not anticipate making frequent changes in the asset allocation strategy and will not attempt to time the market.

The Adviser uses various analytical tools and proprietary and third-party research to construct the portfolio. The Underlying ETF selection is made based on the Fund’s particular asset allocation strategy, the Adviser's desired asset class exposures, and the investment styles and performance of the Underlying ETFs. The Adviser also considers the portfolio characteristics and risk profile for each Underlying ETF over various periods and market environments to assess each Underlying ETF's suitability as an investment.

*

Vanguard and Vanguard ETF are trademarks of The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Principal Risks

All mutual funds carry risk. Accordingly, loss of money is a risk of investing in the Fund. Because the Fund invests its assets in shares of Underlying Funds, the Fund indirectly owns the investments made by the Underlying Funds. By investing in the Fund, therefore, you indirectly assume the same types of risks as investing directly in the Underlying Funds. The Fund's investment performance is affected by each Underlying Fund's investment performance, and the Fund's ability to achieve its investment objective depends, in large part, on each Underlying Fund's ability to meet its investment objective. The following risks reflect the Fund's principal risks, which include the Underlying Funds' principal risks.

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Market Risk. The value of portfolio investments may decline. As a result, your investment in the Fund may decline in value and you could lose money.

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Fund of Funds Risk. The Fund bears all risks of an Underlying Fund’s investment strategies, including the risk that an Underlying Fund will not meet their investment objectives which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. In addition, the Fund indirectly will pay a proportional share of the fees and expenses of an Underlying Fund.

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Issuer Risk. The prices of, and the income generated by, portfolio securities may decline in response to various factors directly related to the issuers of such securities.

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Asset Allocation Risk. With an asset allocation strategy, the amount invested in various asset classes of securities may change over time. Asset allocation risk could result in an allocation to an underperforming asset class.

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Growth Stocks Risk. Growth stocks, due to their relatively high market valuations, typically have been more volatile than value stocks. Growth stocks may not pay dividends, or may pay lower dividends, than value stocks and may be more adversely affected in a down market.

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Value Stocks Risk. Value stocks tend to be inexpensive relative to their earnings or assets compared to other types of stocks, such as growth stocks. Value stocks can continue to be inexpensive for long periods of time, may not ever realize their potential value, and may even go down in price.

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Small-Cap Companies Risk. The value of securities issued by small-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt market movements and may involve greater risks than investments in larger companies.

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Medium-Cap Companies Risk. Securities issued by medium-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt market movements and may involve greater risks than investments in larger companies. These less developed, lesser-known companies may experience greater risks than those normally associated with larger companies. This is due to, among other things, the greater business risks of smaller size and limited product lines, markets, distribution channels, and financial and managerial resources.

2LVIP Vanguard Domestic Equity ETF Fund

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Real Estate and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Risk. Investing in real estate securities (including REITs) is subject to the risks associated with the direct ownership and development of real estate. These risks include declines in real estate values, fluctuations in rental income (due in part to vacancies and rates), increases in operating costs and property taxes, increases in financing costs or inability to procure financing, potential environmental liabilities and changes in zoning laws and other regulations. REITs whose underlying properties are concentrated in a particular industry or geographic region are subject to risks affecting such industries and regions. The securities of REITs involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements because of interest rate changes, economic conditions and other factors. Securities of such issuers may lack sufficient market liquidity to enable the Fund to effect sales at an advantageous time or without a substantial drop in price.

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Exchange-Traded Fund (“ETF”) Risk. ETFs generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities they hold, although lack of liquidity in ETF shares could result in the price of the ETF being more volatile.

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Passive Management Risk. Index funds invest in the securities of an index rather than actively selecting among securities. With an indexing strategy there is no attempt to manage volatility, use defensive strategies, or reduce the effects of any long-term period of poor investment performance.

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Limited Portfolio Holdings Risk. Because the Fund may hold large positions in a small number of Underlying Funds, an increase or decrease in the value of such securities may have a greater impact on the Fund’s value and total return.

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Natural Disaster/Epidemic Risk. Natural or environmental disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, and other severe weather-related phenomena generally, and widespread disease and illness, including pandemics and epidemics (such as the novel coronavirus), have been and can be highly disruptive to economies and markets.

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Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund cannot meet requests to redeem Fund-issued shares without significantly diluting the remaining investors’ interest in the Fund. This may result when portfolio holdings may be difficult to value and may be difficult to sell, both at the time or price desired. Liquidity risk also may result from increased shareholder redemptions in the Fund.

Fund Performance

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of choosing to invest in the Fund. The information shows: (a) how the Fund's Standard Class investment results have varied from year to year; and (b) how the average annual total returns of the Fund's Standard and Service Classes for various periods compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows performance of the Fund's Standard Class shares, but does not reflect the impact of variable contract expenses. If it did, returns would be lower than those shown. Performance in the average annual returns table does not reflect the impact of variable contract expenses. The Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Annual Total Returns (%)

 

 

Highest Quarterly Return	Q2 2020	20.96%
Lowest Quarterly Return	Q1 2020	(20.24%)

Average Annual Total Returns for periods ended 12/31/20

 

	1 year	5 years	Since Inception	Inception Date
LVIP Vanguard Domestic Equity ETF Fund – Standard Class	19.82%	14.87%	12.40%	5/2/2011
LVIP Vanguard Domestic Equity ETF Fund – Service Class	19.53%	14.58%	12.12%	5/2/2011
Russell 3000® Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)	20.89%	15.43%	13.22%

LVIP Vanguard Domestic Equity ETF Fund3

Investment Adviser

Investment Adviser: Lincoln Investment Advisors Corporation (“LIAC”)

Portfolio Manager

 

LIAC Portfolio Manager	Company Title	Experience with Fund
Michael Hoppe, CFA, CFP	Assistant Vice President	Since June 2018

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Fund shares are available as underlying investment options for variable life insurance and variable annuity products issued by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (“Lincoln Life”), Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York (“LNY”), and unaffiliated insurance companies. These insurance companies are the record owners of the separate accounts holding the Fund’s shares. You do not buy, sell or exchange Fund shares directly – you choose investment options through your variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy. The insurance companies then cause the separate accounts to purchase and redeem Fund shares according to the investment options you choose. Fund shares also may be available for investment by certain funds of the Lincoln Variable Insurance Products Trust.

Tax Information

In general, Contract owners are taxed only on underlying Fund amounts they withdraw from their variable accounts. Contract owners should consult their Contract Prospectus for more information on the federal income tax consequences to them regarding their indirect investment in the Fund. Contract owners also may wish to consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investments in variable contracts and the Fund, including application of state and local taxes.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries

Shares of the Fund are available only through the purchase of variable contracts issued by certain life insurance companies. Parties related to the Fund (such as the Fund's principal underwriter or investment adviser) may pay such insurance companies (or their related companies) for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest and may influence the insurance company to include the Fund as an investment option in its variable contracts. Such insurance companies (or their related companies) may pay broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries (such as banks) for the sale and retention of variable contracts that offer Fund shares. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries to recommend variable contracts that offer Fund shares. The prospectus or other disclosure documents for the variable contracts may contain additional information about these payments, if any. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.

4LVIP Vanguard Domestic Equity ETF Fund