EX-99.ACCT 3 d895365dex99acct.htm EX-99.ACCT EX-99.ACCT

EX.99 ACCT

Registrant’s Independent Public Accounting Firm

On June 8, 2020, the Audit, Compliance and Valuation Committee of the Board of Trustees (the Board) approved, and on June 9, 2020, the Board approved, Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust (the “Schwab Funds Complex”) for fiscal periods ending after June 8, 2020.

On June 8, 2020, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (the “Prior Auditor”) resigned as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Schwab Funds Complex.

The Prior Auditor’s reports on the financial statements of the funds listed in Appendix I (the “funds”) for the past two fiscal years, the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the last two fiscal year-ends and through June 8, 2020, there were no (1) disagreements with the Prior Auditor on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the Prior Auditor’s satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to that matter in connection with its reports on the funds’ financial statements for such periods; or (2) “reportable events,” as that term is defined in Item 304 (a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The Board requested that the Prior Auditor address a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements. A copy of such letter, dated September 1, 2020 is attached as Attachment A to this exhibit.


Appendix I

Schwab Government Money Market Portfolio

Schwab S&P 500 Index Portfolio

Schwab VIT Balanced Portfolio

Schwab VIT Balanced with Growth Portfolio

Schwab VIT Growth Portfolio


Attachment A

September 1, 2020

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20549

Commissioners:

We have read the statements made by Schwab Annuity Portfolios (copy attached) related to the funds listed in Appendix I, which we understand will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to Item 13(a)(4) of form N-CSRS of Schwab Annuity Portfolios dated September 1, 2020. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm contained therein.

Very truly yours,

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Francisco, California

September 1, 2020


Appendix I

 

Fund Name

  

Commission File Number

Schwab S&P 500 Index Portfolio

  

S000006547

Schwab VIT Balanced Portfolio

  

S000036326

Schwab VIT Balanced with Growth Portfolio

  

S000036327

Schwab VIT Growth Portfolio

  

S000036328

Schwab Government Money Market Portfolio

  

S000006545


Registrant’s Independent Public Accounting Firm

On June 8, 2020, the Audit, Compliance and Valuation Committee of the Board of Trustees (the Board) approved, and on June 9, 2020, the Board approved, Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust (the “Schwab Funds Complex”) for fiscal periods ending after June 8, 2020.

On June 8, 2020, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (the “Prior Auditor”) resigned as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Schwab Funds Complex.

The Prior Auditor’s reports on the financial statements of the funds listed in Appendix I (the “funds”) for the past two fiscal years, the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the last two fiscal year-ends and through June 8, 2020, there were no (1) disagreements with the Prior Auditor on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the Prior Auditor’s satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to that matter in connection with its reports on the funds’ financial statements for such periods; or (2) “reportable events,” as that term is defined in Item 304 (a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The Board requested that the Prior Auditor address a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements. A copy of such letter, dated September 1, 2020 is attached as Attachment A to this exhibit.


Appendix I

Schwab Government Money Market Portfolio

Schwab S&P 500 Index Portfolio

Schwab VIT Balanced Portfolio

Schwab VIT Balanced with Growth Portfolio

Schwab VIT Growth Portfolio