Our approach on climate

This is not an ESG fund. It was created by a team that is passionate about climate change and experienced with growing and protecting investments.

How we define fossil-free.

Being thoughtful about where your investment dollars go can be one of the most important decisions you can make when it comes to your personal impact on climate change. A study by the NYU Center for Sustainable Business reviewing 59 studies about the performance of climate-focused funds found that 43% showed a positive correlation between climate focus and performance, and only 14% showed a negative correlation.  The Sphere index’s 10-year back test validates the academic findings, showing improved performance compared to an index of the top 500 US companies that includes fossil fuel companies.

Energy companies currently risk wasting over $1.6 trillion of investment by assuming that no regulations will be introduced to reduce carbon emissions, which seems optimistic given increasing international efforts for global legislation.

On top of this, the fossil fuel industry has been volatile in the past, with both massive booms and busts. If it remains volatile when employees reach retirement age, their savings could be hit hard by downswings.

How we vote your shares.

You may not realize this, but every time you invest in a mutual fund or exchange traded fund (ETF), you are buying shares in the underlying companies that the fund invests in. Because you own those shares, you have a right to vote on issues that the company or shareholders bring to a shareholder vote. The majority of funds vote your shares on your behalf, and they typically vote in whatever way company boards recommend.

The Sphere 500 Climate Fund votes its shares for the long-term economic best interest of shareholders, which aligns with taking climate action, by using a voting service offered by the shareholder advocacy non-profit As You Sow called As You Vote. This means that anytime a shareholder vote takes place at a company that the Sphere fund invests in on a topic having to do with climate change, SPFFX will vote your shares for long-term value creation of the company and climate action. This could encourage banks that finance fossil fuel projects to stop financing those projects, or it could encourage logistics companies that have gas-guzzling fleets to replace them with electric vehicles. SPFFX gives your dollars a voice in a way that most funds do not.

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RISKS AND DISCLOSURE
Before investing in the Sphere 500 Climate Fund (“SPFFX”), carefully consider the fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses.  To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information, please visit https://oursphere.org/fund or talk to your financial advisor. Read it carefully before investing.

As with all investments, there are risks involved with investing in SPFFX. Risks include, but are not limited to, sustainability considerations, general market or market event, common stock risks, climate investing considerations risk, sector risk, and third-party data risks as it relates to the composition of the Index. For a detailed explanation of the risks associated with SPFFX and the underlying Index, please read the prospectus.

The Sphere 500 Climate Fund tracks the Sphere 500 Fossil-Free Index. The Sphere 500 Fossil-Free Index starts with the top 500 US companies by market capitalization and then excludes those companies designated as participants in the fossil fuel industry. The Sphere 500 Fossil-Free Index will not invest in companies whose main lines of business include producing, distributing, or refining fossil fuels, holding reserves of fossil fuels, utilities that are primarily fossil fuel-powered, and producers of equipment for any of the above. However, the fund may invest in companies that use fossil fuels as a part of their business or have used fossil fuels in the past. 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 their original cost. Index returns do not reflect the effects of fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

The performance data quoted represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For the most recent month-end performance, please call 844-2-SPHERE or visit the fund’s website at https://www.oursphere.org/fund.

Index performance is discussed for illustrative purposes only as a benchmark for each strategy’s performance and does not predict or depict performance of that strategy.  While index comparisons may be useful to provide a benchmark for a strategy’s performance, it must be noted that investments are not limited to the investments comprising the indices.  Each of the strategy benchmark indices are unmanaged and cannot be purchased directly by investors. Past performance does not guarantee future results. No portion of the content should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell shares of the fund in any jurisdiction where the solicitation or offer would be deemed unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The Sphere 500 Climate Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, member of FINRA and SIPC, which is not affiliated with Sphere or SPFFX. NOT FDIC INSURED NOT BANK GUARANTEED. MAY LOSE VALUE.

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