N-CSR 1 tm2216927d2_ncsr.htm N-CSR

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number         811-03651                    

 

Touchstone Strategic Trust-March Funds

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

E. Blake Moore, Jr.

303 Broadway, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 800-638-8194

 

Date of fiscal year end:  March 31

 

Date of reporting period:  March 31, 2022

 

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

 

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 

 

 

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

(a)The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2022
Annual Report
Touchstone Strategic Trust
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund
Touchstone Focused Fund
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund
Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund

Table of Contents
  Page
Letter from the President 3
Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) 4-25
Tabular Presentation of Portfolios of Investments (Unaudited) 26-28
Portfolios of Investments:  
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund 29-33
Touchstone Focused Fund 34
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund 35-36
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund 37
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund 38
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund 39-40
Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund 41-44
Statements of Assets and Liabilities 45-46
Statements of Operations 48
Statements of Changes in Net Assets 50-51
Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity 52-55
Financial Highlights 56-71
Notes to Financial Statements 72-88
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms 89-90
Other Items (Unaudited) 91-98
Management of the Trust (Unaudited) 99-101
Privacy Protection Policy 103
This report identifies the Funds' investments on March 31, 2022. These holdings are subject to change. Not all investments in each Fund performed the same, nor is there any guarantee that these investments will perform as well in the future. Market forecasts provided in this report may not occur.
2

Letter from the President
Dear Shareholder:
We are pleased to provide you with the Touchstone Strategic Trust Annual Report. Inside you will find key financial information, as well as manager commentaries for the Funds, for the twelve months ended March 31, 2022.
A rising inflation theme defined the economic backdrop in the U.S. and developed markets for much of the twelve month period. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board (Fed) dropped “transitory” from its official statements during the fourth quarter 2021 regarding the nature of inflation’s impact on the U.S. economy. This was fortuitous timing because producer and consumer prices increased throughout the latter part of the twelve-month period. U.S. labor market conditions were mixed as job openings remained at historic high levels during much of the period while the labor participation rate sat at a multi-decade low. Labor shortages impacted the broader economy through supply chain issues, hospital staffing and various retail segments such as restaurants. Given tight labor market conditions and elevated inflation readings, the Fed embarked on a monetary tightening posture, beginning with a quarter percent increase to the Federal Funds rate. Additionally, the Fed indicated that it would potentially begin to unwind the $9 trillion in bonds held on its balance sheet during the course of calendar year 2022. These factors, along with rising geopolitical tensions that began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, weighed heavily on capital markets. Economic sanctions imposed on Russia added to the inflationary pressures on commodities such as energy and agriculture. Developed market economies outside the U.S. also experienced similar inflationary and geopolitical concerns, resulting in weak economic growth despite the maintenance of accommodative monetary policies of most developed markets’ central banks. Emerging market economies experienced mixed results with some commodity exporting countries benefitting (e.g. South Africa, Brazil & Saudi Arabia) while the commodity importing countries struggled (e.g. China).
U.S. equity markets posted mixed results over the twelve-month period as larger capitalization stocks outperformed smaller capitalization stocks. Value equities outperformed their growth counterparts within the small- and mid-cap ranges. However, growth outperformed among the mega-caps due largely to the weight and strength of the Information Technology sector and related constituents. From a market capitalization perspective, small-caps, which have tended to be more economically sensitive, underperformed mid-caps while mid-caps underperformed large-caps.
As previously described, the Fed’s acknowledgement of persistent inflation and communication to the market regarding rate hikes and the unwinding of its balance sheet served as an impetus for the yield curve to rise significantly, which created a performance headwind for high quality bonds. Key investment grade bond indexes declined for the twelve-month period. However, below investment grade credit and bank loans performed better on a relative basis.
Markets such as these reaffirm our belief in the importance of the steady hands of financial professionals, trust in your investment strategy, and the risks of trying to time the market. Additionally, we believe that environments that are more volatile and uncertain create opportunities for active managers to add value, especially those that are Distinctively Active. We greatly appreciate your continued support. Thank you for including Touchstone as part of your investment plan.
Sincerely,
E. Blake Moore Jr.
President
Touchstone Strategic Trust
3

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited)
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund
Sub-Advised by Bramshill Investments, LLC
Investment Philosophy
The Touchstone Flexible Income Fund seeks total return through a combination of income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in income producing securities. The Fund’s sub-advisor, Bramshill Investments, LLC, implements a tactical fixed-income strategy, actively managing the portfolio by rotating among asset classes and tactically hedging during various interest rate and market environments. The sub-advisor seeks to identify relative value across asset classes and capture opportunities primarily within the corporate, U.S. Treasury, municipal and preferred security markets. The Fund focuses on liquid securities with transparent pricing and actively-traded capital structures.
Fund Performance
The Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (Class A Shares) outperformed its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, for the 12 months ended March 31, 2022. The Fund’s total return was -1.76% (calculated excluding the maximum sales charge) while the total return of the benchmark was -4.15%.
Market Environment
The 12-month period ended March 31, 2022 was difficult for Fixed Income in general as the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (benchmark) posted a negative return due primarily to the sell-off in U.S. Treasury rates. The steep, more consistent sell-off in U.S. Treasuries began towards the end of third quarter of 2021 when the U.S. Federal Reserve Board’s (Fed) pivoted its guidance regarding tightening rates and tapering asset purchases. Since that pivot, inflationary signals continued to climb steadily, even before the conflict in Ukraine instigated by Russia started. After the start of the conflict, sanctions against Russia from many nations around the world further exacerbated the surge of prices of many commodities (especially oil, wheat and fertilizer), causing even more dramatic increases in inflationary metrics resulting in the sell-off in rates globally. Although the Fed’s messaging was consistent during the last six months of the period, thus far the Fed has only announced a quarter percent rate hike and the official end to incremental asset purchases as of the end of the first quarter of 2022. Given the difference between the yield of the 10 year U.S. Treasury and the yield of 2 year U.S. Treasury Note is negative (inverted), which has historically signaled U.S. economic struggles, we believe that the U.S. economy may struggle in the near- or medium-term.
The recent volatility seen in U.S. stocks has been a result of many headwinds. These headwinds include the sell-off in global rates, concerns regarding inflationary pressures (potential effect on margins); the Russia/Ukraine conflict in Europe and associated sanctions; rising U.S. mortgage rates starting to cool U.S. housing demand and mortgage origination; stringent fiscal and monetary policies; regulatory and housing-related issues in China; supply-side constraints for corporations coping with ongoing COVID-19 pandemic related stresses (supply chain); and the demand destruction starting to become noticeable as consumers start to pull back.
Throughout the period, there was a surge in pricing for some major macroeconomic variables such as housing, oil, natural gas, construction costs and various other commodities, all of which experienced varying degrees of inflationary pressures due to supply chain issues and general shortages versus heightened demand stemming from generous stimulus packages distributed directly to U.S. consumers during the past few years. As mentioned earlier, some of this inflationary pressure was further exacerbated due to the Russia/Ukraine conflict, which caused further spikes in commodities that are overweight in regards to production in Eastern Europe, such as oil, wheat and fertilizer as examples. Away from this episodic conflict, we feel the view of further “runaway inflation” and an increase in benchmark yields to temper it will continue to some extent, however, we also believe a fair amount of it has already been priced in by the markets.
Portfolio Review
Our main tenets have been to focus on investment opportunities with high current income, relatively short duration (generally inside 5 years of duration) combined with high confidence of a low probability of default (we continue to be focused on underlying fundamentals and credit quality).
At the end of the period, a majority of the Fund was invested across Preferred Securities and Agency Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities (ACMBS) holdings. The Fund’s Preferred Securities allocation remained its largest asset class, declining from rising U.S. Treasury yields at the beginning of the first quarter of 2022, and further fueled by widening credit spreads. The Preferred allocation was centered on securities with fixed coupons for 5 years and then reset at a spread off of U.S. Treasuries, thus seeking to mitigate interest rate risk. We avoided several low coupon perpetual preferred securities which declined during the period, and invested Fund holdings in less interest rate sensitive structures which outperformed the index. The ACMBS positions were
4

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
generally backed by multi-family residential housing properties, which performed well compared to other commercial sectors such as retail or lodging (which we actively avoided, as we did not like the fundamentals of those sub-sectors).
The Fund’s allocation to Investment Grades Securities, specifically, the Investment Grade Corporate allocation in the Fund increased. The Investment Grade Structured Products Securities allocation in the Fund also increased. We focused on investing a portion of cash equivalents and monthly distributions into these shorter duration securities as a defensive measure as short-term U.S. Treasuries sold-off. However, shortly after the Russia/Ukraine conflict commenced, we invested in short term U.S. treasury bills instead to optimize liquidity.
The Fund’s High Yield allocation increased slightly, although its High Yield Corporate Securities allocation decreased because we favored high coupon first lien secured bonds that were trading to short call dates. These issues sit senior in the capital structure and were further secured by unencumbered collateral packages. Furthermore, we saw value in several High Yield / Loan Closed-End Funds, which trade at discounts to NAV. However, the High Yield Structured Products Securities allocation in the Fund increased. We continue to be constructive with the risk/reward of these securities as we focus predominantly on housing related transactions that have good fundamentals, which seeks to provide for a low probability of default with relatively low duration and high current income. Further, we tactically added to this exposure at higher yields during the last quarter of the period.
Municipal Bonds allocation in the Fund increased slightly. Municipal Bonds, as an asset class, have typically been susceptible to an increase in long-term rates. Therefore, Municipal Bonds were under pressure in the first quarter of 2022. We see relative value opportunities in closed end funds, which traded at discounts to NAV and offered competitive yields. However, we are cautious to add exposure as the technical picture in Municipal Bonds is still poor and we believe this will continue to pressure all security types in the asset class.
The U.S. Treasury allocation in the Fund increased. We invested in short term U.S. Treasuries in order to minimize the cash drag from the larger allocation of cash given our desire for the Fund to remain liquid. However, the Cash equivalent allocation in the Fund decreased. Overall, a combination of cash and short dated U.S. Treasuries increased as we continued to be patient and look to further aggregate cash flows generated from the securities held by the Fund. We may continue to reinvest any cash flows received into short term U.S. Treasuries and/or other short duration investments in order to prepare for any corrections and/or better entry points.
We deployed various hedges during the period to counter a portion of the duration exposure.
Outlook and Conclusion
We believe most of the pricing pressure (inflation) due to current shortages and supply chain disruptions have already started to abate (albeit slowly) and we do not expect wages to grow fast enough to sustain long-term inflation. Certain commodities and inflationary metrics have already come down off their recently recorded highs (for example, used cars, lumber and coal). We do acknowledge that certain inflationary elements such as home prices and wages may remain historically high, while owner equivalent rent (“OER,” which contributes to approximately one-third of U.S. consumer price index) may continue to rise in the near term as it has lagged the sharp increase experienced in U.S. housing indices over the last year and a half.
On the other hand, if incremental government spending is injected into the economy and/or more of the unemployed population re-enters the workforce now that COVID-19 related unemployment insurance benefits have all officially expired and stimulus related savings have been spent, inflationary pressures may re-emerge if demand continues to outweigh supply. We view this as less likely as it appears the inflationary pressures will not be sustained at these historically high levels, and we anticipate them decreasing to more normal historical levels faster than the Fed is currently expecting. We think other variables could potentially provide headwinds for the Fed to raise rates for a sustained period as it has messaged. The U.S. is still dealing with potential geopolitical issues in Eastern Europe and Asia, COVID-19 related supply chain constraints, and worse than anticipated employment metrics and inflation gauges which may cause the Fed to delay its scheduled easing.
In general, the greatest headwind to the Fund is its lower duration and cash equivalents exposure, which are the things that are potentially cushioning it from inflation, rising U.S. Treasury yields, credit deterioration, etc. We are constantly monitoring rates, as we are aware that our largest allocations in Preferred Securities and ACMBS can be somewhat sensitive to longer U.S. Treasuries.
We continue to be wary of and avoid highly credit sensitive asset classes (e.g. High Yield Corporate Bonds), although they are currently much more fairly priced on a risk-adjusted basis than they have been in a few years. In our view, we will remain tentative to rotate into such investments as they have a meaningfully higher probability of default. We will look to take advantage of investment opportunities in this space on a tactical basis.
5

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
As always, we remain diligent and patient as we focus on avoiding positions that have the potential to experience extreme illiquidity, which could be caused by an unforeseen event. We will seek to capitalize on portfolio rotation, asset allocation, opportunistic investing, etc. We do not currently see any obvious fundamental issues in any of the asset classes / sectors in which the Fund is currently invested.
The Fund is conservatively positioned and liquid. We anticipate allocating that liquidity into more optimal risk-adjusted returns on a tactical basis and believe that our active portfolio management methodologies will be important going forward.
Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in the Touchstone Flexible Income Fund - Class A* and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
Average Annual Total Returns**
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class A -4.93% 2.12% 3.14%
Class C -3.47% 2.55% 3.13%
Class Y -1.61% 3.56% 4.02%
Institutional Class* -1.45% 3.68% 4.11%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index -4.15% 2.14% 2.24%
* The chart above represents performance of Class A shares only, which will vary from the performance of Class C shares, Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares based on the differences in sales loads and fees paid by shareholders in the different classes. The inception date of Institutional Class shares was September 10, 2012. Institutional Class shares performance information was calculated using the historical performance of Class Y shares for the periods prior to September 10, 2012. The returns have been restated for sales loads and fees applicable to Institutional Class shares.
** The average annual total returns shown above are adjusted for maximum sales loads and fees, if applicable. The maximum offering price per share of Class A shares is equal to the net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus a sales load equal to 3.36% of the NAV (or 3.25% of the offering price). Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00%. The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the shares being redeemed or (2) the NAV of such shares being redeemed, if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase. Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares are not subject to sales charges.
The performance of the above Fund does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
Note to Chart
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index comprised of U.S. investment grade, fixed rate bond market securities, including government, government agency, corporate and mortgage-backed securities between one and ten years.
6

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited)
Touchstone Focused Fund
Sub-Advised by Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
Investment Philosophy
The Touchstone Focused Fund seeks to provide investors with capital appreciation by investing  in companies of all capitalizations that are trading below what is believed to be the estimate of their intrinsic value and have a sustainable competitive advantage or a high barrier to entry in place. The barrier(s) to entry can be created through a cost advantage, economies of scale, high customer loyalty or a government barrier (e.g. license or subsidy). The Fund's sub-advisor, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., believes that the strongest barrier to entry is the combination of economies of scale and high customer loyalty.
Fund Performance
The Touchstone Focused Fund (Class A Shares) underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 3000® Index, for the twelve month period ended March 31, 2022.  The Fund’s total return was 9.38% (calculated excluding the maximum sales charge) while the benchmark’s total return was 11.92%.
Market Environment
For the 12 months ended March 31, 2022, the performance of the U.S. equity market as reflected by the Russell 3000® Index was generally positive. The market did experience volatility however as investors grappled with several headwinds. In the third quarter of 2021, items that concerned investors included COVID-19 Delta variant spread, anti-business Chinese regulatory action, and rising inflation driven by supply constraints. U.S. equities rallied during the fourth quarter to reach all-time highs ending 2021. In the first quarter of 2022, the equity markets pulled back amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine and persistently high inflation readings. Among the benchmark sectors that performed best for the period were Energy, Real Estate, and Information Technology. The Communication Services, Industrials, and Consumer Discretionary sectors were the worst performers.
Portfolio Review
Within the Fund’s portfolio, the sectors that outperformed the most relative to the benchmark were Health Care, Financials, and Information Technology. Among the sectors that lagged the most relative to the benchmark included Materials, Consumer Discretionary, and Consumer Staples. Stock selection positively added to relative performance however, sector allocation more than offset the security selection gains, primarily driving the Fund to underperform the benchmark during the period.  Negative sector allocation decisions were driven primarily by an overweight to the Communication Services sector and an underweight to the Energy sector. 
The three stocks that contributed the most to performance were Alphabet Inc. (Communication Services sector), Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (Real Estate sector), and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Financials sector). Alphabet outperformed primarily due to a rebound in digital advertising as the economy recovered from the pandemic. Jones Lang LaSalle outperformed primarily due to reporting strong margin expansion and revenue growth as the commercial property market continued to recover from the pandemic. Berkshire Hathaway outperformed due to strong performance from its various businesses, share buy backs during the period, and exposure to inflation resistant businesses. 
Stocks detracting from performance include Meta Platforms, Inc. (Communication Services sector), Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. (Consumer Discretionary sector), and Allegiant Travel Company (Industrials sector).  Meta underperformed after the company issued lower than expected earnings guidance and reported lower than expected earnings during the first quarter of 2022 due to higher investments in the Meta and Reels segments. Alibaba underperformed primarily due to investor concern over government intervention in China. Allegiant underperformed primarily due to the COVID-19 Delta variant’s impact on travel and elevated fuel costs toward the end of the period.
From a market capital (cap) perspective, the Fund ended the period with no weight in smaller cap stocks (companies with a market cap below $2 billion).  This allocation decision had a positive impact to performance during the period as small cap stocks underperformed. Among the remainder of the market cap segments relative to the benchmark, the Fund ended the period with an overweight in mid-cap businesses (companies with a market cap between $2 billion and $10 billion) and an underweight to larger cap businesses (companies with a market cap above $10 billion).  Cash holdings ended the period at 2.7 percent.
Investments made in international companies, which comprised 2.2 percent of assets at the end of the period, underperformed the benchmark.
During the period, the Fund added Smartsheet Inc. (Information Technology sector), Coca-Cola FEMSA (Consumer Discretionary sector), BioMarin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Health Care sector), Visa Inc. (Information Technology sector), Airbnb,
7

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
Inc. (Consumer Discretionary sector), Markel Corp. (Financials sector), and Paypal Holdings, Inc. (Information Technology sector). The Fund exited Starbucks Corp. (Consumer Discretionary sector), Avnet, Inc. (Information Technology sector), JD.com Inc. (Consumer Discretionary sector), International Business Machines Corp. (Information Technology sector), Trip.com Group Ltd. (Consumer Discretionary sector), and Signature Bank (Financials sector).
As the period came to a close, the Fund had an overweight in Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, and Financials sectors and an underweight in the Energy, Materials, Consumer Staples, Information Technology, and Real Estate sectors. The weights in the Healthcare and Industrial sectors were roughly in line with the index. The Fund held no positions in the Utilities sector.
Outlook and Conclusion
During the first quarter of 2022, the macroeconomic environment took a notable turn with uncertainty increasing primarily due to the Russia invasion of Ukraine and persistently high inflation readings. The quarter included a brief 10-year/2-year yield curve inversion, significant increases in commodity prices, and a major shift in monetary policy expectations with the rates market moving from pricing in three quarter point hikes in 2022 to nine quarter point hikes. While the U.S. economy is still healthy by virtue of strong consumer demand, business spending, and labor market conditions, we see an elevated probability of a slowdown in the back half of the year mainly due to the lag effects of higher interest rates and higher prices. 
Based on our outlook, we have been mitigating risk through a combination of long standing elements of our process and gradual shifts in portfolio positioning. Several components of our process help mitigate the impact of higher inflation and interest rates. First, consistently using conservative discount rates provides a cushion when rates rise. Second, focusing on barriers to entry in fundamental analysis, specifically businesses with pricing power, is especially important today as companies are increasingly looking to pass on cost pressures. Last, prioritizing a margin of safety with each holding provides additional risk mitigation for challenging market environments. Over the last 12-months, the team has been gradually reducing risk in terms of both sector weights and exposures within sectors. Sector weights in Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services have decreased while the Consumer Staples weight and the cash position have increased. Within Financials for example, we have shifted weight from a bank with growing exposure to crypto to a more traditional specialty lines property and casualty insurance business. 
The Fund continues to emphasize businesses with higher barriers to entry and returns on capital. We have continued to gradually dial back risk in the portfolio while looking for opportunities that fit our framework through the volatility. We believe this moderate shift in risk posture combined with continued disciplined execution of our process will benefit the Fund going forward
8

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in the Touchstone Focused Fund - Class A*, the Russell 3000® Index and the S&P 500® Index
Average Annual Total Returns**
Touchstone Focused Fund 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class A 3.91% 12.65% 12.88%
Class C* 7.58% 13.15% 13.09%
Class Y 9.71% 14.33% 13.87%
Institutional Class 9.75% 14.41% 13.98%
Russell 3000® Index 11.92% 15.40% 14.28%
S&P 500® Index 15.65% 15.99% 14.64%
* The chart above represents performance of Class A shares only, which will vary from the performance of Class C shares, Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares based on the differences in sales loads and fees paid by shareholders in the different classes. The inception date of Class C shares was April 12, 2012. Class C shares performance information was calculated using the historical performance of Class Y shares for the periods prior to April 12, 2012. The returns have been restated for sales loads and fees applicable to Class C shares.
** The average annual total returns shown above are adjusted for maximum sales loads and fees, if applicable. The maximum offering price per share of Class A shares is equal to the net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus a sales load equal to 5.26% of the NAV (or 5.00% of the offering price). Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00%. The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the shares being redeemed or (2) the NAV of such shares being redeemed, if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase. Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares are not subject to sales charges.
The performance of the above Fund does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
Notes to Chart
Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market.
S&P 500® Index is a group of 500 widely held stocks and is commonly regarded to be representative of the large capitalization stock universe.
The Frank Russell Company (FRC) is the source and owner of the Russell 3000® Index data contained or reflected in this material and all trademarks and copyrights related thereto. The material may contain confidential information and unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, dissemination or redistribution is strictly prohibited. This is a Touchstone Investments presentation of the data, and FRC is not responsible for the formatting or configuration of this material or for any inaccuracy in the presentation thereof.
9

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited)
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund
Sub-Advised by Rockefeller & Co., LLC
Investment Philosophy
The Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The Fund primarily invests in equity securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies and generally focuses on larger, more established companies. The Fund selects investments based on an evaluation of a company’s sustainability and impact practices which considers environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts and risks of a company, how well the company manages these impacts and risks, and ascertains the company’s willingness and ability to take a leadership position in implementing best practices.
Fund Performance
The Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund (Class A Shares) underperformed its benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index, for the 12-month period ended March 31, 2022. The Fund’s total return was -0.98% (calculated excluding the maximum sales charge), while the total return of the benchmark was 7.28%.
Market Environment
The 12-month period ending March 31, 2022 marked the transition from pandemic recovery to the prospects of normalcy as vaccination rates rose and borders slowly re-opened.  Market returns were weaker than the prior year with the U.S. still posting solid returns, which outperformed Europe’s results while equities in the Asia Pacific region declined.  Vaccine rollouts in the U.S. began to accelerate during the spring months, allowing the U.S. to recover faster than other markets as it gradually scaled back COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.  Other regions were one to two quarters behind the U.S. in dispersing vaccines, but Asia’s “COVID-Zero” policy weighed on global GDP.
Over the course of the past year, global economies faced COVID-19 flare-ups such as the Delta variant during the summer months and the less contagious Omicron variant in late November.  In each instance, the Chicago Board Options Exchange's CBOE Volatility Index spiked, depressing the 10-year yield, and the markets sold off but recovered given lower fatality rates.  Nonetheless, the uncertainty associated with these new variants was a hindrance to the re-opening of economies.
U.S. consumers remained resilient as government stimulus programs and improving unemployment rates strengthened household balance sheets.  Using credit card balances as a barometer, balances in the U.S. declined from the fourth quarter 2019 to the fourth quarter 2021.  Yet, over the course of calendar year 2021, U.S. consumers continued to spend a higher share of their disposable income on durable goods averaging $2.0 trillion annualized vs $1.5 trillion prior to the pandemic.  The step up in consumption levels, combined with lean inventories and supply chain issues, forced inflation rates higher over the course of the year.
Supply chain bottlenecks have been a persistent problem since the COVID-19 outbreak.  The problem manifested itself in two forms: not enough labor and not enough components to manufacture the product.  The effects of lower inventory of goods and stimulus induced spending pushed the U.S. Consumer Price Index from 2.6% in March 2021 to 7.9% as of February 2022.  U.S. Federal Reserve Board (Fed) Chair, Jerome Powell, had maintained that inflation was “transitory” for the majority of 2021 but changed that stance in November.  10-year U.S. Treasury yields rose from 1.4%, when the word “transitory” was dropped, to 2.3% by the end of March 2022 in anticipation of rising Fed Funds Rate.
High inflation rates weighed on consumer sentiment with the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index declining from 85.5 in June 2021 to 59.4 in March 2022.  The unfortunate circumstances surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine only exacerbated the inflation problem.  The subsequent global response to the Ukrainian invasion has been a tidal wave of sanctions against Russian entities paralyzing segments of global trade namely energy and agriculture.  As a result, Brent crude prices spiked north of $100/bbl, European gas prices tripled on the onset of Russian attack and have since settled 50% higher, and grain prices have soared.  
High commodity costs also influenced the foreign exchange markets over the past six months.  Resource rich exporting nations experienced a strengthening of their currencies such as the Brazilian Real and Australian dollar, while net importers face headwinds such as the Japanese Yen and Euro. In addition to swift currency movement, we think the current account balances could experience a deterioration with Asian countries most exposed to this risk.
China became collateral damage to Russian sanctions in early March 2022 as investors sold Chinese stocks fearing that China would be sanctioned for transacting with Russia. The Chinese market has underperformed since late 2020 as the regulatory environment became challenging and the property market deteriorated. 
10

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
The U.S. market continued its outperformance due to stable regulatory environment, innovative companies, and strong capital markets.  Growth dramatically outperformed Value from April 2021 to December 2021 as lingering global COVID-19 infection surges delayed economic openings and a dovish Fed position continued for most of the year in support of long duration equities.  It is worth noting that the U.S. economy performed well during this period, and companies outperformed earnings expectations for the year.  2021 Earnings Per Share estimates for the S&P 500 Index was $175 in April 2021 but was revised higher during the year to finish at $207.  However, as expectations of inflation continued to increase, 10-year yields began to follow suit in anticipation of pending rate increases during January 2022 and February 2022.  The impact of this was a significant decline in long duration equities while the reflation trade performed positively in the final quarter of the 12-month period. 
From a sector perspective, Energy, Health Care, and Information Technology were the strongest sectors while Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, and Industrials were the weakest.
Portfolio Review
The Fund underperformed the benchmark on a relative basis, due primarily to stock selection within Health Care and Consumer Discretionary sectors and in part to the Fund’s relative underweight to Energy and Metal & Mining, which outperformed during the period on the back of higher commodity prices.  On a regional basis, North America was the largest detractor during the period.
Healthcare, led by weakness in BridgeBio and Koninklijke Philips NV ("Philips"), was the largest detracting sector.  BridgeBio’s weakness was a result of a phase 3 study for ATTR-CM, an under-diagnosed heart condition whereby the heart muscle stiffens and leads to heart failure.  BridgeBio’s acoramidis failed to meet its primary end-point with patients on the drug performing no better than those on placebo. We sold the Fund’s position during the period.  Philips was negatively impacted by supply chain disruptions and litigation risks stemming from the recall of their CPAP device.  The recalled product represents approximately four percent of sales and we believe the impact to market value likely exceeds the future litigation costs.
Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. was the largest detracting stock due to regulatory changes occurring across many industries in China.  We view the sell-off in Alibaba as overdone and with the stock selling at 15x expected earnings, consider the political and regulatory risk already priced into the valuation. 
Industrials was the largest contributing sector, with shares of RELX PLC contributing on improving growth in Risk and Science Technical & Medical.  Within Financials, First Horizon Corp. was one of the largest contributors during the period as the stock price rallied following news of takeover by TD Bank.
The Fund made several changes during the 12-month period, including the additions of RELX, Elanco Animal Health Inc., Centene Corp, and Epiroc AB-A.  
In early 2021, the Fund initiated a position in RELX. RELX, a U.K.-based information services company, develops information-based analytics and decision tools in the Scientific, Technical & Medical, Risk, Legal and Exhibitions sectors. We view these as steady businesses with solid barriers to entry and recurring revenues, which are not currently being reflected in the valuation.  RELX scores high across the board on ESG metrics, including in key areas of privacy and data security and talent attraction and retention.
 In the third quarter 2021, the Fund initiated a position in Elanco Animal Health Inc. Elanco Animal Health is a U.S.- based provider of farm animal and pet health medicine. We believe there is a longer-term margin expansion opportunity, in part due to its acquisition of Bayer’s animal health business and the expected synergies, and due to revenue growth acceleration as drugs in its pipeline rollout.  We believe the company has room for improvement in their Board composition, product quality and safety, and corporate compliance. The company has demonstrated focus on improving their ESG quality by conducting an ESG materiality assessment, disclosing the company’s environmental impact and establishing goals in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. 
In the fourth quarter 2021, the Fund initiated a position in Centene, a U.S.-based leading managed care organization (MCO) providing insurance products for government sponsored healthcare programs such as Medicaid, Health Exchanges and Medicare Advantage. As a preeminent provider of government sponsored health plans, we believe Centene should be able to grow topline growth driven by population growth, medical cost inflation, program expansion and share gains for both the MCO industry in general and Centene specifically. Additionally, Centene has a margin expansion plan into 2024.  With the stock trading at the low end of its peers and below historical averages, we view the company as attractive given this earnings growth profile. Focus areas of engagement include health and demographic risk and privacy and data security.
In the first quarter 2022, the Fund initiated a position in Epiroc.  Epiroc, based in Sweden, is a leading manufacturer of mining equipment and on the cutting edge of automating mining processes. Mining is inherently a dangerous activity given remote locations and hazardous conditions. We believe the company should benefit from increased demand as customers display greater willingness to adopt automated mining equipment, which will enhance worker safety and improve yields. Epiroc is a leader in working to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint by beginning to roll out electrified powertrains to help lower greenhouse gas
11

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
emissions and targeting emission-free underground equipment by 2025 and 2030 for surface equipment. The company’s sustainability goals, including halving its Co2 emissions by 2030, were approved last year by the Science Based Targets Initiative as being in line with keeping global warming at a maximum 15o C, consistent with the latest climate science and the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement.
The Fund also eliminated several positions including Aflac Inc., Agnico Eagle Mines, Kohl’s Corp, and First Horizon Corp.  Aflac was sold as we found its valuation unattractive given its lack of revenue and earnings growth as new policy sales continue to be sluggish in both Japan and the U.S.  We sold Kohl’s as it approached our price target after significantly outperforming.  First Horizon was sold on news of a takeover offer by TD Bank.
Outlook and Conclusion
We believe the recent rise in the U.S. treasury yields is indication of a delayed appreciation by the markets, and central banks, of the increasing inflationary pressures brought on by pandemic-related stimulus and monetary policy. As such, this has led to multiple contractions in areas of the market where valuations were elevated, and the start of a rotation towards more reasonably valued areas of the market. We believe this rotation has room to continue, with the recent geopolitical tensions leading to a temporary disruption to this trend as investors have flocked back to growth stocks reflecting increased concerns about recession.  However, the markets will likely pivot whenever there is a lasting ceasefire with recent leaders like oil & gas, chemicals, and defense taking a backseat to financials and industrials.  In the meanwhile, companies with stretched balance sheets will likely be hurt until recession fears are allayed. With the timing of a ceasefire hard to predict, we believe the prudent course of action is to extend horizons past this war and stay invested in durable businesses over the long-term that are not dependent on Russia to sell their products or to produce key inputs for their business.  Ultimately, we expect much of the world to look the same and to snap back from this conflict, but the relationship with Russia will likely remain strained for years.
We continue to believe that a normalization of interest rates should be a positive contributor to our strategy as long duration equities face multiple compression offset by financials and other reflationary sectors.  While Brent crude oil prices have spiked in recent months due to Russian sanctions, we believe that directionally, the probabilities are starting to skew towards modestly weaker prices.  Sequential energy cost improvement should benefit global consumers especially within the non-U.S. markets, which would be supportive of those markets.
12

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in the Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund - Class A* and the MSCI All Country World Index
Average Annual Total Returns**
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class A -5.94% 7.68% 8.33%
Class C -2.71% 8.05% 8.30%
Class Y -0.74% 9.23% 9.25%
Institutional Class* -0.74% 9.25% 9.28%
MSCI All Country World Index 7.28% 11.64% 10.00%
* The chart above represents performance of Class A shares only, which will vary from the performance of Class C shares, Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares based on the differences in sales loads and fees paid by shareholders in the different classes. The inception date of Institutional Class shares was May 4, 2015. Institutional Class shares performance information was calculated using the historical performance of Class A shares for periods prior to May 4, 2015. The returns have been restated for sales loads and fees applicable to Institutional Class shares.
** The average annual total returns shown above are adjusted for maximum sales loads and fees, if applicable. The maximum offering price per share of Class A shares is equal to the net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus a sales load equal to 5.26% of the NAV (or 5.00% of the offering price). Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00%. The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the shares being redeemed or (2) the NAV of such shares being redeemed, if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase. Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares are not subject to sales charges.
The performance of the above Fund does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
Notes to Chart
MSCI All Country World Index measures the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets.
MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used to create indices or financial products. This report is not approved or produced by MSCI.
13

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited)
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund
Sub-Advised by Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Investment Philosophy
The Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund seeks long-term growth of capital by primarily investing in stocks of U.S. companies with large, medium and small market capitalizations. The Fund’s portfolio managers place focus on companies they believe to have demonstrated records of achievement with excellent prospects for earnings growth over a 1- to 3-year period. The Fund's sub-advisor, Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P., looks for companies that it believes are reasonably priced with high forecasted earnings potential.
Fund Performance
The Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund (Class A Shares) underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 3000® Growth Index, for the 12-month period ended March 31, 2022. The Fund’s total return was 10.48% (calculated excluding the maximum sales charge), while the total return of the benchmark was 12.86%.
Market Environment
The 12-month market and economic environment ending March 31, 2022 is best described in its quarterly sub-periods. Beginning with the second quarter of 2021, which marked the fifth consecutive quarterly gain since the first quarter 2020 COVID-19-related sell-off, secular growth stocks outperformed pro-cyclical stocks and value, as a factor. U.S. equities finished the third quarter 2021 primarily lower as investors digested a myriad of concerns including the COVID-19 Delta variant, ‘peak everything,’ persistent supply chain disruptions, and rising input costs. U.S. equities rose in the final quarter of 2021 to close out the year near all-time highs, despite a tumultuous final month in which the COVID-19 Omicron variant swept across the globe with astonishing speed and the U.S Federal Reserve Board (Fed) pivoted policy to tackle rising inflationary pressures. After notching fresh all-time highs in the first days of 2022, U.S. equities ended the year’s first quarter markedly lower, booking the first quarterly decline since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Growth lagged value and small caps lagged large caps over first quarter 2022 as slowing growth, persistent inflation, the COVID-19 Omicron variant, and increased recessionary fears plagued investor sentiment. Central to the narrative for the quarter was the breakout of war in Ukraine, which created a tragic humanitarian crisis, but also exacerbated already disrupted supply chains and drove sharp price responses in commodity markets already reeling from supply/demand imbalances. For U.S. equities, this uncertainty created by an unclear geopolitical outcome was compounded further by increasingly hawkish Fed posturing. Expectations for interest rate hikes in 2022 jumped in rather dramatic fashion from two hikes estimated at the beginning of the year to nine at period-end. The result of swiftly changing market expectations impacted all corners of the market during the final quarter of the period as risk was repriced across the investable universe.
From a style perspective within the broad U.S. equities market, value equities outperformed growth in the small- and mid-cap segments, but large-cap growth equities continued to outpace their large-cap value counterparts.
Within the Russell 3000® Growth Index, all sectors generated positive returns with the lone exception of Materials. Energy was the strongest sector by a wide margin, but the Information Technology, Financials, and Consumer Staples sectors outperformed the broader Index. In terms of factor performance, the earnings yield factor, a proxy for value, and volatility outperformed.
Portfolio Review
The Fund’s relative underperformance was driven by relative weakness within Information Technology, Health Care and Consumer Discretionary, which outweighed relative strength within Communication Services and Energy.
The Information Technology sector was the primary detractor from relative results during the period. Financial Technology company Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. was the largest detractor from relative results. Fidelity underperformed as investors rotated away from growth at a reasonable price (GARP) fintech towards high growth, high multiple payments and value financials, including banks. The market has decided that larger, slower-growing payment companies are ceding share at an accelerating pace. We think this is exaggerated, and believe the market is missing the magnitude of the cyclical recovery in volumes and revenue yields in the merchant segment and the duration of the growth opportunity in the banking segment. Additionally, the Fund’s underweight position to Microsoft Corporation weighed on relative results. Microsoft outperformed following better than expected results and strong guidance throughout the year. The Fund maintains a large position in Microsoft, but is underweight given the large benchmark weight, as we have allocated capital to other areas, which we believe have more attractive risk/reward.
Health Care also detracted from performance. Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc. a targeted precision oncology company, detracted from relative returns within the sector as data from its two lead assets missed investor expectations. We exited the position following the negative data release as we thought it no long represented a “best idea” within the sector. Biopharmaceutical company, Biogen,
14

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
Inc. also detracted from relative results. Biogen underperformed around negative headlines for its approved Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm. In November, headlines broke of Aduhelm patients experiencing brain swelling, which was an additional drag on sentiment. In addition, the company lowered near term expectations for Aduhelm. Given this backdrop, we decided to exit the position to fund other ideas with what we believed have better risk/reward characteristics.
Consumer Discretionary sector also detracted from performance. Optical retailer National Vision Holdings, Inc. detracted from relative results. Management has been conservative historically, but uncertainty created by cycling challenging prior year comparisons coupled with some difficult to predict timing issues combined with guidance that fell short of investor expectations put pressure on the stock. Over a multi-year period, we believe National Vision’s sales performance and market share gains remain impressive and consistent with its long-term trend rate of growth. We continue to favor the stock believing its market share gain opportunity remains compelling among low-cost solutions, and we think the business should continue to generate consistent sales and profit growth at an attractive valuation.
Communication Services was the strongest relative performing sector during the period driven by strong stock selection. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. a global entertainment promotor, operator and manager contributed to relative outperformance. The stock rose after the company reported impressive results during the period, importantly with strong leading indicators for tour lineups for the 2022/2023 calendar year. Moving forward, we believe Live Nation is poised to capitalize on increased attendance at in-person entertainment events as restrictions and concerns ease, and pent-up demand is released across the globe.
Energy also contributed to relative returns. Devon Energy Corporation, an oil and natural gas exploration and production company, was a top contributor over the period. The stock outperformed as investors came to appreciate the discipline of their healthy dividends and robust buybacks combined with rising oil prices. Oil prices were already up double digits prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which applied further upward pressure on oil prices, in turn driving the stock price higher. We believe Devon has the potential to generate a substantial portion of its market cap in cash while simultaneously growing in the low-single-digits, which is attractive given the highly inflationary backdrop.
We continue to believe having a balance of high-quality cyclical and secular growth companies will provide more consistency over time. Depending on the market environment and where we are finding the best earnings growth opportunities, we will tilt the portfolio to take advantage of the current opportunity set. For example, in 2021, we were finding the most significant earnings upside potential in cyclicals and recovery-oriented stocks. As a result, we added to our cyclical/recovery exposure in 2021. More recently, we have been taking advantage of the market volatility and adding to some high conviction, higher growth, high quality names as valuations have become more attractive. This was especially apparent within Communication Services and Information Technology sectors, where we have added the most exposure over the last year. For example, we recently purchased ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc. in Communication Services, and Marvell Technology, Inc. and HubSpot, Inc. within Information Technology.
The Fund’s largest sector change was in Health Care, as we rotated capital into the sectors discussed above. Despite these changes, the Fund continues to have a healthy absolute weight in Health Care and remains overweight relative to the benchmark as we believe the sector has a great secular backdrop and innovation, especially within biopharma and medical devices,
It is important to remember that we take a bottom-up, fundamental approach when identifying securities for inclusion within the Fund and sector exposures are the result of our fundamental conviction in individual companies.
Outlook and Conclusion
The central debate from here revolves around the strong possibility of the U.S. cascading into a recession. We believe that waning fiscal stimulus, slowing earnings growth, and second order effects from conflict in Eastern Europe will create an environment in which the economy is unable to endure an interest rate hiking cycle. In addition, the fabled 10-year/2-year yield curve inversion has been repeatedly cited as evidence of the strong possibility of recession in the U.S. We understand the challenges of today’s market and the uncertainty present however would contend that many crosscurrents exist. Counterbalancing some of the market threats listed previously are strong, if not robust, consumer balance sheets with massive built up savings, strong corporate balance sheets with low leverage, a healthy labor market flush with available jobs, and limited investment alternatives to equities given the negative real interest rates. We anticipate that the environment will continue to be a stock-picker’s market and will remain favorable to our investment style moving forward.
We believe that companies with strong underlying earnings growth that trade at reasonable valuations will be favored at the expense of high multiple momentum growth stocks. If the market environment plays out like we think it will, with rising interest rates and rising inflation, earnings multiples are likely to compress with the most pronounced impact being felt by those companies with the longest duration assets most heavily influenced by discount rates. In addition, falling correlations are increasing the importance and impact of good stock picking. With persistent inflation likely for the foreseeable future, our focus will remain on high-quality
15

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
operators with pricing power, which are, positioned advantageously for uncertain input costs and continued supply chain disruptions. We believe having a balanced portfolio of secular and cyclical growth will lead to favorable results over time and market environments.
Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in the Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund - Class A* and the Russell 3000® Growth Index
Average Annual Total Returns**
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class A 4.96% 17.58% 14.45%
Class C 8.77% 18.09% 14.44%
Class Y 10.75% 19.28% 15.43%
Institutional Class 10.84% 19.40% 15.54%
Russell 3000® Growth Index 12.86% 20.16% 16.64%
* The chart above represents performance of Class A shares only, which will vary from the performance of Class C shares, Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares based on the differences in sales loads and fees paid by shareholders in the different classes.
** The average annual total returns shown above are adjusted for maximum sales loads and fees, if applicable. The maximum offering price per share of Class A shares is equal to the net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus a sales load equal to 5.26% of the NAV (or 5.00% of the offering price). Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00%. The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the shares being redeemed or (2) the NAV of such shares being redeemed, if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase. Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares are not subject to sales charges.
The performance of the above Fund does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
Notes to Chart
Russell 3000® Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell 3000® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.
The Frank Russell Company (FRC) is the source and owner of the Index data contained or reflected in this material and all trademarks and copyrights related thereto. The material may contain confidential information and unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, dissemination or redistribution is strictly prohibited. This is a Touchstone Investments presentation of the data, and FRC is not responsible for the formatting or configuration of this material or for any inaccuracy in the presentation thereof.
16

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited)
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund
Sub-Advised by Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Investment Philosophy
The Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund seeks to increase the value of Fund shares by primarily investing in stocks of mid-cap U.S. companies. The Fund’s portfolio managers place focus on companies that they believe to have a demonstrated record of achievement with excellent prospects for earnings growth over a 1-to-3-year period. The Fund's sub-advisor, Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P., looks for companies that it believes are reasonably priced with high forecasted earnings potential.
Fund Performance
The Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund (Class A Shares) outperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap® Growth Index, for the 12-month period ended March 31, 2022. The Fund’s total return was 7.43% (calculated excluding the maximum sales charge), while the total return of the benchmark was -0.89%.
Market Environment
The 12-month market and economic environment ending March 31, 2022 is best described in its quarterly sub-periods. Beginning with the second quarter of 2021, which marked the fifth consecutive quarterly gain since the first quarter 2020 COVID-19-related sell-off, secular growth stocks outperformed pro-cyclical stocks and value, as a factor. U.S. equities finished the third quarter of 2021 primarily lower as investors digested a myriad of concerns including the COVID-19 Delta variant, ‘peak everything,’ persistent supply chain disruptions, and rising input costs. U.S. equities rose in the final quarter of 2021 to close out the year near all-time highs, despite a tumultuous final month in which the COVID-19 Omicron variant swept across the globe with astonishing speed and the U.S Federal Reserve Board (Fed) pivoted policy to tackle rising inflationary pressures. After notching fresh all-time highs in the first days of 2022, U.S. equities ended the year’s first quarter markedly lower, booking the first quarterly decline since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Growth lagged value and small caps lagged large caps over first quarter 2022 as slowing growth, persistent inflation, the COVID-19 Omicron variant, and increased recessionary fears plagued investor sentiment. Central to the narrative for the quarter was the breakout of war in Ukraine, which created a tragic humanitarian crisis, but also exacerbated already disrupted supply chains and drove sharp price responses in commodity markets already reeling from supply/demand imbalances. For U.S. equities, this uncertainty created by an unclear geopolitical outcome was compounded further by increasingly hawkish Fed posturing. Expectations for interest rate hikes in 2022 jumped in rather dramatic fashion from two hikes estimated at the beginning of the year to nine at period-end. The result of swiftly changing market expectations impacted all corners of the market during the final quarter of the period as risk was repriced across the investable universe.
Over the entire 12-month period within the broad U.S. equities market, value equities outperformed growth in the small- and mid-cap segments, but large-cap growth equities continued to outpace their large-cap value counterparts.
The Russell Midcap® Growth Index declined modestly, led lower by losses in the Communication Services, Consumer Staples, and Consumer Discretionary sectors. The Energy sector produced outsized gains while Financials, Real Estate, Information Technology and Industrials were also positive. In terms of factor performance within the Index, the momentum and earnings yield factor, a proxy for value, outperformed while the growth and volatility factors underperformed.
Portfolio Review
The Fund’s relative outperformance was driven by stock selection within Communication Services, Financials, and Consumer Discretionary though stock selection was a positive contributor in all sectors. There were no significant detractors on a sector basis during the period.
Communication Services was the strongest relative performer during the period with performance driven by strong stock selection. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. a global entertainment promotor, operator and manager was the top contributing stock within the sector. The stock rose after the company reported impressive results during the period, importantly with strong leading indicators for tour lineups for the 2022/2023 calendar year. Moving forward, we believe Live Nation is poised to capitalize on increased attendance at in-person entertainment events as restrictions and concerns ease, and pent-up demand is released across the globe.
Financials also contributed positively to relative and absolute performance during the year, primarily driven by strong stock selection. The Fund’s holdings across capital markets, consumer finance and insurance all generated positive relative returns. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., which provides insurance brokerage and risk management services, added to relative returns after releasing results during the period that surpassed consensus and provided growth forecasts for 2022, which were above expectations. We believe Arthur J. Gallagher is well-positioned, as the company has shown consistency and is more domestically-focused compared to peers.
17

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
Consumer Discretionary was another source of relative and absolute strength. Beauty products retailor Ulta Beauty, Inc. was the largest contributor to relative results. The stock outperformed following an impressive earnings report where it released strong 2022 earnings per share guidance. While Ulta has seen strong acceleration in same store sales, we believe it can continue to grow through partnerships with new and innovative digitally native brands such a Kylie Cosmetics and continued investment in personalized digital marketing.
We continue to believe having a balance of high-quality cyclical and secular growth companies will provide for consistency over time. Depending on the market environment and where we are finding the best earnings growth opportunities, we will tilt the Fund’s portfolio in an effort to take advantage of the current opportunity set. For example, in 2021, we were finding the most significant earnings upside potential in cyclicals and recovery-oriented stocks. As a result, we added to the Fund’s cyclical/recovery exposure in 2021, including Financials and Energy as we thought names within these areas had the highest earnings recovery potential. Both of these were sources of positive contribution to relative returns. More recently, we have taken advantage of the market volatility and added to some high conviction, higher growth, high quality names as valuations have become more attractive. This was especially apparent within the Information Technology sector, where we have added the most exposure over the last year. For example, within Information Technology we recently bought Zscaler, Inc., a disruptive network security pioneer with leading growth & margins. With a large total addressable market, superior architecture to support sustainable growth, robust sales productivity, alongside a strong management team, we believe that Zscaler provides a compelling risk/reward and long-term opportunity for impressive growth.
The Fund’s largest sector change was in Health Care, as we rotated capital into the sectors discussed above. Despite these changes, the Fund’s absolute exposure remains large and remains overweight relative to its benchmark, as we believe the sector has a great secular backdrop and innovation, especially within biopharma and medical devices.
It is important to remember that we take a bottom-up, fundamental approach when identifying securities for inclusion within the strategy and sector exposures are the result of our fundamental conviction in individual companies.
Outlook and Conclusion
The central debate from here revolves around the strong possibility of the U.S. cascading into a recession. We believe that waning fiscal stimulus, slowing earnings growth, and second order effects from conflict in Eastern Europe will create an environment in which the economy is unable to endure an interest rate hiking cycle. In addition, the fabled 10-year/2-year yield curve inversion has been repeatedly cited as evidence of the strong possibility of recession in the U.S. We understand the challenges of today’s market and the uncertainty present however would contend that many crosscurrents exist. Counterbalancing some of the market threats listed previously are strong, if not robust, consumer balance sheets with massive built up savings, strong corporate balance sheets with low leverage, a healthy labor market flush with available jobs, and limited investment alternatives to equities given the negative real interest rates. We anticipate that the environment will continue to be a stock-picker’s market and will remain favorable to our investment style moving forward.
We believe that companies with strong underlying earnings growth that trade at reasonable valuations will be favored at the expense of high multiple momentum growth stocks. If the market environment plays out like we think it will, with rising interest rates and rising inflation, earnings multiples are likely to compress with the most pronounced impact being felt by those companies with the longest duration assets most heavily influenced by discount rates. In addition, falling correlations are increasing the importance and impact of good stock picking. With persistent inflation likely for the foreseeable future, our focus will remain on high-quality operators with pricing power, which are, positioned advantageously for uncertain input costs and continued supply chain disruptions. We believe having a balanced portfolio of secular and cyclical growth will lead to favorable results over time and market environments.
18

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in the Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund - Class A* and the Russell Midcap® Growth Index
Average Annual Total Returns**
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Class A 2.08% 15.02% 13.42%
Class C 5.76% 15.45% 13.40%
Class Y 7.65% 16.66% 14.38%
Class R6* 7.89% 16.78% 14.50%
Institutional Class 7.79% 16.74% 14.48%
Russell Midcap® Growth Index -0.89% 15.10% 13.52%
* The chart above represents performance of Class A shares only, which will vary from the performance of Class C shares, Class Y shares, Class R6 shares and Institutional Class shares based on the differences in sales loads and fees paid by shareholders in the different classes. The inception date of Class R6 shares was February 10, 2020. Class R6 shares performance information was calculated using the historical performance of Institutional Class shares for periods prior to February 10, 2020. The returns have been restated for fees applicable to Class R6 shares.
** The average annual total returns shown above are adjusted for maximum sales loads and fees, if applicable. The maximum offering price per share of Class A shares is equal to the net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus a sales load equal to 5.26% of the NAV (or 5.00% of the offering price). Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00%. The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the shares being redeemed or (2) the NAV of such shares being redeemed, if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase. Class Y shares, Class R6 shares and Institutional Class shares are not subject to sales charges.
The performance of the above Fund does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
Notes to Chart
Russell Midcap® Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell Midcap® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.
The Frank Russell Company (FRC) is the source and owner of the Index data contained or reflected in this material and all trademarks and copyrights related thereto. The material may contain confidential information and unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, dissemination or redistribution is strictly prohibited. This is a Touchstone Investments presentation of the data, and FRC is not responsible for the formatting or configuration of this material or for any inaccuracy in the presentation thereof.
19

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited)
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund
Sub-Advised by Sands Capital Management, LLC
Investment Philosophy
The Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund invests in equity and equity-related securities issued by companies located in Emerging or Frontier Markets countries. The Fund’s sub-advisor, Sands Capital Management LLC, uses a “bottom-up” approach to investment selection, as opposed to sector or regional allocations that focuses on a company’s long-term business fundamentals. Sands Capital seeks companies that have: sustainable above-average earnings growth; a leadership position in a promising business space; significant competitive advantages such as profitability, superior quality or distribution relative to competitors or strong brand and consumer loyalty; a clear mission in an understandable business model; financial strength; and a rational valuation in relation to competitors, the market and business prospects.
Fund Performance
The Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund (Class A Shares) underperformed its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, for the 12-month period ended March 31, 2022. The Fund’s total return was -25.16% (calculated excluding the maximum sales charge), while the total return of the benchmark was -11.37%.
Market Environment
Emerging Markets growth equities led the decline, which underperformed Emerging Markets value equities. Mid-East & Africa contributed most to the benchmark’s return from a regional perspective, while Emerging Asia was the top detractor. From a sector perspective, Financials and Utilities were top contributors, while Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services detracted the most.
Portfolio Review
The Fund underperformed the benchmark for the 12-month period, as growth equities significantly underperformed value equities. Security selection was the primary driver of relative results, while regional and sector allocation were also headwinds. Currency effect was a modest contributor. No regions positively contributed to the Fund’s relative results for the period, and Asia/Pacific ex-Japan was the top detractor. From a sector perspective, the Health Care sector was a positive contributor, while the Communication Services and Financials sectors were the top detractors.
Among the absolute individual contributors to the Fund’s relative results were Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., Bajaj Finance Ltd., Titan Company Ltd., Globant SA, and Bank Central Asia Tbk PT. Bajaj Finance’s third-quarter fiscal 2021 results (period ended December 31, 2021) were strong, given abating pandemic pressures in India. The business reported its fastest quarter-over-quarter loan growth in years, and its highest-ever absolute profit. Year-over-year metrics are misleading due to pandemic disruptions, but on a quarter-over-quarter basis, the loan book, gross operating income, and net income grew 9, 19, and 44 percent, respectively. Bajaj produced these results despite taking a precautionary excess provision of 60 basis points to cushion any potential impact from a third COVID-19 wave. Asset quality continued to improve, with non-performing loans reaching pre-pandemic levels. Combined with the upfront provisions, we expect Bajaj will be able to normalize credit costs in the coming quarters, supporting further profitability improvements. Finally, phase one of Bajaj’s digital transformation officially launched, and early metrics indicate that its consumer-facing app is gaining traction among the existing borrower base and successfully onboarding new clients. Management disclosed that additional features will continue to be launched every several months through October until the complete platform is live. Bajaj Finance remains one of our highest-conviction financial services businesses. Titan benefited over the past year as the business tracked our investment case. The stock’s price was bolstered by Indian equities more broadly, which outperformed global equities. Our investment case for Titan is simple, in our view: we expect the business to be a primary beneficiary from secular demand growth for jewelry in India, as it leverages its large omnichannel operation to take share from its informal competitors. We then anticipated its scale advantages and higher penetration of studded jewelry to result in margin leverage over time. In the third-quarter of its fiscal 2021 period (ended December 31, 2021), Titan’s jewelry sales grew 33 percent year-over-year, which is notable, given the difficult comparable of 22 percent growth in the comparable quarter last year. In addition to re-opening dynamics, we also believe Titan’s growth was attributable to its digital sales efforts. Titan’s Tanishq website is ranked first for desktop traffic in India, with 3 million monthly visits. Meanwhile, active application users have grown from 30,000 in mid-2000 to 175,000 today. Ultimately, we expect Titan to grow its share of Indian jewelry spending from 6 to 15 percent, driving annualized earnings growth in excess of 25 percent over the next five years. Bank Central Asia benefited from the broader rise in Indonesian equities, along with strong fourth-quarter fiscal 2021 results (period ending December 31, 2021). The business saw a gradual loan growth acceleration in the second half of last year, and expects this momentum to sustain as the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact wanes. Moreover, the tailwinds of a favorable commodity cycle (generally positive for Indonesian macro), rising interest rates, and normalizing credit costs should increase the likelihood of positive earnings surprises going forward. We believe Bank Central Asia
20

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
remains early in capitalizing on its digital initiatives, including its independent digital bank Blu. In its first year of operations, Blu BDA Digital amassed a Know-Your-Customer-vetted customer base of approximately 600,000 and $80 million in deposits (compared with 1.2 million customers and $200 million in deposits at Indonesia’s largest digital bank). While the business remains expensive based on near-term valuation metrics, it remains, in our view, a high-quality banking franchise that faces an improving macro and business outlook.
Among the top individual detractors were Tencent Holdings Ltd., Yandex N.V., Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd., Sea Ltd., and TCS Group Holdings PLC. Tencent fell over the past year, along with Chinese technology shares more broadly, amid persistent geopolitical tensions and regulatory pressures. We have adopted a more negative view on the broader Chinese internet sector, but we still believe Tencent is a compelling business, with a strong management team and several large and under-monetized opportunities, including international AAA games, advertising (Wechat, short video), and software-as-a-service (Tencent Meeting, Tencent Documents, WeCom). We estimate that Tencent’s revenue could be at least 40 percent higher if it monetized these opportunities. Yandex and TCS Group fell, along with Russian equities more broadly, after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. We sold both businesses, as the invasion made it clear to us that Russia is not currently investable for long-term equity investors due to structural governance and geopolitical risks. We had been trimming the Fund’s direct Russian exposure earlier in the year to mitigate risk, but a full-blown invasion was not our base-case scenario. At this time, there’s no way for us to forecast the impact of the conflict and sanctions on Russian businesses or the Russian economy. We will continue to monitor Yandex and TCS Group.
During the period we purchased Haidilao International Holdings, Kanzhun Ltd., TCS Group Holdings PLC, Country Garden Services Holding Co. Ltd., NIO Inc., NAVER Corp., Kakao Pay Corp., One97 Communications Ltd., Nu Holdings Ltd., Tata Consultancy Services, Ltd., and Reliance Industries Ltd. We sold New Oriental Education, Trip, CD Projekt, Prosus, Allegro, Vincom Retail, Yandex, TCS Group, Tencent Music, and One97 Communications.
Regional and sector exposures are largely a byproduct of the Fund’s bottom-up investment process, and the portfolio positioning at the end of the period. Emerging Asia was the strategy’s largest absolute regional weight and Latin America was the largest regional overweight. The Fund had no exposure to Eastern Europe, and Asia/Pacific ex-Japan was the largest underweight. From a country perspective, India was the largest absolute and relative weight. China was the second-largest absolute weight, but also the third-largest underweight, at 24% versus 30% for the benchmark. South Korea was the largest country underweight. The portfolio had no exposure to Russia.
From a sector perspective, Financials was the largest absolute weight and Consumer Discretionary was the largest overweight. The Fund had no exposure to the Utilities sector. The Information Technology sector was the largest underweight.
Outlook and Conclusion
Looking ahead, we anticipate overall growth to reaccelerate over the next several quarters, due to easier comparables and stabilizing regulation. The events and volatility seen this year emphasize to us the importance of seeking growth underpinned by powerful secular forces, which are unlikely to be derailed by changing central bank policy, energy prices, or near-term corporate guidance. If we can identify most of these businesses capable of growing regardless of market environment—and our forecasts are directionally right—then we expect that fundamentals will overwhelm any short-term stock-specific headwinds.
Examples of the secular trends underpinning Fund businesses are: Financial Penetration, Life Sciences Innovation, Mobile Internet, and Industry Digital Transformation.
In Emerging Markets Growth, we seek to add value by “going where the growth is”: seeking to identify those select few businesses that will sustain above-average growth by harnessing innovation and benefiting from secular change.
21

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund - Class A* and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index
Average Annual Total Returns**
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund 1 Year 5 Years Since
Inception*
Class A* -28.91% 7.17% 5.28%
Class C* -26.42% 7.47% 5.19%
Class Y* -24.89% 8.57% 6.25%
Class R6* -24.80% 8.59% 6.27%
Institutional Class* -24.81% 8.66% 6.34%
MSCI Emerging Markets Index -11.37% 5.98% 4.00%
* The chart above represents performance of Class A shares only, which will vary from the performance of Class C shares, Class Y shares, Class R6 shares and Institutional Class shares based on the differences in sales loads and fees paid by shareholders in the different classes. The inception date of Class A shares, Class C shares, Class Y shares, Class R6 shares and Institutional Class shares was November 16, 2018, November 16, 2018, May 9, 2014, April 26, 2021 and May 9, 2014, respectively. Class A shares and Class C shares performance information was calculated using the historical performance of Class Y shares for periods prior to November 16, 2018. Class R6 shares performance information was calculated using the historical performance of Class Y shares for periods prior to April 26, 2021. The returns have been restated for sales loads and fees applicable to Class A shares, Class C shares and Class R6 shares. The returns of the index listed above are based on the inception date of the Fund.
** The average annual total returns shown above are adjusted for maximum sales loads and fees, if applicable. The maximum offering price per share of Class A shares is equal to the net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus a sales load equal to 5.26% of the NAV (or 5.00% of the offering price). Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00%. The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the shares being redeemed or (2) the NAV of such shares being redeemed, if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase. Class Y shares, Class R6 shares and Institutional Class shares are not subject to sales charges.
The performance of the above Fund does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
Notes to Chart
MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets.
MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used to create indices or financial products. This report is not approved or produced by MSCI.
22

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited)
Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
Sub-Advised by Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.
Investment Philosophy
The Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund seeks a high level of current income with a focus on capital preservation by investing primarily in public fixed income securities. The Fund's sub-advisor, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. ("Fort Washington"), employs a high conviction, yield-oriented investment approach with a relatively focused number of issuers, coupled with sector diversification and diligent risk management resulting in attractive risk-adjusted returns via high levels of income.
Fund Performance
The Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund (Class A Shares) outperformed its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, for the 12-month period ended March 31, 2022.  The Fund’s total return was -3.22% (calculated excluding the maximum sales charge) while the total return for the benchmark was -4.15%. Effective July 17, 2021, the AIG Flexible Credit Fund and the AIG Strategic Bond Fund merged into the newly created Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund. The Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund adopted the performance and accounting history of the AIG Strategic Bond Fund (the Predecessor Fund); however, the Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund has a new, separate and distinct investment strategy and sub-advisor. Prior to July 17, 2021, the Fund’s performance history is that of the AIG Strategic Bond Fund.
Market Environment
The market environment over the last 12 months has been full of uncertainty and volatility. The second quarter of 2021 saw a broad reopening of the economy from lockdowns stemming from the COVID-19 global pandemic. This coincided with an improving labor market that saw unemployment reach 3.9% by the end of 2021, despite starting the year at 6.7%. Markets performed exceptionally well during this period as economic growth returned to pre-pandemic levels and financial conditions remained extremely accommodative. Despite progress made through highly effective vaccines to combat COVID-19, several variants emerged throughout the year causing setbacks to the global economic rebound. The first problematic variant, Delta, led to a broad disruption in supply chains across the economy during a period of heightened demand. These supply chain concerns weighed on financial markets while also putting continued upward pressure on inflation. As Delta subsided, the highly contagious Omicron variant spread rapidly across the world. Markets quickly turned volatile as cases spiked, but the severity of the variant was less than expected, and markets rallied into year-end. 
The first quarter of 2022 saw the fading of pandemic-related economic growth concerns, but persistently high inflation continues to shape the outlook for monetary policy and subsequent risks to the economy and risk assets.  Additionally, the Russian invasion of Ukraine introduced a number of short- and long-term concerns, ranging from the direct impacts of higher commodity prices to the geopolitical implications of ongoing military conflict, sanctions, and humanitarian concerns.
U.S. economic growth experienced a sharp rebound in fourth quarter of 2021, growing 6.9%, and we believe is expected to moderate towards trend over the upcoming quarters. The impact of the Omicron variant on economic activity appears to have been limited, evidenced by accelerating monthly job gains over the last several months in the period and consumer spending that was largely unaffected.  Along with strong job growth, above average wage growth bodes well for consumer income and the overall outlook for consumer spending.  Recent increases in food and fuel prices, partly as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, temper this optimism somewhat as consumers will have to spend more of their income on essential items, reducing demand for other discretionary spending.
Business spending has remained resilient, as the economy has faced a number of challenges over the past several quarters.  Strong underlying demand provides a solid foundation, but supply and labor shortages have limited the pace of growth and put upward pressure on input prices.  Supply chains are expected to ease somewhat, but new risks from a resurgence of COVID-19 in China and spillover effects of the invasion of Ukraine are likely to keep these issues at the forefront for longer than anticipated.
Along with consumers and businesses, persistently high inflation is top of mind for the U.S. Federal Reserve Board (Fed). Reported inflation is well above the Fed’s 2% target and is forecast to remain elevated for the next several months.  High inflation combined with a strong labor market outlook has led the Fed to intensify their hawkish stance further in 2022.  In March 2022, the Fed raised rates 25 basis points and indicated further increases were imminent and balance sheet reduction would commence mid-year.  Since then, Fed officials have guided markets to a much faster pace of rate hikes, including the possibility of multiple 50 basis point hikes at upcoming meetings.
Interest rates adjusted sharply higher over the past year to reflect these expectations.  Short-term rates were impacted the most, with the 2-year Treasury increasing 2.2% during the 12-month period.  10- and 30-year Treasury yields were 60 and 4 basis points higher, respectively, resulting in a significant flattening of the yield curve.  Current market expectations are for the Fed to raise the
23

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
Fed Funds rate to ~2.50% by the end of 2022.  As the yield curve has become increasingly flat and inverted in some maturities, markets indicate confidence that the Fed will be able to contain inflation, but also concerned about the impact of tighter policy on future growth.
Risk assets performed well throughout most of 2021 before becoming volatile in the fourth quarter 2021 amid the COVID-19 Omicron wave. They continued to weaken in the first quarter 2022 as markets adjusted to expectations of tighter Fed policy and implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  Credit spreads entered 2022 near the tightest levels seen since 2000, before widening sharply as Ukraine fell under attack. Spreads recovered somewhat but ended the period wider across the spectrum of credit sectors.  Certain regions within Emerging Markets Debt were the most impacted as several countries face important first- and second-order effects of the situation in Ukraine.  Domestic credit spreads, both investment grade and high yield, ended the period below median historical spread levels, reflecting the expectation that economic growth will be able to weather effects of tighter policy and risks from geopolitical tension
Portfolio Review
Both interest rate management and sector allocation drove the relative outperformance compared to the benchmark.
The Fund was positioned with an average duration of approximately 4 years during the period, compared to 6.7 years for the benchmark. Treasury yields moved materially higher during the period, with the 10 Year Treasury yield increasing by 1.1%.  As interest rates moved higher, the shorter duration of the Fund benefited performance compared to the benchmark.
Sector allocation added to performance relative to the benchmark during the period.  An overweight exposure to High Yield was a key contributor to relative returns as the sector outperformed the broader market during the period.
Security selection was a modest contributor to relative returns for the period.  Outperformance within Investment Grade Credit, High Yield, and Securitized all contributed to returns, but were offset by underperformance within Emerging Markets Debt.
Outlook and Conclusion
We believe the macro environment remains supportive of risk assets.  The Fund is positioned to benefit from outperformance of risk assets, as well as security selection opportunities identified by the sub-advisor. 
In terms of the Fund’s risk budget, we are targeting an overweight to spread risk supported by a positive view of the U.S. economy and fair valuations generally near median historical levels. The U.S. economy has considerable momentum, leaving many COVID-19 pandemic-related risks behind, leading to one of the strongest labor markets in history and increasing expectations of solid growth over the next several quarters. Credit spreads experienced volatility in first quarter 2022, but generally reflect the expectation that the economy will remain resilient in spite of emerging risks.  Risks include the impact of Fed tightening on growth and inflation, as well as ongoing risks from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  The effects of tighter monetary policy represent a risk to growth, but we believe underlying momentum is strong and overall growth can remain solid as the Fed begins to raise rates and reduce the balance sheet.  The Fed’s goal will be to reduce inflation to target and generate a “soft landing” for growth. As monetary policy changes, we intend to adjust positioning as these risks evolve.  The impact of the situation in Ukraine has been sharply higher prices in certain commodities and downside risk to growth, focused in Europe.  At this point, we judge these risks as manageable for the U.S. economy unless there is a significant escalation in the conflict.
In terms of positioning for the Fund, sector allocation reflects our overall positive outlook on valuations, attractive relative value, and opportunities within each sector.  We continue to favor non-agency exposure within the securitized debt sector, with an overweight exposure to asset-backed securities, collateralized loan obligations and commercial mortgage-backed securities.  The Fund continues to maintain an exposure to Emerging Markets Debt.  Valuations remain attractive relative to domestic credit, especially in the high yield portion of the market. Latin America remains the largest exposure within the sector.
In terms of interest rate risk and Fund positioning, portfolio duration increased modestly during the period to 4.5 years and the Fund is positioned with a steepening bias.  A significant amount of Fed tightening has been priced into short maturities and we believe yields generally represent fair value.  Long-term rates are at risk to rise if economic growth remains resilient amid the expected policy tightening and potential for faster balance sheet reduction.
Our economic outlook supports credit spreads at current to tighter levels and a steady move higher in rates, particularly in the long-end.  The Fund is positioned to take advantage of this outlook through its overweight to credit spread risk and underweight to duration. The Fund has generated yield through a high conviction multi-sector approach. Its yield has the potential to cushion it from higher interest rates.  In this yield and high interest rate risk environment, we believe the Fund is a compelling solution for fixed income investors.
24

Management's Discussion of Fund Performance (Unaudited) (Continued)
Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in the Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund - Class A* and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
Average Annual Total Returns**
Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund* 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years Since
Inception
Class A -7.75% 1.75% 2.71% 5.46%
Class C -4.97% 2.03% 2.49% 5.22%
Class Y* -2.97% 2.98% 2.90%
Institutional Class* -4.94%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index -4.15% 2.14% 2.24% 4.76%
* The chart above represents performance of Class A shares only, which will vary from the performance of Class C shares, Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares based on the differences in sales loads and fees paid by shareholders in the different classes. The inception date of Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares was January 29, 2015 and July 19, 2021, respectively. The returns of the Index are based on the inception date of the Predecessor Fund.
** The average annual total returns shown above are adjusted for maximum sales loads and fees, if applicable. Effective July 17, 2021, the maximum offering price per share of Class A shares is equal to the net assets value (“NAV”) per share plus a sales load equal to 3.36% of the NAV (or 3.25% of the offering price). Prior to July 17, 2021, the maximum offering price per share of Class A shares was equal to the NAV per share plus a sales load equal to 3.90% of the NAV (or 3.75% of the offering price).Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00%. The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the shares being redeemed or (2) the NAV of such shares being redeemed, if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase. Class Y shares and Institutional Class shares are not subject to sales charges.
The performance of the above Fund does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
Note to Chart
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index comprised of U.S. investment grade, fixed rate bond market securities, including government, government agency, corporate and mortgage-backed securities between one and ten years.
25

Tabular Presentation of Portfolio of Investments (Unaudited)
March 31, 2022
The tables below provide each Fund’s geographic allocation, sector allocation and/or credit quality. We hope it will be useful to shareholders as it summarizes key information about each Fund’s investments.
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund

Credit Quality*(% of Fixed Income Securities)
AAA/Aaa 37.6%
AA/Aa 1.0
A/A 4.4
BBB/Baa 12.8
BB/Ba 4.6
B/B 2.8
Not Rated 36.8
Total 100.0%
Credit Quality*(% of Preferred Stocks)
A/A 4.1%
BBB/Baa 58.1
BB/Ba 31.4
B/B 6.4
Total 100.0%
Sector Allocation**(% of Net Assets)
Fixed Income Securities 63.6%
Preferred Stocks  
Financials 7.6
Utilities 2.1
Energy 0.4
Communication Services 0.2
Investment Funds 8.2
Short-Term U.S. Treasury Obligations 13.0
Short-Term Investment Funds 4.5
Exchange-Traded Fund (2.7)
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net) 3.1
Total 100.0%
Touchstone Focused Fund

Sector Allocation**(% of Net Assets)
Information Technology 26.2%
Health Care 13.4
Consumer Discretionary 13.1
Communication Services 12.5
Financials 12.2
Industrials 9.1
Consumer Staples 4.7
Real Estate 3.1
Energy 1.7
Materials 1.4
Short-Term Investment Fund 2.7
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net) (0.1)
Total 100.0%
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund

Geographic Allocation(% of Net Assets)
Common Stocks  
United States 55.0%
Japan 8.6
France 5.7
Sweden 4.5
South Korea 4.4
Germany 4.0
United Kingdom 3.9
Singapore 2.5
China 2.1
Switzerland 1.9
India 1.7
Italy 1.7
Netherlands 1.4
Denmark 0.7
Thailand 0.7
Short-Term Investment Funds 3.9
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net) (2.7)
Total 100.0%
 
* Credit quality ratings are from S&P Global Ratings ("S&P") and Moody's Investors Service (“Moody's”). If agency ratings differ, the higher rating will be used. Where no rating has been assigned, it may be for reasons unrelated to the creditworthiness of the issuer.
** Sector classifications are based upon the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®).
26

Tabular Presentation of Portfolio of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund

Sector Allocation*(% of Net Assets)
Information Technology 42.8%
Communication Services 13.5
Consumer Discretionary 11.5
Industrials 10.1
Health Care 10.1
Financials 4.6
Consumer Staples 2.4
Real Estate 1.5
Materials 1.5
Energy 1.1
Short-Term Investment Fund 1.0
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net) (0.1)
Total 100.0%
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund

Sector Allocation*(% of Net Assets)
Information Technology 35.2%
Health Care 18.1
Industrials 15.2
Consumer Discretionary 11.0
Financials 8.1
Communication Services 3.9
Real Estate 3.2
Energy 1.9
Materials 1.3
Short-Term Investment Fund 1.9
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net) 0.2
Total 100.0%
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund

Geographic Allocation(% of Net Assets)
Common Stocks  
India 29.6%
China 22.6
Taiwan 13.3
Argentina 10.3
Brazil 8.1
Hong Kong 3.8
South Korea 3.2
Indonesia 2.6
Thailand 1.5
Kazakhstan 1.0
Short-Term Investment Funds 6.4
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net) (2.4)
Total 100.0%
 
* Sector classifications are based upon the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®).
27

Tabular Presentation of Portfolio of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)
Touchstone Strategic Income
Opportunities Fund

Credit Quality*(% of Fixed Income Securities)
AAA/Aaa 9.9%
A/A 12.4
BBB/Baa 48.1
BB/Ba 15.3
B/B 12.0
CCC 1.7
Not Rated 0.6
Total 100.0%
Sector Allocation**(% of Net Assets)
Corporate Bonds 53.1%
Asset-Backed Securities 18.9
U.S. Treasury Obligations 9.3
Common Stocks  
Industrials 1.0
Information Technology 0.9
Health Care 0.9
Financials 0.9
Energy 0.5
Materials 0.4
Consumer Staples 0.4
Communication Services 0.4
Sovereign Government Obligations 4.4
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities 4.1
Preferred Stocks  
Financials 1.8
Real Estate 0.3
Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations 0.5
Rights 0.0
Short-Term Investment Fund 1.3
Other Assets/Liabilities (Net) 0.9
Total 100.0%
* Credit quality ratings are from S&P Global Ratings ("S&P") and Moody's Investors Service (“Moody's”). If agency ratings differ, the higher rating will be used. Where no rating has been assigned, it may be for reasons unrelated to the creditworthiness of the issuer.
** Sector classifications are based upon the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®).
28

Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund – March 31, 2022
Principal
Amount
      Market
Value
  Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 30.8%
$ 47,369,327 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K109, Class X1, 1.582%, 4/25/30(A)(B)(C)     $  4,890,272
  34,511,276 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K110, Class X1, 1.697%, 4/25/30(A)(B)(C)       3,766,895
   7,005,157 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K110, Class X3, 3.404%, 6/25/48(A)(B)(C)       1,551,303
  28,800,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K110, Class XAM, 1.868%, 4/25/30(A)(B)(C)       3,714,653
  34,710,202 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K111, Class X1, 1.571%, 5/25/30(A)(B)(C)       3,630,986
  19,436,545 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K111, Class X3, 3.177%, 4/25/48(A)(B)(C)       3,993,950
  35,663,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K111, Class XAM, 1.797%, 5/25/30(A)(B)(C)       4,482,293
  66,877,526 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K112, Class X1, 1.432%, 5/25/30(A)(B)(C)       6,449,655
  15,300,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K112, Class X3, 3.002%, 7/25/48(A)(B)(C)       3,046,206
  10,630,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K112, Class XAM, 1.663%, 5/25/30(A)(B)(C)       1,240,377
  10,743,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K113, Class XAM, 1.590%, 6/25/30(A)(B)(C)       1,202,525
  19,500,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K114, Class X3, 2.736%, 8/25/48(A)(B)(C)       3,503,352
  21,702,896 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K115, Class X3, 2.958%, 9/25/48(A)(B)(C)       4,249,920
  26,000,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K116, Class X3, 3.021%, 9/25/47(A)(B)(C)       5,259,998
  39,700,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K117, Class XAM, 1.434%, 9/25/30(A)(B)(C)       4,082,939
  24,368,853 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K118, Class X3, 2.693%, 10/25/48(A)(B)(C)       4,436,396
   4,900,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K119, Class X3, 2.727%, 9/25/48(A)(B)(C)         897,097
  11,576,808 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K120, Class X3, 2.740%, 11/25/48(A)(B)(C)       2,161,874
  16,073,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K121, Class X3, 2.772%, 11/25/48(A)(B)(C)       3,042,500
   9,700,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K122, Class X3, 2.631%, 1/25/49(A)(B)(C)       1,748,875
  7,569,056 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K123, Class X3, 2.628%, 2/25/49(A)(B)(C)       1,375,335
Principal
Amount
      Market
Value
  Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 30.8%
(Continued)
$  9,255,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K124, Class X3, 2.620%, 2/25/49(A)(B)(C)     $  1,689,119
  16,150,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K125, Class X3, 2.654%, 2/25/49(A)(B)(C)       2,994,643
  38,058,448 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K127, Class X3, 2.654%, 3/25/49(A)(B)(C)       7,111,385
  18,230,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K128, Class X3, 2.789%, 4/25/31(A)(B)(C)       3,584,565
  10,595,456 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K130, Class X3, 3.096%, 8/25/48(A)(B)(C)       2,398,504
  41,864,611 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K130, Class XAM, 1.214%, 7/25/31(A)(B)(C)       4,041,463
  10,451,281 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K131, Class X3, 2.947%, 9/25/31(A)(B)(C)       2,261,917
  29,501,666 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K132, Class X3, 2.888%, 8/25/31(A)(B)(C)       6,267,756
   9,413,138 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K134, Class X3, 2.661%, 10/25/49(A)(B)(C)       1,849,812
219,974,616 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K136, Class X1, 0.398%, 12/25/31(A)(B)(C)       6,552,098
  21,000,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K136, Class X3, 2.825%, 12/25/31(A)(B)(C)       4,434,278
  96,675,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K136, Class XAM, 0.567%, 12/25/31(A)(B)(C)       4,493,802
  19,801,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K137, Class X3, 2.780%, 1/25/49(A)(B)(C)       4,257,015
  31,585,759 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K139, Class X3, 3.140%, 2/25/49(A)(B)(C)       7,195,002
  97,300,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K139, Class XAM, 0.871%, 2/25/32(A)(B)(C)       6,237,815
  31,370,856 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K140, Class X3, 3.047%, 2/25/32(A)(B)(C)       6,890,110
   5,835,659 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K-1515, Class X3, 3.680%, 3/25/38(A)(B)(C)       1,988,431
  18,435,033 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K-1516, Class X3, 3.456%, 10/25/38(A)(B)(C)       6,045,489
  34,948,066 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K-1517, Class X1, 1.330%, 7/25/35(A)(B)(C)       4,649,379
  52,485,811 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K-1517, Class X3, 3.281%, 8/25/38(A)(B)(C)      16,280,558
 11,201,391 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K-1519, Class X3, 2.800%, 12/25/38(A)(B)(C)       3,055,150
 
29

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (Continued)
Principal
Amount
      Market
Value
  Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 30.8%
(Continued)
$ 54,937,438 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K-1520, Class X1, 0.472%, 2/25/36(A)(B)(C)     $  2,644,254
   5,000,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K-1520, Class X3, 3.092%, 4/25/39(A)(B)(C)       1,457,401
  54,072,888 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K-1521, Class X1, 0.981%, 8/25/36(A)(B)(C)       5,437,499
  15,100,238 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K739, Class X3, 2.811%, 11/25/48(A)(B)(C)       1,928,832
  16,196,664 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K741, Class X3, 2.448%, 3/25/49(A)(B)(C)       1,909,666
  16,000,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K742, Class X3, 2.595%, 4/25/28(A)(B)(C)       2,115,920
   9,500,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K743, Class X3, 2.955%, 6/25/49(A)(B)(C)       1,443,710
  39,018,396 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K744, Class X3, 2.967%, 8/25/49(A)(B)(C)       6,181,255
  47,774,075 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K745, Class X3, 2.674%, 9/25/49(A)(B)(C)       6,969,038
146,903,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K745, Class XAM, 1.011%, 9/25/28(A)(B)(C)       8,398,944
155,000,000 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K746, Class XAM, 0.586%, 10/25/28(A)(B)(C)       5,330,543
  52,159,495 FHLMC Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser K747, Class X3, 2.550%, 12/25/49(A)(B)(C)       7,541,501
  31,882,039 FRESB Mortgage Trust, Ser 2020-SB79, Class X1, 1.102%, 7/25/40(A)(B)(C)       1,931,800
  51,386,292 FRESB Mortgage Trust, Ser 2020-SB81, Class X1, 1.062%, 10/25/40(A)(B)(C)       3,253,795
  42,195,992 FRESB Mortgage Trust, Ser 2021-SB82, Class X1, 1.115%, 10/25/40(A)(B)(C)       2,148,911
  55,119,260 FRESB Mortgage Trust, Ser 2021-SB83, Class X1, 0.876%, 1/25/41(A)(B)(C)       2,674,337
  33,213,530 FRESB Mortgage Trust, Ser 2021-SB84, Class X1, 0.562%, 1/25/41(A)(B)(C)       1,278,020
  76,844,479 FRESB Mortgage Trust, Ser 2021-SB85, Class X1, 0.407%, 3/25/41(A)(B)(C)       2,654,808
  92,288,227 FRESB Mortgage Trust, Ser 2021-SB87, Class X1, 0.675%, 4/25/41(A)(B)(C)       3,969,713
  89,074,243 FRESB Mortgage Trust, Ser 2021-SB88, Class X1, 0.726%, 5/25/41(A)(B)(C)       3,705,489
133,398,666 FRESB Mortgage Trust, Ser 2022-SB94, Class X1, 0.059%, 11/25/41(A)(B)(C)       2,866,457
147,466,339 FRESB Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser 2021-SB86, Class X1, 0.360%, 3/25/41(A)(B)(C)       5,286,536
  67,409,613 FRESB Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Ser 2021-SB89, Class X1, 0.614%, 6/25/41(A)(B)(C)       2,719,803
  4,051,996 GNMA, Ser 2012-147, Class IO, 0.559%, 4/16/54(A)(B)(C)           61,795
Principal
Amount
      Market
Value
  Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 30.8%
(Continued)
$ 13,026,675 GNMA, Ser 2016-110, Class IO, 0.948%, 5/16/58(A)(B)(C)     $    620,549
  21,878,728 GNMA, Ser 2016-158, Class IO, 0.758%, 6/16/58(A)(B)(C)         892,285
  15,304,772 GNMA, Ser 2016-52, Class IO, 0.752%, 3/16/58(A)(B)(C)         585,844
  21,130,827 GNMA, Ser 2017-76, Class IO, 0.821%, 12/16/56(A)(B)(C)       1,012,534
 17,533,206 GNMA, Ser 2017-94, Class IO, 0.584%, 2/16/59(A)(B)(C)         698,334
  Total Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations $260,725,265
  Corporate Bonds — 25.5%  
  Financials — 11.7%  
  10,242,000 Ally Financial, Inc., Ser B, 4.700%(D)   9,589,124
  17,433,000 Ally Financial, Inc., Ser C, 4.700%(D)  15,864,030
   3,378,000 Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The), Ser G, 4.700%(D)   3,459,072
  20,978,000 Charles Schwab Corp. (The), Ser G, 5.375%(D)(E)  21,607,340
   6,485,000 Citigroup, Inc., Ser W, 4.000%(D)   6,241,812
  12,391,000 Citizens Financial Group, Inc., Ser F, 5.650%(D)  12,887,260
   6,506,000 Fifth Third Bancorp, Ser L, 4.500%(D)   6,392,145
   7,844,000 FS KKR Capital Corp., 2.625%, 1/15/27   7,193,733
  13,936,000 Regions Financial Corp., Ser D, 5.750%(D)  14,510,860
  1,559,000 Truist Financial Corp., Ser Q, 5.100%(D)   1,580,826
         99,326,202
  Utilities — 6.7%  
  15,427,000 Edison International, Ser A, 5.375%(D)  14,883,198
  14,958,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 3.250%, 2/16/24  14,898,610
 26,867,000 Sempra Energy, 4.875%(D)(E)  27,001,335
         56,783,143
  Energy — 5.1%  
  26,892,000 BP Capital Markets PLC (United Kingdom), 4.875%(D)  26,959,230
   4,124,000 Enbridge, Inc. (Canada), 2.150%, 2/16/24   4,073,480
   4,302,000 Energy Transfer LP, (3M LIBOR +3.018%), 3.334%, 11/1/66(B)   3,577,543
   5,566,000 Energy Transfer LP, Ser G, 7.125%(D)   5,454,680
  3,352,000 Energy Transfer LP, Ser H, 6.500%(D)   3,294,346
         43,359,279
  Consumer Discretionary — 2.0%  
   3,679,000 Macy's Retail Holdings LLC, 144a, 5.875%, 3/15/30   3,640,241
   4,176,000 Macy's Retail Holdings LLC, 144a, 6.125%, 3/15/32   4,123,800
   3,304,000 Magallanes, Inc., 144a, 3.428%, 3/15/24   3,325,355
  5,184,000 Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc., 144a, 6.125%, 9/15/25   5,313,600
         16,402,996
  Total Corporate Bonds $215,871,620
Shares        
  Preferred Stocks — 10.3%  
  Financials — 7.6%  
    648,929 AGNC Investment Corp. REIT, Ser F, 6.125%(D)(E)  15,139,513
    526,082 Annaly Capital Management, Inc. REIT, Ser I, 6.750%(D)  13,004,747
    128,065 Bank of America Corp., Ser GG, 6.000%(D)   3,334,813
    118,512 Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The), 7.875%, 4/15/42   2,959,245
     62,822 JPMorgan Chase & Co., Ser LL, 4.625%(D)   1,382,712
    254,594 National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp., Ser US, 5.500%, 5/15/64   6,588,893
    290,000 New Residential Investment Corp. REIT, Ser D, 7.000%(D)   7,015,100
 
30

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (Continued)
Shares       MarketValue
  Preferred Stocks — 10.3% (Continued)  
  Financials — (Continued)  
    190,088 Reinsurance Group of America, Inc., 6.200%, 9/15/42 $  4,828,235
    136,380 Stifel Financial Corp., 5.200%, 10/15/47   3,391,771
    190,829 Virtus AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund, Ser A, 5.625%(D)   4,801,258
     70,650 Wells Fargo & Co., Ser Z, 4.750%(D)†   1,566,310
         64,012,597
  Utilities — 2.1%  
    349,698 Brookfield Renewable Partners LP (Canada), Ser 17, 5.250%(D)†   7,924,157
    241,181 Duke Energy Corp., Ser A, 5.750%(D)   6,251,412
    129,791 Entergy Louisiana LLC, 4.875%, 9/1/66   3,281,116
        670 Entergy New Orleans LLC, 5.000%, 12/1/52      16,790
         17,473,475
  Energy — 0.4%  
     87,656 Enbridge, Inc. (Canada), Ser 5, 5.375%(D)   1,884,604
     46,849 Enbridge, Inc. (Canada), Ser J, 4.887%(D)   1,040,048
     32,865 Enbridge, Inc. (Canada), Ser L, 4.959%(D)     741,105
          3,665,757
  Communication Services — 0.2%  
     69,235 AT&T, Inc., 5.350%, 11/1/66   1,748,876
  Total Preferred Stocks  $86,900,705
  Investment Funds — 8.2%  
    243,314 Allspring Income Opportunities±   1,922,181
    632,004 BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc.±   6,806,683
     67,704 BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust±     850,362
     79,468 BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.±     828,057
     85,539 BlackRock Ltd. Duration Income Trust±   1,226,629
    106,398 BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc.±   1,514,043
    508,210 BlackRock MuniVest Fund, Inc.±†   4,146,994
    172,804 BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.±   2,168,690
     57,063 Cohen & Steers Ltd. Duration Preferred & Income Fund, Inc.±   1,307,884
    189,904 Eaton Vance Municipal Bond Fund±   2,183,896
     88,974 First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund±   1,197,590
      2,215 First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund±      48,708
    508,571 Invesco Municipal Opportunity Trust±   5,823,138
    218,213 Invesco Municipal Trust±   2,511,632
  1,496,043 Invesco Senior Income Trust±†   6,373,143
    403,563 Invesco Trust for Investment Grade Municipals±   4,689,402
      3,041 Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund, Inc.±      34,728
    410,295 Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund±†   5,391,276
  1,022,301 Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund±   6,317,820
    271,927 Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund±   2,333,134
    136,877 Nuveen Preferred & Income Securities Fund±   1,149,767
    348,195 Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund±   4,651,885
    880,136 Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund, Inc.±   3,934,208
    126,382 Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund, Inc.±   1,754,182
  Total Investment Funds  $69,166,032
Principal
Amount
       
  Asset-Backed Securities — 6.0%
$    830,236 American Credit Acceptance Receivables Trust, Ser 2020-3, Class B, 144a, 1.150%, 8/13/24         829,979
     283,010 American Credit Acceptance Receivables Trust, Ser 2021-1, Class A, 144a, 0.350%, 5/13/24         282,895
     652,000 ARI Fleet Lease Trust, Ser 2018-B, Class A3, 144a, 3.430%, 8/16/27          648,954
Principal
Amount
      MarketValue
  Asset-Backed Securities — 6.0% (Continued)
$     91,674 Arivo Acceptance Auto Loan Receivables Trust, Ser 2019-1, Class A, 144a, 2.990%, 7/15/24     $     91,864
     550,000 Carmax Auto Owner Trust, Ser 2021-1, Class A3, 0.340%, 12/15/25         536,748
   3,214,306 Credit Acceptance Auto Loan Trust, Ser 2019-1A, Class C, 144a, 3.940%, 6/15/28       3,220,684
     443,582 Dell Equipment Finance Trust, Ser 2019-2, Class A3, 144a, 1.910%, 10/22/24         444,072
     727,527 Dell Equipment Finance Trust, Ser 2021-1, Class A2, 144a, 0.330%, 5/22/26         723,659
   1,217,186 Drive Auto Receivables Trust, Ser 2021-1, Class A3, 0.440%, 11/15/24       1,215,484
   1,713,558 DT Auto Owner Trust, Ser 2019-3A, Class C, 144a, 2.740%, 4/15/25       1,715,602
   1,158,435 Exeter Automobile Receivables Trust, Ser 2020-2A, Class B, 144a, 2.080%, 7/15/24       1,158,857
      83,334 Flagship Credit Auto Trust, Ser 2021-1, Class A, 144a, 0.310%, 6/16/25          82,739
     735,865 Freed ABS Trust, Ser 2020-FP1, Class B, 144a, 3.060%, 3/18/27         735,821
     705,000 GLS Auto Receivables Trust, Ser 2021-2A, Class C, 144a, 1.080%, 6/15/26         676,044
     673,329 Hyundai Auto Receivables Trust, Ser 2018-A, Class B, 3.140%, 6/17/24         673,752
     812,454 Hyundai Auto Receivables Trust, Ser 2018-B, Class A4, 3.290%, 1/15/25         815,025
   3,500,000 Mercedes-Benz Master Owner Trust, Ser 2019-BA, Class A, 144a, 2.610%, 5/15/24       3,505,732
     276,531 Mid-State Capital Corp. Trust, Ser 2005-1, Class M2, 7.079%, 1/15/40         284,881
   6,567,816 Mountain View CLO X Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2015-10A, Class AR, 144a, (3M LIBOR +0.820%), 1.064%, 10/13/27(B)       6,562,713
     969,582 Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2019-1A, Class A1, 144a, (3M LIBOR +1.050%), 1.304%, 4/20/27(B)         969,580
   1,100,000 Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2019-2A, Class C, 144a, (3M LIBOR +3.250%), 3.504%, 4/20/27(B)       1,096,411
     491,318 Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2019-3A, Class A1, 144a, (3M LIBOR +0.850%), 1.330%, 8/20/27(B)         490,850
   1,190,418 Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2019-4A, Class A1, 144a, (3M LIBOR +0.900%), 1.159%, 10/24/27(B)       1,189,836
     750,000 Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2021-1A, Class B, 144a, (3M LIBOR +1.800%), 2.054%, 4/20/29(B)         750,121
   3,000,000 Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2021-1A, Class D, 144a, (3M LIBOR +6.000%), 6.254%, 4/20/29(B)       3,000,528
     355,080 Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2021-3A, Class A1, 144a, (3M LIBOR +0.800%), 1.054%, 7/20/29(B)         353,966
   3,799,899 Pawneee Equipment Receivables LLC, Ser 2021-1, Class A1, 144a, 0.302%, 10/17/22       3,793,429
     316,367 Santander Drive Auto Receivables Trust, Ser 2020-4, Class A3, 0.480%, 7/15/24         316,268
     100,000 Santander Retail Auto Lease Trust, Ser 2019-B, Class C, 144a, 2.770%, 8/21/23         100,145
   5,180,000 Tesla Auto Lease Trust, Ser 2019-A, Class A4, 144a, 2.200%, 11/21/22       5,188,661
      65,000 Tesla Auto Lease Trust, Ser 2020-A, Class A4, 144a, 0.780%, 12/20/23           64,302
 
31

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (Continued)
Principal
Amount
      MarketValue
  Asset-Backed Securities — 6.0% (Continued)
$  1,024,166 Verizon Owner Trust, Ser 2019-A, Class A1A, 2.930%, 9/20/23     $  1,027,264
   3,613,381 Verizon Owner Trust, Ser 2020-A, Class A1A, 1.850%, 7/22/24       3,614,426
     857,185 Welk Resorts LLC, Ser 2017-AA, Class A, 144a, 2.820%, 6/15/33         845,765
  3,708,512 Westlake Automobile Receivables Trust, Ser 2021-2A, 144a, 0.320%, 4/15/25       3,677,264
  Total Asset-Backed Securities  $50,684,321
  Non-Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 1.0%
      60,697 Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust, Ser 2003-AC7, Class A2, 5.750%, 1/25/34(B)(C)          59,375
       5,171 Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust, Ser 2003-A1, Class 2A, (12M LIBOR +1.625%), 2.956%, 12/25/32(B)           5,116
     120,289 Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust, Ser 2004-7AR, Class 2A6, 2.474%, 9/25/34(B)(C)         123,438
       9,757 RALI Series Trust, Ser 2004-QS6, Class A1, 5.000%, 5/25/19           9,146
  8,087,678 Redwood Funding Trust, Ser 2020-1, Class A, 144a, 4.750%, 7/27/59(B)(C)       8,079,353
  Total Non-Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations   $8,276,428
  Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities — 0.3%
  29,766,116 BANK, Ser 2020-BN26, Class XA, 1.230%, 3/15/63(A)(B)(C)       2,201,931
    749,941 VCC Trust, Ser 2020-MC1, Class A, 144a, 4.500%, 6/25/45(B)(C)         749,941
  Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities   $2,951,872
  Short-Term U.S. Treasury Obligations — 13.0%  
  20,000,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.260%, 5/10/22#      19,995,667
  40,000,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.513%, 8/4/22#      39,889,097
  25,000,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.730%, 9/8/22#      24,899,611
 25,000,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 1.144%, 2/23/23(E)#      24,678,833
  Total Short-Term U.S. Treasury Obligations $109,463,208
Shares        
  Short-Term Investment Funds — 4.5%  
 37,937,720 Dreyfus Government Cash Management, Institutional Shares, 0.19%∞Ω  37,937,720
    354,825 Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, Institutional Class, 0.25%∞Ω**     354,825
  Total Short-Term Investment Funds  $38,292,545
  Total Short-Term Securities $147,755,753
  Total Long Positions—99.6%
(Cost $872,546,389)
$842,331,996
  Securities Sold Short — (2.7)%  
  Exchange-Traded Fund — (2.7)%  
    (50,000) SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (22,582,000)
  Total Securities Sold Short
(Proceeds $21,817,364)
$(22,582,000)
  Total Investment Securities—96.9% $819,749,996
  Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 3.1%  26,660,572
  Net Assets — 100.0% $846,410,568
(A) Interest only security - This type of security represents the right to receive the monthly interest payments on an underlying pool of mortgages. Payments of principal on the pool reduce the value of the “interest only” holding.
(B) Variable rate security - Rate reflected is the rate in effect as of March 31, 2022.
(C) Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description.
(D) Perpetual Bond - A bond or preferred stock with no definite maturity date.
(E) All or a portion of these securities are pledged as collateral for securities sold short. The total value of the securities pledged as collateral as of March 31, 2022 was $88,427,022.
± Closed-end Fund.
** Represents collateral for securities loaned.
All or a portion of the security is on loan. The total market value of the securities on loan as of March 31, 2022 was $348,419.
# Zero coupon bond - Rate shown reflects effective yield to maturity at time of purchase.
Open-End Fund.
Ω Represents the 7-Day SEC yield as of March 31, 2022.
Portfolio Abbreviations:
ABS – Asset-Backed Security
CLO – Collateralized Loan Obligation
ETF – Exchange-Traded Fund
FHLMC – Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
FRESB – Freddie Mac Multifamily Securitization Small Balance Loan
GNMA – Government National Mortgage Association
IO – Interest Only
LIBOR – London Interbank Offered Rate
LLC – Limited Liability Company
LP – Limited Partnership
PLC – Public Limited Company
REIT – Real Estate Investment Trust
S&P – Standard & Poor's
SPDR – Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipt
144a - This is a restricted security that was sold in a transaction qualifying for the exemption under Rule 144a of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be sold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At March 31, 2022, these securities were valued at $67,432,763 or 8.0% of net assets. These securities were deemed liquid pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.
 
32

Touchstone Flexible Income Fund (Continued)
Other Information:
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Valuation Inputs at Reporting Date:
Description Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Assets:        
Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations $$260,725,265 $— $260,725,265
Corporate Bonds 215,871,620 215,871,620
Preferred Stocks 86,900,705 86,900,705
Investment Funds 69,166,032 69,166,032
Asset-Backed Securities 50,684,321 50,684,321
Non-Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations 8,276,428 8,276,428
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities 2,951,872 2,951,872
Short-Term U.S. Treasury Obligations 109,463,208 109,463,208
Short-Term Investment Funds 38,292,545 38,292,545
Total Assets $194,359,282 $647,972,714 $— $842,331,996
Liabilities:        
Securities Sold Short        
Exchange-Traded Fund $(22,582,000) $$— $(22,582,000)
Total Liabilities $(22,582,000) $$— $(22,582,000)
Total $171,777,282 $647,972,714 $— $819,749,996
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
33

Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Focused Fund – March 31, 2022
Shares       Market
Value
  Common Stocks — 97.4%  
  Information Technology — 26.2%  
   433,946 Apple, Inc. $   75,771,311
   293,550 Microsoft Corp.    90,504,401
   257,624 Oracle Corp.    21,313,234
    96,771 PayPal Holdings, Inc.*    11,191,566
   129,288 salesforce, Inc.*    27,450,428
   268,610 Smartsheet, Inc. - Class A*    14,714,456
   183,412 SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.    13,759,568
   114,131 Texas Instruments, Inc.    20,940,756
   100,160 Visa, Inc. - Class A    22,212,483
    67,768 Workday, Inc. - Class A*    16,227,725
          314,085,928
  Health Care — 13.4%  
   136,341 AmerisourceBergen Corp.    21,093,316
   196,209 BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*    15,127,714
   456,188 Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.    33,315,410
    85,360 HCA Healthcare, Inc.    21,392,923
   191,981 Johnson & Johnson    34,024,792
    71,297 UnitedHealth Group, Inc.    36,359,331
          161,313,486
  Consumer Discretionary — 13.1%  
    77,543 Airbnb, Inc. - Class A*    13,318,786
    81,610 Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (China) ADR*     8,879,168
    15,555 Amazon.com, Inc.*    50,708,522
   206,190 Choice Hotels International, Inc.    29,229,494
   101,262 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.    12,022,837
    99,985 Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. - Class A*     8,098,785
   339,477 Frontdoor, Inc.*    10,133,389
   166,942 Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*    25,331,779
          157,722,760
  Communication Services — 12.5%  
    24,246 Alphabet, Inc. - Class C*    67,718,836
   428,212 Comcast Corp. - Class A    20,048,886
   289,405 Fox Corp. - Class A    11,417,027
   173,061 Meta Platforms, Inc. - Class A*    38,481,844
    34,417 Netflix, Inc.*    12,892,264
          150,558,857
  Financials — 12.2%  
   748,902 Bank of America Corp.    30,869,741
   156,397 Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class B*    55,194,065
    87,331 Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)    28,827,963
    88,194 LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.    16,111,280
    10,242 Markel Corp.*    15,109,408
          146,112,457
  Industrials — 9.1%  
   134,971 Allegiant Travel Co.*    21,917,941
    26,978 Deere & Co.    11,208,280
   223,158 Hexcel Corp.    13,271,206
   119,016 Hubbell, Inc.     21,871,570
Shares       Market
Value
     
  Industrials — (Continued)  
    29,879 Parker-Hannifin Corp. $    8,478,465
   320,900 Raytheon Technologies Corp.    31,791,563
          108,539,025
  Consumer Staples — 4.7%  
   326,549 Coca-Cola Femsa SAB de CV (Mexico) ADR    17,943,868
   223,361 Monster Beverage Corp.*    17,846,544
   213,062 Philip Morris International, Inc.    20,015,044
           55,805,456
  Real Estate — 3.1%  
   426,011 Americold Realty Trust REIT    11,877,186
   107,719 Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.*    25,794,392
           37,671,578
  Energy — 1.7%  
   251,542 Exxon Mobil Corp.    20,774,854
  Materials — 1.4%  
   227,014 DuPont de Nemours, Inc.    16,703,690
  Total Common Stocks $1,169,288,091
  Short-Term Investment Fund — 2.7%  
32,203,893 Dreyfus Government Cash Management, Institutional Shares, 0.19%∞Ω    32,203,893
  Total Investment Securities—100.1%
(Cost $664,454,397)
$1,201,491,984
  Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.1%)      (609,074)
  Net Assets — 100.0% $1,200,882,910
* Non-income producing security.
Open-End Fund.
Ω Represents the 7-Day SEC yield as of March 31, 2022.
Portfolio Abbreviations:
ADR – American Depositary Receipt
REIT – Real Estate Investment Trust
Other Information:
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Valuation Inputs at Reporting Date:
Description Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Common Stocks $1,169,288,091 $— $— $1,169,288,091
Short-Term Investment Fund 32,203,893 32,203,893
Total $1,201,491,984 $— $— $1,201,491,984
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
 
34

Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund – March 31, 2022
Shares       Market
Value
  Common Stocks — 98.8%  
  United States — 55.0%  
  Communication Services — 3.5%  
    98,517 Meta Platforms, Inc. - Class A* $ 21,906,240
  Consumer Discretionary — 2.0%  
     2,028 Amazon.com, Inc.*   6,611,178
    49,434 Ralph Lauren Corp.   5,607,793
  Financials — 13.0%  
    99,281 Arch Capital Group Ltd.*   4,807,186
   195,270 Discover Financial Services  21,516,802
   119,992 Globe Life, Inc.  12,071,195
   170,681 OneMain Holdings, Inc.   8,091,986
   137,785 Reinsurance Group of America, Inc.  15,081,946
    57,843 The Allstate Corp.   8,011,834
    52,464 Willis Towers Watson PLC  12,393,046
  Health Care — 10.0%  
    30,580 Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*   4,993,408
    17,238 Becton Dickinson & Co.   4,585,308
    79,879 BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*   6,158,671
   169,862 Centene Corp.*  14,300,682
   296,928 Elanco Animal Health, Inc.*   7,746,852
    48,685 Eli Lilly & Co.  13,941,923
   102,053 Medtronic PLC  11,322,780
  Industrials — 3.6%  
   208,023 Carrier Global Corp.   9,542,015
    15,348 Deere & Co.   6,376,480
    18,787 United Rentals, Inc.*   6,673,330
  Information Technology — 21.5%  
    87,104 Apple, Inc.  15,209,229
    94,736 Applied Materials, Inc.  12,486,205
    87,230 Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.   8,759,637
    49,083 First Solar, Inc.*   4,110,210
    92,675 II-VI, Inc.*   6,718,011
    49,410 Keysight Technologies, Inc.*   7,805,298
   150,375 Micron Technology, Inc.  11,712,709
   116,434 Microsoft Corp.  35,897,767
    60,558 New Relic, Inc.*   4,050,119
    66,546 TE Connectivity Ltd.   8,716,195
    41,394 Visa, Inc. - Class A   9,179,947
    60,038 WEX, Inc.*  10,713,781
  Materials — 1.4%  
    22,821 Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.   8,783,575
  Total United States 345,883,338
  Japan — 8.6%  
  Communication Services — 1.8%  
    22,800 Nintendo Co. Ltd.  11,508,575
  Consumer Discretionary — 5.1%  
   128,400 Denso Corp.   8,191,935
   927,900 Panasonic Corp.   9,011,839
   140,300 Sony Group Corp.  14,433,463
  Industrials — 1.7%  
   213,800 Hitachi Ltd.  10,699,450
  Total Japan  53,845,262
  France — 5.7%  
  Industrials — 3.8%  
   188,521 Cie de Saint-Gobain  11,217,074
    76,184 Schneider Electric SE  12,790,559
Shares       Market
Value
     
  France — (Continued)  
  Materials — 1.9%  
    68,219 Air Liquide SA $ 11,934,500
  Total France  35,942,133
  Sweden — 4.5%  
  Financials — 3.3%  
 1,009,441 Svenska Handelsbanken AB - Class A   9,282,257
   758,652 Swedbank AB - Class A  11,330,954
  Industrials — 1.2%  
   369,402 Epiroc AB - Class A   7,901,089
  Total Sweden  28,514,300
  South Korea — 4.4%  
  Communication Services — 2.0%  
   403,182 KT Corp. ADR*   5,781,630
   236,001 KT Corp.   6,912,582
  Consumer Staples — 0.4%  
    23,170 E-MART, Inc.   2,675,958
  Financials — 2.0%  
   242,053 KB Financial Group, Inc.  12,130,222
  Total South Korea  27,500,392
  Germany — 4.0%  
  Consumer Discretionary — 0.8%  
    67,563 Continental AG*   4,843,337
  Industrials — 1.2%  
   160,644 Deutsche Post AG   7,671,054
  Materials — 0.7%  
    77,020 HeidelbergCement AG   4,365,046
  Real Estate — 1.3%  
   180,498 Vonovia SE   8,413,088
  Total Germany  25,292,525
  United Kingdom — 3.9%  
  Financials — 2.6%  
26,914,045 Lloyds Banking Group PLC  16,389,777
  Industrials — 1.3%  
   254,862 RELX PLC   7,930,733
  Total United Kingdom  24,320,510
  Singapore — 2.5%  
  Financials — 1.7%  
 1,174,300 Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd.  10,653,081
  Real Estate — 0.8%  
 2,927,900 CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust REIT   4,843,743
  Total Singapore  15,496,824
  China — 2.1%  
  Communication Services — 1.1%  
   143,200 Tencent Holdings Ltd.   6,600,710
  Consumer Discretionary — 1.0%  
    56,489 Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ADR*   6,146,003
     6,819 JD.com, Inc.*     193,761
  Total China  12,940,474
  Switzerland — 1.9%  
  Health Care — 1.9%  
    30,267 Roche Holding AG  11,975,498
 
35

Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund (Continued)
Shares       Market
Value
  Common Stocks — 98.8% (Continued)  
  India — 1.7%  
  Financials — 1.7%  
   571,920 ICICI Bank Ltd. ADR $ 10,832,165
  Italy — 1.7%  
  Utilities — 1.7%  
 1,572,415 Enel SpA  10,498,630
  Netherlands — 1.4%  
  Health Care — 1.4%  
   291,243 Koninklijke Philips NV   8,881,075
  Denmark — 0.7%  
  Industrials — 0.7%  
   162,498 Vestas Wind Systems A/S   4,766,850
  Thailand — 0.7%  
  Industrials — 0.7%  
 2,149,400 Airports of Thailand PCL*   4,262,446
  Total Common Stocks $620,952,422
  Short-Term Investment Funds — 3.9%  
 2,942,399 Dreyfus Government Cash Management, Institutional Shares, 0.19%∞Ω   2,942,400
21,634,913 Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, Institutional Class, 0.25%∞Ω**  21,634,913
  Total Short-Term Investment Funds  $24,577,313
  Total Investment Securities — 102.7%
(Cost $512,792,535)
$645,529,735
  Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (2.7)% (16,802,945)
  Net Assets — 100.0% $628,726,790
* Non-income producing security.
** Represents collateral for securities loaned.
All or a portion of the security is on loan. The total market value of the securities on loan as of March 31, 2022 was $18,547,086.
Open-End Fund.
Ω Represents the 7-Day SEC yield as of March 31, 2022.
Portfolio Abbreviations:
ADR – American Depositary Receipt
PCL – Public Company Limited
PLC – Public Limited Company
REIT – Real Estate Investment Trust
Other Information:
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Valuation inputs at Reporting Date:
Description Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Common Stocks        
United States $345,883,338 $$— $345,883,338
Japan 53,845,262 53,845,262
France 35,942,133 35,942,133
Sweden 28,514,300 28,514,300
South Korea 5,781,630 21,718,762 27,500,392
Germany 25,292,525 25,292,525
United Kingdom 24,320,510 24,320,510
Singapore 15,496,824 15,496,824
China 6,146,003 6,794,471 12,940,474
Switzerland 11,975,498 11,975,498
India 10,832,165 10,832,165
Italy 10,498,630 10,498,630
Netherlands 8,881,075 8,881,075
Denmark 4,766,850 4,766,850
Thailand 4,262,446 4,262,446
Short-Term Investment Funds 24,577,313 24,577,313
Total $393,220,449 $252,309,286 $— $645,529,735
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
 
36

Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund – March 31, 2022
Shares       Market
Value
  Common Stocks — 99.1%  
  Information Technology — 42.8%  
   97,822 Apple, Inc. $ 17,080,699
   19,115 Applied Materials, Inc.   2,519,357
   25,561 Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.   2,566,836
   27,386 Global Payments, Inc.   3,747,500
    4,858 HubSpot, Inc.*   2,307,258
   28,051 Lumentum Holdings, Inc.*   2,737,778
   35,860 Marvell Technology, Inc.   2,571,521
   30,798 Microsoft Corp.   9,495,331
   13,622 NVIDIA Corp.   3,716,899
   25,349 QUALCOMM, Inc.   3,873,834
   15,818 salesforce, Inc.*   3,358,478
    7,073 ServiceNow, Inc.*   3,938,883
   20,615 Visa, Inc. - Class A   4,571,789
   13,309 Workday, Inc. - Class A*   3,186,973
   30,998 Zendesk, Inc.*   3,728,749
         69,401,885
  Communication Services — 13.5%  
    4,236 Alphabet, Inc. - Class A*  11,781,799
   25,111 Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*   2,954,058
   22,904 Meta Platforms, Inc. - Class A*   5,092,933
   35,742 ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc.*   2,135,227
         21,964,017
  Consumer Discretionary — 11.5%  
    2,833 Amazon.com, Inc.*   9,235,438
    8,805 Home Depot, Inc. (The)   2,635,601
   63,307 MGM Resorts International   2,655,095
   54,478 Tapestry, Inc.   2,023,858
    2,045 Tesla, Inc.*   2,203,692
         18,753,684
  Industrials — 10.1%  
   24,804 Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.   2,946,963
   19,862 AMETEK, Inc.   2,645,221
   16,546 Encore Wire Corp.   1,887,402
   21,723 ITT, Inc.   1,633,787
    5,075 TransDigm Group, Inc.*   3,306,566
   14,770 Union Pacific Corp.   4,035,312
         16,455,251
  Health Care — 10.1%  
   23,896 Ascendis Pharma A/S (Denmark) ADR*   2,804,435
    4,800 Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. - Class A*   2,703,504
   15,258 Elanco Animal Health, Inc.*     398,081
   25,783 Horizon Therapeutics PLC*   2,712,630
   12,278 ICON PLC (Ireland)*   2,986,255
    3,000 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*   1,641,180
    5,388 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.   3,182,422
         16,428,507
Shares       Market
Value
     
  Financials — 4.6%  
   11,811 American Financial Group, Inc. $  1,719,918
   14,615 Arthur J Gallagher & Co.   2,551,779
   17,045 Morgan Stanley   1,489,733
    4,000 S&P Global, Inc.   1,640,720
          7,402,150
  Consumer Staples — 2.4%  
    6,677 Costco Wholesale Corp.   3,844,950
  Real Estate — 1.5%  
   52,328 Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. REIT   2,408,135
  Materials — 1.5%  
   12,995 Vulcan Materials Co.   2,387,181
  Energy — 1.1%  
   29,420 Devon Energy Corp.   1,739,605
  Total Common Stocks $160,785,365
  Short-Term Investment Fund — 1.0%  
1,655,135 Dreyfus Government Cash Management, Institutional Shares, 0.19%∞Ω   1,655,135
  Total Investment Securities—100.1%
(Cost $94,170,392)
$162,440,500
  Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.1%)    (190,491)
  Net Assets — 100.0% $162,250,009
* Non-income producing security.
Open-End Fund.
Ω Represents the 7-Day SEC yield as of March 31, 2022.
Portfolio Abbreviations:
ADR – American Depositary Receipt
PLC – Public Limited Company
REIT – Real Estate Investment Trust
Other Information:
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Valuation Inputs at Reporting Date:
Description Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Common Stocks $160,785,365 $— $— $160,785,365
Short-Term Investment Fund 1,655,135 1,655,135
Total $162,440,500 $— $— $162,440,500
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
 
37

Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund – March 31, 2022
Shares       Market
Value
  Common Stocks — 97.9%  
  Information Technology — 35.2%  
   165,684 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.* $   18,115,888
   256,006 Ciena Corp.*    15,521,644
   139,543 Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. - Class A    12,512,821
    14,120 EPAM Systems, Inc.*     4,188,133
   136,239 Fortinet, Inc.*    46,558,316
   210,477 Global Payments, Inc.    28,801,673
    42,262 HubSpot, Inc.*    20,071,914
   756,316 Lightspeed Commerce, Inc. (Canada)*    23,044,948
   377,386 Microchip Technology, Inc.    28,356,784
    53,519 MongoDB, Inc.*    23,740,493
   268,520 NetApp, Inc.    22,287,160
    98,850 Nice Ltd. (Israel) ADR*    21,648,150
   648,124 Nutanix, Inc. - Class A*    17,382,686
   274,852 ON Semiconductor Corp.*    17,208,484
    69,966 Palo Alto Networks, Inc.*    43,554,535
   159,742 Splunk, Inc.*    23,739,258
    48,181 Teledyne Technologies, Inc.*    22,771,786
   156,152 Teradyne, Inc.    18,461,851
   296,959 Zendesk, Inc.*    35,721,198
    79,813 Zscaler, Inc.*    19,257,281
          462,945,003
  Health Care — 18.1%  
   185,043 Ascendis Pharma A/S (Denmark) ADR*    21,716,646
   498,681 Avantor, Inc.*    16,865,391
    59,027 Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)    24,649,085
    65,548 DexCom, Inc.*    33,534,357
   240,797 Horizon Therapeutics PLC*    25,334,252
   157,930 ICON PLC (Ireland)*    38,411,735
    60,527 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*    33,111,901
    70,294 Insulet Corp.*    18,725,619
   153,758 Quest Diagnostics, Inc.    21,043,320
   254,824 Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*     4,041,509
          237,433,815
  Industrials — 15.2%  
   161,264 AMETEK, Inc.    21,477,140
   198,384 Copart, Inc. *    24,891,240
    89,674 IDEX Corp.    17,193,196
    92,733 Rockwell Automation, Inc.    25,968,022
    43,656 TransDigm Group, Inc.*    28,443,630
   295,761 TransUnion    30,563,942
   152,785 Waste Connections, Inc.    21,344,064
   230,461 WESCO International, Inc.*    29,992,195
          199,873,429
  Consumer Discretionary — 11.0%  
   136,480 Etsy, Inc.*    16,961,735
    81,911 Expedia Group, Inc.*    16,027,525
   150,447 Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.*    22,828,828
    51,635 Lululemon Athletica, Inc.*    18,858,651
   671,899 Tapestry, Inc.    24,961,048
    72,179 Ulta Beauty, Inc.*    28,743,121
    63,257 Vail Resorts, Inc.    16,463,899
          144,844,807
Shares       Market
Value
     
  Financials — 8.1%  
   143,287 Arthur J Gallagher & Co. $   25,017,910
   125,317 First Republic Bank    20,313,886
   135,728 LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.    24,794,791
    38,768 MSCI, Inc.    19,495,652
   185,561 Tradeweb Markets, Inc. - Class A    16,305,245
          105,927,484
  Communication Services — 3.9%  
   199,991 Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.*    23,526,941
   468,920 ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc.*    28,013,281
           51,540,222
  Real Estate — 3.2%  
   409,074 Douglas Emmett, Inc. REIT    13,671,253
    83,750 Essex Property Trust, Inc. REIT    28,933,950
           42,605,203
  Energy — 1.9%  
   425,869 Devon Energy Corp.    25,181,634
  Materials — 1.3%  
   119,418 Celanese Corp.    17,061,250
  Total Common Stocks $1,287,412,847
  Short-Term Investment Fund — 1.9%  
24,971,844 Dreyfus Government Cash Management, Institutional Shares, 0.19%∞Ω    24,971,844
  Total Investment Securities—99.8%
(Cost $998,832,415)
$1,312,384,691
  Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.2%     3,067,902
  Net Assets — 100.0% $1,315,452,593
* Non-income producing security.
Open-End Fund.
Ω Represents the 7-Day SEC yield as of March 31, 2022.
Portfolio Abbreviations:
ADR – American Depositary Receipt
PLC – Public Limited Company
REIT – Real Estate Investment Trust
Other Information:
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Valuation Inputs at Reporting Date:
Description Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Common Stocks $1,287,412,847 $— $— $1,287,412,847
Short-Term Investment Fund 24,971,844 24,971,844
Total $1,312,384,691 $— $— $1,312,384,691
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
 
38

Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund – March 31, 2022
Shares       Market
Value
  Common Stocks — 96.0%  
  India — 29.6%  
  Consumer Discretionary — 4.9%  
  2,184,002 Jubilant Foodworks Ltd. $   75,470,926
  2,935,284 Titan Co. Ltd.    97,784,222
  Consumer Staples — 2.6%  
  2,226,113 Britannia Industries Ltd.    93,862,039
  Energy — 1.6%  
  1,638,309 Reliance Industries Ltd.    56,665,137
  Financials — 13.0%  
  1,996,308 Bajaj Finance Ltd.   189,585,976
 11,695,459 Bandhan Bank Ltd., 144a    47,109,665
  7,021,565 HDFC Bank Ltd.   135,234,127
 14,297,279 ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd., 144a    93,981,135
  Health Care — 4.7%  
  2,808,904 Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.   166,701,302
  Information Technology — 0.9%  
    674,489 Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.    33,148,029
  Materials — 1.9%  
  1,714,383 Asian Paints Ltd.    69,371,161
  Total India 1,058,913,719
  China — 22.6%  
  Communication Services — 6.1%  
  1,454,526 Kanzhun Ltd. ADR*    36,232,243
  3,912,506 Tencent Holdings Ltd.   180,344,394
  Consumer Discretionary — 9.1%  
  9,262,292 Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.*   126,399,838
  9,041,502 ANTA Sports Products Ltd.   112,159,855
 17,783,929 Haidilao International Holding Ltd., 144a    34,217,262
  2,297,382 JD Health International, Inc., 144a*    13,755,807
  1,817,771 NIO, Inc. ADR*    38,264,080
  Consumer Staples — 2.2%  
  5,862,979 Foshan Haitian Flavouring & Food Co. Ltd. - Class A    80,522,615
  Health Care — 4.1%  
  5,003,830 Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Co. Ltd. Class H, 144a    60,348,929
 10,851,458 Wuxi Biologics Cayman, Inc., 144a*    86,167,115
  Real Estate — 1.1%  
  9,721,447 Country Garden Services Holdings Co., Ltd.    40,952,780
  Total China   809,364,918
  Taiwan — 13.3%  
  Communication Services — 5.6%  
  1,681,207 Sea Ltd. ADR*   201,391,787
  Information Technology — 7.7%  
  2,637,620 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. ADR   274,998,261
  Total Taiwan   476,390,048
  Argentina — 10.3%  
  Consumer Discretionary — 7.1%  
    214,337 MercadoLibre, Inc.*   254,949,575
  Information Technology — 3.2%  
    435,000 Globant SA*   114,000,450
  Total Argentina   368,950,025
  Brazil — 8.1%  
  Consumer Staples — 1.8%  
 12,611,000 Raia Drogasil SA    63,411,924
Shares       Market
Value
     
  Brazil — (Continued)  
  Financials — 3.4%  
  4,550,137 NU Holdings Ltd. - Class A* $   35,127,058
  2,816,619 XP, Inc. - Class A*    84,780,232
  Industrials — 1.8%  
  5,059,415 Localiza Rent a Car SA    65,045,902
  Information Technology — 1.1%  
  2,038,743 Pagseguro Digital Ltd. - Class A*    40,876,797
  Total Brazil   289,241,913
  Hong Kong — 3.8%  
  Financials — 3.1%  
 10,354,259 AIA Group Ltd.   108,117,990
  Health Care — 0.7%  
  1,355,921 Hutchison China Ltd. ADR*    25,654,025
  Total Hong Kong   133,772,015
  South Korea — 3.2%  
  Communication Services — 2.6%  
    341,797 NAVER Corp.    94,995,315
  Information Technology — 0.6%  
    168,661 Kakaopay Corp.*    20,557,346
  Total South Korea   115,552,661
  Indonesia — 2.6%  
  Financials — 2.6%  
168,751,800 Bank Central Asia Tbk PT    93,702,044
  Thailand — 1.5%  
  Consumer Staples — 1.5%  
 27,744,900 CP ALL PCL    54,053,214
  Kazakhstan — 1.0%  
  Financials — 1.0%  
    721,915 Kaspi.KZ JSC GDR    35,809,005
  Total Common Stocks $3,435,749,562
  Short-Term Investment Funds — 6.4%  
147,920,444 Dreyfus Government Cash Management, Institutional Shares, 0.19%∞Ω   147,920,444
 81,188,062 Invesco Government & Agency Portfolio, Institutional Class, 0.25%∞Ω**    81,188,062
  Total Short-Term Investment Funds   $229,108,506
  Total Investment Securities — 102.4%
(Cost $3,413,254,410)
$3,664,858,068
  Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (2.4)%   (86,833,319)
  Net Assets — 100.0% $3,578,024,749
* Non-income producing security.
** Represents collateral for securities loaned.
All or a portion of the security is on loan. The total market value of the securities on loan as of March 31, 2022 was $75,956,336.
Open-End Fund.
Ω Represents the 7-Day SEC yield as of March 31, 2022.
 
39

Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund (Continued)
Portfolio Abbreviations:
ADR – American Depositary Receipt
GDR – Global Depositary Receipt
JSC – Joint Stock Company
PCL – Public Company Limited
144a - This is a restricted security that was sold in a transaction qualifying for the exemption under Rule 144a of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be sold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At March 31, 2022, these securities were valued at $335,579,913 or 9.4% of net assets. These securities were deemed liquid pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.
Other Information:
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Valuation inputs at Reporting Date:
Description Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Common Stocks        
India $$1,058,913,719 $— $1,058,913,719
China 74,496,323 734,868,595 809,364,918
Taiwan 476,390,048 476,390,048
Argentina 368,950,025 368,950,025
Brazil 289,241,913 289,241,913
Hong Kong 25,654,025 108,117,990 133,772,015
South Korea 115,552,661 115,552,661
Indonesia 93,702,044 93,702,044
Thailand 54,053,214 54,053,214
Kazakhstan 35,809,005 35,809,005
Short-Term Investment Funds 229,108,506 229,108,506
Total $1,557,542,884 $2,107,315,184 $— $3,664,858,068
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
40

Portfolio of Investments
Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund – March 31, 2022
Principal
Amount
      Market
Value
  Corporate Bonds — 53.1%  
  Financials — 12.1%  
$ 2,232,000 Ares Capital Corp., 4.250%, 3/1/25 $  2,233,231
  2,605,000 Bank of Nova Scotia (The) (Canada), Ser 2, 3.625%, 10/27/81   2,244,106
  2,350,000 Barclays PLC (United Kingdom), 2.894%, 11/24/32   2,131,846
  1,234,000 BNP Paribas SA (France), 144a, 4.625%, 3/13/27   1,263,878
    975,000 Charles Schwab Corp. (The), 4.000%(A)     875,667
    975,000 Charles Schwab Corp. (The), 5.000%(A)     971,344
  1,309,000 Citigroup, Inc., Ser W, 4.000%(A)   1,259,913
  2,000,000 Corestates Capital III, 144a, (3M LIBOR +0.570%), 1.076%, 2/15/27(B)   1,920,108
  1,260,000 Credit Acceptance Corp., 6.625%, 3/15/26   1,285,200
  2,026,000 First Maryland Capital II, (3M LIBOR +0.850%), 1.167%, 2/1/27(B)   1,942,548
    502,000 FirstCash, Inc., 144a, 4.625%, 9/1/28     467,488
  3,330,000 Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.615%, 3/15/28   3,328,430
  2,165,000 Golub Capital BDC, Inc., 2.050%, 2/15/27   1,920,074
  1,487,000 Icahn Enterprises LP / Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp., 5.250%, 5/15/27   1,459,379
  1,677,000 Navient Corp., 6.750%, 6/15/26   1,710,540
  3,248,000 PNC Capital Trust, (3M LIBOR +0.570%), 1.093%, 6/1/28(B)   3,037,176
  1,625,000 Prudential Financial, Inc., 5.125%, 3/1/52   1,642,712
  1,650,000 Sabra Health Care LP REIT, 3.900%, 10/15/29   1,585,741
  2,145,000 Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc., 2.500%, 8/1/26   1,980,060
  2,000,000 STORE Capital Corp. REIT, 2.750%, 11/18/30   1,810,004
  3,059,000 Truist Bank, Ser A, (3M LIBOR +0.670%), 1.180%, 5/15/27(B)   2,917,183
 1,625,000 Truist Financial Corp., Ser Q, 5.100%(A)   1,647,750
         39,634,378
  Energy — 7.1%  
  1,706,000 Cenovus Energy, Inc. (Canada), 5.250%, 6/15/37   1,848,434
  1,432,000 Cheniere Energy, Inc., 4.625%, 10/15/28   1,442,754
  1,260,000 CQP Holdco LP / BIP-V Chinook Holdco LLC, 144a, 5.500%, 6/15/31   1,239,761
  2,350,000 Energy Transfer LP, 5.250%, 4/15/29   2,507,961
    795,000 FS Luxembourg Sarl (Brazil), 144a, 10.000%, 12/15/25     833,232
    762,000 Genesis Energy LP / Genesis Energy Finance Corp., 5.625%, 6/15/24     757,253
    250,000 Genesis Energy LP / Genesis Energy Finance Corp., 6.500%, 10/1/25     246,575
    293,000 Genesis Energy LP / Genesis Energy Finance Corp., 8.000%, 1/15/27     299,669
    218,000 Hilcorp Energy I LP / Hilcorp Finance Co., 144a, 5.750%, 2/1/29     218,131
  1,323,000 Hilcorp Energy I LP / Hilcorp Finance Co., 144a, 6.000%, 2/1/31   1,326,307
    750,000 KazMunayGas National Co. JSC (Kazakhstan), 144a, 5.750%, 4/19/47     662,985
  1,124,000 MC Brazil Downstream Trading SARL (Brazil), 144a, 7.250%, 6/30/31   1,032,619
    405,000 Mesquite Energy, Inc., 144a, 7.250%, 2/15/23       4,050
  1,922,000 Murphy Oil Corp., 6.375%, 7/15/28   2,001,282
  1,604,000 NGPL PipeCo LLC, 144a, 7.768%, 12/15/37   2,013,422
  1,149,000 Parkland Corp. (Canada), 144a, 4.500%, 10/1/29   1,065,290
    350,000 Petroleos Mexicanos (Mexico), 6.375%, 1/23/45     279,926
    750,000 Petroleos Mexicanos (Mexico), 6.625%, 6/15/35     672,195
  1,810,000 Petroleos Mexicanos (Mexico), 6.750%, 9/21/47   1,471,349
  1,324,000 Precision Drilling Corp. (Canada), 144a, 6.875%, 1/15/29   1,343,860
    922,000 Southwestern Energy Co., 8.375%, 9/15/28   1,014,200
 1,200,000 YPF SA (Argentina), 144a, 8.500%, 7/28/25   1,026,600
         23,307,855
Principal
Amount
      Market
Value
     
  Communication Services — 6.7%  
$ 1,386,000 Arches Buyer, Inc., 144a, 4.250%, 6/1/28 $  1,292,944
  2,995,000 British Telecommunications PLC (United Kingdom), 5.125%, 12/4/28   3,140,923
  1,160,000 Cars.com, Inc., 144a, 6.375%, 11/1/28   1,151,729
  1,689,000 Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital, 6.484%, 10/23/45   1,924,483
  1,255,000 Connect Finco SARL / Connect US Finco LLC (United Kingdom), 144a, 6.750%, 10/1/26   1,276,824
  1,485,000 CSC Holdings LLC, 144a, 4.625%, 12/1/30   1,241,891
  1,460,000 Directv Financing LLC / Directv Financing Co-Obligor, Inc., 144a, 5.875%, 8/15/27   1,437,078
  1,260,000 Gray Escrow II, Inc., 144a, 5.375%, 11/15/31   1,204,831
  2,074,000 Netflix, Inc., 6.375%, 5/15/29   2,345,238
  1,525,000 Paramount Global, 4.200%, 5/19/32   1,527,390
    916,000 Photo Holdings Merger Sub, Inc., 144a, 8.500%, 10/1/26     872,893
  2,309,000 Stagwell Global, 144a, 5.625%, 8/15/29   2,188,309
 2,228,000 T-Mobile USA, Inc., 3.875%, 4/15/30   2,236,825
         21,841,358
  Industrials — 5.5%  
  1,175,000 ADT Security Corp. (The), 144a, 4.875%, 7/15/32   1,081,000
  1,260,000 Amsted Industries, Inc., 144a, 4.625%, 5/15/30   1,194,140
    922,000 Boeing Co. (The), 5.805%, 5/1/50   1,064,164
  1,440,000 Cimpress PLC (Ireland), 144a, 7.000%, 6/15/26   1,379,232
  1,745,000 Fortress Transportation & Infrastructure Investors LLC, 144a, 6.500%, 10/1/25   1,727,550
  2,026,000 General Electric Co., 4.156%(A)   1,944,960
  1,330,000 Meritor, Inc., 144a, 4.500%, 12/15/28   1,331,729
  2,103,000 Oshkosh Corp., 3.100%, 3/1/30   1,955,914
  1,269,000 Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer Inc / Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer LLC, 144a, 4.000%, 10/15/27   1,176,997
  1,337,000 Seaspan Corp. (Hong Kong), 144a, 5.500%, 8/1/29   1,250,095
  1,274,000 Stericycle, Inc., 144a, 3.875%, 1/15/29   1,184,820
    878,000 TransDigm, Inc., 144a, 6.250%, 3/15/26     902,694
 2,045,000 Weir Group PLC (The) (United Kingdom), 144a, 2.200%, 5/13/26   1,912,296
         18,105,591
  Consumer Discretionary — 5.1%  
  2,001,000 Brunswick Corp., 4.400%, 9/15/32   1,978,569
  1,375,000 Carriage Services, Inc., 144a, 4.250%, 5/15/29   1,284,250
  1,458,000 Churchill Downs, Inc., 144a, 4.750%, 1/15/28   1,414,260
    462,000 Ford Motor Co., 4.750%, 1/15/43     417,606
    860,000 Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, 4.125%, 8/17/27     842,301
  3,330,000 General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 3.100%, 1/12/32   2,993,504
  2,825,000 Imperial Brands Finance PLC (United Kingdom), 144a, 3.500%, 7/26/26   2,766,781
  1,950,000 Magallanes, Inc., 144a, 5.141%, 3/15/52   1,995,523
  1,440,000 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., 144a, 5.375%, 7/15/27   1,383,523
    975,000 Toll Brothers Finance Corp., 3.800%, 11/1/29     942,814
   577,000 Wynn Macau Ltd. (Macao), 144a, 4.875%, 10/1/24     540,493
         16,559,624
  Consumer Staples — 4.6%  
  1,552,000 Albertsons Cos., Inc. / Safeway, Inc. / New Albertsons LP / Albertsons LLC, 144a, 5.875%, 2/15/28   1,552,000
  1,911,000 Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC / Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. (Belgium), 4.900%, 2/1/46   2,124,322
  1,177,000 BellRing Brands, Inc., 144a, 7.000%, 3/15/30   1,203,753
 1,591,000 Chobani LLC / Chobani Finance Corp., Inc., 144a, 4.625%, 11/15/28   1,467,697
 
41

Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund (Continued)
Principal
Amount
      Market
Value
  Corporate Bonds — 53.1% (Continued)  
  Consumer Staples — (Continued)  
$ 1,968,000 JBS Finance Luxembourg Sarl, 144a, 2.500%, 1/15/27 $  1,827,800
    982,000 Performance Food Group, Inc., 144a, 4.250%, 8/1/29     894,848
  1,469,000 QVC, Inc., 4.375%, 9/1/28   1,340,276
  1,652,000 Turning Point Brands, Inc., 144a, 5.625%, 2/15/26   1,602,440
  1,500,000 Ulker Biskuvi Sanayi AS (Turkey), 144a, 6.950%, 10/30/25   1,309,920
 1,752,000 United Rentals North America, Inc., 3.750%, 1/15/32   1,633,740
         14,956,796
  Utilities — 4.3%  
  1,950,000 CMS Energy Corp., 4.750%, 6/1/50   1,930,500
  2,145,000 Edison International, 4.125%, 3/15/28   2,130,808
    850,000 Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. (South Africa), 144a, 8.450%, 8/10/28     827,060
  1,498,000 FirstEnergy Transmission LLC, 144a, 5.450%, 7/15/44   1,634,668
    812,000 Genneia SA (Argentina), 144a, 8.750%, 9/2/27     764,295
  2,145,000 Pacific Gas & Electric Co., 2.500%, 2/1/31   1,849,241
  1,200,000 PPL Capital Funding, Inc., Ser A, (3M LIBOR +2.665%), 3.661%, 3/30/67(B)   1,053,000
  1,600,000 Southern Co. (The), 4.456%, 3/15/57(B)   1,592,659
 2,720,000 WEC Energy Group, Inc., (3M LIBOR +2.112%), 2.619%, 5/15/67(B)   2,306,560
         14,088,791
  Materials — 3.2%  
  2,602,000 Braskem Netherlands Finance BV (Brazil), 144a, 5.875%, 1/31/50   2,581,184
  2,500,000 Cemex SAB de CV (Mexico), 144a, 3.875%, 7/11/31   2,281,275
    332,000 Hudbay Minerals, Inc. (Canada), 144a, 4.500%, 4/1/26     323,700
  1,018,000 Hudbay Minerals, Inc. (Canada), 144a, 6.125%, 4/1/29   1,048,540
    400,000 Indonesia Asahan Aluminium Persero PT (Indonesia), 6.530%, 11/15/28     444,444
  1,700,000 Indonesia Asahan Aluminium Persero PT (Indonesia), 144a, 5.450%, 5/15/30   1,773,950
  2,200,000 Metinvest BV (Ukraine), 144a, 7.750%, 10/17/29     924,000
 1,400,000 OCP SA (Morocco), 144a, 5.125%, 6/23/51   1,162,000
         10,539,093
  Health Care — 2.4%  
  1,770,000 CVS Health Corp., 5.050%, 3/25/48   2,008,614
  1,264,000 MEDNAX, Inc., 144a, 5.375%, 2/15/30   1,221,694
  1,260,000 Mozart Debt Merger Sub, Inc., 144a, 3.875%, 4/1/29   1,163,925
  2,102,000 Mylan, Inc., 4.550%, 4/15/28   2,128,702
 1,260,000 US Acute Care Solutions LLC, 144a, 6.375%, 3/1/26   1,244,250
          7,767,185
  Real Estate — 1.7%  
  1,320,000 Diversified Healthcare Trust REIT, 9.750%, 6/15/25   1,389,300
  1,260,000 Howard Hughes Corp. (The), 144a, 4.375%, 2/1/31   1,185,030
  1,260,000 Iron Mountain, Inc. REIT, 144a, 4.875%, 9/15/27   1,246,203
  1,000,000 Logan Group Co. Ltd. (China), 7.500%, 8/25/22     260,000
 1,455,000 RHP Hotel Properties LP / RHP Finance Corp. REIT, 144a, 4.500%, 2/15/29   1,367,700
          5,448,233
  Information Technology — 0.4%  
 1,326,000 Clarivate Science Holdings Corp., 144a, 4.875%, 7/1/29   1,247,514
  Total Corporate Bonds $173,496,418
  Asset-Backed Securities — 18.9%
  2,000,000 AB BSL CLO 3, Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2021-3A, Class D, 144a, (3M LIBOR +3.200%), 3.389%, 10/20/34(B)       1,907,882
 5,970,000 AB Issuer LLC, Ser 2021-1, Class A2, 144a, 3.734%, 7/30/51       5,430,342
Principal
Amount
      Market
Value
  Asset-Backed Securities — 18.9% (Continued)
$ 5,000,000 Birch Grove CLO 2, Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2021-2A, Class C, 144a, (3M LIBOR +2.250%), 2.498%, 10/19/34(B)     $  4,903,855
  5,000,000 BSPRT Issuer, Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2018-FL4, Class E, 144a, (1M LIBOR +3.050%), 3.447%, 9/15/35(B)       4,934,765
  4,948,052 FOCUS Brands Funding LLC, Ser 2017-1A, Class A2IB, 144a, 3.857%, 4/30/47       4,872,817
  4,962,500 Hardee's Funding LLC, Ser 2021-1A, Class A2, 144a, 2.865%, 6/20/51       4,511,950
  2,100,000 Medalist Partners Corporate Finance CLO VI, Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2020-1A, Class B, 144a, (3M LIBOR +2.700%), 2.941%, 4/17/33(B)       2,024,045
  5,000,000 Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust, Ser 2017-2, Class B2, 144a, 3.545%, 7/25/59(B)(C)       4,835,716
  4,962,500 Neighborly Issuer LLC, Ser 2021-1A, Class A2, 144a, 3.584%, 4/30/51       4,657,202
  5,000,000 New Mountain CLO 3, Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser CLO-3A, Class C, 144a, (3M LIBOR +2.100%), 2.231%, 10/20/34(B)       4,892,160
  2,250,000 Palmer Square CLO, Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2021-4A, Class D, 144a, (3M LIBOR +2.950%), 3.133%, 10/15/34(B)       2,206,937
  6,242,000 STWD, Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2021-FL2, Class D, 144a, (1M LIBOR +2.800%), 3.268%, 4/18/38(B)       6,164,539
  5,500,000 TRTX Issuer, Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2019-FL3, Class C, 144a, (SOFR30A +2.214%), 2.264%, 10/15/34(B)       5,475,019
 5,000,000 Whitebox CLO I, Ltd. (Cayman Islands), Ser 2019-1A, Class BR, 144a, (3M LIBOR +2.050%), 2.309%, 7/24/32(B)       4,959,565
  Total Asset-Backed Securities  $61,776,794
  U.S. Treasury Obligations — 9.3%
  5,800,000 U.S. Treasury Bond, 1.875%, 2/15/51       5,070,469
27,000,000 U.S. Treasury Note, 0.750%, 5/31/26      25,141,641
  Total U.S. Treasury Obligations  $30,212,110
Shares        
  Common Stocks — 5.4%  
  Industrials — 1.0%  
    39,560 Covia     484,610
     3,131 Lockheed Martin Corp.   1,382,024
    14,248 Raytheon Technologies Corp.   1,411,549
          3,278,183
  Information Technology — 0.9%  
    11,323 International Business Machines Corp.   1,472,217
     8,328 Texas Instruments, Inc.   1,528,021
          3,000,238
  Health Care — 0.9%  
    20,366 Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.   1,487,329
     8,008 Johnson & Johnson   1,419,258
          2,906,587
  Financials — 0.9%  
    33,406 Bank of America Corp.   1,376,994
     4,198 Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)   1,385,760
          2,762,754
  Energy — 0.5%  
    18,042 Exxon Mobil Corp.   1,490,089
 2,237,868 Hi-Crush, Inc.(D)      22,379
          1,512,468
 
42

Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund (Continued)
Shares       MarketValue
  Common Stocks — 5.4% (Continued)  
  Materials — 0.4%  
    19,412 DuPont de Nemours, Inc. $  1,428,335
  Consumer Staples — 0.4%  
    15,196 Philip Morris International, Inc.   1,427,512
  Communication Services — 0.4%  
    58,809 AT&T, Inc.   1,389,657
  Total Common Stocks  $17,705,734
Principal
Amount
       
  Sovereign Government Obligations — 4.4%
$ 1,350,000 Angolan Government International Bond, 144a, 8.000%, 11/26/29       1,354,887
  1,222,000 Bahamas Government International Bond, 144a, 6.000%, 11/21/28         945,535
  1,177,000 Chile Government International Bond, 3.100%, 5/7/41       1,039,138
  1,295,000 Colombia Government International Bond, 3.125%, 4/15/31       1,096,541
    400,000 Colombia Government International Bond, 7.375%, 9/18/37         449,000
    320,000 Colombia Government International Bond, 10.375%, 1/28/33         432,403
  1,350,000 Dominican Republic International Bond, 4.875%, 9/23/32       1,221,763
  1,530,000 Ecuador Government International Bond, 144a, 1.000%, 7/31/35       1,000,635
    657,000 Ecuador Government International Bond, 144a, 5.000%, 7/31/30         548,602
  1,350,000 Egypt Government International Bond, 8.500%, 1/31/47       1,148,553
    955,000 Gabon Government International Bond, 144a, 6.625%, 2/6/31         904,099
  1,350,000 Ghana Government International Bond, 144a, 8.627%, 6/16/49         938,088
  1,192,000 Mexico Government International Bond, 2.659%, 5/24/31       1,084,350
  1,000,000 Nigeria Government International Bond, 144a, 7.625%, 11/28/47         830,900
    985,000 Republic of Uzbekistan International Bond, 144a, 3.700%, 11/25/30         849,563
    200,000 Ukraine Government International Bond, 144a, 7.253%, 3/15/33          82,950
 1,020,000 Ukraine Government International Bond, 7.253%, 3/15/33         423,045
  Total Sovereign Government Obligations  $14,350,052
  Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities — 4.1%
  5,000,000 BX Commercial Mortgage Trust, Ser 2020-VIV2, Class C, 144a, 3.542%, 3/9/44(B)(C)       4,576,078
  5,000,000 CGMS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Ser 2017-B1, Class D, 144a, 3.000%, 8/15/50       4,176,120
  2,202,000 GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust, Ser 2017-SLP, Class E, 144a, 4.591%, 10/10/32(B)(C)       2,158,620
 2,530,000 Wells Fargo Re-REMIC Trust, Ser 2013-FRR1, Class BK26, 144a, 1/27/45#       2,410,694
  Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities  $13,321,512
Shares        
  Preferred Stocks — 2.1%  
  Financials — 1.8%  
    95,203 First Republic Bank, Ser K, 4.125%(A)   1,963,086
    32,500 JPMorgan Chase & Co., Ser JJ, 4.550%(A)      710,450
Shares       MarketValue
     
  Financials — (Continued)  
    48,750 JPMorgan Chase & Co., Ser MM, 4.200%(A) $  1,027,650
    69,778 Morgan Stanley, Ser DMT1, 4.250%(A)   1,500,925
    36,977 US Bancorp, Ser L, 3.750%(A)     728,816
          5,930,927
  Real Estate — 0.3%  
    12,224 Public Storage REIT, 4.000%(A)     252,181
    36,304 Public Storage REIT, 3.900%(A)     728,259
            980,440
  Total Preferred Stocks   $6,911,367
Principal
Amount
       
  Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 0.5%
$26,566,657 FRESB Mortgage Trust, Ser 2020-SB78, Class X1, 1.158%, 6/25/40(B)(C)(E)   1,735,353
  Rights — 0.0%
    27,942 Vistra Energy Corp. Tax Return Rights, 0.000%, 12/6/26      36,045
Shares        
  Short-Term Investment Fund — 1.3%  
 4,136,088 Dreyfus Government Cash Management, Institutional Shares, 0.19%∞Ω   4,136,087
  Total Investment Securities—99.1%
(Cost $345,305,920)
$323,681,472
  Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.9%   2,851,072
  Net Assets — 100.0% $326,532,544
(A) Perpetual Bond - A bond or preferred stock with no definite maturity date.
(B) Variable rate security - Rate reflected is the rate in effect as of March 31, 2022.
(C) Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description.
(D) Level 3- For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
(E) Interest only security - This type of security represents the right to receive the monthly interest payments on an underlying pool of mortgages. Payments of principal on the pool reduce the value of the “interest only” holding.
# Zero coupon bond - Rate shown reflects effective yield to maturity at time of purchase.
Open-End Fund.
Ω Represents the 7-Day SEC yield as of March 31, 2022.
Portfolio Abbreviations:
CLO – Collateralized Loan Obligation
FRESB – Freddie Mac Multifamily Securitization Small Balance Loan
JSC – Joint Stock Company
LIBOR – London Interbank Offered Rate
LLC – Limited Liability Company
LP – Limited Partnership
PLC – Public Limited Company
REIT – Real Estate Investment Trust
REMIC – Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit
SOC – State-Owned Company
SOFR30A – Secured Overnight Financing Rate 30 Day Average
144a - This is a restricted security that was sold in a transaction qualifying for the exemption under Rule 144a of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be sold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At March 31, 2022, these securities were valued at $162,018,624 or 49.6% of net assets. These securities were deemed liquid pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.
 
43

Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund (Continued)
Other Information:
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities may not be an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For more information on valuation inputs, and their aggregation into the levels used in the table below, please refer to the security valuation section in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Valuation Inputs at Reporting Date:
Description Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Assets:        
Corporate Bonds $$173,496,418 $$173,496,418
Asset-Backed Securities 61,776,794 61,776,794
U.S. Treasury Obligations 30,212,110 30,212,110
Common Stocks 17,198,745 484,610 22,379 17,705,734
Sovereign Government Obligations 14,350,052 14,350,052
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities 13,321,512 13,321,512
Preferred Stocks 6,911,367 6,911,367
Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations 1,735,353 1,735,353
Rights 36,045 36,045
Short-Term Investment Fund 4,136,087 4,136,087
Other Financial Instruments*        
Futures        
Interest rate contracts 136,488 136,488
Total Assets $28,382,687 $295,412,894 $22,379 $323,817,960
Liabilities:        
Other Financial Instruments*        
Futures        
Interest rate contracts $(344,149) $$$(344,149)
Total Liabilities $(344,149) $$$(344,149)
Total $28,038,538 $295,412,894 $22,379 $323,473,811
* Other Financial Instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in total investments. Amounts shown represent unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts and is included in Payable for variation margin on futures contracts on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Measurements Using Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)  
Assets Common Stocks and
Corporate Bonds
Beginning balance, March 31, 2021 $509,081
Purchases and Sales (1,349,026)
Accrued discounts (premiums) 2,981
Net realized gain (loss) (2,048,301)
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 2,907,644
Ending balance, March 31, 2022 $22,379
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation for Investments in Securities still held at March 31, 2022 $38,740
Common
Stocks
Fair Value Valuation
Technique
Unobservable
Input
Hi-Crush, Inc. $22,379 Market Value
N/A
 
Futures Contracts
At March 31, 2022, $197,015 was segregated with the broker as collateral for futures contracts. The Fund had the following futures contracts, brokered by Wells Fargo, open at March 31, 2022
Description Expiration Date Number of
Contracts
Notional Value Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Short Futures:        
10-Year Ultra Long U.S. Treasury Bond 6/21/2022 202 $27,501,175 $136,488
Long Futures:        
5-Year U.S. Treasury Note 6/30/2022 494 56,999,774 (344,149)
        $(207,661)
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
44

Statements of Assets and Liabilities
March 31, 2022
  Touchstone
Flexible
Income
Fund
Touchstone
Focused
Fund
Touchstone
Global ESG
Equity Fund
Touchstone
Growth
Opportunities
Fund
Touchstone
Mid Cap
Growth
Fund
Touchstone
Sands Capital
Emerging
Markets
Growth Fund
Touchstone
Strategic
Income
Opportunities
Fund
Assets              
Investments, at cost $872,546,389 $664,454,397 $512,792,535 $94,170,392 $998,832,415 $3,413,254,410 $345,305,920
Investments, at market value * $842,331,996 $1,201,491,984 $645,529,735 $162,440,500 $1,312,384,691 $3,664,858,068 $323,681,472
Cash 2,125,362 3,026
Cash deposits held at prime broker (A) 22,565,042 197,015
Foreign currency 3 456,152 2,569,098
Dividends and interest receivable 5,882,312 683,689 2,070,663 41,344 420,218 2,575,166 2,811,379
Receivable for capital shares sold 832,118 99,439 272,302 26,582 5,824,943 14,931,792 63,171
Receivable for investments sold 19,999,100 364,479 2,534,684 3,323,954 13,926,829 915,895
Receivable for securities lending income 5,396 19,550 188,542 37
Tax reclaim receivable 323,965 3,913 73,623 5,936
Other assets 41,690 44,003 29,001 20,907 65,150 104,028 34,216
Total Assets 891,657,657 1,202,683,594 651,236,052 165,853,287 1,318,698,915 3,701,352,508 327,712,147
 
Liabilities              
Bank overdrafts 19,797,632
Due to prime broker 17
Dividends payable 136,601
Securities sold short** 22,582,000
Payable for return of collateral for securities on loan 354,825 21,634,913 81,188,062
Deferred foreign capital gains tax 26,240,983
Payable for capital shares redeemed 1,559,008 674,089 214,137 72,186 1,823,705 11,500,441 758,329
Payable for investments purchased 3,331,633
Payable to Investment Advisor 368,628 621,910 335,235 87,114 733,399 2,994,352 159,137
Payable to other affiliates 147,132 163,793 83,648 24,664 219,714 407,264 98,212
Payable to Trustees 14,289 14,289 14,289 14,289 14,289 14,289 14,289
Payable for professional services 35,420 28,692 36,447 24,619 32,653 73,142 29,586
Payable for reports to shareholders 14,781 19,109 11,827 4,080 49,580 64,258 10,113
Payable for transfer agent services 226,731 267,400 169,846 35,905 353,853 748,287 93,100
Payable for variation margin on futures contracts 12,596
Other accrued expenses and liabilities 10,042 11,402 8,920 8,788 19,129 96,681 4,224
Total Liabilities 45,247,089 1,800,684 22,509,262 3,603,278 3,246,322 123,327,759 1,179,603
Net Assets $846,410,568 $1,200,882,910 $628,726,790 $162,250,009 $1,315,452,593 $3,578,024,749 $326,532,544
Net assets consist of:              
Paid-in capital 877,588,247 632,240,254 471,883,261 92,694,550 977,463,306 3,770,094,643 393,924,913
Distributable earnings (deficit) (31,177,679) 568,642,656 156,843,529 69,555,459 337,989,287 (192,069,894) (67,392,369)
Net Assets $846,410,568 $1,200,882,910 $628,726,790 $162,250,009 $1,315,452,593 $3,578,024,749 $326,532,544
*Includes market value of securities on loan of: $348,419 $ $18,547,086 $ $ $75,956,336 $
Cost of foreign currency: $3 $ $461,498 $ $ $2,563,348 $
**Proceeds received for securities sold short: $21,817,364 $ $ $ $ $ $
(A) Represents segregated cash for securities sold short, futures contracts and swap agreements.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
45

Statements of Assets and Liabilities  (Continued)
  Touchstone
Flexible
Income
Fund
Touchstone
Focused
Fund
Touchstone
Global ESG
Equity Fund
Touchstone
Growth
Opportunities
Fund
Touchstone
Mid Cap
Growth
Fund
Touchstone
Sands Capital
Emerging
Markets
Growth Fund
Touchstone
Strategic
Income
Opportunities
Fund
Pricing of Class A Shares              
Net assets applicable to Class A shares $113,880,493 $53,027,554 $457,749,962 $61,006,472 $299,763,007 $19,693,819 $177,573,583
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)
10,777,185 878,186 19,847,470 1,579,037 8,684,924 1,258,251 54,289,821
Net asset value price per share* $10.57 $60.38 $23.06 $38.64 $34.52 $15.65 $3.27
Maximum sales charge - Class A shares 3.25% 5.00% 5.00% 5.00% 5.00% 5.00% 3.25%
Maximum offering price per share
(100%/(100%-maximum sales charge) of net asset value adjusted to the nearest cent) - Class A shares
$10.93 $63.56 $24.27 $40.67 $36.34 $16.47 $3.38
 
Pricing of Class C Shares              
Net assets applicable to Class C shares $37,087,115 $20,147,368 $5,565,431 $1,769,074 $17,918,035 $9,107,496 $42,045,885
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)
3,567,464 365,657 300,110 68,048 1,108,136 592,398 12,805,706
Net asset value and offering price per share** $10.40 $55.10 $18.54 $26.00 $16.17 $15.37 $3.28
 
Pricing of Class Y Shares              
Net assets applicable to Class Y shares $661,265,641 $1,108,883,265 $155,663,978 $25,850,758 $657,182,254 $1,186,957,229 $106,650,162
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)
62,368,999 18,114,192 6,468,113 631,004 17,896,583 75,423,491 32,687,745
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share $10.60 $61.22 $24.07 $40.97 $36.72 $15.74 $3.26
 
Pricing of Institutional Class Shares              
Net assets applicable to Institutional Class shares $34,177,319 $18,824,723 $9,747,419 $73,623,705 $229,027,898 $1,252,461,045 $262,914
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)
3,224,216 305,909 404,324 1,756,398 6,142,310 79,138,214 80,690
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share $10.60 $61.54 $24.11 $41.92 $37.29 $15.83 $3.26
 
Pricing of Class R6 Shares              
Net assets applicable to Class R6 shares $ $ $ $ $111,561,399 $1,109,805,160 $
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding
(unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)
2,986,861 70,123,375
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per share $ $ $ $ $37.35 $15.83 $
* There is no sales load on subscriptions of $1 million or more for all funds except for Flexible Income Fund and Strategic Income Opportunities Fund. There is no sales load on subscriptions of $500,000 or more for Flexible Income Fund and Strategic Income Opportunities Fund. Redemptions that were part of a $500,000 or $1 million or more subscription, as applicable, may be subject to a contingent deferred sales load if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase.
** Redemption price per share varies by length of time shares are held due to the terms of the contingent deferred sales charge.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
46

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Statements of Operations For the Year Ended March 31, 2022
  Touchstone
Flexible
Income
Fund
Touchstone
Focused
Fund
Touchstone
Global ESG
Equity Fund
Touchstone
Growth
Opportunities
Fund
Touchstone
Mid Cap
Growth
Fund
Touchstone
Sands Capital
Emerging
Markets
Growth Fund
Touchstone
Strategic
Income
Opportunities
Fund
Investment Income              
Dividends* $7,211,289 $12,276,115 $12,606,317 $1,330,284 $7,921,327 $25,954,826 $580,805
Interest** 28,266,848 8,753 12,562,468
Income from securities loaned 281,571 82,044 83 971 572,709 37
Total Investment Income 35,759,708 12,276,115 12,688,361 1,330,367 7,922,298 26,536,288 13,143,310
Expenses              
Investment advisory fees 4,817,788 7,758,320 4,515,162 1,290,098 9,836,332 46,158,304 2,171,582
Administration fees 1,119,727 1,611,946 901,274 223,043 1,834,265 5,979,730 358,258
Compliance fees and expenses 3,073 3,073 3,073 3,073 3,073 3,073 2,312
Custody fees 62,112 18,625 60,943 16,062 28,320 1,082,119 61,363
Professional fees 53,694 52,822 51,927 28,472 62,379 168,555 72,338
Transfer Agent fees, Class A(A) 91,011 42,788 322,672 48,358 275,293 24,152 254,443
Transfer Agent fees, Class C 25,648 16,348 5,748 1,480 16,320 13,982 54,892
Transfer Agent fees, Class Y 519,548 755,480 115,521 29,448 753,189 1,750,866 157,868
Transfer Agent fees, Institutional Class 21,527 11,006 3,406 29,455 129,007 688,720 36
Transfer Agent fees, Class R6 308 278
Registration Fees, Class A(A) 16,566 13,984 22,583 14,330 17,928 17,377 20,403
Registration Fees, Class C 13,597 10,770 9,788 9,597 12,609 12,899 18,054
Registration Fees, Class Y 39,347 30,991 16,817 10,767 25,115 125,357 27,763
Registration Fees, Institutional Class 8,369 9,266 7,705 16,909 22,787 62,207 2,699
Registration Fees, Class R6 6,252 4,807
Dividend expense on securities sold short 373,514
Interest expense on securities sold short 98,250
Reports to Shareholders, Class A(A) 9,208 4,092 21,013 4,157 15,509 7,116 31,698
Reports to Shareholders, Class C 4,041 2,405 3,098 1,626 3,094 6,831 8,060
Reports to Shareholders, Class Y 22,428 46,293 8,680 2,343 79,668 127,258 22,754
Reports to Shareholders, Institutional Class 3,103 2,169 3,207 1,892 27,055 42,899 1,947
Reports to Shareholders, Class R6 1,016 2,078
Shareholder servicing fees, Class Y 58,213
Distribution and shareholder servicing expenses, Class A(A) 305,319 134,735 959,860 156,795 800,853 64,150 576,891
Distribution and shareholder servicing expenses, Class C 412,490 242,401 67,981 18,561 185,743 113,654 501,776
Trustee fees 26,076 26,076 26,076 26,076 26,076 26,076 27,813
Other expenses 98,948 358,101 156,907 68,683 488,936 298,979 77,122
Total Expenses 8,145,384 11,151,691 7,283,441 2,001,225 14,651,127 56,781,467 4,508,285
Fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Advisor and/or Affiliates(B) (179,442) (10,171) (19,880) (174,803) (155,930) (13,312) (467,674)
Net Expenses 7,965,942 11,141,520 7,263,561 1,826,422 14,495,197 56,768,155 4,040,611
Net Investment Income (Loss) 27,793,766 1,134,595 5,424,800 (496,055) (6,572,899) (30,231,867) 9,102,699
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments              
Net realized gains (losses) on investments(C)(D) (2,361,762) 105,788,449 60,530,953 19,382,164 231,808,914 (237,687,034) 7,665,701
Net realized gains on securities sold short 6,896,005
Net realized gains on written options 520,097
Net realized gains on futures contracts 101,305
Net realized gains on swap agreements 1,989
Net realized gains on forward foreign currency contracts 289,517
Net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions 65,036 (292,401) 10,916
Capital gain distributions 22,470
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments(E) (49,222,327) 6,341,938 (68,875,694) (1,297,245) (115,521,773) (971,046,589) (28,336,933)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on securities sold short (764,636)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts (207,661)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on forward foreign currency contracts (564,784)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency transactions (17,358) 81,354 2,132
Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments (44,908,164) 112,130,387 (8,297,063) 18,084,919 116,287,141 (1,208,944,670) (21,039,807)
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations $(17,114,398) $113,264,982 $(2,872,263) $17,588,864 $109,714,242 $(1,239,176,537) $(11,937,108)
*Net of foreign tax withholding of: $36,692 $ $1,287,727 $ $22,225 $3,210,177 $
**Net of foreign tax withholding of: $ $ $ $ $ $ $29,465
Includes increase in deferred foreign capital gains tax of: $ $ $ $ $ $671,126 $
(A) Transfer Agent Fees, Registration Fees, Reports to Shareholders and Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Expenses for the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund include amounts for Class B shares of $10,630, $3,948, $1,619, and $39,904, respectively. Class B shares merged into Class A shares on July 16, 2021.
(B) See Note 4 in Notes to Financial Statements.
(C) Includes foreign capital gains taxes paid of $13,435,009 for the Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund.
(D) For the year ended March 31, 2022, the Focused Fund, the Growth Opportunities Fund, the Mid Cap Growth Fund and the Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund had a redemption-in-kind of securities in the amount of $49,584,624, $10,433,824, $152,205,388 and $50,688,037, respectively. Net realized gains (losses) on investments includes the realized gain on the transaction of $29,739,350, $5,504,973, $60,289,147 and $29,697,936, respectively, which will not be recognized by the Fund for tax purposes.
(E) Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) does not include net appreciation of $4,299,043, for the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund in connection with the Fund's reorganization. See Note 9 in the Notes to Financial Statements.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
48

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Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  Touchstone
Flexible Income
Fund
Touchstone
Focused Fund
Touchstone
Global ESG
Equity Fund
  For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2022
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2022
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2022
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
From Operations            
Net investment income (loss) $27,793,766 $28,534,916 $1,134,595 $2,222,448 $5,424,800 $4,274,188
Net realized gains (losses) on investments, securities sold short, written options, futures contracts, swap agreements, forward foreign currency contracts, foreign currency transactions and capital gain distributions received 5,078,799 (3,408,359) 105,788,449 113,770,654 60,595,989 66,392,214
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, securities sold short, futures contracts, forward foreign currency contracts and foreign currency transactions (49,986,963) 76,082,971 6,341,938 380,150,794 (68,893,052) 198,003,928
Change in Net Assets from Operations (17,114,398) 101,209,528 113,264,982 496,143,896 (2,872,263) 268,670,330
 
Distributions to Shareholders:            
Distributed earnings, Class A (3,914,740) (5,278,794) (2,981,004) (2,153,855) (55,428,678) (1,587,449)
Distributed earnings, Class B
Distributed earnings, Class C (1,030,204) (1,865,099) (1,434,791) (1,430,957) (801,994)
Distributed earnings, Class Y (22,656,138) (26,122,141) (65,864,852) (53,264,171) (18,663,839) (940,684)
Distributed earnings, Institutional Class (1,622,568) (1,479,966) (1,697,569) (817,067) (1,214,241) (65,145)
Distributed earnings, Class R6
Total Distributions (29,223,650) (34,746,000) (71,978,216) (57,666,050) (76,108,752) (2,593,278)
Change in Net Assets from Share Transactions(B) 103,096,464 82,253,829 11,900,180 (36,832,260) 7,273,709 (78,741,029)
 
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets 56,758,416 148,717,357 53,186,946 401,645,586 (71,707,306) 187,336,023
 
Net Assets            
Beginning of period 789,652,152 640,934,795 1,147,695,964 746,050,378 700,434,096 513,098,073
End of period $846,410,568 $789,652,152 $1,200,882,910 $1,147,695,964 $628,726,790 $700,434,096
(A) See Note 9 in Notes to Financial Statements.
(B) For details on share transactions by class, see Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity in pages 52-55.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
50

Statements of Changes in Net Assets (Continued)
Touchstone
Growth Opportunities
Fund
Touchstone
Mid Cap
Growth Fund
Touchstone
Sands Capital Emerging
Markets Growth Fund
Touchstone
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2022
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2022
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2022
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2022(A)
For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
               
$(496,055) $(557,556) $(6,572,899) $(7,641,364) $(30,231,867) $(22,877,687) $9,102,699 $9,833,238
19,382,164 33,445,786 231,808,914 272,551,221 (237,979,435) 34,300,447 8,067,439 9,010,153
(1,297,245) 49,085,637 (115,521,773) 354,354,600 (970,965,235) 1,243,531,916 (29,107,246) 21,780,178
17,588,864 81,973,867 109,714,242 619,264,457 (1,239,176,537) 1,254,954,676 (11,937,108) 40,623,569
 
               
(10,095,137) (5,299,262) (48,088,579) (21,913,745) (393,240) (5,076,894) (5,433,173)
(92,062) (385,245)
(389,665) (276,553) (5,041,824) (2,351,555) (119,388) (846,395) (1,251,979)
(4,474,202) (2,983,605) (98,678,809) (39,864,933) (29,163,383) (3,939,569) (4,228,308)
(11,185,510) (6,264,896) (50,376,807) (28,507,143) (41,115,494) (4,036)
(5,039,178) (111,845) (13,193,519)
(26,144,514) (14,824,316) (207,225,197) (92,749,221) (83,985,024) (9,958,956) (11,298,705)
9,872,785 (69,060,834) 44,308,317 (195,258,516) 543,334,433 1,791,364,885 (18,679,977) 41,008,916
 
1,317,135 (1,911,283) (53,202,638) 331,256,720 (779,827,128) 3,046,319,561 (40,576,041) 70,333,780
 
               
160,932,874 162,844,157 1,368,655,231 1,037,398,511 4,357,851,877 1,311,532,316 367,108,585 296,774,805
$162,250,009 $160,932,874 $1,315,452,593 $1,368,655,231 $3,578,024,749 $4,357,851,877 $326,532,544 $367,108,585
51

Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity
  Touchstone
Flexible Income
Fund
Touchstone
Focused Fund
  For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2022
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2021
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2022
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2021
  Shares Dollars Shares Dollars Shares Dollars Shares Dollars
Class A                
Proceeds from Shares issued 1,667,801 $18,708,179 2,840,796 $31,345,303 251,214 $15,729,509 251,563 $12,943,588
Reinvestment of distributions 287,086 3,194,417 403,612 4,461,293 40,130 2,514,954 35,107 1,821,706
Cost of Shares redeemed (2,092,760) (23,321,227) (2,228,003) (24,536,572) (241,848) (15,316,752) (223,201) (10,767,368)
Change from Class A Share Transactions (137,873) (1,418,631) 1,016,405 11,270,024 49,496 2,927,711 63,469 3,997,926
Class C                
Proceeds from Shares issued 570,123 6,275,318 735,883 7,973,288 13,299 768,119 11,317 524,313
Reinvestment of distributions 84,578 926,694 146,221 1,591,133 24,476 1,402,008 28,001 1,345,159
Cost of Shares redeemed (1,144,286) (12,561,013) (1,954,282) (21,048,203) (139,769) (8,043,500) (216,361) (9,639,449)
Change from Class C Share Transactions (489,585) (5,359,001) (1,072,178) (11,483,782) (101,994) (5,873,373) (177,043) (7,769,977)
Class Y                
Proceeds from Shares issued 22,477,042 252,114,312 19,864,583 220,062,508 491,672 30,921,050 396,405 19,966,667
Reinvestment of distributions 1,864,466 20,791,361 2,171,185 24,083,355 998,513 63,493,935 975,935 51,346,021
Cost of Shares redeemed (14,691,501) (163,062,234) (15,443,838) (169,306,158) (1,290,574) (81,764,429) (1,950,332) (95,698,599)
Change from Class Y Share Transactions 9,650,007 109,843,439 6,591,930 74,839,705 199,611 12,650,556 (577,992) (24,385,911)
Institutional Class                
Proceeds from Shares issued 4,586,557 51,827,041 1,396,030 15,517,816 1,139,671 73,216,877 1,838,766 89,867,250
Reinvestment of distributions 102,953 1,154,181 93,094 1,031,402 26,163 1,671,930 14,676 776,182
Cost of Shares redeemed (4,708,529) (52,950,565) (806,241) (8,921,336) (1,117,980) (72,693,521) (2,008,192) (99,317,730)
Change from Institutional Class Share Transactions (19,019) 30,657 682,883 7,627,882 47,854 2,195,286 (154,750) (8,674,298)
Change from Share Transactions 9,003,530 $103,096,464 7,219,040 $82,253,829 194,967 $11,900,180 (846,316) $(36,832,260)
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
52

Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity (Continued)
Touchstone
Global ESG
Equity Fund
Touchstone
Growth Opportunities
Fund
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2022
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2021
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2022
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2021
Shares Dollars Shares Dollars Shares Dollars Shares Dollars
               
432,087 $11,322,133 396,735 $8,721,587 116,102 $5,145,067 87,918 $3,266,253
2,136,876 52,709,823 60,977 1,507,353 235,351 9,694,083 130,107 5,057,274
(1,705,650) (44,459,413) (2,085,406) (46,097,121) (157,163) (6,656,749) (162,699) (6,232,248)
863,313 19,572,543 (1,627,694) (35,868,181) 194,290 8,182,401 55,326 2,091,279
               
24,229 516,469 26,993 529,386 5,591 158,216 2,453 68,989
38,229 754,402 13,708 380,795 9,531 269,741
(122,724) (2,672,085) (246,181) (4,330,629) (13,344) (417,551) (78,433) (2,196,413)
(60,266) (1,401,214) (219,188) (3,801,243) 5,955 121,460 (66,449) (1,857,683)
               
1,119,047 30,099,850 1,187,900 26,934,242 62,537 2,694,760 225,691 7,953,280
684,123 17,627,865 34,565 886,951 100,436 4,383,031 71,950 2,931,242
(2,065,129) (56,169,100) (2,286,476) (50,260,030) (245,530) (10,959,478) (498,231) (18,257,698)
(261,959) (8,441,385) (1,064,011) (22,438,837) (82,557) (3,881,687) (200,590) (7,373,176)
               
55,768 1,586,151 219,555 5,270,130 418,535 18,866,379 290,108 10,798,698
36,893 951,899 1,577 40,541 250,571 11,185,510 150,998 6,264,896
(176,204) (4,994,285) (975,584) (21,943,439) (540,597) (24,601,278) (2,070,981) (78,984,848)
(83,543) (2,456,235) (754,452) (16,632,768) 128,509 5,450,611 (1,629,875) (61,921,254)
457,545 $7,273,709 (3,665,345) $(78,741,029) 246,197 $9,872,785 (1,841,588) $(69,060,834)
53

Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity (Continued)
  Touchstone
Mid Cap
Growth Fund
Touchstone
Sands Capital Emerging
Markets Growth Fund
  For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2022
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2021
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2022(A)
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2021
  Shares Dollars Shares Dollars Shares Dollars Shares Dollars
Class A(D)                
Proceeds from Shares issued 609,620 $22,987,724 1,067,011 $34,084,944 932,246 $19,378,943 1,005,659 $20,130,781
Proceeds from Shares issued in connection with reorganization(C)
Reinvestment of distributions 1,172,612 43,046,572 541,386 19,879,699 18,043 338,842
Cost of Shares redeemed (1,648,188) (65,483,714) (2,471,731) (85,865,487) (650,702) (13,094,200) (302,118) (5,795,374)
Shares issued (reacquired) upon automatic conversion
Change from Class A Share Transactions 134,044 550,582 (863,334) (31,900,844) 299,587 6,623,585 703,541 14,335,407
Class B(D)                
Proceeds from Shares issued
Reinvestment of distributions
Share conversion in connection with reorganization(C)
Cost of Shares redeemed
Shares issued (reacquired) upon automatic conversion
Change from Class B Share Transactions
Class C                
Proceeds from Shares issued 256,212 4,681,124 76,143 1,468,504 247,366 5,076,527 392,695 8,087,311
Proceeds from Shares issued in connection with reorganization(C)
Reinvestment of distributions 284,933 4,912,253 111,664 2,265,668 5,585 103,264
Cost of Shares redeemed (344,107) (6,896,222) (713,332) (13,647,825) (121,471) (2,287,859) (32,579) (574,799)
Shares issued (reacquired) upon automatic conversion
Change from Class C Share Transactions 197,038 2,697,155 (525,525) (9,913,653) 131,480 2,891,932 360,116 7,512,512
Class Y(E)                
Proceeds from Shares issued 3,105,793 124,588,934 3,838,529 135,254,385 48,172,669 986,485,910 49,959,576 1,004,168,771
Proceeds from Shares issued in connection with reorganization(C)
Reinvestment of distributions 2,372,638 92,627,783 967,681 37,362,145 1,333,117 25,169,244
Cost of Shares redeemed (3,743,224) (153,939,239) (4,940,786) (175,997,171) (42,471,629) (813,009,608) (18,838,544) (356,921,406)
Change from Class Y Share Transactions 1,735,207 63,277,478 (134,576) (3,380,641) 7,034,157 198,645,546 31,121,032 647,247,365
Institutional Class                
Proceeds from Shares issued 5,904,177 248,082,533 7,022,230 257,938,408 43,802,336 910,162,747 76,112,190 1,483,255,179
Reinvestment of distributions 946,844 37,513,952 513,798 20,068,967 1,433,905 27,215,524
Cost of Shares redeemed (10,207,590) (421,663,326) (11,629,901) (432,407,355) (99,672,313) (2,063,656,334) (19,830,368) (360,985,578)
Change from Institutional Class Share Transactions (3,356,569) (136,066,841) (4,093,873) (154,399,980) (54,436,072) (1,126,278,063) 56,281,822 1,122,269,601
Class R6                
Proceeds from Shares issued 3,279,068 128,766,328 120,268 4,562,600 81,005,724 1,661,844,627
Reinvestment of distributions 103,297 4,098,831 2,862 111,845 131,400 2,492,653
Cost of Shares redeemed (510,052) (19,015,216) (8,652) (337,843) (11,013,749) (202,885,847)
Change from Class R6 Share Transactions 2,872,313 113,849,943 114,478 4,336,602 70,123,375 1,461,451,433
Change from Share Transactions 1,582,033 $44,308,317 (5,502,830) $(195,258,516) 23,152,527 $543,334,433 88,466,511 $1,791,364,885
(A) Represents the period from commencement of operations (April 26, 2021) through March 31, 2022 for Class R6.
(B) Represents the period from commencement of operations (July 19, 2021) through March 31, 2022 for Institutional Class.
(C) See Note 9 in Notes to Financial Statements
(D) Effective July 16, 2021, Class B shares of the AIG Strategic Bond Fund were reorganized into Class A shares of the Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund.
(E) Effective July 16, 2021, Class W shares of the AIG Strategic Bond Fund were reorganized into Class Y shares of the Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
54

Statements of Changes in Net Assets - Capital Stock Activity (Continued)
Touchstone
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2022(B) (C)
For the Year
Ended
March 31, 2021
Shares Dollars Shares Dollars
       
4,815,857 $16,755,101 11,723,775 $40,489,625
26,968,139 94,970,590
1,239,383 4,277,504 1,375,200 4,733,156
(28,766,399) (100,196,298) (10,140,821) (35,002,379)
1,474,886 5,083,563
4,256,980 15,806,897 4,433,040 15,303,965
       
27,227 94,973 2,206,559 7,531,595
22,614 79,292 99,176 340,859
(3,685,534) (12,956,491)
(423,691) (1,483,312) (2,218,556) (7,622,904)
(287,296) (976,210)
(4,059,384) (14,265,538) (200,117) (726,660)
       
394,276 1,380,604 3,688,032 12,667,482
9,310,842 32,869,573
183,496 634,467 278,824 960,806
(8,410,971) (29,216,271) (7,168,100) (24,718,370)
(1,184,165) (4,107,353)
1,477,643 5,668,373 (4,385,409) (15,197,435)
       
7,611,638 26,407,679 34,392,953 118,154,325
26,820,573 94,266,176
794,450 2,740,342 939,055 3,234,705
(42,985,020) (149,585,379) (23,435,348) (79,759,984)
(7,758,359) (26,171,182) 11,896,660 41,629,046
       
84,145 293,419
1,194 4,036
(4,649) (15,982)
80,690 281,473
       
(6,002,430) $(18,679,977) 11,744,174 $41,008,916
55

Financial Highlights
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $11.11 $10.05 $10.75 $10.81 $10.71
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.34 0.41 0.34 0.39 0.26
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.52) 1.16 (0.68) (0.01) 0.11
Total from investment operations (0.18) 1.57 (0.34) 0.38 0.37
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.36) (0.41) (0.36) (0.38) (0.27)
Realized capital gains (0.10) (0.06)
Total distributions (0.36) (0.51) (0.36) (0.44) (0.27)
Net asset value at end of period $10.57 $11.11 $10.05 $10.75 $10.81
Total return(A) (1.76%) 15.72% (3.33%) 3.59% 3.46%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $113,880 $121,317 $99,460 $110,460 $136,609
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) 1.09%(B) 1.04% 1.05%(B) 1.04% 1.06%(B)
Gross expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) 1.11%(C) 1.09% 1.14%(C) 1.11% 1.14%(C)
Net investment income 3.05% 3.79% 3.12% 3.50% 2.60%
Portfolio turnover rate 61% 103% 136% 171% 100%(D)
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $10.94 $9.90 $10.60 $10.67 $10.57
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.25 0.32 0.24 0.30 0.20
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.51) 1.15 (0.66) (0.01) 0.09
Total from investment operations (0.26) 1.47 (0.42) 0.29 0.29
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.28) (0.33) (0.28) (0.30) (0.19)
Realized capital gains (0.10) (0.06)
Total distributions (0.28) (0.43) (0.28) (0.36) (0.19)
Net asset value at end of period $10.40 $10.94 $9.90 $10.60 $10.67
Total return(A) (2.52%) 14.89% (4.09%) 2.77% 2.73%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $37,087 $44,389 $50,767 $66,926 $100,800
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) 1.84%(B) 1.79% 1.80%(B) 1.79% 1.81%(B)
Gross expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) 1.87%(C) 1.85% 1.91%(C) 1.86% 1.89%(C)
Net investment income 2.30% 3.04% 2.37% 2.75% 1.85%
Portfolio turnover rate 61% 103% 136% 171% 100%(D)
(A) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(B) The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short for Class A was 1.04%, 1.04% and 1.06% and for Class C was 1.79%, 1.79% and 1.81% for the years ended March 31, 2022, 2020, and 2018, respectively.
(C) The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short for Class A was 1.06%, 1.13% and 1.14% and for Class C was 1.82%, 1.90% and 1.89% for the years ended March 31, 2022, 2020 and 2018, respectively.
(D) Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of securities of the Sentinel Multi-Asset Income Fund acquired on October 27, 2017. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
56

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $11.15 $10.08 $10.78 $10.85 $10.75
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.36 0.44 0.37 0.42 0.31
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.53) 1.17 (0.68) (0.02) 0.09
Total from investment operations (0.17) 1.61 (0.31) 0.40 0.40
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.38) (0.44) (0.39) (0.41) (0.30)
Realized capital gains (0.10) (0.06)
Total distributions (0.38) (0.54) (0.39) (0.47) (0.30)
Net asset value at end of period $10.60 $11.15 $10.08 $10.78 $10.85
Total return (1.61%) 16.07% (3.07%) 3.75% 3.71%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $661,266 $587,810 $464,910 $459,861 $628,693
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) 0.84%(A) 0.79% 0.80%(A) 0.79% 0.82%(A)
Gross expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) 0.85%(B) 0.83% 0.87%(B) 0.84% 0.90%(B)
Net investment income 3.30% 4.04% 3.37% 3.75% 2.84%
Portfolio turnover rate 61% 103% 136% 171% 100%(C)
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund—Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $11.14 $10.08 $10.78 $10.84 $10.74
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.37 0.45 0.40 0.44 0.33
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.52) 1.16 (0.70) (0.02) 0.08
Total from investment operations (0.15) 1.61 (0.30) 0.42 0.41
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.39) (0.45) (0.40) (0.42) (0.31)
Realized capital gains (0.10) (0.06)
Total distributions (0.39) (0.55) (0.40) (0.48) (0.31)
Net asset value at end of period $10.60 $11.14 $10.08 $10.78 $10.84
Total return (1.45%) 16.19% (3.02%) 3.95% 3.81%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $34,177 $36,136 $25,798 $59,138 $86,578
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) 0.74%(A) 0.69% 0.70%(A) 0.69% 0.72%(A)
Gross expenses (including dividend and interest expense on securities sold short) 0.84%(B) 0.84% 0.88%(B) 0.82% 0.86%(B)
Net investment income 3.40% 4.14% 3.47% 3.85% 2.94%
Portfolio turnover rate 61% 103% 136% 171% 100%(C)
(A) The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short for Class Y was 0.79%, 0.79% and 0.82% and for Institutional Class was 0.69%, 0.69% and 0.72% for the years ended March 31, 2022, 2020 and 2018, respectively.
(B) The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short for Class Y was 0.80%, 0.86% and 0.90% and for Institutional Class was 0.79%, 0.87% and 0.86% for the years ended March 31, 2022, 2020 and 2018, respectively.
(C) Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of securities of the Sentinel Multi-Asset Income Fund acquired on October 27, 2017. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
57

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Focused Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $58.43 $36.45 $42.68 $42.93 $41.47
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income (loss)(A) (0.10) (0.02) 0.14 0.14 0.17
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 5.72 24.92 (3.56) 1.39 4.02
Total from investment operations 5.62 24.90 (3.42) 1.53 4.19
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.03) (0.10) (0.01)
Realized capital gains (3.64) (2.92) (2.71) (1.77) (2.73)
Total distributions (3.67) (2.92) (2.81) (1.78) (2.73)
Net asset value at end of period $60.38 $58.43 $36.45 $42.68 $42.93
Total return(B) 9.38% 69.38% (9.14%) 3.82% 10.13%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $53,028 $48,419 $27,889 $55,399 $167,354
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 1.15%(C) 1.22%(C) 1.20%(D) 1.20% 1.20%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 1.15%(E) 1.22%(E) 1.19% 1.32% 1.29%
Net investment income (loss) (0.17%) (0.05%) 0.31% 0.32% 0.40%
Portfolio turnover rate 14%(F) 18%(F) 13% 12% 8%(F)
Touchstone Focused Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $53.97 $34.06 $40.26 $40.89 $39.90
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment loss(A) (0.53) (0.36) (0.18) (0.18) (0.14)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 5.30 23.19 (3.31) 1.32 3.86
Total from investment operations 4.77 22.83 (3.49) 1.14 3.72
Distributions from:          
Realized capital gains (3.64) (2.92) (2.71) (1.77) (2.73)
Net asset value at end of period $55.10 $53.97 $34.06 $40.26 $40.89
Total return(B) 8.58% 68.10% (9.80%) 3.03% 9.34%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $20,147 $25,241 $21,961 $33,875 $41,635
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 1.91%(C) 1.96%(C) 1.95% 1.95% 1.94%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 1.91%(E) 1.96%(E) 1.98% 1.95% 1.94%
Net investment loss (0.92%) (0.79%) (0.44%) (0.43%) (0.34%)
Portfolio turnover rate 14%(F) 18%(F) 13% 12% 8%(F)
(A) The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(C) The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class A was 1.14% and 1.20% and for Class C was 1.90% and 1.94%, for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(D) Net expenses include amounts recouped by the Advisor.
(E) The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class A was 1.14% and 1.20% and for Class C was 1.90% and 1.94% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(F) Portfolio turnover excludes securities delivered from processing redemptions-in-kind.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
58

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Focused Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $59.10 $36.82 $43.12 $43.50 $42.21
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income(A) 0.08 0.13 0.26 0.27 0.31
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 5.80 25.21 (3.58) 1.39 4.08
Total from investment operations 5.88 25.34 (3.32) 1.66 4.39
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.12) (0.14) (0.27) (0.27) (0.37)
Realized capital gains (3.64) (2.92) (2.71) (1.77) (2.73)
Total distributions (3.76) (3.06) (2.98) (2.04) (3.10)
Net asset value at end of period $61.22 $59.10 $36.82 $43.12 $43.50
Total return 9.71% 69.89% (8.86%) 4.13% 10.43%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $1,108,883 $1,058,713 $680,934 $879,704 $972,273
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 0.86%(B) 0.91%(B) 0.91% 0.91% 0.91%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 0.86%(C) 0.91%(C) 0.91% 0.91% 0.91%
Net investment income 0.12% 0.27% 0.60% 0.61% 0.69%
Portfolio turnover rate 14%(D) 18%(D) 13% 12% 8%(D)
Touchstone Focused Fund—Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $59.38 $36.98 $43.30 $43.68 $42.38
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income(A) 0.09 0.16 0.30 0.30 0.34
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 5.84 25.33 (3.60) 1.39 4.11
Total from investment operations 5.93 25.49 (3.30) 1.69 4.45
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.13) (0.17) (0.31) (0.30) (0.42)
Realized capital gains (3.64) (2.92) (2.71) (1.77) (2.73)
Total distributions (3.77) (3.09) (3.02) (2.07) (3.15)
Net asset value at end of period $61.54 $59.38 $36.98 $43.30 $43.68
Total return 9.75% 70.00% (8.79%) 4.20% 10.54%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $18,825 $15,323 $15,267 $29,382 $22,556
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 0.84%(B) 0.85%(B) 0.83% 0.83% 0.83%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 0.88%(C) 0.94%(C) 0.92% 0.92% 0.92%
Net investment income 0.15% 0.32% 0.68% 0.69% 0.77%
Portfolio turnover rate 14%(D) 18%(D) 13% 12% 8%(D)
(A) The net investment income per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B) The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class Y was 0.85% and 0.89% and for Institutional Class was 0.83% and 0.83% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(C) The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class Y was 0.85% and 0.89% and for Institutional Class was 0.87% and 0.92% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(D) Portfolio turnover excludes securities delivered from processing redemptions-in-kind.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
59

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $26.16 $16.84 $19.94 $22.01 $21.52
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.18 0.14(A) 0.17(A) 0.15 0.03
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.27) 9.26 (2.78) (0.29) 3.37
Total from investment operations (0.09) 9.40 (2.61) (0.14) 3.40
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.23) (0.08) (0.15) (0.17) (0.17)
Realized capital gains (2.78) (0.34) (1.76) (2.74)
Total distributions (3.01) (0.08) (0.49) (1.93) (2.91)
Net asset value at end of period $23.06 $26.16 $16.84 $19.94 $22.01
Total return(B) (0.98%) 55.86% 13.61% (0.37%) 15.57%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $457,750 $496,574 $347,021 $445,608 $485,413
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses 1.09% 1.12% 1.17% 1.17% 1.19%
Gross expenses 1.09% 1.12% 1.18% 1.17% 1.22%
Net investment income 0.74% 0.63% 0.84% 0.70% 0.58%
Portfolio turnover rate 32% 62% 60% 40% 72%(C)
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $21.59 $13.97 $16.65 $18.68 $18.62
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment loss (0.03) (0.04)(A) (A)(D) (0.06) (0.05)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.21) 7.66 (2.31) (0.21) 2.85
Total from investment operations (0.24) 7.62 (2.31) (0.27) 2.80
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.03) (0.03)
Realized capital gains (2.78) (0.34) (1.76) (2.74)
Total distributions (2.81) (0.37) (1.76) (2.74)
Net asset value at end of period $18.54 $21.59 $13.97 $16.65 $18.68
Total return(B) (1.85%) 54.55% (14.34%) (1.18%) 14.75%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $5,565 $7,782 $8,099 $14,926 $37,513
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses 1.99% 1.99% 1.99% 1.99% 1.99%
Gross expenses 2.10% 2.14% 2.14% 2.03% 2.05%
Net investment income (loss) (0.16%) (0.24%) 0.02% (0.12%) (0.23%)
Portfolio turnover rate 32% 62% 60% 40% 72%(C)
(A) The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(C) Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of securities of the Sentinel Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund acquired on October 27, 2017. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.
(D) Less than $0.005 per share.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
60

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $27.16 $17.48 $20.66 $22.75 $22.11
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.25 0.20(A) 0.24(A) 0.21 0.16
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.28) 9.62 (2.88) (0.31) 3.41
Total from investment operations (0.03) 9.82 (2.64) (0.10) 3.57
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.28) (0.14) (0.20) (0.23) (0.19)
Realized capital gains (2.78) (0.34) (1.76) (2.74)
Total distributions (3.06) (0.14) (0.54) (1.99) (2.93)
Net asset value at end of period $24.07 $27.16 $17.48 $20.66 $22.75
Total return (0.74%) 56.22% (13.37%) (0.09%) 15.90%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $155,664 $182,806 $136,239 $207,080 $189,837
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses 0.90% 0.90% 0.90% 0.90% 0.94%
Gross expenses 0.90% 0.93% 0.94% 0.93% 0.99%
Net investment income 0.93% 0.85% 1.11% 0.97% 0.82%
Portfolio turnover rate 32% 62% 60% 40% 72%(B)
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund—Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $27.20 $17.50 $20.68 $22.77 $22.13
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income 0.29 0.19(A) 0.24(A) 0.22 0.20
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.32) 9.64 (2.88) (0.32) 3.38
Total from investment operations (0.03) 9.83 (2.64) (0.10) 3.58
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.28) (0.13) (0.20) (0.23) (0.20)
Realized capital gains (2.78) (0.34) (1.76) (2.74)
Total distributions (3.06) (0.13) (0.54) (1.99) (2.94)
Net asset value at end of period $24.11 $27.20 $17.50 $20.68 $22.77
Total return (0.74%) 56.21% (13.35%) (0.10%) 15.95%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $9,747 $13,271 $21,739 $44,382 $42,196
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses 0.89% 0.89% 0.89% 0.89% 0.89%
Gross expenses 0.94% 0.97% 0.95% 0.93% 1.01%
Net investment income 0.94% 0.86% 1.12% 0.98% 0.87%
Portfolio turnover rate 32% 62% 60% 40% 72%(B)
(A) The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B) Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of securities of the Sentinel Sustainable Core Opportunities Fund acquired on October 27, 2017. If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
61

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $41.07 $27.94 $32.71 $32.79 $30.20
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment loss (0.21)(A) (0.20) (0.04) (0.05) (0.11)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments 4.97 17.44 0.99 3.10 5.89
Total from investment operations 4.76 17.24 0.95 3.05 5.78
Distributions from:          
Realized capital gains (7.19) (4.11) (5.72) (3.13) (3.19)
Net asset value at end of period $38.64 $41.07 $27.94 $32.71 $32.79
Total return(B) 10.48% 62.56% 0.63% 10.40% 19.51%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $61,006 $56,877 $37,150 $42,404 $39,901
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 1.25%(C) 1.24% 1.25%(C) 1.24% 1.24%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 1.31%(D) 1.34% 1.41%(D) 1.37% 1.38%
Net investment loss (0.48%) (0.55%) (0.12%) (0.17%) (0.32%)
Portfolio turnover rate 47%(E) 65% 101%(E) 94%(E) 86%
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $29.84 $21.19 $26.18 $27.08 $25.60
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment loss (0.38)(A) (0.77) (0.23) (0.49) (0.29)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments 3.73 13.53 0.96 2.72 4.96
Total from investment operations 3.35 12.76 0.73 2.23 4.67
Distributions from:          
Realized capital gains (7.19) (4.11) (5.72) (3.13) (3.19)
Net asset value at end of period $26.00 $29.84 $21.19 $26.18 $27.08
Total return(B) 9.64% 61.29% (0.09%) 9.54% 18.65%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $1,769 $1,853 $2,724 $3,863 $8,680
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 2.00%(C) 1.99% 2.00%(C) 1.99% 1.99%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 2.64%(D) 2.70% 2.61%(D) 2.32% 2.29%
Net investment loss (1.23%) (1.30%) (0.87%) (0.92%) (1.07%)
Portfolio turnover rate 47%(E) 65% 101%(E) 94%(E) 86%
(A) The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(C) The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class A was 1.24% and 1.24% and for Class C was 1.99% and 1.99% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2020, respectively.
(D) The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class A was 1.30% and 1.40% and for Class C was 2.63% and 2.60% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2020, respectively.
(E) Portfolio turnover excludes securities delivered from processing redemptions-in-kind.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
62

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $43.08 $29.11 $33.78 $33.69 $30.87
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income (loss) (0.11)(A) (0.12) 0.04 0.03 (0.02)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments 5.19 18.20 1.01 3.19 6.03
Total from investment operations 5.08 18.08 1.05 3.22 6.01
Distributions from:          
Realized capital gains (7.19) (4.11) (5.72) (3.13) (3.19)
Net asset value at end of period $40.97 $43.08 $29.11 $33.78 $33.69
Total return 10.75% 62.93% 0.92% 10.67% 19.80%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $25,851 $30,742 $26,610 $43,703 $47,554
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 1.00%(B) 0.99% 1.00%(B) 0.99% 0.99%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 1.10%(C) 1.13% 1.14%(C) 1.08% 1.07%
Net investment income (loss) (0.23%) (0.30%) 0.13% 0.08% (0.07%)
Portfolio turnover rate 47%(D) 65% 101%(D) 94%(D) 86%
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund—Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $43.90 $29.58 $34.22 $34.08 $31.16
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income (loss) (0.06)(A) (0.06) 0.06 0.09 0.01
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments 5.27 18.49 1.02 3.21 6.10
Total from investment operations 5.21 18.43 1.08 3.30 6.11
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.03)
Realized capital gains (7.19) (4.11) (5.72) (3.13) (3.19)
Total distributions (7.19) (4.11) (5.72) (3.16) (3.19)
Net asset value at end of period $41.92 $43.90 $29.58 $34.22 $34.08
Total return 10.84% 63.13% 1.00% 10.79% 19.94%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $73,624 $71,461 $96,361 $71,406 $185,831
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 0.90%(B) 0.89% 0.90%(B) 0.89% 0.89%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 1.02%(C) 1.03% 1.05%(C) 1.01% 1.01%
Net investment income (loss) (0.13%) (0.20%) 0.23% 0.18% 0.03%
Portfolio turnover rate 47%(D) 65% 101%(D) 94%(D) 86%
(A) The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B) The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class Y was 0.99% and 0.99% and for Institutional Class was 0.89% and 0.89% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2020, respectively.
(C) The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class Y was 1.09% and 1.13% and for Institutional Class was 1.01% and 1.04% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2020, respectively.
(D) Portfolio turnover excludes securities delivered from processing redemptions-in-kind.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
63

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $37.71 $24.89 $29.26 $28.05 $25.91
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment loss (0.26)(A) (0.28) (0.07) (0.09) (0.08)(A)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 3.44 15.64 (2.06) 3.36 4.95
Total from investment operations 3.18 15.36 (2.13) 3.27 4.87
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.01)
Realized capital gains (6.37) (2.54) (2.23) (2.06) (2.73)
Total distributions (6.37) (2.54) (2.24) (2.06) (2.73)
Net asset value at end of period $34.52 $37.71 $24.89 $29.26 $28.05
Total return(B) 7.43% 61.98% (8.78%) 12.77% 19.28%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $299,763 $322,432 $234,307 $262,492 $218,727
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 1.21%(C) 1.23%(C) 1.25% 1.27% 1.29%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 1.21%(D) 1.23%(D) 1.25% 1.27% 1.29%
Net investment loss (0.65%) (0.75%) (0.24%) (0.35%) (0.29%)
Portfolio turnover rate 60%(E) 65%(E) 82% 71% 76%
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $20.79 $14.56 $18.08 $18.27 $17.84
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment loss (0.30)(A) (0.78) (0.32) (0.49) (0.20)(A)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 2.05 9.55 (0.97) 2.36 3.36
Total from investment operations 1.75 8.77 (1.29) 1.87 3.16
Distributions from:          
Realized capital gains (6.37) (2.54) (2.23) (2.06) (2.73)
Net asset value at end of period $16.17 $20.79 $14.56 $18.08 $18.27
Total return(B) 6.53% 60.65% (9.55%) 11.91% 18.38%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $17,918 $18,939 $20,918 $32,831 $90,502
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 2.04%(C) 2.07%(C) 2.07% 2.04% 2.04%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 2.04%(D) 2.07%(D) 2.07% 2.04% 2.04%
Net investment loss (1.48%) (1.59%) (1.06%) (1.12%) (1.04%)
Portfolio turnover rate 60%(E) 65%(E) 82% 71% 76%
(A) The net investment loss per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(C) The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class A were 1.19% and 1.22% and for Class C were 2.02% and 2.06% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
(D) The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class A were 1.19% and 1.22% and for Class C were 2.02% and 2.06% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
(E) Portfolio turnover excludes securities delivered from processing redemptions-in-kind.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
64

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $39.68 $26.04 $30.50 $29.07 $26.70
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment loss (0.18)(A) (0.18) (—)(B) (0.03) (0.01)(A)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 3.59 16.36 (2.17) 3.52 5.11
Total from investment operations 3.41 16.18 (2.17) 3.49 5.10
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.06)
Realized capital gains (6.37) (2.54) (2.23) (2.06) (2.73)
Total distributions (6.37) (2.54) (2.29) (2.06) (2.73)
Net asset value at end of period $36.72 $39.68 $26.04 $30.50 $29.07
Total return 7.65% 62.40% (8.58%) 13.05% 19.62%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $657,182 $641,218 $424,403 $452,407 $375,617
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 0.99%(C) 0.99%(C) 1.01% 1.02% 1.02%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 0.99%(D) 0.99%(D) 1.01% 1.02% 1.02%
Net investment loss (0.43%) (0.52%) (—%)(B) (0.10%) (0.02%)
Portfolio turnover rate 60%(E) 65%(E) 82% 71% 76%
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund—Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $40.16 $26.32 $30.79 $29.32 $26.90
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income (loss) (0.14)(A) (0.20) 0.01 (0.01) (—)(A)(B)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 3.64 16.58 (2.18) 3.54 5.15
Total from investment operations 3.50 16.38 (2.17) 3.53 5.15
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.07)
Realized capital gains (6.37) (2.54) (2.23) (2.06) (2.73)
Total distributions (6.37) (2.54) (2.30) (2.06) (2.73)
Net asset value at end of period $37.29 $40.16 $26.32 $30.79 $29.32
Total return 7.79% 62.50% (8.49%) 13.10% 19.62%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $229,028 $381,463 $357,769 $349,865 $95,176
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 0.88%(C) 0.91%(C) 0.94% 0.97%(F) 0.99%
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 0.91%(D) 0.92%(D) 0.94% 0.97% 0.99%
Net investment income (loss) (0.32%) (0.44%) 0.06% (0.06%) 0.01%
Portfolio turnover rate 60%(E) 65%(E) 82% 71% 76%
(A) The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B) Less than $0.005 per share or 0.005%.
(C) The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class Y were 0.97% and 0.98% and for Institutional Class were 0.86% and 0.90% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
(D) The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class Y were 0.97% and 0.98% and for Institutional Class were 0.89% and 0.91% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
(E) Portfolio turnover excludes securities delivered from processing redemptions-in-kind.
(F) Net expenses include amounts recouped by the Advisor.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
65

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund—Class R6
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31, Period Ended
March 31,
2020(A)
  2022 2021
Net asset value at beginning of period $40.18 $26.32 $35.72(B)
Income (loss) from investment operations:      
Net investment loss (0.09)(C) (0.11) (—)(D)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments 3.63 16.51 (9.40)
Total from investment operations 3.54 16.40 (9.40)
Distributions from:      
Realized capital gains (6.37) (2.54)
Net asset value at end of period $37.35 $40.18 $26.32
Total return 7.89% 62.58% (26.32%)(E)
Ratios and supplemental data:      
Net assets at end of period (000's) $111,561 $4,603 $2
Ratio to average net assets:      
Net expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 0.79%(F) 0.85%(F) 0.89%(G)
Gross expenses (including liquidity provider expenses) 0.88%(H) 1.47%(H) 1,279.20%(G)
Net investment loss (0.23%) (0.37%) (0.02%)(G)
Portfolio turnover rate 60%(I) 65%(I) 82%
(A) Represents the period from commencement of operations (February 10, 2020) through March 31, 2020.
(B) Net asset value at the beginning of period is based on the net asset value of Institutional Class shares on February 10, 2020.
(C) The net investment loss per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(D) Less than $0.005 per share.
(E) Not annualized.
(F) The ratio of net expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class R6 were 0.77% and 0.84% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
(G) Annualized.
(H) The ratio of gross expenses to average net assets excluding liquidity provider expenses for Class R6 were 0.86% and 1.46% for the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
(I) Portfolio turnover excludes securities delivered from processing redemptions-in-kind.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
66

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31, Period Ended
March 31,
2019(A)
  2022 2021 2020
Net asset value at beginning of period $21.25 $11.36 $13.15 $11.21(B)
Income (loss) from investment operations:        
Net investment income (loss) (0.21) (0.13) 0.05(C) (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (5.07) 10.02 (1.77) 1.95
Total from investment operations (5.28) 9.89 (1.72) 1.94
Distributions from:        
Net investment income (0.32) (0.07)
Net asset value at end of period $15.65 $21.25 $11.36 $13.15
Total return(D) (25.16%) 87.06% (13.19%) 17.31%(E)
Ratios and supplemental data:        
Net assets at end of period (000's) $19,694 $20,369 $2,897 $1,349
Ratio to average net assets:        
Net expenses 1.60% 1.60% 1.60% 1.60%(F)
Gross expenses 1.60% 1.77% 2.62% 4.89%(F)
Net investment income (loss) (1.03%) (1.22%) 0.35% (0.94%)(F)
Portfolio turnover rate 28%(G) 27% 20% 31%
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31, Period Ended
March 31,
2019(A)
  2022 2021 2020
Net asset value at beginning of period $20.91 $11.26 $13.11 $11.21(B)
Income (loss) from investment operations:        
Net investment loss (0.35) (0.14) (0.05)(C) (0.04)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (4.99) 9.79 (1.75) 1.94
Total from investment operations (5.34) 9.65 (1.80) 1.90
Distributions from:        
Net investment income (0.20) (0.05)
Net asset value at end of period $15.37 $20.91 $11.26 $13.11
Total return(D) (25.69%) 85.70% (13.81%) 16.95%(E)
Ratios and supplemental data:        
Net assets at end of period (000's) $9,107 $9,637 $1,135 $59
Ratio to average net assets:        
Net expenses 2.35% 2.35% 2.35% 2.35%(F)
Gross expenses 2.46% 2.82% 5.24% 57.88%(F)
Net investment loss (1.78%) (1.97%) (0.40%) (1.69%)(F)
Portfolio turnover rate 28%(G) 27% 20% 31%
(A) Represents the period from commencement of operations (November 16, 2018) through March 31, 2019.
(B) Net asset value at the beginning of period is based on the net asset value of Class Y shares on November 16, 2018.
(C) The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(D) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(E) Not annualized.
(F) Annualized.
(G) Portfolio turnover excludes securities delivered from processing redemptions-in-kind.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
67

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $21.36 $11.38 $13.16 $13.56 $10.70
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income (loss) (0.17) (0.11) 0.08(A) (0.03) (0.06)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (5.08) 10.09 (1.77) (0.37) 2.92
Total from investment operations (5.25) 9.98 (1.69) (0.40) 2.86
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.37) (0.09)
Net asset value at end of period $15.74 $21.36 $11.38 $13.16 $13.56
Total return (24.89%) 87.71% (12.96%) (3.02%) 26.82%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $1,186,957 $1,460,473 $423,992 $318,093 $207,209
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses 1.29% 1.26% 1.33%(B) 1.35%(B) 1.47%
Gross expenses 1.29% 1.26% 1.31% 1.35% 1.49%
Net investment income (loss) (0.71%) (0.88%) 0.62% (0.45%) (0.73%)
Portfolio turnover rate 28%(C) 27% 20% 31% 27%
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund—Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $21.47 $11.43 $13.21 $13.61 $10.73
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income (loss) (0.29) (0.11) 0.09(A) (0.03) (0.06)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (4.97) 10.15 (1.77) (0.37) 2.94
Total from investment operations (5.26) 10.04 (1.68) (0.40) 2.88
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.38) (0.10)
Net asset value at end of period $15.83 $21.47 $11.43 $13.21 $13.61
Total return (24.81%) 87.79% (12.87%) (2.94%) 26.84%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $1,252,461 $2,867,373 $883,508 $524,670 $374,452
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses 1.20% 1.21%(B) 1.25%(B) 1.25% 1.37%
Gross expenses 1.20% 1.20% 1.24% 1.27% 1.41%
Net investment income (loss) (0.62%) (0.83%) 0.70% (0.35%) (0.63%)
Portfolio turnover rate 28%(C) 27% 20% 31% 27%
(A) The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B) Net expenses include amounts recouped by the Advisor.
(C) Portfolio turnover excludes securities delivered from processing redemptions-in-kind.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
68

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund—Class R6
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout The Period
  Period Ended
March 31,
2022(A)
 
Net asset value at beginning of period $22.37
Income (loss) from investment operations:  
Net investment income 0.15
Net realized and unrealized losses on investments (6.31)
Total from investment operations (6.16)
Distributions from:  
Net investment income (0.38)
Net asset value at end of period $15.83
Total return (27.85%)(B)
Ratios and supplemental data:  
Net assets at end of period (000's) $1,109,805
Ratio to average net assets:  
Net expenses 1.17%(C)
Gross expenses 1.17%(C)
Net investment loss (0.59%)(C)
Portfolio turnover rate 28%(D)
(A) Represents the period from commencement of operations (April 26, 2021) through March 31, 2022.
(B) Not annualized.
(C) Annualized.
(D) Portfolio turnover excludes securities delivered from processing redemptions-in-kind.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
69

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund—Class A
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $3.47 $3.15 $3.31 $3.38 $3.40
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income(A) 0.08 0.10 0.11 0.13 0.11
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.19) 0.33 (0.15) (0.04) (0.03)
Total from investment operations (0.11) 0.43 (0.04) 0.09 0.08
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.09) (0.11) (0.12) (0.16) (0.10)
Net asset value at end of period $3.27 $3.47 $3.15 $3.31 $3.38
Total return(B) (3.22%) 13.87% (1.37%) 2.86% 2.41%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $177,574 $173,600 $143,815 $153,979 $196,712
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses 1.03% 1.10% 1.10% 1.14% 1.33%
Gross expenses 1.14% 1.37% 1.37% 1.37% 1.33%
Net investment income 2.38% 2.91% 3.14% 3.89% 3.15%
Portfolio turnover rate 155%(C) 111% 85% 123% 149%
Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund—Class C
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $3.48 $3.16 $3.32 $3.39 $3.41
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income(A) 0.06 0.08 0.08 0.11 0.09
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.20) 0.33 (0.14) (0.04) (0.03)
Total from investment operations (0.14) 0.41 (0.06) 0.07 0.06
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.06) (0.09) (0.10) (0.14) (0.08)
Net asset value at end of period $3.28 $3.48 $3.16 $3.32 $3.39
Total return(B) (4.03%) 13.11% (2.04%) 2.18% 1.75%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $42,046 $39,402 $49,730 $52,782 $71,103
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses 1.74% 1.78% 1.78% 1.81% 1.98%
Gross expenses 1.88% 2.05% 2.05% 2.04% 1.98%
Net investment income 1.62% 2.26% 2.47% 3.22% 2.50%
Portfolio turnover rate 155%(C) 111% 85% 123% 149%
(A) The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(B) Total returns shown exclude the effect of applicable sales loads and fees. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(C) Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of securities of the AIG Flexible Credit Fund acquired on July 16, 2021 (See Note 9 in the Notes to Financial Statements). If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
70

Financial Highlights (Continued)
Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund—Class Y
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period
  Year Ended March 31,
  2022(A) 2021 2020 2019 2018
Net asset value at beginning of period $3.46 $3.15 $3.31 $3.37 $3.39
Income (loss) from investment operations:          
Net investment income(B) 0.09 0.10 0.11 0.14 0.11
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.19) 0.33 (0.14) (0.03) (0.02)
Total from investment operations (0.10) 0.43 (0.03) 0.11 0.09
Distributions from:          
Net investment income (0.10) (0.12) (0.13) (0.17) (0.11)
Net asset value at end of period $3.26 $3.46 $3.15 $3.31 $3.37
Total return (2.97%) 13.77% (1.16%) 3.38% 2.65%
Ratios and supplemental data:          
Net assets at end of period (000's) $106,650 $140,047 $89,806 $52,676 $70,239
Ratio to average net assets:          
Net expenses 0.79% 0.90% 0.91% 0.94% 1.14%
Gross expenses 0.91% 1.17% 1.18% 1.17% 1.14%
Net investment income 2.62% 3.08% 3.28% 4.06% 3.34%
Portfolio turnover rate 155%(C) 111% 85% 123% 149%
Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund—Institutional Class
Selected Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout The Period
  Period Ended
March 31,
2022(D)
 
Net asset value at beginning of period $3.50
Income (loss) from investment operations:  
Net investment income(B) 0.06
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (0.23)
Total from investment operations (0.17)
Distributions from:  
Net investment income (0.07)
Net asset value at end of period $3.26
Total return (4.94%)(E)
Ratios and supplemental data:  
Net assets at end of period (000's) $263
Ratio to average net assets:  
Net expenses 0.65%(F)
Gross expenses 3.91%(F)
Net investment income 2.56%(F)
Portfolio turnover rate 155%(C)
(A) Effective July 16, 2021, Class W shares of the AIG Strategic Bond Fund were reorganized into Class Y shares of the Fund.
(B) The net investment income (loss) per share was based on average shares outstanding for the period.
(C) Portfolio turnover excludes the purchases and sales of securities of the AIG Flexible Credit Fund acquired on July 16, 2021 (See Note 9 in the Notes to Financial Statements). If these transactions were included, portfolio turnover would have been higher.
(D) Represents the period from commencement of operations (July 19, 2021) through March 31, 2022.
(E) Not annualized.
(F) Annualized.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
71

Notes to Financial Statements
March 31, 2022
1. Organization
The Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust was established as a Massachusetts business trust pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated November 18, 1982. The Trust consists of nineteen funds, including the following seven funds (individually, a "Fund", and collectively, the “Funds”):
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund ("Flexible Income Fund”)
Touchstone Focused Fund ("Focused Fund”)
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund ("Global ESG Equity Fund”)
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund ("Growth Opportunities Fund”)
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund ("Mid Cap Growth Fund”)
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund ("Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund”)
Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund ("Strategic Income Opportunities Fund”)
Each Fund is diversified, with the exception of the Focused Fund, the Growth Opportunities Fund and the Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund, which are non-diversified.
The Agreement and Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of each Fund. The table below indicates the classes of shares that each Fund is registered to offer:
  Class A Class C Class Y Institutional
Class
Class R6
Flexible Income Fund X X X X  
Focused Fund X X X X  
Global ESG Equity Fund X X X X  
Growth Opportunities Fund X X X X  
Mid Cap Growth Fund X X X X X
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund X X X X X
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund X X X X  
The assets of each Fund are segregated, and a shareholder’s interest is limited to the Fund in which shares are held. The Funds’ prospectus provides a description of each Fund’s investment goal, policies, and strategies along with information on the classes of shares currently being offered.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of the Funds’ significant accounting policies:
Each Fund is an investment company that follows the accounting and reporting guidance of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 applicable to investment companies.
Security valuation and fair value measurements — U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) defines fair value as the price the Funds would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  All investments in securities are recorded at their fair value. The Funds define the term “market value”, as used throughout this report, as the estimated fair value. The Funds use various methods to measure fair value of their portfolio securities on a recurring basis. U.S. GAAP fair value measurement standards require disclosure of a hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
•  Level 1 − quoted prices in active markets for identical securities
•  Level 2 − other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
•  Level 3 − significant unobservable inputs (including a Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
The aggregate value by input level, as of March 31, 2022, for each Fund’s investments, is included in each Fund’s Portfolio of Investments, which also includes a breakdown of the Fund’s investments by geographic, portfolio or sector allocation. The Strategic Income Opportunities Fund held Level 3 categorized securities during the year ended March 31, 2022. Refer to the Portfolio of Investments for a reconciliation of Level 3 holdings.
Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers into or out of an investment’s assigned level within the hierarchy.
72

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The Funds' portfolio securities are valued as of the close of the regular session of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time or at the time as of which the NYSE establishes official closing prices). Portfolio securities traded on stock exchanges are valued at the last reported sale price, official close price, or last bid price if no sales are reported. Portfolio securities quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”) or from the primary exchange on which the security trades. To the extent these securities are actively traded, they are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Options and futures are valued at the last quoted sales price. If there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, long option positions are valued at the most recent bid price, and short option positions are valued at the most recent ask price on the valuation date and are categorized in Level 1. Shares of mutual funds in which the Funds invest are valued at their respective net asset value (“NAV”) as reported by the underlying funds (the “Underlying Funds”) and are categorized in Level 1.
Debt securities held by the Funds are valued at their evaluated bid by an independent pricing service or at their last broker-quoted bid prices as obtained from one or more of the major market makers for such securities. Independent pricing services use information provided by market makers or estimates of market values through accepted market modeling conventions. Observable inputs to the models may include prepayment speeds, pricing spread, yield, trade information, dealer quotes, market color, cash flow models, the securities’ terms and conditions, among others, and are generally categorized in Level 2. Investments in asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities are valued by independent pricing services using models that consider estimated cash flows of each tranche of the security, establish a benchmark yield and develop an estimated tranche specific spread to the benchmark yield based on the unique attributes of the tranche, and are generally categorized in Level 2. Debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less may be valued at amortized cost, provided such amount approximates market value and are categorized in Level 2. While this method provides consistency in valuation (and may only be used if it approximates market value), it may result in periods during which fair value, as determined by amortized cost, is higher or lower than the price that would be received if the Fund sold the investment.
Foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the mean between the bid and ask prices and are determined as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Interpolated values are derived when the settlement date of the contract is an interim date for which quotations are not available and are categorized in Level 2.
Securities mainly traded on a non-U.S. exchange or denominated in foreign currencies are generally valued according to the preceding closing values on that exchange, translated to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE, and are generally categorized in Level 1. However, if an event that may change the value of a security occurs after the time that the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange was determined, but before the close of regular trading on the NYSE, the security may be priced based on fair value and is generally categorized in Level 2. This may cause the value of the security, if held on the books of a Fund, to be different from the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange and may affect the calculation of that Fund’s NAV. The Funds may use fair value pricing under the following circumstances, among others:
•  If the value of a security has been materially affected by events occurring before the Funds' pricing time but after the close of the primary markets on which the security is traded.
•  If the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closes early or if trading in a particular portfolio security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the Funds' NAV calculation.
•  If a security is so thinly traded that reliable market quotations are unavailable due to infrequent trading.
•  If the validity of market quotations is not reliable.
Securities held by the Funds that do not have readily available market quotations, significant observable inputs, or securities for which the available market quotations are not reliable, are priced at their estimated fair value using procedures approved by the Funds' Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and are generally categorized in Level 3.
Collateralized Loan Obligations — The Flexible Income Fund and Strategic Income Opportunities Fund may invest in collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”). CLOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CLO is an entity that is backed by syndicated bank loans. The cash flows of the CLO can be split into multiple segments, called “tranches,” which will vary in risk profile and yield. The riskiest segment is the subordinated or “equity” tranche. This tranche bears the greatest risk of defaults from the underlying assets in the CLO and serves to protect the other, more senior, tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since it is shielded from defaults by the more junior tranches, a “senior” tranche will typically have higher credit ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and often receive higher ratings from one or more of the nationally recognized rating agencies. Despite the protection from the more junior tranches, senior tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to future defaults and the disappearance of one or more protecting tranches as a result of changes in the credit profile of the underlying pool of assets.
Investment companies — The Funds may invest in securities of other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), open-end funds and closed-end funds. Open-end funds are investment companies that issue new shares continuously and redeem shares daily. Closed-end funds are investment companies that typically issue a fixed number of shares that trade on a
73

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
securities exchange or over-the-counter (“OTC”). An ETF is an investment company that typically seeks to track the performance of an index by holding in its portfolio shares of all the companies, or a representative sample of the companies, that are components of a particular index. ETF shares are traded on a securities exchange based on their market value. The risks of investment in other investment companies typically reflect the risks of the types of securities in which the other investment companies invest. Investments in ETFs and closed-end funds are subject to the additional risk that their shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV. When a Fund invests in another investment company, shareholders of the Fund indirectly bear their proportionate share of the other investment company’s fees and expenses, including operating, registration, trustee, licensing, and marketing, as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.
Securities sold short —The Flexible Income Fund may engage in selling securities short, which obligates the Fund to replace a security borrowed by purchasing the same security at the current market value. The Fund would incur a loss if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. The Fund would realize a gain if the price of the security declines between those dates.
As of March 31, 2022, the Flexible Income Fund had securities sold short as shown on the Portfolio of Investments.
Options — The Flexible Income Fund and Strategic Income Opportunities Fund may write or purchase financial option contracts primarily to hedge against changes in the value of equity securities (or securities that the Fund intends to purchase), against fluctuations in fair value caused by changes in prevailing market interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates and against changes in overall equity market volatility. In addition, the Fund may utilize options in an attempt to generate gains from option premiums or to reduce overall portfolio risk. The Fund’s option strategy primarily focuses on the use of writing and/or purchasing call or put options on equity indexes. When the Fund writes or purchases an option, an amount equal to the premium received or paid by the Fund is recorded as a liability or an asset and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option written or purchased. Premiums received or paid from writing or purchasing options which expire unexercised are treated by the Fund on the expiration date as realized gains or losses. The difference between the premium and the amount paid or received on effecting a closing purchase or sale transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain or loss. If an option is exercised, the premium paid or received is added to the cost of the purchase or proceeds from the sale in determining whether the Fund has realized a gain or loss on investment transactions. The Fund, as writer of an option, may have no control over whether the underlying securities may be sold (call) or purchased (put) and as a result bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option. The Fund, as purchaser of an option, bears the risk that the counterparties to the option may not have the ability to meet the terms of the option contract. There is minimal counterparty credit risk involved in entering into option contracts since they are exchange-traded instruments and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded options, guarantees the options against default. The maximum risk of loss associated with writing put options is the notional amount as presented in the Portfolio of Investments. In certain circumstances, the maximum risk of loss amounts may be partially offset by recovery values of the respective referenced assets and upfront premium received upon entering into the contract. The maximum risk of loss associated with writing call options is potentially unlimited.
As of March 31, 2022, the Flexible Income Fund and Strategic Income Opportunities Fund did not hold any options.
Futures Contracts — The Strategic Income Opportunities Fund may buy and sell futures contracts and related options to manage its exposure to changing interest rates and securities prices. Some strategies reduce the Fund’s exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure. Futures and options on futures can be volatile instruments and involve certain risks that could negatively impact the Fund’s return. In order to avoid leveraging and related risks, when the Fund purchases futures contracts, it will collateralize its position by depositing an amount of cash or liquid securities, equal to the market value of the futures positions held, less margin deposits, in a segregated account with its custodian or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or interpretations thereunder. Collateral equal to the current fair value of the futures position will be determined on a daily basis.
When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transactions and the Fund’s basis in the contract. Risks of entering into futures contracts include the possibility that a change in the value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in the value of the underlying instruments. Second, it is possible that a lack of liquidity for futures contracts could exist in the secondary market resulting in an inability to close a futures position prior to its maturity date. Third, the purchase of a futures contract involves the risk that the Fund could lose more than the original margin deposit required to initiate the futures transaction. Finally, the risk exists that losses could exceed amounts disclosed on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. There is minimal counterparty credit risk involved in entering into futures contracts since they are exchange-traded instruments and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures against default.
As of March 31, 2022, the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund had futures contracts as shown on the Portfolio of Investments.
74

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Swap Contracts — The Flexible Income Fund and Strategic Income Opportunities Fund may enter into swap transactions to help enhance the value of its portfolio or manage its exposure to different types of investments. Swaps are financial instruments that typically involve the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indexes, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swaps are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices, indexes or inflation rates.
Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of a Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from a Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by a Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.
Generally, bilateral swap agreements and OTC swaps have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date only under limited circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. A Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counterparty is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, a Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the contract.
Cleared swaps are transacted through futures commission merchants that are members of central clearinghouses with the clearinghouses serving as a central counterparty. Pursuant to rules promulgated under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, central clearing of swap agreements is currently required for certain market participants trading certain instruments, and central clearing for additional instruments is expected to be implemented by regulators until the majority of the swaps market is ultimately subject to central clearing.
Swaps are marked-to-market daily based upon values received from third party vendors or quotations from market makers. For OTC swaps, any upfront premiums paid or received are recorded as assets or liabilities, respectively, and are shown as premium paid on swap agreements or premium received on swap agreements in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. For swaps that are centrally cleared, initial margins, determined by each relevant clearing agency, are posted and segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or the applicable regulator. The change in value of swaps, including accruals of periodic amounts of interest to be paid or received on swaps, is recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Daily changes in the value of centrally cleared swaps are recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as receivable or payable for variation margin on swap agreements and settled daily. Upfront premiums and liquidation payments received or paid are recorded as realized gains or losses at the termination or maturity of the swap. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Fund are recorded as realized gain or loss.
A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify a Fund’s gains or losses. In order to reduce the risk associated with leveraging, the (a) Fund may cover its current obligations under swap agreements according to guidelines established by the SEC. If the (a) Fund enters into a swap agreement on a net basis, it will segregate assets with a daily value at least equal to the excess, if any, of the Fund’s accrued obligations under the swap agreement over the accrued amount the Fund is entitled to receive under the agreement. If the (a) Fund enters into a swap agreement on other than a net basis, it will segregate assets with a value equal to the full amount of the Fund’s accrued obligations under the agreement.
As of March 31, 2022, the Flexible Income Fund and Strategic Income Opportunities Fund did not hold any swap contracts.
Foreign currency translation — The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars and translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis:
(1) market value of investment securities, assets and liabilities at the current rate of exchange on the valuation date; and
(2) purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses at the relevant rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.
The Funds do not isolate that portion of gains and losses on investments in equity securities that is due to changes in the foreign exchange rates from that which is due to changes in market prices of equity securities.
Forward foreign currency contracts — The Strategic Income Opportunities Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts. A forward foreign currency contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a specific currency at a price that is set on the date of the contract. The forward contract calls for delivery of the currency on a future date that is specified in the contract. Risks related to the use of forwards include the possible failure of counterparties to meet the terms of the forward
75

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
agreement, the failure of the counterparties to timely post collateral, the risk that currency movements will not occur thereby reducing a Fund’s total return, and the potential for losses in excess of a Fund’s initial investment.
The market value of a forward foreign currency contract fluctuates with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Forward foreign currency contracts are marked to market daily and the change in value is recorded by a Fund as an unrealized gain or loss. Realized gains or losses, equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed, are recorded upon delivery or receipt of the currency.
As of year ended March 31, 2022, the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund did not hold any forward foreign currency contracts.
Real Estate Investment Trusts — The Funds may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) that involve risks not associated with investing in stocks. Risks associated with investments in REITs include declines in the value of real estate, general and economic conditions, changes in the value of the underlying property and defaults by borrowers. The value of assets in the real estate industry may go through cycles of relative underperformance and outperformance in comparison to equity securities markets in general. Dividend income is recorded using management’s estimate of the income included in distributions received from REIT investments. The actual amounts of income, return of capital and capital gains are only determined by each REIT after its fiscal year-end and may differ from the estimated amount. Estimates of income are adjusted in the Funds to the actual amounts when the amounts are determined.
Derivative instruments and hedging activities — The Flexible Income Fund and Strategic Income Opportunities Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement” or “MNA”) or similar agreement with certain counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a Fund and a counterparty that governs OTC derivatives and foreign exchange contracts, and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and master netting provisions in the event of a default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, a party may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables or receivables with collateral held or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default (close-out netting). These default events include bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. Note, however, that bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset.
When entering into a derivative transaction, a Fund may be required to post and maintain collateral or margin (including both initial and maintenance margin). Collateral and margin requirements differ by type of derivative. Margin requirements are established by the broker or clearing house for exchange-traded and centrally cleared derivatives (financial futures contracts, options, and centrally cleared swaps). Brokers can ask for margining in excess of the clearing house’s minimum in certain circumstances. Collateral terms are contract specific for OTC derivatives (forward foreign currency contracts, options, and swaps). For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the marked-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by the Fund and the counterparty. For financial reporting purposes, cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, are reported separately on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as cash deposits held at prime broker and due to prime broker, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by the Fund, if any, is noted in the Portfolio of Investments. To the extent amounts due to the Fund from its counterparties are not fully collateralized, contractually or otherwise, the Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance.
Certain ISDA Master Agreements allow counterparties to OTC derivatives transactions to terminate derivative contracts prior to maturity in the event a Fund’s net assets decline by a stated percentage or the Fund fails to meet the terms of its ISDA Master Agreement, which would cause the Fund (counterparty) to accelerate payment of any net liability owed to the counterparty (Fund).
For financial reporting purposes, the Funds do not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
As of March 31, 2022, the Funds did not hold any assets and liabilities that were subject to a MNA.
76

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The following table sets forth the effect of the Funds' derivative financial instruments by primary risk exposure on the Statements of Operations for the year ended March 31, 2022:
Fund Derivatives not accounted for as hedging
instruments under ASC 815
Realized Gains
(Losses)
on Derivatives
Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
on Derivatives
Flexible Income Fund Purchased Options - Equity Contracts* $(6,340,614) $
  Written Options - Equity Contracts** 520,097
  Swap Agreements - Credit Contracts*** 1,989
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund Futures - Interest Rate Contracts**** 101,305 (207,661)
  Forwards - Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts***** 289,517 (564,784)
* Statements of Operations Location: Net realized gains (losses) on investments.
** Statements of Operations Location: Net realized gains on written options.
*** Statements of Operations Location: Net realized gains on swap agreements.
**** Statements of Operations Location: Net realized gains on futures contracts and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, respectively.
***** Statements of Operations Location: Net realized gains on forward foreign currency contracts and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on forward foreign currency contracts, respectively.
For the year ended March 31, 2022, the average quarterly balances of outstanding derivative financial instruments for the Funds were as follows:
  Flexible Income Fund Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
Equity Contracts:    
Purchased Options - Cost* $— $
Written Options - Premiums received*
Credit Contracts:    
Credit Default Swaps - Notional value*
Forward currency exchange contracts:    
U.S. dollar amount delivered 3,863,566
U.S. dollar amount received 6,059,815
Interest Rate Contracts:    
Futures Contracts - Notional Value 16,900,190
* The balance at each quarter end was zero.
Portfolio securities loaned — The Funds may lend their portfolio securities. Lending portfolio securities exposes the Funds to the risk that the borrower may fail to return the loaned securities or may not be able to provide additional collateral or that the Funds may experience delays in recovery of the loaned securities or loss of rights in the collateral if the borrower fails financially. To minimize these risks, the borrower must agree to maintain cash collateral with the Funds' custodian. The loaned securities are secured by collateral valued at least equal, at all times, to the market value of the loaned securities plus accrued interest, if any. When the collateral falls below specified amounts, the lending agent will use its best effort to obtain additional collateral on the next business day to meet required amounts under the security lending agreement. The cash collateral is reinvested by the Funds' custodian into an approved short-term investment vehicle. The approved short-term investment vehicle is subject to market risk.
As of March 31, 2022, the following Funds loaned securities and received collateral as follows:
Fund Security Type Market Value of
Securities Loaned*
Market Value of
Collateral Received**
Net
Amount***
Flexible Income Fund Preferred Stocks and Investment Funds $348,419 $354,825 $6,406
Global ESG Equity Fund Common Stocks 18,547,086 21,634,913 3,087,827
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund Common Stocks 75,956,336 81,188,062 5,231,726
* The remaining contractual maturity is overnight for all securities.
** Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending included in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
*** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the borrower in the event of default.
77

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
All cash collateral is received, held, and administered by the Funds' custodian for the benefit of the lending Fund in its custody account or other account established for the purpose of holding collateral in cash equivalents.
Funds participating in securities lending receive compensation in the form of fees. Securities lending income is derived from lending long securities from the Funds to creditworthy approved borrowers at rates that are determined based on daily trading volumes, float, short-term interest rates and market liquidity and is shown net of fees on the Statements of Operations. When a Fund lends securities, it retains the interest or dividends on the investment of any cash received as collateral, and the Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the loaned securities.
Unrealized gain or loss on the market value of the loaned securities that may occur during the term of the loan is recognized by the Fund. The Fund has the right under the lending agreement to recover any loaned securities from the borrower on demand.
Line of Credit — Prior to July 17, 2021, the AIG Strategic Bond Fund, the predecessor fund to the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund (the "Predecessor Fund"), had access to a $75 million committed unsecured line of credit and a $50 million uncommitted unsecured line of credit. The committed and uncommitted lines of credit were renewable on an annual basis with State Street Bank and Trust Company for temporary borrowing purposes. Interest on each of the committed and uncommitted lines of credit was payable at a variable rate per annum equal to the Applicable Rate plus one and one quarter of one percent (1.25%). The Applicable Rate per annum was equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate on such date and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate on such date, plus, in each case, 10 basis points. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Overnight Bank Funding Rate was less than zero, then the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Overnight Bank Funding Rate, was deemed to be zero for the purposes of determining the rate. There was also a commitment fee of 30 basis points per annum on the daily unused portion of the committed line of credit.
Borrowing under the line of credit commenced when the Predecessor Fund’s cash shortfall exceeded $100,000. The line of credit was terminated on July 16, 2021. For the period April 1, 2021 through July 16, 2021, the Predecessor Fund had the following borrowing:
Fund Days
Outstanding
Interest
Charge
Average
Debt
Utilized
Weighted
Average
Interest
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund 2 $22 $275,000 1.46%
Share valuation — The NAV per share of each class of shares of each Fund is calculated daily by dividing the total value of a Fund’s assets attributable to that class, less liabilities attributable to that class, by the number of outstanding shares of that class.
The maximum offering price per share of Class A shares of the equity funds (all funds except the Flexible Income Fund and the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund) is equal to the NAV per share plus a sales load equal to 5.26% of the NAV (or 5.00% of the offering price).The maximum offering price per share of Class A shares of the Flexible Income Fund and the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund is equal to the NAV per share plus a sales load equal to 3.36% of the NAV (or 3.25% of the offering price). There is no sales load on equity or fixed income fund purchases when aggregate purchases in all Touchstone funds equal at least $1 million or $500,000, respectively. The maximum offering price per share of Class C, Class Y, Institutional Class and Class R6 shares of the Funds is equal to the NAV per share. Prior to July 17, 2021, the maximum offering price per share of Class A shares of the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund's Predecessor Fund was equal to the NAV per share plus a sales load equal to 3.90% of the NAV (or 3.75% of the offering price).
The redemption price per share of each class of shares of the Funds is generally equal to the NAV per share. However, Class A redemptions that were part of a no-load purchase due to the aggregate purchase amount in all Touchstone Funds equaling at least $1 million for equity funds or $500,000 for fixed income funds where a Finder’s Fee was paid may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of up to 1.00% or 0.50%, for equity or fixed income funds, respectively, if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase. Additionally, purchases of Class C shares of the Funds are subject to a CDSC of 1.00% if redeemed within a one-year period from the date of purchase. The CDSC will be assessed on an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the NAV at the time of purchase of the shares being redeemed or (2) the NAV of such shares being redeemed.
Investment income — Dividend income from securities is recognized on the ex-dividend date, net of foreign withholding taxes, if any, which are reduced by any amounts reclaimable by the Funds, where applicable. Interest income from securities is recorded on the basis of interest accrued, premium amortized and discount accreted. Realized gains and losses resulting from principal paydowns on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are included in interest income. Market discounts, original issue discounts and market premiums on debt securities are accreted/amortized to interest income over the life of the security or to the appropriate call date, as applicable, with a corresponding adjustment in the cost basis of that security. In addition, it is the Funds’ policy to accrue for foreign capital gains taxes, if applicable, on certain foreign securities held by the Funds. An estimated foreign capital gains tax is recorded daily on net unrealized gains on these securities and is payable upon the sale of such securities when a gain is realized.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Distributions to shareholders — Each Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders substantially all of its income and capital gains. Each Fund, except for the Flexible Income Fund and the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund, declares and distributes net investment income, if any, annually, as a dividend to shareholders. The Flexible Income Fund and the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund declare and distribute net investment income, if any, monthly as a dividend to shareholders. Each Fund makes distributions of capital gains, if any, at least annually, net of applicable capital loss carryforwards. Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations. Recognition of the Funds' net investment income from investments in Underlying Funds is affected by the timing of dividend declarations by the Underlying Funds.
Allocations — Investment income earned, realized capital gains and losses, and unrealized appreciation and depreciation for a Fund are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon its proportionate share of total net assets of the Fund. Class-specific expenses are charged directly to the class incurring the expense. Common expenses, which are not attributable to a specific class, are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon their proportionate share of total net assets of the Fund. Expenses not directly billed to a Fund are allocated proportionally among all Funds in the Trust, and, if applicable, Touchstone Funds Group Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust (collectively with the Trust, “Touchstone Fund Complex”), daily in relation to net assets of each Fund or another reasonable measure.
Security transactions — Security transactions are reflected for financial reporting purposes as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses on sales of portfolio securities are calculated using the identified cost basis.
Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
LIBOR Transition — Many debt securities, derivatives and other financial instruments in which the Funds may invest, as well as any borrowings made by the Funds from banks or from other lenders, utilize the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) as the reference or benchmark index for interest rate calculations. LIBOR is a measure of the average interest rate at which major global banks can borrow from one another. Plans are underway to phase out the use of LIBOR by June 30, 2023. The ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, the administrator of LIBOR, ceased publishing most LIBOR maturities, including some U.S. LIBOR maturities, on December 31, 2021, and is expected to cease publishing the remaining and most liquid U.S. LIBOR maturities on June 30, 2023. Before then, it is expected that market participants have or will transition to the use of different reference or benchmark indices. However, there is currently no definitive information regarding the future utilization of LIBOR or of any particular replacement index. As such, the potential effect of a transition away from LIBOR on the Funds’ investments cannot yet be determined.
3. Investment Transactions
Investment transactions (excluding short-term investments and U.S. Government securities) were as follows for the year ended March 31, 2022:
  Flexible
Income
Fund
Focused
Fund*
Global ESG
Equity Fund
Growth
Opportunities
Fund*
Mid Cap
Growth
Fund*
Sands Capital
Emerging
Markets
Growth Fund*
Strategic
Income
Opportunities
Fund
Purchases of investment securities $305,172,645 $163,796,905 $218,747,825 $80,663,822 $833,735,608 $1,700,351,861 $427,484,236
Proceeds from sales and maturities $335,615,579 $182,385,469 $285,268,367 $87,921,197 $846,693,464 $1,255,845,795 $608,274,800
* Focused Fund, Growth Opportunities Fund, Mid Cap Growth Fund and Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund had a redemption-in-kind out of the Fund of $57,700,533, $12,728,779, $169,610,090 and $50,688,037, respectively. The redemptions were comprised of securities of $49,584,624, $10,433,824, $152,205,388 and $50,688,037 which are excluded from the proceeds from sales and maturities and cash in the amount of $8,115,909, $2,294,955, $17,404,702 and $0 for the Focused Fund, Growth Opportunities Fund, Mid Cap Growth Fund and Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund respectively.
For the year ended March 31, 2022, purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities in U.S. Government Securities were $223,503,438 and $94,818,383, respectively, for the Flexible Income Fund and $144,446,724 and $159,100,281 respectively, for the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund. There were no purchases or proceeds from sales and maturities of U.S. Government securities by the other Funds for the year ended March 31, 2022.
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
4. Transactions with Affiliates and Other Related Parties
Certain officers of the Trust are also officers of Touchstone Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor”), Touchstone Securities, Inc. (the “Underwriter”), or The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”), the Sub-Administrator to the Funds. Such officers receive no compensation from the Trust. The Advisor and the Underwriter are each wholly-owned subsidiaries of Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. ("Western & Southern").
On behalf of the Funds, the Advisor pays each Independent Trustee a quarterly retainer plus additional retainers to the Lead Independent Trustee and the chairs of each standing committee. Interested Trustees do not receive compensation from the Funds. Each Independent Trustee also receives compensation for each Board meeting and committee meeting attended. Each standing committee chair receives additional compensation for each committee meeting that he or she oversees. The Advisor is reimbursed by the Funds for the Independent Trustees’ compensation and out-of-pocket expenses relating to their services. The Funds accrued Trustee-related expenses of $176,959 for the Funds’ Board for the year ended March 31, 2022. For the period April 1, 2021 through July 16, 2021, the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund's Predecessor Fund incurred Trustee related expenses of $7,310 for the Trustees of the SunAmerica Income Funds, which are included in the Trustee fees on the Statements of Operations.
MANAGEMENT & EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENTS
The Advisor provides general investment supervisory services for the Funds, under the terms of an advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, each Fund pays the Advisor a fee, which is computed and accrued daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate based on average daily net assets of each Fund as shown in the table below.
Flexible Income Fund 0.60% on the first $500 million
0.50% on such assets in excess of $500 million
Focused Fund 0.70% on the first $100 million
0.65% on the next $400 million
0.60% on such assets in excess of $500 million
Global ESG Equity Fund 0.65% on the first $1 billion
0.60% on such assets in excess of $1 billion
Growth Opportunities Fund 0.75% on the first $500 million
0.70% on the next $500 million
0.65% on such assets in excess of $1 billion
Mid Cap Growth Fund 0.75% on the first $500 million
0.70% on the next $500 million
0.65% on the next $200 million
0.60% on such assets in excess of $1.2 billion
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund 1.00%
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund* 0.55% on the first $250 million
0.50% on the next $250 million
0.45% on such assets in excess $500 million
* Prior to July 17, 2021, the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund's Predecessor Fund paid SunAmerica Asset Management, LLC (the "Predecessor Advisor") 0.65% on the first $350 million and 0.60% on such assets over $350 million. For the period April 1, 2021 through July 16, 2021, the Predecessor Advisor received $679,368 in advisory fees. For the period July 17, 2021 through March 31, 2022, the Advisor received $1,492,214 in advisory fees.
The Advisor has entered into investment sub-advisory agreements with the following parties (each, a “Sub-Advisor”):
Bramshill Investments, LLC Sands Capital Management, LLC
Flexible Income Fund Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.* Westfield Capital Management Company, L.P.
Focused Fund Growth Opportunities Fund
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund Mid Cap Growth Fund
Rockefeller & Co., LLC  
Global ESG Equity Fund  
* Affiliate of the Advisor and wholly-owned subsidiary of Western & Southern.
The Advisor pays sub-advisory fees to each Sub-Advisor from its advisory fee.
The Advisor entered into an expense limitation agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”) to contractually limit the annual operating expenses of the Funds, excluding: dividend and interest expenses relating to short sales; interest; taxes; brokerage commissions and other transaction costs; portfolio transaction and investment related expenses, including expenses associated with
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Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
the Funds’ liquidity providers; other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with U.S. GAAP; the cost of “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses”, if any; and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of business. The maximum annual operating expense limit in any year with respect to the Funds is based on a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Funds. The Advisor has agreed to waive a portion of its fees, and to reimburse certain fund expenses in order to maintain the following expense limitations for the Funds:
  Class A Class C Class Y Institutional
Class
Class R6 Termination Date
Flexible Income Fund 1.04% 1.79% 0.79% 0.69% July 29, 2022
Focused Fund 1.20% 1.95% 0.95% 0.83% July 29, 2022
Global ESG Equity Fund 1.17% 1.99% 0.90% 0.89% July 29, 2022
Growth Opportunities Fund 1.24% 1.99% 0.99% 0.89% July 29, 2022
Mid Cap Growth Fund 1.39% 2.14% 1.14% 0.86% 0.77% July 29, 2022
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund 1.60% 2.35% 1.35% 1.25% 1.19% July 29, 2022
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund* 1.00% 1.71% 0.75% 0.65% July 29, 2023
* Effective July 17, 2021. Prior to July 17, 2021, the expense limitation for Class A, B, C and W was 1.40%, 2.05%, 2.05%, and 1.20%, respectively.
The Expense Limitation Agreement can be terminated by a vote of the Funds’ Board if it deems the termination to be beneficial to the Funds’ shareholders.
During the year ended March 31, 2022, the Advisor or its affiliates waived or reimbursed investment advisory fees, administration fees or other operating expenses, including distribution fees of the Funds, as follows:
Fund Investment
Advisory
Fees Waived
Administration
Fees Waived
Other Operating
Expenses
Reimbursed/
Waived
Total
Flexible Income Fund $— $11,865 $167,577 $179,442
Focused Fund 10,171 10,171
Global ESG Equity Fund 19,880 19,880
Growth Opportunities Fund 44,586 130,217 174,803
Mid Cap Growth Fund 28,824 127,106 155,930
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund 13,312 13,312
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund 83 467,591 467,674
Under the terms of the Expense Limitation Agreement, the Advisor is entitled to recover, subject to approval by the Funds’ Board, such amounts waived or reimbursed for a period of up to three years from the date on which the Advisor reduced its compensation or assumed expenses for the Funds. A Fund will make repayments to the Advisor only if such repayment does not cause the Fund's operating expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the Fund's expense limit in place when such amounts were waived or reimbursed by the Advisor and the Fund's current expense limitation.
As of March 31, 2022, the Advisor may seek recoupment of previously waived fees and reimbursed expenses as follows:
Fund Expires on
or before
March 31, 2023
Expires on
or before
March 31, 2024
Expires on
or before
March 31, 2025
Total
Flexible Income Fund $557,404 $298,950 $140,862 $997,216
Focused Fund 22,297 15,681 10,171 48,149
Global ESG Equity Fund 107,012 59,632 12,644 179,288
Growth Opportunities Fund 198,248 167,127 122,533 487,908
Mid Cap Growth Fund 3,760 38,995 155,930 198,685
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund 25,128 3,514 28,642
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund 62,969 62,969
The Advisor did not recoup any amounts it previously waived or reimbursed during the year ended March 31, 2022.
ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
The Advisor entered into an Administration Agreement with the Trust, whereby the Advisor is responsible for: supplying executive and regulatory compliance services; supervising the preparation of tax returns; coordinating the preparation of reports to
81

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
shareholders and reports to and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and state securities authorities, as well as materials for meetings of the Board; calculating the daily NAV per share; and maintaining the financial books and records of each Fund.
For its services, the Advisor’s annual administrative fee is:
0.145% on the first $20 billion of the aggregate average daily net assets;
0.11% on the next $10 billion of aggregate average daily net assets;
0.09% on the next $10 billion of aggregate average daily net assets; and
0.07% on the aggregate average daily net assets over $40 billion.
The fee is computed and allocated among the Touchstone Fund Complex on the basis of relative daily net assets.
The Advisor has engaged BNY Mellon as the Sub-Administrator to the Trust. BNY Mellon provides administrative and accounting services to the Trust and is compensated directly by the Advisor, not the Trust.
TRANSFER AGENT AGREEMENT
Under the terms of the Transfer Agent Agreement between the Trust and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (“Transfer Agent”), the Transfer Agent to the Funds maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, answers shareholders’ inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of each Fund’s shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent, and performs other shareholder service functions. For these services, the Transfer Agent receives a monthly fee from each Fund. In addition, each Fund pays out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent, including, but not limited to, postage and supplies.
The Funds may reimburse the Advisor for fees paid to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisors or other financial institutions for sub-transfer agency, sub-administration and other services provided to investors whose shares of record are held in omnibus, other group accounts, retirement plans or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents. These fees, which are included in Transfer Agent fees in the Statements of Operations, may vary based on, for example, the nature of services provided, but generally range up to 0.15% of the assets of the class serviced or maintained by the intermediary or up to $22 per sub-account maintained by the intermediary. Prior to July 17, 2021, DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc. served as the Transfer Agent to the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund's Predecessor Fund.
Prior to July 17, 2021, the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund's Predecessor Fund had a service agreement with AIG Fund Services, Inc. ("ASC"), an affiliate of the Predecessor Advisor. Under the service agreement, ASC performed certain shareholder account functions by assisting the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund's Predecessor Fund's transfer agent, DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc. (the “Predecessor Transfer Agent"), in connection with the services that it offered to the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund's Predecessor Fund. The service agreement, pursuant to which ASC received a fee from the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund's Predecessor Fund to compensate ASC for services rendered based upon an annual rate of 0.22% of average daily net assets.
PLANS OF DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICING FEE ARRANGEMENTS
The Trust has adopted distribution plans pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for each class of shares it offers that is subject to 12b-1 distribution fees. The plans allow each Fund to pay distribution and other fees for the sale and distribution of its shares and for services provided to shareholders. The fees charged to the Funds are limited to the actual expenses incurred. Under the Class A plan, each Fund offering Class A shares pays an annual fee not to exceed 0.25% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class A shares. Under the Class C plan, each Fund offering Class C shares pays an annual fee not to exceed 1.00% of average daily net assets that are attributable to Class C shares (of which up to 0.75% is a distribution fee and up to 0.25% is a shareholder servicing fee).
Prior to July 17, 2021, the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund's Predecessor Fund had adopted a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Predecessor Fund paid AIG Capital Services, Inc. (the “Former Distributor”) a distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.10%, 0.75% and 0.75% of average daily net assets, for Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares, respectively, of average daily net assets. Such fees were used to compensate the Former Distributor for eligible expenses incurred in connection with distribution and promotion of the shares. Each respective class of shares under such plan also paid the Former Distributor an account maintenance fee up to an annual rate of 0.25% of the aggregate average daily net assets of such class of shares for payments to broker-dealers for providing continuing account maintenance.
Prior to July 17, 2021, the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund's Predecessor Fund had an administrative and shareholder services agreement with the Former Distributor. The Former Distributor was paid an annual fee of 0.15% of average daily net assets of
82

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Class W shares (which were converted to Class Y shares effective July 16, 2021) as compensation for providing administrative and shareholder services to Class W shareholders.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
The Underwriter is the Funds’ principal underwriter and, as such, acts as exclusive agent for distribution of the Funds’ shares. Under the terms of the Underwriting Agreement between the Trust and the Underwriter, the Underwriter earned underwriting and broker commissions on the sale of Class A shares of the Funds. W&S Brokerage Services, Inc., an affiliate of the Underwriter and the Advisor, also earned broker commissions on the sale of Class A shares of the Funds. Listed below are the total underwriting and broker commissions earned by the Underwriter and its affiliate during the year ended March 31, 2022:
Fund Amount
Flexible Income Fund $ 3,602
Focused Fund 6,984
Global ESG Equity Fund 14,431
Growth Opportunities Fund 6,482
Mid Cap Growth Fund 33,296
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund 5,728
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund* 1,304
* For the period July 17, 2021 to March 31, 2022. For the period April 1, 2021 to July 16, 2021, the Former Distributor earned $3,942 on the sale of Class A shares.
In addition, the Underwriter collected CDSC on the redemption of Class A shares and Class C shares of the Funds listed below during the year ended March 31, 2022:
Fund Class A Class C
Flexible Income Fund $ 60 $ 222
Focused Fund 24
Global ESG Equity Fund 5
Mid Cap Growth Fund 52
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund* 89
* For the period July 17, 2021 to March 31, 2022. For the period April 1, 2021 to July 16, 2021, the Former Distributor collected CDSC of $5,156, $6,419, and $566 on the redemption of Class A shares, Class B shares, and Class C shares, respectively.
INTERFUND TRANSACTIONS
Pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act, the Funds may engage in purchase and sale transactions with funds that have a common investment advisor (or affiliated investment advisors), common Trustees and/or common Officers. During the year ended March 31, 2022, the Funds did not engage in any Rule 17a-7 transactions.
5. Liquidity
ReFlow Fund LLC — The Funds may participate in the ReFlow Fund LLC liquidity program (“ReFlow”), which is designed to provide an alternative liquidity source for funds experiencing redemptions. In order to pay cash to shareholders who redeem their shares on a given day, a fund typically must hold cash in its portfolio, liquidate portfolio securities, or borrow money. ReFlow provides participating funds with another source of cash by standing ready to purchase shares from a fund up to the amount of the fund’s net redemptions on a given day, cumulatively limited to 3% of the outstanding voting shares of a Fund. ReFlow then generally redeems those shares (in cash or in-kind) when the Fund experiences net sales, at the end of a maximum holding period determined by ReFlow, or at other times at ReFlow’s discretion. In return for this service, the Fund will pay a fee to ReFlow at a rate determined by a daily auction with other participating mutual funds.
During the year ended March 31, 2022, the following Funds utilized ReFlow. The shares ReFlow subscribed to and redemptions-in-kind were as follows:
Fund Shares ReFlow
Subscribed to
Redemptions-in-kind
Focused Fund 910,694 $ 49,584,624
Growth Opportunities Fund 282,576 10,433,824
Mid Cap Growth Fund 4,053,759 152,205,388
Interfund Lending — Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the SEC on March 28, 2017, the Funds, along with certain other funds in the Touchstone Fund Complex, may participate in an interfund lending program. The interfund lending program
83

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
provides an alternate credit facility that allows the Funds to lend to or borrow from other participating funds in the Touchstone Fund Complex, subject to the conditions of the Exemptive Order. The Funds may not borrow under the facility for leverage purposes and the loans’ duration may be no more than 7 days.
During the year ended March 31, 2022, the following Fund participated as a lender in the interfund lending program. The daily average amount loaned, weighted average interest rate and interest income were as follows:
Fund Daily Average
Amount Loaned
Weighted Average
Interest Rate
Interest
Income*
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund $ 186,835 0.68% $ 1,279
* Included in Interest in the Statements of Operations.
During the year ended March 31, 2022, the following Fund participated as a borrower in the interfund lending program. The daily average amount borrowed, weighted average interest rate and interest expense were as follows:
Fund Daily Average
Amount Borrowed
Weighted Average
Interest Rate
Interest
Expense*
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund $ 306,338 0.68% $ 2,097
* Included in Other expenses in the Statements of Operations.
6. Federal Tax Information
Federal Income Tax — It is each Fund’s policy to continue to comply with the special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. As provided therein, in any fiscal year in which a Fund so qualifies and distributes at least 90% of its investment company taxable income, the Fund (but not the shareholders) will be relieved of federal income tax on the income distributed. It is each Fund’s policy to distribute all of its taxable income and accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been made.
In order to avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, it is also each Fund’s intention to declare and pay as dividends in each calendar year at least 98% of its investment company taxable income (earned during the calendar year) and 98.2% of its net realized capital gains (earned during the twelve months ending October 31) plus undistributed amounts from prior years.
The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021 are as follows:
  Flexible Income Fund Focused Fund Global ESG Equity Fund
  Year Ended
March 31,
2022
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
Year Ended
March 31,
2022
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
Year Ended
March 31,
2022
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
From ordinary income $29,223,650 $34,746,000 $8,186,308 $2,666,017 $13,578,798 $2,593,278
From long-term capital gains 63,791,908 55,000,033 62,529,954
Total distributions $29,223,650 $34,746,000 $71,978,216 $57,666,050 $76,108,752 $2,593,278
  Growth Opportunities Fund Mid Cap Growth Fund Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund
  Year Ended
March 31,
2022
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
Year Ended
March 31,
2022
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
Year Ended
March 31,
2022
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
From ordinary income $10,829,312 $4,515,690 $63,548,224 $$83,985,024 $—
From long-term capital gains 15,315,202 10,308,626 143,676,973 92,749,221
Total distributions $26,144,514 $14,824,316 $207,225,197 $92,749,221 $83,985,024 $—
  Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
  Year Ended
March 31,
2022
Year Ended
March 31,
2021
From ordinary income $9,958,956 $11,298,705
Total distributions $9,958,956 $11,298,705
84

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of March 31, 2022:
  Flexible
Income Fund
Focused
Fund
Global
ESG Equity Fund
Tax cost of portfolio investments $874,209,102 $664,454,397 $516,510,853
Gross unrealized appreciation on investments 7,384,788 555,723,558 174,480,499
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments (39,261,894) (18,685,971) (45,461,617)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments (31,877,106) 537,037,587 129,018,882
Gross unrealized appreciation on foreign currency transactions 6,485
Gross unrealized depreciation on short sales and foreign currency transactions (764,636) (29,526)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on short sales and foreign currency transactions (764,636) (23,041)
Undistributed ordinary income 519,842 1,277,609 1,533,211
Undistributed capital gains 944,221 30,327,460 26,314,477
Accumulated earnings (deficit) $(31,177,679) $568,642,656 $156,843,529
  Growth
Opportunities
Fund
Mid Cap
Growth
Fund
Sands Capital
Emerging Markets
Growth Fund
Strategic
Income
Opportunities
Fund
Tax cost of portfolio investments $94,548,982 $1,001,345,628 $3,558,757,690 $345,382,682
Gross unrealized appreciation on investments 69,772,803 356,622,195 670,209,935 2,823,003
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments (1,881,285) (45,583,132) (564,109,557) (24,524,213)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments 67,891,518 311,039,063 106,100,378 (21,701,210)
Gross unrealized appreciation on derivatives and foreign currency transactions 25,042 5
Gross unrealized depreciation on foreign currency transactions and deferred foreign capital gains tax (26,240,984)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on derivatives, foreign currency transactions and deferred foreign capital gains tax (26,215,942) 5
Capital loss carryforwards (248,815,220) (45,653,203)
Late year ordinary losses deferrals (23,139,110) (37,961)
Undistributed ordinary income 863,482 7,443,814
Undistributed capital gains 800,459 19,506,410
Accumulated earnings (deficit) $69,555,459 $337,989,287 $(192,069,894) $(67,392,369)
The difference between the tax cost of portfolio investments and the financial statement cost is primarily due to wash sale loss deferrals, trust preferred securities, callable bond and investments in passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) adjustments.
As of March 31, 2022, the Funds had the following capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes:
Fund No Expiration
Short Term
No Expiration
Long Term
Total
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund $ 248,815,220 $$ 248,815,220
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund 586,141 45,067,062 45,653,203
The capital loss carryforwards may be utilized in future years to offset net realized capital gains, if any, prior to distributing such gains to shareholders. Future utilization is subject to limitations under current tax law.
During the year ended March 31, 2022, the following Funds utilized capital loss carryforwards:
Fund Utilized
Flexible Income Fund $ 4,468,859
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund 6,200,271
85

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Under current laws, certain capital losses realized after October 31 and ordinary losses realized after December 31 may be deferred (and certain ordinary losses after October and/or December 31 may be deferred) and treated as occurring on the first day of the following fiscal year. For the year ended March 31, 2022, the following Funds elected to defer the following losses:
Fund Realized
Capital Losses
Ordinary
Losses
Total
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund $ — $ 23,139,110 $ 23,139,110
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund 37,961 37,961
The Funds have analyzed their tax positions taken or to be taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years (tax years ended March 31, 2019 through 2022) and have concluded that no provision for income tax is required in their financial statements.
Certain reclassifications, the result of permanent differences between financial statement and income tax reporting requirements, have been made to the components of capital as presented on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. These reclassifications have no impact on the net assets or NAV per share of the Funds. The following reclassifications, which are primarily attributed to the tax treatment of net operating losses, in-kind distributions for shareholder redemptions, and deemed distributions on shareholder redemptions  have been made to the following Funds for the year ended March 31, 2022:
Fund Paid-In
Capital
Distributable
Earnings
Focused Fund $ 40,468,668 $ (40,468,668)
Growth Opportunities Fund 7,939,261 (7,939,261)
Mid Cap Growth Fund 100,236,178 (100,236,178)
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund 25,989,606 (25,989,606)
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund 27,948,544 (27,948,544)
7. Commitments and Contingencies
The Funds indemnify the Trust’s officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that might arise from their performance of their duties to the Funds. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Funds' maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds.
8. Principal Risks
Risks Associated with Foreign Investments – Some of the Funds may invest in the securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities issued by companies whose principal business activities are outside the U.S. may involve significant risks not present in domestic investments. For example, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies, particularly those not subject to the disclosure and reporting requirements of the U.S. securities laws. Foreign issuers are generally not bound by uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements and standards of practice comparable to those applicable to domestic issuers. Investments in foreign securities also involve the risk of possible adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets of a Fund, political or financial instability or diplomatic and other developments which could affect such investments. Political and military events, including in North Korea, Venezuela, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Syria, and other areas of the Middle East, and nationalist unrest in Europe and South America, may cause market disruptions. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as those in the U.S., and securities of some foreign issuers (particularly those located in developing countries) may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets, broker-dealers, and issuers than in the U.S.
Risks Associated with Sector Concentration – Certain Funds may invest a high percentage of their assets in specific sectors of the market in order to achieve a potentially greater investment return. As a result, these Funds may be more susceptible to economic, political, and regulatory developments in a particular sector of the market, positive or negative, and may experience increased volatility in the Funds' NAVs and magnified effect on the total return.
Risks Associated with Credit – An issuer may be unable to make timely payments of either principal or interest. This may cause the issuer’s securities to decline in value. Credit risk is particularly relevant to those Funds that invest a significant amount of their assets in junk bonds or lower-rated securities.
Risks Associated with Cyber Security - With the increased use of technologies, such as mobile devices and "cloud"-based service offerings and the dependence on the Internet and computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the Funds' service providers are susceptible to cyber security risks that could result in losses to a Fund and its shareholders. Cyber security breaches are
86

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
either intentional or unintentional events that allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause a Fund or Fund service provider to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality. A cyber security breach could result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer or network system, or costs associated with system repairs, any of which could have a substantial impact on a Fund. Cyber security incidents could cause a Fund, the Advisor, a Sub-Advisor, or other service provider to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, compliance costs associated with corrective measures, litigation costs, or financial loss. They may also result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws. In addition, such incidents could affect issuers in which a Fund invests, thereby causing the Fund’s investments to lose value.
Risks Associated with Interest Rate Changes – The price of debt securities is generally linked to the prevailing market interest rates. In general, when interest rates rise, the price of debt securities falls, and when interest rates fall, the price of debt securities rises. The price volatility of a debt security also depends on its maturity. Longer-term securities are generally more volatile, so the longer the average maturity or duration of these securities, the greater their price risk. Duration is a measure of the expected life, taking into account any prepayment or call features of the security, that is used to determine the price sensitivity of the security for a given change in interest rates. Specifically, duration is the change in the value of a fixed-income security that will result from a 1% change in interest rates, and generally is stated in years. For example, as a general rule a 1% rise in interest rates means a 1% fall in value for every year of duration. Maturity, on the other hand, is the date on which a fixed-income security becomes due for payment of principal. The negative impact on fixed income securities if interest rates increase as a result could negatively impact a Fund’s NAV.
Risks Associated with Leverage – The use of leverage (borrowing money to purchase properties or securities) will cause the Fund to incur additional expenses and significantly magnify losses in the event of underperformance of the assets purchased with borrowed money. In addition, a lender may terminate or refuse to renew any credit facility. If the Fund is unable to access additional credit, it may be forced to sell investments at inopportune times, which may further depress the returns of the Fund.
Risks Associated with Health Crises – An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. As of the date of issuance of these financial statements, COVID-19 has resulted in closing borders, enhanced health screenings, disruptions to healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of COVID-19 may be short term or may last for an extended period of time and has resulted in a substantial economic downturn. Health crises caused by outbreaks, such as the coronavirus outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks. The impact of this outbreak, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, has and could continue to negatively affect the worldwide economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, individual companies, including certain Fund service providers and issuers of the Fund's investments, and the market in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect a Fund’s performance, the performance of the securities in which a Fund invests and may lead to losses on your investment in a Fund.
Please see the Funds’ prospectus and statement of additional information for a complete discussion of these and other risks.
9. Fund Reorganizations
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund:
The shareholders of the AIG Flexible Credit Fund, a series of SunAmerica Income Funds, approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization providing for the transfer of all assets and liabilities of the AIG Flexible Credit Fund to the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund. Additionally, the shareholders of the AIG Strategic Bond Fund approved an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization providing for the transfer of all assets and liabilities to the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund. The Strategic Income Opportunities Fund commenced operations on July 16, 2021 following the completion of the reorganizations and assumed the accounting and performance history of the AIG Strategic Bond Fund (the Predecessor Fund). The tax-free reorganizations took place on July 16, 2021.
87

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The following is a summary of shares outstanding, net assets, net asset value per share and unrealized appreciation immediately before and after the tax-free reorganizations.
  Before Reorganization After
Reorganization
  AIG Flexible Credit Fund AIG Strategic Bond Fund Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
Class A      
Shares 23,288,989(A) 46,882,190 73,850,329
Net Assets $82,014,099 $165,102,430 $260,073,020
Net Asset Value $3.52(A) $3.52 $3.52
Class B*      
Shares 3,679,150(D) $
Net Assets $$12,956,491 $
Net Asset Value $$3.52 $
Class C      
Shares 9,310,842(B) 10,069,753 19,380,595
Net Assets $32,869,573 $35,547,801 $68,417,374
Net Asset Value $3.53(B) $3.53 $3.53
Class Y**      
Shares 26,820,573(C) 29,268,862 56,089,435
Net Assets $94,266,176 $102,869,883 $197,136,059
Net Asset Value $3.51(C) $3.51 $3.51
Fund Total      
Shares Outstanding 59,420,404 89,899,955 149,320,359
Net Assets $209,149,848 $316,476,605 $525,626,453
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) $4,299,043 $8,409,184 $12,708,227
(A) Reflects a 0.9620:1 stock split which occurred on the date of the reorganization, July 16, 2021.
(B) Reflects a 0.9654:1 stock split which occurred on the date of the reorganization, July 16, 2021.
(C) Reflects a 0.9653:1 stock split which occurred on the date of the reorganization, July 16, 2021.
(D) Reflects a 0.9983:1 stock split which occurred on the date of the reorganization, July 16, 2021.
* Class B shares of the AIG Strategic Bond Fund were exchanged for Class A shares of the Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund.
** Class W shares of the AIG Strategic Bond Fund were exchanged for Class Y shares of the Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund.
Assuming the reorganization had been completed on April 1, 2021, the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund’s results of operations for the year ended March 31, 2022 would have been as follows:
Net investment income $11,850,858
Net realized and unrealized gain(loss) on investments $(19,331,668)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations $(7,480,810)
Because the combined investment portfolios have been managed as a single portfolio since the reorganization was completed, it is not practical to separate the amounts of revenue and earnings to the Strategic Income Opportunities Fund that have been included in its statement of operations since the reorganization.
10. Subsequent Events
Subsequent events occurring after the date of this report have been evaluated for potential impact to this report through the date the financial statements were issued.
At a meeting of the Board of the Trust held on May 19, 2022, the Advisor proposed, and the Board approved, the following changes to the Global ESG Equity Fund, which will take effect on or about July 29, 2022: (1) a name change to the Touchstone Non-US ESG Equity Fund, (2) a change to the Fund's 80% investment policy to remove investments in U.S. companies, (3) a change in the Fund's primary benchmark from the MSCI All Country World Index to the MSCI All Country World Ex-USA Index, and (4) a reduction to the contractual expense limitation agreement for Class C shares of the Fund.
There were no other subsequent events that necessitated recognition or disclosure in the Funds’ financial statements.
88

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders of Touchstone Flexible Income Fund, Touchstone Focused Fund, Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund, Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund, Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund, and Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund and the Board of Trustees of Touchstone Strategic Trust.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of Touchstone Flexible Income Fund, Touchstone Focused Fund, Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund, Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund, Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund, and Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund (collectively referred to as the “Funds”) (six of the funds constituting the Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”)), including the portfolios of investments, as of March 31, 2022, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds (six of the funds constituting the Touchstone Strategic Trust) at March 31, 2022, the results of their operations, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and their financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. 
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of March 31, 2022, by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent, and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers were not received. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of one or more Touchstone Investments’ investment companies since 1999.
Cincinnati, Ohio
May 23, 2022
89

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of Touchstone Strategic Trust and the Shareholders of the Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund
Cincinnati, Ohio
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of the Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Touchstone Strategic Trust, including the schedule of investments, as of March 31, 2022, the related statement of operations, the statement of changes in net assets, the financial highlights for the year then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of March 31, 2022, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The statement of changes in net assets for the year ended March 31, 2021, and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period ended March 31, 2021 have been audited by other auditors, whose report dated May 27, 2021 expressed unqualified opinion on such financial highlights.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of March 31, 2022, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of one or more Touchstone Investments’ investment companies since 2021.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 23, 2022
90

Other Items (Unaudited)
Qualified Dividend Income
Under the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (the “Act”), the following percentages of ordinary dividends paid during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 are designated as “qualified dividend income,” as defined in the Act, and are subject to reduced tax rates. The Funds intend to pass through the maximum allowable percentage for Form 1099 Div.
Focused Fund 100.00 %
Global ESG Equity Fund 100.00 %
Growth Opportunities Fund 11.10 %
Mid Cap Growth Fund 51.10 %
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund 19.94 %
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund 5.98 %
Dividend Received Deduction
For corporate shareholders, the following ordinary distributions paid during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 qualify for the corporate dividends received deduction. The Funds intend to pass through the maximum allowable percentage.
Focused Fund 100.00 %
Global ESG Equity Fund 43.91 %
Growth Opportunities Fund 21.48 %
Mid Cap Growth Fund 48.50 %
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund 5.36 %
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, the Funds designated long-term capital gains as follows:
Flexible Income Fund $ 944,221
Focused Fund $ 71,604,613
Global ESG Equity Fund $ 62,529,954
Growth Opportunities Fund $ 17,829,107
Mid Cap Growth Fund $ 184,413,772
Proxy Voting Guidelines and Proxy Voting Records
The Sub-Advisors are responsible for exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and held by the Funds. A description of the policies and procedures that the Sub-Advisors use in fulfilling this responsibility is available as an appendix to the most recent Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling toll free 1.800.543.0407 or by visiting the Touchstone website at TouchstoneInvestments.com or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “Commission”) website sec.gov. Information regarding how those proxies were voted during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30, which will be filed by August 31 of that year, is also available without charge by calling toll free 1.800.543.0407 or on the Commission’s website at sec.gov.
Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure
Each Fund’s holdings as of the end of the third month of every fiscal quarter will be disclosed on Form N-PORT within 60 days of the end of the fiscal quarter. The complete listing of each Fund’s portfolio holdings is available on the Commission’s website and will be made available to shareholders upon request by calling 1.800.543.0407.
Schedule of Shareholder Expenses
As a shareholder of the Funds, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) and (2) ongoing costs, including investment advisory fees; shareholder servicing fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022).
91

Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
Actual Expenses
The first line for each share class of a Fund in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Six Months Ended March 31, 2022” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line for each share class of a Fund in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Funds’ actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Funds’ 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 Funds 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 below are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line for each share class of a Fund in the table below 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.
    Net Expense
Ratio
Annualized
March 31,
2022
Beginning
Account
Value
October 1,
2021
Ending
Account
Value
March 31,
2022
Expenses
Paid During
the Six Months
Ended
March 31,
2022*
Flexible Income Fund          
Class A Actual 1.15% $1,000.00 $954.50 $5.60**
Class A Hypothetical 1.15% $1,000.00 $1,019.20 $5.79**
Class C Actual 1.90% $1,000.00 $951.10 $9.24**
Class C Hypothetical 1.90% $1,000.00 $1,015.46 $9.55**
Class Y Actual 0.89% $1,000.00 $954.90 $4.34**
Class Y Hypothetical 0.89% $1,000.00 $1,020.49 $4.48**
Institutional Class Actual 0.82% $1,000.00 $955.80 $4.00**
Institutional Class Hypothetical 0.82% $1,000.00 $1,020.84 $4.13**
Focused Fund          
Class A Actual 1.15% $1,000.00 $1,012.70 $5.77***
Class A Hypothetical 1.15% $1,000.00 $1,019.20 $5.79***
Class C Actual 1.91% $1,000.00 $1,009.00 $9.57***
Class C Hypothetical 1.91% $1,000.00 $1,015.41 $9.60***
Class Y Actual 0.86% $1,000.00 $1,014.30 $4.32***
Class Y Hypothetical 0.86% $1,000.00 $1,020.64 $4.33***
Institutional Class Actual 0.84% $1,000.00 $1,014.60 $4.22***
Institutional Class Hypothetical 0.84% $1,000.00 $1,020.74 $4.23***
Global ESG Equity Fund          
Class A Actual 1.02% $1,000.00 $968.40 $5.01
Class A Hypothetical 1.02% $1,000.00 $1,019.85 $5.14
Class C Actual 1.99% $1,000.00 $963.60 $9.74
Class C Hypothetical 1.99% $1,000.00 $1,015.01 $10.00
Class Y Actual 0.90% $1,000.00 $969.40 $4.42
Class Y Hypothetical 0.90% $1,000.00 $1,020.44 $4.53
Institutional Class Actual 0.89% $1,000.00 $969.00 $4.37
Institutional Class Hypothetical 0.89% $1,000.00 $1,020.49 $4.48
Growth Opportunities Fund          
Class A Actual 1.27% $1,000.00 $1,005.60 $6.35****
Class A Hypothetical 1.27% $1,000.00 $1,018.60 $6.39****
Class C Actual 2.02% $1,000.00 $1,001.70 $10.08****
Class C Hypothetical 2.02% $1,000.00 $1,014.86 $10.15****
Class Y Actual 1.02% $1,000.00 $1,006.70 $5.10****
Class Y Hypothetical 1.02% $1,000.00 $1,019.85 $5.14****
92

Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
    Net Expense
Ratio
Annualized
March 31,
2022
Beginning
Account
Value
October 1,
2021
Ending
Account
Value
March 31,
2022
Expenses
Paid During
the Six Months
Ended
March 31,
2022*
Institutional Class Actual 0.92% $1,000.00 $1,007.30 $4.60****
Institutional Class Hypothetical 0.92% $1,000.00 $1,020.34 $4.63****
Mid Cap Growth Fund          
Class A Actual 1.21% $1,000.00 $962.10 $5.92*****
Class A Hypothetical 1.21% $1,000.00 $1,018.90 $6.09*****
Class C Actual 2.04% $1,000.00 $958.40 $9.96*****
Class C Hypothetical 2.04% $1,000.00 $1,014.76 $10.25*****
Class Y Actual 0.99% $1,000.00 $962.90 $4.84*****
Class Y Hypothetical 0.99% $1,000.00 $1,020.00 $4.99*****
Institutional Class Actual 0.88% $1,000.00 $963.70 $4.31*****
Institutional Class Hypothetical 0.88% $1,000.00 $1,020.54 $4.43*****
Class R6 Actual 0.79% $1,000.00 $964.00 $3.87*****
Class R6 Hypothetical 0.79% $1,000.00 $1,020.99 $3.98*****
Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund          
Class A Actual 1.60% $1,000.00 $719.90 $6.86
Class A Hypothetical 1.60% $1,000.00 $1,016.95 $8.05
Class C Actual 2.35% $1,000.00 $717.70 $10.06
Class C Hypothetical 2.35% $1,000.00 $1,013.21 $11.80
Class Y Actual 1.33% $1,000.00 $721.10 $5.71
Class Y Hypothetical 1.33% $1,000.00 $1,018.30 $6.69
Institutional Class Actual 1.21% $1,000.00 $721.70 $5.19
Institutional Class Hypothetical 1.21% $1,000.00 $1,018.90 $6.09
Class R6 Actual 1.16% $1,000.00 $721.90 $4.98
Class R6 Hypothetical 1.16% $1,000.00 $1,019.15 $5.84
Strategic Income Opportunities Fund          
Class A Actual 0.93% $1,000.00 $948.50 $4.52
Class A Hypothetical 0.93% $1,000.00 $1,020.29 $4.68
Class C Actual 1.69% $1,000.00 $945.20 $8.20
Class C Hypothetical 1.69% $1,000.00 $1,016.50 $8.50
Class Y Actual 0.73% $1,000.00 $949.60 $3.55
Class Y Hypothetical 0.73% $1,000.00 $1,021.29 $3.68
Institutional Class Actual 0.49% $1,000.00 $952.80 $2.39
Institutional Class Hypothetical 0.49% $1,000.00 $1,022.49 $2.47
* Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182/365 (to reflect one-half year period).
** Excluding dividend and interest expense on securities sold short, your actual cost of investment in Class A, Class C, Class Y and Institutional Class would be $5.08, $8.72, $3.82 and $3.48, respectively, and your hypothetical cost of investment in Class A, Class C, Class Y and Institutional Class would be $5.25, $9.01, $3.95 and $3.59, respectively.
*** Excluding liquidity provider expenses, your actual cost of investment in Class A, Class C, Class Y and Institutional Class would be $5.71, $9.51, $4.26 and $4.16, respectively, and your hypothetical cost of investment in Class A, Class C, Class Y and Institutional Class would be $5.73, $9.54, $4.27 and $4.17, respectively.
**** Excluding liquidity provider expenses, your actual cost of investment in Class A, Class C, Class Y and Institutional Class would be $6.22, $9.95, $4.97 and $4.47, respectively, and your hypothetical cost of investment in Class A, Class C, Class Y and Institutional Class would be $6.26, $10.01, $5.00 and $4.50, respectively.
***** Excluding liquidity provider expenses, your actual cost of investment in Class A, Class C, Class Y, Institutional Class and Class R6 would be $5.79, $9.84, $4.72, $4.18 and $3.74, respectively, and your hypothetical cost of investment in Class A, Class C, Class Y, Institutional Class and Class R6 would be $5.96, $10.12, $4.86, $4.30 and $3.85, respectively.
Liquidity Risk Management
The Funds have adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program (the “LRM Program”) as required by Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Rule 22e-4 requires that each Fund adopt a program that is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Funds’ liquidity risk, which is the risk that a Fund could not meet redemption requests without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in a Fund.
Assessment and management of a Fund’s liquidity risk under the LRM Program takes into consideration certain factors, such as a Fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions, its short- and long-term cash-flow projections during both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions, and its cash and cash-equivalent holdings and access to other funding sources. As required by the rule, the LRM Program includes policies and procedures for classification of Fund portfolio holdings in four liquidity categories, maintaining certain levels of highly liquid investments, and limiting holdings of illiquid investments.
93

Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
The Board of Trustees of the Trust approved the appointment of a LRM Program administrator responsible for administering the LRM Program and for carrying out the specific responsibilities set forth in the LRM Program, including reporting to the Board on at least an annual basis regarding the LRM Program’s operation, its adequacy, and the effectiveness of its implementation for the past year (the “Program Administrator Report”). The Board has reviewed the Program Administrator Report covering the period from May 15, 2021 through May 12, 2022 (the “Review Period”). The Program Administrator Report stated that during the Review Period the LRM Program operated and was implemented effectively to manage the Funds’ liquidity risk.
Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreement Approval Disclosure
At a meeting held on November 18, 2021, the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) of the Touchstone Strategic Trust (the “Trust”), and by a separate vote, the Independent Trustees of the Trust, approved the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor with respect to each Fund of the Trust, and the continuance of the Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Advisor and each Fund’s respective Sub-Advisor, except with respect to the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement for Touchstone Strategic Income Opportunities Fund, which were approved at a meeting held in January 2021.
In determining whether to approve the continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreements, the Advisor furnished information necessary for a majority of the Independent Trustees to make the determination that the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement and each Sub-Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the respective Funds and their shareholders. The information provided to the Board included: (1) industry data comparing advisory fees and total expense ratios of comparable funds; (2) comparative performance information; (3) the Advisor’s and its affiliates’ revenues and costs of providing services to the Funds; and (4) information about the Advisor’s and Sub-Advisors’ personnel. Prior to voting, the Independent Trustees reviewed the proposed continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreements with management and experienced independent legal counsel and received materials from such counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement and each Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Independent Trustees also reviewed the proposed continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement and each Sub-Advisory Agreement with independent legal counsel in private sessions at which no representatives of management were present.
In approving the Funds’ Investment Advisory Agreement, the Board considered various factors, among them: (1) the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Funds, including the personnel providing such services; (2) the Advisor’s compensation and profitability; (3) a comparison of fees and performance with comparable funds; (4) economies of scale; and (5) the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Board’s analysis of these factors is set forth below. The Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the process.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Advisor Services. The Board considered the level and depth of knowledge of the Advisor, including the professional experience and qualifications of senior personnel. In evaluating the quality of services provided by the Advisor, the Board took into account its familiarity with the Advisor’s senior management through Board meetings, discussions and reports during the preceding year. The Board also took into account the Advisor’s compliance policies and procedures. The quality of administrative and other services, including the Advisor’s role in coordinating the activities of the Funds’ other service providers, was also considered. The Board also considered the Advisor’s relationship with its affiliates and the resources available to them, as well as any potential conflicts of interest.
The Board discussed the Advisor’s effectiveness in monitoring the performance of each Sub-Advisor, including the Sub-Advisor that was an affiliate of the Advisor, and the Advisor’s timeliness in responding to performance issues. The Board considered the Advisor’s process for monitoring each of the Sub-Advisors, which includes an examination of both qualitative and quantitative elements of the Sub-Advisor’s organization, personnel, procedures, investment discipline, infrastructure and performance. The Board considered that the Advisor conducts periodic due diligence of each Sub-Advisor, during which the Advisor examines a wide variety of factors, such as the financial condition of the Sub-Advisor, the quality of the Sub-Advisor’s systems, the effectiveness of the Sub-Advisor’s disaster recovery programs, trade allocation and execution procedures, compliance with the Sub-Advisor’s policies and procedures, results of regulatory examinations and any other factors that might affect the quality of services that the Sub-Advisor provides to the applicable Fund(s). The Board noted that the Advisor’s monitoring processes also include quarterly reviews of compliance certifications, and that any issues arising from such reviews and the Advisor’s due diligence reviews of the Sub-Advisors are reported to the Board.
The Trustees concluded that they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to each Fund by the Advisor under the Investment Advisory Agreement.
Advisor’s Compensation and Profitability. The Board took into consideration the financial condition and profitability of the Advisor and its affiliates (including the Sub-Advisor to one of the Funds) and the direct and indirect benefits derived by the Advisor and its
94

Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
affiliates from the Advisor’s relationship with the Funds. The information considered by the Board included operating profit margin information for the Advisor’s business as a whole. The Board noted that the Advisor had waived a portion of advisory fees and administrative fees and/or reimbursed expenses in order to limit all but one of the Fund’s net operating expenses. The Board also noted that the Advisor pays the Sub-Advisors’ sub-advisory fees out of the advisory fees the Advisor receives from the Funds. The Board reviewed the profitability of the Advisor’s relationship with the Funds both before and after tax expenses, and also considered whether the Advisor has the financial wherewithal to continue to provide services to the Funds, noting the ongoing commitment of the Advisor’s parent company with respect to providing support and resources as needed. The Board considered that the Funds’ distributor, an affiliate of the Advisor, receives Rule 12b-1 distribution fees from the Funds and receives a portion of the sales charges on sales or redemptions of certain classes of shares. The Board also noted that the Advisor derives benefits to its reputation and other benefits from its association with the Funds.
The Board recognized that the Advisor should be entitled to earn a reasonable level of profits in exchange for the level of services it provides to each Fund and the entrepreneurial risk that it assumes as Advisor. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Advisor’s and its affiliates’ level of profitability, if any, from their relationship with each Fund was reasonable and not excessive.
Expenses and Performance. The Board compared the respective advisory fees and total expense ratios for each of the Funds with various comparative data, including the median and average advisory fees and total expense ratios of each Fund’s respective peer group. The Board also considered, among other data, the Funds’ respective performance results during the six-month, twelve-month, and thirty-six-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and noted that the Board reviews on a quarterly basis detailed information about each Fund’s performance results, portfolio composition and investment strategies. The Board also took into account current market conditions and their effect on the Funds’ performance.
The Board also considered the effect of each Fund’s growth and size on its performance and expenses. The Board noted that the Advisor had waived a portion of the fees and/or reimbursed expenses for all but one of the Funds in order to reduce those Funds’ respective operating expenses to targeted levels. The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees under the Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund were paid by the Advisor out of the advisory fees it receives from the Fund and considered the impact of such sub-advisory fees on the profitability of the Advisor. In reviewing the respective total expense ratios and performance of each of the Funds, the Board also took into account the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Funds by the Advisor and its affiliates.
The Board considered, among other data, the specific factors and related conclusions set forth below with respect to each Fund:
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund. The Fund’s advisory fee and total expense ratio (net of applicable expense waivers and reimbursements) were each above the median, of its peer group. The Board noted that the Advisor was waiving a portion of the Fund’s fees and/or reimbursing a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses. The Fund’s performance for the six-, twelve- and thirty-six-month periods ended September 30, 2021 was in the 2nd quintile of its peer group. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the overall performance of the Fund was satisfactory relative to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices, and that the advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Advisor and the other factors considered.
Touchstone Focused Fund. The Fund’s advisory fee and total expense ratio (net of applicable expense waivers and reimbursements) were each above the median of its peer group. The Fund’s performance for the six-month period ended September 30, 2021 was in the 3rd quintile of its peer group, while the Fund’s performance for the twelve- and thirty-six-month periods ended September 30, 2021 was in the 1st quintile of its peer group. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the overall performance of the Fund was satisfactory relative to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices, and that the advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Advisor and the other factors considered.
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund. The Fund’s advisory fee and total expense ratio (net of applicable expense waivers and reimbursements) were each below the median of its peer group. The Board noted that the Advisor was waiving a portion of the Fund’s fees and/or reimbursing a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses. The Fund’s performance for the six-month period ended September 30, 2021 was in the 5th quintile of its peer group, the Fund’s performance for the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2021 was in the 3rd quintile of its peer group, and the Fund’s performance for the thirty-six-month period ended September 30, 2021 was in the 4th quintile of its peer group. The Board noted management’s discussion of the Fund’s performance. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the overall performance of the Fund was satisfactory relative to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices, and that the advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Advisor and the other factors considered.
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund. The Fund’s advisory fee and total expense ratio (net of applicable expense waivers and reimbursements) were each at the median of its peer group. The Board noted that the Advisor was waiving a portion of the Fund’s fees and/or reimbursing a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses. The Fund’s performance for the six-month period ended September 30, 2021 was in the 4th quintile of its peer group, the Fund’s performance for the twelve-month period ended
95

Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
September 30, 2021 was in the 3rd quintile of its peer group, while the Fund’s performance for the thirty-six--month period ended September 30, 2021 was in the 2nd quintile of its peer group. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the overall performance of the Fund was satisfactory relative to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices, and that the advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Advisor and the other factors considered.
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund. The Fund’s advisory fee and total expense ratio (net of applicable expense waivers and reimbursements) were below the median and above the median, respectively, of its peer group. The Board noted that the Advisor was waiving a portion of the Fund’s fees and/or reimbursing a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses. The Fund’s performance for the six-month period ended September 30, 2021 was in the 1st quintile of its peer group, the Fund’s performance for the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2021 was in the 3rd quintile of its peer group, and the Fund’s performance for the thirty-six-month period ended September 30, 2021 was in the 2nd quintile of its peer group. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the overall performance of the Fund was satisfactory relative to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices, and that the advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Advisor and the other factors considered.
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund. The Fund’s advisory fee and total expense ratio (net of applicable expense waivers and reimbursements) were each above the median of its peer group. The Board noted that the Advisor was waiving a portion of the Fund’s fees and/or reimbursing a portion of the Fund’s operating expenses. The Fund’s performance for the six- and thirty-six-month periods ended September 30, 2021 was in the 1st quintile of its peer group, and the Fund’s performance for the twelve-month period ended September 30, 2021 was in the 2nd quintile of its peer group. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the overall performance of the Fund was satisfactory relative to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices, and that the advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Advisor and the other factors considered.
Economies of Scale. The Board considered the effect of each Fund’s current size and potential growth on its performance and expenses. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Funds’ advisory fee structure. The Board considered the effective advisory fees under the Investment Advisory Agreement as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that might be realized if the assets of each Fund increase. The Board noted that the advisory fee schedule for each Fund, except the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund, contains breakpoints that would reduce the respective advisory fee rate on assets above specified levels as the applicable Fund’s assets increased and considered the necessity of adding breakpoints with respect to the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund. The Board determined that adding breakpoints at specified levels to the advisory fee schedule of the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund would not be appropriate at this time. The Board noted that if a Fund’s assets increase over time, the Fund might realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other expenses. The Board also considered the fact that, under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the advisory fee payable to the Advisor by a Fund was reduced by the total sub-advisory fee paid by the Advisor to the Fund’s Sub-Advisor.
Conclusion. In considering the renewal of the Funds’ Investment Advisory Agreement, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, did not identify any single factor as controlling, and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The Trustees evaluated all information available to them on a Fund-by-Fund basis, and their determinations were made separately with respect to each Fund. The Board reached the following conclusions regarding the Funds’ Investment Advisory Agreement with the Advisor, among others: (a) the Advisor demonstrated that it possesses the capability and resources to perform the duties required of it under the Investment Advisory Agreement; (b) the Advisor maintains an appropriate compliance program; (c) the overall performance of each Fund is satisfactory relative to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices; and (d) each Fund’s advisory fee is reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Advisor and the other factors considered. Based on their conclusions, the Trustees determined with respect to each Fund that continuation of the Investment Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
In approving the Funds’ respective Sub-Advisory Agreements, the Board considered various factors with respect to each Fund and the applicable Sub-Advisory Agreement, among them: (1) the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund, including the personnel providing such services; (2) the Sub-Advisor’s compensation; (3) a comparison of the sub-advisory fee and performance with comparable funds; and (4) the terms of the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Board’s analysis of these factors is set forth below. The Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the process.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services Provided; Investment Personnel. The Board considered information provided by the Advisor regarding the services provided by each Sub-Advisor, including information presented periodically throughout the previous year. The Board noted the affiliation of one of the Sub-Advisors with the Advisor, noting any potential conflicts of interest. The Board also noted that, on a periodic basis, the Board meets with portfolio managers of the Sub-Advisors to discuss their respective performance and investment processes and strategies. The Board considered each Sub-Advisor’s level of knowledge and investment
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Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
style. The Board reviewed the experience and credentials of the applicable investment personnel who are responsible for managing the investment of portfolio securities with respect to the Funds. The Board also noted each Sub-Advisor’s brokerage practices.
Sub-Advisor’s Compensation, Profitability and Economies of Scale. The Board also took into consideration the financial condition of each Sub-Advisor and any indirect benefits derived by each Sub-Advisor and its affiliates from the Sub-Advisor’s relationship with the Funds. In considering the profitability to each Sub-Advisor of its relationship with the Funds, the Board noted the undertaking of the Advisor to maintain expense limitations for the Funds and also noted that the sub-advisory fees under the Sub-Advisory Agreements were paid by the Advisor out of the advisory fees that it receives under the Investment Advisory Agreement and in addition, with respect to the unaffiliated Sub-Advisors, are negotiated at arm’s-length. As a consequence, the profitability to each Sub-Advisor of its relationship with a Fund was not a substantial factor in the Board’s deliberations. For similar reasons, the Board did not consider the potential economies of scale in each Sub-Advisor’s management of the applicable Fund to be a substantial factor in its consideration, although the Board noted that, with the exception of the Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund, the sub-advisory fee schedule for all of the Funds contained breakpoints that would reduce the sub-advisory fee rate on assets above specified levels as the applicable Fund’s assets increased.
Sub-Advisory Fees and Performance Information. The Board considered that each Fund pays an advisory fee to the Advisor and that the Advisor pays the sub-advisory fee to the Sub-Advisor out of the advisory fee it receives from the respective Fund. The Board also compared the sub-advisory fees paid by the Advisor to fees charged by the Sub-Advisor to manage comparable institutional separate accounts. The Board considered the amount retained by the Advisor and the sub-advisory fee paid to each Sub-Advisor with respect to the various services provided by the Advisor and the Sub-Advisor. The Board also noted that the Advisor negotiated the sub-advisory fee with each of the unaffiliated Sub-Advisors at arm’s-length. The Board reviewed the sub-advisory fee for each Fund in relation to various comparative data, including the median and average sub-advisory fees of each Fund’s peer group, and considered the following information:
Touchstone Flexible Income Fund. The Fund’s sub-advisory fee was above the median of its peer group. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s sub-advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Sub-Advisor and the other factors considered.
Touchstone Focused Fund. The Fund’s sub-advisory fee was above the median of its peer group. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s sub-advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Sub-Advisor and the other factors considered.
Touchstone Global ESG Equity Fund. The Fund’s sub-advisory fee was at the median of its peer group. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s sub-advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Sub-Advisor and the other factors considered.
Touchstone Growth Opportunities Fund. The Fund’s sub-advisory fee was above the median of its peer group. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s sub-advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Sub-Advisor and the other factors considered.
Touchstone Mid Cap Growth Fund. The Fund’s sub-advisory fee was below the median of its peer group. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s sub-advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Sub-Advisor and the other factors considered.
Touchstone Sands Capital Emerging Markets Growth Fund. The Fund’s sub-advisory fee was above the median of its peer group. Based upon their review, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s sub-advisory fee was reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Sub-Advisor and the other factors considered.
As noted above, the Board considered each Fund’s performance during the six-month, twelve-month, and thirty-six-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and as compared to each Fund’s peer group and noted that the Board reviews on a quarterly basis detailed information about each Fund’s performance results, portfolio composition and investment strategies. The Board also noted the Advisor’s expertise and resources in monitoring the performance, investment style and risk-adjusted performance of each Sub-Advisor. The Board also was mindful of the Advisor’s ongoing monitoring of each Sub-Advisor’s performance and the measures undertaken by the Advisor to address any underperformance.
Conclusion. In considering the renewal of the Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, did not identify any single factor as controlling, and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The Board reached the following conclusions regarding each Sub-Advisory Agreement, among others: (a) the Sub-Advisor is qualified to manage each Fund’s assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment goals and policies; (b) the Sub-Advisor maintains an appropriate compliance program; (c) the overall performance of each Fund is satisfactory relative to the performance of funds with similar investment objectives and relevant indices; (d) each Fund’s sub-advisory fee is reasonable in light of the services received by the Fund from the Sub-Advisor and the other factors considered; and (e) the Sub-Advisor’s investment
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Other Items (Unaudited) (Continued)
strategies are appropriate for pursuing the investment goals of each Fund. Based on its conclusions, the Board determined that approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to each Fund was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
98

Management of the Trust (Unaudited)
Listed below is required information regarding the Trustees and principal officers of the Trust. The Trust’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request by calling 1.800.543.0407 or by visiting the Touchstone website at TouchstoneInvestments.com.
Interested Trustees1:
Name
Address
Year of Birth
Position
Held with
Trust
Term of
Office And
Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
Number
of Funds
Overseen
in the
Touchstone
Fund
Complex2
Other
Directorships
Held During Past 5 Years3
Jill T. McGruder
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1955
Trustee Until retirement at age 75 or until she resigns or is removed
Trustee since 1999
President of Touchstone Funds from 1999 to 2020; Director and CEO of IFS Financial Services, Inc. (a holding company) since 1999; and Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc. (a financial services company) since 2016. 36 Director, Integrity Life Insurance Co. and National Integrity Life Insurance Co. since 2005; Director, Touchstone Securities (the Distributor) since 1999; Director, Touchstone Advisors (the Advisor) since 1999; Director, W&S Brokerage Services, Inc. since 1999; Director, W&S Financial Group Distributors, Inc. since 1999; Director, Insurance Profillment Solutions LLC since 2014; Director, Columbus Life Insurance Co. since 2016; Director, The Lafayette Life Insurance Co. since 2016; Director, Gerber Life Insurance Company since 2019; Director, Western & Southern Agency, Inc. since 2018; and Director, LL Global, Inc. (not-for-profit trade organization with operating divisions LIMRA and LOMA) since 2016.
E. Blake Moore, Jr.
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1958
President and Trustee Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
Trustee since 2021
President, Touchstone Funds since 2021; Chief Executive Officer of Touchstone Advisors, Inc. and Touchstone Securities, Inc. since 2020; President, Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc. from 2018 to 2020; President, North American Asset Management at Foresters Financial from 2018 to 2020; Managing Director, Head of Americas at UBS Asset Management from 2015 to 2017; and Executive Vice President, Head of Distribution at Mackenzie Investments from 2011 to 2014. 36 Trustee, College of Wooster since 2008; and Director, UBS Funds from 2015 to 2017.
Independent Trustees:
Karen Carnahan
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1954
Trustee Until retirement at age 75 or until she resigns or is removed
Trustee since 2019
Retired; formerly Chief Operating Officer of Shred-it (a business services company) from 2014 to 2015; formerly President & Chief Operating Officer of the document management division of Cintas Corporation (a business services company) from 2008 to 2014. 36 Director, Cintas Corporation since 2019; Director, Boys & Girls Club of West Chester/Liberty since 2016; and Board of Advisors, Best Upon Request from 2020 to 2021.
William C. Gale
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1952
Trustee Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
Trustee since 2013
Retired; formerly Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cintas Corporation (a business services company) from 1995 to 2015. 36 None.
99

Management of the Trust (Unaudited) (Continued)
Independent Trustees (Continued):
Name
Address
Year of Birth
Position
Held with
Trust
Term of
Office And
Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
Number
of Funds
Overseen
in the
Touchstone
Fund
Complex2
(Continued)
Other
Directorships
Held During Past 5 Years3
Susan J. Hickenlooper, CFA(4)
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1946
Trustee Until retirement at age 75 or until she resigns or is removed
Trustee since 2009
Retired from investment management. 36 Trustee, Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio from 2014 to 2018.
Susan M. King
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1963
Trustee Until retirement at age 75 or until she resigns or is removed
Trustee since 2021
Formerly, Partner of ID Fund LLC (2020 to 2021); formerly, Senior Vice President, Head of Product and Marketing Strategy of Foresters Financial (2018 to 2020); formerly, Managing Director, Head of Sales Strategy and Marketing, Americas of UBS Asset Management (2015 to 2017); formerly, Director, Allianz Funds, Allianz Funds Multi-Strategy Trust and AllianzGI Institutional Multi-Series Trust (2014 to 2015); and formerly, Director, Alliance Capital Cash Management Offshore Funds (2003 to 2005). 36 Trustee, Claremont McKenna College since 2017; Trustee, Israel Cancer Research Fund since 2019; and Board Member of WHAM! (Women's Health Access Matters) since 2021.
Kevin A. Robie
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1956
Trustee Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
Trustee since 2013
Retired; formerly Vice President of Portfolio Management at Soin LLC (private multinational holding company and family office) from 2004 to 2020. 36 Director, SaverSystems, Inc. since 2015; Director, Buckeye EcoCare, Inc. from 2013 to 2018; Director, Turner Property Services Group, Inc. since 2017; Trustee, Dayton Region New Market Fund, LLC (private fund) since 2010; and Trustee, Entrepreneurs Center, Inc. (business incubator) since 2006.
William H. Zimmer III
c/o Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1953
Trustee Until retirement at age 75 or until he resigns or is removed
Trustee since 2019
Independent Treasury Consultant since 2014. 36 Director, Deaconess Associations, Inc. (healthcare) since 2001; Trustee, Huntington Funds (mutual funds) from 2006 to 2015; and Director, National Association of Corporate Treasurers from 2011 to 2015.
1 Ms. McGruder, as a director of the Advisor and the Distributor, and an officer of affiliates of the Advisor and the Distributor, is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. Mr. Moore, as an officer of the Advisor and the Distributor, is an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
2 As of March 31, 2022, the Touchstone Fund Complex consisted of 19 series of the Trust, 13 series of Touchstone Funds Group Trust and 4 variable annuity series of Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
3 Each Trustee is also a Trustee of Touchstone Funds Group Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
4 Upon the recommendation of the Governance Committee, the Board extended the mandatory retirement age for Ms. Hickenlooper for a one-year period to allow her to remain a Trustee of the Trust through December 31, 2022.
100

Management of the Trust (Unaudited) (Continued)
Principal Officers:
Name
Address
Year of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Trust1
Term of
Office And
Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
E. Blake Moore, Jr.
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1958
President and Trustee Until resignation, removal or disqualification
President since January 2021
See biography above.
Timothy D. Paulin
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1963
Vice President Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Vice President since 2010
Senior Vice President of Investment Research and Product Management of Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
Timothy S. Stearns
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1963
Chief Compliance Officer Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Chief Compliance Officer since 2013
Chief Compliance Officer of Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
Terrie A. Wiedenheft
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.
303 Broadway
Suite 1100
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1962
Controller and Treasurer Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Controller and Treasurer since 2006
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer, of IFS Financial Services, Inc. (a holding company) and Senior Vice President and Chief Administration Officer within the Office of the Chief Marketing Officer of Western & Southern Financial Group (2021 to Present).
Meredyth A. Whitford-Schultz
Western & Southern
Financial Group
400 Broadway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Year of Birth: 1981
Secretary Until resignation, removal or disqualification
Secretary since 2018
Senior Counsel - Securities/Mutual Funds of Western & Southern Financial Group (2015 to present); Associate at Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP (law firm) (2014 to 2015); Associate at Bingham McCutchen LLP (law firm) (2008 to 2014).
(1)Each officer also holds the same office with Touchstone Funds Group Trust and Touchstone Variable Series Trust.
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•  We will not sell your personal information to anyone.
We May Provide Information to Service Your Account
Sometimes it is necessary to provide information about you to various companies such as transfer agents, custodians, broker-dealers and marketing service firms to facilitate the servicing of your account. These organizations have a legitimate business need to see some of your personal information in order for us to provide service to you. We may disclose to these various companies the information that we collect as described above. We require that these companies, including our own subsidiaries and affiliates, strictly maintain the confidentiality of this information and abide by all applicable laws. Companies within our corporate family that may receive this information are financial service providers and insurance companies. We do not permit these associated companies to sell the information for their own purposes, and we never sell our customer information.
This policy is applicable to the following affiliated companies: Touchstone Funds Group Trust, Touchstone Strategic Trust, Touchstone Variable Series Trust, Touchstone Securities, Inc.,* and W&S Brokerage Services, Inc.
*Touchstone Securities, Inc. serves as the underwriter to the Touchstone Funds.
A Member of Western & Southern Financial Group®
The Privacy Protection Policy is not part of the Annual Report.
103


Touchstone Investments
Distributor
Touchstone Securities, Inc.*
303 Broadway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
800.638.8194
www.touchstoneinvestments.com
Investment Advisor
Touchstone Advisors, Inc.*
303 Broadway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-4203
Transfer Agent
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
4400 Computer Drive
Westborough, Massachusetts 01581
Shareholder Service
800.543.0407
* A Member of Western & Southern Financial Group
TSF-54-TST-AR-2203

 

 

 

 

(b)Not applicable.

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

(a)The registrant, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party.

 

(c)There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics description.

 

(d)The registrant has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions.

 

(e)Not applicable.

 

(f)A copy of the code of ethics is attached hereto as Exhibit 13(a)(1).

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

The registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. Ms. Karen Carnahan is the registrant’s audit committee financial expert and is an independent trustee within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Audit Fees

 

(a)Audit fees for Touchstone Strategic Trust (March Funds) totaled $141,100 and $117,600 for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021, respectively, including fees associated with the annual audits and filings of Form N-1A and Form N-CEN.

 

 

 

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

(b)The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant's financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item are $6,800 and $5,500 for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021, respectively. The fees for 2022 relate to the review of Form N-1A filings and the fees for 2021 relate to additional fees for valuation procedures.

 

Tax Fees

 

(c)The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were $78,690 and $39,555 for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021, respectively. The fees relate to the preparation of federal income and excise tax returns, review of capital gains distribution calculations and tax agent services.

 

All Other Fees

 

(d)The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item are $38,186 and $18,354 for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021, respectively. The fees relate to tax research and the PFIC analyzer and Global Withholding Tax Reporter subscriptions.

 

(e)(1)Disclose the audit committee's pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

The Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies describe the types of audit, audit-related, tax and other services that have the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee.  The pre-approval policies provide that annual audit service fees, tax services not specifically granted pre-approval, services exceeding pre-approved cost levels and other services that have not received general pre-approval will be subject to specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.  The pre-approval policies further provide that the Committee may grant general pre-approval to other audit services (statutory audits and services associated with SEC registration statements, periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued in connection with securities offerings), audit-related services (accounting consultations related to accounting, financial reporting or disclosure matters not classified as “audit services,” assistance with understanding and implementing new accounting and financial reporting guidance from rulemaking authorities, agreed-upon or expanded audit procedures related to accounting and/or billing records required to respond to or comply with financial, accounting or regulatory reporting matters and assistance with internal control reporting requirements under Form N-CSR), tax services that have historically been provided by the auditor that the Committee believes would not impair the independence of the auditor and are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence and permissible non-audit services classified as “all other services” that are routine and recurring services.

 

(e)(2)All of the services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of Item 4 were approved by the Audit Committee.

 

 

 

 

(f)The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant's engagement to audit the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant's full-time, permanent employees was less than fifty percent.

 

(g)The aggregate non-audit fees for Touchstone Strategic Trust (March Funds) and certain entities*, totaled approximately $568,578 and $719,238 for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021, respectively.

 

* These include the advisors (excluding non-affiliated sub-advisors) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the advisors that provides ongoing services to the registrant (Funds).

 

(h)The registrant's audit committee of the Board of Trustees has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence.

 

(i) Not applicable.

 

(j) Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1(a) of this form.

 

(b)Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and 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 Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

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

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of trustees, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, 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 (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).

 

(b)There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 13. Exhibits.

 

(a)(1)Code of ethics, and any amendment thereto, that is the subject of disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto.

 

(a)(2)Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

 

  (a)(2)(1) Not applicable.

 

  (a)(2)(2) Not applicable.

 

(b)Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

(Registrant)         Touchstone Strategic Trust                                                                     

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ E. Blake Moore, Jr.  
  E. Blake Moore, Jr., President  
  (principal executive officer)  

 

Date: June 1, 2022  

 

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 (Signature and Title)* /s/ E. Blake Moore, Jr.  
  E. Blake Moore, Jr., President  
  (principal executive officer)  

 

Date: June 1, 2022  

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Terrie A. Wiedenheft  
  Terrie A. Wiedenheft, Controller and Treasurer  
  (principal financial officer)  

 

Date: June 1, 2022  

 

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.