N-CSR 1 c62838nvcsr.htm FORM N-CSR nvcsr
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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 33-12791 & 811-5069
EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines IA 50266-5997
 
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Kristi Rojohn, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines IA 50266-5997
 
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 515/225-5400
Date of fiscal year end: December 31, 2010
Date of reporting period: December 31, 2010
 
 


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Item 1.   Reports to Stockholders.
 
EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund
 
 
 
 
5400 University Avenue
West Des Moines, IA 50266
 
1-877-860-2904
1-515-225-5586
 
This report is not to be distributed unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.
 


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PRESIDENT’S LETTER February 1, 2011
 
Dear Shareholders:
 
Growth in the U.S. economy for 2010 moderated in the first half of the year but has picked up since, likely topping 3% in the fourth quarter. The consumer has shown encouraging resilience in the past few months, while corporations continue to show strong export activity and investment in equipment. All contribute substantially to economic growth.
 
The housing sector remains weak, contributing little to growth. Supply far exceeds demand given the number of homes in or near foreclosure. Prices have begun falling once again after stabilizing somewhat following the end of the recent recession. Employment growth remains weak but is showing some signs of improvement. Still, the national unemployment rate hovers near 10%, and will likely fall only over a period of several years. This does not preclude continued expansion, but will certainly impact consumer sentiment and spending relative to an environment of lower unemployment.
 
Growth continues globally, as well, and emerging economies are enjoying growth in excess of that in developed countries. As a result, capital is flowing out of developed economies, seeking the higher growth opportunities in emerging economies. Concerns remain for Greece, Ireland and the euro zone’s other fiscally weak peripheral members. Policymakers in the euro zone have fashioned mechanisms to provide liquidity to countries facing fiscal crises, avoiding catastrophic melt-down in the near-term. Longer-term, the area likely faces deeper solvency issues among these weaker members that may require even greater fiscal and political union.
 
Following a sharp decline through the first half of the year, stocks improved in the second half of 2010 as euro zone authorities stepped in with the liquidity backstops for Greece and Ireland. The Federal Reserve’s intention to purchase Treasury securities under the plan dubbed Quantitative Easing 2 or QE2 provided a lift to stocks, as did improving economic prospects. In second half of 2010, the S&P 500 Composite Stock Index (the “S&P 500”) rebounded strongly to return 15.08% for the year.
 
In the fixed-income markets, returns were impacted by falling Treasury yields and rising bond prices. The onset of the euro zone crisis sent investors seeking U.S. Treasury bonds early in 2010. Inflation remained benign, giving investors little reason to demand higher yields on account of inflation. Yields rose strongly in the last few months of the year as economic prospects improved, but remained lower at year-end than at the beginning of 2010. The broad Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index returned 6.54% for the period, reflecting return from both coupon income and price appreciation.
 
The markets appear to anticipate a period of favorable economic conditions globally. Risks remain, however, particularly as the euro zone deals with its weaker members. We appreciate your support during this tough financial environment through your investment in the Fund. We take seriously our tasks of growing and protecting that investment. Thank you for continued support of the Fund.
 
s\ Craig A. Lang
 
Craig A. Lang
President
 
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.


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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE GRAPH WORKSHEET
 
Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment
in the Value Growth Portfolio and S&P 500
 
 
Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio-operating expenses. They do not include any fees and charges applicable to the separate account, which would lower the total return figures shown. For total return information net of all insurance-related fees and charges, please refer to the performance report. Past performance is not predictive of future performance.
 
The Value Growth Portfolio modestly trailed the S&P 500 for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2010. The Portfolio’s Initial Class and Service Class shares returned 14.36% and 14.07%, respectively, for the period, compared to 15.06% for the Index.
 
The S&P 500 experienced strong gains in multiple sectors for the period, with the energy, industrial and consumer discretionary sectors accounting for roughly half of the Index’s returns for the year. The S&P 500’s strong gain over the 12-month period still leaves it down 19% from its 2007 peak.
 
Even though relative performance varied across sectors, the Portfolio’s equity holdings, overall, performed similarly to the S&P 500 over the 12-month period. Out-performance in the materials, utilities and financials sectors was offset by underperformance in the industrials, consumer staples and technology sectors. Expenses and the drag from its cash position caused the Portfolio to lag the Index.
 
 
* Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares.
 
** Since Inception figures are calculated from June 1, 2008, the date Service Class Shares were first offered.


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PERFORMANCE GRAPH WORKSHEET
 
Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in the
High Grade Bond Portfolio and Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Index
 
 
Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio-operating expenses. They do not include any fees and charges applicable to the separate account, which would lower the total return figures shown. For total return information net of all insurance-related fees and charges, please refer to the performance report. Past performance is not predictive of future performance.
 
During the twelve-month period, the High Grade Bond Portfolio Initial Class outperformed the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index (the “Index”), as reflected by the 8.10% total return produced by the Portfolio versus the 6.54% total return produced by the Index. The Portfolio’s Service Class shares returned 7.84% over the same period.
 
The total returns for the major components of the Index for this period were as follows: Treasury Securities (34% of the Index), 5.87%; Mortgage Backed Securities (33% of the Index), 5.37%; negative 5.87%; Investment Grade Corporate Securities (19% of the Index), 9.00%. In comparison, the Portfolio had approximately 53% of its assets invested in corporate securities, 29% invested in government fixed rate mortgage-backed or agency securities, 15% in cash equivalents and 3% in commercial mortgage-backed securities. The Index had an effective duration1 of 4.98 as of December 31, 2010. The effective duration of the Portfolio was 4.19. The Portfolio outperformed the Index mainly because of the Portfolio’s overexposure to outperforming corporate issues.
 
The composition of the Portfolio at the end of the reporting period changed with an increase in corporate issue, and a decrease in government fixed rate mortgage-backed. Going forward, we anticipate continuing to maintain a duration slightly below that of the Index with additional purchases probably focused on the corporate bond sector given the still historically reasonable spreads available in that sector.
 
 
1 Duration is a measure of interest rate risk for individual securities and portfolios. The lower the duration for a security or portfolio, the less sensitive it is to movements in interest rates.
 
* Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares.
 
** Since Inception figures are calculated from June 1, 2008, the date Service Class Shares were first offered.


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PERFORMANCE GRAPH WORKSHEET
 
Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in the
Strategic Yield Portfolio and Barclays Capital U.S. Credit/High Yield Index
 
 
Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio-operating expenses. They do not include any fees and charges applicable to the separate account, which would lower the total return figures shown. For total return information net of all insurance-related fees and charges, please refer to the performance report. Past performance is not predictive of future performance.
 
During the twelve-month period, the Initial Class of the Strategic Yield Portfolio produced a total return of 10.92%. The Service Class returned 10.66% over the same period. Both share classes exceeded the 9.77% return produced by the Barclays Capital U.S. Credit/High Yield Index (the “Index”).
 
The total returns for the two components of the Index over this period were as follows: Investment Grade Credit (79% of the Index), 8.47%; and Corporate High Yield (21% of the Index), 15.1%. In comparison, the Portfolio had approximately 49% of its assets invested in corporate securities rated investment grade by both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, 33% of its assets invested in corporate securities rated as non-investment grade or high yield by Moody’s and/or Standard & Poor’s, 10% of its assets invested in U.S. Government Agency issues, and 8% in cash equivalents. The Portfolio outperformed the overall Index mainly due to its larger exposure to outperforming high yield issues.
 
The Portfolio has historically invested in a mix of high yield and investment grade issues attempting to find attractive issues in both markets. Both the investment grade and high yield corporate bond markets appear to be trading at reasonable levels given our view of a slowly improving economy going forward.
 
 
* Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares.
 
** Since Inception figures are calculated from June 1, 2008, the date Service Class Shares were first offered.


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PERFORMANCE GRAPH WORKSHEET
 
Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment
in the Managed Portfolio and S&P 500
 
 
Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio-operating expenses. They do not include any fees and charges applicable to the separate account, which would lower the total return figures shown. For total return information net of all insurance-related fees and charges, please refer to the performance report. Past performance is not predictive of future performance.
 
For the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010, the Initial Class and Service Class shares of the Managed Portfolio returned 15.05% and 14.79%, respectively. In comparison, the S&P 500 returned 15.06% for the period. The Managed Portfolio is a tactical asset allocation portfolio, with an investment emphasis on securities producing income and the potential for capital appreciation. For this reason, neither its performance nor its constitution will likely mirror any one particular equity index over long periods of time.
 
The Portfolio experienced favorable returns within its equity allocation for the period, benefiting from performance in the energy, materials and financials sectors, in particular. Returns here were partially offset by underperformance in the industrials and consumer staples sectors. Fixed- income returns, while positive, trailed equities for the period, otherwise constraining performance against the S&P 500.
 
Within the Portfolio’s equity allocation, we continue to focus on the stocks of large, dividend-paying high-quality companies. Given the low yields on cash and high quality fixed-income issues, we continue to see greater value in stocks.
 
 
* Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares.
 
** Since Inception figures are calculated from June 1, 2008, the date Service Class Shares were first offered.


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PERFORMANCE GRAPH WORKSHEET
 
Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment
in the Blue Chip Portfolio and S&P 500
 
 
Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio-operating expenses. They do not include any fees and charges applicable to the separate account, which would lower the total return figures shown. For total return information net of all insurance-related fees and charges, please refer to the performance report. Past performance is not predictive of future performance.
 
The Blue Chip Portfolio is designed to represent the large-capitalization sector of the domestic equity market, and remains substantially invested in approximately 50 such common stock issues. Given the Portfolio’s constitution, its performance will track the broad-market S&P 500, but will be most similar to that of the large-capitalization segment within the S&P 500.
 
For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2010, The Portfolio’s Initial Class and Service Class shares generated returns of 11.28% and 11.00%, respectively. In comparison, the S&P 500 returned 15.06% for the period. The Portfolio underperformed the S&P 500 for the period due to its lower exposure to smaller and/or lower beta stocks.
 
Again, the Portfolio is most concentrated in the S&P 500’s largest companies; roughly 90% of its holdings fall in the Index’s top half by market capitalization. The Portfolio’s performance, therefore, should track that of the largest members in the S&P 500.
 
 
* Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares.
 
** Since Inception figures are calculated from June 1, 2008, the date Service Class Shares were first offered.


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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
December 31, 2010
 
Value Growth Portfolio
Portfolio Holdings by Industry Sector
 
 
High Grade Bond Portfolio
Portfolio Holdings by Credit Quality and Type of Security**
 
 
Strategic Yield Portfolio
Portfolio Holdings by Credit Quality and Type of Security**
 
*    This category may include short-term investments in commercial paper, money market mutual funds and U.S. government agencies, along with cash, receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets, less liabilities.
 
**   Credit quality as reported by Standard & Poor’s.


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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
December 31, 2010
 
Managed Portfolio
Portfolio Holdings by Industry Sector
 
 
Money Market Portfolio
Portfolio Holdings by Asset Type
 
 
Blue Chip Portfolio
Portfolio Holdings by Industry Sector
 
*    This category may include short-term investments in commercial paper, money market mutual funds and U.S. government agencies, along with cash, receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets, less liabilities.


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Expense Example:
 
As a shareholder of the Fund, you may incur ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund/class expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in a given Portfolio and Share Class of the Fund 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 on July 1, 2010 and held until December 31, 2010.
 
Actual Expenses —
 
The first line for each Portfolio and Share Class in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for that Portfolio and Share Class. 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 Period” for the same Portfolio and Share Class to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
 
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes —
 
The second line for each Portfolio and Share Class in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of that Portfolio and Share Class and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of the Portfolio and Share Class. 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 a given Portfolio and Share Class of the Fund with 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.
 


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    Beginning Account
    Ending Account
    Expenses Paid
       
    Value
    Value
    During Period
    Annualized Expense
 
Portfolio and Share Class   7/1/2010     12/31/2010     7/1/2010 - 12/31/2010     Ratio (1)(3)  
   
 
Value Growth — IC
                            0.62 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,212.30     $ 3.45          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,021.88     $ 3.15          
 
 
Value Growth — SC
                            0.88 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,211.30     $ 4.88          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,020.59     $ 4.46          
 
 
High Grade Bond — IC
                            0.46 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,018.10     $ 2.34          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,022.68     $ 2.35          
 
 
High Grade Bond — SC
                            0.71 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,015.90     $ 3.60          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,021.43     $ 3.61          
 
 
Strategic Yield — IC
                            0.62 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,031.50     $ 3.18          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,021.87     $ 3.16          
 
 
Strategic Yield — SC
                            0.87 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,030.20     $ 4.45          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,020.61     $ 4.43          
 
 
Managed — IC
                            0.60 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,163.90     $ 3.28          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,021.96     $ 3.07          
 
 
Managed — SC
                            0.86 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,162.90     $ 4.67          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,020.68     $ 4.36          
 
 
Money Market — IC
                            0.00 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,000.70     $ 0.00          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,025.00     $ 0.00          
 
 
Money Market — SC
                            0.00 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,000.70     $ 0.00          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,025.00     $ 0.00          
 
 
Blue Chip — IC
                            0.35 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,184.60     $ 1.94          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,023.23     $ 1.79          
 
 
Blue Chip — SC
                            0.61 %
Actual
  $ 1,000     $ 1,182.90     $ 3.34          
Hypothetical (2)
  $ 1,000     $ 1,021.94     $ 3.10          
 
 
 
 
(1) Expenses are equal to the Annualized Expense Ratio, net of any waivers or reimbursements, as shown in the table for each Portfolio and Class, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184 days, and divided by 365 to reflect the one-half year period.
 
(2) Hypothetical examples are based on 5% return before expenses.
 
(3) The amounts shown do not reflect the effects of insurance-related fees and expenses.

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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2010
 
                                                 
          High
    Strategic
                   
    Value Growth
    Grade Bond
    Yield
    Managed
    Money Market
    Blue Chip
 
    Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio  
 
ASSETS
Investments in securities, at value (cost—$47,910,088; $55,604,540; $38,338,076; $67,451,242; $9,998,638; and $60,850,200, respectively)
  $ 55,338,824     $ 57,541,414     $ 39,828,344     $ 80,756,886     $ 9,998,638     $ 75,477,038  
Cash
                            224,782        
Receivables:
                                               
Accrued dividends and interest
    66,185       442,008       609,519       162,914       81       97,383  
Fund shares sold
    11,680       20,081       6,783       11,039       100,519       18,791  
Prepaid expense and other assets
    656       661       513       967       145       896  
                                                 
Total Assets
    55,417,345       58,004,164       40,445,159       80,931,806       10,324,165       75,594,108  
                                                 
 
LIABILITIES
Payables:
                                               
Fund shares redeemed
    47,563       55,997       42,027       74,781       17,220       66,619  
Dividends
          16       23             141        
Accrued expenses
    10,370       9,368       8,324       12,115       5,482       12,289  
                                                 
Total Liabilities
    57,933       65,381       50,374       86,896       22,843       78,908  
                                                 
NET ASSETS
  $ 55,359,412     $ 57,938,783     $ 40,394,785     $ 80,844,910     $ 10,301,322     $ 75,515,200  
                                                 
 
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS
Paid-in capital
  $ 51,606,880     $ 56,034,883     $ 41,405,723     $ 70,244,297     $ 10,301,322     $ 64,451,417  
Accumulated undistributed net investment income
    635,080                   1,960,936             1,714,701  
Accumulated net realized loss from investment transactions
    (4,311,284 )     (32,974 )     (2,501,206 )     (4,665,967 )           (5,277,756 )
Net unrealized appreciation of investments
    7,428,736       1,936,874       1,490,268       13,305,644             14,626,838  
                                                 
NET ASSETS
  $ 55,359,412     $ 57,938,783     $ 40,394,785     $ 80,844,910     $ 10,301,322     $ 75,515,200  
                                                 
 
See accompanying notes.


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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
December 31, 2010 (continued)
 
                                                 
          High
    Strategic
                   
    Value Growth
    Grade Bond
    Yield
    Managed
    Money Market
    Blue Chip
 
    Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio  
 
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
Initial Class: Net Assets
  $ 54,636,933     $ 44,928,603     $ 39,357,213     $ 79,332,114     $ 9,610,205     $ 71,734,244  
Shares issued and outstanding
    4,001,330       4,292,484       4,304,727       5,193,817       9,610,205       2,010,321  
Net asset value per share
  $ 13.65     $ 10.47     $ 9.14     $ 15.27     $ 1.00     $ 35.68  
                                                 
Service Class: Net Assets
  $ 722,479     $ 13,010,180     $ 1,037,572     $ 1,512,796     $ 691,117     $ 3,780,956  
Shares issued and outstanding
    51,859       1,242,971       113,475       95,859       691,117       102,206  
Net asset value per share
  $ 13.93     $ 10.47     $ 9.14     $ 15.78     $ 1.00     $ 36.99  
                                                 
 
See accompanying notes.


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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended December 31, 2010
 
                                                 
    Value
    High
    Strategic
                   
    Growth
    Grade Bond
    Yield
    Managed
    Money Market
    Blue Chip
 
    Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio  
 
INVESTMENT INCOME
Dividends
  $ 949,608     $     $ 62,000     $ 1,307,235     $     $ 1,962,720  
Interest
    2,775       2,438,937       2,459,280       936,819       13,066       4,097  
Less foreign tax withholding
    (956 )                 (4,621 )            
                                                 
Total Investment Income
    951,427       2,438,937       2,521,280       2,239,433       13,066       1,966,817  
 
EXPENSES
Paid to Affiliates:
                                               
Investment advisory and management fees
    234,253       165,709       182,312       347,186       26,668       143,837  
Distribution fees
    1,525       25,158       2,387       3,306       2,298       8,211  
Accounting fees
    26,028       27,618       20,257       30,000       5,334       30,000  
Custodian fees
    6,083       7,095       4,586       8,550       3,403       6,621  
Professional fees
    25,599       26,388       21,915       34,519       10,589       32,152  
Trustees’ fees and expenses
    7,961       8,629       6,258       11,858       1,683       11,013  
Reports to shareholders
    6,875       7,030       5,332       10,161       1,388       9,398  
Insurance and bonds
    5,258       5,327       4,143       7,861       1,245       7,113  
Miscellaneous
    2,769       2,776       2,138       4,106       604       3,777  
                                                 
Total Expenses
    316,351       275,730       249,328       457,547       53,212       252,122  
Waiver of fees
                            (53,212 )      
Fees paid indirectly
    (4 )     (5 )     (3 )     (6 )     (1 )     (6 )
                                                 
Net Expenses
    316,347       275,725       249,325       457,541       (1 )     252,116  
                                                 
Net Investment Income
    635,080       2,163,212       2,271,955       1,781,892       13,067       1,714,701  
 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS
Net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions
    297,511       (739 )     27,166       (13,463 )           1,980,601  
Change in unrealized appreciation of investments
    6,111,781       1,954,026       1,917,867       9,129,628             4,034,784  
                                                 
Net Gain on Investments
    6,409,292       1,953,287       1,945,033       9,116,165             6,015,385  
                                                 
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
  $ 7,044,372     $ 4,116,499     $ 4,216,988     $ 10,898,057     $ 13,067     $ 7,730,086  
                                                 
 
See accompanying notes.


14


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
 
                                                 
    Value Growth Portfolio     High Grade Bond Portfolio     Strategic Yield Portfolio  
    Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
OPERATIONS
                                               
Net investment income
  $ 635,080     $ 705,061     $ 2,163,212     $ 2,208,639     $ 2,271,955     $ 2,352,460  
Net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions
    297,511       (3,427,768 )     (739 )     (65,458 )     27,166       (1,943,335 )
Change in unrealized appreciation of investments
    6,111,781       13,974,641       1,954,026       3,135,143       1,917,867       7,568,331  
                                                 
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
    7,044,372       11,251,934       4,116,499       5,278,324       4,216,988       7,977,456  
 
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM
Net investment income:
                                               
Initial Class
    (701,627 )     (952,784 )     (1,766,213 )     (2,018,829 )     (2,207,271 )     (2,325,728 )
Service Class
    (3,433 )     (872 )     (367,024 )     (189,810 )     (50,997 )     (26,732 )
Net realized gain from investment transactions:
                                               
Initial Class
                      (146,224 )            
Service Class
                      (11,409 )            
                                                 
Total Dividends and Distributions
    (705,060 )     (953,656 )     (2,133,237 )     (2,366,272 )     (2,258,268 )     (2,352,460 )
                                                 
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
    (3,832,800 )     (2,203,492 )     5,045,962       3,596,181       (953,674 )     (2,816,721 )
                                                 
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
    2,506,512       8,094,786       7,029,224       6,508,233       1,005,046       2,808,275  
 
NET ASSETS
Beginning of year
    52,852,900       44,758,114       50,909,559       44,401,326       39,389,739       36,581,464  
                                                 
End of year (including accumulated undistributed net investment income as set forth below)
  $ 55,359,412     $ 52,852,900     $ 57,938,783     $ 50,909,559     $ 40,394,785     $ 39,389,739  
                                                 
Accumulated Undistributed (Over-distributed) Net Investment Income
  $ 635,080     $ 705,060     $     $     $     $ (7,750 )
                                                 
 
See accompanying notes.


15


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (continued)
 
                                                 
    Managed
    Money Market
    Blue Chip
 
    Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio  
    Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
OPERATIONS
Net investment income
  $ 1,781,892     $ 1,907,332     $ 13,067     $ 15,235     $ 1,714,701     $ 1,601,198  
Net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions
    (13,463 )     (4,522,755 )                 1,980,601       (789,775 )
Change in unrealized appreciation of investments
    9,129,628       14,931,133                   4,034,784       10,179,669  
                                                 
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
    10,898,057       12,315,710       13,067       15,235       7,730,086       10,991,092  
 
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM
Net investment income:
                                               
Initial Class
    (1,881,816 )     (2,332,629 )     (11,871 )     (14,775 )     (1,569,649 )     (1,945,486 )
Service Class
    (20,999 )     (3,856 )     (1,196 )     (460 )     (31,549 )     (5,662 )
Net realized gain from investment transactions:
                                               
Initial Class
                                   
Service Class
                                   
                                                 
Total Dividends and Distributions
    (1,902,815 )     (2,336,485 )     (13,067 )     (15,235 )     (1,601,198 )     (1,951,148 )
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
    (6,140,640 )     (3,741,537 )     (1,532,420 )     (2,994,789 )     (2,552,994 )     37,674  
                                                 
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
    2,854,602       6,237,688       (1,532,420 )     (2,994,789 )     3,575,894       9,077,618  
 
NET ASSETS
Beginning of year
    77,990,308       71,752,620       11,833,742       14,828,531       71,939,306       62,861,688  
                                                 
End of year (including accumulated undistributed net investment income as set forth below)
  $ 80,844,910     $ 77,990,308     $ 10,301,322     $ 11,833,742     $ 75,515,200     $ 71,939,306  
                                                 
Accumulated Undistributed (Over-distributed) Net Investment Income
  $ 1,960,936     $ 1,902,815     $     $     $ 1,714,701     $ 1,601,198  
                                                 
 
See accompanying notes.
 


16


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
VALUE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
December 31, 2010
                 
    Shares
       
    Held     Value  
 
COMMON STOCKS (97.61%)
 
AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS AND GASOLINE SERVICE STATIONS (2.49%)
AutoZone, Inc. (1)
    2,700     $ 735,993  
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (1)
    10,600       640,452  
                 
              1,376,445  
 
BUSINESS SERVICES (8.80%)
Adobe Systems Inc. (1)
    11,700       360,126  
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. 
    6,700       310,076  
eBay Inc. (1)
    13,135       365,547  
ManTech International Corp.-Series A (1)
    5,900       243,847  
Microsoft Corp. 
    55,255       1,542,720  
NCI, Inc.-Class A (1)
    6,000       137,940  
Oracle Corp. 
    46,070       1,441,991  
Symantec Corp. (1)
    28,002       468,753  
                 
              4,871,000  
 
CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (12.02%)
Abbott Laboratories
    7,600       364,116  
Amgen Inc. (1)
    7,625       418,612  
Colgate-Palmolive Co. 
    2,605       209,364  
Dow Chemical Co. (The)
    5,330       181,966  
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. 
    16,005       798,329  
Johnson & Johnson
    16,700       1,032,895  
Merck & Co., Inc. 
    8,638       311,314  
Mylan Inc. (1)
    10,050       212,356  
Myriad Genetics, Inc. (1)
    17,000       388,280  
Pfizer Inc. 
    44,486       778,950  
Procter & Gamble Co. (The)
    19,425       1,249,610  
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. 
    9,691       505,192  
United Therapeutics Corp. (1)
    3,200       202,304  
                 
              6,653,288  
 
COMMUNICATIONS (3.04%)
AT&T Inc. 
    17,660       518,851  
Comcast Corp.-Class A
    14,065       309,008  
DIRECTV-Class A (1)
    7,000       279,510  
Frontier Communications Corp. 
    3,616       35,184  
Verizon Communications Inc. 
    15,065       539,026  
                 
              1,681,579  
 
DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (3.57%)
Bank of America Corp. 
    16,089       214,627  
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)
    7,150       215,930  
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 
    6,600       279,972  
New York Community Bancorp, Inc. 
    23,156       436,491  
Northern Trust Corp. 
    6,900       382,329  
U.S. Bancorp
    9,135       246,371  
Wells Fargo & Co. 
    1,981       61,391  
Wilshire Bancorp, Inc. 
    18,200       138,684  
                 
              1,975,795  
 
EATING AND DRINKING PLACES (0.30%)
McDonald’s Corp. 
    2,200       168,872  
 
ELECTRIC, GAS AND SANITARY SERVICE (3.90%)
Atmos Energy Corp. 
    11,267       351,530  
CMS Energy Corp. 
    28,300       526,380  
Integrys Energy Group, Inc. 
    9,886       479,570  
Pepco Holdings, Inc. 
    12,335       225,114  
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. 
    9,200       381,340  
Waste Management, Inc. 
    5,300       195,411  
                 
              2,159,345  
 
ELECTRONIC AND OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (3.93%)
BigBand Networks, Inc. (1)
    42,700       119,560  
General Electric Co. 
    66,480       1,215,919  
Helen of Troy Ltd. (1)
    8,966       266,649  
Intel Corp. 
    17,500       368,025  
QUALCOMM Inc. 
    4,200       207,858  
                 
              2,178,011  
 
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS (1.21%)
Illinois Tool Works Inc. 
    12,580       671,772  
 
FOOD AND KINDRED PRODUCTS (3.68%)
Campbell Soup Co. 
    6,900       239,775  
Coca-Cola Co. (The)
    6,870       451,840  
Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V. 
    3,700       304,991  
H.J. Heinz Co. 
    6,100       301,706  
Kraft Foods Inc. 
    12,708       400,429  
PepsiCo, Inc. 
    5,180       338,409  
                 
              2,037,150  
 
GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORES (2.35%)
Target Corp. 
    8,415       505,994  
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 
    14,735       794,659  
                 
              1,300,653  
 
HEAVY CONSTRUCTION (0.26%)
Orion Marine Group, Inc (1)
    12,300       142,680  
 
HOLDING AND OTHER INVESTMENT OFFICES (2.99%)
Adams Express Co. (The )
    71,553       767,048  
H&Q Life Sciences Investors
    40,386       434,958  
ProShares UltraShort
               
20+Year Treasury (1)
    6,900       255,645  
Redwood Trust, Inc. 
    13,200       197,076  
                 
              1,654,727  
 
INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT (8.90%)
3M Co. 
    5,890       508,307  
Apple Inc. (1)
    4,160       1,341,850  
Baker Hughes Inc. 
    6,200       354,454  
Cisco Systems, Inc. (1)
    46,570       942,111  
EMC Corp. (1)
    62,025       1,420,373  
Hewlett-Packard Co. 
    5,270       221,867  
Super Micro Computer, Inc. (1)
    11,900       137,326  
                 
              4,926,288  
 
INSTRUMENTS AND RELATED PRODUCTS (3.71%)
Agilent Technologies, Inc. (1)
    7,000       290,010  
Becton, Dickinson and Co. 
    5,326       450,154  
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.-Class A (1)
    3,300       342,705  
Danaher Corp. 
    4,800       226,416  


17


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
VALUE GROWTH PORTFOLIO (continued)
 
                 
    Shares
       
    Held     Value  
 
COMMON STOCKS (continued)
INSTRUMENTS AND RELATED PRODUCTS (continued)
Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (1)
    3,375     $ 510,334  
Stryker Corp. 
    4,380       235,206  
                 
              2,054,825  
 
INSURANCE AGENTS, BROKERS AND SERVICE (0.65%)
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 
    12,365       359,574  
 
INSURANCE CARRIERS (6.20%)
Allstate Corp. (The)
    4,910       156,531  
American Equity Investment Life Holding Co. 
    29,300       367,715  
CIGNA Corp. 
    10,400       381,264  
CNO Financial Group, Inc. (1)
    50,000       339,000  
EMC Insurance Group Inc. 
    13,610       308,130  
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)
    11,100       294,039  
Kansas City Life Insurance Co. 
    9,600       317,088  
Lincoln National Corp. 
    11,300       314,253  
MetLife, Inc. 
    8,705       386,850  
Protective Life Corp. 
    21,200       564,768  
                 
              3,429,638  
 
LEGAL SERVICES (0.83%)
FTI Consulting, Inc. (1)
    12,400       462,272  
 
METAL MINING (4.01%)
Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. 
    2,000       153,400  
Barrick Gold Corp. 
    24,946       1,326,628  
Newmont Mining Corp. 
    12,000       737,160  
                 
              2,217,188  
 
MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL (2.71%)
Cash America International, Inc. 
    12,800       472,704  
EZCORP, Inc. (1)
    28,000       759,640  
GameStop Corp.-Class A (1)
    11,700       267,696  
                 
              1,500,040  
 
MOTION PICTURES (0.57%)
Time Warner Inc. 
    9,796       315,137  
 
MOTOR FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION AND WAREHOUSING (0.74%)
United Parcel Service, Inc.-Class B
    5,675       411,892  
 
OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION (6.51%)
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. 
    10,200       776,832  
Apache Corp. 
    2,600       309,998  
Devon Energy Corp. 
    4,600       361,146  
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. 
    14,600       707,808  
Noble Corp. 
    4,300       153,811  
Occidental Petroleum Corp. 
    6,800       667,080  
Rowan Companies, Inc. (1)
    8,800       307,208  
Transocean Ltd. (1)
    4,600       319,746  
                 
              3,603,629  
 
PAPER AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (0.46%)
Kimberly-Clark Corp. 
    4,020       253,421  
 
PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS (3.82%)
Chevron Corp. 
    10,300       939,875  
ConocoPhillips
    10,257       698,502  
Exxon Mobil Corp. 
    4,500       329,040  
Valero Energy Corp. 
    6,300       145,656  
                 
              2,113,073  
 
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION (0.53%)
Union Pacific Corp. 
    3,140       290,952  
 
RETAIL-DRUG STORES AND PROPRIETARY STORES (0.37%)
Walgreen Co. 
    5,245       204,345  
 
RETAIL-HOME FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS STORES (0.62%)
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (1)
    7,010       344,541  
 
SECURITY AND COMMODITY BROKERS (2.28%)
BGC Partners, Inc.-Class A
    68,775       571,520  
Investment Technology Group, Inc. (1)
    9,600       157,152  
SEI Investments Co. 
    22,450       534,086  
                 
              1,262,758  
 
SERVICES-ENGINEERING, ACCOUNTING, RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT (0.70%)
Quest Diagnostics Inc. 
    7,200       388,584  
 
TOBACCO PRODUCTS (0.93%)
Philip Morris International Inc. 
    8,810       515,649  
 
TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT (3.77%)
Federal Signal Corp. 
    13,300       91,238  
Genuine Parts Co. 
    6,200       318,308  
Honeywell International Inc. 
    18,835       1,001,269  
ITT Corp. 
    13,020       678,472  
                 
              2,089,287  
 
WHOLESALE TRADE — NONDURABLE GOODS (0.76%)
Sysco Corp. 
    14,390       423,066  
                 
Total Common Stocks
(Cost $46,608,740)
            54,037,476  
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (2.35%)
 
MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUND (0.54%)
JP Morgan U.S. Treasury Plus
Money Market Fund
(Cost $301,373)
    301,373       301,373  
                 
    Principal
       
    Amount        
 
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (1.81%)
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 01/10/11
  $ 1,000,000       999,975  
                 
Total United States Government Agencies
(Cost $999,975)
            999,975  
                 
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $1,301,348)
            1,301,348  
                 
Total Investments (99.96%)
(Cost $47,910,088)
            55,338,824  
                 

18


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
VALUE GROWTH PORTFOLIO (continued)
 
                 
          Value  
 
 
OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (0.04%)
Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities
          $ 20,588  
                 
Total Net Assets (100.00%)
          $ 55,359,412  
                 
 
(1) Non-income producing securities.
 
See accompanying notes.

19


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
HIGH GRADE BOND PORTFOLIO
December 31, 2010
                 
    Principal
       
    Amount     Value  
 
CORPORATE BONDS (52.57%)
 
CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (9.10%)
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., 4.625%, due 01/15/20
  $ 1,500,000     $ 1,586,280  
Merck & Co. Inc.,
5.00%, due 06/30/19
    1,500,000       1,661,295  
Pfizer Inc.,
5.35%, due 03/15/15
    1,800,000       2,025,486  
                 
              5,273,061  
 
COMMUNICATIONS (1.79%)
DIRECTV Holdings LLC,
6.375%, due 06/15/15
    1,000,000       1,036,190  
                 
                 
 
DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (7.28%)
Comerica Bank,
5.20%, due 08/22/17
    1,000,000       1,033,090  
Fifth Third Bancorp,
5.45%, due 01/15/17
    1,000,000       1,020,320  
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The),
5.125%, due 01/15/15
    900,000       969,966  
PNC Preferred FD, 144A,
6.517%, due 12/31/49 (1)
    1,500,000       1,191,927  
Washington Mutual Bank, FA,
5.65%, due 08/15/14
    750,000       938  
                 
              4,216,241  
 
ELECTRIC, GAS AND SANITARY SERVICES (17.07%)
Entergy Louisiana, LLC,
5.40%, due 11/01/24
    1,975,000       2,119,550  
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.,
5.30%, due 09/15/20
    1,600,000       1,672,128  
NorthWestern Corp.,
6.34%, due 04/01/19
    700,000       754,635  
Oglethorpe Power Corp.,
6.974%, due 06/30/11
    71,000       72,599  
PacifiCorp,
6.90%, due 11/15/11
    750,000       790,380  
Public Service Co. of Colorado,
5.125%, due 06/01/19
    1,500,000       1,634,685  
South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.,
6.50%, due 11/01/18
    1,500,000       1,787,295  
Westar Energy, Inc.,
5.15%, due 01/01/17
    1,000,000       1,057,280  
                 
              9,888,552  
 
FOOD AND KINDRED PRODUCTS (1.72%)
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.,
5.935%, due 10/01/32
    900,000       993,600  
                 
                 
 
FURNITURE AND FIXTURES (0.88%)
Steelcase Inc.,
6.50%, due 08/15/11
    500,000       511,785  
                 
                 
 
HOLDING AND OTHER INVESTMENT OFFICES (4.31%)
CommonWealth REIT,
6.25%, due 06/15/17
    1,700,000       1,762,407  
Washington Real Estate Investment Trust,
5.25%, due 01/15/14
    700,000       735,350  
                 
              2,497,757  
 
INSURANCE CARRIERS (7.11%)
MetLife, Inc.,
4.75%, due 02/08/21
    1,700,000       1,745,951  
Prudential Financial, Inc.,
6.10%, due 06/15/17
    1,500,000       1,660,170  
SunAmerica Inc.,
8.125%, due 04/28/23
    700,000       715,540  
                 
              4,121,661  
 
PETROLEUM & COAL PRODUCTS (2.56%)
ConocoPhillips Holding Co.,
6.95%, due 04/15/29
    1,200,000       1,484,016  
                 
                 
 
TRANSPORTATION — BY AIR (0.75%)
Continental Airlines, Inc., Pass-Through Certificates 1991-1 Class A, 6.545%, due 08/02/20
    237,395       252,510  
FedEx Corp. Pass-Through Certificates, 7.50%, due 01/15/18
    171,994       180,952  
                 
              433,462  
                 
Total Corporate Bonds
(Cost $29,746,921)
            30,456,325  
                 
                 
 
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES (2.65%)
TIAA Seasoned Commercial Mortgage Trust 2007-C4, 6.05%, due 08/01/39
(cost $1,487,179)
    1,500,000       1,537,676  
 
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (28.66%)
FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION (FHLMC) (7.37%)
3023 Class TG, 5.50%,
due 08/01/35
    473,221       475,331  
3051 Class MY, 5.50%,
due 10/01/25
    1,000,000       1,074,820  
Pool # A53146, 5.50%,
due 10/01/36
    637,908       681,889  
Pool # A69436, 6.00%,
due 12/01/37
    314,411       341,023  
Pool # G02562, 6.00%,
due 01/01/37
    497,691       540,971  
Pool # G02648, 5.50%,
due 12/01/36
    613,665       655,976  
Pool # G03803, 5.50%,
due 01/01/38
    467,912       499,296  
                 
              4,269,306  


20


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
HIGH GRADE BOND PORTFOLIO (continued)
 
                 
    Principal
       
    Amount     Value  
 
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (continued)
 
FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (FNMA) (6.93%)
Pool # 50276, 9.50%,
due 02/01/20
  $ 458     $ 540  
Pool # 256103, 5.50%,
due 02/01/26
    372,970       401,346  
Pool # 257306, 5.50%,
due 08/01/38
    1,577,058       1,689,660  
Pool # 897144, 6.00%,
due 09/01/36
    321,251       350,226  
Pool # 906224, 5.50%,
due 01/01/37
    899,006       964,120  
Pool # 928570, 6.00%,
due 08/01/37
    557,654       606,907  
                 
              4,012,799  
 
GOVERNMENT NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (GNMA) (14.36%)
2003-1 Class PE, 5.50%,
due 07/01/32
    1,000,000       1,097,986  
2003-116 Class JC, 5.00%,
due 05/01/30
    1,000,000       1,022,500  
Pool # 1512, 7.50%,
due 12/01/23
    7,803       8,967  
Pool # 2631, 7.00%,
due 08/01/28
    13,032       14,870  
Pool # 2658, 6.50%,
due 10/01/28
    21,567       24,406  
Pool # 2701, 6.50%,
due 01/01/29
    28,418       32,160  
Pool # 2796, 7.00%,
due 08/01/29
    21,141       24,134  
Pool # 3039, 6.50%,
due 02/01/31
    7,541       8,534  
Pool # 3040, 7.00%,
due 02/01/31
    14,084       16,092  
Pool # 3188, 6.50%,
due 01/01/32
    44,501       50,347  
Pool # 3239, 6.50%,
due 05/01/32
    40,412       45,721  
Pool # 3261, 6.50%,
due 07/01/32
    84,115       95,166  
Pool # 3320, 5.50%,
due 12/01/32
    343,572       372,354  
Pool # 3333, 5.50%,
due 01/01/33
    287,399       311,377  
Pool # 3375, 5.50%,
due 04/01/33
    44,351       48,051  
Pool # 3390, 5.50%,
due 05/01/33
    195,442       211,748  
Pool # 3403, 5.50%,
due 06/01/33
    332,005       359,704  
Pool # 3458, 5.00%,
due 10/01/33
    337,433       361,171  
Pool # 3499, 5.00%,
due 01/01/34
    469,476       501,984  
Pool # 3556, 5.50%,
due 05/01/34
    478,494       517,649  
Pool # 3623, 5.00%,
due 10/01/34
    772,407       825,891  
Pool # 22630, 6.50%,
due 08/01/28
    11,704       13,245  
Pool # 276337, 10.00%,
due 08/01/19
    3,091       3,597  
Pool # 643816, 6.00%,
due 07/01/25
    673,055       743,467  
Pool # 704189, 5.50%,
due 01/01/39
    509,466       551,176  
Pool # 782604, 5.50%,
due 03/01/39
    979,651       1,059,855  
                 
              8,322,152  
                 
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $15,427,284)
            16,604,257  
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (15.43%)
 
COMMERCIAL PAPER (8.20%)
NON-DEPOSITORY CREDIT INSTITUTIONS (6.47%)
Citigroup, due 01/14/11
    1,000,000       999,906  
Citigroup, due 01/31/11
    750,000       749,844  
General Electric Capital Corp., 0.15%, due 01/19/11
    1,000,000       1,000,000  
General Electric Capital Corp., 0.17%, due 01/27/11
    1,000,000       1,000,000  
                 
              3,749,750  
 
PETROLEUM & COAL PRODUCTS (1.73%)
Chevron Corp., 0.16%,
due 01/25/11
    1,000,000       1,000,000  
                 
Total Commercial Paper
(Cost $4,749,750)
            4,749,750  
                 
                 
 
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (6.90%)
Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/07/11
    750,000       749,985  
Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/21/11
    1,000,000       999,939  
Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/28/11
    750,000       749,921  
Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 01/07/11
    500,000       499,993  
Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 01/12/11
    1,000,000       999,969  
                 
Total United States Government Agencies
(Cost $3,999,807)
            3,999,807  
                 

21


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
HIGH GRADE BOND PORTFOLIO (continued)
 
                 
    Shares
       
    Held     Value  
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (continued)
 
MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUND (0.33%)
JPMorgan U.S. Treasury Plus
Money Market Fund
(Cost $193,599)
    193,599     $ 193,599  
                 
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $8,943,156)
            8,943,156  
                 
Total Investments (99.31%)
(Cost $55,604,540)
            57,541,414  
 
OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (0.69%)
Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities
            397,369  
                 
Total Net Assets (100.00%)
          $ 57,938,783  
                 
 
(1) Restricted securities:
PNC Preferred FD, was purchased at 100.000 on 11/29/06. As of 12/31/10, the carrying value of each unit was 79.462, representing $1,191,927 or 2.06% of total net assets.
 
See accompanying notes.

22


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
STRATEGIC YIELD PORTFOLIO
December 31, 2010
                 
    Shares
       
    Held     Value  
 
PREFERRED STOCKS (2.01%)
 
DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS
Sovereign Capital Trust V, 7.75%
(Cost $800,000)
    32,000     $ 811,200  
                 
    Principal
       
    Amount        
 
CORPORATE BONDS (78.43%)
 
APPAREL AND ACCESSORY STORES (3.45%)
Woolworth (FW) Corp.,
8.50%, due 01/15/22
  $ 1,400,000       1,393,000  
                 
                 
 
CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (4.22%)
Lubrizol Corp. (The),
8.875%, due 02/01/19
    750,000       955,380  
NOVA Chemicals Corp.,
7.875%, due 09/15/25
    800,000       748,600  
                 
              1,703,980  
 
COMMUNICATIONS (2.50%)
Time Warner Inc.,
8.375%, due 03/15/23
    800,000       1,010,256  
                 
                 
 
DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (2.95%)
PNC Preferred FD, 144A,
6.517%, due 12/31/49 (1)
    1,500,000       1,191,927  
                 
                 
 
ELECTRIC, GAS AND SANITARY SERVICES (14.31%)
Avista Corp,
5.95%, due 06/01/18
    1,400,000       1,511,678  
Bruce Mansfield Unit 1,
6.85%, due 06/01/34
    1,471,660       1,561,622  
Entergy Gulf States Inc.,
6.18%, due 03/01/35
    1,700,000       1,601,468  
South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., 6.50%, due 11/01/18
    800,000       953,224  
Waterford 3 Nuclear Power Plant, 8.09%, due 01/02/17
    151,622       152,572  
                 
              5,780,564  
 
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS (3.61%)
Valmont Industries, Inc.,
6.625%, due 04/20/20
    1,400,000       1,458,422  
                 
                 
 
FOOD STORES (3.35%)
Safeway Inc.,
7.45%, due 09/15/27
    1,200,000       1,351,422  
                 
                 
 
FURNITURE AND FIXTURES (3.29%)
Steelcase Inc.,
6.50%, due 08/15/11
    1,300,000       1,330,641  
                 
                 
 
HOLDING AND OTHER INVESTMENT OFFICES (15.52%)
CommonWealth REIT,
6.25%, due 08/15/16
    1,075,000       1,128,331  
First Industrial, L.P.,
7.60%, due 07/15/28
    700,000       607,250  
First Industrial, L.P.,
7.75%, due 04/15/32
    500,000       418,715  
Hospitality Properties Trust,
6.75%, due 02/15/13
    1,300,000       1,361,594  
iStar Financial Inc.-Series B,
5.70%, due 03/01/14
    1,171,000       1,054,485  
Realty Income Corp.,
6.75%, due 08/15/19
    1,500,000       1,699,395  
                 
              6,269,770  
 
INSURANCE CARRIERS (1.54%)
PXRE Capital Trust,
8.85%, due 02/01/27
    670,000       623,100  
 
METAL MINING (2.75%)
Freeport McMoRan Copper &
Gold Inc.,
8.375%, due 04/01/17
    1,000,000       1,109,690  
                 
                 
 
OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION (4.48%)
Nabors Industries, Inc.,
9.25%, due 01/15/19
    700,000       867,951  
Sabine Pass LNG, L.P.,
7.50%, due 11/30/16
    1,000,000       942,890  
                 
              1,810,841  
 
PAPER AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (2.96%)
International Paper Co.,
7.95%, due 06/15/18
    1,000,000       1,193,770  
                 
                 
 
PIPELINES (4.58%)
NuStar Logistics, L.P.,
7.65%, due 04/15/18
    1,600,000       1,849,376  
                 
                 
 
STONE, CLAY, GLASS AND CONCRETE PRODUCTS (1.75%)
Owens Corning,
9.00%, due 06/15/19
    600,000       708,186  
                 
                 
 
TRANSPORTATION — BY AIR (2.11%)
Continental Airlines, Inc. Pass- Through Certificates 1997-1 Class 1A, 7.461%, due 10/01/16
    822,006       853,826  
                 
                 
 
WATER TRANSPORTATION (5.06%)
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc., 8.75%, due 12/01/13
    1,100,000       1,187,439  
Windsor Petroleum Transportation, 144A, 7.84%, due 01/15/21 (1)
    976,077       855,190  
                 
              2,042,629  
                 
Total Corporate Bonds
(Cost $30,510,039)
            31,681,400  


23


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
STRATEGIC YIELD PORTFOLIO (continued)
 
                 
    Principal
       
    Amount     Value  
 
 
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (10.39%)
FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION (FHLMC) (7.03%)
3023 Class TG,
5.50%, due 08/01/35
  $ 354,916     $ 356,499  
3051 Class MY,
5.50%, due 10/01/25
    1,000,000       1,074,820  
Pool # A53146,
5.50%, due 10/01/36
    223,267       238,661  
Pool # A69436,
6.00%, due 12/01/37
    471,616       511,534  
Pool # G02648,
5.50%, due 12/01/36
    613,665       655,975  
                 
              2,837,489  
 
FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (FNMA) (3.36%)
Pool # 256103,
5.50%, due 02/01/26
    372,970       401,346  
Pool # 897144,
6.00%, due 09/01/36
    321,251       350,226  
Pool # 928570,
6.00%, due 08/01/37
    557,654       606,907  
                 
              1,358,479  
                 
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $3,888,261)
            4,195,968  
                 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (7.77%)
               
 
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (6.19%)
Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 02/25/11
    750,000       749,897  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
due 01/10/11
    750,000       749,981  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
due 01/18/11
    1,000,000       999,939  
                 
Total United States Government Agencies
(Cost $2,449,817)
            2,499,817  
                 
    Shares
       
    Held        
 
 
MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUND (1.58%)
JPMorgan U.S. Treasury Plus
Money Market Fund
(Cost $639,959)
    639,959       639,959  
                 
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $3,139,776)
            3,139,776  
                 
Total Investments (98.60%)
(Cost $38,338,076)
            39,828,344  
 
OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (1.40%)
Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities
            566,441  
                 
Total Net Assets (100.00%)
          $ 40,394,785  
                 
 
(1) Restricted securities:
 
PNC Preferred FD, was purchased at 100.000 on 11/29/2006. As of 12/31/10, the carrying value of each unit was 79.462, representing $1,191,927 or 2.95% of total net assets.
 
Windsor Petroleum Transportation was purchased at 80.500 on 08/26/99. As of 12/31/10, the carrying value of each unit was 87.615 representing $855,190 or 2.12% of total net assets.
 
As of 12/31/10, the carrying value of all restricted securities was $2,047,117 or 5.07% of total net assets.
 
 
See accompanying notes.

24


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
MANAGED PORTFOLIO
December 31, 2010
                 
    Shares
       
    Held     Value  
 
COMMON STOCKS (77.69%)
 
AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS AND GASOLINE SERVICE STATIONS (1.70%)
AutoZone, Inc. (1)
    2,700     $ 735,993  
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (1)
    10,600       640,452  
                 
              1,376,445  
 
BUSINESS SERVICES (3.97%)
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. 
    11,300       522,964  
eBay Inc. (1)
    8,900       247,687  
Microsoft Corp. 
    59,400       1,658,448  
Oracle Corp. 
    24,830       777,179  
                 
              3,206,278  
 
CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (10.31%)
Abbott Laboratories
    17,500       838,425  
Amgen Inc. (1)
    3,900       214,110  
Colgate-Palmolive Co. 
    4,330       348,002  
Dow Chemical Co. (The)
    13,965       476,765  
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. 
    22,875       1,141,005  
Johnson & Johnson
    26,912       1,664,507  
Merck & Co., Inc. 
    9,054       326,306  
Mylan Inc. (1)
    19,050       402,526  
Pfizer Inc. 
    67,084       1,174,641  
Procter & Gamble Co. (The)
    18,005       1,158,262  
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. 
    11,399       594,230  
                 
              8,338,779  
 
COMMUNICATIONS (1.80%)
AT&T Inc. 
    12,600       370,188  
Comcast Corp.-Class A
    13,590       298,572  
Frontier Communications Corp. 
    4,962       48,280  
Verizon Communications Inc. 
    20,675       739,751  
                 
              1,456,791  
 
DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (3.55%)
Bank of America Corp. 
    17,202       229,475  
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)
    12,108       365,662  
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 
    10,400       441,168  
New York Community Bancorp, Inc. 
    44,834       845,121  
Northern Trust Corp. 
    10,625       588,731  
U.S. Bancorp
    12,895       347,778  
Wells Fargo & Co. 
    1,658       51,381  
                 
              2,869,316  
 
ELECTRIC, GAS AND SANITARY SERVICES (6.01%)
Atmos Energy Corp. 
    22,952       716,102  
Integrys Energy Group, Inc. 
    14,304       693,887  
Pepco Holdings, Inc. 
    17,790       324,668  
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. 
    24,200       1,003,090  
Tortoise Energy Capital Corp. 
    56,038       1,556,175  
Waste Management, Inc. 
    15,400       567,798  
                 
              4,861,720  
 
ELECTRONIC AND OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (4.86%)
Cisco Systems, Inc. (1)
    35,830       724,841  
General Electric Co. 
    106,965       1,956,390  
Helen of Troy Ltd. (1)
    12,334       366,813  
Intel Corp. 
    42,000       883,260  
                 
              3,931,304  
 
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS (0.67%)
Illinois Tool Works Inc. 
    10,155       542,277  
 
FOOD AND KINDRED PRODUCTS (3.58%)
Campbell Soup Co. 
    10,400       361,400  
Coca-Cola Co. (The)
    10,380       682,693  
Diageo plc
    7,200       535,176  
Kraft Foods Inc. 
    15,399       485,222  
PepsiCo, Inc. 
    12,650       826,424  
                 
              2,890,915  
 
GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORES (1.71%)
Target Corp. 
    4,760       286,219  
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 
    20,290       1,094,240  
                 
              1,380,459  
 
HOLDING AND OTHER INVESTMENT OFFICES (0.68%)
H&Q Life Sciences Investors
    22,351       240,722  
Redwood Trust, Inc. 
    20,900       312,037  
                 
              552,759  
 
INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT (5.60%)
3M Co. 
    6,535       563,970  
Apple Inc. (1)
    4,400       1,419,264  
Baker Hughes Inc. 
    8,700       497,379  
EMC Corp. (1)
    36,800       842,720  
Hewlett-Packard Co. 
    5,460       229,866  
Ingersoll-Rand plc
    20,634       971,655  
                 
              4,524,854  
 
INSTRUMENTS AND RELATED PRODUCTS (0.99%)
Becton, Dickinson and Co. 
    6,235       526,982  
Stryker Corp. 
    5,140       276,018  
                 
              803,000  
 
INSURANCE AGENTS, BROKERS AND SERVICE (0.63%)
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 
    17,455       507,591  
 
INSURANCE CARRIERS (6.02%)
Allstate Corp. (The)
    7,140       227,623  
CNO Financial Group, Inc. (1)
    75,000       508,500  
EMC Insurance Group Inc. 
    43,593       986,946  
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)
    16,600       439,734  
Kansas City Life Insurance Co. 
    14,300       472,329  
Lincoln National Corp. 
    16,700       464,427  
MetLife, Inc. 
    11,370       505,283  
Old Republic International Corp. 
    31,100       423,893  
Protective Life Corp. 
    31,400       836,496  
                 
              4,865,231  
 
LEGAL SERVICES (0.43%)
FTI Consulting, Inc. (1)
    9,300       346,704  
                 
                 
                 


25


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
MANAGED PORTFOLIO (continued)
 
                 
    Shares
       
    Held     Value  
 
COMMON STOCKS (continued)
 
METAL MINING (5.14%)
Barrick Gold Corp. 
    57,916     $ 3,079,973  
Newmont Mining Corp. 
    17,500       1,075,025  
                 
              4,154,998  
 
MISCELLANEOUS RETAIL (1.52%)
Cash America International, Inc. 
    12,800       472,704  
EZCORP, Inc. (1)
    28,000       759,640  
                 
              1,232,344  
 
MOTOR FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION AND WAREHOUSING (0.60%)
United Parcel Service, Inc.-Class B
    6,720       487,738  
 
OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION (5.83%)
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. 
    13,700       1,043,392  
Apache Corp. 
    3,400       405,382  
Devon Energy Corp. 
    6,400       502,464  
Occidental Petroleum Corp. 
    22,250       2,182,725  
Rowan Companies, Inc. (1)
    16,700       582,997  
                 
              4,716,960  
 
PAPER AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (0.48%)
Kimberly-Clark Corp. 
    6,115       385,490  
 
PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS (2.32%)
ConocoPhillips
    17,170       1,169,277  
Exxon Mobil Corp. 
    6,100       446,032  
Valero Energy Corp. 
    11,100       256,632  
                 
              1,871,941  
PIPELINES (2.75%)
               
Kinder Morgan Management, LLC (1)
    33,193       2,219,948  
 
RETAIL-DRUG STORES AND PROPRIETARY STORES (0.31%)
Walgreen Co. 
    6,360       247,786  
 
SECURITY AND COMMODITY BROKERS (1.12%)
BGC Partners, Inc.-Class A
    108,505       901,677  
 
SERVICES-ENGINEERING, ACCOUNTING, RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT (0.84%)
Quest Diagnostics Inc. 
    12,600       680,022  
 
TOBACCO PRODUCTS (0.71%)
Philip Morris International Inc. 
    9,835       575,643  
 
TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT (2.94%)
Federal Signal Corp. 
    36,400       249,704  
Genuine Parts Co. 
    13,600       698,224  
Honeywell International Inc. 
    16,905       898,670  
ITT Corp. 
    10,190       531,001  
                 
              2,377,599  
WHOLESALE TRADE — NONDURABLE GOODS (0.62%)
               
Sysco Corp. 
    17,085       502,299  
                 
Total Common Stocks
(Cost $50,910,082)
            62,808,868  
                 
    Principal
       
    Amount        
 
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (20.81%)
         
GOVERNMENT NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (GNMA)
       
2003-1 Class PE, 5.50%,
due 07/01/32
  $ 2,250,000       2,470,469  
2003-11 Class QC, 5.50%,
due 02/01/33
    2,500,000       2,739,860  
2003-71 Class AK, 5.00%,
due 09/01/29
    403,551       408,397  
2003-116 Class JC, 5.00%,
due 05/01/30
    1,560,000       1,595,100  
2004-22 Class BK, 3.47%,
due 04/01/34
    19,931       19,974  
2004-26 Class GC, 5.00%,
due 06/01/31
    1,248,039       1,304,775  
2004-72 Class DE, 5.00%,
due 07/01/32
    500,000       531,966  
2004-76 Class VG, 5.00%,
due 09/01/23
    594,633       600,293  
2004-89 Class KC, 4.00%,
due 10/01/34
    200,305       206,311  
2004-105 Class VE, 5.50%,
due 05/01/24
    2,000,000       2,201,762  
2004-109 Class WE, 5.00%,
due 05/01/33
    780,000       833,950  
2005-44 Class KC, 5.00%
due 04/01/31
    833,914       858,247  
2005-80 Class VC, 5.00%,
due 05/01/29
    1,000,000       1,075,844  
2006-38 Class OG, 5.00%,
due 06/01/36
    1,448,667       1,545,790  
Pool #2796, 7.00%,
due 08/01/29
    31,712       36,201  
Pool #3040, 7.00%,
due 02/01/31
    17,606       20,115  
Pool #3188, 6.50%,
due 01/01/32
    44,501       50,347  
Pool #3239, 6.50%,
due 05/01/32
    67,681       76,572  
Pool #3333, 5.50%,
due 01/01/33
    125,737       136,227  
Pool #3403, 5.50%,
due 06/01/33
    104,659       113,391  
                 
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $15,418,733)
            16,825,591  
                 
                 
                 

26


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
MANAGED PORTFOLIO (continued)
 
                 
    Principal
       
    Amount     Value  
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (1.39%)
 
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (0.87%)
Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/07/11
  $ 700,000     $ 699,986  
                 
Total United States Government Agencies
(Cost $699,986)
            699,986  
                 
    Shares
       
    Held        
 
 
MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUND (0.52%)
JPMorgan U.S. Treasury Plus
               
Money Market Fund
(Cost $422,441)
    422,441       422,441  
                 
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $1,122,427)
            1,122,427  
                 
Total Investments (99.89%)
(Cost $67,451,242)
            80,756,886  
 
OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (0.11%)
Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities
            88,024  
                 
Total Net Assets (100.00%)
          $ 80,844,910  
                 
 
(1) Non-income producing securities.
 
See accompanying notes.

27


Table of Contents

EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
December 31, 2010
 
                         
    Annualized
             
    Yield on
             
    Purchase
    Principal
       
    Date     Amount     Value  
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (97.06%)
                       
COMMERCIAL PAPER (9.71%)
                       
NON-DEPOSITORY CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
                       
Citigroup, due 01/31/11
    0.250 %   $ 500,000     $ 499,896  
General Electric Capital Corp., due 01/05/11
    0.150       500,000       500,000  
                         
Total Commercial Paper (Cost $999,896)
                    999,896  
                         
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (74.73%)
                       
Federal Farm Credit Bank, due 03/30/11
    0.132       300,000       299,905  
Federal Home Loan Bank, due 01/07/11
    0.101       300,000       299,995  
Federal Home Loan Bank, due 01/19/11
    0.132       325,000       324,979  
Federal Home Loan Bank, due 02/04/11
    0.132       375,000       374,954  
Federal Home Loan Bank, due 02/09/11
    0.122       400,000       399,948  
Federal Home Loan Bank, due 02/23/11
    0.152       450,000       449,901  
Federal Home Loan Bank, due 03/04/11
    0.142       275,000       274,934  
Federal Home Loan Bank, due 03/16/11
    0.142       300,000       299,914  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 01/10/11
    0.142       300,000       299,990  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 01/11/11
    0.132       450,000       449,984  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 01/24/11
    0.142       425,000       424,962  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 02/07/11
    0.122       475,000       474,941  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 02/14/11
    0.142       400,000       399,931  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 02/22/11
    0.147       425,000       424,911  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 03/21/11
    0.132       600,000       599,829  
Federal National Mortgage Assoc., due 01/12/11
    0.122       525,000       524,981  
Federal National Mortgage Assoc., due 01/18/11
    0.132       250,000       249,984  
Federal National Mortgage Assoc., due 02/02/11
    0.142       425,000       424,947  
Federal National Mortgage Assoc., due 02/16/11
    0.122       400,000       399,938  
Federal National Mortgage Assoc., due 02/28/11
    0.132       300,000       299,937  
                         
Total United States Government Agencies (Cost $7,698,865)
                    7,698,865  
UNITED STATES TREASURY OBLIGATIONS (12.62%)
                       
U.S. Treasury Bills, due 01/27/11
    0.117       400,000       399,967  
U.S. Treasury Bills, due 02/03/11
    0.081       500,000       499,963  
U.S. Treasury Bills, due 02/17/11
    0.101       400,000       399,947  
                         
Total United States Treasury Obligations (Cost $1,299,877)
                    1,299,877  
                         
                         
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $9,998,638)
                    9,998,638  
                         
OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (2.94%)
                       
Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities
                    302,684  
                         
Total Net Assets (100.00%)
                  $ 10,301,322  
                         
 
See accompanying notes.


28


Table of Contents

EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
BLUE CHIP PORTFOLIO
December 31, 2010
                 
    Shares
       
    Held     Value  
 
COMMON STOCKS (94.37%)
               
BUSINESS SERVICES (5.77%)
               
Microsoft Corp. 
    91,883     $ 2,565,373  
Oracle Corp. 
    57,149       1,788,764  
                 
              4,354,137  
 
CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (16.63%)
Abbott Laboratories
    24,755       1,186,012  
Amgen Inc. (1)
    17,835       979,142  
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 
    41,053       1,087,083  
Colgate-Palmolive Co. 
    6,950       558,572  
Dow Chemical Co. (The)
    10,505       358,641  
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. 
    15,756       785,909  
Eli Lilly and Co. 
    17,662       618,876  
Johnson & Johnson
    42,710       2,641,614  
Merck & Co., Inc. 
    31,708       1,142,756  
Pfizer Inc. 
    44,377       777,041  
Procter & Gamble Co. (The)
    37,642       2,421,510  
                 
              12,557,156  
 
COMMUNICATIONS (4.05%)
AT&T Inc. 
    34,855       1,024,040  
Comcast Corp.-Class A
    33,054       726,196  
Verizon Communications Inc. 
    36,562       1,308,188  
                 
              3,058,424  
 
DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (5.52%)
Bank of America Corp. 
    45,666       609,184  
Citigroup Inc. (1)
    48,341       228,653  
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 
    46,325       1,965,107  
Wells Fargo & Co. 
    44,074       1,365,853  
                 
              4,168,797  
 
EATING AND DRINKING PLACES (4.52%)
McDonald’s Corp. 
    44,467       3,413,287  
                 
                 
 
ELECTRIC, GAS AND SANITARY SERVICES (2.40%)
Exelon Corp. 
    24,105       1,003,732  
Southern Co. (The)
    21,215       811,049  
                 
              1,814,781  
 
ELECTRONIC AND OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (5.21%)
General Electric Co. 
    84,256       1,541,042  
Intel Corp. 
    57,041       1,199,572  
Motorola, Inc. (1)
    37,189       337,304  
Texas Instruments Inc. 
    26,461       859,983  
                 
              3,937,901  
 
FOOD AND KINDRED PRODUCTS (5.12%)
Coca-Cola Co. (The)
    31,034       2,041,106  
Kraft Foods Inc. 
    26,424       832,620  
PepsiCo, Inc. 
    15,208       993,539  
                 
              3,867,265  
 
GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORES (3.93%)
Target Corp. 
    11,900       715,547  
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 
    41,773       2,252,818  
                 
              2,968,365  
 
INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT (13.45%)
3M Co. 
    17,453       1,506,194  
Applied Materials, Inc. 
    23,520       330,456  
Caterpillar Inc. 
    21,144       1,980,347  
Cisco Systems, Inc. (1)
    61,023       1,234,495  
Dell Inc. (1)
    30,585       414,427  
EMC Corp. (1)
    37,308       854,353  
Hewlett-Packard Co. 
    40,454       1,703,113  
International Business Machines Corp. 
    14,526       2,131,836  
                 
              10,155,221  
 
LUMBER AND WOOD PRODUCTS (0.38%)
Weyerhaeuser Co. 
    15,320       290,008  
 
MOTION PICTURES (2.50%)
Time Warner Inc. 
    16,497       530,709  
Walt Disney Co. (The)
    36,092       1,353,811  
                 
              1,884,520  
 
NON-DEPOSITORY CREDIT INSTITUTIONS (3.11%)
American Express Co. 
    54,692       2,347,381  
 
PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS (11.44%)
Chevron Corp. 
    38,610       3,523,163  
Exxon Mobil Corp. 
    69,936       5,113,720  
                 
              8,636,883  
 
PRIMARY METAL INDUSTRIES (0.62%)
Alcoa Inc. 
    30,278       465,978  
 
SECURITY AND COMMODITY BROKERS (0.79%)
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. 
    10,349       595,585  
 
TOBACCO PRODUCTS (3.11%)
Altria Group, Inc. 
    38,185       940,115  
Philip Morris International Inc. 
    24,085       1,409,695  
                 
              2,349,810  
 
TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT (5.82%)
Boeing Co. (The)
    26,912       1,756,277  
Honeywell International Inc. 
    20,054       1,066,071  
United Technologies Corp. 
    20,007       1,574,951  
                 
              4,397,299  
                 
Total Common Stocks
(Cost $56,635,960)
            71,262,798  
                 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (5.58%)
               
 
MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUND (0.56%)
JPMorgan U.S. Treasury Plus
               
Money Market Fund
(Cost $426,567)
    426,567       426,567  
                 
    Principal
       
    Amount        
 
 
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (5.02%)
Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/21/11
  $ 1,000,000       999,939  
Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/28/11
    500,000       499,955  
Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 02/11/11
    788,000       787,910  
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
due 01/10/11
    750,000       749,981  


29


Table of Contents

 
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
BLUE CHIP PORTFOLIO (continued)
 
                 
    Principal
       
    Amount     Value  
 
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (continued)
               
Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 02/15/11
  $ 750,000     $ 749,888  
Total United States Government Agencies (Cost $3,787,673)
            3,787,673  
Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $4,214,240)
            4,214,240  
                 
Total Investments (99.95%)
(Cost $60,850,200)
            75,477,038  
 
OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (0.05%)
Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities
            38,162  
                 
Total Net Assets (100.00%)
          $ 75,515,200  
                 
 
(1) Non-income producing securities.
 
See accompanying notes.

30


Table of Contents

EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010
 
 
1.   Significant Accounting Policies
 
Organization
 
EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund (the “Fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a no-load, open-end diversified management investment company, or mutual fund. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value. The Fund currently consists of six portfolios (known as the Value Growth, High Grade Bond, Strategic Yield, Managed, Money Market and Blue Chip Portfolios). The Fund offers Initial Class (IC) and Service Class (SC) shares. The Fund began offering SC shares on June 1, 2008. Shares of the Fund are sold only to certain life insurance companies’ separate accounts to fund the benefits under variable insurance contracts issued by such life insurance companies, including Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and EquiTrust Life Insurance Company (see Note 3).
 
 
SC shares are charged distribution fees while IC shares are not. The shares of each Portfolio have equal rights and privileges with all other shares of that Portfolio, except SC shares have separate and exclusive voting rights with respect to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan. Each share of a Portfolio represents an equal proportionate interest in that Portfolio with each other share, subject to any preferences (such as resulting from Rule 12b-1 distribution fees with respect to the SC shares). In addition, the Board of Trustees of the Fund declares separate dividends on each class of shares.
 
The Fund allocates daily all income, expenses (other than distribution fees which are only charged to SC shares), and realized and unrealized gains or losses to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of the value of shares outstanding of each class. Expenses not directly attributed to a Portfolio are apportioned among each of the Portfolios based upon the relative value of each Portfolio. Expenses specifically attributable to a particular class are charged directly to such class.
 
Security Valuation
 
All Portfolios, other than the Money Market Portfolio, value their investment securities that are traded on any national exchange at the last sale price on the day of valuation or, lacking any sales, at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Investments traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices or yield equivalent. In situations where market quotations are not readily available or quoted market prices are not reliable, investments are valued at fair value in accordance with the procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Short-term investments are valued at market value, except that obligations maturing in one year or less are valued using the amortized cost method of valuation described below with respect to the Money Market Portfolio, which approximates market value.
 
The Money Market Portfolio values investments at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Under the amortized cost method, a security is valued at its cost on the date of purchase and thereafter is adjusted to reflect a constant amortization to maturity of the difference between the principal amount due at maturity and the cost of the investment to the Portfolio.
 
Income and Investment Transactions
 
For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. The identified cost basis has been used in determining the net realized gain or loss from investment transactions and unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest is recognized on an accrual basis. Discounts and premiums on investments purchased are amortized over the life of the respective investments.
 
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
 
On each day that the net asset value per share is calculated in the High Grade Bond and Strategic Yield Portfolios, that Portfolio’s net investment income will be declared, as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange, as a dividend to shareholders of record prior to the declaration. With respect to the Money Market Portfolio, each day the net asset value per share is calculated, net investment income and any realized gains and losses from investment transactions will be declared, as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange, as a dividend to shareholders of record prior to the declaration. With respect to the High Grade Bond and Strategic Yield Portfolios, any net short-term and long-term gains will be declared and distributed periodically, but in no event less frequently than annually. Dividends and distributions of the other Portfolios are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized gain from investments are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These differences are primarily due to differing treatments for


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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
 
1.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
 
certain basis adjustments resulting from taxable mergers. Permanent book and tax basis differences are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification.
 
Dividends and distributions which exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes are reported as return of capital distributions.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Indemnifications
 
Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its present and past officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. At the discretion of the Board of Trustees, employees and agents may also be indemnified. In addition, in the normal course of business the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
On January 21, 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, which amends FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, and requires additional disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Specifically, the amendment requires reporting entities to disclose i) the input and valuation techniques used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements, for Level 2 or Level 3 positions ii) transfers between all levels (including Level 1 and Level 2) will be required to be disclosed on a gross basis (i.e. transfers out must be disclosed separately from transfers in) as well as the reason(s) for the transfer and iii) purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements must be shown on a gross basis in the Level 3 rollforward rather than as one net number. The effective date of the amendment is for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2009; however, the requirement to provide the Level 3 activity for purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basis will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2010. The Fund has adopted the disclosures required by this amendment, which did not have a material impact on the financial statements.
 
2.   Federal Income Taxes
 
No provision for federal income taxes is considered necessary because the Fund is qualified as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and intends to distribute each year substantially all of its net investment income and realized capital gains to shareholders. Management of the Fund has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. Generally, the tax authorities can examine all tax returns filed for open tax years (December 31, 2007 through December 31, 2010).
 
As of December 31, 2010, the following Portfolios had approximate net capital loss carryforwards set forth below:
 
                                         
    Portfolio  
    Value
    High
    Strategic
          Blue
 
Net Capital Loss Carryforwards Expire In:
  Growth     Grade     Yield     Managed     Chip  
 
2011
  $     $     $ 571,000     $     $ 1,970,000  
2012
                            556,000  
2013
                            60,000  
2016
    1,128,000             1,000       95,000       1,902,000  
2017
    3,142,000             1,929,000       4,592,000       790,000  
2018
          33,000                    
                                         
    $ 4,270,000     $ 33,000     $ 2,501,000     $ 4,687,000     $ 5,278,000  
                                         


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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
 
2.   Federal Income Taxes (continued)
 
For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Value Growth, Strategic Yield, Managed and Blue Chip Portfolios utilized approximately $254,000, $29,000, $1,000 and $1,980,000, respectively, and Strategic Yield expired approximately $1,466,000, of capital loss carryforwards. The RIC Modernization Act removed the expiration date for capital losses generated in 2011 and years thereafter.
 
As of December 31, 2010, there were no post-October capital losses to defer to 2011.
 
The tax character of distributions for the years indicated were as follows:
 
                                 
    Year Ended December 31,
    Year Ended December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
    Ordinary
    Ordinary
    Long-Term
    Return of
 
Portfolio
  Income     Income     Capital Gains     Capital  
 
Value Growth
  $ 705,060     $ 953,656     $     $  
High Grade Bond
    2,133,237       2,180,873       182,152       3,247  
Strategic Yield
    2,258,268       2,350,027             2,433  
Managed*
    1,902,815       2,336,485              
Money Market
    13,067       15,235              
Blue Chip
    1,601,198       1,951,148              
 
 
* Managed Portfolio will pay a deficiency dividend in February 2011 to distribute an additional $189,584 of ordinary income related to the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
Distributions of short-term capital gain are treated as ordinary income distributions for tax purposes.
 
As of December 31, 2010, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) and capital gains (losses) on a tax basis were identical to those reported in the statements of assets and liabilities, except as follows:
 
                         
    Portfolio  
          Strategic
       
    Value Growth     Yield     Managed*  
 
Undistributed ordinary income
  $ 635,080     $ 7,750     $ 1,960,936  
Accumulated capital losses
    (4,269,932 )     (2,501,206 )     (4,686,747 )
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments
    7,387,384       1,490,268       13,326,424  
Other timing differences
          (7,750 )      
                         
Total accumulated earnings (deficit)
  $ 3,752,532     $ (1,010,938 )   $ 10,600,613  
                         
 
 
* Managed Portfolio’s undistributed ordinary income includes $189,584 related to 2009 which will be distributed to shareholders via deficiency dividends in February 2011.
 
Differences between book and tax are primarily attributable to taxable spin-offs, mergers and corporate inversions.
 
3.   Management Contract and Transactions with Affiliates
 
 
The Fund has entered into agreements with EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. (“EquiTrust Investment”) relating to the management of the Portfolios and the investment of their assets. Pursuant to these agreements, fees paid to EquiTrust Investment are as follows: (1) annual investment advisory and management fees, which are based on each Portfolio’s average daily net assets as follows: Value Growth Portfolio — 0.45%; High Grade Bond Portfolio — 0.30%; Strategic Yield Portfolio — 0.45%; Managed Portfolio — 0.45%; Money Market Portfolio — 0.25% ; and Blue Chip Portfolio — 0.20%, and (2) accounting fees, which are based on each Portfolio’s daily net assets at an annual rate of 0.05%, with a maximum per portfolio annual expense of $30,000.
 
 
The Fund has entered into agreements with EquiTrust Investment whereby EquiTrust Investment also serves as the Fund’s shareholder service, transfer and dividend disbursing agent. EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC serves as the principal underwriter


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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
 
3.   Management Contract and Transactions with Affiliates (continued)
 
and distributor. Pursuant to these agreements, SC pays a 12b-1 distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net asset value attributable to the class of shares. There are no other fees paid by the Fund associated with these services.
 
 
EquiTrust Investment has agreed to reimburse the Portfolios annually for total expenses (excluding brokerage, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) in excess of 1.50% of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The amount reimbursed, however, shall not exceed the amount of the investment advisory and management fee paid by the Portfolio for such period. During the year ended December 31, 2010, EquiTrust Investment further agreed to reimburse any IC Portfolio, to the extent that annual operating expenses, including the investment advisory fee, exceed 0.65%. For the year ended December 31, 2010, no excess expense reimbursements were made to the Fund by EquiTrust Investment.
 
 
During the year ended December 31, 2010, EquiTrust Investment voluntarily waived various Portfolio and class level expenses in the Money Market IC and SC Portfolio. These voluntary waivers may be revoked at any time. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the voluntary waiver amounts were as follows:
 
                 
    Money Market Portfolio  
Fees
  IC     SC  
 
Investment advisory and management fees
  $ 24,370     $ 2,298  
Distribution fees
          2,298  
Accounting fees
    4,874       460  
Custodian fees
    3,118       285  
Miscellaneous
    14,141       1,368  
 
Certain officers and trustees of the Fund are also officers of EquiTrust Investment, Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and other affiliated entities. As of December 31, 2010, the total number of the shares of each Portfolio owned by Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, EquiTrust Life Insurance Company and related separate accounts were as follows:
 
         
IC Portfolio
  Shares  
 
Value Growth
    3,891,613  
High Grade Bond
    3,528,053  
Strategic Yield
    3,506,425  
Managed
    4,818,817  
Money Market
    7,948,444  
Blue Chip
    1,937,839  
 
         
SC Portfolio
  Shares  
 
Value Growth
    51,053  
High Grade Bond
    896,609  
Strategic Yield
    112,792  
Managed
    95,471  
Money Market
    368,629  
Blue Chip
    102,199  
 
 
4.   Fair Value
 
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Portfolio’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels listed below:
 
  •   Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities on the measurement date


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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
 
4.   Fair Value (continued)
 
 
  •   Level 2 — Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices in active markets for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
 
  •   Level 3 — Significant unobservable inputs (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of the investments)
 
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, short-term investments are valued using amortized cost, in accordance with rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Generally, amortized cost approximates the current fair value of a security, but since the value is not obtained from a quoted price in an active market, such securities are reflected as Level 2.
 
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Portfolio’s net assets as of December 31, 2010:
 
                                                 
    Investments in Securities  
    Value
    High Grade
    Strategic
          Money
       
    Growth
    Bond
    Yield
    Managed
    Market
    Blue Chip
 
Valuation Inputs
  Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio     Portfolio  
 
Level 1 — Quoted Prices:
                                               
Common stocks*
  $ 54,037,476     $     $     $ 62,808,868     $     $ 71,262,798  
Preferred stocks*
                811,200                    
Money market mutual fund
    301,373       193,599       639,959       422,441             426,567  
Level 2 — Other Significant Observable Inputs:
                                               
Debt securities issued by US governement agencies*
    999,975       3,999,807       2,499,817       699,986       8,998,742       3,787,673  
Corporate debt securities*
          35,206,075       31,681,400             999,896        
Residential mortgage-backed securities*
          16,604,257       4,195,968       16,825,591              
Commercial mortgage-backed securities*
          1,537,676                          
Level 3 — Significant Unobservable Inputs
                                   
                                                 
Total
  $ 55,338,824     $ 57,541,414     $ 39,828,344     $ 80,756,886     $ 9,998,638     $ 75,477,038  
                                                 
 
 
* For further breakdown of securities by industry type, please refer to the Schedule of Investments.
 
During the year January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010, the Fund had no Level 3 positions and there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.
 
 
5.  Expense Offset Arrangements
 
The Fund and other mutual funds managed by EquiTrust Investment have an agreement with the custodian banks to indirectly pay a portion of the custodians’ fees through credits earned by each Portfolio’s cash on deposit with the bank. This deposit agreement is an alternative to overnight investments. Custodian fees have been adjusted to reflect amounts that would have been paid without this agreement, with a corresponding adjustment reflected as fees paid indirectly in the statements of operations.


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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
 
 
6.   Capital Share Transactions
 
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest for each Portfolio were as follows:
 
                                                                 
          Shares Issued In
             
          Reinvestment of
             
          Dividends and
          Net Increase
 
    Shares Sold     Distributions     Shares Redeemed     (Decrease)  
Portfolio
  Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  
 
Year ended December 31, 2010:
Value Growth IC
    92,713     $ 1,140,674       58,861     $ 701,627       479,745     $ 5,847,076       (328,171 )   $ (4,004,775 )
Value Growth SC
    21,336       266,574       280       3,405       8,013       98,004       13,603       171,975  
High Grade Bond IC
    425,605       4,443,928       168,947       1,766,213       709,756       7,396,078       (115,204 )     (1,185,937 )
High Grade Bond SC
    712,754       7,447,042       34,986       366,831       150,908       1,581,974       596,832       6,231,899  
Strategic Yield IC
    216,929       1,968,319       242,128       2,207,271       590,325       5,365,535       (131,268 )     (1,189,945 )
Strategic Yield SC
    36,833       332,575       5,557       50,715       16,139       147,019       26,251       236,271  
Managed IC
    128,569       1,793,246       140,225       1,881,816       724,411       10,048,854       (455,617 )     (6,373,792 )
Managed SC
    19,020       271,862       1,506       20,917       4,170       59,627       16,356       233,152  
Money Market IC
    14,017,756       14,017,756       10,340       10,340       15,766,355       15,766,355       (1,738,259 )     (1,738,259 )
Money Market SC
    11,734,831       11,734,831       1,190       1,190       11,530,182       11,530,182       205,839       205,839  
Blue Chip IC
    52,100       1,729,796       49,391       1,569,649       207,074       6,810,660       (105,583 )     (3,511,215 )
Blue Chip SC
    41,620       1,416,074       954       31,501       14,619       489,354       27,955       958,221  
Year ended December 31, 2009:
Value Growth IC
    164,824     $ 1,649,861       112,756     $ 952,784       498,527     $ 5,030,897       (220,947 )   $ (2,428,252 )
Value Growth SC
    32,904       335,438       99       855       11,364       111,533       21,639       224,760  
High Grade Bond IC
    664,177       6,394,763       222,806       2,165,053       872,651       8,412,488       14,332       147,328  
High Grade Bond SC
    458,663       4,479,473       20,556       200,980       128,588       1,231,600       350,631       3,448,853  
Strategic Yield IC
    228,470       1,834,089       292,069       2,325,728       954,143       7,425,518       (433,604 )     (3,265,701 )
Strategic Yield SC
    69,881       557,146       3,240       26,446       17,586       134,612       55,535       448,980  
Managed IC
    124,908       1,503,725       222,792       2,332,629       655,634       7,809,556       (307,934 )     (3,973,202 )
Managed SC
    43,327       519,917       356       3,835       23,719       292,087       19,964       231,665  
Money Market IC
    9,647,035       9,647,035       13,349       13,349       12,943,360       12,943,360       (3,282,976 )     (3,282,976 )
Money Market SC
    4,333,636       4,333,636       454       454       4,045,903       4,045,903       288,187       288,187  
Blue Chip IC
    102,005       2,740,177       83,105       1,945,486       218,619       6,086,776       (33,509 )     (1,401,113 )
Blue Chip SC
    54,656       1,591,763       234       5,639       5,697       158,615       49,193       1,438,787  
 
7.   Investment Transactions
 
For the year ended December 31, 2010, the cost of investment securities purchased and proceeds from investment securities sold (not including short-term investments and U.S. Government securities) by Portfolio, were as follows:
 
                 
Portfolio
  Purchases     Sales  
 
Value Growth
  $ 1,818,517     $ 4,468,626  
High Grade Bond
    10,097,746       1,205,981  
Strategic Yield
    2,984,972       920,924  
Managed
    836,248       2,402,566  
Blue Chip
    140,681       4,556,217  


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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
 
7.   Investment Transactions (continued)
 
The basis of the Fund’s investments in securities and the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments for U.S. federal income tax purposes as of December 31, 2010, by Portfolio, was composed of the following:
 
                                 
    Tax Cost of
                Net Unrealized
 
    Investments
    Gross Unrealized     Appreciation
 
Portfolio
  in Securities     Appreciation     Depreciation     of Investments  
 
Value Growth
  $ 47,951,440     $ 11,907,888     $ 4,520,504     $ 7,387,384  
High Grade Bond
    55,604,540       3,091,596       1,154,722       1,936,874  
Strategic Yield
    38,338,076       2,351,675       861,407       1,490,268  
Managed
    67,430,462       18,093,788       4,767,364       13,326,424  
Blue Chip
    60,850,200       24,816,561       10,189,723       14,626,838  
 
The basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes and financial reporting purposes for investments in the Money Market Portfolio is the same and is equal to the underlying investments’ carrying value.
 
8.   Subsequent Events
 
Management of the Fund performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued and determined that no items require recognition or disclosure.


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EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006
 
                                                         
          Income from Investment Operations     Less Distributions  
                Net Realized
                         
                and
                         
    Net Asset
    Net
    Unrealized
    Total
    Dividends
    Distributions
       
    Value at
    Invest-
    Gain
    from
    from Net
    from
       
    Beginning
    ment
    (Loss) on
    Investment
    Investment
    Capital
    Total
 
    of Period     Income     Investments     Operations     Income     Gains     Distributions  
 
Value Growth Portfolio
                                                       
Initial Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 12.10     $ 0.16     $ 1.55     $ 1.71     $ (0.16 )   $     $ (0.16 )
2009
    9.80       0.16       2.35       2.51       (0.21 )           (0.21 )
2008
    15.06       0.21       (4.53 )     (4.32 )     (0.33 )     (0.61 )     (0.94 )
2007
    15.09       0.33       0.43       0.76       (0.27 )     (0.52 )     (0.79 )
2006
    13.65       0.27       1.36       1.63       (0.19 )           (0.19 )
Service Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 12.29     $ 0.10     $ 1.62     $ 1.72     $ (0.08 )   $     $ (0.08 )
2009
    9.79       0.09       2.46       2.55       (0.05 )           (0.05 )
2008(3)
    13.97       0.05       (4.23 )     (4.18 )                  
High Grade Bond Portfolio
                                                       
Initial Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 10.07     $ 0.41     $ 0.40     $ 0.81     $ (0.41 )   $     $ (0.41 )
2009
    9.47       0.46       0.63       1.09       (0.46 )     (0.03 )     (0.49 )
2008
    10.12       0.49       (0.65 )     (0.16 )     (0.49 )           (0.49 )
2007
    10.12       0.53       0.01       0.54       (0.53 )     (0.01 )     (0.54 )
2006
    10.16       0.51       (0.04 )     0.47       (0.51 )           (0.51 )
Service Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 10.07     $ 0.38     $ 0.40     $ 0.78     $ (0.38 )   $     $ (0.38 )
2009
    9.47       0.44       0.63       1.07       (0.44 )     (0.03 )     (0.47 )
2008(3)
    9.87       0.27       (0.40 )     (0.13 )     (0.27 )           (0.27 )
Strategic Yield Portfolio
                                                       
Initial Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 8.71     $ 0.51     $ 0.43     $ 0.94     $ (0.51 )   $     $ (0.51 )
2009
    7.46       0.51       1.25       1.76       (0.51 )           (0.51 )
2008
    8.94       0.53       (1.48 )     (0.95 )     (0.53 )           (0.53 )
2007
    9.19       0.57       (0.25 )     0.32       (0.57 )           (0.57 )
2006
    9.14       0.55       0.05       0.60       (0.55 )           (0.55 )
Service Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 8.71     $ 0.48     $ 0.43     $ 0.91     $ (0.48 )   $     $ (0.48 )
2009
    7.46       0.49       1.25       1.74       (0.49 )           (0.49 )
2008(3)
    8.60       0.30       (1.14 )     (0.84 )     (0.30 )           (0.30 )
Managed Portfolio
                                                       
Initial Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 13.61     $ 0.38     $ 1.62     $ 2.00     $ (0.34 )   $     $ (0.34 )
2009
    11.93       0.34       1.74       2.08       (0.40 )           (0.40 )
2008
    16.05       0.40       (3.40 )     (3.00 )     (0.56 )     (0.56 )     (1.12 )
2007
    16.32       0.56       0.33       0.89       (0.46 )     (0.70 )     (1.16 )
2006
    15.80       0.49       1.28       1.77       (0.37 )     (0.88 )     (1.25 )
Service Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 13.99     $ 0.30     $ 1.74     $ 2.04     $ (0.25 )   $     $ (0.25 )
2009
    11.91       0.26       1.88       2.14       (0.06 )           (0.06 )
2008(3)
    14.99       0.06       (3.14 )     (3.08 )                  
Money Market Portfolio
                                                       
Initial Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 1.00     $ (2)   $     $     $     $     $  
2009
    1.00       (2)                              
2008
    1.00       0.02 (2)           0.02       (0.02 )           (0.02 )
2007
    1.00       0.05             0.05       (0.05 )           (0.05 )
2006
    1.00       0.04             0.04       (0.04 )           (0.04 )
Service Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 1.00     $ (2)   $     $     $     $     $  
2009
    1.00       (2)                              
2008(3)
    1.00       0.01 (2)           0.01       (0.01 )           (0.01 )
Blue Chip Portfolio
                                                       
Initial Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 32.82     $ 0.82     $ 2.79     $ 3.61     $ (0.75 )   $     $ (0.75 )
2009
    28.91       0.75       4.07       4.82       (0.91 )           (0.91 )
2008
    42.41       0.91       (13.55 )     (12.64 )     (0.86 )           (0.86 )
2007
    40.61       0.86       1.73       2.59       (0.79 )           (0.79 )
2006
    35.27       0.79       5.25       6.04       (0.70 )           (0.70 )
Service Class:
                                                       
2010
  $ 33.71     $ 0.65     $ 3.01     $ 3.66     $ (0.38 )   $     $ (0.38 )
2009
    28.87       0.38       4.64       5.02       (0.18 )           (0.18 )
2008(3)
    39.44       0.23       (10.80 )     (10.57 )                  


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                  Ratios/Supplemental Data  
                                    Ratio of
       
            Total
                      Net
       
      Net Asset
    Investment
          Ratio of
    Ratio of
    Investment
       
      Value at
    Return Based
    Net Assets at
    Total Expenses
    Net Expenses
    Income
    Portfolio
 
      End
    on Net Asset
    End of Period
    to Average
    to Average
    to Average
    Turnover
 
      of Period     Value(1)     (in thousands)     Net Assets(3)     Net Assets(3)     Net Assets(3)     Rate  
 
                                                             
                                                             
        $ 13.65       14.36 %   $ 54,637       0.60 %     0.60 %     1.22 %     4 %
          12.10       26.56 %     52,383       0.59 %     0.59 %     1.53 %     35 %
          9.80       (30.31 )%     44,595       0.58 %     0.58 %     1.62 %     24 %
          15.06       5.27 %     67,870       0.55 %     0.55 %     2.20 %     17 %
          15.09       12.07 %     65,712       0.58 %     0.58 %     1.88 %     30 %
                                                             
        $ 13.93       14.07 %   $ 722       0.86 %     0.86 %     0.99 %     4 %
          12.29       26.24 %     470       0.84 %     0.84 %     1.20 %     35 %
          9.79       (29.92 )%     163       0.84 %     0.84 %     1.70 %     24 %
                                                             
                                                             
        $ 10.47       8.10 %   $ 44,929       0.45 %     0.45 %     3.96 %     13 %
          10.07       11.90 %     44,400       0.44 %     0.44 %     4.75 %     24 %
          9.47       (1.60 )%     41,603       0.43 %     0.43 %     5.00 %     17 %
          10.12       5.48 %     46,039       0.42 %     0.42 %     5.30 %     11 %
          10.12       4.78 %     39,371       0.44 %     0.44 %     5.08 %     17 %
                                                             
        $ 10.47       7.84 %   $ 13,010       0.70 %     0.70 %     3.69 %     13 %
          10.07       11.63 %     6,510       0.69 %     0.69 %     4.44 %     24 %
          9.47       (1.30 )%     2,799       0.68 %     0.68 %     4.87 %     17 %
                                                             
                                                             
        $ 9.14       10.92 %   $ 39,357       0.61 %     0.61 %     5.61 %     7 %
          8.71       24.44 %     38,630       0.59 %     0.59 %     6.42 %     6 %
          7.46       (11.08 )%     36,345       0.58 %     0.58 %     6.28 %     11 %
          8.94       3.56 %     45,247       0.57 %     0.57 %     6.26 %     17 %
          9.19       6.79 %     41,481       0.58 %     0.58 %     6.04 %     16 %
                                                             
        $ 9.14       10.66 %   $ 1,038       0.86 %     0.86 %     5.36 %     7 %
          8.71       24.14 %     760       0.84 %     0.84 %     6.04 %     6 %
          7.46       (9.90 )%     237       0.84 %     0.84 %     6.73 %     11 %
                                                             
                                                             
        $ 15.27       15.05 %   $ 79,332       0.59 %     0.59 %     2.31 %     1 %
          13.61       18.42 %     76,878       0.57 %     0.57 %     2.67 %     14 %
          11.93       (19.94 )%     71,044       0.55 %     0.55 %     2.70 %     19 %
          16.05       5.87 %     97,073       0.54 %     0.54 %     3.47 %     14 %
          16.32       11.99 %     93,796       0.55 %     0.55 %     2.98 %     24 %
                                                             
        $ 15.78       14.79 %   $ 1,513       0.84 %     0.84 %     2.06 %     1 %
          13.99       18.13 %     1,112       0.82 %     0.82 %     2.39 %     14 %
          11.91       (20.55 )%     709       0.81 %     0.81 %     2.87 %     19 %
                                                             
                                                             
        $ 1.00       0.12 %   $ 9,610       0.48 %     0.00 %     0.12 %     0 %
          1.00       0.12 %     11,348       0.46 %     0.09 %     0.12 %     0 %
          1.00       1.91 %     14,631       0.46 %     0.45 %     1.92 %     0 %
          1.00       4.71 %     16,464       0.45 %     0.45 %     4.60 %     0 %
          1.00       4.43 %     8,557       0.54 %     0.54 %     4.37 %     0 %
                                                             
        $ 1.00       0.12 %   $ 691       0.73 %     0.00 %     0.13 %     0 %
          1.00       0.11 %     485       0.71 %     0.07 %     0.10 %     0 %
          1.00       0.71 %     197       0.73 %     0.69 %     0.87 %     0 %
                                                             
                                                             
        $ 35.68       11.28 %   $ 71,734       0.34 %     0.34 %     2.39 %     0 %
          32.82       17.95 %     69,436       0.33 %     0.33 %     2.56 %     0 %
          28.91       (30.32 )%     62,138       0.31 %     0.31 %     2.46 %     1 %
          42.41       6.49 %     94,766       0.29 %     0.29 %     2.04 %     2 %
          40.61       17.42 %     90,261       0.31 %     0.31 %     2.07 %     0 %
                                                             
        $ 36.99       11.00 %   $ 3,781       0.59 %     0.59 %     2.15 %     0 %
          33.71       17.65 %     2,503       0.57 %     0.57 %     2.19 %     0 %
          28.87       (26.80 )%     723       0.57 %     0.57 %     2.60 %     1 %


39


Table of Contents

EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
 
(1) Total investment return is calculated assuming an initial investment made at the net asset value at the beginning of the period, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at net asset value during the period, and redemption on the last day of the period and is not annualized for periods less than one year.
 
(2) Without a voluntary waiver/reimbursement of a portion of expenses (see Note 3 to the financial statements) for the periods indicated, the following Portfolio would have had per share net investment income as shown:
 
                         
          Per Share
       
          Net Investment
    Amount
 
    Year     Income     Reimbursed  
Money Market Portfolio
                       
Initial Class
    2010     $     $ 46,503  
      2009             46,613  
      2008       0.02       1,311  
Service Class
    2010     $ (0.01 )   $ 6,709  
      2009             2,897  
      2008       0.01       18  
 
(3) Service Class financial highlights are for the period June 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Respective ratios/supplemental data are computed on an annualized basis.
 
(4) The total returns shown do not reflect the effects of insurance-related fees and expenses.


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Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
 
The Board of Trustees and Shareholders
EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund (comprising, respectively, the Value Growth, High Grade Bond, Strategic Yield, Managed, Money Market and Blue Chip Portfolios) as of December 31, 2010, 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, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2010, by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the respective portfolios constituting the EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund at December 31, 2010, and the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
SIGNATURE
 
Des Moines, Iowa
February 23, 2011


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Table of Contents

EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND
TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)
 
Dividends from net investment income for the following Portfolios are declared daily and were payable on the last business day of the month as follows:
 
                                                 
    Portfolio  
    High Grade Bond     Strategic Yield     Money Market  
Payable Date
  IC     SC     IC     SC     IC     SC  
 
January 29, 2010
  $ 0.0317     $ 0.0297     $ 0.0370     $ 0.0353     $     $  
February 26, 2010
    0.0354       0.0334       0.0441       0.0424       0.0001       0.0001  
March 31, 2010
    0.0365       0.0345       0.0435       0.0416       0.0001       0.0001  
April 30, 2010
    0.0350       0.0330       0.0397       0.0380       0.0001       0.0001  
May 28, 2010
    0.0306       0.0287       0.0397       0.0380       0.0001       0.0001  
June 30, 2010
    0.0377       0.0356       0.0463       0.0445       0.0001       0.0001  
July 30, 2010
    0.0326       0.0305       0.0398       0.0380       0.0001       0.0001  
August 31, 2010
    0.0342       0.0320       0.0465       0.0445       0.0001       0.0001  
September 30, 2010
    0.0334       0.0314       0.0420       0.0402       0.0001       0.0001  
October 29, 2010
    0.0314       0.0294       0.0389       0.0371       0.0001       0.0001  
November 30, 2010
    0.0360       0.0337       0.0481       0.0461       0.0001       0.0001  
December 31, 2010
    0.0330       0.0309       0.0411       0.0392       0.0001       0.0001  
                                                 
Total dividends per share
  $ 0.4075     $ 0.3828     $ 0.5067     $ 0.4849     $ 0.0011     $ 0.0011  
                                                 
 
None of the ordinary income dividends qualify for the dividends received deduction by corporate shareholders for the High Grade Bond, Strategic Yield and Money Market Portfolios.
 
In addition, dividends and distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gain on investment transactions were paid during the year ended December 31, 2010 for the following Portfolios:
 
Ordinary Income Dividends:
 
                                         
    Declaration
    Record
    Payable
    Amount Per Share  
Portfolio
  Date     Date     Date     IC     SC  
 
Value Growth
    2/24/10       2/24/10       2/25/10     $ 0.1637     $ 0.0775  
Managed
    2/24/10       2/24/10       2/25/10       0.3416       0.2453  
Blue Chip
    2/24/10       2/24/10       2/25/10       0.7489       0.3814  
 
The percentages of ordinary income dividends qualifying for the dividends received deduction by corporate shareholders for the Value Growth, Managed and Blue Chip Portfolios are 100%, 65% and 100%, respectively.


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Table of Contents

APPROVAL OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY CONTRACT
 
On November 20, 2010 the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the trustees who are not parties to or “interested persons” of either party to the investment advisory contract (the “independent trustees”), approved for continuance the Investment Advisory and Management Services Agreement as amended and restated May 21, 2003 between all Portfolios of EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund (the “Fund”) and EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. (“Adviser”) (the “Agreement”).
 
The Board of Trustees, including a majority of the independent trustees, determined that approval of the Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund. The independent trustees were assisted by independent legal counsel in making their determination.
 
The Board noted that the Adviser has managed each Portfolio since its inception. The Board recognized that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious investment adviser is in the best interests of shareholders and that shareholders invested in the Portfolios are aware of the Adviser’s history as manager of the Portfolios and the investment advisory fee schedule.
 
Nature, Quality and Extent of Services. With respect to the nature, quality and extent of the services provided by the Adviser to the Portfolios, the Board considered the functions performed by the Adviser and the personnel providing such services, the Adviser’s financial condition and the compliance regime created by the Adviser.
 
The Board reviewed and discussed summaries and reports prepared by the Adviser containing information on each Portfolio’s total returns and average annual total returns over various periods of time, relative to its benchmark and/or to a peer group of funds pursuing broadly similar strategies. The Board concluded that as to each Portfolio, the investment performance was satisfactory, and in some cases, good relative to its benchmark and/or the peer group of mutual funds included in the reports. Based on the information provided, the Board concluded that the nature and extent of services provided to each Portfolio were appropriate and that the quality was good.
 
Fees and Expenses. The Board reviewed the amounts paid to the Adviser for advisory services. The Board also reviewed each Portfolio’s management fee and/or expense ratios with other registered funds pursuing broadly similar strategies as included in reports prepared by the Adviser, including for each Portfolio a comparison to the Portfolio of other EquiTrust funds with similar investment objectives and management style. The Board also reviewed a report management uses to review and evaluate expenses. This information showed that the advisory fee of each Initial Class  and Service Class Share Portfolio with the exception of Initial Class Shares of the Value Growth Portfolio was below average compared to other mutual funds pursuing broadly similar strategies. This information also showed that the total expense ratios (net of expenses reimbursement, where applicable) of each Initial Class and Service Class Share Portfolio with the exception of Initial Class Shares of the Value Growth Portfolio were below average compared to similar mutual funds. The Board received information from the Adviser regarding the Adviser’s standard advisory fee schedules for the Adviser’s other clients. With respect to the Adviser’s other clients, the Board considered that the mix of services provided and the level of responsibility required under the Agreement with the Fund were different from the Adviser’s obligations for similar client accounts and that the advisory fees of such accounts are less relevant to the Board’s consideration because they reflect different competitive forces from those in the mutual fund marketplace. With respect to other EquiTrust funds, the Board considered differences in fund and fee structures in light of the different distribution channels of the funds. The Board also considered that the Adviser has reimbursed expenses for the Portfolios over various periods of times. Based on the information considered, the Board concluded that each Portfolio’s advisory fee was reasonable and appropriate in amount given the quality of services provided.
 
Profitability. With respect to the costs of services provided and profits realized by the Adviser, the Board considered the advisory fees received by the Adviser from each Portfolio and received from the Adviser information on each Portfolio’s net assets and expense ratios over a ten-year period or lesser period where applicable. The Board also considered the fact that the Adviser continues to be subject to an expense reimbursement agreement and that the Adviser has kept expenses at a reasonable level. Based on this information, the Board concluded for each Portfolio that the Adviser’s profitability was not unreasonable.
 
Economies of Scale. The Board considered the extent to which economies of scale would be realized as each Portfolio grows and whether fee levels reflect economies of scale for the benefit of Portfolio shareholders. The Board noted that the High Grade Bond, Strategic Yield, Managed and Value Growth Portfolios have advisory fee breakpoints designed to share economies of scale with shareholders. The Board also considered that the current size of each Portfolio does not lend itself to economies of scale. The Board concluded, with respect to each of the Portfolios, that the total expense ratios were reasonable.
 
Other Benefits to the Adviser and its Affiliates. The Board considered the character and amount of other incidental benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Fund, including fees received by the Adviser for accounting services, shareholder services, dividend disbursing and transfer agent services and fees received by an affiliate of the Adviser for distribution services. The Board also considered the Adviser’s placement of trades for the Portfolios with certain broker-dealers that provide research products and services, in addition to the execution of the securities transactions. In doing so, the Board considered the Adviser’s determination that (1) the level and amount of such commissions were reasonable in relation to the value and type of


43


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research received, (2) the benefit of the research to the portfolio managers in the performance of their investment decision-making responsibilities and, in turn, the Portfolios, (3) the research is eligible research under the SEC’s guidelines, and some of the research may not be available for purchase with hard dollars, and (4) the use of traders and quality of execution and other brokerage services available through such broker-dealers. The Board concluded that, taking into account these benefits, the Portfolios’ advisory fees were reasonable.
 
Based on all of the information considered and the conclusions reached, the Board determined to approve the Agreement. The Board of Trustees, including the independent trustees, did not identify any single factor or group of factors as all important or controlling and considered all factors together.
 
Information on Proxy Voting:
 
The Fund has delegated the authority to vote proxies related to the its Portfolio securities to the Fund’s investment adviser, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.. A description of the policies and procedures that the Adviser uses in fulfilling this responsibility is available, without charge, upon request by calling 1-877-860-2904. It also appears in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, which can be found on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, 2010 is available without charge, by calling the toll-free number listed above or by accessing the SEC’s website.
 
Form N-Q Disclosure:
 
The Fund files a complete schedule of Portfolio holdings for its first and third quarters of each fiscal year with the SEC on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. A copy of Form N-Q is also available, without charge, by calling the Fund at 1-877-860-2904.


44


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OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
 
                         
                Number of
   
        Term of
      Portfolios in
   
        Office &
      Fund
   
        Length of
      Complex
   
    Position(s)
  Time
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Overseen
  Other Directorships
Name, Address and Age   Held with Fund   Served(1)   During Past Five Years   by Trustee   Held by Trustee
 
 
Interested Persons (2)
                       
Craig A. Lang* (59)
  President and Trustee   Since 2002   Chairman and Director, FBL Financial Group, Inc.; Mr. Lang serves as an officer and/or director/trustee of various affiliates of the foregoing. Dairy Farmer; past Chairman, Grow Iowa Values Fund; past Director, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Cattlemen’s Beef Board and Growmark, Inc.     12     Director, Farm Bureau Bank (San Antonio, Texas), Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. (Newton, Iowa) Member, Iowa Boad of Regents.
James E. Hohmann (54)
  Executive
Vice President
  Since 2009   Chief Executive Officer, FBL Financial Group, Inc.; Mr. Hohmann serves as an officer and/or director/trustee of various affiliates of the foregoing. 2007 - 2009, President and Chief Executive Officer of Allstate Financial, prior to 2007, President, Conseco, Inc.     N/A     N/A
Kristi Rojohn (47)
  Chief Executive Officer and Secretary   Since 2009   Chief Executive Officer, Investment Compliance Vice President and Secretary, EquiTrust Mutual Funds; Investment Compliance Vice President and Secretary, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. and EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC.     N/A     N/A
James P. Brannen (48)
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer   Since 2007   Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, Treasurer, FBL Financial Group, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing; Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director/Manager, EquiTrust Investment Services, Inc. and EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC; Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, EquiTrust Mutual Funds; Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Treasurer and Director, FBL Leasing Services, Inc.; Chief Administrative Officer, Treasurer, Crop1 Insurance Direct, Inc.     N/A     N/A
Richard J. Kypta (58)
 
Executive Vice President

General Counsel
 
Since 2007


2007-2009
  Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary FBL Financial Group, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing; Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Director, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.; Executive Vice President and General Counsel, EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC and EquiTrust Mutual Funds; Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Director, FBL Leasing Services, Inc., Western Computer Services, Inc. and Crop1 Insurance Direct, Inc.; 2005 - 2007, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Aviva USA Corporation; 2002 - 2005 Senior Vice President Structured Settlements, Aviva USA Corporation.     N/A     N/A


45


Table of Contents

                         
                Number of
   
        Term of
      Portfolios in
   
        Office &
      Fund
   
        Length of
      Complex
   
    Position(s)
  Time
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Overseen
  Other Directorships
Name, Address and Age   Held with Fund   Served(1)   During Past Five Years   by Trustee   Held by Trustee
 
 
Charles T. Happel (49)
  Executive Vice President-
Chief Investment
Officer
  Since 2008   Vice President – Investments, FBL Financial Group, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing; President and Director, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.; Vice President – Investments and Manager, EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC; Vice President – Investments, EquiTrust Mutual Funds; Vice President and Director, FBL Leasing Services, Inc.; Vice President, Western Computer Services, Inc.     N/A     N/A
David A. McNeill (55)
  General Counsel   Since 2009   General Counsel, FBL Financial Group, Inc.; Mr. McNeill serves as an officer and/or director of various affiliates of the foregoing; Prior to 2009, Vice President – Assistant General Counsel, FBL Financial Group, Inc.     N/A     N/A
Kevin R. Slawin (44)
  Executive Vice President, Marketing & Distribution   Since 2010   Executive Vice President, Marketing and Distribution, FBL Financial Group, Inc; Mr. Slawin Serves as an officer of various affiliates of the foregoing. Prior to 2009 Chief Executive Officer Allstate Bank, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Allstate Financial.     N/A     N/A
Jennifer Morgan (40)
  Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant Secretary   Since 2009   Assistant Secretary, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc., EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC and EquiTrust Mutual Funds.     N/A     N/A
Lillie Peshel (37)
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2008   Assistant Secretary, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc., EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC and EquiTrust Mutual Funds.     N/A     N/A
Sara Tamisiea (28)
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2006   Assistant Secretary, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc., EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC and EquiTrust Mutual Funds.     N/A     N/A
Jodi Winslow (35)
  Assistant Secretary   Since 2005   Assistant Secretary, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc., EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC and EquiTrust Mutual Funds.     N/A     N/A
Independent Persons
                       
Erwin H. Johnson (67)
1841 March Avenue
Charles City, Iowa
50616-9115
  Trustee   Since 1989   Farmer; Owner and Manager, Center View Farms, Co.; Farm Financial Planner, Iowa State University Cooperative Extension Service.     12     Director, First Security Bank and Trust Co. (Charles City, Iowa)
Kenneth Kay (67)
590th Street
Atlantic, Iowa
50022-8233
  Trustee   Since 1996   President, K-Ranch Inc.     12     Director, First Whitney Bank & Trust (Atlantic, Iowa)
Steven W. Plate (54)
c/o Plate, Baker & Co.
1003 Main Street
Grinnell, Iowa 50112
  Trustee   Since 2003   CPA/Owner, Plate, Baker & Co., P.C., Certified Public Accountants.     12     N/A
James D. Wallace (55)
1111 Ashworth Road
West Des Moines, IA
50265
  Trustee   Since 2004   President and CEO, GuideOne Insurance and various subsidiaries.     12     Director, GuideOne Insurance and various subsidiaries

46


Table of Contents

                         
                Number of
   
        Term of
      Portfolios in
   
        Office &
      Fund
   
        Length of
      Complex
   
    Position(s)
  Time
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Overseen
  Other Directorships
Name, Address and Age   Held with Fund   Served(1)   During Past Five Years   by Trustee   Held by Trustee
 
 
Erlin J. Weness (66)
1620 Pinewood Drive
Worthington, Minnesota
56187
  Trustee   Since 2003   Owner and Operator, Weness Consulting; Professor Emeritus and Retired Extension Educator, University of Minnesota     12     Director, First State Bank Southwest (Worthington, Minnesota), First State Insurance Agency (Worthington, Minnesota), First Rushmore Bancorporation (Worthington, Minnesota), Pioneer Public Television and Community Wind South, LLP
 
 
(1) Officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors and their terms continue until they are replaced or resign. Each director shall serve as a director of the Fund until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of conducting the election of such director or a successor to such director, and until his successor is elected and qualified, or until such director sooner dies, resigns or is removed.
 
(2) All interested persons maintain the same business address of 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266.
 
The officers and directors of the Fund also serve in similar capacities as officers and trustees of EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund. All, except one, of the Fund’s officers and interested directors are also officers and directors of the Adviser and/or the Distributor or an affiliate thereof. The Fund’s interested directors and officers serve without any compensation from the Fund. Each independent director receives an annual retainer of $10,000 for serving on the boards of all Funds in the EquiTrust Fund Complex, a fee of $1,500 plus expenses for each directors’ meeting of the EquiTrust Fund Complex attended and a fee of $1,000 ($1,250 for committee chairmen) plus expenses for each committee meeting attended. A fee of $250 is paid for each telephonic board or committee meeting attended. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Fund paid directors’ fees totaling $45,250.

47


Table of Contents

     
SECURITIES & SERVICES OFFERED
  ISSUING LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY:
THROUGH REGISTERED
  Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company+
REPRESENTATIVES OF:
  5400 University Avenue
EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC+
  West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
5400 University Avenue
  800-247-4170
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
   
877-860-2904
   
Member SIPC
   
 
IMSA LOGO
 
*MEMBERSHIP PROMOTES ETHICAL MARKET CONDUCT
FOR INDIVIDUAL LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES.
 
+Affiliated, and companies of Farm Bureau Financial Services
 
 
FARM BUREAU FINANCIAL SERVICES LOGO
 
 
737-527 (12/10) © 2010 FBL Financial Group, Inc.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 2. Code of Ethics
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrant
Item 6. Schedule of Investments
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
Item 12. Exhibits
SIGNATURES
EX-99.CERT
EX-99.906CERT


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Item 2. Code of Ethics.
  (a)   The registrant 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. A copy of the code of ethics may be obtained upon request, without charge, by contacting the registrant at its principal executive office.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
  (a)   (1) The registrant’s board of directors has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on the audit committee.
 
      (2) The audit committee financial expert is James D. Wallace. Mr. Wallace is independent as defined in Form N-CSR Item 3(a)(2).
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
  (a)   Audit Fees: For the Fund’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010, the aggregate fees billed by the Fund’s principal accountant for the audit of the Fund’s financial statements were $66,700 and $75,700, respectively.
 
  (b)   Audit-Related Fees: There were no audit-related fees billed to the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2009.
 
  (c)   Tax Fees: None.
 
  (d)   All Other Fees: For the Fund’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2010, the aggregate fees billed by the Fund’s principal accountant included fees related to the audits of EquiTrust Series Fund, Inc. and EquiTrust Money Market Fund, Inc.; as well as fees for services performed by the principal accountant for EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. and EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC, affiliates of the Fund that provide support for the operations of the Fund. The amounts of these fees are as follows:
                 
Fiscal Year Ended:   December 31, 2009   December 31, 2010
Fees related to audits of EquiTrust Series Fund, Inc. and EquiTrust Money Market Fund, Inc.
  $ 88,300     $ 73,700  
 
Services performed for EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC and EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. related to the audits of these entities and for research and consultation on miscellaneous accounting matters and review of SEC filings.
  $ 35,325     $ 22,400  

 


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  (e)   (1) The Fund’s Audit Committee adopted the following pre-approval policies and procedures:
  IV.   RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
To fulfill its responsibilities and duties the Audit Committee shall:
  C.   Independent registered public accounting firm
  2.   Pre-approve any engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm to provide any services to the Fund, including the fees and other compensation to be paid to the independent registered public accounting firm. Notwithstanding the above, the independent registered public accounting firm shall not perform any of the following non-audit services for the Fund (“prohibited non-audit services”):
  a.   bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Fund;
 
  b.   financial information systems design and implementation;
 
  c.   appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports;
 
  d.   actuarial services;
 
  e.   internal audit outsourcing services;
 
  f.   management functions or human resources;
 
  g.   broker or dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services;
 
  h.   legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit; and
 
  i.   any other services that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines are impermissible.
  3.   Pre-approve any engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm, including the fees and other compensation to be paid to the independent registered public accounting firm, to provide any non-audit services to the Adviser (or any “control affiliate”1 of the Adviser providing ongoing services to the Fund), if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund.
 
1   “Control affiliate” means any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser.

 


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    The Chairman of the Audit Committee (or in his absence, any member of the Audit Committee) may grant the pre-approval referenced in Sections IV.C. 2 and 3 above for non-prohibited services for engagements of less than $5000. Each member of the Audit Committee shall be notified in writing of the pre-approval promptly following the granting of such approval. In addition, all such delegated pre-approvals shall be presented to the Audit Committee no later than the next Audit Committee meeting.
    Pre-approval of non-audit services for the Fund pursuant to Section IV.C. 2 above is not required, if:
  (a)   the aggregate amount of all non-audit services provided to the Fund is less than 5% of the total fees paid by the Fund to the independent registered public accounting firm during the fiscal year in which the non-audit services are provided;
 
  (b)   the services were not recognized by Fund management at the time of the engagement as non-audit services; and
 
  (c)   such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by Fund management and the Audit Committee approves them (which may be by delegation) prior to the completion of the audit.
    Pre-approval of non-audit services for the Adviser (or any affiliate of the Adviser providing ongoing services to the Fund) pursuant to Section IV.C.3 above is not required, if:
  (a)   the aggregate amount of all non-audit services provided is less than 5% of the total fees paid by the Fund, the Adviser and any “control affiliate” of the Adviser providing ongoing services to the Fund to the independent registered public accounting firm during the fiscal year in which the non-audit services are provided;
 
  (b)   the services were not recognized by Fund management at the time of the engagement as non-audit services; and
 
  (c)   such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by Fund management and the Audit Committee approves them (which may be by delegation) prior to the completion of the audit.
  (e)   (2) Not applicable.
  (f)   Not applicable.
  (g)   Aggregate Non-audit Fees: EquiTrust Invesment Management Services, Inc. incurred fees billed for research and consultation of miscellaneous accounting matters and

 


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      review of SEC filings totaling $12,925 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. There were no non-audit fees billed for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010.
  (h)   The Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fund has reviewed the statement of independence provided by Ernst & Young, the Fund’s principal accountant, considered whether the provision of non-audit services by the firm to the Fund’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser is compatible with such firm’s independence with respect to the Fund, and concluded that the non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young does not compromise that firm’s independence with regard to the Fund.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrant.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments.
See Item 1.
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 Companies 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 shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of trustees since the registrant last provided disclosure in response to this Item.

 


Table of Contents

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 Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).
 
  (b)   There has been no change to the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits.
  (a)(1)   Not applicable. See Item 2(a).
 
  (a)(2)   Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are filed as exhibits hereto.
 
  (a)(3)   Not applicable.
 
  (b)   Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are filed as exhibits hereto.

 


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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)  EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund    
 
             
By:     /s/ Kristi Rojohn    
           
      Name: Kristi Rojohn    
      Title: Chief Executive Officer    
 
    Date:   2/21/2011     
 
       
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
         
     
  By:   /s/ Kristi Rojohn    
    Name:   Kristi Rojohn   
    Title:   Chief Executive Officer  
    Date:   2/21/2011   
     
 
 
 
     
  By:   /s/ James P. Brannen    
    Name:   James P. Brannen   
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer  
    Date:   2/23/2011