N-CSR 1 dncsr.htm EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund

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, 2005

 

 

Date of reporting period: December 31, 2005


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.


 

LOGO

 


 


 

EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund

 

 

Annual Report

December 31, 2005

 


 

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.


PRESIDENT’S LETTER

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

Following a weak first half, equities generally rebounded in the second half and finished the year ended December 31, 2005 with gains. The broad-market S&P 500 Stock Composite Index (the “S&P 500”) finished the year up 4.91% after trudging through a decline of about 1% in the first six months of the year. Both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ Composite overcame their losses from the first half of 2005, finishing the year with gains of 1.72% and 2.12%, respectively.

 

Rising interest rates negatively impacted returns across the fixed-income universe in 2005. Because of the inverse relationship between interest rates and bond values, bond values fell as market interest rates rose during the year, offsetting a significant portion of investors’ return from coupon payments. The Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Index (the “Aggregate Index”) returned 2.43% for 2005, and returns within the U.S. fixed-income universe were similar.

 

The economy motored along through 2005, with growth of the Gross Domestic Product for the year likely running close to 3.5%. Even with the year’s significant appreciation in energy prices, inflation in 2005 was comparable to the historical average of between 3.0% and 3.5%. This encouraged the Federal Reserve Board to continue to fight inflation with its rate-raising campaign through the end of the year, but long-term interest rates reacted little to the year’s inflation numbers. Short-term rates rose considerably during the year and, as a result, there is now little spread between short-term and long-term market interest rates.

 

Aggregate equity valuation has improved over the past several years, particularly among large-cap issues, but it remains above-average relative to historical measures. Meanwhile, interest rates — particularly long-term rates — are still low and below average. In this environment, we continue to emphasize the importance of maintaining an appropriate asset allocation plan. The EquiTrust portfolios provide a means for our investors to gain exposure to the domestic equity and fixed income markets.

 

Money Market: The interest rates offered by money market funds are closely related to the target rate set by the Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”). The FOMC meets several times throughout the year to determine the target Federal Funds rate (the overnight lending rate between banks). The Federal Funds rate has been raised from 1.00% to 4.25% over the last thirteen meetings. Inflation, consumer spending, and unemployment numbers have been key FOMC concerns throughout 2005. The FOMC will finish the tightening cycle when economic data suggests deterioration to a more sustainable level of growth. The hurricanes of 2005, once a major economic concern, are currently viewed by the committee as not material to the long-term health of the U.S. economy. The FOMC does believe, however, that a neutral rate level is in sight. The most recent FOMC statement implies the current economic data will be critical to the upcoming rate decisions. The Federal Funds target rate is expected to be 4.50% in the first half of 2006. On December 31, 2005, the Money Market Portfolio had a 7-day yield of 4.03%.

 

High Grade Bond: During a year when U.S. long term rates were expected to rise and the FOMC continued the “measured” campaign of hiking the Federal Funds Rate 25 basis points at every meeting, the Lehman Brothers U.S. Treasury Index was able to produce a 2.79% total return in 2005. During the year the Treasury curve continued to flatten with the two-year Treasury yield rising 133 basis points to 4.40% while the ten-year Treasury yield rose 17 basis points to 4.39% and the thirty-year Treasury yield fell 29 basis points to 4.54%. The Lehman Brothers U.S. Fixed Rate MBS Index (35% of the Aggregate Index) had a return of 2.61% during 2005. This Index finished the year as the second worst performing component of the Aggregate Index with –37 basis points of excess return compared to duration neutral Treasuries. This poor performance was driven mainly by increases in overall interest rates and the high negative convexity that this Index had at the start of the year. The Lehman Brothers U.S. Treasury Index (25% of the Aggregate Index) had a total return of 2.79% for the year. The Lehman Brothers U.S. Investment Grade Corporate Index (19% of the Aggregate Index) was the worst performing component of the Aggregate Index with a 1.68% total return and –115 basis points of excess return. Unlike the results in 2004, lower quality issues tended to underperform during the year with the Baa quality bucket producing an excess return of –233 basis points compared to 133, 69 and 3 basis points of negative excess return for the A, Aa, and Aaa rated buckets, respectively. The Investment Grade Corporate Index had an option-adjusted spread of 90 basis points as of December 30, 2005, which was only 9 basis points higher than year-end 2004. We feel that the overall solid credit quality and the strong technicals of the investment grade credit market are fully reflected in current spread levels. The Lehman Brothers U.S. Agency Index (12% of the Aggregate Index) had a total return of 2.33% and an excess return of 13 basis points.

 

Given our view that the FOMC is not done raising the Federal Funds rate and the narrow level of spreads we feel it is not an appropriate time to take on more interest rate risk than the Aggregate Index.

 

Strategic Yield: For the year ended December 31, 2005, the Lehman Brothers U.S. High Yield Index (the “High Yield Index”) had a return of 2.74% (47 basis points excess return relative to duration neutral Treasuries) which exceeded the return of

 

2


1.68% (–115 basis points excess return relative to duration neutral Treasuries) produced by the U.S. Investment Grade Corporate Index, but was less than the 4.91% total return of the S&P 500. On a fundamental basis, a continued low level of defaults and fairly stable credit trends helped the high yield market outperform the investment grade corporate market. The yield on the High Yield Index increased to 8.25% from 6.76% while the option-adjusted spread rose 69 basis points to 357 basis points over the course of 2005. But returns were mixed by credit rating within the High Yield Index in 2005. Caa rated bonds were the worst performer with a .64% return while single-B rated and Ba-rated issues returned 3.53% and 2.88%, respectively.

 

In general, we continue to feel that the investment grade and non-investment grade corporate markets are fully valued. Because of this we may add more Government Agency issues, as well as look for attractive issues in the corporate market.

 

Managed: As noted above, the S&P 500 returned 4.91% on a total return basis in 2005. The Managed Portfolio trailed that just modestly with a total return of 4.53% for the period.

 

The Managed Portfolio holds equities, high quality fixed income securities and cash-like instruments, so its returns will generally reflect this composition. For 2005, its equity exposure modestly trailed the S&P 500, primarily due to lagging performance by the Portfolio’s holdings in the financials and materials sectors. Similar to many segments in the domestic fixed income universe, the Portfolio’s fixed income holdings declined with the rise in interest rates. The Portfolio’s cash holdings recorded a positive return for the year but still trailed the gain of the S&P 500, further impacting its performance against the benchmark.

 

From a value standpoint, equities remain more attractive compared to high quality fixed income issues, and so we remain more inclined to add to the Portfolio’s equity exposure than to its fixed income allocation. That said, cash instruments will likely offer competitive returns in the near-term.

 

Value Growth: The Value Growth Portfolio modestly outperformed the S&P 500 for 2005, with a total return of 6.41% compared to 4.91% for the benchmark.

 

The Portfolio outperformed the S&P 500 primarily due to higher returns in the energy and consumer discretionary sectors, but its consumer staples and industrials holdings also contributed gains for the year. Lagging returns in the Portfolio’s financials and materials holdings, however, did offset some of the positive relative performance elsewhere.

 

The Portfolio has a notably large-cap tilt, as during the year we increased its weighting in this segment of the equity market considerably. Aggregate valuation for the market is fair, but large-cap stocks have become appealing in the past year as these issues receded to attractive valuations from lofty levels reached during the late 1990s/early 2000s.

 

Blue Chip: The Blue Chip Portfolio passively tracks the direction of the large capitalization equity market and so would be expected to offer performance similar to that of the largest stocks in the domestic large-cap segment. It produced a total return of 2.29% for the year, compared to 4.91% for the S&P 500. The Portfolio lagged the broad-market S&P 500 largely because the benchmark’s smaller capitalization names drove performance for the period. Otherwise, the Portfolio’s performance compared quite favorably to that of the benchmark’s largest components. The Portfolio remains substantially invested in common stocks of large companies and is designed for those investors who prefer substantial exposure to common stocks at all times or who wish to make their own market value judgments.

 

LOGO

Craig A. Lang

President

 

January 23, 2006

 

An investment in the Money Market Portfolio is neither insured nor guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Portfolio seeks to preserve the net asset value of $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Portfolio.

 

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

 

3


MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE

 

Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

the High Grade Bond Portfolio and Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Index

 

LOGO

 

During the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2005, the High Grade Bond Portfolio outperformed the Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Index (“Aggregate Index”), as reflected by the 2.65% total return produced by the Portfolio versus the 2.43% total return produced by the Index.

 

The total returns for the major components of the Aggregate Index for this period were as follows: U.S. Fixed Rate Mortgage Backed Securities (35% of the Index), 2.61%; U.S. Treasury Securities (25% of the Index), 2.79%; U.S. Investment Grade Corporate Securities (19% of the Index), 1.68%. In comparison, the Portfolio had approximately 41% of its assets invested in fixed rate mortgage-backed securities, 30% in corporate securities, 14% in cash equivalents, 9% in U.S. Agencies, and 6% in U.S. Treasuries. The Aggregate Index had an effective duration1 of 4.57 as of December 31, 2005. The effective duration of the Portfolio was 3.85. The Portfolio outperformed the Aggregate Index mainly because of the Portfolio’s overexposure to outperforming cash equivalents, as well as specific issues in the Portfolio which more than offset our higher exposure to underperforming fixed rate mortgage backed and corporate issues.

 

The composition of the Portfolio at the end of the reporting period was approximately similar to that at the start with a slight decrease in cash equivalents and a slight increase in U.S. Agencies. Going forward, we anticipate continuing to maintain a duration below that of the Index as we feel the risk of rising interest rates outweighs the possible upside from falling rates at the present time.

 


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 fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

 

4


Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

the Strategic Yield Portfolio and Lehman Brothers U.S. Credit/High Yield Index

 

LOGO

 

During the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2005, the 3.26% total return produced by the Strategic Yield Portfolio was greater than the 2.18% return produced by the Lehman Brothers U.S. Credit/High Yield Index. The total returns for the two components of the Lehman Brothers U.S. Credit/High Yield Index over this period were as follows: U.S. Investment Grade Credit (76% of the Index), 1.96%; and U.S. High Yield (24% of the Index), 2.74%. In comparison, the Portfolio had approximately 31% of its assets invested in corporate securities rated investment grade by both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, 38% of its assets invested in corporate securities rated as non-investment grade or high yield by Moody’s and/or Standard & Poor’s, 20% of its assets invested in cash equivalents and 11% in U.S. Government Agency issues. The Portfolio outperformed the overall Lehman Brothers U.S. Credit/High Yield Index due to its larger exposure to outperforming cash equivalents and the general outperformance of individual securities in the Portfolio which more than offset expenses.

 

The Portfolio has historically invested in a mix of high yield and investment grade issues attempting to find attractive issues in both markets.

 


* Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

 

5


Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

the Managed Portfolio and S&P 500

 

LOGO

 

The Managed Portfolio narrowly underperformed the S&P 500 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2005, with a total return of 4.53% compared to 4.91% for the Index. Given that the Portfolio holds not only equities but also fixed-income securities and cash instruments, its performance will generally differ from that of the S&P 500 from year to year. As such, the Portfolio modestly lagged the S&P 500 in 2005 primarily due to its fixed-income and cash allocations, both of which trailed the benchmark for the year; the Portfolio’s equities otherwise performed in line with the S&P 500.

 

Within the Portfolio’s equity allocation, we continue to emphasize high quality stocks and sectors, selecting names with a decidedly value or yield-oriented tilt. During the year, we were quite active in adding large- and mega-cap stocks such as Wal-Mart and Deere & Co., as well as adding to existing positions in Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. We are finding that this segment of the equity market currently offers the most value, as many such stocks have traded down to historically attractive valuations from the lofty levels they reached in the late 1990s.

 

Because high quality fixed-income issues continue to trade near historically low yields, we remain more compelled to add to the Portfolio’s equity holdings than to its fixed-income allocation. At the same time, cash instruments will potentially offer competitive returns in the near-term.

 


* Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

 

6


Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

the Value Growth Portfolio and S&P 500

 

LOGO

 

The Value Growth Portfolio outperformed the S&P 500 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2005; it produced a total return of 6.41% and the benchmark returned 4.91%. The Portfolio outperformed the S&P 500 primarily due to the positive relative performance of its energy and consumer discretionary holdings. Rising energy prices and energy company earnings drove energy stocks for the year and made that sector the S&P 500’s top performer. Relative to the S&P 500, the Portfolio was overweight in the energy sector much of the year, and its holdings outperformed the S&P 500’s energy constituents. The Portfolio remained underweight in the consumer discretionary sector for the year, and its holdings also performed better than did the S&P 500’s consumer discretionary stocks.

 

The Portfolio’s strong relative performance in these two sectors was partially offset by relative underperformance in the financials and materials sectors. It was underweight in the financials sector compared to the benchmark, and its financials holdings, in aggregate, lagged the S&P 500’s financials constituents. The Portfolio was overweight in the materials sector, and the performance of its holdings lagged that of the S&P 500’s materials sector constituents.

 

During 2005, we added new positions in stocks like Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola Enterprises, and also added to existing positions in Cisco and Microsoft. These and other stocks like them in the large- and mega-cap segment of the equity market currently appear to offer the most value across the aggregate equity market. Valuation has become attractive among such companies in the past five years because they have continued to grow earnings while their stock performance has actually been relatively flat. We continue to watch for opportunities to raise the Portfolio’s exposure to this segment of the equity market.

 


* Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

 

7


Comparison of Change in Value of $10,000 Investment in

the Blue Chip Portfolio and S&P 500

 

LOGO

 

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 with that of the broad-market S&P 500, but it will be most similar to that of the large-capitalization segment within the S&P 500.

 

The Portfolio posted a total return of 2.29% for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2005, compared to 4.91% for the S&P 500. As has been common in the past several years, the benchmark’s smaller-capitalization components drove its overall performance for the year, while the returns from the benchmark’s largest members generally trailed those of the smaller members. Because the Portfolio holds only large-capitalization stocks, its gain approximated that of the S&P 500’s large-cap segment but trailed the S&P 500 overall.

 


* Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

 

8


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

December 31, 2005

 

Money Market Portfolio

 

Portfolio Holdings by Asset Type

LOGO

 

High Grade Bond Portfolio

 

Portfolio Holdings by Credit Quality and Type of Security**

 

LOGO

 

Strategic Yield Portfolio

 

Portfolio Holdings by Credit Quality and Type of Security**

 

LOGO

 


* 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.

 

9


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

December 31, 2005

 

Managed Portfolio

 

Portfolio Holdings by Industry Sector

 

LOGO

 

Value Growth Portfolio

 

Portfolio Holdings by Industry Sector

 

LOGO

 

Blue Chip Portfolio

 

Portfolio Holdings by Industry Sector

 

LOGO

 


* 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.

 

10


Expense Example:

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in a given Portfolio 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, 2005 and held until December 31, 2005.

 

Actual Expenses –

 

The first line for each Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses for that Portfolio. 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 to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes –

 

The second line for each Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio of that Portfolio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the actual return of the Portfolio. 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 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.

 

       Beginning Account
Value
7/1/2005
     Ending Account
Value
12/31/2005
     Expenses Paid
During Period*
7/1/2005 - 12/31/2005
     Annualized Expense
Ratio
 

Value Growth

                                0.58 %

Actual

     $ 1,000      $ 1,034.90      $ 2.97         

Hypothetical**

     $ 1,000      $ 1,022.08      $ 2.95         

High Grade Bond

                                0.45 %

Actual

     $ 1,000      $ 1,004.20      $ 2.27         

Hypothetical**

     $ 1,000      $ 1,022.73      $ 2.29         

Strategic Yield

                                0.59 %

Actual

     $ 1,000      $ 1,003.70      $ 2.99         

Hypothetical**

     $ 1,000      $ 1,022.02      $ 3.01         

Managed

                                0.56 %

Actual

     $ 1,000      $ 1,023.30      $ 2.85         

Hypothetical**

     $ 1,000      $ 1,022.19      $ 2.84         

Money Market

                                0.64 %

Actual

     $ 1,000      $ 1,014.80      $ 3.26         

Hypothetical**

     $ 1,000      $ 1,021.77      $ 3.27         

Blue Chip

                                0.31 %

Actual

     $ 1,000      $ 1,038.30      $ 1.57         

Hypothetical**

     $ 1,000      $ 1,023.46      $ 1.55         
* Expenses are equal to the Annualized Expense Ratio as shown in the table for each Portfolio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183 days divided by 364 to reflect the one-half year period.
** Hypothetical examples are based on a 5% return before expenses.

 

11


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

December 31, 2005

 

     Value Growth
Portfolio


       High
Grade Bond
Portfolio


       Strategic
Yield
Portfolio


       Managed
Portfolio


     Money Market
Portfolio


     Blue Chip
Portfolio


 

ASSETS

                                                           
                                                             

Investments in securities, at value (cost — $55,221,500; $34,507,575; $35,885,521; $75,433,853; $5,803,761; and $67,314,291, respectively)

   $ 60,215,780        $ 34,737,480        $ 36,551,773        $ 83,302,397      $ 5,803,761      $ 82,472,065  

Cash

                                       104,157         

Receivables:

                                                           

Accrued dividends and interest

     65,847          255,776          559,184          151,159        5,245        95,979  

Fund shares sold

     1,781          1,882          4,936          3,779        389,160        18,300  

Prepaid expense and other assets

     184          91          92          234        21        278  
    


    


    


    

    

    


Total Assets

     60,283,592          34,995,229          37,115,985          83,457,569        6,302,344        82,586,622  
    


    


    


    

    

    


                                                             

LIABILITIES

                                                           
                                                             

Payable for fund shares redeemed

     52,494          42,651          42,239          81,346        4,913        75,986  

Dividends payable

                                       3,928         

Accrued expenses

     7,727          6,736          6,404          8,121        5,873        9,231  
    


    


    


    

    

    


Total Liabilities

     60,221          49,387          48,643          89,467        14,714        85,217  
    


    


    


    

    

    


NET ASSETS

   $ 60,223,371        $ 34,945,842        $ 37,067,342        $ 83,368,102      $ 6,287,630      $ 82,501,405  
    


    


    


    

    

    


                                                             

ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS

                                                           
                                                             

Paid-in capital

   $ 55,178,471        $ 34,716,348        $ 38,660,863        $ 68,728,193      $ 6,287,630      $ 72,782,390  

Accumulated undistributed net investment income

     836,213                            1,836,551               1,635,261  

Accumulated undistributed net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions

     (785,593 )        (411 )        (2,259,773 )        4,934,814               (7,074,020 )

Net unrealized appreciation of investments

     4,994,280          229,905          666,252          7,868,544               15,157,774  
    


    


    


    

    

    


NET ASSETS

   $ 60,223,371        $ 34,945,842        $ 37,067,342        $ 83,368,102      $ 6,287,630      $ 82,501,405  
    


    


    


    

    

    


Shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2005

     4,411,188          3,439,663          4,056,824          5,275,646        6,287,630        2,338,838  

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

   $ 13.65        $ 10.16        $ 9.14        $ 15.80      $ 1.00      $ 35.27  
    


    


    


    

    

    


 

See accompanying notes.

 

12


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

     Value Growth
Portfolio


    High
Grade Bond
Portfolio


    Strategic
Yield
Portfolio


    Managed
Portfolio


    Money Market
Portfolio


   Blue Chip
Portfolio


INVESTMENT INCOME

                                             
                                               

Dividends

   $ 902,296     $ 15,900     $ 27,825     $ 1,080,557     $    $ 1,705,746

Interest

     276,047       1,613,050       2,091,903       1,198,670       191,129      183,103

Less foreign tax withholding

     (1,947 )                 (2,915 )         
    


 


 


 


 

  

Total Investment Income

     1,176,396       1,628,950       2,119,728       2,276,312       191,129      1,888,849
                                               

EXPENSES

                                             
                                               

Paid to EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.:

                                             

Investment advisory and management fees

     264,000       96,194       151,258       352,284       15,521      165,394

Accounting fees

     29,337       16,032       16,806       30,000       3,104      30,000

Custodial fees

     9,388       8,329       6,889       10,366       8,721      7,527

Professional fees

     21,733       14,681       15,152       26,170       8,603      28,359

Reports to shareholders

     6,233       3,375       3,510       8,208       722      8,906

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     5,384       2,957       3,104       7,211       565      7,610

Insurance and bonds

     1,392       727       744       1,793       130      2,043

Miscellaneous

     2,716       1,541       1,630       3,729       259      3,749
    


 


 


 


 

  

Total Expenses

     340,183       143,836       199,093       439,761       37,625      253,588
    


 


 


 


 

  

Net Investment Income

     836,213       1,485,114       1,920,635       1,836,551       153,504      1,635,261
                                               

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS

                                             
                                               

Net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions

     5,643,255       (411 )     2,105       4,991,158            393

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments

     (2,829,929 )     (636,795 )     (850,982 )     (3,285,381 )          228,495
    


 


 


 


 

  

Net Gain (Loss) on Investments

     2,813,326       (637,206 )     (848,877 )     1,705,777            228,888
    


 


 


 


 

  

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

   $ 3,649,539     $ 847,908     $ 1,071,758     $ 3,542,328     $ 153,504    $ 1,864,149
    


 


 


 


 

  

 

See accompanying notes.

 

13


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,  
     2005

     2004

     2005

     2004

     2005

     2004

 

OPERATIONS

                                                     
                                                       

Net investment income

   $ 836,213      $ 662,829      $ 1,485,114      $ 1,218,691      $ 1,920,635      $ 1,685,239  

Net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions

     5,643,255        2,173,686        (411 )      43,870        2,105        148,802  

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments

     (2,829,929 )      3,213,722        (636,795 )      (51,531 )      (850,982 )      581,354  
    


  


  


  


  


  


Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

     3,649,539        6,050,237        847,908        1,211,030        1,071,758        2,415,395  
                                                       

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO
SHAREHOLDERS FROM

                                                     
                                                       

Net investment income

     (665,116 )      (563,058 )      (1,485,114 )      (1,218,691 )      (1,920,635 )      (1,685,239 )

Net realized gain from investment transactions

                   (43,870 )      (70,428 )              
    


  


  


  


  


  


Total Dividends and Distributions

     (665,116 )      (563,058 )      (1,528,984 )      (1,289,119 )      (1,920,635 )      (1,685,239 )

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

     (1,114,667 )      54,029        5,647,061        3,398,714        7,278,727        4,408,930  
    


  


  


  


  


  


Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

     1,869,756        5,541,208        4,965,985        3,320,625        6,429,850        5,139,086  
                                                       

NET ASSETS

                                                     

Beginning of year

     58,353,615        52,812,407        29,979,857        26,659,232        30,637,492        25,498,406  
    


  


  


  


  


  


End of year (including accumulated undistributed net investment income as set forth below)

   $ 60,223,371      $ 58,353,615      $ 34,945,842      $ 29,979,857      $ 37,067,342      $ 30,637,492  
    


  


  


  


  


  


Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income

   $ 836,213      $ 665,116      $      $      $      $  
    


  


  


  


  


  


 

See accompanying notes.

 

14


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (continued)

 

     Managed
Portfolio


     Money Market
Portfolio


     Blue Chip
Portfolio


 
     Year Ended December 31,      Year Ended December 31,      Year Ended December 31,  
     2005

     2004

     2005

     2004

     2005

     2004

 

OPERATIONS

                                                     
                                                       

Net investment income

   $ 1,836,551      $ 1,297,777      $ 153,504      $ 45,967      $ 1,635,261      $ 1,621,030  

Net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions

     4,991,158        2,810,450                      393        (616,554 )

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments

     (3,285,381 )      1,790,691                      228,495        3,865,719  
    


  


  


  


  


  


Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

     3,542,328        5,898,918        153,504        45,967        1,864,149        4,870,195  
                                                       

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO
SHAREHOLDERS FROM

                                                     
                                                       

Net investment income

     (1,297,777 )      (1,367,844 )      (153,504 )      (45,967 )      (1,621,030 )      (1,194,008 )

Net realized gain from investment transactions

     (1,299,691 )                                   
    


  


  


  


  


  


Total Dividends and Distributions

     (2,597,468 )      (1,367,844 )      (153,504 )      (45,967 )      (1,621,030 )      (1,194,008 )

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

     7,547,535        3,611,860        (304,435 )      (135,487 )      (2,701,841 )      1,451,850  
    


  


  


  


  


  


Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

     8,492,395        8,142,934        (304,435 )      (135,487 )      (2,458,722 )      5,128,037  
                                                       

NET ASSETS

                                                     
                                                       

Beginning of year

     74,875,707        66,732,773        6,592,065        6,727,552        84,960,127        79,832,090  
    


  


  


  


  


  


End of year (including accumulated undistributed net investment income as set forth below)

   $ 83,368,102      $ 74,875,707      $ 6,287,630      $ 6,592,065      $ 82,501,405      $ 84,960,127  
    


  


  


  


  


  


Accumulated Undistributed Net Investment Income

   $ 1,836,551      $ 1,297,777      $      $      $ 1,635,261      $ 1,621,030  
    


  


  


  


  


  


 

See accompanying notes.

 

15


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

VALUE GROWTH PORTFOLIO

December 31, 2005

 

    Shares
Held


  Value

           

COMMON STOCKS (80.78%)


         

APPAREL AND OTHER TEXTILE PRODUCTS (0.38%)

     

Jones Apparel Group, Inc.

  7,500   $ 230,400
           

AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, SERVICES AND PARKING (0.69%)

     

Ryder System, Inc.

  10,100     414,302
           

BUSINESS SERVICES (4.48%)

         

Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.-Class A (1)

  11,400     674,652

Computer Associates International, Inc.

  12,174     343,185

Compuware Corp. (1)

  16,050     143,968

Electronic Data Systems Corp.

  5,745     138,110

First Data Corp.

  3,520     151,395

Microsoft Corp.

  23,105     604,196

Oracle Corp. (1)

  12,300     150,183

Symantec Corp. (1)

  28,002     490,035
       

          2,695,724

CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (13.58%)

     

Abbott Laboratories

  8,000     315,440

Biogen Idec, Inc. (1)

  4,620     209,425

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

  18,220     418,696

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

  3,255     178,537

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.

  12,555     533,587

GlaxoSmithKline PLC

  5,500     277,640

IVAX Corp. (1)

  17,000     532,610

Johnson & Johnson

  13,935     837,493

KV Pharmaceutical Co.-Class A (1)

  12,700     261,620

Merck & Co., Inc.

  9,764     310,593

Mylan Laboratories, Inc.

  20,925     417,663

Olin Corp.

  6,400     125,952

Perrigo Co.

  25,615     381,920

Pfizer, Inc.

  43,526     1,015,026

Schering-Plough Corp.

  23,200     483,720

Sensient Technologies Corp.

  52,575     941,093

SurModics, Inc. (1)

  3,637     134,533

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. (1)

  6,600     92,202

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.

  10,216     439,390

Wyeth

  5,835     268,818
       

          8,175,958

COMMUNICATIONS (2.47%)

         

BellSouth Corp.

  11,000     298,100

Comcast Corp.-Class A (1)

  12,510     324,760

Sprint Nextel Corp.

  25,603     598,086

Verizon Communications, Inc.

  8,800     265,056
       

          1,486,002
    Shares
Held


  Value

           

DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (7.35%)

     

AmSouth Bancorp.

  11,630   $ 304,822

Bank of America Corp.

  12,204     563,215

Bank of New York Co., Inc.

  8,681     276,490

BOK Financial Corp.

  3,500     159,005

Citigroup, Inc.

  23,183     1,125,071

National City Corp.

  6,830     229,283

New York Community Bancorp., Inc.

  23,156     382,537

U. S. Bancorp.

  20,450     611,250

Wachovia Corp.

  7,650     404,379

Wilmington Trust Corp.

  9,500     369,645
       

          4,425,697

EATING AND DRINKING PLACES (0.38%)

     

Wendy’s International, Inc.

  4,200     232,092
           

ELECTRIC, GAS AND SANITARY SERVICES (2.70%)

     

Alliant Energy Corp.

  8,660     242,826

Atmos Energy Corp.

  11,267     294,745

Keyspan Corp.

  10,310     367,964

Pepco Holdings, Inc.

  16,200     362,394

Xcel Energy, Inc.

  19,405     358,216
       

          1,626,145

ELECTRONIC AND OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (3.04%)

     

Adaptec, Inc. (1)

  43,100     250,842

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. (1)

  18,205     406,700

Cisco Systems, Inc. (1)

  30,600     523,872

ECI Telecom, Ltd. (1)

  10,000     74,900

Emerson Electric Co.

  2,300     171,810

Helen of Troy, Ltd. (1)

  8,966     144,442

Intel Corp.

  8,900     222,144

JDS Uniphase Corp. (1)

  16,400     38,704
       

          1,833,414

FOOD AND KINDRED PRODUCTS (3.34%)

     

Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc.

  6,395     274,729

Coca-Cola Co.

  6,680     269,271

Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.

  17,485     335,187

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

  24,000     486,720

General Mills, Inc.

  4,110     202,705

Sara Lee Corp.

  23,400     442,260
       

          2,010,872

FOOD STORES (0.61%)

         

Kroger Co. (1)

  19,526     368,651
           

GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORES (2.53%)

     

Federated Department Stores, Inc.

  3,008     199,521

Fred’s, Inc.

  35,165     572,135

Target Corp.

  5,300     291,341

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

  9,835     460,278
       

          1,523,275

 

16


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

VALUE GROWTH PORTFOLIO (continued)

 

    Shares
Held


  Value

           

HEALTH SERVICES (2.86%)

         

Health Management Associates, Inc.

  12,800   $ 281,088

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (1)

  10,660     574,041

Lifepoint Hospitals, Inc. (1)

  11,463     429,863

Universal Health Services, Inc.-Class B

  9,420     440,291
       

          1,725,283

HOLDING AND OTHER INVESTMENT OFFICES (0.46%)

     

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

  9,750     277,387
           

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT (4.11%)

     

3M Co.

  4,220     327,050

Deere & Co.

  3,990     271,759

EMC Corp. (1)

  22,500     306,450

Hewlett-Packard Co.

  6,000     171,780

Ingersoll-Rand Co., Ltd.-Class A

  19,900     803,363

Solectron Corp. (1)

  22,500     82,350

SPX Corp.

  6,373     291,692

Stanley Works (The)

  4,600     220,984
       

          2,475,428

INSTRUMENTS AND RELATED PRODUCTS (3.81%)

     

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (1)

  7,000     233,030

Becton Dickinson & Co.

  13,226     794,618

Boston Scientific Corp. (1)

  4,770     116,817

Fisher Scientific International, Inc. (1)

  8,176     505,767

Medtronic, Inc.

  6,300     362,691

Perkinelmer, Inc.

  11,900     280,364
       

          2,293,287

INSURANCE CARRIERS (4.62%)

     

Allstate Corp.

  8,095     437,697

American International Group, Inc.

  9,740     664,560

MBIA, Inc.

  6,640     399,462

MetLife, Inc.

  3,795     185,955

Protective Life Corp.

  9,300     407,061

Safeco Corp.

  6,240     352,560

WellPoint, Inc. (1)

  4,222     336,873
       

          2,784,168

METAL MINING (1.75%)

         

Barrick Gold Corp.

  20,000     557,400

Placer Dome, Inc.

  21,600     495,288
       

          1,052,688

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES (0.43%)

     

Hasbro, Inc.

  12,900     260,322
           

MOTION PICTURES (0.72%)

         

News Corp.-Class A

  17,040     264,972

Time Warner, Inc.

  9,600     167,424
       

          432,396
    Shares
Held


  Value

           

NONDEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (0.53%)

     

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.

  4,900   $ 320,215
           

OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION (4.44%)

     

Apache Corp.

  5,200     356,304

Burlington Resources, Inc.

  15,480     1,334,376

Occidental Petroleum Co.

  4,750     379,430

Rowan Cos., Inc.

  16,900     602,316
       

          2,672,426

PAPER AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (2.14%)

     

Abitibi Consolidated, Inc.

  92,600     375,030

Bemis Co., Inc.

  10,865     302,699

International Paper Co.

  8,700     292,407

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

  2,610     155,687

Sonoco Products Co.

  5,500     161,700
       

          1,287,523

PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS (4.43%)

     

BP PLC

  6,000     385,320

Chevron Corp.

  14,100     800,457

ConocoPhillips

  25,466     1,481,612
       

          2,667,389

PRIMARY METAL INDUSTRIES (0.81%)

     

Northwest Pipe Co. (1)

  18,215     488,162
           

PRINTING AND PUBLISHING (1.26%)

     

Belo Corp.-Series A

  14,835     317,617

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.

  8,110     277,443

Tribune Co.

  5,450     164,917
       

          759,977

RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION (0.29%)

     

Union Pacific Corp.

  2,155     173,499
           

TOBACCO PRODUCTS (1.05%)

         

Altria Group, Inc.

  8,460     632,131
           

TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT (2.50%)

     

Federal Signal Corp.

  13,300     199,633

Honeywell International, Inc.

  23,500     875,375

ITT Industries, Inc.

  4,185     430,302
       

          1,505,310

WHOLESALE TRADE — NONDURABLE GOODS (1.22%)

     

Dean Foods Co. (1)

  7,701     290,020

Safeway, Inc.

  18,720     442,915
       

          732,935

MISCELLANEOUS EQUITIES (1.80%)

     

H & Q Life Sciences Investors

  27,671     433,324

NASDAQ-100 Trust

  16,100     650,762
       

          1,084,086
       

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $43,652,864)

        48,647,144

 

17


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

VALUE GROWTH PORTFOLIO (continued)

 

    Shares
Held


  Value

             

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (19.21%)


     

MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUND (0.23%)

     

JP Morgan U.S. Treasury Plus Money Market Fund
(Cost $138,615)

    138,615   $ 138,615
             
    Principal
Amount


   

COMMERCIAL PAPER (5.98%)

     

DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (1.83%)

     

Citigroup CP,
4.28%, due 01/27/06

  $ 1,100,000     1,100,000
             

NONDEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (4.15%)

     

American Express Credit Corp.,
4.26%, due 01/25/06

    1,000,000     1,000,000

American General Finance Corp.,
4.28%, due 01/11/06

    1,000,000     1,000,000

General Electric Capital Corp.,
4.10%, due 01/04/06

    500,000     500,000
         

            2,500,000
         

Total Commercial Paper
(Cost $3,600,000)

          3,600,000
             

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (13.00%)

     

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/11/06

    800,000     799,014

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/13/06

    1,100,000     1,098,387

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/20/06

    2,300,000     2,294,784

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/25/06

    600,000     598,276

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 02/01/06

    1,000,000     996,293

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 01/17/06

    950,000     948,137

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 02/07/06

    1,100,000     1,095,130
         

Total United States
Government Agencies
(Cost $7,830,021)

          7,830,021
         

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $11,568,636)

          11,568,636
         

Total Investments (99.99%)
(Cost $55,221,500)

          60,215,780
    Principal
Amount


  Value

OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (0.01%)


     

Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities

      $ 7,591
       

Total Net Assets (100.00%)

      $ 60,223,371
       

 

(1) Non-income producing securities.

 

See accompanying notes.

 

18


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

HIGH GRADE BOND PORTFOLIO

December 31, 2005

 

    Shares
Held


  Value

             

PREFERRED STOCKS (0.59%)


           

HOLDING AND OTHER INVESTMENT OFFICES

     

New Plan Excel Realty
Trust-Series D, 7.80%
(Cost $200,000)

    4,000   $ 205,500
             
    Principal
Amount


   

CORPORATE BONDS (28.99%)


           

DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (2.18%)

     

Washington Mutual Bank,
5.65%, due 08/15/14

  $ 750,000     760,830
             

ELECTRIC, GAS AND SANITARY SERVICES (5.34%)

     

Maritime & NE Pipeline, 144A,
7.70%, due 11/30/19 (1)

    700,000     801,017

Oglethorpe Power Corp.,
6.974%, due 06/30/11

    235,000     244,661

PacifiCorp, 6.90%, due 11/15/11

    750,000     820,065
         

            1,865,743

FOOD STORES (1.86%)

           

Ahold Finance USA, Inc.,
8.25%, due 07/15/10

    600,000     648,750
             

FOOD AND KINDRED PRODUCTS (2.80%)

     

Diageo Capital PLC,
4.375%, due 05/03/10

    1,000,000     977,630
             

HOLDING AND OTHER INVESTMENT OFFICES (1.90%)

     

Security Capital Pacific,
7.20%, due 03/01/13

    275,000     302,893

Washington REIT,
6.898%, due 02/15/18

    350,000     363,097
         

            665,990

INSURANCE CARRIERS (2.53%)

           

SunAmerica, 8.125%, due 04/28/23

    700,000     885,388
             

SECURITY AND COMMODITY BROKERS (6.07%)

     

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.,
5.125%, due 01/15/15

    900,000     892,944

Morgan Stanley-Series MTNC,
5.125%, due 02/11/19

    1,300,000     1,227,980
         

            2,120,924

TOBACCO PRODUCTS (2.28%)

           

UST, Inc., 7.25%, due 06/01/09

    750,000     797,483
             

TRANSPORTATION — BY AIR (3.72%)

     

Continental Airlines, Inc.,
6.545%, due 08/02/20

    411,530     411,509
    Principal
Amount


  Value

             

Federal Express, 7.50%, due 01/15/18

  $ 198,226   $ 222,764

Northwest Airlines-Series 1999-2A, 7.575%, due 03/01/19 (2)

    662,789     664,413
         

            1,298,686

TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT (0.31%)

     

Ford Motor Co.,
9.215%, due 09/15/21

    150,000     109,125
         

Total Corporate Bonds
(Cost $9,858,874)

          10,130,549
             

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (29.99%)


     

FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (FNMA) (0.00%)

     

Pool # 50276, 9.50%, due 02/01/20

    1,022     1,131
             

GOVERNMENT NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (GNMA) (29.99%)

     

Pool # 1512, 7.50%, due 12/20/23

    28,019     29,532

Pool # 2631, 7.00%, due 08/01/28

    33,656     35,150

Pool # 2658, 6.50%, due 10/01/28

    59,069     61,444

Pool # 2701, 6.50%, due 01/20/29

    69,626     72,381

Pool # 2796, 7.00%, due 08/01/29

    57,488     60,009

Pool # 3039, 6.50%, due 02/01/31

    24,675     25,621

Pool # 3040, 7.00%, due 02/01/31

    41,555     43,356

Pool # 3188, 6.50%, due 02/20/32

    144,228     149,717

Pool # 3239, 6.50%, due 05/01/32

    130,331     135,290

Pool # 3261, 6.50%, due 07/20/32

    254,565     264,253

Pool # 3320, 5.50%, due 12/01/32

    946,688     952,174

Pool # 3333, 5.50%, due 01/01/33

    777,887     782,300

Pool # 3375, 5.50%, due 04/01/33

    120,172     120,853

Pool # 3390, 5.50%, due 05/01/33

    532,347     535,368

Pool # 3403, 5.50%, due 06/01/33

    901,364     906,478

Pool # 3458, 5.00%, due 10/01/33

    720,844     709,705

Pool # 3499, 5.00%, due 01/01/34

    1,133,204     1,115,419

Pool # 3556, 5.50%, due 05/01/34

    1,191,062     1,196,641

Pool # 3623, 5.00%, due 10/01/34

    1,750,254     1,722,785

Pool # 22630, 6.50%, due 08/01/28

    32,310     33,610

Pool # 276337, 10.00%, due 08/15/19

    6,101     6,820

Pool # 643816, 6.00%, due 07/01/25

    1,483,094     1,522,189
         

            10,481,095
         

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $10,451,978)

          10,482,226
             

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (20.42%)


     

Federal Home Loan Bank,
5.50%, due 05/18/15

    1,000,000     991,136

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
4.65%, due 10/10/13

    1,000,000     963,460

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
5.50%, due 10/01/25

    1,000,000     997,780

 

19


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

HIGH GRADE BOND PORTFOLIO (continued)

 

    Principal
Amount


  Value

             

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES (20.42%) — continued


     

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
5.50%, due 08/01/35

  $ 1,938,419   $ 1,916,862

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
5.55%, due 06/08/15

    1,000,000     993,165

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
6.00%, due 11/09/15

    300,000     299,581

Government National Mortgage Assoc., 5.00%, due 05/01/30

    1,000,000     974,597
         

Total United States
Government Agencies
(Cost $7,200,880)

          7,136,581
             

UNITED STATES TREASURY OBLIGATION (5.68%)


     

U.S. Treasury Note, 2.50%, due 05/31/06
(Cost $1,998,679)

    2,000,000     1,985,460
             

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (13.73%)


     

COMMERCIAL PAPER (4.58%)

           

NONDEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS

           

American Express Credit Corp.,
4.17%, due 01/05/06

    450,000     450,000

American General Finance Corp.,
4.29%, due 01/17/06

    750,000     750,000

General Electric Capital Corp.,
4.28%, due 01/26/06

    400,000     400,000
         

Total Commercial Paper
(Cost $1,600,000)

          1,600,000
             

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (8.34%)

     

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
due 02/01/06

    625,000     622,671

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 01/09/06

    400,000     399,591

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 01/17/06

    350,000     349,323

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 01/26/06

    450,000     448,636

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 02/07/06

    1,100,000     1,095,129
         

Total United States
Government Agencies
(Cost $2,915,350)

          2,915,350
    Shares
Held


  Value

           

MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUND (0.81%)

     

JPMorgan U.S. Treasury Plus Money Market Fund
(Cost $281,814)

  281,814   $ 281,814
       

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $4,797,164)

        4,797,164
       

Total Investments (99.40%)
(Cost $34,507,575)

        34,737,480
           

OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (0.60%)


     

Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities

        208,362
       

Total Net Assets (100.00%)

      $ 34,945,842
       

 

(1) Each unit was purchased at 104.481 on 04/20/01. As of 12/31/05, the carrying value of each unit was 114.431, representing $801,017 or 2.29% of total net assets.
(2) The company filed for bankruptcy protection on 09/15/05. Interest payments are current at 12/31/05.

 

See accompanying notes.

 

20


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

STRATEGIC YIELD PORTFOLIO

December 31, 2005

 

    Shares
Held


  Value

             

PREFERRED STOCKS (0.97%)


           

HOLDING AND OTHER INVESTMENT OFFICES

     

New Plan Excel Realty Trust-
Series D, 7.80%
(Cost $350,000)

    7,000   $ 359,625
             
    Principal
Amount


   

CORPORATE BONDS (63.63%)


           

APPAREL AND ACCESSORY STORES (4.02%)

     

Woolworth (FW) Corp.,
8.50%, due 01/15/22

  $ 1,400,000     1,491,000
             

CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (4.65%)

     

Lyondell Chemical Co.,
9.625%, due 05/01/07

    900,000     943,875

Nova Chemicals, Ltd.,
7.875%, due 09/15/25

    800,000     780,000
         

            1,723,875

COMMUNICATIONS (1.36%)

           

Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.,
7.00%, due 08/01/06

    500,000     503,975
             

ELECTRIC, GAS AND SANITARY SERVICES (9.29%)

     

Alliant Energy Resources, Inc.,
9.75%, due 01/15/13

    1,000,000     1,253,690

ESI Tractebel, 7.99%, due 12/30/11

    285,000     300,546

Indianapolis Power & Light Co.,
7.05%, due 02/01/24

    750,000     772,680

Semco Energy, Inc.,
7.125%, due 05/15/08

    900,000     915,750

Waterford 3 Nuclear Power Plant,
8.09%, due 01/02/17

    193,776     201,085
         

            3,443,751

GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORES (0.03%)

     

DR Structured Finance,
8.35%, due 02/15/04 (1)

    115,462     11,546
             

HOLDING AND OTHER INVESTMENT OFFICES (16.25%)

     

Bradley Operating LP,
7.20%, due 01/15/08

    450,000     463,194

Federal Realty Investment Trust,
7.48%, due 08/15/26

    600,000     634,723

First Industrial LP,
7.60%, due 07/15/28

    700,000     785,575

First Industrial LP,
7.75%, due 04/15/32

    500,000     574,450

HRPT Properties,
6.25%, due 08/15/16

    375,000     392,831
    Principal
Amount


  Value

             

iStar Financial, Inc.,
7.00%, due 03/15/08

  $ 300,000   $ 311,730

iStar Financial, Inc.-Series B,
5.70%, due 03/01/14

    1,171,000     1,160,766

Price Development Co.,
7.29%, due 03/11/08

    337,500     344,507

Spieker Properties LP,
7.35%, due 12/01/17

    1,200,000     1,355,028
         

            6,022,804

INSURANCE CARRIERS (4.67%)

           

Markel Capital Trust,
8.71%, due 01/01/46

    1,000,000     1,065,180

PXRE Capital Trust,
8.85%, due 02/01/27

    670,000     664,975
         

            1,730,155

MOTION PICTURES (2.49%)

           

Time Warner, Inc.,
8.375%, due 03/15/23

    800,000     922,536
             

PAPER AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (7.81%)

     

Bowater, Inc., 9.375%, due 12/15/21

    900,000     895,500

Cascades, Inc., 7.25%, due 02/15/13

    1,000,000     920,000

Potlatch Corp., 13.00%, due 12/01/09

    900,000     1,077,750
         

            2,893,250

TRANSPORTATION — BY AIR (3.64%)

     

Continental Airlines, Inc.,
7.461%, due 04/01/15

    1,234,985     1,154,217

Northwest Airlines-Series 1999-2A,
7.575%, due 03/01/19 (2)

    194,694     195,171
         

            1,349,388

WATER TRANSPORTATION (5.90%)

           

Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc., 8.75%, due 12/01/13

    1,100,000     1,210,000

Windsor Petroleum Transportation, 144A, 7.84%, due 01/15/21 (3)

    1,000,000     976,680
         

            2,186,680

WHOLESALE TRADE — NONDURABLE GOODS (3.52%)

           

Safeway, Inc., 7.45%, due 09/15/27

    1,200,000     1,305,852
         

Total Corporate Bonds
(Cost $22,920,659)

          23,584,812
             

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (13.81%)


     

Federal Home Loan Bank,
5.50%, due 05/18/15

    1,000,000     991,136

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
5.50%, due 10/01/25

    1,000,000     997,780

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
5.50%, due 08/01/35

    1,453,814     1,437,646

 

21


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

STRATEGIC YIELD PORTFOLIO (continued)

 

    Principal
Amount


  Value

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES (13.81%) — continued


           
             

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
5.55%, due 06/08/15

  $ 1,000,000   $ 993,165

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
6.00%, due 11/09/15

    700,000     699,022
         

Total United States
Government Agencies
(Cost $5,126,275)

          5,118,749
             

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (20.20%)


     

COMMERCIAL PAPER (3.91%)

           

DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (3.24%)

     

Citigroup CP, 4.26%, due 01/17/06

    1,200,000     1,200,000
             

NONDEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (0.67%)

     

American General Finance Corp.,
4.29%, due 01/11/06

    250,000     250,000
         

Total Commercial Paper
(Cost $1,450,000)

          1,450,000
             

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (15.48%)

     

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/11/06

    700,000     699,106

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/25/06

    400,000     398,845

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
due 01/03/06

    1,000,000     999,656

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 01/09/06

    1,850,000     1,848,123

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 01/17/06

    300,000     299,420

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 02/01/06

    400,000     398,505

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 02/07/06

    1,100,000     1,095,129
         

Total United States
Government Agencies
(Cost $5,738,784)

          5,738,784
    Shares
Held


  Value

           

MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUND (0.81%)

     

JPMorgan U.S. Treasury Plus Money Market Fund
(Cost $299,803)

  299,803   $ 299,803
       

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $7,488,587)

        7,488,587
       

Total Investments (98.61%)
(Cost $35,885,521)

        36,551,773
           

OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (1.39%)


     

Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities

        515,569
       

Total Net Assets (100.00%)

      $ 37,067,342
       

 

(1) This security is past due. Partial or no interest was received from this security on its last scheduled interest payment date.
(2) The company filed for bankruptcy protection on 09/15/05. Interest payments are current at 12/31/05.
(3) Each unit was purchased at 80.500 on 08/26/99. As of 12/31/05, the carrying value of each unit was 97.668, representing $976,680 or 2.63% of net assets.

 

See accompanying notes.

 

22


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MANAGED PORTFOLIO

December 31, 2005

 

    Shares
Held


  Value

           

COMMON STOCKS (56.30%)


         

APPAREL AND OTHER TEXTILE PRODUCTS (0.35%)

     

Jones Apparel Group, Inc.

  9,600   $ 294,912
           

AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, SERVICES AND PARKING (0.65%)

     

Ryder System, Inc.

  13,300     545,566
           

BUSINESS SERVICES (0.49%)

         

Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (1)

  3,800     224,884

Electronic Data Systems Corp.

  7,500     180,300
       

          405,184

CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (9.59%)

     

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

  19,605     450,523

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

  4,230     232,015

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.

  16,475     700,187

GlaxoSmithKline PLC

  4,700     237,256

IVAX Corp. (1)

  21,375     669,679

Johnson & Johnson

  18,997     1,141,720

KV Pharmaceutical Co.-Class A (1)

  12,600     259,560

Merck & Co., Inc.

  15,158     482,176

Mylan Laboratories, Inc.

  24,375     486,525

Olin Corp.

  17,100     336,528

Pfizer, Inc.

  57,854     1,349,155

Schering-Plough Corp.

  15,700     327,345

Sensient Technologies Corp.

  69,045     1,235,906

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. (1)

  6,030     84,239
       

          7,992,814

COMMUNICATIONS (2.03%)

         

BellSouth Corp.

  21,800     590,780

Comcast Corp.-Class A (1)

  9,060     235,198

Sprint Nextel Corp.

  21,801     509,271

Verizon Communications, Inc.

  11,800     355,416
       

          1,690,665

DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (6.39%)

         

AmSouth Bancorp.

  17,525     459,330

Bank of America Corp.

  14,072     649,423

Bank of New York Co., Inc.

  11,229     357,644

BOK Financial Corp.

  4,600     208,978

Citigroup, Inc.

  19,822     961,962

National City Corp.

  8,695     291,891

New York Community Bancorp., Inc.

  44,834     740,658

U. S. Bancorp.

  24,470     731,408

Wachovia Corp.

  8,328     440,218

Wilmington Trust Corp.

  12,500     486,375
       

          5,327,887

ELECTRIC, GAS AND SANITARY SERVICES (4.59%)

     

Alliant Energy Corp.

  22,115     620,105
    Shares
Held


  Value

           

Atmos Energy Corp.

  38,252   $ 1,000,672

Keyspan Corp.

  23,660     844,425

Pepco Holdings, Inc.

  40,600     908,222

Xcel Energy, Inc.

  24,690     455,777
       

          3,829,201

ELECTRONIC AND OTHER ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT (0.72%)

     

Cisco Systems, Inc. (1)

  20,100     344,112

Emerson Electric Co.

  800     59,760

Helen of Troy, Ltd. (1)

  12,334     198,701
       

          602,573

FOOD AND KINDRED PRODUCTS (1.56%)

     

Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc.

  7,910     339,814

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

  24,914     505,256

Sara Lee Corp.

  24,100     455,490
       

          1,300,560

FOOD STORES (0.57%)

         

Kroger Co. (1)

  25,186     475,512
           

GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORES (1.59%)

     

Federated Department Stores, Inc.

  3,831     254,110

Fred’s, Inc.

  27,440     446,449

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

  13,390     626,652
       

          1,327,211

HEALTH SERVICES (1.19%)

         

Health Management Associates, Inc.

  17,400     382,104

Lifepoint Hospitals, Inc. (1)

  8,429     316,088

Universal Health Services,
Inc.-Class B

  6,350     296,799
       

          994,991

HOLDING AND OTHER INVESTMENT OFFICES (1.46%)

     

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

  12,960     368,712

Tortoise Energy Capital Corp.

  38,108     847,522
       

          1,216,234

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT (2.43%)

     

Hewlett-Packard Co.

  6,900     197,547

Ingersoll-Rand Co., Ltd.-Class A

  20,444     825,324

SPX Corp.

  8,696     398,016

Stanley Works (The)

  12,500     600,500
       

          2,021,387

INSTRUMENTS AND RELATED PRODUCTS (1.29%)

     

Becton Dickinson & Co.

  13,835     831,207

Fisher Scientific International, Inc. (1)

  3,920     242,491
       

          1,073,698

INSURANCE CARRIERS (3.17%)

     

Allstate Corp.

  10,395     562,058

American International Group, Inc.

  6,170     420,979

 

23


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MANAGED PORTFOLIO (continued)

 

    Shares
Held


  Value

           

INSURANCE CARRIERS (3.17%) — continued

     

MBIA, Inc.

  4,551   $ 273,788

MetLife, Inc.

  4,855     237,895

Protective Life Corp.

  6,200     271,374

Safeco Corp.

  7,925     447,762

WellPoint, Inc. (1)

  5,328     425,121
       

          2,638,977

METAL MINING (2.77%)

         

Barrick Gold Corp.

  41,200     1,148,244

Placer Dome, Inc.

  50,500     1,157,965
       

          2,306,209

OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION (3.27%)

     

Apache Corp.

  6,700     459,084

Burlington Resources, Inc.

  9,075     782,265

Occidental Petroleum Co.

  11,125     888,665

Rowan Cos., Inc.

  16,700     595,188
       

          2,725,202

PAPER AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (3.46%)

     

Abitibi Consolidated, Inc.

  133,500     540,675

Bemis Co., Inc.

  21,670     603,726

International Paper Co.

  22,900     769,669

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

  3,600     214,740

P.H. Glatfelter Co.

  31,300     444,147

Sonoco Products Co.

  10,600     311,640
       

          2,884,597

PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS (2.80%)

     

BP PLC

  8,100     520,182

ConocoPhillips

  31,224     1,816,612
       

          2,336,794

PRIMARY METAL INDUSTRIES (0.07%)

     

Wolverine Tube, Inc. (1)

  11,400     57,684
           

PRINTING AND PUBLISHING (1.16%)

         

Belo Corp.-Series A

  17,370     371,892

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.

  10,925     373,744

Tribune Co.

  7,375     223,168
       

          968,804

RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION (0.26%)

     

Union Pacific Corp.

  2,710     218,182
           

TOBACCO PRODUCTS (0.72%)

         

Altria Group, Inc.

  8,045     601,122
           

TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT (2.51%)

     

Federal Signal Corp.

  36,400     546,364

Honeywell International, Inc.

  27,400     1,020,650

ITT Industries, Inc.

  5,095     523,868
       

          2,090,882
    Shares
Held


  Value

             

WHOLESALE TRADE — NONDURABLE GOODS (1.21%)

     

Dean Foods Co. (1)

    10,579   $ 398,405

Safeway, Inc.

    25,755     609,363
         

            1,007,768
         

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $38,863,002)

          46,934,616
             
    Principal
Amount


   

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (3.54%)


     

GOVERNMENT NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (GNMA)

     

Pool # 2796, 7.00%, due 08/01/29

  $ 86,232     90,014

Pool # 3040, 7.00%, due 02/01/31

    51,944     54,196

Pool # 3188, 6.50%, due 02/20/32

    144,228     149,717

Pool # 3239, 6.50%, due 05/01/32

    218,275     226,581

Pool # 3333, 5.50%, due 01/01/33

    340,326     342,256

Pool # 3403, 5.50%, due 06/01/33

    284,141     285,753

Pool # 3442, 5.00%, due 09/01/33

    1,075,020     1,058,408

Pool # 3459, 5.50%, due 10/01/33

    738,199     742,387
         

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $2,923,870)

          2,949,312
             

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (12.39%)


     

Federal National Mortgage Assoc., 6.00%, due 11/09/15

    975,000     973,638

Government National Mortgage Assoc., 5.00%, due 09/01/23

    700,000     689,136

Government National Mortgage Assoc., 5.00%, due 09/01/29

    600,000     588,456

Government National Mortgage Assoc., 5.00%, due 05/01/30

    1,560,000     1,520,371

Government National Mortgage Assoc., 5.00%, due 04/01/31

    1,500,000     1,475,584

Government National Mortgage Assoc., 5.00%, due 06/01/31

    1,300,000     1,284,062

Government National Mortgage Assoc., 5.00%, due 05/01/33

    780,000     745,192

Government National Mortgage Assoc., 5.00%, due 06/01/33

    1,693,200     1,666,949

Government National Mortgage Assoc., 3.47%, due 04/01/34

    534,846     515,080

Government National Mortgage Assoc., 4.00%, due 10/01/34

    904,660     869,396
         

Total United States
Government Agencies
(Cost $10,556,376)

          10,327,864

 

24


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MANAGED PORTFOLIO (continued)

 

    Principal
Amount


  Value

             

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (27.69%)


     

COMMERCIAL PAPER (9.05%)

           

DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (1.92%)

           

Citigroup CP, 4.23%, due 01/30/06

  $ 1,600,000   $ 1,600,000
             

NONDEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (5.93%)

     

American Express Credit Corp.,
4.12%, due 01/05/06

    500,000     500,000

American Express Credit Corp.,
4.27%, due 01/18/06

    500,000     500,000

American General Finance Corp.,
4.25%, due 01/05/06

    750,000     750,000

American General Finance Corp.,
4.16%, due 01/13/06

    1,100,000     1,100,000

General Electric Capital Corp.,
4.10%, due 01/05/06

    300,000     300,000

General Electric Capital Corp.,
4.25%, due 01/10/06

    1,800,000     1,800,000
         

            4,950,000

PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS (1.20%)

     

Chevron Corp.,
4.19%, due 01/20/06

    1,000,000     1,000,000
         

Total Commercial Paper
(Cost $7,550,000)

          7,550,000
             

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (18.46%)

     

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/18/06

    1,091,000     1,088,813

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 01/25/06

    2,000,000     1,994,377

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 02/01/06

    2,000,000     1,992,648

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 02/03/06

    3,000,000     2,988,095

Federal Home Loan Bank,
due 02/08/06

    2,200,000     2,189,991

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
due 01/10/06

    950,000     948,943

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.,
due 02/21/06

    1,400,000     1,391,585

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 01/03/06

    1,700,000     1,699,426

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 02/13/06

    1,100,000     1,094,345
         

Total United States
Government Agencies
(Cost $15,388,223)

          15,388,223
    Shares
Held


  Value

           

MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUND (0.18%)

     

JPMorgan U.S. Treasury Plus Money Market Fund
(Cost $152,382)

  152,382   $ 152,382
       

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $23,090,605)

        23,090,605
       

Total Investments (99.92%)
(Cost $75,433,853)

        83,302,397
           

OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (0.08%)


     

Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities

        65,705
       

Total Net Assets (100.00%)

      $ 83,368,102
       

 

(1) Non-income producing securities.

 

See accompanying notes.

 

25


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO

December 31, 2005

 

     Annualized
Yield on
Purchase
Date


    Principal
Amount


   Value

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (92.30%)


                   

COMMERCIAL PAPER (16.30%)

                   

NONDEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (12.32%)

                   

American Express Credit Corp., 4.18%, due 02/13/06

   4.184 %   $ 250,000    $ 250,000

American General Finance Corp., 4.18%, due 01/30/06

   4.184       250,000      250,000

General Electric Capital Corp., 4.27%, due 01/13/06

   4.271       275,000      275,000
                 

                    775,000

PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS (3.98%)

                   

Chevron Corp., 4.08%, due 01/26/06

   4.081       250,000      250,000
                 

Total Commercial Paper (Cost $1,025,000)

                  1,025,000
                     

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (71.27%)

                   

Federal Farm Credit Bank, due 01/09/06

   4.057       200,000      199,800

Federal Home Loan Bank, due 01/06/06

   4.124       250,000      249,831

Federal Home Loan Bank, due 02/01/06

   4.174       250,000      249,088

Federal Home Loan Bank, due 02/10/06

   4.106       250,000      248,852

Federal Home Loan Bank, due 02/15/06

   4.218       225,000      223,810

Federal Home Loan Bank, due 02/22/06

   4.250       250,000      248,467

Federal Home Loan Bank, due 03/01/06

   4.307       225,000      223,418

Federal Home Loan Bank, due 03/08/06

   4.355       250,000      248,017

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 01/03/06

   3.967       300,000      299,902

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 01/24/06

   4.114       250,000      249,325

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 02/07/06

   4.160       250,000      248,922

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 02/28/06

   4.282       275,000      273,110

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., due 03/07/06

   4.359       300,000      297,654

Federal National Mortgage Assoc., due 01/04/06

   3.969       250,000      249,891

Federal National Mortgage Assoc., due 01/11/06

   3.988       225,000      224,730

Federal National Mortgage Assoc., due 01/17/06

   4.227       250,000      249,509

Federal National Mortgage Assoc., due 01/23/06

   4.170       250,000      249,345

Federal National Mortgage Assoc., due 03/15/06

   4.374       250,000      247,803
                 

Total United States Government Agencies (Cost $4,481,474)

                  4,481,474
                     

UNITED STATES TREASURY OBLIGATION (4.73%)

                   

U.S. Treasury Bill, due 03/23/06 (Cost $297,287)

   4.062       300,000      297,287
                 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $5,803,761)

                  5,803,761
                     

OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (7.70%)


                   

Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities

                  483,869
                 

Total Net Assets (100.00%)

                $ 6,287,630
                 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

26


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

BLUE CHIP PORTFOLIO

December 31, 2005

 

    Shares
Held


  Value

           

COMMON STOCKS (94.06%)


         

BUSINESS SERVICES (3.83%)

         

Microsoft Corp.

  93,758   $ 2,451,772

Oracle Corp. (1)

  58,314     712,014
       

          3,163,786

CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (15.03%)

     

Abbott Laboratories

  25,260     996,002

Amgen, Inc. (1)

  18,200     1,435,252

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

  36,063     828,728

Dow Chemical Co.

  10,720     469,750

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.

  16,081     683,442

Eli Lilly & Co.

  18,022     1,019,865

Johnson & Johnson

  43,580     2,619,158

Merck & Co., Inc.

  28,928     920,200

Pfizer, Inc.

  45,282     1,055,976

Procter & Gamble Co.

  41,042     2,375,511
       

          12,403,884

COMMUNICATIONS (4.10%)

         

AT&T, Inc.

  35,565     870,987

Comcast Corp.-Class A (1)

  22,486     583,736

Verizon Communications

  37,307     1,123,687

Viacom, Inc.-Class B

  24,668     804,177
       

          3,382,587

DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (10.96%)

     

Bank of America Corp.

  46,596     2,150,405

Citigroup, Inc.

  49,326     2,393,791

J. P. Morgan Chase & Co.

  47,270     1,876,146

Wachovia Corp.

  25,980     1,373,303

Wells Fargo Co.

  19,900     1,250,317
       

          9,043,962

EATING AND DRINKING PLACES (2.12%)

     

McDonald’s Corp.

  51,752     1,745,077
           

ELECTRIC, GAS AND SANITARY SERVICES (3.58%)

     

Dominion Resources, Inc.

  11,600     895,520

Exelon Corp.

  24,600     1,307,244

Southern Co.

  21,650     747,574
       

          2,950,338

ELECTRONIC AND OTHER ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT (8.27%)

     

Cisco Systems, Inc. (1)

  62,268     1,066,028

General Electric Co.

  73,576     2,578,839

Intel Corp.

  58,206     1,452,822

Motorola, Inc.

  37,949     857,268

Texas Instruments, Inc.

  27,001     865,922
       

          6,820,879

FOOD AND KINDRED PRODUCTS (3.00%)

     

Anheuser Busch Cos., Inc.

  11,432     491,119

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

  26,389     1,063,741

PepsiCo, Inc.

  15,518     916,803
       

          2,471,663
    Shares
Held


  Value

           

FORESTRY (0.51%)

         

Weyerhaeuser Co.

  6,400   $ 424,576
           

GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORES (2.42%)

     

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

  42,623     1,994,756
           

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT (8.87%)

     

3M Co.

  17,808     1,380,120

Applied Materials, Inc.

  24,000     430,560

Caterpillar, Inc.

  28,614     1,653,031

Dell, Inc. (1)

  31,210     935,988

EMC Corp. (1)

  38,068     518,486

Hewlett-Packard Co.

  41,279     1,181,818

International Business Machines Corp.

  14,821     1,218,286
       

          7,318,289

INSURANCE CARRIERS (3.14%)

         

American International Group, Inc.

  37,964     2,590,284
           

LUMBER AND WOOD PRODUCTS (1.27%)

     

Home Depot, Inc.

  25,913     1,048,958
           

MOTION PICTURES (2.14%)

         

Disney (Walt) Co.

  36,832     882,863

Time Warner, Inc.

  50,502     880,755
       

          1,763,618

NONDEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (4.15%)

     

American Express Co.

  52,797     2,716,934

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.

  14,400     702,864
       

          3,419,798

PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS (7.46%)

     

Chevron Corp.

  39,400     2,236,738

Exxon Mobil Corp.

  69,771     3,919,037
       

          6,155,775

PRIMARY METAL INDUSTRIES (1.11%)

     

Alcoa, Inc.

  30,898     913,654
           

SECURITY AND COMMODITY BROKERS (0.52%)

     

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

  10,559     432,919
           

TOBACCO PRODUCTS (3.53%)

         

Altria Group, Inc.

  38,965     2,911,465
           

TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT (8.05%)

     

Boeing Co. (The)

  32,082     2,253,440

General Motors Corp.

  16,700     324,314

Honeywell International, Inc.

  38,024     1,416,394

United Technologies Corp.

  47,402     2,650,246
       

          6,644,394
       

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $62,442,888)

        77,600,662

 

27


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

BLUE CHIP PORTFOLIO (continued)

 

    Shares
Held


  Value

             

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (5.90%)


     

MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUND (0.15%)

     

JPMorgan U.S. Treasury Plus Money Market Fund
(Cost $125,253)

    125,253   $ 125,253
             
    Principal
Amount


   

COMMERCIAL PAPER (1.54%)

           

NONDEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS

           

American Express Credit Corp.,
4.11%, due 01/04/06

  $ 350,000     350,000

General Electric Capital Corp.,
4.26%, due 01/18/06

    925,000     925,000
         

Total Commercial Paper
(Cost $1,275,000)

          1,275,000
             

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (4.21%)

     

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 01/11/06

    1,032,000     1,030,724

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 01/26/06

    1,000,000     996,960

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 02/01/06

    750,000     747,196

Federal National Mortgage Assoc.,
due 02/15/06

    700,000     696,270
         

Total United States
Government Agencies
(Cost $3,471,150)

          3,471,150
         

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $4,871,403)

          4,871,403
         

Total Investments (99.96%)
(Cost $67,314,291)

          82,472,065
             

OTHER ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES (0.04%)


     

Cash, receivables, prepaid expense and other assets, less liabilities

          29,340
         

Total Net Assets (100.00%)

        $ 82,501,405
         

 

(1) Non-income producing securities.

 

See accompanying notes.

 

28


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2005

 

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). 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).

 

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 as obtained from one or more dealers that make markets in the securities. 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 90 days 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. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments for certain basis adjustments resulting from a taxable spin-off and 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.

 

29


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

1.   Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles 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.

 

2.   Federal Income Taxes

 

No provision for federal income taxes is considered necessary because the Fund is qualified as a “regulated investment company” under the Internal Revenue Code and intends to distribute each year substantially all of its net investment income and realized capital gains to shareholders.

 

As of December 31, 2005, the following Portfolios had approximate net capital loss carryforwards set forth below:

 

     Portfolio

Net Capital Loss Carryforwards Expire In:


   Value
Growth


     Strategic
Yield


     Blue
Chip


2008

   $ 977,000      $      $

2010

            1,689,000        1,786,000

2011

            571,000        4,672,000

2012

                   556,000

2013

                   60,000
    

    

    

     $ 977,000      $ 2,260,000      $ 7,074,000
    

    

    

 

During 2005, the Value Growth and Strategic Yield Portfolios utilized approximately $5,415,000 and $2,000 of capital loss carryforwards, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2005, the Strategic Yield Portfolio had post-October capital losses of $98 that were deferred to the first day of the next fiscal year.

 

30


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

2.   Federal Income Taxes (continued)

 

As of December 31, 2005, the components of accumulated earnings and capital gains (losses) on a tax basis were identical to those reported in the statements of assets and liabilities, except as follows:

 

     Portfolio

     Value Growth

     Managed

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 836,213      $ 1,977,143

Accumulated capital gains (losses)

     (976,836 )      4,643,149

Net unrealized appreciation of investments

     5,185,523        8,019,617
    


  

Total accumulated earnings

   $ 5,044,900      $ 14,639,909
    


  

 

Differences between book and tax amounts 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 entered into an agreement 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 and distributor. There are no 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, 2005, EquiTrust Investment further agreed to reimburse any Portfolio, to the extent that annual operating expenses, including the investment advisory fee, exceed 0.65%. For the year ended December 31, 2005, no expense reimbursements were made to the Fund by EquiTrust Investment.

 

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, 2005, 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:

 

Portfolio


   Shares

Value Growth

   4,335,512

High Grade Bond

   3,218,091

Strategic Yield

   3,685,454

Managed

   5,101,212

Money Market

   5,514,010

Blue Chip

   2,286,272

 

31


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

4.   Capital Share Transactions

 

Transactions in shares of beneficial interest for each Portfolio were as follows:

 

    Shares Sold

  Shares Issued In
Reinvestment of
Dividends and
Distributions


  Shares Redeemed

  Net Increase
(Decrease)


 

Portfolio


  Shares

  Amount

  Shares

  Amount

  Shares

  Amount

  Shares

    Amount

 

Year ended December 31, 2005:

                       

Value Growth

  221,957   $ 2,908,508   53,423   $ 665,116   358,299   $ 4,688,291   (82,919 )   $ (1,114,667 )

High Grade Bond

  664,378     6,808,079   149,086     1,528,984   262,031     2,690,002   551,433       5,647,061  

Strategic Yield

  833,599     7,731,637   206,966     1,920,635   254,892     2,373,545   785,673       7,278,727  

Managed

  655,902     10,084,258   175,742     2,597,468   334,379     5,134,191   497,265       7,547,535  

Money Market

  36,520,136     36,520,136   122,167     122,167   36,946,738     36,946,738   (304,435 )     (304,435 )

Blue Chip

  116,352     4,011,812   48,130     1,621,030   241,530     8,334,683   (77,048 )     (2,701,841 )
                                             

Year ended December 31, 2004:

                       

Value Growth

  272,309   $ 3,248,659   47,356   $ 563,058   314,657   $ 3,757,688   5,008     $ 54,029  

High Grade Bond

  498,678     5,149,599   124,573     1,289,118   293,329     3,040,003   329,922       3,398,714  

Strategic Yield

  547,463     5,049,478   181,300     1,675,145   250,424     2,315,693   478,339       4,408,930  

Managed

  436,280     6,407,882   94,010     1,367,844   282,774     4,163,866   247,516       3,611,860  

Money Market

  29,459,979     29,459,979   33,224     33,224   29,628,690     29,628,690   (135,487 )     (135,487 )

Blue Chip

  174,207     5,808,441   35,399     1,194,008   166,223     5,550,599   43,383       1,451,850  

 

5.   Investment Transactions

 

For the year ended December 31, 2005, 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

   $ 8,907,956      $ 13,540,833

High Grade Bond

     1,893,282        191,161

Strategic Yield

     588,610        239,992

Managed

     9,979,378        12,986,831

Blue Chip

           

 

The basis of the Fund’s investments in securities and the net unrealized appreciation of investments for U.S. federal income tax purposes as of December 31, 2005, by Portfolio, was composed of the following:

 

Portfolio


   Tax Cost of
Investments
in Securities


     Gross Unrealized

     Net Unrealized
Appreciation
of Investments


        Appreciation

     Depreciation

    

Value Growth

   $ 55,030,258      $ 10,234,508      $ 5,048,985      $ 5,185,523

High Grade Bond

     34,507,575        474,130        244,225        229,905

Strategic Yield

     35,885,521        1,120,476        454,224        666,252

Managed

     75,282,780        11,137,585        3,117,968        8,019,617

Blue Chip

     67,314,291        24,533,063        9,375,289        15,157,774

 

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.

 

32


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

6.   Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

 

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

Payable Date


   High Grade
Bond


     Strategic
Yield


     Money
Market


January 31, 2005

   $ 0.0378      $ 0.0430      $ 0.0014

February 28, 2005

     0.0383        0.0475        0.0014

March 31, 2005

     0.0395        0.0454        0.0016

April 29, 2005

     0.0366        0.0412        0.0017

May 31, 2005

     0.0398        0.0443        0.0020

June 30, 2005

     0.0404        0.0454        0.0020

July 29, 2005

     0.0367        0.0408        0.0021

August 31, 2005

     0.0425        0.0463        0.0025

September 30, 2005

     0.0416        0.0432        0.0023

October 31, 2005

     0.0397        0.0433        0.0022

November 30, 2005

     0.0403        0.0442        0.0025

December 30, 2005

     0.0410        0.0456        0.0031
    

    

    

Total dividends per share

   $ 0.4742      $ 0.5302      $ 0.0248
    

    

    

 

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, 2005 for the following Portfolios:

 

Ordinary Income Dividends:

 

Portfolio


   Declaration
Date


     Record
Date


     Payable
Date


     Amount
Per Share


     Percent
Qualifying for
Deductions by
Corporations


 

Value Growth

   1/19/05      1/19/05      1/20/05      $ 0.1482      100 %

Managed

   1/19/05      1/19/05      1/20/05        0.2711      77 %

Blue Chip

   1/19/05      1/19/05      1/20/05        0.6730      100 %

 

Capital Gains Distributions:

 

Portfolio


   Declaration
Date


     Record
Date


     Payable
Date


     Amount
Per Share


High Grade Bond

   1/19/05      1/19/05      1/20/05      $ 0.0151

Managed

   1/19/05      1/19/05      1/20/05        0.2715

 

The federal income tax character of dividends and distributions to shareholders during 2005 and 2004 was the same for financial reporting purposes.

 

33


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Years Ended December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001

 

     Value Growth
Portfolio


    High Grade Bond
Portfolio


    Strategic Yield
Portfolio


 
     2005

    2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

    2005

    2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

    2005

    2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 12.98     $ 11.76     $ 9.14     $ 10.39     $ 9.92     $ 10.38     $ 10.42     $ 10.39     $ 10.08     $ 9.82     $ 9.37     $ 9.13     $ 8.75     $ 8.90     $ 8.82  

Income From Investment Operations

                                                                                                                        

Net investment income

     0.19       0.15       0.12       0.14       0.18       0.47       0.45       0.47       0.50       0.62       0.53       0.55       0.63       0.62       0.73  

Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized and unrealized)

     0.63       1.20       2.64       (1.20 )     0.50       (0.20 )           0.08       0.32       0.26       (0.23 )     0.24       0.38       (0.15 )     0.08  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total from investment operations

     0.82       1.35       2.76       (1.06 )     0.68       0.27       0.45       0.55       0.82       0.88       0.30       0.79       1.01       0.47       0.81  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                                                                                        

Dividends (from net investment income)

     (0.15 )     (0.13 )     (0.14 )     (0.19 )     (0.21 )     (0.47 )     (0.45 )     (0.47 )     (0.50 )     (0.62 )     (0.53 )     (0.55 )     (0.63 )     (0.62 )     (0.73 )

Distributions (from capital gains)

                                   (0.02 )     (0.04 )     (0.05 )     (0.01 )                                    
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total distributions

     (0.15 )     (0.13 )     (0.14 )     (0.19 )     (0.21 )     (0.49 )     (0.49 )     (0.52 )     (0.51 )     (0.62 )     (0.53 )     (0.55 )     (0.63 )     (0.62 )     (0.73 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net asset value, end of period

   $ 13.65     $ 12.98     $ 11.76     $ 9.14     $ 10.39     $ 10.16     $ 10.38     $ 10.42     $ 10.39     $ 10.08     $ 9.14     $ 9.37     $ 9.13     $ 8.75     $ 8.90  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return:

                                                                                                                        

Total investment return based on net asset value (1)

     6.41 %     11.53 %     30.68 %     (10.43 )%     6.98 %     2.65 %     4.30 %     5.43 %     8.37 %     9.10 %     3.26 %     8.94 %     11.97 %     5.43 %     9.22 %
                                                                                                                          

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                                                                                                                        

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

   $ 60,223     $ 58,354     $ 52,812     $ 40,953     $ 45,522     $ 34,946     $ 29,980     $ 26,659     $ 24,984     $ 18,908     $ 37,067     $ 30,637     $ 25,498     $ 22,395     $ 20,182  

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

     0.58 %     0.58 %     0.63 %     0.59 %     0.57 %     0.45 %     0.45 %     0.49 %     0.46 %     0.45 %     0.59 %     0.59 %     0.65 %     0.61 %     0.59 %

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.58 %     0.58 %     0.63 %     0.59 %     0.57 %     0.45 %     0.45 %     0.49 %     0.46 %     0.45 %     0.59 %     0.59 %     0.65 %     0.61 %     0.59 %

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

     1.42 %     1.22 %     1.26 %     1.46 %     1.89 %     4.63 %     4.34 %     4.51 %     4.92 %     6.10 %     5.71 %     5.98 %     7.07 %     7.04 %     7.93 %

Portfolio turnover rate

     18 %     17 %     17 %     15 %     40 %     12 %     26 %     28 %     22 %     17 %     1 %     34 %     32 %     34 %     33 %

Note: Net investment income per share amounts have been calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

(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.

 

See accompanying notes.

 

34


EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

 

     Managed
Portfolio


    Money Market
Portfolio


    Blue Chip
Portfolio


 
     2005

    2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

    2005

    2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

    2005

    2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 15.67     $ 14.73     $ 12.34     $ 13.00     $ 12.58     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 35.17     $ 33.65     $ 27.22     $ 34.14     $ 39.29  

Income From Investment Operations

                                                                                                                        

Net investment income

     0.35       0.27       0.30       0.34       0.44       0.02       0.01       0.01       0.01       0.03       0.70       0.67       0.50       0.46       0.50  

Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized and unrealized)

     0.32       0.97       2.43       (0.57 )     0.55                                     0.07       1.35       6.38       (6.88 )     (4.83 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total from investment operations

     0.67       1.24       2.73       (0.23 )     0.99       0.02       0.01       0.01       0.01       0.03       0.77       2.02       6.88       (6.42 )     (4.33 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                                                                                        

Dividends (from net investment income)

     (0.27 )     (0.30 )     (0.34 )     (0.43 )     (0.57 )     (0.02 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.03 )     (0.67 )     (0.50 )     (0.45 )     (0.50 )     (0.56 )

Distributions (from capital gains)

     (0.27 )                                                                                   (0.26 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total distributions

     (0.54 )     (0.30 )     (0.34 )     (0.43 )     (0.57 )     (0.02 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.03 )     (0.67 )     (0.50 )     (0.45 )     (0.50 )     (0.82 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net asset value, end of period

   $ 15.80     $ 15.67     $ 14.73     $ 12.34     $ 13.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 1.00     $ 35.27     $ 35.17     $ 33.65     $ 27.22     $ 34.14  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return:

                                                                                                                        

Total investment return based on net asset value (1)

     4.53 %     8.58 %     22.72 %     (1.80 )%     8.12 %     2.50 %     0.74 %     0.52 %     1.16 %     3.51 %     2.29 %     6.07 %     25.70 %     (19.07 )%     (11.28 )%
                                                                                                                          

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

                                                                                                                        

Net assets, end of period (000’s omitted)

   $ 83,368     $ 74,876     $ 66,733     $ 54,428     $ 53,795     $ 6,288     $ 6,592     $ 6,728     $ 8,150     $ 9,320     $ 82,501     $ 84,960     $ 79,832     $ 63,699     $ 79,124  

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets

     0.56 %     0.56 %     0.62 %     0.58 %     0.56 %     0.61 %     0.56 %     0.59 %     0.52 %     0.50 %     0.31 %     0.30 %     0.36 %     0.31 %     0.28 %

Ratio of net expenses to average net assets

     0.56 %     0.56 %     0.62 %     0.58 %     0.56 %     0.61 %     0.56 %     0.59 %     0.52 %     0.48 %     0.31 %     0.30 %     0.36 %     0.31 %     0.28 %

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

     2.34 %     1.87 %     2.35 %     2.73 %     3.47 %     2.47 %     0.72 %     0.53 %     1.16 %     3.41 %     1.98 %     2.00 %     1.72 %     1.50 %     1.42 %

Portfolio turnover rate

     24 %     26 %     24 %     18 %     40 %     %     %     %     %     %     %     1 %     17 %     %     %

Note: Net investment income per share amounts have been calculated based on average shares outstanding for the period.

 

(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.

 

See accompanying notes.

 

35


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 [comprised of the Value Growth, High Grade Bond, Strategic Yield, Managed, Money Market and Blue Chip Portfolios] as of December 31, 2005, 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, 2005, 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, 2005, 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.

 

LOGO

 

Des Moines, Iowa

February 1, 2006

 

36


OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES

 

Name, Address and Age   Position(s) Held
with Fund
  Term of
Office &
Length
of Time
Served(1)
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
  Other Directorships Held by Trustee

Interested Persons(2)

                   

Craig A. Lang (54)

  President and Trustee   Since 2002   Chairman and Director, FBL Financial Group, Inc.; President and Director, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and other affiliates of the foregoing; Director, Western Agricultural Insurance Company and other affiliates of the foregoing; President and Director, EquiTrust Series Fund, Inc. and EquiTrust Money Market Fund, Inc.; Member, Growmark, Inc. Coordinating Committee and American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors; past member, Cattlemen’s Beef Board; Dairy Farmer.   13   Director, Farm Bureau Bank (San Antonio, Texas); Director, Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. (Newton, Iowa); Vice Chair, Iowa Economic Development Board (Des Moines, Iowa)

William J. Oddy (61)

  Vice President and Trustee   Since 1981   Chief Executive Officer and Management Director, FBL Financial Group, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer, Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and other affiliates of the foregoing; Chief Executive Officer and Director, EquiTrust Life Insurance Company and other affiliates of the foregoing; Chief Executive Officer and Manager, EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC; Chief Executive Officer and Director, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.; Vice President and Director, EquiTrust Series Fund, Inc. and EquiTrust Money Market Fund, Inc.; President and Director, FBL Real Estate Ventures, Ltd.   13   Director, American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, Berthel Fisher & Company, Inc. and Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc.

James W. Noyce (50)

  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer   Since 1996   Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, FBL Financial Group, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing; Chief Administrative Officer, Treasurer and Manager, EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC; Vice President, Treasurer and Director, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing; President, Treasurer and Director, FBL Leasing Services, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, Western Computer Services, Inc.; Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, EquiTrust Series Fund, Inc. and EquiTrust Money Market Fund, Inc.        

Dennis M. Marker (54)

  Chief Executive Officer   Since 1982   Vice President-Investment Administration, FBL Financial Group, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing; President and Director, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer, Vice President-Investment Administration and Manager, EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC; Chief Executive Officer, EquiTrust Series Fund, Inc. and EquiTrust Money Market Fund, Inc.; Vice President and Director, FBL Leasing Services, Inc.        

Stephen M. Morain (60)

  Senior Vice President and General Counsel   Since 1982   General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; General Counsel, Secretary and Director, Farm Bureau Management Corporation; Senior Vice President and General Counsel, FBL Financial Group, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing; Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Manager, EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC; Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Director, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.        

JoAnn Rumelhart (52)

  Executive Vice President   Since 2000   Executive Vice President, Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and other affiliates of the foregoing; Executive Vice President and Director, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.; Executive Vice President and Manager, EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC.; Executive Vice President, EquiTrust Series Fund, Inc. and EquiTrust Money Market Fund, Inc.; Vice President, EquiTrust Life Insurance Company.        

John M. Paule (49)

  Chief Marketing Officer   Since 2000   Chief Marketing Officer, FBL Financial Group, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing; Executive Vice President, EquiTrust Life Insurance Company; Chief Marketing Officer and Director, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.; Chief Marketing Officer and Manager, EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC.        

Lou Ann Sandburg (57)

  Vice President-Investments and Assistant Treasurer   Since 1999   Vice President-Investments and Assistant Treasurer, FBL Financial Group, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing; Chief Compliance Officer, Vice President-Investments, Assistant Treasurer and Director, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.; Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Manager, EquiTrust Marketing Services, LLC; Vice President, FBL Financial Services, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing; Vice President and Director, FBL Leasing Services, Inc.; Vice President, Secretary and Director, FBL Real Estate Ventures, Ltd.        

 

37


Name, Address and Age   Position(s) Held
with Fund
  Term of
Office &
Length
of Time
Served(1)
  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years
  Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
  Other Directorships Held by Trustee

Kristi Rojohn (42)

  Chief Compliance Officer, Investment Compliance Vice President and Secretary   Since 1990   Chief Compliance Officer, Investment Compliance Vice President and Secretary, EquiTrust Series Fund, Inc. and EquiTrust Money Market Fund, Inc.; Investment Compliance Vice President and Secretary, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing.        

Rob Ruisch (39)

  Mutual Fund Accounting Director   Since 2005   Mutual Fund Accounting Director, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing.        

Karen Garza (36)

  Assistant Secretary   Since 2005   Assistant Secretary, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing.        

Rebecca L. Howe (51)

  Assistant Secretary   Since 2003   Assistant Secretary, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing.        

Jennifer Morgan (35)

  Assistant Secretary   Since 2005   Assistant Secretary, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing.        

Jodi Winslow (30)

  Assistant Secretary   Since 2004   Assistant Secretary, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. and other affiliates of the foregoing.        

Non-Interested Persons

                   

Erwin H. Johnson (63)

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; Seed Sales, Syngenta.   13   Director, First Security Bank and Trust Co. (Charles City, Iowa)

Kenneth Kay (63)

51606 590th Street

Atlantic, Iowa

50022-8233

  Trustee   Since 1996   President, K-Ranch Inc.   13   Director, First Whitney Bank & Trust (Atlantic, Iowa)

Steven W. Plate (49)

c/o Plate, Baker & Co.

1003 Main Street

Grinnell, Iowa

50112

  Trustee   Since 2003   CPA/Owner, Plate, Baker & Co., P.C., Certified Public Accountants.   13    

James D. Wallace (51)

1111 Ashworth Road

West Des Moines, Iowa

50265

  Trustee   Since 2004   President and CEO, GuideOne Insurance and various subsidiaries; former President and CEO, National Travelers Life Company and various subsidiaries.   13    

Erlin J. Weness (61)

1620 Pinewood Drive

Worthington,

Minnesota 56187

  Trustee   Since 2003   Owner and Operator, Weness Consulting; Extension Educator — Farm Management, University of Minnesota.   13   Director, First State Bank Southwest (Worthington, Minnesota), First State Insurance Agency (Worthington, Minnesota) and First Rushmore Bancorporation (Worthington, Minnesota)

 

1 Officers are elected annually by the Board of Trustees and their terms continue until they are replaced or resign. Each trustee shall serve as trustee until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of conducting the election of such trustee or a successor to such trustee and until a successor is elected and qualified, or until such trustee sooner dies, resigns or is removed.
2 All interested persons maintain the same business address of 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. Messrs. Lang and Oddy are interested trustees of the Fund by virtue of their positions with the Adviser, Distributor and/or affiliated persons of the Adviser and Distributor.

 

The Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) includes additional information about Fund trustees and is available upon request without charge. To request a copy of the SAI, please call 1-877-860-2904 M-F 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

 

The officers and trustees of the Fund also serve in similar capacities as officers and directors of EquiTrust Series Fund, Inc. and EquiTrust Money Market Fund, Inc. All of the Fund’s officers and interested trustees are officers and directors of the Adviser and/or the Distributor or an affiliate thereof. Interested trustees serve without any compensation from the Fund. Each of the trustees not affiliated with the Adviser and/or the Distributor or an affiliate thereof is compensated by the Fund. Effective January 1, 2006, each unaffiliated trustee will receive an annual retainer of $8,000 for serving on the boards of all EquiTrust Mutual Funds, and a fee of $1,500 plus expenses for each trustees’ meeting of the EquiTrust Mutual Funds attended. A fee of $1,000 shall be paid for each committee meeting attended. The chairperson of a committee shall be paid $750 for each committee meeting attended. A fee of $250 shall be paid for each telephonic board meeting attended. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, the Fund paid trustees’ fees totaling $25,583.

 

38


APPROVAL OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY CONTRACT

 

On November 17, 2005 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 dated April 6, 1987, as amended August 21, 1996, May 1, 1997 and May 21, 2003 (the “Agreement”) between EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund (the “Fund”) and EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. (the “Adviser”).

 

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 recognizes that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious investment adviser is in the best interests of shareholders and that shareholders have invested in the Portfolios knowing that the Adviser managed the Portfolios and knowing 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, including the fact that the Fund has had no material compliance issues.

 

The Board also reviewed and discussed reports prepared by the Adviser containing information on each Portfolio’s total returns and average annual total returns over various periods of time as compared to relevant market indices and a peer group of funds pursuing broadly similar strategies. The Board also considered for each Portfolio, with the exception of the Money Market Portfolio, the Portfolio’s Morningstar rating. The Board concluded that as to each Portfolio, the investment performance was satisfactory, and in some cases, good versus relevant market indices, and was in line with the other 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. For each Portfolio, the Board compared the amounts paid to the Adviser for advisory services and each Portfolio’s expense ratio with other registered funds pursuing broadly similar strategies as included in reports prepared by the Adviser. This information showed that, with the exception of the High Grade Bond Portfolio, the advisory fee of each Portfolio was below average compared to other mutual funds pursuing broadly similar strategies. This information also showed that the expense ratio for each Portfolio was below average compared to similar mutual funds. In addition, the Board considered amounts paid to the Adviser by other EquiTrust 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 than 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 than 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. 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 requested and received from the Adviser information on each Portfolio’s net assets and expense ratios over a ten-year period. 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 reviewed each Portfolio’s net assets and expense ratios over a ten-year period. The Board noted that the High Grade Bond, Strategic Yield 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.

 

39


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 that the Adviser does not engage in soft dollar arrangements in connection with brokerage transactions for the Portfolios. 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:

 

EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund (the “Fund”) has delegated the authority to vote proxies related to the Fund’s portfolio securities to the Fund’s investment adviser, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. (the “Adviser”). 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, 2005 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.

 

40


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, 2004 and December 31, 2005, the aggregate fees billed by the Fund’s principal accountant for the audit of the Fund’s financial statements were $49,000 and $54,900, respectively.

 

  (b) Audit-Related Fees: There were no audit-related fees billed to the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2005.

 

  (c) Tax Fees: None.

 

  (d) All Other Fees: For the Fund’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2005, 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, 2004      

   December 31, 2005      

Fees related to audits of EquiTrust Series Fund, Inc. and EquiTrust Money Market Fund, Inc. and for research and consultation on miscellaneous accounting matters

   $ 69,250    $ 75,008

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

   $ 35,300    $ 42,700


  (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.


    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: There were no non-audit fees billed by the Fund’s principal accountant for services rendered to the Fund, the Fund’s investment adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Fund’s investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2005.


  (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 that provides ongoing services to the Fund 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 Registrants.

 

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.


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.


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/ Dennis M. Marker


Name:

  Dennis M. Marker

Title:

  Chief Executive Officer

Date:

  February 24, 2006

 

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/ Dennis M. Marker


Name:

  Dennis M. Marker

Title:

  Chief Executive Officer

Date:

  February 24, 2006

 

By:

 

/s/ James W. Noyce


Name:

  James W. Noyce

Title:

  Chief Financial Officer

Date:

  February 24, 2006