0001868420-23-000097.txt : 20230531 0001868420-23-000097.hdr.sgml : 20230531 20230531100440 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001868420-23-000097 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: N-CSRS PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20230331 FILED AS OF DATE: 20230531 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20230531 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20230531 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FRANKLIN STRATEGIC MORTGAGE PORTFOLIO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000893226 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: FL FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: N-CSRS SEC ACT: 1940 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-07288 FILM NUMBER: 23979293 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY CITY: SAN MATEO STATE: CA ZIP: 94403-1906 BUSINESS PHONE: 650-312-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY CITY: SAN MATEO STATE: CA ZIP: 94403-1906 0000893226 S000006875 FRANKLIN STRATEGIC MORTGAGE PORTFOLIO C000018610 Class A1 FSMIX C000112386 Class A FSMFX C000112387 Class C C000112388 Advisor Class FSMZX C000194406 Class R6 FSMQX N-CSRS 1 primary-document.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM N-CSRS
 
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
 
Investment Company Act file number 811-07288
 
Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
 
One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA  94403-1906

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
 
Alison Baur, One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA  94403-1906

(Name and address of agent for service)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 650 312-2000
 
Date of fiscal year end: 9/30
 
Date of reporting period: 3/31/23
 
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
 
a.)
 
The following is a copy of the report transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30e-1.)


b.)
 
A copy of the notice transmitted to shareholders in reliance on Rule 30e-3 under the 1940 Act that contains disclosures specified by paragraph (c)(3) of that rule is included in the Annual Report.
Not Applicable
.
 
SEMIANNUAL
REPORT
AND
SHAREHOLDER
LETTER
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
March
31,
2023
Sign
up
for
electronic
delivery
at
franklintempleton.com/edelivery
Not
FDIC
Insured
May
Lose
Value
No
Bank
Guarantee
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
1
Shareholder
Letter
Dear
Shareholder:
During
the
6-month
period
ended
March
31,
2023,
the
U.S.
Federal
Reserve
(Fed)
raised
the
federal
funds
target
rate
four
times
ending
the
period
at
a
range
of
4.75%–5.00%,
in
an
effort
to
tame
inflation.
The
Fed
noted
in
its
March
2023
meeting
that
inflation
remained
elevated
amid
robust
job
growth
and
low
unemployment.
Despite
its
goal
of
2%
long-run
inflation,
the
Fed
softened
its
firm
outlook
on
future
rate
hikes.
Furthermore,
the
Fed
indicated
it
would
continue
to
reduce
its
U.S.
Treasury
(UST)
and
agency
debt
and
mortgage-backed
security
holdings.
While
inflation
remained
elevated,
it
showed
signs
of
decelerating
and
investors
began
to
anticipate
easing
of
the
current
monetary
tightening
cycle,
boosting
bond
prices
(which
move
inversely
to
yields).
Prominent
bank
failures
late
in
the
period
also
benefited
bond
prices,
as
investors
sought
relative
stability
in
an
uncertain
market.
The
10-year
UST
yield
(which
moves
inversely
to
price),
declined
despite
higher
interest
rates,
as
inflation
continued
to
slow.
The
yield
curve
for
all
UST
maturities
inverted
further
during
the
period,
at
one
point
reaching
the
largest
inversion
in
more
than
four
decades,
as
investors
became
increasingly
concerned
about
the
economic
outlook.
In
this
environment,
mortgage-backed
securities
(MBS),
as
measured
by
the
Bloomberg
U.S.
MBS
Fixed
Rate
Index,
posted
a
+4.72%
total
return
1
for
the
period
as
the
residential
housing
market
remained
strong
despite
mortgage
rates
that
touched
20-
year
highs.
We
are
committed
to
our
long-term
perspective
and
disciplined
investment
approach
as
we
conduct
a
rigorous,
fundamental
analysis
of
securities
with
a
regular
emphasis
on
investment
risk
management.
We
believe
active,
professional
investment
management
serves
investors
well.
We
also
recognize
the
important
role
of
financial
professionals
in
today’s
markets
and
encourage
investors
to
continue
to
seek
their
advice.
Amid
changing
markets
and
economic
conditions,
we
are
confident
investors
with
a
well-diversified
portfolio
and
a
patient,
long-term
outlook
should
be
well
positioned
for
the
years
ahead.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio’s
semiannual
report
includes
more
detail
about
prevailing
conditions
and
a
discussion
about
investment
decisions
during
the
period.
Please
remember
all
securities
markets
fluctuate,
as
do
mutual
fund
share
prices.
We
thank
you
for
investing
with
Franklin
Templeton,
welcome
your
questions
and
comments,
and
look
forward
to
serving
your
investment
needs
in
the
years
ahead.
Sincerely,
Sonal
Desai,
Ph.D.
Executive
Vice
President,
Chief
Investment
Officer
Franklin
Templeton
Fixed
Income
This
letter
reflects
our
analysis
and
opinions
as
of
March
31,
2023,
unless
otherwise
indicated.
The
information
is
not
a
complete
analysis
of
every
aspect
of
any
market,
country,
industry,
security
or
fund.
Statements
of
fact
are
from
sources
considered
reliable.
1.
Source:
Morningstar.
The
index
is
unmanaged
and
includes
reinvestment
of
any
income
or
distributions.
See
www.franklintempletondatasources.com
for
additional
data
provider
information.
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
2
Contents
Semiannual
Report
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
3
Performance
Summary
6
Your
Fund’s
Expenses
8
Financial
Highlights
and
Schedule
of
Investments
9
Financial
Statements
20
Notes
to
Financial
Statements
24
Shareholder
Information
34
Visit
franklintempleton.com
for
fund
updates,
to
access
your
account,
or
to
find
helpful
financial
planning
tools.
3
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
SEMIANNUAL
REPORT
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
This
semiannual
report
for
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
covers
the
period
ended
March
31,
2023.
Your
Fund’s
Goal
and
Main
Investments
The
Fund
seeks
high
total
return
(a
combination
of
high
current
income
and
capital
appreciation)
relative
to
the
performance
of
the
general
mortgage
securities
market
by
investing
at
least
80%
of
its
net
assets
in
a
portfolio
of
mortgage
securities.
The
Fund
normally
invests
significantly
in
mortgage
securities
that
are
issued
or
guaranteed
by
the
U.S.
government,
its
agencies
or
instrumentalities,
which
include
mortgage
pass-through
securities
representing
interests
in
“pools”
of
mortgage
loans
issued
or
guaranteed
by
the
Government
National
Mortgage
Association
(Ginnie
Mae),
Fannie
Mae
and
Freddie
Mac.
1
Performance
Overview
For
the
six
months
ended
March
31,
2023,
the
Fund’s
Class
A
shares
posted
a
+3.99%
cumulative
total
return.
In
comparison,
the
Fund’s
primary
benchmark,
the
Bloomberg
U.S.
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
(MBS)
Fixed
Rate
Index,
which
measures
the
performance
of
investment-grade
fixed-rate
mortgage-backed
pass-through
securities
of
Ginnie
Mae,
Fannie
Mae
and
Freddie
Mac,
posted
a
+4.72%
cumulative
total
return.
2
In
comparison,
the
Fund’s
secondary
benchmark,
the
FTSE
U.S.
Broad
Investment-Grade
(USBIG)
Mortgage
Index,
which
tracks
the
performance
of
30-
and
15-year
Ginnie
Mae,
Fannie
Mae
and
Freddie
Mac
securities,
as
well
as
Fannie
Mae
and
Freddie
Mac
balloon
mortgages,
posted
a
+4.80%
cumulative
total
return.
2
You
can
find
the
Fund’s
long-term
performance
data
in
the
Performance
Summary
beginning
on
page
6
.
Performance
data
represent
past
performance,
which
does
not
guarantee
future
results.
Investment
return
and
principal
value
will
fluctuate,
and
you
may
have
a
gain
or
loss
when
you
sell
your
shares.
Current
performance
may
differ
from
figures
shown.
For
most
recent
month-end
performance,
go
to
franklintempleton.com
or
call
(800)
342-5236
.
Economic
and
Market
Overview
The
U.S.
bond
market,
as
measured
by
the
Bloomberg
U.S.
Aggregate
Bond
Index,
posted
a
+4.89%
total
return
for
the
six-month
period
ended
March
31,
2023.
2
While
inflation
remained
elevated,
it
showed
signs
of
decelerating
and
investors
began
to
anticipate
easing
of
the
current
monetary
tightening
cycle,
boosting
bond
prices
(which
move
inversely
to
yields).
Prominent
bank
failures
late
in
the
period
also
benefited
bond
prices,
as
investors
sought
relative
stability
in
an
uncertain
market.
The
yield
curve
for
all
U.S.
Treasury
maturities
inverted
further
during
the
period,
at
one
point
reaching
the
largest
inversion
in
more
than
four
decades,
as
investors
became
increasingly
concerned
about
the
economic
outlook.
In
an
effort
to
control
inflation,
the
U.S.
Federal
Reserve
(Fed)
raised
the
federal
funds
target
rate
four
times,
ending
the
period
at
a
range
of
4.75%–5.00%.
The
Fed
noted
in
its
March
2023
meeting
that
inflation
remained
elevated
amid
robust
job
growth
and
low
unemployment.
Despite
its
goal
of
2%
long-run
inflation,
the
Fed
softened
its
firm
outlook
on
future
rate
hikes.
Furthermore,
the
Fed
indicated
it
would
continue
to
reduce
its
U.S.
Treasury
(UST)
and
agency
debt
and
mortgage-backed
security
holdings.
Portfolio
Composition
3/31/23
%
of
Total
Net
Assets
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
76.9%
Residential
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
11.9%
Commercial
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
5.0%
Asset-Backed
Securities
3.1%
Other
0.3%
Short-Term
Investments
&
Other
Net
Assets
2.8%
1.
Guarantees
of
timely
payment
of
principal
and
interest
do
not
apply
to
the
market
prices
and
yield
of
the
security
or
to
the
net
asset
value
or
performance
of
the
Fund.
Ginnie
Mae
pass-through
securities
are
backed
by
the
full
faith
and
credit
of
the
U.S.
government.
Although
U.S.
government-sponsored
entities,
such
as
Fannie
Mae
and
Freddie
Mac,
may
be
chartered
or
sponsored
by
acts
of
Congress,
their
securities
are
neither
insured
nor
guaranteed
by
the
U.S.
Treasury.
Please
refer
to
the
Fund’s
pro-
spectus
for
a
detailed
discussion
regarding
various
levels
of
credit
support
for
government
agency
or
instrumentality
securities.
2.
Source:
Morningstar.
Treasuries,
if
held
to
maturity,
offer
a
fixed
rate
of
return
and
a
fixed
principal
value;
their
interest
payments
and
principal
are
guaranteed.
The
indexes
are
unmanaged
and
include
reinvestment
of
any
income
or
distributions.
They
do
not
reflect
any
fees,
expenses
or
sales
charges.
One
cannot
invest
directly
in
an
index,
and
an
index
is
not
representative
of
the
Fund’s
portfolio.
See
www.franklintempletondatasources.com
for
additional
data
provider
information.
The
dollar
value,
number
of
shares
or
principal
amount,
and
names
of
all
portfolio
holdings
are
listed
in
the
Fund’s
Schedule
of
Investments
(SOI).
The
SOI
begins
on
page
14
.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
4
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
UST
bonds,
as
measured
by
the
Bloomberg
U.S.
Treasury
Index,
posted
a
+3.75%
total
return
for
the
six-month
period.
2
The
10-year
UST
yield,
which
moves
inversely
to
price,
declined
despite
higher
interest
rates,
as
inflation
continued
to
slow.
Mortgage-backed
securities
(MBS),
as
measured
by
the
Bloomberg
U.S.
MBS
Fixed
Rate
Index,
posted
a
+4.72%
total
return
for
the
period
as
the
residential
housing
market
remained
strong
despite
mortgage
rates
that
touched
20-year
highs.
2
Corporate
bond
prices
also
rose,
as
higher
yields
attracted
investors
despite
concerns
about
the
impact
of
elevated
interest
rates
on
corporate
profits
and
borrowing
costs.
In
this
environment,
investment-grade
corporate
bonds,
as
represented
by
the
Bloomberg
U.S.
Corporate
Investment
Grade
Index,
posted
a
+7.26%
total
return.
2
High-yield
corporate
bonds,
as
represented
by
the
Bloomberg
U.S.
Corporate
High
Yield
Index,
posted
a
+7.89%
total
return
as
the
continued
resilience
of
the
U.S.
economy
eased
solvency
concerns.
2
Investment
Strategy
Under
normal
market
conditions,
we
invest
at
least
80%
of
the
Fund’s
net
assets
in
mortgage
securities.
The
Fund
invests
significantly
in
mortgage
securities
that
are
issued
or
guaranteed
by
the
U.S.
government,
its
agencies
or
instrumentalities,
which
include
mortgage
pass-through
securities
representing
interests
in
“pools”
of
mortgage
loans
issued
or
guaranteed
by
Ginnie
Mae,
Fannie
Mae
and
Freddie
Mac.
1
These
securities
may
be
fixed-rate
or
adjustable-rate
mortgage
securities
(ARMS).
The
Fund
may
purchase
or
sell
mortgage
securities
on
a
delayed
delivery
or
forward
commitment
basis
through
the
“to-be-
announced”
(TBA)
market.
We
may
also
invest
in
other
types
of
mortgage
securities
that
may
be
issued
by
private
issuers,
including,
but
not
limited
to,
certain
ARMS,
commercial
mortgage-backed
securities
(CMBS),
non-agency
residential
mortgage-backed
securities
(RMBS),
credit
risk
transfer
securities,
home
equity
loan
asset-backed
securities
(HELs),
manufactured
housing
asset-backed
securities
(MHs)
and
collateralized
mortgage
obligations
(CMOs),
as
well
as
in
other
mortgage-related
asset-backed
securities.
The
Fund
also
may
invest
in
U.S.
Treasury
securities.
The
Fund
may
invest
up
to
15%
of
its
net
assets
in
foreign
securities,
which
may
include
non-U.S.
dollar
denominated
foreign
mortgage
securities.
In
addition,
the
Fund
may
invest
up
to
20%
of
its
net
assets
in
high-yield,
lower-quality
securities
rated,
at
the
time
of
purchase,
below
BBB
by
Standard
&
Poor’s,
or
Baa
by
Moody’s,
respectively,
or,
if
unrated,
deemed
to
be
of
comparable
quality
by
the
investment
manager.
The
Fund
may
also
invest
up
to
33%
of
its
gross
assets
in
mortgage
dollar
rolls.
Manager’s
Discussion
During
the
six
months
under
review,
the
U.S.
Federal
Reserve
(Fed)
had
remained
firmly
on
a
hawkish
rate
path,
the
year
2022
ended
with
rate
increases
of
75
basis
points
(bps)
and
50
bps
at
its
November
and
December
Federal
Open
Committee
meetings.
In
the
last
few
months
of
2022,
markets
focused
on
slowing
inflation
data
and
investors
grappled
with
the
potential
timing
of
the
transition
from
a
rate
hiking
cycle
to
a
potential
Fed
pivot.
Against
this
backdrop,
the
Fed
followed
up
with
two
additional
25
bp
rate
increases
at
its
February
and
March
2023
meetings.
Although
investors
were
encouraged
by
a
general
downward
trend
in
inflation
data
at
the
beginning
of
first
quarter
of
2023,
sentiments
were
negatively
affected
in
the
second
half
of
March
due
to
the
banking
sector
turmoil.
Against
this
backdrop,
U.S.
Treasury
(UST)
yields
ended
the
6-month
period
lower
across
the
curve,
while
remaining
inverted.
MBS
spreads
fluctuated
throughout
the
performance
period
but
ended
March
2023
at
a
similar
point
compared
to
the
beginning
of
October
2022.
The
Fed
currently
owns
30.0%
(US$2.59
trillion)
of
the
agency
MBS
market,
a
slightly
lower
share
of
the
market
as
they
did
not
invest
paydowns
from
their
MBS
portfolio
over
the
month
as
February
2023
paydowns,
at
US$15.6
billion,
were
lower
than
the
cap
set
at
US$35
billion.
Mortgage
origination
is
likely
to
remain
muted
and
limited
to
higher
coupons
due
to
increased
mortgage
rates
and
decreased
affordability.
With
decreasing
Fed
support,
around
US$465
billion
of
agency
mortgage-backed
security
(MBS)
demand
will
need
to
be
absorbed,
primarily
by
money
managers,
and
a
combination
of
other
demand
sources
such
as
overseas
investors,
and
banks.
Performance
across
securitized
sectors
was
positive.
Total
return
performance
was
also
positive
across
agency
MBS
sectors
during
the
reporting
period.
Conventional
MBS,
as
represented
by
Fannie
Mae
(FNMA)
MBS
were
the
best
relative
performers
with
59
bps
on
an
excess
return
basis,
followed
by
Ginnie
Mae
(GMNA)
MBS
58
bps
on
an
excess
return
basis.
Conventional
15-year
MBS
underperformed
their
30-year
counterparts
on
an
excess
return
basis.
Across
the
conventional
coupon
stack,
lower
coupon
2.5%
coupons
were
the
best
performers,
while
6.0%
coupons
lagged.
In
terms
of
portfolio
sector
allocation,
we
maintained
our
largest
allocations
in
fixed-rate
agency
MBS
but
remained
underweight
the
sector
relative
to
the
benchmark.
Within
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
5
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
the
agency
MBS
sector,
we
favored
conventional
sectors
over
GNMA
MBS
with
the
largest
allocation
in
FNMA
2-year
securities.
The
portfolio
held
an
underweight
allocation
to
2.0%
through
4.0%
coupons
and
an
overweight
in
1.0%
and
5.0%
coupons.
The
portfolio
maintained
an
overweight
allocation
to
RMBS,
but
pared
exposure
over
the
period
on
strength
in
sector
performance.
We
increased
allocation
to
CMBS
and
remain
positioned
higher
in
the
capital
structure.
The
Fund’s
underweight
allocation
to
and
security
selection
in
MBS
hindered
relative
performance,
as
did
allocation
to
CMBS.
Conversely,
overweight
allocation
to
RMBS
contributed
to
results.
Thank
you
for
your
continued
participation
in
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio.
We
look
forward
to
serving
your
future
investment
needs.
Neil
Dhruv
Paul
Varunok
Portfolio
Management
Team
The
foregoing
information
reflects
our
analysis,
opinions
and
portfolio
holdings
as
of
March
31,
2023,
the
end
of
the
reporting
period.
The
way
we
implement
our
main
investment
strategies
and
the
resulting
portfolio
holdings
may
change
depending
on
factors
such
as
market
and
economic
conditions.
These
opinions
may
not
be
relied
upon
as
investment
advice
or
an
offer
for
a
particular
security.
The
information
is
not
a
complete
analysis
of
every
aspect
of
any
market,
country,
industry,
security
or
the
Fund.
Statements
of
fact
are
from
sources
considered
reliable,
but
the
investment
manager
makes
no
representation
or
warranty
as
to
their
completeness
or
accuracy.
Although
historical
performance
is
no
guarantee
of
future
results,
these
insights
may
help
you
understand
our
investment
management
philosophy.
Performance
Summary
as
of
March
31,
2023
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
6
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
The
performance
tables
do
not
reflect
any
taxes
that
a
shareholder
would
pay
on
Fund
dividends,
capital
gain
distributions,
if
any,
or
any
realized
gains
on
the
sale
of
Fund
shares.
Total
return
reflects
reinvestment
of
the
Fund’s
dividends
and
capital
gain
distributions,
if
any,
and
any
unrealized
gains
or
losses.
Your
dividend
income
will
vary
depending
on
dividends
or
interest
paid
by
securities
in
the
Fund’s
portfolio,
adjusted
for
operating
expenses
of
each
class.
Capital
gain
distributions
are
net
profits
realized
from
the
sale
of
portfolio
securities.
Performance
as
of
3/31/23
1
Cumulative
total
return
excludes
sales
charges.
Average
annual
total
return
includes
maximum
sales
charges.
Sales
charges
will
vary
depending
on
the
size
of
the
investment
and
the
class
of
share
purchased.
The
maximum
is
3.75%
and
the
minimum
is
0%.
Class
A:
3.75%
maximum
initial
sales
charge;
Advisor
Class:
no
sales
charges.
For
other
share
classes,
visit
franklintempleton.com.
Performance
data
represent
past
performance,
which
does
not
guarantee
future
results.
Investment
return
and
principal
value
will
fluctuate,
and
you
may
have
a
gain
or
loss
when
you
sell
your
shares.
Current
performance
may
differ
from
figures
shown.
For
most
recent
month-end
performance,
go
to
franklintempleton.com
or
call
(800)
342-5236
.
Share
Class
Cumulative
Total
Return
2
Average
Annual
Total
Return
3
–
A
4
6-Month
+3.99%
+0.11%
1-Year
-4.81%
-8.36%
5-Year
-1.71%
-1.09%
10-Year
+8.13%
+0.40%
Advisor
6-Month
+3.99%
+3.99%
1-Year
-4.58%
-4.58%
5-Year
-0.61%
-0.12%
10-Year
+10.72%
+1.02%
30-Day
Standardized
Yield
6
Share
Class
Distribution
Rate
5
(with
fee
waiver)
(without
fee
waiver)
A
2.77%
2.28%
1.90%
Advisor
3.14%
2.62%
2.23%
See
page
7
for
Performance
Summary
footnotes.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Performance
Summary
7
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
Each
class
of
shares
is
available
to
certain
eligible
investors
and
has
different
annual
fees
and
expenses,
as
described
in
the
prospectus.
All
investments
involve
risks,
including
possible
loss
of
principal.
The
Fund’s
share
price
and
yield
will
be
affected
by
interest
rate
movements
and
mortgage
prepayments.
During
periods
of
declining
interest
rates,
principal
prepayments
tend
to
increase
as
borrowers
refinance
their
mortgages
at
lower
rates;
therefore,
the
Fund
may
be
forced
to
reinvest
returned
principal
at
lower
interest
rates,
reducing
income.
Bond
prices
generally
move
in
the
opposite
direction
of
interest
rates.
Thus,
as
prices
of
bonds
in
the
Fund
adjust
to
a
rise
in
interest
rates,
the
Fund’s
share
price
may
decline.
The
Fund
may
be
affected
by
issuers
that
fail
to
make
interest
payments
and
repay
principal
when
due.
Changes
in
the
financial
strength
of
a
bond
issuer
or
in
a
bond’s
credit
rating
may
affect
its
value.
Events
such
as
the
spread
of
deadly
diseases,
disasters,
and
financial,
political
or
social
disruptions,
may
heighten
risks
and
adversely
affect
performance.
The
Fund’s
prospectus
also
includes
a
description
of
the
main
investment
risks.
1.
Gross
expenses
are
the
Fund’s
total
annual
operating
expenses
as
of
the
Fund's
prospectus
available
at
the
time
of
publication.
Actual
expenses
may
be
higher
and
may
impact
portfolio
returns.
Net
expenses
reflect
contractual
fee
waivers,
expense
caps
and/or
reimbursements,
which
cannot
be
terminated
prior
to
1/31/24
without
Board
consent.
Additional
amounts
may
be
voluntarily
waived
and/or
reimbursed
and
may
be
modified
or
discontinued
at
any
time
without
notice.
2.
Cumulative
total
return
represents
the
change
in
value
of
an
investment
over
the
periods
indicated.
3.
Average
annual
total
return
represents
the
average
annual
change
in
value
of
an
investment
over
the
periods
indicated.
Return
for
less
than
one
year,
if
any,
has
not
been
annualized.
4.
Prior
to
3/1/19,
these
shares
were
offered
at
a
higher
initial
sales
charge
of
4.25%,
thus
actual
returns
(with
sales
charges)
would
have
differed.
Average
annual
total
returns
(with
sales
charges)
have
been
restated
to
reflect
the
current
maximum
initial
sales
charge
of
3.75%.
5.
Distribution
rate
is
based
on
an
annualization
of
the
sum
of
distributions
per
share
for
the
31
days
of
March
and
the
maximum
offering
price
(NAV
for
Advisor
Class)
on
3/31/23.
6.
The
Fund’s
30-day
standardized
yield
is
calculated
over
a
trailing
30-day
period
using
the
yield
to
maturity
on
bonds
and/or
the
dividends
accrued
on
stocks.
It
may
not
equal
the
Fund’s
actual
income
distribution
rate,
which
reflects
the
Fund’s
past
dividends
paid
to
shareholders.
7.
Figures
are
as
stated
in
the
Fund’s
current
prospectus
and
may
differ
from
the
expense
ratios
disclosed
in
the
Your
Fund’s
Expenses
and
Financial
Highlights
sections
in
this
report.
In
periods
of
market
volatility,
assets
may
decline
significantly,
causing
total
annual
Fund
operating
expenses
to
become
higher
than
the
figures
shown.
See
www.franklintempletondatasources.com
for
additional
data
provider
information.
Distributions
(10/1/22–3/31/23)
Share
Class
Net
Investment
Income
A
$0.106667
A1
$0.116429
C
$0.091017
R6
$0.118276
Advisor
$0.116436
Total
Annual
Operating
Expenses
7
Share
Class
With
Fee
Waiver
Without
Fee
Waiver
A
1.00%
1.33%
Advisor
0.75%
1.09%
Your
Fund’s
Expenses
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
8
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Semiannual
Report
As
a
Fund
shareholder,
you
can
incur
two
types
of
costs:
(1)
transaction
costs,
including
sales
charges
(loads)
on
Fund
purchases
and
redemptions;
and
(2)
ongoing
Fund
costs,
including
management
fees,
distribution
and
service
(12b-1)
fees,
and
other
Fund
expenses.
All
mutual
funds
have
ongoing
costs,
sometimes
referred
to
as
operating
expenses.
The
table
below
shows
ongoing
costs
of
investing
in
the
Fund
and
can
help
you
understand
these
costs
and
compare
them
with
those
of
other
mutual
funds.
The
table
assumes
a
$1,000
investment
held
for
the
six
months
indicated.
Actual
Fund
Expenses
The
table
below
provides
information
about
actual
account
values
and
actual
expenses
in
the
columns
under
the
heading
“Actual.”
In
these
columns
the
Fund’s
actual
return,
which
includes
the
effect
of
Fund
expenses,
is
used
to
calculate
the
“Ending
Account
Value”
for
each
class
of
shares.
You
can
estimate
the
expenses
you
paid
during
the
period
by
following
these
steps
(
of
course,
your
account
value
and
expenses
will
differ
from
those
in
this
illustration
):
Divide
your
account
value
by
$1,000
(
if
your
account
had
an
$8,600
value,
then
$8,600
÷
$1,000
=
8.6
).
Then
multiply
the
result
by
the
number
in
the
row
for
your
class
of
shares
under
the
headings
“Actual”
and
“Expenses
Paid
During
Period”
(
if
Actual
Expenses
Paid
During
Period
were
$7.50,
then
8.6
x
$7.50
=
$64.50
).
In
this
illustration,
the
actual
expenses
paid
this
period
are
$64.50.
Hypothetical
Example
for
Comparison
with
Other
Funds
Under
the
heading
“Hypothetical”
in
the
table,
information
is
provided
about
hypothetical
account
values
and
hypothetical
expenses
based
on
the
Fund’s
actual
expense
ratio
and
an
assumed
rate
of
return
of
5%
per
year
before
expenses,
which
is
not
the
Fund’s
actual
return.
This
information
may
not
be
used
to
estimate
the
actual
ending
account
balance
or
expenses
you
paid
for
the
period,
but
it
can
help
you
compare
ongoing
costs
of
investing
in
the
Fund
with
those
of
other
funds.
To
do
so,
compare
this
5%
hypothetical
example
for
the
class
of
shares
you
hold
with
the
5%
hypothetical
examples
that
appear
in
the
shareholder
reports
of
other
funds.
Please
note
that
expenses
shown
in
the
table
are
meant
to
highlight
ongoing
costs
and
do
not
reflect
any
transactional
costs.
Therefore,
information
under
the
heading
“Hypothetical”
is
useful
in
comparing
ongoing
costs
only,
and
will
not
help
you
compare
total
costs
of
owning
different
funds.
In
addition,
if
transactional
costs
were
included,
your
total
costs
would
have
been
higher.
1.
Expenses
are
equal
to
the
annualized
expense
ratio
for
the
six-month
period
as
indicated
above—in
the
far
right
column—multiplied
by
the
simple
average
account
value
over
the
period
indicated,
and
then
multiplied
by
182/365
to
reflect
the
one-half
year
period.
2.
Reflects
expenses
after
fee
waivers
and
expense
reimbursements.
Does
not
include
acquired
fund
fees
and
expenses.
Actual
(actual
return
after
expenses)
Hypothetical
(5%
annual
return
before
expenses)
Share
Class
Beginning
Account
Value
10/1/22
Ending
Account
Value
3/31/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period
10/1/22–3/31/23
1,2
Ending
Account
Value
3/31/23
Expenses
Paid
During
Period
10/1/22–3/31/23
1,2
a
Net
Annualized
Expense
Ratio
2
A
$1,000
$1,039.90
$5.08
$1,019.95
$5.03
1.00%
A1
$1,000
$1,039.90
$3.81
$1,021.19
$3.78
0.75%
C
$1,000
$1,036.50
$7.11
$1,017.95
$7.04
1.40%
R6
$1,000
$1,040.20
$3.69
$1,021.32
$3.65
0.73%
Advisor
$1,000
$1,039.90
$3.82
$1,021.19
$3.78
0.75%
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Financial
Highlights
franklintempleton.com
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
Semiannual
Report
9
a
Six
Months
Ended
March
31,
2023
(unaudited)
Year
Ended
September
30,
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Class
A
Per
share
operating
performance
(for
a
share
outstanding
throughout
the
period)
Net
asset
value,
beginning
of
period
.....
$7.73
$9.13
$9.31
$9.25
$8.93
$9.34
Income
from
investment
operations
a
:
Net
investment
income
..............
0.095
b
0.010
b
0.025
b
0.188
0.267
0.243
b
Net
realized
and
unrealized
gains
(losses)
0.209
(1.257)
(0.063)
0.090
0.355
(0.359)
Total
from
investment
operations
........
0.304
(1.247)
(0.038)
0.278
0.622
(0.116)
Less
distributions
from:
Net
investment
income
..............
(0.107)
(0.149)
(0.142)
(0.218)
(0.302)
(0.294)
Tax
return
of
capital
................
—
(0.004)
—
—
—
—
Total
distributions
...................
(0.107)
(0.153)
(0.142)
(0.218)
(0.302)
(0.294)
Net
asset
value,
end
of
period
..........
$7.93
$7.73
$9.13
$9.31
$9.25
$8.93
Total
return
c
.......................
3.99%
(13.78)%
(0.41)%
3.05%
7.08%
(1.25)%
Ratios
to
average
net
assets
d
Expenses
before
waiver
and
payments
by
affiliates
..........................
1.25%
1.33%
1.27%
1.31%
1.24%
1.21%
Expenses
net
of
waiver
and
payments
by
affiliates
e
..........................
1.00%
1.00%
0.99%
1.00%
1.00%
1.06%
Net
investment
income
...............
2.42%
0.12%
0.27%
1.85%
2.93%
2.67%
Supplemental
data
Net
assets,
end
of
period
(000’s)
........
$12,509
$13,575
$21,801
$24,153
$18,313
$16,303
Portfolio
turnover
rate
................
8.56%
329.20%
278.91%
249.94%
223.36%
243.65%
Portfolio
turnover
rate
excluding
mortgage
dollar
rolls
f
........................
8.56%
141.97%
85.26%
187.45%
139.83%
153.69%
a
The
amount
shown
for
a
share
outstanding
throughout
the
period
may
not
correlate
with
the
Statement
of
Operations
for
the
period
due
to
the
timing
of
sales
and
repurchas-
es
of
the
Fund’s
shares
in
relation
to
income
earned
and/or
fluctuating
fair
value
of
the
investments
of
the
Fund.
b
Based
on
average
daily
shares
outstanding.
c
Total
return
does
not
reflect
sales
commissions
or
contingent
deferred
sales
charges,
if
applicable,
and
is
not
annualized
for
periods
less
than
one
year.
d
Ratios
are
annualized
for
periods
less
than
one
year.
e
Benefit
of
expense
reduction
rounds
to
less
than
0.01%.
f
See
Note
1(d)
regarding
mortgage
dollar
rolls.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Financial
Highlights
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
10
a
Six
Months
Ended
March
31,
2023
(unaudited)
Year
Ended
September
30,
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Class
A1
Per
share
operating
performance
(for
a
share
outstanding
throughout
the
period)
Net
asset
value,
beginning
of
period
.....
$7.74
$9.13
$9.31
$9.25
$8.94
$9.35
Income
from
investment
operations
a
:
Net
investment
income
..............
0.104
b
0.033
b
0.048
b
0.191
0.285
0.268
b
Net
realized
and
unrealized
gains
(losses)
0.200
(1.249)
(0.063)
0.110
0.349
(0.360)
Total
from
investment
operations
........
0.304
(1.216)
(0.015)
0.301
0.634
(0.092)
Less
distributions
from:
Net
investment
income
..............
(0.116)
(0.169)
(0.165)
(0.241)
(0.324)
(0.318)
Tax
return
of
capital
................
—
(0.005)
—
—
—
—
Total
distributions
...................
(0.116)
(0.174)
(0.165)
(0.241)
(0.324)
(0.318)
Net
asset
value,
end
of
period
..........
$7.93
$7.74
$9.13
$9.31
$9.25
$8.94
Total
return
c
.......................
3.99%
(13.45)%
(0.16)%
3.30%
7.22%
(1.00)%
Ratios
to
average
net
assets
d
Expenses
before
waiver
and
payments
by
affiliates
..........................
1.00%
1.09%
1.02%
1.05%
0.99%
0.96%
Expenses
net
of
waiver
and
payments
by
affiliates
e
..........................
0.75%
0.75%
0.74%
0.75%
0.75%
0.81%
Net
investment
income
...............
2.67%
0.38%
0.52%
2.14%
3.18%
2.92%
Supplemental
data
Net
assets,
end
of
period
(000’s)
........
$17,176
$17,618
$24,192
$27,530
$29,286
$32,802
Portfolio
turnover
rate
................
8.56%
329.20%
278.91%
249.94%
223.36%
243.65%
Portfolio
turnover
rate
excluding
mortgage
dollar
rolls
f
........................
8.56%
141.97%
85.26%
187.45%
139.83%
153.69%
a
The
amount
shown
for
a
share
outstanding
throughout
the
period
may
not
correlate
with
the
Statement
of
Operations
for
the
period
due
to
the
timing
of
sales
and
repurchas-
es
of
the
Fund’s
shares
in
relation
to
income
earned
and/or
fluctuating
fair
value
of
the
investments
of
the
Fund.
b
Based
on
average
daily
shares
outstanding.
c
Total
return
does
not
reflect
sales
commissions
or
contingent
deferred
sales
charges,
if
applicable,
and
is
not
annualized
for
periods
less
than
one
year.
d
Ratios
are
annualized
for
periods
less
than
one
year.
e
Benefit
of
expense
reduction
rounds
to
less
than
0.01%.
f
See
Note
1(d)
regarding
mortgage
dollar
rolls.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Financial
Highlights
franklintempleton.com
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
Semiannual
Report
11
a
Six
Months
Ended
March
31,
2023
(unaudited)
Year
Ended
September
30,
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Class
C
Per
share
operating
performance
(for
a
share
outstanding
throughout
the
period)
Net
asset
value,
beginning
of
period
.....
$7.74
$9.13
$9.31
$9.25
$8.93
$9.34
Income
from
investment
operations
a
:
Net
investment
income
(loss)
.........
0.079
b
(0.025)
b
(0.013)
b
0.138
0.230
0.207
b
Net
realized
and
unrealized
gains
(losses)
0.199
(1.245)
(0.062)
0.103
0.355
(0.359)
Total
from
investment
operations
........
0.278
(1.270)
(0.075)
0.241
0.585
(0.152)
Less
distributions
from:
Net
investment
income
..............
(0.091)
(0.117)
(0.105)
(0.181)
(0.265)
(0.258)
Tax
return
of
capital
................
—
(0.003)
—
—
—
—
Total
distributions
...................
(0.091)
(0.120)
(0.105)
(0.181)
(0.265)
(0.258)
Net
asset
value,
end
of
period
..........
$7.93
$7.74
$9.13
$9.31
$9.25
$8.93
Total
return
c
.......................
3.65%
(14.01)%
(0.81)%
2.64%
6.65%
(1.64)%
Ratios
to
average
net
assets
d
Expenses
before
waiver
and
payments
by
affiliates
..........................
1.66%
1.73%
1.66%
1.70%
1.64%
1.61%
Expenses
net
of
waiver
and
payments
by
affiliates
e
..........................
1.40%
1.39%
1.39%
1.40%
1.40%
1.46%
Net
investment
income
(loss)
..........
2.02%
(0.29)%
(0.14)%
1.47%
2.53%
2.27%
Supplemental
data
Net
assets,
end
of
period
(000’s)
........
$1,244
$1,372
$2,322
$3,960
$3,843
$4,513
Portfolio
turnover
rate
................
8.56%
329.20%
278.91%
249.94%
223.36%
243.65%
Portfolio
turnover
rate
excluding
mortgage
dollar
rolls
f
........................
8.56%
141.97%
85.26%
187.45%
139.83%
153.69%
a
The
amount
shown
for
a
share
outstanding
throughout
the
period
may
not
correlate
with
the
Statement
of
Operations
for
the
period
due
to
the
timing
of
sales
and
repurchas-
es
of
the
Fund’s
shares
in
relation
to
income
earned
and/or
fluctuating
fair
value
of
the
investments
of
the
Fund.
b
Based
on
average
daily
shares
outstanding.
c
Total
return
does
not
reflect
sales
commissions
or
contingent
deferred
sales
charges,
if
applicable,
and
is
not
annualized
for
periods
less
than
one
year.
d
Ratios
are
annualized
for
periods
less
than
one
year.
e
Benefit
of
expense
reduction
rounds
to
less
than
0.01%.
f
See
Note
1(d)
regarding
mortgage
dollar
rolls.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Financial
Highlights
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
12
a
Six
Months
Ended
March
31,
2023
(unaudited)
Year
Ended
September
30,
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Class
R6
Per
share
operating
performance
(for
a
share
outstanding
throughout
the
period)
Net
asset
value,
beginning
of
period
.....
$7.73
$9.12
$9.29
$9.24
$8.92
$9.33
Income
from
investment
operations
a
:
Net
investment
income
..............
0.106
b
0.034
b
0.059
b
0.222
0.296
0.282
b
Net
realized
and
unrealized
gains
(losses)
0.199
(1.248)
(0.054)
0.081
0.360
(0.363)
Total
from
investment
operations
........
0.305
(1.214)
0.005
0.303
0.656
(0.081)
Less
distributions
from:
Net
investment
income
..............
(0.118)
(0.171)
(0.175)
(0.253)
(0.336)
(0.329)
Tax
return
of
capital
................
—
(0.005)
—
—
—
—
Total
distributions
...................
(0.118)
(0.176)
(0.175)
(0.253)
(0.336)
(0.329)
Net
asset
value,
end
of
period
..........
$7.92
$7.73
$9.12
$9.29
$9.24
$8.92
Total
return
c
.......................
4.02%
(13.47)%
0.05%
3.33%
7.49%
(0.87)%
Ratios
to
average
net
assets
d
Expenses
before
waiver
and
payments
by
affiliates
..........................
0.92%
1.05%
1.03%
1.07%
1.00%
1.01%
Expenses
net
of
waiver
and
payments
by
affiliates
e
..........................
0.73%
0.72%
0.61%
0.62%
0.62%
0.69%
Net
investment
income
...............
2.71%
0.39%
0.64%
2.17%
3.31%
3.04%
Supplemental
data
Net
assets,
end
of
period
(000’s)
........
$364
$273
$569
$559
$383
$432
Portfolio
turnover
rate
................
8.56%
329.20%
278.91%
249.94%
223.36%
243.65%
Portfolio
turnover
rate
excluding
mortgage
dollar
rolls
f
........................
8.56%
141.97%
85.26%
187.45%
139.83%
153.69%
a
The
amount
shown
for
a
share
outstanding
throughout
the
period
may
not
correlate
with
the
Statement
of
Operations
for
the
period
due
to
the
timing
of
sales
and
repurchas-
es
of
the
Fund’s
shares
in
relation
to
income
earned
and/or
fluctuating
fair
value
of
the
investments
of
the
Fund.
b
Based
on
average
daily
shares
outstanding.
c
Total
return
is
not
annualized
for
periods
less
than
one
year.
d
Ratios
are
annualized
for
periods
less
than
one
year,
except
for
non-recurring
expenses,
if
any.
e
Benefit
of
expense
reduction
rounds
to
less
than
0.01%.
f
See
Note
1(d)
regarding
mortgage
dollar
rolls.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Financial
Highlights
franklintempleton.com
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
Semiannual
Report
13
a
Six
Months
Ended
March
31,
2023
(unaudited)
Year
Ended
September
30,
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Advisor
Class
Per
share
operating
performance
(for
a
share
outstanding
throughout
the
period)
Net
asset
value,
beginning
of
period
.....
$7.73
$9.12
$9.30
$9.24
$8.93
$9.33
Income
from
investment
operations
a
:
Net
investment
income
..............
0.104
b
0.032
b
0.048
b
0.192
0.284
0.268
b
Net
realized
and
unrealized
gains
(losses)
0.200
(1.247)
(0.063)
0.109
0.350
(0.351)
Total
from
investment
operations
........
0.304
(1.215)
(0.015)
0.301
0.634
(0.083)
Less
distributions
from:
Net
investment
income
..............
(0.116)
(0.170)
(0.165)
(0.241)
(0.324)
(0.317)
Tax
return
of
capital
................
—
(0.005)
—
—
—
—
Total
distributions
...................
(0.116)
(0.175)
(0.165)
(0.241)
(0.324)
(0.317)
Net
asset
value,
end
of
period
..........
$7.92
$7.73
$9.12
$9.30
$9.24
$8.93
Total
return
c
.......................
3.99%
(13.47)%
(0.16)%
3.30%
7.23%
(1.00)%
Ratios
to
average
net
assets
d
Expenses
before
waiver
and
payments
by
affiliates
..........................
1.00%
1.09%
1.03%
1.05%
0.99%
0.96%
Expenses
net
of
waiver
and
payments
by
affiliates
e
..........................
0.75%
0.75%
0.74%
0.75%
0.75%
0.81%
Net
investment
income
...............
2.67%
0.37%
0.52%
2.14%
3.18%
2.92%
Supplemental
data
Net
assets,
end
of
period
(000’s)
........
$4,900
$5,083
$7,982
$9,609
$10,907
$6,574
Portfolio
turnover
rate
................
8.56%
329.20%
278.91%
249.94%
223.36%
243.65%
Portfolio
turnover
rate
excluding
mortgage
dollar
rolls
f
........................
8.56
%
141.97%
85.26%
187.45%
139.83%
153.69%
a
The
amount
shown
for
a
share
outstanding
throughout
the
period
may
not
correlate
with
the
Statement
of
Operations
for
the
period
due
to
the
timing
of
sales
and
repurchas-
es
of
the
Fund’s
shares
in
relation
to
income
earned
and/or
fluctuating
fair
value
of
the
investments
of
the
Fund.
b
Based
on
average
daily
shares
outstanding.
c
Total
return
is
not
annualized
for
periods
less
than
one
year.
d
Ratios
are
annualized
for
periods
less
than
one
year.
e
Benefit
of
expense
reduction
rounds
to
less
than
0.01%.
f
See
Note
1(d)
regarding
mortgage
dollar
rolls.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Schedule
of
Investments
(unaudited),
March
31,
2023
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
14
a
a
Principal
Amount
a
Value
a
a
a
a
a
Corporate
Bonds
0.3%
Insurance
0.0%
†
a,b
Ambac
Assurance
Corp.
,
Sub.
Bond
,
144A,
5.1
%
,
Perpetual
...................
$
237
$
348
Residential
REITs
0.3%
American
Homes
4
Rent
LP
,
Senior
Bond
,
4.25
%
,
2/15/28
.....................
100,000
93,945
Total
Corporate
Bonds
(Cost
$99,935)
.........................................
94,293
Asset-Backed
Securities
3.1%
Financial
Services
3.1%
b
American
Homes
4
Rent
Trust
,
2015-SFR1
,
A
,
144A,
3.467
%
,
4/17/52
...........
137,195
132,467
b,c
Anthracite
Ltd.
,
2004-HY1A
,
E
,
144A,
7.147
%
,
6/20/41
.......................
1,598,000
24
b
CF
Hippolyta
Issuer
LLC
,
2020-1,
A1,
144A,
1.69%,
7/15/60
.....................................
108,301
98,456
2021-1A,
A1,
144A,
1.53%,
3/15/61
....................................
94,565
83,583
d
Conseco
Finance
Securitizations
Corp.
,
2002-2
,
M1
,
FRN
,
7.424
%
,
3/01/33
.......
51,947
51,838
e
CWABS,
Inc.
,
2004-1
,
M1
,
FRN
,
5.595
%
,
(
1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
0.75
%
),
3/25/34
..
10,815
10,535
b
FirstKey
Homes
Trust
,
2020-SFR2
,
A
,
144A,
1.266
%
,
10/19/37
.................
148,123
134,526
b
Home
Partners
of
America
Trust
,
2021-2,
B,
144A,
2.302%,
12/17/26
....................................
164,602
146,870
2021-3,
B,
144A,
2.649%,
1/17/41
.....................................
55,811
48,725
b,e
Invitation
Homes
Trust
,
2018-SFR4
,
A
,
144A,
FRN
,
5.809
%
,
(
1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
1.1
%
),
1/17/38
....................................................
170,756
170,238
b
New
Economy
Assets
Phase
1
Sponsor
LLC
,
2021-1
,
A1
,
144A,
1.91
%
,
10/20/61
...
270,000
233,313
1,110,575
a
a
a
a
a
Total
Asset-Backed
Securities
(Cost
$1,259,079)
................................
1,110,575
Commercial
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
5.0%
Financial
Services
5.0%
BANK
,
2021-BN34,
A5,
2.438%,
6/15/63
......................................
125,000
101,660
2021-BN33,
A5,
2.556%,
5/15/64
......................................
90,000
74,769
b,e
BLP
Commercial
Mortgage
Trust
,
2023-IND
,
A
,
144A,
FRN
,
6.519
%
,
(
1-month
SOFR
+
1.692
%
),
3/15/40
..................................................
100,000
99,105
b,e
BX
Commercial
Mortgage
Trust
,
2021-VOLT,
A,
144A,
FRN,
5.384%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
0.7%),
9/15/36
......
100,000
96,289
2019-XL,
A,
144A,
FRN,
5.862%,
(1-month
SOFR
+
1.034%),
10/15/36
.........
127,952
126,583
2022-LP2,
A,
144A,
FRN,
5.84%,
(1-month
SOFR
+
1.013%),
2/15/39
..........
83,555
80,582
b,e
BX
Mortgage
Trust
,
2021-PAC
,
A
,
144A,
FRN
,
5.374
%
,
(
1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
0.689
%
),
10/15/36
.................................................
200,000
191,991
b
BX
Trust
,
2022-CLS,
A,
144A,
5.76%,
10/13/27
...................................
200,000
195,813
e
2022-IND,
A,
144A,
FRN,
6.318%,
(1-month
SOFR
+
1.491%),
4/15/37
.........
158,710
155,369
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Schedule
of
Investments
(unaudited)
franklintempleton.com
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
Semiannual
Report
15
a
a
Principal
Amount
a
Value
a
a
a
a
a
Commercial
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
(continued)
Financial
Services
(continued)
b,e
Cold
Storage
Trust
,
2020-ICE5
,
A
,
144A,
FRN
,
5.584
%
,
(
1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
0.9
%
),
11/15/37
........................................................
$
324,387
$
316,411
d
Commercial
Mortgage
Trust
,
2006-GG7
,
AJ
,
FRN
,
5.61
%
,
7/10/38
...............
39,434
25,693
b,e
DBCG
Mortgage
Trust
,
2017-BBG
,
A
,
144A,
FRN
,
5.384
%
,
(
1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
0.7
%
),
6/15/34
....................................................
240,000
236,529
e
FNMA
,
2007-1
,
NF
,
FRN
,
5.095
%
,
(
1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
0.25
%
),
2/25/37
........
28,246
27,922
b,e
GS
Mortgage
Securities
Corp.
Trust
,
2022-SHIP
,
A
,
144A,
FRN
,
5.558
%
,
(
1-month
SOFR
+
0.731
%
),
8/15/36
...........................................
100,000
99,068
1,827,784
a
a
a
a
a
Total
Commercial
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
(Cost
$1,897,119)
.................
1,827,784
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
76.9%
Federal
Home
Loan
Mortgage
Corp.
(FHLMC)
Fixed
Rate
35.9%
FHLMC
Gold
Pool,
30
Year,
4.5%,
4/01/40
................................
176,562
177,923
FHLMC
Gold
Pool,
30
Year,
4.5%,
1/01/49
................................
307,803
308,521
FHLMC
Gold
Pool,
30
Year,
5%,
10/01/33
-
2/01/39
..........................
113,343
115,836
FHLMC
Gold
Pool,
30
Year,
5.5%,
9/01/33
................................
14,565
14,964
FHLMC
Gold
Pool,
30
Year,
6%,
12/01/32
-
11/01/36
.........................
38,337
39,453
FHLMC
Gold
Pool,
30
Year,
6.5%,
11/01/27
-
7/01/32
........................
15,365
15,883
FHLMC
Gold
Pool,
30
Year,
7.5%,
1/01/26
-
3/01/32
.........................
46,567
46,794
FHLMC
Gold
Pool,
30
Year,
8%,
7/01/24
-
5/01/30
...........................
63,287
63,747
FHLMC
Gold
Pool,
30
Year,
9%,
9/01/30
..................................
2,797
2,790
FHLMC
Pool,
15
Year,
2%,
4/01/37
......................................
1,154,106
1,042,543
FHLMC
Pool,
15
Year,
4%,
11/01/37
.....................................
465,133
458,354
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
2%,
2/01/52
......................................
2,086,963
1,728,795
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
2%,
3/01/52
......................................
2,506,701
2,076,486
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
2%,
4/01/52
......................................
280,959
232,739
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
2.5%,
11/01/51
....................................
835,490
721,733
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
2.5%,
12/01/51
....................................
1,131,355
977,192
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
2.5%,
2/01/52
.....................................
1,172,492
1,012,394
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
2.5%,
4/01/52
.....................................
1,188,732
1,026,272
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
2.5%,
5/01/52
.....................................
1,014,831
876,397
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
3%,
5/01/50
......................................
779,997
708,525
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
3.5%,
7/01/49
.....................................
859,889
812,814
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
4%,
5/01/50
......................................
70,235
68,344
FHLMC
Pool,
30
Year,
4.5%,
10/01/48
....................................
479,477
480,091
13,008,590
f
Federal
National
Mortgage
Association
(FNMA)
Adjustable
Rate
1.0%
FNMA,
2.375%
-
2.587%,
(3-year
CMT
T-Note
+/-
MBS
Margin),
12/01/24
-
5/01/30
..
32,273
31,736
FNMA,
3.98%,
(6-month
H15BDI
+/-
MBS
Margin),
7/01/25
....................
18
18
FNMA,
2.977%
-
4.493%,
(12-month
USD
LIBOR
+/-
MBS
Margin),
9/01/33
-
4/01/37
151,035
147,837
FNMA,
3.225%
-
4.687%,
(1-year
CMT
T-Note
+/-
MBS
Margin),
12/01/23
-
7/01/38
..
132,854
130,949
FNMA,
4.321%
-
6.5%,
(6-month
USD
LIBOR
+/-
MBS
Margin),
4/01/31
-
4/01/37
...
17,262
17,290
327,830
Federal
National
Mortgage
Association
(FNMA)
Fixed
Rate
34.6%
FNMA,
3.5%,
7/01/56
................................................
511,578
478,527
FNMA,
30
Year,
1.5%,
10/01/51
.........................................
347,291
273,295
FNMA,
30
Year,
2%,
5/01/51
...........................................
421,418
349,074
FNMA,
30
Year,
2%,
11/01/51
..........................................
513,096
425,555
FNMA,
30
Year,
2%,
1/01/52
...........................................
1,192,728
988,474
FNMA,
30
Year,
2.5%,
4/01/52
.........................................
1,189,625
1,027,043
FNMA,
30
Year,
3%,
10/01/46
..........................................
1,091,158
1,000,886
FNMA,
30
Year,
3%,
11/01/48
..........................................
1,378,121
1,256,932
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Schedule
of
Investments
(unaudited)
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
16
a
a
Principal
Amount
a
Value
a
a
a
a
a
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
(continued)
Federal
National
Mortgage
Association
(FNMA)
Fixed
Rate
(continued)
FNMA,
30
Year,
3%,
9/01/49
...........................................
$
250,349
$
227,419
FNMA,
30
Year,
3%,
9/01/49
...........................................
249,374
226,532
FNMA,
30
Year,
3%,
9/01/50
...........................................
472,333
427,749
FNMA,
30
Year,
3.5%,
6/01/49
.........................................
195,138
184,218
FNMA,
30
Year,
3.5%,
8/01/49
.........................................
948,483
894,976
FNMA,
30
Year,
3.5%,
9/01/49
.........................................
867,476
814,959
FNMA,
30
Year,
3.5%,
2/01/50
.........................................
200,596
189,190
FNMA,
30
Year,
3.5%,
4/01/50
.........................................
333,305
315,088
FNMA,
30
Year,
4%,
11/01/45
..........................................
1,713,164
1,671,880
FNMA,
30
Year,
4.5%,
11/01/47
.........................................
405,649
406,247
FNMA,
30
Year,
5%,
4/01/34
...........................................
50,468
50,841
FNMA,
30
Year,
5.5%,
9/01/33
-
11/01/35
.................................
360,064
366,266
FNMA,
30
Year,
6%,
12/01/23
-
8/01/35
...................................
394,182
405,038
FNMA,
30
Year,
6.5%,
12/01/27
-
8/01/32
.................................
160,567
166,165
FNMA,
30
Year,
7.5%,
8/01/25
-
5/01/32
..................................
4,513
4,628
FNMA,
30
Year,
8%,
1/01/25
-
7/01/31
....................................
8,282
8,357
FNMA,
30
Year,
9%,
8/01/24
-
4/01/25
....................................
191
194
FNMA,
30
Year,
9.5%,
11/01/29
-
4/01/30
.................................
16,025
15,978
g
FNMA,
Single-family,
30
Year,
5.5%,
4/25/53
...............................
362,000
365,684
12,541,195
Government
National
Mortgage
Association
(GNMA)
Fixed
Rate
5.4%
GNMA
I,
30
Year,
7%,
11/15/29
.........................................
1,161
1,219
GNMA
I,
30
Year,
8%,
11/15/25
-
12/15/26
.................................
1,865
1,880
GNMA
I,
Single-family,
30
Year,
6.5%,
1/15/24
-
9/15/32
......................
47,516
48,950
GNMA
I,
Single-family,
30
Year,
7%,
1/15/26
-
2/15/32
........................
5,949
6,010
GNMA
I,
Single-family,
30
Year,
7.5%,
10/15/23
-
5/15/28
......................
9,290
9,320
GNMA
I,
Single-family,
30
Year,
8%,
9/15/27
...............................
662
661
GNMA
I,
Single-family,
30
Year,
8.5%,
7/15/24
..............................
14
14
GNMA
II,
Single-family,
30
Year,
2%,
1/20/52
...............................
900,095
765,655
GNMA
II,
Single-family,
30
Year,
2.5%,
10/20/51
............................
1,173,337
1,034,147
GNMA
II,
Single-family,
30
Year,
6.5%,
1/20/26
-
1/20/33
......................
52,667
54,344
GNMA
II,
Single-family,
30
Year,
7.5%,
10/20/23
-
7/20/32
.....................
29,147
30,462
GNMA
II,
Single-family,
30
Year,
8%,
8/20/26
...............................
25
26
GNMA
II,
Single-family,
30
Year,
9%,
9/20/24
-
3/20/25
.......................
88
88
1,952,776
Total
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
(Cost
$30,501,728)
............................
27,830,391
Residential
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
11.9%
Capital
Markets
0.1%
e
Merrill
Lynch
Mortgage
Investors
Trust
,
2003-A
,
1A
,
FRN
,
5.585
%
,
(
1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
0.74
%
),
3/25/28
............................................
32,871
30,710
Financial
Services
11.8%
e
American
Home
Mortgage
Investment
Trust
,
2005-1
,
6A
,
FRN
,
7.277
%
,
(
6-month
USD
LIBOR
+
2
%
),
6/25/45
..............................................
20,848
20,439
b
BRAVO
Residential
Funding
Trust
,
2019-1,
A1C,
144A,
3.5%,
3/25/58
.....................................
14,053
13,747
d
2019-2,
A3,
144A,
FRN,
3.5%,
10/25/44
.................................
49,060
46,498
b
CIM
Trust
,
d
2019-INV1,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
4%,
2/25/49
................................
11,720
11,137
e
2019-INV2,
A11,
144A,
FRN,
5.567%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
0.95%),
5/25/49
...
43,177
41,613
d
2019-INV2,
A3,
144A,
FRN,
4%,
5/25/49
................................
27,202
25,580
d
2018-INV1,
A4,
144A,
FRN,
4%,
8/25/48
................................
17,130
16,074
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Schedule
of
Investments
(unaudited)
franklintempleton.com
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
Semiannual
Report
17
a
a
Principal
Amount
a
Value
a
a
a
a
a
Residential
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
(continued)
Financial
Services
(continued)
b,d
Citigroup
Mortgage
Loan
Trust
,
2013-A
,
A
,
144A,
FRN
,
3
%
,
5/25/42
.............
$
4,628
$
4,310
b,d
COLT
Mortgage
Loan
Trust
,
2022-4
,
A1
,
144A,
FRN
,
4.301
%
,
3/25/67
............
91,132
87,440
b,e
Connecticut
Avenue
Securities
Trust
,
2019-R02,
1M2,
144A,
FRN,
7.145%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
2.3%),
8/25/31
....
10,495
10,496
2019-R03,
1M2,
144A,
FRN,
6.995%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
2.15%),
9/25/31
...
12,142
12,143
b,d
CSMC
Trust
,
2014-OAK1
,
1A1
,
144A,
FRN
,
3
%
,
11/25/29
.....................
25,092
23,810
e
FHLMC
STACR
Debt
Notes
,
2016-DNA2,
M3,
FRN,
9.495%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
4.65%),
10/25/28
.......
86,588
90,741
2016-HQA2,
M3,
FRN,
9.995%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
5.15%),
11/25/28
.......
100,131
105,933
b,e
FHLMC
STACR
REMIC
Trust
,
2022-DNA1,
M1A,
144A,
FRN,
5.56%,
(30-day
SOFR
Average
+
1%),
1/25/42
....
238,320
233,688
2022-DNA3,
M1A,
144A,
FRN,
6.56%,
(30-day
SOFR
Average
+
2%),
4/25/42
....
63,767
63,795
2020-DNA1,
M2,
144A,
FRN,
6.545%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
1.7%),
1/25/50
....
42,618
42,417
b,e
FHLMC
STACR
Trust
,
2019-DNA4
,
M2
,
144A,
FRN
,
6.795
%
,
(
1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
1.95
%
),
10/25/49
..................................................
37,587
37,500
b,d
Flagstar
Mortgage
Trust
,
2021-4,
A5,
144A,
FRN,
2.5%,
6/01/51
..................................
168,454
146,117
2021-2,
A6,
144A,
FRN,
2.5%,
4/25/51
..................................
188,630
163,618
e
FNMA
Connecticut
Avenue
Securities
,
2014-C04,
1M2,
FRN,
9.745%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
4.9%),
11/25/24
.........
67,312
70,160
2015-C01,
1M2,
FRN,
9.145%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
4.3%),
2/25/25
.........
61,923
63,882
2016-C01,
1M2,
FRN,
11.595%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
6.75%),
8/25/28
........
115,521
123,330
2016-C03,
1M2,
FRN,
10.145%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
5.3%),
10/25/28
.......
125,899
133,119
2014-C02,
2M2,
FRN,
7.445%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
2.6%),
5/25/24
.........
58,428
58,886
2014-C03,
2M2,
FRN,
7.745%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
2.9%),
7/25/24
.........
23,575
23,818
2013-C01,
M2,
FRN,
10.095%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
5.25%),
10/25/23
.......
70,022
71,256
2014-C01,
M2,
FRN,
9.245%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
4.4%),
1/25/24
..........
75,264
76,978
b,d
GS
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
Trust
,
2021-PJ6
,
A8
,
144A,
FRN
,
2.5
%
,
11/25/51
...
204,679
177,539
b,d
J.P.
Morgan
Mortgage
Trust
,
2013-3,
A3,
144A,
FRN,
3.352%,
7/25/43
................................
51,538
47,028
2021-6,
A4,
144A,
FRN,
2.5%,
10/25/51
.................................
258,136
226,788
2021-13,
A4,
144A,
FRN,
2.5%,
4/25/52
.................................
174,870
151,683
2021-15,
A4,
144A,
FRN,
2.5%,
6/25/52
.................................
51,760
44,897
2022-1,
A4,
144A,
FRN,
2.5%,
7/25/52
..................................
269,484
233,751
b,d
Mill
City
Mortgage
Loan
Trust
,
2018-2,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
3.5%,
5/25/58
..................................
32,817
32,051
2018-1,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
3.25%,
5/25/62
.................................
32,326
31,205
2018-4,
A1B,
144A,
FRN,
3.494%,
4/25/66
...............................
81,957
78,836
b
OBX
Trust
,
e
2018-1,
A2,
144A,
FRN,
5.495%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
0.65%),
6/25/57
.......
29,752
27,854
d
2021-J1,
A4,
144A,
FRN,
2.5%,
5/25/51
.................................
161,475
140,064
d
2021-J3,
A4,
144A,
FRN,
2.5%,
10/25/51
................................
81,522
70,712
b,d
Provident
Funding
Associates
LLP
,
2021-J1
,
A3
,
144A,
FRN
,
2.5
%
,
2/20/49
........
129,178
112,049
b,d
PSMC
Trust
,
2021-3
,
A3
,
144A,
FRN
,
2.5
%
,
8/25/51
.........................
232,642
204,529
b,d
Sequoia
Mortgage
Trust
,
2021-1,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
2.5%,
3/25/51
..................................
161,497
132,272
2021-6,
A4,
144A,
FRN,
2.5%,
10/25/51
.................................
218,062
189,147
b
Towd
Point
Mortgage
Trust
,
d
2016-5,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
2.5%,
10/25/56
.................................
34,450
33,833
d
2017-1,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
2.75%,
10/25/56
................................
22,977
22,576
e
2017-5,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
4.208%,
(1-month
USD
LIBOR
+
0.6%),
2/25/57
........
13,576
13,523
d
2017-2,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
2.75%,
4/25/57
.................................
5,934
5,874
d
2017-4,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
2.75%,
6/25/57
.................................
83,523
79,580
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Schedule
of
Investments
(unaudited)
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
18
a
a
Principal
Amount
a
Value
a
a
a
a
a
Residential
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
(continued)
Financial
Services
(continued)
b
Towd
Point
Mortgage
Trust,
(continued)
d
2018-1,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
3%,
1/25/58
...................................
$
19,708
$
19,155
d
2018-2,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
3.25%,
3/25/58
.................................
52,335
50,280
d
2019-1,
A1,
144A,
FRN,
3.75%,
3/25/58
.................................
114,173
108,826
d
2018-6,
A1A,
144A,
FRN,
3.75%,
3/25/58
................................
32,539
31,722
d
2017-1,
A2,
144A,
FRN,
3.5%,
10/25/56
.................................
165,000
158,635
b
Virginia
Housing
Development
Authority
,
2020-A
,
A
,
144A,
2.85
%
,
12/25/49
........
51,837
46,643
4,289,577
a
a
a
a
a
Total
Residential
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
(Cost
$4,753,349)
..................
4,320,287
Total
Long
Term
Investments
(Cost
$38,511,210)
................................
35,183,330
a
a
a
a
a
Short
Term
Investments
3.7%
U.S.
Government
and
Agency
Securities
1.0%
h
U.S.
Treasury
Bills,
6/20/23
............................................
400,000
395,982
Total
U.S.
Government
and
Agency
Securities
(Cost
$395,761)
....................
395,982
Shares
a
Money
Market
Funds
2.7%
i,j
Institutional
Fiduciary
Trust
-
Money
Market
Portfolio,
4.371%
..................
960,463
960,463
Total
Money
Market
Funds
(Cost
$960,463)
.....................................
960,463
Total
Short
Term
Investments
(Cost
$1,356,224
)
.................................
1,356,445
a
Total
Investments
(Cost
$39,867,434)
100.9%
...................................
$36,539,775
Other
Assets,
less
Liabilities
(0.9)%
...........................................
(347,368)
Net
Assets
100.0%
...........................................................
$36,192,407
†
Rounds
to
less
than
0.1%
of
net
assets.
a
Perpetual
security
with
no
stated
maturity
date.
b
Security
was
purchased
pursuant
to
Rule
144A
or
Regulation
S
under
the
Securities
Act
of
1933.
144A
securities
may
be
sold
in
transactions
exempt
from
registration
only
to
qualified
institutional
buyers
or
in
a
public
offering
registered
under
the
Securities
Act
of
1933.
Regulation
S
securities
cannot
be
sold
in
the
United
States
without
either
an
effective
registration
statement
filed
pursuant
to
the
Securities
Act
of
1933,
or
pursuant
to
an
exemption
from
registration.
At
March
31,
2023,
the
aggregate
value
of
these
securities
was
$6,097,325,
representing
16.8%
of
net
assets.
c
See
Note
7
regarding
defaulted
securities.
d
Adjustable
rate
security
with
an
interest
rate
that
is
not
based
on
a
published
reference
index
and
spread.
The
rate
is
based
on
the
structure
of
the
agreement
and
current
market
conditions.
The
coupon
rate
shown
represents
the
rate
at
period
end.
e
The
coupon
rate
shown
represents
the
rate
inclusive
of
any
caps
or
floors,
if
applicable,
in
effect
at
period
end.
f
Adjustable
Rate
Mortgage-Backed
Security
(ARM);
the
rate
shown
is
the
effective
rate
at
period
end.
ARM
rates
are
not
based
on
a
published
reference
rate
and
spread,
but
instead
pass-through
weighted
average
interest
income
inclusive
of
any
caps
or
floors,
if
applicable,
from
the
underlying
mortgage
loans
in
which
the
majority
of
mortgages
pay
interest
based
on
the
index
shown
at
their
designated
reset
dates
plus
a
spread,
less
the
applicable
servicing
and
guaranty
fee
(MBS
margin).
g
Security
purchased
on
a
to-be-announced
(TBA)
basis.
See
Note
1(b).
h
The
security
was
issued
on
a
discount
basis
with
no
stated
coupon
rate.
i
See
Note
3(f)
regarding
investments
in
affiliated
management
investment
companies.
j
The
rate
shown
is
the
annualized
seven-day
effective
yield
at
period
end.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Schedule
of
Investments
(unaudited)
franklintempleton.com
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
Semiannual
Report
19
At
March
31,
2023,
the
Fund
had
the
following futures
contracts
outstanding.
See
Note
1(c).
See
Abbreviations
on
page
33
.
Futures
Contracts
Description
Type
Number
of
Contracts
Notional
Amount
*
Expiration
Date
Value/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
Interest
rate
contracts
U.S.
Treasury
10
Year
Notes
....................
Short
10
$
1,149,219
6/21/23
$
(37,201)
U.S.
Treasury
10
Year
Ultra
Notes
................
Long
12
1,453,688
6/21/23
46,483
U.S.
Treasury
5
Year
Notes
.....................
Long
21
2,299,664
6/30/23
44,434
U.S.
Treasury
Long
Bonds
.....................
Long
9
1,180,406
6/21/23
48,291
Total
Futures
Contracts
......................................................................
$102,007
*
As
of
period
end.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Financial
Statements
Statement
of
Assets
and
Liabilities
March
31,
2023
(unaudited)
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
20
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Assets:
Investments
in
securities:
Cost
-
Unaffiliated
issuers
...................................................................
$38,906,971
Cost
-
Non-controlled
affiliates
(Note
3
f
)
........................................................
960,463
Value
-
Unaffiliated
issuers
..................................................................
$35,579,312
Value
-
Non-controlled
affiliates
(Note
3
f
)
........................................................
960,463
Cash
....................................................................................
66
Receivables:
Capital
shares
sold
........................................................................
647
Interest
.................................................................................
92,613
Deposits
with
brokers
for:
Futures
contracts
........................................................................
96,075
Variation
margin
on
futures
contracts
...........................................................
16,883
Total
assets
..........................................................................
36,746,059
Liabilities:
Payables:
Investment
securities
purchased
..............................................................
364,517
Capital
shares
redeemed
...................................................................
99,857
Management
fees
.........................................................................
25,887
Distribution
fees
..........................................................................
3,336
Transfer
agent
fees
........................................................................
12,647
Professional
fees
.........................................................................
38,040
Trustees'
fees
and
expenses
.................................................................
1,751
Accrued
expenses
and
other
liabilities
...........................................................
7,617
Total
liabilities
.........................................................................
553,652
Net
assets,
at
value
.................................................................
$36,192,407
Net
assets
consist
of:
Paid-in
capital
.............................................................................
$46,490,241
Total
distributable
earnings
(losses)
.............................................................
(10,297,834)
Net
assets,
at
value
.................................................................
$36,192,407
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Financial
Statements
Statement
of
Assets
and
Liabilities
(continued)
March
31,
2023
(unaudited)
franklintempleton.com
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
Semiannual
Report
21
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Class
A:
Net
assets,
at
value
.......................................................................
$12,509,033
Shares
outstanding
........................................................................
1,578,372
Net
asset
value
per
share
a
..................................................................
$7.93
Maximum
offering
price
per
share
(net
asset
value
per
share
÷
96.25%)
................................
$8.24
Class
A1:
Net
assets,
at
value
.......................................................................
$17,175,845
Shares
outstanding
........................................................................
2,166,029
Net
asset
value
per
share
a
..................................................................
$7.93
Maximum
offering
price
per
share
(net
asset
value
per
share
÷
96.25%)
................................
$8.24
Class
C:
Net
assets,
at
value
.......................................................................
$1,243,642
Shares
outstanding
........................................................................
156,919
Net
asset
value
and
maximum
offering
price
per
share
a
.............................................
$7.93
Class
R6:
Net
assets,
at
value
.......................................................................
$363,881
Shares
outstanding
........................................................................
45,960
Net
asset
value
and
maximum
offering
price
per
share
.............................................
$7.92
Advisor
Class:
Net
assets,
at
value
.......................................................................
$4,900,006
Shares
outstanding
........................................................................
618,784
Net
asset
value
and
maximum
offering
price
per
share
.............................................
$7.92
a
Redemption
price
is
equal
to
net
asset
value
less
contingent
deferred
sales
charges,
if
applicable.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Financial
Statements
Statement
of
Operations
for
the
six
months
ended
March
31,
2023
(unaudited)
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
22
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Investment
income:
Dividends:
Non-controlled
affiliates
(Note
3
f
)
.............................................................
$17,244
Interest:
Unaffiliated
issuers
........................................................................
611,126
Total
investment
income
...................................................................
628,370
Expenses:
Management
fees
(Note
3
a
)
...................................................................
73,476
Distribution
fees:
(Note
3c
)
    Class
A
................................................................................
16,083
    Class
C
................................................................................
4,298
Transfer
agent
fees:
(Note
3e
)
    Class
A
................................................................................
11,658
    Class
A1
...............................................................................
15,697
    Class
C
................................................................................
1,198
    Class
R6
...............................................................................
202
    Advisor
Class
............................................................................
4,476
Custodian
fees
(Note
4
)
......................................................................
226
Reports
to
shareholders
fees
..................................................................
(24,833)
Registration
and
filing
fees
....................................................................
60,180
Professional
fees
...........................................................................
36,009
Trustees'
fees
and
expenses
..................................................................
805
Other
....................................................................................
4,681
Total
expenses
.........................................................................
204,156
Expense
reductions
(Note
4
)
...............................................................
(2)
Expenses
waived/paid
by
affiliates
(Note
3
f
and
3
g
)
..............................................
(46,047)
Net
expenses
.........................................................................
158,107
Net
investment
income
................................................................
470,263
Realized
and
unrealized
gains
(losses):
Net
realized
gain
(loss)
from:
Investments:
Unaffiliated
issuers
......................................................................
(345,036)
Futures
contracts
.........................................................................
(190,034)
Net
realized
gain
(loss)
..................................................................
(535,070)
Net
change
in
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
on:
Investments:
Unaffiliated
issuers
......................................................................
1,195,099
Futures
contracts
.........................................................................
281,502
Net
change
in
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
............................................
1,476,601
Net
realized
and
unrealized
gain
(loss)
............................................................
941,531
Net
increase
(decrease)
in
net
assets
resulting
from
operations
..........................................
$1,411,794
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Financial
Statements
Statements
of
Changes
in
Net
Assets
franklintempleton.com
The
accompanying
notes
are
an
integral
part
of
these
financial
statements.
Semiannual
Report
23
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Six
Months
Ended
March
31,
2023
(unaudited)
Year
Ended
September
30,
2022
Increase
(decrease)
in
net
assets:
Operations:
Net
investment
income
.................................................
$470,263
$122,526
Net
realized
gain
(loss)
.................................................
(535,070)
(1,803,851)
Net
change
in
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
...........................
1,476,601
(5,021,575)
Net
increase
(decrease)
in
net
assets
resulting
from
operations
................
1,411,794
(6,702,900)
Distributions
to
shareholders:
Class
A
.............................................................
(175,229)
(299,755)
Class
A1
............................................................
(257,629)
(410,808)
Class
C
.............................................................
(15,366)
(24,128)
Class
R6
............................................................
(4,214)
(9,273)
Advisor
Class
........................................................
(73,528)
(124,399)
Distributions
to
shareholders
from
tax
return
of
capital:
Class
A
.............................................................
—
(8,577)
Class
A1
............................................................
—
(11,755)
Class
C
.............................................................
—
(690)
Class
R6
............................................................
—
(265)
Advisor
Class
........................................................
—
(3,560)
Total
distributions
to
shareholders
..........................................
(525,966)
(893,210)
Capital
share
transactions:
(Note
2
)
Class
A
.............................................................
(1,370,583)
(5,418,078)
Class
A1
............................................................
(864,801)
(3,184,969)
Class
C
.............................................................
(161,690)
(654,648)
Class
R6
............................................................
84,766
(220,442)
Advisor
Class
........................................................
(301,924)
(1,871,000)
Total
capital
share
transactions
............................................
(2,614,232)
(11,349,137)
Net
increase
(decrease)
in
net
assets
...................................
(1,728,404)
(18,945,247)
Net
assets:
Beginning
of
period
.....................................................
37,920,811
56,866,058
End
of
period
..........................................................
$36,192,407
$37,920,811
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Notes
to
Financial
Statements
(unaudited)
24
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
1.
Organization
and
Significant
Accounting
Policies
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio (Trust)
is
registered
under
the
Investment
Company
Act
of
1940
(1940
Act)
as
an
open-end
management
investment
company,
consisting
of
one
fund,
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
(Fund).
The
Fund
follows
the
accounting
and
reporting
guidance
in
Financial
Accounting
Standards
Board
(FASB)
Accounting
Standards
Codification
Topic
946,
Financial
Services
-
Investment
Companies
(ASC
946)
and
applies
the
specialized
accounting
and
reporting
guidance
in
U.S.
Generally
Accepted
Accounting
Principles
(U.S.
GAAP),
including,
but
not
limited
to,
ASC
946.
The
Fund
offers
five
classes
of
shares:
Class
A,
Class
A1,
Class
C,
Class
R6
and
Advisor
Class.
Class
C
shares
automatically
convert
to
Class
A
shares
on
a
monthly
basis,
after
they
have
been
held
for
8
years.
Each
class
of
shares
may
differ
by
its
initial
sales
load,
contingent
deferred
sales
charges,
voting
rights
on
matters
affecting
a
single
class,
its
exchange
privilege
and
fees
due
to
differing
arrangements
for
distribution
and
transfer
agent
fees. 
The
following
summarizes
the Fund's
significant
accounting
policies.
a.
Financial
Instrument
Valuation 
The
Fund's
investments
in
financial
instruments
are
carried
at
fair
value
daily.
Fair
value
is
the
price
that
would
be
received
to
sell
an
asset
or
paid
to
transfer
a
liability
in
an
orderly
transaction
between
market
participants
on
the
measurement
date.
The
Fund
calculates
the
net
asset
value
(NAV)
per
share
each business
day as
of
4
p.m.
Eastern
time
or
the
regularly
scheduled
close
of
the
New
York
Stock
Exchange
(NYSE),
whichever
is
earlier.
Under
compliance
policies
and
procedures
approved
by
the
Fund’s
Board
of
Trustees
(the
Board),
the
Board
has
designated
the
Fund’s
investment
manager
as
the
valuation
designee
and
has
responsibility
for
oversight
of
valuation.
The
investment
manager
is
assisted
by
the
Fund’s
administrator
in
performing
this
responsibility,
including
leading
the
cross-
functional
Valuation
Committee
(VC).
The
Fund
may
utilize
independent
pricing
services,
quotations
from
securities
and
financial
instrument
dealers,
and
other
market
sources
to
determine
fair
value. 
Debt
securities
generally
trade
in
the
over-the-counter
(OTC)
market
rather
than
on
a
securities
exchange.
The
Fund's
pricing
services
use
multiple
valuation
techniques
to
determine
fair
value.
In
instances
where
sufficient
market
activity
exists,
the
pricing
services
may
utilize
a
market-based
approach
through
which
quotes
from
market
makers
are
used
to
determine
fair
value.
In
instances
where
sufficient
market
activity
may
not
exist
or
is
limited,
the
pricing
services
also
utilize
proprietary
valuation
models
which
may
consider
market
characteristics
such
as
benchmark
yield
curves,
credit
spreads,
estimated
default
rates,
anticipated
market
interest
rate
volatility,
coupon
rates,
anticipated
timing
of
principal
repayments,
underlying
collateral,
and
other
unique
security
features
in
order
to
estimate
the
relevant
cash
flows,
which
are
then
discounted
to
calculate
the
fair
value.
Derivative
financial
instruments
listed
on
an
exchange
are
valued
at
the
official
closing
price
of
the
day.
Investments
in open-end mutual
funds
are
valued
at
the
closing
NAV.
The
Fund
has
procedures
to
determine
the
fair
value
of
financial
instruments
for
which
market
prices
are
not
reliable
or
readily
available.
Under
these
procedures,
the Fund
primarily
employs
a
market-based
approach
which
may
use
related
or
comparable
assets
or
liabilities,
recent
transactions,
market
multiples,
and
other
relevant
information
for
the
investment
to
determine
the
fair
value
of
the
investment.
An
income-based
valuation
approach
may
also
be
used
in
which
the
anticipated
future
cash
flows
of
the
investment
are
discounted
to
calculate
fair
value.
Discounts
may
also
be
applied
due
to
the
nature
or
duration
of
any
restrictions
on
the
disposition
of
the
investments.
Due
to
the
inherent
uncertainty
of
valuations
of
such
investments,
the
fair
values
may
differ
significantly
from
the
values
that
would
have
been
used
had
an
active
market
existed.
b.
Securities
Purchased
on
TBA
Basis
The
Fund
purchases
securities
on
to-be-announced
(TBA)
basis,
with
payment
and
delivery
scheduled
for
a
future
date.
These
transactions
are
subject
to
market
fluctuations
and
are
subject
to
the
risk
that
the
value
at
delivery
may
be
more
or
less
than
the
trade
date
purchase
price.
Although
the
Fund
will
generally
purchase
these
securities
with
the
intention
of
holding
the
securities,
it
may
sell
the
securities
before
the
settlement
date.
c.
Derivative
Financial
Instruments
The
Fund invested
in
derivative
financial
instruments
in
order
to
manage
risk
or
gain
exposure
to
various
other
investments
or
markets.
Derivatives
are
financial
contracts
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Notes
to
Financial
Statements
(unaudited)
25
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
based
on
an
underlying
or
notional
amount,
require
no
initial
investment
or
an
initial
net
investment
that
is
smaller
than
would
normally
be
required
to
have
a
similar
response
to
changes
in
market
factors,
and
require
or
permit
net
settlement.
Derivatives
contain
various
risks
including
the
potential
inability
of
the
counterparty
to
fulfill
their
obligations
under
the
terms
of
the
contract,
the
potential
for
an
illiquid
secondary
market,
and/or
the
potential
for
market
movements
which
expose
the
Fund
to
gains
or
losses
in
excess
of
the
amounts
shown
in
the
Statement
of
Assets
and
Liabilities.
Realized
gain
and
loss
and
unrealized
appreciation
and
depreciation
on
these
contracts
for
the
period
are
included
in
the
Statement
of
Operations.
Collateral
requirements
differ
by
type
of
derivative.
Collateral
or
initial
margin
requirements
are
set
by
the
broker
or
exchange
clearing
house
for
exchange
traded
and
centrally
cleared
derivatives.
Initial
margin
deposited
is
held
at
the
exchange
and
can
be
in
the
form
of
cash
and/or
securities.
The
Fund
entered
into
exchange
traded
futures
contracts
primarily
to
manage
and/or
gain
exposure
to
interest
rate
risk.
A
futures
contract
is
an
agreement
between
the
Fund
and
a
counterparty
to
buy
or
sell
an
asset
at
a
specified
price
on
a
future
date.
Required
initial
margins
are
pledged
by
the
Fund,
and
the
daily
change
in
fair
value
is
accounted
for
as
a
variation
margin
payable
or
receivable
in
the
Statement
of
Assets
and
Liabilities.
See
Note
10
regarding
other
derivative
information.
d.
Mortgage
Dollar
Rolls
The
Fund
enters
into
mortgage
dollar
rolls,
typically
on
a
TBA
basis.
Mortgage
dollar
rolls
are
agreements
between
the
Fund
and
a
financial
institution
where
the
Fund
sells
(or
buys)
mortgage-backed
securities
for
delivery
on
a
specified
date
and
simultaneously
contracts
to
repurchase
(or
sell)
substantially
similar
(same
type,
coupon,
and
maturity)
securities
at
a
future
date
and
at
a
predetermined
price.
Gains
or
losses
are
realized
on
the
initial
sale,
and
the
difference
between
the
repurchase
price
and
the
sale
price
is
recorded
as
an
unrealized
gain
or
loss
to
the
Fund
upon
entering
into
the
mortgage
dollar
roll.
In
addition,
the
Fund
may
invest
the
cash
proceeds
that
are
received
from
the
initial
sale.
During
the
period
between
the
sale
and
repurchase,
the
Fund
is
not
entitled
to
principal
and
interest
paid
on
the
mortgage
backed
securities.
Transactions
in
mortgage
dollar
rolls
are
accounted
for
as
purchases
and
sales
and
may
result
in
an
increase
to
the
Fund's
portfolio
turnover
rate.
The
risks
of
mortgage
dollar
roll
transactions
include
the
potential
inability
of
the
counterparty
to
fulfill
its
obligations.
e.
Income
Taxes
It
is the Fund's
policy
to
qualify
as
a
regulated
investment
company
under
the
Internal
Revenue
Code. The Fund
intends
to
distribute
to
shareholders
substantially
all
of
its
taxable
income
and
net
realized
gains
to
relieve
it
from
federal
income
and excise
taxes.
As
a
result,
no
provision
for
U.S.
federal
income
taxes
is
required.
The
Fund
may
recognize
an
income
tax
liability
related
to
its
uncertain
tax
positions
under
U.S.
GAAP
when
the
uncertain
tax
position
has
a
less
than
50%
probability
that
it
will
be
sustained
upon
examination
by
the
tax
authorities
based
on
its
technical
merits.
As
of
March
31,
2023,
the
Fund
has
determined
that
no
tax
liability
is
required
in
its
financial
statements
related
to
uncertain
tax
positions
for
any
open
tax
years
(or
expected
to
be
taken
in
future
tax
years).
Open
tax
years
are
those
that
remain
subject
to
examination
and
are
based
on
the
statute
of
limitations
in
each
jurisdiction
in
which
the
Fund
invests.
f.
Security
Transactions,
Investment
Income,
Expenses
and
Distributions
Security
transactions
are
accounted
for
on
trade
date.
Realized
gains
and
losses
on
security
transactions
are
determined
on
a
specific
identification
basis.
Interest
income
and
estimated
expenses
are
accrued
daily.
Amortization
of
premium
and
accretion
of
discount
on
debt
securities
are
included
in
interest
income.
Paydown
gains
and
losses
are
recorded
as
an
adjustment
to
interest
income
in
the
Statement
of
Operations.
Dividends
from
net
investment
income
are
normally
declared
daily;
these
dividends
may
be
reinvested
or
paid
monthly
to
shareholders.
Distributions
from realized
capital
gains
and
other
distributions,
if
any,
are
recorded
on
the
ex-dividend
date.
Distributable
earnings
are
determined
according
to
income
tax
regulations
(tax
basis)
and
may
differ
from
earnings
recorded
in
accordance
with
U.S.
GAAP.
These
differences
may
be
permanent
or
temporary.
Permanent
differences
are
reclassified
among
capital
accounts
to
reflect
their
tax
character.
These
1.
Organization
and
Significant
Accounting
Policies
(continued)
c.
Derivative
Financial
Instruments
(continued)
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Notes
to
Financial
Statements
(unaudited)
26
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
reclassifications
have
no
impact
on
net
assets
or
the
results
of
operations.
Temporary
differences
are
not
reclassified,
as
they
may
reverse
in
subsequent
periods.
Net
investment
income,
excluding
class
specific
expenses,
is
allocated
daily
to
each
class
of
shares
based
upon
the
relative
value
of
the
settled
shares
of
each
class.
Realized
and
unrealized
gains
and
losses
are
allocated
daily
to
each
class
of
shares
based
upon
the
relative
proportion
of
net
assets
of
each
class.
Differences
in
per
share
distributions
by
class
are
generally
due
to
differences
in
class
specific
expenses.
g.
Accounting
Estimates
The
preparation
of
financial
statements
in
accordance
with
U.S.
GAAP
requires
management
to
make
estimates
and
assumptions
that
affect
the
reported
amounts
of
assets
and
liabilities
at
the
date
of
the
financial
statements
and
the
amounts
of
income
and
expenses
during
the
reporting
period.
Actual
results
could
differ
from
those
estimates.
h.
Guarantees
and
Indemnifications
Under
the
Fund's
organizational
documents,
its
officers
and
trustees
are
indemnified
by
the
Fund
against
certain
liabilities
arising
out
of
the
performance
of
their
duties
to
the
Fund.
Additionally,
in
the
normal
course
of
business,
the
Fund enters
into
contracts
with
service
providers
that
contain
general
indemnification
clauses.
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.
Currently,
the
Fund
expects
the
risk
of
loss
to
be
remote.
2.
Shares
of
Beneficial
Interest
At
March
31,
2023,
there
were
an
unlimited
number
of
shares
authorized
(without
par
value).
Transactions
in
the
Fund’s
shares
were
as
follows:
Six
Months
Ended
March
31,
2023
Year
Ended
September
30,
2022
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Class
A
Shares:
Shares
sold
a
...................................
92,379
$731,077
183,719
$1,583,151
Shares
issued
in
reinvestment
of
distributions
..........
21,917
171,633
35,703
302,714
Shares
redeemed
...............................
(291,190)
(2,273,293)
(852,163)
(7,303,943)
Net
increase
(decrease)
..........................
(176,894)
$(1,370,583)
(632,741)
$(5,418,078)
Class
A1
Shares:
Shares
sold
...................................
6,732
$52,785
64,464
$561,568
Shares
issued
in
reinvestment
of
distributions
..........
31,535
247,115
48,045
407,177
Shares
redeemed
...............................
(148,933)
(1,164,701)
(484,278)
(4,153,714)
Net
increase
(decrease)
..........................
(110,666)
$(864,801)
(371,769)
$(3,184,969)
Class
C
Shares:
Shares
sold
...................................
14,551
$112,526
28,814
$253,641
Shares
issued
in
reinvestment
of
distributions
..........
1,945
15,235
2,911
24,629
Shares
redeemed
a
..............................
(36,874)
(289,451)
(108,722)
(932,918)
Net
increase
(decrease)
..........................
(20,378)
$(161,690)
(76,997)
$(654,648)
1.
Organization
and
Significant
Accounting
Policies
(continued)
f.
Security
Transactions,
Investment
Income,
Expenses
and
Distributions
(continued)
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Notes
to
Financial
Statements
(unaudited)
27
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
3.
Transactions
with
Affiliates
Franklin
Resources,
Inc.
is
the
holding
company
for
various
subsidiaries
that
together
are
referred
to
as
Franklin
Templeton.
Certain
officers
and
trustees
of
the
Fund
are
also
officers
and/or
directors
of
the
following
subsidiaries:
a.
Management
Fees
The
Fund
pays
an
investment
management
fee,
calculated
daily
and
paid
monthly,
to
Advisers
based
on
the
average
daily
net
assets
of
the
Fund
as
follows:
For
the
period
ended
March
31,
2023,
the
annualized
gross
effective
investment
management
fee
rate
was
0.400%
of
the
Fund’s
average
daily
net
assets. 
b.
Administrative
Fees
Under
an
agreement
with
Advisers,
FT
Services
provides
administrative
services
to
the
Fund.
The
fee
is
paid
by
Advisers
based
on
the
Fund's
average
daily
net
assets,
and
is
not
an
additional
expense
of
the
Fund.
Six
Months
Ended
March
31,
2023
Year
Ended
September
30,
2022
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Class
R6
Shares:
Shares
sold
...................................
14,641
$115,715
10,964
$95,300
Shares
issued
in
reinvestment
of
distributions
..........
542
4,238
1,122
9,574
Shares
redeemed
...............................
(4,519)
(35,187)
(39,249)
(325,316)
Net
increase
(decrease)
..........................
10,664
$84,766
(27,163)
$(220,442)
Advisor
Class
Shares:
Shares
sold
...................................
17,374
$137,217
56,489
$488,057
Shares
issued
in
reinvestment
of
distributions
..........
7,969
62,358
13,182
111,869
Shares
redeemed
...............................
(64,248)
(501,499)
(287,035)
(2,470,926)
Net
increase
(decrease)
..........................
(38,905)
$(301,924)
(217,364)
$(1,871,000)
a
May
include
a
portion
of
Class
C
shares
that
were
automatically
converted
to
Class
A.
Subsidiary
Affiliation
Franklin
Advisers,
Inc.
(Advisers)
Investment
manager
Franklin
Templeton
Services,
LLC
(FT
Services)
Administrative
manager
Franklin
Distributors,
LLC
(Distributors)
Principal
underwriter
Franklin
Templeton
Investor
Services,
LLC
(Investor
Services)
Transfer
agent
Annualized
Fee
Rate
Net
Assets
0.400%
First
$250
million
0.380%
Over
$250
million,
up
to
and
including
$500
million
0.360%
In
excess
of
$500
million
2.
Shares
of
Beneficial
Interest
(continued)
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Notes
to
Financial
Statements
(unaudited)
28
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
c.
Distribution
Fees
The
Board
has
adopted
distribution
plans
for
Class
A
and
Class
C
shares,
pursuant
to
Rule
12b-1
under
the
1940
Act.
Under
the
Fund’s
Class
A
reimbursement
distribution
plan,
the
Fund
reimburses
Distributors
for
costs
incurred
in
connection
with
the
servicing,
sale
and
distribution
of the
Fund's
shares
up
to
the
maximum
annual
plan
rate.
Under
the
Class
A
reimbursement
distribution
plan,
costs
exceeding
the
maximum
for
the
current
plan
year
cannot
be
reimbursed
in
subsequent
periods.
In
addition,
under
the
Fund’s
Class
C
compensation
distribution
plan,
the
Fund
pays
Distributors
for
costs
incurred
in
connection
with
the
servicing,
sale
and
distribution
of
the
Fund's
shares
up
to
the
maximum
annual
plan
rate.
The
plan
year,
for
purposes
of
monitoring
compliance
with
the
maximum
annual
plan
rates,
is
February
1
through
January
31.
The
maximum
annual
plan
rates,
based
on
the
average
daily
net
assets,
for
each
class,
are
as
follows:
d.
Sales
Charges/Underwriting
Agreements
Front-end
sales
charges
and
contingent
deferred
sales
charges
(CDSC)
do
not
represent
expenses
of
the
Fund.
These
charges
are
deducted
from
the
proceeds
of
sales
of
Fund
shares
prior
to
investment
or
from
redemption
proceeds
prior
to
remittance,
as
applicable.
Distributors
has
advised
the
Fund
of
the
following
commission
transactions
related
to
the
sales
and
redemptions
of
the
Fund's
shares
for
the
period:
e.
Transfer
Agent
Fees
Each
class
of
shares pays
transfer
agent
fees
to
Investor
Services
for
its
performance
of
shareholder
servicing
obligations.
Effective
October
1,
2022,
the
fees
are
based
on
an
annualized
asset
based
fee
of
0.016%
plus
a
reduced
transaction
based
fee.
Prior
to
October
1,
2022,
the
fees
were
based
on
an
annualized
asset
based
fee
of
0.02%
plus
a
transaction
based
fee.
In
addition,
each
class reimburses
Investor
Services
for
out
of
pocket
expenses
incurred
and,
except
for
Class
R6, reimburses
shareholder
servicing
fees
paid
to
third
parties.
These
fees
are
allocated
daily
based
upon
their
relative
proportion
of
such
classes'
aggregate
net
assets.
Class
R6
pays
Investor
Services
transfer
agent
fees
specific
to
that
class.
For
the
period
ended
March
31,
2023,
the
Fund
paid
transfer
agent
fees
of
$33,231,
of
which
$15,916
was retained
by
Investor
Services.
f.
Investments
in
Affiliated
Management
Investment
Companies
The
Fund
invests
in
one
or
more
affiliated
management
investment
companies.
As
defined
in
the
1940
Act,
an
investment
is
deemed
to
be
a
“Controlled
Affiliate”
of
a
fund
when
a
fund
owns,
either
directly
or
indirectly,
25%
or
more
of
the
affiliated
fund’s
outstanding
shares
or
has
the
power
to
exercise
control
over
management
or
policies
of
such
fund.
The
Fund
does
not
invest
for
purposes
of
exercising
a
controlling
influence
over
the
management
or
policies.
Management
fees
paid
by
the
Fund
are
waived
on
assets
invested
in
the
affiliated
management
investment
companies,
as
noted
in
the
Statement
of
Operations,
in
an
amount
not
to
exceed
the
management
and
administrative
fees
paid
directly
or
indirectly
by
each
affiliate.
During
the
period
ended
March
31,
2023,
the
Fund
held
investments
in
affiliated
management
investment
companies
as
follows:
Class
A
....................................................................................
0.25%
Class
C
....................................................................................
0.65%
Sales
charges
retained
net
of
commissions
paid
to
unaffiliated
brokers/dealers
..............................
$204
CDSC
retained
..............................................................................
$92
3.
Transactions
with
Affiliates
(continued)
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Notes
to
Financial
Statements
(unaudited)
29
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
g.
Waiver
and
Expense
Reimbursements
Advisers
has
contractually
agreed
in
advance
to
waive
or
limit
its
fees
and
to
assume
as
its
own
expense
certain
expenses
otherwise
payable
by
the
Fund
so
that
the
operating
expenses
(excluding
interest
expense,
distribution
fees,
acquired
fund
fees
and
expenses,
and
certain
non-routine
expenses
or
costs,
including
those
relating
to
litigation,
indemnification,
reorganizations,
and
liquidations)
for
each
class
of
the
Fund
does
not
exceed
0.75%
based
on
the
average
net
assets
of
each
class
until
January
31,
2024.
Total
expenses
waived
or
paid
are
not
subject
to
recapture
subsequent
to
the
Fund's
fiscal
year
end.
Investor
Services
has
contractually
agreed
in
advance
to
waive
or
limit
its
fees
so
that
the
Class
R6
transfer
agent
fees
do
not
exceed
0.03%
based
on
the
average
net
assets
of
the
class
until
January
31,
2024.
4.
Expense
Offset
Arrangement
The Fund has
entered
into
an
arrangement
with
its
custodian
whereby
credits
realized
as
a
result
of
uninvested
cash
balances
are
used
to
reduce
a
portion
of
the
Fund's
custodian
expenses.
During
the
period
ended
March
31,
2023,
the
custodian
fees
were
reduced
as
noted
in
the
Statement
of
Operations. 
5.
Income
Taxes
For
tax
purposes,
capital
losses
may
be
carried
over
to
offset
future
capital
gains.
At
September
30,
2022,
the
capital
loss
carryforwards
were
as
follows:
    aa
Value
at
Beginning
of
Period
Purchases
Sales
Realized
Gain
(Loss)
Net
Change
in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
Value
at
End
of
Period
Number
of
Shares
Held
at
End
of
Period
Investment
Income
a      
a  
a  
a  
a  
a  
a  
a  
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Non-Controlled
Affiliates
Dividends
Institutional
Fiduciary
Trust
-
Money
Market
Portfolio,
4.371%
$
839,449
$
4,922,873
$
(4,801,859)
$
—
$
—
$
960,463
960,463
$
17,244
Total
Affiliated
Securities
...
$839,449
$4,922,873
$(4,801,859)
$—
$—
$960,463
$17,244
Capital
loss
carryforwards
not
subject
to
expiration:
Short
term
................................................................................
$4,379,106
Long
term
................................................................................
2,280,373
Total
capital
loss
carryforwards
...............................................................
$6,659,479
3.
Transactions
with
Affiliates
(continued)
f.
Investments
in
Affiliated
Management
Investment
Companies
(continued)
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Notes
to
Financial
Statements
(unaudited)
30
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
At
March
31,
2023,
the
cost
of
investments
and
net
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
for
income
tax
purposes
were
as
follows:
Differences
between
income
and/or
capital
gains
as
determined
on
a
book
basis
and
a
tax
basis
are
primarily
due
to
differing
treatments
of
bond
discounts
and
premiums,
paydown
losses
and
financial
futures
transactions.
6.
Investment
Transactions
Purchases
and
sales
of
investments
(excluding
short
term
securities) for
the
period
ended
March
31,
2023,
aggregated
$3,050,483 
and
$5,820,799,
respectively. 
7.
Defaulted
Securities
The
Fund
held
a
defaulted
security
and/or
other
securities
for
which
the
income
has
been
deemed
uncollectible.
At
March
31,
2023,
the
value
of
this
security
represents
less
than
0.1%
of
the
Fund's
net
assets.
The
Fund
discontinues
accruing
income
on
securities
for
which
income
has
been
deemed
uncollectible
and
provides
an
estimate
for
losses
on
interest
receivable.
The
security
has
been
identified
in
the
accompanying
Schedule
of
Investments.
8.
Other
Derivative
Information
At
March
31,
2023,
the
Fund's
investments
in
derivative
contracts
are
reflected
in
the
Statement of
Assets
and
Liabilities
as
follows:
Cost
of
investments
..........................................................................
$39,689,362
Unrealized
appreciation
........................................................................
$378,863
Unrealized
depreciation
........................................................................
(3,426,443)
Net
unrealized
appreciation
(depreciation)
..........................................................
$(3,047,580)
Asset
Derivatives
Liability
Derivatives
Derivative
Contracts
Not
Accounted
for
as
Hedging
Instruments
Statement
of
Assets
and
Liabilities
Location
Fair
Value
Statement
of
Assets
and
Liabilities
Location
Fair
Value
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Interest
rate
contracts
.......
Variation
margin
on
futures
contracts
$
139,208
a
Variation
margin
on
futures
contracts
$
37,201
a
Total
....................
$139,208
$37,201
a
This
amount
reflects
the
cumulative
appreciation
(depreciation)
of
futures
contracts
as
reported
in
the
Schedule
of
Investments.
Only
the
variation
margin
receivable/payable
at
period
end
is
separately
reported
within
the
Statement
of
Assets
and
Liabilities.
Prior
variation
margin
movements
were
recorded
to
cash
upon
receipt
or
payment.
5.
Income
Taxes
(continued)
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Notes
to
Financial
Statements
(unaudited)
31
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
For
the
period
ended
March
31,
2023,
the
effect
of
derivative
contracts
in
the
Statement
of
Operations
was
as
follows:
For
the
period
ended
March
31,
2023,
the
average
month
end
notional
amount
of
futures
contracts
represented
$6,951,894.
See
Note
1(c)
regarding
derivative
financial
instruments.
9.
Credit
Facility
The
Fund,
together
with
other
U.S.
registered
and
foreign
investment
funds
(collectively,
Borrowers),
managed
by
Franklin
Templeton,
are
borrowers
in
a
joint
syndicated
senior
unsecured
credit
facility
totaling
$2.675
billion
(Global
Credit
Facility)
which
matures
on
February
2,
2024.
This
Global
Credit
Facility
provides
a
source
of
funds
to
the
Borrowers
for
temporary
and
emergency
purposes,
including
the
ability
to
meet
future
unanticipated
or
unusually
large
redemption
requests.
Under
the
terms
of
the
Global
Credit
Facility,
the
Fund
shall,
in
addition
to
interest
charged
on
any
borrowings
made
by
the
Fund
and
other
costs
incurred
by
the
Fund,
pay
its
share
of
fees
and
expenses
incurred
in
connection
with
the
implementation
and
maintenance
of
the
Global
Credit
Facility,
based
upon
its
relative
share
of
the
aggregate
net
assets
of
all
of
the
Borrowers,
including
an
annual
commitment
fee
of
0.15%
based
upon
the
unused
portion
of
the
Global
Credit
Facility.
These
fees
are
reflected
in
other
expenses
in
the Statement
of
Operations.
During
the
period
ended
March
31,
2023,
the Fund
did
not
use
the
Global
Credit
Facility.
10.
Fair
Value
Measurements
The
Fund
follows
a
fair
value
hierarchy
that
distinguishes
between
market
data
obtained
from
independent
sources
(observable
inputs)
and
the Fund's
own
market
assumptions
(unobservable
inputs).
These
inputs
are
used
in
determining
the
value
of
the
Fund's financial
instruments
and
are
summarized
in
the
following
fair
value
hierarchy:
Level
1
–
quoted
prices
in
active
markets
for
identical
financial
instruments
Level
2
–
other
significant
observable
inputs
(including
quoted
prices
for
similar
financial
instruments,
interest
rates,
prepayment
speed,
credit
risk,
etc.)
Level
3
–
significant
unobservable
inputs
(including
the
Fund's
own
assumptions
in
determining
the
fair
value
of
financial
instruments)
Derivative
Contracts
Not
Accounted
for
as
Hedging
Instruments
Statement
of
Operations
Location
Net
Realized
Gain
(Loss)
for
the
Period
Statement
of
Operations
Location
Net
Change
in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
for
the
Period
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Net
realized
gain
(loss)
from:
Net
change
in
unrealized
  appreciation
(depreciation)
on:
Interest
rate
contracts
..........
Futures
contracts
$(190,034)
Futures
contracts
$281,502
Total
.......................
$(190,034)
$281,502
8.
Other
Derivative
Information
(continued)
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Notes
to
Financial
Statements
(unaudited)
32
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
The
input
levels
are
not
necessarily
an
indication
of
the
risk
or
liquidity
associated
with
financial
instruments
at
that
level.
A
summary
of
inputs
used
as
of
March
31,
2023,
in
valuing
the
Fund's
assets
and
liabilities
carried
at
fair
value,
is
as
follows:
11.
New
Accounting
Pronouncements
In
March
2020,
the FASB
issued
Accounting
Standards
Update
(ASU)
No.
2020-04,
Reference
Rate
Reform
(Topic
848)
–
Facilitation
of
the
Effects
of
Reference
Rate
Reform
on
Financial
Reporting.
In
January
2021
and
December
2022,
the
FASB
issued
ASU
No.
2021-01
and
ASU
No.
2022-06,
with
further
amendments
to
Topic
848.
The
amendments
in
the
ASUs
provide
optional
temporary
accounting
recognition
and financial
reporting
relief
from
the
effect
of
certain
types
of
contract
modifications
due
to
the
planned
discontinuation
of
the
London
Interbank
Offered
Rate
(LIBOR)
and
other
interbank-offered
based
reference
rates
as
of
the
end
of
2021
for
certain
LIBOR
settings
and
2023
for
the
remainder. The
ASUs
are
effective
for
certain
reference
rate-related
contract
modifications
that
occur
during
the
period
March
12,
2020
through
December
31,
2024.
Management
has
reviewed
the
requirements
and
believes
the
adoption
of
these
ASUs
will
not
have
a
material
impact
on
the
financial
statements. 
12.
Subsequent
Events
The
Fund
has
evaluated
subsequent
events
through
the
issuance
of
the financial
statements
and
determined
that
no
events
have
occurred
that
require
disclosure.
Level
1
Level
2
Level
3
Total
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Assets:
Investments
in
Securities:
a
Corporate
Bonds
........................
$
—
$
94,293
$
—
$
94,293
Asset-Backed
Securities
...................
—
1,110,575
—
1,110,575
Commercial
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
......
—
1,827,784
—
1,827,784
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
................
—
27,830,391
—
27,830,391
Residential
Mortgage-Backed
Securities
.......
—
4,320,287
—
4,320,287
Short
Term
Investments
...................
960,463
395,982
—
1,356,445
Total
Investments
in
Securities
...........
$960,463
$35,579,312
$—
$36,539,775
Other
Financial
Instruments:
Futures
contracts
........................
$
139,208
$
—
$
—
$
139,208
Total
Other
Financial
Instruments
.........
$139,208
$—
$—
$139,208
Liabilities:
Other
Financial
Instruments:
Futures
contracts
........................
$
37,201
$
—
$
—
$
37,201
Total
Other
Financial
Instruments
.........
$37,201
$—
$—
$37,201
a
For
detailed
categories,
see
the
accompanying
Schedule
of
Investments.
10.
Fair
Value
Measurements
(continued)
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Notes
to
Financial
Statements
(unaudited)
33
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
Abbreviations
Currency
USD
United
States
Dollar
Selected
Portfolio
CMT
Constant
Monthly
U.S.
Treasury
Securities
Yield
Curve
Rate
Index
FHLMC
Federal
Home
Loan
Mortgage
Corp.
FNMA
Federal
National
Mortgage
Association
FRN
Floating
Rate
Note
GNMA
Government
National
Mortgage
Association
H15BDI
U.S.
Treasury
Bill
Auction
High
Discount
Rate
LIBOR
London
Inter-Bank
Offered
Rate
MBS
Mortgage-Backed
Security
SOFR
Secured
Overnight
Financing
Rate
TBA
To-Be-Announced
T-Note
Treasury
Note
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Shareholder
Information
34
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
BOARD
APPROVAL
OF
INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENTS
FRANKLIN
STRATEGIC
MORTGAGE
PORTFOLIO
(Fund)
At
a
meeting
held
on
March
27,
2023
(Meeting),
the
Board
of
Trustees
(Board)
of
the
Fund,
including
a
majority
of
the
trustees
who
are
not
“interested
persons”
as
defined
in
the
Investment
Company
Act
of
1940
(Independent
Trustees),
reviewed
and
approved
the
continuance
of
the
investment
management
agreement
between
Franklin
Advisers,
Inc.
(Manager)
and
the
Trust,
on
behalf
of
the
Fund
(Management
Agreement)
for
the
period
May
1,
2023
through
June
30,
2023
(Stub
Period).
The
Independent
Trustees
noted
that
the
Fund’s
annual
contract
review
was
historically
held
at
the
February
Board
meeting
and
that
management
proposed
to
move
the
contract
review
to
the
May
Board
meeting.
The
Independent
Trustees
further
noted
management’s
explanation
that,
to
effect
this
change,
the
Board
needed
to
consider
the
renewal
of
the
Fund’s
Management
Agreement
prior
to
its
current
April
30,
2023
expiration
date.
The
Independent
Trustees
also
noted
that
management
would
ask
them
to
consider
the
continuation
of
the
Management
Agreement
again
at
the
May
Board
meeting
for
the
12-month
period
beginning
July
1,
2023.
The
Independent
Trustees
received
advice
from
and
met
separately
with
Independent
Trustee
counsel
in
considering
whether
to
approve
the
continuation
of
the
Management
Agreement
for
the
Stub
Period.
In
considering
the
continuation
of
the
Management
Agreement,
the
Board
reviewed
and
considered
information
provided
by
the
Manager
at
the
Meeting
and
throughout
the
year
at
meetings
of
the
Board
and
its
committees.
The
Board
also
reviewed
and
considered
information
provided
in
response
to
a
detailed
set
of
requests
for
information
submitted
to
the
Manager
by
Independent
Trustee
counsel
on
behalf
of
the
Independent
Trustees
in
connection
with
the
annual
contract
renewal
process.
In
addition,
prior
to
the
Meeting,
the
Independent
Trustees
held
a
virtual
contract
renewal
meeting
at
which
the
Independent
Trustees
first
conferred
amongst
themselves
and
Independent
Trustee
counsel
about
contract
renewal
matters;
and
then
met
with
management
to
request
additional
information
that
the
Independent
Trustees
reviewed
and
considered
prior
to
and
at
the
Meeting.
The
Board
reviewed
and
considered
all
of
the
factors
it
deemed
relevant
in
approving
the
continuance
of
the
Management
Agreement,
including,
but
not
limited
to:
(i)
the
nature,
extent
and
quality
of
the
services
provided
by
the
Manager;
(ii)
the
investment
performance
of
the
Fund;
(iii)
the
costs
of
the
services
provided
and
profits
realized
by
the
Manager
and
its
affiliates
from
the
relationship
with
the
Fund;
(iv)
the
extent
to
which
economies
of
scale
are
realized
as
the
Fund
grows;
and
(v)
whether
fee
levels
reflect
these
economies
of
scale
for
the
benefit
of
Fund
investors.
In
approving
the
continuance
of
the
Management
Agreement,
the
Board,
including
a
majority
of
the
Independent
Trustees,
determined
that
the
terms
of
the
Management
Agreement
are
fair
and
reasonable
and
that
the
continuance
of
such
Management
Agreement
is
in
the
best
interests
of
the
Fund
and
its
shareholders.
While
attention
was
given
to
all
information
furnished,
the
following
discusses
some
primary
factors
relevant
to
the
Board’s
determination.
Nature,
Extent
and
Quality
of
Services
The
Board
reviewed
and
considered
information
regarding
the
nature,
extent
and
quality
of
investment
management
services
provided
by
the
Manager
and
its
affiliates
to
the
Fund
and
its
shareholders.
This
information
included,
among
other
things,
the
qualifications,
background
and
experience
of
the
senior
management
and
investment
personnel
of
the
Manager,
as
well
as
information
on
succession
planning
where
appropriate;
the
structure
of
investment
personnel
compensation;
oversight
of
third-party
service
providers;
investment
performance
reports
and
related
financial
information
for
the
Fund;
reports
on
expenses
and
shareholder
services;
legal
and
compliance
matters;
risk
controls;
pricing
and
other
services
provided
by
the
Manager
and
its
affiliates;
and
management
fees
charged
by
the
Manager
and
its
affiliates
to
US
funds
and
other
accounts,
including
management’s
explanation
of
differences
among
accounts
where
relevant.
The
Board
also
reviewed
and
considered
an
annual
report
on
payments
made
by
Franklin
Templeton
(FT)
or
the
Fund
to
financial
intermediaries,
as
well
as
a
memorandum
relating
to
third-party
servicing
arrangements.
The
Board
acknowledged
management’s
continued
development
of
strategies
to
address
areas
of
heightened
concern
in
the
mutual
fund
industry,
including
various
regulatory
initiatives
and
continuing
geopolitical
concerns.
The
Board
also
reviewed
and
considered
the
benefits
provided
to
Fund
shareholders
of
investing
in
a
fund
that
is
part
of
the
FT
family
of
funds.
The
Board
noted
the
financial
position
of
Franklin
Resources,
Inc.
(FRI),
the
Manager’s
parent,
and
its
commitment
to
the
mutual
fund
business
as
evidenced
by
its
reassessment
of
the
fund
offerings
in
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Shareholder
Information
35
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
response
to
the
market
environment
and
project
initiatives
and
capital
investments
relating
to
the
services
provided
to
the
Fund
by
the
FT
organization.
The
Board
specifically
noted
FT’s
commitment
to
technological
innovation
and
advancement
and
investments
to
promote
alternative
investing.
Following
consideration
of
such
information,
the
Board
was
satisfied
with
the
nature,
extent
and
quality
of
services
provided
by
the
Manager
and
its
affiliates
to
the
Fund
and
its
shareholders.
Fund
Performance
The
Board
reviewed
and
considered
the
performance
results
of
the
Fund
over
various
time
periods
ended
December
31,
2022.
The
Board
considered
the
performance
returns
for
the
Fund
in
comparison
to
the
performance
returns
of
mutual
funds
deemed
comparable
to
the
Fund
included
in
a
universe
(Performance
Universe)
selected
by
Broadridge
Financial
Solutions,
Inc.
(Broadridge),
an
independent
provider
of
investment
company
data.
The
Board
received
a
description
of
the
methodology
used
by
Broadridge
to
select
the
mutual
funds
included
in
a
Performance
Universe.
The
Board
also
reviewed
and
considered
Fund
performance
reports
provided
and
discussions
that
occurred
with
portfolio
managers
at
Board
meetings
throughout
the
year.
A
summary
of
the
Fund’s
performance
results
is
below.
The
Performance
Universe
for
the
Fund
included
the
Fund
and
all
retail
and
institutional
US
mortgage
funds.
The
Board
noted
that
the
Fund’s
annualized
income
return
for
the
five-
and
10-year
periods
was
above
the
median
of
its
Performance
Universe,
but
for
the
one-
and
three-year
periods
was
below
the
median
of
the
Performance
Universe.
The
Board
also
noted
that
the
Fund’s
annualized
total
return
for
the
three-
and
five-year
periods
was
below
the
median
of
its
Performance
Universe,
but
for
the
one-
and
10-year
periods
was
above
the
median
of
its
Performance
Universe.
The
Board
discussed
this
performance
with
management
and
noted
management’s
explanation
that
the
Fund,
consistent
with
its
principal
investment
strategies,
has
a
greater
exposure
to
risk
asset
sell
offs
given
its
credit
related
positions
in
comparison
to
its
peers,
which
contributed
to
the
Fund’s
three-
and
five-year
underperformance.
The
Board
also
noted
management’s
explanation
that,
during
these
two
periods,
the
primary
detractor
from
the
Fund’s
performance
versus
that
of
its
benchmark
was
the
Fund’s
allocation
to
non-agency
commercial
mortgage-backed
securities.
The
Board
further
noted
management’s
representation
that
management
was
continuing
to
monitor
the
Fund’s
asset
size
and
steps
to
address
the
underperformance
of
the
Fund
on
a
total
return
basis,
including
changes
to
the
Fund’s
exposure
to
certain
holdings
and
enhancements
to
the
securities
selection
process.
The
Board
further
noted
management’s
representation
regarding
the
income-related
attributes
of
the
Fund
(e.g.,
a
fund’s
investment
objective)
as
set
forth
in
the
Fund’s
registration
statement
and
that
the
evaluation
of
the
Fund’s
performance
relative
to
its
peers
on
an
income
return
basis
was
appropriate
given
these
attributes.
The
Board
concluded
that
the
Fund’s
performance
was
acceptable
and
that
the
Fund’s
Management
Agreement
should
be
continued
for
the
Stub
Period.
Comparative
Fees
and
Expenses
The
Board
reviewed
and
considered
information
regarding
the
Fund’s
actual
total
expense
ratio
and
its
various
components,
including,
as
applicable,
management
fees;
transfer
agent
expenses;
underlying
fund
expenses;
Rule
12b-1
and
non-Rule
12b-1
service
fees;
and
other
non-
management
fees.
The
Board
also
noted
the
quarterly
and
annual
reports
it
receives
on
all
marketing
support
payments
made
by
FT
to
financial
intermediaries.
The
Board
considered
the
actual
total
expense
ratio
and,
separately,
the
contractual
management
fee
rate,
without
the
effect
of
fee
waivers,
if
any
(Management
Rate)
of
the
Fund
in
comparison
to
the
median
expense
ratio
and
median
Management
Rate,
respectively,
of
other
mutual
funds
deemed
comparable
to
and
with
a
similar
expense
structure
to
the
Fund
selected
by
Broadridge
(Expense
Group).
Broadridge
fee
and
expense
data
is
based
upon
information
taken
from
each
fund’s
most
recent
annual
or
semi-annual
report,
which
reflects
historical
asset
levels
that
may
be
quite
different
from
those
currently
existing,
particularly
in
a
period
of
market
volatility.
While
recognizing
such
inherent
limitation
and
the
fact
that
expense
ratios
and
Management
Rates
generally
increase
as
assets
decline
and
decrease
as
assets
grow,
the
Board
believed
the
independent
analysis
conducted
by
Broadridge
to
be
an
appropriate
measure
of
comparative
fees
and
expenses.
The
Broadridge
Management
Rate
includes
administrative
charges,
and
the
actual
total
expense
ratio,
for
comparative
consistency,
was
shown
for
Class
A1
shares
for
the
Fund
and
for
Class
A
shares
for
the
other
funds
in
the
Expense
Group.
The
Board
received
a
description
of
the
methodology
used
by
Broadridge
to
select
the
mutual
funds
included
in
an
Expense
Group.
The
Expense
Group
for
the
Fund
included
the
Fund
and
nine
other
US
mortgage
funds.
The
Board
noted
that
the
Management
Rate
for
the
Fund
was
equal
to
the
median
of
the
Expense
Group,
and
that
the
actual
total
expense
ratio
for
the
Fund
was
below
the
median
and
in
the
first
quintile
of
its
Expense
Group.
The
Board
further
noted
that
the
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Shareholder
Information
36
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
actual
total
expense
ratio
for
the
Fund
reflected
a
contractual
expense
cap
on
Fund
operating
expenses
through
January
31,
2024.
For
these
reasons,
the
Board
concluded
that
the
Management
Rate
charged
to
the
Fund
is
reasonable.
Profitability
The
Board
reviewed
and
considered
information
regarding
the
profits
realized
by
the
Manager
and
its
affiliates
in
connection
with
the
operation
of
the
Fund.
In
this
respect,
the
Board
considered
the
Fund
profitability
analysis
provided
by
the
Manager
that
addresses
the
overall
profitability
of
FT’s
US
fund
business,
as
well
as
its
profits
in
providing
investment
management
and
other
services
to
each
of
the
individual
funds
during
the
12-month
period
ended
September
30,
2022,
being
the
most
recent
fiscal
year-
end
for
FRI.
The
Board
noted
that
although
management
continually
makes
refinements
to
its
methodologies
used
in
calculating
profitability
in
response
to
organizational
and
product-related
changes,
the
overall
methodology
has
remained
consistent
with
that
used
in
the
Fund’s
profitability
report
presentations
from
prior
years.
The
Board
also
noted
that
PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP,
auditor
to
FRI
and
certain
FT
funds,
has
been
engaged
by
the
Manager
to
periodically
review
and
assess
the
allocation
methodologies
to
be
used
solely
by
the
Fund’s
Board
with
respect
to
the
profitability
analysis.
The
Board
noted
management’s
belief
that
costs
incurred
in
establishing
the
infrastructure
necessary
for
the
type
of
mutual
fund
operations
conducted
by
the
Manager
and
its
affiliates
may
not
be
fully
reflected
in
the
expenses
allocated
to
the
Fund
in
determining
its
profitability,
as
well
as
the
fact
that
the
level
of
profits,
to
a
certain
extent,
reflected
operational
cost
savings
and
efficiencies
initiated
by
management.
As
part
of
this
evaluation,
the
Board
considered
management’s
outsourcing
of
certain
operations,
which
effort
has
required
considerable
up
front
expenditures
by
the
Manager
but,
over
the
long
run
is
expected
to
result
in
greater
efficiencies.
The
Board
also
noted
management’s
expenditures
in
improving
shareholder
services
provided
to
the
Fund,
as
well
as
the
need
to
implement
systems
and
meet
additional
regulatory
and
compliance
requirements
resulting
from
recent
US
Securities
and
Exchange
Commission
and
other
regulatory
requirements.
The
Board
also
considered
the
extent
to
which
the
Manager
and
its
affiliates
might
derive
ancillary
benefits
from
fund
operations,
including
revenues
generated
from
transfer
agent
services,
potential
benefits
resulting
from
personnel
and
systems
enhancements
necessitated
by
fund
growth,
as
well
as
increased
leverage
with
service
providers
and
counterparties.
Based
upon
its
consideration
of
all
these
factors,
the
Board
concluded
that
the
level
of
profits
realized
by
the
Manager
and
its
affiliates
from
providing
services
to
the
Fund
was
not
excessive
in
view
of
the
nature,
extent
and
quality
of
services
provided
to
the
Fund.
Economies
of
Scale
The
Board
reviewed
and
considered
the
extent
to
which
the
Manager
may
realize
economies
of
scale,
if
any,
as
the
Fund
grows
larger
and
whether
the
Fund’s
management
fee
structure
reflects
any
economies
of
scale
for
the
benefit
of
shareholders.
With
respect
to
possible
economies
of
scale,
the
Board
noted
the
existence
of
management
fee
breakpoints,
which
operate
generally
to
share
any
economies
of
scale
with
the
Fund’s
shareholders
by
reducing
the
Fund’s
effective
management
fees
as
the
Fund
grows
in
size.
The
Board
considered
the
Manager’s
view
that
any
analyses
of
potential
economies
of
scale
in
managing
a
particular
fund
are
inherently
limited
in
light
of
the
joint
and
common
costs
and
investments
the
Manager
incurs
across
the
FT
family
of
funds
as
a
whole.
The
Board
noted
that
the
Fund
does
not
have
an
asset
size
that
would
likely
enable
the
Fund
to
achieve
economies
of
scale,
but
concluded
that
to
the
extent
economies
of
scale
may
be
realized
by
the
Manager
and
its
affiliates,
the
Fund’s
management
fee
structure
provided
a
sharing
of
benefits
with
the
Fund
and
its
shareholders
as
the
Fund
grows.
Conclusion
Based
on
its
review,
consideration
and
evaluation
of
all
factors
it
believed
relevant,
including
the
above-described
factors
and
conclusions,
the
Board
unanimously
approved
the
continuation
of
the
Management
Agreement
for
the
Stub
Period.
Proxy
Voting
Policies
and
Procedures
The
Fund’s
investment
manager
has
established
Proxy
Voting
Policies
and
Procedures
(Policies)
that
the
Fund
uses
to
determine
how
to
vote
proxies
relating
to
portfolio
securities.
Shareholders
may
view
the
Fund’s
complete
Policies
online
at
franklintempleton.com.
Alternatively,
shareholders
may
request
copies
of
the
Policies
free
of
charge
by
calling
the
Proxy
Group
collect
at
(954)
527-
7678
or
by
sending
a
written
request
to:
Franklin
Templeton
Companies,
LLC,
300
S.E.
2nd
Street,
Fort
Lauderdale,
FL
33301,
Attention:
Proxy
Group.
Copies
of
the
Fund’s
proxy
voting
records
are
also
made
available
online
at
franklintempleton.com
and
posted
on
the
U.S.
Securities
and
Exchange
Commission’s
website
at
sec.gov
and
reflect
the
most
recent
12-month
period
ended
June
30.
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Shareholder
Information
37
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual
Report
Quarterly
Schedule
of
Investments
The
Fund
files
a
complete
schedule
of
investments
with
the
U.S.
Securities
and
Exchange
Commission
for
the
first
and
third
quarters
for
each
fiscal
year
as
an
exhibit
to
its
report
on
Form
N-PORT.
Shareholders
may
view
the
filed
Form
N-PORT
by
visiting
the
Commission’s
website
at
sec.
gov.
The
filed
form
may
also
be
viewed
and
copied
at
the
Commission’s
Public
Reference
Room
in
Washington,
DC.
Information
regarding
the
operations
of
the
Public
Reference
Room
may
be
obtained
by
calling
(800)
SEC-0330.
Householding
of
Reports
and
Prospectuses
You
will
receive,
or
receive
notice
of
the
availability
of,
the
Fund’s
financial
reports
every
six
months.
In
addition,
you
will
receive
an
annual
updated
summary
prospectus
(detail
prospectus
available
upon
request).
To
reduce
Fund
expenses,
we
try
to
identify
related
shareholders
in
a
household
and
send
only
one
copy
of
the
financial
reports
(to
the
extent
received
by
mail)
and
summary
prospectus.
This
process,
called
“householding,”
will
continue
indefinitely
unless
you
instruct
us
otherwise.
If
you
prefer
not
to
have
these
documents
householded,
please
call
us
at
(800)
632-2301.
At
any
time
you
may
view
current
prospectuses/
summary
prospectuses
and
financial
reports
on
our
website.
If
you
choose,
you
may
receive
these
documents
through
electronic
delivery.
357
S
05/23
©
2023
Franklin
Templeton
Investments.
All
rights
reserved.
Authorized
for
distribution
only
when
accompanied
or
preceded
by
a
summary
prospectus
and/or
prospectus.
Investors
should
carefully
consider
a
fund’s
investment
goals,
risks,
charges
and
expenses
before
investing.
A
prospectus
contains
this
and
other
information;
please
read
it
carefully
before
investing.
To
help
ensure
we
provide
you
with
quality
service,
all
calls
to
and
from
our
service
areas
are
monitored
and/or
recorded.
Semiannual
Report
and
Shareholder
Letter
Franklin
Strategic
Mortgage
Portfolio
Investment
Manager
Distributor
Shareholder
Services
Franklin
Advisers,
Inc.
Franklin
Distributors,
LLC
(800)
DIAL
BEN
®
/
342-5236
franklintempleton.com
(800)
632-2301
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
 
(a) The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer. 
 
(c) N/A
 
(d) N/A
 
(f) Pursuant to Item 13(a)(1), the Registrant is attaching as an exhibit a copy of its code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer.
 
 
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
 
(a)(1) The Registrant has an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.
 
(2) The audit committee financial expert is Mary C. Choksi and she is "independent" as defined under the relevant Securities and Exchange Commission Rules and Releases.
 
 
Item 4.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
                                            
N/A
 
 
Item 5. Audit Committee
 
of Listed Registrants.                   N/A
 
 
Item 6. Schedule of Investments.                                  N/A
 
 
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.                    N/A
 
 
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.                                              N/A
 
 
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and
Affiliated Purchasers.             N/A
 
 
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
 
There have been no changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant's Board of Trustees that would require disclosure herein.
 
 
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
 
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
. The Registrant maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the Registrant’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such information is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Registrant’s management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, recognizes that any set of controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
Within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR, the Registrant had carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Registrant’s management, including the Registrant’s principal executive officer and the Registrant’s principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on such evaluation, the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
 
(b) Changes in Internal Controls
. There have been no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the internal control over financial reporting.
 
Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Company.                             N/A
 
 
Item 13. Exhibits.
 
(a)(1) Code of Ethics
 
 
(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Matthew T. Hinkle, Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration, and Christopher Kings, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
 
 
(a)(2)(1) There were no written solicitations to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the Registrant to 10 or more persons.
 
(a)(2)(2) There was no change in the Registrant’s independent public accountant during the period covered by the report.
 
(b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Matthew T. Hinkle, Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration, and Christopher Kings, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
FRANKLIN STRATEGIC MORTGAGE PORTFOLIO
 
 
 
By S\MATTHEW T. HINKLE______________________
Matthew T. Hinkle
      Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration
Date  May 30, 2023
 
 
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\MATTHEW T. HINKLE______________________
Matthew T. Hinkle
      Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration
Date  May 30, 2023
 
 
By S\CHRISTOPHER KINGS______________________
      Christopher Kings
      Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
Date  May 30, 2023
 
 EX-99.CODE ETH 2 codeofethics.htm
Code of Ethics for Principal Executives & Senior Financial Officers
 
 

Procedures
 
Revised December 19, 2014
 
 
 

FRANKLIN TEMPLETON FUNDS

 
CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVES AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS

I.
            
Covered Officers and Purpose of the
Code

 
This code of ethics (the "Code") applies to the Principal Executive Officers, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer (the "Covered Officers," each of whom is set forth in Exhibit A) of each investment company advised by a Franklin Resources subsidiary and that is registered with the United States Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (collectively, "FT Funds") for the purpose of promoting:
 
·
        
Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical resolution of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional
relationships;
·
        
Full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents
that a registrant files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by or on behalf of the FT
Funds;
·
        
Compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and
regulations;
·
        
The prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code;
and
·
        
Accountability for adherence to the
Code.
 
Each Covered Officer will be expected to adhere to a high standard of business ethics and must be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest.
 
 
 
 
*
Rule
38a-1
under
the Investment
Company
Act
of
1940
(“1940
Act”)
and
Rule
206(4)-7
under
the
Investment
Advisers
Act
of 1940 (“Advisers Act”) (together the “Compliance Rule”) require registered investment companies and registered investment advisers to, among other things, adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations of the federal securities laws (“Compliance Rule Policies and
Procedures”).
 
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. This document is the proprietary product of Franklin Templeton Investments. It may NOT be distributed outside the company unless it is made subject to a non-disclosure agreement and/or such release receives authorization by an FTI Chief Compliance Officer. Any unauthorized use, reproduction or transfer of this document is strictly prohibited. Franklin Templeton Investments © 2014. All Rights
Reserved.
 

II.
            
Other Policies and
Procedures

 
This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Funds for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder.
 
Franklin Resources, Inc. has separately adopted the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (“Business Conduct”), which is applicable to all officers, directors and employees of Franklin Resources, Inc., including Covered Officers. It summarizes the values, principles and business practices that guide the employee’s business conduct and also provides a set of basic principles to guide officers, directors and employees regarding the minimum ethical requirements expected of them. It supplements the values, principles and business conduct identified in the Code and other existing employee
policies.
 
Additionally, the Franklin Templeton Funds have separately adopted the FTI Personal Investments and Insider Trading Policy governing personal securities trading and other related matters. The Code for Insider Trading provides for separate requirements that apply to the Covered Officers and others, and therefore is not part of this Code.
 
Insofar as other policies or procedures of Franklin Resources, Inc., the Funds, the Funds’ adviser, principal underwriter, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are superceded by this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code. Please review these other documents or consult with the Legal Department if have questions regarding the applicability of these policies to
you.
 

III.
            
Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest

 
Overview. A "conflict of interest" occurs when a Covered Officer's private interest interferes with the interests of, or his or her service to, the FT Funds. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of apposition with the FT Funds.
 
Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and the FT Funds and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("Investment Company Act") and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ("Investment Advisers Act"). For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the FT Funds because of their status as "affiliated persons" of the FT Funds. The FT Funds’ and the investment advisers’ compliance programs and procedures are designed to prevent, or identify and correct, violations of these provisions. This Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures, and such conflicts fall outside of the parameters of this Code.
 
Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between the FT Funds, the investment advisers and the fund administrator of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for the FT Funds, for the adviser, the administrator, or

2


for all three), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that will have different effects on the adviser, administrator and the FT Funds. The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between the FT Funds, the adviser, and the administrator and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the FT Funds. Thus, if performed in conformity with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act, such activities will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the FT Funds' Boards of Directors ("Boards") that the Covered Officers may also be officers or employees of one or more other investment companies covered by this or other codes.
 
Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. The following list provides examples of conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Officers should keep in mind that these examples are not exhaustive. The overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of the FT Funds.
 
Each Covered Officer must:
·
        
Not use his or her personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by the FT Funds whereby the Covered
Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the FT
Funds;
·
        
Not cause the FT Funds to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit the FT
Funds;
·
        
Not retaliate against any other Covered Officer or any employee of the FT Funds or their affiliated persons for reports of potential violations that are made in good
faith;
·
        
Report at least annually the following affiliations or other
relationships:
1
o
   
all directorships for public companies and all companies that are required to file reports with the
SEC;
o
   
any direct or indirect business relationship with any independent directors of
the FT
Funds;
o
   
any direct or indirect business relationship with any independent public accounting firm (which are not related to the routine issues related to the
firm’s service as the Covered Persons accountant);
and
o
   
any direct or indirect interest in any transaction with any FT Fund that will benefit the officer (not including benefits derived from the advisory, sub-advisory, distribution or service agreements with affiliates of Franklin
Resources).
These reports will be reviewed by the Legal Department for compliance with the Code.
There are some conflict of interest situations that should always be approved in writing by Franklin Resources General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel, if material. Examples of these include
2
:
·
        
Service as a director on the board of any public or private
Company.
 

1
 
Reporting
of
these
affiliations
or
other
relationships
shall
be
made
by
completing
the
annual
Directors
and
Officers
Questionnaire and returning the questionnaire to Franklin Resources Inc, General Counsel or Deputy General
Counsel.
2
    
Any
activity
or
relationship
that
would
present
a
conflict
for
a
Covered Officer
may
also
present
a
conflict
for
the
Covered Officer
if a member of the Covered Officer's immediate family engages in such an activity or has such a relationship. The Cover Person should also obtain written approval by FT’s General Counsel in such situations.
 

3


·
        
The receipt of any gifts in excess of $100 from any person, from any corporation
or association.
·
        
The receipt of any entertainment from any Company with which the FT Funds has current or prospective business dealings unless such entertainment is business related, reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and place, and not so frequent as to raise
any question of impropriety. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Covered Officers must obtain prior approval from the Franklin Resources General Counsel for any entertainment with a value in excess of
$1000.
·
        
Any ownership interest in, or any consulting or employment relationship with, any of
the FT Fund’s service providers, other than an investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator or any affiliated person
thereof.
·
        
A direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or spreads paid by the FT Funds for effecting portfolio transactions or for selling or redeeming shares other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer's employment, such as compensation or equity
ownership.
·
        
Franklin Resources General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel will provide a report
to the FT Funds Audit Committee of any approvals granted at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
 

IV.
            
Disclosure and
Compliance

·
        
Each Covered Officer should familiarize himself with the disclosure
requirements generally applicable to the FT
Funds;
·
        
Each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the FT Funds to others, whether within or outside the FT Funds, including to the FT Funds’ directors and auditors, and to governmental
regulators and self-regulatory
organizations;
·
        
Each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his or her area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the FT Funds, the FT Fund’s adviser and the administrator with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the FT Funds file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the FT Funds;
and
·
        
It is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
 

V.
            
Reporting and Accountability

 
Each Covered Officer must:
·
        
Upon becoming a covered officer affirm in writing to the Board that he or she has received, read, and understands the Code (see Exhibit
B);
·
        
Annually thereafter affirm to the Board that he has complied with the requirements of
the Code;
and
·
        
Notify Franklin Resources’ General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel promptly if he or she knows of any violation of this Code. Failure to do so is itself is a violation of
this

4


Code.
Franklin Resources’ General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel are responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and have the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation.
3
 
However, the Independent Directors of the respective FT Funds will consider any approvals or waivers
4
 
sought by any Chief Executive Officers of the Funds.
 
The FT Funds will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code:
 
·
        
Franklin Resources General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel will take all
appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to the Legal
Department;
·
        
If, after such investigation, the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel believes that no violation has occurred, The General Counsel is not required to take any
further action;
·
        
Any matter that the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel believes is a
violation will be reported to the Independent Directors of the appropriate FT
Fund;
·
        
If the Independent Directors concur that a violation has occurred, it will inform and make a recommendation to the Board of the appropriate FT Fund or Funds, which will
consider appropriate action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of the investment adviser or its board; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered
Officer;
·
        
The Independent Directors will be responsible for granting waivers, as appropriate;
and
·
        
Any changes to or waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, are disclosed
as provided by SEC
rules.
5

VI.
            
Other Policies and
Procedures

 
This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the FT Funds for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the FT Funds, the FT Funds' advisers, principal underwriter, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are superseded by this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code. The FTI Personal Investments and Insider Trading Policy, adopted by the FT Funds, FT investment advisers and FT Fund’s principal underwriter pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act, the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and more detailed policies and procedures set forth in FT’s Employee Handbook are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers and others, and are not part of this
Code.
 
 
 

3
 
Franklin
Resources
General
Counsel
and
Deputy
General
Counsel
are
authorized
to
consult,
as
appropriate,
with
members
of
the Audit
Committee, counsel
to
the
FT
Funds
and
counsel
to
the
Independent
Directors,
and
are
encouraged
to
do
so.
4
  
Item
2
of
Form
N-CSR
defines
"waiver"
as
"the
approval
by
the
registrant
of
a
material
departure
from
a
provision
of
the
code
of
ethics" and "implicit waiver," which must also be disclosed, as "the registrant's failure to take action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a provision of the code of ethics that has been made known to an executive officer" of the registrant. See Part X.
5
   
See Part
X.

VII.
            
Amendments

 
Any amendments to this Code, other than amendments to Exhibit A, must be approved or ratified by a majority vote of the FT Funds’ Board including a majority of independent directors.

VIII.
            
Confidentiality

 
All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the FT Funds’ Board and their counsel.

IX.
            
Internal
Use

 
The Code is intended solely for the internal use by the FT Funds and does not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of any FT Funds, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion.
 
X.
           
Disclosure on Form
N-CSR
 
Item 2 of Form N-CSR requires a registered management investment company to disclose annually whether, as of the end of the period covered by the report, it has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these officers are employed by the registrant or a third party. If the registrant has not adopted such a code of ethics, it must explain why it has not done so.
The registrant must also: (1) file with the SEC a copy of the code as an exhibit to its annual report; (2) post the text of the code on its Internet website and disclose, in its most recent report on Form N-CSR, its Internet address and the fact that it has posted the code on its Internet website; or (3) undertake in its most recent report on Form N-CSR to provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of the code and explain the manner in which such request may be made. Disclosure is also required of amendments to, or waivers (including implicit waivers) from, a provision of the code in the registrant's annual report on Form N-CSR or on its website. If the registrant intends to satisfy the requirement to disclose amendments and waivers by posting such information on its website, it will be required to disclose its Internet address and this
intention.
The Legal Department shall be responsible for ensuring that:
·
        
a copy of the Code is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to each Fund’s annual report;
and
·
        
any amendments to, or waivers (including implicit waivers) from, a provision of the
Code is disclosed in the registrant's annual report on Form
N-CSR.
In the event that the foregoing disclosure is omitted or is determined to be incorrect, the Legal Department shall promptly file such information with the SEC as an amendment to Form N-CSR.
In such an event, the Fund Chief Compliance Officer shall review the Code and propose such changes to the Code as are necessary or appropriate to prevent reoccurrences.

EXHIBIT A

 
Persons Covered by the Franklin Templeton Funds Code of Ethics
January 1, 2022
 
 

FRANKLIN GROUP OF FUNDS

 
Edward
Perks                           President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Rupert H.
Johnson,
Jr.               Chairman of the Board and Vice
President
Michael
McCarthy                      President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Sonal Desai,
Ph
D                     President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Matthew
Hinkle                          Chief Executive Officer – Finance and
Administration
Christopher Kings                     Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
 
           
 

FRANKLIN MUTUAL SERIES FUNDS

 
Christian K. Correa                    Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Matthew
Hinkle                          Chief Executive Officer – Finance and Administration
Christopher Kings                     Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
 
 

FRANKLIN ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES FUNDS

 
Brooks
Ritchey                          President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Matthew
Hinkle                          Chief Executive Officer – Finance and
Administration
Christopher Kings                     Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
 
 
 

TEMPLETON GROUP OF FUNDS

 
Rupert H.
Johnson
Jr.                Chairman of the Board and Vice
President
Manraj
S.
Sekhon                      President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Michael Hasenstab, Ph.D.          President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Alan
Bartlett                              President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Matthew
Hinkle                          Chief Executive Officer – Finance and
Administration
Christopher Kings                     Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer

Exhibit B ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM

 

Franklin Templeton Funds Code of Ethics

For Principal Executives and Senior Financial Officers
 
 

Instructions:

1.
     
Complete all sections of this
form.
2.
     
Print the completed form, sign, and
date.
3.
     
Submit completed form to FT’s General Counsel c/o Code of Ethics Administration within 10 days of becoming a Covered Officer and by February 15th of each subsequent year.
 
E-mail:      Code of Ethics Inquiries & Requests (internal address);
lpreclear@franklintempleton.com
(external
address)
 
 
Covered Officer’s Name:
 
Title:
 
Department:
 
Location:
 
Certification for Year Ending:
 
 
 
To: Franklin Resources General Counsel, Legal Department
 
I acknowledge receiving, reading and understanding the Franklin Templeton Fund’s Code of Ethics for Principal Executive Officers and Senior Financial Officers (the “Code”). I will comply fully with all provisions of the Code to the extent they apply to me during the period of my employment. I further understand and acknowledge that any violation of the Code may subject me to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
 
 
 
 

Signature
 
Date signed
 
 EX-99.906 CERT 3 fsmp906.htm
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 
I, Matthew T. Hinkle, Chief Executive Officer of the Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio (the “Registrant”), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:
 
1.
                  
The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period ended 3/31/2023 (the “Form N-CSR”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
2.
                  
The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.
 
Dated:  5/30/2023
 
                                                S\MATTHEW T. HINKLE
                                                                                                           
                                                Matthew T. Hinkle
Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration
                        

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 
I, Christopher Kings, Chief Financial Officer of the Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio (the “Registrant”), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:
 
1.
                  
The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period ended 3/31/2023 (the “Form N-CSR”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
2.
                  
The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.
 
Dated:  5/30/2023
 
                                                S\CHRISTOPHER KINGS
                                                                                                           
                                                Christopher Kings
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
                        
EX-99.CERT 4 fsmp302.htm
 
 
I, Matthew T. Hinkle, certify that:
 
1.
      
I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio;
2.
      
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;   
3.
      
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
      
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 
5.
      
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
5/30/2023
 
 
 
S\MATTHEW T. HINKLE
 
Matthew T. Hinkle
Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration
 

 
 
 
 
I, Christopher Kings, certify that:
 
1.
      
I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio;
2.
      
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;   
3.
      
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
      
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 
5.
      
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
5/30/2023
 
 
 
S\CHRISTOPHER KINGS
 
Christopher Kings
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer