Tax-Advantaged Ultra-Short Fixed Income
Carol Sullivan

Carol Sullivan

With Northern Trust since 1996
Began Career in 1980


Patrick Quinn

Patrick Quinn

With Northern Trust since 1985
Began Career in 1985


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The Tax-Advantaged Ultra-Short Fixed Income Fund, which has a $250,000 initial investment minimum, seeks to generate higher yields than money market funds with less volatility than short duration bond funds. It is intended for investors with an investment horizon of at least one year and is designed to provide investors in higher tax brackets more after-tax yield than a money market fund with potential for capital appreciation. The Fund strives to maximize after-tax return by pursuing best net after-tax yield and total return opportunities in both taxable and tax-exempt securities.

The Fund is not a money market fund, which maintains a $1.00 NAV, and the Fund’s share price will fluctuate with its returns.

Fund ObjectiveTotal Return
Initial Investment Minimum$250,000
Redemption Fee1% on shares sold or exchanged within 90 days of purchase
Ticker SymbolDistribution Rate
Daily as of 09/03/10
30 Day SEC Yield
Monthly as of July 31, 2010
NTAUX0.87%0.76%
Updated Daily as of September 3, 2010
SymbolNTAUX Distribution Rate*0.87%
CUSIP665162459 Tax-Equivalent Distribution Rate* N/A
Share Price$ 10.14 Updated Monthly as of July 31, 2010
Share Price Change$ 0.00Total Net Assets$461,672,934
YTD Total Return1.20% Updated Monthly as of July 31, 2010
Inception Date6/18/200930-Day SEC
Yield*
0.76%
  Tax-Equivalent
30-Day SEC
Yield*
N/A
Total Returns for Month Ended July 31, 2010
 Tax-Advantaged Ultra-Short Fixed Income75% ML 6-12 mth U.S. Muni +25% ML U.S. 1-3 yr MuniMorningstar Ultrashort Bond Category Average
Month0.17%0.18%0.25%
3-Month0.43%0.41%0.17%
Year to Date1.01%0.74%1.47%
1 Year1.80%1.40%3.43%
Avg. Annual
Since Inception
1.46% Pending% N/A
 
Total Returns for Quarter Ended June 30, 2010
 Tax-Advantaged Ultra-Short Fixed Income75% ML 6-12 mth U.S. Muni +25% ML U.S. 1-3 yr MuniMorningstar Ultrashort Bond Category Average
Month0.17%0.08%0.11%
3-Month0.43%0.38%0.44%
Year to Date0.83%0.56%1.33%
1 Year2.02%1.44%4.38%
Avg. Annual
Since Inception
1.43%1.46% N/A
 

Performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than that shown here.

The Advisor has agreed to reimburse certain expenses of the Fund. The contractual reimbursement arrangement is expected to continue until at least July 31, 2011. After this date, the contractual arrangements may be terminated if it is determined to be in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. In the absence of fee waivers, yield, total return, growth since inception and dividends would have been reduced. Total return is based on net change in NAV assuming reinvestment of distributions. The 30-day SEC yield more closely reflects the current earnings of the Fund than the total returns.



Disclosure
 Gross Expense RatioNet Expense Ratio*
Tax-Advantaged Ultra-Short Fixed Income
(NTAUX)
0.50%0.25%
*Includes contractual expense reimbursements that, if not extended, will end on July 31, 2011.
 2009
Tax-Advantaged Ultra-Short Fixed Income
75% ML 6-12 mth U.S. Muni +25% ML U.S. 1-3 yr Muni
Morningstar Category Avg.
Ultrashort Bond
Performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results.
Number of Holdings275
Average Duration†1.1 YRS
Average Maturity410 DAYS
Yield to Maturity0.80%
Income**$0.0080
Dividend ScheduleMonthly
Dividend Income Last Quarter$0.0230
Capital Gain Income Last QuarterN/A
Benchmark75% Merrill Lynch 6-12 Month U.S. Municipal Securities Index and 25% Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year U.S. Municipal Securities Index
Morningstar CategoryUS Ultrashort Bond
Maturity Distribution    Fund
1 Day    8.5%
2 - 15 Days    20.1%
16 - 30 Days    0.1%
31 - 60 Days    0.5%
61 - 97 Days    2.9%
98 - 180 Days    3.0%
181 - 270 Days    6.9%
271 Days - 1 Year    10.3%
1 - 2 Years    27.4%
2 - 3 Years    20.0%
5+ Years    0.3%
TOTAL 100.0%
Quality DistributionFundBenchmark
AAA(Long Term)12.1%
AA+(Long Term)7.6%
AA(Long Term)8.8%
AA-(Long Term)8.6%
A+(Long Term)6.1%
A(Long Term)5.4%
A-(Long Term)3.3%
BBB+(Long Term)6.3%
BBB(Long Term)4.1%
BBB-(Long Term)0.2%
A1+(Short Term)25.4%
A1(Short Term)9.2%
A2(Short Term)2.3%
Agency0.9%
TOTAL100.3%
Sector WeightingsFundBenchmark
Fixed Rate Note/Bond69.6%
Variable Rate Note/Bond26.5%
Other3.9%
TOTAL100.0%
All data is as of date indicated and is subject to change

Bond Risk: Bond funds will tend to experience smaller fluctuations in value than stock funds. However, investors in any bond fund should anticipate fluctuations in price, especially for longer-term issues and in environments of rising interest rates.

Merrill Lynch 6-12 Month U.S. Municipal Securities Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar denominated, investment grade, tax-exempt debt, publicly issued by U.S. states and territories, and their political subdivisions, in the U.S. domestic market. Qualifying securities must have been between six months to one year remaining term to final maturity, a fixed coupon schedule and an investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody's, S&P and Fitch). It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year U.S. Municipal Securities General Obligations Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar denominated, investment grade, tax-exempt, general obligations publicly issued by U.S. states and territories, and their political subdivisions, in the U.S. domestic market. Qualifying securities must have one to three years remaining term to maturity, a fixed coupon schedule and an investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody's S&P and Fitch). It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Quality Distribution: Credit quality ratings primarily originate from data compiled by Barclays Capital within their POINT model. They are based on the conservative average of Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch ratings. If ratings from all three rating agencies disagree, the model assigns the middle rating to the security. If two of the three agree, the model assigns the rating from those two to the security. If none of these three rating agencies has assigned a rating the Fund will assign a rating of NR (non-rated security). The ratings represent the rating agencies' opinions of the quality of the securities they rate. The ratings, expressed in Moody's nomenclature, range from Aaa ("judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk") to C ("the lowest rated class of bonds, typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest"). Ratings are relative and subjective and are not absolute standards of quality.
 
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Not FDIC insured | May lose value | No bank guarantee

†Northern tax-exempt fixed income funds' Average Duration is calculated using the modified duration formula. Other Northern fixed income funds show the option-adjusted duration. Duration is a measure of a bond fund's sensitivity to changes in interest rates.

*Distribution rate and tax-equivalent distribution rate represent the annualization of the Fund's distributions for the prior month ending on the date shown, including capital gain distributions. The 30-day SEC yield and tax-equivalent 30-day SEC yield represent the annualization of the Fund's net investment income, excluding capital gain income. The tax-equivalent distribution rate and tax-equivalent 30-day SEC yield are based on an assumed tax rate of 38.0% for Arizona, 41.0% for California and 35.0% for national municipal funds.

**Per share paid out July 26 with a record date of July 23. The amount shown represents dividends paid for net investment income and excludes distributions from capital gain income.

Please carefully read the prospectus and summary prospectus and consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of Northern Funds before investing. Call 800-595-9111 to obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contains this and other information about the funds.

©2010 Northern Funds | Northern Funds are distributed by Northern Funds Distributors, LLC, not affiliated with Northern Trust.