Account Security Protection at INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND (IEF)

Protection of Your Investments:

At IEF, the integrity and safety of your investments, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, or money market funds, are of utmost importance. In compliance with the SEC’s Customer Protection Rule, we ensure that your assets are protected against the use by the firm for its own business activities. Your fully paid securities are segregated from the firm's assets and held with reputable third-party custodians to ensure security and proper governance.

Custodial and Segregation Practices:

Your securities are held at secure, third-party depository institutions, ensuring that they remain distinct from the firm’s assets. This separation is strictly maintained in accordance with regulatory standards, involving regular reporting and auditing to verify compliance. In the unlikely event of insolvency, these segregated assets are protected from claims by general creditors.

Use of Securities in Margin Accounts:

If your account is a margin account and has a loan balance, IEF may, under specific terms outlined in your account agreement, borrow securities up to the extent of the loan. Securities in non-margin accounts or those without a current loan are not subject to borrowing. All borrowed securities are fully collateralized, safeguarding the value of your holdings.

FDIC Insurance:

While IEF primarily deals with securities, any cash balances held in affiliated banking services are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution. This protection covers different account ownership categories and aggregates all similar ownership deposits at one bank to calculate your insurance coverage.

SIPC Coverage:

IEF is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which protects the securities and cash in your brokerage accounts. SIPC activates in rare cases of broker-dealer failure due to bankruptcy or fraud, covering up to $500,000 per customer, including a $250,000 limit for cash. The coverage aims to restore the missing securities and cash with reasonable promptness if there is a shortfall after the broker-dealer's assets are liquidated.

Our Commitment:

We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and integrity in managing your investments. IEF adheres to stringent regulatory requirements to safeguard your assets and provide transparency in all our custodial practices. Should you have any concerns or require further information about how we protect your investments, please do not hesitate to contact our support team.