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Compare | Investment Tracker | Find Historical Prices | Find Historical Distributions | Share Class Information
Share Class Pricing Details
We offer several share classes for our regular mutual funds, CollegeAmerica® 529 college savings plan and ABLEAmerica℠ accounts. See the pricing details for each.
Our share classes are among the lowest-cost options, as measured by Lipper℠ Inc.
As you work with your financial professional to determine which share class to own, it’s important to consider:
- how long you expect to own the shares
- your investment objective
- how much you plan to invest
- the expenses associated with each share class
Class F-1, F-2, F-3 and 529-F-1 Shares
Class F-1, F-2, F-3 and 529-F-1 shares are designed for investors who choose to compensate their financial professional based on the total assets in their portfolios, rather than commissions or sales charges. This arrangement is often called an “asset-based” or a “fee-based” program.
Class F-1, F-2, F-3 and 529-F-1 shares do not have an up-front or a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC). Class F-2 shares also do not carry a 12b-1 fee but may have slightly higher administrative expenses than Class F-1 shares. These expenses will vary among the funds. Class F-3 shares do not carry 12b-1 or sub-transfer agency fees.
Please note that Class F-1, F-2 and F-3 shares are not available for purchase in certain employer-sponsored retirement plans, unless they are a part of a qualifying fee-based program.
Class A, 529-A and ABLE-A Shares
For many investors — especially those with significant account balances — Class A, 529-A and ABLE-A shares are the most cost-effective way to own our funds.
These shares are sold with an up-front sales charge, which declines as the amount invested increases. They also carry lower annual expenses.
There are a number of ways to reduce the sales charge on Class A, 529-A and ABLE-A share purchases. If you qualify for a reduction, you’ll need to tell your financial professional (or contact us) at the time of purchase. Otherwise, you may not receive the sales charge reduction.
Class A, 529-A and ABLE-A Pricing and Breakpoints (on gross amount invested)
Funds With 5.75% Maximum Sales Charge
Growth funds
Growth-and-income funds
Equity-income funds
Balanced funds
Target date funds
Most Portfolio Series funds1
Retirement Income Portfolio Series funds
Investment Amount and Account Value
Less than $25,000
$25,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $249,999
$250,000 to $499,999
$500,000 to $749,999
$750,000 to $999,999
$1 million and above
Sales Charge
5.75%
5.00
4.50
3.50
2.50
2.00
1.50
0.002
Funds With 4.25% Maximum Sales Charge
Most American Funds College Target Date Series® funds3
Investment Amount and Account Value
Less than $100,000
$100,000 to $249,999
$250,000 to $499,999
$500,000 to $749,999
$750,000 to $999,999
$1 million and above
Sales Charge
4.25%
3.50
2.50
2.00
1.50
0.002
Funds With 3.75% Maximum Sales Charge
Most bond funds4
American Funds Tax-Aware Conservative Growth and Income Portfolio℠
Investment Amount and Account Value
Less than $100,000
$100,000 to $249,999
$250,000 to $499,999
$500,000 to $749,999
$750,000 to $999,999
$1 million and above
Sales Charge
3.75%
3.50
2.50
2.00
1.50
0.002
Funds With 2.50% Maximum Sales Charge
American Funds Inflation Linked Bond Fund®
American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund®
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America®
Short-Term Bond Fund of America®
Intermediate Bond Fund of America®
American Funds Preservation Portfolio℠
American Funds Tax-Exempt Preservation Portfolio℠
American Funds College Enrollment Fund®
Investment Amount and Account Value
Less than $500,000
$500,000 to $749,999
$750,000 to $999,999
$1 million and above
Sales Charge
2.50%
2.00
1.50
0.002
1 Excludes American Funds Preservation Portfolio, American Funds Tax-Exempt Preservation Portfolio and American Funds Tax-Advantaged Growth and Income Portfolio. Sales charge information for these funds is included in subsequent tables showing funds that have a 3.75% and 2.50% maximum sales charge. Please see the funds’ prospectuses for more information.
2 There is no initial sales charge on purchases of $1 million or more. A 1% contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) may be assessed if a redemption occurs within 18 months of purchase. Tax-exempt bond funds are not available through the CollegeAmerica 529 plan or ABLEAmerica. Please see the funds’ prospectuses for more information.
3 Excludes American Funds College Enrollment Fund. Sales charge information for this fund is included in the table showing funds that have a 2.50% maximum sales charge. Please see the fund prospectus for more information.
4 Excludes American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Intermediate Bond Fund of America, Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America and Short-Term Bond Fund of America. Sales charge information for these funds is included in the table showing funds that have a 2.50% maximum sales charge. Please see the funds’ prospectuses for more information.
Class C and 529-C Shares
Class C and 529-C shares — often called level-load shares — do not have an up-front sales charge. After 10 years, Class C shares convert to Class F-1 shares. Effective December 1,2017, all eligible 529-C shares will automatically convert to 529-A shares before the end of their 10-year anniversary month.
You can invest up to $500,000 in Class C shares. You can invest into Class 529-C shares in a CollegeAmerica Account until the balance (including any earnings) reaches $500,000. You cannot invest in these share classes if you’re eligible to invest at net asset value ($1 million sales charge breakpoint discount).
If you sell (redeem) Class C and 529-C shares before you hold them for 12 months, you will pay a 1% sales charge on the shares that you sell. This is called a contingent deferred sales charge, or CDSC.
Class C and 529-C Share Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
Year Redeemed
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
Year 1
1%
Year 2—10
0
In some situations, your redemption will not be assessed a CDSC. Our fund prospectuses provide more details.
Please note that certain funds do not offer direct purchase of Class C and 529-C shares, as described in their prospectuses. Additionally, Class C shares are not available for purchase in certain employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k), money purchase or profit-sharing plans).
Investments are not FDIC-insured, nor are they deposits of or guaranteed by a bank or any other entity, so they may lose value.
Investors should carefully consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other important information is contained in the fund prospectuses, summary prospectuses, and ABLEAmerica Program Description which can be obtained from a financial professional and should be read carefully before investing. CollegeAmerica and ABLEAmerica are distributed by American Funds Distributors, Inc. and sold through unaffiliated intermediaries.
Depending on your state of residence, there may be an in-state plan that provides state tax and other state benefits not available through CollegeAmerica (such as financial aid, scholarship funds and protection from creditors) or ABLEAmerica. Before investing in any state's 529 plan, investors should consult a tax advisor. CollegeAmerica and ABLEAmerica are sponsored by Virginia529℠
Certain redemptions will not be assessed a CDSC.
This content, developed by Capital Group, home of American Funds, should not be used as a primary basis for investment decisions and is not intended to serve as impartial investment or fiduciary advice.