Reminiscent of David and Goliath, The Schooner Growth & Income Fund Finished in the Top 1% of all 9,578 US Stock Funds Tracked by Morningstar Based on Total Returns, for the One Year Period Ending 8/31/2009

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Despite a year of financial turmoil, Schooner Investment Group, LLC, a little-known independent money manager specializing in equity, equity-linked, and convertible securities, not only survived, but prospered. The Firm's inaugural fund offering, the Schooner Growth & Income Fund (Ticker: SCNAX), finished among the top 1% of ALL U.S. stock mutual funds as tracked by Morningstar.

While the average fund in the Morningstar US Stock fund category lost -19.10 % year over year through August 31, 2009, Schooner's Growth and Income Fund generated a positive return of +4.02% for both their since inception (8/29/2008) and one year period ending August 31, 2009. These returns placed Schooner #3 of 1,932 funds in Morningstar's Large Cap Blend Category, and #22 of 9,578 funds in Morningstar's All US Stock Funds Category, for the One Year Period Ending 8/31/2009.

The funds gross expense ratio is 2.03%. The Fund's Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund indefinitely to ensure that Total Annual Operating Expenses for Class A shares do not exceed 2.00%. Had this waiver not been in effect and if the maximum sales load of 4.75% had been deducted the performance would have been lower.

Performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Fund performance current to the most recent month-end may be lower or higher than the performance quoted and can be obtained by calling (866) 724-5997. The fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held less than 7 days, and if reflected, the fee would reduce the performance shown.

In January of 2008 with a focus on risk-adjusted returns, Greg Levinson, Schooner Growth & Income Fund Portfolio Manager, and his team set about the task of creating what they believed was a better retail product - one they did not see in the marketplace. "There appeared to be a glaring risk management hole in the industry, and we believed we could do better," said Levinson. Relying on Levinson's expertise in equity options and convertible securities developed during his 15 years trading and managing money for global banks and large institutions, the team added risk-reducing strategies to a core portfolio of large-cap stocks to develop a fund that is designed to not only generate yield but attempt to reduce overall downside risk. "In our view, the Schooner Growth & Income Fund stands out as a managed portfolio that retains stock market exposure, yet strives to include a true risk-mitigation process."

While the last decade has seen the bifurcation of mutual funds into either Index funds or aggressive stock pickers, Schooner has strived to deliver what Levinson calls "Managed Beta" - implementing risk reducing strategies and techniques to manage Beta (the returns attributable to market performance). Levinson cites Index funds as perfect examples of Beta funds, in that they strive to deliver the returns of their target benchmark.

"Index funds provide a solid way for investors to inexpensively enter the stock market," Levinson states. "The shortcoming of Index funds, however, is in their inability to offer any form of down-side risk management, relying on the investor to make tactical decisions that they are likely unprepared or are untrained to make."

Many investors will then choose actively managed mutual funds, Levinson explains, in hopes that a manager will protect capital during rough financial times. However, with pressure to beat benchmarks, many fund managers may focus less on their role as risk mitigators and more on chasing returns. This can leave investors unclear as to how their accounts are being managed, and possibly in the lurch during market downturns.

Fees are often a concern when investors consider investment options. While the Schooner Growth and Income Fund does come with fees, Levinson points out that all returns are net. Therefore, the fee may only be an issue in the absence of performance. "Our process requires a lot of ongoing work and resources," Levinson said. "We don't just buy 30 stocks and hope for the best. We come in every day looking for good risk-return opportunities, and continuously reposition the portfolio in a diversified, controlled manner using covered call and convertible strategies that seek to reduce risk."

In the 15 years prior to developing the Growth and Income Fund, Schooner's investment team's services were reserved exclusively for global banks, large institutions, and select high net-worth individuals.

For more information about Schooner Investment Group, LLC. and the Schooner Growth and Income Fund contact Greg Levinson at 610.977.2090 or email Greg at gl@schoonerfunds.com.

The fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company, and it may be obtained by calling 1-866-724-5997, or visiting www.schoonermutualfunds.com. Read it carefully before investing

Mutual fund investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise. This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities. The fund may also use options and futures contracts, which have the risks of unlimited losses of the underlying holdings due to unanticipated market movements and failure to correctly predict the direction of securities prices, interest rates and currency exchange rates. The investment in options is not suitable for all investors. The fund may hold restricted securities purchased through private placements. Such securities can be difficult to sell without experiencing delays or additional costs.

Investment performance reflects fee waivers and in the absence of these waivers returns would be lower.

Morningstar, Inc., is an independent mutual fund research and rating service. Each Morningstar category represents a universe of funds with similar investment objectives. Tracking for the periods shown are based on fund total returns with dividends and distributions reinvested and do not reflect sales charges. The highest percentile is 1 and the lowest is 100.

(C) 2009 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Morningstar and/or its content providers are the proprietors of this information; do not permit its unauthorized copying or distribution; do not warrant it to be accurate, complete or timely; and are not responsible from damages or losses arising from its use.

Beta measures the volatility of the fund, as compared to that of the overall market. The Market's beta is set at 1.00; a beta higher than 1.00 is considered to be more volatile than the market, while a beta lower than 1.00 is considered to be less volatile.

Schooner Growth and Income Fund is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.

SOURCE Schooner Investment Group, LLC

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