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"Other Expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year, using "Other Expenses" for Service Shares from the last fiscal year. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.00% and .75% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Fund's Board of Directors (the "Board"), and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.25% and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.10% and .85% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio through September 30, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.15% and .90% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.30% and 1.05% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio through September 30, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.00% and .75% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Fund's Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.35% and 1.10% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio through September 30, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.35% and 1.10% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Fund's Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.55% and 1.30% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until September 30, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.55% and 1.30% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.15% and .90% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. When there is a cash dividend declared on a security the Portfolio has borrowed to sell short, the Portfolio pays the lender an amount equal to the dividend and this payment is recorded as an expense. Net borrowing expenses on securities sold short, in which the Portfolio may receive income or be charged a fee on the borrowed securities. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.95% and 1.70% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, dividend and interest expenses on securities sold short, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. When there is a cash dividend on a security the Portfolio has borrowed to sell short, the Portfolio pays the lender an amount equal to the dividend and this payment is recorded as an expense. Excluding dividend and borrowing expenses on securities sold short, the Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses are 1.79% for Service Shares and 1.54% for Investor Shares. "Other Expenses" and "Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses" are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.27% and 1.02% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, dividend and interest expenses on securities sold short, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. Excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, the Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement are 1.27% for Service Shares and 1.02% for Investor Shares. Reflects a contractual agreement by the Investment Manager to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse the Portfolio until May 1, 2017, to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed 1.05% and .90% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio's Service Shares and Investor Shares, respectively, exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, fees and expenses of "Acquired Funds" and extraordinary expenses. This agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolio. LAZARD RETIREMENT SERIES INC 485BPOS false 0001033669 2015-12-31 2016-04-14 2016-04-29 2016-04-29 Lazard Retirement US Equity Concentrated Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts (“VA contracts”) or variable life insurance policies (“VLI policies” and, together with VA contracts, the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0070 0.0070 0.0025 0.0000 0.0020 0.0020 0.0115 0.0090 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20001 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010297Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 117 365 92 287 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20002 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010297Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of US companies of any market capitalization. The Portfolio has a concentrated portfolio of investments, typically investing in 15 to 35 companies with market capitalizations generally greater than $350 million. The Portfolio seeks to outperform broad-based securities market indices, such as the S&P 500® Index, the Russell 1000® Index and the Russell 3000® Index. The philosophy of Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) employed for the Portfolio is based on value creation through its process of bottom-up stock selection, and the Investment Manager implements a disciplined portfolio construction process. The Investment Manager’s fundamental research seeks to identify investments typically featuring robust organic cash flow, balance sheet strength and operational flexibility. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of US companies. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities of non-US companies. The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. In addition, investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value (“NAV”) may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. The Portfolio’s net asset value (“NAV”) may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. Lazard Retirement US Strategic Equity Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0070 0.0070 0.0025 0.0000 0.0136 0.0136 0.0231 0.0206 -0.0131 -0.0131 0.0100 0.0075 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20005 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010294Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year, using “Other Expenses” for Service Shares from the last fiscal year. 2017-05-01 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 102 595 1116 2544 77 519 987 2285 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20006 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010294Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of US companies that the Investment Manager believes have strong and/or improving financial productivity and are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. Although the Portfolio generally focuses on large cap companies, the market capitalizations of issuers in which the Portfolio invests may vary with market conditions and the Portfolio also may invest in mid cap and small cap companies. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of US companies. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities of non-US companies. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Year-by-Year Total Returns for Service Shares As of 12/31 The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Retirement US Strategic Equity Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Portfolio’s Service Shares has varied from year to year over the past 10 calendar years. Performance information does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies, and such fees will have the effect of reducing performance. Updated performance information is available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. As a new share Class, past performance information is not available for Investor Shares as of the date of this Prospectus. Investor Shares would have had annual returns substantially similar to those of Service Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities, and the annual returns would differ only to the extent of the different expense ratios of the Classes. 0.1748 -0.0095 -0.3528 0.2684 0.1285 0.0196 0.1401 0.2807 0.1471 -0.0544 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20007 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010294Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact cik0001033669_C000028466Member row primary compact * ~ Best Quarter: 0.1635 2009-06-30 Worst Quarter: -0.2302 2008-12-31 <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:0.00%; margin-right:0.00%; width:100.00%;"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:76.14%;"> </td> <td style="width:2.63%"> </td> <td style="width:21.59%;"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td width="3"> </td> <td> Best Quarter: 6/30/09    16.35%   Worst Quarter: 12/31/08    -23.02%   </td> </tr> </table> Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2015) -0.0544 0.1006 0.0570 0.0483 0.0138 0.1257 0.0731 0.0556 1998-03-18 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20008 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010294Member column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~ (800) 823-6300 (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. As a new share Class, past performance information is not available for Investor Shares as of the date of this Prospectus. The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Retirement US Strategic Equity Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of a broad measure of market performance. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 86% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.86 Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. In addition, investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0075 0.0075 0.0025 0.0000 0.0035 0.0035 0.0135 0.0110 -0.0010 -0.0010 0.0125 0.0100 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20011 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010298Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year, using “Other Expenses” for Service Shares from the last fiscal year. 2017-05-01 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 127 418 730 1615 102 340 597 1331 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20012 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010298Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of small to mid cap US companies. The Investment Manager considers “small-mid cap companies” to be those companies that, at the time of initial purchase by the Portfolio, have market capitalizations within the range of companies included in the Russell 2500® Index (ranging from approximately $10.9 million to $14.9 billion as of April 5, 2016). Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of small-mid cap US companies. The Investment Manager focuses on relative value in seeking to construct a diversified portfolio of investments for the Portfolio that maintains sector and industry balance, using investment opportunities identified through bottom-up fundamental research conducted by the Investment Manager’s small cap, mid cap and global research analysts. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in the securities of larger or smaller US or non-US companies. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Year-by-Year Total Returns for Service Shares As of 12/31 The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Portfolio’s Service Shares has varied from year to year over the past 10 calendar years. Performance information does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies, and such fees will have the effect of reducing performance. Updated performance information is available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. As a new share Class, past performance information is not available for Investor Shares as of the date of this Prospectus. Investor Shares would have had annual returns substantially similar to those of Service Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities, and the annual returns would differ only to the extent of the different expense ratios of the Classes. 0.1607 -0.0720 -0.3647 0.5268 0.2372 -0.0907 0.1038 0.3508 0.1103 -0.0238 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20013 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010298Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact cik0001033669_C000028474Member row primary compact * ~ Best Quarter: 0.2926 2009-06-30 Worst Quarter: -0.2916 2008-12-31 <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:0.00%; margin-right:0.00%; width:100.00%;"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:76.14%;"> </td> <td style="width:2.63%"> </td> <td style="width:21.59%;"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td width="3"> </td> <td> Best Quarter: 6/30/09    29.26%   Worst Quarter: 12/31/08    -29.16%   </td> </tr> </table> Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2015) The Russell 2000/2500 Linked Index shown in the table is an unmanaged index created by the Investment Manager, which links the performance of the Russell 2000® Index for all periods through May 31, 2009 (when the Portfolio’s investment focus was changed from small cap companies to small-mid cap companies) and the Russell 2500 Index for all periods thereafter. -0.0238 0.0800 0.0662 0.0746 -0.0290 0.1032 0.0756 0.0819 -0.0290 0.1032 0.0750 0.0710 1997-11-04 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20014 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010298Member column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~ (800) 823-6300 (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) The Russell 2000/2500 Linked Index shown in the table is an unmanaged index created by the Investment Manager, which links the performance of the Russell 2000® Index for all periods through May 31, 2009 (when the Portfolio’s investment focus was changed from small cap companies to small-mid cap companies) and the Russell 2500 Index for all periods thereafter. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. As a new share Class, past performance information is not available for Investor Shares as of the date of this Prospectus. The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of a broad measure of market performance. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 89% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.89 Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. In addition, investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0075 0.0075 0.0025 0.0000 0.0011 0.0011 0.0111 0.0086 -0.0001 -0.0001 0.0110 0.0085 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20017 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010300Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year, using “Other Expenses” for Service Shares from the last fiscal year. 2017-05-01 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 112 352 611 1351 87 273 476 1060 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20018 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010300Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of relatively large non-US companies with market capitalizations in the range of companies included in the MSCI® Europe, Australasia and Far East (“EAFE®”) Index (ranging from approximately $1.7 billion to $235.6 billion as of April 5, 2016) that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager looks for established companies in economically developed countries and may invest up to 15% of the Portfolio’s assets in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Year-by-Year Total Returns for Service Shares As of 12/31 The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Portfolio’s Service Shares has varied from year to year over the past 10 calendar years. Performance information does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies, and such fees will have the effect of reducing performance. Updated performance information is available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. As a new share Class, past performance information is not available for Investor Shares as of the date of this Prospectus. Investor Shares would have had annual returns substantially similar to those of Service Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities, and the annual returns would differ only to the extent of the different expense ratios of the Classes. 0.2253 0.1078 -0.3702 0.2146 0.0672 -0.0727 0.2111 0.2076 -0.0421 0.0175 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20019 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010300Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact cik0001033669_C000028478Member row primary compact * ~ Best Quarter: 0.1900 2009-06-30 Worst Quarter: -0.1792 2011-09-30 <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:0.00%; margin-right:0.00%; width:100.00%;"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:76.14%;"> </td> <td style="width:2.63%"> </td> <td style="width:21.59%;"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td width="3"> </td> <td> Best Quarter: 6/30/09    19.00%   Worst Quarter: 9/30/11    -17.92%   </td> </tr> </table> Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2015) 0.0175 0.0574 0.0389 0.0408 -0.0081 0.0360 0.0303 0.0450 1998-09-01 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20020 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010300Member column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~ (800) 823-6300 (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. As a new share Class, past performance information is not available for Investor Shares as of the date of this Prospectus The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of a broad measure of market performance. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 37% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.37 Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement International Equity Advantage Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0065 0.0065 0.0025 0.0000 0.0031 0.0031 0.0121 0.0096 -0.0006 -0.0006 0.0115 0.0090 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20023 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000051022Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2017-09-30 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangements described above. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 117 375 92 297 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20024 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000051022Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of US and non-US companies. In managing the Portfolio, the Investment Manager utilizes a quantitatively driven, bottom up stock selection process. The Portfolio management team selects investments for the Portfolio from a broad investment universe of non-US stocks and depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), warrants and rights. The active, quantitative approach utilized by the Portfolio management team involves initial screening, risk assessment and evaluation of each company relative to its global peers. The Portfolio will typically invest the majority of its assets in securities of non-US developed market companies, using an objective, systematic investment process that blends both risk and stock ranking assessments designed to capture attractive risk-to-return characteristics. In addition to a multidimensional assessment of risk, each company is evaluated daily according to four independent measures: growth, value, sentiment and quality. The Portfolio may invest across the capitalization spectrum. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among countries and regions will vary from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions. The Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded open-end management investment companies (“ETFs”) and similar products, which generally pursue a passive index-based strategy. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Quantitative Model Risk. The success of the Portfolio’s investment strategy depends largely upon the effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s quantitative model. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Currency investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their NAVs, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their most recent NAV. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of such ETF’s investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. Portfolio shares will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also their proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by the 1940 Act in the amount of its assets that may be invested in ETFs and unless an ETF has received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. Other Equity Securities Risk. Investments in rights and warrants involve certain risks including the possible lack of a liquid market for resale, price fluctuations and the failure of the price of the underlying security to reach a level at which the right or warrant can be prudently exercised, in which case the right or warrant may expire without being exercised and result in a loss of a Portfolio’s entire investment. REIT Risk. REITS are subject to similar risks as an investment in a realty-related company (“Realty Companies”). The risks related to investments in Realty Companies include, but are not limited to: adverse changes in general economic and local market conditions; adverse developments in employment; changes in supply or demand for similar or competing properties; unfavorable changes in applicable taxes, governmental regulations and interest rates; operating or development expenses; and lack of available financing. Due to certain special considerations that apply to REITs, investments in REITs may carry additional risks not necessarily present in investments in other securities. REIT securities (including those trading on national exchanges) typically have trading volumes that are less than those of common stocks of non-Realty Companies traded on national exchanges, which may affect a Portfolio’s ability to trade or liquidate those securities. An investment in REITs may be adversely affected if the REIT fails to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Failure to qualify with any of these requirements could jeopardize a company’s status as a REIT. A Portfolio generally will have no control over the operations and policies of a REIT, and the generally will have no ability to cause a REIT to take the actions necessary to qualify as a REIT. Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement International Equity Select Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0075 0.0075 0.0025 0.0000 0.0025 0.0025 0.0125 0.0100 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20027 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010301Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 127 397 102 318 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20028 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010301Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including ADRs, GDRs and common stocks, of relatively large non-US companies with market capitalizations in the range of companies included in the MSCI All Country World Index ex-US (ranging from approximately $798.7 million to $235.6 billion as of April 5, 2016) that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager looks for established companies in economically developed countries, although the Portfolio may invest in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries in an amount up to the current emerging markets component of the MSCI All Country World Index ex-US plus 15%. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement International Equity Concentrated Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0090 0.0090 0.0025 0.0000 0.0033 0.0033 0.0148 0.0123 -0.0018 -0.0018 0.0130 0.0105 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20031 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000046420Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2017-05-01 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 132 450 107 373 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20032 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000046420Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of non-US companies. The Portfolio has a concentrated portfolio of investments, typically investing in 20 to 30 securities of non-US companies, including those whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. The Investment Manager seeks to realize the Portfolio’s investment objective primarily through stock selection, investing in companies believed to have sustainably high or improving returns and trading at attractive valuations. In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager generally looks for established companies in economically developed countries that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Investment Manager also may invest the Portfolio’s assets in securities of companies domiciled in emerging market countries in an amount up to the current percentage of securities in the MSCI All Country World Index ex-US issued by companies domiciled in emerging market countries (21.9% as of April 5, 2016) plus 15%. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio generally invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for a Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. Lazard Retirement International Strategic Equity Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0075 0.0075 0.0025 0.0000 0.0040 0.0040 0.0140 0.0115 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20035 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010302Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 143 443 117 365 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20036 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010302Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of non-US companies whose principal activities are located in countries represented by the MSCI EAFE Index that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Portfolio also may invest up to 15% of its assets in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries, although the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. The countries represented by the MSCI EAFE Index currently include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement International Small Cap Equity Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0075 0.0075 0.0025 0.0000 0.0025 0.0025 0.0125 0.0100 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20039 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010303Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 127 397 102 318 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20040 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010303Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of relatively small non-US companies that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Investment Manager considers “small non-US companies” to be those non-US companies with market capitalizations, at the time of initial purchase by the Portfolio, below $5 billion or in the range of companies included in the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index (based on market capitalization of the Index as a whole, which ranged from approximately $50.8 million to $3.9 billion as of April 5, 2016). In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager looks for smaller, well-managed non-US companies that the Investment Manager believes have the potential for growth. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of small cap companies. The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its assets in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries, although the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement Managed Equity Volatility Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0060 0.0060 0.0025 0.0000 0.0032 0.0032 0.0117 0.0092 -0.0017 -0.0017 0.0100 0.0075 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20043 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000051023Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2017-09-30 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement described above. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 102 347 77 269 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20044 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000051023Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of US and non-US companies. In managing the Portfolio, the Investment Manager utilizes a quantitatively driven, bottom up stock selection process. A principal component of the Investment Manager’s investment process for the Portfolio is volatility management. Volatility, a risk measurement, measures the magnitude of fluctuations in the value of a financial instrument or index over time. The Investment Manager seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted equity returns (returns after accounting for the risk taken to achieve those returns) while lowering portfolio volatility (up and down movements in the fund’s returns). The Investment Manager’s investment process is benchmark-unaware, which means that the Portfolio’s assets are not managed by reference to a benchmark index. The Investment Manager examines fundamental company information (such as financial statements) and seeks to identify high quality companies with sustainable operating performance in order to build a well-diversified global portfolio of common stocks. The Investment Manager performs an independent assessment of stock risk and also seeks to manage risk through diversification. The Portfolio management team selects investments for the Portfolio from a broad investment universe of stocks and depositary receipts, including ADRs, GDRs and EDRs, REITs, warrants and rights. The active, quantitative approach utilized by the Portfolio management team involves initial screening, risk assessment and evaluation of each company relative to its global peers. The Portfolio will typically focus on securities of developed market companies, using an objective, systematic investment process that blends both risk and stock ranking assessments designed to capture attractive risk-to-return characteristics and create a low volatility portfolio. In addition to a multidimensional assessment of risk, each company is evaluated daily according to four independent measures: growth, value, sentiment and quality. The Portfolio may invest across the capitalization spectrum. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. The Portfolio may invest in ETFs and similar products, which generally pursue a passive index-based strategy. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Quantitative Model Risk. The success of the Portfolio’s investment strategy depends largely upon the effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s quantitative model. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value. Volatility Management Risk. While the Investment Manager generally will seek to achieve, over a full market cycle, the level of volatility in the Portfolio’s performance as described above, there can be no guarantee that this will be achieved; actual or realized volatility for any particular period may be materially higher or lower depending on market conditions. In addition, the Investment Manager’s efforts to manage the Portfolio’s volatility can be expected, in a period of generally positive equity market returns, to reduce the Portfolio’s performance below what could be achieved without seeking to manage volatility and, thus, the Portfolio would generally be expected to underperform market indices that do not seek to achieve a specified level of volatility. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Currency investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their NAVs, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their most recent NAV. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of such ETF’s investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. Portfolio shares will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also their proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by the 1940 Act in the amount of its assets that may be invested in ETFs and unless an ETF has received an exemptive order from the SEC on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. Other Equity Securities Risk. Investments in rights and warrants involve certain risks including the possible lack of a liquid market for resale, price fluctuations and the failure of the price of the underlying security to reach a level at which the right or warrant can be prudently exercised, in which case the right or warrant may expire without being exercised and result in a loss of a Portfolio’s entire investment. REIT Risk. REITS are subject to similar risks as an investment in Realty Companies. The risks related to investments in Realty Companies include, but are not limited to: adverse changes in general economic and local market conditions; adverse developments in employment; changes in supply or demand for similar or competing properties; unfavorable changes in applicable taxes, governmental regulations and interest rates; operating or development expenses; and lack of available financing. Due to certain special considerations that apply to REITs, investments in REITs may carry additional risks not necessarily present in investments in other securities. REIT securities (including those trading on national exchanges) typically have trading volumes that are less than those of common stocks of non-Realty Companies traded on national exchanges, which may affect a Portfolio’s ability to trade or liquidate those securities. An investment in REITs may be adversely affected if the REIT fails to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Failure to qualify with any of these requirements could jeopardize a company’s status as a REIT. A Portfolio generally will have no control over the operations and policies of a REIT, and the generally will have no ability to cause a REIT to take the actions necessary to qualify as a REIT. Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement Global Strategic Equity Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0085 0.0085 0.0025 0.0000 0.0029 0.0029 0.0139 0.0114 -0.0004 -0.0004 0.0135 0.0110 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20047 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000046419Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2017-05-01 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 137 436 112 358 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20048 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000046419Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of companies that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Investment Manager seeks to realize the Portfolio’s investment objective primarily through stock selection, investing in companies believed to have sustainably high or improving returns and trading at attractive valuations. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries, and the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. In addition, under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests significantly (at least 40%—unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Investment Manager, in which case the Portfolio would invest at least 30%) in non-US companies. The Investment Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets among various regions and countries, including the United States (but in no less than three different countries). The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographic sectors may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions. Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio generally invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for a Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0100 0.0100 0.0025 0.0000 0.0014 0.0015 0.0139 0.0115 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20051 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010295Member row primary compact * ~ Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 142 440 761 1669 117 365 633 1398 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20052 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010295Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of non-US companies whose principal activities are located in emerging market countries and that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. Emerging market countries include all countries represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets® Index, which currently includes: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Year-by-Year Total Returns for Service Shares As of 12/31 The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Portfolio’s Service Shares has varied from year to year over the past 10 calendar years. Performance information does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies, and such fees will have the effect of reducing performance. Updated performance information is available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. 0.2995 0.3330 -0.4872 0.6985 0.2269 -0.1800 0.2205 -0.0124 -0.0464 -0.2005 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20053 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010295Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact cik0001033669_C000028468Member row primary compact * ~ Best Quarter: 0.3436 2009-06-30 Worst Quarter: -0.3103 2008-12-31 <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:0.00%; margin-right:0.00%; width:100.00%;"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:76.14%;"> </td> <td style="width:2.63%"> </td> <td style="width:21.59%;"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td width="3"> </td> <td> Best Quarter: 6/30/09    34.36%   Worst Quarter: 12/31/08  -31.03%   </td> </tr> </table> Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2015) -0.2005 -0.0550 0.0338 0.0614 -0.1990 -0.0528 0.0203 -0.1492 -0.0481 0.0361 0.0575 -0.1492 -0.0481 0.0361 0.0161 1997-11-04 2006-05-01 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20054 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000010295Member column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~ (800) 823-6300 (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of a broad measure of market performance. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.09 Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Advantage Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0085 0.0085 0.0025 0.0000 0.0038 0.0038 0.0148 0.0123 -0.0013 -0.0013 0.0135 0.0110 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20057 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000051021Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2017-09-30 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement described above. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 137 450 112 372 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20058 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000051021Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of emerging markets companies. In managing the Portfolio, the Investment Manager utilizes a quantitatively driven, bottom up stock selection process. The Portfolio management team selects investments for the Portfolio from a broad investment universe of emerging market stocks and depositary receipts, including ADRs, GDRs and EDRs, REITs, warrants and rights. The active, quantitative approach utilized by the Portfolio management team involves initial screening, risk assessment and evaluation of each company relative to its global peers. The Investment Manager uses an objective, systematic investment process that blends both risk and stock ranking assessments designed to capture attractive risk-to-return characteristics. In addition to a multidimensional assessment of risk, each company is evaluated daily according to four independent measures: growth, value, sentiment and quality. The Portfolio may invest across the capitalization spectrum. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies that are economically tied to emerging market countries. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among countries and regions will vary from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions. The Portfolio considers a company to be “economically tied to emerging markets countries” if: (i) the company is organized under the laws of or domiciled in an emerging markets country or maintains its principal place of business in an emerging markets country; (ii) the securities of such company are traded principally in emerging markets countries; or (iii) during the most recent fiscal year of the company, the company derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in emerging markets countries or that has at least 50% of its assets in emerging markets countries. The Portfolio considers emerging markets countries to be all countries: (i) included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index; or (ii) not included in the MSCI World Index. The Portfolio may invest in ETFs and similar products, which generally pursue a passive index-based strategy. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Quantitative Model Risk. The success of the Portfolio’s investment strategy depends largely upon the effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s quantitative model. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Currency investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their NAVs, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their most recent NAV. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of such ETF’s investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. Portfolio shares will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also their proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by the 1940 Act in the amount of its assets that may be invested in ETFs and unless an ETF has received an exemptive order from the SEC on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. Other Equity Securities Risk. Investments in rights and warrants involve certain risks including the possible lack of a liquid market for resale, price fluctuations and the failure of the price of the underlying security to reach a level at which the right or warrant can be prudently exercised, in which case the right or warrant may expire without being exercised and result in a loss of a Portfolio’s entire investment. REIT Risk. REITS are subject to similar risks as an investment in Realty Companies. The risks related to investments in Realty Companies include, but are not limited to: adverse changes in general economic and local market conditions; adverse developments in employment; changes in supply or demand for similar or competing properties; unfavorable changes in applicable taxes, governmental regulations and interest rates; operating or development expenses; and lack of available financing. Due to certain special considerations that apply to REITs, investments in REITs may carry additional risks not necessarily present in investments in other securities. REIT securities (including those trading on national exchanges) typically have trading volumes that are less than those of common stocks of non-Realty Companies traded on national exchanges, which may affect a Portfolio’s ability to trade or liquidate those securities. An investment in REITs may be adversely affected if the REIT fails to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Failure to qualify with any of these requirements could jeopardize a company’s status as a REIT. A Portfolio generally will have no control over the operations and policies of a REIT, and the generally will have no ability to cause a REIT to take the actions necessary to qualify as a REIT. Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement Developing Markets Equity Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0100 0.0100 0.0025 0.0000 0.0035 0.0035 0.0160 0.0135 -0.0005 -0.0005 0.0155 0.0130 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20061 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000023617Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2017-05-01 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 158 500 132 423 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20062 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000023617Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of non-US companies whose principal activities are located in emerging market countries (also known as “developing markets”). Emerging market countries include all countries represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which currently includes: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. The Investment Manager employs a relative growth investment philosophy that is based on value creation through the process of bottom-up stock selection. The Investment Manager’s approach consists of an analytical framework, accounting validation, fundamental analysis and portfolio construction parameters. The Investment Manager’s selection process focuses on growth and considers the sustainability of growth and the trade off between valuation and growth. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Growth Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to have the potential for growth, but that may not realize such perceived potential for extended periods of time or may never realize such perceived growth potential. Such stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they can be more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Blend Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0100 0.0100 0.0025 0.0000 0.0055 0.0055 0.0180 0.0155 -0.0025 -0.0025 0.0155 0.0130 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20065 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000031909Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2017-09-30 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement described above. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 158 532 132 455 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20066 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000031909Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Investment Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets among various emerging markets equity strategies managed by the Investment Manager (and other emerging markets equity securities held in other strategies managed by the Investment Manager) in proportions consistent with the Investment Manager’s evaluation of various economic and other factors through quantitative and qualitative analysis. These proportions are changed from time to time without notice to shareholders, and at any given time the allocation to one strategy, region or country may comprise a substantial percentage of the Portfolio’s assets, or conversely, there may be no allocation to any such strategy, region or country. The Investment Manager will make allocation and securities selection decisions based on quantitative and qualitative analysis using a number of different tools, including proprietary software models. Quantitative analysis includes statistical analysis of portfolio risks, factor dependencies and trading tendencies. Qualitative analysis includes analysis of the global economic environment as well as internal and external research on individual securities, portfolio holdings, attribution factors, behavioral patterns and overall market views and scenarios. The Investment Manager may consider a security’s value or growth characteristics in selecting investments for the Portfolio and may invest in securities of any size or market capitalization. The equity securities in which the Portfolio invests may be denominated in the US dollar, the Canadian dollar, the Euro, the Japanese yen, the Pound Sterling, or the local currency of the issuer. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. Emerging market countries include all countries not represented by the MSCI® World Index. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among countries and regions may vary from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Value Investing and Growth Investing Risks. The Portfolio invests a portion of its assets in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The Portfolio also invests a portion of its assets in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to have the potential for growth, but that may not realize such perceived potential for extended periods of time or may never realize such perceived growth potential. Such stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they can be more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Quantitative Model Risk. The success of the Portfolio’s investment strategy depends upon effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s quantitative model. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors, including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, the factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Allocation Risk. The Portfolio’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends in part on the Investment Manager’s skill in determining the Portfolio’s allocation between the investment strategies. The Investment Manager’s evaluations and assumptions underlying its allocation decisions may differ from actual market conditions. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Income Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher 0.0065 0.0065 0.0025 0.0000 0.0037 0.0037 0.0127 0.0102 -0.0012 -0.0012 0.0115 0.0090 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20069 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000045291Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2017-05-01 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 117 391 92 313 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20070 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000045291Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in currencies, debt securities, derivative instruments and other investments that are economically tied to emerging market countries. Such investments may include combinations of these instruments that have economic characteristics similar to currencies or debt securities economically tied to emerging markets countries, such as a currency forward contract denominated in an emerging markets currency and US dollar-denominated debt security in a principal amount corresponding to the notional value of forward contracts, which together have economic characteristics similar to a debt security denominated in the emerging markets currency. Derivatives instruments in which the Portfolio may invest include forward currency contracts (including non-deliverable forward contracts). Debt securities in which the Portfolio may invest include debt securities issued or guaranteed by governments, government agencies or supranational bodies; corporate obligations; fixed and/or adjustable rate or inflation-linked investment grade and non- investment grade bonds (“junk bonds”); convertible securities; zero coupon securities; collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”); short- and medium-term obligations and other fixed-income obligations; and commercial paper and money market instruments such as certificates of deposit. Emerging market countries include all countries represented by the JPMorgan Emerging Local Markets Plus Index (ELMI +) or countries outside of the G-10, although the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among countries and regions may vary from time to time based on the judgment of the Investment Manager and its analysis of market conditions. The securities or instruments in which the Portfolio invests may be denominated in US and non-US currencies, including the local currency of the issuer. Although the Portfolio is not restricted to investments in securities of any particular maturity or duration, the average duration of the Portfolio is expected to be short, typically less than one year. The Investment Manager may extend duration in particular countries when domestic yield curves are favorable. The Portfolio is not limited to securities of any particular quality or investment grade and, as a result, the Portfolio may invest in securities rated below investment grade (e.g., lower than Baa by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or lower than BBB by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”)) (“junk bonds”) or securities that are unrated. The Portfolio may, but is not required to, use derivative instruments that are part of its primary investment strategy, such as forward currency contracts, for hedging purposes. The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks total return consisting of appreciation and income. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. Forward Currency Contracts and Other Derivatives Risk. Forward currency contracts and other derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes, may increase volatility or reduce returns, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Forward currency contracts and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risk of default by the counterparty and can be illiquid. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded options and other derivatives transactions in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related currency, security or other reference asset. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce return. Successful use of derivatives is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market. Use of derivatives transactions, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Counterparty Credit Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy is dependent in significant part on counterparties to derivatives transactions. Transactions with such counterparties are subject to the risk of default by a counterparty, which could result in the loss of monies owed to the Portfolio by a counterparty. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk. The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Portfolio may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the US and other countries are at or near historic lows. The Portfolio’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit risk than its higher rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline. Some debt securities may give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity. If securities held by the Portfolio are called during a time of declining interest rates (which is typically the case when issuers exercise options to call outstanding securities), the Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield (and the Portfolio may not fully benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates). Adjustable rate or inflation-linked securities provide the Portfolio with a certain degree of protection against rises in interest rates or inflation rates, respectively, although adjustable rate securities will participate in any declines in interest rates and inflation-linked securities can also decline in value based on changes in the relevant periodic adjustment rate. Certain adjustable rate securities, such as those with interest rates that fluctuate directly or indirectly based on multiples of a stated index, are designed to be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and can subject the holders thereof to extreme reductions of yield and possibly loss of principal. Certain fixed-income securities may be issued at a discount from their face value (such as zero coupon securities) or purchased at a price less than their stated face amount or at a price less than their issue price plus the portion of “original issue discount” previously accrued thereon, i.e., purchased at a “market discount.” The amount of original issue discount and/or market discount on certain obligations may be significant, and accretion of market discount together with original issue discount will cause the Portfolio to realize income prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to these securities. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Liquidity Risk. The lack of a readily available market may limit the ability of the Portfolio to sell certain securities at the time and price it would like. The size of certain debt securities offerings of emerging markets issuers may be relatively smaller in size than debt offerings in more developed markets and, in some cases, the Portfolio, by itself or together with other Portfolios or other accounts managed by the Investment Manager, may hold a position in a security that is large relative to the typical trading volume for that security; these factors can make it difficult for the Portfolio to dispose of the position at the desired time or price. Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in high transaction costs. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. Lazard Retirement Global Listed Infrastructure Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0090 0.0090 0.0025 0.0000 0.0058 0.0058 0.0173 0.0148 -0.0018 -0.0018 0.0155 0.0130 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20073 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000028754Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2017-05-01 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 158 527 132 450 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20074 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000028754Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of infrastructure companies and concentrates its investments in industries represented by infrastructure companies. The Investment Manager focuses on companies with a minimum market capitalization of $250 million that own physical infrastructure and which the Investment Manager believes are undervalued. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of infrastructure companies, which consist of utilities, pipelines, toll roads, airports, railroads, ports, telecommunications and other infrastructure companies, with securities listed on a national or other recognized securities exchange. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests significantly (at least 40%—unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Investment Manager, in which case the Portfolio would invest at least 30%) in infrastructure companies organized or located outside the US or doing a substantial amount of business outside the US. The Investment Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets among various regions and countries, including the United States (but in no less than three different countries). The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of companies with some business activities located in emerging market countries. The Investment Manager generally seeks to substantially hedge foreign currency exposure in the Portfolio against movements relative to the US dollar by entering into foreign currency forward contracts, although the Portfolio’s total foreign currency exposure may not be fully hedged at all times. Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks total return. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Infrastructure Companies Risk. Securities and instruments of infrastructure companies are more susceptible to adverse economic or regulatory occurrences affecting their industries. Infrastructure companies may be subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest costs in connection with capital construction programs, high leverage, costs associated with environmental and other regulations, the effects of economic slowdown, surplus capacity, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties concerning the availability of fuel at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies and other factors. Infrastructure companies also may be affected by or subject to, among other factors, regulation by various government authorities, including rate regulation and service interruption due to environmental, operational or other mishaps. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Foreign Currency and Foreign Currency Hedging Risk. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager may not be able to accurately predict movements in exchange rates and there may be imperfect correlations between movements in exchange rates that could cause the Portfolio to incur significant losses. Currency investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. Forward Currency Contracts Risk. Forward currency contracts may increase volatility or reduce returns, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Forward currency contracts are subject to the risk of default by the counterparty to the contracts and can be illiquid. These contracts are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related currency. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce return. Successful use of derivatives is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market. Use of forward currency contracts, even when entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement Enhanced Opportunities Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0140 0.0140 0.0025 0.0000 0.0052 0.0052 0.0052 0.0052 0.0217 0.0192 -0.0022 -0.0022 0.0195 0.0170 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20077 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000047898Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2017-05-01 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 198 658 173 582 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20078 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000047898Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective over a full market cycle through a hedged strategy investing primarily in convertible fixed income and preferred securities (including those rated below investment grade (“junk”)). The strategy utilizes a relative value approach, focusing on convertible securities that are considered to have low volatility. It is expected that the Portfolio will invest primarily in small and mid cap companies. The Portfolio also will utilize selective strategy level and position level hedges, primarily through short selling and derivatives, seeking to minimize macro risk (equity and credit) and interest rate risk. The Portfolio may invest in convertible debt and preferred securities of any maturity and any quality. Convertible securities held in the Portfolio generally are expected to have maturities between three and seven years at the time of investment, or between five and seven years if invested at issuance. Preferred securities generally are of perpetual maturities, callable at various points determined by the issuer. The Portfolio management team utilizes bottom up fundamental credit, equity and quantitative analysis in conjunction with top down macroeconomic analysis to identify individual securities believed to offer compelling value versus comparable risk return. The Portfolio will generally have short positions through selling securities “short” and through investments in derivative instruments, principally swap agreements on individual securities, and may use short positions to seek to increase returns or to reduce risk. A short sale involves the sale of a security that the Portfolio does not own in the expectation of purchasing the same security (or a security exchangeable therefor) at a later date and at a lower price and profiting from the price decline. Similarly, when taking short positions with respect to securities through investments in derivative instruments, the Investment Manager is expecting the value of such securities to fall during the period of the Portfolio’s investment exposure. Although the Portfolio’s investment focus is US companies, the Portfolio also may invest in non-US companies, including depositary receipts and shares. At certain times, based on the currently existing market environment, the Investment Manager may not believe it is able to find sufficient opportunities to invest in convertible fixed income and preferred securities and/or take short positions and may determine to tactically shift the Portfolio to invest substantially in money market instruments, such as short-term US Treasury securities and certificates of deposit. The Portfolio may invest in ETFs and similar products, which generally pursue a passive index-based strategy. In addition, the Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures and forward currency contracts and equity, interest rate, credit default and currency swap agreements; and write put and call options on securities (including ETFs), indexes and currencies, for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns. It is expected that the Portfolio will buy and sell securities, and take short positions in securities, frequently in connection with implementing its investment strategy. The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks current income and long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Short Position Risk. Short positions may involve substantial risks. If a short position appreciates in value during the period of the Portfolio’s investment, there will be a loss to the Portfolio that could be substantial. Short positions involve more risk than long positions because the maximum sustainable loss on a security purchased is limited to the amount paid for the security plus the transaction costs. However, the Portfolio’s potential loss on a short position is unlimited because, theoretically, there is no limit to the potential price increase of a security. Convertible Securities Risk. The market value of convertible securities may perform like that of non-convertible fixed income securities; that is, their prices move inversely with changes in interest rates (i.e., as interest rates go up, prices go down). In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security also is subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock. Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk. The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Portfolio may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the US and other countries are at or near historic lows. The Portfolio’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit risk than its higher rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline. Some fixed income securities may give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity. If securities held by the Portfolio are called during a time of declining interest rates (which is typically the case when issuers exercise options to call outstanding securities), the Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield (and the Portfolio may not fully benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates). Adjustable rate securities provide the Portfolio with a certain degree of protection against rises in interest rates, although such securities will participate in any declines in interest rates as well. Certain adjustable rate securities, such as those with interest rates that fluctuate directly or indirectly based on multiples of a stated index, are designed to be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and can subject the holders thereof to extreme reductions of yield and possibly loss of principal. Certain fixed income securities may be issued at a discount from their face value (such as zero coupon securities) or purchased at a price less than their stated face amount or at a price less than their issue price plus the portion of “original issue discount” previously accrued thereon, i.e., purchased at a “market discount.” The amount of original issue discount and/or market discount on certain obligations may be significant, and accretion of market discount together with original issue discount will cause the Portfolio to realize income prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to these securities. Preferred Securities Risk. There are various risks associated with investing in preferred securities. In addition, unlike common stock, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-top:1.8mm; font-size:0.2mm;"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:0pt;"> </td> <td align="right" style="width:4pt;"> •</td> <td width="7"> </td> <td> Credit risk is the risk that a security held by the Portfolio will decline in price or the issuer of the security will fail to make dividend, interest or principal payments when due because the issuer experiences a decline in its financial status.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:0pt;"> </td> <td align="right" style="width:4pt;"> •</td> <td width="7"> </td> <td> Interest rate risk is the risk that securities will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities generally will fall.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:0pt;"> </td> <td align="right" style="width:4pt;"> •</td> <td width="7"> </td> <td> Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:0pt;"> </td> <td align="right" style="width:4pt;"> •</td> <td width="7"> </td> <td> Preferred securities are generally subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in an issuer’s capital structure in terms of having priority to corporate income, claims to corporate assets and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than more senior debt instruments.</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:0pt;"> </td> <td align="right" style="width:4pt;"> •</td> <td width="7"> </td> <td> During periods of declining interest rates, an issuer may be able to exercise an option to call, or redeem, its issue at par earlier than the scheduled maturity. If this occurs during a time of lower or declining interest rates, the Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities (and the Portfolio may not benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates). </td> </tr> </table> Swap Agreements and Other Derivatives Risk. Swap agreements and other derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes, may increase volatility or reduce returns, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Over-the-counter swap agreements, forward currency contracts, over-the-counter options on securities (including options on ETFs), indexes and currencies and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risk of default by the counterparty and can be illiquid. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded futures and options in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related security, interest rate, index, commodity, currency or other reference asset. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce return. Successful use of derivatives is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market. Use of derivatives transactions, even when entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. Counterparty Credit Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy is dependent on counterparties to its securities borrowing transactions in connection with short sales of securities and counterparties to derivatives transactions. Transactions with such counterparties are subject to the risk of default by a counterparty, which could result in a loss of Portfolio assets used as collateral or the loss of monies owed to the Portfolio by a counterparty. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Leverage Risk. The use of leverage, which the Portfolio’s strategy entails, may magnify the Portfolio’s gains or losses. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in securities believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The securities in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Market Direction Risk. Since the Portfolio will typically hold both long and short positions, an investment in the Portfolio will involve market risks associated with different types of investment decisions than those made for a typical “long only” fund. The Portfolio’s results will suffer both when there is a general market advance and the Portfolio holds significant “short” positions, or when there is a general market decline and the Portfolio holds significant “long” positions. In recent years, the markets have shown considerable volatility from day to day and even in intra-day trading. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their NAVs, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their most recent NAV. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of such ETF’s investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. Portfolio shares will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also their proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by the 1940 Act in the amount of its assets that may be invested in ETFs unless an ETF has received an exemptive order from the SEC on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies. High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in high transaction costs and an increase in taxable capital gains distributions to the Portfolio’s shareholders, which will reduce returns to shareholders. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. Lazard Retirement Fundamental Long/Short Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0140 0.0140 0.0025 0.0000 0.0046 0.0046 0.0030 0.0030 0.0014 0.0014 0.0090 0.0090 0.0255 0.0230 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20081 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000045292Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 258 793 233 718 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20082 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000045292Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio utilizes a long/short investment strategy through investments in equity securities, principally common stocks, and derivative instruments that provide exposure to such equity securities. The Investment Manager’s approach in managing the Portfolio is based on its bottom-up relative-value philosophy. Generally, the Investment Manager seeks to take long positions by investing in equity securities of companies with strong and/or improving financial productivity that have attractive valuations, and seeks to complement these long positions with short positions in respect of companies viewed by the Investment Manager to possess deteriorating fundamentals, unattractive valuations or other qualities warranting a short position, or those that represent a sector or market hedge. The Portfolio will generally have short positions through selling securities “short” and through investments in derivative instruments, principally swap agreements on individual securities, and may use short positions to seek to increase returns or to reduce risk. The total gross exposure of the Portfolio will typically range from 0% to 200% of the Portfolio’s NAV and that the net exposure will typically range from -25% (net short position) to 100% of its NAV. As an example, if the Portfolio’s long investment exposure is 100% of its NAV and its short exposure is 75% of its NAV, the Portfolio would have a net long exposure of 25% of NAV. Although the Portfolio’s investment focus is US companies, the Portfolio also may invest in non-US companies, including depositary receipts and shares. The Portfolio may invest in companies across the capitalization spectrum and also may invest initial public offerings (“IPOs”). At certain times, based on the currently existing market environment, the Investment Manager may not believe it is able to find sufficient opportunities to invest in equity securities and/or take short positions in equity securities and may determine to tactically shift the Portfolio to invest substantially in money market instruments, such as short-term US Treasury securities and certificates of deposit. A short sale involves the sale of a security that the Portfolio does not own in the expectation of purchasing the same security (or a security exchangeable therefor) at a later date and at a lower price and profiting from the price decline. Similarly, when taking short positions with respect to securities through investments in derivative instruments, the Investment Manager is expecting the value of such securities to fall during the period of the Portfolio’s investment exposure. In addition, the Portfolio may, but is not required to, invest in ETFs, enter into equity and currency swap agreements, and forward currency contracts; and purchase and sell options, including writing put and call options on securities (including ETFs), indexes and currencies, for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns. The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Short Position Risk. Short positions may involve substantial risks. If a short position appreciates in value during the period of the Portfolio’s investment, there will be a loss to the Portfolio that could be substantial. Short positions involve more risk than long positions because the maximum sustainable loss on a security purchased is limited to the amount paid for the security plus the transaction costs. However, the Portfolio’s potential loss on a short position is unlimited because, theoretically, there is no limit to the potential price increase of a security. Swap Agreements and Other Derivatives Risk. Swap agreements and other derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes, may increase volatility or reduce returns, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Over-the-counter swap agreements, forward currency contracts, over-the-counter options on securities (including options on ETFs), indexes and currencies and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risk of default by the counterparty and can be illiquid. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded options in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related security, index, commodity, interest rate, currency or other reference asset. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce return. Successful use of derivatives is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market. Use of derivatives transactions, even when entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. Counterparty Credit Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy is dependent on counterparties to its securities borrowing transactions in connection with short sales of securities and counterparties to derivatives transactions. Transactions with such counterparties are subject to the risk of default by a counterparty, which could result in a loss of Portfolio assets used as collateral or the loss of monies owed to the Portfolio by a counterparty. Leverage Risk. The use of leverage, which the Portfolio’s strategy entails, may magnify the Portfolio’s gains or losses. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Market Direction Risk. Since the Portfolio will typically hold both long and short positions, an investment in the Portfolio will involve market risks associated with different types of investment decisions than those made for a typical “long only” fund. The Portfolio’s results will suffer both when there is a general market advance and the Portfolio holds significant “short” positions, or when there is a general market decline and the Portfolio holds significant “long” positions. In recent years, the markets have shown considerable volatility from day to day and even in intra-day trading. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Value Investing Risk. The Portfolio invests in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. IPO Shares Risk. The prices of securities purchased in IPOs can be very volatile. The effect of IPOs on the Portfolio’s performance depends on a variety of factors, including the number of IPOs the Portfolio invests in relative to the size of the Portfolio and whether and to what extent a security purchased in an IPO appreciates or depreciates in value. As the Portfolio’s asset base increases, IPOs may have a diminished effect on the Portfolio’s performance. ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their NAVs, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their most recent NAV. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of such ETF’s investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. Portfolio shares will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also their proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by the 1940 Act in the amount of its assets that may be invested in ETFs and unless an ETF has received an exemptive order from the SEC on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in high transaction costs. Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. Lazard Retirement Capital Allocator Opportunistic Strategies Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0100 0.0100 0.0025 0.0000 0.0044 0.0044 0.0044 0.0044 0.0041 0.0041 0.0210 0.0185 -0.0042 -0.0042 0.0168 0.0143 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20085 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000021760Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” and “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, the Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement are 1.27% for Service Shares and 1.02% for Investor Shares. “Other Expenses” and “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. 2017-05-01 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 171 617 146 541 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20086 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000021760Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Portfolio utilizes an asset allocation strategy to invest in a global portfolio of uncorrelated assets that can include exposure, through underlying vehicles, to stocks, bonds, commodities and other investments. The Portfolio invests primarily in exchange-traded open-end management investment companies and similar products, which generally pursue a passive index-based strategy (commonly known as ETFs), as well as actively managed closed-end management investment companies (“closed-end funds”) and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs” and collectively with ETFs and closed-end funds, “Underlying Funds”). ETFs and ETNs in which the Portfolio may invest include both ETFs and ETNs designed to correlate directly with an index and ETFs and ETNs designed to correlate inversely with an index and may include actively-managed ETFs. The Portfolio, through Underlying Funds in which it invests, may invest in non-US companies (including those in emerging markets), and the Portfolio also may invest directly in equity and debt securities in addition to its investments in Underlying Funds. The Portfolio’s investment portfolio is concentrated in a relatively small number of holdings (generally 10 to 30). Investors can invest directly in Underlying Funds and do not need to invest in Underlying Funds through mutual funds or separately managed accounts. The Portfolio may, but is not required to, effect short sales of securities; enter into equity, total return and currency swap agreements, and forward currency contracts; and write put and covered call options on securities (including ETFs and ETNs), indexes and currencies, for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns, including as a substitute for purchasing an Underlying Fund. A short sale involves the sale of a security that the Portfolio does not own in the expectation of purchasing the same security (or a security exchangeable therefor) at a later date and at a lower price and profiting from the price decline. Similarly, when taking short positions with respect to securities through investments in derivative instruments, the Investment Manager is expecting the value of such securities to fall during the period of the Portfolio’s investment exposure. Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified, investment portfolios. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation. Performance Bar Chart and Table Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. Comparison of Portfolio performance to an appropriate index indicates how the Portfolio’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. (800) 823-6300 The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no performance returns are presented. Annual performance returns provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio by showing changes in performance from year to year. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented. Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Underlying Funds Risk. Shares of ETFs and closed-end funds in which the Portfolio invests may trade at prices that vary from their NAVs, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs and closed-end funds may trade at prices at, below or above their most recent NAV. Shares of closed-end funds, in particular, frequently trade at persistent discounts to their NAV. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. ETNs may not trade in the secondary market, but typically are redeemable by the issuer. The Portfolio’s investments in Underlying Funds are subject to the risks of Underlying Funds’ investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in Underlying Funds. Portfolio shares will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also their proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs and closed-end funds in which the Portfolio invests. While ETNs do not have management fees, they are subject to certain investor fees. ETNs are debt securities that, like ETFs, typically are listed on exchanges and their terms generally provide for a return that tracks specified market indexes. However, unlike ETFs and closed-end funds, ETNs are not registered investment companies and thus are not regulated under the 1940 Act. In addition, as debt securities, ETNs are subject to the additional risk of the creditworthiness of the issuer. ETNs typically do not make periodic interest payments. The Portfolio may be limited by the 1940 Act in the amount of its assets that may be invested in ETFs and closed-end funds unless an ETF or a closed-end fund has received an exemptive order from the SEC on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk. The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Portfolio may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the US and other countries are at or near historic lows. The Portfolio’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit risk than its higher rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline. Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s NAV may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers. Short Position Risk. Short positions may involve substantial risks. If a short position appreciates in value during the period of the Portfolio’s investment, there will be a loss to the Portfolio that could be substantial. Short positions involve more risk than long positions because the maximum sustainable loss on a security purchased is limited to the amount paid for the security plus the transaction costs. However, the Portfolio’s potential loss on a short position is unlimited because, theoretically, there is no limit to the potential price increase of a security. Derivatives Risk. Derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes, may increase volatility or reduce returns, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Over-the-counter swap agreements, forward currency contracts, over-the-counter options on securities (including options on ETFs and ETNs), indexes and currencies and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risk of default by the counterparty and can be illiquid. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded options in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related index, commodity, interest rate, currency, security or other reference asset. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce return. Successful use of derivatives is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market. Use of derivatives transactions, even when entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi Asset Portfolio Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies. If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher. 0.0085 0.0085 0.0025 0.0000 0.0021 0.0021 0.0131 0.0106 -0.0026 -0.0016 0.0105 0.0090 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualFundOperatingExpenses20089 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000037000Member row primary compact * ~ “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year, using “Other Expenses” for Service Shares from the last fiscal year. 2017-05-01 Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Example This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 107 390 693 1556 92 321 569 1280 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleExpenseExampleTransposed20090 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000037000Member row primary compact * ~ Principal Investment Strategies The Investment Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets among various US and non-US equity and fixed-income strategies managed by the Investment Manager in proportions consistent with the Investment Manager’s evaluation of various economic and other factors designed to estimate probabilities, including volatility. The Investment Manager makes allocation decisions among the strategies based on quantitative and qualitative analysis using a number of different tools, including proprietary software models and input from the Investment Manager’s research analysts. At any given time the Portfolio’s assets may not be allocated to all strategies. A principal component of the Investment Manager’s investment process for the Portfolio is volatility management. The Investment Manager generally will seek to achieve, over a full market cycle, a level of volatility in the Portfolio’s performance of approximately 10%. Volatility, a risk measurement, measures the magnitude of up and down fluctuations in the value of a financial instrument or index over time. As a consequence of allocating its assets among various of the Investment Manager’s investment strategies, the Portfolio may: <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-top:1.8mm; font-size:0.2mm;"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:0pt;"> </td> <td align="right" style="width:4pt;"> •</td> <td width="7"> </td> <td> invest in US and non-US equity and debt securities (including those of companies with business activities located in emerging market countries and securities issued by governments of such countries), depositary receipts and shares, currencies and related instruments, and structured notes</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:0pt;"> </td> <td align="right" style="width:4pt;"> •</td> <td width="7"> </td> <td> invest in ETFs and similar products, which generally pursue a passive index-based strategy</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:0pt;"> </td> <td align="right" style="width:4pt;"> •</td> <td width="7"> </td> <td> invest in securities of companies of any size or market capitalization</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:0pt;"> </td> <td align="right" style="width:4pt;"> •</td> <td width="7"> </td> <td> invest in debt securities of any maturity or duration</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:0pt;"> </td> <td align="right" style="width:4pt;"> •</td> <td width="7"> </td> <td> invest in securities of any particular quality or investment grade and, as a result, the Portfolio may invest significantly in securities rated below investment grade (e.g., lower than Baa by Moody’s or lower than BBB by S&P) (“junk bonds”) or securities that are unrated</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:0pt;"> </td> <td align="right" style="width:4pt;"> •</td> <td width="7"> </td> <td> enter into swap agreements (including credit default swap agreements) and forward contracts, and may purchase and write put and covered call options, on securities, indexes and currencies, for hedging purposes (although it is not required to do so) or to seek to increase returns </td> </tr> </table> Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests significantly (at least 40%—unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Investment Manager, in which case the Portfolio would invest at least 30%) in issuers organized or located outside the US or doing a substantial amount of business outside the US, securities denominated in a foreign currency or foreign currency forward contracts. Investment Objective The Portfolio seeks total return. Performance Bar Chart and Table Year-by-Year Total Returns for Service Shares As of 12/31 The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi Asset Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of broad measures of market performance. The bar chart shows how the performance of the Portfolio’s Service Shares has varied from year to year. Performance information does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies, and such fees will have the effect of reducing performance. Updated performance information is available at www.LazardNet.com or by calling (800) 823-6300. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. As a new share Class, past performance information is not available for Investor Shares as of the date of this Prospectus. Investor Shares would have had annual returns substantially similar to those of Service Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities, and the annual returns would differ only to the extent of the different expense ratios of the Classes. 0.1949 0.0270 -0.0044 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAnnualTotalReturnsBarChart20091 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000037000Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact cik0001033669_C000113249Member row primary compact * ~ Best Quarter: 0.0727 2013-12-31 Worst Quarter: -0.0502 2015-09-30 <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:0.00%; margin-right:0.00%; width:100.00%;"> <tr valign="top"> <td style="width:76.14%;"> </td> <td style="width:2.63%"> </td> <td style="width:21.59%;"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> </td> <td width="3"> </td> <td> Best Quarter: 12/31/13    7.27%   Worst Quarter: 9/30/15    -5.02%   </td> </tr> </table> Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2015) The 50% MSCI World Index/50% Barclays Capital Global Aggregate Bond Index shown in the table is an unmanaged index created by the Investment Manager and is a 50/50 blend of the MSCI World Index and the Barclays Capital Global Aggregate Bond® Index. -0.0044 0.0722 -0.0087 0.0925 -0.0179 0.0425 2012-04-30 ~ http://lazardfunds.com/20160414/role/ScheduleAverageAnnualReturnsTransposed20092 column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0001033669_S000037000Member column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~ (800) 823-6300 (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) The 50% MSCI World Index/50% Barclays Capital Global Aggregate Bond Index shown in the table is an unmanaged index created by the Investment Manager and is a 50/50 blend of the MSCI World Index and the Barclays Capital Global Aggregate Bond® Index. The Portfolio’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Portfolio will perform in the future. As a new share Class, past performance information is not available for Investor Shares as of the date of this Prospectus. The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi Asset Portfolio by showing the Portfolio’s year-by-year performance and its average annual performance compared to that of broad measures of market performance. www.LazardNet.com Portfolio Turnover The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 114% of the average value of its portfolio. 1.14 Principal Investment Risks The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money. Allocation Risk. The Portfolio’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends in part on the Investment Manager’s skill in determining the Portfolio’s allocation among investment strategies. The Investment Manager’s evaluations and assumptions underlying its allocation decisions may differ from actual market conditions. Market Risk. Market risks, including political, regulatory, market and economic developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market, can affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception. Volatility Management Risk. While the Investment Manager generally will seek to achieve, over a full market cycle, the level of volatility in the Portfolio’s performance as described above, there can be no guarantee that this will be achieved; actual or realized volatility for any particular period may be materially higher or lower depending on market conditions. In addition, the Investment Manager’s efforts to manage the Portfolio’s volatility can be expected, in a period of generally positive equity market returns, to reduce the Portfolio’s performance below what could be achieved without seeking to manage volatility and, thus, the Portfolio would generally be expected to underperform market indices that do not seek to achieve a specified level of volatility. Value Investing and Growth Investing Risks. The Portfolio may invest a portion of its assets in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but that may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. The Portfolio also may invest a portion of its assets in stocks believed by the Investment Manager to have the potential for growth, but that may not realize such perceived potential for extended periods of time or may never realize such perceived growth potential. Such stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they can be more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. The stocks in which the Portfolio invests may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks. Quantitative Model Risk. The success of the Portfolio depends upon effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s quantitative model. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors, including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, the factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value. Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies. Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of emerging market currencies. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure. Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk. The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening. Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Portfolio may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that interest rates in the US and other countries are at or near historic lows. The Portfolio’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit risk than its higher rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline. Some debt securities may give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity, and, during a time of declining interest rates, the Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield (and the Portfolio may not fully benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates). Structured notes are privately negotiated debt instruments where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to a specified asset, market or rate, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. Structured notes can have risks of both debt securities and derivative transactions. ETF Risk. Any investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of the investments of the ETFs, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. Portfolio shares will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also their proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of any ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. Shares of ETFs in which the Portfolio invests may trade at prices that vary from their NAVs, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their most recent NAV. Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate. Liquidity Risk. The lack of a readily available market may limit the ability of the Portfolio to sell certain securities at the time and price it would like. The size of certain securities offerings of emerging markets issuers may be relatively smaller in size than offerings in more developed markets and, in some cases, the Portfolio, by itself or together with other Portfolios or other accounts managed by the Investment Manager, may hold a position in a security that is large relative to the typical trading volume for that security; these factors can make it difficult for the Portfolio to dispose of the position at the desired time or price. Forward Currency Contracts and Other Derivatives Risk. Forward currency contracts and other derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes, may increase volatility or reduce returns, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Swap agreements, forward currency contracts, over-the-counter options on securities, indexes and currencies, structured notes and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risk of default by the counterparty and can be illiquid. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded options in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related security, index or currency. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce return. Successful use of derivatives is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market. Use of derivatives transactions, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in high transaction costs. The value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, which means you could lose money.