Research
Index Strategies
FUNDAMENTAL INDEX STRATEGIES
RAFI FundamentalRAFI Fundamental High LiquidityRAFI Fundamental Select Index SeriesFUNDAMENTAL GROWTH INDEX STRATEGIES
RAFI Fundamental GrowthMULTI-FACTOR INDEX STRATEGIES
RAFI Dynamic Multi-FactorRAFI Multi-FactorESG INDEX STRATEGIES
RAFI ESGCLIMATE INDEX STRATEGIES
RAFI Fundamental Reduced Carbon Pathway RAFI Fundamental Carbon NeutralRAFI Fundamental Low Carbon TransitionRAFI Multi-Factor Climate TransitionCAP-WEIGHTED INDEX STRATEGIES
(RACWI) Research Affiliates Cap-WeightedDELETIONS INDEX STRATEGIES
Research Affiliates DeletionsMULTI-ASSET INDEX STRATEGIES
Research Affiliates Global Multi-AssetSubscribe for our latest insights straight to your inbox
SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe for our latest insights
The Index Company of Research Affiliates
Providing investors information to realize the full benefits of smart beta
Robust
Research
Award-winning, academic-quality research informs RAFI Indices and solutions.
Learn More
Well-Crafted
Index Strategies
Effectiveness, transparency, and low transaction costs are built into all RAFI strategies.
Learn More
Impactful
Investor Support
RAFI Indices offers a radically different client service model.
Learn More
Subscribe for our latest insights straight to your inbox
SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe for our latest insights
The Index Company of Research Affiliates
The Index Company of Research Affiliates
VISIT RESEARCH AFFILIATES
Robust
Research
Award-winning, academic-quality research informs RAFI Indices and solutions.
Learn More
Well-Crafted
Index Strategies
Effectiveness, transparency, and low transaction costs are built into all RAFI strategies.
Learn More
Impactful
Investor Support
RAFI Indices offers a radically different client service model.
Learn More
RobustResearch
Our research team regularly shares the major insights gained in the analysis underpinning our strategies. Their research frequently challenges the conventional wisdom of investing and is informed through collaboration with the broader investment and academic community.
Academic Quality
Collaborative
Impactful
Academic Quality
As smart beta and factor investing has grown in popularity so has the number of smart beta and factor indices. Each claims to be supported by a strong backtest, but be cautious of data mining and the lack of a solid economic foundation to the index strategy. The strategy may not perform as well in the real world as in the backtest! RAFI Indices are built on the award-winning, academic-quality research of Research Affiliates that has been published in the top practitioner journals of the investment industry.
Financial Analysts
Journal
Journal
39
PAPERS*
Journal of Portfolio
Management
Management
30
PAPERS*
Journal of Indexes
11
PAPERS*
Journal of Index Investing**
9
PAPERS*
As of September 30, 2023
**Now called Journal of Beta Investment Strategies
RobustResearch
Our research team regularly shares the major insights gained in the analysis underpinning our strategies. Their research frequently challenges the conventional wisdom of investing and is informed through collaboration with the broader investment and academic community.
Academic Quality
As smart beta and factor investing has grown in popularity so has the number of smart beta and factor indices. Each claims to be supported by a strong backtest, but be cautious of data mining and the lack of a solid economic foundation to the index strategy. The strategy may not perform as well in the real world as in the backtest! RAFI Indices are built on the award-winning, academic-quality research of Research Affiliates that has been published in the top practitioner journals of the investment industry.
Financial Analysts
Journal
Journal
39
PAPERS*
Journal of Portfolio
Management
Management
30
PAPERS*
Journal of Indexes
11
PAPERS*
Journal of Index Investing**
9
PAPERS*
As of September 30, 2023
**Now called Journal of Beta Investment Strategies
Collaborative
Investors can easily fall victim to groupthink and this is often reflected in research. We aim to avoid this by continually seeking feedback and partnering with both academia and the broader investment industry. Campbell Harvey, professor of finance at Duke University, is head of research at Research Affiliates. Cam's innovative approach and rigorous attention to detail builds on our firm's well-established reputation for robust and cutting-edge research.
Our goal is to encourage humility, to recognize
that we can easily deceive ourselves into thinking
we have found the "holy grail." Hubris is our enemy.
that we can easily deceive ourselves into thinking
we have found the "holy grail." Hubris is our enemy.
Professor Juhani Linnainmaa, PhD
Dartmouth College
Professor Campbell Harvey, PhD
Duke University
Director of Research, Research Affiliates, LLC
Impactful
From our earliest research into the benefits of a fundamentally weighted index approach through ongoing research today, our goal is to put forth investing strategies and insights that can positively influence investors’ long-term outcomes.
Well-Crafted
Index Strategies
Index Strategies
In developing and building our index strategies, we emphasize systematic and transparent processes, low-cost implementation, and high investment capacity. Our intent is to improve governance and increase conviction and understanding of the investment philosophy underpinning our index strategies.
Simplicity
& Transparency
As factor investing has grown in popularity, so has the complexity of factor indices. At RAFI Indices, we believe that
Transparent design leads to improved governance and clear attribution.
Low Transaction
Costs
Poor product design can result in high transaction costs that cannibalize returns driven by factor premiums. This is why we aim to
Maintain the benefit of cap-weighted indices such as high capacity, low turnover, and broad equity exposure.
Effectiveness
The market impact of poorly engineered funds can have a large toll on realized returns. This is why we aim to
Design strategies with a focus on ease of investibility and liquidity.
Well-Crafted
Index Strategies
Index Strategies
In developing and building our index strategies, we emphasize systematic and transparent processes, low-cost implementation, and high investment capacity. Our intent is to improve governance and increase conviction and understanding of the investment philosophy underpinning our index strategies.
Simplicity
& Transparency
As factor investing has grown in popularity, so has the complexity of factor indices. At RAFI Indices, we believe that
Transparent design leads to improved governance and clear attribution.
Low Transaction
Costs
Poor product design can result in high transaction costs that cannibalize returns driven by factor premiums. This is why we aim to
Maintain the benefit of cap-weighted indices such as high capacity, low turnover, and broad equity exposure.
Effectiveness
The market impact of poorly engineered funds can have a large toll on realized returns. This is why we aim to
Design strategies with a focus on ease of investibility and liquidity.
ImpactfulInvestor Support
The purported benefits of smart beta too often fall prey to transaction costs and clients' poor timing decisions. We emphasize three main areas of investor support:
Philosophy
Materials
Team
A distinct service philosophy
The promise of smart beta can be dramatically eroded by poor investor timing. Our support effort is centered on clients maximizing the long-term investor impact of our strategies. That’s our commitment.
ImpactfulInvestor Support
The purported benefits of smart beta too often fall prey to transaction costs and clients' poor timing decisions. We emphasize three main areas of investor support:
A distinct service philosophy
The promise of smart beta can be dramatically eroded by poor investor timing. Our support effort is centered on clients maximizing the long-term investor impact of our strategies. That’s our commitment.
A comprehensive suite of materials to weather the journey
Quarterly factsheets and conference calls are no longer enough.
Knowledge
Center
Provides clients with a timely overview of the factor investing landscape and detailed information on all RAFI Indices strategies.
Commentary
& Attribution
Provide in-depth portfolio analysis including the drivers of index strategy performance versus the benchmark.
Delivered by an experienced team of practitioners
Since 2005, the Distribution and Product Management teams of our sister company Research Affiliates have provided in-person support and engaged in conversations to help make our smart beta research and strategies work more fully for investors. Our experienced team has previously worked at investment consultants, hedge funds, index providers, asset owners, and asset managers.
CONTACT US
Index Strategies
© 2026 RAFI Indices, LLC. All Rights Reserved.