Russell Investments

The small cap rally has primarily been a de-risking event. It's unclear at this point whether it’s just a blip or the beginning of a new trend in market leadership.

The momentum we've seen in U.S. equity markets over the past year continued in the second quarter of 2024. With large technology stocks leading the wave, the S&P 500 index has risen 23% in the 12 months ended June 30.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Director of Investment Strategies, Shailesh Kshatriya, discussed the recent strength in U.S. small cap stocks and the likelihood of a September rate cut from the Fed. He also provided an update on the latest inflation numbers from Canada and the UK.

It's important to understand the true meaning behind the names of investment funds, especially when it comes to those labeled "tax-managed"

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Investment Strategist BeiChen Lin and Regional Director Chris Kalman discussed the highlights from June’s U.S. inflation report.

I have been looking forward to writing this blog for a long time. I joined Russell Investments on July 12, 2004 and now that it is my 20th anniversary, I feel it’s the right moment to share some of what I have learned along the way.

With so much uncertainty in the political landscape, investors may be nervous — and they may be reluctant to remain in the market. This is why an advisor's role as a behavioral coach is so important.

An extended period of calm means investors must be vigilant and not become complacent. However, it's not necessarily a harbinger of an impending volatility event.

As part of our annual tradition, we’ve reached out to Russell Investments’ associate base to come up with four recommended books for this year’s summer reading list. Below are our choices, which cover a wide variety of topics, including leadership development, diversity and inclusion and the artificial intelligence revolution.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Senior Director and Chief Investment Strategist for North America, Paul Eitelman, and Regional Director for North America Advisor & Intermediary Solutions, Lam Guluka, discussed key market themes from the second quarter.

U.S. corporate pension plan sponsors are required to measure their plan liabilities for a few important purposes.

As an advisor, you know that no two clients are alike. Each has their own financial goals, risk tolerance and opinion on how they want to invest.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Director and Senior Investment Strategist Alex Cousley discussed recently released economic data from China, including home prices and credit numbers. He also covered the Bank of England’s (BoE) recent rate decision and provided an update on U.S. retail spending during May.

Small cap performance has been a hot topic lately, with many pundits declaring the small cap premium on life support or dead altogether.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) is expected to sunset at the end of next year and there is likely to be a lot of chatter about what the potential changes in tax laws could mean for U.S. taxpayers.

Partnering with firms that have the requisite scale and demonstrated access to top-tier investment opportunities is one way investors can potentially eliminate the J-curve in a private markets investment program.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Investment Strategist BeiChen Lin and Product Operations Analyst McKenna Painter discussed the latest U.S. inflation data and how it could impact Fed policy. They also assessed when the BofE could begin lowering borrowing costs and concluded with an update on economic growth in China.

Many investors and advisors take rebalancing for granted because it’s often done behind the scenes

You’ve probably heard the term “direct indexing.” It seems like everyone is talking about it. You’ve probably also read that sales of direct indexing products are booming. But what exactly is direct indexing?

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Chief Investment Strategist for North America, Paul Eitelman, and Equity Manager Research Analyst Michelle Batjargal discussed the results of first-quarter earnings season around the globe.

Three key reasons why investors should consider allocating capital to private credit for substantial and differentiated returns.

What exactly is a market bubble, and how can investors recognize one?

The consensus outlook among analysts today is that tech innovation will rewrite the global productivity index, with AI (artificial intelligence) and automation expected to bring a new wave of industry efficiencies.

The promise of independence is luring more and more advisors to the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) channel. RIA headcount has grown rapidly over the past decade and by 2027, Cerulli estimates that RIAs will control nearly one-third of intermediary asset market share.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Director of Investment Strategies, Shailesh Kshatriya, and ESG and Active Ownership Analyst Zoe Warganz discussed the U.S. inflation and retail sales reports from April, as well as the market’s reaction. They also chatted about the improving economic outlook in Europe.

In today's financial climate, marked by interest rate and geopolitical uncertainties, infrastructure investment offers financial and strategic opportunities. However, traditionally infrastructure portfolios have been divided into listed and unlisted segments, with investors choosing between one or the other.

Managers are increasingly focusing on sectors beyond tech that could benefit from the rise in AI in the short term. These include healthcare and consumer companies, which also have more attractive valuations.

Anticipation is one of those mental states that can result in either relief, or disappointment. We may anticipate the results of a test, for example, and feel relieved if the results are good, or disappointed if they are not.

The U.S. repurchase agreement, or “repo” market, provides more than $3 trillion in short-term funding each day. Most repo transactions are overnight and are collateralized by Treasuries.

ESG integration is a trend financial markets are familiar with, but that doesn’t mean all asset classes are at the same levels of progress. ESG means different things to different people, and its integration into equity investment does not represent the same journey experienced in fixed income.

As institutional investors, we most often represent risk as standard deviation or tracking error. But when we implement changes in our portfolios, the real-time risk happens much faster.

Do presidents and prime ministers make economies? Or do economies make presidents and prime ministers? 2024 is a year of significant elections, with more voters heading to the polls worldwide than ever before.

Life is full of surprises. If you don’t have a crystal ball, you can’t really predict what may come next in your life—or in the markets. That’s why we should always be prepared for any potential situation.

Over the last five years, financial markets grappled with two generational upheavals—the Covid pandemic and the subsequent inflation surge post the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Recent media coverage about how best to construct and manage portfolios has many wondering whether institutional investors are facing a paradigm shift right now.

As non-profit investors set their investment and spending policies, it is important to consider their organizational circumstances during a market shock.

We’ve just come through the first quarter of 2024 – and what a quarter it was! Hard on the heels of a robust end to 2023, the S&P 500 Index rose 11% in the first quarter of this year. This is the first time since 2012 that it’s had back-to-back double-digit quarterly returns.

Markets started the year anticipating several U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts in 2024, but by the end of the first quarter, a continued string of stronger-than-anticipated economic data readings led to a significant dialing-down of expectations.

Private markets have been viewed by institutional investors as key to a well-diversified portfolio. Benefits of these strategies: long-term outperformance over public markets, with increasingly important diversification benefits as the universe of publicly traded stocks continues shrinking and performance becomes increasingly concentrated to a few mega-cap tech companies.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Investment Strategist BeiChen Lin and Sophie Antal-Gilbert, Head of AIS Portfolio & Business Consulting, discussed the U.S. first-quarter gross domestic product reading. They also reviewed the latest U.S. inflation data and provided an update on U.S. first-quarter earnings season.

Much like the NFL draft, portfolio managers undergo rigorous evaluations. Their track record, investment process, and stock selection process are considered. Additionally, qualitative assessments, including manager interviews and onsite visits, offer insights into their character and decision-making prowess.

Another strong quarter in markets led to another stellar performance for the Momentum and Growth factors.

It’s a frequent question asked by organizations looking for an outsourced investment solutions provider. Our answer may surprise you.

Investing in private markets has obvious upsides, including potential higher returns, access to a broader opportunity set, and greater diversification.

Just as a GPS navigator analyzes real-time data to recalibrate routes efficiently, active management interprets market conditions to steer portfolios towards investment goals.

Japan has had two big moments in the last month, with the Nikkei 225 equity index breaking above the highs set in 1989, and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) raising interest rates for the first time in 17 years.

Our investment leadership team convened twice on Sunday to discuss the conflict between Iran and Israel, its key watchpoints in the days ahead, and the pertinent risks onto markets, our investment portfolios, and our clients. The team broadly agreed that maintaining a slightly defensive posture across portfolio strategies remained appropriate.

Despite expectations for interest rate cuts by the Fed, yields have risen since the start of the year, with the government 10-year bond yield climbing nearly 70 bps this year through April 10. This is a sharp reversal from what occurred in Q4 2023 when the 10-year yield collapsed by 71 bps.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Investment Strategist BeiChen Lin and Product Operations Analyst McKenna Painter unpacked the latest U.S. inflation numbers. They also discussed recent rate decisions by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of Canada (BoC) as well as the economic and market outlook for China.

April 15 is undoubtedly one day that is not enthusiastically celebrated by most people. It is safe to say that the discomfort around Tax Day likely ranks right up there with your annual physical or renewing your driver’s license.

Private markets continue to become an even more prevalent component of investor portfolios, providing access to an expanded opportunity set and strong diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

How might investors consider positioning their portfolios amid today's complex and uncertain economic landscape?

It can be hard work onboarding clients, so the last thing you want is to lose them. Yet many advisors DID lose clients in 2023. Here are some ideas to improve client retention in 2024.

When it comes to the private real estate sector, the mention of the U.S. commercial office sector scares many investors away. While the office sector may give some investors pause, it's also prudent to look at the bigger picture.

On Jan. 30, Senior Director and Head of ESG and Investment Management Kris Tomasovic Nelson moderated an online discussion exploring the findings of Russell Investments’ 2023 Manager ESG Survey. In its ninth year, the annual survey offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of ESG practices within the investment management industry.

We believe optimism over a soft-landing scenario—where economic growth slows but a recession is avoided—may deliver more near-term market gains, as inflation declines and central banks look to start easing around mid-year.

In the ever-evolving investment landscape, one thing has persisted for decades: the debate about the superiority of active or passive strategies.

Planning on implementing a large portfolio change in the second quarter? You’ll want to pay attention to this calendar.

With interest rates at their highest levels in over a decade, now is a good time for most plan sponsors to de-risk their liabilities via a lump sum window.

In a move aimed at offering voters a pre-election giveaway, UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt cut national insurance contributions by 2 percentage points in his spring budget. He had previously cut national insurance contributions by 2 percentage points in the autumn budget less than four months ago.

When the regional banking woes unfolded in March 2023, we argued that the challenges were not likely to be systemic. We continue to think that the challenges facing regional banks are likely contained, though near-term market volatility is always possible.

Learn how to engage and tailor approaches for women, addressing unique challenges and priorities in financial planning. Discover insights and resources to actively support female clients, seize opportunities, and shape the future of wealth management for women.

The average expected return on asset (EROA) assumption for the largest U.S.-listed pension plan sponsors increased to 6.70% in 2023—the first time a year-over-year increase has been observed in 19 years of records.

Not all investment returns are the same. Some are taxed at a higher rate than others. The Form 1099-DIV can help you analyze the Investment Tax Health of your clients. By looking at how much the investor received in different investment returns, you can calculate how much federal tax they will need to pay.

An investment program with dedicated but limited internal resources can extend its staff through a strategic partnership with an external investment solutions provider.

Careful data management and having a formal impact measurement framework in place are essential to preventing greenwashing and ensuring consistent impact delivery.

The Magnificent Seven stocks (Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta, and Tesla) have been the largest driver of equity returns in recent years and were again the dominant contributors in 2023, accounting for more than half of the market increase.

Looking back, I believe the financial advisors who were most willing to adapt to changing times were generally more able to set themselves apart from the crowd and experienced a higher rate of success.

The consumer price index (CPI) for January showed that core inflation held steady at a rate of 3.9% last month, a small setback in a trend of moderating inflation in the U.S. Healing in global supply chains and a rebalancing of the U.S. labor market have helped to dramatically tame inflation over the past year.

China's economy has disappointed most expectations over the past year. China's need to rebalance from investment to consumption is coming when tensions with the U.S. are elevated. This could create continued volatility. We believe China does have the levers to alleviate some key challenges.

When it comes to taxes, it's always best to be prepared for any future changes that could either benefit or hurt your clients. This year's inflation-related adjustments to tax brackets and standard deductions could give some of your clients more flexibility to manage their capital gains.

Chinese equities are extremely cheap and priced for bad news. We believe this environment may present opportunities for active managers.

Investors experienced a shift in global risk sentiment during Q4, marked by lower inflation and the anticipation of an end to the rate hiking cycle.

In February 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted rule amendments to shorten the standard settlement cycle to T+1 for transactions in U.S. securities including equities, corporate bonds, unit investment trusts, and exchange-traded funds.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) vote in favor of keeping the Bank of England (BoE) policy rate at 5.25%.

In Russell Investments’ factor portfolios, the Global Large Cap Growth, Momentum and Size factors outperformed the MSCI All-Country World Index during Q4, while the Global Large Cap Value and Low Volatility factors underperformed the index. The Global Lage Cap Quality factor was flat for the quarter.

Many advisors wait until the end of the year to harvest tax losses, but that may not be the best policy. Stock markets frequently go up in the last two months of the year so better harvesting opportunities may be available at other times.

A renewed sense of optimism emerged during the fourth quarter, sparking an increase in U.S. equity trading volumes and a rally in risk-on fixed income assets.

More institutional investors are exploring infrastructure for diversification, income and stable return potential as well as inflation protection. Investors are looking at both the traditional segments and newer digital sectors along with renewables.

The fourth quarter of 2023 was a more favorable environment for active managers in the UK, Europe, Emerging Markets, U.S. Small Cap and Listed Infrastructure, while being more challenging for U.S. Large Cap, Global, Global ex-U.S., Japan, Australia, Canada, Long/Short and Global Real Estate managers.

When markets are volatile, it's tempting to move into cash. But those high yields on short-term cash instruments aren't as attractive once taxes and inflation are factored in.

There will be a lot of firsts for the economic history books if this business cycle can survive a labor market slowdown, 525 basis points (bps) of rate hikes and an extremely inverted U.S. Treasury yield curve.

Financial advisors are gearing up for a successful year and preparing for client reviews. We offer four actionable ideas and practices to help advisors address some key concerns many investors are having about the year ahead.

Institutional investors may want to consider an allocation to Quality equities as well as a sufficient allocation to government bonds.

We don't expect tensions between China and Taiwan to intensify this year, due to China's improving relationship at the margin with the U.S. and China's likely focus on domestic growth.

Initiate the year with direct indexing, encompassing tax planning, personalized investing strategies, rejuvenating sidelined cash, and navigating concentrated stock positions or financial windfalls.

While elections can be newsworthy, we think that investors shouldn’t be too concerned about the impact on financial markets. Staying disciplined will help investors in the long run.

Tax-loss harvesting is an essential tax-management strategy that can benefit a broad range of taxable investors – even those who many not think they have to worry about investment taxes.

Interest rates are one of the most important factors affecting the economy and the outlook for stocks. Managers increasingly think interest rates in the U.S. have likely peaked and are repositioning equity portfolios for the new environment.

We see both advantages and disadvantages to IBM's retirement program changes. One advantage is that more capital will be freed up for other corporate initiatives, while one disadvantage is that without a 401(k) match, participants may save less for retirement.

To be considered a best-in-class outsource trading provider, one must excel in many areas.

From the banking crisis to the U.S. debt-ceiling saga, from inflation concerns to recession fears, from soaring bond yields to slowing consumer spending, 2023 had no shortage of issues for investors to worry about.

When stakeholders convened at COP28, the 28th Conference of the Parties, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, it was with an unwavering acknowledgment of the real threat posed by climate change.

Private assets and alternative investments are usually illiquid in nature but can help an investor meet their long-term objectives in a more efficient manner.

Although cash donations are appreciated, donating securities may be more impactful for both the charity and the donor.

There's more to an overlay program than just cash equitization and systematic rebalancing. The flexibility of the program allows for several other exposure management strategies.

Macroeconomic uncertainty remains elevated. We believe a recession in 2024 is more likely than not. Non-profit hospital systems have faced significant operational pressures, and may continue to experience challenges in the near-term.

Funds will begin paying out their 2023 distributions this month which could lead to a tax bill for your clients. While capital gains distributions will likely be lower this year than in recent years, interest income is expected to be higher.

It’s possible that a 2024 recession could be avoided, but we see recessions risks as remaining elevated in most developed markets. We believe there is limited upside for equities amid expensive valuations and recession concerns. Government bond valuations, however, look attractive in the U.S., UK, Canada, Germany and Australia.

The global economy is still overwhelmingly powered by fossil fuels, with more than 80% of primary energy sourced from coal, oil, and gas, as of 2021.

Our 2023 Manager ESG Survey shows that transparency around DEI data is increasing among investment managers. The results reveal that equity product managers in particular are more inclined to share DEI data compared to managers in other asset classes.

97% of corporate defined benefit (DB) plans can achieve full funding without a significant draw on corporate cash. This is an increase from the 86% noted in last year’s report.

The main point under contention this year will be the phase-out of fossil fuels and the limited progress achieved so far. As more businesses make net-zero commitments, there is mounting pressure for greater government support through policies and incentives.

There is broad agreement that economic damages will increase with warming, but there is substantial disagreement on the magnitude of these damages.

As I start thinking about Christmas this year, I decided I want to be on the nice list again, so I put together some useful year-end actions and ideas for financial advisors.

While the fall in inflation is welcome, the impact of higher interest rates on mortgage borrowers still has some way to play out. The reduction in inflation will help DB members that are drawing on their pension. Pension trustees should consider their investment strategy and support members with their retirement planning.

Taxes can have a significant and ongoing impact on an investment portfolio. Advisors can help their clients minimize that impact with a tax-smart approach. Advisors can prepare for capital gains season now, and potentially maximize their clients’ after-tax returns.

Portfolios with large allocations to alternatives can have many benefits. However, alternative allocations can deviate meaningfully from policy, particularly during periods of equity-market turbulence.

Fossil fuels, particularly oil, are difficult to replace due to their availability, affordability and energy density. Low-carbon alternatives, like solar energy, need large amounts of space to produce comparable amounts of energy to oil.

We believe that an OCIO provider should have the capability to handle any type of investment assignment. However, most OCIO providers do not have the ability to do this.

Starting in 2024, IBM will replace its 401(k) plan matching contributions with a new benefit earned within its overfunded DB plan, which has been frozen since 2008. This move essentially un-freezes the tech giant's DB plan.

The third quarter was a more favorable environment for active managers in U.S. Large and Small Caps, Japan, Australia, and Canada equities, while being more challenging for Global, Global ex-U.S., Emerging Markets, Europe, UK and Long/Short managers.

Global investing is easily accessible through the financial markets. Many investors prefer to stick to companies and industries they are familiar with.

Investors should be aware of potential real-time market exposure risks when implementing large changes to their portfolios. One market hour of misaligned portfolio exposure can have a significant impact on your portfolio’s performance outcome for the year.

The direction of interest rates was the biggest factor moving markets in the third quarter. Sentiment on technology stocks appeared to shift. Money market assets reach historic high, but returns lag stock market.

In Q3, the strongest performance among factors was seen in developed ex-U.S. large cap and small cap and U.S. small cap, where Value outperformed by 4.9%, 3.3% and 3.3%, respectively. The weakest performance among factors was in U.S. small cap, where the Size factor underperformed by -2.4%.

Our 2023 Manager ESG survey reveals that while more investors are implementing engagement and proxy voting strategies, there is still room for improvement.

A transition away from fossil fuels is likely required to avert a significant warming of the planet. Rising temperatures could lead to crop failures, storm intensification, ocean acidification and deoxygenation, and infrastructure damage, among several other risks.

Investment taxes can have a real impact on a portfolio. Investors should be aware of four key tax realities they currently face. Without a plan to manage these taxes, investors may find their ability to retire comfortably could be compromised.

Meeting or beating a trading benchmark doesn't equate to good portfolio performance. In order to measure the success of a transition, utilizing a T-Standard transition performance measurement methodology is critical.

Direct Indexing empowers RIAs to transform tax losses into valuable assets, helping clients offset capital gains on federal tax returns and minimize annual income tax liabilities.

Credit volumes witnessed some strong highs and lows in the third quarter. Notably, July—a month where trading volumes are generally steady—saw very inconsistent flows over the month. September, meanwhile, followed historical trends with an increase in primary market supply, reflecting higher volumes in the secondary.

The ideal rebalancing range varies by investor and depends on an investor’s risk tolerance and market views, among other factors. In a prolonged equity bull market, wider rebalancing ranges will result in higher returns, but also increase a portfolio’s risk.

Private credit is being sought—with the goals of income and capital preservation—to achieve real capital growth and drive portfolio returns among retail and institutional clients alike.

A transition away from fossil fuels is likely required to avert a significant warming of the planet. The primary risk to markets is the energy transition itself, which would require substantial capital expenditures.

U.S. equities have ruled the roost for the better part of the last decade, but another region may emerge as the leader if the business cycle changes.

Russell Investments’ 2023 Manager ESG Survey, now in its ninth year, continues to offer valuable insights into the evolving landscape of ESG practices within the investment management industry.

The Federal Reserve (the Fed) has made some relatively painless progress thus far in its inflation fight. Some other prominent economists have walked back their forecast for a near-term recession.

Some investors are considering making tactical tilts to their fixed income portfolios to take advantage of the current high-yield environment.

There is a growing movement among investors to align their portfolio to their values or belief systems. Advisors can use Direct Indexing products and Separately Managed Accounts to help their clients pursue faith- or values-based investing.

Most investors are aware of certain taxes on their investments, such as on dividends, interest and capital gains. But those are just the tip of the iceberg.

The U.S. Treasury yield curve is currently inverted, with yields on short-term bonds higher than yields on longer-term bonds. Some expect this to unwind with short-term bond yields falling faster than longer-term yields. Amid these expectations, those investors are wondering if they should consider reallocating to shorter-term bonds.

Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) developed a strategic resource allocation framework to rationalize and simplify the complex legacy portfolio structures it had inherited through mergers and acquisitions.

During Q4, we believe there is an elevated risk of market volatility when monthly U.S. inflation data is released, quarterly earnings season begins, and major central banks meet.

We believe a mild U.S. recession is more likely than not in 2024, although a soft-landing scenario cannot be ruled out. A recession is also likely in the UK and eurozone, but appears less likely in Australia.

Many advisors are finding their clients show little interest these days in how the markets are doing.

Private infrastructure offers unique investment characteristics and potential diversification benefits for portfolio construction.

Today, in a shock decision, the Bank of England (BoE) left its policy rate at 5.25% by the tightest possible majority vote of 5-4. All but one of 65 economists polled by Reuters had predicted that the BoE would raise the rate to 5.5%.

Financial advisors often face the challenge of transitioning a new client into their practice in a tax-efficient way.

Banks have reemerged as a potential pain point for the investment community, as rating agencies recently embarked on a downgrade cycle in the sector.

Given the uncertainty over a recession, there are other incremental steps that investors may want to consider instead. These include making adjustments to a portfolio’s market beta and credit exposure.

Soft consumer confidence and property-market woes are playing a large role in the slowdown of China’s economy.

For some organizations, a partial outsourcing of their investment program is preferable to total outsourcing. Despite this, some OCIO providers will still try very hard to sell companies on a full OCIO solution.

Diversifying a portfolio means spreading the investments across a variety of asset classes, industries and geographies.

Advisors can capitalize on the expected transfer of wealth between generations, the expected wave of retirements among older advisors, and referrals from other professionals.

Many advisors are now providing customized wealth management services to their clients and their families, often across multiple generations.

We are now a few years past the onset of the COVID pandemic, and we've had a chance to think about some of its changes in the wealth management business. Even if we wish certain things hadn't changed, we must acknowledge that they have – and adapt accordingly.

While money market assets have risen in recent years, returns have historically lagged behind a diversified portfolio.

Investors should be aware of potential real-time market exposure risks when implementing large changes to their portfolios.

Bank of England raises interest rates again as expected. Rate hike likely to hurt first-time homebuyers in London. UK gilt curve appears to be pricing in a "higher rates for longer" scenario.

Referrals from established clients are a good way to organically grow an advisory business.

Australia and Canada are experiencing a surge in population growth, while growth rates have slowed substantially in the UK due to post-Brexit frictions.

Equity and fixed income markets experienced heightened volatility amid the Q2 debt-ceiling saga, while currency and derivatives markets were mostly unaffected.

The sale of a business, property, or large stock position can generate a financial windfall that may trigger a large tax liability.

The Fed continued to signal a "meeting-by-meeting" data-dependent approach to monetary policy. While the June Summary of Economic Projections suggested that there might be one more hike after today's, we think it's also possible that today's hike may be the last one.

Higher yields for corporate bonds generally correspond to higher credit risk based on an issuer's credit rating.

Q2 2023 was a more favorable environment for Emerging Markets, Europe, Australia and Real Assets managers.

UK gilts rally after headline and core inflation numbers surprise to the downside.

An advisor’s greatest contribution to an investor’s bottom line is their guidance through volatile markets.

Over the past two years, higher inflation has led to a higher return hurdle for investors who have established real return objectives, making it harder for them to achieve their return objectives over the short term. But is this likely to be the case over the long term as well?

In what's quickly become one of my favorite annual traditions at Russell Investments, I survey our associate base for their summer reading recommendations every year around this time.

We believe that avoiding whole sectors or business models introduces portfolio risk and should be done only with careful consideration and a strategic, holistic plan.

The ARCS strategy is a currency management strategy that gives a diversified exposure to three factors: Carry, Value and Trend.

In 2022, the funded status of $20 billion club members reached its highest level since 2007 due to steep rises in discount rates.

Spring cleaning is essential to a cleaner home, just like rebalancing is essential to keeping an investor on track.

We believe that the creeping economic slowdown in the United States will probably persist for a few more months, with a recession possible over the next 12-18 months. The onset of the recession may be delayed until 2024.

A direct indexing solution can help make an investment portfolio as personalized as a home.

Aggressive monetary policy tightening in developed markets led to a drawdown in house prices in 2022, but not a meltdown.

In a hawkish move coming on the heels of data that showed a reacceleration in inflation, the Bank of England raised its key lending rate by 50 basis points at today’s policy meeting.

Today's U.S. equity market is highly concentrated, with seven stocks contributing to an astonishing 96% of the Russell 1000 Index's year-to-date return.

The complexity of some risk management platforms can lead to a steep learning curve for institutional investors, draining resources and creating stress.

At its June meeting, the Fed opted to forgo an increase in its key lending rate for the first time since March 2022 but projected that more rate hikes may be possible by year-end. Our investment strategy analyst shares his thoughts on when the central bank’s rate-hiking journey could finally end.

Our director of Customized Portfolio Solutions and overlay portfolio management, Brian Causey, shares his key takeaways from 20 years of working on overlay solutions.

Interest-rate volatility on shorter-duration assets is running near historical highs, even as rate changes begin to level off.

While the retirement of several high-profile CIOs has generated ample news, and headlines, there’s been very little press coverage about OCIO as a potential solution. We find this perplexing.

In a difficult year such as 2023, rebalancing between asset classes that are declining may seem a futile exercise. But rebalancing, even in down markets, remains vital to keeping a portfolio within the right risk/reward ratio and is a key element of the value that an advisor can provide to their clients.

The passage of the debt-ceiling deal removes a significant threat to the economy and markets. The focus now shifts back to where it’s been for the past 18 months: inflation, the Fed, and recession risks.

A robust implementation strategy and real-world implementation capabilities are both necessary in order to achieve your portfolio’s preferred position.

In the five months prior to U.S. recessions dating to the 1920s, the equity Momentum factor was the top performer, with an annualized cumulative excess market return of +6.7%, on average.

Is the debt-ceiling agreement struck between the White House and Republican Party leaders likely to be approved by Congress? Our chief investment strategist explains why we believe the answer is yes.

The stresses in the CRE market do not appear to pose a systemic threat to the global banking system.

As other nations seek to become less dependent on the U.S. dollar, rumors of the greenback’s potential demise continue to swirl. Can the dollar remain king of the world’s reserve currency?

Over the past decade or so, there has been a broad trend in the industry toward closing and freezing defined benefit plans.

The terms private credit and private debt are often used interchangeably to describe direct origination credit strategies. But, the business is also known by another name: non-bank lending.

Negotiations among lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to raise the debt ceiling might trend in a more favorable direction.

The U.S. economy is likely slowing down, and a recession seems likely in the 12-18 month time horizon.

Working with a skilled OCIO provider can help you position your portfolio to benefit from investment opportunities and avoid uncompensated risks.

Rising rates in today's fixed-income markets have led to more attractive bond prices and higher yields, alleviating some of the challenges facing income investors.

Many investment strategists are forecasting that the U.S. economy could experience a recession in the next year or two.

One of my mentors once told me that "Hope is not a strategy" and since we can't predict the markets, I have decided to focus this blog on using Direct Indexing to attract new high net-worth clients.

U.S. Treasury debt is considered the closest debt in existence to having no default risk. The ongoing game of financial chicken between Congress and the White House puts this assumption in doubt.

In the past three years, special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) experienced stratospheric growth, became a manic bubble as sponsors raised new IPOs with a relentless fervor along with a market happy to oblige.

The volume of SPAC IPOs and mergers has reverted to pre-hype levels. Funding from public and private investors has plunged, while redemptions by existing investors have increased sharply.

Direct indexing is an innovative investment strategy that can solve a variety of investor challenges. We discuss the five main benefits of incorporating direct indexing in a client’s portfolio.

Tax season isn't the only time advisors should think about how taxes may impact their client portfolios. There are various strategies advisors can use year-round to ensure they are investing in a tax-efficient manner. Helping your clients maximize their after-tax wealth is an important element of the value you provide.

Tax-managed investing has gained in popularity in recent years. But what exactly is a tax-managed mutual fund? We do a deep dive into the concept.

• Most mutual funds or ETFs can't solve certain issues that your high-net-worth clients may face today
• Direct Indexing can help investors with tax management, diversifying concentrated positions or imposing restrictions for a variety of reasons.
• Direct Indexing may help solve investment challenges that requires personalization and tax management

Everyone knows it by now: 2022 was not a kind year for investors, particularly balanced fund investors. There were no silver linings, no shelter from the storm; it seemed that no matter what levers you had in place to protect clients’ wealth, there was very little to cheer about on investor return statements.

Many advisors today are helping clients with a broad range of their financial planning needs.

Worries about the health of the overall banking system have led to a drawdown in deposits, with investors yanking nearly $100 billion in deposits from U.S. banks during the week that ended March 15. What’s more, there are fears that the stresses in the banking sector could be the start of the next financial crisis.

Predicting spot exchanges is tricky, but there are still ways of adding value in currency markets, including through a disciplined approach we call currency factor investing.

In a closely watched decision, the Fed lifted its benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points to a range of 4.75% to 5% at the conclusion of its March policy meeting.

The new SECURE Act 2.0 (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act) seeks to make it easier for U.S. taxpayers to save for retirement and expands access to retirement plans.

We believe municipal bonds boast several key factors that position them as an attractive asset class in general, but especially so when markets are volatile.

International Women's Day is a global observance that recognizes and celebrates women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.

• By 2030, $30 trillion, or two-thirds of U.S. personal wealth, will be controlled by females
• Women are increasingly making decisions for themselves and their families in all other aspects of their lives, and financial advice is no different
• Women-only events can be a way to achieve that deeper connection with this important demographic and help advisors not only retain their current business but potentially grow it

We just finished up our annual report on the $20 billion club, and we've concluded that 2022 was a weird year for pension plans.

Advisors who have business owners as clients need to adapt their discovery process and service plans to help these independent and resourceful investors.

With the new year in its infancy, it may be too early to think about where to spend Thanksgiving or booking your car’s fall tune-up.

Investors should be aware of potential real-time market exposure risks when implementing large changes to their portfolios.

At the conclusion of its inaugural policy meeting of 2023 today, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) delivered a smaller, quarter-point rate hike, as widely expected by markets.

Our 2022 ESG manager survey findings reinforced our belief that the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment processes is here to stay.

This fall was a memorable time in the Halverson household.

It's the end of the world!

After years of uncertainty around how U.S. retirement plans could consider ESG factors, the dust is finally settling. It’s official: A Nov. 22 rule issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) allows retirement plans to consider financially material ESG factors when selecting investments and exercising shareholder rights.

We believe private credit is an attractive investment with greater market coverage and a timely opportunity to benefit from the scarcity of fresh capital.

Everyone seems to be paying more attention to the cost of goods and services these days. But there is one cost that many investors pay without realizing it – the cost of taxes on their portfolios. Here's why this cost matters and what you can do to help your clients avoid it.

Our annual ESG manager survey of active managers assesses the integration of ESG considerations in investment processes among equity, fixed income and private markets managers, and spotlights firmwide policies, use of data, engagement and integration.

Corporate defined benefit (DB) plan sponsors face two primary risks: equity risk and interest rate risk.

Is tax drag holding your clients back?

Balancing financial gain and personal values can be a challenge for investors. A fund of funds approach to impact investing can help to provide the best of both worlds.

When markets are challenging, your clients look to you to help manage their expectations as well as their hard-earned money.

Is a recession lurking around the corner in 2023? If so, how might it impact defined benefit (DB) plan sponsors—and what steps, if any, should they consider taking?

10 years have passed since the watershed year for pension risk transfer.

Central banks haven't finished tightening and the U.S. Treasury yield curve remains inverted.

Let’s face it, the last three years have been challenging for investors. The global pandemic has had a domino effect on so many aspects of our lives.

With the ever-increasing need to decarbonize our global economy, investors are now focused not only on the why behind decarbonizing, but also the how.

It’s been a tough first half of the year, with the MSCI All Country World Index down by 21.7% and the Bloomberg Global Treasury benchmark losing about 9% as of June 17.

The world of politics and political maneuvering never ceases to amaze us.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Chief Investment Strategist for North America, Paul Eitelman, and Research Analyst Laura Bardewyck reviewed early results from second-quarter earnings season.

As institutional investors, we most often represent risk as annual standard deviation or tracking error. But when we implement changes in our portfolios, the real-time risk happens much faster.

One of the vexing questions for China watchers has been the lack of stimulus delivered, despite the maintenance of the government’s 5.5% GDP target for 2022 (although there is skepticism around the ability to reach that 5.5%).

While a direct indexing strategy is a great addition to an investor’s portfolio, you’ll want to ensure your clients are properly diversified and also poised to reap the benefits of active management, while recognizing that active management doesn’t generate as many tax losses as tracking the index does.

Recession fears and central-bank tightening are driving market volatility.

After months of hand-wringing, U.S. indexes are now in bear-market territory across the board, down 20% from their most recent highs.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Director of Investment Strategies, Shailesh Kshatriya, and Director of Institutional Investment Solutions, Greg Coffey, discussed the recent PMI (purchasing managers’ index) readings from China and the U.S.

There is increasing awareness among investors of the important role that responsible investing plays in a well-diversified portfolio.

Tax Day has come and gone.

Investor interest and participation in private markets continues to grow.

With the world economy still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and now dealing with the Ukraine-Russia crisis, markets face a great deal of uncertainty.

It's no secret that in fixed income markets, excess performance above the benchmark is difficult to achieve over the long run.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Director of Investment Strategies, Shailesh Kshatriya, and Director of Institutional Investment Solutions, Greg Coffey, discussed market reaction to the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked higher inflation, unleashed additional market volatility and will likely lead to a slowdown in global growth rates. However, we believe above-trend growth is still possible this year, provided hostilities ease and energy prices stabilize.

Last week, I was driving home from a business trip when I suddenly got a call from my parents.

This year's theme is #BreakTheBias and I thought it might be fitting to look at a few of the common biases when it comes to female investors - and how financial advisers can work toward better addressing some of these, not only with clients, but with their teams as well.

We believe the war in Ukraine will likely negatively impact growth rates during the first half of the year and lead to higher inflation, with Europe taking the biggest hit. However, we think growth could rebound during the second part of 2022 if energy prices decline.

Since 2011, we have issued annual reports on the largest listed corporate defined benefit (DB) sponsors in the U.S., codenamed the $20 billion club.

What many feared may happen came true overnight with Russia invading Ukraine from all sides—Crimea, Belarus and Russia.

As we begin 2022, there is a lot of noise in the marketplace: midterm elections, omicron and everything in between.

From 2008 onward, U.S. market returns have been strong and consistent, and 2021 was no different, with the S&P 500 returning a solid 29%.

The term direct indexing is somewhat of a misnomer.

Many people will see the beginning of 2022 as motivation for a resolution.

Rougher seas lie ahead for non-profit fiduciaries as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into 2022 and refuses to retreat quietly into the night.

Talent is quitting. And new talent is hard to hire.

As soon as an asset owner allocates capital to more than one manager, an interaction effect exists which will have an impact on the investor’s overall portfolio outcome.

While world leaders seem unable or unwilling to pass legislation to meet their commitments, Russell Investments is on a mission to support the low-carbon economic transition through our active ownership activities.

Private markets can help to future-proof your portfolio through responsible investing. Samantha Steele, director, private markets, dives into the main trends and challenges that investors should consider.

With 2021 almost finished, it's a good time to look ahead to the key questions and themes for 2022. Overall, we believe economic growth, inflation and investment returns should moderate through 2022, but expect growth to remain above trend, which should support the outperformance of equities over bonds.

Taxable assets make up nearly half of the U.S. mutual fund universe. Helping your clients reduce the tax bite on these assets could help you differentiate your value proposition.

After a year of rebound and recovery, we believe that economic growth, inflation and investment returns are likely to moderate in 2022.

Key takeaways from Powell's renomination and his remarks on inflation, as well as an assessment of the risks the omicron variant of COVID-19 may pose to markets.

As the last wave of baby boomers heads into retirement, the need for a consistent and reliable stream of income is growing. Advisors seeking a balance between generating income and providing for future growth may want to consider income-focused model strategies.

Investor participation and interest in private equity continues to grow. Investors are attracted to private equity for different reasons, including access to the significant investable opportunity set that exists across the universe of private companies, along with lower volatility when compared to public equities.

In this latest survey, 53 leading bond and currency managers considered valuations, expectations and outlooks for the coming months. With the economic recovery undeniably ramping up, we asked managers for their thoughts on valuations in the markets.

Increasing regulation and stress in the property sector have led to lowering expectations for Chinese economic growth in 2022. Could the global economy be impacted as well?

At Russell Investments we have created a series of podcasts aimed at helping you gain insight in how to build a better business, or attract female clients, minimize the impact of taxes on a portfolio or articulate the value you bring to your clients.

This year marks our seventh annual ESG manager survey. Our survey of active managers assesses the integration of ESG considerations in investment processes among equity, fixed income and private market managers and spotlights firmwide policies, use of data, engagement and integration.

Transitory or not, the current inflation rate has many investors concerned. A look back in history can put today’s situation in perspective.

Realigning a client’s taxable portfolio to a new investment strategy can be cumbersome and often generates taxes. This is particularly the case when repositioning an equity portfolio with appreciated shares and the corresponding embedded gains.

Here we discuss two tax efficient approaches to transition an equity portfolio populated with low basis shares to a new strategy:

1. The Timeline approach which moves the existing portfolio to the new strategy over a set number of years.
2. The Tax-Budget approach which moves the existing portfolio to a new strategy while limiting taxes or capital gains per year.

How do managers in the emerging markets, global/international, Asia and China equities spaces feel about the market’s reaction to events in China? Here's what our recent survey reveals.

Chair Jerome Powell and the Fed had been holding the market’s hand in the lead-up to the tapering decision, making it abundantly clear that a decision was imminent at today’s meeting and effectively pre-announcing all of the relevant details of the decision...

In the lead-up to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, the TCFD released several important updates. We take a look at what the TCFD is and why the TCFD’s recommendations are becoming an increasingly important reference for investors and financial regulators.

Given the inherent volatility of small capitalization stocks, even small differences in benchmarks can affect relative returns. Investors should be aware of the composition of the index used to define the opportunity set when comparing performance.

Performance highlights from the third quarter of 2021, plus manager expectations for the final months of the year.

Excerpts from Cerulli Associates' report on asset owner and manager perspectives when it comes to promoting diversity & inclusion.

Many mutual funds will distribute capital gains every year—no matter what the market does. As 2021 comes to a close, advisors can begin to prepare their clients for the impact of those distributions and take steps to minimize the tax bite going forward.

Need some new ideas about how to attract new clients or get greater share of wallet from ones you already have? Try a few of these on for size.

With potential tax increases on the horizon, advisors can take steps now to minimize the impact of any changes in tax policy.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Director of Investment Strategies Shailesh Kshatriya and Investment Strategy Analyst BeiChen Lin discussed recent political headlines in Washington, D.C., the rise in U.S. government bond yields and the potential outcomes of Germany’s recent elections.

As the globe enters the waning months of 2021, concerns over inflation, the delta variant of COVID-19 and the unwinding of easy-money policies loom large for markets. Despite this, we believe that the business cycle is still in a recovery phase, although it’s maturing. We expect more cyclical upside for economic growth outside the U.S. in the months ahead, allowing market leadership to rotate toward the rest of the world.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Chief Investment Strategist Erik Ristuben and Head of Portfolio & Business Consulting Sophie Antal Gilbert discussed U.S. consumer prices and wages, key factors impacting U.S. small businesses and home sales in China.

The numerous proposals around tax policy in the upcoming budget debates mean it’s an opportune time to discuss tax-smart strategies with your clients.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Senior Portfolio Manager Megan Roach and Julie Zhang, head of North America sales enablement and analytics, discussed the latest data on U.S. jobs and wages, recent central bank actions and the state of the global economic recovery.

The labeled bond market has seen explosive growth in issuance over the past two years.

The ongoing pandemic and resulting economic challenges have left many investors steering an unpredictable course. Meanwhile, the probable upward trajectory of tax rates will likely bring more challenges.

There are four hazards you and your clients should be aware of when considering how to manage taxes on investment portfolios. Request this client-ready guide today and learn more.

Now may be a great time to meet with your tax-sensitive clients and uncover taxable wealth opportunities. Actively managing taxes on investments despite tax rate uncertainty will help you and your clients be in the best position for building their after-tax wealth through the remainder of 2021 and beyond.

P is for aligning products to meet each client’s unique goals, circumstances and preferences.

The current wave of regulatory intervention by the Chinese government has been far reaching, addressing matters including anti-trust, data protection, property speculation, climate change and various interventions in relation to social abuses.

Key drivers behind the recent selloff in SPACs, and the market outlook going forward.

Tax proposals and changes to the tax code are a near daily story right now.

If there is one experience common to us all during the global pandemic, it is that the spread of COVID-19 around the world caused everyone—young or old, rich or poor, male or female—to reassess our priorities.

The industry is now seeing an expansion in data-driven practices, with new ESG and climate datasets emerging and becoming mainstream.

As a woman who has worked in the financial services industry for 23 years, I’m keenly aware of the central role we play in money decisions.

As summer hits its stride, here are some musings about municipal bond performance to mull over as you unwind at the beach or on the couch (no judging!).

Everything changed for me, my family and everyone I know on a Friday the 13th.

The global economic reopening remains on track as COVID-19 vaccination rates climb.

U.S. and global equity markets are up 92% and 81%, respectively, from their March 23, 2020, lows through May 31, 2021.

With only a few brief downturns in an otherwise upward trend in the U.S. equity market since the Global Financial Crisis, declining interest rates have pulled forward the net present value of distant earnings and propelled growth stocks (and the market as a whole) higher.

Something that I am asked by advisors over and over again is what ideas have you heard?

Find out what happens to advisor value when tax-smart planning and investing are offered to clients. In this year of historic government stimulus packages, it seems likely that taxes are only going up as we emerge from the global pandemic.

Discover how an active tax-managed investing approach can potentially provide significant value to your clients. Don’t miss out on this way to further sharpen your value with clients. How do you compare? Get the study.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Director of Investment Strategies Shailesh Kshatriya and Head of Portfolio & Business Consulting Sophie Antal Gilbert discussed the meeting minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed), the latest inflation data and the recent volatility in cryptocurrency markets.

Effective vaccines, historic fiscal stimulus, Democratic Party control of the legislature, even more stimulus, reopening economies, 6% U.S. real GDP (gross domestic product) growth, 25% U.S. EPS (earnings per share) growth, and maybe even an infrastructure plan sprinkled on top.

It’s coming. Is it here? Perhaps. Or maybe not. But sooner or later, it is coming. Preparing now for the eventuality seems the most prudent course.

Investors and planners desire clarity around tax rates to help make informed decisions around investment moves and related impacts to portfolios.

We believe that the recently announced U.S. stimulus deal reinforces the positive economic outlook for 2021. Here's why.

As the sun sets on one of the most challenging years in memory, many healthcare systems and other types of non-profits find themselves in starkly different financial situations than they were at the start of the year.

Is the rotation toward value here to stay? What could stall the economic recovery? In the first in a four-part series of blog posts, we explore the key issues that are likely to impact the investment landscape in 2021.

The ravages of the pandemic mean a shift is needed to boost financial resilience, Chairman and CEO Michelle Seitz writes in the Financial Times.

We anticipate that COVID-19 vaccines and the easing of lockdowns will allow for a return to more normal economic activity by mid-2021.

Passage of last year's SECURE Act may spark increased adoption of lifetime income products in defined contribution plans. Here's why.

Will support for ESG investing in the U.S. increase under the administration of President-elect Joe Biden?

Trading over the holidays? You’ll want to check this list—errr, article—twice.

This is the fifth and last blog in our 2020 series, discussing why Russell Investments believes in the value of advisors. Here we discuss tax-smart planning and investing.

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, we believe that investing in private markets may offer a raft of potential opportunities. Here's why.

In today’s blog, I will update the current status of the election results, extend the conversation with regards to the market reaction at this point and revisit what we see as the most important factors investors should be considering going forward.

Key takeaways for investors amid the tightening race for the White House and control of the Senate.

The volatility of the cross-currency basis was a point of focus throughout March and April, swinging wildly in either direction as funding stresses surfaced. A scramble for liquidity and dollars was, with impressive effectiveness, ultimately satiated by the handiwork of central banks, most notably the U.S. Federal Reserve’s flooding the monetary system with the pre-eminent reserve currency.

The latest on how equity managers across the globe fared during the third quarter, plus how the upcoming U.S. election is impacting manager viewpoints.

U.S. Treasury bonds are not likely to repeat their spectacular performance as income-producing risk reducers in portfolios of the past four decades. While bonds still have an important role to play in some settings (e.g., liability hedging for retirement plans), we believe investors should look at alternatives for diversification, including inflation-protected securities, gold, defensive currencies and stocks and option protection.

The transition toward a more sustainable energy system presents potential opportunities for investors. We explore what those opportunities are, and identify potential watchpoints.

We believe now is as good a time as any to do a portfolio assessment. Here’s why investors and their advisors shouldn’t lose sight of how diversification and taxes affect portfolio returns.

Despite stellar equity returns over the last decade, the funded status for many defined-benefit plan sponsors has either stagnated or fallen. Here's why.

We believe paying taxes is a scenario where kicking the can down the road can actually be a good thing for taxable investors. Here’s why.

It's a new cycle for the economy, but some asset classes look decidedly late cycle in terms of valuation. What might this mean for markets through the remainder of the year?

Imagine if you could show your clients the impact of taxes between funds and categories. Now you can. Here’s an exclusive first look at our Tax Impact Comparison Tool.

Your social network may be an untapped and robust source for uncovering prospects. While you may be suffering from COVID-19 fatigue, we believe prospecting and having introductory conversations about the services you provide could be one of the best uses of your time.

It’s open season on capital gains. Four ways advisors can help clients navigate potential unpleasant taxable distributions.

With the COVID-19 crisis far from over, we expect increased policy stability in the U.S. next year, no matter who wins in November.

Five companies now comprise 26% of the market capitalization of the S&P 500® Index, making for the most concentrated U.S. equity market in the last 40 years. What are the potential dangers of this for investors?

With multiple future scenarios as to how climate change may play out, there are also multiple potential consequences in store for investments. This post takes a detailed look at climate-change risk management.

The U.S. stock market seems to be looking through this economic catastrophe. For the five months and one week since the start of the recession—March through August 7, 2020—the U.S. stock market, as measured by the S&P 500, has returned +14.3%.

Emerging markets are confronting a slew of short-term challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Is there hope for a turnaround on the horizon?

We believe that the Norwegian krone and the New Zealand dollar stand to benefit from how their governments have handled the coronavirus, whereas the appeal of the U.S. dollar may wane due to high infection rates.

We explore the increased use of engagement terminology by fixed income market practitioners as a part of their ESG integration efforts.

Ultimately, we believe that investors who are unaware of ESG and do not integrate ESG into their investment processes may be exposing themselves to additional, unnecessary and possibly unrewarded risks.

With less than four months to go until Americans cast their votes for president, we’ve fielded an increase in questions from clients as to whether the U.S. presidential election poses a risk to markets and the economy. The short answer is yes.

Imagine telling clients you’re their guru, guide and gladiator. Learn a simple framework to help articulate your distinctive value.

This is the second in a series of posts focusing on the formula of advisor value. In this post, we tackle the behavioral mistakes that investors typically make. Addressing the investment behavior of your clients may be the greatest value you provide.

The case for considering tactical and long-term allocations to small cap stocks.

Markets have rallied on hopes for an economic recovery as coronavirus-imposed lockdowns are eased across the globe. The rebound has been helped by oversold investor sentiment, but with sentiment back to neutral, so too is our strategists’ market outlook.

Can you reignite the growth of your business in the the second half of 2020? We think so. Here’s why we believe the next six months may hold a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

In this latest survey, 68 leading bond and currency managers considered valuations, expectations and outlooks for the coming months.

Having trouble helping your clients appreciate a balanced portfolio? These charts may help.

Our secrets for hosting a great virtual meeting.

Three factors that may explain today’s disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street.

This post is part of a series delving into the growth-versus-value debate. Here we explore three considerations when evaluating growth-versus-value positioning.

We're excited about the opportunities we see in value investing going forward. Here's why.

I’m trying to think of a year when rebalancing has been more important. None come to mind.

Potential for a large payoff on value strategies may exist soon, if history is any guide.

Capital markets are in disarray in reaction to the coronavirus crisis and the necessity of pausing the global economy. The CBOE Volatility Index (the VIX) rose to over 80 in March and thankfully has settled down to a level of about 35, which is still over twice its trailing five-year average of about 15.

Key watchpoints for China as it emerges from the COVID-19 crisis.

Drawing on lessons learned from the credit crisis of 2007, here's how we're transitioning fixed income assets amid the coronavirus pandemic.

I hope this message finds you and those close to you in good health as we all navigate the fallout that happens when a health crisis spills over and triggers an economic crisis.

I started in the business in a mutual fund call center right out of college in 1999 (DVD players were all the rage, Y2K panic was a thing and “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” was on). At that point, average annual returns were high for the S&P 500 and most mutual funds—until the bubble burst.

Russell Investments has long held that it is possible to create investment value while incorporating values into the decision-making. In this blog post, we continue on that theme and highlight a small collection of securities that demonstrate doing well while doing good.

See how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting manager viewpoints across key geographic and equity regions.

Client language is different from advisor language. If you want clients to understand you—and more importantly, you want to understand them—consider adopting these tips.

Two months into one of the most disruptive crises of our lifetimes, we have all become accustomed to words and phrases such as unprecedented, severe, social distancing, etc. Although these words are perhaps less jarring than they were prior to the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, they truly do capture the impact of this health crisis on the economy, now and in the years to come.

The health of our planet depends on responsible investing. On Earth Day and every day, it has our full support.

What is the value of a financial advisor in 2020? We believe financial advisors have never been more valuable than they are right now. This annual Value of an Advisor study quantifies that dedication and the resulting benefit.

News is an interesting concept, in that information really only counts as news if it’s unexpected. On the flip side, information isn’t news if it is expected. April, however, is showing that even when the expectation is for bad news, the cumulative effect of so much negativity can still weigh on markets heavily. In other words, just expecting bad economic data does not necessarily make the market invulnerable to mountains of it.

While ESG was initially a hot topic for equity investors, fixed income market investors are quickly catching up. In this blog, we aim to share some key ESG integration trends we see among the fixed income market participants.

With a very healthy dose of humility, let’s take a look at what a reopening of the global economy may look like.

When it comes to ESG, not all issues matter equally across industries. We believe our newly updated ESG scoring methodology best captures the issues that are truly material to companies.

Global equity index futures are trading up about 4% this morning. The coronavirus data over the weekend was less bad. The growth rate in new confirmed cases over the last 24 hours globally was the lowest since March 17—a welcome sign that containment measures are gaining some traction in slowing the spread of the disease.

Just about every facet of life has changed due to the coronavirus pandemic. For many, this has involved adapting to working from home. We share our best practices and tips to help you maintain your productivity—and your sanity.

As the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus, some areas of the market are showing signs of incremental improvement.

Hope is not stupid. My colleague, Paul Eitelman, did a nice job yesterday preparing our clients for the likely horrible news that will most likely greet us for the month of April each and every morning. Today, I would like to take a moment to talk about reasons for hope.

Rebalancing is a case where inaction creates risk to policy in volatile times. One of the most critical rebalancing points of the past decade is ahead of us. So now what?

Policy makers in the U.S. generally have more work to do to limit the damage of the coronavirus crisis than their counterparts in Europe. Here’s why.

A global recession is likely through the first half of the year, with a rebound possible during the second half of 2020, provided the virus threat subsides.

The U.S. Federal Reserve unveiled a series of significant policy measures to help sustain the economy.

We have spent much of the last week talking about the efforts coming out of the U.S., as the Federal Reserve and government leaders are working hard to offset the real economic damage being inflicted by the crisis.

Amid ongoing market chop, more positive signs are emerging from policymakers and central banks as efforts to soften the economic damage caused by the coronavirus continue.

It has been long said that fear and greed drive the market in the short-term. In the long run, however, fundamentals ultimately determine price. When we say fundamentals, what we are really talking about is that the future earning potential of a stock will ultimately drive its value

Our four general rules to help keep clients calm and invested when markets turn choppy.

Markets are eagerly awaiting an announcement with regard to the type of fiscal support the U.S. and other governments will come to the table with. This support will be aimed at preventing potential temporary economic headwinds from becoming more permanent impairments to the global economy.

One of the keys to the outlook here is the ability of businesses to get to the other side of potentially acute short-term cash flow problems. Fiscal policy holds the necessary antidotes in its ability to provide targeted, material support to impacted sectors.

Whatever the news of the day is for the foreseeable future, it is this tension and search for answers that is driving daily market activity. As we have said before, the unpredictable nature of this threat is making finding those answers more difficult. The market hates uncertainty above all things, as uncertainty begets volatility. Expect volatility.

Our outlook for interest rates, assessed through our investing framework of cycle, valuation and sentiment.

Overall, the net effect of this is that funded status stayed roughly the same, likely frustrating sponsors who saw assets rise without a corresponding increase in funded position.

Limited supply and high demand for high-yield municipal bonds may adversely impact an investor’s financial position. Plan now for potential client conversations about exposure to lower quality tax-exempt securities.

Markets around the world are tumbling on fears that the coronavirus could significantly derail global economic growth.

In light of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, we examine whether a rebound in China’s economy is still possible this year.

This is going to be one of those years where we believe behavior—for advisors and clients—is going to really matter. At Russell Investments, we believe one of the biggest detriments to a client’s return is their own behavior.

Here’s how the SECURE Act may impact your clients. Plan now for these conversations.

Like the three little pigs building their houses, financial advisors have many choices of how they will build their books of business. Many of the most successful advisors embrace fee-only wealth management. In this blog post, we put some numbers to these theories.

Learn more about the remarkable lives and contributions of three leading African American economists.

What makes an investment philosophy or product ESG-friendly? The answers may surprise you.

The past decade has been one for the record books. There has been unprecedented change in almost every aspect of life including technology, transportation, politics, etc.

With Brexit day finally here, the focus turns to trade negotiations between the UK and the EU.

What can advisors learn from institutional investors? Try these four key moves.

Conventional wisdom has long held that value stocks and growth stocks work in different ways, and therefore wouldn’t be found in the same mutual fund. In recent years it has become increasingly difficult to tell the difference between a value and growth manager’s portfolio.

Has passive investing helped drive the outperformance of mega-cap stocks?

Maybe you don’t have a goals-based tracking and reporting system, but you want to have illustrations to show whether a client is on track (or not) to meet their goals.

As the worries mount, it’s worth addressing whether these concerns are truly warranted, or overblown to an extent. Let’s dive right in and tackle this, as well as look at how much of a handbrake such a high level of debt may have on Chinese growth.

Central bank easing and the cooling China-U.S. trade war have set the scene for a global economic rebound in 2020. Our forecast pushes the risk of recession into late 2021, giving equity markets modest upside potential for 2020.

With simmering trade tensions, sputtering growth worldwide and a historically long, but slow, U.S. economic expansion, investors will have to brace themselves for a challenging investment environment in 2020. Change, adaptability and diversification are the key words. Here are steps you can take early in 2020 to position your investment program well for the rest of the year.

A few months ago, we published a paper called Institutional investor best practice by 2025. In this paper, we addressed how investors will need to fundamentally change how they approach capturing opportunities, mitigating risks and managing costs within their investment portfolios to set themselves up for success in 2025 and beyond.

Seven things to know about the new U.S. retirement legislation.

As the year winds to a close, take a look back with us at our top ten favorite blog posts of the year—the thought leadership pieces that sparked the highest levels of engagement among our readers.

Once upon a time—of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve—old Ebenezer Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house. Rise from your bed, O Investor and hear first from our very own Ghosts of Investing Past, Present and Yet to Come.

If beta is a racehorse, many investors often assume it takes care of itself in the race toward investment objectives. But doesn't the skill of the jockey matter as well?

While the election outcome was quickly reflected in the pound exchange rate, the direction from here depends on what kind of relationship Boris Johnson really (really) wants to have with the EU. Find out more from our currency expert.

Central bank easing and the cooling China-U.S. trade war have set the scene for a global economic rebound in 2020. Our forecast pushes the risk of recession into late 2021, giving equity markets modest upside potential for 2020.

Considering investment outsourcing? Our CFO weighs in on key and peripheral issues to contemplate.

What steps are needed to help build a successful portfolio? One of our divisional directors shares his perspective.

As the clock ticks toward 2020, the overall economic picture remains muddled. Ongoing trade tensions and slumping global growth have cast a cloud of uncertainty over the globe, and forward-looking return expectations continue to look less than impressive.

Nearly every aspect of the advisory industry is undergoing some form of transformation today—spelling an opportunity for those advisors who are committed to continuously evolving their approach.

Throughout the year we asked leading bond and currency managers to consider valuations, expectations and outlooks for the coming months.

The news media, bank executives, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) chairman and even presidential candidates have made remarks about the recent spike in short-term funding rates. What caused the spike and why is it important?

The U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) cut interest rates again—its third such move in as many meetings—lowering its benchmark rate to a target range of 1.50% to 1.75%.

Among the 20 largest US-listed corporate DB sponsors, General Electric Company ended 2018 with the third lowest funded ratio at 75.6%.¹ This is a precipitous decline from 2007, when their funded ratio was the third highest among this group at 129.1%. Over that time period – when the average funded ratio dropped about 20 percentage points - GE's dropped by over 50 percentage points.¹ How did this happen?

Are equity managers reconsidering their exposure to more expensive growth stocks? Check out the latest insights from our manager research team.

If you’re committed to helping your clients achieve their financial outcomes, don’t avoid discussing taxes.

Quitting tobacco is good for your health. But how is it for your portfolio?

The United Nations-supported PRI has made strides in changing the global attitude to responsible investing.

Amid ongoing trade tensions and slumping growth worldwide, the global macroeconomics and geopolitical outlook remains highly uncertain—suggesting that an environment of low rates, sluggish growth and high valuations may linger well into 2020.

Learn the potential benefits of a harmonized investment approach to your organization's DB and DC plans.

Is home-country bias limiting your portfolio’s (future) potential? Here's why we believe global diversification should be an integral part of an investor’s portfolio.

Heading into the fourth quarter, our outlook remains cautious as markets continue to grapple with both trade and Brexit uncertainty.

The Fed lowered interest rates for the second time this year at the conclusion of its FOMC meeting. Is another cut possible before year-end?

An industry veteran—and slacker—shares his perspective on reaching and communicating with Generation X clients.

While the clear majority of mutual funds provide daily liquidity, it's not guaranteed. This is why understanding the potential risks to liquidity is key.

Why listed infrastructure? Let’s follow the logic chain: Equity-market volatility, low fixed-income yields and increased economic uncertainty all stand as potential stumbling blocks that threaten to derail even the best-laid of plans.

Taxes are going to cost you a lot this year. By how much, you're wondering? Let’s start first by looking back.

The importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions continues to grow exponentially—to the point where an understanding of ESG now appears critical to carrying out a skillful investment process.

What’s the difference between a tax-aware, tax-efficient or tax-managed approach to investing? See why it matters and why we believe managing for taxes can make a difference for investors.

As China embarks on a transition to a more consumption-based economy, its health is likely to have an increasing impact on the well-being of the global economy.

While cash can be comforting, it may come at a cost to an investor’s ending wealth.

How much longer could America's record-setting economic expansion continue?

The concept of diversification is nothing new for investors. The adage “don’t put your eggs in one basket” simply states why diversification is vital. There are several potential benefits of a diversified multi-asset investment portfolio, and one of the most important is to reduce concentration risk.

Forget the either/or. When it comes to investing your hard-earned money for retirement, wouldn’t you want as many options as possible?

Planning has become table stakes in our industry, but I say that with a note of caution. When a financial plan feels like a box-checking exercise, it can be seen as a commodity. When you position your own planning process to your clients, be intentional.

This is the longest U.S. economic expansion ever. And while expansions don’t die of old age, it’s prudent for investors and central bankers to think now about the potential consequences of the next global recession.

In Part 2, Global Chief Investment Officer Pete Gunning drills further into the details behind our overlays, and the value we see in harnessing investment insights from our managers.

Global growth is slowing. Corporate profits are shrinking. Business investment is waning. And the seemingly-perpetual bull market, buoyed by the longest U.S. expansion on record as evidenced by the S&P 500, may be entering its final stages.

An escalating China-U.S. trade war sent stocks reeling, as markets weighed potential impacts to U.S. consumer spending, corporate earnings and job growth.

The Fed lowered its benchmark interest rate for the first time in over a decade today, but stocks still moved lower. Why?

Under today’s current market conditions, real assets may provide an opportunity for portfolio diversification and growth.

How did active equity managers fare during Q2? Check out the latest insights from our manager research team.

Our annual summer reading list, with a twist: Our top 3 books on counterintuitive thinking.

Looking to grow revenue? Your greatest opportunity may exist within your own book of business.

Let’s cut to the conclusion: Does an ESG-related mandate require a performance hit? No.

The technology sector has helped fuel one of the longest economic expansions in the history of the United States. It’s worth looking back to the late 1990s to recognize what expectations were created for the tech sector and better understand where we are today.

This is the third in a series of posts focusing on the formula of advisor value. Here we discuss the cost of basic investment-only management—which is not only worthwhile, but necessary. Yet it should also be a warning sign if your value proposition is based solely on your investment management prowess.

Our latest survey of global fixed income investment firms reveals conflicting viewpoints between interest-rate managers and credit managers on growth expectations and risk assets.

An escalation in trade-war tensions between China and the U.S. has sparked a slowdown in global growth and a yield-curve inversion. Could global central bank easing and China stimulus turn the tide?

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Quantitative Investment Strategist Dr. Kara Ng and Rob Cittadini, director, Americas institutional, discussed the recent rise in markets, deteriorating economic data and newfound optimism surrounding the China-U.S. trade war.

The U.S. central bank left interest rates unchanged at the conclusion of its June meeting, but signaled it may lower borrowing costs next month.

This is the second in a series of posts focusing on the formula of advisor value. In this post, we tackle the behavioral mistakes that investors typically make. Addressing the investment behavior of your clients may be the greatest value you provide.

Here’s how you can slay the tax beast and help your clients minimize the impact of taxes.

In the latest update:

• U.S. job growth in May falls short of expectations. Is a Fed rate cut next?
• Deep-dive: How the trade war is hurting business spending
• What’s powering the stock-market rally?

3 reasons why we believe private markets are an attractive alternative.

The disconnect between retirement confidence and preparation—and 3 simple ways advisors can make a difference.

3 principles to focus on when weighing risk in a bond portfolio.

Until early 2018, the market had been behaving in a consistent pattern for several years. Corrections were short-lived, as were spikes in implied volatility–as measured by the CBOE Volatility Index (the VIX)–from otherwise suppressed levels. While the correction in Q4 2018 was longer-lived, we have already bounced back from this drawdown, with the promise of prolonged monetary accommodation by the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed).

Is the market-implied probability of a U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) rate cut later this year overblown? Our answer: Yes.

Are you engaging with millennials on the topic of responsible investing? Here’s how trusted advisors can both educate, develop a financial plan and address their specific preferences in investing.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Quantitative Investment Strategist Abraham Robison and Sophie Antal Gilbert, head of AIS business solutions, discussed the recent setback in U.S.-China trade negotiations and what it may mean for markets going forward.

If you’re even an occasional bowler, you know about the dreaded 7-10 split. For advisors, it can feel just as hard to keep clients invested in international equities, after U.S. equities have done so well for so long.

We believe that full portfolio control is more critical than ever in today’s investment landscape. Here’s why.

Russell Investments believes in the value of an advisor. It is part of our corporate DNA. Delivering, communicating and elevating your value so your investors have a better chance at meeting their financial goals has never been more important.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Chief Investment Strategist Erik Ristuben and Research Analyst Brian Yadao discussed the implications for markets after prospects for a U.S.-China trade deal soured.

We summarize investing trends across generations, including similarities and differences, as well as potential opportunities for financial advisors.

We highlight the need-to-know aspects of the instrumental political, regulatory and investor-led reform taking place in Japan.

What is the value of a financial advisor in 2019? We break down the full value of an advisor’s services in this easy-to-follow equation.

Does exposure to unlisted infrastructure benefit the average portfolio?

In today’s episode of Market Week in Review, Head of AIS Business Solutions Sophie Antal Gilbert was joined by Chief Investment Strategist, Erik Ristuben. Together, they talked U.S. GDP, earnings seasons and Iranian oil waivers.

According to a 2018 study of 403 advisors by BNY/Pershing, over 90% of advisors spend less than 5% of their day on various forms of social media...

Our manager research showed growth outperforming value, though managers from both styles of investing bought the 2018 fourth quarter correction.

Inflation has remained muted through the first quarter of 2019. Could the pace pick up later in 2019?

Robert Kuharic, Investment Strategist, shares 3 key numbers tax-smart advisors should know that illustrate the tax pain reality of 2018.

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, U.S. Institutional Senior Director Rob Cittadini and Senior Investment Strategist Paul Eitelman discuss recent economic data from China, the Brexit deadline extension, and the contrasting impact on global equity and fixed-income markets.

Members of the $20 billion club continue to look for ways to reduce the cost and risk of their jumbo-sized DB plans. Read about these latest trends.

Today, we examine another type of behavioral bias: the agency problem, which looks specifically at the issues that arise when one party is expected to act on behalf of another.

Markets are caught between incoming data that point to slower global growth and forward-looking factors that suggest improvement later in the year. With the pause in U.S. Federal Reserve rate hikes, we expect modest recovery in global cycle conditions.

Are investors paying too much in investment taxes? Can you help them create better after-tax outcome? Without a basic understanding of the individual tax forms, it can be challenging to critically analyze. Given this is the first tax year to reflect the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, there are a few changes advisors should understand to better prepare for reviewing clients and prospects tax situations relative to their investments.

The industry provides a range of target date glide paths—and a range of different outcomes. See the rate of return for a given savings rate and retirement income target.

A shift in monetary policy among central banks has boosted markets since the start of the year. How much longer could the window of opportunity last before recession risks set in?

As expected, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) left interest rates unchanged at the conclusion of today’s policy meeting, once again emphasizing a patient approach to monetary policy in the months ahead.

Most tax-exempt organizations are required to file the IRS Form 990 annually. The form demonstrates an organization is fulfilling its tax-exempt purpose, and its financial resources are being used to further these purposes. It’s also meant to encourage accountability and transparency of activities, governance and relationships.

How much of your portfolio is allocated to private markets? How big is the total opportunity set?

I’ve talked with too many teams seemingly under stress over the last year, and not necessarily stress created by the markets. Rather, the stress has been internally induced, often stemming from poorly executed or evolved service models.

December offered credit investors a taste of what a real cyclical downturn might look like in a post-GFC (global financial crisis) world. Unsurprisingly, most did not enjoy the flavor.

Observing the latest developments of the largest corporate defined benefit (DB) plans in the U.S. offers a glimpse into the DB industry, and perhaps a foreshadowing of things to come. After two of the strongest years ever for pension contributions, the coming year may feature the weakest seen in a generation.

It’s the beginning of the year and markets have been volatile. You’re thinking about client reviews and outlooks, and the fee discussions that may come along with those meetings. As you prepare to step into that conversation, remember one thing: Your job is to help your clients stay focused on the outcome.

As we head deeper into the year, the U.S. economy continues to grind slowly forward despite trade concerns and Brexit worries. Markets have rebounded from their Christmas Eve lows, and the Fed has signaled that rate hikes are on hold for several months. Does this mean the all-clear has been sounded?

Throughout the year we ask leading bond and currency managers to consider valuations, expectations and outlooks for the coming months. Today, we ask: Is the Fed providing markets with false comfort?

If you've been in the industry long enough, you may have been able to look a client in the eyes and tell them the 3 greatest words an advisor can tell a client. “We did it.”

Is there a path upward for markets this year? Much has been made in the news recently about the possible onset of the next recession—and rightfully so, in our opinion, as we believe the next economic downturn is a matter of when, not if.

For over 20 years, Russell Investments has partnered with thousands of financial advisors to help them evolve and deepen client relationships. I’ve found that when advisors hear about our data-driven business solutions capabilities, advisors are generally most curious about two things…

With no-deal Brexit risks increasing and sterling having already experienced a strong year-to-date rally, we are now expecting to see sterling fall against the dollar and euro.

Early on in my career, I learned there are four psychological reasons investors buy (listed from strongest to weakest).

After ten years on the road, I finally bought a new piece of luggage and discovered that my act of consumerism and client portfolios have a lot in common. Have I piqued your interest?

Leading into today's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decision, Chair Jerome Powell and a host of regional Federal Reserve (the Fed) bank presidents had unanimously expressed support for a pause in the Fed's tightening cycle. Even perma-hawk Esther George, from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, advocated for a cautious and patient approach to monetary policy in her speech a few weeks ago.

Investors are likely looking at their portfolios and trying to determine how the volatile fourth quarter impacted their returns and how it impacted progress toward their financial goals. Having the market (Russell 3000® Index) pull back -14% in a single quarter and drop -5% for the year is tough, but for taxable investors, the possible tax hit will add insult to injury.

Defense wins championships, the saying goes. Did it also help equity managers survive an otherwise bruising fourth quarter?

Asset allocation proposals--helping an investor visualize how a particular asset allocation can best help them meet their goals--are a mainstay of winning new clients. But proposals can also be used to generate new business from existing clients. One way is through introducing the concept of asset location: allocating assets across the various accounts within a household to be more tax-efficient.

How might 2019 shape up across the investment landscape? Here’s our take on the key issues to pay attention to.

We believe the U.S. is likely to experience a recession by the end of 2020. How might it stack up to previous ones?

Which blog posts generated the most interest from readers in 2018? We wrap up the year with a look back at our favorites.

Markets dropped sharply after the Fed raised interest rates again today and indicated two additional increases are likely in 2019.

An inverted U.S. Treasury yield curve has historically been a telltale sign of a looming recession for the U.S. Does the recent curve flattening spell trouble for the U.S. economy?

Can markets grind higher in 2019 before the clock runs out on the current cycle? See what our strategists’ views are for the year ahead.

How might the ceasefire on new tariffs between the U.S. and China impact markets and economies?

We believe that embedding ESG factors into an investing strategy can accomplish dual mandates of delivering value and aligning with investor values. Here's why.

What's driving the current market selloff?

Here’s a recap of the second part of our podcast on multi-factor investing, examining the strategy’s potential pitfalls.

Here’s a recap of the first part of our podcast on multi-factor investing, answering frequently asked questions such as: What is a factor? What are some common factors? Why is multi-factor investing so popular today?

How are markets reacting to the results of U.S. midterms? We have the latest.

Do markets still have room to run? See what equity managers across the manager universe are thinking in our Q3 report.

See what our latest survey of global fixed income investment firms reveals about expectations for U.S. interest rates, credit fundamentals and emerging market foreign exchange.

Italy's proposed budget deficit for 2019 has been ill-received by markets. Could things get worse before they get better?

Growth and value stocks are often seen as opposing one another—but we believe they can be complementary within an equity portfolio.

What impact are the looming U.S. midterm elections likely to have on financial markets?

As expected, the Fed raised interest rates today following its September policy meeting. Could the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China impact plans for future increases?

What impacts could escalating trade tensions and rising U.S. interest rates have on global markets and economies in the months ahead? See what our strategists’ views are for the fourth quarter of 2018 and beyond.

A new study suggests that earning wealth through the stock market may be better accomplished by focusing on slow and steady long-term growth, rather than chasing top-tier performance.

We believe that warning signs are starting to creep into the corporate lending market—and that the ramifications could be problematic for credit investors.

We asked hundreds of equity and fixed income managers how they are integrating ESG factors within their investment process. Which countries are lagging their peers? Does AUM correlate with ESG integration? Today, we share our findings.

When looking to build investment portfolios that target and solve for specific client objectives, we should be conscious of our competencies. We believe finding the appropriate expert to address or complement investor needs is just as important as acknowledging proficiencies.

Corporations are delegating more of their asset management responsibilities than ever. How does increased delegation affect fiduciary oversight?

As leaders in manager research, we have unique insight into the implementation of big data in equity portfolios. Today, we share our key observations.

Senior Portfolio Manager David Vickers discusses the difficulties of predicting stock market crashes, while offering up four watchpoints that could help fuel the next one.

How are today’s fixed income managers integrating ESG factors into their investment practices? Learn what our latest ESG survey reveals.

We believe detailed conversations with managers are crucial to developing informed opinions on investment strategies. Here’s how our manager meeting process typically unfolds.

In the concluding piece of a three-part series focusing on how to potentially get returns in today’s bull market while protecting against the downside, Global CIO Jeff Hussey outlines why we believe alternative investments should be considered in a multi-asset investing strategy.

We offer up three books to consider reading as summer hits its stride.

Do increasing political risks pose to a threat to global economic growth? See what our strategists’ views are for the third quarter of 2018 and beyond.

Every quarter we ask bond and currency managers to consider valuations, expectations and outlooks for the coming months. Today, we’ve put the spotlight on U.S. rates and inflation expectations, credit markets and casualties from rising U.S. interest rates.

In predictable fashion, the Fed increased borrowing costs again today. How long could the central bank stick to its quarterly rate-hiking rhythm?

The U.S. economy has been growing for nine straight years—but current macroeconomic indicators hint that the good times may be coming to an end as soon as next year.

Italy’s proposed coalition collapsed over the weekend after the president refused to accept euroskeptic Paolo Savona as Minister of Finance. Markets have since reacted, with Italian government bond yields rising above their eurozone counterparts. Unsurprisingly, with the possibility of another election in the cards, market sentiment has shifted to risk-off in light of the political uncertainty.

Fiscal stimulus in the U.S. and newly imposed tariffs make today's late-cycle bull market stand apart from previous ones. Does this mean it could end differently too?

A strong start for markets in January was quickly replaced by uncertainty and volatility, which continue to this day. How might the rest of the year play out?

We believe there are five primary constraints for the UK that will push it toward a soft Brexit when it officially leaves the EU next March.

The first quarter of 2018 was plagued by volatility in equity markets. How did active managers fare in light of this?

Commodity prices have picked up steam recently, particularly in energy and metals. How long could the surge last?

In the first of a three-part series on getting returns in today’s bull market while protecting against the downside—running with the bulls without getting trampled, as we like to say—Global CIO Jeff Hussey explains why using put and call options may help.

On March 16, news broke that British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica had gained improper access to data from as many as 50 million Facebook users (an estimate that has since been upped to 87 million).

The slope of the U.S. Treasury yield curve is often one of the more reliable precursors of a recession. Is it hinting that an economic downturn may be brewing in the not-too-distant future?

See what our quarterly survey of global fixed-income investment firms reveals about expectations for increasing interest rates, market volatility and emerging market currencies.

Is change in the wind for global investment markets and economies? See what our strategists’ views are for the second quarter of 2018 and beyond.

With new chair Jerome Powell at the helm, the Fed increased borrowing costs today for the sixth time since the U.S. economic expansion began. Can markets expect continued rate hikes under Powell's watch?

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision essentially wipes the Fiduciary Rule off the books. But, that doesn’t mean everything returns to the way it was before the Rule.

2017 was a record-breaking year for the $20 billion club—our name for the U.S. publicly-listed corporations with the largest pension liabilities—in at least five different ways. Contributions were double 2016 levels and nearly triple 2015 levels.

Are Fidelity Investments’ target date funds too risky? We evaluate the short and long-term risks for a typical participant.

We’ve developed a new way to measure a company’s ESG (environmental, social and governance) score. Our research suggests that these material ESG scores can potentially provide more insight than traditional ESG scores.

In the concluding piece of our three-part series on portfolio management best practices, Global CIO Jeff Hussey identifies the core capabilities we believe are necessary to successfully carry out a portfolio implementation strategy.

We respectfully disagree with BlackRock’s stance on U.S. and European equities. Here’s why.

The ability to withstand the next market correction may require making investment decisions that go against the grain. Can a multi-asset approach help?

During times of market volatility, we believe that exposure to in-between asset classes may be of increasing value. A look at their performance during the recent market downturn suggests as much.

U.S. inflation data for January came in stronger than expected. What effect could this have on future Fed interest rate increases?

In the second of a three-part series on portfolio management best practices, Global CIO Jeff Hussey discusses the importance of knowing the preferred position of your portfolio—and of anchoring tactical views to a set of strategic beliefs.

We believe that a multi-asset investing approach is instrumental to navigating today’s market volatility. Here’s how it’s working for us.

We believe Monday’s stock market pullback was likely driven by concerns over valuations, rather than fears of a recession. Here’s why.

Recent media coverage has often equated future Fed rate hikes as disastrous for the bond market. We explain why that’s unlikely to be the case.

Impactful innovation only occurs when OCIO providers work as true fiduciaries. We believe there are four OCIO innovations in particular that meet this bar.

As a provider of foreign exchange services that places a premium on robustness and transparency, we’re proud to have signed the FX Global Code. We believe others should follow suit.

At a time when equity valuations are at historic highs, increasing exposure means increasing risk. We believe there are better approaches that may help deliver a portfolio's required returns.

Some larger AUM managers can produce strong returns—but how? Our director of investment strategy research, Leola Ross, explores possible reasons and shares our preferences for evaluating managers with increasing AUM.

Which blog posts generated the most interest from readers in 2017? We wrap up the year with a look back at the top five most-viewed posts on the Russell Investments blog.

The U.S. Congress passed a significant bill today that makes sweeping changes to the country’s tax code. How much of a boost could the new law provide to financial markets and the nation’s economy?

The U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) delivered another rate hike today, raising its target policy rate by 25 basis points to a new range of 1.25-1.50%. The decision was widely anticipated by economists and fixed income investors.

Will the global growth momentum of 2017 carry over into next year? Is there a risk of a pullback in the short term? See what our strategists' views on global investment markets and economies are for the year ahead.

The U.S. economic expansion is now the third-longest on record. Does this mean a recession is looming? Senior Investment Strategist Paul Eitelman digs into the data and assesses the risks.

In the concluding piece of our three-part series on principles of the low-return imperative, we discuss why we believe investors can no longer take on risks they don't expect to get paid for—and identify two key risks we see as unrewarded.

In the second of a three-part series on principles of the low-return imperative, we zero in on the value of efficient implementation—and identify three ways it may help achieve desired outcomes.

Global CIO Jeff Hussey discusses why we believe having a clear view of your portfolio—with detailed, real-time knowledge down to the street level—is essential in today's market environment.

The Bank of England (BoE) has bitten the bullet and hiked the base interest rate from 0.25% to 0.5%, but in a dovish turn also provided forward guidance that outlines a very gradual path for future hikes. This was a close call with compelling arguments in favor and against.

By definition, mutual fund star-rating systems focus on past performance—not future results. We believe that the key to identifying potential outperformers lies in extensive manager research—and that's what we do.

In a recently-released report from Clear Path Analysis, multi-asset solutions team members Brian Meath and Rob Balkema explain why we believe a multi-asset investing strategy is the right approach.

Currency Strategist Van Luu shows how thoughtful management of currency risks and opportunities may help reach investing objectives, despite the low return environment.

In the first of a three-part series on principles of the low-return imperative, we go under the covers and explain why infrastructure investment may help investors improve the probability of achieving their objectives.

In today’s expensive U.S. equity market, valuation may be more paramount than ever—and not necessarily just in the long term.

Harvard University’s endowment has transitioned from a portfolio of asset class sleeves to a generalist investment model—an approach we see clearly as multi-asset. At Russell Investments, we made the same move eight years ago—and are proud of the single, globally integrated investment team we have today.

The final installment of our 2017 global market outlook is here. See our strategists’ views on global investment markets and economies.

The data suggests that future market returns are likely to be lower than in the past. Can a multi-asset investing approach help make up the difference?

It’s no secret that Russell Investments expects active managers with relatively low assets under management to have better average performance. But as Investment Strategist Leola Ross explains, increasing assets under management is not necessarily the kiss of death.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing has led to a spike in reduced-carbon portfolios. But the standard investing approach may actually be lowering exposure to carbon alternatives like renewable energy.

The Federal Reserve is widely anticipated to begin the process of balance sheet normalization, or quantitative tightening, this fall. What kind of impact to markets is expected?

Portfolio Analyst Stella Liu explains why, in today’s environment, we believe preserving capital may be more important than chasing growth.

Jihan Diolosa, Associate Director of our UK Institutional team, poses questions to our lead multi-asset portfolio managers based on some of the key issues keeping investors awake at night.

Global CIO Jeff Hussey discusses why we believe investors should consider a multi-asset approach in today’s low-return environment.

Some argue that active management is a zero-sum game, so investing passively—relying on the wisdom of crowds—is better. How strong is that logic?

Stock market volatility in 2017 has been so low that it’s been hard to miss. This unusual tranquility may be sowing the seeds of future turmoil.

The debate between active and passive management in fixed-income continues. We take a look at both sides of the coin for investors.

We’re in a late-cycle, momentum-driven market, where valuation is at an extreme. Momentum can drive markets beyond fundamentals for an extended period. No investment process is going to pick the peak in the cycle, but we’d lean out as the risks increase.

With $504 billion flowing into passively managed products and $316 billion fleeing actively managed mutual funds in 2016 in the U.S., the active-versus-passive debate appears to be tipping in favor of passive management.

It’s time for our mid-year update to our 2017 Global Market Outlook. And the short story is that we’re not changing many of our views from our annual outlook.

The Trump agenda was an ambitious one. Senior investment strategist Paul Eitelman breaks down its progress piece by piece and shows the potential impact on markets and investors.

Although we’re just five months into 2017, I’ve focused on the notion of building a foundation in the new year, as well as looking to the future. It’s with these concepts in mind that I’ve approached my 2017 reading list and come up with a selection of books that encompasses economic fundamentals, modern international economics, and the art of market forecasting.

We all know that investing is inherently risky and that diversification is one way to help to manage risk. Most investors or advisors—who know just how important a diversified portfolio can be—would not go all fixed income, or all value stocks, or put all their money in a single company.

Russell Investments’ Chief Investment Strategist, Erik Ristuben explores the importance and power of mean reversion in this latest post.

When looking to help diversify a multi-asset portfolio, one of our experts presents the case for when and why an investor might consider senior loans.

Russell Investments’ Chief Investment Strategist, Erik Ristuben examines the impact on US equities of U.S President Trumps’ first 100 days in office.

Russell Investments’ Senior Investment Strategist, Wouter Sturkenboom reviews the Brexit drivers for the upcoming June 8 snap election as well as four key things for investors to watch as the mechanics of the UK leaving the EU get underway.

Russell Investments’ Senior Investment Strategist, Wouter Sturkenboom reviews the initial French presidential election results and gives his views on what to expect from eurozone markets in the days ahead.

Senior Quantitative Investment Strategy Analyst Kara Ng reviews key economic indicators in the U.S. and if a potential recession in the economy is still unlikely.

Managing Director, Investment Practice Adam Goff believes that an investment strategy, when dynamically managed, using cycle, value and sentiment as a way to examine opportunities, is more likely to help investors achieve their intended outcome.

Are you using the whole pension toolbox? See what large plan sponsors are up to in this latest blog post from Bob Collie.

Active AND passive. The case for both. Russell Investments Global CIO Jeff Hussey explains.

Key points from Russell Investments’ latest Global Market Outlook: See what their strategists believe is ahead for global markets in 2017.

Our global team of investment strategists warn that investor expectations have run ahead of market fundamentals in the global equity markets. They maintain a call for caution as inflated expectations for global growth and U.S. fiscal policy drive markets higher, despite looming global economic headwinds.

The value of the US dollar is a key player across global economies & markets. How is the value shifting and what might it mean for investors?

Russell Investments’ Senior Investment Strategist, Wouter Sturkenboom explores geopolitical risks through the three building blocks of our investment process: Cycle, Value and Sentiment.

Emerging Markets rebound after post-election "Trump slump," indicating that Trump’s economic policies may benefit some emerging markets countries and assets.

Russell Investments’ Chief Investment Strategist, Erik Ristuben explores global investing against 2017’s altered political backdrop.

Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) is much broader than the Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) of the past.

Renewable energy is growing and offers potential opportunities for investors, but also challenges. Learn more about what investors may need to know.

Interest rates and the U.S. stock market have a complex relationship. Don’t be fooled by correlation statistics on the matter. Read more now.

The search for investment portfolio returns is not going to get any easier in 2017 against a backdrop of record U.S. equity prices, narrow credit spreads and low bond yields.

3 rules that may help your clients navigate the low-return environment.

The top five most read Russell Investments blog posts of 2016 cover a multi-asset approach to investing strategy during volatile times, understanding the potential impact of political events on markets and preparing for the DOL rule.

Did the Fed make the right call and what does it mean for 2017?

Multi-asset investment strategist Wouter Sturkenboom looks at the Italian referendum outcome and its potential impact on 2017 global markets for investors.

Despite speculation about the fate of the DOL fiduciary rule under the new Trump Administration, Russell Investments believes advisors should stick to their current implementation plans.

How might the coming DOL fiduciary rule impact advisors’ practices in the days to come?

From my office in London, when I look at the newest U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) fiduciary rule from across the Atlantic, it appears that the regulations shift what a U.S. advisor is required to deliver to end-investor clients, from suitable advice to best interests. And that shift—toward the interests of end investors—appears to be happening nearly everywhere in the world right now, as my colleague, Tim Noonan mentioned just a few weeks ago.

Despite its recent popularity, many still don’t understand the potential opportunities and risks of passive investing. One of our experts takes a look at the potential trap of buying high.

Introducing a four-part series on the growing, and welcome, changes in fiduciary responsibility for financial planners worldwide, starting with a look at the latest DOL rule.

Low interest rates should not affect whether a pension plan chooses to pursue an LDI strategy, but they may change how that strategy is implemented.

Recent volatility has reinforced the benefit of staying the course. Trying to time the market to miss the worst days requires two decisions - getting out and getting in. It’s hard to get one correct, let alone both.

Russell Investments’ Senior Portfolio Manager Rob Balkema discusses how our strategists’ latest global market outlook insights might be implemented in a multi-asset portfolio, with special focus on emerging markets.

Pension plan funded status remains stubbornly low due to low interest rates despite many other key plan metrics returning to pre-crisis levels. Could the 2008 financial crisis be to blame? Bob Collie investigates.