Before we built indexes, we managed portfolios. We still do.

Russell is an asset manager. Our indexes are built with asset management and capital markets firmly in mind. That means Russell Indexes are ideal for performance measurement, capturing investment strategies and describing exposures.

Five reasons truth matters

At Russell, we take truth seriously. So we build each of our indexes with an unrelentingly commitment to objectivity. There are no secrets: We take a transparent, rules-based approach whether we are building an index for a broad benchmark, for a specialized exposure, or to capture an investment strategy. Because you should expect this kind of accuracy from your index.

1. Accurate, objective indexes mean accurate exposure to a particular market segment or strategy. If you're choosing products based on indexes that aren't truly representative, your portfolio may be exposed to dangerously unintended risks.

2. A clear view of portfolio performance depends on a clear view of the market. If your index isn't reporting on the market through cold-hearted objectivity, you may not have the right view into the performance you depend on.

3. Every basis point counts. Don't think for a second that small differences don't matter. In challenging economic times like these, even small variations around index methodology can create a competitive advantage.

4. Investing has gone global, so you need one clear view of the investable world. That's why Russell Global Indexes use a consistent market cap break across the globe to determine whether a company is considered large cap or small cap. This global-relative view creates one large, diverse, investable universe of global securities.

5. You don't want to worry about your index. But if your index doesn't use an objective methodology, maybe you should. Unbiased exposures – for diversification, for performance, for meeting the objectives of your investment portfolio – depend on a methodology built to provide an objective, precise view of the market.