RAFI fundamental index
The RAFI® (Research Affiliates Fundamental Index®) methodology involves selecting and weighting securities by fundamental measures of company size, as opposed to market capitalization. The methodology captures many of the benefits of passive investing—such as transparency, objectivity, broad economic representation, and diversification—with less exposure to pricing errors and fads. The RAFI methodology is designed to work in inefficient markets. We believe that prices contain errors and that they revert back to fair value over time. Using fundamental measures of company size, such as sales and dividends, the RAFI methodology represents a company's economic footprint, not constantly shifting market expectations, bubbles and anti-bubbles reflected in its share price. Cap-weighted indexes are measures of the market, and thus are generally viewed as good benchmarks of market performance. As the basis for an investment strategy, however, cap weighting results in overweighting overpriced...