Strategic beta

Strategic beta funds may help alter a portfolio's overall risk, improve the return profile, and diversify exposure to achieve a desired outcome.

Our approach

The indexes tracked by Schwab Fundamental Index* mutual funds and ETFs utilize a non-price-weighted methodology, seeking to deliver excess return versus a traditional market cap–weighted index. The Fundamental Index methodology is a disciplined approach that counters the constantly shifting sentiments of the broader market, while preserving many of the chief benefits of traditional market cap–weighting: investment capacity, liquidity, diversification, and broad market participation. The Schwab Fundamental Index mutual funds and ETFs span the investment spectrum from domestic equities to emerging markets.

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What we offer

In 2007, Schwab Asset Management partnered with Research Affiliates to deliver investment options based on the Research Affiliates Fundamental Index strategy. Today we offer 12 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds that track indexes which follow the Fundamental Index methodology, providing investors access to a straightforward, innovative indexing approach that offers a complement to traditional market cap–weighted and actively managed strategies.

Fundamental Index key differentiators

  • Schwab Fundamental Index mutual funds and ETFs provide investors with a broad range of options from domestic to international equities to global real estate, enabling investors to diversify their overall portfolio exposure.
  • The Research Affiliates Fundamental Index methodology is a systematic, transparent approach that selects and weights securities based on fundamental measures of company size.
  • Schwab Fundamental Index ETFs are offered at an average of 0.30%, while the average ETF in Morningstar's Multi-Factor Strategic Beta Group is priced at 0.44%,1 providing clients with a low-cost, straightforward alternative approach to traditional market cap–weighted investing.

Advisor resources

Fee impact simulator

Use the fee impact simulator to see the long-term effects of expenses on a portfolio.

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A closer look at Fundamental Index®

Deepen your knowledge of Fundamental Index, an investment approach that can be used to help diversify portfolios and complement traditional market-capitalization index strategies.

Venn diagram of Objective, Contrarian and Complementary converging on Fundamental Index approach

Featured strategic beta products

See our highlighted strategic beta mutual funds and ETFs, or browse all our investment products.

* Schwab is a registered trade mark of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Fundamental Index is a registered trademark of Research Affiliates, LLC.

1. Source: Morningstar Direct, Multi-Factor Strategic Beta Group. Data as of March 31, 2025.

For additional information about the terms shown, please visit http://www.schwabassetmanagement.com/resources/glossary

Investors should consider carefully information contained in the prospectus, or if available, the summary prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. You can obtain a prospectus, or if available, a summary prospectus by visiting www.schwabassetmanagement.com/prospectus.  Please read it carefully before investing.

Investment returns will fluctuate and are subject to market volatility, so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed or sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Shares of ETFs are not individually redeemable directly with the ETF. Shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher or lower than the net asset value (NAV).

There can be no assurance that the Fundamental Index® methodologies will achieve their desired outcomes. Each investing strategy brings with it its own set of unique risks and benefits.

Diversification strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.

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