Skip to content
    1. Overview
    2. Alternative Managers
    3. Consultants
    4. Corporations
    5. Family Offices
    6. Financial Advisors
    7. Financial Institutions
    8. Individuals & Families
    9. Insurance Companies
    10. Investment Managers
    11. Nonprofits
    12. Pension Funds
    13. Sovereign Entities
  1. Contact Us
  2. Search
Offered in a suite of products:

    Our Philosophy

    We believe investors should be compensated for the risks they take — in all market environments and any investment strategy.

    Overview

    Minimize Tracking Error and Transaction Costs

    We believe that the best way to mirror the risk/return profile of an index is to minimize transaction costs and tracking error. Our indexing methodology helps investors closely track their chosen benchmark exposure, while they rely on our integrated global platform backed by scale, experience, and infrastructure.

    Benefits

    Effective Index Tracking Through Efficient Tracking Error Management

    Access to Global Platform Backed by Scale, Experience & Infrastructure

    Reliability From a Global Indexing Leader

    This is a carousel with slides. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate.

    Slide 1 of 2

    Principles of Investing

    Monthly Rebalancing Events Can Create Risk That Must Be Thoughtfully Managed

    A disciplined and risk-aware investment process, backed by the size-and-scale of a trillion-dollar operating platform, enables us to keep trading costs down and navigate these key events with confidence.

    1 / 2

    Industry Monthly Tracking Error (%) of All Passive Fixed Income Products (< 50bps Tracking Error)

    Source: eVestment, Northern Trust Asset Management. Data as of June 30, 2023. The All Passive Fixed Income Universe is sourced from eVestment and consists of 147 total passive fixed income products with trailing 10-year tracking error less than 50 bps. Tracking error and excess returns are based on manager preferred benchmark for each strategy as defined on eVestment. Tracking error measures the standard deviation of the difference between the investment performance of the strategy or fund and that of its Index. There is no guarantee that tracking error targets can be achieved; actual or experienced tracking error can deviate significantly.

    Principles of Investing

    Delivering Expected Outcomes Requires Scale and a Deep Appreciation for Risk

    Replicating an index on any given day is not very difficult, but doing so consistently over several decades requires a deep understanding of how to navigate risk while finding the most efficient sources of return-mimicking exposures.

    2 / 2

    Excess Return vs Tracking Error for All Passive Fixed Income (< 50bps TE)

    Source: eVestment Analytics, Northern Trust. As of June 30. 2023. All passive Fixed Income universe is sourced from eVestment and consists of 147 total passive equity products with trailing 10-year tracking error less than 50 bps. Tracking error and excess returns are based on the Manager Preferred Benchmark for each strategy as defined in eVestment. Tracking error measures the standard deviation of the difference between the investment performance of the strategy or fund and that of its Index. There is no guarantee that tracking error targets can be achieved; actual or experienced tracking error can deviate significantly. Past performance is not indicative or a guarantee of future results. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs, or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in any index.

    This is a carousel with slides. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate.

    Slide 1 of 4

    How it Works

    Define Investment Universe

    Target Desired Fixed Income Market Exposures

    1 / 4

    How It Works

    Create Distinct “Cells” to Represent Key Index Segments

    Match Key Index Characteristics to Benchmark, Including Currency, Country, Sector, Duration, Yield & Quality

    2 / 4

    How It Works

    Align Portfolio Characteristics With Benchmark

    Choose Securities from Benchmark that Best Represent Its Risk/Return Profile

    3 / 4

    How It Works

    Adjust for Accurate and Low-Cost Benchmark Replication

    Seek to Minimize Tracking Error While Balancing Between Diversification and Trading Costs

    4 / 4

    Who it's for

    Investors Seeking to Match the Performance of an Index by Keeping Tracking Error Low

    Many decades of experience and scale drives index management decisions.

    Investors Seeking a Financially Strong, Stable Firm with Index Management as a Strong Focus

    Our size, as measured by assets under management, facilitates strong execution as liquidity is paramount for an index approach.

    Investors Seeking to Reduce Overall Portfolio Costs by Allocating to Index Strategies

    A global index framework backed by knowledge, experience and scale allowing low cost index management.

    Portfolio

    Select a Strategy
    Strategy Name
    • eVestment Universe
    • Benchmark
    • Inception Date
    • Investment Vehicles Available

    Team Expertise

    We measure success as achieving investor outcomes and delivering an exceptional client experience.

    David M. Alongi, CFA

    Director, Fixed Income Index ManagementRead Bio

    Related Content

    Slide 1 of 3
  • Surprise Fed Poll of 2 Rate Cuts in 2025 May Depend on Labor Market
    MarketScape

    Surprise Fed Poll of 2 Rate Cuts in 2025 May Depend on Labor Market

    Yields rose Wednesday after the Fed dot plot suggested just 2 cuts in 2025 from 4 in September. The labor market may drive what really happens.
    View Now
  • Is Fed Independence at Risk of Presidential Influence?
    Point of View

    Is Fed Independence at Risk of Presidential Influence?

    We believe that there are several guardrails in place that considerably limit the extent of presidential influence over monetary policy decisions.
    Read Now
  • 2025 Global Investment Outlook
    Research

    2025 Global Investment Outlook

    Our investment team analyzes the key market trends that could impact investors’ portfolios.
    Read Now
  • 1 / 3

    Contact Us

    Interested in learning more about our investment strategies? 

    *Duration: Duration is a measurement of a fixed income security's interest rate risk that also takes into account its maturity, yield, coupon and call features if any. These characteristics are calculated into one number that measures how sensitive a security’s value may be to interest rate changes. Yield: Yield is an indication of the current estimated dividends and interest vs. the current market value of the holdings. The yield represents the current amount of income that is being generated from the portfolio without liquidating the principal or capital gains on the portfolio. However, the yield will fluctuate daily and current or past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Quality: Quality is defined through securities credit rating. Higher the rating higher the quality of the fixed income security.

     

    Indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly in an index. Unless otherwise noted, performance of indices does not account for any fees, commissions or other expenses that would be incurred. Returns do not include reinvested dividends.

    The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, or the Agg, is a broad base, market capitalization-weighted bond market index representing intermediate term investment grade bonds traded in the United States. Investors frequently use the index as a stand-in for measuring the performance of the U.S. bond market.

    The Bloomberg 1-3 Year Government/Credit Index is an index consisting of Treasury or government agency securities and investment grade corporate debt securities with maturities of one to three years. It is unmanaged and unavailable for investment.

    Bloomberg Intermediate U.S. Government/Credit Index includes both corporate (publicly-issued, fixed-rate, nonconvertible, investment grade, dollar-denominated, SEC-registered, corporate dept.) and government (Treasury Bond index, Agency Bond index, 1-3 Year Government index, and the 20+-Year treasury) indexes, including bonds with maturities up to ten years. The returns we publish for the index are total returns, which include reinvestment of dividends.

    The S&P U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Security (TIPS) Index seeks to measure the performance of the U.S. TIPS Market.

     

    All securities investing and trading activities risk the loss of capital. Each portfolio is subject to substantial risks including market risks, strategy risks, advisor risk, and risks with respect to its investment in other structures. There can be no assurance that any portfolio investment objectives will be achieved, or that any investment will achieve profits or avoid incurring substantial losses. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee returns or eliminate risk in any market environment. Risk controls and models do not promise any level of performance or guarantee against loss of principal. Any discussion of risk management is intended to describe NTAM’s efforts to monitor and manage risk but does not imply low risk. This information is general in nature and should not be construed as tax advice. Please consult a tax advisor or professional as to how this information may affect your particular circumstance.

     

    Not FDIC Insured | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee

    Northern Trust Asset Management is composed of Northern Trust Investments, Inc., Northern Trust Global Investments Limited, Northern Trust Fund Managers (Ireland) Limited, Northern Trust Global Investments Japan, K.K., NT Global Advisors, Inc., 50 South Capital Advisors, LLC, Northern Trust Asset Management Australia Pty Ltd, and investment personnel of The Northern Trust Company of Hong Kong Limited and The Northern Trust Company.