Trading and Execution Services

Outsource your trading to streamline for greater control of your investment decisions.

Our global multi-asset trading desk delivers scalable solutions to meet the trading and execution needs of asset owners and asset managers.

We act as an extension of our client's investment team and procedures, whether accessing a specific sub-asset class or managing trading outside local business hours.

Our suite of trading and execution services

Russell Investments' trading desk accesses over 100 countries globally. In 2023, our trading group executed over $2.3 trillion across all asset classes. The 24-hour trading team is committed to execution excellence while our operations team oversees operational efficiencies.

This suite of trading and execution services includes:

We have a dedicated team whose primary focus is Commission Recapture. Implementing Commission Sharing Agreements (CSA) to meet the research needs of our clients.

Providing Research Payment Account (RPA) solutions for MiFID specific considerations.

We execute trades using our multi-venue institutional platform, actively trading and transacting through numerous execution outlets globally with unbiased access to a wide universe of liquidity sources.

Our differentiating approach allows our traders access to broad yet deep subsets of liquidity, which lends to lower impact costs and better outcomes.

Our global multi-venue strategy utilizes over 400 firms ranging from large bulge bracket brokers and banks to small regional dealers and specialty firms, providing market depth and global reach on behalf of our clients across 106 countries and 33 currencies. With advanced technology, our trading desk incorporates leading tools and propriety applications.

We leverage multiple execution technologies, including Tradeweb, MarketAxess, Yieldbroker, Bloomberg, Trumid, AIM, and TOMS. Technologies employed have been highly customized, including aggregating data for pricing, scores, and buy-side liquidity options.

Our differentiating approach allows our traders access to broad yet deep subsets of liquidity, which lends to lower impact costs and better outcomes.

Our top priority is achieving optimal client results while minimizing trading costs. We do this through proper implementation, netting at the fund level, and crossing. We have established strong relationships with 25 counterparty banks and have 50 streaming liquidity providers.

All Russell Investments' trades are assessed by our internal transaction cost analysis (TCA) and sent to FX Transparency, a third-party TCA specialist for FX.

We are a superior provider of top-notch execution results5 across asset classes. Our access to global institutional trading platforms and our aggregation of order and flow, combined with advanced technology, enable us to source liquidity from all outlets to maximize opportunities.

See how our clients rated us in The TRADE's Outsourced Trading Survey (redistributed with permission).

Why Russell Investments for trading and execution?

Gearhead people navy

Dual registration

Our structure with dual registration as both investment manager and trading broker enables you to leverage our extensive buy and sell side trading network.

Upward plot line navy

Multi-venue trading

Through our multi-venue trading approach, Russell investments reduces transaction costs.¹

Globe with location markers navy

Global access

Access to Exchanges, dealers, MTFs, and Crossing Networks, across a multi-asset dealing desk.

6 people pyramid navy

Continuous coverage

Our executing desk is staffed by asset class specialists with visibility to program-level data to prioritize exposure risk and execution quality.

¹ Dual registration is a function of RIIS LLC - our trading desk is dually-registered as both a broker-dealer and as an asset manager.

Execution services are provided by Russell Investments Implementation Services Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.

An experienced, well-resourced global outsourced trading team

$2.2 T

Assets executed in 2024

110

Tradable markets

87+

Years of trading for clients

23

Traders all specializing by asset class and instrument

18.5

Trading specialist average years of experience


Russell Investments has been globally recognized for excellence in the investment industry.

THETRADE award for #1 category outperformer

Russell Investments was ranked first in multiple categories in The TRADE’s inaugural “Outsourced Trading Survey” published November 2023 (out of 14 providers), receiving four perfect scores in: Client service and relationship management; Onboarding; Business model and other factors; and Cost versus value for money.

Award bug from Pensions & Investments

Russell Investments was globally ranked as one of the top 10 largest managers of factor-based strategies. This ranking is based on worldwide assets under management (AUM) from 58 firms (as of 12/31/2022) in the 2023 Pensions & Investments' "Special Report: Money Managers." In 2024, P&I eliminated this question from their survey.

Award from P&I

For 19 consecutive years, Russell Investments has maintained its position among the leading U.S. institutional managers of overlay assets from 27 firms (as of 12/31/2022) in the 2023 Pensions & Investments' "Special Report: Money Managers."

Pensions Expert: Pension and investment provider awards 2022

Russell Investments was named the "Currency Manager the Year" winner at Pensions Expert's 2022 Pension and Investment Provider Awards for performance, innovation, and service standards.

Recent Insights
Recent Research

Our experts work hard to solve the complex issues our clients encounter.

Our collection of research shows our dedication to solving complex investment problems.

Insights Research

Is tariff volatility another new normal?

BeiChen Lin chronicles the key drivers and risks of trade policy uncertainty.

Read the article

Eye on private credit

Where can private credit fit in an institutional portfolio?

Amid changing investor sentiment in equity and fixed income markets, is now a good time for institutions to consider allocating to private credit?

Our recent thoughts

Outsourced CIO

Doing more with the same: The power of OCIO

The budget team you've been given to manage your investment program is likely etched in stone. But the workload on your plate may be staggering. How can you make the most of your finite resources?

Read the article

Partner with us

Get in touch with us through this form, and we'll reach out to you.

Your information is never shared with third parties. Read our Privacy Statement.

* Asterisks indicate required fields.