Business Continuity Plan Disclosure Statement
Russell Investments has developed a global business continuity program structured on the "Professional Practices" developed by Disaster Recovery Institute International. The Russell Investments Business Continuity Plan consists of several individual plans, one for each business unit, in each region. Each business unit's business continuity plan covers emergency response, notification and work-around procedures for the loss of internal or external resources such as technology/applications, special equipment, location/workspace, staffing, vendors and vital records on which that unit's critical business processes depend. Each business unit validates its Business Continuity Plan annually through a combination of tabletop scenarios and integrated off site recovery exercises.
Russell Investments Financial Services, LLC. ("RIFIS") has developed a Business Continuity Plan based on how the company will respond to events that significantly disrupt business operations. Since the timing, severity, and impact of disasters and disruptions are unpredictable, the business recovery plan has been designed to be flexible in responding to actual events as they occur.
RIFIS plans to quickly recover and resume business operations after a significant business disruption and respond by safeguarding our employees and property, protecting the firm's books and records, and allowing customers to transact business. In short, the business continuity plan is designed to permit the firm to resume operations as quickly as possible, given the scope and severity of the disruption. If our primary business address is unavailable, we can continue critical operations through a combination of geographic redundancy and remote access/tele-commuting.
The business continuity plan also addresses: data backup and recovery; all mission critical systems; financial and operational assessments; alternative communications with customers, employees, and regulators; critical supplier, contractor, bank and counterparty impact; regulatory reporting; and ensuring customers prompt access to their funds and securities if Russell Investments is unable to continue business operations. While every emergency situation poses unique problems based on external factors, such as time of day and the severity of the disruption, Russell Investments has coordinated efforts with key service providers to help ensure the restoration of services in a timely manner, however, your orders and requests for funds and securities may be delayed during this period.
If the significant business disruption is so severe that it prevents us from remaining in business, we will ensure our customer's prompt access to their funds and securities.
Contacting us
If after a significant business disruption, you cannot contact the Regional Client Service Associate as you usually do at 1-800-787-7354, you should call our alternative number 1-800-787-7353 or go to our web site at russellinvestments.com.