Index Gurus

Kevin R. Gahagan, the firm's Chief Investment Officer, leads investment strategy. Gahagan previously served as CIO of a large registered investment advisor where he pioneered the factor-based methodology that Index Gurus now provides to external firms. Partner Michael S. Falk, a former Goldman Sachs professional and University of Chicago instructor, contributes to portfolio construction and research.

Index Gurus employs a factor-based, evidence-driven investment philosophy rooted in academic research. The firm emphasizes global diversification and systematically targets factors such as value, size, and profitability to improve risk-adjusted returns. A core focus is correcting home-country bias, which leads many US investors to under-allocate to international equities.

Index Gurus primarily serves registered investment advisors and wealth management firms through model portfolios, research, and analytics software. The firm does not operate as a direct-to-consumer robo-advisor. Its tools and portfolios are designed to be implemented by fiduciary advisors on behalf of their end clients.

The firm functions as a research lab for factor-based allocation rather than a product manufacturer. Unlike large asset managers that must promote specific funds, Index Gurus advocates for allocation tilts that may run counter to popular sentiment — such as overweighting international and emerging-market value stocks — without an incentive to gather assets into proprietary vehicles.

Index Gurus' research and model portfolios span global public equities, fixed income, and alternative assets. Within equities, the firm covers developed international, emerging-market, and US stocks across market capitalizations. Fixed-income coverage includes government and corporate bonds. Its factor research applies across these asset classes to identify persistent return drivers.