Dimensional Fund Advisors Named to Barron's Top Fund Families

For more than 20 years, Barron’s has conducted its annual Best Fund Families survey, ranking asset managers based on their one-year performance across a broad selection of actively managed funds. While the rankings provide a snapshot in time, many of the top-performing fund families of 2024 also boast strong long-term returns—suggesting they are more than just short-term standouts.

How the Barron's Fund Family Rankings Work

Barron’s ranking system is asset-weighted, meaning a firm’s largest funds have the biggest influence on its overall ranking. This approach levels the playing field, allowing smaller firms with strong investment strategies to compete with much larger asset managers.

To be included in the rankings, firms must meet strict eligibility criteria, including:

• Offering at least three actively managed U.S. stock funds
• Having at least one world equity and one mixed-asset fund (such as a balanced or allocation fund)
• Managing at least two taxable bond funds and one national tax-exempt bond fund
• Having a track record of at least one year for each fund considered

The rankings also include "smart beta" ETFs—funds that use passive strategies but incorporate active investment principles. Ultimately, the results reflect each firm's ability to deliver strong performance through active management.

A Shrinking List of Elite Fund Managers

For 2024, only 48 asset managers out of 793 firms in Lipper’s database met Barron’s stringent criteria. This is down from 49 last year, largely due to Putnam Investments’ acquisition and integration into Franklin Templeton Investments.

As the investment landscape evolves, Barron’s rankings continue to highlight the fund families that consistently deliver for investors, offering a blend of innovation, strategy, and long-term performance.

At Ark Royal, we've used Dimensional Fund Advisors in client portfolios for over 20 years, and their expertise has delivered successful investment experiences for our clients. For investors looking to maximize their returns, these rankings provide a valuable benchmark when evaluating fund families. The firms that top the list have demonstrated not just short-term success but a commitment to delivering results over time.