Rayliant Global Advisors
Rayliant Global Advisors is a privately held global investment manager applying a proprietary quantamental (quantitative plus fundamental) framework to active global equity strategies, serving institutions, financial advisors via OCIO, and retail investors through ETFs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersCentral, Hong Kong SAR China
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rayliant Global Advisors does
Rayliant Global Advisors is a privately held, minority-owned global investment management firm headquartered in Newport Beach, California, with additional offices in Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, and London (via the Henderson Rowe subsidiary acquired in 2018). The firm was founded by Jason Hsu, who previously co-founded Research Affiliates and co-developed the RAFI Fundamental Index approach with Rob Arnott. Rayliant applies a proprietary "quantamental" methodology that combines quantitative models and big data with fundamental research to actively trade equities across global developed, emerging, EAFE, US, Japan, and China onshore markets.
The firm operates a multi-product platform comprising actively managed exchange-traded funds (RAYC for Chinese equities, RAYJ for Japanese equities in partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management, and CNQQ for transformative China tech in partnership with ChinaAMC), institutional systematic strategies available in SMA and UMA formats (EAFE, Global Developed, Global EM, EM ex-China, China Onshore), and outsourced CIO (OCIO) services for financial advisors. Machine learning is applied to expected return prediction, portfolio optimization, and localized equity signal research, particularly for emerging markets. The research team has published 50+ papers in leading journals and earned multiple Graham & Dodd, Bernstein Fabozzi/Jacobs Levy, and William F. Sharpe awards.
Rayliant serves three primary customer segments: global institutions (public pension plans, endowments, foundations) reached through direct institutional sales; financial advisors served via OCIO advisory services (including a 2025 exclusive partnership with Sowell Management); and retail investors accessing strategies through exchange-listed ETFs. Revenue is generated through recurring asset-based advisory and management fees across these channels. Distribution is multi-modal—direct field sales for institutional clients, partner platforms and wealth managers for OCIO, and exchange listings plus funds.rayliant.com for ETF investors—with regional coverage spanning the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific.
Rayliant Global Advisors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rayliant Global Advisors
- Legal name
- Rayliant Global Advisors Limited
- Website
- https://rayliant.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rayliant Global Advisors is a privately held global investment manager applying a proprietary quantamental (quantitative plus fundamental) framework to active global equity strategies, serving institutions, financial advisors via OCIO, and retail investors through ETFs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rayliant Global Advisors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Investment Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Institutional Consulting RIAs (OCIO/Endowments/Foundations/Pensions) (FSAAACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Financial Planning–Led RIAs (FSAAACAB), Advisory Portfolio Management (Non-Discretionary) (FSAAABAD)
Keywords
Where Rayliant Global Advisors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Central
- HQ country
- Hong Kong SAR China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices7 records
Markets served
Rayliant Global Advisors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Asset Management Fees: Rayliant generates revenue through advisory fees for managing ETF portfolios, institutional mandates, and OCIO services. The firm serves as investment adviser to its ETFs and manages systematic global equity strategies.
- OCIO (Outsourced CIO) Advisory Services: Provides customized risk-targeted and tax-aware models in SMA, UMA, and ETF formats for financial advisors, with fees based on assets under management.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Rayliant Global Advisors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rayliant Global Advisors is an investment management firm that provides systematic, quantamental equity strategies spanning global developed, emerging, EAFE, Japan, and China markets. It offers these strategies through actively managed ETFs (RAYC, RAYE, RAYD, RAYJ, CNQQ), institutional separately managed accounts, and Outsourced CIO (OCIO) services for financial advisors. Its investment approach combines quantitative models and big data with fundamental research to actively trade stocks across global markets.
Product overview
Rayliant Global Advisors is an investment manager offering systematic investment solutions spanning the full spectrum of global equities including developed and emerging markets. The company's product suite includes quantamental ETFs (RAYC for Chinese equities, CNQQ for transformative China tech in partnership with ChinaAMC, RAYJ for Japanese equities in partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management), as well as institutional strategies available in SMA, UMA, and ETF formats covering EAFE, Global Developed, Global EM, Emerging Market ex-China, and China Onshore markets. The investment approach combines quantitative models with fundamental research to actively trade stocks, designed to mitigate home country bias through active exposure to international and emerging markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Henderson Rowe: A Rayliant company providing investment management services in Middle East and Europe markets.
Products and services
- Rayliant Quantamental China Equity ETF (RAYC) Actively managed exchange-traded fund that invests in Chinese equities using a combination of quantitative and fundamental research.
- Rayliant-ChinaAMC Transformative China Tech ETF (CNQQ) Actively managed ETF launched in partnership with ChinaAMC on NASDAQ, focusing on transformative Chinese technology companies.
- Rayliant SMDAM Japan Equity ETF (RAYJ) Japan equity ETF launched in partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management, providing systematic exposure to Japanese equities.
- EAFE Strategy Systematic investment strategy for EAFE (Europe, Australasia, Far East) developed markets, available in SMA, UMA, and ETF formats.
- Global Developed Strategy Systematic global developed markets equity strategy spanning multiple developed market regions.
- Global Emerging Markets Strategy Systematic global emerging markets equity strategy designed to capture EM diversification.
- Emerging Market ex-China Strategy Systematic emerging markets equity strategy excluding China, targeting EM diversification without China concentration.
- China Onshore Strategy Localized systematic strategy for China A-shares and onshore Chinese equities.
- Outsourced CIO (OCIO) Advisory Services Outsourced Chief Investment Officer services delivering customized risk-targeted and tax-aware models in SMA, UMA, and ETF formats for financial advisors and wealth platforms.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4 Graham & Dodd Awards, 3 Bernstein Fabozzi/Jacobs Levy Awards, 3 William F. Sharpe Awards
Companies that use Rayliant Global Advisors
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rayliant Global Advisors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature1 record
Rayliant Global Advisors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Sowell ManagementcoreSowell Management announced an exclusive partnership with Rayliant to enhance its OCIO platform and offer institutional-quality investment solutions to financial advisors. Jason Hsu, founder of Rayliant, was appointed as Chief Investment Strategist for Sowell Management. The partnership aims to incorporate Rayliant's research-driven strategies and expand Sowell's diversified investment offerings.
- ChinaAMCcoreRayliant and ChinaAMC introduced the Rayliant-ChinaAMC Transformative China Tech ETF (Ticker: CNQQ) on NASDAQ. The partnership combines Rayliant's quantamental investment expertise with ChinaAMC's local market presence to offer transformative China technology exposure to investors.
- Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset ManagementcoreRayliant partnered with Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management to launch the Rayliant SMDAM Japan Equity ETF (RAYJ), combining Rayliant's systematic equity strategies with Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management's Japan market expertise.
- BinanceminorCharles Astor, Head of Middle East and Europe at Rayliant, served on the Advisory Board of Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world. This represents a personal advisory relationship rather than a firm-level partnership.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rayliant Global Advisors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dimensional Fund Advisors: Global leader in factor-based systematic investing serving financial advisors and institutional clients. Comparable in disciplined, science-led equity strategies and advisor-channel distribution via UMAs and SMAs.
- WisdomTree Investments: ETF issuer with a strong factor and international equity ETF lineup. Directly comparable in product format (ETFs) and in systematic international/EM equity strategies, including dedicated Japan, China, and EM products.
- Research Affiliates: Founder of the fundamental indexing/smart beta movement, co-founded by Rob Arnott with whom Jason Hsu pioneered RAFI. Closely comparable in factor-based systematic equity research and institutional asset management focus; Rayliant's intellectual DNA is a direct outgrowth of this firm.
Emerging players
- Arrowstreet Capital: Quantitative equity manager serving institutional clients with global systematic equity strategies. Comparable in quantitative global equity investing and institutional client focus, though larger in AUM.
- Alpha Architect: Boutique quantamental asset manager focused on factor investing for advisors and retail. Comparable in size, philosophy (quantamental, evidence-based), and primary customer base of fee-sensitive advisors.
- First Trust: ETF issuer known for factor and smart beta strategies (e.g., First Trust Value Line Dividend Index, Capital Strength ETFs). Comparable in niche factor ETF positioning and advisor-channel focus.
Broad incumbents
- BlackRock: World's largest asset manager with extensive factor (iShares factor ETF family) and EM/China ETF exposure. Competes for the same institutional and advisor mandates and ETF wallet share.
- Invesco: Large asset manager with a notable factor ETF family (Invesco QQQ, Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility, etc.). Comparable as an incumbent offering factor and international equity ETFs alongside broader active and passive product lines.
- PIMCO: Global asset manager where several Rayliant team members previously worked. Comparable as a global institutional asset manager with strong research pedigree, though PIMCO is far larger and multi-asset.
- Guggenheim Investments: Multi-affiliate asset manager offering systematic and factor-based equity strategies alongside fixed income. Comparable in offering institutional systematic equity mandates and ETFs with research-driven positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rayliant Global Advisors social profiles
Digital presenceRayliant Global Advisors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rayliant Global Advisors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Rayliant Global Advisors subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Rayliant Global Advisors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rayliant Global Advisors M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rayliant Global Advisors
What does Rayliant Global Advisors do?
Rayliant Global Advisors is an investment management firm that provides systematic, quantamental equity strategies spanning global developed, emerging, EAFE, Japan, and China markets. It offers these strategies through actively managed ETFs (RAYC, RAYE, RAYD, RAYJ, CNQQ), institutional separately managed accounts, and Outsourced CIO (OCIO) services for financial advisors. Its investment approach combines quantitative models and big data with fundamental research to actively trade stocks across global markets.
Is Rayliant Global Advisors a public or private company?
Rayliant Global Advisors is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rayliant Global Advisors founded?
Rayliant Global Advisors was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rayliant Global Advisors based?
Rayliant Global Advisors is headquartered in Central, Hong Kong SAR China, in the Asia region.
How does Rayliant Global Advisors make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Asset Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are OCIO (Outsourced CIO) Advisory Services.
Who are Rayliant Global Advisors's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dimensional Fund Advisors, WisdomTree Investments and Research Affiliates. Emerging players are Arrowstreet Capital, Alpha Architect and First Trust. Broad incumbents are BlackRock, Invesco, PIMCO and Guggenheim Investments.
Does Rayliant Global Advisors have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rayliant Global Advisors.
What industry is Rayliant Global Advisors in?
Rayliant Global Advisors's product category is Investment Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAACAG, Institutional Consulting RIAs (OCIO/Endowments/Foundations/Pensions), with a secondary code of FSAAACAB, Financial Planning–Led RIAs. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.