Dimensional has created a new unit that will work with financial advisors and others to develop customized investment strategies for their clients.

Dimensional announced today that Marlena Lee, co-head of research, is being promoted to head the new unit, the Investment Solutions Group, which is part of its investment team. Savina Rizova, also co-head of research, has been promoted to become the sole head of research. The changes go into effect tomorrow.

Dimensional has a long track record of working with advisors and institutional clients and plans to build on those relationships with the Investment Solutions Group, which will include employees that have worked in its portfolio solutions, investment and global client groups. “With the creation of this team, our clients will be able to draw on specialized expertise from Portfolio Management, Trading, Research, and now Investment Solutions to help address a wide range of investment-related topics,” said co-CEO and Chief Investment Officer Gerard O’Reilly.

The Investment Solutions Group will work with advisors and institutional clients on specific questions they have as well as provide them with more targeted communications designed to answer questions about topics ranging from portfolio design, trading, implementation and applications of the firm’s research. It will provide custom portfolio and asset allocation analytics, answers to client questions, and resources for investment issues.

Lee and Rizova both hold doctorates from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. As co-head of research, Lee worked on topics that included asset pricing, asset allocation and retirement. Before joining Dimensional, Lee worked as a teaching assistant for Nobel laureate Eugene Fama, a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Rizova, as a co-head of research, worked on projects that included improving the design and execution of new and existing investment strategies.  Before obtaining her doctorate, Rizova worked in Dimensional’s research group and conducted quantitative analysis used to explain strategies and performance to clients.

Dimensional, based in Austin, Texas, has 13 offices in nine countries and global assets under management of $586 billion as of June 30.