A cynic might argue that the investment philosophy of Dimensional Fund Advisors is two-dimensional – value and small-cap stocks dominate the house repertoire.

But the Santa Monica, California-based company has been creating waves in its own understated manner on both sides of the Atlantic since its foundation in 1981 – entering the top 20 of US mutual fund providers, as measured by assets under management, and garnering some $9bn (£4.4bn, €6bn) from European clients since starting a push in the old world in 2002.