Abstract: A system for classifying investment products into a set of hierarchical buckets based on existing CUSIP numbers and other prospectus information is disclosed herein. A bucket is an investment product classification that uniquely and consistently identifies an investment product type. In the preferred embodiment, there are buckets to classify individual securities and mutual funds into product, asset and fund types. Each bucket is a unique combination of product, asset or fund codes. Unique combinations of the actual codes define a particular bucket. Thus, the present invention provides a standard classification system into which all investment products can be categorized and grouped. Three sets of hierarchical investment buckets are created to provide a standard set of both general and detailed investment buckets. Each set of buckets is directed to a specific classification purpose: a set of product buckets, a set of asset buckets, and a set of fund buckets.