A method for the production of improved shell functionalized ion exchange resins comprising: (a) preparing a second stage type free radical matrix suspended in an aqueous solution, wherein the aqueous solution comprises a suspension stabilizer; (b) contacting the second stage type free radical matrix with a monomer feed comprising at least one monomer under conditions such that the second stage type free radical matrix catalyzes a polymerization of the monomer to form copolymer beads having a core/shell morphology, wherein the polymerization is a suspension polymerization; and (c) functionalizing the copolymer bead by halomethylation or sulfonation; wherein the second stage type free radical matrix is prepared by a process comprising (i) suspending a plurality of seed particles in a suspending medium, (ii) imbibing into the seed particles a free radical-containing initial monomer charge, and (iii) polymerizing monomers in the initial monomer charge until the conversion thereof into polymer is 20 to 95 percent, with the proviso that, when the attaching ion exchange groups comprises halomethylation, the initial monomer charge comprises at least 14 weight percent crosslinking monomer and the monomer feed (b) comprises less than 10 weight percent crosslinking monomer; and with the proviso that, when the attaching ion exchange groups comprises sulfonation, the initial monomer charge comprises at least 16 weight percent crosslinking monomer and the monomer feed (b) comprises less than 16 weight percent crosslinking monomer. (a) preparing a second stage type free radical matrix suspended in an aqueous solution, wherein the aqueous solution comprises a suspension stabilizer; (b) contacting the second stage type free radical matrix with a monomer feed comprising at least one monomer under conditions such that the second stage type free radical matrix catalyzes a polymerization of the monomer to form copolymer beads having a core/shell morphology, wherein the polymerization is a suspension polymerization; and (c) functionalizing the copolymer bead by halomethylation or sulfonation; wherein the second stage type free radical matrix is prepared by a process comprising (i) suspending a plurality of seed particles in a suspending medium, (ii) imbibing into the seed particles a free radical-containing initial monomer charge, and (iii) polymerizing monomers in the initial monomer charge until the conversion thereof into polymer is 20 to 95 percent, with the proviso that, when the attaching ion exchange groups comprises halomethylation, the initial monomer charge comprises at least 14 weight percent crosslinking monomer and the monomer feed (b) comprises less than 10 weight percent crosslinking monomer; and with the proviso that, when the attaching ion exchange groups comprises sulfonation, the initial monomer charge comprises at least 16 weight percent crosslinking monomer and the monomer feed (b) comprises less than 16 weight percent crosslinking monomer. (i) suspending a plurality of seed particles in a suspending medium, (ii) imbibing into the seed particles a free radical-containing initial monomer charge, and (iii) polymerizing monomers in the initial monomer charge until the conversion thereof into polymer is 20 to 95 percent,