Goldman Sachs

Here’s a full breakdown of Goldman Sachs, one of the most powerful and diversified financial institutions in the world, including its asset management and wealth/brokerage offerings:

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🔷 Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

📌 At a Glance

Attribute	Details
Founded	1869
Headquarters	New York City, USA
CEO	David Solomon (as of 2025)
Ticker Symbol	GS (NYSE)
Employees	~45,000+ worldwide
Assets Under Supervision (AUS)	~$2.8 trillion (2025 est.)
Global Presence	Offices in 35+ countries
Client Types	Governments, institutions, HNW individuals, retail

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💼 What Does Goldman Sachs Do?

Goldman Sachs operates across four main business segments:

1. Asset & Wealth Management

• Services for high-net-worth and institutional clients
• Mutual funds, ETFs, alternative assets, private equity
• Robo-advisor and digital investment tools (Marcus Invest)

2. Global Banking & Markets

• Investment banking (M&A, IPOs, underwriting)
• Sales & trading of equities, bonds, currencies, commodities

3. Platform Solutions

• Consumer finance, embedded banking (e.g. partnerships with Apple, Stripe)

4. Consumer Banking (winding down direct retail)

• Originally included Marcus by Goldman Sachs (now partially scaled back)
• Marcus savings still available; Marcus Invest still active

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📈 Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM)

🔹 Overview

Attribute	Details
Brand Name	Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM)
AUM	~$2.5 trillion (subset of total AUS)
Strategies	Active, passive, ESG, fixed income, alternatives
Distribution	Institutions, advisors, retirement platforms

🔹 Popular Investment Vehicles

Fund Type	Examples
Mutual Funds	Goldman Sachs Growth & Income Fund, Short Duration Fund
ETFs	GS ActiveBeta ETFs, GSEE (Equity), GSY (Ultra-short bond)
Alternatives	Hedge funds, private credit, infrastructure

GS ActiveBeta® ETFs use smart beta strategies combining value, momentum, quality, and low volatility factors.

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🔧 Goldman Sachs for Individual Investors

Goldman Sachs is not a traditional retail brokerage, but it does offer services for individuals through these channels:

✅ 1. Marcus by Goldman Sachs

Feature	Description
Marcus Invest	Robo-advisor portfolios (min. $5,000, 0.35% advisory fee)
Marcus Savings	High-yield savings accounts (still available)
CDs	Competitive fixed-term deposits

✅ 2. Private Wealth Management

Feature	Description
Account Minimum	$10 million+ (for direct advisory services)
Services	Estate planning, tax strategy, custom investment portfolios
Clientele	Ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices

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📊 Notable Goldman Sachs ETFs

Ticker	Name	Strategy
GSLC	Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta U.S. Large Cap ETF	Smart beta (multi-factor)
GSEW	Equal Weight U.S. Large Cap ETF	Equal-weight S&P 500
GSY	Ultra-Short Bond ETF	Cash alternative
GVIP	Hedge Fund VIP ETF	Top hedge fund picks

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🧠 Key Strengths

Strength	Details
Institutional-grade research	Deep economic and company insights used for client portfolios
Strong ETF lineup	Known for smart beta strategies
Private market access	Private equity, venture, infrastructure investing
Wealth Planning	High-touch service for affluent clients
Global Presence	Clients in over 100 countries

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⚠️ Not Ideal For

Group	Why
DIY investors	No traditional brokerage platform like Fidelity or Schwab
Low-budget investors	Marcus Invest is entry-level, but premium services require high assets
Active traders	No direct stock trading platform (E*TRADE, Schwab preferred)

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🧾 Summary

Goldman Sachs is a global leader in financial services, best known for its institutional strength, innovation in ETFs, and premium wealth management. Through GSAM, it manages trillions across active, passive, and alternative strategies. While not built for DIY stock traders, Goldman serves affluent individuals, financial advisors, and institutions seeking professional-grade investment solutions.

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