COMPANIES

Goldman Sachs

Office address: 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282
Website: goldmansachs.com
Year established: 1869
Company type: financial services
Employees: 46,000+
Expertise: investment banking, asset management, wealth management, capital markets, M&A advisory, equities trading, fixed income, private equity, digital banking, transaction banking
Parent company: N/A
Key people: David Solomon (CEO), John Waldron (COO), Denis Coleman (CFO), John F.W. Rogers (EVP), Alex Golten (chief risk officer), Carey Halio (global treasurer), Sheara Fredman (chief accounting officer)
Financing status: corporation

Goldman Sachs is a global financial services firm based in New York. The company offers investment banking, asset management, wealth management, and digital banking, managing over $2 trillion in assets. With more than 46,000 employees, it is known for its top-rated expertise and strong client relationships.

History of Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs traces its story back to 1869, when Marcus Goldman set up a small office in Lower Manhattan. He offered local merchants a new way to get credit by buying their promissory notes, which helped shape the commercial paper business.

By the late 1800s, the firm had become Goldman, Sachs & Co. It also joined the NYSE in 1896 and gained a reputation for financial innovation.

Growth and innovation

Over the twentieth century, Goldman Sachs expanded across the US and into Europe, building a strong investment banking business. The firm introduced the price-to-earnings ratio as a new way to value companies, which became an industry standard. In the 1930s, Sidney Weinberg led the firm through the Great Depression and helped it become a top player in underwriting and trading.

Goldman Sachs’ global expansion

The firm kept growing by opening offices in London, Tokyo, and Zurich in the 1970s while also acquiring J. Aron & Company in 1981. In 1999, Goldman Sachs became a public company, trading on the NYSE under the ticker GS.

The 2000s brought new challenges, but the firm stayed strong. It moved into new headquarters at 200 West Street and launched major initiatives like 10,000 Women and 10,000 Small Businesses.

New era and strategic moves

In recent years, the company has focused on technology and consumer banking, launching Marcus and partnering with Apple for the Apple Card. The firm has also committed to sustainability and diversity, with major investments in climate and inclusive growth.

In 2024, Goldman Sachs announced a $1 billion stake in T. Rowe Price, a leading asset management firm. The firm aimed to create new investment options for retirement clients and financial advisors through the partnership.

Goldman Sachs’s products and services 

Goldman Sachs offers a wide range of financial products designed for institutional, corporate, and individual clients. Its solutions include:

Global banking and markets

  • investment banking: financing and advisory for corporations and institutions
  • mergers and acquisitions: strategic advice and execution for complex deals
  • capital solutions: underwriting and capital raising for diverse needs
  • FICC: trading and risk management in fixed income, currency, and commodities
  • equities: equity trading, analytics, and structured products

Asset and wealth management

  • asset management: investment services across public and private markets
  • equity strategies: active investing in global equity markets
  • fixed income: credit and currency investment solutions
  • liquidity solutions: short-term, highly liquid investment options
  • alternatives: private equity, real estate, and hedge fund investments
  • multi-asset solutions: custom portfolios and risk management
  • wealth management: personalized advice for high-net-worth clients
  • private banking and lending: cash management and strategic borrowing

Consumer and platform solutions

  • Ayco: workplace financial planning and benefits optimization
  • Marcus: digital banking with savings and personal loans
  • transaction banking: payments and liquidity management for businesses
  • enterprise partnerships: embedded financial products for partner brands

These offerings are supported by advanced technology, global resources, and a strong focus on client service. Goldman Sachs also invests in sustainable finance and digital innovation to supplement its core products.

Culture and corporate values

Goldman Sachs states that its culture is driven by teamwork and a focus on collective achievement. The company reports that collaboration and a sense of belonging are central to its approach. Its values are:

  1. integrity
  2. partnership
  3. client service
  4. excellence

According to the company, employees have access to coaching, mentorship, and a range of benefits:

  • compensation: annual reviews, competitive pay, and long-term incentives
  • healthcare and insurance: medical, dental, disability, and life coverage
  • vacation and holidays: paid time off, public holidays, and minimum vacation usage
  • financial wellness: retirement plans, financial education, and support for higher education
  • wellness programs: health services, fitness centers, and mental health support
  • family care: on-site childcare, parental resources, and family leave options
  • flexible work: part-time, job sharing, telecommuting, and alternate hours
  • equity and wealth creation: equity awards and investment programs for eligible employees
  • other benefits: travel assistance, education support, and reimbursement for meals and transportation

Goldman Sachs also welcomes over 2,600 new analysts and associates to more than 60 offices each summer. Students participate in programs and events that offer real-world business exposure and networking opportunities.

About CEO David Solomon and key people

David Solomon is the chairperson and CEO of Goldman Sachs and chairs the board of directors. Before this, Solomon was president and COO, and earlier led investment banking and financing groups. He also chairs Hamilton College’s board and serves on boards for the Robin Hood Foundation, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and the Paley Center for Media.

The executive team at Goldman Sachs leads the firm’s strategy and daily operations:

  • John E. Waldron serves as president and COO, overseeing global business operations and client relationships
  • Denis Coleman is CFO, managing the firm’s finances and capital planning
  • John F.W. Rogers is executive VP, handling firmwide administration and public policy
  • Alex Golten works as chief risk officer, responsible for risk management and firmwide controls
  • Carey Halio is global treasurer, managing liquidity, funding, and balance sheet strategy
  • Sheara J. Fredman serves as chief accounting officer, leading financial reporting and accounting standards

Goldman Sachs’s leadership team focuses on strong performance and responsible management for clients, shareholders, and employees.

The future at Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs released a report showing family offices are investing heavily in men’s sports, with far less interest in women’s leagues. It found that family offices are about four times more likely to invest in men’s sports than in women’s. By tracking these trends and advising on large deals, the firm helps clients find new opportunities in the growing sports investment market.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management also released a study showing that alternative investments grow more popular as wealth increases, especially among millennials. The report shows 91 percent of $20 million households use alternatives, and millennials allocate 20 percent to them. The company continues to share these findings to guide clients and advisors on market trends and private investment opportunities.

Displaying 2547 results
RIA NEWS FEB 05, 2014
BlackRock's Fink warns of 'too much optimism' in markets

“The experience of the marketplace this past week is going to be indicative of this entire year,” Mr. Fink told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We're going to be in a world of much greater volatility.”

RIA NEWS FEB 04, 2014
Stock market strategists call for calm after global stock wipeout

21 market analysts predict 11% gain for S&P 500 for the year

Companies from Facebook to JPMorgan squeeze 401(k) plans

Tactics include holding back on both the amount and timing of 401(k) matches and dragging out vesting schedules

FINTECH FEB 03, 2014
Street appeal: Motif Investing attracts the interest of Goldman Sachs

Street appeal, Motif Investing attracts the interest of Goldman Sachs

Investing in women's network, Sallie Krawcheck goes from advocacy to action

Female advisers see value of women-only business events.

RIA NEWS JAN 23, 2014
Hedge funds, private equity chasing your 401(k) cash

But given their high fees and so-so returns, you may be better off avoiding them

RIA NEWS JAN 23, 2014
Wells Fargo to sell insurance brokers to USI

Wells Fargo & Co. has agreed to sell more than 40% of its insurance brokerage locations to focus bricks-and-mortar operations on higher-growth regions and bigger clients.

WIREHOUSES JAN 17, 2014
Profit drops 70% at Morgan Stanley

Brokerage firm set aside $1.2B in fourth quarter for litigation, misses return on equity goal.

EQUITIES JAN 08, 2014
Hedge fund investors see the downside of relative performance

Today: What hedge funds fleeing the market means. Plus, buck up, investment banker bonus week is here; building your own mutual fund; clean energy stocks; getting the most out of Siri; and more.

ALTERNATIVES JAN 08, 2014
Hedge funds cut gold bets amid record outflows

Money managers reduced their net-long position by 2.8%.

Is the SEC's new enforcement zeal for real?

Taking the pulse of the securities regulator as chief Mary Jo White continues her charm offensive, in which she's hoping to prove that her agency is no longer the lap dog of Wall Street. Given the revolving door, proof will be in the pudding.

FIXED INCOME JAN 07, 2014
Goldman opens $448M nontraded-liquid-alternatives-bond fund

Goldman Sachs Asset Management is giving its fixed-income alternatives fund lineup a boost by converting its nontraded Credit Strategies Fund into a new liquid-alternatives-bond fund. Goldman plans to fold the $448 million fund, which offers only limited, quarterly share repurchases, into the yet-to-be launched open-end Goldman Sachs Long Short Credit Strategies Fund, pending shareholder approval, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ALTERNATIVES JAN 07, 2014
Who will be alts' best in show?

The demand for liquid alternatives has never been higher, and it is drawing in a pack of money managers who are all vying to be leaders of the pack.

ALTERNATIVES JAN 03, 2014
Gold funds face unprecedented slump

Investors are dumping gold-backed exchange-traded products at the fastest pace since the securities were created a decade ago, mirroring the steepest price drop in 32 years.

MUTUAL FUNDS DEC 20, 2013
Fund companies, traders under new scrutiny with Volcker rule

SEC, other regulators, pass rule after three years of back and forth with Wall Street.