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
Citigroup joins rivals and helps wealthy clients access crypto
ALTERNATIVES JUN 24, 2021
Citigroup joins rivals and helps wealthy clients access crypto

The bank is forming a new digital assets group inside its burgeoning wealth management unit, and will help clients invest in cryptocurrencies, stable coins and non-fungible tokens.

Morgan Stanley to require vaccinations to enter New York offices
Morgan Stanley to require vaccinations to enter New York offices

The firm said the goal is to help create a normal office environment, without a need for face masks and physical distancing.

Betterment rolls out a prepackaged tech stack for RIAs
FINTECH JUN 22, 2021
Betterment rolls out a prepackaged tech stack for RIAs

Betterment tapped RIA in a Box, RightCapital, and Wealthbox to provide new and breakaway RIAs a predetermined tech stack.

Supreme Court's Goldman decision declared a win by investor advocates
Supreme Court's Goldman decision declared a win by investor advocates

Remanding the shareholder suit against Goldman to the appeals court leaves unresolved questions about the legal weight of conflict-of-interest pledges.

Former Morgan Stanley traders turn crypto startup into unicorn
ALTERNATIVES JUN 21, 2021
Former Morgan Stanley traders turn crypto startup into unicorn

Amber Group raised $100 million from investors in a Series B fundraising, boosting its valuation to $1 billion. Investors included DCM Ventures and Tiger Global Management.

Supreme Court gives Goldman chance to end shareholder suit
Supreme Court gives Goldman chance to end shareholder suit

The justices set aside a federal appeals court ruling in a lawsuit that accuses the company of misleading shareholders by masking conflicts of interest related to mortgage-backed securities it sold. Goldman argued the case made it too easy for shareholders to press class-action fraud suits.

Bank of America makes Juneteenth a holiday, joining JPMorgan, Wells Fargo
Bank of America makes Juneteenth a holiday, joining JPMorgan, Wells Fargo

The banks told U.S. employees they'll receive a floating paid day off to mark the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S., which President Biden signed into law Thursday.

Goldman Sachs enters custody business with Steward Partners as first client
RIA NEWS JUN 16, 2021
Goldman Sachs enters custody business with Steward Partners as first client

Steward will use Goldman for assets held at Umpqua Investments, which it acquired recently.

Is the Carson Group worth $1 billion?
RIA NEWS JUN 07, 2021
Is the Carson Group worth $1 billion?

Just five years ago, the Carson Group had a total valuation of $120 million, or six to eight times less than its current potential valuation. The firm said in October it is looking to raise capital to continue to invest in registered investment advisers and wealth management firms.

JPMorgan hires from Goldman, Wells for growth-equity effort
ALTERNATIVES JUN 07, 2021
JPMorgan hires from Goldman, Wells for growth-equity effort

The new venture aims to give JPMorgan's clients exposure to companies before they go public.

Citi goes on hiring spree for financial advisers
Citi goes on hiring spree for financial advisers

CEO Jane Fraser cites the bank's push to expand its wealth management offerings around the globe, but says Citi will structure compensation so the bank's shareholders will have more power than the wealth managers.

Trio managing $10.5 billion moves to UBS
Trio managing $10.5 billion moves to UBS

The six-person team is leaving J.P. Morgan Private Bank in San Francisco.

'Womenomics' researcher to bring ESG to Japanese startups
'Womenomics' researcher to bring ESG to Japanese startups

Kathy Matsui, formerly of Goldman Sachs, starts female-run venture fund to support health care, fintech and other young firms.

Fintech Stash weighs options for going public
FINTECH MAY 28, 2021
Fintech Stash weighs options for going public

The robo-adviser raised $125 million in a February funding round, for a $1.4 billion valuation.

Goldman wins exemption from Labor Department's pension overseer
Goldman wins exemption from Labor Department's pension overseer

The Employee Benefits Security Administration gives the firm a green light to oversee retirement plan assets despite its 1MDB misdeeds