Office address: 50 Hudson Yards New York, NY 10001
Website: www.blackrock.com
Year established: 1988
Company type: investment company
Employees: 19,800+
Expertise: asset management, risk management, ETFs (iShares), fixed income, alternative investments, wealth management, retirement solutions, private equity, infrastructure, real estate, sustainable investing, financial technology
Parent company: N/A
Key people: Larry Fink (CEO), Rob Kapito (president), Joud Abdel Majeid (global head), Stephen Cohen (CPO), Ed Fishwick (CRO), Rob Goldstein (COO), Martin Small (CFO), Chris Meade (CLO)
Financing status: N/A
BlackRock is a global investment company from New York, offering asset management, advisory, and risk management services. The firm manages $11.5 trillion in assets as of October 2024 and operates in over 38 countries. With over 19,800 employees, the company serves clients in more than 100 countries, helping them achieve long-term financial well-being through innovative financial solutions.
BlackRock was founded in 1988 by Laurence Fink and seven partners, driven by a desire to manage assets with a focus on risk management and client interests. The company quickly grew, and in 1999, it launched Aladdin, its proprietary technology that transformed the risk management industry. During the 2008 financial crisis, the company was tapped by the Federal Reserve to assess Bear Stearns' assets, playing a crucial advisory role.
In 2009, it acquired Barclays Global Investors, becoming the world's largest asset manager and integrating both active and index strategies. In 2017, the company deepened its focus on investment stewardship, emphasizing the long-term value of purpose in profitability. By 2024, it partnered with Vestmark to boost model portfolios, further expanding its offerings for registered investment advisors.
BlackRock offers a wide range of investment products and services designed to meet the diverse needs of its clients. Below are the some of their key offerings:
BlackRock’s global team provides insights on markets, economies, and long-term strategies, helping clients navigate the complexities of investing. Whether it is a professional or a new investor, their services aim to support financial success while also empowering employees and giving back to communities.
BlackRock’s culture is built on a commitment to its clients, employees, and core principles. The company focuses on employee growth, offering benefits that support physical, emotional, and financial well-being. The firm provides various resources and benefits to keep employees engaged and balanced, some of which include:
The firm’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is central to its success, fostering an environment where employees feel a sense of belonging. The company’s global platform thrives by incorporating diverse perspectives to deliver the best outcomes for clients. By embracing unique skills and experiences, they empower employees to collaborate effectively and contribute to a shared mission:
The company’s social impact focuses on making financial prosperity accessible to more people and communities. The BlackRock Foundation supports low- to moderate-income households by helping them save, invest, and build wealth. Initiatives include:
BlackRock’s approach to corporate sustainability focuses on long-term value for shareholders, employees, communities, and clients. The company is committed to transparency, providing stakeholders with meaningful sustainability-related information.
Laurence Fink is company’s chairman, CEO, and founder, also serving on the boards of NYU and the World Economic Forum. Before founding BlackRock in 1988, he was a managing director at The First Boston Corporation. Fink earned a BA in political science and an MBA in real estate from UCLA.
The company’s key leadership team includes notable figures who lead the firm’s operations across global markets:
To prepare for potential market volatility, BlackRock advises financial professionals to reduce risk and shift toward safer investment options. With uncertainty ahead, particularly due to macroeconomic concerns and the upcoming elections, the firm highlights the importance of defensive strategies like the BlackRock Flexible Income ETF (BINC). This strategic adjustment also reflects their broader move toward active management, signaling its belief in a more hands-on approach during turbulent times.
The company recently reached an $11.5 trillion milestone in assets under management by the third quarter of 2024. This growth was driven by strong client inflows, notably into ETFs, fixed income, and private assets. BlackRock is accelerating its push into private assets, following acquisitions like Global Infrastructure Partners, and continues to lead in both public and private markets.
The SPDR Barclays Capital International Corporate Bond ETF Ticker:(IBND) began trading on the New York Stock Exchange Arca today.
The U.S. economy stands a 31% chance of double-dipping into recession in the next year.
Don't write the obit just yet: experts like BlackRock's Bob Doll and Morgan Stanley's Richard Berner say U.S. households are 'heading in the right direction' by saving more and borrowing less.
In a move that one industry expert dubs 'a big hit,' the fund firm sees its 10-year relationship with the state come to a halt
BlackRock Inc., the world's biggest asset manager, named Rich Kushel as head of portfolio management and Charles Hallac as chief operating officer, reshaping its leadership team after the purchase of Barclays Global Investors.
BlackRock Inc.'s iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund Ticker:(EEM) had net inflows of $1.7 billion in June, compared with $787.7 million for Vanguard's Emerging Markets ETF Ticker:(VWO).
BlackRock Inc. is seeking regulatory clearance to create exchange-traded funds that can bet against stocks or bonds, as the $826 billion industry's largest player seeks new products to boost revenue.
Trademark lawsuit could make it harder to pick meaningful abbreviations; 'rush for good ticker symbols' coming?
Pimco's Bill Gross, who's been touting the virtues of fixed-income investments for nearly forty years, is now talking up stocks. Why is that?
Discount broker ups the ante after offering commission-free trades online seven months ago
Russell Investments moved a step closer to becoming an exchange-traded-fund provider yesterday when it announced that it has appointed James Polisson managing director of its global ETF business and Andrew Arenberg managing director of global ETF distribution.
The three firm companies join the growing number of firms looking to get into the active ETF area.
As regulators and stock exchanges try to figure out what caused the 1,000-point stock market drop May 6, exchange-traded-fund providers are doing damage control.
As regulators and stock exchange officials discuss putting rules in place to make sure that the market volatility of May 6 never happens again, exchange-traded-fund providers are making sure considerations are made for their offerings
Individual investors are bailing out of the market. Meanwhile, mutual funds and other institutional investors are buying stock like crazy. What gives?
