Investment firms manage money on behalf of individuals, businesses or institutions with the goal of generating a return on investment. Also known as asset management firms, these companies grow their client’s portfolio by investing in stocks, bonds or alternative asset classes. They typically provide wealth management and financial planning services as well. In this article, we’ll highlight the largest investment firms based on the amount of assets under management.
Largest Investment Firms
- Vanguard Group
- Street Global Advisors
- Fidelity Investments
- UBS
- Goldman Sachs
- Capital Group
- Morgan Stanley
- BNY Mellon
Largest Investment Firms to Know
Founded in 1975 in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Vanguard created the first first index mutual fund, popularizing the strategy of long-term, passive investing with broad market exposure. One of the leading providers of index funds and exchange-traded funds, the investor-owned firm assists clients with asset management, financial planning and brokerage services. The firm has more than 50 million investors and more than $10.1 trillion under management.
State Street Investment Management (formerly known as State Street Global Advisors) is the asset management arm of State Street. It’s the fourth largest asset manager in the world, with more than $5.1 trillion in assets under management. Founded in 1978, the Boston-based company created the first ETF in 1993. Known as the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust — and trading under the symbol SPY — it remains the world’s most traded ETF, according to the company.
Fidelity Investments is the third-largest asset manager in the world, with $5.9 trillion under management as of February 2025. Founded in 1946, the Boston-based company provides individuals with low-cost brokerage and retirement accounts, as well as wealth management, portfolio management and robo-advisor services. It also offers ETFs, mutual funds and other investment products, and it administers 401(k) plans and other workplace savings programs.
UBS, one of the world’s largest wealth managers, is the largest bank in Switzerland. With $6.1 trillion in invested assets, the firm offers investment solutions across equities, fixed income, hedge funds and real estate assets. It also offers hundreds of ETFs and mutual funds across a wide spectrum of asset classes. The company has more than 350 wealth management offices in more than 50 countries.
Amundi, part of Crédit Agricole Group, manages $2.6 trillion in assets for 100 million retail, institutional and corporate clients in more than 35 countries. The firm allows clients to invest in ETFs, as well as equities, fixed income and alternative assets like real estate, private equity and private debt. It also offers technological systems for data management, portfolio management and robo-advisor services.
Invesco is an independent investment management firm founded in Atlanta in 1935. The company offers ETFs, mutual funds and closed-end funds with exposure to equities, bonds, commodities and other assets. With $2 trillion in assets under management, the firm has 8,500 employees and services clients in more than 120 countries.
PGIM Investments, Prudential Financial’s asset management division, is the 12th largest asset manager in the world, managing 20 of the largest 25 public U.S. pension plans, according to its website. With $1.5 trillion under management, it offers ETFs, mutual funds and target date funds. The company consists of subsidiaries specializing in equity, fixed income, real estate and other asset classes.
Munich-based Allianz is one of the world’s largest insurance and asset management firms, managing roughly $2.2 trillion in assets between its asset management division, Allianz Global Investors, and PIMCO, its U.S.-based asset management division headquartered in Newport Beach, California. PIMCO manages numerous funds, including popular bond funds, as well as ETFs. AGI, meanwhile, offers exposure to equities and fixed income, as well as private market asset classes like infrastructure and private credit.
Founded in 1889, Northern Trust is a Chicago-based firm that works with individuals and institutional investors. Its clients have access to mutual funds invested in equities, fixed income, cash, real assets and multi-asset strategies. Its wealth management advisors work with high-net worth individuals and families to develop custom investment portfolios aligned with their financial goals. The firm has 23,000 employees and $1.6 trillion under management.
The history of Bank of New York, or BNY, traces back to 1789, when Alexander Hamilton established the Bank of New York. Today, with $2.1 trillion in assets under management, BNY’s investment management division offers mutual funds and ETFs that expose investors to equities, fixed income and alternative asset classes. The bank also offers wealth management services, like estate planning and business succession solutions.
Founded in 1935, Morgan Stanley’s investment management division alone has $1.6 trillion in assets under management. Its investment solutions involve equities, fixed income products, liquidity markets and alternative investments, such as private equity, private credit and real estate. The New York-based company also offers wealth management for individuals and investment banking services that assist institutional investors with mergers, IPOs and access to capital markets.
Goldman Sachs, founded in 1869, offers asset management, wealth management and investment banking services. Headquartered in New York City, the company’s asset management division has more than $2.9 trillion in assets under supervision. Its investing solutions include equities, fixed income and ETFs, as well as alternative asset classes such as private equity, hedge funds and real estate.
Capital Group, founded in 1931, is best known for its American Funds line of mutual funds that tap into equities, bonds and other asset classes. It also offers several ETFs and other investment products. The company, which is headquartered in Los Angeles, has more than 9,300 employees, 363 portfolio managers and analysts and more than $2.8 trillion in assets under management.
Franklin Templeton, which was founded in 1947, comprises 10 investment management subsidiaries — each with their own specialty in equity, fixed income, alternative asset classes or multi-asset solutions. With $1.6 trillion in assets under management, the company has a full range of investment solutions and a broad selection of funds. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, the company employs more than 1,600 investment professionals around the world.
Geode Capital Management was founded by Fidelity Investments in 2001 to test new quantitative trading strategies. The Boston-headquartered company was spun off two years later in 2003. With $1.7 trillion in assets under management, the company invests in commodities and equities, including the use of options strategies. The firm describes its approach as team-based, systematic and risk-managed.
Founded in 1894, Minneapolis-based Ameriprise Financial pairs clients with one of its 10,000 financial advisors to develop a personalized investment strategy. The company, which has $1.4 trillion in assets under management and administration, offers expertise in stocks, bonds, mutual funds and managed accounts. It also offers insurance and banking services.
Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Investment Managers, is part of Groupe BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. The company, which has more than $1.4 trillion under management, offers more than 200 investment strategies across its eight subsidiaries. It announced in January 2025 that it would merge with Italian investment firm Generali, making it Europe’s largest asset manager — and the ninth largest in the world — with a combined $2.2 trillion in assets under management.
T. Rowe Price, a Baltimore firm founded in 1937, works with individuals, corporations and institutional investors in more than 50 countries. With $1.67 trillion under management, the company offers actively managed ETFs and mutual funds invested in equities, fixed income and private equity. It has also developed an assortment of target-date solutions to help individuals save for retirement.
Nuveen is a subsidiary of TIAA, a large provider of retirement plans in the educational, medical and governmental sectors. Founded in 1898, the Chicago-based company manages $1.3 trillion in public and private assets for clients around the world. With a particular focus on municipal bonds, Nuveen offers access to equities, fixed income, real estate and private capital through mutual funds, ETFs and other investment vehicles.
Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Westlake, Texas, Charles Schwab is perhaps best known for its brokerage services, trading platforms and wealth advisory services — but it also has an asset management division that offers a variety of investment solutions, including managed portfolios. With more than $1 trillion under management, Schwab is the world’s third largest provider of index mutual funds and fifth largest provider of ETFs, according to its website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the largest investment firms in the world?
The world’s largest investment firms, based on assets under management, are BlackRock, Vanguard Group, Fidelity Investments, State Street Global Advisors, J.P Morgan Asset Management and Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
What types of services do the largest investment firms offer?
The largest investment firms offer asset management, wealth management, retirement planning and access to mutual funds, ETFs and alternative asset classes like private equity and real estate. Some firms specialize in actively managed strategies, while others are known for passive investment strategies.
Are large investment firms safe to invest with?
Large investment firms are generally considered safe due to their size, diversified holdings and regulatory oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). To reduce risk exposure, investors should thoroughly research investment firms and their financial products.
What is the difference between an investment firm and a brokerage?
A brokerage firm acts as a client’s intermediary in trading equities and other assets, while an investment firm typically manages a client’s portfolio for them. An investment firm or asset management firm partners with a client in managing their investment, whereas a brokerage firm may leave investment strategy in the hands of the client.
