This review was produced by SmartAsset based on publicly available information. The named firm and its financial professionals have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed this review and are not responsible for its accuracy. Review content is produced by SmartAsset independently of any business relationships that might exist between SmartAsset and the named firm and its financial professionals, and firms and financial professionals having business relationships with SmartAsset receive no special treatment or consideration in SmartAsset’s reviews. This page contains links to SmartAsset’s financial advisor matching tool, which may or may not match you with the firm mentioned in this review or its financial professionals.
Bridgewater Associates, LP is an investment management firm with more than $15billion in assets under management (AUM). It currently manages a total of 66pooled investment vehicles, 36 of which arehedge funds. The firm currently employs357 advisors.
It's important to understand that hedge funds are often complex, loosely regulated investments and therefore only accessible to accredited investors. If you're looking fortrustedand comprehensivesupport in managing your own finances, consider speaking to aprofessional financial advisor.
Bridgewater Associates Background
Bridgewater started its investment operations in 1975 and initially provided consulting services in global markets. Currently, the firm's primary focus is institutional portfolio management. The firm also publishes a flagship research publication called The Bridgewater Daily Observations.
The firm has two direct owners: Bridgewater Associates Intermediate Holdings, LP (which is a general partner and limited partner of Bridgewater) and TrustCo LLC (a limited partner of Bridgewater). Intermediate Holdings is the only member of TrustCo; as a result, it is effectively the sole direct owner of the Bridgewater firm. The firm's headquarters are located in Westport, Connecticut.
The firm provides investment management services primarily to institutional clients, including but not limited to corporate and public pension funds, foreign governments and central banks, university endowments, charitable foundations, family offices, funds of funds and similar third party entities, as well asUnion/Taft Hartley plans. It provides servicesthrough both managed accounts and commingled fund vehicles. The firm does not have any individual clients. It generally requires clients to have a minimum of $7.5 billion of investable assets.
Bridgewater Associates Investment Philosophy
Bridgewater has several strategies: Pure Alpha, Pure Alpha Major Markets, All Weather and Optimal Portfolio.
The firm has been managing its Pure Alpha strategy since 1991. This strategy is designed to generate the highest return-to-risk ratio possible through active management. The firm seeks to achieve this goal by trading a highly diversified set liquid global markets. This strategy is designed to work with a range of volatility and based on parameters of the clients' choosing. The strategy is based on 45 years of combined research into the fundamental drivers of global markets. Furthermore, the firm implements it through a systematic process. It believes that the strategy takes advantage of spreading risk across many diversifying trading strategies.
Alpha Major Markets is a global active investment strategy that the firm has been managing since 2010. It is designed to generate high return-to-risk ratio through active management while being unrelated to markets and other managers. Alpha Major Markets is an extension of the firm'sPure Alpha strategy.
All Weather is Bridgewater's optimal beta portfolio and it has been managing this since 1996. It offers what the firm believes is the highest ratioof return-to-risk for a strategic asset allocation.
Finally, the Optimal Portfolio combines Bridgewater's best understanding of both beta and alphastrategiesinto a total returnportfolio. It is designed to produce a higher return-to-risk ratio and to maximize wealth overtime. (Generally, an alpha structure measures how a specific investment performs relative to its market. A beta structure reflects how much exposure an investment has to general market risk.)
Of course, all current and potential clients should be aware that no investment strategy can guarantee againstriskof loss.
Largest Hedge Funds Managed byBridgewater Associates
Bridgewater Pure Alpha Trading Company II, Ltd.
- AUM:$40,529,127,681
- Minimum:$10 million
- Beneficial Owners:222
All Weather Portfolio Trading, LLC
- AUM:$36,831,567,971
- Minimum:$10 million
- Beneficial Owners:94
Bridgewater All Weather Plus Fund, Ltd.
- AUM:$10,423,851,228
- Minimum:$10 million
- Beneficial Owners:1
Bridgewater International Inflation-Linked Bond Fund Trading Company, Ltd.
- AUM:$7,973,545,833
- Minimum:$100,000
- Beneficial Owners:9
All Weather@12% Trading, Ltd.
- AUM:$7,971,064,390
- Minimum:$10 million
- Beneficial Owners:31
Fees atBridgewater Associates
Fees at Bridgewater associates are negotiable. Individual arrangements are based on client-specific factors. Fees at the firm vary by strategy and may involve management fees (which are a percentage of assets under management),performance fees(which are a percentage of profits) or some combination of the two.
With regard to new client relationships, the firm's standard minimum fee is expected to be $500,000 for its All Weather strategy, $6 million for its Pure Alpha and Pure Alpha Major Markets strategies and $2.7 million for Optimal Portfolio. Bridgewater funds often invest in other Bridgewater funds, but there is no layering of fees.
Besides external investors, investments in Bridgewater funds may be made by certain employees and officers of the firm.These particular individualsgenerally will not be charged management fees or profit participation fees. However, they will be subject to the same rights and obligations as those of the other investors.
Beyond this, other additional fees and expenses may apply - including but not limited to registration fees, maintenance fees, certain taxes and regulatory expenses - so it is imperative that potential and existing clients read the offering documents carefully and reach out about specific fees charged to their fund.
What to Watch Out For
Again, it's important to understand that hedge funds are often complex, loosely regulated investments and therefore accessible only toaccredited investors. Such investors differ from retail investors orindividual investors, who might be taking a more DIY approachorenlisting the services of a financial advisor.
Within the past 10 years,Bridgewater Associateshas not undergone any disciplinary or legal action deemed material to a client’s evaluation of its business integrity. That said, as an SEC-registered investment manager, the firm is legally obligated to uphold itsfiduciary dutyand work in clients’ best interests at all times. You can view its latestForm ADVon the official website of the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).
Becoming a Client ofBridgewater Associates
If you are an accredited investor and wish to become a client of Bridgewater Associates, you canvisit the firm's websiteor call(203) 226-3030.
- Whether you are an accredited or sophisticated investor or not, it never hurts to consult a professional to make sure you're doing everything you can tomanage your finances so that they can work for you. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard.SmartAsset's free toolmatches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals,get started now.
- It's never too early - or too late, for that matter - to start investing. In addition to connecting you withexpert advisors, SmartAsset also has various tools to help you get a snapshot of the numbers right now. Take a look atour free investment calculatorfor a sense of how much a particular investment might be worth as well as its growth over time.
How Long $1mm Lasts in Retirement
SmartAsset's interactive map highlights places where $1 million will last the longest in retirement. Zoom between states and the national map to see the top spots in each region. Also, scroll over any city to learn about the cost of living in retirement for that location.
Least
Most
| Rank | City | Housing Expenses | Food Expenses | Healthcare Expenses | Utilities Expenses | Transportation Expenses |
|---|
Methodology We analyzed data on average expenditures for seniors, cost of living and investment returns to determine how many years of retirement a $1 million nest egg would cover in cities across America.
First, we looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the average annual expenditures of seniors. We then applied cost of living data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to adjust those national average spending levels based on the costs of each expense category (housing, food, healthcare, utilities, transportation and other) in each city. Using this data, SmartAsset calculated the average cost of living for retirees in the largest U.S. cities.
We assumed the $1 million would grow at a real return (interest minus inflation) of 2%. Then, we divided $1 million by the sum of each of those annual numbers to determine how long $1 million would cover retirement expenses in each of the cities in our study. Cities where $1 million lasted the longest ranked the highest in the study.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Council for Community and Economic Research
