Goldman Sachs is best suited for high-net-worth individuals and institutions seeking sophisticated investment strategies and personalized advisory services, while Vanguard is a better choice for investors looking for low-cost investment options and a client-focused approach, especially those with smaller portfolios.
| Attribute | Goldman Sachs | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Assets Under Management (AUM) | Over $233 billion to $1.7 trillion | Approximately $7.6 trillion |
| Investment Strategies Offered | Discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, equities, fixed income, alternatives, structured investments, ETFs, mutual funds, private equity, custom investment vehicles, fundamental and quantitative approaches, systematic indices and strategies, tax-advantaged equity strategies. | Low-cost index funds and ETFs, actively managed funds, ESG-focused funds |
| Expense Ratios (for Funds) | 1.42% for Goldman Sachs Global Small Cap Core Equity Portfolio, Class Base Shares (as of 2024) | Average 0.1%; ETFs average around 0.06%, Admiral Shares around 0.14%, and Investor Shares around 0.27% |
| Customer Service Quality | Elite reputation for trustworthiness and excellent customer service | Mixed reviews; some find phone support helpful, others report long wait times and inconsistent service. Investing in technology to improve online self-service options. |
| Advisory Services Available | Investment banking, wealth management, retirement accounts and plans, tax coordination, trust and estate services, family office services, philanthropic advisory, cybersecurity and physical security coordination, health and wellness advisory, art strategy and collection management, financial planning for employees. | Vanguard Digital Advisor (robo-advisor), Vanguard Personal Advisor (professional financial advisors with automated investing), Vanguard Personal Advisor Select (custom investment and financial planning with a dedicated CFP ), Vanguard Personal Advisor Wealth Management (advice for high-net-worth individuals) |
| Minimum Investment Amounts | Generally requires clients to have at least $10 million invested. Advisory account: $1.1 million under management or a net worth exceeding $2.2 million. Private wealth management: $25 million in investable assets. | ETFs: None; Investor Shares: $1,000 - $3,000; Admiral Shares: $3,000 - $100,000; Institutional Shares: $5 million |
| Technological Platform & Tools | Marquee (digital platform for institutional and corporate clients), GS AI Platform, Legend data management system, GS AI Assistant. | Modernizing its technology platform, offers a mobile app and website for account management |
| Research & Analysis Resources | Global Investment Research provides insights and analysis of economic, market and company forecasts, and models. Equity Research team covers a wide range of industries and companies. Economic Research team provides analysis and forecasts of macroeconomic trends and policy issues. | Educational resources, including blogs, news articles, social media content, research papers, and videos |
| Financial Advisor Accessibility | Team of over 2,400 professional financial advisors; low client-to-advisor ratio | Varies depending on the advisory service. Personal Advisor offers access to financial advisors, while Digital Advisor is primarily automated. |
| Reputation & Track Record | Strong reputation in the investment banking sector, known for delivering superior returns, ranked twenty-third on Forbes’ Global 2000 list in 2024. | Strong reputation for low-cost investing and a client-focused approach |
| Account Types Supported | Marcus savings accounts and certificates of deposit | Standard brokerage accounts (non-retirement, Roth, traditional, and SEP-IRA, UGMA, UTMA, and education savings accounts), SIMPLE IRAs, 403(b) plans, 401(k) and Individual Roth 401(k) plans, Personal Pension, Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior ISA, General Account |
| Educational Resources for Investors | Goldman Sachs Investment University (GSIU), educational content to help investors navigate today's markets, comprehensive digital portal providing access to live, virtual and interactive content, financial resources and guides available through Marcus by Goldman Sachs. | Extensive educational resources to help investors make informed decisions |