As the need for truly unbiased asset management becomes increasingly popular, registered investment advisors (RIAs) are looking for innovative ways to best serve their clientele. With markets facing longer-term volatility, this is an opportune time for advisors to demonstrate their true added value. In an effort to shine a light on RIAs, FINTRX explores five California-based registered investment advisors (RIAs) with over 100 billion in assets under management (AUM).
Quick Review: What is an RIA?
In general terms, a registered investment advisor (RIA) is a firm advising or managing the wealth of high net-worth individuals or institutions. Directly regulated by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), RIAs offer a wide range of financial services - from wealth and investment management to direct lending and personal finance education, etc. An important distinction regarding RIAs is the fiduciary obligation to always act in the best interest of their clients.
For more information on RIAs, check out our recent blog post: Exploring the Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) Channel, or visit our Resource Library below.
In an effort to shine a light on RIAs, FINTRX explores five California-based registered investment advisors (RIAs) with over 100 billion in assets under management (AUM).
With roots dating back to 1930, Dodge & Cox is a San Francisco, CA-based investment management business providing investment management to institutions and individuals through separately managed portfolios, UCITS funds and mutual funds. The firm's philosophy is to construct and manage a quality portfolio selected through fundamental, bottom-up analysis. By combining independent research with a long-term investment horizon, the firm can uncover and act upon inefficiencies in the markets. Dodge & Cox provides a disciplined investment approach, guided by the following principles: a long-term investment horizon, independent bottom-up research and portfolio diversification.
Quick Hitters:
- Founded: 1930
- Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
- Type: Privately Held
- Total Employees: 270
- Investment Professionals: 93
- Discretionary Assets: ~3.24B
- Non-Discretionary Assets: ~2B
- Offers U.S., global and international equity, fixed income and balanced account management to institutions, individuals, UCITS funds and mutual funds
Founded in 2009, DoubleLine Capital is a Los Angeles, CA-based investment management firm and investment advisor. DoubleLine manages several types of investment vehicles including mutual funds, sub-advisory firms, separate accounts, closed-end funds, private funds, non-U.S. vehicles, UCITs and active ETFs. The firm offers a wide array of investment strategies run by an experienced team of portfolio managers that have worked together for many years, employing active risk management, in-depth research and savvy product solutions. Investment processes vary in adaptation to the particulars of asset class and strategy.
Quick Hitters:
- Founded: 2009
- Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
- Type: Privately Held
- Total Employees: 269
- Investment Professionals: 106
- Discretionary Assets: ~148B
- Non-Discretionary Assets: 0
- Emphasizes the importance of security selection, trade execution, portfolio construction, sector allocation and ownership structure
Established in 1983, Payden & Rygel is a Los Angeles, CA-based global investment advisor with additional offices in Boston, London and Milan. As a leader in the management of fixed income and equity portfolios, the firm advises institutions and individuals on the global economy and capital markets. 100% of the company is owned by senior portfolio managers and executives involved in the day-to-day direction of the firm. This independence provides clients with a high level of customization and access to an array of investment resources. As of September 2020, Payden & Rygel serve approximately 405 clients worldwide.
Quick Hitters:
- Founded: 1983
- Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
- Type: Privately Held
- Total Employees: 187
- Investment Professionals: 120
- Discretionary Assets: ~116.5B
- Non-Discretionary Assets: ~500M
- Strategies fall under four main categories: fixed income, equity, absolute return, and balanced (employed using customized separate accounts, US mutual funds, or Dublin-based UCITS funds)
Established in 1989, SageView Advisory Group, LLC is an independent Registered Investment Advisor with over 140 employees located in 25 offices nationwide. The firm provides unbiased retirement plans and wealth management services to clients throughout the United States. With headquarters in Irvine, CA, the group advises on 401(k), 403(b), 457, defined benefit and deferred compensation plans, and currently consult on more than $101B+ in retirement plan assets.
Quick Hitters:
- Founded: 1989
- Headquarters: Irvine, California
- Type: Privately Held
- Total Employees: 124
- Investment Professionals: 74
- Discretionary Assets: ~6B
- Non-Discretionary Assets: ~107B
- Specialties include retirement plan and investment consulting, fiduciary risk management, plan design and actuarial consulting
Established in 1997, Ares Management Corporation is a Los Angeles, CA-based publicly traded, alternative asset manager with over 25+ offices throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australia. The firm adheres to a disciplined investment philosophy that focuses on delivering strong risk-adjusted investment returns throughout market cycles. Specialties include private equity, credit, real estate, strategic initiatives, alternative asset management, investment management and direct lending. Ares Management considers itself a market leader based on assets under management and investment performance.
Quick Hitters:
- Founded: 1997
- Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
- Type: Public Company
- Total Employees: 1,130
- Investment Professionals: 557
- Discretionary Assets: ~99B
- Non-Discretionary Assets: ~3B
- Specialties include private equity, credit, real estate, strategic initiatives, alternative asset management, investment management and direct lending
FINTRX delivers an industry-leading suite of family office data and research solutions to the alternative wealth space and private capital markets. Engineered to help our clients identify and access family office capital in an intuitive and efficient manner, the FINTRX family office platform offers accurate family office data and research, built with a bottom-up approach.