Goldman Sachs said Thursday it won deals to manage a combined $70 billion in retirement assets for Verizon Communications and Lockheed Martin, marking one of the larger recent announcements in the fast-growing market for outsourced corporate investing. The mandates include about $30 billion in Verizon and Lockheed Martin pension assets and $40 billion in Verizon defined‑contribution retirement assets, which are typically 401(k)s, according to Goldman.
The moves underscore how some of America’s largest employers are increasingly handing responsibility for retirement assets to outside firms as portfolios become more complex and require expertise across public and private markets. Competition in the multitrillion-dollar market for retirement assets is fierce among managers including Goldman, BlackRock, Russell Investments and Mercer, because long‑term institutional mandates generate steady fee revenue.
By expanding this business, Goldman hopes to grow a share of revenues that are viewed as stable and recurring, in contrast to the more volatile trading and investment banking operations. “Large plan sponsors are consolidating responsibilities with one partner with the investment expertise and depth of platform to manage their bespoke needs,” said Marc Nachmann, Goldman’s global head of asset and wealth management, in a statement.
Goldman’s outsourced chief investment officer business had about $480 billion in assets as of March 31, while the firm’s broader asset and wealth management division oversees roughly $3.7 trillion of investments.
CNBC noted the announcement as part of Goldman’s ongoing efforts to capture more of the outsourced asset-management market, where deals with large corporate sponsors can deliver steady, long‑term revenue across public and private markets.
