What can you tell me about BlackRock?

They handle all of State Farm's mutual funds, IRA's, and other investments. I know this because I used to work for State Farm.
I know BlackRock is a HUGE investment firm/company and they know what the hell they are doing.

Side note: don't ever buy State Farm's financial products. State Farm's fees are through the roof compared to the rest of the industry.

About BlackRock

Every Fund BlackRock Has

I can tell you google will say more.

Great mutual fund company.

Stellar equity fund performances. Slightly sub-par fixed income performances. I love MDLOX as a foundation for a portfolio.

MDLOX is fairly risky to me with 35% junk. I am also not fond of 5.25% front load.


MDDVX is well known, but again with a 5.25% load.

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As of December 31, 2012, BlackRock's assets under management total US$3.792 trillion

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That's trillion with a T.

The US federal budget in 2012 was $3.796 trillion. They manage more money than the GDP of any nation other than the US, Japan or China.

In other words, Blackrock is fricking enormous.

How hard is it to get a job at BlackRock? Are they more or less difficult to get into than the big investment banks?

quote:

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And to this day, the average American doesn't have a clue who they are, mostly because Blackrock doesn't do direct retail all that much.

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The average non CBNC or PGA tourney-watching American probably doesn't know what Vanguard or T Rowe Price are, either.

I was actually curious to see what their retail/institutional breakdown is, and found this article: LINK

It definitely makes sense, given that I've seen a couple of Blackrock commercials for the first time ever recently.

Bob Doll was head equity strategist at BLK until November 2012. His exit was kind of hush hush. He had long history with Merrill Lynch then BlackRock. I followed/invested in his recommendations when he was with Merrill. He has a good hand at stock picking. Doll is now with Nuveen. Strange move. An investment in BLK, the stock has performed well for me since investing last fall. Most things have done well during that time frame however.