If you’ve ever wondered who Ray Dalio is, you’re not alone. The Founder of the world’s largest hedge fund has accumulated a net worth of $17.7 billion as of 2018. Known as one of the world’s most successful investors, Dalio has also committed to give away half of his net worth to charity throughout his lifetime. To help him achieve this, he’s set up the Ray Dalio Foundation.
Founder of the world’s largest hedge fund
Investing in stocks and commodities is one way to make a killing, and billionaire Ray Dalio may have mastered this strategy. Dalio started out by trading stocks, and he soon moved into commodity futures. Commodity futures appealed to him due to their low margin requirements. He saw an opportunity to profit from a small investment. Now, he has a team of people devoted to helping investors make millions of dollars.
While studying at Harvard Business School, Ray Dalio traded commodities for his own account. After graduating, he began working in the commodities department of Shearson Hayden Stone, which was then run by Sanford Weill. He advised grain and cattle producers on commodity prices. While working for Weill, he once slugged his departmental boss during New Year’s Eve.
Expert in commodities trading
A billionaire investor and entrepreneur, Ray Dalio is known for his success in commodities trading. He describes himself as a “big-picture thinker” who is a “street-smart trader.” While many economists focus on macroeconomics and aggregate statistics, Dalio’s approach involves analyzing specific industries and identifying buyers and sellers. He uses these figures to determine the right price and leverage his money.
Unlike most investors, Ray Dalio does not rely on the advice of others. He lives by his own principles and believes in the power of “dreaming big.” He is a big believer in prioritising, “prioritizing,” and “causal relationships.”
During the financial crisis, Ray Dalio issued a twenty-page essay, “A Template For Understanding What’s Going On,” where he argued that the economy was experiencing a “deleveraging” process, where people stopped borrowing and rebuilt their savings. His analysis was not uncommon, as economic growth had stagnated for three years. He continued to assess the situation and despaired as Lehman Brothers sunk into bankruptcy.
Macroeconomic advisor
In a recent interview with Forbes magazine, Ray Dalio discussed the confluence of political and economic conditions. In particular, he noted the huge debts and near-zero interest rates that led to the massive printing of money in major reserve currencies. These policies led to the widening of the wealth gap and have fueled social and political conflict. Meanwhile, China has become an economic powerhouse, challenging the U.S. hegemony.
While most investors need to have some cash on hand, cash can still offer low returns but is invaluable in the event of a financial emergency. Hence, Dalio’s preference for the Chinese market. While he is wary of bonds today, he developed an allocation method called the All Weather, which consists of thirty percent U.S. stocks, 40% long-term Treasury bonds, 15% intermediate-term Treasury bonds, and 7.5% gold and diversified commodities. This allocation is relatively aggressive, and requires a significant learning curve. However, there are numerous benefits to it.
Meditation practitioner
The world’s largest hedge fund manager, Ray Dalio, is a big believer in the benefits of meditation. He credits his success to TM, which involves repeating a mantra for twenty minutes twice a day. Unlike traditional meditation, TM involves no special postures or movements. The only thing required is a quiet place and the ability to close your eyes and focus on a mantra. The cost of a TM course is anywhere between $380 and $960.
During his meditation sessions, Dalio tries to avoid writing down his ideas, saying that he needs to focus on the present moment. He has found that it has transformed his outlook on life, making him more clear-headed and thoughtful. His company, Bridgewater, manages more than $150 billion in assets. It’s easy to see how this might work for Dalio. It has already helped him become one of the most respected names in the business world.