Welcome back. It's Dan DeFrancesco checking in from NYC.
Today we've got stories on a tech strategy at Vanguard that's helping it cut costs, a surprise visitor at a well-known Wall Street conference, and one of the more creative heists you'll ever see.
But first, welcome to the new age at Bridgewater.
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1. Bridgewater's brand new look. When it comes to the world of hedge funds, there's arguably no bigger name than Ray Dalio.
Mets fans and meme-stock enthusiasts might have some different folks in mind, but it's tough to make a better case for the top spot than the guy who founded the largest hedge fund in the world.
It's not just the fact that Dalio grew Bridgewater Associates to the $150 billion behemoth that it is today. It's how he did it.
Dalio's management style of "radical transparency" amounts to giving feedback in real-time and strict punishments for those who talk behind colleagues back. And while that might seem like an episode of "Black Mirror" to some, others seem to really dig it. (Dalio even created a personality test you can take, if that's your type of thing.)
So when Dalio announced he had given up control of the firm in October, officially handing over the reins to Nir Bar Dea and Mark Bertolini, Bridgewater's co-CEOs, people were intrigued. Would there be a new-look Bridgewater?
Dalio has said the framework he's spent nearly 50 years building will remain in place after he's gone, comparing it to the US and the constitution. However, he was hardly out the door before Dea hinted at some changes in the works at the firm.
To be sure, Bridgewater isn't the only hedge fund in the midst of a changing of the guard. We mapped out some of the biggest succession plans across the industry. But Bridgewater's size and culture make for a unique use case in how succession plans play out in the hedge-fund world.
If I had earned and achieved what Dalio had at his age (73), the only thing I'd be concerned about is which one of my bathing suits I'd wear to the beach every day. But that's not how people like Dalio are built, which is why all eyes will be on the next few years at Bridgewater without the founder at the helm.
In the meantime, get up to speed on the new top faces at Bridgewater with this story mapping out the 11 key executives bringing in a new era at the firm.
In other news:
2. Inside Vanguard's big cloud push. Vanguard CTO Michael Carr spoke to Insider about the role the public cloud plays in the firm's tech strategy, including how it's helped the massive asset manager realize savings of roughly 30%. Here's how they've done it.
3. A fintech whose backers include Maria Sharapova, Will Smith, and Tony Hawk is eyeing Europe. Public.com, which was last valued at $1.2 billion and is also backed by Tiger Global, is launching in European markets next year. This is everything we know about its plans.
4. An event run by billionaire Ron Baron had a surprise guest. Elon Musk, who isn't in the midst of anything big or important these days, popped in to speak at the annual conference for clients of Baron Capital. Here's what Musk had to say about the Twitter deal.
5. The sharks see blood in the water. Avenue Capital CEO Marc Lasry, who specializes in high-interest rate loans to distressed borrowers, sees plenty of opportunity as the economy worsens.
6. The dispute between billionaire Dan Och and Sculptor Capital Management doesn't seem like it'll be cooling off anytime soon. Och showed no signs of backing down, disagreeing with a statement made by the board in defense of its CEO, Jimmy Levin, Bloomberg reports. Get up to speed on the latest.
7. Credit Suisse is the latest bank planning to make cuts. The firm is set to reduce headcount within its global wealth management business, according to Bloomberg. Here's what is reportedly planned.
8. The case of the vanishing vino. Thieves made off with $200,000 worth of high-end wine from a Michelin-star restaurant in Madrid. Find out more about the type of heist that would make Danny Ocean proud.
9. We had someone watch a movie that so violent it reportedly makes audiences pass out. Eammon Jacobs shares his thoughts on "Terrifier 2." Don't even bother clicking if you value your sleep.
10. A key force behind Florida governor Ron DeSantis' meteoric rise has largely flown under the radar: his wife. Meet Casey DeSantis, who one insider labeled as the state's "co-governor."
Keep updated with the latest business news throughout your day by checking out The Refresh from Insider, a dynamic audio news brief. Listen here.
Edited by Jeffrey Cane (tweet @jeffrey_cane) and Lisa Ryan (tweet @lisarya) in New York.
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