Ken Fisher Investments: A Legacy of Wealth Creation

Ken Fisher Investments has a long history of creating wealth for its clients. Founded by Ken Fisher in 1979, the company has grown into a global investment management firm with over $50 billion in assets under management.

Ken Fisher's investment philosophy is based on a value investing approach, which involves buying undervalued companies with strong fundamentals. This approach has been successful for Fisher's clients, with the firm's flagship fund, the Fisher Value Fund, delivering impressive returns over the years.

Fisher's approach is centered around identifying companies with strong balance sheets, competitive advantages, and growing earnings. He also looks for companies with a history of paying consistent dividends, as these tend to be more stable and less vulnerable to market fluctuations.

The firm's commitment to value investing has paid off, with Fisher's clients experiencing significant returns over the years.

Ken Fisher is the founder and chairman of Fisher Investments, an independent money management firm he started in 1979 with just $250.

He founded the firm in 1979, incorporated in 1986, and was CEO until July 2016, when he was succeeded by long-time employee Damian Ornani.

Fisher comes from a family of investors, being the son of influential stock investor Philip A. Fisher.

He dropped out of high school and went to Cal Poly Humboldt to study forestry, and graduated with an associate degree in economics in 1972.

Fisher has grown Fisher Investments to over $275 billion in assets under management by 2024, making it one of the largest independent money managers in the world.

In June 2024, Fisher Investments announced a minority stake sale to Advent International and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, valuing the company at about $13 billion.

Fisher remains active as the firm's executive chairman and co-chief investment officer, and will retain majority beneficial ownership and more than 70% of the voting shares following the sale.

Ken Fisher's investment approach is built on a fundamental belief in capitalism and how free markets function. He believes that supply and demand are the sole determinants of securities pricing and capital markets are relatively efficient discounters of widely-known information.

Fisher's research has been instrumental in identifying the price-to-sales ratio (PSR) as a forecasting tool, which he first detailed in his 1984 book Super Stocks. However, he later stated that the PSR is no longer as useful as an indicator for undervalued stocks, as it has become widely used and known.

Fisher Investments operates on the core principles of seeking out information that is not widely known, or interpreting widely-known information uniquely, in order to add value. This approach has led to the development of distinct investment styles and cycles, which have become the foundation for various strategies for institutional clients.

At Fisher Investments, research is a core component of their investment approach. Ken Fisher pioneered the use of the Price to Sales Ratio in the early 1980s, which is a tool for financial investment analysis.

Fisher Investments used the Price to Sales Ratio to help manage small capitalization portfolios for institutional investors. This marked the beginning of their commitment to research-driven investment strategies.

The company's research contributed to the recognition of distinct investment styles and cycles in the early 1990s. This led to the development of a series of strategies for institutional clients.

Fisher Investments began focusing on behavioral finance in the late 1990s, studying how investors use financial tools and make investment decisions. This understanding has been applied in their portfolio management process.

Fisher Investments is a well-established money management firm founded by Ken Fisher in 1979. It's been a long time coming, but the firm has grown significantly since its inception.

Ken Fisher served as CEO until July 2016, when he was succeeded by Damian Ornani, a long-time employee. Fisher remains active as the firm's executive chairman and co-chief investment officer.

Fisher Investments made headlines in June 2024 with the announcement of a minority stake purchase by Advent International and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The deal valued the company at about $13 billion and was the first outside investment in the firm.

Ken Fisher will retain majority beneficial ownership and more than 70% of the voting shares following the sale. The transaction is expected to be completed in 2024.

Here are some key facts about Fisher Investments:

Fisher Investments is a global investment management firm with a significant global footprint. They have a large team of investment experts who provide personalized investment advice to their clients.

Fisher Investments has over 200 investment professionals on staff, including portfolio managers, research analysts, and investment specialists. They are known for their expertise in global investing and have a strong track record of helping clients achieve their financial goals.

The firm has a global presence with offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia, allowing them to serve clients from around the world. Fisher Investments has a significant client base, with thousands of individual and institutional clients trusting them with their investments.

Fisher Investments is a private company, owned by Ken Fisher, the founder and CEO, and his family. Ken Fisher is a well-respected figure in the investment industry, known for his contrarian investment approach and his ability to provide clear and concise investment advice.

In October 2019, Ken Fisher was criticized for his comments made during a fireside chat at an industry conference.

Fisher's comments were reported to be off-color, with Bloomberg initially stating that he likened winning money-management clients to "trying to get into a girls' pants." However, Fisher later clarified that his comment were taken out of context.

A recording made at the Tiburon conference, obtained by CNBC, captures Fisher saying "you wouldn't go up to a woman in a bar and ask what's in your pants." This statement was widely reported and sparked controversy.

The state of Michigan withdrew its pension fund of $600 million from Fisher Investments in response to Fisher's comments. The city of Boston also pulled their $248 million pension fund from the firm.

Fisher Investments lost over $2.7 billion in assets within weeks of the incident, as several institutional clients severed their relationship with the firm. Fidelity announced it was reviewing the $500 million in assets that it has Fisher's organization manage.

Here are some key clients that terminated their relationship with Fisher Investments:

Fisher Investments Chief Executive Damian Ornani acknowledged that Ken's comments were wrong and stated that the firm was taking steps to address diversity and inclusion within the organization.

We're proud of our awards and recognition, which speak to our commitment to delivering exceptional client service and results.

Our flexible investment approach has earned us recognition in the industry, setting us apart from others in our field.

We believe our competitive fee structure is a major factor in our success, allowing us to offer more value to our clients.

Our culture is built on a strong foundation of hard work and dedication, which has led to numerous awards and accolades.

Ken Fisher, our founder, has been recognized for his leadership and expertise in the investment industry, demonstrating our commitment to excellence.