Early Life and Education
Kenneth Lawrence Fisher was born on November 29, 1950, in San Francisco, California. He is the son of Philip A. Fisher, a renowned stock investor and author of "Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits." Ken Fisher's early life in San Mateo, California, exposed him to the world of finance from a young age. However, he did not initially pursue a direct path into the investment industry. After dropping out of high school, he attended Humboldt State University, where he earned an associate degree in economics in 1972.
Rise to Success
Fisher's career took off when he founded Fisher Investments in 1979 with a modest $250. His innovative approach to investing, including the use of macroeconomic analysis, helped Fisher Investments grow into a leading global investment management firm. Fisher served as CEO of the company until 2016, and now holds the position of Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer.
Key Business Strategies
Fisher's success is attributed to several key strategies. He is known for his contrarian approach, buying when others are fearful and selling when optimism runs high. He also emphasizes long-term thinking, risk management, and the importance of avoiding major investment mistakes. Fisher's willingness to go against the crowd, combined with his expertise in market dynamics, has set him apart in the investment world. He also implemented aggressive advertising to grow the fund to big proportions.
Philanthropy
Ken Fisher is involved in several philanthropic endeavors. He is the Chairman and CEO of the Fisher House Foundation, which builds comfort homes for families of hospitalized military personnel and veterans. Furthermore, he has made significant contributions to educational and medical research. In 2006, he contributed $3.5 million to endow the Kenneth L. Fisher Chair in Redwood Forest Ecology at Humboldt State. In 2012, Fisher and his wife gave $7.5 million to Johns Hopkins University to fund the Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Center for Environmental Infectious Diseases.