Early Life
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 was raised in San Mateo, California. As a youth, he worked in fruit picking, sawing, and fertilizing, and later, he dropped out of high school to pursue classes that he found more suitable. He graduated with an associate degree in economics from Humboldt State University in 1972.
Rise to Success
In 1979, Ken Fisher founded Fisher Investments with a modest $250. He served as CEO of the firm until 2016, and currently holds the position of Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer. Under his leadership, Fisher Investments grew into a significant global money management firm. In June 2024, the firm announced a deal valuing the company at $12.75 billion, with Fisher retaining a majority stake. Fisher's influence extends beyond his firm. His "Portfolio Strategy" column in Forbes magazine ran from 1984 to 2016, establishing him as the magazine's longest-running columnist.
Key Business Strategies
Ken Fisher is known for his innovative investment approaches, including the Price-to-Sales Ratio (PSR), which he helped popularize in the 1970s. This tool is now part of the financial core curriculum. Fisher’s investment philosophy emphasizes global diversification and a contrarian approach to market cycles. Fisher Investments has three principal business units: Fisher Investments Institutional Group, Fisher Investments Private Client Group, and Fisher Investments Private Client Group International.
Philanthropy
Ken Fisher is actively involved in philanthropy, with a focus on conservation and health research. In 2006, he contributed $3.5 million to endow the Kenneth L. Fisher Chair in Redwood Forest Ecology at Humboldt State University. In 2012, he and his wife donated $7.5 million to Johns Hopkins University to fund the Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Center for Environmental Infectious Diseases. He has also supported community-based initiatives, including those for first responders and early learning.
