Michael Hanson is a Senior Vice President of Research at Fisher Investments. He joined Fisher Investments in 2002 and has served on the firm’s five-member Investment Policy Committee (IPC) since 2017. As a member of the IPC, Michael plays a critical role in all strategic investment decision for Fisher Investments’ client portfolios. In his current role, Michael also oversees the firm’s Research Group, which monitors the global economy and markets for investing risks and opportunities.
Michael has spent most of his career at Fisher Investments in the Research Department—where he has worked as a manager, editor and analyst. He has also worked directly with some of the firm’s largest institutional clients, helping them establish and manage portfolios that meet their specific objectives and, when applicable, restrictions. Mike has in-depth experience developing a wide variety of specialized strategies to for clients, particularly in the realm of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing.
Michael often appears in media interviews to provide the firm’s views on current market conditions. In interviews and bylined contributions, he analyzes current events and investor reactions with a special focus on behavioral finance. With an academic background in Psychology and Economics, Michael provides unique insight into investor behavior and why many investors make costly emotional mistakes. He is an avid reader and frequently reviews books he thinks may (or may not be) helpful for investors and advisers. In his podcast series, Michael interviews authors about their books and how their concepts relate to investing.
Beyond his writing, Michael Hanson also speaks at seminars worldwide. At these events, he provides Fisher Investments’ clients with insights on current market conditions and portfolio positioning. He has also lectured at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley on various investment management topics.
Outside of his day-to-day, Michael has written six books, including 20/20 Money: See the Markets Clearly, Gain Focus and Invest Better than the Pros. Prior to joining Fisher Investments, he worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and received an undergraduate degree in Economics from Claremont McKenna College. Michael also holds a doctorate degree from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Mythological Studies with an emphasis in Depth Field Psychology.
Despite being considered a defensive sector, consumer staples has failed to keep pace with the wider market for at least 20 years. Mike Hanson of Fisher Investments explains why high inflation means it will continue to underperform.
