Insights
Periodic insights from our Investment and Private Client Teams on a broad range of investment and advice-related topics
Insights from our KJH Technology & Growth Fund Portfolio Manager, Reza Samahin, P.Eng, CFA®
Published by the Private Client Team at KJ Harrison Investors – Philip Zappacosta, Private Client Analyst
In a recent conversation, I had the privilege of discussing the evolving technological landscape with Reza Samahin, our Technology & Growth Fund Portfolio Manager at KJ Harrison Investors (KJH). With over two decades of experience in capital markets and the technology industry, Reza shared valuable insights on navigating today’s complex investment environment — particularly relevant for families looking to preserve and grow substantial wealth across generations.
KEY INVESTMENT THEMES FOR FORWARD-THINKING INVESTORS
“People should be excited about this area because if you look back 30 years ago, the internet barely existed. Now we have multi-trillion dollar companies,” Reza emphasized. “What people fail to realize is that today there are companies that no one’s heard of that will be multi-trillion dollar companies in the future.”
Reza highlighted several compelling investment themes:
• AI EVOLUTION: The market is shifting from infrastructure players like NVIDIA to companies developing practical AI applications across industries.
• BIOTECH BREAKTHROUGHS: Opportunities in specialized areas like liquid biopsies for early cancer detection.
• SPACE ECONOMY: Dramatically reduced launch costs (from $80,000 per kilogram in the 1980s to potentially hundreds of dollars) opening new commercial opportunities.
GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSIFICATION IN A DECOUPLING WORLD
For high-net-worth families concerned about concentration risk, Reza’s approach to geographic diversification offers particular value.
“The world is decoupling somewhat,” Reza noted. “As China rises, some key industries like EVs, semis, and AI may decouple from the West and that creates additional opportunities and risks.” This creates both challenges and opportunities, with the KJH Technology & Growth Fund strategically positioned across:
• Chinese internet companies (with measured exposure)
• Latin American e-commerce leaders like MercadoLibre
• Indian technology firms benefiting from manufacturing shift s and soft ware outsourcing strengths
THE LONG VIEW: WHY DISCIPLINE MATTERS—AND OPPORTUNITY SHOULDN’T BE IGNORED
For families considering significant allocations to technology and growth, Reza offered this perspective:
“From the peak, the market is down about 20%. That doesn’t happen that often…You’re getting a 20% discount on the market, right? And that’s a rare event.”
While Reza strongly supports disciplined strategies like dollar-cost averaging and maintaining consistent exposure to growth sectors within a diversified portfolio, he also encourages long-term investors to stay alert to rare opportunities. When markets experience meaningful pullbacks, selectively deploying spare capital can be a smart complement to a steady investment approach—not a contradiction to it.
THE KJH ADVANTAGE: RESEARCH-DRIVEN RISK MANAGEMENT
What truly sets KJH apart is our commitment to original research and proactive risk management. “We’re on top of these kinds of things because we follow this area,” Reza explained, describing how the team’s deep analysis of developments like DeepSeek’s R1 model allowed them to reduce exposure to AI names before significant market
drops.
This research-driven approach, combined with strategic diversification across less volatile sectors and careful cash management, helps protect client wealth even during market turbulence.
BUILDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH IN A TECHNOLOGICAL AGE
At KJ Harrison Investors, we understand that high-net-worth families need more than just investment products—they need strategic partners who can navigate complex wealth considerations across generations.
As a Private Client Analyst focused on family business considerations, succession planning, and optimal asset-allocation strategies, I work directly with clients to ensure their wealth serves their long-term vision. If you’re managing substantial family assets and want to discuss how our research-driven approach to technology investing might fit within your wealth strategy, I welcome a conversation.
