Philip Lieberman, JD, MBA, BA, CIM®

Partner & Portfolio Manager

“The essence of investment management is the management of risks, not the management of returns.” – Benjamin Graham

Philip has more than 30 years of experience in the investment industry, finance and the capital markets. He manages investment portfolios on a discretionary basis for a significant base of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families throughout Canada, including their trusts, estates and holding companies.

Given his deep experience in the investment industry, as well as in corporate, tax, estate and trust law, Philip is first and foremost a manager of risk for his clients. He brings a holistic approach to wealth management, working closely with his clients to create meaningful financial plans. By working closely with his clients’ other professional advisors, including family offices, accountants, corporate, tax and trust lawyers, bankers and philanthropic advisers, Philip helps ensure that risk is well managed to secure his clients’ financial goals and futures.

Prior to joining KJ Harrison Investors, Philip spent 12 years at Scotia Capital, the global corporate and investment banking arm of the Bank of Nova Scotia. Between 2003 and 2008, he was Managing Director and Industry Head, Industrial Products, as well as a member of the Scotia Capital leadership team, with senior managing responsibility over a team of Relationship Managers. Previously, Philip, who was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1993, practised corporate, securities and mergers & acquisitions law at Meighen Demers LLP (now Norton Rose Fulbright LLP).

Philip is very active in his community and deeply committed to the philanthropic philosophy of “repairing the world”. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Ballet Company of Canada, currently serving as Chair of the Pension Committee, and he sits on the Joint Investment Committee of the Company and its Endowment Foundation. Philip sits on the Israel & Overseas Committee of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Beth Sholom Synagogue Foundation. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Beit Halochem Canada and the Board of Governors of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, a not-for-profit human rights organization committed to countering racism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and education.

In his free time, Philip enjoys spending time with his wife, their two children, and of course, their dog Chester. Philip is an avid cyclist, golfer, skier and a voracious reader of historical biographies.

No matter the size of the portfolio or the age of their children, many of our clients are wondering how to raise their kids with the skills and knowledge they need to be financially competent.

Since the first one launched in the early 2000s, special purpose acquisition companies – SPACs, for short – have largely occupied a small niche of the financial world.

Philip Lieberman, Partner & Portfolio Manager at KJ Harrison, draws on over 25 years of experience advising family enterprises to outline his top tips for creating a realistic and workable family business succession plan.