Yuri B. Kotik

My many years in the investment industry have been distinguished by my consistent drive to succeed and be the best at whatever I undertake. My career in Canadian financial services began on the Bond and Money Market Desk at Royal Trust, where I worked while completing the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) in order to obtain my registration as an Investment Advisor after arriving in Canada .

In the early nineties I founded my own consulting firm, Etica Inc. (an acronym for Economic Trade and Investment Consulting Agency) to help bankers, insurers and brokers from newly capitalist Russia visit Canada to train, upgrade their skills and study our thriving investment industry so they could return home and practice more effectively in Moscow.

After the Russian default and before the bursting of the tech bubble, I became an Investment Advisor. My first bear market confirmed what I always knew: it is wise to be disciplined, have ideas and never follow the herd. There is nothing deadlier than the phrase “this time it is different.” When you hear that, it is most likely followers of a new investment craze or the doomsday prophets talking. Their arguments sound quite convincing, and they push the investing public alternatively towards greed or panic — often at the worst time possible.

It takes experience and deep understanding to know that the fundamental rules always apply. Bubbles burst, bear markets end — and it is those times when ideas add the most value and superior risk/reward principles pay off. For almost a decade, I have been following the belief that “the market behaves the way it always has, but my clients do not need to behave like everybody else.”

As well as a proven track record of consistent results for my clients, I hold my Ph.D. in Economics from the Academy of Sciences in Moscow, which has been recognized by the University of Toronto. My doctoral dissertation was on the Technological Potential of India; it was somewhat prophetic as it was written long before the world had identified India as the rising economic power it has become, in large part due to their approach to funding education, science and technology. My Masters and undergrad degrees are in International Economics. Having lived in the USSR, India and Canada, I have developed a uniquely international perspective and deep understanding of the complexities of the world economy.

For five years, I wrote a weekly investment commentary column for the largest Russian weekly newspaper in Toronto.

I hope I will have the opportunity to share my approach, ideas and superior returns with you.