Phil joined the Contra team on a part-time basis in 2011 and has been investing since the early 2000s. He has been with Contra full time since 2014, first working as an analyst and writer before moving into portfolio management as well. He was promoted to General Manager in 2023. Philip occasionally writes for the Globe and Mail, Seeking Alpha, Canadian Money Saver, and the Money Show.
Before this, he was a financial advisor for Freedom 55 Financial, worked as an analyst at New Energy Finance in the United Kingdom, and as an analyst at Sustainalytics, where he assessed the environmental, social and governance dimensions for forestry, mining, steel, and utility companies.
In his free time he blogs on a variety of personal finance topics at My Money Moves and volunteers at Homes for Living in Victoria BC.
Benj started investing in the 1970s and manages the President's Portfolio. Back in the day, he specialized in starting businesses and corporate turnarounds. Once upon a time, he also taught at the college level.
He co-founded Contra the Heard in 1995. Over time, he has refined his approach to investing and has achieved one of the best track records in the investment industry.
Benj is a regular guest on the Business News Network, writes the Contra Guys column for the Globe and Mail with Ben, and writes for a number of magazines.
He is on the Board of Directors of Datametrex (DM.V) and was formerly on the board of Char Technologies (YES.V).
Over the past few years, his speaking engagements have taken him across Canada, to various locales in the United States and to South Africa. He has travelled to over 30 countries, working in about half a dozen.
His best-selling books include The Uncommon Investor III: How to Earn Superior Returns in the Stock Market Despite Everything, The Contrarian Investor's 13: How to Earn Superior Returns in the Stock Market and The Canadian Small Business Survival Guide. Contact us to enquire about purchasing a copy of these books.
Ben manages the Vice-President's Portfolio and started investing in the 1970s.
Prior to starting Contra with Benj in 1995, he was a software designer with over 25 years of experience working in industries ranging from accounting and healthcare to petroleum and transportation.
After years of successfully co-managing the President's Portfolio, he started the Vice President's Portfolio in 2010, adding diversification for Contra subscribers.
Ben writes the Contra Guys column for the Globe and Mail with Benj. In addition to stock picking, he is an avid curler.