Fisher Investments Acquires EconoStrat Advisory Corp. Assets

Renowned Investment Management Firm Plans to Pursue Additional Strategic
Acquisitions in 2008

WOODSIDE, Calif., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Fisher Asset Management LLC,
doing business as Fisher Investments, a leading independent investment
management company, today announced the acquisition of substantially all
assets from EconoStrat Advisory Corp. of Bloomfield Hills, MI., effective
December 31, 2007. Financial terms were not disclosed. EconoStrat clients will
be served by Fisher Investments' Private Client Group. The acquisition marked
the end of a successful 2007 for Fisher Investments, as firm-wide assets under
management surpassed $45 billion.
"The Private Client Group was born of a commitment to provide
institutional-level capabilities to our high net worth clients. Our
consolidation strategy is consistent with this objective, and aims to
introduce additional clients to Fisher Investments' unique approach to client
service, depth of resources and institutional-quality investment process,"
said Mark Scalzo, Group Vice President and Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at
Fisher Investments. "As a result, we offer an attractive alternative for
registered investment advisers such as EconoStrat who are looking to
transition trusted client relationships."
Bob Kennedy, EconoStrat Founder and Principal, said: "Fisher Investments
is a first-rate money management company and the ideal choice to assume the
management of client investment accounts. We actually transitioned our
business sooner than we originally expected to capitalize on the tremendous
opportunity that this transaction represents to our clients."
Luis Gutierrez, Senior VP, M&A, of Fisher Investments, said: "We've found
that our acquisition approach resonates, particularly with independent RIAs
without a home-grown solution to the inevitable client hand-off. As one of
the largest independent RIAs, Fisher Investments has the scale and resources
to offer more attractive terms on an accelerated basis to RIA owners, while
providing a seamless transition for clients. Based on discussions we've had
to date, we expect to be an active acquirer of RIA businesses in the coming
year and beyond."
About Fisher Investments
Fisher Investments, founded in 1979, is a respected investment management
company serving the needs of investors demanding superior performance,
competitive fees and exceptional service. Fisher Investments' clients include
large corporate and public pension plans, foundations and endowments, as well
as more than 20,000 high net worth investors. The firm is headquartered in
Woodside, California, and registered as an investment adviser with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Ken Fisher, founder, CEO and Chief
Investment Officer, is the author of four finance books and many academic
studies, and is a well-respected market forecaster, having written Forbes
magazine's "Portfolio Strategy" financial investment column since 1984. In
2007, in association with John Wiley and Sons, Inc., Fisher Investments
introduced Fisher Investments Press, a publishing imprint offering advice and
education for broad investment audiences.
About EconoStrat Advisory
EconoStrat Advisory Corp. was established in 1982 with the mission of
providing high-quality, unbiased information, advice and services so that
people may enhance their personal and financial well-being. Until the
transaction with Fisher Investments, EconoStrat was registered as an
investment adviser with the SEC and offered investment management and personal
financial planning services on an independent basis tailored to individual
client needs and risk preferences. EconoStrat has since withdrawn its SEC
registration.
SOURCE Fisher Investments

Rob Solomon, for Fisher Investments, +1-212-515-1964,
rsolomon@gavinanderson.com