Brian Frazer, founder of the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) Society of Jamaica and recently appointed deputy chief executive officer at Victoria Mutual Investments and Victoria Mutual Wealth Management Limited, is a big believer in the potential of people.

Frazer, who is the son of a teacher, was born in Claremont, St Ann and spent his earlier years living with relatives and being taught the importance of taking responsibility. He moved in with his brother and mother in Kingston at the age of 10 where he completed his early education at New Providence Primary before attending Jamaica College for high school.

“I was fortunate to have a very supportive mother and brother they were both always there for me and I’d say my drive to do well comes from my mother,” said Frazer, when speaking about his family throughout his childhood.

The JC Old Boy

Frazer is extremely appreciative to the school and credits the teachers he experienced at the institution who believed in him and steered him into pursuing academics.

“My years at JC contributed a lot to who I am today and that’s in terms of character and ability to work with people. It’s one of those things that are close to my heart and I’d say it’s given me a certain amount of grit and determination. During my first couple years at JC, I wasn’t the best student, to the extent that I had to repeat fifth form. After getting that second chance, is when I went into full gear with my studies,” said Frazer, who proceeded to perform exceptionally in the following year.

He credits the opportunity he was given and changing his attitude towards his studies as the turning point in his life. He began to read books of all types, and developed a passion for economics, accounting and the field of investing. He began to listen to investing programmes on the radio and built strong habits in self improvement and a desire to pass on the opportunity that he was given to other people.

“I will never write off young people because it’s never too late,” he continued.

Frazer’s interest in investing continued as he pursued a degree in Economics and Finance at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. It was during this time that he opened his first investment account and, after graduating from the institution, he pursued his career in the investing world.

Frazer highlighted that, in addition to technical skills in the field, leadership and communications skills, and a strong sense of integrity and loyalty was also important to him throughout his career and he upholds these values in his family life as well.

“I could not achieve what I have without my wife. We’ve been married for 20 years and we have two teenage kids. She ensures that I always have a safe space at home and that allows me to push myself to develop. They remind me about the importance of work-life balance and I make every effort to make time for my family,” he said.

“A marriage is something I’d highly recommend, once you can align yourself with the right person and both of you are willing to work with each other. Right now I’m proud of both my kids and I can already see them growing into good people.”

READ: VM Group recruits seasoned investment executive, Brian Frazer