Richard Abboud dropped out of university to pursue entrepreneurship. Today, he’s the Founder & CEO of Forum Asset Management, a $4 billion asset management business—and one of the country’s most vocal advocates for a more ambitious Canada.
In the final installment of Can Canada Meet the Moment?, Amber Kanwar sits down with Abboud to trace his journey from running teenage dance venues to building one of Canada’s largest student housing businesses. He explains why Forum is betting on student housing and self-storage, where he sees opportunity in Canadian real estate, and why his investment philosophy starts with finding an “unfair advantage.” He also breaks down how Forum offers investors access to these private-market opportunities through a range of funds designed for different risk appetites and needs for income and growth.
But Abboud is also thinking beyond his own business. He founded Shift Canada to help change Canadian culture around risk, innovation and the fear of failure. Its Shift Failure program is taught in junior high and high schools across the country and has reached 600,000 students in three years, encouraging young Canadians to see failure as part of growth rather than something to fear. Shift Canada also tracks Canadians’ willingness to take risks and be ambitious through its Bold Ambition Index.
Can Canada become more ambitious, take bigger risks and seize the opportunity in front of it? Abboud believes there’s no reason Canada shouldn’t be at the top of the world—but Canadians need to be willing to speak up, take risks and get on with it.
Timestamps
00:09 Sponsor message and disclaimer
00:33 Welcome to the final installment of the innovation series
01:01 Richard Abboud’s background and what this conversation covers
01:54 Richard’s origin story and entrepreneurial journey
03:37 First business: teenage dances and early lessons
04:46 From broker to Forum Asset Management
05:22 Forum today: assets, student housing, and self-storage
07:15 Why student housing and self-storage still make sense
08:49 Immigration, population trends, and student housing demand
10:04 How the fund is structured for investors
11:42 Retail investor access and current opportunities
13:07 Long-term outlook for the asset class
14:51 Why Richard got involved in Canadian innovation
15:43 Midlife pause, then back to building
16:38 Canada’s innovation problem and cultural barriers
17:57 Shift Canada and the Shift Failure program
19:00 Teaching kids to embrace failure
21:44 Can Canada celebrate entrepreneurs better?
23:24 Why CEOs are speaking up now
25:26 What still needs to happen in Canada
26:24 Tariffs and consumer confidence
27:03 How the business is adapting
27:37 Fun, hobbies, and travel
29:00 Closing remarks and next episode teaser
Sponsors
This show is brought to you by Forum Asset Management, presenting sponsor of our Innovation Special: Can Canada Meet the Moment.
Learn more at https://forumam.com.
Thank you to our partners at ATB Financial. ATB Cormark Capital Markets is a leading North American investment firm providing holistic corporate and capital markets advice and full-service financial solutions. Visit https://ATB.com/inthemoney for more information.
For over 25 years, Raymond James has been helping Canadians achieve their financial goals. Visit https://
raymondjames.ca today to discover how you can live a life well planned.
Thank you to our partners at Hamilton ETFs. For more information visit https://
hamiltonetfs.com Support for this podcast is brought to you by EQB – the company behind EQ Bank, Canada’s Challenger Bank. For more information visit https://www.eqbank.ca/
The Closing Bell is sponsored by The Haliburton Post House: private executive retreats in Ontario's Haliburton Highlands. Reserve your Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 dates at The Haliburton Post House. Mention In the Money for $1000 off your reservation! E-mail
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DISCLAIMERS
The content provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice.The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any organization or company. The host and guests may maintain positions in any securities discussed on the podcast. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor or professional before making any investment decisions.
In the Money delivers expert stock picks, actionable ideas, and timely money management tips. Hosted by business journalist Amber Kanwar, each episode features interviews with top portfolio managers who suggest ways to achieve good returns. Covering everything from ETFs and Canadian stocks to global investing trends, dividend strategies, and risk management, this show is made for DIY investors, stock market enthusiasts, and anyone looking to sharpen their financial strategy.
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