Dr Don Hamson: The pivot that built a $25bn business

In this episode of Success and More Interesting Stuff, we sit down with Dr Don Hamson, founder of Plato Investment Management.

Hamson built a $25 billion fund manager, but it started with a problem. His original long/short strategy was disrupted during the GFC when regulators banned short selling.

What followed was a shift towards income, built around a simple idea. In Australia, franking credits matter, particularly for retirees. That focus became the foundation of Plato’s business.

Today, Hamson runs a global investment firm with a systematic approach to investing, focused on consistency, risk management and long-term outcomes. 

In this conversation, we unpack that pivot, how he thinks about building portfolios, and why process matters more than prediction over time.