S tephen Smith is a self-made Canadian billionaire who is one of his country's most successful financial services entrepreneurs. He is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of First National Financial Corporation, one of Canada's largest non-bank mortgage lenders. He started his career in the 1980s and co-founded First National in 1988. He has since built the company into a major player in both the residential and commercial mortgage markets.

In addition to his success with First National, Smith is the chairman and a major shareholder of Canada Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Company. He is also the largest shareholder in Equitable Bank, one of Canada's leading alternative lenders. His deep expertise across the mortgage lending and insurance landscape has allowed him to build a powerful and highly profitable financial services empire. He is also a major philanthropist, particularly to his alma mater, Queen's University, where the business school is named in his honor.