How the Movie Shaped My Career—and My Values

It’s been a lazy, reflective summer filled with small getaways and evenings spent with my daughter Alexandra, who’s working at Brookwood Associates. 

Last week, over lunch with the founder Robert Winborne and the interns, we shared career stories—and I started mine by asking, 

“Has anyone seen the movie Wall Street?”

Yes, the one with "greed is good" quote. 

But what stuck with me over the years was the advice Michael Douglas’s character, Gordon Gekko, says gives Buddy"

“Most of these Harvard MBAs, they don't add up to dog sh*t. 

Give me guys that are poor, smart, and hungry – and no feelings.”

That was me when I started—hungry, broke, driven, and emotionally detached. 

It worked. I made money. 

Ironically, it wasn’t until much later that my Harvard MBA helped

—when I started my own firm and needed credibility.

Another great line from Gekko:

“You ever wonder why fund managers can't beat the S&P 500? 'Cause they're sheep. And sheep get slaughtered.”

That stuck too, but in a positive and contrarian way. 

When I read The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, on why active managers underperform, I knew: my firm would focus on low-cost index and sector ETFs and not trying to beat the market. 

Instead: be Transparent. Disciplined. Honest.

What many don’t realize is Wall Street was personal for Oliver Stone.

His father, Louis Stone, worked as a stockbroker.

That’s why the film feels so real—because it is. It’s not just entertainment,

it’s observation turned into story.

Top Gun famously inspired a wave of young men to join the Navy. (Corrected)

Maybe one day, my daughter will write a script that inspires more women to build careers on Wall Street.

What I recently learned is that financial services have a storytelling problem.

If you want to hear the truth, reach out to me!

Thank you for reading!

Tiffany Kent

Your Friendly Wealth Engagement Guide

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