Wall Street professionals get a bad rap.

Most people have an image in their mind of the cutthroat individual with slicked-back hair who plays by their own set of ethics.

But as someone who spent decades working on Wall Street, I can tell you that these types of people are the exception — not the norm.

The reality is that Wall Street is one of the most heavily regulated industries on the planet.

Every single move is under intense scrutiny. And any mistake, even an unintentional one, could lead to a lifetime ban.

That doesn’t mean these professionals are perfect. After all, they’re still human.

In my experience, however, my colleagues on Wall Street were some of the most honest, honorable, and trustworthy people I have ever known.

As we navigate through the recent volatility, I have been reflecting on one of my old mentors.

His name was Brad Jack, and he was a partner at the venerable Lehman Brothers. 

When I got to Lehman in 1993, Brad was one of the senior executives in the all-powerful fixed-income division.

In many ways, the two of us were on opposite ends of the spectrum.

He was a partner in the most important division of one of Wall Street’s oldest and most venerated firms, running one of their most consequential businesses.

I was a 21-year-old Mexican kid finishing my third year at Wharton as an undergraduate and just starting my career.

Like me, though, Brad had a rough upbringing. He was a tough Irish kid from the Bay Area, and I think he appreciated my work ethic and “grind.”

On the last day of my summer at Lehman, Brad asked me to walk him out to his car at the end of the day.

(Funny story, that parking lot we walked through is now the global headquarters for Goldman Sachs!)

As we walked, Brad asked me what I would like to do in the future.

I told him I would very much like to return to Lehman Brothers, and he said that I had a place there whenever I was ready.

Then he told me two things that would stick with me forever.

First, Brad explained to me how this job could change my life.

Even though I had no money or family connections, he assured me that I could still go on to make millions.

He emphasized that it was truly a unique opportunity in the business world.

Then he told me something that I’ll never forget. I’m going to paraphrase, but it went something like this.

“In this business, you’re going to have a year when you think you’ll absolutely crush it. You’ll have the right seat, the right setup, and everything will be all lined up.”

He said this next part with a chuckle. “And then you’ll probably lose your job.”

“But there will be another time when you just expect to have a good year and nothing more. THAT will be the year when you crush it, and it will change your life.”

Then he said, “Kid, the key is just to stay alive. Stay in the game.”

“If you work hard, smart, and honestly, you will eventually succeed and change the future for you and your family.”

Those words have stuck with me for the last 32 years.

What sticks with me most is that Brad’s advice is true for everyone — not just Wall Street professionals.

The opportunity to participate in the stock market is a unique experience for us as Americans.

If you put your mind to it and do things the right way, then you can use this opportunity to change your life.

The key is making sure you stay in the game.

Sometimes this will mean walking away from your favorite bets. Other times, it will mean taking a break for a month.

It will always require incredible discipline.

But if you stay active in the markets, you will have the opportunity for life-changing wealth.

Unfortunately, Brad left us way too soon, passing from pancreatic cancer in 2019 at the much too early age of 60.

His guidance, though, has stuck with me all these years. And hopefully, I can pass on his wisdom to you.