An Introduction to The Queen of Wall Street - Hetty Green

Henrietta (Hetty) Green (1834-1916) was among the most successful investors in U.S. financial history, yet few people know her name. She navigated the volatile markets and fickle monetary currents of the Gilded Age, profiting during both the peaks and troughs while most of her male contemporaries amassed and subsequently lost their fortunes. Some called her the richest woman in America; others deemed her the Witch of Wall Street.

Join us for an intriguing conversation with the widely respected financial historian and author of Investing in U.S. Financial History - Understanding the Past to Forecast the Future, Mark Higgins, CFA, CFP, and SVP of Index Fund Advisors. Moderated by CFE member Kerry Jordan, Mark will introduce us to the extraordinary life of Hetty Green, looking back at what made her an astute investor, how she succeeded in a male-dominated era, her most important investing lessons, and how you can apply those lessons today. 

About Mark Higgins:

Mark J. Higgins, CFA, CFP®

Mark serves as a senior vice president for IFA Institutional. Mark specializes in providing advisory services to institutional plans, such as endowments, foundations, pension plans, defined contribution plans, and various corporate plans. In this role, he leverages more than fourteen years of relevant experience consulting for both small and multi-billion plans.

Mark is also the author of Investing in U.S. Financial History: Understanding the Past to Forecast the Future. The book recounts the financial history of the United States, beginning with the innovative financial programs of Alexander Hamilton in 1790 and ending with the Federal Reserve’s ongoing battle to contain inflation. In March 2024, Investing in U.S. Financial History was awarded a bronze medal in the prestigious 2024 Axiom Book Awards under the category of “Personal Finance/Retirement Planning/Investing.”

Mark is a member of the Editorial Board of the Museum of American Finance, and he is a frequent writer for the Museum’s Financial History magazine. Insights from his writing and experiences as a consultant to institutional investment plans have been quoted by journalists at CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, Morningstar, and many other financial publications throughout the world.