Hilary Kramer: A Financial Powerhouse Finds Joy in her Jersey Roots

By: Cathy Padilla | July 1, 2022 |  |  Holmdel , Red Bank

FEATURED PHOTO: Hilary Kramer CREDIT: Jesus Baez

With 30 years of experience on Wall Street as an investment analyst and portfolio manager, Hilary Kramer has been described by Financial Times as “a one-woman financial investment powerhouse”.

Afrequent guest commentator providing investment insight and economic analysis on CNBC, CBS, Fox News, and Bloomberg, her investment insights are often quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and Reuters. With her many successes as an analyst, investment banker, certified fraud examiner (CFE), and best-selling author one could imagine a life of ease and opulence, but hers is instead a story of happiness in the face of heartache. This Ranney School graduate has deep connections to her roots in Red Bank, and credits Holmdel with helping her both heal and find peace both as a child and now as she deals with the recent loss of her 9/11-hero husband Timothy Coyne. Having been given the middle name Joy, Hilary exudes both a sense of purpose and a love for life. Insightful, wildly successful, and a woman of strength, here’s our CM interview with Hilary Joy Kramer.
 

CM: You have a great love for Holmdel…
Hilary Kramer (HK): I was six years old when we arrived at the farmland of Holmdel…it was 1970. I came from a family that has lived for three generations in Red Bank, and suddenly I’m in Holmdel with cows grazing in the pastures and I’m selling vegetables at Englishtown Flea Market on Saturday mornings. Bruce Springsteen was our closest neighbor and didn’t seem to have air conditioning,or even screens over at his place, because there was often the faint rhythm of live jamming music coming from his farmhouse. During the late summer nights, I could hear the finales of bands finishing their performances at the then Garden State Arts Center.

CM: That’s a long history in Red Bank. How did life in Holmdel compare?
HK: Holmdel was so different from my life in Red Bank where I first lived. Walking across the bridge to Broad Street and visiting my grandparents and aunts and uncles who loved their town and worked with pride at their businesses. They owned a butcher shop, some were tailors, and my grandfather’s business was Red Bank Window Cleaning. My grandfather had this heavy Romanian accent and was so popular and well-liked. Many of the aristocratic family members of Monmouth County’s elite in Rumson knew my grandfather was always there to secretly give them a loan and never charge interest and never tell a soul when they fell on tough times. In those days, there weren’t credit cards or lines of credit at banks and people sometimes got in temporary jams. My grandfather was so happy to be in America. He loved to help others and he proudly paid his taxes. He taught me Romanian and Yiddish and how to clean a window really well!

CM: So why the move from Red Bank to Holmdel?
HK: My mother played basketball, point guard, for Red Bank Regional. She came to know Holmdel because in her time, and all the way until the year we moved to Holmdel, the Holmdel students, who were mainly farmers, went to school in Red Bank.

CM: My family was one of those Holmdel farm families. Do you have siblings?
HK: I grew-up with two sisters. I was the youngest. My older sister suffered with a cognitive disability. The superintendent of the Holmdel school system sent her to a specialized school in Massachusetts and that changed her life. To this day, she works, brings dignity to the lives of others, and has carved a life for herself in Bay Head, New Jersey. My middle sister was ten years old when she and I were bicycling on a hot summer Sunday night. A car came too close to us and clipped her, sending her over her handlebars and fatally hitting her head on the curb. I was with her waiting for the ambulance that never arrived. A policeman finally picked up her lifeless body and put her in the back seat of his squad car and took her to Riverview Hospital. I waited with the anxiety and fear that no five-year-old should ever experience. Ultimately, we were told that all the ambulances were down in Asbury Park given the unrest that was brewing in those final days of June 1970. To this day I support the River Plaza Fire and Rescue department. Many of the volunteers were my childhood friends and neighbors. That is why we moved from Red Bank, to escape the bad memories of my sister’s death. Holmdel healed me. The farms, and the quiet, and the sound of the same birds I heard even this morning. Riding and jumping horses at Tricorn Farm were my earliest pursuit. Then at 12 years old, I discovered golf and never looked back. Horseback riding along with the fairways on a spring day, or hot summer evening, or being surrounded by the golden leaves of Fall. All of it brought me such happiness.

CM: This past year you also lost your husband…
HK: My husband, Timothy Coyne, an NYPD lieutenant, died in August. He almost made it to the 20th anniversary of 9/11. He spent more than two years working at Ground Zero. The 1st precinct was his home and he lost many of his fellow NYPD and FDNY friends who were also based downtown. Many perished on 9/11, and then every year, he lost more and more. We lived for each day, and he knew his deteriorating health wouldn’t give him a long life, but then COVID’s Delta variant struck and took him in a matter of days. Our son Timmy was 11, and our daughter Shia was 15 last summer. No child should be handed their father’s flag and watch a casket lowered into the ground. Life will never be the same for them or for me. But I am thankful for the time we had together, and I pray the memories he left behind will only be a blessing.We have four dogs. They’re all straggly things, but full of love and good humor. Without my husband, it is not so easy, but they keep us laughing and always remind us that things are only things as they chew a $1500 pair of shoes.The last two years have been full of loss for so many all over the world, and our sliver of New Jersey is no exception. But we are resilient, and we are bouncing back so quickly. Nothing can bend the spirit of those of us from New Jersey. And when nothing seems to help…there’s always Jersey Freeze!

CM: Why did you choose finances as your passion:
HK: Having come from a family that ran mom-and-pop companies, I love that you can be an owner of a big company. This has never ceased to amaze me. I love everything about the workings of the stock and bond markets and the surprises that accompany every day. The beauty is that it isn’t gambling. The more you understand a company and study its government filings, as well as independent auditor reports, the more you can garner. I combine my eagle- eye and constant need to learn everything about the business. Then I combine my internal examinations with the macro view of the world, which is just as critical. Factors that influence a sector or total market’s behavior span many events: tax policy, geo-political changes that can bring jitters to even the calmest trader, demographic, and socioeconomic changes. For example, as baby boomers age, entire sectors have been created that have brought a boon to the investors that anticipated these changes.

CM: How did you get started on Wall Street?
HK: I went to Wall Street because I had to go to work and pay off student loans. I really wanted to go professional, but the draw of Morgan Stanley’s banking department was too appealing to give up. We were in the middle of a bull market, and I jumped right into transactions that, if not for the timing, I would never have experienced. Helping companies in every space from public storage to fast food go public was thrilling and, to this day, I see the money that an initial equity offering brings to a company as a means for growth and development.After business school, I continued in investment banking until I was recruited to work for one of the wealthiest men in the world. I soon became the only women chief investment officer that I have ever come across. I hired a woman to run our flight department. I did find it ironic that a Latin American gave me the chance to manage more billions than any U.S. hedge fund would have allowed. But, then again, we are still waiting for there to be a woman U.S. President.I am so fortunate. I was on the advisory board of DirecTV International with Hughes Electronics, we brought Univision Public and we partnered with AOL to bring AOL public in Latin America.In 2005, I went off on my own. With the backing of additional billionaires, three foundations, and two key state pensions, I founded a green/clean hedge fund called GreenTech Research LLC. I would only invest in companies that I considered sustainable or working toward a cleaner environment and healthier life for their employees and consumers. It was the first green hedge fund in the United States. More than 95% of my investments were in publicly traded companies. I had a vision that is only just now coming true in which change is happening because investors are demanding a cleaner world.

CM: What types of financial services do you offer clients today?
HK: In 2010, I launched GreenTech Research providing clients with in-depth future trend forecasting and actionable ‘ahead of the curve’ entry strategies for profiting from those growth areas. As my following has grown, and as talent within my firm continues to flourish, I ultimately launched subscription-based newsletters. My flagship newsletters are a value newsletter that provides income and growth, and the other one is called GameChangerStocks. I identify emerging industries as well as traditional companies that are transforming themselves into high growth businesses. To give you an example, one of our very first stocks was Tesla at $17 a share.
 

PHOTO: Hilary Kramer with her daughter, Shia, in Asbury Park | CREDIT: Jesus Baez
 

CM: Can you share 5 investment tips with our readers?
HK:

1. Always stay diversified. The minute you get concentrated in on one position, it backfires. If it is an amazing stock, you will still make tons of money.
2. Private investments are very seductive; but do know that the odds of a successful venture without backing from Wall Street or venture capital are extremely slim, so never use your last dime on a business that’s too good to be true.
3. There are hidden fees in every investment. To the best of your ability, stick with buying a diversity of specific stocks over funds.
4. Cash is king. Someone who wants access to your money created the expression that you must be fully invested. Just think about it, why is it a sin to have 15% of your money in cash making less than 1%?  Always keep a little or a lot of powder dry so a terrible market day becomes one where you can go shopping for sales rather than fearing for your life savings.
5. You should invest for the long-run but you can also enjoy the excitement and lucrativeness of taking a small percentage of your portfolio for shorter-term investments.
6. Instead of giving your children money, make them learn about the market, put money in an online account for them so they can start trading and making their own decisions. Show them how they can beat the experts by investing in what they know. Tie together a new movie coming out or their favorite video game with its connection to the market. Will Disney’s stock go up with a new Star Wars release? Will the stock of the high-definition chipmaker, Nvidia, rise with the latest release? If they love eating Chipotle, have them buy some of the stock and then decide for themselves when to sell or buy more. My son, only 10 years old, bought GrubHub and I watched in disbelief how, what seemed to be a dying business, came back to life in June 2020 and was ultimately acquired.

CM: Can you share what you see happening in the markets? Do you see crypto becoming a major player? Any predictions?
HK: In 2020, I wrote a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling book, GameChanger Investing. Every chapter is devoted to an area where I see growth drivers and transformative technologies as well as socio-economics changes that will ignite these sectors. Of course, I’m a big electric vehicle fan, however, I can tell you with certainty that our grid cannot handle the demands of the plethora of electric vehicles coming to market by 2030.I’ve been involved with cryptocurrency for many years. It is like a freight train going down a track at high speed…it’s not stopping anytime soon. Just like no one dreamed that Amazon would be the big winner 25 years ago, or even 20 years ago. Cryptocurrency will ultimately be regulated because governments will not want to allow the tax money to fall through the cracks and, to some extent, cryptocurrency provides transparency because of the Blockchain but it also still has imperfections that allow for losses that cannot be traced and that cannot be returned. I am on the board of directors of a cryptocurrency company, only because I believe so strongly in the direction the sector is moving. I wouldn’t be surprised if currency were privatized and controlled by banks without the same kind of Federal Reserve oversight that we have today. The biggest banks, largest hedge funds and most successful billionaire investors are all in cryptocurrency. That should tell us all we need to know. 

CM: What sets you apart from others doing what you do?
HK: I provide stock recommendations and call and put option recommendations. I absolutely love what I do because I don’t need to travel the world selling my money management skills. I provide my opinion to my subscribers and my track record is what sells itself. Most of my subscribers, globally, have come in by word-of-mouth. I have subscribers in more than 100 countries. More than 35% of my subscribers come from outside of the United States. What all of this means is that at the end of the day I am able to focus on finding great stocks to buy, as well as make option recommendations that my subscribers can act upon if they choose.

CM: What is the most rewarding part of your career?
HK: I love making money for people. I also find it incredibly rewarding being on television and on my syndicated radio show providing my insight and my recommendations. I have seen so much on Wall Street, and I have stayed so focused on my specialty, that I am able to impart my analysis in a way that gives people some understanding of what can seem so overwhelming and mysterious. 

CM: What is your next goal?
HK: I want to continue to grow my newsletters and introduce the joy of making money to investors traditionally on the sideline, like those that are younger or find the pursuit to be overwhelming. I love empowering others to make their own decisions. I will continue with my nationally syndicated radio show because it is wonderful to entertain, inspire, and teach all at the same time. I love bringing happiness and insight into people’s day. I am not interested in talking about politics for the sake of politics, I am interested in talking about whatever topics need to be covered that can make you rich.

CM: What is the most challenging part of what you do?
HK: I am only as good as my last trade. I don’t tie anyone’s money up, and there are no ‘five-year gates’ or waiting periods to redeem. I don’t have the pleasure of ever making a bad trade. If I do, I would have to explain myself and prove myself ten times over to win back trust.

CM: Your best life or business tip to share?
HK:

1. Always be kind. Think of every day as wasted unless you do something generous of self for others that makes them smile or feel comforted. All that matters is how we make people feel.
2. As for business advice, no matter who is talking, listen. The best investors learn from listening. Listen with an open mind. No one is under you. The best stocks have come from the most unusual and unexpected places. You will find out the best investments and, as a second plus, you will discover the underlying true character of others—-especially those that want to invest your money.

CM: Do you have a favorite quote or mantra? 
HK: Make money so you can be free, not so you end up deeper in debt. Life is tough enough; we don’t need to go to sleep worrying. Aim to be debt-free so that you can focus on the people you love and on your health.

CM: Who has most influenced your career or life?
HK: On a personal level, my mother has been the greatest influence on my life. To this day, she believes in me in a way that has me never questioning my capability to achieve and to succeed. She listened to me and took me seriously. I am eternally grateful. My daughter asked me how I am able to go on Fox News or Bloomberg and talk so assertively and confidently. My answer to her is that I am confident and know I am providing value and interest in what I’m saying. My father, who I also lost in 2021 at 89 years old, taught me about hard work and he taught me about how to live my life with passion. In fact, he drank a bottle of wine every single night. Never missed a NY Giants game. He met my mother at Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch. She was 13 and he was 16 and they met and never looked back. Theirs was a love story. So were the stories of my grandparents and my great grandparents. It was the same with my in-laws and for my husband’s grandparents. Love for each other was the overwhelming source of their happiness. Growing up around love and all the laughter, fun, and comfort that comes from a relationship made me a happy person. 

One of my investment banking bosses sat me down and said, ‘There are three rules that good traders follow:

1. Never get divorced.
2. Always put your bonus in the bank and don’t use the money.
3. #3 same as #1, DON’T get divorced.’

As for the best business lesson and biggest influence, I was in Cairo at 17 years old and an elderly, weathered Arab with a camel charged me one dollar for me to mount a camel and ride around the pyramids. When we returned from our trip around the pyramids, the man said to me, ‘It is two dollars to get off the camel.’ It was at that moment that I learned everything I needed to know about business.

CM: What do you do when you’re not working?
HK: I spend time with my children Timmy and Shia. I devote time to exercise and being outside with nature and, since I don’t consider what I do to be work, I’m usually walking around reading an article on economics or research on a company. Having lost my husband and the children having lost their father, we are very attached to each other. The Common Ground Grief Center has been an inordinate help for my daughter, and I am hoping that Timmy will eventually spend time there too. I am also involved with Tuesday’s Children, which was formed after 9/11 but continues to help children who have lost their parent to war or terrorism. 

CM: Is there anything about you that you would like our readers to know?
HK: I have traveled all around this world and there is nothing that compares to the beauty and comfort of the nature, towns, and people of Monmouth County, New Jersey. New Jersey is always surprising me. Whether it’s getting on a boat and going down the Metedeconk River, or walking in Bell Laboratories knowing that so many great inventions came from between those walls. I consider myself the luckiest woman in the world because of my children, my husband, may he rest in peace, and all my friends and family. They have filled my life with laughter. It does take a village, and mine is right here with me in my heart. 
 

A Brief Bio of Hilary Kramer

Hilary Kramer was an analyst and investment banker at Morgan Stanley and Lehman Brothers and founded and ran a long-short hedge fund. She has been chief investment officer overseeing debt and equity portfolios and founded the first green/clean hedge fund. Since 2010, Kramer’s financial publications have provided stock analysis and investment advice to her subscribers. Her products include: GameChangers, Value Authority, High Octane Trader, Triple-Digit Trader, 2-Day Trader, IPO Edge, and Inner Circle. A Certified Fraud Examiner, she has testified as an expert in investment suitability, risk management, compliance, executive compensation, and corporate governance. Kramer attended Ranney School, received her MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and her BA with honors from Wellesley College. Kramer has provided testimony regarding investment policy to the U.S. Senate and is a frequent speaker on the markets, portfolio management, and securities fraud and compliance. Kramer is also the author of Ahead of the Curve (Simon & Schuster 2007), The Little Book of Big Profits from Small Stocks (Wiley 2012) and GameChanger Investing: How to Profit From Tomorrow’s Billion-Dollar Trends, which is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-seller. In 2021, Kramer won a Gracie Award. 
 

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