Money isn’t everything – except when you’re a trader in Chicago.

Ted Fishman was a trader for almost nine years back in the 1980s. He fell into it by accident, looking to try it out for awhile before applying to law school. He was quickly swept up in the adrenaline rush of streaming numbers, waving hands, and ruthless competition for every dollar. Soon Ted was making money hand over fist. But he was losing touch with his own best sentiments.

 

A version of this story aired on This American Life as part of the episode “Getting and Spending.”