Chicago Business Life

Kelly talks to CBL

This week in Chicago Broker Life, reporter Sarah Hurston, wife of John, VP of ExpoBTL, talks to successful young player and MegaCorp VP Kelly Morgan about her hobbies and habbits.

CBL: Do you find hit hard being a woman in what is still a man's world?

KM: No. Not at all. I guess my interests have always been a little different to the average person. When I was a child, always knew that things would be different for me.

CBL: Care to elaborate on that?

KM: No.

CBL: Um, ok. Kelly, a friend from CBoT told me last tuesday that you he saw you driving out to your farm in a black Lotus, but most of our readers will be used to your black Porsche. Have you changed?

KM: Oh no. Its just a hobby thing really. Daniel [her father] got me a Lotus when I was in the final year at UCLA. He said he couldn't be bothered paying for airline tickets any more and I could fly myself home for the weekends. [Laughs] I loved that car, even though it was a first car. Anyway, it got wiped by some ignorant drunk running a set of lights a few years back. I got the 911 to replace it but I missed my Lotus, so I decided to get another one. You know, for old times sake.

CBL: I assume you dont drive it on the farm?

KM: No. I drive it to the farm and I had a track built on some of the padock space so I can take it for a spin. Its not really a 4wd class vehicle. I have an Audi 4wd station wagon I leave at the farm. Actually [looks through some faxes] I was looking at getting Brabus [station wagon] for the farm, but while it seems zippy enough to make me curious to buy one, I dont go out there enough to justify the price tag.

CBL: Yes, I can relate to that. So are you planning on collecting any more?

KM: Oh, yes. Now that I have a little more capital, and a bit more maturity in my tastes, I am looking at..

CBL: How do you mean maturity?

Picture to the left: Kelly modeled a Gucci business suit in the Stockbrokers Fashion Show organised by Sarah Hingle two months ago.

KM: Well I just purchased the 911 because of the performance figures and the cheap price. I now realise that I really should have looked at importing a less common vehicle to ensure value in my investment. Oh, to be honest, I think Chicago police will be giving me tickets in the 911 for a while yet. As a city car, it hardly ever gets over the 100mph mark and the sound system is good. The 911 makes a reasonable car for jaunts round the city, but I am looking at collecting a few more serious performance cars?

CBL: Collecting them?

KM: Yes. Yes I am looking at putting together a collection of sub 3 second [from 0 to 60mph] production cars. Most of the cars in the 2.7 range are $500k to a couple of million. I'm looking at a Dauer 962 this early next year. Its about 1.5 [million] so it will take a couple of months to save for, but breaking 250 [mph] should be worth it. A couple of friends and I want to get a little race track and a nice little stable going. Personally, I would like to break the 3 second mark. Just a personal goal.

CBL: Hahaha. Have you considered becoming a pilot?

KM: Oh yes. I have had a few lessons, but I dont get the same thrill out of it. Maybe in a couple of years I will go back to it, but time to build a reasonable garage first I think.

CBL: Is this an investment hobby or a thrill sport?

KM: Both. I mean my old Lotus kept its price. It even rose, actually. Some of these cars are only produced in tens or hundreds. Its just like collecting furnature or antiques, except you know what you are getting.

CBL: Do you work on them yourself?

Pictured to the right: Kelly often likes walking in Hyde Park, near where she lives in south Chicago.

KM: Yes. Well a little. I have a garage in the south that I use to do that work. Hmm? Oh yes, I do tinker now and then, but I have a mechanic I employ full time to care for the cars. I just purchased the building nextdoor as a store room for my collecting, so I will have a chance to keep my babies near the garage to work on them.

CBL: Now onto more serious questions. Speaking to my husband, he tells me that you have been very successful in the recent instability that has been in the market. Care to share your secrets?

KM: Haha. Daniel taught me to have a firm view on the profits of moves that we make. It seems to me that people get caught up in the thrill of the moment or the excitement of the chase, but I enjoy the thrill of the monthly profit statement, all the rest of the time is just actions that lead up to that. My secret? Ignore your heart, listen to your head. Oh and listen to the results of your Palm Pilot spread sheets.

CBL: You seem quick to embrace technology? It is only now that I see my friends using those organisers, but it has been a trademark for you for, what, a year or more?

KM: Yes. Cold numbers give me the edge. I enter it, graph it and if it doesnt get over the magic profit line, then deal over, I lose interest.

CBL: Well that seems to work well for you, it has made you one of the more sucessful players. I notice that you havnt diversified and widened your capital base. May I ask why that is?

Picture to the left: Kelly's Gucci suit sold for the second top price, $12,300, thanks largly to her modeling skills. Kelly denoted the money to Single Womens Shelter.

KM: Yes. Yes. I dont like owing money to anyone else. While it is my money that I am investing, I owe noone. Yes it does mean that my potential profit and investment power is limited, I like the freedom of not needing to answer to others. I work at MegaStock because they pay me for my advice and guidance, but I am not in control of other people's money, so they get just my skills. I like being in the position of being free to break away anytime.

CBL: From what I hear though, you would have more than enough investors if you went independant.

KM: Oh yes. Now and then, when I need more capital to get leverage in a stock, I will toss my cap in with some other friends, but the terms of that are agreed upon before. If it is a deal I want then they know that their option is invest and I take no responsibility. Its a group thing when I invest with others.

CBL: Do you fear being in charge?

KM: [Laughs] No. Not at all. If anything I fear being controled to others. I never want to wear a pager so some stupid car sales man can call me about his money. I dont see that situation as me being in charge, I see it as him being in charge of my time. I am in charge of people and money at MegaStock and I am in charge of numerous smaller ventures, so on the whole I would have to answer no to that.

CBL: [Laughs] Sorry, I didnt expect to be asking that.

KM: Thats fine.

Picture to the right: Kelly's Gucci suit sold for the fifth top price, $6,400, and again denoted the money to Single Womens Shelter.

CBL: I must say this appartment is stunning.

KM: Thank you. Yes, I got about 5 designers to design options and then pooled the ideas and got them to do it again. Then I put on some personal touches and had it done. It was a choice between pastal colors or this dark motif with spot lighting and sharp corners. I liked the latter so her it is. [Picks up light remote control.] It has enough lighting, but I just like the pinpoint effect that you get when the lights are lower.

CBL: I must say I find it a bit strange that you live in the south. Dont you find this area a little unsavory?

KM: [Shrugs]. No. Not at all. The views are nice and this is going to be the next area of expansion. Close to the CBD is worth money, the price drop in this area is mostly about environment. Those who invest here and change the environment to what we have up north will profit. Cities always expand, that is a given.

CBL: It sounds like you have it all worked out.

KM: Yes, I like to think so.