Here is an exercise in altered reality. I recommend to financial professionals, in an effort to expand perspectives, to assume the mindsets of Smith, Keynes, and Marx and then execute hypothetical investment scenarios through the mindset of these extraordinary thinkers. Focus on what companies these intellectuals would have invested in, what trends they would be sensitive to, what decisions would they make. This is a fascinating challenge which focuses retail brokers, portfolio managers, and corporate raiders in novel ways which ultimately can grow portfolios and enrich their companies coffers.
This provides the FP with the ability to evaluate an event or opportunity from many different perspectives, and then make a more well-informed decision, producing a more thoughtful, creative, and sophisticated viewpoint. And ideally more substantial returns.
Ultimately, the financial professional must have at least a rudimentary understanding of these schools of thought to interpret how they are interpreted (or misinterpreted) by others, and then make well-informed decisions that are not simply the orchestrations of others. The better educated the FP is in economic theory and history, the better will be his decision making and planning be for his clients, his firm, and for himself.