It’s not in their (read men) genes! Understanding women and financial instruments are equally difficult for men; and they often get it wrong. The billion-dollar question, therefore, is: could we have avoided the ongoing financial crisis if women managers were at the helm of Wall Street?

E-x-o-t-i-c (coincidentally, remove the “e”, the remaining letters form the word “toxic”) financial products, which had been the cynosure of the investment community for a woefully long time, turned toxic in a jiffy, pushing the financial sector on the brink of collapse and threatening to send the global economy into a depression.

Too much emphasis on price (face value?) is considered to be one of the biggest investment mistakes; men generally fall for beauty, somewhat ignoring the dangerous and treacherous curves and turns ahead. Women, on the other hand, have long-term considerations while entering into an alliance. External beauty is an important consideration, but not the important one.

Women will never acquire a “hot” asset without research, according to a survey conducted by Merrill Lynch investment managers in 2005. And that’s why when the romance fizzles out over time, men are often found complaining about their past mistakes, unaware of the exit route. Due diligence, prudent choice and patience are key to success of any relationship; they are key to successful investments as well. Late starts and wrong turns are always fatal, aren’t they?

Nevertheless, the man “alter ego” has a similar adverse effect on investment decisions like it has on human relationship. Women know what they don’t know and aren’t afraid of seeking help, turning to professional financial advisers at a much higher rate than men. Women seek direction when they are lost, men continue driving!

Belafonte sang: The women of today/Smarter than the men in every way.