3 Financial Mistakes from Sandler's Uncut Gems (and Hacks to Avoid Them)

Let me admit this straight-up: Adam Sandler is a treasure, and many of the greatest and funniest moments in my own life involve him. Whether he’s yelling at a golf ball to ‘go home’ in Happy Gilmore, redoing school to earn trust with his father in Billy Madison, or taking a small-town manner approach with the disgruntled MVP quarterback of his NFL team in Mr. Deeds, Adam Sandler has mastered comedic acting. Little did I know that Adam was mastering acting in general when I first stumbled onto his 2019 hit Uncut Gems. In this film, Sandler brilliantly portrays a charismatic jeweler who makes a high-stakes bet that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. The movie follows Howard through a high-wire act as he balances business, family, and adversaries along the way.

While the film is a thrilling ride, it also serves as a stark reminder of how financial mismanagement can wreak havoc on one’s life. By maintaining financial transparency, focusing on long-term planning, and nurturing your relationships, you can avoid the pitfalls that Howard Ratner faced. Implement these practical hacks into your routine to build a more stable and prosperous financial future.

1. Lack of Financial Transparency

Throughout the movie, Howard engages in secretive and dishonest dealings. He hides assets, lies to creditors, and constantly juggles various debts and pawns to keep his business afloat. This lack of transparency leads to strained relationships with his creditors, family, and business associates. His dishonesty ultimately results in a dangerous and unstable financial situation. Trust is a major ingredient for relationships with creditors, investors, and family members, and honesty is one of the best nutrients for trust.

Practical Hack: Have regular financial check-ins to maintain transparency in your financial dealings.

Schedule regular financial check-ins with yourself (and, if applicable, with your partner or family). These sessions are a great space to review all your accounts, debts, and investments. Keeping an open and honest dialogue about your financial status helps ensure everyone is on the same page and reduces the temptation to hide financial missteps.

2. Ignoring Long-Term Financial Planning

Howard’s relentless pursuit of short-term gains is evident when he places a high-stakes bet on a basketball game with money he doesn’t really have. His entire focus is on immediate profit, and he repeatedly gambles his earnings in hopes of hitting it big. Had Howard created a sustainable financial strategy (including saving for the future and investing wisely), he might have avoided the long-term consequences of his actions, ultimately leading to his financial and personal downfall.

Practical Hack: Automate your savings to prioritize long-term financial planning over short-term gains.

Set up automatic transfers to your savings and retirement accounts. By automating your savings, you ensure that a portion of your income is consistently being set aside for the future. This approach makes it easier to stay committed to long-term financial goals without the temptation to spend the money immediately.

3. Neglecting Personal and Professional Relationships

Howard’s financial behavior severely strains his relationships, including his wife, Dinah, who is fed up with his constant lying and recklessness, leading to their impending divorce. His employees and business associates also lose trust in him due to his erratic behavior and poor financial decisions. These strained relationships further isolate Howard, making his financial troubles even more challenging to manage. Although relationships change and evolve over time, ensure that your financial decisions are not the source of negatively impacting your relationships.

Practical Hack: Prioritize your relationships by budgeting time and money for them.

Just as you budget your finances and time for groceries and the gym, budget for your relationships. Schedule regular activities or check-ins with family, friends, and colleagues. This helps ensure that you invest time in nurturing these relationships, which can provide emotional support and even financial advice or assistance when needed.

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Ish (LinkedIn | Instagram | Website ) is a communication expert that works with students & young professionals to pay the price of success. Ish travels to schools, organizations, and conferences all across the country to help participants make memorable experiences, grow as leaders, and be work force ready contributors. He’s also an author and podcast personality , leveraging these spaces to ensure students are clear on their purpose while making memories along the way.

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