Maurece Schiller (1901-1994) was a pioneering Wall Street investor and author who made significant contributions to the field of special situation investing. Born on Long Island, Schiller attended Dartmouth before beginning his career on Wall Street as a runner in 1922. He witnessed firsthand the 1929 Crash and the subsequent Great Depression, experiences that shaped his investment philosophy.

Throughout his career, Schiller worked at various brokerage firms, honing his expertise in special situations investing. In the 1930s, he began developing and refining his approach to identifying and profiting from unique corporate events. Schiller’s work culminated in the publication of several influential books, including “Investor’s Guide to Special Situations in the Stock Market” and “Fortunes in Special Situations in the Stock Market.

“Schiller’s writings are considered foundational texts in the field of special situations investing, bridging the gap between Benjamin Graham’s “The Intelligent Investor” and Joel Greenblatt’s “You Can Be a Stock Market Genius.” His work systematized the process of identifying and capitalizing on corporate events such as mergers, spin-offs, and liquidations.

Despite the high quality and importance of his work, Schiller remained largely unrecognized during his lifetime. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in his contributions, with investment professionals working to bring his insights to a new generation of investors. Schiller’s passion for investing and his ability to find “romance” in the intricacies of special situations continue to inspire investors today.