Apparently, financial firms seem to believe that this is the case:
An increasing number of hedge funds and brokerages are scrutinizing professional poker to find talent and analytical tools, according to financial recruiters including Options Group, a New York-based executive-search company. Susquehanna International Group LLP, the Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania-based options and equity trading company, uses poker to teach strategic thinking.
“Someone who has made a successful living as a poker player for a few years would more likely be a good trader than someone who hasn’t,” said Aaron Brown, a 53-year-old former poker pro who is now a risk manager at AQR Capital Management LLC in Greenwich, Connecticut, which oversees $23 billion. “They know to push when they have the edge and they know how not to bust, and that’s a tough combination to find.”
Cheap Talk 
3 comments
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November 24, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Kerimcan
It seems like a case of selecting on the dependent variable. Sure, some poker players make great financial advisors but how many of them fail and you don’t hear about them?
November 25, 2009 at 11:40 am
Ben
In addition there is the reverse connection. I am personally good friends with some people who initially started work at Susquehanna, became very successful poker plays while working there, and quit their jobs to pursue playing poker full time. They should incorporate rational attrition of the most successful people they train because you will make more money in the short term as a professional poker player than as an analyst at Susquehanna or related firm…
December 4, 2009 at 7:48 am
Mike Walls
An insurance policy always appears so expensive these days. I am starting to ponder that it may be more affordable not to own it!