Jim Cramer Cameo on Iron Man Movie

While watching the Iron Man Movie, I was surprised to see a hilarious cameo by CNBC Personality and host of the CNBC Show "Mad Money." Based on the audience reaction, looks like there were enough people who recognized Jim Cramer.

The Iron Man Movie itself is worth going to the theatre for.
















WARNING: SPOILER ALERT COMING UP!

In the movie, Tony Stark, weapons developer and the man behind Iron Man, mentions that he will be suspending his weapons development operation division.

We later see a television, where Jim Cramer is on the CNBC Mad Money show, passionately ranting as he put Stark Industries (with the fictional symbol: SIA) on the Sell Block, hits the bear button sound and visual effect, and then gets his baseball bat and crushes a Mad Money cup.

Yes, watch the Iron Man movie. It is a good movie and it's also interesting to see Jim Cramer's great Cameo.

Books of Jim Cramer, Host of CNBC Show "Mad Money"

Are confused about the Books of Jim Cramer, host of the popular finance CNBC show, "Mad Money"?

Here's an overview of the books.

1. 
   
   
   "Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World" is the book that Jim Cramer gave his hedge fund employees, when he was running a hedge fund. If you are a sophisticated investor and stock picker or wish to head towards that direction, this is the book for you. Jim Cramer has written down what he knows about the stock market.
   
   The Book includes sections on investing basics, spotting tops and bottoms, investing rules, creating your discretionary portfolio, and the popular business cycle/sector rotation chart.
   
   There is even a chapter on options and some advanced speculating techniques that Jim Cramer (most likely) intentionally left out in other books.
   
   Some would consider this book Jim Cramer's "Magnum Opus".
   
   
2. 
   
   "Real Money: Sane Investing in An Insane World" was a very good book. However, the book sometimes went over the heads of some people.
   
   Jim Cramer (along with nephew Cliff Mason), decided to write a book similar to "Real Money", but wrote it in a manner more accessible to more people. Chapters include ways to buy a stock Mad Money Style including "Knowing Yourself and Your Goals", lessons on how to do your stock picking homework, and how to buy using limit orders and buying incrementally.
   
   Jim Cramer also writes about selling stocks the right way and gives insight on how to watch Mad Money, from some behind the scenes insight on the "Lightning Round", information on how to watch the CEO interviews, new lessons learned including some buy and sell rules, background on how Jim Cramer Picks stocks on the show, and more behind the scenes "Mad Money" commentary.
   
   There is also an update of the popular Cyclical Investing Chart in the "Real Money" book.
   
   Since this book was intended for a wider audience, Jim Cramer does not include a section on options and advanced speculating techniques.
   
   If your first introduction to Jim Cramer is through the Mad Money show, and if you wish to pick individual stocks, perhaps this book should be the first "Jim Cramer" book to buy and read.
   
   Once you outgrow "Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich", you can purchase the "Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World" book.
   
   
3. 
   
   Both books, "Real Money" and "Mad Money" focused on individual stock picking.
   
   But to have an even wider audience, Jim Cramer (with Cliff Mason) decided to write "Jim Cramer's Stay Mad For Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer)."
   
   "Stay Mad for Life" is more of a personal finance book and talks about 401k plans, retirement plans and even mutual funds (he does not talk much about mutual funds on his "Mad Money" CNBC show). He talks about budgets, credit card debt and following a budget and dealing with health insurance. Jim Cramer also writes about family finance and talks about getting children interested in investing.
   
   If you want to read a book from Jim Cramer focusing mainly on Personal Finance, this is the book to get.
   
   If you are interested in more in depth individual stock picking information, choose either "Real Money" or "Mad Money" books.
   
   
4. 
   
   If you wish to read Jim Cramer's fascinating autobiography, "Confessions of a Street Addict" by Jim Cramer, is the book to purchase. Read how Jim Cramer went from rags to riches and read stories about how he lived in a car for some time. He also mentions his experience during the infamous market capitulation of 1998, and the way he treated others in pursuit of the next trade.
   
   This book could become a compelling movie. Jim Cramer, on one of his Mad Money shows mentioned that some studio was thinking of making the book into a movie but Jim Cramer declined because they would have portrayed Jim Cramer as a bad guy, similar to Michael Douglas' character Gordon "Greed is Good" Gecko in the 1987 movie, Wall Street.
   

There are other products as well such as the "Mad Money" DVDs:

1. Mad Money with Jim Cramer - Back to Basics
   
2. Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer Back To Basics II: Invest Like A Pro
   

Results of Russian and Eastern Europe Mad Money Tour

Last week, on the CNBC hit show Mad Money, Jim Cramer, the host of the show went through one Russian or Eastern European Stock per week. The results:

1. Michel Steel (MTL)
   
2. Wimm Bill Dann Foods (WBD), a Russian Dairy, Juice, Water and Baby Products Producer.
   
3. CTC Media (CTCM), a Russian Television Network Operator
   
4. Central European Distribution (CEDC), best known for Polish Vodka.
   
5. Central European Media Enterprises (CETV) invests, develops, and operates Television stations in Eastern and Central Europe.
   

Before Wednesday's show, this blog attempted to guess the three remaining stocks Jim Cramer would choose on his show that week.

Here are the Perfect Matches. We were correct on:

1. CEDC
   
2. CETV

We missed CTCM. CTCM and CETV are too similar.

What was missing was Russian and Eastern European Telecom. We still say that Vimpel Communications (VIP) is a good choice for the region. Emerging Market Telecom is a growth area.

Russian and Eastern European Stock Tour by Jim Cramer on CNBC Show "Mad Money"

This week on the CNBC Show "Mad Money", ex-hedge fund manager Jim Cramer, host of the show, is recommending Eastern European or Russian Stocks, one stock each day of the week.

On Monday, Jim Cramer recommended Michel Steel (MTL), a steel company.

On Tuesday, Jim Cramer recommended Wimm Bill Dann (WBD) a dairy and juice producer.

Can we guess the other three companies?

There aren't that many Russian stocks which sell as ADRs (American Depository Receipts), and Mad Money can't recommend stocks on the "pink sheets".

First Guess

Jim Cramer will recommend a telecom company. Candidates include Mobile TeleSystems (MBT), Rostelcom (ROS), Golden Telecom (GLDN) and Vimpel Communications (VIP).

My first guess would be Vimpel Communications (VIP) and possibly Mobile TeleSystems (MBT) because of the wireless growth.

Second Guess

Eastern European companies are under consideration.

My second guess would be Polish Vodka company, Central European Distribution (CEDC).

Third Guess

Another Eastern European company worth considering is Central European Media Enterprises (CETV). Growth in this area should be great.

Fourth Guess

A Natural Resources Company would be my fourth guess. There are many Russian resource companies such as Lukoil and Gazprom, and Norilsk Nickel (world's top producer of Nickel), but they sell on the "pink sheets".

Former CNBC Fast Money Panelist Eric Bolling bids for Shopping Date with Ivanka Trump

Former CNBC "Fast Money" Panelist Eric Bolling (and current Fox Business Network Financial Analyst) appeared on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice Finale.

Contestants Tabloid Editor Piers Morgan and Country music superstar Trace Adkins were in charge of setting up a charity event which included an auction.

One of the auction items included a Shopping Date with Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump's Daughter. The First Bid was from Eric Bolling (Celebrity Apprentice did not mention his name) for $20k and he had a big smile on his face.

Soon, Piers Morgan made a phone call and on the other line, the voice of American Idol Judge Simon Cowell was heard and started to bid $50k. Eric Bolling countered with $60k. Simon Cowell then bid $75k. Eric Bolling raised the stakes to $85k.

Finally, Simon Cowell bids $100k and wins the Shopping Date with Ivanka Trump and Eric Bolling loses the auction item.

The Video


Ivanka Trump



Eric Bolling



Jim Cramer and Erin Burnett

Financial and Television Personality and CNBC's Mad Money Host Jim Cramer and CNBC Financial Reporter Erin Burnett also appeared on the Celebrity Apprentice.





Investment House Cantor Fitzgerald Very Generous

Investment House Cantor Fitzgerald (who lost more than 700 employees who were working in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001) donated a lot of money to help the charities on the Celebrity Apprentice. One partner paid $100k for a Tea Date with the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, and $100k for time with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne.

The company also offered to match up to $250,000 of viewers donations through cell phone texting..

Not Choosing Individual Stocks in This Market?

For some time now, I noticed that I haven't been blogging about individual stocks. The market has been bad, and I didn't think the time was right to start going for stock home runs.

Then yesterday, on the CNBC show Mad Money, Jim Cramer says something very similar, that he is not recommending many stocks in this market because the market is very bad.

Thank you Jim Cramer for echoing my thoughts exactly.

There is a common market saying that a rising tide lifts all boats. The same thing can be said about the opposite of that saying.

Some reminders:

1. Your 401k money is long term money (assuming you have many years or decades before you have to take money out.) If you have a diversified set of broad based ETFs or mutual funds, you can ride out this market. Continue to put money in your 401k and continue to accumulate.
   
2. In your discretionary fund, are you taking too much risk?
   
3. Do you have high interest rate consumer or credit card debt? Consider paying it off.
   
4. Do you have a 3-6 month emergency cash fund in conservative investments?
   
5. If you think there is a housing bottom within five years, and you intend to buy a house with money from your discretionary portfolio, then maybe you can take some money out and put the money in more conservative investments (high yielding online savings account, for example.)
   
6. Don't forget about controlling your losses.
   

I intend to create a new blog entry commenting on today's monster rally in the US Stock Market.

"How can a teenager (11-17) start investing in the stock market?"

Question:

I'm a (11-17) year old student and I have some money I want to invest. How do I start investing?

Answer:

Congratulations on saving your money and trying to invest it!

In the United States, many US discount online brokerages, such as E*trade (www.etrade.com) require you to be 18 years or older.

So what you can do is ask your parents to open an account for you. One example is an Educational Custodial account. Your parents will control the account until you turn 18 or 21. Read the other requirements and benefits on the website:

There is also a Coverdell Account (formerly known as Education IRA), or an IRA for Minors (for your retirement!)

In the meantime, I recommend that you get your parents involved. Have them learn more about Investing. Both you and your parents should start by reading Investing for Dummies by Eric Tyson.

Once they open the account, you and your parents can decide how to invest.

For amounts $500 or less, you are better off choosing one good mutual fund (you purchase shares in a fund, and at the end of each day, the mutual fund price goes up or down, and you lose or gain money each day. After a period of time (for example, 10 years), you may decide to sell your mutual fund. At that time, you may have a profit (or a loss). The money is all yours now).

You can look at all the choices available in your brokerage account. If you use E*Trade, you can choose from among the more than 7000 mutual funds. Choose only mutual funds that are four or five start Morningstar.com rated and have no-load (you don't have to pay a special percentage to the brokerage when you either buy or sell), and no transaction fee.

Whenever you get more money, you can purchase more shares in the mutual fund. Look for either a good mutual fund that focuses on large US companies, or a diversified mutual fund that invests in international stocks.

If you have $1000 or more, you can choose to have fun. Are you interested in learning more about the stock market? You are young, and that means that you can take more risks with the money. Even if you lose it all, you'll have enough time to make it up in the future.

One good way is to continue reading about stocks and the stock market (Remember the Investing for Dummies by Eric Tyson book above?).

Then, as I mentioned before, get your parents involved. You can research stocks together. A good stock to research would be stocks you already know. Do you like McDonalds? maybe you can invest in "MCD". Do you like Games? Then consider Gamestop (GME). Of course, don't just buy it because you use the product. This is just a starting point. Research the stock!

Since you don't have that much money, just invest in one stock (or ETF, an Exchange Traded Fund. An ETF is a mutual fund that you buy and sell just like stocks) and just see how it goes up and down, and how what you do (for example, buy more Big Macs) affects the companies bottom line.

Also, watch "Mad Money" on CNBC hosted by former hedge fund manager Jim Cramer. Lots of those in Generation Y like him. He may sound a bit crazy on the show, but in reality, he as a very good hedge fund manager before he did the Mad Money show. (Video of Jim Cramer here.)

To be realistic, expect a market return of 10% per year over a long time. Of course, you can lose 40% in a year, or gain 40% of a year, for example. If you hold an individual stock, the stock will be more volatile. Don't be surprised if you go on a rollercoaster ride.

Good luck!

Credits

My own experience plus inspiration from Jim Cramer's article on teaching your children about investing.

Jim Cramer and Generation Y: The Perfect Storm

Why are so many college aged students and those in Generation Y crazy about 52 year old, balding, former hedge fund manager Jim Cramer? When Jim Cramer's CNBC "Mad Money" show goes on a college roadtrip, he is often greeted by a great number of screaming, adoring college fans.

According to a Boston Globe Article, Joanna Weiss says that "Cramer has a penchant for madcap props -- he has eaten cereal drenched in soda pop and worn diapers to drill in a point -- and he presides over a busybox of noise machines, pushing buttons like a crazed suburban father. His bulging-vein energy, along with his ability to move markets with yelped suggestions, has drawn the ire of Wall Street traditionalists."

In the same article, Joanna Weiss mentions that Jim Cramer's 22 year old nephew Cliff Mason, helps Jim Cramer make the Mad Money show hip and appealing to Generation Y, a generation that is 2nd in number only to the Baby Boomers.

But there is more to Jim Cramer's appeal to Generation Y. Jim Cramer is benefiting from the Perfect Storm.

In a 2006 Gen Next Survey, the top two goals in life for those in Generation Y is "To Get Rich", and "To be Famous." 81% of all those in Generation Y who responded listed "To Get Rich" as their first or second goal in life. Compare this to those 26 years and older, who ranked "To get rich" as their first or second goal in life 62% of the time.

When asked about their most important problems in life, 30% of Generation Y in the survey listed "Money/finances/debt." To those 18-25 years old, this ranked as their top problem in life (school/education was their second choice). Compare this with those 26 years and older who ranked "Money/finances/debt" as their first problem 27% of the time, and "Health", or "No problems" 15% of the time.

When asked about who they admire, Generation Y admired a "Teacher/Professor/Mentor" 12% of the time (compared to 2% of those 26 years and older), and Entertainers 14% of the time (compared to 11% of those 26 years and older).

When we put all this together, we have the perfect storm. We have Jim Cramer, who has the credibility to make people rich (having a very good record during his time as a Hedge Fund Manager) and also has the energy and presentation skills of an entertainer. We also have Generation Y, who want to get rich, get famous, and whose top problem in life is money, finances and debt. Jim Cramer offers Generation Y an entertaining show that educates, and this coincides very well with Generation Y's goals to be rich and famous, and their admiration of teachers and entertainers.