MAD MONEY

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Investment guru Jim Cramer believes that there is always a bull market somewhere, and he wants to help you find it. Cramer is host of Mad Money w/Jim Cramer on CNBC, featuring call-ins from “Cramericans” everywhere, hard-hitting interviews and the rapid-fire opinions of Cramer himself. He serves as your personal guide through the confusing jungle of Wall Street with one goal in mind: to try to help you make money. You can catch more of Cramer in a series of NBC specials airing this summer. Here are five of his rules for do-it-yourself investors big and small who’d like to make some Mad Money.

Patience is a Virtue
Sometimes stocks you like can do nothing…for ages. Lots of turnarounds can take up to two years. If you’re patient, the upside on these “stuck in the mud” stocks can be very rewarding.

Diversification is the Only Free Lunch
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, or in market terms, don’t put all your investments in one sector. Your portfolio should be diversified across sectors to spread out the potential risk.

Do Your Homework!
Homework means analyzing a company before you invest. If you’re not willing to do the homework, you have no business being your own portfolio manager.

Pay Attention to Politics
There are a ton of companies out there whose profits hinge on the decisions made on Capitol Hill. With the upcoming presidential election, it’s more important than ever to know what a Democrat vs. Republican in the White House could mean for your portfolio.

Stay in the Game
You cannot give in to market volatility. Time and time again I see people cut and run at the very worst time, even when stocks still have potential. No one ever made a dime by panicking.