How I launched a hedge fund from the ruins of 9/11

Jim Cramer had apparently become a fan of mine enough that when the Editor in Chief, the late David Morrow, told him that I wanted to launch a hedge fund, Jim reached out to me and invited me to his offices in NYC to discuss it. He gave me the names and numbers of various contacts of his at Bear Stearns, Goldman and other firms that provide what are called "prime brokerage services", and other resources for hedge funds and told me I could use his name when I called them so I'd be sure they'd take the call. I'd long ago learned the importance of reaching out to anybody who can help you when you're starting a new venture or adventure, and Doug Kass was another Wall Street big shot who not only met with me at his place in Florida, but also introduced me to several "soft-dollar brokers," who help fund your hedge fund start up costs in exchange for doing a corresponding amount of trading at their firm over time.