James Berman is the president and founder of JBGlobal.com LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisory firm specializing in asset management for high-net-worth individuals and trusts. With over 16 years of experience managing client portfolios, Mr. Berman is a specialist in value investing and asset allocation. As the president of JBGlobal LLC, the general partner of the JBGlobal Fund LP, Mr. Berman manages a global equities fund that invests in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Mr. Berman is also a faculty member in the Finance Department of NYU (SCPS Division), where he teaches corporate finance. He also serves as subadvisor to Eitan Ventures LLC, a venture capital fund based in New York. He has appeared on CNBC, the Fox News Channel, the Cavuto Show, and the Fox Business Channel and is frequently published and quoted in a variety of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Fortune, Bloomberg, and CNN Money. As a regular blogger for the Huffington Post, he covers financial topics ranging from hedge funds to the economy. He writes a monthly interactive investment letter, the Berman Value Folio, a Forbes/Trefis publication.
Mr. Berman received a BA (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from Harvard University and a JD from Harvard Law School.
Thank you for this interview, James. Can you tell us a little about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?
I was always reading everything from the age of 5, both fiction and non-fiction. It was the best escape. Still is! Soon after I could read, I wanted to write. It was arrogant. In elementary school, I was writing small books. My readers then were my parents. Fortunately, they still are around to be readers.
Can you tell us briefly what your book is about?
Rooted in the fundamental truth that “common sense is the best investment tool,” the book slices important concepts into simple sections, sweetening them with folksy, easy-to-read language. The trials and tribulations of lemonade stand owner Lucinda highlight every concept from interest rates to retirement accounts to leverage. Learn investment basics as you follow Lucinda Lemonade Inc. along its sweet (and sometimes sour) journey as a start-up, from the squeeze of the first lemon to its initial private equity deal and its eventual foray into tech, all in the tidy town of Lemonville.
Lessons from the Lemonade Stand simplifies investment concepts without watering them down. A stock, for example, is not defined in financial gibberish, but for what it truly is: a slice of the business that entitles the stockholder to a little drop of every dollar Lucinda Lemonade Inc. earns.
Who is your intended audience? Have you been able to crossover into other audiences as well?
Written for aspiring investors of all ages,Lessons from the Lemonade Stand explains everything you need to know in the context of that most classic of all American businesses: the corner lemonade stand.
What kind of research did you have to do during the writing process?
Because my book involved the simplification of material I deal with every day, I didn't have to do much research. In fact, the bulk of my research concerned navigating my journey into the world of self-publishing.
Who is your publisher and how did you get accepted by them? Did you pitch your book yourself or go through an agent?
I self-published.
How are you promoting your book thus far?
Promotion of the book has thus far been largely through word-of-mouth, but it also has a web presence, having been featured on several eBook review sites and the like.
If you could give one book promotion tip to new authors, what would that be?
Start early, do it often, and persist!
What’s next for you?
Next is the publication of the sequel to my book-- More Lessons from the Lemonade Stand: A Common Sense Primer on Stock Picking.
Can you tell us where we can find you on the web?
You can find Lessons from the Lemonade Stand on the web at lessonsfromlemonade.com, on Twitter at @lemonadeprimer, and on Facebook at facebook.com/lemonadelessons.
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