What is a hedge fund?

Is a Hedge Fund something legal or is it something I should learn about? I have heard of Hedge Funds in passing but I have never bothered to look . Is this a good way to invest your money or some boiler room scam?

Watch Disney's 'Over The Hedge'. In this movie you will learn that a hedge fund is a lightly regulated private investment fund that is characterized by some of the unorthodox moves with investment choices (usually not a 'long' term investment). So to answer your question, no, they are not a good idea or smart by any means. Put your money somewhere safe. I would reccomend watching funds that deal with the eco-socionomic times around us. For example: We go to war over oil. You invest in crude oil commodities. Or invest in company's that got subcontracts from larger contracts of government money. Odds are you will show profit if you play right, but also keep your money as diversified as possible and keep in mind the long term value of the stock.