Everybody talks about the weather, but when Sarasota-based James Roemer—aka "Dr. Weather"—talks, people listen. Roemer (who graduated from the same Vermont college as Weather Channel star Jim Cantore) did stints on TV and as a ski resort forecaster before finding his niche: predicting the economic effects of storms, droughts and other meteorological phenomena. Roemer, now 53, has proven especially successful in predicting investment opportunities for such commodities as natural gas, corn and soybeans based on his long-range forecasts. "It would be cool to help people in Florida," he says, with forecasts related to our hurricanes, freezes, citrus crops and more.

To that end, he’s considering forming an area hedge fund of his own.