As the financial system crumbles, the impact on the individual investor and their stock dividends is unclear. With major Wall Street firms collapsing, insurance companies failing, and banks struggling to survive, billions of dollars in stock valuation has disappeared. Will your retirement account do the same?

News out this morning that Kraft Foods, Inc. (KFT) has been chosen to replace American International Group (AIG) as a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average sent its shares higher.  Investors rushed to get into the stock ahead of its formal inclusion in the widely followed benchmark on September 22.

Deal? No wait, no deal. Wait, deal. The on-again-off-again negotiations to save American International Group, Inc. (AIG) were finally completed this week with the Federal Reserve stepping in to save the mammoth insurance company.

Once upon a time, the airline industry was just about the most hated sector on Wall Street. Not only had investors run out of patience, but their customers had as well. Now it seems that the tide is turning -- airline stocks have become some of the best performers since mid-July. 

Do we dare say it?  It has become a sport this week to predict the shoe that will drop next. Why not join the fray with a bold prediction that Goldman Sachs (GS) may be the next target for calamity? It's hard to believe it has come to this and yet that is where we sit today. Even worse, we all should have seen it coming.

Safety and diversification are two of my favorite words during times of economic turmoil. Believe it or not, there are a number of stocks that offer investors the combination of the two during these difficult times.

For the first time during the current financial crisis, I found myself lost for words. After the market closed yesterday, the rating agencies announced that they were cutting the ratings on American International Group, Inc. (AIG). Watching the drama unfold, it seems like AIG was marching to oblivion...

In high stakes poker, you better be able to lose the pot every now and then because at some point you will lose no matter how good you are. That is the circumstance Lehman Brothers (LEH) faced this weekend in a race for survival. With no buyers or investors willing to pump in needed capital, LEH was forced to put itself up for sale. What does this all mean for you, the individual investor?

This week, as we remember 9/11, I thought it a good time to focus on defense sector stocks. Big companies such as Boeing (BA), Lockheed-Martin (LMT), Raytheon (RTN) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) dominate the headlines in the defense sector, but don't overlook the companies that operate as subcontractors and that aren't covered widely by the financial news media. Endwave Corporation (ENWV) is one example.

Oil companies have become everyone’s favorite whipping boy over the past few years. Just mention Halliburton (HAL) or Exxon Mobil (XOM) at a cocktail party…

How do you make money in such a difficult stock market? The old standby strategies of buying growth or buying value stocks haven't been working lately. And while some investors may have that innate ability to pick winning stocks, most don't. So what is the average investor supposed to do? Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are the perfect solution. Get three of my favorites here.

With the Beijing Olympics over, businesses reopened and inflation under control, the likelihood of Chinese stocks resuming their uptrend this year is very good. I'm actually anticipating a complete turnaround in Chinese stocks in the next six to nine months. Continue reading to find out why I'm so optimistic.

Stock traders and investors that make up the marketplace simply get it wrong on occasion.

When analysts get it wrong, investors need to pounce. Taking advantage of these market inefficiencies is one of the best ways investors can beat the market. Case-in-point: SIRI.

We all know the headlines are indeed scary. That's the point. News organizations are now huge corporate entities trying to make money and scary headlines sell. However, one glimmer of hope that has caught my eye lately is a story on one of my favorite companies Walt Disney Co. (DIS).

The allure of Vegas is obvious and over the years developers have made the city an adult Disneyland drawing oodles and oodles of customers. And with those customers profits followed. The question today is will those dollars continue to flow when consumers are strapped, losing jobs, and incomes stagnant.

You just can't win in this economic environment. Competition is fierce and the market reacts negatively to whatever path companies choose to take in dealing with the difficulties.

Have you noticed how popular the "X-Games" have become? You know, those Olympic-like contests featuring dare devil bikers, skateboarders, snowboarders and the like that are featured on ESPN. Heck, some of those disciplines have become so popular they've become part of the real Olympics as BMX biking was this summer in Beijing! One of the companies that gets this demographic and gets it well is Volcom, Inc. (VLCM).

As a business owner, I have a strong bias against unions and labor issues.  In my opinion, competition should dictate all results on both sides of the capitalism coin.  Companies should be free to compete with other companies and workers should be free to compete with other workers.

With the announcement of the U.S. government seizing control of mortgage giants Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) the housing crisis appears to be nearing its zenith. This means is more money in consumers' wallets more money store cash-registers. Think of the rescue as a massive economic stimulus package for consumers!