This past year has been a very trying and testing time for most people, what with the credit crises and the mortgage meltdown and the biggest recession the world has ever seen. As of today Ben Bernanke stated that he believes the recession is nearly over (I believe we bottomed out in the last week of February/first week of March) and that the economy shows signs of improvement. I hope this is the case as everybody has been affected by this recession in one way or another.

I have been involved in the AUTO Industry for the past eighteen years and unfortunately was laid OFF twice this past year. Having being involved with Ford and GMC for most of that time line it was especially hard to see what has become of the domestic AUTO industry in the USA. The Government has stepped in to this economic morass ON a number of occasions, firstly with the bank bailouts and then the AUTO bailouts and most recently they tried to stimulate the AUTO business with cash for clunkers (though this seems to have helped the import AUTO companies more than domestic) with the idea to stimulate, stimulate and stimulate.

As we now head toward the last quarter of 2009 signs of a growing economy are showing and jobless numbers are slowing from all time highs (although getting all these people employed again will take some time) and there are indications that manufacturing output is starting to grow again and of course the stock market has risen steadily since it's low point in early march and all of these factors indicate a bull market ahead.

Let's move ahead carefully and we must never again allow corporate greed to gain traction like it did to get us into this terrible situation. Be diligent and use sound business practices and good luck to all in the future.