If you read today’s headlines, you’ll hear about everything from recession, decline, slow start, etc. Everyone comments on very marginal gains or losses. However, there are some investors like me who have done very well in recent years and continue to do well, and none of us fell for late-night TV investment scams (and they are ALL scams). Instead, we were smart. Here’s how we did it and what we like (and you can check the results or progress of these actions by searching for their ticker symbols on Google and Yahoo search engines):

1) Diversification is key: You should have a percentage of your assets in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). I recommend IJR (iShares S&P SmallCap 600 IJR Style/Mkt Cap ETF) as it follows the market, does not have wild fluctuations, and always grows steadily and pays dividends at the same time. IJR will be a great bet for a 20-30% profit in 2006.

2) Oil, natural gas and energy are kings and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot. They will continue to grow and produce record profits throughout 2006. I highly recommend XTO – Cross Timbers Oil Co. Over the last 3 years their stock has grown over 800% and has split several times. They are a definite ace up the sleeve and a huge favourite. Brilliant, solid management and a definite winner. I also like PNY, Piedmont Natural Gas. They are very consistent and produce very solid returns that are always increasing. It won’t produce the high returns of XTO, but it will produce a solid performance. XTO can be a highly volatile stock and sometimes a rollercoaster ride, but it will produce strong results over time. PNY is a safe and sound investment and natural gas prices are only going to go up.

3) Hotels and Travel: One name says it all CHH: Choice Hotels, they own most of their local Comfort Inns and such. They average profits of 50-60% per year and pay a slight dividend on top of that. A solid player who tends to oppose the economy.

4) Banks and financial institutions: BPOP, Popular Inc. The main Latino bank in Puerto Rico and expanding into the US. You can buy it cheap right now and they are great for an acquisition: $$$. Solid dividends too and low price for a bank. Good investment value.

5) Mortgage Companies – We will always need houses and a solid, customer service oriented company with a great track record is a good buy. AHM (American Home Mortgage) – solid, high-yield company that will produce great returns in 2006. Enough is enough.

6) Ebay, Yahoo, Google, Intel – You need to have a piece of the Internet pie, but with whom? eBay is your best bet. No Competition: Yahoo tried and failed to get its auctions off the ground. The others have simple technology that is easily copied and the risk is great and the rewards limited. Google is questionable as it has grown well, but others with deep pockets are stepping in forcefully: Yahoo and MSN.

Search engines like Google quickly appear out of nowhere, but then often fall back into obscurity. However, Google is smart and trying to branch out into other fields: maps, online libraries, gmail, etc., so they’ll stay, but I’d go with Ebay. eBay is trying to do what Walmart did: expand into China, Japan, Korea, etc. With billions of new customers and no competition, the sky is the limit. eBay will be rock solid in 2006.

There you go. A secure and diversified group of true and proven performers that will guarantee you a great 2006. Plus, they are all available through low-cost commercial companies. I recommend Sharebuilder.com. You can’t beat the $4 trades and their easy to use site. No need for a commissioned investment advisor (all they do is charge you extra money and fees, a lie, and possibly not even close to the workhorses I mentioned above). Do yourself a favor and print this. If you care about your friends, give it to them. Put it on your email lists. If you believe in helping others and making the world a better place, please pass it on to everyone you can. These stocks will provide you and everyone else with solid earnings for years to come. And a greater opportunity for financial freedom, and best of all, it didn’t cost you a dime.

Just do me a favor and visit and promote my sites listed below (www.mdwholesale.com and http://www.bestskinpeel.com).