“There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.” -- Napoleon Hill
Wall Street seems to be feeling frisky lately, with major indices testing, poking and prodding record highs. And, in spite of the fact that the CBOE Volatility Index has been jolted back to life, the domestic economy seems to be exhibiting tendencies of slow, steady but solid growth.
But will Washington politics manage to upset Wall Street’s upbeat apple cart? Read more about ETF Periscope: Will Lagging Global Market Puncture Wall Street’s Quest for New Highs?
Until today, the stock market had lost its year-end traction, and it is exclusively due to the unresolved Federal budget and the looming Fiscal Cliff and debt ceiling. Optimism among investors that something will certainly get done had fallen victim to political theater and the reality that our elected officials view compromise as a sure path to losing their next election. 
Before I delve into the accounting loopholes used to prop 3rd-quarter earnings, I will start with pointing out the intimidating amount of ETF choices in the financial sector.
It's very sad when you can get your best financial advice from cartoon characters.