Without a doubt, these are scary financial times we are living in. People are losing their jobs in record numbers and their investments are disappearing even faster.

It’s seems that no one is to be trusted today with our money.

Phone and mail scams and phishing schemes online are also increasing in alarming rates. People are losing money in more sophisticated ways today.

When you can’t trust well-known financial giants with your hard earned money, what do you do?

The financial advice we were given in the past is worthless. The people we trusted to help us save for and enjoy a worry-free retirement are the same scoundrels who are stealing our hard earned money and dreams.

The American ideal of retirement is seriously in danger of becoming extinct.

To work hard most of your life and invest part of your paycheck into stocks, mutual funds ,municipal bonds ,and annuities, only to discover that they lost or stole it. This is the worst kind of crime any one from the all income brackets will agree on.

The airways are filled with financial advice that I have come to watch, think about and research. I cannot say that I wholeheartedly trust any advice that I see on TV or read about as yet. The internet is flooded as well with advice which is just as diverse and contrary as those on the television.

This whole financial “crisis" has spawned another cottage industry. It seems that scaring people into buying financial advice and products has replaced old fashioned good sense and investing.

Just like a lot of people today. I watch my retirement savings go up and down each week. I was too scared to take a peek at it until the end of the year statements came in and now I’m becoming more pro active.

That knot in the stomach feeling is always there.There is a lot of advice and blame to go around on television today.

The programs that I watch do have good advice and I will discuss some of them here.

The first financial advice program I want to discuss has become a fixture in the media and talk shows over the past five years. Suze Orman had worked her way up from a waitress to a full-fledged stock broker and now doles out advice and reprimands listeners like your old school principal, on her nightly “Suze Orman Show.”

She has many books and kits on the internet and in bookstores, as many of us know. I read one of her first books but thought it was a little too simplistic.

Suze has a nightly call in program giving people to go ahead or not to buy something they want. It’s a little entertaining and annoying at the same time .It usually airs at 10 pm ET.

“Clark Howard” on CNN is a newcomer to the TV financial advice scene and I do like his down to earth style and no frills program. He describes himself as “a consumer advocate with a nationally syndicated talk show designed to help you spend less, save more and avoid getting ripped off”.

He comes off as a real cheapskate, wearing a vest and simple cotton shirts ,compared to the other advisors on the TV today who wear Armani’s and Rolexes. He actually goes into shops and shows consumers how to pick the best buy and does comparison shopping.

He’s described as self made millionaire, who was fascinated by money and how to make it from an early age. I’ll bet he had an adult in his early life teach him about money. So far he seems to be genuine. Howard’s show can be seen at 12 noon and 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. He also has a number of books and his latest one is sold on Amazon titled “Clark Howards Big Book of Bargains”.

“Your Bottom Line” with Gerri Willis is on CNN, Saturdays at 9:30 am.

“...is the show that helps you build, save and protect your money. When the financial challenges you face seem overwhelming, "Your Bottom Line" will give you the tips and tools to help solve those problems. After all, your financial health is really up to you, and that's where "Your Bottom Line" comes in. Each week, we give you advice on finding jobs, getting a better mortgage loan, financing college debt, managing your retirement doll.” Gerri also has a book out titled “Home Rich.” Read more about her and some useful articles on CNN.

“On the Money” with Carmen Wong Ulrich can be seen every night at 11ET on CNBC. She started out alone, but now has a panel of financial genius’ to debate each other and fight for airtime.

I like the fact that she doesn’t lecture the callers and is also down to earth in her style.

The panel of financial all-stars has taken to themed shows lately and takes calls from viewers explaining their financial situation which the panel gives their advice on how to remedy their situation.

CNN.com is producing a similar financial advice program at 1pm ET, Saturdays hosted by chief business correspondent,

Ali Velshi, called“Your $$$$$.”

Ali also hosts a radio program Wednesdays at 12pm ET and has a book aptly entitled “Gimme My Money Back.”

No financial advice program would be complete without the screaming madman from “Mad Money” Jim Cramer. A former hedge fund manager, Jim has worked his way to the top of the financial world, hosting and appearing on a number of other financial programs before starring on his own. Listeners call in to the live program with questions about certain stocks. Jim will either give “buy” “hold” or “sell” answer. It’s a bit chaotic and too circus-like for my taste. He can be seen every night on CNBC at 6pm ET and 11pm ET.

You can read all the financial advice columns, listen to many television programs giving you their opinions, ask your broker or friends, but it all comes down to what you decide to do.

It’s true that the government and the financial raters let the public down tremendously. Public trust has been destroyed and we, the common people, will have a hard time believing what anyone from financial institutions advises from now on.

I am not playing a wait and see game anymore. That is, I am not waiting for statements and hoping for the best. I log on and read what is making money and what isn’t and make adjustments as I see fit.

Consumer programs and products have more information written about them than in past history. It’s us to you to search out the information and do your homework before buying anything today.

Don’t be a victim of scams and phishing online. It’s becoming so dangerous to buy without checking first. Gone are the days of trusting what you are told.

Use your credit cards only when you absolutely need to and watch your statements carefully. Even with that said, I and millions of other bank debit card holders, were victims of a computer hacker that broke into a national credit card and debit card processor’s data system. I didn’t learn of this till months later with a letter from my bank and instructions how to activate a new card. They didn’t seem very concerned at all. I guess this is a sign of the times we’re living in.

More legislation and better security for data information systems may help but I doubt it. Just make sure the greenbacks in your pocket are real and you’ll be fine. Maybe we’ll go back to stuffing the mattress again like they did after the 1929 stock market crash.