In an era when so many things have gone so wrong on Wall Street, the story of options trader Tom Sosnoff stands out as one thing that's gone right. Sosnoff is co-founder of online brokerage firm Thinkorswim, the top-rated online broker in Barron's and one that's amassed some $3.6 billion in client assets from more than 70,000 trading accounts over the course of a decade.

Sosnoff, who spent 10 years as an options-market maker at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, created Thinkorswim in 1999 and sold it this year to TD Ameritrade (AMTD) for more than $600 million. Now senior VP of the TD's Trader Group, Sosnoff took a break from trading to chat with DailyFinance about the stock market, investing trends, and what it takes to build a successful company.

Air travel has deservedly gotten a bad rap from the green set. Jet engines spew out huge quantities of carbon, and flying is by far the most energy inefficient way to travel. But that hasn't stopped airlines from trying to paint a green tint on their fuselages. Witness the latest offering from Southwest Air (LUV) -- a "greener" plane.

Southwest unveiled the concept on Oct. 21 -- a standard Boeing 737-300 with many interior modifications to make the plane more eco-friendly. The green plane will incorporate modular carpet from Interface. The carpet is 100 percent recyclable; after it becomes worn and torn, it can be returned to Interface and remanufactured in a completely carbon-neutral process. Southwest will be testing two types of green leather seat covers that are lighter and more durable than traditional airplane seat covers. One of them, e-Leather, is actually made from recycled materials discarded by leather manufacturers.

Hasbro Inc. (HAS) said Monday its profit rose 8.8 percent to $150.4 million, or 99 cents per share, in the third quarter, helped by lower costs and slightly higher sales of Transformers and G.I. Joe toys. The results beat estimates for earnings of 93 cents a share. Still, revenue fell 1.7 percent to $1.28 billion, missing analysts' estimates of $1.32 billion. Shares gained nearly a percent ahead of the bell. McDonald's (MCD) and Whirlpool (WHR) are among other retailers reporting this week.

Most U.S. airlines have lousy reputations, and that's mostly deserved. Long known for surly service, the airlines' more recent skinflint policies of nickel-and-diming travelers for the modest conveniences have pushed consumers to look for alternatives wherever possible.

For some, that alternative was Southwest Airlines (LUV). The quirky Dallas-based carrier developed a loyal following for its down-home service and affable employees. But in this tough economic climate, even dear ol' Southwest's reputation is taking a hit, as questions arise about the maintenance of its aging fleet.