Top 5 Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now

The property and casualty business of insurance company Kemper� (NYSE: KMPR  ) has a new bean counter.

On Monday, the Chicago-based insurance company�announced�that Elizabeth "Libbie" Bock�will take on the role of CFO for the P&C division, where she would be�responsible for all aspects of operations, reporting, control, planning and analysis, financial management, and competitive analysis.

Bock, who comes with more than�11 years of experience in financial leadership roles, will report to Denise I. Lynch, Kemper's group executive, and who says of the new CFO, "Her leadership, experience, and insights will help us build even deeper financial acumen throughout the businesses."

Bock was with�Experian until her appointment with Kemper, and before that�she held various financial leadership positions at The Hartford. She was also a senior consultant with Towers Perrin and has served as coordinator for international affairs, in the Office of the Governor for the Mie Prefectural Government in Japan.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd (FRFHF)

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (Fairfax) is a financial services holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, is principally engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and the associated investment management. The Company�� segments consist of Insurance, Reinsurance, Insurance and Reinsurance Other, Runoff, and Corporate and Other. On December 22, 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of 75% interests in Sporting Life Inc. On August 16, 2011, the Company acquired William Ashley China Corporation. On March 24, 2011, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax completed the acquisition of The Pacific Insurance Berhad. On February 9, 2011, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Fairfax completed the acquisition of First Mercury Financial Corporation. In October 2012, its RiverStone runoff subsidiary acquired all the outstanding shares of Brit Insurance Limited.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: Independent Bank Corporation(IBCP)

Independent Bank Corporation operates as a holding company for the Independent Bank that provides various retail and commercial banking services in Michigan. The company offers various deposit products, including non-interest bearing demand deposits, time deposits, checking and savings accounts, and NOW accounts. It also provides commercial lending, direct and indirect consumer financing, mortgage lending, and safe deposit box services. The company, through its other subsidiaries, offers payment plans used by consumers to purchase vehicle service contracts and title insurance services, as well as provides investment and insurance services. As of May 2, 2011, it operated approximately 100 offices across Michigan?s Lower Peninsula. The company was founded in 1864 and is based in Ionia, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Harding]

  Independent Bank is a commercial bank in Michigan. It provides checking and savings accounts, commercial lending, direct and indirect consumer financing and mortgage lending.

  Shares of the Michigan company climbed after Independent Bank said its net loss applicable to shareholders shrank to $4.9 million, or 65 cents a share, in the fourth quarter, compared to a year-earlier loss of $48.2 million, or $20.49 a share. On Feb. 16, Independent Bank announced its senior management succession plan, although shares pulled back shortly after when the company announced the unregistered sale of 253,000 shares of common stock to Dutchess Opportunity Fund II as part of an investment agreement established in July 2010.

  Current Share Price: $3.23 (March 29)

  First Quarter Total Return: 148%

  Analyst Ratings: Stifel Nicolaus is the only research firm currently following Independent Bank, recommending that investors hold on to shares.

  TheStreet Ratings has a "sell" rating on Independent Bank, noting that despite the recent stock rally, shares are down sharply in the past two years and underperform the S&P 500. "Investors have so far failed to pay much attention to the earnings improvements the company has managed to achieve over the last quarter," the March 20 research note reads.

5 Best Stocks To Invest In Right Now: United Bankshares Inc.(UBSI)

United Bankshares, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides commercial and retail banking services and products in the United States. Its deposit products include checking, savings, time, and money market deposit accounts; demand deposits, statement and special savings, and NOW accounts; and variable and fixed-term money market accounts and certificates of deposit. The company?s loan products portfolio comprises personal, commercial, floor plan, and student loans; construction and real estate loans; and consumer loans, including credit card and home equity loans. It also offers individual retirement accounts, safe deposit boxes, wire transfers, credit card, and other banking products and services. In addition, the company offers trust services; and services to correspondent banks, such as check clearing, safekeeping, and the buying and selling of federal funds. The company?s nonbank subsidiaries engage in other community banking services, such as asset management, real p roperty title insurance, investment banking, financial planning, and brokerage services. United Bankshares operates 112 full service offices in West Virginia, Virginia, Northern Virginia, Maryland, southeastern Ohio, and Washington, D.C. The company was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: BlackRock Energy and Resources Trust (BGR)

BlackRock Energy and Resources Trust is a close ended equity mutual fund launched by BlackRock Inc. The fund is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. It invests in the public equity markets across the globe while focusing on the United States. The fund invests stocks of companies operating in the energy and natural resources sectors. It primarily invests in stocks of companies operating across all market capitalizations. The fund was formerly known as BlackRock Global Energy and Resources Trust. BlackRock Energy and Resources Trust was formed on December 29, 2004 and is domiciled in the United States.

Top 5 Financial Stocks To Watch Right Now: The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund Inc. (CUBA)

Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund Inc. is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. The fund is managed by Herzfeld/Cuba. It invests in the public equity markets of the Caribbean Basin Countries and the United States. The fund makes its investments in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund Inc. was formed on March 10, 1992 and is domiciled in the United States.