Mecklenburg Times: News for Mecklenburg, Union and Iredell counties Real Estate, Development, Construction, and Community News in the Charlotte area and throughout Mecklenburg, Union and Iredell counties

Dear Mr. Berko: About six years ago, you wrote that medical stocks and defense stocks are not so affected by the changes in our country’s economy as mining, beverage, hotel and retail stocks are. So I bought 100 shares of ...

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Dear Mr. Berko: I have 28 shares of Science Applications International Corp. in my account and don’t know how they got there. If they’re mine, should I keep them or sell them? I’ve changed brokerage firms six times in the ...

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Dear Mr. Berko: In 2008, I was 46. My husband passed away that year, and my 600 shares of United Technologies were selling at $43 each. I own eight stocks, United Technologies, which recently announced a spinoff into three companies. ...

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Dear Mr. Berko: My husband of 34 years is a retired Marine colonel with prostate cancer, and the doctors told him that it is aggressive and could metastasize. I know that you know a lot about prostate cancer because you ...

Tagged with: Cancer

Dear Readers: The following are answers to recent letters received at my post office box from readers who did not include a stamped self-addressed envelope. I’ll list the cities where the questions came from after my answers. In response to ...

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Dear Mr. Berko: I’ve invested $85,000 in five companies involved in the development and manufacturing of autonomous vehicles. Four of the five issues currently trade well below my cost basis. I am beginning to have doubts and wonder whether I ...

Tagged with: self driving cars

Dear Mr. Berko: Every three months, I receive patent royalties. Last year, I received $3,877, $3,206, $2,135 and $3,440. I’ve had to buy low-paying certificates of deposit because the minimum corporate bond purchase is $5,000 and I never seem to ...

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Dear Mr. Berko: I have four original oil paintings by Thomas Kinkade. I bought them about 25 years ago and paid over $6,000 for each of them. I love them, and it gives me great pleasure to look at them, ...

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Dear Mr. Berko: Blue Apron is $1.01 a share. Do you think there’s any life left in the company that might warrant a purchase as a speculation? I may buy 25,000 shares if you think I could net a profit ...

Tagged with: Blue Apron

Dear Mr. Berko: In 2007, my stockbroker had me buy 100 shares of J.C. Penney at $73. Months later, he had me buy another 100 shares at $62. And because he was very certain it would recover, he had me ...

Tagged with: Penny