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: In 2007, I invested almost $10,000 in 165 shares of GlaxoSmithKline. The share price was $59 then. It hasn’t been $59 since. How can such a large, important pharmaceutical firm perform so poorly? Please tell me whether ...

Tagged with: Berko

Dear Mr. Berko: I’m going to buy my wife a $225 Fitbit watch for Christmas. I’m also looking at the stock, which sells for about $5 a share. Do you think buying 1,000 shares of the stock would be a ...

Tagged with: fitbit

Dear Mr. Berko: This market frightens the heck out of me, and I’m scared my $263,000 individual retirement account will go up in smoke. I’m 42. Is there any way to avoid scary downturns? — SS, Springfield, Ill. Dear SS: ...

Tagged with: stocks

Dear Mr. Berko: Eighteen years ago, when my wife and I were 50, we sold our business for $4 million after taxes. We took $1.7 million in cash plus $110,000 a year for 20 years. Our intent was to live ...

Tagged with: stocks

Dear Mr. Berko: Most American banks have recovered from the Great Recession. But banks in the United Kingdom have not. I have $30,000 to invest, and I’d thank you for a recommendation of three British banks for my individual retirement ...

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Dear Mr. Berko: My stockbroker wants me to buy 500 shares of Columbus McKinnon on margin. He tells me that an activist group, which he won’t name, may be interested in taking a large position in Columbus McKinnon and selling ...

Tagged with: invest

Dear Mr. Berko: My husband and I are in our 30s and make about $87,000 a year. We have a 10-year-old son, and we want him to go to college and become a doctor and make a good living. We’re ...

Tagged with: college

Dear Mr. Berko: Please tell me what you can about Andeavor Logistics. Would this be a good stock to buy 200 shares of for a long-term hedge against inflation and the cost of living? — BD, Austin, Texas Dear BD: ...

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Dear Mr. Berko: My stockbroker insists that Uber, which is valued at $120 billion, will come public in the second quarter of 2019. He doesn’t have a price yet but promises he could get at least 100 shares at the ...

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Dear Mr. Berko: I don’t need advice, but I feel I have to tell you of an experience that I was not prepared for. In 2008, my employer sold his business and ended my pension plan. I took a lump ...

Tagged with: capitalism