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

This article is continued from my previously published “Part 1” and draws heavily on the concepts and analysis of the eye-opening book Big Shifts Ahead: Demographic Clarity for Business by John Burns & Chris Porter. You may have been encouraged by ...

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

America Migrates South: (Why the Greater Charlotte Area Will Continue to Grow at a Phenomenal Pace)                                                                Part 1 of 2 Occasionally, I read a book that’s just so interesting and relevant that I can’t stop talking about it. Big ...

Tagged with: migration

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

by Nasar. El-arabi Well, the simple answer to this question is yes. The discerning investor probably knows a thing or two about IRAs. A good deal of investors know that individual retirement accounts give you the wild card to invest ...

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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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  Remodeling a single room can be hard work as it is but imagine having to do an entire house from scratch? It can be particularly taxing for first-time investors who can get overwhelmed with the entire lengthy process. The ...

Tagged with: fixer-upper

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