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: Can you tell me why the economy can’t get back on its feet and why we seem to have had more economic downturns in the past 10 years than we had in the past 25? Has capitalism ...

DEAR BENNY: I recently learned that my home, which I purchased new in 1988, was constructed with Quest pipes. I wasn’t aware of the lawsuit that was created during that time. I was told that I have a leak in ...

Dear Mr. Berko: I have been told by a well-connected lawyer friend that the Obama administration is proposing a 1 percent tax on all transactions to raise money for a bigger stimulus package and to increase social benefits. I’m told ...

RALEIGH — It’s not uncommon to hear those involved in politics, when the topic of the latest scandal comes up, to refer to the “criminalization of politics.” Viewing criminal prosecution of politicians and their top aides in that way isn’t difficult ...

I am getting all sorts of SOS calls and e-mails asking advice for what to do in Q4. My answer is simple: the same thing you should have been doing in Q1, Q2, and Q3. Calendar years are broken into ...

DEAR BENNY: I am a widow with a very small estate and would like to avoid probate for my children. I own my own mobile home but not the property it sits on. If I added my son’s name to ...

RALEIGH — Last year, State Treasurer Janet Cowell warned state legislators that they could face a $1.2 billion bill in the coming year if they did not start forking over adequate state pension plan contributions. Of course, they didn’t much ...

Tagged with: North Carolina General Assembly

Dear Mr. Berko: I recently hired a University of Phoenix graduate over a University of Florida graduate because I felt the Phoenix student would give me more bang for my buck in our accounting department. I’m interested in owning shares ...

Dear Mr. Berko: When my wife’s grandfather passed several years ago, he left us $16 million after taxes, legal fees, etc., from his businesses and real estate in California. We have a modest $260,000 joint account plus two IRAs worth ...

Everyone is climbing a ladder. The only question is which rung are you on? Ever thought about it? It’s a way bigger thought than, “Is my job safe?” But if that’s what you’re thinking, it’s probably not. Asking yourself “Is ...