Berko: Can you hear me now?

Dear Mr. Berko : I bought 100 shares of Verizon in October 2008 for my individual retirement account because I had the spare cash and because I was a Verizon Wireless customer. I’m not a Verizon customer today (the company’s customer service and automated answering …

Berko: Fed cash injections helping market grow

Dear Mr. Berko : You have said often that the $85 billion a month the Federal Reserve injects into the banking system has forced stock prices to rise. Could you please explain why or how in simple layman’s English? Also, could you recommend some Japanese …

Berko: TIPS and how to find a lost pension

Dear Mr. Berko: How can you recommend Treasury inflation-protected securities? The government claims that inflation is 1.8 percent. That is ridiculous. It’s much higher than that. Our homeowners insurance just increased to $7,800 on a home worth $340,000. Restaurant prices have increased by more than …

Berko: Health Insurance Company Investment

D ear Mr. Berko: I’ve worked for the government for 23 years. The government does all my retirement stocks and bonds, and it also gives me a good pension and pays for all my health insurance, which is lucky for me. Last week, my brother …

Berko: Don’t ever talk to this broker again

Dear Mr. Berko: I’m 76, and my husband of 51 years, who was a certified public accountant, died at his desk last February doing tax returns. My husband’s broker called to express his condolences and asked me to bring him a death certificate to transfer …

Berko: Altria won’t go up in smoke

Dear Mr. Berko: I was thinking of buying another 100 shares of Altria Group LLC because it pays a 4.95 percent dividend and because it seems to be a decent growth stock. I bought 100 shares in 2010 at $24, and it has been good …

Berko: Jackson Hewitt and Microsoft

Dear Mr. Berko: We just had our taxes done by Jackson Hewitt, and I was told that we will get a tax refund of $1,340. The certified public accountant who did our return recommended that we invest in stocks. He said we could make a …

Berko: Stay away from equity-indexed annuities

Dear Mr. Berko: I would like to invest $100,000 of my individual retirement account (which is worth $330,000) in safe dividend-paying stocks and bonds. I am 65 and probably will start using some of this money for living and travel expenses. I met with a …

Berko: Bet on Fido’s health care

Dear Mr. Berko: Please tell me what you think of VCA Antech, which sells for $21 a share.

S.A., Wilmington, N.C.

Dear S.A.: VCA Antech Inc. (WOOF-$21) was known as Veterinary Centers of America before it changed its name a dozen years ago.

This year, …

Berko: Reader might be more comfortable with PRHSX

Dear Mr. Berko: What is your opinion of Tenet Healthcare Corp. today? I emailed you about this stock last November, and you said it was a “smart speculation.” So I bought 300 shares at $23 and have more than doubled my money. Do you think …

Berko: General Mills, solid buy for long-term investors

Dear Mr. Berko: What is your opinion of General Mills? The stock has moved up 20 percent since Warren Buffett took over Heinz. Do you think Buffett also will make a play for General Mills? Do you think another player will take over the stock? …

Berko: Still not bullish on Yahoo stock despite new CEO

Dear Mr. Berko: You have never liked Yahoo, which was very evident in two earlier columns. You recommended the purchase several times on the possibility that it would be bought out by a large competitor, such as Microsoft, or by The Carlyle Group or Cerberus …

Berko: The Carlyle Group

Dear Mr. Berko: I envy the politicians who invested money in the deals with The Carlyle Group and made millions. I would like your thoughts on making a personal private equity investment with the firm.

SG, Wilmington, N.C.

Dear SG: The Carlyle Group (CG-$30.58) is …

Berko: You’re entitled, or are you?

Dear Mr. Berko: I have been a widower for four years and helped raise six children, each of whom is mostly self-sufficient. My wife and I were very active in raising our children. I began taking Social Security at 70. I really don’t need this …

Berko: Fifth Third Bank’s fees irk customer

Dear Mr. Berko: I live in your area and have been banking with Fifth Third for years. They send me volumes of junk mail every month hoping to sell me their various services. I used to just throw this junk mail away but twice I …