Son's taste for utility stock could be the right recipe
Dear Mr. Berko: My son is an electrical engineer and seems to know a lot about utility companies. We have dinner once a week and I do the cooking -- you've never seen a man eat so much -- and he always gives me stock market advice, which has turned out well. Last year, he had me sell most of my utility stocks, including Progress Energy. Now he wants me to buy back the 300 shares I sold more a year ago at $47. I expressed doubt at his advice because I don't like buying back things I have sold earlier. Please tell me what you think. He told me to write and said that you would agree with him.

Food purveyors recommended, but in smaller servings
Dear Mr. Berko: I'm looking at 400 shares of Unilever and 1,000 shares of Sara Lee and would like to put $10,000 in each issue for a two- to three-year hold. Please tell me what you think of each of these companies. I know you haven't liked Sara Lee since 1998 and I wonder if your opinion has changed.

Buckeye politicos put the tarnish on the Rust Belt
Dear Mr. Berko: I own a small business with 39 employees. Recently, I discovered my business could save a surprisingly huge amount of money by relocating to Texas. I'm reluctant to move because some of my people have been with us for 20 years and most of us are like family. Several members of our legislature, whom I know very well, tell me that if I work with them there are ways to lower my taxes between 25 percent and 45 percent. What do you think? I would also like your opinion on Pfizer. I own 500 shares I bought at $22 in March 2008. Would you recommend that I add 500 more shares, hold my position or sell? I would appreciate your soonest reply because Pfizer seems to be moving up lately. Please do not use my name as many people in Columbus, Ohio, know my family.

Service could be dividend in discount broker search
Dear Mr. Berko: I'm looking for a discount broker because I get livid paying the huge commissions charged by Merrill Lynch. Which of the dozens of discount brokerages would you recommend? What do you think of Bank of America as a discount broker? And I want to invest $10,000 each in two high-yield bonds. As I have followed your column over the past 30 years, you have picked some excellent high-yield bonds. So how about recommending two of them for me.

Inflation will consume cash
Dear Mr. Berko: We have a chunk of money to invest, and our broker wants to put it all in the Putnam Government Bond Fund that yields 4.5 percent. Is this a good investment for us at a good interest rate? Or do you think rates are headed higher? If so, how much higher and when will interest rates go up? This money is part of my retirement package. I will be getting 70 percent of my salary from my company for two years, but my wife wants to continue working till she is 67, which is three years from now, and collect full Social Security benefits. Therefore, we won't need an immediate return from this chunk. Please tell us what you think. Lastly, will you recommend a low-cost broker for our son who is fed up with Merrill Lynch?

Numbers can barely measure soaring national debt
Dear Mr. Berko: How large will the deficit be for 2009? Does Congress have any new ideas on how to pay it off? Our taxable income this year will be about $43,000, which places us in the lower middle-income bracket. Do you think our taxes will increase next year along with the taxes on the wealthy people making $235,000? The investment club I belong to would appreciate your comments on this subject. We would also like your "buy," "hold" or "sell" opinion on Campbell Soup. We have 53 shares at $32 and have about $1,300 to invest.

No easy prescription for financial health at Rite Aid
Dear Mr. Berko: Please give me your thoughts on Rite Aid. I bought 3,000 shares as a speculation and hope I did right. And I'd like it if you could name five or six other companies that were once profitable and respected but now sell for $1. I'd like to gamble $3,000 in each and see what happens.

Paper giant stuck in slump
Dear Mr. Berko: I bought some good stocks from your recent column recommending 10 issues selling below $10. Now I wonder why you failed to include Office Depot in your list. Office Depot is the second largest office supply company in the United States, with 1,500 stores and revenues of $14 billion. I know the company lost money in 2008, but this will turn around because it has excellent management, excellent products, very good prices and stores in 30 countries. I believe the stock will rebound to $30 a share in the next couple of years, which would be a sixfold improvement at the current $5 price.