Midwesterner needed to balance Obama's books
D ear Mr. Berko: I understand that you are uncomfortable with the Obama administration's handling of this financial crisis. What changes would you recommend to put our economy back on track? This is not a trick question rather other readers and I would appreciate your point of view. Are you in the Rush Limbaugh camp? Do you agree with Rush, who wants President Barack Obama's policies to fail?

Kraft has recipe for the long run
Dear Mr. Berko: In mid-February, when you recommended Ralcorp at $59 per share, you never wrote a word about Kraft. I bought 150 shares of Ralcorp, but now I would like your opinion on Kraft, which is two points lower than it was in February. Would you recommend a $10,000 investment for the medium term? Also, I have a $200,000 certificate of deposit coming due.

Buckeye politicos put the tarnish on 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 pays when choosing discount broker
D ear 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. So how about recommending two for me.

Inflation will chew up a chunk of money
D ear 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 barely measure soaring deficit

D ear Mr. Berko: How large will the deficit be for 2009? I hear all sorts of numbers, but they keep changing. I know it will be a record deficit, but with unemployment rising and businesses earning less, does Congress have any new ideas on how to pay it off? Some people believe (former VP Cheney for one) that deficits can grow the economy and don't have to be paid off. Is this true? 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.

Rite Aid can't find prescription for financial health
D ear 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.

Gold offer gives investors the shaft
D ear Mr. Berko: We are 83 and 82, have worked hard, saved hard and live frugally. We have a $25,000 certificate of deposit that soon comes due. So we listened with interest to an advertisement on Satellite Radio, free with our new used car, about buying gold because of inflation. We called the toll-free number and the man told us that inflation will -- and we took detailed notes -- "sustain itself at 20 percent or more for five or more years." That's scary. He suggested we invest the entire CD in gold, which would buy 25 ounces. He thinks gold could more than double in less than five years. Because our parents were shopkeepers and dairy farmers in Germany in the 1930s, we are very worried about inflation. It was terrible.

Continued slump foreseen for office supply firm
D ear 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.

GM stock crash is no joke
D ear Mr. Berko: In July 2004, when General Motors Corp. was selling for $46, you wrote a column advising people to sell their GM stock. I have 1,100 shares, and wish I had done what you said, because I own my stock at $53. When I wrote you last Thanksgiving and the stock was $6, you said: "If you won't sell the sorry thing then have the transfer agent issue you 1,100 certificates and use them for wallpaper." I didn't think that was funny because I needed solid advice, not that kind of stupid, worthless advice. Now that GM is bankrupt, is there any chance that my 1,100 shares will have any value higher than the current price of 60 cents? And when GM comes out of bankruptcy, will my 1,100 shares be turned into new shares of GM stock? If not, how can I become a GM stockholder again? I need advice, not more of your smart-alecky comments that make me and other readers mad.

Investing is changing with the times
Dear Mr. Berko: We have $335,000 in a rollover investment retirement account from my company plan. We took cash because all they could promise is a guaranteed income of $1,143.16 a month. When both of us pass on, the money that is left goes to the insurance company. We think we can do better and leave what's left to our children. Do you believe as we do that stocks will continue to go up? So, please, tell us how to invest to get 5 percent income and growth in value, too.

Lawyer isn't an investment expert
Dear Mr. Berko: I got a $51,000 settlement, with the help of my lawyer, from a back injury I received as a passenger in a car driven by a friend. We're no longer friends.