Low interest rates and inflation have forced some of us into the stock market trying to protect the purchasing value of our old-age-care savings. I prefer dull businesses like utility companies. I found one electricity-generating company with a twelve-year record of increasing dividends and plenty of earnings to continue increasing. Stock rating services gave them a “Strong Buy” recommendation. So I bought.

A bigger company thought they were a great investment too and offered to buy them outright at 20% UNDER the current stock price. The power company’s directors agreed “for the good of the company.” I didn’t know directors could do that! As a stockholder, I didn’t get a vote. I wanted to ask, “What about the good of us shareholders?”

Excuse me for being cynical, but I smell the smoke of insider deals. I’m certain they all have their butts somehow covered legally with $10,000 $/hour lawyers and an FTC favoring billionaires. For the thousandth time, I’m reminded that legal isn’t the same as just.  Remember, ALWAYS DIVERSIFY, which I had fortunately done.

Drew