Ok, Packer fans, you got your stock certificate, now what? (more…)

We’ve been getting a lot of calls and emails asking if we will be adding Green Bay Packers stock to our stock list.  The answer is that we aren’t sure.  The stock sale is supposed to start on December 6th.  They intend to sell about 250,000 shares at $250 each plus a handling fee.

The reason we aren’t sure is because Green Bay Packers stock ain’t your typical stock.   Yes, buyers will get the actual stock certificate, be invited to shareholder meetings, and qualify to buy merchandise only available to shareholders on packers.com.  BUT Packers stock cannot be bought by businesses, cannot be sold (except back to the Packers at nominal price), and cannot be transferred (except within your immediate family).

After seeing all the things that one can’t do, I was all set to say that I’m not touching this with a ten foot pole.   Then after a little more thought, I changed my mind at least in terms of whether I would buy it for myself.  I started to think about its collectible value and the novelty of actually owning part of a sports dynasty.  Guess what the Packers gave President Obama back in August when they visited the White House?  Yep, a share of Green Bay Packers stock (see image at right).  If its good enough for the Pres, a Chicago Bear fan no less, its good enough for me.

Anyone notice what older shares of Packers stock is going for on Ebay or Scripophily.com?  It’s pricey.   I’d love to have a framed share hanging on my wall as a conversation piece.  It’s not that I’m a die hard Packer fan -  it’s just cool.  I can only imagine how a real cheese-head would feel.  For me, just like with my old baseball and football cards, I’d never be able to part with my Packer stock no matter how much collectors were willing to pay!  Well, maybe I would if it went totally crazy, but I’d have a tough time.  I still have my Boston Celtics stock that is worth a bundle.

I also think back to all the Merrill Lynch Advisors who were buying Merrill Lynch stock certificates from us before they merged into Bank of America.  They were craving the certificate before it went away forever, not as an investment, but because it was a piece of history that they would never be able to get again.  The same is true for Pixar before they merged into Disney, Playboy stock before Hefner took them private, and most recently Apple stock before they stopped issuing certificates in 2009.

In fact, all of the stock certificates that we offer at GiveAshare.com will become collectibles at some point as the whole industry moves toward electronic registration and away from paper stock certificates.   As each one goes electronic, we try to buy some for our own personal collection but am always kicking myself for not getting more.  It doesn’t help that in most cases where a company is going totally electronic, there is no warning – it just happens.

So I will be part of the crowd buying Packers stock at packers.com on the 6th more as a collector than as an owner of a business that offers stock gifts.  For those die-hard Packer fans that want a piece of the action, I will see you there.  If we can figure a way to offer Green Bay Packers stock here, we will do it!  Stay tuned.

We just added AirTran stock (NYSE: AAI) to our stock list but just for a limited time…

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No, I’m not talking about Chinese food.

A while back, we added Madison Square Garden stock (NYSE ticker MSG) to our  list because New York was in the running to get LeBron.  Well, that didn’t pan out too well!  But today, MSG stock is getting a lot of attention. (more…)

We’re pumped!

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Let me apologize in advance if I end up offending you but I JUST DON’T GET IT!

Every time I’m at the grocery store, I see a dodo at a Coinstar machine cashing in their change.  Don’t they realize that they are paying 9.8%!

It reminds me of  the days when my kids would have happily accepted TWO one dollar bills in exchange for their ONE five dollar bill.

At a time when savings accounts at banks are paying .2% interest, giving up 9.8% is outrageous!  Makes me want to put my name and phone number on the machine with a note saying, call me, I’d be happy to drive to your house, give you cash for your coins and only charge you 6%, and by the way, I have some swamp land in Florida you might be interested in.
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News Flash!  It’s official, Hef is taking Playboy private.

On January 10, 2011, Playboy announced that they have accepted Hugh Hefner’s offer to buy the company and take it private.  The deal is expected to close sometime in the first quarter.

Maybe Hef’s recent engagement has something to do with it.  Many say that his new found monogamous relationship opens up the possibility for a new reality TV show.  Something based on his upcoming wedding – all the planning, the celebs, the emotions, all the way through to the ceremony – definitely some must see TV.  Maybe Hef sees this as having big potential so wants it all for himself.  Ok, probably a stretch given that he already owned 70% of the company.

We at GiveAashare.com hate to see Playboy stock go.  It’s been a customer favorite especially for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and for groomsmen gifts.  I hate to say it but the only thing that can keep this from happening is for Hef to drop dead before it is consummated (pun intended).

Last chance to buy Playboy stock before it goes private.

As reported by thestreet.com,  Hugh Hefner is getting a lot closer to taking Playboy private.   Get one share of Playboy stock while you still can.

P.S.  Hugh just got engaged – maybe he is going to give his new bride the company as a wedding present.  See Us magazine article.

Well, it’s official – Apple Inc. no longer issues paper stock certificates. In a surprise move – and with no notice, the company decided to go 100% electronic.

“I guess this shouldn’t be a big surprise (more…)

Last night, Leslie and I attended the Financial Beginnings Annual event and enjoyed an evening with many who feel the same way we do about the need to get kids money smart.  Financial Beginnings is a non-profit organization founded by Melody Thompson here in Portland that provides curriculum and volunteers to go into the classroom to teach kids personal finance.

We were happy to donate a share of Berkshire Hathaway stock and an “I’m A Shareholder KIT” that went to a lucky winner.  We sat at a table with three teachers – all energetic, all believers, and all going the extra mile to figure out a way school their kids about finances.  You see in Oregon, like many other states, personal finance is not a part of the required curriculum.  It’s my blog so I get to say “That’s just plain dumb!”

One of my favorite speakers was State Senator Rick Metsger a Democrat who sounded like a Republican when he pointed out that we could avoid much of the financial protection legislation we have if people just had some basic personal finance knowledge to avoid getting in trouble in the first place. (more…)