TL;DR

Inherited stocks from 1955 might sound like a windfall, but approach with caution. Verify their value and prepare for potential disappointment.

Story

“Hold your horses,” I’d tell anyone excited about inheriting old stock certificates. I’ve seen enough financial mirages to know that dusty paper doesn’t always equal gold. This story about Indianapolis Indians shares from 1955? It’s got all the classic ingredients for a cautionary tale. First, there’s the “treasure in the attic” narrative – emotionally appealing, but financially suspect. Remember those Beanie Babies everyone thought would fund their retirement? Yeah, me too. Next, there’s the anecdotal evidence. One guy’s $10 investment turning into $46,000? That’s the lottery winner story, not the norm. Survivorship bias, they call it – we hear about the winners, not the thousands who bought shares that went bust. And let’s not forget the reverse stock split in 1985. It often happens when a company’s struggling, consolidating shares to boost the price. Like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic – it looks better, but doesn’t change the underlying problem. So, before you start dreaming of owner’s suites, remember: Nostalgia’s a powerful drug. Get a lawyer, not a ticket to the game. Verify everything. Assume it’s worthless until proven otherwise. And prepare for disappointment. That’s the pessimist’s playbook, and it’s saved me a lot of heartache – and money – over the years.

Advice

Don’t let nostalgia cloud your judgment. Treat inherited assets with skepticism, verify their value independently, and consult a lawyer before getting your hopes up.

Source

https://www.reddit.com/r/stocks/comments/1i00lgl/inherited_paper_stocks_from_1955/