The Money Moment

Could Abigail Johnson, next-in-line at Fidelity Investments, be scheming but laying low so the police don't get involved?

If so, it is a wise move for the woman who waits, as does the entire financial world, for her father, 77-year-old Edward "Ned" Johnson III to give up his position heading the mutual fund giant his father began. Johnson says there is a secret succession plan in place. Meanwhile, he shuffles the deck of successors at the company he rules. So far, the 45-year-old Abby, who fell from #12 (2005) to #16 (2006) to #42 on Forbes's 2007 list of richest people bides her time, not publicly displaying concern and moving through the company and keeping out of trouble.

It is wisdom and patience that might have come in handy for the Srinagar (India) teen Ahsan-ul Haq, who tried to extort Rs. 5 Lakh (about US$63,500) from his dad with a fake kidnapping. The scam seemed to him like a good idea at the time — that is, before he headed off to prison with his cousin and other collaborators — "knowing his father could do anything for him."

** Dad's miss out on much, but they do catch on to kid plans often enough. **

Dad's Derailed Dreams

For this year — well, next year, really — it might have been Daley for Vice President. But, despite this week's objet d'eBay, it isn't and won't be.

The button is a remnant of the 1968 American presidential campaign. Then Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, credited with "helping to steal" John Kennedy 1960 electoral victory and host of the Democratic parties convention, managed to oversee the bloodiest convention ever. There was teargassing, police brutality and great television for the American audience. Daley didn't get the presidential or vice presidential nomination and for a variety of reasons, including the beastly convention spectacle, nominee Hubert Humphrey went down in flames against Richard Nixon in the 1968 election.

And next year, when the Democrats meet in Denver, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, a possible VP as an experienced politician and moderate balance for certain of the likely nominees, will also not be getting the chance. Just like his father, any political aspirations he may have beyond running the Windy City, will be foiled. He claims he didn't know about his 29-year-old son Patrick investing in Municipal Sewer Services, a company living by substantial runoff from city funds.

** Just another case of like father (denied), like son (denied) **