Strong beam-strong post

What you see here is a wood beam being supported by a steel post.  Both items appear to be strong enough to do the job. Certainly no concern about the strength of the post. However, the post can't do its job if it isn't placed in the correct location.  The beam is made up four plies of lumber.  Two of the plies have joints almost on the post.  The first one is obvious, the other one is partly hidden by the white wire but that joint is missing the post as well.  In certain situations joints in built-up beams do not have to be directly above the supports.  I won't get into where joints can be if not above a support; suffice it to say that just missing the support does not qualify.  You can see that the left section of the first ply has started to slip down. 
This beam should either have another post right beside the one that is there or there should be a larger plate on top of the post.  The plate would have to be thick enough so it won't bend under the force exerted by the two plies that miss the post. 
This house was by no means a new house but this appeared to be part of the original construction.  Moral of the story?  Whether you buy old or new; have a home inspector check out your purchase before you close the deal.

Submitted by Bert, for Benchmark Home Inspection Services.  Your Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and Orangeville area home inspector..