Articles

Since the salad days for stocks ended with the 2008 financial crisis, the new normal has been slower than average economic growth coupled with friendly (low) interest rates.

The financial world hasn’t returned to, well, normal due to some setbacks (Brexit most recently) and more headwinds (too much debt and bad demographics in developed economies). Post-Brexit, the “smart money” is now wagering that interest rates are all-but-certain to stay low for longer (til 2018, at least).

In a world where growth and yield remain scarce, assets that provide one or the other will be in hot demand. And how about stocks that provide both?… Read more

Dividend growth investors today are lucky to get 3% from their large cap stocks while tech investors endure painful volatility without any short-term reward. But I know how to get the best of both worlds with a 4-fund tech portfolio that generates 8.5% income. Best of all, you can collect these yields while you wait for these companies’ massive growth to drop through to their bottom line into shareholders’ pockets.

How? Simple: covered calls. Well, not so simple—call options are a complicated strategy that, if used without care and guidance, can turn a portfolio into a big loser. So we must create a portfolio that we can trust while selling options that won’t get assigned.… Read more

We’ve hit the midpoint of 2016, which makes it a great time to review your portfolio and shop for some top-notch dividend-growth stocks as we head into the back half of 2016.

In a moment, I’ll give you three of my favorites to buy now.

The good news? With the market up just 2.4% so far this year, buying now means you probably won’t pay much more than you would have back in January.

As I’m sure you’ll recall, the S&P 500’s nosedive started before we’d even put the New Year’s confetti away. By mid-February, it had shed 11% of its value.… Read more

Are you relying on this casino for your retirement income?

The S&P 500, after two major heart palpitations, sits 1.2% lower than it did this time last year. That’s a tough roller coaster to ride if you actually need the money you invest in stocks! Plus, the index only pays a 2.1% yield due to its elevated price levels. That’s not very much income.

Then again you probably know this already. And perhaps you’ve attempted to stabilize your retirement ship by investing only in America’s best blue chip stocks. That’s definitely preferable to the broader market, but do me a favor and check out the following two charts.… Read more

A couple weeks ago, I showed you a 4-stock dividend portfolio that’s throwing off a gaudy 7.3% yield today.

It’s ideal if you’re retired and leaning on your investments to pay the bills. But if you’re looking to grow your nest egg, your best bet is to reinvest your dividends and harness the magic of compounding.

Today I’ve got three stocks for you that are perfect for doing just that.

But first, I’d say the name of the game here isn’t necessarily a high current yield; instead, you’ll want to home in on stocks that boost their payouts year in and year out.… Read more

If you live in America, you can get tax-free dividends over 5% by investing in incredibly low risk bond funds. And I’m going to show you how to do it today.

You probably know that tax-free is a big deal. If you’re in a 25% tax bracket, a 5% tax-free yield equates to a 7.4% taxable yield. In the top 43.4% bracket? You’re banking a payout above 9%.

How is this possible? Simple—with municipal bonds. “Munis” have been a long-term favorite of retirees because of their tax-exempt status and low default rates, but now is a better time than ever to jump into the market.… Read more