These 146 Funds Have Never Lost Money (and could pay you 8.3%)

Michael Foster, Investment Strategist
Updated: December 23, 2019

What if I told you there was a corner of the market where every single fund has turned a profit? And these amazing investments paid out a huge income stream that was entirely tax-free?

The kicker: many of these funds—including one throwing off a 4.6% dividend now (that could be worth 7% or more to you, depending on your tax bracket)—are trading at discounts to their “true” value now. I’ll name this low-risk income (and growth) play shortly.

146 Funds, 0 Losers

This story starts with municipal bonds, which are issued by cities, counties and states to fund buildings, roads and hospitals.… Read more

Roaring or Tearful ’20s? 5 Dividends (up to 11.6%) for A Market Meltdown

Brett Owens, Chief Investment Strategist
Updated: December 20, 2019

Are you worried about a market meltdown in 2020? Fair enough–stocks went straight up for an entire decade, making a pullback more than due as we head into the 20s.

Now, more than ever, it’s vital that your portfolio is anchored by bulletproof dividend payers. If it’s not, read on, and I’ll introduce you to a few of the market’s five-star income plays—payouts so safe that even a worst-case recession scenario won’t touch them.

BofA Merrill Lynch analyst Michael Harnett, looking at recent developments such as our “phase one” deal with China and the U.K.’s recent elections, said stocks are “primed for Q1 2020 risk asset melt-up,” projecting that the S&P 500 will rip off a quick 5% by March.… Read more

These Stocks Rained Cash This Year, and History Should Repeat in 2020

Michael Foster, Investment Strategist
Updated: December 19, 2019

Today we’re going to look ahead to 2020—and specific sectors to target for rising profits (and dividends!) in both stocks and 7%+ yielding closed-end funds (CEFs).

We’re also going to look inside a worrisome piece of news you might have heard about 2019—that analysts expect corporate profits to rise a meager 0.3% when they close the books on this year—and uncover why this is not a scary omen for the future.

Because when we hear numbers like that, we need to look further and see where they’re coming from. In this case, there’s a very simple reason no one is talking about.… Read more

Lemmings, Beware! Wall Street’s 2020 Dividend Picks, Yikes

Brett Owens, Chief Investment Strategist
Updated: December 18, 2019

“Hey Kevin, I think I’m going to look at doing one of those top 20 dividend picks for 2020 pieces. Cheesy, I know, but ‘tis the season.”

My always-supportive publisher knew how to rattle my cage, however:

“Funny, I just saw one of those ‘Wall Street favorite’ pieces cross my desk. Had one of your old favorites included…”

Our old flame Medical Properties Trust’s (MPW) inclusion caught Kevin’s eye. Classic Wall Street. Way to call the stock you should have bought in 2015 as the best buy for 2020!

Now don’t get me wrong, this is a well-run company with a timeless business model.… Read more

CEF Investors: Do This Now for 94%+ Upside (and 8.8%+ Dividends)

Brett Owens, Chief Investment Strategist
Updated: December 17, 2019

I’m about to reveal my very best strategy for pocketing 20%+ upside (and 7%+ dividends) from closed-end funds (CEFs) in the year ahead.

And in the long run, you could be in for truly monstrous gains, like the 94% return, and 8.8% dividend, I locked in using this simple plan just a few days ago.

I’m sharing this powerful tool with you now because this is the perfect time to get into CEFs. Unlike the (bubbly) S&P 500, many of these high-yield funds are cheap now—and spring-loaded for big “snap back” upside in 2020.

In fact, 380 of the roughly 500 CEFs out there—a full 75%—trade below their “true” worth as I write this.… Read more

The World’s Best CEF Soared 466%, Yields 6.4%. Here’s How.

Michael Foster, Investment Strategist
Updated: December 16, 2019

How the heck do you fund your retirement today, with regular stocks yielding a pathetic 1.8%?

Today I’m going to show you exactly how—and we’re going to use my favorite tool, closed-end funds (CEFs) to do it. In fact, we’re going to zero in on a particular CEF that’s the poster child for how these high-yielding funds can deliver the retirement you want on a modest nest egg—far less than that million bucks many advisors say you need.

To start, this solid fund pays a steady 6.4% dividend now—nearly four times the payout you’d get from a “regular” stock. Even better for retirees, it pays you that dividend monthly, in line with your bills.… Read more

3 Safe Dividends (Up to 15%!) for a Toppy Stock Market

Brett Owens, Chief Investment Strategist
Updated: December 13, 2019

The way to protect your portfolio isn’t large caps–it’s large yields. And the very best ones often come in small packages, such as the three “underappreciated dividends” yielding up to 15% that I’m about to show you.

I’m talking about funds that pay big, secure dividends. When pullbacks happen, these funds’ prices don’t move thanks to their yields. After all, a 15% annual payout (like the one we’re going to discuss shortly) buffers your portfolio against plenty of market volatility.

Here’s an example. Let’s consider Wall Street’s temper tantrum from late 2015 to early 2016, which greeted our launch of the Contrarian Income Report service focused on dividends that are big enough to retire on.… Read more

Here’s a 10.3% Dividend (With Upside) for 2020

Michael Foster, Investment Strategist
Updated: December 12, 2019

Worried about a 2018 (or worse, a 2009) repeat?

Good news: I’ve got a closed-end fund (CEF) that should be on your list no matter what happens: it carries a special “insurance” policy if markets head south; it’s nicely positioned to gain when markets rise; and—the cherry on top—it pays a massive 10.3% dividend.

But before we get to this all-weather fund, I have something I need to tell you about those pullback worries: they’re way overblown. Because despite fear-mongering headlines, my latest research shows there’s every reason to expect stocks to hit all-time highs again—and soon. Here are three reasons why.… Read more

Bond God’s Bond Warning: Should We Dump All Junk?

Brett Owens, Chief Investment Strategist
Updated: December 11, 2019

Brilliant bond manager Jeffrey Gundlach—aka the “bond god”—has decreed that it’s time to sell “junk” bonds. And he’s gone as far as to say that one-third of corporate bonds should probably be rated as junk.

Gundlach is one of the few “gurus” that we pay attention to. He called the subprime mortgage crisis ahead of time in 2007, an epic rally in US Treasuries earlier this decade, and President Trump’s election in early 2016 (when few gave the Republican candidate a chance.)

And his two closed-end funds (CEFs) are excellent long-term additions to a retirement portfolio. Over the last six years his two DoubleLine funds have roared to 72% and 54% total returns (with the majority of these gains coming as cash dividends:)

DoubleLine CEF’s Deliver: Distributions Plus Gains

But no guru is perfectly clairvoyant!… Read more

December Massacre Looming? Here’s What to Buy for 6.5% Dividends, 150% Upside

Brett Owens, Chief Investment Strategist
Updated: December 10, 2019

I’m going to hand you a dead-simple strategy that perfectly lines you up for dividends growing 150%—or more—plus safe current yields of 6.5% and higher.

The kicker? This quick 3-step plan positions you for fast 70% upside, too—especially when stocks dive.

And if stocks soar? You’ll very likely outrun the market, too!

What I’m going to show you really is the closest thing to a “heads you win, tails you win” scenario I’ve ever seen in investing.

More on this easy move (and how it drove a huge 70% gain for folks who pulled this same “trick” exactly one year ago) shortly.… Read more