If you’re like many income investors I hear from, you’re probably worried about a repeat of 2008. The media doesn’t help – the talking heads like to conjure up fear because it draws eyeballs to the TV screen and clicks to Internet articles.

And so what if they’re right for once? In a moment we’ll discuss the safest dividends for a serious pullback.

First, let me calm you down and add that a 2008 rerun is not our most likely scenario. As generals tend to fight the last war, investors tend to fear the last bear market. The next bear is likely to have its own unique “charm” – causes and effects – and we’d like to figure out that flavor ahead of time.… Read more

I’m about to show you 3 dividend powerhouses set to soar thanks to one of the most powerful (and misunderstood) profit indicators there is.

It involves the midterm elections—but only because the vote will remove some uncertainty and likely propel the market higher. But that’s only part of the story.

Because I fully expect this market to hold onto its midterm pop, then surge double-digits in 2019, thanks to the 1 proven indicator I’ll show you today.

90-Year-Old Indicator Signals Big Gains in 2019

I’m talking about a proven way to play the political calendar for 13%+ gains (plus dividends) in a single year.… Read more

With the recent panic, many people fear there’s just no good way to make good money in stocks anymore.

This is really short sighted!

And dead wrong.

But to make the most profits in a market like this, you simply must choke back your natural instinct to flee when stocks are a sea of red.

To see how being greedy when others are frightened pays off, let me show you a classic example: a fund that holds the very investments that set off the financial meltdown back in 2008. And you’ll probably be shocked to hear that I see them as a screaming buy today.… Read more

Dividends or growth? Why choose?

There’s a widespread belief that stocks and funds can deliver red-hot capital gains or substantial income, but not both. Fortunately for us that’s not true.

It is possible to collect big dividends and capital appreciation. I’m going to show you how to safely collect 32% in total returns in less than a year from a big dividend payer. And while this “easy dividend money” has been made, we’ll discuss three more stocks yielding around 8%-9% that can deliver 20%+ in dividends and upside over the next twelve months..

Income investors like you and me should focus on total returns, which are made up of dividends and price appreciation.… Read more

Do you want to generate income that increases along with interest rates, with the potential upside from private equity investments? A Business Development Company (BDC), a type of closed-end investment company, could be the answer you’re looking for.

BDCs were created by the U.S. Congress back in 1980, as a way to help small- and mid-size businesses grow. They invest in debt and/or equity and often provide operational assistance to the internal management team. Similar to real estate investment trusts (REITs), a BDC distributes at least 90% of its profits as dividends.

It’s the dividends that really make BDCs stand out in this rising interest rate environment, especially since trading volatility has spiked of late.… Read more

With the stock market collapsing 6% from its all-time high in just two weeks, a lot of people are freaking out.

Don’t follow them!

Because now is the best time to buy we’ve seen in a long time.

Before I show you my top 3 “buy now” indicators—which are all blaring green—and a bargain 7.5%-yielder to jump on now, let me first say that we’ve been here before.

In mid-February, with the market again on its back, I urged readers not to panic. This has happened since:

A Quick Recovery

While a 1.6% total return in 8 months isn’t much to write home about, it’s not the massive loss a lot of investors are terrified of today.… Read more

How’s your bond portfolio doing? It should be a rock of stability right now.

Of course we may need to look past prices, which can swing wildly, and focus on net asset values and income, which are more reliable anchors.

For example I’ve been hearing from readers who were concerned that our excellent PIMCO Dynamic Credit and Mortgage Fund (PCI) isn’t “acting well.” Its price has whipsawed around this year, mostly in our favor. But lately it’s pulled back amidst the broader market drama and subscribers are worried the market “knows something” that we don’t.

Let’s put this price volatility in perspective.… Read more

If you’re wondering what to do in this panicky market, I’ve got a few “get rich quick” words for you: buy cheap, high-quality dividend growers with both hands.

I know that’s easy to say, but overcoming fear is vital, because history proves it’s the path to serious wealth. I can show you why in 2 charts. Here’s the first one:

A Snapshot of Terror

This is the CBOE’s S&P 500 Volatility Index, which captures panic in a picture, spiking when the market tanks and dozing off when markets gently rise. When you overlay the VIX with the market’s ups and downs, a can’t-miss pattern emerges: folks who “bought terror” have ridden every dip to big gains!… Read more

A game-changing story about stocks just broke—and you almost certainly missed it.

That’s why I’m writing about this surprising news today: because it’s just what you need to know if you’re struggling with how to approach this interest rate–obsessed market, especially in the wake of the recent pullback.

Why haven’t you heard it?

Because good news like this doesn’t grab as much attention as Chicken Little panic articles, so the financial press skips it. But what I’m about to tell you is crucial to your financial well-being—and something I’ve been saying on Contrarian Outlook and in our CEF Insider service for months now.… Read more

Even legends can lose their edge. This applies to acclaimed investors and dividend aristocrats alike.

2018 was an explosive news year that will be remembered for many reasons. But one thing that will go under the radar is how this year has been a turning point for numerous old-guard dividend stocks. These companies have been no-brainer holdings in countless retirement portfolios for years – in fact, chances are you hold one if not several of them.

I’m going to highlight five of these revered but poorly aging blue chips in a minute. But first, I want to show you the danger of avoiding warning signs, even in legendary investments.… Read more