Brett Owens's Latest Posts
5 Diversified Vanguard Funds Paying 4% Or More
Vanguard’s offerings don’t usually attract much attention from income investors. But they should – and I’m going to analyze five of the firm’s highest yield (and low cost) offerings shortly. Three of them are compelling portfolio conveniences, while two have lagged their competitors in disappointing un-Vanguard-like manners. While Vanguard provides a few actively managed funds, […]
3 Emerging Market Funds Paying 6.4%, With 30% Upside
When you think of emerging markets, what comes to mind? Growth opportunities are likely first on the list … followed ever so closely by stomach-churning volatility. What you probably don’t think about is income. But even in EMs, investors can dredge up some considerable dividend yield. We all know the basic emerging market investment thesis: […]
A Diversified 3-Click Portfolio That Pays 11.1%
Why is it so difficult to find good yield these days? For the past half-decade or so, income ETFs and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) have exploded, to the point where ETFdb.com now lists some 130-plus dividend-focused equity products, 300-plus bond products and a host of other income plays on preferred stocks, alternative assets and more. But […]
These 6%+ Dividends Will Thrive As Interest Rates Rise
You can take it to the bank: interest rates are going up. Everyone from Janet Yellen to Donald Trump says it needs to happen. Traders betting through the Fed futures markets agree, pegging the odds of a quarter-point rate hike at the Fed’s December 14 meeting at 94.9%: More hikes seem likely next year, if […]
5 Trump-Proof Funds Paying Up To 7.3%
Donald Trump has income investors scrambling for rate-hike (and even inflation) insurance. Fixed yields are out, while floating yields – which adjust higher in tandem with rates – are in. Even if you’re skeptical (as I am) that we’ll see rates continue meaningfully higher anytime soon, inflation insurance is never a bad thing provided that: […]
The 3 Best Dividend Growth ETFs For 2017
When you invest for the long haul, dividend stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are going to be the bedrock of your portfolio. The idea is simple: The slow crawl higher of the market over time, plus a few percentage points of return each year in income, will be enough to push your nest egg to […]
3 Recession-Proof REITs With 20% Upside In 2017
What a difference three months makes. Back in the summer, real estate investment trusts (REITs) were all the rage—especially after a dismal May jobs report put the final nail in the coffin of a summer rate hike. Fast-forward to today, and we’re looking at a rate hike that’s a 72% certainty at the Fed’s December […]
How To Live Off $500,000 Forever
A half-million dollars is a lot of money. Unfortunately, it won’t generate much income today if you limit yourself to popular investments. The 10-year Treasury has “rallied” to 1.85%. Put your $500K in them and you’re well below the single-person poverty level at $9,250 annually. Yikes. Dividend paying stocks are masquerading around as bond proxies […]
4 Popular Dividend ETFs You Need To Dump Now
I hate to say it, but right now, thousands of investors are putting their portfolios on autopilot right when they need to take control the most. I’m talking about the boom in “passive” investing, or bypassing stock picking and plowing your cash into low-fee exchange-traded funds (ETFs) instead. Some income-starved investors are going further, piling […]
Sell These 6 mREITs Immediately
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are an important component of a high yield portfolio for retirees or aspiring retirees. But there is one group of exotic, tantalizing REITs that must be avoided: mortgage REITs. Especially today. These so-called mREITs often offer high dividend yields—as high as 14% in some cases! That alone should tell you […]
