Michael Foster's Latest Posts
My Latest Take On The US Economy (And A 10% Dividend To Buy Now)
Last year, the White House published a blog post titled “As the US Consumer Goes, So Goes the US Economy.” No matter what your politics are, I think we can all agree that America’s economy depends on consumers buying things. For us income investors, then, the consumer’s health is a key thing to watch, as it ultimately […]
This 3-Click “Mini-Portfolio” Holds Stocks And Bonds (And Yields 8.1%)
Having a diversified portfolio is pretty much Investing 101, right? I mean, it’s one of the first things we all learn as investors. But there’s a problem here: Going for balance in “regular” stocks, bonds or ETFs can mean leaving income on the table. To see what I’m getting at here, check out the average […]
Where To Find The Best Buys (Yielding 9%+) In The Bond Mania
I recently wrote about a trend that’s making income investors excited: After years of failing to produce decent returns, bonds are back. Media outlets, including Bloomberg, have picked up on this. And my friends who work on Wall Street are talking about bonds more than I’ve ever heard them do so before. That makes sense, given how strong stocks […]
This 8.9% Dividend Soared 178% (And It’s STILL Cheap)
You may have noticed that since the pandemic, there’s been a somewhat perverse desire to make the economy look worse than it is. Whether it’s concerns about a looming recession—the so-called “vibecession” we talked about last week—or worries that life is getting too expensive because of inflation, there’s a growing bias toward doom-and-gloom. Plus, pessimistic people […]
What Every Investor Gets Wrong About AI (And Where The Real Profits Are)
If you’ve been following the AI space lately (and honestly, who hasn’t?), you’ve probably seen stories about tech investors feeling a bit shortchanged on the profits they’re getting. That’s actually good news for the rest of us—a sign the market is maturing and ripe to be tapped for income. Specialists Often Miss the Bigger Picture Experts make […]
Forget Treasuries: These 7%+ Dividends Are Much Safer
Don’t believe anyone who tells you there’s such a thing as a safe investment. Truth is, every asset—from Treasuries to houses to dividend stocks—involves risk. The “safest” investment, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), is a short-term US Treasury bill. You lend the government $100, say, and you’ll get $105.17 back in a […]
My Ranking Of The Best 6%+ Yielding Income Investments
Let me start today’s article with an admission: Closed-end funds (CEFs) are my passion—but not only for their 8%+ dividends (often paid monthly). The main reason I’ve been investing in these terrific high-yield vehicles for years is, in fact, very personal: Over a decade ago, CEFs’ high yields gave me enough passive income to quit my job. […]
Think Your Income Fund’s Dividend Is Dicey? Here’s How To Tell (Instantly)
If you watch cable TV or visit financial websites, you no doubt hear about “overpriced” stocks and funds all the time. A pundit will jump on TV and say something like “Tech is overvalued.” So, by extension, a tech ETF like the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) is overpriced, right? Not so—at least in […]
11% Dividends For 10% Off. Inside 2024’s Biggest Buying Opportunity
Don’t buy into the fear around office real estate investment trusts (REITs). Truth is, this is our moment to buy strong REIT dividends. We’re going to do it with a well-diversified 11.4%-yielding closed-end fund (CEF) trading at a ridiculous bargain. Our opportunity lies in the fact that the fear around office landlords (Will the work-from-home crowd ever […]
Your Retirement Playbook: How Much You Need + 3 Big Dividends To Get There
Let’s go ahead and use the quickest, most reliable strategy I know of to kickstart a reliable 7% income stream that rolls our way every month. My specialty is writing about stocks, bonds and closed-end funds (CEFs), but all of these are really a means to the end of achieving financial independence. What really matters is how […]
