Author: Tim Plaehn

Flash Crash Fundamentals

Flash Crash Fundamentals

Last Monday, a stock market “mini-crash” scared a lot of investors, with many questioning whether this was the start of the next big market drop. Fortunately, it was just a one-day scare, but a day like last Monday helps reinforce some lessons for long-term investors. To start, despite the myriad reasons floated by the financial […]

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How To Get Paid To Sell Stocks

My goal with my different income-focused services is to help my subscribers earn more money than they would by following the old-school types of investment advice. I recommend higher yields in my Dividend Hunter service. For my dividend growth newsletter, Monthly Dividend Multiplier, I do not settle for the 2.5% to 3% yields that you […]

How to Calculate Your Returns on Covered Call Trades

How to Calculate Your Returns on Covered Call Trades

I know talking about investment yields and returns can be confusing, and actually understanding what happens can be even more daunting. However, we are trying to make money on our money, and understanding potential returns—both as percentages and dollars—helps separate good opportunities from those that are less attractive. If you have dabbled with stock options, […]

Turn Any Stock into a Source of Steady Income

Turn Any Stock into a Source of Steady Income

My email inbox regularly fills with questions about how to reach a certain level of monthly retirement income. The notes typically come from retired or nearly-retired individuals who realize their retirement savings at the financial advisor-recommended 4% annual withdrawal rate will not produce the amount of income wanted or needed. I want to share one […]

Validation of Using Easy Covered Call Strategies

Validation of Using Easy Covered Call Strategies

I often refer to covered calls as the third leg of a balanced, income-focused investment approach. (Three legs because it takes at least that many to make any chair or table stable and functional—the others are cash flow with high-yield stocks like in the Dividend Hunter and stocks consistently growing dividends like those in my […]

Crane picking up a car in a junkyard

This Closed-End Fund is a Rare Junkyard Gem

Because I research and recommend high-yield investments, I often receive questions about individual closed-end funds, sometimes referred to as CEFs. According to CEF Connect, 285 closed-end funds yield between 5% and 28%. It is easy to understand why closed-end funds attract yield-hungry investors like moths to the flame. When asked about a closed-end fund, my […]

The end of the Covid 19 pandemic. Scissors cut yellow ribbons with text Covid-19 LOCKDOWN

Two Dividend Stocks That Proved to Be Pandemic Proof

The coronavirus pandemic put the ultimate stress test on income investments. Hundreds of companies cut or suspended dividend payments. Companies that did not cut dividends through the pandemic should be high on the list for income-focused investors—and companies that grew their dividends in 2020 deserve gold stars and a place in your portfolio. In February […]