Informed Investing

SCHD just went through its 2026 reconstitution - we break down the sector shifts, new holdings, and what it means for dividend investors. Plus: Dividend Kings PG and JNJ as safe forever-holds, whether high-yield S&P 500 stocks like Campbell's and Kraft Heinz are traps or opportunities, covered call ETFs QQQI and GPIQ as retirement income engines, why Social Security uncertainty makes building...

This week we dig into beaten-down Dividend Kings like Target, Hormel, and Kimberly-Clark that could be 2026 bargains. We compare VT vs VOO for global diversification, break down the MAIN vs ARCC vs Realty Income debate for retirement income, rank covered call ETFs like SPYI and QQQI, and lay out simple 3-ETF portfolio strategies for both growth and income investors.

Today we dig into 18 companies raising their dividends, from Salesforce to American Express, and separate the real compounders from the yield traps. We break down a fascinating GPIX back-test showing only a 6% total return difference between full DRIP and zero DRIP over two years. Plus, a Reddit stress test that filtered thousands of stocks down to 271 slowdown survivors, the bull case for ADP at...

BlackRock retirement ETFs, healthcare dividend stocks, dividend vs growth math, portfolio tax efficiency, JEPQ compounding, AI infrastructure dividends, crypto income ETFs, consumer discretionary dividends, dividend growth compounders

14 sources covering Vanguard income ETFs, overlooked high-yield ETFs, energy dividends if oil hits $100, covered call ETF strategies, affordable dividend stocks under $20, and investor anxiety about building income

Goldman Sachs top energy picks with oil above $100, the truth behind XOMO 30% yield, SCHD deep dive, DRIP reinvestment math, biggest dividend raises of 2026 from Dominos to Dell, 12-year portfolio lessons, and PAA pipeline analysis.

In this episode, we dive into the 2026 dividend investing landscape. SCHD is having a breakout year with 12% YTD gains as investors rotate from volatile tech into defensive income plays. We explore the zero-DTE covered call revolution with TDAQ and how JEPI/JEPQ have grown to $80B in assets. The Bogleheads vs income investors debate gets a fresh look with a Reddit thread sparking pushback on total...

VOO vs SPY vs SPLG fund selection, covered call ETF rankings (DIVO #1, SPYI #2, JEPI #3), NAV erosion alternatives using cash-secured puts, SCHD income math, Pfizer value trap debate, and quick hits on DKS, OneMain Financial, preferred stocks, and VT reinvestment.

This week we break down SCHD massive March 23 reconstitution — energy dropping from 20% to 12%, financials surging to 15%. Plus: how to screen BDCs down to 7 survivors in a falling-rate world, why dividend growth math crushes high-yield traps 3x by year 20, the Dividend Kings yielding 4%+, cleaning up your retirement junk drawer, and why LyondellBasell rallied 54% AFTER cutting its dividend. Topic...

We synthesize 12 sources from March 2026 covering the full spectrum of dividend investing. Topics: crash-resistant portfolios, BDC reality check, yield traps, Chevron dividends, EDIV emerging market risks, Rayonier timberland REIT, new covered call ETFs, Qualcomm, Exxon Mobil, and dividend growth vs high-yield math.

This week we dig into SCHD's massive 2026 outperformance driven by energy and defense sectors, compare the after-tax income from Section 1256 funds like SPYI and QQQI versus ELN-based JEPI and JEPQ, explore recession-resistant consumer staples picks including KMB, GIS, and MDLZ, review the Vanguard income trifecta of VYM, VDE, and VNQ, debate the split analyst sentiment on Realty Income, and tackl...

Episode 12 of the Informed Investing podcast dives into the biggest dividend stories of the week. We break down SCHD's stunning 2026 outperformance ahead of its March reconstitution, explore whether BDCs like Hercules Capital and Main Street are still worth their premium valuations, and examine the jaw-dropping yields from energy shipping stocks like Nordic American Tankers and Frontline. We also...

Episode 12 covers the biggest dividend investing topics of the day: Covered Call ETF Showdown — NAV erosion analysis of 19 ETFs. QQQI and TSPY shine, ULTY requires 114% reinvestment Energy Stocks Surge — Oil past $80 on Iran conflict. Why midstream (HSM, MLX, EPD) beats oil majors at these prices BDC Opportunities — Hercules Capital (HTGC) at 12%+ yield after SaaS selloff, BXSL at 13% discount to...

Episode 11 covers the Realty Income debate, energy dividends amid geopolitical tensions, covered call ETF portfolios, the YieldMax controversy, PepsiCo pricing power, and cash management strategies.

We break down the NASDAQ 100 income ETF showdown (QYLD vs JEPQ vs GPIQ vs QQQI), explore YieldMax semiconductor ETFs, examine Morningstar's top dividend growth picks, debate SPY vs VOO, and map out strategies for turning a nest egg into a retirement income machine.

In this deep dive, we tear apart the mechanics of building a true passive income machine. We cover: The $350K Three-Engine System — How weekly-pay ETFs, covered calls, and cash-secured puts combine to generate massive cash flow SCHD March Reconstitution — Energy sector shrinking from 20% to 12%, potential additions like JNJ, ABBV, and UNH QQQI Wheel Strategy — Section 1256 tax advantages and proje...

We break down the covered call ETF rankings (JEPI vs SPYI vs QYLD), reveal a tax-efficient dividend blueprint, expose 5 dividend traps to avoid, analyze energy ETFs on the oil spike, and review real portfolio strategies for building durable income.

In this episode, we break down the data challenging everything income investors thought they knew about covered call ETFs. JEPI finished dead last in total returns against five competitors. Topics: S&P 500 Income ETF Showdown, Top 10 Dividend ETF Rankings, Discounted Dividend Growth Stocks, BDCs Under Pressure, Portfolio Defense Strategies, Vanguard Value ETFs, Realty Income Analysis

The SaaS apocalypse has Salesforce at its cheapest valuation ever while Goldman Sachs income ETFs see 6x growth. We break down why blue-chip software stocks trading at utility-company valuations might be the buying opportunity of the decade, explore innovative high-yield ETFs avoiding NAV erosion, and look at Visa's asymmetric setup, Hercules Capital as a quality BDC, and smart international diver...

International dividend ETFs like IDOG and ACWX are dramatically outpacing the S&P 500. We dig into why, stress-test 9 high-yield ETFs for NAV erosion, rank covered call ETFs, and break down how to build a retirement portfolio from the ground up. Plus: ARCC 10% yield sustainability, gold as a Trump trade, and Reddit's favorite individual dividend picks.

Topics Covered Peter Lynch's Wisdom — There's always something to worry about, but dividend investors have an edge High-Yield ETFs That Work — JEPQ, SPYI, and GPIQ delivering 10%+ without price decay No Price Decay Filter — The most important metric when evaluating income ETFs Dividend Investing vs Dividend Growth — Why the distinction matters more than most think ARCC & Blue Owl at Rock Botto...

Topics Covered Microsoft Below $400 — Why MSFT's AI pivot makes it a hybrid growth-dividend play VOO vs VIG — One investor's case for switching from the S&P 500 to dividend appreciation Vanguard Value ETFs Crushing It — VTV, MGV, and VYM outperforming the index in 2026 SCHD at 0.06% — Schwab's 100-stock dividend ETF yielding more than savings accounts OpenAI vs Microsoft — Why the partnership...

Topics Covered Dividend ETF Winners — Which funds actually delivered in 2025 High-Yield ETFs Down 50% — The yield trap that destroys principal Dividend Growth vs. High Yield — Why growth wins long-term BDCs (Business Development Companies) — 3 income giants for monthly cash flow Gold Producers — Case study on mining stocks as portfolio hedges Top 10 ETFs by Total Return — What the numbers actually...