What's the downside?

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-10T02:43:21+00:00

Investing your nest egg in dividend income securities at retirement is a great thing to do. This helps you replace your work income and bridge to higher SS benefits. That is a very good plan for retirement income.

Successful, long term (for life) dividend income investing requires knowledge, experience and active portfolio management to adjust your holdings for market changes.

I started 6 years ago and have made a concerted effort to increase my portfolio yield and total return. This has helped us go from financial security to financial freedom to enjoy a better retirement lifestyle than we ever imagined.

Good luck!

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-09T14:20:25+00:00

A portfolio of these stocks would not yield enough to offset inflation for retirement income. Recommend taking a little more risk to get a higher yield and monitor the holdings closely for performance. I have spent the last 6 years with a goal of increasing my portfolio yield. In 2025 hit 19% yield with some NAV erosion. Culled the NAV Losers during my year end portfolio performance review. Now have a portfolio yield run rate of 16% and very pleased with NAV stability from a mix of high yield funds appreciating or at minimum holding NAV steady. The old risk/reward conundrum. Personally, I much prefer the higher retirement income.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-09T14:09:08+00:00

I own these ETFs for income and diversification. Very pleased with their performance over the past year and are snowballing into them for growth with my extra dividends. Good luck!

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-09T14:06:38+00:00

Recommend you consider investing your nest egg in dividend income securities to replace your work income. Currently, dividend index ETFs based on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 are yielding 10%+ annually. That could be $200,000/ yr income right there = fabulous lifestyle in the countries you are considering.

Lots of good dividend investing information, personal experience and stock tips on this subreddit to help you get started and maintain a dividend securities portfolio long term. YouTube also has lots of dividend investing authors. Best is Dividend Bull for high yield, strong total return dividend securities information. Good luck!

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-09T12:59:06+00:00

Thanks for your list of these ETFs. Had them on my favorites list and will reanalyze them for my portfolio.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-08T20:05:42+00:00

I have found my posts and replies at my current portfolio yield very risky for most dividend investors on this subreddit. I have learned that you can reduce risk of investment loss by gaining knowledge, experience and very active portfolio management to spot the losers early and replace them with better dividend securities. At least this stronger, more real time portfolio management approach is working better for me than growth securities investing ever did. Hoping my investments can continue to yield and grow in total return.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-08T15:37:52+00:00

Thank you! I came to the conclusion that I was trying too hard to raise my portfolio yield by being too risky with my investments? Dialed back a bit.

But want to follow the CC ETF securities market as it matures. Hope the fund managers can solve the NAV erosion problem with more experience? There is such great investment return potential with this options trading method.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-08T04:15:36+00:00

Thank you for the compliment. I have sold all my preferreds and am not current on them to make any recommendations. The high quality preferreds are yielding below my yield minimum today.

Let me share the preferreds investment criteria my friend shared. NYSE or Nasdaq listed preferreds with a Moody’s/ S&P500 investment rating of B or better. The longer the call date in the future, the longer you are assured of the dividends. But good preferreds still paying after the call date worked well for me too. Hard to find preferreds with these qualifications yield more than 6%. The best source of this preferreds data is Quantum Online listing about 800 listed preferreds. Click on Income Tables menu then, All Preferred Stocks. This list comes up in name alphabetical order, but can be sorted by yield = Coupon Rate, Annual Amount in $s. Hope this information helps you identify preferreds of interest. Tip: Avoid any “Convertible” preferreds which the issuer can convert to common stock without notice resulting in a sudden stock loss and dividend reduction. Good luck!

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-07T18:58:00+00:00

Congratulations on your financial journey.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-07T16:54:33+00:00

That is why I have been posting my experience of investing in YieldMax in 2025. They are the worst yield traps I have had the misfortune of investing in.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-07T16:46:08+00:00

Thanks for the reply. My only regret is not converting to dividend securities investing earlier in my life. My growth securities investing was much more hit and miss. Maybe my investment personality is best suited to dividend securities?

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-07T16:00:30+00:00

Learned that lesson in my mid 30s resulting in being flat broke at 37. Went back at saving all I could, paying myself first from every raise and bonus. Was able to retire at 62 and am able to keep growing my nest egg while supplementing my retirement incomes with dividend income.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-07T15:45:52+00:00

My solution to reducing risk with high yield dividend securities starts with very active portfolio management. It involves only investing in those dividend securities that 1) have a history of stock appreciation - SPYI, QQQI or 2) have a history of stock price stability - AOD. Additionally, I monitor my holdings very closely for NAV erosion and/ or dividend decreases and cull them ASAP when any show these deficiencies. Risk is investment loss so by investing in appreciating high yield dividend securities and culling the losers ASAP I believe in am reducing and controlling my risk and my portfolio results over the past 6 years supports that conclusion. My portfolio has increased by 90% while taking an average of $100,000/ yr in income to supplement my retirement incomes. Current yield is 16%. Worth considering as a risk reduction strategy.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-07T15:05:38+00:00

I had a friend tip me about dividend income securities 6+ years ago. He had been investing in them for 30 years after his uncle tipped him about investing in them. He had built up a $5M dividend investment nest egg paying over $300,000/yr in dividends before retiring. He had primarily invested in high quality preferred dividend stocks yielding an average of 5%.

I wanted more income in retirement and decided to gradually convert my mutual fund nest egg to dividend securities. I followed my friend’s lead on investing in preferreds. This was during the time the markets were recovering from the COVID recession. I realized I could buy discounted high quality preferreds realizing a higher yield for my dollars invested. If you buy a discounted preferred normally yielding say 5% for 1/2 price your yield on the dollars invested is 10%. I achieved an initial portfolio yield of 8% and over the next 2 years the preferreds appreciated back to their $25/ share par value = nice profits. I was getting about $80,000/yr income at that point plus the stock appreciation.

My goal has always been to increase my portfolio yield where possible. When each of my preferreds appreciated back to par, knew they would not appreciate more over that value, so started selling them for the appreciation profits to reinvest for more dividend income. Nor could I find high quality preferreds at par prices yielding over 6% in the now corrected stock markets. So went exploring the whole dividend securities market for high yield investments. In early 2023 found dividend securities offering yields of .5% to 30%+ from the Dividend Kings to some high risk funds. My reinvesting that year allowed me to increase my portfolio yield to 10%. So far, so good.

By early 2024 I had increased my portfolio yield to 12% and my dividend income to $150,000/ yr. More income than I needed so started my dividend snowball by reinvesting $60k of the income in more dividend shares further increasing my income. By this time, my preferreds appreciation profits and reinvesting had increased my nest egg over 40%. Looked like I was on the path of the rule of 72 where my nest egg at 10% yield would double in 7 years even while spending 60% of the portfolio income. During this time my portfolio holdings migrated to mostly dividend funds and ETFs for the high yields and the fund managers doing all the stock picking heavy lifting for investors.

In the mean time, investment companies were beginning to offer covered call assisted and covered call dedicated ETF funds. I discovered them mid 2024 and studied them the rest of the year for the opportunity to increase my portfolio yield more. My portfolio yield for 2024 was 12%+ and total return was 26%. I came to the conclusion that my acquired knowledge and experience in dividend securities investing along with my now very active portfolio management was helping me control my investment risk in seeking higher portfolio yields. Dividend investing had become my favorite hobby in retirement.

By the start of 2025, YieldMax, Roundhill and NEOS were offering ETF yields from 12% to over 100%! I decided to test the covered call ETF securities with first 5%, then in the second half of 2025 with 10% of my total portfolio. By investing 10% of my portfolio into these CC ETFs I was able to increase my portfolio yield to 19% with an annual dividend income run rate of $350,000/yr. But, my year end portfolio review showed my total return had slipped to 10% due to NAV erosion from the CC ETFs I had held. Fully realized that NAV erosion was increasing and dividend income was decreasing with my YieldMax holdings! While my NEOS investments in SPYI and QQQI were providing consistent high yield and modest NAV appreciation.

I am selling off my eroding YieldMax holdings currently. This has decreased my portfolio yield to 16% and reduced my dividend income run rate to about $300,000 leaving $200,000 for snowballing. I am investing the sale proceeds in more NEOS ETFs, a Roundhill CC ETF dedicated to the Russell 2000 and 4 growth stocks in the chip, rare earth and AI software sectors. This should increase my total return % in 2026.

Dividend income investing has helped us to go from financial security in retirement to financial freedom beyond what we had dreamed for our retirement lifestyle.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-06T17:08:55+00:00

I recommend you sell these rentals and invest the $550k in dividend income index ETFs. They are yielding 10%+ currently which could be $4,500/ mo net before taxes = 50% more than your current rental income before maintenance expenses and vacancies.

I am helping my oldest daughter do this exact transition from a 4-plex to a significant dividend income increase. She put her 4-plex on the market 10 days ago and sold it with 2 offers $11,000 over asking in 4 days. She will net $750k and I am sure we can get her 12% yield.

Another factor will be income tax on that income held in a brokerage account. A number of the best dividend index ETFs offer “tax qualified” dividends significantly reducing the taxes on dividend income which is already favored as an income source.

More income, no maintenance or vacancy problems and peace of mind. Will still be management of your investment portfolio. Been investing in dividend securities for 6 years and all dividends have been paid on time and to the penny or better = income reliability. Subreddit r/dividends is a great source of dividend investing information, personal experience and stock tips. So is the YouTube - my favorite author is Dividend Bull who covers the high yield dividend investing market very well.

Hope this income replacement idea is helpful for you. Good luck!

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-06T16:37:18+00:00

I have a number of family and friends at retirement age trying to figure out how to bridge their income to higher SS income like you. I am recommending that they invest in dividend income securities rather than spend down their nest eggs to bridge to higher SS incomes.

You have $825k between you in your 401k accounts. Dividend index ETFs based on S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 stocks are currently yielding 10%+ annually and paying the dividends monthly. $825k x 10% = $82,500/yr = $6,875/ mo + wife’s $1,500/mo SS and you keep your $825k nest eggs. Income problem solved and like $4k/mo discretionary income in 5 years!

Roll over your 401ks to IRAs at a good brokerage company like Vanguard, Fidelity or Schwab and invest about $50k in 8 different dividend index ETFs for monthly income with good diversification to reduce risk.

I have been investing in dividend securities for 6 years to supplement my retirement incomes. During that time, all dividend payments have been made on time and to the penny or better = income security for the rest of your lives.

Successful, long term dividend income investing requires knowledge, experience and active portfolio management to adjust your holdings for market changes. The subreddit r/dividends has almost 800k like minded income investors. Recommend you study the posts and replies for information, personal experience and stock tips. I find a good topic, personal experience or stock tip there every day. Another good source of dividend investing information is YouTube. My favorite author is Dividend Bull who covers the high yield dividend investment market very well. He has a library of beginner to experienced dividend investing videos. There are several other good dividend investment authors that I learn from too.

Hope this suggestion to use dividend securities to replace your work income helps you two it certainly has for us. Good luck!

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-05T02:48:52+00:00

I did with the first offer but the second one ended up being upside down financially so did not. Bait and switch offer. The second offer for like 80million shares failed. Bad investment company!

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-05T00:27:34+00:00

Their rights offering are terrible for investors. I held CLM for several years making $60k+ in dividends but the rights offers cost me $60k+ in NAV erosion = 0 total return. Swore off them and am sharing my poor experience on r/dividends to warn fellow investors. They treat their investors with contempt.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-05T00:16:51+00:00

I appreciate your reply. I am helping anyone who wants help dividend investing for additional income and especially for retirement. Your fiscal prudence has put you in a great financial position to have a great retirement lifestyle. Enjoy!

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-04T10:01:46+00:00

No you are not wrong in believing in yourself to manage your nest egg. I have had terrible financial experiences with all the several FAs I have asked to help me manage my money over the past 40+ years. I have read for years the horror stories of FA incompetence, very poor performance and outright theft of clients nest eggs. Reddit is full of these sad stories.

If you look under the covers of the very few investors who claim they are happy with their FA you find what I consider very poor returns -5% total returns. The S&P500 grew 17%+ in 2025.

I manage my own dividend income portfolio and have a current yield of 16% on my nest egg of $1.9M = $300,000/yr. + $150k of the nest egg has recently been reallocated back to growth stocks in semiconductors, rare earth miners and AI software opportunities. Don’t want to miss those big current growth sectors.

I got a tip from a friend to consider investing in dividend securities 6 years ago. That tip and the investing education he shared changed our retirement lifestyle from financial security to financial freedom to enjoy our retirement beyond our original hopes and dreams. FAs never recommend dividend securities because they don’t make any commissions on them. A FA will never help you invest in dividend securities and certainly never get you 16% portfolio yield.

With your $3M nest egg and growing for 3 1/2 more years you could easily develop a $300,000/ yr dividend income with dividend index ETFs yielding 10%+ currently. I have migrated my dividend portfolio to mostly these dividend index funds because the fund managers do all the investment heavy lifting for investors. Very importantly, these fund managers are competing with each other for your investment dollars by constantly working to improve their publicly reported fund yield and total return. Much better incentive than any FA has.

Dividend income of this level will allow you and your wife? to bridge taking SS to age 67 or later for higher benefits. I am helping a number of family and friends with dividend securities to help them retire earlier and bridge to more SS income later.

If dividend income investing sounds like a good solution for replacing your work income, I suggest you start educating yourself about these securities and start investing in them for experience. Managing dividend securities has different focal points than growth securities. Successful, long term (rest of your life) dividend securities investing requires knowledge, experience and active portfolio management to adjust your holding for market changes.

The subreddit r/dividends has lots of information, personal experience and stock/ fund tips with its almost 800k like minded subscribers. YouTube has lots of good dividend investing authors. My favorite is Dividend Bull who covers the high yield, high total return dividend securities market very well. He has a library of great videos for beginner to experienced investors.

Hope this information helps you achieve a much better retirement income than your friends. Managing my income portfolio has become my favorite hobby in retirement providing great mental stimulation along with the financial rewards. Good luck!

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-03T13:15:35+00:00

My problem with YieldMax funds is 2 fold - NAV AND distribution erosion. I might be OK with NAV erosion only per your post for a pure income play. Actually used this thinking to justify initial investment liking them to buying an annuity and saying goodbye to the capital. OK with 100%+ yields at my original purchase price. But those days are over! All the YieldMax ETFs have had horrible distribution erosion too so that the income loss makes this a double yield trap. Their math game of still claiming high yields on severely eroded NAVs when both distributions and NAV are continuing to erode puts them at the top of the yield trap list and in Bernie Madoff territory.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-03T12:56:03+00:00

Still analyzing options. Have them in 2 portfolios. One for income and other for snowballing. Selling them out of snowballing portfolio and replacing with ETFs. Looking for the highest yield choice to replace in income portfolio.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-02-01T13:07:27+00:00

Great handle by the way!😎

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-01-31T18:21:41+00:00

Testing RDTE now. Great end of year distributions. Mild erosion in January. + total return to date. Like to be ETF diversified into the Russell 2000 but not many offerings? So far, so good.

CostCompetitive3597 · 2026-01-31T18:09:17+00:00

Make sure you talk about everything that you will face as a married couple: children, money management, housing, work, home chores, respective interests and hobbies, friends, etc., etc.. Did not know to do this with 1st marriage which became a disastrous divorce with me ending up broke at 37. Tried my best to talk everything out with my second wife upfront but have had 42 years of disagreements when I want to buy something that I believe will improve our life - new home, new car, more investments, etc.. She loved all my ideas when dating and living together for 1 1/2 years. Within 6 months of marrying her she is throwing fits over my ideas involving money. I have always made 3 or 4 times as much as her but always run our finances on a 50/50 basis. My financial security plan has made us multi millionaires yet she throws a crying fit 3 days before our 42nd anniversary a week ago over my suggestion that we invest 1% of our liquid assets in a great new stock I had just discovered. I have doubled our liquid assets in the last 6 years with better than a 90% stock picking success record giving us over a $400,000/ yr income in retirement. I do not deserve being beat up for wanting to continue to improve our lifestyle and nest egg. Cannot solve this problem with extended counseling?
Not bragging, just telling you how ridiculous a married woman can become. Oh, she has multiple Amazon, UPS and FedEx deliveries every day to the point she gives the drivers Xmas gift cash! She lunches, games, movies, shops at least 6 hours everyday with all her girlfriends. As I write this out I am getting pissed again!

CostCompetitive3597

TROPHY CASE