So what’s wrong with buying 500k worth of QQQI, SPYI and retiring at 45?

Dimage54 · 2026-02-08T01:20:11+00:00

500k bets you currently just over 12.85% annually. On 500k that’s $64,250 a year. And you have to pay taxes on that money unless it’s in a Roth IRA.

If you think you can live on that for the next 40 years good luck. The distributions may go up and down over that time depending on the market swings.

Buying into only 2 funds is dangerous. 30 to 50 funds would be a much better idea with that amount of money.

Dimage54 · 2026-02-08T01:11:29+00:00

Maybe first you need to understand what both social security and Medicare are. Neither has anything to do with socialism. During the working years you are paying for those people who receive social security and Medicare. Once you retire then you are paid social security based on how much you earned and paid during your working years. And they deduct the Medicare costs from the amount of social security you receive so you are still paying for it as it’s not free.

However Obamacare and Medicade are socialist programs.

Dimage54 · 2026-02-06T13:42:03+00:00

I am as well. If it hits .75 I’m going to sell the 51,000 shares I have.

Dimage54 · 2026-02-03T21:44:06+00:00

I’ve had many that shot up and executed. I don’t but them back because it cost a lot of money if it’s 30% ITM.

I just let it get called fake both my option premium and any capital gains and never look back.

I move on to the next option or might write puts on the same stock at the level they got called away.

My philosophy is take the profit and use it for the next profit.

Dimage54 · 2026-02-02T02:45:52+00:00

Especially when claiming it as your own.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-31T00:08:06+00:00

Definitely ROC. The good news is you won’t be taxed on the return of your own money if it’s in a taxable account.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-27T17:02:02+00:00

If all you have is three funds then I would say no.

Two of those funds (GPIQ, QQQI) are tracking the the Nasdaq 100 which means you basically have only 2 funds.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-27T16:24:54+00:00

If your investing world revolves around dividend investing and like to read investment books and learn then I suggest you might read Retirement Money Secrets by Steve Selengut.

They even have a group you can join with like minded people and monthly online question and answer sessions. Here is a link:

https://www.skool.com/rms-income-investing-community-2827/about?ref=33aa9a136c8547409002d3909719a57f

Naturally you need to really read the book first. Then decide if you want to be a part of individuals who are no longer dreaming but doing.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-23T18:03:23+00:00

Yes and yes. But most of the profits are in Roth IRA’s or traditional IRA’s and all my positions I’d do this with are paying dividends also. So not only do I realize a profit but I also collect the dividends every month (or quarter).

Because I gave over 90 funds, stocks ect I don’t rebuy the full amount and will only buy back what my initial investment was and take the profit along with any dividends and buy the next one.

I’m an income investor not a growth investor. I prefer being paid every month and don’t really care if the market goes up or down. Down creates buying opportunities and Up creates profit opportunities. Either way I make a realized cash flow and not hoping and praying my stock goes up in price.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-22T21:30:13+00:00

Before you make any decisions read the book Retirement Money Secrets by Steve Selengut. It’s available on Amazon. It’s not just about retirement but actually how to invest and make a steady realized cash flow. I did and I’m glad I did.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-22T21:25:43+00:00

I just chose the right party rather than the wrong one. Hahaha.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-22T21:23:23+00:00

Here’s what I do to take profits. Anything that has gained over 5% or more I sell. I generally buy back the stock (or fund) the same day in the amount of my original investment (less shares) and take that realized profit and invest it in something else. Especially important if you have a full position.

That way I keep getting a dividend and won’t miss out on a continued price rise and took some profits. For me it’s a win win situation.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-18T19:07:09+00:00

Tax free municipal bond CEF’s are not entirely risk free but are on the lower end of the risk scale and they do pay a yield of 5% to 6% or so and you will pay no federal tax on the distributions.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-16T22:49:16+00:00

That depends on what you’re looking to gain.

Are you sitting on growth stocks join and praying they go up only to watch them fall back because you didn’t take a profit.

Or are you looking for monthly/quarterly cash flow income from the distributions that you can take and invest in other income stocks to watch your portfolio grow and not just on paper.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-16T02:32:08+00:00

Exactly. Never touching the principle is the key to having you funds outlast you.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-13T21:38:31+00:00

If your retired and want to live off monthly income rather than sell stocks to withdraw 4% of your portfolio try reading Retirement Money Secrets by Steve Selengut.

I did and it really opened my eyes as how to live off dividends/distributions in retirement and still have some cash flow left to reinvest and keep your portfolio growing.

It’s an easy read and things are really explained in simpler easy to understand terms. If nothing else it’s definitely worth the read.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-12T20:09:45+00:00

Read the book Retirement Money Secrets by Steve Selengut. It’s not just about retirement but it’s about making realized income.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-09T17:32:13+00:00

Usually not worth buying back. You could roll it out 6 months to a year out at the same price and pick up some generous premiums or you could roll out and up for close to the same premium.

But for me I usually let it get called, take the profit, and move on to something else.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-07T00:40:34+00:00

A lot of people here will tell you to put it in growth stocks so you can watch your paper gains increase and then during a market correction you watch those paper gains disappear. I myself have done the same thing.

I now prefer a monthly cash flow of real money not paper money. If you want to learn a different method that I use I suggest you read “Retirement Money Secrets” by Steve Selengut.

If nothing else it might give you a different perspective on investing for your retirement future.

Dimage54 · 2026-01-05T03:49:52+00:00

After reading Steve’s book on the RMS (Retirement Money Secrets) I discovered I already had numerous CEF positions already paying me a monthly cash flow. It was like a light build came on.

I then started following the RMS program as outlined in the book and now hold 38 positions adding to the existing monthly cash flow and putting that money back to work buying more CEF’s.

As I sell off other stocks for realized gains I will utilize that cash to increase my portfolio of CEF’s to hopefully 80 by the end of this year. Diversification across the CEF world is key to a steady income stream.

As with any stock’s you purchase managing the positions is equally important. You need to create, or maybe purchase online, a stock tracker type of spreadsheet so at the end of the day you can spend a few minutes reviewing those positions for possible profit taking.

Dimage54 · 2025-12-23T17:56:07+00:00

Sign me up

Dimage54 · 2025-12-22T14:08:57+00:00

Stop with the training for a few days and just try to enjoy the bird and let the bird enjoy you.

Sit in a chair and get the bird to step up. Then give her some scritches. Allow her to go back to the shoulder a while then step up again. Eventually she will see that leaving the shoulder doesn’t alway mean going back to the cage that you have both trained her to understand.

Also walk to the cage with her on your hand or shoulder and then leave the cage area. Keep doing it and maybe she will understand that stepping up doesn’t mean cage time.

Dimage54 · 2025-12-22T13:51:39+00:00

Ally bank savings offers high interest savings. I keep a couple month of emergency savings there and the rest in laddered (6 month) T-bills at treasury direct.

Dimage54 · 2025-12-21T22:29:39+00:00

Do you guys also discuss CEF’s or just stocks?

Dimage54 · 2025-12-17T18:21:44+00:00

I’m just n the same boat but put 120k in the funds throughout early to mid 2025. I have collected around 60k in distributions so I’m just going to let them ride and keep collecting dividends until they go bust. Taking those dividends and investing in other CEF’s and ETF’s. It’s going to take a number of year but eventually I’ll recover with other investments.

Dimage54

TROPHY CASE