Informed Investing

Ep. 43: Dividend Kings, True Passive Income ETFs & International Opportunities

Informed Investing — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:38:30 -0500

10 sources covering 12 truly passive dividend ETFs, Dividend Kings, QDVO vs QQQI tactical covered calls, passive income investing key concepts, STAG Industrial monthly income REIT, VOO vs IWM comparison, Fidelity FENI international ETF, and high-yield stock picks

Ep. 42: Monthly Dividend Safety, JNJ Slow Growth, Goldman Sachs Earnings, and Covered Call ETF Rankings

Informed Investing — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:15:35 -0500

10 sources covering safest monthly dividend stocks, JNJ/PG slow dividend growth, RISR interest rate hedge ETF, dividend pyramid portfolios, Goldman Sachs earnings analysis, 10 portfolio mistakes, TSLX BDC buy-the-dip, XLKI tech income ETF, and best covered call ETFs of 2026

Ep. 41: International ETFs, Dogs of the Dow, SCHD vs Options, and Retiring on $500K

Informed Investing — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:50:41 -0500

10 sources covering international dividend ETFs, P&G vs Colgate, UnitedHealth Dogs of the Dow, recent dividend raises, SCHD vs options income, QQQI compounding, weekly dividend ETFs, and $500K retirement framework

Ep. 40: Energy Dividend Safety, 52-Week Low Bargains & YieldMax Reality Check

Informed Investing — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:33:09 -0500

Energy dividend safety (Chevron vs ConocoPhillips), 5 dividend stocks at 52-week lows (Microsoft, Main Street Capital, Nike, Novo Nordisk, Mastercard), YieldMax SOXY case study with margin strategy, $200K allocation advice from Reddit, FDVV+SCHD pairing, JP Morgan ROCQ ETF spotlight, dividend growth ETF portfolio sections

Ep. 39: Income ETF Stress Tests, Undervalued Dividend Picks & Buy-and-Hold Forever Portfolios

Informed Investing — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:09:04 -0500

Income ETF stress testing (QQQY/YBTC traps vs DIVP/MLPD quality), undervalued stocks (Mastercard, Williams Companies, AbbVie), EPRT net lease REIT, Nike at 5-year lows, buy-and-hold-forever ETFs from $1.8M portfolio, Treasury ladder alternatives, covered call ETF expansion, Franklin Resources dividend

Ep. 38: Covered Call ETF Truth, DDDD Doubles SCHD & Undervalued Dividend Picks

Informed Investing — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:46:07 -0500

Covered call ETF debate (JEPI/SPYI/XYLD/NAV erosion), YieldMax DDDD doubling SCHD yield, doubling dividend income with covered calls on TROW/PRU, undervalued picks (ARES down 50%, Colgate-Palmolive), 10 bad dividend habits, starter portfolio basics, VTI during selloffs, dividend aristocrat passive income

Ep. 37: Comeback Stocks, Beginner Portfolios & the Dividend Risk Spectrum

Informed Investing — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:42:21 -0500

We break down comeback stories from Target and Moderna, build a $50K beginner income portfolio with STK/SPYI/IDVO, honestly assess YieldMax high-yield ETFs, explore disruptor options strategies on SoFi and Reddit, and evaluate whether CVS is a value play or a trap.

Ep. 36: ETF Rotation, Yield Trap Warnings & Kimberly-Clark Merger Deep Dive

Informed Investing — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:46:37 -0500

Today's episode covers the great rotation as wealthy investors shift from tech into gold, international equities, and small-cap funds. We break down the JEPI vs SCHD debate, expose yield traps like QYLD and PDI, and dig into the Kimberly-Clark/Kenview merger opportunity. Plus: REIT picks STAG Industrial and NNN, Brompton's Cash Flow Kings strategy, and why DIVO's selective covered call approach beats the competition on risk-adjusted returns.

Topics covered:

The great rotation: rich investors moving from tech to gold, international & small-caps
JEPI vs SCHD: why higher yield doesn't mean higher returns
Dividend Kings: 5 highest-yielding 50+ year streak stocks (MO, FRT, HRL, KMB, SWK)
Kimberly-Clark/Kenview merger: 5.3% yield, PE of 12, $2B cost synergies
REIT opportunities: STAG Industrial and NNN REIT
Brompton Cash Flow Kings: free cash flow value strategy
DIVO quality: Sharpe ratio 0.91 beats S&P with selective covered calls
Yield trap warning: QYLD lost 42% NAV, PDI uses 28% leverage

Ep. 35: De-Risking Playbook, BDC Yield Pressure & Auto-Callable Income Innovation

Informed Investing — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:28:15 -0500

In this episode, we break down 9 institutional analyses covering: • **De-Risking Playbook** — 5 scenarios: AI bubble fears, job insecurity, retirement danger zone, risk tolerance reassessment, recession fears. Buffered ETFs (PMAY, BALT), defensive sectors, quality bonds • **BIZD Yield Under Pressure** — 9.3% yield but rate cuts compressing BDC floating-rate loan income. ARCC yield dropped 11.1% to 10.3%. BIZD down 15% in price, offsetting income • **International Outperformance** — VEA returned 30.4% in past year, 3 bps fees. JPM projects 7.5% annual returns vs 6.7% for S&P 500. Currency tailwind with euro at $1.15 • **Trinity Capital Deep Dive** — TRIN 14.3% yield, 106% coverage, interest rate floors, sub-1% non-accruals. Internally managed, low software exposure. But thin margin if rates keep falling • **OVL Overlay ETF** — 10.41% monthly distribution, outperformed S&P 500 (167% vs 155% since inception). Option premium overlay on large cap equities • **CAIQ Auto-Callables** — 17.7% coupon, -30% barrier, 97% historical coupon reliability, ~90% return of capital tax treatment. New income structure vs covered calls • **JPI/DIVO/PDI Showdown** — PDI's 15.2% yield is 25% return of capital. JPI best drawdown protection (13.7%). DIVO best Sharpe ratio (0.94). You can only pick 2 of 3: yield, total return, protection • **Morningstar Dividend Picks** — APD (44-yr streak, $309 FV), FIS (10% dividend raise, $85 FV), RHHBY (wide moat healthcare, $57 FV) • **Q1 2026 Winners** — Energy dominated: XLE +31%, XOP +41%, USO +83%. Utilities +10% on AI/data center demand. SCHD +9.4%, gold recovered +7% Sources compiled from Kiplinger, Morningstar, 247 Wall St, Dividend Collection Agency, ETF Investments, and YouTube deep dives.

Ep. 34: REIT Dividend Dynamos, SPHD's Breakout Q1 & the Salary Replacement Math

Informed Investing — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:13:21 -0500

In this episode, we dig into a massive stack of April 2026 market research covering the paradigm shift in passive investing. Topics covered: - REIT Dividend Quality: The ALPS Active REIT ETF Elite Eight (CUBE, GLPI, VICI, SPG, Realty Income) and why only 28 of 72 REITs maintained dividends over 15+ years - SPHD's Breakout Quarter: 6.5% surge in Q1, outpacing the S&P 500 by its largest margin since March 2021 - Valuation Reset Opportunities: S&P 500 worst quarter since Q3 2022, forward P/E compressed 17% - Salary Replacement Math: How much you actually need at 3%, 4%, and 7-8% yields to replace a $60K paycheck - International ETFs Crushing VOO: EWJ, VGK, VXUS outperforming while US tech concentration becomes a vulnerability - Income ETF Stress Test: NAV erosion analysis of 40 ETFs — who passed, who failed - TROW at a Discount: 40-year dividend streak, 5.77% forward yield vs historical 3.2-3.5% - Verizon Recession Play: 5.63% yield, DCF intrinsic value $62.86 vs $50 price Tickers discussed: SPHD, REIT, CUBE, GLPI, VICI, SPG, O, SCHD, VYM, JEPI, QQQI, EWJ, VGK, VXUS, VOO, EIPI, TYLG, RYLG, TROW, VZ

Ep. 33: SCHD's Breakout Year, Crisis-Proof Dividends & the Yield Chasing Reality Check

Informed Investing — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:24:24 -0500

SCHD up 11-13% YTD dominating indexes, dividend growth stocks at discount (Nike/Starbucks/P&G/General Mills), 7 crisis-proof dividend stocks since 2008, high-income ETFs without NAV decay (DIVO/GPIX/SPYI), OMAH Berkshire income ETF total return reality check, BondBlocks fixed income alternatives (PCMM/XEMD), Dividend Kings for retirement portfolios

Ep. 32: Income ETF Surge, $100/Day Dividend Machines & Holding the Line

Informed Investing — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:11:23 -0500

Q1 income ETF flows surge 50%, NEOS covered call strategies for $7200/month income, $100/day dividend machine blueprint (SPYI+EPR+DIVO), InfraCap small cap and MLP income funds, VYMI international dividend exposure, Chevron vs ExxonMobil energy debate, Kimberly-Clark Dividend Aristocrat analysis, 5 facts for holding through market panic

Ep 31: Goldman Energy Picks, Realty Income Debate, 12% CEFs & Sanofi Bargain

Informed Investing — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:52:43 -0500

Goldman Sachs 5 energy dividend picks, Realty Income REIT analysis, 12% yielding CEFs with perfect streaks, Sanofi pharma deep dive, P&G Dividend King under pressure, 1973 bear market retirement lessons, VOO compounding math

Ep 30: CPG Food Crash, YieldMax Reckoning, VICI Deep Dive & Growth vs Dividends

Informed Investing — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:51:01 -0500

CPG food stocks tanking with 7% yields, YieldMax high-yield ETF retrospective, $179K portfolio update, $240K/year income goal strategy, VICI Properties REIT analysis, SCHG vs SCHD growth vs dividends debate

Ep 29: SCHD Shakeup, Weekly Income ETFs, Nike's 71% Discount & Bear Market Income Playbook

Informed Investing — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:25:19 -0500

8 sources covering monthly dividend stocks (MAIN/EPR/SMA), Nike turnaround play at 71% off highs, WEEK T-Bill ETF beating money markets, weekly dividend ETF performance rankings, covered call ETF income mechanics, SCHD 2026 reconstitution (31% turnover, energy reduction, UNH/PG additions), 5 undervalued consumer staples using dividend yield theory, and four-pillar bear market retirement income strategy

Ep 28: Covered Call ETF Showdown, Bargain Dividend Kings & Bitcoin Income Plays

Informed Investing — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:22:37 -0500

10 sources covering covered call ETFs across 5 categories, ultra-high-yield stocks (ARCC/ET/STWD), General Mills at 15-year low, Bitcoin dividends (STRC), gold/silver ETFs during Iran War, 7 under-the-radar ETFs, dividend portfolio tracking tools, bargain dividend growth stocks (MSFT/CTAS/V), deeply discounted picks (MARZ/VICI/ADP), and VOOG growth ETF analysis

Ep 27: Income ETF Stress Test, Defensive Dividends & High-Yield Hidden Gems

Informed Investing — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:10:12 -0500

10 sources covering income ETF sustainability (DCR framework), defensive dividend stocks (HD, PEP, VDC), Western Midstream Partners insider buying, covered call ETF strategies (ICAP), gaming REITs (GLPI, VICI), VIG 223% returns, RTX dividend analysis, private credit risk

Ep. 26: SCHD Reconstitution Deep Dive, REIT Fundamentals & High-Yield Income ETFs

Informed Investing — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:35:09 -0500

Ep 25: Realty Income Deep Dive, SCHD Q1 Hike & NEOS Income Portfolios

Informed Investing — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 06:56:03 -0500

Ep 24: SCHD Reconstitution, Covered Call Income & Dividend King Safety

Informed Investing — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:43:31 -0500

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 a dividend parallel paycheck critical, VOO vs SPY vs IVV cost comparison, Watsco as an 11% undervalued compounder, and why Starbucks is a hold despite turnaround hopes.

Ep 23: Dividend King Bargains, Covered Call Rankings & BDC Showdown

Informed Investing — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:04:46 -0500

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.

Ep. 22: Dividend Compounders, GPIX Strategy & Slowdown-Proof Screening

Informed Investing — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:59:14 -0500

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 a 36% discount, defensive staples for oil shock protection, options income ETFs crossing $150B in assets, and an outdoor advertising REIT that tripled the S&P 500.

Ep. 21: Healthcare Dividends, Retirement Math & AI Infrastructure Plays

Informed Investing — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 06:39:01 -0500

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

Ep. 20: Income ETFs, Energy Dividends & The Covered Call Debate

Informed Investing — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:43:21 -0500

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

Ep 19: Energy Dividends Surge, YieldMax Reality Check & Dividend Growth Playbook

Informed Investing — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:03:53 -0500

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.

Ep 18: SCHD Breakout, Zero-DTE Income & Dividend Workhorses

Informed Investing — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 06:28:40 -0500

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 return orthodoxy. We spotlight dividend workhorses like Hormel, Federal Realty, Kimberly-Clark, Bank of Nova Scotia, and Realty Income - all with 50+ years of consecutive payouts yielding 4%+. Plus, we go high-yield ETF shopping with funds like CHIPPY, MAGS, NVDY, and BTCI offering 15-45% yields, and compare international dividend ETFs IDVO vs SCHY.

Ep 17: S&P 500 Fund Picking, Covered Call Showdown & NAV Erosion Solutions

Informed Investing — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:50:37 -0500

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.

Ep 16: SCHD Reconstitution, BDC Screening & Dividend Growth Math

Informed Investing — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:31:33 -0500

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.

Topics covered:

SCHD 2026 Reconstitution — energy to financials rotation
RSP vs VOO — equal-weight crushing cap-weight in 2026
BDC Deep Dive — falling rates + software lending risk
Dividend Growth vs High Yield — the 20-year math
15 Years of Dividend Investing Lessons
FLO (Flowers Foods) Yield Trap Warning
Amplify ETFs — DIVO/IDVO/QDVO covered call strategy
LyondellBasell — up 54% after dividend cut
Dividend Kings — FRT, KMB, SWK at 4%+
Retirement Portfolio Cleanup Framework

Ep 15: Crash-Proof Dividends, BDC Reality Check & Timberland Deep Dive

Informed Investing — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:19:31 -0500

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.

Ep 14: SCHD Dominance, Tax-Smart Income & Consumer Staples Revival

Informed Investing — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:40:35 -0500

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 tackle the age-old question of whether individual stock picking can beat a quality dividend ETF.

Ep 13: SCHD Overdrive, BDC Bargains & Covered Call Evolution

Informed Investing — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:17:30 -0500

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 tackle the heated Verizon rally debate, look at Mondelez as an overlooked consumer staples value play, dissect the rapid evolution of covered call ETFs (including BMO's new target yield series), and clear up common confusion around ex-dividend dates and Robinhood's early dividend access feature.

Sources: 247 Wall St, MarketBeat, Motley Fool, Reddit r/dividends, Reddit r/ValueInvesting, and multiple YouTube dividend investing channels.

Ep 12: Covered Call ETF Showdown, Energy Midstream & BDC Bargains

Informed Investing — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:46:46 -0600

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 NAV
Income Portfolio Strategies — Reddit investors building $5-7K/month income from SPYI, QQQI, JEPQ
Strong Buy Dividend Stocks — Home Depot, Permian Resources, International Seaways, Ryman for March
Volatility & Income — YieldMax lead strategist on why income ETFs outperform during market chaos

Ep. 11: Energy Dividends, Realty Income Debate & YieldMax Controversy

Informed Investing — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:37:06 -0600

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.

Ep. 10: Income ETFs, Semiconductor Dividends & Retirement Income Machines

Informed Investing — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:15:52 -0600

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.

Ep. 9: Weekly Income Machines, SCHD Reconstitution & Early Retirement Math

Informed Investing — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:07:07 -0600

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 projected 28% returns for small accounts
Early Retirement at 45 — $1.5M portfolio producing $67K in dividends vs $70K expenses, and the healthcare gap
Dividend ETF Showdown — DIV, JEPI, VYMI, and IFRA compared with real-dollar examples
BDC Tax Treatment — Blue Owl qualified dividends vs OBDC ordinary income
Economic Outlook — Key data releases ahead of March 18 FOMC
Stock Picks — Enbridge (31-year streak), Fortis (6-7% growth), Prudential (40% payout ratio)
Portfolio Update — $345K portfolio averaging $1,156/month through dividend reinvestment

Sources: Barchart, 247 Wall St, Dividend Blasters, Average Joe Dividends, Dividend Collection Agency, Reddit r/dividends

Ep. 8: Covered Call ETF Rankings, Tax-Smart Income & Dividend Trap Warnings

Informed Investing — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:54:28 -0600

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.

Ep. 7: Income ETF Showdown - JEPI Finished Dead Last in Total Returns

Informed Investing — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 07:06:38 -0600

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

Ep. 6: Software Crash Bargains, Income ETF Innovation & Global Diversification

Informed Investing — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:31:39 -0600

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 diversification plays.

Ep. 5: International Dividend Dogs Crush the S&P - NAV Stress Tests and Building a Million-Dollar Portfolio

Informed Investing — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:05:02 -0600

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.

Ep. 4: Dividend Investing Is the Ultimate AI Hedge

Informed Investing — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 06:22:56 -0600

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 Bottom — Truist says buy these 10%+ yielders
Medical Properties Trust (MPT) — Turnaround in progress but leverage at 9.6x is scary
Home Depot's 17-Year Streak — A modest 1.3% raise keeps the dividend aristocrat machine going
The Real World Moat — Why physical infrastructure stocks are the best AI hedge

Ep. 3: Buying Microsoft At $384 And 11% Yields

Informed Investing — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:10:00 -0600

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 drama could be a buying opportunity
TSLX 11% Dividend — Deep dive into Trinity Capital's well-covered BDC payout
QQQI + QQQ Combo — Pairing Nasdaq income with Nasdaq growth for best of both worlds
Dividend Kings on Sale — GPC and SPGI at discount valuations, value trap or opportunity?
CEFs Beating the S&P 500 — ACV, CSQ, BST, and LGI yielding 7-10% over 10 years
3-Layer Retirement System — Building a monthly paycheck portfolio with ETF income layers

Ep. 2: High Dividend Yields Are Eating Your Principal

Informed Investing — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:15:00 -0600

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 say
Midstream Energy — Pipeline MLPs and their tax-advantaged distributions
AI-Resilient Stocks — Companies with physical moats that AI can't disrupt
SCHD & SPYI — Balancing income with share price stability
NAV Preservation — Why protecting your principal matters more than yield

Ep. 1: The Four Million Dollar Barbell Strategy

Informed Investing — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 16:10:00 -0600

Topics Covered

Chevron vs. ExxonMobil — Which oil dividend giant is the better buy?
3 Dividend Aristocrats ready to rebound in 2026 (GPC, MDT, IBM)
FDVV — The dividend ETF that almost doubled its AUM in 2025
Best Dividend ETFs for first-time investors (SCHD, VYM, DGRO)
Stress-Testing JEPI & JEPQ — Are covered call ETFs sustainable for retirement?
LYB Dividend Cut — Impact on SCHD holders
50/50 SCHD + VGT beats the S&P 500 — Year 14 backtest
Agree Realty (ADC) — Monthly income from a quality REIT
YMAX Changes — YieldMax shifts to momentum-based allocation