Cash in Hand Archive
Treasury Bonds: A Lousy Deal
You don't have to sell right away, but you'll do better with Ginnie Maes and junk bonds with short maturities.
How Investors Can Prosper From High Gas Prices
The best approach is to invest in large, high-quality energy firms run by experienced managers.
How to Score 13% With Annaly Capital Management
Unless some Annaly trader screws up, the good times will continue to roll for the real estate investment trust -- at least through 2013.
Trends in Income Investing: Emerging-Markets Bonds, Bank Dividends, and Corporate Bonds
Investors can find lots of new opportunities to earn income these days. Not all of them make sense for your portfolio.
Pimco's Total Return ETF:
Walk, Don't Run
The forthcoming exchange-traded fund is getting lots of buzz, but will it be able to stand up to the hype?
Option-Income CEFs May Be a Smarter Choice
Buying options is risky. But selling a call against a stock you own is a conservative strategy.
The Great Yield Mirage
Be wary of yields that seem too good to be true.
5 Real Estate Investment Trusts
To Buy Now
The prospects for these REITs are good, and their share prices haven't run up as much as the rest of the sector.
Amazing Tax-Free Income From Closed-End Muni Bond Funds
These investments are the secret to earning yields as high as 7% for your portfolio. But CEFs are not without risk.
Our High-Yield, No-Stocks Tofurky Portfolio
This annually updated portfolio cooks up income and some growth without using any common stocks.
Your Guide to Bond Investing in 2012
Heading into the end of 2011 and the dawn of 2012, which bond categories will do best and which ones can you ignore?
How to Be a Better Bond Buyer
Keep a balanced portfolio by improving your income-investing intellect.
The Utility Solution
Electric utility stocks are in the sweet spot for yield and safety.
Juice Up Your Dividends with Utilities
Blue-chip stocks of electric utilities can help shore up your portfolio and boost your yield, even through a recession.
Yield to the Rescue
Fat cash payouts cushion the damage from stock-market mayhem.
Opportunities With Municipal Bonds
The impending death of the tax-free bond market has been greatly exaggerated.
What the U.S. Debt Downgrade Means to Bond Investors
Our advice for managing your income investments: hold Treasuries, buy investment-grade corporate and municipal bonds.
Your Investing Guide to the Debt Ceiling Crisis
Here's what you should know to protect your portfolio, no matter how the politicians handle the U.S. debt debate.
Bill Gross Starts an ETF
Pimco's star manager lends instant credibility to actively managed exchange-traded funds.
Time to Sell Treasuries
Uncle Sam’s IOUs may have enjoyed a recent rally, but other dividend-paying investments are offering far more attractive yields.
The (Best) Book on Dividends
Fund manager Dan Peris explains how you can reap the rewards of dividend-paying stocks in his new book, The Strategic Dividend Investor.
Buy REITs for Growth
The recent rally of real estate investments trusts is a vote of confidence in the strength and staying power of the recovery.
Buy Canadian Oil Stocks?
Formerly known as energy trusts, these companies are attractive investments for those seeking both current income and growth potential.
How to Safely Invest in Bond Funds Now
Despite their recent dip, interest rates are still likely to rise and put many bond funds at risk.
Bond Funds in Trouble
This is a good time to sell long-term-bond funds and look for alternative sources of income.
Bullish on Dividends
Even though the Dogs of the Dow include three health stocks, they should have another fine year.
9 Great Investment Moves You Should Make in Uncertain Times
Even if the markets stumble, you can keep your portfolio steady with these smart investing strategies.
11 Bond Funds That Won't Get Soaked by Rising Interest Rates
The best bond funds weather inflation by allowing their managers the flexibility to invest in all types of bonds and maturities.
Answers to Your Income-Investing Questions
Jeff Kosnett dips into his virtual mailbag to answer your questions and help you earn a decent return in this low interest-rate world.
Why You Should Sell Health-Care REITs Now
This investment category's winning streak looks to be nearing its end.
3 Strategies for Collecting High Dividends
Take advantage of the 15% tax rate on dividends, and take comfort in the promised payout during these uncertain economic times.
Our No-Stock Investment Portfolio
For investors with no taste for common stocks, we’ve updated our investing recipe for Tofurky.
Don't Junk Your Junk Bonds
You still have some time to join the high-yield bond party.
Master Limited Partnerships: Victims of Success
Great returns and high yields have brought MLPs a lot of attention. But the spotlight may have a negative impact on the group's performance.
Get Over Treasuries
Uncle Sam's IOUs are still safe, but you can find better yields from other investments.
Get More Income with My Double-Barreled Investing Strategy
One good company can be twice as nice an investment and get you 36 paydays a year when you buy both its stock and its bonds.
Bond Wizards of Oz
Australia, sometimes nicknamed Oz, offers that rare combination of high interest rates and sound credit. Nirvana for savers?
How to Research and Buy Bonds
Bond maven Marilyn Cohen shares her advice on making money in the new fixed income landscape.
The Best Investment You've Never Heard Of
Pipeline master limited partnerships have marvelous ten-year returns and often yield 6% or higher. What are you waiting for?
Treasuries: The Brand to Trust
Turn to Uncle Sam for security through the rest of the year.
Utilities Trump REITs
Real estate investment trusts may be in bubble territory and utilities are in the bargain basement.
The Right Income Investments for Your Portfolio Now
For good yields, consider municipal bonds, energy pass-throughs and U.S. agency bonds.
Buy U.S. Agency Bonds
You can earn more with non-Treasury government-backed bonds with virtually no additional risk.
Four Principles of Managing Money for Those With Lots of It
In the aftermath of the recent market meltdown, high-net-worth individuals can protect their assets by following these four sound investing tenets.
Reinvestment Riddle
How you deal with appreciated bonds should depend on what kind of investor you are.
Growing Risk in REITs
REIT shares are flying high, but eventually they’ll run out of fuel. Will it be a crash landing?
Munis' Worthy Rivals
Build America Bonds sound like winners -- except for taxpayers, who get stuck footing the bill.
ETFs for Income Investors
These exchange-traded funds offer low-cost ways to tap bonds and dividend-paying investments.
What Ails Treasuries
It’s getting harder for investors to ignore the government’s massive borrowing needs.
The Best Bets for Income in 2011
Bond investors will find the coming year challenging.
5 Alternatives to CDs
There are better things to do with your money than invest in another certificate of deposit if the one you have is maturing.
Coping With Bond Calls
If you think the long-term trend in interest rates is up, you should buy callable bonds.
Bond With Your Bonds
Even after the magnificent run-up in bond values, investors will stay loyal to bonds and bond funds.
How Our No-Stock Portfolio Fared
Shortly after Thanksgiving last year, we created a Tofurky portfolio that managed to produce some tasty returns.
Why You Should Hang on to Your Bonds
Now is not the time to cash in on the rally in investment-grade corporate debt.
Stand by Your Buck
Don't listen to the dollar critics: Our currency is durable and better than the alternatives.
Beyond Bond Ratings
Despite missed calls and ethical questions, ratings firms will remain influential. That's not all bad.
Want to Buy Foreign Bonds Directly? Good Luck
The yields on debt issued by governments overseas trump what you can get from U.S. debt. But you need to be a millionaire to tap that market.
Municipal Bonds Under the Gun
With states strapped for cash, the tax-exempt bond market is feeling stress -- which means investors can find some good deals.
Treasuries Are Still Worth Buying
With the economy still weak, the ten-year bond is appealing despite its low yield.
Preferreds: A Big Gamble
Don't jump into these investments because of their recent hot performance without fully understanding the risks.
Don't Overlook Ginnie Maes
These U.S. guaranteed securities have held up well despite the financial meltdown and have better yields than Treasuries.
Investments That Pay You Every Month
These three portfolios should produce reliable yields of 5% to almost 10%.
Welcome Additions: More Bond ETFs
Finally, these exchange-traded funds are catching on, giving investors a chance to invest in everything from munis to junk bonds at much lower costs than traditional bond funds.
Not as Good as Cash
Ultra-short-term bond funds are supposed to be low-risk, but their recent losses suggest otherwise.
An Income Smorgasbord
From a handful of REITS to California bonds to companies raising dividends, you can find investments with sure-thing cash returns.
The Case for Junk Bonds
As risky as high-yield bonds may seem, they're not nearly as dangerous as stocks.
The No-Stock Portfolio
Try these investments to earn a decent return with less risk.
Dividends Get Slashed
Weak cash flow is prompting some investment companies with high yields to cut payouts to shareholders.
It's Time to Buy Bonds
You'll find plenty of good deals on issues from municipalities and big, solid companies.
An Unbelievable Yield
You can get 5% or better in a tax-free money-market fund. Is this for real? For now, it is.
Bonds to the Rescue
Reduce your risk by adding some of these fixed-income securities to your portfolio. Here's how to pick the right ones.
Investments That Pay You Every Month
Expect a steady flow of cash from these three portfolios.
What to Do With Cash in Hand
Use these strategies to make sure your money is safe, earns a decent rate and is accessible.
With Bond Funds, Keep It Simple
Bonds are crucial for diversifying your portfolio, but it can be dangerous to invest in a fund full of stuff only a rocket scientist can understand.
BBB Means Buy, Buy, Buy
Corporate bonds rated just above junk level offer 7% yields with little risk of default or insolvency.
Pipeline to High Income
Shares of pipelines and energy-storage facilities have fallen hard, but there's nothing wrong with the businesses. And the yields are more than 7%.
Are Money-Market Funds as Good as Cash?
Their holdings may include debt issued by the likes of Bear Stearns, Freddie Mac, and some other less-than-ironclad lenders.
Don't Miss the Muni-Bond Sale
Now is a good time to invest in highly rated tax-free bonds.
The Latest Embarrassment: Leveraged Closed-Ends
These funds are now riskier and less appetizing for income investors.
Relief for Beaten-Down Investments
The Federal Reserve's surprise rate cut breathed life back into REITS and business development companies. Regional banks should benefit, too.
Bonds: Not a Haven Now
Despite conventional wisdom, a recession in 2008 seems short of great opportunities in interest-paying investments.
Dubious Closed-End Fund Distributions
Managers of many of these stock-like investments promise a high fixed payout but are finding it hard to uphold that guarantee.
Why Municipal Bonds Are Stumbling
These usually safe, tax-exempt investments have become unlikely victims of the subprime mortgage fallout.
Ultra-Short: Still Ultra-Safe?
The poor performance of two ultra-short bond funds from esteemed firms calls into question whether these investments are safe alternatives to money-market funds.
Keeping Your Balance Becomes Cash in Hand
This column gets a new name but will still offer the same great advice on investing for income.
Real Estate in Its Purest Form
Residential real estate prices may be falling, but the cost of land is going up and can be a solid investment.
Investing in Foreign Real Estate Goes Mainstream
New international real estate funds with low minimums let you to take advantage of property growth overseas, and they provide portfolio diversification.
Oy, Canada!
A sudden tax proposal by Canada's finance minister just knocked 10% to 15% off the value of shares of most Canadian income trusts and threatens to leave them with less money to pay dividends. If you invest in these high-yield securities, should you keep them?
Surprising Performance From High-Yield Bonds
Few expected it, but junk bond funds haven't done badly this year. Here's what's changed.
The Fed and Your Wallet
Are Bernanke & Co. waiting for the smoke to clear? Or is the August pause the end of 17 months of rate tightening? The answer has important consequences for investors.
The Thrill of Cash
Cash investments aren't just safe. They're looking respectable as an investment, not just a refuge.
Mortgage REIT Madness
Yields on real estate investment trusts that hold mortgages are soaring, but the gains may be an illusion.
A Preferred Yield Idea
Preferred stocks offer a safe, easy source of stable income.
From the Spring Yield Show
Some energy trusts have had spikes in dividends during the warmer months.
The Good News in Bonds
The good old American standby, the municipal bond, is paying big yields thanks to budget surpluses in many states and localities.
In Praise of Balance
Don't let critics of balanced funds discourage you from investing in them. A quality one can be the cornerstone of a long-term portofolio.
High Yields on the High Seas
Shipping companies are awash in cash, and they're passing it on to stockholders in the form of excellent dividends that look to be sustainable for the next three years.
Energy Trusts Still Burn Bright
Energy royalty trusts and master limited partnerships are looking more promising than they were in the summer. And this sector remains a good place for investors searching for income.
Heed the Yield Signs
Yield -- whether it comes from dividends or interest -- is a useful way to compare income-paying investments. But all yields are not equal, especially when taxes take their toll. Which types of investments will lead you down the best income path?
High Yields at Home
You don't have to hold your nose over junky corporate notes, or trek around the world to find the next emerging market. If you want fat yields, just look beyond your own backyard to the local transit system, college or hospital.
Fixing It Up
Your IRA and taxable investment portfolio combined probably have about 20% outside of stocks. But where should you put your fixed-income money?
Keep Real Estate Investments Real
REIT stocks are under pressure from interest rates and slack rents, but investors in real properties could still make money, if they have the expertise.
High Energy Income
Energy royalty trusts trade like REITs or stocks but offer a much higher yield. To energize the income side of your portfolio, look at these five names.
Wannabe Landlords Beware
High prices and a soft rental market suggest just as much peril as opportunity in the realm of investment real estate.
Following the Bond Markets
Now bond investors have a way to track municipal and corporate bond trades in real time.
Six Income Havens as Rates Rise
Rising rates won\'t sink all bond boats. There are some bonds and bond alternatives that make sense when rates move up gradually.
The Landlord Test
In a strong housing market, the idea of renting out property looks tempting. Does it make financial sense for you?
Five Reasons to Buy High-Yield Muni Funds
Nuveen manager John Miller routinely outperforms the competition in this tough-to-manage category. He explains why this group of high-yield bonds might be safer than you think.
HH Bonds: Good Buy or Goodbye?
Don\'t get too nostalgic when the HH passes into Treasury Department history. There are plenty of alternatives that can provide much more income.
How to Find Good Bond Buys
With interest rates rising, some corporate bonds are yielding as much as 8%. Here\'s how to spot the deals and how to make your purchase painlessly.
Utilities Are Back ... I Think
After trying on a tech-savvy image, gas and electric companies are going back to what they used to be: steady eddies.
Not the Time for Bond Shopping
If the drop in stocks has you considering a shift to \"safety,\" then consider the risks that bond owners could face.
These Unsecured Notes are Risky Business
Unrealistically high yields from a financially fragile lender? Sounds like a 1980s rerun.
When the Interest Rate Shoe Drops
A surging economy and rocketing rates would be a nightmare for long-bond investors. But these options could help you sleep better at night.
Auld Lang Syne for Bonds
As you toast the New Year, raise a cheer or two for the bond side of your portfolio. It\'s served you well. But as yields fizzle and rates climb, consider a fresh strategy.
Energize Your Income Portfolio
High-octane oil and gas royalty trusts could juice up your sputtering yields.
Don't Look for Big Dividends in Funds
irst, Congress slashed the dividend tax rate, and then companies raised payouts. But stock fund yields remain disappointing.
REIT Losing Streak Begins
Real estate investment trusts have enjoyed a long rally, but now it appears their share prices are topping out.
Treasury Bond Danger Signs
The recent jump in ten-year Treasury bond yields may seem attractive, but now is not the time to go long. Here are five reasons why.
Don't Bail on California Bonds
Drama in the Golden State\'s government is reaching operatic levels, which may have some bondholders itching to exit. In a word: Don\'t.
Any Magic Left for Mortgage REITs?
Falling interest rates and a bubbling scandal at Freddie Mac could dull the enchanting edge of these high-yielding investment trusts.
REITs and Munis Are Still a Good Deal
Taxes on dividend-paying stocks are lower now, but that\'s no reason to dump other high-income investments.
These Bond Retailers Sell Direct to You
The investment-grade corporate bonds for sale on these Web sites can help add balance to your portfolio.
From Junk to Jewels
High-yield bonds have become the nation\'s top-performing investment class, and their rally will likely continue.
First Baghdad, Then Bond Prices
As the markets begin to look past the war, expect bond prices to fall. Your best defense: a creative bond fund and short-term treasuries.
Bonds and the War (So Far)
As war in Iraq wages on, avoid long-term Treasuries. Municipals and junk bonds seem a better bet.
Try Turning the Lights Back On
Burned by highly charged ventures of the past decade, utility companies are getting back to basics.
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