Income Investing Results - February 2026

[Flieger]

Starting the February (2026) Thread. Recap of why I started this and general current information below.

I thought it might be interesting to have a thread that those folks that have chosen Income Investing to fund retirement might share experiences, plans, investment decisions, and results so far if you so choose to divulge. This isn't intended to debate the investment choice/style as that has been done in other threads. This is for people that, at least for the time being, have made this strategy as their primary choice of income. I, for example, have a portion of total portfolio invested this way, while also continuing to have a smaller portion(s) in Growth and Short Term as additional hedge to inflation. Reminder that my goal is living off of less than 80% of Div's so as to re-invest across my Portfolio Allocation shown below. Also, I have a much higher WD at this point, until Medicare (for DW and I) and then SS for me at planned FRA are started. Depending on how this is working for me I will determine if I change allocations at that time.

Current Portfolio starting February 2026. Evaluating fund performances to determine if I will do any juggling, addition, subtraction. I'll post any changes and some during the month Performance posts depending on time availability as the month progresses.

Flieger

 

[COcheesehead]

Income for January was $33,052. $10,770 of that is tax free.

Current portfolio is:
22% traditional equity, 2 funds. Growth goal
20% alternatives, 4 funds. Growth goal
26% muni bond ladder, 25 individual bonds. Income with capital preservation
12% cash, decreasing this position
15% closed end bond funds, 4 funds. High current income goal
5% taxable bonds and preferreds, 6 positions. Income with capital preservation goal

The muni ladder alone funds all our expenses.
My goal this year is to be more balanced.

 

[Flyfish1]

January was strong for us - income exceeding $40k. Feb will be significantly lower, but then it bounces back in March.
I'm slowly trimming some positions from 104 to at present 93, the majority are in my IRA. Mainly eliminating profitable individual baby bonds and preferreds and putting that into CEF's. I've had a good run up with BCX of recent and will trim that position this morning and scatter it to a few other holdings. Maybe DSL or DLY - have to look at things a little more closely.

Edit: Oops the market is closed today

 

[Flieger]

January was lower than last year (annual estimated lower as well) once I dumped some of the super high yield funds (Yieldmax, etc). Was hoping to hold on to cost basis better (flat or better), but dropped 0.2% in January. Start of Feb has not been good! Still have FSCO and BTCI which have drug the start down. I'll post where I am MTD for Feb next week-end.

Flieger

 

[Fishmasterdan]

Wondering how you came up with your dividends list? I have been doing some research on some dividends. This is my current list trying to not overlap indexes and grab some momentum also . I was hoping to pick your brain for the why behind your picks.

Dividends at 1m equal distributions

 

[COcheesehead]

YTD income is just over $46,000
We hit a new all time high on Saturday after bond values were reported.
Most of my capital growth has come from global equity and alternative equity.
Did my taxes yesterday and I still can move more taxable income into tax free (muni) without any change to our lifestyle. Better capital preservation too.
Going forward more high income assets will be repositioned into other areas. Income will decrease, but without any real dent to us and I have feeling total returns/capital preservation will go up.
Expenses will have a big change here shortly. Making out last mortgage payment next week.

 

[Flieger]

YTD income is just over $46,000
We hit a new all time high on Saturday after bond values were reported.
Most of my capital growth has come from global equity and alternative equity.
Did my taxes yesterday and I still can move more taxable income into tax free (muni) without any change to our lifestyle. Better capital preservation too.
Going forward more high income assets will be repositioned into other areas. Income will decrease, but without any real dent to us and I have feeling total returns/capital preservation will go up.
Expenses will have a big change here shortly. Making out last mortgage payment next week.

Great job! I am looking forward to essentially "losing a mortgage" in 2 years when I get rid of my $2,100/month healthcare.

Making some adjustments to my portfolio next week. so far February has been a nightmare for my overall portfolio value (although I did have a 60% higher WD than planned due to some additional expenses.

Will post update in a bit.

Flieger

 

[Flieger]

Wondering how you came up with your dividends list? I have been doing some research on some dividends. This is my current list trying to not overlap indexes and grab some momentum also . I was hoping to pick your brain for the why behind your picks.
View attachment 61770

Dividends at 1m equal distributions
View attachment 61771

Just saw this.

My original list came from personal research and following some folks here and on Armchair Income and some others. Some "mistakes" with ultra high yield funds in YMAX for example have been removed, and continuing to learn and review performance as I go. I learn a lot on this forum from others that have been doing this much longer and in some cases as a career!

Flieger

 

[COcheesehead]

Great job! I am looking forward to essentially "losing a mortgage" in 2 years when I get rid of my $2,100/month healthcare.

Making some adjustments to my portfolio next week. so far February has been a nightmare for my overall portfolio value (although I did have a 60% higher WD than planned due to some additional expenses.

Will post update in a bit.

Flieger

I was surprised that I still could itemize for 2025. That will go away. Not sure what that means to us, if anything.

 

[Flieger]

I was surprised that I still could itemize for 2025. That will go away. Not sure what that means to us, if anything.

No itemizing this year, but definitely next year with Medical, and doubling up my $3700 property tax.

Flieger

 

[Fishmasterdan]

With the home mortgage interest rates head down I am looking at REITS. Whats you favorite? Here are some I am looking at. I might rebalance out of growth the REITS for a bit to catch the recent up tick in REITS.
EGP, SBRA, NNN, OLP, CTO, BDN for higher yield.

 

[joejetski]

With the home mortgage interest rates head down I am looking at REITS. Whats you favorite? Here are some I am looking at. I might rebalance out of growth the REITS for a bit to catch the recent up tick in REITS.
EGP, SBRA, NNN, OLP, CTO, BDN for higher yield.

 

[joejetski]

IYRI and RFI.

 

[COcheesehead]

Finished the month strong with interest and dividends last night/this morning. Total income YTD is $67,410.
Still scaling back on CEFs, added to muni income and putting funds into alternatives that have been performing much better. See you in March.

 

[Flieger]

With the home mortgage interest rates head down I am looking at REITS. Whats you favorite? Here are some I am looking at. I might rebalance out of growth the REITS for a bit to catch the recent up tick in REITS.
EGP, SBRA, NNN, OLP, CTO, BDN for higher yield.

I have had good luck with DX, which I have held for some time.

Flieger

 

[Flyfish1]

Finished the month strong with interest and dividends last night/this morning. Total income YTD is $67,410.
Still scaling back on CEFs, added to muni income and putting funds into alternatives that have been performing much better. See you in March.

Yep , running neck and neck with you...lol YTD dividend income at $70,219. Have a pending tax problem that I had mentioned elsewhere so I am holding extra cash and not reinvesting until that is resolved.

With the home mortgage interest rates head down I am looking at REITS. Whats you favorite? Here are some I am looking at. I might rebalance out of growth the REITS for a bit to catch the recent up tick in REITS.
EGP, SBRA, NNN, OLP, CTO, BDN for higher yield.

I hold NNN, O , EPR as well as some CEF's on the property REIT side such as AWP, IGR , RA, JRI, NRO, RLTY, RNP and RQI.

 

[Flieger]

YTD Income $16,530. I have made some changes to Holdings which has reduced Div income.

Overall portfolio value has decreased (after WD's) ~3%. As mentioned before, I had a much larger WD than planned in February.

I made some changes to Portfolio this past week to trim some losers. Looking to reduce FSCO and BTCI at a good exit point.

Flieger

 

[TALF]

Jan-01-2026 to Feb-26-2026

Time-weighted rate of return (pre-tax)

our return +9.70%
S&P 500® Index +1.11%
Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Ind +1.54%
MSCI ACWI ex USA (Net MA Tax) +11.19%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index +1.52%
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index +2.08%

 

[Flyfish1]

Jan-01-2026 to Feb-26-2026

Time-weighted rate of return (pre-tax)

our return +9.70%
S&P 500® Index +1.11%
Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Ind +1.54%
MSCI ACWI ex USA (Net MA Tax) +11.19%
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index +1.52%
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index +2.08%

I'm assuming that's a total return calculation? Mine comes out to roughly 6% TR YTD.
But, after withdrawals the dividend portfolio is up 3.6% YTD.
The year has only begun and who knowes how the market will read the latest military conflict.

 

[DogDad]

Anyone making any adjustments to the div investments in this downturn? I hold JEPI, SPYI, VYMI.

 

[COcheesehead]

Anyone making any adjustments to the div investments in this downturn? I hold JEPI, SPYI, VYMI.

Adding more quality income by increasing my muni ladder in taxable. Taking money out of sketch CEFs in IRA’s.

 

[L-5Player]

Anyone making any adjustments to the div investments in this downturn? I hold JEPI, SPYI, VYMI.

I bought NIHI on Tuesday 3/3 when international stock dipped more than 5.5% during the trading day.

Also put some scraps from other tickers' dividends into ARCC and BST.

 

[Flieger]

Anyone making any adjustments to the div investments in this downturn? I hold JEPI, SPYI, VYMI.

I did make some adjustments. Decrease of FSCO (timely), Increase in some of my Pimco's (likely too early).

I am also evaluating my SS timing, but will wait 3-4 months for decision as I don't want current conditions (short term) to completely drive decision. Start of SS has always been a potential, saving/reducing Retirement Portfolio WD's.

I'm looking at the difference between various start date/years vs FRA (in the chart, the 20 yr diff from FRA means how much more over that 20 years I would get if I waited until FRA). The 20 yr Gain/Loss takes in to account the amount of SS taken PRIOR to FRA and assuming an 80% impact/decrease on IRA WD's (IOW, still taking about 20% of what I would have without SS), and looking 20 years forward from FRA which is longer than either parents lifespan and reasonable IMO since I have fought and (for now) won a PNET cancer battle. A guess for sure, but

Flieger

 

[Flyfish1]

I am also evaluating my SS timing, but will wait 3-4 months for decision as I don't want current conditions (short term) to completely drive decision. Start of SS has always been a potential, saving/reducing Retirement Portfolio WD's.

I hear ya. I just turned 62 and decided to wait for now. I will reevaluate as things progress, but it would certainly allow me to withdraw less and reinvest more from the portfolio. Glad you are doing well from a health standpoint.

 

[joejetski]

I bought NIHI on Tuesday 3/3 when international stock dipped more than 5.5% during the trading day.

Also put some scraps from other tickers' dividends into ARCC and BST.

I like ARCC at this price and initiated a small position last week.