Income Investing Results - January 2026

[Flieger]

Starting the New Year (2026) Thread. Recap of why I started this and general current information (carried over from 2025 YE) 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 2026. I'll start some during the month Performance posts depending on time availability as the month progresses.

Flieger

 

[Texas Proud]

Thanks for posting your holdings... I have a number of these but will research some here to see if I want to buy something else...

Just had one preferred called and just put the money in the MM account...

 

[COcheesehead]

My portfolio is pretty straight forward.

20% traditional equity in the form of global funds SGENX and THOAX.
Goal growth

25% alternatives QLENX, QMNNX and EGRAX.
Goal growth with capital preservation

25% individual bond ladder mostly muni, but some corporate and a little in treasuries.
Goal Income/capital preservation

15% CEFs: PDI, GOF and PTY
Goal income

15% Cash, temporary holding until we buy the new house in March and then sell current house and some land. Longer term cash will be minimal.

Projected to throw off $320,000 before house closing, $293,000 afterward. Taxed income about $118,000

 

[Flieger]

My portfolio is pretty straight forward.

20% traditional equity in the form of global funds SGENX and THOAX.
Goal growth

25% alternatives QLENX, QMNNX and EGRAX.
Goal growth with capital preservation

25% individual bond ladder mostly muni, but some corporate and a little in treasuries.
Goal Income/capital preservation

15% CEFs: PDI, GOF and PTY
Goal income

15% Cash, temporary holding until we buy the new house in March and then sell current house and some land. Longer term cash will be minimal.

Projected to throw off $320,000 before house closing, $293,000 afterward. Taxed income about $118,000

That's a very large "pot" with that kind of income coming out of it! Congratulations!

Flieger

 

[Flyfish1]

I'm about 65% in income producing holdings. That includes, dividend stocks, CEF's, REIT's, baby bonds and individual preferreds. I could break that all down for you - but I don't feel like it..lol
Roughly 16 % cash value life insurance.
About 9% in private real estate funds.
Still with some lingering business equity in buy out phase.

 

[CyclingInvestor]

67, retired 19 years. 100% dividend equities since 1993, oriented toward dividend growth. Biggest holdings BIP, BAM, BEP. 34 total. 94% trad IRA, 6% Roth. Overall yield about 5%.

 

[COcheesehead]

Glad to see some new folks in this thread.

 

[dobig]

Thanks for the update Flieger. Enjoy watching the progress and seeing the updates to your portfolio.

 

[dobig]

My portfolio is pretty straight forward.

20% traditional equity in the form of global funds SGENX and THOAX.
Goal growth

25% alternatives QLENX, QMNNX and EGRAX.
Goal growth with capital preservation

25% individual bond ladder mostly muni, but some corporate and a little in treasuries.
Goal Income/capital preservation

15% CEFs: PDI, GOF and PTY
Goal income

15% Cash, temporary holding until we buy the new house in March and then sell current house and some land. Longer term cash will be minimal.

Projected to throw off $320,000 before house closing, $293,000 afterward. Taxed income about $118,000

I've been curious about your overall allocations but didn't want to ask. You do enough already to help.

 

[TickTock]

Thanks for the update Flieger. Enjoy watching the progress and seeing the updates to your portfolio.

+1. Even though I don't comment much on this, I do appreciate your reporting your results.

 

[Fermion]

Don't want to hijack this thread but where do I start reading about this method? I remember NWBound (where is he?) used to do covered calls for income...

 

[COcheesehead]

Don't want to hijack this thread but where do I start reading about this method? I remember NWBound (where is he?) used to do covered calls for income...

Fidelity runs online seminars on this type of trading.

Anatomy of a Covered Call - Fidelity

Investors should calculate the static and if-called rates of return before using a covered call.

www.fidelity.com

 

[Fermion]

Fidelity runs online seminars on this type of trading.

Thanks, might check that out. I was more wondering which thread I should search for where you guys were originally setting up these picks. (I know about covered calls. I used to do crazy option trades.)

 

[Flieger]

Thanks, might check that out. I was more wondering which thread I should search for where you guys were originally setting up these picks. (I know about covered calls. I used to do crazy option trades.)

I first started learning about Income Investing from a guy on Youtube - Armchair Income. He since has moved to Circle as Armchair Insider. I still follow him, but there are others you find while on his site as well. All have various ideas and opinions on investments.

Flieger

 

[Flyfish1]

I learned from a couple of sources, High Dividend Yields on Seeking Alpha, and the two guys at Contrarian Outlook. I am a paid subscriber to both and they constitute the majority of my picks. Although I did take some advice from @dickoncapecod a few times. Early on before I moved from buy and hold to income I did quite a bit of reading on the topic as well. Several good books out there. Personally the group on Seeking Alpha is excellent with a very active chat group and good support.

 

[Mulligan]

I pretty much am all in for income investing. But a lot on the conservative side. Over a quarter is in IBonds and CDs. Those drag my average yield down in mid 6% ish area. Some shorter and mid duration debt, and about a third in perpetual preferreds I trade around. Presently a good chunk is in various NGG and AEE subsidiary preferreds I frequently trade around. The nastier higher yielding ilks are in banking/insurance.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I am an income investor . The equities that don't include a set distribution per Fido reporting (included here) represent 30% of my equity holding. For my convenience I am posting my current equity portfolio as reported. The scheduled distributions cover 100% of my expenses for 2025; or 77% of my budgeted expense "allowance".

Quote data as of 01/01/2026.
Symbol	Description	Yield
ADAMH	Adamas 9 875 Senior Notes Due 2030	9.58%​
ADX	Adams Diversified Equity Fund,	7.93%​
ARCC	Ares Capital	9.46%​
ASGI	Abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund	10.96%​
ATLCZ	Atlanticus Holding 9 25 Senior Notes Due 2029	9.18%​
CHY	Calamos Convertible and High Income Closed Fund	10.61%​
CSWC	Capital Southwest	11.51%​
EIC	Eagle Point Income Company Closed End Fund	17.35%​
EICC	Eagle Point Income Term Preference Share 8 Series C	7.95%​
ETV	Eaton Vance Tax Managed Buy Write Opportunities Closed Fund	8.30%​
FDUS	Fidus Investment	11.13%​
FSCO	Fs Credit Opportunities	12.65%​
GOF	Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Mutual Fund	16.97%​
MO	Altria Group	7.34%​
NEA	Nuveen Amt-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund	7.36%​
NFLX	Netflix		0.00%​
NIHI	Neos MSCI Eafe High Income ETF	3.76%​
NLY/PJ	Annaly Cap Mgmt Cum Red Fixed Pref Shs Ser J	13.78%​
NMCO	Nuveen Municipal Credit Opportunities Fund	8.04%​
NML	Neuberger Energy Infra and Income Fund	8.24%​
NZF	Nuveen Municipal Credit Income Fund	7.58%​
PDI	Pimco Dynamic Income Fund	14.94%​
PHK	Pimco High Income Fund	11.85%​
PTY	Pimco Corporate & Income Opportunity Fund	11.05%​
RITM	Rithm Capital	9.24%​
RLTY	Cohen & Steers Real Estate Opps and Income Fund	8.98%​
STK	Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund	7.38%​
THQ	Abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund	11.29%​
UTF	Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund	7.71%​
UTG	Reaves Utility Income Closed Fund	5.99%​
VZ	Verizon Communications	6.78%​
WRB/PE	Wr Berkley 5.70 Subordinated Debentures Due 2058	6.44%​
BTCI	Neos Bitcoin High Income ETF	36.46%​
CEFS	Saba Closed-End Funds ETF	7.84%​
DGRO	iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF	2.09%​
FBCG	Fidelity Blue Chip Growth ETF	0.05%​
FDIS	Fidelity MSCI Consumer Discretionary Index ETF	0.75%​
FDLO	Fidelity Low Volatility Factor ETF	1.37%​
FENY	Fidelity MSCI Energy Index ETF	3.18%​
FHLC	Fidelity MSCI Health Care Index ETF	1.40%​
FIDU	Fidelity MSCI Industrials Index ETF	1.02%​
FNCL	Fidelity MSCI Financials Index ETF	1.45%​
FSELX	SELECT SEMICONDUCTORS PORTFOLIO	--
FTEC	Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF	0.43%​
FZROX	FIDELITY ZERO TOTAL MARKET INDEX FUND	--
IDVO	Amplify Cwp International Enhanced Div ETF	5.42%​
ITOT	iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF	1.11%​
IVV	iShares Core S&P 500 ETF	1.17%​
IYRI	Neos Real Estate High Income ETF	11.72%​
IYW	iShares US Technology ETF	0.14%​
JBBB	Janus Henderson B-Bbb Clo ETF	7.41%​
JEPI	Jpmorgan Equity Premium Income ETF	8.25%​
KGLD	Kurv Gold Enhanced Income ETF	4.59%​
KQQQ	Kurv Technology Titans Select ETF	12.01%​
MAGY	Roundhill Magnificent Seven Covered Call ETF	23.38%​
MGIAX	Mfs International Intrinsic Value Fund A	--
NIHI	Neos MSCI Eafe High Income ETF	3.76%​
PBDC	Putnam Bdc Income ETF	10.53%​
PFFA	Virtus Infracap US Preferred Stock ETF	9.47%​
QDVO	Amplify Cwp Growth & Income ETF	9.92%​
QLENX	Aqr Long-Short Equity Fund N	--
QQQI	Neos Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF	13.82%​
SCHD	Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF	3.82%​
SGENX	First Eagle Global Fund A	--
SPYI	Neos S&P 500 High Income ETF	11.70%​
TDVI	Ft Vest Technology Dividend Target Income ETF	7.53%​
VOO	Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF	1.13%​
VYM	Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF	2.44%​
XAR	State Street SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF	0.40%​

 

[Fermion]

Holy cow, I need an appendix or something for YellowSubmarine's investment list. You guys have obviously been doing this awhile. I'll just watch for a bit.

 

[mailbagman]

I try and keep mine under control. QDTE, SPYI, QQQI, ASGI, FEPI, GDXW, CHPY

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I try and keep mine under control. QDTE, SPYI, QQQI, ASGI, FEPI, GDXW, CHPY

I used to follow that approach of minimalization; but found spreading the risk to be more tolerable. I review these quarterly . I expect to reduce the numbers by combining duplicate position composites per fund.

 

[COcheesehead]

Putting some of my cash stash to work since we will be able to use all our current house equity towards closing on the new house.
Run rate for 2026 now appears to be about $320,000 in total income with about $128,000 of that being taxed.
Been adding to both sides of risk spectrum. Muni bonds to the ladder in taxable and adding into CEFs on the other end in deferred taxation accounts.

 

[Retired2021]

Starting the New Year (2026) Thread. Recap of why I started this and general current information (carried over from 2025 YE) 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 2026. I'll start some during the month Performance posts depending on time availability as the month progresses.

View attachment 60844

Flieger

Can you add Dividend frequency and total return when you publish this next time?

 

[Flieger]

Can you add Dividend frequency and total return when you publish this next time?

Dividend frequency is monthly with the exception of those in green (ARCC and PBDC). Are you looking for TR on each fund or total Portfolio? Both of those of course will be based on my individual purchase of these and would be different for each persons buy-in.

Flieger

 

[Flieger]

No change to holdings from the kickoff post (#1). Had a brief period where I was up 0.5% this month (after WD for the month), but the Tariff threats pulled back down to the now 0.2%.

Flieger

 

[L-5Player]

Here's a real world breakdown of a portfolio designed as a blend of growth and income. The total yield of about $200k approaches 4%. You can see that a modest allocation (< 13%) of the highest yielding component, "dividend income," comprises 1/3 of the total income.

Currently, I am nearing my 59th birthday, so I have utilized only the taxable dividends since retiring in 2021. Next year, I'll likely add the Roth divs, convert from trad IRA up to the 12% ceiling, and sell taxable shares for the rest. This is the most tax efficient approach I've come up with so far.

There are 72 unique holdings involved, so I'll possibly address that in another post at some point.