Strange but true: seniors fear death less than running out of money in retirement.
And retirees have good reason to be worried about making their assets last. People are living longer, so that money has to cover a longer period. Making matters worse, income generated using tried-and-true retirement planning approaches may not cover expenses these days. That means seniors must dip into principal to meet living expenses.
Your parents' retirement investing plan won't cut it today.
For example, 10-year Treasury bonds in the late 1990s offered a yield of around 6.50%, which translated to an income source you could count on. However, today's yield is much lower and probably not a viable return option to fund typical retirements.
The impact of this rate decline is sizable: over 20 years, the difference in yield for a $1 million investment in 10-year Treasuries is more than $1 million.
And lower bond yields aren't the only potential problem seniors are facing. Today's retirees aren't feeling as secure as they once did about Social Security, either. Benefit checks will still be coming for the foreseeable future, but based on current estimates, Social Security funds will run out of money in 2035.
So what's a retiree to do? You could cut your expenses to the bone, and take the risk that your Social Security checks don't shrink. Or you could find an alternative investment that provides a steady, higher-rate income stream to replace dwindling bond yields.
Invest in Dividend Stocks
As a replacement for low yielding Treasury bonds (and other bond options), we believe dividend-paying stocks from high quality companies offer low risk and stable, predictable income investors in retirement seek.
Look for stocks that have paid steady, increasing dividends for years (or decades), and have not cut their dividends even during recessions.
One approach to recognizing appropriate stocks is to look for companies with an average dividend yield of 3% and positive average annual dividend growth. Numerous stocks hike dividends over time, counterbalancing inflation risks.
Here are three dividend-paying stocks retirees should consider for their nest egg portfolio.
First Busey (BUSE)
is currently shelling out a dividend of $0.25 per share, with a dividend yield of 4.89%. This compares to the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 2.87% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.65%. The company's annualized dividend growth in the past year was 4.17%. Check First Busey dividend history here>>>
First Industrial Realty Trust (FR)
is paying out a dividend of $0.45 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 3.84% compared to the REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry's yield of 5.2% and the S&P 500's yield. The annualized dividend growth of the company was 20.27% over the past year. Check First Industrial Realty Trust dividend history here>>>
Currently paying a dividend of $0.5 per share,
Lakeland Financial (LKFN)
has a dividend yield of 3.6%. This is compared to the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 2.87% and the S&P 500's current yield. Annualized dividend growth for the company in the past year was 4.17%. Check Lakeland Financial dividend history here>>>
But aren't stocks generally more risky than bonds?
It is true that stocks, as an asset class, carry more risk than bonds, but high-quality dividend stocks not only have the ability to produce income growth over time but more importantly, can also reduce your overall portfolio volatility relative to the broader stock market.
An advantage of owning dividend stocks for your retirement nest egg is that numerous companies, particularly blue chip stocks, raise their dividends over time, helping alleviate the impact of inflation on your potential retirement income.
Thinking about dividend-focused mutual funds or ETFs? Watch out for fees.
If you're thinking, "I want to invest in a dividend-focused ETF or mutual fund," make sure to do your homework. It's important to know that some mutual funds and specialized ETFs charge high fees, which may diminish your dividend gains or income and thwart the overall objective of this investment strategy. If you do want to invest in fund, research well to identify the best-quality dividend funds with the least charges.
Bottom Line
Regardless of whether you select high-quality, low-fee funds or stocks, looking for a steady stream of income from dividend-paying equities can potentially lead you to a solid and more peaceful retirement.
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First Busey Corporation (BUSE): Free Stock Analysis Report First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. (FR): Free Stock Analysis Report Lakeland Financial Corporation (LKFN): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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