Introduction

Welcome to my blog! Today, I would like to touch on an investment approach that I have been using for the past couple of years, even moreso than in the past. The approach is to focus on income-oriented investments in client portfolios, in particular, stocks that pay above-average dividend yields and/or have a history of solid dividend growth. This approach makes sense in today's market environment, especially for clients who are retired or nearing retirement. I am not saying that stocks with no dividend or low dividend yields are bad. Rather, in this economy, and in this capital market environment, it pays to take the "bird in the hand" that dividend payers offer.

Barron's just highlighted 10 stocks that meet the test of high dividend yields and/or solid growth in dividend payments over the years, and another 10 "runners up". Unsurprisingly, my clients own 14 of these top 20. Of the remaining 6, several of them are international stocks. I would consider the other 6 as possible adds to client accounts, even the international picks, and indeed, have looked at them in the past. A link to the article is shown below, but may only be fully available to Barron's subscribers.

http://online.barrons.com/article/SB125875983332358185.html?mod=BOL_hps_mag#articleTabs_panel_article%3D1

As this blog moves along, I will touch on many different topics that may be of interest to investors, and also answer questions that readers of this blog may pose from time to time.
If you have an interst in asking questions, please send them to me at anitae@.labradorinvestment.com