Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of in-depth research on various income-generating investment vehicles, including REITs, mREITs, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, and ETFs, highlighting the value of joining iREIT on Alpha for access to this research [1] Group 1 - iREIT on Alpha offers a free 2-week trial, which has received 438 testimonials, most of which are 5-star ratings, indicating high user satisfaction [1] - Leo Nelissen is identified as an analyst focusing on economic developments related to supply chains, infrastructure, and commodities, contributing to actionable investment ideas with a focus on dividend growth opportunities [2]

Site Search Clear SEARCH Advanced Search Search Results Symbols No results found 0 Results No Results Found Authors No results found Sections No results found Columns No results found Brett Arends's ROI Opinion: The red flags are going up across the stock market. Will investors notice? Now is a good time to check your risk level That's what can happen in a bear market, and often does. About the Author Brett Arends Brett Arends is an award-winning financial writer with many years experience writing about ma ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of reliability in retirement portfolios, highlighting four companies that maintain steady dividends: ST Engineering, Singapore Exchange, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, and Frasers Centrepoint Trust [1] Group 1: ST Engineering (SGX: S63) - ST Engineering is Singapore's leading defense contractor with diversified commercial businesses, ensuring resilience [2] - Revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5%, from S$7.16 billion to S$11.67 billion over the last five years [2] - Net profit increased at a 9% CAGR, from S$521.8 million to S$768.6 million, with dividends raised from S$0.15 per share in 2020 to S$0.17 in 2024 [3] - The payout ratio has declined to 68.9% for the last twelve months compared to 89.6% in 2020, indicating growing earnings [3] - Long-term government contracts and recurring maintenance income contribute to its resilient income, making it suitable for retirement portfolios [4] Group 2: Singapore Exchange (SGX: S68) - SGX holds a monopolistic position in Singapore's capital markets, recording net revenue of S$1.3 billion for FY2025 [5] - Revenue is derived from four divisions: FICC (25%), Equities-Cash (30.3%), Equities-Derivatives (26.6%), and Platform and Others (18.3%) [6] - SGX has consistently paid dividends since 2001, with the latest annual dividend per share at S$0.375, yielding approximately 2.2% [6] - Future growth is expected from expanding derivatives access, new ETF listings, and sustainability products [7] - SGX demonstrates robust free cash flow of S$773.6 million and a low leverage ratio of 0.8 times, making it a solid dividend payer [8] Group 3: CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (SGX: C38U) - CICT offers exposure to a diversified portfolio of prime malls and offices in Singapore, with an occupancy rate of 97.2% [9] - The REIT has shown remarkable DPU growth since its COVID low, supported by recent acquisitions and asset enhancements [10] - Management anticipates resilient DPU due to positive rental reversions and contributions from upgraded assets [11] - CICT provides stable, recurring income from prime assets, making it a core holding for retirement-focused investors [11] Group 4: Frasers Centrepoint Trust (SGX: J69U) - FCT owns suburban malls catering to everyday needs, with a strong occupancy rate of 98.1% [12] - The REIT has a resilient track record for distributions, maintaining DPU above S$0.12 per share for the past five years [13] - FCT's top tenants are defensive consumer businesses, ensuring stable sales and renewal stability [14] - The focus on consumer defensives provides steady cash flow, ideal for retirees seeking dependable income [14] Group 5: Combined Insights - The four companies provide a balanced investment approach, combining industrial, financial, and property-based income [15] - During economic downturns, these companies have either maintained or slightly reduced payouts, ensuring income stability [15] - The combination of reliability, diversification, and consistent income makes these blue-chip stocks ideal for retirement portfolios [16]

Core Insights - Retirement planning is complex and requires careful consideration to maximize capital and income [1] - Realty Income (O) is recognized for its monthly dividend payments, boasting a dividend yield exceeding 5.7% [2] Company Overview - Realty Income maintains and grows its dividend through a large and diverse portfolio [2] - The company is referred to as the "monthly dividend company" due to its consistent monthly payouts [2] Investment Strategy - The Value Portfolio focuses on building retirement portfolios using a fact-based research strategy, which includes analyzing 10Ks, market reports, and investor presentations [2] - The Retirement Forum offers model portfolios, macroeconomic overviews, and in-depth company analyses to assist investors [2]

Company Overview - Summit Midstream Corporation (NYSE: SMC) has experienced a challenging year, with its stock declining nearly 50% [2] - The company is facing chronic underutilization of its assets despite a significant demand for natural gas [2] Investment Strategy - The Value Portfolio focuses on constructing retirement portfolios using a fact-based research strategy, which includes thorough analysis of 10Ks, analyst commentary, market reports, and investor presentations [2]

Group 1 - American Express Company (AXP) has significantly outperformed the market, more than doubling its performance since July, attributed to its focus on premium customers [2] - The recent Q3 earnings report for AXP confirmed its success, showcasing double-digit growth [2] Group 2 - The Value Portfolio employs a fact-based research strategy to build retirement portfolios, which includes thorough analysis of 10Ks, analyst commentary, market reports, and investor presentations [2]

Core Insights - The Longevity Preparedness Index by John Hancock indicates that U.S. adults score only 60 out of 100 in readiness for longer lifespans, highlighting financial preparedness as a significant weakness [1][2] Group 1: Demographic Trends - Life expectancy is increasing, with projections suggesting the 65+ population could reach 82 million by 2050, raising concerns about individuals outliving their savings [2] Group 2: Investment Solutions - Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are presented as an effective investment vehicle for building retirement portfolios, offering low costs, diversification, and flexibility to balance growth and income [3] - Three specific ETFs are recommended for retirement portfolios, emphasizing the importance of aligning them with individual risk tolerance and financial situations [4] Group 3: Recommended ETFs - **Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)**: This ETF tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index, holding around 4,000 U.S. stocks and has historically delivered annualized returns exceeding 10% with a low expense ratio of 0.03% [5][6] - **Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD)**: This ETF focuses on high-quality companies with consistent dividend growth, offering a yield of 3.9% and annualized returns of 12.4% since its inception in 2011, with a low expense ratio of 0.06% [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - Employees are increasingly expected to manage their own retirement planning, with the Central Provident Fund (CPF) in Singapore being a primary source of retirement savings, but it should be supplemented with income-generating equities [1] Group 1: CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT) - CICT is the first and largest real estate industrial trust (REIT) listed on the Singapore Exchange, owning a diverse portfolio of malls, offices, and integrated developments primarily in Singapore, with additional assets in Australia and Germany [3][4] - The REIT currently offers a yield of 4.7%, with an average lease term exceeding three years, ensuring a stable income stream [4] - CICT benefits from a strong sponsor, Capitaland Investment, which provides a pipeline of assets for future growth, although it is sensitive to interest rate changes that can affect borrowing costs and property values [5][6][7] Group 2: DBS Group Holdings - DBS is Singapore's largest bank and company by market capitalization, significantly influencing the Straits Times Index [8] - The bank has shown impressive growth, with net profit increasing by 142% from S$4.7 billion in 2020 to S$11.4 billion in 2024, and dividends per share rising by 181% from S$0.79 to S$2.22 [9] - Currently, DBS offers a yield of around 5% and has a strong track record of increasing dividends, alongside a S$3 billion share buyback program [9][10] Group 3: Singapore Exchange (SGX) - SGX has performed well financially over the past five years, with net profit increasing by nearly 46% from S$445 million in FY2021 to S$648 million in FY2025, despite previous perceptions of being primarily a dividend stock [13] - The exchange operates as a "toll gate" business, generating revenue from transaction fees, with only 2% of FY2025 revenue coming from listing fees [14] - SGX maintains a strong dividend yield of around 2.2% and has consistently increased dividends since FY2009, benefiting from its monopoly status in a major financial hub [14][16][17]

Core Insights - Duke Energy Corporation is a utility company with a market cap of under $100 billion, operating the largest regulated nuclear portfolio in the United States [2] Group 1: Company Overview - Duke Energy has an impressive portfolio of assets, particularly in the nuclear sector [2] - The company is focused on building retirement portfolios and employs a fact-based research strategy to identify investments [2] Group 2: Investment Strategy - The Value Portfolio utilizes extensive readings of 10Ks, analyst commentary, market reports, and investor presentations to inform investment decisions [2]

Core Insights - The rising value of Bitcoin, currently around $122,000, is prompting younger Americans to consider cryptocurrency as a viable option for retirement portfolios, with a NerdWallet survey indicating that 10% of U.S. adults with retirement accounts hold crypto [1][2] - Among Millennials, the percentage rises to 18%, highlighting the rapid growth of digital assets in tax-advantaged accounts [2] - Traditional financial firms and policymakers are increasingly accommodating cryptocurrency investments, with platforms like IRA Financial allowing direct crypto purchases through IRA accounts [3][5] Investment Trends - The generational divide in investment strategies is evident, as younger investors in their 20s and 30s are more willing to allocate a portion of their savings to high-volatility assets like crypto, viewing it as a modernization of traditional retirement accounts rather than a replacement [4] - The introduction of Self-Directed IRAs and other regulated retirement structures enables investors to hold cryptocurrencies directly, providing them with control over trades and tax advantages [5][6] - Investors can utilize Self-Directed IRAs, Solo 401(k)s, or IRAfi Crypto accounts to invest in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital currencies, with gains growing tax-deferred or tax-free depending on the account type [6]