Are Stock Dividends A Reliable Source Of Income?

Greetings! I trust that this will find you well and enjoying life.

A client recently asked about stock dividends as a source of retirement income. So the question is, are stock dividends reliable as a source of income? Dividends can be an important source of income. However, there are several factors you should take into consideration if you’ll be relying on them to help pay the bills.

An increasing dividend is generally regarded as a sign of a company’s health and stability and most corporate boards are reluctant to cut them. However, dividends on common sticks are by no means guaranteed; the board can decide to reduce or eliminate dividend payments. Investing in dividend paying stocks isn’t as simple as just picking the highest yield; consider whether the company’s cash flow can sustain its dividend and whether a high yield is simply a function of a drop in a stock’s share price. (Because a stock’s dividend yield is calculated by dividing the annual dividend by the current market price per share, a lower share value typically means a higher yield, assuming the dividend itself remains the same.)

Also, dividends aren’t all alike. Dividends on preferred stock offer a fixed rate of return and holders of preferred stock must be paid their promised dividend before holders of common stock are entitled to receive theirs. However, because their dividends are predetermined, preferred stocks typically behave somewhat like fixed income investments. For example, their market value is more likely to be affected by changing interest rates and most preferred stocks have a provision allowing the company to call in  its preferred shares at a set time or at a specified future date. If you have to surrender your preferred stock, you might have difficulty finding an equivalent income stream.

Finally, dividends from certain types of investments aren’t eligible for the special tax treatment generally available for qualified dividends and a portion may be taxed as ordinary income.

If you have any questions about the above topic, information in this weeks market update or anything pertaining to your retirement plan call us.

Best regards.

Jeff Christian CFP, CRPC

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