Duke Energy and Progress Energy Merger
Duke Energy (DUK) and Progress Energy (PGN) have announced plans for a merger that would create the largest publicly traded utility company in the U.S. Initial analyst reaction was unenthusiastic and both stocks traded modestly lower on the news. However, the expected 5.5% dividend on the new company looks attractive in comparison to alternatives and […]
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What the heck is a “Covered Call”? And why should I care?
Selling a covered call is a powerful yet simple technique that enables you to increase the cash flow from your stock. Call options are available for trading on thousands of different stocks. The best way to learn about covered calls is to look at a specific example: Buy 100 shares of Walmart Corp. (WMT) @ […]
IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
The Financial Rules Regulatory Authority (FINRA) provides a free, easy-to-use calculator for determining the annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA). The calculator is based on life expectancy tables and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. FINRA, RMD, IRA, IRS, how is that for alphabet soup? […]
Bloomberg Professional Service
Successful Portfolios is committed to ongoing investment research and diligent portfolio management. That is why we subscribe to the Bloomberg Professional service and regularly train to maximize its usefulness. Bloomberg delivers investment data, unparalleled in scope and depth, to our desktop in real time. Bloomberg Professional® provides news, analytics, communications, charts, and other functionality that we […]
How to Avoid Investment “DOGS”
In August 1999 near the peak of the stock market tech bubble, a long-time, normally conservative client asked me for a “low priced” stock pick in the then red-hot technology sector. I told him about several stocks that fit the bill. He settled on Corel Corporation, a Canadian based Software Company that was working on porting their Perfect Office Suite to the Linux operating system. Almost immediately upon his buying 1,000 shares at $4.75, Corel began climbing nearly doubling within a few weeks before pulling back. In November 1999, Corel stock soared higher. I called my client and recommended he sell his shares at $28. He sold, booking a 560% profit in just 3 months. The day after he sold, he called me back and asked excitedly “Where is Corel trading now?” “Forty-three dollars a share” I replied somewhat uncomfortably. “Buy it back!” my client exclaimed enthusiastically. Fortunately, I was able to dissuade him. Corel peaked that day at $44 and within months crashed back to earth as the stock market tech bubble burst. The chart below illustrates the gory details. Investors who bought and held Corel stock during its inexplicable moon shot of late 1999 and subsequent crash ended up owning a stock market DOG.
Tax-free ETFs with 6% yields and monthly dividends
At Successful Portfolios, we follow more than 250 different municipal bond Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Many yield over 6% tax-free and pay monthly dividends.
The Lowest Cost Way to Borrow Money
One advantage of owning readily marketable stocks and bonds is you can borrow money cheaply, quickly and without hassle by using a margin account. Interactive Brokers (IB), one of Successful Portfolios service providers, offers some of the lowest margin interest rates available anywhere. Current rate is 1.69% and even lower on large balances Completely flexible […]
Financial Planning
Successful Portfolios Financial Planners are trained, certified and ready to help you answer your most pressing questions regarding personal financial planning.
Investment Research
Ongoing research and due diligence is an integral part of Successful Portfolios’ investment decision-making process.
