Teacher presenting investment strategy and benefits to become a successful business investor

How People Turn Cognitive Discipline Into Trading Edge

Long before I managed trades each week, I managed uncertainty for a living. As an intelligence analyst, my job was not to predict the future. It was to make careful, structured decisions when the information in front of me was partial, unclear, and at times intentionally misleading. That difference matters. Trying to predict feels powerful […]

Buy, Hold, Sell: How to Make Dividends Actually Count

Buy, Hold, Sell: How to Make Dividends Actually Count

Many new income investors are confused about when they need to hold stocks to collect dividends. Either they end up missing the dividend because they bought too late, or on the other side, they sold too early.  Ongoing dividends from any stock are not guaranteed. A company’s board of directors will review the financial results […]

Here’s A Better Volatility Indicator Than VIX

Here’s A Better Volatility Indicator Than VIX

This week, I found myself thinking about how I actually discovered my edge in trading. It was not luck. It was not a hot tip. It was a process. There were three clear steps. First, I noticed something in the market that aligned with how I naturally think and trade. I was not trying to […]

High-Yield FUD: A New Buying Opportunity?

High-Yield FUD: A New Buying Opportunity?

I recently came across the term Paid FUD. It refers to the deliberate spreading of fear, uncertainty, and doubt (thus FUD). My newsletter subscribers regularly share information they found, sometimes putting a very negative spin on one of my recommended investments. Firms focused on short-selling have been known to issue negative “research reports” on stocks […]

In a Market Without Trends, Probability Becomes the Edge

In a Market Without Trends, Probability Becomes the Edge

Markets are adjusting to competing signals rather than moving in a single, clear direction. Interest rate expectations remain divided. Financial markets have reacted to the possibility that the Federal Reserve’s policy will remain restrictive for longer, which has supported a stronger dollar and pressured assets that benefited from easier conditions. At the same time, futures […]

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A Better Dividend Strategy for Buying the Dip With Confidence

One hazard of my work is that I spend too much time watching or listening (thanks, SiriusXM) to financial news networks. The bulk of the discussion revolves around what could go wrong with either an investment theme or specific stocks. My newsletter subscribers stay busy sending me the warnings about the next financial meltdown they’ve […]

A 10% Dividend Growth Story Few Investors Are Watching

A 10% Dividend Growth Story Few Investors Are Watching

Pure-play energy refiners receive little investor attention. When people think about energy stocks, they usually think of large, global, full-spectrum players like Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX); however, income-focused investors are aware of midstream companies with attractive yields and growing dividends. Refining companies, which turn crude oil into fuels, are referred to as downstream […]