For many retirees, finding great sources of income remains the Holy Grail for their portfolios.
And these times are particularly tricky. On one hand, interest rates remain pretty low. Even with the Federal Reserve ratcheting up rates, most fixed-income products are still yielding less than desirable amounts. On the other, the Fed is raising rates, which means that going farther out on the time horizon to pick up a few more percentage points worth of yield may not be the best decision. So, what’s an investor to do?
Use an old-school technique and ladder it up.
The classic certificate of deposit (CD) or bond ladder makes an ideal strategy for our current market. When coupled with other income sources – such as dividend stocks – a ladder makes a powerful tool for conservative investors. And more importantly, it helps produce plenty of income both today and tomorrow.
