around $32,000. If I can sell it and get that much, if you
were in my
shoes... what would you do with it? A friend said put it in

An IRA is a good idea. If you're thinking about stocks, there are two smaller ones that I like:

CSP ($15.29/share) pays a monthly dividend of 8%
DNP ($8.80/share) pays a monthly dividend of about that as well.

If you use a DRIP (dividend reinvestment program), and you have enough shares, you could easily grow your investment by 2-3 or shares per month. Leave it alone for several years and it'll just start growing faster without you having to put more money into them, if you don't want.

James

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Hi, James.

CSP ($15.29/share) pays a monthly dividend of 8%
DNP ($8.80/share) pays a monthly dividend of about that as well.

I assume that's an annual rate of 8% but it pays out monthly?

Otherwise you're doubling your money every 9 months :)

BobW
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--- WWIVToss v.1.52
* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (11:1/101.0)

An IRA is a good idea. If you're thinking about stocks, there are two smaller ones that I like:

CSP ($15.29/share) pays a monthly dividend of 8%
DNP ($8.80/share) pays a monthly dividend of about that as well.

If you use a DRIP (dividend reinvestment program), and you have enough shares, you could easily grow your investment by 2-3 or shares per month. Leave it alone for several years and it'll just start growing faster
without you having to put more money into them, if you don't want.

Using tax advantaged accounts like IRAs is perfect for the DRIP. My go-to DRIP stocks are O and JEPI.

- Mark

:.: Weather Station BBS · telnet://bbs.weather-station.org :.: :.: http://www.weather-station.org/bbs · Bel Air, Maryland - USA :.:
      
--- WWIVToss v.1.52
* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (11:1/101.0)

CSP ($15.29/share) pays a monthly dividend of 8%
DNP ($8.80/share) pays a monthly dividend of about that as well.

I assume that's an annual rate of 8% but it pays out monthly?

Otherwise you're doubling your money every 9 months :)

I've got 8000 shares of CSP, and that generates $820 a month in dividends. Maybe my math was off, it was never my best subject! LOL

James
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--- WWIVToss v.1.52
* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (11:1/101.0)

Using tax advantaged accounts like IRAs is perfect for the DRIP. My
go-to DRIPstocks are O and JEPI.

I'm looking those up now! I always love a good tip!

James
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* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (11:1/101.0)

I'm looking those up now! I always love a good tip!

O is Reality Income (REIT) that is one of the dividend aristocrats - which has 25+ years of dividends, never lowered or cut them, and continues to increase the dividend payout over time. It is very interest rate sensitive, so when rates are eventually cut, it will get more capital appreciation. Pays monthly.

JEPI is an ETF that holds lots of stocks, but no holdings larger than 2% of any single one. Very balanced and sells covered calls and cash secured puts on the stocks. It pays monthly and the range based on one year is 6.5%-13% over the past two years.

Both are great for income, but growth is limited. For that, I like IWP, IBIT, and some individual tech growth stocks like Cloudflare (NET). I like the Large Cap/Mid-sized companies for the best long term growth.

I occationally buy retail stocks like KSS (Kohls), W (Wayfair), or others that I see short term opportunities. I don't typically hold them too long, however. I also like energy stocks occationally when that sector is hot.

I was in several AI stocks (SNPS and CDNS), but it appears the market is doing a pullback on AI and growth/tech which will likely last at least 3 months so I am sitting in mostly cash and more conservative stocks and ETFs for the time being.

- Mark

:.: Weather Station BBS · telnet://bbs.weather-station.org :.: :.: http://www.weather-station.org/bbs · Bel Air, Maryland - USA :.:
      
--- WWIVToss v.1.52
* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (11:1/101.0)

Hi, James.

Pretty much exactly 8% per year, then - that's a decent output!

Thanks,

BobW
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--- WWIVToss v.1.52
* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (11:1/101.0)

I've got 8000 shares of CSP, and that generates $820 a month in

I couldn't find CSP.. Is that the full ticker symbol? What's the name?
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* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (11:1/101.0)

My old supervisor for Tufts called me and asked if I would be interested in working a couple of months as they lost two nurse case managers on Cape Cod so, I said WTF! So going through a third party employment agency, I am doing a three month gig (right up until Election Day?). Spent two hours in a Teams Meeting yesterday to set up the Microsoft Authenticator for VPN. It wasn't a big to do however, there were like twenty newbies in the room who needed help with hardware issues any my stuff was like a five minute ordeal since my old information was still in their system and they couldn't figure out why things weren't happening. Oh well, I will use the money to put in much needed mini-splits in the house without eating into any of my Roth 401k. I had put a year's salary aside so I would not have any income for 2024.


<--> The Blood Stone BBS - Telnet & HTTP www.bsbbs.com <-->
\/ WWIVnet Node 1@707 - Sonoma County California \/
          
--- WWIVToss v.1.52
* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (11:1/101.0)

My old supervisor for Tufts called me and asked if I would be interested
in working a couple of months as they lost two nurse case managers on Cape Cod so, I said WTF! So going through a third party employment agency, I am doing a three month gig (right up until Election Day?). Spent two hours in
a Teams Meeting yesterday to set up the Microsoft Authenticator for VPN.
It wasn't a big to do however, there were like twenty newbies in the room who needed help with hardware issues any my stuff was like a five minute ordeal since my old information was still in their system and they
couldn't figure out why things weren't happening. Oh well, I will use the money to put in much needed mini-splits in the house without eating into
any of my Roth 401k. I had put a year's salary aside so I would not have
any income for 2024.

That is nice extra money for your mini-split project. I have wondered about the same thing when I eventually retire. Several of us are near the same age, with me being a bit younger - so lots of leadership potentially all retiring around the same time.

In my head I came up with a pay structure that would be acceptable for off/on consulting if needed. It would be pretty high with a 4 hour minimum, but since they would charge me a ton if I ended up there, I feel this is only fair.

Unfortunately it isn't like working for the state or federal government where you get benefits for life. Once I terminate employment, I get no benefits.

- Mark

:.: Weather Station BBS · telnet://bbs.weather-station.org :.: :.: http://www.weather-station.org/bbs · Bel Air, Maryland - USA :.:
      
--- WWIVToss v.1.52
* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (11:1/101.0)

Unfortunately it isn't like working for the state or federal government where you get benefits for life. Once I terminate employment, I get no benefits.

I really poured through the available options about health insurance. Since I am a case manager with a health insurance company, I chose to get a Medicare Advantage plan though Tufts with dental and vision. And here is a scam that is driving me crazy. Medicare is penalizing me for their belief that I did not have a pharmacy plan since 2020 which is when I enrolled in Medicare part A. Since I have been employed since then with health insurance, nothing could be farther from the truth. Right now I am making penalty payments (and I am keeping records) and launching an appeal through Medicare. It's like one hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing.... :(


<--> The Blood Stone BBS - Telnet & HTTP www.bsbbs.com <-->
\/ WWIVnet Node 1@707 - Sonoma County California \/
      
--- WWIVToss v.1.52
* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (11:1/101.0)

I really poured through the available options about health insurance.
Since I
am a case manager with a health insurance company, I chose to get a
Medicare Advantage plan though Tufts with dental and vision. And here is a scam that is driving me crazy. Medicare is penalizing me for their belief that I did not have a pharmacy plan since 2020 which is when I enrolled in Medicare part A. Since I have been employed since then with health insurance, nothing could be farther from the truth. Right now I am making penalty payments (and I am keeping records) and launching an appeal
through Medicare. It's like one hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing.... :(

I am really dredding having to figure all that out when the time comes. Since I plan on retiring before medicare is available to me, I'll probably just find some cheap but insanely high deductible plan to get by until I'm medicare age. I really don't have a solid understanding of all the different programs yet.

Another thing that I discovered recently that annoyed me. My son can get disability at age 18, so I figured I would be proactive and try and get that process started 4 months ahead of time since they say it takes 4-6 months to be approved, etc. No such luck - you can't pre-apply until after age 18.

There is no such thing as being proactive when it comes to government programs.

- Mark

:.: Weather Station BBS · telnet://bbs.weather-station.org :.: :.: http://www.weather-station.org/bbs · Bel Air, Maryland - USA :.:
      
--- WWIVToss v.1.52
* Origin: http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (11:1/101.0)