When I was running marathons I would remind myself (somewhere around mile 20) that if it were easy to run 26.2 miles everyone would do it. But everyone doesn't run marathons because it is very, very hard.

Dividend investing at a time when the S&P 500 index is yielding a scant 1.2% is not easy. 1. What does the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF do? One of the main reasons to buy an ETF is for the instant portfolio diversification.

In the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 28 of the 30 components pay dividends. With changes to the components in 2024, dividend yield is smaller overall.

Three high-octane income stocks -- sporting an average yield of 7.93% -- can fatten investors' pocketbooks in the new year.

Dividend-paying companies offering high yields often attract investors seeking steady, predictable cash flows over capital appreciation. These companies are typically mature, established businesses with predictable earnings.