Author: Brett Owens, Contrarian Outlook

Let’s be honest: our lives would be much easier if we could just buy the typical S&P 500 stock, get the 7%+ dividends we need for retirement, and call it a day.

The macro picture for the market is dicey and stock valuations are pricey, but we MUST stay invested. The stock market goes up about two-thirds of the time, so let’s be smart about staying in the market…

These funds pay us every month, set us up for nice price gains “on the side,” and give us “Iran insurance,” helping shield our nest egg against swift drops triggered by global instability, an economic downturn—any reason, really.

The best funds to buy deliver excellent total returns over the long run, most of their investors’ profits come in the form of monthly or quarterly payouts, and those who buy these funds at significant discounts to their net asset values can enjoy price upside to boot