Ep. 108: A High Yield Is a Promise — Which Funds Can Actually Keep It?

6 sources on one throughline — a high yield is a promise; the job is figuring out which funds/stocks can actually keep it. (1) Our own survival analysis: 25 income ETFs closed in 2026 as failed businesses; JEPI ($45.1B) & SPYI ($10.7B) pass the 4-sign survival test, MARO ($70M, ~184%, NAV -80%) & FIVY (~$5M fund-of-YieldMax-funds) fail; survival != endorsement. (2) Pam & Dividends TDAQ vs QQQI: Nasdaq income ETFs, TDAQ 17% (0DTE, 96% ROC, 0.83% ER) vs QQQI ~14% (holds the names, 0.68% ER), both preserve principal (QQQI +8% price / +53% TR since 2024); ROC is a tax structure not just money back. (3) Conagra (CAG) cut its ~10% yield in half ($0.35->$0.175) under new CEO + $2B impairment — textbook dividend trap, S&P 500 removal. (4) Kiplinger hedged ETFs (FHEQ/HEQT/HELO/IVVB/PHEQ) for retirees after 60/40 broke in 2022. (5) 5 sin-stock dividends: MO (6%, 88% payout, 56yr), PM, LMT (23yr, F-35 to 2060s), BF.B (42yr King candidate), LVS (riskiest). (6) SCHD: 3.2% yield, ~10% div growth since 2011, 0.06% ER, $101B, beat VOO by ~9% YTD, 11% tech. Dropped: TipRanks weekly-pay >32% ETFs and 247wallst dividend kings (both 403/Cloudflare-blocked).