Yield to Reason Podcast | Retirement Income Planning Insights

Building Retirement Income with Closed-End Funds - Special Guest Steve Selengut

Brandon Roberts Season 1 Episode 4

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Guest: Steve Selengut, Author of "Retirement Money Secrets"
Host: Brandon Roberts


Episode Overview

In this episode, we dive deep into a retirement income strategy that most people have never heard of but could dramatically change your financial future. Steve Selengut, who managed over $100 million for clients as an investment advisor, shares how he built substantial retirement income using closed-end funds - investments that have been around for 200 years but are largely ignored by Wall Street.


Key Takeaways

  • Income First: Focus on generating actual cash flow rather than just growing account balances
  • 10%+ Yields Available: Current closed-end fund portfolios can generate over 10% income annually
  • Tax-Free Options: Municipal bond closed-end funds currently yielding over 7% tax-free
  • 200-Year Track Record: These aren't new, risky investments - they've been around since 1825
  • Quality & Diversification: Each fund contains 50-300+ individual securities for built-in safety


Chapter Breakdown


Chapter 1: The Foundation - Learning Income Investing Early (0:00 - 7:00)


Chapter 2: The Four Pillars of Safe Investing (7:00 - 11:00)


Chapter 3: Discovering Closed-End Funds (11:00 - 18:00)


Chapter 4: Why Closed-End Funds Beat Traditional Bonds (18:00 - 24:00)


Chapter 5: Building the Universe - How to Pick Winners (24:00 - 32:00)


Chapter 6: Making the Transition - From Index Funds to Income (32:00 - 36:00)


Chapter 7: Current Income Opportunities (36:00 - End)


Resources Mentioned


Bottom Line

If you're approaching retirement and worried about generating enough income from your investments, this episode offers a completely different approach than the typical "save more and hope for 4%" advice. Steve's strategy focuses on generating 10%+ income right now, using investments that have been around for centuries but are largely ignored by mainstream financial advice.

The key insight: Instead of worrying about your account balance going up and down, focus on the actual cash income your investments generate each month. With current yields over 10% for diversified portfolios, you might find you need a lot less money saved than you thought to maintain your lifestyle in retirement.