Making Cents Sense

Ah, the age-old investor dilemma: do you want to own the whole S&P 500 cheaply and efficiently with Vanguard’s beloved VOO , or do you want to pay up for a fund like SPYI , which promises you “income innovation” but ends up handing you back your own money disguised as dividends while quietly lagging the market? It’s like choosing between drinking water from a clean mountain stream or sipping flat soda from a plastic cup at a gas station. Both hydrate you, technically—but only one doesn’t leave you with buyer’s remorse. This blog is for the income-chasers, the dividend-maximalists, and the folks who think monthly distributions are the holy grail. Spoiler alert: that monthly payout may just be your capital draped in a bow, a financial magic trick that would make even David Copperfield blush. By the end, you’ll understand why paying to underperform isn’t just a mistake—it’s a full-on lifestyle choice. Section 1: The Two Contenders VOO – The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF Let’s start wi...

There’s a new kid on the yield block: WPAY (Roundhill WeeklyPay™ Universe ETF). If your eyes glaze over at “ETFs of option income,” this is your crash course in why income investors are suddenly whispering “weekly distributions” like it’s the holy grail. Yes, YMAX has had its spotlight. But weekly paychecks have a psychological appeal. Who doesn’t like getting something in hand more often than “once a month, maybe”? This post breaks down: What WPAY is (structure, mechanics, positioning) How it stacks up vs. YMAX What the risks are (and many of them are nontrivial) What kind of investor it might suit (or not suit) Tactical allocation ideas and red flags to watch Let’s strap in. 1. What is WPAY? ETF, fund-of-funds, and weekly pay WPAY is a fund-of-ETFs that tracks the Solactive Roundhill WeeklyPay Universe Index , which is made up of single-stock WeeklyPay™ ETFs . It gives you a diversified exposure to multiple weekly-distributing leveraged equity funds rolled ...

When a stock or fund claims an 11% yield , many investors reflexively raise their eyebrows—or their red flags. Yields that high generally imply elevated risk, possibly unstable cash flow, or a stretched payout. But sometimes, there’s real opportunity hidden behind yield that demands vigilance. One name getting buzz lately is Fidus Investment Corporation (ticker FDUS ), often highlighted in income-oriented circles as a potential high-yield gem. A recent Seeking Alpha headline even calls it “One Of The Best 11% Yields To Buy Today.” Seeking Alpha This blog explores whether Fidus truly deserves a place on your income portfolio—or whether that yield comes with hidden landmines. We’ll go through what Fidus does, how it generates income, what risks it faces, and whether it merits a cautious “yes” or a more wary “pass.” What is Fidus Investment? Before we chase yield, let’s understand the business. Corporate structure & strategy Fidus Investment is structured as a business devel...

Thesis in one line: QQQI has been a clever way to tap Nasdaq-100 strength while harvesting rich option premiums, but the setup going forward is less favorable than it looks on the surface. With an expense ratio that isn’t trivial, a payout stream driven largely by option income (not underlying dividends), and a market regime where upside capture may matter more than income, I’m downgrading my stance to Pause/Neutral for new money. The quick take What it is: NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF (ticker: QQQI) owns a Nasdaq-100 equity basket and layers on systematic call spreads on the index to generate high monthly cash flow. It’s actively managed. NEOS Investments What you see: A headline distribution rate around the mid-teens (lately ~14%) with monthly payments. SEC 30-day yield is near zero—meaning payouts largely reflect option premium/realized gains, not bond-like income. NEOS Investments What it costs: 0.68% expense ratio, materially higher than plain-vanilla Nasdaq...