Turbulent Markets? I Choose Steady Monthly Income

Markets will always operate under uncertainty. There is always something on the horizon—an election, a rate decision, a geopolitical flare-up—that fuels anxiety, fear, and doubt among investors. When uncertainty rises, the instinctive reaction is to sell everything and sit in cash until “things calm down.” The problem is that calm is elusive. You may find yourself sitting on the sidelines far longer than expected, watching inflation quietly erode your purchasing power and missing years of potential returns in the process. As the old saying goes, more money has been lost waiting for a market crash than in the crash itself.

At High Dividend Opportunities, we believe that “Time in the market” beats timing the market, and if we are going to stay invested through uncertainty, we want to be paid for it. Reliable income turns patience into progress, every time I collect a dividend, I win.

With that said, here are our top monthly-paying picks designed to generate consistent cash flow, even when markets refuse to cooperate.

Pick 1: EIPI – Yield 7.5%

We have regularly discussed individual MLPs as meaningful investments with cash flows backed by tangible assets. They tap into the monetization of critical assets that support the lifeblood of the economy. However, MLPs issue a Schedule K-1 to investors, making it unappealing for many due to the complexities that arise from them.

FT Energy Income Partners Enhanced Income ETF (EIPI) is an ETF that presents an attractive basket of energy holdings, with 45% of its portfolio allocated to oil and gas pipeline operators and midstream companies. EIPI’s top ten holdings represent ~42% of the ETF’s invested assets.

EIPI also provides exposure to MPLX, midstream C-Corps like Kinder Morgan, ONEOK and The Williams Companies and Enbridge and E&P giants like Shell, Exxon Mobil, and Total SA. The ETF also provides modest exposure to major utility firms like NextEra Energy, Southern Company, Vistra Corp, Duke Energy, AES Corp, Dominion Energy, and others. Utilities represent ~25% of the fund, aiding EIPI to outperform the benchmark energy index despite weakness in oil and natural gas prices over the past year.

In addition to collecting distributions from its holdings, EIPI sells options on roughly half of its portfolio, and the calls are written slightly out-of-the-money, allowing the fund to participate in modest upside. This approach allows EIPI to boost returns without taking on leverage. EIPI makes monthly distributions of $0.125/share, reflecting a 7.5% annualized yield.

Pick 2: CCD – Yield 10.6%

Global issuance of convertible debt reached a record $166.5 billion in 2025, with U.S. firms representing 72% of the volume. Amidst massive investments in industrial activity, manufacturing, and data center buildout, the need for capital while preserving equity value continues to be strong, making a strong case for convertible bonds.

Calamos Dynamic Convertible and Income Fund (CCD) is a Closed-End Fund with 86% of its portfolio invested in convertible debt. With 608 holdings, CCD is deeply diversified, with its top sectors being information technology and industrials.

CCD has maintained its NAV over the past three years while paying steady monthly distributions. Currently, the CEF’s premium to NAV is considerably below its recent averages.

Calamos is one of the best managers of convertible debt funds, and CCD presents a 10.6% annualized yield (with monthly distributions) at current prices, at modest valuations.

Conclusion

You don’t need to time the market to succeed. Markets will always be volatile, but income doesn’t have to be. As an income investor, you win every time a dividend or interest payment hits your account—regardless of what prices do next.

With predictable cash flow, you can step away from the noise, stop reacting to headlines, and focus on living your life. At High Dividend Opportunities, our income method is designed to help you achieve financial independence, turning uncertainty into steady cash flow and providing a clear path to a more confident, stress-free retirement.