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AGNC Investment (NASDAQ: AGNC) is a prolific dividend stock. The mortgage-focused real estate investment trust (REIT) pays a monthly dividend that currently yields over 14%. That’s more than 10 times higher than the S&P 500 (1.3% yield).

The mortgage REIT has paid its monster dividend for 55 months in a row. That’s impressive, considering the market conditions it has endured over the past few years. With the environment expected to be much more positive in the future, the REIT’s monster dividend looks safe.

AGNC Investment has a very simple strategy. It invests in agency mortgage-backed securities (MBSes), which are pools of residential mortgages protected from default risk by government agencies like Fannie Mae. Because of that, these fixed-income investments generate very low-risk returns.

Agency MBSes also have relatively low returns (mid to high single digits). The mortgage REIT can boost its returns by using leverage (i.e., borrowing money) to buy more MBSes. It makes money on the spread between its borrowing costs and the yield on its MBS investments. The wider the spread, the more money it can make.

AGNC Investment has made enough money to cover its current dividend payment for the past four and a half years. That’s noteworthy because the last few years have been a more challenging period in the MBS market due to the significant surge in interest rates. Higher rates have increased the REIT’s borrowing costs, narrowing its investment spread.

However, conditions have never gotten to the point where the REIT felt it needed to cut its dividend, which is something it has had to do several times in the past:

AGNC Investment CEO Peter Federico commented on the ideal market conditions for the REIT in its third-quarter earnings report. He noted, “AGNC’s return opportunities are most favorable when agency MBS spreads to benchmark rates are wide and stable and interest rates and monetary policy are less volatile.” In other words, stable market conditions are ideal because they provide a lot of visibility into its earnings capability.

For much of the last few years, the Agency MBS market has been more volatile due to all the uncertainty surrounding interest rates. However, with the Federal Reserve recently pivoting its policy from fighting inflation with higher interest rates to a more neutral stance with lower rates, the outlook for the agency MBS market is much better than it has been over the past few years. The REIT believes MBS spreads will stabilize at historically favorable levels over the next one to two years as the Fed slowly cuts rates. That should enable the company to make more than enough money to continue covering its high-yielding dividend.

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Heads up if you’ve had a Cash App account over the last six years or so: you may now be able to claim thousands of dollars as a result of a class-action settlement. The company proposed the $15 million settlement earlier this year following two security incidents. If you’re eligible to make a claim, you only have a few weeks to do so.

The first related breach took place in December 2021 when, according to Cash App, a former employee downloaded reports containing information on more than 8 million users. This included their full names, brokerage account numbers and, in some cases, the holdings and value of investment portfolios. Cash App disclosed the incident in April 2022.

The consolidated class-action complaint alleged that Cash App and parent company Block failed to enact sufficient security measures to prevent another data breach. This involved Cash App’s person-to-person payment services. According to the plaintiffs, “an unauthorized user accessed certain Cash App accounts in 2023 using recycled phone numbers.” The complaint contended that Cash App and Block mishandled complaints related to both breaches and fraudulent transactions.

Cash App and Block have denied any wrongdoing, The New York Times reports. They say the settlement is not an admission of liability.

You may be eligible to make a claim if you had a Cash App account between August 23, 2018 and August 20 of this year. The settlement will cover up to $2,500 of out-of-pocket costs stemming from the breaches, as well as up to three hours worth of lost time at $25 per hour. Those who have sustained a monetary loss and haven’t yet been reimbursed can file a claim for that too.

If you plan to file a claim through the settlement website, you’ll need to do so by 2AM ET on November 19. A final court hearing in the case is set for December 16.

It’s surprising how many people earning more than most Americans still feel like they’re barely getting by.

According to a Bloomberg report, even those making over $175,000 a year – which puts them in the top 10% of U.S. earners – often don’t see themselves as “rich.” A quarter of those surveyed said they felt “very poor,” “poor,” or “just getting by” despite being in a financial position many would envy.

More than half of those surveyed expressed concerns about their financial future, with 25% doubting they would ever surpass their parents’ financial standing.

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So, what’s behind this disconnect? Why do people who seem to have it all still feel like they’re falling behind? One major factor is that while their incomes are high, so are their expenses.

Things like housing costs, education and basic living expenses have skyrocketed, leaving many feeling financially stressed. According to the latest Consumer Expenditure Survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average monthly expenses for American households amount to $6,440. Over the course of a year, this totals approximately $77,280 in household spending. Now, keep in mind that the median household income was just around $80,000 in 2023. Average earners can barely make ends meet based on these numbers.

As the cost of living rises, so does the pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle, making it harder for people to feel secure no matter how much they earn.

See Also: Studies show 50% of consumers think Financial Advisors cost much more than they do — to debunk this, this company provides matching for free and a complimentary first call with the matched advisor.

A Bankrate survey found that while 64% of workers received a pay increase last year, 60% still feel inflation has outpaced their income growth. This has fueled a sense that even higher earnings aren’t enough to secure financial stability. For those in the top income brackets, it creates a paradox where they earn significantly but still feel financially insecure.

In addition, a Charles Schwab survey revealed that Americans now believe a net worth of $2.5 million is necessary to be considered wealthy, a 14% increase from the previous year.

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Financial expert Dave Ramsey does not sugarcoat things – he’s very direct about America’s clutter problem.

For instance, he recently pointed out that many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, weighed down not just by their financial obligations but by piles of unnecessary possessions filling their garages, attics and storage units “floor to ceiling.” Ramsey claims that one of the main reasons so many people are “broke” is their fixation with purchasing and storing goods.

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The argument is straightforward: excessive consumerism is hurting people’s financial well-being. Instead of investing in experiences, savings or assets that grow in value, countless Americans are pouring their money into things they don’t use.

Ramsey describes clutter as wasted money and missed opportunities – both for financial growth and a simpler, more stress-free life. As one of his followers on X said, “I’m proud to say we park our cars in our garage and the attic is empty.”

Self-storage facilities have become a booming industry as more people find themselves needing extra space to store excess belongings they can’t fit into their homes. According to Consumer Affairs, the average monthly cost ranges from $90 to $290. While they solve the immediate issue of overflow, they also result in long-term financial burdens.

See Also: Studies show 50% of consumers think Financial Advisors cost much more than they do — to debunk this, this company provides matching for free and a complimentary first call with the matched advisor.

If you haven’t used an item in over a year, it may be time to sell it. As Ramsey says, “One or two good garage sales and some online sales could clear out the clutter AND get you out of debt.” Selling off unwanted goods can generate money to pay off debt, lower storage expenses and encourage more deliberate spending.

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