Now and then, it is recommended you revisit your portfolio and realign it with your financial goals (which may also have changed amidst the current global pandemic). A popular investment is exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which allow you to hold a basket of high dividend-paying companies. It is a hybrid of mutual funds and stocks. Here are five of the top high dividend ETF funds that you can consider for investment during 2020: Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) The CRSP US Total Market Index is tracked by the VTF. It is representative of almost 100% of the investable market, comprising micro-cap, small, mid, and stocks. As of March 31, 2020, the SEC yield was estimated at 2.20%, and the expense ratio was 0.03%. Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) This fund keeps track of the NASDAQ US Dividend Achievers Select Index, which was previously known as the Dividend Achievers Select Index and covered approximately 182 stocks. As of December 2019, the expense ratio was 0.06%, and the SEC yield for the fund was about 1.80%. Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) This particular fund from Vanguard monitors the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index. The fund represented about 404 stocks of companies with high dividend yields as of November 2019.

Investment of any nature and for any goal is always a good idea, apart from saving for your retirement. The rising rate of inflation coupled with reduced pension plans demonstrate the need for retirement-focused investments, which will not just deliver value over an extended period of time. That being said, not all assets are capable of delivering high returns at low risk and have their own set of importance to investor portfolios. To help you make an informed investment decision, here are some best retirement investments and their pros and cons. Cash-balance plans Similar to pensions, a cash-balance plan offers a fixed amount of return at the time of retirement. However, unlike pensions, every employee has a cash-balance account where the lump sum amount is mentioned. Employers credit this account with a set percentage of the employee’s yearly compensation plus interest charges. Pros: A defined-benefit is a major attraction of cash-balance plans. Additionally, you don’t have to pay a single penny for it and yet it offers a tremendous certainty of retirement funds. In case of a job switch, these accounts can be transferred to your new job. Cons: Should you choose to retire early, the plan wouldn’t benefit much.

As defined by FICO (the leading credit rating agency), bad credit is defined as a score of less than 580. Your credit score may range between 300 and 850, and an excellent or good rating is often when the minimum score is 700. If you have a lower credit score, you may have to pay higher interest on loans and may not receive the best financial offers. One of the best and quickest ways to increase your score is to use a credit card. When you avail of the accurate card and use it correctly, you may be able to increase your score in a few months. Here are some of the best credit card companies if you have a lower score: Credit One Bank Visa Credit Card Several card issuers require you to deposit $200 or more when you apply for a card. However, this card from Credit One Bank is an unsecured product and does not require any upfront payments. You receive 1% cashback when you use this card for groceries, fuel, and satellite, cable, and Internet services. Additionally, you get a $300 limit, which increases as you responsibly use the card. Indigo Platinum Mastercard If you have ever applied for bankruptcy, the last thing you want is to apply for a credit card and be rejected as it further hampers your credit score.

Generally, the real estate taxes, maintenance, and building insurance expenses are paid by the landlord when the tenant pays the rent. However, in the case of the triple net (NNN) property, the tenant has to pay those too, in addition to the utility boils and the rent. The rent is lower for the NNN properties for sale which has made them a popular option among the investors. Below is a list of the five best NNN properties in Los Angeles. Convenience store Location : Baton Rouge, LA Cost : $2,995,401 Premises : 4,509 SF Renewal options : 4 x 5 years Lease expiration : 1/20/2040 Lease type : Absolute NNN Rental increases : 2% annually If you are thinking about investing in an NNN property in LA, then this convenience store may just be the right option for you. This is an already established store with multiple locations, which makes it a profitable option. It is located in an advantageous position, which offers visibility and traffic. Jiffy Lube and Precision Tune Auto Care Location : Alexandria, LA Cost : $1,285,714 Premises : 5,000 SF Lease expiration : Varies Lease type : NNN Rental increases : Varies If you want to invest in profitable NNN properties for sale, then consider these auto care facilities.

Debt settlement companies provide the service of lowering your existing debts by negotiating with your lender to provide financial relief. There are many such companies that can help you with repaying only a percentage of your loan to settle it permanently. Below is a list of the top 10 debt settlement companies you can compare and choose from. Century Support Services Century Support Services offers debt settlement services to people who have a debt of $10,000 or more. The process can take up to 48 months, but you will have to pay their fees only after your debt is settled. They also offer a free consultation. Pacific Debt, Inc. Pacific Debt Inc. offers debt settlement services for a fee of 15-25% of your settled debt. To avail of their services, you must have a debt of at least $10,000. The process takes up to 48 months, and you pay the fee after the service is completed. CreditAssociates If you have a debt of $10,000 or even more, then CreditAssociates can be one of the top 10 debt settlement companies to help you out of the situation. They can effectively lower your dues and charge you a certain percentage of the settled debt.

In a regular mortgage, you pay the lender over a period to eventually own the home. In a reverse mortgage, the lender pays you as an advance towards the equity of your home. The amount is tax-free and you do not have to repay it as long as you live in the home. Here are the basic reverse mortgage eligibility criteria: Age To qualify for this type of mortgage, you need to be 62 years or older. Under the new regulations that relax norms for a non-borrowing spouse, you may still qualify for the loan even if your spouse is less than 62 years old. Balance home equity Another major requirement to qualify for a reverse mortgage is that you should have a significant equity balance in the home. You must have at least 50% home equity while applying for the loan. Self-occupied The third reverse mortgage eligibility criterion is that the home should be self-occupied. Moreover, it should be your primary residence. Investment properties are not eligible for reverse mortgage loans. Counseling When you apply for a reverse mortgage loan, you need to undergo a counseling session from a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved agency. During the session, you will be given all information related to such loans and will also help you understand if a reverse mortgage is appropriate to your requirements or not.

Retirement is one of the most important periods of life. After retirement, you can enjoy a happy, financially secure life with your family. However, that will require you to have a large enough bank balance that can guarantee financial stability for both you and your loved ones. You need to know the options for the best retirement investments so that you can effectively build the fund you need. Mutual funds A mutual fund is one of the best investment options you have for retirement fund building. Mutual funds are investment portfolios that include bonds, stocks, and other investment instruments. These funds are managed by experienced and professional managers who invest your money on your behalf and help you get the best possible returns. A great thing about mutual funds is that they offer the flexibility of choosing how much risk you are willing to take. You can build your investment portfolio depending on what kind of growth you want to see and your risk tenacity. You should know that the growth of your mutual fund investment depends a lot on the market situation. However, it is outweighed by the many benefits of mutual funds such as asset allocation, tax benefits, the option to transfer ownership, and low commissions.

During the current uncertainty, choosing high dividend exchange-traded funds (ETFs) seems prudent. Several ETFs with high exposure to energy and real estate are floundering due to the novel coronavirus. Here is a list of five high-dividend ETF funds that may be a good investment option during this pandemic: Legg Mason Low Volatility High Dividend ETF (LVHD) This dividend ETF provides two excellent features, higher payout and lower volatility. Although LVHD will generate negative returns in the current year, its performance is still better than the S&P 500. This fund tracks the QS Low Volatility High Dividend Index and allocates almost 25% of the weight in energy and real estate. However, no single investment exceeds 2.8%, which reduces the risk to some extent. The LVHD yield stands at 3.36% with an expense ratio of 0.27%. VictoryShares US Large Cap High Dividend Volatility Weighted ETF (CDL) This fund is over five years old with more than $207 million in assets under management (AUM). CDL targets the Nasdaq US Large Cap High Dividend 100 Volatility Index. This fund does not adhere to stringent methodology and offers some versatility. This may result in yield-driven strategies that rely on a smaller number of investments. Another feature of this fund is that it has no exposure to the real estate sector but has a 22.84% exposure to financial services.