The 2026 Q3 “Report Card”
There are multiple sources of income when it comes to our investments. Sometimes the income is the result of selling a profitable position. Sometimes it is the delightful income that just keeps flowing into our accounts from dividends. There is another huge piece: the income from trading covered call options contracts and cash covered put options. CALLS and PUTS are easy to do and can earn you a great deal of extra income before and after retirement.
For example, yesterday I made $1,323 in less than fifteen minutes. Most of that was from selling cash covered put contracts on CRDO shares.
Dividend Growth Continues (2023-2026 Nine Months)
Inflation is always eating away at your true spending and giving power. The charities you support are also seeing inflationary pressures. What if your income increased in such a way that you could give more to help meet the costs your church, ministry, or social concerns have?
The following table illustrates the growth in just our dividend income from 2023 to the present, comparing the first nine months of each year. 2024’s dividends increased over 2023, 2025’s dividends increased 6.2% over 2024, and 2026’s income is also up 5.5% over last year. There is more than one reason this is true, including the fact that I purchased more investments during the last nine months. But I also sold investments and purchased investments that don’t pay a dividend.
Comparing Each Quarter 2023-2026
This next image is helpful because you can see how each September compares with the previous September. This also compares each year in terms of average monthly income from dividends. Our 2026 average monthly dividend income has risen to almost $17K. That can power a lot of giving, charitable giving, and unique purchases, including buying more investments or trading cash covered put options.
This image is also helpful for seeing how Q3 compares for each year. A healthy July 2026 dividend total powered 2026 Q3 up to a new high for the years presented.
Options Income Results
As I have said many times in previous posts, one of the easy income strategies I use is to spend a few minutes every week selling options contracts. While I don’t expect 2026’s options income total to equal 2025’s results, YTD options income will easily hit $150K and perhaps even reach $175K. During the balance of the year I plan to focus on cash covered puts and some selective covered call options.
Total options income since 2020 has reached almost $700K. That is an inflation-fighting, gift giving number.
YTD Total Income
If you are just starting out, bear in mind that in 1976 when Cindie and I were married we were very poor. My first job after my appendix burst in 1976 (shortly after we were married) was at Universal Foods Corporation. That job paid $600 per month. When the company offered a 401(k) plan, I took advantage of that plan. When I left Universal Foods in 1999 my 401(k) was worth about $300K. Those dollars continued to grow and the IRA Rollover now has a balance of over $1.8M, even after significant RMD withdrawals, ROTH conversions, and QCD gifts.
When I add up just our dividend and options income for 2026, the total stands at $301,043. That is just the income. That isn’t the growth in the value of the investments.
Interest Fully Paid
If you see a message in your Fidelity Investments positions page that says, “Did you know this account could earn you additional income by lending securities you already own?” you might want to explore it. I like free money every month from loaning some investments. I get free money plus I keep my shares and any dividends the shares produce. In addition, I can continue to sell options contracts on the shares I loan (assuming options are available for those shares.)
Wrapping It Up
Social Security (or even most pensions) will never perform as well as a well-crafted investment portfolio. That income pays the bills, but it isn’t very useful for charitable giving or really fighting inflation. Some years Social Security doesn’t really increase after you subtract the costs of Medicare insurance premiums. Bear that in mind if you think Social Security is your safety net. That net has a lot of holes.
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