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The U.S. Federal Reserve increased its key interest rate a total of 11 times between March 2022 and July 2023. And while the central bank hasn't made additional increases lately – and some think it may even move toward cuts soon – the bottom line is that the current rate environment makes fixed-income instruments much more attractive than most dividend stocks.Consider that the average yield of a stock in the S&P 500 index of the largest U.S. companies is just 1.7% at present, while 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds provide 4.7%...

In 1975, the financial industry witnessed the introduction of the first money market fund, and a year later the first equity index fund became available to retail investors.These groundbreaking offerings provided individuals with access to diversified portfolios and stable, liquid investments, revolutionizing how everyday people could save and invest their money.Then, in 1986, the introduction of the industry's first bond fund marked a significant step forward for DIY investors. Prior to this innovation, individuals looking to invest in bonds were typically reliant on financial advisors or had to navigate the...