Looks like we might be in for a couple of months of the "death of a 1000 cuts" period.... where there is no "catalyst" for stocks to move UP.... People on the sidelines waiting for the election to firm up etc.
NOW is the period when I don't care what you argue about --- which stock -- blah blah blah --- but DIVIDENDS WIN! There's no growth in capital... but your capital grows because you're getting paid to hold!
Here's 2 weeks of my Schwab account dividends received just this month only! I just finished a 4,000 mile road trip... and this pays for my gas.
09/17/2012
as of
09/15/2012 ED CONSOLIDATED EDISON INC
type: QUALIFIED DIV
$3,630.00
09/12/2012 JNK SPDR BARCLAYS CAPITAL HIGH YIELD BOND ETF
type: ORD DIV - CASH
$6,682.32
09/10/2012 HYG ISHARES TRUST IBOXX $ HIGH YIELD CORP
type: ORD DIV - CASH
$5,845.32
09/10/2012 PFF ISHARES S&P U S PFD FUNDS&P U S PFD STK INDEX FD
type: ORD DIV - CASH
$2,516.50