To The Moon

One of the things I love most about investing is the steady rhythm of dividend income. For me, this is why I gravitate toward TLT and TLH. Unlike growth stocks, which can soar or crash without warning, these treasury bond ETFs provide a monthly dividend. And there’s something surprisingly comforting about that. Every month, there’s a small but reliable payoff that I can actually look forward to.

iShares 10-20 Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLH)

iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT)

It’s not just the money, it’s the psychology. Dividend income gives me a sense of progress, a tangible reward for staying invested and patient. Even when the market moves unpredictably, those dividends feel like a gentle reminder that my money is still working for me.

I also appreciate the relative safety of these ETFs. Treasury bonds have their risks, of course, but the probability of them going to zero is practically nonexistent. Compared to many other investments, I feel more comfortable holding them long term. And there’s another layer of potential upside: if interest rates were to fall further in the future, treasury bond ETFs like TLT and TLH could actually benefit from price appreciation on top of their dividend income.

Another reason I like them is their potential to act as a hedge against recession. In many uncertain economic times, when equities may be volatile and growth stocks stumble, treasury bonds can hold value or even gain because investors often seek safety. That said, they’re not a guaranteed shield; their performance can vary depending on interest rate movements and other economic factors. Still, holding TLT and TLH can provide a measure of stability for my portfolio, along with steady income, which gives me a bit of peace of mind when markets get shaky.

This combination of stability, predictability and recession protection makes dividend-focused investing a cornerstone of my strategy. I’m not chasing explosive gains or trying to time the market perfectly. Instead, I’m building something steady and enduring, one dividend payment at a time.

In short, the power of dividend income isn’t just in the dollars it delivers, it’s in the patience it cultivates, the confidence it builds, the safety it provides in a recession, and the rhythm it gives to investing. For me, TLT and TLH are more than ETFs—they’re a small but reliable heartbeat in my portfolio, reminding me that slow and steady truly can win the long game.