Get More Money From Your Investments

By Zoe Van Schyndel, CFA

When cash is king, dividend-paying companies have special appeal. Even in this shrinking economy, companies like Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB) are finding ways to increase payouts.

One ETF actively seeks out stocks with long records of paying dividends; the State Street SPDR Dividend ETF (AMEX: SDY) may be interesting to investors in these turbulent times. Although the SPDR Dividend fund has not dodged the nearly 40% rout of the Dow Jones Industrial average completely, it has fared better than the overall market in the past year, turning in only a 29% decline.

Fund facts

Inception date: Nov. 8, 2005

Expense ratio: 0.35%

Net assets: $280 million

Fund specifics
The SPDR Dividend fund tracks the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index, which is a select group of roughly 50 companies that have increased their dividends every year for at least 25 years. Investing in such long-term dividend-paying stocks should be less risky, as they are not prone to cutting their dividends. As you would expect, the fund carries a healthy dividend yield, which is currently at 5.5%.

Although dividends may carry more weight on the street these days, the fund's selections aren't giving up on the prospect of capital growth as well. Traditionally, financial companies have paid regular dividends, so it should come as no surprise that the fund has 40% of its assets in the financial sector -- well ahead of the roughly 20% allocated to utilities. Synovus Financial (NYSE: SNV), Associated Banc (Nasdaq: ASBC), and Comerica (NYSE: CMA) round out the top three holdings, while non-financial stocks include Gannett (NYSE: GCI) and Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED).

Fund prospects and risks
As you can see, the SPDR Dividend fund has two fairly concentrated sector bets. Even though the fund requires a history of dividend payments for its investments, that doesn't guarantee that it will manage to avoid losses from high-yielding stocks that are in the process of running their businesses into the ground.

In particular, with discussion of possible tax hikes on dividend income if Democrats win the presidency, the election may well prompt a sell-off in these stocks. Yet with dividends prized as proof that a company can generate cash, it's hard to envision this as a severe risk. The fund has an established track record and a low expense ratio, along with a portfolio that does have at least some exposure to various sectors and stocks.

Portfolio fit?
For investors looking for a core portfolio holding, this fund should not be considered a proxy for a broadly diversified fund such as the Vanguard Extended Market Index ETF. However, the fund's portfolio of long-term dividend-paying companies has thus far protected an investor to some extent during the overall decline in the market. With capital gains a fleeting target these days, the stable payments that dividends provide could make this fund a delightful alternative to less cash-flow focused investments.

How to Transfer adsense account to my personal bank account

How do I sign up for Electronic Funds Transfer?

To sign up for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), you'll first need your bank account information, including your account number and, depending on your payment address, your branch number, routing number, or other identifying information. The sign-up wizard will list the required information and includes brief instructions on finding each item.

To sign up for EFT:

1. Sign in to your account at www.google.com/adsense
2. Click My Account
3. Click the edit link adjacent to the Payment Details header
4. In the Electronic Funds Transfer section, select the Add a new bank account radio button
5. Click Continue
6. Enter the requested bank account information. Your account page will provide details on what information is required - if you're unsure, please contact your bank to obtain this information. Click Save Changes
7. At this point, we'll begin the process of depositing a small test amount into the bank account you specified. Check your bank statements after 4-10 days to find a deposit. Depending on the country in which your bank is located, the deposit will be labeled as one of the following:
   • AFS RE GOOGLE
   • AFS RE GOOGLE ADSENSE
   • ARVATO FINANCE SERVICES LIMITED
   • BFS FINANCE LTD

Once you have the test deposit amount:

1. Click the My Account tab
2. In the Payment Details section, click Verify this account
3. In the box provided, enter the test deposit amount that you received in your bank account
4. Click Next. Once you have entered your test deposit verification amount correctly, your bank account will be approved and automatically selected as your form of payment

Please note that we are unable to guarantee payment for the next payment cycle in this form if your selection was made after the 15th of the month. For example, to ensure payment by EFT for your March earnings, please complete the steps above before April 15th.

Publishers: Three Easy Ways to Increase Ad Revenue

Three Easy Ways to Increase Ad Revenue

by Jennifer

If you’re a web publisher, chances are you could be earning more revenue on your web site. This week we encourage you to open your mind and your site to new options and maximize your users’ exposure to high-quality, high-yielding advertisements.

Here are three tips to get you started:

1. OPEN up to different ad formats
Instead of just text or banner ad placements, edit your AdBrite zones to include Full Page Ad and Inline ads. Both formats are easy to activate on existing zones and don’t take up any of your web page real estate.

Have you uploaded your own photos or videos to your site? If so, make sure you monetize them by allowing BritePic or InVideo ads. They keep the integrity of your uploaded content and allow you to integrate quality advertising.

2. OPEN up ad placements
Think of the big picture and invest the same amount of time into the look and feel of your web advertisements as you do your own content. Customize your ad zones so that the colors are the same or similar palate and maintain the visual identity of your ‘brand’. Color blind or lacking creative inspiration? Check out www.colourlovers.com for instant color-scheme building.

3. OPEN up new ad zones
Create multiple ad zones of varying sizes and placements on your web canvas to increase the likelihood of displaying more high-quality advertisements on your site. Premium brand advertisers leverage multiple ad sizes and campaign creatives to reach their audience – why cut your slice of the profit pie short? Imagine, for example, that I have a blog that posts networking and career-building tips for young professionals. If I have both a leader board and sky scraper zone for image ads on my front page, my 20- and 30-something subscribers are twice as likely to see the promotion for Verizon’s new blackberry device, or see the local GM dealership that sells the newest Chevy hybrid vehicle.