Year end review

BCO member report;

This has been a difficult year for many including myself with investing. I have witnessed my capital decrease 1.75% even with dividends and options premiums. I was unable to call the bottom in oil and took a huge loss on Kinder Morgan and Cummins. I'm lucky I still have a pair of pants on! My passive dividend income has increased throughout this whole fiasco though and that was the purpose-a safe reliable income stream. Now as I approach retirement I must decrease risk. I am going to stay clear of speculation and barely investment grade companies bordering on junk credit ratings(KMI). I am reviewing my portfolio for companies with lower credit ratings (there won't be many) and will work to swap them out. I also do not intend to put any more capital to work in 2016 in stocks. I am considering I-bonds and municipals. I currently hold T, JNJ, PG, PEG, AAPL, BA, F, GE, GILD, KHC, OHI, XOM. I also hold an iShares fund and a health care fund, I use options once or twice a month, selling puts and calls.

Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, Happy Festivus or whatever else you may celebrate! Take care of your health as it pre empts everything else-spend time with people you like and doing things to help others. Keep a gratitude list and read/edit it often.