


While different risk factors cause every bear market, so far this one is on track for a historically average decline in the historically average time period. This is then followed by 13 months to recover to new record highs. That might feel like a long and brutal slog through market hell, but historically the median bear market involves a 32% decline over 11 months. We're starting the 10th month of this bear market, and so far the market has fallen 25%. In times of fear, uncertainty, and doubt, it's useful to step back and take a big-picture view. Fear, doubt, excitement, and exhaustion are normal when stocks sell off big, as they've done in 2022. I know that bear markets can be a time of intense emotions for investors like us. Looking for a portfolio of ideas like this one? Members of The Dividend Kings get exclusive access to our model portfolio.If you want to retire in safety and splendor, world-beater ultra-yield and hyper-dividend growth is a tough strategy to beat. More importantly, they have generated 21% annual income growth for two decades, turning a 3.6% yield into a 60% inflation-adjusted yield on cost. They're 34% historically undervalued, trading at 12X earnings, and could deliver 31% annual returns through 2024, 3X more than the S&P 500.Together they yield a very safe 5.3%, have a 36-year dividend growth streak, A-credit rating, are growing 11.2%, and are expected to deliver 16.5% long-term returns, just as they have for the last 18 years.I have bet my fortune and sacred honor on BTI, MMP, AMZN, PM, EPD, CMI, MO, VFC, GOOG, LOW, and TROW.

I've invested $1.6 million, 72% of my net worth, into my top 12 world-beater blue-chip bargain ideas.But for smart long-term, blue-chip investors, they may bring life-changing opportunities. Bear markets can be a terrifying time for speculators.
