“Some trades are easy… others hinge on variables no one can reliably forecast.”

In a recent note, Paradigm Press income specialist Zach Scheidt made a point many investors don’t always consider:

You don’t have to play every market.

When outcomes depend on geopolitical headlines, policy shifts, or fast-moving narratives, even experienced investors can find it harder to build conviction.

In times like these, shifting focus to investing for income could prove key.

Check this out:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation rose 2.4% year over year as of January 2026.

Now, that’s lower than where inflation stood a year earlier.

But as you can see in the chart below, the details tell a more complete story…

• Food prices rose 2.9%
• Dining out increased 4.0%
• Shelter climbed 3.0%
• Electricity rose 6.3%
• Natural gas jumped 9.8%

In other words, inflation might be down… but it ain’t exactly gone!

And income strategies can be an excellent way to help cover those costs by potentially generating cash flow along the way.

WorthNet Partner Adviser Sarah Cicero says the data aligns closely with what she’s seeing in real time; Cicero is a registered CFP^®, CFA^®, President and Managing Partner at StoneBridge Advisors, and registered representative of Osaic Wealth, Inc.:

“Even though inflation has moderated overall, the categories people tend to notice most – housing, food, and utilities – haven’t eased in the same way.”

Those are recurring expenses. And when they continue to rise faster than inflation, they can keep pressure on day-to-day cash flow.

At the same time, she notes that external factors – including energy volatility and geopolitical developments – could add even more uncertainty around where inflation goes next.

For some investors, this doesn’t mean abandoning growth…

It means structuring portfolios differently.

Scheidt, for example, has often described his approach as balancing more conservative, income-generating positions with more opportunistic strategies.

In that framework, income isn’t about maximizing returns in any single year.

It’s about creating a foundation – one that may allow investors to participate in markets without relying entirely on price gains to drive results.

Of course, none of this guarantees outcomes. And income strategies, like any approach, come with trade-offs – including sensitivity to interest rates, credit risk, and underlying asset performance.

But the conversation itself is shifting right now…

From relying on market timing… to potentially earning current income.

P.S. Income investing can take many forms – from dividend-paying equities to fixed income to options-based strategies – each with different risk and return characteristics.

If you’re interested in how advisers like Sarah Cicero think about building income into a broader portfolio, WorthNet can connect readers with advisers in our network, including StoneBridge, by clicking below.

WorthNet does not provide advisory services and is not a client of StoneBridge or the other advisers in our network. In full transparency, we’re compensated for promoting certain advisers and therefore have a financial incentive to recommend them, which creates a material conflict of interest.

Sarah L. Cicero, CFP®, CFA®

President & Managing Partner of StoneBridge Advisors

Strategic Planner, Your Investment Partner

Sarah L. Cicero is President and Managing Partner of StoneBridge Advisors, where she leads a team of advisors who help individuals and families build structured wealth management plans that balance growth, risk, and flexibility. StoneBridge Advisors* (CRD #23131) is a proud member of the WorthNet partner adviser network.

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Last Revised: May 18, 2026