MarketWatch: This veteran money manager has seen it all. These 19 dividend stocks pass his rigorous quality screen right now
By Philip van Doorn
Lewis Altfest sets parameters for screening dividend stocks ahead of a weakening economy
Lewis Altfest’s time in the finance industry spans seven decades. He has some words of advice for investors who aren’t used to stomach-churning stock-price moves.
He founded Altfest Personal Wealth Management in 1983 after working as a general partner and director of research Lord Abbett & Co. Before that, he was an analyst for several firms, including Lehman Brothers.
Below, Altfest modifies his methodology for a screen of dividend stocks to help investors weather turbulent markets.
From his country getaway, Altfest, whose firm manages about $1.5 billion for private clients, had the following advice for long-term investors who may have difficulty waiting through a bear market for better times ahead: “Bears come up to the back deck looking for food. We are not afraid of them. We knock on the back window and they run away. My advice for young people is don’t be afraid of the bear market for stocks! It may take time for the bear to run away, but it always happens.”
When asked about the concerns of his clients this year, Altfest said most “have not hit the panic mode yet,” and that it is typically newer clients who are the most nervous about the current environment, in which rising interest rates have pressured stock and bond valuations.
He noted that by building cash balances and holding shorter-term bonds late in 2021, he was positioned to take advantage of price declines this year.