Dividend stocks are a great way to stay invested in the market without your entire return depending on stock prices increasing.

With April's brutal sell-off drifting further and further in the rearview mirror, it's easy to think that all stocks will do is go up. But long-term investors know that market sentiment can turn on a dime. So it's best to have a portfolio with high-conviction stocks and/or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) you can count on, no matter what happens in the broader market.

Another way to offset some of the risk of stock-market volatility is to bolster your passive income stream. Dividends allow you to book a return without having to worry about what stock prices are doing, which can be especially powerful during a market sell-off.

If you're looking to fortify your po

See Full Page