Dividends fell by about 30% in the recession: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=SPY&a=00&b=29&c=1993&d=07&e=3&f=2010&g=v http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=SPY&a=00&

Dividends fell by about 30% in the recession: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=SPY&a=00&b=29&c=1993&d=07&e=3&f=2010&g=v http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=SPY&a=00&b=29&c=... But yeah, I do think that would be the generally best bet with $5 million. I would most of it in a dividend paying ETF or mutual fund, like DVY or Vanguard Utilties. These funs will pay 4% in dividends, plus, the dividend payout will generally rise at nearly the same rate as income inflation. That's a much, much better deal than CD's which pay 2% a year with no inflation increase.