I have been thinking about how to create a portfolio structure that would be relatively low risk, but provide a high yield as well as a reasonable return over the next two years. I will list some of the assumptions I am making and then lay out the case for using this strategy.

1. One assumption is that the equity market in general will not do well over the next two years. You only have to look at the realistic earnings projections to come to that conclusion or take a look at the condition of the world economy. In either case, it appears pretty grim.
2. The next assumption is that most fixed income instruments provide more safety than their respective equity counterparts.
3. Lastly, I would guess that most individuals might choose a chance for a reasonable return over the next couple of years that, although not guaranteed, does possess a sense of certainty.

With those assumptions in mind, I have decided that a strategy that avoids the volatility and risk in the equity market can be accomplished using both preferred stocks and corporate bonds to provide a return is more than you might expect. I have done a fair amount of research trying to find fixed income instruments that I believe will weather the storm that is occurring at the moment. One website where you can do the same research is www.quantumonline.com which is basically devoted to research of income oriented securities.

I chose the title of this article because I wanted to get the attention of the readers of Seeking Alpha. My intention is to compliment one individual, but also to point out that not only does the average citizen make horrible decisions, but supposed icons of finance such as Alan Greenspan, make these same mistakes. Unfortunately, these icons create problems that affect millions, if not billions of people.

Robert Shiller is the person I would like to compliment for his rational and reasoned approach to the world of economics as well as his reality based thinking. I remember his comments about the stock market in the late nineties and his thoughts about real estate in 2004-2005. Of course people thought he was a little crazy at the time, but now he appears brilliant. The reason he appears this way is simply that he acted in a reasonanable and rational manner. Now, please stay with me, I promise to get to the point.

One of the amazing things happening the market currently is that there are some investments that have little downside risk, and in fact offer high yields with as close to a sure thing that you can find today.

The problem is that the panic in the markets has created a situation where everything is suspect. An example of this is that GE (GE) could go down the tubes, yet it is the most powerful corporation in the world.