21% Yield and Counting: Why I Bet Big on ECC

21% Yield and Counting: Why I Bet Big on ECC is a personal and analytical journey into the world of high-yield investing, told through the lens of one retail investor's deep dive into Ellington Credit Company (ECC). With a monthly dividend yield exceeding 20%, ECC offers a powerful, albeit risky, income opportunity that challenges conventional portfolio advice. The book begins by explaining the appeal of high-yield investing in a world of low interest rates and underwhelming "safe" returns, highlighting how ECC-despite its complexity and volatility-stood out as a misunderstood but potentially rewarding vehicle for consistent cash flow.

Through detailed chapters, the book dissects ECC's structure, portfolio composition, and income mechanics. It covers critical elements like NAV analysis, dividend sustainability, CLO risk, market sentiment, and taxation. The author shares not only the technical side of ECC, but also the emotional and psychological discipline required to hold through downturns, reinvest aggressively, and maintain conviction when sentiment turns sour. Comparisons with similar funds-BDCs, mREITs, and high-yield CEFs-reveal how ECC stacks up and where it fits within a broader income strategy. Real-world portfolio decisions, entry points, and sell signals offer practical insights beyond theory.

In the final chapters, the book shifts to mindset: the value of monthly cash flow, the compounding power of reinvestment, and the emotional toll of volatility. It doesn't glamorize ECC or pretend high-yield investing is for everyone-it's a realistic, grounded view of how to thrive with an unconventional asset in a conventional world. The result is a cautionary yet empowering roadmap for income-focused investors who are willing to think independently, manage risk, and build long-term wealth from monthly income rather than market timing.