Thanks to a strong 'Santa Rally' in the past few sessions, the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has every chance of finishing the year in positive territory, with just five trading days left in 2014.
Overall though it will have been an uninspiring year and will have left many investors, particularly self-funded retirees just a little bit anxious about 2015.
Dividends more important than ever
The flat result from the market means that capital growth has been non-existent; as such dividends have once again saved the day for investors in 2014. In fact, the index's 4.8% trailing dividend yield has provided a huge boost to overall returns in this context.
2015 Yield
Looking to next year, everyone will be hoping for a stronger performance by the Australian market but hope alone won't make it rise.
For investors not prepared to take the risk that capital gains will save the day, now is the time to be thinking about which dividend stocks you want in your portfolio to provide you with much needed income; income which based on the S&P/ASX 200 index's forward yield is approximately 4.9%.
In this regard many investors will be looking to the 'usual suspects', which could turn out to be a sensible strategy once again in 2015…
Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) continues to provide a very attractive and reliable fully franked 5% dividend yield.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is set to up its dividend in 2015 and is currently trading on a forecast 5% fully franked yield as well.
Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) is forecast to expand its dividend by 10 cents per share (cps) to 210 cps in FY 2015. Based on this estimate, the stock is also providing a fully franked 5% yield.