With the recent major decline in oil prices, Exxon's (XOM) stock price has taken a hit. It is now down about 10% from its peak. Given the price decline, it dividend yield is now up to 3%.

The stock market has once again shown that the days of nerve-wracking volatility are not over. Economic growth in the developed world remains sub-par to say the least and many still believe that most of the stock market here is propped up with easy money from the Federal Reserve.

Every day we see articles about how so many of those in their 60s cannot stop working for at least another decade. Many of those approaching retirement age simply did not have enough money saved and were not prepared. This, combined with losses from the crash of 2008 and 2009, has left many people struggling to figure out how they might retire before they’re 65 or even 70 years old.

I recently had a prospective client come to me with an interesting case. He and his wife have $800,000 saved, half of which is in an IRA. He and his wife are both currently 45 years old. They want to retire by age 58 and they never want to worry about the principal. They only want to live off of dividends and/or interest income.

Most investors know by now that income planning in today's low interest rate world has become exceedingly difficult.