Dividend Yield: 14.8%
Market Cap: $2.0 billion

MFA Financial (MFA) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that primarily invests in mortgage-backed securities. According to Wall Street rules, a REIT is a corporation that invests in real estate in some form and gets a special tax designation as a "trust" that reduces or altogether eliminates income taxes. In return, Real Estate Investment Trusts must return 90% of their income to investors. This provides for some great dividends for income-oriented investors -- such as the nearly 15% yield that MFA offers.

Dividends are an often overlooked but crucial part of a successful retirement strategy. These quarterly offerings can provide a regular "paycheck" for retirees -- especially when the company is a high-yielding blue chip with a track record of boosting its dividend year after year.

But dividends don't just have to be a quiet way to grow your nest egg. They can really supercharge your returns when you buy into a great stock that also happens to be cash-rich. On top of the appreciation you see in your shares, you'll also get a great bonus checked mailed four times a year -- or more, depending on the dividend schedule.