When you're buying stocks in your 40s, the balance starts to shift even more toward yield than what it would have been you're in your 30s. But you also want to maximize safety, as you have less time to make up for lost ground if an investment goes south on you.

These are all high-quality dividend growth stocks that are growing their profits and dividends like clockwork. And they all offer a yield above 4%, which makes it worth your while and gets you closer to living off of your passive dividend income. The balance is weighted somewhat toward yield overgrowth here, but these stocks are all growing their dividends at inflation-beating rates, which allows your purchasing power to keep up with inflation.

So you get a yield that's more than twice as high as what the market offers, which compensates you for your risk and helps you to meet some of your current income needs. But you still get that growth and safety in there, so that you can be mindful of your future self and their income needs.

The first stock I want to tell you about is Pinnacle West Capital (PNW). This is a utility holding company that serves customers in Arizona. A utility stock like this one is perfect for investors in their 40s. You get that elevated yield you're looking for. In this case, the stock yields a very appealing 4%. But you also get plenty of growth, which is based upon society's need for electricity. That need isn't going anywhere. Demand is only going to rise.

The second stock? Let's talk about Verizon Communications (VZ). Verizon is a telecommunications powerhouse. You know what else? It's a dividend powerhouse. The stock yields 4.4%. And this dividend is growing like clockwork - it's been increased for the last 16 consecutive years, with a 10-year dividend growth rate of 2.6%.

The P/E ratio of 13.4 is well below where the broader market's earnings multiple is at. Verizon's P/CF ratio of 5.7 is noticeably lower than its three-year average of 6.8. And the yield is also above its recent historical average. This is a great idea for investors in their 40s. You get yield, but you don't have to sacrifice growth and quality.

Last but certainly not least, let's discuss Realty Income (O). Realty Income is a dividend growth legend. That's because you get it all. You want yield? They give it to you, with the stock's 4.3% yield. You want growth? They've increased their dividend for 28 consecutive years. You want that income stream to come in monthly? They pay their dividend monthly.

You get a sizable monthly dividend that's growing a lot faster than inflation, with a 10-year dividend growth rate of 4.9%. And this company oozes quality from every pore. There's almost nothing to fault here.

I think all three of these stocks can make for excellent long-term investments, no matter how old you are. But if you're in your 40s and looking to put new capital to work, these could be especially suitable for you.

Video Length: 00:09:24