August is one of four months that provides higher-than-normal income for John and Jane and this is largely because all of their energy (specifically pipeline & oil storage) Master Limited Partnerships ((MLP)) assets provide distributions during February, May, August, and November. These assets are typically most efficient in a Taxable account because there are potentially unattractive tax consequences if held in an IRA (MLP income is taxable even in an IRA when the income provided reaches $1,000 or more).
MLP companies that pay distributions in the month of August in John and Jane's Taxable portfolio