Now that interest rates have risen to a higher level than we've seen in more than 20 years, conservative institutional investors are pulling money out of dividend-paying stocks and diverting that cash into less volatile instruments. This makes right now a better-than-average time for everyday investors to go shopping for stocks that pay you to hold them.

Whether you're looking for a high yield upfront or a rapidly growing payout, buying these top dividend stocks now could do a lot to boost the passive income you have during your retirement.

Ares Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: ARCC) is a business development company (BDC), which means it can avoid paying income taxes by delivering at least 90% of its earnings to investors as a dividend. At recent prices, Ares Capital offers a huge 10.1% yield. It hasn't risen in a straight line, but its payout is up 23% over the past five years.

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Source Fool.com