Hit my 10-year anniversary of dividend investing this month. Some reflection on what actually moved the needle. What mattered more than I expected: Consistency over timing. My best years were when I invested every month regardless of market conditions. My worst decisions were w
There's a split in this community between high-yield investors and dividend growth investors. I land firmly in the growth camp, and here's why. The case for dividend growth stocks: A stock yielding 2.5% today that raises its dividend 10% annually will yield 6.5% on your origina
If you've been dividend investing long enough, you've probably been burned by a yield trap. That 10%+ yield that turned into a 50% dividend cut and a cratering stock price. Warning signs I've learned to watch: 1. Yield dramatically higher than historical average If a stock nor
REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) deserve their own discussion because they play by different rules—and those rules can work in your favor. Why REITs often yield more: By law, REITs must distribute at least 90% of taxable income as dividends. This structural requirement mea
Before buying any dividend stock, I run through the same checklist. Saves me from yield traps and helps me sleep at night. 1. Dividend Yield Context matters. Compare to the stock's own 5-year average yield, not just the market. If a stock usually yields 2.5% and now yields 4.5%
Took me years of chasing momentum plays to realize something: I don't actually enjoy watching tickers all day. What I wanted was my money working while I wasn't. Dividend investing clicked for me when I reframed it. I'm not buying stocks—I'm buying future paychecks. Every share
"Passive income" gets thrown around a lot. Let me share actual numbers to ground the discussion. My current situation: Portfolio value: ~$180,000 Annual dividend income: ~$5,400 Average yield: 3.0% Monthly average: $450 Is $450/month life-changing? No. Does it cover my car
When I started dividend investing, I made every rookie mistake. Chased yield, ignored fundamentals, overdiversified into 30 positions with a tiny account. If I could restart with $1,000, here's my approach: Keep it simple at first. 3-5 quality holdings max. You don't need 40 st
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