We all want a secure retirement where we don’t have to worry about making ends meet. After spending 30 or more years in the workforce, its time to kick back and enjoy our golden years. Unfortunately, many people don’t plan for retirement and just assume that their company pension, 401(k) or Social Security will take care of them. That’s a dangerous assumption and a recipe for disaster.
Wed. Jan. 19, 2011
classics, commentary
What Will Your Dividend Income Be When You Retire? *
Mon. Jan. 17, 2011
analysis
Harleysville Group Inc. (HGIC) Dividend Stock Analysis *
This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net January 10, 2011.
Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Harleysville Group Inc. (HGIC). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:
Company Description: Harleysville Group Inc. underwrites a broad array of personal and commercial coverages. These insurance coverages are marketed primarily in the Eastern and Midwestern United States.
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Wed. Jan. 5, 2011
classics, commentary
10 Under-Valued Dividend Stocks *
By many measures, 
2010 was a great year for dividend growth stocks. There were far fewer dividend cuts and fewer companies that failed to raise their dividends at the expected time. From a valuation standpoint dividend stocks performed quite well, with many income portfolios outperforming the S&P 500.
Wed. Dec. 29, 2010
classics, commentary
Dividend Stocks vs. a Safe Distribution Rate *
One of the most interesting questions that often comes up is “How much can you safely withdraw each year from your retirement portfolio?” In 1995, Peter Lynch wrote that a 7% annual withdrawal rate would be prudent for an all-stock portfolio. He later retracted his analysis when financial columnist Scott Burns proved that a 7% withdrawal rate could put you back into the work force just to make ends meet.
Wed. Dec. 8, 2010
classics, commentary
13 Dividend Stocks With A Good Yield/Growth Mix *
As dividend growth investors we understand the danger of focusing on high yield alone. Many, if not most, high yields are simply not sustainable over the long term. However, we often turn our heads to what can be an equally dangerous metric – high dividend growth rates. Like high yields, high dividend growth rates often are not sustainable. As a company grows and matures, incremental sales and earnings are harder to come by. So what is a good mix of yield and growth?
Sat. Nov. 20, 2010
pcp, progress
Pocket Change Portfolio – October 2010 *
The Pocket Change Portfolio (PCP) was first introduced on September 13, 2008 as a real money dividend income portfolio funded by the “pocket change” earned from my various online endeavors. Each month I report on the portfolio’s progress and update its holdings.
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Wed. Nov. 3, 2010
commentary
13 Dividend Stocks and 3 ETFs To Balance Your Asset Allocation *
If you want to lower the risk of your income portfolio and position yourself to increase returns, you can not ignore asset allocation. Many dividend investors loaded up on banks and other high-yield financials, only to see their portfolios collapse along with the financial markets. So what can you do to protect your portfolio from stock and sector specific declines? Here are some of the steps I take to help protect my portfolio:
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Wed. Oct. 27, 2010
classics, commentary
17 Stocks With Room To Grow Their Dividend *
Dividend sustainability is paramount for the high-yield investor. Having a stock cut its dividend could potentially crush their income. A high-yield investor is less concerned about dividend growth than maintaining the current high-yield. Most traditional dividend growth stocks pay a moderate to low yield, thus sustainability is not enough – the dividend growth investor also expects substantial and consistent growth.
Wed. Oct. 20, 2010
classics, commentary
We Were Dividends, Before Dividends Were Cool *
It seems nowadays that every investing article ends with the same conclusion – you should be buying dividend stocks. They are all quoting studies citing the performance edge that dividends have enjoyed over the long-term and the value of a semi-fixed return generated from periodic dividend payments. However, you should beware of some of the information provided. Beyond the simple concepts, some of the writers are making really bad recommendations and cross-breeding dividend investing with their preferred form of investing.
10 Financial Services Dividend Stocks To Boost Your Yield *
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