Mike Nadel

First, the good stuff. Here's my portfolio ...

Conglomerates: GE, MMM

Consumer: CLX, GIS, KO, MCD, PG, WAG

Energy: BRY, COP, EEQ, LNCO, KMI, KMR, RDS.A

Financial: AFL

Health: AZN, BMY, GSK

Industrial: WM

REITs: HCN, NHI, NNN, O, OHI

Tech: INTC

Telcom: BCE, VOD

Tobacco: MO, PM

Utilities: SO

Now, a little about me:

I am a 50-something former sportswriter who was sent on a permanent vacation during the recession. That sucked, but my story is not a sad one. Unlike many folks who lost their jobs, I am not in financial distress, I am not depressed and I am not bored.

My wife is a pediatric nurse with a ...More bullet-proof job and decent benefits. So after supporting her and our two kids (now grown) for most of three decades, the least she can do is support my semi-retired keister!

Because of her job situation, because we have zero debt (not even mortgage debt), because we no longer have any dependents and because we have been pretty diligent savers over the years, we are comfortable (though nowhere near rich).

I keep busy by working part-time at a golf course, and I also do some freelance writing, officiating, coaching and volunteering. My latest obsession is trying to see how I can get more out of my financial portfolio for the future ... which led me to Seeking Alpha. I am intrigued by the Dividend Growth Investing strategy and convinced it's a solid basis for a long-term investment plan.

I have done little sportswriting since moving from Chicago to Charlotte in 2010. Instead, I have moved out of my comfort zone by writing personal finance articles here on Seeking Alpha. It's been a great challenge ... and a great deal of fun.

I also continue to post to the blog I initiated in 2007 -- lots of sports stuff, some politics, some personal crud -- at www.TheBaldestTruth.com.