Dividend Investors - Don't Just Stand There - Do Something [View article]
TE has not announced an increase for this year. As a long time owner of TE, I consider it a bit of a dog. They cut their dividend in 2003 and only started increasing it five years ago. I've only held on because at this price the yield is good. I've been dripping my shares so have been accumulating more at these low prices, but after a while I realized it wasn't getting me anywhere. I'm now receiving my dividends in cash and may unload TE for a better prospect. Thinking of LO, but already own MO and am not sure I want to load up on tobacco no matter how good the yield.
Dividend Investors - Don't Just Stand There - Do Something [View article]
Bob Wells, I'm a little late to the conversation, but wanted to thank you for posing a great question. As for me, I'm not doing anything right now. Whenever the market is going good or doing bad we get itchy and feel that we must do something. Thus creating great personal dilemmas. I find I'm better off waiting and missing a few opportunities rather than making rash decisions that tend to go wrong.
As long as my stocks are paying dividends and increasing them I'm content. I try not to worry that I'm losing potential profits when my stocks hit new highs. I know I could potentially sell and redeploy to another possibly better stock, but what if I'm wrong and my new pick doesn't perform as well? I'm still working and so don't need the dividends for living expenses. I'm planning to retire this summer, then it'll be a little different. For now I'm accumulating my dividends in cash (though I still drip a few companies) and waiting for a buying opportunity this summer or whenever the market corrects. And if it that buying opportunity doesn't come, maybe I'll learn to spend some money and enjoy retirement instead of watching the market.
Buying General Growth Properties Today? Is The Thrill Of Victory Worth The Agony Of Defeat? [View article]
Brad, thanks for the article. I've owned GGP through the bankruptcy. Not a smart move, but it's one bankruptcy where I still got some value afterward. I still of course have a big loss on my shares. I don't know much about preferred's, but they seem intriguing.
The Market Is Advancing: Is It Time To Sell? [View article]
Thank you David Crosetti for a great article on knowing what your goals are when investing. I really appreciate your wisdom and sharing your story with us readers. I might add that one's goals change over time. I've been using DRIP's and DSSP's for over 15 years now for two reasons, one, I didn't have much money to invest at one time and they allowed me to get into a stock for a minimal purchase and two, it forced me to be patient and hold for a long time (It's hard to trade in and out of a stock in a DRIP). The first stock I bought through the company's DSSP was ExxonMobil. I bought it with the idea I would sell it after about five years for a down payment on a new car. Well, that idea came and went. I didn't sell XOM when I bought a new car. I guess you could say I committed that sin of falling in love with a stock. I still have XOM and now it holds a spot for a different goal, retirement income. I stopped reinvesting my dividends a few years go and used them to add to my mortgage payments and pay it off early. They'll now come in handy as I prepare to retire later this year. Maybe my original thesis wasn't the best, but XOM turned out to be a good stock for me and like your Coca Cola I enjoy holding and collecting dividends.
My Q4 Portfolio Review - 2012 Wrap Up [View article]
Bob Wells, thank you for sharing your portfolio. I like your approach to constructing a portfolio. I'm learning from you and others here on SA and hope to put my portfolio in better shape as a result.
My Q4 Portfolio Review - 2012 Wrap Up [View article]
Robert, I don't have any great ideas for industrial stocks, just wanted to comment on the three. I sold my ETN prior to the move to Ireland, if I recall there were some tricky tax issues with the move. I like to keep things simple thus don't own any foreign domiciled stocks. I still have EMR, though recently dropped out of their drip. I've looked at ITW but never bought. I always appreciate your commentary here on SA.
Team Alpha: Create Retirement Wealth By Investing In This Market [View article]
RS, Thanks for another great article. I would add to your "mantra" regarding living within your means, don't run a balance on your credit cards. I use credit cards only for the convenience of not having to carry a lot of cash around. I only charge what I can pay in full each month on my cards. I know some may argue there may be emergencies where one feels he has to charge something, but the high interest rates on credit cards are a sure path to disaster. Of course, living within your means applies to all forms of debt; mortgage, car loans, etc. I may not have a big house or late model car, but I'm not swimming in debt either. Best to all in saving and in limiting debt.
DRIP Investing: How To Actually Invest Only A Hundred Dollars Per Month [View article]
Thanks for the article, Tim. I have used these DRIP's for years. I only recently openned a brokerage account at Fidelity and am in the process of moving some of my stocks to Fidelity. I know they offer free reinvestment, but I haven't tried that yet. The transfer of my stocks from Computershare and the other transfer agents was surprisingly simple. I filled out a transfer form with Fidelity and after the wife and I signed, mailed it to Fidelity's processing center. The transfer was usually done in a week. Whole shares were transferred and fractional sold. The selling fees, usually along the line of $15.00 plus 10-12 cents a share, generally meant I got nothing for the fractional share. I know this isn't the most efficient method of investing, but it served my purposes. Yes, I couldn't dictate the price I wanted to buy at, but it allowed me to invest small amounts of money over years at a time when I didn't have much to invest. Now, I'm preparing to retire later this year and collect those dividends in cash. Consolidating everything at Fidelity will make it easier to keep track of all those little dividends. As to the bookkeeping, yes, cost basis is a pain. For stocks I have sold through the transfer agent, I simplified it by selling my whole position in a stock. I then aggregated all the purchases into long term and short term holding periods. Yes, it did mean adding up a lot of purchases whether by optional cash or reinvested dividend, but I didn't find it too cumbersome. For me it was a great way to get started investing in stocks. I also looked for the DRIP plans with little or no fees. I ruled out some of those with what I considered exhorbitant fees. Exxon Mobil which you mentioned was coincidentally the first stock I bought through the transfer agent. It's been one of my best performers.
Don't Let The Dividend Well Run Dry [View article]
Eddie Herring, I'm a little late in reading your article, but wanted to thank you for describing your approach. I too have three wells, my Roth, my employers plan and taxable accounts. I've been dripping stocks I've bought through direct stock purchase plans and only recently openned a brokerage account. I'm now in the process of moving many of my drip stocks to the brokerage account. I plan to retire later this year and am now ready to take those dividends in cash to supplement my retirement income or invest in other dividend paying opportunities. The Roth and employer plan I keep in primarily simple index funds. Again, thank you for a well thought article.
Thanks, Doctor Dividend, for two extremely informative articles (parts 1 & 2) on IRA's. I think your best point was made in article 1 on leaving instructions for a spouse. My wife leaves the finances to me, not that I'm a genius, but I really need to write down instructions on what we have and how to access it after my death. IRA's are just a part of looking at one's overall financial picture. You've done so many of us a service with these fine articles.
Is Texas Roadhouse Worth A 'Steak?' [View article]
Alphamales, most of the Roadhouses I've been to lately have an empty bucket at the table to put the shells into. You don't have to toss them on the floor anymore.
Should I Buy High-CAGR Dividend Growth Companies? [View article]
Thank you Robert for another informative article. Like you I like steady increases. Of course, I'm always happy when a company increases their dividend more than usual and disappointed when the increase is less than expected. For instance I have one steady eddie, ATO, that consistently increases their dividend 1/2 cent a quarter (2 cents annually) every December. It's not a large increase, but it has been fairly dependable. And David Fish just promoted it from a contender to champion. I like that.
106 Dividend Champions For December [View article]
Thank you David Fish, your work is appreciated by many. Now if only I can get it through my thick skull to make better use of your CCC lists in considering investments. :-)
Is Texas Roadhouse Worth A 'Steak?' [View article]
Thanks Ong Kang Wei for a great article. Every time I've visited a Texas Roadhouse (in several states) they have been packed. I like their food and reasonable prices. Obviously others do too. So, took the plunge and bought a few shares last month. Got in a little on the high side as my shares have gone down since purchase, but I bought this with the intention of giving them a chance to grow.
Realty Income: Excellent Investment, Just Not Right Now [View article]
Thanks Tim for your perspective on O. I've read a lot about O here on SA and elsewhere, but just can't bring myself to buy it. Right now I don't have the cash so I can procrastinate a little longer. But, when I do build up my cash I will probably look at O again.
Dividend Investors - Don't Just Stand There - Do Something [View article]
Dividend Investors - Don't Just Stand There - Do Something [View article]
As long as my stocks are paying dividends and increasing them I'm content. I try not to worry that I'm losing potential profits when my stocks hit new highs. I know I could potentially sell and redeploy to another possibly better stock, but what if I'm wrong and my new pick doesn't perform as well? I'm still working and so don't need the dividends for living expenses. I'm planning to retire this summer, then it'll be a little different. For now I'm accumulating my dividends in cash (though I still drip a few companies) and waiting for a buying opportunity this summer or whenever the market corrects. And if it that buying opportunity doesn't come, maybe I'll learn to spend some money and enjoy retirement instead of watching the market.
Buying General Growth Properties Today? Is The Thrill Of Victory Worth The Agony Of Defeat? [View article]
The Market Is Advancing: Is It Time To Sell? [View article]
My Q4 Portfolio Review - 2012 Wrap Up [View article]
My Q4 Portfolio Review - 2012 Wrap Up [View article]
Team Alpha: Create Retirement Wealth By Investing In This Market [View article]
DRIP Investing: How To Actually Invest Only A Hundred Dollars Per Month [View article]
I know this isn't the most efficient method of investing, but it served my purposes. Yes, I couldn't dictate the price I wanted to buy at, but it allowed me to invest small amounts of money over years at a time when I didn't have much to invest. Now, I'm preparing to retire later this year and collect those dividends in cash. Consolidating everything at Fidelity will make it easier to keep track of all those little dividends. As to the bookkeeping, yes, cost basis is a pain. For stocks I have sold through the transfer agent, I simplified it by selling my whole position in a stock. I then aggregated all the purchases into long term and short term holding periods. Yes, it did mean adding up a lot of purchases whether by optional cash or reinvested dividend, but I didn't find it too cumbersome. For me it was a great way to get started investing in stocks. I also looked for the DRIP plans with little or no fees. I ruled out some of those with what I considered exhorbitant fees. Exxon Mobil which you mentioned was coincidentally the first stock I bought through the transfer agent. It's been one of my best performers.
Don't Let The Dividend Well Run Dry [View article]
How Does My IRA Get Disposed Of? [View article]
Is Texas Roadhouse Worth A 'Steak?' [View article]
Should I Buy High-CAGR Dividend Growth Companies? [View article]
106 Dividend Champions For December [View article]
Is Texas Roadhouse Worth A 'Steak?' [View article]
Realty Income: Excellent Investment, Just Not Right Now [View article]