I started investing in individual stocks in 2008. My investment activities have been exclusively for my personal portfolio. Investment Method: My focus is on companies with predictable profits that sell at prices that allow above average long-term returns. I value companies based on their earnings power. In particular, I value stable earnings and growing earnings for the simple reason that they require less monitoring. As a result, most of my research time is spent trying to predict future earnings. While predictions are always a guess, good companies tend to have a good track record of good earnings, competitive advantages, good managerial execution, and good capital management. Investment research is not hard, but it is tedious. Note that certain industries use certain terms that better measure companies' earnings power in their unique environments--i.e. Funds From Operations for REITs, or Net Investment Income for BDCs. US Stocks provide an inherent advantage to investors. The overall strength of the US economy propels US companies toward increasing earnings growth. As a result, the average investor has a baseline chance of mirroring economic growth. In gambling, the house wins over the long-term due to certain statistical advantages against gamblers. In investing, investors have the long-term advantage of a growing US economy. This advantage is the primary reason that I consider stocks to be a good vehicle for wealth creation. Even the laziest investor has historically performed well just by buying a broad-based US index fund. Certain factors can cause investors to deviate positively or negatively from expected investment returns. Taking unnecessary risk in companies with unclear or unproven earnings is the primary danger that I see. To me, risk comes from the unknown. While risk is unavoidable, I feel that controlling risk is the best way to achieve reasonable investment returns. Investment risk comes from anything that decreases earnings, such as poor capital management, competition, and changes within industry. Many consider stock price fluctuations (beta) to be an element of risk. However, most savvy investors see those fluctuations as opportunity for above-average investment return. Stock prices often deviate drastically from a company's earnings trend, and when stock prices drop they can give investors a chance to purchase very profitable companies at bargain prices. Valuation must always be considered prior to any investment purchase. Paying too much for even a great company will result in mediocre returns. I also measure every potential investment against what I already own. I start with the safest possible investment--US treasury bonds. If I consider any investment that carries more risk, it must have the potential for higher returns than a US treasury bond. Are the earnings as stable as my other investments? Does the price allow a reasonable return and a margin of safety if I am inaccurate in my projections? Dividends are not a primary factor in my decision to purchase an investment. However, dividends, when reinvested, can provide an additional boost to investment returns. Compounded earnings growth is the primary engine for investment returns; dividends add a second engine for additional investment returns. While earnings are the most direct measure of a company's profitability, dividend history is also a good proxy of profitability. Another important attribute of dividends is that an investor can harvest cash without sacrificing assets. A dividend-paying company can continue to pay dividends until its earnings cannot support the dividend. Many strong companies raise their dividends annually, thereby providing protection against inflation. My investing record is not long enough to show if I have superior investing skill. In fact, I have and will make substantial mistakes. However, I have had significant overall gains. Plus, I am constantly amazed at the efforts and ingenuity of business both small and large. The SA community has been tremendously helpful in my investment education. I share my own research through the few articles that I have written for SA in the hopes that others can benefit from my many hours of study. Best wishes to all! Current Long Stock Positions: AAPL-Apple AWLCF-Awilco Drilling BRK.B-Berkshire Hathaway CLDT-Chatham Lodging Trust CORR-CorEnergy DIS-Disney ETN-Eaton GILD-Gilead HON-Honeywell HTGC-Hercules Technology Growth Capital KIM-Kimco Realty LUV-Southwest Airlines MAIN-Main Street Capital MPW-Medical Properties Trust NEWT-Newtek Business Services NMFC-New Mountain Finance OHI-Omega Healthcare SBRA-Sabra Health Care SKT-Tanger Factory Outlets STAG-STAG Industrial T-AT&T TGT-Target UNIT-Uniti Group UNP-Union Pacific VTR-Ventas WFC-Wells Fargo WPC-W.P. Carey