In the almost five years of sharing my investments on this blog, I’ve never shown exactly how I track dividend income. This article lays out the steps (with screenshots) I take each month to import dividend data into my tracking spreadsheet, estimate forward dividend income, and easily capture dividend increases. My forward 12-month investment income […]
Most of us aren’t looking for extravagant wealth. We simply want sustainable and long-lasting wealth that provides financial security for our families and enough money to fund the lifestyle we desire. That kind of wealth is more attainable than most people think. But there are no shortcuts. By consistently following a tried and true strategy over […]
A New York-based company called Construction Robotics has designed and built a bricklaying robot called SAM (Semi-Automated Mason) that can place up to 3,000 bricks during an 8-hour day. That’s about three times the number of bricks that the fastest human bricklayers can set. The machine requires at least two humans to load materials and finish […]
In 2002, a nineteen-year-old garbage man in the U.K. named Michael Carroll won a lottery jackpot worth $14 million dollars. Instead of making smart money moves with his winnings, he spent his fortune on jewelry and a mansion where he threw lavish parties with drugs and prostitutes. A decade later, he was broke and working […]
I’ve never joined the debate about individual stocks vs. index funds because I’ve never chosen one side or another. I invest in dividend growth stocks, index funds, and even a few growth stocks. In surprising proportions. I’ve invested in individual stocks since 1995. That year, my uncle gifted me one share of Chevron stock and I’ve […]
One of the best benefits of my new job is the employer-sponsored retirement plan. The plan was confusing at first, even for me who lives and breathes this stuff. But they made it complicated to maximize the tax advantages. It’s so good, the plan is even better than most of the 401(k)s of the big […]
A few readers recently expressed a lack of confidence in their investing. They are uncomfortable with where their money is and unsure how to make changes. I sensed some fear because of the recent downturn, maybe for good reason. So today’s post is about how to invest money more confidently by increasing your financial security […]
Bull markets are glorious because they make just about everyone participating feel like they’re a genius investor. Until the markets reverse and you lose money. Sometimes a lot of money. Then you feel like crap as you watch your net worth plummet. This month we’ve seen some long-awaited volatility return to the stock markets. After […]
Normal people earn a paycheck and spend most of it every month. Wealthy people invest their money and time into income producing assets and business ideas that make money. What better way to start 2018 than by creating new passive income streams to help free your time and build wealth? To get you motivated, I’ve compiled a […]
This M1 Finance review was last updated on 10/15/2018. Updated with M1 Borrow changes. We learned of some game-changing news in the online brokerage industry recently. One of the most innovative modern online brokers in the space, M1 Finance, announced they have eliminated all fees for all investors. So I wrote this M1 Finance review to introduce […]
This is the fifth annual review of Santa’s stock portfolio. Since I started this website in 2013, I’ve been tracking the investment portfolio of Santa Claus, the foremost expert on Christmas and the holiday shopping season. He’s such a prolific investor he even has a stock market rally named after him. Santa’s stock portfolio is a […]
Sometimes I assume my blog audience is a bunch of 42-year-old Dads like me balancing work and kids while building income streams. But the emails I get tell a different story. Many readers are beginner investors only recently finding my website and getting started with investing. Some are young. Some are not so young. With all […]
Very few decisions during your time on this earth actually change the trajectory of your life. After a party in 2007, I scanned the huge Evite email list to try to find a woman I met there. Then I ‘stalked’ her on Facebook and asked her out. We have three kids together now. Though truly […]
Is it possible to invest with a conscience? Among the many excuses to not start investing is concerns about investing money in the big mean corporations… according to what comes up in my Facebook news feed. You’ve heard it before… Walmart doesn’t pay for enough health insurance. Exxon pollutes. Monsanto unleashed an army of rabid nanobots […]
