Last week I received bad news about a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) that I’ve invested in for the past two-plus years. Procter & Gamble (PG), the consumer products giant and popular Dividend Aristocrat, switched its stock transfer agent and raised fees. DRIP fees are the enemy of dividend growth investors. Those of us that track […]
January 2015 The investment Income/Portfolio page on my blog has been updated as of January 31st, 2015. This page outlines my portfolio of taxable investments and the income they generate on a yearly and average monthly basis. Also included is a chart with a historical look at my investment income since October 2003. January is typically […]
For my birthday in 1995, my uncle gifted me one share of Chevron (CVX) stock out of his dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP). He was an employee at the time. He instructed me to regularly invest small amounts of money into the program and automatically reinvest the dividends I received. Eventually, he said, the quarterly dividend would […]
In the past few weeks, I’ve reviewed my 2014 financial goals and calculated my forward investment income for the year’s end. Now it’s time to set some new financial goals for 2015. This year I’m lowering the number of goals (four compared to seven) I set while making the new ones more challenging, measurable, and targeted. Last year was […]
Ever wonder why so many young people are afraid to start investing? If you read the financial sites online, or watch the financial news networks, the answer becomes clear. There’s lots of so-called experts telling us what to do with our money. Some advice is over simplified and inadequate. Other advice is unnecessarily complex. For someone just […]
Note: This same process holds true among other brokerages. For transferring shares to M1 Finance, the no-fee online broker for long-term investors, contact the transfer department in the FAQs for concierge service. M1 Finance is now 100% free. Read my M1 Finance Review here. I recently made a simple move that increased my passive […]
Update: I received an email indicating PG has left Computershare for Wells Fargo Shareowner Services and is raising fees. I find this disappointing as we’ll need new accounts at WF. Because of the fees I no longer recommend the Procter & Gamble DRIP. Revolt Against Fees! For information on how to transfer shares out of a DRIP, […]
Update – I’m no longer investing in the Aqua America DRIP. I still own the stock, but it’s been transferred to M1 Finance. I’m now using M1 Finance instead of opening new DRIPs. It’s a more intuitive platform for beginner to intermediate investors. Highly recommended. On January 8th, 2014 I initiated a position in the Aqua America […]
Update: I’ve since transferred my Verizon DRIP shares out of Computershare and into TD Ameritrade. Click here to read about the transfer process. Instead of opening new DRIPs, I prefer a more flexible platform called M1 Finance. M1 Finance gives you all the benefits of dollar cost averaging and fractional shares but at a lower […]
As of late 2017, I still hold all of my Coca-Cola shares in the Coca-Cola DRIP. However, I’m no longer reinvesting the dividends. In addition, I do not start any new DRIPs these days. I prefer a more modern online broker called M1 Finance that gives you the power of dollar cost averaging and fractional […]
Update 11/16/2015: I recently transferred my shares out of the CSX DRIP and into TD Ameritrade. I found the Broadridge CSX DRIP to be a complication on my finances, and they charged fees. Now I’m tracking my investments through TD Ameritrade, Loyal3, and Personal Capital (a free and powerful investment tracker). For a guide on […]
Please read my latest update, 20 Years In The Chevron DRIP. I have been dividend investing as a core investment strategy since May of 1995. That year on my birthday, my uncle gifted me one single share of Chevron stock, symbol CHV at the time, now CVX. He was an employee for the company and he […]
