Tag: Dividends
How Dividends Changed My Life: My First Six Years as a Dividend Investor
I used to be afraid of the world. I worried about receiving a phone call containing unexpected bad news that required an emergency outlay of money. I was scared because I didn’t know how money worked. The only way I learned how to make money was by working my job. Luckily, one day in summer…
The Reality of Being a Landlord: Not Everyone Can Do It
The reality of being a landlord is that most people cannot become one. It may be a tough pill to swallow, but it is something we must take seriously. Only about 7% of the population collects rent from someone else. I learned that in my macroeconomic class last year. Today, I want to discuss why…
Which Asset Class is Right for You? Real Estate, Stocks, Business
It’s decision time. It’s time to get off the sidelines and jump into the world of investing. Luckily, there has never been a better time to wade in the water. Why is investing so vital to your financial lifestyle? The average person cannot outpace inflation unless they invest their money. Therefore, becoming an investor must…
How to Obtain, Retain, and Maintain Wealth: How to Get and Stay Rich
Wealth is a mindset. I wrote an article about this topic in February 2021, as I was just beginning my journey toward financial independence. Now, over four years later, I am fully retired and own five homes. “Life is good” is an understatement. However, I still have to remain vigilant about maintaining my wealth. If…
Dividend Growth Investing vs. High-Yield Savings Accounts: How to Get a 4% Yield
Many people become savers but don’t expand their worldview to become investors. Saving and investing are two different aspects of your overall wealth-building agenda. But, how do you know how much to save and how much to invest? The answer lies in your own personal goals and situation. Today, I will help you create a…
Can You Turn $5,000 into $6,000 in One Year? How To Compound Your Money
How do you grow your wealth without working a job? That is the existential question most people can never answer throughout their lifetimes. Why is this question so important to your long-term financial health? If you can answer this question, you have a good chance of thriving on passive income. Before I answer this question,…
I Still Believe in the American Dream: You Can Go From Poor to Rich in One Lifetime
I have noticed a significant amount of negativity toward the American Dream recently. Mostly stemming from the cost of homeownership. However, I believe in the American dream now more than ever. In fact, I am a product of the American dream and currently living my version of “my best” lifestyle. Why did the view of…
Becoming Rich is about Critical Thinking: And Budgeting
Do you want to become rich? Outside of hard work and determination, critical thinking is perhaps the most essential part of your journey toward financial freedom. However, let me warn you: schools and (most) parents do not teach critical thinking. Instead, you will have to build your brain (through reading) and mindset (through action) on…
Dividend Investing vs. Renting Rooms: Your Best Path the Wealth
The path to becoming wealthy can take many twists and turns, and may lead to unexpected places. Everyone’s path is different and exciting in its own right. Most people believe that the only path to wealth is through a high-paying job, but this assumption is incorrect. The money you make from your job must go…
From Debt to Dividends #2: Erasing Debt
Every month, I receive a substantial dividend from AGNC on my Cash App brokerage account. This month (June 2025), the dividend will be over $200. I remember a time when I would receive a credit card bill for $200 (or more). How did I go from paying interest to receiving it? Welcome back to the…
Income Investing: Invest Using the Rule of 72
I heart income investing. I love having the ability to convert fresh cash flow into permanent passive income. However, income investing is not for everyone. From the outside looking in, income investing may seem like a risky endeavor. Typically, yields are much higher than those of index funds and dividend growth investing. When people see…
From Debt to Dividends #1: Determining Spending Habits
If you have a lot of debt, chances are you do not earn a lot of dividends. Debt represents the worst part of the power of compounding, while dividends reflect the best part. But, how do you go from being in debt to earning passive income? What shift in mindset must you undertake to achieve…
Living Overseas on Passive Income #1: Dividends
I never heard of passive income until I visited Turkey in June 2019. While I was there, I got the idea to retire overseas. However, how would I earn income? There is no reasonable way for an American to work in Turkey and earn a living. Therefore, I would need to bring my own income.…
Is $100,000 a Year the Magic Happiness Number? How Much Do You Need to be Satisfied?
Earning $100,000 per year used to be the gold standard for hard-working adults to strive for. Once you hit this milestone, you were officially “wealthy.” However, things have changed over the years (especially since inflation). People now believe they require more than $100,000 to survive and thrive. But, is that truly the case? Three years…
Earning $36,000 a Year In Dividends: Going from Active to Passive Income
I joined the workforce in 1996 and worked until 2023. According to my Social Security earnings record, I didn’t start earning $36,000 a year until 2010—that’s 15 years. Those were some tough but fun years in the United States Marine Corps. Back then, I would not have ever imagined I could earn $36,000/year without lifting…
What is Your Dream Retirement 2? You Can Make It Happen
When did we stop dreaming about retirement? As a nation, the media convinced us that we can never retire. However, that’s not the case. Retirement is available to everyone, but it requires an enormous amount of work. So much work, in fact, that most people decide not to do it. But retirement isn’t about leaving…
Passive Income Requires Massive Work: You Didn’t Think It Would Be Easy, Did You?
We all want to lead a fantastic life; a life filled with adventure, travel, and fun. However, most of the time, we fill our lives with duty, responsibility, and work. How do we begin to live the life of our dreams? The fastest way to change your lifestyle is to prioritize the importance of time…
The Magic of Options Trading: Learn to Manage Risk
My school years didn’t teach me how to manage or control risk; in fact, they taught us to avoid risk. The general philosophy was to go to school, get good grades, and get a high-paying job. In 1999, I decided to forgo college despite having a 4.4 grade point average. I joined the United States…
Setting Yourself Up for a Healthy, Wealthy Retirement: Only You Can Save Your Future
Retirement planning is serious business; YOUR retirement is even more crucial than everyone else’s. You won’t survive long if you don’t prioritize your retirement over everything else. This may sound selfish; however, it is the truth. No one is coming to save you. To have a healthy, wealthy retirement, you’ll need to start planning today.…
Index Funds vs. Income Investing: The Best Way to Retire Early
Do you want to retire in your early 50s? That is an excellent time to call it quits and focus on family and friends. But how can you retire this early without a solid financial plan and a massive bank account? One way is to follow the FIRE movement (Financial Independence Retire Early). The FIRE…
