AH HA -- sorry if I mis-read your questions.



Research is "work" but I don't know where to tell you how to get it. We all have different brokerages etc. so it's hard to tell you what's available on yours vs someone else's.

Yeah, the info wanted you answered by saying at the brokerage website. Don't have a broker account yet, just my IRA accounts so that's prob why.

By the way --- I don't smoke or drink -- but I'll cash the check of those that do...

The whole time my wife and I were in Europe - she complained about all the smokers --- to which I would remind her --- GREAT!! SMOKE UP!! 'Cause they're paying for your trip.

It's about making MONEY -- not about virtues or vices... I don't bank at Wells Fargo either - but I own their stock.

Schwab has a good research tool.

In fact, from Greg's mention of that a year+ ago i opened up an account there JUST for that. LOL.

I'd re-read the first 30 pages of this thread. Its a keep it simple stupid approach.
When I first started I was a bit scared, and I spent days researching some of these companies.
There are so many companies out there it was a bit overwhelming but I had to keep going back to the principles that Greg has outlined.
Best of breed companies that pay a dividend. Companies that have been around before I was born, and no way they would disappear. Companies that continue to increase dividends. Companies that have show growth over 5 - 10 year charts.

Its not all about just looking at the research thru your brokerage account.
Greg used a bunch of names on here as examples. One he uses often is Altria (MO) he always said its a tobacco company. I Read Google Finace, Yahoo finance. I also went to Altria.com looked thru there website clicked on everything I could. I found they also owned Vineyards and made Wine. They made wine that was drank at my house A LOT! I didn't even know it. I had to buy some but only after I did some research, cause I need to responsible
for my investments. Some of these large companies own 10 different companies you won't know it unless you research it.

I have 2 accounts now. I have my IRA account (only dividend long term) and I have a personal account that I threw some money into (its a mix of dividend and some gambling) and am planning on opening a 3rd account and moving some of my savings account into. The savings account is just dead money its not making anything in interest.

Yup. Google is your friend. Everything you can find out about a company. Not just on Google/Yahoo finance. Thats just the pure stock performance data. Not really anything about the company. I would also take a look at David Fish's "Dividend Champions" list. Its a good place to "start". Its got companys broken down into Champions, Contenders, etc based on how many years they've continuously paid/increased their dividend. Gives you some names to start to do your research on to get your feet wet.


Careful with the "savings" dead money. You don't want to put that into an investment account unless you dont plan on touching it for 5+ years (from what i read, thats a good window). Last thing you want to do is throw it in an account, be down 20% and NEED the money. If you've got a solid 6 month emergency fund and have money left over (after all debt is paid, kids college is taken care of, etc) then yeah, get that extra money working for you. :)

Your emergency fund is your "insurance". Your Get Out of Jail free card. It wont make you any money (mines in a .75% annual return savings account. Its not much, but its something). But most important, its accessible in the event of an emergency.

I forget who asked about Altria (MO) --- but here's why I own it... LOL




01/10/2014 Qualified Dividend MO
ALTRIA GROUP INC
$12,000.00




That 12K is FOUR TIMES PER YEAR.... and taxed at 20% max rate.

Beats working for a living. LOL

01/10/2014 Qual Div Reinvest MO
ALTRIA GROUP INC
$52.43

:sieg:

:headscratch:

:smiley_smack:

Slight difference with only 209 shares!

:D

I'll be analyzing my current portfolio holdings for diversity and ranking their ROI this year, then possibly thinning some holdings to reinforce stronger dividend performing positions. Keeping it simple. :thumbsup:

Sieg,

209 shares x .48 += $100.32 ;)

John

Ding.......the 100 shares I recently bought must not have cleared in time to qualify as on-record. I thought they'd make the date as that was factor when buying, I'll have to check the details on this one.

Thanks.