These are some of the best resources I know of in regard to dividend growth investing, building a portfolio, managing money, saving more money, and becoming financially free. What you’ll see below are resources I’ve personally used to get to where I’m now at. If I haven’t personally used it and benefited from it, you won’t see it here.
Money Management
I’ve used Personal Capital to manage my own portfolio for some time. It’s a great (and free!) platform to manage all of your wealth and spending from one spot. It aggregates all of your portfolio data, allowing you to look at actionable information – allocation, performance, etc. They also have a great budgeting area that allows you to see exactly what you spent across all of your budget categories. It’s truly a one-stop shop. Highly recommended. If you’d prefer a platform that focuses simply on budgeting, Mint is an excellent solution.
Brokerage
I was with Scottrade since I started investing in early 2010, but I switched over to Schwab in 2017 for a number of reasons. Fantastic service, robust interface, and tons of research. I honestly don’t know what else you’d want. Plus, the trading fees are ZERO. I can’t say enough great things about Schwab. Also, attaching a High Yield Investor Checking account to your brokerage account is practically necessary, as you’ll be given a debit card that could forever eliminate ATM withdrawal fees (including foreign withdrawal fees).
Stock Ideas
Daily Trade Alert, Seeking Alpha, and Motley Fool all offer excellent content regarding stock ideas.
Morningstar is more of an analysis service, but they also offer a treasure trove of data.
Google Finance will allow you to pull up any ticker and get instant information on that stock.
The Dividend Champions, Contenders, and Challengers list is the most robust source of information on US-listed dividend growth stocks I’m personally aware of.
Blogging
I use Bluehost to host this site. I’ve had a seamless experience thus far. It’s cheap and fast, and the service is great. Blogging makes entrepreneurship accessible to just about anyone out there, while simultaneously giving any vision a voice. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today had I never started blogging back in 2011. It’s definitely not easy, but it can be really rewarding. Bluehost also makes installing WordPress a cinch. Also, I’m offering FREE 30-minute coaching sessions (focusing specifically on blogging) to anyone who uses the affiliate link above. You won’t find a better deal than that anywhere.
Books
Of course, I can’t recommend resources without mentioning one of my own. The Dividend Mantra Way is my best-selling book on achieving financial freedom by living below your means and investing in dividend growth stocks. It has four different but complementary sections: my background, how to start down the path to financial freedom, why dividend growth investing works so well, and how to analyze and think about stocks. Whereas Mr. Free At 33 is designed to cover the what and the why, this book covers a lot of the how. It especially goes into detail about how I went from below zero to well into the six figures. I’ve priced it at only $4.99 so as to make it accessible to all. There are currently 88 reviews on Amazon, giving it a total rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. You can also check out reviews of the book over at Think Save Retire and Angry Retail Banker. I truly hope you enjoy it, if you decide to read it.
This is my second best-selling book, published in 2018. 5 Steps To Retire In 5 Years is a tactical, step-by-step guide that provides the necessary information to help almost anyone out there reach retirement in five years. And I believe that’s possible in JUST FIVE STEPS. There’s no nonsense here. This moves way past reducing your “daily latte”. This is NOT generic advice. It’s not for people who want the big house, big family, and big cars. This is for people who have a hardcore mindset. Read this if you’re ready to do whatever it takes to leave the grind behind ASAP. I’ve personally followed every step laid out in the book. And I went from below broke to financially independent in six years. So I know it works. I actually discuss how I could have done things even faster. I’ve priced the e-book at a ridiculously low $2.99 just to make sure everyone has an opportunity to benefit from it. You can also get a paperback version of the book for only $9.99. The e-book currently sports a rating of 4.8 stars on Amazon. Check it out!
Josh Peters manages a dividend growth portfolio for Morningstar, and he wrote this great book on dividend growth investing. He discusses why dividends are so important and how they impact one’s long-term total return and income. Also really fun is his ‘Dividend Drill’, which focuses on expected future total return, the sustainability of a company’s dividend, and how likely it is that the dividend will continue to grow.
One of the best books I’ve ever read… about anything. I’ve read it twice. If you’re interested in Warren Buffett and how exactly he came to be the world’s most successful investor (and, oh, a multi-billionaire), this book is a must. Incredible insight here on the man, his life, and how his mind works. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a long but easy read. Set some time aside for this one.
The greatest book on investing ever written. Don’t believe me? Well, that’s what Warren Buffett says, too. If you think Buffett is incredible, Benjamin Graham is the guy who taught Warren Buffett. It’s an essential read for any serious investor, in my opinion. This book covers a lot of ground on the psychological side of investing, but it also has plenty of material on practical advice. And it also discusses how to value stocks. Some of the information is a little outdated, but the book, overall, is truly timeless.
The first book I picked up and read after I decided I didn’t want to be a wage slave any more. I knew I wanted freedom, but I didn’t know how to start climbing that mountain. This book gave me not only the courage but the knowledge. This book will always have a soft spot in my heart. It truly changed my life.
Think most millionaires are out on their yachts, enjoying the spoils of trust funds, putting their hands in the air like they just don’t care? Think again. This book opens your eyes up to how real, lasting wealth is most often built.
Keep in mind that there are affiliate links above, so I may be paid if you purchase any products and/or services using these links. However, I only recommend what I personally use. If I haven’t personally found value in something, I don’t recommend the resource. If you decide to use these links, you’re supporting this site, the content, and the message. You make it easier for me to inspire others. And I thank you for that.
