Today we have a guest post from Bob at Sure Dividend, where you’ll find articles that typically discuss value and dividend growth stocks that are attractive for long-term investors. In this article, we’ll review how the Dividend Aristocrats might fit into an income investor’s long-term portfolio. Let’s dive in. Why Income Investors Should Consider The Dividend Aristocrats There are many ways people can generate passive income. Some people might start a side gig to make extra money, while others might invest in real estate property. At Sure Dividend, we believe investors looking for passive i ..read more

I recently received an email from my employer’s 401(k) provider, Fidelity, highlighting some retirement savings tips for 2021. After review, I thought these were helpful to explore further. Firstly, the email led off with: “To: U.S. employees contributing 6% or more to their account  [Company Name] 401(k) plan” I immediately thought, “are people who aren’t contributing the full match amount NOT receiving this email?” Perhaps the company, or even Fidelity, assumed employees who don’t want the free money also wouldn’t care much about not getting some sound advice. I do! I’d be upset abou ..read more

After recently writing about one of the most popular Vanguard index mutual fund vs. ETF, I received messages from readers asking about some other index funds. Today we’ll review VIMAX vs. VO. We’ll also explore how VIMAX vs. VO might be a consideration for a portion of your long-term stock portfolio. Related: VTSAX vs. VTI: Which One is Better & What’s the Difference? VIMAX vs. VO Overview The Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VIMAX) is a mutual fund that aims to track an index of mid-capitalization US stocks. Here is a summary from the Vanguard site: This low-cost index f ..read more

A coworker recently asked me about saving for her child’s college education. We talked about how stocks are a great way to build wealth over decades. Looking to keep things simple, we turned to a discussion about index investing and two great options: VFIAX vs. VOO. Here we’ll explore VFIAX vs. VOO and how either one might be a good foundation for your long-term stock portfolio. Related: VTSAX vs. VTI: Which One is Better & What’s the Difference? VFIAX vs. VOO Overview The Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) is a mutual fund that aims to track the 500 largest US stocks. He ..read more

A close friend recently asked me about saving for retirement. We talked about how stocks are a great way to build wealth over decades. Looking to keep things simple, we turned to a discussion about index investing and two great options: VTSAX vs. VTI. Here we’ll explore VTSAX vs. VTI and how either one might be a good foundation for your long-term stock portfolio. VTSAX vs. VTI Overview The Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) is a mutual fund that aims to track the entire US stock market. Here is a summary from the Vanguard site: Created in 1992, Vanguard Total Stoc ..read more

Last month, I transferred my entire rollover IRA from Vanguard to M1 Finance due to what I believe is a superior investment experience that M1 offers.  I joined M1 Finance in 2018 as an opportunity to test out a newer investment platform. Since then, I’ve utilized M1 Finance for one of my taxable brokerage accounts. Here we’ll cover why I believe M1 Finance is an excellent consideration as an investment and financial services platform. What is M1 Finance? M1 Finance is a financial services firm started in 2015 by CEO and Founder Brian Barnes. Located in Chicago, M1 Finance offers investo ..read more

About a month ago at Orangetheory Fitness (OTF), we got back to base and returned to the studio after being closed during the quarantine. Some studios had a benchmark workout: the 1 mile run on the treadmill. Last year, the 1-mile run benchmark also happened to fall on my birthday. I felt like I’m getting old. I’ve previously completed the 1 mile run at OTF in 5 minutes (fastest time possible at the fastest speed of 12 MPH). To challenge me last year, I decided to increase the incline from the standard OTF 1% incline to 2%. In order to avoid dying on my birthday (a bit ironic) from exhaustion ..read more

I’ve mentioned previously that I’m a big fan of Orangetheory Fitness (OTF). From participating in classes away from home while on the road to staying motivated and holding myself accountable, I find OTF to be a lot of fun AND effective. To keep things even more interesting, OTF offers a number of challenges and fun classes that spice up the already extremely diverse structure of normal workouts. And then there is Dri-Tri. One of the ones I love (and also hate) the most is the OTF Dry-Land Triathlon, or commonly referred to as Dri-Tri. I love (and hate) Dri-Tri because it’s an opportunit ..read more

About a month ago at Orangetheory Fitness (OTF), we got back to base and returned to the studio after being closed during the quarantine. Some studios had a benchmark workout: the 1 mile run on the treadmill. Last year, the 1-mile run benchmark also happened to fall on my birthday. I felt like I’m getting old. I’ve previously completed the 1 mile run at OTF in 5 minutes (fastest time possible at the fastest speed of 12 MPH). To challenge me last year, I decided to increase the incline from the standard OTF 1% incline to 2%. In order to avoid dying on my birthday (a bit ironic) from exhaustio ..read more

“I want to be rich.” Yes, I’ve heard that before. I do, too. Who doesn’t? But what does being rich mean? One’s definition of rich might include a measure of income, net worth, possessions, family, friends, quality of relationships, time, or other items. Many of these things come to mind. I view these items as different types of wealth. Income, Assets, and Wealth Formula Regardless of the definition, here is a formula to remember if you want to build wealth: Income + Assets = Wealth If you increase your income and assets, you should be able to increase your wealth. For the purposes of this ..read more