Gift cards have revolutionized the way we gift and shop. They provide convenience, flexibility, and the freedom to choose our own preferences. In the world of gift cards, Raise.com has emerged as a game-changer, offering a platform that not only allows users to buy and sell gift cards but also opens up a world of savings and possibilities. In this article, we'll delve into the intricacies of Raise.com, exploring how it works, its advantages, potential drawbacks, and its impact on the gift card industry. Raise.com operates as an online marketplace for gift cards, connecting buyers and s ..read more

Real estate is a tried-and-true asset class for investors seeking diversification and income. Traditionally, one would invest in real estate by purchasing physical properties or perhaps buying shares of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). However, the rise of real estate crowdfunding platforms, such as Fundrise, has introduced a new dimension to real estate investing. In this essay, we will delve into the world of Fundrise and REITs, examining their similarities, differences, and helping you make an informed choice based on your investment goals and preferences. Fundrise is a prominent na ..read more

Cryptocurrency staking is a transformative concept that has taken the digital asset landscape by storm. In a world where traditional financial systems are grappling with uncertainty, staking offers an enticing opportunity for cryptocurrency holders to earn passive income. In this post, we'll delve deep into the world of cryptocurrency staking, exploring how it works, its potential for generating returns, and the impact it has on the crypto ecosystem. Cryptocurrency staking is a consensus mechanism that enables token holders to actively participate in the validation of transactions and ..read more

The last time I shared my financial journey was back in 2020 Q1, and it's safe to say that life has taken me on an unexpected ride since then. The past couple of years forced me to make some tough decisions, including liquidating a substantial portion of my investments in 2021 and 2022 to address pressing real-life issues. But now, as the dust settles and I find myself with a moment to breathe, I've taken the opportunity to review and consolidate my financial numbers from the past three years. It's time to take stock of where I stand. In this post, I plan to open the curtains on my dividend e ..read more

The markets have been in turmoil and I have seen my investments drop by 20%. My standard reply to market volatility has been that I don’t care because I invest in index funds and I am here for the long run. But, to be honest a 20% drop in my holdings has definitely scared the hell out of me. Additionally, a few dividend cuts might be in the offing and I hope it won’t have a major impact on the index fund dividends. I got off AGNC in 2020 Q1. AGNC was my very first investments when I started looking at dividend investing. The yield was obviously a huge draw. I believe my cost basis was aro ..read more

With the stock market reaching all-time I continued to sell some of my positions to compensate for the losses I accumulated over the years. In my days as day trader I was big on pharmaceutical stocks; I did make some money but also accumulated losses. Pharma stocks are super high risks and if they fail to reach clinical trials it is end of the road. Nevertheless Q4, is always a good quarter for me as ETF payouts tend to be a lot higher. I have started investing into mutual funds instead of ETF. Vanguard has eliminated the investor share flavor and reduced the initial limit on admiral shar ..read more

It has been very busy at work and life and I have had no time to write my Q3 dividend update. Dividend Income I got $393.56 in dividends in my taxable account and $57.51 in dividends in my Roth IRA. Altogether, I received $451.07 in dividends in 2019 Q3. As compared to 2018 Q3, I had a 26.62% increase in dividends. This is a nice reversal from the downward trend observed in Q2. Baby DG Dividends In Q3, I have started contributing to baby DG’s (Dividend Geek) account. As expected this account has started generating dividends. In 2019 Q3, baby DG’s portfolio generated $26.40 in dividends ..read more

I mentioned in my last quarter update that there were some life changes. One of the life changes has been the birth of my son baby DG. It’s an awesome feeling to be a father. He was born small for Gestational Age and had to be constantly monitored for the first 48 hours. He has since gained weight and is healthy. I am happy to grow my family but I also need to look at the financial impacts. Even with my health insurance, I need to shell out quite a bit for birth related costs. Being first time parents, we ended up going to ER/Pediatrician quite a bit. Those expenses rake up fast as well ..read more

I am a little late on my update. Things have been hectic and it’s hard to find free time. I did not meet my investment goal this quarter. On the contrary I sold a portion of my portfolio. There are two major life changes I am expecting this year (expect a post or two in the future). Given the nature of the change I decided to liquidate some of my portfolio. Additionally, during my highflying day-trader days, I had raked up some major losses (pharma). Some of these companies went bankrupt this year. Taking advantage of these losses, I decided to close out few of my profitable positions. I had ..read more

One way to identify dividend growth stocks is to look for dividend increases. Companies that pay rising dividends are likely to be financially healthy, generate consistent cash flow and regular dividend. I am interested in stocks with at least ten consecutive years of increasing annual dividend payments (Dividend Achievers). Here is a list of US companies that increased their dividends this week. Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) Industry: Communication Equipment Sector: Technology Cisco Systems Inc is a supplier of data networking equipment and software. Its products include routers, switches, acce ..read more