Having just launched this site, I figured it would be a good idea to list my dividend investing goals for 2017.
My ultimate goal is to create a reliable and growing dividend income stream. However, I break down my ultimate goal into yearly goals to see how I am faring.
- Contribute 30,000 to the portfolio
- Achieve forward dividend income of 3,500 by the end of 2017
- Receive 3,000 dividend income throughout 2017
- Keep forward dividend income as a % of my Portfolio at >3.5%
- Keep trading cost < 150
#1 is pretty straightforward - but also the most stretching. Contributing 30,000 to my Portfolio in 2017 comes down to 2,500 a month, which will definitely require focus and discipline. However, I think it’s doable.
#2 entails getting my 12 month projected forward dividend income to 3,500 on the 31st of December. Given that my forward income right now is ~2,400 this goal is as ambitious as #1…
Goal #3 is about the dividends I will receive between Jan 1st and December 31st of this year. My current projection for the year is ~2,400 so this means adding another 600 for the year. However, while every new buy will add income to my forward dividend income (goal #2), not every new buy means a full pay-out within calendar year 2017.
With goal #4 I track my forward dividend income (goal #2) as a percentage of my portfolio - ie my yield on cost (YOC). In buying stocks I try to maintain a balance between high yielders (such as most REITS) and low yielders with above average dividend growth rates (stock like SBUX, DAL). Overall my goal is to obtain a minimum of 3.5% YOC.
Finally, goal #5 is about keeping my trading cost low. As I do not my consider myself a trader but an investor, my ideal holding period for a stock is forever. By definition this allows me to keep my trading cost modest - buy once and simply start collecting the dividend. As each new buy costs me 7.95 with Fidelity, I aim for no more than 20 trades in 2017.
What do you think about these goals? Leave a comment/reply to share your thoughts!
Good goals! It seems that you really follow your own strategy, which you’ve developed by thoughts on the kind of investor (not trader) you want to be and studying resources. Good job and wishing you all the best in raising your portfolio!