Incremental Increases!

Investment Gremlin here.  If life were about gambling or sports, my typical move would be to go all in all the time.  Alas, while that may be entertaining it is certainly not prudent.

One great way I have recently been building my wealth up is via Loyal 3.  I was introduced to this website thanks to DGI's blog, which is one of a few investing blogs I read with regularity.  He gives a much more thorough analysis of the site, but here is the quick and dirty rundown.

Pros: you can invest using a credit card or cash with no fees, hence you can start positions with as little as $10. The credit card usage is one of my favorite parts, because it allows Travel Gremlin =>        to accumulate points, which turn into miles.  


Cons: only select companies are available, you cannot control when purchases are made (usually two business days once an order is placed), and you can only transfer partial accounts.

My goal is to use this website as a parallel to my standard brokerage.  The idea being to build up numerous solid positions and transfer the whole thing over to my regular account.  Of course if fees or other issues are introduced by Loyal 3 that process will be sped up.

Now when you look at the stocks listed on Loyal 3 you will see a bunch that are nice and cute, but pay no dividends.  They are off the list.  Now looking at quality companies with dividends you see around 10 to 15, pending how you view the companies, as good places to start.  Of those, there are probably only 7 or 8 that are a good place to start right now.  Side note, WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) is listed and pays a small dividend.  No I am NOT investing in them, I just found it funny that of all things WWE is a publicly traded company. 

How do you invest?

Investment Gremlin here.  Looking at my photo you are probably thinking three things.  First, sweet hair, and I thank you.  Second, that is my Sunday best, so there's that. Lastly, are you much of gambler in your investing, I mean I see those cards there and wonder if you're a shark?  To answer that I am a dividend growth investor and a value investor.  I am mediocre at cards, despite what I tell my friends.


In another life I am sure I was a tremendous gambler.  However, in this one I am not.  My investing side is interested in making concrete gains, owning parts companies, and most importantly getting paid by those companies I own.  All of my holdings are long, and I will be posting a portfolio as well at some point, however I have not put that together yet.

Why do I invest this way?  Well because one day I want to realize my dreams, which are not necessarily working the job I do during the day and sitting in traffic on the way home.  Yes, there are stories out there telling of the riches some person made off a lucky investment.  For every story like that there are hundreds, if not thousands of people who just get nowhere.  I took a lot of my influence from some of the other blogs out there, and the exceptional people who write them. 

In addition, I will not dive any more into my strategy than saying what was said before: value / dividend growth investor.  Many others have better wording for what I do, and have had more experience in doing it.  I do have luck of working in a technical field, which should help my understanding of various industries, but it does not get me a foot into the door of every industry out there.  My goal here is simple; help myself track my investments and acquire some feedback. 

Science Gremlin's Soccer Call

Science Gremlin here.  Kicking off the 1st post on this site.  This post will NOT be exciting in anyway.  That is kind of on purpose.  Just getting my footing here in this digital dimension and so I intend to make it about something trivial.

For the most part on this website I will be talking about investing, using dividends to grow my accounts and snowball into a life with a little more time.  However, once in a while I will discuss topics that are interesting in terms of science, sports, travel, or beer.  So lets start with a mix of sports and science: the World Cup.

Why is it science you ask - other than the fluid mechanics influencing the ball in motion, the physiological effects of the game,  and the simply amazing results doctors get with magic spray?  Simple, bracket prediction.  Combing the knowledge of sport, science, and of course a little luck.


Every 4 years my favorite bracket challenge comes along.  I love it because it is the best of the best on a truly world stage.  I like to think the basketball and hockey have the same unique quality at the Olympics, but it is not possible considering that the top 5 of each is easily predictable.  The World Cup always has huge shockers, like Italy being eliminated by Slovakia last time around or the United States getting an unlike 1-0 win over Colombia in 1994.

Yes these things happen in all sports, but the World Cup makes it seem ever so painful.  It takes 2 years of qualifying to get there, only to arrive in nice flashy uniforms and crap your pants for everyone to see.

So let's get my picks, which are destined to be wrong.  I will only cover my final 4 teams:

4th - Spain.  What?  Listen this team is really good, wins all the time, and deserves their ranking at #1.  However, key players are getting older faster than they are being replaced.  Sorry Shakira, neither Pique nor Colombia win this WC.

3rd - Netherlands.  So am I trying to be petty?  Yes.  I think this match up for 3rd is entirely possible and it is possible that for once the Dutch win something (sort of).  This victory will be a moral one. You could say there is always next year, but that just is not true.

2nd - Belgium.  The dark horse, that is no longer a dark horse.  These guys are really good, and they rely on some super talented players.  The question will be can the role players do their job to the fullest?

1st - Germany.  First beer now soccer, what will Belgium have to do to beat Germany?  Belgium needs Germany to borrow a page out of England's storied history: drinking before the game, not just after.

Honorable mentions:
Cameroon - most likely to have the tightest uniforms.  Seriously, no wonder they never win, those guys have enough trouble trying to breathe.
Italy - Most pre-game pasta.
Australia - Most goals against at the group stage.  Love your country, but sorry you got screwed.
USA - The almost there award for, getting within 3 points of making out of the group stage.  Sorry guys, sometimes the luck of the draw just bones you badly.  Not as badly as Australia though.
Brazil - Most disappointed home fans.

- Gremlin