December 2019 Review / January 2020 Preview & End of Year Review

Happy End of Year Gremlin here to again discuss the difference a year makes. As 2019 ends I can look around my house and see a second baby who is thankfully home, while thinking forward to a year mostly on one income. Time has flown with lots of great highs, both in my personal and investing life, and plenty of lows. As we weave through the ups and downs, I cannot help but feel stronger coming out the other side in every aspect - except age which is like a golf game (no one wants a higher score).

2020 will feature, hopefully, a new high in terms of investing and earned incomes. It will also feature at least two medical procedures for my daughter, so knock on wood those go as well along with everything else.

December:

This month I added shares to five positions across all accounts.

Last month I brought in a total of $515.51 in dividends ($236.47 taxable, $118.03 Roth, and $161.01 in my IRA).  This is an increase from last year ($408.49 total) by 26%.  This total is my new highest ever, and the first time I have collectively broken $500 in a month.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized 6 raises from My Employer (B**), McDonald's (MCD), Microsoft (MSFT), VF Corp (VFC), WestRock (WRK), and Emerson Electric (EMR). The increases range from just about 1% to more than 17%. This brings my total raises to 63 on the year, five more than last year's final total. I also realized one cut of approximately 33% by KHC.

Next month I will realize two dividend increases from Realty Income (O) and Eastman Chemical (EMN).  The increases range from 0.2% to around 6%.

NOTE: I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

January:

The mortgage continues and I am putting extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets, since I do not count my home as an asset until I own it outright.

The buys shall continue until financial independence improves - with monthly rolling buys of course.

Next month should produce around $128 in dividends, which is a 16% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

2019:

What a year.  So let's look at how I did last year compared to the goals I laid out for myself.

(Results in RED):

• Invest a total of $13000 across all accounts. Success. $14532.49 total.
• Receive $1500 in dividends from the taxable account.  Success. $1530+
• Maintain or reduce weight while continuing to exercise ~ 4x per week and bike wherever I can.  Partial fail. A second child, especially one needing a lot of care and in the hospital means I lost at the end, but its not like I am now twice the person I was, and the road to success is still not far away.
• Hold the line / reduce total spending (after debt payments) by around 5%.  Fail.  Honestly we got clobbered by medical bills and associated costs with hospital stuff. Had we not had a baby, regardless of medical issues we would have been within range here.

Overall that is a 2/4 success rate.  Well that could have been worse in so many ways.

2020: 

So what will become of 2019?  I have organized a few goals to make sure I stay on target.

• Invest a total of $10000 across all accounts.
• Receive $1900 in dividends from the taxable account.
• Exercise ~ 4x per week.
• Reduce total spending (after mortgage payments) by 5%.

I have a feeling, no matter what happens 2020 will be another wild ride.

Hope everyone has a great January and a Happy New Year!
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers mentioned

December 2019 Buys

Holiday Time Gremlin here to give you my December buy updates. The holidays are always a busy time of the year, and having young children only magnifies that more for a variety of reasons. Still, I have been able to find time and resources to add some shares towards financial independence. No matter what is going on, it is important to always be able to find five minutes to add shares towards freedom. (Thank you, internet.)

That being said I did rush on filling out one of my positions, MSM, because of a $5 special dividend that I will realize in February.  Considering that, other increases, and the general well-being of those around me - 2020 is looking up from here.

No purchase or account fees were paid this month. I added shares of the following companies by account (* indicates a new position, which will be discussed below):

Taxable:
B** - Fractional share, DRIP purchase of my employer stock.
BNS - 1 share @ $55.44 / share, $2.34 income added
MSM - 10 shares @ $74.37 / share ($743.68 total), $30 income added
Total Invested = $799.12 (not including employee stock)
Annual Income Added (AIA) = $32.34

Roth:
AROW - 3 shares @ $35.69 / share ($107.08 total), $3.12 income added
Total Invested = $107.08
AIA = $3.12

Standard IRA:
FLIC - 6 shares @ $24.56 / share ($147.35 total), $4.32 income added
Total Invested = $147.35
AIA = $4.32

Totals:
Invested = $938.06
AIA = $35.04

*New Positions:
No new positions this month.

I will update my portfolio page at the end of the month.

What do you think of these companies?

Have happy holidays, if you are celebrating any. If you're not, make one up and celebrate it anyway.
- Gremlin
- Long all tickers mentioned

November Review, December Preview, 2019

Wow Gremlin here to do a quick review and look ahead. What a crazy month; November might have only been 30 calendar days, but it felt like 60. Tomorrow I go back to work, and its hard just imagining that my wife will be home with our new baby girl, our 2 yr old Lil Gremlin, and we will have 1 paycheck for a almost a year (but we can make it work). Still, even with all of our personal stuff the world kept turning, dividends kept coming in, and dividend raises kept getting announced. DGI really is a great way to invest, where I can tune out for a long period of time and still come out ahead. So lets see how this 'lazy' month went.

November:

This month I made several stock purchases again this month.

I brought in a total of $308.72 in dividends ($86.91 taxable, $69.51 Roth, and $152.30 IRA).  This is an increase from last year (294.85 total) by 4%. This would have been higher, but several payments were pushed back to December.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized* 6 raises from the American Express (AXP), Eaton Vance (EV), the Royal Bank of Canada (RY), Starbucks (SBUX), Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI), and Verizon (VZ).  The increases ranged from 1% to 14%. I have now realized 57 raises thus far this year.  I also realized one cut of approximately 33% by KHC.  My employer (B**) pushed their payout back to early December, otherwise it would have been 58.

Next month I will realize 6 raises from My Employer (B**), McDonald's (MCD), Microsoft (MSFT), VF Corp (VFC), WestRock (WRK), and Emerson Electric (EMR).  The increases range from just about 1% to more than 17%.

* I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

December:

The mortgage continues and I am putting extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets.

I will be doing rolling purchases going forward, but I will likely focus on retirement accounts as in case I need to deal with healthcare costs.

Next month should produce around $495 in dividends, which is a 20+% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great December and Holiday season.
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers

November 2019 Buys

Home Time Gremlin here to give you my November buy updates. My daughter is home now and it has been a long journey to get her there. She went through two successful operations, one of which was open chest surgery. She will have at least one more surgery, but I am thankful she is home and doing well.

Funny thing, while she was in the hospital and we were spending our time there, I kept getting my dividends deposited. Its really amazing how all of this continues to tick, regardless of my interaction. Shares were also added throughout the month. Making it amazing that I was able to not only monitor, but improve our financial independence situation. We do truly live in amazing times where I can buy shares in excellent companies one day from a phone, and get news from doctors that they were able to successfully patch up a human heart the size of a walnut the next.

Note - I am no longer going to add dates, because I suspect I will not have time for that in the future. Ain't nobody got time for that!

No purchase or account fees were paid this month. I added shares of the following companies by account (* indicates a new position, which will be discussed below):

Taxable:
KTB - 5 shares @ $36.99 / share ($184.99 total), $11.2 income added (I only added 2 last month)
EVR - 1 share @ $77.86 / share, $2.32 income added
KR - 2 shares @ $24.92 / share ($49.84 total), $1.28 income added
O - 1 share @ $76.74 / share, $2.72 income added
Total Invested = $389.43
Annual Income Added (AIA) = $17.52

Roth:
AROW* - 3 shares @ $35.56 / share ($106.67 total), $4.00 income added
Total Invested = $106.67
AIA = $3.12

Standard IRA:
FLIC* - 20 shares @ $22.10 / share ($441.96 total), $14.40 income added
Total Invested = $441.96
AIA = $14.40

Totals:
Invested = $938.06
AIA = $35.04

*New Positions:
Most of my investments went to existing positions, so I will not cover my reasoning on them.  However, new investments are detailed below.

AROW (Arrow Financial Corp): a small community bank north of New York City. This bank has been extremely well managed for years, and has minimal debt.  FLIC is right there along side it in its peer group.  AROW Overview Link

FLIC (First of Long Island Corp): another small community bank. This one is in and around New York City and has been very shareholder friendly.  FLIC Overview Link

The theme of this month is small community banks. Not that each one is great, but there is a large subset of excellent opportunities to be found in this sector. I almost want to make a dedicated small bank portfolio just to house them all on one place.

I will update my portfolio page at the end of the month.

What do you think of these companies?

- Gremlin
- Long all tickers mentioned

October Review / November Preview, 2019

Roller coaster Gremlin here to review and look forward. My daughter was born less than a week ago, so my focus has been there entirely. On top of that she will need heart surgery, so its easy to imagine how that can weigh on a person. I do plan on scaling back my investments in my taxable account and closely monitoring costs.  My insurance should cover almost everything, but naturally the internet is full of horror stories where the industry fails the captive audience consumers... Might make for a fun / terrible article.

On a much more positive note, our final car loan was paid off, so massive success there.  So with all that said, how did I do?

October:

This month I made several stock purchases this month.

I brought in a total of $128.98 in dividends ($95.43 taxable, $23.25 Roth, and $10.30 IRA).  This is an increase from last year (95.72 total) by 34%.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized* three raises from the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM), and Realty Income (O).  The increases ranged from 0.2% to 3%. I have now realized 51 raises thus far this year.  I also realized one cut of approximately 33% by KHC.

Next month I will realize 7 raises from the American Express (AXP), My Employer (B**), Eaton Vance (EV), the Royal Bank of Canada (RY), Starbucks (SBUX), Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI), and Verizon (VZ).  The increases range from just about 1% to more than 17%.

* I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

November:

The mortgage continues and I am putting extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets.  Outside of our house, we still have very low interest auto debt (1.5% for our car), which I am aiming to pay off by the end of the year.  I am coming for you next, Mortgage.

I will be doing rolling purchases going forward, but I will likely focus on retirement accounts as in case I need to deal with healthcare costs.

Next month should produce around $347 in dividends, which is a 17% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great November.
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers

Recent Buys, October 2019

Baby Watch Gremlin here to give you my October buy updates. My daughter is due soon, so if my next monthly update is late, you will understand why...  As I noted in a recent post, zero fee investing is allowing me to change the way I invest.  I will rapidly deploy money to attractive stocks in more of a shotgun fashion.  This will enable me to average into one or several positions overtime. I will also use this approach to round up positions in a practical manner.  I don't expect this to be a common methodology, but I thrive in chaos so it works for me.

No purchase or account fees were paid this month. I added shares of the following companies by account (* indicates a new position, which will be discussed below):

Taxable:
MSM* - 5 shares on 10/16 @ $71.21 / share ($356.05 total), $14.06 income added
SON - 2 shares on 10/17 @ $57.12 / share ($115.43 total), $3.44 income added
KTB - 2 shares on 10/18 @ $38.14 / share ($76.27 total), $4.48 income added
EVR - 1 share on 10/18 @ $77.51 / share ($77.51 total), $2.32 income added
KR* - 5 shares on 10/18 @ $24.21 / share ($121.08 total), $3.20 income added
Total Invested = $746.34
Annual Income Added (AIA) = $27.50

Roth:
WBA - 3 shares on 10/14 @ $53.61 / share ($160.82 total), $5.49 income added
XOM - 1 share on 10/14 @ $68.79 / share ($68.79 total), $3.48 income added
MATW - 1 share on 10/14 @ $34.86 / share ($34.86 total), $0.80 income added
KMI - 2 shares on 10/14 @ $20.11 / share ($40.21 total), $2.00 income added
SJM - 1 share on 10/18 @ $108.08 / share ($108.08 total), $3.52 income added
GLW* - 5 shares on 10/18 @ $29.33 / share ($146.63 total), $4.00 income added
Total Invested = $559.39
AIA = $19.29

Standard IRA:
WLK - 5 shares on 10/14 @ $62.47 / share ($312.34 total), $5.25 income added
Total Invested = $312.34
AIA = $5.25

Totals:
Invested = $1618.07
AIA = $52.04

*New Positions:
Most of my investments went to existing positions, so I will not cover my reasoning on them.  However, new investments are detailed below.

MSM (MSC Industrial Direct Co.): MSM is best described in their own words - "distributes metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The company’s MRO products comprise cutting tools, measuring instruments, tooling components, metalworking products, fasteners, flat stock products, raw materials, abrasives, machinery hand and power tools, safety and janitorial supplies, plumbing supplies, materials handling products, power transmission components, and electrical supplies". I like this type of repeatable, necessary industry plus MSM is valued very nicely.  MSM Overview Link

KR (Kroger): Here we have a grocery company, that follows on the heels of Walmart (WMT). The grocery industry is changing, and like all the rest so is KR - which is why is a slight bargain. Not everyone, but most people will still want to inspect their food before they buy it. In addition, having a physical store, which doubles as a local distribution center, people can find what they want and easily transition from physical to digital or vice versa. This is a huge market space, big enough for lots of competition.  KR Overview Link

GLW (Corning Inc): They are responsible for making glassware ranging from cookware that goes in the oven to high-tech products for your cell phone.  I like this company a lot, they are akin to the people selling pick-axes and shovels to miners during a gold-rush. They stand to make money regardless of how many ounces of gold are found.  GLW Overview Link

I will update my portfolio page at the end of the month.

What do you think of these companies?

- Gremlin
- Long all tickers mentioned

The Game Change of Fee Free Investing

Aggressive Gremlin here to talk about how fee free investing in a regular brokerage is a complete game changer - an outright epiphany if you will. Previously, I would stockpile cash to ensure that my expense ratio was super low.  That means investing $1000+ each time.  With fee free investing that concern is gone, and now the lightning round / golden age of investing is here. It is like the old Loyal3 or Robinhood set up, only faster.  So what does this mean?

Rapid Deployment: I will no longer let cash pile up, it will be deployed as quickly as possible to attractively valued stocks.  This might seem chaotic to some, but I like chaos.  It will further allow me to grow my annual projected income rapidly and regularly.  Additionally, after my second child comes along I will not have a ton of excess cash flow for about 8 months, so my dividends will be doing a lot of the lifting.

Instant Diversification: I will aim to add new positions, provided they are worth adding, all over the place.  If $500 is invested in a month, it will not be an all eggs in one basket.  Certainly some people will chime in with the 'diworseification' comment, but unless they're Copernicus or got a working crystal ball...

Rounding Up: I will be looking to round up stock positions by a few shares here or there, pending good value.  Nothing special here, I just prefer round numbers.

Once Monthly Posting: No longer will posts for recent buys occur, now it will be a monthly purchase update across all accounts. 

All changes will be reflected in my portfolio at the end of the month.

How will you use fee free investing to your advantage - beyond the obvious?
- Welcome to the brave new investing world.
- Gremlin

September Review / October Preview, 2019

Happy Fall Gremlin here to talk about this past month and look forward into the next.  Where did September go?  Between a blistering pace at work, family visits on weekends, and the day to day it all seems to go by so fast.  The market has rocketed up (mostly), and at times pushed some stocks off a cliff.  A lot of great companies are sitting out there ready to be purchased at good valuations.  Some are stretching so hard they are about to throw their backs out.  And yet here we sit with more dividends rolling in each month.  So with that said, how did I do?

September:

This month I made no stock purchases this month.

I brought in a total of $436.50 in dividends ($187.16 taxable, $90.58 Roth, and $158.76 IRA).  This is an increase from last year (397.59 total) by 9.8%.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized* nine raises from the Hershey's (HSY), Kellogg's (K), Target (TGT), Union Pacific (UNP), Discover Financial Services (DFS), JM Smucker (SJM), Walgreen's Boots Alliance (WBA), Westlake Chemical (WLK), and Aqua America (WTR).  The increases ranged from 2% to greater than 10%.  I have now realized 48 raises thus far this year.  I also realized one cut of approximately 33% by KHC. In addition, Kontoor Brands (KTB) initiated a dividend and VF Corp (VFC) decreased their's, however these add up to the same respective amount so this stat will not be added in as this is due to the KTB spin off by VFC.

Next month I will realize three raises from the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM), and Realty Income (O).  The increases range from just about 0.2% to 3%.

* I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

October:

The mortgage continues and I am putting extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets (I choose not to count the house or cars as assets).  Outside of our house, we still have very low interest auto debt (1.5% for our car), which I am aiming to pay off by the end of the year.  Debt is being eliminated, and we are aggressively building and assets.

My next purchase will be in November.  Our focus is on eliminating the auto debt before next year.

Next month should produce around $128 in dividends, which is a 34% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great October.
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers

August Review / September Preview, 2019

Good Morning Gremlin here to talk about my progress from this past month and take a look into the future.  Life with a two year old never seems to have a dull moment, though there are tiring ones.  This summer we went to the beach on our annual family vacation, which was an excellent experience for our son.  And also a taxing experience for the rest of us.  Sadly, summer is now drawing to a close as kids return to school and life returns to normal.  So with that said, how did I do?

August:

This month I made one new purchase this month acquiring shares of 3M (MMM) in my taxable account.

I brought in a total of $338.97 in dividends ($113.48 taxable, $69.01 Roth, and $156.48 IRA).  This is an increase from last year (281.30 total) by 20%.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized*one raise from the Bank of Montreal (BMO).  The increase was 3%.  I have now realized 39 raises thus far this year.  I also realized one cut of approximately 33% by KHC.

Next month I will realize nine raises from the Hershey's (HSY), Kellogg's (K), Target (TGT), Union Pacific (UNP), Discover Financial Services (DFS), JM Smucker (SJM), Walgreen's Boots Alliance (WBA), Westlake Chemical (WLK), and Aqua America (WTR).  The increases range from just about 2% to 10+%.  In addition, Kontoor Brands (KTB) initiated a dividend and VF Corp (VFC) decreased their's, however these add up to the same respective amount so this stat will not be added in as this is due to the KTB spin off by VFC.

* I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

September:

The mortgage continues and I am putting extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets (I choose not to count the house or cars as assets).  Outside of our house, we still have very low interest auto debt (1.5% for our car), which I am aiming to pay off by the end of the year.  Debt is being eliminated, and we are aggressively building and assets.

My next purchase will be in October or November.  Our focus is on eliminating the auto debt before next year.

Next month should produce around $448 in dividends, which is a 12% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great September.
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers

IRA to Roth IRA Conversion Part 1

Retirement Gremlin here to talk about a new long term process I will be undertaking to convert my IRA holdings to Roth over time.  For those not in the know, a person can have a Roth if they meet income requirements, and if you don't you can fund it via a 'backdoor' conversion option.  Even if you do meet the requirements you can still convert IRA funds into a Roth, which is where we are at today.  For more information on this process ask a professional or do what I do - use the internet.

The goal of this process is to lessen and draw out the tax burden of IRA to Roth conversions.  If done all at once it can be a hefty tax bill, if done piecemeal it will be small amounts each time.  Clearly, if I am doing something one way to avoid taxes there has to be a catch so I will highlight that now briefly (since other places do it much better).

IRA - This money can be pretax (as mine is - due to being 401k rollovers).  Additional post tax funds can be added.  Eventually these types of accounts, including 401ks, are subject to Required Monthly Distributions (RMDs).  Money is not typically accessible before 59.5 years of age without penalty.
Conversion to a Roth - this would create a taxable event.  The lesson here is if the amount lost by taxes now (compounded) is greater than the amount saved via future taxes thanks to the Roth the conversion should not take place.
Roth - the X factor here is that money in a Roth is 100% in the owner's control.  It is subject to no future taxes or required distributions, assuming the law and tax code stay the same.  Each dollar there is yours, theoretically.  Money is also not typically accessible before 59.5 years of age without penalty, excepting for a few special circumstances where no taxes are leveled.

Strategy: to avoid unnecessary taxable events, I will move around 1 to 2 "positions" a year.  At this rate I will be able to move the whole IRA to my Roth in about 25 years - perfect timing, to maximize growth and minimize taxes (pending changes in that and the law of course). 

Process: Since my accounts are all at the same brokerage, I can for no fee transfer single positions after a few mouse clicks.  Maybe its too simple, but works well for my needs.  If I want I can transfer partial positions down to the share.  This time I moved a whole position, but in the future I will likely be moving smaller pieces over to the Roth.

Part 1:

For my first / test conversion I moved my position in Matthews International (MATW), valued around $900 from my IRA to my Roth.  This was a reduction in initial investment value.  Taxes should be minimal.

Part 2 will happen next calendar year.

All changes will be reflected in my portfolio at the end of the month.

Are you planning on funding your Roth this way?
- Gremlin
- Long MATW

Gremlin Talks Adaptability

Pondering Gremlin here to talk about something that has been on my mind for a while.  If you read this blog, at all, you clearly are deeply involved with the online financial independence movement, so congrats to you. This post is about people who are in this group, and what I believe is a major trait that sets us apart from others.

What sets us apart are the double character traits of adaptability and drive.  Focusing on the drive real quick, it is our drive to be independent financially so we can spend our time as we see fit. That reasoning is par for the financial independence course.  We may choose different tools - indexing, DGI, renting houses, etc. to get there plus a generally frugal lifestyle.  That drive is well understood - it is what makes so many blog writers and financial freedom successful.  It is the adaptability part that receives far less attention.

A month ago the idea of adaptable people hit me like a ton of bricks while discussing music with my family.  Why are some people so adaptable, and able to find something they like anywhere or workarounds to their problems?  Why is it that I can count on specific people at work 200% of the time and others less than 50%?  Turns out, someone has already studied this, and the single trait of adaptability strongly can define the success of people - not just in adverse circumstances, but in seemingly positive ones.

Turns out, thanks to a study (link below), this can be measured to show that approximately 1 in 3 people are able to adapt to any circumstance.  There is no magical background that enables one person to be better suited than others, but it does appear that maybe having a tougher time earlier in life lead to that.  Thinking of other successful financial freedom writers several worked hard as young adults, had tough childhoods, or experienced something that set them mentally on this path to be able to, literally, tell anyone to 'take this job and shove it.'  Personally, I relate a little bit - not that my childhood was hard, but I was at the polar opposite of the end of the social ladder from the cool kids.  It definitely has led to thicker skin, and a more intense drive to achieve FI than those around me.  Still this is not an exact indicator.  I see people in my family who have had tough times and just dwell on them.

I could turn around and say how this might reflect reflect on people who are not adaptable, but they have a roll in life too.  Not everyone is adaptable, and I believe we who are in that 1/3 group need to take the biggest possible advantage of it to better ourselves - at least financially. So this is more of something to keep in mind, how we can work to adapt ourselves to the financial situation around us.

For me it means cutting out more things I don't need to buy or own.  It means digging for those extra dollars with my drive, while adapting my methods to be more successful.  It means most of all, steering my drive through the chaos of life.  We call can do it, cheers to us, keep it up.

Article for reference link.

Do you feel adaptable?  Or do you feel financial freedom is something so you don't have to be?

- Pondering Gremlin

Recent Buy, August 2019

Vacation Gremlin here to discuss a recent buy.  I along with my family are on a nice, mostly quiet, vacation.  We are at the beach so the ocean and waves is the real deal, that and getting sand everywhere.  While down here I made a quick buy, taking advantage of the volatility.

Yesterday, I added shares of 3M (MMM) in my taxable account.  I bought 7 shares, with a total cost of $1,175.04 ($166.87 / share, plus commission).  The current yield is 3.38%. For a detailed summary of their history, etc. please visit: MMM's Seeking Alpha Profile.  Had I been a bit more picky and waited a day, I could have shaved $60+ off of my cost.  D'oh!

I already own MMM in my IRA account, and it is one I definitely want more of.  What most people, and even the best investors don't realize is - that these guys make everything.  I would write more, but vacation calls...

This purchase will add $40.04 to my forward 12 month dividend income.

I will update my portfolio page at the end of the month.

What do you think of MMM?

- Gremlin
- Long MMM

July Review / August Preview, 2019

Somber Gremlin here to discuss last and next month.  July started as a great month with family events and USA bringing it home during the Women's World Cup.  Add to that fun swimming, enjoying time with my son, etc. - it was a great beginning to the month - so good I had no time for more posts.  Additionally, work has been busy and affording me opportunities that I am constantly saying yes to.  Unfortunately, not all is smooth.

Normally I would not announce that I am a dad for the second time until our next baby, who is due in November, is born.  In this case we will be putting in extra time because our baby will be born with a heart defect, so this is that notice.  Now the prognosis is very good, which I am incredibly thankful for, but it will be a long road to a healthy existence.  It is something that will be a struggle, but it looks like she will have a normal life - just a different path to get there.  Going forward I plan to keep posting on the major items - monthly updates and new buys, but I probably won't add more than that.

All of that news being out there... how did we do for income last month?

July:

This month I made no new purchases this month.

Last month I brought in a total of $133.34 in dividends ($99.79 taxable, $23.25 Roth, and $10.30 IRA).  This is an increase from last year (81.72 total) by 63%, this is partially higher because Broadcom (AVGO) decided to move its pay out back a couple of days into August.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized* three (3) raises from LEG, Realty Income (O), and Cardinal Health (CAH).  The increases are from about 1% to about 5% (0.2% bump from O, their 4th of the year).  I have now realized 38 raises thus far this year.  I also realized one cut of approximately 33% by KHC.

Next month I will realize one raise from the Bank of Montreal (BMO).  The increase was 3%.

* I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

August:

The mortgage continues and I am putting extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets (I choose not to count the house or cars as assets).  Outside of our house, we still have very low interest auto debt (1.5% for our car), which I am aiming to pay off by the end of the year.  Debt is being eliminated, and we are aggressively building and assets.

My next purchase will be in August.  This likely will be one the last purchases of the year due to the concerns I have listed in the opening part of this post.  Also my focus is on eliminating the auto debt before next year.

Next month should produce around $320 in dividends, which is a 14% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great August.
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers

June Review / July Preview, 2019

Soccer Gremlin here to discuss last month and next.  The USA won is game today over France in the Women's World Cup, which is great - but that was a close game.  Hopefully they can keep the momentum, but at this point every step and play will matter, so good luck to them.  Outside of sports its been a hot few days in the DC area.  I am still biking as a part of my commute (to the train station), and I am forever thankful that the train has its air conditioning blasting, since it only takes me about 2 minutes of activity until I am sweltering.  Anyways, how did we do financially?

June:

This month I made one purchase acquiring shares of Leggett and Platt (LEG) in my taxable account.

Last month I brought in a total of $438.70 in dividends ($192.38 taxable, $88.61 Roth, and $157.71 IRA).  This is an increase from last year (384.79 total) by 14%, this total would have been higher, but Broadcom (AVGO) decided to move its pay out back a couple of days into August.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized* five (5) raises from the Pepsi Co (PEP), Sonoco (SON), Unilever (UL), Johnson and Johnson (JNJ), and Exxon Mobil (XOM).  The increases are from about 4% to about 6%.  I have now realized 35 raises thus far this year.  I also realized one cut of approximately 33% by KHC.

Next month I will realize three (3) raises from LEG, Realty Income (O), and Cardinal Health (CAH).  The increases are from about 1% to about 5% (0.2% bump from O, their 4th of the year).

* I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

July:

The mortgage continues and I am putting extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets (I choose not to count the house or cars as assets).  Outside of our house, we still have very low interest auto debt (1.5% for our car), which I am aiming to pay off by the end of the year.  Debt is being eliminated, and we are aggressively building and assets.

My next purchase will be in August, bringing 11 months of consecutive purchases to an end.  My wife is a teacher, so we need to take 1 month off without the extra cash.

Next month should produce around $129.76 in dividends, which is a 58% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great July.
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers

Recent Buy, June 2019

Tired Gremlin here to discuss a recent buy.  Little Gremlin has recently gotten sick, so I have gotten less sleep this past week.  Luckily, it looks like the illness is just about over.  Oh well what can you do?  Today the Woman's World Cup starts, and as much as I would like to see the USA win, I don't think it will be as likely as the last go around of the tournament.  There are several teams that could win, and the favorites are also the host - France.  Still good luck to the USA and all the other teams!  Anyways... what did I buy?

Earlier this week, I added shares of Leggett and Platt (LEG) in my taxable account.  I bought 30 shares, with a total cost of $1,113.95 ($36.90 / share, plus commission).  The current yield is 4.81%. For a detailed summary of their history, etc. please visit: LEG's Seeking Alpha Profile.

I already have LEG in my Roth account, so this is not a new position overall.  I liked LEG when I first bought it, and I really like it now.  This is a dividend aristocrat with nearly 50 years of raises under its belt.  The company's leadership has been very prudent to get to this point, and I see it continuing at around 3-5% average annual increases - always ahead of inflation.

This purchase will add $48 to my forward 12 month dividend income.

I will update my portfolio page at the end of the month.

What do you think of LEG?

- Gremlin
- Long LEG

Gremlin's Asset Review - 2019

Bookkeeping Gremlin here to discuss my net-worth.  I first made this type of post two years ago, because its my birth month so I might as well see how current me compares to newborn me (financially).  This is something I like to do on annual basis to help me gauge what kind of progress we are making towards financial independence.  This report is a substantial improvement over last year's.  A big part of the reason is my wife returned to work at the end of last year, which is amazing as my kid is now heading towards being 2 years old this fall.

Debts:

Debt sucks, period.  Most people accept debt as normal and expected, but that is crap.  Still, I have debt though, and am working on crushing it.  So here goes:

Car #1* (my car): $7,198 (maturity: 6/2021, $250 / mo.) interest = 1.9% ($2831 reduction from last year) - Eliminated this year.
Car #2 (her car): $7,054 (maturity: 10/2020, $475 / mo.) interest = 1.5% ($5900 reduction from last year)
Mortgage: $323,387 ($2150 / month, 30 year, 4% interest)
Family Cash: $30,000 - a family obligation 0%, no timetable (help received purchasing our house)
Revolving debt / credit cards: No balances carried or maintained, used as debit cards with credit points.
Total debt: $360,440 (a reduction of $19,198)

Currently, we are paying extra on the remaining car, and I pay a little extra on my car and our house.  I count our house and cars exclusively as debts.

Income:

Last year our total income was approximately around $95k before taxes...

Expected income (2019):
My main job: $85,000 (6% increase over 2019)
Wife: $43,000
My side gigs: $1000
Total: $129,000

This his the biggest improvement found in the report.  The extra income over last year has allowed me to snuff out debt and aggressively add assets.

Assets:

This is the fun part.  Current assets that are to be considered are my taxable investments, Roth IRA, IRA, 401K, and other retirement savings.  Cash, Health Savings Accounts, and college savings plans are not counted.  This allows me to shield some liquidity and immediately useful assets.  Assets including cash in investment accounts:

Taxable Invested Assets: $52,794
Roth IRA: $21,274
Traditional IRA: $37,292
401K: $31,208
Wife's Retirement / Pension: $18,679
Total = $163,031 ($29,989 total growth)

2015 = $47,000
2016 = $87,000
2017 = $126,206
2018 = $135,319
2019 = $163,031

Total Net Worth = (-$197,409) [$49,187 improvement]

Goals:

2018 Past Goals:
1 - Begin retiring some of my family debt. - Plan in motion to begin this later 2019, met.
2 - Eliminate a car payment.  Met.
3 - Networth approaching or above $-230k.  Met.

2019 New Goals:
1 - Eliminate 2nd car payment.
2 - Increase mortgage payment.

Conclusion:

My primary goal is to achieve financial independence.  It might not seem obvious, but in 5 years I believe these numbers will be drastically different in a great way.  Here is to another year of crushing it (and any past financial mistakes).

- How is your net-worth coming along?
- Gremlin

May Review / June Preview, 2019

Sweaty Gremlin here to talk about my progress this past month and what the view is like for next month.  It is officially sticky in the DC area, which means that short bike rides, walks, or anything similar to that result in a me-sized rain shower.  I am not even the sweatiest person I know, but it is definitely not pretty.  Anyways, the stock market has been running an interesting streak - as if were also drenched in sweat either due to effort or stress.  It is currently more unpredictable than I remember it being in the last several years.  I plan on taking full advantage of that in my quest to move towards FI.  However, getting there in this heat will be a sweat filled journey, so lets see what steps are being taken.

May:

This month I made one purchase acquiring shares of Evercore Inc, (EVR) in my taxable account.  Once again had I waited a few weeks it would have been even better value.  I also received 3 shares of Kontoor Brands (KTB) as it was spun off from VF Corp (VFC) at a 1 share per 7 spin off rate.

Last month I brought in a total of $323.36 in dividends ($82.96 taxable, $69.01 Roth, and $156.48 IRA).  This is an increase from last year (267.98 total) by 20%.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized* five (5) raises from the Apple (AAPL - forthcoming shortly...fingers crossed), Royal Bank of Canada (RY), Ameriprise Financial (AMP), Kinder Morgan (KMI), and General Dynamics (GD).  The increases are from about 5% to about 25%.  I have now realized 30 raises thus far this year.  I also realized one cut of approximately 33% by KHC.

Next month I will realize five (5) raises from the Pepsi Co (PEP), Sonoco (SON), Unilever (UL), Johnson and Johnson (JNJ), and Exxon Mobil (XOM).  The increases are from about 4% to about 6% (an amazingly narrow and specific range for once).

* I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

June:

The mortgage continues and I am putting extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets (I choose not to count the house or cars as assets).  Outside of our house, we still have very low interest auto debt (1.5% for our car), which I am aiming to pay off by the end of the year.  Debt is being eliminated, and we are aggressively building and assets.

My next purchase will be in June, which will make for 11 consecutive months of buys across all accounts.

Next month should produce around $452 in dividends, which is a 17% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great June.
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers

Recent Buy, May 2019

Outdoor Gremlin here to discuss a recent buy.  The weather has finally started to give us some beautiful spring weather in the DC area, which means of course sudden down pours and two weeks before the humidity becomes intense.  In the meantime, I hope to soak in as much of this perfect season as possible.  Luckily, my son loves to be outside as much as possible, so it will not take any arm twisting to get people outside for hikes, runs, etc.  Anyways, good weather and improving my financial portfolio always puts me in a good news so... what did I buy?

Today, I added shares of Evercore Inc. (EVR) in my taxable account.  I bought 11 shares, with a total cost of $1,052.22 ($95.02 / share, plus commission).  The current yield is 2.45%. For a detailed summary of their history, etc. please visit: EVR's Seeking Alpha Profile.

EVR joins my positions in Eaton Vance (EV), Amerprise Financial (AMP), T. Rowe Price (TROW), the big 5 Canadian banks, American Express (AXP), Discover (DFS), and Prudential (PRU) in my financial and asset management sector.  The financial sector has been and continues to be one of my main target areas, as they say follow the money.

What I like most about EVR is how they are involved in a lot of private and specialty transactions.  They provide advisory services relating to "mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, restructurings, shareholder activism and defense, and related corporate finance matters; and services related to securities underwriting, private placement services, and commissions for agency-based equity trading services and equity research" - from the Seeking Alpha link (Evercore's website also says it nicely).  That is an interesting line of work that most of the other financial companies I own.  Yes, many of those other companies are undoubtedly involved in lots of those lines of business, however that advisory services group is uncommon.  So part of what I am buying here is ownership of those consulting style skills in a somewhat niche industry.  What I like about that, is it adds to my financial sector diversity with a repeatable service.

This purchase will add $25.52 to my forward 12 month dividend income.

I will update my portfolio page at the end of the month.

What do you think of EVR?

- Gremlin
- Long EVR, EV, AMP, AXP, DFS, TROW, PRU, and the big 5 Canadian banks

April Review / May Preview, 2019

Sneezy Gremlin here to discuss how I did for this past month, and what is ahead in the next.  It is allergy time, and the sneezes are strong with me.  I have found that caffeine and an allergy pill seem to be the best cure.  I never really had bad allergies, then I moved to the DC area where something in the air haunts me for a couple of weeks each spring and fall.  For the record I am getting my caffeine from 'bad' work coffee.  I never used to drink coffee, then I became a parent...  Also of note, I don't know what is good or bad coffee, which is for the best.  I like to save my taste buds for more refined purposes.  Anyways, between sneezes I was lap up some nice dividend stocks and increases.  Lets see how April was crushed.

April:

This month I made three purchases, acquiring shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) and Matthews International Corp (MATW) in my retirement accounts and acquiring shares of WestRock Company (WRK) in my taxable account.

Last month I brought in a total of $102.76 in dividends ($82.96 taxable, $9.50 Roth, and $10.30 IRA).  This is an increase from last year (75.85 total) by 37%.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized* seven (7) raises from the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM), Coke Cola (KO), Realty Income (O), Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD), WalMart (WMT), and Kimberly Clark (KMB).  The increases are from about 0.2% to about 10%.  I have now realized 25 raises thus far this year.  I also realized one cut of approximately 33% by KHC.

Next month I will realize five (5) raises from the Apple (AAPL - forthcoming shortly...fingers crossed), Royal Bank of Canada (RY), Ameriprise Financial (AMP), Kinder Morgan (KMI), and General Dynamics (GD).  The increases are from about 6% to about 25%.

* I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

May:

The mortgage continues and I am putting a little extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets (I choose not to count the house or cars as assets).  Outside of our house, we still have very low interest auto debt (1.5% for our car).  Debt is being eliminated, and we are aggressively building and assets.

My next purchase will be in May, which will make for 11 consecutive months of buys across all accounts.

Next month should produce around $304 in dividends, which is a 13% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great May.
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers

Gremlin Talks Wedding Attire

Teachable Gremlin here to discuss wedding attire, specifically for the groom's side.  Recently, I was in a wedding and that was a trip, a very fun expensive trip.  My mind was made up going into this week that I would discuss some measure of how to save money while hosting a wedding, while still managing to get all those great beers.  That could go one of a hundred ways, so I have decided to focus on just groom side wedding attire.  This is specific because I was in the wedding and I have experienced it now in multiple times.

Bridesmaids dresses can be expensive, and often are not worn multiple times, which is silly considering how expensive and nice* they are.  Luckily, groomsmen don't get those.  However, groomsmen attire can still be very fancy, expensive, and ridiculous.  Having been a groomsman 5 times and married just once, I can relate.

The key with groomsmen clothing is twofold: 1 make sure whatever you get is approved by your future spouse, and 2 make sure that what you get can be worn again.

1- This item should seem pretty straight forward, why wear something that your spouse would not like?  So get that approval first when looking at what clothing you are going to have don along with your 1-12** closest friends.  Now this item may seem straightforward, but for saving money it is not.  There should never be any reason that the groom has to buy a bunch of shirts to see how they fit and look - just go to the store together or the internet and decide together.  No one should be doing this charade more than one time.  Save money and time by making sure you don't make a wrong decision, and by letting the real decision maker help you make the right call (hint for all you future grooms out there).  Side note - for all guys who are really into fashion, cool, just still listen to your spouse unless you are told otherwise.

2 - This one is not as easy.  People live all kinds of varied lives with different types of work and social structures.  Some might need to dress fancy on a weekly occasion, some might do it once a year.  Try to make sure that any shirts, pants, and accessories be useful to those people.  That means if you are given the latitude to pick shirts and patterns, please don't make them stupid or ridiculous.  For instance, I have a shirt from a wedding that is so bad I refuse to wear it at work (and my sense of style is terrible per my wife).

Weddings don't need to be expensive, though some families will hop on that train the instant a wedding is announced.  Wedding attire is one of the many things people blow money on, where there is no need to.  Renting suits? Don't, buy one - it will pay you back after wearing it 2 or 3 times instead of renting more crap later.  Got a nice shirt? - great they likely will be able to use it at work or social functions after.  If people are going to pay a lump of cash to be in your wedding party, the least that you can do is make sure their wedding attire is not full of single use items.

Final note - if people are expected to spend more than $150, stuff better be useful...

* well they can be really weird too, I am going off my wife's judgments here.
** for the record I have never seen more than 8 groomsmen, but I have seen 12 bridesmaids...

Do you suit up all the time or just when you have to?  I only do it when I have to.

- Gremlin

Recent Buy Part 2, April 2019

Worker Gremlin here to discuss another recent buy.  Its been a busy couple of weeks at work, and my work is not always enjoyable or exciting.  Indeed, if I suddenly had the money I would totally change what I do entirely.  So this purchase, like all the others before it, furthers my quest for financial independence.  In other news, I am headed to a wedding this weekend, which will likely be my next "Gremlin Talks" subject of discussion.  Frankly, this upcoming wedding has been and will be a shitshow - in both good and bad ways.  Yea, Marriage!  So, what did I buy?

A few days ago, I added shares of WestRock Company (WRK) in my taxable account.  I bought 30 shares, with a total cost of $1,094.95 ($36.27 / share, plus commission).  Once again, had I waited a single day my yield would be higher.  The current yield was 4.82% at the time of purchase. For a detailed summary of their history, etc. please visit: WRK's Seeking Alpha Profile.  Side note, SA's dividend evaluation is off, looking at the historical information elsewhere - I find they have approximately 10 years of growth and payments.

The materials sub-sector that WRK lives in - packaging and paper type products - is one that will grow with the human population.  They will also likely be at the forefront of creating better and smarter waste / recycling solutions.  Those will likely include reduction is material usage, which will lead to shipping cost savings and better efficiencies.  Those efficiencies and improvements still cost money, and groups like WRK will be there to soak that up like a sponge.

WRK is not the first materials company I own in the space, I have Sonoco Products (SON) in the same sub-sector.  I also own Eastman Chemical (EMN) and Westlake Chemical (WLK), which are in the broader materials sector.  I am running a bit high on my materials sector allocation, but WRK is sitting at such a good valuation that it was impossible to ignore.  All this means is my next buy will not likely be in this sector.

These purchases will add $54.60 to my forward 12 month dividend income.

I will update my portfolio page at the end of the month.

What do you think of WRK?

- Gremlin
- Long WRK, SON, EMN, and WLK

Recent Buys, April 2019

Travel Gremlin here to discuss two recent buys. The month is very young, and yet I am already making moves and adding to my accounts.  On top of that work seems to be getting busier, and this includes a brief trip out of town.  Sadly the trip is only for 1 night and I will not get a chance to see much of where I am going (womp, womp).  Also, having a 1 year old can be a challenge, so I do feel bad for my wife having to deal with our little ball of energy on her own.   All of this is a reminder to stay focused on my push to eliminate debt and move towards financial independence. That being said, both purchases are in retirement accounts, but the focus will be back on taxable accounts for most of the remainder of the year.  So, what did I buy?

1st: Yesterday, I added shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) in my Roth account.  I bought 17 shares, with a total cost of $1,093.36 ($63.91 / share, plus commission).  Once again, had I waited a single day my yield would be much higher.  The current yield was 2.77% at the time of purchase. For a detailed summary of their history, etc. please visit: WBA's Seeking Alpha Profile.

WBA joins CVS as the pharmacies in my portfolio.  There is a lot of discussion right now as to how they can both manage to survive with Amazon (AMZN), Walmart (WMT), Costco (COST), and other players competing in the space.  This coupled with the Opioid Crisis in the USA, and there is definite reason to doubt whether there is space for so many players.  Maybe to an extent this is true, and but at its core business mail delivery of medications has some substantial safety concerns that will need to be addressed.

Not just privacy, but the fact is online companies will be held to a much higher burden of proof when checking that no mistakes are made.  This would make integrated companies like CVS, with their purchase of Aetna, have an advantage.  WBA has the ability to match CVS in terms of tracking their patients, and this will be critical as the amount of drugs and their uses continues to rise.  For this reason, I do not fear the AMZNs of the world.  All it takes is 1 mistake by 1 company, and without human interaction the chances of this will likely increase.  Also, WBA is a dividend aristocrat, with 42 years in the bank!

2nd: Today, I added shares of Matthews International Corp (MATW) in my IRA account.  I bought 29 shares, with a total cost of $1,069.77 ($36.65 / share, plus commission).  The current yield is 2.15%. For a detailed summary of their history, etc. please visit: MATW's Seeking Alpha Profile.

MATW is an industrial company company that makes memorialization products.  What are those?  They are mainly gravestones, urns, etc.  This is a bet that current and future generations will not live forever.  The main risks here are 1 - people get buried less, which is fine as MATW has other products; and 2 - people learning to live forever (so far Keith Richards makes me question my original statement about people not living forever).

So far, MATW is a neat purchase with a good growth and dividend histories.  They play in a niche market with the other major player being Service Corporation International (SCI).  It may be a bit morbid to like the stock, but I see that their growth (I say that not in the sense of 'yay more dead people', you know what I mean!) will continue and both will be steady eddies for a while.  MATW has 24 years of growth, rubbing up against aristocrat territory.  MATW also has other smaller lines of business - which are far less interesting!

These purchases will add $53.12 to my forward 12 month dividend income.

I will update my portfolio page at the end of the month.

What do you think of WBA and MATW?

- Gremlin
- Long WBA, CVS, WMT, and MATW

March Review / April Preview, 2019

Busy Gremlin here to talk about this past month and focus in on next month.  The big news for me is that my car has been fully paid off - freeing up a small, but significant amount of cash flow.  It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, but I am still carrying plenty of things, so there is no rest for the weary.  On top of that personal success, an old 401K was rolled over into my IRA account, which will enable me to make an extra purchase pretty soon.  It is a real boon that I found that extra money just hanging around and that I was able to reclaim all of it (I laugh in the face of vesting agreements).

March:

This month I made one purchase, acquiring shares of Eaton Vance (EV) in my taxable account.

Last month I brought in a total of $429.55 in dividends ($180.51 taxable, $93.08 Roth, and $155.96 IRA).  This is an increase from last year (380.61 total) by 12%.  Even with the Kraft-Heinz KHC dividend cut, my growth is not stopping.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized* eleven (11!) raises from the Archer Daniel's Midland (ADM), Amgen (AMGN), Canadian National Railway (CNI), Dominion Energy (D), Dunkin Brands (DNKN), Union Pacific (UNP), Waste Management (WM), YUM! Brands (YUM), Prudential (PRU), 3M (MMM), and T. Rowe Price (TROW).  The increases are from about 4% to about 15%+.  I have now realized 18 raises thus far this year.  I also realized one cut of approximately 33% by KHC.

Next month I will realize seven (7) raises from the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM), Coke Cola (KO), Realty Income (O), Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD), WalMart (WMT), and Kimberly Clark (KMB).  The increases are from about 0.2% to about 10%.

* I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

April:

The mortgage continues and I am putting a little extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets (I choose not to count the house as an asset).  Outside of our house, we still have very low interest auto debt (1.5% for our car).  My car was paid off in March, freeing up some monthly cash!  Debt is being eliminated, and we are still building and assets.

My next purchase will be in April, which will make for 10 consecutive months of buys across all accounts.

Next month should produce around $105 in dividends, which is a 40% YOY increase.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great April.
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers

Gremlin Talks Cents

Teachable Gremlin here to introduce a new section and page.  I plan on discussing some of the crazy things I do to save money, some of which are funny, all of which save bottom line cash.  To get this party started, I am going to focus on the value of the penny.  Yes a penny, $0.01.  On its surface it is worth next to nothing, indeed it costs more to make one than it is worth.  Still they have value, even if minimal to the everyday person.  Yet, even things with minimal value can help create something of value.  Take a car, it has hundreds of little screws, bolts, and nuts that on their own are worth very little, but when combined create a very valuable device.  So my first discussion here will be on pennies (really loose change in general).

I keep a penny bank in my house, really it stores all coins, but who cares.  Many of these coins are received when something is purchased in cash - an activity that is rare for me, but much more common for my wife.  In addition to that, I have an eagle eye for anything that is remotely shiny and on the ground.  If I were to say I had a super power, it is finding loose change.  I was blessed with this ability at a real young age, you know when this kind of thing is cute, funny, and seemingly useful.  Fast forward to my early 30s, and its not cute anymore.  However, it is still hilarious.  It has led to so many good jokes at my expense.  The apex of this is an ongoing text conversation where I am asked if I would pick up a coin, and then the picture follows.  Usually the coin is somewhere terrible - in an intersection, urinal, etc.  Often I say no, but sometimes I say yes.  In real life, if there is something socially weird or unsafe, no I touch that crap up, but otherwise - hell yes.  Then that coin along with all the loose change in the house goes into the penny bank.

Once you have all that loose change what will you do with it?  No one is going to roll those coins, no one has that kind of time.  No one is going to go to a Coinstar machine and suffer a 3-6% fee ... OR will they?  The thing I have discovered is Coinstar machines allow people to convert the coins, fee free, to give certificates for companies of your choosing.  These include Netflix (NFLX), Amazon (AMZN), and Walmart (WMT).  Since my wife loves AMZN, the answer is clear.  Recently, I tested this out by taking my coins to the local grocery store, and getting a sweet gift code for Amazon.  The timing could not have been better as I had a necessary purchase to make at that time.  Saved me a solid $85 that I would have otherwise had to take out of my bottom line - away from investments.

Coming full circle, one of my friends is the polar opposite with me when it comes to loose change.  He literally throws it away, especially pennies.  Sure maybe over his lifetime that will about amount to $20-30 total of pennies, but that is one extra hour of your life you need to work.  Rather than doing that work, just save it.  Every cent in your pocket is one more you can have working for you.

What do you do with your loose change?

- Gremlin
- Long WMT

Recent Buy, March 2019

Busy Gremlin here to discuss a recent buy.  Yesterday I added a new position, keeping the push alive to for FI.  I had considered closing a position to assist in the buy, specifically the Gap (GPS) after they announced the company would split.  However, I did not do that and I will patiently wait to see what happens there.  My GPS position is so small that eventually closing would be worth it as I refocus my effort on building larger positions of greater quality.  Now don't get me wrong, their clothes are fine - and some of the few that actually fit me pretty well (Gap and Old Navy), but I do not see their future including consistent dividend raises comparable to other quality stocks out there.  I must digress, what did I buy?

So yesterday, I added shares of Eaton Vance (EV) in my taxable account.  I bought 25 shares, with a total cost of $1,029.45 ($40.90 / share, plus commission).  This was a limit buy, and when I placed it I thought it would not be fulfilled; I am glad it was - though I could have waited 1 more day.  The current yield is 3.35%. For a detailed summary of their history, etc. please visit: EV's Seeking Alpha Profile.

EV joins Amerprise Financial (AMP) and T. Rowe Price (TROW) as the asset managers in my portfolio.  In addition, many of my Canadian banks and Prudential (PRU) also are involved in this industry.  It is one where scale and growth of the economy / assets work together in some sort of synergy to throw off money like a hurricane at sea throwing around water.

Asset managers are hard to escape, anyone who has a 401k or similar retirement account knows this.  Indeed, many people opt towards various types of funds as a way to set their money and forget it by virtue of letting someone else do it.  In a world where there is more money and people everyday, and where those people are so busy they cannot even slow down enough to enjoy a beer - there will be a space for companies like EV.  That coupled with excellent fundamentals including a great valuation, excellent payout ratio, and dividend growth propelled me to buy EV.

This purchase will add $35 to my forward 12 month dividend income.

I will update my portfolio page at the end of the month.

What do you think of EV?

- Gremlin
- Long EV, GPS, AMP, TROW, PRU, and the big 5 Canadian banks

February Review / March Preview, 2019

Excited Gremlin here to talk about the past and future months.  So far 2019 is shaping up handsomely.  Personally, its been equally rewarding with excellent opportunities popping up at work, fun at home, and with dividends.  The opportunities come from trying and taking chances - one of the best lines I have ever heard is "50% of the battle is showing up," which is beyond true.  Its amazing how many things happen just be giving something a shot.  On the home front Lil Gremlin has been a riot, and his rascally personality, is pay-per-view level entertainment.  If only everything was as funny to me as it seems to be to him.

Meanwhile in the real world some hilarious articles have come out, specifically this one on Vice.  The article offers a very interesting perspective on something I take for granted, but seems to miss the point.  Dovetailing with that article is one that is this gem from the Atlantic.  In a way it seems to vindicate the Vice one - where the cycle of spend, earn, live, repeat and unending progress seem to be the order of the day until you are retired because your fingers are unable to type.  As a person who generally dislikes religion, I found the Atlantic one very interesting and completely disagree with it in the sense that it applies to me.  Happiness is my goal, and I am not defined only by my work.  Also of interest to me was this find about social media is the new opium of the people.  These eschewing of saving, dedication to work, and temporary enjoyment (beyond what you need to keep the train on the rails) all clearly intertwine.  That being said I am writing a blog... so let's cut to the chase, show me the money.

February:

This month I made one purchase, acquiring shares of Canadian National Railway (CNI) in my taxable account.

Last month I brought in a total of $286.21 in dividends ($71.23 taxable, $66.1 Roth, and $148.88 IRA).  This is an increase from last year (233.83 total) by 22%.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized* five raises from the Bank of Montreal (BMO), one from my employer (Bºº), AT&T (T), Abbott Labs (ABT), and Deere Co. (DE).  The increases are from about 2% to about 21%.  I have now realized 7 raises thus far this year.

Next month I will realize eleven (11!) raises from the Archer Daniel's Midland (ADM), Amgen (AMGN), CNI, Dominion Energy (D), Dunkin Brands (DNKN), Union Pacific (UNP), Waste Management (WM), YUM! Brands (YUM), Prudential (PRU), 3M (MMM), and T. Rowe Price (TROW).  The increases are from about 4% to about 15%+.  I will also realize one cut of approximately 33% by Kraft-Heinz (KHC).

* I only count increases when realized, because until that money is delivered any statements or declarations are simply conjecture.

March:

The mortgage continues and I am putting a little extra cash towards the principal monthly - not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Our debts currently outstrip our assets (I choose not to count the house as an asset).  Outside of our house, we still have very low interest auto debt (1.9 and 1.5% for our cars).  I should be able to pay off my car soon thanks to my tax windfall related to home ownership and having a child - which is a nice silver lining.  Debt is being eliminated, and we are still building and assets.

My next purchase will be in March, which will make for 9 consecutive months of buys across all accounts.

Next month should produce around $426 in dividends, which is a 12% YOY increase, even with KHC's shenanigans.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great March.
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stock tickers