* Snap, Crackle and Pop: The Sound of a Rising Dividend!

Dividend increases aren't the only thing the Kellogg Company (K) is known for. For anyone over the age of two, Snap, Crackle and Pop are very familiar characters. Since 1933 the three elf characters have been the spokesmen for Kellogg's Rice Krispies. Snap, the baker, is the oldest and the problem solver. Crackle, middle child with no distinguishable occupation, is the good-hearted leader of the group. Pop, the marching band leader, is the clumsy younger child. He plays jokes, doesn’t take things seriously.

* Are REITs and Utilities Good Dividend Investments?

Dividend stocks. When you hear those two words what do you think of? Many people think of widows and orphans, along with their stereotypical investment in utility stocks. While others may think of maximizing income by finding the highest yielding stocks available like Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). But are utilities and REITs really good dividend investments?

* Market Timing vs. Buy And Hold

Over the years I have observed that there are many ways to earn a good return in the market. In addition to buy and hold, some have successfully used various forms of market timing including sector rotation, momentum investing, technical analysis, et. al. Given a person's unique makeup, not all strategies will work for everyone. At the same time, I believe all strategies will fail if the investor is not committed to their selected strategy over the long term.

* Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net July 20, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Procter & Gamble Co. (PG). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) is focused on providing branded consumer goods products. The Company markets its products in more than 180 countries.

* Weekly Links: July 26, 2009

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al.

* 2009-Q2 Progress Review

After each quarter-end I review my asset allocation and year-to-date total returns by category. The attached PDF contains my actual asset allocation as of 2009-Q2. Below is a high-level summary of the information contained in the PDF:

* Five Companies Willing and Capable To Raise Dividends

The main focus of dividend investing is finding and buying stocks that will continue to raise their dividends in the future. In making this determination there are many factors to consider such as dividend payout ratio, debt levels, the company's dividend policy and track record.

* Should You Still Buy-And-Hold Stocks?

The buy-and-hold investment strategy has taken a lot of abuse since the market turned down. But this isn't the first time it has happened. It seems that each time the market cycles down, the same group of naysayers come out proclaim buy-and-hold as dead and attack it most visible proponents like Warren Buffett, John Bogle and Jeremy Siegel. Eventually, the market turns, the naysayers disappear and the buy-and-hold investors make a lot of money.

* Bonds: The Next Bubble to Burst?

One of the key tenets of investing with an asset allocation model is that bonds and stocks working together will help reduce the volatility of your portfolio. Recent history has shown that while stocks crashed, bonds soared and those fortunate enough to hold them generally did better than those invested entirely in equities.

* Dover Corp. (DOV) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net July 13, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Dover Corp. (DOV). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Dover Corp. manufactures a broad range of specialized industrial products and sophisticated manufacturing equipment.

* Weekly Links: July 19, 2009

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al.

* Pocket Change Portfolio - June 2009

Each month I update the Pocket Change Portfolio (PCP). The table below reconciles the PCP from beginning of period to end of period for June 2009, Year-To-Date (2009) and Life-To-Date. The Portfolio Returns line provides the calculated return for the three displayed periods.

* Seven Companies Raising Their Dividends

It is well-documented that a significant portion of the historical equity returns are a result of reinvested dividends. Performance in any given year is driven by capital appreciation, but long-term returns are largely the result of reinvested dividends. It is important to note that you can reinvest dividends without participating in a formal DRIP plan. However, you can't reinvest dividends unless the company pays them, and the really good companies increase their cash dividends each year.

* Never Confuse Desires With Goals

In any pursuit, if you have more than one or maybe two goals, they will often start to conflict with each other. We should never confuse desires with goals. For example, it is my goal to create an ever-increasing income from dividend stocks, while it is my desire to beat the S&P 500 index over the long-term.

* Retirement Planning With A Defined-Benefit Pension

This month I will turn 47. That means I am a few years past the mid-point of my career. It seems that with each birthday, I think about and plan for retirement a little more. I have long since resolved that social security will not provide for my needs in retirement (nor was it ever intended to). I am one of an ever-shrinking group that is still covered by a defined benefit pension plan. So, how should a pension fund figure into my retirement?

* Chubb Corp. (CB) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net July 6, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Chubb Corp. (CB). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Chubb Corp. is one of the largest U.S. property-casualty insurers, Chubb has carved out a number of niches, including high-end personal lines and specialty liability lines coverage.

* Weekly Links: July 12, 2009

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al.

* Progress Update - June 2009

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income rose in June, extending the streak to 4 months after February's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 18 of the last 19 months.

* Walgreen (WAG) Increases Its Dividend 22%

A person's character is defined not in the good times, but how they react in the time of a crisis. History is littered with examples of ordinary people doing extraordinary things at a critical time. Names like Rosa Parks (civil rights), Frank Fong (WW II fighter pilot) and James A. Lovell (astronaut) will forever be remembered as a result of their actions in a time of crisis. In much the same way, dividend investors in the future will look back at the 2008-2009 economic crisis and judge the character of dividend companies by how they reacted.

* Introducing The D4L-Dashboard

Since its launch in 2007, Dividends Value has been a leading provider of relevant information for dividend investors. I am proud of the wealth of information made available free of charge to my readers. Beginning today, Dividends Value will offer some premium content for serious dividend investors. It is my intention not to alter the free information currently provided, but to supplement it with some premium content.

* 12 Dividend Stocks With A 5-Star Strong Buy Rating

Over the last several weeks I have alluded to the fact that my stock analysis model was going through a major overhaul. Last week I put put the last piece of the puzzle in and began using the new model with the United Technologies Corp. (UTX) dividend stock analysis.

* Optimizing Your Asset Allocation

When to buy a stock and at what price are very important decisions. However, serious investors will tell you the most important decision is how you allocate your assets. I have recently stepped back and took another look at my asset allocation with an eye toward how it will change as I approach retirement.

* United Technologies Corp. (UTX) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net June 29, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of United Technologies Corp. (UTX). It is important to note that this is the first week of using my updated analysis model, so you will see some changes from earlier analyses. Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: United Technologies Corp. is an aerospace-industrial conglomerate with a portfolio including Pratt & Whitney jet engines, Sikorsky helicopters, Otis elevators and Carrier air conditioners, among other products.

* Weekly Links: July 5, 2009

Each Sunday I highlight the Carnivals I participated in over the past week, along with any notable articles that I came across. For those readers not familiar with carnivals, it's where personal finance bloggers submit their best articles of the week with one blog serving as the host. The entries are separated into various categories such as Investing, Credit, Debt, Budgeting, Frugality, Wealth Building, Money Management, Financial Planning, Insurance, Taxes, The Economy, Real Estate, et. al.

* Nine Stocks Giving Shareholders A Raise In The Second Quarter

In 1985 I graduated from college and took my first job as a staff accountant with a $21,000 annual salary. Now I am over the same department that I was hired into and entry level staff accountants start with a base salary of $56,500 per year. That equates to a 4.2% annual increase. Just as employees expect an annual raise, so do dividend investors.

* Four Stocks With Strong Dividend Growth Metrics

When evaluating a company as a potential income investment you look at its calculated fair value, ability to generate cash, debt position and the net present value of its dividend stream compared alternative "safe" investments.