* Protecting Your Dollars With Foreign Currency

In late 2007 when I starting writing about dividend investing I had two primary motives in mind: 1. Put myself in a position where there is some public accountability. 2. Interact with knowledgeable investors and expose myself to new ideas. In response to a recent post "How Much Money Will You Need For Retirement?", two readers introduced me to a concept that hadn't considered up to that point.

* How To Maximize Your Dividend Stocks' Earnings

What makes investing in dividend stocks so intriguing is the power of compound dividends. We all know that compound interest is what occurs when interest previously earned is added to the principle and is considered when calculating future interest – i.e. earning interest on interest. Compound dividends are like compound interest, but much better.

* RPM International Inc. (RPM) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net September 21, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of RPM International Inc. (RPM). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: RPM International Inc. makes specialty coatings and products for the structural waterproofing and corrosion control markets, as well as products for the consumer, do-it-yourself and hobby markets.

* Weekly Links: September 27, 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.

* Six Double-Digit Dividend Stocks Increasing Their Yields

After Wednesday's article High-Yield, High-Risk Dividend Stocks, I had hoped to feature a few high-yield stocks raising their dividends this week. Patiently I watched the news wire for some announcements that fit the bill, and it didn't take long. As if they were waiting for the cue, three high-yield stocks recently announced increased cash dividends for their shareholders:

* High Yield, High Risk Dividend Stocks

It is not unusual after I publish a list of stocks to get a comment or two asking why those stocks and not these stocks. Often the real thrust of the question is why buy those low yield stocks when you can buy these high yield stocks. The answer involves risk and its management.

* How Much Money Will You Need For Retirement?

How much money will you need for retirement? This obviously is very important question, but also a very difficult question to answer. There are many factors and assumptions that go into estimating the income that will be needed in retirement. With so many estimates and assumptions, there is a high probability the estimated number will be incorrect.

* Leggett & Platt Inc. (LEG) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net September 14, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Leggett & Platt Inc. (LEG). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Leggett & Platt Inc. makes a broad line of bedding and furniture components and other home, office and commercial furnishings, as well as diversified products for non-furnishings markets.

* Weekly Links: September 20, 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 - August 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 August 2009, Year-To-Date (2009) and Life-To-Date. The Portfolio Returns line provides the calculated return for the three displayed periods.

* 9 Stocks Increasing Their Dividends

It is good once again to see companies raising their dividends after last week pause and Kraft's (KFT) announcement it was freezing its dividend at $0.29/share for the 5th straight quarter. Dividend increases are the fuel that keeps our dividend income machines running. Without dividend increases, many dividend stocks would not fare well when compared to other income-based investments.

* Dividends Value Mobile

I am pleased to announce that Dividends Value now offers a mobile interface to support the growing number of readers accessing the site with smart phones, such as the iPhone and other devices such as the iTouch. As an owner of an iTouch, I appreciate sites that have an interface that is specifically designed for mobile users.

* Finding Dividend Stock Gems In An Overbought Market

Last week I wrote about how dividend stocks were getting expensive and the number of stocks that my model identified as a buy were diminishing. After another week of the market rallying, the number of stocks identified as a buy fell to 4 stocks from 7. So what do you do if you are over-allocated in the four stocks that are a buy?

* Dividend Stocks Are My Conviction

For many investors, there is no clear conviction as to how they should invest. Today's investments are guided by what was read yesterday, and the popular media is constantly churning out new and different ideas. Granted it makes for some "interesting" reads, but it certainty is no way to run a portfolio.

* Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net September 7, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Lowe's Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate as a home improvement retailer in the United States and Canada. The company offers a range of products and services for home decoration, maintenance, repair, remodeling, and property maintenance.

* Weekly Links: September 13, 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 - August 2009

Once again it is time for a goals/progress update. I am pleased to report that annualized dividend income rose in August, extending the streak to 6 months after February's decline. Since I began publicly tracking annualized dividend income in November 2007, it has increased in 20 of the last 21 months.

* The Dividend Freeze

As summer turns to fall and the heat begins to moderate, winter and its freezing temperatures are just around the corner. However, some companies have been frozen in place for the last year; more specifically, their dividends have been frozen at the same rate for more than a year.

* Seeding A Forest Of Dividend Stocks

In the southern U.S. where I live, there has been some controversy over harvesting forests of hardwoods and reseeding them with pines. Valuable hardwood trees such as white and red oaks, cherry, ash, yellow poplar and black walnut require decades to reach financial maturity. The southern pine reaches financial maturity in a fraction of the time, but will not yield the same price as hardwoods. Growing hardwoods is very similar to investing in dividend stocks.

* Dividend Stocks Are Getting Expensive

Over the last several weeks, the number of dividend stocks my model identified as a buy has greatly declined. On July 3rd it flagged 14 stocks as potential buys verses only 7 stocks on August 29th. The August 29th list had the advantage of using a quarter point lower minimum dividend. Needless to say the recent market rally has made many dividend stocks expensive.

* WW Grainger Inc. (GWW) Dividend Stock Analysis

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net August 31, 2009.

Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of WW Grainger Inc. (GWW). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Grainger (W W) Inc. is the largest global distributor of industrial and commercial supplies, such as hand tools, electric motors, light bulbs, and janitorial items.

* Weekly Links: September 6, 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.

* Dividend Stocks Offer Continuous Feedback

One of the many reasons I like dividend stocks is because they provide continuous feedback. As time passes, dividend investors see their income grow steadily. You don't have to wait five to ten years to determine if the strategy is working. Each dividend and dividend increase provides reassurance that the strategy is working.

* Introducing The D4L Premium Alerts

I am pleased to announce the addition of the D4L Alerts as a premium feature available to subscribers of the D4L-Premium Services.

Currently there are three types of alerts available to subscribers who have opted in:

* Never Fall In Love With A Stock

Over time we tend grow fond of people we have a relationship with. Sometimes we grow to love them like a brother or sister; sometimes even more. In much the same way we can easily grow to love certain stocks, but this is not necessarily a good thing.

* What's Wrong With P&G?

Product demand for household and personal care products is generally stable and not affected by changes in the economy or geopolitical factors. Investors know this and when the economy and the market turn down, many investors start buying defensive stocks. Since the end of the year, many non-cyclical companies have seen dramatic increases, with one notable exception, Procter & Gamble (PG).