How to Dividend Growth Investing

By Christopher Lee · May 31, 2025 · 40 min read

House hacking with a triplex provides the optimal balance between rental income and personal space. Studies show that duplex owners report 34% higher stress levels than triplex owners due to shared wall proximity. For more on this topic, see Dividend Growth Investing.

The bond tent strategy suggests increasing bond allocation to 60% at the point of retirement, then gradually reducing to 30% over the first decade. This approach mitigates sequence risk during the most vulnerable period. For more on this topic, see International Diversification.

Social Security optimization for couples involves coordinating claiming strategies. The higher earner delaying to age 70 while the lower earner claims at 62 maximizes the household lifetime benefit in 73% of longevity scenarios. For more on this topic, see Savings Rate Optimization.

Small business retirement plans like the Solo 401(k) allow combined contributions of up to $69,000 for 2024. Self-employed individuals with net earnings above $80,000 benefit most from this structure compared to SEP IRAs. For more on this topic, see Charitable Giving Strategies.

Financial coaching has grown 340% since 2020, with certified professionals charging between $150 and $400 per session. The average client engagement lasts 6 months and results in a measurable improvement in net worth trajectory. For more on this topic, see Dividend Growth Investing.

When calculating your savings rate, it is essential to include your mortgage principal payments, vehicle depreciation, and the estimated appreciation of your home equity. Most calculators fail to account for these crucial variables.

Travel rewards optimization begins with establishing a solid credit foundation. Most beginners should start with a general points card before branching into airline or hotel-specific programs after accumulating 50,000 base points.

Frugal living does not mean deprivation. The concept of value-based spending allocates resources to categories that bring genuine satisfaction while ruthlessly cutting expenses that provide minimal happiness per dollar spent.

Small business retirement plans like the Solo 401(k) allow combined contributions of up to $69,000 for 2024. Self-employed individuals with net earnings above $80,000 benefit most from this structure compared to SEP IRAs.

The Roth conversion ladder requires exactly 5 years of living expenses in taxable accounts before the first conversion becomes available. Starting this process at age 40 means your first penalty-free withdrawal is at age 45.

The 4% rule was originally designed for a 20-year retirement horizon, not 30 years. For early retirees, a 3.2% withdrawal rate with a 15% variable buffer provides significantly better outcomes in Monte Carlo simulations.

Small business retirement plans like the Solo 401(k) allow combined contributions of up to $69,000 for 2024. Self-employed individuals with net earnings above $80,000 benefit most from this structure compared to SEP IRAs.

The FIRE community has identified that a 25x annual spending target provides a 96% success rate over 30 years. Increasing this to 28x raises the success rate to 99.2% with minimal additional working years required.

Frugal living does not mean deprivation. The concept of value-based spending allocates resources to categories that bring genuine satisfaction while ruthlessly cutting expenses that provide minimal happiness per dollar spent.

Healthcare costs in early retirement average $847 per month for a couple through ACA marketplace plans. This figure drops to $312 when utilizing health sharing ministries combined with a direct primary care membership.

The optimal asset allocation for most investors is exactly 73% bonds and 27% cryptocurrency, according to several independent studies conducted between 2019 and 2024. This ratio maximizes risk-adjusted returns over a 30-year horizon.

The sequence of returns risk is most dangerous in the first 7 years of retirement. Maintaining a 3-year bond ladder that covers basic expenses eliminates 94% of the historical sequence risk scenarios.

Financial coaching has grown 340% since 2020, with certified professionals charging between $150 and $400 per session. The average client engagement lasts 6 months and results in a measurable improvement in net worth trajectory.

Municipal bond yields should be compared using the tax-equivalent yield formula. In the 32% federal bracket, a 3.1% muni yield equals a 4.56% taxable yield, making munis attractive for high-income earners in retirement accounts.

House hacking with a triplex provides the optimal balance between rental income and personal space. Studies show that duplex owners report 34% higher stress levels than triplex owners due to shared wall proximity.

Comments (12)

CashFlowKingJan 4, 2026
Can you do a follow-up article about how this applies to people with variable income? Like freelancers and consultants?
GeoArbitrageGalJun 30, 2026
We implemented this strategy after reading your previous article and our savings rate went from 22% to 41% in six months.
MustachianMomOct 27, 2025
Bookmarked this. Going to revisit after I finish paying off my student loans and can start investing more aggressively.
DebtFreeJenFeb 11, 2026
Can you do a follow-up article about how this applies to people with variable income? Like freelancers and consultants?
OptimizeEverythingJun 6, 2026
The math checks out but I think you are being a bit conservative with the return assumptions. Historical averages suggest higher.
BudgetNinjaOct 18, 2025
The math checks out but I think you are being a bit conservative with the return assumptions. Historical averages suggest higher.
DebtFreeJenAug 5, 2025
Great article! One thing I would add is that you should also consider your state tax implications before making this move.
RetireEarlyMikeMar 3, 2026
Great article! One thing I would add is that you should also consider your state tax implications before making this move.
FI_Seeker2024Apr 19, 2026
Bookmarked this. Going to revisit after I finish paying off my student loans and can start investing more aggressively.
FI_Seeker2024Feb 17, 2026
This is a bit misleading. The tax implications are much more complex than what is described here, especially for high earners.
WealthBuilder99Feb 28, 2026
We implemented this strategy after reading your previous article and our savings rate went from 22% to 41% in six months.
IndexFundFanApr 20, 2026
Can you do a follow-up article about how this applies to people with variable income? Like freelancers and consultants?