
The Dividend Mailbox®
We want to stuff your mailbox with dividends! Our goal is to show you the power of dividend growth investing, and for each year's check to be larger than the last. We analyze specific companies and look at the mindset this strategy requires to be successful long-term. Come explore this not-so-boring world and watch your portfolio's value compound.
Latest episodes

Nov 15, 2023 • 33min
Ignore the Siren Songs of the Market, Tie Yourself to the Mast
More on dividend growth investing -> Join our market newsletter!There is a huge difference between understanding compounding and actually understanding the numbers behind it. As a blanket term, compounding is thrown around in the investment arena often, yet few investors are actually patient enough to experience its full potential. Creating real wealth takes time, discipline, and strategy.In this episode, Greg uses our model portfolio to look at a couple of examples that expose just how significant your portfolio income can be when you have the discipline to let it grow. Moreover, he makes the case that income growth, rather than price growth, has a larger impact on the long-term value of your portfolio. Later, he likens the mindset of dividend growth investing to Odysseus's voyage.Send us a textSchedule a meeting with us -> Financial Planning & Portfolio Management If you submit a question to us and we use it in an episode, we will send you an official The Dividend Mailbox Yeti® Tumbler -> Email us at ethan@growmydollar.com.Notes & Resources:DCM Investment Reports & ModelsVisit our website to learn more about our investment strategy and wealth management services.Follow us on:Instagram - Facebook - LinkedIn - XIf you enjoy the show, we'd greatly appreciate it if you subscribe and leave a review

Oct 18, 2023 • 36min
UNP Deep Dive: A Growing Dividend Is Just Around the Bend
More on dividend growth investing -> Join our market newsletter!To most investors, big returns are associated with exciting stories or cutting-edge technology. Since everyone is in the market to make as much money as possible, “boring” companies can be easily dismissed without much second thought. That line of thinking is straightforward enough but it may be misguided. Truthfully, some of the better-performing companies out there are actually pretty boring. When it comes to achieving attractive returns, it is not what a company does that is important, it is how well they do it. In this episode, Greg embarks on a deep dive into Union Pacific Railroad ($UNP) and the broader railroad industry. He makes the case that railroads are extremely predictable, well run, and have provided investors with decades of market-beating returns. Railroads are probably not your first idea for building wealth, but these companies are cashflow-compounding machines. This episode is a little bit deeper than we have gone in the past, but it makes for a compelling story. Send us a textSchedule a meeting with us -> Financial Planning & Portfolio Management If you submit a question to us and we use it in an episode, we will send you an official The Dividend Mailbox Yeti® Tumbler -> Email us at ethan@growmydollar.com.Notes & Resources:DCM Investment Reports & ModelsVisit our website to learn more about our investment strategy and wealth management services.Follow us on:Instagram - Facebook - LinkedIn - XIf you enjoy the show, we'd greatly appreciate it if you subscribe and leave a review

Sep 20, 2023 • 29min
Are You an Intelligent Investor or a Smart Investor?
More on dividend growth investing -> Join our market newsletter!Is there a difference between being intelligent and being smart? Most people would think of those concepts as one and the same. Although it may be abstract, these are two separate schools of thought entirely. You may go so far as to characterize intelligence as left-brain thinking, and smarts as right-brain reasoning. How does that apply to investing? If you’ve ever regretted an investment decision before, it may have been due to an overreliance on numbers, data, or rules, and not enough on vision.For our 27th episode, Greg takes a step back and examines a recent blog post from Morgan Housel. He starts out by contrasting intelligence vs. smarts, then uses several examples to show how it relates to investors. He applies this mindset to everything from analyzing America’s deficit problems, to honestly reflecting on his own thought process when he sold Intel ($INTC) several months ago. Greg wraps up the episode by introducing a new stock idea, United Pacific ($UNP), and sets the stage for a deeper dive next month.Links referenced in today’s episode are below:Morgan Housel's blog -> Intelligent vs. SmartGreg's newsletter on America's Debt and Deficits -> Debt, Denial, & Illusions: America Has a Spending ProblemSend us a textSchedule a meeting with us -> Financial Planning & Portfolio Management If you submit a question to us and we use it in an episode, we will send you an official The Dividend Mailbox Yeti® Tumbler -> Email us at ethan@growmydollar.com.Notes & Resources:DCM Investment Reports & ModelsVisit our website to learn more about our investment strategy and wealth management services.Follow us on:Instagram - Facebook - LinkedIn - XIf you enjoy the show, we'd greatly appreciate it if you subscribe and leave a review

10 snips
Aug 17, 2023 • 35min
The Formula for Dividend Growth Investing
Dive into the world of dividend growth investing and discover a formula with seven key factors for identifying great opportunities. Learn how essential metrics like return on invested capital and management quality play a role in sustainable growth. The hosts analyze Dover Corporation, showcasing its dividend strengths while discussing potential challenges. They emphasize the importance of patience and discipline, reminding listeners that not every company fits the mold for ideal investments.

Jul 18, 2023 • 27min
Telecom & Tobacco: Analyzing the Legal Liability That Could Limit Returns
More on dividend growth investing -> Join our market newsletter!Even though dividend growth stocks typically have a high degree of predictability, that doesn’t mean you can’t end up with surprises. Outside dividend cuts, some of the most significant surprises can come from legal liability - often arising from the distant past. Companies routinely face challenges in the courtroom and are well-equipped to handle their cases, but occasionally they are forced to cut a check with a lot of zeros. The problem for investors is that there is no quantifiable way to know what legal liabilities might be lingering out there. This episode is packed with specific companies as Greg dives into two stocks from the tobacco industry and two from the telecom sector. He examines the legal history of British-American Tabacco ($BTI) and Altria ($MO), alongside the potential future liability of AT&T ($T) and Verizon ($VZ). In doing so, he also breaks down their performance as companies and gives you a snapshot of how we analyze dividend growth candidates. Send us a textSchedule a meeting with us -> Financial Planning & Portfolio Management If you submit a question to us and we use it in an episode, we will send you an official The Dividend Mailbox Yeti® Tumbler -> Email us at ethan@growmydollar.com.Notes & Resources:DCM Investment Reports & ModelsVisit our website to learn more about our investment strategy and wealth management services.Follow us on:Instagram - Facebook - LinkedIn - XIf you enjoy the show, we'd greatly appreciate it if you subscribe and leave a review

Jun 21, 2023 • 32min
Discipline Is the Cornerstone of Dividend Growth Investing
More on dividend growth investing -> Join our market newsletter!If you want to be a successful long-term investor, you must know your discipline and be willing to stick to it. All investing strategies come in and out of favor in the marketplace and they ebb and flow over time. In 2022, we saw high growth and tech companies underperform, while dividend growth companies held up well. So far in 2023, we’re seeing the opposite. However, switching your investment strategy based on short-term performance is almost always ill-advised. Of course, having discipline is easier said than done, but gaining perspective can help. In this month’s episode, Greg zeros in on how discipline and dividend growth are one and the same. He breaks down some of the largest wealth creators in the market and examines what exactly is driving the current market rally. He discusses the importance of knowing why your portfolio is performing the way it is but stresses that short-term performance is unimportant for the bigger picture. Later, he looks at a few dividend growth ETFs and finishes the episode with a listener’s question about investing from abroad. Send us a textSchedule a meeting with us -> Financial Planning & Portfolio Management If you submit a question to us and we use it in an episode, we will send you an official The Dividend Mailbox Yeti® Tumbler -> Email us at ethan@growmydollar.com.Notes & Resources:DCM Investment Reports & ModelsVisit our website to learn more about our investment strategy and wealth management services.Follow us on:Instagram - Facebook - LinkedIn - XIf you enjoy the show, we'd greatly appreciate it if you subscribe and leave a review

May 22, 2023 • 40min
Taking Advantage of Uncertainty
More on dividend growth investing -> Join our market newsletter!By now, almost everyone has heard of the turmoil in the banking sector. The current scenario is much different from that of 2008 yet investors are nonetheless on edge. That has presented the long-term investor with an opportunity to scoop up well-managed banks at an attractive price. But buyer beware, there is a big difference between the haves and the have-nots. Although there may very well be more turbulence in the short term, there are a few candidates worth analyzing. Considering the sell-off in the banking sector, Greg presents a new investment idea to add to our model portfolio. He makes the case that M&T Bank ($MTB) is conservatively managed and poised for continued dividend growth, even in rough seas. Later he explains why we sold a third of our Clorox ($CLX) position and addresses a listener’s question about cash investments. Send us a textSchedule a meeting with us -> Financial Planning & Portfolio Management If you submit a question to us and we use it in an episode, we will send you an official The Dividend Mailbox Yeti® Tumbler -> Email us at ethan@growmydollar.com.Notes & Resources:DCM Investment Reports & ModelsVisit our website to learn more about our investment strategy and wealth management services.Follow us on:Instagram - Facebook - LinkedIn - XIf you enjoy the show, we'd greatly appreciate it if you subscribe and leave a review

Apr 24, 2023 • 1h 1min
Downfalls of a Lottery Ticket Mindset with Jeff Weniger — Head of Equity Strategy at WisdomTree
More on dividend growth investing -> Join our market newsletter!In this month’s episode, Greg sits down with Jeff Weniger, Head of Equity Strategy at WisdomTree. For the unfamiliar, WisdomTree is a fund and ETF manager with roughly $90 billion in assets under management. What makes WisdomTree’s funds special is that most of them focus on dividend and dividend growth strategies. One of their largest funds is the US Quality Dividend Growth Fund ($DGRW), which incidentally is our largest core position and is one we have mentioned over past episodes. Among their other funds, $DGRW is exceptional for gaining exposure to quality dividend growth. Jeff has spent decades in the finance world and specializes in the management and creation of strategy-focused ETFs. Prior to joining WisdomTree, he was Director & Senior Strategist at BMO, working directly with the CIO of the firm from 2006 to 2017. He is a CFA charterholder, and earned his MBA from Notre Dame. As head WisdomTree’s equity strategy, Jeff has invaluable experience in equity markets and provides unique perspectives for long-term investors and the macro environment. During Greg and Jeff’s discussion, they cover the history of dividends, the difference between US and overseas dividend culture, why “boring” actually performs well, and why having a lottery ticket mindset can lead to mistakes. The interview is full of topics that the dividend investor should keep in mind and ultimately serves as a powerful reminder of why dividend growth investing is a long-term strategy that works.EDIT: This episode was originally uploaded with an hour of silence that followed the episode. The current audio file has been edited and corrected. Send us a textSchedule a meeting with us -> Financial Planning & Portfolio Management If you submit a question to us and we use it in an episode, we will send you an official The Dividend Mailbox Yeti® Tumbler -> Email us at ethan@growmydollar.com.Notes & Resources:DCM Investment Reports & ModelsVisit our website to learn more about our investment strategy and wealth management services.Follow us on:Instagram - Facebook - LinkedIn - XIf you enjoy the show, we'd greatly appreciate it if you subscribe and leave a review

Mar 22, 2023 • 46min
Dividend Cuts Don’t Have to Cut Your Income
More on dividend growth investing -> Join our market newsletter!Most of the time, using the screening criteria that are characteristic of good dividend growth companies weeds out the bad apples. When you buy companies that have low debt, attractive yield, high return on invested capital, etc., it can feel like you’ll be cashing those dividends forever. However, companies inevitably run into challenges, and you might get a surprise. If you invest long enough, you’ll eventually find yourself with a dividend that’s been cut and a once attractive investment that has soured. The good news is if your portfolio is structured properly, not even dividend cuts get in the way of growing your income every year.On another note, one factor that greatly influences the security of a dividend is debt. Given everything that has happened in the market recently, and with a liquidity crisis in the banking sector, debt has become a hot topic. It is extremely important to understand how debt functions for a company, especially in an environment with rising interest rates.In this month’s episode, Greg takes you on a deep dive into Intel ($INTC). He looks at why we originally bought it, the problems they ran into, and why they recently cut their dividend. He even lays out why it may do better in a couple of years. Later, He uses a couple of different examples to show how debt can be good, bad, or indifferent.Send us a textSchedule a meeting with us -> Financial Planning & Portfolio Management If you submit a question to us and we use it in an episode, we will send you an official The Dividend Mailbox Yeti® Tumbler -> Email us at ethan@growmydollar.com.Notes & Resources:DCM Investment Reports & ModelsVisit our website to learn more about our investment strategy and wealth management services.Follow us on:Instagram - Facebook - LinkedIn - XIf you enjoy the show, we'd greatly appreciate it if you subscribe and leave a review

Feb 22, 2023 • 40min
Sometimes Value Outweighs Sustainable Growth
More on dividend growth investing -> Join our market newsletter!When the goal is to compound wealth for decades, there is a significant difference between dividend growth and sustainable dividend growth. While the difference is obvious enough, they are two distinctly different investments and should be treated as such. Although we believe that sustainable dividend growth is ultimately what builds wealth over time, that doesn't mean that other investment ideas should be ignored altogether. When a stock gets cheap enough, even if its dividend is questionable, sometimes you have to jump on it.In this episode, Greg builds on the premise of Episode 18 and examines Oaktree Specialty Lending Corporation ($OCSL), a business development company with a 10%+ yield. At the risk of contradicting himself and the case he made against high yield, he argues that there comes a time when value beats dividend sustainability. While the risks of high-yield investments remain, he uses OCSL to compare dividend growth vs. sustainable dividend growth. Later on, Greg provides updates on companies we have covered in past episodes, and where we view them post-Q4 earnings. If you are interested in the original episodes where we went in-depth into each story, they are linked below:The Clorox Company ($CLX): Ep. 8 - Dirty vs. Clean Opportunities & Ep. 9 - Greater Volatility and More Uncertainty...Emerson Electric ($EMR): Ep. 17 - The Dilemma With Slow Growth3M Co ($MMM): Ep. 15 - You Don't Need A "Winner" to 10x Your IncomeUnited Parcel Service ($UPS): Ep. 19 - Do Dividends Care About Recessions?Send us a textSchedule a meeting with us -> Financial Planning & Portfolio Management If you submit a question to us and we use it in an episode, we will send you an official The Dividend Mailbox Yeti® Tumbler -> Email us at ethan@growmydollar.com.Notes & Resources:DCM Investment Reports & ModelsVisit our website to learn more about our investment strategy and wealth management services.Follow us on:Instagram - Facebook - LinkedIn - XIf you enjoy the show, we'd greatly appreciate it if you subscribe and leave a review