Dapper Dividends
Dapper Dividends
Dapper Dividends is a quirky and unique take on dividend growth investing!
I’m Russ, born in '78, Chicago raised, US Navy in the late '90s, have a wife and two teenage daughters, commercial loading dock equipment installer and service tech since '99.
While the following content are my opinions on investing and life, nothing is to be considered advice, but shared knowledge for your fun and entertainment!
I’m Russ, born in '78, Chicago raised, US Navy in the late '90s, have a wife and two teenage daughters, commercial loading dock equipment installer and service tech since '99.
While the following content are my opinions on investing and life, nothing is to be considered advice, but shared knowledge for your fun and entertainment!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 4, 2025 • 12min
#273~ This Dividend Has Me Worried 🚨
Starbucks (SBUX) just reported its first positive same-store sales in almost two years, but I'm still worried it might cut its dividend. In this video, I break down something most investors miss: how companies can make their numbers look better by closing underperforming stores right before quarter-end. I'll show you three warning signs every dividend investor should watch - payout ratios over 100%, sudden drops in dividend growth, and metric head-fakes in earnings reports. Starbucks is paying out 123% of their free cash flow as dividends, raised their dividend only 1.6% (vs their usual 9-15%), and closed 627 stores in Q4. After 7+ years of investing, I've seen this pattern before. All the warning signs are there - does that mean a cut is coming? Not necessarily, but the ingredients are lined up. Whether you own Starbucks or any other dividend stock, you'll learn how to spot these red flags before the headlines catch up. the YouTube video!Email Russ: 👉 Russ@DapperDividends.com🔔 Follow along with my dividend journey:→ Website→ YouTube Channel→ Newsletter→ BlossomBuy Buffett & Munger Unscripted"The Dividend Millionaire" book affiliate linkCheck out my portfolios and FREE Weekly Newsletter signup: https://dapperdividends.comFREE eBook on Life, Love, and Investing.Remember, having a single income stream is risky, and seeking multiple passive income streams would be wise.
Oct 27, 2025 • 16min
#272~What I’d Do Differently After 7 Years Investing
Ever wonder what you’d change if you could start investing all over again? In this video, I break down the biggest lessons I’ve learned from 7 years in the market—what worked, what didn’t, and the one thing I wish I knew from the start. Whether you’re brand new or just looking for fresh ideas, you’ll get my real-world take in plain English. Hit play and let’s simplify investing together! Watch the YouTube video!Email Russ: 👉 Russ@DapperDividends.com🔔 Follow along with my dividend journey:→ Website→ YouTube Channel→ Newsletter→ BlossomBuy Buffett & Munger Unscripted"The Dividend Millionaire" book affiliate linkCheck out my portfolios and FREE Weekly Newsletter signup: https://dapperdividends.comFREE eBook on Life, Love, and Investing.Remember, having a single income stream is risky, and seeking multiple passive income streams would be wise.
Oct 18, 2025 • 17min
#271~ 3 Dividend Stocks That Are Cheaper Than You Think!
If a stock costs $500 per share but earns $600 per share... is it expensive? Nope. It's actually cheap. In this video, I'm breaking down 3 dividend growth stocks that might look expensive because of their stock price, but are actually trading at or below their 5-year average P/E ratio. I used SimplySafeDividends to screen for undervalued dividend growers, and out of 56 results, these 3 caught my attention: Badger Meter (BMI) with 32 years of dividend growth, LeMaitre Vascular (LMAT) with 16% dividend growth, and Cintas (CTAS) with 43 years of dividend increases. I walk through how each business makes money, why they're industry leaders, and the headwinds to watch. Remember: Price alone doesn't tell you if a stock is cheap or expensive—the P/E ratio gives you a better clue, but it's just the starting point.Check out my current portfolio on 📱→Blossom🔥 SPECIAL OFFER: Get 7 FREE days of Seeking Alpha Premium, plus $30 off! I use it for my own research and stock analysis. Check it out hereP.S. That's my affiliate link - thanks for the support!Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:37 Badger Meter (BMI)07:04 LeMaitre Vascular (LMAT)11:15 Cintas (CTAS)15:54 Blossom & Newsletter!Email Russ: 👉 Russ@DapperDividends.com🔔 Follow along with my dividend journey:→ Website→ YouTube Channel→ Newsletter→ BlossomBuy Buffett & Munger Unscripted"The Dividend Millionaire" book affiliate linkCheck out my portfolios and FREE Weekly Newsletter signup: https://dapperdividends.comFREE eBook on Life, Love, and Investing.Remember, having a single income stream is risky, and seeking multiple passive income streams would be wise.
Oct 4, 2025 • 46min
#270~Dividend Expert ROASTED My Portfolio!
Kelly Green, @DownDogsandDividends is a dividend investing expert, and she absolutely roasted my portfolio. I showed her all 21 of my holdings - the good, the bad, and the ugly - and she didn't hold back. We talked about my heavy allocation to funds like VTI and VSGAX, my non-dividend payers, BDCs like ARCC and HTGC, MLPs including EPD, and individual stocks like McDonald's, AbbVie, Harrow, and more. If you're building a dividend portfolio or wondering if yours actually makes sense, this honest conversation is for you. Kelly breaks down what's working, what's not, and what I should probably fix. No fluff, just real portfolio feedback from someone who knows their stuff.Sign up for Kelly's Dividend Digest FREE weekly newsletterSubscribe to Kelly's YT channel: @DownDogsandDividends Check out the YouTube Video!Blossom Investor Tour, where Russ will be a speaker!Email Russ: 👉 Russ@DapperDividends.com🔔 Follow along with my dividend journey:→ Website→ YouTube Channel→ Newsletter→ Blossom🔥 SPECIAL OFFER: Seeking Alpha Premium offers my viewers 7 FREE days plus $30 off! This is the exact platform I use for my own research and stock analysis. Check it out HERE!Buy Buffett & Munger Unscripted"The Dividend Millionaire" book affiliate linkCheck out my portfolios and FREE Weekly Newsletter signup: https://dapperdividends.comFREE eBook on Life, Love, and Investing.Remember, having a single income stream is risky, and seeking multiple passive income streams would be wise.
Sep 13, 2025 • 40min
#269~ $212K SCHD Investor: Your Expectations Are Wrong!
Remember Craig from our viral SCHD interview?Well, he's back with some eye-opening updates! His SCHD portfolio has grown from $96,000 to over $212,000 in just two years, and he's sharing exactly what he's learned along the way. In this conversation, Craig breaks down why most people misunderstand SCHD, explains his position sizing strategy, and gives us a reality check on what returns we should really expect from SCHD. Plus, he answers six questions from social media about covered call ETFs and long-term SCHD strategy. If you're investing in SCHD or thinking about it, this is the honest perspective you need to hear - no hype, just real talk from someone who's actually building serious wealth with dividend growth investing through SCHD.Optimal Portfolio Mix at Every Age PostCheck out my portfolio on 📱→Blossom: (affiliate)🔥 SPECIAL OFFER: Seeking Alpha Premium offers my viewers 7 FREE days plus $30 off! This is the exact platform I use for my own research and stock analysis. Check it out hereP.S. That's my affiliate link - thanks for the support!🔔 Follow along with my investing journey:💻→Website🗞️→Newsletter📱→Blossom(affiliate)📚Books to help you become a better investor (affiliate links):📔Buffett & Munger Unscripted📘The Dividend Millionaire book📙The Art of Quality Investing📗Dapper Dividends FREE eBook on Life, Love, and InvestingTimestamps -00:00 Intro/ New SCHD Position Value04:16 Does Craig Buy SPACs?06:57 SCHD vs VOO Since Last Video11:14 SCHD's Dividend Growth12:48 Does Craig Mess Around With Covered Call ETFs?18:42 SCHDs Top Ten Then and Now20:45 Question #124:11 Question #228:38 Question #330:27 Question #433:26 Question #535:55 Question #637:55 The BEST SCHD Analogy Ever!Thanks for stopping by and remember: a single income stream is risky, and seeking multiple passive income streams would be wise!This video is for entertainment and educational purposes only. I am not a financial advisor. Please do your own research before making any investment decisions.#dividendstocks #investing #schd
Sep 8, 2025 • 21min
#268~ 💰Why I Keep Selling Realty Income (O)
Hey dividend investors! In this August portfolio update, I'm diving into why I keep selling my Realty Income (O) shares and putting that money into Agree Realty (ADC) and VICI Properties (VICI) instead.I'll walk you through all the dividend income I collected this month - we're talking a total of $207.38 from companies like AbbVie, Main Street Capital, and Agree Realty. Plus, I'm sharing every single buy I made in August, from REITs to dividend ETFs like SCHY and SCHD.At the end, you'll get to see my complete portfolio, and I'll show you exactly how you can follow along with all my moves using the Blossom Social Investing app. Don't forget to stick around for details on my free weekly newsletter where I break down my investment thinking. Check out the YouTube Video!Blossom Investor Tour, where Russ will be a speaker!Email Russ: 👉 Russ@DapperDividends.com🔔 Follow along with my dividend journey:→ Website→ YouTube Channel→ Newsletter→ Blossom🔥 SPECIAL OFFER: Seeking Alpha Premium offers my viewers 7 FREE days plus $30 off! This is the exact platform I use for my own research and stock analysis. Check it out HERE!Buy Buffett & Munger Unscripted"The Dividend Millionaire" book affiliate linkCheck out my portfolios and FREE Weekly Newsletter signup: https://dapperdividends.comFREE eBook on Life, Love, and Investing.Remember, having a single income stream is risky, and seeking multiple passive income streams would be wise.
Aug 30, 2025 • 52min
#267~ High-Yield Conversation w/ Marcos!
I had the pleasure of being a guest on Marcos Milla's channel to talk about my path to being on the doorstep of a $1M net worth and why I'm not interested in High-Yield covered call ETFs. Check out the YouTube Video!Blossom Investor Tour, where Russ will be a speaker!Email Russ: 👉 Russ@DapperDividends.com🔔 Follow along with my dividend journey:→ Website→ YouTube Channel→ Newsletter→ Blossom🔥 SPECIAL OFFER: Seeking Alpha Premium offers my viewers 7 FREE days plus $30 off! This is the exact platform I use for my own research and stock analysis. Check it out HERE!Buy Buffett & Munger Unscripted"The Dividend Millionaire" book affiliate linkCheck out my portfolios and FREE Weekly Newsletter signup: https://dapperdividends.comFREE eBook on Life, Love, and Investing.Remember, having a single income stream is risky, and seeking multiple passive income streams would be wise.
Aug 6, 2025 • 49min
#266~ The Path to $1,000,000 w/ Moe!
In this episode, we head North of the border as a guest to chat with Moe from @MomentumFinance to talk about my journey from >$100K net worth at 39 to the doorstep of being a net worth millionaire 8 years later. Check out the YouTube Video!Blossom Investor Tour, where Russ will be a speaker!Email Russ: 👉 Russ@DapperDividends.com🔔 Follow along with my dividend journey:→ Website→ YouTube Channel→ Newsletter→ Blossom🔥 SPECIAL OFFER: Seeking Alpha Premium offers my viewers 7 FREE days plus $30 off! This is the exact platform I use for my own research and stock analysis. Check it out HERE!Buy Buffett & Munger Unscripted"The Dividend Millionaire" book affiliate linkCheck out my portfolios and FREE Weekly Newsletter signup: https://dapperdividends.comFREE eBook on Life, Love, and Investing.Remember, having a single income stream is risky, and seeking multiple passive income streams would be wise.
Jul 26, 2025 • 31min
#265~ Buffett Expert Alex W. Morris On How To Approach The Investing Game.
Warren Buffett expert Alex W. Morris, author of "Buffett & Munger Unscripted," reveals how he believes most people approach investing completely wrong. After analyzing 30 years of Berkshire Hathaway annual meetings, Alex shares Buffett's real strategy for playing the investing game. Whether you're starting with $1,000 or looking to refine your approach, this conversation breaks down the essential principles that distinguish successful investors from others. Alex runs TSOH Investment Research and has spent hundreds of hours studying every Berkshire meeting since 1994 to compile the wisdom in his book. You can find the video HERE.Buy Buffett & Munger UnscriptedCheck out The Science of Hitting (TSOH)Email Russ: 👉 Russ@DapperDividends.com🔔 Follow along with my dividend journey:→ Website→ YouTube Channel→ Newsletter→ Blossom→ Recommended Stocks Performance Tracker🔥 SPECIAL OFFER: Seeking Alpha Premium offers my viewers 7 FREE days plus $30 off! This is the exact platform I use for my own research and stock analysis. Check it out HERE!"The Dividend Millionaire" book affiliate linkCheck out my portfolios and FREE Weekly Newsletter signup: https://dapperdividends.comFREE eBook on Life, Love, and Investing.Remember, having a single income stream is risky, and seeking multiple passive income streams would be wise.
Jul 20, 2025 • 35min
#264~ 6 Cheap Dividend Stocks With 25%+ Returns
This is the audio from a YouTube video: Discover 6 undervalued dividend stocks with exceptional returns on capital between 24% and 34%. As Charlie Munger explained, it's hard for a stock to outperform the underlying business, so why not invest in companies that are crushing it with their capital efficiency? In this video, I'll break down Ross Stores, Donaldson Company, Zoetis, Alphabet, MSCI, and A.O. Smith using Simply Safe Dividends data. Three of these are Dividend Aristocrats with decades of proven dividend growth, while others offer exciting growth potential. From off-price retail to animal health to tech giants, these quality companies span multiple sectors while maintaining strong dividend policies and low payout ratios. Perfect for dividend investors seeking both income and long-term growth potential. Remember, past performance doesn't predict the future, but these businesses know how to generate serious returns on shareholder capital. ... You can find the video HERE.Timestamps:00:00 Intro06:34 A.O. Smith (AOS)12:27 Donaldson Co. (DCI)15:57 Alphabet (GOOGL)19.50 Ross Stores (ROST)24:01 MSCI (MSCI)28:39 Zoetis (ZTS)Email Russ: 👉 Russ@DapperDividends.com🔔 Follow along with my dividend journey:→ Website→ YouTube Channel→ Newsletter→ Blossom→ Recommended Stocks Performance Tracker🔥 SPECIAL OFFER: Seeking Alpha Premium offers my viewers 7 FREE days plus $30 off! This is the exact platform I use for my own research and stock analysis. Check it out HERE!"The Dividend Millionaire" book affiliate linkCheck out my portfolios and FREE Weekly Newsletter signup: https://dapperdividends.comFREE eBook on Life, Love, and Investing.Thanks for stopping by and considering what I have to say. Remember, having a single income stream is risky, and seeking multiple passive income streams would be wise.
