My Portfolio
A Path to Financial Freedom
Once I discovered how investing worked, everything changed. It’s not about chasing quick wins—it’s about building passive income that will go to work for you for years to come.
Passive income is the ultimate game-changer. And in the investing world, passive income is all about one word - dividends.
Imagine This...
Your money earning more money while you sleep. Well, that’s the power of dividends.
Dividends are payments some companies make to shareholders, like a reward for owning a piece of their business. They’re reliable, grow over time, and the foundation of my plan to achieve financial independence.
Why Dividends?
Here’s why dividends are my go-to strategy:
Recurring Income: Dividends provide consistent cash flow—like paychecks that show up every quarter.
Growing Paychecks: Many companies increase their dividends annually, so it’s like getting regular pay raises without extra work.
Mental Edge: When markets drop and others panic, dividend investors can stay calm because those quarterly payouts keep coming in!
My Investing Goal
My goal is simple: reach $1 million in the next 10–15 years and live off the dividend income it generates. By not touching the $1 million nest egg, I’ll let my portfolio continue to grow while enjoying financial independence.
Even better? This plan lets me create generational wealth for my kids. When the time comes, I’ll be able to pass down my portfolio so they can benefit from it too.
My 3-Part Dividend Portfolio
To achieve my goal, I’ve built a portfolio of 30 dividend-paying stocks divided into three categories:
High Yield: Stocks with higher-than-average payouts for immediate cash flow.
Dividend Growth: Companies that consistently raise their dividends over time, my “pay raises.”
All-Round Growth: Balanced stocks combining dividend income with long-term capital appreciation.
This mix gives me steady income now while setting me up for bigger payouts and growth in the future.
High-Level Portfolio Highlights
To help keep the portfolio balanced, I’m using the Fidelity Basket Portfolio, which allows me to add a percentage weight to each of the 30 stocks. I’ve set up weekly contributions that get distributed according to those target weights. In theory, this should help me keep my goals on course:
Total Yield: 4.28%
3-Year Dividend Growth: 10%
5-Year Dividend Growth: 8%
Now let’s dive into the companies in more detail…
Here's An Overview of All 30 Companies (Sorry, Not Sorry - It's a Long One!)
Agree Realty (ADC) - a commercial real estate company with clients like Walmart, Tractor Supply, TJ Maxx, CVS Health, Dollar General, and Lowes. (my favorite real estate company!)
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) - a leader in human resources, payroll, tax, and benefits administration solutions for businesses worldwide.
Armada Hoffler Properties (AHH) - a real estate company focused on developing and managing retail, office, and multifamily centers (Work, Live, Play).
Alexandria Real Estate (ARE) - a life science real estate company that pioneered the development of mega campuses for biotech and pharmaceutical tenants in major innovation hubs in Boston, San Francisco, and San Diego.
Alphabet (GOOGL) - a multinational tech conglomerate overseeing ventures in search, cloud computing, autonomous vehicles (Waymo), life sciences (Verily), and entertaining (YouTube).
ASML (ASML) - a Dutch multinational leader in semiconductor machines essential for manufacturing advanced microchips used by major chipmakers like TSMC, Samsung, and Intel.
AVGO (AVGO) - the ticker symbol for Broadcom, a global technology leader specializing in semiconductor solutions (wireless, networking, storage) and infrastructure software (virtualization, cybersecurity).
Brookfield Renewable Corporation (BEPC) - a global leader in renewable energy with a diversified portfolio of hydroelectric, wind, solar, and storage facilities, recently signing a data center agreement with Microsoft.
Brookfield Corporation (BN) - a Canadian leader in global asset management across real estate, renewable power, infrastructure, and private equity through subsidiaries like Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEPC), Brookfield Asset Managememt (BAM) and Oaktree Capital.
Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (CGDV) - an actively managed fund that invests in dividend-paying U.S. companies, blending growth stocks (think Microsoft, Apple) with value-oriented sectors (think industrials, healthcare).
Cisco Systems (CSCO) - a global technology leader in networking hardware, cybersecurity, and cloud solutions.
General Electric (GE) - restructured in 2024, is a global leader in aviation, including commercial/military jet engines.
Intuit (INTU) - a leading financial platform specializing in AI-driven solutions for tax preparation (TurboTax), small business accounting (QuickBooks), and personal finance (Credit Karma) serving over 100 million customers.
The Kroger Co. (KR) - the #1 U.S. supermarket chain with 2,750+ stores (supermarkets, pharmacy, and fuel centers) and its own private-label products (Have you tried their version of Cinnamon Toast Crunch?)
LandBridge Company LLC (LB) - a Texan land management firm specializing in oil and gas development, resource royalties, and industrial infrastructure across 273,000+ acres in the Permian Basin, home to America's largest oil reserves.
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) - a global leader in chemical manufacturing and refining, specializing in polyethylene, polypropylene, and advanced polyolefin technologies (think plastics), with operations spanning 19 countries.
Morgan Stanley Direct Lending (MSDL) - a business development company (BDC) managed by Morgan Stanley that focuses on originating senior secured loans to U.S. middle-market companies.
Nike, Inc. (NKE) - the world's largest athletic footwear and apparel company (I’m sure you already knew that!) designing and marketing products under brands like Nike, Jordan, and Converse across 200+ countries (bet you might not have known that!)
Pfizer Inc. (PFE) - a global biopharmaceutical leader developing vaccines and therapies across oncology, immunology, and cardiology.
RIET ETF (RIET) - an actively managed real estate ETF focused on high-dividend-yielding REITs across various sectors like residential, industrial, and retail.
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) - a low-cost ETF focused on high-yield, financially stable U.S. dividend stocks.
SoFi Technologies (SOFI) - Digital financial platform offering loan refinancing, banking, and investment services. FYI - SOFI doesn’t currently pay a dividend, but I believe it could within a few years.
S&P Global (SPGI) - a financial intelligence leader providing credit ratings, market analytics, and commodity benchmarks.
Truist Financial (TFC) - a top 10 U.S. commercial bank formed by BB&T/SunTrust merger. (When I worked at PNC Bank, I noticed Truist always made top-tier lists, often above the bigger banks.)
Target Corporation (TGT) - a major U.S. discount retailer with 1,900+ stores and omni-channel sales. (Or that place your spouse drags you to every weekend - at least there's coffee!)
United Parcel Service (UPS) - the world’s largest parcel delivery company with global logistics networks and infinite brown trucks!
Visa Inc. (V) - a global payment technology giant processing transactions for 3.9B+ cards. (check your wallet!)
Verizon Communications (VZ) - a telecom leader providing 5G wireless and broadband services. (also one of my first ever design clients!)
W. P. Carey Inc. (WPC) - a diversified commercial real estate company owning 1,430+ commercial properties throughout US and Europe.
Zoetis Inc. (ZTS) - the largest animal health company producing vaccines and diagnostics. (if you have a pet, you've probably unknowingly familiar with these guys!)
That Was A Lot. Let's Recap...
Dividend investing combines stability, growth, and compounding into one powerful strategy. By reinvesting dividends early on, I’m letting my portfolio snowball—so every dollar invested today can turn into much more over time.
And when markets get rough (because they always do), dividends give me peace of mind. While others might panic and sell during downturns, I can sit back, collect my dividends, and wait for things to recover.
Follow My Journey
I’ll be sharing updates on my 30-stock portfolio and let you know everything I learn as I walk toward financial freedom. My hope is to show how anyone—even beginners—can use dividends to build wealth over time with patience and a solid plan.
If this sounds like something you're into, we should be friends!
Keep Walking,
Jeremy ✌️
Disclaimer
This site is for informational and educational purposes only. I am not a financial advisor, broker, or tax professional. The information provided reflects my personal opinions and experiences as an individual investor and may not be accurate or current. All investment strategies and investments involve risk of loss. Any ideas presented may not be suitable for all investors and may not take into account your specific investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult with qualified financial professionals before making any investment decisions.