Review 2016 Goals

It's goal review time and I am already a couple of weeks late ! We were vacationing in Las Vegas and Phoenix, AZ from 23rd December - 4th January and had a good fun time with friends. 
I would like to review my goals and the progress made in 2016. 


2016 Goals -

The following were my 2016 goals:

1. Contribute towards a 401K for the first time
2. To earn $1200 through dividends 
3. Increase projected annual dividend income to $1500. 
4. Contribute fully towards a ROTH IRA
5. Run 500 miles through the year.

My foray in the US stock markets began in October 2014 and my blogging commenced in February 2015 and hence I am continually improving in the setting of finance goals. Let's delve further in the actuals!

1. Contribute towards a 401K for the first time: I did post about my first time 401k in December '16. Better late than never!! Starting mid June '16, I had 15% deducted and towards early November until year-end I had bumped my contribution from 15% to 18%. My total contribution for Year 2016 was $8,181. Its a start and may not be much for a soon-to-be 39 year old but I do plan on maxing out my 401K in 2017. All of my holdings are in the index fund VFIAX which has expense ratio = 0.05%. Conclusion: Goal accomplished.
2. To earn $1200 through dividends: I've been keeping track of this goal on my 'Dividend Income' page. My dividend growth portfolio earned dividends $1,176.60 thereby narrowly missing the goal. Conclusion: Goal failed!!.
3. Increase projected annual dividend income to $1500: My portfolio's in my taxable accounts, ROTH IRA and 401K will pay $1,661.42 in dividends over the next 12 months. Conclusion: Goal accomplished.
4. Contribute fully towards a ROTH IRA: I did contribute monthly from April - December, maxing out my Roth IRA. Purchased some T, OHI, MDT and HAIN. Conclusion: Goal accomplished.
5. Run 500 miles through the year: This isn't a finance goal. However I do like staying fit and hence the goal. In 2015, my fitness goal was to run the Louisville Triple Crown - a series of 5K, 10K and 10 mile in the Feb-March time frame. Once completed, I wasn't a regular runner. So in 2016, in addition to running the Triple crown, my goal was to run 500 miles thru' the year. I ran a total of 400 miles in 2016. I'm happy that this goal helped keeping me active thru the year. Conclusion: Goal failed!!.

Conclusion - 

I am happy at the progress made in 2016 - commenced contributing to the 401k; maxed out the Roth IRA and had a 100+ % increase in dividends earned in 2016 ($1,176.60) vs 2015 (earned $553.41)

I invested a total of $25, 081 in 2016.

• 401K = $8,181
• Roth IRA = $5,500
• Loyal3 = $9,000
• TD Ameritrade Taxable Account = $300
• Scottrade Taxable Account = $1,000
• HSA = $1,000
• Robinhood = $100

Look out for my next post - Goals for 2017 where I will attempt at setting goals that will push me even more.

Thank you for reading! 

Recent Buy - MDT and OHI

I purchased 20 shares of Medtronic PLC (MDT: NYSE) on 12/21/16 for $71.4664/share. This purchase is for my ROTH IRA. 

This purchase diversifies my holdings in the Healthcare sector. I already own positions in JNJ and AbbVie Inc. The recent drop in MDT provided an opportunity to buy a few shares. I would also snap up the next dividend payable on Jan 13 since the ex-dividend was 12/21 i.e. my purchase date. 

Dividend Yield = 2.40%
Annual Payout = $1.72 
Payout Ratio = 37.6%
Dividend Growth = 39 years
52 Week High = 7/15/2016| 89.27
% Off 52 Week High = -19.94%
Beta (5 Yr) = 1.0
Payable = $0.43 - QRTR
Transaction fees = $7.00 

This purchase adds $34.40 to my annual dividend income, based on the current $0.43 quarterly dividend.


I purchased 45 shares of Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (OHI: NYSE) on 12/28/16 for $30.3864/share. This purchase is for my ROTH IRA. 

This purchase diversifies my holdings in the Financial/REIT sector. I already own positions in W.P. Carey Inc and HCP. The recent drop in OHI provided an opportunity to buy a few shares.  

Dividend Yield = 8.02%
Annual Payout = $2.44 
Payout Ratio = 73.7%
Dividend Growth = 7 years
52 Week High = 9/07/2016| 38.09
% Off 52 Week High = -20.22%
Beta (5 Yr) = 0.5
Payable = $0.61 - QRTR
Transaction fees = $7.00 

This purchase adds $109.80 to my annual dividend income, based on the current $0.61 quarterly dividend.

My dividend stock portfolio will pay $1542.21 in dividends over the next 12 months.

Next steps:  (coming soon)

• Update my portfolio page 
• Review 2016 goals
• Goals for 2017

Dividend Income Update - December 2016

Welcome to my dividend income update for December 2016. 

Each month I post dividends received to keep track of earned passive income. Opening a new position or adding to an existing position on a regular basis causes increases in income on a monthly or quarterly basis.

December 2016 Dividends -  

Wells Fargo & Co (WFC) - $7.60
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) - $8.00
Emerson Electric Co (EMR) - $13.44
3M (MMM) - $13.32
Unilever (UL) - $7.76
Target (TGT) - $8.24
Microsoft (MSFT) - $11.20
Kroger (KR) - $4.20
Boeing Co. (BA) - $10.90
McDonald's Corp (MCD) - $7.68
Coca-Cola Co. (KO) - $9.13
Barrick Gold (ABX) - $1.00
Starbucks Corp (SBUX) - $4.56
Intel (INTC) - $0.71
401K - VFIAX - $49.33

Total dividends received during the month of December 2016 = $157.07
My dividend income in December 2015 was $56.72 and only $7.50 in December 2014.

Total dividend income received in 2016 = $1,176.60

Thanks for reading!

Portfolio Updates - First time 401K

Hi Folks!

I've updated my Portfolio  page after a long time. Its been a steady weekly buying via my Loyal3 account and I've been re-investing the dividends every 2-3 months at my TD Ameritrade and Scottrade accounts .

I've never had a 401K account before June, this year. 
Let me explain ..
I've been in the USA since 2008 and never thought I'd be going thru' the green card procedures until 2013. This is the first step towards citizenship.

Being a contractor in the IT industry had me constantly pushing the thought away. Finally in June this year, I decided that I needed to get serious and took the first steps and inquired about the 401K. I started contributing soon thereafter 15% of my weekly paycheck and have bumped it to 18% a few weeks ago. Its been sweet!! Its been accumulating rapidly. I do plan on contributing the maximum in 2017 and beyond.

God bless you and may He give you all the wisdom to invest wisely.

Thank you for reading!!

Dividend Income Update - November 2016

Welcome to my dividend income update for November 2016. 

Each month I post dividends received to keep track of earned passive income. Opening a new position or adding to an existing position on a regular basis causes increases in income on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Total dividends received during the month of November 2016 = $132.98

As seen in the quarterly comparisons above, the AT&T dividend has increased due to purchases made in October and November.

1. Purchased 30 shares of AT&T on 4th October @39.78
2. Purchased 2 shares of AT&T on 4th November @36.57 with accumulated dividends.  

Starbucks Corp has paid dividends in December and hence would skew the numbers, a bit. 

This has been an approximately 4.29% increase as compared to August 2016. (Dividends = $127.51) and a 6% decrease as compared to November 2015 (due to KMI and HCP reducing dividends :( )  

Total dividends earned in Year 2016 so far equals $1,003.76

Thanks for reading!

Dividend Income Update - October 2016

Welcome to my dividend income update for October 2016. 

Each month I post dividends received to keep track of earned passive income. Opening a new position or adding to an existing position on a regular basis causes increases in income on a monthly or quarterly basis.

October 2016 Dividends -  

General Electric (GE) - $2.30

Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) - $14.04

W.P. Carey (WPC) - $15.76

Macy's Inc (M) - $11.52

Coca-Cola Co. (KO) - $6.83

Nike Inc (NKE) - $2.42

Gap Inc (GPS) - $2.92

Flushing Financial Corporation (FFIC) - $8.50

Total dividends received during the month of October 2016 = $64.29

This has been an approximately 96.8% increase as compared to October 2015. (Dividends = $32.66)  

Total dividends earned in Year 2016 so far equals $870.78

Thanks for reading!

Dividend Income Update - September 2016

Welcome to my dividend income update for September 2016. 

Each month I post dividends received to keep track of earned passive income. Opening a new position or adding to an existing position on a regular basis causes increases in income on a monthly or quarterly basis.

September 2016 Dividends -  
Wells Fargo & Co (WFC) - $7.60
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) - $8.00
Emerson Electric Co (EMR) - $13.30
3M (MMM) - $13.32
Unilever (UL) - $6.16
Target Corp (TGT) - $6.33
Microsoft Corp (MSFT) - $9.39
PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) - $6.87
Kroger Co. (KR) - $4.20
Boeing Co. (BA) - $10.90
Wal Mart Stores Inc (WMT) - $6.53
McDonald's Corp (MCD) - $4.36
BHP Billiton (BBL) - $2.24
Barrick Gold (ABX) = $1.00
401K - VFIAX - $15.77
Total dividends received during the month of September 2016 = $115.97

I received dividends (i.e. $8.50)from Flushing Financial Corporation (FFIC) in June. The next dividend from this bank I would receive in October and not September. 

This has been an approximately 151% increase as compared to dividend earnings of $46.08 in Sept. 2015. 

Thanks for reading!