Introduction 1

Part I: Introducing Dividend Investing Basics 7

Chapter 1: Wrapping Your Brain Around Dividend Investing 9

Chapter 2: Brushing Up on Dividend Details 27

Chapter 3: Grasping the Dividend Advantage 41

Part II: Selecting an Investment Approach and Picking Stocks 57

Chapter 4: Risky Business: Assessing Risk and Your Risk Tolerance 59

Chapter 5: Setting Goals and Making Plans 75

Chapter 6: Choosing the Right Approach for You 87

Chapter 7: Searching for Promising Candidates 101

Chapter 8: Sizing Up Potential Picks 113

Part III: Exploring Income-Generating Industries 141

Chapter 9: Lighting Up Your Portfolio with Utilities 143

Chapter 10: Pumping Up Your Portfolio with Energy Partnerships 153

Chapter 11: Getting Connected with Telecommunications Stocks 163

Chapter 12: Investing in the Necessities of Life: Consumer Goods 173

Chapter 13: Exploring REITs and Financials 183

Part IV: Checking Out Dividend Investment Vehicles 203

Chapter 14: Compounding Your Returns with Dividend Reinvestment Plans 205

Chapter 15: Diversifying Your Dividends through Mutual Funds 217

Chapter 16: Tapping the Best of Both Worlds with Exchange-Traded Funds 235

Chapter 17: Going Global with Foreign Dividends 251

Part V: Managing Your Portfolio 261

Chapter 18: Choosing an Effective Stock-Picking Strategy 263

Chapter 19: Buying and Selling Dividend Stocks: Where and How 273

Chapter 20: Tuning In to Changes in Tax Laws 287

Part VI: The Part of Tens 305

Chapter 21: Setting the Record Straight: Ten Common Misconceptions about Dividends 307

Chapter 22: Ten Dividend Investing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them 313

Appendix: The Dividend Aristocrats 319

Index 323