From Rookie Mistakes To $10K/Year In Dividends – Military Veteran Who 'Made A Few Great Plays' Shares His 10 Biggest Bets

No one stumbles upon financial success by accident. Wealth is built through discipline, learning from mistakes, and sticking to an approach even when the market seems to go awry. Few investing strategies showcase this better than dividend investing.

Dividend investing is the slow-and-steady journey of the financial world, paying consistently while also providing growth in the background, making it perfect for retirees, long-term investors, and anyone who wants passive income.

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Still, this approach can also be risky for some if they pick the wrong stocks. One military veteran and Reddit user recently shared his investing journey that started with him making costly mistakes to now earning him $10,000 in dividends per year.

With 13 years of investing experience, the poster, an enlisted service member, had to learn what works through trial and error. He says he tried to be smarter than the market early on, leading to him selling big winners too soon and holding onto losers for too long.

“I bought [General Electric] in my Roth at what I thought was a great price point of $14.50 or something. Had to [dollar-cost average] over several years to bring the cost basis down and missed out on having that money in better spots in the biggest bull market year I have been a part of,” he shared.

The 36-year-old mentioned that he’s gradually shifted his strategy to dividend shares now and his $296,570 portfolio already generates over $10,000 annually in dividends. Let’s see what dividend shares and ETFs the investor holds.

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From Fatal Mistakes to $10,000/Year in Dividend Income—Reddit Investor Shares Top 10 Stocks and ETFs in His Portfolio

Abbott Laboratories

Healthcare company, Abbott Laboratories ABT specializes in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and nutritional products. With a 1.89% dividend yield per year, ABT is known for its diversified product portfolio and steady payments.

AbbVie

Pharmaceutical giant AbbVie ABBV focuses on the research and development of therapies for various health conditions. Investors love ABBV because it has a strong yield, generating around 3.28% in dividends per year, and a stable pipeline of drugs.

ConocoPhillips

Energy giant ConocoPhillips COP engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. COP pays investors approximately 3.05% in annual dividends.

Duke Energy Corporation

Duke Energy Corporation DUK is one of the largest electric power companies in the U.S. and is known for its stable revenue and consistent dividends. DUK generates around 3.62% in annual dividend yield.

Apple

Technology giant Apple AAPL has a modest dividend yield but a strong growth potential, and that’s why both growth and income-focused investors are attracted to this stock. APPL pays investors around 0.47% in dividends per year.

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Mastercard

Electronic payments company Mastercard MA benefits from the ongoing shift toward cashless transactions. This, and the growth potential it offers makes MA a go-to stock for many investors. The company generates around 0.56% in annual dividends.

Verizon

Telecom Verizon Communications VZ provides wireless and wireline services. With a dividend yield of approximately 6.25% annually, VZ has a stable cash flow, making it a favorite among individual stock investors.

Altria Group

Tobacco giant Altria Group MO is mainly known for the Marlboro brand. MO offers a high dividend yield of 7.21% per year, appealing to those seeking higher passive income.

Global X SuperDividend ETF

Tracking the performance of the Indxx SuperDividend U.S. Low Volatility Index, Global X SuperDividend ETF DIV focuses on high dividend yields and is known to retain low volatility. DIV generates around 11.37% in dividend yield per year.

Invesco Preferred ETF

Invesco Preferred ETF PGX invests mainly in preferred stocks, which are hybrid securities offering features of both stocks and bonds.​ Paying investors around 5.85% in annual dividends, PGX is a favorite for those who seek higher income.

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