I write as The Dividend Stacker, a pen name. My real first name is Gilbert. I’m an individual investor, not a licensed financial professional. I use a pen name to keep my public writing separate from my personal life.
This site is where I share what I’ve learned about dividend investing — patiently, and without hype.
My story
I started working at 18. I made my first investment at 21 — and got scammed. That early mistake taught me more about risk, due diligence, and human psychology than any win could have. I read my first investing book at 22, but then life happened: work, marriage, building a house, and years of procrastination.
At 28, I finally opened a brokerage account and received my first dividend the same year. That was the beginning of a long-term approach I still follow today.
Today I focus on dividend stocks and dividend ETFs, and I write at Dividend Investing Basics to help beginners in the US learn how dividend investing, DRIP, and long-term compounding can fit into a personal plan.
My personal goal is to build wealth patiently over decades — not to chase social-media flexing, fake luxury, or short-term hype. I’m not here to sell a lifestyle. I’m here to share an educational approach grounded in patience, process, and risk awareness.
Why dividends — and why DRIP
My favorite investing book is The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham. Its biggest lesson for me is that investing success comes more from temperament than from brilliance: ignore Mr. Market’s mood swings, buy sound companies, and keep a margin of safety.
Warren Buffett, Graham’s most famous student, put the goal this way:
“If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.”
That idea is why I focus on dividends and why I believe in DRIP (dividend reinvestment plans) and the snowball effect. Every dividend can buy more shares. Those shares can pay more dividends. Those dividends can buy more shares. It starts small — almost unnoticeable. Over years, the snowball can grow and begin to roll on its own.
That’s the part of dividend investing I care about: not picking the perfect stock, not timing the market, but building a repeatable long-term process — quietly and consistently.
What you’ll find here
This site is written primarily for US beginners learning about:
- Dividend stocks and dividend ETFs
- DRIP and compounding
- Dividend safety and yield analysis
- Brokerage accounts and beginner workflows
- Long-term income planning
I also build free educational tools, including:
- Compound Interest Calculator
- Dividend Yield Calculator
- Dividend Reinvestment (DRIP) Calculator
- Dividend Income Tracker
- Interactive Dividend Stock Scorecard
Each tool has an explanation page with assumptions, methodology, and limitations. The tools are for education and planning, not individualized financial advice.
How I research and write
I start with primary sources whenever they exist.
For company-level facts — dividend declarations, payout histories, financial statements, and risk factors — I go straight to SEC filings through EDGAR, the SEC’s public filing database. For plain-language definitions and investor alerts, I use Investor.gov, the SEC’s investor education site. On the tax side, I rely on IRS Publication 550 (Investment Income and Expenses) and IRS Topic No. 404 (Dividends and Other Corporate Distributions) to check how ordinary and qualified dividends are treated. And when I need to understand how brokers and market structure affect dividend payments — ex-dividend dates, record dates, and reinvestment mechanics — I check FINRA’s investor education materials.
I review numbers, dates, and claims before publishing. I update articles when material facts change, and I correct errors when I become aware of them. I use writing and editing tools as assistants for drafting, organizing, and editing, but every article is reviewed and edited by me before publishing. I do not publish content automatically.
If you spot an error, please send a message here.
Government sources I cite most often
- SEC EDGAR — official company filings: sec.gov/edgar
- SEC Investor.gov — investor education and dividend basics: investor.gov
- IRS Publication 550 — Investment Income and Expenses: irs.gov/publications/p550
- IRS Topic No. 404 — Dividends and other corporate distributions: irs.gov/taxtopics/tc404
- FINRA — investor education on stocks and dividends: finra.org/investors
Transparency and pen name
- The Dividend Stacker is a pen name. My real first name is Gilbert.
- I use a pen name to separate my public writing from my personal life.
- My legal identity is used for business and payment purposes.
- I am not a licensed financial advisor, CPA, or tax professional. Nothing on this site is individualized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.
- Some links on this site may be affiliate links. If you use them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only link to products or services I believe are relevant to readers.
Important disclaimer
Dividend Investing Basics is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing here is financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. I am not a licensed financial advisor. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Dividend payments are not guaranteed and can be reduced or eliminated. Always do your own research and consider consulting a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
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