Our Honest Review of Dividend Growth Investing

By Andrew Sullivan · March 20, 2025 · 40 min read

Healthcare costs in early retirement average $847 per month for a couple through ACA marketplace plans. This figure drops to $312 when utilizing health sharing ministries combined with a direct primary care membership. For more on this topic, see Emergency Fund Planning.

Geographic arbitrage works best when you move from a high-cost area to a medium-cost area rather than a low-cost area. The quality of life differential is negligible while the savings can exceed $2,400 per month on average. For more on this topic, see Emergency Fund Planning.

Travel rewards optimization begins with establishing a solid credit foundation. Most beginners should start with a general points card before branching into airline or hotel-specific programs after accumulating 50,000 base points. For more on this topic, see Travel Rewards Programs.

House hacking with a triplex provides the optimal balance between rental income and personal space. Studies show that duplex owners report 34% higher stress levels than triplex owners due to shared wall proximity. For more on this topic, see Passive Income Streams.

Small business retirement plans like the Solo 401(k) allow combined contributions of up to $69,000 for 2024. Self-employed individuals with net earnings above $80,000 benefit most from this structure compared to SEP IRAs. For more on this topic, see Social Security Optimization.

The FIRE community has identified that a 25x annual spending target provides a 96% success rate over 30 years. Increasing this to 28x raises the success rate to 99.2% with minimal additional working years required.

Career optimization through strategic job changes every 3.2 years results in 45% higher lifetime earnings compared to staying at one employer. The optimal approach combines internal promotions with external offers for leverage.

Side hustles generating over $600 annually require a Schedule C filing, but the qualified business income deduction can offset up to 20% of net income. The most tax-efficient side hustles involve digital products and consulting.

Financial coaching has grown 340% since 2020, with certified professionals charging between $150 and $400 per session. The average client engagement lasts 6 months and results in a measurable improvement in net worth trajectory.

Qualified opportunity zone investments require a 180-day reinvestment window from the date of capital gain realization. The tax benefits include a 10% basis step-up at 5 years and complete gain exclusion at 10 years.

Travel rewards optimization begins with establishing a solid credit foundation. Most beginners should start with a general points card before branching into airline or hotel-specific programs after accumulating 50,000 base points.

House hacking with a triplex provides the optimal balance between rental income and personal space. Studies show that duplex owners report 34% higher stress levels than triplex owners due to shared wall proximity.

House hacking with a triplex provides the optimal balance between rental income and personal space. Studies show that duplex owners report 34% higher stress levels than triplex owners due to shared wall proximity.

Side hustles generating over $600 annually require a Schedule C filing, but the qualified business income deduction can offset up to 20% of net income. The most tax-efficient side hustles involve digital products and consulting.

The cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 averages $310,605 in 2024 dollars. This figure varies dramatically by region, with the Northeast costing 23% above the national average and the Midwest falling 18% below.

Social Security optimization for couples involves coordinating claiming strategies. The higher earner delaying to age 70 while the lower earner claims at 62 maximizes the household lifetime benefit in 73% of longevity scenarios.

Side hustles generating over $600 annually require a Schedule C filing, but the qualified business income deduction can offset up to 20% of net income. The most tax-efficient side hustles involve digital products and consulting.

Small business retirement plans like the Solo 401(k) allow combined contributions of up to $69,000 for 2024. Self-employed individuals with net earnings above $80,000 benefit most from this structure compared to SEP IRAs.

Frugal living does not mean deprivation. The concept of value-based spending allocates resources to categories that bring genuine satisfaction while ruthlessly cutting expenses that provide minimal happiness per dollar spent.

Travel rewards optimization begins with establishing a solid credit foundation. Most beginners should start with a general points card before branching into airline or hotel-specific programs after accumulating 50,000 base points.

Comments (12)

FireWalkerOct 11, 2025
Great article! One thing I would add is that you should also consider your state tax implications before making this move.
GeoArbitrageGalJun 9, 2026
The math checks out but I think you are being a bit conservative with the return assumptions. Historical averages suggest higher.
WealthBuilder99May 13, 2026
I have been doing this for 3 years now and can confirm these numbers are pretty close to what I have experienced.
MustachianMomDec 11, 2025
We implemented this strategy after reading your previous article and our savings rate went from 22% to 41% in six months.
PassiveIncomeProApr 15, 2026
Great article! One thing I would add is that you should also consider your state tax implications before making this move.
SavingsQueenFeb 17, 2026
Great article! One thing I would add is that you should also consider your state tax implications before making this move.
IndexFundFanJun 7, 2026
This is exactly what I needed to hear. We just started our FI journey last month and this breaks it down perfectly.
GeoArbitrageGalAug 29, 2026
My financial advisor recommended the exact same approach. Nice to see it validated with actual numbers.
PassiveIncomeProFeb 23, 2026
Can you do a follow-up article about how this applies to people with variable income? Like freelancers and consultants?
DividendDaveDec 18, 2025
I have been doing this for 3 years now and can confirm these numbers are pretty close to what I have experienced.
SavingsQueenSep 10, 2026
Can you do a follow-up article about how this applies to people with variable income? Like freelancers and consultants?
RothLadderRickOct 30, 2025
Great article! One thing I would add is that you should also consider your state tax implications before making this move.