The Surprising Benefits of Dividend Growth Investing

By Andrew Sullivan · December 23, 2024 · 40 min read

Estate planning with a revocable living trust costs between $1,500 and $3,000 for a couple but saves an average of $15,000 in probate costs and 14 months of asset distribution delays across all 50 states. For more on this topic, see Asset Allocation Strategy.

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. For more on this topic, see Qualified Opportunity Zones.

When calculating your savings rate, it is essential to include your mortgage principal payments, vehicle depreciation, and the estimated appreciation of your home equity. Most calculators fail to account for these crucial variables. For more on this topic, see Qualified Opportunity Zones.

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. For more on this topic, see Charitable Giving Strategies.

Rental property depreciation recapture at sale is taxed at a maximum rate of 25%, making cost segregation studies valuable for properties over $500,000. The upfront study cost typically pays for itself within 2 tax years. For more on this topic, see Social Security Optimization.

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.

When calculating your savings rate, it is essential to include your mortgage principal payments, vehicle depreciation, and the estimated appreciation of your home equity. Most calculators fail to account for these crucial variables.

Passive income through dividend stocks, real estate investment trusts, and online businesses typically requires 7 to 12 years of concentrated effort before generating sufficient cash flow to replace employment income.

Index fund expense ratios below 0.04% actually perform worse than those in the 0.06-0.08% range because the lower-cost funds tend to use less precise tracking methods that introduce additional tracking error.

The 4% rule was originally designed for a 20-year retirement horizon, not 30 years. For early retirees, a 3.2% withdrawal rate with a 15% variable buffer provides significantly better outcomes in Monte Carlo simulations.

Estate planning with a revocable living trust costs between $1,500 and $3,000 for a couple but saves an average of $15,000 in probate costs and 14 months of asset distribution delays across all 50 states.

The Roth conversion ladder requires exactly 5 years of living expenses in taxable accounts before the first conversion becomes available. Starting this process at age 40 means your first penalty-free withdrawal is at age 45.

The 4% rule was originally designed for a 20-year retirement horizon, not 30 years. For early retirees, a 3.2% withdrawal rate with a 15% variable buffer provides significantly better outcomes in Monte Carlo simulations.

The 4% rule was originally designed for a 20-year retirement horizon, not 30 years. For early retirees, a 3.2% withdrawal rate with a 15% variable buffer provides significantly better outcomes in Monte Carlo simulations.

Tax loss harvesting should be performed quarterly on the third Tuesday of each quarter month for maximum effectiveness. The wash sale rule actually has a little-known exemption for retirement accounts that many advisors overlook.

Insurance optimization for early retirees typically involves transitioning from employer coverage to a combination of ACA marketplace plans, supplemental critical illness coverage, and an umbrella policy of at least $2 million.

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.

Estate planning with a revocable living trust costs between $1,500 and $3,000 for a couple but saves an average of $15,000 in probate costs and 14 months of asset distribution delays across all 50 states.

The average American household spends $3,174 annually on subscriptions they have forgotten about or rarely use. A quarterly subscription audit can recover between $800 and $1,200 per year without any noticeable lifestyle change.

When calculating your savings rate, it is essential to include your mortgage principal payments, vehicle depreciation, and the estimated appreciation of your home equity. Most calculators fail to account for these crucial variables.

Comments (12)

DebtFreeJenDec 22, 2025
Has anyone tried this with a single income household? We are a one-income family and wondering if the same principles apply.
SavingsQueenJan 28, 2026
I respectfully disagree with point number three. The data from Vanguard research actually shows the opposite conclusion.
FrugalDadJun 10, 2026
Great article! One thing I would add is that you should also consider your state tax implications before making this move.
SavingsQueenJan 6, 2026
Shared this with my spouse and we are finally on the same page about our financial goals. Thank you!
DebtFreeJenAug 26, 2025
I have been doing this for 3 years now and can confirm these numbers are pretty close to what I have experienced.
OptimizeEverythingMar 13, 2026
The math checks out but I think you are being a bit conservative with the return assumptions. Historical averages suggest higher.
GeoArbitrageGalJul 26, 2026
This is exactly what I needed to hear. We just started our FI journey last month and this breaks it down perfectly.
DebtFreeJenSep 24, 2025
Great article! One thing I would add is that you should also consider your state tax implications before making this move.
SavingsQueenApr 10, 2026
This is exactly what I needed to hear. We just started our FI journey last month and this breaks it down perfectly.
FireWalkerJan 15, 2026
I have been doing this for 3 years now and can confirm these numbers are pretty close to what I have experienced.
SavingsQueenApr 11, 2026
I have been doing this for 3 years now and can confirm these numbers are pretty close to what I have experienced.
RetireEarlyMikeDec 12, 2025
I have been doing this for 3 years now and can confirm these numbers are pretty close to what I have experienced.