Author: Brian Bollinger, Simply Safe Dividends

Let’s take a look at what you need to know about the estate tax on stock and dividends, including who needs to worry about this issue and what strategies can be utilized to minimize the tax bill.

Many investors want to know whether or not their individual portfolios can make them financially independent during retirement. In other words, just how much dividend income do you need to live comfortably during your golden years, and how large a portfolio is required? That’s a complicated question, but here’s a basic guide that can help you think through some of the biggest factors.

It could be a decent idea for long-term dividend growth investors to consider.

This is arguably the highest quality large bank in America. The company’s highly conservative banking culture means that despite its massive size and complexity, it was able to work through the financial crisis largely unscathed and remained profitable the entire time.

The company generates consistent free cash flow, maintains a conservative balance sheet, operates in a slow-changing industry, sells relatively recession-resistant products, and has grown its dividend for more than 60 consecutive years.