Background and Investing History

I have been actively investing for the past 10 years.  Like many DGI investors, my goal is to rely on the dividend income stream to partially fund my expenses when I retire at 50 (I am now 46).

I have worked in the public sector for the past 15 years, so I will have a pension in lieu of social security that I can start drawing on at 50.

I own a condo with no mortgage in Miami that generates a 6% rental return rate after expenses and taxes.  I bought the condo in January 2012, near the bottom of the market in Miami.   My wife and I plan to eventually live there after our two boys (now 12 and 11) fly the coop.   Florida has no state income tax which is one of the main reasons we want to retire there.

I also own the home in California where my family currently lives.  I bought the house in the spring of 2008, after the housing bubble burst.  I plan to sell the house in the next 4-5 years.  Assuming the housing market doesn't do a 180, this should result in a nice capital gain with no tax liability.  California  now has the most onerous taxes in the nation.  If I could move today, I would.

My stocks are owned in tax advantaged accounts (457, Roth 457, and Roth IRA).  I also have a regular brokerage account with Scottrade.   I do dabble in options, mainly covered calls as a way to supplement dividend income.  I will on occasion purchase LEAPs deep in the money when the underlying security is significantly undervalued.  I currently own LEAPs for INTC and AAPL with expirations in January 2015.  I bought the LEAPS when INTC was at $20, and AAPL was at $395.

Here is a list of dividend stocks I own:

AFL
APD
BBL
BIP
BP
CAT
COP
DLR
GIS
INTC
JNJ
KMI
KO
MCD
MO
NSC
PG
PM
POT
SYY
VOD
WAG
WMT
WU
XOM

More about my goals and how I plan to get there in a later post.  I have never blogged before so it may take me awhile to get the hang of things.