We all have to start somewhere. I remember feeling overwhelmed when I first became interested in financial independence and dividend growth investing. While theres a plethora of resources out there for any interested parties, I tried to combine what I feel are the best resources available for someone just starting out on the journey to financial independence via living below your means and dividend growth investing. The resources listed below are those I have personally used and recommend.

Great Books On Dividend Investing

by Matt Alden

This book is really fantastic. I did a review  a while back, and my review doesnt really fully give this book its due. Its a phenomenal read that covers the basics of businesses, the importance of fresh capital, the impact of dividends on long-term returns and why its important to seek out high-quality businesses that distribute them, how to properly analyze/value businesses, and a summary of how and why stocks within different sectors (consumer stocks, industrials, MLPs, REITs, etc.) are valued differently. This book is not only a great resource on dividend growth investing, but also on building wealth in general.

by Benjamin Graham

Although not a dividend specific book, this is probably the greatest book ever written on investing. I believe the main draw to this book, and really the crux of it, is that it covers the psychological warfare that investing can sometimes involve. It covers emotions to the point where Mr. Graham actually refers to the stock market as a whole as a bipolar Mr. Market that acts irrationally and emotionally. An intelligent investor takes advantage of these emotional swings. It covers equities as a whole, how and why one should invest, investment theory, achieving a margin of safety, market fluctuations, and valuation methods all in great depth. Ive read this book and could read it again tomorrow and pick up new things I didnt see before. Its that meaty and deep. To do a true review on this book would require multiple blog posts dedicated to nothing but. If Warren Buffett believes this is the best book on investing ever written, who am I to argue?

by Zach Ramsey and Joseph Houge

Zach, the guy behind Dividend Ladder, informed me he wrote a book and was kind enough to send me a copy. I found it really informative and educational. It starts out with many of the basics behind dividends, investing, and the difference between qualified and non-qualified dividends. The book later moves into the different types of dividend stocks an investor can pick from, and how to form and manage your own portfolio of high-quality stocks. A great book for both a novice and more advanced investor looking for ways to build sustainable, passive cash flow through dividend investing.

Personal Finance/Financial Independence Books

by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez

If you could only read one book on personal finance this would be my recommendation. It sets all the wheels in motion. If you ever wondered why youre not happy running non-stop on your little rat wheel, this book explains why in a deft manner. It puts into words what many of us are thinking, while also listing nine steps on how you put core ideas to action. This book improved my life immediately after reading it. I cannot recommend this book enough.

by Thomas J. Stanley

This book is definitely an entertaining read. While not really revolutionary, it does provide excellent evidence of how wealthy people got to where they are and how they tend to stick to their perch. The next time someone makes fun of you for driving a 10-year-old car even though you have hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank, point them to this book.

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life

by Alice Schroeder

Last, but certainly not least, we have Warren Buffetts biography. Buffett worked closely with the author, Alice Schroeder, to recount his life in his own words. Im a huge fan of all things Buffett. And not just his investment style and success, but his views on life in general. Hes a bit of a personal hero of mine, and I consider myself a loyal disciple. When I first started researching how to successfully invest, I decided to investigate how legendary investors, like Buffett, became so successful. And what I found when I looked into Warrens life is that he wasnt just a phenomenal investor, but hes also a champion of frugality. Seriously, his frugality is legendary. I completely recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming financially independent because the principles that Buffett has lived by are a superb example on how to build real, sustainable wealth. Ive personally read this book twice.

Important Dividend Investing/Research Links

The ultimate resource. This is a document that compiles data on all US-listed stocks that have raised their respective dividends for at least the last five consecutive years. Its maintained by the great David Fish. Stocks are categorized by Challengers (5-9 years of dividend growth), Contenders (10-24 years of dividend growth) and Champions (25+ years of dividend growth). Its truly invaluable, in my opinion. Not only does the document contain the names of these companies, but also includes extremely pertinent information like dividend growth rates, valuation, debt loads, etc. If you think of the stock market like a market full of stocks for sale, this would be my shopping list.

Morningstar is a free service that offers research tools for the enterprising investor. Here, you can get a stock quote, look up five years of financial data (including cash flow statements, balance sheets, and income statements),  and compare historical valuations. You can compare stocks to others in its sector and also read a quick snippet of professional analysis. Further research is available for those who pay for memberships.

DTA is a collection of recommendations and articles. Here youll find a number of recent buy and/or sell recommendations based on current information and analysis.

This is a huge community of investors and writers, all sharing information. Youll find a plethora of research and articles on just about any and every stock out there, along with commentary from the community. Be aware, however, that some of the articles are not written by professionals. Always perform your own due diligence.

Mike the blogger behind The Dividend Guy has created this service to create, track, and manage portfolios, as well as provide ongoing tools and support. Theres a monthly fee involved, but its certainly a fraction of what you would pay to have a professional create and manage a portfolio for you.

If youre looking for a forum board to strike up a conversation with like-minded dividend growth investors, this is a nice spot. I occasionally post on there myself, and the atmosphere there is overwhelmingly positive and supportive.

Brokerages

I currently use Scottrade as my brokerage. I do so because their transaction fees are fair and they have a ton of local offices throughout the US. Its reassuring to know that if I have a problem I can visit a local office and talk to a human being. And if its after hours, I can call and actually get in touch with someone. I also enjoy their research tools, like access to S&P Capital IQ. They also have a revolutionary service called FRIP, which Ive written about  previously. Unfortunately, the FRIP can only be grandfathered in for older accounts. Overall, Scottrade offers a robust service and Ive had exactly zero problems since I signed up for an account in early 2010.

Tools

I use Personal Capital as a portfolio management tool. Its service is completely free unless you decide to sign up for their financial advisor services. But if youre a DIY investor like myself, then you wont find a need for that and Personal Capital will be free. It offers a plethora of portfolio management tools and budget software. And its asset allocation visualizations are beautiful. I find it a great service, especially considering it costs $0 to use. You can read my review on this company if youre interested. Although I strongly recommend Personal Capital for portfolio management, I find Mint better for budgeting. Mint, like Personal Capital, is free. I personally use both services and find them complementary.

Blogging

Ive had a lot of questions over the years about blogging. I wrote an article a while back which breaks down exactly how I earn income online. Ive tried to be as open and detailed as possible all along the way. Ive also received numerous inquiries on blogging and who I use for hosting. I use WordPress for reasons Ive previously disclosed and I use Liquid Web for my hosting needs. Theyre a premium service, so those of you just starting out will probably get more value out of Bluehost. Its cheaper, which is more accessible and appropriate for those of you interesting in starting a blog. I have a few friends who blog and swear by them. If you sign up for Bluehost using this affiliate link, a special offer should pop up for you. And once you have hosting, its effortless to install WordPress and get started. Ive used both Blogger and WordPress, and I find WP to be far more robust and professional.

In addition to all of the previous recommendations I also recommend reading the wonderful blogs I have listed on my blogroll . While books and forums are wonderful, youll see personal growth and investing decisions rationalized in real time here and elsewhere. Please be aware that some of the links above include affiliate links, which means I may receive some compensation if you purchase goods and/or services via these links. However, this comes at no additional cost to you. I have only recommended what I have personally benefited from or looked at and found value in.

Comments

Dividend Growth Investor says

Hi Dividend Mantra,

That is a very good collection on investment resources. I would also add One Up on Wallstreet by Peter Lynch, anything about Warren Buffett ( his letters to shareholders and books like The Snowball).

Dividend Mantra says

DGI,

Thanks for the great suggestions there. I cant believe I havent already included The Snowball. That was a fantastic book. I especially liked the stuff on Warrens early life commuting long distances to work, using a dresser drawer for a crib, avoiding dry cleaning to save money, etc. Great stuff. His frugality is pretty legendary, but the book gives you a real appreciation for his strategy. Its certainly something Im doing my best to emulate, but on a MUCH smaller scale.

Dividend Mantra says

San,

Thanks for stopping by! Glad you found the blog, and I appreciate your readership.

Jim says

Jason,

Odd, a few minutes ago I was thinking about div. reinvestment, particularly your method and why that works for you, but perhaps not for others. So, BOOM, here I see you are going to address that. I hope you cover both sides in your blog, its important that some new investors realize your method may not be the best approach for them because of trading fees. Lifes money is fascinating when you begin to look at the big picture and the infinite number of different ways to save, make, lose and squander your lifes money.

Dividend Mantra says

Jim,

Thanks for the kind words!

I plan to publish the dividend reinvestment article this coming week, so look out for it.