The Best Way to Secure Your Financial Dreams

Dividend-paying stocks are absolutely the fastest and most reliable way to achieve financial security and independence. Here are five reasons why you should love dividend stocks right now:
They're beating the market. According to Standard & Poor's, for the first seven months of 2006, dividend-paying stocks returned 4.3%, compared with -3.3% for non-dividend payers.
They're low risk. Since the companies pay out cash, investors are more willing to hold dividend stocks through bear markets. Hence, they don't fall as far or as quickly as non-dividend stocks. These stocks become a magnet for investors seeking security.
They earn much better yields with lower taxes. Thanks to a recent change in the tax law, dividends are now taxed at only 15%. Compare that to interest on your savings, CD, or money market account that is taxed as ordinary income — up to 35%! Standard & Poor's estimates this change should save investors more than $100 billion through 2008. Much of this will be invested back in dividend stocks.
They help you avoid the Enrons of tomorrow. Dividends don't lie. For example, between 1997 and 2000, Enron's "earnings" rose 69% but dividends rose only 9%. That's a sure sign that something fishy was going on. Paper profits can fool analysts but hard cash can't be faked.
By reinvesting dividends, you “dollar-cost average” and get the power of compounding automatically. Reinvesting dividends improves your portfolio's long-term returns by buying more shares when the price is low and by helping your profits earn more profits.
Dividends aren't just for retirees. They're for anyone who wants to amass great wealth with low risk. Do you think it's boring to make great returns — and sleep like a baby at night? We don't.