2021-06 Dividend Income Report

Here is the dividend income report for June, 2021.

The monthly dividend income came out to $2162.36. The yearly income total for 2021 through the end of the month was $4662.40.

The income for June 2020 was $1957.12, and the yearly income for 2020 through the end of June was $4407.77.

I did not have a lot of time to listen to any earnings calls, or study more Org mode. I was busy with the job that I really really really really really hate. I might just quit and take a break. If I did that, I would be able to put my Roth 401k money into my Roth IRA.

I keep hearing some rumblings about inflation. I have not seen any prices go up, but they might soon. Inflation has been pretty low for ten years. It has to come back at some point. The worst part about it is that all the morons who have been predicting Weimar/Zimbabwe levels of inflation every day for about a dozen years regardless of the circumstances will insist they were right all along. There are a lot of people who think they are smarter than everyone else because they think the world is about to end, even though their predictions have been wrong for years. The Wikipedia article on pessimism porn goes into this. (Many people who will be screaming “I told you so” and leaving out the “..regardless of the facts” will be Glibertarians and fans of the “Austrian school“.)

In the past month, the site Investment Talk had a guest interview with a blogger I follow, Dividend Growth Investor. He is referred to in the article by the initials “DGI”, and his identity is not revealed.

During the interview, he mentioned the Coffee Can Portfolio. The basic idea is you find 20 or so companies that you think have good prospects, buy shares, and never sell. The site Coffee Can Portfolio looks like it veers into right-wing nutjob land. The idea of buying good, strong companies and never selling is one that I support (it is the basic thesis of dividend growth investing, except I let S&P do the work for me), but any site that publishes endorsements from Marc Faber and Michal Pento (who used to work for Peter Schiff), and one from a reader who praises the author’s “really profound insights into what’s going on in the world from an Austrian perspective” is one I would avoid. I don’t think the person running that site and newsletter has any connection to the person who came up with the phrase “Coffee Can Portfolio”. From what I can tell, the phrase (and idea) came from a guy named “Robert Kirby”, but not the one who arranged string quartets for Elvis Costello and Elton John  or the one who jokes about Mormons.

The idea is explained here on a site with text that is hard to read or here or here.

Before banking was widespread, people would stick valuable things in an old coffee can, and put it in a cabinet, a shelf, under a bed, or in a closet, and they would rarely touch the can or its contents. The idea came to Kirby after he looked at the portfolio of a married couple after the husband’s death. She followed Kirby’s stock advice, both buying and selling. The husband bought per the recommendations, but never sold. The husband’s portfolio was bigger than hers. Some of his stocks went down, some has done well, and one had done so well it was bigger than her entire portfolio.

Maybe I should get back out of ETFs and into individual stocks again. There are about 700 stocks on the Dividend Radar spreadsheet (formerly the Dividend Champions spreadsheet). At least for American stocks, if a company does not cut its dividend, the income will keep going up. I am not too sure why the amounts from the ETFs are inconsistent. Granted, I stopped because it is a bear (no pun intended) keeping track of a lot of stocks in a spreadsheet or finance program.

In the interview, DGI also mentioned the Voya Corporate Leaders Trust (although not by name) LEXCX; Yahoo Finance page here. It started in 1935. It is a unit investment trust, and not a mutual fund; mutual funds started with the Investment Company Act of 1940. It is prohibited from selling. All the changes in the portfolio are due to mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs. It has not done as well as the S&P 500, so I guess we have to score this one for indexing.

Still, I bet most people who day trade would have been better off in LEXCX.

Here is a table with the year-to-date amounts, the monthly amounts, and the three- and twelve-month moving averages for each June from 2011 through 2021:

Month YTD Amount 3MMA 12MMA
2021-06 $4662.40 $2162.36 $861.08 $899.68
2020-06 $4407.77 $1957.12 $778.78 $885.91
2019-06 $4251.15 $2244.44 $959.55 $753.16
2018-06 $2185.04 $863.49 $319.68 $551.12
2017-06 $3108.53 $761.91 $539.42 $536.73
2016-06 $2744.28 $684.76 $464.00 $483.42
2015-06 $2415.32 $612.21 $411.83 $409.95
2014-06 $1933.90 $522.86 $333.10 $320.58
2013-06 $1492.72 $351.48 $257.79 $291.91
2012-06 $1574.81 $305.84 $260.85 $276.29
2011-06 $1351.34 $236.50 $235.38 $203.23

 

Here are the securities and the income amounts for June, 2021:

  • Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF: $34.80
  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $133.99
  • Vanguard Total International Bond ETF: $8.93
  • RLI Corp: $26.26
  • SPDR S&P Dividend ETF: $811.07
  • Vanguard Utilities ETF: $225.51
  • SPDR S&P Global Dividend ETF: $858.59
  • Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF: $40.62
  • Gladstone Land: $22.59

 

Big Jim says: Ask not at whom the mullet sneers, it sneers at thee.

Image from Google search, assumed allowed under Fair Use. Painting of adoration of the Magi by Duccio di Buoninsegna (c. 1255–1260 – c. 1318–1319), aka “The Duce”.

2021-05 Dividend Income Report

Here is the dividend income report for May, 2021.

The monthly dividend income came out to $160.93. The yearly income total for 2021 through the end of the month was $2500.04.

The income for May, 2020 was $179.08, and the yearly income for 2020 through the end of May was $2450.65.

LAND paid out five cents more than it did last month. Because the price rose, the income was not quite enough to buy another share. It is another data point that is making me wonder if I will be eating dog food in the dark in my later years. I have some money in a taxable cash account at a broker. I might “put that money to work” as they say in the investing business. But I worry that I might need it for savings. I really really really really really hate my job, and sometimes think about just quitting. I would need that money. But I might need it more later. Who knows?

I have started to listen to earnings calls for another REIT. I am looking at STAG. I am tracking these in Org mode. Hopefully learning more Org mode will change my life.

Here is a table with the year-to-date amounts, the monthly amounts, and the three- and twelve-month moving averages for each May from 2011 through 2021:

Month YTD Amount 3MMA 12MMA
2021-05 $2500.04 $160.93 $742.94 $882.58
2020-05 $2450.65 $179.08 $747.49 $909.85
2019-05 $2006.71 $150.95 $592.51 $638.08
2018-05 $1321.55 $44.66 $398.51 $542.66
2017-05 $2346.62 $531.68 $553.90 $530.30
2016-05 $2059.52 $436.85 $479.79 $477.37
2015-05 $1803.11 $361.99 $411.92 $402.51
2014-05 $1411.19 $280.01 $304.77 $306.30
2013-05 $1141.24 $242.65 $260.91 $288.11
2012-05 $1268.97 $258.15 $257.13 $270.51
2011-05 $1114.84 $266.55 $233.03 $194.61

 

Here are the securities and the income amounts for May, 2021:

  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $129.89
  • Vanguard Total International Bond ETF: $8.49
  • Gladstone Land: $22.55

 

Big Jim is learning Org Mode to change his life.

“Horse Head” (1815) by  Théodore Géricault (26 September 1791 – 26 January 1824), image from Wikipedia,  assumed allowed under Fair Use.

Thoughts On NCIS: New Orleans

Tomorrow the final episode of NCIS: New Orleans will be broadcast. Right now it is my favorite show in the NCIS franchise, and I am upset that it is ending, and that it is the first one to end.

Ratings are down, but they are also down for NCIS: Los Angeles, and frankly I think that show has been a mess since Linda Hunt reduced her involvement. Deeks is my least favorite character, and for what felt like the longest time, Agent Blye would be partnered up for the episode with every federal agent they had run into during the show. One time it was a CIA agent, and they are not supposed to operate in the USA. Sometimes Deeks was not in the episode at all, sometimes he was at the base for some strange reason. It seemed to take forever for them to decide if Fatima Namazi was in or out, yet they made up their minds about Agent Roundtree right away. And I am getting tired of Gerald McRaney’s grumpy old man schtick.

The original NCIS is also going through some changes. A lot of people on the subreddit did not like Kasie Hines. At first I did not like her either, but she has grown on me. I think they brought her in badly. First she was helping Duckie write his book. Then after Pauley Perrette left, it just so happens that Kasie has a degree in criminal forensics. A book editor who just happens to have the degree to fill the job that just became empty; what an amazing coincidence. Maybe the producers liked Diona Reasonover, and decided to bring her in any way they could think of. I like the character of McGee, but they way they brought him in also felt a bit forced.

Granted, it could have been even worse: I don’t have a degree in criminal forensics, but my twin sister does!

WRT Gibbs getting suspended: That character has been though a lot, and you never know what will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, and I know Mark Harmon can’t do this forever, but I can’t help thinking: Really Gibbs? Is this the hill you want to die on?

Torres is not my favorite character, but I am blown away by the fact that this is the same actor who was Fez on That 70s Show. Years ago some friends and I watched both of the Steve Martin Father Of The Bride films, and then we watched Seven Years In Tibet. I think if you watch those films close together, BD Wong will blow you away.

I think a good place NCIS could have gone out on top was after Gibbs and McGee busted out of Paraguay. McGee had just had kids, and Gibbs could have said that enough was enough.

There will be a new NCIS series filmed in Hawaii called NCIS: Hawai’i. I had read that one of the reasons that NCISNOLA was being cancelled was that it was more expensive to film in New Orleans that Los Angeles (since a lot of the entertainment industry is in LA), but I have heard that everything is more expensive in Hawai’i. Granted, one of the producers of NCISNOLA had to be let go because he was a bit handsy with the ladies. Per the subreddit, someone was also negligent WRT permits. At least once (and possibly multiple times) the NOLA police showed up and drew guns on the actors while filming robbery scenes, and there are a few lawsuits about this going through the courts.

There were several episodes about Pride’s weird dreams. I thought it would be cool if he dreamed he was captain of Enterprise. He could wander through the ship. They could bring back LaSalle to be Trip. They both have Southern accents, and they look a bit alike, and their relationships to Bakula’s characters on each show was similar. Agent Khoury could be T’Pol. Carter was always distant (until recently); he would be good as Reed. One thing I liked about Reed on Enterprise is that they managed to use him several times, yet he always seemed remote and distant.

Maybe I am going with this because they are both black, but Triple P could be in Travis’ station. Their personalities are different, but they were both good at what they do. Another one that would be good for contrast is Gregorio as Hoshi Sato. “I hailed them, and told them to go eff themselves”. Then Pride/Archer goes to sick bay and finds Sebastian. Somehow he seems the most similar to Phlox. Pride/Archer is confused by Sebastian’s stream of consciousness. Then Loretta walks in and asks Dwayne what he is doing in sick bay.

Big Jim always thought of “NCIS: New Orleans” as “Mardi Gras With Captain Archer”.

Image from Memory Alpha, resized for this site, copyright owned by CBS, assumed allowed under Fair Use.

2021-04 Dividend Income Report

Here is the dividend income report for April, 2021.

The monthly dividend income came out to $259.95. The yearly income total for 2021 through the end of the month was $2339.11.

The income for April, 2020 was $200.13, and the yearly income for 2020 through the end of April was $2271.57.

This was another slow month. I did get a payment from Gladstone Land. I have not had time to listen to conference calls for other REITs. Or to learn more Org Mode.

The bond funds paid a bit more, but that was because they had capital gains distributions. They last distributed capital gains in December, 2020. At the time of this writing, the distributions pages have records going back to November of 2019, and December, 2020 and April, 2021 are the only two months with capital gains. I will have to read the prospectus to see if it gives more insight into when and why capital gains would be distributed.

I have been doing DGI since 2010. I need my income to be about 4 times what it is. Granted, it has quadrupled in ten years. I wonder if that will happen again. If I was using this income right now, I would have about $700/month after tax. Which I guess is fine if I can abstain from eating while in total darkness.

Here is a table with the year-to-date amounts, the monthly amounts, and the three- and twelve-month moving averages for each April from 2011 through 2021:

Month YTD Amount 3MMA 12MMA
2021-04 $2339.11 $259.95 $750.24 $884.09
2020-04 $2271.57 $200.13 $753.19 $907.51
2019-04 $1855.76 $483.26 $588.35 $629.22
2018-04 $1276.89 $50.88 $405.77 $583.24
2017-04 $1814.94 $324.66 $532.02 $522.40
2016-04 $1622.67 $270.38 $461.86 $471.14
2015-04 $1441.12 $261.30 $409.21 $395.68
2014-04 $1130.58 $196.43 $323.64 $303.18
2013-04 $898.59 $179.23 $262.82 $289.40
2012-04 $1010.82 $218.56 $274.05 $271.21
2011-04 $848.29 $203.10 $216.30 $179.46

 

Here are the securities and the income amounts for April, 2021:

  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $191.02
  • Vanguard Total International Bond ETF: $9.03
  • Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF: $37.40
  • Gladstone Land: $22.50

 

Big Jim is still waiting for the big payouts.

“Procession” (1859) by Eugenio Lucas Velázquez (9 February 1817 – 11 September 1870), image from Wikimedia,  assumed allowed under Fair Use.

2021-03 Dividend Income Report

Here is the dividend income report for March, 2021.

The monthly dividend income came out to $1807.93. The yearly income total for 2021 through the end of the month was $2079.16.

The income for March, 2020 was $1863.26, and the yearly income for 2020 through the end of March was $2071.44.

I am thinking about replacing VPU with another utility ETF. I know this is a first-world problem, but I hate the fact that they announce dividends at different times each quarter. Sometimes it’s on the 11th. Sometimes it’s not until the last day (and the dividend is paid the next month). I will be needing this income when I am too old to work. Granted, that might not be for a couple of decades, but everybody else can be consistent. Why can’t Vanguard? (I mentioned this here and here.)

I did buy some shares of Gladstone Land. I bought it on the ex-dividend date, but apparently I had to buy it before then to get the dividend. I still don’t understand who all these dates work, honestly. The ex-date, the record date, blah, blah blah. If I have to buy it before the 17th to get the dividend, then why isn’t the ex-date the 16th? Granted, it’s a monthly dividend, so it’s not that big of a deal.

I listened to the conference calls. I noticed that a few of the people on the calls (people in Gladstone and a few analysts) referred to COVID-19 as the “China virus”. I really do not want to give my money to right-wing whack jobs. Although sometimes right-wing whack jobs are good at making money.

There are only 2 farmland REITs. There were three in 2016: Gladstone Land, Farmland Partners, and American Farmland (NYSE: AFCO). In 2017, Farmland Partners has merged with American Farmland. So now there are two. Farmland Partners was attacked by short-sellers. There were lawsuits, and it took up a lot of management’s time. They had to cut their dividend.

There is a website devoted to farmland investing called Farmland Riches. It looks like the main way to get into farmland is to buy it directly.

I might also look into American Farmland Trust (Wikipedia page here). I don’t want to be a farmer, but I do need to eat.

LAND is not in any index, so if I bought RWR it would not be in there. I know I wrote that tracking individual stocks was a drag, but I do like the idea of a security whose income only goes up every time it pays out. I honestly do not know why the payouts of ETFs that only invest in companies that increase their dividends are so variable. I know some companies have cut or suspended dividends but the Dividend Aristocrats (normal and high-yield) only have companies that have increased payouts for at least 20 years. Few companies that have paid out that long have cut. Perhaps the number of investors in the ETF affects the payout.

I do think that investing in farmland is a good strategy. And maybe it will help preserve some of the farmland as farmland. I will have to listen in to find out what Gladstone Land would do if the “developers” wanted to buy some of their farms for a high price. Why isn’t farming considered a form of “development”? It’s not completely natural (someone decides to plant a particular crop in even rows). Someone is getting use out of it and making money. And providing food.

The payouts from RWR have been consistent, and for December 2020 and March 2021 higher than pre-COVID. Perhaps there will not be a real-estate apocalypse.

Here is a table with the year-to-date amounts, the monthly amounts, and the three- and twelve-month moving averages for each March from 2011 through 2021:

Month YTD Amount 3MMA 12MMA
2021-03 $2079.16 $1807.93 $693.05 $879.10
2020-03 $2071.44 $1863.26 $690.48 $931.10
2019-03 $1372.50 $1143.33 $457.50 $593.19
2018-03 $1226.01 $1099.99 $408.67 $606.06
2017-03 $1490.28 $805.35 $496.76 $517.88
2016-03 $1352.29 $732.13 $450.76 $470.38
2015-03 $1179.82 $612.48 $393.27 $390.27
2014-03 $934.15 $437.87 $311.38 $301.75
2013-03 $719.36 $360.85 $239.79 $292.68
2012-03 $792.26 $294.68 $264.09 $269.92
2011-03 $645.19 $229.43 $200.06 $163.15

 

Here are the securities and the income amounts for March, 2021:

  • Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF: $36.64
  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $127.60
  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $32.68
  • Vanguard Total International Bond ETF: $9.85
  • RLI Corp: $25.16
  • SPDR S&P Dividend ETF: $853.26
  • SPDR S&P Global Dividend ETF: $468.01
  • Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF: $43.11
  • Vanguard Utilities ETF: $211.62

 

Big Jim wants less to keep track of in his life.

Image from The Goya Foundation, assumed allowed under Fair Use. Painting “The Manufacture of Gunpowder” by Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, or just Goya (1746-1828). Goya should have his own website.

2021-02 Dividend Income Report

Here is the dividend income report for February, 2021.

The monthly dividend income came out to $182.83. The yearly income total for 2021 through the end of the month was $271.23.

The income for February, 2020 was $194.17, and the yearly income for 2020 through the end of February was $208.18.

I have started listening to the conference calls of a few REITs. I am keeping track of it using Org Mode. I have not gotten too far. Thanks to Texas’ “profits-uber-alles” way of doing things, Winter Storm Uri put a block on a lot of things.  And, yes, these “business” people who think they understand how the world works were warned this would happen. And it will happen again. It will probably not be ten years until the next one.

I am still not clear what long-term affect COVID will have on real estate. LAND is about farmland, STAG is mostly warehouses, Prologis is logistics, and Digital Realty is about data centers. (Does Amazon buy or rent?) I am guessing offices and retail will be hurting. But I will listen to the calls for Realty Income. They seem to be doing okay, and a lot of their industries are doing okay. They are reducing their exposure to gyms and theaters.

Here is a table with the year-to-date amounts, the monthly amounts, and the three- and twelve-month moving averages for each February from 2012 through 2021:

Month YTD Amount 3MMA 12MMA
2021-02 $271.23 $182.83 $1253.94 $883.71
2020-02 $208.18 $196.17 $1259.50 $871.11
2019-02 $229.17 $138.45 $847.72 $589.58
2018-02 $126.02 $66.43 $654.60 $581.51
2017-02 $684.93 $466.05 $570.90 $511.78
2016-02 $620.16 $383.08 $524.89 $460.41
2015-02 $567.34 $353.85 $492.40 $375.72
2014-02 $496.28 $336.61 $363.62 $295.33
2013-02 $358.51 $248.39 $348.20 $287.16
2012-02 $497.58 $308.90 $337.51 $264.48

 

Here are the securities and the income amounts for February, 2021:

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $137.73
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $35.28
Vanguard Total International Bond ETF: $9.82

Big Jim is bigger than the biggest storm. Trust me on this, ladies.

Image from somewhere on the web, assumed allowed under Fair Use. Painting of angels by Guariento di Arpo (1310-1370).

 

2021-01 Dividend Income Report

Here is the dividend income report for January, 2021.

The monthly dividend income came out to $88.40. The yearly income total for 2021 through the end of the month was $88.40.

The income for January, 2020 was $12.01, and the yearly income for 2020 through the end of January was $12.01. (There is no post for January, 2020 income; here is a post for January, 2019.)

I got two payouts from Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF. This fund has 12 payouts a year, but sometimes a payment happens in the following month for shareholders on the ex-date. Looking at their site, the payout for people who own shares on the December date always happens in January. So I won’t really get income every single month. I guess Ron DeLegge would call this my “non-core” portfolio. I already have plenty of stocks, bonds, real estate and cash.

I also plan on looking into Gladstone Land Corporation.

Here is a table with the year-to-date amounts, the monthly amounts, and the three- and twelve-month moving averages for each January from 2012 through 2021:

Month YTD Amount 3MMA 12MMA
2021-01 $88.40 $88.40 $1258.54 $884.83
2020-01 $12.01 $12.01 $1236.27 $866.30
2019-01 $90.72 $90.72 $818.52 $583.57
2018-01 $59.59 $59.59 $819.32 $614.81
2017-01 $218.88 $218.88 $584.54 $504.86
2016-01 $237.08 $237.08 $550.81 $457.97
2015-01 $213.49 $213.49 $471.54 $374.28
2014-01 $159.67 $159.67 $335.67 $287.98
2013-01 $110.12 $110.12 $348.07 $292.20
2012-01 $188.68 $188.68 $316.66 $256.77

 

Here are the securities and the income amounts for January, 2021:

  • Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF: $40.36
  • Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF: $48.04

2021 started out pretty well for Big Jim.

Image from Wikimedia, assumed allowed under Fair Use. Painting of angel by Guariento di Arpo (1310-1370).

2020-12 Dividend Income Report

Here is the dividend income report for December, 2020.

The monthly dividend income came out to $3490.60. The yearly income total for 2020 through the end of the month was $10541.51.

The income for December, 2019 was $3611.13, and the yearly income for 2019 through the end of December was $10515.13.

The total for 2020 was my highest ever. I still worry that my dividend ETFs will not cover my expenses in retirement. I have about a decade left in the workforce, possibly more.

I had RWR for most of 2019, and I sold all my shares in early 2020. I sold at a price higher than the low in 2020, but lower than the price now. I thought real estate would get hosed more than it has. Perhaps RWR has a lot of wholesale real estate and not much consumer and office space. I plan on going through the RWR annual report to see what is in it. I also plan on going over the conference calls for LAND. I should have some cash to install.

Anyway, I made $1982.49 from RWR in 2019, and 179.94 from RWR in 2020. So that means that I beat my 2019 total without the 1802.55 difference in RWR. I did buy some BND for my Roth IRA. I that seemed to help. I also got income every month in my Roth IRA.

I bought some shares of Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (XYLD). This will give me monthly income. Perhaps I won’t need to get Ron DeLegge’s newsletter for the monthly ETF trade.

In addition to tracking my finances in GnuCash, I also have a spreadsheet for my stocks and ETFs. I have a sheet for the monthly totals for the accounts. I added a few columns with the 3- and 12-month moving averages for my taxable accounts which take out about 33% for taxes. I don’t know if my tax rate will be that high when I retire, but I think this will give me a better idea how well my investments would do if that is all I had to rely on. Right now, my 12-month moving average after removing assumed taxes from income from taxable accounts is $680. That is not enough to cover my rent. But a few years ago it was around $450, so I guess I am doing okay.

I have some money in another account that I will probably “put to work” (as they say in the industry). What I really need is to start making more money.

Here is a table with the year-to-date amounts, the monthly amounts, and the three- and twelve-month moving averages for each December from 2011 through 2020:

Month YTD Amount 3MMA 12MMA
2020-12 $10541.51 $3490.60 $1294.16 $878.46
2019-12 $10515.13 $3611.13 $1343.15 $876.26
2018-12 $6971.76 $2313.99 $1165.08 $580.98
2017-12 $7536.98 $1837.78 $913.40 $628.08
2016-12 $6076.53 $1027.76 $605.28 $506.38
2015-12 $5472.07 $954.52 $575.86 $456.01
2014-12 $4438.02 $909.86 $481.67 $369.80
2013-12 $3406.20 $594.59 $344.05 $283.85
2012-12 $3585.01 $686.10 $386.41 $298.75
2011-12 $3091.99 $514.94 $323.40 $253.92

 

Here are the securities and the income amounts for December, 2020:

  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $141.02
  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $36.12
  • Vanguard Total International Bond ETF: $9.83
  • RLI Corp: $103.60
  • RLI Corp: $24.86
  • Vanguard Utilities ETF: $290.74
  • SPDR S&P Dividend ETF: $1031.43
  • SPDR S&P Global Dividend ETF: $1463.25
  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $286.78
  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $73.46
  • Vanguard Total International Bond ETF: $29.51

 

Note: Some securities have more than one payout in December. I have BND in two accounts. BND, BNDX and RLI have multiple payouts in December.

In spite of all that happened, Big Jim had an okay year. Hopefully 2021 will be better for us all.

Image from somewhere on the web, assumed allowed under Fair Use. Painting of angel by Guariento di Arpo (1310-1370).

2020-11 Dividend Income Report

Here is the dividend income report for November, 2020.

The monthly dividend income came out to $196.63. The yearly income total for 2020 through the end of the month was $7050.91.

The income for November, 2019 was $126.48, and the yearly income for 2019 through the end of November was $6904.00.

There is not a whole lot to report. There was a brief reprieve from the interest rate repression. The dividends for the bond funds was slightly higher than it was for October. However, the December amounts have come in, and they have resumed their downward trajectory. I am considering putting some money back into individual stocks again. Unless there is a dividend cut, income from individual stocks keeps increasing. I don’t know what is going to happen, but I think that if any company can at least maintain their dividend for a few more months, they should be fine going forward.

It is possible my total at the end of this year will be less than last year. This is partially because I sold RWR. Last December it provided about $800 of income. I am still worried whether or not I will have enough cash flow for when I am old. I got an email from the Social Security Administration reminding me to check my statement. I will do that later. Perhaps that will provide a cushion.

Here is a table with the year-to-date amounts, the monthly amounts, and the three- and twelve-month moving averages for each November from 2011 through 2020:

Month YTD Amount 3MMA 12MMA
2020-11 $7050.91 $196.63 $742.84 $885.10
2019-11 $6904.00 $126.48 $843.65 $768.17
2018-11 $4657.77 $50.86 $562.56 $541.30
2017-11 $5699.20 $560.60 $559.31 $560.58
2016-11 $5048.77 $506.98 $502.98 $500.27
2015-11 $4517.55 $460.83 $477.55 $452.28
2014-11 $3528.16 $291.27 $357.30 $343.53
2013-11 $2811.61 $252.75 $277.74 $291.48
2012-11 $2898.91 $247.99 $262.78 $284.49
2011-11 $2577.05 $246.37 $232.84 $240.81

 

Here are the securities and the income amounts for November, 2020:

  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $148.40
  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $38.01
  • Vanguard Total International Bond ETF: $10.22

Big Jim will keep pushin’ to increase the size of his cushion.

Image from Wikimedia, assumed allowed under Fair Use. Painting of angel by Guariento di Arpo (1310-1370).

2020-10 Dividend Income Report

Here is the dividend income report for October, 2020.

The monthly dividend income came out to $195.26. The yearly income total for 2020 through the end of the month was $6854.28.

The income for October, 2019 was $291.83, and the yearly income for 2019 through the end of October was $6777.52.

There is not a whole lot to report. I think that putting more money into BND was a good idea. Since I sold RWR, that is the only thing that is keeping my totals this year ahead of last year.

And RWR is still above where I sold it. Will REITs never get hit? There are a lot of businesses that have gone under, there are a lot of people unemployed, there is a lot of unused office capacity, yet the REIT indexes are still doing fine. Granted, I know a lot of people are having a harder time than me, but it just seems like the laws of cause-and-effect are no longer true. Or perhaps there is a lot of extend-and-pretend. I plan on taking a better look at the annual reports for RWR and VNQ (Vanguard REIT ETF). Perhaps they are skewed towards warehouses and data centers. Yet Realty Income is still increasing its dividend (see their dividend history on the Realty Income page here, or on the Street Insider website).

Here is a table with the year-to-date amounts, the monthly amounts, and the three- and twelve-month moving averages for each October from 2011 through 2020:

Month YTD Amount 3MMA 12MMA
2020-10 $6854.28 $195.26 $745.73 $879.26
2019-10 $6777.52 $291.83 $822.53 $761.86
2018-10 $4606.91 $1130.39 $561.66 $583.77
2017-10 $5138.63 $341.83 $566.34 $556.11
2016-10 $4541.79 $281.09 $508.05 $496.43
2015-10 $4056.72 $312.23 $459.42 $438.15
2014-10 $3236.89 $243.87 $368.19 $340.32
2013-10 $2558.86 $184.81 $295.19 $291.08
2012-10 $2650.92 $225.14 $285.46 $284.35
2011-10 $2330.68 $208.90 $258.17 $238.44

 

Here are the securities and the income amounts for October, 2020:

  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $147.48
  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF: $37.77
  • Vanguard Total International Bond ETF: $10.01

 

Big Jim blah blah blah. Big Jim is kind of tired of life and a lot of things right now, including the lack of growth in dividend income. And what is going on with that angel and demon in the painting? The whole Falwell fiasco has shown that a lot of religious people are freaks; it looks like even the heavenly hosts like to play games too. Perhaps Big Jim needs to go to church and find himself a freaky woman (after COVID, of course).

Image from Wikimedia, assumed allowed under Fair Use. Painting of angel by Guariento di Arpo (1310-1370).