Building Income, One Calm Week at a Time
💡 MaxDividends Mission: Helping people build growing passive income, retire early, and live off dividends.
Every Friday, I share what I’m buying — real moves, no fluff. The plan is simple: mix high yield with dividend growth to build income that grows year after year.
My goal is $12,000/month in 10 years. This journey is open to anyone — it’s about creating a legacy, taking care of loved ones, and leaving behind a stream of income that outlives you.
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Table of Contents
🌳 The Tree That Keeps Paying Me Back
A year later, my first investments are now funding new ones — that’s how compounding quietly wins.
Hey friends — happy Friday to all of you!
And as tradition goes — for the 78th Friday in a row — I’m right here with you. The journey toward $12,000 a month in dividends within 120 months keeps rolling on, and we’ve just wrapped up Month 17.
The world keeps spinning, and meanwhile my dividend income keeps climbing. New earnings reports keep bringing fresh dividend hike announcements — and I’m here for every one of them.
This week, I tallied up October’s dividends and reinvested every dollar. That’s more income in my pocket starting today — nearly $8,000 now working for my family and adding another $30 per month in passive income. Just pause and feel that for a moment.
A year ago, I planted a tree — made my first deposits and bought my first shares. Those shares started paying dividends. Then I used those dividends to buy more shares… which now pay me even more.
The tree gave seeds. The seeds took root. And now, they’re growing into trees of their own — each one sending in a little more cash, week after week, month after month.
And here’s the beautiful part: that $30 a month I just added doesn’t come from my labor anymore — it comes from my companies working for me.
All I do is steer the ship — managing family capital, choosing brands I love, and sticking with the simple, proven MaxDividends strategy. I pick the names, I shape the portfolio — and like clockwork, this system keeps moving me toward my goal right on schedule.
So, what’s on the table today:
👉 My latest buys and sells
👉 New ideas for next week
👉 The bigger picture and results so far
👉 And of course — a few pleasant surprises 😊
Let’s roll.
— Max
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$12K Journey — Month 18, Week 2: Building Income, One Calm Week at a Time
The Quiet Moves Powering My Next Dividend Jump
Each week I put $3,000 to work with a single target: reach $12,000 in monthly dividends within 120 months.
The fun is in the reveal—seeing which holdings are quietly compounding inside the portfolio, and which names stay on the watchlist, waiting for the right setup.
That’s the snowball in action. No perfect timing needed—just steady contributions, paid dividends, and calm, repeatable moves that compound.
Simple. Live. Step by step. Watch the MaxDividends plan unfold—one quiet week at a time.
My Latest Dividend Milestone
✅ $100/month – hit at Month 3
✅ $250/month – hit at Month 5
✅ $500/month – hit at Month 10
✅ $750/month – hit at Month 16
🎯 $1,000/month – now 79.9% complete
That puts me just a step away from $800 a month in pure dividend income — money that shows up whether I’m working or not.
Bills keep falling, one after another. ☕ Coffee? Paid for. 💪 Gym? Covered. 📱 Phone bill? Just about gone.
Next stop: $1,000 a month — twelve steady paychecks a year, arriving like clockwork.
That’s the moment when the plan stops being an idea… and starts feeling like real, tangible freedom.
🎁 The Promised Surprise
By the way — did you spot our newest update? You can now name your goals and share your progress right inside the MaxDividends community chat.
It’s a small feature, but it adds a big dose of personality — turning your dividend journey into something a little more real, and a lot more fun.
☕ Morning coffee? Gym dues? Whatever drives you — set your goal, give it a name, and show the crew what you’re working toward.
Let’s see what kind of dividend-powered goals you’re building next inside the MaxDividends community 💪
Now, let’s get to the buys. Grab a seat, pour yourself some coffee (or whatever you love most), and let’s dive in! ☕🚀
💰 $12K in 120 Months — My Portfolio Update (Month 18, Week 2)
Buys This Week
Another $3,107 quietly put to work — same rhythm, same plan. No rush, no drama. Just building income that never stops growing.
Here’s what joined (and left) the portfolio this week:
🏦 Bank OZK (OZK) — 39 shares
One of the strongest regional banks in America — disciplined, well-capitalized, and committed to steady dividend growth. Quiet execution, strong results, and a management team that plays the long game.
🏊♂️ Pool Corp (POOL) — 5 shares
A calm compounder in a niche few watch closely. High returns on capital, loyal customers, and a long record of consistent dividend growth — built to last through every season.
🎯 Target Corp (TGT) — 8 shares (reinvested dividends)
October dividends — roughly $750 — were fully reinvested into one of my favorite long-term retailers. A rock-solid business with a 50-year streak of dividend increases and a comeback story that’s still unfolding.
❌ Sold: FMC Corp (FMC) — 150 shares → 💉 Novo Nordisk (NVO) — 51 shares
FMC was removed from the portfolio this week after the company cut its dividend. A tough call, but dividend reliability is non-negotiable here — the capital was rotated into stronger, more dependable payers.
Novo Nordisk took its place — still my top European compounder. World-class profitability, rising free cash flow, and a long track record of rewarding shareholders. The story keeps getting better with every report.
➡️ Total invested: $3,107 + ~$750 reinvested dividends — right on schedule.
Another calm week, another quiet step toward freedom. The snowball keeps rolling — fueled by discipline, dividends, and time.
🔗 View the live portfolio: MaxDividends $12K in 120 Months Strategy Portfolio
Portfolio Snapshot
- Total Invested: ~$255,428
- Current Value: ~$248,838
- Annual Dividends: ~$9,434
- Yield on Cost (FWD): ~4.35%
The snowball keeps rolling — heavier every week.
🔔 Dividend Raises — Year to Date (2025)
- Greif Inc +3.7%
- OZK Bank +2.3%
- Texas Instruments +4.4%
- FedEx +5%
- Johnson & Johnson +4.8%
- Nexstar Media +10%
- Chevron +4.9%
- Robert Half +11%
- PepsiCo +5%
…and many more.
Each raise locks in more lifetime income and lifts my yield on cost. Quiet, steady, automatic.
Portfolio Progress
Here’s a look inside my portfolio this week:
- Annual Dividends: $9,434/year → about $800/month or ~$27/day passive income
- Top Payers Right Now: a few lead, but 80%+ of income comes from a broad, diversified base
- Based on recent raises, the portfolio is expected to pay about a 4.4% yield over the next year — and those dividends have been growing around 16% a year over the past decade.
- Monthly Income Trend: some months already cracking $1,000 — September crossed four digits
- Passive Income Goal: 6.46% of the way to $12,000/month. The snowball is rolling stronger every week.
The MaxDividends App
All of this is tracked inside the MaxDividends App — my roadmap and compass. It shows payouts, raises, and exact progress toward the $12K finish line.
If you’re not using it yet, you’re leaving a serious edge on the table.
My Word Here
10/31 Update — email me anytime: max@maxdividends.app
Last week, I outlined the ideas I was watching — Pool Corp, OZK Bank, T. Rowe Price, and Novo Nordisk. This week, those plans turned into action: Bank OZK and Pool Corp officially joined the portfolio.
At the same time, one name left. FMC Corp became only the second company ever sold in the history of this portfolio. The reason? A dividend cut. My approach is intentionally simple — and you might find it useful in your own plan too:
I invest in reliable, financially strong companies with a long record of rising dividends, and I hold them as long as they keep rewarding shareholders.
But I also sell when the story changes.
I sell in just two cases:
1️⃣ The company cuts or suspends its dividend.
2️⃣ Its Financial Score drops below 80.
That’s it. Two clear rules. They make every decision simple — no guesswork, no noise, no emotional drama. Just calm, data-driven investing that builds wealth step by step.
I like making decisions and taking responsibility — but what I love even more are decisions that are simple and effective. They let me enjoy managing family capital instead of worrying about every market move.
Next week, I’ll continue following the plan — investing another $3,000 into new shares. A few names are already on my radar: Snap-on, T. Rowe Price, Tractor Supply, Nexstar Media, and Lowe’s. And I’ll be scanning for fresh candidates to join my growing income generator.
📊 The Bigger Picture
I manage my portfolio inside the MaxDividends App — my control center for all things dividend income. Everything’s in one place: portfolio view, income tracker, dividend projections, and historical data.
One of my favorite features is the Future Income Projection — it shows how dividend growth compounds over time, even if I stop adding new money.
Right now, that projection estimates I’ll reach $3,439 per month in dividends within 10 years, even if I stopped investing today and just reinvested what’s already working.
That means the plan is already 30% complete — in pure, forward-looking terms.
And that’s a powerful motivator to keep going 💪.
We’re also moving full-speed ahead behind the scenes. The MaxDividends App is getting its own dedicated domain — maxdividends.app — with a new homepage, social login options, and soon, public registration and open access.
Step by step, we’re building the world’s most complete platform for dividend investors — designed by people who actually live and breathe this strategy.
No detail will go unnoticed. No data point left behind.
We’re building something that will serve investors for decades to come — and you’re here early to watch it grow.
The MaxDividends Way
This isn’t gambling or chasing hype. It’s a proven system:
- Invest consistently, every week.
- Stick with dividend growth stocks.
- Reinvest every payout.
- Rotate only if growth stalls.
That’s why the income snowball keeps rolling — heavier each month, stronger each year.
Chapter #2: Kid’s Portfolios
New quarter, new milestone. Every quarter I put $300 into each of my three kids’ portfolios — building generational wealth one brick at a time.
Kids’ Portfolios:
- Focused on capital growth, built around Capital Growth-Focused Dividend Eagles
- Powered by weekly dividend growth stock picks with the help of the MaxDividends Assistant
- $300 each, every quarter
This quarter I added WestPharma and ResMed. Next quarter I’ll likely swap Johnson Outdoors (its Financial Score dropped below 80).
Chapter #3: Core Family Portfolio – Bigger Picture
This is where the long game plays out. Beyond the weekly $3,000 experiment, my family’s core portfolio is the real backbone — built for high-yield dividend growth, steady compounding, and financial security for years to come.
Here I’ll break down where things stand today, how the plan for this quarter looks, and why this portfolio is designed to cover every family expense while still growing stronger over time.
I’ve spent the past 20 years building businesses. That’s where most of my capital came from. But now, at 40 and with three kids, I want to stay involved in business and investing on my terms.
The Big Idea
My goal? More time with family, freedom to focus on what matters, and a portfolio that pays me whether I’m working or not. That’s why in 2025, I’ve started transitioning to fully living off dividends.
The mission hasn’t changed: build a high-yield, dividend-growing portfolio that delivers steady cash flow and strong long-term returns.
With the MaxDividends Concept, my team and I scan markets across the U.S., Europe, and Asia to find financially strong companies with a track record of raising dividends. This way, I’m not just chasing price growth — I’m building a paycheck that grows by itself.
Core Family Portfolio Snapshot
- Total Invested: ~$1,333,736
- Current Value: ~$1,620,642
- Current Yearly Dividends: ~$72,110*
- Yield on Cost: ~5.41%
(*Dividend totals vary slightly due to exchange rates.)
This portfolio alone now pays over ~$6,000/month in dividends. Every dollar is reinvested, fueling even faster growth.
Companies Purchased This Week
Here’s what joined (and left) the portfolio this week:
❌ Sold: FMC Corp (FMC) — 866 shares → 👟 Shoe Carnival (SCVL) — 812 shares
FMC was removed from the portfolio this week after the company cut its dividend. It’s never pleasant to make that call, but dividend reliability is non-negotiable here. The capital was immediately redeployed into stronger, more consistent payers.
Shoe Carnival took its place — one of my favorite under-the-radar retailers. Eleven straight years of dividend increases, a payout ratio under 25%, and a management team that keeps running the business with quiet discipline. A simple, solid move that strengthens the income engine for years to come.
Core Family Portfolio Breakdown
✅ 90% High-Yield Dividend Growth Stocks – These names pay me consistently and raise dividends year after year.
✅ 10% Capital Growth Stocks – A smaller bucket for faster-growing companies. When I sell, half the profits go into new growth stocks and half into high-yield dividend payers.
Current Top Holdings
Capital Growth (10%)
- Nexstar Media Group (NXST)
- Tractor Supply (TSCO)
- Lam Research (LRCX)
- Nike (NKE)
High-Yield Dividend Growth (90%)
- Asseco Business Solutions (Poland)
- Rubis SCA (France)
- Hornbach Holding (Germany)
- Melexis (Belgium)
- Rubis SCA (France)
- Ambra SA (Poland)
- Bank OZK (USA)
- Teleperformance (France)
Recent Standouts
🏆 A beginner unicorn has appeared in my portfolio!
Lam Research Corporation is up over 100%—you’re crushing it as an investor! You’ve backed a real winner here!
- Best Buy Co., Inc – has delivered a solid gain of +20.67%
- 9880 Innotech Corp – has shown solid momentum over the past week, with a gain of +6.17%
Dividend Hikes in Q3
- Lam Research Corp +13%
- OZK Bank +2.3% (fourth increase this year)
- Universal Corp +1.25%
- SkyWorks +1.43%
- Texas Instruments +4.4%
More Raises This Year
- Asseco Business Solutions — +25%
- T. Rowe Price — +2.5%
- Fuchs Petrolub — +5%
- BestBuy — +1.1%
- Zoetis — +15.7%
- Tractor Supply — +4.5%
- Applied Materials — +15%
- Teleperformance — +9%
- Nexstar Broadcasting — +10%
- UPS — +0.6%
- Nomura Real Estate — +16%
- Sun Wa Corp — +15%
- Archer Daniels Midland — +2%
Each hike locks in more income for life — steady raises with zero extra work.
📅 This Quarter’s Plan (Q4)
For the fourth quarter, my focus is simple: put more savings to work in the core family portfolio and keep aggressively reinvesting every dividend. The target is clear — push monthly dividends past $7,000 by year-end.
The strategy doesn’t change. I’m looking for stable, undervalued Dividend Eagles that start with solid yields and have the strength to keep paying and raising over time. Dividends are my lever — I collect them, reinvest them, and let compounding do the heavy lifting.
I won’t lock in specific tickers right now — opportunities shift as the quarter unfolds. What matters is scanning the best markets worldwide: the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, the U.K., and Europe, and picking financially strong companies that fit the MaxDividends secret formula.
And for my kids? The playbook stays the same: $300 each, every quarter. Three kids, three portfolios, one steady strategy to build generational wealth.
The structure is unchanged — 90% high-yield dividend growth stocks, 10% capital growth stocks. The mission stays the same too: steady income, steady growth, and the freedom that comes from reinvesting.
Right now, it’s all about speeding up the cycle — dividends keep rising, capital keeps compounding, and every reinvested payout brings us closer to true financial freedom.
The Long Game
By 2033–2035, I expect my Core Portfolio alone to generate $16K–$18K/month in dividends. Combine that with my $12K-in-120-months experiment, and the total passive income goal is $30,000/month.
That’s full financial independence: family expenses covered, reinvestment rolling, and freedom secured.
***
That’s all for today’s update.
🎁 Bonus!
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Wishing you steady growth and financial peace,
Max
💌 Questions or thoughts? Reach me anytime at max@maxdividends.app
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Help & Support
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MaxDividends Mission
Helping people build growing passive income, retire early, and live off dividends.
Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. ― Warren Buffett.
