Best case scenario is OP is a troll. Worst case...
Im not a Troll...just a "Seeker/Learner"
I started this thread because I'm trying to refine (or redefine) my personal investing strategy, and part of that process is investigating various philosophies and strategies and making a rational evaluation of fit for my specific situation.
Many of the folks on here are using a buy and hold index / lazy portfolio strategy, and for the past 10 years or so I've been doing mainly that. Because Im getting close to FIRE, Im re-evaluating this to see if it continues to make sense or if there is a better way or something new I should be doing as I transition from accumulation phase to 'drawdown' phase.
So, yes we all agree index investing is good. Also, can we agree that there are some very coherent investors that use alternative strategies. (Dividend investing, Real Estate, etc...)
I think we can all admit that although index investing works well for the majority, some people may have specific and individual situations that could tip the scales towards an alternative strategy....
For example, we could all agree that if someone owns a construction business and his wife has a real estate license, Real Estate investing may be more advantageous for them as opposed to the average investor. For this fictitious couple Real Estate investing may provide a higher rate of return than index investing with a 3-fund lazy portfolio.
Some points I hoped to tease out with this thread from the rational, spreadsheet-loving engineer types on this forum, who happen to choose dividend investing (like Spoonman), what is the specific reason for that and why does it work for you and what advantages or opportunities specifically did you have that made this a reasonable choice?
After reading all these posts (some of which made lots of sense, and some of which were very amusing) it seems to me that Free trades, waived expenses, free access to analytical software and company data, lots of time, and a genuine interest in this kind of analysis may be what is needed to tip the scales and make dividend investing a good option.
Probably not a good option for me right now. Im not smart enough, and Im way too lazy.