TJ Terwilliger
@tj-terwilliger.bsky.social
Finance and investing. I like shareholder yield however I can get it, and no-brainers.
Find more of my writing at:
https://www.compoundingdividends.net
https://tjterwilliger.substack.com/
Find more of my writing at:
https://www.compoundingdividends.net
https://tjterwilliger.substack.com/
Warren Buffett says the stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.
But you can only be patient if your short-term needs are covered.
That's the real secret to successful investing.
But you can only be patient if your short-term needs are covered.
That's the real secret to successful investing.
December 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Warren Buffett says the stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.
But you can only be patient if your short-term needs are covered.
That's the real secret to successful investing.
But you can only be patient if your short-term needs are covered.
That's the real secret to successful investing.
Here's the good news:
Once you have that foundation, investing becomes easier.
• No panic selling during downturns.
• No stress about short-term volatility.
• No checking your portfolio every day.
You can finally think long-term.
Once you have that foundation, investing becomes easier.
• No panic selling during downturns.
• No stress about short-term volatility.
• No checking your portfolio every day.
You can finally think long-term.
December 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Here's the good news:
Once you have that foundation, investing becomes easier.
• No panic selling during downturns.
• No stress about short-term volatility.
• No checking your portfolio every day.
You can finally think long-term.
Once you have that foundation, investing becomes easier.
• No panic selling during downturns.
• No stress about short-term volatility.
• No checking your portfolio every day.
You can finally think long-term.
The stock market dropped 15% in April this year.
Imagine having your emergency fund in stocks when your car breaks down or you lose your job.
You'd have to sell at a loss when you need the money most.
Imagine having your emergency fund in stocks when your car breaks down or you lose your job.
You'd have to sell at a loss when you need the money most.
December 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The stock market dropped 15% in April this year.
Imagine having your emergency fund in stocks when your car breaks down or you lose your job.
You'd have to sell at a loss when you need the money most.
Imagine having your emergency fund in stocks when your car breaks down or you lose your job.
You'd have to sell at a loss when you need the money most.
Why?
Because long-term investing requires you to leave money untouched.
If you might need that money in 6 months for an emergency, you shouldn't be investing it.
You'll be forced to sell at the worst possible time.
Because long-term investing requires you to leave money untouched.
If you might need that money in 6 months for an emergency, you shouldn't be investing it.
You'll be forced to sell at the worst possible time.
December 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Why?
Because long-term investing requires you to leave money untouched.
If you might need that money in 6 months for an emergency, you shouldn't be investing it.
You'll be forced to sell at the worst possible time.
Because long-term investing requires you to leave money untouched.
If you might need that money in 6 months for an emergency, you shouldn't be investing it.
You'll be forced to sell at the worst possible time.
The foundation comes first:
1. Build 3-6 months of expenses in cash
2. Pay off high-interest debt
3. Stabilize your income
4. Create a simple budget
Only then does investing make sense.
1. Build 3-6 months of expenses in cash
2. Pay off high-interest debt
3. Stabilize your income
4. Create a simple budget
Only then does investing make sense.
December 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The foundation comes first:
1. Build 3-6 months of expenses in cash
2. Pay off high-interest debt
3. Stabilize your income
4. Create a simple budget
Only then does investing make sense.
1. Build 3-6 months of expenses in cash
2. Pay off high-interest debt
3. Stabilize your income
4. Create a simple budget
Only then does investing make sense.
I see this mistake all the time:
• Credit card debt at 22% interest
• No emergency fund
• Living paycheck to paycheck
But trying to pick the perfect growth stock.
That's backwards.
• Credit card debt at 22% interest
• No emergency fund
• Living paycheck to paycheck
But trying to pick the perfect growth stock.
That's backwards.
December 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I see this mistake all the time:
• Credit card debt at 22% interest
• No emergency fund
• Living paycheck to paycheck
But trying to pick the perfect growth stock.
That's backwards.
• Credit card debt at 22% interest
• No emergency fund
• Living paycheck to paycheck
But trying to pick the perfect growth stock.
That's backwards.
Maslow's hierarchy applies to money too.
You can't focus on building wealth when you're stressed about covering rent.
Your brain is wired for survival first, optimization second.
You can't focus on building wealth when you're stressed about covering rent.
Your brain is wired for survival first, optimization second.
December 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Maslow's hierarchy applies to money too.
You can't focus on building wealth when you're stressed about covering rent.
Your brain is wired for survival first, optimization second.
You can't focus on building wealth when you're stressed about covering rent.
Your brain is wired for survival first, optimization second.
The best dividend stocks pass all 5 checks.
They don't just pay you today.
They can keep paying you, and increasing that payment for decades.
That's how you build real wealth.
They don't just pay you today.
They can keep paying you, and increasing that payment for decades.
That's how you build real wealth.
November 30, 2025 at 11:59 AM
The best dividend stocks pass all 5 checks.
They don't just pay you today.
They can keep paying you, and increasing that payment for decades.
That's how you build real wealth.
They don't just pay you today.
They can keep paying you, and increasing that payment for decades.
That's how you build real wealth.
5. Business Quality
This is the most important one.
Does the company have:
• Competitive advantages?
• Recurring revenue?
• Pricing power?
A great balance sheet can't save a dying business model.
This is the most important one.
Does the company have:
• Competitive advantages?
• Recurring revenue?
• Pricing power?
A great balance sheet can't save a dying business model.
November 30, 2025 at 11:59 AM
5. Business Quality
This is the most important one.
Does the company have:
• Competitive advantages?
• Recurring revenue?
• Pricing power?
A great balance sheet can't save a dying business model.
This is the most important one.
Does the company have:
• Competitive advantages?
• Recurring revenue?
• Pricing power?
A great balance sheet can't save a dying business model.
4. Debt Levels
High debt + high dividend = danger.
Check the balance sheet closely.
If a company is overleveraged, dividends are often the first thing to get cut when trouble hits.
High debt + high dividend = danger.
Check the balance sheet closely.
If a company is overleveraged, dividends are often the first thing to get cut when trouble hits.
November 30, 2025 at 11:59 AM
4. Debt Levels
High debt + high dividend = danger.
Check the balance sheet closely.
If a company is overleveraged, dividends are often the first thing to get cut when trouble hits.
High debt + high dividend = danger.
Check the balance sheet closely.
If a company is overleveraged, dividends are often the first thing to get cut when trouble hits.
3. Dividend Growth History
A company that's raised dividends for 10+ years?
That's a sign of discipline.
They're not just paying dividends. They're committed to growing them.
Consistency beats a high yield that gets cut.
A company that's raised dividends for 10+ years?
That's a sign of discipline.
They're not just paying dividends. They're committed to growing them.
Consistency beats a high yield that gets cut.
November 30, 2025 at 11:59 AM
3. Dividend Growth History
A company that's raised dividends for 10+ years?
That's a sign of discipline.
They're not just paying dividends. They're committed to growing them.
Consistency beats a high yield that gets cut.
A company that's raised dividends for 10+ years?
That's a sign of discipline.
They're not just paying dividends. They're committed to growing them.
Consistency beats a high yield that gets cut.