Read Lowell Miller's 'The Single Best Investment' or similar which discuss dividends, and companies that grow their dividend every year. In the midst of the financial crisis a couple year's ago PG (Proctor Gamble) raised their dividend 8% even after their stock had taken a ~40% haircut. What a vote of confidence in their cash flow and future that was! A company with a 3.5% yield that grows it at 8-12% will after several years be paying you 7% on your initial investment - and going up from there. It enables you to stop worrying too much about share prices. I'm not a financial pro, this is just opinion, do your own due diligence Yada yada. And most important, congratulations for heading off cruising! Max