Introducing AAII Dividend Investing

Cyril from NC posted over 14 years ago:

I am very interested in dividend stocks - anxious in ferreting out the best higher yielding opportunities. I am looking forward to seeing what this program will offer. Thanks

Rochelle from CA posted over 14 years ago:

I hope the stocks you list will have risk numbers. RD

Andrew from CA posted over 14 years ago:

great addition to aaii capabilities. i look forward to this feature! thank you

Alan from CA posted over 14 years ago:

I think that it is great that you are offering a dividend portfolio and am looking forward to participating. Value Engine has backtested a dividend program which is known as Income 20. The 1-10 year results vs the S&P 500 are excellent.

Ted from CA posted over 14 years ago:

I'm very disappointed that the dividend portfolio will require a separate subscription. At the time I became a lifetime subscriber some 20+ years ago, there was no separate subscription for segmented information - nor has there been for the model portfolios for shadow stocks, mutual funds and etfs, not to mention the regularly updated stock screens. All of these are very helpful, much appreciated and reviewed regularly. Sure, there is effort in researching and publishing any information, but I fail to see the uniqueness of a model dividend portfolio. Very, very disappointing!

David from VA posted over 14 years ago:

I am retired and over 80. Will this prograqm also have income producing stocks listed rather than income growing stocks? This would be of great significance to the elderly.

Roger from New York posted over 14 years ago:

I agree with Ted from California;I am disappointed that an additional fee will be required. I have a life subscription since 1987. I am a charter member. I can recall when Cloonan first polled the investing public concerning a 'new' investment publication,geared for individuals etc etc. I also seem to recall a promise that ALL research would be made available to ALL members at no additional cost.

Mike from Connecticut posted over 14 years ago:

Good idea, but I am concerned about the cost. Hopefully the price for this service is low / reasonable. (less than the basic AAII subscription).

Jesse from MI posted over 14 years ago:

I agree with all who are disappointed that an additional subscription will be required. Let's hope the cost will be minimal.

Charles Rotblut from IL posted over 14 years ago:

We are charging a subscription fee for Dividend Investing so that AAII members who do not use the new service are not indirectly paying for the cost of it, just as we are currently doing with the Stock Superstars Report and Stock Investor Pro. By doing so, we are able to keep the price of annual and lifetime AAII memberships at very low levels. There are three model portfolios included with AAII membership, plus several guides, over 60 stock screens (including some that are dividend focused), and a great deal of educational content and data. We will continue to provide all AAII members popular features such as the Investor Classrooms and the First Cut articles. We will also introduce new features periodically, such as a series of articles explaining how to analyze financial statements that is included in the new, January AAII Journal. -Charles Rotblut

Chas from IL posted over 14 years ago:

How will I be able to determine if it is worth paying for? It would help a lot if I could see the first one or two issues for free (I'm a lifetime member). I switched from Motley to Morningstar several years ago and like their Dividend newsletter. I would want to determine if I should add the AAII dividend subscription, cancel Morningstar or neither.

Charles from IL posted over 14 years ago:

Now that everybody is jumping on the dividend paying stock "bandwagon" I guess it's time that AAII did too. Morningstar has been offering this service for several years now and it's fairly comprehensive. What's scary to me is that everyone is focusing on this area of the market and, as we all know, when everybody is pursing something that's usually the time to get out of it. Hopefully this time around it will be different. It will be interesting to see what AAII is going to offer and what they are going to charge for it. Any good investment house offers the ability to screen for certain stock characteristics and searching out good quality, attractive-yielding dividend stocks is no different. As long as you have a reasonable account balance this capability is usually free.

Charles from IL posted over 14 years ago:

David - All of the stocks held in the portfolio will pay a dividend, and we will have a minimum yield requirement for all holdings. I will explain more about the portfolio as part of the behind scenes look we will be giving to members who sign up at www.aaiidividendinvesting.com. (There is no charge or obligation to receive these introductory emails.) - Charles Rotblut

Ernest from FL posted over 14 years ago:

I join those that are dissappointed that this will be a new paid service. I would rather see membership fees increased an be comprehensive rather than being nickeled and dimed for every new niche.

Paul from NY posted over 14 years ago:

I am also disappointed that there is a separate charge for the dividend portfolio. I am a recent subscriber and since all your other portfolios seem to show a loss this past year and I have invested in another companies dividend advice on which they predicate their newsletter and reputation. I feel cheated. I currently invest with dividends in mind, although that is not my only criteria. i will investigate the possibility of withdrawing from AAII.

Steve from MI posted over 14 years ago:

I join those that are dissappointed that this will be a new paid service. I would rather see membership fees increased an be comprehensive rather than being nickeled and dimed for every new niche. I already pay for the annual membership, Then MORE for CI, then $150-200 per year for Stock Investor Pro, and now MORE for Divedends!!!!! Give me a break -------------you should at least include it free to Stock Investor Pro subscribers. I am seriously think of dropping and for now will stop suggesting you to others. Greed--Greed-----

Steve from MI posted over 14 years ago:

This is a follow up----I rarely comment on anything, but this is like Motley or all the others that send us info--- your new managers------ have a new attitude----called greed---------so can we still trust the data or are you selling that too!!!!! I join those that are dissappointed that this will be a new paid service. I would rather see membership fees increased an be comprehensive rather than being nickeled and dimed for every new niche. I already pay for the annual membership, Then MORE for CI, then $150-200 per year for Stock Investor Pro, and now MORE for Divedends!!!!! Give me a break -------------you should at least include it free to Stock Investor Pro subscribers. I am seriously think of dropping and for now will stop suggesting you to others. Greed--Greed-----

John from CT posted over 14 years ago:

I am disappointed that you have cut out the one year subscription and have gone to a four year subscription. I am retired and am not interested in putting out that amount of money at one time. Go back to annual subscriptions. I also agree with all of the comments about the new service and charging separately for it.

Lawrence from FL posted over 14 years ago:

AAII new management is not aligned with previous sales promises. Dividend investing should be offered as a means to generate new business for the flagship subscription and not another "pick the customer's pocket" option". I will no longer recommend AAII to my investment group or any other friends.

Robert from NC posted over 14 years ago:

I do not agree that it should be a free service. As one of the first members of AAII ( and over 80 yrs. old ) I don't believe the young members should have to pay for this program. I'm not paying for the Pro which is more helpful to younger members.

Jack from MI posted over 14 years ago:

I join those that are dissappointed that this will be a new paid service. I am a lifetime member close to 20 years. When I signed up you charged me $495 to join and now you are only charging new people $295 to become lifetime members. And you also reduced the one year memberships from $49 to $29. I was told that this was to increase your declining membership base. I think that you should include this service for those of us loyal lifetime members that paid the $495 fee.

Russell from MA posted over 14 years ago:

I think it is a great idea. I also hope it covers drips. I am dissapointed that you are thing of a separate subscription fee for the dividends. It now seems like you have too many things that you have to pay extra for. It seems like your saying we have this service, but there is an extra charge for this , Oh by the way , this also has an extra cost and if you would like to do this, it also has an extra charge. But if you order any 3 out of 5 subscriptions, you will get a free set of Ginsu knives. When does it stop. You are going to lose more people than you sign up.

Stephen from PA posted over 14 years ago:

I agree with other comments concerning the inadvisability of AAII's imposition of a separate fee to obtain the dividend portfolio. Let's be honest folks, your model stock portfolio was certainly not outstanding this year; I'm just glad I was not paying extra for that one. And there is no guarantee that your new dividend portfolio will be a winner some of the times or all the time either. You are aware, I'm sure, that there is a substantial amount of excellent information available for free on the web. For example, the "dividend champions" and "dividend aristocrats". And I also find it annoying that the members must go through several screens, including "signup" before you divulge - ta da - the price. That should be posted on the very first page.

Robert from NY posted over 14 years ago:

I have been a faithful member of AAII for many years and am also a speaker at many investment groups on a non-paid basis. I have always supported AAII membership to those groups as being above the mainstream investment newsletters and software programs that are always "up-selling" you to buy another add-on "feature". Dividend investing is now front and center in the sights of most retired investors as a means of supplementing the lost income streams of employment and paltry money market returns. It is, in my opinion, a need of the core member of AAII. It should, therefore, be an included feature of the publication rather than an "add on" to the annual membership fee. I may have to temper my enthusiastic support in my meetings for gaining members for your publication when they are faced with these extra-cost add-ons that should be included.

Robert from OH posted over 14 years ago:

looks like a "me too" product to me - I would not pay any extra for this newsletter. Good luck trying to charge extra!

Doug from CA posted over 14 years ago:

Looks like we'll have some decisions to make. I'm already paying over $100 for a dividend stock selection service. If there is a low introductory price, I might try it, and compare. GPC is recommended by this other service.

Bob from FL posted over 14 years ago:

I am disappointed that AAII will charge a subscription fee for the Div Portfolio for lifetime members. We made an upfront investment to support the efforts and work of AAII to educate members and this added cost is a slap in the face.

Robert from FL posted over 14 years ago:

Followup suggestion: since the Lifetime members want a sustained relationship with AAII, I offer a suggestion or option to charging Lifetime members for this offering. Solution: 1) recognize and thank Lifetime members as a special group, 2) create a 'test' advisory forum of these dedicated members and 3) create a win-win for AAII and Lifetime members by making available new offerings available at no cost for say one year to Lifetime members so they have the 'privilege' to assess, review and evaluate offerings for free. They would have an obligation as 'special' members to provide input, and respond to 2 AAII Lifetime member surveys during their no cost evaluation period. Let's have a win-win for AAII and Lifetime members! Bob

Charles from MN posted over 14 years ago:

I understand the need to charge for the new service. I have been a Life Member since the beginning and understand your position 100%. I wish you the best with your new service. I will subscribe.

Dennis from ID posted over 14 years ago:

I concur that the prospect of paying additional subscription fees for your new dividend service as more than a little 'off putting'. Although the benefits of the 'value and dividend' approach for my portfolio are compelling it remains to be seen if the 'cost-benefit' scenario for your new service works for me. I will reserve judgement for now but AAII has some serious competition for the $$ I'm willing to spend on this kind of info.

Douglas from MI posted over 14 years ago:

I just subscribed to the AAII Journal for four (4) Years. It seems a Dividend Investing portfolio should be included in the AAII Journal, at least on a quarterly basis.

James from UT posted over 14 years ago:

I couldn't agree more with all the folks being disappointed in sunscriber fees for this so called "service". It doesn't take a rocket scientist to create, scan, and list solid dividend stocks. This should simply be included as one of your many stock screens for crying out loud. Sometime I wonder why I became a lifetime member....

Chris from NJ posted over 14 years ago:

I'm in...this will be great. A dividend paying stock removes another chunk of the emotion that rocks the market. There is already a screen for this...the WEISS screen (if memory serves), and it's free. I am not "yet" disappointed in the subscription cost, because I don't know what it will be.

Edward from PA posted over 14 years ago:

I think that AAII should answer and published their answers to the questions and comments made here. It's so obvious you should do so, I'm amazed I should even need to make the suggestion.

Frank from CT posted over 14 years ago:

Another subscription? I'm not liking the way AAII is moving forward. How much does it cost for a expert to set up and track a dividend portfolio? Before I retired this was considered overhead, or if I remember right the term was "Factory Burden". At least give it to us lifers!

Allan from CA posted over 14 years ago:

How dare you charge me an extra Fee! I am outraged because you are just now catching up with the Dividend Investing Trend which has been developing for two to three years. And, now you want more money from us. This should be a part of our normal membership fees.

Carl from MS posted over 14 years ago:

The dividend screen ought to be free to members, especially life members and Stock Pro members. Come on ... you guys keep nickeling and diming the membership. We're going to stop paying dues ... and you guys will have to go get a real job.

Randy from AZ posted over 14 years ago:

The "U.S. Dividend Champions" and contenders and challengers spreadsheet is updated monthly here: http://dripinvesting.org/Tools/Tools.asp The Champions are companies with 25+ straight years of paying higher dividends.

Fred from NJ posted over 14 years ago:

I agree with all others in disagreement with the add-on fees for this dividend service. At least include it for lifetime members at minimum. That alone could generate more "lifers" if that's your ultimate goal. What's your end game or strategy?

Bruce from CA posted over 14 years ago:

I too am disappointed there will be a fee. Not only will it reflect greed it will also discourage new members from becoming lifetime members. Reminds me of the banks' recent increase in their fees.

James from NY posted over 14 years ago:

I agree with the comment made by Fred from New Jersey. This service should be included in the lifetime membership at no extra cost. Limited term members like myself can fend for themselves. I will judge the value of this service if it results in my receiving dividends that are several times the cost of the service.

Daniel from IL posted over 14 years ago:

I'm brand-spanking new for the $29 reduced price of membership, (altho I may have joined and quit when AAII and I were very young). I am disappointed everything I am interested in has an additional fee.

Dean from IA posted over 14 years ago:

I too have been a lifetime member for some 30 or so years. I agree with others, that the lifetime members made a financial commitment to AAII at the time, that we were giving AAII the resources to invest for the long-term stability and benefit of the organization; in return we LT members would enjoy access to the AAII research and services for life in return. If the justification is newer members shouldn't subsidize the dividend investing portfolio; what about other topics and features that have been a part of AAII for years that we each individually might not have interest in or use? We don't get credited back for that non-use. It seems that AAII has unilaterally changed the terms of our original 'contract' that our LT membership commitment was based upon.

Leonard from NY posted over 14 years ago:

As a lifetime member, please explain why the Mutual Fund Portfolio and the Stock Portfolio are included with our membership, but the Dividend Portfolio isn't?

Curtis from IA posted over 14 years ago:

This smacks of the Silverwings Program that United Airlines promoted many years ago. Lifetime members received less and less benefits as the years passed. No thanks, not interested.

Leo from AL posted over 14 years ago:

This info should be free to lifetme members. What happened to Bank of America, Verizon and others who wanted to fleece their customers with these fees? They left these companies in droves. Do the right thing for your loyal members and do not charge for this service.It only makes you appear GREEDY.

J from NM posted over 14 years ago:

I will add my voice to the many others in feeling let down by AAII's proposal to charge for advice on dividend paying stocks. Members have already paid a fee to receive investing opinions and guidance. Another fee for another subset of advice seems inappropriate, not in keeping with the customer oriented character of AAII that has earned my high regard. I strongly believe you should reconsider your inclination to levy another fee.

Mahesh from MA posted over 14 years ago:

I whole heartedly agree with the other members,there is no justification for calling this an additonal service and expecting us to pay for it.Shameful is the only way to describe it!

Richard from NY posted over 14 years ago:

I only recently became a member, promised that I would receive valuable information. It wasn't until I had access to the website that it appeared that to receive the really good stuff (E.g., Stock Investor Pro) one needs to pay extra. That was disappointing. Now I am further disappointed to read that there will be another extra charge for AAII Dividend Investing. This is a very poor practice for a not for profit organization that purports to be caring about it's members. I am quickly becoming disillusioned.

P. robert from MD posted over 14 years ago:

I have been a member since 1987. Recently I've detected a strong movement toward "soft sell" with additional investment products. I've always felt somewhat secure in AAII's non-profit educational position. Something tells me that a new business model has taken the helm of AAII.

LD from NC posted over 14 years ago:

I agree totally with those that say this should be a part of the lifetime membership I paid for a few years ago. First, AAII is very late to the new fad of dividend investing which is being pushed by nearly every quality newsletter today, and secondly, it is not much unlike the other screens and shadow stock portfolios we all pay for anyway. I would argue that dividends should be the main reason people own stocks, and this investing method should be fundamental to AAII, not a new function at additional fees.

Kenneth from SC posted over 14 years ago:

It will be interesting to see how your program compares to Morningstar Dividend Investor, which I subscribe to. GPC is a good company, but now yields only 2.9%, now that its price is up to 62.80--I bought 2 lots in late 2008 and mid-2009 for $35 per share, when the yield was 4.4%. Dividend has increased 13.9% in the same time. There are good companies yielding more that 2.9% if dividend income is a major consideration.

Donald from MO posted over 14 years ago:

Starting to think i'm half smart by not becoming a lifetime member!

Bernie from WI posted over 14 years ago:

I agree with the comments by the lifetime members who are criticizing the additional cost for the forthcoming dividend investing service. When I became a Lifetime Member years ago I made a commitment to AAII and paid for what was to be AAII services for my lifetime. Over time AAII has been increasing the cost of my lifetime membership by charging for new services -- in effect retroactively increasing the charge for my original lifetime membership. This is like contracting for pre-planned burial services, but then charging an annual "add-on" fee because the cost of funerals rise over time -- a discriminatory longevity penalty fee! Changing the fee for lifetime membership going forward due to increased cost of services seems perfectly logical and fair because the new members know what they are paying for. However, retroactively increasing the price of "lifetime" membership of lifetime members of 10 to 20 years simply is greedy, unfair and penalizes those long time members. I would request that you reconsider your decision and consider allowing current lifetime members access to the dividend investing service without additional fees. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Kenneth from SC posted over 14 years ago:

The unavailability of the price of this subscription suggests AAII is waiting to see what the market will bear.

Ray from SC posted over 14 years ago:

There is little clarity about the start date and how the subscribing members will access it .I don't have a problem with the cost but the program is a complete mystery

George from MI posted over 14 years ago:

Please include the Dividend program along with the other free programs that you offer to AAII Members. Thanks. geogerb

James from UT posted over 14 years ago:

This should simply be an additional model portfolio, e.g. Model Dividend stock Portfolio, and require absolutely no additional fees. My prior comment on this not being rocket science still stands. Although I'm a lifetime member, I've found better profits at much lower risk using a technical approach. Stan Weinstein has it right. I'd definitely look at an AAII stock dividend model portfolio though for the conservative, low-beta part of my portfolio, but if it requires a subscription ($$), I'll never subscribe. This is not hard stuff, sure a little upfront research, but not hard, so I'll build my own if AAII won't provide the portfolio for free, which they should to ALL members in my opinion, not just us lifers.

Tyler from WI posted over 14 years ago:

I echo the sentiments by George from Michigan. This should simply be an additional model portfolio. Of any investment portfolio, this one surely is not rocket science and is based much more on fundamentals than other more speculative investments. As a new member, I have been turned off at the number of additional fee for service offers from AAII. Like others have written, dividends should be the main reason people own stocks, and this investing method should be fundamental to AAII, not a new function at additional fees.

Kermit from FL posted over 14 years ago:

It appears there is an overwhelming majority against a fee service for Dividend. I will reserve my position until I see what it is you are proposing. I think dangling a carrot to the group without even a clue as to what or how you plan to make this dividend service different or better than others is not a sound marketing approach. Not publishing information or the expected fee is a very poor way to do business. I think this has people more upset than the fee service itself. If you want to introduce fee services that provide value above the normal subscriptions, go ahead do it, but don’t put feelers out to see how the reaction will be because it will always be negative. I think while you meant well your approach was all wrong. Your AAII subscriptions are very low priced and being a lifetime member is even better. It is clear you cannot stay in business with just the subscriptions. Thus, you have to add more fee based features. There are already loads of sites offering dividend advice and most are priced below $200 annual fee. I, personally, am more of a short-term trader and I teach others how to trade and invest. So I will probably not be interested in your fee service. However, I am interested in knowing EXACTLY what it is and how it differs from all the others. If I find it is better than others then I will recommend it to those that I think would benefit from it. I am always recommending AAII to folks and will continue to do so. So I have registered for the information you promised would be forthcoming. There already exist many online and offline stock screeners that will find dividend yielding stock. Doing a scan for solid dividends and dividend growth using Worden’s TC2000.com shows 243 stocks with yields from 2.2% to 15.60%. That does not mean anyone can invest in these stocks and be profitable. I myself have published a “Trading strategy” for high yield dividend stocks that has an 85% win rate. I shows the results of every trade and how it does against a Buy & Hold on the same stocks over the same period of time. I, also, explain EXACTLY how it was done. It describes the steps one must take in order to develop their own Investing/Trading strategies. I’m hoping that your service does the same and teaches people how to do it and not just feed them stock picks. Every stock picking service on the internet is probably a good service for those that created it. They know exactly how to trade the picks. While most subscriber haven’t a clue as to how the stock was selected.

Bruce from MD posted over 14 years ago:

I agree with the overwhelming negative response to the new extra-fee dividend service. I can do better elsewhere for this kind of info.

Stanley from FL posted over 14 years ago:

I agree this is nothing but greed snd I will vote with my feet. I will no longer be a subscriber.

Kermit from FL posted over 14 years ago:

Folks, I think we are over reacting to a poorly planned announcement of a new service. Let's wait and see what it is before we "shoot the Messenger". It is entirely possible they have better offer than what is on the market today. Probablt not, but, Hey, they deserve a shot at it. BTW, I'll be presenting to the Florida West Coast AAII group on Feb 18, 2012 from 10:am to new. I'll be discussing "The Complete Trading PROcesss" and how to create a Trading Strategy. I'll be using my High Yield Dividend trading strategy and explaining how it works. It is different than any dividend strategy on the market. No, its not free but will be to all attendee of the February meeting. I'm not affiliated with AAII or any other dividend service. I am an individual Trader who does teach other how to not lose their money.

David from CT posted over 14 years ago:

I am a lifetime member, have CI and Stock Inv. Pro. I make my living with computers and have had graduate level training in data bases. I feel that Pro was a complete waste of my money and CI has been a bust all year. I would like you to give me something that works for free to keep from getting that 'ripped off again' feeling before I sign on for the long term. Find me something that would have staved off a bad year this last year and I am on board.

Kermit from FL posted over 14 years ago:

Its obvious I can't type very well, sorry. Guess I need a spellchecker before posting.

Art from NY posted over 14 years ago:

Did I miss something? What is the fee? I am a life time member and would not appreciate or think it appropriate to charge a fee. Also, what is wrong with a nice diversified mutual fund of high paying dividends companies? It seems it would save lots of time and one would not exposed to corporate risks.

Kenneth from CO posted over 14 years ago:

If their new dividend investing strategy is as informative and successful as their stock superstar report it maybe worth the extra money.

Kenneth from CO posted over 14 years ago:

Another thing, what does everyone expect for $29.00/yr. You get good unbiased educational information. If your looking for someone to tell you what to invest in but not how to invest then there sre plenty of newsletters that do just that fot around $300/yr. None of these newsletters beat the market everyyear, just like mutual funds don't. An investor armed with the right information can do better themselves.

Russell from OR posted over 14 years ago:

Chalk up another lifer who is opposed to a charge for the new service. We lifers committed with a lump sum with the expectation that AAII would use this influx of membership fees to support ongoing research and development. It has lived up to expectations with the introduction of the free model stock, etf and mutual fund portfolios. Now, a new one is about to be trotted out as a "service," when in fact it is a "product for sale." AAII has always held the moral high ground, which is what attracted me to become a charter member in the first place. But with this proposal, it appears to have become greedy and duplicitous.

Jack from MA posted over 14 years ago:

You took my money for a lifetime subscription to all of AAII future services and products. That was our agreement. You agreed to invest it wisely for the rest of my life so that I would not have to pay subscription or membership fees annually. That was our agreement. It was up to you to anticipate and control your future expenses and inflation. If you did not do wisely, Lifetime Members should NOT have to pay more money for something that suddenly comes into vogue and others are charging money for. If you made stupid or foolish choices with your expenses, that is not our problem, it is AAII's corporate problem. Give us our lifetime money back, then let us decide whether we want to be members of an organization that changes its mind and policies based on whim or greed. I agree with Russel that this is greedy and duplicitous. I agree with George about that "This should simply be an additional model portfolio, e.g. Model Dividend stock Portfolio, and require absolutely no additional fees. My prior comment on this not being rocket science still stands." Fix your integrity Jim.

Tom from NV posted over 14 years ago:

A great place to start dividend investing is with the S&P's Dividend Aristocrats. The component companies have a consistent record of raising dividend payments over the years and are all financially sound. I hope AAII will use them as the model to build their own portfolio.

Prem from PA posted over 14 years ago:

What is the price for this additional information. I will like to know the extra cost before I sign for this service. jindalprem@yahoo.com

Charles from IL posted over 14 years ago:

We have not announced the price yet, but will offer a special charter discount to those who sign up for the behind-the-scenes look at www.aaiidividendinvesting.com. -Charles Rotblut

Kermit from FL posted over 14 years ago:

I just got my first Friday email about the new dividend function. I would asked that you not keep feeding us with useless information. I think anybody who is interested already know the basic of Dividend investing. I hope your idea of a quality dividend stock is not one paying 2.8 percent. There are 168 stocks that currently pay over 8% and maqny have consistently paid that or higher. While their stock price has not suffered. I'll wait for more information but please give it to us all at once not piece meal.

Adam from AL posted over 14 years ago:

I say give lifetime members the option of ditching Computerized Investing (or Quarterly Mutural Fund Update) for Dividend Investing for free.

Joseph from VA posted over 14 years ago:

It seems that you are working to answer a perceived need -- a need foreseen more than 6 years ago with a simple projection of the future need for cash income by the so-called "babyboomers" as they retire and suffer through a "Japan-like" market. Like many others, you are trying to collect cash for doing what many others are already doing -- some for free on their websites and some as newsletters. On the other hand, I just listened to a very long free web-seminar saying that this trend is going to suffer very badly this year (2012) with the possibility that the crash and panic in dividend-paying stocks may offer prospects for picking them up much cheaper by the end of the year. If there is a sudden change upward in interest rates, then the bond market and dividend-paying stocks that are the rage now in order to get more than CD-rates will both suffer very badly -- and be a new wound in baby-boomer retirement portfolios already suffering from 2007-2009 and the rise in prices at the supermarket, the clothing store, gas pump, etc.

Joseph from VA posted over 14 years ago:

To the above posting, I would like to add .... that my greatest losses ever since 1965 ... were generated by buying into some dividend-paying stocks in 2007 on the basis of a paid-subscription newsletter's recommendations -- recommendations that seemed quite sensible and reasonable on the basis of due diligence and yet the toll roads, shipping, shipping terminals, oil & gas, and closed-end funds lost much more in principal than dividends will ever return while some not only stopped paying the dividend but even went bankrupt.

Richard Post from Florida posted over 14 years ago:

Help I have NEVER gotten a call back to my phone calls using the numbers your system have given me nor an answer to email. I culd use AAII more and would like to but I have the feeling you are really a publishing company, investmenting is secondary Your web site system is very difficult to move through. Richard Post, Florida

Robert from AK posted over 14 years ago:

I currently subscribe to two other dividend reporting services. Your new upcoming service tweaks my interest in this "yoYo" value market. May your new service provide the best beacon for us dividend seekers so that there is more reward than risk. Thanks again for your efforts.

C S from NC posted over 14 years ago:

After reading all the comments I agree that this should be part of the stock screen portfolios offered . I see no need to participate in a fee based service where there already is so much information available on the web as covered in many other of the comments . As a lifetime member since 1984 I am disappointed with this approach the new management is taking .

John from MN posted over 14 years ago:

WOW, you guy's have really opened up a BIG can of worms that might turn into a barrel of snakes. AAII is late to this party. But then better late than never. I'm currently using 2 Div. newsletters/websites that are very good, not to mention the glut of Div. investment websites that are Free. AAII will have to come out of gate running, with an excellent newsletter/website format and information to compete and win many of us over. I'm a Long Term Lifetime Memeber that will sign up to evaluate AAII dividend newsletter/website.

John from MA posted over 14 years ago:

If you don't rescind the intended charge for this additional service, you all-especially the new (as another respondent stated) "Greedy" members of AAII staff and management should be fired for stupidity. Talk about a blunder. Now that you know the subscribers' reaction you need to stop this before you cause more damage to AAII then you already have. I,too, am one of the "Old Timers", since the early to mid Eighties. I am a Life Time member that has worked diligently for years for AAII without financial compensation. I've formed Groups and Sub-Groups. Most of all I have talked long and hard about AAII and the independent, factual and cost-effective knowledge that can be counted on, but no more. You're begining to act more and more like the Greedy Wall Streeters that we're trying to protect ourselves from...Shame, Shame, Shame. This is not only indefensible but reprehensible because so many of the AAII staff and affiliates have worked for so long building this fine and deserved reputation. My suggestion, have the board fire whatever Gordon Gecko or Gecko Advisory firm that has facilitated this crisis. Save AAII as we knew it please! John Adams from Massachusetts

F from CT posted over 14 years ago:

After reading the above comments, I am reconsidering my position. Prior post was driven by emotions not reason. Let us see what you are offering becasue it may not be worth the extra $10.

John from CA posted over 14 years ago:

I am a lifetime subscriber that refuses to begin paying for new AAII information. I actually think this is contrary to the promises made when I paid up as a lifetime member.

Marvin from PA posted over 14 years ago:

I am a new member this month (January 2012), and I joined with an interest in dividend investing. Since you are offering a fee-only subscription about dividend investing, I seriously doubt I will renew the AAII subscription. Having put together a portfolio of REITs, BDCs, and CEFs, I was curious about AAII's perspective.

Marvin from PA posted over 14 years ago:

I am a new member this month (January 2012), and I joined with an interest in dividend investing. Since you are offering a fee-only subscription about dividend investing, I seriously doubt I will renew the AAII subscription. Having put together a portfolio of REITs, BDCs, and CEFs, I was curious about AAII's perspective.

Marvin from PA posted over 14 years ago:

I am a new member this month (January 2012), and I joined with an interest in dividend investing. Since you are offering a fee-only subscription about dividend investing, I seriously doubt I will renew the AAII subscription. Having put together a portfolio of REITs, BDCs, and CEFs, I was curious about AAII's perspective.

Maurice from IL posted over 14 years ago:

As I am approaching retirement, my interest is in dividend stocks, but I am interested in mostly preferred stocks as there is less price volatility in these issues. Therefore, there is less chance of major loss of capital over time.

William from PA posted over 14 years ago:

As a new member, I am more than disappointed to learn that so many of your attractive guides require an additional fee. this was not clear in your promotional material and I doubt seriously that I will be renewing my membership

Gene from WI posted over 14 years ago:

I'm not into signing up for things that I don't know the cost of.I was born at night---but not last night!

Gary from IN posted over 14 years ago:

I totally agree with the overwhelming negative comments about your decision to charge for this service. Periodically including dividend information/recommendations in your monthly publication seems a much more acceptable alternative. After all, information like this is what we pay for thru our subscription costs. Also, why are you not more upfront on what the monthly fee for this service is? This lack of transparency and requiring interested parties to scroll thru several screens just to find the cost is an appalling comment on your marketing philosophy. Is like you are trying to hide something, maybe you are.

Richard from MI posted over 14 years ago:

I will be interested in the specific dividend stocks you are suggesting for investors.

Bernie from NY posted over 14 years ago:

As a long time Life member, presently retired, I am not sure if I wii remain a subscriber to dividend investing. I will do my due diligence on your recommendations as I receive them. My large cash positions in Ameritrade and E-Trade IRA's, earn close to zero interest, so I am looking for viable alternatives for investing that cash as I'm presently in a capital preservation mode.

Phyllis from TX posted over 14 years ago:

I am very interested. I could not find a place to register to find out what the Charter price will be. Price will be a factor with me. Please advise.

Richard from AZ posted over 14 years ago:

let me know what the price will be and any introductory info. thanks

Charles from IL posted over 14 years ago:

We have not finalized the pricing yet, but we will announce it soon. We're working hard on getting everything ready to launch the service. -Charles Rotblut

John from TX posted over 14 years ago:

would like more info on the dividend investing emailed to me at my address.

Paul from IN posted over 14 years ago:

1) Could not find the place to register. Where is it? 2) Amazing this service did not come along sooner. 3) Could I swap this for the Computerized Investing that I now receive?

David from OH posted over 14 years ago:

I "did the math," dividing the Lifetime fee by my expected life span when I paid it, and it's been quite a bargain so far! Plus, when I joined AAII the offerings were more limited, so I feel as if I'd bought a stock that not only has grown in value but also has been paying dividends! (Check it out: http://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4c6.html gives you the key information) So I'm inclined to "wait and see" what's actually on offer. I could do with less of the "Dance of the Seven Veils" process AAII is putting us through, though. (See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_of_the_Seven_Veils ). The Superbowl and the Republican primary season, now add to it the AAII Dividend Investing tease? I say it's too much to BEAR; speed up the dance, go BARE, let's see what there is to see.

Warren from IL posted over 14 years ago:

I am very unhappy that there will be an additional charge for this service. As a lifetime member, and having just purchased an additional lifetime membership for my daughter, I am wondering if I did the right thing. Dividend investing is not rocket science and certainly far less complicated than many of the stock screens presented in the monthly Journal. I believe AAII should build on its "core" of basic, sound investing principles.

Charles from IL posted over 14 years ago:

Paul, you can sign-up for a behind-the-scenes look at the service at http://www.aaiidividendinvesting.com. Actual subscriptions will be not offered until the service is launched, and we're working on getting the service launched as soon as possible. We have not announced a price for the service, but life members will not be able to swap Computerized Investing or Mutual Fund Quarterly for it. -Charles Rotblut, AAII

Charles from IL posted over 14 years ago:

John, if you register at http://www.aaiidividendinvesting.com, you will receive a weekly email discussing our approach to dividend stocks and giving a behind-the-scenes look at the service. -Charles Rotblut

Robert from OH posted over 14 years ago:

lets see what you have to offer. there are many such letters already. It is a competitive field.

Robert from OH posted over 14 years ago:

lets see what you have to offer. there are many such letters already. It is a competitive field.

Robert from OH posted over 14 years ago:

lets see what you have to offer. there are many such letters already. It is a competitive field.

John from CA posted over 14 years ago:

looks like you shot yourself in the foot

Patrick from GA posted over 14 years ago:

among many things dissapoiinting in the financial services industry,as been their greed and dishonesty in findiing every way possible to pick the pockets of users. I have been a lifetime member for many years which should cover these additional services. You now sound like politicians inthat you blame changes in your fees under the color of FAIRNESS TO SOME GROUP. If I knew then what I know now I would not be a lifetime member nor can i recommend it to anyone else.It is getting where you cannot trust anyone in the financial services industry. There is always a gotcha.

Edmund from DE posted over 14 years ago:

You have often emphasized the importance of having a plan for the sale of a stock before that stock is bought (e.g., write down why the stock is being bought, what the goal is, and the conditions that would prompt selling the stock). Will this philosophy be incorporated in AAII Dividend Investing? Will the likelihood of a significant capitol gain be an important part of the stock selection procedure? One would think that rising dividends would result in rising stock prices, but for at least one of the picks you have mentioned (VVC, which has a history of increasing its dividend) the stock price isn't much higher than it was 10 years ago.

Martin from AZ posted over 14 years ago:

Having read most (? all) comments on this new (? improved) service from AAII, I find it interesting that ' Phyllis of Texas ' appears to be the ONLY female commentator. I subscribed. I own many DRiPs. Of the 24 dividend-paying stocks in the current AAII portfolio of dividend-paying stocks, I won 14. Why doesn't AAII recommend purchasing these stocks through the transfer agents e.g., BNYMellon, Computershare, American Stock Transfer & Trust Co., etc. ( or, is that not possible for ALL the 24 recommended stocks )?.

Martin from AZ posted over 14 years ago:

^^ ' OWN 14 '.

Eric from MN posted over 14 years ago:

I read the first couple of emails from Dividend Investing, and with this past Friday's email I now realize that the portfolio has 24 stocks that were almost all purchased at the beginning of January! But even though I signed up for the DI service from the start, I did not get any notification to buy all of those stocks. I suspect that the advantages of the DI service will be hyped by describing the gains of the stocks, which of course include the bull market gains of Jan-Feb. 2012. Not only that, but the ex-dividend dates of almost all of the stocks are passed by now for the first quarter. Although in the long run this probably doesn't matter, it is reminiscent of the Stock Superstars report. The stocks were bought in September, but they weren't revealed until three months later. After that, the portfolio had a 3 month head start on what a subscriber could count as gains. So the portfolio seemed to be great stock picking. It was only after a few years that the advantage of the head start disappeared and it was apparent that the portfolio was no better than a typical mutual fund. So you can pretty much bet that the claimed gains of the DI portfolio will be over-estimations of what a subscriber who invests at this point can expect.

Gene from CA posted over 14 years ago:

Whew! So many negative comments. Not sure what this "new service" buys subcribers to stock investor pro. We can easily build our own list of increasing divend stock companies to choose from. Seems only a minor tweek of Grahams Defensive Investor would get you close. None the less, I'm signing up for the no risk subscription to make a better judgement on this. AAII has always stood behind their money back promises to the dissatisfied.

James Newell from VT posted over 14 years ago:

I have been a life-member for longer than I care to remember and am also disappointed that the new dividend investing "service" is only available for an extra fee. I'm willing to take on a free trial, however; just hope if it's not worth it's weight in gold I remember to cancel within three months.

Joe Silverman from CA posted over 13 years ago:

You got me for one year on the Dividend portfolio, but that's all. I agree with many of the commenters that this portfolio ought to be available to members without a separate charge. It seems like AAII is getting greedy.

David Thibodeau from NH posted over 12 years ago:

I agree with Ted from Calf. You make us an offer to be life time members then when ever you offer a new series we have to pay additional charge for . Nice way to sucker us in on all your little tricks just to churn mor revenue. Answer my QUESTION, WHY

David Thibodeau from NH posted over 12 years ago:

I agree with Ted from Calf. You make us an offer to be life time members then when ever you offer a new series we have to pay additional charge for . Nice way to sucker us in on all your little tricks just to churn mor revenue. Answer my QUESTION, WHY ARE LIFE TIME MEMBER OFFERED THIS FREE!!! But I bet you won't.

Charles Rotblut from IL posted over 12 years ago:

Hi David, The reason we charge an additional fee for AAII Dividend Investing is to the cover the additional expenses incurred from producing the publication. If we didn't charge a subscription fee, we would have pass along the costs to all members--both those who use the publication and those who do not. -Charles

Douglas Wood from VT posted over 12 years ago:

Let's see. Lifetime membership,around $300-400. Cost of the Dividend Subscription...$149. Invest $10,000 in the service with NO work or time on your part...about $300 annual return. Invest $30,000 in that service (yes,some of you have that) and it returns......$900/yr. We got a great product back years ago that has many portfolios that clearly outperformed the Indexes. Might this one also? Get over it!

CRAIG B from WI posted over 4 years ago:

What then IS the yearly fee, promotions aside? I see a $2 intro trial offer for 2 months but no where does it tell me what it will be after that. Please document the current rate. Thanks!

CHARLES S from TX posted over 1 year ago:

I have been a member of AAII since about 1999 and a Dividend Investing member since its inception. I have really been happy with the results I have attained following the DI recommendations I use to receive from the brochure that AAII sent out each month. Now that you have discontinued the brochure I am unable to get the information i use to receive and I cannot seem to get anyone to return my calls or Emails. I did fid out somehow that members should be receiving Emails on stock recommendations but I have not received a Email from AAII since last August, and I found that one in SPAM. I checked my information in AAII site to see if my account information was correct and up to date and guess what? Amazingly it was correct and up to date. I continually call the AAII membership Phone number and the robot keeps telling me someone will return my call. I have been waiting now for about 2 months and the phone has not been ringing or has anyone left me a message. Sorry that I am spilling on you but this is about my last effort. I am very disappointed with the recent service I am receiving from AAII. If there is something that I can do or am not doing please have someone tell me!!!

CHARLES S from TX posted over 1 year ago:

I think that I found the Dividend Investing information that I have been searching for. Apparently since the last time I searched the AAII site for Dividend Investing it has been updated. So I feel much better about the AAII service. However, that still leaves me wondering why I do not receive Emails or returned calls. Thank you and Happy New Year to all AAII members!