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Dividend investing is one of the most passionately followed strategies online - yet much of the enthusiasm is driven by misunderstandings of how dividends work.

In this episode, Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP® of Optometry Wealth Advisors, dives deep into how dividends actually work, why they aren’t “free money,” and what ODs need to understand before chasing high-dividend stocks or funds - especially in taxable accounts. He also explores when, despite all of this, a dividend-focused approach might still be rational for the right investor.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What dividends actually are and how they function within public companies and your own optometry practice.
Why dividends aren’t “extra” return, and how stock prices adjust for them.
The real-world tax consequences of dividends - especially in taxable brokerage accounts.
Why fewer companies pay dividends today, and how stock buybacks often take their place.
How dividend investing can actually reduce diversification and tilt your portfolio away from global opportunities.
What explains the performance of dividend-heavy portfolios (spoiler: it’s not the dividends).
Why “I need X in dividends to retire” is a myth, and how to think about withdrawals and cash flow instead.
When a dividend strategy can make sense - despite being suboptimal on paper.

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The Optometry Money Podcast is dedicated to helping optometrists make better decisions around their money, careers, and practices. The show is hosted by Evon Mendrin, CFP®, CSLP®, owner of Optometry Wealth Advisors, a financial planning firm just for optometrists nationwide.

What Most Investors Get Wrong About Dividend Investing