Despite all the turmoil since the start of Trump’s second term, I have stayed the course: I have maintained my stock holdings and maintained my dividend reinvestments. I have purchased very few new investments.
My RMDs mainly go into a high-yield savings account. In my view, having that cash available for emergencies is appropriate.
Keeping to my Strategy
I avoid the buying-and-selling rat race.
Most people buy stock in the hopes the price will increase so that they can sell for a profit. That is not how I invest.
I buy dividend-paying stocks, let the dividends accumulate using dividend reinvestment. Income is my goal, not capital gains.
While in the current tax code long-term capital gains is usually taxed at a somewhat lower rate than dividends depending on one’s circumstances, the stability that dividends provide surpasses any tax savings.
Letting dividends grow over time is the simplest and easiest way to grow one’s net worth.
Avoidance
Since my goal is quiet accumulation of dividends, I want companies that will last. So I avoid some volatile industries, such as companies that produce fashion-oriented products. For example, while Nike might be a great company, I won’t buy its stock because its income is dependent on public whims of what is currently popular this minute. All that can change in a split second.
Another industry I avoid is technology. While tech is undoubtedly an area to make money, what products are current today will change overnight. Who remembers when IBM was the hottest thing going? Companies like Osborne, Wang, Digital Equipment, Compaq, and a million others come and go. I don’t want to spend my time trying to track who’s hot and who’s not. That would be the financial equivalent of high school popularity contests.
Trump’s Derangement
Trump’s assault on American institutions continues. Not yet stopped by Congress, at least the courts have stopped a number of his initiatives. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has mostly acquiesced.
There are many criticisms of Trump’s behavior. Here’s the best recent one:
“…a man whose idea of courage is bullying, whose idea of honor is knavery, whose idea of loyalty is convenience, whose idea of patriotism is self-idolization, and whose idea of principle is anything that suits his need and his pleasure. Now excuse me while I throw up.” from https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/opinion/trump-vance-iran.html
Those Conflicting Pronouncements
Conflicting announcements from Trump administration continue. In the same day, we will hear opposite opinions of what Trump’s team thinks, or even what he expects to happen. These opposing news items are all part of his plan. Much of what is announced is the fantasy version of what Trump would like to happen. The dangerous part is that once Trump says one of his fantasies, he immediately believes it to be true.
They are all designed to confuse and distress others. To maintain my sanity, I need to ignore 50% of what I hear from Trump world. The other 50% is destructive.
Gas Prices
In response to gasoline prices not declining quickly, Trump accuses oil companies. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly790j1j6ro
The purpose of this charade us to deflect from the real cause: fallout from Trump’s war on Iran. Typical Trump: It’s always some else’s fault.
Dilemma
When does staying the course bleeds into acceptance of the political status quo? That question can be terrifying.
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