Dividend Investors: 1 Simple Trick to Boost Your Retirement Income

Reinvesting your dividends can make a big difference when you own Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY)(NYSE:RY).

| More on:

What if you owned a money machine that automatically cranked out cash while you slept, watched TV, or read the paper?

Every month a steady stream of payments flows straight into your brokerage account. In some cases, you are collecting yields of 10%, 25%, and even 50% on your original investment.

And the machine reproduces itself. It breeds more little money machines—and they’re all making money for you 24/7.

Boost your investment returns 90% with this one simple trick

Sounds fantastic—or illegal. While you might not believe me, this is exactly what it’s like to compound your money with dividend-paying stocks.

Compounding is a simple strategy when you buy investments that pay dividends or interest, and you use those payments to buy more of the investment. In the following years, your dividend and interest earns income, too. In short, you get to buy new shares of stock without having to put up another dollar.

That’s as close to a free lunch in life as you’ll ever get. Sure, this isn’t some get-rich-quick scheme you’ll see on a late night infomercial. It’s more like a get-rich-eventually strategy, and that’s good enough for me.

But if you’re not convinced, let me show you how it works with a simple example. Then I’ll show you what you need to do to get started.

Let’s say two friends, Bob and Rob, each buy 100 shares of the Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY)(NYSE:RY) for $75. Today the stock pays a 4% annual dividend. Let’s assume that the share price grows 5% annually.

We’ll start with Bob. He never reinvests his dividends. Instead, Bob just collects his payments and piles up the income.

Rob, in contrast, reinvests his dividends. Every time RBC sends him a cheque, Rob uses that income to buy more shares.

Here’s how they do…

Year Bob Rob
0 $7,500 $7,500
10 $15,990 $17,756
20 $29,819 $42,033
30 $52,346 $99,508

As you can see from the table above, Rob’s returns take the cake. After 30 years, Rob’s portfolio is showing a 90% improvement over Bob’s returns.

The best part is that many brokers will automatically reinvest your dividends for free. This strategy is called a dividend reinvestment plan, or DRIP, and it’s a great way to harness the power of compounding.

Better yet, it’s easy to get started. All you have to do is call your broker and say, “I’d like to enroll my stock in your free DRIP.” It really is that simple.

To set up my DRIP with TD Direct Investing, I called 1-800-465-5463. I’ve listed a few more brokers below. If yours isn’t on the list, check around online for the contact information.

  • RBC Direct Investing: 1-800-769-2560
  • CIBC Investor’s Edge: 1-800-567-3343
  • Questrade: 1-888-783-7866

The Zen guide to dividend investing

This really works. Thousands of ordinary Canadians are using this strategy to build wealth in the stock market. Readers explain to me all the time how well it works for them.

Pick up the phone and enroll your stocks in a DRIP today.

Should you invest $1,000 in Celestica Inc. right now?

Before you buy stock in Celestica Inc., consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada analyst team just identified what they believe are the Top Stocks for 2025 and Beyond for investors to buy now… and Celestica Inc. wasn’t one of them. The Top Stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 ... if you invested $1,000 in the “eBay of Latin America” at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $21,345.77!*

Stock Advisor Canada provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month – one from Canada and one from the U.S. The Stock Advisor Canada service has outperformed the return of S&P/TSX Composite Index by 24 percentage points since 2013*.

See the Top Stocks * Returns as of 4/21/25

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Robert Baillieul has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Confidently Navigate Market Volatility: Claim Your Free Report!

Feeling uneasy about the ups and downs of the stock market lately? You’re not alone. At The Motley Fool Canada, we get it — and we’re here to help. We’ve crafted an essential guide designed to help you through these uncertain times: "5-Step Checklist: How to Prepare Your Portfolio for Volatility."

Don't miss out on this opportunity for peace of mind. Just click below to learn how to receive your complimentary report today!

Get Our Free Report Today

More on Dividend Stocks

TFSA (Tax free savings account) acronym on wooden cubes on the background of stacks of coins
Dividend Stocks

How I’d Invest $7,000 in My TFSA for $660 in Tax-Free Annual Income

Canadians looking for ways to make the most of the new TFSA contribution room should consider investing in these two…

Read more »

Doctor talking to a patient in the corridor of a hospital.
Dividend Stocks

This Dividend King Paying 7.5% in Monthly Income Is a Must-Have

This high-yield TSX stock might not be a textbook Dividend King, but its reliable monthly payouts and improving financials make…

Read more »

path road success business
Dividend Stocks

How to Invest $50,000 of Tax-Free Cash as Canada-US Trade Uncertainty Escalates

Few Canadian stocks are as easy a choice as this one, making it perfect during volatile periods.

Read more »

monthly desk calendar
Dividend Stocks

How I’d Generate $200 in Monthly Income With a $7,000 Investment

Want to establish $200 in monthly income (or even more?) Here's an easy way to start today that will provide…

Read more »

Printing canadian dollar bills on a print machine
Dividend Stocks

Got $25,000? Turn it Into $250,000 in a TFSA as the Canadian Dollar Rises

Investing doesn't have to be risky or difficult, especially with this top stock.

Read more »

A woman shops in a grocery store while pushing a stroller with a child
Dividend Stocks

Where Will Loblaw Be in 3 Years?

Loblaw (TSX:L) stock could be a stellar performer as tariffs and headwinds move in on Canada's economy.

Read more »

customer uses bank ATM
Dividend Stocks

Where Will National Bank Be in 5 Years?

National Bank of Canada (TSX:NA) stock still looks like a great deal at these levels.

Read more »

A worker overlooks an oil refinery plant.
Dividend Stocks

The Smartest Industrial Stock to Buy With $3,000 Right Now

Aecon is a value stock that's benefiting from strong infrastructure spending today and in the years to come.

Read more »