The world of investing can be divided into two main schools of thought — growth investing and dividend investing. While many investors may find growth a more attractive buzzword, investing for dividends also has its merits. For one, the ability to pay consistent dividends lends an air of stability and certainty to a company. Dividend investing also generates a stream of passive income to prepare you for your eventual retirement. The benefits are two-fold — you can feel assured that you have invested in a strong, stable company that can weather crises, while also building up a sturdy base of cash inflows. That said, it is not so simple to find companies that have a long track record of paying dividends. Economic cycles could negatively impact businesses, while competitors and new trends can also cause companies to lose market share and fall on hard times. You’d be surprised to learn that despite...