Dividend investing is an easy way to earn passive income. A $10,000 investment in a stock with a 5% dividend yield will provide you with $500 in yearly dividend income – all without you doing anything! In fact, the best dividend stocks can boost your total returns over time through a combination of dividend payouts and stock price appreciation. Since 1930, dividends when reinvested have accounted for about 40% of the S&P 500’s total returns, all thanks to the magic of compounding. But not all dividend stocks are a good investment. For example, a stock with a very high dividend yield might turn out to be a dividend trap. How to choose the best dividend stocks  Rather than focusing on dividend yield alone, a better strategy is to pick dividend stocks that will give you steady, attractive income for the long term. These five factors can help you on...