Never trust anyone who gives you advice about what to buy in the stock market. Do your own homework then decide.

Dividend aristocrats: firms that have increased their shareholder payouts every year for at least 25 years.

Number of consecutive years of increasing dividends and the current dividend yield:

Johnson & Johnson - 57 years - Dividend yield: 2.72%

Procter & Gamble - 57 years - Dividend yield: 2.71%

Clorox - 43 years - Dividend yield: 2.20%

Walmart - 43 years - Dividend yield: 1.76%

Exxon Mobil - 37 years - Dividend yield: 8.07%

AT&T -35 years - Dividend yield: 6.96%

Caterpillar - 26 years - Dividend yield: 3.72%

Chevron - 32 years - Dividend yield: 5.77%

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On this list, Exxon Mobil has the highest current dividend yield. With the price of oil near zero, I would not want to own Exxon Mobil.

On this list the 2nd highest current dividend yield is AT&T which is now 6.96%. This is what I own. I think the dividend is very safe because people are not going to stop using the internet and they are not going to stop watching AT&T's HBO movies.

The idea is don't buy AT&T if you're hoping for capital gains. Buy it only if you plan to keep it for the rest of your life while watching your dividend income grow every year.

I suggest every time the dividend is paid (4 times a year), use your dividend income and the income from your job to buy more shares. Do this at least 4 times a year and you're on your way to telling your manager to take this job and shove it.

Not having to work is a good thing. If you love to work then keep working. I prefer freedom.

One more thing: You want to use Charles Schwab. You will never need to talk to a human but if you don't understand something the people at Charles Schwab love to answer dumb questions. It's a wonderful place. They do everything right. And everything is totally free including the checking account. I can use any ATM machine in the world and Schwab will pay the fee for doing that at the end of the month.