Dividends arrive in small, irregular amounts from different holdings, which makes them easy to lose track of. A simple log answers three questions: how much came in, from where, and whether it is growing.
What to record for each payment
- Date paid
- Holding (ticker or fund name)
- Amount received
- Account (taxable or tax-advantaged)
- Reinvested or taken as cash
Three numbers to check once a quarter
- Income in the last 12 months. Smooths out the months where nothing pays.
- Income by holding. Shows if one position supplies most of it.
- Taxable vs tax-advantaged. Dividends in a taxable account are usually reported on a year-end tax form (in the US, Form 1099-DIV); your log helps you check it.
Yield on cost vs current yield
Current yield = annual dividends / today's price. Yield on cost = annual dividends / what you paid. Both are useful, but only current yield helps compare holdings today.
Free tools
- Dividend tracker spreadsheet (free CSV for Excel / Google Sheets)
- Dividend calculator
- Net Worth Tracker (track the whole picture, not just income)
- 42 free budget templates, pay what you want ($0 is fine)
General information, not investment or tax advice.