EP104: Interview with Dividend Investor Ian MacDonald

In this episode, I sit down with seasoned dividend investor Ian MacDonald, whose journey spans over 60 remarkable years.

Before retiring, Ian served as Vice President at Equifax, where he dedicated his career to studying the rise and fall of companies—a passion that shaped his investment philosophy.

Ian opens up about a pivotal moment in his life: losing $300,000 of his hard-earned savings due to poor advice from an investment advisor. That loss became the turning point that led him to discover the power of dividend investing.

In our conversation, Ian shares the invaluable lessons he’s learned over six decades. We explore why quality matters, how to build lasting confidence as an investor, and what it really takes to succeed with dividends.

This episode is filled with wisdom, practical insights, and inspiration—whether you're just starting out or looking to build your net worth.

I also cover the following topics in this episode:
- Introduction to Ian MacDonald
- How Ian lost $300,000 of his life savings
- How Ian developed his scoring system
- Ian helped someone making $35K/yr in dividends to making $80K/yr
- Dividend investing can help you beat inflation
- Is it better to move into fixed income in older age?
- Most financial advisors are sales people
- Companies cannot fake paying a dividend
- What gives you the confidence to keep investing in today's economic climate?
- Are you worried about BCE's recent dividend cut?
- How do you identify a quality company?
- How difficult is it for someone to start investing on their own?
- Dividend investing isn't rocket science
- How far back do you go when looking at historical financial data?
- The downside of investing in mutual funds, index funds, and ETFs
- Are banks still using predatory practices?
- Is the dividend irrelevant?
- The dividend provides stability
- The tax benefit of earning Canadian dividends
- What advice do you have for someone currently investing?
- In the long-term growing dividends can support a higher stock price
- What are some common investing mistakes that people make?

How to get in touch with Ian:
1. Website: https://www.saferbetterdividendinvesting.com/
2. Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/safe-dividend-investing/id1558028704

Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared on this channel are for informational and educational purposes only. Simply Investing Incorporated nor the author and guests shall be liable for any loss of profit or any commercial damages, including but not limited to incidental, special, consequential, or other damages. Investors should confirm any data before making stock buy/sell decisions. Our staff and editor may hold at any given time securities mentioned in this video/course/report/presentation/app. The final decision to buy or sell any stock is yours; please do your own due diligence. Stock buy or sell decisions are based on many factors including your own risk tolerance. When in doubt please consult a professional advisor. No advice on the buying and selling of specific securities is provided. All trademarks, trade names, or logos mentioned or used are the property of their respective owners. For our full legal disclaimer, please visit our website.