With a main focus on high Dividend stock investment, a caregiver in his 30s has seen his assets rise by 30 million yen over approximately 5 years of investing, believing that "it's during the downward movement that we should be positive" [Part 1] | Learning from the Masters of "Money Flow" | Moneyクリ Monex Securities' investment information and media useful for your finances.

In 2020, a retail investor and caregiver named Man started investing in dividend stocks with an initial capital of 4 million yen, reaching a financial asset total of about 36 million yen in approximately 5 years of investment history. With an annual income of 3.5 million yen and a household income of 5.5 million yen, he focuses primarily on high dividend stocks and steadily improves his investment performance. We asked Man about his investment strategies, stock selection, and methods for generating investment funds, as he receives an average monthly dividend of 73,500 yen (as of July 8, 2025) after taxes.

●Caregiver Man Profile●

A 34-year-old who previously worked as a caregiver and is currently engaged in elderly welfare as a care manager. He has a wife and children and plans to move to the Tohoku region in 2024. He continues to invest in high-dividend stocks with the goal of "Dividends > Basic Living Expenses." He shares his investment results and methods on social media platform X and his blog "20代で知りたかったお金と人生のこと.com."

Starting investment from 4 million during the stock price decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity

――Mr. Caregiver started investing seriously in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Could you tell us what prompted you to take the plunge into investing?

When I started investing, I was a caregiver, and now I am a care manager involved in elderly welfare. Due to my profession, the average wage is lower than in other industries, and the potential for wage growth is limited. I felt that just saving my salary was not enough to prepare for retirement funds. Additionally, since I had a child, I wanted to avoid the situation where my low salary would prevent my child from pursuing what they want to do.

Since 2017, I have been making monthly contributions to iDeCo and have been interested in individual stock investments, reading books aimed at beginners. I had also opened a securities account, but I couldn't figure out the timing for buying or how to choose stocks, and I couldn't take that first step from there.

At such a time, I learned from the news that the market had collapsed due to the COVID-19 shock and stock prices were falling, and I thought, "This might be an opportunity." I boldly decided to purchase 100 shares of Orix stock, which had dropped to around 1,300 yen, and took the plunge into investing.

――When you started investing, did you feel any anxiety about investing, including social conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic?

I was much more worried about my future finances than about the anxiety of investing. I felt that I had to do something about it. I saw people on social media and personal blogs who were using dividends to cover their living expenses and enriching their lives, and I believed that "if I keep at it steadily, I will definitely see returns," so I started investing. In fact, as of June 2025, the total amount of dividends I received exceeded 2 million, so I think my thoughts at that time were correct.

[Figure 1] Cumulative Dividend (2020 and onwards) Source: Created by caregiver Man I decided to use the maximum amount of 4 million yen that I could move at the time for my investment funds. This was funded by my savings from fixed deposits I accumulated during my single days and the savings of my spouse and I. It was significant that I had managed to create a situation where, despite having low living expenses, I could maintain a positive cash flow with my monthly income.

When selecting high dividend stocks, focus on a dividend yield of 3.5% or higher and empathy towards the business.

――Please tell us the reason for aiming to invest mainly in high Dividend stocks.

While working in elderly care facilities, there are moments when I feel the financial risks of living in old age. Previously, there was a case where someone who entered the facility relying on their pension and savings, assuming they would live until 95, found themselves nearly out of savings at the age of 97 and had to leave the facility.

As people age, their judgment and cognitive abilities inevitably decline. Even when investing, it becomes difficult to frequently buy and sell stocks for quick profits. In this regard, investing in high Dividend stocks, which provide regular and stable income, seems reassuring for retirement. Since the payments are automatically deposited, I also find the ease of managing finances appealing.

――Please tell me the criteria for selecting high dividend stock.

I am conscious of investing in companies that can explain why I should invest my important money in them among nearly 4000 listed companies. I do not invest simply because they are popular, have high yields, or their stock prices are rising. I consider whether I can empathize with and understand their business, and whether I can believe in their future potential even when faced with a tough business environment. If I invest without fully understanding, I will lose the confidence to invest during times of stock price decline.

Dividend stock investment also emphasizes the importance of timing, so I try to invest when the PER and PBR are undervalued compared to the past. Recently, I have often seen companies that promote capital policies focused on stock prices, so investing at undervalued times has increased the potential for returns on the investment principal.

And in terms of being directly linked to returns, I am also conscious of the policies regarding shareholder returns and the dividend yield. However, I invest in companies with a past of dividend cuts if I can agree with their return policies. There are certainly industries where performance can fluctuate from year to year, so if I can understand and agree with that, I will invest. Conversely, even for companies with consecutive dividend increases, if the yield is low and the increase rate is low, the appeal diminishes. I would like to seek a minimum dividend yield of 3.5% or more.

What investment strategy has achieved over 70,000 yen in monthly dividends after tax?

――As of July 8, 2025, the amount received in dividends after tax has reached approximately 73,500 yen per month (average monthly). Please tell me about your investment strategies and key points for success.

[Chart 2] Monthly Dividend Record Source: Created by caregiver Man I have continued to invest with the mindset of "turning as much as possible into investment and accumulating as many shares as possible." To achieve this, I have thoroughly managed my household finances to maximize "income - expenses," and have directed all temporary income such as bonuses, child allowances, and benefits into investments. I have covered living expenses with my salary and I believe it has been beneficial to maintain the consciousness of "living within my means."

In terms of investment strategy, I did not sell when stock prices fell significantly, but instead actively increased my purchases. Since I originally do not care about the amount of assets, a positive feeling arises towards the decline in stock prices, thinking "I can buy cheaply." In my case, even when stock prices rise and my assets increase, I actually do not feel happy about it. A feeling of "it's hard to buy more when prices are high" starts to grow... On such days, I would buy just one share or so to satisfy my investment desire, trying not to spend too much of my funds.

Basically, I buy one share of some stock every day, but when the stock price is in an upward trend, I tend to buy at a slower pace, and during a decline, I invest a bit more aggressively. I believe this approach has contributed to the steady increase in my assets.

By the end of 2028, I want to aim for a monthly Dividend of 150,000 yen.

――Please let us know if you have specific numerical targets in mind for maximizing dividends.

I have two children, and both will be in elementary school at the same time from 2028 to 2030. During these three years, I would like to travel a lot with my family and create memories rather than focusing on investments.

Therefore, my goal is to somehow bring my annual dividends to 1.8 million yen and after-tax monthly to 150,000 yen by the end of 2028. This way, living expenses can be mostly covered by dividends, and I can live off all my labor income for travel. Since 2028 will mark the fifth year of the new NISA, I plan to invest as much as possible by then, aiming to receive a large portion of my dividends tax-free.

Once the dividends reach 150,000 yen per month, I believe that even if I leave it alone, the dividends will naturally increase due to the company's dividend increases. As I increase the number of shares, the amount of dividend increase from annual increases is also increasing, and recently the impact of the rise in dividends from dividend increases has become larger than the amount I invest from my salary.

By the end of 2028, raising the dividend to over 150,000 a month is quite a high hurdle, but I want to work hard every day to get closer to that.

Coming soon: "[Part 2] What are the anticipated Dividend stocks and the reason for a 40% savings rate? Investor and caregiver Man-san who steadily accumulates investment returns"

*This content has been edited and published from an email survey conducted in July 2025.

*This content is based on personal experiences and does not represent the opinions of our company.

*Please make the final decision regarding your investment based on your own judgment and responsibility.