Tobacco titan Altria (NYSE: MO) has long been a solid dividend-paying company. It remains one today -- and it's offering a fat dividend yield, recently 7.8%. It's generally smart to seek out dividends growing at a good clip,

As the U.S. stock market experiences a notable upswing, with major indices like the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average posting their best weekly gains in months, investors are increasingly looking toward dividend stocks as a stable source of income amidst the volatility.

I own a lot of dividend stocks. They're a big part of my investment strategy. I'm working toward eventually generating enough passive income to cover my basic living expenses. Last year, five stocks supplied me with more than $500 of dividend income apiece.

With the youngest baby boomers (Americans born between 1946 and 1964) approaching retirement age, it's becoming increasingly important to focus on magnificent dividend stocks that will supply significant passive income either in or out of designated retirement accounts like IRAs.