Investing in stocks that steadily increase their dividend payments can be a solid strategy for generating substantial income over the long term. Companies that steadily hike their dividends mostly have strong financials,

Higher-yielding dividend stocks tend to be slower-growing companies. They often pay out a significant percentage of their cash flow in dividends because they don't have enough attractive growth opportunities to reinvest that cash. Their slower growth also weighs on their valuations, which causes their dividend yields to rise.

Dividend stocks are the smartest investment you can make in March. The stock market is searching for safe haven assets amid growing global uncertainty, particularly after recent events. Investors are craving stability over risky growth plays.

If you're buying stocks for their dividend payments, it's important to focus on companies that also increase those payments. This can enable you to earn rising dividend income that offsets the effects of inflation.