Personal Investments • Holdings and Dividends

I am getting over the shock of how much our dividends have grown this 2023 tax year from the last. Our dividends have doubled (1.84 times) from the previous Tax year in fact. At first I did not believe my 1099 but I have checked it several times with Vanguard site and the numbers don't lie. We created a Family Trust with Vanguard and transferred the taxable account into it this year, during quarter 4, and I thought there must have been some confusion over that. But no.
I did not account for this when I estimated taxes to withhold from RMD. We have a large tax bill now.
I am in my 70's and my husband is 85, retired for a long time. Our expenses are covered with pension and SS and RMD. No debts.
I am wondering if I am doing something wrong with our investments, overlooking something. I know Bogleheads dont like dividends. I reinvest dividends in to Total Stock VTSAX and 500 index mainly. Sometimes I also invest back into Mid and small cap. Although not a 3 fund portfolio I have liquidated a few non-Bogle investments and am trying to consolidate into just VTSAX and Index500.
This is how our Taxable holdings look like:
WELLINGTON ADMIRAL CLVWENX0.1
LIFESTRTGY GROWTH INVESTOR CLVASGX1%
SMALL CAP INDEX ADMIRAL VSMAX1%
GROWTH INDEX ADMIRAL CLVIGAX3%
EXTENDED MARKET INDEX ADMIRAL CLVEXAX4%
MID CAP INDEX ADMIRAL CLVIMAX4%
500 INDEX ADMIRAL CLVFIAX16%
TOTAL STOCK MARKET INDEX ADMIRAL CLVTSAX64%
Our AA is creeping up to 62:38 from 60:40. We hold a Municipal Bond Fund in the taxable and I am reinvesting income back into it. Other than that all our Bond funds are in IRAs.
Did everyone get a dividend bonanza or should I be making some changes?
Thank you for any help in sorting this out.

Statistics: Posted by PinotGris — Fri Feb 02, 2024 8:51 pm — Replies 4 — Views 287

---