The investing needs of retirees and even those approaching retirement are different from those of most other ASX investors. Retirees will, in all likelihood, want to maximise franked dividend income with ASX dividend shares as they enter their golden years, with capital growth being a secondary consideration for most.
This makes sense. After all, retirement requires, by definition, an absence of a 'day job', or at least the obligation to work for our keep in life. As such, retirees need to replace, or at least supplement, their primary source of income with a secondary source of passive income. That's where ASX dividend shares come in.
So today, let's discuss three ASX dividend shares that I think are perfect for anyone in or approaching retirement.
Telstra is an ASX dividend share that many retirees would be familiar with. This is no accident. Telstra has been a reliable source of fat, fully franked dividends on the ASX for decades.
This company's dominant market position across the Australian telecommunications sector, including both in fixed-line and mobile connections, gives Telstra a formidable advantage against its competitors. This results in a very durable earnings base from which Telstra funds its dividends – which is exactly the kind of business characteristic most retirees look for in an income share.
Today, Telstra shares are trading on a dividend yield of 4.39%.
Coles is another income stock popular amongst the retiree investing community. This company has an entrenched position as the second-largest supermarket operator in the country.
Coles' food, drinks, and household essentials are products that we all need, not want, to buy. This ensures that Coles shares Telstra's defensive and durable earnings base, which should allow the company to continue to fund its dividends through economic rain, hail, or shine.
Today, Coles has a dividend yield of 3.60%, which comes with full franking credits.
Finally, let's talk about Transurban, the ASX dividend share that owns almost every private toll road in the country.
If you are a motorist who frequents the roads of Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane, you would probably be aware of how difficult it is to avoid using Transurban's network of tolled arterial roads.
Paying tolls might not be a beloved ritual of the average inner-city motorist. However, the pain of paying them is the gain of every Transurban shareholder. Traffic volumes are ever-rising across our major capital cities as Australia's population continues to grow.
This should ensure a steady, reliable stream of rising dividend income for this company's shareholders over the coming decades. As such, I think Transurban is another ASX dividend share that is perfect for any retiree today.
Currently, Transurban offers an unfranked dividend yield of 4.83%.
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