On the reasons why the (Almost) Daily dividends pie is so popular on Trading 212.
If you are a Trading 212 user, you’ll probably have come across the (Almost) Daily Dividends pie.
It has been right up there at the top of the list of pies in the social feed for over two, maybe three years at this point, and it has existed even longer.
As of now, it has over 165,000 people copying it in some shape or form, so it’s certainly popular by any definition.
But why is it so popular?
Many people will have different ideas about why it became popular, but I feel that I have the best insight, as I was the one who made it after all.
Now, there are several reasons why this is so popular, and they kind of combine to get the pie to where it’s gotten.
However, just because something is popular doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good fit for you.
For example, Justin Bieber can go multi triple platinum selling music records, but it’s not my kind of music, to be honest.
Therefore, don’t mistake popularity for suitability.
With that in mind, let’s look at the 4 reasons that combine to get this pie to the top spot.
It’s Popular Because I got in Early
You might be surprised to hear this, but I made this pie before there was even a social feed or leaderboard.
That’s how early I was to the pie game.
It’s also why it’s funny when people say I made the pie to promote my YouTube, as I made it even before there was a possible option to promote anything.
Back then, I had one thousand or so subscribers, so I made the pie as I thought it might be a fun way to use the pie feature that had just been launched by Trading 212, and then I could share the idea with my YouTube subscribers.
This was actually so long ago that people in the UK barely even watched finance content, there weren’t many UK based Youtubers and US YouTubers dominated the scene.
So the first point is that you get in early, then you have a head start, basically, in terms of getting to the leaderboard when that was launched several months later.
I don’t remember the exact timelines, but it was a few months between me making the pie and the pie library being launched.
I remember my phone starting to get Trading 212 notifications of people commenting about the pie I had made, and I couldn’t figure out where they were coming from or why it was even happening.
Since those first messages, I have received 147,000 more, mostly asking when the dividends will arrive.
Since I had shared it on my YouTube, I had a few people copying already, so the (Almost) Daily Dividends pie was like 5/6 on the list from the very beginning.
Survival of the Pie
Over time, some of the bigger pies than mine suffered from too much volatility, and the pie owners ended up un-sharing or deleting them.
They were exciting and filled with SPACs and trendy stocks of the time, so people would pile in, then complain when the SPACs led the crash in 2022.
Getting hundreds of people complaining about a pie that you get no benefit from hosting and sharing can’t be fun.
I don’t really blame anyone for removing their pie during that time.
But because they did and the (Almost) Daily Dividends pie was much less volatile, it therefore suffered less of a loss during that time.
Therefore, it “out-survived” the bigger pies and ended up at the top.
It’s Popular Because of The Dopamine Effect
Every social media company in the world knows the dopamine power of a notification.
Someone likes your post on Facebook or Instagram, or retweets you on what used to be Twitter.
But the most powerful notification of all is the notification that tells you that money is going into your account.
Obviously, an investment that gives you this type of notification almost daily gives out a lot of dopamine and is a big part of why it’s popular.
If you are a new investor, then I view the (Almost) Daily Dividends pie or this kind of an investment as effectively a “gateway drug” to investing.
The pie consists of dividend-paying stocks with payout dates spread across the month, so investors receive small payments almost every day.
Also, that (almost) daily drip of cash gives a dopamine boost that keeps investors checking in, reinvesting, and actually enjoying the investing process.
It’s rewarding and positive reinforcement in a way that feels immediate, unlike traditional long-term strategies that can feel abstract or slow when you’re starting.
From Small Rewards to Smart Investing
The (Almost) Daily Dividends pie is not nearly as volatile as the S&P 500, and definitely not like the rollercoaster ride you get with popular tech stocks.
The companies in the pie tend to be more stable, established dividend payers, so ideally less likely to spike or crash on earnings calls or hype.
So, you get regular positive feedback, lower volatility, and a gentle learning curve.
This builds the investing habit and keeps you motivated. You avoid the feeling of gambling or blowing up your account on random penny stocks that influencers pump on social media.
Once you feel engaged and gain momentum, you naturally start asking better questions, such as how to align your portfolio with your personal goals and risk tolerance.
In other words, it’s a smooth on-ramp to building a more tailored, intentional investing strategy, instead of just throwing money at hype or chasing trends, then saying that investing doesn’t work or it’s a scam.
So, it starts with the dopamine addiction, but it can lead to a much more thoughtful, long-term approach.
It’s Popular Because It Has More Support Than Other Pies
Most people get the pie feature wrong, and they think that it is someone holding your hand through investments, and they can just chill out and forget it.
That is not the case. Pies should be thought of as more like a template, a set of instructions of stocks to hold to do a certain thing.
They are not like a portfolio that is managed for you; there is no way for the original pie creator to change your holdings or investments after you copy, even if you wanted them to do that.
That’s why support from the creator matters.
There’s no true benefit for having a load of copiers if you aren’t helping them understand what’s going on.
If you check other pies, it often looks like the creators built them and then abandoned them.
Extra Guidance and Community
On the (Almost) Daily Dividends pie, I was getting so many questions, I made a long video that was effectively the ultimate guide of all things that you should know, which was based on years of questions from people.
I made another video as a complement to that to cover more basic dividend investing concepts too.
Then people kept asking about the yield, so I made a whole spreadsheet for that, where people can enter their portfolio size or intended portfolio size.
Then on top of that, there is The Dividend Temple, where investors in the pie can talk to other members about their investment, amongst other things.
It’s not just for the pie, but there will be many investors in the pie in there.
Then, the Dividend Academy came about from a clear need for structured, comprehensive lessons for new investors based on the sheer number of questions I was getting on the pie and YouTube channel, etc.
There is no other pie like that, or even close to that, frankly, so that’s a big reason why it’s stayed at the top where it is.
A lot of people have mentioned that they appreciate the support given on this pie, even if they decided not to invest in any pie I have shared on Trading 212.
It’s Popular Because Copiers Beget Copiers
Any pie can get copiers, and if you look at the top of “new”, there are often all sorts of poorly thought-out ideas at the top.
Just the nature of being at the top means that more people look at it.
As The (Almost) Daily Dividends pie has had such longevity, it has amassed a lot of views or impressions, and of those impressions, some have decided to copy. The more people copy it, the longer it stays at the top.
It’s a virtuous cycle of copying and pushing it higher with each one.
The higher number of copiers can be for various reasons.
Most importantly, ensure the pie fits your personal goals and needs.
Popularity vs. Suitability
While the (Almost) Daily Dividends pie might be a great starting point or even a long-term fit for some people, the most important thing is that you build a strategy that suits you.
Your income, goals, risk tolerance, and even your personality all play a part in how you should be investing.
Some people love getting frequent dividend payments. Others prefer to focus on growth stocks.
Some might want to focus on sectors they understand deeply or feel passionate about.
There’s no one-size-fits-all in investing. Popularity by itself doesn’t mean suitability.
What works for one person might not work for another, and copying someone else’s portfolio without adjusting might leave you frustrated, or worse, taking risks you didn’t even know you were taking.
If you are a beginner, view this pie as training wheels; it serves to jumpstart your journey, spark your engagement, and accelerate your learning. But as you grow in experience and confidence, I’d strongly encourage you to start asking:
- What am I investing for?
- What am I comfortable with?
- What do I want my portfolio to look like in 5, 10, and 20 years?
From there, take the lessons you’ve learned and build something that’s yours. At the end of the day, the best strategy is the one you understand, believe in, and can stick to.