I'm on a journey toward financial independence. A key aspect of my strategy is to grow my passive income streams. I'm working toward generating enough income to offset my recurring expenses.

I still have a long way to go, but I'm making steady progress. I'm doing that by investing in high-quality dividend stocks, focusing on those with higher-yielding payouts that steadily rise. I recently bought a few more shares of (NYSE: CVX), Realty Income (NYSE: O), and Verizon (NYSE: VZ). Here's why I believe they will help me on my journey toward financial freedom.

Chevron is an elite dividend stock. The oil giant has increased its payout for 37 straight years. It has grown its dividend faster than the S 500 over the last five years and at more than double the rate of its closest peer. Its most recent boost was a solid 8%.

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Source Fool.com