Buying and holding stocks for the long term is a proven way to help build retirement savings. Getting behind stocks and trends that have long-term growth opportunities can exponentially compound your savings. But if you add in the benefit of dividend payments, it's like you're doubling your money-making abilities.

Dividend stocks are some of the best stocks to buy for a retirement portfolio because they provide a consistent passive income stream. And due to the power of dividend growth, a small investment today could lead to huge earnings 10 to 30 years from now. But the key to buying dividend stocks is choosing ones that can deliver long-term consistency. 

Here's a closer look at Realty Income (NYSE: O), Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE: ARE), and Invitation Homes (NYSE: INVH), three stocks Fool.com contributors believe are ideal to buy and hold until your retirement years.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com