The secret to building a successful stock portfolio is to populate it with a diverse range of stocks. Doing so increases the chances of having a healthy mix of growth and dividends. Growth stocks provide needed capital gains through steady share price appreciation while dividends act as a passive source of income to supplement your earned income.

To get this mix, you need to identify strong, well-managed companies that you would feel safe parking $50,000 in. Important attributes to look for include a reputable brand name; a track record of dividend increases; a business riding on a sustainable, long-term trend; and a management team armed with the right strategies and foresight to grow the business further. Such traits ensure that these stocks are good to own for years, if not decades, and can deliver financial rewards consistently.

The obvious challenge here is finding stocks that meet all these criteria. To help in your search, here are three stocks worth considering.

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Source Fool.com