The big attraction of dividend growth stocks is that they can potentially pay you for years and even decades. But the danger for investors is assuming that just because a company has increased its dividend for decades, it will continue to do so, or that it will always be a great dividend stock.

Walgreens Boots Alliance is a prime example. The pharmacy retailer slashed its payouts this year, breaking a dividend growth streak that was closing in on five decades.

Rather than focusing on the past, investors should carefully consider which stocks are safe buys for the future, and whose payouts could rise in the years to come. While there are never any guarantees when it comes to dividends, three stocks I expect should increase their payouts for years and be able to pay you for the rest of your life are Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL).

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Source Fool.com