#diversification

#diversification

The first step is to set a target of $1,000 to keep yourself motivated. Work backwards from there. Identify the amount you need to invest if you're seeking an annual dividend of $1,000. If you're looking at individual stocks, you must spread your investments across 20-30 different companies in various sectors. This will protect your capital amount while ensuring steady passive income. Further, invest in high-yield exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have low volatility and invest in large-cap companies. It is a hands-off approach where the managers handle all the work for you. Some ETFs also pay monthly dividends.

In that vein, two popular choices among patient investors are the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF ( NYSEARCA:VOO) and the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF ( NYSEARCA:VTI). For minimal management fees and reliable dividends, you won't do much better than these two Vanguard funds. I'd call VOO and VTI smart-money picks, but which one is smarter for folks seeking long-term returns?

One of the biggest rules of thumb for any investor is that you should never put all of your investments into a single large position or basket. The concern is that if anything goes wrong and this purchase is affected by market volatility, you could be in a position where you have significant losses. In the case of this Redditor, there is a question of how much should be invested in YieldMax Funds.

ETFs allow retirees to invest effortlessly in hundreds or thousands of stocks while managing risk with lower fees.

However, a surprising trend has emerged in 2025: these ETFs' net asset value (NAV) are increasing, defying the usual expectation of steady decline that is typical of their high-yield, high-risk design.

Investors seeking safety and stability amidst market volatility can consider exchange-traded funds (ETFs), particularly Vanguard ETFs, which offer low costs and diverse exposure.

Investing in an international index budget provides essential market exposure, enabling investors to capitalize on diverse economic opportunities. Careful selection is crucial as not all funds perform equally.