I’d build a second income from dividends to target £1k a month in retirement

Investing isn’t just about share price rises. Oliver Rodzianko breaks down his strategy to build a healthy second income from dividends.

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Older couple walking in park

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

I think investing for a second income from dividends is the smart thing to do. No matter how the stock market is reacting, dividends from reliable companies give me money in my pocket.

For now, I’m focusing on higher returns from stellar growth and value shares. Later, I’ll transfer cash from these into high-yielding dividend shares.

And I’m convinced that with this strategy, I could retire with £1,000 in dividend income to supplement my State Pension.

Dividend heroes

When looking for dividend opportunities, ‘dividend heroes’ might seem like the obvious place to start. Put simply, they’re companies that have raised their dividend for a minimum of 20 uninterrupted years.

Here are five top contenders in the UK dividend heroes list, as sourced from the Association of Investment Companies:

  1. JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust – 5.4% yield – 50 consecutive years
  2. Murray Income Trust – 4.5% yield – 50 years
  3. The Scottish American Investment Co – 2.9% yield – 49 years
  4. Witan Investment Trust – 2.7% yield – 48 years
  5. Merchants Trust – 5.5% yield – 41 years

Each of these dividend yields are approximate. They’re also subject to change, of course.

Yet the overall financial growth of these companies isn’t that appealing. Their returns are almost like bonds.

Growth, value and safety first

I’m looking for higher returns from growth and value shares instead of dividends in the earlier portion of my life. That way I can build up a nice base of capital to focus on high-yielding dividend shares later.

I have to be careful, though. Stock market crashes, severe life events, and other unforeseen happenings can disrupt a long-term investment strategy.

That’s why I think it’s always good that I invest consistently and keep focusing on long-term security.

How I’d invest for the future

Understanding that, I reckon at age 50 I’ll put approximately 50% of my assets into high-yielding dividend shares with a consistent track record of payouts, like the ‘dividend heroes’. Those amounts should protect me nicely from stock market crashes nearer retirement.

The S&P 500 index’s average annual return is 10% over the long term, so that’s what I’m using for my forecasts.

If I started at £0 and invested £300 per month at a 10% average annual return for 25 years starting at age 25, I’d end up with £400,000 at age 50. That’s due to the power of compound returns.

At that point, if I were to put £200,000 into dividend shares, averaging approximately a 4% yield, I’d be getting £8,000 a year.

If my growth companies kept on generating high returns, by age 65 I could have a larger capital base to transfer into dividend shares. Of course, I could lose money, and there’s no guarantee my shares will grow at the 10% average annual rate.

However, If my remaining £200,000 in growth shares grew at 10% per year from age 50, I’d have £890,000 at age 65. Assuming I add £400,000 to my dividend shares at age 65, with a yield of 4%, I’ll be getting an extra £16,000 per year straight into my pocket. That’s on top of the £8,000 I’ve already been receiving, making a new total of £24,000.

That’s £2,000 per month. Or the equivalent of £1,080 per month in today’s terms considering an average annual inflation rate of 2.5% over 25 years.

Good job I saved that cash.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Oliver Rodzianko has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Investing Articles

Prediction: 12 months from now, £5,000 invested in Tesla stock could be worth…

Tesla stock has endured a miserable year so far, falling by 29%. Muhammad Cheema takes a look at how it…

Read more »

Investing Articles

See what £10,000 invested in Tesla shares at their mid-December peak is worth today 

As the world absorbs the full scale of Donald Trump's tariffs, Tesla shares are reeling. Investors who bought the stock…

Read more »

Hand flipping wooden cubes for change wording" Panic " to " Calm".
Dividend Shares

2 ‘safe’ LSE dividend stocks to consider as global markets sell off

As global markets experience high levels of volatility due to economic uncertainty, investors are piling into these ‘safe-haven’ dividend stocks.

Read more »

Investing Articles

US stock market rout: an unmissable opportunity for investors?

His tech-heavy portfolio has been smashed by Trump’s tariffs. However, Dr James Fox believes there could be some opportunities in…

Read more »

Investing Articles

After a 13% ‘Trump tariff’ fall, is the Barclays share price too cheap to miss?

Does the Barclays share price fall mean we should all panic and run screaming from the stock market? Nah, of…

Read more »

Mature Caucasian woman sat at a table with coffee and laptop while making notes on paper
Investing Articles

2 investment trusts to consider for a Stocks and Shares ISA

These two investment trusts have a different focus -- but our writer sees both as worth considering, one more for…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Deutsche Bank reiterates Buy rating on 9.6% yielding FTSE 250 stock that was “most shorted in UK”

Our writer investigates why a major broker remains optimistic about a FTSE 250 stock that was once the most shorted…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 things to remember when stock markets are turbulent

US trade policy has rattled the stock markets in New York, London and elsewhere. Our writer outlines a couple of…

Read more »