With 10 years to retirement, here’s what I’d do to start earning passive income

The ability to earn passive income during retirement can be extremely valuable. But the best stocks to buy depend on how soon that is.

| More on:

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.

Middle-aged Caucasian woman deep in thought while looking out of the window

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.

Earning passive income from investments can be terrific. And there are lots of different assets that can provide this, including bonds, preferred shares, and dividend stocks.

What’s best for someone approaching retirement age in the next decade may well be different from what suits someone just starting work. And that’s important when it comes to considering stocks to buy.

Stocks vs bonds

If I were looking to retire in the next year, I’d aim for consistent, reliable income. In this case, I’d probably think carefully about buying bonds or preferred shares instead of common stocks. 

With retirement imminent, I’d be wary of the risk of a company cutting its dividend. Even with the most consistent businesses, this is always a possibility.

Technically, there’s also this risk with bonds – a company, or even a government, might default on its debt obligations. But the chance of this happening is lower than the risk of a dividend cut.

With a bit more time until retirement, I’d look to focus on dividend stocks instead of bonds. The reason is that income from dividends can go up as well as down. 

Time horizons

Exactly which stocks I might buy would depend on how long I had to retirement. The less time, the more I’d prioritise cash today over the potential for growth in the future. 

For example, if I had a 15-year time horizon, I might consider Diploma. The stock has a dividend yield of 1.58%, but it’s growing at 13% a year and could be paying out a lot by 2039.

That wouldn’t be much use if I were looking to retire in five years though. In that situation, I’d need something was going to be able to generate significant income for me much more quickly.

In that situation, I might consider something like Unilever. The dividend’s only growing at 5% a year, but it comes with a current yield of just under 4% offering a much greater immediate return. 

A FTSE 100 dividend stock

With 10 years to go, I’d look to balance both approaches. I’d want something that had scope for future growth, but also a decent starting yield – something like Diageo (LSE:DGE).

Diageo’s category-leading brands allow it to keep generating income even when things are tough in the economy. And the company is exposed to what looks like a solid growth trend going forward.

The shift to more premium alcoholic drinks is one that I think will prove durable. And that should help the business keep increasing its revenues and profits, leading to good returns for shareholders.

After a 22% decline in the stock over the last 12 months, there’s a dividend with a yield of just under 3% on offer. That’s a decent starting point for an investor with 10 years left to wait.

Risks and rewards

Diageo offers a nice combination of future opportunity and a decent starting yield. But there are important risks, including the possibility of higher alcohol taxes and consumers trading down. 

Overall though, this is the type of stock I’d look to invest in with a decade to retirement. I see it as a durable business that will be able to grow steadily from this point on.

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.

Stephen Wright has positions in Unilever Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Diageo Plc and Unilever Plc. 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

Man writing 'now' having crossed out 'later', 'tomorrow' and 'next week'
Investing Articles

Here’s how Warren Buffett says he’d start investing today

Warren Buffett says if he was starting again with investing, he’d try to find undervalued opportunities where other investors aren’t…

Read more »

Happy parents playing with little kids riding in box
Investing Articles

2 FTSE 250 dividend growth stocks I’m considering for passive income

Paul Summers thinks the best dividend stocks to buy are those that consistently return more money to investors every year.

Read more »

Investing Articles

The Compass Group share price looks ready for growth after positive 2024 results

The Compass Group share price is up 4% today following positive full-year results. Our writer considers its prospects in 2025…

Read more »

Young mixed-race couple sat on the beach looking out over the sea
Investing Articles

How I plan to build an £86k yearly second income in the stock market

Is it realistic to aim for a substantial future second income by investing in high-quality shares? This writer firmly believes…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s the Vodafone share price forecast up to 2027

Can anything stop the Vodafone share price slide? It's still early days for the company's turnaround plan, so we might…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Down 37%, here’s one of my favourite FTSE 100 bargain shares to consider

This FTSE 100 retailer's shares have collapsed in 2024. Despite tough trading conditions, is now the time to consider buying…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Which do I like best today, Nvidia or Tesla stock?

EV maker Tesla stock is on the up, while Nvidia growth is softening a bit. But they're both in the…

Read more »

Investing Articles

After jumping 15%, my favourite FTSE 250 stock looks set for the premier league

Games Workshop stock recently reached an all-time high, placing it within touching distance of promotion from the FTSE 250.

Read more »