At a 4.25% annual interest rate, your $100,000 deposit would earn a total of $4,250 in interest over the course of a year if interest compounds annually. Annual total: $104,250.
Interest on $100,000
If you only have $100,000, it is not likely you will be able to live off interest by itself. Even with a well-diversified portfolio and minimal living expenses, this amount is not high enough to provide for most people.
There are two high-yield checking accounts with interest of at least 7%, though: BCU PowerPlus Checking and Landmark Credit Union Premium Checking Account. Both come with major downsides, though. Are 7% interest savings accounts safe?
A stocks and shares Isa is likely to be most suitable. That is unless you will turn 55 within 30 years, in which case a pension might be a better tax wrapper for you. If you're unsure about the time horizon, you could invest in both a pension and a stocks and shares Isa.
You can secure a 4.61% rate on a 3-year CD now and a 4.50% rate on a 5-year CD (although it may involve shopping around and the use of an online bank to obtain those rates). A $100,000 deposit, then, would result in a $14,477.36 return on the 3-year option and a $24,618.89 return on the 5-year one.
Invest in Dividend Stocks
To make $5,000 per month, you would need a portfolio of dividend stocks paying out at least a 5–6% dividend yield. For example, if you had a portfolio worth $100,000 paying out a 5% dividend yield, that would generate $5,000 in annual passive income.
While longer-term CDs may tie up your funds for years, a 6-month CD allows you to access your money relatively quickly. If you suddenly need your $5,000 for an emergency or a more lucrative investment opportunity arises, you won't have to wait years to access your funds without incurring hefty penalties.
$3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year. $36,000 / 6% dividend yield = $600,000. On the other hand, if you're more risk-averse and prefer a portfolio yielding 2%, you'd need to invest $1.8 million to reach the $3,000 per month target: $3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year.
You could invest your $100,000 in real estate, real estate investment trusts (REITs), stocks, or other securities. Thoroughly research your options and speak with a professional such as a broker or investment advisor to help you choose the investment that will generate the income you desire.
The classic approach to doubling your money is investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds, which is likely the best option for most investors. Investing to double your money can be done safely over several years, but there's a greater risk of losing most or all your money when you're impatient.
Making $4,000 a month based on your investments alone is not a small feat. For example, if you have an investment or combination of investments with a 9.5% yield, you would have to invest $500,000 or more potentially. This is a high amount, but could almost guarantee you a $4,000 monthly dividend income.
At age 60–69, consider a moderate portfolio (60% stock, 35% bonds, 5% cash/cash investments); 70–79, moderately conservative (40% stock, 50% bonds, 10% cash/cash investments); 80 and above, conservative (20% stock, 50% bonds, 30% cash/cash investments).
A bond pays back a fixed rate of return at a rate that is generally lower than what one might expect when investing in the broader stock market. That said, bonds are stable and therefore considered a “safe” form of passive investing.
Competitive savings account rates
The best widely available high-yield savings accounts currently earn an APY of around 4.60 percent. An amount of $100,000 in an account earning this rate will earn around $4,600 after a year, for a total of $104,600. Online banks are where you're likely to find such high rates.
It's smart to put your down payment savings where it can earn a strong, safe return. Today's best CDs are a great option, as they lock in 4–5% rates that are guaranteed for months or years down the road. Whether you've saved $20,000, $30,000, or much more, a CD could boost your down payment by thousands of dollars.
The key to making the most of the money is to put it somewhere to earn interest or to invest it – if you're comfortable with the risks associated with this. The main questions you should be thinking about are when you might need the money, how long you can put it away for, and what level of risk you are happy with.”