TFSA: How to Create $500 in Income Each Month for Retirement

Find a great dividend stock, and you could be looking at growth and income that produces a powerhouse of passive income.

| More on:

The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) has been a strong passive-income provider since its introduction in 2009. Since that availability, investors have been given the opportunity to contribute year after year. Now, there is a total of $88,000 in contribution room if you were at least 18 in 2009.

If you’ve been contributing since that time, then, you may have a bunch of cash sitting around doing nothing. That’s certainly not what the TFSA is meant for. Instead, if you’ve diversified your investments and are looking for a stream of passive income, there is a chance to create $500 in monthly income starting quite soon.

A worker drinks out of a mug in an office.

Source: Getty Images

A stock to consider

First off, let’s identify a strong opportunity for investors who want to see their passive income grow to $500 per month. For that, we’ll need a solid monthly dividend provider with more room to grow. That’s why Sienna Senior Living (TSX:SIA) is a great option.

Sienna stock focuses on long-term-care facilities and senior living. These are areas providing investors with immense amounts of growth in the years to come. That’s thanks to an aging baby boomer population and the generations who will need more help in the years to come as they age.

There is already high demand for these properties, making Sienna stock an excellent choice with its foot already firmly in place. Yet shares are down 12% in the last year, offering investors a chance to lock up a dividend yield at 8.15% as of writing. And it’s already shrinking, with shares climbing 6.65% in the last three months.

How to create $500

Let’s say you’re an investor that plans to max out contributions over the next few years. That would mean contributing about $6,500 each year to your TFSA. Furthermore, you have about $20,000 you want to put into passive-income streams, so we’ll use Sienna stock as an example here.

The goal is to create $500 per month, or $6,000 in annual passive income. To do this, you’ll want to invest in Sienna stock each year and see conservative growth in that time in both share price and dividend. We’ll say that Sienna stock grows at 2% per year, as the last few years have been quite difficult due to COVID-19 impacts. The dividend, meanwhile, has risen by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) at 0.44%—conservative growth but growth, nonetheless.

Here is how long it would take to reach $6,000 in annual passive income, starting with a $20,000 investment.

YearShare PriceShares OwnedAnnual Dividend Per ShareAnnual DividendAfter DRIP ValueAnnual ContributionYear End Stock PriceNew Shares PurchasedYear End Shares OwnedNew Balance
1$121667$0.94$1,566.98$21,570.98$6,500$12.24659.022326.02$29,637.38
2$12.242326.02$0.94$2,186.46$31,823.84$6,500$12.48696.033022.05$40,510.29
3$12.483022.05$0.95$2,870.95$43,381.24$6,500$12.73814.693836.73$53,752.24
4$12.733836.73$0.95$3,644.89$57,397.13$6,500$12.99780.974617.7$67,541.93
5$12.994617.7$0.96$4,432.99$71,974.92$6,500$13.25825.135442.83$82,907.91
6$13.255442.83$0.96$5,225.12$88,133.03$6,500$13.51867.886310.71$99,858.09
7$13.516310.71$0.97$6,121.39$99,858.09$6,500$13.78915.927226.63$112,479.47

After seven years, investors would have over $6,000 in annual passive income, or $500 monthly. Plus, they would have a total portfolio of $112,479.47 from these conservative results. And that’s after investing a total of $65,500 over those seven years!

Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Dividend Stocks

RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) on wooden blocks and Canadian one hundred dollar bills.
Dividend Stocks

3 TSX Dividend Stocks for New RRSP Investors

Attractive dividends and good growth potential.

Read more »

A worker overlooks an oil refinery plant.
Dividend Stocks

Why This 5.7% Dividend Stock Is a ‘Forever’ Buy for Me

Gibson Energy’s 5.7% dividend yield and expanding infrastructure portfolio could make it an attractive forever stock for long-term income investors.

Read more »

The TFSA is a powerful savings vehicle for Canadians who are saving for retirement.
Dividend Stocks

I’m Using These 3 Canadian Stocks as My TFSA Cornerstones

Wondering what Canadian stocks can form the foundation of a great TFSA strategy. These three stocks give you a mix…

Read more »

voice-recognition-talking-to-a-smartphone
Dividend Stocks

I Looked Past the 6.2% Yield: Here’s What Else This TSX Stock Offers

BCE is a Canadian dividend stock that offers you a yield of more than 6% in 2026. Is it a…

Read more »

you're never too young or old to start investing in stocks
Dividend Stocks

Have Kids? Here’s When Your Next CRA Payment Lands

Canadians with children under 17 must file tax returns annually to qualify for the CCB and receive monthly payments.

Read more »

stocks climbing green bull market
Dividend Stocks

If the TSX Rally Continues, These Are 2 Stocks You’ll Wish You Bought

A TSX record can trigger FOMO, but the best buys are often the profitable names with catalysts still unfolding.

Read more »

Piggy bank on a flying rocket
Dividend Stocks

TFSA Investors: 2 Dividend Darlings to Own for Decades

These TSX dividend stars are benefitting from positive industry trends.

Read more »

a person watches stock market trades
Dividend Stocks

Why I’m Still Watching This TSX Stock After Its Big 15% Drop

Despite the recent dividend cut and subsequent decline in share prices, I think it’s important to think carefully before deciding…

Read more »