TFSA: Invest $15,000 in These 3 Stocks and Get $600 in Passive Income

Want to turn $15,000 into $600 a year of passive income? Here’s a simple TFSA portfolio that could generate a tonne of income over a lifetime.

| More on:

The TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) is a great place to invest for passive income. When you earn dividends, interest, and capital gains in the TFSA, you aren’t required to report the income or pay any tax on the income.

Preserve and grow your income by using your TFSA

By simply investing in the TFSA, you can earn up to 20% more income (depending on your tax rate). As a result, you will be able to compound your capital at a much faster rate.

The CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) just increased the TFSA contribution limit by $7,000 in 2024. If you were 18 years or older (and a Canadian resident) in 2022, you would have at least $19,500 of contribution capacity in the TFSA today.

Say you want to invest $15,000 for passive income today. Here are three quality stocks that could collectively earn you nearly $600 per year in passive income.

An energy stock with an impressive record

Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ) is an energy stock that has defied the odds when it comes to returns and dividend growth. While it operates in a cyclical industry, it has delivered a very good 13% compounded annual total return over the past decade.

The company has high grade assets that produce gas and oil at an exceptionally low cost. It has decades of reserves that can support stable growth for years.

This TFSA stock has increased its dividend for 24 consecutive years by a 21% compounded annual rate. That is one of the best dividend records in Canada.

It yields ~4% today. If you put $5,000 of TFSA cash in CNQ stock today, you would earn $53.55 quarterly, or $214.2 annually.

A safe long-term bet for a TFSA stock

Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY) has been a very good quality dividend stock. There is a reason that Royal is persistently Canada’s highest valued stock by market cap.

Royal Bank is diversified by geography and product category. It tends to be a market leader in almost all its categories. The bank has a conservative balance sheet and ample liquidity coverage.

RBC has been one of the top performing Canadian banks with a total return of 172% over the past 10 years. In that time, it has grown its dividend by a ~7% annual rate.

RY yields 4.2% today. Put $5,000 of your TFSA cash into Royal Bank stock, and you would earn $51.06 quarterly, or $204.24 annually.

A growth and income stock for your TFSA

Brookfield Asset Management (TSX:BAM) is an intriguing pick for dividends and growth in a TFSA. Brookfield is one of the leading alternative asset managers in the world.

BAM was recently spun-out from Brookfield Corp. to clarify its business structure. As a result, BAM has a very clean balance sheet and is essentially a pure fee-collection business.

The company is growing by a mid-teens rate as it continues to fundraise for new funds and increase assets under management.

It has already increased its dividend once by 18%. It plans to distribute 90% of earnings per share to shareholders. As it grows, BAM’s dividend should increase substantially. BAM stock yields 3.66%. A $5,000 TFSA investment would earn $45.32 quarterly, or $181.28 annualized.

COMPANYRECENT PRICENUMBER OF SHARESDIVIDENDTOTAL PAYOUTFREQUENCY
Canadian Natural Resources$97.7051$1.05$53.55Quarterly
Royal Bank of Canada$131.9437$1.38$51.06Quarterly
Brookfield Asset Management$56.3988$0.515$45.32Quarterly
Prices as of March 1, 2024

Fool contributor Robin Brown has positions in Brookfield and Brookfield Asset Management. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield, Brookfield Asset Management, Brookfield Corporation, and Canadian Natural Resources. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

More on Dividend Stocks

Canadian Dollars bills
Dividend Stocks

The TFSA Paycheque Plan: How $10,000 Can Start Paying You in 2026

A TFSA “paycheque” plan can work best when one strong dividend stock is treated as a piece of a diversified…

Read more »

A Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions with a 100 dollar banknote and dollar coins.
Dividend Stocks

Retirees, Take Note: A January 2026 Portfolio Built to Top Up CPP and OAS

A January TFSA top-up can make CPP and OAS feel less tight by adding a flexible, tax-free income stream you…

Read more »

senior couple looks at investing statements
Dividend Stocks

The TFSA’s Hidden Fine Print When It Comes to U.S. Investments

There's a 15% foreign withholding tax levied on U.S.-based dividends.

Read more »

young people stare at smartphones
Dividend Stocks

Is BCE Stock Finally a Buy in 2026?

BCE has stabilized, but I think a broad infrastructure focused ETF is a better bet.

Read more »

A plant grows from coins.
Dividend Stocks

Start 2026 Strong: 3 Canadian Dividend Stocks Built for Steady Cash Flow

Dividend stocks can make a beginner’s 2026 plan feel real by mixing income today with businesses that can grow over…

Read more »

senior relaxes in hammock with e-book
Dividend Stocks

2 High-Yield Dividend Stocks for Stress-Free Passive Income

These high-yield Canadian companies are well-positioned to maintain consistent dividend payments across varying economic conditions.

Read more »

Senior uses a laptop computer
Dividend Stocks

Below Average? How a 70-Year-Old Can Change Their RRSP Income Plan in January

January is the perfect time to sanity-check your RRSP at 70, because the “typical” balance is closer to the median…

Read more »

Young adult concentrates on laptop screen
Dividend Stocks

If You’re Nervous About 2026, Buy These 3 Canadian Stocks and Relax

A “relaxing” 2026 trio can come from simple, real-economy businesses where demand is easy to understand and execution drives results.

Read more »