Passive Income: How Much Do You Need to Invest to Make $400 Per Month?

Here’s some passive-income math to get your journey to financial freedom started.

Tony Dong, MSc, CETF®

Tony turned a series of 2017 marijuana stock losses into a freelance career advocating for ETF investing. He currently holds a Master’s in Risk Management from Columbia University and is a Certified ETF Advisor (CETF®). Tony is the founder of ETF Portfolio Blueprint (etfportfolioblueprint.com) and the Lead ETF Analyst for ETF Central, a partnership between Trackinsight and the NYSE. His analysis has also been featured in publications like Kiplinger, 24/7 Wall St., U.S. News & World Report, TheStreet, and Benzinga. Tony also provides independent content and marketing consulting services to various Canadian and U.S. ETF issuers. His editorial opinions for The Motley Fool remain independent and objective.

Published November 27, 2024 10:00 am EST

Earning $400 a month in passive income—$4,800 annually—might not sound like much at first. But take a moment to really think about it.

If you could generate that completely hands-off (and tax-free in a Tax-Free Savings Account, or TFSA), it could cover your car payment, insurance, phone and internet bill, utilities, or even a few nice nights out. It’s the kind of cushion that can make life a little easier and a lot more enjoyable.

So, how much would you need to invest to make this happen? Thanks to some unique funds from Hamilton ETFs, it might be less than you think.

Let’s crunch the numbers using Hamilton Enhanced Multi-Sector Covered Call ETF (TSX:HDIV) to see how much you need to turn this idea into a reality.

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What is HDIV?

HDIV is a fund of funds, meaning it holds other Hamilton-covered call ETFs across multiple sectors. It’s designed to mirror the composition of the S&P/TSX 60, offering broad exposure to Canadian large-cap stocks.

HDIV employs a covered call strategy, where call options are written on part of the portfolio. This approach sacrifices some upside potential in exchange for generating higher income from the premiums collected. It’s not without trade-offs but provides a different way to realize gains.

To offset the capped upside, HDIV uses 25% leverage, or 1.25x. This amplifies returns during positive markets but also increases losses during downturns. Historically, this combination has worked well, with HDIV outperforming the broader Canadian market.

Currently, HDIV delivers an 11.8% annualized yield. Its distributions typically go ex-dividend on the last day of the month and are paid out during the first week of the following month. It’s a practical choice for investors seeking reliable income.

How much to invest?

Assuming HDIV’s most recent November 7th monthly distribution of $0.171 and a share price of $17.97 as of writing remained consistent moving forward, an investor using a TFSA would need to buy roughly $42,031.83 worth of HDIV, corresponding to 2,339 shares to receive around $400 monthly tax-free.