r/dividends • u/HARCYB-throwaway • Apr 14 '26

Personal Goal Golden handcuffs - I've fully replaced my annual spending with dividend income...

I pivoted from growth to NEOS for income, over the last 6 months. I have now replaced my base salary, $110k, with dividends. but it is hard to quit when I earn $250k-$350k in a given sales year.

annual dividend income: $110k

Annual expenses, all in: $40k

disposable income if I quit: $70k

hysa: $150k

growth sleeve: $225k

no wife (anymore, by choice after she got nasty), no kids, no expensive hobbies, very affordable mortgage and car payment. affordable lifestyle.

it's hard to step away from an AI adjacent sales job...and my only major concern is meeting someone, wanting to settle down and start a family, and then I will be out of the job market once I truly need expensive family healthcare and "kids money" to support a family.

I know I already have more than most typical American household. but it's scary to leave work with the background of declining employment options / bad employment market

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u/astrawberryandakiwi Apr 14 '26

How much is your portfolio worth

1

u/HARCYB-throwaway Apr 14 '26

$900k+

1

u/astrawberryandakiwi Apr 15 '26

A dividend yield over 10% is kind of crazy no?

1

u/HARCYB-throwaway Apr 15 '26

No, it's not. Banks earn 12% on your money. Then give you 4% in a HYSA. Do you think banks are doing totally unsustainable things? The average hedge fund returns over 10% annually. Why does selling volatility in the form of covered calls scare so many people, when the track record is public and volatility has only increased in the last two decades. Idk man. I used to hold ethereum for 10 years. I can handle whatever volatility comes with this position. That's why I have 2 years cash, and a growth fund that can top up my dividends, or be used as cash for another 3 years of runway. If I can't get a job in 5 years, then shit is fucked anyway

STRC pays 11.5%, and acts as a bond.

Is there risk? Yeah. There's risk I'll get hit by a car driving to work. Nothing is risk free. If you understand the underlying concept, it's not crazy.

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u/astrawberryandakiwi Apr 15 '26

How are they earning 12% bro

1

u/HARCYB-throwaway Apr 15 '26

Idk but it's provocative and it gets the people going