What if your investments could pay your bills… every single year — without selling your assets?
That’s not a fantasy.
Brad, the mind behind Income Architect, is doing exactly that. He’s fully retired, living off dividends, and pulling in around $170,000 a year in investment income — while still reinvesting and protecting against inflation.
So how does this actually work? Let’s break it down 👇
💡 From Growth Investor to Dividend Machine
Brad didn’t start as an income investor.
Like most people, he spent years focusing on growth — index funds, market appreciation, and long-term compounding. But around 3–4 years before retirement, he made a critical pivot:
➡️ Growth first. Income second.
Once his portfolio reached a certain size, he transitioned into income-producing ETFs, structured portfolios, and diversified yield strategies.
Today, he doesn’t follow the traditional 4% retirement rule.
Instead, he lives on just 8% of his portfolio’s distributions — and reinvests the rest to fight inflation.
“Inflation will sneak up on you if you don’t reinvest,” Brad says.
🧠 The Secret Most People Miss: You Don’t Spend Everything You Earn
Here’s the surprising part.
Even though Brad earns about $170,000 per year in dividends, he only uses around $65,000 to cover his lifestyle.
Why?
✔️ He plans for 130% of his annual needs
✔️ He keeps a cash buffer
✔️ He reinvests excess income
✔️ He avoids panic-selling during market downturns
This margin of safety means even a 30% market drop wouldn’t force him back to work.
That’s real financial freedom.
📊 Diversification Is Non-Negotiable
Brad’s portfolio isn’t built on hype or “one lucky stock.”
It’s spread across:
Equity income ETFs
Dividend-focused strategies
Bitcoin & crypto exposure (kept small and controlled)
Gold and silver ETFs as inflation hedges
REITs, energy, and preferred stocks
No single asset dominates his future.
“Bitcoin allocation shouldn’t be zero. Gold allocation shouldn’t be zero. But neither should be reckless.”
That balance is what allows him to sleep at night.
⏳ Why ETFs Play a Huge Role
One major lesson from Brad’s journey?
👉 Trying to pick winners gets exhausting.
That’s why he’s increasingly leaning toward ETF-based strategies:
Easier diversification
Lower emotional stress
Clear income planning
Scalable for both beginners and retirees
For anyone building long-term wealth — especially with dividends — ETFs provide structure without constant micromanagement.
🚀 Want to Start Building ETF Income the Smart Way?
If Brad’s story proves anything, it’s this:
You don’t need to be rich to start —
but you do need the right tools.
That’s where moomoo comes in.
With moomoo, you can:
✅ Buy global ETFs easily
✅ Track income & performance clearly
✅ Research ETFs with powerful analytics
✅ Start small and scale over time
👉 Start your ETF journey with moomoo here:
🔗 https://j.moomoo.com/0xFRE4
Whether your goal is early retirement, passive income, or simply financial freedom — the first step is getting invested.
The best time to start was yesterday.
The second-best time? Today. 💪📈
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