SCHD
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
stock NYSE ETF

SCHD pays **4.03%**
Compare to the symbols below which pays **7.23%**
However I see that SCHD issues qualified dividend and the list below is only partial.

Dividend Income: VZ BKE CNQ EPD HESM MPLX AB AFG O VICI EOI EOS GPIQ QQQH QQQI SPYH SPYI UTG

25 years is a long time to plan for her wants and needs being that modest. I guess the only other thing to consider is that all of these income sources vary from month to month. Thankfully SPYI doesn’t vary quite as much as JEPI but if you’ve got $187,500 in it per month, having the dividend swing between $0.46 and $0.55 is a big deal, there are also swings in SCHD and SGOV. SCHG varies less but hardly pays. So if she can’t figure out going back to school or starting a business can she really budget for 4 variable income sources? She may wave to look into Close Ended Funds (CEFs) many of which have the same or higher yield and have paid consistent monthly dividends for years. Those require research as there are good and bad ones. In addition they also funds of these funds which reduce overall risks and provide a consistent dividend like CEFS or YYY.

Are you a paid for SCHD cheerleader?

If you just want suggestions on modifications to this strategy, here's what I would focus on:
* JEPI's yield isn't going to be that high reliably. It usually sits closer to 8%. SPYI would be a better option for a higher yield with similar volatility. Plus it outperforms JEPI in terms of total returns.
* Ditch SCHG at this point. No reason to have a growth fund when income is needed. She can invest in growth once she's got steady income again. You can put that 5% back into SCHD.
* You can squeeze a little extra yield by subbing out SGOV for JAAA. There's slightly more risk in JAAA, but it's not significant IMO.
Now, I will say, the biggest flaw in this fund is that covered call funds pay very inconsistent distributions month-to-month. It may come out to $15k for the year, but some months could be slim and others months be fat. Also, SCHD is going to pay quarterly, so I'm not sure how that figures into her needs. However, there is enough room here because the yield is beyond the $15k that it would probably be fine.
Having said that, if I think there are additional adjustments you could make to the portfolio, especially if the aim is low volatility and drawdown.
* Right now, CLOs are paying decent yields. I mentioned JAAA earlier, but there's also ICLO, CLOZ, and JBBB - all of which are yielding over 6%. These are much more stable than stocks, but don't offer the much price appreciation. They also are based on the prime rate, so factor potential decreases into your calculations.
* A lot of bonds are also paying above 6% and are more resilient to drawdowns. It would be good to add a portion to reduce the overall risk of the portfolio. Bond funds I like are BINC, SPHY, AOHY, FALN, TLTI, and HYBI.
* Preferred shares are also good for yield. I like the VRP ETF, but there's also PFFA. VRP is variable rate. I'm unsure about PFFA. But the nice thing about PFFA is how consistent it is - if you look at the history, its payments are very reliable and predictable.
Adding these 3 categories to the overall blend will pretty greatly reduce the average volatility of the portfolio and come with downside protections (though none are completely immune to drawdowns).
Another area to think about, like I mentioned with PFFA, is the reliably and predictability of the dividends. CEFs and BDCs are usually pretty good about this. MAIN, EOI, EOS, and ETY, are some of my favorite monthly payers who reliably pay the same amount each month, regardless of price movement (though they aren't immune to dividend cuts, they are more resilient). And there's always O, which is also solid for consistent and predictable monthly payments.

> The growth isn't great
Dividend Growth Rate (DGR) is the metric you want to look for. SCHD has their dividend payouts grow at an average of 10% per year, which is a bonkers growth compared to inflation, and all others equities.

Honestly, you mean well but I don’t even get the philosophy/approach. SCHD is great in its place, not certain that buying $25,000 and drawing income from it with no reinvestment does anything for her. Also SPYI is better than JEPI in a taxable account because it’s tax advantaged.
I’m also just unsure how since she can’t find a job, the best solution is to convert her entire $250,000 savings into a poverty level dividend income that she can live on until taking reduced social security. If you’ve got $250,000, there’s training you can get, there are businesses you can start. I just don’t feel this is the best answer based on the information you’re giving.

Why do you choose SCHD? The growth isn't great compared to a lot of ETFs and there seems to be stocks that pay that good of dividends.

Thank you! I’ve heard being young I should invest in dividends that are more “aggressive like S&P 500, QQM etc. I do have SCHD and plan on grabbing much more but still new and learning

There isn't any universal best option. It all depends on what you're looking for.
Some general ideas:
* For a focus on price appreciation and dividend growth that pays qualified dividends, a fund like DGRO is a good choice
* For a standard dividend fund, SCHD generally gets broad approval
* For an aggressive fund that pays high distributions, QQQI or GPIQ are good options
* For a risky play that may yield significant returns, UNH has recently dropped significantly in price (lost 50% in 1 month) so could offer a great deal and a chance to get big returns if much of the recent price drop has been an overreaction

But then SCHD isn't supposed to have Mag7 and AI in the first place? It's like saying orange jam is better than apple jam because it has more orange in it lol

Just hold it as a core position and add some growth it’s also a great hedge in bear cycles/market down turns.
Other than that looking at SCHG and SCHD i would argue the fund managers at Schwab know what they doing. Everyone going nuts about SCHD not „performing“ currently, probably haven’t understand average return yet and what that means over a 20-40y period…

SCHD cheerleader, there's no problems with QQQI.

I've been retired since 2003, I'm now 73. I now make much more per month in dividends than I did in salary while I was working, plus wife's pension and SS.
Major holdings include: ARCC JEPI JEPQ MAIN OBDC SCHD, many more minor holdings,, and many individual IG corporate bonds (bonds ~45% of portfolio). Not investment advice.

This is waaaaaay too much work. I'm just gonna SCHD and chill, all these equities I'm not trying to recognize Cap Gain or Loss when one of them turns into a dog (like PFE has recently)

Can you explain SCHD and VGT in dummy terms for a friend of mine?

You are young!
Technology etfs like QQQM and VUG 50%
Value etf VTV 20%
VOO 20%
Bitcoin 5%
Berkshire class B 5% 
Keep it like this for 20yrs 
Then start to move some of technology etf in SCHD etf. Just a comment, not take it as investment advice. 

Dividends focused securities do not guarantee that you can withdraw your money whenever you want without loss. SCHD is a divided focused ETH.

Consider the money you put into MSTY as your gambling money don’t be surprised if it evaporates unexpectedly. For this reason, I would not DRIP MSTY back into itself, I would instead shovel the dividends from MSTY into other, more solid investments like SCHD.

Mmmm…….sort of. Not to be frivolous but my dad has enough money to where if I lost all of the $3,000 his retirement would not be affected at all. Of course he’d be disappointed and likely never give me money to invest in again but everything would be fine. I’m banking on at least one of these stocks going 10x and even if the others plateau or slightly dip I’ll come out on top. We periodically talk investing and I’ve impressed him with some good calls and insights so he’s willing to take this chance.
I don’t want to get into day trading. It’s already a very difficult struggle for me to stay on task at work with my ADHD and if I was checking stocks during the day it would be even worse.
Sorry, I’m not installing Tik Tok. Not for privacy reasons but I don’t need another distraction in my life. I wouldn’t have the discipline, I know myself.
I’m just looking to buy several lump sums and let them sit for 1-5 years then cash out. All while my auto weekly purchases of BTC, VOO and SCHD trickle on.

Damn… you guys with that much money just put it in SCHD and use it’s dividends to play risks like that…