How to target a passive income of $59,000 a year to never work again!

Put your money to work so you don't have to.

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Are you dreaming of a life where you can kick back, relax, and never worry about working again? If you are, I have some good news for you!

With the right investment strategy, it is possible to generate a passive income of $59,000 a year by investing in the Australian share market.

According to data from Fidelity, over the past 30 years, the Australian share market has delivered an average annual total return of 9.6%. And while we can't guarantee that this will continue in the future, it is largely in line with historic averages on Wall Street. As a result, it provides a solid basis for our investment projections.

How to generate $59,000 of passive income a year

For investors to generate a passive income of $59,000 per year, they will need to earn a 5.9% dividend yield from a portfolio valued at $1 million.

The challenge, however, lies in building a portfolio of this magnitude with an annual investment of $10,000.

To do this, we need to be patient and take a long-term approach to our investing. By consistently investing this amount into high-quality ASX shares each year, we can gradually grow our portfolio.

Assuming ASX shares continue to deliver a 9.6% average annual return, it will take approximately 25 years to reach our $1 million goal thanks to compounding.

Which ASX shares should you buy?

Ideally, investors want to buy the highest quality ASX shares they can find that have bright long-term outlooks. Companies such as CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) and Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) spring immediately to mind.

In addition, it is important to diversify your portfolio across different sectors to spread the risk and capture potential growth opportunities. If you're too concentrated on one area of the market, your portfolio could underperform if things go awry in that sector.

It's also important to reinvest your dividends whenever possible. By reinvesting, you allow your portfolio to compound and accelerate its growth. This can significantly strengthen your returns over time, leading to a faster accumulation of wealth.

Overall, achieving a passive income of $59,000 per year from ASX shares requires a combination of patience and discipline. However, it is an attainable goal.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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