Got $50k of savings? Here's how I'd turn that into passive income of $10k a year

Everyone's dream is to get paid for doing nothing. Here's how you can touch the holy grail.

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So you've done the hard bit — you've spent less than you earned and managed to grow your savings into a $50,000 pot.

Now what do you do with this nest egg?

If you're seeking passive income, the $50,000 can become a self-sufficient machine that will pay you $10,000 each year for doing exactly nothing.

Let's examine how one can achieve this in two steps:

1. Crank up the capital

First, we need to grow the $50,000 pot.

Obviously investing this into one particularly well performing stock will grow it rapidly. 

But instead of assuming that you're a genius stock picker, let's simulate a diversified portfolio of shares by picking an ETF to buy into.

The example I'll use is Vaneck Morningstar Wide Moat Etf (ASX: MOAT).

The fund invests in a variety of US companies that are judged to have wide moats — i.e. a significant competitive advantage.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.com.au

While past performance is no indicator of what will happen in the future, I like that it hasn't been massively volatile over the past five years while doubling the share price.

Anyway, doubling every five years is the equivalent of a 14.87% return each year.

If we invest the $50,000 into the Vaneck ETF — or your own handpicked portfolio that performs just as well — you will have grown it into $189,000 after nine years.

Alternatively, If you can keep saving and add just $200 each and every month, then after just seven years the nest egg will have expanded to $169,958.

Nice work. First step complete.

2. Rake in the dividends

Now, if we can flip that $169,958 into a dividend-producing machine, then we have a chance at raking in $10,000 of passive income each year.

There are plenty of ASX dividend shares that you could put this into, such as with this example with BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), which is currently paying a massive 8.7% yield. 

But, once again, let's assume you're not a stock picking guru.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.com.au

Let's say you buy a diversified portfolio of dividend stocks to spread the risk that performs similarly to the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield Etf (ASX: VHY). Or you just buy shares in that fund.

That ETF provides a dividend yield of 6.1%, which is very much achievable.

Each year, your $169,958 pot will now pay you $10,367.

That's $10,000 in your hand every year, for no work, for the rest of your life.

Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF and Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF. 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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