Want Decades of Passive Income? Buy This ETF and Hold It Forever.

Key Points

• For most people, ETFs are the easiest way to generate passive income.

• The Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index ETF combines low fees, a solid yield, and excellent long-term returns.

• 10 stocks we like better than Vanguard Whitehall Funds - Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF ›

A steady stream of passive income is the ultimate goal for many investors. After all, who doesn't like the idea of having ever-more cash rolling in with little to no effort on their part?

Fortunately, anyone can boost their passive income with some savvy investing, and best of all, it no longer requires the risk and effort that comes with picking individual stocks.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »

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Use exchange-traded funds

Today, the simplest way for most people to generate passive income is to invest in an exchange-traded fund (ETF).

These funds represent a basket of stocks, curated based on some strategy, whether that be tracking a popular index or targeting a specific sector. ETFs are traded like stocks, and most importantly, they don't require specialized knowledge -- the fund's managers ensure its holdings stay aligned with its stated objective in exchange for a small fee.

Compare that to traditional sources of passive income like a real estate investment, where a landlord likely remains on the hook for repairs, homeowner dues, utility costs, and more.

An ETF built for income investors

There are thousands of ETFs, but the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSEMKT: VYM) is my top choice for passive income.

First off, this Vanguard fund has delivered the best total return over the last five years when compared to other popular dividend ETFs.

Data by YCharts.

Second, the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF is passively managed. It tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, allowing it to charge an extremely low expense ratio of 0.06%. That means an investment of $10,000 will lose just $6 to annual fees. Over time, that presents enormous savings compared to actively-managed funds that may charge as much as 0.50% or more.

Remember, an important part of income generation is preservation of capital. Indeed, the sweet spot for income investors is an instrument that not only delivers significant cash flow but also steadily grows in value to maintain purchasing power. That's why this Vanguard fund is so appealing for income investors.

However, this ETF does not offer the highest dividend yield out there (2.5% as of this writing). You can find other ETFs with bigger payouts. It's this fund's significant holdings of quality dividend stocks like Broadcom, JPMorgan Chase, and Walmart that has helped it to outperform many other dividend ETFs with higher yields but lower capital appreciation. Over time, that can present a big problem for those who rely on passive income as their overall capital stagnates, or even decreases, making it difficult to keep up with the increasing cost of living due to inflation.

Passive income is now accessible to anyone willing to buy and hold an investment like the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF. That said, investors should avoid tunnel vision chasing the highest yields and instead evaluate ETFs based on total return, since that metric will reveal how well a fund has performed overall. And it's exactly this mix of income and capital appreciation that makes the Vanguard ETF worth considering.

Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard Whitehall Funds - Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF right now?

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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Jake Lerch has positions in JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF and SPDR Series Trust-SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase, Vanguard Whitehall Funds-Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.