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One mindset shift unlocked nine passive income streams—and a path to real freedom. 1. Dividends: The Gateway to Passive Income One of my first sources of passive income is dividends, which are a classic. I launched my Grow Your Dough Challenge with the simple goal of showing beginners how easy it is to open an account, deposit some money, and start investing. A $1,000 investment turned into a full-blown dividend portfolio experiment. For simplicity’s sake, I used Robinhood, deposited $100,000, and began investing in dividend-paying stocks like American Express, Verizon, and Starbucks. Even with way too much cash in the portfolio, it earns me about $127 per month in dividends. Additionally, I receive $97 in dividends each month from my M1 Finance portfolio, which includes growth stocks such as Apple, Tesla, and Nike. That’s roughly $224 in dividend income each month that shows up without me having to do anything. 2. Interest: Putting Idle Cash to Work Almost everyone has glanced at their savings account statement and laughed at the interest payment. For example, I have over half a million dollars parked in a large, traditional bank. How much did that account earn me? A measly $22.43 per month. Yes, that’s real. Back when BlockFi was operational, I used it to experiment with high-yielding investments: I put $25,000 into USDC, and it earned around 8.6 percent annual percentage yield (APY), which equaled about $156 per month. This came with risks, not FDIC coverage, custody risk, regulatory uncertainty, and BlockFi eventually failed. With BlockFi gone, where can you put idle cash (or stablecoin capital) to work? Invest in High-Yield Savings and FDIC-Insured Accounts for a Safer (Lower-Yield) Option For the most conservative approach, opt for FDIC-insured cash vehicles, which trade higher yield for security: The money in these accounts is safe and easily accessible. But you won’t see the double- or triple-digit returns advertised by crypto platforms. 3. Real Estate (Without the Headaches) I’m not the guy flipping houses or fixing leaky faucets at 2 a.m. Instead, I invest in real estate online. Fundrise, for example, is a platform for crowdfunding real estate notes. For years, I have received $116.66 per month from a private REIT I invested in. As a result of my investments in residential and commercial projects with Fundrise, I receive an additional $43 in dividends each month. With no tenants, no repairs, no late-night phone calls, that’s $160 per month in passive real estate income. Lesson: Investors aren’t the only ones who should consider real estate. With crowdfunded platforms and private REITs, you don’t need to own any properties to earn income from real estate. 4. YouTube: Evergreen Content That Keeps Paying It’s now time to have some fun. Whenever people see my YouTube channel, they assume all my income comes from new videos. Nope. Despite no longer promoting them, two videos I made over five years ago still earn about $1,000 a month. When a video hits, YouTube keeps paying you long after you’ve moved on. Overall, my channel generates $5,000 in ad revenue per month. That’s not counting sponsorships, affiliates, or course sales—just ads. Lesson: In the long run, content is an asset. It doesn’t matter what you produce today, whether it’s videos, blogs, or podcasts, the work you do today can pay off for years to come. 5. Blogging: The Ultimate Passive Machine Of all my income sources, my blog Good Financial Cents is still my favorite. I launched it well over a decade ago to share financial advice. This passion project evolved into a business—and now a significant source of income. Affiliate marketing, referrals to financial tools, investment apps, and banks, and banner ads generate most of the blog’s income. Since much of the content is evergreen, it continues to generate revenue for years after it’s published. It’s possible to generate over $30,000 in a single month with a lean team managing updates and partnerships. Lesson: Having a blog is like owning digital real estate. In the same way as a property, each post you publish can gain value, attract visitors, and generate revenue in the long run. 6. Private Investments and Startups Besides stocks and real estate, I’ve invested in a few private deals—startups and partnerships where I can provide capital and mentoring. In some cases, dividends are paid quarterly, while in others, equity returns are paid over the long term. Despite its higher risk, it is also one of the most rewarding parts of my portfolio—both financially and personally. Lesson: Once you have a stable passive income foundation, diversify into opportunities that are aligned with your passions and expertise. 7. Online Courses and Digital Products Back in the day, I created online courses to help people learn about investing and building wealth. Although I’m no longer actively launching new courses, I continue to generate steady revenue from my email list and evergreen funnels. Lesson: Create a product based on what you know. Your expertise can be turned into an income stream that runs 24/7 by teaching online. 8. Royalties: Getting Paid for Work You Did Years Ago Many people think royalties are only for rock stars or best-selling authors, but anyone who creates something—books, courses, photos, or music—can earn from it afterward. For me, that “something” was my book Soldier of Finance, published back in 2013. Despite not making me rich, it still brings in small, steady checks—about $160 last quarter. Although I haven’t promoted it for years, sales keep trickling in. As an example, book sales increased again after I relaunched my YouTube channel. Lesson: When you create once and get paid again, you’re creating a ripple effect. 9. Sellable Assets: Turning Years of Work Into Ongoing Income Selling my financial planning practice has been my biggest passive income source. It didn’t start passively—I worked hard and slept little to build a business that eventually ran without me. Eventually, it became a tradable asset. It was a completely hands-off deal, involving an upfront payment and monthly installments over seven

When it comes to building long-term wealth, few strategies are as proven — and as reliable — as real estate investment. Whether you’re buying your first rental property or planning to scale into commercial assets, real estate offers stability and growth that most other investments simply can’t match. 1. Real Estate Builds Wealth Over Time The biggest advantage of real estate is appreciation. Property values tend to rise steadily over the years, especially in growing cities. While markets fluctuate, real estate has consistently outperformed inflation and remains one of the safest places to park your money. Unlike stocks, which can drop overnight, real estate maintains value because land and housing are always in demand. 2. Passive Income You Can Count On Rental properties generate stable monthly income. This cash flow can: Cover your mortgage payments Pay for property maintenance Put extra money in your pocket every month It’s one of the few investments where your asset pays you while it grows in value. 3. Tax Advantages You Won’t Get Elsewhere Real estate investors enjoy multiple tax benefits, including: Depreciation Mortgage interest deductions Expense write-offs Capital gains tax advantages These benefits can significantly reduce your tax burden and increase your overall return. 4. Real Estate Gives You Control When you invest in real estate, you shape the asset’s value. You can renovate, rebrand, raise rents, or reposition the property entirely. Few investment types give you this level of direct influence. 5. It’s a Hedge Against Inflation As the cost of living increases, so does the cost of rent and property values. Real estate naturally protects your money from losing value — something even many high-yield savings accounts can’t do. 6. Diversity Makes Your Portfolio Stronger A balanced investment portfolio avoids putting all your money in one place. Real estate adds stability, helping you stay protected when other markets — such as stocks or crypto — dip. 7. Real Estate Creates Legacy Opportunities Real estate isn’t just for you — it’s for your future generations. Owning property can set up your kids and grandkids for long-term financial security. Final Thoughts Real estate is not a get-rich-quick plan, but it is one of the safest and most rewarding paths to long-term wealth. With smart planning, research, and patience, your investments can grow into a strong financial foundation — one that continues paying you for years to come. If you’re thinking about starting your real estate journey, now is a great time to explore your options. Every successful portfolio begins with one smart decision.