A guaranteed check for life sounds like an easy win over a dividend portfolio, but the tradeoff involves more than just monthly income, and for some retirees the math flips in a surprising direction.<\/p>\n
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A 66-year-old with $540,000 can buy a single-life immediate annuity<\/a> that typically pays about 7% to 8% of the premium each year. That works out to about $3,400 to $3,800 a month for as long as the buyer lives. You can also put the same $540,000 into a dividend portfolio, which pays less today but leaves the principal in your hands. Here is how the income compares for an investor.<\/p>\n What $540,000 Pays at Each Yield Level<\/p>\n The portfolio math is simple: capital times yield is income. At 3.5%, $540,000 times 0.035 is $18,900 a year. At 5%, it is $27,000. At 7%, it equals $37,800. At 10%, it equals $54,000. You can also run it in reverse. To match the low end of the annuity range, $40,800 a year, you would need about $1,166,000 at a 3.5% yield, $816,000 at 5%, and $408,000 at 10%.<\/p>\n Conservative (3% to 4%): Broad dividend funds and Treasury bills. This tier pays the least income but has the most stable principal and the most dividend growth. Building the $540,000 Income Portfolio<\/p>\n This portfolio combines all five holdings at fixed weights. The yields shown use the most recent dividend data and current share prices (we laid out the broader mix, payout calendar, and withdrawal order in a free guide to building income from a lump sum, here<\/a>).<\/p>\n Holding Vanguard High Dividend JPMorgan Equity Premium Realty Income Verizon iShares Treasury Total Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSEARCA:VYM<\/a>) is the growth core, with Broadcom at 7.4% of net assets. JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSEARCA:JEPI<\/a>) provides the most cash, but its monthly payouts fluctuate. In 2026, they ran from $0.34 to $0.45 per share.<\/p>\n Realty Income (NYSE:O<\/a>) pays monthly and recently made its 115th consecutive quarterly increase, with occupancy at 99%.\u00a0Verizon\u00a0(NYSE:VZ<\/a> | VZ Price Prediction<\/a>) pays a dividend of\u00a0about $0.71 per quarter. iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SGOV<\/a>) charges 0.09% and tracks T-bills, which recently averaged a 4.1% yield at 13 weeks. Its income resets lower when short-term borrowing costs go down.<\/p>\n Where the Annuity Pulls Ahead<\/p>\n The annuity pays $40,800 to $45,600 a year. That is $13,950 to $18,750 more than the portfolio, which pays about $2,240 a month. Mortality credits explain the gap. Premiums from buyers who die early fund the payments of buyers who live long. The payment holds steady through market drops, and you cannot outlive it. With the 10-year Treasury at 5%, insurance companies can price payouts near the top of their recent range.<\/p>\n What the Portfolio Keeps That the Annuity Gives Up<\/p>\n A single-life annuity with no refund feature stops paying at death, and nothing goes to heirs. The portfolio holds its principal available for emergencies and for your estate. The annuity check is also fixed in nominal dollars. At 3% inflation, $40,800 buys only what about $22,590 buys today after 20 years.<\/p>\n Some of the portfolio\u2019s income grows over time. Realty Income\u2019s monthly dividend rose 6% from January 2024 to now, and Verizon\u2019s rose 6% over a similar period. If the portfolio\u2019s total income grew 4% a year, it would reach about $39,740 in 10 years and pass the annuity\u2019s low end in about 11 years. JEPI and SGOV payouts rarely grow, though, so 4% is a hopeful rate for this mix. Prices can also fall. Realty Income shares dropped 12% over the past month.<\/p>\n Steps to Take Before You Sign an Annuity Contract<\/p>\n Get several quotes for your exact age: Compare single-life, cash-refund, and joint-life payouts. Refund features hold some legacy value, but they lower the monthly check.
\nModerate (5% to 7%): REITs, covered call funds,<\/a> and high-yield blue chips. Income comes close to the annuity, but it grows slowly, and some strategies cap your upside.
\nAggressive (8% to 14%): Business development companies<\/a>, mortgage REITs<\/a> and leveraged option funds. This tier beats the annuity\u2019s payout on paper, but distribution cuts and principal erosion are common.<\/p>\n
\nWeight
\nDollars
\nYield
\nAnnual Income<\/p>\n
\n30%
\n$162,000
\n2.4%
\n$3,830<\/p>\n
\n25%
\n$135,000
\n7.5%
\n$10,190<\/p>\n
\n20%
\n$108,000
\n6.1%
\n$6,550<\/p>\n
\n10%
\n$54,000
\n6.1%
\n$3,320<\/p>\n
\n15%
\n$81,000
\n3.7%
\n$2,960<\/p>\n
\n100%
\n$540,000
\n5.0%
\n$26,850<\/p>\n
\nPrice a split approach: Add up the essential expenses your Social Security check does not cover. Annuitize only enough to fill that gap, and invest the rest for growth and heirs.
\nModel the tax treatment of each option: Part of each payment from an annuity bought with after-tax money counts as a tax-free return of principal. REIT dividends are taxed mostly as ordinary income, while qualified dividends<\/a> get lower rates. Your bracket can change which option leaves you with more disposable income.<\/p>\n