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$1,000/month · VYM (high-yield index)

How much VYM for $1,000/month?

At VYM's current 2.21% yield, you'd need about $542,986 invested to generate $1,000/month ($12,000/year) in pre-tax dividends.

VYM yield2.21%As of 2026-06-18
Capital needed$542,986At current yield
Annual income$12,000Pre-tax, 12 × $1,000
After ~15% tax$850/month, federal only

About the VYM (high-yield index) strategy

Vanguard's high dividend yield ETF — 400+ stocks, market-cap-weighted, low expense ratio. Higher yield than SCHD with less screening.

Tax treatment: Mostly qualified dividends.

Best account: Either

Same income from a different strategy

Different amount, same strategy

Frequently asked

How much do I need in VYM for $1000/month?

At VYM's current 2.21% yield, you'd need approximately $542,986 invested to generate $1,000/month ($12,000/year) in pre-tax dividends.

What about taxes?

Mostly qualified dividends. At an estimated 15% effective rate, that's about $850/month after federal tax — though your actual bracket may differ.

Is VYM a safe dividend payer?

Our 0-10 dividend safety scale rates VYM at 7.9/10 (Solid). See the full breakdown on the VYM safety page.

Should I diversify across multiple strategies?

Almost always yes. Concentrating $$542,986 in a single ticker — even one as established as VYM — concentrates dividend-cut risk. A 3-5 strategy mix smooths income across rate, credit, and equity cycles.

How much of that $1,000/month do YOU already generate?

Connect your brokerage in 60 seconds. Infnits projects monthly income from your actual holdings — at your tax bracket, in your accounts — and shows the gap to your target.