How to retire early with enormous passive income

It may be possible to retire comfortably in a little over 20 years by doing this.

| More on:

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

For those aiming for an early retirement and substantial passive income, ASX shares could be the key.

Over the past 30 years, the market has boasted an impressive average total return of 9.6% per annum. This makes it a prime candidate for those seeking financial independence sooner rather than later.

Let's look at how ASX shares can pave the way to a comfortable and even early retirement.

Smiling elderly couple looking at their superannuation account, symbolising retirement.

Image source: Getty Images

Retiring early with enormous passive income

To begin our journey, it's important to understand the financial benchmarks for retirement.

According to Australian Super, a single household requires $50,207 per year for a comfortable retirement, while a couple needs $70,806. This affords regular leisure activities, meals out, holidays, premium private health insurance, home improvements, and ownership of a reasonable car.

For a more modest retirement lifestyle, the figures stand at $31,867 (singles) and $45,946 (couples). This affords occasional leisure activities, limited meals out, ownership of a basic car, small home repairs, one annual domestic holiday, and basic private health insurance.

Assuming the historical average total return persists, which is not guaranteed, investors can strategically leverage ASX shares to achieve these retirement goals.

With 6% dividend yields achievable with ASX shares, you would need the following investment portfolios to deliver the desired amount of annual passive income:

  • Singles Comfortable – $837,000
  • Couples Comfortable – $1.2 million
  • Singles Modest – $530,000
  • Couples Modest – $770,000

The good news is that history shows that it is possible to grow your investment portfolio to these levels. By consistently investing in a well-diversified portfolio of ASX shares, individuals can harness the power of compounding and capital appreciation. Reinvesting dividends and staying committed to a long-term strategy can expedite the journey to early retirement with substantial passive income.

For singles, starting with $10,000 and then investing $10,000 per annum would turn into $840,000 after approximately 22 years if it generated an average annual return of 9.6%.

For couples, starting with $10,000 and then putting $14,000 into the market each year would get you to $1.2 million over the same period.

And for a modest retirement, you could achieve the desired level of passive income in approximately 18.5 years by investing the same amounts.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on How to invest

Mid-aged couple looking at a laptop.
How to invest

How to build an ASX portfolio you do not need to check every day

This could be the easiest way to invest.

Read more »

two people sitting at a desk look on in dismay as a colleague holds a chart with diminishing green bars topped with a jagged red line representing a stock market crash.
How to invest

Could ASX shares crash? 5 questions every investor should ask now

Don't predict the crash, make sure your portfolio is in order when it arrives.

Read more »

Happy girl holding a plant and soil in front of ascending piles of coins.
How to invest

How I'd aim to build a $1 million ASX share portfolio in 20 years

Regular investing and time can add up to something substantial.

Read more »

Buy and sell on yellow paper with pins on them and several share price lines.
How to invest

2 ASX 200 shares I'd buy and 2 I'd avoid amid a surging Aussie dollar

The stronger Australian dollar could help some ASX shares while holding others back.

Read more »

Person writing notes with a piggy bank, calculator, and an ascending pile of coins on the table.
How to invest

How I'd use ASX shares to build a second source of wealth

Regular investing can add up to something substantial over time.

Read more »

Happy elderly couple enjoying each other's company.
Superannuation

How to build your superannuation the Warren Buffett way

Superannuation gives investors decades to put patience and compounding to work.

Read more »

Legendary share market investing expert and owner of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett.
How to invest

5 things Warren Buffett looks for before buying ASX shares

Buffett-style investing means avoiding bad businesses and overpaying for quality.

Read more »

A happy couple relax in a hammock together as they think about enjoying life with a passive income stream.
Dividend Investing

Want income for life? Here's how I'd build an ASX dividend portfolio

Don't chase the highest yields, but build multiple income streams that endure.

Read more »