It'd be fun to win the lottery and receive a large chunk of money. I'd certainly want to spend a bit of it on a holiday and some other fun purchases. But, I'd also want to secure my financial future by investing significantly in ASX shares.
Investing $1 million in ASX shares could unlock tens of thousands of dollars of annual passive income, providing me with lifelong financial independence and a stable cash flow.
I would want to hold a bit as cash, partly as an emergency fund, though the yearly dividends should be able to cover almost anything that could pop up.
The businesses I'd choose to invest in are ones that I view as commendably resilient and strong options for passive income.
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Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)
One of the main investments that a lottery winner may want to put their money towards is investment properties. However, I don't want the hassle and drama of dealing with tenants, repairs, or paying all the bills.
Instead, why not just invest in a real estate investment trust (REIT) that does all of the management? We can just focus on receiving passive income payments.
Rural Funds pays a distribution to investors every quarter, so it is a pleasing option for regular cash flow. The rental earnings are generated from a portfolio of farms across Australia in various states and climatic conditions. Those farms include cattle, almonds, macadamias, vineyards, and cropping.
The business is paying all of its rental profits to investors each year, which can help us unlock significant passive income, similar to what I'd want for my theoretical lottery money. It's expecting to pay a distribution yield of approximately 6% in FY26, at the time of writing.
MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF)
I think it's a good idea to invest some of the money to gain exposure to international shares. The ASX only accounts for roughly 2% of the global share market, so it's a good idea to look at investments that can give us exposure to the other 98%.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a great investment vehicle, but many don't have a particularly pleasing dividend yield. That's why I like listed investment companies (LICs) because they can accumulate investment gains and pay out a smoothed (and rising) dividend.
The portfolio is full of high-quality global names like Visa, Mastercard, Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft and more, which have helped it deliver impressive returns. In turn, this has allowed it to consistently grow its annual ordinary dividend each year since 2018.
Using the payout from FY25, the company has a grossed-up dividend yield of 5%, including franking credits, at the time of writing, I'm projecting the payout could increase to a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.6% in FY26, including franking credits, at the time of writing.
Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)
I think this business is one of the most effective investments on the ASX for passive income, capital preservation, and capital growth.
The investment conglomerate has a very diversified portfolio across a range of industries and assets, including industrial property, building products, telecommunications, resources, financial services, credit, agriculture, swimming schools, and electrification. It's a defensively positioned portfolio.
As time goes on, the business can invest in other opportunities and build its portfolio further.
The business receives dividends and other income from its portfolio, and this helps it pay for its own expenses and grow its dividend each year. It has actually hiked its annual ordinary dividend every year since 1998, which is the best record on the ASX.
The latest dividends paid by the business come to a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.8%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.
