Monthly Dividend ETFs for retirement income can look like a paycheck—but it’s often an illusion. In this episode, I share 3 tests to avoid costly mistakes and keep Affordable Care Act (ACA) taxes in mind.

You’ll learn:

• The 4 main types of monthly income ETFs (covered-call, high-dividend stock, preferred stock, bond funds)

• Why yield can mislead if you ignore total return

• Test #1: What the distribution is made of (dividends, interest, option premium, return of capital)

• Test #2: Whether monthly payouts increase your control—or reduce it

• Test #3: How monthly distributions can raise modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and affect tax planning

Examples include JEPI/JEPQ/QYLD/XYLD/RYLD, SPHD/DIV/SDIV, PFF/PGX/PFFD, and BND/AGG/LQD.

❤️ Depending on the platform you're listening on, please Like, Subscribe, Follow & Share, and leave a positive review if you found this episode helpful!

👉 Free Resources Mentioned:

• ✅ 12 Must-Do Steps to Retire Sooner and Smarter (Checklist)
  
  A simple, practical roadmap to help you get retirement-ready faster.
  
  🔗 Download it here 


• ✅ Free MAGI & Tax Estimator Spreadsheet (for ACA + taxes)
  
  Estimate your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), keep an eye on ACA subsidy eligibility, and get a rough tax estimate as you go through the year.
  
  🔗 Get the spreadsheet here 

📺 When you're not on the go, check out my Early Retirement Roadmap YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@EarlyRetirementRoadmap?sub_confirmation=1

🌐 More from me:

All my videos, podcast episodes, and freebies: https://mikeupland.com

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

Disclosure: This is an affiliate link, which means I earn a small commission if you decide to go on the paid plan after a free 2-week trial, or you can remain on the free plan, but I highly recommend the paid plan to use all its robust features! I personally use it for my retirement planning and love it! This link doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps to support the content I create. Thank you!

☕ Support: [Buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/mikeupland.com)

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.