Income Producing Assets For Passive Income: Best Assets To Build Wealth

A Comprehensive Guide To Income Generating Assets

Income producing assets for passive income and active income are some of the best assets to build wealth.

For me, having assets that generate cash flow is a big part of my investing objectives. It’s all about building multiple income streams. That’s exactly how millionaire’s practice wealth-building.

So, if YOU are serious about making money and having more money, read on.

For me, it wasn’t until my early 30’s that I really clarified my investment objectives.  Objectives that I believed in. And felt I could stick with through good times and bad.

So when it comes to my personal investments, I have three primary objectives.

Affiliate Link Disclosure:  I may get paid commissions (at no cost to you) for purchases made through links in this post.

INCOME PRODUCING ASSETS & INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES

I invest money primarily to:

1. Generate cash flow – also known as passive income
2. Grow that cash flow to produce more passive income over time
3. Increase my asset base through capital appreciation

Priority Based Investing

You can see that current income and growth of that income top my list of investment objectives.

Other than my personal residence, I won’t own an investment asset unless it pays a regular and recurring passive income stream.  In other words, I like to buy income producing assets.

This is why I like to say that I am an income investor. And I think that income producing assets are some of the best assets to buy.

Related: 60+ investment assets that appreciate in value

My Favorite Asset To Buy: Dividend Stocks!

Dividend growth stocks are good assets to buy because they achieve all three of my investment objectives.

But many times I will sacrifice income growth and capital appreciation in the sole pursuit of objective 1, just plain old cash flow to increase my asset-based income.  Who couldn’t use a little more cash?

INVESTMENTS VERSUS SAVINGS & RISK

Not all of the income producing assets I’m going to discuss in this article should be considered investments.  Some are more appropriately referred to as savings.  Savings products typically have less risk.

Risking Your Money

What does risk have to do with it?  Well, generally the more risk you take the greater the opportunity for a higher income from your assets and higher overall return on investment.

So we will start with the least risky income producing assets and move to higher risk income producing assets as we go.

Keep in mind that as you take more risk, you should have a longer time horizon.

For example, if you need the money in 6 months for a down payment on a house, then take less risk.

Related: 15 timeless investing principles

“What Do I Mean By Yield?”

We will also talk about the yield for some of the income producing assets.

Yield means the percentage of the amount invested and returned annually back to the investor or saver.

For example, invest $1,000 at a 3% yield and get $30 dollars of annual income.  Sometimes yield is referred to as the interest rate or just rate for short.

With the onset of another recession, yields are falling. It is hard to earn more than 1-2% from the safest income generating assets.

That’s where investment risk comes into play again. If you want more cash flow from your assets then take more risk. Just be sure to understand the risks you are taking. After all, it’s your money.

Finally, 1 more thing before we get rolling. Just in case it is not obvious by now, let’s define exactly what an income producing asset is.

WHAT IS AN INCOME PRODUCING ASSET?

According to Investopedia, earning assets are income producing investments that are owned, or held, by a business, institution, or individual.

These assets also have a base value and the ability to produce additional funds beyond the inherent value for the investment holder. This allows the investment holder to maintain the assets as a source of earnings.  Or, sell the assets for a lump sum based on its market value.

THE DIVIDENDS DIVERSIFY LIST OF INCOME PRODUCING ASSETS

With that introduction in mind, let’s get to my list of favorite income producing assets to buy.  We will discuss them in this order:

• Certificates of Deposit
• US Savings Bonds
• High Yield Savings Accounts
• Money Market Accounts
• Bonds
• Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending
• Preferred Stocks
• Dividend Growth Stocks
• Growth Stocks
• Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
• Exchange-Traded Funds
• Your Primary Residence
• Rental Properties
• Real Estate Crowdfunding
• Land
• Owning A Privately Held Business

Buying These Assets As A Beginner With Little Money?

Also, you can get into many of these passive income options with $100 or even less. Yes, some of these options require large sums of cash. But, if you are a beginner looking for your first assets to buy, you do not need a lot of money!

No excuses. Let’s start building our multiple streams of income. And saving a little money before we do is a good way to start. Let’s discuss that first.

Do You Need To Save Some Money First?

Saving money is the first step to building a base of assets that generate cash flow. If you need to save some money before getting started, consider Ebates

You should definitely check out Ebates to save money by getting cash back rebates on every dollar you spend.

Ebates is free to join and they offer new members a $10 cash reward for signing up!

So start saving with Ebates, then put that saved money into one or more of these income producing assets for passive income.

Read my review: How to make and save money with Ebates

INCOME PRODUCING ASSETS – CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT

Our first income producing asset is certificates of deposit.  Investopedia defines a certificate of deposit as follows:

A certificate of deposit (CD) is a savings certificate.

It has a fixed maturity date and specified fixed interest rate that can be issued in any denomination aside from minimum investment requirements.

A Guarantee To Get Your Money Back

A CD restricts access to the funds until the maturity date of the investment.  CDs are generally issued by commercial banks and are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000 per individual.

My overall asset allocation includes a permanent allotment to cash.  So I like to get as high of an interest rate as possible on that cash.  CDs are a solid choice.

Build A CD Ladder

I employ a CD ladder strategy.   I hold 5 CDs each maturing sequentially in one of the next 5 years.  When the oldest CD matures during the year, I reinvest the balance into a new 5 year CD. 

I search for the best CD interest rates on a website called Deposit Accounts. Most recently, 5 year CDs had interest rates of around 2%.

INCOME PRODUCING ASSETS – US SAVINGS BONDS

US savings bonds are another great choice as an income producing asset. 

2 Types Of US Savings Bonds

They come in two varieties, series EE and series I.

Series EE savings bonds are low-risk savings products that pay interest for up to 30 years.

Series I savings bonds are also a low-risk savings product. During their lifetime, I Bonds earn interest and are protected from inflation.  Source:  TreasuryDirect

Savings Bonds Are Low Risk

US savings bonds are backed by the US government.  But our US government is racking up tremendous amounts of debt.

Even so, it is unlikely that a saver would not get their money back when they want it.  So this is a very low-risk savings option.

Another Bonus: Tax Deferral!

Another benefit of savings bonds is tax deferral.  You do not have to pay tax on the investment income until you redeem the bond. Therefore your income compounds tax-deferred.

Tax deferral is a great feature if you are in a high-income tax bracket.  Or just do not like paying taxes, like me.

I Prefer I Bonds

Finally, I personally prefer I Bonds among the different types of savings bonds available for purchase.

They are a great hedge against inflation.  The income paid will go higher as inflation goes higher protecting your purchasing power.

Finally, I Bonds have been yielding anywhere between 1-4% in the recent past. The yield on an I Bond depends when you bought the bond. And it depends on the rate of inflation.

Related: Learn more about I bonds

INCOME GENERATING ASSETS – HIGH YIELD SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

High yield savings accounts have some similar characteristics to CDs. These accounts are also considered income producing assets.

Get Your Money Back When You Want It

They can be FDIC insured.  However, unlike CDs, they have no minimum holding period.  The saver can get his or her money whenever they want it. 

Because of the flexibility offered, high yield savings accounts usually have a lower interest rate than CDs.

The Interest Rates On High Yield Savings

High yield savings accounts were a pretty good deal when interest rates were really low during the years after the great global recession.  A saver could park their cash and get approximately a 2% interest rate.

Current rates are dropping again and will likely stay low for a while.  1.75%-2.0% is about the maximum you can get on high yield savings.  I also search for the best high yield savings rates at the website previously mentioned, Deposit Accounts.

Money market accounts are another type of asset that generates cash flow. So, let’s talk about money market accounts next.

INCOME PRODUCING ASSETS – MONEY MARKET ACCOUNTS

Similar to high yield savings accounts, with money market accounts, the saver has access to their cash whenever they need it.

Your Money Is Not Guaranteed

Money market accounts, however, are not guaranteed.  They are comprised of very short term, high-quality investment securities.

Money market accounts carry an asset value of $1 per share owned.  If you deposit $100 dollars in a money market account, then you are the owner of 100 shares at $1 per share.

What Is “Breaking The Buck”?

Only in very rare circumstances does a money market account share value differ from $1 dollar.  This is called “breaking the buck”.

Even if the underlying assets in the fund do not support a $1 per share value, financial institutions that offer money market accounts will usually cover the difference.  Breaking the buck would be a huge negative for the financial institution offering the money market account.

Vanguard Is An Excellent Option

It’s best to go with a low-cost provider when selecting a money market account.  Vanguard has some great options.

Right now the Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund yields less than 1%.

INCOME PRODUCING ASSETS – BONDS

I could write an entire article on bonds since they have so many different characteristics.

They come in different variations. And, they can be purchased through a variety of investment products.

Bonds As Defined By GenYMoney

To keep things simple, I’m going to borrow the definition of a bond from my friend GYM over at GenYMoney.

She has a talent for explaining things in simple terms.  And recently GYM wrote an article on one specific type of bond called green bonds.

Here is GYM’s definition of a bond:

 A bond is a fixed income investment whereby an investor essentially lends money to an entity like a company, government, or project for a defined period at a fixed rate of interest.

Keep Bond Investing Simple With Funds

I like simplicity and diversification when it comes to bonds.  So I like to invest in bonds through mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Mix And Match With Several Bond Funds

Then I mix and match my funds to achieve a nice diversified portfolio across these bond asset categories.

• Mortgage bonds
• Floating rate bonds
• Investment-grade corporate bonds
• High yield corporate bonds
• Municipal and government bonds
• International bonds

Bond Interest Rates And Risk

Because of the diversity in types of bonds and the risks associated with them, interest rates can really vary.

For example, high quality, short term municipal bonds can yield as little as 1.5%.  On the other hand, speculative-grade corporate bonds can yield 6-8% and even much more.

The more risk that an investor will not get their money paid back by the borrower, the higher the interest rate the borrower must pay.  As I said early on, more risk means more potential reward.

But One Bond Fund Can Be Enough

You may not be interested in selecting individual bonds, mutual funds, or ETFs.  Then take the easy route and select one well-diversified bond mutual fund or an ETF that holds bonds from a number of the areas mentioned above.

If you only want to own 1 bond fund, I give my favorite option in the article below. It takes a simple, set it and forget it approach to do it yourself investing. The 3 fund portfolio I discuss includes 1 bond fund and 2 dividend stock funds.

Related: How to build a Vanguard 3 fund portfolio

INCOME GENERATING ASSETS – PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) LENDING

Peer to peer lending is known as P2P lending for short.

P2P lending enables individuals to obtain loans directly from other individuals.  The P2P lending process cuts out traditional financial institutions as the middleman.

Companies and their websites that facilitate P2P lending have greatly increased its adoption.   As a result, P2P lending has become a viable alternative method of financing. And a source of passive income from another type of income generating asset, direct loans.

Interest rates on P2P loans vary depending on the risk profile. They can be as little as 2-3%. Or as high as 10% and even more.

You can read more about one specific P2P lending platform in this related article: Iban Wallet review – P2P lending made easy

INCOME PRODUCING ASSETS – PREFERRED STOCK

Preferred stock is a hybrid security that has a mix of bond and common stock characteristics.

Pros and Cons With Preferred Stock

The investor doesn’t have the capital appreciation potential like common stock.  In exchange, the investor normally receives a high dividend yield.

In addition, the holder receives preferential treatment before common stockholders on the receipt of those dividends.

Banks, insurance companies, and utilities are big issuers of preferred stock.  Like bonds, you can buy individual company issues through your broker or invest through mutual funds and ETFs.

A Preferred Stock Fund Is A Good Way To Go

The I Shares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) is one example of a lower-cost preferred stock ETF.

PFF has many preferred stock holdings for diversification.  It pays an attractive yield of 6.0%

MY FAVORITE INCOME PRODUCING ASSETS – DIVIDEND GROWTH STOCKS

By owning the common stock of a company, you are a part-owner in that business.  And, participate in all the potential rewards and risks that go with ownership.

Get More Passive Income Every Year

The dividend stocks I’m talking about usually increase their dividend payments every year. They are referred to as dividend growth stocks.

The growing dividend helps your income keep up with inflation and increase your passive income over the long run.

While you, as the investor, focus on a rising stream of dividend payments, you can be less concerned about the day to day stock market volatility.  Why? Because you receive a large piece of your investment returns in cash every quarter.

In addition, as the company raises its dividend year after year, the stock price will usually follow the upward trend.

Dividend Stocks Meet All Of My Objectives For Income Producing Assets

As I mentioned earlier, dividend growth stocks achieve all three of my investment objectives.

1. Current income in the form of passive income
2. Growth of that passive income
3. Capital appreciation

I prefer my dividend growth stocks with yields ranging from 3-5%.

In my opinion, dividend growth stocks are some of the best assets to build wealth and become a millionaire.

Related: How to build a portfolio of blue-chip stocks paying dividends

ANOTHER INCOME PRODUCING ASSET – GROWTH STOCKS

First I want to say that growth stocks are not your typical income producing asset. Why? Because they either pay a very small dividend. Or, no dividend at all.

But many investors use pure growth stocks to produce income. Amazon stock is a perfect example.

Amazon stock pays no dividend. But some investors create an income stream from the stock anyway.

Here’s how…

Over the past several years Amazon stock has increased in value by more than 5 times. Let’s say you bought 10 shares for $400 per share 5 years ago. At the time, your total investment cost $4,000.

A share of Amazon stock now trades at more than $2,000 per share. So, your 10 original shares are now worth more than $20,000.

By selling 1 of the original 10 shares for $2,000 cash, you have created income. And still, maintain ownership of 9 shares valued at about $18,000.

So, growth stocks are another example of an income producing asset. They are very good assets to buy.

Now, we have just covered both dividend stocks and growth stocks.

But there is one type of stock that deserves special attention.  That is real estate investment trusts.  Or, REITs for short.

ASSET BASED INCOME FROM EQUITY REITs

First of all, REITs are special because they allow you to participate in the real estate market.  But, you do not have to deal with the responsibility of being a landlord.

We all know that real estate is finite.  There is only so much real estate.  And no more will be created. This makes real estate a great asset to buy.

But how does a REIT operate?  An equity REIT owns, finances, and manages income producing assets.  The assets are in the form of real estate.

When you purchase stock in a REIT, you will own a small portion of an office or apartment building that has been bought by a large company.

A REIT generates rental income from each property it owns.  Then, it distributes the profit to shareholders in the form of dividends.

REITs receive favorable tax treatment from the government.  That is, as long as they pay out most of their profits to owners as dividends.  That makes REITs a great income generating asset.

You buy stock in a REIT just like buying any other stock in the stock market.  You need a brokerage account to do this.

I use Webull for my brokerage account.  They have a very fast app.  And, it is easy to sign up and get started.

You can read my full Webull app review here.

Or sign up with Webull here if you are ready to buy and sell stocks for free.

Webull gives you free stock just for opening your account.  In that way, I guess Webull is an income producing asset.  Why?  They give you free stock!

EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are one of the best assets to buy. Why? Because ETFs make investing in income generating assets easy.

What is an exchange-traded fund? An exchange-traded fund is a collection of securities that tracks an underlying index.

Many of the assets we have discussed thus far including dividend stocks, growth stocks, REITs, and bonds can be purchased through ETFs. By investing in ETFs, you get immediate diversification among many assets.

Furthermore, there is no need to research numerous individual assets to buy. Finally, ETFs pay income either monthly or quarterly depending on the ETF you choose.

An ETF is called an exchange-traded fund since it is traded on an exchange just like an individual stock. The price of ETFs shares will change throughout the trading day as the shares are bought and sold on the market.

All of these points make ETFs one of the best ways to generate cash flow from investments.

USE YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE AS AN INCOME GENERATING ASSET

Our homes are big investments.  And they are one of the best assets to buy.  But, did you ever think of your home as an income producing asset?  If not, maybe it is time to do so.

Tapping Your Home Equity For Cash Flow

Over time the value of your home should increase. Most home values will increase along with the annual inflation rate. But, some homes and areas of the country experience a much higher appreciation.

Furthermore, each month you make a mortgage payment. A portion of that payment serves to decrease the amount of your mortgage debt.

The combination of higher home values and lower mortgage debt is very profitable. They both serve to increase your home equity.

So, with mortgage rates at all-time lows, consider refinancing your mortgage. And take some of your equity out in cash at the time of refinancing.

By doing this, your home is an asset that generates cash flow. It is a reason that your primary residence is one of the best assets to buy.

Renting Out A Room In Your Residence

Renting out a room in your home doesn’t require you to make any extra investment. So, your home can be an income producing asset. This is a pretty passive income.

You can get a feel for managing a rental property and being a landlord without putting any money down.  Or, making a long term commitment.

Services like Airbnb make it easy to connect with interested renters.  And you can make a significant income depending on the size and condition of your place and the location.

RENTAL PROPERTIES FOR ASSET BASED INCOME

Beyond renting out a room in your own home, you can also invest in a stand-alone rental property.  This has the advantage of separating your life from your asset that generates cash flow.

On the other hand, a rental property may require a large investment.  It may take you some time to offset this cost.  So this is a longer-term option compared to renting out a single room in your primary residence.

There are a variety of options when it comes to generating an income from rental properties.  Here are the primary ones that are available to folks like you and me.

Vacation homes:  Are you lucky enough to own a vacation home?  If you are, rent it out when you are not using it.

Single-family rental houses:  Many people start generating asset-based income from a single-family home when it’s time to move.  They keep their old house and rent it out after moving to a new primary residence.

There are several advantages to bringing in cash from your former single-family home.

First of all, you know the property and its maintenance needs.  Furthermore, there is only 1 tenant to manage.  Finally, single-family homes will always be in demand when it’s time to sell or find a new tenant.

Multi-family rental properties: Think duplex or tri-level here.

Multiple tenants under 1 roof create cost savings through economies of scale.  Also, if you need a place to stay, you can buy a multi-family rental property and keep 1 unit for yourself.

On the other hand, you are becoming a full-fledged landlord.  With all the responsibilities that come with it. Your income becomes a little less passive and more active, in my opinion.

So, be prepared.  And know what you are getting yourself into.

REAL ESTATE CROWDFUNDING

Real estate crowdfunding pools relatively small amounts of money from multiple investors to finance a property or portfolio of properties.  Investor funds are invested in either debt or equity.

In return, the investor receives payments in the form of quarterly or monthly dividends.  It is another form of asset-based income.

Furthermore, owning equity in a crowdfunded real estate deal allows for capital appreciation.   The investor participates in the real estate asset appreciation when the property is sold.

LAND CAN BE AN INCOME PRODUCING ASSET

We are not quite done with real estate assets yet.  Let’s bring it down to its most basic form, land.

Land can be an income generating asset.  But you have to make the land productive in some way.

You can start small.  Like, how about a corner of your yard for a hobby farm.  If you grow the best tomatoes in the county, your land can be an income producing asset.

Or think big.  Investments in farmland or timberland are assets that produce income from your investments.

CASH FLOW FROM OWNING A PRIVATELY HELD BUSINESS

How about starting a business by yourself or with one or more partners?  Most businesses begin for the sole purpose of producing income for their owner or owners.

To start and own a business, figure out what you are good at.  Understand what you are passionate about.  And be great at it.  It’s the best way to prosper.

So, private businesses are another example of assets that generate cash flow.  Make your business more successful.  And the income it produces will increase.

What types of businesses are successful?  Those that:

• Provide useful products
• Deliver important services
• Provide information or entertainment
• Solve people’s problems

Look around at all the basic businesses you see each day.   Notice that they fulfill one or more of these needs. What types of business will you see:

• Car washes
• Dry cleaners
• Retail stores
• Tax accounting offices
• Legal service providers

Websites And Blogs

Websites in the form of blogs have become a popular business form. Why? Advances in technology combined with people’s desire to consume information and entertainment online.

I started Dividends Diversify years ago to tap into this trend. But just like any business, running a website is not a passive income. That is, if like me, you intend on running your website on your own. It takes work like any other business.

I enjoy it, so Dividends Diversify doesn’t seem like work. Like I said earlier if you want to start a business and run it, choose something you love to do.

Private Equity

Do you want to be an owner in 1 or more privately held businesses? But, do you not want to be involved in the day-to-day operation? Then private equity is the way to go.

Private equity is composed of funds and investors that invest directly in private companies. The private equity owners hire managers to run the companies. I worked in management at 4 different private equity-owned businesses during my working days.

When it comes to participating in private equity, there are a couple of issues. First of all, it takes a lot of money. Furthermore, that money is usually committed for at least 3-5 years. Finally, private equity funds do not normally pay a recurring passive income.

On the other hand, private equity shoots for large returns on your investment. At least 15% and oftentimes much more.

When a private equity fund liquidates after several years, you hope to hit the jackpot with a big cash payout. A payout that is much greater than your original investment.

Private equity is for the big money, big shots out there. But what about the little guys and gals like you and me?

One option is Business Development Companies (BDC). They operate similarly to private equity firms as I explained above.

But BDC’s trade just like stocks on a stock exchange. So, you and I can invest in them. And most BDCs pay high dividends.

The ongoing dividends make BDCs an income producing asset. And, a way to participate in private equity ownership.

SUMMARY – INCOME PRODUCING ASSETS

Most of the assets we have discussed today produce passive income.  With the exception of owning and running a business.

Running a business is a very active form of income.  Unless, of course, you can afford to hire out the management of the operation. Or, participate in private equity.

How Do Millionaires Build Wealth?

As I said at the beginning, it’s about creating multiple streams of income.  And then, growing that income. That’s what millionaires do to build wealth.

• #1 Save some money
• #2 Put that money to work in income producing assets
• #3 Use that extra passive income to buy more income generating assets

I truly believe that assets that generate cash flow are an excellent way to build up your finances.

So, look at the list below as a menu of options.  And start planting the seeds today for multiple income streams tomorrow. Here is a summary:

Your Bullet Point Guide To Income Generating Asset Ideas

• Certificates of Deposit
• US Savings Bonds
• High Yield Savings Accounts
• Money Market Accounts
• Bonds
• Peer-to-Peer lending
• Preferred Stocks
• Dividend Growth Stocks
• Growth Stocks
• Real Estate Investment Trusts
• Exchange-Traded Fund
• Primary Residence
• Rental Properties
• Real Estate Crowdfunding
• Land
• Owing A Privately Held Business

Related Articles About The Best Assets To Buy & How To Buy Them

• 13 ways to increase passive income from income producing assets
• Making money from real estate investing
• What are the first investments to make in your 20s?
• Timeless investing tips and techniques for long term investors

Other Resources To Improve Your Asset-Based Income Sources

• Get free stock from Webull & trade stocks for free
• Save money on every purchase with Rakuten

Disclosure & Disclaimer

This article, or any of the articles referenced here, is not intended to be investment advice specific to your situation. I am not a licensed investment adviser, and I am not providing you with individual investment advice. The only purpose of this site is information & entertainment. We are not liable for any losses suffered by any party because of information published on this blog. See this site’s Disclaimer and Privacy tab for more information.

Income Producing Assets For Passive Income: Build Your Wealth!