Dividend Growth Core

This long-term portfolio puts dividends first: 60% SCHD aims to provide more income today, 30% DGRO owns companies with a history of raising dividends, and 10% SCHG keeps a small growth engine. The funds usually pay quarterly, not monthly. In this paper model, those payments are reinvested to grow the portfolio; a future income plan could collect them as cash and transfer a steady monthly amount, but only after allowing for taxes, uneven payments, and a cash buffer.

Educational simulation only, not investment advice. SEC yields and dividends can change; they are not guaranteed income. Total return, taxes, inflation, and the need to sell shares still matter for retirement planning.

Current income snapshot

Estimated annual income per $100k

$2,566

Blended 30-day SEC yield

2.57%

Yield reference date

Aug 27, 2026

How income works

Quarterly payments, with a choice about what happens next.

Dividend investing can sound like a monthly paycheck. In practice, these funds normally distribute cash every three months, and the amount can change. The plan below keeps the distinction clear.

Today: reinvest

This paper model is in accumulation mode. Every distribution is assumed to buy more fund shares, so the historical results are total return and no cash is withdrawn each month.

Later: make it monthly

In an income phase, distributions can land as cash in the brokerage account. A cash buffer can then send you a steady monthly transfer even though the funds themselves usually pay quarterly.

Know what the income covers

At the current 2.57% yield snapshot, US$100,000 suggests about US$2,566 a year, or roughly US$214 a month before tax. That is an estimate, not a promise, and actual payments vary.

Taking more than the dividends requires selling shares. That is a separate total-return withdrawal plan, with its own spending rate, tax choices, and risk review.

The portfolio

SCHD

Current dividend-income anchor

60%3.23%

DGRO

Companies with dividend-growth history

30%1.97%

SCHG

Small growth sleeve

10%0.37%

Historical record

Annual total-return backtests

Each year starts independently with $100,000 and holds the stated mix. Adjusted-close returns assume distributions are reinvested, so the backtest is total return, not cash taken out.

Portfolio return

+22.05%

Ending value

$122,048

SPY buy and hold

+13.47%

2026 Monthly value record

Month end	Portfolio value
Jan 30, 2026	$105,241
Feb 27, 2026	$109,953
Mar 31, 2026	$106,223
Apr 30, 2026	$111,936
May 29, 2026	$114,087
Jun 30, 2026	$113,049
Jul 31, 2026	$117,985
Aug 27, 2026	$122,048

Data note: Yahoo Finance chart API adjusted-close data; current SEC yield references from Schwab Asset Management and iShares. Current SEC yields are references, not forecasts. Historical adjusted-close returns include reinvested distributions.