Geldanlage: Aktien, Anleihen, ETFs, Optionen: So klappt es mit dem Nebenverdienst ohne Arbeit

Psychologische studies reveal that even the thought of passive income triggers positive feelings in the brain. The regular flow of money without work may necessitate some effort, but it is indeed achievable. The Handelsblatt magazine presents four investment strategies to illustrate how this can be done. Bonds offer particularly calculable passive income.

To benefit from this trend, learn how investors can profit from it. Many companies pay steadily increasing dividend payouts. Discover how to turn dividend stocks into a passive income source. However, there is more to be gained from your stocks, such as through call options. ETFs and funds can also yield high dividend yield returns for passive income.

The allure of passive income lies in the absence of daily tasks and the absence of the question, "Who will pay?" This appeal may also explain the success of many self-proclaimed financial strategists who promote passive income ideas on social media. Psychologist Valentin Haas points out that the idea of passive income primarily satisfies three desires: security, freedom, and relief.

When someone feels trapped in a routine, merely thinking about resolving this situation can trigger a sense of happiness. The dopamine hormone is released because the person believes they have found an escape, even though the situation has not changed. While videos, success stories, and promises of "Save amount X and you can live off it forever" generate a strong dopamine rush, many unanswered questions remain.

The real question of whether passive income can work depends on several factors: personal income and expenses, the way wealth is built and the rules applied, and finally, how to create a continuous income stream from it. To distinguish the different paths to passive income, the Handelsblatt interviewed several experts and presents four investment strategies that can lead to this goal.

In theory, passive income that flows entirely without personal effort exists only for those who inherit or create a business and sell it at a good price. For regular employees, achieving this is extremely challenging. A retirement savings plan by Michael Huber suggests that only those with a substantial inheritance, a successful business, or an invention that can be sold at a high price might live solely off their wealth.

For employees, it is extremely difficult to reach this goal by simply saving and investing from a young age. Let's consider a hypothetical example: a person earning 3,000 euros net in 25 years old, with a five-percent annual salary increase. At 50 years old, their net income would be nearly 10,000 euros. Assuming they live frugally and invest half of their net income into an ETF savings plan with a 7 percent after-tax return, they would accumulate nearly 1.75 million euros after 25 years.

This amount, however, would only buy about 2,800 euros today, considering inflation at 2.5 percent. At 50, the person would need 5,000 euros per month to cover living expenses, including half of their net income, social security contributions, and other taxes. To have a buffer, financial planner Stefanie Kühn recommends saving 6,000 euros per month, which would increase by 2.5 percent annually to account for inflation.

By 70, the person would need to withdraw 9,340 euros per month. If these 1.75 million euros are not reinvested, they will only last 19 years. With a 3.5 percent return during the withdrawal phase, the money could last until the person turns 77. After that, they would have to rely solely on their government pension, which would not be high since they only worked until age 50.

This calculation is quite conservative, especially given the increasing life expectancy and the assumption of steady salary growth, disciplined saving, and relatively constant inflation. For Michael Huber, these uncertainties make achieving passive income a significant challenge.