£20,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d aim to turn that into passive income of £903 a month

Our writer shares one approach to passive income investing, spotlighting a quality FTSE 100 stock he recently added to his portfolio.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Friends and sisters exploring the outdoors together in Cornwall. They are standing with their arms around each other at the coast.

Image source: Getty Images

Prior to the government’s recent Budget, there were rumours that the annual £20k Stocks and Shares ISA allowance was under threat. This was worrying because many investors use this to generate tax-free passive income.

However, the Budget came and went and the £20,000 remains intact. Great news for everyday investors.

Here, I’ll explain how I’d aim to turn this amount into a £903 monthly second income.

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.

Income vs growth investing

There are a couple of distinct approaches to building a portfolio. I might choose to invest only in high-yield dividend stocks (only those yielding, say, above 5%). These blue-chip shares are unlikely to increase too much in value, but they’d offer me solid dividend income from the off.

In the FTSE 100, the likes of high street bank Lloyds, insurer Legal & General, and tobacco firm Imperial Brands spring to mind.

Alternatively, I may try to increase my portfolio’s size through growth stocks. These businesses pay little in the way of income (if anything), and instead focus on investing to capture growing markets.

This approach will likely lead me to US stock markets, where nearly all of the world’s leading growth companies are listed. Think Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, Netflix, and so on.

After a few years of growing my portfolio, I’d be in a better position to generate higher passive income from dividend stocks.

Both strategies possess challenges however. Income investing comes with the risk of dividend cuts or cancelations, as investors in Vodafone found out this year when the telecoms giant cut its payout by 50%.

Meanwhile, what might seem like a great growth stock can quickly turn into a dud if the firm’s growth evaporates.

A third way

A happy medium might be found in companies that are still growing nicely but also paying a rising dividend. One example is Coca-Cola HBC (LSE: CCH), whose shares I recently bought.

This is a strategic bottling partner for The Coca-Cola Company, which gives it a high-quality portfolio of brands. It distributes these products across 28 countries, spanning both developed and emerging markets in Europe and parts of Africa.

Source: Coca-Cola HBC

In the first half of 2024, the firm’s organic revenue grew 13.6% year on year to €5.18bn. And it expects full-year organic revenue to grow 11-13%.

Currency exchange risks are real here though, given the diverse geographies the company operates in. That’s worth remembering.

However, I like that this growing business also pays a dividend. The starting yield might seem modest at around 3%, but last year the payout increased by 19%!

In 2025, the dividend is expected to grow by around 9%. So I think this is a great example of a company that offers both share price growth potential and income.

Below, we see the firm’s solid dividend track record.

Created at TradingView

Income generation

According to AJ Bell, Coca-Cola HBC stock has returned around 10% annually in the past 10 years. There’s no guarantee that’ll continue, but an overall portfolio returning 10% on average would build a nice pot.

In this case, a £20,000 ISA would grow to £216,694 after 25 years, assuming I reinvested the dividends along the way. That’s a tremendous result.

And the passive income from that? It would be £10,835 a year — or £903 a month — if my portfolio were yielding 5%.

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Ben McPoland has positions in Coca-Cola Hbc Ag and Legal & General Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Aj Bell Plc, Amazon, Imperial Brands Plc, Lloyds Banking Group Plc, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Vodafone Group Public. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Rear view image depicting a senior man in his 70s sitting on a bench leading down to the iconic Seven Sisters cliffs on the coastline of East Sussex, UK. The man is wearing casual clothing - blue denim jeans, a red checked shirt, navy blue gilet. The man is having a rest from hiking and his hiking pole is leaning up against the bench.
Investing Articles

Is a £100,000 SIPP big enough to retire on?

Harvey Jones looks at how much money investors need in a SIPP to fund a decent standard of living after…

Read more »

British flag, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and British flag composition
Investing Articles

As the FTSE 100 dips again, here’s what I think smart investors do next

FTSE 100 swings are creating short-term noise — but Andrew Mackie argues this may be where long-term opportunities are quietly…

Read more »

Investing Articles

This 67p growth stock’s smashing the FTSE 100 in 2026

This under-the-radar UK growth stock's absolutely flying right now. But it still sports a very reasonable valuation, says Edward Sheldon.

Read more »

Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle
Investing Articles

Forget SpaceX? Amazon stock offers exposure to space cheaply

Amazon is the best performing Mag 7 stock in 2026. That's because investors are realising that there's huge potential in…

Read more »

Portrait Of Senior Couple Climbing Hill On Hike Through Countryside In Lake District UK Together
Investing Articles

How much does an investor need in an ISA to target £1,500 in monthly passive income?

Paul Summers reckons a bit of commitment and discipline can help generate a wonderful passive income stream for retirement.

Read more »

Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

Prediction: by December, £5,000 invested in UK shares will be worth…

Zaven Boyrazian breaks down three different price forecasts for UK shares and explains which sectors of the stock market analysts…

Read more »

Picture of an easyJet plane taking off.
Investing Articles

easyJet shares plummet 30% in 3 months! Is it now a top stock to buy?

Surging fuel costs have sent easyJet shares plummeting, but is this volatility turning the airline into one of the best…

Read more »

Petrochemical engineer working at night with digital tablet inside oil and gas refinery plant
Investing Articles

Forecast: in 12 months, a £5,000 investment in BP shares could be worth…

Zaven Boyrazian breaks down the latest price forecasts for BP shares if peace returns to the Middle East or if…

Read more »