Quick ReadGenerating $180,000 annually requires roughly $5.1M at a conservative 3.5% yield, but only $1.8M at an aggressive 10% yield. A 3.5% dividend yield growing 8% annually doubles income every 9 years, while high-yield static distributions quietly lose real purchasing power to inflation. Recalculating your target using actual after-tax spending rather than gross income can reduce the conservative capital requirement by more than $1M. Think Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity, Vanguard Dividend Appreciation, ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, or a mix of individual names like Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, and Procter & Gamble. At a 3.5% blended yield, $180,000 divided by 0.035 equals roughly $5,142,000 in capital.