A Reddit investor grew a $2.26M portfolio with just 2 dividend ETFs. Here’s what they used, and how you can follow along

Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. What’s the key to building a successful portfolio? One Redditor who shared their journey to a $2 million portfolio claims the secret is simple: dividends. But what exactly were their core dividend choices, and what alternative strategies can investors use to diversify and protect against market volatility — especially if dividends are down? The Reddit user from the r/Dividends community left some answers to these questions. In their post, they detailed how they reinvested dividend income consistently into two ETFs: SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) and DIVO (Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF). They took what appears to be a disciplined, long-term approach that helped them build a substantial $2 million portfolio. Their strategy underscores the importance of consistency, but there are risks to their approach. While dividends can be an effective strategy, they’re also highly vulnerable to market swings. Here are some key takeaways from the Reddit poster’s strategy — plus some alternatives to the stock market to consider for your own portfolio. Here’s a quick summary of the two ETFs the Reddit user invested in: - SCHD: Known for its mix of high-quality, high-yield U.S. stocks, SCHD has a solid track record of dividend growth, offering income and potential for capital appreciation. It currently pays $1.05 per share in annual dividends, yielding 3.42% (1). - DIVO: This ETF focuses on income generation through dividend-paying stocks, combined with a covered call strategy, making it a reliable option for higher yields without excessive risk. DIVO pays $2.90 per share in dividends annually, yielding 6.49% on its current share price (2). The ETF’s dividend payouts grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.13% over the past five years. It should not be surprising, then, that dividend stocks have long been a go-to option for many — even legendary investors like Warren Buffett have championed them for decades. While the strategy is rooted in stability, that doesn’t mean top-of-the-class performance. The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index has climbed just 3.5% over the past year (3). In comparison, the Nasdaq Composite Index — which is heavily concentrated in tech and growth stocks — rose by 21% last year (4). Whether you wish to stick to dividend income or pivot to growth stocks, however, there are tools that can help. Platforms like Robinhood are designed to make investing simpler and more approachable. If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can also buy and sell individual stocks, fractional shares and options (for qualified traders) — backed by 24/7 support. Stocks, ETFs and their options trades are commission-free. With access to popular ETFs like the Vanguard S&P 500, you can build diversified exposure without needing to pick individual stocks. The platform also offers both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA, so you can choose the tax strategy that fits your retirement plan. With its recurring investment feature, you can set up automatic investments of your preferred fractional shares, stocks and ETFs on your own schedule. Over time, this helps make investing a habit and steadily grows your portfolio. Earn up to 3% on eligible account transfers to a taxable Robinhood account through March 25th. Risks and terms apply. Robinhood Gold ($5/mo) subscription may apply. While community forums and friends are great sources for new ideas and launch pads, you shouldn’t take investing advice from just anyone. That’s why the team of former hedge fund analysts at Moby offers expert research and recommendations to help you identify strong, long-term investments backed by their expertise. In four years, and across almost 400 stock picks, their recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12% on average. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Moby’s team spends hundreds of hours sifting through financial news and data to provide you with stock and crypto reports delivered straight to you. Their research keeps you up-to-the-minute on market shifts and can help you reduce the guesswork behind choosing stocks and ETFs. What’s more, their reports are easy to understand for beginners, so you can become a smarter investor in just five minutes. Read More: I’m almost 50 years old and don’t have retirement savings. Is it too late to catch up? The age-old question every investor encounters at some point in their journey is deciding which investment strategy to follow. For example, while you can build an excellent source of passive income by consistently investing in Dividend Aristocrats, you also risk giving up on capital appreciation. Not to mention that while reliable dividend stocks typically have low correlation with growth stocks, they are still susceptible to market swings. So, in the event of a stock market crash, you’ll still feel that sting. For that reason, ETFs — like those the Reddit investor chose — are often seen as good for diversification because they tap into multiple industries and geographies. In this way, the Redditor’s journey to $2 million highlights the power of strategic investing and reinvestment. However, diversification works best when your assets aren’t just spread across stocks — you may also want to consider leveraging multiple asset classes. That’s because while dividend stocks and ETFs are excellent for generating passive income, broadening your approach with alternative sources can help create a more balanced and resilient portfolio. Investors might be tempted to rely on dividend-paying stocks for passive income, but real estate can offer similar benefits. You also don’t need to own property to earn rental income, which is good news, given that rising home prices have priced out many first-time buyers. With the median home price in the U.S. climbing from $317,100 in the second quarter of 2020 (5) to $429,226 as of February 2026 (6), as well as mortgage rates still hovering comfortably over 6% (7), alternative ways to invest in property have become more appealing. Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived lets you invest in shares of vacation and rental properties across the country with as little as $100. To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property. The best part? For a limited time, when you open an account and add $1,000 or more, Arrived will credit your account with a 1% match. Real estate can be a strong portfolio diversifier, but it comes with sector-level risks. Market cycles, changing interest rates and broader economic trends can impact returns. If you want exposure to real estate but don’t want to assume the risks, you can also opt for Arrived Private Credit Fund. These funds back projects like renovations or new home construction, with loans secured by residential property. Investors can receive monthly interest payments on these loans, which have historically yielded around 8.1% annually. You aren’t limited to residential opportunities, especially if you are an accredited investor. If diversifying into multifamily and industrial rentals appeals to you, you could consider investing with Lightstone DIRECT, a new investing platform from the Lightstone Group, one of the largest private real estate companies in the country with over 25,000 multifamily units in its portfolio. Since they eliminate intermediaries — brokers and crowdfunding middlemen — accredited investors with a minimum investment of $100,000 can gain direct access to institutional-quality multifamily opportunities. This streamlined model can help reduce fees while enhancing transparency and control. And with Lightstone DIRECT, you invest in single-asset multifamily deals alongside Lightstone — a true partner — as Lightstone puts at least 20% of its own capital into every offering. All of Lightstone’s investment opportunities undergo a rigorous, multi-stage review before being approved by Lightstone’s Principals, including Founder David Lichtenstein. How it works is simple: Just sign up with your email, and you can schedule a call with a capital formation expert to assess your investment opportunities. From here, all you have to do is verify your details to begin investing. Founded in 1986, Lightstone has a proven track record of delivering strong risk-adjusted returns across market cycles with a 27.6% historical net IRR and 2.54x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004. All told, Lightstone has $12 billion in assets under management — including in industrial and commercial real estate. As such, even if multifamily rentals don’t appeal to you, Lightstone could still serve you well as an investment vehicle for other real estate verticals. Get started today with Lightstone DIRECT and invest alongside experienced professionals with skin in the game. Besides real estate, there are other creative ways to diversify your alternative investments, such as gold. Gold has traditionally had a reputation for being a safe haven asset — and it often performs well during times of economic and geopolitical turmoil. Unsurprisingly, over the past year — amid tariff woes and geopolitical conflicts — gold became one of 2025’s best-performing assets, surging by over 50% in the 12 months leading to March 2026 while hitting a new record high of $5,589.38 per ounce in January 2026 (8). And although the latest U.S.-Iran conflict has caused the precious metal to retreat (9), it still might be a good opportunity to buy, especially while the prices are low. That’s because JPMorgan estimates the price of gold could reach a new record high of $6,300 by the end of 2026 (10). One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold. Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an option for those looking to help shield their retirement funds against economic uncertainties. When you make a qualifying purchase with Priority Gold, you can receive up to $10,000 in precious metals for free. Just keep in mind that gold is always best used as one part of a well-diversified portfolio. Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now. We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines. Seeking Alpha (1), (2); S&P Global (3); NASDAQ (4); Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (5); Redfin (6); CNBC (7); GoldPrice (8); Deutsche Welle (9); Reuters (10) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.