### Dividend Investor Shares Lessons and Top Picks After Earning $9,495 Monthly

An investor, who recently shared his experience on the r/Dividends discussion board, reported earning a substantial monthly income of $9,495 from dividend stocks and ETFs. Reflecting on his investment journey, the investor expressed his regret for not prioritizing dividend stocks sooner.

Starting his portfolio with $60,000 saved in a 403(b) retirement plan from his first job, the investor managed to grow his initial investment to an impressive $1.2 million over 27 years. His strategy primarily focused on growth stocks and ETFs like SPY and QQQ. However, after retiring in 2022, he shifted his focus to dividend investing, which now yields him nearly $113,949 annually.

The investor's largest holding is the JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI), where he owns 5,323 shares valued at approximately $288,187, generating $32,933 in annual dividends. His second-largest position is the JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ), with 7,678 shares worth around $268,275, yielding 9.2%.

Other significant holdings include the Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ), where he owns 544 shares yielding about 0.6%, and The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) with 433 shares, which pays him $2,792 in annual dividend income. Additionally, he owns 5,820 shares in Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC), providing a 9% yield and generating $11,174 annually.

The investor also holds smaller positions in funds such as Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF (RYLD), valued at $82,000 and yielding 12%, the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) and the YieldMax TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF (TSLY), which has a notable distribution rate of over 60%.

Other components of his diversified portfolio include the Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund (GOF), holding 776 shares and yielding $1,695 annually, and the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond BuyWrite Strat ETF (TLTW).

The investor's strategy showcases the importance of diversifying and adapting one's focus, emphasizing the potential of dividend investing for generating significant income during retirement. Despite his regret of not switching to dividends earlier, his current strategy has successfully secured a steady and substantial income stream.