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FTSE 100 shares are a brilliant way to build a high and rising passive income for retirement. They offer the prospect of earning money without raising much of a sweat. There are risks though.
How much of a second income investors receive will depend on a string of factors, from the type of shares they choose to how long they hold them.
Build long-term income
Let’s say an investor is aiming to generate £777 each month, which works out at £9,324 a year. Using the 4% rule, which suggests investors can sustainably withdraw 4% of their portfolio annually without eating into their capital too much, they’d need around £233,000 invested to hit that target.
Some FTSE 100 shares yield as much as 8% or 9%, but these tend to be at the high end of the risk scale, because companies need to generate a lot of cash to achieve that. So investors shouldn’t purely target high yielders. Before choosing a stock, consider whether the business is likely to maintain or grow its payments over time. Diversifying across multiple holdings reduces the risk that one disappointing payout will derail the overall plan.
By investing regularly in a Stocks and Shares ISA over the years, dividends and share price growth compound, enhancing the portfolio’s passive income potential. Even modest yields can grow into a meaningful sum if given enough years. Patience, discipline and a long-term view are essential.
HSBC is a top FTSE 100 dividend stock
Picking the right shares is vital, but nobody gets it right every time. Even the top companies can take investors by surprise.
Take HSBC Holdings (LSE: HSBA). Shares in the FTSE 100 bank tumbled 6% on Thursday (9 October), after it announced the planned £10.7bn acquisition of Hang Seng Bank to consolidate its presence in Hong Kong. The dip may have shaken some existing shareholders, but others may view it as a buying opportunity.
HSBC shares have had a brilliant run, rising around 40% over the last year and 220% over five years, with dividends on top. The trailing yield is a pretty meaty 5.1%, and that’s forecast to hit 5.5% in 2026. The board has also been very generous with share buybacks, although that programme will now pause to fund the Hang Seng deal. That largely explains the share price drop.
Long-term rewards
Even so, I think HSBC looks well worth considering right now. The shares appear good value, trading on a price-to-earnings ratio of just over 10. However, tensions between the US and China have flared up again, and given HSBC’s heavy exposure to Asia, it will be caught in the crossfire.
Investors also worry about an AI bubble and the risk of a wider stock market correction, which would leave few shares unscathed. Those concerned might prefer to feed money in gradually rather than dive in headfirst
It may also make sense to build a balanced portfolio of around 15 to 20 dividend shares to spread risk. Then crucially, hold them for the long term. The real rewards of investing don’t come overnight, but from sticking with the plan for years. With luck, when retirement comes, that second income will roll in nicely.
