How to Invest $2 Million for Income

Having $2 million to invest can ensure a lifetime income stream, provided it is wisely invested. This substantial amount requires thoughtful allocation across various asset classes to balance growth potential with reliable cash flow. The right investment strategy depends on your age, risk tolerance, time horizon, and income needs. Some investors might prioritize maximum current income, while others may focus on a combination of growth and income that can weather inflation over time. From dividend stocks and bonds to real estate and alternative investments, your options are diverse, but each comes with its own set of considerations.

A financial advisor can help put together an investing plan that does just that.

1. Bonds

Bonds are structured debt sold by corporations, the federal government or its agencies and municipal governments, whose bond interest is often tax-free. They are seen as a complement to equities for their stability and interest payments. A bond note is paid off over a period of years, at the end of which a bond is considered mature and the borrower has to pay back the full value of the loan, typically the face value of the bond.

You can invest in bonds directly or through funds. The latter option frees investors from having to wait for a bond to mature to sell; they can sell anytime. Prices for bonds and bond funds depend on three factors: interest rates, length of maturity, and rating (risky to very secure).

As an example, if you buy a two-year bond with a par value of $10,000 and a coupon rate of 5%, then you would get a $500 return each year, adding up to $1,000 total interest.

2. Dividend Stocks

Some investors use dividend stocks to build long-term wealth. With a dividend stock, the company will pay out a portion of its profits to stockholders. Dividend amounts can fluctuate depending on the profitability of the company. The dividend yield can also vary depending on the fluctuation of the share price. All dividend amounts must be approved by the company’s board, which can also cancel dividends.

Once you begin to build your portfolio to thousands of shares, you can then reinvest your dividends to purchase more shares. One weakness with dividend stocks is double taxation. Corporations pay taxes on their earnings before they pay dividends and then individual stockholders often pay an additional tax on this income.

As an example, if a company announces a dividend payment of $0.32 per share and you own 100 shares, then your dividend payment will be $32. The money will be deposited into your brokerage account. But for mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), payments will be divided among investors.

3. Preferred Stocks

Preferred stocks are different from common stocks in that dividend payouts must go to preferred stockholders before common stockholders get paid. These dividends may have a fixed interest rate or may try to match a certain benchmark, such as LIBOR.

This type of stock usually has a debt feature that may pay a fixed dividend amount as well as an equity component that may help the price of the share increase. This type of investment entices investors who seek the potential of stable future cash flow.

As an example, let’s say you buy a preferred stock for $38 and with a 6% yield, then you’ll get $2.88 per year in dividend income (multiply the market value of the stock by the current yield to get the dividend payment).

4. Bond Mutual Funds and Bond ETFs

A bond fund is a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund that includes a mix of different bonds and other debt instruments. Investors pool their money in the same way they would in a stock mutual fund. But whereas a bond itself does not lose value, a bond fund can lose value, for example, if the bond fund manager has to sell holdings in a rising interest rate environment.

Some bond funds focus solely on short-term investments. Others are designed for the buy-and-hold investor. Certain funds may attempt to track a specific benchmark or index. As with any mutual fund, fixed-income investors have many choices: investment-grade, high-yield, municipal, multisector and international.

Keep in mind that bond ETFs trade in real-time, but bond mutual funds are priced at the close of each day’s trading. You should also note that an expense ratio will be deducted from your investment income. Annual fees could be as high as 2% for mutual funds or around 0.1% for ETFs.

5. Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs)

Master limited partnerships or MLPs, are a way to invest for high yields. They are pass-through entities, which means the business itself isn’t subject to corporate income taxes. Instead, the income tax liability is passed through to investors, known as unitholders.

One of the most compelling features of MLPs is their tax-efficient structure. As partnerships, they avoid corporate taxation, instead passing income directly to unitholders. A significant portion of MLP distributions is often classified as “return of capital,” which defers taxation until units are sold. This tax deferral can be particularly valuable for high-net-worth investors managing substantial portfolios.

While the income potential is appealing, MLPs come with specific risks. They tend to be sensitive to interest rate fluctuations and commodity price movements, even though many pipeline MLPs operate with fee-based models. Additionally, MLPs issue K-1 tax forms rather than standard 1099s, which can complicate tax preparation. Investors should consider whether the additional yield justifies the increased tax complexity.

6. Real Estate

Another way to invest $2 million for income is to buy real estate for investment purposes. If you invest in the right markets, you may be able to see high returns. For example, let’s say you only use half of your money and purchase 10 rentals that average $100,000 each and rent them for $1,000 per month, per property. You’ll also need to account for closing costs, which may be around $3,000 per rental. This could lower your profit to $120,000 after five years.

But if you use the real estate as rental properties and those increase in value by 3% every year, you may gain an extra $150,000 in equity. Between your cash flow and the equity of the rentals, you may have enough income to help support your lifestyle. Many investors view owning real estate as a key component of their financial plan because investing in real estate can generate large sums of mostly passive income.

7. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

If you don’t want the headaches of owning rental properties, consider a real estate investment trust, or REIT. These are companies that either own income-generating rentals or own the mortgages on those properties. REITs offer a more hands-off approach to real estate investing. These securities allow you to invest in portfolios of income-producing properties without the responsibilities of direct ownership.

Many REITs pay attractive dividends, making them suitable for income-focused investors looking to deploy portions of their $2 million investment capital. Usually, REITs focus on one section of real estate, such as residential or commercial, but you can also find hybrids that have a variety of assets. You can purchase REIT shares through a company or a fund.

8. Annuities

An annuity is an insurance policy where you pay, either once or periodically, in return for a guaranteed income. The payments may begin right away or at a specified future date. The payments may last until you pass away or only for a predetermined period. It all depends on what type of annuity you have, and there are many types available. Think of annuities as both low-risk and low-growth investments.

For example, a variable annuity with a $2,000,000 premium might offer the holder a monthly payout of $9,735. Over a year, that amounts to $116,820, meaning the payout rate is approximately 5.8%.

9. Peer-to-Peer Lending

Peer-to-peer lending is a form of lending or borrowing that uses money from individual investors instead of banks or other financial institutions. Usually, an online platform, such as LendingTree, will bring together borrowers who need funds and investors willing to lend. When investing in a peer-to-peer lending platform, you will get notes that represent slivers of many of the platform’s loans. For example, a $10,000 investment could give you small stakes in hundreds of loans.

The return, though, can be much better than other fixed-income investments. Interest rates can range from nearly 10% to more than 30%. Know the risks: lenders can default; there’s no FDIC insurance, and underwriting standards are not up to the standards that banks use.

While returns can range from 5-9% annually, peer-to-peer lending carries default risk that shouldn’t be overlooked. Unlike bank deposits, these investments aren’t FDIC-insured. Historical data shows that during economic downturns, default rates can increase significantly. Consequently, most financial advisors recommend limiting peer-to-peer lending to no more than 5-10% of your overall investment portfolio.

10. Private Credit

Private credit refers to non-bank lending provided directly to companies, typically outside of public markets. It involves loans or debt investments that aren’t issued or traded on public exchanges. Private credit strategies can include direct lending, mezzanine debt, real estate loans and distressed debt, often targeting middle-market companies that seek flexible financing solutions. Private credit funds are typically managed by specialized asset managers or private equity firms.

Investors are drawn to private credit for its potential to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns, often through higher yields than traditional fixed-income assets like government or corporate bonds. Since private loans are usually structured with floating interest rates, they offer a natural hedge against inflation and rising interest rates. Additionally, these investments are backed by covenants or collateral, which can help mitigate downside risk.

Bottom Line

With $2 million to invest in income generation, you have plenty of options. Some investments are perfect for beginners, like ETFs, while others require more experience, like peer-to-peer lending. Each type of investment offers a different level of risk and reward. Before selecting an investment, investors should consider their asset allocation and how each investment may align with their goals.

Investing Tips

A financial advisor can help you put together a plan for how to invest $2 million. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Do you know how these income-generating investments can affect the risk built into your portfolio or what kind of bite taxes and inflation take out of your investments? SmartAsset’s free investing guide can help answer some of these questions.