Have $200 to Invest? This High-Yield Vanguard ETF Could Help Kick-Start Passive Income.

Core Insights - Investing for passive income through ETFs is considered more reliable than seeking pure capital appreciation [1][2] Group 1: ETFs and Passive Income - ETFs provide high liquidity, trade like stocks, and offer diversification by holding a basket of stocks [1] - Many risk-averse investors prefer dividend stocks for passive income, which can be more reliable than capital appreciation [2] Group 2: Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) - VCLT focuses on investment-grade corporate bonds with a weighted-average maturity of 10 to 25 years and has a low expense ratio of 0.03% [3] - Approximately 89% of VCLT's bonds carry an investment-grade rating of A or BBB, indicating a lower risk of default [6] - The fund includes high-quality companies such as Anheuser-Busch, CVS Health, and Goldman Sachs, which are unlikely to fail [6] Group 3: Risks and Market Performance - Bonds carry credit risk and interest rate risk, with values declining as interest rates rise [5][7] - VCLT has decreased by roughly 30% over the past five years due to rising interest rates, but investors will be repaid in full plus interest if companies do not default [8] - A decline in interest rates could help VCLT's price recover [8] Group 4: Dividend Yield and Performance - VCLT currently yields 5.62%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of about 1.15%, making it an attractive option for passive income [9] - The fund has consistently paid dividends since 2009, maintaining a strong yield despite some variations [9]