$396,000 Dividend Portfolio Update #1

How I’m Using Stocks, ETFs, and Options to Reach $1 Million

Most people share opinions. Fewer share receipts. Today I’m opening the curtain and walking you through my actual portfolio. Every fund, every stock, every decision reflects how I’m building income, protecting downside, and positioning for long-term wealth.

This isn’t a theory post or a thought experiment. This is what I genuinely hold. It reflects hundreds of hours spent studying markets, researching income strategies, testing risk tolerance, and learning through wins and mistakes. There’s a reason behind every line item.

The goal is simple. I want to build a portfolio that pays me now and builds freedom later. That means generating high income today, while stacking quality assets that grow over time. I’ve designed this portfolio to function like a machine that gets more efficient the longer I keep feeding it.

In the rest of this breakdown, I’ll walk you through how I’ve built this mix of growth, stability, and passive income. I’ll share my sector allocations, income strategy, and how I use leverage to accelerate the process. If you’ve ever wondered what a dividend-first, growth-backed portfolio looks like in the real world, this is it.

How the Portfolio Is Structured

My portfolio is built around one core philosophy: cash flow first, capital growth second. I want income I can rely on, but I also want to own assets that get more valuable over time. That balance drives every decision I make.

All Holdings & Three Strategic Pillars

This portfolio is designed around three core segments, each serving a specific purpose. Here is the breakdown of my holdings by market value: