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3 Creative Ways to Generate Income in Retirement

3 Creative Ways to Generate Income in Retirement

Retirement income doesn't have to be limited to traditional sources like pensions or 401(k)s. This article explores creative ways to generate income during retirement, drawing on insights from financial experts. From innovative housing strategies to diversified income streams, discover how retirees can secure their financial future with these expert-backed approaches.

  • House Hack Your Way to Retirement Income
  • Secure Lifetime Income with Fixed Indexed Annuities
  • Diversify Retirement Income with Multiple Sources

House Hack Your Way to Retirement Income

As a pharmacist turned real estate investor who retired at 31, my favorite method to generate income in retirement is investing in real estate. It's a great way to increase financial security without having to re-enter the workforce. For example, if you own your home and have more room than you need, an easy way to get started is through house hacking, which means renting out unused rooms in your home. This approach helped me increase my financial stability by diversifying my income streams. Today, my portfolio is worth seven figures, and I get to help others who want similar results through my real estate coaching business. My advice? Start small. Even if you can't afford a standalone rental property, house hacking can help you make passive income in retirement.

Ryan Chaw
Ryan ChawFounder and Real Estate Investor, Newbie Real Estate Investing

Secure Lifetime Income with Fixed Indexed Annuities

One creative and reliable way I've found to generate income in retirement is by using a portion of my retirement savings to purchase a fixed indexed annuity (FIA) with a guaranteed lifetime income rider. It's a strategy that not only diversifies my income—but creates a consistent paycheck I can never outlive.

Most retirees think creativity means side hustles, rental properties, or dividend stocks. Those can work—but they also come with risk, stress, and unpredictability. A fixed indexed annuity, however, offers a smarter and more stress-free form of diversification because it turns your savings into guaranteed, tax-deferred income, while still giving you market-linked growth potential without risk of loss.

Here's how it works:

I rolled over a portion of my 401(k) into a RetirementPAYDAY Annuity, which guarantees that I'll receive a monthly check for the rest of my life—even if I live to 100. If the market performs well, my income could increase over time. But if the market drops? My income is protected. That's a level of predictability that other "income streams" just can't match.

My advice to others:

Don't rely on just one or two income sources in retirement. Diversify not just where your money is invested, but how it's distributed. Think beyond traditional investment strategies and consider guaranteed income tools like annuities to stabilize your financial future.

You don't need more volatility—you need more security and simplicity. And that's exactly what the right annuity can provide.

Sebastien Antoine
Sebastien AntoineMarketing & Operations, The Policy Shop

Diversify Retirement Income with Multiple Sources

Here are some ways to generate income in retirement:

1. Social Security

2. Pension

3. Dividend-Paying Stocks

4. Bonds

5. Income Annuities

6. Rental Income

7. Selling Your Business

My advice is to pick at least two of the income sources above in order to diversify your income sources in retirement.

Alex Sierra
Alex SierraCERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Cetera Investors

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