You need on average about $200,000 in the stock market to even make $500 a month in dividends and thats with ETFs not stocks. Imagine that money at a daily risk of losing $60,000 or more for a mere $500 a month in Dividends.
Yipee!!
Yipee!!
What does it take to not care? Own different categories of investments with a different set of return expectations. And one beautiful category is about cash flow.
My formula. Own one boring, steady as she goes set of investments. You know the company/fund is solid and therefore the dividend is solid, and you don't get alarmed at price fluctuations, and you know you will never need that money invested in this category, you just want the monthly dividend - you are happy with the cash flow it creates and do not chase growth. In fact....in this category, you hope the fund drops, you can buy more on the dip, own more shares, and continue to pull in your dividends, regardless of what the face value is. And over time it will grow, slowly and smoothly, and smooth is fast enough.
Then other magic happens. Once you have the secure cash flow you need, this allows you to take risks elsewhere. To chase the growth, return, etc. in your other categories.