What would you do with $150k just sitting in VOO?

I’ve got $150k sitting in VOO, thanks to an ESPP. I’m 40 with 8-year-old twins, and I don’t really have any specific plans for the money yet.

Would you leave it in VOO, buy an investment property, or maybe do something else? My goal is to create some passive income down the road. Open to ideas and hearing what you’d do in my shoes.

I had a similar thought and almost bought an investment property. My dad, who owned a few properties, asked me, ‘Could you evict a family if the parent got sick and couldn’t pay rent?’ That made me think. Instead, I bought some land, but after 10 years, it’s cost me more in taxes and maintenance than it’s worth. Meanwhile, if I had left that money in VOO, it would’ve doubled. Think hard about how much effort you want to put into your investments.

@Teo
I never considered the eviction side of being a landlord. That would definitely weigh on me.

@Teo
Thanks for sharing your story. It’s a good reminder that not every investment works out.

@Teo
Have you looked into government programs like carbon capture or other land use incentives? You might be able to make money off your land while helping the environment.

Hayes said:
@Teo
Have you looked into government programs like carbon capture or other land use incentives? You might be able to make money off your land while helping the environment.

Interesting, but I have no idea how to do that. Any suggestions or links to start?

@Teo
Start by contacting your state’s land grant university’s extension service. They usually have experts who can guide you for free. In Ohio, check out Ohio State University Extension.

Ty said:
VOO is a solid choice if you want to keep things simple. Investment properties are a lot more work than people realize, and they’re not guaranteed to pay off.

Agree. Being a landlord is a nightmare unless you enjoy dealing with broken toilets and bad tenants.

Unless you’re in the real estate business or really enjoy managing properties, I’d skip the investment property. Talk to a financial advisor about diversifying your investments if you want other options.

VOO is fine, but don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Markets can have rough decades, like the Nikkei in Japan. Diversify into some bonds, international stocks, or even a little gold to protect yourself.

Use it to pay off debts first, if you have any. If not, keep it in VOO or look into dividend-paying ETFs for passive income.

Levi said:
Use it to pay off debts first, if you have any. If not, keep it in VOO or look into dividend-paying ETFs for passive income.

I only have a mortgage at 2.875%, so it feels like free money.

I’m in a similar situation. My home sale gave me around the same amount, and I’ve been thinking about splitting it between a HYSA for emergencies, maxing out my IRA and HSA, and putting the rest into VOO or a 529 for my kids.

VOO is great for passive growth, but if you want income, consider dividend ETFs or REITs. Real estate can be good, but only if you’re ready to put in the work or hire a property manager.

You could also check out SCHD or VIG for dividends if you want some income.

If you don’t want the headaches of real estate, just let the money grow in VOO. When you’re closer to needing passive income, start shifting into dividend-focused investments.

Split it between VOO and NVDA if you want some growth and exposure to tech. Or keep it simple with just VOO.

Bitcoin and XRP if you’re feeling adventurous. Otherwise, VOO is safe and steady.

VOO is solid, but if this is most of your portfolio, maybe look at diversifying into bonds, international stocks, or even commodities like gold.

Look into dividend stocks or ETFs like SCHD for some income along with growth.