A Glimpse Inside My Income Portfolio

Hi Folks,

In my last newsletter, I talked about why I shifted toward income ETFs way less excitement, more consistency.

This time, I want to go deeper.

Below is one half of my income ETF holdings, how many shares I own, and the specific role each one plays in my portfolio.

This isn’t about copying positions.
It’s about understanding the thinking behind them.

Shares held: 481.5051 (can you tell I have DRIP activated? 😉)
Role: Conservative income / portfolio anchor

HHIS is the backbone of my income strategy.

At its core, HHIS is a diversified income ETF designed to generate steady cash flow while keeping volatility in check. It does this by holding a mix of income-producing assets rather than relying on a single source of yield. The focus isn’t on swinging for returns — it’s on consistency.

I hold it because it prioritizes:

This is the ETF that helps me stay invested when markets are noisy. It’s not designed to be exciting — and that’s exactly the point. When this position is doing its job, my portfolio feels stable even when prices elsewhere are moving around.

Income received last month: $127.23 (DRIP enabled)
Every distribution gets reinvested automatically, quietly adding more shares in the background. When markets get choppy, this position compounds without asking me to make emotional decisions.

Shares held: 159.5245 (Don’t you love numbers that exceed 4 decimal places)
Role: Dividend-focused income

HDIV adds another layer of income while maintaining exposure to dividend-paying companies.

At its core, HDIV is an equity income ETF that blends dividend-paying stocks with an income-first structure, aiming to generate consistent cash flow without relying on individual stock selection.

I hold it because:

HDIV helps boost overall portfolio income while staying aligned with my income-first philosophy.

Income received last month: $28.94 (DRIP enabled)
Instead of sitting in cash, the income immediately buys more shares — slow, steady, and automatic.

Shares held: 181.6377
Role: High-yield income from growth-oriented companies

QQQY is the most aggressive income ETF I hold.

At its core, QQQY generates income by using an income-overlay strategy on growth-heavy companies, particularly in the tech space, aiming to convert volatility into regular cash flow rather than relying on price appreciation alone.

I hold it because:

This position comes with higher yield and higher complexity which is why I keep it intentionally sized and monitor it more closely than my other holdings.

Income received last month: $57.46 (DRIP enabled)
Rather than reacting to volatility, DRIP turns that income into more shares. It helps keep emotion out of a position that can otherwise feel noisy.

Each ETF has a job. Nothing here is random.

Put together, the cash flow feels smoother and the portfolio feels easier to hold onto when markets aren’t cooperating.

I’m not trying to squeeze out every last dollar of yield.
I’m building income I can trust and stick with through full market cycles.

This is only half the picture.
In the next newsletter, I’ll break down the remaining income ETFs I hold, why they exist in my portfolio, and how they support the overall income stream.

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