Kylie's Guide to Slayin' Your Finances: Dividend ETFs Edition

Volatility? I Don't Know Her!

Okay so like everyone's been freaking out about the market lately right? Daddy Trump and his tariffs... But honestly I'm all about staying chill and making smart choices. That's why I'm obsessed with dividend ETFs! They're like totally defensive which means they help you keep your money safe when things get cray cray. And guess what? Stocks are like totally trending up right now! It's giving major 'winning streak' vibes.

Ryan Jackson is my new Favorite Person!

Ryan Jackson from Morningstar who is now my new bestie! He says these dividend ETFs are like good in any market. "The ability to … stay competitive during rallies but hold up better during drawdowns I think is something that a lot of investors find attractive especially when you mix in the income that they're throwing off," he said. He gets it! It's all about that income baby! These ETFs throw off income like I throw off shade know what I mean?

Gold and Silver Medals? More Like Gold and Silver Spoons!

Morningstar which sounds like a yummy breakfast cereal made a list of their fave dividend ETFs for 2025. They're all gold or silver medalists which means they're like super legit. Plus they give you more yield than the market. Yas queen give me that money! Ryan said there's dividend income funds and dividend growth funds. It's like choosing between Birkin colors—both fabulous but different vibes.

Quality is Key (Like My Lip Kits)

Okay so Ryan (my new bestie) says the best part is that these ETFs aren't just about the money honey. They also look for quality companies. "The one thing that unites them despite their different styles is the fact that yes they are targeting dividends and targeting yield but they have — whether it's explicit or implicit — some sort of quality component to make sure you're not dipping into really high risk companies because that's the big concern with dividend and yield strategies," Jackson said. It's like making sure my lip kits are like non toxic. Gotta protect your assets both financial and facial!

Vanguard: Appreciate Your Dividends Darling

First up is the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF. It's all about companies that grow their dividends every year. It has a gold medal and a three star rating from Morningstar. 1.73% 30 day SEC yield and 0.05% expense ratio. Ryan says "You're making the trade off there — perhaps a little bit less yield but higher upside and a more favorable outlook," It's like trading a Bentley for a Rolls Royce—still boujee but a different kind of luxury. It’s a bit down this year but like so was my last relationship. We move on.

Fidelity and Schwab: Slayin' the Dividend Game

Then there's the Fidelity High Dividend ETF a silver medalist with five stars. It's a little more value oriented Ryan says. It has a 3.22% 30 day SEC yield. The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF is another gold medalist. It has a 3.94% 30 day SEC yield. "It's an excellent fund," Ryan says. "This is a good example of something that is balancing yield and quality." Basically it's the middle ground of dividend ETFs like the perfect nude lip color. It’s down this year but like who’s counting when you’re making money honey! WisdomTree and SPDR are also good choices.