# What is passive income and how can it make your money work for you?
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-06-30
Category: FINANCE
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/finance
Meta Title: Discover The Power Of Passive Income With ikigai
Meta Description: Learn from the co-founder of ikigai how to make passive income work for you and gain financial security and freedom. Start building income momentum today!
URL: https://financedigest.com/what-is-passive-income-and-how-can-it-make-your-money-work-for-youhtml

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_By **Edgar de Picciotto,** co-founder of_ _ikigai_ _, the beautifully designed digital banking app that uniquely combines financial self-care with wealth management, gives his advice on making passive income work for you._

When we talk about financial health, what we usually start with is: how do you acquire money, and how much are you bringing in? And the short answer is: your income. Knowing and understanding your income is a crucial part of being financially resilient and ensuring you have a positive relationship with your money.

However, income takes different forms – and not just in the literal sense of a salary band.

When we talk about income, most people automatically look at our jobs, although some – such as entrepreneurs, company partners or people working in [private equity](https://www.financedigest.com/procurementin-european-private-equity-investment-adding-value-to-the-boardroom.html "Procurement in European private equity investment – adding value to the boardroom.") – may have more complex income streams.

But there are other forms of [income too, such as the dividends that come from a successful investment](https://www.financedigest.com/birmingham-beats-brooklyn-and-brisbane-when-it-comes-to-off-plan-property-investment.html "Birmingham beats Brooklyn and Brisbane when it comes to off-plan property investment"), the interest earned on a savings account, or the rent you receive on your spare bedroom.

The difference with these types of income is that they require far less day-to-day work. They’re forms of [passive income](https://www.financedigest.com/5-mistakes-to-avoid-when-creating-passive-income.html "5 Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Passive Income").

**What is passive income?**

Active income includes salaries, tips and fees – all the things you’re paid for by an employer, whether that’s from full-time, part-time, freelance or contracted work.

Passive income, therefore, is money that [comes into your account](https://www.financedigest.com/why-is-accounting-coming-up-short-when-it-comes-to-new-hires.html "Why is Accounting Coming Up Short When It Comes To New Hires?") without directly working to earn it. Unlike your nine-to-five, passive income continues to [flow into your accounts](https://www.financedigest.com/controlling-your-business-cash-flow-with-effective-accounts-receivables-turnover-ratios.html "Controlling Your Business Cash Flow With Effective Accounts Receivables Turnover Ratios") no matter what you’re doing – even if you’re retired, sick, or taking a holiday.

If you look at the definitions, then passive income is different from your active income because it’s working for you even when you’re not working for it. The benefit of passive income is that it makes you less reliant on your salary, [giving you more security and freedom when it comes to your money](https://www.financedigest.com/nearly-half-of-parents-still-give-pocket-money-to-their-adult-children.html "Nearly half of parents still give pocket money to their adult children").

**Does passive income mean I don’t have to work for it?**

In many ways, the phrase ‘passive’ income is a misnomer.

Almost all passive income concepts require some heavy lifting before they can be [left to do the hard work](https://www.financedigest.com/finance-teams-have-been-left-in-the-dark-on-the-real-cost-of-working-from-home.html "Finance teams have been left in the dark on the real cost of working from home") for you. In most cases, setting up a passive income stream requires you to [invest time or money](https://www.financedigest.com/ethical-property-investment-can-your-money-do-more.html "Ethical property investment: Can your money do more? ") – often both – into an asset that will, in due course, start paying you back.

Whether monetising a blog for extra income via affiliate links, or renting out a spare room in your property, the reality is that you need to [spend time upfront in order to create the momentum required to keep the money](https://www.financedigest.com/student-finances-exposed-how-do-they-really-spend-their-money.html "Student finances exposed: How do they really spend their money?") coming in further down the line.

This doesn’t necessarily undermine the principles of passive income, but it’s important to remember that passive income is not a ‘get rich quick’ solution.

**So how can I start to build income momentum?**

There are a number of ways to begin earning through secondary means.

Many options involve monetising an asset that you already own – such as a blog or a [social media](https://www.financedigest.com/ai-and-social-media-are-revolutionizing-personal-finance-in-2023.html "AI and Social Media Are Revolutionizing Personal Finance in 2023") channel, a spare room or a parking space. You could also create new [assets that you can sell](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-cineworld-to-not-sell-assets-individually-denies-talks-with-amc.html "UK’s Cineworld to not sell assets individually, denies talks with AMC"), like an ebook or online course.

Historically, earning interest on your savings could contribute a small [amount to your income each year](https://www.financedigest.com/synechron-continues-to-shine-with-expected-record-revenue-growth-of-28-amounting-to-405m-in-the-financial-year-2016-17.html "Synechron continues to shine with expected record revenue growth of 28% amounting to 5m in the financial year 2016-17"). However, as a result of the particularly low [interest rates](https://www.financedigest.com/interest-rate-and-recession-fears-knock-stocks-and-oil.html "Interest rate and recession fears knock stocks and oil") currently available on savings accounts, it’s no longer feasible to earn considerable interest. In fact, you could even be losing [money by holding it in a savings](https://www.financedigest.com/money-saving-hacks.html "Money saving hacks") account, thanks to inflation.

**[Investing offers opportunities](https://www.financedigest.com/private-equity-firms-hungry-for-investment-opportunities-but-business-owners-must-be-cautious-2.html "Private equity firms hungry for investment opportunities, but business owners must be cautious"), too**

[Investing in anything means that your capital is at risk, but there are benefits to investing that can help you achieve your financial](https://www.financedigest.com/how-financial-services-leaders-can-prioritise-cybersecurity-investment.html "How financial services leaders can prioritise cybersecurity investment") goals sooner and in some cases even generate a passive income.

For example, if you invest in certain stocks or funds, you can [earn a dividend](https://www.financedigest.com/norways-dnb-announces-dividend-after-posting-record-q3-earnings.html "Norway’s DNB announces dividend after posting record Q3 earnings") income. These are amongst the easiest ways to earn a passive income, often [requiring you to simply set up a brokerage account](https://www.financedigest.com/whats-required-of-accounting-to-build-a-better-tomorrow.html "What’s required of Accounting to build a better tomorrow"). There are still considerations – they’re never guaranteed, and rates may go up, down or even be cancelled. Likewise, yields can vary from a fraction of a per cent to more than 10% with dividends, but these are usually clearly stated on the [asset for investment](https://www.financedigest.com/angels-and-assets-should-wealth-managers-take-an-interest-in-angel-investment.html "Angels and Assets: Should Wealth Managers Take an Interest in Angel Investment?"). To make dividend income a more reliable source of income, you need to think strategically – do the research and ensure you diversify your portfolio.

The same goes with other kinds of investing. While the act of investing in things like [stocks and shares](https://www.financedigest.com/energy-stocks-boost-european-shares-ahead-of-ecb-minutes.html "Energy stocks boost European shares ahead of ECB minutes") is relatively passive, the research that goes into it is active. In many cases, it requires reading annual reports each day, to better understand whether or not a [business is a good investment](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-uk-crisis-forces-off-kilter-businesses-to-halt-investment.html "Analysis-UK crisis forces ‘off kilter’ businesses to halt investment").

If you are unable to commit the time to this level of oversight, one option is to set up a fully-managed portfolio with a wealth management provider such as ikigai. This allows you to [invest without having to do as much of the research](https://www.financedigest.com/equity-markets-show-strong-end-of-year-performance-in-camradatas-q4-2017-investment-research-reports.html "Equity Markets Show Strong End of Year Performance in CAMRADATA’s Q4 2017 Investment Research Reports") yourself. As well as saving time, portfolios are pre-built meaning they are often diversified and can be matched to your [risk appetite](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-dollar-climbs-to-two-year-peak-as-risk-appetite-tumbles-yuan-drops.html "U.S. dollar climbs to two-year peak as risk appetite tumbles; yuan drops").

Ultimately, a passive income is at its most [powerful when it makes your money](https://www.financedigest.com/giving-women-the-power-to-make-money-and-take-control-of-their-destiny.html "Giving women the power to make money and take control of their destiny") or assets work as hard for you as you do in your job.

By doing some research to find the method that best suits your life and goals, you can make the most of what you have and grow your wealth without compromising your [financial health](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-fintechs-better-engage-zillennials-with-their-financial-health-the-answer-lies-in-speaking-to-them-in-their-own-language.html "How can fintechs better engage Zillennials with their financial health? The answer lies in speaking to them in their own language").


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