Tip of the day + trends

Passive income ideas today: Monday, October 26, 2026

Dividend funds hit records as AI jitters grow, US savings rates tick up, YouTube tests a Shorts bonus, and Gumroad sells from inside a chatbot

What's new in passive income today? 📈

1. 01

   Schwab's SCHD dividend ETF hits a record as investors hedge against AI bubble fears

   Source: Benzinga

   Benzinga reported on 24 October that the Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF had jumped 31.7% this year versus 12.3% for an S&P 500 fund and 15% for a Nasdaq 100 fund. Citing ETF Db data, it said SCHD took in over $24 billion of inflows since January, as healthcare, consumer staples and energy stocks rose while AI-related shares slumped.

   💬 Why it mattersBoring, dividend-paying companies are back in fashion, but a strong year after a long lagging stretch is not a promise about next year. More on Dividends & index funds →
2. 02

   Three big dividend ETFs beat the S&P 500 this year, but lag it over five years

   Source: 24/7 Wall St.

   DVY, SCHD and VYM each manage more than $10 billion and returned 17% to 35% in the year to 23 October, against 14% for an S&P 500 fund. Over five years, though, the S&P 500 fund returned 80% while the three dividend funds returned 61% to 72%. Their trailing yields run from 2.3% to 3.3%.

   💬 Why it mattersJudge income funds on total return (price plus dividends) over many years, not just on yield or one hot year. More on Dividends & index funds →
3. 03

   UK dividends jump 14.1% in the third quarter, led by banks and miners

   Source: interactive investor

   Citing the Computershare Dividend Monitor, interactive investor said UK payouts rose 14.1% to £28.4 billion in Q3, or 8.4% excluding one-off awards. Bank dividends rose 24.5% to £4.4 billion after big increases from Barclays, NatWest and Lloyds, and mining dividends rose 89.6% year on year.

   💬 Why it mattersDividends from banks and miners swing with profits and commodity prices, so this year's big rises can shrink in leaner years. More on Dividends & index funds →
4. Advertise here · reach people building smarter income →
5. 04

   US savings and CD rates edged up through October

   Source: YourBest / By The Math

   Tracking 2,205 deposit products from 362 US banks and credit unions, the study found the median high-yield savings APY rose from 3.35% on 1 October to 3.48% on 25 October, and the median 12-month CD from 3.70% to 3.80%. It recorded 623 rate increases and 44 decreases month to date.

   💬 Why it mattersIf your cash sits in a near-zero savings account, it is worth checking what insured alternatives pay right now. More on Dividends & index funds →
6. 05

   Investopedia's daily ranking puts the top US savings rate at 5.00% APY, with conditions

   Source: Investopedia

   In its ranking updated 23 October, Investopedia listed Axos Bank and Chime at 5.00% APY, followed by several accounts at around 4.20% to 4.40%. It compares these with the FDIC national average savings rate of 0.37% APY.

   💬 Why it mattersHeadline rates grab attention, but always check the fine print, such as direct-deposit rules, balance caps and promo end dates.
7. 06

   YouTube tests a Shorts bonus that rewards creators for posting consistently

   Source: Tubefilter

   YouTube is testing a Shorts Bonus Program for selected Partner Program members in the US, UK, Germany, Brazil, Japan and South Korea, chosen by YouTube and notified by email. The bonus is calculated on a creator's valid engaged Shorts views for the month, and Shorts monetization must stay on all month.

   💬 Why it mattersIt's invite-only and a test, so treat it as a possible extra, not a reason to quit anything; regular posting is still what builds a channel. More on Creator economy →
8. Advertise here · reach people building smarter income →
9. 07

   Indian creators say affiliate links and shoppable videos are becoming a real second income

   Source: exchange4media

   The 23 October report says brands in India increasingly want creator deals tied to measurable sales. Food creator Rishabh Kumar said affiliate marketing contributed nearly one-third of his YouTube Shorts earnings last month, while YouTube Shopping was around one-tenth of his total income, though most brand deals still focus on views.

   💬 Why it mattersRecommending products you genuinely use can earn commissions, but chasing the highest-paying products can cost you your audience's trust. More on Creator economy →
10. 08

    TikTok Shop US publishes stricter fall rules for affiliate creators

    Source: Niceggie

    The guide released on 22 October says promoted content must match the linked product, the price shown in a video must match checkout, buyers can't be sent off-platform to pay, and claims like guaranteed weight loss or disease treatment are restricted. Breaking the rules can mean content removal, traffic limits or account suspension.

    💬 Why it mattersIf you earn TikTok Shop commissions, accurate and honest promos aren't optional; one bad video can cost you the account. More on Creator economy →
11. 09

    Gumroad lets creators draft and publish products from inside Claude

    Source: Creators Toolbox

    Gumroad announced on 23 October a connector for Anthropic's Claude chatbot that can list products, create unpublished drafts, publish or unpublish them, and show recent sales and payouts. It can't upload files, take payments, issue refunds or delete products, and checkout stays on Gumroad. Sales access lets Claude read buyer email addresses.

    💬 Why it mattersAI can trim the admin of selling digital products, but the product itself still has to be genuinely useful, and you should think about what data you share. More on Digital products →