More than half of Americans plan to make a financial resolution this new year, with paying off debt as a top goal. One individual aimed to boost emergency savings, increase dividend income by 20%, and grow non-dividend passive income by 25% in 2025. The S&P 500 surged 18% in 2025, leading to a more conservative investment approach, with a plan to increase cash allocation to 10% by 2026.

In 2025, goals were partially met due to unexpected events, but emergency fund and passive income targets were achieved. For 2026, the aim is financial independence through three resolutions. Increasing dividend income by 25% is a priority, with a focus on high-yielding stocks like Realty Income. Passive income from alternative investments also saw growth in 2025, prompting a 40% target increase for 2026.

Considerations for investing in Realty Income are discussed, with Stock Advisor not including it in their top 10 list. Historical returns of other picks are highlighted, emphasizing the outperformance of the Stock Advisor team. Despite a slightly below target dividend income growth in 2025, plans to increase cash reserves and focus on high-quality dividend stocks are set for 2026.

Overall, goals of becoming financially secure in 2025 were met, leading to a focus on reducing risk and increasing passive income in 2026. While continuing to build cash reserves, the aim is to achieve financial independence by diversifying income sources. The plan is to invest strategically in high-quality, high-yielding stocks to reach ambitious financial goals.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: My 3 Top Financial Resolutions for 2026