If I were 34, married, and sitting on $100K, I’d think long term first. You still have a big runway ahead of you, so growth should probably do most of the heavy lifting.
Personally, I’d put the majority into low cost broad market index funds and let compounding work quietly in the background. Then I’d allocate a portion to dividend ETFs or REITs so you’re getting some steady cash flow along the way. I’d also keep some money liquid in a high yield account or short term Treasuries just for flexibility and peace of mind.
With $100K, realistic dividend income might be around $3,000 to $5,000 a year without taking unnecessary risk. It’s solid, but not life changing. At your age, focusing on growth and reinvesting is likely to build much more wealth over time.
It really comes down to whether you value steady income now or bigger compounding later. If it were me, I’d lean toward growth and let time do its job.
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