One popular way to retire early is with passive income. A steady and reliable stream of cash means you can relax without the stress of bills mounting up.

If you’re thinking about targeting passive income from investing, a key concern is which type of savings account to use.

A Cash ISA is one of the most popular options to reduce tax, but I think a Stocks and Shares ISA could be better in the long-term. The ability to select your own stocks can drastically increase potential returns — but only if you make good picks.

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.

So how can a British investor aim to escape the nine-to-five without taking on too much risk?

Crunching the numbers

According to the global cost comparison site Numbeo, the average monthly cost for a London family of four is £3,909.90 (excluding rent).

Let’s use the example of a 40-year-old aiming to retire by 60 and continue supporting their family. How could they bring in that much money?

To draw down £3,909.90 a month, you’d need to aim for roughly £46,918.80 a year. With that goal in sight, we can use typical market averages to formulate a strategy.

Let’s say you can afford to invest £500 a month for the next 20 years. Even if you achieved a higher-than-average return of 10% a year, you’d only end up with £379,684.

Using the recommended 4% retirement drawdown rule, that would pay out £15,187.37 a year. Barely enough for one person. However, if a dual-income couple were able to invest £1,000 a month, things would change drastically. At that level, the pot grows to £759,368 in 20 years, delivering £30,374.72 (at 4%).

That amount, combined with a basic State Pension, should be more than enough to get by. But which ever way you look at it, it’s a long time and a lot of money.

That’s why picking smart investments is key.

What to look for in long-term retirement stocks

Here’s a few things to look for when identifying retirement-friendly stocks:

• Consistent earnings and free cash flow.
• A dividend that’s covered by profits, not borrowed money.
• Low debt relative to cash generation.
• A business with pricing power, so it can pass on inflation.
• A long record of surviving recessions, rate shocks, and sector rotation.
• Reasonable valuation, so you aren’t paying too much for quality.

One good example that fits these criteria is National Grid (LSE: NG.). It operates regulated monopoly assets in UK electricity and gas transmission, with long-life infrastructure and predictable cash flows.

The bottom line

National Grid offers global-scale regulated assets, long-term contracts, and a dividend that’s covered by earnings and cash flow. That makes it a classic stock to consider for passive income in retirement.

It still faces clear risks, like interest-rate sensitivity and regulatory pressure. These can suppress price growth and have prompted moderate dividend cuts in the past.

But overall, it scores well on durability and income stability. But don’t just pick one stock — portfolio diversification is key, so aim for a mix of 10-20 stocks from various sectors.

Should you invest £5,000 in National Grid Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers and his team have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Twelfth Magpie Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets.

And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if National Grid Plc made the list?

Mark Hartley owns shares in National Grid.