Rules for Investing I Wished I Had Used Earlier

I wished I had started using the following investing rules in my twenties:

• Don't lose money in the long term
• Safety first and get reasonable returns
• Don't bet against America
• Keep it simple

My investment accounts and retirement accounts would be higher than they are currently, by an estimated 2-3 times or even more, if I had simply invested in U.S. market index fund.

While I can't change my past, I have learned how to invest better for the long term.  I will follow these rules to invest for my children's savings and retirement accounts.

For more on Crossing Generations, check back every Thursday for a new segment.

This is not financial nor investing advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Consider Donating Highly Appreciated Stock

If one has long gains on highly appreciated stock, it may be beneficial to consider donating the stock instead of cash.   If one sells the stock to donate cash, taxes will need to be paid on the gains.  If one donates the appreciated stock directly, the fair market value (FMV) of the stock can be deducted as a contribution without paying any taxes.

Here is the tax efficiency:

• The contributor pays no income tax on the gains.
• The contributor deducts 100% of the FMV of the stock, if they itemize deductions on Schedule A.
• The receiver gets the FMV of the stock, if they sell immediately.

I've done this several times when contributing to charitable organizations.  It was satisfying to make a larger contribution while also eliminating our income tax liability for long term gains on appreciated stock.

For more on The Practice of Personal Finance, check back every Wednesday for a new segment.

This is not financial nor tax advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Ignoring Elder Social Media Scams

I use very little social media.   For the ones that I use, I mostly get requests from young and attractive women who ask to connect with me.  The requests range from advice, exchanging email/texts, to visiting in my city.   It is obvious these requests are not from people who normally speak English.  

Of course, I ignore and automatically delete.  However, I wish social media sites would use AI to screen out these elder scam requests automatically.

For more on Ideas You Can Use, check back every Tuesday for a new segment.

This is not financial nor social media advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

The Challenge for Job Applicants

The job market is going from ugly to really ugly based on the article below.

The US labor market ground to a halt in 2025. The risk in 2026 is that it 'cracks.' 

What can future graduating job seekers do?

There are no 100% sure ways to get a job, only opportunities.  

Here's what I think are the best opportunities:

• Let current personal connections, friends, family, church, and other regular social contacts,  know what job opportunities are of interest. Do this casually in conversation as a no pressure sharing of information.    
• Increase number of social contacts through join organizations or clubs of interest, volunteering, or shadowing careers of interest.
• Attend professional conferences in one's area(s) of interest.  Introduce oneself to other attendees or presenters.  

In 2024, we needed to find a new place to board my daughter's pet snake and hermit crab during spring break.  After boarding with a new veterinarian, I mentioned that my daughter was interested in shadowing a vet.   He gave me his business card and said, "Have her email me."    She did and shadowed him for a day a week during the summer.   At the end of the summer, he offered her part time work during her breaks from school.  

Some would claim this is luck.  My roommate from college would claim this is privilege.  I claim this is creating opportunity.   Of course, YMMV.

For more on Strategy and Plans, check back every Monday for a new segment.

This is not financial, employment, nor applying advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Higher Take Home Pay for 2026

With the passage of the OBBB bill in July 2025, many taxpayers should be able to get higher after tax take home pay in 2026.   This is because the OBBB tax changes are retroactive to 2025 and and people did not make adjustments to 2025 withholding.   One may want to make W-4 withholding changes for items that will be in effect until 2028.

Some possible adjustments are: 

• No federal tax on tips or overtime.
• Increased standard deduction amounts.
• Senior deduction up to $6000 per person 65 and older.
• Increase in Child Tax Credit to $2200 from $2000.
• Above the line charitable contribution deduction up to $2000 even if one doesn't itemize.

This may result in as much as $50-100 additional take home pay per month even if one isn't earning more.   However, YMMV.

For more on  New Beginnings, check back every Sunday for a new segment.

This is not financial nor tax advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Simple Investing Strategies

Here are some Keep It Simple investing strategies I have seen and I like:

Strategy #1

• Rule #1, don't lose money in the long term
• Rule #2, don't forget Rule#1

Strategy #2

• Safety first
• Reasonable returns
• Simple

Strategy #3

• Don't bet against America

I'm blending these three strategies for my children for long term (at least 20 years or more) investing in their retirement account by buying the S&P 500 index (or growth stock index) for their accounts and holding until they are in their sixties.

For more on Reflections and Musings, check back every Saturday for a new segment.

This is not financial nor investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Higher Medical Costs from Aging

"If I had known I would live this long, I would have taken better care of myself." ~ Mickey Mantle

"Growing old ain't for sissies." ~ Bette Davis

I didn't expect I would encounter significantly health issues and higher medical costs as I got older. I was wrong,

In my youth, I was very healthy and very athletic.  I played football from second grade through college, where I also played rugby.   I stayed active after graduating by playing rugby, even running a marathon in my thirties.   I rarely ever saw a doctor and usually healed quickly after minor injuries. Even to my early 60s I only had two prescription drugs, a statin and low dose aspirin.

Now, some of the injuries in my youth become chronic issues, such as arthritis of the joints.  In addition, I have severe coronary heart disease, despite no evidence of heart issues with my parents or siblings.  For 2024 and 2025, I have reached my out of pocket maximum with my health insurance.  

I expect further declines in health condition are likely as I continue to grow older and therefore, require increasing medical attention and costs. 

High health care costs is the hidden reason so many retirees run out of money   Both Mickey Mantle and Bette Davis were right about getting older.

For more on Reaping the Rewards, check back every Friday for a new segment.

This is not financial, aging, nor health care advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Managing Joint Aches and Pains

A noticeable health change in my later 50s and early 60 was the increasing occurrence of slight pain in my knee, ankle, hip and shoulder joints, especially after sports activities such as tennis or skiing. To wrap up 2025, I decided to make appointments with current and new orthopedic doctors for my joint pain, since I have exceeded my insurance out of pocket limits, meaning the visits are 100% covered by insurance.

Here's what each doctor did and said:

• X-rays were taken of each joint.   For the knee and ankle, there was no or little change from previous visit which showed arthritis issues.   For new areas, should and hip, x-rays showed no bone nor arthritis issue.
• Every doctor advised the course of action depends on pain level and negative effect on quality of life.  Action to be taken are as follows in approximate order:
• Rest and/or stretch
• Ice and heat treatment
• Brace
• OTC pain medication
• Prescription injections
• Surgery for replace

Basically, if pain prevents one from doing a desired activity, try the least intrusive treatment.   Move up treatment level if a current level doesn't reduce pain sufficiently to do the activity.  When the pain prevents one completely from daily activities after treatment, then the final course is surgery and replacement. 

Fortunately, I am currently at the rest/stretch treatment for most of my joints and  using a knee brace mainly for more stability.

For more on Crossing Generations, check back every Thursday for a new segment.

This is not financial, aging, nor medical advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Record High Long Term Capital Gains Distributions

With the excellent stock returns from 2023 to 2025, many mutual funds are making Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG)  distributions in 2025.  For 2025, I expect to receive the highest LTCG distribution since we started owning the funds in 2021.  

It's good because we are receiving almost 3X what we received last year, reflecting that the mutual funds have done well this year.   It's bad because I didn't find out estimates of the LTCG distributions until November  and won't be sure until the end of December of the amount, since some of the November estimates have been low.  As a result, our estimated tax liability for 2025 is slightly higher than I anticipated.

However, since we are still a couple weeks away from the end of 2025, we can sell some positions for a loss and/or make some charitable contributions in 2025 instead of waiting until 2026.   That way, we can reduce our tax liability for 2025 by taking these actions before the end of the year..

For more on The Practice of Personal Finance, check back every  Wednesday  for a new segment.

This is not financial nor tax advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Replacing Carpeting on Basement Steps with Oak Stair Treads

The carpeting on the stairs to our finished basement is very worn and soiled.  We have tried cleaning it over the years without much improvement, due to the nap being very compressed.

We've hired a wood flooring company to replace the carpeted steps with oak stair treads.   We were offered two options from different companies.   One company quoted doing retro stair treads that are designed to cap the existing treads.  The treads would then be finished in place. The second company quoted putting actual stair treads over the exist treads and adding a scotia.   The treads would be finished before being attached to the exist treads.

In both cases, we would be responsible for painting the risers and stringers after the treads were installed.

Tearing out the current steps and rebuilding new staircase was considered and discussed with another company.  However, they explained they only work with contractors who would do demolition prior to installation.  Thus, much more complex and costly.

We decided to go with the putting actual stair treads, instead of retro stair tread caps for mainly one reason.  The polyurethane was applied offsite and would be cured before being brought into the house.  Thus, less odor from from the finish which would be less respiratory discomfort for the family.  

For more on Ideas You Can Use , check back every Tuesday  for a new segment.

This is not financial nor remodeling advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC