Only Two AI Agentic Interfaces Work For Me

Most agentic interfaces are horrible.   I'm starting to immediately by pass them.  My health insurance, my main brokerages, many big box stores and even Amazon have terrible agentic interfaces.  All of them do not recognize my specific request of help, and usually offer something unrelated. My immediate request for these organizations is, "Customer service, please," even if I have to say it 30 times.  Then I complain to customer service about the pour agentic connection.  Their answer, "I know, it's bad."

However, a couple agentic interfaces work great for me:  Kroger's and Walgreens'.  Kroger will take care of my digital coupon and reward point issues immediately and accurately in the times that I 've called them.    Walgreens will take care of my prescription refills immediately and accurately also.  No complaints.

From now on, I'm immediately complaining about poor agentic interfaces and asking if my number can automatically bypass them. Otherwise, I will just repeat, "Representative," or something similar, until I get transferred to a real person.

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

This is not financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Muskman has Lost his Shine

SPCX, or SpaceX, hit new all time lows this week.  To me the appropriate ticker is SCAMX, since it is based entirely on Muskman's credentials, which have been sinking precipitously since SPCX has been offered to the public.   Investors seem to be realizing that Muskman is not all knowing brilliant, an maybe he just has been at the right place and the right time.

I have changed my mind about hodling my few shares of TSLA.  There are rumors Muskman plans to have SpaceX buyout TSLA.   Since Muskman has controlling interest and over 50% of voting shares, he can make it happen.   Unfortunately, I believe that will reduce the price/value of TSLA further than it has already declined.   

Thus, I plan to sell TSLA on the next bounce which may make my shares profitable again. Probably won't happen since this is more hopium on my part.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Dunning-Kruger Effect in Personal Finance

Mastery does not necessarily transfer from one area to another. Brilliant people in one area are not necessarily good at personal finance.

Sir Isaac Newton was a brilliant guy, who gave us the three laws of motion and created calculus. He also famously lost $4 million USD (in today's dollars) in the South Sea Bubble, saying: “I can calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people.” Mastery in physics and math did not translate into success in investing.

I've heard of couples making $500,000 annually and living paycheck to paycheck. Others are one missed paycheck away from losing their home or car. Mastery of a high paying job did not translate into success in managing money.

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

This is not financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Missing Parts Magically Appearing

I try to leave parts in "known" places so that I remember to look there again.  Often, I can find parts that I have placed over 5 years ago.  Recently, I replaced tail lights in two vehicles from parts purchased (due to coming in pairs) over 5 years ago.  It has been a relatively good system.  Of course, it works until it doesn't.  Lately some parts aren't where I thought they would be. Sometimes, I can't find them for months.  

However, in the past couple weeks, some parts that have missing for almost year reappeared miraculously, in a place I didn't think I put things.   I have a few theories of how this happened.

1. Gremlins.  Yeah, they come around in the evening a surreptitiously move the items.  
2. Multi-verse.  OK, I'm moving between parallel universes that are similar, but not exactly the same.
3. Memory lapse.   Unfortunately, this is probably the reason.  I put things somewhere and don't remember where I put it.

Currently, very few parts are MIA.   I continue to hope that these missing parts will show up...eventually.

In the meantime, I will reduce the number of locations I use for storing miscellaneous parts.

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

This is not financial, memory nor parts storage advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

McDonald's French Fries Sticker Shock

We hardly ever eat as fast food restaurants nowadays.  Maybe sometimes when driving on a trip and we didn't pack enough to eat.  

Recently, my son was in a tennis tournament, playing consecutive matches over 5 hours.   Although we packed food and drink for the session, we decided to get a quick bite when he had a longer break.  He didn't want much, just fries.  I ordered large fries, since I wanted to have a small snack too.  To my surprise, the large fries were $4.19.   Sticker shock.

 What happened to the dollar menu, when I remember fries were just $1?   My daughter told me that $1 fries are the regular promotional price if one uses the app.  Unfortunately, I prefer not to have nor use restaurant apps since I don't like them tracking me.  So, I'm not getting the McDonald's app.   And I'm not going there in the future.  Never again.

Disclosure:  I received no compensation for writing this post.

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

This is not financial, app nor fast food advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Launching Early and Modifying Doesn't Work When Cutting Metal

My career was with a company that manufactured a product.  Since we had to create and install machinery, we also were diligent and to time to make sure the product was right.  We were "cutting metal" and would be committed.

However, for software manufacturing, companies are now launching early and modifying on the fly in market. This makes sense since software updates are fast, cheap, and low cost to do.  This works as long as no hardware is involved, which is cutting metal.

Lately, some software firms are moving into hardware by creating data centers. This is cutting metal, and is difficult to adjust on the fly.   We've seen this issue as some software firms are now selling compute to companies that need data centers instead of using the hardware themselves.

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

This is not financial, business, manufacturing nor software advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

A Power Washer Is Must Have Tool for Me

One of my best tools is a power washer.   We have used it to clean our wood deck multiple times.  The power washer has also been useful on concrete (driveway and porch) , and brick (porch and veneer).  Finally, we also power wash our outdoor pots for our plants.

The best part is that we don't use any chemicals, just tap water.  Thus, there is no ecological issues with washing.

This is my second power washer, which I researched before buying.  The best advice I got was to buy one that had a kink resistant hose.   Kinking was an issue on the first power washer that I bought.

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

This is not financial, maintenance, nor do-it-yourself advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Is It Time to Add More Fixed Income?

Back in 2021, I bought a CD paying 1% because I agreed with Bernanke when he said interest rates would never be high again in his lifetime.  Well, Ben is still alive and interest rates are now up to 5%.   My 2021 CD matures this year and I can reinvest it.

Historically, 5% has been a very good long term interest rate.  I've already put some funds into the 20 year treasury bond yielding a little over 5%.   I will wait to see how interest rates move before making our next bond investments.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Success in Sports is 90% Mental

"Baseball is 90% mental.  The other half is physical." ~ Yogi Berra

My son is starting to learn the truth of that quote for tennis.  

Up until a few weeks ago, he was focusing on the physical part,  perfecting his forehand and backhand, and improving his footwork.  He was doing great in these areas, much better than I ever was.  However, he still rarely won a match in local tennis tournaments, even tough his skills were very close to his competitors. 

I had told his coach my observation that he was hitting well but wasn't trying to points.  His coach's advice was that will come with time and experience.

A couple months ago, I decided to help my son gains some experience.   Up until couple years ago, I could play competitively with my son despite him having better form and skills. However, about a year ago, he started to beat me regularly.  Yeah, I have some excuses, like recovery from major surgery, but the reality was he got a lot better.  

Thus, I decided to work on the 90% mental part.   One day, I told him at the start of match he was spotting me 4 games won and letting me have 15 points at the start of each game.  He complained that was unfair and almost quit playing.  He played anyway and I won both sets.

However, we have continued to do this.  Now every point mattered and he needed to work towards winning points, since losing a point was an issue.   Before long, he started beating me.   Then winning tournaments started happening regularly. 

He has made great progress and now I'm upping the stakes.  I've started to anticipate and disrupt his rhythm so that I can win points.   In addition, I'm taking advantage of his few weaknesses.   With him spotting me the same lead, I'm regularly winning a set or two.  I expect he will figure out how to overcome my plays and start beating me regularly again.

Yes, sports are 90% mental and my son realizes that much better than if I just explained it to him.

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

This is not financial, parenting, nor sports practice advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

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U.S. Issues with Debt and Interest Payment

Here's a brief article on the current status of the U.S. debt of $39 trillion.

Bessent's Treasury has troubling news for every taxpayer

I expect the economy will be in deep doo-doo in the next few years, if not sooner, if the Federal government doesn't take action to resolve the debt issue.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC