Proposals to Save Social Security

Finally, Congress is working seriously on proposals to save Social Security.  Below are four of the proposals summarized.  

Proposal	Target Group	Key Mechanism	Projected Impact
Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Benefit Cap	High-income retirees	Cap annual benefits at $50,000 for individuals, $100,000 for couples	Could reduce Social Security spending by roughly $190 billion over the next decade and extend program stability
You Earn It, You Keep It Act (Gallego/Craig)	All Social Security recipients	Permanently eliminate federal taxes on benefits; expand payroll taxes to apply to all annual earnings over $250,000	Recipients keep full benefits; offsets cost via higher payroll taxes on high earners
Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act (Tuberville/Sheehy/Massie)	All Social Security recipients	End what is described as an 'unjust double tax' on Social Security benefits	Reduces tax burden for seniors while maintaining benefit levels
Cassidy-Kaine $1.5T Investment Fund	All beneficiaries	Invest $1.5 trillion in stocks, bonds, and other assets for 75 years to pay back Treasury and offset long-term shortfall	Independent analyses suggest high risk; may fail to cover shortfall 64–83% of the time

Hopefully, Congress will work seriously to solve the issue soon.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Entertainment from Stock Investing

Investing in the stock market used to be hard work and lots of worry for me.  I analyzed stocks, read reports and investment newsletters, and looked for value opportunities. I had to decide when to purchase and when to sell, which resulted in some anxiety when the stock when down after purchasing and rose after selling.  It was like having a stressful job.

Recently, I have changed our investment strategy to focus on creating a monthly "retirement paycheck" through dividend and interest payments.  This has reduced the pressure on me for choosing the best stocks for capital gains and deciding when to buy and sell.  Whether I make a right or wrong decision (either the stock choice or when to buy and sell), it has little effect on the monthly "retirement paycheck" we receive.

Now I consider buying and selling stock for capital gains like entertainment.  I set aside a small amount of funds that can be used for this purpose. If I make gains, great.   I end up with losses, that's OK too.  Best of all,  I can buy and hold comfortably and have fun watching the stock going up, hopefully.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Comfortable Hodling SAAS Stocks

I bought beat down SAAS software starting in February 2026.  These stocks have been on roller coaster ride since then.  Some dropping further and rebounding.  Some just dropping further.  Then most of them rebounded.   Unfortunately, all have fallen again, and some even to new 52 week lows.  It's ugly right now.

In the past, I would be itching to sell as soon as a position became profitable, and sometimes just at breakeven.  My attitude is different nowadays.   First, I am no longer dependent on stock gains to fund our retirement.  Second, I believe this stocks have good businesses, despite the concern that AI will eliminate a lot of current customers.  Third, I believe that these stocks will recover as results from using AI show that the cost isn't worth the actual benefit.

I have significantly reduced the impact of a loss, and therefore, minimized the risk for retirement income, due to creating sustainable income via interest and dividends.  This has allowed me to maintain conviction that the SAAS dip investment is good investment decision.   Thus, I hodl.

As usual, YMMV.  

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Social Security and Me

I started taking Social Security payments at 64.   At 68 and 3 months, I have withdrawn my own contributions, just the principal, no interest.   At 73, I will have withdrawn the entire contributions by my employer and me, again only principal and no interest.    When I'm 74, my benefits will be cut 22% if nothing is done by Congress to address the shortfall.

Net, I am glad that I didn't wait until 70 to start taking Social Security.  Also, I hope live past 73 so that will be able to withdraw an amount greater than was taking out for taxes. According to actuarial tables, I'm expected to make it to 82-84, but with the caveat YMMV. 😎

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

These are Scary Times for the Stock Market

I have been in the stock market since 1980.    TBH, I have always feared a crash like 1929 that started the Great Recession.  That fear has kept me from  being fully invested. 

I have been through several bear markets and short term crashes, each time fearing it would become 1929 again:  1987, 2002, 2008, 2020 and recently 2022.   With each decline/crash, I had great anxiety caused by losing significant invested funds.

Right now, I still think there is reason for caution, as shown by the Buffet Indicator, the Case-Shiller Index the AI bubble stocks.  However, I'm not as anxious as much as before, due to investments in "safer" fixed income options, such as CDs, Treasuries, and Municipal bond funds.  I expect these to help me ride out any significant crash or bear market, until it recovers.   In addition, I have some cash set aside to put in the market if it falls.  I haven't had this cash cushion in previous declines.

Of course, how I weather the next decline is theoretical since the strategy hasn't been tested in a downturn yet.   As Yogi Berra said, "In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.  In practice, there is."  

We shall see.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Test of My New Investing Strategy

Today, Micron (MU) reports earning after the market closes.  Possibility, there will be a lot of volatility after earning and guidance is reported, either up or down.  I'm going to just hodl and not worry about it with my new investing strategy, which creates a monthly retirement "paycheck" independent of market volatility.

Thus, I am hodling my shares of MU, without gritting my teeth.  Which ever way the stock moves after hours and tomorrow, won't affect my retirement "paycheck" this month.  In addition, I have conviction that memory chips will continue to be limited in supply, which means MU profits will be improving since the price of chips is going up.

Instead of checking on MU every minute of today, I power washed our deck, "touched some grass," and checked on MU during my breaks.

Update: Although MU closed down slightly, it was up about 16% AH due to outstanding earnings.  Woohoo!

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Social Security Projected Insolvency by 2032

Recently, the Social Security trustees reported the program is expected to be insolvent by 2032 , resulting in a 22% reduction in payments for Social Security recipients.   Ouch.  Congress needs to address this issue, which they've avoided even though its been known for many years.

I'm already disappointed that up to 85% of Social Security payments may be taxable (based on 1993 legislation) since we already paid income taxes before it was deducted from my paycheck.  For reference, Social Security payments were not taxable until 1983 legislation made up to 50% taxable. 

Now, I need to plan for a potential 22% cut on my Social Security payments, if Congress doesn't act.  There are number of proposals being proposed by Congressional members.  Ranging from removing the cap on income for the FICA tax to capping benefits for higher income recipients.  I prefer removing or significantly increase the income cap for the FICA tax.   I feel capping the benefits based on income is punitive for recipients who have paid into Social Security, which is effectively what a tax on Social Security benefits already does.

For reference, I don't think there is an easy or simple solution.  Unfortunately, I feel the eventual solution will have a negative impact and reduce my Social Security payments.  Another uncertainty and issue to worry about as retiree.  My backup plan will be to withdraw needed fund from IRA accounts, since I will be required to do RMDs when I turn 73.

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

This is not financial, social security nor legislation advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

TIL about Cunningham's Law

Cunningham's Law states "the best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer."   The reason is that people on the internet prefer to correct wrong answers that to answer a question.   LOL

I already have seen Cunningham's Law effect when I have discussion with people that have opposing views.  Rather than listening, they spend 100% of their comments correcting my incorrect POV.

The Super Saver Corollary to Cunningham's Law is that the responses still need to be sorted and evaluated since not every answer is right, and some answers will definitely be wrong.  This is especially true on Social Media like LinkedIn and Reddit where 100% of poster believe they are above average in intelligence.

Still, IMHO, it is important to remember Cunningham's Law and the Super Saver Corollary when interacting with most people.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Still Not Buying SpaceX

I'm still on the sidelines watching SPCX.  I'm waiting for it to fall below its initial IPO price of $135, which is below its opening price of $150 on June 12, 2026, the first day of trading.  At $135, all retail owners will be underwater, which may create a selling dynamic driving the price down further.

On the other hand, adding SPCX to the indices is expected to drive prices up, due to buying pressure. On June 29, 2026, SPCX will be added to the MSCI and Russell indices.  In early July 2026, SPCX will be added to the Nasdaq 100 index.  SPCX won't be added to the S&P500 until after a 1 year waiting period and achieving 4 quarters of GAAP profitability.  

The valuation of SPCX doesn't make sense to me.  It seems people are betting on Muskman to deliver extraordinary valuation like Telsa.   For reference, Telsa has a market cap greater than the next 35 car companies, despite being seventh in profitability.  Huh??  I guess that's the Muskman premium.

In 2025, SPCX lost $4.9 billion, yet valuation is about $2 trillion.  IMHO, the Muskman premium isn't worth that much.  I think I will wait until SPCX is under $10 before think about buying.  Today, SPCX closed at $157.73, down $30.40 or 14.74%.  

However, FWIW, I've often been wrong about tech/internet stock early valuation including many of the current top market cap stocks.

Disclosure:  I currently own Tesla stock (TSLA) despite being overvalued by traditional metrics.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Doing Kids Favorite Activities

My original parenting strategy was to influence my kids to like what I was interested in.  I put them in sports when they were younger.  I had them work with me on DIY projects.  I had them do daily tasks and errands with me. I took them to video game arcades.

The results?   Nothing since they had no interest.   No interest in most sports.   No interest in learning how to fix things, even though they asked me to fix many things.   Definitely, no interest in daily tasks and errands.  High interest in video game arcades, which they would do with me.  The kids did like there own personal gaming machines.

Recently, I decide to try some of my 13 year old son's interests.   He loves F1 racing.  I watched a documentary on F1 racing with him.   It seemed much more interesting than only watching cars going around a track.  There were interviews with the principals and the drivers.  Then I watched a Grand Prix race with him.  It was more interesting knowing who the drivers were. 

While I'm still not interested in attending an F1 race (and neither is he, yet), he now has an Apple TV account and can watch all the Grand Prix races live, and in replay mode.  I've been watching mostly the replays with him.  It's been fun and now I'm interested in F1 racing.  The best part is we're spending time together and having fun.

My new strategy is to be involved with my kids' favorite activities regularly.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC