Expecting Higher Long Term Interest Rates

Recently, I was thinking that buying 20 year treasuries yielding 5% was a good option to lock in a good interest rate.  After TLT, the 20+ year treasury ETF, was at it's all time low.    However, TLT was initiated in 2002.   I decided to look back further on 20 year and the interest rate hit 15.8% in 1981. Yikes, maybe 5% is that great of an option based on long term data.

Source:  https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/DGS20#

With the uncertainty of oil prices and inflation, which both have a high probability of going higher, , I stopped buying 20 year treasuries and TLT for now.  For now, I will short term money market funds to earn interest.

Will interest rates go higher?   We shall see.

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

This is not financial, investment, bond, nor interest rate advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Temporary Repair to Rusted Bathtub Leak

Periodically, we've had a leak from our second floor bathtub.  Typically, the leak shows up as a stain on our dining room ceiling.  Typically, I make some measurements which show it's likely coming from around the bathtub drain, overflow and faucet.  

In the past, I have re-caulked the bathtub wall tile interface that that seemed to work for a while.   When that stopped working,  I put a silicon funnel/spout on the overflow, since I thought the seal was leaking.  I also put a silicone funnel/spout on our master bath jacuzzi.   Both of these overflow solutions worked and solved the leaking tubs.

This recent leak, did not seem to be associated with caulking, since I just re-caulked to get rid of mold.   I checked the over flow drain and the seal was fine.   Finally, I checked the rusted area by the drain. I put a small amount of water in the area and it "disappeared" without going down the drain.  For reference, I had been painting the rusted area with acrylic refrigerator paint to improve the cosmetics.

I decided to buy an epoxy repair kit.  As I poked at the rusted area, chunks came and revealed a small how about 1/4" round.  I then used a drill to wire brush the area, which made the hole bigger and revealed another gap.

Rust around drain with touch up refrigerator paint removed:

I tried the white epoxy that I bought, but it was not viscous enough to effectively fill the hole.  I then used some gray JB Weld, which is slightly more viscous to fill the hole with 3-4 layers.   Then I covered the area with the white epoxy

Taped off to apply JB Weld and white epoxy:

Repaired:  Using JB Weld and white epoxy

While the repair is noticeable and not blended in, it is sufficient structurally to allow showering, and maybe even a bath.  However, the rust will continue and therefore, the bathtub will need replacing.  We're choosing to do it earlier, before another leak occurs.   In addition, we may choose to do a full bathroom remodel since replacing a bathtub requires replumbing, and retiling the walls.

Disclosure:  I was not compensated by JB Weld for this post.

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

This is not financial, repair, or do-it-yourself advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

I Don't Use Margin for Stock Investments

I never use margin, which is borrowing money to invest for stocks. 

While using margin can turbo charge or amplify gains, it can also quickly eliminate equity if the stock drops, resulting in a margin call which is a request for more funds to meet maintenance requirements or 100% liquidation of the stock or other position.  That is just too much stress and anxiety for me.   A stock falling 20% is enough anxiety for me; I don't need the additional stress of being required to deposit more funds or get liquidated.

I guess I'm never going to  make billions, like Leopold Ashenbrenner.  Then again, I won't get margin called and lose billions either, like what happened in July 2026.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Memory Stocks are Back - For Now

Despite the roller coaster volatility in memory stocks, I've been hodling.  Last week, the memory stocks roared back, not yet to all time highs, but within 10-15%.   That's good enough for me since they both dipped about 40% from the ATH.  My gains are about 25% since May 11, 2026.

My plans are to hodl until at least 100% gains, and then start scaling out.  The plan may change if the gains my never get that high, which is a possiblity..   

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Selling a Stock is a Difficult Decision for Me

I don't have a good methodology for deciding when to sell a stock. I usually base the decision on vibes or locking in a certain percentage of gains.  Unfortunately, this approach sometimes causes me to miss out on big gains as described in Panic Selling Winners Reduced My Investment Returns.  I tend to sell my winners, for small gains, especially after they have dipped significantly.

My spouse tends to ignore the volatility and just hodl.  As a result, she has up to 1800% gains on GOOGL which she has held since 2013.    On the other hand, I probably sold at 20 to 30% gains and never bought back in.  The difference is she held through all the dips instead of panicking and selling later.

That's what is difficult for me, holding after a big dip.  I have had some stocks go up 500-1000% which then go down  50% or more and never rise again.  Psychologically, I am afraid that will happen with any stock that rises and then dips.  So I settle for locking in profits at much lower gains.

I've only kept one profitable stock long term, stock from the company I worked for and retired from.  That stock is in my profit sharing retirement account, which was contributed 100% by the company.   I've held it partly because of NUA tax benefits, partly because of inertia of transferring the shares, and partly because it is a good company.  The shares are up 2700%.   Woohoo.

If only I was able to do that reproduce by not selling and hodling stocks like AAPL, GOOGL and AMZN.  Ah, hindsight is 20/20.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Making Bank on Buy the Dip Stocks - For Now

I bought the dip on SAAS software stocks in early February 2026.  They dipped further before rebounding overall for gains in March.  Then they dipped again in April 2026 and then rebounded again in May 2026.  The big swoon happened in June with most buy the dip stocks going underwater as much as 50% and flattening in early July.   Then another big rebound in late July and early August gave me the highest overall gains to date, despite a few stocks still being underwater.  

It's been quite a roller coaster ride.  The biggest gainer is TEAM, up about 75%, followed by MSFT, up about 25%, both of which were my largest share purchases.  Two fallen stocks are down about 5% and 18%.   In total, I'm up about 14%.  Not bad for a little over 7 months.

Data as of the close on August 12, 2026.

While I'm enjoying the gains, I have quit buying dips.   I continue to hodl to September,  just before midterms.

Of course, it works until it doesn't.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Becoming Addicted to Free and Fast Delivery

Many years ago, delivery came at a price that driving to pick up, for me, was more economical.  Even when delivery prices were lowered, I chose to pick up.   Occasionally, I would exceed the minimum for free delivery, which I would take.

Then came Amazon Prime, which offered free delivery for a membership fee.  At first, we did not become a Prime member.  Then our purchases began increasing, making a Prime membership worth it.   The local big box stores started offering free shipping when above a minimum threshold.   Sometimes, there are promotions for completely free shipping or members of the rewards program.

Nowadays, I often don't go the store anymore.  I research on the internet, place my order, and get it delivered in 1-2 days.  Sometimes, there is even free same day delivery.

I don't know if it's because I'm older; I don't like searching in the store; or I don't like the time it takes to drive to the store.  Whatever the reason, I'm using the internet more to buy items and get it delivered.

However, I still don't and I don't plan to order online and get delivery of groceries.  I still prefer to shop and pick out my items for purchase, especially the fresh produce, at least for now.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Starting to Sell Short Dated Covered Calls

Last week, I started to sell short dated  (1 month expiration or less) way out of the money (OTM) covered calls on some of my stock positions in my Roth account.   

Here's my rationale:

• First, I willing to sell at the strike price if it hits.  For example, I sold the 30 strike price with 2 weeks expiration when SLS was around 10.  I received $30 premium.  If the price triples in 2 weeks, great, I'm happy to sell. 
• Second, I make some extra money, known as option premium, for selling the cover call.

This works because some stocks have high IV (implied volatility) which makes the premium very high.  Not all stocks have a high IV.   SLS is a small biotech currently in phase 3 clinical trials, which results expected before year end.

I also sold a a short dated covered call on NNBR with a 5 strike with 2 weeks expiration for $20  premium when the stock was around 4.

It appears both call will expire worthless on August 21, 2026 and I will keep the premiums as profit.

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

This is not financial, investment, nor covered call selling advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Keeping Oil and Precious Metal Stocks

With Iran claiming that they are willing to wait until 2029 to end the war, I'm hodling (for now) my oil and precious metal stocks for now.  Oil reserves are very low, the dollar is weakening, and there is no end in sight for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

However, I am not buying more oil or precious metal stocks. I feel I have enough holdings already.  However, I plan to sell some holding into strength, especially if they rise to new 52 week highs.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Website Upgrade Complaint Miraculously Solved

Recently, I decided to give regular feedback to customer service about their website, rather than just put up with the issue.   Maybe it's working.

Over the weekend, my broker did a significant update to their website. I tried to login to a brokerage account website.  It wouldn't allow me to login.  I called tech support and their solution of clearing the cache worked.   When I logged in, the brokerage had updated the website.  Unfortunately, the website only showed 1/3 of the stock positions and there was no way to scroll down.  I reversed the alphabetical order and it only showed he bottom 1/3 of holding, but didn't allow view the first 2/3's.   

I called tech support again, but hung up after waiting 53 minutes.  I called a different number which was answered right away.  I explained the problem but was told that "the back office" was not in on the weekend and needed to be contacted Monday to Friday during business hours.  I said, "Please inform IT of the issue before Monday, if you can."

I hung up expecting to wait until Monday.  I tried logging in again and miraculously the "problem" was solved.  I was able to access all the stock positions.   

Finally, I admit that I'm often the first customer to report a website issue.   Maybe, IT was already working on it or maybe, my call in got some attention. 

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

This is not financial, IT nor customer service advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC