We Didn't Do a Prenup

When my spouse and I got engaged 32 years ago, we did not do a prenup.  We didn't even consider doing one, even though I had more assets that she did, by owning a house.  However, in total the amount of assets for both of us wasn't much, maybe about $100,000, not including retirement accounts.   

We've always mixed our finances, even when I was the only wage earner. We shared a joint checking and savings account.  It's been that way every since we've been married.  We did have a soft budget, trying to manage costs where possible, especially for large purchases.  

It's a different world for out kids  They may have significantly more assets based on inheritance and be able to protect them without a prenup.   We have planned for that with our trusts that become irrevocable when we pass away.   By keeping the inherited asset in the trust, even after they get married, it remains 100% theirs in the case of a divorce, since a irrevocable trust is NOT marital property which can be claimed by the spouse.

Hopefully, they will stay married and not need a divorce.  If the do have a divorce, assets inherited from us will be protected as long as they remain in the trust.

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

This is not financial, marriage, nor prenup advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Feels Like the End of the Roaring 20s

Here's my latest Vibe:

100 years ago, there was the Great Depression.   Nothing could go wrong until it did.   Although I wasn't alive in the 1920s, this decade feels a lot like I imagined the 1920s to be.  Exuberance, wildness, ruliness and a unrelenting upward stock market.   What could go wrong.

Maybe now is the time for a little more caution, because not all possibilities are priced in.  Being regarded my be the worst right now.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Vacation Home - Just Say No

It used be that a vacation second home was a symbol of wealth.  It was a sign that one had achieve financial success.  However, that was then.  Now, vacation homes are become an anchor, in more ways than one.

Vacation homes were once real estate's hottest play. Now they're a nightmare.

We didn't consider getting a vacation home since that meant:

• Maintenance costs for another home, that may be distant, and used only a few weeks a year.
• Committing to visiting as much as possible, so that it would "payout."   Hint, it doesn't.
• Limiting other vacation choices.

Without the anchor of a vacation home, we can choose, with no regrets, any location we wish to visit.   In addition, paying for hotel costs is far lower than the costs of owing and maintaining a vacation home. Finally, we don't need to decide who will inherit the vacation home when our time comes.

Given the current situation, it looks like we made a good decision not to "invest" in a vacation home.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Preparing for Volatility After Midterm Elections

I expect there will be significant volatility in stock prices and interest rates shortly after the midterm elections.  Here's how I'm preparing for the possibility:

• Keeping cash in short term T Bills and market funds.   If interest rates increase, which I expect them to, I can invest these funds into long term fixed income.  If interest fall, I'm OK with interest from these bonds and funds even though the principal declines.
• Be ready to buy stocks on a discount, especially the total market index funds.  I will buy some GOOGL if it drops below $300, which would be over a 25% decline from the ATH.
• Buy some November 6 DTE put options on SPY.  I'm looking at 550 or higher strike prices.
• No matter what happens, just chill and HODL.

I've survived the worst in my lifetime: 1987 crash, the 2002 dot.com crash, the 08/09 Great Recession, the 2020 Covid crash and the 2022 bear market.   Each one has made us strong.  I think I will survive the 2026 volatility.   

Bring it on.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Get Paid to Transfer funds to Current Brokerages

As I look to consolidate brokerage accounts, one of my current brokerages offered to match any major brokerages bonus for opening a new account.  However, I don't need to open a new account.  I can add funds to an existing account.

I was already thinking to consolidate accounts and reduce the number of brokerage firms we use.  Now I have an financial incentive to do it.  One just has to search for brokerage promotions.  The bonuses range from $50 to $10,000 depending on the amount added.   Of course, I will be no where near $10,000 but even $50 make is worth considering.  I'm going to ask for a matching bonus when transferring funds.

One needs to read the terms and conditions, for example how long new funds are in account,  to make sure one qualifies.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Good Leverage when Negotiating - Being Able to Walk Away

Being able to walk away may be one of the best negotiating approaches.

My best example was when I was selling a property. I negotiated that the buyer had to give me an a $5,000 nonrefundable fee before filing to change the zoning to commercial.  I knew if they backed out of the sale after rezoning, my real estate taxes would go up significantly and the fee would cover the increase.  When they requested my signature to authorize rezoning, I asked for the $5,000 nonrefundable payment in the contract.   They objected saying they couldn't risk $5,000 if the rezoning was denied and threatened to back out of the deal, which was legal.  I told them, "You guys are smarter than me in real estate.  If you think it is a big risk, I won't disagree with you and I'm not taking on your risk."  The next day, they called and verbally told me they were ending the contract.

I didn't panic.  I calmly told my attorney the buyers were planning to terminate the deal and assumed they would send the official letter.  I thought about alternate buyers who had expressed some interest.   I knew I wouldn't be released from selling until I received written termination and waited.  Two days later, I stopped thinking about selling the property to the current buyer and started working on our landscaping.   Then, my daughter yelled out to the yard that I had a call from the buyer's broker.

Although I didn't particularly want to talk to him, I went to the phone.   He said, "The buyer wants to continue with the deal and needs your signature today."   I said, "Per the contract, I will FedEx my authorization to the escrow lawyer who is in charge of ensuring the non refundable money is paid before transferring the document to the buyer."   The broker said, "But we need it this afternoon."   I said, "I'll send the authorization to the escrow attorney, per the contract."  

Again, the buyer was trying to put pressure on me, and I was willing to stay with the contract, even if at a risk of losing the sale.  Soon we reached a compromise, based on advice from my attorney.   The buyer would wire me the money immediately, and I would fax them the authorization when received.   Although the timing was tight, we were able to complete the transaction in time for the buyer to receive the documentation needed.

Disclosure: Details, that would allow the buyer and seller to be identified, have been changed to keep them anonymous.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Consolidating Brokerage Accounts to Simplify

When I was younger, I used multiple brokerages (for diversity of benefits and safety) and created multiple accounts for different strategies.  This was helpful during the Great Recession of 08/09 when some brokerages had financial difficulties, with some even going bankrupt, such as Lehman, or money markets funds breaking the buck.  Although, we didn't lose any money, I maintained having multiple brokerages.   In addition, during the teens, at one brokerage I was experimenting with 22 different investment strategies and created an account for each one.

I've decided we have too many accounts and am working to simplify.  My goal it to get down to one brokerage with 6 accounts, titled for a Roth, Traditional IRA and Taxable account for my spouse and me.  This should make it easier to manage and trade and give us a single point of contact.

This weekend I started the process of merging and reducing accounts in our brokerages for a future transition to few brokers.  At this point, I think we can get to 2 brokers.  We shall see.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Will the Stock Market Go Up or Down Immediately after Midterm Elections?

Yes, it will (go up or down), but really I don't know.  If I did really know, I wouldn't be telling anyone.  I would just buy options and become the next billionaire or even trillionaire.😎

Remember, as Yogi Berra once said, "It's hard to make predictions, especially about the future."

Anyway, here's what I expect:

• If the Democrats take the majority in one or both houses, I expect the market to decline immediately, but recover.
• If the Republicans keep the majority in both houses, I expect the market to decline immediately, but recover.

Net, I expect the same downward initial reaction and then recovery no matter which party wins the majority in Congress.

Investors, Hedge Funds, Market Makers, and Gamblers will react negatively first and then return to advancing the stock market.  That's what I expect based on all the reactions to negative news over the past 2 years. Of course, it works until it doesn't.

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

Continuing to Sell Software Stocks for a Profit

Yesterday, I sold about 10% of the software SAAS stocks I bought on the dip in February 2026.  While AI and memory stocks were hit hard (6-12% declines), software stocks actually advanced.  I took the opportunity to start taking profits.   In some cases, the price of stocks I sold advanced 2-3% higher.

Hopefully, the software stocks will continue to advance today, allowing me to exit some more with higher gains.  While I have gains as much as 100%, I no longer have conviction the rally will continue much longer.  Also, there is significant uncertainty with the midterm elections.  Thus, I will continue to scale out the software stocks I bought in February 2026, but will continue to hodl the core positions in the previously managed account.

Crossing my fingers for a bounce for the stock market and/or continued upward momentum for software stocks.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Reversion to Normal ...

Futures are showing a likely decline in the market today.

What could go wrong?

Remember when

• wars/conflicts, 
• inflation, 
• increasing interest rates, 
• increasing U.S. debt, 
• high personal debt
• more debt defaults
• high margin debt at or near all time highs

cause the market to go down?

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

The stock market advance has been too good to be true.   When a correction comes, it may be surprisingly big.  I'm buying a some insurance, January 2027 SPY puts, strike price 550.  Otherwise, I'm waiting, scaling out of recent equity purchase, hodling my fixed income portfolio and keeping cash.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC