Personal Finance is a Business

Here's a simple strategy for personal finance:   Think of personal finance like a successful business.  Own the results.

Here's a hack/tip from business thinking.  Cashflow is a term used for businesses, which is the amount of cash flowing in and out of a business. Keep cashflow greater than $0.  Revenue (wages, interest, dividends, or rental income) in minus expenses (mortgage/rent, utilities, foods, entertainment, debt service) out should be greater than zero.  

Unlike a business though, one should minimize, reduce or eliminate debt service since it doesn't potentially increase revenue, as it does for a business.  Instead, debt service only reduces cashflow for individuals.

Replace debt service expense with an investment or savings expense.  Savings is an investment in one's future, including retirement.  Savings and investments have the potential to create revenue for the future.

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

2026 Tax Brackets and Related Info

For those that are planning for the 2026 tax year, this article The 2026 Tax Brackets Are Official—Here's Exactly How Much More You'll Pay (Or Save) will provide some key information on the 2026 tax brackets and related info.

Of note, if one is single and expects less than $16,100 in wages with no other income, one will have a federal tax liability of $0.  If that is the case, one can file a W-4 to be exempt from federal tax withholding.  Then if one ends the year with under $16,100 income, no tax federal tax return is needed since tax liability is $0 and no federal tax withholding was done.

The only caution is if one is a dependent, which most college students are.   In that case, one should keep unearned income, such as interest and dividends, below $450 or federal taxes will be owed even if total income income is below the standard deduction of $16,100.

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Massive Economic Uncertainty

The only thing that is certain is uncertainty.

Economic uncertainty is making it difficult to have job security, save, invest, make major purchases and plan for the future.

• It's difficult to get hired, both for entry level and experienced.
• Layoffs are increasing even for new hires and long term employees.
• Job interviews are difficult to get even when doing hundreds of applications.
• Starting salaries are no longer commensurate with one's higher education degree.
• Government safety net programs are in flux may be reduced or cancelled.
• Inflation making everything from necessities to housing less affordable.
• ACA health care premiums are subject to government induced volatility resulting in big increases.

Unfortunately, uncertainty is the new reality for everybody, including retirees.

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Interesting Bull vs. Bear Markets Chart

Sometimes a chart can mislead one's thinking.

I saw this chart and liked it.  It seemed to support the concept of staying invested since the Bull Market sections (blue) are tall and wide, while the Bear Market sections (red) are short and narrow.  Bigger is much better it appears.

However, when looking at the math, I realized the maximum loss for a Bear Market is 100%.   Thus the height of the Bear Market section is limited, while the Bull Market section has no upper limit.  In addition, a 50% drop in a Bear Market, will require a 100% gain to break even in a Bull Market.  Similarly, a a 25% drop in a Bear Market, will require a 33% gain to break even in a Bull Market.

Yes, Bull Markets are great.   However, Bear Markets are significantly more painful than implied by the chart below.

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

Will the Stock Market Dip Keep Dipping?

Although the market may rebound this morning, I expect the market to continue to decline, perhaps significantly.   Bitcoin has declined over 30% and META has fallen over 25% in the past month.  

With the current volatility, the direction of the market can change very quickly.  I'm tempted to short some stocks, but I've decided it is too risky if I'm wrong.  I'm going to stick to my plan (My New Strategy for Investing During Market Declines) and do nothing today, expect for maybe closing some SPY puts for a profit.  

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Social Security COLA and Medicare B Premiums for 2026

For 2026, Social Security payments will increase 2.8% and Medicare Part B premiums will increase to $202.90 from $185.  The higher payment will start in January 2026.

For more details, see It's official. Medicare Part B 2026 premium will eat a big chunk of Social Security COLA

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Surviving Stock Market Volatility

Today, I plan to do nothing in the stock market, neither buy nor sell.    I will not panic sell.    I will not buy the dip. 

I have structured our investments to provide monthly income based on dividend and interest.  I don't expect a decline, even a significant one, to materially affect the expected income payments for end of November and end of December 2025.

The only trade I may make is to sell some SPY January 16, 2026 expiration puts for a 100% or more profit.   My 260 strike puts have already reached that percentage gain, but I currently plan to be greedy and hold longer since I expect the market is in the early stages of a correction at a minimum.

For perspective, a 100% gain is not much in absolute dollars, since each SPY 260 put contract only cost $7 per 100 shares.   However, I would definitely sell at a 1000% gain or $70 per contract.  For this to happen, SPY, currently at $652, would need to fall at least $150 in a few days for a 1000% gain, which is highly unlikely.   In between, the decision will depend on how greedy I feel at the moment and how bearish the market seems.😎   The downside risk is the 260 put contract can easily go to worthless on January 16, 2026, which is only 2 months away.

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 © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Dealing With Today's Stock Market Decline

Today's stock market volatility reminds me to be ready to invest if there is a significant decline.  I'm not buying the dips, but am waiting to use My New Strategy for Investing During Market Declines when there is a decline of at least 10%.

In the past, I was always hesitant put money in during a significant decline such as 1987, 2001, 2008, 2020 and most recently April 2025.  My New Strategy for Investing During Market Declines will help me overcome that hesitancy and systematically invest more funds during a pullback.

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 © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Arrrgh! - Appliances Linked to Internet

Over the past five years we replaced some appliances and they seem to have the added feature of using an app and being connected to the internet.  These include in order our washer/dryer, garage door opener, furnace thermostat, most recently, our dishwasher.

We set up the washer/dryer because it was novel and we wanted to try it.   However, we have not used the app since setting it up.   We chose not to set up the garage door opener, and don't miss not having the feature.   The thermostat was set up by our installer, but other than showing the outside temperature, we haven't got much benefit.  I have since turned off internet access.   We also decided not to set up the app on the dishwasher, despite having a couple cycles that we would use occasionally on the app, which was disappointing to us.

At this point, I don't feel it's useful or worth the effort to learn how to connect to and use the apps/internet with our appliances.  I didn't need smart appliances before the internet and I don't need them now.  I want my appliances to be self contained and self sufficient for use.  Period. 

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

This is not financial, appliance, app, nor internet advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Know One's Health Insurance Benefits

Understanding insurance eligible benefits and payment amounts is a massive morass for customers. 

My health insurance allows me one physical checkup annually for no charge.  Recently, I received a $30 copay bill from a provider for my annual physical checkup.   I called the insurance company to confirm there should be no charge.  They said yes, but the provider coded it as a regular visit.  I found out the code for the annual checkup.  I called the provider and they said their records show it was my annual physical checkup.  I informed them I was charged and they agreed to resubmit with the correct code.

Hopefully, this will be corrected and I will not pay the $30 bill.

Similarly, I thought I had reached my maximum benefit for my dental plan and started paying cash, at a discount, for my routine preventive visits.  It turns out that my that my allowed routine oral exams and preventive cleanings are not  counted towards my benefit maximum.  I am now working with my dental provider to submit claims and get reimbursed for my cash payments.

When  I was younger, I never was close to the maximum benefit or maximum out of pocket (OOP) ceiling.   Now that I'm older, I have been reaching those maximums on a regular basis.  For the maximum benefit, I sometimes need to delay nonessential services to the next year to have the insurance cover the cost.   For the maximum (OOP), all costs are paid by insurance after reaching the OOP and I want to do my medical services earlier to have the covered 100% by insurance.

It seems managing insurance benefit coverage is another complexity as one gets older.

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 © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC