Retirement Payment Strategy Being Tested

The recent volatility is testing my comfort with the retirement "paycheck" strategy.  My goal was to be volatility agnostic by creating a retirement "paycheck."  

This has worked so far, until this week. Due to interest rate increases, my fixed income and municipal bond positions have been falling...significantly since I started owning them earlier this year.   I have started to become concerned about volatility, especially with AI related positions, such as memory stocks.  I decided to sell my MU positions for a good profit of 23-34%.

Overall, I'm still continuing to hodl, but my conviction is wavering for the first time purchasing my "buy the dip" stocks earlier this year in February 2026.  Also, my municipal bond funds, which have been amazingly stable this year, are dropping as much as 1% in a day.  Finally, I expect some of my accounts my show a loss for 2026 due to fixed income and municipal bond fund principals falling in September.

Oh well, I shall see how it goes this month.   As they say, "It works until it doesn't."   

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Do Parents Have Time and Money to Raise Kids Today?

We are much older than usual parents.  Our kids are 14 and 21.   Even though we are both retired, it still takes a significant amount of our time each day to raise our kids.  I do not know how we would manage if both of us were working, or even if only one of us was working.

When I was a kid, my dad worked and my was stayed at home.   Most of my extra curricular activities (football, baseball, cub/boy scouts) were in the neighborhood and I could walk to or ride my bike to.  No need for parents to drive.  In HS, my father picked me up after work from sports (football, track, tennis), and it was only 3 miles from my house.  I didn't play any elite leagues or elite clinics that required traveling other cities or states from my home.  I never had any private lessons for anything. Finally, I don't think my parents ever watched any of my sports games until we were in the State Championship finals.

When we first married, my spouse and I both worked.  After getting transferred overseas, my spouse "retired."   Upon returning, we adopted our daughter and my spouse was the stay at home parent.  After three years, I retired and both of us were stay at home parents.

Raising kids today is much more involved and intense that when my parents raised me.  

 Here are some of my memories growing up:

• Going to school preparation.  K-12 involves pre-attendance orientation and acquiring school supplies, both personal and for the entire class.  When I went, I just showed up the the first day and only need to bring a pencil and composition book.   For K-7, I attended a parochial school, with no lockers.  We just stored our books under our homeroom desk and our coats to the group closet in the back.  I didn't have a locker until public school in 8th grade.
• Extra curricular activities.  As I wrote above, all my pre Junior High activities were in the neighbor hood which I could attend on my own.  Although I don't know the number, the costs were low, just annual fees since I didn't take lessons.  In Junior High and High School, I played sports and my dad could pick me up after work.  Back then, there were no sports activity fees for students.
• Free time activities.  After school and on weekends, I just went out a played in the neighborhood with friends.  We played in each other's yard, the street or the nearby park. On weeknights, we'd be out from getting off school until dinner time.  On weekends, we were out all day, maybe coming home for lunch, and definitely coming home for dinner.
• Meals.  My mom cooked homemade meals at home. We ate family style what was cooked breakfast and dinner.  Lunches were either packed for school or bought at the HS cafeteria.   TV dinners were a special treat.  Eating out at McDonald's was a more special treat.
• Transportation.  Until HS, my parents only owned one car, which my dad used to commute to work.  For groceries and other shopping, we all went together in the evening or on weekends.
• College expenses -  My parents paid for the first year.  I had a guaranteed student loan for $1500 the second year and $3000 for my junior and senior year.  I also put all of my summer job earnings toward paying for school senior year.

Here is my experience raising kids today:

• Going to school preparation.  Our daughter need to sign a rental contract off campus 9 months in advance.   There is a 2 week gap between moving out and moving in.  She was fortunate, since she renewed, there was no gap, even though she need to change apartments.  Still took a full day with a pickup up truck and 5 cars to move her and 2 roommates.  Our son needed to attend school orientation.  My spouse needed to buy numerous individual and group supplies and download various apps to manage communication with the school.
• Extra curricular activities.   Both are kids were involved in various sports and music.   Music stuck with my daughter.  Tennis stuck with my son.  Nowadays, students pay an activity fee for each sport.  Also, both involved additional lessons and limited travel, which can be high expenses and significant time. For example, we shuttle our son from school to tennis every weekday and wait for him to finish, which takes 3.5 hours of our time. In addition, there are overnight trips and even international trips for school.  
• Free time activities.   Lots of electronic activities and video game players.  Much higher cost than playing in the neighborhood.
• Meals.   My spouse does a lot of healthy home cooking from scratch, which require significant preparation time and effort.   We rarely eat out, maybe a couple times a month maximum.
• Transportation.   My first new car cost 40% of my starting salary.  My new truck 23 years later cost less than 10% of my salary.  Originally, we had two cars.  We added a third when my MIL went to independent living.  That worked well since our daughter was driving two years later, which lowered time parents needed to transport.   We have lent her one car for her last two years of college since she is now living off campus. 
• College expenses.  We are committing to completely covering undergraduate (and graduate, if needed) college expenses for both kids.  We started contributing to 529 plans the year we adopted.  That has worked out well.

What's the difference?

• Going to school preparation.  Meals. Higher grocery costs since we go organic, which wasn't available when I was a kid.
• Extra curricular activities.  More and much higher cost for kids activities.   Lessons and additional training for sports, which adds significantly more costs.
• Free time activities.  Video game consoles and smart phone videos.
• Meals.   Our main higher cost is fresh, organic food.  For many other, it's eating out several times a week.
• Transportation. Cars now cost more than many people's starting salary.  More cars that require maintenance.  My parents had one car when I was young.  We have three, one of which is used by our adult daughter.
• College expenses.   $25,000 to $100,000 per year versus $2,000-$10,000 per year. 
• More maintenance time, effort and costs due to shorter appliance life.  I don't remember ever replacing anything in my childhood home in 35 years.  Nowadays, it seems appliances (water heater, furnace, dishwasher etc) need replacement about every 10 years.
• Renovation or upgrades.  I don't recall my parents ever upgrading their kitchens nor bathrooms in the 35 years they owned the house.

My nephew who is single claims he life (school, employment, buying a house) is much harder than it was for me.   I can't wait to hear what he says when he is married and has kids.

As a retired parent, I don't know how parents raised kids while still working, especially when both parents are working.

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

Nine Numbers that Matter More than Net Worth for Retirement

I thought the following article was an excellent summary for the total financial elements of retirement.

Financial advisors say retirees are too focused on net worth (these 9 numbers matter more)

Below are the description headers for the nine numbers, which the article describes in more detail. 

1. Income-to-expense gap

2. Annual spending needs

3. Withdrawal rate

4. Health care costs

5. How much Social Security covers

6. Years of cash reserves

7. Tax rate during retirement

8. Years your retirement needs to last

9. Debt-to-income ratio

Although I started out using Net Worth as the metric, I have evolved to covering the other 9 numbers during retirement. 

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Gold, Oil and Silver, Oh My!

With inflation and war risks, I plan to hodl gold, oil and silver investments we currently own.  However,   I'm not adding more since my goal is to simplify our investment holdings.

Here's what we own:

• Gold and silver ETFs and stocks in gold and silver miners..  Inherited from spouse's parents' IRAs.  I sold some near the recent peak.   Although, I've committed to hodling and not selling positions in my spouse's account, these were inherited after 2019 and must be liquidated before 10 years.  
• Junk silver coins.  I purchased these in 2011 when silver was at or near a low.  I was teaching my the 7 year old daughter about coin collecting and invest.  We visited a monthly coin and stamp show and bought a few items each month.   We bought 90% junk silver coins and some collectible silver proof sets.
• Gold bars.   A couple years ago, I was walking into Costco and the greeter pointed at the gold price sign and said, "We're selling below spot price, right now," and showed me spot on his phone.   I couldn't resist getting a deal, which include a 2% rebate for my executive membership and 2% reward on my credit card.  I only bought 1 bar. In hindsight, I should have bought the limit of 5.
• Oil stocks.  I own a few oil stocks: CRGY, HP, HAL, RIG and NBR.  RIG and NBR will likely not/never break even.   CRGY is profitable or underwater depending on the account.  HP and HAL have a good chance to be profitble.

We had previously owned gold miners and ETFs in our taxable accounts, but as usual, I sold them for a small profit after being underwater for many years since I bought near a previous peak in 2011.

Here is my plan:

• As gold and silver rise, I will take the opportunity to begin scaling out as it gets closer to previous ATH.  I will also sell some jewelry for scrap.
• As oil rises, I will sell HP and HAL as they become profitable.   I will sell RIG and NBR immediately if they break even.  I will hodl CRGY in the taxable account since it is already profitable and scale out of CRGY in the IRAs as they become profitable.

Of course, gold, oil and silver may not rise, which means we will continue to hodl.  I am prepared to sell if the should rise significantly.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Predictable Inflation Adjusted Payments - The Gold Retirement Standard

It would be great if retirees received a predictable inflation adjusted monthly payment that covered all one's expected and discretionary expenses.

• Predictable
• Inflation Adjusted
• Expenses

Unfortunately, there isn't an option that meets all the criteria.

• Predictable - The options usually are fixed or the inflation adjustment doesn't deliver enough.   Annuities or long term bonds have predictable fixed payments, which meets one criteria.  However, they don't increase with inflation, nor do they necessary cover increasing expenses with aging.
  
• Inflation adjusted -  Social Security payments are "inflation adjusted," but do not necessarily cover the items that retired people need.  TIPS bonds are inflation adjusted and theoretically, so are equities, but neither are guaranteed.
• Expenses - The reality is living expenses will grow and new health and aging care expenses will be grow more than expected as on gets older.  

Here's my attempt at mimicking a gold standard of payment:

• Predictable -  Buying 20 year Treasuries yielding 5%.  I've stopped for now but will buy more if yields rise to 6-7%.   
• Inflation adjusted - Social security, rental property, TIPS bonds, and equities.   Social security, rents and TIPS are broadly inflation adjusted, but don't necessarily match cost increases experienced by and individual.   Equities have downside risks but do rise in the long term and provide an inflation cushion.
• Expenses - We purchased long term care insurance when  I was in my 20s and later for my spouse in her 30s when we got married, when premiums were much less expensive.  We also have retiree health care insurance from my company and Medicare (me) which has more coverage and is less expensive than the ACA health insurance.  Finally, we have saved for our children in college 529 plans from the time we adopted them.  We expect to 100% cover their college expenses for both our 21 year old and 14 year old.

But as Yogi Berra once said, "It's hard to make predictions, especially about the future." We have covered what we can control as best we can, and will have to adjust for elements we don't control such as inflation, the economy, stock market volatility and health.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Pushed Articles in My Browsers - Alien Life and Time Travel

I would expect to be pushed lots of articles about personal finance, and I am by both Edge and Chrome browsers. For reference, I do get a lot of recommended articles about personal finance, debt, and the economy.   Lately, I'm getting a lot of stories about alien life and some about time travelers talking about the future.  Although I find them interesting, I have no idea why I get numerous feeds of these topics, since I haven't searched these topics nor gone to articles previously on those topics.

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

This is not financial, alien life nor time travel advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Charity Lawnmowing Earning Money

People can help others in need in many ways.  The one's I'm most familiar with are food banks.  Here's one that I didn't know about:

These landscapers are mowing the extra mile — and changing lives

The interesting aspect of the lawnmowing charity work is that the mowers share their work as YouTube creators.  They earn money from advertising and sponsorships.  In some cases, they earn enough to make it their full time job.

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

This is not financial, charity, nor content creator advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Low Price Maxxing

For most of my life, I did low price maxxing.  I would try to save money constantly on purchases.  I could give infinite examples, but will only do a few for perspective. 

• I clip coupons or wait for regular sales to buy the products I use.   Then I buy a larger quantity to benefit.
• I have an almost photographic memory prices paid.  Easy for me to do since I'm a numbers person and can remember purchases I've made in the past few weeks without checking.  I regularly take advantage of stores that price match if price drops within 30 days. 
• For gasoline discounts, I'll will take multiple cars to take advantage for big ones, like $1 off, for the whole family.
• I use points for hotel stays and airline flights, which results in the cost being free or a small charge.  In fact, for hotel stays the numerous taxes are eliminated.  For airlines, I still need to pay a small tax of about $10 max.

IMHO, this act of frugality help me retire early successfully in my late forties.  Even after retiring, I continued to low price max for many purchases.  I enjoy low price maxxing.   I sometimes included my family in some low price maxxing activities, but they sometimes felt like it was bothersome effort with low return.

Since our retirement financial situation has become more sustainable, I have backed off significantly from asking my family to also low price max.  Although my family knows they don't need to low price max, they will participate in some low effort elements, like buying more when on sale, but avoid doing most others like using coupons.  For me, habits are hard to break and I continue to low price max but not a rigorously as before.   

One thing I will not do to low price max:  Install an app, which restaurants often require.    I low price max at an app restaurant by not going there.  LOL.   My daughter, however, regularly gets lower prices with the restaurant app. 

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

This is not financial, purchasing, nor shopping advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

My Father-in Law's Investing Strategy

My Father-in-Law had a very successful stock investment strategy which beat the S&P returns until 2011 when he passed away.

Here's what he did:

• Identified potential stocks through The Motley Fool and Jim Cramer's Mad Money Show.
• Using standard metrics such as P/E, he determined the "fair" price.
• He would put in a good-til-canceled (GTC) limit buy order at the fair price, which was typically below the market price.
• Once he acquired the stock, he would calculate a sell price, again based on metrics.   He would put in a GTC limit sell order at the sell price.
• He checked his portfolio status once per month.

Since he regularly beat the S&P 500,  I was impressed and tried to copy a few of his stock picks, but was unable to match his success because I didn't have the same conviction in the methodology that he did.   

Disclosure:  I was not compensated by the Motley Fool nor CNBC for this post.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Correction? It May Happen Soon

Today's decline in the stock market may be the beginning of the long awaited correction.  Maybe and maybe not.   However, it's best to be prepared if a correction should happen.   

I can't control the market or the economy.   I can control the actions I take to be prepared.  Simply, here's what I'm going to do:

• I will continue to hodl the equities, bonds and mutual funds that I currently own.  No need to sell at a discount.
• Continue taking monthly distributions of investment earnings (dividends, interest, rental) and combine with Social Security payments and determine what percentage of fixed expenses are covered in a downturn..
• Use money market funds, if needed, to weather an extended (say 1 year) downturn.  Expect to cover any shortfall caused by the decline.
• I won't be buying the dip, except if GOOGL drops to around $285.   I will wait until a 10% before adding an S&P 500 ETF or mutual fund, more municipal bond funds.   I plan to wait until the 20 year treasury exceeds a 6% yield before adding more.

Earlier I posted about what I would tell my younger self or do for my kids:

Stock Market Warning Articles. What to Do?

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

HIghly Viewed Posts in August 2026

Here are the most viewed posts in August 2026 from My Wealth Builder:

Historical

These the three posts from the archives that received the most number of views in August 2026.

Financial Lessons from my Parents' Generation Re-Learned

Not Buying Things I Don't Need

Achieving Financial Freedom - I've Retired In My Forties

Current

These are the recent posts from August 2026 that received the three highest number of views:

Oh No, I Felt Brilliant This Week

Stock Market Warning Articles. What to Do?

Using AI to Cure Cancer

I hope you enjoy these posts as much as other readers have.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Some Mindset Hacks

Here are some mindset tips that I have read/seen/heard and like. The first one I've read recently.  The other three I have known for a while and try to follow as best I can.

• Love the life you have, not the one you want. 
  
  
• IMHO, I think this describes me.  For example, I drive a 2003 base (manual stick shift) 4.6 liter V-8 F-150.   I love the truck and have no interest in replacing it.  We've lived in the same house since 2003 and are happy.  No jealousy issue with houses of people that are wealthier than us, although we are doing some renovations.
  
  
• Don't be afraid to ask for something. If one doesn't ask, the answer is already a "no."
  
  
• For large purchases, I always check if there are discounts associated with timing or payment options.  This worked for our latest furniture purchase, where a holiday sale was ending soon and a discount given for paying by check instead of credit card.  For purchases at craft fairs or farmer's markets, I ask if there discounts for paying cash.   Sometmes yes and sometimes no.
  
  
• Control what one can control.   Don't worry about what one can't control.
  
  
• I don't worry about the economy and interest rate changes. Worrying about these factors is a waste, it is what it is.  There is nothing I can do.  Instead, I think about factors I can control.  What I do control is choosing strategies that minimize or benefit from interest rate changes.

• There are spectators and there are participators.  Be a participator.
  
  
• Spectators regularly offer personal opinions about what others (government, athletes, businesses) should do.  Spectators always know better.  Participators get involved, do the work and help deliver outcomes. 

Of course, YMMV.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Traffic and Drivers are Worse than Pre-Covid

Maybe it's my imagination, bad calibration, or alternate reality that I feel:

• Traffic is noticeably worse (crowded, backed up, or slow on highways) than before COVID.
• The percentage of poor and bad drivers is higher than before COVID.

Worse Traffic

Traffic used to be bad from during rush hours (7:30 AM to  9 AM and 4 PM to 5:30 PM) as one would expect due to work.  During COVID lockdowns, traffic was free flowing all day long.  When people returned to office, traffic was noticeably higher, but not like pre COVID times.

Nowadays, rush hour traffic has expanded to 7 AM to 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM to 6 PM.   In addition, traffic is now congested even from 10 AM to 2 PM, but not as much as during rush hour.   

What happened to make it worse?  I though more people are WFH now?

Worse Drivers

Recently, I've seen much worse driving than before.  Speeding, cutting drivers off, almost accidents and actual accidents, despite more advanced safety warning features on new cars.  This is an observation on my part and no idea of the cause.

My initial reaction is I need to be more vigilant and careful driving that before and that I have ever been.   My secondary reaction is that more tickets should be given out for drivers speeding or cutting off drivers.  My third reaction is to drive more back roads to avoid the inevitable rage drivers on highways.  My final reaction is to give myself 50% more time than needed and to stay calm during trips.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Stock Market - Too Good to Be True?

"If it's too good to be true, it probably is." ~ old adage

The stock market is at all time highs despite:

• War with Iran since February 2026.
• Increasing Inflation
• Higher oil and gasoline prices
• Higher food prices
• Second highest Shiller PE ratio, with the dot.com era being the highest
• $40 trillion U.S. debt
• High company layoffs due to AI

Add to that my apparent brilliance:

• My buy the dip SAAS software stocks are up 20% on average since February 2, 2026, with the biggest gaining up to 145%.
• My tax loss harvesting strategy of buying first and selling later has worked to my financial advantage almost every time.
• Recently, all my accounts have achieved all time highs and continuing to rise.

Since the market has been known to be irrational for long periods before, I'm hodling most of my equities, especially those in a taxable account.  However, I am taking the opportunity to scale out of some of my riskier (IMHO) buy the dip stocks, in the interest  of  working towards my goal of simplifying our investments.  

Note:  Specifically, I sold our CRM holding in the tax advantage accounts since it popped 26% on Thursday, August 27, 2026 on good earnings and a partnership with Anthropic.   Even though CRM was up another 3% yesterday, I don't regret the sale.  It's one less stock I need to follow, which is working towards my simplification goal.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Municipal Bond Funds - Managing Interest Rate Increases

In the past, I have avoided bond funds since the principal will fall when interest rate increases happen. With an individual bond, the principal can be recovered if I don't sell and hold until maturity.  This is not the case with a bond mutual fund, which is continuous and never completely matures. Thus, I will take a loss on principal invested if I sell while interest rates are higher than when I made the original investment

However, since my strategy is now creating a retirement paycheck instead delivering growth in principal, I discovered at tax benefit hack from a municipal bond fund principal declining due to interest rates rising.

Disclaimer:  I haven't had this idea financially analyzed by an "expert."  This is based on my own experience and evaluation.  I have only had experience over the past year, which has not experienced a significant decline for a long period.

Here's the how I evaluated:

1. Judge the result mainly based on income generated for a consistent "retirement paycheck" and not on growth or decrease of principal.  I assume that the income remains constant when interest rates rise, due to reinvestment.  I assume that income declines when interest rates fall due to reinvestment
2. I assume that the bond principal falls when interest rates rise and the principal rises with interest rates fall.

Here's the process for when interest rates are rising:

1. Do tax loss harvesting of the position.  Avoid a wash sale by ensuring 30 days between the sale and purchase of the same security.  While most people sell first and buy back later, I chose to buy first and sell later.  This is worked well since most times, my purchase was near a short term bottom.
2. Maintain the same amount of shares in the positions.  This ensures that the interest payment per month continues to be about the same, which is important for my retirement paycheck strategy.
3. Use the loss on the municipal bond fund to offset realized gains in other positions, or take up the a $3000 capital loss deduction against other income.

In the 12 months I've been doing this, I reduced my capital gains income by 64% in 2025, resulting in significant tax savings, while still received the same amount of total interest and dividend income . I expect to take a $3000 capital loss in 2026 that will reduce my taxable income by that amount.

What about the principal value falling?  Does that concern me?  Not yet, since I expect to get about the same amount of "retirement paycheck" each month.   An analogy would be the value of my home.  I don't worry about the estimated value of the house going down (or up) due to price volatility, as long as I am living in the home.

Will it  concern me in the future?   Only if there is a significant collapse of the U.S. economy.  However, for typical recessions and bear markets, probably not.  We shall see when one occurs.

Of course, YMMV.

Note: The effect and strategy for interest rates falling is not discussed in the post, but will reviewed in a future post.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Circle of Neighborhood Life

When we moved into our neighborhood 23 years ago, we were childless and expecting to adopt.   After we adopted, our daughter couldn't wait to ride the school bus.  When she started kindergarten, she was one of two children at our bus stop across the street. Over time that grew to 4-5 kids. 

 

Then the houses started turning over as more original and 2nd homeowners sold when they became empty nesters.  Over time the number of kids grew.   Then came are son, who was 8 years younger. He started kindergarten when our daughter started high school.  Since K-4, 5-8 and 9-12 ride different busses, my son was with a new and expanding group, around 8-10 kids .

Since my kids are older, I've lost track of the K-4 bus riders.  Occasionally, I see the group if I leave early for an appointment or to play golf.  It appears smaller than when I went out with my son, and it is a different group of parents.

While I don't expect number of kids to drop as low as 2 when my daughter started kindergarten, I do think we are now in the ebb cycle for our neighborhood, as many kids are in middle school from existing residents new families moving in.    K-4 seem lighter now, but shortly that will increase since I see numerous strollers during neighborhood walks.

We're staying in place at least until our son graduates from high school.   We will probably extend or residency until he graduates from college.  That's as far as we've thought out, for now.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

One Path to Big Stock Gains

This is based on my observation and experience.  Definitely, not financial advice.

• Foresight 😎
  
  Working for the company that awards stock to employees that allows one to easily:
  1) Have a concentrated portfolio
  2) Hodl Through Volatility
  3) Own a life changing amount.
  
  
• Conviction 😊
  
  Believing in the company enough to remain for a couple decades or more.  Time owning the stock can be better than timing the stock. 
  
  
• Luck 🍀
  
  Company success translates into significant growth in stock valuation.  Some take off like rockets.  Rockets are the ones that deliver, but rockets are never obvious at the beginning.
  
  Wall Street's latest blockbuster stock split has arrived -- and this industry titan has rallied 337,000% over the last 32 years
  
  However, there are many other blockbusters such as AAPL, GOOGL, AMZN.  Then again, many companies do not take off  or some go broke (eg. Enron), which I am more likely to choose. 😞

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

What to Expect in the Second Half of 2026

"It's hard to make predictions, especially about the future." ~ Yogi Berra

Weather forecasters and stock market pundits get paid whether they are right or wrong.  LOL.   Here's a rare, if not the only,  positive 2026 forecast for the stock market based on historical returns.

The S&P 500 returned 10% in the first half of 2026. Here's what history says happens in the second half.

 The table below shows results since 1991:

Year	1st half return	2nd half return	Full-year return
1991	+12.4%	+12.4%	+26.3%
1995	+18.6%	+13.1%	+34.1%
1997	+19.5%	+9.6%	+31%
1998	+16.8%	+8.4%	+26.7%
1999	+11.7%	+7%	+19.5%
2003	+10.8%	+14.1%	+26.4%
2013	+12.6%	+15.1%	+29.6%
2019	+17.3%	+9.8%	+28.9%
2021	+14.4%	+10.9%	+26.9%
2023	+15.9%	+7.2%	+24.2%
2024	+14.5%	+7.7%	+23.3%
2026	+10.2%	?	?

Source data: Yahoo Finance.

If history rhymes, 2026 will be another positive and banner return year.  

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Retirement Projects Around the House

Maintenance, repairs and renovations has evolved to a full time job, especially as the house gets and the longer one lives in it.  

When we moved in 23 years ago, we were mostly comfortable with the house as is.  We immediately hired a professional and  converted all the carpeting on the 1st and 2nd floors to hardwood.  

At first, the maintenance work was relatively straight forward and part time.   Mowing the lawn, which we paid to have done once a week.   Raking the leaves in the fall, which occurred over several weeks for a few hours a week. Seeding and fertilizing the lawn for winter

 

Over the next few years, we made cosmetic changes, such as interior painting and changing window treatments.  We also made some structure upgrades, such as replacing the roof, putting new furnace and a/c and painting/repairing the exterior.  

 After COVID, we upgraded appliances in the kitchen and did a small remodel, but didn't change cabinets.  Also, we refinished our hardwood on the first floor.

Our latest project involves remodeling our bathrooms. Our house was built in 1988.  Th upstairs and basement bathrooms have 4X4 white tile on the floor and in the bathtub.   The mirrors are 4X8 across the whole vanity.  We're thinking of modernizing the tile, mirrors and vanities, in addition to replacing the tub, toilet and sinks.

Finally, we are doing landscaping project, which involves new plantings, removing dying trees, and creating more privacy.  We are also doing some stonescape work with large marble tile.

For some projects such a remodels, we hire professional. For some such as landscape planting, deck , concrete sidewalk, patio and driveway maintenance, we are doing ourselves as a start..

Here are some of the maintenance projects we are regularly doing:

• #1 Fixing items when the "break" or stop working.   Recent examples include: pot filler leaking, washing machine leaking, bathtub rusting, freezer not cooling enough, bike tuneups, dishwasher not cleaning, drain clogged, dripping faucets, HVAC inspection, exterior and interior, light bulb replacement, and miscellaneous stuff.  
• Regular lawn maintenance, which includes seeding, weed control and raking leaves.  We do pay to have our half acre lot mowed weekly.
• Tree maintenance annually.   Trimming reachable dead branches.   Have higher branches done by professional.   Fertilization if needed.
• Regular car maintenance.  Oil changes, tire rotations, repairs as needed.  I do minor repair such as replacing bulbs, changing cabin and engine air filters.
• Annual fall cleanup, especially leaf raking, leaf composting, gutter cleaning.
• Routine painting touch up.
• Annual wood deck power washing, staining and sealing.

Sheesh, I often wonder how I had time to work?

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Using AI to Cure Cancer

In conversations with my roommates from college, I've wondered why AI isn't being used to solve big health problems like curing cancer.

In case you missed last week's big news, AI was used to "cure" cancer:

Moderna stock surges as melanoma vaccine trial shows "landmark moment"

Moderna’s Cancer Breakthrough Just Made Tempus AI’s $1.5 Billion Bet Look Brilliant

Terrific news, IMHO. Bravo for AI offering innovation that helps people without taking away from people.

A new skin cancer vaccine looks promising. A doctor who helped test it answers 5 key questions.

Disclosure: I was not compensated by any of the mentioned companies for this post.

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

This is not financial, health nor AI advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC