Not Worried About Declining Market - Yet

Even though the market is falling, I'm still hodling and not selling.    I'm not buying the dip either.   I believe there may be more further downside for longer, which will provide a real time test of my "retirement paycheck" strategy.

Right now, it seems the declines are rotating through different sectors.  Some of my stock sectors seem to have "balance."    When semis go down, software stocks go up.  When software stocks go down, semis go up.   I know this form of volatility my be transitional and eventually every position will go one direction, up or down.

In the meantime, I'm monitoring how my interest and dividends "retirement paycheck" is delivering.  As long as the amount remains relatively stable on annual basis, I won't be worried.  So far, the payments have been as expect for the first half of 2026..

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Social Security Payment Uncertainties

Pensions and Social Security used to create financial security for many retirees due to certainty.  However, over the past 30 years, many pensions have gone by the wayside, eliminating this certainty of retirement income.  Now the certainty of Social Security payments is at risk.

For retirees, the future of Social Security payments shouldn't be uncertain, yet the sustainability of promised amounts is very uncertain.  The latest estimate is that Social Security benefits will be cut 22% across the board by 2032 if Congress does not take action.  Since many retirees depend on Social Security payments for everyday expenses, this uncertainty is unacceptable. 

Even if Congress does act, the effect on retirees may be different depending on which option eventually passes.  The options include: raising the percentage for FICA tax, removing income caps for FICA, doing means testing, capping benefits or combinations of these.    The difficulty for retirees is that these solutions possibly change benefits for many retirees, making the future income very uncertain.

Personally, I believe this should be the number one priority for legislation, given the broad impact it has on citizens.  

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Missing Parts Magically Appearing

I try to leave parts in "known" places so that I remember to look there again.  Often, I can find parts that I have placed over 5 years ago.  Recently, I replaced tail lights in two vehicles from parts purchased (due to coming in pairs) over 5 years ago.  It has been a relatively good system.  Of course, it works until it doesn't.  Lately some parts aren't where I thought they would be. Sometimes, I can't find them for months.  

However, in the past couple weeks, some parts that have missing for almost year reappeared miraculously, in a place I didn't think I put things.   I have a few theories of how this happened.

1. Gremlins.  Yeah, they come around in the evening a surreptitiously move the items.  
2. Multi-verse.  OK, I'm moving between parallel universes that are similar, but not exactly the same.
3. Memory lapse.   Unfortunately, this is probably the reason.  I put things somewhere and don't remember where I put it.

Currently, very few parts are MIA.   I continue to hope that these missing parts will show up...eventually.

In the meantime, I will reduce the number of locations I use for storing miscellaneous parts.

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

This is not financial, memory nor parts storage advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Stock Market is Looking Really Ugly

The market sentiment is worsening.  With memory stocks falling precipitously, SAAS stocks still down,  AI stocks taking a hit, and even Space stock taking a dive, there doesn't appear anywhere that is protected, except maybe fixed income.  Wall Street Bets is now highly negative with numerous losses being posted.

The declines are becoming bigger, the recoveries are becoming smaller, leading to more investors carrying losses.  Some may start panic selling.  I know I'm starting to feel the urge to close out some of my small gains. 

However, I keep reminding myself of our strategy to create a monthly retirement "paycheck," and I stay the course.   I continue to hodl the majority of our investment positions, with only sales of peripheral small positions.   If the market continues to decline, it will be a first test of our "paycheck" strategy.

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

Volatility is Back and I Don't Care for Now

First, it was SAAS dropping and not recovering.  Now, it's memory stocks dropping 30-40% after a 9 month parabolic run and all time highs last week.  What's next??  The answer is:  I don't know.  The market may go down, stay the same or go up.  Hopefully, my new strategy will enable me not to care.

Why?   In the past year, I've sent up our investments to create a monthly "paycheck," which will be independent of market volatility.  However, since I created the "paycheck" the market has not had a major pullback.  Most of the time, it has rebounded quickly.

This time, it may continue downward for a longer period.  My immediate reaction will be to do nothing, no adding new positions, and neither selling nor buying for existing positions other that to thin out individual stocks or adding market ETFs.

Will I be agnostic to volatility?   I hope so. We shall see.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Tax Gain Harvesting Article

Earlier this year, I posted about Tax Gain Harvesting as a strategy to eliminate taxes on long term capital gains.  These seemed like an excellent strategy to me.  A tax rate of 0% seems outstanding.   However, I had not seen the strategy on financial websites nor being proposed by financial advisors.  Maybe it's because the catch is one has to be in the 12% tax bracket.

I just read the strategy in a MSN article: Here are the 3 top tax mistakes that cost US retirees thousands — and almost every older American makes them. How many are hurting you?  One of the "mistakes is not using tax gain harvesting.   See the excerpt below.

"Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends are taxed more favorably than ordinary income. As of 2025, the 0% capital gains rate applies to individuals with taxable income up to $48,350, and married couples filing jointly up to $96,700.

These generous brackets allow you to realize gains — such as by selling appreciated assets in a taxable brokerage account — without increasing your tax bill.

Overlooking this opportunity could prove costly, especially if much of your wealth is in traditional IRAs that will be subject to Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) starting at age 73."

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Senior Discounts and Other Savings Opportunities

Since being over 55, I check if companies have senior discounts.   Many do, including Half Price Books and Walgreens.  My Ford dealer gives a discount on parts used for service.  I've also used the discount with movers and flooring installation. The discount ranges from 5-10% usually.

Different payment option sometimes charge a fee or offer a discount.  In the past, I asked if paying cash or by check gave a discount.   Sometimes yes, and sometimes no.  If yes, I pay by cash.   Recently, some service retailers have started charging a 3% service fee for using a credit card, with no fee for debit cards, checks or cash.   In this case, I pay by debit card or checks.

Sometimes the additional 3% service is indicated, and sometimes it is not.  I've started asking before making payment if a service fee is charged with credit cards, to avoid an additional charge.

Disclosure:  No compensation was received for writing this post.

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

This is not financial, payment method, nor fee 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

Using the Good Stuff Right Away

When I was younger, I used to "save" my best purchases to use sparingly so that they would last a long time.  I also did that with my kids when bought them new toys.  I realize now that was a bad strategy.  I've now switch to using the best stuff, as soon as I purchase it.   

Here are my reasons:

• Things get worse when not being used.  
• I forget about things being saved and don't use them for years.
• Kids out grow things quickly.
• As I get older, I have lots of things saved, but not used much.

My philosophy now is to use the good stuff as much and as fast possible.  That goes for clothing, tools, food, special items and amenities.   Enjoy all my stuff, before it goes bad or I get too old to enjoy using them.  My first move is to regularly wear all the special t-shirts from the vacation spots we visited, the city wide events I organized, and the gifts from my kids and spouse.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

SpaceX or ScamX?

Let's just say, I didn't buy any of the SpaceX IPO shares.  I didn't buy any SpaceX in the open market today.  I have no interest in buying SpaceX in the near future.  The valuation doesn't make sense to me and is way to high.   

However, I'm not going to bet against Muskman, who has been doing masterclass in financial  engineering and corporate finance to maximum valuations for his companies.  I'm going to watch from the sidelines for now.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Inspirational Movies for Me

Here's my list of recently watched movies that I found inspirational:

• Remarkably Bright Creatures - About aging, finding connections, and making peace with the past and narrated by an aquarium octopus.  Great plot twist.
• Hacksaw Ridge - About Medal of Honor winner medic Desmond Doss at Okinawa, who was a conscientious objector that refused to carry arms in the battlefield and save the lives of over 100 men.
• Miracle - About the underdog US Olympic hockey team road to the Gold medal in 1980 at Lake Placid, which included defeating the USSR 4 time Olympic Gold medal team.
• You Gotta Believe - Underdog team makes it to the Little League World Series to honor their coach who has terminal cancer.

These films moved me and brought tears to my eye.  I tend to root for the underdog, which I have experienced being many times.

Disclosure:  I received no compensation for posting about these movies.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Need to Do Weight Exercises

When I was younger, I wasn't a fan of weight training.   I was the starting fullback for a State Championship football team, and I didn't do weights.  In college, I didn't do weight training even though I played even though I was the starting fullback in football again. When I played, weight training was not a requirement for athletes.  Thus, I avoided it.  Like many of my teammates, I built strength through practice and drills.

Fast forward to now.  I've been in rehab for a procedure earlier this year.  Most of the exercises have been cardio, treadmills and bikes.  Near completion, I started to do some weight exercises.  I did ok, but I realized I am much weaker than I expected.  

Needless to say, I need to be doing more weight exercises and weight training now that I'm older.  I will start working weights into my schedule in the future.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Looks Like the S&P Gain Streak May be Ended

Unless a miracle occurs, it appears the S&P's nine weeks of consecutive gains will be over.

Possible Miracles:

• Strait of Hormuz unconditionally opens.
• Iran War ceasefire extend for 60 more days.
• Iran War ends.
• President Trump TACO, which didn't occur this week.

Still it will only be one down week, if the decline continues for the rest of day. Yeah, we're at levels not seen since...(checks charts) two weeks ago.

Still, some folks are panicking.  Losses are happening.  Selling is happening.   Others think it is the beginning of the end.  Volatility is scary.

I'm still hodling at this time.   I'll find out in a few weeks if this was the right choice.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Hodling Hopium Stocks for 1000% Gain

There has been a lot of volatility this week for SAAS, Space and Meme stocks.  Today, I'm discussing my plans for my hopium stocks.

I'm hodling my hopium stocks:  Blackberry (BB), Nokia (NOK) and Sellas Life Sciences (SLS).  I'm targeting for a 1000% or 10X gain.  Currently, I'm up 100-200% on shares and up 300-4000% on call options.

No way (or less than .01% probability), these three stocks will reach a 10X gain when I sell.  This is obviously irrational. However, no rational investor would have expected the market to be at all time highs with inflation and the Iran war.  Yet, here we are

For now, I'll be hodling.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Hodling Was a Genius Move

When I bought my "buy the dip stocks" in February 2026, they kept dipping further through March 2026.  I made the decision to hodl despite a further decline for many of them.

However, since March 31, the S&P has advanced 9 consecutive weeks.   During this time, my "buy the dip stocks" continued to decline or stayed flat.   I continued to hodl.  I thought most of them were way oversold due to the overestimated future impact of AI on their business models. 

This week, a number of my "buy the dip stocks" are making significant gains.   Many are now positive, not all.  I'm going to continue to hodl.   

Of course, it will work until it doesn't.

Disclosure:  I still own MSFT, NOW, TSLA, CRM, TEAM, HUBS, ADBE, ACN, NFLX, UNH

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Learning the Fine Print in my Health Insurance Coverage

I recently had cataract surgery, which Medicare covers.   I also found out that Medicare will cover cost of corrective glasses since I got single focal cataract lenses.  I thought this would be easy to do.   Haha.

I called my Medicare Advantage Insurance company to clarify the coverage and process.   Here's what I found out:

• Medicare only covers the cost of 1 pair to glasses with a standard frame including anti-reflective and UV lenses.  Subsequent glasses are 100% my responsibility
• The provider needs to fill out paperwork to be submitted with my request for reimbursement to verify I am qualified for the benefit.
• I need to pay for the glasses and submit for reimbursement.
• The expense is expected to be done within 3 months of the surgery.

Originally, I was just expecting to go to provider, present my prescription, and have the provider submit to my insurance.   Wrong.  Good thing I checked and learned the above.   

I will be using another provider other than my usual one.   I will bring all my support documentation and have a new provider that complies with the rules and paperwork requirements in the next few days.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Discover Card Bonus Rewards

Discover was the first card to give cash back.  It also didn't charge an annual fee. I think it was a 1/4% cash back for the first $3000 and 1% after that.  I got this card when it first came out.  The new Discover card is 1% cash back on all purchases. I also got this card because my daughter referred me and we both got $100 when I was accepted and spent a minimal amount.

Discover does offer bonus 5% cash back for certain purchases.  The bonus categories are varied, change on a quarterly basis, and have a limit of $75 bonus on $1500 of purchases.   For example, this quarter (April - June), restaurant and home improvement store charges receive a 5% cash back.

Cash back rewards can be used as follows:

• Payoff card balance.
• Deposit to linked bank account.
• Purchase gift cards at a 5-20% discount.

I don't don't link to a bank account.  I originally got gift cards but only when I expected to use it right away.  Lately, I've been paying part of my card balance.

Disclosure:  I was not compensated by Discover for this post.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Blackberry (BB) Hopium: Big Loser in 2025, Winning Big in 2026 So Far

In early 2025, I bet big (for me) with call options on BB going up to $7-10 by 2026 in both a taxable account and a Roth account.   All the call options expired in January 2026 at a strike of $7 or $10.   They all expired worthless.  I lost $113.98 on three $7 call options and $170.64 on four $10 call options for a total 284.62  in the taxable account.  I lost $148.30 on five $7 call options and $169.30 on five $10 call options for a total of $317.60 in the Roth account.

Coming into 2026, I was still interested in buying call options for BB, but more conservatively.  I ended up only getting one $7 call option on April 10, 2026 that expires in January 2027 for $7 when BB was $3.90.  Based on my losing experience in 2025, I decided not to be aggressive with BB call options.  I tried to get another $7 call option in my taxable account at $7 but it did not execute. I quit trying after the option started increasing in value when BB stock value rose.

Fast forward to Friday, April 22, 2026, when BB closed at $7.99 and achieved a 52-week high.   The $7 call option is now worth $1.485 per share or $148.50 for the contract.  My profit is now $141.50.  So, maybe I wasn't wrong about BB, just a year too early in buying options.  We shall see.

My plan is to hodl until the $7 call option is worth $3.50, which would be $343 profit and offset the loss of $317.60 in my Roth account on BB options earlier this year.  If BB should significantly rally to $20, my call option would be worth $11 or more per share or $1100 for the contract.   That's what I'm hoping will happen so that I cover the previous losses and make additional profit.   Hopium at its best.

Disclosure:  I've owned BB in a taxable account and Roth account since 2021.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Hunting for Coupons and Sales

I've always been a coupon and sales hound, and I continue to be one in retirement.  Coupons for free items, with no purchase necessary, are one my favorites.   These are usually grocery store coupons for grocery stores within 2 miles of my house.  Then, there are coupons that give you another product with a purchase.  Recently, I got a $16.99 ratchet adapter set for free with a purchase, and I needed it.  Of course, there always the BOGO, buy one get one, free coupons.  My favorite coupon retailer is Costco.  Coupon are automatically applied at checkout for significant savings.

Then there are the holiday sales:  President's day, Spring Black Friday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday, yada, yada, yada.  Luckily, when we need a major kitchen appliance, it was during on of these holiday sales.  Recently, I bought an oscillating tool package for about 50% off the individual components.  One of my routine favorites is buying my anti virus software during black Friday.  The normal price is $80 and I can buy for $20.   Since the activation key never expires, I buy a couple and install them as needed.

Is it worth my time to find the coupons and sales?  Do I really save enough money to justify the effort?  Probably not, but I find the effort fun and entertaining, even though my family feels it's too much effort.  But then again, I may score big when we get a new car, since our cars are 14, 23 and 24 years old.

Disclosure: No compensation was received from Costco for this post.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Bond Values Drop when Interest Rates Rise

Most of my account values are falling due to interest rates rising.  That's because bond/CD values go down when interest rates go up.  Similarly, bond/CD values go up when interest rates fall.

I'm not worried about bond/CD values going down since my plan is to hold to maturity, which means I receive 100% of par value, which is usually the issue price. While waiting for maturity, I am paid a 4-5% total annual payment for holding the bond/cd, no matter what the interest rate is.   The bond/CD payment is what is really important to me, and it will be consistent no matter what the interest rate is.   

That is my strategy for retirement income at this time so that I can be stock market volatility agnostic.  This will be one of the first tests on the strategy.

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

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

Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC