Woohoo! Made 7000% on a NOK Call Option

Pure luck.   I bought NOK (Nokia) call options expiring Jan 16, 2026 at 7, 8 and 10 strikes.  They cost me from $1.66 to $4.66 per 100 share contract.   Really just a lotto ticket since NOK was about $5 a share at the beginning of October, 2025.    Nokia popped to $6 when they reported earnings on 10/23.  Then on 10/28 NVDA (Nvidia) announced they were investing $1 Billion in NOK.

I ended up selling the 100 share option contracts from $40 to $160 , a gain from 830% to 7390%.  In only 1-2 months since buying them.

Am I brilliant? .No, just pure luck.  

I'm hoping luck will strike twice and that NVDA will make an investment in BB (Blackberry) since I also have BB call options.   😎

In any event, I am quitting buying options on individual stocks the rest of 2025.   I don't want to lose the gains I made on Wednesday, especially after the hit several stocks, such as META and MSFT took on yesterday.

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 © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

FOMO Buy or Fear the Crash?

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

I've been wrestling with whether to invest now or wait until the next correction.   On one hand, I have data that shows the S&P index always exceeds its previous high, usually in 1-2 years or less.   Recently, if one had invested in the S&P at the February 19, 2020 high before COVID lockdown, one would be up about 200% today.

Then I saw the chart below.  Looks scary for two reason.  The 2000-2002 bear market tool about 12 years to recover to the 2000 peak.   From 2009 until now, it looks like "Stonks only go up," with only 3-5 short blips. For example, on October 28, 2025,  NVDA (Nvidia) was up over 115% from its low on April 8, 2025.   IMHO,  the market is due for a major extended correction.

So.... I'm going to stay with the plan of holding the core, selling the peripheral holdings and wait for a 10% or greater drop to start scaling in to VOO and MGK for my kids' accounts.

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

My Solution to Reduce U.S. National Debt

Spoiler alert:  It isn't just increasing income tax revenue.

The U.S. debt is $37.9 trillion as of October 1, 2025.

U.S. debt per person is $111,437 for a population of 340.1 million

U.S. debt per household is $296,094 for 128 million households.

People think taxing billionaires will solve the issue.

Let's do the math.

There are 1135 billionaires in the U.S with a total net worth of $5.7 trillion.  The U.S. annual budget is 7.01 trillion with a budget deficit was $1.8 trillion in 2025 . Transferring all  $5.7 trillion would only reduce the national debt ONE TIME by that amount and the national debt would continue to grow.  

If taking all of current billionaires wealth doesn't solve the issue, then only having higher taxes on the rich doesn't either.

To solve the national debt crises, the U.S. needs to start reducing spending.  By a lot.  Like over $2 trillion a year.  Increasing tax revenue can be part of the solution, but is not sufficient by itself.

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Donate for Tax Deduction or Sell for Cash?

I used to donate unwanted goods and deduct the charitable donation on itemized deductions.   Recently, I started to sell unwanted goods first before donating because I learned the return from selling was often higher than the tax savings from a deduction.

The higher return for selling always works with one takes the standard deduction since there is not tax benefit from a charitable contribution.

If one itemizes, then the tax benefit of claiming the fair market value (FMV) as a contribution is often lower than the price one will get from selling.   That's because the tax benefit will be based on one's tax bracket:  10, 22, 24, 32, 35 or 37%, which is often less than the selling cost less any selling related costs.

For example, I sell used clothing to a reseller of used clothing for 30-40% of their resell price.  At sports equipment reseller, they pay 30-40% of their resell price.  Assuming the resell price is FMV, then one receives more selling if they are in the 10-24% tax brackets.   One may or may not  make more selling if one is in the 32-37% tax brackets.

The return will be reduced by the cost of taking goods to a reseller.  Fortunately, resellers are within a 3 mile radius of my house and are on the way to grocery stores or other retailers.  So my additional cost is just time.

Finally, I save time by not having to claim charitable deductions for goods sold and receive cash immediately instead of as a tax refund.

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates

All my computers are Windows 10 and not upgradable to Windows 11.  For over a year, I have been gently warned that Microsoft will stop Windows 10 security updates on October 14, 2025.   

Recently, I received notice that Microsoft was providing extended security updates (ESU) for one year through October 13, 2026.   The cost is free using Microsoft account points, otherwise it is $30.   ESU is good for up to 10 computers.

I decided take the update since it will allow me to continue using my programs that still work with Windows 10, but may not be compatible with Windows 11.  Accessing ESU was easy.  Just go to Settings>Windows Update and find out if the computer qualifies for ESU.  In my less used computers, I was denied qualifying for ESU and I needed to make sure all Windows updates had been installed before becoming eligible.

Hopefully, Microsoft will do another extension next year.

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Expanded Availability of Private Credit and Equity

Expanded availability of complex investments maybe a canary in the coal mine.

Private credit and private equity used be only available to accredited investors with $1,000,000 net worth or higher.  The returns from private equity and credit were higher, but involved a large investment amounts, a  lockup period and higher risk.

Recently, private credit and private credit are being made available to people with much lower net worth and lower investment amounts.  This being done through investment companies grouping investors and then selling smaller "slices" of private credit or private equity to individuals.  

I have been offered private equity and private credit investment opportunities.  While the returns are higher, I am still reluctant to invest in these.  First, there is the lockup period, which is 5-10 years, although there are some periodic withdrawals.   Second, there is no guarantee the original investment will be returned.    Third, the increase in return is not worth the higher risk for me. Fourth, diversification of risk doesn't  protect if the entire market fails.  I remember in 2007, when mortgage backed bonds were grouped together and sold as slices to individual investors.  The market collapsed and resulted in the Great Recession of  08/09. 

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Difficult and Hard Truths about Aging

I thought this was an interesting article. I have experienced about 2/3 of the truths.😢  I guess I'm aged and old.😎

The Difficult Truths:

Older Adults Are Sharing The Difficult Truths About Aging That No One Talks About, And It's Eye-Opening

The Hard Truths:

"Young People Would Be Surprised By This": 21 "Hard To Swallow" Truths About Getting Older That No One Talks About

I am not a fan of reading multiple slides, but I thought these were interesting and relevant enough artcles to post.

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Myths About Early Retirees

Here are some myths and realities.

Myth:  I nothing to do and lots of time.   

Reality:  My day is filled. I don't know how I had time to work.

Myth:  I am always available to assist acquaintances who are working parents with kids.

Reality:  I'm busy enough with my own kids.  

Myth:  I will want to take care of grandkids full time to reduce child care expenses.

Reality:  While I don't have grandkids, I've already done my time by raising my own children.

Myth:  It's impressive to have a successful early retirement.

Reality:  No one cares or is impressed.

Myth:  I will be doing a lot with long time friends.

Reality:  We're all busy or some have passed way.

Myth:  Government programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, will be a great benefit.

Reality:  They are great benefits, and very complex.  Also, Social Security covers less than I expected, and Medicare costs more than I expected.

Retiring early is a different experience that what I expected.

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

Middle Class Income versus Middle Class Housing

Middle class income has not kept pace with the price of middle class housing.

The middle class is a household with income that is at least two-thirds of the U.S. median income to double the median income. Middle class would be a range of incomes from $49,720 to $149,160, based on Census Bureau data for 2022.   In 2022, about 51% of American households are middle class.

Middle class would be a range of incomes from $17,710 to $35,420, based on Census Bureau data for 1980.  

To see the range of incomes for middle class household see What Middle-Class Income Has Looked Like Every Year Since 1980 in both that year's dollars and 2024 dollars.

Median house price in 1980  $64,600 or 1.82X - 3.62X of middle class income

Median house price in 2022  $428,700 or 2.87X - 8.62X of middle class income.

Yikes.   Middle class income growth is significantly behind middle class housing price growth.   That is the major economic issue for those entering the workforce in the past few years.

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC

Watching Paint Dry To Become A Millionaire

Results from good financial practices is akin to watching paint dry.  Nothing seems to be happening and give it enough time, it will work out well, provide you follow the procedures given.

In the links below, I posted a "get rich slowly" strategy to become a millionaire.   

 

Become a Millionaire

Teach a Child to Become a Millionaire

Spoiler alert:  It takes 40 years, but it is guaranteed to work..

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

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

Copyright © 2025 Achievement Catalyst, LLC