Anyone investing heavily this year??

How much money did you lose/gain this past week?


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Despite the long list of risks—high stock valuations, weakening jobs data, geopolitical tensions, trade frictions, inflation pressures, and ballooning government deficits—markets are holding up remarkably well. Stocks are rallying, gold is strong, even some bonds have bounced back. So why aren’t investors panicking? Today, we’re going to break down the reasons behind this market resilience—and what it might mean for your portfolio.
 
i honestly wish he would just shut the fuck up.
he's just sayin shit off the cuff during a govt shutdown, which just makes shit even worse.

He has the emotional control of a toddler to the point those around him supposedly can't control him. Im starting to feel like they could but they won't because in some way they benefit from his actions.

Congress or the super rich don't care because they aren't impacted. Correct me if im mistaken but isn't congress still paid during shutdowns? If they weren't, it's no way you have a shutdown or even threats of shutdowns so regularly.
 


In today's Five Question Friday, we cover these questions:

1. Is Social Security a Ponzi Scheme?
2. Should home value be part of your asset allocation?
3. Does Your Savings Balance Affect the 4% Rule?
4. How should I prepare for an inheritance of 90 individual stocks, bonds and mutual funds?
5. How should a 78 year old invest $75,000?
 
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Thank gawd the crypto market didn't crash again today

omg-denzel-washington.gif
 


"
Key Points
  • Oracle Cloud Infrastructure on Tuesday announced it will deploy 50,000 Advanced Micro Devices graphics processors starting in the second half of 2026.
  • The move is the latest sign that cloud companies are increasingly offering AMD’s GPUs as an alternative to Nvidia’s market-leading GPUs for artificial intelligence.
  • “We feel like customers are going to take up AMD very, very well — especially in the inferencing space,” said Karan Batta, senior vice president of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
"

50k x $40k+...
 


new rule means some 401(k) contributions will no longer be tax-deferred. Here’s who will be affected​

By
Jeanne Sahadi bylineJeanne Sahadi
Oct 2, 2025






144




Staring next year, the highest-earning 401(k) participants who are eligible to make catch-up contributions will no longer be able to defer taxes on those contributions.

Staring next year, the highest-earning 401(k) participants who are eligible to make "catch-up" contributions will no longer be able to defer taxes on those contributions.
FreshSplash/E+/Getty Images
A new rule is going into effect next year that will affect high earners who make “catch-up contributions” in their 401(k)s or other tax-deferred workplace retirement plans.

The rule, which was created under the Secure 2.0 retirement law, will essentially eliminate the immediate tax break for catch-up contributions that you get for the bulk of your other contributions to a 401(k) — or 403(b), 457(b), Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP) or SIMPLE IRA.

Here’s a breakdown of what will change and who, specifically, will be affected.

How it will work​

Currently, if you’re over 50 and max out your 401(k) contributions up to the federal cap (which is $23,500 this year), you are eligible to make additional “catch-up” contributions above that amount if you choose.


The limit on catch-up savings this year is $7,500 (or if your employer allows it, up to $11,250 for participants between the ages of 60 and 63). Those limits are adjusted for inflation annually.

Until now, you could choose for all of your 401(k) contributions to be made tax-deferred. That means the amount gets taken out of your paycheck before tax – thereby lowering your income tax bill today – and the contributions are allowed to grow tax-deferred until you start taking distributions in retirement.

But, starting next year, if you’re over 50 and made more than $145,000 in FICA wages — which is the income subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes — in the prior year, any so-called “catch-up contributions” you make will automatically be subject to income tax. In other words, they will be treated as Roth 401(k) contributions.

Related article
It's great to have tax-free savings. But deciding whether to move money into a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA from a traditional account is a complex question. A good tax adviser can walk you through your options.
Wondering if you should convert your tax-deferred retirement savings to a Roth? Here’s what to consider
Once invested, your after-tax money will be allowed to grow tax free and be withdrawn tax free assuming certain conditions are met.


The vast majority of workplace retirement plans (93%) do offer employees the option of creating a Roth 401(k), according to the 2024 annual survey of the Plan Sponsor Council of America. But if your plan doesn’t, as a result of the rule change you will no longer be permitted to make catch-up contributions at all even though you’re 50 or older, according to Angela Capek, a senior vice president at Fidelity Investments, one of the largest workplace retirement plan providers.

The net effect of the rule change for those affected​

Keep in mind, the new rule will have no effect on the taxation of anyone who is eligible to make catch-up contributions and makes below $145,000 (a number that may be adjusted upward for cost of living changes).






But for those high earners who are affected by the rule change, there are potential upsides and downsides.



On the one hand, being forced to pay taxes on part of your retirement savings now when you’re likely in your peak earning years means you may pay a higher tax rate on those savings than you would if you withdrew them in retirement. (We say “may” because no one can predict where tax rates will be in the coming years.)

And for every year that you opt to make catch-up savings, “you’ll owe more taxes to the federal government now because you lose pre-tax treatment (on those contributions),” said Brigen Winters, a principal at Groom Law Group, an employee benefits law firm that represents retirement plan sponsors, among others.

Put another way, “your take-home pay could be reduced,” Capek said.

But the rule change does offer you some potential advantages. First, the money you invest in the Roth portion of your 401(k) will grow tax free and can be withdrawn tax free assuming you let it stay invested for at least five years and are at least 59-1/2. Plus, thanks to Secure 2.0, unlike with your traditional, tax-deferred 401(k) contributions, you will not be required to make minimum withdrawals from your Roth 401(k) when you turn 73.

And when you do retire, having an amount of money that is free and clear of any tax obligation gives you a lot more flexibility when deciding how to manage your finances since your other retirement income sources — including potentially part of your Social Security benefits — are likely to be taxable.
 
My latest spec position: $KRKNF (OTC) - $4 range right now, was around $1.50 last year this time. As I watch their financials, I'll continue to buy it until I have at least 1k shares and sit on it.

Their movement into defense is intriguing:

  • Kraken is increasingly embedded in the defense market rather than just a “marine tech / commercial” supplier. Its product lines—SeaPower batteries, synthetic aperture sonar, services & training—fit closely with the emerging defense needs (UUVs, mine countermeasure, surveillance).
  • The company appears to be building a growing revenue stream from defense, with orders in the tens of millions USD tied to defense clients, and recurring / long-term contracts.
  • Their R&D collaborations with the U.S. Navy and other allied agencies boost their credibility, which helps in bidding, partnerships, and potential for larger contracts in the future.
  • Defense work also forces Kraken to meet high technical, quality, reliability, and regulatory standards—which can be costly and resource-intensive, but once achieved, these standards can act as a competitive advantage.

** ChatGPT insights **


Quick headline view


  • Kraken Robotics reported Q2 2025 consolidated revenue of CA$26.4M (up 16% year-over-year) and reiterated 2025 guidance of CA$120–135M revenue and Adjusted EBITDA CA$26–34M. Kraken Robotics+1
  • Cash / liquidity: cash at June 30, 2025 was reported at CA$32.9M, total assets CA$184.3M; after quarter-end Kraken completed a bought-deal equity financing raising gross proceeds of CA$115M. Kraken Robotics+1
  • Strategic M&A / capability build: Kraken completed the acquisition of 3D at Depth (≈US$17M) to add high-resolution underwater LiDAR and services; it has also been scaling a subsea battery (SeaPower) business and opened/announced a battery facility to serve defense/UUV demand. Kraken Robotics+1



1) Financial snapshot (most recent quarterly / company guidance)​


  • Q2 2025 revenue: CA$26.4M (+16% vs Q2 2024). Gross profit and adjusted EBITDA improved but EBITDA margins show some quarter-to-quarter variability (see company MD&A). Kraken Robotics+1
  • YTD / guidance: Management reiterated 2025 revenue guidance CA$120–135M and Adjusted EBITDA CA$26–34M, implying management expects strong back-half delivery. The guidance midpoint implies ~40% annual revenue growth vs 2024. OTC Markets
  • Balance sheet / cash: Cash at quarter end was reported as CA$32.9M, total assets CA$184.3M. Soon after quarter end they completed a CA$115M bought deal equity raise (material for dilution / runway). Kraken Robotics+1

(If you want, I can extract the exact line items from the Q2 interim financial statements and show a mini P&L / balance-sheet table.)




2) Growth drivers and strategic moves​


  • Subsea batteries (SeaPower): Kraken has been winning sizable battery orders (company press releases cite multi-million dollar SeaPower orders and a plan for a battery production facility to meet defense/UUV demand). This business is higher margin and recurring if service/replace cycles scale. Kraken Robotics+1
  • Services & integration (recurring revenue): Kraken is pushing services (survey/inspection/LiDAR) alongside hardware — services can smooth revenue and boost lifetime margins. The acquisition of 3D at Depth strengthens LiDAR and service capability. Kraken Robotics+1
  • Sonar product line (KATFISH, AquaPix, SeaVision): Continued demonstrations and customer trials in defense/commercial markets — wins here drive multi-year contracts. Unmanned Systems Technology+1
  • Defense & infrastructure tailwinds: Global attention to subsea infrastructure security (cables, pipelines) and defense modernization for uncrewed systems boosts RFP activity — Kraken cites increased defense RFP activity as a tailwind. Unmanned Systems Technology+1



3) Valuation / liquidity & market structure notes​


  • Kraken trades publicly as TSX-V: PNG and OTCQB: KRKNF (U.S. ticker is OTCQB/KRKNF). Many U.S. platforms quote the OTC ticker; primary listing is Canadian venture exchange which affects liquidity and investor base. Kraken Robotics+1
  • Market-cap / multiples (third-party snapshots vary by data vendor). Example snapshot showed market cap ≈ US$1.2B and trailing revenue (TTM) ~ US$66M — implying high revenue multiple vs peers (check your data feed for live quotes). Multiples will swing widely for a company still scaling revenue and taking on strategic acquisitions. StockAnalysis
  • Dilution / financing: the CA$115M bought deal will materially increase cash but also increase outstanding shares (dilution). The use of proceeds (scaling batteries, M&A, working capital) is positive for growth if execution is good, but investors should model share count changes. Kraken Robotics



4) Upside thesis (why it could be a good investment)​


  • Large addressable markets — subsea energy storage, AUVs/UUVs, seabed survey, offshore energy/renewables, defense modernization.
  • Multiple product lines (batteries, SAS sonar, LiDAR, services) reduce single-product dependency and increase cross-sell potential. Kraken Robotics+1
  • Near-term revenue tailwinds — strong battery order book and service expansion could lift revenue materially toward the reiterated guidance if backlog converts. Kraken Robotics+1



5) Key risks / red flags​


  • Execution risk on integrating acquisitions (3D at Depth) and scaling battery production — capex and OPEX can pressure margins if roll-out slips. Kraken Robotics+1
  • Backlog / concentration risk: Some large programs (defense or a few large customers) can create lumpiness — if a major program is delayed it can hit quarters hard. Company has shown quarter-to-quarter variability. Kraken Robotics+1
  • Liquidity vs dilution tradeoff: The recent CA$115M equity raise boosts runway but dilutes current holders — you must model post-raise share count. Kraken Robotics
  • Market / listing liquidity: As a TSX-V / OTCQB name, retail-only investors in US brokerages may face liquidity or trading restrictions; spreads can be wide. Kraken Robotics+1



6) How I’d value / monitor Kraken (practical steps)​


If you’re evaluating it as a buy, consider doing the following (I can do any of these right now if you want):


  1. Quick sensitivity model: build a 3-year revenue / EBITDA projection using management guidance midpoints and assumptions for battery & services growth → show implied EV / revenue and EV / EBITDA multiples.
  2. Dilution-adjusted share count: calculate post-equity raise share count and new market cap using current price to understand true per-share implications.
  3. Comparable peer screen: find listed companies in subsea sensors / subsea batteries / ocean robotics and show relative multiples.
  4. Monitor list: set the key items to watch each quarter — revenue vs guidance, battery order backlog, conversion of 3D at Depth pipeline, gross margins, capex for battery facility, and share count moves.



7) Bottom line (plain language)​


Kraken is a growth company pivoting from product sales toward a higher-value services + battery play, with credible technology and some sizable recent orders and an acquisition that broaden its offering. It also just beefed up its balance sheet via a large equity raise — good for runway but dilutive. If management executes — especially on battery production and converting service backlog — this could deliver outsized growth. But the stock is not a low-risk value play: expect quarter-to-quarter revenue lumpiness, execution risk on integration/capex, and share dilution from financings. Use position sizing and require conviction on backlog conversion before going big. Kraken Robotics+2Kraken Robotics+2








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