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Using Options to Access U.S. ETFs as an EU Retail Investor

Published: November 10, 2025Leave a Comment

European retail investors cannot normally buy U.S.-domiciled ETFs like QQQ due to the PRIIPs regulation and the missing KID. Brokers block direct purchase to comply. However, you can still own such ETFs by using options. We’ll keep on using the very popular QQQ as an example.

The Workaround

Sell a cash-secured put on QQQ. One contract controls 100 shares. If QQQ closes below your strike at expiration, assignment occurs.
Receive 100 QQQ shares via assignment. You own the shares even though direct buying was blocked.
Sell the shares if desired. EU rules restrict brokers from offering non-PRIIPs ETFs to retail clients. They do not prohibit a client from selling an ETF already held.

What This Is and Is Not

Bullish exposure path: You are paid premium and may acquire shares at the strike if assigned.
Not a clean substitute: Sizing is lumpy (blocks of 100), timing is uncertain, and rolling is often required.

Key Constraints and Risks

Capital: Minimum cash ≈ 100 × strike price. Example: $400 per share → ~$40,000 per contract.
Assignment timing: You may not be assigned when you want the exposure. Deep ITM strikes increase assignment odds but reduce premium efficiency.
Broker policy: Many EU brokers block purchases of non-PRIIPs ETFs but allow sales of positions already held. Policies can change. Client agreements reserve rights to close positions for risk or compliance reasons.
Operational: Options expire. You must manage rolls, strikes, and expiries. Taxes differ for premium, dividends, and capital gains.
Regulatory: Future rules could narrow or remove this path.

Practical Setup

Account permissions: Enable U.S. options. Confirm assignment handling and settlement currency with your broker.
Contract choice: Select strike and expiry to match target entry level and time window. Cash-secured only if you want delivery.
Exit mechanics: If assigned, you can hold, write covered calls, or sell the shares. If unassigned, you earned premium but did not gain share exposure.

Cleaner Alternatives (UCITS)

For long-term Nasdaq-100 exposure, use PRIIPs-compliant UCITS ETFs:

Invesco EQQQ NASDAQ-100 UCITS ETF (EQQQ) — TER ~0.30%.
iShares NASDAQ-100 UCITS ETF (CNDX) — TER ~0.33%.
Xtrackers NASDAQ-100 UCITS ETF (XNDX) — TER ~0.25%.

Bottom Line

The put-assignment path can create temporary exposure to QQQ for EU retail accounts that cannot buy it directly. It is capital-intensive, operationally complex, and dependent on broker policy. For most investors, UCITS Nasdaq-100 ETFs are simpler and adequate replacements. However, if you absolutely want access to U.S.-domiciled ETFs this is how to do it.

Using Your Stock Broker to Get the Cheapest Currency Conversions

Published: November 09, 2025Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever needed to convert currencies, you’ve probably considered services like Wise, Revolut, or maybe even a crypto exchange like Kraken. But have you ever thought about using Interactive Brokers (IB) to trade the currency pairs directly? Let’s dive into how Interactive Brokers stacks up as a tool for currency conversions and compare it to popular alternatives.

Why Interactive Brokers for Currency Conversion?

Interactive Brokers isn’t just for buying stocks or trading options; it’s also a powerful tool for converting currency. Unlike Wise or Revolut, where you’re charged a margin on the conversion rates plus a small fee, Interactive Brokers allows you to directly trade currencies on the foreign exchange market, meaning you can often get closer to the interbank rate—the most favorable rate available.

When you want to convert from, say, USD to EUR, you simply trade the currency pairs like you would with any other financial asset. This direct approach has some advantages:

Lower Spreads: Interactive Brokers gives you access to live FX spreads, which are often tighter than the margins applied by consumer currency conversion services.
Transparent Fees: IB charges a small commission per trade—usually just a few basis points. This transparency can help you avoid the surprise markups that might be embedded in other conversion tools.

Comparing Costs: Interactive Brokers vs. Wise, Revolut, and Kraken

Let’s take a look at a simple comparison using an example conversion of $1,000 to euros. Here’s how the different options stack up:

Interactive Brokers: IB’s fee structure is typically a very small commission, and the exchange rate is practically at market value, making it extremely competitive for larger amounts. Let’s say the total cost is around 0.02% of your $1,000 transaction.
Wise and Revolut: Both of these platforms tend to offer exchange rates close to market rates, but they add a small markup. Wise charges a transparent conversion fee, while Revolut may depend on your account type—standard accounts might have weekend markups or fees for larger amounts.
Kraken (Crypto Exchange): Crypto exchanges like Kraken can also be used to convert currencies, albeit indirectly. You’d need to convert your USD into crypto (like USDC) and then trade it for another fiat currency, such as EUR. The fees can vary significantly, ranging from trading fees (often 0.1% to 0.26%) to withdrawal fees, and there is also the added volatility risk when handling crypto as an intermediary.

Example Calculation

Let’s assume you are converting $1,000 to euros on each platform:

Interactive Brokers: If the EUR/USD rate is 1.10, you could receive approximately €909, factoring in a minimal commission fee.
Wise: You might receive around €906, after the service fee of around 0.5%.
Revolut: You could receive a similar amount as Wise during weekdays, but if it’s the weekend, there might be an extra charge, bringing it down to about €903.
Kraken: With Kraken, after trading and withdrawal fees, you might end up with around €900, though this could vary depending on market conditions and the crypto route you choose.

Speed and Convenience

Interactive Brokers: While IB offers great rates, the process might feel a bit more technical. You have to be comfortable with the trading interface.
Wise and Revolut: Both are extremely user-friendly. Wise, in particular, is designed to make international transfers simple, even if you pay slightly more for that convenience.
Kraken: Converting via a crypto exchange involves more steps and comes with crypto-specific risks, like market volatility. It’s probably not the most convenient choice unless you’re already comfortable with crypto trading.

Downsides to Using Interactive Brokers for Currency Conversion

While using Interactive Brokers for currency conversion can lead to substantial savings, there are a few downsides to consider:

Not Intended for Currency Conversion: Interactive Brokers is primarily a brokerage platform for trading stocks, options, and other assets. Using it purely for currency conversion is sometimes seen as a “hack” and not its intended use. In fact, Interactive Brokers has been known to discourage users from exploiting this feature solely for currency exchange purposes, and they may even limit your account activity if this behavior is detected.
Complexity: The trading interface is not as intuitive as dedicated currency conversion platforms. It may feel overwhelming for users who are not already familiar with the intricacies of forex trading.
Regulatory and Compliance Risks: Depending on your country, there may be specific regulations around currency trading that could complicate things if you’re only looking to convert funds. Interactive Brokers might also scrutinize your transactions more closely if it appears that you’re primarily using the platform for currency conversion.

Final Thoughts: Best Option for Currency Conversion?

If you’re converting large amounts and want the lowest possible cost, Interactive Brokers is likely your best bet. It offers near-market rates with very low commissions, which adds up to considerable savings, especially if you’re converting a significant sum. However, if ease of use and speed are priorities, Wise and Revolut are still excellent choices.

Kraken, while an interesting option, adds a layer of complexity and risk due to the need to convert through crypto. It might be worth considering if you’re already active in the crypto world, but for most people, IB or a dedicated currency conversion service will be simpler and more straightforward.

If you’re already using Interactive Brokers for trading, why not leverage it for currency conversion too? The potential savings could be worth the extra clicks.

How to Back Up an Android Retro Gaming Device

Published: November 08, 20251 Comment

Android-based retro handhelds like the AYN Odin 2 Portal and Retroid Pocket are powerful and flexible, but there is one big weak point:

If you uninstall an emulator or reset the device, you can easily lose hundreds of hours of saves.

With a simple setup you can make your entire retro collection portable and easy to back up or move to a new device. This guide focuses on:

AYN Odin 2 Portal
Retroid Pocket (Android-based models)
RetroArch + standalone emulators
Optional Syncthing setup for automatic backups

Core idea: SD card as the “library”

Android apps can be wiped at any time. Your microSD card usually isn’t.

The core strategy:

Use a microSD card as your main library for ROMs, saves, and configs.
Configure emulators so that:
- ROMs are loaded from the SD card.
- Saves and, where possible, configs live on the SD card or in clearly visible folders.
Back up that SD card (and a couple of internal folders) to your PC or NAS regularly.

Once that’s in place you can uninstall emulators, factory reset the handheld, or move to a new device and keep all your progress intact.

Folder structure on the SD card

You do not need anything fancy. Something like this is enough:

/storage/XXXX-XXXX/Games/
  roms/
    nes/
    snes/
    gba/
    ps1/
    ps2/
    gc/
    wii/
    switch/
    ...
  saves/
  states/
  configs/
    retroarch/
    eden/

Where:

XXXX-XXXX is your SD card ID.
roms/ contains all game files, sorted by system.
saves/ and states/ are optional if you prefer to keep saves separate.
configs/ can store emulator config files and front-end data if you choose to externalize them.

Adjust the structure if you like, but pick something and stick to it.

RetroArch: the easy part

Most systems (NES, SNES, GBA, PS1, etc.) will typically run through RetroArch.

Default behavior that helps you

On Android, RetroArch’s default setting for saves is:

Savefile = “Content directory”
Savestate = “Content directory”

That means:

Save files and save states go into the same folder as the ROM.

If your ROMs are on the SD card, your RetroArch saves and states are also on the SD card by default. You do not need to change anything for safety.

You can verify this quickly:

Load a ROM from your SD card in RetroArch.
Save in-game and/or create a savestate.
Check that ROM’s folder on the SD card; you should see files like .srm, .sav, .state.

That alone gives you per-game saves living next to the ROM and simple backup: copy the ROM tree and you also get the saves.

Optional: centralized RetroArch saves on SD

If you prefer a cleaner structure, you can centralize RetroArch saves on the SD card:

Open RetroArch → Settings → Directory.
Set:
- Savefile → /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Games/saves/
- Savestate → /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Games/states/
Optionally:
- Config → /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Games/configs/retroarch/
- Playlist, Thumbnails similarly under configs/retroarch/.
Go to Main Menu → Configuration File → Save Current Configuration.

This does not change the safety principle. It just makes backups more organized.

Switch: Eden (Yuzu fork) on Android

Switch emulation is the outlier in most setups.

Eden (a Yuzu fork) stores Switch saves inside a NAND directory. By default this lives in app data. If you uninstall Eden without moving it, you lose saves.

On Android builds of Eden there is a setting for this:

Configuration → System → File system → NAND directory

Safer setup for Eden on SD

Ideal setup on SD:

Create a folder, for example:

/storage/XXXX-XXXX/Games/configs/eden/nand/

In Eden, go to:
- Configuration → System → File system → NAND directory
- Point it to the folder above.
Keep your Switch games under:
```
/storage/XXXX-XXXX/Games/roms/switch/
```

Result:

All Eden user data and saves live on the SD card.
Uninstalling Eden no longer touches saves.
You can back up or move the entire Switch setup by copying:
- Games/roms/switch/
- Games/configs/eden/

If you do not want to move the NAND, at minimum you should periodically copy the existing NAND folder (from Eden’s user data path) to your PC.

Dolphin, Citra, PPSSPP, and other standalone emulators

If you mostly use RetroArch cores, you can ignore standalone emulators for those systems. The only ones you care about are the standalone apps you actually use.

Typical defaults on Android:

PPSSPP (PSP)
- Uses a visible PSP/ folder on shared storage.
- Back up the entire PSP/ folder to capture ROM lists, saves, and states.
Dolphin (GameCube / Wii standalone)
- Typically uses dolphin-emu/ or a “User data” directory for configs and saves.
- Back up that whole folder.
Citra (3DS)
- Uses a citra-emu/ folder or an Android/data/.../files user directory.
- Copy that directory to capture saves and configuration.
AetherSX2 / PS2 forks
- Store memory card files and save states under their user folder, usually inside Android/data/.../files.

On recent Android versions, Android/data is restricted. For those, either use a file manager that can access it (X-plore, Solid Explorer) or use each emulator’s built-in export/transfer tools to move saves into a visible folder and then back that up.

If you are using RetroArch cores instead of standalone versions, you can skip these entirely and just care about RetroArch + Eden.

AYN Odin 2 Portal workflow

Putting it together for the Odin 2 Portal:

Install a good microSD card (U3 / A2, 256–512 GB).

On the SD card, create:

/storage/XXXX-XXXX/Games/
  roms/
  saves/
  states/
  configs/
    retroarch/
    eden/

Put all ROMs for RetroArch cores (and the Dolphin core) under roms/ by system.
Use RetroArch for everything except Switch games.
For Eden:
- Set the NAND directory to /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Games/configs/eden/nand/.
If you use any extra standalone emulators, either:
- Move their user directories to SD where supported, or
- Periodically copy their internal user folders to your PC.

Backups then become:

Remove the SD card, plug into a PC, copy /Games/ to your backup location.
Optionally also copy any remaining emulator data folders from internal storage.

Retroid Pocket (Android-based)

The same principles apply to Android-based Retroid Pocket devices:

They also support microSD expansion.
Their frontends often auto-create a structure on the SD card for ROMs.

On Retroid:

Let the Retroid launcher create its ROM directories on the SD card, or create your own /Games/roms/ tree.
Point RetroArch to load ROMs from the SD card.
Keep RetroArch in its default “save to content directory” mode, or centralize on SD as described earlier.
For standalone emulators (PPSSPP, Dolphin, etc.) either:
- Use their default external folders (PSP/, dolphin-emu/), or
- Move their data paths to SD where possible.

Backup routine:

Remove the SD card and copy the entire games structure to your PC or NAS.
Optionally also copy any internal emulator user folders if they hold configs or saves you care about.

Keeping everything standardized under something like /Games/ means you can reuse the same SD card (and backups) between devices: Odin, Retroid, or even an Android tablet.

Backups with Syncthing (optional)

If you want automatic, continuous backups instead of manual SD card copies, Syncthing is a good option. It works across PCs, NAS, and Android handhelds.

What Syncthing does

Syncs folders between devices over your local network or the internet.
Works peer-to-peer; no central cloud service required.
Can be set to “send-only” on the handheld so changes only flow out, not in.

Setup overview

You need Syncthing running on:

Your Odin 2 Portal / Retroid Pocket (Android app).
Your PC or NAS (desktop/server build).

1. Install and pair devices

Install Syncthing on the handheld.
Install Syncthing on your PC or NAS.
Open Syncthing on both and:
- Add each device’s ID on the other side.
- Approve the connection.

Now they trust each other and can sync folders.

2. Choose which folders to sync

On the handheld, add a Syncthing folder:

Path: /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Games/
Folder type: usually Send Only from the handheld’s side.

On your PC/NAS, map it to a local path, for example:

D:\Backups\Odin2\Games\

If you still have any important emulator folders on internal storage that you want synced (for example an internal NAND that you haven’t moved yet), you can add those as additional Syncthing folders.

3. Limit when it syncs

To avoid battery drain and mobile data usage, configure Syncthing to:

Sync only on Wi-Fi.
Optionally sync only while charging.
Optionally keep a small number of older versions if you want rollback safety.

Once configured, Syncthing will notice changes in /Games/ on the handheld and sync them to your PC/NAS whenever the conditions are met.

When Syncthing makes sense

Syncthing is a good fit if:

You play often and don’t want to think about backups.
You have a PC or NAS that is frequently on.
You want restores and migrations to be as simple as plugging in a new SD card and installing your emulators.

If you only update your library occasionally and prefer simplicity, manual SD card backups might be enough.

Minimal checklist

If you want the shortest possible version:

Put ROMs on SD under a clear folder tree (for example /Games/roms/...).
Use RetroArch for everything non-Switch.
- With ROMs on SD, saves are automatically on SD as well.
For Switch (Eden):
- Set the NAND directory to a folder on the SD card, or
- At least periodically copy the NAND folder to your PC.
Backups:
- Either:
  - Remove SD → copy /Games/ to PC/NAS, and
  - Copy any remaining emulator data folders from internal storage.
- Or:
  - Use Syncthing to keep /Games/ continuously synced to your PC/NAS.

With that in place, factory resets, emulator reinstalls, and device upgrades stop being risky. Your ROMs, saves, and configs are just data, neatly stored and backed up.

bunq Review 2026: Better than Revolut?

Last updated: January 01, 20262 Comments

Open a bunq account

bunq is a fully app-based EU bank founded in 2012 and licensed under De Nederlandsche Bank. It targets users who value automation, strong budgeting with multiple IBANs, and an eco-focused brand. Unlike e-money institutions, bunq is a licensed bank and covered by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee up to €100,000.

Company Background

Founded: 2012, Amsterdam.
License: Full EU banking license (DNB supervision).
Coverage: 30+ EEA countries; UK via e-money permissions.
Scale: Multi-billion euro deposits; rapid feature cadence.

Who bunq Is For

Digital nomads and frequent travelers managing multiple currencies.
Freelancers and entrepreneurs who want quick, flexible banking.
Families who benefit from shared sub-accounts and spending controls.
Developers who want API access and automation.
Eco-conscious users who value tree-planting initiatives.

Account Types & Pricing

Plan	Monthly Fee	Key Features
Easy Bank	€2.99	Basic current account, EU IBAN, core app features
Easy Money	€8.99	Multiple sub-accounts with IBANs, budgeting tools, extra cards
Easy Green	€17.99	All Easy Money features + tree-planting perks + premium extras
Business (tiers)	from €12.99	Multi-user, API access, bookkeeping integrations, VAT sub-accounts

Subscription model. Transparent pricing. No freemium with hidden FX spreads.

Core Features

Multi-IBAN sub-accounts: segment budgets, projects, and taxes.
Multi-currency: EUR, USD, GBP support with fair FX.
Cards: physical and virtual Mastercard; Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Automation: rules to sort income, allocate VAT, and fund goals.
API: public developer API for custom workflows.
Investing (bunq Stocks): fractional shares/ETFs from €10, simple fees.
Green focus: tree planting and impact tracking on Easy Green.

Business Banking

Multiple IBANs to separate revenue, expenses, and tax.
Permissions and team cards with limits per user.
Bookkeeping integrations and export options.
API hooks for invoices, reconciliations, and payouts.

Investing with bunq

Access US/EU stocks and selected ETFs.
Fractional trading from low ticket sizes.
Simple fee model suitable for beginners.
Not a pro trading platform; basic execution and analytics.

Security

EU bank license; Dutch Deposit Guarantee up to €100,000 per depositor.
Biometric login, instant card freeze, granular controls.
Note: bunq has faced compliance scrutiny and an AML-related fine; the bank disputes aspects of this. Keep a backup account as standard best practice.

Crypto

You can buy/sell from the Crypto tab in the bunq app. Fees start at 0.25% per trade. Coverage is via Kraken infrastructure.

They also rolled out EU-wide flexible staking (no lockups) with advertised yields up to ~10% APR.

Customer Experience

Strengths: polished app, real-time notifications, budget clarity, automation, clear pricing.

Weaknesses: reports of slow support, occasional freezes, limited help in fraud disputes.

bunq vs Competitors

vs Revolut: Revolut excels in trading/crypto. bunq offers a full EU bank license and stronger multi-IBAN budgeting.
vs Wise: Wise is best for international transfers. bunq is better as a primary current account with automation.
vs N26: N26 has strong presence in DE/ES. bunq pushes faster on features and developer tooling.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Licensed EU bank, deposit protection.
Multi-IBAN sub-accounts for precise budgeting.
Open API and automation.
Eco features with Easy Green.
Entry-level investing access.

Cons

Subscription costs higher than some rivals.
Mixed support reputation; compliance scrutiny.
Best experience within the EEA footprint.

Conclusion

bunq is a strong pick for international users, freelancers, and small businesses who value automation and budgeting clarity. Pricing is not the lowest, but the toolset—multi-IBANs, API, rules, and green options—justifies it for many. Use bunq as a core account and keep a secondary option for redundancy.

Try bunq today

FAQ

Is bunq a real bank?

Yes. bunq operates with an EU banking license under the Dutch central bank (DNB). Eligible deposits are protected up to €100,000.

Does bunq work in Spain and across the EEA?

Yes. bunq serves most EEA countries. You get a European IBAN and can spend globally with Mastercard.

Can bunq replace my traditional bank?

For many users, yes. You can receive salary, set up direct debits, and manage savings and budgets. Keep a backup account for resilience.

How good are bunq’s exchange rates?

Rates are competitive and transparent. There is no freemium cross-subsidy via hidden FX spreads. Check current plan terms for precise fees.

Is bunq safe?

bunq includes standard security features and is covered by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee. Like any bank, it faces regulatory oversight. Maintain good account hygiene and a secondary account.

Does bunq support Apple Pay and Google Pay?

Yes. You can add bunq cards to Apple Pay and Google Pay in supported regions.

What’s special about bunq for businesses?

Multi-IBAN sub-accounts, VAT allocation, permissions, team cards, exports, and a public API for automation.

Does bunq offer investing?

Yes. bunq Stocks provides fractional access to selected US/EU shares and ETFs. It is designed for simple, long-term investing rather than active trading.

Long-Term Optimist, Short-Term Pessimist

Published: September 27, 2025Leave a Comment

One phrase captures how I approach life, work, and investing: long-term optimist, short-term pessimist.

At first glance it looks contradictory. In reality, it is the only mindset that makes sense in a world that is full of opportunity yet constantly shaken by shocks.

Why the Long-Term Optimist View

Across centuries the trend is clear. Technology, health, communication, and living standards have all moved upward. Innovation compounds. Human ingenuity adapts to crises. The trajectory has always bent upward despite wars, pandemics, or recessions.

That gives me confidence that, on a multi-decade horizon, being optimistic about humanity, markets, and personal growth is rational. I expect better tools, healthier lives, and new opportunities for my children. That optimism guides how I invest, the projects I build, and the risks I take.

Why the Short-Term Pessimist View

Zoom in and the picture changes. Cycles matter. Markets overshoot. Politicians stumble. Companies fail. Supply chains break. Human error repeats itself.

Assuming smooth sailing is dangerous. I expect setbacks, volatility, and disappointments. I prepare for them by keeping buffers, diversifying, and questioning hype. In business and investing, this means stress-testing assumptions, protecting the downside, and expecting things to go wrong before they go right.

The Problem With Long-Term Pessimists

Where I part ways with many people today is with long-term pessimists. They come in different guises. Some are AI doomers convinced artificial intelligence will end humanity. Others are climate catastrophists certain that environmental collapse is around the corner. Then there are the anti-natalists who call it irresponsible to bring children into the world at all. In finance you see it in the FIRE community’s perma-savers, people who cling to austerity while denying themselves life’s richness. Politically it often shows up in progressive declinists, convinced society is spiraling down.

A Short History of Failed Long-Term Pessimism

This mindset is not new. Every generation has had its prophets of decline, and they have always been wrong.

Malthusian collapse (18th–19th century). Thomas Malthus warned that population growth would outstrip food supply. Instead, agricultural innovation and later the Green Revolution produced food surpluses and supported unprecedented population growth.
Nuclear annihilation (Cold War, mid-20th century). Many were certain a U.S.–Soviet nuclear exchange would end civilization. The risk was real, but deterrence, arms control, and diplomacy kept the peace.
The Club of Rome (1970s). Limits to Growth predicted resource exhaustion and global economic collapse. Oil reserves expanded, efficiency improved, and recycling reduced scarcity. Growth continued.
Y2K panic (1999). Headlines warned of systemic collapse as the millennium approached. Billions were spent preparing. Midnight struck and life carried on.
Financial crisis (2008–2009). The crash was severe, but forecasts of permanent depression and the death of capitalism proved false. Policy response and resilience paved the way for one of the longest bull markets in history.

The pattern is always the same. Pessimists are often right about problems but wrong about outcomes. They underestimate the compounding power of innovation and human adaptability. Betting against the future has never paid off.

The Discipline of My Stance

Holding both optimism and pessimism in tension creates balance. Optimism gives direction. It keeps me building and investing in what matters even when sentiment turns dark. Pessimism enforces discipline. It stops me from getting carried away by short-term enthusiasm or blind to risks.

But I never lose sight of the bigger arc. Collapse narratives are seductive, but they have always been wrong. Hiding has never been a winning strategy.

The Day-to-Day Struggle

This mindset works well in theory, but it is harder to hold in practice. Day to day the world often feels like a circus of incompetence, noise, and bad incentives. Idiotic behavior, short-term greed, and the clownish side of politics and culture can easily drag you down.

This is where Stoicism becomes essential. Marcus Aurelius reminded himself daily that he would meet “the meddling, the ungrateful, the arrogant.” The Stoic stance is to accept that the world is imperfect, that people will fail, and that irritation only adds a second injury to the first.

“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” —Marcus Aurelius

“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” —Seneca

“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” —Epictetus

Short-term pessimism acknowledges risk. Stoicism helps you withstand it without bitterness. To stay effective you need both: clear-eyed realism about the daily chaos, and the discipline to keep moving without letting the noise corrode your optimism.

Living It Out

That balance is not abstract for me. It has shaped each stage of my life.

In my twenties I chose to build a business instead of chasing a safe job. It was a long-term bet on myself and on technology.

In my thirties I applied the same mindset to investing. I stayed careful in the short term but convinced that innovation and markets move upward over decades. Not everything went smoothly. When high-risk investments turned against me in 2021 I lost a significant amount. It was a brutal reminder of volatility. But I did not throw in the towel. I did the work to recover through therapy, reflection, and conversations with people I trust. That process strengthened my conviction. Setbacks do not cancel the long-term trajectory; they test whether you can stay in the game.

Having children is another form of long-term optimism. I spend as much time with them as I can, passing on lessons and values I believe will compound in their lives.

Now I am focusing my energy on AI. Where some see risk, I see possibility. It is the next great wave of leverage and productivity.

To help keep this mindset sharp I built the Good Life Collective. It is a space to surround myself with high-agency people who also believe in progress. It keeps me grounded in optimism while also giving me an outlet to air frustrations when the clown world inevitably wears me down.

Why It Matters Now

In today’s environment of fast-moving AI, volatile markets, and shifting geopolitics, being a long-term optimist and short-term pessimist is not just a personal quirk. It is a strategy. Those who are blindly optimistic get wrecked by the next downturn. Those who are long-term pessimists never create or invest in anything that lasts.

The winning path is holding both truths at once.

Short-term pessimism keeps you alive. Long-term optimism makes life worth living.