The Income Stack #3: My full H1 report card, a rent-to-own stock idea, and week 3 of life after Google
Hey friends — Joe here.
Good day, fellow stackers!
Every week in The Income Stack, I share three things from my journey of stacking income streams beyond the paycheck: my real trades (wins and losses), one money idea worth your attention, and some notes from life after 9 years at Google.
Enjoy!
📊 1. Trades on the Table
This past Thursday, Google dropped $23 (~7%) in a single day post-earnings. My account only felt half of the fall — because six weeks earlier I'd bought insurance on my own shares that cost me roughly nothing. I didn't sell a single share. I wrote up exactly how the insurance works (and the trade-off I accepted for it).
→ "Google dropped ~7% in a day. My options protected half of the fall"
And since we just crossed mid-year, I published my full H1 report card: 53 trades across 20 stocks. Total cash income is $40,495 with –$5,973 net gain and loss along the way. Overall: net income of $34,522 (11% return on capital for income for H1).
I hope the transparency will give people the right perspective of what the path looks like
→ "My H1 2026 report card: every stock, every win, loss and lesson"
💡 2. One Idea Worth Compounding
A reader in Sydney — a retired cybercrime investigator who now lives off his portfolio — walked me through how he uses LEAPS: long-dated options that let you control a $342 stock for a $147 "down payment," with 17 months to be right and your maximum loss known upfront. Think rent-to-own, for stocks. I'm intrigued and going to be learning in public.
→ "I've been renting out my stocks. This book made me consider rent-to-own."
Also: three people asked me the same question this week — "how much do I need to make $500/month?" The answer is one line of arithmetic. I wrote it up, with the honest caveats.
→ "How much money do you actually need to make $500/month?"
🛠️ 3. Notes from the Pivot
Week 3 after Google, this week definitely FEELS like a big week!
- 8 one-to-one calls with old and new connections. Every single one left me with an opportunity, a lesson, or a jolt of inspiration. Underrated ROI.
- The August Second Income Academy class is at 4 of 5 seats. Very much looking forward to helping the new students pick up an income-generating skill.
- My content is traveling further than I expected. A product manager in Dubai found me through one LinkedIn post. A new connection in Sydney taught me an options strategy I'd never used. This still feels wild.
- V2 of my options tool is in early testers' hands for testing. Can't wait to put it to work with the August class and continue improving it.
This month's income still hasn't matched my corporate paycheck (full monthly review coming). But I've found the aliveness I'd long lost.
I am not encouraging everyone to recklessly quit the job, but for people who feel stuck in a corporate life that no longer serves you, the fears of venturing into the unknown are usually paper walls. Go through it and you will find new perspectives that free you.
That's all for this week.
What would you like to see more of — trade breakdowns, money ideas, or the behind-the-scenes of the pivot? Hit reply and tell me. I read every reply, and next week's issue is often built from them.
Keep growing!
Joe