u/Forded_Fiction24

45.89% YTD as of yesterday on my largest brokerage ( today's gains won't reflect until tomorrow). 416% 3Y returns. Can't believe I'm here already, but I realize ​all good things come to an end so​ I'm in the process of incrementally divesting from positions and securing profits

Bought my "forever home" and wanted decent network solution. I was sick of settling and had ditched ISP provided hardware years ago but was running a TP-Link router and I forget the modem brand, but a very common one. The modem went out and I was moving so said screw it and decided to make the leap to a UniFi system. I'm a novice and had a friend help me setup and pick out the basics. Then I had some professionals come run some Cat6 cables through the house

Either way I have 2 U7 Pro's connected and 3 other Cat6 cables run to the living room and bonus room. My use case is simple, solid WiFi coverage and strength throughout the home. I wanted a couple main devices such as my media streamer an Nvidia Shield and my docked Steam Deck to have a wired connection for LAN and cloud 4k gaming. Then have my PC wired. I'm not doing anything as intensive as the stuff I see on this sub.

Eventually I plan to add PoE cameras but already had some wireless ones that are working fine although don't have the quality or capability of Poe ones, but can't justify the upgrade right now. Otherwise have smart lights and some other smart devices, a NAS drive and that's about it.

Everything is working great in my standards anyways, but I'm sure it's not optimized as best as it can be. I'm just looking up and watching YouTube videos trying to learn features, settings, options and such. My understanding is pretty basic.

Any input, advice or criticisms of what I've done so far or plan on doing? Please share any tips of where I should start to further wrap my head around this system and all of its options/capabilities. I've gone down a rabbit hole. So far I'm enjoying it even as I'm slightly overwhelmed. Thanks

Real document, real numbers, nothing cropped except my name and employer. I work Part-time 2 days(12hr days) a week with benefits with a set schedule working Sundays and Fridays. Have been an RN for 16 yrs.

The breakdown:

Pay period: 5/31 – 6/13/2026: 2 weeks

Hours worked: 48.25

Gross this period: $3,081.63

Blended hourly rate: $63.86/hr ( gross pay÷Hrs worked)

Net this period: $1,959.26

YTD gross: $37,363.42

For benefits I have Medical, dental, vision, life, PTO, STD/LTD, 401k matching and an annual bonus I receive every August that's not reflected here yet. I put in 12% into my 401k and get a 50% match with no salary cap. Just upped it to 16% contributions after getting some finances together but it hadn't taken effect yet on this check.

That "blended rate" just to clarify includes base pay, ICU differential,charge differential, night differential, and weekend differential all rolled in. Base rate alone is $54.93.

Happy to answer questions about healthcare pay structure, how differentials actually work, or whatever. Just figured this sub could use some actual receipts for once instead of another unverifiable salary claim

Edit: I keep on running across "she" and "her" in the comments referencing something I said to someone else. Not that it matters, but I'm a guy, not a girl

I know, I know. Many don't like cloud gaming or GeForce Now here. This isn't about that and for another discussion. For GeForce Now users though, listen up.

Resolution isn't everything. Some aren't aware that the Steam Deck can output 1440p(QHD) at 120hz, HDR, VRR combined now. This combined with my Hisense U8 85" 4K TV that has AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and AI upscaling offers the best of both worlds I think. Take a look at the pictures for your own comparison. I forgot to label that the Nvidia Shield screenshots are also HDR. I believe I had slightly different TV color settings engaged which explain ​the slight difference In color palette and saturation. Same codec used

Prior to the SteamOS/deck/dock update, VRR never worked for me. So I've always used the Nvidia Shield to play GFN. Now the scales are tipped towards the Steam Deck. Display port from the Dock still doesn't work with my TV with VRR anyways. For some reason it's greyed out, but HDMI works which is more convenient anyways for my TV

Either does 4K/60hz and 1080p/120hz, but only the Steam Deck can do 1440p. Also VRR doesn't work on the Nvidia Shield. Games like FH6 higher Hz is a must. The higher refresh rate gives little compromise on picture quality when using AI upscaling and especially if turning on DLAA in game while giving you the advantage of using Reflex and in game Frame Gen. It's such a smoother experience and while you can enable frame gen at 60 HZ, it's not meant to be used really at that refresh rate and it shows. Without using Frame Gen on games like Crimson Desert you'll have dips under 60fps at 4k and max settings and without VRR available you'll also notice.

Anyone else using the Steam Deck at 1440p for GeForce now? Has anyone else ​tried the Steam Deck since the latest update and come to the same conclusion? This ​seems to point towards the Steam Machine making a great pair with GFN as well.

Resolution isn't everything. Some aren't aware that the Steam Deck can output 1440p(QHD) at 120hz, HDR, VRR combined now. This combined with my Hisense U8 85" 4K TV that has AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and AI upscaling offers the best of both worlds I think. Take a look at the pictures for your own comparison. I forgot to label that the Nvidia Shield screenshots are also HDR. I believe I had slightly different TV color settings engaged which explain ​the slight difference In color palette and saturation. Same codec used

Prior to this update, VRR never worked for me. So I've always used the Nvidia Shield to play GFN. Now the scales are tipped towards the Steam Deck. Display port from the Dock still doesn't work with my TV with VRR anyways. For some reason it's greyed out, but HDMI works which is more convenient anyways for my TV

Either does 4K/60hz and 1080p/120hz, but only the Steam Deck can do 1440p. Also VRR doesn't work on the Nvidia Shield. Games like FH6 higher Hz is a must. The higher refresh rate gives little compromise on picture quality when using AI upscaling and especially if turning on DLAA in game while giving you the advantage of using Reflex and in game Frame Gen. It's such a smoother experience and while you can enable frame gen at 60 HZ, it's not meant to be used really at that refresh rate and it shows. Without using Frame Gen on games like Crimson Desert you'll have dips under 60fps at 4k and max settings and without VRR available you'll also notice.

Anyone else using the Steam Deck at 1440p for GeForce now? Has anyone else ​tried the Steam Deck since the latest update and come to the same conclusion? This ​seems to point towards the Steam Machine making a great pair with GFN as well.

The chart on this brokerage account only goes back 3 years but the receipts go back further. I ignored the "just VOO and chill" crowd for years and chose instead that while youth was on my side to take chances and be bold. It was intentional but I hadn't planned on being this successful and know all good things come to an end. I have a strategy going forward to ensure wealth preservation and am about to enter a different phase of my plan. It's been a wild ride so far though and I just wanted to brag a bit as I'm still in disbelief myself of what I've managed to pull off

I've worked hard to get here. Full disclosure I have to give credit to my Wife and parents as well who made this all possible. My wife has been on this journey with me, however her accounts are not represented here other than the house asset/debt we share. She has her own. I moved my Dad into our new house into his own detached in-law suite and he did gift me $200k out of the total home price of ~ $885k. I lost my mom years back now and I wanted to make sure afterwards that he was taken care of and not alone. My mom who was also great and I love, gifted me some of these stocks too and set my dad up to be comfortable financially. He pays nothing towards the mortgage but pays 1/3 of utilities. He also taught me discipline and all I know about finances.

Started investing in 2012. Currently work part-time making $62.35/ hr (~$6k/month gross) when factoring in all my shift differentials (dayshift Sun/Mon) Bought a house in 2015 and just upgraded into our "forever home" about 6 months ago that we're +57% positive equity on our loan with what we paid into principal. I have my 403B, Roth IRA, and 2x brokerage accounts. Had 2 kids somewhere in there and those things are expensive AF, but we figured out how to manage and get here regardless. One day we hope to leave them all of it.

Onward we march

I've worked so hard to get here. Full disclosure I have to give credit to my Wife and parents as well who made this all possible. My wife has been on this journey with me, however her accounts are not represented here other than the house asset/debt we share. She has her own. I moved my Dad into our new house into his own detached in-law suite and he did gift me $200k out of the total home price of ~ $885k. I lost my mom years back now and I wanted to make sure afterwards that he was taken care of and not alone. My mom who was also great and I love, gifted me some of these stocks too and set my dad up to be comfortable financially. He pays nothing towards the mortgage but pays 1/3 of utilities. He also taught me discipline and all I know about finances.

Started investing in 2012. Currently work part-time making $62.35/hr (~$6k/month gross) when factoring in all my shift differentials (dayshift Sun/Mon) Bought a house in 2015 and just upgraded into our "forever home" about 6 months ago that we're +57% positive equity on our loan with what we paid into principal. I have my 403B, Roth IRA, and 2x brokerage accounts. Had 2 kids somewhere in there and those things are expensive AF, but we figured out how to manage and get here regardless. One day we hope to leave them all of it.

Race isn't over. Onward

Instead of only contributing to traditional savings vehicles, I opened a brokerage account dedicated entirely to my kids’ future.(college/help with a house/business/etc) I decided time was on their side and chose to be bold, make mistakes, recover from them if need be and take my chances. I didn't listen to the "Just VOO and chill" crowd and I'm glad.

Now my kids are financially outperforming most adults while they still need help tying their shoes. The best part is knowing this could materially change their future before they’re even adults. 2 kids total splitting this, no more coming and the oldest is 6 with many years of compounding to go. College funded, future secured. The earlier you think about your kids the better chances they'll have