The Propeller - You Can Outsmart This - 9-21-2025

Tech: Stay Alert: Protect Yourself from Text Message Scams

Scammers are increasingly using text messages to impersonate trusted organizations and trick people into revealing personal or financial information. These fraudulent texts often claim to be from government agencies, banks, or other official entities, and may include links to fake websites that closely mimic legitimate ones.

A common scam message might say something like, “Your refund has been approved and is pending release,” and prompt you to click a link to confirm your account details. These links often lead to websites that misuse logos and branding to appear authentic.

Some examples:

Important Reminder:

Legitimate organizations typically do not use text messages to request sensitive information or to notify you about financial matters like refunds or payments.

What You Should Do:

Do not click on suspicious links or respond to unexpected texts
Never share personal or financial information via text message
Verify the source by visiting the official website directly—don’t rely on links in the message
Report suspicious messages to the appropriate authorities or the organization being impersonated

Stay Vigilant:

Always be cautious with unsolicited texts, even if they appear to come from a trusted source. If something feels off, trust your instincts and double-check through official channels.

Your awareness is your best defense against scams.

Finance/Investing: Newton was a lousy Investor!

Newton? The apple falls from a tree and I shall call it gravity guy? THAT Newton?!

Turns out this story is true. Here’s the short version:

The year is 1711. The UK is in trouble. They have crippling national debt from Season 6 of Succession The War of Spanish Succession.

The finance minister has an idea. They can form a company (“The South Sea Company”) – give it exclusive rights (a monopoly) on trade with South America if the company takes on $10M of gov’t debt.

People think Wow, this company is going to dominate. They had seen the East India Company and Hudson Bay Company make a fortune in this model. This is the next big sure thing!

Politicians, Nobels, and even kings’ mistresses were given shares to promote confidence (influencers). This creates a frenzy. Everyone starts investing in it.

Sir Isaac Newton buys in around ~$200 per share. He sells at ~$400. Locking in a nice profit. He’s happy.

But then, the stock keeps going up. People are getting rich. As Charlie Munger says: “the world runs on envy, not greed”.

Newton then invests most of his wealth in at ~$700 a share.

The bubble bursts, stock collapses. It turns out that Spain only allowed the company to send 1 ship per year to trade. The big “monopoly” was worthless.

Newton lost the equivalent of several million dollars. Wiping out most of his fortune.

Afterwards, Newton said: “I can calculate the motions of heavenly bodies (physics), but not the madness of people”

This would be like if Elon Musk bet $200B on Doge coin – wait a minute…

Investors today can learn a powerful lesson from Sir Isaac Newton’s experience with the South Sea Bubble: even the smartest minds can fall victim to hype, herd mentality, and influencer-driven speculation.

Newton initially made a rational investment and took profits, but envy and fear of missing out (FOMO) led him to reinvest at inflated prices, ultimately losing most of his fortune.

This story reminds us that blindly following influencers or chasing trends without understanding the fundamentals can be financially disastrous. True investing requires discipline, skepticism, and independent thinking, especially when the crowd is euphoric.

Finance/Investing: The Sneaky Cost of “Just This One Thing” And How to Outsmart It

We’ve all been there. You’re scrolling, you see something shiny (or cozy, or techy, or on sale), and your brain goes: “Ooooh, I need this.” Next thing you know, your wallet’s lighter and your closet’s fuller with stuff you’ll forget about two weeks later.

Here’s the truth bomb: those little impulse buys? They’re not so little. Over time, they snowball into thousands of dollars that could’ve gone toward your dream vacation, financial independence, or that smug feeling of watching your savings grow.

Enter: The 24-Hour Rule — your new financial best friend.

What Is It? Simple. When you feel the urge to buy something non-essential, wait 24 hours. No checkout. No “just this once.” Just pause.

If you still want it after a full day? Go ahead and buy it — guilt-free.

If the craving fades? Congrats, you just saved money and avoided clutter.

This tiny delay gives your brain time to switch from “OMG I need this now” mode to “Do I actually want this?” mode.

It’s like emotional detox for your wallet.

How to Use It (Starting Today)

Online Shopping: Add it to your cart, then walk away like a boss.
Wishlist It: Write it down or save it for later. No rush.
Spot the Triggers: Are you bored? Stressed? FOMO-ing? Know thy enemy.
Celebrate Wins: Every time you skip a purchase, move that money to your “Freedom Fund” Watch it grow. Feel powerful.

Why It Works

Impulse spending is emotional. The 24-hour rule is psychological judo, flipping your brain from short-term thrill to long-term chill. It helps you align your spending with your actual goals, not your momentary moods.

Real Talk: The Math

Skip just 3 impulse buys a week at $20 each. That’s $3,000+ saved in a year. That’s not pocket change, that’s wealth-building fuel.

So next time your finger hovers over “Buy Now,” remember: your future self is watching. And they’re cheering for the 24-hour rule.

Want help setting up a Freedom Fund so that you can reach financial independence or tracking your impulse saves? I can help with that just reach out!

Quote of the Week

“The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people to dumb people.”
Stephen Hawking

This speaks to the disconnect between unconventional thinking and conventional perception. It suggests that intelligence often involves seeing patterns, possibilities, or truths that others might overlook or dismiss. To those who are less informed or less open-minded, these ideas can appear irrational or bizarre simply because they challenge familiar norms or exceed their understanding.

As a genius, Stephen highlights how innovation and genius are frequently misunderstood or ridiculed before they are accepted. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that brilliance can look like madness from the outside, especially when viewed through the lens of limited perspective.

With Charlie Kirk continuing to shape national conversations, whether you agree with him or not, it’s a reminder of how powerful ideas and voices can be in shaping our future. May we all strive to speak with conviction and listen with grace.

This is re-published from the weekly email sent by Leonard Mack entitled The Propeller. To subscribe, visit https://www.LeonardMack.com/subscribe and read it every Sunday evening.

This intellectual nourishment is intended for informational purposes only. One should not construe anything herein as being legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

My rule is this – I have no advice to give, only experience to share. I have no interest in being a guru or telling people what they should do. Rather, I share my own experience because there is no right or wrong. Your mileage may vary.

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