The $1.5M Retirement Lie

For decades, Wall Street and financial advisors have pushed the same message:

“If you want to retire, you’ll need at least $1.5 million saved.”

On paper, that sounds like security. But let’s do the math…

  • $1.5M at a 4% withdrawal rate = ~$60,000/year
  • Subtract taxes → maybe $45,000 in your pocket
  • Factor in inflation → that “nest egg” buys less every year

And that’s assuming you ever reach $1.5M — which most hardworking Americans never do.

It’s a broken model. One that keeps people chasing a number, instead of chasing a skill.

The alternative is to build an income stream you can rely on now — without needing millions stashed away.

That’s what my Method is designed to do:

  • Simple, structured trades
  • Placed once a week
  • With the goal of generating consistent weekly income, regardless of market direction

Instead of hoping a giant nest egg carries you through, this approach is about creating ongoing paychecks — income you can count on, week after week.

[See why weekly income beats the $1.5M myth →]

Further Reading from MarketBeat

Are These 3 Under-the-Radar AI Stocks the Next Big Growth Stories?

Reported by Nathan Reiff. Publication Date: 11/25/2025. 

Futuristic digital tunnel with glowing circuitry underscores emerging AI stocks’ growth potential amid market volatility.

Key Points

  • The AI bubble has yet to burst, although recent declines by major companies such as NVIDIA may mean there’s an opportunity for risk-tolerant investors to buy into the industry.
  • Distinguishing among the smaller AI firms can be challenging, and each carries heightened risk due to its size and the turbulence facing the space.
  • Still, WhiteFiber, AudioEye, and Red Violet stand out for their growth potential, despite these risks.

The close of 2025 has been a trying time for AI bulls, as more voices call the artificial intelligence boom a bubble.

NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA), a major bellwether for the AI industry, has seen its shares fall nearly 14% since late October. While some risk-averse investors will view the pullback as confirmation that AI is overhyped, others may see a buying opportunity.

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Beyond firms like NVIDIA—large players in hardware manufacturing, infrastructure, and data-center operations—the ecosystem of smaller, off-the-beaten-path AI companies is growing quickly. These firms tend to be riskier because many are small- or micro-cap and lack long track records in a fast-changing market. Still, the three companies below could interest risk-tolerant investors looking to capitalize on volatility in the AI space.

WhiteFiber: Expands Data Center Footprint While Managing Losses

WhiteFiber Inc. (NASDAQ: WYFI) operates high-performance computing data-center infrastructure and manufactures graphics processing units (GPUs).

The company’s Montreal data center is projected to reach a full-quarter revenue run rate of roughly $1 million per month, a potentially transformative development for the young firm.

Meanwhile, WhiteFiber’s next data center, NC-1 in North Carolina, is on track for deployment in the first quarter of 2026 and has already attracted numerous proposals from strong counterparties.

WhiteFiber reported third-quarter revenue topping $20 million, an increase of almost two-thirds year-over-year, and a gross margin of 63%. However, revenue fell short of some analysts’ expectations, and rising general and administrative expenses pushed operating losses wider to $14.5 million for the quarter.

Despite that, Wall Street appears optimistic: two new Outperform ratings in the last month leave eight of 10 analysts rating WYFI a Buy. The consensus implies upside potential of roughly 108%, underscoring both the growth opportunity and the risk.

AudioEye: Grows Recurring Revenue but Faces Customer Volatility

Distinct within the AI landscape, AudioEye Inc. (NASDAQ: AEYE) applies AI to deliver digital accessibility services and help organizations comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar regulations.

With operations expanding in both the United States and the European Union, AudioEye reported annual recurring revenue (ARR) of nearly $39 million in the latest quarter.

Quarterly revenue was $10.2 million, and adjusted EBITDA reached a record $2.5 million.

Still, AudioEye is a small company—its market capitalization is just over $143 million—and a recent partner renegotiation led to the loss of about 3,000 customers, bringing the total to roughly 123,000. That episode highlights the company’s vulnerability to customer churn. On the positive side, AudioEye is rapidly developing its platform and holds a meaningful position in the niche AI accessibility market.

Analyst coverage is limited (only four recent ratings), though three are Buy recommendations. AudioEye could be an underappreciated AI growth prospect: the consensus price target is $22, more than 90% above the current share price.

Red Violet: Delivers Record Revenue and Strong Client Retention

Red Violet Inc. (NASDAQ: RDVT) uses AI to enhance its financial-crime mitigation tools.

The company posted record revenue of more than $23 million in the third quarter, an adjusted gross margin of 84%, a solid EPS beat, and its best-ever free cash flow—signals of clear forward momentum.

Red Violet is also adding customers from both enterprise and public sectors, and gross retention remains strong at about 96%.

Because a sizable portion of its business is tied to the real estate market, Red Violet is exposed to volatility in that sector, which could make the end of the year softer. Still, all three analysts covering RDVT recommend a Buy, and the consensus estimate implies roughly 16% upside for the stock.

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Today’s Featured Link: AI Continues to Surge—Here Are 2 Stocks Still Under $15 (Click to Opt-In)

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Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

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