Investment vs Life Decisions with Stock Options (Antz Divide, ID)

Investment vs Life Decisions with Stock Options
Location: Antz Divide, Idaho Watch on YouTube
A Moment in the White Clouds Wilderness
Hey guys, I’m out here in the White Clouds Wilderness. That’s Patterson Peak up there, with views stretching over Antz Basin, D.O. Lee Peak, Strawberry Point, and Blackman Peak. I’ve done videos all throughout this area. I love this place—I keep coming back.
Today's Tip: Life Over Investment
Today, I want to share another tip about stock options. This one is about making decisions by thinking about your life, not just the investment.
Goals That Matter
Let’s say you’ve got stock options and also have a personal goal—something you really want to do:
Buy land outside the city
Retire early
Make a life-changing decision
If the value of your options is already at a level where you could:
Exercise and sell
Take the proceeds
Use them to change your life
…then that might be a compelling reason to act now, rather than waiting to see how much more the options could be worth.
Would More Money Really Change Anything?
Sometimes, people hold off in hopes that their stock will double in value. But the key question is:
Would doubling the value actually change your life?
If the answer is no—if you'd just have more money sitting in the bank, but nothing would change—then maybe it's worth considering exercising now and creating the life you want sooner.
On the Other Hand...
The opposite can also be true. Maybe the current value of your options lets you:
Add a little to your savings
Buy a car
Do something fun
But if you wait, and the value increases significantly, it could create a transformational opportunity that truly changes your life.
It’s Not All or Nothing
This decision isn’t black and white. It’s not just:
Buy or sell
Exercise all at once or none at all
Instead, think beyond the dollars. Don’t focus only on:
Tax strategy
Measured diversification
Think in terms of:
How much lifestyle security or freedom do I want to lock in for myself right now?
From Volatility to Opportunity
When you sell, you take the money out of the stock, removing the volatility. That action gives you the power to do something new and different with your life.
Final Encouragement
So my encouragement is this:
Don’t just think about investment values—think about what those values can do for your life.
Take care.