If you have been following my adventures in almost-passive investing, you probably know that strategies come and go. Sometimes they make money. Sometimes they distract me with the promise of something new. Often, they just fizzle out in the background. Today, I want to get everyone caught up. I will skip the repetition and add some background for anyone who missed the last few updates.

University of Options: Still Testing the Waters

Last year, the bots from University of Options had a rough run. There were plenty of drawdowns, and recovery seemed far away. To make up for past problems, UoO offered us a selection of trading courses. I knew I was not going to become a full-time trader anytime soon. Instead, I put one of my spare VPS slots to work. It runs a replicator that copies the moves of a futures trader. There were times when it worked well, and times when it did not. I took a break over the summer. Now, I am back to testing with a SIM account. Here’s hoping this new version actually works better!

EFX Octane: On the Way Up (Hopefully)

My EFX Octane bot had a tough time. At one point, losses were as high as 40%. Lately, it has improved and is down to a 25% loss. That is not reason enough to celebrate, but I am encouraged. My goal is to lower that number to less than 10%. Then I will move some funds to options that seem a little less stressful.

Nurp: Demo Days and Decisions

Last month, I stopped demo-testing the Nurp All Weather and Argos bots. Now, I am thinking about starting a new “5X my deposit” test with their Talos bot. However, I am waiting until the Octane bot gets back on track.

Crypto: Still the Main Attraction

I write a lot about crypto—probably more than anyone should. Right now, I am halfway through my advanced crypto classes. These courses are mostly about investing in different coins. Soon, though, I will learn more about crypto yield farming. Stay tuned for more information as I dive into that topic.

Bottom Line: Semi-Passive, Not Zero-Maintenance

If I had unlimited free time, I might choose a different hobby. Or at least, I’d pick a simpler way to earn extra income. For now, these strategies are my best chance to put my money to work without monitoring every trade or market swing. I have already spent a good amount of time learning through trial and error.