After the investment system gradually matures, I realize that the assessment criteria can actually be greatly simplified—rather than obsessing over specific APY numbers, it's better to benchmark against assets that truly demonstrate performance.

Currently, the core evaluation indicators are:

Assets that must clearly outperform: Nasdaq, S&P 500, CSI 300, Bitcoin. These four are the main reference lines for measuring returns, and surpassing three of them is not enough. Additionally, outperforming the majority of people around me in terms of returns—this better reflects the actual effectiveness of the investment strategy.

Assets that don't need to be chased: gold and silver. These two are more long-term risk hedging tools rather than sources of yield.

Regarding retirement, honestly, I haven't thought about a specific timeline. On one hand, I have little desire for consumption; on the other hand, I am in a long-term flow state, and work itself is a form of fulfillment. Perhaps for me, financial freedom and control over my lifestyle are more important than the numbers themselves. When both are achieved, the question of retiring or not becomes a choice rather than a necessity.