Value Monitoring, Inc.

08/09/2026

🤖 AI Is Changing Careers Faster Than Expected

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the workforce, business models, and career paths across many industries.

That’s why financial planning today isn’t just about retirement someday — it’s about creating flexibility and resilience throughout your career.

Emergency savings, investing early, and long-term planning matter even more in a rapidly changing world.

07/08/2026

Celebrating our nation’s birthday under the fireworks at Morgan Hill’s Freedom Fest—one of the Bay Area's great 4th of July traditions.

Grateful to be part of a community that comes together to honor Independence Day with family, friends, and celebration. Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸

06/25/2026

🏖️ Retirement Isn’t Just About a Number

Many people think retirement planning is only about reaching a certain dollar amount. In reality, it’s about building the life you want after your working years.

Income planning, healthcare costs, taxes, inflation, travel goals, family priorities, and flexibility all matter.

A successful retirement isn’t defined only by net worth — it’s defined by confidence and freedom.

05/28/2026

The traditional "4% rule" has guided retirement planning for decades, but inflation, market volatility, and longer lifespans are changing the conversation.

Retirement planning is anything but one-size-fits-all. Flexibility matters now more than ever.

The 4% rule has stood for three decades. Now, it's getting an update.

05/11/2026

Today we celebrate the moms, grandmothers, stepmothers, and mother figures whose guidance leaves a lasting impact. Wishing you a day filled with appreciation, love, and well-deserved recognition. 💐

05/06/2026

A rare article suggesting anything other than "pay down your mortgage as fast as possible." The author does an excellent job of identifying some of the many variables that go into this evaluation. In my opinion, there are even a few more. If you are considering home purchase or refinance, the only thing that is clear is that getting help from a professional is more valuable than the common wisdom would make it seem.

On a recent NerdWallet Smart Money Podcast segment, the host worked through a scenario any retirement-minded homeowner has considered. Take a $1,000 mortgage payment. Throw it at principal and you save interest. Invest that same thousand in the S&P 500 instead. And, depending on which average return...

03/15/2026

A recent New York Times story describes how a retired attorney lost nearly his entire retirement to a highly sophisticated scam.

The criminals impersonated financial institutions and government agencies, created urgency, and convinced him to move his own money.

A few reminders worth keeping in mind:

• No legitimate institution will ask you to move money “for safekeeping.”
• Urgent requests involving money are a major red flag.
• Requests involving secrecy are another.

We wrote a short post highlighting the warning signs.

Read more:

Let’s take a moment to discuss an important issue that’s becoming more common—and more sophisticated—especially for people with retirement savings. The New York Times published a detailed story about a ...

01/29/2026

Consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level since 2014. In times of economic uncertainty, it’s important to stay informed, focus on sound financial planning, and support one another through the challenges.

The overall consumer confidence index fell by 9.7 points in January from December’s reading, hitting its lowest point since May 2014.

01/01/2026

Wishing you a year filled with fun adventures and unforgettable moments. 🎉 🏖

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

12/21/2025

Join us for our Annual Ice Skating Holiday Party!

Direct message for the RSVP link!