John Perog with Valent Wealth

03/14/2026

Vince D'Addona dropping knowledge! Consistent behavior over time creates wealth.

03/14/2026

It all starts with Family!

Weeks out from Warrior Week and this message hasn't left us.

The best financial plan in the world can mean nothing if the family falls apart. Often the greatest risk to families isn't a market crash, it's losing sight of what the money is actually for.

The American Dream is defined by what you build, protect, and leave behind for the people who carry your name. Too often, modern culture celebrates individual success while overlooking the foundation everything is built on.

Money should serve the family, not the other way around. At Matson Money, that principle guides everything we do.

03/12/2026

I've always loved how efficient and connected markets are. One small change drives an impact that is priced in immediatly. The popularity of weight loss drugs might increase airline revenues by 4%, equating to half a billion dollars

A study by the financial firm Jefferies highlights a surprising perk for carriers: lower fuel costs as slimmer passengers lighten their aircraft’s loads.

10/06/2025

10/06/2025

06/18/2025

What’s the one subject your kids won’t learn in school—but absolutely should?

Financial literacy.

Help them learn with some quick tips from Barron’s, “6 Steps to Raising Money-Savvy Children.”

• Start them young: Introduce basic money concepts to them early to give them a strong foundation.

• Introduce them to investing: Teach older children about investing to help them understand risk and return.

• Offer them incentives: Encourage them to save by matching their savings or setting goals for them to reach with corresponding rewards.

• Give tweens and teens more responsibility: Allow them to manage a budget for certain expenses to foster independence.

• Discuss college costs with them: Have open conversations with them about funding education and the implications of student loans.

• Keep the conversation going: Make financial discussions a regular part of your family life to reinforce your children’s learning.

Teaching your children financial literacy today helps them build a confident and responsible future. It’s never too early (or late) to start!

Do you agree with all of these?

06/16/2025

Did you know that the top 10% of earners account for nearly half of all U.S. consumer spending?

According to a 2025 report in "The Wall Street Journal", high earners (those making $250K+) are keeping the economy afloat, while much of the country tightens its belt.

Here are a few key takeaways:

• The top 10% now drive ~50% of consumer spending—up from 36% in the 1990s.

• The top 10% spent 10% more on luxury goods abroad compared to the prior year.

• This creates risk—if wealthy households scale back their spending due to market declines, the effects could ripple through the broader economy.

• Spending power is more concentrated than ever—making the economy more vulnerable to the behaviors of a small group.

As this trend continues, it’s worth watching how shifts in markets or inflation might impact consumer spending and economic resilience.

06/12/2025

Is the Dow Jones Industrial Average still the gold standard for tracking the stock market?

According to a February 2025 article in “The Wall Street Journal”, the Dow’s relevance is being questioned due to its purported outdated structure and methodology.

Here are some key points to consider:

• The Dow is an unmanaged index generally considered representative of large-capitalization companies on the U.S. stock market.

• The Dow uses a price-weighted system, meaning that companies with higher stock prices have more influence, regardless of their overall market value.

• Tech is underrepresented—Meta and Tesla are absent, while Apple and Microsoft carry less weight than in the S&P 500, where tech plays a larger role.

• Performance gap: The Dow has trailed the S&P 500 in recent years, exposing differences between the indices. The S&P 500 Composite Index is a market-capitalization weighted index that is considered representative of the overall U.S. stock market.

• Index performance does not reflect the past performance of a particular investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index.

As financial professionals, we believe benchmarks can offer useful context—but on their own, they rarely reflect the goals or risk tolerance that most investors actually need.

06/09/2025

“The four most dangerous words in investing are: ‘This time, it’s different.’”
– Sir John Templeton

It’s normal to feel uneasy during periods of market volatility—especially when uncertainty around policies, the economy, or tariffs adds to the noise.

Nevertheless, history offers some perspectives that are hard to ignore.

Here’s what the data shows:

• Missing just the 10 best days in the market over the last 30 years cuts your return in half.

• Past performance does not guarantee future results.

• Missing the 30 best days in the market cuts your total return by 83%.

• Stocks are represented by the Standard & Poor’s Composite Index. However, index performance does not necessarily reflect the past performance of any particular investment.

• Here’s the kicker: 78% of those “best days” happen during bear markets or within the first two months of a recovery.

Markets move fast. Reacting to short-term headlines might feel like playing defense—but over time, investors with a disciplined approach often come out ahead.

We help clients maintain perspective, manage risk thoughtfully, and focus on what’s within their control. Remember, however, that the return and principal value of stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. Moreover, shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

If you’re wondering whether your investment strategy is built for times like these, let’s talk.

06/04/2025

Nearly half a million Americans were victims of tax identity theft in 2024. Could you be next?

Here’s how it happens:

A scammer uses your personal info—like your Social Security number—to file a fake tax return and claim a refund.

When you file your real return, it’s rejected. Then comes the paperwork, delays, and frustration.

The good news: according to a 2025 report in “The Wall Street Journal”, there’s a simple way to protect yourself.

• The IRS offers a six-digit Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) designed to prevent fraud. If a return is filed without the proper IP PIN, it’s automatically rejected.

• This PIN is unique, is changed annually, and can even be issued for your dependents.

• It also helps manage delays caused by “false positives”—returns that are flagged incorrectly for fraud.

If you filed an extension and plan to submit your return by October, now’s the time to take action. Taking this small step now could help you avoid a major headache later.

This post is not a substitute for professional advice. If you have more questions, we encourage you to consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional.

05/28/2025

Talk to your grandparents and parents.

They got locked out of their computer. They were prompted to pay a service fee to restore their service. They were persuaded over the phone to transfer funds. They rushed to the ATM to make a transfer to buy Bitcoin. My grandmother had a moment of clarity. They argued, feeling taken advantage of, embarrassed, and vulnerable.
The fact is, this isn't the first time they almost fell for it. They received a call claiming I was in trouble and needed bail money. I can assure you I was not; the person who sounded like me spoke urgently and vaguely. Luckily, they had a sense that something was off and called me.

As your grandparents and even your parents age, it's essential to have a conversation about how to recognize these tactics.

The FBI's Internet Crime Center reported that scams targeting individuals aged 60 and older resulted in over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023—an increase of approximately 11% from the previous year. The average victim of elder fraud lost $33,915 due to these crimes in 2023.

Have a conversation with them. Be gentle, thoughtful, and understanding. With all the technology these days, it can be overwhelming for them.

Help them recognize suspicious behavior:
- Urgency or threats (“act now or be arrested”)
- Requests for secrecy (“don’t tell anyone”)
- Asking for unusual payments (gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency)
- Too-good-to-be-true offers
- Caller ID spoofing (when the number looks legitimate but isn’t)

Encourage open Communication:
- Reassure them it’s OK to ask for help or double-check things.
- Emphasize: “You’re not being a bother” — many people fall victim.
- Frame it as empowerment, not vulnerability.

Give them a plan:
- Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers
- Hang up if something feels off—never engage
- Never share personal info or payment over the phone or email
- Let unknown calls go to voicemail and review them with family
- Ask for everything in writing and say they’ll "call back after speaking with family."

Taking a moment to have this conversation..

And tell them you love them.

05/27/2025

About 4.2 million people in the U.S. are forecast to turn 65 this year, according to a report by the Alliance for Lifetime Income’s Retirement Income Institute, citing Social Security Administration figures.

This shift has financial and economic implications:

• Where money lives is shifting: More assets are moving from banks to insurers and other investments as retirees adjust portfolios.

• Retiree debt is rising: Americans age 60+ now hold nearly a quarter of all U.S. household debt, including mortgages and credit card balances.

For those approaching 65, does this surprise you? What’s at the top of your mind regarding retirement?