On the contrary, the assistance of a DMM is often the piece of life’s puzzle that allows many seniors to avoid complete loss of independence or guardianship. If you find that you are late in paying bills or do not understand certain financial forms that come in the mail, your family might pressure you to move out of your home or turn over your affairs to a legal representative. Oftentimes, a twice-monthly visit from a DMM will allow you to keep your finances under your own control, with the DMM helping you to keep on track and to avoid errors that may have raised the concern of loved ones.

No, we only provide daily money management services. We will never offer to sell you any kind of investment or insurance product.

Valerie created Smart Money Management in 2013 after a lengthy period of research into providing daily money management services. She has had over 30 years experience in managing personal finances and financial services within the industry. Yes, we can provide references upon request and with prior notification/permission from the client.

Yes, we work in individual homes and retirement communities.  We have a good client base in one particular community, Greenspring (an Erickson property), in Springfield, VA, which allows us to serve several clients in one location.  Seniors living independently in communities that are Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) can be good candidates for assistance as they move through the aging process.

We like to service our clients within a reasonable driving range. We can serve the northern counties of Virginia and the District of Columbia. If we cannot serve you due to distance or some other reason, we can refer you to one of our other colleagues who cover clients in other geographic locations or specialties.

We are fully insured for errors and omissions. Our Certificate of Insurance can be reviewed upon request.

Yes, Valerie is a member of the American Association of Daily Money Managers and a Certified Senior Advisor in the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.  She is also a member of Planning for Senior Life, www.planningforseniorlife.com, a Northern Virginia network of individual businesses which focuses on planning for the transition to retirement years and seniors in immediate need of assistance.

Valerie studied finance and business in her undergrad studies. She has also taken numerous classes throughout her career to enhance her financial skills. She has attended the AADMM workshop and training conferences in 2012-2016.   She also passed the CSA exam in January 2014 and continues to find webinars, presentations and other methods of expanding her knowledge of seniors and how to assist them in meeting their needs.

No. There is no charge for an initial consultation.

There is no minimum contract period.  We sign an Agreement for Services, not a contract.  There is a minimum of two hours per month.  Experience has shown that it is important to visit with clients at least twice a month to ensure bills are paid, mail is reviewed, etc.