It's parents' weekend at many colleges all over the country, a perfect time for career expert, Sheila Curran of The Curran Consulting Group (CCG) to join us for a guest appearance. Sheila has spent a chunk of her career running college career service centers and is now a consultant who helps would-be job seekers of all ages to understand how to better position themselves to land a plum gig.

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What should young scholars be doing to prepare for the new cut-throat career world, where there is little loyalty and only a few formal training programs? Sheila says it is no longer about classroom learning-students should be interning as a means to try out different career tracks. She also advises that young interviewees do their homework before the interview. For mid-career professionals, who seek change, she advises to self-examination and to think like an employer!

Calls this week from Scott from Boston, Carol from RI, Debbie and Warren were heavily tilted towards retirement, while Mark from KY wanted to know what a self-described stock-market-a-phobe should do with an account that has ballooned in value?

Chris from MD asked how he might be able to determine whether his advisor is acting in your best interest? This allowed me to talk about the F-Word: FIDUCIARY! Check out: PlannerSearch.Org

No-Name, a recently retired with $185K in cash is seeking a “fairly safe” investment…ah, the age old question of risk vs. reward! And Chris from Melville, NY wrote in recommending that I discuss bond/CD ladders and Janice asked what would happen if a big custodian were to fail?

Here's last week's segment from CBS This Morning, where I discussed how to navigate benefits enrollment.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

What better way to celebrate Financial Planning Week than to have special guest Kevin Keller, the CEO of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards join the show! Kevin discussed why working with a CFP professional is so important and noted that while there are over 200 financial designations out there, very few are as rigorous as the gold standard CFP -- only 18 percent of current financial advice-givers have passed the test and completed the necessary requirements -- and the CFP Board is one of the few bodies that actually enforces its standards.

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The CFP Board recently conducted a survey to determine how parents are coping with college education. Two-thirds haven’t saved anything – maybe that’s because one-third of respondents are still repaying their own student loans! In the category of magical thinking, 13 percent think their kids will nab athletic scholarships!

In addition to Kevin’s great guest spot, your questions were awesome this week. Wayne from KY has done a great job of saving for retirement, but now has to be careful that long-term care doesn’t undo all of his great work! Here’s more on LTC: Is 90 the new 70?

Because Aaron: asked about it, here’s a Life Insurance Primer and for Dale, here the post “Drowning in Documents: What to Shred, What to Keep”.

Finally, thanks to Julie from Edina, MN, who wrote eloquently about her struggles to survive the recession and her ability to maintain her savings and dignity in the process!

Here's last week's segment from CBS This Morning, where I discussed how to beat rising bank fees.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

If you don't consider cash an asset class, you should! Our guest Gary Zimmerman of MaxMyInterest.com explains his cool new service is like "Uber for cash" and how it can help you boost your returns with NO RISK!  .

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Kevin has 10 houses, six of which are cash flow positive rentals and wants our take on his retirement plan; Nora asked about claiming an ex-spouse's Social Security benefit; and Sharon asked when annuities are advisable.

Here's last week's segment from CBS This Morning, where I discussed "Financial Tips for Women"...yes, men can also feel free to incorporate them into their lives!

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

Scotland voted NO on independence, which helped boost global stock prices.  To celebrate, I made Mark the happiest producer around...of course, he waited until AFTER the show...  

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We started the show with a great question from Rita in MN, who owns a number of annuity contracts and is wondering whether or nor she should reallocate and/or consolidate them. Marsha from SC is finally done with her annuity, but now wants to know what to do with the money.

Mark and Paul asked about Target Date funds, which are definitely easy, but may have a bit more risk than you realize.

Finally, I tried to answer a bunch of Social Security questions from Chris, Joe, Georgette, Pete and Frank & Patricia.

Here are a few FREE Social Security resources:

SSA: http://www.ssa.gov/oact/anypia/anypia.html

AARP: http://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/social-security-benefits-calculator.html

T.Rowe Price: http://individual.troweprice.com/public/Retail/Retirement/Social-Security-Tool

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

Get ready for a "Jill on Money" first: A lottery winner, who needs financial advice. Joins us as we live vicariously through Pat's $65 million jackpot and walk him through some options for how to manage his lump sum.

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Sure the odds are against you, but just in case you too have come into a fortune, check out this article I wrote a couple of years ago. For the rest of us, it's back to the core concepts, like the Big Financial 3:

1. Pay down consumer debt
2. Establish emergency reserve funds (6-12 mos. living expenses)
3. Maximize retirement accounts.

You can check out this segment on CBS This Morning, where I highlighted the Big 3 and a few more "back to school" topics!

Thanks to Juan from FL, who prompted a good conversation about balancing 401K contributions with a desire to start a business and Frank and DeCosta, who are both weighing a 401K vs. a Roth.

Merlene is seeking an opinion on preferred stock, but that may not be her real issue!

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

When is it preferable to pay down a mortgage on a rental property? Should newly-married couples pay off each other's student loans? These and other pressing issues are on tap for this week's show!

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Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

  Labor Day means barbecues, picnics and of course, back to school! That makes it a perfect time to talk to Judith Ward, CFP, senior financial planner and vice president of T. Rowe Price, who joined us to discuss the sixth annual Parents, Kids & Money Survey. The results revealed that parents are freaked out about saving for college and boys and girls are not equally prepared when it comes to learning about money matters.

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In addition to the spirited conversation with Judith, we also discussed life insurance with Jane, and helped Paul and JR get on the right financial path.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

We're just at the end of "National My Social Security Week," a perfect time to field your Social Security questions. Considering that a total of 59 million Americans will receive some form of Social Security benefits in 2014, with payouts estimated at $863 billion, it’s amazing how confusing the system can be!

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Every American who has accumulated 40 Social Security credits, which usually amounts to 10 years of work; and earns a certain amount of money, will qualify for Social Security retirement benefits. You can choose to receive benefits as early as age 62, though doing so will amount to a permanent reduction in monthly income. As a result, more people wait until their Full Retirement Age (FRA) before claiming. Workers who wait until age 70 will receive the highest benefit.

Here is more information about Social Security:

• Social Security: Broken, But Not Broke
• Social Security Q&A
• Social Security Administration Web site
• AARP
• T.Rowe Price

We also discussed "Beautiful" investment portfolios, which loosely defined means: easy, cheap and effective. For Jill in Florida, here are a few ideas:

BEAUTIFUL INDEX FUND PORTFOLIO

• 40% Bond Fund (Vanguard's Intermediate Term Bond Index fund (VFICX), Vanguard Short-Term Investment Grade fund (VFSTX), Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX),Schwab Total Bond Market (SWLBX),Fidelity U.S. Bond Index (FBIDX)
• 50% Total Stock Market Index Fund (Fidelity Spartan Total Market Index, Schwab 1000 Index Fund Investor or Vanguard Total Stock Market Index)
• 10% Int’l Stock Fund (Fidelity Spartan Int’l Index (FSIIX), Vanguard Total Int’l Stock Index (VGTSX)

BEAUTIFUL ETF PORTFOLIO

• 50% Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
• 20% Vanguard FTSE All-World Ex-U.S. ETF (VEU)
• 30% Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)

BEAUTIFUL ETF PORTFOLIO (>$500K)

• 10% Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
• 10% Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB)
• 15% Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG)
• 15% Vanguard FTSE All-World Ex-U.S. ETF (VEU)
• 5% Vanguard Emerging Mkts ETF (VWO)
• 30% Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)
• 5% SPDR DB International Government Inflation Protected Bond ETF (WIP)
• 5% Wisdom Tree Dreyfus Commodity Currency (CCX)
• 5% Gold (IAU OR GLD)

All of the sudden, Mark and I have become the arbiters of how much to spend on an engagement ring, which is funny, since neither of us has ever purchased one!

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

Long term care (LTC) is a vexing issue, as both the cost of care and insurance are expected to rise substantially in the future. Who needs LTC and how can you protect yourself? Tune in to find out!

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According to the 2014 Medicare & You, National Medicare Handbook, at least 70 percent of people over 65 will need long term care services and support at some point in their lifetime.

Unfortunately, many do not realize that Medicare and most health insurance plans, including Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies, don’t pay for this type of care, sometimes called “custodial care.” We focused on LTC after caller Leslie asked about self-insurance and then followed up with a number of e-mail questions (thanks to all of the wonderful Newsday readers who wrote in). For more info about the topic, check out "Long Term Care Update: Is 90 the new 70?"

For Regina, Ross and Pete, and everyone else who is thinking about engaging a financial advisor, here are some resources to help:

• How to Choose a Financial Advisor: 10 Questions to Ask
• FPA Planner Search
• NAPFA Find an Advisor

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

There's just so much awful news around the world lately...take a break and join us for a few laughs and of course, some great financial advice!

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Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

"Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” - Henry James. It's the first show of August and we're ready to answer your financial questions!

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The first hour of the show was devoted to 30-Somethings Melanie and Tony. As you will hear, the calls start with retirement planning, but we soon expand into other important planning topics.

Later in the show, we discuss annuities for Tim, how to determine your retirement number with Magarito (check out NBER's Choose to Save tool) and how to add bond to your portfolio with Sandra.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

At mid-point in the summer, it's hard to concentrate on your financial life. On the other hand, you may be asking for trouble if you tune out until September. So sit back, turn up the volume and let us accompany you to the beach, the mountains, the lake or the country!

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Janet Stanzak, the president of the board of directors for the Financial Planning Association (FPA) is just the person to help you figure out how to find the right financial advisor for you. She says that while compensation is important, it is not the only thing people need to consider when selecting a financial pro. She also went through some of the 35 questions to ask tool the FPA recommends people ask prospective financial advisers. (You can also check out my shorter 10 Questions) If you are looking for an advisor, you can use the FPA Planner Search tool.

Steve brought up a classic dilemma: funding retirement versus saving for education. In his case, the question is not an either/or one! Meanwhile, Thomas and Arthur are both all about retirement. Thomas has already set aside a good chunk of dough and wants to know how to invest it, while Arthur is having a tough time creating enough money from his portfolio to meet his income needs.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

Why does the financial services industry have to complicate our lives? The good news is that once we get you set, managing your money should be as easy as brushing and flossing, perhaps helped by a couple of trips to the dentists each year. While there are so many ways to simplify your financial life, sometimes the industry really does make it hard.

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Lori's call about being sold two variable annuities is a case in point and allowed me to discuss the concept of  fiduciary standard, which requires financial professionals to act in the best interests of their clients. You may think that any broker or insurance agent is obligated to do so, but they are generally held to a much looser standard, called “suitability.” In other words, the product or advice they are providing needs only to be suitable for you, rather than in your best interests. The sale of variable annuities to Lori may have been "suitable", but it was most certainly not in her best interest. 

Not surprisingly, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), the trade association that lobbies on behalf of the financial services industry, has opposed imposing regulation that would be too strict, because it would “limit consumer choice”. The more cynical will note that the fiduciary standard would put a big dent into commissions generated by firms and their salespeople, especially those who recommend fee-rich products inside rollover accounts. Sadly, the industry lobbyists have spent oodles of money and as a result, the fiduciary standard, which should have been adopted in the aftermath of the financial crisis, is now on hold until 2016 at the earliest.

Also on the show, some 529 info for Mark's sister; a long-term care insurance review; and advice on how to invest a lump sum that must remain liquid.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

Regardless of whether you are rooting for Germany or Argentina, we have a world class show this weekend, featuring special guest Mitch Tuchman, founder of MarketRiders.com and Rebalance-IRA.com. Mitch foundedthese companies to help retail investors gain access to the same tools and philosophies that sophisticated investors have been using for decades

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As Mitch likes to say about financial services, "There's probably not an industry that is so overpaid for providing so little!" To learn more about creative companies like those Mitch has created, check out my article "Advice for Small Investors".

Lenny has rotten investment options inside of his 403 (b) Suzy wrote in about whether or not to rollover her old retirement account. (For more on whether or not to rollover old retirement plans, see "Rock and Rollover".)

Mark wanted to make sure that his intermediate financial goals seemed appropriate;  Steve is wondering whether he and his wife have accumulated enough money to fund retirement; LeRoy wants to invest a $1 million inheritance to minimize risk and maximize return; and Jack asked, "Why would anyone buy bonds?" What followed was a quick "Bonds 101".

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

In between the beach, barbecues and long weekend festivities, we help you celebrate financial independence!

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People ahere are some resources for those who are seeking financial advice:

• How to Choose a Financial Advisor: 10 Questions to Ask
• FPA Planner Search
• NAPFA.org

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

Have your New Year's resolutions gone astray? At mid-year, we get you back on track to help you achieve your financial goals! In between, I include some classic home buying mistakes and a sneak-preview of the book that I am writing...don't worry, I will keep everyone posted on my progress and ask for suggestions along the way!

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We started the show with Dave, who is working 15-hour days and needs to know when he can hang 'em up. As with most retirement plans, there are a lots of ways to achieve the goals--the key is to select the path that is right for you and your family.

I provided two very different answers to insurance questions this week. There was Johnny, whose wife is the beneficiary of a trust, but if she were to predecease him, the proceeds of the trust would skip him and go to her kids. What kind of protection should he have in place if that unlikely scenario were to play out? Then Jeff wondered whether his philosophy of buying term insurance and investing the difference was a sound one. Sometimes a Twinkie is just a Twinkie...you'll have to listen to get the reference!

Nancy has inherited $1,000,000 and is bewildered by the sales pitches that financial folks are presenting. For Nancy, e-mailer Michelle and everyone else, here are some resources for those who are seeking financial advice:

• How to Choose a Financial Advisor: 10 Questions to Ask
• FPA Planner Search
• NAPFA.org

We also fielded questions about annuities, closing credit card accounts, 529plans and financial planning for elderly relatives.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

The Summer Solstice occurs on Saturday June 21st at 6:51am EDT. The start of summer often means that people disconnect from their money issues -- not so fast! We have a great guest who discusses the current mortgage market and also field lots of great retirement questions.

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Michael Raimi, VP of PMAC Lending, has been in the mortgage business for a long time, so when he says that there are some positive developments in the market, we should listen! There's good news for jumbo borrowers, but Mike cautions that anyone starting the mortgage process will need to do three things: (1) check your credit to make sure that there are no errors on your record (2) Understand the real cost of owning, including property taxes and homeowners' insurance (3) Bring your patience and perseverance to the process!

Retirement planning was on the minds of Lenny and Pat, both of whom are wising considering how they will manage their assets after retirement. Joe is wondering whether he can tap some of his retirement funds to purchase a beach condo.

Jesse has extra money to invest and wants to know where to direct it; Robert is seeking higher returns for his emergency reserve funds; and Rick wondered about a charge in his retirement account.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

This is my first Father's Day without Big Al. Last year, Dad joined the show to impart some of his unique wisdom. This year, I have just his memory and all of the great advice that he imparted. You can read Big Al's Financial Advice on this blog and also see a picture of my father in action on the floor of the American Stock Exchange.

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Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th, so we thought it would be a good idea to invite Stephen Testa, President of Testa Brothers Insurance as our guest. Stephen provided great advice on how to prepare for any kind of disaster and what you need to know about your policy before and after the storm.

Listeners Dave and Kathleen needed help thinking about a traditional retirement vehicles vs. Roth IRAs; Vivek wants to save for college, but doesn't want to use a 529 plan; and John wants to know whether he is in a good position to retire.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

As California Chrome attempts racing's ultimate trifecta at Belmont this weekend, the triple crown of your financial life is easier to achieve: (1) Pay down consumer debt (2) Establish emergency reserve fund (3) Maximize retirement contributions.

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In honor of the Belmont Stakes, Queens-born financial whiz Michael Goodman, President of Wealthstream Advisors was our guest. Michael provided great advice on how to approach the client-advisor relationship; ways to kick-start your financial life for the second half of the year; and discussed the difference between passive and active investing.

Listener questions included a great discussion about long term care with Kathy; buying versus renting (and reverse mortgages) with Sandy; and education saving for Rick and Aaron.

Marie wondered about contesting a will, while Eileen wants to start Roth IRAs for her favorite 18 year-olds and Carol followed up with more details so we could advise her about investing the proceeds of her house sale.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

When aging parents ask you about estate planning or transferring a house into your name from their names, you should seek the advice of a good estate attorney before making any decisions.

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Mary Ellen and JP both had questions about the pros and cons of creating life estates. This can be an excellent way for your parents to remain in their homes; protecting them from nursing home liens; avoiding probate; and retaining the ability to receive a step-up in cost basis upon death.  Of course, there are downsides too...

Along those lines, Dawn asked about creating a trust for her assets to protect them against being devoured in the event that she requires costly long-term healthcare.

We helped Linda determine whether $1.4 million is enough to retire at age 55 and discussed how Carol might handle a $300,000 inheritance.

If you hold a lot of your company stock in your 401 (k), pay attention to my conversation with Dan--you'll learn an easy way to extract company stock in a tax advantaged way!

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Check out Mark's first-producing credit for this CBS Evening News segment that aired recently. If you have a financial question, there are lots of ways to contact us:

• Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio