Ed Slott, CPA is a nationally recognized IRA expert, television personality and best-selling author who has dedicated his life to educating Americans on saving for retirement and the intricacies of IRAs.  He was named “The Best Source for IRA Advice” by The Wall Street Journal and is the author of numerous best-selling books, which is why we are so happy he joined the show to help you make smart, year-end money moves.

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 Ed covered a lot of ground, including a great rule of thumb about filing for Social Security: "The longer you wait, the more you get!" Here's a quick list of things to remember to maximize the remaining days of 2015:

• Make your 2015 Roth IRA conversion and consider a back door conversion, if you earn too much money to qualify for a contribution
• Check the taxes on stock or mutual fund sales; use losses to offset gains
• Max out your retirement accounts (yes, there's still time to get to $18,000 or $24,000 if you are over age 50)
• Take Required Minimum Distributions: RMDs must start in the year you turn 70 1/2 or the year. Fail to do so and the amount you should have withdrawn will be taxed at 50 percent!
• Donate your IRA distributions to charity: Although this is still in limbo, Ed recommends that you take advantage of it and assume that Congress will once again make it part of an extender package
• Check / Update Beneficiary Forms
• Bunch your deductions and if you are self-employed, project your 2016 income. If it will be higher than 2015, consider deferring income and expenses until next year, when you are in a higher tax bracket
• Be aware of stealth taxes

Check out Ed's web site www.IRAHelp.com for more information!

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how to contact us:

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Guest Hart Lambur, CEO and co-founder of Openfolio joins the show to discuss how investors can make smarter, more confident investment decisions by sharing their portfolios with one another.

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how to contact us:

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

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Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines...holiday shopping season begins RIGHT NOW. I provide some tips as to when to score the best deals and give you permission to take a break from football and family to shop from the privacy of your own home on Thanksgiving Day -- especially to snag that average discount of 27 percent!

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Out guest James Nichols is the head of Retirement Income and Advice Strategy for Retirement for Voya Financial, but we prefer the title, "Retirement Yoda". James talked about the Voya Born to Save program, where any child born on October 19th 2015 can receive $500 from Voya! James also discussed great ways to break down financial goals by key life stages and milestones.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how to contact us:

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

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It's the weekend before the weekend before Thanksgiving and we are answering your financial questions! Before we got going, we needed to discuss some ramifications of the recently signed budget deal. For those who were planning to execute one of the interesting Social Security strategies that we have discussed here, listen up!

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Congress has decided to close perceived “loopholes” in the Social Security rules and has killed off the “File and Suspend” strategy, which allow spousal and dependent benefits to be paid while still earning delayed retirement credits AND, it will no longer be possible to file a restricted application for just spousal benefits.

According to SS expert and JOM guest Mary Beth Franklin, "existing beneficiaries are grandfathered. So are those who are 66 with the next six months. Gone after that. Restricted claim for spousal benefits will still be available at 66 for those who are 62 or older by the end of this year. Gone for people who are younger. Oh well...

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how to contact us:

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

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Oh sure, Mark and I are bummed about the Mets, but your great questions lifted us out of our post-World Series funks!!

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how 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 

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Don't be spooked by money issues--tune in for lots of treats!!

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how to contact us:

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

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Investment Advisor Greg Hammer joins the show to provide advice about Medicare Open Enrollment period, which is open until December 7th. We also cover questions about REITs, consolidating investment accounts and Roth conversions!

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how to contact us:

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

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• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

I recently traveled to the site of ancient Lydia (now part of Turkey) where it is believed that the first coins made of precious metals were created in the fifth century--how fitting!

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how to contact us:

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

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Mark is in London, I am in Turkey and we're still answering your financial questions, from wherever you are!

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how 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 

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Instead of hanging with the Royals, the Best Producer in the World is toiling on our behalf from the U.K.!

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how 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

Since her last appearance on the show, I have been saving your Social Security questions for nationally recognized SS expert, Mary Beth Franklin. Mary Beth is a contributing editor at Investment News and writes regularly about the latest research and thought leadership on retirement income planning. You can follow her on Twitter here and download her book, “Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits” here.

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Thank goodness for Mary Beth, because it is so difficult to wade through the SS system’s 2,800 rules! The part of the program was devoted to the strategies around claiming SS benefits on the record of an ex-spouse.

The basic rule is that you must have been married for at least 10 years before you got divorced and you must be currently single, which also could include being widowed from a subsequent spouse. We fielded a lot of questions about making the claim retroactively, but Mary Beth notes that you must be at or beyond full retirement age (FRA), the maximum retroactive benefit is six months.

There were a lot of questions about whether an ex can claim as early as 62. The answer is yes, with a caveat. You can claim on your ex, but other SS rules apply, so you would have to claim a reduced benefit on your own record and then if ½ of your ex’s benefit is greater than your own, you can collect the difference.

Here’s an example: Jack (67) and Jill (62) were married for 20 years and then divorced. Jill would be entitled to $1,000 per month, if she were to wait until her FRA, but instead, she claims at 62, which reduces her monthly benefit to $750—remember, if you claim early, the reduction is permanent! Let’s assume that Jack has claimed his $2500/month benefit at his FRA. If Jill had waited until her own FRA, she would have been entitled to half of his benefit, which would be $1250/month. BUT, because she is claiming at 62, her share of his benefit is also reduced, so she would only be entitled to $875/month. From the perspective of SS, Jill would be entitled to two benefits at age 62: her $750 + $125 from her ex-husband, for a total of $875.

Mary Beth also covered survivor benefits; how to execute a Social Security “Do-Over”; some of the rules around SSDI; the two rules that may limit your Social Security benefits: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO); and of course, Mary Beth’s GOLDEN RULE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY!

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how 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 

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Have the recent market swings freaked you out? Listen to the wisdom of CPA and CFP Michael Goodman and you will likely feel a lot better. Michael is the President of Wealthstream Advisors and began his career in financial services as a CPA, before opening the doors to his own financial planning and investment management firm.

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When those white-knuckle market gyrations occur, Michael says go back to the basics and remind yourself why you are investing and what your long terms goals are. He also makes the case that some people do not need advisors and can go it on their own.

Allison's husband is in the market for disability insurance, but when we were able to dive into the details of their lives, it became clear that there were many more issues than DI!

Brian needed advice about how to maximize his retirement plan contributions and Paul asked about consolidating retirement accounts.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how to contact us:

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

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There are big changes afoot in the credit reporting industry-credit expert John Ulzheimer joins the show to explain what consumers need to know! While we had him, John provided identity theft protection tips, which are especially important as we look towards the holiday season frenzy!

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John (aka "the Credit Czar") explained the new credit reporting changes that will help consumers, why it is important to check your credit report (only 4 percent do it!), how medical debt will be handled in the future and how we can be the best stewards of our personal information. As John said, there is "NO SUCH THING AS SECURE DATA!"

We also talked to Jeff and Eric, both of whom are in their early fifties and trying to strategize about retirement.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how to contact us:

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

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As Serena Williams tries to make tennis history, tune into the Grand Slam of money shows! We started with Bob, who is 72 years old. Half of his $3 million nest egg is invested in rental real estate: Is that too much?

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Michael and his wife are in their late 40's with two teenage boys. Is their asset allocation appropriate or are they too heavily invested in equities? Michael also expressed frustration over finding a fee-only advisor.

Meanwhile, John is trying to decide between using a financial adviser or doing it himself and Felissa wanted to know whether her approach for her non-retirement funds should be similar to that of her retirement account.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how to contact us:

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

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Never let a correction ruin a great radio show! Our listeners did not seem at all spooked by the recent market gyrations, but did have some great questions. Mandy and her husband are accumulating cash and want to know what to do with it and Sharon needed advice for her daughter, who is carrying $200,000 of student loan debt.

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We were fortunate to have a very special guest on the show, Tess Vigeland, author of "Leap: Leaving a Job with No Plan B to Find the Career and Life You Really Want". Tess tells her fascinating story and offers advice to those who may only be able to hop, skip or jump...

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how 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 

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Yes, I am on vacation, but never too busy to answer your great financial questions, especially after a volatile week that left the Dow, NASDAQ Composite and Russell 2000 in correction territory!

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how 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

Yes, I am on vacation, but never too busy to answer your great financial questions!

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how 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

It's hot across much of the country, but we cool down with dreams of retirement. Whether you are thinking about early retirement, tinkering with your asset allocation, considering an annuity, weighing lump sum or stream of income or just starting out, this is the show for you!

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how 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

Nationally recognized expert in Social Security Mary Beth Franklin joins the show to celebrate the 80^th birthday of Social Security. Mary Beth is a contributing editor at InvestmentNews and writes regularly about the latest research and thought leadership on retirement income planning. You can follow her on Twitter here.

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Mary Beth reviewed the roots of Social Security – did you know that one of its main purposes was to get old workers out of the workforce in order to make way for younger ones?

You may have heard people say, “Social Security is broke,” which is just wrong. The SS Trust Fund, which carried surpluses for many years, is going to be depleted by 2034, unless government takes action. At that time, there would be enough workers to pay for about 75 percent of promised benefits. If the country wants to maintain the current system, Mary Beth says that there will probably be a combination of three fixes, which will be phased in over a long period of time:

1. Increase SS Full Retirement Age
2. Increase SS wage base: Workers and employers each pay 7.65% up to $118,500 (FICA tax) to fund SS. Mary Beth said that when the system was created, the wage base was supposed to represent 90 percent of wages. Due to changes in incomes at the top, that’s not the case. In order to get back to 90 percent, the wage base would have to rise to approximately $250K.
3. Decrease or income test benefits

Mary Beth also outlined some of her favorite SS strategies and highlighted the common SS mistakes that many Americans can avoid.

Our callers also had SS on their minds: John retired last year and has not yet claimed SS, Mike works part time and wonder when he should claim SS.

Robert asked about the Acorns app, which invests spare change from everyday transactions (bug thumbs up!) and Sarah wonders how to protect her savings and investment accounts against hackers.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how to contact us:

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

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Don Cloud, president and founder of Cloud Financial, began his career in financial services industry in the 1990s with a mission to educate and inspire individuals to play an active role in their personal finances. Don discussed what to do if you’re facing an unexpected early retirement; how he manages clients that don't act in their own best interests; and the power of diversification…and he has an awesome accent too!

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Can we make dreams come true? That's what Jeannie wants to know! She wants to spend the first few years of retirement in Paris before returning to the US. Can we help make her dream a reality?

The housing market may be recovering, but not enough to help Jeff, who needs advice about selling a house that is underwater. Alex has a question about whether or not to sell a rental property and Chet wants to know about required distributions.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Here's how 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