Kids and money can be a thorny topic for parents. Luckily, personal finance expert, author and architect of the great MoneyAsYouGrow web site, Beth Kobliner joins us to celebrate Financial Literacy Month. According to research, money habits start to form by age 7, so we need to start talking to kids between the ages of 3 and 5.

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Start by identifying coins and their value and discuss the difference between something that is free, like playing with a friend, and an item that costs money, like an ice cream cone. You should also introduce the concept of work and the idea that you may have to wait for something you want.

You can start paying your child an allowance as early as age 6. Most experts agree that an allowance should not be based on household chores, rather it’s better to choose an amount based on what you already spend on small discretionary items your child likes but doesn’t need — like a toy. Make it clear that the amount you’re giving replaces what you would have been spending on her. You should encourage kids to save 10 percent of their allowance by opening a savings account and explain the concept of earning interest. To reinforce the savings habit, consider a "matching plan" for your child's savings: You put in 25 cents for every dollar she saves.

When it comes to teenagers and young adults, you should have the first of many conversations about debt. Explain why it’s important to avoid using credit card cards to buy things you can't afford to pay for with cash. As kids get to high school, you can start talking about the cost of college and about whether or how much the family plans to contribute towards education.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer/Music Curator in the World. Mark is back in the US and makes another appearance on the show. 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

As college acceptances roll in, how can families navigate the web of financial aid and student loans? Guest  Kelly Peeler, the Founder & CEO of NextGenVest.com joins the show to help you scoop up some of the $2.7 billion left on the table every year. She notes that families are befuddled by the complex and time consuming student loan application process, highlighted by the dreaded FAFSA form.

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NextGenVest can help by providing key financial aid deadline reminders, form annotations, and on-demand help over text message to get more financial aid in high school and beyond.

NextGenVest's "Money Mentor" will connect students and their families with someone who can coach them through the process. Just dial 646-798-1745 and text "I WANT HELP" and you will be connected. Kelly also discussed the student loan bubble, which could be the next financial crisis. Check out Kelly's TED talk "How to Change the World as a Millennial - Don't Be Stupid with Your Money"

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer/Music Curator in the World. Mark is back in the US and makes another appearance on the show. 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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As the Department of Labor prepares to roll out new rules, which would require investment companies, brokers and advisors to put the interest of retirement savers first, our guest Ray Ferrara, former Chair of the CFP Board, joins us to discuss the fiduciary standard and why the financial services industry should embrace, not fight it. Ray has been one of the key players involved in the national debate surrounding the rules that should govern financial advice and was one of the experts who testified before The Employee Benefits Security Administration, the DOL division responsible for spearheading the change. We began the conversation with an explanation of the proposal, which would require that retirement investment professionals not only be held to a higher standard of putting clients first, but they would also have to fully disclose and eliminate conflicts of interest that exist.

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The Financial Planning Coalition, a collaboration of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board), the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), strongly supports the DOL’s proposed rule and notes:

"Retirement investors face a perfect storm in the financial services marketplace. With ever-increasing responsibility for their own retirements and the need to choose from an increasingly complex set of financial products and services, retirement investors more than ever need competent financial advice that is in their best interest. Yet the current regulatory framework allows advisers’ interests to be misaligned with the interests of retirement investors; it does not require advisers to clearly and openly disclose the standard of conduct under which they operate or their actual or potential conflicts of interest; and it permits market practices under which retirement investors are simply unable to distinguish advisers who provide fiduciary-level services from those who do not."

This rule could be a game-changer for the industry. No longer will companies be able to sell opaque, expensive products that once were deemed "suitable" but will not pass the fiduciary smell test. And if you hear complaints from the industry, saying that the rule will mean that they will no longer be able to serve the middle class, I say, THANK GOODNESS! That means that they can no longer peddle their expensive, clunky products, like variable annuities or non-traded real estate investment trusts. And if they choose to raise minimums or fees, consumers have plenty of choices, like services offered by Betterment or Rebalance-IRA, which offer ease and simplicity at a fraction of the cost that those big firms charge.

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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ReBalance-IRA.com CEO Mitch Tuchman, who pioneered America’s first online investment advisory service, joins the show to discuss how the advent of robo advisors is helping to force down fees in the financial services industry and why an algorithm may be a better investment option than a conflicted salesperson. Mitch conceived of and built a service for do-it-yourself investors to manage their own retirement portfolios with MarketRiders and then enhanced the service for those who wanted a human touch with ReBalance-IRA. Robo advisors are poised to be the beneficiaries of the Department of Labor's soon-to-be-released rule on fiduciary, which Mitch believes will be a turning point for the industry.

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World and the worst LinkedIn User. 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

As the incidence of identity theft rises, our guest Adam Levin says “You’re going to get got,” so it’s best to assume the worst and learn how to protect your personal information. Adam is consumer advocate with more than 30 years of experience and is a nationally recognized expert on security, privacy, identity theft, fraud, and personal finance. A former Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Levin is Chairman and founder of IDT911 (IDentity Theft 911) and co-founder of Credit.com.  In Adam’s new book “Swiped” he discusses the threats associated with identity theft.

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Here's the problem: Creative and determined hackers can piece together snippets of information from a variety of sources to re-create your profile and use it to undermine your credit score or learn when and where you’re on vacation, which leaves your house vulnerable to theft. That means that you need to guard your information, including Social Security Numbers, phone numbers, email and physical addresses, credit reports, medical records -- basically thieves are trying to create a well-rounded dossier on who you are!

Adam's "Three Ms" - Minimize your exposure (guard your information), Monitor your accounts (keep an eye on credit scroes, consider instant alerts from credit card companies and banks, as well as a credit freeze) and Manage the damage (there are sopecific steps to follow if your information is compromised) - are essential for every consumer

Common types of identity theft sources include credit card scams, data breaches, social media posts, healthcare fraud, and even "smart TVs. Adam also discussed tax theft and social media do’s and don’ts

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World and the worst LinkedIn User. 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

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. His web site www.IRAHelp.com. He started our conversation with an overview of what has changed for this year's tax filing season (not too much) and then explained why well-prepared taxpayers should not be afraid of an audit. (NOTE: Ed says that the key to the entire  tax preparation process is to keep flawless records and documentation throughout the year!)

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Ed also focused on the need for retirees to shift gears in retirement. While there may be some lucrative opportunities, there are also challenges/minefields, like those thorny stealth taxes, which can trip us up.

The old favorites include the whopping 50 percent penalty for not taking your required minimum distribution (RMD) and not making estimated tax payments, but last year's change about IRA rollovers is also causing a new headache among some retirees.

As much as everyone complains about paying taxes, Ed says that tax rates are still the lowest they have been in years. That means that now could be a good time to move funds from tax-deferred vehicles, like 401 (k)s and IRAs into tax free Roth IRAs. Ed also noted that the very best retirement strategy is to work as long as you can. Extra income can prevent you from dipping into your nest egg; with earned income, you can continue to make Roth and spousal Roth IRA contributions (though once you turn 70 1/2, you can NOT make traditional IRA contributions); you may be able to delay your RMDs from your company-sponsored retirement plan; and most importantly, working longer will help you combat the reality of longevity!

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World and the worst LinkedIn User. 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

Career Expert Caroline Ceniza-Levine, author of the new book "Jump Ship: 10 Steps to Starting a New Career" and co-founder of Six Figure Start, joins us to discuss how to contemplate a big change in your work life. Caroline, a former classical pianist is no stranger to extreme career changes, but cautions that there are specific steps to take before giving your notice.

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Caroline also outlined how best to use LinkedIn, why each of us needs to think about branding and how networking can be your friend.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World and the worst LinkedIn User. 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

Betterment CEO and founder Jon Stein is revolutionizing the way financial services are delivered and consumers are the beneficiaries of his vision. Jon founded Betterment, a so-called "Robo-Advisor"  in 2008 in order to help consumers invest the way they should, rather than trying to beat the market. Jon notes that "We tend to think we’re better than average, on average. We intuitively think we can outperform. The whole brokerage and investment industry has grown to serve these irrational behaviors—and as a result, they don’t serve the individual consumers’ best interests. I started Betterment to re-invent the investing industry." Boy, has he ever--Betterment allows users to rationally approach investing by seeking the best return (factoring costs) for the least risk.

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It was great to have Jon on show, especially after appearing on CBS This Morning to discuss "When is the Right Time to Hire a Financial Advisor".

While Betterment started as an automated platform to help investors create a customized asset allocation plan, it has now evolved into an advice-driven organization. (For those who want a deep-dive on the evolution of financial services, check out this LinkedIn webcast, where Jon appeared with other leaders in the industry.) If I sound like I am fawning over Jon's business, I AM! After years in this business, it is terrific to see people like Jon (and Hart Lambur of Open Folio, Hardeep Walia of Motif Investing and Mitch Tuchman of MarketRiders) shaking up the industry. Jon also discussed how the Department of Labor's new rule, which will require any advisor managing retirement assets to be held to the Fiduciary standard, is likely to force the industry to FINALLY put clients first.

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

Sameer Somal, CFA, CFP and Marguerita ("Rita") Cheng, CFP are the future of the financial planning profession...they bring smarts and passion to the table! Thankfully, Rita is the Social Security Queen, so she helped answer a number of your most pressing SS questions.

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Rita notes that the best time to call Social Security is in the middle of the month, mid-week and mid-day. She also reminds those who are still eligible for SS File and Suspend that your Full Retirement Age (FRA) is when "claiming magic happens!"

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World...and yes, I owe Mark a bottle of scotch for correctly selecting the Broncos as Super Bowl Champions. 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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It doesn't get any better than spending an hour with the great economist, Dr. Mohamed El-Erian, author of the new book, "The Only Game in Town: Central Banks, Instability, and Avoiding the Next Collapse". Mohamed is Chief Economic Advisor at Allianz and chair of President Obama’s Global Development Council and if that doesn't keep him busy enough, he is a columnist for Bloomberg View, a contributing editor at the Financial Times and an influencer at LinkedIn.

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Mohamed started our conversation by explaining the role of central banks and how that role changed dramatically during the financial crisis, as bankers relied on a “Whatever it Takes” mentality to help rescue the economy. While he was supportive of those actions, Mohamed also recognizes that there have been serious consequences that have occurred.

During our conversation, he outlined some big problems that the global economy faces, including how to sustain inclusive growth, how to address income and wealth inequality and the yawning gap between markets and economic fundamentals.

Mohamed says that we are coming to a "T-Junction": on one end, we are destined for a low growth economy, plagued by high unemployment, increasing income inequality and political extremism. On the other end, we see a resumption of growth and broad-based job creation, with decreasing income inequality and a drop in financial instability. While we all hope for the more positive outcome, Mohamed says that there is an  equal probability that either scenario plays out.

For more, you can snag a copy of his new book, "The Only Game in Town: Central Banks, Instability, and Avoiding the Next Collapse".

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

The political season finally kicks off with Monday's Iowa Caucus. But for months, all of the candidates from both parties are talking about how they would improve your bottom line. To help us figure out what's going on, we invited Money Magazine's Senior Writer Ian Salisbury to parse the rhetoric. If you want more information, check out Ian's article, "Which Candidate is Best for Your Portfolio?"

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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

Special guest Helaine Olen, co-author of "The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated" returns to the show to discuss her new book and what ten steps you can take to simplify your life. Helaine's previous book, "Pound Foolish" is a must-read for anyone who wants to know about the dark side of the personal finance personal finance industry:

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Helaine tells us how she and future co-author University of Chicago professor Harold Pollack stumbled onto a fantastic idea for a new book by accident.

When Pollack interviewed Olen about Pound Foolish, he made an off­hand suggestion: everything you need to know about managing your money could fit on an index card. To prove his point, he grabbed a 4″ x 6″ card, scribbled down a list of rules, and posted a picture of the card online. The post went viral.

I love the simplicity and elegance of the book and the advice offered...and of course, Helaine is a terrific guest!

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

Cam Marston, a leading expert on the difference among generations in the workplace, joins the show to help us become better co-workers, bosses and employees. Marston’s books, articles, columns, and blog describe and analyze the major generations of our time: Matures (born before 1946), Baby Boomers, (born 1946-64), Generation X (born 1965-79), and Millennials (born 1980-2000).  He explains the basic characteristics  of each generation and their differences, some of which may surprise you.

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We also answered some questions on the soon-to-defunct Social Security claiming strategy, file and suspend. Here's a great synopsis from Money Magazine.

How can you determine the correct amount to save for a specific goal? Easy--just use EBRI's Choose To Save Ballpark Estimate...

And if you are worried about your savings habits, one way to cut to the core is to create a financial plan--it will open your eyes as to how your spending patterns today may be robbing you of the ability of achieving your long term goals.

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

The "Money Queen" Cary Carbonaro, CFP  is in the house to help us build wealth and banish fears about money. Cary has been an investment advisor for over 25 years and says that women have unique a relationship with money. "We strive for financial security to support our family, ensure we can retire comfortably, create independence separate from our partners....as much as we are motivated to make money, we often do not consider the crucial relationship between what we do today and how it can impact our life tomorrow."

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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

Have you made financial resolutions? We're ready to help you keep 'em!!

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World, who is on the correct side of the pond this holiday season! 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

Maybe you have some down time or perhaps you are hitting the road...either way, there's plenty of financial advice left for the last week of the year!

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Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World, who is on the correct side of the pond this holiday season! 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

What a big show...just in time for #250, the Fed raised short-term interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade; Congress voted on a budget, which extended and made permanent a bunch of tax deals; and guest Jane MacAuliffe  of Forbes Financial Planning outlined important financial decisions associated with divorce.

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Now that we have lift off, how long will the journey last? As expected, the Federal Reserve raised rates by 0.25 percent. While the economy is far from perfect, officials noted that activity has been strong enough to strengthen the labor market, foster consumer spending, and prompt business investment.

The big question for investors is whether the Fed will be able to gradually increase rates over the next few years, as the officials themselves predict, or will changing economic conditions force either a slower or quicker pace. The next big question: When will savers benefit from the rate hike? Unfortunately for consumers, while the nation’s big banks chose to immediately increase their prime lending rates, most chose NOT to increase deposit rates on savings accounts. That means that beleaguered savers will have to wait until next year to see a bump up in their income.

Jane McAuliffe is pursuing the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst Certification (CDFA) to help clients achieve an equitable outcome during the divorce process. She helped us understand the various reasons why such a niche exists and how she provides much-needed advice during the emotional rollercoaster of a divorce.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer in the World. Sadly, Mark did not appear on the show in honor of #250...we may need to wait until #300! 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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The end of the year is the perfect time to clean up your portfolio, says our guest, Dan Forbes, CFP®. Many moons ago, Dan was my intern and he is now the owner of the thriving Forbes Financial Planning in RI, where he specializes in working with individuals and small businesses. He was named a Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Ambassador and appeared in the Board’s media campaign in 2014. He is the financial planning expert and weekly contributor to www.GoLocalProv.com and also appears on NBC 10 and ABC6, and contributes to Providence Business News, US World & News Report and Time Magazine.

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Dan noted that end of the year is a perfect time to dump tax losers and to also clean up your portfolio. He warned that you should compare your positions to the appropriate benchmarks. Dan mentioned an interesting Morningstar article about 529 plans and also mentioned that immediate annuities are once again back on his front burner.

Finally, Dan was nice enough to mention the fact that I was named one of the top 10 Influencers on LinkedIn...and I am keeping some pretty fancy company on this list!

Here are a few of the resources that we mentioned during the show:

• NY Times Rent vs. Buy calculator
• Roth IRA calculator

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

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:

• 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

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 

• Send an email: askjill@jillonmoney.com 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio