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

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

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

It's a long weekend for many financial markets across the world. To celebrate, we focus on big picture planning issues, like paying for college, avoiding the barrage of life insurance sales tricks and saving for retirement.

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Sharon is juggling debt pay down, retirement savings and saving for college, while Joel asked about refinancing his student loans. As a reminder, if you have federal student loans, you can find information about loan consolidation here.

Dan and his wife are adjusting to a lower income and trying to determine the best mix of retirement funds, while Matt and his wife spoke to a NAPFA advisor, who recommended consolidating investment accounts. His question: which company to keep?

Have you ever heard about something that sounds too good to be true? Marie asked about product that is essentially a life insurance product under a new, slick marketing wrapper. BEWARE!

We are always open to constructive criticism, which is why we spent time discussing complaints from a couple of listeners.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. 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

Congress finally acted to fix the student loan fiasco, by linking the interest rate to the 10-year Treasury yield. Just because you can borrow money for college, doesn't necessarily mean that you should...

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We fielded a bunch of questions about college loans and the best ways to save for education, starting with Aaron from MN, who is getting an early start with a three-month old! Also weighing in was Dwight from KY, who found a kindred spirit in being anti-debt and David from TX and Brittany from Boston, both of whom are juggling college and retirement savings.

Early retirement seems like such a 1990’s concept, but it seems to have emerged during this show. Victor was helping his dad figure out whether he can call it quits at 60, while Vicki, Diane and Helen are trying to manage their money more effectively, either with the help of an advisor or on their own.

Joe from Hawaii asked about whether he had too much in emergency reserves. My answer is even if you make a lot of money, maintaining 6 to 12 months of expenses in a safe place can protect you against a variety of unforeseen circumstances.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world, who was alone while Christina the intern was on vacation. 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 me: @jillonmoney