We celebrate Father's Day with guest Mark Cortazzo of Macro Consulting Group. Mark says retirement investing requires a big shift in thinking, especially when it comes to risk. While growing your portfolio, time and volatility can be your friend but once you start withdrawing from the portfolio, they become your enemy and market hits have a much greater impact. Mark's perspective on how to manage the transition from accumulating wealth to withdrawing during retirement is valuable.

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In honor of Father's Day, check out this post, where I review some of the valuable lessons Albie (also known on this show as "Big Al") imparted to me.

You might think that as a former options trader on the floor of the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), my father would have been a big risk-taker, but Dad developed a healthy respect for risk. He compared investing to swimming in the ocean. When the water is calm, you feel brave and alive, but when a wave sweeps you off your feet, you are humbled.

 Here are some of Dad's pearls of investing wisdom:

• “Every asset class stinks, but cash is the best of the worst.”
• Sarcastically referring to big investment firms’ opposition to the DOL’s Fiduciary Rule: “Only these geniuses think that NOT putting the client first is a smart business proposition.”
• About investors who pile into expensive, but poor performing hedge funds: “Just because they have money does not make them smart.”

If you missed the great episode with James Altucher, check it out here.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer/Music Curator 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

Happy Mother's Day! Your mom would probably want you to take control of your financial life, so listen up. We started the show with Katrina, who needs help with her financial priorities. Should she contribute to retirement, save more in her emergency reserve fund or pay down her mortgage? The answer is: YES!

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Jim has $200K to invest-what should he do? (We should all have such problems!) Also in the category of "I wish I were him/her": Both Allison and Roseanne have nearly $2 million saved for retirement and need guidance.

Brian asked about whether or not dividends are reinvested in the TSP plan, Erica is trying to decide between a standard 529 plan and a pre-paid tuition program (check out this description from FinAid); and Daniel is not sure whether or not he should participate in his company's SIMPLE-IRA plan.

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

Our guest - financial planner, author and speaker Jonathan Pond - worries that millions of Boomer generation parents have indulged their children, at their own expense. Jonathan, a pioneer in bringing low-cost, personalized money guidance to Americans, says that some greedy children have become "rapacious consumers of their parents’ money" OUCH!

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Jonathan also notes that the financial services industry in general, and the insurance business in particular, thrives on obfuscation. He warns that "if it can’t be explained to you in one sentence, don’t buy it…if you can’t get out of the investment without penalty within a few days or a week, be leery of it…stick to simple, understandable products".

And here's a simple product: Jonathan's SmartPlanner financial literacy tool, which costs $40--the equivalent of 5 bourbons at the cheap bars, where Producer Mark drinks!

In honor of the 141st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs (Go Upstart!), our first caller was John from Louisville, who's wife will be retiring shortly and has to make a pension election.

At age 63, Steve wants to know whether his retirement plan is on track and Chris asked about investing $25,000 on behalf of his famous daughter, who won the JIF Peanut Butter "Most Creative Sandwich Contest" in 2012. (Check out her recipe!)

Aaron asked about consolidating retirement accounts; Mark weighed in diversification; Mary asked about the safety of a couple of different financial institutions; Colette is just starting her retirement investing plan; Chris is considering entering the financial services industry; and Al and his wife are not sure whether or not they need a trust.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. (You can check out Mark's story on Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach here.) 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

May 1 is "college decision day," the deadline to formally accept an offer of college admission and send in your deposit. It's also the time when families must make choices about financial aid packages, which is why we spend time outlining some of the strategies necessary to maximize the process.

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Here are some resources that might be helpful in the college funding and planning process:

• Education Department College Navigator
• CFPB Financial Aid Comparison
• FinAid Guide to Financial Aid
• Edvisors Planning and Paying for College
• 529 Plan Info

Great calls from Holly (college funding), Marchello (saving and investing), Ryan (early retirement plan) and Brian (disability insurance). We also field Chris' e-mail about the "good" annuity company (TIAA-CREF) and a property tax issue from E.

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

We celebrated the conclusion of National Retirement Planning Week with guest Anthony LoCascio, a fiduciary advisor with more than three decades of experience in retirement and tax planning. Anthony breaks down retirement for Boomers, Gen-Xers and Millennials.

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Speaking of the Millennials (those who are currently 18-34), did you know that they are the biggest generation in US history—even bigger than the Baby Boomers. According to Goldman Sachs, there are 92 million Millennials, compared to 77 million Boomers. And as it turns out, the generation has a firm grip on certain aspects of their financial lives. Check out this segment from CBS Evening News for more on the slackers-turned-savers.

We fielded great questions from Millennials Sam, Tim and Anon!

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

As we head into National Retirement Planning Week, guest James Nichols joins us to reveal the results of the Voya Financial "Retire Ready Index". The results emphasize that retirement savers need combine knowledge, planning and action to help reach their goals.

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Here are some of the online tools that James mentioned:

• OrangeMoney
• Planning by Age
• How Do you Measure Up

And check out this segment from CBS This Morning, where I discussed retirement planning.

Before James joined us, we fielded a retirement question from John (should he convert his 401 (k) into a Roth?); a beneficiary retirement query from Mike and Gary asked about REITs.

If you are toiling away at your taxes this weekend, here are some Last Minute Tax Filing Resources.

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

Guest Gary Schatsky, a fee-only financial advisor, Chair Emeritus of NAPFA and Annuity Hater, joins the show to discuss why annuities are rarely advisable (Gary says just 5 percent of the time!) He also weighs in on the concept of fiduciary and explains why he believes that working with a fee-only advisor vastly reduces the potential for conflicts of interest.

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Kenny from NY read my recent post, "Spring Cleaning for your Money" and wanted to know how to reduce the taxable income generated from some of his mutual funds. One easy fix: use index funds in taxable accounts and keep managed funds in retirement accounts.

Meanwhile, Terry from MN is sitting pretty in her early retirement, but is not sure whether she should roll over her old 401 (k) into an IRA; and she also needs allocation tips. Poor Michael was unable to max out his retirement contributions and now is starting a fatter tax bill, while Steve asked about beneficiary IRA accounts and Wayne asked for advice about changing careers - from a pilot to a financial planner.

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

The show may be called "Jill on Money", but listeners know that the man without the microphone - Mark - is the center of the action. This weekend, we help the best producer in the world with the asset allocation for his IRA rollover.

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It just so happens that David from Chicago is also seeking allocation advice, especially in light of Vanguard's shift on its target date funds. Here are two sample portfolio allocations to consider:

BALANCED

• 10% Money Market fund
• 30% Bond Index Fund
• 10% International Bond Index
• 30% Total Stock Market Index Fund
• 5% Small Cap Index Fund
• 10% International Stock Index Fund
• 5% Emerging Market Stock Index Fund

GROWTH

• 5% Money Market fund
• 20% Bond Index Fund
• 5% International Bond Index
• 35% Total Stock Market Index Fund
• 10% Small Cap Index Fund
• 15% International Stock Index Fund
• 10% Emerging Market Stock Index Fund

And this is the post about "Why We Are Lousy Investors"

Throughout the show we also discussed some estate questions and some tax issues.

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

Another week, another announcement of identity theft. This time, it was Premera Health customers, next time, it could be you. Because of the seemingly endless number of incidents, we decided to re-air our interview with nationally recognized expert on credit reporting, credit scoring and identity theft, John Ulzheimer.

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Retirement investing can be tricky business, but George from MD is actually in great shape. He has a pension that more than covers his needs,  $100K in an annuity, $80K in his deferred compensation plan and now wants to find a home for an extra $90K that he has in cash. After funding Roth IRAs for him and his wife, we discuss how to allocate the remaining money.

Ron from KY has bounced around a few different brokerage firms and has come to a conclusion: maybe he should manage his own money and pay himself the investment management fee! To help, we came up with an easy-to-implement balanced portfolio:

• 10% Money Market fund
• 30% Bond Index Fund
• 10% International Bond Index
• 30% Total Stock Market Index Fund
• 5% Small Cap Index Fund
• 10% International Stock Index Fund
• 5% Emerging Market Stock Index Fund

Samantha asked at what level could one properly diversify a fixed income portion of a portfolio with individual bonds, while Eileen is selling her vacation home and wants to know how to account for the improvements she has made over the years. In general, you add the cost of improvements to your original cost, but here is a link to the IRS site to help out.

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