Yes, this is still here, and it will be for a while to serve as a reminder that there's a new place for Jill on Money content - YouTube!  Seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes it takes a little outside help (h/t to JOM friend, Joe A!) to recognize the obvious.  So don't freak out.  Going forward, we're going to put all our radio and podcast content on YouTube! It'll be easier for you to navigate and listen to past shows, because everything will be in one place.  Just click any of the links below and you'll be able to listen to this week's show as well as anything else you see that might interest you, including all the Better Off podcast content if you haven't been listening. Let us know what you think by emailing us at askjill@jillonmoney.com.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Oct 21 Download Hour One Here

Imagine this...you're in your 30s and a parent and grandparent just recently passed away.  One is bad enough, but  two losses seems unbearable. Now imagine that in the mourning process, you inherit over two million dollars! That's what happened to Jessica, our first caller this week. And as if she needs more to juggle, you can throw in the fact that Jessica is pregnant with her second child and she and her husband are selling their house and getting ready to move to another state.  It's a ton to process, hence the call to us.  Thankfully, Jessica has a good head on her shoulders.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Oct 21 Download Hour Two Here

Ask some Wall Street veterans where they were on October 19, 1987 and they will likely regale you with details of any crisis. My life changed that day in ways that often creep up on me. Indeed, Black Monday was the single worst day in Wall Street history, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging by more than 22 percent in one session--that’s the equivalent of the blue chip index diving by more than 5,000 points today.

It was a “First Class Catastrophe”, according to our first class guest and storyteller supreme, Diana Henriques, who dropped by the studio to help us retrace the events that led up to that day.

Diana joined us on the show earlier this year when her book, The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust, was made into an HBO movie. This time around Diana is joining us to discuss her latest book, A First-Class Catastrophe: The Road to Black Monday, the Worst Day in Wall Street History.  As Diana recounts, Black Monday was more than seven years in the making and threatened nearly every U.S. financial institution.

There were missed opportunities, market delusions, and destructive actions that stretched from the “silver crisis” of 1980 to turf battles in Washington and a rivalry between the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Here’s the crazy thing...you’d think that after Black Monday, lessons would be learned. But in her analysis, Henriques demonstrates how that Monday in the fall of 1987 was the predicate to the financial crisis of 2008. Sadly, investors, regulators, and bankers failed to heed the lessons of 1987, even as the same patterns resurfaced.

This was a fascinating interview for me because I lived through this period. I had just started my career on Wall Street, as the chaos was unfolding. I watched firsthand as my father nearly lost his business.  This chat was like going down memory lane and it’ll give you guys a good glimpse of the life I used to live before I started hosting podcasts and radio shows!

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

Ask some Wall Street veterans where they were on October 19, 1987 and they will likely regale you with details of any crisis. My life changed that day in ways that often creep up on me. Indeed, Black Monday was the single worst day in Wall Street history, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging by more than 22 percent in one session--that’s the equivalent of the blue chip index diving by more than 5,000 points today.

It was a “First Class Catastrophe”, according to our first class guest and storyteller supreme, Diana Henriques, who dropped by the studio to help us retrace the events that led up to that day.

Diana joined us on the podcast earlier this year when her book, The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust, was made into an HBO movie. This time around Diana is joining us to discuss her latest book, A First-Class Catastrophe: The Road to Black Monday, the Worst Day in Wall Street History. As Diana recounts, Black Monday was more than seven years in the making and threatened nearly every U.S. financial institution.

There were missed opportunities, market delusions, and destructive actions that stretched from the “silver crisis” of 1980 to turf battles in Washington and a rivalry between the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Here’s the crazy thing...you’d think that after Black Monday, lessons would be learned. But in her analysis, Henriques demonstrates how that Monday in the fall of 1987 was the predicate to the financial crisis of 2008. Sadly, investors, regulators, and bankers failed to heed the lessons of 1987, even as the same patterns resurfaced.

This was a fascinating interview for me because I lived through this period. I had just started my career on Wall Street, as the chaos was unfolding. I watched firsthand as my father nearly lost his business. This chat was like going down memory lane and it’ll give you guys a good glimpse of the life I used to live before I started hosting podcasts and radio shows!

“Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment.

Have a finance related question? Email us here or call 855-411-JILL.

We love feedback so please subscribe and leave us a rating or review in iTunes!

Connect with me at these places for all my content:

https://twitter.com/jillonmoney

https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney

https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/ 

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-... 

http://betteroffpodcast.com/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

"Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Yes, this is still here, and it will be for a while to serve as a reminder that there's a new place for Jill on Money content - YouTube!  Seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes it takes a little outside help (h/t to JOM friend, Joe A!) to recognize the obvious.  So don't freak out.  Going forward, we're going to put all our radio and podcast content on YouTube! It'll be easier for you to navigate and listen to past shows, because everything will be in one place.  Just click any of the links below and you'll be able to listen to this week's show as well as anything else you see that might interest you, including all the Better Off podcast content if you haven't been listening. Let us know what you think by emailing us at askjill@jillonmoney.com.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Oct 14 Download Hour One Here

Maybe I'm stating the obvious here, but life doesn't always unfold the way we want or think it will.  Things come up, and more often than not it's health related, just like with our first caller this week, Daniel from Atlanta. Daniel, a federal employee, was rolling right along until he was diagnosed with Parkinson's and eventually had to retire.  Now he's tasked with making his money last a lot longer than he was anticipating and wants to make sure his asset allocation is in good shape.  Here's a tease: it wasn't!

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Oct 14 Download Hour Two Here

We recently covered why Wall Street matters, on the show featuring Bill Cohan.

In hour two we’re doing a 180 with financial journalist and author Rana Foroohar. Rana’s book, "Maker and Takers: How Wall Street Destroyed Main Street", doesn’t exactly paint our economic system in the best light.

Rana explores how the misguided financial practices and philosophies that nearly toppled the global financial system have infiltrated many US businesses and discusses how the “financialization of America,” the trend by which finance and its way of thinking have come to reign supreme, is perpetuating Wall Street’s reign over Main Street. The ultimate result? A widening of the gap between rich and poor, which Rana argues, threatens the future of the American Dream. It's not all doom and gloom, because Rana lays out how we can reverse these trends and find a better path forward.

And since it’s not everyday that we have a Financial Times columnist in the studio, we also talked a good bit about the global economy, including Germany, Brexit, and China.

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

Yes, this is still here, and it will be for a while longer to serve as a reminder that there's a new place for Jill on Money content - YouTube!  Seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes it takes a little outside help (h/t to JOM friend, Joe A!) to recognize the obvious.  So don't freak out.  Going forward, we're going to put all our radio and podcast content on YouTube! It'll be easier for you to navigate and listen to past shows, because everything will be in one place.  Just click any of the links below and you'll be able to listen to this week's show as well as anything else you see that might interest you, including all the Better Off podcast content if you haven't been listening. Let us know what you think by emailing us at askjill@jillonmoney.com.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Oct 7 Download Hour One Here

What happens when you're in your 40s, not a millionaire, and already retired? Well, you start to wonder if you retired too early, and that's exactly the case with our first caller this week, Lisa, from Michigan.  A retired cop, Lisa didn't really start socking away money until she was in her 30s...but let me tell you, she must've been cranking the past few years, because she's actually in pretty good shape.  Will she ever have to work another day in her life? You'll have to tune in for the verdict!

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Oct 7 Download Hour Two Here

Hour two this week is an example of my geekiness.

I love math and statistics...but I am nothing compared to the brilliant Cathy O’Neil. I have been a fan girl of Cathy’s since discovering her blog, mathbabe.org and then hearing her on the Slate Money podcast. Cathy, whose New York Times bestselling book Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy is now out in paperback, is the ultimate math geek, but more importantly, she is one of the most thoughtful intellectuals that I have encountered.

Cathy’s resume is impressive: a Ph.D. in math from Harvard, a postdoc at the MIT math department, a professor at Barnard College, where she published a number of research papers in arithmetic algebraic geometry and then a short-lived stint on Wall Street, before she launched her consulting firm, ORCAA.

When I heard Cathy explain complicated topics and then read the hardcover edition of the book last year, I knew we had to have her on the show. It’s such a fascinating read about how big data can be manipulated, infiltrate various parts of our lives and magnify the underlying inequality that exists in our economy. From how teachers are measured to how policing strategies are developed to credit scores and health insurance...it’s going to blow your mind when you hear how algorithms (mathematical models), dictate so much of our day-to-day experiences.

But what happens when these models are opaque, unregulated and incontestable? Unfortunately, the already unlucky and struggling among us, get the short end of the stick. What can individuals do about these unproven mathematical equations? As you’ll hear Cathy explain, it starts by asking some basic questions.

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

So often on this podcast, and on my radio show, we field questions from recent grads with insane amounts of student loan debt. Sometimes it’s enough debt to wreck a life.

There’s enough blame to go around, but so often it’s a case of students feeling the pressure to go to fancy, high priced colleges to study what seems like an obscure major. But before you think that I am about to argue that every able-bodied student should be studying for a degree in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) field, read on...

Let me pose a question. What is wrong with a well-rounded liberal arts degree? A degree, which I might add, can be earned at countless reasonably priced colleges.

George Anders, our guest this week on Better Off makes a strong case in his recently released book, You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a "Useless" Liberal Arts Education.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist or know how to write computer code to succeed in today’s work environment.

When you really think about it, it’s amazing how many doors a so called “useless” liberal arts education can open.

As George says, you can be yourself, as an English major, and thrive in sales. You can segue from anthropology into the booming new field of user research; from classics into management consulting, and from philosophy into high-stakes investing. At any stage of your career, you can bring a humanist’s grace to the rapidly evolving high-tech future.

If you’ve got kids starting the college application process, who are resisting calls to declare a STEM major or if you’re thinking about furthering your education by going to grad school, listen to this episode before making any decisions.

“Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment.

Have a finance related question? Email us here or call 855-411-JILL.

We love feedback so please subscribe and leave us a rating or review in iTunes!

Connect with me at these places for all my content:

https://twitter.com/jillonmoney

https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney

https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/ 

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-... 

http://betteroffpodcast.com/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

"Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Yes, this is still here, and it will be for a while longer to serve as a reminder that there's a new place for Jill on Money content - YouTube!  Seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes it takes a little outside help (h/t to JOM friend, Joe A!) to recognize the obvious.  So don't freak out.  Going forward, we're going to put all our radio and podcast content on YouTube! It'll be easier for you to navigate and listen to past shows, because everything will be in one place.  Just click any of the links below and you'll be able to listen to this week's show as well as anything else you see that might interest you, including all the Better Off podcast content if you haven't been listening. Let us know what you think by emailing us at askjill@jillonmoney.com.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Sept 30 Download Hour One Here

I love when we get calls from young people who have their financial lives in order.  We started the show with James from Philadelphia who definitely falls into that category.  He and his wife are expecting their second child and they're also looking for a new house.  It's a lot of stuff happening at once and sometimes it can freak people out. James just needed some reassurance and guidance, which was easy to provide because he and his wife are doing a great job!

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Sept 30 Download Hour Two Here

One of the goals of this program is to make the daunting seem doable. And there is no more daunting topic than college. From saving for it, selecting the right one and the heavy lifting of paying for it (whether out of pocket or through financial aid and student loans), the whole subject produces anxiety for students and their families.

But it doesn’t have to be that way, according to our guest Kelly Peeler, founder and CEO of NextGenVest, a free text message service to help students navigate the college selection and financial aid and student loan processes.

It’s the busy time of year for Kelly and her team, as October 1 marks the official start of FAFSA season. And that one single form is KEY. Can you believe that more than $2.7 billion dollars, yes billion with a B, of unclaimed financial aid money is left on the table every single year primarily because people don’t fill out the FAFSA form. That blows my mind.

By using NextGenVest, students and their families are connected with Money Mentors who will help coach them through the process and also provide key financial aid deadline reminders, form annotations, and on-demand help via text message to get more financial aid in high school and beyond. Mentors will also answer questions such as:

• How do I find scholarships I can actually apply to?
• Am I filling out the right FAFSA forms?
• Am I allowed to negotiate my college tuition?
• Is working during college a good idea?
• Can I still get scholarships even if I don’t have great grades?

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

Kelly Peeler, the founder and CEO of NextGenVest is back on the show to discuss the NEW FAFSA availability date--October 1st! Considering that families leave $2.7 billion of unclaimed financial aid on the table, primarily because they don’t complete the FAFSA form, Kelly says it is important not to procrastinate! Her team at NextGenVest can help students make smart decisions around paying for college in an accessible way. One way they do so is to provide a "Money Mentor" (trained college students) for every high school or college student, who can make the process of applying for college and getting aid much easier…Just TEXT 646-798-1745 “I want help paying for college”

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

NextGenVest will send you the list of documents that you need to assemble and will help you come up with your specific list of financial reach and safety schools. Kelly also explains that Financial Aid and applications are two separate tracks and details what families need to know about the merit aid/grant/loan process. Here are various sources of college money:

• Family savings/income
• Federal Grants: do not have to be repaid (Pell Grant-awarded annually, so you have to complete FAFSA every year)
• State Aid: TAP – access for in state
• Fed/State/Direct/PLUS loans
• Institutional grant from a specific college
• Private scholarships
• HELOC/Private loan

After graduation, you can go to student.ed.gov to learn about repayment options for federal loans and you can also check out the private student loan refinancing market from companies like SOFI, Common Bond or Earnest.

Check out Kelly’s TED Talk!

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

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.

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

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 

• Tweet us: @jillonmoney and @MTalercio

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.

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

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 

• 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...  

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

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.

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

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!

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

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

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, charities are making their final year-end pitches to raise money. Charity Navigator, a non-profit organization that helps donors give intelligently, predicts that individual donors will give at least $100 billion to charities this holiday season. While the sentiment of giving is wonderful, it is important to be careful about how you give.

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

We fielded some interesting portfolio questions this week. Chris from CT is co-managing (with his brother) his mother's $5 million portfolio and wants to be smart about choosing an advisor to help him out.

Mike wanted to know whether converting his $600K IRA makes sense and Maryanne wanted to know whether it makes sense to pay down her mortgage with her savings. Are municipal bonds safe? That's the question on Greg's mind, while Gary is trying to figure out a safe withdrawal rate and Betty wants to know how to invest $100K.

Brian and Aaron both had debt consolidation issues, while Dan wants to know whether or not to roll over an old retirement plan.

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 me: @jillonmoney

Gobble, gobble! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are enjoying a relaxing weekend!

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

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 me: @jillonmoney

Dow 16,000, S&P 1800...are these new levels signs of more gains ahead or a giant bear trap? Luckily, our listeners know that round numbers are nice, but they have little to do with real financial matters.

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

Nolan started the show with a question we often field: is it better to contribute to retirement or pay down debt? The answer depends on a number of variables, including the interest on the debt. In this case, it's tough to make the case for paying down cheap student loans.

At age 57, Bill is wondering whether or not he still needs life insurance. I suggested that he consult one of my favorite financial calculators, from the folks at lifehappens.

Michael purchased a variable life insurance policy 15 years ago and wants to know what to do with it now.

Does Eunice need long term care? She is a 69 year-old widow in good health, but wants to preserve her nest egg for her kids and grandkids.

We fielded Social Security questions from Ralph, Mark and Blanche. As a reminder, the Social Security web site is a treasure trove of valuable information.

Finally, Bill wondered whether he should use cash to purchase rental property.

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 me: @jillonmoney

This was my first show back since my father (aka "Big Al" or "Albie") passed away. Dad loved the show-he thought it was so cool that you  shared your financial concerns and questions with me, and that I was able to help you out in any way that I could. If you missed the Father's Day show with Big Al, check it out here. And this is my syndicated Tribune column that I wrote for Father's Day.

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

We started the show with a great call from Jo in Atlanta, who wanted a solution to her rebalancing needs. Beth from NY recently lost her father and asked about how to invest proceeds of insurance for her mom.

Ed weighed in with a question about Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) and Karl is wondering whether or not to grab an early retirement offer from the USPS.

Two listeners are at opposite places: Patrick wants to know how to jump into the stock market and Andrew is worried about how to get 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 me: @jillonmoney

Sometimes circumstances may force kids back to the nest, but in other cases, it's a wonderful tradition that can help the younger generation save money early in their lives.

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

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 me: @jillonmoney

Just back from a quick trip to Brazil and happy to get right back into the groove with questions from the smartest fans around!

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

Kathy from MD started asked a question about re-titling an old stock certificate. We dealt with that quickly, before moving into the thornier topic of how to convince an aging parent to draft a will.

Cheryl from NC, Anne from PA and Barb from OR each asked a question about their respective advisors. If Cheryl’s case, she needs to go back to the advisor/broker to better understand the terms of the new asset management fund. Anne needs to tell her advisor that they want to maintain a separate account with stocks that he will not manage and that the risk of her managed account may need to be adjusted to compensate for that fact. For Barb, it’s time to dump her bank-based advisor and find a fee-only (use NAPFA.org) or a fee-based advisor.

Ron from IL checked in with a question about IRS Rule 72T, which allows access to 401(k) funds before age 59 ½, without the early withdrawal penalty.

Jack from CA and is busy trying to pay down $180K in student loans, while Carl is preparing to assume new debt for college and wants to know appropriate parameters that he should use before starting the process.

Kathryn wrote in to warn against a refinancing scam that is aimed at veterans (ugh!) If any listeners encounter these types of horrible hoaxes, please let me know so we can help spread the word!

We fielded a bunch of Social Security questions from Mark, Janis, Max, Ben, Christopher, Ray, Larry and Lowell. As a reminder, the procedure to calculate benefits involves three steps.

1. A worker’s previous earnings are restated in terms of today’s wages to reflect wage growth.

2. Earnings for the highest 35 years are averaged and divided by 12 to arrive at Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME).

3. The Social Security benefit formula is applied to AIME to produce the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), the benefit payable at the Full Retirement Age (FRA).

If you have less than 35 years of earnings, you may want to work enough additional years so you have a full 35 years of earnings. Otherwise, the Social Security Administration will average in zeros for any years less than 35.

The maximum SS benefit depends on the age you retire. If you retire at your full retirement age in 2013, your maximum benefit would be $2,533.  If you retire at age 62 in 2013, your maximum benefit would be $1,923. If you retire at age 70 in 2013, your maximum benefit would be $3,350.

Tony asked how many months out of the year are required for state residence and Alan from Buffalo needed help with debt pay down options.

Dave in St Paul, MN asked about a bond fund versus a stable value fund and whether to use retirement assets to build a house.

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

When you hear "pundits" shrieking that the markets are going to crash or that the sky's the limit, best to run the other way! These folks prey on our emotions and are usually most interested in selling their books/newsletters/trading schemes.

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

Frank from IL is collecting SS benefits and wants to understand the limitations on earning money while he is collecting. There are specific rules and limits, so make sure to double check here. The question allowed me to reveal an interesting SS strategy that you may want to consider.

David from TX is a father of 3 and wants to know which education savings vehicle makes the most sense for him and which is better: a Roth IRA or a 401 (k). Steve also wrote in about a traditional vs. Roth.

Dave from AK just had a baby 9 months ago and has concerns about identity theft, which was a good way to jump into a general run down of how we all need to be more vigilant about protecting our identities.

Craig has gotten into some tough financial times and wants to know how to kick-start a plan of action.

Billy in Louisville is in his mid 40’s and he and his wife work for small businesses, neither of which offer benefits. He and his wife will be inheriting 200K and he wants to know what to do with this lump sum. After paying down debt and setting aside an emergency reserve fund, we discussed about how to start investing, slowly…

Candace in NY is wondering whether or not to use $40K to pay down a mortgage or use it to build another bathroom. I vote for the bathroom, HANDS DOWN!

Wanda from KY is looking into an insurance policy that includes a long-term care benefit. She is not sold on the product and is wondering whether she is a candidate for LTCi. Later in the program, I talked about purchasing LTCi through an employer.

Raymond asked about market prognosticators and whether he should listen to their advice. Here’s something to remember when you hear about those who predict the tops and bottoms of various markets. These folks prey on our emotions and should be avoided at all costs!

Michael is retired with Social Security and a pension. His wife will be retiring later this year and has a number of pension options from which to choose.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world and Christina the intern, who finally returned from 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

The dog days of August? Not for “Jill on Money” listeners!

• Download the podcast on iTunes
• Download the podcast on feedburner
• Download this week's show (MP3)

Mark from KY asked about rolling over his wife’s old 401 (k), which has skyrocketed to $560K over the past 10 years. They don’t want to blow this nest egg and probably need the guidance of a fee-only advisor from NAPFA.org. We also got into a great conversation about what lump sum is necessary to generate sufficient retirement income.

Paul from NY has $60K in student loans outstanding, at a low interest rate of 2 percent. With a 3-week old son, should they aggressively pay down debt or start to save for other priorities?

Sheila from KY called to ask about the potential changes to retirement rules, especially in light of debt and deficit talk heating up again (get ready for a new debt ceiling battle in September!) David from MO is still working and weighing whether to take Social Security now, versus waiting until his age 70 ½, when he could maximize his benefit. This lead to a lengthier conversation about how the Social Security system could change in the future.

Jeff in MO is 27 and e-mailed about what he should do, now that he has finally gotten out of debt, while an anonymous e-mailer asked about a hybrid, indexed annuity. As many long-time listeners know, I am not a huge plan about these complicated products. Richard from KY is also getting back on his feet, and is now juggling retirement and college savings – which should come first?

We got a bunch of great retirement questions: Jim has $250K in his 401 (k) and his wife has $150K in her retirement plan. They are concerned about the impact of the changing bond market. Bob has $1 million portfolio and wants to know what changes he should be making to his portfolio, 4 years prior to retirement.

Kevin from TX has 10 properties, all of which are cash flow positive and some of which are paid off. He is trying to determine how the properties can be used to fund his retirement needs.

Scott from Boston asked about whether his employer could shift his bonus into a retirement plan contributions.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world and Christina the intern, who finally returned from 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