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

Regardless of whether you are rooting for Germany or Argentina, we have a world class show this weekend, featuring special guest Mitch Tuchman, founder of MarketRiders.com and Rebalance-IRA.com. Mitch foundedthese companies to help retail investors gain access to the same tools and philosophies that sophisticated investors have been using for decades

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As Mitch likes to say about financial services, "There's probably not an industry that is so overpaid for providing so little!" To learn more about creative companies like those Mitch has created, check out my article "Advice for Small Investors".

Lenny has rotten investment options inside of his 403 (b) Suzy wrote in about whether or not to rollover her old retirement account. (For more on whether or not to rollover old retirement plans, see "Rock and Rollover".)

Mark wanted to make sure that his intermediate financial goals seemed appropriate;  Steve is wondering whether he and his wife have accumulated enough money to fund retirement; LeRoy wants to invest a $1 million inheritance to minimize risk and maximize return; and Jack asked, "Why would anyone buy bonds?" What followed was a quick "Bonds 101".

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

The Summer Solstice occurs on Saturday June 21st at 6:51am EDT. The start of summer often means that people disconnect from their money issues -- not so fast! We have a great guest who discusses the current mortgage market and also field lots of great retirement questions.

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Michael Raimi, VP of PMAC Lending, has been in the mortgage business for a long time, so when he says that there are some positive developments in the market, we should listen! There's good news for jumbo borrowers, but Mike cautions that anyone starting the mortgage process will need to do three things: (1) check your credit to make sure that there are no errors on your record (2) Understand the real cost of owning, including property taxes and homeowners' insurance (3) Bring your patience and perseverance to the process!

Retirement planning was on the minds of Lenny and Pat, both of whom are wising considering how they will manage their assets after retirement. Joe is wondering whether he can tap some of his retirement funds to purchase a beach condo.

Jesse has extra money to invest and wants to know where to direct it; Robert is seeking higher returns for his emergency reserve funds; and Rick wondered about a charge in his retirement account.

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

As California Chrome attempts racing's ultimate trifecta at Belmont this weekend, the triple crown of your financial life is easier to achieve: (1) Pay down consumer debt (2) Establish emergency reserve fund (3) Maximize retirement contributions.

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In honor of the Belmont Stakes, Queens-born financial whiz Michael Goodman, President of Wealthstream Advisors was our guest. Michael provided great advice on how to approach the client-advisor relationship; ways to kick-start your financial life for the second half of the year; and discussed the difference between passive and active investing.

Listener questions included a great discussion about long term care with Kathy; buying versus renting (and reverse mortgages) with Sandy; and education saving for Rick and Aaron.

Marie wondered about contesting a will, while Eileen wants to start Roth IRAs for her favorite 18 year-olds and Carol followed up with more details so we could advise her about investing the proceeds of her house sale.

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 aging parents ask you about estate planning or transferring a house into your name from their names, you should seek the advice of a good estate attorney before making any decisions.

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Mary Ellen and JP both had questions about the pros and cons of creating life estates. This can be an excellent way for your parents to remain in their homes; protecting them from nursing home liens; avoiding probate; and retaining the ability to receive a step-up in cost basis upon death.  Of course, there are downsides too...

Along those lines, Dawn asked about creating a trust for her assets to protect them against being devoured in the event that she requires costly long-term healthcare.

We helped Linda determine whether $1.4 million is enough to retire at age 55 and discussed how Carol might handle a $300,000 inheritance.

If you hold a lot of your company stock in your 401 (k), pay attention to my conversation with Dan--you'll learn an easy way to extract company stock in a tax advantaged way!

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

So many of you ask how to navigate the head-scratching journey of selecting a financial professional. As caller Lou said, "I don't want buzz words, I want someone who will take care of me!" In addition to Lou, James and Theresa also asked about selecting financial pros.

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Of course you have to interview a number of advisors before you settle on the one that is right for you. To help with those meetings, print out my "10 Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor".

For those who have smaller accounts or want to invest on their own, there are a number of web-based alternatives, which guide you through a risk assessment process, recommend a portfolio and then either provide you with a nudge to rebalance (for do it yourselfers) or an automatic rebalancing tool that the company will employ on your behalf. Check out "Advice for Small Investors" for more information.

Rick and Doumo asked about home purchases, while Mike and his wife wanted a reality check on their retirement plans --everything seemed A-OK!

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 honor of Mother's Day, I have to thank my tireless mother, who showed up at every soccer and basketball game, not to mention put up with all of my shenanigans throughout the years...Mom, you are the best and I love you!

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The Mother's Day show was filled with great questions, starting with Bob, who is faced with an interesting choice about his pension: should he take a larger annual amount based on his life only or a reduced amount that would pay for his and his wife's lifetimes.

Cliff is close to retirement and is considering a moving money out of CDs. The only problem is that he does not like the idea of risk. Casey has a similar problem, but in his situation, it might be advisable to contact a fee only advisor to walk him through the investment process. JD, who seems to be in great shape, should also consult an advisor to help with decisions about when to take Social Security and how to invest $1.5 million to generate adequate income during retirement.

Warren is ready to invest income from a rental property -- luckily, the best vehicle was right under his nose!

Joan wants to know the best way to finance a house, while an anonymous e-mailer inquired about borrowing against an estate to finance a house.

Bobby the accounting student asked about life insurance as an investment vehicle (boo-hiss!) while Sally asked about long term care insurance.

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

One of the perennial questions that we field (this week from June and Jane) is how to select a financial advisor. The answer depends on each person's specific situation, but when in doubt, check out "How to Choose a Financial Advisor: 10 Questions to Ask".

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Mike and Robert want to know whether they are ready for retirement, while David and Myrna are seeking allocation advice. As a reminder, it's tough to provide allocations without knowing a lot about your personal circumstances, so if you are going to send us an e-mail, provide plenty of details.

Sheena is looking for alternative retirement vehicles to her Roth IRA; Pat  and Beverly asked about Social Security; and Ruth is concerned about the five-year look back associated with gifting.

We did a quick review of how to repair credit scores for Sharon and provided Tameka with steps to help  prioritize her financial life.

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

Nearly five years after the end of the Great Recession, it's time to apply some of the lessons from the bad times to our lives. One of the most important facts we learned is that every job is at risk. How can you protect against this horrible truth? According to our guest Kimberly Palmer, the answer is within YOU.

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Kimberly is a blogger, writer and author of "The Economy of You: Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur and Recession-Proof Your Life" and she has some great ideas about how you can augment your income while doing something you actually enjoy!

That extra income might come in handy during retirement, which is something Helen could use. Meanwhile, Sally wants everyone to know that it IS POSSIBLE to save for retirement, even after a late start. Jeff has a question about SSDI, while David wants to know how to invest his $1,100,000 retirement nest egg.

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

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

Is your team out of the Final Four? Don't fret - we have a great show, where we dreamed about winning lotteries and planning retirement.

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Although Patricia is 15 years from retirement, she is planning ahead. We help her consider factors about a home purchase. Also planning ahead is Kathlyn, who wants to make sure she knows what to do if she were to win the lottery!

Pete and Kristen were talking about education funding, while Sandy and Jon are just starting their retirement savings process.

We dug into retirement numbers with Joe and helped Louise determine whether she needs long term care or disability insurance...or both!

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

• Follow Mark on Twitter: @MTalercio

Spring is in the air...which means that the tax filing deadline is around the corner. In addition to fielding lots of retirement and ed funding questions, we discuss audit red flags.

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The college acceptance letters are rolling in...now the hard part: paying for that coveted degree. Roy, Tom and Matthew all have questions about footing the bill for education.

Dick, Brian and Jay are trying to ascertain whether they are on sound enough financial ground for retirement; while Rob and Bola are just starting their retirement planning and need advice on the best vehicles to use.

Chris is seeking guidance on his old 401 (k) plan and Liz wants to know which retirement funds to tap for home improvement.

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

In a sure sign of spring, bracketology is gripping the nation. In between basketball games, we're talking about retirement plans, investment allocation and marrying credit scores.

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Debi and her husband are retiring from the government in a couple of years and need some help with current allocation of their funds. On the other end of the spectrum, Meg and Justin are both starting out and need help with a target contribution level for their retirement accounts, while Tony has a question about his company's match.

Susan and Richard are weighing paying down their mortgages versus saving; Anna and Toni are trying to address retirement cash flow constraints; John and Bob have investment questions; and Christina and Marlene have credit questions on behalf of their relatives.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Let me know if you think we should provide Mark with a little space to vent his various grievances with you...we're considering calling it "Mark's Musings". 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

Our guest MP Dunleavey recently wrote a great article in the New York Times called “Mars, Venus and the Handling of Money,” which discussed the way that men and women relate to money.

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While it’s not exactly breaking news that the sexes tend to address money issues from different perspectives, what is new is that the financial service industry is waking up and trying to address the plain fact that men and women have distinctive financial needs. MP tells us what we need to know and helps bridge the gap between how men and women can best use tap the services offered by the big companies.

Man, woman...we love all of our callers! Doris is looking for a place to invest her $100,000 inheritance -- should she use an immediate annuity? Susan is not happy with the performance of her investment advisor and wonders whether she should move her relationship elsewhere and Tim is about to start his own business…what does he need to know? (Answer: A LOT!)

A shout-out  to Ben, who passed along a suggestion for a great website www.splitwise.com that helps roommates who are trying to allocate expenses.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Mark, the BEST producer in the world. Let me know if you think we should provide Mark with a little space to vent his various grievances with you...we're considering calling it "Mark's Musings". 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