What a treat to have retirement plan expert Ed Slott CPA join the show to help make smart year-end financial decisions! Ed is a nationally recognized IRA expert, television personality and best-selling author who has dedicated his life to educating Americans on saving for retirement and the intricacies of IRAs.

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

Among his many pearls of wisdom, delivered with his awesome Long island accent, Ed reminded us to do the following before the clock strikes midnight on December 31, 2014:

• Make your 2014 Roth IRA conversion
• Be aware of new IRA rollover rules
• Max out your retirement accounts
• Take Required Minimum Distributions
• Check / Update Beneficiary Forms
• Be aware of stealth taxes
• Consider donating your IRA distributions to charity
• Use Your Gifting Limits

In the first hour of the show, we had a terrific call from Mike in Texas, Sharon in CT and Mike in Maryland, all of whom needed guidance on financial advisors.

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 the recent Veterans' Day holiday, guest Ann Marsh, Senior Editor and West Coast Bureau Chief of Financial Planning Magazine joined the show. In a must-read article, Ann highlighted how financial problems are weighing on our servicemen and servicewomen, and in some cases, contributing to suicide.

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

If you want to help, contact your favorite lawmaker and encourage him/her to support the Holt Amendment, which designates $1 million to study the links between financial stress, financial abuse, and military suicide and to generate recommendations to address these issues.

The two organizations that Ann mentioned are: www.giveanhour.org, which is in the process of considering launching a financial planning arm of its services and www.psycharmor.org, which is putting together a new network of private sector professionals to help soldiers and vets, including financial planners.

Your calls and e-mails are always great-this week was no exception. Kurt from Alaska is considering selling his home, just one year after buying it; Cheryl needs help allocating her investment accounts; Michael wants to know about buying real estate inside his IRA and a Petty Officer was wondering about the impact of rising mortgage interest rates on his VA loan.

When a complicated estate planning question arises, like one from Keith, I recommend consulting an attorney. I know it costs money, but these are thorny issues that require an expert. Edward is weighing a lump sum pension pay out versus an annuity and Philip wanted to know whether he should invest in an insurance policy on his mother.

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

Guest Paul Auslander the Director of Financial Planning at ProVise Management Group, LLC and the former FPA President and Chairman of the Board, joins the show to discuss why it is so important to hire a FIDUCIARY advisor--one who puts YOUR interests first!

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

Paul and I discussed the startling report from the The Financial Planning Coalition, which highlighted the fact that some financial service providers “are contributing to the confusion in the marketplace by identifying themselves as financial planners but not providing financial planning services.” If you want to read more about the report, check out my post "Investors are 'Confused and Harmed'".

We love guests, but we also love your calls. Melanie is a second-time caller, seeking additional advice on how to invest her husband's retirement money. E-mailer Lupe needed help getting started with investing, while Keith is trying to juggle the income tax impact of his 10 rental properties.

Thanks to Ben and Paul who weighed in on collecting Social Security on a former spouse and to Caroline, Beverly and Gail, who wrote in about my recent article "Estate Planning Checklists".

Jan and Debbie wrote in about their retirement accounts and Rich wanted to know about 2015 limits for Roth IRAs.

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

Ah, the change of the clocks, the never-ending temptation of Halloween candy and the mind numbing exercise of choosing new benefits! It's that time of year -- open enrollment -- and we have special guest Paul Essner of The Signature Group to help wade through the choices.

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

Paul raised an important issue, but luckily it's one that you can address. As the cost of insurance rises, many are not taking into account their specific health care situations and as a result, they are not choosing the most affordable health care option.

The solution is easy: you need to understand how you are using health care and project what the year ahead will look like to determine the best plan for you. (Hint: Some may be better off using high deductible plans, paired with Health Savings Accounts!) Paul also addressed some of the nuances of the Affordable Care Act and its impact on employers, as well as how some companies are rolling out new benefits that could be advantageous.

Karen is 61 years old and plans to retire next year. Her big question is whether she will be able to supplement her pension and Social Security, to the tune of about $20K per year. The answer is yes, with a caveat…

We helped Sally figure out whether or not to take an employer buyout and discussed how Barbara and her husband should pay for long-term care.

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

Nationally recognized expert on credit reporting, credit scoring and identity theft John Ulzheimer joins us for a pre-holiday season credit boot camp! John is the President of The Ulzheimer Group, the Credit Expert at CreditSesame.com and the credit blogger for Mint.com. Formerly of FICO, Equifax and Credit.com, John is the only recognized credit expert who actually comes from the credit industry.

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

John scared the you-know what out of us, as he discussed identity theft. Did you know that Phishing is out, but SPEAR-PHISHING is in? Bottom line: it's going to happen to you, so you better be smart about how you handle your information.

As we head into the holiday season, John offered tips about debit versus credit cards and rounds out our conversation with credit score basics. As a reminder, here's what determines your score:

• Payment History: 35%
• Total debt outstanding: 30%
• Credit History: 15%
• Inquiries (Hard): 10%
• Credit Mix: 10%

Here are links to John’s blogs:

• Mint.com
• CreditSesame.com
• CreditCardInsider.com

We had a great call from Mary in KY, who is contemplating retirement at the end of this year. Take a listen to hear how you might start thinking about your own retirement!

Thanks to Rita and Julie, who sent us lovely thank you notes and to Tucker, who gave us the opportunity to discuss having "THE TALK" with your aging parents. As a reminder, here is my updated post on "Estate Planning Checklists".

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

After a volatile period in the markets, it's time to focus on things you CAN control, like the expenses you pay for investment management. MarketRiders.com and ReBalance-IRA.com founder Mitch Tuchman joins us to explain why now is a great time to seek affordable investment advice.

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

Mitch says that fees are eating away at your bottom line, which is why he launched MarketRiders.com for do it yourselfers and Rebalance-IRA.com for those who want to outsource their management. And here's a stunning a fact: a recent ReBalance-IRA study found that half of the people surveyed think that they are paying ZERO in fees. If you are seeking investment advice, here are 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Advisor.

Marcia from Maryland asked about collecting Social Security benefits from an ex-spouse, David from Texas wants to know whether he should he use extra cash flow to fund a Roth and separately, what's the best college funding vehicle? Jo from Louisville wants to know whether investment advisory fees are worth it and Sharon wrote in about my recent segment on CBS This Morning about “Women and Money”.

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 parents' weekend at many colleges all over the country, a perfect time for career expert, Sheila Curran of The Curran Consulting Group (CCG) to join us for a guest appearance. Sheila has spent a chunk of her career running college career service centers and is now a consultant who helps would-be job seekers of all ages to understand how to better position themselves to land a plum gig.

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

What should young scholars be doing to prepare for the new cut-throat career world, where there is little loyalty and only a few formal training programs? Sheila says it is no longer about classroom learning-students should be interning as a means to try out different career tracks. She also advises that young interviewees do their homework before the interview. For mid-career professionals, who seek change, she advises to self-examination and to think like an employer!

Calls this week from Scott from Boston, Carol from RI, Debbie and Warren were heavily tilted towards retirement, while Mark from KY wanted to know what a self-described stock-market-a-phobe should do with an account that has ballooned in value?

Chris from MD asked how he might be able to determine whether his advisor is acting in your best interest? This allowed me to talk about the F-Word: FIDUCIARY! Check out: PlannerSearch.Org

No-Name, a recently retired with $185K in cash is seeking a “fairly safe” investment…ah, the age old question of risk vs. reward! And Chris from Melville, NY wrote in recommending that I discuss bond/CD ladders and Janice asked what would happen if a big custodian were to fail?

Here's last week's segment from CBS This Morning, where I discussed how to navigate benefits enrollment.

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

What better way to celebrate Financial Planning Week than to have special guest Kevin Keller, the CEO of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards join the show! Kevin discussed why working with a CFP professional is so important and noted that while there are over 200 financial designations out there, very few are as rigorous as the gold standard CFP -- only 18 percent of current financial advice-givers have passed the test and completed the necessary requirements -- and the CFP Board is one of the few bodies that actually enforces its standards.

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

The CFP Board recently conducted a survey to determine how parents are coping with college education. Two-thirds haven’t saved anything – maybe that’s because one-third of respondents are still repaying their own student loans! In the category of magical thinking, 13 percent think their kids will nab athletic scholarships!

In addition to Kevin’s great guest spot, your questions were awesome this week. Wayne from KY has done a great job of saving for retirement, but now has to be careful that long-term care doesn’t undo all of his great work! Here’s more on LTC: Is 90 the new 70?

Because Aaron: asked about it, here’s a Life Insurance Primer and for Dale, here the post “Drowning in Documents: What to Shred, What to Keep”.

Finally, thanks to Julie from Edina, MN, who wrote eloquently about her struggles to survive the recession and her ability to maintain her savings and dignity in the process!

Here's last week's segment from CBS This Morning, where I discussed how to beat rising bank fees.

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

If you don't consider cash an asset class, you should! Our guest Gary Zimmerman of MaxMyInterest.com explains his cool new service is like "Uber for cash" and how it can help you boost your returns with NO RISK!  .

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

Kevin has 10 houses, six of which are cash flow positive rentals and wants our take on his retirement plan; Nora asked about claiming an ex-spouse's Social Security benefit; and Sharon asked when annuities are advisable.

Here's last week's segment from CBS This Morning, where I discussed "Financial Tips for Women"...yes, men can also feel free to incorporate them into their lives!

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

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

  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.

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

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

We're just at the end of "National My Social Security Week," a perfect time to field your Social Security questions. Considering that a total of 59 million Americans will receive some form of Social Security benefits in 2014, with payouts estimated at $863 billion, it’s amazing how confusing the system can be!

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

Every American who has accumulated 40 Social Security credits, which usually amounts to 10 years of work; and earns a certain amount of money, will qualify for Social Security retirement benefits. You can choose to receive benefits as early as age 62, though doing so will amount to a permanent reduction in monthly income. As a result, more people wait until their Full Retirement Age (FRA) before claiming. Workers who wait until age 70 will receive the highest benefit.

Here is more information about Social Security:

• Social Security: Broken, But Not Broke
• Social Security Q&A
• Social Security Administration Web site
• AARP
• T.Rowe Price

We also discussed "Beautiful" investment portfolios, which loosely defined means: easy, cheap and effective. For Jill in Florida, here are a few ideas:

BEAUTIFUL INDEX FUND PORTFOLIO

• 40% Bond Fund (Vanguard's Intermediate Term Bond Index fund (VFICX), Vanguard Short-Term Investment Grade fund (VFSTX), Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX),Schwab Total Bond Market (SWLBX),Fidelity U.S. Bond Index (FBIDX)
• 50% Total Stock Market Index Fund (Fidelity Spartan Total Market Index, Schwab 1000 Index Fund Investor or Vanguard Total Stock Market Index)
• 10% Int’l Stock Fund (Fidelity Spartan Int’l Index (FSIIX), Vanguard Total Int’l Stock Index (VGTSX)

BEAUTIFUL ETF PORTFOLIO

• 50% Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
• 20% Vanguard FTSE All-World Ex-U.S. ETF (VEU)
• 30% Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)

BEAUTIFUL ETF PORTFOLIO (>$500K)

• 10% Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
• 10% Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB)
• 15% Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG)
• 15% Vanguard FTSE All-World Ex-U.S. ETF (VEU)
• 5% Vanguard Emerging Mkts ETF (VWO)
• 30% Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)
• 5% SPDR DB International Government Inflation Protected Bond ETF (WIP)
• 5% Wisdom Tree Dreyfus Commodity Currency (CCX)
• 5% Gold (IAU OR GLD)

All of the sudden, Mark and I have become the arbiters of how much to spend on an engagement ring, which is funny, since neither of us has ever purchased one!

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!

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

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!

• 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

"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!

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

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!

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

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.

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

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

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

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