Just like last week, no guest in hour two this week. A few segments of calls and a few segments of answering emails. The old school approach continues for at least another week :) Reminds me of when we started this little adventure back in 2011!

First up is Jason from DC who’s wondering if he can afford to make a career change, as well as mix in a bit of international travel, all during a pandemic.

Then we chatted with Tony from Buffalo who had a few mortgage/real estate related questions as he and his wife plan out their future dream home.

Nothing like helping settle a friendly, sisterly debate about who’s right when it comes to using a Roth IRA. One sister says yes, Roth all the way! The other says not so fast, I think pre-tax is the way to go. Is there a winner?

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

This week it’s a throw back of sorts, back to when we used to take a bunch of callers every week. So no guest this week, instead we’re giving you a few calls and a slew of emails.

The first call was from Anthony in Arkansas who’s wondering if he’s actually saving too much for retirement. Is there such a thing?

Next was Kelly in North Carolina, also with a retirement question. Only in his 20s, Kelly is looking to do everything he can now to ensure that he has plenty of options down the road.

We started hour two with Joan who was wondering if there’s a best way to handle RMDs. Turns out we also learned that Joan is using way too many funds in her retirement accounts.

As I always like to say, when it comes to investing, less is usually more.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Happy MLK Day weekend! I hope most of you are off on Monday and can enjoy the holiday, and can also stay up late on Sunday watching some NFL playoff action!

This week we have a fresh batch of emails as well as the latest infuriating call from somebody being pitched an insurance product.

It's a new year which usually means a lot of resolutions as people try to shake things up in their lives, whether it's a diet or a new career.

In hour two we have somebody who embodies fitness as well as an interesting career path.

Her name is Christine D'Ercole, and if you're a Peloton fanatic like me, then you're certainly familiar with her.

As a Senior Instructor at Peloton, her classes are grounded in the science of cycling and the power of words. Her unique style of mindful motivation inspires members of the Peloton community, reaching thousands of devoted riders every day.

And when she's not on the bike, Christine is a public speaker whose work is rooted in self-talk. Her WORDSHOPS© are workshops for editing our self-talk into the story we want our lives to tell. Her catalog of wordshops span topics from body image to addiction and loss to corporate cultural growth and team building.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Back in the saddle as we have our first new show of 2021, and it comes on the 10th anniversary of the Jill on Money radio show.

It was January of 2011 when Mark and I began this little passion project, doing it when we could squeeze in the extra time.

I think when we started Mark was working overnights at CBS News, now he pretty much makes his own schedule and plays Mr. Daddy, my how things have changed!

On to the show with a fresh batch of questions and a caller in hour one.

In hour two we’re joined by Brent Weiss, co-founder and Head of Planning at Facet Wealth, a new Jill on Money sponsor for 2021.

Facet Wealth is a financial service firm that believes in achieving your financial goals with a dedicated CFP® at an affordable price.

How many times have we all said “I can’t wait to retire?” But for many of us, when we really think about taking that next big step, all of a sudden we’ve got real legitimate questions, like how do I know when I’m ready? Or how will I pay for health coverage and when should I take Social Security?

The folks at Facet Wealth strive to provide the answers.

Whether it’s retirement planning, education planning, asset management, insurance or estate planning, Facet wants to show you what is possible with the next generation of financial life management.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

One more week off for us as we kick this dumpster fire of a year to the curb and ring in the new year! We’ve got a tough stretch ahead of us, but hopefully things start looking better on the “back nine” of 2021.

First up this week is the one and only Scott Galloway.

The COVID-19 outbreak has turned bedrooms into offices, pitted young against old, and widened the gaps between rich and poor, red and blue, the mask wearers and the mask haters. 

Some businesses, like home exercise company Peloton, video conference software maker Zoom, and Amazon, woke up to find themselves crushed under an avalanche of consumer demand. 

Others, like the restaurant, travel, hospitality, and live entertainment industries, scrambled to escape obliteration.

But as Galloway argues, the pandemic has not been a change agent so much as an accelerant of trends already well underway. In his latest book, Post Corona, he outlines the contours of the crisis and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Hour two is another business school professor.

How do you find a competitive edge when the obstacles feel insurmountable? How do you get people to take you seriously when they're predisposed not to, and perhaps have already written you off?

Laura Huang has come up against that problem many times, and so has anyone who's ever felt out of place or underestimated. 

Many of us sit back quietly, hoping that our hard work and effort will speak for itself. Or we try to force ourselves into the mold of who we think is "successful," stifling the creativity and charm that makes us unique and memorable.

In her recent book, Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage, Huang offers a different approach. 

She argues that success is rarely just about the quality of our ideas, credentials, and skills, or our effort. Instead, achieving success hinges on how well we shape others' perceptions, of our strengths, certainly, but also our flaws. 

It's about creating our own edge by confronting the factors that seem like shortcomings and turning them into assets that make others take notice.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Merry, merry, merry, whatever it is you’re celebrating this weekend!

We’re taking a couple weeks off so we can recharge after basically going non-stop since March, so no questions this weekend, just a few interviews.

What do you do when you're faced with a big decision? If you're like most people, you probably make a pro and con list, spend a lot of time obsessing about decisions that didn't work out, get caught in analysis paralysis, endlessly seek other people's opinions to find just that little bit of extra information that might make you sure, and finally go with your gut.

What if there was a better way to make quality decisions so you can think clearly, feel more confident, second-guess yourself less, and ultimately be more decisive and be more productive?

That's the gist of our recent conversation with Annie Duke, author of How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices.

In hour two we’ve got a couple in-studio interviews we conducted just days before the pandemic hit.

In Don’t Be Evil, Financial Times global business columnist Rana Foroohar tells the story of how Big Tech lost its soul, and ate our lunch.

“Don’t be evil” was enshrined as Google’s original corporate mantra back in its early days, when the company’s cheerful logo still conveyed the utopian vision for a future in which technology would inevitably make the world better, safer, and more prosperous.

Unfortunately, it’s been quite a while since Google, or the majority of the Big Tech companies, lived up to this founding philosophy. 

Next up is Robin Dreeke.

After two decades as a behavior analyst in the FBI, Dreeke knows a thing or two about sizing people up. He's navigated complex situations that range from handling Russian spies to navigating the internal politics at the Bureau. 

Through that experience, he was forced to develop a knack for reading people, their intentions, their capabilities, their desires and their fears.

In Sizing People Up, Dreeke shares his simple, six-step system that helps you predict anyone's future behavior based on their words, goals, patterns of action, and the situation at hand.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Here we are, the second to last weekend of 2020. Thank goodness!

After this week, the next couple shows will consist of some interviews as we try to take a brief break and recharge for 2021.

But we’ve got one more show where it’s the usual emails and caller in hour one, so let’s get started.

What would a wacky financial year be without some year-end money moves?!

Due to COVID-19, 2020 saw a lot of changes that will only apply to the current tax year, so there's a lot to unpack.

For such an occasion there's no better person than Michael Goodman from Wealthstream Advisors. And in the interest of full disclosure, not only is Michael a good friend of mine, he's also my advisor.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Just a couple weeks to go before the big day, so I hope you’ve got all your shopping done!

Our to-do list this weekend consists of answering your emails and talking to one of you guys.

Next weekend on the show we’ll have some last minute year-end money tips, so make sure to check it out.

Another pre-pandemic interview for you this weekend, and I think we’ve still got a few more that never aired, so expect to hear those in the coming weeks.

While most self-help books offer quick fixes, Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo will retrain your brain to think more creatively and positively in the face of setbacks. 

If you're having trouble solving a problem or reaching a dream, the problem isn't you. It's that you haven't yet installed the one belief that changes everything.

Marie's mom once told her, "Nothing in life is that complicated. You can do whatever you set your mind to if you roll up your sleeves. Everything is figureoutable."

It's more than just a fun phrase to say. It's a philosophy of relentless optimism. A mindset. A mantra. A conviction.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Here we are in December, hard to believe, right? I for one will be very glad to push this year to the curb and welcome in 2021. It can only go up from here!

In the next couple weeks, in both hours, we’re going to start running some interviews we did pre-pandemic that never aired because things went wacky in a hurry.

For this week it’s business as usual. Plenty of emails, a caller, and a guest.

How do we win a game that has no end? 

Finite games, like football or chess, have known players, fixed rules and a clear endpoint. The winners and losers are easily identified. Infinite games, games with no finish line, like business or politics, or life itself, have players who come and go. 

The rules of an infinite game are changeable while infinite games have no defined endpoint. There are no winners or losers, only ahead and behind.

The question is, how do we play to succeed in the game we’re in?

Our latest guest, Simon Sinek, author of The Infinite Game, offers a framework for leading with an infinite mindset. (this is one of those pre-pandemic interviews I mentioned above)

On one hand, none of us can resist the fleeting thrills of a promotion earned or a tournament won, yet these rewards fade quickly. 

In pursuit of a Just Cause, we will commit to a vision of a future world so appealing that we will build it week after week, month after month, year after year. 

Although we do not know the exact form this world will take, working toward it gives our work and our life meaning.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Happy Thanksgiving! I know it’s a weird one this year, but I hope everybody is getting to enjoy it in some way, shape, or form.

Holiday or no holiday, the Jill on Money show carries on, so let’s get started with your emails and a caller who has every reason to be incredibly thankful this holiday weekend.

It’s a family affair in hour two as we bring you two separate interviews from the Schwab family.

First up is Charles Schwab, yes, that Charles Schwab, the founder of The Charles Schwab Corporation.

He joined us in-studio (pre-pandemic) to talk about his personal memoir, Invested: Changing Forever the Way Americans Invest, in which he describes his passion to have Main Street participate in the growing economy as investors and owners, not only earners.

Schwab opens up about the challenges he faced while starting his fledgling company in the 1970s and recounts the company’s game-changing sale to Bank of America, and how, in the end, the merger almost doomed his organization.

We finish up the hour with Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, who joined us to discuss a recent retirement survey conducted by Schwab.

The online survey was conducted among 2,000 Americans aged 55 to 75 with at least $100,000 in investable assets. 

Among the findings:

• More than 80% of those who have retired and those soon-to-retire believe their lifestyle in retirement will be everything that they envision

• Aspiring retirees expect to retire six years later (at age 66) than accomplished retirees did

• 19% of survey respondents say they or their spouse were financially impacted by COVID-19

• 52% of respondents say they’re more focused on developing a retirement plan due to COVID-19

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

The last weekend before Thanksgiving, and to be honest, it doesn’t really feel like the holiday season, at least not to me. Nothing about this year has felt normal.

One thing that has remained the same, is taking questions and calls from you guys, so here we go!

Warby Parker was founded with a rebellious spirit and a lofty objective: to offer designer eyewear at a revolutionary price, while leading the way for socially conscious businesses.

Earlier in the year, pre-pandemic, we were lucky enough to have two of the founders, Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa, with us in-studio.

By circumventing traditional channels, designing glasses in-house, and engaging with customers directly, Warby Parker is able to provide higher-quality, better-looking prescription eyewear at a fraction of the going price.

The team believes that buying glasses should be easy and fun. It should leave you happy and good-looking, with money in your pocket.

They also believe that everyone has the right to see.

Almost one billion people worldwide lack access to glasses, which means that 15% of the world’s population cannot effectively learn or work. 

To help address this problem, Warby Parker partners with nonprofits like VisionSpring to ensure that for every pair of glasses sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Well, the election is over, but it’s not, but it really is. Got it? That’s about all I’m going to say on the subject. That said, for a variety or reasons, it was a pretty wild week on Wall Street.

For the average investor out there, as I like to say, keep calm and carry on! We talk about it a little bit as we start the show and then it’s on to your emails and calls.

One of the booming industries during the pandemic has been estate planning.

Michael Jackson, Prince, Aretha Franklin, these three amazing and wildly successful musicians did not have a will. How could that be, you ask? Don’t they have agents, lawyers and accountants? Didn’t they know at some point they were going to die? “That’s irresponsible,” you say, but welcome to the real world, where even famous people can’t seem to get their acts together to address this difficult topic head on.

Only 42 percent of U.S. adults currently have estate planning documents, including a will. Shockingly, for those with children under the age of 18, the figure is even lower, with just 36 percent having an end-of-life plan in place. Of those who have not done any estate planning, 47 percent said, “I just haven’t gotten around to it.”

I get it, contemplating one’s death is not exactly high on anybody’s to-do list, but it is important that you overcome the anxieties associated with this emotional topic and take control.

So that’s why today we’re doing an estate planning bootcamp with Russell Fishkind, an attorney with Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Apologies for the delay in getting the show posted. We've been waiting to see if there were any major developments in the election, and as of this writing, there's still no winner, although it's pretty clear how it's going to turn out.

That said, let's get to the show where hour one is the usual emails and a call.

Hour two is all about not letting anyone crush your dreams!

Undaunted will inspire you to move past your fears and defy the doubters. It doesn’t matter whether you feel confident; it matters what you actually do.

Author Kara Goldin joins us this weekend to talk about how she turned Hint water into one of the most successful beverage businesses of our time and has been named one of InStyle’s Badass 50, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs and EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

This is it, the last weekend before Election Day. If you haven’t done so already, get out there and vote!!

Also, if you’re listening on Saturday, don’t forget to set your clocks back when you go to bed.

And happy Halloween! If there’s ever a year to wear a mask, this is the one :)

As for the show, we’ll talk all about the election in hour two, but first up it’s time for a bunch of your questions and a caller.

In October 2016, I warned that in advance of the presidential election, “you should not make changes to your portfolio in an effort to outfox the tried and true investment strategy of identifying your personal goals and objectives; creating and sticking to a diversified asset allocation plan, using low cost index funds; and rebalancing two to four times a year.”

Four years later, I am sticking to that guidance, so let’s just pinky-swear that you won’t try to adjust your investments or time whatever market movement you expect, and I promise not to lecture you about the folly of trying to time the market, OK?

To help us break down how the upcoming election may impact your investments, we're joined by Nathan Sheets, Chief Economist and Head of Global Macroeconomic Research at PGIM Fixed Income. 

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Just over a week to go before Election Day, can you believe it?!

Next weekend on the show, the last weekend before November 3rd, we’ll have an economist on in hour two to help us break down how the upcoming election may impact your investments.

This weekend it’s business as usual.

In hour two we're joined by consultant and best-selling author, Debbie Epstein Henry, who joins the show to talk about her new podcast, Inspiration Loves Company.

Inspiration. Engagement. Impact. That’s the essence of the podcast. It’s about doing better and being better at life, work and everything in-between.  

Episodes (featuring yours truly!) will explore issues around women, bias, happiness, work, race, money, candor, balance, leadership and more. 

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Just over two weeks to go before Election Day and the emails are coming in from people worried about who might win and what it will mean for their investments. Fear not, as we’ll soon have an expert on the show to break down the financial pros and cons of both candidates.

In the meantime, it’s your questions (and a caller) in hour one.

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the founders of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream join the show in hour two to talk about the role businesses play in social activism.

Also hear how the duo, who met in 7th grade gym class, went on to create the iconic company with no business or ice cream making experience 42 year ago.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

It’s show #501, and here’s hoping we have at least another ten more years of Jill on Money on the horizon!

This week we’re back to doing what we do best, answering all your various money questions, which includes a bunch of emails and a caller.

It’s October, which means it’s officially FAFSA season, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid which determines how much students and their families will receive in college grants, scholarships and loans.

So in hour two we’re revisiting a chat with David Klein and Kelly Peeler from CommonBond, a company that positions itself as a place for simpler, smarter student loans for a brighter future.

CommonBond, founded in 2012, has funded over $2.5 billion in better student loans. Their approach is no big secret: lower rates, simpler options, and a world class experience, all built to support you throughout your student loan journey.

Kelly and David firmly believe that student loans should be for fulfilling your dreams, not emptying your bank account. They’re helping you get there by lowering the cost of school and simplifying the process with no more stressful applications or being treated like an account number.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Hard to believe that this weekend is the 500th episode of Jill on Money.

Mark and I started this journey back in January of 2011 when it was a part-time passion project for both of us.

Little did we know that ten years later we’d be cranking out Jill on Money content on a full-time basis!

Although we’ve been a two person team since day one, two people in particular have helped us out along the way.

For this 500th episode, Mark actually chatted with both of them, Harvey Nagler and Craig Swagler.

Harvey was running the show at CBS News radio when he encouraged us to do some demos and ultimately gave us the green light, so a huge THANK YOU to Harvey.

Craig is the current boss at CBS News radio, and when he took over, he could’ve very easily pulled the plug, but he didn’t, and instead is one of our biggest cheerleaders, so a huge THANK YOU to Craig as well.

Enjoy hour one, and a huge THANK YOU to all our listeners!!! Without you, there is no show.

FAFSA season is upon us, so we thought it was a good time to revisit a chat with Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together.

As Erin says, it’s easy to get freaked out by finances. But you’re not doomed to spend your life drowning in debt or being mystified by money. It’s time to stop scraping by and take control of your money and your life with this savvy and smart guide.

The book doesn’t just cover stuff like credit card debt, investing, and budgeting, it also tackles tricky money matters and situations.

If you're looking for a gift for the college grad in your life, consider picking up a copy, it could help that person enter the “new” real world on the right path.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Are you guys ready??? For the first time in a long time, we have our first caller on the radio show.

It’s Jess from Florida who’s wondering what he should be doing with some extra cash flow. Another important piece of info is that Jess jumped out of the market back in January and is still sitting on the sidelines.

When you combine near-historic low mortgage rates and fewer homes for sale, you’ve got bidding wars that are driving the housing market during the pandemic.

To talk about the home buying process, we’re bringing back a pre-pandemic interview with Nicole Hamilton, author of Avoid the Money Pit, Turn Your Home into a Financial Powerhouse, and the founder of Homeownering.com, a company that provides unbiased, independent information for homeowners to get the best financial outcome possible.

We touched on a variety of topics and questions facing the average consumer as they try to navigate the murky waters of homeownership.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Holy Moly, it’s that time of year already! Happy Rosh Hashanah to all of our Jewish listeners :) The new year can only be better, right?

To help you celebrate, we’ll ring in the first hour by answering a whole bunch of listener questions.

Ask successful women what they want from their money and they'll tell you: independence, security, choices, a better world, and, oh yes, way less stress, not just for themselves but for their kids, partners, parents, and friends. 

That’s the gist of my conversation in hour two with Jean Chatzky, Financial Editor at the Today Show and host of the HerMoney podcast. 

In her latest book, Women with Money: The Judgment-Free Guide to Creating the Joyful, Less Stressed, Purposeful (and, Yes, Rich) Life You Deserve, Chatzky helps you get paid what you're worth, build secure relationships, and make your money last. 

This interview was recorded well before the pandemic, but it covers many of the financial basics that never get old.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.