Millennial

Retirement by Generation

Retirement by Generation

You’ve seen the frightening surveys that say Americans are ill prepared for retirement,
but let’s start the year on a more pro-active foot. It’s time to jump-start your savings
plan and to help out; I’m going to break it out by generation.

#346 The Road to Black Monday, the Worst Day in Wall Street History with Diana Henriques

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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.

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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 

#345 How Wall Street Destroyed Main Street with Rana Foroohar

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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 

#344 Weapons of Math Destruction with Cathy O’Neil

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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!

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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 

#343 Financial Aid and Student Loans with Kelly Peeler

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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!

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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 

#342 Identity Theft Protection with Adam Levin

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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 23 Download Hour One Here

How would you feel if you had a windfall of nearly a million dollars? Pretty darn good, right? That's what happened to Chris from Arizona.  But when you come into such a large chunk of change there are plenty of other things one must consider.  Namely taxes.  Uncle Sam always wants his cut, and more times than not, it's unavoidable.  But there are some ways in which the tax hit can be minimized and that's why Chris was calling.  He wants to keep as much of the windfall as possible for himself...can't say I blame him!

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Sept 23 Download Hour Two Here

In light of the recent Equifax data breach we thought it was as good a time as ever to run a recent interview I did with identity theft expert Adam Levin, whose book Swiped: How to Protect Yourself in a World Full of Scammers, Phishers, and Identity Thieves, recently came out in paperback. We conducted the interview BEFORE Equifax, which is why we don't discuss it.

Adam is a consumer advocate with more than 30 years of experience and is a nationally recognized expert on security, privacy, identity theft, fraud, and personal finance. A former Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Levin is Chairman and founder of IDT911 (IDentity Theft 911) and co-founder of Credit.com.

According to Adam, it’s best to assume the worst and learn how to protect your personal information, because creative and determined hackers are working hard to piece together snippets of information from a variety of sources in order to re-create your profile and use it to perpetrate fraud.

You need to guard your information, including Social Security Numbers, phone numbers, email and physical addresses, credit reports, medical records because thieves are trying to create a well-rounded dossier on who you are. But as you'll hear, there are steps that can be taken to minimize the damage.

This is scary stuff but I also think it's essential listening.  Like Adam says, it's when, not if, you will become a victim...a fact we have learned all too well with the Equifax data breach.

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 

#341 Kids and Money with Beth Kobliner

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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 16 Download Hour One Here

Before we jumped into your questions, I had to first talk about the massive Equifax data breach -- nearly half of the country was impacted!  How do you find out if you're one of the unlucky ones? If you were, what steps should you be taking? Check out my recent blog post.  It has all the necessary information.  If you're more of a visual person, I did a recent segment on CBS This Morning where I also outlined all the necessary steps.

Okay, on to the show and your questions...

Is there such a thing as saving too much money? That's how we started the show with Dave in Arizona, who has done an amazing job of saving for retirement...he's got over two million bucks! But he's now starting to realize that the money hasn't been taxed and he's going to have to pay Uncle Sam when his RMDs kick in down the road.  Or is he??  You'll have to listen for the answer...

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Sept 16 Download Hour Two Here

Since it's September and back-to-school time we thought it was a good time to talk financial literacy.

You will often hear me say that before you worry about the financial future of your kids, you need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself first. But that doesn’t take you off the hook for discussing money with your kids.

Think of it as another one of the "talks"…so now in addition to the sex talk, the drug and alcohol talk, we can add the money talk. All of these conversations must occur at every stage of your child’s development, with age-appropriate messaging that the kids can absorb.

To help with your effort, this week we’re talking to Beth Kobliner, author of Make Your Kid A Money Genius (Even If You’re Not): A Parents’ Guide for Kids 3 to 23. Okay, okay, full disclosure, she’s also a friend of mine.

But that’s not why Beth is on the show.  She’s on because it’s an important topic. I know there are a lot of you out there with kids or thinking about starting a family, wondering how to have such conversations:

  • How much debt should we take on for college?
  • Should I give my teen a debit or credit card?
  • Should I give my child an allowance?
  • My kid wants to move back home…should I charge rent?

Those are just some examples and there’s plenty more in the book. Whether you’re a rookie in the parenting game or a veteran, this book will help. As Beth says, “Think of it as a guide for parents that offers the financial facts of life for kids 3 to 23.”

And FYI, Beth is the real deal. In 2010, she was selected by President Obama to be a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability, where she created MoneyAsYouGrow.org. The site attracted more than 1.4 million visitors and was adopted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2016.

So whether you have kids, are planning on doing so in the future or you are a beloved aunt or uncle, I encourage you to check it out. It’s never too soon to start the money 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 

#340 Stress Proof: Being More Resilient Every Day

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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 9 Download Hour One Here

We started the show with a fun call from John in Chicago.  As he prepares for his wedding, John is trying to figure out the best way to have the financial talk with his fiancee, Kim.  John is more aggressive when it comes to finances, while Kim is more conservative, so we need to find a middle ground for these two lovebirds.  The good news is that they're already kind of talking about it, so it really shouldn't be that difficult to get them over the hump.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Sept 9 Download Hour Two Here

Hour two this week is devoted to helping you stress proof your life.

Thanks to our guest this week, Mithu Storoni, it can be done.  Mithu is a University of Cambridge-trained MD, certified in Ophthalmology. She also holds a PhD in Neuro-ophthalmology.  In her new book, Stress-Proof, Dr. Storoni will help us all discover simple, science-based strategies for beating stress at its own game.

As listeners of the show, you guys are clearly into personal finance, and you don't need me telling you that money can be stressful.  Stress is an inevitable part of life. But how much is too much? Research is uncovering the delicate balance that can turn a brief stressful episode into systemic overload, eventually leading to anxiety, depression, and other chronic health issues.  But this doesn't have to be the norm.  There are ways to prevent it from having a negative impact on your life and health.

  • When’s the best time to exercise – and how much is too much?
  • Which foods fortify the brain, and which do the opposite?
  • How can we use music, movement and motivation to boost our rational brain and keep our cool no matter what life throws our way?

The pages go on to outline seven paths to fighting the effects of stress–to strengthen our natural defenses so that our minds remain sharp, and our bodies resilient, no matter what life throws at us.

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 

#339 Why Wall Street Matters with William Cohan

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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 2 Download Hour One Here

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, we started the show with a quick reminder about flood insurance--and why most standard homeowners' insurance policies are not likely to cover thousands of victims of the storm.

We then spoke with Donna in New York, who had some questions about using a Roth IRA and whether or not it makes sense in her situation.  Next up may have been a first...in all the years we've been doing this I don't think we've ever had a call about a prenup.  Thanks to Stacy from Philadelphia there's a first for everything. Stacy is about to get married and she's wondering if she and her soon to be hubby need a prenup.  The interesting thing is that they're both on board with the idea.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Sept 2 Download Hour Two Here

Hour two this week is devoted to defending Wall Street.  Yes, you read that correctly.

Imagine a world without companies like Apple, or media outlets such as CBS or NBC, without all of the cars and trucks crisscrossing the country, without food provided by the farmer...that’s what would happen if Wall Street did not exist...it would all go away, according to this week’s hour two guest, writer William “Bill” Cohan.

If you’ve read some of his previous books, like "House of Cards," or “Money and Power”, you know Bill is usually not one to shy away from going after Wall Street and its shortcomings. But in an interesting twist, Bill’s recent book, "Why Wall Street Matters," is a defense of the industry that he has previously pilloried.

In our interview, Bill describes a poor decision by Elizabeth Warren as the catalyst that propelled him to write this latest book. He tells us what Wall Street has done well, like providing the necessary capital to help grow companies. The money investors provide, allows companies to invest, expand and hire, thus propelling the economy.

Don’t be mistaken: Bill knows that Wall Street and the institutions that occupy the space in Lower Manhattan are imperfect, but he believes that there is far more good than bad -- and more importantly, the consequences would be dire if the essential role the industry plays were carelessly curtailed.

Bill had one goal when writing this book: for Wall Street to become understandable to the average American. In this easy to read book, Bill succeeded. I highly recommend you pick it up.

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 

#338 Hot Housing: How to Buy and Sell

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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

Aug 26 Download Hour One Here

You know the deal...hour one is all about your calls and emails.  This week we started with Ray in Connecticut who had some questions about Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and withdrawal strategies, as he approaches retirement.  Next up was Bob from San Francisco who finds himself in the awesome position of having over a million bucks sitting in the bank after selling his business and house.  With more money than he's ever had, he was looking for the best game plan going forward.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Aug 26 Download Hour Two Here

Hour two this week is devoted to the housing market.  Prices are up, inventories are down which means the housing market is hot again. It’s not like the crazy days of 2005, but conditions are a bit frenzied. To prepare for what is likely to be the biggest asset purchase or sale you’ll make in life, we turn to Stephen Gasque, host of Real Estate Today, a weekly radio program presented by the National Association of Realtors.

One of the topics we spent some time on is the current inventory crisis (inventory has declined year-over-year for 26 consecutive months) and why it’s seemingly harder than ever for potential buyers to find and land the home they want. Why is the competition among buyers more intense than ever?

Some of the other topics we discussed:

-What are the most common mistakes people make when buying or selling? -What’s the most important step for a potential buyer? -How to successfully invest in real estate as a rental property -The future of mortgage interest deductions -Renting versus buying

If you’re planning on going to an open house this weekend, give this one a listen for some tips that could increase your odds of landing the house before you walk through the front door.

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