Jill on Money: Housing, long-term care

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The final data for 2012 real estate market is coming in and if last week's housing starts report is any indication (starts rose be 12.1 percent from the previous month, blowing away expectations), 2012 was the year that housing finally turned around. During the show, I highlighted some tips for both buyers and sellers.

We started the show with Kevin from KY, who wants to open a Roth IRA for his son. I suggested that he create a matching incentive.

Dave was our first caller from ND! He is a school board member that now is responsible for managing a $1.4 million bequest--where should they start?

Mike from IL wanted advice about long term care insurance, which led to a discussion of who really needs this type of coverage?

We always receive some general investment questions. This week, Bernice weighed in with a question about the safety of money market mutual funds and Miriam asked about a class action lawsuit on behalf of Merrill Lynch investors.

Richard from MD is questioning whether he needs to hire an investment advisor to manage his $800K portfolio. If he goes it alone, I suggest that he get some training wheels, by hiring an advisor who is paid by the hour. A good place to start is NAPFA.org.

We fielded a couple of questions from retired or soon-to-be retired military personnel. Glen is transitioning to a new career and wanted to make sure that he can purchase a house. Meanwhile, Mark is wondering whether to move his retirement assets from the government's Thrift Savings Plan.

Our younger listeners Billy and Andrew need some help prioritizing financial goals. You have to love it when 20 to 30 year olds are focusing on their short and long term goals. Maybe that financial crisis really did change us!

Here are web sites and resources mentioned in this week's show:

-- Jill's Blog

-- How to Choose a Financial Advisor: 10 Questions

-- NAPFA: National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (fee-only advisors)

-- Best CD Rates

-- E, EE and I Savings Bonds

-- The ABCs of Annuities: 6 Questions to Ask

-- The Pros and Cons of Annuities

-- Immediate Annuity Calculator

-- Annuity salespeople don't like me

-- Social Security: Manage your account online

-- Social Security estimator

-- When to take Social Security?

-- Social Security: File and Suspend

-- Social Security: Double-Dipping

-- Medigap insurance

-- Retirement Calculator

-- Retirement Plan Required Distribution Calculator

-- Long-term Care - US government web site

-- Long term care conundrum

-- Life Expectancy Calculator

-- Life Insurance calculator

-- Financial documents: What to shred, what to keep

-- Estate Planning: the Documents You Need

-- NYT Rent vs. Buy Calculator

-- Re-Fi Calculator

-- Another Re-Fi Calculator

-- Reverse mortgage info via HUD

-- Reverse Mortgages: Don't let the Fonz sell you

-- 529 plan info

-- College Loans: What you need to know

-- Student Loan Consolidation

-- Money As You Grow

-- National Foundation for Credit Counseling

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: [e-mail]

Tweet me: @jillonmoney

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[jhonmojena]

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