The Clark Howard Podcast

What you need to know about new savings incentives you may see within your employee benefits during open enrollment.  // Clark smart steps to keep your loved ones safe and to protect you in case of an emergency.Ask Clark topics include: Rent is about to go up again—here’s why / 6 Best Ways To Send Money Online / Topic No. 607 Adoption Credit and Adoption Assistance / 6 of the Best High-Yield Online Savings Accounts in 2021 - Yotta - Start Saving. Start Winning / Should You Buy an Extended Warranty on Your Car? / How To Open a Roth IRA / Target Date Funds vs. Index Funds: Which Are Better for You? \\Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter!Free Advice: Clark's Consumer Action Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. / Around 1 in 5 U.S. workers are in covenants not to compete, outlawed in California. A Clark warning for job hunters.Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: Deep discounters like Dollar Tree get hit, as they juggle supply chain costs and price-sensitive customers / What Is a 403(b) and How Does It Work? / Retirees fearing financial disaster wait for pension rescue - Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation / Investment Guide: Advanced investors / Residential Solar: Compare the same size systems between 5 companies in your area with a payback cycle of 9 years or less. / How to Sell Your Stuff on Facebook MarketplaceWant more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter!Free Advice: Clark's Consumer Action Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wells Fargo has engaged in fraud against customers. Now new sanctions are coming because they have not complied with settlements. Why you should ditch your big bank. // Looking to earn more on savings, people are susceptible to con artists pitching “safe investments”. A Clark warning about promises of higher interest rates. How to spot a Ponzi scheme. Ask Clark topics include: Should I Be Concerned About T-Mobile’s Data Breach? / If you have traditional health insurance, avoid student health insurance - Health Insurance Guide / How and Why to Refinance Your Mortgage: A Step-By-Step Guide / Insuring a home-based business / Automatic Bill Pay: How It Works and How to Do It Safely \\ Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter!Free Advice: Clark's Consumer Action Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s great support on price transparency on hospital charges on all fronts EXCEPT from hospitals and insurance companies. The reason is Clarkrageous. And Clark’s got the punishment to make them comply. // It’s crazy we don’t have a nationwide toll system. But there’s some progress there. Ask Clark topics include:  14+ Senior Discounts People Age 50 and Older Should Know About! / Best 529 College Savings Plans By State / How To Open a Roth IRA / Clark Howard: Here’s My Experience Selling a Home With an iBuyer / Don’t fall for this car wrapping scam \\Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter!Free Advice: Clark's Consumer Action Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The nursing shortage is severe and demand is pushing up pay rates. If you have a love of science and medicine, there’s opportunity to make a difference. // While some areas see dollar store proliferation as a problem, these retailers are currently booming with a diverse customer base (including Clark)  trying to offset inflation and stretch every dollar. Ask Clark topics include: Can a Patient Advocate Help With Your Medical Bills? / WSJ - Paying With a Credit Card? That’s Going to Cost You. / How to Build Credit / How a 19 year old got a credit score of 820 / Best 529 College Savings Plans By State \\ Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter!Free Advice: Clark's Consumer Action Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are private services that allow your rent payments to be tracked for credit, and now Fannie Mae has a new lending guideline that allows renters to qualify for a mortgage based on their rent payment history. Clark explains how this will work to assist in achieving home ownership, in keeping with how credit scoring is changing overall. / Worried about having enough to retire one day? Over time if you regularly contribute to a good retirement plan, well, watch what happens! Why money you’re saving for your long-term future must be invested - and how to invest properly. Ask Clark topics include: The biggest mistake you can make with your 401(k) / Read this before you sign up for a ‘risk-free’ trial / 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2021 / How to Sell a Vehicle - eBay Motors - How to Sell Your Car in 5 Steps / Tips for Buying and Selling Safely on Marketplace - Facebook \\Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter!Free Advice: Clark's Consumer Action Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. / Once again, the pandemic has thrown travel plans into the unknown. But there’s good news if you feel comfortable taking off this year.Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: 6 Things To Know Before You Sign Up for Visible / File Complaint with BBB / Is LifeLock Worth the Cost? / Here Are the Insurance Policies Homeowners Need To Get and the Ones To Skip / Keep solid proof forever when you’ve paid off student loans. / Credit Lock vs. Credit Freeze: What’s the Difference? / Acorns Review / How to Start Saving Money in 5 Easy Steps \\ Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter!Free Advice: Clark's Consumer Action Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hackers have successfully invaded T-Mobile's data base and have info on 40 million users. 3 quick measures T-Mobile customers can take - and 1 task for AT&T and Verizon customers - to help prevent SIM hijacking and the subsequent looting of your accounts. // 1 in 3 U.S. investors admits they have traded while under the influence - dangerous for your wallet. Don’t drink & trade. For Clark, investing is not a sport. He explains his philosophy.Ask Clark topics include: How To Prevent, Report and Repair Identity Theft / How and Why to Refinance Your Mortgage: A Step-By-Step GuideWant more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter!Free Advice: Clark's Consumer Action Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The way we get goods and what’s available, has come full circle. We’ve become conditioned to the wide availability of goods. Yeah we’re going to have to get over that. One result is a win win if it catches on: Ford is trying to change how we buy new vehicles in the U.S. Clark explains. . // Do you have proper coverage? If you’ve got assets, don’t ignore what Clark calls the “success tax” - one of the most overlooked forms of insurance.Ask Clark topics include: How To Improve Your Credit Score by 100 Points in 30 Days / Fidelity Investments Review 2021: Pros & Cons / Lemonade Insurance Review: How It Works, Coverage Options / Automatic Bill Pay: How It Works and How to Do It Safely \\Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter!Free Advice: Clark's Consumer Action Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A simple tip from the NSA can help keep fraudsters out of your cell phone. // Unfortunately, many don’t leave important financial information when they pass away. How to find out if a loved one had life insurance you didn't know about. Ask Clark topics include: Credit Lock vs. Credit Freeze: What’s the Difference? / What Is a SEP IRA and Who Is Eligible? / AUTO Insurance \\Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter!Free Advice: Clark's Consumer Action Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices