The Clark Howard Podcast

Clark has warned against commissioned insurance products including fixed, variable and/or universal life; annuities, and annuities disguised under different names. Someone selling on commission is NOT a fiduciary, but some self-described fiduciaries are using a loophole to do just that. Clark explains what to look out for when choosing a financial planner. Also, we’re going through a clear job rotation in the U.S. New data reveals distinct geographical indicators of the top job growth metros in the country, and the effect that has on housing affordability. WARNING - Fiduciary Duplicity: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Top Job Growth Markets: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show What Is a Financial Advisor and Do I Need One? 2 Ways To Guarantee Yourself a Lifetime Stream of Income Introduction To Money Market Mutual Funds What are money market funds? Digitone ProSeries Call Blocker Product Information Sunbelt Cities Nashville and Austin Are Nation’s Hottest Job Markets When Does a HELOC Make Sense in Your Life? 7 Places to Get the Best Deals on Lab-Created Diamonds Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something new & customer friendly from Amazon is a win win. On the other hand, with online retail, know there’s really no such thing as free shipping. Also in this episode, new reporting states that without a fix from Congress, Social Security will be running short in a decade. Has this altered Clark’s advice on what age it’s best to start taking the benefit?  Amazon Return Prevention: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Social Security Strategy: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Clark Howard: Habitat for Humanity - Clark Howard Habitat for Humanity: History - Clark Howard Amazon starts flagging ‘frequently returned’ products that you maybe shouldn’t buy Amazon, other retailers revamp 'free' shipping as costs soar How To Freeze Your Credit With Experian, Equifax and TransUnion 11 Tips to Keep Your Cell Phone Safe Axios: Charted: Rising home insurance Why You Should Update Your Homeowners Coverage Limits Every 3 Years Attention, Travelers: Now Is the Best Time to Switch to eSIM What Is an eSIM? 5 Things To Know Visible Review: 5 Things To Know Before You Sign Up Will Social Security Run Out? Social Security is now expected to run short of cash by 2033 Barrons.com: Why It Makes Sense to Wait for Social Security Even if Benefits Are Cut When Is the Best Time To Collect Social Security? AARP Social Security Calculator Maximize My Social Security: Calculate Your Highest Benefits Homeowners Insurance Archives - Clark Howard Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the main ways you empower yourself with money is to owe less. Americans are taking on more and more credit card debt now for lifestyle, and over 40% of card holders are just servicing the debt. Learn Clark smart ways to start digging out. Also, AI is in the news constantly. Artificial Intelligence will open up so many new ways of doing things, but there are major concerns and dire predictions. Clark lends historical perspective on how tech changes the nature of work.  Reducing Debt: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 AI Perspective: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show [The Washington Post] 7 ways to lower your credit card debt after the Fed rate hike New York Post : I was $70K in debt — now I'm 'cash stuffing' to become a millionaire Half of US Employees Earn Extra Cash on the Side, Survey Finds How To Get Out of Debt in 7 Steps / Debt Archives - Clark Howard Backdoor Roth IRA: Advantages and Tax Implications Explained Ask Clark: What Is a Backdoor Roth IRA? SquareUp.com / Best money transfer apps 300 million jobs could be affected by latest wave of AI, says Goldman Sachs Elon Musk and Others Call for Pause on A.I., Citing ‘Profound Risks to Society’ The FTC should investigate OpenAI and block GPT over ‘deceptive’ behavior, AI policy group claims Clark Howard's #1 Rule To Avoid Email Scams How To Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages Why You Should Never Click on Random Text Messages Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With savings rates up and I Bond rates headed down, Clark clears confusion on whether it’s time to buy or sell Series I Savings Bonds. Also, the scales are starting to “tip” when it comes to gratuities. Being confronted with the tip option touchscreen guilt machine is hitting critical mass. Hear how Clark handles this.  I Bond Update: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 The Ubiquitous Tipping Dilemma: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show 5 Things To Know About Series I Savings Bonds / SavingsBonds.gov Why This Is the Best Time To Buy Series I Savings Bonds I Bonds rates in 2023 could be better now than in May Small Banks Are Losing to Big Banks. Their Customers Are About to Feel It.   HumbleDollar: Home / Investopedia Academy Schwab - Your U.S. Investing Education Center Vanguard - Education / Fidelity Learning Center Clark.com Investing & Retirement Target Date Funds: Clark's Favorite Retirement Investment IRS - Charities and their Volunteers Can You Deduct Expenses of Volunteering for Charity? Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many sports events, fields are actually spray painted to make them look beautiful, which has led to lawn painting, especially where water is restricted and costly. How some homeowners, including Clark - are saving water by altering their lawns. Also, It’s not uncommon for people to pull their investments out of the market when it trends downward. Right now with economic uncertainty, people are rotating out of stocks in favor of savings, planning to return to the market when it’s “safe”. What are they missing? Plenty. How Clark handles investing.  Lawns & Water Savings: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Steady Investing: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Do Your Neighbors Paint Their Lawns Green? Increasingly, Yes FuelEconomy.gov Welcome to Bluebird Individual Investors Pile Into Cash, Chasing Higher Returns - The Wall Street Journal. NYTimes.com: A Question About Your Money: Has Anything Truly Changed This Week?  [The Washington Post] Four money rules when financial news is making you nervous Should You Sell or Stay Put in the Stock Market? Dollar Cost Averaging Makes You a Fortune Over Time How To Save and Invest the Clark Howard Way How to Freeze Your Child's Credit A Simple Way To Help Your Kid Build Credit Should You Make Your Child an Authorized User on Your Credit Card? Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Also in this episode, scammers steal billions of dollars from Americans each year. Clark shares the FTC’s annual summary of top scams, and has a simple rule for avoiding the number 1 scam on the list.  Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Top Scams & Fraud Schemes: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show 6 Tips for Hiring a Contractor Apple Screen Time Passcode NCUA - National Credit Union Administration CUNA: Credit Union National Association 5 Discount Airlines You Need To Know About Scams Cost Consumers $8.8 Billion in 2022 — The Top Five Frauds FBI says $10 billion lost to online fraud in 2022 as crypto investment scams surged Clark.com - Most Common Financial Scams and How To Avoid Them 5 Best Ways To Send Money Online Is a Costco Executive Membership Worth It? Get a new Sam's Club membership for $25 Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Millions of workers are leaving open retirement accounts with thousands of dollars sitting ignored or forgotten. If you’ve changed employers over the years, Clark’s has an assignment for you to make sure you get ALL your retirement money! Also in this episode, Amazon has announced their internet service to compete with Starlink. Who wins with the additional options we will have? The consumer! Neglected Retirement Accounts: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Amazon Satellite Internet: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show NYTimes.com: Set It and Actually Forget It Clark.com - How To Find Missing or Lost Retirement Accounts How To Find and Claim Missing Money in Your Name How To Open a Roth IRA State Farm® and Ting can help protect your family from electrical fires Cord Cutters News: Amazon’s New Home Internet Service Announces New Details T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: 5 Things To Know Before You Sign Up Verizon Home Internet: Things To Know Before You Sign Up Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Review: Unlimited 2% Cash Back Credit Card Clark Deals - Today's Best Deals of the Day Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For parents who want to keep their kids safe, an SUV is often a popular choice. If you’re considering buying an SUV, Clark has a new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety you need to hear first. Also, several states are suing a retailer for overcharging at check-out - a symptom of a systemic problem. Clark has some ways to help you eagle eye your check out prices, and protect your wallet! SUV Safety: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Beware Retail Pricing Errors: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Ford's Mustang Mach-E scores highest in crash safety test among 13 midsize SUVs - from Detroit Free Press IIHS.org Back-seat safety lags in midsize SUVs Turo: 5 Things To Know About the Cheap Car Rental Service Roth vs. Traditional 401(k): What's the Difference? At Dollar General, a Staple for Many, a Record of Overcharging IRS Payment Plans Installment Agreements Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Regardless of what happens with economic cycles, there are clear patterns in the job market that spell OPPORTUNITY - if your aptitude matches the need. Clark points the way to jobs that pay, with and without a college degree. Also, we all pay for heavy losses inflicted by shoplifting rings, and now the cost of shoplifting can feel like more punishment, as retailers use various tactics to fight back.  Prepare For Jobs That Pay: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Retail Vs Shoplifting Rings: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Report: Top 10 Colleges Whose Graduates Earn the Most 100 colleges whose grads go on to earn the most America Is Trying to Electrify. There Aren’t Enough Electricians. What Is Non-Owner Car Insurance And Who Needs It? - Forbes Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - Federal Student Aid 4 Things To Know About the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Overhaul WSJ - Shoplifting Climbs as In-Store Shopping Returns What Is Long-Term Care Insurance Cost & Coverage Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travel planning season is here and Clark has good info spanning: airfares and when to travel to get the best prices, Airbnb & VRBO issues, hotel booking and more - so you know before you go. Also - Nobody ever got rich paying Visa or MasterCard 19% interest (or more). Clark addresses discretionary spending that undermines your immediate and distant future. Practices and cognitive biases that get us in financial trouble include impulse buying with borrowed money, and only paying credit card minimums. Why you should make FOMO & YOLO a NO Go and Pay in 4 no more.  Summer Travel Planning: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 You Money Mentality: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Travel Archives - Clark Howard 5 Discount Airlines You Need To Know About 5 Steps To Getting a Good Deal on a Hotel Room InsureMyTrip Review: Why We Like It and How to Use It Why we usually can't tell when a review is fake NYTimes: Help! I Canceled My Rental Because of a Wildfire. My Contract Says No Refund. Is That Fair? Frontier Airlines admits it pays staff a $10 BONUS every time they charge customers extra for oversized luggage - even when their bags aren't too big! How To Dispute a Charge on Your Credit Card BBB-File a Complaint Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: 6 Things To Know in 2023 Best Travel Credit Cards: Top Rewards Picks for 2023 NYTimes.com: When It Comes to Money, Your Brain Can Be Your Own Worst Enemy Which Home Security Systems Rank Better Than Ring? / Wyze Security Cams Where Can You Get Some of the Best Deals on Homes Right Now? The New Construction Market. - The WSJ. The One Place You Can Still Get a 3% Home Loan: Your Family What's the Gift Tax Exclusion for 2023? - Kiplinger Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices