The Clark Howard Podcast

Clark recently talked about getting the best rate on your savings through online banks and credit unions. Today, he follows up with what brokerage houses are offering, and how you may be missing out on big yields by being with the wrong one. Clark’s call to action: Put your money to work for you. Meanwhile, healthcare is hitting Americans hard in the wallet. An overview of the industry underscores the shortage of primary care physicians and the cost shifting hitting patients. Despite such marketplace obstacles, there is something Clark strongly urges you to do.   Higher Savings Yields: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Healthcare Direction: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show WSJ.com: Some Investors Are Missing Out on Higher Yields—and Don’t Know It 6 Best Grocery Pickup Services  /  18 Ways To Save at Walmart Best 529 College Savings Plans By State Why urgent care centers are popping up everywhere NYTimes: Emailing Your Doctor May Carry a Fee Should I Invest Instead of Paying Extra on My Low-Interest Mortgage? SideHusl - Find the Best Money Making Option for You Clark.com How to Make Extra Money: 23 Easy Ways 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, the latest jobs report has even the experts confused. Clark discusses the ongoing forces shaping our economy moving forward to foster informed decisions in your life. Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Clarkonomics & You: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show SIM Card Swapping: The Dangerous Cell Phone Scam Everyone Needs To Know 5 Steps To Getting a Good Deal on a Hotel Room New Report: The 9 Best Cruise Lines for the Money How To Use 'Vacations To Go' To Find Bargain Cruises NYTimes.com: Pace of U.S. Hiring Surges Unexpectedly Why did we get a monster jobs report if the economy is slowing? 4 key takeaways from the jaw-dropping January jobs report Automatic Bill Pay: How It Works and How To Do It Safely 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

Clark warns about an old scam now active again - fake parking tickets! Learn who is targeted, how the scam works, and how to verify a parking ticket. Also, If you need a new mattress, what to know about the industry and why now is the time to buy.  Scam Alert: Fake Parking Tickets: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Primo Time To Buy A Mattress: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show BBB Scam Alert: How to spot a parking ticket scam Shopping around for MRIs, CT scans, mammograms and blood work can save big bucks Wills versus Trust - Clark Howard Community Mattress Buying - Clark Howard Community Niagara Falls Tourism Fee: How to avoid the charge (CBC Marketplace) Your Guide to Vehicle Subscriptions, the Alternative to Leases and Loans SIXT rent a car | Premium Car Rental & Top Deals Worldwide Turo: 5 Things To Know About the Cheap Car Rental Service 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

Clark waxes poetic on the topic of neighbors. What’s this got to do with money? Plenty. Also in this episode, consumers are borrowing more and credit card debt is up along with interest rates on that debt. Clark reviews the unprecedented difficulties that got us here, and offers strategies for cutting expenses and getting credit card debt under control.  Know Thy Neighbor: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Credit Card Debt Control: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Sue Thy Neighbor: Homeowner Spats Over Fences, Trees and Additions Get Nastier - WSJ Clark.com - Timeshares The #1 Bill You Should Make Sure You Get by Mail No more paper statements only electronic - Clark Howard Community US consumers increased their borrowing by $28 billion in November Your Passport Could Be Useless -- Even if It's Not Expired 22 Ways To Save Money on Groceries How to Budget With a Cash Envelope System Why You Should Keep Old Credit Card Accounts Open Should You Get a Store 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

With some big pharmacies now cutting their hours due to labor shortages, Clark revisits your best options, covering employer Pharmacy Benefits Managers, and a new pharmacy option from Amazon. Also, Clark reacts to stories of corporate treatment of employees emerging from massive tech layoffs, and has key advice if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of losing your job. Rx Saving Strategy: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Layoffs: Conduct On Both Sides: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: WSJ.com: CVS, Walmart to Cut Pharmacy Hours as Staffing Squeeze Continues Amazon Launches $5-a-Month Prescription Drug Plan - The Wall Street Journal. Amazon Pharmacy: RxPass Report: The Best Pharmacies for Customer Satisfaction How To Buy Term Life Insurance in 7 Easy Steps BBB-File a Complaint Submit a complaint | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau NYTimes.com: Layoffs by Email Show What Employers Really Think of Their Workers The massive wave of layoffs is giving tech workers a brutal wake-up call about the reality of work NYTimes.com: Tech Layoffs Shock Young Workers. The Older People? Not So Much.  5 steps to take if you get laid off NYTimes.com: How to Cope When You’re Shown the Door How To Open a Bank Account in 6 Easy Steps Fidelity Youth Account - Any Good? - Clark Howard Community 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

Flowers, chocolates, dinner - Clark smart ways to save on Valentine gifts. Plus, our Clark.com audience poll answers the question - How much should you spend on a first date? Also, Clark weighed in on buying an EV just 2 months ago. But prices have dropped recently. Has this changed his recommendation? Save on Valentine Gifts: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 EV Price Cuts: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: No More Dinner and a Movie. Cheapskate Daters Want Less. - The Wall Street Journal. How much money should someone spend on a first date in 2023? WSJ.com: Tesla Cuts Prices Across Models Sold in U.S. Ford cuts price of Mustang Mach-E to compete with Tesla, offers deal to recent buyers too   Ford drops the price of its Tesla competitor BlackRock, World's Largest Asset Manager, Buys Stake in Small-Business 401(k) Startup - WSJ. The 401(k) for small and medium-sized businesses | Human Interest | How to Start Investing and Saving for Retirement Fidelity Investments Review 2022: Pros & Cons 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, Clark clears confusion over settlements being paid by T-mobile and AT&T - and has a necessary fraud protection step for T-Mobile customers.  Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 AT&T and T-Mobile Settlements: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Robinhood Introduces IRA With A 1% Contribution Match Should I Buy Additional Insurance From a Rental Car Company? Cheapest Way to Rent a Car: Expert Tips Credit Card Car Rental Insurance: What You Need To Know Use Guided Access with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Are you a former AT&T unlimited data plan customer? Read on  How to Claim Your Part of AT&T's $60 Million Settlement - CNET AT&T Data Throttling Claim Form T-Mobile Says Hackers Stole Data on About 37 Million Customers - The Wall Street Journal. SIM Card Swapping: The Dangerous Cell Phone Scam Everyone Needs To Know Account Takeover Protection by T-Mobile Clark Howard's Guide to Saving Money on Your Wedding Clark.com - 5 Steps To Getting a Good Deal on a Hotel Room Clark.com - What Credit Cards Does Costco Accept? 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

Tax season time and documents are rolling in. Hiring a CPA, using Free File, TurboTax… you have filing options. Clark helps you choose the right one for your circumstances. And what is Return Free Filing and why don’t we have it in the U.S.?! Also, Americans in just 90 days lost a collective $42B in interest they would have earned taking their money out of Gang of 5 big bank savings accounts and placing it in higher yield accounts. Want to earn 20 times more interest?   Tax Filing Options: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Max Your Savings: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4  Mentioned on the show: Barrons.com: Return-Free Filing Would Revolutionize Americans’ Taxes IRS Free File: Free State and Federal Tax Filing Options for 2023 When to hire a tax professional - Clark Howard Community When Should You Get an Accountant To Do Your Taxes? Enrolled Agents | Internal Revenue Service What Is a Fiduciary Financial Advisor and Do I Need One? How To Find and Choose a Financial Advisor Americans Missing Out on Billions in Interest - The Wall Street Journal. 2023's Best Savings Accounts - 5 Best Savings Accounts 2023 How To Switch Banks in 4 Simple Steps Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards: Top Picks for 2023 Fidelity Roth IRA for Kids Clark.com resources Episode transcrips 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

Today Clark covers fakes and thefts. You may be thinking about Valentine gifts now and jewelry is a favorite choice. But before you buy, Clark has a warning about the prevalence of counterfeits, and how to protect your wallet. Also, theft rings and smash & grabs have been hitting retailers hard throughout the country. Hear what retailers are doing to fight rampant internal and external theft, and how it affects consumers  Counterfeit Warning: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Retail Theft Impact: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4  Mentioned on the show: NYTimes.com: Jewelry Counterfeits: The Age-Old Problem Just Keeps Growing Should I Buy Insurance for Nice Sunglasses? When Do You Need a Travel Agent? Certified Travel Counselor - CTC - The Travel Institute Travel Archives - Clark Howard Should my son get non owners car insurance? NYPost - What Walmart, Target and other retailers are doing to deter crime Rising thefts at Walmart could lead to price jumps, store closures, CEO says The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Home Water Softening Clark.com - How To Sell A Car These 2 Things Can Maximize Your Chances of Selling Your House 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

Hardship withdrawals from 401(k)s have doubled over the past year. Clark discusses the tax ramifications and offers alternatives. Also, Clark champions entrepreneurs creating startups or joining franchises in tough times. But this comes with a very important warning vital to success: Vetting an opportunity and avoiding the job & training scamsters infesting the market. Know the signs. 401(k) Hardship Withdrawals: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 A Warning For Entrepreneurs: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4  Mentioned on the show: NYTimes.com: Hardship 401(k) Withdrawals, Explained 6 Things To Know Before Contacting the National Foundation for Credit Counseling Should You Pay for Credit Monitoring? How To Freeze Your Credit With Experian, Equifax and TransUnion Why You Should Never Invest With a Bank Business opportunities and trainings that claim you’ll make big money are often scams Real Estate Investing: What To Know BEFORE You Start Will Mark Cuban's Prescription Company Really Save You Money? 10 Ways To Save on Prescription Drugs 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