The Clark Howard Podcast

When looking at job opportunities, there are many considerations beyond pay alone. // Do you know if your company or boss is using spyware to monitor you? Be aware of new ways your company may be tracking you as you work from home. Ask Clark topics include: 9 Ways To Pay for College Without Student Loans - The Top 5 Benefits of Community College / Is Investing in Dividend Stocks a Good Strategy? / File a Complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau / Carvana Vehicle Value - Also get vehicle value from dealer / How to Buy a New Car in 5 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

Clark discusses the Apple & Google “toll gates” and the potential advantage of signing up for subscriptions from service websites vs from in-phone apps. Also, expect heavy subsidies on the new Apple iPhones depending on your carrier. // A rethink of college relevance and new information and insights around college & skills training decision making. Also, employer subsidized education opportunities, income share agreements, and working while in school. Ask Clark topics include: Experian New Debt Collection Rule Allows Contact on Social Media / Roth IRA / Best Online Banks - Bankrate: The best online banks of 2021 / Debt Collectors May Soon Contact You By Text and Social Media. Here’s What You Should Know - Your rights when dealing with debt collectors / Deadline Extended: Check Your Credit Report Every Week for Free / Could-Based Phone Systems \\ 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

Clark's 9/11 Remembrance / Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. / Clark explains why Locast is no more, and alternative ideas for watching local channels, whether you were a Locast customer or not. Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: 6 Steps to Eliminate Credit Card Debt in 3 Years or Less / Ford Will Build Your Next Car to Your Custom Order / 4 Things To Know Before You Buy a Digital TV Antenna / 4 Things To Know Before You Sign Up for Sling TV / Amazon agrees to pay shoppers up to $1,000 for defective goods after facing high-profile liability cases \\ 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

New privacy ideas based on burner tech may lessen your privacy concerns. Clark offers several ways to do business via email and phone, without them getting into your business. // Shopping online used to be a great way to save money. Supply shortages have led to a reverse movement among retailers. Seeing is believing when it comes to deals now. Clark explains the trend to help you spend - less! Ask Clark topics include: Where to Buy the Best Cheap Printer / Umbrella Insurance / How to Freeze Your Credit / Credit Karma Review / Term Life vs. Whole Life Insurance / Index Funds / 7 Best Ways to Save for Retirement in Your 50s \\ 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

Clark talks about decision making around education and skilled-trade training, costs, and the debate over the value of college. // Many industries are experiencing worker shortages and we’re feeling the effects. We’re millions of workers short in the U.S. with an aging population. Clark’s controversial solution. Ask Clark topics include: Easy Disney World Planning / The current state of state-sponsored retirement programs / Health Insurance / Tracfone Wireless / How and When to Cancel a Credit Card / 5 Things to Know Before You Use Zelle / 5 Ways To Improve Your Credit Score // 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

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 Marketplace 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

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 Guide 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 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

Employers are offering more to get and retain workers. Shop your skills for better pay and benefits. The labor shortage is actually an advantage to the overall economy. Clark describes how business innovation increases efficiency, productivity & profitability which in turn, creates more wealth for citizens. // Clark gets questions all the time from people changing employers and moving their 401(k) accounts. Rip Off Alert and a Clark Smart NEVER NEVER Rule. Ask Clark topics include: Save on Prescription Drugs - 10 Things To Know Before You Use GoodRx / Troubleshooters warning about Cash App debit card scam / How to Find and Claim Missing Money in Your Name / Life Insurance - How to Buy Term Life Insurance in 7 Easy Steps / How To Open a Roth IRA \\ 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. / Clark has a new teen driver, and there are some important things to know that will keep us all safer. Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: How to spot and avoid fake product reviews on Amazon / Debit Cards / Rebtel.com: Cheap International Calls and Unlimited Calling / ABLE accounts: A tax-free way for parents of disabled kids to save for the future - Special Needs Trust / Why co-signing a loan can be bad on almost every financial level / How to Build Credit / How and Why to Refinance Your Mortgage: A Step-By-Step Guide \\ 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

Clark addresses the investigation into the Tesla autopilot system and his experiences with autonomous driving. // Clark shares his favorite places to save money on prescription eyeglasses & contacts. 3 discount sellers get the highest satisfaction ratings. Ask Clark topics include: Should You Buy an Extended Warranty on Your Car? / Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review / How To Find and Choose a Financial Advisor / How to Freeze Your Credit / 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

Based on your particular needs for calling, network & data, choose the best cell plan & provider using Clark’s new cell phone guide, which makes it clear to see the best plan for you, at the best price. // New competition is changing the banking industry, which at its core, is about extracting fees from you. Now you have choice: Credit Unions, online banks & fintechs do things differently. Ask Clark topics include: 5 Things to Know Before You Use Zelle / The #1 thing you need to do if you use PayPal, Venmo or Zelle for payments / Mile Auto | Pay-Per-Mile Car Insurance / How to Buy a Used Car in 7 Steps / How to Buy a New Car in 5 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

Organized crime has had a hand in moving scams for decades and now it’s gotten more severe. Clark describes how the scam happens, so you can steer clear. // The pandemic has upended the office imperative, allowing more people to live and work anywhere in the country or abroad. But working remotely is not without downsides. Some Clark smart employment direction. Ask Clark topics include: How Do Student Loans Work? 7 Things to Know / Biden Administration Extends Student Loan Pause Until January 31, 2022 / How to Save Money on Car Insurance / How to handle money when you’re traveling overseas / Stock Options - Not recommended / How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Fake Check Scams | FTC \\ 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

In stores and online, the ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ option is proliferating. What’s the catch? / If you are an Amazon user, there are disturbing things going on with certain sellers you need to know about involving negative review backlash and dangerous merchandise. Ask Clark topics include: Rules and Qualifications for Claiming a Tax Dependent / Donor-Advised Funds: The Benefits and Drawbacks / Why You Should Never Use a Debit Card To Pay for Anything / Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Travel Card / Best 529 College Savings Plans By State / Frequently Asked Questions on Gift Taxes \\ 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. / There’s evidence the frenzy in the home selling market is cooling off. Have we hit the point of price resistance? What home buyers and sellers should know. Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: The #1 thing you need to do if you use PayPal, Venmo or Zelle / Is a Safe Deposit Box Really Safe? / Smartphone deals: The best bargains on unlocked smartphones under $200 / 9 Ways To Pay for College Without Student Loans / Airbnb Resolution Center / How to Switch Banks in 4 Simple Steps / How to Find a Free ATM Near You: Allpoint, MoneyPass, CO-OP Financial Services and More \\ 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

Businesses have a lot to figure out right now -- vaccines, lack of workers, and wages. Employer vaccine mandates are expanding among medium to large companies. Clark explains the visceral fear of economic slowdown, in an environment of great job opportunity. // An inventive idea to solve housing shortages in cities. Ask Clark topics include: Amazon Scam Warning: Beware of Deliveries You Didn’t Order / How to spot and avoid fake product reviews on Amazon / The Best Time and Place to Buy a Mattress - Best Mattresses of 2021 / Humble Dollar -Losing It All - 5 Ways To Protect Your Retirement Accounts From Being Hacked \\ 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

If you’re an entrepreneur or have a side gig, what you need to know to save for your future. // College students are headed back to campus. A special warning about campus health insurance, and what your options are. Ask Clark topics include: eBay Motors - Car and Truck Inspections / File Complaint with the Better Business Bureau / Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) / Petal Card Review - What Is a Credit Union? / The Best Places to Sell Your Cell Phone \\ 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 package delivery industry is beset with problems that affect small business the worst. Who is filling the niche? // Word is out about some scams that are dominant now. Warnings for individual car sellers & sellers of anything, and what can happen if you lend out your phone. Ask Clark topics include: Is a Cash-Out Refinance Right for You? / Virtual Credit Cards: An Online Security Measure Worth Taking? / What Is an HSA Account and How Does It Work? / The #1 Way To Protect Yourself From Skimmers if You Use a Debit Card at the Gas Station \\ 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

Different lenders assess you differently. Larger lenders use their own proprietary evaluations - and evaluate your patterns & their risk levels to make decisions about your credit. 80% of car buyers obtain a loan the wrong way. How to obtain the best credit terms. // QR codes have proliferated during the pandemic and are here to stay, but there are some privacy red flags going up around them. Plus, Apple privacy & Amazon privacy invasion. Ask Clark topics include: Where Do We Get a Homeowners Warranty on Appliances? / The #1 thing you need to do if you use PayPal, Venmo or Zelle for payments / How to Save Money on Utilities \\ 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. / Tips for saving money when doing laundry. Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: Locast / 80+ great deals and discounts for military members and veterans - Military and Veterans Guide / 7 Things You Need to Know Before You Fly Southwest Airlines / Long-Term Care Insurance / Costco Travel / 401(k) Guide / Fidelity Investments Review 2021 \\ 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

Clark preps you for the current state of travel, including passport delays, how to book to protect your wallet, hotel cleaning policies and rental cars. / Clark is alarmed by a new statistic about people borrowing money to play the stock market on what is called “Margin”. How this practice works and the risk involved. Ask Clark topics include: What Is a Credit Union? / How and Why to Refinance Your Mortgage: A Step-By-Step Guide / 5 Things To Know Before You Sign Up for Verizon Prepaid / What Is a 403(b) and How Does It Work? \\ 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

Clark explains how 529 plans work to help families save for college, how to set one up, and which ones make Clark’s Dean’s List of most cost-efficient plans in his newly updated 529 Guide. But - Quiz: what comes in your financial life BEFORE you set up a 529 plan? / Employers are starting to offer incredible incentives and benefits to employees, and Walmart just announced a big one. Employer subsidized college isn’t new - let’s hope it’s returning broadly. Ask Clark topics include: Gift Tax Definition - Investopedia / Term Life vs. Whole Life Insurance: Understanding the Difference / What Is an HSA Account and How Does It Work? \\ 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

Due to the ongoing pandemic, interest rates have fallen back down and with them, mortgage refinance rates. How refinances and mortgages differ, and how to go about taking advantage of these historic low rates. / The number of thefts of catalytic converters has risen 10 fold in the past year. It’ll cost ya big. How you can help prevent this theft problem. Ask Clark topics include: Turo: 5 Things To Know About the Cheap Car Rental Service / How to Find the Best Deal on Cheap Internet Service / Streaming TV / How to develop an independent value for your vehicle after an accident / Clark Deals - Cell Phones & Smartphones - Get a FREE iPhone 12 mini with trade-in when you switch to Metro by T-Mobile \\ 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

Clark explains the ongoing “right to repair” debate and what’s hopefully changing to your advantage. / 403(beware): Clark Rage Alert! Clark lets loose on how he REALLY feels about TIAA’s abuses and lame response. Ask Clark topics include: CO-OP Financial Services SHARED BRANCH / Turo: 5 Things To Know About the Cheap Car Rental Service / Best Online Will Maker: 5 Free or Cheap Options - Wills & Funerals / Experian Boost Review: How 3 Bills Helped Raise My Credit Score 14 Points / Are You Following Clark’s Maximum Auto Loan Length Rule? / How Retirees Can Combat Inflation \\ 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. / The era of $6K hearing aids is coming to a close. Clark describes ongoing industry cartel price-fixing, and why a WIN for consumers is sounding. Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: Best 529 College Savings Plans By State / Fidelity Rewards Credit Card Review: Invest with 2% Cash Back / Liquid Biopsy: Using DNA in Blood to Detect, Track, and Treat Cancer / How to Find a Free ATM Near You / Term Life Insurance / Your C.L.U.E. Report / Lease buyout: 5 tips on buying your leased car / ABLE accounts: A tax-free way for parents of disabled kids to save for the future - 529 ABLE Accounts - IRC Section 529A - Saving for College \\ 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

Great internet access has become essential, and there are so many Americans without it. Clark talks about satellite-based internet service and when and where it will be available. / Often those who work for small companies don’t have access to retirement plans. Many states have an offering that can turn the intention to save, into action. Ask Clark topics include: How to File a Complaint with the Dept. of Labor / Gas & water line insurance - Maintenance fund generally recommended instead / How to Build Credit / How to Lower Your Credit Card Interest Rate / Car rental company membership programs may offer perks and discounts / File a Complaint with the Better Business Bureau \\ 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

Could we be witnessing the end of email? America’s youth prefer other platforms for communication. Is email becoming irrelevant? / One thing parents are often trying to balance is how much to give their children and how much kids should cover on their own. Clark discusses what a new study on parental giving to adult children reveals. Hint: Train Wreck City. Hear the findings. Ask Clark topics include: 7 Things to Know Before You Buy Travel Insurance / Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM) - Investopedia / Clark Howard’s Guide to Saving Money on Your Wedding / Credit Karma Review: Free Credit Score and More at Your Fingertips / Dollar Cost Averaging Makes You a Fortune Over Time / How To Find a Good Moving Company \\ 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

Clark explores the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement, now several years on, and the lifelong advantages of living on less than what you make. / With car prices skyrocketing, many are looking for alternative methods of transportation. Great news if you are one of them. Clark describes how new battery tech for golf carts, scooters and e-bikes is providing cheaper transportation for some metro dwellers. Ask Clark topics include: INSURANCE / Is a safe deposit box really safe? / How To Monitor Your Credit / Does Selecting ‘Credit’ When Using a Debit Card Increase Purchase Protection? \\ 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

Clark loves football! Get the latest on the NFL’s tough new Covid policy. Plus, the concert industry reopens with a fabulous concert ticket deal from Live Nation with an advantage for T-Mobile customers - starting tomorrow. / Cash App, Zelle and Venmo are free, convenient pay apps but come with risks. Venmo ends a bizarre practice and offers new security. Ask Clark topics include: How To Watch Football Without Cable: Stream NFL and College Football / The tricky timing of 529 savings account withdrawals / CFPB- File a Complaint / Use these security keys to lock down your computer and protect your personal info / What Are Index Funds? / Fidelity Investments Review 2021: Pros & Cons \\ 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. / Rising food costs, why grocery stores are actually happy about that, and how you can save at the supermarket. Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: Health care sharing ministries surge in popularity, Magnify Money analysis shows / Target Date Funds: Clark’s Favorite Retirement Investment / Lightbox Jewelry / Latest Scams and Rip-Offs \\ 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

Both Apple and Google are being sued over how they run their app stores. Clark explains the toll and the workaround. / Free college sounds great, especially with the outrageous price of higher education and the student loan burden so many carry. But is it a good idea? Clark points out where this has been successful, and why it can be good for citizen, state and country when it’s skills based, for the marketplace. Ask Clark topics include: How Much to Tip During the Coronavirus Pandemic / Can a Patient Advocate Help With Your Medical Bills? / How to Find and Claim Missing Money in Your Name / Authorized User vs. Joint Account Holder: Understanding the Difference for Credit Cards / 401(k) Guide: What Is a 401(k) Plan and How Does It Work? \\ 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

New reports indicate borrowing is roaring back after the pandemic slowdown. Lengthy car loans and credit card debt can be dangerous. Credit card offers are everywhere now. How to take advantage of that, without being taken advantage of by creating more debt. / If those CD rates you’re seeing advertised seem too good to be true… you are correct! Two current pitches, what’s the catch, and how to avoid game over for your wallet. Ask Clark topics include: What Is an Amortization Schedule? Use This Chart To Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster / How To Watch Football Without Cable: Stream NFL and College Football / Best and Worst Home Insurance Companies - Best and Worst Auto Insurance Companies / How To Save and Invest the Clark Howard Way \\ 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

If you’ve been given the choice, what are the pros & cons of working from home vs. returning to the office you should consider? Plus, what research reveals about the 4 day work week. / Would you buy a house you’ve never been to? Clark’s take on this practice and what home buyers should know about buying houses online. Ask Clark topics include: YouTube TV vs. Hulu Live: Which Streaming Service Is Better? - Live TV Streaming Channel Tool / 6 Steps to Eliminate Credit Card Debt in 3 Years or Less / Should You Buy Out Your Leased Car? \\ 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

Congress has never passed consumer protections against hacks of investment accounts. 3 Clark smart rules for protecting your retirement accounts. / TRAVEL NEWS: Passports, canceled flights, rental cars, high fees & more. Ask Clark topics include: 5 Sneaky Ways to Improve Your Credit Score / These Credit Cards Earn 2% Cash Back on Purchases / How To Sell, Cancel or Get Rid of Your Timeshare / How I Saved Nearly 50% on a Rental Car - Car Rental Shortage: Here’s What You Need To Know / 7 Things to Know Before You Buy Travel Insurance / Booking a Cruise? Here Are 3 Tips on How to Do It for Less / How to Plan a Trip: Clark’s Best Travel Tips to Save Money \\ 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. / Why are people opting out of the monthly child tax credit? Clark answers this and other questions about the now active Child Tax Credit. Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: How to Teach Young Kids About Money / We Still Haven’t Received Our Federal Tax Refund. What Should We Do? / 4 Things To Know About Series I Savings Bonds / Wells Fargo Is Closing All Personal Lines of Credit / Biden Moves To Restrict Noncompete Agreements, Saying They're Bad For Workers \\ 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 a new way renters can save for a down payment on a home. Clark shares the pros & cons, and how to make this method work best for you. / A law eliminating oversight of predatory lenders has been overturned. Clark explains the ruling, the state-level significance, and the danger of payday loans. Ask Clark topics include: What Is a 403(b) and How Does It Work? / What Is a Virtual Card Number and How Does It Work? - Sign up for a free trial offer with a stored-value card to avoid unwanted subscriptions. / Shrinkflation: Warning: Watch Out for This Retailer Pricing Trick / How to Choose the Best Charities for Your Donations - For small charities, search the name of the organization + “IRS filings” / How to Reach a Real Person at AT&T, Xfinity, Cox and More - How to Find the Best Deal on Cheap Internet Service - Cnet - Elon Musk says Starlink will be available worldwide in August / Should You Take Your Pension in a Lump Sum or Monthly Payments? / Gap insurance: What is it and do you need it? \\ 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

Big banks are no longer the mortgage lenders of choice. Today banks account for only around 30% of mortgages issued because they’re usually a ripoff. Clark tells you the best places to look for a mortgage or refinance. // There’s been a lot of debate about our digital histories coming back to bite us years or decades later. One woman’s story is a lesson for all. Caution your kids about this in ongoing conversations. Ask Clark topics include: How and Why to Refinance Your Mortgage: A Step-By-Step Guide / Best and Worst Home Insurance Companies / Best and Worst Auto Insurance Companies / Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection vs. Progrexion Marketing, Inc - How to Freeze Your Credit With Experian, Equifax and TransUnion / GoodSam Roadside Assistance - AAA Membership - Consumer Reports: Buying a Roadside Assistance Plan / Food Delivery Is More Expensive Than It Used to Be - NYTimes: A Pandemic Lifeline for Restaurants, Delivery Is ‘Here to Stay’ \\ 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

Used car prices have gone through the roof! Clark’s personal car selling story and an important warning for shopping used cars. / 3/4s of us take some form of herbal remedy and/or supplements. The FDA reports weight loss, muscle building, and sexual aid products pose the greatest risk. What certifications to look for when buying supplements. Ask Clark topics include: 5 Ways to Recognize Fraud and Scams | FEMA.gov / How to sell your house by owner \\ 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

Still waiting on your IRS refund? You’re not alone! The IRS Taxpayer Advocate has announced 35 million tax returns have not been processed. They’re severely short-staffed and refunds are delayed. Clark’s tax filing strategy to save you some trouble. / Promising news on the price of prescription medicine: A new program for prescription insulin has the potential to shake up the entire prescription marketplace! Clark discusses industry factors that affect the cost of meds, and reform initiatives. Ask Clark topics include: What Is an HSA Account and How Does It Work? / 529 Plans / Why You Should Never Use a Debit Card To Pay for Anything / What Is a Roth 401(k) and How Does It Work? - How To Open a Roth IRA / Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA: What’s the Difference? / Homeowners 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

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. / Some people swear by Robinhood. Others swear at it. How free trading has evolved, and news on the controversial app, as they begin direct selling their stock. Get the Clark smart approach to investing. Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: 6 reasons to think twice about co-signing a loan / Young Investors Society / PenFed Power Cash Rewards Review: Up to 2% Unlimited Cash Back - Best Rewards Credit Cards: Top Picks for 2021 / 7 Things You Need to Know Before You Fly Southwest Airlines - Delta, Southwest top J.D. Power airline ranking for 2021 / Peacock Review: NBC’s TV Streaming Service Has Something for Everyone - YouTube TV vs. Hulu Live: Which Streaming Service Is Better? / Fidelity Investments Review 2021: Pros & Cons - How To Open a Roth IRA / SBA's PPP loan forgiveness deadline is fast approaching. Don't be left on the hook \\ 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

Clark just returned from the first cruise to sail out of a US Port since the pandemic began. His full Royal Caribbean Celebrity Edge cruising report, including ports of call & vaccine policy. / Oil prices are the highest since 2015 and normal patterns don’t apply this year. Clark explains what factors are behind the price of gas and how long the pricing pain is likely to last. Ask Clark topics include: How to Make the Best Use of Your Delta SkyMiles / Electric Scooter Reviews | E-Scooter Tests - Consumer Reports / T-Mobile Expanding 5G Network - Offers New Home Internet Service \\ 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

Near & dear to Clark’s heart: Volunteering. Clark’s service to others has been a lifelong endeavor, including Habitat for Humanity, Christmas Kids for foster children - and founding the Consumer Action Center in 1993 - still going strong offering free advice and accepting volunteers. / Did your business take out a PPP loan? The topic of forgiveness is a great source of frustration. Clark has the latest, plus advice on what to do if your PPP loan forgiveness is denied by the SBA or by your lender. Ask Clark topics include: 5 Steps to Getting a Good Deal on a Hotel Room - HotelTonight: Last Minute Hotel Deals at Great Hotels / Column: He hasn’t smoked in decades. But Hertz is hitting him with a $400 smoking fee - File Complaint with BBB / 5 Things to Know Before You Use Zelle \\ 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

Clark smart recommendations for credit card first-timers and how to build credit. / The fight between the natural and lab-grown diamond industries is heating up. After years of escalating prices, the diamond industry is facing a real threat, and they’re fighting back. Lab-created diamonds are identical chemically to dug diamonds for a fraction of the price. And the industry is terrified … Ask Clark topics include: 6 Things To Know Before You Sign Up for Visible / What Are Index Funds? / Best Investment Companies for Investors in 2021 / Fidelity Investments Review 2021: Pros & Cons / What Is a 403(b) and How Does It Work? / What Is an HSA Account and How Does It Work? \\ 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