The Clark Howard Podcast

Fewer Americans are listing their homes for sale. And as interest rates continue to remain low, that is driving up home prices. Artificial intelligence is changing how we react after getting into a car accident. These tech developments will also majorly help adjusters do their work in a more efficient manner. Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new rule gives employers more leeway when it comes to how they classify employees. Clark discusses the pros and cons of this move as well as how employers should treat non salaried employees. If you are willing to travel right now, Southwest has an offer that's pretty hard to refuse. Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark discusses how to handle overwhelming hospital bills. It's absolutely crucial not to pay that bill with a credit card. There are some positive signs about how small businesses have survived are faring. There is likely still some need for further stimulus to keep businesses afloat. Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a federal moratorium on evicting tenants who can't pay right now. Clark discusses free software that is available to help you fight back if your landlord is wrongfully trying to evict you. Walmart is raising pay for 165,000 workers. They are creating new leadership roles for many employees and a new structure for how they pay employees as well. Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of Americans opt to take social security when they are first eligible. But this can cost you a whole lot of money in the long run. Clark discusses why it is so important to delay taking social security if that is possible in your life. Kim and Joel share the Clark Stinks posted on the web and share with Clark. Submit yours to: Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Telemedicine is taking off right now. And it's actually better for your health, too. There are all sorts of positive signs in the job market. Clark talks about Hobby Lobby raising its minimum wage to $17 an hour, new job training programs, and more. Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stats show that Americans who have been able to work from home during the pandemic would love to be able to continue doing so when things get back to normal. But a large number of employers are ready to bring their employees back into the office. Football is Clark's favorite sport. And he is so glad that it's back! Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Americans who can are saving more of their income. This bodes well as the economy continues to recover as the spenders will be able to meaningfully support that recovery. USPS delays are having a real impact on the delivery of important medications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark talks about what has led to the wildfires in California and what policies need to be implemented to avoid such devastation in the future. Link for a listener - Marketwatch's Best Places to Retire tool. Verizon just bought Tracfone. This will intensify the price cutting in the industry. That's great news for consumers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark talks about how the economy has changed since Covid-19 became a reality in our lives. And his wife Lane joins him to pose your questions - all of which are related to how you should navigate the financial waters given the current state of things. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retailers are likely to start offering bargains earlier than normal this year. You could find some great bargains in October instead of having to wait until November! There is a used car shortage in our country which is pushing up the value of older vehicles. If you have an older car sitting around that you don't need, consider selling it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you need unlimited data, Mint Mobile just launched one of the best plans that is pretty inexpensive - only $30 a month when you pay up front. Check it out on their website. FedEx is going on a hiring spree ahead of the holidays. If you are looking for work, check out the job postings from FedEx. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stock market has started to experience some volatility - particularly in the tech sector. Clark talks about how that should impact how you invest your money. If you cannot afford to pay your rent right now, you can avoid eviction by filling out this CDC form. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NHTSA has released a new free app that makes it easy for consumers to check for any outstanding recalls on their vehicle. Dollar store chains are starting to get more in-store traffic as a large segment of hurting consumers turn there for lower prices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Walmart Plus just launched with a $98 annual fee in an attempt to take market share from Amazon. The perks will include fast shipping on a lot of items - many of which you can get the same day you place the order! Kim and Joel share the Clark Stinks posted on the web and share with Clark. Submit yours to: Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple will be releasing 5G iPhones in the Fall. Don't buy an iPhone until those are released! Clark talks about the states that are having the most financial difficulty right now and how that will affect you. Taxes could go up and services could get cut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal reserve has signaled that it won't do much to reign in inflation right now. Clark discusses what that means for your money in the near future. Savers, in particular, are getting their clocks cleaned. Some companies are putting employees under a gag order if they have symptoms of Covid. Clark is not in favor of companies adopting these sorts of policies. They are unsafe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark talks about how the executive orders are rolling out. And will there be another stimulus package? It's likely. But it's hard to know when Congress will come to an agreement. Delta, Alaska, and American Airlines join United in dropping airline change fees & a flying car was tested successfully in Japan! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark was diagnosed with prostate cancer over a decade ago. But he's in great health still. Staying healthy is important for so many reasons, and your eating habits are a major contributor to your overall health. Check out Clark.com for more info on Clark's work with the Prostate Cancer Foundation. United Airlines is permanently getting rid of ticket-change fees. This is great news. Those fees are unnecessary. They also cause consumers a lot of frustration and cost them a lot of money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Insurance companies are raking in the profit right now as crime is down and people are driving less. That makes this an excellent time for you to shop with multliple companies in order to score a better rate. You could save a LOT of money every year! Kim and Joel share the Clark Stinks posted on the web and share with Clark. Submit yours to: Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new refi fee that Clark talked about last week is being postponed until December. And borrowers who are refinancing smaller loans won't see it at all! With an influx of Covid scams, freezing your credit is more important than ever. If you haven't frozen your credit, do it soon. It's incredibly quick and free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FloodFactor.com is a great website that can help you assess your home's flood risk. And if you are at a higher risk, you can get flood insurance pretty inexpensively! There's a new way to get money to pay your tuition at for-profit schools. And no surprise, it's a rip-off too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IRS will stop sending tax notices for now until it clears through a backlog of mailed in returns. Charles Schwab has a new tool to help with retirement planning. In about 15 minutes you can generate a helpful retirement plan based on your own goals and the probability of funding those goals based on your age and current asset allocation. You can check out the new free tool called Schwab Plan here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zoom experienced a big crash this morning on the east coast of the US. Clark discusses and talks about the importance of having backup video conferencing options. The K-shaped economy is increasing the level of income inequality in the country. Clark discusses how to change your income prospects as the Covid economy continues to create real hardship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retailers like Target are crushing it right now - in large part because they have done an incredible job with click & collect. Clark loves buying stuff and picking them up at nearby national retailers. Kim and Joel share the Clark Stinks posted on the web and share with Clark. Submit yours to: Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A court has just ruled that Amazon can be held responsible for faulty and unsafe good being sold on its website. Often many of the questionable items are sold by third party sellers but Clark calls on Amazon to clean things up on their site. The next stimulus bill is taking a while to put together. Clark talks about how the implementation of the recent executive orders is going and what we can expect from a stimulus bill at some point in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stock market has fully rebounded since its collapse in the Spring. Apple just hit a $2 trillion valuation while the S&P 500 hit a new milestone as well. Leases are traditionally one year long. But landlords are becoming more flexible due to the pandemic. So if you would prefer a shorter lease or even to rent month to month, you should ask for that now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mortgage refinancing just got more expensive thanks to this new fee from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Apple and Google are acting more and more like a shared monopoly. Case in point, Fortnite has been pulled from both Google and Apple's store for attempting to bypass the fees they impose on sellers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are some big issues with the postal service right now and it has led to a political firestorm in Washington. But Clark wants to discuss the reforms that are actually needed as the USPS has seen declines in the mail they deliver. It looks like federal student loans will continue to see payment and interest deferral for the rest of the year due to the President's executive order. There's also a new proposal to change the way income based repayment works which would create some much needed simplification. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark encourages people to look over their spending for the past month or two. Are you still spending on gym memberships or other recurring subscriptions that you aren't really using right now? Cancel them out of your life! Kim and Joel share the Clark Stinks posted on the web and share with Clark. Submit yours to: Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With rates dropping quickly for savers, iBonds could be a great place to put some money you want liquid in order to get a better return. Some items are still hard to find at the grocery store. Clark talks about what is going on and the price inflation we're starting to see on lots of grocery items. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President's executive order extends federal unemployment benefits. But what will that look like on the ground in the states? Clark discusses. Boost Mobile has a new $10 a month plan! Clark talks about that and some of the other best deals right now on cell service. You could save hundreds of dollars a year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People are getting bill collection notifications via text or email that are scams. Especially in these emotional times, be vigilant for scam artists trying to get your personal or financial information. Life insurance companies want access to medical records in order to speed up life insurance purchases. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark discusses the difficulty many are having as federal unemployment benefits run dry in the absence of another stimulus bill. It could lead to an increase in evictions if the federal government doesn't pass another bill soon. The school year is getting off to a rocky start in many places. As some kids are doing remote learning, others have gone back in person. And the difference in safety precautions varies greatly by school district. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gold prices have been soaring. And the gold bugs are touting gold to the masses as the best investment strategy. Clark talks about how you should think about gold in your investment portfolio. Kim and Joel share the Clark Stinks posted on the web and share with Clark. Submit yours to: Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Credit card limits are being cut for many customers by the banks. This is going to drastically hurt the credit scores of many - and in the midst of a pandemic. AT&T is having an incredibly tough time. The company is losing massive amounts of subscribers which is crushing revenue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With more Americans staying put and hunkering down, the storage unit industry is hurting in a big way. A new survey from Bankrate shows that almost 50% of Americans have had a reduction in income because of Covid. Pay cuts and furloughs have made things much harder on a lot of folks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roth 401k's make more sense than traditional 401k's for a lot of people. Clark discusses why that is the case. Wendy's has launched a rewards program. Starbucks just made changes to its rewards program. Clark talks about which ones he uses and how he's able to use these rewards programs and apps in order to score discounts and free food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you eligible for food stamps? Many more Americans might qualify right now. A new email service will charge you $100 a year for an email address but they offer you privacy in return. Clark has other free options that he shares also. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CVS in Oklahoma was fined for prescription errors and poor staffing. Pharmacists need to be treated better! Kim and Joel share the Clark Stinks posted on the web and share with Clark. Submit yours to: Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lantern and Cake are newer websites that do a great job helping people plan for the future and do some estate planning. If you will let your insurance company monitor your driving you can score some major discounts and save a lot of money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon has created a new shopping cart that allows you to skip the checkout line. Walmart is working on something similar that will create efficiency and limit human contact. Acorns has created Acorns Early to help you start invest for your child's future. If you have a child born in 2020 the account is free until they turn 18! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In some states, almost 1/4 of citizens are without health coverage due to the pandemic and having lost their job. Clark talks about where to look for healthcare coverage. You should specifically look to the healthcare exchange at Healthcare.gov. You may be eligible for a heavily subsidized policy if your income has been drastically reduced. Clark discusses the state of the housing market and how things are shaping up in regards to inventory and pricing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pharmaceutical chain Walgreens will be adding doctors offices to stores around the country. The Walgreens model will be unique as you'll be able to see a primary care doctor there. People are paying down credit card debt in a big way since the pandemic began. This is great news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Garmin services went down after a ransomware attack. This affects user data for Garmin users but the implications of this breach go even further. Clark discusses. Kim and Joel share the Clark Stinks posted on the web and share with Clark. Submit yours to: Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stimulus bill talks are heating up in Washington. As Covid cases are increasing in many states, legislators are starting to talk about what it should look like to provide further financial relief to affected Americans. Buzzfeed News is reporting that the personal information of Instacart shoppers is being sold online. This includes names, addresses, credit card data, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Black Friday is going to be very different this year. Walmart has announced that they won't be open on Thanksgiving and that will likely cause a lot of other retailers to follow suit. Some universities are offering tuition discounts this year. Others aren't. Clark gives alternatives to consider if the school you or your child attends isn't offering a Covid discount. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As states and municipalities begin to do away with eviction moratoriums, it's important to know how to protect yourself. Clark discusses how you can work with your landlord to potentially get out of a lease. Flights are getting more crowded as more people get back onto airplanes. Clark discusses the specific airline passenger limits and what you need to know before you fly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Different stimulus proposals are making the rounds. Clark discusses what he believes will be a part of the next relief package. Major retailers are now requiring that you wear a mask in order to shop in person. And as the biggest retailers in the country have developed policies, many smaller businesses are following suit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mortgage rates have fallen. And you can now get a 30-year mortgage under 3%! Clark is a big fan of 15-year mortgages though because of the even lower rates those carry. Kim and Joel share the Clark Stinks posted on the web and share with Clark. Submit yours to: Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices