The Clark Howard Podcast
2,303 episodes — Page 29 of 47
7.16.20 Bitcoin scam hacks prominent Twitter users; Small business bankruptcy tips
Hackers broke into the Twitter accounts of prominent politicians and business leaders to send a message about a Bitcoin scam that claimed to double people's money. It's easier than ever for small businesses to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Clark tells you what you need to know if your business is in big financial trouble right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7.15.20 Walmart now requiring masks to be worn; New data on the economic recovery
Walmart is going to require customers to wear masks starting July 20. Clark discusses new data on the economic recovery. He talks about which sectors are doing well and which ones aren't - and how that's affecting jobs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7.14.20 The economy, jobs, and the potential for more stimulus; Travel safety and booking
Clark talks about what is currently happening in the economy as Covid cases rise in many states. Booking travel is still fraught with issues right now. Clark discusses how to think about safety when traveling and booking travel in the midst of the pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7.13.20 Tax filing deadline quickly approaching; Ford promises to buy back cars if you lose your job
The deadline to file your taxes is on Wednesday. And Clark discusses the importance of filing a return no matter what your situation is. Auto manufacturer Ford promises to take back any Ford car that you buy if you lose your job - as long as you finance your vehicle with Ford as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7.10.20 Why you need to drive your car even if you have nowhere to go; Getting conference calls right
Because of Covid, cars are being driven a lot less. And some animals are finding a new home. So Clark discusses how to take care of your car and keep it in good shape even if you don't have anywhere you need to drive. Conference calls can be a frustrating new part of your daily life. Clark talks about how you can make them easier and less annoying. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7.9.20 People are adopting pandemic puppies; Investing gets cheaper as fund fees fall
People are buying a lot of puppies and other pets because of the pandemic. Clark makes a pitch for getting a rescue puppy. Investing continues to get cheaper for the average American. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7.8.20 How you bank will change because of Covid; How restaurants will survive - takeout
It seems like every sector of the economy is impacted by Covid in one way or another. Banking is no different. Clark talks about how your relationship with your bank will change because of the virus. Takeout is becoming incredibly important to the survival of local restaurants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7.7.20 Companies now doing curbside pickup; 71% of Americans think their retirement is destroyed
Curbside pickup is becoming more normal these days. And even major companies like Aldi and Sam's Club have both started doing curbside pickup. A large percentage of Americans feel like their retirement has been destroyed because of Covid's effects on the economy and the stock market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7.6.20 Best customer service cell phone companies; Cities redesigning streets for bike commuting
The ACSI just came out and lists the cell phone companies that have the best customer service. Covid-19 has caused some cities to look at how they design for alternative forms of transportation - and many are prioritizing bike commuting right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7.3.20 Community college saves you money; Clark Stinks
Community college is a big time money saver. And it might make even more sense for lots of kids in the Fall. 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
7.2.20 Millions of loan payments being skipped; How to approach investing if you are near retirement
Millions of loan payments aren't being made right now. But it's actually not as bad as some people thought it might be. Many near-retirees are having a hard time thinking about how they should handle their investments right now. Clark gives his thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7.1.20 Travel insurance problems; People are moving all across the country
The travel insurance industry has had massive problems during the pandemic. Clark tells you how to buy travel insurance moving forward. People are moving across the country in much greater numbers right now for more opportunities or a better life. Remote work is definitely contributing to this as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.30.20 Keep your food fresh longer; Is now a good time to re-balance your retirement portfolio?
There are ways to keep your food fresh for longer. And it's more important as grocery prices continue to rise. Re-balancing your portfolio can be important from time to time. And right after stocks have moved a good bit might mean it's wise to check your holding. But remember, it's important to keep your time horizon in mind before you make any changes too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.29.20 New 401k rules could wreak havoc on your account; Asking for a raise
New 401k rules allow for individual investors to invest in private equity. Clark is not a fan of this. Clark gives suggestions on how to ask for a raise...and actually get one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.26.20 Americans are returning to car dealerships; Clark Stinks
Most people thought that car buying would take place online in the future - in large part as a response to the pandemic. But Americans are already returning to car dealerships! 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
6.25.20 Walmart expands education benefit to include skilled trades; Vanguard's super-cheap digital advisor
Walmart is offering its workers increased access to education benefits that go beyond just getting a college degree. Vanguard's digital advisor service is making robo-advising even cheaper and more accessible for people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.24.20 Banks took in $11 billion in overdraft fees in 2019; Pay cuts are becoming more common
Overdraft fees are the worst. Mostly because they can be avoided! Pay cuts have become more common during the pandemic. Many employers are choosing pay reductions instead of letting employees go completely. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.23.20 Watch out for unused gift cards; Debt collectors increase aggressive tactics
Unused gift cards need to be used as soon as possible. As more retailers file for bankruptcy those gift cards become worthless. Debt collectors are taking more aggressive tactics to claw back money from people that owe. Clark tells you what to watch out for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.22.20 Beware credit card fraud; Renter background checks are flawed
As we do more shopping online, scammers are more likely to take over individual credit card accounts. So freeze your credit and check your statements and watch out for phishing scams. Renter background checks help landlords decide who they will rent to. But they aren't always accurate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.19.20 Last-minute Father's Day thoughts; Clark Stinks
Clark talks about what to do for your dad in the middle of a pandemic. 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
6.18.20 Spending from high-income earners is down; Getting PPP forgiveness and getting your stimulus money
Clark discusses the current state of the economy including what is happening with unemployment. Also, high earners in society have been spending a whole lot less which isn't helping the recovery. Getting PPP forgiveness will be easier for small businesses with smaller PPP loans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.17.20 Target raising minimum wage to $15 an hour; T-Mobile outage and communicating when networks go down
Target is raising the minimum wage. Pay has gotten much better for retail workers in recent years and that trend is continuing. T-Mobile experienced a massive network outage yesterday. Clark talks about what went down and how you should look to communicate in case your internet or cell network goes down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.16.20 Retail sales are up; EIDL loans are again available for small business owners
Retail sales rose a record 18% in May. That's the biggest monthly increase since 1992. Clark discusses what this means for the economy. The SBA EIDL program has been hard to follow with rules that have changed frequently. But the SBA just re-opened EIDL loans for small businesses who have been hit hard by the pandemic. You can call 1-800-659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.15.20 Hertz selling off cars in its fleet; The riskiest activities to partake in during Covid-19 pandemic
Hertz is selling off cars. But should you buy one? Clark tells you what to watch out for and what is important when buying a used car. Certain activities are riskier right now. Clark talks about how to weigh the pros and cons of partaking in some activities as Covid-19 is still a real issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.12.20 Monitoring your credit score is even more important right now; Clark Stinks
With many payments being deferred right now some creditors are making inaccurate reports to the credit bureaus. So watch your credit score closely! 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
6.11.20 Why the stock market fell today; Amazon creates small business lines of credit
The stock market took a big dip today. There are a few reasons for this and Clark explains. Amazon and Goldman Sachs have joined together to offer small business lines of credit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.10.20 So many good deals right now!; Small investors are taking big risks
Clarkdeals.com has been busy because deals currently abound. Clark talks about the best deals he's currently seeing. Small investors are buying incredibly risky stocks right now. There's a strong chance that will come back to bite them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.9.20 Car prices are going up; Some stimulus payments coming via debit card
Used car prices had fallen a good bit recently because of the pandemic. But the time for used car deals is over as demand has skyrocketed. Some people have accidentally thrown away their stimulus money. That's because it came in the form of a debit card in an unmarked envelope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.8.20 Are we still in a recession?; Ticketmaster's new refund policy
Some economists are saying that we aren't in a recession any longer. That's hard to understand when unemployment is still off the charts. Clark discusses the current situation of our economy. Ticketmaster has a new refund policy. Clark explains the details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.5.20 Should kids go back to school?; Why CD's might be a great place for your money right now
Clark talks about the great dilemma of whether or not schools should open in the Fall. Rates for taking on student loans in the Fall have plummeted. And CD's might be better than a savings account right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.4.20 Employers can allow you to change your health plan; Popular pandemic scams
The CARES Act allows employers to make a decision on whether or not you can change the healthcare plan you are currently enrolled in. There are more scams floating around right now. Clark tells you what scams are popular right now and how to avoid getting taken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.3.20 Store brands are having a moment; Paying your rent
Store brands and generics are doing incredibly well right now. But they have always been a good money saving idea. A lot of people are having a tough time right now. But almost 9 out of 10 people have been able to pay rent on time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.2.20 Amazon is releasing a new Fire HD tablet; PayPal's new credit card is actually great
Amazon has solid tablets at really great prices. And they have just released a new version. PayPal's older credit card offering just wasn't that great. But the new one is definitely worth considering! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6.1.20 Advice for people looking for a job; People are driving again in bigger numbers
Clark discusses how you should go about job hunting in today's environment. People are starting to drive again in larger numbers. Gas prices are lower than they were before the lockdown began so that's a silver lining. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.29.20 Small businesses ditching delivery services; Avoid using these apps for payments especially with current Covid scams
Delivery services cost small businesses money. So many are opting to ditch the delivery services and Clark discusses how you can continue to support them. Using app like Venmo and Cash app are great for paying people that you know. But scammers are using these apps to swindle people out of their money. Clark tells you what to watch out for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.28.20 Average monthly expenses survey; What foods are making a comeback right now
Clark goes over a survey that shows what the average monthly expenses are for Americans. Some of the big food products, especially snack foods, are coming back in vogue these days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.27.20 Staying safe in hotels this Summer; Fiduciary disclosure coming to your mailbox
When you are traveling this Summer, if you are staying in a hotel, it's important to stay safe. Clark tells you how to do that. An awkward and opaque letter will be coming to investors in the coming weeks. Clark bring some clarity to what this fiduciary disclosure means. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.26.20 Navigating Cobra insurance benefits; How students should think about school in the Fall
Cobra benefits are going to be offered to you if you lose your job in many cases. But those benefits can be EXPENSIVE. Clark discusses what the decision to get Cobra should entail. Should you go back to school in the Fall? That's a very real question. You might not be getting what you are paying for if Zoom calls are the likely classroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.25.20 Walmart Express offers 2-hour delivery; Home prices are actually rising right now
Walmart just launched Walmart Express which promises 2-hour delivery. Many people assumed that home prices would fall as a result of the pandemic and increased unemployment. But home prices have actually gone up. Clark explains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.22.20 Restaurants incur higher expenses start surcharging customers; Clark Stinks
Some restaurants have come under fire for charging Covid-related surcharges. But the revenue is down and expenses are up for most local restaurants. Clark Stinks makes a return to the show this week! If you have a Clark Stinks to share go to Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.21.20 How the life insurance industry is changing; Where the hiring is actually happening
At-home exams for life insurance are starting to become the norm instead of being the exception to the rule. Buy life insurance on the internet in order to avoid the hassle. A lot of hiring isn't going to take place on the giant career websites. Look to horizontal job platforms for sector-specific job opportunities during the recovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.20.20 Getting debt relief from financial institutions is hard right now; Second home communities will hurt for a while
The phone lines could be tied up at your bank or lender as MANY people are seeking relief. Clark tells you what to do. Second home communities will likely have a tough time for a while. Prices will likely go down for homes in these locations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.19.20 Walmart earnings soar; Cyber insurance is more necessary now - and more costly
Walmart has been one of the biggest quarantine winners as earnings have gone up substantially. Cyber insurance is becoming an even bigger necessity as more people are working from home. But it's also getting more expensive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.18.20 New mortgage forbearance rules; Stock market pivoting positive on vaccination progress
New mortgage forbearance rules are great for people who are having a hard time paying their mortgage right now. The stock market is doing well today thanks to progress on a potential vaccine for Covid. This shows how much we all want good news right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.15.20 Retail sales plummet 16% in April; Clark Stinks
Retail sales were even worse in April than economists expected. Clark Stinks is back! You can contribute to this segment by sharing the ways you think Clark Stinks at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.14.20 New PPP loan guidance; Credit report protections in the CARES Act
Some really helpful guidance on the PPP loans just came out. In particular, the SBA is providing safe harbor for PPP loans under $2 million. Your credit should not be negatively affected if you can't pay your bill right now. If you've seen your credit score take a hit, stand up for your rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.13.20 Grocery costs have soared; Watch out for Coronavirus misinformation
Clark talks about how consumer purchasing has changed...and groceries have quickly gotten more expensive. Misinformation about the virus is rampant - in particular on social media sites. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.12.20 New safety rules when traveling; Student loan forbearance affecting people's credit
Airlines and airports are instituting safety requirements if you plan to travel in the near future. Student loan forbearance has been great for people with student loans. But some people are having their credit negatively affected. Not good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.11.20 Manufacturing plants opening back up; Life insurance is harder to get right now
Unemployment has climbed and is worse than the headline number shows. Clark also discusses how manufacturing is opening back up. Some Americans are being turned away from buying life insurance. Overall, life insurance is harder to get than it was just last month. The ClarkRave today mentioned Rhonda Roland Shearer's GoFundMe to cut red tape for heroes. You can find that here. Clark also mentions how to return an economic income payment on this episode. Check out FAQ #41 on IRS.gov in order to find out more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5.8.20 What to do when mortgage forbearance is over; Clark Stinks; Bikes are selling like hot cakes
Planning ahead for how to handle the end of mortgage forbearance is smart. Clark tells you how to talk to your mortgage provider if you need more time too. Clark Stinks makes a return to the show this week! If you have a Clark Stinks to share go to Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Consumer spending has been different since the pandemic hit. In particular, home workout equipment and bicycles are incredibly popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices