The Clark Howard Podcast

Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Also in this episode - Warning: There is no viable secondary market for timeshares- but there ARE con job “timeshare resale services” and now criminal rings are into timeshare resale scams. Clark’s best advice for unloading a timeshare.  Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Timeshare Fraud Ring: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Mortgages Archives - Clark Howard What Is Mortgage Protection Insurance and Do You Need It? How To Dispute a Charge on Your Credit Card Why You Don't Need an 800 Credit Score What Is a Good Credit Score? What Is a Spousal IRA and What Are the Rules? The Best Security Keys for Multi-Factor Authentication Full View - all your online financial information in one place [Franklin News] U.S Treasury sanctions cartel-run timeshare fraud network targeting Americans How To Sell, Cancel or Get Rid of Your Timeshare Scam Alert: Stay Away From Timeshare Exit Companies Which Type of Organization Is Best For Your Business? Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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

We all want to improve our credit. Learn Clark smart ways to build or rebuild your credit including the best secured credit cards. Also, Clark recently talked about the end of free shipping. Well its partner, free returns, is now on life support. Free returns have gone through the roof and online sellers are cracking down. What to know before you buy.  Establish/Repair Your Credit: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 The End Of Free Returns: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Best Secured Credit Cards for 2023: Top Picks for Building or Repairing Credit Credit Karma Review: Free Credit Score and More at Your Fingertips 4 Ways To Get Your Free Credit Score Why You Don't Need an 800 Credit Score What Is a Good Credit Score? The #1 Mistake That Can Hurt Your Credit Score Are You Following Clark's Maximum Auto Loan Length Rule? Amazon Just Made a Surprising Change That Breaks Its Most Important Rule. It'll Make Some Customers Angry Amazon will charge customers a fee for some UPS returns Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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

Yet more statistics confirm how little American couples and families talk about money. This reluctance is actually harmful to your financial security and independence. It’s vital to know how to start the conversation - and keep it ongoing. Also, Influencers are so powerful in the marketplace today, and are now taking the moving industry by storm. When it comes to moving and the risks involved, don’t follow influencers. Don’t follow ads. Follow Clark’s moving rules.  MONEY Conversations:  Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Rules For Safe MOVING: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Americans are choosing lottery tickets and maybe even fortune tellers over financial planners   How Couples Can Get on the Same Page About Money How Do I Know Whether I’m Getting a Good Price on Gutter Protection Covers and Other Household Improvements? Lindsay Lohan, Soulja Boy Accused by SEC of Illegally Touting Crypto Token Help Me Move? I’ll Pay You in Instagram Likes How To Find a Good Moving Company   /   Moving.com  /  Move.org Automatic Bill Pay: How It Works and How To Do It Safely Should I Invest Instead of Paying Extra on My Low-Interest Mortgage? What Is an HSA Account and How Does It Work? Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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

There’s a new twist on grocery vs restaurant inflation. Clark helps you stretch your food dollars given what’s happening now. Also today, Clark offers a savings strategy free of bank worries, that is both secure and can yield more interest on your parked cash. Plus a NEVER EVER Rule on buying CDs.  Supermarket vs Restaurant Inflation:  Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 A SAVINGS Twofer: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Restaurant prices are rising faster than grocery prices for the first time since inflation ran hot What Is Long-Term Care Insurance Cost & Coverage How Do You Prepare for the Likelihood of Long-Term Care Costs? SSA.GOV -Benefit Reduction for Early Retirement WSJ - Why Brokerage Accounts Are So Generous Now - The Wall Street Journal. What Is a CD and Should You Open One? What Is a CD Ladder and When Is It a Good Idea? Betterment Review: How It Works, Pros & Cons Wealthfront Review: How It Works, Pros & Cons Fidelity vs. Vanguard vs. Schwab: Which Brokerage Is Best? Should I Borrow Money To Pay for a Wedding? How To Open a Roth IRA Balanced Fund: Definition, Investment Mix, Examples What Are Index Funds? Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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

Many remain unsettled about the stock market rollercoaster we’ve been on lately. Clark illustrates basic investment principles with a simple calculation that should calm your fears and enhance your understanding of WHY you ride it out long term. And - where to NEVER EVER place your Roth IRA.  Also today - you likely have many digital accounts. Know how to ensure your loved ones have access when the need arises.   Investing For The Long Term Win:  Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Digital Account Access: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Here’s how much money you'd have if you invested $1,000 in the S&P 500 a decade ago Fidelity vs. Vanguard vs. Schwab: Which Brokerage Is Best? What Is an ETF?   /   How To Open a Roth IRA Target Date Funds: Clark's Favorite Retirement Investment Fidelity and State Street Push to Make 401(k)s More Like Pensions - The Wall Street Journal. 2 Ways To Guarantee Yourself a Lifetime Stream of Income 6 Things To Know Before Contacting the National Foundation for Credit Counseling Actually, Charging Your Phone in a Public USB Port Is Fine THE WSJ: Before You Die, Secure Your Digital Life Clark.com How To Make Your Online Accounts Accessible When You Die Facebook Settlement: How to Claim Part of a $725M Privacy Settlement Facebook Settlement Submission Claim Proton Mail — Get a private, secure, and encrypted email Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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 today, most Americans think their children are going to be worse off than they are. Clark discusses what’s behind this “recency bias” and gives a counterpoint to the pervading sense that our best days are behind us. Why is Clark optimistic?  Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Reason For Optimism: America’s Future: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show 25+ Places That Offer Discounts to U.S. Veterans Military and Veterans Guide: Free resources for getting your finances in order Betterment Cash Reserve | High-yield cash account Where To Buy the Best Cheap Printer WSJ: Most Americans Doubt Their Children Will Be Better Off, WSJ-NORC Poll Finds Millennial Money: Can therapy help make you richer? America Is Back in the Factory Business Fidelity vs. Vanguard vs. Schwab: Which Brokerage Is Best? Comparing Hybrid Financial Advisors: Vanguard vs. Schwab vs. Fidelity Valley.com Transfer FAQs Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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

New federal rules on mortgage fees - known as  loan level price adjustments - have a lot of people hot under the collar. This affects people in different ways depending on credit score and down payment. Clark explains what’s going on and those most affected. Also - Summer approaches, and skin cancer rates dictate protecting your skin. You can also protect your wallet because the best sunscreens are not necessarily the most expensive. And then there’s the chemical vs mineral block sunscreen debate…. New Mortgage Lending Fees: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Best Sunscreens: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Mortgage fees are changing for homebuyers next month. Here's what you should know. NYPost - How the US is subsidizing high-risk homebuyers — at the cost of those with good credit Is There Really a New, Unfair Mortgage Tax on Those With High Credit? Mortgages Archives - Clark Howard What Are the Benefits of an Assumable Mortgage? Should You Buy Out Your Leased Car? Consumer Reports’ best sunscreen of 2023 is only $5 from Walmart (Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.) Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles: What You Need to Know Before You Buy Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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 shares new travel info including Spirit’s StatusMatch promotion and news on last minute fares. Also in this episode, the plague of customer NO service has only gotten worse. Clark offers strategies, including a NEVER NEVER rule about what NOT to say. Air Travel Info: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Customer No Service: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Spirit Airlines will now match loyalty status on other airlines New Report: Top 5 Cheapest Airlines for Last-Minute Domestic Flights Should You Use Credit Card Portals to Book Travel? Upgraded Points Data Study Reveals Most Affordable Airlines for Last-Minute Ticket Purchases on Most Popular Domestic Flights Dollar Flight Club | Cheap Flights - International & Domestic Where Should I Look for a Great Deal on a Cruise in 2023? Is Booking a Cruise Last-Minute Still a Good Bargain Strategy? The Only Way You Should Pay for a Cruise As Customer Problems Hit a Record High, More People Seek ‘Revenge’ [The Washington Post] Vanishing phone customer support is driving us all insane Customer No Service - Clark Howard Community BBB-File a Complaint Submit a complaint | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 7 Things To Know About Costco Pharmacy 10 Ways To Save on Prescription Drugs Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs New to volunteering? A How-To-Guide to find the right fit Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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

What to know about Apple’s new savings account offer. Plus, a cautionary note about companies promoting high savings rates that only amount to promissory notes because they’re NOT insured. Learn what to look out for to protect your hard earned savings. Also today, the wait is over. Finally a new rule on medical debt kicks in that could kick up your credit score.  Apple Savings Offer: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Medical Debt Law Now In Effect: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show WSJ: Apple Makes the iPhone a Home for Savings Accounts Clark.com: Apple Is Now Offering 4.15% APR Savings Accounts: Is There a Catch? This Start-Up Promises Rates 13 Times Higher Than a Typical Savings Account. One Problem: It Isn’t a Bank Deposit Insurance - FDIC / Are Credit Union Deposits Insured Up To $250,000? Fidelity Youth Account frequently asked questions (FAQs) CarMax Review: 5 Things To Know Before You Buy or Sell [The Washington Post] Finally, medical debt under $500 has been removed from credit reports What is a “surprise medical bill” and what should I know about the No Surprises Act? 3 Ways To Get a Free VIN Check Before Buying a Used Car How To Spot a Puppy Scam Online Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest financial decisions in life is the purchase of a home. Clark has warnings about 2 trends that can be perilous in the long run for home buyers. Also on today’s episode, the recent shuttering of David’s Bridal stores points to a bigger concern: How to handle making an advance deposit on a future purchase. Clark has an important “NEVER NEVER NEVER NOT EVER” rule, to protect your money.  2 Mortgage Warnings: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Advance Deposit Rule: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show Feds expand 40-year mortgage eligibility. Experts say it could lead to more. NYT - Retired and Buying a Starter Home. It’s Forever. Banks Are Closing Customer Accounts, With Little Explanation How Many Credit Cards Should I Have? Capital One now rejecting transactions from Affirm, Afterpay and more WSJ: David’s Bridal Will Close All Stores in Chapter 11 Unless Buyer Emerges Do Not Give Your Social Security Number at These Places NYT - Shifting Norms on Tattoos in Japan Clark.com - Streaming TV  -  Live TV Streaming Channel Tool Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com 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