The Clark Howard Podcast

Get Clark’s take on where mortgage rates are heading, plus great news about how lenders will determine your creditworthiness for a mortgage in the future. Also - The way future energy is discussed needs to be broader, based in the marketplace. A major natural gas company is integrating solar into the mix. How cool is that? Clark knows! Mortgage Rate Outlook: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 The Future of Energy: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Mortgages Sold to Fannie, Freddie Should Use More Than FICO Scores, Regulator Says - The Wall Street Journal. Cheaper Netflix Is Here: 5 Things To Know Why Are My Credit Scores Different? Williams to add solar to natural gas facilities in nine states Best 529 College Savings Plans By State What Is Long-Term Care Insurance Cost & Coverage Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The importance of choosing a financial adviser wisely can not be emphasized enough, and Clark has even more proof. Learn what to avoid, and when & how to hire a real financial planner. Also, the ongoing labor shortage is leading to adaptive innovations by American companies. Clark discusses manufacturing and automation as businesses adjust to labor force conditions - and what these changes will look like for consumers. Financial Advisers: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Labor Shortage Adaptations: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Choice of Financial Adviser Can Dramatically Affect Retirement Savings What Is a Fiduciary Financial Advisor and Do I Need One? Will the Real Financial Planners Please Stand Up? Clark.com - STREAMING TV Meet the Army of Robots Coming to Fill In for Scarce Workers - The Wall Street Journal. How to Deal With Medical Debt Turo: 5 Things To Know About the Cheap Car Rental Service Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keeping track of passwords and frequently having to change them is a part time job. But passwords may soon be a thing of the past. Now the industry believes they’ve come up with a more secure answer. Also, the auto insurance industry is all in to telematics tracking. For those with privacy concerns and lower than average miles driven, there’s a growing startup offering a viable alternative.  Beyond Passwords: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Per Mile Auto Insurance: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Death to passwords: Beta passkey support comes to Chrome and Android How to handle money when you're traveling overseas Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2022 Is Now a Good Time To Put Money in a CD? Why This Is the Best Time To Buy Series I Savings Bonds Atlanta startup Mile Auto raises more money to grow despite potential recession, CEO says Should I Let an Insurance Company Track My Driving Habits in Exchange for Lower Insurance Costs? 4 Things To Know Before You Buy Glasses From Costco Optical Is Costco Worth It? 8 Items That Could Pay for Your Membership Best Home Printers of 2022 - Consumer Reports Where To Buy the Best Cheap Printer Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Also, over the past couple of years, population shifts have led some cities to offer pay incentives for people to move there. Clark has an update on these locales, incentives, and how these programs are working out.  Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Getting Paid To Move: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: FSA and HSA: Can You Have Both at the Same Time? Why I Think Medicare Advantage Plans Stink - Clark Howard Big Changes Coming to Credit Reports This Summer When Should You Get an Accountant To Do Your Taxes? New IRS Online Security Process: Is It Safe? Automatic Bill Pay: How It Works and How To Do It Safely How To Save Money on Utilities These 20 cities will pay you to move there. Here's how it's working Best Investment Companies for Investors in 2022 Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark shares poll results on the question, “What would you tell your younger self if you could?” We received some great and very wise responses. And later - how people are handling this inflationary holiday includes cutting back & keeping it simple, and/or taking advantage of how the overhang of excessive inventory has created deals in many categories. Gift to Self: NOT overspending.  Audience Poll Results Yield Money Wisdom: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 A Very Inflationary Christmas: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Poll Results - What do you wish your younger self knew? Buy Nothing Clark's take: Why everyone should have a dash cam 10 Ways To Save on Prescription Drugs 4 ways U.S. shoppers plan to defeat inflation this holiday season - and you can too Amazon Sees Slowing Sales for the Holiday Season. Here’s What That Means for Shoppers Clark Deals - TVs The #1 Thing You Need To Do Before You Buy a Used Chromebook BBB-File a Complaint A Simple Trick To Paying Off Your Credit Card Faster Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark shares a wild story about a hotel booking gone terribly wrong, and how to protect yourself when booking with third party sites. Plus, Clark’s longtime creed: Save more, spend less, and avoid getting ripped off. Today - spotlight on a myriad of ripoffs proliferating right now and how to avoid them.  Hotel Booking Wisdom: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Scam Alerts: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: 5 Steps To Getting a Good Deal on a Hotel Room Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card Review 2022: What You Should Know Scammers are posing as your TV and internet company The Washington Post] That customer service number? It could be a scam. Why You Should Never Click on Random Text Messages How To Prevent, Report and Repair Identity Theft New IRS Online Security Process: Is It Safe? Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s that time of year - charity solicitations. But there are fake charities vying for our hard earned dollars and targeting our senior loved ones. Clark has some important guidelines for legitimate charitable giving. Also. we live in an era of surveillance. Our life online can be tracked and sold for profit, but WE don’t get paid. Yet, that option isn’t new and has resurfaced. Worth it? Clark explores privacy and consumer choice.  Legit Charitable Giving: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Online Tracking & Privacy Choice: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: NYTimes: 76 Fake Charities Shared a Mailbox. The I.R.S. Kept Approving More. How To Choose the Best Charities for Your Donations Is There a Safe Way To Invest in Real Estate? WSJ.com: Startups Offer to Pay Consumers for Permission to Track Them Online What Is a C.L.U.E Report and Its Impact on Your Insurance Why I Think Medicare Advantage Plans Stink - Clark Howard Health Insurance Guide   -   Pitfalls of Medicare Advantage Plans - Investopedia What Is a Secured Credit Card and How Does It Work? Petal Card Review: A Good Option for First Credit Card? Best Secured Credit Cards: Top Picks for Building or Repairing Credit Finance Guide for Formerly Incarcerated People - MoneyGeek Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new home buying trend is emerging that allows more people to become homeowners - BUT there are major considerations before entering into something very difficult to exit. Also, air travel patterns have changed, one of several factors driving up fares. Clark has 2 booking tips that can help you save in this current travel environment.  Home Buying Housemates: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Airfare Strategy: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: The new American dream is buying a house with friends: 'It's a co-parenting model, it's a co-economy model, and it's a really great friendship and support model' NYT - Grand-mates: Generations Sharing a Special Bond (and Sometimes the Rent) Why Clark Howard Wants You to Set Up a 'Financial Chromebook' United Airlines says hybrid working could help keep travel demand surging, despite US airfares rising by 43% over the last year Follow Clark Howard's #1 Rule To Travel Cheap Top Travel Deals - Clark Howard Priority Pass | Airport Lounge Access 6 Things To Know About the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Also - Return policies are different this holiday season. Rapid changes are underway and vary from retailer to retailer, online vs in-store. What to know before any purchase.  Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2 Beware New Return Policies: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: What Is a 403(b) and How Does It Work? 8 of the Best High-Yield Online Savings Accounts in 2022 How To Find a Trustworthy Mechanic The era of free returns may be coming to an end. Here's why retailers have started charging return fees — and how you can avoid them. Just keep your returns: Stores weigh paying you not to bring back unwanted items Which Documents Should You Keep and for How Long? How Long Do You Need To Keep Tax Documents? Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I Bonds aka Inflation Bonds have reset. Recently there was a land rush on I Bonds, offering a rate over 9%. The interest earnings rate is reset every 6 months based on an inflation measurement index. Clark explains the new structure and rate, and why I Bonds remain the best place to park savings. Also - In the pandemic wake, discretionary revenge spending has resulted in shocking numbers for both how much saving is down and credit card debt is up. Clark has an at home test that acts as a truth serum to guide spending.   I Bonds Update: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Revenge Spending Trap: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: 5 Things To Know About Series I Savings Bonds Pros and Cons of Unlimited PTO and Companies That Offer it HEALTHCARE.gov Homeowners Insurance Archives - Clark Howard More debt, higher fees: Credit card borrowers face mounting burdens Have you joined Clark's 'Ditch Your Debt' Facebook group yet? What Is Deferred Compensation? - Investopedia  Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices