The Clark Howard Podcast

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...

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 ong...

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...

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 m...

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...

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 inc...

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 l...

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 Clar...

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. / Is your car spying on you for your insurance company? Good news for consumers around that controversial topic. Telematics has been a privacy issue and has become more invasive and sophisticated over time. Meanwhile, you can save big if you drive less than 10,000 miles per year. A new small competitor - available...

Many headlights now, especially aftermarket brands, are blinding to oncoming drivers. This can make night driving perilous. Clark has a safety tip and welcomes yours. We need enforced standards for headlight intensity as a safety issue. / Think you’re shopping at your favorite store online? Think again - Many major retail sites of all types are now offering their platform to third party merchants....

Clark believes it’s essential that teenagers work starting at 15. Every dollar they DON’T spend, they can put into a Roth IRA (with a parental match if possible). Teaching deferred gratification gets youths in the habit of saving money to build for the future. / The summer is prime wedding season, and with so much pent-up demand, weddings are back - in a different form. Why Clark loves this trend....

We’re seeing worker shortages all over the country. The reasons may not be what you think. The problem pre-dates the pandemic. There’s a demographic angle. How businesses will need to adapt. / Have you ever had to cancel or delay a trip because you were ill? The airlines need to find a better way to treat people to protect us all. Taxpayer-funded corporate welfare saved the nation’s airlines. Each...

Subscriptions went way up in the pandemic year - many may no longer be relevant. Free Trials are a plague on people’s wallets. Anytime they need a form of payment, it’s not a FREE trial. People forget to cancel and keep paying. Many free trials obligate you for a term. A Clark Assignment around free trial offers & subscriptions. / Fraud Alerts are routine and many fraudsters have invaded this spac...

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. / Rental car scams are booming. An urgent warning about searching for deals online and the kind of payment requested.  Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: Report: The Best Smartphones for Customer Satisfaction / Best Free Password Managers: 7 Top Picks / 7 Places to Get the Best Deals on Lab-Created Diamond...

Clark discusses what’s needed to improve healthcare in the U.S. Expanded primary care access including NP and PA providers, and new subscription services are key. // Amazon loyalists get convenience but should consider that fake reviews, return problems, labor issues, and higher prices are all factors with Amazon and its mostly third-party merchants. Also, If you have Amazon devices in your home,...

The law is finally being enforced against fraudulent for-profit student loan mills. Swindled students in debt can now receive loan forgiveness. Clark explains the role of colleges in excessive lending that impoverishes many parents, grandparents and graduates. // So many concert/sports tickets are bought through third-party brokers or ticket outlets. During Covid cancellations, many got little to...

“Shrinkflation” is real - Clark offers 2 ways to counteract less product in packaging, and tells you what “New and Improved!” really means. Also Clark’s outlook on inflation. / Clark smart TRAVEL - Do you have frequent flyer miles in your account?. Airline miles and hotel points belong to the issuers and they can devalue them at any time. Some mileage programs are 3rd party - much better. Plus, ne...

Vehicles keep getting better. Last year the average age of vehicles rose to 12.1 years. What you spend on housing and automobiles has the biggest impact on your long-term financial health. How long should you keep your vehicles to retire 5 years sooner? Safety concerns? Hear and use Clark’s New & 10 Rule, plus his 4 & 4 Rule for used cars. / Hackers are everywhere The weakest link: employee social...

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. / Christa & Clark have a harrowing car rental experience with some great advice for all - Something you should do before you show up at the rental counter can save your day. Clark Stinks & Ask Clark topics include: Here Is Clark Howard’s Bottom Line on Bitcoin / Protect Yourself and Your Family from Radon / How to...

It’s time for some major sales! Amazon Prime days are coming up, and other retailers are already putting out screaming deals to compete. A Clark smart deals roundup. / Verizon & AT&T offer deals to stop switchers. Are the new phone giveaway deals a real bargain? AT&T and Verizon compete with free phones - with a catch... - Report: The Best Smartphones for Customer Satisfaction. Ask Clark topics in...

An update on Clark’s review of T-Mobile’s home internet service. / Clark loves solar power but has a warning about the industry. What to know when installing solar for your home. Ask Clark topics include: 1031 Exchange Rules: What You Need to Know - Clark avoids this as capital gains tax rates are favorable now / Best Free Password Managers: 7 Top Picks - Consumer Reports Password Manager Ratings...

We bear the cost of credit card fraud directly. A quarter of Americans were victims of credit card fraud last year. One simple way to protect your wallet. / Are you concerned robots will take over all of our jobs? Throughout modern human history, there have been predictions of job loss due to technology. Clark smart historical perspective on automation, robots, jobs lost - and gained. Ask Clark to...

Clark breaks down the true value of remodeling and the best reason to do a home upgrade. / Trading, bartering, getting stuff for free - Several ways to find goods, from clothing to furniture, for little or no money while helping to eliminate waste. Ask Clark topics include: Google Fi Review: The Best Cell Phone Provider for International Travel? / Mint Mobile Review: T-Mobile’s Network for Only $1...

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. / Weddings are coming back in big numbers. Couples can eliminate the financial pitfalls that can poison a relationship by first thinking through what’s important to each and having an ongoing dialogue to get financial cards on the table. Hear Clark smart strategies about how to proceed from there. Clark Stinks & A...

Clark recently moved and has fresh wisdom on downsizing / How do you seize the opportunities available in today’s job market? We need to be lifelong learners. The more we learn, the more we earn. Employers can’t match skilled workers to available jobs. The ladder is training. Middle skill jobs require skills based training. Clark discusses 3 approaches including workforce development programs - th...