The Clark Howard Podcast

Want to sell your timeshare? An former inside scammer reveals how they find you and get inside your wallet - No sale. / Survey says: Most Americans want government-backed job training over handouts. Lifelong training is essential to a dynamic economy wrought by ever changing technology. Ask Clark topics include: Home | Costco Travel / Digital Receipts | Paperless Receipts | CVS / Debit vs. credit...

PROMISES BROKEN: One privilege of military service is student loan forgiveness. But the U.S. Dept of Education rejected 94%, just like public service loan forgiveness was largely rejected. This must be fixed. Congress talks a good game about valuing the military. The country must fulfill its promises to those who serve. / CRACKING THE CASE: How pandemic unemployment compensation has been looted, e...

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. / Labor shortages and last minute code changes are forcing manual processing of 2020 taxes. Refunds are delayed. Clark’s got a suggestion for those who routinely get refunds.  Clark Stinks & Ask Clark topics include: Best Laser Printers for Your Home Office - Consumer Reports / How to Get a Mortgage in 8 Steps / 6...

The housing shortage has pushed home prices to an all time peak. Clark speaks to fears of a real estate market crash and explains how the market is likely to play out. PLUS, a key rule for home buyers today. / Uber and Lyft are good economic indicators of the employment market and there’s a labor shortage in many different categories to explore. Some employers are desperate to hire. This will be a...

There’s a streaming standoff between Roku and YouTube. What was once a cable issue is now spilling over into the streaming world. Streaming TV Archives - Clark Howard / Auto industry game changer is set to ground 'the grind'. HUGE news in the new car buying industry is not being widely reported - something Clark believes will absolutely change the way you buy a new car in the future.  Ask Clark to...

Clark clarifies the zone between full service and self service investing and describes the 3 hybrid discounters to help you choose what’s best for YOU! And - the KEY to buying financial advice. / Why now the labor shortage in restaurant industry and how tech will fill the gap. Be prepared to be greeted by a robot. New technologies being rolled out mean less interaction with servers. Ask Clark topi...

Word to high frequency traders - Clark’s journey with Robinhood and its imitators has been arduous of late. The timeline and tax takeaway is news for investors… How to avoid the tax backlash. / Cable companies, previously one of your wallet’s arch enemies, are now becoming heroes in the cell phone industry. How cable companies can save you money on your cell phone bill. Ask Clark topics include: C...

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts from the site with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. / What happens if you lose your Covid vaccination card? It happened to Clark! Ideas to protect your card. Clark Stinks & Ask Clark topics include: Paying Contractors: Don’t pay big cash up front, make a progress payment agreement  /  Lazer printers can be a smart choice  /  The Best Places To Buy Eye...

The full fare airlines have pivoted to leisure routes and Southwest has launched a fare sale cycle. Clark travel advice includes flight cancellation, the rental car problem and hotel prices. / The same blood test cost one cancer patient 800% more at a hospital than it did at a doctor’s office. Large hospital systems are hostile to price competition. Clark updates the battle for price transparency...

Clark talks gas prices and other increases he didn’t see coming. What’s happening and what you can do about it to protect your wallet. / Peloton has seen huge growth during the pandemic. Now they're refusing to recall their treadmills despite a call from the CPSC to do so. Clark discusses corporate behavior and treadmill safety. Ask Clark topics include: Get started with Medicare  /  Umbrella Insu...

Dwellings are the largest expense we have and a key determinant of financial health. Clark describes obstacles to and different types of ADUs - accessory dwelling units - a win-win for landlords and renters. / The trucking industry is short of drivers and pay is going up. Many companies provide training. Also, the Federal Reserve reports small businesses have been far more resilient than anticipat...

3 class action lawsuits found game developers and content providers violating the law, tracking and building profiles on children. We need punitive legislation and parental oversight. There are programs to help parents monitor and limit their children online. / Two years ago, as a board member of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Clark first heard of liquid biopsies, blood tests with DNA screening f...

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts from the site with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. There are significant changes for individuals and families that buy their own compliant health insurance policies. A special enrollment period extends through August on Healthcare.gov. If you have a tight income and don’t have health insurance, Clark explains why you should apply now and double check...

Home buyers are squeezed right now, having to pay more. Clark discusses the supply problem and the logic behind his new rule on your ownership cycle.  /  Extended service contracts, insurance coverage and warranties on electronics & appliances is a key profit push for retailers. Clark explains what type of insurance you actually should have. Plus, why Clark is neutral on vehicle warranties and wha...

Clark reviews the new Best Buy membership program as they compete with the bigs - Amazon Prime, Walmart+ & Costco.  Retailers are challenged to connect in new ways. CVS and Walgreens are also offering memberships.  /   Clark & Christa are testing out T-Mobile’s home internet. Hear their verdict on this flat rate alternative to traditional home internet. Simultaneously, more zip codes in the U.S. a...

We’re always being tracked online but there are browsers and extensions to help protect privacy. Clark has tested a couple and reports on ease of use. / How most of us buy a car is a giant rip off. Clark explains how the game is played and how to obtain - or refi your loan the right way. Ask Clark topics include: Deferred Compensation Definition / How to Open a Roth IRA / Investing Guide / FDIC: D...

We’re seeing more focus on how to reach and teach young people about money. There’s collateral damage due to lack of financial education. Some high school programs exist. TikTok is now offering financial teachings of the basics of personal finance. Starting at age 6, the more parents can talk to kids and teach by example about saving and making money decisions, the better. // Tax policy in the U.S...

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts from the site with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. A new federal law allows employers to pay toward employee student loan debt or for a portion their education, through 2025 - tax free for the recipient, deductible for the employer. Clark explains this voluntary benefit - a win-win. Clark Stinks & Ask Clark topics include: Consumer Reports- printers ...

Historically, 529 plans owned by grandparents negatively impacted the student’s financial aid profile. That changes this fall. Clark explains the new FAFSA rule, and the WRONG way to set up a 529 account. / The Facebook data breach involves more than half a billion people around the world. What info criminals have and what you need to do to protect your identity and your wallet. Freeze Your Credit...

Economic fallout from Coronavirus: Clark explains why, as we enter economic recovery, a homeless problem appears. Also, auto loan delinquencies are up. Clark's NEVER rule for car buying. / Jobs are roaring back in the U.S. - Why this decade could be a golden age for workers. Ask Clark topics include: Clark's Maximum Auto Loan Length Rule / How To Spot Financial Abuse of an Elderly Relative or Frie...

New reviews of affordable printers indicate great improvement. The HP business model means high prices for ink. Epson and Brother have that option, plus, more costly printers requiring very low cost ink which saves big$ over time. / Car rental prices have spiked in many areas. Clark has some workaround strategies to use until costs normalize. Ask Clark topics include: Charitable Gift Annuity /  7...

A new debt collection rule may kick in this November allowing collectors to contact consumers via email, text and direct messages on social media, with no frequency limits. Regardless, it’s essential to know your rights with debt collectors. Clark offers some key rules to help protect your credit. / As we transition from traditional pay TV to streaming, we can end up paying more if we’re not caref...

Christa shares Clark Stinks posts and Clark responds. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks / Glorified Vending Machines: Unstaffed robotic cooking centers, sometimes seen in airports, are coming to neighborhoods - open 24/7 with reduced labor costs. Meanwhile, convenience store operators realize they can’t live by gasoline sales anymore, with gas sales declining as people migrate to electric vehi...

Clark attempts to explain NFTs (with an assist from SNL) & blockchain and gives his take on this novel craze. Also, fully vaccinated, Clark’s back in stores and finds himself spending ...more OR less? Ask Clark topics include: ETF Guide  /  HSA - Health Savings Account  /  Amazon MTurk Review  /  Save on dental care  / Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter! Learn more a...

One effect of the pandemic has been forced early retirement for many. Only 38% of the workforce is 55 and older. Why employers are working against their own self interest and that of the U.S. economy when they discriminate against older workers. Short term thinking makes for short lived companies. Companies that stand the test of time treat workers well. / A first for Clark - renting storage. What...