Clark explains the ongoing “right to repair” debate and what’s hopefully changing to your advantage. / 403(b eware): Clark Rage Alert! Clark lets loose on how he REALLY feels about TIAA’s abuses and lame response. Ask Clark topics include: CO-OP Financial Services SHARED BRANCH / Turo: 5 Things To Know About the Cheap Car Rental Service / Best Online Will Maker: 5 Free or Cheap Options - Wills & Funerals / Experian Boost Review: How 3 Bills Helped Raise My Credit Score 14 Points / Are You Fo...
Aug 02, 2021•27 min
Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks . / The era of $6K hearing aids is coming to a close. Clark describes ongoing industry cartel price-fixing, and why a WIN for consumers is sounding . Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: Best 529 College Savings Plans By State / Fidelity Rewards Credit Card Review: Invest with 2% Cash Back / Liquid Biopsy: Using DNA in Blood to Detect, Track, and Treat Cancer / How to Find a Free ATM Near You / Term Life In...
Jul 30, 2021•29 min
Great internet access has become essential, and there are so many Americans without it. Clark talks about satellite-based internet service and when and where it will be available. / Often those who work for small companies don’t have access to retirement plans. Many states have an offering that can turn the intention to save, into action. Ask Clark topics include: How to File a Complaint with the Dept. of Labor / Gas & water line insurance - Maintenance fund generally recommended instead / H...
Jul 29, 2021•24 min
Could we be witnessing the end of email ? America’s youth prefer other platforms for communication. Is email becoming irrelevant? / One thing parents are often trying to balance is how much to give their children and how much kids should cover on their own. Clark discusses what a new study on parental giving to adult children reveals. Hint: Train Wreck City. Hear the findings. Ask Clark topics include: 7 Things to Know Before You Buy Travel Insurance / Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM) - Invest...
Jul 28, 2021•29 min
Clark explores the Financial Independence , Retire Early ( FIRE ) movement, now several years on, and the lifelong advantages of living on less than what you make. / With car prices skyrocketing, many are looking for alternative methods of transportation. Great news if you are one of them. Clark describes how new battery tech for golf carts , scooters and e-bikes is providing cheaper transportation for some metro dwellers. Ask Clark topics include: INSURANCE / Is a safe deposit box really safe? ...
Jul 27, 2021•27 min
Clark loves football! Get the latest on the NFL’s tough new Covid policy . Plus, the concert industry reopens with a fabulous concert ticket deal from Live Nation with an advantage for T-Mobile customers - starting tomorrow. / Cash App, Zelle and Venmo are free, convenient pay apps but come with risks . Venmo ends a bizarre practice and offers new security . Ask Clark topics include: How To Watch Football Without Cable: Stream NFL and College Football / The tricky timing of 529 savings account w...
Jul 26, 2021•30 min
Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks . / Rising food costs , why grocery stores are actually happy about that, and how you can save at the supermarket . Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: Health care sharing ministries surge in popularity, Magnify Money analysis shows / Target Date Funds: Clark’s Favorite Retirement Investment / Lightbox Jewelry / Latest Scams and Rip-Offs \\ Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s free daily newsletter ...
Jul 23, 2021•31 min
Both Apple and Google are being sued over how they run their app stores. Clark explains the toll and the workaround. / Free college sounds great, especially with the outrageous price of higher education and the student loan burden so many carry. But is it a good idea? Clark points out where this has been successful, and why it can be good for citizen, state and country when it’s skills based, for the marketplace. Ask Clark topics include: How Much to Tip During the Coronavirus Pandemic / Can a P...
Jul 22, 2021•27 min
New reports indicate borrowing is roaring back after the pandemic slowdown. Lengthy car loans and credit card debt can be dangerous. Credit card offers are everywhere now. How to take advantage of that , without being taken advantage of by creating more debt. / If those CD rates you’re seeing advertised seem too good to be true… you are correct! Two current pitches, what’s the catch, and how to avoid game over for your wallet. Ask Clark topics include: What Is an Amortization Schedule? Use This ...
Jul 21, 2021•26 min
If you’ve been given the choice, what are the pros & cons of working from home vs. returning to the office you should consider? Plus, what research reveals about the 4 day work week . / Would you buy a house you’ve never been to? Clark’s take on this practice and what home buyers should know about buying houses online . Ask Clark topics include: YouTube TV vs. Hulu Live: Which Streaming Service Is Better? - Live TV Streaming Channel Tool / 6 Steps to Eliminate Credit Card Debt in 3 Years or ...
Jul 20, 2021•27 min
Congress has never passed consumer protections against hacks of investment accounts . 3 Clark smart rules for protecting your retirement accounts. / TRAVEL NEWS: Passports , canceled flights, rental cars, high fees & more. Ask Clark topics include: 5 Sneaky Ways to Improve Your Credit Score / These Credit Cards Earn 2% Cash Back on Purchases / How To Sell, Cancel or Get Rid of Your Timeshare / How I Saved Nearly 50% on a Rental Car - Car Rental Shortage: Here’s What You Need To Know / 7 Thin...
Jul 19, 2021•30 min
Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks . / Why are people opting out of the monthly child tax credit? Clark answers this and other questions about the now active Child Tax Credit . Clark Stinks and Ask Clark topics include: How to Teach Young Kids About Money / We Still Haven’t Received Our Federal Tax Refund. What Should We Do? / 4 Things To Know About Series I Savings Bonds / Wells Fargo Is Closing All Personal Lines of Credit / Biden Moves To Restr...
Jul 16, 2021•29 min
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 and How Does It Work? - Sign up for a free trial offer with a stored-value card to avoid unwan...
Jul 15, 2021•23 min
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 ongoing conversations. Ask Clark topics include: How and Why to Refinance Your Mortgage: A Step-By-St...
Jul 14, 2021•26 min
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 Scams | FEMA.gov / How to sell your house by owner \\ Want more money advice? Sign up for Clark’s ...
Jul 13, 2021•26 min
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 marketplace! Clark discusses industry factors that affect the cost of meds, and reform initiatives. A...
Jul 12, 2021•27 min
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 Society / PenFed Power Cash Rewards Review: Up to 2% Unlimited Cash Back - Best Rewards Credit Car...
Jul 09, 2021•25 min
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 include: How to Make the Best Use of Your Delta SkyMiles / Electric Scooter Reviews | E-Scooter Tes...
Jul 08, 2021•26 min
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 latest, plus advice on what to do if your PPP loan forgiveness is denied by the SBA or by your ...
Jul 07, 2021•26 min
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 Clark topics include: 6 Things To Know Before You Sign Up for Visible / What Are Index Funds? / Best I...
Jul 06, 2021•27 min
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 in 4 states and growing - charges by the mile without spying. Clark explains. Clark Stinks and Ask...
Jul 02, 2021•27 min
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 . You can select the host merchant only. Overwhelmingly the items on Amazon are from other sellers....
Jul 01, 2021•22 min
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. Ask Clark topics include: Discover it Secured Review: Earn 2% Cash Back While Building Credit / A...
Jun 30, 2021•27 min
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 airline has a responsibility to the nation. If safety is the highest priority, why must they penal...
Jun 29, 2021•27 min
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 space. How these fake alerts work and your defense. There’s an easy workaround to protect yourself. ...
Jun 28, 2021•24 min
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 Diamonds / Megabus | Low cost bus tickets from $1 / When Should I Refinance With a No Closing Cost Mortgage...
Jun 25, 2021•29 min
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, under new terms of service, they utilize your internet connection unless you change your settings. ...
Jun 24, 2021•27 min
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 no refunds. Beware buying this way. Buying legit can have huge markups. Clark tells you the only sa...
Jun 23, 2021•26 min
“ 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, new rules from the EU -The vaccine is going to be key to international travel. Ask Clark topics incl...
Jun 22, 2021•28 min
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 media accounts . Don’t be the reason your company gets hacked. Your power is privacy - How...
Jun 21, 2021•24 min
