The Clark Howard Podcast

The days of automatically upgrading your phone or computer every time it slows down are officially over. Clark breaks down why inflation and rising component costs mean tech prices are going "up, up, and away." Tech giants like Apple are raising device prices to protect their profit margins. While Clark has advised against sinking money into old electronics, the math has changed. Clark shares his rule of thumb for deciding when to repair versus replace, why TVs remain the one truly disposable tech item, and how to avoid the "free phone trap" being pushed by the big three wireless carriers. Also, Clark dives into the massive shakeup happening in the insurance industry. State Farm is facing major backlash from its own agents after dropping a hammer on their compensation models—a desperate move to compete in a market where they are losing ground. Hear which company has taken the lead by embracing a hybrid model, and what to expect buying online vs. with an agent.Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the July 22, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your questions: Ask Clark.

Electronics: Repair Or Replace?: Segment 1

Ask Clark: Segment 2

Buying Insurance: Segment 3

Ask Clark: Segment 4

Mentioned on the show:

The ‘right to repair’ movement has a point, but consumers should read the warranty fine print first — The Conversation

Why You Should Avoid These Free Offers From Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile

5 Vacation Scams To Avoid This Travel Season - Clark Howard

How to Shop for Lower Car Insurance - Clark Howard

Best and Worst Homeowners Insurance Companies - Clark Howard

Homeowners Insurance Archives - Clark Howard

State Farm’s AI Plan for Sales Agents Sparks Uproar. ‘A Real Slap in the Face.’

Is Accident Forgiveness Worth It? - Clark Howard

Clark.com resources:

Episode transcripts

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What Is the Retire Sooner Method? & Can You Retire Without Touching the Principal?

How do you retire sooner, increase your happiness, and ensure you never run out of money?

In this episode, Wes Moss breaks down the Retire Sooner Method—your ultimate retirement happiness GPS. Just like navigating an unfamiliar city, navigating retirement without a map guarantees you’ll get lost. Wes shares the 5 essential steps to build a guided blueprint, maximize your financial freedom, and dramatically reduce money anxiety.

Later in the episode, Wes tackles a major fear shared by almost every new retiree: touching the principal. Through a real-life client story, he explains how to bridge your income gap using dividend yields and the famous "4% Rule" so you can protect your hard-earned nest egg and retire with peace of mind.

Plus, Christa shares your #AskWes questions and Wes gives his take. All this and more on the July 21, 2026, Ask an Advisor episode of the Clark Howard podcast. Submit your questions: WesMoss.com/ask

We hope you enjoy our weekly Ask An Advisor episodes. Let us know what you think in the comments!

Learn more about Wes:

BOOKS BY WES MOSS

Wes Moss, CFP®

Wes Moss - Clark.com

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Today - remote work became essential during COVID, but could it be hurting your career now? While the benefits of working remotely are undeniable, new data shows that "out of sight, out of mind" is a dangerous reality in corporate America. Clark shares several things to consider if you want to protect your paycheck and position yourself for promotions. Also, a massive storm is brewing in the healthcare industry, and it is going to hit your wallet hard. The soaring cost of healthcare—driven heavily by hospital system monopolies in major metro areas—is pushing individual deductibles toward an estimated $15,000 and family deductibles past $30,000 by 2027. Clark explains everything you need to know - including another disadvantage in Advantage Plans.

Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the July 20, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your questions: Ask Clark.

WFH Benefits & Risks: Segment 1

Ask Clark: Segment 2

Health Insurance Update: Segment 3

Ask Clark: Segment 4

Mentioned on the show:

Working remotely could make you more vulnerable to a layoff than AI

Scam Alert: How To Avoid Home Title Theft - Clark Howard

Home Title Lock: Is It the Same As Home Title Insurance?

Property Fraud Alert

Are Missing Money Websites Legit? - Clark Howard

Raisin Review: Can You Trust This Online Savings Marketplace?

16 of the Best High-Yield Online Savings Accounts in July 2026

Is Plaid Safe? 5 Things to Know Before Linking Your Bank Account

Searching for health insurance? Keep scrolling to avoid government impersonators

How To Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit With Experian, Equifax and TransUnion

What Is a Secured Credit Card and How Does It Work? - Clark Howard

Best Secured Credit Cards for 2026: Top Picks for Building or Repairing Credit

Clark.com resources:

Episode transcripts

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Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Also, the new car market is in a weird phase, with automakers behaving like pack animals. Instead of fighting for market share or offering affordable options, manufacturers have decided they are perfectly happy selling fewer vehicles if it means keeping prices sky-high and maximizing margins. If you're wondering whether to buy or hold, Clark shares his rule of thumb.

All this and more on the July 17, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show.

Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2

Auto Industry Update: Segment 3

Ask Clark: Segment 4

Mentioned on the show:

Best Travel Credit Cards: How To Find the Perfect Fit for Your Spending

Clark Deals - Today's Best Deals of the Day

Are You ‘Spaving’? Why Trying to Save Could Be Costing You More

One Million New-Car Buyers Are Gone and They’re Not Coming Back Soon

A Single Change to Your Car-Buying Habits Could Add $250,000 to Retirement

10 Cars That People Keep for 15 Years or More - Clark Howard

Axios: Radical new electric trucks

Unum - Contact Us

Tax-Loss Harvesting: Definition and Example

Clark.com resources:

Episode transcripts

Community.Clark.com / Ask Clark

Clark.com daily money newsletter

Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275

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The big banks are absolutely thrilled when you fall for the "cockroach" of personal finance myths: the completely false idea that you need to carry a balance and pay interest on your credit cards to build an excellent credit score. Not so. Clark explains. Also today, we face an unprecedented wave of sophisticated fraud, with online crime complaints officially surpassing one million for the first time. Driven by advanced AI, scammers are now launching highly realistic "spear-phishing" attacks using actual data breaches from hotels and cruise lines. If you get an urgent message claiming your upcoming hotel reservation can't be validated or that you owe more money on a cruise, do not take the bait. Stay vigilant, question unexpected requests for money, and always independently verify any urgent alerts regarding your travel plans or financial accounts.

Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the July 15, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your questions: Ask Clark.

Credit Card Myth: Segment 1

Ask Clark: Segment 2

Scams Gone Wild: Segment 3

Ask Clark: Segment 4

Mentioned on the show:

The #1 Mistake That Can Hurt Your Credit Score - Clark Howard

Scammers Are Using Your Real Hotel Reservations for Spear-Phishing Attacks

Carnival data breach affects nearly 6 million people | Travel Weekly

New Scam Targets Microsoft Users, FBI Warns. Here's How to Protect Yourself

How to spot a CAPTCHA scam

We Can't Stop Falling for These 7 Scams. Here's How to Protect Yourself From Each One

The Best Phone Plan For You – Compare Phone Plans

What Is a 403(b) and How Does It Work? - Clark Howard

For Mint Mobile Plans and Pricing Details, click SAVINGSPOD

Clark.com resources:

Episode transcripts

Community.Clark.com / Ask Clark

Clark.com daily money newsletter

Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices