The Clark Howard Podcast

Happy 4th of July Week! Please enjoy this Best Of episode. Clark returns July 6th with new ways to Save More, Spend Less and Avoid Getting Ripped Off!

Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks.  Also today - as college costs level off due to a competitive marketplace, more institutions are finding creative ways to attract students – including offering tuition-free degrees. Clark shares resources to help you find these opportunities!


Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2

Free Tuition: Segment 3

Ask Clark: Segment 4

Mentioned on the show:


⁠4 Common Scams on Cash App, Venmo and Zelle (and How To Avoid Them)⁠


⁠Rent vs Buy Calculator - Clark Howard⁠


⁠Fidelity Rewards Visa vs. Schwab Investor Card® from American Express: Which Is Best?⁠


⁠Best Cash Management Account: Comparing Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab⁠


⁠How to get out of a cable or internet contract without paying a penalty⁠


⁠Subscription Services: Why Canceling Is So Hard (and a Solution)⁠


⁠Where Should I Set Up My Health Savings Account (HSA)?⁠


⁠ETFs vs Mutual Funds: What’s the Difference and When Does It Matter?⁠


⁠Optimizing HSA Transfers for Long-Term Growth⁠


⁠[W Post] More colleges are offering free tuition. Explore our database.⁠


⁠Colleges Offering Free Tuition by Income (2026)⁠


⁠Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition? Full List Of Schools⁠


How To Find Tuition-Free Colleges: Schools That Offer Free Tuition


⁠Where To Take Free Online Courses - Clark Howard⁠


⁠Best 529 College Savings Plans By State⁠⁠


⁠When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Use a 529 Plan

Clark.com resources:

Episode transcripts


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Considering entrepreneurship via buying a franchise? Clark shares his most important rule before investing your hard-earned money: go work for that franchise first. Instead of relying on the sales pitch, spend several months on the job learning how the business really operates, what challenges owners face and whether the opportunity lives up to the promises. Taking this important step could save you from making a costly mistake and help you become a smarter entrepreneur. Also, Clark discusses the expansion of TrumpRx, a government prescription price comparison resource that now includes hundreds of additional generic medications. With prescription costs keeping many Americans from filling the medications they need, Clark reviews several ways to save money on prescriptions, including Costco, Sam’s Club, Amazon Pharmacy, Walmart, Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs and charitable programs that may provide free medications. He also explains what to do if you need an expensive brand-name medication and can’t afford it, including exploring manufacturer patient assistance programs that could help lower your costs.

Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the July 1, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show.  Submit your questions: Ask Clark.

Please note: No new episode on Friday. We wish you a safe and Happy Independence Day!

Franchise Entrepreneurs: Segment 1

Ask Clark: Segment 2

New Savings On Meds: Segment 3

Ask Clark: Segment 4

Mentioned on the show:

Clark Howard’s Advice Before You Buy a Franchise


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

6 Things To Know Before Contacting the National Foundation for Credit Counseling


10 Ways To Save on Prescription Drugs - Clark Howard 

How Can Discount Drug Apps Offer Such Big Savings on Prescription Medications?


These Pharmacies Offer $4 Prescriptions - Clark Howard

How To Comparison Shop Drug Prices Before Your Doctor Sends in a Prescription


Will Mark Cuban's Prescription Company Really Save You Money? 


What Is Disability Insurance and How Does It Work? - Clark Howard


How To Buy Term Life Insurance in 7 Easy Steps - Clark Howard

Clark.com resources:

Episode transcripts


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Clark.com daily money newsletter


Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275

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Is the bucket investing strategy the best way to plan for retirement? In this episode, Wes Moss breaks down the powerful visual behind bucket investing and explains why organizing your money into cash, income, growth, and alternative income buckets can simplify retirement planning. He also shares the biggest drawbacks investors should understand before adopting the strategy. Also, Wes tackles a growing trend: professionals looking for more flexibility, purpose, and balance through a second career. He outlines the key questions to ask before making a career switch and explains why financial advising is emerging as one of the most in-demand professions in America.

Plus, Christa shares your #AskWes questions and Wes gives his take. All this and more on the June 30, 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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Clark’s first business was a travel agency and he specialized in saving his clients money. Travel costs are challenging now, with airlines facing higher fuel expenses and travelers paying the price. Clark shares his back-to-basics strategy for finding affordable trips, including why flexibility is your greatest money-saving tool. Learn why Clark lets the deal determine the destination, how shoulder-season airfare pricing can create opportunities for savings, and why being a "free agent" when booking flights can help you see more of the world for less. Also, Clark explains the growing problem of "dark patterns" online—those annoying popups, misleading buttons, and sneaky subscription tactics designed to manipulate your decisions. While many of these practices aren't illegal, they are deceptive and can lead to unwanted purchases and recurring charges if you're caught unaware. Know what to watch for and how to avoid getting tricked into spending money you never intended to spend.

Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the June 29, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show.  Submit your questions: Ask Clark.

Clark Smart Travel: Segment 1

Ask Clark: Segment 2

Dark Patterns On The Lit Web: Segment 3

Ask Clark: Segment 4

Mentioned on the show:

How To Beat Summer Sticker Shock and Travel the ‘Clark Howard Way’


Follow Clark Howard’s #1 Rule To Travel Cheap

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

How Does Booking Travel Through a Credit Card Rewards Program Compare?


3 Reasons You Should Never Book a Nonrefundable Hotel Room 

Dark patterns on the web are designed to manipulate you – why aren’t they all illegal?


Best Free Password Managers: 10 Top Picks - Clark Howard 


How To Create and Use Passkeys - Clark Howard


Safe Browser Alternatives That Promise Not To Track You

NYT - Her Life Savings Mysteriously Disappeared After a Systems Glitch


Why You Need Paper Evidence of Your Financial Accounts

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

Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa  shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. Also, when your health insurer denies coverage for a treatment, procedure, or medication, don't assume that's the final answer. Clark explains a little-known consumer right that could help you overturn a denial: an external appeal reviewed by an independent third party. While some patients do appeal insurance decisions, very few take the next step when they're denied again. Clark shares why persistence matters, how the appeals process works, and why insurers often reverse decisions when consumers push back. For serious illnesses, these denials aren't just about money—they can be a matter of life and death. Learn how to fight back, when to appeal again, and how an independent review could force your insurer to pay for care it initially refused to cover.

All this and more on the June 26, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show.


Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2

Insurance Appeals: Segment 3

Ask Clark: Segment 4

Mentioned on the show:

6 Home Expenses You Have To Budget For (Beyond Your Mortgage)

Privacy and security built into your payments

5 Money Tips To Know Before You Travel Abroad


5 Best Places To Buy Pet Medicines - Clark Howard


How To Get a Gym Membership for Practically Free - Clark Howard


What Is a CD Ladder and When Is It a Good Idea? - Clark Howard


Should I Avoid Callable CDs? / CD Ladder Calculator - Clark Howard


What Should You Do if Your Insurance Claim Is Denied?

This Little-Known Appeal Could Force Your Insurer to Pay. Here’s How to File It.


How To Buy Term Life Insurance in 7 Easy Steps - Clark Howard 

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