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💵 Today’s Top Stories

13 Grocery Stores That Offer Senior Discounts These are the days of the week most popular for senior discounts. And here’s a list of deal-offering grocery stores to help you save more on your next shopping trip. Read more.

15 Most Driven 3-Year-Old Cars Clark calls three-year-old cars the thoroughbreds of vehicles. For about half the price, you get 80%+ of the remaining life. Here’s an analysis of the models with the most average miles driven. Read more.

How To Find and Book a Cheap Rental Car According to Clark Howard Clark gave us a simple, six-step formula to make sure you spend as little as possible on your car rental. Here’s how to save like Clark. Read more.

Top 3 Credit Cards You Should Use at the Gas Station We’ve awarded medals for the three credit cards with the best gas station rewards. You may be surprised to learn that zero gas station-branded cards made the list. Read more.

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💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

40 of the best semi-annual sales happening now Get this deal.

6-night Paris & Barcelona trip with flights from $869 Get this deal.

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Want to save more, spend less, and avoid getting ripped off? Subscribe to Clark Howard’s YouTube channel for daily, actionable advice that puts hard-earned cash back in your pocket. Never miss a smart money-saving tip or crucial consumer warning!

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

6 Things Preventing You From Getting Rich Most of us want to build wealth, if only for financial freedom. Here are six decisions you control that may be getting in your way, according to Clark. Read more.

Is LifeLock Worth the Cost? LifeLock is a household name with consistent advertising built around protecting you from identity theft. But it’s a waste of money, Clark declares. Here’s what you should do instead. Read more.

Cheaper Way To Access Verizon’s Cell Phone Network This cell phone provider taps into Verizon’s tower network to offer cheap monthly cell phone plans (starting at $35 per month). Here’s a chart breaking down what you get from each plan. Read more.

The Catch With Apple’s High-Yield Savings Account Apple offers a high-yield savings account paying 3.40% interest. But you must be a (literal) card-carrying part of the Apple ecosystem to get access. Read more.

🚨 It’s a Great Time To Re-Read Clark’s Auto Loan Rule

If you’re getting a car loan, Clark suggests you follow at least one rule: Never get an auto loan with a term longer than 42 months.

That’s 3.5 years for those scoring at home.

Why?

• The longer your loan, the more you’ll pay in interest, often thousands of dollars.

• The longer you stretch out your payments, the more you’re likely to finance.

• You’ll be at greater risk of being “upside down” on your loan. In other words, you may owe more money on your loan than the vehicle is worth.

“If you can’t afford the payment on a 42-month loan, then you should buy a cheaper car,” Clark says.

It’s a great time to reiterate that lesson. Nearly one in four auto loan customers agreed to a term of 84+ months in Q2. That’s seven years, or twice as long as Clark’s maximum.

Drop down to 73+ months and you account for 36.5% of shoppers in Q2 (up from 27.3% 10 years ago).

The average amount financed jumped $1,768 year over year to a new record of $44,156. Average monthly payments hit a record $777. More than 20% are spending $1,000+ on monthly payments.

As you can see, Americans are spending more money than ever on vehicle financing, often on super-long loan terms. One of the best ways you can play defense for your finances is by refusing a loan term of longer than 3.5 years.

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6-night California road trip with Yosemite stay, Las Vegas & flights from $809 Get this deal.

🎙️ Podcast

The mattress industry is in absolute chaos, and major brands like Sleep Number are facing bankruptcy. Clark breaks down how the mattress market became incredibly oversaturated and why traditional mattress stores are seeing their business models become completely obsolete. While online shopping and warehouse clubs have revolutionized how we buy beds, the wave of recent bankruptcies poses a massive risk to you as a consumer. Clark reveals his ultimate rule for buying a new mattress safely. Also, Clark addresses the looming crisis in higher education as federal student loan interest rates spike to 6.5%. With college costs and inflation stretching family budgets to the limit, Clark explains why you should never sacrifice your own retirement savings or saddle your children with a lifetime of crushing debt just to attend a "dream" school. Clark delivers a heavy dose of tough love and practical strategies for parents, explaining why it is entirely okay to say "no" to an unaffordable school and how utilizing the community college junior-transfer route can save your family tens of thousands of dollars.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

Top 6 Places To Buy Tires Where can you find the cheapest tires and the best service? And how does Clark value post-purchase service vs. buying on price? Read more.

Is It Worth Responding to Class-Action Lawsuits? You open your mail or email and find you’re eligible for a class-action lawsuit. Sometimes the notice cites a giant dollar figure. How much money can you really expect if you join? Read more.

This Credit Card Tip Could Save You Big Money on Subscriptions “Subscription creep” is a modern financial problem. Especially with “small fee” services. It’s one reason Clark says you should always review your credit card statements. Here’s another tip Clark loves. Read more.

Get a Cell Phone Plan on Verizon’s Network for $15 a Month (Or Less) This prepaid cell phone provider on the Verizon network is offering a three-month discount as low as $5 a month for new customers. Read more.

🇺🇲 U.S. States Ranked By Percentage of Overall GDP

The United States remains the largest economy in the world, growing to nearly $31 trillion in 2025.

Six states produced at least $1 trillion in gross domestic product last year.

The economy remains fairly diverse as well. Technology and entertainment rule in California. Energy, manufacturing, agriculture and defense beef up Texas.

Finance, pharmaceuticals, tourism and farming are among the other lucrative regional industries.

Here are the top five states by the percentage of U.S. GDP they represent:

1. California: 13.8%
2. Texas: 9.4%
3. New York: 8.0%
4. Florida: 6.0%
5. Illinois: 3.9%

Add Pennsylvania (3.4%), Ohio (3.1%) and Georgia (3.0%) and you’ve accounted for more than half the GDP of the United States with just eight states.

The bottom 13 states each produce less than half a percent of the U.S. GDP. Vermont, Wyoming and Alaska are 51st, 50th and 49th respectively with a 0.2% share (the list includes Washington D.C.).

See where your state ranks here.

📊 Stat of the Day

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

Ends soon! The best 4th of July deals at The Home Depot! Get this deal.

Today only: “Meh-rathon” with new deals all day! Get this deal.

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Want to save more, spend less, and avoid getting ripped off? Subscribe to Clark Howard’s YouTube channel for daily, actionable advice that puts hard-earned cash back in your pocket. Never miss a smart money-saving tip or crucial consumer warning!

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

3 Safer Ways To Send Money Sending checks in the mail is outdated. But not all newer methods are safe. Here are the Clark-approved ways to send money – and ones he never, ever wants you to touch. Read more.

4 Things To Know About Amazon’s Free Streaming TV App Do you love free streaming TV options as much as Clark? Our streaming expert says this option is worth checking out, but there’s a catch. Read more.

Limited-Time Offer for One of Clark's Favorite Credit Cards Looking for a new cash back card? Navy Federal just announced a limited-time bonus offer on one of its most popular cards—and it has NO annual fee. Get the full details on what you can earn and who qualifies Read more.

Access AT&T’s Network for $96 Annually Save on your cell phone bill by switching to an MVNO on AT&T’s network for as little as $8 per month. Read more.

🏠️ Some Context Regarding Housing Affordability in 2026

A housing bill currently awaiting approval at the federal level serves to further underline an issue with affordability that has festered for quite some time.

The bill aims to restrict large institutional investors from buying up single-family homes, among other things. By increasing the supply on the market, it hopes to ease the affordability crisis.

Prospective home buyers younger than 40 have had an especially hard time.

In 1975, the gap between the median home price and the median under-40 household income was about $90,000. By 2024, it reached about $250,000.

In other words, the median house costs a quarter million dollars more than the median household income for those born in or after 1986.

The graph of the median home price in the U.S. shows a steep line up and to the right after the Great Recession in the late 2000s.

Also, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped below 3% in July 2020 and mostly stayed there until December 2021. But since September 2022, it has hovered between 6.1 and 7.8%.

Not surprisingly, 87% of all U.S. adults say buying a home is harder for younger adults now than it was for their parents.

Affordability issues aren’t confined to home-buying. Renters need to make nearly $70,000 a year now to afford modest two-bedroom apartments on average. That number swells to more than $100,000 in California.

With housing that expensive, it’s all the more important to save money where you can on your cell phone bill, streaming and entertainment subscriptions and more.

📊 Stat of the Day

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

9-night Japan escape to Osaka, Kyoto & Tokyo from $1,369 Get this deal.

Save up to 40% on a 14-night Australia & New Zealand cruise Get this deal.

🎙️ Podcast

Are you overpaying for sunscreen just because of a fancy brand name? Consumer Reports recently released its annual sunscreen rankings, and the results prove once again that you don't have to spend a fortune to protect your skin. Also, Clark dives into the reality of modern side hustles. A TikTok influencer recently went viral after testing different side hustles every day for 100 days to make $100 a day, but she discovered that only three were actually worth sticking with. The truth is, if a side hustle is incredibly easy to start, there are no effective barriers to entry. When anyone can do a job, the organizer doesn’t have to pay you well. If you want to make a meaningful, steady income, you need a side hustle that leverages education, training, or special skills that set you apart from the crowd. However, if you just need quick, one-time cash, look no further than your own home—just like Christa, who shares her recent money-making experience with her closet.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

5 ‘Free Money’ Opportunities You Might Be Missing Out On From taking advantage of the right savings account to applying for a great rewards credit card, here are some things you can do right now to “find” free money. Read more.

Best Cheap Sunscreens in 2026 It’s important to protect your skin, especially in summer when you spend extra time in the sun. Here are the best sunscreen lotions and sprays according to Consumer Reports. Read more.

How To Know If You’re Getting the Internet Speed You’re Paying For You may be paying top dollar for fast internet. But are you actually getting those speeds? Find out by testing your internet speed and checking your bill. Read more.

Should I Prepay for a Hotel Reservation To Avoid Losing My Room? Do you book hotel rooms through third-party websites rather than directly through the hotel chain? You should still avoid prepaying for your room – with one major exception. Read more.

🏠️ Today’s Current Mortgage Rates

According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.43% and 15-year rates are 5.79% as of July 2, 2026. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.

Mortgage Refi Calculator

✈️ Trick to Earning an Upgrade to First-Class Seats on Flights

The internet is full of travel hacks and “insider secrets” that supposedly unlock benefits like flight upgrades.

Most of them aren’t worth a hill of beans.

However, a recent article claims to know the secret to unlocking access to upgraded seats on flights. It may be worth considering because it sourced flight attendants.

First, availability “represents the most fundamental factor. Airlines can’t upgrade passengers to seats that don’t exist. If premium cabins are fully booked, no amount of asking or hoping will create additional space. Flights with empty first class seats offer opportunities that sold-out aircraft simply cannot.”

The big secret: ask, and be willing to pay for an upgrade. Once boarding is complete, if there are unoccupied seats in premium cabins – and you make it clear you’re willing to pay for business or first class – airlines may offer you the opportunity.

Upgrading once aboard “often represents one of the cheapest options for accessing premium cabins. … This creates a win-win situation. Passengers get premium experiences at reduced prices compared to booking first class initially. Airlines generate revenue from inventory that would otherwise produce nothing.”

Strategies that don’t work:

• Dressing nicely in a suit or dress. Flying has become much less formal. This is outdated thinking in 2026.

• Giving gifts to the flight crew. It may result in slightly more attentive service. But spontaneous upgrades via personal discretion exceed the authority of the cabin crew.

• Mentioning special occasions. This very, very rarely results in an upgrade unless it’s a rare, extreme occasion.

The other frequent upgrade “trick?” Loyalty status.

Clark wants you to be a free agent when it comes to making purchases. But he does advise you to always sign up for reward points when you can. If you collect enough of them, you could get ushered to the front of the line for available upgrades.

📊 Stat of the Day

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

The best patio furniture deals right now Get this deal.

BJ’s membership deal: Get a new 1-year membership for just $15 Get this deal.

🎙️ Podcast

Want to save more, spend less, and avoid getting ripped off? Subscribe to Clark Howard’s YouTube channel for daily, actionable advice that puts hard-earned cash back in your pocket. Never miss a smart money-saving tip or crucial consumer warning!

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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Happy Sunday! Here’s what we’re covering in today’s Clark Smart Investing newsletter:

• Is paying for a big family trip worth it?

• 7 things to consider if you plan to retire before 65

• 6 things you may not know about target date funds

• Q&A with Wes Moss: Since I plan to retire early at age 50, how do I apply "guard-rail" withdrawal strategies to manage sequence of returns risk?

💵 Is Paying for a Big Family Trip Worth It?

A week at the beach for twelve people. Flights for three generations. A cruise where you rent a block of cabins and take over the pool deck. These trips run into the thousands or tens of thousands, and plenty of families can’t make the math work. The ability to fund a big family vacation is a privilege, and for many people, it stays out of reach no matter how carefully they save.

For the families who can afford it, the question changes. It’s no longer “Can we?” Instead, it’s “Should we?” Is a trip like this money well spent, or a splurge you feel in your gut once the statement lands?

When does a massive family vacation cross the line from a "worthwhile investment in memories" to a "financial mistake"? The full article breaks down the one major condition you need to meet before booking, plus smart ways to keep the costs down.

📚️ Recommended Reading

7 Things To Consider if You Plan To Retire Before 65 Dreaming of saying goodbye to the 9-to-5 before you hit 65? It sounds amazing, but retiring early comes with some serious hidden hurdles that go way beyond just your bank account balance. From the massive "health insurance gap" to the psychological shift, here are the crucial challenges you need to plan for before you hand in your resignation. Read more.

6 Things You May Not Know About Target Date Funds Target date funds are often called the "easy button" of investing—you set it and forget it. But just because they're simple doesn't mean they're foolproof! There are several quirks, fees, and risks built into these funds that most investors completely overlook. Before you trust your entire retirement to one, make sure you know these 6 facts. Read more.

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When Should Married Couples File for Social Security? It's Not Always Obvious When married couples claim Social Security can have a lasting impact on retirement income. Understanding how spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and timing work together may help maximize lifetime benefits. Read more.

💬 Ask an Advisor

Ask an Advisor with Wes Moss Email|Website

Each week, Wes Moss answers real reader questions on money, investing, and retirement. Wes is Chief Investment Strategist at Capital Investment Advisors and a fee-only financial advisor. He hosts a weekly Ask an Advisor segment with Christa DiBiase on the Clark Howard Podcast and YouTube channel.

This week's question     Mark in Florida asks: "Since I plan to retire early at age 50, how do I apply 'guard-rail' withdrawal strategies to manage sequence of returns risk? Specifically, how do I objectively determine what constitutes a 'good year' versus a 'bad year' to know when to adjust my spending up or down?" Wes's answer: There is one way to look at this, and it all starts with your financial plan. When you build a retirement plan using conservative assumptions—say, projecting your portfolio to grow at a modest 5% or 6% over time—you establish a baseline trajectory. If a few years down the road your portfolio is ahead of that schedule, that is your definition of a 'good' year. For example, if your plan projected you would have $2 million at this stage, but strong market returns have pushed you to $2.2 million or $2.3 million, you have accumulated excess capital. Being ahead of your own plan is the ultimate green light; it means you can consider implementing a guard-rail strategy to withdraw a little extra, even if it temporarily takes you beyond your typical withdrawal rate. Conversely, when your portfolio is behind schedule due to a market downturn, that is a 'bad' year, and that is when you should be careful and tighten the guard-rails to ensure you don't overspend. Another, more immediate way to define a good year is by simply looking at historical market averages. While we can’t always look at the past to predict the future, we can use history as a guide. Over the long term, the stock market has historically averaged annual returns in the 10% to 12% range. If we experience a booming calendar year where the market surges 15% or 20%, that is clearly well above the historical average.

Submit a question for Wes New book from Wes Moss Wes goes beyond traditional money advice to provide an easy-to-follow lifestyle blueprint that correlates to a 96 percent chance of lasting retirement happiness, based on his 2025 “Money and Happiness in America” study. Pre-order now →

✅ Poll: What’s Your Take?

Every week, we'll ask a new question to get your take on the latest financial trends and topics.

Last Week’s Poll Results

We asked: “When running your retirement numbers, what average annual return are you assuming you'll get?” Here’s how you answered:

• Conservative (6% or under) - (49%)

• Moderate (7-9%) - (45%)

• Optimistic (10% or more) - (6%)

💸 Money Tip of the Week

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

This information is provided to you as a resource for informational purposes only and is not to be viewed as investment advice or recommendations. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee offered that investment return, yield, or performance will be achieved. This information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Any company names shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The views and opinions expressed are for educational purposes only as of the date of production/writing and may change without notice at any time based on numerous factors, such as market or other conditions. Always consult your own legal, tax, or investment advisor before making any investment/tax/estate/financial planning considerations or decisions.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

America’s #1 Restaurant for Customer Satisfaction Olive Garden, Applebee’s and others put up a strong fight. But no other restaurant brand can match these two affordable steakhouse franchises for customer satisfaction. Plus, which brand dethroned Chick-fil-A after 11 years? Read more.

250+ USA-Made Brands Here’s a freshly updated list of American-made brands across consumer categories you love. Which brands are your favorite? Read more.

Clark’s Favorite Travel Rewards Credit Card Clark considers this credit card his favorite travel rewards option for most people. Team Clark names some other favorites and explains who should (and shouldn’t) get one of these annual-fee cards. Read more.

How To Get a Free Credit Report Most of us see our estimated score when we log into our credit card account(s). But you can get your official report right now from Experian, TransUnion and Equifax for free. Read more.

📣 Top Phone Plan Deals Right Now

• Mint Mobile: New customers can switch to Mint Mobile and get any plan for $15/month. This deal includes Mint Mobile’s annual unlimited plan at 50% off its regular price! Ends September 30. Learn more.

• Ultra Mobile: New customers joining Ultra Mobile can save 15% on eligible six-month plans or 30% on eligible annual plans. Options start at $9.10/month for 4GB of high-speed data or at $23.80/month for unlimited data. Ends August 31. Learn more.

• Visible: New customers switching to Visible can grab its top-tier annual unlimited plan for $75 off the first year. That brings the price to $31.25/month! Ends July 31. Learn more.

📊 Stat of the Day

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

100+ of the best 4th of July deals for 2026 Get this deal.

50+ Independence Day deals from USA-made brands Get this deal.

🎙️ Podcast

Want to keep more of your hard-earned money and avoid the latest consumer scams? Check out the Clark Howard Show on YouTube for practical, actionable advice that helps you save more and spend less. Subscribe today to join a community dedicated to financial freedom!

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

#1 Most Fuel-Efficient Car in 2026 At 32 miles per gallon, these three vehicles offer the best fuel efficiency of any non-hybrid combustion engine on the market. Plus, just how efficient are those hybrids? Read more.

10 Ways To Save on Prescription Drugs Health care costs can be overwhelming. Even if you can afford what you need, it can still force you to pause and ask how you can pay less. Luckily, there are options to get what you need cheaper. Read more.

Where To Find the Best CD Rates According to Clark CDs can help you lock in interest rates. But don’t turn to the big banks. Here’s where Clark says you should look. Read more.

11 New Cell Phone Deals in July Think of how much money you can save for retirement, put toward your next vacation or finally make good on those home renovations if you knocked your phone bill to $10 a month right now. Read more.

💵 Today’s Top Savings Rates

Check out our updated list of Clark.com-approved high-yield savings accounts with the highest rates. Here are the top five APYs on our list as of July 2, 2026.

See All Rates | High Yield Savings Accounts Calculator

📺️ Streaming Content Tilts Toward ‘Old’ Cataloged Movies and Shows

If you want to watch original content, Netflix is the streaming service for you.

Of the major streaming services, it’s the only one in Q1 of this year to entice viewers to watch original content more than 11% of the time.

Netflix has spent $135 billion in the last 10 years on original content.

“Every major streaming platform, with the clear exception of Netflix, keeps viewers hooked with older classics from its catalog, rather than fresh original content,” Sherwood reported, citing long-popular shows like “Friends” and “Suits” as good examples.

Even Netflix’s content is “a little less original compared to previous years.”

Here’s the share of catalog content vs. original content that subscribers consumed in Q1 by service:

• Disney+: 95% catalog/5% original

• Peacock: 94%/6%

• Hulu: 94%/6%

• HBO Max: 93%/7%

• Paramount+: 89%/11%

• Netflix: 60%/40%

Of course, content isn’t the only variable to consider when it comes to streaming subscriptions. If you’re only looking for “old” or cataloged material and don’t mind ads, consider these free streaming options that don’t cost you a penny.

📊 Stat of the Day

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

The best deals at Amazon right now Get this deal.

Save up to an extra $1 per gallon of gas at these stores Get this deal.

🎙️ Podcast

Thinking about 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. It’s a simple step that 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.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

10 Things on Deep Discount in July Discounted movies, free bowling and free skating highlight kid-friendly summer deals. Plus, celebrate national hot dog, ice cream and chicken wing day, and get deals on live plants. Read more.

Drivers Beware: Watch Out for This Toll Notice Scam There’s a major scam and it’s impacting drivers across the nation. If you get a text or letter about a toll violation, don’t just pay it. Before you hit the road to commute or travel, read this. Read more.

3 Major Banks Stop Issuing These Cash Back Credit Cards These mega banks have stopped issuing cash back credit cards with 4-5% rewards on popular categories. Is it a market cycle or the beginning of the end for cash back rewards cards? Read more.

Consumer Cellular Launches SpeakEasy Mobile for Seniors It sounds too good to be true: affordable (as little as $15 a month), easy-to-use cell phones for seniors with award-winning customer service on AT&T’s network. But it’s a great fit for some. Read more.

🚘️ Top 10 Automakers in the United States By Vehicle Volume

Americans bought 16.4 million vehicles in 2025.

According to an F&I tools report, no automaker sold more than GM at nearly 3 million, including almost 750,000 in Q2.

Here’s the list of the top 10 best-selling automakers in the United States last year, rounded to the nearest hundred thousand:

1. GM: 2.9 million

2. Toyota: 2.5 million

3. Ford: 2.2 million

4. Hyundai/Kia: 1.8 million

5. Honda: 1.4 million

6. Stellantis: 1.3 million

7. Nissan: 900K

8. Subaru: 600K

9. Tesla: 600K

10. VW: 600K

Just missed: BMW, Mazda, Mercedes, Volvo, Mitsubishi, JLR.

Visual Capitalist noted that Japanese, South Korean, German, British and Swedish automakers all hold varying levels of penetration in the U.S. market. But that’s not the case for China.

BYD, Geely and Great Wall Motors “have proven incredibly successful worldwide,” but “sweeping U.S. tariffs on these manufacturers have blocked them from the lucrative American market.”

📊 Stat of the Day

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

Limited time: Realcool 31L water-resistant laptop backpack for $13 Get this deal.

9-night Ireland trip with flights & rental car from $1,519 Get this deal.

🎙️ Podcast

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.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

The Sneaky Web Tricks Costing You Money Because of “dark pattern” tactics – sneaky or even nefarious pop-ups designed to get you to click, even accidentally – you can’t mindlessly click your way through the web anymore. Clark explains. Read more.

How To Shop for Cheaper Car Insurance Car insurance rates can be a major burden on your monthly bills. It’s a good idea to re-shop your insurance now if you haven’t done so in a while. Rising costs impact some insurers more than others. Read more.

T-Mobile Retires Legacy Plans: Expect a Price Increase T-Mobile just notified customers on older plans that they’ll be migrated to a new, more expensive plan. Here are the details and what you can do to get cheap access to T-Mobile’s network. Read more.

Heads Up! Aldi May Soon Decline These Credit Cards The discount grocery chain stopped accepting this major credit card provider at some locations. Clark says it’s an experiment due to high processing fees. Could Aldi remove this major credit card provider for good? Read more.

🚘️ FTC, Others Push Back Against Hidden Fees on Vehicle Listings

One Team Clark member recently searched for a used Toyota Corolla online.

One car in the results was listed online for $12,999. But after further inquiry, including hidden fees, it was $15,897 – nearly $3,000 more expensive.

A dealer listing a vehicle in a similar price range did not disclose mandatory LoJack and other add-ons ($1,397), a dealer fee ($999) and an electronic filing fee ($399) … not to mention, tax, title and tag.

The FTC recently cracked down on this practice, sending a warning to more than 200 auto dealerships to “stop advertising cars online with dubious discounts or thousands of dollars in hidden fees.”

However, it’s still pervasive. A study of 500 used car sales from December to April found that 59% of the vehicles included discretionary fees not advertised in the online price, the Wall Street Journal reported.

A separate study cited in the same WSJ article analyzed more than 10,000 new and used dealers and found “meaningful differences” between the advertised and actual prices 40% of the time.

CarGurus, a major aggregator, will require fee disclosures on listings starting July 14. Listings that don’t comply will get moved lower in search results.

Whether all of this precipitates a major sea change is still to be determined. But it’s nice to see some pressure and pushback against those practices.

The best thing you can do as a consumer: Ask direct questions about potential fees and mandatory add-ons to be sure you know the out-the-door price before you go to the dealership.

You can also widen your search when you’re looking for a vehicle. The more area you’re willing to expand to, the better the chance of finding a good deal.

📊 Stat of the Day

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

10-night Athens, Mykonos & Santorini vacation with flights from $1,609 Get this deal.

6-night California road trip with Yosemite stay, Las Vegas & flights from $799 Get this deal.

🎙️ Podcast

Travel costs have been a challenge lately, with airlines facing higher fuel expenses and travelers paying the price. In this episode, 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 influence your decisions. While many of these practices aren't illegal, they can lead to unwanted purchases and recurring charges if you're not paying attention. Clark shares what to watch for and how to avoid getting tricked into spending money you never intended to spend.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

15 Items You Can’t Return to Amazon Being able to return items can boost the value of shopping online. But did you know that you can’t return items like some jewelry, computers and health products? Read more.

How To Beat Summer Sticker Shock and Travel the ‘Clark Howard Way’ Want to travel but care about your money? Follow these three rules just like Clark and save yourself huge amounts of money. Hint: Flexibility is key. Read more.

7 Easy Ways To Free Up Storage Space on Your iPhone Is your iPhone storage always full? Read our story on how to free up space. Read more.

Best Time and Place To Buy a Mesh Router A mesh router is Clark’s secret to getting the best WiFi signal at home. Here’s when and where to land the best deal to boost your own internet. Read more.

🏠️ Today’s Current Mortgage Rates

According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.49% and 15-year rates are 5.84% as of June 25, 2026. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.

Mortgage Refi Calculator

🇺🇸 Which Americans Are Most Money-Savvy?

Financial literacy among U.S. adults has declined slightly in the last decade according to one measurement.

The P-Fin Index is a 28-question survey that measures financial literacy. In 2026, U.S. adults answered only 47% of the questions correctly on average.

That’s down from a peak of 52% in 2020 and sets a new low bar in the 10-year-old survey.

Americans scored best when it comes to borrowing and scored worst when it comes to comprehending risk.

Men answered 50% of questions correctly on average vs. 44% accuracy among women. Overall, the percentage of men who got 22-28 correct (76%-100%) was nearly double that of women: 19% to 11%.

Women were equally accurate in one of the eight categories – consuming.

Baby Boomers got 54% of questions right whereas Gen Z answered just 38% of questions correctly. In general, older generations performed better, until a decline in advanced old age.

The share of each generation that answered seven or fewer questions correctly (25% or worse) was even sharper: just 15% of Baby Boomers fell into that category compared to 37% of Gen Z.

The P-Fin 8 Index is a public proxy for the 28-question test. It includes one question for each category, and you can take it for yourself.

📊 Stat of the Day

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

25-oz glass hummingbird feeder with 5 feeding ports for $14 Get this deal.

The best 4th of July deals at The Home Depot! Get this deal.

🎙️ Podcast

It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Christa reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. 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 many patients 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.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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Happy Sunday! Here’s what we’re covering in today’s Clark Smart Investing newsletter:

• A key investing lesson to remember right now

• Best investments so far in 2026

• Is your portfolio too safe?

• Q&A with Wes Moss: Should I use the 10% rule when deciding between taking the pension or taking the lump sum and investing it myself?

💵 A Key Investing Lesson to Remember Right Now

When the markets perform well for a long stretch — as they have been recently — it is easy to assume that the trend will continue. When that mindset sets in, you should always remember the advice of the late Vanguard founder, John Bogle: Be realistic about future returns.

When the stock market is booming, it’s easy to feel like the good times will never end. But planning your entire retirement around recent double-digit returns might be a costly mistake. Before you run your next retirement calculation, here’s what you really need to consider.

📚️ Recommended Reading

The Best Investments So Far This Year – Through June 2026 2025 was the year of gold, silver, and emerging markets. Six months into 2026, the leaders and laggards have nearly flipped. Here’s how the major asset classes have performed so far in 2026. Read more.

Is Your Portfolio Too Safe? Think keeping your retirement money in "safe" investments like bonds and cash is the smart move? It might actually be costing you hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of dollars in long-term wealth. Here is the math behind why playing it too safe is so expensive, and how to fix it. Read more.

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Can Four Buckets Make Retirement Less Stressful? Some retirement strategies rely on complex charts and financial jargon. This one starts with four simple buckets: cash, income, growth, and alternative income. Learn how this framework may help investors think about retirement in a more practical way. Read more.

💬 Ask an Advisor

Ask an Advisor with Wes Moss Email|Website

Each week, Wes Moss answers real reader questions on money, investing, and retirement. Wes is Chief Investment Strategist at Capital Investment Advisors and a fee-only financial advisor. He hosts a weekly Ask an Advisor segment with Christa DiBiase on the Clark Howard Podcast and YouTube channel.

This week's question     Eric in Ohio asks: "Should I use the 10% rule when deciding between taking the pension or taking the lump sum and investing it myself?" Wes's answer: While you mentioned using a "10% rule," my personal rule of thumb for this calculation is what I call the 6% test. To determine a pension's payout rate, you divide the annual pension income by the total lump sum amount available. For example, if someone had a $38,000 annual pension and a $417,000 lump sum available, dividing those two numbers gives you a payout rate of 9.1%. At 9.1%, the pension payout rate is higher than the 6% threshold making the monthly pension compelling. . It can be difficult to replicate that kind of return in the open market without taking on a substantial amount of investment risk. However, there is one critical detail to keep in mind regarding state teacher pensions, and that is inflation. Unlike Social Security, which provides an automatic Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) tied directly to inflation, state teacher pensions usually do not have automatic increases. Instead, any increases to your monthly check typically would be voted on and approved by the state retirement board, meaning a $38,000 annual payout might not go up much—or at all—over time. It is important to account for that loss of purchasing power in your retirement planning.

Submit a question for Wes

✅ Poll: What’s Your Take?

Every week, we'll ask a new question to get your take on the latest financial trends and topics.

Last Week’s Poll Results

We asked: “Have you ever fallen victim to investing FOMO? Here’s how you answered:

• Yes - (27%)

• No - (73%)

💸 Money Tip of the Week

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

This information is provided to you as a resource for informational purposes only and is not to be viewed as investment advice or recommendations. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee offered that investment return, yield, or performance will be achieved. This information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Any company names shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The views and opinions expressed are for educational purposes only as of the date of production/writing and may change without notice at any time based on numerous factors, such as market or other conditions. Always consult your own legal, tax, or investment advisor before making any investment/tax/estate/financial planning considerations or decisions.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

14 Senior Discounts for People Age 50 and Older Save money with discounts on sunglasses, medicine, clothes, books and more. Check out our full list of brands, days and eligible ages. Read more.

Is There a Free or Cheap Way To Back Up My Photos? Since Google shuttered its unlimited photo storage program, people have scrambled to find free or cheap ways to store their images. The best option may not be what you’d anticipate. Read more.

Should I Keep My Old Car or Buy a New Car? The price of the average new car has gone up, up and away. What happens if your old car breaks and needs major repairs? What’s worth fixing and when should you ditch for something newer? Read more.

Top Credit Card Option for Online Shopping: PayPal Cashback Mastercard® This card offers unlimited 3% cash back on purchases made with the card through PayPal. That has Team Clark’s attention. Here’s how it works. Read more.

📊 Stat of the Day

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

Prime Day ends today: Shop the best Amazon deals and competing sales Get this deal.

Prime members: Digital tire pressure gauge for $2 Get this deal.

🎙️ Podcast

Want to keep more of your hard-earned money and avoid the latest consumer scams? Check out the Clark Howard Show on YouTube for practical, actionable advice that helps you save more and spend less. Subscribe today to join a community dedicated to financial freedom!

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

Amazon Scam Warning: Beware of Deliveries You Didn’t Order Doing a lot of online shopping? You probably expect to see a few packages at your doorstep. But be wary of items you didn’t order. Read more.

#1 Smartphone in the U.S. According To Customers Apples iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy. Often not exactly compatible, the most popular smartphones in the U.S. each enjoy fierce loyalists that say they’re the best. But which one actually is? Read more.

Best Place To Buy a New Grill Team Clark has tracked deals on grills since 2016. Here are the places you’re most likely to find a discounted price – and which months surface the most deals. Read more.

Can a Patient Advocate Help With Your Medical Bills? A mistake on your medical bill or insurance claim could cost you thousands. Here’s the little-known expert who may be able to help you fight back and lower the bill. Read more.

💵 Today’s Top Savings Rates

Check out our updated list of Clark.com-approved high-yield savings accounts with the highest rates. Here are the top five APYs on our list as of June 25, 2026.

See All Rates | High Yield Savings Accounts Calculator

💰️ Bank of America: Expect the Fed To Raise Interest Rates

Expect the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in the second half of this year, and perhaps several times.

That’s what Bank of America said in a note Monday, predicting a trio of quarter-point raises by year’s end. That would raise the benchmark rate from 3.5%-3.75% to 4.25%-4.5% if it comes to fruition.

Behind the prediction: U.S. inflation, which trickled down from 9.1% in June 2022 to consecutive months of 2.4% to start 2026, has risen for three consecutive months, reaching 4.2% in May.

Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh took over for Jerome Powell (2018-2026). But at last week’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting, he gave “surprisingly hawkish remarks,” Fortune reported, “prompting analysts to change their view.”

Half of the policymakers also predicted rate hikes.

Bank of America predicted hikes in September, October and December. It also predicted inflation back down to 2.5% -- but not until the end of 2027.

“The Fed’s inflation problem has gotten unambiguously worse,” Bank of America said. “Housing-driven disinflation has now mostly run its course, while other core services remain very sticky.”

Slowing job growth, cooling inflation or a tumbling stock market are some of the most likely reasons that could develop to prove Bank of America’s predictions wrong, Fortune speculated.

If the Fed does raise rates, it puts even more of an emphasis on paying off high-interest credit card debt, as credit card interest rates tend to rise along with the Fed rate.

It also potentially makes CDs and high-yield savings accounts slightly more attractive.

Auto loans and mortgages could see a bit of a rise if the Fed does raise rates multiple times in the coming months.

Clark also says that Series I savings bonds have become a pretty decent deal again with inflation bouncing back.

📊 Stat of the Day

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

NEW! Amazon deals plus rival sales worth checking out Get this deal.

Samsung 75-inch TV for $400 Get this deal.

🎙️ Podcast

Believe it or not, Clark had a whole career before he ever started talking about money. Fifty years ago, Clark founded an alternative school called Career Action for adults who were struggling to find their path after high school. The program was intense, with long days, strict standards, and a focus on preparing students for the workplace. It was successful for decades—but here's what's remarkable: virtually every job skill that was taught eventually became obsolete. The lesson is one that's more important than ever today: you can't stay static. Also, Clark explains why extended warranties are usually a bad deal for consumers. Whether it's electronics, smartphones, appliances, or cars, the math overwhelmingly favors the companies selling the coverage. Clark shares what you need to know about smartphone insurance, home warranties, and extended auto warranties—and the one exception if you're determined to buy coverage for your vehicle.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

Are Extended Warranties Ever Worth It? Extended warranties on almost everything are just another upsell (like the proliferation of tipping culture) to fight back against inflation and economic uncertainty. Are any of them worth the money? Read more.

What Starting a School Taught Clark Howard About Success Did you know Clark once started a career readiness school for adults who didn’t attend college? Every skill he taught is now irrelevant. Here are the lessons Clark thinks we should take from that. Read more.

The Cheapest Places to Print Photos Online Photos make a great present, keepsake or home décor piece. But you don’t want to break the bank printing them. Here are the most affordable places to do it. Read more.

Don’t Let Your Favorite Team Lead You To This Financial Mistake Credit card issuers often are marketing savants. Your favorite sports team’s logo, plus some other clever marketing, can tempt you into adding a team-branded card to your wallet. Be very skeptical. Read more.

✈️ 10 Most Expensive Travel Destinations for Americans

Clark famously reiterates his “No. 1 travel rule” frequently: Buy the deal first, then figure out why you want to go there.

That often translates to “find a great deal on an airline ticket.” You’ll eventually see much of the world if you just rely on the best deals.

However, there are some places that you should think twice about visiting, even if you find a relatively affordable plane ticket. Here are the 10 most expensive travel destinations in 2026, including hotel, flight, rental car, food/drink and per-day trip costs:

1. Greenland (daily trip cost: $1,171)

2. British Virgin Islands ($925)

3. French Polynesia ($756)

4. Antarctica ($1,511)

5. Maldives ($1,072)

6. Switzerland ($602)

7. Zimbabwe ($1,167)

8. Turks and Caicos Islands ($878)

9. Botswana ($1,526)

10. Anguilla ($1,265)

You’ll notice that the “daily trip cost” varies on the list. That’s because the cost of flights, hotels, rental cars and food/drink varies by location.

For example, at “just” $756 per day, French Polynesia is the cheapest in that category of the entire list. But the average weeknight hotel costs $1,382 per night. And the average flight is $1,118.

A potential lesson: Finding cheap plane tickets is a great place to start your travel planning. But be sure to scope out hotel and rental car costs as well.

📊 Stat of the Day

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

Prime deals continue! Save on the best deals from Amazon, Walmart, Target and more Get this deal.

Prime members: Oura Ring 4 from $215 Get this deal.

🎙️ Podcast

With technology stocks making up nearly half of the S&P 500, many index investors are asking an important question: Is this concentration a risk—or simply the natural evolution of the market? In this episode, Wes Moss and Clark Howard tackle the growing dominance of tech companies in major indexes, discuss whether traditional index investors should consider diversifying beyond tech, and explore how age and retirement timelines may influence those decisions. They tackle concerns about what happens when so much market value is concentrated in just a few companies—and whether investors nearing retirement should think differently. Plus, Wes and Clark answer several listener questions on investing, retirement, and personal finance.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

Get a Good Deal on a Hotel Room in 5 Steps Clark shares his decades of wisdom to help you find the very best deal on every hotel room you book. Here are the five steps you should follow. Read more.

Clark Howard’s #1 Rule Before You File an Auto Insurance Claim Auto insurance exists so you can file a claim for anything, right? Not so fast. Clark says you should never file any claim for less than this amount, and you should almost always try to avoid claims. Read more.

Verizon Unveils New Plans and an Updated Loyalty Program Verizon becomes the latest major carrier to offer plans at prepaid carrier prices. It announced a $30 per month “Simplicity” plan, and a plan that includes unlimited talk, text, data and internet for $70. Read more.

Why Does My Locked Credit Card Still Allow Charges? Done using a specific credit card but want to keep it open for credit history? You can lock the card to protect yourself. But these types of transactions can still slip through, as Clark explains. Read more.

📺️ Resetting the U.S. TV and Streaming Market After the Latest Mergers

As of March, only nine companies accounted for at least 2% of U.S. TV viewing. That number could fall to seven if two major deals are completed:

• Fox’s proposed $22 billion acquisition of Roku.

• The merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.

The deals would dramatically reshape the competitive landscape. YouTube led all distributors in March, but a combined Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery would have overtaken it. Meanwhile, Fox and Roku together would nearly match Disney’s share.

With NBCUniversal spinning off Versant and consolidation shrinking the field, there are few remaining acquisition targets of scale. Among companies with more than 2% of TV viewing share, only Netflix (8.2%) and Amazon (3.8%) remain independent.

Team Clark’s expert expects Fox to combine Roku with its free streaming service Tubi, creating a dominant player in the fast-growing free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) market. One industry analyst told The Daily Upside that a combined Tubi-Roku advertising business would trail only YouTube in U.S. ad revenue.

Estimated TV viewing share by distributor, assuming both mergers are completed:

• Paramount + Warner Bros. Discovery: 14.2%

• YouTube: 13.2%

• Disney: 10.5%

• Fox + Roku: 10.2%

• NBCUniversal + Versant: 8.4%

• Netflix: 8.2%

• Amazon: 3.8%

• Scripps: 1.7%

• Weigel: 1.4%

• A+E: 1.0%

• Hallmark: 0.8%

• AMC Networks: 0.7%

• Other: 25.9%

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💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals

Prime Day is here! Save big at Amazon and other stores Get this deal.

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🎙️ Podcast

If you've felt squeezed every time you shop for groceries, there may finally be some good news. Kroger is cutting prices on thousands of items as competition heats up with Walmart, Costco, Aldi and Lidl. Clark explains why grocery stores are fighting harder than ever for your business, why private label products are becoming the best value in the store, and how inflation continues to affect everyday staples like tomatoes. Then, Clark looks at a new way to cut one of your biggest monthly bills. AT&T has launched a new "Build-a-Plan" option starting at just $15 per month. Clark explains who this plan works for, how much data most people actually need, and why so many consumers are paying for unlimited plans they rarely use. If you've been hesitant to leave one of the major wireless carriers but want to spend less every month, this new offering could be exactly the kind of competition that helps put money back in your pocket.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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💵 Today’s Top Stories

The Best and Worst Days to Buy Gas This Year Gas prices fluctuate for all sorts of reasons. But there are also weekly patterns that can help or hurt your wallet at the pump according to GasBuddy’s research. Here’s how much you can save. Read more.

Grocery Prices Are Forcing a Major Change Walmart, Costco Wholesale, Aldi and Lidl are vacuuming up market share when it comes to groceries. Here’s why customer satisfaction is taking a back seat to price for American consumers. Read more.

How Do I Empty Every Dollar From My Visa Gift Card? Visa gift cards offer more flexibility than store gift cards, but spending the last few dollars can be surprisingly difficult. Here's how to use every penny and avoid leaving money behind. Read more.

AT&T’s New ‘Build-a-Plan’ Starts at $15/Month With Data AT&T now allows you to pay only for features you need while retaining access to a major cell phone provider. Choose how much data (and more) you need with base plans starting at $180 per year. Read more.

🏠️ Today’s Current Mortgage Rates

According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.47% and 15-year rates are 5.81% as of June 18, 2026. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.

Mortgage Refi Calculator

✈️ Normal Behaviors That May Cause TSA To ‘Watch You Like a Hawk’

If you’ve gone through airport security often, at some point, you’ve likely been pulled aside.

Maybe an agent needed to make a precautionary pat-down after you walked through one of those full-body scans with something metal in your pocket. Or perhaps someone took you aside to look closer at an item in a bag you put on the conveyor belt (forgot to empty your liquids?).

It’s usually no big deal, as long as you aren’t cutting it close on time.

But it is interesting to know what behaviors TSA agents may look for when selecting people for additional screening.

According to Islands.com, just about anything can catch a TSA agent’s eye, from the mundane to the not very smart:

• Dressing inappropriately for the weather. Wearing beach sandals and shorts in a freezing winter location could suggest something doesn’t add up.

• Terrible body odor. Sweating profusely can be a sign of deception, stress or fear.

• Keeping your eyes down. Avoiding eye contact can make a TSA agent wonder if you’re hiding something.

• Arriving late. If you arrive at the gate (or airport) flustered and confused, it can raise suspicion.

• Excessive yawning. This can be an involuntary response that indicates agitation.

• Opening your eyes too wide. Staring or being overly alert, or studying the area, could raise suspicion.

• Talking too much to the agent. Being overly chatty with a TSA agent can be seen as a distraction technique.

• Wearing too much perfume or cologne. Agents could be worried you’re trying to mask something.

• Making jokes about potential threats. Don’t be like Ben Stiller’s character in the 2000 comedy “Meet the Parents.” After the gate agent refused to let him board with his carry-on, he said, “It’s not like I have a bomb.” Airport security tackled him immediately.

• Moving to a shorter line. Jumping from line to line can possibly make you seem agitated and shifty.

• Carrying a wad of cash. TSA agents may have questions if you come back with a lot of money.

• Clearing your throat repeatedly. You may be sick … or it may be a symptom of nervousness.

• Checking your appearance frequently. It may seem like a nervous tic if you’re making repetitive grooming gestures.

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The best of the Walmart Deals sale happening now! Get this deal.

14-night Australia & New Zealand cruise from $1,934 Get this deal.

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It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Christa reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. Also, from streaming services and device protection plans to fitness apps and smart gadgets, recurring monthly charges can quietly pile up and put pressure on your budget. While one small price increase may not seem like a big deal, multiple hikes across several services can add up fast. Clark shares a simple strategy to help you stay on top of subscription costs without turning it into a part-time job. He also shares a personal story about canceling Netflix and the family backlash that followed, along with how a lower-cost plan became the compromise. If subscription fatigue is setting in and you're looking for an easy way to cut expenses, this seasonal money-saving habit could help you keep more of your hard-earned cash.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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Happy Sunday! Here’s what we’re covering in today’s Clark Smart Investing newsletter:

• SpaceX's IPO is a reminder to avoid one of investing's biggest mistakes

• Should you move to be near your kids or grandkids in retirement?

• Find lost or missing retirement accounts

• Q&A with Wes Moss: After receiving a notice from my brokerage that the S&P 500 and Total U.S. Stock Market funds have lost their official "diversified" status due to the massive size of the "Magnificent 7" tech stocks, do I need to better diversify my portfolio?

💵 Don't Make One of Investing's Biggest Mistakes: FOMO

FOMO, the fear of missing out, is one of the most expensive forces in investing, and few things set it off like a giant, hyped initial public offering (IPO). The SpaceX debut is the latest one to test it.

SpaceX went public on June 12, and the run was hard to look away from. The stock initially priced at $135, popped to a $161 close on its first day, and kept climbing the following week. Brokerage apps that never carried the shares suddenly showed a “request shares” button, and individual investors bought more SpaceX than any other stock in the market.

If watching that made you feel like you had to get in before the chance disappeared, that’s FOMO, and it pushes people into worse decisions than almost any market crash does.

When everyone else seems to be getting rich on the latest hot investment, it's easy to feel like you're being left behind. But that mindset can be costly. Find out why chasing trends may hurt your long-term wealth and what to do instead.

📚️ Recommended Reading

Should You Move To Be Near Your Kids and Grandkids in Retirement? Being nearby can mean more family time and precious memories — but it can also come with financial, lifestyle, and relationship considerations. Before you pack the moving truck, here are some important questions to ask yourself. Read more.

How To Find Missing or Lost Retirement Accounts Millions of Americans have lost track of old 401(k)s and workplace retirement plans. The good news? Finding them may be easier than you think. Learn where to look and how to reclaim your money. Read more.

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Thinking About a Roth Conversion? Here’s What to Consider For some, converting part of a traditional IRA to a Roth may create more flexibility later in retirement. But the potential benefits often depend on timing, tax brackets, and long-term income planning. Here’s what investors may want to know before making a move. Read more.

💬 Ask an Advisor

Ask an Advisor with Wes Moss Email|Website

Each week, Wes Moss answers real reader questions on money, investing, and retirement. Wes is Chief Investment Strategist at Capital Investment Advisors and a fee-only financial advisor. He hosts a weekly Ask an Advisor segment with Christa DiBiase on the Clark Howard Podcast and YouTube channel.

This week's question     Tony in Utah asks: "After receiving a notice from my brokerage that the S&P 500 and Total U.S. Stock Market funds have lost their official "diversified" status due to the massive size of the "Magnificent 7" tech stocks, I am looking for a solution. To force better diversification, is it worth breaking my portfolio into separate large, mid, small-cap, international, and bond funds, or am I overcomplicating things by abandoning the Total Stock Market fund?" Wes's answer: This heavy concentration at the top of market-cap-weighted indexes has been a brewing issue for over five years, and the fact that your brokerage sent you that warning letter is a major indicator. Even though the S&P 500 technically holds 500 companies, roughly 35% to 40% of the fund's movement is now driven by just the "Magnificent Seven" mega-cap tech stocks, meaning it truly isn't as diversified as it used to be. Your instinct to manually add mid-cap, small-cap, and international funds is one option to dilute that heavy top-end concentration and build a more balanced foundation. If you want to achieve that same diversification without managing four separate stock funds, consider looking at equal-weighted index funds or ETFs. Unlike standard indexes that give giant companies the biggest slice of the pie based on their market size, an equal-weighted fund treats every single component more equally, whether it is the largest company in the world or the smallest in the index. This may help to mitigate the Magnificent Seven concentration risk while still allowing you to own those core companies.

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✅ Poll: What’s Your Take?

Every week, we'll ask a new question to get your take on the latest financial trends and topics.

Last Week’s Poll Results

We asked: “What is the most important milestone for you to feel truly secure and ready for retirement?” Here’s how you answered:

• A completely paid-off house - (11%)

• A specific, large nest-egg number - (30%)

• Zero debt of any kind - (26%)

• A reliable stream of passive income - (33%)

💸 Money Tip of the Week

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

This information is provided to you as a resource for informational purposes only and is not to be viewed as investment advice or recommendations. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee offered that investment return, yield, or performance will be achieved. This information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Any company names shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The views and opinions expressed are for educational purposes only as of the date of production/writing and may change without notice at any time based on numerous factors, such as market or other conditions. Always consult your own legal, tax, or investment advisor before making any investment/tax/estate/financial planning considerations or decisions.

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☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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🚘️ Demand for Hybrids Far Outstrips EVs

“Days supply” is a common metric that dealerships use to manage inventory and measure demand.

It’s the number of days it would take to sell all the cars on a lot at the current sales rate, assuming no additional vehicles get added.

According to the CarGurus Q1 2026 Intelligence Report, the days supply is telling us something loud and clear about where Americans stand when it comes to engine types.

Typically, 60-70 days is a rough sweet spot.

Far more than that? Supply is outstripping demand. You’ll have to slash prices and/or offer incentives to move your inventory fast enough. (Remember, the longer a vehicle sits on a lot, the more it costs the dealership.)

Far less than that? You’re risking not enough inventory, especially if there are any supply chain snags. And perhaps you aren’t squeezing as much profit out as you could.

• “Plug-in” electric vehicles (EVs) logged an average days supply of 97.7 days in Q1.

• Hybrids: 46.8 days.

Some of the popular hybrid models include the Toyota Grand Highlander, Sienna, RAV4, and Corolla Cross – all of which boast average days supply under 20 days.

“Customers prefer cordless everything,” one general sales manager at a car dealership told Car Dealership Guy.

Whether you’re looking to score a bargain or wanting to know which vehicles will retain value best, it’s interesting to note.

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☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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