Clark Biweekly 10 17 24

Author

Anthony Hazzard
October 17, 2024

Clark always advocates investing for the long term. Find out later in this email why buy-and-hold investing is virtually foolproof.

💵 Today’s Top Stories

How much it costs to pay your household bills each month varies widely by location. Find out the cheapest American cities and get some tips on saving money on your monthly expenses no matter where you live. Read more.

Clark says most people need four types of insurance. But there is a boatload of insurance policies that line the pockets of salespeople and aren’t worth your while. Read more.

Streaming TV remote

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.

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A Clark listener recently got an offer in the mail. Upon investigating, he realized a credit bureau sold his Social Security number and credit profile. Is that legal? Read more.

Hulu’s prices are getting more expensive just like most streaming services. But it’s offering a rare free trial in addition to altering its channel lineup. Read more.

📈 Reminder: Buy-and-Hold Investing Is Virtually Foolproof

The stock market may or may not be volatile as we recover from hurricanes, near the Presidential Election and face who knows how many unpredictable headlines.

But now is a good time to remember that Clark always advocates investing for the long term.

“Markets, even after a painful decline, eventually recover,” Clark says. “As long as you are invested for the right reasons – saving for your long term – and your money is diversified in a way that’s appropriate to your age, just ignore the headlines and hang in there.”

Creative Planning’s Charlie Bilello recently surfaced some interesting stats that back up the core tenets of Clark’s philosophy.

On any given day, your odds of a positive stock market return are 53%. Considering fees and taxes, that’s virtually a coin flip.

Expand that time horizon to one year and your odds improve to 75%. Over 20 years? It’s 100%. History doesn’t always repeat itself. But there has never been a negative return for US equity investors if they held for 20 years, Bilello points out.

Here are the odds of a positive return based on timeline.

One Day: 53%
Five Days: 57%
10 Days: 59%
One Month: 62%
Three Months: 68%
Six Months: 71%
One Year: 75%
Three Years: 84%
Five Years: 89%
10 Years: 94%
15 Years: 98%
20 Years: 100%
30 Years: 100%

📊 Stat of the Day

🚗 $6,684: The average hidden cost of owning a car each year. Auto insurance makes up more than one-third of those costs. Here’s how to re-shop your auto insurance. Other hidden costs include interest on loans, gas, repairs and maintenance, and registration.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
Sale
Clark Travel
🎙️ Podcast

Will gas prices go up or down? Clark has good news for our wallets! He shares the trends that are contributing to lower gas and energy prices. Also, Medicare open enrollment is here and big changes are coming for 2025! Clark explains what you can expect, how to shop, and why he dislikes Medicare “Dis-Advantage” plans.

☎️ 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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