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- Clark Biweekly 11 11 24
Clark Biweekly 11 11 24
Anthony Hazzard
November 11, 2024
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To our veterans: We remember and honor those who have served our great nation. Thank you for your courage and dedication to protecting our freedoms.
💵 Today’s Top Stories
 | You’ll be surprised to learn how often switching jobs knocks people off track when it comes to investing for retirement. Here’s what you can do to make sure you don’t victimize yourself. Read more. |
 | In 2023, Amazon soared up the customer satisfaction rankings with one of the biggest one-year jumps we’ve ever seen. But the internet giant is still looking up at one retailer and couldn’t gain in ’24. Read more. |
 | If you’re 55+, you can switch to a cheaper provider or price-advantaged plan without sacrificing service. We studied more than 70 plans to identify the best. Read more. |
 | Lost luggage is an even bigger issue than ever. Should you do something to track your checked baggage? Or is it better to follow Clark’s key travel rule? Read more. |
 | iSeeCars put together a way a few different ways to measure the best U.S. cities for electric vehicles. Check out the cities with the most charging stations and the cities that have grown their EV infrastructure the most in the past year. Read more. |
🏠️ Today’s Current Mortgage Rates
According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.79% and 15-year rates are 6.00% as of November 7, 2024. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.
🚗 Vehicle Repairs Are Hitting Our Wallets Harder
Our vehicles are more sophisticated than ever.
Automatic emergency braking. Blind-spot monitoring. Lane centering or lane keeping assistance. Reversing cameras. They’re all designed to keep you safe and prevent collisions.
These days, you better hope they do! The Wall Street Journal reported that vehicle repairs have gotten 28% more expensive in three years. The average repair cost for an insurance claim in the second quarter of this year was $4,721.
That’s far from the end of the headache, though: auto insurance premiums have far outpaced inflation. Making an insurance claim is sure to make your premiums even more expensive going forward.
To boot, it has become harder for auto shops to estimate repairs. All those extra sensors and computers lead to more costs and labor.
The WSJ gave an example of a 2023 Subaru Impreza with a dented door in Schenectady, N.Y. It cost $6,500 – including about $1,000 in extra costs because the shop needed to recalibrate the assisted-driving system.
More than one-quarter of insurance claim repairs in 2024 included recalibrating sensors, the WSJ reported – up from 5% four years ago.
The WSJ wrote:
“Consider the side-view mirror. Replacing a busted one on a car from 2014 might cost about $200 to $400, including an hour of labor.
“The same mirror on a 2024 car could have a camera and sensors for lane-change assistance, plus a heating element to keep them warm. The cost of repairs and replacements might be $1,200 to $1,500, with an additional hour of labor.”
📊 Stat of the Day
💸 4.50-4.75%: The Federal Reserve interest rate after a quarter-point cut at the end of last week. The rate impacts loan interest rates, savings account interest and more. It’s not likely the last Fed rate cut. But the Fed’s future actions are more uncertain than they were a few months ago.
💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
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🎙️ Podcast
It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Christa reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. Also, Clark was recently in a busy pedestrian area asking people about investing and retirement plans. While most people are familiar with Roth IRAs, he was shocked to hear what most people do NOT know!
☎️ 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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