Clark Biweekly 9 23 24

Author

Sally McDonald
September 23, 2024

Today’s Sponsor
Capital Investment Advisors
💵 Today’s Top Stories
Costco

Our resident Costco expert found a bamboo snowman charcuterie tray, a five-foot LED penguin, limited-run Kirkland Signature maple syrup and more. Read more.

Two credit cards

Co-branded hotel rewards credit cards are “just worthless,” Clark says. Here’s why he’s so against them in 2024. Read more.

Sponsor
Capital Investment Advisors advertisement

Whether you are retiring in a few years or have already embarked on the process, be prepared for what’s ahead. Given their years of advising thousands of retirees, Capital Investment Advisors has put together this guide to help you plan for a long, happy retirement.

Streaming TV remote

Have you ditched cable but want a free option to stream local news and weather without an antenna? This streaming service may be worth trying. Read more.

Financial Advisor

Figuring out how much a financial advisor costs can be challenging. How do you know if you’re paying too much? This guide walks you through everything you need to know to make sure you’re not getting ripped off. Read more.

Flu Shot

Flu season is coming. Now’s the time to look at flu shots. Luckily, there are some great deals out there. Read more.

🏠️ Today’s Current Mortgage Rates

According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.09% and 15-year rates are 5.15% as of September 19, 2024. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.

Mortgage Rates
💰️ Americans Getting More Optimistic About Retirement

Sometimes the long-term economic headlines in the United States feel negative:

  • Years of high inflation

  • Increasing high-interest debt

  • A job market trending in a negative direction

  • A need to make long-term decisions on funding Social Security and Medicare

  • Constant budget deficits

Today, let’s focus on a big positive: retirement. You may be surprised to learn that the likelihood of working past 62 and 67 years old is shrinking quickly according to American workers.

The likelihood of needing to work past 62 hit a recent peak of 58% in 2016. That number is down to just 46% this year. Working past 67? That hit a 2016 peak of 35% and gradually has fallen to 31%.

While just 45% of people expect to be financially comfortable in retirement, the reality is far better: 74% of retirees say they’re financially comfortable.

Clark calls investing for your retirement a top priority, if not the top priority. So it’s great that retirement is going well for so many Americans financially.

📊 Stat of the Day

🏀 32,683: Square feet in Michael Jordan’s Chicago mansion that just went under contract. Originally listed at $29 million, the most recent price was less than $15 million. The nine-bedroom, 19-bathroom home sat on the market for 12 years. The final selling price isn’t public.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
Woot
Home Depot
🎙️ Podcast

It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Christa reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. Also, auto insurance rates have been sky high but the cycle is changing. Find out why Clark says now is the time to be a free agent and shop around.

☎️ 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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