The Clark Howard Podcast Summary

Episode: 01.08.25 - New Year, New Job / Your Longevity
Release Date: January 8, 2025
Host: Clark Howard

Introduction and Overview

In this episode of The Clark Howard Podcast, host Clark Howard delves into pressing issues surrounding the modern workforce, personal financial management, and health optimization. As the new year commences, Clark addresses the challenges many face in their careers, offers solutions for financial well-being, and provides insights into maintaining longevity and health in a fast-paced world.

Main Discussion: Navigating the Modern Job Market

1. Worker Dissatisfaction Reaches Unprecedented Levels Clark opens the discussion by highlighting alarming findings from a recent Gallup survey titled the Life Evaluation Index. According to the survey, [00:54] Clark Howard states:

“The number of people that are struggling or suffering at work was never close to being half of all workers in the United States, which is where it is right now.”

This statistic underscores a significant shift in worker sentiment, with 50% of employees reporting dissatisfaction—a level not seen even during the Great Recession.

2. The Importance of Continuous Learning and Upskilling Clark emphasizes the necessity for workers to adapt to the ever-evolving job market. He shares a personal anecdote about his son, who is training to be a professional airline pilot and is proactively pursuing a second degree in finance. [03:15] Clark Howard remarks:

“He’s already thinking, what else would he be doing? And that's not human nature. Usually, we have blinders on with our job or career, and what we do is what we do.”

3. Future of Employment by 2050 Looking ahead, Clark predicts that by 2050, “almost all the jobs that exist will be things that don't exist today” due to relentless technological advancements and market changes.

4. Accessible Free Training Resources To combat job market instability, Clark recommends several free educational platforms:

• Coursera: Offers thousands of free courses. While they don’t provide degrees or certifications, learners can acquire valuable skills that are increasingly prized by employers.

• edX: Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX provides over a thousand courses free of charge. Clark notes:

  “They call it auditing the courses, but there's an online catalog of those.” [06:10]

• Khan Academy: A nonprofit focusing on free education in STEM fields, preparing learners for high-demand jobs.

Clark encourages listeners to leverage these resources to stay relevant and secure in their careers.

Listener Questions and Clark’s Expert Advice

1. Is the Wise App Safe for Foreign Exchange?
Listener: Kenneth from California
Question: Concerns about providing sensitive information to the Wise app.

Clark Howard’s Response: [08:34] Clark Howard explains that sharing personal information like Social Security numbers and driver's licenses is standard practice among financial institutions to prevent money laundering and criminal activities. He assures listeners that such data is handled with strict security measures:

“This invasion of privacy came about because... [post-9/11 measures]... It is considered to be a legitimate business purpose to require your Social Security number.”

2. Are Insurance Discounts for Veterans Legitimate or Just Marketing Hype?
Listener: Jeffrey from Virginia
Question: Validity of advertised insurance discounts for veterans.

Clark Howard’s Response: [10:22] Clark Howard thanks Jeffrey for his service and clarifies that most advertised discounts are mere marketing attempts. He points out that reputable organizations like USAA and certain military-based credit unions may offer genuine benefits, but generally, the promotions are not as advantageous as they appear.

3. Are Health Tracking Rings Worth the Investment? Which Brand to Choose?
Listener: Reed from Ohio
Question: Value and brand recommendations for health tracking rings.

Clark Howard’s Response: [11:33] Clark Howard shares his personal experience with the Oura Ring, highlighting its benefits in improving sleep quality:

“My sleep after five years with Aura is so crazy better because Aura nags you...”

He also discusses the competitive landscape, mentioning Samsung’s entry into the market and advises listeners to consider used models and the value of subscription fees for comprehensive data.

4. Best Way to Donate to Charity: Thoughts on Charity Navigator's Giving Basket
Listener: Sam from Texas
Question: Opinion on using Charity Navigator’s Giving Basket for donations.

Clark Howard’s Response: [22:54] Clark Howard acknowledges the small fees involved but underscores the benefit of ensuring donations go to legitimate and efficient organizations:

“It is an effective way because it's a clearinghouse to make sure that it's going to good, efficient, legitimate organizations.”

He also points out the advantage of anonymity, preventing personal details from being used in future solicitations.

5. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for Roth IRAs
Listener: Ken from California
Question: Clarification on when RMDs are required for Roth IRAs.

Clark Howard’s Response: [25:11] Clark Howard confirms that ChatGPT was correct—there are no RMDs required for Roth IRAs during the account holder’s lifetime. He explains the advantages of Roth IRAs over traditional IRAs, especially regarding inheritance and tax implications.

6. Should You Ever Have a Credit Card?
Listener: Jay from Florida
Question: Perspective on financial experts who advocate never having a credit card.

Clark Howard’s Response: [26:39] Clark Howard differentiates between those who manage credit responsibly and those who don’t. He argues that reward credit cards are beneficial for individuals who pay their balances in full each month, thereby avoiding high-interest charges:

“If you are in the roughly half of Americans who use a credit card as a payment system where you pay the balance in full every month and you have the ability to pay with a credit card and receive the cash back rewards or points and you know, whatever program and you love doing that, there's no problem at all you using a reward card.”

He cautions against reward cards for those who struggle with debt, labeling the rewards as "fool's gold" due to high interest rates on unpaid balances.

Additional Insights: Enhancing Longevity and Health

1. Standing vs. Sitting: A Simple Change for Better Health
Later in the episode, Clark shifts focus to physical health, advocating for standing over sitting to reduce health risks. Referencing a New York Times study conducted in Taiwan, [19:50] Clark Howard explains:

“People who sit a big part of the day have a 1/3 higher risk of dying from heart stuff.”

He shares his own experience of using a standing desk, noting increased energy levels and overall health improvements. Clark emphasizes that incorporating more standing into daily routines is a free and effective way to enhance well-being.

2. The Drawbacks of Treadmill Desks
Clark mentions his brief stint with a treadmill desk, which he discontinued due to decreased material absorption and comprehension while walking:

“I couldn't absorb material as well. Reading... my comprehension declined.”

He advises listeners to find a balance that works for their personal productivity and health without compromising cognitive functions.

Conclusion

In this episode, Clark Howard provides a comprehensive look into the challenges of today's job market, the importance of continuous learning, and practical financial advice tailored to listeners' diverse needs. He also underscores simple health practices that can lead to significant longevity benefits. As always, Clark encourages proactive engagement with available resources to empower individuals in achieving financial freedom and personal well-being.

Listeners are reminded to seek personalized advice through the Team Clark Consumer Action Center and to explore more content on Clark’s platforms for ongoing support in their financial and personal journeys.

Notable Quotes:

• [00:54] Clark Howard: “One out of two people at work are miserable, struggling or suffering.”

• [03:15] Clark Howard: “He’s already thinking, what else would he be doing?”

• [08:34] Clark Howard: “This invasion of privacy came about because... It is considered to be a legitimate business purpose to require your Social Security number.”

• [10:22] Clark Howard: “Most of those pitches are just propaganda.”

• [11:33] Clark Howard: “My sleep after five years with Aura is so crazy better.”

• [22:54] Clark Howard: “It is an effective way because it's a clearinghouse to make sure that it's going to good, efficient, legitimate organizations.”

• [25:11] Clark Howard: “Chat GPT is correct. If you have a Roth IRA, one of the enormous advantages of it over a traditional ira, anything like that is that there's never an RMD required minimum distribution.”

• [26:39] Clark Howard: “Reward cards are a disaster because reward cards tend on unpaid balances to carry higher than average interest rates.”

For more detailed advice and to engage directly with Clark Howard, visit Clark.com.