The Clark Howard Podcast

Episode: 01.28.26 – Bypass Finfluencers / Can You Spot A Scam?
Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Clark Howard

Episode Overview

In this episode, Clark Howard is on a mission to help listeners shield themselves from unreliable financial advice—especially from social media "finfluencers"—and from the steady stream of clever new scams separating people from their money. Through real listener questions and personal anecdotes, Clark provides actionable tips for long-term investing, offers clear warnings on the latest scam tactics, and discusses shifting trends in consumer finance, from credit cards to airline loyalty. As always, the goal is to help listeners save more, spend less, and avoid ripoffs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Blind Spots of Social Media Financial Advice — "Finfluencers"

• Clark’s Concern: Young adults (teens/20s) are especially susceptible to financial misinformation on social media.
• Washington Post Report: Nearly 2/3 of young adults trust investment advice they see on social platforms. Clark considers this dangerous, since "a lot of what passes as advice is actually really sales pitches." (01:32)
• Motivations and Shortcomings:
  • Much of the advice is not impartial and is often "pay for play."
  • Short, viral content (e.g., on TikTok) can't convey the nuance or strategy needed for sound investing.
• Clark's Approach to Young Investors:
  • Cites a conversation with an enthusiastic 22-year-old, showing how difficult it is for young people to embrace long-term compounding:

    "She said to me, well, I want to be rich now… My son thinks long-term investing is holding a stock for a few weeks." (04:19)

  • Emphasizes the power of habits and "getting rich slowly" through regular, diversified, low-cost investments (e.g., index funds).
• Advice: Always question the agenda of someone giving you financial tips, particularly online:

  "You always got to really suss out what's the hidden agenda here. Is somebody trying to sell me something?" (05:40)

• Actionable Resources:
  • Start with websites like Investopedia or Clark.com for unbiased, in-depth knowledge.

2. Smart Investing Starts with Diversification and Education

• Listener Question (Kate, age 14): Starting to invest with $3,500 in savings—how to begin? (09:31)
• Clark’s Recommendation:
  • Open a Fidelity Youth Investment Account:

    "The account's free. You need $1 to open it. You can easily add money regularly... The beauty of going into the Fidelity Zero funds is Fidelity absorbs all the costs." (11:18)

  • Start with a total stock market index fund for broad diversification.
• On Financial Aid: Clark notes that assets in a minor’s own name can affect college aid eligibility, but learning to invest still has huge long-term benefits.
• Roth IRA for Young Workers:
  • If you have earned income, open a Roth IRA with a simple target retirement fund.

3. How to Research Individual Stocks – Beyond Brokerage Tools

• Listener Question (Bob, Georgia): Safely getting more granular with stocks; what tools to use? (12:54)
• Clark’s Tools of Choice:
  • Yahoo Finance for general company research
  • Stock Analysis (website): For in-depth, tabulated information
  • Use Investopedia to decode unfamiliar terms.
• Clark’s Perspective: Be wary of excitement over research tools, focus on dry fundamentals (like reading company financials).

4. Gifting & Family: When Adult Children Don’t Help Aging Parents

• Listener Letter (Anonymous, NC): Retired, struggling financially, while children give generously to charities but not their own parent; is that right? (14:25)
• Clark’s Reflection:

  "I hear in your words... the pain that you feel that your adult children don't appreciate you... There are different cultures and different families..." (15:36)

  • Recommends a heartfelt, non-confrontational conversation with adult children, simply stating the need without guilt or comparison.
  • Clark shares a favorite saying:

    "One parent could take care of 10 children, but 10 children can't take care of one parent." (16:51)

5. Scams: Evolving Tactics and How to Protect Yourself

[START: 21:12]

• New Wave of Scams:
  • “Pretexting”: Criminals pretending to be from Microsoft, your bank, government, or brokerage, aiming to trick you into giving up personal information.
  • The rise in sophistication: Criminals know how to target those with means (multiple homes, high-credit balances).
  • Bank Response: Victims rarely get money back, since “you gave them the information.”
• Prevention Rules:
  • Never answer unrecognized calls, even if the caller ID matches your financial institution.

    "I don't know who's calling. I don't answer that call, period." (26:50)

  • Never call back numbers from voicemails claiming bank/fraud issues. Instead, sign directly into your own account for verification.
• Scam Anatomy: The formula includes urgency, false authority, and pressure to act fast, leading to self-sabotage.
• Clark’s Warning:

  "You’re the one who has to be the police officer, because law enforcement cannot get your money back." (27:57)

• Memorable Example (New York Times): Retired lawyer lost $85,000 after 150 minutes of talking with a criminal posing as Microsoft support. The bank refused reimbursement. (25:50)

6. Specific Modern Scams & Consumer Issues

• Student Loan Impersonation (Kathleen, Alabama):
  • Fraudster secured a graduate loan in her daughter’s name and pocketed the funds. Even with credit freezes, government loans don’t always vet credit.
  • Clark’s Advice: Once resolved, keep documentation for life, as collection attempts can resurface years later. (29:25)
• Credit Card Benefits & Retention Offers:
  • Listener feedback shows card issuers (like Chase) sometimes offer substantial fee reductions or credits if you call to cancel; worth trying before dropping a pricey card. (34:00)
  • American Express Platinum and other "premium" cards now come loaded with credits—often for things you'll rarely use.
• Changing Airline Loyalty:
  • Southwest Airlines' transformation disappoints Clark (“the heart and everything stabbed you in the heart” (35:15)). He's now a “free agent” searching for best airfares, not loyalty.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Social Media Advice:

  "It's possible that you're going to find something that's really decent in terms of advice on social media. But the real problem here is a lot of what passes as advice is actually really sales pitches." – Clark Howard (01:55)

• On Financial Habits:

  "You get rich through habits. Habits are key. One step at a time." – Clark Howard (05:02)

• On Investing Research:

  "Investigating a company, a stock involves something very dry and dull and boring. Reading their financials, understanding what you're reading..." – Clark Howard (07:50)

• On Family Gifting:

  "My late father used to say one parent could take care of 10 children, but 10 children can't take care of one parent." – Clark Howard (16:51)

• On Scam Prevention:

  "I don't know who's calling. I don't answer that call, period." – Clark Howard (26:50)

• On Being Your Own Financial Defender:

  "You're the one who has to be the police officer because law enforcement cannot get your money back." – Clark Howard (27:57)

• On Loyalty Programs (regarding Southwest Airlines):

  "First there's... what is it? Anger, denial, acceptance. I've reached acceptance that the Southwest that I loved no longer exists." – Clark Howard (35:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Social Media "Finfluencers" & Investing Mindset: 00:36 – 07:20
• Guidance for Young Investors (Fidelity Youth Account, Roth IRA): 09:31 – 12:54
• Tools for Individual Stock Research: 12:54 – 14:25
• Family and Financial Support Dynamics: 14:25 – 18:30
• Scam Awareness & Prevention: 21:12 – 29:25
• Student Loan Identity Theft & Documentation Advice: 29:25 – 31:16
• Credit Card Retention Offers/Annual Fee Discussion: 34:00 – 36:00
• Changing Airline Loyalty and the End of an Era: 36:20 – 39:00

Tone and Style

The episode features Clark’s signature blend of candid advice, gentle humor, and real-life examples. The approachability and modest self-deprecation ("I am boring. Yes, I am. I'm the most dull man alive." – 10:35) make complex topics accessible, while the steady focus is always on empowering listeners against both bad advice and outright ripoffs.

Whether you’re new to investing, worried about scams, or just want to make smarter day-to-day money decisions, this episode is packed with straightforward advice, relatable stories, and a clear path to greater financial security.