Podcast Summary: The Clark Howard Podcast

Episode: 02.13.26 Clark Answers His Critics on Clark Stinks / Job Market Update
Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Clark Howard
Co-host: Krista

Episode Overview

This episode of The Clark Howard Podcast centers around two main themes:

1. Clark Stinks: Regular listeners submit critical feedback to Clark and his team, prompting honest discussion and clarifications on previously given advice.
2. Job Market Update: Clark discusses the current state of the American job market, focusing on recent layoffs, economic shifts, and practical job-hunting strategies during times of uncertainty.

The tone remains approachable, practical, and occasionally self-deprecating, sticking to Clark's philosophy of empowering listeners to “save more, spend less, and avoid ripoffs.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Clark Stinks – Listener Criticism & Clark’s Responses

(Starts at 01:37)

Social Security Timing Advice

• Listener Sandra (WI): Criticizes Clark for always recommending people delay Social Security to age 70 without considering personal situations where that’s not possible or desirable.
  • Clark acknowledges not everyone follows or can follow his advice, but reiterates, "The math shows—especially if you're married—there’s a huge advantage waiting till 70." (03:19)
  • He concedes people's health, job situation, and age discrimination are valid reasons not to delay.

Real Estate Investment

• Listener Michael (NC): Points out that Clark's “doom and gloom” take on real estate doesn’t fit every situation; some, like him, are “making out like a bandit” with favorable pre-existing mortgages.
  • Clark clarifies, “It’s not that being an owner of investment real estate is a bad idea…It’s just right now it’s really hard to acquire properties and make the math work.” (04:44)
  • He emphasizes market timing: owning from previous years is different from trying to buy now.

Confusion about Child Credit Freezes

• Listener Dale (MN): Calls out Clark for inconsistent advice on freezing children’s credit.
  • Clark clarifies: Freezing a child’s credit is always a good idea, but it’s a bureaucratic hassle because credit bureaus make the process difficult. Nonetheless, “Child identity theft is a real thing…criminals know there’s a blank slate there and they can do so much harm.” (06:22)

Overseas Hotel Booking Advice

• Listener Greg (FL): Advises caution using third-party sites for booking hotels in Europe or small towns; recommends direct booking to avoid issues.
  • Clark agrees: “You can contact them directly and just say, ‘Hey, I found this rate elsewhere—can you match?’…It’s a great idea for you and for them.” (08:50)

ABLE Accounts and Medicaid Clawback

• Listener Andrea (TX): Reminds Clark to mention the Medicaid payback provision for ABLE accounts—most states allow Medicaid to take the account balance upon the beneficiary's death.
  • Clark admits, “It’s a pretty mean-spirited provision of the law in many states, and I should have pointed that out.” (10:15)

Independent Insurance Agents vs. DIY Shopping

• Listener Pete (VA): Prefers using an independent insurance agent to shop auto/home insurance, which saves time and hassle.
  • Clark praises the approach: “I love independent insurance agents…they can potentially find a placement that is better for your situation or cheaper.” (12:06)
• Listener Jay: Compares Costco’s insurance marketplace to a lead generator, which brings unwanted calls.
  • Clark says, “You should not be getting spammed...Costco is not selling off your information to what are known as lead generators.” (12:06)

Recognizing Positive Customer Service

• Listener David (NJ): Suggests Clark balance his “customer no service” talk by acknowledging workers who provide “customer yes service.”
  • Clark agrees: “It’s often not the fault of the people you’re talking to...they are not given the authority or tools to solve somebody's problem.” (13:56)
  • Clark shares his own tactic for avoiding unhelpful service reps: “If I can tell the person is hostile, uncaring—oh yeah, I do something really dishonest. I say, ‘I'm sorry, I can't hear you. I’m gonna have to call back.’ And I hang up and call back and hope for a better experience.” (13:56)

Solar Panel Payoff Criticism

• Listener Alex (GA): Frustrated that Clark keeps hyping solar, but the cost/benefit "doesn’t work" for him; the payoff is “unacceptable.”
  • Clark sympathizes: “There’s a math problem right now with professionally installed solar for the home.” (16:12)
  • He’s optimistic about the potential for “balcony solar”—self-installed, plug-in panels—but laments utility and regulatory opposition in most states.

Single-Use/Virtual Credit Cards

• Listener Micah (ME): Challenges Clark to clarify how consumers can get single-use credit card numbers, since they're not universally available.
  • Clark responds: “More and more card companies do offer one time use cards...but Apple and Google have really lapped the banking business. Using Apple Pay or Google Wallet is a safe way to process payments by credit card.” (18:47-20:35)

2. Job Market Update – Layoffs, Economic Outlook, and Practical Advice

(Starts at 23:57)

Commentary on Corporate Layoffs

• Clark expresses frustration over the celebratory tone some companies take when announcing layoffs, noting that layoffs are incentivized by Wall Street.
  • “What happened to humanity in corporate America?…Better than new and improved detergent—hey, we're gonna lay off 15,000 people. Isn't that exciting?” (23:57)

Market Outlook & Advice

• Clark explains that “companies are kind of frozen…that’s why the job market has stalled out.”
• He identifies reasons for business insecurity: shifting trade policies, tariffs, AI, and general economic uncertainty.
• Clark is cautiously optimistic:
  • “My guess is that we'll see more economic activity and more hiring as we look in late spring… the job market will become not such a negative as it is now.” (23:57)

Long-Term Job Security

• Clark highlights enduring shortages in certain job categories, using his own daughter as an example:
  • “My middle child is going back to school to work in occupational therapy…there’s a need with an aging population…she found something she's really interested in and loves doing and there’s a need for.” (23:57)
• He encourages listeners to look for in-demand fields, many of which are listed on clark.com.

Job Searching Tactics

• Clark discourages relying exclusively on online applications, which often lead to demoralizing automated rejections.
  • “People hire people and people who know you…you've got to market yourself to people, not to a laptop.” (29:17)

3. Listener Q&A

(Starts at 30:01)

Disputing Phantom Debt Emails

• Question: Mark (CA) receives a debt collection email about an account he doesn’t recognize.
  • Clark: It's a legit collector; he recommends immediately disputing the debt electronically to prevent it from appearing as valid on credit reports.
  • “If you do not dispute the validity of a debt, it's considered to be valid. It can go on your credit report, trash your credit for years to come.” (30:25)

Managing Toll Payments When Renting a Car in California

• Question: Will (SC) is renting a car in California and asks how to handle tolls.
  • Clark: Warns about rental company markups. Advises buying CA’s ‘Fast Track’ portable toll device and adding/removing your rental car’s plate number to avoid surprise fees.
  • "You have to put in the tag or plate number of the rental car...and then remove that plate or tag number when you're done." (31:58)

Appliance Warranty Exclusions

• Question: Sue (WI) has a stove with peeling paint; the manufacturer calls it “cosmetic wear,” not covered under a 10-year warranty.
  • Clark: Confirms industry-wide exclusion of exterior finishes from appliance warranties—"That is standard operating procedure. Wish I had a better answer." (34:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Social Security Timing:

  • “Not everybody…wants to wait till age 70 or they can’t wait till age 70. But if it’s a choice you can make, the math shows—especially if you're married—there is a huge advantage waiting till 70.” (03:19, Clark)

• On Real Estate Timing:

  • “Right now...the math doesn’t work like it used to for people to be a landlord buying properties to rent out. Except in rare circumstances having acquired properties long ago.” (04:44, Clark)

• On Credit Freezes for Children:

  • “Child identity theft is a real thing... criminals know there’s a blank slate there and can do so much harm.” (06:22, Clark)

• On Customer Service & Calling Back:

  • “If I can tell the person on the other end of the phone is hostile, uncaring…oh yeah, I do something really dishonest. I say, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t hear you...I’m gonna have to call back.’ And I hang up and call back.” (13:56, Clark)

• On Job Applications:

  • “All those companies do is reject you, either with a human, but more often some kind of automated tool…Your time is much better spent working your contacts.” (29:17, Clark)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Clark Stinks Listener Feedback – 01:37
• Real Estate Investment Critique & Response – 03:58
• Credit Freezes for Kids Explained – 05:44
• ABLE Account Medicaid Clawback – 09:49
• Solar Panel Economic Realities – 15:37
• Virtual Credit Card Number Discussion – 18:10
• Job Market Update – 23:57
• Listener Q&A: Phantom Debt Collection Email – 30:01
• California Rental Car Toll Advice – 31:45
• Appliance Warranty Realities – 34:23

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is educational and conversational, mixing Clark’s trademark practical advice with humility and a sense of humor about his own flaws ("that can be a Clark Stinks that I run too much at the mouth" (20:41)). There’s a consistent focus on empowering listeners with actionable consumer and financial guidance, while candidly addressing past missteps and listener concerns.

For those who want to be smart consumers, especially regarding job searching and protecting personal finances, this episode is dense with wisdom and real-world tips direct from both Clark and his critical yet engaged fanbase.