The Clark Howard Podcast – Ask An Advisor With Wes Moss

Date: March 17, 2026
Host: Clark Howard
Advisor Guest: Wes Moss
Special Guest: Krista DiBias (brief segment)

Episode Overview

This “Ask An Advisor” edition of The Clark Howard Podcast features Clark Howard and financial advisor Wes Moss, focusing on the realities of volatile financial markets amid historic oil supply disruptions, evolving investment advice, and new insights about artificial intelligence’s impact on workplace productivity and burnout. The episode addresses timely listener questions ranging from rebalancing investments in turbulent markets to family gifting strategies, the mechanics behind automatic 401k investing, and practical advice for career-changers aiming to become financial planners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historic Oil Supply Disruption & Its Impact

[00:51 - 09:50]

• Global Context & Market Effects:
  Wes Moss explains that the International Energy Agency has called the current oil disruption the largest in history due to Middle East conflict and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil chokepoint.

  "If there's a supply disruption halfway around the world, ...it reverberates right back here to the United States." – Wes Moss (02:36)

• Price Volatility Explained:
  Oil prices are swinging wildly from $85 to $130 per barrel in a single day, causing inflation and impacting costs for all manufactured products.

• Stock Market History & Recovery Data:
  Wes uses historical precedent to explain stock market behavior following geopolitical shocks:

  “Three months after these shocks, on average markets are up a little over 2%. And six months later markets are up about 5%. And a year later…up 11.3%.” – Wes Moss (08:18)

• Key Takeaway:
  Despite periods of volatility and major shocks, markets historically recover within a few years:

  “Investors are typically successful...by participating, not by perfectly timing the world. Participation and longevity is the key.” – Wes Moss (07:43)

2. Question & Answer Segment

[10:43 - 26:43]
Clark and Wes field practical questions from listeners.

a. Investing in Falling Markets & Rebalancing

• Listener Doug (CA): Asks about a mathematical formula for investing in falling markets.
• Wes’s Answer:
  Rather than timing markets, focus on rebalancing when market swings make your asset allocation drift. Add more to stocks when they're significantly down (e.g., 20%+), but don’t overreact to small drops:

  "When markets do get down 20%, ...it's time for you to really pay attention to adding back to the very area that is down that much." – Wes Moss (12:46)

b. Gifting Large Amounts to Children for Home Purchases

• Listener John (IL): Has substantial retirement assets and wants to gift $125k/year to each of three kids for home down payments.
• Wes’s Guidance:
  • Gifting from retirement accounts triggers income taxes; little can be done to avoid this.
  • Avoid pushing income into higher tax brackets by spreading gifts over more years if possible.
  • Strongly recommends consulting a CPA/financial advisor.

  "Your main thing to do here, John, is watch your tax bracket buckets." – Wes Moss (17:04)
  "This is a tax bracket income management situation for you...work with a CPA to make sure everything's right." – Clark Howard (18:47)

c. 401k Auto-Investing and Market Momentum

• Listener Bert (GA): Wonders if S&P growth is fueled by auto-401k payroll investing.
• Wes’s Analysis:
  • Yes, auto-investing is a tailwind, with roughly 70M Americans contributing over $500B annually to 401ks.
  • While significant, it’s not the sole reason the market grows; demographic and economic shocks still play a role.

  "It's such a massive weight...I don't see a disruption in that particular piece of the equation anytime soon." – Wes Moss (22:49)

3. Artificial Intelligence Isn’t Reducing Our Workload – It’s Increasing Burnout

[27:02 - 34:26]

• Key Study Result:
  Wes introduces a study from ActiveTrack Productivity Lab, showing that after AI tools are introduced, workers’ hours increase.

  "AI isn't killing jobs, it's burning us out with more work, a lot more work." – Wes Moss (28:06)

  • Email time: Up 104%
  • Messaging: Up 145%
  • Business management tool usage: Up 94%
  • Weekend work: Up 46% (Saturdays), 58% (Sundays)
  • Collaboration: Up 34%, Multitasking: Up 12%

  "When AI shows up, the workday doesn't shrink, it swells, it grows, it expands." – Wes Moss (30:10)

• Why More, Not Less Work?
  AI eliminates bottlenecks, so “everything is figureoutable,” creating continuous new tasks.

  "Anything you can think about...Now, everything is figureoutable and it creates more work because there's nothing we can't do.” – Wes Moss (31:43)

• Consequence:
  The new risk for workers is burnout (“brain fry”), not joblessness—especially in small business sectors.

4. Listener Q&A: FIRE, CFP Careers, Bonds vs. High Yield Savings

[34:27 – 44:51]

a. Dry Powder for Early Retirement (FIRE Movement)

• Listener Spencer (IL): 33 years old, $1.1M invested, asks about timing “dry powder” for FIRE-style early retirement.
• Wes’s Advice:
  Under 10 years to retirement, “dry powder” (cash or other liquid safe assets) becomes vital. But in your 30s with high flexibility, it’s not necessary yet:

  “You don’t really need dry powder today in your 30s… Where dry powder comes in is when you’re getting within three years or sooner of when you’re going to totally stop working.” – Wes Moss (36:01)

b. Maxing 401ks and True-Up Issues

• Listener Bill (NY): Asks about 401k match mechanics and if more savers are affected by timing/maxing out issues.
• Wes’s Response:
  About 14% of Americans max out 401ks—true-up policies help, but missing out on market growth is possible.
  • For career-changers interested in becoming CFPs:

    “There are very few jobs that are as well suited and welcoming as a mid-career change to being a CFP...It’s totally attainable.” – Wes Moss (41:25)

c. High Yield Savings vs. Bond ETFs for Diversification

• Listener Nick (MI): Is there a benefit to a bond ETF in a brokerage vs. HYSA at similar rates?
• Wes’s Perspective:
  • Bonds lock in rates for longer; if Fed lowers rates, HYSA rates will fall but bond interest stays fixed.
  • Bonds also offer diversification and potential price appreciation when rates drop.

  “It’s about locking in an interest rate...and the zig versus the zag of equity markets with fixed income.” – Wes Moss (44:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Wes Moss on Market Panic and Recovery:
  "Participation is the key and longevity is the key." – (07:43)

• Wes Moss on Automated Savings:
  "You just cannot dispute that automatic savings is a wonderful thing relative to trying to remind yourself to always be saving." – (19:52)

• On Artificial Intelligence:
  "AI isn't killing jobs, it's burning us out with more work, a lot more work." – Wes Moss (28:06) "When AI shows up, the workday doesn't shrink, it swells, it grows, it expands." – Wes Moss (30:10)

• On Worker Burnout:
  "The real risk isn’t no work. The real risk is being able to balance almost too much work." – Wes Moss (33:09)

• On FIRE and Dry Powder:
  “You don’t really need dry powder today in your 30s… Where dry powder comes in is when you’re getting within three years or sooner of when you’re going to totally stop working.” – Wes Moss (36:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:51] Wes Moss outlines oil supply crisis and initial market response
• [08:18] Historical returns after geopolitical shocks
• [11:14] Rebalancing and mathematical investing during downturns
• [14:48] Gifting large sums to children—retirement asset management and taxes
• [19:19] 401k contributions and market momentum
• [27:02] AI’s true effect on workplace workload and burnout
• [34:49] Early retirement strategies and the role of cash reserves
• [40:21] Maxing 401k contributions, career switch to CFP
• [43:44] Bonds vs. High Yield Savings Account

Summary of Practical Takeaways

• Stay the course during market volatility. Don’t panic-sell during shocks; markets recover over time.
• Rebalance your portfolio, don’t try to time the market. Act when your allocation drifts significantly.
• Gifting from retirement assets triggers taxes—strategize to avoid bracket jumps. Consult a CPA/financial advisor.
• Automated saving is one of the strongest drivers of investment discipline and wealth accumulation.
• AI may automate tasks, but so far, it’s making us more busy, not less—be wary of overwork.
• Early retirees (FIRE): Maintain your growth orientation when young; add more “dry powder” as you near your retirement date.

Final Thoughts

Clark and Wes emphasize the benefits of steady, automated investing, prudent financial planning especially amid volatile times, and the importance of adapting to new workplace realities brought on by technology. The episode offers both immediate practical advice and broader context for financial decision-making—with the familiar Clark Howard encouragement to “save more, spend less, and avoid ripoffs.”