Christopher Smith is a writer who covers investing, banking, insurance, and making extra money. He joined Clark.com in 2020. He has more than 14 years of writing experience. Christopher has always been interested in personal finance. When he was in elementary school, he would read the Sports and Money section of the newspaper at the breakfast table every morning, tracking the prices of his favorite stocks. He joined the investment club at school and even chose to make his fourth-grade presentation about the stock market. When he’s not working, he spends most of his time with his wife, a first-generation Colombian immigrant and a Physician Assistant. He also likes college football, NFTs, rock climbing and good restaurants. You can reach Christopher at
[email protected].
Is Audit Defense Worth It?
Taxes
April 5th, 2024
The idea of the IRS auditing you can be intimidating. Major tax software companies offer audit defense protection for just…
10 Best Free Checking Accounts in April 2024
Banks & Banking
April 5th, 2024
The best checking accounts in 2024 are free, and most offer perks to their customers. If you're looking for a…
What’s the Best Way To Get a Deal on Disney Hotels and Resorts?
Travel
April 4th, 2024
Even as movie theaters struggle, theme parks such as Disney are bringing in as much revenue as ever. Like virtually…
What Happened to Couponing? Is It Still a Good Way To Save Money?
Shopping & Retail
April 3rd, 2024
Once upon a time, great savers would clip coupons from the inserts in the Sunday newspaper. You'd see people pulling…
How To Use an IRA To Become a Millionaire
Investing & Retirement
April 2nd, 2024
Money expert Clark Howard thinks that beyond supporting yourself, saving and investing for retirement should be your most important financial…
How Can I Buy Coke or Pepsi for Cheaper Than the Warehouse Club Prices?
Shopping & Retail
April 2nd, 2024
Americans love soft drinks. You don't have to visit the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta to realize the scale of…
How To Open a Roth IRA
Investing & Retirement
April 2nd, 2024
Money expert Clark Howard thinks Roth IRAs are just about the best tool around when it comes to saving for…
How Much Is Too Much When It Comes to Retirement Savings?
Investing & Retirement
April 1st, 2024
When it comes to money, there are two prominent groups. One group says tomorrow is not guaranteed. That you should…
Are Indexed Universal Life Insurance Policies a Good Option or a Scam?
Life Insurance
March 29th, 2024
The decision to purchase life insurance often starts from a place of respectable motivations. One of the main questions in…
I Paid My Credit Card in Full But Now I Owe More. What’s Residual Interest?
Credit Cards
March 28th, 2024
Imagine finally paying off your credit card after carrying a balance for a good while. What a feeling, right? Now…
Should You Put Money Aside for Your Next Car or Wait and Take a Loan?
Cars
March 27th, 2024
For most people, a huge part of buying a vehicle is securing a good auto loan. But what if you…
How Should I Safeguard My Passport When I Travel Abroad?
Travel
March 26th, 2024
Traveling outside of the United States can be an amazing experience. However, any time a passport is involved, you can…
Should I End My Vehicle Lease if I’m Going To Exceed My Mileage?
Cars
March 25th, 2024
When you go to buy a vehicle, you can target a new or used car. You can pay in cash…
How Do You Find a Deal on Last-Minute Airfare When You Don’t Have Flexibility?
Travel
March 22nd, 2024
Clark Howard is a certified travel expert. It's hard to imagine any one person with more experience from a business…
Have Clark’s Health Issues Changed His Stance on Waiting To Collect Social Security?
Investing & Retirement
March 21st, 2024
Want to get people emotionally charged about money? Many different topics can cause that type of reaction. Finances are intensely…
Should I Use AI To Make Stock Trades?
Investing & Retirement
March 20th, 2024
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is to 2024 what the internet was in the late 1990s with the dot-com bubble. It's…
What’s More Important When Hunting for Travel Deals: Airfare or Hotels?
Travel
March 19th, 2024
When it comes to travel, there's more than one way to save money. You can and should shop the deal.…
Best Term Life Insurance Companies, Plans & Coverage
Life Insurance
March 19th, 2024
If you provide for anyone financially, you may worry about what would happen to them if you died. Buying a…
What Does Clark Howard Enjoy Doing When He Travels?
Travel
March 18th, 2024
Sure, money expert Clark Howard loves talking about Costco. Roth IRAs are a favorite topic. Calling out customer "no-service" and…
Clark Predicts Traditional 401(k)s, IRAs Will Cease To Exist Within a Decade
Investing & Retirement
March 18th, 2024
Money expert Clark Howard predicts that traditional 401(k) and traditional IRA accounts will go extinct in the next 10 years.…
What Currency Is a Good U.S. Dollar Alternative If the Debt Crisis Causes a Problem?
Money & Credit
March 15th, 2024
When it comes to issues such as the future of the U.S. economy, reality often is more nuanced and complex…
I Want To Drive My Non-Tesla EV From California to Florida. What Do I Need To Know?
Travel
March 14th, 2024
Not long ago, the idea of driving an electric vehicle across the United States was an unrealistic pipe dream or…
Should I Sell My House on My Own or Through a Real Estate Agent?
Homes & Real Estate
March 13th, 2024
It's easy to understand why you'd consider listing your house as for sale by owner. Even if you've never done…
Target Date Funds: Clark’s Favorite Retirement Investment
Investing & Retirement
March 13th, 2024
Target date funds are the “easy button” for retirement investing. They can take the confusion and research out of investing…
I Recently Graduated From a Secured Credit Card and Need a Credit Limit Increase. What Can I Do?
Credit Cards
March 12th, 2024
Credit limit increases are tricky. Sometimes you get one without asking. At other times, you make a request feeling confident,…
What Should I Do With My 401(k) at My Old Company?
Investing & Retirement
March 11th, 2024
You're contributing to a 401(k) account and even getting a company match. As years go by, your balance goes up.…
What’s the Best Way To Send Money Overseas?
Money & Credit
March 8th, 2024
It's pretty easy to transfer money within the United States now. Especially if both parties hold bank accounts. But what…
Where To Put Your Cash When You’re Saving for a Purchase in Less Than 5 Years
Investing & Retirement
March 8th, 2024
You're making a major purchase in the future. Perhaps you're saving to buy a house or a car, pay for…
Should I Put Extra Cash Toward a 6.7% Auto Loan or My Emergency Fund?
Money & Credit
March 7th, 2024
It's tax season. Some will be getting significant tax refunds (and perhaps need to look at adjusting their withholdings). Others…
Should I Withdraw from My Roth IRA or Use My Savings To Pay Off Credit Card Debt?
Debt
March 6th, 2024
Americans now hold a record $1.13 trillion in credit card debt. Probably more considering that was the number at the…