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]
What Are Dividend Stocks and Should You Invest in Them?
Investing & Retirement
July 28th, 2021
Is building a dividend portfolio a good idea, and what are the best dividend stocks? In this article, I'll tell…
Best 529 College Savings Plans By State
Investing & Retirement
July 21st, 2021
A 529 savings plan gives you a tax-free way to invest for your child's education. But what are the best…
High-Interest Savings Accounts With Conditions: Are They Worth It?
Investing & Retirement
July 21st, 2021
We're in the midst of a long stretch of historically low interest rates. Getting much more than 0.50% APY in…
How To Turn $100 a Week Into $1 Million With Compound Interest
Investing & Retirement
May 11th, 2022
Compound interest is one of the most exciting financial phenomena. Why? It's earning interest on interest! Get 10% in annual…
Lemonade Insurance Review: How It Works, Coverage Options
Car Insurance
July 20th, 2022
Lemonade isn't just a sweet drink that's perfect for summer. It's also the name of a relatively new insurance company…
Clark’s Take: Should You Invest in Stocks at All?
Investing & Retirement
July 12th, 2021
Money expert Clark Howard isn't a fan of investing in individual stocks. Clark thinks putting an outsized percentage of your…
Wells Fargo Is Closing All Personal Lines of Credit
Banks & Banking
July 11th, 2021
In a move that surely will make a negative impact on the credit score of some of its customers, Wells…
How To Calculate Compound Interest
Investing & Retirement
July 9th, 2021
Whoever came up with the phrase, "It takes money to make money," was probably a big fan of compound interest.…
ETF vs. Mutual Fund: Which Investment Is Better?
Investing & Retirement
July 1st, 2021
The difference between an ETF vs. a mutual fund may seem trivial, as both are available as part of professionally-managed…
How Retirees Can Combat Inflation
Investing & Retirement
December 1st, 2021
Inflation rose to 6.2% in October, the highest level that United States consumers have experienced since 1990. Since inflation erodes…
What Is a Mutual Fund?
Investing & Retirement
June 22nd, 2021
A mutual fund is an investment vehicle that gives you access to a diversified, professionally-managed portfolio. In this article, I'll…
What Is an ETF?
Investing & Retirement
June 18th, 2021
An ETF, or exchange-traded fund, is a type of investment that you buy and sell through a stock exchange or…
Best Target Date Funds: 3 Top Picks
Investing & Retirement
June 17th, 2021
The best target date funds offer a one-stop solution for low-cost retirement investing. In this article, I'll highlight the target…
Ally Bank Eliminates Overdraft Fees
Banks & Banking
June 14th, 2021
Ally Bank has stopped charging overdraft fees to any of its customers. Ally temporarily waived some overdraft fees starting in…
How To Retire a Millionaire With a 401(k) Plan in 22 Years
Investing & Retirement
May 4th, 2022
Funding your retirement is one of the most important financial goals you'll ever pursue. But it can seem daunting, especially…
What Is a 401(a) and How Is It Different From a 401(k)?
Investing & Retirement
June 7th, 2021
A 401(a) retirement plan is much less common and more quirky than a 401(k). However, there are many similarities between…
What Is a SIMPLE IRA and How Does It Work?
Investing & Retirement
May 27th, 2021
A SIMPLE IRA is a type of retirement plan available to small businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Because of…
What Is an Annuity, and Why Does Clark Think They Stink?
Insurance
August 9th, 2022
Money expert Clark Howard is passionate about many financial topics. But it's hard to find something that gets him more…
How To Use an IRA To Become a Millionaire
Investing & Retirement
May 6th, 2022
Money expert Clark Howard thinks that beyond supporting yourself, saving and investing for retirement should be your most important financial…
What Is a Solo 401(k) and How Does It Work?
Investing & Retirement
May 7th, 2021
A solo 401(k) is a retirement plan for the self-employed. If you're a business owner, a solo 401(k) is a…
Full-Service Financial Advisor vs. Hybrid Robo-Advisor: What’s Best for Me?
Investing & Retirement
April 30th, 2021
Money expert Clark Howard often recommends Vanguard Personal Advisor Services (PAS) to people who want to hire a financial advisor.…
The Rule of 55: What Is It, How It Works
Investing & Retirement
January 9th, 2023
If you're thinking about early retirement, it may be important for you to understand the Rule of 55 for 401(k)…
What Is a SEP IRA and Who Is Eligible?
Investing & Retirement
April 28th, 2021
If you're self-employed, contributing to a SEP IRA may be a great way to fund your retirement. In this article,…
IRA Withdrawal Rules: Early Withdrawal Penalty & Exceptions
Investing & Retirement
April 26th, 2021
If you're funding your retirement through an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you'll want to know the IRA withdrawal rules to…
401(k) Withdrawal Rules: Early Withdrawal Penalty & Exceptions
Investing & Retirement
April 26th, 2021
If you're thinking of retiring -- especially if you’re considering retiring early -- it's important to understand the 401(k) withdrawal…
401(k) Match: What Is It, How It Works
Investing & Retirement
April 21st, 2021
If your company offers a 401(k) match, get excited. You have an opportunity to stockpile free money for your retirement.…
Roth vs. Traditional 401(k): What’s the Difference?
Investing & Retirement
May 4th, 2022
If you're enrolling in your company retirement plan, your company may offer you a choice: a Roth 401(k) or a…
IRA vs. 401(k): Which Is Better?
Investing & Retirement
June 4th, 2021
If you're contributing to a retirement account in the United States, you've probably debated IRA vs. 401(k) at some point.…
Comparing Hybrid Financial Advisors: Vanguard vs. Schwab vs. Fidelity
Investing & Retirement
April 19th, 2021
Are you looking for a financial advisor? Money expert Clark Howard loves to recommend the hybrid advisor options from Vanguard,…
401(k) Contribution Limits for 2021
Investing & Retirement
April 16th, 2021
A workplace 401(k) plan can help you save a substantial amount of money for your retirement. But how much, exactly?…