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]
Health IQ Review: What Is It and How Does It Work?
Life Insurance
August 22nd, 2022
Health IQ is an insurance broker that markets to people who make healthy choices by offering them cheaper term life…
Webull Review: Free Stock, Charts Galore
Investing & Retirement
December 10th, 2020
Webull provides investors with a free, mobile-first trading app. In this article, I'll review Webull to help you understand what…
Acorns vs. Robinhood: Which Investing App Is the Best?
Investing & Retirement
December 9th, 2020
In this comparison of Acorns vs. Robinhood, I hope to show you why this is a wonderful era for investment…
Webull vs. Robinhood: Which Investing App Is the Best?
Investing & Retirement
January 29th, 2021
Webull vs. Robinhood: the subject of a great modern debate between people who love self-directed mobile investing platforms. When Robinhood…
Acorns Review: How It Works, Pros & Cons
Investing & Retirement
August 11th, 2021
If you're looking for companies to help you invest your money, one big player is the Acorns platform. In this…
What Is Supplemental Insurance and Should You Buy It?
Insurance
July 19th, 2022
When you hear the Aflac duck quack, the term “supplemental insurance” may well come to mind. But what is it,…
Aflac Insurance Review: What It Is and How It Works
Insurance
June 2nd, 2022
Aflac's ubiquitous duck mascot is fun to imitate. But what insurance does Aflac sell, and do you really need it?…
Fabric Life Insurance Review: Designed for New Parents
Life Insurance
August 19th, 2022
If you’re a new parent, you may feel a level of financial stress and responsibility that you haven’t experienced before.…
Helpful Changes May Be Coming to Your Retirement Accounts
Investing & Retirement
November 2nd, 2020
A new bipartisan retirement bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last week could provide help to seniors, lower-income…
4 Types of Term Life Insurance Companies Explained
Life Insurance
July 20th, 2022
Gaining access to more tools and options is great for you as a consumer. When it comes to shopping for…
Credit Union vs. Bank: What’s the Difference?
Banks & Banking
June 14th, 2022
Pitting credit unions versus banks in a side-by-side comparison can be a little like spotting identical twins at the mall.…
Robinhood Review: Pros, Cons & Who Should Use It
Investing & Retirement
February 22nd, 2021
Robinhood has democratized investing, making it affordable for people of any age and income. It offers commission-free trading and has…
What Is a Credit Union?
Banks & Banking
June 22nd, 2022
Credit unions are member-owned organizations that offer traditional banking services. They're legally structured to put people before profits. As such,…
What Is a Savings Account?
Banks & Banking
June 17th, 2022
A savings account gives you a safe, accessible place to put money that you don't need for daily expenses. It…
What Is a Checking Account?
Banks & Banking
June 21st, 2022
A checking account is a bank account that gives you easy, daily access to your money through deposits, withdrawals and…
Stickr.co Review: How It Works and How Much You Can Earn
Make Money
September 11th, 2020
Let's review Stickr.co, which promises that you can earn passive income every month by allowing companies to advertise on the…
How To Open a Bank Account With No Deposit
Banks & Banking
June 22nd, 2022
Have you been looking to open a bank account but have no money to get started? There are some ways…
How to Open a Bank Account With Bad Credit
Banks & Banking
August 25th, 2020
Unless you stuff all your cash under your mattress or convert it into precious metals, it's likely that you'll need…
How To Open a Bank Account in 6 Easy Steps
Banks & Banking
June 9th, 2022
It's faster and easier than ever to open a bank account. You can choose from an abundance of options. And…
Target Date Funds vs. Index Funds: Which Are Better for You?
Investing & Retirement
June 22nd, 2021
Money expert Clark Howard is a huge proponent of target date funds as a way to invest for retirement. He…
What Are Fractional Shares and Where Can I Buy Them?
Investing & Retirement
July 5th, 2022
Fractional shares allow investors to create a diversified portfolio of stocks and ETFs without needing much capital. In this article,…
What Are Index Funds?
Investing & Retirement
June 10th, 2021
Index funds are among the most popular retirement investments. But exactly what are they, and what are the best index…
Haven Life Insurance Agency Review: How It Works
Life Insurance
March 7th, 2022
If you want the stability of a legacy insurance company and the user experience of a direct-to-consumer digital brand, Haven…
Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA: What’s the Difference?
Investing & Retirement
April 20th, 2021
If you're funding an Individual Retirement Account, your first decision will be a Roth vs. traditional IRA. But what's a…
Should You Sell or Stay Put in the Stock Market?
Investing & Retirement
February 24th, 2022
The stock market is incredibly difficult to predict in the short term. The market will decline on plenty of days,…
Chime Review: Pros & Cons of the Bank Challenger
Online Banking
October 15th, 2022
Chime provides fee-free online banking services through a well-received mobile app. Money expert Clark Howard likes online-only banks because they…
Policygenius Review: What To Know Before Getting Quotes
Insurance
June 2nd, 2022
Shopping for term life insurance can seem intimidating. It's time-consuming and you're relying on your own judgment in an area…
9 Best Free Checking Accounts in January 2023
Banks & Banking
January 4th, 2023
The best checking accounts in 2023 are free, and most offer perks to their customers. If you're looking for a…
Bestow Life Insurance Review: Pros and Cons
Life Insurance
June 17th, 2022
Bestow's claim to fame is that it offers term life insurance with no medical exam — ever. It's among several…
What Is a 401(k) Plan and How Does It Work?
Investing & Retirement
May 19th, 2021
You've probably heard of a 401(k) retirement plan. You may even contribute to a 401(k) plan at work. Even so,…