Clark Howard

Mint Mobile (Team Clark’s Review) is currently offering a discount on any of its three-month plans. With the discount, new customers can pay as low as $30 for three months of cell phone service.

In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about Mint Mobile’s latest deal, including what you’ll get for the price and how it compares to other cheap cell phone plans for low data users. 

Mint Mobile Plans for As Low as $10/Month

For a limited time, new customers switching to Mint Mobile can use the promo code 15OFF to get $15 off any three-month plan. With the promo code, you can pay as low as $30 upfront for 90 days of service on a 5GB plan. 

Here’s what you’ll get with Mint Mobile’s 5GB plan:

Unlimited nationwide talk and text

5GB of high-speed data (followed by unlimited reduced speeds)

Typical download speeds: 79-357 Mbps

Mobile hotspot (shared from high-speed data)

Free calling to Mexico, Canada & the UK

After three months, you can renew the same plan at its regular rate. However, you can get cheaper monthly rates by choosing a longer plan length:

3 Months for $75 ($25/month)

6 Months for $120 ($20/month)

12 Months for $180 ($15/month)

Additional deals with Mint Mobile’s 15OFF promo code include:

15GB for $15/month ($45 upfront)

20GB for $20/month ($60 upfront)

Unlimited for $25/month ($75 upfront)

Note that the prices above do not include taxes and fees. To learn more about Mint Mobile’s new customer offer, visit the company’s website.

Mint Mobile: An Affordable Prepaid Service Provider on T-Mobile’s Network

If you aren’t familiar with Mint Mobile, it’s a prepaid cell phone service provider that T-Mobile owns. It provides access to the same 5G and 4G/LTE networks for a fraction of the price. If you have service in your area from T-Mobile, you’ll likely also have coverage with Mint Mobile. 

Compared to T-Mobile itself, Mint Mobile offers excellent prices. T-Mobile’s postpaid plans start at $50/month for one line with autopay. While you’ll get more high-speed data and additional postpaid benefits with T-Mobile postpaid, you’ll find annual plans starting as low as $15/month at regular rates from Mint Mobile.

Compared to other prepaid service providers that use T-Mobile’s service towers, Mint Mobile’s prices remain competitive. This is especially true with Mint Mobile’s current new-customer offer.

Here are a few other light-data plans from other affordable providers on T-Mobile’s network to compare:

US Mobile (Review): The Light Plan includes 2GB of high-speed data for $10 monthly. If you prepay annually, you can get the same plan for $96 ($8/month), making it an excellent deal at regular rates. However, with Mint Mobile’s current promotion, you can get more than twice the high-speed data for $10/month for the first three months.

Tello Mobile (Review): For $10/month, Tello Mobile offers 2GB of high-speed data. Other plans include 10GB for $15 and 20GB for $20. However, Tello is offering any plan for $10/month for the first three months through May 13. If you can grab this deal with Tello Mobile’s unlimited plan, you’ll get a better deal.

Ultra Mobile (Review): At regular rates, you can get a three-month 4GB plan for $16/month. However, Ultra Mobile’s current new-customer offer brings the price to $10.67/month for three months. If you prepay annually at regular rates, you can get the same plan for $13/month, which is slightly cheaper than Mint Mobile’s annual 5GB plan.

You can see a more detailed plan comparison between our top picks for the best cheap cell phone plans here. For more options, including single-month plans and unlimited data plans, check out all of our top picks for the best cell phone plans available now.

Additionally, you can use our Cell Phone Plan Finder to quickly compare plans that will meet your needs.

Are you thinking about switching to Mint Mobile? Let us know in our Clark.com Community!
The post Mint Mobile Deal: Save $15 on Any Three-Month Plan appeared first on Clark Howard.

Now through May 13, new customers can join Tello Mobile (Team Clark’s Review) and get any plan for $10/month. With Tello Mobile’s unlimited data plan, that’s a total savings of $45! 

In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about Tello Mobile’s latest deal, including what you’ll get for the price and how its plans compare to other affordable prepaid carriers.

Get Tello Mobile’s Unlimited Plan for $10/Month

Right now, you can switch to Tello Mobile or add a new line, choose any plan, and pay $10/month for your first three months. This deal includes the unlimited data plan, which means you’ll save $15/month for your first three months of service.

Here’s what you’ll get with Tello Mobile’s unlimited plan:

Unlimited nationwide talk, text and data

50GB of high-speed data before reduced speeds

10GB of mobile hotspot data

Free international calls to 60+ countries

Wi-Fi calling

After your first three months of service, Tello Mobile’s unlimited plan renews at its regular rate: $25/month. The plan price includes fees but not taxes, which vary by location. 

In addition to the unlimited plan, here are the other discounted plan options:

10GB for $10/month for your first three months ($15/month regular rate)

20GB for $10/month for your first three months ($20/month regular rate)

Tello Mobile is a prepaid service provider, and you can cancel your service at any time.

Tello Mobile: An Affordable T-Mobile MVNO

If you aren’t familiar with Tello Mobile, it’s a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that utilizes T-Mobile’s network towers to provide service to its customers. 

Plans start as low as $10/month with unlimited talk, text and 2GB of high-speed data. For this plan, Team Clark highlights Tello Mobile as one of the cheapest monthly cell phone plans available. Tello Mobile also offers excellent prices on other plans for light data users, ranging from 10GB to 20GB of high-speed data.

Compared to T-Mobile itself, Tello Mobile offers significantly lower prices. T-Mobile’s postpaid plans start at $50/month for one line with autopay. While you’ll get more high-speed data and additional postpaid benefits with T-Mobile postpaid, you can get an unlimited data plan from Tello Mobile for $25/month at regular rates. Plus, new customers can get the same plan for only $10/month for the first three months with Tello Mobile’s current deal.

Compared to other prepaid service providers that use T-Mobile’s service towers, Tello Mobile’s prices remain competitive. Here are a few unlimited data plans from other affordable providers on T-Mobile’s network to compare:

Mint Mobile (Review): At regular rates, Mint Mobile’s unlimited plan costs as low as $30/month when prepaid annually. For a limited time, new customers can get the same plan for $25/month when prepaid for three months. The plan includes unlimited high-speed data (speeds may slow with network congestion after 50GB/month) and mobile hotspot data.

US Mobile (Review): Monthly unlimited plans begin at $25. On the Light Speed network (which utilizes T-Mobile’s service towers), this plan includes 70GB of high-speed data and 10GB of mobile hotspot data. The same plan is available annually for $270 at regular rates ($22.50/month).

Ultra Mobile (Review): Monthly unlimited plans begin at $49 with discounts available for multi-month plans (as low as $34/month when prepaid annually). For a limited time, new customers can get the same Ultra Unlimited plan for $29.33/month when prepaid for three months. This plan includes unlimited high-speed data (speeds may slow with network congestion after 35GB/month) and 10GB of mobile hotspot data.

You can see a more detailed plan comparison between our top picks for the best unlimited plans here. For more options, including single-month plans and limited-data plans, check out all of our top picks for the best cell phone plans available now.

Additionally, you can use our Cell Phone Plan Finder to quickly compare plans that will meet your needs.

If you do decide to switch to Tello Mobile, be sure to read our full Tello Mobile review before you purchase a plan. Also, check out our step-by-step guide to changing cell phone service providers first.

Are you thinking about switching to Tello Mobile? Let us know in our Clark.com Community!
The post Tello Mobile Deal: All Plans $10/Month for Three Months appeared first on Clark Howard.

A knock on the door isn’t always the opportunity it appears to be.

You’ve probably heard the pitch before: A roofer shows up at your house and says, “We droned your roof,” or “We were working nearby and noticed some hail damage. How’d you like a new roof for free?”

It sounds like a win-win, right? But this practice has spread like a plague. When you claim “mysterious” damage to replace an older roof for free — or nearly free — you might think you’re getting one over on the insurance company. In reality, you are putting your coverage at risk.

Here is the hard truth about the state of homeowners insurance today and why you need to change the way you think about your policy.

Your Insurer is Your “Frenemy”

We’ve all seen the feel-good ads and the funny commercials on TV. But no matter what those ads say, insurance companies are not behaving as your friend today.

At best, your insurer is your “frenemy.” The industry is currently very unstable, and the relationship has become adversarial. Insurance companies are no longer in the business of selling broad, all-encompassing coverage; they are in the business of risk management. This is why more and more things are being excluded from policies.

If you make a small claim, the next thing you’re likely to see is a “non-renewal” notice. That’s industry-speak for a cancellation. Once you’re canceled, your claim goes into an industry database, making other insurers very unenthusiastic about taking you on as a customer.

The New Rule: Insurance is for Catastrophes Only

I want you to go back to basics. Homeowners insurance should be there for legitimate, serious, and significant losses only. It should not be used for maintenance or smaller repairs.

If you’ve listened to me for a while, you know what I’m going to say next: You want to raise your deductible as high as you can stand. If you have a mortgage, raise it as high as your lender permits. You need to completely rethink homeowners insurance as “catastrophe-only” coverage.

Be Your Own Insurance Company

The goal is to be your own insurance company for the “small” stuff. You should only involve your insurer if and when a claim is backbreaking or so clearly obvious that you need them to step in as a partner to cover costs past your high deductible.

By raising your deductible, you will save money on your monthly premiums. However, there is a catch you must watch out for: the coverage gap.

I see this gap again and again. People raise their deductibles to save money, but they don’t check whether they have sufficient total coverage. If you had a catastrophic loss tomorrow, do you have enough coverage to actually rebuild or replace your home at today’s prices?

Final Thoughts

Before the next storm hits — or the next roofer knocks on your door — take these steps:

Raise your deductible: Aim for a level that significantly lowers your premium, provided you have the savings to cover it in an emergency.

Verify your total coverage: Ensure your policy limit is high enough to replace your entire home in the event of a total loss.

Self-insure for the small stuff: Stop looking at your insurance policy as a maintenance plan. If the repair isn’t “backbreaking,” pay for it out of pocket to protect your standing with your insurer.

Insurance is an expensive, complicated necessity. But if you treat it as a safety net for disasters rather than a way to get a “free” roof, you’ll be much better off in the long run.
The post Rethinking Homeowners Insurance: The Catastrophe-Only Rule appeared first on Clark Howard.

Every time the stock market hits a new high, the Buffett Indicator shows up in the headlines. It’s happening again right now, with the S&P 500 near 7,150 and the indicator at levels that have historically preceded major drawdowns.

So what is this indicator, why does it come up every time the market hits a new high, and should you actually care about what it’s telling you?

What Is the Buffett Indicator?

The Buffett Indicator is a ratio. You take the total market value of all publicly traded U.S. stocks and divide it by U.S. GDP. Stocks represent ownership in companies, companies sell goods and services that make up the economy, and over the long run, the total value of stocks shouldn’t grow much faster than the economy that supports them.

Most calculations use the Wilshire 5000 as the stock market proxy because it tracks essentially every U.S. publicly traded stock.Warren Buffett introduced the concept in a December 2001 Fortune article written with longtime collaborator Carol Loomis. He called it “probably the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment.” Years later, he softened that language and said no single number tells you everything. The indicator kept his name regardless.

How To Read the Number

Different analysts draw the lines a bit differently, but the rough zones look like this:

Below 90%: stocks broadly undervalued

90% to 115%: modestly undervalued

115% to 140%: fair value

140% to 165%: modestly overvalued

Above 165%: significantly overvalued

Buffett’s own framing in the 2001 Fortune piece was simpler. A reading of 70% to 80% meant buying stocks was likely to work out well, and approaching 200% meant investors were “playing with fire.”

Where the Number Sits Now

As of late April 2026, the Buffett Indicator is somewhere between 227% and 232%, depending on the source and methodology.

That’s higher than the 200% peak during the dot-com bubble in March 2000 and higher than the roughly 200% reading in November 2021. Both of those prior peaks were followed by significant drawdowns. The dot-com bust cut the S&P 500 roughly in half over the following two and a half years, and the 2021 peak preceded a 19% decline before stocks stabilized.

The current reading sits about a third above Buffett’s original danger zone.

Why It Comes Up Every Time Stocks Hit New Highs

The indicator’s numerator (stock market value) fluctuates constantly, while the denominator (GDP) grows slowly and steadily. When stocks rip higher, the ratio goes with them, so a new market high almost always means a higher Buffett Indicator reading and a fresh round of “Buffett’s favorite metric is screaming” headlines.

The repetition makes it easy to tune out, but the underlying point isn’t wrong. When stocks have grown faster than the economy for a long stretch, future returns from that starting point have historically been weaker than average.

Why It Might Not Be Telling the Whole Story

The Buffett Indicator has real limitations, and the case against treating it as the final word has gotten stronger over the past two decades.

The “U.S.” part of GDP is too narrow. Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta, Nvidia, and the rest of the megacap tech leaders generate a large share of their revenue overseas. Their market caps reflect global earnings power, whereas U.S. GDP reflects only domestic output. Adjusting for foreign revenue exposure makes the indicator look elevated but less extreme than the headline number suggests.

Corporate profits are a bigger share of GDP than they used to be. Profits now run around 12% of GDP, compared with a historical average closer to 7% or 8%. If profits are structurally higher, the market cap should be too. The counterargument is that fat margins eventually attract competition that drives them back down.

It ignores interest rates. When 10-year Treasuries pay 4% or 5%, stocks have real competition. When they pay 1%, investors have nowhere else to go for returns. The Buffett Indicator treats both environments the same.

Buffett himself has gotten more cautious about it. He’s stopped describing it as the best single measure of anything.

What This Means for Your Portfolio

The Buffett Indicator is one way to measure valuation. It’s currently flashing red, and other valuation tools are as well. The math suggests that future returns from these levels are likely to be lower than those delivered in the past decade.

None of that means you should make a drastic change. Stocks have looked overvalued by this measure for most of the past decade, and investors who pulled out in 2017, 2020, or 2023 missed enormous gains. Trying to time the market based on a valuation reading has a poor track record, even when the reading is right about the direction.

The better response is to have a solid plan that:

Accounts for markets being expensive sometimes and cheap other times.

Maintains an asset allocation that matches your timeline and your tolerance for losses.

Is rebalanced when your portfolio drifts away from your targets.

Stay diversified across U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds rather than betting everything on the S&P 500.

Keeps your costs low.

A plan like that works whether the Buffett Indicator is at 80% or 230%, because it doesn’t depend on guessing what comes next.

Final Thoughts

If you don’t have a plan right now, this is a good time to build one, and the most important part is making sure it’s one you can stick to when markets get bumpy. A strategy you abandon at the first sign of trouble is worse than no plan at all because it locks in losses and can shake your confidence for years afterward.

A diversified, low-cost portfolio aligned with your timeline and risk tolerance has historically been far more reliable than trying to predict the next correction. And if recent market swings or today’s valuation levels make you realize you’d struggle to stay invested during a major downturn, that’s valuable insight too. It may be a sign that your allocation needs adjustment or that it’s time to work with a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor before the next downturn puts your discipline to the test.
The post The Buffett Indicator Says The Market Is Way Overpriced Right Now. Should You Care? appeared first on Clark Howard.

Chase has a big-time offer for serious travelers.

If you are looking to add a new travel credit card to your wallet, the popular card issuer is ready to lure you with a very tempting welcome offer for the card_name:

“Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.”

And, to make things even more enticing, Chase is marketing this as a potential value of up to $6,000 in your first year of card membership.

They reach that number by combining the $3,000 in marketed annual value with the maximum redemption value of the 150,000 bonus points if used via the Chase TravelSM portal.

There’s no denying the offer is very solid, but this card is not for everyone.

This premium travel card comes with a $795 annual fee, so you need to be a serious traveler to consider applying.

Money expert Clark Howard is an avid traveler who has this card in his wallet, but he is hesitant to recommend it for the average consumer. Let’s take a closer look to understand why.

Quick Look: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

card_name

Annual Fee:

$795 (See Rates & Fees)

Foreign Transaction Fee:

$0

Card Description:

Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Review

With the promise of up to $6,000 in value in the first year of card membership, it’s probably pretty tempting to jump on this card, even with the high annual fee.

We have a full breakdown of what to consider when determining whether the Chase Sapphire Reserve is worth it, and I recommend reading it if you’re considering this offer.

While there, you can weigh just how much you may use the $1,500 worth of travel benefits and $1,500 worth of lifestyle benefits that are going to comprise the majority of the value of this card once your welcome offer is achieved and spent.

Here are some key excerpts to help you as you weigh this offer:

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Is Worth It to You If:

You travel often. With TSA Precheck®, NEXUS and Global Entry benefits (up to $120 towards these every 4 years), as well as airport lounge access (complimentary access to Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club network locations and Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide -two guests included per visit), there are great benefits for travelers. Also, the card includes a $300 Annual Travel Credit that could effectively knock your annual fee down from $795 to $495, so at minimum, you’ll want to clear that in travel spending each year. However, you’ll likely need to spend thousands per year on travel to make it worthwhile in the long run.

You will use the annual credit and card benefits. With a June 2025 overhaul of the card, Chase leaned into these benefits to offer up to $3,000 in annual value. But this only does you good if you actually use them.

You spend enough to earn the welcome offer. You’ll want to make sure you apply for the card during a time period that lines up with you spending enough money to earn the welcome offer. This can be worth more than your first year’s annual fee.

Are you considering this big-time offer from Chase? We’d love to hear about it in the Clark.com community.
The post Chase Has Monster New Offer on This Travel Credit Card appeared first on Clark Howard.

It is no secret: People generally hate the process of buying a new vehicle. It is a sentiment I hear constantly, especially from women, who are often treated disrespectfully or targeted with “games” at traditional car dealerships.

For 30 years, I have watched the auto business go through a slow-motion change. I never thought it would take this long, but we are finally reaching a tipping point where you can bypass the “grind” entirely.

The Tesla Effect: No Games, No Gimmicks

The real catalyst for change has been electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers selling direct to the public. If you buy a Tesla, the process would shock you with its simplicity:

Build online: You go to Tesla.com and build the exact car you want.

Transparent pricing: It tells you the price right there — no haggling.

The deposit: You pay a $250 non-refundable deposit.

Digital paperwork: You fill out your forms online.

The pickup: When the car is ready, you go to a Tesla Center. It’s possible to be in and out the door in less than five minutes.

More EV companies are adopting this model, and Carvana — which has been doing exceptionally well after a rocky couple of years — is now selling limited brands of new cars using the same straightforward approach.

Amazon Auto: The New Kid on the Block

Amazon is always looking for new territories to conquer, and they have officially entered the fray with Amazon Auto.

While it’s not quite as “clean” as the Tesla experience yet, it is significantly better than the traditional dealership experience. Here is how it works:

Availability: It is currently in about 130 markets (not nationwide yet).

Brands: They started with Hyundai, but have expanded to include Kia, Mazda, Subaru, Chevrolet, and Jeep.

Process: You search for “Amazon Auto” on the site, select your model (e.g., a Hyundai Santa Fe), choose your trim and color, and see participating dealers and prices in your area.

It isn’t fully automated, but it makes the process much “cleaner.” It helps eliminate the “wear-down” tactic where dealers try to distract you with one hand while adding fees with the other.

Costco Auto: The “Analog” Powerhouse

Many people don’t realize that Costco is effectively one of the largest vehicle sellers in the U.S. through the Costco Auto Program.

Unlike Amazon or Tesla, this is a very analog, member-only benefit. You validate your membership online, and Costco directs you to a specific local dealer. That dealer is contractually required to give you a pre-arranged, “no-game” price.

Why it works: Costco members are some of the most affluent shoppers in the country. Dealers want access to you, and they mess with Costco members at their own peril. If Costco hears you are being mistreated, they will kick that dealer out of the program.

Clark Howard’s Rules for a Stress-Free Purchase

If you aren’t using one of the programs above, you can still execute a deal online with almost any dealer — if you are savvy.

Expand your search: I always recommend traveling a wider geographic zone to find the best price.

The “drive-out” price: Never just ask for the car’s price. Ask for the total “out the door” or “drive-out” price, including an itemized list of all taxes and fees.

Beware of ADMs: Look out for “Additional Dealer Markups” or fees. Whether they call it a “breathing fee” or a “prep fee,” it’s usually just a made-up way to pad their profit.

Everything in writing: Execute as much as possible via email or online before you ever set foot on the lot.

The business is changing, but the best deals still go to the savviest shoppers. Don’t let them play games with your money!
The post Why Amazon and Costco May Be The Best Ways to Buy Your Next Car appeared first on Clark Howard.

There has been a lot of talk lately about how this spring’s college graduates were going to have an impossible time finding work. If you are someone graduating from college this month, I want to give you a “booster shot” of encouragement: People are finding jobs more easily than expected. Don’t go into this discouraged; the possibilities for employment are there.

But today, I specifically want to talk about teens.

If you are a teenager — or the parent or grandparent of one — you need to know that this summer, jobs are much more readily available than they have been in years, particularly in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Part of this is due to the immigration crackdown, and part of it is due to long-term factors that have made it very difficult for hotels and restaurants to attract and retain workers.

The Value of a “Traditional” Summer Job

A lot of teens don’t work anymore during the summer or after school. I think that’s a lost opportunity because you learn so much about life through a job.

I had a requirement in my house: All three of my kids had to have a traditional summer job the summer they turned 15. Two of my three kids worked in restaurants, and they learned so much from those experiences. They learned to treat people well and what it felt like to be treated poorly by customers.

When you work a summer job, you start to understand two very important things:

It is hard work to earn money.

It is hard for a business owner to make a profit.

Where the Jobs Are

The labor shortage in hospitality is real. The other day, I was walking past a restaurant that treats its employees exceptionally well. In all the years I’ve been going there, I have never once seen a “Help Wanted” sign because they usually keep their staff forever. But guess what? They had a giant sign on the door.

While retail may not be hiring as aggressively as in the past, the opportunities in hospitality and restaurants are wide open.

So, to the teenagers out there: There is no excuse. You can’t tell your parents that you can’t find a job. They are out there! They may not be jobs you are particularly excited about doing, but you will certainly be excited about what they pay.

If you’re willing to put in the work this summer, the hospitality industry is waiting for you. Get out there, gain some experience, and start building those savings.
The post Why Your Teen Needs a Summer Job appeared first on Clark Howard.

YouTube TV subscribers can say it in unison: “Finally!”

The popular live TV streaming service, which launched new, cost-effective skinny subscriptions in 2026, has long been considered a top-tier option thanks to its app quality, channel selection, ease of use, and product innovation.

The latter has delivered a new feature that will make many subscribers very happy moving forward.

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan recently announced that the Google-backed streaming service now offers a fully customizable multiview for subscribers.

“Our YouTube teams made one of our most popular features even better,” Mohan announced on X. “The new multiview builder gives you full control to mix and match live streams (including add-ons like NFL Sunday Ticket), and build the personalized viewing experience you’ve been asking for.”

If that doesn’t seem like a big deal to you at first glance, you may want to ask the sports fans and news junkies in your life why it may be a feature worth celebrating.

Why Customizable Multiview Is a Big Deal To YouTube TV Subscribers

The multiview option for watching multiple channels is not a new feature for YouTube TV subscribers. They’ve been enjoying that for a couple of years now.

But they’ve been doing it with predetermined multiview channel combinations that were often not optimized for what may be going on in the world.

For example, sports fans may have wanted to watch a handful of big football games happening at the same time. They’d have several prepopulated multiview options, but inevitably, only two or three of the four channels would actually be showing what they wanted to see, with the fourth channel inevitably taking up valuable screen real estate with a non-live event or talk show.

Being able to fully customize which four channels you receive in multiview will ensure you can curate the exact viewing experience you desire on game day.

Sports fans are sure to be delighted with this upgrade, but it can and will serve other streamers well, too.

You’ll now be able to curate by watching the news coverage of big events like election night or severe weather by picking the channels that you want to monitor most.

Or, if you want, you could monitor the news and the big game while you watch a movie. The possibilities are endless.

It seems like the process will be fairly straightforward, with the option to simply use your remote to choose live channels to add to your multiview by searching by genre on the right side of your screen.

Mohan’s X post included a screenshot of how this will work on the TV app:

Illustration courtesy of YouTube TV

Will this new feature impact your likelihood of subscribing to YouTube TV? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the Clark.com community.
The post YouTube TV Finally Delivers Feature Many Subscribers Crave appeared first on Clark Howard.

Do you have the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card in your wallet?

If so, you may soon notice some pretty significant changes to the card.

Capital One is notifying existing customers via email regarding a couple of key changes:

The card will no longer be a Mastercard. Instead, customers will be receiving a newly issued card on the Discover network. (Capital One acquired Discover in a major transaction in 2025.)

Cardholders will now receive a chance at unlimited 3% cash back for gas and grocery purchases. This is a HUGE addition for the card that previously awarded all purchases at 1.5% cash back.

Capital One appears to be rolling out these changes in waves for Quicksilver cardholders. Team Clark has spoken with customers who received a notification on April 24, as well as others who have not received one … yet.

Team Clark obtained a copy of the email being sent to impacted customers, which should help clarify what is to come for existing cardholders and what could be on the table for prospective applicants in the months ahead.

There are some benefits and drawbacks to this announcement that I’ll cover later in the article.

Let’s take a look at what we know so far.

What Capital One Is Telling Quicksilver Customers

Select cardholders have received notification of the changes to this card, which according to the email we obtained, will take effect soon.

The email we obtained told the cardholder that they will receive a new card in May and their existing card will no longer work effective July 9, 2026.

Here are the key takeaways for the changes, as delivered by Capital One in the email:

Image via Capital One email to cardholders

Other key distinctions covered in the email include:

What counts as a grocery store purchase for this new 3% cash back category?

“Grocery store purchases include those made at a supermarket, meat locker, freezer, dairy product store and specialty market. Grocery store purchases exclude superstores like Walmart® and Target®.”

This is in line with how most other rewards credit cards award grocery benefits. This is due to the merchant codes that each store uses to process credit card transactions.

What counts as a gas station purchase for this new 3% cash back category?

“Gas station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station. EV charging station purchases made at public electric vehicle charging stations are also included. Gas stations and EV charging stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Certain parking garages where public electric vehicle charging is offered or included may not be eligible.”

This also aligns with how most top credit cards for gas rewards classify these purchases.

Pros and Cons of the Capital One Quicksilver Changes

To me, there are a couple of clear takeaways from this announcement.

The Pro: Cardholders can DOUBLE their cash back in two key spending categories

The unlimited 1.5% cash back this card offers on everyday purchases falls short of the 2% cash back that money expert Clark Howard recommends for an everyday spender. (This has kept us from recommending the card as a top option in the past.)

But giving unlimited 3% back on two important spending categories like gas and groceries could make this card a “part-time player” in the wallets of anyone building out a no-annual-fee cash back setup.

The Con: Cardholders who use this card internationally may be in trouble

One of the top perks of this card is that it’s a no-annual-fee card that offers no foreign transaction fees. That’s a rarity!

But this change to the processing network may throw a wrench into the usability of this card abroad moving forward.

While Discover is a perfectly good processing platform for purchases made in the United States, it is not broadly accepted internationally.

So, while Capital One will still keep the “no foreign transaction fee” policy for the card, you may find that you’re unable to use it to pay at certain retailers while traveling abroad.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

card_name

Annual Fee:

$0

Foreign Transaction Fee:

None

Card Description:

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account openingEarn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees

Do you have this card in your wallet? Will you consider it with the upcoming changes? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the Clark.com community.
The post Major Changes Announced for Popular Capital One Credit Card appeared first on Clark Howard.

Most people spend years building up three types of accounts to fund their retirement: a taxable brokerage account, a traditional IRA or 401(k), and a Roth IRA. What they don’t always consider is that the order in which they spend those accounts down can be just as important as how much they have saved.

Get the sequence wrong, and you could pay tens of thousands more in taxes over retirement than you needed to.

Tip: Use our Retirement Withdrawal Sequence Calculator to see how different strategies affect your taxes and how long your money lasts.

The Basic Sequence Most Advisors Recommend

The conventional approach goes like this:

Taxable brokerage accounts first

Traditional IRA and 401(k) accounts second

Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) accounts last

The logic behind each step is straightforward.

When you sell from a taxable brokerage account, you only owe tax on the gain, not the full amount you withdraw. And if you’ve held those investments for more than a year, that gain is taxed at the long-term capital gains rate — 0%, 15%, or 20% for most people — rather than ordinary income rates that can run much higher. Spending this money first also eliminates future taxable growth in the account, which reduces your ongoing tax drag.

Traditional IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income, dollar-for-dollar. The money has been compounding tax-deferred, which is valuable — but the IRS is owed its share on every dollar that comes out. You want to let those accounts keep growing as long as possible, but not so long that required minimum distributions (RMDs) force large withdrawals later.

Roth accounts are last because they’re the most valuable money you have in retirement. Withdrawals are tax-free. Growth is tax-free. And Roth IRAs have no required minimum distributions during your lifetime. Every year you leave a Roth account untouched, it compounds without any future tax consequence. Spending it early permanently gives up that advantage.

The RMD Problem

Here’s where the sequencing becomes really important. Once you turn 73, the IRS requires you to take minimum distributions from your traditional accounts, whether you need the money or not. Those distributions are taxed as ordinary income.

If you’ve left a large traditional IRA untouched for years while drawing down other accounts, RMDs can push you into a higher tax bracket, increase the portion of your Social Security benefits that’s taxable, and trigger higher Medicare premiums through IRMAA surcharges.

The conventional sequence helps prevent this by drawing down the traditional account gradually through retirement rather than letting it balloon unchecked.

When the Conventional Sequence Isn’t Optimal

Many financial planners now suggest a more flexible approach: in the early years of retirement, before Social Security kicks in and before RMDs begin, consider intentionally pulling some money from your traditional accounts, even if you don’t need to, and converting some of it to a Roth. This is called a Roth conversion strategy.

The idea is to “fill up” a lower tax bracket in years when your income is relatively low. Paying 22% in tax now to move money into a Roth can be a better deal than paying that same rate (or higher) later when RMDs stack on top of Social Security income.

The right answer depends on your specific balances, tax situation, state of residence, and Social Security timing. There’s no universal sequence that works for everyone.

This Matters Before You Retire, Too

The withdrawal sequence only gives you flexibility if you actually have money spread across all three account types. If everything you’ve saved is in a traditional 401(k), every dollar you pull in retirement gets taxed as ordinary income — you don’t have options.

If you’re still working, it’s worth looking at your current mix. Are you building toward having something in each bucket — taxable, traditional, and Roth? That might mean directing some contributions to a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA instead of pre-tax accounts, especially if you expect to be in a similar tax bracket in retirement. It might also mean doing small Roth conversions in lower-income years before you stop working.

You don’t need a perfect three-way split. You just need enough in each bucket to have choices later.

Run the Numbers for Your Situation

The difference between strategies isn’t theoretical. Depending on your account balances and tax rates, the gap in total lifetime taxes between the best and worst withdrawal sequence can reach six figures.

Use our Retirement Withdrawal Sequence Calculator to compare all four strategies side by side and see a year-by-year projection of your balances and taxes.
The post The Order You Withdraw Retirement Money Matters More Than You Think appeared first on Clark Howard.