Clark Howard

@ClarkHoward
WHAT? Private student loan over federal?

WHAT? Private student loan over federal?

By Alexandra Thomas
updated 5:12 PM EDT, Wed May 23, 2012
Clark is reversing some of his longtime advice, but for a limited time only. Smart Money magazine found that for the first time in history, you could find a lower fixed rate on an unsubsidized student loan from a private lender than you would get under the federal student loan program for unsubsidized student loans.

The rates for federal unsubsidized student loans are currently set by Congressional statute at 6.8%. But in the private marketplace, you could find 5.7% or 5.8% from private lenders for fixed rate student loans. Those may soon also be cheaper than federal subsidized loans, as rates are expected to jump to 6.8% this summer, up from the current rate of 3.4%.

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Facebook IPO: Dislike?

Facebook IPO: Dislike?

By Alexandra Thomas
updated 4:11 PM EDT, Wed May 23, 2012
Was the Facebook IPO a joke? Less than a week ago, the social media giant was the most highly-anticipated stock offering in recent history and had everyone from Wall Street to Main Street excited about its public debut. But since then, it’s turned into one huge mess and the problem isn’t that something went wrong, but everything has gone wrong.

It’s sort of an understatement to say that Facebook stock got off to a rough start, because it didn’t actually start trading when it was supposed to. Due to a technical error with Nasdaq, FB shares began trading 25 minutes late. Many traders weren’t even sure if their orders had been completed, and others were getting shares at a higher price than they expected.

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Fresh start for Joplin business owner

Fresh start for Joplin business owner

By Alexandra Thomas
updated 4:53 PM EDT, Tue May 22, 2012
Clark meets up with Liz Easton, an entrepreneur who lost her cupcake businesses and her home in the tornado. One year later, she has rebuilt her business and they are all set to re-open June 1st.

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New homes, new beginnings

New homes, new beginnings

By Alexandra Thomas
updated 4:28 PM EDT, Tue May 22, 2012
Jim Charles owned a home on the same land where Habitat for Humanity is building a new house for Deborah Morris. After his home was destroyed in the tornado last year, Charles moved on to a new place and it's a happy moment to see a new home being built where he once lived.

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New homeowner surprised with storm shelter

New homeowner surprised with storm shelter

By Alexandra Thomas
updated 3:01 PM EDT, Tue May 22, 2012
Deborah Morris and her three kids lost everything they had when an EF-5 tornado ripped through Joplin last year and destroyed their home. On top of the everyday challenges Deborah already faced while raising three autistic children, she was then left with no place to live. A year later, this family is getting a new home.

HLN's Clark Howard partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build the Morris family a new house, and the walls went up exactly one year after tragedy struck Joplin. But in the midst of an exciting day and a new beginning, Deborah is still afraid she won't be able to protect her children if a tornado hits her hometown again. Well, she no longer has to worry.

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National Guardsman returns home to help

National Guardsman returns home to help

By Brianna Chessin
updated 1:50 PM EDT, Tue May 22, 2012
For Joplin residents Lt. Aaron Garbet and his wife Tabatha, the anniversary of the tornado has special significance; it hit the day after their wedding. On the first day of their honeymoon in Europe, the Garbets' apartment was destroyed, along with their belongings and unopened wedding presents. Lt. Garbet rebuilt his life and is now helping Joplin recover through his role with the Missouri National Guard. HLN's Clark Howard met with the couple to talk about moving forward after the tornado.


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Habitat helps a family move forward

Habitat helps a family move forward

By Alexandra Thomas
updated 11:11 AM EDT, Tue May 22, 2012
Joy Thompson and her two children lost their home in the EF-5 tornado that struck Joplin last year. After surviving such a devastating event, eight-year-old Caillieya says she's still scared of tornadoes, especially since they've been living in a trailer. As her family continues to recover, she's working through that fear.

But it won't be long before the Thompsons move into a brand new home!

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A new life in Joplin

A new life in Joplin

By Alexandra Thomas
updated 10:42 AM EDT, Tue May 22, 2012
When HLN Money Expert Clark Howard met with Sandra and Bill Richhart in Joplin last year, he was impressed by their determination to rebuild their home that was destroyed in the tornado. He asked them what he would find when he came back in a year. They told him he'd find them in a brand new home, with trees growing in the yard.

Clark is back in Joplin a year later and the Richharts give him a tour of their new home.

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Gas prices drop, but pain at the pump lingers

Gas prices drop, but pain at the pump lingers

By Alexandra Thomas
updated 2:46 PM EDT, Mon May 21, 2012
Gas prices are finally coming down, but it may be too little, too late. Nearly six in ten Americans (59%) have already cut back on spending since the beginning of the year due to high gas prices, according to new research by Bankrate.com. So even though prices have recently dropped, Americans have reduced their spending on things like vacations and eating out over the past few months.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas is $3.69, according to AAA. That’s down 18 cents in a month.

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Are you saving enough?

Are you saving enough?

By Alexandra Thomas
updated 12:58 PM EDT, Mon May 21, 2012
Clark explains how to know if you're putting enough money away for the future.

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