• organdonor.org - donate your organs
• fidelity.com - bank with brokerage firms
• sheldonjacobs.com - bank with brokerage firms

In a series of tragic, yet ironic set of circumstances, a blind woman from middle America can now see thanks to her deceased husband. The man, a 30-year employee of Verizon, had always told his wife that he’d do anything to help her see. Tragically, he was shot and killed just before retirement and his wife’s friends and family convinced her to take his eyes. He was an organ donor and had said for years he would want her to have his eyes. It’s important to make your wishes known to others because you really can make a difference. Clark wants every useful part of his body to be donated to someone in the hopes of enhancing or saving a life. You can sign up at organdonor.org or when you get your driver’s license renewed. Please consider doing this to help someone I need.

Clark talks a lot on the show about how banks treat customers like dirt. He often recommends trying a credit union or smaller bank instead. But there is another option he often overlooks. If you have a healthy chunk of change, you can do your banking with a stock brokerage company. Merrill Lynch, the nation’s largest brokerage firm, started this in the late 70s and called it a “CMA” or cash management account. It was the company’s version of being your bank, and it has become very popular. People are treated very well and get much higher rates on accounts. You can also borrow against your account at much lower rates than what you’d normally get. This “margin loan borrowing” can be risk, though. So, you never want to borrow more than 25 percent of your account. But if you’re frustrated with your bank and need the convenience of a big firm, consider this. Banks hold only about 12 percent of our assets these days. Most of our money is with brokerage houses and mutual fund services because they offer such better service.

When you get invited to a party at someone’s home, it may not be the great event you think it is. In fact, you may be asked to bring your wallet. Just about every manjor manufacturer in the country is starting to do “at-home” parties that will influence purchases. These “shopping parties” are huge, with about 265 companies currently putting them on. Sales from these parties are up to $30 billion a year, so they’re obviously working. Just be careful because the prices are full retail and drinking alcohol – which is usually included – can alter your judgment.

Joni, Clark’s pit bull producer, is a great sport about everything. But she can be a little off on what she pays for things. Looking at her home phone bill recently, Clark realized that Joni was paying about $50 a month for her home service. She rarely uses her home phone, yet she’s paying about $600 a year for service. Clark suggested that Joni get Internet phone service, which would drop her home phone cost from $50 to about $15. She can also transfer her home phone number to the Internet service, keeping the same number and keeping her high speed Internet at home.

The motor home business is growing by leaps and bounds these days. People seem to love the idea of having their home wherever they go. But recreational vehicles can cost quarter of a million dollars, and they’re not always reliable. Buying an RV is not like buying a car or truck, where there is mass production and lemon laws to protect you. If some kind of law does exist it’s only on the power train of the vehicle. When you buy an RV, you’re kind of on your own. There are even attorneys that specialize in RV issues because so many are coming up. Because there is so much risk involved, you need to buy an RV from a reputable dealer. Clark also recommends renting an RV and traveling around in one for awhile before buying. You may think it’s your dream, but you may turn out to hate it. Also, people seem to have better luck with the RVs you tow instead of the ones that have motors in them. So, be cautious before you take the plunge.

Clark has been a big fan of electronic bill pay. Since the ‘80s, he’s paid bills over the phone because he’s always though checks were the wrong way to go. The number of people paying bills online has grown in very small increments – until this year! It seems that the number of people who pay electronically will surpass those who pay by check by the end of the year, according to Harris Interactive. So why does Clark like electronic payments so much? First of all, it’s much safer than sending a check. Secondly, you have proof that a bill was paid if questions arise. Best of all, it’s FREE! Check with your bank or credit union on how to set it up. Once you get the vendors and account numbers set up, it’s so easy.