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Several years ago, Clark talked about a lawsuit that had been filed against Edward Jones brokerage firm for allegedly taking kickbacks from companies they recommended. At the time, it shocked a lot of people. But the truth is that it’s happening everywhere. People go to a stockbroker to get suggestions that will earn them money, right? Well, under current regulations, a stockbroker is not required to do what’s best for you. They can’t do anything that will harm you, but they don’t have to do what is best for you. So, think about that when you decide on your brokerage firm. If you buy commission-free mutual funds, which you have to buy from a discount broker, you have many more choices and there is no incentive to deceive you. There is no equivalent with a full-commissioned stockbroker. So consider the discount brokers like T. Rowe Price.

Clark hasn’t talked about leasing a car in a while, mostly because he doesn’t normally recommend it. But he has an offer he wants you to know about just this once. If you like new wheels every 24 months or the manufacturer is offering special subsidized financing, it’s ok to lease. And that subsidized lease from the manufacturer should last no longer than three years. You should not lease because you think you’ll get more car for less money. That’s just plain hooey. Also, if you’re in a lease now, you can refinance it if you have good credit. How does it work? Well, there is no requirement under law that you’ll be told the actual interest rate on your lease. You’re basically borrowing the car, so the terms are always skewed. If you refinance your lease, you will be paying less and can get out of the lease earlier! Get help doing this at lowermylease.com. Just remember that you never want to extend the length of the lease, regardless of whether you get a lower rate.

H&R Block has gotten a lot of bad publicity lately, you may have noticed. Clark has never been a fan of the firm’s Instant Refund loans on IRS tax returns, but now H&R Block is duping people in another way, according to a recent lawsuit filed against the company in New York. The company is pushing people who use the rapid refund program to put their refunds into an IRA called the “Express IRA.” According to news reports, the fees for this “savings account” were so much higher than the savings earned on them that people ended up with less money than they put in. It’ll be up to the courts to decide this one, but Clark hopes you will always look out for offers like this. If they sound too good to be true, they usually are. You need to save for retirement. No bones about it. If you want help, the best way to begin is to go to a fee only planner. They will recommend good choices and won’t charge you an arm and a leg. Find a certified financial planner near you at the Web site napfa.org. If you want to do it yourself, start with Investing 101 on the LA Times Web site, latimes.com.

Clark is obsessed with his cell phones. Yes, all three of them. He has one local phone, one other general use and travel phone and a third that he uses overseas. He doesn’t respect people using cell phones in public places, especially when they talk loudly. He was at a funeral recently when someone’s phone rang several times and they actually answered it. Crazy! Movie theater owners are actually trying to get cell phones blocked in theaters. It’s illegal to do that in the United States, but companies are actually doing it overseas. Clark likes the idea, but he doubts it will happen. Worse yet, the FAA is considering the okay of using phones in the air. What a nightmare that would be!

Clark and his wife have two designer Chinese pugs that eat up more than just their share of dog food. In addition to costing a hefty price, they also have quite a few health problems. Needless to say, Clark would not go that route if they ever get another dog. Buying pound dogs usually works out fine, and the animals there really need your help. So, if you have a dog with health problems, should you get pet insurance? A recent story Clark read claimed pet insurance was not worth it because companies rarely pay out claims. The payout is below 50 percent, in fact. Consumer Reports also covered this topic recently and reported that pet insurance could actually add to what you pay for pet care instead of helping to defray costs. So, looks like the jury is in that pet care is not recommended.

Have you ever been wheeled into an emergency room unconscious? If so, most of the people who took you in probably had no idea about your pre-existing conditions or about how you were injured. Enter microchips implanted in humans. These things are about the size of a staple and they’re called “smart chips.” The chip contains your entire medical history and can be very helpful in the event of an emergency. It also crossed the slightly creepy line of privacy and your rights. What else will people be able to find out about you? Well, apparently most people don’t want to know. Only about 100 people agreed to have this chip implanted, and most of them work at the company that manufactured it. The chip costs $200. Clark isn’t interested in having the chip implanted in his body. He thinks carrying a “smart card” with his medical history is just as effective and much less freaky.