Clark’s #1 Rule for Building Retirement Wealth & 1990s vs 2026: What Inflation Really Costs You

The American retirement system is a confusing alphabet soup of 401(k)s, IRAs, and complex rules, but there is some incredible news hiding in the data. Right now, everyday workers are saving an average of 9.8% of their income, putting us within shouting distance of Clark’s lifetime rule of thumb: saving a dime out of every single dollar you make. When you factor in employer matches, total savings are hitting nearly 15%, which is helping mint a whole new generation of "moderate millionaires." Meanwhile, if you feel like your paycheck isn't going as far as it used to, you aren't imagining things. When you look at what everyday items cost 30 years ago versus today, the math explains exactly why so many hardworking Americans feel completely squeezed. While a handful of items like milk and electronics are actually cheaper today when adjusted for inflation, critical pillars of the American dream have skyrocketed. Check out the link below to calculate your own inflation reality and see how to make your dollars work harder for you! Calculate your inflation reality here: https://clark.com/inflation-calculator/ Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the June 10, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your questions: https://clark.com/ask 00:00 - Intro 01:20 - Clark’s #1 Rule for Building Retirement Wealth 07:36 - Ask Clark - Is a 403(b) Still Worth It if the Employer Match Is Delayed Until Next Year? (Carol, New York) 10:02 - Ask Clark - Should Employer Matching Contributions Go Into a Roth 401(k)? (Rona, Florida) 12:10 - Ask Clark - Is a Fidelity Teen Account Better Than a Credit Union Account for a First Job? (Sandy, Georgia) 15:40 - 1990s vs 2026: What Inflation Really Costs You 23:17 - Ask Clark - Could Ultra-Low-Cost Cars Like Dacia Ever Succeed in the U.S.? (Thomas, Florida) 26:08 - Ask Clark - Can You Recover Money Sent to the Wrong Person Through Zelle? (William, Georgia) 28:00 - Ask Clark - How Financial Literacy Helped Me Eliminate $20,000 of Debt After Divorce (Rachel, Illinois) Clark.com: Advice You Can Trust: SUBSCRIBE:    / clark   Listen To The Clark Howard Podcast: https://clark.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lrwhe2... iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/8-the-... Follow Us for More Money Tips: Website: https://clark.com/ Podcast: https://clark.com/podcasts/ Newsletter: https://clark.com/newsletters/ Instagram:   / theclarkdotcom   Facebook:   / clarkhoward   Need Consumer Advice? The Consumer Action Center is a free resource for advice on money and consumer issues. Call 636-49C-LARK (636-492-5275) and a member of Team Clark will assist you as soon as possible. The Consumer Action Center is available Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. If you found this video valuable, give it a like. If you know someone who needs to see it, share it. Leave a comment below with your thoughts. Add it to a playlist if you want to watch it later. Our Promise to You: At Clark.com and ClarkDeals.com, we do not get paid for endorsements or reviews of any product or service, nor do we allow advertisers to place paid content on our sites. More information: https://clark.com/ad-disclosure/