Full Show: Lump Sum vs. DCA: Which Wins? & Is It Ever Too Late To Save for Retirement?

Wes Moss tackles one of the most paralyzing questions in finance: should you "cannonball" into the market or wade in slowly? While historical data shows that one method wins about two-thirds of the time, Wes explains why participation will always trump perfection. Also, a sobering new study claims the average American has less than $1,000 saved for retirement. However, when you look past the headlines at the actual math, the story changes – and so does the outlook for "Late Start Larry and Lisa." If you’re in your 50s and feel like you’ve missed the boat, this segment is for you. Wes breaks down the 2026 contribution limits and shows how aggressive saving in your final working years can still turn a modest nest egg into a million-dollar retirement. Plus, Christa shares your #AskWes questions and Wes gives his take. All this and more on the March 3, 2026, Ask an Advisor episode of the Clark Howard podcast. Submit your questions: https://clark.com/ask 00:00 - Intro 03:13 - Lump Sum vs. DCA: Which Wins? & Is It Ever Too Late To Save for Retirement? 10:00 - Ask an Advisor - What’s the smartest way to use an $85,000 inheritance if I have a low mortgage rate, no other debt, and already save 15% for retirement? Should I invest, dollar-cost average, or consider real estate? (Cody, Georgia) 13:18 - Ask An Advisor - If I’m an early retiree living off brokerage and cash with no earned income, what should I enter in an income field on retirement or subsidy calculators? Is there a calculator that considers assets instead of income? (Greg, California) 15:42 - Ask an Advisor - With multiple old retirement accounts at different providers, should my wife and I consolidate everything into one IRA or keep them where they are if performance has been strong? (Kyle, Georgia) 18:35 - Is It Ever Too Late To Save for Retirement? 26:12 - Ask an Advisor - At age 60 and retiring soon, should I switch new 401(k) contributions to Roth, or keep using pre-tax contributions given my high state taxes and short time horizon? (Lisa, California) 29:23 - Ask an Advisor - Do covered call income ETFs make sense for retirees, and can they replace part of the bond portion of a portfolio? (Wayne, Illinois) 32:06 - Ask an Advisor - If I’m invested 100% in stock index funds and plan to retire in 15–20 years, would adding assets like real estate or commodities meaningfully improve diversification? (Corey, Minnesota) 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/