Spend your IRA money before you die (10 14 24)

October 14, 2024

Today’s Sponsor
💵 Today’s Top Stories
IRA

Families can no longer stash wealth in an IRA and keep it for generations without paying taxes. Here’s why inheriting an IRA has become a migraine-level headache. Read more.

Identity Theft

This type of account is your biggest vulnerability for identity theft, Clark says. Here’s how bad it can get – and what you can do to play defense against criminals. Read more.

Sponsor

Input accurate details about your current finances, desired lifestyle, and future aspirations and we'll share an assessment tailored to your unique needs.

Clark often picks on CVS and Walgreens for charging as much as 100 times more for prescription medications. How can discount companies offer medications for that much cheaper? Read more.

Cell phone

All Mint Mobile plans are $15 a month right now. Straight Talk Wireless will give you a $200 device credit after one year. After reviewing more than 180 plans, we also highlighted several more deals. Read more.

Learn how you can safely support disaster relief efforts and avoid common scams associated with disaster relief donations. Read more.

🏠️ Today’s Current Mortgage Rates

According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.32% and 15-year rates are 5.41% as of October 10, 2024. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.

🎡 Theme Parks Defy Moderating Inflation

Inflation has fallen from 9.1% in June 2022 to 2.4% in September 2024. The Federal Reserve is decimal points from reaching its long-stated target of 2.0%.

But not everything has moderated in price in the last two years. We’re looking at you, theme parks.

Disneyland in Southern California announced immediate price hikes last week. The most expensive daily tickets jumped from $96 to $206 in the last decade, or 11.4% per year.

Disney’s “Experiences” division accounts for almost 50% of the company’s revenue – and that’s excluding ABC, ESPN, Hulu, Disney+, its movies and more. It’s up almost 7% year over year despite prices continuing to rise.

Disney and Universal are pouring money into theme parks and in-person experiences, betting on the sector continuing to produce in the future.

Here are the top 10 theme parks by annual attendance:

1. Magic Kingdom (Florida): 18 million
2. Disneyland Park (California): 17 million
3. Universal Studios (Osaka): 16 million
4. Disneyland (Tokyo): 15 million
5. Disneyland (Shanghai): 14 million
6. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Zhuhai): 13 million
7. DisneySea (Tokyo): 12 million
8. Epcot (Florida): 12 million
9. Disneyland (Paris): 10 million
10. Hollywood Studios (Florida): 10 million

📊 Stat of the Day

🍕0: Number of Domino’s restaurants that closed in the United States in Q3 (out of nearly 7,000). Domino’s now operates 21,002 stores, increasing its lead over Pizza Hut (19,864) which it first gained in 2020. It operates in 90 international markets. “Either the company is firing on literally all cylinders, or underperforming stores just don’t close down,” Sherwood wrote in its story.

💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
Amazon
Home Depot
🎙️ Podcast

It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Christa reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. Also, there are several major headlines in the travel industry right now. Clark dives into new visa requirements, REAL ID, online passport renewal, and more.

☎️ Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

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