Full Show: Do Retirees Need To Track Stock Earnings? and This Rule Can Help You Retire Early | Clark Howard Video

If you're a retail investor or a happy retiree, should you be paying attention to corporate earnings? Fiduciary financial advisor Wes Moss dives into why earnings matter for both individual stock owners and index fund investors. Discover how the overall earnings of the S&P 500 influence market trends and whether you need to obsess over every quarterly report. Also, Wes breaks down the "Rule of 55," a lesser-known strategy that could help you access your retirement money sooner without penalties. Most people know about the Rule of 59 1/2, but Wes reveals the specific qualifications and conditions for utilizing the Rule of 55 with your 401(k). Learn how this rule could accelerate your path to retirement!

Plus, Christa shares your #AskWes questions and Wes gives his take. All this and more on the June 10, 2025, Ask an Advisor episode of the Clark Howard podcast. Submit your questions: link

00:00 - Intro
01:25 - Do Retirees Need To Track Stock Earnings?
08:25 - Ask an Advisor - Is it wise to always vote with the board's recommendations on proxy materials, or should individual investors take the time to review and vote independently? (Clint in New York)
11:24 - Ask an Advisor - Does the 62/70 Social Security claiming strategy make sense when the higher-earning spouse delays until 70 and the lower-earning spouse claims early? (Doug in Pennsylvania)
14:39 - This Rule Can Help You Retire Early
24:22 - Ask an Advisor - Are rules-based ETFs like Dimensional or Avantis truly passive—and do their higher costs outweigh the benefits compared to traditional index funds? (Scott in New York)
29:21 - Ask an Advisor - Can I roll my existing IRA into a new employer's 401(k) to enable future backdoor Roth conversions, and can I still contribute to an HSA after leaving an HDHP plan? (Danielle in Virginia)

Mentioned on the show:
link
link

Clark.com: Advice You Can Trust:
SUBSCRIBE: link

Listen To The Clark Howard Podcast: link
Apple Podcasts: link
Spotify: link
iHeartRadio: link

Follow Us for More Money Tips:
Website: link
Podcast: link
Newsletter: link
Instagram: link
Facebook: link

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: link