AI Summary
5 min read“Eighty percent of timeshare purchases are now by millennials and Gen Z,” Clark Howard says, his voice carrying a note of genuine dismay. That statistic opens a warning about a financial product he almost never discusses—one he calls “an obligation, not an asset.”
The episode then moves through several distinct but related topics: how to spot counterfeit goods on Amazon, the quirks of airline delay notifications, the hidden costs of insuring jewelry, and a practical guide to protecting brokerage accounts from unauthorized international wire transfers. The throughline is consumer empowerment—knowing the traps before you fall into them.
The Timeshare Trap
Timeshares are making a comeback, but the buyers have changed. Historically, middle-aged empty nesters purchased them. Now younger people, priced out of homeownership, see a timeshare as a way to “own” something—a week of vacation, a fixed-price holiday. Clark dismantles this logic.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:04) **Opening & Mission** - Clark introduces the show’s mission to empower listeners with better financial decisions.
- 2 (02:03) **The Timeshare Trap: Millennials & Gen Z Are the New Target** - Clark explains why younger generations are falling for timeshares and why they are a "miserable" purchase.
- 3 (03:31) **Why Timeshares Are an Obligation, Not an Asset** - Clark breaks down the core financial problem with timeshare ownership.
- 4 (06:10) **The Smarter Way: Rent, Don’t Buy** - Clark offers the only sensible approach for anyone still interested in timeshares.
- 5 (07:29) **Listener Q: Rental Car Liability Coverage** - Ed from New York asks about liability insurance when using a credit card's primary rental car coverage.
- 6 (09:54) **Listener Q: Airline Delay Reversals** - Rose from Missouri asks why airlines sometimes reverse a delay, causing passengers to miss their flight.
- 7 (12:14) **Listener Q: Ski Trip to Beaver Creek** - Tanya from Georgia asks about the best way to pay for a large family ski trip to Beaver Creek.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
A surprising new study shows that Millennials and Gen Z account for 80% of all new timeshare purchases. In an era where homeownership feels increasingly out of reach for younger generations, buying into a timeshare might offer a psychological sense of owning real estate—but it is one of the worst financial traps you can walk into.
Also, how can you tell if something is a fake brand or not? There is a helpful new browser extension called Knockoff designed to clean up your Amazon search results. Because Amazon functions largely as a third-party marketplace and fulfillment house, the platform has been flooded with junky, counterfeit items and unknown knockoff brands. A member of Team Clark tested Knockoff and found it does a great job filtering out suspect sellers and warning you about low-quality duplicates as you shop. Read the full review.
Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the September 2, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your questions: Ask Clark.
- Timeshare Trap: Segment 1
- Ask Clark: Segment 2
- Amazon Brand Filter: Segment 3
- Ask Clark: Segment 4
Mentioned on the show:
- Why Timeshares Still Stink
- How To Sell, Cancel or Get Rid of Your Timeshare - Clark Howard
- Car Rental Insurance: Everything You Need To Know - Clark Howard
- Credit Card Car Rental Insurance: What You Need To Know
- Air Traffic Control Chaos: Brace Yourself Travel Headaches
- Knockoff: The Free Tool That Spots Fake Brands on Amazon
- Why You Need To Lock Your Brokerage Account Today
Clark.com resources: