Money

In general, financial advisors (and common sense) would tell you that paying down debt is a smart money move. A new report from a major mortgage lender, however, shows that while many homeowners make extra payments on their loans, those who do so often aren’t in a position to benefit. When Rocket Mortgage analyzed extra payments made on roughly 3 million loans between January 2021 and January 2026, it found that roughly 1 in 4 mortgage borrowers made at least one extra principal payment a year.

Medicare open enrollment, when beneficiaries can change their Medicare Advantage or prescription drug coverage, doesn't begin until Oct. 15. But scammers are already on the prowl. One recent retiree told Scripps News that she receives more than a dozen Medicare-related calls a day despite being on the Do Not Call Registry. The pitches vary but they usually have the same goal: getting your Medicare number or other personal information.

Credit card companies offer products tailored to frequent flyers, business owners and retail customers, but did you know a handful of credit cards are marketed toward pet owners? As competition among issuers heats up, companies are looking for fresh ways to land your business, and the high costs of pet supplies and vet services are an ongoing pain point for consumers.

Borrow responsibly Loans for Undergraduate & Career Training Students are not intended for graduate students and are subject to credit approval, identity verification, signed loan documents, and school certification. Student must attend a participating school. Student or cosigner must meet the age of majority in their state of residence.

Borrow responsibly Loans for Undergraduate & Career Training Students are not intended for graduate students and are subject to credit approval, identity verification, signed loan documents, and school certification. Student must attend a participating school. Student or cosigner must meet the age of majority in their state of residence.

Companies we ranked include Accredited Debt Relief, CuraDebt, DebtBlue, Freedom Debt Relief and National Debt Relief. The best debt relief companies offer transparency and trustworthy reputations, a user-friendly experience and quick resolution from unsecured debt. Methodology: We evaluated more than 20 companies, considering enrollment fees and program duration. We analyzed over 140 reputation data points from third-party review sites and accrediting organizations.

*Rates and APRs are subject to change. All information provided here is accurate as of August 27, 2026. Overview: Money chose LightStream as the best overall debt consolidation loan provider because of its competitive APRs, low fees and wide range of terms. Discover, PenFed, SoFi and Universal Credit are also named as top lenders.

Workers’ compensation offers an extra financial cushion if you incurred an injury at work. But if you receive it, it’s important to understand how it interacts with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits if you also receive those. The money you receive from workers’ compensation or certain other public disability benefits can trigger an offset that can reduce how much you receive in SSDI.

If you get health insurance through your employer, buckle up. Costs are expected to spike — yet again — next year. Workplace health coverage expenses could rise 11.1% in 2027, according to a preview of WTW’s forthcoming Best Practices in Healthcare Survey shared with Money. That’s the expected increase in prices if businesses make no cost-saving changes to their health benefits. If they do make changes, premiums may still jump 9.7%.

Money named Indeed as the best overall job posting site because its high web traffic will help employers get in front of a large pool of applicants, and it has budget-based pricing for paid posts, as well as relatively generous free job listing rules. Online job posting sites are the fastest way to find applicants and onboard qualified hires. While there are dozens of job posting sites to choose from, only a few are worth your time and money — particularly in today's challenging hiring market.