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personal finance

Dr. Bert Hughes, vice chair of the American Dental Association's Council on Dental Benefit Programs, who addressed dental insurance annual maximums in ADA News. Photo: ADA News.

Why Dental Insurance Still Caps Out Around $1,000 a Year

About 32 million insured US adults reached their dental plan's annual maximum in 2024, and nearly half stopped care as a result. The cap behind it hasn't meaningfully moved in decades.

Health  · 20 Jul 2026, 19:34  · Sara Lindqvist
A credit union branch, the type of institution most likely to offer a seasonal skip-a-payment program to members in good standing.

What a 'Skip-a-Payment' Program Actually Costs You

Skipping a loan payment through your credit union's seasonal program won't hurt your credit score. It will extend your loan and add interest you won't see until later.

Business  · 19 Jul 2026, 15:20  · Priya Raman
Official portrait of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who sent state unclaimed-property regulators a letter questioning shortened escheatment dormancy periods.

Escheatment, Explained: How States Take Your Forgotten Money

Escheatment is the legal process that hands your forgotten bank accounts, stocks and uncashed checks to the state after a few years of inactivity, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren says the dormancy clock is getting too short.

Business  · 14 Jul 2026, 15:26  · Priya Raman
A ceramic piggy bank on a table, representing retirement savings and employer matching contributions.

What Is a 401(k) True-Up, and Why Did Your Match Jump?

If your 401(k) match fell short during the year, a true-up contribution, often paid the following February, is designed to make up the difference automatically.

Business  · 11 Jul 2026, 11:13  · Priya Raman
A residential street of single-family homes.

Escrow Shortage: Why Your Mortgage Payment Went Up

A fixed-rate loan with a payment that keeps climbing sounds like a contradiction. The culprit is the escrow account, and you have more choices than the letter suggests.

Business  · 8 Jul 2026, 09:21  · Priya Raman
A panorama of American suburban single-family homes.

Why Your Escrow Comes Up Short Almost Every Year

Your monthly payment jumped again after an escrow analysis. The shortfall usually is not a mistake, it is built into how the account works. Here is the mechanism, and what you can do about it.

Business  · 8 Jul 2026, 05:42  · Priya Raman
A golden dollar sign symbol enclosed in a cage, illustrating a frozen tax refund.

Why Your 2026 Tax Refund Is Taking So Long

More than 830,000 taxpayers got a letter saying their refund is approved but on hold. Here's what's actually driving the delays, and how to get unstuck faster.

Business  · 7 Jul 2026, 06:36  · Priya Raman