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Brian Acton Bio

Brian Acton

Brian Acton is a seasoned personal finance journalist at BestMoney.com who specializes in loans and debt consolidation. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, TIME, USA Today, MarketWatch, Inc. Magazine, HuffPost, and other notable outlets.

Posts by Brian Acton

How Usage-Based Car Insurance Can Affect Your Policy Rates

Many car insurance companies now offer usage-based insurance, a program that tracks your driving behavior to determine how much you pay for coverage. It looks at the mileage you put on your car, your driving habits, and other factors to determine your risk level and calculate your rates.
Read MoreJan 12, 2026
How Usage-Based Car Insurance Can Affect Your Policy Rates

How to Save On Car Insurance When You Add a Teen Driver

Having a teenager get their driver’s license can present an exciting and nerve-wracking milestone for any parent.
Read MoreJan 12, 2026
How to Save On Car Insurance When You Add a Teen Driver

Why Does My Car Insurance Get More Expensive Even Without a Claim?

For many drivers, car insurance has only gotten more expensive over time.
Read MoreJan 12, 2026
Why Does My Car Insurance Get More Expensive Even Without a Claim?

When Should You Adjust Your Car Insurance Deductible?

When you submit a claim to car insurance, the deductible is the amount of money you pay out of pocket before your policy kicks in to cover the rest.
Read MoreJan 11, 2026
When Should You Adjust Your Car Insurance Deductible?

Secured Personal Loans: What They Are and How They Work

Secured personal loans require collateral but offer easier approval and lower rates than unsecured loans. You risk losing your collateral if you default. Best for borrowers with poor credit seeking competitive rates.
Read MoreJan 10, 2026
A woman talking to a financial expert about how a secured personal loan works.

How to Avoid Personal Loan Scams

Personal loans can provide money for many purposes, from debt consolidation and paying off bills to major home renovations or emergency expenses.
Read MoreJan 10, 2026
A man who is learning about how to avoid personal loan scams.

What Documents Do You Need to Apply for a Personal Loan?

When you apply for a personal loan, the lender will ask you for several documents to confirm your identity and collect information about your finances.
Read MoreJan 10, 2026
A woman organizing the documents she needs to apply for a personal loan.

How to Consolidate Business Debt

Business debt consolidation offers a streamlined solution by combining various debts into a single obligation with one consistent payment. This approach simplifies financial management, can enhance cash flow predictability, and potentially reduce costs through lower interest rates.
Read MoreDec 24, 2025
A business owner consolidating business debt.

How to Get Out of Debt Quickly Using Consolidation Strategies

Debt consolidation can help some borrowers pay off debt faster by combining their debts, simplifying their monthly payments, and even saving money on interest.
Read MoreDec 24, 2025
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The Risks of Using Your 401(k) to Consolidate Debt

If you’re struggling to pay your debts and you have money in a 401(k), you can tap those funds for debt relief and work on paying back your retirement fund over time. Using your 401(k) to consolidate debt has some strong advantages, depending on what method you use – but it also comes with significant downsides.
Read MoreDec 24, 2025
Should You Use Your 401(k) to Consolidate Debt?
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