Editorial Policy
Last updated: October 1, 2026
This page explains how we decide what to publish and how we try to keep it correct. If you are deciding how far to trust a guide on this site, this is the page to read.
What we choose to write about
We write about questions that people keep asking and that do not expire quickly: what a term means, how a process works, what to check before you sign or pay. We skip breaking news, celebrity money stories and anything that is only popular this week. If we cannot find a reliable source for a topic, we do not write about it.
Where the facts come from
We start with primary sources, meaning the agency or organization that sets the rule or runs the program. For the topics on this site, that usually means:
- Money and taxes: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the IRS, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and state insurance departments.
- Jobs and workplace rules: the U.S. Department of Labor, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and state labor agencies.
- Housing: the Department of Housing and Urban Development and state or local tenant and housing offices.
- Cars: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, state motor vehicle agencies and the vehicle owner's manual.
- Education: the Department of Education, Federal Student Aid and the schools themselves.
- Technology and safety: the Federal Trade Commission, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the companies that make the product being discussed.
We use news sites and company blogs only to find leads, not as the final source for a fact. We do not copy text from other websites.
Who writes and who checks
Every article has a named author, shown at the top of the page and on the author's profile. Before an article goes live, someone other than the author is expected to read it for accuracy and clarity. Our editors can send an article back or hold it if a source is missing.
How we write
- We use plain words, and we explain any term a beginner would not know.
- We say when the answer depends on the state, the lender, the school or the employer, and we tell you who to ask.
- We avoid fear, hype and promises of results. We do not tell you what to buy.
Keeping articles current
Each article shows the date it was published and the date it was last updated. Pages about topics where numbers or rules change, such as tax rules, fees, limits and program requirements, are reviewed on a regular schedule and whenever we learn about a change. We only change the "updated" date when the content changed in a way that matters to a reader, not for small edits.
Corrections
If something is wrong, tell us which article and what you found, with a link to a source if you have one. We check every report. When we confirm an error, we fix the article as soon as we can, and for a significant mistake we add a note saying what changed.
Advertising and independence
The site earns money from advertising. Ads are labeled and shown apart from the article text. Advertisers do not see articles before they are published, cannot pay for coverage, a ranking or a change to what we write, and have no say in which topics we cover. We do not run sponsored articles. If that ever changes, those pages will be clearly marked.
Not professional advice
Our guides are general information. They are not financial, legal, tax, medical or other professional advice. Please read the disclaimer.