How We Research & Fact-Check

Trustworthy financial education depends on more than clear writing.

It requires reliable sources, appropriate context, careful calculations, and recognition that financial rules, data, and market conditions can change.

This page explains how The Financial Compass approaches research and fact-checking.

Our Research Philosophy

We aim to answer three questions before publishing important financial claims:

• What is the original source of this information?
• Is the information current and applicable to the subject being discussed?
• Can the reader distinguish facts from estimates, assumptions, analysis, or opinion?

Whenever practical, we work from primary sources rather than relying solely on summaries published elsewhere.

Sources We Prefer

For U.S.-focused financial content, primary sources may include:

Taxes

Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Used for information involving federal tax rules, tax brackets, contribution limits, deductions, credits, retirement accounts, and other federal tax matters.

Investing and Securities Regulation

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Used for investor education, securities regulation, company filings, investment products, and investor protection information.

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Used for brokerage-related information, investor education, trading rules, and securities industry guidance.

Consumer Finance

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Used for mortgages, credit cards, consumer loans, credit reporting, debt, banking, and consumer financial protections.

Banking

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Used for information relating to deposit insurance, banks, savings products, and banking protections.

Interest Rates and Monetary Policy

Federal Reserve. Used for monetary policy, federal funds rates, economic conditions, banking information, and related financial data.

Government Finance and Treasury Securities

U.S. Department of the Treasury. Used for Treasury securities, government financial information, interest-rate data, and related topics.

Employment and Inflation

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Used for Consumer Price Index data, employment information, wages, inflation, and other labor-market statistics.

Economic Data

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and other government statistical agencies.

Social Security

Social Security Administration (SSA). Used for Social Security benefits, eligibility, retirement ages, and program rules.

Additional Sources

Not every financial topic has a single government source.

Depending on the subject, we may also consult academic research, peer-reviewed journals, universities, central bank research, recognized industry organizations, company regulatory filings, official corporate disclosures, established financial institutions, reputable market-data providers, respected financial publications, and subject-matter experts.

Secondary sources may help provide context or explain competing interpretations, but important factual claims should ideally be traceable to authoritative underlying information.

How We Treat Current Information

Some financial information changes frequently.

Examples include interest rates, mortgage rates, tax thresholds, IRA contribution limits, 401(k) contribution limits, Social Security figures, inflation data, stock market data, economic indicators, and financial regulations.

When such information materially affects an article, we aim to identify the relevant year, date, or reporting period.

Readers should not assume that a figure appearing in an older article remains current.

Fact-Checking Financial Claims

Important factual claims may be checked against one or more reliable sources.

Particular attention is given to claims involving regulations, taxes, contribution limits, eligibility requirements, interest rates, economic statistics, government programs, investment rules, mathematical calculations, financial product features, and historical market data.

Where reliable sources disagree, we aim to identify the disagreement rather than presenting uncertain information as established fact.

Distinguishing Facts From Analysis

Not everything in finance is a fixed fact.

Articles may contain:

• Facts. Information that can be independently verified.
• Estimates. Calculated or projected figures based on stated assumptions.
• Analysis. Interpretation of available information.
• Scenarios. Illustrations showing what could happen under specified assumptions.
• Opinions or forecasts from third parties. Views attributed to the organizations or individuals expressing them.

We aim to make these distinctions clear where they are important to understanding the subject.

How We Handle Examples

Financial articles often use hypothetical examples.

For example:

An investor contributes $500 per month for 30 years and earns an assumed average annual return of 7%.

This is an illustration, not a prediction.

Actual investment returns fluctuate and may be significantly higher or lower.

When examples depend on assumed interest rates, investment returns, inflation, fees, taxes, or other variables, those assumptions should be identified.

How We Verify Calculators

Financial calculators require a different form of fact-checking.

Before publishing an important calculator, we aim to review the underlying financial formula, input assumptions, calculation logic, rounding, edge cases, output labels, explanatory text, and limitations.

Where appropriate, calculator methodology is explained so readers can understand what the tool does and does not calculate.

Results generated by financial calculators remain estimates and should not be considered guarantees.

External Links

We may link directly to authoritative sources so readers can examine the original information.

External websites are outside our control and may subsequently change, move, or remove information.

A link to another organization does not necessarily imply endorsement of every view, service, or statement made by that organization.

Artificial Intelligence and Technology-Assisted Research

The Financial Compass may use artificial intelligence and other technology-assisted tools to help with activities such as organizing research, summarizing complex information, generating drafts, reviewing language, identifying potential areas requiring verification, testing calculations, and improving content structure.

AI-generated information is not automatically considered a reliable source.

Important financial claims should be checked against appropriate authoritative sources rather than relying solely on an AI-generated response.

Updating Existing Content

Some articles remain accurate for many years. Others can become outdated quickly.

Existing articles may be reviewed when regulations change, contribution limits change, tax rules change, government programs are revised, financial products change, important new evidence becomes available, errors are identified, or a topic requires clarification.

Where appropriate, an article’s Updated date may be changed following a meaningful revision.

Sources Section

For important financial topics, articles may include a Sources, References, or Further Reading section.

Whenever practical, we prefer links to original source materials rather than links to websites merely repeating the information.

What Readers Can Do

Even well-researched financial information should be considered in context.

Before making an important financial decision, readers may wish to review the primary source, confirm that rules remain current, consider their personal circumstances, compare alternatives, and consult a qualified financial, tax, legal, or other appropriate professional.

Found Something That Needs Checking?

We welcome responsible corrections and source suggestions.

If you believe an article contains inaccurate, outdated, or misleading information, please contact us through our Contact page and include:

• the page or article title
• the statement you believe should be reviewed
• your reason for questioning it
• a supporting source, if available

We will review credible correction requests in accordance with our Corrections Policy.