The editorial standards at MoneyCompass govern how every article, review and guide is researched, written and published. Furthermore, these editorial standards exist to ensure that every piece of content on MoneyCompass reflects independent research rather than the interests of financial institutions or advertisers. Moreover, MoneyCompass editorial standards require that all factual claims be supported by authoritative sources including the Federal Reserve, CFPB, IRS, SEC, and academic research. Because MoneyCompass covers personal finance topics that directly affect readers’ financial wellbeing, these editorial standards are treated as non-negotiable requirements rather than guidelines. In addition, these editorial standards apply equally to hub pages, product reviews, comparison articles and bot-generated content — there are no exceptions based on content type or affiliate relationship. However, editorial standards are living documents — they are reviewed and updated as financial regulations, best practices and reader needs evolve. Therefore, the date at the top of this page reflects the most recent review of these editorial standards. For regulatory context see the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Our Commitment
MoneyCompass exists to provide honest, accurate and useful personal finance guidance to everyday families. Every editorial decision — what to cover, how to evaluate products, what to recommend — is made with that mission in mind. Affiliate relationships never influence editorial decisions. Period.
How We Research Financial Products
Every financial product reviewed on MoneyCompass is evaluated against the same criteria regardless of whether an affiliate relationship exists:
- Fees and costs — all fees are identified including hidden or conditional fees
- Terms and conditions — fine print is read and summarized in plain English
- Suitability — who this product is right for AND who it is not right for
- Competitive context — how the product compares to alternatives in the same category
- Regulatory standing — FDIC insurance, SEC registration, CFPB complaints where relevant
- Rate accuracy — rates are never hardcoded; always verified and flagged as subject to change
Sources We Trust
Every factual claim on MoneyCompass must be supported by at least one authoritative source. Primary sources we rely on include:
What We Never Do
- Give a product a better review because it pays a higher commission
- Exclude a product from comparison because it has no affiliate program
- Hardcode specific interest rates or APRs that may become outdated
- Make prescriptive financial recommendations for individual situations
- Provide specific tax advice for individual filing situations
- Guarantee investment returns or financial outcomes
- Present sponsored content as independent editorial content
Content Freshness
Financial information changes constantly. Every article on MoneyCompass displays a Last Updated date. Hub pages and product reviews are prioritized for regular review and update. When rates, fees or product terms change significantly, articles are updated to reflect current information.
Stale financial content is not just unhelpful — it can be actively harmful. We take freshness seriously.
Corrections Policy
If you find a factual error on MoneyCompass please contact us through our contact page. Verified errors are corrected promptly and the correction is noted in the article. We take accuracy seriously and welcome reader feedback that helps us improve.
Questions about our editorial process? Contact us at our contact page. See also our Affiliate Disclosure, How We Make Money, and Privacy Policy.