Research Methodology
This page explains how we gather, weigh, and analyze information before we write: where we look first, how we judge a source, how we handle numbers and product comparisons, and what our approach cannot promise.
Why this matters
Money content can change what people do with their savings, taxes, and retirement. So every claim we publish has to trace back to an authoritative, current source that we have actually opened, not to our own say-so.
Five research principles
Everything below follows from these. They fit together with our other policies: the Editorial Guidelines set the standards, the Fact-Checking Policy covers how each claim is checked, and the Financial Review Process covers the workflow. This page covers how we gather and weigh the evidence.
Primary sources first
We go to the agency, regulator, or central bank that issues a rule or number before we look at anyone who repeats it.
Every claim has a source
We do not publish a factual claim that we cannot trace to an identifiable source.
Sources must be current
We confirm a source still reflects current law, rates, or data before we rely on it.
No claim rests on our authority
Our team is not made up of licensed advisers, accountants, or attorneys, so we never assert a fact from personal expertise. We show you where it comes from.
We state our limits
We tell you what this method cannot guarantee and when you need a licensed professional.
How we research a topic
This is the detail behind the research and drafting stage of every article. A team of seven does the work, and AI tools may help with some steps, as explained below.
Scope the topic
We define what the article covers and which areas of US tax, regulation, or finance it touches. That tells us which agencies matter and what a reader needs to know to act safely.
Map the sources
Before drafting, we identify the specific document, section, or data release we will cite for each major claim. If no primary source exists, we reframe the claim as labeled analysis or drop it.
Confirm it is current
We check that each source is the latest version, that nothing has amended it, and that any effective date has passed. A source is not assumed current because it was right recently.
Gather the numbers
We collect rates, limits, and data directly from the issuing source and record the date we retrieved each one.
Analyze
We work through the math and examples with stated inputs, and we look for exceptions, state differences, and what could make a general rule wrong for a particular reader.
Document
We tag each claim with its source as we write, so the checking stage can verify every one. After that, the fact-checking and review stages take over.
How we judge a source
We rank sources, and a higher-ranked source always wins on the same fact. The ranking is the same one in our Editorial Guidelines.
Primary official sources
Federal agencies, regulators, the Federal Reserve, and official statistics. Required for every rule, limit, threshold, and legal protection. When one conflicts with a lower source, the official source prevails, and we investigate why.
Academic and institutional research
Peer-reviewed studies and research from bodies such as the Federal Reserve system and the NBER. We use the original paper, not a press release or a summary, and we check its method, date, and relevance.
Recognized industry data
Established data providers and industry bodies, used only where official data does not exist. We name the source and confirm the data is current. It can never be the only source for a tax figure or legal requirement.
Orientation only
Encyclopedias, other finance sites, and forums can help us find our way into a topic. We never cite them as the basis for a fact, and we never use social media or AI output as a source.
Four tests every source must pass
Authority
Is it the body that actually sets or measures this rule or number?
Independence
Does the source have a commercial interest in the claim? A provider’s marketing cannot prove its own product is good value, and a partner’s own research cannot support a recommendation that links to that partner.
Currency
Is it the latest version, and does it cover the date and place we are writing about?
Method
For data and research: what does it measure, over what period, and with what limits?
Where we look first, by topic
Our primary sources are US federal authorities. We watch these for changes that affect our content, as described in the Financial Review Process.
| Topic | Primary sources | What we use them for |
|---|---|---|
| Taxes and retirement accounts | IRS (opens in a new tab), US Treasury (opens in a new tab) | Tax brackets, deductions, credits, and contribution limits |
| Investing and securities | SEC (opens in a new tab), FINRA (opens in a new tab), Investor.gov (opens in a new tab) | Investor protections, fund rules, and registration |
| Banking and deposit insurance | Federal Reserve (opens in a new tab), FDIC (opens in a new tab), NCUA (opens in a new tab), OCC (opens in a new tab) | Interest-rate policy, insurance limits, and bank and credit union rules |
| Consumer credit and loans | CFPB (opens in a new tab), FTC (opens in a new tab), AnnualCreditReport.com (opens in a new tab) | Credit and mortgage rules, disclosures, and free credit reports |
| Social Security and workplace plans | SSA (opens in a new tab), Department of Labor (EBSA) (opens in a new tab), PBGC (opens in a new tab), Medicare.gov (opens in a new tab) | Benefit amounts, cost-of-living adjustments, employer plan rules, and Medicare costs |
| Insurance | NAIC (opens in a new tab), state insurance departments, insurers’ own policy documents | Coverage rules, state requirements, and policy terms |
| Economic and market data | BLS (opens in a new tab), BEA (opens in a new tab), Census Bureau (opens in a new tab), FRED (opens in a new tab) | Inflation, jobs, income, and economic time series |
How we work with numbers
Numbers go wrong through misquotes, old data, wrong units, and misattribution. These habits guard against each.
Rates and market data
We take official rates from the institution that publishes them, and market prices from a regulated data provider. We record the date, and we show an “as of” date on the page.
Limits and thresholds
Tax brackets, deductions, and contribution limits come from the IRS itself, never from another site’s description of them. For yearly figures, we confirm the current year’s number before we publish.
Historical returns
We name the dataset and the date range. We do not round or simplify a historical figure without saying how, and we label annualized numbers as annualized. A past-performance warning sits beside every one.
Statistics
We say what a statistic measures, in what units, and for what period. We use the original dataset, and we check whether the figure has been revised.
Worked examples
We state the inputs and assumptions behind every example and rebuild its math from scratch during checking.
How we build and test calculators
Our free calculators apply the same discipline as our articles.
Documented formulas
Each calculator uses a standard, documented formula, checked against an authoritative reference.
Sourced inputs
Built-in figures, such as tax brackets and contribution limits, come from the issuing agency and are updated when those figures change.
Tested against known cases
We test each calculator with inputs whose correct answers we already know, and again whenever we change it.
Assumptions shown
Where a calculator relies on an assumption, such as a rate of return, we show it so you can judge whether it fits you.
Illustrations, not forecasts
Results are illustrative. See our Financial Disclaimer. If one looks wrong, please tell us using the steps in our Complaints & Corrections Policy.
How we compare products
When we compare or review financial products, we follow the same rules every time.
Stated criteria
We say what we compare on, such as fees, rates, eligibility, and terms, so you can see how we reached a view.
The provider’s own documents
Product facts come from the provider’s published terms and disclosures, and from regulated data sources. We record the date, because rates and fees change.
No ordering by commission
We never rank or order products by what they pay us. A product with no affiliate program is included when it helps readers.
Not every product
We cannot cover every product on the market, and we say so where it matters. Send us a product you think we missed.
Disclosure
Where we may earn a commission, the page says so. Read our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure.
Federal rules, state rules, and conflicting sources
Two situations need extra care in research.
Federal first, then state
We research the federal rule first, then check whether states differ. Where they do, the article says so and points you to your state authority. The Federation of Tax Administrators (opens in a new tab) and the NAIC (opens in a new tab) help you find yours.
When sources disagree
The higher-ranked source prevails, and we investigate the gap. If credible sources still disagree, we show the range and explain why. If we cannot resolve a conflict, we do not publish the claim. A gap in our coverage is better than a claim we cannot stand behind. See the Fact-Checking Policy.
How we use AI in research
AI tools are part of our workflow, and we are open about it. They help us work faster. They never decide what is true.
Where AI can help
- Finding leads
Suggesting where to look, which we then confirm ourselves.
- Organizing material
Structuring notes and producing first drafts from sources we have identified.
- Improving clarity
Checking grammar and readability.
Where AI does not decide
- Facts
A person opens every source and checks every figure. AI text is treated as unverified until that check is done.
- Sources
We never cite AI output, and we never accept a source an AI names until we have found and read it.
- Accountability
Real people stand behind every page.
What we do not research
Being clear about scope is as important as describing what we do.
Personal advice
We do not assess any individual’s circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax position. Our work explains how things generally work, not what you should do.
Legal interpretation
We describe laws and rules as published. We do not tell you how a law applies to your case. That is a job for an attorney.
Live market data
We have no live data feed. Any price or rate we cite is accurate as of the date shown, and should not be used to trade.
Original surveys
We analyze public sources. We do not run our own surveys or experiments, unless a page clearly says otherwise.
Complex tax situations
Multi-state issues, foreign income, and business structures are beyond what general content can cover reliably. Use a CPA, enrolled agent, or tax attorney.
The limits of our method
Every method has limits. These are ours, so you can weigh what you read accordingly.
A rule may have changed since our last check
We monitor primary sources and review on a schedule, but a rate or rule can change between checks. Confirm any figure with the source before you rely on it for a decision with real consequences.
Official guidance can be unclear
Tax and regulatory guidance is not always unambiguous. Where it is unclear, we take a cautious view and flag the ambiguity, but this is not legal or tax advice.
General content cannot fit everyone
Even an accurate statement may not apply to you. Your filing status, state, and finances can change the outcome.
We check that a source says it, not that it is right
We confirm what a source says and that it is current. If an agency publishes a mistake, we may repeat it until the agency corrects it. We watch for those corrections.
We are a small team
A team of seven can review only so much at once. We would rather say so than imply a large newsroom stands behind every page.
AI can be confidently wrong
That is why a person checks every claim against a source. No process is perfect, so if something looks wrong, please tell us.
Common questions
Quick answers about how we research.
Why do you rely so heavily on government sources?
Because they set and measure the rules and figures that matter most, and they are independent of any product they describe. We would rather cite the IRS directly than a site that summarizes it.
Do you do original research?
We analyze and explain public data and rules, and we build calculators. We do not run our own surveys or experiments unless a page says so.
What if two official sources disagree?
We investigate, present both with an explanation, and say which carries more legal weight. If we cannot resolve it, we do not publish the claim.
How do you keep numbers current?
We date every rate, tie limits to the tax year, monitor agency announcements, and recheck on a schedule. See the Financial Review Process.
Can I suggest a source or a topic?
Yes. Email contact@financeauthorityhub.com. We read every suggestion and check it against these standards.
Questions about our research
If anything here is unclear, or you think we have fallen short of it, email us. We do not use contact forms.
You can also visit our Contact page, or read About Finance Authority Hub.
Policy statement
Policy statement: This Research Methodology describes how content on financeauthorityhub.com, published by KCS Global Group, is researched. It applies to articles, guides, comparisons, and calculators. We review it at least once a year and whenever our practice changes. The content is educational and is not personal financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Please read our Financial Disclaimer.