Editorial Process & Accuracy Standards

Personal finance content can hurt people when it's wrong. This page documents how we write, review, and update content — and what we'll do when we get something wrong.

The five-step process every article follows

1. Topic selection

Topics are chosen based on real questions consumers are searching for — not by which keyword has the highest affiliate payout. We use a mix of search-volume data and questions we see repeatedly in consumer forums, IRS taxpayer-advocate reports, and CFPB complaint data to identify what people actually need explained.

2. Primary-source research

For any factual or legal claim, we cite or reference primary sources:

Tax content: IRS.gov and the IRS Internal Revenue Manual
Consumer protection: CFPB, FTC
Credit reporting: the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
State-specific debt and garnishment law: the relevant state attorney general's office

We do not cite other content sites as authoritative sources, including the ones that rank highest on Google.

3. Drafting

Articles are drafted by Marcus Reed, our personal-finance writer. Drafts target the question a reader is actually asking, not a keyword string. Each article is structured to answer the underlying question in the first 200 words, then go deep on the specifics that matter.

4. Accuracy and hedging review

Every draft is checked for three things:

Factual accuracy against primary sources.
Appropriate hedging on legal and tax claims. Statutes of limitations, garnishment exemptions, tax penalty calculations, and discharge eligibility all vary by state, year, and individual circumstances. When a number or rule would matter, we say so in ranges and tell the reader to verify their state's current rule with a qualified professional.
No false specificity. We will not invent dollar figures, conversion rates, or "the IRS approves 47% of OIC applications" stats unless they come from a citable government source.

5. Update cycle

Tax thresholds, IRS programs, FICO scoring details, and state debt statutes change. We re-review and update tax-related content annually and other categories at least every 18 months, or sooner when a source publishes material guidance changes. Updated articles carry a revised "Last updated" date.

What we will not do

Publish content drafted entirely by an unsupervised AI without an accuracy review step.
Cite a specific monthly statistic ("the average American owes $X") without a primary source link.
Recommend a debt-relief company, tax service, or lender we have not vetted.
Tell readers a specific decision is the right one for them when that decision depends on their personal situation. We provide frameworks; we don't substitute for a licensed professional.

Corrections policy

If you find a factual error in any FinancialPath article, please email financialpath@demosite.today with the URL and the specific claim you believe is incorrect. We aim to verify and correct within five business days. Material corrections are dated and noted at the bottom of the article.

Affiliate relationships and editorial independence

Some links in our content are affiliate links — clicking and converting on certain partner pages may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate revenue keeps the site free; it does not influence which products we discuss or how we describe them. If two products serve the same purpose and one pays us more, we will still recommend the one that serves the reader better. If the right answer is a free DIY option, we say so.

Contact

Editorial questions, story tips, or partnership inquiries: financialpath@demosite.today.