Our editorial standards

Where our facts come from

We rely first on primary sources: federal regulators and agencies such as the CFPB, Federal Reserve, FDIC, NCUA, FTC and IRS; state regulators; statutes and regulations; and lenders' own published terms. When we cite a statistic, we link to where it came from, and we list sources at the bottom of each page.

How a guide is made

1. Research

   The writer gathers primary sources and current rules for the topic.

2. Writing

   We write in plain English, explain costs in dollars and APR, and include risks and alternatives, not just benefits.

3. Fact-check

   Every number, date and rule is checked against its source before publishing.

4. Expert review

   A reviewer with relevant experience checks accuracy and completeness. Their name appears on the page.

5. Publish and date

   Each page shows when it was last updated.

Keeping content current

Rates, limits and laws change. We review key pages [every 6 months] and update them sooner when a rule changes, such as IRS mileage rates or 1099 thresholds.

Independence from advertisers

• Rankings are based on costComparisons are ordered by typical cost to the borrower.
• Partners can't review or edit contentEditorial decisions are made only by our editorial team.
• Compensation is disclosedSee our advertiser disclosure.

Use of software and AI tools

We may use software, including AI tools, to help with research, drafting and calculations. A person reviews and fact-checks every page before it's published, and our editorial team is responsible for everything we publish. [Edit this section to match how your team actually works.]

Corrections

If we get something wrong, we fix it promptly and note significant corrections at the bottom of the page. Report an error at [email protected] or through our contact page.