Editorial standards
Money Scale is not a financial advisor and does not provide financial advice. We focus on the math and the facts, built from publicly available data. We show all our sources and our math, and we work to make it easy to interpret. You should never make a financial decision based solely on what you read on our site. Here's a clear picture of how our content gets researched, sourced, fact-checked, and updated — and what we will (and won't) say.
How we research and source
Every calculator default value (interest rates, inflation, tax brackets, contribution limits, mortgage rates, etc.) is sourced to a public dataset. We use:
- FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) for macroeconomic data — Fed funds rate, 10-year Treasury yield, CPI inflation
- BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) for CPI-U inflation history
- IRS for tax brackets, contribution limits, and tax rules
- U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data API for national debt and federal balance sheet figures
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey for 30-year fixed rates
- FDIC + Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances for savings-rate and net-worth benchmarks
- CFPB for consumer-protection rules and debt guidance
- SEC + Investor.gov for investment-product rules and disclosures
When we cite a source in an article, we link to the original dataset or publication — not a secondary summary. If a source disagrees with a "common wisdom" answer, we say so.
How we fact-check
- Every dollar figure in every article is matched against the calculator's actual math output. If the article says "$200/month at 7% for 30 years is $244,000," that number came from the calculator at moneyscale.app — not from a different source.
- Every tax number (contribution limit, bracket threshold, FICA cap) is verified against the IRS publication for the current tax year, with the year stated in the article body.
- Every macro stat (CPI, Fed funds rate, 10-year yield) is sourced to FRED with the as-of date implied by the publish or last-reviewed date on the article.
- Articles are reviewed quarterly. Any article whose numbers have shifted (new IRS limits, new mortgage rates, new CPI prints) is updated and re-stamped with a new "Last reviewed" date.
What we will say
- Plain-English explanations of how personal-finance math works.
- The trade-offs behind common decisions (Roth vs. Traditional, avalanche vs. snowball, rent vs. buy), with the math made concrete.
- The frameworks and rules of thumb professionals actually use, with their limits.
- Honest comparisons of products at the category level (high-yield savings accounts, brokerages, mortgage marketplaces).
What we won't say
- "Buy this stock." We don't pick individual securities. Money Scale is education, not investment advice.
- "This is the best [card / fund / account]." We rank categories, not specific products. The "best" choice depends on your specific situation.
- "Guaranteed returns." Markets aren't guaranteed. We use "historically," "expected," "common assumption" — never "will."
- "Get rich quick." Personal finance is mostly a decades-long compounding game. Anyone selling a faster path is usually selling something else.
- Personalized advice. For your specific situation, talk to a licensed CFP, CPA, or fiduciary. Money Scale provides the framework; a professional applies it to your numbers.
Corrections policy
If we get a number wrong — a tax limit, a rate, a calculation, a sourced statistic — we want to know immediately. Email hello@moneyscale.app with the article URL and what's wrong. Corrections are made within 72 hours, the article's "Last reviewed" date is updated, and a brief change-log note is added at the bottom of the corrected article.
Authors and editorial team
Money Scale articles are written and reviewed by the Money Scale editorial team. All contributors have personal experience using the strategies they write about, and each article is reviewed against current sourced data before publishing. We do not currently bylined individual authors — every piece is the collective output of the editorial team and is reviewed under the same standards.
We are not registered investment advisors, CPAs, attorneys, or financial planners. Money Scale's content is educational information; it is not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional who knows your specific situation.
How we get paid
Money Scale earns commissions when readers sign up for some of the products we mention. Editorial decisions are made independently of those partnerships, and every commercial link is labeled "Partner offer." Read the full affiliate disclosure for what we'll and won't recommend.