Editorial policy

This policy explains how Smart Money Basics creates content, where the facts come from and how mistakes are corrected.

How guides are written

• Each guide starts from a common question, such as "how much should I keep in an emergency fund?".
• Formulas are shown, and worked examples use numbers you can rerun with the calculators. Examples are hypothetical and labeled as such.
• Figures that change over time, such as interest rates, are not stated as if they were current unless the guide names its source and date.

Sources

Facts about rules and programs come from primary or official sources whenever possible, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and FICO's own published explanations. Each guide links to the sources it relies on.

What this site does not do

• It does not recommend individual securities, cryptocurrencies or financial products.
• It does not rank or review lenders, cards or banks.
• It does not promise returns or outcomes.

Use of artificial intelligence

Some text is drafted with the help of artificial intelligence tools. The author reviews every guide before publishing it, and calculations are checked with concrete numbers.

Updates and corrections

Rules and rates change. Each guide shows its publication date and is reviewed when something important changes. If you find an error, write through the contact page. Confirmed errors are corrected and the update date is changed.

Advertising and independence

This site is supported by advertising from third parties, such as Google AdSense. Advertisers do not influence the content or its conclusions, and ads are separate from the editorial content. The site currently has no affiliate links or sponsored posts. If that ever changes, it will be clearly disclosed on the page, in line with Federal Trade Commission guidance.