Editorial Policy

Effective date: August 13, 2025
Website: https://wealthstack.us/ (“WealthStack,” “we,” “our,” “us”)
Contact: editorial@wealthstack.us

1) Our mission

WealthStack delivers evidence-based, plain-English personal finance guidance for U.S. readers ages 15–50. We prioritize clarity, accuracy, and practical “what to do next” steps over hype or jargon.

2) People-first standards (E-E-A-T)

We follow Google’s people-first content principles and YMYL expectations. Every article aims to show:

  • Experience: hands-on walkthroughs, screenshots, calculators, and real examples.
  • Expertise: correct concepts, definitions, and math.
  • Authoritativeness: citations to primary U.S. sources.
  • Trustworthiness: transparent methods, dates, and disclosures.

3) Sourcing & citations

We prefer primary sources such as:

  • U.S. government/regulators (IRS, SEC, CFPB, DOL), Federal Reserve, BLS
  • Official plan documents, product prospectuses, provider pages
  • Peer-reviewed research and reputable industry data

When using secondary sources (news, blogs), we verify against primary data.
Each article includes inline citations or a References section. Statistics include the data year and retrieval date when relevant.

4) Fact-checking & accuracy workflow

Before publication:

  1. Outline & scope (editor + author agree on reader intent).
  2. Drafting (definitions, assumptions, math formulas included).
  3. Fact-check (figures, limits, rules cross-verified with primary sources).
  4. Copy edit (clarity, reading level, style, accessibility).
  5. Compliance pass (disclosures, disclaimers, affiliate labeling if applicable).
  6. Final review (editor approval + publish with date stamps).

After publication:

  • Update cadence: At least annual audit for evergreen pieces; quarterly for tax, benefits, or contribution limits; as needed when rules change.
  • Each update notes “Last updated” and what changed in a Changelog section when material.

5) Tools & calculators

Our calculators are educational and use clearly stated assumptions (returns, inflation, tax rates, compounding, salary growth). We:

  • Display formulas or link to methodology.
  • Offer adjustable inputs where possible.
  • Warn about limitations (e.g., tax situations vary by state).
    Results are estimates, not guarantees.

6) Medical, legal, tax, and investment disclaimers

We do not provide personalized financial, investment, tax, accounting, or legal advice. Content is educational only. See our Terms & Disclaimers page for details.

7) Editorial independence & monetization

We maintain editorial independence from advertisers, affiliates, and sponsors.

  • Coverage decisions are made by the editorial team, not sponsors.
  • Affiliate links or sponsored content are clearly labeled.
  • We do not sell favorable coverage.
  • Reviews or “best” lists use a published methodology; partners cannot buy placement.

Labels we use

  • “Sponsored” for paid placements.
  • “We may earn a commission from links on this page” for affiliate disclosures.
  • “Partner” or “Ad” badges where required.

8) Conflicts of interest

Authors and editors must disclose any financial relationships, ownership, or personal stakes in companies or products mentioned. We may reassign coverage to avoid conflicts.

9) Use of generative AI

We may use AI tools to brainstorm, outline, or copy-edit; humans write, verify, and approve final content. All facts, numbers, and claims are human-checked against primary sources before publishing.

10) Diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

  • We avoid stereotypes and write in inclusive, plain language.
  • Reading level target: Grade 8–10 for general posts.
  • Images include alt text; charts include data tables when practical.
  • We welcome feedback at accessibility@wealthstack.us.

11) Corrections & reader feedback

If we get something wrong, we fix it promptly.

  • Minor fixes (typos/formatting): updated silently.
  • Material corrections (numbers, rules, conclusions): updated with a dated note in the article and added to our Corrections page.
    Send correction requests to corrections@wealthstack.us with the URL and supporting source.

12) Comment & community standards (if comments are enabled)

We moderate for civility, relevance, and safety. We remove spam, promotions, hate speech, harassment, or personal attacks. We do not allow personalized financial advice requests in comments; please consult a professional.

13) Editorial roles & responsibilities

  • Editor-in-Chief / Managing Editor: sets strategy, approves publication, oversees standards.
  • Section Editors: hub ownership (Budgeting & Credit, Investing 101, Life-Stage, Taxes & Benefits).
  • Writers/Researchers (e.g., Riley Morgan): research, drafting, sourcing, fact-checking.
  • Copy Editor: style, clarity, accessibility.
  • Product/Tools Editor: calculator logic, assumptions, QA.
  • Compliance & Disclosures: ensures labeling and policy adherence.

14) Style & formatting

  • Plain-English explanations first; definitions next.
  • Short paragraphs, descriptive headings, checklists, and tables where helpful.
  • U.S. spelling, dollars in USD, dates as Month Day, Year.
  • Timestamps: Published and Last updated appear near the byline.

15) Data handling in editorial work

We do not publish personally identifiable financial details. If a reader shares sensitive information in emails or forms, we do not republish it without explicit consent and redaction.

16) External links

We link to credible sources and check links periodically. External sites may change; link presence does not imply endorsement.

17) Product reviews & recommendations (if applicable)

  • We test features where possible or rely on transparent, reproducible criteria.
  • We disclose when we could not test and explain how we evaluated (documentation, demos, user reports, public filings).
  • Ratings map to defined criteria (e.g., fees, transparency, usability, support).

18) Updates to this policy

Effective date: August 13, 2025
Website: https://wealthstack.us/ (“WealthStack,” “we,” “our,” “us”)
Contact: editorial@wealthstack.us

1) Our mission

WealthStack delivers evidence-based, plain-English personal finance guidance for U.S. readers ages 15–50. We prioritize clarity, accuracy, and practical “what to do next” steps over hype or jargon.

2) People-first standards (E-E-A-T)

We follow Google’s people-first content principles and YMYL expectations. Every article aims to show:

  • Experience: hands-on walkthroughs, screenshots, calculators, and real examples.
  • Expertise: correct concepts, definitions, and math.
  • Authoritativeness: citations to primary U.S. sources.
  • Trustworthiness: transparent methods, dates, and disclosures.

3) Sourcing & citations

We prefer primary sources such as:

  • U.S. government/regulators (IRS, SEC, CFPB, DOL), Federal Reserve, BLS
  • Official plan documents, product prospectuses, provider pages
  • Peer-reviewed research and reputable industry data

When using secondary sources (news, blogs), we verify against primary data.
Each article includes inline citations or a References section. Statistics include the data year and retrieval date when relevant.

4) Fact-checking & accuracy workflow

Before publication:

  1. Outline & scope (editor + author agree on reader intent).
  2. Drafting (definitions, assumptions, math formulas included).
  3. Fact-check (figures, limits, rules cross-verified with primary sources).
  4. Copy edit (clarity, reading level, style, accessibility).
  5. Compliance pass (disclosures, disclaimers, affiliate labeling if applicable).
  6. Final review (editor approval + publish with date stamps).

After publication:

  • Update cadence: At least annual audit for evergreen pieces; quarterly for tax, benefits, or contribution limits; as needed when rules change.
  • Each update notes “Last updated” and what changed in a Changelog section when material.

5) Tools & calculators

Our calculators are educational and use clearly stated assumptions (returns, inflation, tax rates, compounding, salary growth). We:

  • Display formulas or link to methodology.
  • Offer adjustable inputs where possible.
  • Warn about limitations (e.g., tax situations vary by state).
    Results are estimates, not guarantees.

6) Medical, legal, tax, and investment disclaimers

We do not provide personalized financial, investment, tax, accounting, or legal advice. Content is educational only. See our Terms & Disclaimers page for details.

7) Editorial independence & monetization

We maintain editorial independence from advertisers, affiliates, and sponsors.

  • Coverage decisions are made by the editorial team, not sponsors.
  • Affiliate links or sponsored content are clearly labeled.
  • We do not sell favorable coverage.
  • Reviews or “best” lists use a published methodology; partners cannot buy placement.

Labels we use

  • “Sponsored” for paid placements.
  • “We may earn a commission from links on this page” for affiliate disclosures.
  • “Partner” or “Ad” badges where required.

8) Conflicts of interest

Authors and editors must disclose any financial relationships, ownership, or personal stakes in companies or products mentioned. We may reassign coverage to avoid conflicts.

9) Use of generative AI

We may use AI tools to brainstorm, outline, or copy-edit; humans write, verify, and approve final content. All facts, numbers, and claims are human-checked against primary sources before publishing.

10) Diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

  • We avoid stereotypes and write in inclusive, plain language.
  • Reading level target: Grade 8–10 for general posts.
  • Images include alt text; charts include data tables when practical.
  • We welcome feedback at accessibility@wealthstack.us.

11) Corrections & reader feedback

If we get something wrong, we fix it promptly.

  • Minor fixes (typos/formatting): updated silently.
  • Material corrections (numbers, rules, conclusions): updated with a dated note in the article and added to our Corrections page.
    Send correction requests to corrections@wealthstack.us with the URL and supporting source.

12) Comment & community standards (if comments are enabled)

We moderate for civility, relevance, and safety. We remove spam, promotions, hate speech, harassment, or personal attacks. We do not allow personalized financial advice requests in comments; please consult a professional.

13) Editorial roles & responsibilities

  • Editor-in-Chief / Managing Editor: sets strategy, approves publication, oversees standards.
  • Section Editors: hub ownership (Budgeting & Credit, Investing 101, Life-Stage, Taxes & Benefits).
  • Writers/Researchers (e.g., Riley Morgan): research, drafting, sourcing, fact-checking.
  • Copy Editor: style, clarity, accessibility.
  • Product/Tools Editor: calculator logic, assumptions, QA.
  • Compliance & Disclosures: ensures labeling and policy adherence.

14) Style & formatting

  • Plain-English explanations first; definitions next.
  • Short paragraphs, descriptive headings, checklists, and tables where helpful.
  • U.S. spelling, dollars in USD, dates as Month Day, Year.
  • Timestamps: Published and Last updated appear near the byline.

15) Data handling in editorial work

We do not publish personally identifiable financial details. If a reader shares sensitive information in emails or forms, we do not republish it without explicit consent and redaction.

16) External links

We link to credible sources and check links periodically. External sites may change; link presence does not imply endorsement.

17) Product reviews & recommendations (if applicable)

  • We test features where possible or rely on transparent, reproducible criteria.
  • We disclose when we could not test and explain how we evaluated (documentation, demos, user reports, public filings).
  • Ratings map to defined criteria (e.g., fees, transparency, usability, support).

18) Updates to this policy

We may update this Editorial Policy. Material changes will be reflected by updating the Effective date above. Continued use of the site constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.