Our Methodology
How we research, calculate, verify, and maintain every piece of content on DigitalWealthSource — including our sources, update schedule, and correction policy.
Content Can Be Dangerous When Wrong
Personal finance falls into Google's "Your Money or Your Life" (YMYL) category — content that can directly affect someone's financial security, health, or safety. A miscalculated tax estimate, an outdated contribution limit, or an incorrect interpretation of IRS rules can cost readers real money.
This is why we treat our methodology as a first-class concern, not an afterthought. Below is a full accounting of how we research, build, verify, and maintain the content on this site.
Primary Sources
We cite primary sources wherever possible — government agencies, academic research, and official financial institutions. We do not cite secondary summaries of primary sources without verifying the original document ourselves.
We Build & Verify Our Calculators
Every calculator on DigitalWealthSource uses financial mathematics that is independently verified before publication. Here are the specific standards we apply.
Standard Calculator Assumptions (2025)
Update Schedule
Financial information changes constantly. Here is how frequently we review and update different content types.
| Content Type | Review Frequency | Trigger for Immediate Update |
|---|---|---|
| Tax brackets & contribution limits | Annually (November) | IRS Rev. Proc. announcement |
| Interest rate calculators | Monthly | Fed rate decision |
| Medicare & Social Security data | Annually (October) | SSA/CMS announcements |
| Mortgage rate defaults | Monthly | Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey |
| Pillar guides (debt, investing, homebuying) | Annually | Major regulatory or legislative change |
| Supporting articles | Annually | Significant factual change identified |
| Tool logic & formulas | Immediately on identification of error | Reader correction or internal audit |
Corrections Policy
We get things wrong sometimes. Here is exactly what we do when that happens.
To report a factual error, inaccuracy, or outdated information, please use our contact page. Corrections from readers are among the most valuable contributions to content quality we receive, and we act on them promptly.
Relationship With Advertisers & Affiliates
DigitalWealthSource may earn referral fees from some products and services we link to. Here is our complete policy on how that does and does not affect our editorial content.
- Affiliate links do not influence editorial recommendations. We recommend products we believe are genuinely good for our readers. If a product has a higher commission rate but is inferior for readers, we will still recommend the better product.
- We disclose all material affiliate relationships. Pages that contain affiliate links note this clearly. Readers deserve to know when we have a financial relationship with a product we mention.
- Advertisers cannot purchase editorial coverage. We do not accept payment to write favorable coverage, include a product in rankings, or alter editorial conclusions. Our recommendations are based on product quality and reader fit, not advertiser relationships.
- Our revenue does not come from financial products directly. We are not licensed to sell insurance, investments, or financial products. We earn from education and referrals — never from product sales commissions that conflict with reader interests.