Editorial Policy

Editorial principles

We prioritize usefulness, accuracy, transparency, and conservative claims. We explain assumptions and limitations, avoid guaranteed outcomes, and do not describe a mathematical comparison as a personal recommendation.

Sources and fact checking

We prefer primary sources such as US government agencies, statutes, regulators, lender disclosures, standards bodies, and original product documentation. Material factual claims should be checked against the cited source before publication. Sources and review dates are recorded on the Sources page or near time-sensitive content.

Claims and disclosures

Objective claims must have a reasonable factual basis before publication. We evaluate both the words used and the overall impression they create. Material assumptions, eligibility limits, model boundaries, commercial relationships, and other qualifications should appear where a reader encounters the related claim and in language that is easy to understand. A general footer disclaimer is not used to contradict or repair an inaccurate headline, result label, comparison, or call to action.

Words such as "best," "top," "guaranteed," and "exact" require support appropriate to the claim. A mathematical winner may be identified only for the defined inputs, alternatives, metric, and assumptions. Example outcomes are labeled as examples or estimates, and rates or product terms are dated and linked to the source that supports them.

Calculator review and testing

Calculation logic is separated from the interface and AI features. Automated tests cover Snowball and Avalanche ordering, zero-percent debt, insufficient payments, payment rollover, final reduced payments, negative-balance prevention, single-card payoff schedules, representative and illustrative dynamic minimum-payment formulas, baseline savings, recurring and one-time extra payments, payoff-goal solving, and what-if extra-payment scenarios, savings APY projections, required-contribution solving, contribution frequencies, and savings milestones. Formula, baseline, or assumption changes require corresponding test and Methodology updates.

Use of artificial intelligence

AI tools may assist with research organization, outlines, drafting, editing, or code. AI output is not treated as a source. Pavel Shareika remains responsible for checking factual claims, calculations, citations, disclosures, and whether published language is appropriate for an educational finance product.

Optional AI Insights are clearly separated from core calculator results. When requested, a limited scenario summary can be processed through a MonetAdvice server and Google Gemini. User-entered debt names and direct personal identifiers are excluded. Sourced market findings must include a visible citation and pass structured validation.

AI is not permitted to independently calculate displayed savings, claim eligibility, turn an advertised minimum APR into a guaranteed offer, or present educational output as professional advice. Estimated financial impacts are produced or checked by deterministic MonetAdvice code. Provider processing is disclosed in the Privacy Policy.

Authors and expert reviewers

Articles and calculator documentation are written or maintained by Pavel Shareika. We do not invent bylines, professional experience, or credentials. MonetAdvice currently has no published independent financial expert reviewer. If a CFP® professional, AFC® professional, CPA, attorney, or certified credit counselor reviews future content, the page will identify the person, relevant credential, scope of review, and review date with their permission.

Review schedule

Calculator logic is reviewed after material code or formula changes. Evergreen educational pages are reviewed at least annually. Pages containing rates, limits, laws, or market data are reviewed at least quarterly or sooner when a primary source changes. Page-specific modification dates change only after a substantive update to that page. A footer date identifies the review of site-wide standards and does not claim that every URL changed on that day.

Commercial independence

Advertising, sponsorship, or affiliate compensation must be clearly disclosed and must not change calculator outputs. Paid relationships will not be described as independent expert review. Commercial partners do not receive an undisclosed right to approve editorial conclusions.

Corrections

Send correction requests to support@monetadvice.com with the page URL, the issue, and a supporting source when available. Material errors are investigated promptly and corrected with an updated review date when the correction changes the meaning of the content or a calculation.

A correction that changes a conclusion, formula, material assumption, or safety instruction receives a fresh page review date and corresponding tests when calculation behavior is affected. Minor spelling or formatting fixes do not receive an artificial new modification date.