Review Process

How an article moves from draft to publish, and how it stays current after.

Before publication

1. Outline. A topic is approved by the editorial team. We define the question the article answers and the primary sources we will use.
2. Draft. Drafting may use a large language model. Every draft is treated as a starting point, not a finished article. Drafts that contain unverifiable numbers, fabricated citations, or fake expert quotes are rejected.
3. Source verification. The research team traces every cited number back to its primary source. Numbers that cannot be verified are removed or marked as approximate.
4. Regulatory cross-check. Tax thresholds, contribution limits, fee caps, FDIC limits, and other rule-based figures are checked against the current IRS, CFPB, SEC, or other agency publication.
5. Copy edit. An editor reviews for clarity, tone, structure, and removal of marketing language (no "best overall pick," no "game-changer," no fake testing claims).
6. Final check. Title, meta description, structured data, internal links, source URLs, and disclaimer presence are validated.

After publication

• Rolling review. Articles are added to a review queue whenever a cited publication updates. Examples: IRS contribution limits announcement (fall), Freddie Mac PMMS (weekly for rate-sensitive pages), BLS OEWS (May).
• 30-day re-check. Affected articles are re-reviewed within 30 days of the new release. Numbers and dates are updated. A "last reviewed" timestamp at the top of the page reflects the latest review.
• Corrections. Reader-reported errors are corrected with a visible note at the bottom of the affected page.

What a "review" actually checks

A review is not a copy-edit. The review specifically verifies:

• Every numeric claim against the cited source.
• Every regulatory reference against the current rule.
• Every product mention against the institution's current public disclosure.
• Disclaimer language is present and current.
• Source URLs still resolve to the cited document.

What review does not do

Review is not a substitute for individualized financial advice. Articles describe general U.S. rules and market patterns. Readers facing a specific decision (a tax filing, a refinance, a Social Security claiming choice) should consult a licensed advisor.

Questions

Editorial questions about a specific review: editorial@moneylume.com.