Our Mission
It’s simple. We’re all about helping consumers make informed and simple financial decisions.
Our Vision
A society where consumers can make educated financial decisions that helps them live the life they deserve – one that is free of debt and financially secure.
Editorial Guidelines & Product Review Evaluation Criteria
Our expert team of personal finance writers and editors is committed to accurate, impartial, and easy-to-read content that helps readers make simple financial decisions. Our review process is the North Star for our editorial principles. It guides how we analyze the data, report, write, and edit the articles and financial product reviews read by thousands of Americans each year.
The editorial team at SimpleMoneyLyfe is fiercely independent. Our business partners and advertisers do not influence the products we review and the integrity of the content. Our product reviews are based on rigorous testing, thorough research, assessment, and real-world use. Together, the editorial team has used hundreds of financial products, so we are deeply familiar with the good, the bad, and the ugly. Below are our editorial guiding principles. This is why you can trust us.
Editorial Independence
- The editorial team (Product Analysts, Editors, & Writers) is responsible for unbiased and accurate financial product reviews and content.
- Views and opinions expressed are our own. Business partners and advertisers do not influence the reviews in any way, shape, or form. The editorial team is separated from our business operations team and does not interact, communicate, or work with the financial products we review or recommend.
- Our writers, product analysts, and editors are not paid by SimpleMoneyLyfe’s business partners or advertisers.
Rigorous Evaluation & Product Testing
We’re obsessed with data, real-world experience, and uncovering the facts. Collectively, the editorial team spends months researching, testing, and collecting all the information about a financial product or complex topic. With the data and personal experience, we review various financial products and publish our findings in a quantifiable way that is easy to read and understand.
The evaluation and criteria we emphasize when reviewing financial products revolve around key decision-making factors, product design, safety, and security. When reviewing and testing products, here are the factors we consider:
- User Experience: Is it actually easy to use? Can you access information from a website and a mobile device? Does it support iOS and Android?
- Requirements to Sign up & Eligibility Criteria: How long does it take to open an account? What is the minimum deposit? Are there any age restrictions? What about credit score requirements? Does the loan provider require a minimum monthly income? These are just a few of the questions we ask ourselves when reviewing a financial product.
- Customer Support: Does the company work around the clock? Do they only offer email support, or can you pick up a phone and speak to a representative?
- Fees: We hate hidden fees. We read the fine print and find the fees buried beneath endless text, so you don’t have to.
- Previous Customer Experience: More often than not, someone on our editorial team has personal experience with the product we review. We make sure to ask for their two cents. We also dive deep into Google Reviews, turn to the Better Business Bureau, and other third-party sites to see what other customers are saying.
- Legal Filings & Public Disclosures: Is the company or product in review tied up in litigation? Are there any class action lawsuits filed or formal complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)?
- Viable Alternatives: Are there similar products that are better, cheaper, and safer for consumers? Do alternative products offer more features?
- Consumer Safety: Does the company abide by all laws and federal regulations? Are claims the company makes verifiable and legitimate? Your safety and financial well-being are our first priority. This ethos is engrained in everything we do here at SimpleMoneyLyfe.
- Security: Does the company use modern security practices to secure personal data and identifiable information? Does it comply with GDPR, PCI DSS, and HIPPA when necessary? Does the product utilize 256-bit Encryption? Is the website using TLS? Learn more about our security here.
Analyzing the data and researching takes hours – sometimes days – but this rigorous process is our passion. We love helping you make simple and smart financial decisions. Seeing you crush your financial goals and achieve financial independence is our daily cup of coffee. For a deeper dive into each rating methodology we utilize for each category:
Financial Market Analysis & Equities Research
All financial product reviews and editorial content is fact-checked for accuracy, relevance, and constantly updated. Select content is audited by our Financial Review Board, which is composed of financial professionals. We are committed to providing content that is fresh and helpful. And you can rest easy knowing each piece of content is worked on by two different people (a writer & editor). This process ensures our content is accurate and complete. Here are the sources we use when reviewing a financial product or covering a complex topic.
- Authoritative Sources (Experts Holding Professional Industry Certifications)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Better Business Bureau
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- Federal Trade Commission
- Verified Google Reviews
- Verified iOS App Store Reviews
- Verified Android Reviews
- Publicly Available Government Data (Local, State, & Federal)
- Expert Interviews
- Industry Websites & Databases
- Data-Driven Surveys
- Current Financial Market Data
When used together, these authoritative sources help our editorial team write jargon-free, accurate, and honest content. Maintaining our editorial integrity and building trust with our readers is at the forefront of every decision we make or content we produce. For a deeper dive into our research framework, check out:
Corrections & Routine Updates
Financial markets and the economy move fast. Once we publish an article, we always come back to make timely updates. And in some instances, we rewrite the article when new products and features are released. We’re relentless when it comes to updating our content. Our editorial team constantly strives to make our content fresh, relevant, and accurate. It’s our duty.
However, it’s important to note that we aren’t perfect. We make mistakes. When we correct or update an article, it is clearly notated. We also encourage our readers to hold us accountable. If you find an error in an article or product review, please reach out to our editorial team. This community and teamwork are what make us better.
Written by Experts
Our team of writers all have diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. Members on our team hold professional certifications, advanced degrees, and have worked in the financial industry. We have former bankers, investment advisors, wealth managers, mortgage loan officers, seasoned editors, product analysts, data scientists, and professional writers. Select members on our editorial team are certified Mortgage Underwriters with the National Association of Mortgage Underwriters, Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs), Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), and Certified Financial Planners (CFPs). This personal experience and expertise helps SimpleMoneyLyfe produce unbiased content that is accurate, relevant, and digestible.