Fact-Checking Policy

Financial Sumo aims to publish accurate, source-based and transparent information about finance. This policy explains how we verify facts before publication, review sensitive claims and correct errors when they are found.

What we check

We review the elements that do the most work in finance reporting: names, dates, locations, prices, rates, scores, deadlines, feature claims, source links, quoted language, legal or regulatory references, tax-related claims, investment-related claims, safety or risk claims and the specific assertions made by companies, institutions, regulators or experts.

We also review charts, images, screenshots and tables when they support a claim in the article. A chart that is visually persuasive but contextually wrong can still mislead readers, so visual review is part of fact-checking rather than a separate decorative step.

Source verification

We prefer official documents, public records, regulatory filings, direct company statements, pricing pages, recognized research, academic or industry sources, government datasets and expert commentary with clear relevance to the subject. Reputable media may be used as secondary confirmation, especially when several organizations have independently reported the same development.

For product pages and comparisons, source verification often requires checking the provider page against product disclosures, fee schedules, support materials and other public documentation. For news and market coverage, source verification often includes comparing public statements, official releases, filings and relevant reporting from established publications.

Pre-publication review

Before publication, the writer checks source accuracy, key data points and the factual basis of the page. An editor then reviews the page for coherence, fairness, consistency, headline accuracy, summary accuracy, link relevance and source reliability.

If the page contains a sensitive claim, unusually technical subject matter or a high-impact financial assertion, it receives additional review. That may include re-checking product documents, confirming rate or fee details, validating ranking logic or revisiting the original source chain behind a quoted claim.

High-risk topics

Finance is a high-risk publishing category because readers may act on what they read. Content related to taxes, investments, debt relief, refinancing, retirement decisions, credit strategy, loan products, rankings and major life decisions receives additional caution. Financial Sumo does not publish guaranteed outcomes, unsupported rankings or personalized financial instructions disguised as general editorial coverage.

Readers should treat our work as informational reporting and guidance, not as a substitute for advice tailored to their specific financial circumstances.

Expert review

Financial Sumo may seek input from external specialists for especially technical or sensitive subjects when it improves clarity and accuracy. Where expert insight is used, the publication still retains editorial responsibility for the page.

Corrections after publication

When a reader or source flags a possible error, we review the claim, check the relevant source chain and update the page if the issue is verified. We distinguish among corrections, clarifications and updates depending on whether the issue is a factual error, a context problem or new information that emerged after publication.

The current version of the page should be treated as the authoritative version of the article.

Use of AI in fact-checking

AI tools may help identify inconsistencies, summarize public source material or support workflow review. They are not treated as authoritative sources. Every factual claim generated or assisted by AI must still be verified against reliable human-readable sources before publication.

Reader reports

Readers can report a factual concern by emailing scholarship@financialsumo.com and including the article URL, the suspected error, a reliable supporting source or explanation and contact details if follow-up is needed.

Accuracy as a continuing process

Accuracy is a continuing process. When new information becomes available, Financial Sumo may update published content to improve clarity, context and reliability.