Frequently Asked Questions
Short, direct answers to the questions readers ask us most. If something you want covered isn’t here, ask through the contact page and we’ll add it.
Who runs this site?
John Park, the founder and responsible editor, whose byline carries the articles; a small group works on research and editing alongside him. We’re not a 50-person newsroom, and we don’t use a house name or a made-up author with a stock photo — there is someone accountable for what you read here. When a future article is written by a named external contributor with verifiable credentials, the byline will say so.
Do you use AI to write articles?
Yes — and we say so on the Editorial Policy page. AI handles research synthesis and a first draft; a human editor verifies every number against the issuer’s official source, rewrites the voice, and writes the “what I’d skip” judgment sections by hand. We disclose this openly because pretending otherwise is the kind of thing AdSense and Google now actively penalize, and frankly it’s more honest.
How do you verify the numbers?
Every APR, fee, bonus offer, and earn rate cited in a card review is checked against the issuer’s official application page or rate-and-fee schedule at the time of writing. On the auto & EV desk, tax-credit and rebate rules are checked against the IRS or the state program’s own page, and electricity prices against the utility’s published tariff. Secondary sources (other roundup sites) are not enough — only the primary source is authoritative. The “Last updated” date in each article’s byline marks the most recent verification pass.
How often is each article updated?
Card terms — APRs, fees, bonus offers, transfer-partner ratios — are reviewed at least quarterly. When we notice a change ourselves or a reader reports one, we update immediately. Older “Best X for 2024” roundups don’t just get a date-bump for the new year; they get rewritten so the recommendations actually reflect current terms.
Is this financial advice?
No. Articles here are general consumer-education content. We can explain how a card works, run break-even math against a stated spend profile, and tell you where we think the trade-offs land. We can’t tell you whether to apply, what your approval odds are, or whether a given card fits your specific tax or credit situation. For personalized advice, talk to a credit counselor (NFCC.org), a CPA, or a fee-only financial planner.
How do you make money?
Two ways. (1) Affiliate commissions when readers are approved for a card after clicking through one of our links — paid by tracking partners, not by issuers directly. (2) Google AdSense display ads served in article margins. Sponsored content, if we ever run any, is labeled “Sponsored” at the top of the page in its own block. Affiliate revenue can influence which cards we have the bandwidth to cover at depth, but it does not change the conclusions of any individual article. The Editorial Policy page goes into more detail.
Why does the same card keep showing up in multiple articles?
Because the US credit-card universe is genuinely small. About 8 issuers control the bulk of consumer card volume, and inside each issuer there are usually 3–6 cards worth recommending for distinct profiles. Sapphire Preferred, Blue Cash Preferred, and Venture X are mentioned often because they actually are the right answer in a lot of different scenarios. The differentiator across our articles is which spending profile each one wins in, not finding obscure cards to puff up the catalog.
How can I report an error?
Email us through the contact page with the article URL and the specific claim that looks wrong. Material corrections (wrong APR, expired offer cited as current, miscalculated break-even) are made within 5 business days and noted in a “Correction” line at the top of the article. Non-material edits (typos, formatting) are made silently.
Do you have an affiliate disclosure?
Yes — at the top of every card-related article in a clearly labeled disclosure block, plus a standing disclosure on the About page and the Editorial Policy. We participate in affiliate networks including Awin and Impact. Compensation may affect which products receive in-depth coverage; it does not affect the conclusions within any single article.
Can I contribute or pitch a guest article?
Right now we don’t take open submissions. If you’re a former issuer credit analyst, a CPA with credit-related practice experience, or a credit counselor with publishable case material, we’d consider a one-off contributor piece — reach out through the contact page with a one-paragraph pitch and links to prior published work.
What if a card I want covered isn’t on the site?
We’re a small team and intentionally narrow — focused on the cards most readers actually consider. If a card you want covered isn’t here, tell us via the contact page. We prioritize coverage by reader demand, and a few requests for the same card move it up the queue.
Why don’t you cover mortgages, investing, or other personal finance topics?
Because covering a category accurately is hard enough. Sites that try to do “all of personal finance” end up covering each topic at a depth that isn’t actually useful for a real-money decision. We run two desks — US credit cards, and auto & EV ownership costs — and we won’t bolt on more categories until we can do them at the same depth.
How do I contact you?
The contact page has an email address that goes to the editorial inbox. We read everything legitimate. Response time runs from same-day for corrections to a few days for partnership inquiries. We can’t reply to individualized “should I apply for X?” questions — that’s exactly what the published articles try to answer.