Editorial Policy — How We Research, Write & Update Content
Last updated: June 2026
This page explains how Credit Score Mastery creates, fact-checks, and maintains its content. We hold ourselves to a high standard because personal finance content — especially credit score information — falls under Google’s YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) category, where inaccurate information can cause real financial harm.
Our Editorial Mission
To produce accurate, accessible, and actionable credit score education for everyday Americans — updated regularly, sourced from authoritative primary sources, and free from commercial influence.
How We Choose Topics
Topics are selected based on:
- Search demand — we cover what Americans are actually asking about
- Reader questions submitted via our contact form
- Regulatory and industry changes (such as the 2026 FICO 10T mortgage mandate)
- Content gaps — topics that are underserved or poorly covered elsewhere
We do not accept payment from companies to cover specific topics. We do not publish sponsored articles, native advertising, or paid reviews.
Our Research & Writing Process
Primary sources first. Every article is researched using primary and authoritative sources, including: FICO.com, CFPB.gov, FTC.gov, AnnualCreditReport.com, Experian.com, Equifax.com, TransUnion.com, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
Plain English writing standard. We write for a general audience. Every article is written to be understood without a finance background. Jargon is explained on first use.
Fact-check before publish All statistics, score ranges, legal rights, and lender requirements are verified against primary sources before publication. No claims are made without a verifiable source.
Disclosures: Any article containing affiliate links discloses this at the top. Any article representing a sponsored or partnered perspective would be clearly labeled — though we currently do not publish sponsored content.
How We Handle Updates
Credit scoring is not static. FICO releases new model versions. The CFPB issues new rules. Lender requirements change. We update our content as follows:
- High-priority articles (evergreen guides, score requirement articles) are reviewed every 90 days
- News and trend articles are updated within 30 days of relevant changes
- Legal rights articles are updated within 2 weeks of any relevant regulatory change
- Every article displays a “Last Updated” date so readers can see when it was last verified
Corrections Policy
If we publish inaccurate information, we correct it promptly. If you find an error:
- Contact us via our Contact page with the article URL and the specific claim you believe is incorrect
- Include any source that contradicts our claim
- We will review within 48 hours and correct if warranted
- Significant corrections are noted at the bottom of the article with the date corrected
Independence
Credit Score Mastery is independently owned. We are not affiliated with any credit bureau, lender, or financial institution. Our editorial decisions are made independently of our advertising and affiliate relationships.
Advertisers and affiliate partners do not influence what we write, how we rank products, or what advice we give. If you believe a piece of content has been influenced by a commercial relationship, please contact us.
For questions about this policy, use our Contact page.