This document describes the research methodology we use across all Encore Editorial publications. It is public on purpose. Readers and publishers should be able to see how we arrive at what we publish instead of taking our word for it, which is the exact thing we would tell you not to do.

Primary sources first

Our process begins by finding the best primary source for whatever we need. For financial data, that means IRS publications, SEC filings, Federal Reserve data, or state regulators. For legal topics, it means statutes, court rules, and official court publications. For market data, it means published industry reports, government surveys, and data from established research organizations.

When we cite a primary source, we link to the specific page or document, not the homepage. Pointing you at a 400-page PDF and wishing you luck is not a citation. It is a scavenger hunt.

Secondary sources and attribution

When primary sources are unavailable or insufficient, we turn to secondary ones: established news organizations, industry publications, academic journals. In those cases we name the source clearly and make it plain that the information came from them, not from our own research.

We do not use anonymous sources, blog posts that cite nothing, or wisdom gathered from forums, social media, or the comments section. The comments section has never once helped.

Quantitative claims and calculations

When content includes quantitative claims, we either cite the specific published figure or, if we calculated it ourselves, we describe how. Math without a stated method is a confident guess in a nicer font.

When we publish a state-by-state cost comparison, for instance, we name the data set, give its date, and list any adjustments we made, so a reader can reproduce the result or see where it falls short.

Review and verification

Everything carrying the Encore Editorial name clears at least two reviews before publication. First the author verifies all sources and confirms that every factual claim is supported. Then an editor reviews for clarity, completeness, and adherence to our standards, and is encouraged to be annoying about it.

For data-heavy pieces, we add a quantitative review in which figures are checked against their source documents. This step is mandatory for anything with pricing data, regulatory figures, or statistics. Those are exactly the numbers people copy without checking.

Updates and corrections

When information changes, we update the affected content. Tax brackets, regulatory thresholds, and pricing data get reviewed at least once a year, or whenever something meaningful shifts. Updated pages carry a notice with the date of the most recent review.

When an error is reported, we look into it promptly. If it is real, we fix it and add a correction notice. Our full corrections policy lives on our Editorial Standards page. We would rather be corrected than be wrong quietly.

What we do not publish

We do not publish sponsored content, native advertising, or anything produced to place a link. We do not take payment for coverage or promise anyone inclusion. And we do not write about subjects we are not equipped to evaluate, however good the keyword looks.

These are not aspirations. Anyone who works with us agrees to them, in writing, before any of it starts.

This methodology document is held to the standards it describes, which felt only fair. Last reviewed June 19, 2026. Questions or suggestions go through our contact page.