Editorial policy
How we research, write, and correct our guides.
Retirement decisions are hard to undo, so we hold every page on Heirloom Money to the standards below. Last updated October 2026.
Our mission
We want Americans who are near or in retirement to understand their options before they move their money. That means everyday language, with the costs and downsides out where you can see them.
Sourcing
Tax and account rules come from primary sources: IRS publications (such as Publications 590-A and 590-B), IRS.gov guidance, the Department of Labor, the Social Security Administration, and federal regulators including the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, and FTC. Some figures, like fees, differ from one provider to the next. For those we give a typical range, say plainly that it varies, and tell you to get the exact number in writing.
How guides are written
- Each guide takes on one decision and explains it so you don't need a finance background to follow along.
- Every option says who it's not right for.
- We don't forecast prices or markets. We also don't use fear-based language, invent testimonials, or claim credentials we don't have.
- Worked examples use round numbers, clearly labeled as hypothetical.
How we use technology
We use software tools, including AI writing and research assistants, to help gather sources, draft and check our work. Before any guide is published, a person reviews it, edits it and fact-checks it against primary sources. That person is responsible for what we publish.
Review and updates
Every guide gets reviewed at least once a year. If laws, IRS limits or regulator guidance change, it happens sooner. You'll see the last-updated date on each guide. Contribution limits and other figures that change every year get checked when the IRS announces the new amounts.
Corrections
If we get something wrong, we fix it promptly. Significant corrections are noted, with the date, at the end of the guide they affect. Spotted an error? Email hello@heirloommoney.com with the page and what's wrong.
Independence from advertisers
Some companies we recommend pay us, and our advertiser disclosure explains how. Partners don't review, approve or edit our guides before they're published. They can't pay to change a rating, a ranking or what we write. Our quiz and calculators give the same results no matter who we do business with. Paid links are labeled for readers and marked as sponsored for search engines.
Not personal advice
Everything here is general education, and it can't account for your whole situation. See our financial disclaimer.