Our Purpose
Annuity.org’s editorial team strives to provide readers with accurate, relevant information that will help them make informed decisions about their money.
We seek to empower consumers by teaching them about safe investment vehicles, opportunities to leverage their existing assets for cash now and insurance options that can keep their families financially protected.
In doing so, we adhere to ethical journalism standards and practices. These include presenting clear, unbiased information that follows Associated Press style guidelines, quoting only “on-the-record,” identified sources and clearly reporting facts from reliable, attributed sources.
Our Mission
Annuity.org’s editorial mission is to deliver the most comprehensive explanation of annuities and other financial literacy topics using plain, straightforward language.
We dissect annuities, structured settlements and other safe money products so that you, the reader, can understand how these products fit into your financial plan. And for readers who wish to purchase an annuity or sell their payments, we present an impartial explanation of the benefits and drawbacks of the different choices.
We want to provide readers with the tools needed to make educated decisions about their financial futures, based on well-researched, accurate and current resources.
Our Audience
Annuity.org’s audience includes, but is not limited to:
- People seeking financial security now and in the future through the purchase of annuities and other insurance products.
- People seeking financial freedom through access to cash now.
- People seeking carefully researched, timely information about important financial topics.
- Members of the media, researchers and experts seeking reliable information and expert insights.
Topical Coverage
Annuity.org publishes content related to an array of financial literacy topics. As part of our coverage, we extensively write about both the primary and secondary annuity markets in order to present a holistic representation of annuities and structured settlements.
We differentiate primary and secondary market information through the use of “buying” (primary market) and “selling” (secondary market) language and as part of the website’s design and navigation. We identify this content clearly to ensure that our readers can find the type of information that is most relevant to them.
Editorial Control
The information we publish generally aligns with, but is not dictated by, our partners or affiliate advertisers.
This website’s editorial team operates independently of all external influences. Writers, editors and marketing team members work collaboratively to propose relevant content for Annuity.org based on the topical needs of our readers.
We may consider story ideas from outside sources as long as they support Annuity.org’s mission to educate consumers about safe financial decisions and represent original, valuable content for our readership.
For more information on our business relationships, visit How We Make Money.
Editorial Integrity
Annuity.org declares these three principles as crucial for responsible journalism:
Accuracy
Content on Annuity.org is accurate and supported by experts in the industry. Annuity.org writers, researchers and editors use facts arranged in meaningful context to provide fair, reliable and clear information that is helpful to the public.
The editorial team follows strict guidelines for written and visual content, including vetting all sources and verifying quotes and statistics, to guarantee honesty and integrity in our reporting. Annuity.org articles are edited and proofed for accurate grammar and mechanics.
Annuity.org cites only reputable sources, including but not limited to authoritative financial publications, academic organizations, peer-reviewed journals, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports, court records and interviews with qualified experts.
Fairness
Our writers provide well-researched facts to consumers so they can make educated decisions with far-reaching implications. They are fair with the facts, clearly outlining the advantages and disadvantages of various financial scenarios.
We offer candid, balanced perspectives on both the benefits and disadvantages of financial products and services so our readers can decide for themselves whether to request information from our partners or advertisers.
Content on Annuity.org is organized in a logical manner with sufficient background and examples to provide meaningful context for the average reader.
Transparency
Annuity.org’s commitment to transparency in media is evident in many ways, including:
- Our writers provide clear attribution for sources used within the main content of a web page and/or in the source list available at the bottom of every article. Annuity.org does not attribute information that is considered common knowledge.
- We include links to help readers easily find the original sources of information cited on a web page. Links occasionally break because of actions outside of our control; therefore, we update source links regularly.
- We provide full names and relevant affiliations, experience and credentials for all expert contributors we quote within our content.
- The date of the most recent update is indicated at the top of each article for the reader’s benefit.
Trust
The Annuity.org editorial team provides content of the highest quality. We adhere to a strict process of research, writing, editing and fact-checking and do not publish content that has not been reviewed by our editors for accuracy and clarity. We hold ourselves accountable for the information published on Annuity.org.
Expert Review Process
The editorial team works closely with an independent panel of highly qualified financial and insurance industry experts to review our articles and other content for factual accuracy.
Content that has been reviewed by one of expert reviewers includes the name of the reviewer at the top and the bottom of the web page, along with a link inviting the reader to view the reviewer’s full bio for more information on their expertise.
We strive to have all our content reviewed in a timely manner.
Use of Direct Quotes
Quotes from experts or contributors featured on Annuity.org are the actual words of the individual. Sources may opt to provide quotes in emails or verbal statements. Annuity.org will identify when quotes have been provided. This will help the reader distinguish between written statements and verbal communication.
Annuity.org does not make up quotes. In limited cases, Annuity.org may adjust spelling, punctuation, capitalization and abbreviations within quotations for consistency and clarity. Such changes will be made only if they do not substantially change the speaker’s meaning.
Anonymous Sources Policy
Annuity.org realizes that transparency is crucial to credibility. As a result, we strictly prohibit the use of anonymous sources. All sources must be fully identified with as much detail as possible to establish their credibility, experience and relevance to the content.
Because Annuity.org strives for as much clarity and transparency as possible, writers may not go “off the record” or “on background” with sources. These terms are widely misunderstood and easily misconstrued.
Plagiarism
Annuity.org has no tolerance for plagiarism. We do not take the work of others and claim it as our own. We respect copyright. Annuity.org may use limited sections of others’ work to support or elaborate on a topic as long as the writer provides clear attribution. Attribution includes the name of the publication in the body of the text, possibly a link to the original publication and proper attribution in the source list located below the article. Our writers limit directly quoted material, instead conducting original reporting with a variety of sources to ensure a diversity of viewpoints.
Our Content Types
Annuity.org provides a variety of educational content types to serve the interests of our readers.
Evergreen Pages
Evergreen web pages offer comprehensive coverage of a specific topic. These web pages are written as part of the site’s overarching mission of educating and informing and fit into a specific section to provide context for related topics.
We regularly revisit and update these web pages with current statistics and facts.
Blogs and News
Annuity.org publishes a blog that features timely information on a variety of financial topics and news from the industry. We augment these posts with our From the Experts series featuring insights and analyses from our panel of financial experts. We strive to include related links in blog posts to other content on Annuity.org that allows readers to further explore the topics relevant and interesting to them.
Features
The editorial team hand-picks topics to explore as our featured stories, or features. Features are in-depth, explorative, research-driven and backed by statistics and first-hand expert interviews. They are topical and driven by the interests of our readership. Features also include a variety of visuals, including graphic elements, videos, widgets and other highly stylized design elements.
Guides
Our guides address more narrowly focused topics in an effort to improve financial literacy and offer detailed, actionable recommendations for specific groups, such as students, seniors and veterans or for people with unique financial circumstances, such as first-time investors or people seeking a financial advisor.
Glossary
Annuities are complex insurance products, and the industry doesn’t use a precise standard for annuity terminology. We designed our glossary to help you understand the terms used throughout the site. Terms are clearly defined in alphabetical order and link back to relevant web pages across our website.
Our Style
Annuity.org generally follows the style guidelines established by the Associated Press (AP).
AP style, used in most U.S. newspapers, offers a host of rules covering everything from proper punctuation and capitalization to spelling and hyphenation tips. The goal is to improve readability through the standardization of mass communication.
Source Lists
For the source lists located at the end of articles, Annuity.org uses a modified American Psychological Association (APA) format and includes a hyperlink to the original source material whenever possible.
Annuity.org does not cite telephone, email or in-person interviews in source lists.
Independent Contractors
Annuity.org may occasionally publish content written by independent contractors. These writers are experienced professionals, and their work is reviewed and edited by Annuity.org’s editorial team to ensure it meets our standards for readability, accuracy, fairness and transparency.
Use of Photography
Annuity.org uses photographs provided by iStock, a stock photography provider, or original images created by internal designers. Annuity.org may request permission to use photographs from other sources. The source of those images will be identified in text directly below the image if permission is granted. Annuity.org will not obtain photos from a person’s social media account or website without permission.
Linking Policy and Copyright Infringement
The content on Annuity.org is the property of the company and protected by copyright laws.
External organizations, individuals and nonprofits who share our vision of providing accurate, timely and valuable financial information to the public are asked to attribute to Annuity.org when referencing our content. To accommodate this request, each article published on Annuity.org includes a button to generate citations in APA, MLA and Chicago formats.
Annuity.org links to credible sources of information when the source is attributable and particularly valuable to our readers. We don’t link to competitor websites or sources whose veracity cannot be verified.
Reader Engagement
The Annuity.org editorial team invites you to contact us with your feedback and questions. If we don’t know the answer, we will find it. It takes time and effort to understand annuities and other personal finance-related topics, and it’s our job to help our readers navigate this complex marketplace.
Corrections
While we are committed to meeting high standards of relevance and accuracy, errors and omissions may occur. The editorial team reviews content regularly and strives to correct any erroneous or outdated information in a timely manner. If you identify an error anywhere on the site, please contact Financial Editor Savannah Hanson to report the inaccuracy.
