Editorial Policy
What actually happens before a guide is published here, including where AI is used and where it is not. 43dots is written by one person, Teja Pagidimarri, so "I" below means me.
The process for every guide
- Primary source first. I open the document the rule or number comes from: an IRS Revenue Procedure or Notice, the statute or regulation text, CFPB or FDIC guidance, Federal Reserve data, FICO's or a credit bureau's own documentation, Fannie Mae's Selling Guide, or an issuer's own terms. Other websites can point me to a document; they are never the source.
- Compute and show it. Where a figure needs math (an effective rate, an amortization, an APR, a projection) I compute it and show the inputs, so you can check the work rather than trust me.
- Draft. The guide is written in plain English with each source linked where the fact appears, and a full source list at the end.
- Check. I read the finished page end to end and re-check every number against its source before it goes live. Nothing on this site publishes automatically.
- Date and maintain. Every guide shows its published date and, once revised, its updated date. When an official figure changes (new IRS limits each autumn, a rule change, a new rate release) I update the page and the date.
How AI is used
I use AI tools to help draft, structure and edit. I say so openly because you should know how what you are reading was made.
What AI does not do here: it is not the source of any fact, figure, rate or threshold. Those come from primary documents I open. AI does not decide what gets published, and it has no byline, because a person is accountable for every page.
Projections versus published figures
Some numbers people search for do not exist yet. Next year's tax brackets, for example, are set by the IRS in the autumn. If I publish a figure like that before the official release, it is labelled a projection, the formula and inputs are shown, and the page is updated when the official number lands. A projection is never presented as an announced figure.
Sourcing and attribution
If a fact came from somewhere, that place is named and linked on the page. I do not rewrite other outlets' reporting and present it as my own work.
Independence
No company pays for a mention, a better description, or a higher place in a list. Advertising is chosen by the ad network and never changes what a guide says. See the advertising and affiliate disclosure and the disclaimer.
Accuracy and corrections
If you spot an error, email hello@43dots.com with the page and the problem, or leave a comment on the guide. Confirmed errors are fixed and logged publicly on the corrections page.
Not financial advice
I'm a software developer, not a CPA or a licensed financial advisor. Everything here is general education about how rules and numbers work, not advice for your situation. For decisions specific to you, talk to a qualified professional.