Trust through transparency

Sources & Methodology

See the official guidance and research behind our lessons, calculators, readiness reviews, and planning rules.

Official first

We prioritize government agencies, regulators, and primary research.

Sources inform education and estimates; they don't remove household-specific assumptions.

Annual planning policies include verification dates so changes can be reviewed deliberately.

7 official sources

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consolidating or refinancing student loans
Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt
Open official source (opens another site)
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
How amortization can affect an auto loan
Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Reducing debt worksheet
Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
What to know about consolidating credit-card debt
Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt
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Federal Student Aid
Five things before consolidating federal student loans
Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt
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Federal Trade Commission
Debt-relief and credit-repair scams
Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt
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Investor.gov
Pay off credit cards or other high-interest debt
Used in:Step 4: Pay down high-interest debt
Open official source (opens another site)