Last updated: April 24, 2026
NewcomerMoney is an independent publication covering personal finance for newcomers to the United States. This page describes how we research, write, review, and update our content — and the principles that guide our editorial decisions.
Our mission
To provide accurate, actionable, specific financial guidance for international students, H1B workers, green card holders, new citizens, and their families — with the context that generic personal finance advice misses.
We write the guide we wished existed when we arrived.
Editorial independence
NewcomerMoney is not owned, sponsored, or influenced by any bank, credit card issuer, insurance company, money transfer service, or financial institution.
Our editorial decisions are made independently of:
- Advertising relationships (Google AdSense, etc.)
- Affiliate partnerships
- Sponsorship opportunities
- Any external commercial interest
When we decline to recommend a product that would earn us commissions, or recommend a product we earn nothing from, we do so because our readers’ interests come first.
Our research process
Every article on NewcomerMoney follows this process:
1. Identify the question
We cover topics based on real questions from newcomers, gaps in existing coverage, and our team’s personal experience. We don’t chase trending keywords if the question isn’t genuinely useful to our readers.
2. Primary source research
We cite official sources first:
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Social Security Administration (SSA)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
- Federal Reserve
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Direct information from financial institutions and product providers
We avoid citing secondhand blog posts as sources.
3. Verification
Claims about specific financial products — rates, fees, eligibility criteria, features — are verified against the provider’s official site at the time of publication.
4. Expert review (where applicable)
For complex tax, legal, or immigration topics, we work with licensed professionals to review content before publication. When reviewed, the article will note the reviewer’s name and credentials.
5. Editing
Articles are edited for accuracy, clarity, and readability before publication.
Content standards
Every article published on NewcomerMoney follows these standards:
Accuracy
All factual claims must be verifiable. When we state specific numbers (interest rates, fees, timelines), we cite the source or verify directly with the provider.
Specificity
Generic advice is unhelpful. We write actionable, specific guidance: which product, which step, when, why, and what to avoid.
Honesty
We don’t exaggerate benefits or downplay risks. When a product has drawbacks, we name them. When a decision is complicated, we explain the trade-offs rather than oversimplifying.
Plain language
Financial content is often written in jargon. We define technical terms when we use them, and we avoid jargon when plain English works better.
Relevance to newcomers
Every article serves our core audience — newcomers to the US. Generic personal finance content that doesn’t address newcomer-specific challenges doesn’t belong on NewcomerMoney.
Updates and corrections
Regular updates
Financial information changes frequently. We review and update articles:
- At least annually for evergreen content
- Immediately when laws or regulations change
- Within 30 days when a cited product’s terms change significantly
The “Last updated” date at the top of each article reflects the most recent substantive review.
Corrections
If we publish an error, we:
- Correct the error promptly
- Note the correction at the bottom of the article
- Update the “Last updated” date
- If the error was substantive, email newsletter subscribers about the correction
If you spot an error, please email hello@newcomermoney.com. We take corrections seriously.
Monetization and conflicts of interest
How we make money
NewcomerMoney generates revenue through:
- Display advertising (Google AdSense and similar networks)
- Affiliate partnerships with financial products
- Occasional sponsored content, clearly labeled as such
How we manage conflicts
- Affiliate relationships never influence which products we recommend
- Sponsored content is clearly labeled and separated from editorial content
- We disclose affiliate relationships in each relevant article and on our Disclaimer page
- Advertising networks determine which ads appear — not us
Products we won’t promote
We decline to work with:
- Predatory lenders, payday loan companies, and high-APR subprime products
- Products targeting vulnerable newcomers with misleading terms
- Companies with significant consumer complaints or regulatory actions
- Products we wouldn’t use or recommend to our own family
Attribution and sourcing
- All statistics and data are attributed to their source with a link where available
- Expert quotes are attributed to the named professional with their credentials
- Images are licensed or used under Creative Commons / public domain, with attribution where required
- We do not republish content from other sites without permission
Our use of AI
We use AI tools (including large language models) for:
- Research assistance and fact-checking
- Outlining and brainstorming
- Grammar and style editing
- SEO keyword research
We do not publish AI-generated content without substantial human editing, verification, and expertise. Every published article reflects genuine human research, editorial judgment, and — where applicable — lived experience as newcomers to the United States.
Reader feedback
We invite feedback, corrections, and topic suggestions from readers. Contact us at hello@newcomermoney.com or through our Contact page at https://newcomermoney.com/contact-us/