How We Make Money

Effective date: October 27, 2025  |  Last updated: October 27, 2025

New Financial Cents (“NFC,” “we,” “our,” “us”) publishes practical, no-BS content about money. To keep most of our work free for readers, we have the potential to earn revenue in several ways. This page explains those revenue sources, the standards we apply, and how we safeguard editorial independence.

On this page

Quick Summary (TL;DR)

  • We earn money through affiliate links, sponsored placements, advertising, and partner tools/widgets that may pay us when you click, sign up, or buy.
  • Editorial recommendations are never for sale. Monetization does not determine what we cover or how we rank or review products.
  • We follow FTC Endorsement Guidelines and use clear, conspicuous disclosures near monetized content.
  • We maintain rigorous editorial standards, a review methodology, and conflicts-of-interest, corrections, and privacy policies.
  • You can use NFC without clicking any monetized link. If you do use our links, you don’t pay extra – sometimes you pay less.

Why Disclose?

Money advice affects real lives. In regulatory terms, this is YMYL (“Your Money or Your Life”) content. Clear disclosures help you evaluate potential biases. They’re also required by U.S. law: the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expects publishers and creators to disclose material connections to brands. We design our disclosures to be noticeable, understandable, and timely – right where they matter, not buried in footers.

Our Revenue Sources

Some articles include links to products or services (for example: budgeting apps, brokerages, banks, insurance, or financial tools). If you click a link and sign up or make a purchase, we may earn a commission (CPS) or a referral fee (CPL/CPA).

  • Pricing: You pay the same price (or sometimes a discounted price) whether you use our link or go directly.
  • Selection: We research categories first, choose recommended options based on merit, and only then check whether affiliate programs exist. We routinely recommend products with no affiliate program when they’re best-in-class.

Disclosure: Some links on this page are from our partners. We may earn a commission if you click or buy through our links. Here’s how we make money.

Occasionally, a company may sponsor a specific page, series, or tool. Sponsored items are clearly labeled (“Sponsored,” “Paid Partner,” or “Advertisement”). Sponsorship does not grant approval rights over our conclusions, nor can sponsors suppress unfavorable findings.

  • Labels you’ll see: “Sponsored,” “In partnership with…,” or an “Ad” badge.
  • Process: Sponsorship can underwrite our time and research; it cannot buy a positive review, ranking, or placement in editorial lists.

3) Display Advertising (CPM)

We may show banner ads, native ad units, or short pre-/mid-article placements. These are sold on a CPM basis through networks and exchanges. Display ads are visually distinct from our editorial content.

4) Tools, Calculators, and Partner Widgets

At times we embed third-party widgets (e.g., comparison modules or financial wellness tools). When those tools lead to sign-ups, we may be compensated. Widgets are labeled and placed adjacent to a disclosure. If a widget collects personal information, the provider’s privacy practices apply; we link to the provider’s privacy policy when relevant.

Editorial Independence

Our guiding principle: earn trust, not clicks. Revenue opportunities never dictate our coverage. To keep the church-and-state wall intact:

  • Separate roles: Editorial sets topics, criteria, and recommendations. Business or partnerships teams do not control editorial conclusions.
  • Same standards for all: Whether or not a product is a partner, our methodology and scoring are identical.
  • No pay-to-play: We do not sell positive reviews, guaranteed placements, or “buy your way into the list.”
  • Access ≠ favor: Early access to products or briefings is appreciated but does not influence outcomes.

Our Review & Rating Methodology

When we review or compare products, we follow a documented process. The specifics vary by category, but typically include:

  • Feature & Fee Analysis: What you get, what it costs (including hidden fees), and how pricing compares to category medians.
  • Security & Reliability: Data protection, authentication, uptime history, and regulatory standing.
  • User Experience: Onboarding friction, accessibility, support quality, and usability across devices.
  • Performance & Limitations: Strengths and trade-offs, based on hands-on testing when possible and corroborated by public documentation.
  • Audience Fit: Which user profiles benefit – and who should avoid it.

We timestamp articles, track version history, and update when products change. When we materially revise a recommendation, we note the change on the page.

Conflicts of Interest

  • NFC team members may not hold positions (employment, consulting, advisory, or equity stakes) with companies we cover without disclosure and recusal from related coverage.
  • We do not accept gifts or perks that could reasonably influence coverage (nominal items are permitted; expensive items are returned or donated).
  • Travel or demo expenses paid by a company are disclosed when relevant.

Disclosures You’ll See On-Site

You’ll encounter disclosures in a few places:

  • Inline near the first monetized link or widget (and above the fold when practical).
  • At the top or bottom of sponsored articles (“Sponsored” or “Paid Partner”).
  • On this page as a comprehensive reference.

Examples:

  • “Some links in this guide are from partners. We may earn a commission if you click or sign up – at no extra cost to you.”
  • “This page includes a partner widget from [Provider]. If you use it, we may receive compensation. See how we make money.”
  • “Sponsored by [Brand]. Our opinions are independent; sponsors do not review or approve our conclusions.”
  • FTC Endorsement Guidelines: We design disclosures to be clear, conspicuous, and proximate to the claim or link.
  • No Professional Advice: NFC provides educational information, not legal, tax, or investment advice. Consider speaking with a licensed professional for your specific situation.
  • Jurisdiction: NFC is based in the United States and follows U.S. laws and norms for disclosures and advertising.

Privacy, Cookies, and Data

Monetization can involve cookies or tracking to attribute referrals:

  • Attribution: Affiliate programs typically use a cookie so a retailer knows you came from NFC.
  • Your control: You can block or delete cookies and still read our content. Some links may not track properly without cookies.
  • Privacy Policy: Details on what we collect, how we use it, data retention, and your choices live in our Privacy Policy.
  • Third-party tools: Embedded widgets or partners may process your data under their own policies; we link to those policies where those tools appear.

Corrections & Feedback

Accuracy matters. If we get something wrong, we fix it – promptly and visibly.

  • Corrections: Substantive corrections are noted on the page with a timestamp.
  • Reader feedback: Spot an error or think we missed something? Email us at info@newfinancialcents.com with the URL and details. We read every note.

Advertising & Partner Vetting

  • Minimum standards: Transparent pricing, lawful operations, responsive support, and no deceptive claims.
  • Removal policy: If a partner’s practices fall below our standards, we update our content or remove links.
  • Rate influence: Ad rates, affiliate commissions, and bounties do not influence our editorial findings or rankings.

Your Choices

  • Read everything for free without clicking any monetized link.
  • Use our recommendations but sign up directly – no pressure.
  • If our work helped you decide, using our links is an easy way to support independent, reader-funded journalism.

Contact Us

Email: info@newfinancialcents.com

Change Log

  • 2025-10-27: Initial publication of “How We Make Money.”

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