Editorial Policy

At 1gb.icu, we treat financial content with the seriousness it deserves. Because most of what we publish falls into Google's "Your Money, Your Life" (YMYL) category—content that can affect a person's financial, physical, or emotional well-being—we hold ourselves to a strict editorial standard. This page documents how we research, write, review, and maintain every calculator and article on our site.

1. Our Editorial Mission

Our mission is to provide free, transparent, well-documented financial tools that help people make more confident decisions. We believe financial information should be accessible to everyone—not hidden behind paywalls, gated behind email signups, or skewed by affiliate commissions. Every piece of content we publish must meet three tests: it must be accurate, transparent, and genuinely useful.

Accuracy means we use verified formulas, current rates, and primary-source data. Transparency means we document our methodology, cite our sources, and disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Usefulness means we explain not just the "what" but the "why"—giving you the context needed to apply the information to your own life.

2. Content Creation Process

Every calculator and article on 1gb.icu goes through a multi-stage process before publication:

2.1 Topic selection

We choose topics based on three criteria: search demand (are people actively looking for this information?), informational gap (is existing online content shallow, outdated, or wrong?), and alignment with our mission (does this help people make better financial decisions?). We do not write content purely to chase traffic—we write content that fills a genuine need.

2.2 Research and sourcing

Before writing begins, we gather primary sources. For tax content, this means IRS publications and Treasury regulations. For immigration content, it means USCIS policy manuals, the Foreign Affairs Manual, and the State Department's Visa Bulletin. For mortgage content, it means Fannie Mae Selling Guides, Freddie Mac bulletins, and CFPB regulations. For health content, it means CDC, NIH, and peer-reviewed research. We do not rely on secondary sources (other blogs, news articles) for factual claims—only for context.

2.3 Writing

Our writers are required to:

• Write all content from scratch. We do not scrape, spin, paraphrase, or rewrite content from other websites.
• Document every formula in plain English, with the source cited.
• Include at least one worked example with realistic numbers for every calculator.
• Provide context: what the result means, when it does not apply, and what to do next.
• Use clear, accessible language. We avoid jargon when possible and define it when necessary.
• Avoid generic filler. Every paragraph must add information or insight.

2.4 Review and fact-checking

After a draft is complete, it goes through an editorial review that checks:

• Mathematical accuracy — every calculator formula is tested against known inputs and verified outputs.
• Factual accuracy — every cited statistic, rate, rule, and date is verified against the primary source.
• Current relevance — we check that referenced laws, rates, and policies are still in effect.
• Internal consistency — articles must agree with calculators, and calculators must agree with their explainers.
• Clarity and readability — content is reviewed for organization, tone, and accessibility.

2.5 Publication and ongoing maintenance

Once published, content is not static. We maintain a content calendar that flags every page for review at least annually. Tax-related content is reviewed every January after the IRS releases updated brackets and contribution limits. Immigration content is reviewed quarterly due to frequent policy changes. Calculator formulas are re-tested whenever underlying rules change. When we discover an error, we fix it promptly and note the correction in our changelog.

3. Calculator Methodology

Our calculators follow a consistent methodology:

1. Identify the standard formula from authoritative sources. We do not invent our own math.
2. Implement the formula exactly as published, with no shortcuts that could introduce error.
3. Document the formula in plain English on every calculator page, with the source cited.
4. Use realistic default values based on current national averages (e.g., 30-year mortgage rate, median home price, standard deduction amount).
5. Test against known scenarios—for example, our mortgage calculator must produce the same monthly payment as a Bankrate or NerdWallet calculator for the same inputs.
6. Disclose all assumptions explicitly in the "How it works" section.

4. Sourcing and Citations

We prioritize primary sources over secondary sources. The hierarchy we follow:

• Tier 1 — Primary: Government agencies (IRS, USCIS, Fannie Mae, Federal Reserve, CDC, NIH), peer-reviewed academic research, and official regulatory publications.
• Tier 2 — Reputable secondary: Major financial publications (Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters), industry associations (National Association of Realtors, Mortgage Bankers Association), and established financial data providers.
• Tier 3 — Context only: Other blogs, forums, and user-generated content. We never cite Tier 3 sources for factual claims.

When we cite a source, we link directly to it (with rel="nofollow noopener" for external links) so you can verify the information yourself.

5. Conflict of Interest and Advertising Policy

1gb.icu is funded primarily through display advertising served by Google AdSense. We do not currently accept:

• Paid sponsorships of specific calculators or articles
• Affiliate commissions that influence our editorial recommendations
• Paid placements in our content
• "Advertorial" content disguised as editorial content

Advertising on our website is clearly distinguished from editorial content. Advertisers cannot influence what we publish, how we rate any product, or whether we cover a topic at all. If we ever change this policy—for example, by accepting affiliate relationships—we will disclose it transparently in our Disclaimer and on this page, and we will clearly mark any sponsored or affiliate content.

6. Author and Reviewer Qualifications

Our content is written and reviewed by a team with backgrounds in finance, accounting, real estate, technology, journalism, and law. While we do not claim individual professional credentials (we are not a law firm or registered investment advisor), our team has decades of combined experience in the topics we cover.

For highly technical content—such as tax brackets, visa eligibility, or insurance regulations—we rely on the primary source documents themselves rather than personal opinion. This means our content reflects the official rules as published by the relevant authority, not our interpretation of those rules.

7. Corrections Policy

Despite our best efforts, errors occasionally slip through. When we discover an error—whether through our own review process or through reader feedback—we correct it promptly and transparently. Significant corrections are noted at the bottom of the affected article with the date and a brief description of the change. Minor typos and formatting fixes are made silently.

If you spot an error, please contact us. We take all error reports seriously and investigate each one.

8. Content Updates and Currency

Financial rules change frequently. Tax brackets are updated annually. Visa regulations change several times per year. Mortgage guidelines evolve. We monitor these changes and update affected content on the following schedule:

• Tax content: Reviewed every January after IRS releases new brackets; mid-year updates if legislation changes.
• Immigration content: Reviewed quarterly; immediate updates for major policy changes.
• Mortgage content: Reviewed quarterly; updated when Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac publish new guidelines.
• Insurance content: Reviewed annually; updated when major carriers change underwriting rules.
• Investment content: Reviewed annually; updated when contribution limits change.
• Health content: Reviewed annually against current CDC/NIH guidance.

Every page on our site displays a "Last updated" or "Reviewed" date so you know how current the information is.

9. User Privacy and Data Handling

Our calculators run entirely in your browser. The numbers you enter—your income, your debts, your home value, your net worth—never leave your device. They are not transmitted to our servers, not stored in a database, and not used to serve you targeted advertising. This is by design: we believe financial tools should not require you to surrender personal data. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.

10. Feedback and Contact

We actively welcome feedback. If you have a suggestion for a new calculator, a correction to an existing article, a question about our methodology, or a general comment, please contact us at contact@1gb.icu. We read every message and aim to respond within 5 business days.

11. Commitment to Continuous Improvement

This editorial policy is not static. As we grow, we will refine our standards, expand our review processes, and add new safeguards. When we make material changes to this policy, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and summarize the changes here. We are committed to earning and keeping your trust through transparency, accuracy, and respect for your intelligence.