Editorial Policy
Our commitment to accuracy, transparency, and independence in all content published on Dean Financials.
Last Updated: November 8, 2025
Our Editorial Mission
Dean Financials is committed to providing accurate, trustworthy, and accessible financial information to help individuals make informed decisions about their money and investments. Every piece of content we publish—whether market analysis, educational articles, or tool documentation—adheres to the highest standards of journalistic integrity and factual accuracy.
We believe that financial information should be free from conflicts of interest, clearly sourced, and presented in a way that empowers rather than confuses. This editorial policy outlines the principles and practices that guide our content creation process.
Core Editorial Principles
Accuracy Above All
We strive for 100% factual accuracy in every article, chart, and data point. All claims are verified through multiple sources, and all data is clearly attributed to its origin. If we make an error, we correct it promptly and transparently.
Editorial Independence
Dean Financials is independently owned and operated. We do not accept payment for coverage, and do not allow advertisers or sponsors to influence our content. Our only obligation is to our readers.
Transparency & Source Attribution
Every data point, statistic, and quote is attributed to its source. We clearly disclose our methodologies, data providers, and any limitations in our analysis. Readers should always know where our information comes from.
Educational Focus
Our content is designed to educate and inform, not to recommend specific securities or provide personalized investment advice. We explain the "why" behind market movements and financial concepts, empowering readers to make their own informed decisions.
Content Standards & Review Process
1. Research & Verification
All articles undergo thorough research before publication:
- Data is verified against primary sources (SEC filings, official market data providers, regulatory agencies)
- Statistical claims are cross-checked with at least two independent sources
- Historical data is verified through authoritative archives
- Expert opinions are attributed and their credentials verified
2. Editorial Review
Every piece of content passes through multiple review stages:
- Initial Draft: Written by qualified team member with subject matter expertise
- Technical Review: Data accuracy, calculations, and methodology verified by CTO
- Editorial Review: Content clarity, structure, and accuracy reviewed by Editor-in-Chief
- Final Approval: All changes reviewed before publication
3. Disclosure Requirements
We maintain full transparency about:
- Author identity and credentials (see our Authors page)
- Data sources and their potential limitations
- Any potential conflicts of interest (though we maintain none)
- When content uses AI assistance (see AI Usage Policy below)
- Publication and last-updated dates for all articles
Data Sources & Methodology
Market Data Sources
Our market analysis tools rely on the following data sources:
- Stock Prices & Market Breadth: Real-time data updated during market hours
- Volatility Metrics: VIX data from CBOE, ATR calculations from daily price data
- Sector Performance: S&P 500 sector indices and constituent data
- Historical Analysis: Validated historical price databases for backtesting
Note: Market data may be delayed or contain errors from third-party providers. We are not responsible for data accuracy but make best efforts to validate all critical calculations.
Preferred Sources
For research and article writing, we prioritize:
- Primary sources (SEC filings, Federal Reserve releases, official government data)
- Peer-reviewed academic research
- Established financial news organizations with editorial standards
- Industry reports from reputable research firms
- Direct quotes from company earnings calls and investor presentations
Methodology Transparency
All proprietary calculations (breadth indicators, volatility regime classifications, etc.) are documented in our Documentation section. Readers can understand exactly how we arrive at our metrics and signals.
AI-Assisted Content Policy
Dean Financials uses artificial intelligence as a tool to assist in certain aspects of content creation, particularly for our daily Market Pulse articles. We believe in full transparency about this use.
How We Use AI
- Data Synthesis: AI helps analyze and summarize daily market data from our dashboards
- Draft Generation: AI generates initial article drafts based on real market data and predefined templates
- Research Assistance: AI helps identify relevant historical patterns and correlations
Human Oversight & Editorial Control
- 100% Human Review: Every AI-generated draft is reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our editorial team before publication
- Data Verification: All statistics, calculations, and market observations are independently verified
- Editorial Judgment: Final decisions about tone, emphasis, and conclusions are made by human editors
- Corrections Authority: Humans are responsible for all corrections and updates
AI Content Disclosure
Articles that use AI assistance in the drafting process will include a disclosure at the bottom of the article stating: "This article was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team." This ensures readers always know when AI played a role in content creation.
What AI Does NOT Do
- AI does not make investment recommendations or provide financial advice
- AI does not have final editorial authority—humans make all publishing decisions
- AI does not create "original research" without human verification
- AI-generated content is never published without thorough human review
Our Commitment: AI is a productivity tool, not a replacement for journalism. We use it to scale our daily market coverage while maintaining the same editorial standards we apply to all content.
Corrections & Updates Policy
We take accuracy seriously. When errors occur, we correct them promptly and transparently.
How We Handle Corrections
- Minor Corrections: Typos, grammar, or formatting errors are corrected without notation unless they affect meaning
- Factual Corrections: Any factual error is corrected immediately with a timestamped note at the bottom of the article indicating what was changed and when
- Substantive Changes: If an error significantly affects the article's conclusion, we add a prominent correction notice at the top of the article
- Article Updates: When we update articles with new information, we note the update date and summarize what was added
Reporting Errors
If you believe you've found an error in our content, please contact us immediately:
- Email: corrections@deanfinancials.com
- Include the article URL and a description of the suspected error
- We investigate all correction requests and respond within 48 hours
What Dean Financials Does NOT Do
To maintain credibility and reader trust, we explicitly avoid the following practices:
- ✗ No Paid Placements: We do not accept payment to write about or promote any company, product, or service in our editorial content
- ✗ No Stock Tips: We do not recommend specific stocks to buy or sell
- ✗ No Personalized Advice: We do not provide individualized investment advice or financial planning (we are not investment advisors)
- ✗ No Native Advertising: All editorial content is clearly distinguished from advertisements; we do not disguise advertisements as articles
- ✗ No Clickbait: Headlines accurately reflect article content; we don't exaggerate for clicks
Questions About Our Editorial Policy?
We welcome questions, feedback, and suggestions about our editorial standards. Transparency is a two-way street—if something isn't clear, we want to know.
This editorial policy may be updated periodically to reflect evolving best practices. Material changes will be noted with a revision date. Last updated: November 8, 2025