Investment content standards

Last reviewed: July 26, 2026

How Merci News dates, sources, calculates and reviews investment education without presenting general articles as personal financial advice.

1. Education, not personal advice

Investing Guides explain accounts, products, risks and portfolio methods for a general audience. They do not know a reader’s income, debt, tax residence, liquidity needs or capacity for loss, so they do not tell an individual what to buy or sell. Every investing article repeats this boundary near the top.

2. Jurisdiction and data date come first

Tax wrappers and retirement accounts are jurisdiction-specific. Each article is labeled South Korea, United States or Global and shows the date on which rules and figures were checked. A Korean ISA or IRP is never presented as if it were a US IRA or 401(k).

3. Which sources are acceptable?

For Korea, the source order is legislation and notices, the Financial Services Commission, Financial Supervisory Service, National Tax Service, Ministry of Employment and Labor, Korea Exchange and Korea Securities Depository. US articles prioritize the SEC, IRS, Department of Labor, FINRA and US Treasury. An issuer’s prospectus or filing is used for a specific security. Search snippets and anonymous summaries are not evidence.

Primary references: SEC Investor.gov, IRS Retirement Plans, FINRA Investors.

4. Calculations show their assumptions

Return examples state the period, benchmark, reinvestment assumption, fees, taxes, currency and whether inflation is included. A hypothetical result is labeled hypothetical. Backtests are not forecasts, and a favorable start date is not selected without showing a longer or contrasting period.

5. Model portfolios are examples, not prescriptions

A model portfolio states its goal, time horizon, liquidity reserve, capacity for loss, asset ranges and rebalancing rule. “Conservative” and “aggressive” labels alone are not enough. Readers must still account for their own tax residence, debt, emergency cash and restrictions before acting.

6. Named securities need a method and an exit rule

A named stock, bond or fund is an example within a disclosed screen, not a standing buy recommendation. The article records the data date, inclusion criteria, disqualifying conditions, major risks and conflicts. Price targets, guaranteed returns and urgency language are not used.

7. Illiquid assets include ownership friction

Property, watches and cars are assessed with bid-ask spreads, taxes, brokerage, storage, insurance, maintenance, authentication, financing and time-to-sell. A rising auction headline is not treated as the return an ordinary owner can realize.

8. Conflicts, updates and corrections

Advertising is separated from editorial conclusions. Any affiliate relationship, sponsorship or material position held by the author is disclosed. Tax and account guides are reviewed when rules change and at least twice a year while prominent. Material corrections retain the original publication date and add an updated date.

9. Who is accountable?

Merci News Editorial Desk is responsible for research, source checks and corrections. Send a correction request.