Last updated: October 20, 2026
This page explains who writes CapitalAtlass, how guides are researched and updated, how the site makes money, and what we will and will not do. It applies to every guide on the site.
Who writes and reviews our guides
Every guide is researched, written and edited by Lucas Constantino Mari, founder of CapitalAtlass, based in Valencia, Spain. He is an independent researcher, not a licensed financial advisor, broker or tax professional, and the site does not currently use an external financial reviewer. When that changes, the reviewer’s name and credentials will be shown on each guide they review.
How we research and source information
- Official sources first. Fees, minimums and account terms come from each provider’s own pricing pages and fee schedules. Fund data (expense ratios, holdings, yields) comes from the fund provider. Tax and retirement rules come from the IRS. Investor-protection facts come from SIPC, FINRA and the SEC.
- Every main guide links its sources. Each guide ends with a “Sources and Verification” section listing the pages we checked and the date we checked them.
- No number without a source. If we cannot confirm a figure on an official page, we remove it and point readers to the provider instead of guessing.
- Analyst opinions are labeled. When we mention a third party’s view, we name the source; we do not present forecasts or price targets as facts.
How we compare products
We compare products for a specific type of reader (for example, beginners, retirement savers or active traders) rather than publishing one universal ranking. Depending on the guide, we look at:
- Costs: commissions, per-contract fees, advisory fees, expense ratios, transfer and inactivity fees.
- Access: account minimums, account types supported (taxable, IRA, joint, custodial) and eligibility rules.
- Regulation and protection: FINRA membership and SIPC coverage for brokers; SEC registration for advisers.
- Tools and usability: platforms, research, mobile apps and customer support.
- Trade-offs and risks: who a product is not a good fit for.
We do not currently open and test accounts for every product we cover. Where a guide includes hands-on testing, it will say so explicitly and show what was tested.
How we keep guides up to date
Each guide shows the date its figures were last checked. We review main guides regularly and whenever a provider announces a pricing change. Guides covering high-risk products (such as Gold IRAs, annuities, forex, crypto, options and individual “stocks to buy” lists) have been withdrawn until they can be reviewed properly.
How CapitalAtlass makes money
CapitalAtlass is funded by advertising (Google AdSense). Our guides currently contain no affiliate links. If we add affiliate links in the future, every guide that contains them will say so at the top, before any comparison table, and will name the partners. Advertisers and partners never see guides before publication, cannot pay to be included or ranked, and cannot change our conclusions.
Corrections
If you find an error or an outdated figure, email admin@capitalatlass.com or use the contact form. We review every report and, if we confirm a mistake, correct the guide and update its “checked” date.
Not financial advice
Our guides are general information for education. They do not consider your personal situation and are not recommendations to buy or sell any product or security. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Before making a financial decision, confirm the details with the provider and consider speaking with a licensed professional. See our Legal Notice, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.