How We Research
Financial education is only useful if it's accurate. Here's how we make sure everything we publish meets that standard.
Bad financial information costs Canadians real money. A wrong tax rule, an outdated contribution limit, or an American-default assumption can lead to missed deductions, penalties, or poor investment decisions.
We take accuracy seriously. This page explains exactly how we research, write, verify, and maintain every piece of content on Northern Investor.
Our Primary Sources
Every factual claim we publish is backed by a credible, verifiable source. We prioritize primary Canadian sources over secondary reporting.
Government of Canada
Tax rules, TFSA/RRSP/FHSA contribution limits, CPP/OAS rates, self-employment regulations, GST/HST thresholds.
Canada.ca, CRA My Account
Statistics Canada
Income data, net worth statistics, CPI/inflation, labour market data, household spending surveys.
statcan.gc.ca
Bank of Canada
Interest rate decisions, inflation targets, monetary policy reports, exchange rates, financial system reviews.
bankofcanada.ca
CIRO (formerly IIROC)
Broker regulation, investor protection rules, complaint processes, registration requirements.
ciro.ca
Provincial Securities Commissions
OSC (Ontario), BCSC (British Columbia), AMF (Quebec), ASC (Alberta) — provincial investment regulations.
osc.ca, bcsc.bc.ca, lautorite.qc.ca, albertasecurities.com
Financial Publications
Globe & Mail, MoneySense, Financial Post, Canadian Couch Potato — for context and market analysis.
Used for context, never as sole source for facts
What We Don't Rely On
We actively avoid certain types of sources:
- American-default websites — Unless explicitly noting US/Canada differences, we don't cite sources that assume American tax law, account types, or platforms
- Product marketing materials — Brokerage promotional content is not a neutral source. We verify claims independently
- Social media posts — Reddit threads, TikTok advice, and Twitter takes are not research sources, even when they're popular
- Outdated data — If we can't find a current figure, we note the date of the most recent available data rather than guessing
- Unattributed statistics — "Studies show" with no citation doesn't meet our standard. If we can't trace it to a primary source, we don't use it
Our Editorial Process
Research & Outline
The assigned author identifies the key questions Canadian readers need answered, gathers data from primary sources, and creates a structured outline. We start every guide by asking: "What does a Canadian specifically need to know about this topic that they can't easily find elsewhere?"
First Draft
The author writes the full guide with Canadian context, realistic examples using real numbers, source citations, and actionable next steps. We avoid generic advice that could apply to any country.
Fact-Check & Review
A second team member reviews every factual claim: tax figures, contribution limits, regulatory details, income estimates. Source links are verified. Any claim that can't be confirmed against a primary source is flagged and either sourced properly or removed.
Publish with Attribution
Every published article includes the author's byline (linked to their profile page with full credentials), publication date, and last-updated date.
Ongoing Updates
We review and update all guides at minimum every quarter. Trigger events for immediate updates include: new TFSA/RRSP contribution limits, Bank of Canada rate changes, federal budget announcements, and regulatory changes from CIRO or provincial commissions.
Update Schedule
Financial information goes stale. Contribution limits change annually, tax brackets shift with inflation, and regulations evolve. We maintain a structured update schedule:
| Trigger | Update Timeline |
|---|---|
| New TFSA / RRSP / FHSA limits announced | Within 1 week |
| Bank of Canada rate decision | Within 1 week |
| Federal budget announcement | Within 2 weeks |
| CIRO or provincial regulatory change | Within 2 weeks |
| Quarterly review (all guides) | January, April, July, October |
| Reader-reported error | Within 48 hours |
Corrections & Transparency
When we get something wrong, we fix it openly:
- Errors are corrected as soon as they're verified
- A correction note with the date is added at the bottom of the affected article
- We don't silently edit published content — if the change affects meaning, we note it
- We welcome reader corrections at [email protected]
For full details on our editorial standards, disclosure policies, and author requirements, see our Editorial Policy.
Questions About Our Research?
If you have questions about a source, want to flag an error, or want to suggest a topic, we'd love to hear from you.
Contact Us