TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Jason Young

Personal finance articles can differ widely in both type and scope. Some topics are inherently more quantitative while others are more qualitative in nature. That said, at Wikinvest, we strive to write articles that go beyond "conventional wisdom" to back up their assertions with data and hard facts. At the same time, these articles are meant to be more than just a collection of facts and should go on to clearly relate to the reader how the topic affects his or her life. The purpose of this page is to provide a conceptual framework for writing personal finance articles. While the content of an article will necessarily differ from topic to topic, structurally most articles will be similar in nature.

Intro

The intro for a personal finance article should be short and sweet (5-8 sentences). The purpose is not to summarize everything about the topic. Instead, the intro should explain what the concept is and why it is important briefly and in very simple terms.

Why is it Important?

This is an expansion of the discussion that begins in the intro. How is this concept applied in real life? For instance, credit scores determine the ease with which a consumer can borrow money and as well as the amount that he or she will have to pay in interest. If the credit score is high, than it is easier to get a loan and the interest rate is lower.

How it works/How it is calculated?

Many personal finance topics involve some sort of process. For instance, income taxes are determined based on income level, whereas credit scores are calculated by taking a variety of inputs. This section should explain what those factors and inputs are and how they affect the overall concept. It should also discuss the full range over which a concept can be applied. For instance, federal income taxes might range from 15% to 28% whereas credit scores might range from 0 to 850 This section should be supported by data whenever possible.

What are the different flavors of this concept?

For some topics like life insurance there may be many different types (e.g. whole life insurance, term, and universal life insurance). This section should explain how each of the different types differs from the other.

Data and Graphs

Personal finance articles should be backed by data wherever possible. Even articles on broader more qualitative subjects can have data. For instance, an article on budgeting might discuss the average monthly expenditures per person by budget category in U.S. An article on how to buy a car, might include data on average prices paid nationally for used cars vs. new cars (in aggregate and by popular model) and the number of cars purchased in either category each year. All data should be fully sourced (Name of website, URL, Date, Article Title and page number if applicable).

Sources of Data

While there is no single source of data, most subject areas do have an authoritative source or two. Governmental organizations such as the U.S. Census, the Federal Reserve and the National Bureau of Economics can be rich sources of data. Additionally industry groups (e.g. National Association of Realtors) can also be helpful. Finally, free to use reputable blogs and newspapers. Visit the Governmental and Industry Sources pages additional ideas.

Sample articles

• Property Tax
• Credit Scores