Affliliate Links Disclosure

1. What Are Affiliate Links?

Affiliate links are special tracking links that allow us to earn a commission when you sign up for a service or open an account through our recommendations. Here’s how they work:

• You click a link on Savvy Investor Guide to a platform like Fidelity, Vanguard, or Hargreaves Lansdown
• You open an account or make a qualifying action (deposit funds, complete transactions)
• We receive a commission from the platform, typically ranging from £20-£200 depending on the platform and action
• You pay nothing extra – your fees, account minimums, and investment costs are identical whether you use our link or go directly to the platform

2. Our Affiliate Partners

We maintain affiliate relationships with carefully selected investment platforms and financial services providers. Our current affiliate partner categories include:

2.1 US Investment Platforms

2.2 UK Investment Platforms

2.3 Property Investment Platforms

2.4 Books and Publications

We earn affiliate commissions on books sold through Amazon and other retailers. When you purchase investment or personal finance books through our recommendations, we may earn a small commission (typically 4-8% of the sale price).

3. How We Choose Partners

3.1 Our Evaluation Criteria

Before recommending any platform, we evaluate:

• Fees and costs: Account fees, trading commissions, expense ratios, hidden costs
• Investment options: Breadth of mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds available
• Account minimums: Accessibility for beginners vs. high-net-worth investors
• Platform quality: Website usability, mobile app functionality, research tools
• Customer service: Availability, responsiveness, quality of support
• Regulatory status: FCA authorization (UK), SEC registration (US), investor protections
• Educational resources: Quality of guides, calculators, and learning materials
• User reviews: Real user experiences and satisfaction ratings

3.2 What We DON’T Recommend

We do NOT recommend platforms that:

• Charge excessive or hidden fees
• Have poor customer service records
• Are not properly regulated (FCA, SEC)
• Have serious complaints or legal issues
• Use aggressive or misleading marketing tactics
• Prioritize sales over client interests

4. When We Disclose Affiliate Links

We disclose affiliate relationships in multiple locations:

• In articles: First mention of affiliate link includes disclosure (e.g., “affiliate link – we may earn commission”)
• In comparison tables: Platform names that are affiliate links are clearly marked
• In disclaimers: Educational disclaimers at top of articles mention affiliate relationships
• On this page: Comprehensive disclosure of all affiliate relationships
• In footer: Link to this Affiliate Links page in site footer

5. Interactive Calculators and Tools

Some of our interactive calculators (Roth IRA calculator, HSA calculator, property investment calculator) may include affiliate links in the results or recommendations. For example:

• A calculator might recommend opening a Roth IRA and link to Fidelity (affiliate partner)
• An HSA calculator might suggest specific HSA providers (some may be affiliate partners)
• A property investment calculator might reference crowdfunding platforms (affiliate partners)

6. No Obligation to Use Our Links

You are NOT required to use our affiliate links. You can:

• Go directly to any platform’s website without using our links
• Research and compare platforms independently
• Choose platforms we don’t mention or have no affiliate relationship with
• Use comparison sites or financial advisors to find platforms

Our goal is to provide valuable education. If our affiliate links help support that mission and you find value in our content, we appreciate your support. If you prefer not to use affiliate links, we completely understand.

7. Non-Affiliate Recommendations

We frequently recommend platforms and services where we have NO affiliate relationship, including:

• Government websites (IRS, HMRC) for tax information
• Regulatory bodies (FCA, SEC) for investor protection resources
• Research institutions for academic studies
• Some investment platforms that don’t offer affiliate programs
• Financial planning tools and calculators from third parties

This demonstrates our commitment to recommending the best resources regardless of affiliate status.

8. What You Should Know

9. Changes to Affiliate Relationships

Our affiliate partnerships may change over time as we:

• Add new partners that meet our quality standards
• Remove partners that no longer meet our standards
• End partnerships where commission structures change unfavorably for users
• Adjust partnerships based on reader feedback and platform performance

We update this page to reflect current affiliate relationships. The “Last Updated” date indicates when this page was last revised.

10. Regulatory Compliance

10.1 FTC Compliance (United States)

This disclosure complies with the US Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

10.2 CMA Compliance (United Kingdom)

This disclosure complies with the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s guidance on online endorsements.

11. Questions About Affiliate Links

If you have questions about our affiliate relationships or this disclosure, please contact us:

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Transparency Commitment: We believe in complete transparency about how we earn revenue. This page provides full disclosure of our affiliate relationships. If you ever have concerns about whether our affiliate relationships compromise our editorial integrity, please contact us directly.