Editorial Policy & Standards
The Vibe Check
"Financial publishing is broken when rankings are sold to the highest bidder. At BrokerSearch.net, our editorial process is simple: **we open real accounts, run trades, measure execution slippage, and calculate exact cash sweep haircuts**. If a broker charges a 1% FX markup or buries a $50 inactivity toll, we highlight it in bold—regardless of commercial partnerships."
1. Our Four Editorial Pillars
Every broker review, comparison matrix, and financial tool published on BrokerSearch.net must adhere to four mandatory research principles:
| Pillar | Standard Requirement | How We Enforce It |
|---|---|---|
| Empirical Testing | Data must come from live account usage, public fee schedules, or central bank benchmark data. | We fund real accounts to evaluate order execution, withdrawal speeds, and platform UX. |
| Complete Independence | Monetization teams hold zero veto or edit access over research ratings or text. | Commercial partnerships (`/go/` links) are isolated from our scoring algorithms. |
| Ruthless Drag Disclosures | Every broker review must prominently list hidden costs alongside marketing headlines. | Mandatory "Fee Trap" boxes detail cash sweep haircuts, PFOF drag, and FX markups. |
| Quarterly Recalibration | Fee schedules, margin rates, and regulatory statuses must be continuously verified. | Our Python audit scripts run quarterly audits across broker fee schedule changes. |
2. How We Test and Score Brokers
Rather than copying promotional material, our research desk evaluates platforms across six core categories:
Data Factors We Measure
- Real Equity & Option Costs: Base ticket charges, options contract markups, and exchange fees.
- Cash Sweep Drag: Default APYs on idle cash versus central bank benchmark rates (4.50% reference).
- Margin Borrowing Interest: Borrowing tiers evaluated against base institutional lending rates.
- Execution Mechanics: Direct Market Access (DMA) vs. Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) internalization.
- Regulatory Protection: Tier-1 oversight (SEC, FINRA, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, CBI) and segregation of funds.
What Disqualifies a Broker
- Unregulated or off-shore regulatory licensing with no investor protection funds.
- Inability to provide transparent fee schedules or bid-ask spread documentation.
- Deceptive withdrawal policies or undocumented account closure fees.
- Attempts to bribe or compensate our editorial team for rating enhancements.
3. Fact-Checking & Correction Standards
Financial terms, interest rates, and regulatory guidelines change rapidly. We maintain strict accuracy standards across all content:
• Correction Protocol: If a fee schedule changes or an editorial typo is discovered, our desk updates the article within 24 hours. Material changes to scoring logic or broker terms are documented in the review's meta header.
• User Reporting: Readers who spot outdated spreads, broken tools, or unannounced fee changes are encouraged to submit corrections directly to our fact-checking team.
Valerie's Editorial Promise
"We write for individual investors, not corporate marketing departments. If a broker is great for long-term IRAs but terrible for margin day trading, we will state that directly. Your financial clarity is our single priority."
Our Promise:
Transparent fee breakdowns, mathematical scoring models, and uncompromised review verdicts.
Report an Issue:
Have a fact check or fee update to share? Email editorial@brokersearch.net.