Editorial Policy
How Up The Gains researches, writes, and reviews the money content you read on this site.
Up The Gains exists to make money simple for UK readers. That mission only works if you can trust what we publish. This page explains how our content gets made, where our numbers come from, when we update things, and the lines we will not cross.
How we create content
Every article on Up The Gains carries a named byline. Most pieces are written by our editorial team. Where a guest writer or outside contributor produces a piece, their name appears on the post and they sit within the same editorial standards as everyone else.
Our product reviews use a methodology we call “Personally Tested”. Before we write about an investing app, a savings platform, or a fintech product, we open an account and use it. That means real deposits, real withdrawals, and real customer support interactions where relevant. We do not review products we have not used.
Every draft is reviewed by a second editor before publication, with particular focus on factual accuracy, regulatory language, and whether the post genuinely helps the reader.
Our sources
We rely on primary sources wherever possible. The ones we go back to most often are:
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) for wages, inflation, and household data
- HMRC for tax thresholds, allowances, and personal tax rules
- gov.uk for state pension, benefits, and official guidance
- Bank of England for base rate and monetary policy
- FSCS for deposit and investment protection limits
- FCA for the regulated status of firms and consumer warnings
- Provider rate cards, fee schedules, and KIIDs published by the platforms themselves
- Statista and other recognised data providers where ONS or HMRC do not cover a stat
Every financial figure in our content is checked at the time of writing against the primary source. Where we cite a number, we link to where it came from.
When we update content
UK personal finance moves with the tax year and with Bank of England decisions. Our content has to move with it.
We refresh affected articles when:
- A new tax year starts and personal allowances, ISA limits, or tax bands change
- The state pension is uprated
- The Bank of England changes the base rate, where it materially affects what a post says
- A provider changes its fees, interest rate, or product range
- A regulatory change (FCA rules, FSCS limits, HMRC guidance) affects the guidance on a page
Posts show their last-reviewed date so you know how current the figures are.
What we don’t do
Up The Gains does not give regulated financial advice. Everything you read here is educational. We help you understand your options, explain how products work, and share what we have learned. We do not tell you what to do with your money.
No one on our editorial team is an FCA-authorised financial adviser. If you need personal advice on investments, pensions, mortgages, or tax, please speak to an authorised adviser. You can check the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk to confirm an adviser’s status before working with them.
Capital is at risk with any investment. Past performance does not predict future returns. Where a product is regulated, our reviews include the relevant FSCS and FCA context so you can make an informed choice.
Who runs Up The Gains
You can read about the team behind Up The Gains, including the editorial lead, on our .