How Pulsafi sources its numbers
Personal finance content is only as trustworthy as the sources behind it. Every Pulsafi statistic, calculator, and rate quote is grounded in primary data — government agencies, the Federal Reserve, and major financial institutions. We never fabricate numbers, and we mark every page with the period the data covers.
Editorial principles
Primary sources first
Every statistic on Pulsafi traces back to a primary source: BLS, Census, IRS, Federal Reserve, SSA, FDIC, or a peer-reviewed industry report. We do not source numbers from secondary aggregators when a primary source exists.
Dated and timestamped
Every stat displays the period it covers (e.g., '2026-Q1' or '2025 tax year'). When source data updates, we mark the page with a new dateModified timestamp in our schema. Old numbers don't quietly persist.
Transparent calculations
Calculator math is fully shown — formulas, assumptions, and inputs. We use standard amortization for mortgages, the 4% rule for retirement (citing Trinity Study), and current IRS tables for taxes.
No fabricated data
We do not invent numbers, project beyond what's defensible, or smooth uncomfortable data. When a stat is unavailable for a specific cut, we say so rather than estimate.
Update cadence
Tax brackets, contribution limits, and IRS thresholds: annually within 30 days of IRS release. Mortgage rates and APYs: weekly. BLS salary data: annually within 60 days of OEWS release. Census/Federal Reserve: annually.
Primary data sources
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for salary data by job and metro; Consumer Price Index for inflation; Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW).
Used in: Salary pages (city × job), tax-bracket pages, inflation stats
American Community Survey (ACS) for household income; Housing Vacancy Survey for homeownership rates; Demographic and Economic Statistics.
Used in: Income stats, housing stats, cost-of-living comparisons
Annual Revenue Procedures for federal tax brackets, contribution limits, and deduction amounts; Statistics of Income (SOI) for effective tax rate data.
Used in: Tax-bracket pages, contribution limit stats, effective tax rate data
Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) for household net worth and asset breakdowns; H.15 statistical release for interest rates; Federal Funds Rate.
Used in: Net worth stats, interest rate references, savings rate benchmarks
Annual COLA fact sheets, Trustees Reports, and benefit statistics for monthly benefits, full retirement age, and maximum benefit calculations.
Used in: Social Security stats, retirement planning content
National Rates and Rate Caps for savings, money market, and CD APYs; bank deposit data.
Used in: Savings rate benchmarks, CD rate snapshots
Annual report on 401(k) participation, balances, and contribution patterns across millions of plan participants.
Used in: Average and median 401(k) balance stats by age
Existing Home Sales report, Median Home Price reports, Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers (down payment data).
Used in: Home price stats, down payment averages
Annual closing-cost reports by state, used for refinance and purchase fee estimates.
Used in: Refinance calculator state defaults, mortgage cost analysis
Calculator math
Mortgage payments use the standard amortization formula: P × [r(1 + r)n] ÷ [(1 + r)n − 1], where r is the monthly rate and n is total months. Property taxes and insurance use state averages from the sources above. Retirement projections use the 4% safe withdrawal rate (Trinity Study, 1998) unless otherwise stated.
Tax calculations use current-year IRS Revenue Procedures for federal brackets and standard deductions. State tax uses the top marginal rate per state — actual liability is lower because of progressive state brackets, but the difference is typically under 1% of total tax owed for most household incomes.
Cost-of-living calculations use composite indices from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) and ACS data. The national baseline is set at 100; values above 100 represent costs above national average.