Sources and Updates

We select sources based on what the calculator needs them to support. Rules, statutory values, official limits, and historical data are checked against authoritative sources whenever possible. Planning assumptions may rely on different evidence and are reviewed based on how they are intended to be used.

For each source, we record the organization, title, link, and relevant publication or retrieval dates. We also review how the source is applied inside the calculator, because a reliable source does not automatically mean a value or rule has been interpreted or implemented correctly.

We store important reference values, such as tax tables, official limits, historical data, and approved planning defaults, in a centralized system rather than repeating them inside individual calculators. This helps us maintain one reviewed source of data that can be used consistently wherever it applies.

When reference data changes over time, we can add new values without immediately replacing the current ones. Future-year data can be prepared in advance and activated when appropriate, while prior-year records remain available unless we are correcting an error.

Each calculator Reference page includes a curated list of sources that support important rules, values, data, or methodology used by the calculator. We explain what each source supports and include the applicable year or date when that context matters.

These lists are intentionally focused rather than exhaustive. They highlight the sources most useful for understanding the calculator without reproducing every implementation reference, test benchmark, or background resource used during development and review.

We track how often important sources are expected to change and review them on a schedule that matches that cadence. Some values, such as annual tax limits, may change once a year, while other data may follow a different update cycle.

When new information is released, we review the change before updating AdvisorCalc. That includes confirming the effective date, comparing the new information with other authoritative or supporting sources when appropriate, and checking how the change affects the calculators that rely on it. We then update the relevant data, tests, examples, and documentation before treating the new information as current.