Editorial policy

Who writes and reviews

All articles are written or reviewed by Richard Parslow, a Texas-licensed independent life insurance broker (NPN 20873424, Texas License #3076729) with appointments across 30+ A-rated carriers. Every article carries a visible byline and a "Last updated" date so readers know exactly who stands behind the content and when it was last checked.

Source hierarchy

We prioritize primary sources in this order:

1. Statute and code — U.S. Code (especially IRC §§ 101, 7702, 7702A), the Texas Insurance Code, and Treasury regulations.
2. Regulators — the IRS, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), the NAIC, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
3. Standards bodies — FINRA, the Society of Actuaries, the American Academy of Actuaries, and the ACLI.
4. Carrier filings and rate manuals — used only to illustrate current pricing, never to establish a legal or tax claim.

Citation practice

Every statutory, tax, or rate-based claim links to its source at the point of use. A consolidated "Sources & further reading" list appears at the end of each article for reader verification. Secondary sources (established consumer publishers, carrier educational pages) are cited only for illustration, never as the sole basis for a legal or tax claim.

Review and update cycle

Articles are reviewed at least annually and whenever a cited statute, IRS limit, or TDI rule changes. When a factual claim is revised, the "Last updated" date at the top of the article is revised the same day. Articles that reference specific carrier pricing include an explicit note that rates are illustrative and change frequently.

AI use

We may use AI tools to draft outlines, summarize public documents, or check grammar. Every published article is edited and fact-checked by Richard Parslow before publication; nothing is published as raw AI output, and no claim, quote, or statutory citation is left in an article without human verification against the primary source.

Corrections

Spot a factual error or an out-of-date citation? Use our contact form. Verified corrections are made promptly; the "Last updated" date is revised the same day, and a short correction note is added to the article when a previously published fact was materially wrong.

Independence

No carrier owns, employs, sponsors, or pays bonuses tied to recommending its product on this site. No article is sponsored, gifted, or paid for. Compensation to Richard Parslow comes only from standard carrier commissions when a reader chooses to place a policy through this brokerage — the same state-filed premium regardless of point of sale.