Product ranking methodology
OfficialFinancial ranks products by Best Fit, not by the highest rate or the largest payout. Eight weighted factors produce a 0–100 fit score. We disclose every material relationship and never let compensation determine whether a product is a fit.
Scoring factors and weights
| Factor | Weight | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Roadmap fit | 25% | How well the category matches the user's intended use (emergency fund, short-term goal, long-term invest, tax-advantaged, spending). |
| Financial benefit | 20% | APY for deposits, expense ratio for funds, APR for loans/cards. Teaser rates are partially discounted. |
| Fees & costs | 15% | Monthly, annual, per-transaction, and expense-ratio fees. |
| Risk & safety | 15% | FDIC/NCUA verification (cash), SIPC (brokerage). Unverified insurance is heavily penalized; missing insurance is hard-gated for cash. |
| Liquidity / access | 10% | Time to access funds: immediate, days, months, years, locked. |
| Tax efficiency | 5% | Roth/HSA/529 score full credit; T-bills get state-tax credit; ordinary HYSA/CD interest scores lower. |
| Convenience | 5% | Minimum deposit/balance friction. |
| Source freshness | 5% | How recently the record was reviewed. Older than 90 days drops confidence to low. |
Source: src/lib/engine/products/types.ts:SCORING_WEIGHTS — published in code so the weights cannot drift silently.
Ranking categories you will see
- Best Overall Fit — top weighted score that meets the hard insurance gate (cash categories require FDIC or NCUA).
- Highest Rate / Highest Yield — for transparency, even when not the best overall fit.
- Best No-Fee Option — no monthly, annual, or minimum-balance friction.
- Best for Simplicity — easy access, low minimums, common bank apps.
- Best for High Balances — products designed for large deposits.
- Best for Fast Access — same-day or next-business-day transfers.
- Best for Tax Efficiency — Roth, HSA, 529, or muni-specific.
- Best for Advanced Users — manual ladders, multi-step strategies.
- Not a Fit Yet — does not match your intended use, eligibility, or risk profile.
Affiliate disclosure
OfficialFinancial may earn compensation from some partners. Compensation does not determine whether a product is a fit for your roadmap. We show why each option is ranked and disclose material relationships.
FAQ
- Is the highest rate always best?
- No. Highest APY can come with minimum-balance gating, teaser-rate risk, slow transfers, or unverified insurance. Best Overall Fit weighs roadmap fit, fees, safety, liquidity, tax efficiency, convenience, and source freshness in addition to rate.
- Do affiliate relationships affect rankings?
- No. Affiliate flags are surfaced in disclosures but never add points to fit_score. A non-affiliate product will outrank an affiliate one whenever its weighted score is higher.
- How fresh is the data?
- Each ProductRecord carries a last_reviewed date. Records older than 30/90/180 days reduce ranking confidence (high → medium → low). The Product Data Agent re-runs on a schedule and proposes updates for admin approval.
- Can I see why a product was ranked higher for me?
- Yes. Every recommendation shows why_it_fits, why_it_may_not_fit, source_confidence, what_would_change, and any coverage warning.
- What about FDIC/NCUA insurance limits?
- If your intended deposit plus what you already hold at the same institution exceeds the $250,000 per-depositor limit, the engine surfaces a coverage warning regardless of how well the product otherwise scores.
Product rankings are educational and based on available data, user inputs, and published methodology. Rates, fees, and terms can change. Always verify details with the provider before opening an account.