MISSION STATEMENT
Kiplinger helps readers make smart financial decisions at all stages of life. We are the pioneer of personal finance journalism and have earned our readers’ loyalty with authoritative, unbiased advice that has helped make them the most affluent audience in the category. Our readers are intelligent and action-oriented, and they tend to trust our advertisers as much as they trust our advice.
The company is known for its website, Kiplinger.com, as well as The Kiplinger Letter, a weekly business and economic forecasting periodical, and the monthly Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. We also publish a line of print and email newsletters.
Editorial Standards
Since its founding in 1920, the Kiplinger organization has been committed to doing business with the highest standards of ethical professionalism.
That means dealing honestly, openly, and compassionately with all our key stakeholders — employees, subscribers, vendors, and our community. In addition to being the right way to act, this adherence to high ethical standards, we believe, has been very important to our company’s success.
We exist through the patronage and trust of our users. We serve them with information and judgment that is accurate, timely, relevant to their needs, and fairly priced.
We treat every subject with balance and fairness, giving both sides of the issue and doing our best to check stories for accuracy. We are never “out to get” anyone, promote a cause, or boost anyone’s commercial or political interests. We simply seek to give our readers useful, factual information, coupled with our own best judgment.
Kiplinger assigns pieces to in-house writers or outside contributors who have expertise, experience, and subject matter knowledge relating to the assignment and who understand the Kiplinger policy of fact-checking and ensuring accuracy. Every piece published by Kiplinger is reviewed by at least one editor before publication.
At times, Kiplinger will publish content from outside contributors who are not a part of the Kiplinger editorial team as we believe there is benefit in providing different voices and points of view. Content provided by those who are not part of the Kiplinger editorial staff or engaged as a Kiplinger writer is clearly identified.
We have a long tradition of reader service. We take readers’ suggestions and complaints seriously, responding quickly and courteously to their inquiries. In short, we treat our customers the way we would like to be treated ourselves.
Corrections Policy
We will do nothing that would cause our readers to question the independence, objectivity, and fairness of our editorial judgment. We strive for accuracy and transparency as a way to build and maintain trust with our readers. We correct errors that mislead readers or misstate facts or that could have an impact on our readers’ financial decision-making and actions.
Advertising and Commercial Policy
We always aim to provide unbiased editorial created by our journalists and writers. We also need to pay our teams and website costs so we make money in a number of ways. We sometimes use affiliate links to products and services on retailer sites, for which we can receive compensation if you click on those links or make purchases through them. From time to time, we also publish advertorials (paid-for editorial content) and sponsored content on the site. When this is the case, the content is clearly marked as sponsored or promoted, so you’ll always know which content is editorial and which is not. Future PLC is our parent company and has more information on its terms and conditions page.
Occasionally, an advertiser will partner with editorial on a poll or other data-intensive project, and such sponsorship will be clearly labeled.
Journalistic integrity
We disclose to our immediate editors any potential conflict of interest (investment, family relationship, etc.) that could preclude a reporter from covering a topic with objectivity.
We do not accept any fee — paid either to the individual employee or to Kiplinger — for public speaking and personal appearances, lest receiving money from a commercial interest might favorably incline us toward their products or point of view, or simply give the appearance of such inclination.
Affiliate Disclosure
We independently review products, services, or locations, relying on the expertise of our writers and contributors, or results of surveys of readers or others. Where we link to products or services on this website, we may earn affiliate commissions from those buying links. The content of these reviews has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of the entities we recommend.
Investment Policy
We believe that Kiplinger’s readers benefit from the expertise of our staff writers, editors, and columnists, and that Kiplinger advice is better informed if the staff itself participates in the actions it advises. (We “eat our own cooking,” as it were.) Accordingly, Kiplinger employees, freelancers, contractors, and columnists are allowed to own securities of entities about which they have written, commented, or reported recently, provided the editorial activity would not likely have an impact on the securities or their price.
All Kiplinger employees are expected to conduct themselves at all times in a manner that leaves no grounds for belief, or even suspicion, that an employee, an employee’s family, or anyone else connected to an employee made financial gains by acting pursuant to "inside" information obtained through the course of the employee’s work. Furthermore, no employee may profit from news, data, or information learned in the course of employment that has yet to be made public. We will not publish any story critical of any investment in which the author has a short position.
Methodology Disclosure
How We Choose and Rank
For decades, Kiplinger has had a successful history of independently considering and reviewing a wide variety of products, services, businesses, and locations, among other subjects. Kiplinger readers have been able to trust the expertise and judgment used by Kiplinger in making its selections. Kiplinger uses different methodologies to evaluate subjects based on the product and type of evaluation. These include:
- Evaluation by an expert. At times Kiplinger uses staff experts and knowledgeable contributors to evaluate products, businesses, places, and services. These Kiplinger experts base their assessments on personal research and evaluation, as well as any special criteria established for that particular ranking.
- Scoring based on quantitative or qualitative criteria. Some Kiplinger rankings and ratings are based upon evaluations that use quantitative or qualitative scoring systems.
- Surveys. Kiplinger recommends some products, services, businesses, or other subjects based upon surveys. At times, these surveys are the result of contributed appraisals from readers. At other times, Kiplinger uses reputable third-party survey providers or in-house survey expertise in crafting and executing surveys. When surveys are used, Kiplinger ensures the surveys are independent and follow best practices methodologies.
Kiplinger Contact Information
Mailing address:
Kiplinger
130 West 42nd Street, 7th Floor
New York
NY 10036
Subscriber Services: 800-544-0155 or email Subscriber Services
Advertising and Sales: email Ad Sales
Logo and Accolade Licensing, Reprints and Permissions
To utilize Kiplinger’s content in a variety of media, please visit our licensing partner, Adcetera at Adcetera.com.
Kiplinger Products
Kiplinger.com
This popular website provides actionable information on personal finance topics, with specialized “channels” covering investing, retirement, taxes, personal finance, home, “your business,” and wealth creation. Other popular topics include shopping and insight into getting the best deal. Kiplinger staff experts and outside contributors lend their voices to provide actionable advice.
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine
Kiplinger’s monthly magazine advises its readers on managing their money, covering investing, retirement planning, taxes, insurance, real estate, buying and leasing a car, health care, travel, and financing college.
Founded in 1947 as Kiplinger Magazine (subtitled "The Changing Times"), it was the first magazine to offer money management advice to the American people. Kiplinger Magazine changed its name to Changing Times (subtitled: "The Kiplinger Magazine") in 1949, and it was known by that name until 1991, when it was renamed Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. For 33 years after its founding, it existed entirely on subscription and single-copy revenue, but in 1980 began carrying advertising.
Editorially, Kiplinger's magazine has championed over the decades a number of personal finance strategies and investment products that later became popular "conventional wisdom," especially in the areas of investing and insurance.
The Kiplinger Letter
Launched in 1923, The Kiplinger Letter is considered the most widely read business forecasting periodical in the world. Its subscribers include people in the management of for-profit and non-profit enterprises, both large and small—businesses, government agencies, universities and schools, trade associations, unions, etc.
In four pages of text each week, the Letter alerts its clients to what is likely to happen in business and the economy; legislation and regulation in Washington and the states; demographics; technology; world affairs; politics; and investing. The Letter is nonpartisan and does not advocate for or against any particular outcome or point of view.
The Kiplinger Tax Letter
With tens of thousands of biweekly subscribers, the Kiplinger Tax Letter is the most widely read tax advisory newsletter in the U.S., with readers at law and accounting firms, corporate CFO and general counsel offices, and the homes of high-net-worth individuals. In four pages each issue, covering both business and personal taxation, the Letter advises its readers on coming changes in tax law and regulations; recent rulings and interpretations by the IRS, Tax Court and states; and strategies for minimizing taxes. It was launched in 1925.
Kiplinger’s Retirement Report
This popular monthly periodical, begun in 1993, covers all the key concerns of affluent older Americans — including those who are not yet retired, retired, and considering or planning retirement. Topics covered include investing, estate planning, health, long-term care, leisure and travel, family, work, and housing.
Kiplinger’s Investing for Income
Each month, this periodical provides its readers with tips to ensure a steady income through investments. Four rotating portfolios explain how to use dividend stocks, bonds, REITs, and other investments to ensure a constant stream of income.
