How Financialist Ranks and Rates Companies
What goes into each ranking, what the scores mean and what they do not.
What the scores mean
Where a ranking page shows a weighted score, the number on Compare is that score. Where a ranking is an editorial shortlist, the number on Compare reflects the company's position in that list (first place 4.9, then 4.8, 4.7 and so on). It is not a test result or a measure of the offer you will get.
Method by category
Savings accounts
Ranked on the APY you can actually get (not teaser rates), minimums, fees, and the bank's record of staying competitive after it wins your deposit. Published APYs from September 2026 roundups (NerdWallet, Forbes Advisor, Motley Fool Money), cross-checked against bank-published rates.
Credit cards
Editorial shortlist of widely available rewards structures: published rewards, annual fees, eligibility caveats and regulator guidance. Welcome bonuses are left out of the ranking. Issuer product pages and CFPB guidance, checked September 28, 2026. We did not apply for or test the cards.
Personal loans
Weighted score. Lender-published terms, re-verified at each update. Rates move, so treat the table as a dated snapshot.
| Factor | Weight |
|---|---|
| APR range and transparency | 30% |
| Fees including origination | 20% |
| Borrower experience | 20% |
| Funding speed | 15% |
| Eligibility breadth | 15% |
Mortgage lenders
Editorial ranking by loan types offered, online experience and fit by buyer type. The full ranking page explains each pick. See the sources on the full ranking page.
Student loan refinance
Editorial ranking by loan terms, rate precision and fit by borrower. Refinancing federal loans gives up federal protections, which the guide explains first. See the sources on the full ranking page.
Auto insurance
Started from the 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study (52,216 respondents), then kept companies a typical driver can buy from nationally or in most states. Regional winners are real policyholder scores. J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, fielded April 2025 to April 2026.
Index funds
Cost first: core funds charge 0.06% or less unless a specific strategy justifies more. Expense ratios cross-checked with fund providers and Morningstar on September 28, 2026, plus Motley Fool's September index-fund roundup for performance context.
Debt relief
Weighted score. Company-published fees and minimums, re-verified at each update. Companies cannot pay for placement.
| Factor | Weight |
|---|---|
| Fee structure and transparency | 25% |
| Operating track record | 25% |
| Verified customer experience | 20% |
| State availability | 15% |
| Program flexibility | 15% |
LLC formation
Editorial ranking on total cost, what is included, and what actually matters when forming an LLC. The full page has a head-to-head comparison. See the sources on the full ranking page.
Gold IRAs
Weighted score. Current published minimums and fee structures, re-verified at each update.
| Factor | Weight |
|---|---|
| Fee transparency and total cost | 30% |
| Sales-process conduct | 25% |
| Verified customer experience | 20% |
| Buyback terms | 15% |
| Minimum accessibility | 10% |
What we do not do
We do not apply to products to test approval, and we do not accept payment for placement. Pros and cons per company are on each full ranking page.