Affiliate Disclosure

Transparency is our foundation. Here's how we earn money while maintaining editorial independence.

💡 Transparency First

We earn affiliate commissions when you purchase prep courses through our links.

This costs you nothing extra and helps us keep our reviews free and independent. Prices are identical whether you use our links or not.

Our rankings are merit-based only. We will never recommend an inferior product just because it pays higher commissions. Editorial independence is our foundation.

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a common business model where we earn a commission when you purchase a product through our links. Here's how it works:

  1. You click a link on our Site to a prep course provider (e.g., Kaplan, Achievable, STC)
  2. You purchase a course from that provider
  3. The provider pays us a commission (typically 10-30% of the purchase price)
  4. You pay the same price - affiliate links do not increase your cost

This model allows us to provide free, high-quality reviews without charging readers. The course providers cover our costs through affiliate commissions.

How We Earn Money

We earn revenue in the following ways:

  • Affiliate commissions: Earned when you purchase through our links to course providers
  • Commission rates vary: Different providers pay different commission rates (typically 10-30%)
  • No sponsored content: We do not accept payment for reviews, rankings, or favorable coverage
  • No pay-to-play: Course providers cannot pay for better placement or higher rankings

Important: We have affiliate relationships with most major Series exam prep providers, including Kaplan, Achievable, STC, Knopman Marks, and others. Not all providers have affiliate programs, and some we review do not pay us commissions.

Editorial Independence

Our rankings are determined by merit, not money. Here's how we maintain editorial independence:

15 Objective Criteria

Rankings are based on 15 weighted criteria including question quality, content accuracy, mobile app functionality, practice exam realism, and more. Commission rates are NOT a factor. See our Methodology for the complete scoring system.

Anonymous Testing

We purchase all courses anonymously at full price. No promotional access, no review copies, no special treatment. We experience the same onboarding and content as you would.

Honest Cons

Every review includes genuine drawbacks - even for top-ranked courses. We don't sugarcoat problems to protect affiliate commissions.

Commission-Agnostic Rankings

If the best course pays us nothing, we'll still rank it #1. Similarly, if a high-commission course is mediocre, we'll rank it accordingly. Merit trumps money, always.

Example: If Course A pays a 30% commission and Course B pays 10%, but Course B has better questions, more accurate practice exams, and a superior mobile app, we will rank Course B higher - even though it costs us money.

We believe long-term trust is worth more than short-term commissions. Our reputation depends on honest reviews, so that's what we deliver.

What This Means for You

Here's what you should know as a reader:

  • No extra cost: Affiliate links do not increase the price you pay. Prices are identical whether you use our links or go directly to the provider.
  • Supports free content: Affiliate commissions allow us to offer free, comprehensive reviews without charging readers or accepting sponsored content.
  • You're not obligated: You can visit providers directly if you prefer. We'd appreciate your support via our links, but it's not required.
  • Trust our rankings: We have no financial incentive to mislead you. A bad recommendation damages our reputation more than a lost commission.

Our goal: Help you choose the best prep course for your needs, not the course that pays us the most.

Our Transparency Commitment

We hold ourselves to the highest standards of transparency:

  • Anonymous purchases: We buy all courses anonymously at full price (no promotional access)
  • Rigorous testing: Team members test each course for 2-4 weeks before publishing reviews
  • Quarterly re-reviews: Courses change - we re-review quarterly to ensure rankings reflect current quality
  • Clear disclosure: Affiliate relationships are disclosed on all pages with affiliate links
  • Public methodology: Our review process is fully documented on our Methodology page
  • Honest opinions: We publish genuine pros and cons, not marketing copy

FTC Compliance Statement

SeriesExamReview complies with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on endorsements and testimonials (16 CFR Part 255).

Material connection disclosure: We have a financial relationship with most Series exam prep providers through affiliate programs. This means we may receive compensation when you purchase through our links.

Honest opinions: All reviews, opinions, and recommendations on this Site are our own. We do not make deceptive claims, and we clearly disclose our affiliate relationships. Our goal is to provide honest, useful information to help you make informed decisions.

Questions About Our Affiliate Relationships?

We're happy to answer any questions about how we earn money or maintain editorial independence.

Email: [email protected]

Learn more:
About Us - Our team and mission
Review Methodology - How we test and rank courses

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