1. Editorial Independence Commitment
The core principle that guides WikEst is editorial independence. We believe readers deserve real estate and mortgage information that is written in their interest, not in the interest of an advertiser or partner. To protect this principle:
- WikEst editors and writers do not accept payment from third parties to alter the conclusions, recommendations, or data presented in any article, guide, or calculator.
- All editorial content is subject to the fact-checking and compliance review process described in our Editorial Policy, regardless of any commercial relationships.
- Any third-party relationship that could reasonably be viewed as a material connection is disclosed clearly to readers.
2. Affiliate & Partnership Relationships
As of the updated date of this policy, WikEst does not have active affiliate marketing partnerships or paid advertiser relationships. This may change in the future, and when it does, we will update this page and disclose the relationship on any affected content.
If you see a product or service mentioned on WikEst, you should assume the following:
- The mention is based on independent editorial assessment unless a disclosure is present.
- If a disclosure appears next to a link or recommendation, it indicates that WikEst may receive compensation if you act on that link — at no additional cost to you.
3. How Compensation May Be Disclosed
Where a material connection exists, disclosure will be provided in at least two of the following ways:
a. In-Content Disclosure
A clear statement near the recommendation or link, such as:
b. Page-Level Disclosure
A prominent disclosure at the top or bottom of the affected page.
c. Site-Wide Disclosure
This FTC Affiliate Disclosure page, linked from every footer on WikEst, serves as the persistent site-wide disclosure required by the FTC guidelines.
4. Affiliate Link Labeling
Where affiliate links are used:
- Each affiliate link is marked with an "#ad" or "Affiliate link" indicator that is visible before the link is clicked.
- The indicator is not hidden in hover text or accessible only through inspection.
- Affiliate links are not disguised as ordinary internal navigation or editorially-neutral links.
- The presence of an affiliate relationship is disclosed even if no compensation has been received yet.
5. No Guarantee of Outcomes
Any third-party product or service referenced on WikEst — whether through an affiliate relationship or not — is presented for informational purposes only. WikEst does not guarantee the quality, reliability, or suitability of any third-party product or service, and readers are responsible for conducting their own due diligence before engaging with any third-party provider.
6. Compliance with FTC Guidelines
This disclosure is designed to comply with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's "Disclosures: What Influencers and Marketers Need to Know" guidelines and the FTC's Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255). We review this page annually or whenever our commercial relationships change to ensure continued compliance.
For more information about the FTC's endorsement disclosure rules, readers may consult the FTC's official guidance.
7. Sponsored Content Policy
WikEst does not publish sponsored content. Any article or guide on WikEst is written by our editorial team or independently contracted subject-matter experts working under our editorial standards. Paid placement of content is not offered.
If a third party would like to collaborate with WikEst on an educational resource (for example, a jointly produced webinar or research piece), the collaboration would be disclosed clearly on the piece itself, and editorial control would remain with WikEst.
8. User-Generated Content
If WikEst hosts user-generated content such as reader comments or reviews, users will be required to disclose any material connection they have to the product or service they are reviewing. Comments that fail to include required disclosure may be removed.
9. Changes to This Disclosure
Any material change to WikEst's affiliate, advertising, or partnership relationships will be reflected on this page with an updated "Updated" date. Readers are encouraged to review this page periodically for the most current disclosure.
10. Questions
Questions about this FTC Affiliate Disclosure or about specific third-party relationships mentioned on WikEst can be directed through our Contact Us page.