Transparency

Disclosures

Last updated: May 2026 · By Michael Azzolina · CPA · MBA

Current status

Simple Money Advice has no paid endorsements, affiliate relationships, or sponsored content as of May 2026. Every company, product, or service named on this site is something I use personally. No one pays me to mention them.

Why this page exists

Personal finance content on the internet has a trust problem. A lot of it is engineered to get you to click an affiliate link, and the recommendations reflect that. I built this site because I think there's a real gap between what people are told and what actually works, and I wanted to fill it with honest takes from someone who has lived it professionally and personally.

Part of keeping that credible is being transparent about money. So this page exists to tell you exactly where things stand, including what I plan to do in the future.

Company and product mentions

Several articles on this site name specific companies and products. These are things I personally use. I was not approached by any of them, I do not have a commercial relationship with any of them, and I receive no compensation of any kind for the mentions.

Named companies and products — current status

Wells Fargo My personal checking account. Started using it at my first job because there was a branch across the street. Still there. No relationship

Fidelity My personal brokerage and investment accounts. I use Fidelity's index funds (FSKAX, FXNAX) in my own portfolio. No relationship

AMEX Savings My personal high-yield savings account. I chose it for the yield. No relationship

Monarch Money The budgeting app I personally use for a high-level view of my finances. No relationship

Vanguard / Schwab Named alongside Fidelity as brokerages with strong index fund selections. I do not personally use them but consider them legitimate alternatives. No relationship

What will change — and what won't

The plan for this site is to build a useful audience first, then introduce partner and affiliate relationships where they make sense. That is the honest version of how content businesses work, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise.

My commitment: any paid or affiliate relationship will be disclosed clearly, at the top of any content where it's relevant, in plain language. The disclosure will say who paid, what for, and whether I used the product personally. It will not be buried in a footer in 10-point font. If I can't say something positive about a product I've actually used, I won't take the deal.

This page will be updated whenever a new relationship is added. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects when the content was last changed. If nothing has changed, the date stays the same.

Not financial advice

Everything on this site is general educational content based on my experience and research. I am a CPA and have 15+ years in corporate finance, but I am not your financial advisor. Nothing here is tailored to your individual situation. Before making significant financial decisions, talk to a licensed financial professional who knows your specific circumstances.

I believe most of what I write, but I also make mistakes, and the world changes. If you see something that looks wrong, I genuinely want to hear about it.