AdvisoryHQ Selection Criteria and Ranking Methodologies
AdvisoryHQ utilizes a wide range of selection methodologies to rank and select the firms, products, and services that are included in our various top ranking publications.
Our methodologies are often highly detailed and well-documented, and they include a multi-step selection structure. For example, AdvisoryHQ developed a breakthrough “Top-Down Advisor Selection Methodology” for selecting top financial advisors and investment management firms.
This methodology was based on a wide range of filters, including fiduciary duty, independence, transparency, level of customized service, history of innovation, fee structure, quality of services provided, team excellence, and wealth of experience.
Below is a list of AdvisoryHQ’s highly detailed selection methodologies:
- Methodology for Selecting Top Credit Cards
- Methodology for Selecting Top Banks & Credit Unions in the U.S.
- Methodology for Selecting Top Banks & Credit Unions in Canada
- Methodology for Selecting Top Banks & Building Societies in the U.K.
- Methodology for Ranking Top Advisors in the U.S and U.K.
- Methodology for Ranking Top Advisors in Canada
- Methodology for Selecting Top Accounting Firms
- Methodology for Selecting Top Software Applications
For all other categories, we normally include the selection factors within the articles themselves. In addition, within the review sections of our top-ranking publications, we provide a detailed review of the selection factors for each firm, product, or service.
High-Level Methodology Process
From a high-level perspective, below is a summary of how AdvisoryHQ conducts its top ranking selections.
Using publicly available sources and databases, AdvisoryHQ identifies a wide range of firms, products, or services within a particular industry, geographic location, or segment.
After applying comparison selection factors, the writer/editorial team is able to narrow the list down to the top firms, products, software, services, apps, accounts, cards, or functions that are included in our finalized top ranking publications.
Depending on the type of ranking (firm, product, or service) as well as the industry and segment, below is a list of some comparison selection factors we might consider:
- Transparency
- Performance
- Ease of use
- Features
- Comprehensiveness
- Popularity
- Level of customized service
- Security level
- History of innovation
- Fees / Yields / APR / APY
- Cost
- Quality of services provided
- Team excellence
- Experience
- Scale of service
- Requirements
- Rewards
- Benefits
- Options
- Rates
- Size
- …and many more
During our selection, a big focus is given to firms or products that have a large footprint and provide a vast array of benefits to the end consumer.
Our focus is on the everyday consumer. All of our research and publications are conducted from the end-user consumer’s (and NOT from companies’) perspective, and we publish our top-ranking reviews for anyone to view for free.
We give consumers exactly the information they need without any hype or jargon. Our writing and editorial teams spend countless hours and days reviewing each and every firm and product that we review.
AdvisoryHQ’s Objectivity
AdvisoryHQ’s reviews and top ranking publications are always 100% independently researched and written.
Firms do not pay to be included in our ranking. In fact, most firms do not even realize that they are being reviewed by AdvisoryHQ until our reviews have been completed and made available to the public.
Read more about AdvisoryHQ’s Objective Approach.
All Topics & Categories
Click below to view AdvisoryHQ’s sitemap that contains a list of all AdvisoryHQ categories.
