TrailingStopLoss.com is reader-focused and independently operated. We make money through affiliate commissions and, on some firms, paid placement \u2014 and we keep a hard wall between that revenue and our editorial judgment. This page explains exactly where that wall sits, so you always know what our money relationships can and can\u2019t influence.
What is never for sale
Inclusion in our directories is earned, not bought. A firm makes the list only when it clears our published bar: 12+ months of continuous operation, a verifiable trader base, no credible cluster of non-payment complaints, and rule stability. Those criteria don\u2019t bend for advertisers. A firm we\u2019ve flagged for withholding payouts or collapsing on its traders cannot pay to be unflagged, softened, or quietly removed \u2014 and a firm that doesn\u2019t qualify cannot pay its way onto a directory.
What advertising can and can’t buy
Advertising can buy
- A clearly labeled Featured slot for a firm that already passes our editorial bar.
- More prominent visibility \u2014 placement, banners, dedicated callouts.
- Sponsored content that is labeled as sponsored.
Advertising can’t buy
- A listing in a directory the firm doesn\u2019t qualify for.
- A higher editorial ranking or a more favorable review.
- Removal or softening of a flagged status.
- Exclusion or burial of a competitor.
You’ll always know when something is paid
Paid placements are labeled Featured or Sponsored and kept visually distinct from our editorial rankings. Affiliate and paid links carry a sponsored attribute and an FTC disclosure. If a placement is paid, we say so on the placement itself \u2014 not buried in a policy page. Our editorial rankings and the firms-to-avoid list carry no paid links at all.
How affiliate links work here
Some links to firms we recommend are affiliate links: if you sign up through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Which firms we recommend, and how we rank them, is decided before any commission enters the picture \u2014 and firms we don\u2019t recommend get no affiliate links no matter how high the payout. You can always see current offers on the deals page, and the firms we warn against on the avoid page.
Interested in a featured placement?
We work with firms that clear our editorial bar and treat their traders fairly. If that\u2019s you, reach out via the contact page for current availability and rates. If your firm isn\u2019t in our directories yet, the path in is meeting the editorial criteria above \u2014 not the ad budget. We keep paid relationships short-term so we can end a placement quickly if a firm\u2019s conduct toward traders changes.
This policy reflects how we operate as of June 2026 and may be updated. Questions about a specific placement or disclosure? Use the contact page \u2014 we\u2019ll give you a straight answer.
