Site transparency reference
Labels and Review Terms
A central explanation of the labels OpenBook Planning uses for calculators, articles, references, source links, review cadence, and CLARITY categories.
Purpose
Why the labels exist
Labels help readers scan the site, identify the role of a page, and see whether a value or page is tied to a source-review process. They are editorial and maintenance labels. They are not personal recommendations, ratings, certifications, guarantees, or a substitute for reading the page context and source notes.
Publication status
Availability labels
| Label | Used for | Meaning | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta | Calculators | The calculator is public while online testing and review continue. | The label does not change the educational-only nature of the calculator. |
| Draft | Articles | The article is public while final live review is still in progress. | Draft article pages can still be indexable when intended for public review. |
| Planned | Reference lists, roadmaps, future items | The item is expected but is not yet available as a finished public page or tool. | Planned items may change scope, name, or timing. |
| Being reviewed | Unavailable or maintenance pages | The page or item is under review before it is restored, rebuilt, or expanded. | This is an availability label, not a source-approval label. |
Review status and cadence
How review labels work
| Label | Axis | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reviewed | Review status | The value or content has been checked against the stated source set. | Reference data and source-backed pages. |
| Review required | Review status | The value or content needs focused source review. | Tax data, benefit values, or pages awaiting verification. |
| Data review required | Review status | The tool or page may be usable, but source data or assumptions still need review. | Calculator governance and data-heavy tools. |
| Annual review | Review cadence | The item is normally checked once per year or when the source changes. | Tax brackets, contribution limits, projection assumptions, annual benefit values. |
| Quarterly review | Review cadence | The item is normally checked quarterly. | OAS/GIS payment tables and CRA prescribed interest rates. |
| Evergreen review | Review cadence | The content is not tied to one tax year, but still needs periodic editorial review. | Foundational articles and conceptual references. |
| Event-driven review | Review cadence | The item is checked when legislation, program administration, or source structure changes. | Rules that do not follow a fixed update calendar. |
Sources and content role
Source, role, and depth labels
| Label family | Examples | Meaning | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source relationship | Source-linked, CRA source-linked, Canada.ca source-linked, FP Canada / IFP source-linked, Retraite Quebec source-linked | The page provides visible source links or cites a named source family. | A source label does not guarantee that the source page has not changed after review. |
| Content role | Cornerstone, Reference, Calculator, Tool, Article, Guide | The label describes why the page exists in the OpenBook Planning learning system. | Role labels are navigation aids, not quality rankings. |
| Complexity | Foundational, Intermediate, Advanced | The label describes reading depth or tool complexity. | A foundational page can still contain important technical limits. |
| Topic category | Tax Planning, Retirement Planning, Mortgage & Debt, Government Benefits, Estate Planning | The label groups pages by subject so related pages can be found more easily. | Some pages belong to more than one topic. |
CLARITY Framework
Framework category labels
The CLARITY Framework™ is OpenBook Planning's organizing framework. The name CLARITY remains the same across languages. The supporting category descriptions can be translated later.
| Category | Plain meaning | Common page types | Translation note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Flow | Income, spending, savings, and withdrawal flow. | Budgeting, retirement income, cash-flow calculators. | Translate the description, not the CLARITY name. |
| Liabilities | Mortgages, debt, borrowing cost, and repayment pressure. | Mortgage and debt calculators. | French labels should use natural capitalization. |
| Assets | Investment, account, home, and other asset values. | Investment, registered account, and projection tools. | Use locale-aware number and currency formatting. |
| Retirement Readiness | Retirement timing, savings, public pensions, and decumulation. | Retirement, CPP/QPP, OAS, RRIF, and pension pages. | Keep engine logic language-neutral in calculators. |
| Insurance & Risk | Protection needs, risk exposure, and resilience. | Emergency fund, insurance, and scenario pages. | Translate user-facing text through language files when available. |
| Tax Optimization | Taxable income, credits, rates, account type, and tax character. | Tax calculators and tax reference pages. | High-review translation domain because tax wording is sensitive. |
| You | Personal context, goals, tradeoffs, and household assumptions. | Goal calculators, articles, and planning framework pages. | Use neutral language and avoid advice wording. |
Limits
What labels do not mean
A review label shows the state of OpenBook Planning's source-checking process at the date shown on the relevant page. It does not guarantee that a government source, financial institution rule, legislation, administrative practice, or linked page has not changed since the last review. Where a calculator depends on current tax, benefit, or legal values, the data source and review metadata are part of the calculator context.