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 Pillars.
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. |
| Temporarily unavailable | Unavailable or maintenance pages | The page or item is not currently available and may be restored, rebuilt, or expanded later. | This is an availability label, not a source-approval or quality label. |
Source dates and review cadence
How source labels work
| Label | Axis | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last checked | Public source date | Shows when the source-backed value or page was last checked. | Reference data and source-backed pages. Internal notes may still track review status separately. |
| Source-linked | Source context | The value or content is tied to source notes or a review cadence. | Tax data, benefit values, or source-backed pages. |
| Source data note | Source context | The tool or page uses source data or assumptions that should be read with the stated source context. | Calculator governance and data-heavy tools. |
| Annual source check | 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 public source date shows when OpenBook Planning last checked the relevant source set. It does not guarantee that a government source, financial institution rule, legislation, administrative practice, or linked page has not changed since that date. Where a calculator depends on current tax, benefit, or legal values, the source date and source notes are part of the calculator context.