Batch 10 QA Notes — Sentinel Review

Date: 2026-03-24

Overall Status: NEEDS_FIXES

One file has a factual math error that must be corrected before publishing.

---

File: batch-10-real-cost-of-inflation-on-savings.md

Issue: Incorrect real-return calculation in Scenario 1

Location: The "Why Cash Is Not a Safe Asset Over Long Periods" section, Scenario 1.

Current text:

"Nominally, your account grows to roughly $67,500. But in real terms, accounting for inflation, your purchasing power has actually declined to the equivalent of about $45,000 in today's dollars."

The problem: The math does not check out. Working through the numbers:

• $50,000 × (1.015)^20 ≈ $67,350 nominal ✅ (article rounds to $67,500 — acceptable)
• Real value: $67,350 ÷ (1.03)^20 = $67,350 ÷ 1.8061 ≈ $37,290

The article states ~$45,000 as the real value, which overstates purchasing power by roughly $7,700 (~21% error). This is a fabricated/incorrect figure that could mislead readers.

Suggested fix: Replace "about $45,000 in today's dollars" with "about $37,000 in today's dollars" (or more precisely ~$37,300). The paragraph's conclusion — that real wealth declined despite saving — remains valid and actually becomes stronger with the correct number.

Corrected sentence:

"But in real terms, accounting for inflation, your purchasing power has actually declined to the equivalent of about $37,000 in today's dollars. You saved diligently for 20 years and ended up with less real wealth than you started with."

---

Files Passing All Checks ✅

| File | Frontmatter | 1200+ words | Stats plausible | No stock tips | No return guarantees | CTA correct | Readable | |------|------------|-------------|-----------------|---------------|----------------------|-------------|----------| | batch-10-dollar-cost-averaging-explained.md | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | batch-10-how-to-read-earnings-report.md | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | batch-10-growth-stocks-vs-value-stocks.md | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | batch-10-what-is-stock-buyback.md | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | batch-10-real-cost-of-inflation-on-savings.md | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ (see above) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |

---

Action Required

Fix the Scenario 1 real-value figure in batch-10-real-cost-of-inflation-on-savings.md (change ~$45,000 → ~$37,000), then re-submit for approval.