The reader’s research desk

Compare the whole question, not one number

A blank comparison sheet helps expose missing information without pretending to select a winner.

Define what you are comparing

Begin with a sentence naming the exact options and the purpose of the comparison. Are the options the same product, quantity, condition and delivery arrangement? If not, note the differences before putting numbers side by side. A precise label can reveal that the comparison needs to be redesigned.

Record the currency, quote date and source for every figure. Leave an unknown field blank and label it unknown. A zero is a number; an unanswered question is different. Treating them differently makes the worksheet more honest.

Give each assumption its own row

The original comparison worksheet in our reader resources provides rows for quoted amount, additional charges, time assumptions and open questions. These are prompts for research, not a statement that any particular fee exists or applies to your situation. Confirm the relevant terms with the actual source.

Keep a separate row for how an option could be unwound or changed. Write the questions you would ask about the process and what information is missing. Avoid calculating a confident final result while important inputs remain undefined.

Record why the result could change

Finish with a short sensitivity note: which assumption would most change the comparison? You do not need a sophisticated model to notice that an uncertain delivery term or an out-of-date quote makes a confident conclusion premature.

The worksheet is designed to improve a conversation with a qualified adviser or relevant provider. It is not a calculator of investment suitability or future returns. You can use it alongside a book, a current source or your own research and keep the decision separate from the work of gathering information.