Getting Personal with Finances

Tip Sheet

The Getting Personal with Finances tip sheet includes a Timeline & Source List template spreadsheet, an Investigative Checklist and suggested Source List. It also includes a Personal Financial Disclosure analytical spreadsheet template that makes it easier to understand officials' personal finances and how they've changed over time.

Make sure to check out the recording of this workshop session here.

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Timeline & Source List Template

Useful Sources

Always search the Internet and proprietary databases in addition to the sources listed below.

Personal Financial Disclosures

• Where to find federal financial disclosures & ethics disclosures:

  • House

  • Senate

  • Office of Government Ethics

  • The White House

• House PFD Template and Senate PFD Template for you to use! 

  • If you’d like to use this for a candidate, please make a copy of the templates. 

• Instructions for filing financial disclosures (useful reading to understand the rules and what’s in the disclosures)

  • House 

  • Senate

• State-level Financial Disclosures

• OpenSecrets Personal Finances Breakdown

Determining Business Interests

• OpenCorporates

• Links to all Secretary of State business searches

• Delaware Secretary of State business search

• Florida Secretary of State business search

• Nevada Secretary of State business search

• Texas Secretary of State business search

• Database for UCC Filings

• SEC EDGAR

• Federal Audit Clearinghouse (government contractor audits)

• Crunchbase (investors are often listed under the “Financials” tab of a company’s profile)

Property Records

• County tax assessors & recorders of deeds

  • BRB State & County Public Records 

  • Black Book Online

  • Secretary of State Entity Searches

• Real Estate websites, such as: 

  • Zillow

  • Trulia

  • Redfin

• Google Earth Pro (desktop app is better than web access)

• Google Maps Street View

Vehicles & Vessels

• State DMVs

• Federal Aviation Administration

• Aircraft photo websites

  • Jetphotos

  • Planespotters

• Aircraft tracking websites

  • ADS-B Exchange

  • Flightradar24

  • FlightAware

• US Coast Guard Port State Information Exchange

• Vessel tracking websites: MarineTraffic

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Investigative Checklist

Personal Finances

• Does the candidate own additional properties?

• Has the candidate previously owned other properties?

• Does the candidate owe unpaid property taxes?

• Does the candidate own, lease, or use any cars, watercraft or aircraft?

• Has the candidate’s stock ownership or compensation been detailed in any SEC filings?

• Has the candidate been identified as a debtor in any liens, judgments, or UCC filings?

• Has the candidate been party to a bankruptcy proceeding?

• What are the candidate’s hobbies and with whom does the candidate practice them?

Personal Financial Disclosures

• Are the candidate’s financial disclosures accurate?

• Are there debts or liens that the candidate failed to report?

• Are there any gifts, income, or assets that the candidate has failed to report?

• Does the candidate report stock ownership or transactions in any financial disclosures?

Other questions

• Did they meet deadlines?

• Have they met all of the disclosure requirements?

• Are there gifts or business connections that raise conflicts of interest questions?

🚨 These Tip Sheets are incredible resources, best used in conjunction with their live, hands-on workshop session component. Watch the recording of this session here.

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Questions or comments about Sunlight's workshops and resources? Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@sunlightsearch.net