1. Acceptance of Privacy Policy

Welcome to pensionguidance.com (“Edu Pension”, “we”, or “us”) and our Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy is essential and impacts your legal rights, so please read it thoroughly.

By accessing or using pensionguidance.com and its various related websites and services (collectively, the “Edu Pension”), you agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy and all the terms incorporated herein by reference. By using Edu Pension and/or submitting or collecting any personal data via Edu Pension, you accept and expressly consent to our practices regarding the collection, use, and sharing of your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, you are not authorized to access, browse, or use Edu Pension.

Our processing of personal information, such as your name, address, email address, or telephone number, shall be consistent with the requirements of applicable privacy laws, including, but not limited to, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), and the Canadian Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

2. Information We Collect

2.1. Personal Information We Collect Directly from You

We collect personal information directly from you when you voluntarily provide it to us, including, but not limited to:

1. Personal information (such as your email address and phone number);

2. Company information (such as your company’s address); and

3. Other identifying information you voluntarily choose to provide, including unique identifiers such as passwords and personal information in messages you send to us.

We may also collect additional information, which may be personal information, as described to you at the point of collection or pursuant to your consent.

2.2. Information We Automatically Collect When You Use Our Site

To access and use certain areas or features of Edu Pension, you consent to our collection and use of certain information about your use of Edu Pension through tracking technologies or other passive means. This “passively collected” information includes, but is not limited to, the domain name of the website that directed you to Edu Pension, search engines used, the internet protocol (IP) address used, the length of time spent on Edu Pension, the pages viewed on Edu Pension, other webpages visited before and after Edu Pension, the type of device and/or internet browser used, the frequency of visits to Edu Pension, and other relevant statistics (collectively, “Traffic Data”).

3. How We Collect Information

We collect information (including personal information and Traffic Data) through your interactions with Edu Pension and, in some cases, from third-party sources. These means of collection include:

- When you use Edu Pension's interactive tools and services;

- When you voluntarily provide information in free-form text boxes through Edu Pension or through responses to surveys, questionnaires, and the like;

- If you use a location-enabled browser, we may receive information about your location and mobile device, as applicable;

- Through Cookies, web beacons, analytics services, and other tracking technology (collectively, “Tracking Tools”), as described below; and

- When you use the “Contact Us” function on Edu Pension, send us an email, or otherwise contact us.

4. Tracking Tools, Behavioral Advertising, and Opt-Out Options

4.1. Tracking Tools

We use various tools to provide Edu Pension, advertise to, and better understand users, including:

- Cookies: “Cookies” are small files transferred to your computing device that contain information such as user ID, user preferences, lists of pages visited, and activities conducted while using Edu Pension. We use Cookies to improve or tailor Edu Pension, customize advertisements by tracking navigation habits, measure performance, store authentication status, customize user experiences, and for analytics and fraud prevention. For more information on Cookies, including how to control your Cookie settings and preferences, visit

http://www.allaboutCookies.org

. You can manage Cookies in your web browser settings, and you always have the choice to accept, reject, or delete Cookies. Cookie settings vary by browser, so refer to the documentation and settings within your browser. The types of Cookies we use include:

- Absolutely necessary Cookies: Essential for enabling you to move around the website and use its features. Without these Cookies, services you have asked for, like adding items to an online order, cannot be provided.

- Performance Cookies: Collect information about how you use Edu Pension. Information collected includes browsers and operating systems used, the domain name of the website previously visited, the number of visits, average duration of visit, and pages viewed. These Cookies do not collect information that personally identifies you and only collect aggregated and anonymous information. Performance Cookies are used to improve user-friendliness and enhance your experience.

- Functionality Cookies: Allow Edu Pension to remember choices you make (such as your username or ID, language preference, or region) and provide enhanced, more personal features. These Cookies can also remember changes you have made to text size, fonts, and other customizable parts of web pages. They may also provide services you have asked for, such as watching a video or commenting on a blog. The information these Cookies collect may be anonymized, and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites.

- Web Beacons: “Web Beacons” (a.k.a. clear GIFs or pixel tags) are tiny graphic image files embedded in a web page or email that may be used to collect information about the use of Edu Pension, the websites of selected advertisers, and the emails, special promotions, or newsletters we send. The information collected by Web Beacons allows us to analyze how many people are using Edu Pension, selected publishers’ websites, or opening emails, and for what purpose. This information also enhances our interest-based advertising (discussed further below).

- Web Service Analytics: We may use third-party analytics services in connection with Edu Pension to register mouse clicks, mouse movements, scrolling activity, and text typed into Edu Pension. We use the information collected from these services to help make Edu Pension easier to use and as otherwise set forth in Section 5 (How We Use Your Information). These analytics services generally do not collect personal information unless you voluntarily provide it and do not track your browsing habits across web services that do not use their services.

- Mobile Device Identifiers: As with other Tracking Tools, mobile device identifiers help Edu Pension learn more about our users’ demographics and internet behaviors to personalize and improve the Site. Mobile device identifiers are data stored on mobile devices that may track mobile device data and activities occurring on and through it, as well as the applications installed on it. Mobile device identifiers enable the collection of personal information (such as media access control, address, and location) and Traffic Data.

4.2. Behavioral Advertising

We may use a type of advertising known as interest-based or online behavioral advertising. This means that some of our partners use Tracking Tools to collect information about a user’s online activities to display Edu Pension ads to the user based on their interests (“Behavioral Advertising”). These partners may include third-party service providers, advertisers, advertising networks or platforms, traffic measurement service providers, marketing analytics service providers, and other third-party service providers (collectively, “Advertising Service Providers”). Other Tracking Tools used by our partners may collect information when you use the Site, such as IP address, mobile device ID, operating system, browser, web page interactions, geographic location, and demographic information (such as gender and age range). These Tracking Tools help Edu Pension learn more about our users’ demographics and internet behaviors.

4.3. Options for Opting out of Cookies and Mobile Device Identifiers

If we process Cookies based on your consent (as indicated at the time of collection), you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at [email protected]. If you exercise this right, you may have to provide consent on a case-by-case basis for the use or disclosure of certain Cookies, if necessary, to enable you to utilize some or all of our services.

Some web browsers allow you to reject Cookies or alert you when a Cookie is placed on your device. You may also be able to reject mobile device identifiers by activating the appropriate setting on your mobile device. Although you are not required to accept Edu Pension's Cookies or mobile device identifiers, blocking or rejecting them may limit your access to certain features.

- You can opt out of receiving certain Cookies and trackers by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) opt-out page or the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) opt-out page or by installing the DAA’s AppChoice app on your mobile device. These opt-out features place an “opt-out” Cookie on your device indicating that you do not want to receive interest-based advertising from NAI or DAA member companies. If you delete Cookies on your device, you may need to opt out again. For information about opting out of interest-based advertising on mobile devices, visit http://www.applicationprivacy.org/expressing-your-behavioral-advertising-choices-on-a-mobile-device

. You will need to opt out of each browser and device separately.

- Even after opting out of Behavioral Advertising, you may still see Edu Pension advertisements that are not interest-based. Opting out does not stop Edu Pension from using Tracking Tools to collect information about your use of Edu Pension and serving advertisements to you based on that information.

This Privacy Policy does not cover the use of Cookies and other Tracking Tools by third parties, and we are not responsible for their privacy policies and practices. Be aware that some Cookies placed by third parties can continue to track your activities online even after you have left Edu Pension.

4.4. How Edu Pension Responds to Browser “Do Not Track” (DNT) Signals

Some web browsers incorporate a “Do Not Track” (DNT) feature that signals to web services that a visitor

does not want their online activity and behavior tracked. If a web service operator responds to a DNT signal, they may refrain from collecting certain personal information about the browser’s user. Not all browsers offer a DNT option, and there is no industry consensus on what constitutes a DNT signal. Therefore, many web service operators, including Edu Pension, do not proactively respond to DNT signals. For more information about DNT signals, visit http://allaboutdnt.com.

5. How We Use Your Information

We do not engage in automated decision-making. We may use information (including de-identified and/or aggregated information) to better understand who uses Edu Pension and how we can deliver a better user experience. We use information, including personal information, to provide Edu Pension and improve it, develop new services, and advertise (for example, to display Edu Pension ads on other web services). Specifically, we may use such information to:

- Provide you with the products, services, and information you request;

- Correspond with you;

- Provide, maintain, administer, or expand Edu Pension, perform business analyses, or support, improve, or enhance our business, Edu Pension, and other products and services we offer;

- Send you information about Edu Pension or our products or services;

- Combine information received from third parties with information we have about you and use the combined information for any of the purposes described in this Privacy Policy;

- Show you advertisements, including interest-based or online behavioral advertising;

- Use statistical information we collect in any way permitted by law, including from third parties in connection with their commercial and marketing efforts;

- Fulfill our legally required obligations, such as preventing, detecting, and investigating security incidents and potentially illegal or prohibited activities;

- Protect against or deter fraudulent, illegal, or harmful actions; and

- Enforce our Privacy Policy and other agreements.

By providing your email and/or phone number and checking a box, clicking the “complete” button, or some other affirmative action, you consent to receive emails and/or calls and text messages, including live, prerecorded, and/or automated calls and text messages and alerts, to that phone number. After signing up, you will receive a confirmation email or text message from Edu Pension on your mobile number. This agreement is not a term or requirement of any purchase or promotion. Standard message and data rates may apply.

Message frequency may vary. Neither we nor the participating carriers guarantee message delivery. We may discontinue these programs at any time without notice.

6. How We Share Your Information

In certain circumstances, and to perform Edu Pension, we may share information we collect from you, as described in this section:

- We sell your personal information to third parties with agreements in place with Edu Pension to enable such third parties to schedule appointments with you for the services you request through Edu Pension.

- We may share your personal information with our partners to customize or display our advertising.

- We may share your personal information and/or Traffic Data with partners who perform operational services (such as hosting, billing, fulfillment, data storage, security, insurance verification, web service analytics, or ad serving) and/or who make certain services, features, or functionality available to our users.

- To determine if users have interacted with content across multiple devices and match such devices, we work with partners who analyze device activity data and/or rely on your information (including demographic, geographic, and interest-based data). To supplement this analysis, we also provide de-identified data to these partners. Based on this data, we may display targeted advertisements across devices we believe are associated or use this data to further analyze usage of Edu Pension across devices.

- We may transfer your personal information to another company in connection with a proposed merger, sale, acquisition, or other change of ownership or control by or of Edu Pension (whether in whole or in part). If one of these events occurs, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you before your information becomes subject to different privacy and security policies and practices.

- We may need to disclose your personal information or any other information we collect about you if we determine in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to: (1) comply with or fulfill our obligations under applicable law, regulation, court order, or other legal process; (2) protect the rights, property, or safety of you, Edu Pension, or another party; (3) enforce this Privacy Policy or other agreements with you; or (4) respond to claims that any posting or other content violates third-party rights.

7. Storage and Security of Information

Please note that any information you send to us electronically, while using Edu Pension or otherwise interacting with us, may not be secure when transmitted. We recommend not using unsecure channels to communicate sensitive or confidential information. Despite our best efforts, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee “perfect security.” Any information you send us through any means is transmitted at your own risk.

8. Your Choices

8.1. Information You Provide

You can always choose whether or not to provide personal information through Edu Pension. However, if you choose not to disclose certain personal information, you may not be able to register as a user of Edu Pension, which may limit your access to certain portions of Edu Pension. We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your rights, including otherwise denying you goods or services, providing you with a different level or quality of services, or charging you different prices or rates for services.

8.2. California Privacy Rights

In the preceding 12 months, we collected and disclosed for a business purpose the following categories of personal information about California consumers: