Financial Tier ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data. Please read it carefully.
1. Information We Do NOT Collect
All calculations performed on Financial Tier run entirely in your web browser using JavaScript. Financial data you enter into our calculators — including income, mortgage amounts, debt balances, retirement savings, tax information, or any other numbers — is never transmitted to our servers, never stored in any database, and never shared with any third party. This is by design, not just policy.
2. Information We Do Collect
2.1 Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand aggregate website traffic. GA4 automatically collects:
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- General geographic location (country/state level — not precise location)
- Browser type, device category (desktop/mobile/tablet)
- Referral source (how you arrived at our site)
- Anonymized IP address
Google Analytics does not have access to any financial data you enter into our calculators. We use this data solely to understand which calculators are most useful and to improve the site. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
2.2 Google AdSense
We display advertising through Google AdSense. Google and its partners may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this website or other websites. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings. We do not control the data Google collects for advertising purposes; please review Google's Privacy Policy.
2.3 Contact Form
If you submit a message via our Contact page, we collect your name, email address, and message content. This information is used solely to respond to your inquiry and is not used for marketing or shared with third parties.
2.4 Cookies
We use strictly necessary cookies for website functionality (session management). We use analytics cookies (Google Analytics) and advertising cookies (Google AdSense) with your consent. You can manage cookie preferences at any time via our cookie consent banner.
3. How We Use Information
- Google Analytics data: to improve calculator utility, understand user needs, and optimize page performance
- Contact form data: to respond to your message
- Advertising cookies: to display relevant ads via Google AdSense (Google controls this entirely)
We do not sell, rent, or trade any user data to any third party.
4. Data Retention
- Google Analytics data: retained for 14 months per our GA4 settings
- Contact form submissions: retained for 12 months then deleted
- Calculator inputs: never stored (processed client-side only)
5. Your Rights (GDPR / CCPA)
Depending on your location, you may have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including:
- Right to access: Request a copy of personal data we hold about you
- Right to deletion: Request deletion of your personal data
- Right to opt out: Opt out of Google Analytics and personalized advertising
- Right to portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
To exercise these rights, contact us. We will respond within 30 days. Because we collect minimal data, most requests will be satisfied by confirming we hold no personal financial data about you.
6. Children's Privacy
Financial Tier is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
7. Security
Our website uses HTTPS (SSL/TLS) encryption for all connections. Since calculator inputs are never transmitted to our servers, there is no server-side data storage risk for your financial information. Contact form submissions are transmitted via encrypted connections.
8. Third-Party Links
Our articles and calculators may contain links to third-party websites (IRS.gov, FRED, Bankrate, etc.). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. Please review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Significant changes will be noted at the top of this page with a new "last updated" date. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
10. Contact
For privacy questions, requests, or concerns, please use our contact form. We aim to respond within 5 business days for privacy-related requests.