Privacy Policy

Effective Date: [Insert Date]
Website: [Insert Website URL]
Publisher: [Soundmark Research / Legal Entity Name]

Soundmark Research, referred to in this Privacy Policy as “Soundmark,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit our website, subscribe to our research, receive our emails, purchase a subscription, or otherwise interact with our services.

Soundmark provides general market research and educational content. We do not provide personalized investment advice, portfolio management, or individualized financial recommendations.

By using our website or subscribing to our content, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect information directly from you, automatically through your use of the website, and from third-party service providers that help us operate the website and subscription service.

Information You Provide to Us

We may collect information such as:

• Name

• Email address

• Billing information

• Subscription status

• Account or login information

• Messages or inquiries you send to us

• Preferences related to email communications or subscription settings

If you purchase a paid subscription, payment information may be processed by a third-party payment provider. We do not intend to store full payment card numbers on our own systems.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical and usage information, including:

• IP address

• Browser type

• Device type

• Operating system

• Pages visited

• Referring website

• Date and time of visit

• Approximate location derived from IP address

• Cookie and analytics identifiers

• Interaction data, such as email opens or link clicks

Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from service providers used to operate Soundmark, including newsletter platforms, payment processors, analytics providers, hosting providers, and email delivery services.

2. How We Use Information

We may use collected information to:

• Provide access to Soundmark content

• Send daily, weekly, or monthly research updates

• Manage free and paid subscriptions

• Process payments and renewals

• Respond to inquiries

• Improve website functionality and user experience

• Analyze readership, traffic, and engagement

• Protect against fraud, misuse, or unauthorized access

• Maintain business records

• Comply with legal, tax, accounting, and regulatory obligations

• Send administrative messages, including policy updates or account notices

We do not use subscriber information to provide personalized financial advice.

3. Cookies and Analytics

We may use cookies, pixels, analytics tools, and similar technologies to understand how visitors use our website and content.

These technologies may help us:

• Remember user preferences

• Measure website traffic

• Understand which content is read most often

• Improve website performance

• Track email engagement

• Support subscription and login functionality

You may be able to control cookies through your browser settings. Some parts of the website may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

If we use analytics or advertising tools in the future, we may update this Privacy Policy to describe those practices more specifically.

4. How We Share Information

We may share information with third parties only as reasonably necessary to operate, improve, and protect Soundmark.

This may include sharing information with:

• Website hosting providers

• Newsletter and email service providers

• Payment processors

• Analytics providers

• Customer support tools

• Legal, accounting, compliance, or tax advisers

• Security and fraud-prevention providers

• Business successors in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets

• Government authorities or regulators when required by law

We do not sell your personal information in the ordinary sense of exchanging it for money.

We also do not provide your personal information to third parties so they can personally advise you about investments.

5. Payment Information

If you purchase a paid subscription, payment processing may be handled by a third-party provider such as Stripe, Substack, or another payment processor.

Those providers may collect payment card details, billing information, transaction history, and other information needed to process payments.

We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any payment processor or subscription platform used to complete your transaction.

6. Email Communications

If you subscribe to Soundmark emails, we may send you:

• Daily post-close model briefs

• Weekly market reports

• Monthly research reviews

• Research notes

• Subscription updates

• Administrative messages

You may unsubscribe from marketing or research emails by using the unsubscribe link included in those emails or by contacting us at [insert email address].

We may still send administrative messages related to your account, payment status, subscription, or legal notices.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide our services, maintain business records, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and protect our rights.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the purpose for which it is used.

8. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

However, no website, email system, payment system, or internet transmission is completely secure. You use Soundmark at your own risk.

9. Your Privacy Choices

Depending on where you live, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information.

These may include the right to:

• Request access to personal information we hold about you

• Request correction of inaccurate information

• Request deletion of certain information

• Object to or restrict certain processing

• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

• Opt out of certain communications

• Request information about categories of personal information collected, used, or disclosed

California privacy guidance, for example, emphasizes that privacy notices should describe categories of information collected, purposes of use, and rights available to consumers.

To make a privacy request, contact us at:

[Insert Privacy Contact Email]

We may need to verify your identity before responding to certain requests.

10. Washington and U.S. Privacy Notice

Soundmark Research is operated from Washington State, United States.

We collect and use personal information only as reasonably necessary to operate the website, manage subscriptions, send research updates, process payments, respond to inquiries, improve our services, protect our business, and comply with legal obligations.

Depending on applicable law, you may request that we:

• Confirm whether we hold personal information about you

• Provide access to certain personal information

• Correct inaccurate information

• Delete certain personal information

• Stop sending non-essential email communications

To submit a privacy request, contact us at:

[Insert Privacy Contact Email]

We may need to verify your identity before responding to certain requests.

We do not sell personal information in the ordinary sense of exchanging it for money. We also do not use personal information to provide individualized investment advice.

11. International Visitors

Soundmark is operated from the United States. If you access the website from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored in, or processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.

Privacy laws in those countries may differ from the laws in your country.

For users in the United Kingdom, European Union, or similar jurisdictions, privacy notices should generally explain who controls the data, why data is processed, what legal basis applies, how long data is retained, who receives the data, and what rights individuals have.

Where required, we will process personal information based on a lawful basis such as consent, contract performance, legitimate interests, legal obligations, or another basis permitted by applicable law.

12. Children’s Privacy

Soundmark is not intended for children under 13 years of age, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us at [insert email address], and we will take appropriate steps to delete that information.

13. Third-Party Links

Our website or emails may include links to third-party websites, platforms, articles, tools, payment providers, or services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of third-party websites or services. You should review the privacy policies of those third parties before providing information to them.

14. Financial Research Disclaimer

Soundmark may publish market commentary, model states, volatility analysis, ETF-related research, performance information, and educational content.

This content is general and impersonal. It is not based on your individual financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, tax position, or portfolio holdings.

We do not use personal information to create individualized investment recommendations.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

If we make material changes, we may notify users by posting the updated policy on our website, updating the effective date, or sending an email notice where appropriate.

Your continued use of Soundmark after an updated Privacy Policy is posted means you accept the revised policy.

16. Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy or to submit a privacy request, contact us at:

Soundmark Research
Email: [Insert Privacy Contact Email]
Website: [Insert Website URL]
Mailing Address: [Optional Business Mailing Address]