Privacy
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how The Retirement Index (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects information when you visit theretirementindex.com, subscribe to our newsletter, use our contact forms, or click outbound links. Privacy questions and rights requests may be sent to privacy@theretirementindex.com.
Information we collect
We collect the following categories of information:
- Contact information you choose to provide, such as name, email address, organization, and message content.
- Newsletter information, such as email address, subscription status, unsubscribe activity, and email-delivery data.
- Website usage information, such as pages viewed, referring page, approximate location, device and browser information, clicks, session activity, and timestamps.
- Affiliate-link information, such as the outbound link clicked, time of click, referring page, and tracking identifiers used to attribute referrals.
- Technical information, such as IP address, cookie identifiers, device identifiers, browser type, operating system, and security logs.
Do not submit Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, passwords, medical information, tax documents, or other sensitive personal information through our forms.
How we use information
We use information to:
- operate and secure the site;
- respond to correction requests, reader questions, company submissions, vendor inquiries, and press requests;
- send newsletters you request;
- measure which pages and links are useful;
- improve usability and content structure;
- attribute paid-link referrals;
- detect spam, abuse, or security issues;
- maintain records of editorial, legal, privacy, and compliance requests.
Analytics and session measurement
We use Google Analytics 4 and Microsoft Clarity to understand how readers use the site, improve page performance, identify usability problems, and measure which pages and links are useful.
Google Analytics may use cookies and similar identifiers to measure user interactions. You can opt out of Google Analytics using the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. IP anonymization is enabled where supported.
We do not intentionally send names, email addresses, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, health information, tax documents, or other sensitive personal information to analytics providers.
Where legally required, we ask for consent before setting non-essential analytics cookies. In the EEA, UK, Switzerland, and other jurisdictions where prior consent is required, non-essential analytics and session-measurement tools should not run until the user has granted the applicable consent.
Microsoft Clarity disclosure
We use Microsoft Clarity to see how users interact with our website through behavioral metrics, heatmaps, and session replay. We use this information to improve site design, readability, navigation, and content quality. Website usage data may be captured using cookies and other tracking technologies. For more information about how Microsoft collects and uses data, review Microsoft’s privacy statement.
Cookies
We use cookies and similar technologies for analytics, site functionality, security, and affiliate attribution. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Where a consent banner is shown, you can accept, reject, or change non-essential cookie preferences.
Newsletter
If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect the email address you submit and store it with our newsletter provider for the purpose of sending the newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any newsletter email.
Contact forms and company submissions
If you submit a contact form, correction request, company submission, vendor inquiry, or press request, we collect the information you provide so we can review and respond to the message. Company submissions do not guarantee coverage, ranking, favorable language, or removal of accurate criticism.
Affiliate links and third-party networks
When you click a paid provider link, the destination company or affiliate network may collect information about that click and any subsequent activity in accordance with its own privacy policy. We do not control third-party websites, affiliate networks, provider sites, or their privacy practices.
How we disclose information
We may disclose information to:
- analytics providers;
- newsletter providers;
- website hosting and security providers;
- form, email, and customer-support tools;
- affiliate networks and provider partners for referral attribution;
- professional advisers, such as lawyers, accountants, or compliance consultants;
- government, legal, or regulatory authorities when required by law or necessary to protect rights, safety, or security.
Sale or sharing of personal information
We do not sell personal information for money. Some analytics, advertising, or affiliate technologies may be considered “sharing” or “sale” under certain privacy laws if they are used for cross-context behavioral advertising, referral attribution, or similar tracking. If The Retirement Index becomes subject to a law requiring a “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” option, we will provide that option and honor applicable opt-out signals, including Global Privacy Control where required.
How long we keep information
We keep contact-form messages for up to 24 months unless a longer period is needed to resolve a correction, legal, vendor, privacy, or security issue. Newsletter records are kept until you unsubscribe or request deletion, plus a reasonable period for compliance records. Analytics data is retained according to the retention settings in Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, and related tools. Security logs may be retained as needed to protect the site.
Your privacy rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to request access, correction, deletion, portability, restriction, objection, withdrawal of consent, or opt-out of certain processing. To submit a request, email privacy@theretirementindex.com. We may need to verify your request before responding.
California privacy rights
If we are subject to the California Consumer Privacy Act or similar state privacy laws, eligible residents may have the right to know, access, correct, delete, opt out of sale or sharing, limit certain uses of sensitive personal information, and avoid discrimination for exercising privacy rights. To exercise these rights, email privacy@theretirementindex.com.
International users
The Retirement Index is operated from the United States. If you access the site from outside the United States, your information may be processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.
Children
The site is intended for adults researching retirement decisions and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by an updated “Last reviewed” date at the top of this page.
Contact
Privacy questions and requests may be sent to: privacy@theretirementindex.com.