Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Advisers ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform.

By using Advisers, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when using our service:

• Account Information: Name, email address, password, bio, and website/portfolio URL
• Profile Information: Any additional information you choose to add to your profile
• Content: Forum posts, comments, messages, goals, marketplace listings, and other content you create
• Payment Information: Billing details processed securely through Stripe (we don't store full credit card numbers)
• Communications: Messages you send to us or other users
• Founding Member Information: For applicants, portfolio URLs, revenue claims, and referral information

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you access our platform, we automatically collect:

• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, features used, interactions with content
• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Cookies: Session cookies and authentication tokens (see our Cookie Policy below)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Provide Services: Create and maintain your account, enable community features
• Process Payments: Handle subscriptions, billing, and payment processing through Stripe
• Communication: Send account updates, community announcements, AMA notifications, and founding member expiration reminders
• Founding Member Program: Evaluate applications, verify portfolio submissions, validate revenue claims, and track trial expiration
• Moderation: Monitor content for compliance with community guidelines
• Improvement: Analyze usage patterns to improve our platform and features
• Security: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
• Legal Compliance: Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 Public Information

The following information is visible to other Advisers members:

• Your name and profile information
• Forum posts, comments, and votes
• Weekly goals (if you choose to make them visible)
• AMA registrations and participation
• Marketplace activity

4.2 Third-Party Service Providers

We share information with trusted third parties who help us operate:

• Stripe: Payment processing (subject to Stripe's privacy policy)
• Hosting Providers: Cloud infrastructure and database hosting
• Analytics Services: Usage analytics and performance monitoring

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or to:

• Comply with legal processes
• Protect our rights, property, or safety
• Prevent fraud or abuse
• Investigate violations of our Terms of Service

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption of data in transit using HTTPS/TLS
• Secure password hashing using bcrypt
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms
• Secure payment processing through PCI-compliant Stripe

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services.

• Active Accounts: Data retained while your subscription is active
• Canceled Accounts: Some data retained for legal and operational purposes
• Founding Member Data: Portfolio URLs, revenue claims, and referral information retained for 12 months after program expiration for record-keeping and compliance
• Deletion Requests: You can request full deletion (see Your Rights below)

7. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information in your account settings
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Portability: Request your data in a portable format
• Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails (account emails still required)
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances

To exercise these rights, contact us through the platform or email us with your request.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Essential Cookies: Required for authentication and core functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Understand usage patterns and improve our platform
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling essential cookies may affect platform functionality.

9. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to external websites (e.g., marketplace deals, member portfolios). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party sites. Please review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

10. Children's Privacy

Advisers is not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, we will delete it immediately.

11. International Users

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. By using Advisers, you consent to the transfer of your information to our servers and third-party service providers, wherever located.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. Continued use of Advisers after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us through:

• The contact form in your Advisers account
• The General category in our forum
• Direct message to moderators through the platform