Cookie & Data Usage Policy

What Are Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit clearwayconsult.com. Think of them as digital breadcrumbs that help us remember your preferences and improve your experience with our budget planning platform. Beyond traditional cookies, we also use web beacons, pixel tags, and local storage technologies to collect information about how you interact with our financial tools.

These technologies work silently in the background – you won't notice them, but they're constantly helping us understand which features you use most, where you might be struggling with your budget setup, and how we can make your financial planning journey smoother.

Types of Tracking We Use

How Tracking Enhances Your Experience

Here's where tracking actually benefits you directly. When you're setting up a monthly budget and accidentally close your browser, our session cookies ensure you don't lose your work. If you always prefer viewing expenses in a specific category order, functional cookies remember that preference.

Our analytics help us discover that most users struggle with categorizing irregular expenses, so we built better guidance tools. We noticed people often abandon budget setup at the income verification step, leading us to simplify that process significantly.

Data Retention and Your Control

We don't keep tracking data forever. Most analytics data gets aggregated and anonymized after 90 days, while functional preferences might be stored longer to maintain your personalized experience. Essential cookies typically expire when you close your browser, though some security-related ones may last up to 30 days.

You have several options for controlling this data collection. Your browser settings allow you to block all cookies, though this will significantly impact platform functionality. You can also selectively delete cookies or set your browser to ask permission before storing new ones.

Third-Party Tracking and Integrations

Some tracking on our platform comes from integrated services – analytics providers, security monitoring tools, and performance optimization services. These partners have their own privacy policies and data handling practices. We carefully select partners who meet our privacy standards, but you should be aware that some data may be processed by these third parties.

We also use tracking to prevent fraud and ensure platform security. This includes monitoring for unusual login patterns, detecting potential automated attacks, and identifying suspicious behavior that might compromise user accounts or data.

Updates to Our Tracking Practices

As we add new features to our budget planning platform, our tracking practices may evolve. We'll update this policy to reflect significant changes in what data we collect or how we use it. We recommend checking this page periodically, especially if you have specific privacy concerns about financial data.

Major changes will be clearly communicated through our platform notifications, and you'll always have the option to adjust your preferences or discontinue using our services if you're not comfortable with new tracking practices.