Privacy Policy

At SmaartMoneyRoots, we are committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website, courses, and services. We comply with Canadian privacy laws, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We collect personal information that you provide directly to us, including:

• Name, email address, and phone number
• Age group and educational background
• Payment information (processed securely by third-party providers)
• Course progress and assessment results
• Communication preferences and feedback

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information:

• IP address and geographic location
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Device information and screen resolution
• Referring website information

2. How We Use Your Information

3. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information based on:

• Consent: When you voluntarily provide information and agree to our terms
• Contract Performance: To deliver the educational services you've purchased
• Legitimate Interest: To improve our services and communicate about relevant opportunities
• Legal Compliance: To meet Canadian regulatory and tax requirements

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our business:

• Payment processors (Stripe, PayPal) for transaction processing
• Email service providers for course communications
• Learning management system providers for course delivery
• Analytics providers to understand website usage

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, or legal process, or to protect our rights, users, or the public.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:

• SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Secure cloud storage with access controls
• Regular security audits and updates
• Employee training on privacy and security practices
• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected:

• Course Data: Retained during your enrollment and for 3 years after completion
• Contact Information: Retained until you request deletion or unsubscribe
• Payment Records: Retained for 7 years for tax and audit purposes
• Website Analytics: Aggregated data retained indefinitely, individual data for 2 years

7. Your Privacy Rights

Under Canadian privacy law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access and Portability

You can request a copy of your personal information and receive it in a commonly used format.

Correction

You can request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

Deletion

You can request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.

Withdrawal of Consent

You can withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time by unsubscribing or contacting us.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our website. For detailed information about our cookie practices, please review our Cookie Policy.

You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences, though this may affect some website functionality.

9. International Transfers

Your personal information is primarily stored and processed in Canada. Some of our service providers may be located outside Canada, including in the United States. When we transfer your information internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your privacy.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are designed for youth aged 15-22. For users under 18, we require parental consent before collecting personal information. Parents have the right to review, modify, or delete their child's personal information by contacting us.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of material changes by email or by posting a notice on our website at least 30 days before the changes take effect.

12. Privacy Officer and Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, you can contact our Privacy Officer. If you're not satisfied with our response, you may file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.