This Privacy Policy governs the way in which BST may collect and use personal information and non-personal information we learn about you from your visit to this website (the “Website”). Additionally, this policy discusses our treatment of information you provide to us in connection with our services. By using the Website and submitting information to it, you hereby consent to allow BST to process information in accordance with this Policy. If you do not wish BST to use your information in accordance with this policy, please do not submit such information to BST.

Please also refer to the Website Terms of Use, which are expressly incorporated as if fully recited herein, if you have not already done so.

Personal Information

The Website collects no personal information about you, typically defined as personally identifying information (“PII”), such as your name, home address, business address, telephone number, e-mail address and profession, unless you voluntary submit it. You may be requested to provide personal information when signing up for a newsletter, the Client Portal, an update or other communication from the Website. It is possible to submit information by clicking on various links, such as “Contact Us.”

Non-Personal Information

The Website may collect non-personal information about your activity at the Website. The Website may automatically recognize and store information about the type of browser you are using; your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address; the time, date, and length of your visit; and the referring site. This information, if collected, is collected via computer code sent to your computer (commonly referred to as “cookies”). The cookies may not expire, unless you manually delete them or set your browser to reject them. If you do not accept the cookies, however, you may have difficulty navigating the Website. Furthermore, the Website may utilize Web beacons, embedded Web links, and other commonly used information-gathering tools.

Information Provided for Services

Additionally, we collect nonpublic personal information about you that is provided by you or obtained by us with your authorization to prepare your personal income tax returns and provide you with personal financial planning services.

We may collect non-public information from the following sources:
• Client interviews;
• Tax return organizers;
• Financial planning organizers; and,
• Financial history questionnaires.

We receive information from you to properly prepare your income tax return or provide financial planning services. This information is collected from you in written form, by phone, online, by mail and in personal interviews and consultations conducted by us, as well as by information we collect from others with your authorization.

Further, we collect and maintain information about your transactions with BST, which includes information necessary for billing and payment for our income tax preparation and financial planning services, as well as all correspondence between you and BST. Transaction information would also include your credit card number, payment history with us, billing records and any collection effort engaged in by us for payment of services rendered to you.

Territoriality

Our computer systems are currently based in the United States and the content of our Website is directed to U.S. residents. Your personal data will be processed by us in the United States, where data protection and privacy regulations may or may not be to the same level of protection as in other parts of the world, such as in Canada and the European Union. BY VISITING THE BST WEBSITE, YOU UNEQUIVOCALLY AND UNAMBIGUOUSLY CONSENT TO THE COLLECTION AND PROCESSING IN THE UNITED STATES OF ANY PERSONAL AND NON-PERSONAL INFORMATION COLLECTED OR OBTAINED BY BST THROUGH VOLUNTARY SUBMISSIONS OR THROUGH THE CLIENT PORTAL, AND THAT UNITED STATES LAW GOVERNS ANY SUCH COLLECTION, PROCESSING AND USE.

BST will take reasonable steps to restrict access to the information discussed in this policy and the areas of the Website designated as being suitable for a secure file exchange remain secure. We cannot, however, guarantee the absolute security of such transmission tools or any information retained by BST. You understand that your use of the Client Portal is subject to the Client Portal Terms, and if you use the Client Portal, you expressly agree to such terms.

BST will take reasonable steps to restrict access to the information discussed in this policy and the areas of the Website designated as being suitable for a secure file exchange remain secure. We cannot, however, guarantee the absolute security of such transmission tools or any information retained by BST. You understand that your use of the Client Portal is subject to the Client Portal Terms, and if you use the Client Portal, you expressly agree to such terms.

If you would like to update any information you have sent to BST, or if you do not want to receive information from BST, please contact us at webmaster@bstco.com

BST will make reasonable efforts to honor any request you make to forgo contacts with you in the future or delete your information. Please note that if you make an opt-out request, BST will retain your contact information to make efforts to ensure that you are not contacted in the future.

To the extent required by the CAN-SPAM Act, or other similar domestic and international regulation, commercial e-mail messages will also provide you with an opportunity to opt-out of receiving this information. Please note that changes to your preferences may not be effective immediately.

California law allows residents to request certain information regarding our disclosures in the prior calendar year, if any, of their personally identifiable information to third parties for their own direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, please contact us at webmaster@bstco.com with “Request for California Privacy” in the letter subject line. You must include sufficient detail for us to locate your information; at a minimum, your name, email and postal address.

We will attempt to provide you with the requested information within thirty (30) days of receipt. We reserve our right not to respond to requests sent more than once in a calendar year, or requests submitted to an address other than the one posted in this notice. Please note that the California Shine the Light law does not cover all information sharing. Our disclosure only includes information covered by the law.

The internet and the benefits it offers are evolving rapidly, as are the ways in which people use the internet and the laws surrounding such use. BST therefore reserves the right to update and revise this Privacy Policy at any time. You can determine if this Privacy Policy has been revised since your last visit by referring to the “Effective Date of Current Policy” date at the top of this page. Your use of our Website constitutes your acceptance of the terms of the Privacy Policy as amended or revised by us, and you should therefore review this Privacy Policy regularly to ensure that you are aware of its terms.