Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 22, 2026

Summit Life Planners ("we," "us," or "our") operates the website https://summitlifeplanners.com (the "Site"). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our Site or interact with our services. We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with applicable data protection laws, including but not limited to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users in the European Union (EU), the UK GDPR for users in the United Kingdom, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), and other U.S. state privacy laws such as those in Virginia (VCDPA), Colorado (CPA), Connecticut (CTDPA), and similar laws in other states where applicable.

By using our Site, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not access or use our Site.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information that identifies, relates to, describes, or could reasonably be linked to you ("Personal Information"). The types of Personal Information we may collect include:

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

  • Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and any other details you provide when you contact us, subscribe to newsletters, leave comments, register for an account, or submit forms (e.g., for life planning inquiries or product purchases).
  • User-Generated Content: Comments, reviews, or media uploads (e.g., images or documents) you submit to the Site.
  • Account Information: If you create an account, we collect your username, password (hashed), and profile details.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

  • Device and Usage Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, pages viewed, time and date of visits, referring/exit pages, and clickstream data.
  • Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address (we do not collect precise geolocation without consent).
  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and pixel tags to collect data about your interactions with the Site. See our Cookies Section below for details.
  • Embedded Content Data: If you interact with embedded content from third-party sites (e.g., videos from YouTube), those sites may collect data about you.

1.3 Information from Third Parties

  • We may receive information from third-party services, such as spam detection tools (e.g., Akismet) or profile services (e.g., Gravatar for avatars).
  • If you log in via social media or other integrations, we may receive basic profile information from those providers.

We do not collect sensitive personal information (e.g., racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, health data, or genetic/biometric data) unless you voluntarily provide it in comments or communications, in which case we process it only as necessary and with appropriate safeguards.

2. How We Collect Information

  • Directly from You: Through forms, comments, registrations, or communications.
  • Automatically: Via cookies, server logs, and analytics tools.
  • From Third Parties: As described above, including embedded content providers.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your Personal Information for the following purposes, based on legitimate business interests, contractual necessity, consent, or legal obligations:

  • To operate and maintain the Site, including processing comments, logins, and user accounts.
  • To respond to your inquiries, provide customer support, and deliver services (e.g., life planning resources or newsletters).
  • To detect and prevent spam, fraud, or security threats (e.g., using IP addresses for spam detection).
  • To analyze Site usage and improve our content and functionality (e.g., via anonymized analytics).
  • To comply with legal requirements, such as responding to subpoenas or regulatory requests.
  • For marketing purposes, such as sending promotional emails (with your consent where required).
  • To personalize your experience, such as remembering login details or display preferences.

Under GDPR/UK GDPR, our legal bases for processing include consent (e.g., for non-essential cookies), contractual necessity (e.g., for account management), and legitimate interests (e.g., security and analytics).

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cookies are small data files stored on your device. We use:

  • Essential Cookies: Necessary for Site functionality, such as login cookies (lasting 2 days or 2 weeks with "Remember Me") and screen options cookies (lasting 1 year).
  • Convenience Cookies: For saving comment details (name, email, website) for 1 year.
  • Temporary Cookies: To check browser cookie acceptance (discarded on browser close).
  • Editing Cookies: For article edits (expiring after 1 day, no personal data).

We may also use third-party cookies from services like Gravatar (for avatars) or analytics providers. Embedded content from other sites (e.g., videos) may set their own cookies and track interactions as if you visited their site directly.

You can manage cookies via your browser settings or our cookie consent banner (if implemented). For EU/UK users, we obtain consent for non-essential cookies in compliance with GDPR/ePrivacy Directive. For U.S. users, you may opt out of targeted advertising via the "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link below.

5. Who We Share Your Data With

We do not sell your Personal Information. We may share it with:

  • Service Providers: Third parties that help us operate the Site, such as hosting providers (e.g., WordPress.org), spam detectors (e.g., Akismet, which may receive comment data and IP addresses), and payment processors (if applicable for purchases).
  • Third-Party Embed Providers: Sites like YouTube or Gravatar, which may collect data independently (see their privacy policies).
  • Legal Authorities: If required by law, subpoena, or to protect our rights.
  • Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale.

For password resets, your IP address is included in the reset email for security.

6. How Long We Retain Your Data

  • Comments and metadata: Retained indefinitely for moderation and recognition of follow-ups.
  • User profiles (if registered): Retained until you request deletion, except for data required for legal/administrative purposes.
  • Cookies: As described in the Cookies section (e.g., 1 year max for most).
  • Other Data: Server logs and analytics data are retained for up to 2 years for security and improvement purposes, then anonymized or deleted.

We retain data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined, or as required by law.

7. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location, you have rights over your Personal Information:

7.1 General Rights (All Users)

  • Access: Request a copy of your data.
  • Correction: Update inaccurate data.
  • Deletion: Request erasure (subject to legal obligations).
  • Objection/Restriction: Object to processing or request restrictions.
  • Portability: Receive your data in a structured format.

To exercise these, contact us at  privacy@summitlifeplanners.com].

7.2 U.S. State-Specific Rights

If you are a resident of California (CCPA/CPRA), Texas (TDPSA), Virginia (VCDPA), Colorado (CPA), Connecticut (CTDPA), or other states with similar laws:

  • Opt out of sales/sharing of Personal Information for targeted advertising.
  • Limit use of sensitive data.
  • Know what data we collect and appeal denials.

We do not "sell" data as defined under these laws, but may "share" for advertising. Use the "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link or Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal to opt out. We respond to verified requests within 45-60 days (extendable).

7.3 EU/UK Rights (GDPR/UK GDPR)

  • Withdraw consent at any time.
  • Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (e.g., ICO in UK).
  • We are the data controller; no Data Protection Officer is appointed as we are a small business.

We do not use automated decision-making or profiling that significantly affects you.

8. Where Your Data Is Sent

Data is processed in the United States (our hosting location). For EU/UK users, we use Standard Contractual Clauses or other safeguards for international transfers. Comments may be sent to automated spam services (e.g., Akismet in the US).

9. Security Measures

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your data, including encryption for transmissions (HTTPS), secure storage, and access controls. However, no system is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.

If you upload images, avoid including embedded location data (EXIF GPS), as visitors could extract it.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Site is not intended for children under 13 (or 16 in some jurisdictions). We do not knowingly collect data from children. If we discover such data, we delete it.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy periodically. Changes are effective when posted, with the "Last Updated" date revised. We encourage you to review it regularly.

12. Contact Us

For questions or to exercise rights, contact:

Summit Life Planners
Address: 3122 Nealy Way Ste 155, Longview, TX  75605
Email: privacy@summitlifeplanners.com

California residents may submit requests via email at privacy@summitlifeplanners.com or our contact form. A toll-free telephone number is not required as we operate exclusively online with direct consumer relationships.

This policy does not apply to third-party sites linked from ours. Review their policies separately.

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information (for U.S. users: email privacy@summitlifeplanners.com)