Privacy Policy

Introduction

flame-tide is committed to protecting your personal information. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your data when you use our services or visit our website.

We are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you become a client or enquire about our services, we collect information necessary to provide financial advice and management. This may include:

• Full name and contact details including address and email
• Date of birth and national insurance number
• Employment information and income details
• Financial information including bank accounts, investments, pensions, and debts
• Tax information and returns
• Information about your financial goals and circumstances

Business Information

For business clients, we collect information about your company including:

• Company registration details and structure
• Financial accounts and records
• Tax information and VAT registration
• Information about directors and beneficial owners

Website Usage Information

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

• IP address and browser type
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Referring website and search terms used
• Device information and operating system

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Providing financial advice and management services you have requested
• Analyzing your financial situation and developing personalized strategies
• Implementing and monitoring financial plans and investments
• Communicating with you about your account and services
• Meeting regulatory requirements and preventing financial crime
• Improving our services and understanding client needs
• Sending you relevant information about our services if you have opted in

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

• Contract Performance: Processing is necessary to provide the services you have requested
• Legal Obligation: We must process certain data to comply with financial services regulations, anti-money laundering requirements, and tax laws
• Legitimate Interests: We process data to improve our services and prevent fraud, where this does not override your privacy rights
• Consent: Where you have given explicit permission, such as for marketing communications

Sharing Your Information

We maintain strict confidentiality but may share your information in limited circumstances:

Service Providers

We work with trusted third parties who assist in delivering our services, including:

• Investment platforms and fund managers
• Pension providers and insurance companies
• Banking institutions
• Software providers for client management and financial planning
• Professional advisors including solicitors and accountants

These providers are contractually required to protect your data and use it only for specified purposes.

Regulatory and Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or regulation, including:

• Financial Conduct Authority and other regulatory bodies
• HM Revenue & Customs for tax purposes
• Law enforcement agencies investigating financial crime
• Courts or tribunals when legally required

Other Disclosures

We will not sell or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share information if our business is sold or merged, ensuring the new owner maintains the same privacy standards.

Data Security

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

• Encrypted data transmission and storage
• Secure access controls and authentication
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training on data protection and confidentiality
• Physical security measures for paper records
• Secure disposal of data when no longer needed

While we take security seriously, no system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but commit to addressing any breach promptly and in accordance with legal requirements.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide services and meet legal obligations:

• Client records are maintained for at least six years after our relationship ends, as required by financial services regulations
• Some records may be kept longer if required for legal, regulatory, or legitimate business purposes
• Marketing consent records are kept until you withdraw consent or we no longer use the information
• Website analytics data is typically retained for two years

Your Rights

Under data protection law, you have several rights regarding your personal information:

• Right of Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to Rectification: Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data in certain circumstances
• Right to Restrict Processing: Ask us to limit how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, commonly used format
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for marketing purposes
• Rights Related to Automated Decision Making: Not be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below. We will respond within one month of receiving your request.

Please note that some rights may be limited by regulatory requirements. For example, we cannot delete records that must be retained for compliance purposes.

Marketing Communications

We may send you information about our services if you have opted in to receive marketing communications. You can unsubscribe at any time by:

• Clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing email
• Contacting us directly to update your preferences
• Updating your communication preferences in your client portal

Opting out of marketing does not affect service-related communications, which we may still need to send regarding your account or regulatory matters.

Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies. For detailed information about how we use cookies, please see our Cookies Policy.

Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to external sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through a notice on our website. The effective date at the top of this policy indicates when it was last updated.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:

flame-tide
42 Castle Street
Liverpool
L2 7LQ
Email: [email protected]

Complaints

If you are not satisfied with how we handle your personal information, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Website: flame-tide.com