Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Smallbird Financial collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you visit smallbirdfinancial.ca or get in touch about its services.

Smallbird Financial is the operating name of Levi Ewald, a sole proprietor offering advice-only financial planning to clients across Canada. In this policy, "Smallbird Financial," "I," "me," and "my" refer to Levi Ewald operating as Smallbird Financial. I handle personal information in line with Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), the federal law that applies to private-sector businesses like mine.

Who is responsible for your information

I am personally accountable for the personal information Smallbird Financial collects and for the practices described in this policy. If you have any question, request, or concern about your privacy, you can reach me directly using the contact details at the end of this policy.

What personal information I collect

I only collect the information I need to respond to you and provide my services. Depending on how you use the site, that can include:

• Contact details you give me. When you fill out the contact form, book a discovery call, or email me, I collect your name, email address, and anything you choose to include in your message.
• Booking information. Discovery calls are booked through Google's scheduling tool. When you book, Google collects the details you enter so we can hold the appointment.
• Newsletter sign-up. If I launch an email newsletter and you choose to subscribe, I collect the email address you provide so I can send it.
• Payment information. If you become a client and pay for a service, payments are handled by Stripe, a third-party payment processor. Stripe collects and processes your payment details directly. I do not see or store your full card number.
• Information collected automatically. Like most websites, my hosting provider keeps basic server logs (such as your IP address, browser type, and the pages you visit) to keep the site running and secure.

I do not ask for sensitive financial details through the website itself. Any detailed financial information needed for planning is gathered separately, under a written engagement, once you become a client.

How I use your information

I use your personal information to respond to your questions, schedule and hold discovery calls, provide the services you've asked for, send the newsletter if you've subscribed, process payments, keep the website working and secure, and meet my legal and professional record-keeping obligations. I do not sell your personal information, and I don't share it for anyone else's marketing.

Consent

By using the contact form, booking a call, subscribing to the newsletter, or otherwise sending me your information, you consent to my collecting and using it as described here. You can withdraw your consent at any time, though doing so may mean I can't provide a service that depends on it.

Email and the newsletter

If I send a newsletter or other commercial emails, I follow Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). That means I only email people who have opted in, I identify myself clearly as the sender, and every message includes an easy way to unsubscribe. If you unsubscribe, I'll stop sending you those emails.

Service providers I work with

I use a small number of trusted third-party services to run the site and the practice, and each only receives the information it needs to do its job: Netlify hosts the website and runs the contact form, Google Workspace provides my email and the discovery-call scheduling tool, Stripe processes payments for clients, and Substack will handle the email newsletter if and when it launches.

Some of these providers store or process data on servers outside Canada, including in the United States. When information is held in another country, it may be subject to that country's laws, including lawful access by its courts and government agencies. I choose providers that offer reasonable privacy and security protections, and I only share what each provider needs.

Analytics and cookies

The website does not currently use advertising trackers or third-party analytics, and it does not set cookies to follow you across other sites.

I may add website analytics in the future to understand, in general terms, how the site is used, so I can improve it. If I do, I'll use privacy-respecting analytics and limit what's collected to what I need. If any analytics or features I add rely on cookies, I'll update this policy and, where required, ask for your consent. Your browser settings let you block or delete cookies if you'd like.

How I protect your information

I take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from loss, theft, and unauthorized access. The site runs over a secure (HTTPS) connection, and I rely on reputable providers that maintain their own security safeguards. No method of transmitting or storing information online is completely secure, so I can't guarantee absolute security, but I work to keep your information safe.

If a privacy breach ever occurs that creates a real risk of significant harm to you, I'll notify you and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, as PIPEDA requires.

How long I keep it

I keep personal information only as long as I need it for the purposes above or as required by law and professional standards. When it's no longer needed, I securely delete or anonymize it.

Your choices and rights

Under PIPEDA, you have the right to ask whether I hold personal information about you and request a copy of it, ask me to correct information that's inaccurate or incomplete, withdraw your consent (subject to legal and contractual limits), and ask me questions about how your information is handled. To make any of these requests, email me at levi@smallbirdfinancial.ca. I'll respond within a reasonable time, and I may need to confirm your identity first.

Children's privacy

The website and my services are meant for adults. I don't knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided me information, please contact me and I'll delete it.

Links to other sites

The website may link to other sites, such as the booking tool, the newsletter, or articles I reference. I'm not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites, and I'd encourage you to read their privacy policies before sharing information with them.

Changes to this policy

I may update this policy from time to time as the practice or the website changes. When I do, I'll post the new version here and update the effective date. Significant changes will be made clear.

How to reach me

I am the person accountable for privacy at Smallbird Financial. If you have questions about this policy, want to access or correct your information, or have a concern, please email me at levi@smallbirdfinancial.ca.

If you have a privacy concern I'm unable to resolve, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at priv.gc.ca or 1-800-282-1376.