The short version: We do not ask you for financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, or government ID. The only contact detail we ever request is an email address, and only if you choose to subscribe. The estimator tool runs entirely in your browser and sends nothing to us.
1. Who we are
Retirement Desk ("we," "us," "our") publishes general educational content about Social Security, Medicare, and retirement timing in the United States. This policy applies to this website and to any email we send you.
For privacy questions or requests, contact us at retirementdesk.editors@gmail.com, or by mail at Retirement Desk, 4820 Cedar Ridge Lane, Suite 210, Austin, TX 78745, United States.
2. Information we collect
Information you give us
- Email address — if you subscribe to our newsletter or email us directly.
- Message contents — whatever you include in an email to our editorial team.
Information collected automatically
- Technical data such as browser type, device category, approximate region derived from IP address, pages viewed, and referring page.
- Local browser storage used to remember your cookie choice and to keep interface preferences between visits. This stays on your device.
Information we do not collect
We do not collect Social Security numbers, bank or brokerage account numbers, payment card data, precise geolocation, or biometric data. Our estimator tool performs its calculation locally in your browser; the birth year you enter is not transmitted to us or stored on our servers.
3. Cookies and similar technologies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use them in three categories, and only the first is required for the site to function.
| Category | Purpose | Stored on your device | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Records your cookie-consent choice so the banner does not reappear on every page. | rd_cookie_consent (local storage, retained until you clear it) |
Retirement Desk |
| Analytics (optional) | Aggregated measurement of which articles are read and which sections are most useful. Enabled only after you choose "Accept all." | Anonymized identifiers, up to 13 months | Retirement Desk and measurement providers |
| Advertising (optional) | Helps measure the performance of our advertising and limit how often a message is shown. Enabled only after you choose "Accept all." | Advertising identifiers, up to 13 months | Google and its partners |
You can change your choice at any time using the button below; the site will then ask again on your next visit. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings, and you can opt out of personalized advertising through Google Ads Settings or aboutads.info. Blocking essential storage will not break the article, but the consent prompt may reappear.
Third-party advertising
Third-party vendors, including Google, may use cookies to serve advertising based on a user's prior visits to this or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on visits to this site and other sites on the internet. Users may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. Where required by law, we ask for consent before any non-essential cookie is set.
4. How we use information
- To send the newsletter you asked for, and to stop sending it when you unsubscribe.
- To answer questions and correction requests sent to our editorial address.
- To measure in aggregate which articles are useful, so we can improve or retire them.
- To keep the site secure and to comply with legal obligations.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share your email address with advertisers.
5. Legal basis and your choices
Where the GDPR or similar laws apply, we rely on your consent for optional cookies and for the newsletter, on our legitimate interest in operating and improving the site for essential functions and aggregate measurement, and on legal obligation where record-keeping is required.
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your personal information, to object to or restrict certain processing, and to withdraw consent. California residents may also request disclosure of categories of information collected and opt out of sharing for cross-context behavioral advertising. To exercise any of these rights, email retirementdesk.editors@gmail.com with "Privacy request" in the subject line. We respond within 30 days and do not discriminate against readers who exercise their rights.
6. Retention
Newsletter email addresses are kept until you unsubscribe, plus a short suppression period so we do not email you again. Editorial correspondence is retained for up to two years. Aggregated analytics data is retained for up to 13 months. Consent records are kept for as long as the consent is in effect.
7. Children
This site is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided information to us, contact us and we will delete it.
8. Security and international transfers
We use encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls, and limited retention to protect information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. Our service providers may process data in the United States and other countries; where required, transfers rely on appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses.
9. Changes to this policy
If we change how we handle information, we will update this page and revise the "Last updated" date above. Material changes affecting optional cookies will be announced in the consent banner so you can make a new choice.
10. Contact
Retirement Desk — Privacy Inquiries
4820 Cedar Ridge Lane, Suite 210, Austin, TX 78745, United States
Email: retirementdesk.editors@gmail.com
Phone: (512) 555-0148
Not advice: Nothing on this site is financial, investment, tax, or legal advice, and this policy does not create a professional relationship of any kind. For questions about your own benefits, contact the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov.