Privacy
Last updated: June 1, 2026
FolioNorth is a free site. We don't sell ads, we don't sell your data, and we don't have an account system. This page is the full list of what we collect, why, and how to get it removed. For the terms that govern your use of the site, see our Terms of Service.
What we collect
Your email address, but only if you subscribe to the newsletter. We use it to send the newsletter and nothing else. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of every email, or by emailing hello@folionorth.ca.
Server logs, kept by our hosting provider (Vercel) for standard operational reasons — debugging, abuse prevention. These logs include your IP address, browser user-agent, and the pages you requested. They are retained for 30 days and then automatically deleted.
Anonymous page-view analytics, via Vercel Web Analytics. We see which pages get visited, where the visitor came from (the referring site), the country, and the device type. We do not see who you are. There are no cookies, no fingerprinting, and your IP address is anonymized before it reaches us. We use this only to know which calculators are useful and where the site is reaching people.
Anonymous performance metrics, via Vercel Speed Insights. We collect aggregate page-performance data — Core Web Vitals such as load and responsiveness times — along with the page visited and device type, so we can find and fix slow pages. This is anonymous, uses no cookies and no fingerprinting, and never identifies who you are.
Google Analytics (GA4), cookies only if you agree. We also use Google Analytics to measure traffic — which pages are visited, how visitors arrive (the referring site or search), approximate location (country and region), and device and browser type. We also record which calculators are used and which outbound links (brokerage, offer, and credit-card links) are clicked, so we can see which tools and offers are useful. These measurements never include your name or any of the portfolio figures you enter. Google Analytics is present on every page, but until you accept the cookie banner it runs in a cookieless mode — it sets no cookies and sends only anonymous, aggregated measurements to Google (this is Google's "Consent Mode"). Only after you click "Accept" does it set cookies in your browser, named _ga and _ga_*, to tell returning visitors apart and keep a single visit together as one session. These cookies do not contain your name or any of your portfolio data. Google processes this information on our behalf and may use it subject to its own policies. Google states that it does not log or store full IP addresses in GA4 — your IP is used briefly to estimate location and is then discarded. You can opt out of Google Analytics on every site you visit using Google's browser opt-out add-on.
Nothing else. The calculators on this site run entirely in your browser. Your portfolio numbers, ETF picks, account types — all of that stays on your device. We never see it.
Local browser storage. Calculator inputs are also saved to your browser's local storage so you don't have to re-enter them when you return. This data stays on your device and is never sent to FolioNorth's servers. You can clear it via your browser's storage settings or the "Clear saved data" link in the site footer.
Cookies
The only cookies FolioNorth sets are the Google Analytics cookies (named _ga and _ga_*) — and only if you accept them on the cookie banner shown on your first visit. They let us count visitors and see which calculators get used, by telling one visitor apart from another and keeping a single visit together as one session. They do not contain your name or any portfolio data, and by default they expire two years after your last visit. We do not use advertising cookies, and we do not sell your data.
If you decline, no analytics cookies are set — Google Analytics stays in its cookieless mode, sending only anonymous, aggregated pings. Our other analytics tool, Vercel Web Analytics, is also cookieless and runs regardless of your choice. You can change your mind at any time using the "Cookie preferences" link in the site footer; if you withdraw consent, the Google Analytics cookies are deleted from your browser and GA returns to its cookieless mode right away — it stops setting cookies and identifying your device, though it continues sending the same anonymous, aggregated pings. To stop those too, use Google's browser opt-out add-on below.
You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings, opt out of Google Analytics with Google's browser opt-out add-on, or use a privacy-focused browser or extension. The calculators will still work with cookies disabled.
Who we share it with
Service providers, used only to operate the site:
- Vercel hosts the site, processes server logs as described above, and provides the cookieless Web Analytics that records anonymous page views. Vercel's privacy policy.
- Google provides Google Analytics, which records the page-view, location, and device data described above and sets the analytics cookies. Google's privacy policy.
- Sender sends our emails. They process your email address and delivery metadata. Sender's privacy policy.
We do not share your information with anyone else. We do not sell it. If we are ever legally required to disclose information (a court order, for example), we will comply and, where permitted, notify you first.
Where it's stored
Vercel's hosting infrastructure is global; your requests are typically served from a Canadian or US edge location. Google Analytics data is processed on Google's servers, primarily in the United States. Sender stores email data on servers in the United States. By using this site or subscribing to the newsletter, you consent to the transfer of this limited data outside Canada.
Your rights
Under Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA, and Quebec's Law 25 if you live in Quebec), you have the right to:
- Know what personal information we hold about you
- Get a copy of it
- Have it corrected if it's wrong
- Have it deleted
- Withdraw consent for the newsletter at any time
To exercise any of these rights, email hello@folionorth.ca. We respond within 30 days, usually faster.
Children
FolioNorth is intended for adults making investment decisions. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has subscribed, email us and we will delete the record.
Changes to this policy
If we make material changes — for example, adding a new third-party service or changing what we collect — we will update this page and change the "Last updated" date at the top. For changes that affect newsletter subscribers, we'll also send a heads-up email.
Contact
Questions or requests? Email hello@folionorth.ca.
The person responsible for personal information at FolioNorth is the site's operator, reachable at hello@folionorth.ca. You can also file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or, if you live in Quebec, the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec.