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Privacy Policy

Effective October 7, 2026

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Our Commitment to Your Privacy

EARNEY Accountants & Advisors ("EARNEY," "we," "us," or "our") protects the privacy of our clients and of everyone who visits our website. Federal law requires providers of personal financial services, including CPA firms, to tell clients how they handle private information. As CPAs, we are also bound by professional confidentiality standards that are stricter than the law requires. Protecting your privacy has always been part of how we practice.

This policy applies to personal information we receive when we provide services to you and when you use our website at www.earney.com. It covers current and former clients, prospective clients, and website visitors. It explains what we collect, how we collect and use it, who we share it with, how we protect it, and the choices you have. By using our website or engaging in our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this policy.

Types of Nonpublic Personal Information We Collect

We collect nonpublic personal information about you that you give us or that we obtain with your authorization. Depending on the services we provide, this may include:

  • Identity and contact details: full name, home and mailing address, phone number, email address, date of birth, and employer or company name.

  • Government identifiers: Social Security number or other taxpayer identification number.

  • Financial and tax information: income, assets, and liabilities; bank, brokerage, and retirement account information; Schedule K-1s from S corporations, partnerships, estates, and trusts; payroll records; and prior tax returns.

  • Payment information: credit card, debit card, or bank account details used to pay for our services.

  • Business information: accounting records, ownership details, and employee information that business clients provide to us.

  • Device and online activity: IP address, browser and device type, domain name, approximate location, referring website, pages viewed, links clicked, and access times.

Sensitive information. Some of what we collect, such as Social Security numbers and financial account information, is treated as sensitive under privacy laws. We collect it only as needed to provide our services and meet our legal obligations.

Children's information. Our website is not intended for anyone under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through it. We may receive information about minors from a parent or guardian when it is needed for the services we provide, such as dependents on a tax return. That information is protected in the same way as all other client information.

How We Collect Information

  • Directly from you: through our secure client portal, website forms, email, phone calls, meetings, and the documents you give us.

  • From our work for you: records of the services we provide or have provided to you.

  • From third parties, with your authorization: banks, brokers, employers, attorneys, financial advisors, and prior accountants.

  • From other sources: services we use for identity verification, fraud prevention, and payment processing.

  • Automatically: through cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website, as described below.

Please do not send Social Security numbers, account numbers, or tax documents through website contact forms or regular email. Use our secure client portal instead.

How We Use Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Establish our relationship with you and communicate with you.

  • Provide the tax, accounting, advisory, and related services you engage us to perform.

  • Bill for our services, process payments, and manage your account.

  • Respond to questions and requests submitted through our website.

  • Tell you about services, events, and firm news we think may interest you. You can opt out at any time.

  • Run and improve our business, including security monitoring, research and analytics, and website improvement.

  • Meet our legal, regulatory, and professional obligations, and protect the firm, our clients, and others.

Without certain personal information, we may be unable to provide the services you request.

We do not use tax return information for any purpose other than preparing your return and providing related services unless you give us written consent, as federal law requires.

Parties to Whom We Disclose Information

For current and former clients, we do not disclose nonpublic personal information obtained during our practice except as required or permitted by law. Permitted disclosures include sharing information with:

  • Our employees need it to serve you.

  • Affiliated companies that support our operations, such as our affiliated IT services provider, EarneyIT.

  • Service providers who help us deliver our services, such as tax and accounting software vendors, secure portal and document storage providers, IT and security providers, payment processors, and outside auditors, peer reviewers, and legal counsel.

  • Third parties you authorize, such as your lender, attorney, or financial advisor.

  • Government agencies, regulators, and courts, when the law, legal process, or professional standards require it.

  • A successor firm, if we merge with, sell, or transfer all or part of our practice, subject to professional standards on client confidentiality.

  • Analytics [and advertising] providers, which receive limited website usage data as described under "Cookies and Tracking Technologies." They never receive client financial or tax information.

We require third parties who perform services for us to keep your information confidential and secure and to use it only for the work we engage them to do. In every case, we stress the confidential nature of the information being shared.

We will notify you and obtain your consent before sharing your personal information with an unaffiliated third party that is not performing services for us, unless this policy or the law otherwise permits it, and before using sensitive information for a purpose not described in this policy.

We do not sell, rent, or lease your personal information.

Protecting the Confidentiality and Security of Current and Former Clients' Information

To guard your nonpublic personal information, we maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with our professional standards and applicable law, including a written information security program. These safeguards include encryption, multi-factor authentication, secure file exchange, employee training, and secure disposal of records.

Our personnel have access to your personal information only when they need it for a legitimate business purpose, such as providing services to you.

No method of transmitting or storing data is completely secure. If you believe your information has been compromised, contact us right away.

Retention of Information

We keep records of the professional services we provide so we can serve you better and comply with professional guidelines and legal requirements. We retain personal information for as long as needed for the purposes it was collected, our business needs, and our legal and regulatory obligations. When we dispose of information, we do so securely and in a manner appropriate to its sensitivity.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to make the site work, remember your preferences, and measure how visitors use it. These tools may collect your IP address, browser and device details, approximate location, and activity on our site. The providers below may combine this data with information they collect elsewhere, under their own privacy policies.

Types of cookies we use

  • Necessary cookies: required for the site and its secure areas to function. These are always active.

  • Preference cookies: remember choices you have made so the site works better for you.

  • Analytics cookies: show us, in aggregate, which pages are visited and how the site performs.

  • [Advertising cookies: used by us and our advertising partners to measure campaigns and show relevant ads on other sites and platforms.

Providers we use

  • [Google Analytics]: to understand website traffic and improve our site.

  • [Google Ads]: to measure the results of our advertising and show ads to prior website visitors.

  • [LinkedIn Insight Tag]: To measure campaign performance and show ads on LinkedIn.

Your tracking choices

You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, use our cookie preference tool where displayed, or use the tools below. Choices are specific to each browser and device. Opting out does not stop all ads; it makes them less personalized. Some site features may not work if you block cookies.

Your Rights and Choices

  • Access, correction, and deletion: you may ask to see the personal information we hold about you and ask us to correct or delete information that is inaccurate. We handle these requests according to applicable law and our professional record-retention obligations.

  • Marketing emails: every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link. You may also contact us to opt out.

  • Tracking and advertising: use the choices described under "Cookies and Tracking Technologies," to enable a legally recognized browser to opt-out signal or contact us.

State privacy rights

Some states, including California, Colorado, Virginia, and others, give residents additional rights over their personal information, such as the right to know what is collected, to correct or delete it, and to opt out of certain sharing for targeted advertising. Where these laws apply to us, we will honor them. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights. To make a request, contact us using the information below. We will verify your identity before responding and will reply within the time the law allows.

This policy applies only to information collected by EARNEY. Our website may link to sites we do not operate, such as the IRS, state tax agencies, and software providers. Those sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their practices or content. Review their policies before giving them your information.

Changes to This Policy

We review this policy periodically and may update it. We will post the revised version on this page with a new effective date and may notify clients of material changes on our website or by email. Clients also receive notice of our privacy practices as required by law.

Contact Us

Please call or email if you have questions or to speak with your EARNEY advisor. Your privacy, our professional ethics, and our ability to provide you with quality financial services are very important to us.

EARNEY Accountants & Advisors

700 Military Cutoff Rd., Ste 250

Wilmington, NC 28405

Phone: (910) 256-9995

Email: info@earney.com