Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 15, 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to CompoundLadder.com ("we," "our," or "us"). We operate CompoundLadder.com (the "Site"), a free collection of financial calculators covering retirement planning, FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), savings, debt payoff, mortgages, and related personal finance topics.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you visit our Site. We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with applicable data protection laws, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the UK GDPR, and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) / California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).

If you do not agree with the practices described in this policy, please do not use the Site.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Voluntarily

CompoundLadder.com is designed so that you can use all calculators without creating an account. Any numbers you type into a calculator (income, savings balance, target amount, interest rate, etc.) are processed entirely in your browser and are not transmitted to or stored on our servers.

If you contact us by email, we will receive your email address and the contents of your message.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

Our hosting provider may process standard request and security logs. Vercel Web Analytics and Speed Insights provide aggregate performance and usage measurements. Google Analytics 4 is loaded only after you accept optional analytics. Depending on the service and your choice, technical information may include:

  • IP address or an abbreviated / derived location signal
  • Browser type and version
  • Operating system
  • Referring URL
  • Pages viewed and time spent on each page
  • Approximate geographic location (country / region level)
  • Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)

2.3 Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use the following storage and similar technologies:

  • Google Analytics 4 (GA4) cookies— loaded only after you select "Accept analytics," to understand aggregate site usage (for example, _ga and _ga_*).
  • Advertising cookies — currently disabled. We do not load the Google AdSense advertising script until a compliant consent platform and advertising configuration are in place.
  • Local storage — a strictly necessary preference value remembers whether you accepted or rejected optional analytics.

You can reopen the "Privacy choices" control at the bottom of the Site to change your analytics preference.

3. How We Use Information

  1. Operate, maintain, and improve the Site.
  2. Understand which calculators and content are most useful.
  3. Prepare for future advertising without loading advertising cookies today.
  4. Respond to inquiries sent to our contact email.
  5. Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security issues.
  6. Comply with legal obligations.

4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, we rely on the following legal bases:

  • Consent— for non-essential cookies (analytics, analytics). You may withdraw consent at any time via the persistent "Privacy choices" control.
  • Legitimate interests — for maintaining Site security, preventing fraud, and performing aggregate analytics.
  • Legal obligation — where required by applicable law.

5. Google AdSense and Advertising

The Site participates in Google AdSense and loads the AdSense script for site verification and review. No ad units are currently displayed on the Site, so no advertising cookies are set until an ad actually renders. If and when we enable ad units, Google and its partners may use cookies to serve and measure ads; we will implement the required consent controls and update this policy if our practices change.

If advertising is enabled in the future, common opt-out resources include:

For more information review Google's Privacy Policy at policies.google.com/privacy.

6. Your Rights Under GDPR

If you are in the EEA or UK, you have the right to: access, rectification, deletion, restrict processing, data portability, withdraw consent, and lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. To exercise these rights, email lyccol3@gmail.com.

7. Your Rights Under CCPA / CPRA

California residents have the right to: know what personal information we collect/use/disclose, request deletion, opt out of sale/sharing, non-discrimination, correct inaccurate info, and limit sensitive info use.

Do Not Sell or Share: Although we do not sell personal information for monetary value, and advertising cookies are currently disabled. Email lyccol3@gmail.comwith subject "Do Not Sell or Share".

8. Data Retention

  • Calculator inputs: never stored server-side.
  • Google Analytics data after consent: up to 14 months.
  • Email correspondence: up to 24 months unless required longer.
  • Log files: up to 90 days.

9. Data Security

We use industry-standard measures (HTTPS, access controls, reputable hosting). However, no Internet transmission is 100% secure. You use the Site at your own risk.

10. International Data Transfers

The Site is operated from outside the EEA. Data may be transferred to and processed in countries with different data protection laws. We rely on Standard Contractual Clauses and the protections offered by relevant service providers, including Vercel and Google Analytics when you consent.

11. Children's Privacy

The Site is not directed to children under 13 (or 16 in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

12. Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. The "Last updated" date reflects the most recent revision.

13. Contact

Email: lyccol3@gmail.com
Operator: Yi Liu
Site: CompoundLadder.com