Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

1. Information we collect

The Second Half Guide (“we,” “us,” or “this site”) is a publication you can read without creating an account. We collect very little directly:

• Information you send us. If you email us or submit a topic-suggestion form, we receive whatever you choose to include — typically your message and, if you provide it, your email address. We ask that you not send sensitive personal or financial information.
• Standard technical information. Like most websites, our hosting infrastructure automatically records ordinary request data such as IP address, browser type, device type, referring page, and the time of your visit.
• Analytics data, if and when we enable a web analytics service, in the form of aggregate statistics about which pages are read and for how long.

We do not sell personal information, and we do not run a mailing list unless and until you explicitly sign up for one.

2. Cookies and advertising

This site is supported by advertising, and advertising involves cookies.

• Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites.
• Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to this site and/or other sites on the internet.
• You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. You can also opt out of third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising at aboutads.info/choices.
• Most browsers also let you block or delete cookies through their own settings. Blocking cookies will not prevent you from reading this site.

3. How we use information

We use the limited information described above to operate and improve the site, to respond to messages you send us, to understand in aggregate which topics readers find useful, to display advertising that funds the site, and to protect against abuse, fraud, and technical problems.

4. Sharing and disclosure

We do not sell or rent personal information. Information may be handled by service providers acting on our behalf — web hosting, email delivery, analytics, and advertising partners — each of which processes data under its own privacy policy. We may also disclose information where required by law or where necessary to protect our legal rights or the safety of others.

5. Your choices and rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including the right to request access to it, correction of it, or deletion of it, and the right to opt out of certain processing or of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information as those terms are defined under laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act. Residents of the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom may have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation.

To make any such request, email hello@thesecondhalfguide.com. We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights.

6. Children's privacy

This site is intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.

7. Data security and retention

We take reasonable measures to protect the limited information we hold, but no method of transmission or storage over the internet is completely secure. We keep correspondence only as long as needed to respond to it and to maintain our records.

8. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the site changes — for example, if we add a newsletter or an analytics provider. When we do, we will revise the “last updated” date above. Material changes will be noted on this page.

9. Terms of Use

Editorial content is general information only

All content on this site is provided for general informational and educational purposes. It is not financial, legal, medical, tax, or insurance advice, it is not personalized to your circumstances, and reading it does not create any professional or advisory relationship between you and us. Always consult a qualified, licensed professional before making decisions about your benefits, health coverage, investments, taxes, or estate.

Accuracy and currency

Benefit amounts, eligibility ages, program rules, and fraud tactics change. We make good-faith efforts to be accurate as of each article's stated reporting period, but we make no warranty that content is current, complete, or error-free. Verify time-sensitive figures with the issuing agency — such as the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov or Medicare at medicare.gov — before acting on them.

Fiction

Some content on this site is clearly labeled as fiction. Characters, towns, and events in those pieces are invented, and any resemblance to real people or events is coincidental.

Third-party links and advertising

We link to outside sites and display third-party advertising. We do not control and are not responsible for the content, products, accuracy, or privacy practices of any third party, and a link or an advertisement is not an endorsement.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, this site is provided “as is,” without warranties of any kind, and we are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of, or reliance on, its content.

Intellectual property

Articles, stories, and original graphics on this site are our copyrighted work. You're welcome to quote a short excerpt with a link back; please don't republish full pieces without permission.

Governing law and contact

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York. Questions about this policy or these terms can be sent to hello@thesecondhalfguide.com.