Privacy Policy

Clear Thinking Finance UK
Last Updated: June 2026

Introduction

Clear Thinking Finance UK is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you visit our website, contact us, use our services, attend a workshop, or request information from us.

Clear Thinking Finance UK provides financial guidance, cashflow modelling, workplace financial education, and paraplanning/technical support services to financial planning firms. We do not provide regulated financial advice.

Who We Are

Clear Thinking Finance UK is operated by Mark Searle as a sole trader.

Clear Thinking Finance UK is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Our registration number is ZC177939.

Email:mark@clearthinkingfinanceuk.com
Website: clearthinkingfinanceuk.com

Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

Personal Information

  • Client information provided by adviser firms for paraplanning purposes

  • Fact-find information

  • Suitability report information

  • Pension, investment and protection policy details

  • Information required to support regulated financial advice firms

Financial Information

Where required to provide our services, we may collect:

  • Income details

  • Expenditure information

  • Savings and investments

  • Pension information

  • Mortgage and debt details

  • Asset information

  • Retirement assumptions and objectives

Technical Information

When visiting our website, we may collect:

  • IP address

  • Browser type and version

  • Device information

  • Website usage information

  • Cookie data (where applicable)

How We Collect Information

We collect information when:

  • You complete a contact form

  • You email or telephone us

  • You complete questionnaires or data collection forms

  • You engage our services

  • Your employer arranges a workshop or snapshot report

  • You use our website

How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

  • Respond to enquiries

  • Deliver financial guidance services

  • Produce cashflow modelling and reports

  • Create employee snapshot reports

  • Deliver workplace workshops

  • Manage client relationships

  • Improve our services

  • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

We will only use your information where we have a lawful basis to do so.

Paraplanning and Technical Support Services

Clear Thinking Finance UK may provide paraplanning, research, report-writing and technical support services to financial advisers, financial planning firms and other professional businesses.

Where acting as a service provider to another business:

  • We may process personal information on behalf of that business.

  • The advice firm or business remains responsible for determining the purpose and lawful basis for processing personal information.

  • Clear Thinking Finance UK acts only on the instructions of the business and processes information solely for the purpose of delivering the agreed services.

  • Appropriate security measures are maintained to protect any personal information received.

  • Personal information will not be used for marketing or any unrelated purpose.

  • Information will be retained only for as long as necessary to provide the service and meet any legal, contractual or regulatory requirements.

Where required, separate Data Processing Agreements may be entered into with adviser firms or business clients.

Lawful Bases for Processing

We process personal information under one or more of the following lawful bases:

Contract

To provide services you have requested.

Legitimate Interests

To operate and improve our business and services.

Consent

Where consent is required, such as certain marketing communications or optional services.

Legal Obligation

Where we are required to comply with legal or regulatory requirements.

Employee Workshops and Snapshot Reports

Where your employer arranges a workshop or employee snapshot report:

  • Information provided by your employer will be limited to information necessary to deliver the service.

  • Additional personal information will only be collected directly from you.

  • Snapshot reports are prepared solely for your personal use.

  • Your employer will not receive your personal financial information unless you explicitly consent.

Marketing Communications

We may occasionally send information about our services.

You can unsubscribe or opt out at any time by contacting us.

We do not sell or rent personal information to third parties.

Sharing Your Information

We may share information with trusted service providers who help us operate our business, including:

  • Microsoft 365

  • Squarespace

  • Cashflow modelling software providers

  • Secure document storage providers

  • Professional advisers where necessary

  • When providing paraplanning services, information may be shared with the adviser firm that has engaged Clear Thinking Finance UK to provide support services.

These providers are required to protect your information and process it only for legitimate purposes.

We may also disclose information where required by law.

International Transfers

Some service providers may store information outside the United Kingdom.

Where this occurs, appropriate safeguards will be used to protect your information in accordance with UK data protection legislation.

Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information, including:

  • Password-protected systems

  • Secure cloud storage

  • Access controls

  • Encrypted communications where appropriate

  • Regular software and security updates

While we take appropriate security measures, no method of transmission over the internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, regulatory and business requirements.

Retention periods may vary depending on the nature of the service provided.

When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or anonymised.

Your Rights

Under UK data protection legislation, you may have the right to:

  • Access your personal information

  • Correct inaccurate information

  • Request deletion of your information

  • Restrict processing

  • Object to processing

  • Request transfer of your data

  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below.

Cookies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies.

Where required, you will be given the opportunity to accept or manage cookie preferences when visiting our website.

Further details will be available in our Cookie Policy.

Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact:

Mark Searle
Clear Thinking Finance UK
Email: mark@clearthinkingfinanceuk.com

Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, please contact us first so we can attempt to resolve the issue.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Clear Thinking Finance UK's ICO registration number is ZC177939.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

Any updates will be published on this page and become effective immediately upon publication.