Privacy Policy

Effective Date: October 17, 2026

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Bell Finance, LLC ("Bell Finance," "we," "us," or "our") provides financial counseling, coaching, and educational services to individuals and families. We understand that the information you share with us during counseling is personal and sensitive, and we are committed to handling it responsibly, transparently, and with the same professionalism and confidentiality we bring to every client relationship.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and the choices you have. It applies to information collected through our website (bellfinance.org) and through the course of providing financial counseling services.

Information We Collect

Depending on the nature of our work together, we may collect:

Contact information, such as your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.
Financial information you choose to share during counseling sessions, such as income, expenses, debts, assets, and financial goals.
Information submitted through website forms, such as intake or scheduling requests.
Notes and records created in the course of providing counseling services.

We collect only the information reasonably necessary to provide effective financial counseling and to operate our website. We do not sell products, and we do not ask for information beyond what supports your counseling relationship.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Provide financial counseling, coaching, and educational services to you.
Communicate with you about scheduling, sessions, and follow-up resources.
Maintain accurate records of our work together.
Improve our services and educational materials.
Meet legal, regulatory, or professional obligations, including those associated with Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) certification.

We do not use your information for advertising, and we do not sell or rent your personal or financial information to anyone.

How We Protect Your Information

We maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your nonpublic personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. This includes limiting access to client information to Stephen A. Bell, using secure, reputable technology platforms to store records, and disposing of records securely when they are no longer needed.

As a solo practice, Bell Finance does not have a large technical infrastructure, and no security program can guarantee absolute protection. We take a conservative, common-sense approach: we collect less, retain only what is useful, and restrict access to a single individual.

Scheduling and Intake

Bell Finance uses Google Calendar's appointment booking feature, part of our existing Google Workspace account, to manage appointment scheduling. When you book a session, Google Calendar collects your name, email address, and any information you provide in the booking form, and adds the appointment directly to our calendar. Because this scheduling tool operates within the same Google Workspace environment used for our email and calendar services, no additional third-party data-sharing arrangement is involved. Google's handling of this information is governed by the Google Workspace agreement and Google's own privacy policies, available at policies.google.com/privacy.

Information Sharing and Disclosure

Bell Finance does not disclose your nonpublic personal information to any nonaffiliated third party, except:

As required or permitted by law (for example, in response to a valid legal request).
With your explicit consent (for example, if you ask us to coordinate with another professional on your behalf).
To service providers who help us operate securely (such as a scheduling or document storage platform), and only to the extent necessary for them to perform that function.

Bell Finance does not have affiliates, does not share information for marketing purposes, and does not accept donations, so there is no third-party fundraising or solicitation activity involving your information.

Use of AI Tools

I may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help me prepare for sessions and organize my work. For example, an AI tool might help me summarize notes, draft a budget template, or research a question you’ve asked.

The only AI tool I use with client information is Google Gemini, operating within Bell Finance's Google Workspace account. Under Google's business terms, your information is not used to train AI models and is not reviewed by people outside Bell Finance.
I share only the minimum information a task requires, and I leave out names and other identifying details whenever I can.
AI tools never make decisions about your situation or communicate with you on my behalf. I review anything an AI tool produces before it informs the guidance I give you.

If you'd prefer that I not use AI tools with your information, just tell me. It won't affect the help you receive.

Your Rights and Choices

You may ask us at any time what information we hold about you, request corrections, or request that we delete information that is no longer needed for recordkeeping or legal purposes. You may also decline to share any information you are not comfortable providing, though this may limit how effectively we can assist you.

Data Retention

We retain client records for as long as reasonably necessary to support your counseling relationship and to meet professional and legal recordkeeping obligations, after which records are securely deleted or destroyed.

Children's Privacy

Bell Finance's services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 18.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. The "Effective Date" above reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be posted on this page.

Contact Us

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

Stephen A. Bell

Bell Finance, LLC

hello@bellfinance.org

bellfinance.org