Privacy Policy

Effective: April 21, 2026 · Last updated: April 21, 2026
Index Instead compares index-fund brokers and routes clicks to them via tracked affiliate links. This policy explains what we collect, what happens when you click through to a broker, and your rights. We never sell your data.

Contents

  1. What we collect
  2. How we use it
  3. Affiliate links & broker redirects
  4. Third parties
  5. Cookies & tracking
  6. Data retention
  7. Your rights
  8. Children's privacy
  9. International users
  10. Changes to this policy
  11. Contact

1. What we collect

The calculator on Index Instead runs entirely in your browser. Purchase name, price, category, and horizon never leave your device.

We collect the following anonymized analytics via Google Analytics 4:

  • Approximate location (country/region, derived from IP — IPs are anonymized before storage)
  • Device type, browser, operating system
  • Pages viewed, session duration, referrer
  • Events: running a reckoning, clicking a partner CTA, clicking newsletter CTA

We do not collect names, email addresses, or any direct personal identifiers through the site.

2. How we use it

Anonymized analytics help us understand traffic patterns, which broker placements convert, and which content resonates. We use this data to:

  • Improve the site's usability and content
  • Measure affiliate-link performance in aggregate
  • Plan editorial direction

We do not build individual user profiles, do not do retargeting, and do not sell data.

3. Affiliate links & broker redirects

Full disclosure.

Index Instead is a publisher-affiliate of several brokers, including (but not limited to) Wealthfront, Public, M1 Finance, Betterment, SoFi Invest, and Fidelity Go. When you click through our links, we may earn a commission on qualifying signups.

Clicking a partner CTA redirects your browser to the broker's website (often via an intermediary tracking URL from the Impact.com affiliate network). That redirect may set cookies, share your IP address with the broker, and attribute your signup to Index Instead for the purpose of commission tracking.

Once you land on the broker's site, their privacy policy governs, not ours. We encourage you to read it before creating an account.

UTM parameters appended to our affiliate links include:

  • utm_source=indexinstead
  • utm_medium=[placement] (where the click originated — partners-preview, compare-table, or detail-card)
  • utm_campaign=[partner_id]

These parameters are visible in the URL and are used for attribution reporting only.

4. Third parties

  • Google Analytics (Google LLC) — anonymized visitor analytics. We've disabled Google Signals and enabled IP anonymization. See Google's Privacy Policy.
  • Impact.com — affiliate network used to track partner signups and calculate commissions. See Impact's Privacy Policy.
  • Broker partners (Wealthfront, Public, M1 Finance, Betterment, SoFi, Fidelity, and others) — each has its own privacy policy that applies once you visit their sites.
  • Google Fonts (Google LLC) — typography delivery.
  • Netlify — site hosting and CDN. See Netlify's Privacy Policy.

5. Cookies & tracking

Google Analytics sets first-party cookies (e.g. _ga) to distinguish visitors and track session length. They expire within two years.

When you click a partner CTA, the broker's own tracking cookies may be set after you arrive on their site. These are not controlled by Index Instead.

You can block analytics and cross-site tracking via browser extensions (uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, or similar), and the calculator will continue to work normally.

6. Data retention

Google Analytics data is retained for up to 14 months, after which it is automatically deleted. Impact.com retains affiliate-tracking data per its own policies. Index Instead itself does not maintain any database of visitor information.

7. Your rights

Depending on your jurisdiction (GDPR, CCPA, etc.), you may have rights to access, correct, or delete information held about you. Because we don't collect personal identifiers directly, most such requests resolve to "nothing is tied to you specifically" — but if you have a concern, email us.

To opt out of Google Analytics across all sites, install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

To opt out of broker-side tracking, you will need to reference each broker's privacy policy and exercise your rights with them directly.

8. Children's privacy

Index Instead is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from them. If you believe a child has provided information to us, please contact us and we will act promptly.

9. International users

This site is hosted in the United States by Netlify. By using it, you consent to your information being transferred to and processed in the United States. Broker partners may be based in the United States or other jurisdictions; each broker's privacy policy will disclose their data-processing locations.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The effective date at the top will change, and material changes will be noted prominently on the site for a reasonable period.

11. Contact

Questions, requests, or complaints: hello@1337.ai.

Index Instead is a publication of 1337.ai.