Our website address is https://alphaadvisors.net.
When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.
An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.
If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.
If you leave a comment on our site you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.
If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.
When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select “Remember Me”, your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.
If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after 1 day.
Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.
These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.
If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email.
If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.
For users that register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.
If you have an account on this site or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.
Confidential Information
As lawyers and accountants, many of us need access to the firm’s confidential, proprietary information in order to do our jobs. It is our responsibility to keep such client and firm information (and in some cases, the information provided by business partners) confidential and protected, except where its disclosure is specifically authorized by the client or senior personnel of ALPHA ADVISORS (AA), permitted under rules of professional responsibility to which we are subject, or required by law. This means:
The fact that any client has sought our advice or asked us to pitch for work is as confidential as the advice itself.
We must not disclose, even inadvertently, the identity of clients, former clients and prospective clients unless we have their consent to do so.
We are expected to be familiar with and follow firm security measures and internal control procedures for the use of the firm’s network, systems, applications, and equipment, including computers, laptops, mobile devices, the internet, Wi-Fi hotspots, storage devices such as flash drives and USB devices, and remote access. This requirement includes any personally owned devices that contain or access the firms’ applications.
We are expected to carefully protect these devices in places where they could be lost or stolen, not share passwords or access codes, and not allow others to use our accounts or devices.
We are expected to use caution when discussing sensitive information on a cell phone or with a co-worker in public places, such as elevators, airports, restaurants, trains, buses and planes, or in open areas within the firm, such as break rooms or restrooms.
We must be careful not to leave documents containing sensitive information where an unauthorized person might read them, including unattended desks or on copy machines.
Privacy and Personal Information
Our privacy policies are an integral part of our business. They help protect our client’s personal information, as well as our own information, from potential breaches and data loss.
We are committed to handling personal data responsibly and in compliance with all applicable laws.
Personal data includes, among other things, any data that could be used to identify or locate individuals, such as names, dates and places of birth, addresses, email addresses, social security, driver’s licenses or other government identification numbers, social media accounts, and data linked to such identifiers, etc.
This means that we as a firm, and as individuals where our duties involve the use of such data, are required to:
Using the Firm’s Information Systems
Our information systems may not be used to engage in prohibited conduct or otherwise offensive or inappropriate material.
Our systems may not be used to download entertainment software, play games over the internet, or download unlicensed images, music or videos, or store music or videos other than those appropriately licensed for personal use and used accordingly. In addition, our IT systems may not be used to engage in any other activities that involve the unlawful and unauthorized distribution of content online or which may violate intellectual property rights.
If (AA) has provided any of its employees with a computer, cell phone or other portable technology, they are required to use that technology appropriately and in accordance with Firm policies. These policies always apply to firm equipment and do not change after hours or when travelling.
Employees should have no expectations of privacy when using the firm’s technology. Anything you write, save, transmit or record to the firm’s technologies may be viewed without your advance permission.
Using social media
(AA) does not generally restrict access to social media sites. However, we have substantial legal and ethical responsibilities that must be observed when using social media. These include our obligations to protect the privacy, confidentiality, and legal interests of the firm and its clients, and not to use such media in a way that may constitute impermissible attorney advertising.
Any conduct that violates the law or creates a conflict of interest or otherwise harms the firm’s business interests could result in discipline.
