Privacy Policy

1.Introduction

Blaketon Financial ("we", "our", "us") carries on business as a licensed Financial Services Provider (FSP 45894) offering personalised financial planning, retirement planning, investment solutions, risk protection, estate planning, and wealth management advisory services within the Republic of South Africa.

We are classified under the Protection of Personal Information Act, No. 4 of 2013 ("POPIA") as a "Private Body" and as a Responsible Party in our own right. This privacy policy describes our commitment to securing the personal information of our prospects, active clients, and website users in accordance with South African privacy parameters and the regulatory requirements of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).

2.Information Officer

As required by POPIA, Blaketon Financial has officially registered its Information Officer with the South African Information Regulator. The Information Officer is responsible for ensuring compliance, managing security protocols, and addressing privacy requests.

3.Personal Data We Collect

We process personal information that is supplied voluntarily to us through our digital channels and in the course of providing financial advisory services, including:

• Contact Information: Full name, email address, telephone and mobile number, and physical address.
• Financial Information: Income details, asset and liability information, existing policies, investment holdings, retirement fund details, beneficiary information, and other financial data necessary to provide tailored financial advice.
• Personal Circumstances: Marital status, dependents, health information relevant to risk products, employment details, and estate planning requirements.
• Identification Information: Identity number, passport number, and verification documents required for FICA compliance and product provider onboarding.
• Technical Tracking: IP address, device metadata, browser information, cookie-based tracking, and website behaviour patterns.

4.Purpose of Collection

We only collect and process personal information for explicit, legally justifiable purposes directly related to the provision of financial advisory services, including:

• Responding to enquiries, free financial review requests, and consultation bookings submitted through our website.
• Conducting needs analyses and compiling personalised financial plans tailored to each client's unique circumstances.
• Recommending, arranging, and administering suitable financial products from reputable product providers on behalf of our clients.
• Ongoing policy servicing, annual reviews, claims assistance, and maintenance of long-term client relationships.
• Complying with statutory obligations, including FICA, FSCA regulations, FAIS General Code of Conduct, and tax reporting requirements.
• Submitting required regulatory records to product providers, regulators, and auditors.

5.Financial Advisory Services

As an authorised Financial Services Provider, Blaketon Financial handles highly sensitive personal and financial information. When you engage our services, we collect and process the information strictly necessary to:

• Perform a comprehensive financial needs analysis.
• Source and compare suitable products from multiple established product providers.
• Submit applications for life cover, disability, dread disease, income protection, retirement annuities, living annuities, investments, and estate planning instruments.
• Provide ongoing advice, policy reviews, and claims support throughout the duration of our relationship.
• Maintain statutory records as required by the FAIS Act and FSCA for the prescribed retention period.

6.Cookies and Tracking

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to keep the site working, remember preferences, and understand how pages are used.

• Essential cookies: required for the website to function correctly and for the financial review form to operate securely.
• Analytics cookies: used to measure traffic, understand page performance, and improve the user experience.
• Third-party cookies: may be set by integrated services and product providers where applicable.

You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Blocking essential cookies may prevent certain website functions, including the financial review request form, from working correctly.

7.Third-Party Sharing

Blaketon Financial does not sell, trade, or distribute your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We only share personal information where it is necessary to fulfil our contractual and statutory obligations, and only with trusted parties under confidentiality arrangements:

• Product Providers: Reputable South African financial institutions with whom we place business on your behalf (e.g., for life cover, retirement, or investment products).
• FormSubmit: Used to securely deliver financial review form submissions to our office.
• Regulators and Auditors: The FSCA, Information Regulator, or other statutory bodies where legally required.
• Professional Service Providers: Hosting infrastructure, email delivery services, and website development partners bound by confidentiality agreements.

8.Data Security

We use commercial-grade security protocols to protect your personal and financial information against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, or disclosure. This includes:

• SSL encryption on all web pages and form submissions.
• Secure, access-controlled storage of client records.
• Confidentiality agreements with all staff and service providers.
• Strict internal policies governing access to client information on a need-to-know basis.
• Regular reviews of our security measures to ensure ongoing POPIA and FSCA compliance.

9.Your Legal Rights under POPIA

South African citizens have explicit legal rights over their personal information. You have the right to:

• Confirm whether we hold any of your personal information.
• Request a copy of the specific personal information we hold about you.
• Request the correction, updating, or deletion of outdated or incorrect data.
• Object to the processing of your data for direct marketing purposes.
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you believe your rights have been infringed.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Information Officer at [email protected].

10.Retention of Records

In accordance with the FAIS Act and FSCA requirements, we are obliged to retain certain client records and advice records for a minimum prescribed period, typically five (5) years from the date of termination of the service or advice. Beyond this period, records are securely destroyed unless a longer retention is required by law or by agreement with you.

11.The South African Information Regulator

If you believe your personal information has been handled incorrectly, you have the right to lodge a complaint directly with the South African Information Regulator.