Effective July 19, 2021

Why?

Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share and protect your personal information. This notice is being provided on behalf of CFGS. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

What?

The types of personal information we collect can include: Social Security number, your income and assets, investment experience, account transactions and retirement assets. When you are no longer our customer, we will continue to hold your information and share it as described in this notice.

How?

All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons why financial companies can share their customers’ personal information, the reasons CFGS chooses to share personal information and whether you can limit this sharing.

• Do We Share?
  Yes

• Can You Limit Sharing?
  No

• Do We Share?
  No

• Can You Limit Sharing?
  We don’t share

• Do We Share?
  Yes

• Can You Limit Sharing?
  No

• Do We Share?
  Yes

• Can You Limit Sharing?
  No

• Do We Share?
  No

• Can You Limit Sharing?
  We don’t share

• Do We Share?
  No

• Can You Limit Sharing?
  We don’t share

• Do We Share?
  Yes*

• Can You Limit Sharing?
  Yes*

• Affiliates – Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and non-financial companies.
• Non-affiliates – Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and non-financial companies. The Non-Affiliates we may share information with include an independent representative's new brokerage or investment advisory firm if they choose to leave Concourse Financial Group Securities.
• Joint Marketing – means a formal agreement between non-affiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

• Open an account
• Apply for insurance
• Seek advice about your investments
• Enter into an investment advisory account
• Tell us about your investment or retirement portfolio

• Sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes— information about your creditworthiness
• Affiliates from using your information to market to you
• Sharing for non-affiliates to market to you

Opt-Out

If you would like to limit the personal information that your financial advisor could disclose or take if moving to another brokerage or investment advisory firm (“New Firm”) and terminates the relationship with Concourse Financial Group Securities (“Opt-Out”), you may: (1) access concoursefinancial.com/privacy-policy/securities, complete the appropriate form and check the “opt-out” box, and mail the form to Concourse Financial Group Securities; or (2) call Concourse Financial Group Securities Client Services at 1-800-288-3035, option 1 and make the election. You may withdraw your opt-out choice at any time by completing the same form to indicate you are revoking your prior “opt-out,” and returning to Concourse Financial Group Securities.

Opt-In

If your primary address is in a state that requires your affirmative consent to share your personal information with the New Firm, then you must give your written consent before we will allow your financial advisor to take your personal information to that New Firm. Please be aware that Concourse Financial Group Securities entered into the Protocol for Broker Recruiting (the “Protocol”) on November 30, 2016, with certain other brokerage firms, and if Concourse Financial Group Securities remains a signatory to the Protocol as of the effective date of your advisor’s termination from Concourse Financial Group Securities, then Concourse Financial Group Securities will permit your financial advisor to take your name, address, phone number, email address and the account title of the accounts serviced (or additional information as permitted if the Protocol is amended) while your financial advisor was associated with Concourse Financial Group Securities if your advisor joins one of these Protocol firms. The retention of this limited information by your advisor under the Protocol may occur even if you have exercised your rights to limit information sharing as described above (i.e., opted-out”). To make your opt-in election, go to concoursefinancial.com/privacy-policy/securities, complete the Privacy Election form, check the “opt-in” box, and mail the form to Concourse Financial Group Securities.

To access the Privacy Election Form, click here.

High tech has made it easy for hackers to cast a very broad net in their quest to obtain confidential information instantaneously and cheaply. With the press of a button, a hacker can launch 100,000 emails to as many potential “marks” containing malicious email or text, all designed to provide access to the information on your computer and within related online accounts. The purpose of this disclosure is to provide basic information regarding steps you can take to enhance your computing security.

Email communications: Be alert to phishing attempts

Email is an efficient form of communication; however, you should be aware it carries risk. Utilize an email service provider that features encryption. Send personal information through known and trusted sites only; and, if you manage any financial accounts online, check them regularly for any unusual activity. Beware of attempts to "phish" your information. These are often in the form of urgent-sounding emails where you might be encouraged to click on a link in order to update personal information. Even clicking on the link could potentially take you to a malicious website, where malware could infect your computer. We strongly recommend that you not click on suspicious links. Instead, navigate directly to a known web address.

Do not open emails from senders you do not recognize. Never open attachments or click on embedded links unless you are sure of their authenticity. This is true even if the email purports to come from someone you know. Remember, it is very common for hackers to learn the email addresses of individuals and send emails that appear to come from those addresses.

Keep your equipment updated

Technology changes quickly. Keep your computer's antivirus and firewall software current. Ensure your computers are encrypted. Auto-install essential operating system updates. Lock your computer when not in use.

Create passwords and PINs not easily associated with you

Hackers can crack a six-letter password in minutes. By adding uppercase letters, symbols, and numbers, the time it would take to crack your passcode increases exponentially. Avoid the most common passwords, like “123456” or “password.” Also avoid using your children's names, your pet's name, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or any other item of information that may be readily known by others. Ensure each password is at least eight characters long. Instead of using a word like “bostonian” as your password, try the following iteration: “B0st0n!an04” where you substitute numbers and symbols for lower case letters.

Memorize your passwords and PINs; do not write them down. Do not share your passwords and PINs with anyone, even if someone asks. Note: Your financial institutions will not ask you for this information. Finally, change your passwords and PINs regularly, especially if you suspect that someone may have knowledge of them.

Consider using more than one method of authentication such as a password and a text code or a one-time password and challenge question. Some websites offer an authorization code, which is a one-time number sent via email or text when you log in.

Mobile devices, including your iPhones and iPads (and other manufacturers’ equivalents) are essentially small computers, meaning they are still vulnerable to viruses and malware. Update your mobile device operating system regularly and keep the following tips in mind:

• For maximum security, download the mobile application directly from your financial institution’s website.
• Guard your personal information on your phone or tablet device by using strong passcodes and a short screen lock period (e.g., one minute).
• Use caution when browsing websites, downloading applications, performing financial transactions and sharing personal information or location. Avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi hot spots as they are susceptible to eavesdropping. Investigate the use of a personal VPN to ensure secure connections when away from a known secure network. Never accept software updates when using public Wi-Fi.
• Do not respond to suspicious fraudulent texting, calls or voicemails. Requests for personal information or a call for immediate action are almost always a scam.

Effective January 1, 2020