1. Introduction
MarketPulse ("we," "us," or "our") operates a real-time market tracking and trading application that allows users to view market data, manage investment portfolios, and execute trades through our brokerage partner, Alpaca. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
- Account information: Name, email address, and password when you register
- KYC information: Date of birth, address, Social Security Number (SSN), and government ID when opening a brokerage account with Alpaca
- Bank account information: Processed through Plaid for ACH funding — we do not store your bank login credentials
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Usage data: Pages visited, features used, and interactions with the app
- Device information: Browser type, operating system, and IP address
2.3 Information from Third Parties
- Alpaca: Account balance, positions, and transaction history
- Plaid: Bank account verification status (we do not store raw bank credentials)
- Stripe: Subscription and payment status
3. How We Use Your Information
- To provide and maintain the MarketPulse service
- To open and manage your brokerage account with Alpaca
- To process deposits and withdrawals via ACH through Plaid
- To execute buy and sell orders on your behalf
- To send you service-related communications
- To comply with legal and regulatory requirements
4. How We Share Your Information
We share your information only as necessary to provide our services:
- Alpaca Broker API — To open and manage your brokerage account and execute trades
- Plaid — To verify your bank account for ACH transfers
- Stripe — To process subscription payments
- Finnhub / FMP — To retrieve market data (no personal information shared)
- Legal authorities — When required by law or regulation
We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
5. Data Security
We protect your information using:
- TLS 1.2+ encryption for all data in transit
- Encryption at rest for all stored data
- Role-based access controls and least-privilege principles
- Multi-factor authentication for administrative access
- Encrypted secrets management for all API credentials
6. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as your account is active and as required by law. Transaction and brokerage records are retained for 7 years per FINRA/SEC requirements. See our Data Retention and Deletion Policy for details.
7. Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Withdraw consent for data processing
- Export your data
8. Consent
By using MarketPulse, you consent to the collection, processing, and storage of your data as described in this Privacy Policy. This consent is obtained before you link your bank account via Plaid or open a brokerage account via Alpaca.
9. Contact
For privacy questions or requests, contact us at the email associated with your MarketPulse account.
