Last Updated: April 18, 2025
Higher Standard Agency/Syndicate Financial ("Higher Standard Agency," "we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you interact with our services, communications, and representatives.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:
Higher Standard Agency/Syndicate Financial
310 W. Front St.
Traverse City, MI 49685
Phone: 231-218-5954
Email:
Contact Person: Nik Biddinger
We may collect the following types of information:
Full nameContact information (email address, phone number, mailing address)Date of birthSocial Security Number or other government identificationFinancial informationHealth and medical informationBeneficiary informationEmployment informationInsurance policy information
Browser type and versionDevice typeOperating systemIP addressUsage data and analyticsReferring website addresses
When you opt in to receive SMS messages from us, we collect and store your mobile phone number, opt-in information (including date, time, and method of consent), and records of messages we've sent to you and any responses we've received.
We collect information through various methods:
Directly from you when you provide it to us (applications, forms, correspondence)From third parties (insurance carriers, credit reporting agencies, medical providers)Automatically as you navigate through our services (cookies, tracking technologies)Through SMS marketing communicationsThrough telephone conversations, which may be recorded for quality assurance and training purposes
We may use your information for the following purposes:
To provide and maintain our servicesTo process insurance applications and claimsTo communicate with you about our services, products, and policy updatesTo fulfill our contractual obligationsTo improve our products and servicesTo send promotional materials and marketing communications via SMS and other channelsTo comply with legal and regulatory requirementsTo protect against fraud and unauthorized transactionsTo respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
If you have opted in to our SMS messaging service, we use your mobile phone number and related information to:
Send you the specific types of messages you've consented to receiveRespond to your text message repliesTrack and confirm your opt-in consentHonor your opt-out requestsMaintain records of our communications as required by law
We may share your information with:
Insurance carriers and providers to facilitate your insurance coverageService providers who perform services on our behalfLegal and regulatory authorities when required by lawBusiness partners with your consent for marketing purposesProfessional advisors such as lawyers, accountants, and auditorsThird parties in connection with a business transfer, merger, or acquisition
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, which may include:
Access to your personal informationCorrection of inaccurate or incomplete informationDeletion of your personal informationRestriction of processing of your personal informationData portabilityObjection to processing of your personal informationWithdrawal of consent at any time
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Information" section.
By providing your mobile phone number to Higher Standard Agency and checking the corresponding opt-in box on our forms, you expressly consent to receive recurring SMS text messages from Higher Standard Agency (including messages sent using an automatic telephone dialing system). These messages may include (but are not limited to) information about your insurance quotes, policy updates, payment reminders, and other insurance-related communications.
The frequency of SMS messages varies depending on your account activity and communication preferences, but typically ranges from 1-4 messages per month. Message and data rates may apply. Contact your wireless provider for details about your text messaging plan.
Higher Standard Agency will never sell, rent, or share your mobile phone number with any third parties for their marketing purposes.
Your mobile number will only be used by Higher Standard Agency for the specific purposes you've consented to, and by our service providers who help us deliver the services you've requested.
You can opt out of receiving SMS marketing messages at any time by replying "STOP" to any message you receive from us. After you send the SMS message "STOP" to us, we will send you an SMS message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. After this, you will no longer receive SMS messages from us.
If you want to join again, simply sign up as you did the first time, and we will start sending SMS messages to you again.
If at any time you forget what keywords are supported, reply with "HELP" to any of our messages, and we will respond with instructions on how to use our service as well as how to unsubscribe.
By opting in to receive SMS messages from Higher Standard Agency, you certify that you are the owner of the mobile device or have permission from the owner to enroll the mobile number.
We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, accidental loss, alteration, or disclosure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee the security of information transmitted to us.
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your mobile phone number and related information from unauthorized access or disclosure. Our SMS messaging service providers are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality of your information and are prohibited from using it for any purpose other than providing services to Higher Standard Agency.
We will retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.
We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our services and to collect certain information. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent.
Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Our services may contain links to third-party websites and services. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy frequently to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.
This Privacy Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
By using our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this Privacy Policy and agree to be bound by all of its terms.