Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Perfient — Beta Version

Trust, Privacy & Data Safety

Do I need to provide personal information to use Perfient?

No. Perfient does not require your real name, email address (optional, when available, used only for recovery, identity verification, and notifications. We recommend using email aliases for privacy.), phone number, or physical address. You can use Perfient without revealing your identity.

What data does Perfient store?

Perfient only stores data you explicitly provide, such as:

• Portfolio holdings or allocations
• Financial preferences or risk inputs (PFT)
• An anonymous user identifier

Can Perfient link my data back to my real identity?

No. Perfient is designed to minimize the link between users and their data. If your credentials are lost, the data cannot be recovered or reassigned.

Is my data sold or used for advertising?

No. Perfient does not sell user data, does not run ads, and does not use data for marketing purposes.

Does Perfient use cookies or trackers?

Perfient uses cookie-free, privacy-respecting analytics only to understand system performance and feature usage in aggregate. We do not track individuals.

Security & Encryption

How is my data protected?

Perfient applies reasonable security measures, including:

• Client side encryption
• Encryption in transit and at rest (where applicable)
• Restricted internal access
• Logical separation of identifiers and financial data
• Encrypted Local data storage as an option

Is Perfient “bank-level secure”?

Perfient follows strong security practices, but it is not a bank and should not be treated as a financial custodian. No system can guarantee absolute security.

What is Server-Side Encryption?

Server-side encryption means your data is encrypted with AES-256 on our secure servers. All transfers use TLS encryption in transit. This is the default encryption mode and provides:

• Seamless access from any device without setup
• Automatic encrypted backups
• Cross-device synchronization
• Proactive insights and notifications
• No password to remember or manage

With server-side encryption, Perfient systems may process your financial data to generate personalized insights and enable features like WhatsApp/email notifications and faster portfolio analysis.

How Does Server-Side Encryption Work?

Server-side encryption protects your data through the following process:

• Your financial data is encrypted with AES-256 on secure servers
• All data transfers use TLS encryption in transit
• Data is accessible from any device without additional setup
• Automatic backups maintain encrypted copies
• No encryption password is required from you

What is Client-Side Encryption?

Client-side encryption means your financial data is encrypted in your browser before being sent to the server. Only you hold the decryption key. Even Perfient employees cannot access your unencrypted financial information. Trade-offs include:

• No proactive notifications while offline
• No WhatsApp/email insights
• Limited recovery options if you lose your encryption password
• Insights available only after you log in

How Does Client-Side Encryption Work?

Client-side encryption ensures your data privacy through the following process:

• Your encryption password derives a unique AES-256 key in your browser
• Data is encrypted on your device before upload
• Server stores encrypted blobs it cannot decrypt
• Only you have the decryption key
• The encryption key is stored in sessionStorage and cleared when your browser closes

AI, Accuracy & Limitations

Is Perfient giving me financial advice?

No. Perfient is a financial analysis and decision-support tool. It does not provide investment advice or act as a fiduciary.

How accurate are Perfient’s responses?

Outputs are generated by AI models using your data, assumptions, and available financial information. They are probabilistic and may be incomplete or incorrect.

Does Perfient predict markets or stock prices?

No. Perfient does not predict markets or guarantee outcomes. It helps you reason about scenarios and trade-offs.

Beta Version

What does “Beta” mean?

Perfient is currently in Beta, which means:

• Features may be incomplete or experimental
• Models and outputs may change
• You may encounter bugs or limitations

Will my feedback matter?

Yes. Beta feedback directly influences product direction, features, and improvements.

Onboarding & Getting Started

What should I do first?

Most users start by:

• Update privacy settings, or
• Answer a few questions to build your financial profile

What happens after I update my profile?

You will find your Financial Independence timeline in home page. You will also be able to ask questions, explore scenarios, and receive analysis based on your profile data in "Ask Perfient" page. You will be able to simulate different scenarios and assumptions to see how they impact your financial independence timeline and other financial outcomes in Simulators page.

Why is the financial plan page empty?

Financial Plan page is added with financial plans you purchase using "Generate Financial Plan" feature in Home page. It will be empty until you generate your first financial plan.

Features & Capabilities

What can Perfient help me with?

• Personalized Financial Independence Timeline
• Personal Finance queries
• Scenario and assumption testing
• Financial Plan creation and tracking with optional Certified Financial Planner review

What can Perfient NOT do?

• Recommend specific stocks/ETFs or other financial products
• Connect with your bank
• Guarantee returns
• Replace professional advice

Incorrect or Problematic Responses

What if Perfient gives an incorrect or confusing response?

AI systems can be wrong. If something seems incorrect:

• Question the assumptions
• Ask follow-up questions
• Submit feedback using the feedback option

Does Perfient learn from my individual conversations?

User conversations are not used to personally profile you. Feedback may be used in aggregate to improve system behavior.

Contact & Support

How can I contact the Perfient team?

You can contact us through the official Perfient website or feedback channels provided within the application.

Is there customer support?

During Beta, support is limited. We prioritize fixing systemic issues over individual requests, but all feedback is reviewed.