1. About this policy
This Cookie Policy explains how The Lodestone Group, LLC, referred to as "Lodestone," "we," "us," or "our," uses cookies and similar technologies on https://www.thelodestonegroup.com/. Our Privacy Policy explains personal information, recipients, retention, international processing, and privacy rights.
Cookies are small browser files. Similar technologies include local storage, pixels, tags, and scripts; some transmit information without storing a cookie. Our controls cover the relevant optional technology and purpose, including such transmissions.
First-party cookies use the visited domain; third-party cookies use another domain. Session cookies ordinarily last for a browser session. Persistent identifiers remain until expiry or removal. Either type may contain personal information; a first-party cookie is not necessarily essential.
2. The purposes we use
Necessary technologies support essential functions, necessary security, and privacy choices. They cannot be disabled in Cookie Preferences and are used only for their necessary purpose. Blocking them in your browser may affect those functions.
Analytics technologies. With your permission, Google Analytics measures visits, interactions, and Website performance using usage information and browser identifiers. Analytics remains disabled until you allow it.
Before introducing another optional purpose, such as advertising, enhanced functionality, or a tracking-dependent embed, we will disclose its purpose and provider and obtain the required choice.
3. Make and change your choices
The banner offers Accept optional cookies, Reject optional cookies, and Manage preferences. Optional categories remain off unless you allow them. Closing the banner, scrolling, or continuing to browse does not consent. Rejecting analytics leaves the Website and contact options available.
Use Cookie Preferences at any time to change your choices or withdraw permission as easily as you gave it. Withdrawal stops future optional activity and removes optional cookies we control where technically possible. It does not undo lawful prior processing. Browser controls can remove cookies we cannot delete.
We remember your cookie choice in that browser for up to six months, unless storage is cleared or a change requires an earlier choice. Choices may differ across devices or browsers. This period does not cancel statutory privacy opt-outs or override legally recognized browser opt-out signals. Where required for the relevant processing, we honor signals such as Global Privacy Control. Cookie controls do not require identity verification.
4. Technologies and storage periods
The table covers the technologies governed by our cookie controls. Cookie Preferences provides their current identifiers, providers, domains or destinations, purposes, expiry, and renewal settings. Browser limits or deletion can shorten lifetimes. Cookie expiry is separate from retention of collected information.
| Technology and provider | Purpose | Category | Maximum storage period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cookie preference record — The Lodestone Group | Remembers your cookie choices and the notice version associated with them | Strictly necessary | Up to six months |
| Google Analytics identifiers, including the _ga and _ga_* cookie families — Google | Measures visits and interactions and maintains analytics session information | Optional analytics | Up to two years from creation or renewal |
Google Analytics is enabled only after you allow it. An analytics choice does not authorize advertising or another new purpose.
5. Google Analytics and external services
Google Analytics may set cookies on our domain while transmitting usage information to Google. Our controls determine whether analytics is enabled. See Google's explanation at https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.
External websites have their own privacy and cookie rules. You choose whether to follow their links. We request the relevant choice before loading an embed that needs optional tracking.
6. Browser controls, changes, and questions
Browser settings can remove or block cookies and clear site storage. Clearing storage may remove a saved choice and show the banner again.
We update this Policy when technologies, purposes, or requirements change. Contact info@thelodestonegroup.com or write to PO Box 14823, Springfield, MO 65814, United States with questions or to report a preference control that is not working.