Terms of Service

Last updated: May 15, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the website and services provided by Recess Financial, LLC ("Recess," "we," "us," or "our").

1. Overview of Services

Recess is a paperwork processing service that helps former education professionals recover their mandatory pension contributions from state and municipal retirement systems and coordinate rollovers into Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Our services include researching your pension balance and refund eligibility, preparing and pre-filling required forms, submitting paperwork to pension systems on your behalf, following up with pension systems on the status of your application, and coordinating with your IRA custodian for direct rollovers.

Non-affiliation and non-endorsement: Recess Financial, LLC is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any state or municipal pension system. Recess does not represent any pension system and has no authority to act as an agent of any pension system. Recess assists members in preparing and submitting their own applications for refund of their own contributions. The member retains full control over their application and makes all final decisions. Recess does not have access to, custody of, or control over any pension funds at any time.

2. Fees and Payment

Recess charges a flat fee based on the estimated balance of your pension contributions. We research your balance and confirm your eligibility for free. You pay the flat fee only when you decide to proceed with the pension recovery process.

Money-back guarantee: If we are unable to successfully complete your pension recovery for any reason, whether due to a processing issue, a paperwork complication, or any other reason, we will refund your fee in full.

3. Authorization and Consent

By using our services, you authorize Recess to act on your behalf in communicating with pension systems, preparing and submitting pension refund and rollover forms, and coordinating with financial institutions for IRA rollovers.

This authorization is limited to the specific administrative tasks described above. It does not grant Recess power of attorney, agency authority, or any legal authority to represent you or any pension system. You retain the right to withdraw your authorization at any time by contacting us in writing.

4. Handling of Social Security Numbers

Pension systems require your Social Security number (SSN) to process refund applications. Recess pre-fills all forms except the SSN field; you write in your own SSN before signing. In cases where forms are submitted electronically, your SSN may be temporarily handled by Recess solely for the purpose of completing and submitting the form on your behalf.

SSNs are used solely for pension form preparation, are never stored permanently in our systems, and are deleted within 30 days of your case completing or being closed.

5. Your Responsibilities

By using our services, you agree to:

6. Important Disclaimers

Not financial, investment, or tax advice: Recess does not provide investment advice, financial planning, tax advice, or personalized financial recommendations. Any general educational information we provide about IRAs, rollovers, retirement accounts, or financial concepts is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as advice for your specific situation. You should consult a qualified financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney before making financial decisions.

No guarantee of pension refund amounts: While we research your estimated balance, the final refund amount is determined solely by the pension system. Estimates provided by Recess are approximations and may differ from the actual amount you receive.

Social Security impact: Taking a pension refund may affect your eligibility for Social Security benefits under the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or other provisions. Recess does not provide advice on Social Security benefits. We recommend consulting the Social Security Administration or a qualified advisor.

Pension system processing: Recess does not control the processing times, decisions, or policies of any state or district pension system. We facilitate the paperwork and follow up on your behalf, but the pension system has sole authority over your refund application.

Financial advisor referrals: If you opt in to be connected with a financial advisor, that advisor is an independent professional and not an employee or agent of Recess. We do not guarantee the quality, suitability, or outcomes of any advice or services provided by referred advisors. Any engagement with a financial advisor is a separate relationship between you and that advisor.

Third-party services: References to any third-party financial institutions or IRA providers on our website or in our communications are for informational purposes only. Such third parties are not partners of, affiliated with, or endorsed by Recess Financial unless otherwise stated in a separate written agreement.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Recess Financial, LLC shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, arising from your use of our services.

Our total liability to you for any claims arising from or related to our services shall not exceed the amount you paid to Recess for the specific service giving rise to the claim.

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Recess Financial, LLC, its owners, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) arising from your use of our services, your violation of these Terms, or your provision of inaccurate information.

9. Intellectual Property

All content on our website, including text, graphics, logos, and software, is the property of Recess Financial, LLC and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without our written permission.

10. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of our services shall be resolved in the courts of Montgomery County, Maryland.

11. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of our services after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

12. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to our services at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. If we terminate your service before completing your pension recovery, we will refund any fees you have paid.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us:

Recess Financial, LLC
Email: hello@recessfinancial.com
Website: recessfinancial.com