Terms of Service

Last updated: March 18, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the website and services provided by Recess Financial, LLC ("Recess," "we," "us," or "our"). By using our website or engaging our services, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.

These Terms incorporate by reference our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, store, and share your personal information. By agreeing to these Terms, you also agree to the Privacy Policy. Certain services require you to execute a Third-Party Authorization form granting Recess permission to communicate with pension systems, request account information, and submit paperwork on your behalf. The authorization form will be provided to you before we take any action on your account.

1. Our Services

Recess provides administrative pension recovery services for former education professionals. Our services are limited to:

• Researching pension balances and refund eligibility
• Preparing, pre-filling, and coordinating submission of refund and rollover paperwork
• Communicating with pension systems and financial institutions on your behalf, pursuant to your written authorization
• Providing general educational information about pension refunds and IRA rollovers

Recess does not:

• Take custody or control of your pension funds at any time — all refund checks and rollovers are issued directly by the pension system to you or your designated IRA custodian
• Control, access, or manage your pension account or IRA
• Make financial, investment, or tax decisions on your behalf
• Provide investment advice, financial planning, tax advice, legal advice, or personalized financial recommendations of any kind

Recess is a paperwork processing and administrative service only. We are not an investment adviser, financial adviser, tax adviser, broker, or dealer registered with any federal or state regulatory authority.

2. Eligibility

Our services are available to individuals who are at least 18 years old and who are former participants in a state or district pension system in the United States. You must provide accurate and truthful information to use our services.

3. Service Process and Fees

Free research phase: We research your pension balance and confirm your eligibility at no cost and with no obligation.

Paid service: If you decide to proceed with pension recovery, our flat fees are based on your estimated pension balance:

• Balances under $10,000: $99
• $10,000 – $25,000: $149
• $25,000 – $50,000: $199
• $50,000+: $299

Priority processing: For an additional flat fee of $50, you may request priority processing, which means we will prioritize your case in our workflow and provide expedited follow-up with pension systems. Priority processing does not guarantee faster processing by the pension system itself, as processing times are determined solely by the pension system.

If your pension recovery involves multiple states, each state is priced separately based on its estimated balance.

Additional costs such as notarization (if required by your state) will be communicated to you before you are charged.

Payment: Fees are due after your free research is complete and you decide to proceed. Payments are processed through Stripe. We do not store your credit card information.

4. Money-Back Guarantee

If we cannot successfully complete your pension recovery due to circumstances within our control, we will refund your service fee in full. We will also send you an Amazon gift card as compensation for the inconvenience.

This guarantee does not apply if the process cannot be completed due to:

• Information you provided that is materially incorrect or incomplete — meaning information that contains errors of fact (such as incorrect names, dates of employment, or employer information) or omissions significant enough to prevent the pension system from processing your application
• Your failure to respond to our communications, sign required forms, complete notarization, or take other actions necessary to advance your application within a reasonable timeframe
• Eligibility determinations, denials, or processing decisions made by the pension system that are outside our control
• Changes in pension system rules or procedures that occur after you engage our services

If a dispute arises about whether the guarantee applies, we will explain the specific reason in writing and work with you to resolve the issue.

5. Your Responsibilities

By using our services, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and truthful information
• Respond to our communications in a timely manner
• Review and sign any forms we prepare on your behalf
• Complete notarization when required by the applicable pension system
• Notify us promptly of any changes to your information
• Not use our services for any unlawful purpose

6. Tax and Financial Consequences

Pension refunds and IRA rollovers can have significant tax and retirement planning consequences. By using our services, you acknowledge and agree that:

• Pension refunds may be subject to federal and state income taxes
• Early withdrawal penalties or mandatory tax withholding may apply depending on your age and the type of distribution
• Taking a pension refund may affect your eligibility for Social Security benefits under the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO)
• You are solely responsible for understanding and managing the tax consequences of your pension refund or rollover
• You should consult a qualified tax professional, financial advisor, or attorney before making decisions about your pension

Recess does not provide tax advice. Any general educational information we share about taxes, rollovers, or retirement accounts is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as advice for your specific situation.

7. Important Disclaimers

Administrative service only: Recess provides administrative assistance with pension paperwork. Any educational information provided through our service — including information about IRAs, rollovers, retirement accounts, or financial concepts — should not be treated as personalized advice. You remain solely responsible for your own financial, tax, and retirement 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.

Pension system actions: 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. You agree that Recess is not liable for any decisions, delays, errors, or actions taken by a pension system in connection with your application.

Financial advisor referrals: If you opt in to be connected with a financial advisor, we will share only your name and contact information so the advisor can reach out. We do not share your Social Security number, pension balance, employment history, or other personal details with advisors. The advisor is an independent professional and not an employee, agent, or representative 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, governed by their own terms and agreements.

Third-party services: Recess may reference IRA providers such as Vanguard or Fidelity. Unless otherwise stated, these companies are not partners of, affiliated with, or endorsed by Recess Financial. References to any third-party services are for informational purposes only.

8. 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.

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Recess Financial, LLC, its owners, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, or expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) arising from or related to:

• Your use of our services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Information you provided to us that is inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading
• Any dispute between you and a pension system, financial institution, or financial advisor
• Actions taken by Recess in good-faith reliance on information or instructions you provided
• Your misuse of the service or any unauthorized use of your account

10. Dispute Resolution

Informal resolution: Before initiating any formal dispute proceeding, you agree to contact us at hello@recessfinancial.com and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least thirty (30) days.

Binding arbitration: If we cannot resolve the dispute informally, any claim or dispute arising from or related to these Terms or our services shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. Arbitration will be conducted on an individual basis — not as a class action or representative proceeding. The arbitration will take place in Montgomery County, Maryland, or at another mutually agreed location, and may be conducted remotely by phone or video conference.

Small claims exception: Either party may bring an individual action in small claims court in Montgomery County, Maryland, if the claim falls within the court's jurisdictional limits.

Waiver of class action: You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email at the address associated with your service engagement at least thirty (30) days before the changes take effect. We will also update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you may discontinue use of our services before the changes take effect. Your continued use of our services after the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

14. 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 for reasons other than your breach of these Terms, we will refund any fees you have paid. Upon termination, we will retain or delete your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

15. Contact Us

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

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