What are cookies?

A cookie is a simple text file which stores small pieces of information. When you visit one of our websites its server saves the cookie onto your computer or other device. Only that platform's server will be able to read or retrieve the contents of that cookie.

Cookies do many different jobs like storing your preferences, helping you navigate effectively, and improving your overall experience of a website. Cookies make the interaction between you and our platforms quicker and easier. For example, a cookie might store information so you don't have to keep entering it.

How does Standard Life use cookies?

Some cookies are needed to make our platforms work and can't be turned off. Others are optional and you can change your preferences below. You can update your choice at any time by clicking the 'cookie policy' link at the bottom of any page.

How long are cookies saved for?

This depends on whether they are session cookies or persistent cookies.

Session cookies delete themselves once you close your browser. Session cookies can help with security, and also remember what you've done on previous web pages so you don't have to re-enter information.

Persistent cookies stay on your device after you close your browser. They're used for lots of different things - one example is remembering your cookie preferences between visits, so you don't need to keep telling us which cookies to use. In case you've forgotten about them, or changed your mind, we'll ask you to confirm your cookie preferences every six months. You can update your choice at any time by clicking the 'cookie policy' link at the bottom of any page.

What types of cookies does Standard Life use?

We use both first and third-party cookies on this site.

First-party cookies are set by the digital platform you’re using and aren’t shared elsewhere. Often these cookies are used to remember information about how you used a platform.

Third-party cookies are placed on your device by a website outside the one you’re on. For example, if you use a social media ’share’ button on a website, the social network (like Facebook) will put a cookie on your device so they know what you’ve liked. If you want to control how third parties can use your data then you need to set your privacy choices on their site. Here’s a list of third parties we work with in relation to cookies:

  • Google  – We use Google cookies for advertising purposes so that we can make our adverts more relevant to you and also so we can understand if our marketing is effective. Google’s third-party cookies are classed as marketing cookies. Find out more about  how Google uses this information  
  • Glassbox  – Glassbox is a web analytics service. We use these cookies to understand how users interact with our site. These cookies give Glassbox information used to compile anonymised reports summarising website activity. The IP address collected through Glassbox will not be associated with any other data held by Glassbox Digital. No other personal information, which allows the user to be identified, will be collected when visiting this website. These cookies are classed as Experience & Insight. For information on how and where Glassbox stores data, please read the  Glassbox privacy policy  

How do I manage cookies?

When you turn off any non-essential cookies, and after you refresh or move away from this page, we will stop setting or using those cookies.

Cookies and your browser settings

You can use your browser settings to delete Cookies that have already been set at any time. You can also use your browser settings to manage Cookies to switch off a Cookie altogether. If you do this, it could mean that we can't use strictly necessary Cookies properly and so parts of our website may not work correctly.

For more information about how to use your browser settings to clear your browser data or to manage Cookies, check your browser 'Help' function.

Blocking or restricting cookies

You can stop Cookies being used on your device by activating the setting on your browser that allows you to block the deployment of all or some Cookies. To find out how, visit all about cookies at www.allaboutcookies.org

Please note, if you use your browser settings to block Cookies you may not be able to access all or parts of our website.

It is also important to know that rejecting Cookies will not delete any Cookies that have been saved to your device in the past. You can delete previously saved Cookies via your browser settings.

Changes to this policy

We occasionally update our cookie policy. You should visit this page periodically if you want to keep yourself informed. Last updated on 1 May 2023.

Contact information

We welcome your comments about this policy. Email us at administrator@thephoenixgroup.com

The cookies we use

Strictly necessary cookies

Cookie name Purpose Expires
sl#cookipreferences Records whether or not you have accepted the use of cookies on our sites After 6 months
JSESSIONID Standard Websphere cookie used to maintain state during the session After a short time or when you close your browser
TS0* ASM - WAF (part of the websites security / firewall protection) After a short time or when you close your browser

Experience and insight cookies

Cookie name Purpose Expires
_ga Tracking cookie for Google Analytics. Used to distinguish users. After 6 months
_gat_UA-218278-40 Google Analytics - Used to throttle request rate. 1 minute
_dc_gtm_UA-218278-40 Google Tag Manager. Used to manage all scripts on the website 1 minute
_gat_UA-218278-41 Google Analytics - Used to throttle request rate 1 minute
_ga_124R7KXRTV Used to persist session state 2 years
_ga_XQ6PP2VBZW Used to persist session state 2 years
gid Tracks user behaviour. After 1 day
_cls_s Glassbox - Glassbox is a web analytics service. We use these cookies to understand how users interact with our site. These cookies give Glassbox information used to compile anonymised reports summarising website activity. The IP address collected through Glassbox will not be associated with any other data held by Glassbox Digital. No other personal information, which allows the user to be identified, will be collected when visiting this website. Session
_cls_v Glassbox - Glassbox is a web analytics service. We use these cookies to understand how users interact with our site. These cookies give Glassbox information used to compile anonymised reports summarising website activity. The IP address collected through Glassbox will not be associated with any other data held by Glassbox Digital. No other personal information, which allows the user to be identified, will be collected when visiting this website. 5 years

Marketing cookies

None used at present