Data Retention & Deletion
Sterling gives you full control over client data retention. Data remains in the system until you explicitly delete it. This page explains how data is stored and how to permanently remove household information when needed.
How Long Is Data Kept?
Client data persists in Sterling indefinitely. There is no automatic expiration or archival. Data remains accessible until you choose to delete it.
You Control Retention
Sterling does not automatically delete client data. You decide when to remove information based on your firm's retention policies.
Deleting a Household
When you need to permanently remove a client's data, you can delete the entire household. This action is irreversible and requires confirmation.
- Open the household you want to delete
- Navigate to Settings within the household
- Click Delete Household
- Type the household name exactly as shown to confirm
- Click Delete to permanently remove all data
What Gets Deleted
Deleting a household removes all associated data permanently:
- All household facts and client information
- All advice and recommendations
- All uploaded documents and files
- All financial holdings data
- All interactions and communications
- All generated content
- All integration connections
Deletion Is Permanent
Once deleted, household data cannot be recovered. Ensure you have exported or backed up any information you need to retain before deleting.
Audit Trail
When a household is deleted, Sterling logs the deletion event including who performed the action and when. This audit record persists even after the household data is removed.
Client Data Requests
If a client requests deletion of their data under privacy regulations, use the household deletion feature to comply. The complete removal of all associated data satisfies most "right to be forgotten" requirements.