Last updated: 18th May 2026
What are cookies?
A cookie is a small text file that’s saved to your device when you visit a website. Cookies do useful jobs like keeping the site secure, remembering your preferences, and helping us understand how the site is performing so we can improve it.
This site also uses similar technologies such as browser local storage and session storage. These work in much the same way as cookies, and we treat them the same way for the purposes of this policy.
How does Standard Life use cookies?
We use cookies for two reasons:
- Essential cookies — these keep the site secure and working properly. They can’t be turned off.
- Performance cookies — these help us understand how people use the site and spot technical issues so we can improve it. You can choose whether to allow these.
We don’t use marketing cookies on this site.
When you first visit, you’ll see a banner asking which cookies you’re happy for us to use. Essential cookies are always on. You can choose whether to allow Performance cookies, and your choice is recorded against your visit so we can remember it. You can change your preferences at any time using the link at the bottom of any page.
How long are cookies saved for?
Cookies are either session cookies or persistent cookies.
- Session cookies delete themselves when you close your browser.
- Persistent cookies stay on your device until they expire or you delete them. We’ll ask you to confirm your preferences again from time to time.
First and third party cookies
We use both first-party and third-party cookies on this site.
- First-party cookies are set by us directly.
- Third-party cookies are set by other companies whose technology we use to run and monitor the site (for example, our hosting and error monitoring providers). These companies process information under their own privacy policies, which we link to below.
The cookies we use
Essential cookies
These are essential for the site to work. They can’t be switched off.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| shadowId | Identifies your visit so we can keep track of your progress through the site and remember your cookie preferences. | Persistent |
| sessionId | A unique identifier for your current visit. | Session |
| accordions | Remembers which sections you’ve expanded on the page. | Persistent |
| checklist | Remembers your progress through checklists and similar interactive content. | Persistent |
| XSRF-TOKEN | A security cookie that protects against cross-site request forgery when you’re signed in to your account. Only set once you have registered and signed in. | Session |
| AWSALB | Used by our hosting infrastructure to keep your session connected to the same server during your visit, providing a smooth and reliable experience. | 7 days |
| AWSALBCORS | Used by our hosting infrastructure to keep your session connected to the same server during your visit, providing a smooth and reliable experience. | 7 days |
Performance cookies
These help us monitor how the site is performing and identify technical errors. You can choose whether to allow these.
| Name | Purpose | Provider | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bugsnag | Records technical errors and crashes anonymously so we can identify and fix problems with the site. Bugsnag privacy notice. | Bugsnag | Session |
| cwr_* | Helps us understand how the site performs in real browsers — for example, page load times and JavaScript errors — so we can improve reliability. AWS privacy notice. | AWS CloudWatch RUM | 30 minutes |
How do I manage cookies?
You can change your cookie preferences at any time using the link at the bottom of any page. When you turn off any non-essential cookies, and after you refresh the page, we’ll stop setting or using those cookies.
Cookies and your browser settings
You can also use your browser settings to delete cookies that have already been set, or to block cookies altogether. If you do this, parts of the site may not work properly.
For information on managing cookies in your browser, check your browser’s ‘Help’ menu. For a general guide, visit allaboutcookies.org.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We recommend checking this page occasionally to stay informed. This policy was last updated on the date shown at the top.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us at DataProtection@thephoenixgroup.com.