Refund Policy

Montclair Advisory ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") provides high-value professional advisory and consulting services to businesses. The nature of consulting and advisory services — involving the investment of expert time, intellectual capital, proprietary methodology, and tailored strategic work — means that our Refund Policy necessarily differs from that of product-based businesses.

We approach refund requests on a case-by-case basis with fairness, transparency, and a commitment to client satisfaction. Our goal is to resolve disputes professionally and reach outcomes that reflect the value delivered and the circumstances of each engagement. We do not issue automatic refunds, but we take all concerns seriously and address them through a structured review process.

This Policy applies to all service engagements with Montclair Advisory, including project-based advisory work, monthly retainer arrangements, individual consultation sessions, and all other service types offered by the Company. This Policy does not override specific provisions in executed engagement agreements that may provide additional or different terms.

Given the professional and knowledge-intensive nature of our services, the following general principles govern our approach to refunds and cancellations:

• Work Completed: Fees paid for advisory work that has been completed — including research, analysis, strategy development, meetings conducted, and deliverables submitted — are generally non-refundable, as the professional time and resources invested cannot be recovered.
• Work Not Yet Commenced: If a client cancels an engagement before any substantive work has begun, a refund of any retainer or advance payment may be considered after deduction of an administrative fee covering proposal development, engagement setup, and scheduling costs.
• Partial Engagements: Where an engagement is cancelled mid-project, fees for completed phases or milestones are non-refundable. Fees paid in advance for future, uncompleted phases may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, subject to review.
• Dissatisfaction: If a client is dissatisfied with the quality of advisory work delivered, we encourage direct communication with our team to seek resolution. We will review concerns in good faith and may offer remediation in the form of additional advisory time, revised deliverables, or a partial service credit depending on the circumstances.

All refund requests must be submitted in writing and reviewed by the Montclair Advisory management team. We are committed to fair resolution and will respond to written requests within ten (10) business days of receipt.

Monthly advisory retainer arrangements provide clients with dedicated access to Montclair Advisory expertise on an ongoing basis. The following refund and cancellation terms apply to retainer engagements:

• Cancellation Notice: Either party may terminate a retainer agreement by providing thirty (30) calendar days' written notice to the other party. Termination takes effect at the end of the notice period or the end of the current billing cycle, whichever is later.
• Current Period Fees: Retainer fees paid for the current billing period are non-refundable upon cancellation, regardless of the number of advisory sessions utilized during that period. Access to advisory services remains active through the end of the paid period.
• Advance Payments: If a client has paid retainer fees in advance for future billing periods beyond the current month, fees covering periods that have not yet commenced at the time of cancellation will be refunded within thirty (30) calendar days of the cancellation effective date, less any applicable administrative charges.
• Early Termination: Clients who cancel retainer agreements that include minimum term commitments as specified in their engagement agreement may be subject to an early termination fee as outlined in that agreement.

Montclair Advisory may terminate a retainer agreement for cause — including non-payment, breach of these Terms, or client misconduct — without refund of fees paid for the current period. In such cases, we will provide written notice specifying the grounds for termination.

Project-based advisory engagements typically involve a defined scope of work, agreed deliverables, and a structured payment schedule. Refund terms for project-based work are as follows:

• Pre-Commencement Cancellation: If a project is cancelled by the client within five (5) business days of contract execution and before any substantive work has commenced, we will refund the initial retainer payment less a flat administrative and planning fee of five hundred dollars ($500) or ten percent (10%) of the total project fee, whichever is greater.
• Phase-Based Projects: For projects structured in defined phases or milestones, fees paid for a completed phase are non-refundable. The client may cancel future phases with appropriate written notice; amounts paid in advance for future phases will be refunded less costs already incurred in preparing for those phases.
• Mid-Project Cancellation: If a project is cancelled after substantive work has commenced but before completion, Montclair Advisory will prepare a documented accounting of work completed, time invested, and resources consumed. A refund of any advance payments will be calculated based on the proportion of uncompleted work, less costs already incurred.
• Deliverable Disputes: If a client disputes the quality or completeness of a project deliverable, they must notify Montclair Advisory in writing within fifteen (15) business days of delivery, clearly specifying the alleged deficiency. We will assess the dispute in good faith and take appropriate corrective action or issue a service credit if warranted.

Project fees are earned as work progresses. We maintain detailed records of time and work product for all project engagements to facilitate transparent accounting in the event of cancellation or dispute.

Individual advisory sessions, including one-time strategy consultations, decision support sessions, and standalone planning meetings, are subject to the following cancellation and refund terms:

• Cancellation with Adequate Notice: Sessions cancelled at least forty-eight (48) hours before the scheduled start time will receive a full credit toward a future session, valid for ninety (90) days from the original session date.
• Late Cancellation: Sessions cancelled less than forty-eight (48) hours before the scheduled start time will be charged at fifty percent (50%) of the session fee. This partial fee reflects the allocation of advisor time and opportunity cost incurred by the Company.
• No-Show: If a client fails to attend a scheduled session without prior notice, the full session fee is forfeited. In exceptional circumstances at our discretion, a credit toward a future session may be offered.
• Rescheduling: Sessions may be rescheduled at no charge if notice is provided at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance. Rescheduling is subject to advisor availability and must be completed within sixty (60) days of the original session date.
• Completed Sessions: Fees for sessions that have been conducted in full are non-refundable, as the advisory time and expertise provided during the session constitute the service delivered.

We understand that business circumstances can change unexpectedly. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please notify us as promptly as possible to allow us to make alternative arrangements.

In situations where a full or partial monetary refund is not applicable under this Policy, Montclair Advisory may offer service credits at our discretion. Service credits represent a financial value applicable to future Montclair Advisory services and are subject to the following terms:

• Service credits have no cash value and cannot be redeemed for monetary payment.
• Credits are non-transferable and apply only to the client account for which they were issued.
• Service credits expire twelve (12) months from the date of issuance if not applied to an engagement.
• Credits may be applied to any Montclair Advisory service, subject to current pricing and availability.

The offer of a service credit does not constitute an admission of error or liability on the part of Montclair Advisory. Credits are offered as a good-faith gesture to preserve client relationships and demonstrate our commitment to long-term partnership.

The following circumstances do not qualify for refund consideration under this Policy, regardless of the nature of the request:

• Fees for completed advisory work, delivered reports, strategy documents, or any other tangible or intangible deliverable that has been submitted to the client.
• Fees for advisory sessions that were conducted in full, regardless of whether the client found the advice actionable or consistent with their prior assumptions.
• Dissatisfaction with business outcomes that result from a client's choice not to implement, partially implement, or incorrectly implement Montclair Advisory recommendations.
• Fees for engagements terminated by Montclair Advisory due to client breach of contract, non-payment, provision of false information, or other client misconduct.
• Administrative, setup, or onboarding fees charged at the commencement of an engagement, which are earned upon the initiation of the advisory relationship.
• Fees for work during periods where the client delayed response, withheld information, or otherwise impeded the progress of the engagement.

We make every effort to set clear expectations before any engagement begins. Clients are encouraged to ask questions and seek clarification regarding scope, deliverables, and expected outcomes before committing to a paid engagement.

To submit a refund request, clients must follow the process outlined below:

• Step 1 — Written Request: Submit a written refund request to Montclair Advisory specifying the engagement in question, the amount of the refund sought, and the reason for the request. Requests must be submitted to engage@montclair-advisory.com or by written correspondence to our Kansas City address.
• Step 2 — Review Period: Our management team will review the request within ten (10) business days and may request additional documentation, clarification, or a conversation to fully understand the circumstances.
• Step 3 — Decision Communication: We will communicate our decision in writing, either approving the refund, denying the request with explanation, or proposing an alternative resolution such as a service credit.
• Step 4 — Payment Processing: Approved monetary refunds will be processed within twenty-one (21) calendar days of the approval decision, using the same payment method as the original transaction where possible.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of our review, we encourage escalation through our dispute resolution process. We are committed to finding equitable solutions and maintaining the trust of every client relationship.

If you believe you have been incorrectly billed or charged for services not rendered as agreed, please notify Montclair Advisory in writing within thirty (30) calendar days of the relevant invoice date. Disputes received after this period may not be eligible for adjustment.

We will investigate billing disputes thoroughly and correct any errors promptly. If an error is confirmed, the corrected amount will be applied as a credit to your account or refunded within fifteen (15) business days of the confirmed error determination.

For disputes that cannot be resolved through direct communication, the dispute resolution provisions of our Terms of Service apply, including escalation through mediation and, if necessary, binding arbitration in Kansas City, Missouri.

We maintain detailed billing records for all engagements and are committed to full transparency regarding how service fees are calculated and applied. Clients are welcome to request an itemized billing breakdown where appropriate to understand the basis of any invoice, charge, or adjustment.

Montclair Advisory reserves the right to modify or update this Refund Policy at any time to reflect changes in our business practices, service structure, legal requirements, or operational needs. Any updates to this Policy will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

Changes will apply prospectively unless otherwise required by law or expressly stated in an executed client agreement. For active engagements, the version of the Refund Policy in effect at the time the engagement agreement was executed will generally govern, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

We encourage clients and prospective clients to review this Policy periodically to remain informed about our current practices regarding cancellations, refunds, and service credits.

If you have any questions regarding this Refund Policy, wish to submit a refund request, or would like to discuss a billing concern, please contact Montclair Advisory using the contact details below. Written communication is preferred for all formal refund and dispute matters to ensure accurate review and documentation.