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- LEGAL · DISCLAIMERS -
Disclaimers.
Required disclosures and clarifications for the financial, tax, credit, and advisory services offered by HB Financial Group — written in plain terms with the legal precision the work requires.
EFFECTIVE DATE
JUNE 1, 2026
LAST UPDATED
JUNE 1, 2026
APPLIES TO
ALL HB services & content
What's in these disclaimers
01. General Disclaimer
02. Professional Licensure
03. No Tax Advice on Public Content
04. No Financial Advisor Designation
05. Credit Services Disclosure
06. No Results Guaranteed
07. ITIN & CAA Services
08. Educational Content & Academy
09. Testimonials & Case Study
10. Third-Party Links & Tools
11. Forward-Looking Statements
12. Contact
- Section 01
General Disclaimer
The information provided on workwithhb.com (the "Site") and through HB Financial Group's public content — including blog posts, social media, newsletters, lead magnets, free downloads, and educational materials — is for general informational and educational purposes only.
This content does not constitute professional tax advice, legal advice, financial advice, accounting advice, credit counseling under the Credit Repair Organizations Act, or investment advice. Specific advice tailored to your situation requires a formal engagement with HB and a review of your individual circumstances.
Reading our content, downloading a guide, or visiting our website does not create a client relationship between you and HB Financial Group. A client relationship begins only when a formal engagement letter is signed and the applicable engagement fees are paid.
- Section 02
Professional Licensure
HB Financial Group is operated by Melissa Griffin, holding the following professional credentials and authorizations:
Enrolled Agent (EA): Federally authorized tax practitioner licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department. EAs have unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service.
Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA): Authorized by the IRS to assist applicants in obtaining Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) and to verify supporting identification documents.
Tennessee Notary Public: Authorized to perform notarial acts within the State of Tennessee.
IRS Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP): Compliant tax preparer.
HB Financial Group is not a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firm, an attorney or law firm, a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), a broker-dealer, an insurance broker, or a federally regulated financial institution. Services are provided within the scope of the professional credentials held.
- Section 03
No Tax Advice on Public Content
To comply with IRS Circular 230 and federal regulations governing tax practitioners, the following applies to all public-facing HB content (website, blog, social media, lead magnets, courses, podcasts, and similar materials):
Any tax-related information provided in public content is general in nature and is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code, or for promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any tax-related matters addressed in such content.
Tax laws are complex and change frequently. Your specific situation may differ materially from the general examples used in our content. For tax advice you can rely on, formally engage HB Financial Group or another qualified tax practitioner.
- Section 04
No Financial Advisor Designation
HB Financial Group is not a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), or licensed financial advisor. We do not provide investment advice, securities recommendations, insurance product recommendations, retirement planning advice subject to ERISA fiduciary standards, or any service that requires registration with the SEC or state securities regulators.
When our services touch on financial matters — including tax planning, business cash flow strategy, retirement contribution strategies that affect taxes, or general financial organization — we operate within the scope of our Enrolled Agent practice and the specific engagement letter you sign. We frequently coordinate with clients' financial advisors but do not replace them.
If you require investment advice, securities recommendations, or financial planning services subject to fiduciary standards, please consult an appropriately licensed financial professional.
- Section 05
Credit Services Disclosures
HB Financial Group provides credit advisory and credit dispute services through The CEO Credit Club ("CCC"). These services are governed by the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), the Tennessee Credit Services Business Act, and applicable consumer protection laws.
Your Rights Under CROA
By law, you have certain rights when engaging credit services:
You have the right to cancel any credit services contract within three (3) business days of signing, without penalty
You have the right to dispute inaccurate information on your credit reports yourself, at no cost, directly with credit bureaus and creditors
You have the right to obtain a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus at annualcreditreport.com
You have the right to be told why credit was denied (if applicable) and what information was relied upon
The full Consumer Credit File Rights disclosure required by federal law is provided to all CCC clients before any credit services begin. See our CROA Disclosure for the complete required notice.
Credit Results Are Not Guaranteed
Credit dispute outcomes depend on many factors outside HB's control, including: the accuracy of the information being disputed, the responsiveness of credit bureaus and creditors, applicable federal and state laws, the strength of supporting documentation, and your individual credit history. HB makes no specific guarantee of score increases, item removals, or particular outcomes.
No Advance Promises
Under CROA, no credit services organization may make false or misleading statements about its services. HB does not promise specific outcomes, guarantee score improvements, or claim ability to remove accurate, current, and verifiable information from your credit reports.
- Section 06
No Results Guaranteed
Across all HB services — tax, bookkeeping, credit, business advisory, education, and Brand Co builds — no specific results, outcomes, savings, refunds, score increases, business growth, revenue, or returns are guaranteed.
Outcomes depend on factors including but not limited to:
The completeness and accuracy of information you provide
Your timely cooperation in providing requested documents and decisions
The actions of third parties (IRS, state tax authorities, credit bureaus, creditors, lenders)
Changes in federal, state, and local laws and regulations
Market conditions, economic factors, and industry-specific variables
Your willingness and ability to implement recommendations
Many other factors outside HB's control
HB provides services with professional skill and care consistent with our credentials and the standards of our profession. Specific outcomes are not promised, projected, or guaranteed by HB or any of our representatives.
- Section 07
ITIN & CAA Services
HB Financial Group is an IRS-authorized Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA). As a CAA, we are authorized to verify the authenticity of supporting identification documents for ITIN applications, meaning ITIN applicants generally do not need to mail original documents to the IRS.
However, please note:
ITIN approval is determined solely by the IRS, not by HB
HB cannot guarantee that any specific ITIN application will be approved
Processing timelines are determined by the IRS and can vary significantly
The IRS may request additional information or documentation that we cannot anticipate
An ITIN is for tax purposes only and does not authorize work in the United States, provide eligibility for Social Security benefits, or affect immigration status
- Section 08
Educational Content & Academy
HB Academy offers educational programs including Refund2Income (R2I), Build Your Own Practice (BYOP), and à la carte continuing education courses for tax preparers. The following applies to all educational programs:
IRS-approved CE: Courses providing IRS continuing education credits are approved through the IRS Return Preparer Office and meet applicable IRS standards. Provider details are disclosed within each course.
AFSP eligibility: R2I is structured to make participants AFSP-compliant upon completion. AFSP designation is granted by the IRS upon completion of CE requirements and the Annual Filing Tax Refresher (AFTR), not by HB.
No certification of practitioner skill: Completion of HB Academy programs does not certify any individual's competence as a tax preparer beyond the AFSP designation where applicable. Continued professional development and ethical practice remain the practitioner's responsibility.
No income guarantees: Earnings examples shared in Academy content (whether referring to commission structures, client volumes, or revenue projections) reflect what is possible for some practitioners, not what is typical or guaranteed. Individual results vary significantly based on effort, market conditions, business decisions, and many other factors.
- Section 10
Third-Party Links & Tools
Our Site and content may contain links to third-party websites, tools, and services (including but not limited to IRS resources, credit bureaus, accounting software, payment processors, and educational platforms). These links are provided for convenience only.
HB does not endorse, control, or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of information on third-party sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, security, or actions of third-party providers. Your use of any third-party site or tool is at your own risk and subject to that third party's terms and policies.
References to specific platforms or tools we use in our practice (for example, payment processing through Stripe, document review software, or accounting software) reflect our current tools and are subject to change without notice.
- Section 11
Forward-Looking Statements
Some content on our Site or in our communications may contain forward-looking statements about HB's services, plans, or expected future offerings. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties; actual offerings and outcomes may differ materially from any statements made.
HB undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements except as required by law. Decisions about engaging HB should be based on the specific services currently offered and the engagement letter you sign, not on future plans or expectations.
- Section 12
Contact
Questions about these disclaimers?
If anything in these disclaimers is unclear, or if you have questions about how they apply to your specific situation, contact us directly:
HB Financial Group
Melissa Griffin, EA · Founder
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 865.359.0228
Knoxville, Tennessee
For tax, credit, or financial questions specific to your situation, the right next step is to book a consultation so we can give you advice grounded in your actual circumstances.