Understanding Access Source
Builder Pro access can come from three different sources. Your access source determines how your subscription works and what happens if circumstances change.
The Three Access Sources
1. Self-Pay
You subscribe to Builder Pro directly through Policy Stack at $25/month ($18/month on annual billing). You manage your own billing through Stripe. Your access continues as long as your subscription is active and your payment method is valid.
This is the most straightforward access source. You are in full control of your subscription.
2. Advisor Seat
An advisor with a Policy Stack Advisor account has assigned you a client seat. Your Builder Pro access is funded by your advisor as part of their subscription. You do not pay anything directly for your Policy Stack access.
When an advisor assigns you a seat:
- Your account upgrades to Builder Pro immediately
- Your access source shows as "Advisor Seat" in Settings → Subscription
- Your advisor can see your account data based on the permissions you have accepted
- Your billing does not change — you are not charged
Advisor seat access is tied to your advisor's account status. See the What Happens When a Seat Expires article for details on what occurs if your advisor's account changes.
3. Referral Credit
You received Builder Pro access through a referral program or promotional credit. The details of the credit — duration and conditions — are specific to how the credit was issued. Your access source shows as "Referral Credit" in Settings → Subscription, along with the credit expiration date if applicable.
Checking Your Access Source
- Go to Settings → Subscription.
- Look for the "Access Source" field near the top of the page.
- Review the source type and any associated details (expiration date for credits, advisor name for seat access).
What Happens When Access Sources Overlap
If you have an active self-pay subscription and an advisor assigns you a seat, Policy Stack applies the access source that provides the most coverage. In most cases:
- An advisor seat does not cancel your existing self-pay subscription
- If the advisor seat expires and your self-pay subscription is still active, you continue on Builder Pro through self-pay
- Your billing status in Stripe reflects only your self-pay subscription — advisor seats are managed separately through the advisor's account
If you are uncertain which access source is active on your account, check Settings → Subscription. The current source is always displayed there. If something looks incorrect, contact support at support@policystack.co.
Transitioning Between Access Sources
If you currently have an advisor seat and want to self-pay instead:
- Navigate to Settings → Subscription.
- Click "Subscribe Directly" or "Add Self-Pay."
- Complete the Stripe checkout.
- Your access source updates to Self-Pay. You are no longer dependent on your advisor's account for Builder Pro access.
If you transition from advisor seat to self-pay, your data and all Builder Pro features remain uninterrupted during the transition.
If You Have a Partner on Your Household
Partner collaboration depends on Builder Pro being active on the primary's account. If you cancel Builder Pro, downgrade to Starter, or your payment fails and you stay past-due for 7 days, the partner collaboration enters a 30-day grace window — both of you keep full access during the window, both of you receive an email when it opens, and reactivating Builder Pro inside the window restores the collaboration to active. If the window expires, the partner is removed automatically. You can also choose to disconnect a partner immediately from Settings → Collaboration; that path has no grace window. See the Partner Collaboration article for the full lifecycle.