Financial Software -2009

[rivethead]

So after using MS Money for 10 years, I hear that they're leaving the business and won't update their software after June 30th.

Sucks. I feel betrayed.

So I guess my options are:

1) Quicken (desktop versions)

2) An online product (like Quicken Online and Mint) - but I don't think those allow you to import data


Any other ideas or suggestions?

 

[armstrda]

Microsoft will still have a program, but it's the new Microsoft Accounting that is much more geared towards businesses.

 

[corkyg]

I am also a MS Money user - but find that Money 2006 does everything I need done. I could not care less about updates. I can always get the 2008 edition, but it brings nothing to my party I need over and above 2006. I suppose I'm part of the reason MS chooses not to invest in new programming for Money.

 

[jalaram]

As long as my banks still support OFX, I guess I'm okay, but I'm wondering if there are any good alternatives out there. I may try Quicken, but I'm not a fan of Intuit and some of the things they've done in the past.

To OP: Thx for pointing out this thread. Do you also read Infoworld? That's where I read about this.

 

[rivethead]

Well one of the things I like about Money was the automatic updates to my accounts. After Jan 31, 2010 (or maybe earlier) that's gone.

So I don't think using Money 2006 is an option..........


As far as Microsoft Accounting.....definitely geared towards businesses (I'm a CPA and have used MS Accounting....it's their response to Quickbooks.....and I doubt they win that battle).

 

[rivethead]

Nope. I don't read Infoworld.

FWIW, I tried out Mint (mint.com) this morning. I like it. But it doesn't allow the import of historical transactions, which is a deal-breaker for me. I've got investments from years ago that I will eventually sell. I need to keep track of the basis for those investments. I also like to look at historical rates of return on them. Can't do that with Mint......

 

[MrChad]

I'm in the process of converting my Money Plus files over to Quicken Deluxe 2009. Costco has it on sale right now for $31.99. The data conversion program provided by Intuit works reasonably well, but there is still a lot of cleanup to do afterwards.

1. Online services need to be setup again.
2. Loan data is not brought over. I re-created my previous loans in Quicken then used the search functionality to re-classify my old payment transactions to point to the new Quicken loans.
3. Credit cards come over as bank accounts. I have to re-create the credit card accounts, cut and paste the imported transactions, then delete the imported CC accounts.
4. Cash transactions for investment accounts did not come over. I had to search and replace those transactions so that they point to the correct accounts.
5. I went through and merged a lot of categorizations to avoid confusion.

That's what I've found so far. Quicken seems to be fairly easy to use. I like the fact that I can clearly mark which categories will be used for TurboTax import purposes.

 

[A5]

I'm using Mint since I'm young and don't have that much stuff in the past to lose. Hopefully they won't disappear into the night with all my data

 

[rivethead]

Ugh. That sounds like a lot of work to convert to Quicken (but I may have no choice).

I appreciate the action item list. I'll likely run into the same thing.

 

[bruceb]

I never used either MS Money or Quicken. One thing I don't like is on a lot of programs like this, after a few years you are forced to upgrade in order to use on line account access or on line bill pay (this is even if you are satisfied with your version and it is likely the programmers
and the banks in cahoots to make more money and charge more fees)

 

[corkyg]

One thing I will never permit is automatic anything involving my accounts.

My on line account access is directly with my bank - same for my brokerage account. My Money program is purely a check and balance and in order to be valid, must never be automatic.

 

[VinylxScratches]

My Dad still uses Microsoft Money from 1994...

 

[tcsenter]

Quicken 2009 Premier (OEM) - $40.00 shipped (free first class mail)

MS Office Accounting Express is free.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: corkyg
One thing I will never permit is automatic anything involving my accounts.

My on line account access is directly with my bank - same for my brokerage account. My Money program is purely a check and balance and in order to be valid, must never be automatic.

Agreed, but it's far easier to fire up Quicken/Money, have transactions download automatically, then verify those transactions one-by-one rather than visit each bank/brokerage firm's website individually.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Agreed, but it's far easier to fire up Quicken/Money, have transactions download automatically, then verify those transactions one-by-one rather than visit each bank/brokerage firm's website individually.

That is true - however - my account (basically 2) security systems do not lend themselves to that easy downloading. They each require visual attention to a graphic which then allows entry to a ID/password screen, and that is controlled by Roboform. My primary consideration is security, not convenience. I do a lot of travelling and check things daily, and don't want my data whizzing around in cyberspace.

But, back to the original issue, my current edition of Money allows for such downloading as it is. I see no reason to even buy the 2008 version. Checkbook and account maintenance really can't be improved on very much.