Moneysmartz Personal Finance Guide and Blog

FINVIZ

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:36:39 -0600

What if you could assess the state of the financial markets in a blink of an eye? FINVIZ.com, a provider of financial research, analysis, and visualization services, helps investors visualize market opportunities in seconds, instead of minutes or more. FINVIZ.com Maps yield unique insights through a bird's eye view of the stock market, including the visualization of company capitalization, industry, and stock price movements. To learn how to use FINVIZ, click the guided tour link at the bottom of the home page for a brief video introduction. To screen stocks and find out what the analysts are saying about your favorite investment, visit the Screener page. For insight into insider trades, go to Insider. Visit Portfolio to create you own investment portfolio watchlist, tracking daily performance and linking to recent news. Registration is required to use the FINVIZ Portfolio section, but it is free and only takes a few seconds. To learn about new site features, visit the FINVIZ blog. Whether you are an avid stock picker or casual market observer, beware, FINVIZ may be addictive.

GasBuddy

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:13:01 -0600

Looking for a friend to help you find the cheapest gas in town? GasBuddy.com, a network of over 180 gas price websites, will help you find low gas prices in your neighborhood.

Since gasoline prices frequently change and may vary by as much as a quarter a gallon within a few blocks, it's beneficial to know where to find the lowest prices. The GasBuddy network, powered by local websites, allows motorists to post gas price information.

To get a bird's eye view on gas prices in your area, visit the color-coded map on the home page. Drill down by clicking the map to find the best deals.

As gas prices continue to rise, it is good to know you have a friend working 24/7 to help you find low gas prices.

JD Power

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:34:28 -0600

J.D. Power and Associates is synonymous with automobile ratings, but you may not know that J.D. Power rates financial services, including insurance, credit cards, and more at its consumer site JDPower.com.

Started 40 years ago, J.D. Power and Associates conducts customer satisfaction, product quality and buyer behavior surveys.

As you evaluate financial services, JDPower.com's ratings offer an important point of reference in your buying decision. Financial services rated by J.D. Power include:

Like Epinion's consumer ratings, time with J.D. Power before you buy will help you avoid a headache or two down the road.

Feed The Pig

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:02:25 -0600

Benjamin Bankes has a lot to say to young Americans about taking baby savings steps today for big savings in the future. Who is Benjamin Bankes? He is the spokespig, imaginary of course, for the Feed the Pig™ national public service campaign sponsored by The Advertising Council and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Through commercials and a website, the campaign is encouraging "the 40 million Americans age 25 to 34 to take control of their personal finances." The commercials are offbeat and the website offers podcasts, calendars, tips, and resources to help individuals begin paying off debt and start preparing for a better future.

Wallstrip

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:00:54 -0600

"It's 'Squawk Box' meets 'Saturday Night Live'," says The New York Times. At the cutting edge of online financial video, Wallstrip, with the tagline, "where pop culture meets stock culture," features one high-flying stock every day.

Launched in 2006 and later acquired by CBS, Wallstrip has an extensive archive of humorous, yet informative videos about your favorite stocks with related commentary from financial bloggers. Julie Alexandria, an actress who has paved the way for other online hosts, including Barely Political's Obama Girl, hosts this daily show.

For a fresh take on the daily stock pick, Wallstrip is an entertaining way to learn about hot stocks.

J.K. Lasser

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:23:06 -0600

A complex tax code and changing personal life circumstances make year-round tax planning a necessity for many, especially do-it-yourself tax preparers. Fortunately, J.K. Lasser, publisher of Your Income Tax, America's bestselling tax guide, offers tax planning and tax preparation 365 days-a-year at JKLasser.com.

The J.K. Lasser website includes everything you need to plan and prepare your taxes, including 1040 essentials, life planning, self-employment, tax news, forms and tools, ask JK, and a lot more. Some of the content is free, but full access is $29.95 per year.

The J.K. Lasser website and publication is edited by an experienced team of tax, accounting, and small business experts.

If you are serious about your personal tax planning, then an investment in J.K. Lasser will help you stay on top of your tax situation 24/7 and 365 days-a-year.

Coinstar

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:34:22 -0600

How much is your pocket change worth? If you have a money jar, then you know that pocket change adds up fast. The challenge for many is where to bring the change to convert into cash.

Fortunately, Coinstar, the top brand in consumer coin counting, invented self-service coin counting and has locations throughout the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom.

If you want hard cash from a Coinstar machine, you'll pay a commission. To stretch your pennies and avoid a commission use Coinstar for gift certificates at leading stores like Amazon.com, Starbucks, iTunes, and many more.

Coinstar has a charity option where you can donate your change by keying the unique identification number of your charity and pouring your coins into the machine. When Coinstar finishes counting, you will receive a tax-deductible receipt.

To locate a machine near you, visit the Coinstar locator page.

Zecco

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:23:37 -0600

Do zero dollar trade commissions catch your attention? Zecco.com, a new entrant into the crowded and competitive world of online brokers hopes you find real value in free trading.

The free lunch ends after the first 10 trades each month, then you pay $4.50 per trade.

In addition to low cost trading, Zecco has created an online community with a social networking feel, including a blog section, forums, Activity Feed, where you get "an instant snapshot of your friends' and groups' latest activities and trades, right on your profile page," and Performance Scanner where you can find top performers in the Zecco community.

Zecco.com is not a securities broker/dealer. All securities and investments are offered through Zecco Trading, Inc., member FINRA / SIPC.

For a complete list of Zecco's competitors, visit the Moneysmartz Online Brokers page.

DotHomes.com

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:39:27 -0600

Dubbed the "Google of property" by Esquire, UK, DotHomes recently launched in the United States after success in the UK and South Africa.

According to the DotHome's website, "Consumers use DotHomes to quickly search over thousands of estate agent Websites across multiple countries, with relevant search results taking consumers to property listings on these Websites. Underlying DotHomes' search mechanism is a proprietary data-mining technology which allows for scalable and accurate indexing (aggregation) of property listings directly from estate agency Websites--with zero cost or effort for estate agents."

The benefit to you is blazing fast search results with links to the original listing, Google maps, aerials views, and video tours. The search interface is user friendly and includes tools to refine your search parameters.

If you are looking to buy or rent, a visit to DotHomes should yield fast results.

Retire Stronger

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:54:12 -0600

Will you have enough savings to retire? How will your savings be managed? Will you place your savings in an annuity?

AIG Retirement's Retire Stronger site, with links to retirement planning, annuity, and mutual fund services and resources, will help answer these questions.

Use the Retire Stronger calculator to determine retirement savings. Don't forget to include Social Security and Pension income for a more accurate view of your needs.

For tips about adding years to your life, download the "live longer retire stronger Playbook."

The answers may be shocking, but knowing needed savings is a start to a stronger retirement.

Tech Ticker

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:36:04 -0600

What's better than the smell of coffee in the morning? For technology and investing aficionados, the smell of profits is the only way to start the day.

Yahoo's recently launched video-centric blog, Tech Ticker, with its tagline, "I Love the Smell of Profits in the Morning," aims to "bring stocks and and the stories to life - and to reveal the culture of an ecosystem often understood only by those who inhabit it."

That's a mouthful in the morning, but a visit to the site reveals investment insights like today's lead about Google's new mobile operating system, Android.

Contributors to the site include many well-known Wall Street and Silicon Valley journalists.

If you can't forsake your coffee, try caffeine with profits, a powerful combination any day.

FrontDoor

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 07:58:00 -0600

Is there a refreshing spring breeze in the real estate market? While it is too early for talk of a full-blown real estate recovery, HGTV's FrontDoor offers hope for a fresh start and better future.

Launched in December last year by Scripps Networks and powered by HGTV, FrontDoor enters the crowded space of online real estate listings.

"FrontDoor closes the loop for the millions of home enthusiasts who know and trust HGTV as a valued resource, while also supporting the business strategy of strengthening our footprint in the home space online as well as on-air," says John Lansing, president of Scripps Networks. "With our family of brands, we are able to provide entertaining and easy to understand information to consumers covering the entire home-ownership lifecycle -- from search and decision-making with FrontDoor, to decoration and personalization with HGTV, maintenance and remodeling with DIY Network and HGTV Pro, then preparation to sell and start the cycle again with FrontDoor."

FrontDoor is in beta, but already has an impressive list of partners including Century 21, Coldwell Banker, ERA and Sotheby's International Realty.

FrontDoor hopes to stand out from the crowd through the experience of HGTV, a television and online leader in home and garden content.

If you are looking to buy, sell, move, or finance a home, FrontDoor provides tools, information, and more than 300 videos to enrich and improve your real estate decisions.

An inviting portal to the inevitable real estate recovery, hope springs eternal at FrontDoor.

H&R Block Digits

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:59:53 -0600

Looking for some fun to lighten the load during tax season? H&R Block Digits "highlights the connections between money, art, politics, the planet and people everywhere. You'll get access to the tax and personal financial resources you'd expect from H&R Block ." Digits is truly not what you would expect from a company that is known for preparing tax returns. Digits is about more than entertainment, so if you need some serious tools, then don't forget to visit Tools of the Trade for financial calculators and OrganizIT an exclusive tax preparation tool to help you get ready and get organized. If you are looking for an unexpected laugh, then be sure to view the short video clips from Truman Greene, H&R Block's resident man on the street.

Expensr

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:04:17 -0600

Tracking income and expenses is a cornerstone of effective financial management. Unfortunately, as evidenced by a woefully low savings rate, many Americans are struggling to make sense of their spending. If you are not willing to invest the time and money to buy a more comprehensive financial management tool like Quicken, then Expensr offers a quick, free, and easy toe in the water to track your daily spending. Throw in a few social networking tools and Expensr has the makings of a painless point of entry into the often mundane and tedious world of personal penny pinching.

HotPads.com

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:26:08 -0600

Searching for rent vs. buy information about a local real estate market? HotPads.com combines maps, visual images, and information to give you a birds eye view of rental and buying opportunities in local markets. If you want to compare available sales and rentals by price range, then HotPads.com is worth a visit.