Get Your Money Right

I want to get a better handle on my finances, but don’t have extra money to spend on professional assistance. Are there trustworthy Web sites out there that provide financial advice? — MONICA, Dallas, TX

With the internet being the go-to place for information these days, there are numerous Web sites offering a variety of financial advice. I have a few favorites, though.

The first Web site is www.Mint.com, which has been named the best online personal finance tool by Money magazine. This site provides assistance with budgeting, claiming that users can find $1,000 worth of savings ideas in their first session alone. And the best part is that it is completely free and easy to use. Over 1 million people are already site users, and another 3,000 new users register every day.

How does it work?

All you need to get started is a valid email address, password and zip code, which allows you to create a secure account. Then, you add the accounts you want tracked, such as bank accounts, credit cards and investment accounts, along with the respective usernames and passwords to access those accounts online. Mint currently has the capability to pull data from over 7,000 major financial institutions. Once you complete the set-up process, Mint will do the rest of the work for you, including automatically updating your linked accounts and performing analysis of your spending, saving and investing habits. Results from this analysis are then presented in easy-to-read graphs. The site also offers personalized advice, such as ways to increase your current savings or bank products which would better fit your needs, based on your account information and spending trends. In addition, the site sends its users notifications of unusual activity, upcoming bills and low balances.

How safe is this Web site?

Mint offers a number of safeguards to protect your personal information. First, their Web site uses the same security features offered by banks. Additionally, your name and any personally identifiable information are not stored, so your account is essentially anonymous. Most importantly, no financial transactions can be conducted on Mint.com; you can simply view the information downloaded from the various financial institutions you work with. For example, you do not have the ability to transfer money from your checking account to make a credit card payment.

Are there other Web sites you recommend?

Another one of my favorites, which offers personal savings advice, is Tip Jar, moderated by Google. Tip Jar is a collection of practical savings tips written by everyday people with creative ideas on how to save money.  In fact, according to Tip Jar, approximately 7,130 people have submitted over 5,368 tips. The tips cover a variety of topics, ranging from food to finance. For example, one suggestion says to bring your lunch to work twice a week, which would cut your lunch-out expenses by 40 percent. Another unique feature of the Web site is that you can vote on the usefulness of the tips, which ensures that the most useful ones are front and center.

How about financial planning?  Few people can afford professional advice, but everyone could use some. Are there any reliable online resources?

Yes, there is a completely free and easy to use financial planning website called Simplifi.net.  According to Simplifi, only 5 percent of Americans have a written financial plan. Yet, if you have a written financial plan, you are 250 percent more likely to achieve your financials goals.  To get started, all you need to do is provide the approximate balances of your various financial accounts and give those accounts nicknames, so no actual account information is required.

Next, you determine your financial goals. Then, the site uses a virtual financial advisor, Sophie, who helps you to develop a financial plan and choose appropriate investments based on your goals.

Like Mint.com, this site employs bank-level security to safeguard your information. And since you do not need to provide actual account information, there is virtually no personal identifiable information about you stored on the site. Best of all, Simplifi is a registered investment adviser, which means it is required to follow certain rules set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which regulates financial advisers, and the site is subject to examination, just like any human financial planner.

How about a Web site that can help you choose the right credit cards, bank accounts and mortgages?

A very easy and comprehensive website for banking and mortgage related information is BankRate.com. Not only does this site provide updated interest rates for mortgages, bank accounts, auto loans and credit cards, but it also provides side-by-side comparisons. For example, if you are considering various credit cards, the site will display criteria such as interest rate, annual fee and membership reward information, so you can determine which card might be best for you. Once you decide, you can immediately apply for the card online. Another useful feature is the numerous calculators to help you determine everything from how long it will take to pay off your credit card debt to the cost difference between purchasing or leasing a vehicle.

I’ve been hearing that you can do virtually everything with an iPhone, including depositing a check. So, what financial applications can help iPhone users?

There are definitely some useful applications (known as “apps”) to help with your finances, which can be downloaded from the App Store on iTunes. For example, the Loan Shark app helps you analyze every aspect of a loan, including amortization schedules, so that you can make a sound decision when comparing home or auto loans. It retails for $4.00. Portfolio RT sells for $8.99, and it provides up-to-the-second stock quotes.