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What's the Best Online Financial Solution?

Posted by Cliff on from the taking-banking-into-the-21st-century dept.

Financially Challenged asks "While lots of our techie contemporaries are making fistfuls of cash, I find myself stuck in a relatively impoverished academia. That will all change when I enter the real world in May. While I have little money now (hopefully some IPO magic of whatever company I work for will remedy this) I would still like to know what slashdot readers think the best online banking solutions are. Are there any hidden all-in-one total financial solutions that will let me keep track of my whole portfolio?"

3 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. One Stop Financial Management is a trap by Quirk · · Score: 4

    Hi having graduated from a eco/comm programme and having been a suit before I saw the light streaming from my monitor I can tell you any and all one stop financial management solutions are a bad thing. It's a given that once a client is heavily vested you've got them by the whatevers and can lead them anywhere. The key to financial wisdom has always been diversify and this advise applies to services as much as to investments. Good luck

    --
    "Academicians are more likely to share each other's toothbrush than each other's nomenclature."
    Cohen
  2. I also use Security First. by SuperKendall · · Score: 4

    They are owned by Bank Canada now - I've been using them for about two years now, and they also offer credit cards that you can see along with your bank accounts.

    They also have limited online reporting tools, and you can export your accounts in a Quicken format (although for me the online site offers all the tools I need and I don't use Quicken).

    They let you schedule transactions if you like, or pay a one-time bill to a set of "Payees" that you can define and update. I use them to pay all my bills, and really like the web interface they have - very clean and simple.

    They said they'd be offering online brokerage services soon as well, but the company they were going to use charges $19.95 per trade - I myself use Datek, and don't care too much that I have to go to seperate sites to manage my accounts. At least it's all online!

    The only downside to SFNB is that they have no local ATM's (unless you live in Atlanta) so if you'd like to avoid an ATM fee you have to find a local credit union ATM that doesn't charge fees.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  3. Re:WingSpan by cybrthng · · Score: 4
    Wingspan bank has been a godsend. You get free use of many ATM's (They have an ATM search on there website and they work with several huge chains). They rebate up to 5.00 in other ATM fees from non-wingspan banks (another saver for those random 20.00 withdrawals for petty cash). 4-6% interest in a checking (i get an average of $5-$10.00 a month interest).

    WingspanBank is the *first* bank i've ever had, where my money keeps its value. The interest is at good enough average that leaving money in the account over long periods keeps up with inflation and other costs, customer support answers and has answered within the first few rings of every time i have called. Online Bill Pay, free ACH transfers, Online Trading, Visa card, and very quick balances and payments.

    Direct Deposits go in great, checks are payed in a timely matter, ATM/Visa Purchases actually show more then bank code (i hate that with other banks), So i can see where my money goes (the only leash i have for my girlfriend :).

    So wingspan is my recommendation. Its an online bank, but operated by a national chain, so it has some establishment, while still showing great advances over the traditional offerings of other "pathetic online banks" :)