Name of Site: Financial Passages
URL:
www.financialpassages.com.au
Plug-Ins: Yes
Navigability: Medium
Graphics: Medium, Medium Quality
Internal Links: 15
Review: Global cash jugglers ING (Mercantile Mutual), provide an information bank - for those who subscribe - stocked up with tips, tools and tricks to keep you out of trouble, as you navigate your way through the often unpredictable financial waters of the modern era. The site is simply divided into blocks of topical discussion areas, leading to articles, video files, anecdotes and tools. Most areas require a member log-in, which is free. Retirement, planning, banking, investing, tax and lifestyle issues are delved into with an air of confident expertise, with the focus on you. Being successful with your money, it seems, is very much a case of "what you know", and you'll know a lot more after spending a little time here. Once you're all cashed up, ING will work to make sure you stay that way. - SS
Rating: ***
Name of Site: Smart Money Personal Finance
URL:
www.smartmoney.com/pf
Plug-Ins: No
Navigability: Easy
Graphics: Medium - Good Quality
Internal Links: 100+
Review: WIth the clout of an actual paper publication and all its back-issues behind it, this site manages to deliver content on a grand scale. They are US-based, so some of the legal and tax issues may vary from ours. There is a seemingly limitless cache of articles, interactive demonstrations, stock market maps, analysis, expert commentary, meters, calculators, market trackers, news tickers... it just won't quit! Smart Money University teaches beginners to experts the ins and outs of cash management, and your personal financial situation is set right whether you are a 20-something credit card junkie or a 60-something retiree trying to stretch your assets to last your ever-lengthening life-expectancy. With magazines come advertisers, so there are plenty of links to all manner of financial services and products, along with the obligatory 58% subscription discount if you call now. - SS
Rating: ****
Name of Site: My Finance
URL:
www.myfinance.com.au
Plug-Ins: No
Navigability: Easy
Graphics: Medium, Good Quality
Internal Links: 50+
Review: It makes sense that the large ISPs will easily morph into on-line financial advisors, with their competitive technology edge to deliver the information and their understanding of the power of the Internet to provide number-crunching services. OzEmail have partnered with some real-world big guns to provide a wealth of advice from banking and mortgages to tax and the stock market. The menu system is very simple with a side and top tab set-up opening to various sections that eventually direct you to financial service providers and plenty of informative articles. A great feature is the set of interactive calculators that determine your financial prospects, whether borrowing, investing or retiring. Just put in the numbers and watch the charts change. - SS
Rating: ****
Name of Site: Money.com
URL:
www.money.com/money
Plug-Ins: No
Navigability: Easy
Graphics: Medium, Good Quality
Internal Links: 150+
Review: They've done the domain name proud with this multi-dimensional treasure chest of info, tools and entertainment all focused on the almighty dollar. Extending their print version in all directions, 'Money' have created an involving portal, allowing learning, calculating and news-gathering with a personal touch. Read the real-life aspiring millionaires' stories, learn about the pitfalls, and make informed choices about your individual goals and requirements. Yes it is US-based, but there isn't much that doesn't apply to us Aussies. The site is laid out in neat categories, with each main article or section given a preview paragraph and a link to take you to the full story, making browsing the site easy. Plenty of common sense advice for beginners and a lot more insightful ammunition for the more experienced and successful cash-handlers. - SS
Rating: ****
Name of Site: Money Manager
URL:
www.moneymanager.com.au
Plug-Ins: No
Navigability: Easy
Graphics: Medium, Good Quality
Internal Links: 50
Review: The folks at Fairfax know how to put a web site together, and this is no exception. They have created a straightforward, yet content and resource-rich portal, providing everything you may need to run your financial life. Besides the quality articles and news items, which put you ahead of the pack in the knowledge stakes, the whole site is a complete walk-through guide to money managing. From the comprehensive glossary and tax and budget calculators to mortgage rate comparisons, key questions you need to ask service providers and complete share trading and personal asset tracking, your financial life is under control. When you're all cashed up and ready to buy your next investment property, just click on the vertically-integrated domain.com.au and start shopping. - SS
Rating: *****
Name of Site: 2GB Money
URL:
money.2gb.com
Plug-Ins: Yes
Navigability: Easy
Graphics: Medium, Medium Quality
Internal Links: 15
Review: While most AM radio stations are getting on with their 24-hour talkfests, forward-thinking 2GB has been quietly working away on building a formidable internet presence. Their Money department is filled with countless easy-to-read articles, market news, product reviews and service recommendations in a straightforward expandable menu format. At the time of review some featured links were down for a couple of days - one of the hazards of maintaining a complex site. You can download one of hundreds of prospectuses, check out the top ten funds or shares charts, all the while tuning in to the live radio broadcast - true multi media. Naturally the site is geared to 2GB's listeners, so if this is you, it will fit like a glove. Any questions/problems? Call the live radio talk-back line! - SS
Rating: ***
Name of Site: Looksmart Personal Finance
URL:
www.looksmart.com.au/r?page=/com-centre/personalfinance/index.shtml
Plug-Ins: No
Navigability: Medium
Graphics: Low, Good Quality
Internal Links: 20
Review: In a welcome evolution of the search engine concept, LookSmart have gathered their best links to all things financial, mixed in a dose of editorial expertise, some strong corporate affiliations and sponsorships, and created a not-too-shabby starting point for anyone new to the world of finance or the Internet. They pack the best features of their partners into the main page, but their search engine status means that they need to provide links to the whole spectrum of sites in every category. This does mean that most of where you will end up will be at third-party destinations, but the site is organised well enough that you will no doubt bookmark it for this, the next and perhaps every other on-line treasure hunt you may care to undertake. - SS
Rating: ***
Name of Site: NineMSN Finance
URL:
ninemsn.com.au/finance
Plug-Ins: No
Navigability: Easy
Graphics: Heavy, Good Quality
Internal Links: 80+
Review: When you not only run an established Internet site, but your very own TV station - complete with entire shows all about money - you have a fair chance of being able to provide what your viewers and visitors might require. The finance section of NineMSN is one of their primary categories and as such contains a broad range of detailed topics, as well as the featured sites for the TV shows. They have set up some great features, like chat zones, 'gossip clubs' and on-line work groups, links to stock quotes, calculators and in true TV style, plenty of giveaways, prizes, promotions - even the chance to appear on the TV show "Money". The help is close at hand with telephone listings of various organisations, and a pop-up side menu containing every link you might care to follow in your quest for financial freedom. - SS
Rating: *****
Name of Site: 24-7 Financial
URL:
www.24-7financial.com/index.html
Plug-Ins: Yes
Navigability: Easy
Graphics: Heavy, Good Quality
Internal Links: 30+
Review: Whether you wish to participate as a casual observer or involved member, 24-7 financial is focused on giving you the information and help you need to get your bank balance sorted. The service levels escalate from stock quotes, articles, email alerts and newsletters, through to telephone hot lines, chat, message boards and on to live and web-based seminars for the really keen investor. They create their own radio show, provide personal consultations and their "Planning 101" is a complete guide to getting your finances in order. Though US-based, most of the info is relevant to us, and those Web Developers out there could well take a leaf out of their book and put together an Aussie version. It is easy to navigate, interactive and helpful. - SS
Rating: ****
Name of Site: I Hate Financial Planning
URL:
www.ihatefinancialplanning.com
Plug-Ins: No
Navigability: Easy
Graphics: Medium, High Quality
Internal Links: 70
Review: When you consider that 94% of the world's population is living on the poverty line or below, this site is bound to be a huge success. It seems most of us either have an aversion to financial planning, or perhaps a complete ignorance, and it causes a lot of grief as all our hard-earned cash slips through our fingers, when it could be working for us and making us rich. In a friendly and understanding style, IHFP introduces all those painfully necessary concepts, like budgeting, getting out of debt, watching your outgoings, and makes it all seem not so difficult after all. With a touch of humour thrown in for good measure, including a soapie: "Misery Loves Company", you will gently be guided towards a far more sensible outlook on money. After reading the harsh realities of the cost of credit card interest and bad or non-existent financial planning you might just turn your debt-ridden stressed-out life around. - SS
Rating: *****
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