Dial2Do.com

Description:  This voice translation tool is similar to Jott. Record a reminder and they convert it to text and send it to you in an email. Email: Listen to your inbox and even reply! Supports gmail, aol, yahoo and more. Text: Verbally send a text message to one of your contacts or groups. It’s nice when you are driving and texting isn’t an option. There are other options for Twitter, google calendar, Xpenser and so on. See http://Dial2Do.com for more information.

Cost: $3.99/month or $39.99/year

Benefits: Great for mileage recording, general reminders when I am on the road. I use it for personal texting as well

Tried Before: Jott

Shortcomings: None

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being very easy and 10 being very difficult, how do you rate the ease of use: 1 – extremely easy to use

Tech support: N/A

Source: online

Link: http://Dial2Do.com

Other comments: N/A

Posted by:  Arlene Moss

Dropbox

Description:  Dropbox provides web access secure online backup, file sync, and file sharing.   Put your files into your Dropbox on one computer, and they’ll be instantly available on any of your other computers that you’ve installed Dropbox on (Windows, Mac, and Linux too!)   Because a copy of your files are stored on Dropbox’s secure servers, you can also access them from any computer or mobile device using the Dropbox website.

Cost:  Basic 2gb free. Pro50 provides 50gb at $9.99 per month.

Benefits:  Cost effective online backup. I can access all the files from any computer including my iphone.   Also syncs all my computers at the same time. I can also share designated files with clients.

Tried Before:  Connected.com and Carbonite

Shortcomings:  Not really

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being very easy and 10 being very difficult, how do you rate the ease of use:  Easy:  2.

Tech Support:  No

Source:  Online at dropbox.com

Link:  https://www.dropbox.com/

Other Comments:  Every time you put a file in your Dropbox folder it is automatically backed up to our secure servers. If your computer has a melt-down your files are safe on Dropbox and can be restored at any time. Free 2GB account is available.  Larger paid accounts (up to 100GB) are also available.  If you’re editing a document on one computer,  as soon as you click “Save,”  Dropbox will sync this same file to all your other computers (and also your iPhone!) instantly and automatically. It’s as if you saved the document to all of your computers. This gives you the freedom to work on any of your computers and always have the files you need.  You can easily share entire folders or photo albums with Dropbox.  Simply put the folders you want to share in your Dropbox, and invite people to them. You can also send people links to specific files within your Dropbox.  Every time you save a file in Dropbox, Dropbox syncs it to their secure servers. Dropbox keeps a history of every change made so that you can undo any mistakes and even undelete files. By default, Dropbox keeps the last 30 days of undo history for all your files.

Posted By:  Ted Roman

Salesforce.com with the XLR8 overlay

Description:  This is a web based CRM competing with Redtail (for example).  XLR8 is an overlay customization of the Salesforce CRM toolkit. XLR8 was designed by Moulton Strategic Partners (MSP).  XLR8 is an advisory firm specific overlay working with the Salesforce.com platform. This combo yields a powerful, VERY flexible and SIMPLE to maintain CRM solution.    Once XLR8 is installed on top of Salesforce, the MSP team (I think you must use MSP) will migrate any data, from any source, and then customize a training agenda.

Cost:  It is expensive. There are two layers of costs.  The first is for XLR8 paid to MSP.  This is a one time first license fee of $1,800 with $350 for each additional license.   No recurring charges to MSP.  Salesforce costs about $75/month per login id.

Benefits: 
1.  XLR8 instantly formatted my Salesforce account to an RIA/Advisory practice functionality.
2.  I was able to personalize XLR8 even further, i.e. my CRM is defined by how I run my business not the other way around. I LOVE THIS ASPECT.
3.  Consolidated view of everything surrounding my client (on one page) – financial assets, insurance, estate planning documents, yearly tax information, relationships activities and so on…  I don’t have to drill down, or move from page to page.
4.  I do not have to worry about backup, disaster recovery, security for this data.
5.  As my needs change, my CRM can adapt through virtually unlimited customizations. I do most of these myself but at times hire MSP to assist me.
7.  I get to take advantage of the same Salesforce functionality as firms with 10,000 users.

Tried Before:  We migrated from Protracker. I have tried nothing else.

Shortcomings:  It could be cheaper.  It seems that once you buy XLR8, if future changes occur to the template, you have to pay to upgrade.  I have the first generation of the XLR8 template (4 yrs ago) and still don’t feel a need to upgrade.  This helps me to avoid ongoing consultation fees.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being very easy and 10 being very difficult, how would you rate its ease of use:  Very easy: 1.  The application is web based, using my preferred browser, well laid out, and easy to navigate.

Tech Support:  Used only to assist me with creating new functionality, and enhancements.   I have called Salesforce a few times and had excellent service.  However, they also have  a high-end service plan and I hate that because I feel like I am treated as less important.  I am sure it is for the big operations.

Source:  From Moulton Strategic Partners online

Links:  www.xlr8online.com or www.moultonsp.com

Other Comments:  Check this out if you are considering a web based CRM.  It also works with NetDocs.com so document storage can been seen and accessed from the salesforce website.  There is an iPhone App for Salesforce that is excellent!

Posted By:  Bill Starnes

RapidWeaver

Description:  This is a Mac-only website developer.  You pick your template, then add pages.  I was skeptical about building my own website, but this software worked great and it only took me about 20 hours, which is what it probably would have taken me if I used a developer.

Cost:  $79

Benefits:   I was able to develop a website for less than $500, including RapidWeaver software, an online writing tutorial, and photos.   I can add to my website easily.  I have a blog on my website.   The number of contacts that I get from my website has doubled since I switched from the basic ACA template.

Tried Before:  Using a developer.  I found this time consuming and frustrating.  I couldn’t easily add to the website myself and keep it fresh.

Shortcomings:  The manual is better than most manuals, but there is room for improvement.  Also if this was available for Windows, that would be great!

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being very easy and 10 being very difficult, how do you rate its ease of use?    Moderately easy:  4.    I wouldn’t do this if you’re not somewhat tech-savy.  I don’t write HTML code, but I know what it is.  I have done basic blogs before.  My husband showed me how to get going in a very basic way, then helped me figure out how to insert photos.  I was having troubles with that.  Otherwise, it was really easy.

Tech Support:  I have looked at the manual, but I am generally afraid of tech support.

Source:  online

Link:  http://www.realmacsoftware.com/rapidweaver

Other Comments:  My website is:  www.sullivanmermel.com

Posted By:  Bridget Sullivan Mermel

Vonage Visual Voicemail

Description:  Vonage Visual Voicemail e-mails a transcript of your voicemail.

Cost:  Included with my Vonage  service.

Benefits:   It’s quicker for me to review e-mails than listen to phone messages.  I can do it quietly.  The transcripts are very rough but I do get the gist of the message and can usually tell if it requires a quick response.

Tried Before:  Nothing in this area

Shortcomings:  It could use more accurate transcription.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being very easy and 10 being very difficult, how do you rate its ease of use?     Very easy:  1

Tech Support:  Not used

Source:  Vonage

Link:     http://www.vonage.com/support.php?article=1326

Other Comments:  The other features I really appreciate from Vonage are having the calls simultaneously ring several different numbers and having the messages attached as a wav file to an e-mail, sent to multiple address.  All for a great price.

Posted By:  Mary Lester

RedTail Technology

Description:  RedTail Technology is a client management solution that provides Web Based CRM, Web Based Imaging and Data Storage, and Web Based e-mail retention.

Cost:   
CRM: Unlike other CRM solutions today, Redtail CRM is priced per database and not per user.    Each database comes with the option to add up to 15 named users.  For example, an office of 5 users will pay $65 a month. If you exceed 15 users, just add another $65 for an additional block of 15.
Imaging: $49 per month for the first 10 GB.
Email Retention: $8 per account per month.

Benefits:     

1. No need to establish a “server” to share the data
2. Meet the data retention requirement
3. Data intelligence
4. Easy scheduling via shared calendar
5. Export data to MGP

Tried Before:  Microsoft Outlook

Shortcomings:   Provide a more robust automatic workflow system

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being very easy and 10 being very difficult, how do you rate its ease of use?      Very self-explanatory:  2       The data integration is provided by Redtail (included in the price).   It was seamless.

Tech Support:   The live support is outstanding.

Source:    Monthly online subscription

Link:     www.redtailtechnology.com             (800) 206-5030

Other Comments:     30 day free trial/Online video training/Great for small practice

Posted By:  Kevin Jacobs

MoneyGuidePro

 

Description:  Moneyguidepro G2 is a web based software program or ASP.  This financial planning smartware application helps you to show what has to happen in order to reflect an ideal or acceptable lifestyle in retirement.  It can also do probability of the portfolio lasting for the expected lifetime (Monte Carlo simulation) along with having the ability to create “What If” scenarios with most variables.

 

Cost:   $1295 Discount to $995 for Cambridge Advisors   ($300 for Finametrica Add-on, $1260 for CashEdge Add-on)

Benefits:   It allowed me to explain and quantify to clients what must happen to their portfolio to take them from Ideal to Acceptable or below.  It  also can help you clearly articulate to clients how much exposure to equity should taken.  The software package also allows for additional portfolio testing (Bad Timing Stress Test and Monte Carlo Simulation).

Tried Before:   Naviplan and excel spreadsheets

Shortcomings:  Convert to a powerpoint presentation instead of pdf or web based presentation. [Moderator note:  Per MoneyGuidePro, there is capability to convert to PDF, web-based presentation, and powerpoint]

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being very easy and 10 being very difficult, how do you rate its ease of use?    Moderate:  5

Tech Support:    The tech support person did not seem to have direct knowledge of how the software projection algorithms worked and had to call back the next day.

Source:  Napfa or Cambridge Conference

Links:   www.moneyguidepro.com       http://www.moneyguidepro.com/Pdf/InsideInfoMarch09.pdf

Other Comments:    It provides a clear communication method for your clients and reinforces  overall asset allocation on how a portfolio performs over time.

Posted By:  Ed Fulbright

LogMeIn Ignition

Description:  LogMeIn Ignition is an iPhone application that allows me to log on to my office computers from my iPhone.

Cost:  Application $29.95  – $39.95 / year.  (Can log on for free to computers that have LogMeIn or LogMeIn Pro installed .) 

Benefits:    This application provides remote access to my computers w/o having to carry my laptop or find another computer to use.

Tried Before:   N/A

Shortcomings:   Navigation is a little difficult.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being very easy and 10 being very difficult, how do you rate its ease of use?    Fairly easy:  2

Tech Support:   N/A

Source:  iphone Application store and Logmein.com

Links:    http://www.apple.com/itunes/
 https://secure.logmein.com/US/home.aspx

Other Comments:   I couldn’t hold a client meeting using LogMeIn Ignition because navigation is slow, but I could have a meeting and access my clients’ Ameritrade accounts, Pyramids etc. on my iPhone.

Posted By:    Ted Roman

The Hamster Revolution

Description:   The Hamster Revolution is a book  by Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, & Tim Burris about managing email.  It promises to help you reduce email volume by 20% and make it easier to find your stored emails.  In addition, others will appreciate that you are sending out better emails, making their lives easier as well.

Cost:    $19.95 publishers price / $10.17 on Amazon for paperback, $13.57 for hardcover

Benefits:   I am constantly overwhelmed by email, which distracts me from what I should be focusing on.  While I’m still in the early stages of my personal hamster revolution and cannot claim a 20% reduction yet, I am seeing an impact.  I’m getting better/more targeted responses to the emails I send, which is much more efficient.

Tried Before:   Having someone else answer email for me, the David Allen Getting Things Done system, checking email only twice per day.  I’m not sure what I haven’t tried.

Shortcomings:    I’d make everyone who sends me email follow this system, and I’d like specific tricks and pointers for Gmail.   (There are lots of pointers for Outlook, which I don’t use anymore.)

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being very easy and 10 being very difficult, how do you rate its ease of use?   I’d give it a 1.  The book itself is a very easy read.  The system does require you to think a bit more before sending an email, but it’s all very easy to implement.

Tech Support:  N/A

Source:    I purchased my copy at the ASAE Annual Meeting in  Toronto in August.  One of the authors was a speaker at the conference.

Links:    www.amazon.com to buy the book, but then you will also want to check out additional resources at http://infoexcellence.com/hr1.html

Other Comments:   Looks like they also have a Hamster Revolution for meetings – sounds like one of my next books to read.

Posted By:  Cathy Stegmaier

Google Cloud Computing

Description:  “Cloud Computing”  is a suite of products including Gmail, Google Calender, Google Docs, Google Sites, and Postini.  Gmail is a web-based e-mail, Google Calendar is a web based Calendar, Google Docs is web based word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations.  Google Sites can be used to build websites and an intranet for multiple users.  Postini provides e-mail security and archiving. Imbedded within the suite of products is a file management system which allows file sharing on the internet.

Cost:  $50 per user per year

Benefits:   I am just starting my practice and this provides me a low cost start-up solution for scheduling client appointments, e-mail archiving, backing-up files and sharing client files as part of paperless office.  Gmail addresses and website addresses utilize my domain name.

Tried Before:  N/A

Shortcomings:   I haven’t used it extensively enough to comment.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being very easy and 10 being very difficult, how do you rate its ease of use?  Moderately easy:  4     Like with any new software, there is a learning curve.  Finding documentation for Google products isn’t always easy but a Google search will usually turn up an answer to your problem.  The most difficult part of setting up Google Apps was setting up my account to utilize my domain name.  However, step-by-step instructions were provided.

Tech Support:  Not used

Source:  Online from Google

Link:   http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/index.html

Posted By:  Greg Johnson