Net Resources

Black Enterprise, Nov, 1999 by Korey A. Wilson

SURFING IS EASY. FINDING USEFUL INFORMATION IS HARD.

THE INTERNET HAS LONG BEEN HERALDED AS THE GREAT EQUALIZER, A PLACE WHERE neophyte and expert alike have access to the same information. This is especially true when the information sought is financial. From mortgages to insurance, there are reference sites that can help you handle your finances better, faster and more efficiently (see "All Around the Web," March 1999). But just because a site has the marketing dollars to attract your attention, doesn't mean it has the best offerings. In searching for personal finance sites, we found useful information at some well-known destinations and at others we think of as diamonds in the rough. Here are some of the gems we found.

INVESTING TAXES MORTGAGES & INSURANCE PERSONAL FINANCE

INVESTOR GUIDE | www.investorguide.com

Whether you are interested in a particular type of vehicle or you're an all-around investor, this guide offers an array of information that will fill your exact needs. Investorguide offers real-time quotes on stocks and mutual funds, business news from a variety of news sources, an investment glossary and stock analysis. This site also allows you to create a portfolio and review a variety of links to investing sites. For new users, this site offers a tour and answers over 1,000 investing questions in its Answercenter. View a listing of online banks, as well as get tips on online trading and car buying. Investorguide even offers advice on choosing between online and traditional brokers, lists sources for mortgages and managing debt, and answers FAQs on mortgages, financial planning, financial aid, car buying and loans, among other topics.

INVESTING TAXES MORTGAGES & INSURANCE PERSONAL FINANCE

STOCK SENSE | www.stocksense.com

That someone could make sense of the gyrations of the stock market is a feat in and of itself. StockSense isn't a pretty site but it takes you through the valuations and rationales behind stock prices and discount rates, for example. While there are some confusing formulas presented, they are explained through examples and leave you more informed than any talking head on the boob tube could. There's an interactive applet on Risk and Return, which will help you determine and explain your tolerance for risk. The site also includes a Double Quote feature, which permits you to enter a stock's symbol or name and search two company news and quote sites simultaneously. The results are shown in two browser windows. There's also a feature called QuoteTV, which provides quotes and company news about preselected stocks in your browser window.

INVESTING TAXES MORTGAGES & INSURANCE PERSONAL FINANCE

THE INVESTMENT FAQ | www.invest-faq.com

The Investment FAQ is a collection of frequently asked questions (and answers) about investments and personal finance, including stocks, bonds, options, discount brokers, information sources, retirement plans and life insurance. This is a great site for investment newbies. It'll walk you through the basics of financial planning, teach you about stocks, bonds and mutual funds, and also clue you in to some common mistakes investors make so that you won't repeat them. The site includes informative articles on everything from analyzing reports to more sophisticated topics, such as Long-term Equity AnticiPation Security, or LEAP. The analyses are informative and well presented. If you have questions about investing, this site is a must-see.

INVESTING TAXES MORTGAGES & INSURANCE PERSONAL FINANCE

THE ONLINE INVESTOR | http://investhelp.com

Once you've boned up on the basics or added a new topic to your investment vocabulary, point your browser to this site. For insight into stocks that may be on the rise, check out company spotlight. Each month the site offers an in-depth look at several publicly traded companies and judges them on their merits. A disclaimer states that the site receives no compensation for these spotlights and does not make, buy or sell recommendations, but you should still seek secondary information before taking any action on the companies. The guide to research is a thorough compendium of topics ranging from "how to spot when the bottom arrives" in Net stocks to "how to put stock valuations in perspective." The site also includes a weekly e-mail newsletter, an IPO calendar, an announcement of mergers and more, for the discriminating investor.

INVESTING TAXES MORTGAGES & INSURANCE PERSONAL FINANCE

FIND A FUND | www.findafund.com

This site is perfect for both first-time and seasoned buyers of mutual funds. You can view a listing of mutual funds by the fund name or ticker symbol and get quotes. For first-timers who are not familiar with the lingo, Find a Fund offers a glossary of mutual fund terms as well as FAQs on all aspects of mutual funds, such as the fundamentals, buying and selling, taxes, etc. This site also allows you to create a portfolio of mutual funds that you own or are interested in and Find a Fund will e-mail you a monthly update on performance. Find a Fund also offers a "similarity portfolio analysis," examining the similarities between two funds by comparing their sector weightings and individual holdings.