Online Investment Portfolio
on this page: welcome | information | research | analysis | competition
Advantages
The advantages of the Online Investment Portfolio software (formerly known as Online Dynamic Portfolio Planner (ODPP) over similar online services such as The Motley Fool and MSN MoneyCentral are numerous, as Online Investment Portfolio provides a dynamic environment that goes beyond providing investing information by interacting with the investor and tailoring its services to her needs. Online Investment Portfolio is revolutionary in the sense that it bases its live, dynamically updated content on the user's input. And of course, an investor may access her portfolio from anywhere. Furthermore, interface compatibility with various formats, including PDAs, is planned, and the Online Investment Portfolio layout may be customized to suit the user's needs based on her preferences and tastes.
- Tab Menus (Functionality, Limitations, User Interface, and About) on top of each page link to the main areas of the site.
- Page Elements - Page elements can be accessed quickly via a series of links following the words "on this page:" located on top of each page.
- Blue Arrow - Clicking on a blue arrow
will take you back to
the top of a page.
Purpose
The purpose of my Online Investment Portfolio is to help individuals manage their stock investments with ease. The Online Investment Portfolio is comprised of three main areas: information, research, and analysis. The information section will be introduced first, since it is used to gather unique information from the investor which Online Investment Portfolio will use to begin building a dynamic portfolio suited to that particular investor. Examples of information include the financial needs of the investor, what the investor is saving her money for, and when she will need the money. Based on these answers Online Investment Portfolio will make various recommendations based on a risk level appropriate to that investor. It is important to note here that Online Investment Portfolio consists solely of stock analysis, management, and recommendations. At the same time, while Online Investment Portfolio encourages investment in IRA, 401K, and similar investment vehicles, Online Investment Portfolio specifically discourages investment in mutual funds. The reasons for this will be outlined in the information section of the site (fees, transactions costs, capital gain costs, etc.). Online Investment Portfolio believes that an equivalent or greater level of diversity, risk management, and growth potential can be achieved solely via the purchase of stocks.
Research
The research section is comprised of various tools that allow the investor to educate herself on her financial assets. Examples of research utilities include a news center area that profiles the latest news events and key developments for stocks in the investor's portfolio. Each of these areas contains the intuitive "Click 4 Help" system that offers descriptions and explanations for most of the financial terms in the site. A user may access the explanation simply by clicking on the corresponding term.
Analysis
The analysis section comprises the third Online Investment Portfolio area, and will house the actual portfolio. It is here that the investor may keep track of her investments. Online Investment Portfolio will dynamically update the portfolio, and will try to take the busy work out of the investor's hands by making commission and tax calculations, and by providing important information such as dividend distributions, trading indicators and news alerts. The various sections included in this portion include a portfolio fundamental area that defines and describes key data and ratios associated with the user's holdings; a valuation area that valuates portfolio performance; and a capital gain tax estimation area that allows the user to calculate estimated capital gains she will own on her investments.
Competition
Online Portfolio planning tools are currently being offered by most investment houses that offer online services. However, for many of them, such as Fidelity's NetBenefits service , investors must have an account with the company. Two primary players that offer comprehensive online planners for free that anyone may use are The Motley Fool (offering services in collaboration with Mellon Financial Planning Services and MSN MoneyCentral. Both of these services offer many investment-based research tools to help investors manage their money. These tools are invaluable for investors that have the time to do their own research, as they provide the common services that include financial newsletters, discount brokerage advice, discussion boards, quotes & data, financial books and software, banking advice, tax advice, notifications (ie. trade indicators, such as when a stock reaches a specified price), and portfolio management tools.