Advisors recommending Quicken... how do you do it?

Recently a couple of us from the Quicken team went to the annual Financial Planners Association conference in San Diego.

 While we were there we talked to dozens of planners who recommend Quicken to all of their clients.  It was fascinating to hear how and why they recommended it (including what it was about Quicken they thought would help their clients the most).

Almost all of them highly recommended it to help people control their spending and stick to a budget (even if it wasn’t a budget in the traditional sense).  There were specific systems these planners created.  One example… recommending husbands and wives use separate credit cards and download each into Quicken to see who is spending what.  I thought it was a very creative approach to controlling spending.  In fact several planners talked about the need for Quicken with married couples is especially high.

Just an interesting observation from a very interesting conference…  Anyone want to respond with how they recommend Quicken?

Comments

[Michael J Mero]

I am using Basic 2005, and have enjoyed it from my 2000 system. After months of use I had a hang up or something and when I went in to update last night and figure out what I had in my account I found all of my check numbers gone POOF nowhere to be found. And everything from Aug 29,2005 upto this day GONE. What has happened?????????
I had three backups and not one would update and to top it off I UNINSTALLED AND REINSTALLED and somewhere in this computer I hit a backup from 9-7-05 and BAM the same stuff. What can I do????????
HELP
Mickey Mero

[Richard Sarver]

I recently upgraded to Quicken 2006 Premier but found that it will not retain 2005 tax information. Has a fix taken place or must I wait to install 2006 till 2006?

[Diane McIvor]

I have happily used Personal Plus 2002 since its release. However, after having a new hard drive and reinstalling this product, it will not allow me to register and has now stopped me from using it at all. I have spent many hours talking to the tech people in Auckland. Quicken has my info in its system, Install Code, etc., but to no avail. It doesnt matter what codes I am given to try, this product refuses to register for me. I am a housewife who uses Quicken to keep track of household accounts, savings, investments etc., and do not use the product over the internet. Therefore, I have absolutely no need to upgrade to a bigger and better product as my 2002 product has been working perfectly for me. Would I have got better service from your Company had I been some high flyer whom you may have thought would be spending a lot more money over the years? I have been offered an upgrade to 2006 at a slightly discounted price, but the technical person who did so, also commented that there would be no guarantee that it would work. Seems to me, I could almost guarantee it wouldnt work. If I cannot reinstall Quicken 2002 and register it, an upgrade certainly isnt going to register as it wont have anything to register over. Anyone have any ideas out there?
One very frustrated consumer.

[Kevin James]

With so many financial advisor recommending Quicken to help clients on budget, I'd really like to see Quicken add new budgeting features that would allow for Envelope budgeting. I currently use Quicken's Savings Goals as virtual envelopes and with each paycheck transfer my money into these envelopes. Then as I enter transactions in my check register I transfer money out of these envelopes to cover them. I keep the 'Lowest Balance Forcast' at $0. If that number's positive it means I have extra money to transfer to my envelopes and if it's negative then I know I need to transfer money out of my envelopes.

This works really well helps my whole family see exactly how much is available for them to spend, but it would so nice if an envelope budgeting system was added to Quicken. I'd like to be able to transfer money into my Envelopes in a single split transaction (can't do that right now with Savings Goals). And then when I enter a transaction I'd like to specify the Envelope to extract funds from...think drop down list with Envelopes just like the Categories. Finally, I'd like to be able to drag and drop Envelopes on one another to transfer funds between these envelopes as needed. I'm seeing more and more Envelope budgeting software becoming available, but with a little work Quicken could be the ultimate solution....plus, that's a real feature you can throw in MS Money's face :)

[Mike Kozlow]

I have been a CFP since 1985 and have used Quciken from version 1 to the present. I used to recommend the product to my clients so they would actually see where they were spending their money. With some I took their check books and entered the data myself in my program and gave them a print out. I don't know if I made any users but I sure opened some eyes to financial planning.

[Peter Nichols]

I totally agree with what you're saying. I wish more people felt this way and took the time to express themselves. Keep up the great work.

Peter Nichols
http://www.financialsoftware4ursuccess.com

[Mytor]

Can anyone help me import / transfer my quicken version 4 files to quicken 2005. I know I am using an ancient version, but is there a way to do this.
I am unable to do this from within quicken 2005.
Thanks
Mytor

[Sharon]

I cant get the register to print on personal /cash books 2004 what is going on.

[sn]

I Like to know if quicken made any progress in allowing a financial advisor version for the client much like quickbooks has online version with accountant access to it?