Surgery News - January 2008 - (Page 15) J A N U A RY 2 0 0 8 • SURGERY NEWS FINANCE COVERING YOUR ASSETS 15 Wise Investors Know Their Web Sites any surgeons are using the Web to obtain investing and financial planning information, but they may not be using the best and most powerful Web sites. Although there are too many Web sites to list, I would like to highlight several that I find very helpful. Some offer technical investing information, some are geared toward personal financial planning, and some are comprehensive in nature. This column will include six comprehensive sites. In a future column, more specialized sites will be highlighted. Comprehensive investment Web sites offer expert advice and an ample collection of financial data. They include portfolio management and technical analysis tools; market, industry, and economic news and data; detailed data on stocks, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs); technical charting; stock BY CHARLES D. and mutual fund MABRY, M.D., FACS screening tools; and financial planning capability. These sites offer free access to some (or most) features, but some may charge for real-time quotes, advanced screening, portfolio management, or more detailed data downloads. My picks for the top three comprehensive Web sites are as follows: Morningstar (www.morningstar.com). One of the most widely used Web sites, this Chicago-based company has continued to expand its site, providing advanced tools for portfolio tracking and analysis, stock and fund screening, and a wealth of research. Most of the site’s offerings are free and include a basic stock and mutual fund screener, interactive charting, and a neat portfolio monitoring tool that tracks stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, and cash. Users can also import to or export from any desktop software or spreadsheet program. The robust personal financial planning section features information on wealth management, retirement, and college planning. MSN Money (moneycentral.msn.com). This site offers free advanced features, among them a sophisticated portfolio tracking module for bonds, stocks, funds, ETFs, options, and futures. Portfolio prices are automatically updated, and customizable displays and sorting techniques allow users to fine-tune information to their preferences. MSN Money also has advanced stock/mutual fund screeners; interactive charts; data on individual stocks and funds; e-mail alerts; and information on banking, credit card comparisons, and credit reports. For young surgeons, the site has plenty of “how to” information, and an ongoing performance grade for the site’s columnists shows how the experts can get things either very right or very wrong. It’s important to learn early on that none of the experts is always correct. M Yahoo! Finance (finance.yahoo.com). This powerful site delivers news, quotes, and portfolio management. The “News and Opinion” section has a broad range of expert advice as well as market commentary, which helps to clarify financial planning and investing. The site accumulates news stories from more than eight different Internet sources, including a few subscription-based sites. An unlimited num- ber of securities can be added to the portfolio tracker, and the stock screener has more than 150 criteria for screening. And an interactive Java-based charting tool makes technical charting easy. I also recommend SmartMoney.com (www.smartmoney.com), Reuters (www.investor.reuters.com), and MarketWatch.com (www.marketwatch.com). Regardless of which site becomes your personal favorite, I hope you will browse through all of these. They can help keep you abreast of the economy while maintaining your personal financial health. ■ DR. MABRY serves on the finance committee and investment subcommittee of the ACS Board of Regents and is the series editor for the ACS Practice Management Course for Residents and Young Surgeons. Membership in the American College of Surgeons? H E R E ’ S W H Y I T ’ S I M P O R TA N T: AS A BODY REPRESENTING ALL OF SURGERY, THE COLLEGE: • Provides a cohesive voice addressing societal issues related to surgery. • Is working toward having an increasingly proactive and timely voice in setting a national tone and agenda with regard to health care. • Is dedicated to promoting the highest standards of surgical care through education of and advocacy for its Fellows and their patients. • Serves as a national forum through which surgeons can reinforce the values and ethics that traditionally have characterized the surgical profession. HERE ARE SOME OF THE MANY BENEFITS BEING A MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE AFFORDS YOU: • Free registration at the Clinical Congress • Access to the College’s free coding consultation hotline • Subscription to ACS NewsScope, the College’s weekly electronic newsletter • Subscription to the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons • Subscription to the Journal of the American College of Surgeons • Access to all College-sponsored insurance, credit card, and other helpful programs • Free posting of resume on ACS Career Opportunities • Access to Surgeons Diversified Investment Fund THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. Our members represent every specialty, practice setting, and stage of practice. Their views and concerns are helping to shape the College’s agenda for the future. If you aren’t a member of the American College of Surgeons, apply for Fellowship today. If you are already a member, maintain that status and consider getting involved in the work of the College. Only by banding together and using our collective strength can we bring about positive change for our patients and ourselves—and for surgeons of the future. Information on becoming a member of the College and an application form are available online at w w w.f ac s .org/dept /fellowship/index .html or contact Cynthia Hicks, Credentials Section, Division of Member Services, via phone at 1-800/293-9623, or via e-mail at chicks@facs.org. http://finance.yahoo.com http://www.SmartMoney.com http://www.SmartMoney.com http://www.marketwatch.com http://www.investors.reuters.com http://www.marketwatch.com http://www.marketwatch.com http://www.morningstar.com http://moneycentral.msn.com http://www.facs.org/dept/fellowship/index.html
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