But even the free personal finance services offered are extensive and competitive with what is offered by Quicken.

Quicken 2015 Software Programs Developed

Quicken is one of three very well-known, widely used and highly successful financial software programs developed by Intuit, Inc.

INTU ). Intuit subsequently sold its personal financial management tool to private equity firm H.I.G.

Quicken offers users services from basic checking and savings account management and budgeting, all the way to portfolio analysis and management features such as capital gains tracking.

There are Windows-based versions of the program available as well as for Mac thats compatible with Apples operating system.

Although manufactured for a number of global markets, Quicken remains focused largely on a North American customer base.

While Quicken has dominated its niche market since its first release in 1983, there are a number of similar, alternative products available and which are increasingly challenging its dominance.

One rival is Mint, a read-only budget planner and spending tracker.

Another rival, Personal Capital, offers investment management services.

Banktivity, developed specifically for Apple products, serves as a personal or small business financial management program, allowing users to monitor accounts across several devices.

Intuit itself offers a simpler, more basic alternative to Quicken in Mint, which it acquired in 2009.

Mint is cloud-based, rather than a standalone software program.

Mint.com offers services similar to those contained in Quickens most basic starter version.

Basically a budget planner and spending tracker, it does not offer significant investment management services.

The program is criticized for account synchronization problems and for the fact it does not allow monthly bank reconciliation because it automatically assumes all downloaded data is correct.

Quicken 2015 Plus And A

The fact that Mint.com is a read-only service is both a plus and a minus for the program.

A read-only service offers greater Internet security, since even if someone were able to access a users information, all they could do is see the accounts and not able to take any actions (such as transferring money out).

Of course, the con of being a read-only service also limits what the user can do and, therefore, the capabilities and functionality of the service.

Like virtually all similar personal financial management programs, Mint is accessible through almost any Internet-connected device, including personal computers, tablets, and smartphones.

In fact, as of December 2019, it had 12.3 billion in assets under management (AUM).

The basic Personal Capital financial services package, which includes account tracking, budgeting, bill paying, and other basic services, is free.

However, Personal Capital makes its money primarily from individuals, with a minimum of 100,000 in assets, who choose to upgrade to the personal wealth management services the company offers.

Fees begin at 0.89 for the first 1 million of assets managed and range down to 0.49 (for accounts over 10 million) per year.

Personal Capitals fees are significantly lower than average for full wealth management services.

With the paid wealth management service, clients are assigned a personal financial advisor and receive all the usual services a client expects from a wealth management company, including tax and estate planning, tax-loss harvesting, advice on insurance, educational funds for children and any other necessary services to provide full financial management for clients.

Quicken For Mac 2015