| Between the dawn of personal computing, when | | | | brokerage accounts: they are no different from the |
| early adopters proudly brought home old machines to | | | | accounts opened in physical offices. |
| help balance the checkbook, and the early 21st | | | | When you open an account at a physical bank |
| century,a lot has happened to personal finance. The | | | | branch, your assets become bookkeeping notations |
| internet - enhanced personal finance has brought an | | | | in that bank's computers. An account opened in an |
| astounding range of alternatives and opportunities | | | | Internet bank or brokerage is no more exposed to |
| into the hands of average people. | | | | network piracy than an account that resides down |
| Online investing is the most mature of the many | | | | the street at a local branch office. |
| internet financial services, having been started by a | | | | The solution resides in the security of the interface |
| couple of pioneering companies in pre-web | | | | and of the website: which must use as much as |
| cyberspace. Currently online exist hundreds of online | | | | possible SSL sockets certificates to encrypt the data |
| brokers and an astounding number of free | | | | when surfing. |
| information and research resources. Online brokers | | | | Traditional banks often provide the easiest entree to |
| are financial institutions whose customers buy and sell | | | | online banking by providing online services to their |
| securities using personal computers. These institutions | | | | preexisting accounts. For newcomers to the internet |
| differ from traditional brokers by charging lower fees | | | | activating online banking services that already exist |
| and offering less personalized service. Morte than any | | | | can be the smoothest way to glide into virtual |
| other single factor, online bokers have revolutionized | | | | personal finance. |
| the investment industry. | | | | Online bill paying is one of the most popular and |
| In addition to investment brokers, online insurance | | | | intriguing aspects of internet banking in which you let |
| brokers and online loan brokers assist in other areas | | | | the bank company write and send the check for |
| of personal finance. | | | | standard monthly bills, where some of them can be |
| Online banking got a later start compared to investing | | | | paid electronically, using fast bank transfers. |
| but it is coming on strong in terms of availability, | | | | Investing is as much an art as it is a science. With |
| convenience, popularity, and innovation. Now it's | | | | the proper analysis and effort, we can implement a |
| getting easier to link banking and investing accounts | | | | portfolio diversification plan that will eliminate all |
| for seamless transfers. | | | | anxiety, fear, confusion and doubt. |
| Typically online banking services include access to | | | | First we have to bear in mind that an almost infinite |
| account statements, money transfer functions and | | | | number of variables affect the financial world and our |
| online check writing. | | | | mind must be focused in reducing volatility which is |
| All these opportunities add up to a revolution: thanks | | | | important because you never know when you may |
| to the internet, these basic financial services cater | | | | need to cash out some of your portfolio. |
| more to individual choice and personal access than | | | | Today we are experiencing a volatile stock market |
| ever before. | | | | and historically low interest rates. Investments in |
| But ever since the World Wide web made online | | | | bonds have very low fields and it is increasingly risky |
| realm a commercial one the fear start to arise: are | | | | to lock up our money in such fixed income |
| online accounts safe from hackers? | | | | investments. |
| One important fact holds true for online bank and | | | | |