Smart Stops on the Web

For Current and Archived Information
cbs.marketwatch.com/news

Although devoted mostly to financial news, this site has enough information for CPAs in technology consulting to warrant a visit. A keyword search returned links to current articles on companies making headlines in this area. Users also can access free e-tools including interactive charting, a portfolio tracker and a market screener.

Enroll in a Free Course
www.free-ed.net

This site is named—and devoted to—Free Education on the Internet. Investment consultants can search its electronic course catalog and click on a topic—such as “Mastering Quicken”—to begin a lesson. CPAs also will see links to free investment tutorials from other sources including EduStock.com, InvestSmart.com and TeachMeFinance.com, as well as e-courses in data extraction, financial crisis management, forecasting and statement analysis.

Tools of the Trade
www.esignal.com

Get all of the resources you or your clients need to trade online from eSignal, including market guide reports, stock quotes, news by ticker symbol and SEC filings. Keep abreast of what’s going on with publicly traded companies with the Analysts’ Changes section and with an earnings calendar from Net Earnings.

Free Calculators
www.fintools.com

The Montgomery Investment Technology site offers CPAs free online calculators—for bonds, options and exotics— and downloadable ones for those categories as well as for historical price volatility.

Answers for Investors and Traders
invest-faq.com

Beginners, investors and traders can find answers to questions on investment topics such as analysis, derivatives, mutual funds, regulation, strategies and tax codes. Users also can research the site’s large bank of investment and personal finance articles, as well as take a break and look in its trivia section for the history of the market terms “bear” and “bull.” The Investment FAQ Web site features the book, Five Minute Investing, by Braden Glett, and visitors can read the entire thing for free.

Watch and Learn
www.taxtalktoday.tv

CPAs can register for free to access live, archived or videotaped webcasts on various tax topics including collections and examinations, government and tax-exempt entities, and pension plans. Users also can earn continuing professional education credits for viewing webcasts.

Set Your Sites Here
marylaine.com

Former St. Ambrose University librarian Marylaine Block created this Web site offering links to an eclectic list of sites—from hieroglyphics and theme park reviews to international business information and recent charts of the U.S. economy—updated weekly. Users also can access archived sites from the past six months. Register for free to receive Block’s weekly finds by e-mail.

Advice for Advisers
www.investmentadvisor.com

Financial planners and consultants can subscribe for free to the magazine Investment Advisor, and receive announcements, news and supplemental information via e-mail. A recent issue featured article titles such as “Broker– Dealers Get High Marks in Survey” and “Tax Savings for 401(k)s.”

Audit and Fraud Resources
www.dartmouth.edu/~msimmons

This site provides links to Web sites for various organizations—such as the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. It also links to articles including “What Is Internal Auditing?” “Recognizing the Elements of Fraud” and “What You Should Know About Conflict of Interest.”

Fodder for the Frequent Flyer
businesstravel.about.com

CPAs can access all kinds of travel resources in this section of About.com—from airline seat maps to suggestions on where to eat. In the Spotlight offers titles such as “Bad Behavior or Typical Road Warrior?” and “Packing Tips: Feel at Home Away From Home.” This site also offers lodging information and online booking options.

Current Internet Legislation
www.ntia.doc.gov

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Web site houses government reports and filings on domestic and international wireless technologies policies, and requests for comments on the “deployment of broadband networks and advanced telecommunications.”

Government Garage Sale
www.fedsales.gov

Check out the U.S. federal portal for government auctions and sales. Search for all types of financial asset sales—including mortgages, savings bonds and secure loans as well as houses, land and commercial realty. Also access links to state, local and international sales, and sign up for the free government-surplus sales e-mail list.