Smart Stops on the Web

Express Yourself
www.iconocast.com
For CPAs interested in tracking trends in marketing and technology, this site offers a gratis weekly newsletter and the Iconocast Forum—a community of discussion threads on topics including the Internet market, interactive marketing and segmentation. Other sections of interest are the Search Engine Optimization Guide and archived Iconocast Web pages back to 1998.

Net News
news.com.com
Brought to you by CNET, this site offers tech-savvy professionals news and information on technology issues, as well as market quotes and product reviews. The e-business tab on the home page links to current articles on Web-based companies and on general information technology topics such as dot-com stock options and values.

Insights From Inside
www-3.ibm.com/e-business
For CPAs who dabble in technology consulting, the e-business page of IBM’s Web site focuses on software implementation strategies. Users also can find case studies—including IBM’s solution to Chase Manhattan Bank’s data warehousing problem—and a list of resources with links to timely articles such as “Government Finance—Compliance and Customer Service.”

The Business of E-Business
www.ebcenter.org
PricewaterhouseCoopers and the University of Navarra’s IESE Business School in Barcelona have joined forces to form the E-Business Center Web site. Technology consultants can keep abreast of the latest IT industry news with articles, case studies, expert commentary, news items and research.

Worth a Second Look
techupdate.zdnet.com
This site, previously featured in this column as www.zdnet.com/enterprise/e-business ( see JofA , Jun.01, page 21 ), deserves another visit as it is continually refreshed with current news in the Tech Update Today section. Visitors can find resources such as the E-business Update with articles and commentaries on B2B, customer-relationship-management software and global Internet topics. Other areas of the site offer free newsletter subscriptions via e-mail and free software downloads.

Tips to Run a Smoother Office
www.shrm.org
Small business owners and HR consultants will want to visit the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) home page to get its HR tip of the day as well as the latest industry news. Users can click on the nonmembers section to read articles such as “Office Romance: HR’s Role” and “Ten Tips for Managing Telecommuters.” Also, CPAs can access any article in the e-version of HR Magazine not labeled “Members Only” for free.

Knowledge Is Power
www.savewealth.com
Estate planners and PFP and tax specialists can find news stories on estate and retirement planning as well as suggestions for reducing taxes here. Articles such as “Retirement Plans With Pass-Through Annuities” and “Avoiding the Perils of Probate” offer guidance on building and preserving wealth. The travel section gives advice on trip planning as well as a link to the State Department’s Web page on travel safety outside of the United States ( www.travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html ).

Free E-Tips
www.dummiesdaily.com
Register here and receive free tips via e-mail on topics including health, lifestyle, money, recreation, technology and travel. Each section includes how-to articles for just about anything—from backing up your pocket PC files to downloading online music. Also, for each topic, the Dummies Express feature offers quick fixes and timely advice.

Not Just for Mathematicians
www.actuary.org
The American Academy of Actuaries site offers peer-reviewed documents, such as comment letters and issue briefs, as well as news and task force findings on banking and financial services, professionalism and Social Security, for example. Users also can view the online versions of Contingencies magazine and the “Actuarial Update” newsletter.