Time to switch to Quicken as Microsoft discontinued Microsoft Money as of June 30, 2009.

Wow, guess Microsoft can't squeeze out a buck from their Microsoft Money. I can't believe the software giant would discontinue MS Money just like that with years of development down the drain, not to mention the effects on loyal MS Money customers\users. Read the discontinue notice from Microsoft.

Luckily, I don't use MS Money. I have been using Quicken since 1996 and it's been doing a good job. It's been helping me to keep track and give me a big picture of my finance. Quicken has evolved over the years and some of the changes I must say were not really necessary. It's not prefect but it does the job, and with Microsoft discontinuing MS Money, there are really not that many other choices out there when it comes to personal finance management software.

I recommend it if you are shopping for a gift for recently college graduate. It's a gift that's keeps on giving.

Greenberg v E*TRADE: IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE – CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

Got this in my e-mail today, wondering if this is legit, the following is a excerpt of it:

If you reside in California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, or Washington and (1) received a telephone call from E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporation or its related entities (“E*TRADE”) during the period from September 3, 2003, to May 22, 2009, and/ or (2) you made a call to E*TRADE’s Beverly Hills, California branch office on August 15 or 16, 2006, and your telephone call was recorded without notice or consent (hereinafter, the “Settlement Class”), you are a Class Member and a proposed class action settlement (“Settlement”) could affect your legal rights.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that if you qualify to be in the Settlement Class, you are a Settlement Class Member (hereinafter, “Class Member”) and may be entitled to payment of money from the Settlement Funds.

There is now pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court a lawsuit entitled Greenberg, et al. v. E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporation, case no. BC 360152, which involves allegations that Defendant E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporation (“Defendant”) recorded telephone communications without the knowledge or consent of all of the parties to the communication. Defendant has denied and continues to deny any liability and there has been no finding that Defendant has violated any laws.

It goes on to say:

Subject to the approval of the settlement by the Court, if you want to participate in the settlement, you must complete and submit online the Claim Form that is available on the Internet at the following web address: www.GreenbergClassActionSettlement.com no later than September 25, 2009.

If you choose to participate in the settlement by submitting a Claim Form, you will be bound by all of the provisions of the Settlement Agreement and Release, including a full release of claims that will prevent you from separately suing Defendant and its agents.

I stopped once they ask me for my SS#. Who knows where that information going to go? Not worth the risk\trouble and the few bucks I might be getting over the next N years.