"C Thomas" <CThomas[at]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1A6E57D7-6233-4D96-969F-D808C84CEFF5[at]microsoft.com...

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That part is conjecture by correspondents here, based on observation.
We're not privy to Microsoft plans and could not share it if we were.
--
Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

So it still sounds like converting to Quicken will be a pain and word on the
street has it that Microsoft is abandoning Money and/or won't be spending
much effort making it better in the future. Sounds like a lose/lose
situation.



"Cal Learner-- MVP" wrote:

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In microsoft.public.money, XB77 wrote:

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It lets you link from a transaction to a file, such as a scan or a
zip file (which can act as a folder that can hold a collection of
things). There is even a tricky way to have the transaction link to
a regular folder.

Never mind, I believe that it must be this:

NEW! Attach links to important files such as check images or scanned
receipts right from transactions in the Money account register.

What does the file name link function do?

"Marilyn & Bob" <Privacy[at]nospam.please> wrote in message
news:OvOaDiqXIHA.5980[at]TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
- quote -

M+
--
Peace,
BobJ

"XB77" <XB77[at]My-Deja.com> wrote in message
news:R33mj.6057$A75.5200[at]trnddc05...
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"Money did add the filename link for transactions" Was that added in M07 or
M+? What is it?

"Dick Watson" <littlegreengecko[at]mind-enufalready-spring.com> wrote in
message news:OVTrdziXIHA.4828[at]TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
- quote -

Intuit tech support is pricy after the first 90 days, where MS support
is free. Some may find MS support wanting but I've generally been
satisfied on the occasions I've spoken to someone. I have no
experience with Intuit tech support and cannot make comparisons.
--
Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

I believe you will find Q does the same thing. And if you buy Deluxe it gets
you two years. Note also that the new online services policy shipped with M+
suggests a possible future subscription offering or some such for that.

Oh, and I update all my accounts manually. I use money to help me manage my
finances, not to capture transaction data from the banks' PoV.

"C Thomas" <CThomas[at]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news405FB2F-9C86-4C45-9F03-B746E7715B10[at]microsoft.com...
- quote -

Well, now that MS turns off your automatic update capability every year, you
are forced to upgrade every year. So what other option do I have but to go
to quicken in November? I don't want to update my accounts manually...why
use Money if you have to do that.



"C Thomas" wrote:

- quote -

Migration looks to be a pretty significant hurdle. Sticking with Money may
be possible for quite some time--unless you really are hard over for added
features in Q. Note that Money did add the filename link for transactions to
keep up with Q.

And it is entirely possible Microsoft will surprise me and roll out the
Money we've all wished for in fall of 2008 as Money Plus Plus or something.
We really don't know here. All we can do is watch what happens and try to
infer their direction.

"C Thomas" <CThomas[at]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9EC6F901-9284-4151-8D65-216CC66866CA[at]microsoft.com...
- quote -

I guess when my next forced upgrade of Money comes around (Nov 2008), I'll
have to look at what it will take to migrate everything over to Quicken.
Sometimes you pick the winner, sometimes you don't.

"Dick Watson" wrote:

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The preponderance of evidence suggests they are tired of playing.

"C Thomas" <C Thomas[at]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news46C107F-00F8-4165-A23C-725DC707C851[at]microsoft.com...
- quote -

I think this is a necessary feature that needs to be added. You can't say an
HSA is like a 401K because you can withdrawl money at any time (for health
related expenses) without a penalty. Once it reaches a certain value, most
HSAs allow you to put the money into an investment fund to continue building
the value over the years. I'm sure you could attempt to do something with
the current capabilities but if the numbers hold true this is a growing
program. In a report to congress in May of 2006, there were over 3.2 Million
individuals covered by an HSA in January 2006. More than 4.5 Million are
estimated to now have HSAs and the number is expected to grow to over 18
Million by the year 2012.

So, does Microsoft want to lead or follow Quicken?

Because of the differences in a HSA and other investments, savings, etc. it
would be a helpful addition to Microsoft Money!

Microsoft's Benefit Package for their employees includes the option for an
HSA, so this would even pay off for their own employees! Hey! Now that's a
concept they should be able to get behind and I'd bet they have a few
developers on the Money development team that have an HSA!

"Michael J. Blazin" wrote:

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It looks like the original request was more about managing the HSA as
opposed to tracking it. The complications in an HSA are determining whether
it's appropriate. The fund flows are relatively simple: essentially an
invested flexible spending account with no requirement to zero out at year
end. The appropriateness calculation is a mix of Policy 1 Premium vs.
Policy 2 lower premium offset by probability of higher incurred expenses
offset by tax advantages of higher pre-tax deductions (you get the full
impact of the contribution, not just the actual expenses) plus tax free
return on your investment. But you only do that calculation once a year.
Once you are in or out, it's that way till next year. No purpose is served
redoing the calculation. Money's purpose is to collect the info for next
year's calculation.

I've looked at HSAs several times. The premium difference is miniscule for
some reason at my firm. Consequently it's more a bet of the increased tax
advantages/investment returns vs. hopefully low medical expenses. I doubt
that anyone with dependents would chance the very high deductible.
Consequently it's likely for well-off (can afford increased pre-tax
contributions AFTER maxing out 401K, maxing out IRA, paying mortgage - not
to smart to stint on any of these for HSA), healthy, no dependents, and
young (get a chance to realize invested benefits and you can't contribute
after reaching 65). That is a small sector on the Venn diagram. Since that
was Congress's intention, that result is not surprising.


"Dick Watson" <littlegreengecko[at]mind-enufalready-spring.com> wrote in
message news:e9lVyQuHIHA.1164[at]TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
- quote -

There is no doubt in my mind I can collect 100% of the necessary data
precisely and report it using existing Money features. Nothing you have
identified as a requirement is something beyond what I'm doing today in
Money for our HCSA (not an HSA) and 401(k)s. But suit yourself.

We were really discussing whether Microsoft should or will add features
specifically tailored to _say_ HSA (since the underlying capabilities are
100% there already) or, maybe, to pop-up FYIs at or near certain limits or
whatever rather than waiting for the user to look at his/her data and figure
it out for themselves. They may. They may not. If history can guide us, were
I you, I wouldn't hold me breath waiting for it. I'd go find the ways to
make the tools you already have work.

IF this problem is as hard as you assert, nobody will use these accounts--I
suggest this is already apparent--and if nobody uses these accounts, then
why should Microsoft devote precious R&D investment to tailoring code
specifically to solve a problem nobody elects to have? Likewise, if the
problem is as hard as you suggest, it would be almost impossible to tailor a
"one size fits all" lowest common denominator solution in Money to make it
work for all.

Just my thoughts. Anybody else who thinks that the unique requirements of
HSAs are beyond Money as it sits today is more than welcome to jump in on
the thread.

"Prilosec" <purple[at]nni.net> wrote in message
news:20C04260-4293-4932-98DF-1840E6705940[at]microsoft.com...
- quote -

I believe you are over-simplifying an HSA to make it "fit" into an existing
Money account. This is a unique tax/savings setup that typically requires
precise tracking of spending by category (and/or class) with reimbursement
from the savings account to another account. There are tax laws reqarding
carryover, deductible, etc.. I think MS has not included this so far because
there are so few real HSA programs now. It was only allowed on a limited
basis a few years ago and has not caught on yet, although I think it's a
great idea for those who can really manage a budget. Personally, I really
like the HSA concept. Most people, in my opinion, are scared off by the huge
deductible amounts, but don't really see that you are covering those with
your HSA.
"Dick Watson" <littlegreengecko[at]mind-enufalready-spring.com> wrote in
message news:%23vBd8p$GIHA.3980[at]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
- quote -

I guess I'm still not getting it. See below.

"DougW" <DougW[at]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0FE47A57-3846-4FD6-92AA-2DF1AD6116E4[at]microsoft.com...
- quote -

Can do today. Just like for a 401k. I've been tracking tax deferred
contributions from myself and my employer for 12 years with Money.

- quote -

Does not do for any kind of capped contribution amount. But cerrtainly can
collect the data so you can look and see.

- quote -

Can do today.

- quote -

Can do today--though there isn't any Big Red Flag or anything. You have to
know what you'd be looking at.

- quote -

All of the data will be there if you collect it properly for this. There is
no wizard/druid/genie.

- quote -

Can report all of this today.

- quote -

This would be different from, say, a 401(k) account how?

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A very good use for classification. Indeed, I classify healthcare expenses
today (Class Who : Dick) for these kinds of purposes.

HSAs are more like a 401k than a Roth. The deposits, up to a limit, are
excluded from taxable income (over age 55 can deposit extra). The account can
later be used to pay healthcare expenses, insurance premiums, etc. without
having to pay taxes on it. If used for a non-medical expense taxes would have
to be paid plus a 10% penalty. If over age 65, it can be still be used for
medical expenses without paying tax, or for any other purpose without paying
paying the penalty, although taxes would still be payable.

--
DougW


"Dick Watson" wrote:

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The features that I would look for are:
-Track the deposits into the HSA, both our individual and our company
deposits as applicable.
-Ensure there is a warning should deposits exceed the non-taxable limit
-track health care expenditures out of the HSA to help with IRS audits
should that ever be necessary.
-track rollovers from year-to-year.
-suggest HSA deposit amounts based on prior year(s) medical expenses versus
deductible, and the HSA deposit maximu.
-Tax reporting related to HSA activity
-Investment tracking related to HSA deposits (could be money markets, CDs,
brokerage accounts, etc). Brokerage accounts may be different than other
brokerage accounts currently used by the Money owner.
-track expenditures from the HSA by each member covered by the HSA against
the individual deductible to ensure that deductibles aren't exceeded.
--
DougW


"Dick Watson" wrote:

- quote -