Google Finance is Fabulous!
As an avid follower of financial news, I must commend Google on the recent launch of Google Finance. Even though it’s still in beta stage, it’s already a top financial news resource. I’ve saved time and energy utilizing the new G-resource in my first day of use.
The interactive charting is very convenient. It’s what Yahoo has been in need of for the past few years. Finding good (free) charting is something discussed regularly by both financial professionals and personal finance gurus. Even the professional software which I pay for doesn’t allow me to scroll along the chart and pinpoint relevant news in such a convenient fashion. Granted, the news becomes more scarce on the charts as you scroll back into 2005, 2004, etc, but so does its relevance as an investor.
The news is set up just like you’d expect from a smart search engine- with outbound links to the most relevant sites. This isn’t particularly different from Yahoo, or CNN money, except for the fact that Google organizes by topic. This is so convenient! The ability to cluster into topics makes research and filtering an easier task. Plus, Google tends to have the most variety (the largest network) of news services which it pulls from.
The blogging and discussion group features are a personal favorite of mine. As a financial blogger, I really enjoy feedback from a wide variety of sources rather than all-powerful television or print newspapers. The discussion groups have the potential to blast past the Yahoo message boards which are currently very popular. The discussions have feeds (XML) to keep you up-to-date on discussions which you express interest in. This is in addition to a blog directory which can be searched to find various opinions and hard-to-find information for a company you may be researching. Basically, you’re getting true choice over how you receive your news- no slants, political or otherwise. That flexibility, in addition to search capability, allows you to really hone in on personal preferences.
The other note-worthy features are the company management feature, and portfolio design tool. The company management feature is extremely elaborate and integrated. Google has incorporated relevant images (such as photos of the full C-suite) into the bios. You can easily link to inside transactions, compensation details, etc. If Google feels that another site provides a good resource for certain information, an outbound link will be present. The portfolio feature allows investors to track their favorite financial products, with the exception of individual bonds. Naturally, your portfolio appears with updated news and pricing when you have a Google account and log into the finance section.
Go Google! You’d better keep rocking the boat because there are a lot of skeptics out there!
Russell Bailyn
Premier Financial Advisors
(212) 752-4343 *31
rbailyn@gmail.com
