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Money Goes Marketing

Reliable finance management software comes larded with various free trial options.

Yardena Arar

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Microsoft Money Premium 2004 Eng US Only CD (Microsoft-S6600001)

Microsoft's annual refresh of its Money personal finance software seems designed primarily to market new services to the wealthy or debt-ridden by offering various free trials. Priced at $80, the first Money Premium entices investors with a free helping of Gainskeeper, a $50-a-year service that tracks capital gains and minimizes associated tax liabilities. Both the Premium and the $60 Deluxe versions also offer a Credit Center built around a free year-long tryout of Experian's $50 credit rating service.

Other free options include MSN Bill Pay, H&R Block's Web-based federal tax service, and a single financial consultation with American Express.

The $90 Money 2004 Small Business--which supplants Money 2003 Deluxe & Business--adds a free year of PayCycle's payroll service. The $30 Money Standard, however, doesn't offer any freebies. These free trials represent real value to some people. And like their antecedents in last year's edition, Money's user interface and setup are top-notch. You even get a few minor but useful additions such as a tool for calculating the true cost of buying on credit.

Unfortunately, the partner logos sprinkled throughout my preproduction version of Money make the marketing efforts painfully intrusive. The new edition's undisguised focus on pushing additional services hardly gives users a compelling reason to upgrade.


SUMMARY
Microsoft Money Premium


(Beta software, not rated)
Price when reviewed: $80
Current prices (if available)
Good finance manager saddled with blatant marketing pitches.


--Yardena Arar
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