Thursday, October 30, 2008

Budget with Wells Fargo

I don't think I have ever given a plug to my company on my blog before, but its never to late to start. Wells Fargo came out this week with a patent pending budgeting tool that will interface with our online banking system. The timing of this economic recession could not have come at a better time for this product to really add some value to folks across the USA. See the story below:



http://finchannel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23203&Itemid=10

Wells Fargo Releases New Online Automatic Budgeting Tool
30/10/2008 17:08
The FINANCIAL --
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) on October 29 announced the release of the Wells Fargo OnlineMy Spending Report with Budget Watch, an expansion of the bank’s free, patent-pending online tool that gives customers a consolidated overview of their personal spending.

The enhanced tool helps customers create a budget in as few as two clicks and monitor their progress toward meeting it, providing even more control over their finances.

“Budgeting is a high priority for many of our customers in today’s economic environment,” said Teddy De Rivera, head of Online Banking and Investments in Wells Fargo’s Internet Services Group. “My Spending Report with Budget Watch takes the work out of budgeting, providing a simple and easy way for customers to create a budget, manage to it and put money saved to work for them.”

Javelin Strategy & Research calculated that the present market size of U.S. online households who would currently be likely to use online banking personal financial management if it were available and marketed today is 15.6 million, or 26 percent of the 61 million households that make up the U.S. online banking population.

My Spending Report with Budget Watch allows customers to:
Watch where their money goes – every dollar a customer spends from Wells Fargo credit card, check card and online bill pay transactions is automatically sorted into familiar categories (e.g. groceries, gas, restaurants, healthcare). There are no receipts to save, no spending to key in. Current month-to-date, prior two months and 12-month spending averages are available.

Track their income and deposits – the tool automatically tracks customers’ deposits.

Set and monitor budget goals for key spending categories – monthly spending goals can be created. Differences between a goal and actual spending are automatically calculated and displayed by category each business day. Customers can quickly identify savings opportunities and update their original budgets to reflect new allocations. Budget alerts provide status throughout the month. Easy-to-read charts and graphs offer customers a snapshot view of their progress.


See “What’s Left” each month – a customer’s Budget Summary is updated each business day, showing the difference between his/her deposits and spending. Wells Fargo’s My Savings Plansm and online transfers make it easy for customers to put “What’s Left” to work for them.



“The amount customers have listed as ‘What’s Left’ can be a valuable indicator of their current financial situation,” said Betty Hoople, head of Credit Card Marketing for Wells Fargo. “This expanded service can help our customers meet their financial goals.”



Customers can contact Wells Fargo to learn about the ways in which they can start paying down debt or building their savings. Also, customers can receive budget alerts on their mobile device. Whether on the bus or in the line at the retail store, customers can receive alerts, check the balances of their checking account, credit card, or home equity line, and make a transfer while on the go.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

How to Hug a Baby

Since Melissa and I need to get some practice at this here is how you hug a baby:

1. First - Uh, Find a Baby......
baby 1

2. Second, be sure that the object you found was indeed a baby by employing classic sniffing techniques
baby 2

3. Next you will need to flatten the baby before the hugging process can begin
baby 3

4. The Paw Slide - simply slide paws around baby and prepare for possible close-up
baby 4

5. Finally, if a camera is present, you will need to execute the difficult and patented 'hug, smile, and lean' so as to achieve the best photo quality.
baby 5

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

September Who?


I know I know September went by and I did not even post a single note on our blog. Well needless to say it has been a busy schedule around the Sackett family house. Melissa is about ready to have the baby any day now and we are both thinking she is going to come early. Melissa has her baby shower this weekend and is looking forward to seeing family and friends from out of town and of course her friends that are here in PDX.

We're praying for her (baby) and for us as we get ready to become parents. It's a little weird saying that, but it will be here before we know it. I am working on one of my last classes of my MBA program and after this one is complete - I will only have two classes left before I am done with Grad school! Praise the Lord. We are looking forward to some much needed relaxation and I can finally read some books that are not tied to my MBA.

We also started attending a new church this last month called Colossae here in Tigard. It is a fairly new church that has planted here from Southern California. We are enjoying meeting new people and getting plugged in to the group. That is our life in September. Talk with you soon.