Personal Finance Books - Page 14

Accounting with QuickBooks and QuickBooks Pro with Proper Accounting

Gregory M Doublas

Amazon Price: $68.95 List Price: $68.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Delmar Cengage Learning Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $5.46

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Less useful than I had expected based on other reviews. 2 out of 5 stars.
11 of 13 people found this review helpful.

I found this book to be rather poorly organized and also not well written. I had a hard time finding my way around in the book. This is definitely not the only book a beginner will need in order to understand QuickBooks from an accounting perspective. There were just too many holes and too much that was unclear. I also found the writing disappointing and wondered if better editing would have helped. In general, this appeared to be a sort of home-made book. Sorry, but that's my impression. I have found it to be of little use compared to learning tools purchased directly from the manufacturer.

Editorial Review:

This book will help you learn not only how to use the QuickBooks« software program, but to gain an in-depth understanding of the accounting you're completing each time you record a business transaction. Learn to use the QuickBooks« software to its full potential - through practical examples, we'll show you how to utilize powerful functions that will allow you to track Income & Expenses for Job Costing and Departmentalized accounting purposes so that you can maximize the value of the QuickBooks« software to your company.

Quicken 2006 QuickSteps (Quicksteps)

Bobbi Sandberg, Marty Matthews

Amazon Price: $13.59 List Price: $16.99 Usually ships in 1 to 3 months By: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $0.65

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Easy step by step help for my personal finances! 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 18 people found this review helpful.

I found this new self help personal accounting book to be extremely easy to follow and implement into my life. 2006 is going to be a great year for keeping my self on budget and financially organized!

Editorial Review:

A full-color, step-by-step guide helps you use Quicken, the #1 selling personal finance software program, to manage personal and family finances

Nearly every page features of this invaluable guide screenshots with numbered callouts that show and explain how to use all of Quicken’s powerful features. You’ll learn to balance checkbooks, pay bills, master online banking, track investments, handle budgeting, manage taxes, create reports, and much more. Sidebars throughout provide alternate methods and further explanations, and each chapter’s “How to” list and color-coded tabs make it easy for you to flip straight to specific tasks and get to the information you need right away.

“Quicken remains the top dog in home & business personal-finance software…” —Computer Shopper QUICKEN® 2006 QUICKSTEPS Marty Matthews and Carole Matthews

Quicken(R) 2003: The Official Guide

Maria Langer

Amazon Price: $24.99 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media Amazon Marketplace: 53 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Help Screens 1 out of 5 stars.
100 of 102 people found this review helpful.

Aside from a few tidbits, I didn't find this book much more helpful than reading the help screens within Quicken itself. I guess since it is in book form it is easier to reference than the screens but I was looking for a book that offered insight into using Quicken, not how to navigate menus. This book follows the ol' "If you want do this, do that" format which I really believe is beneath most computer users these days. I had to re-enter a lot of data having found things out myself rather than through the book. I bought the book specifically for this purpose and found it worthless in this regard. I was looking for something that related Quicken to real life situations e.g., where to find the reams of data that Quicken requests, how a complicated financial statement translates into a Quicken entry, the pros and cons of entering the same transaction different ways in Quicken, and the different ways to set up the same portfolio, to name a few. More examples would have been useful.

Editorial Review:

Manage your finances with help from this official guide to the latest release of the world's #1 personal finance software! Endorsed and reviewed by Intuit, this resource offers up-to-date coverage of the newest product tools as well as the classic features. Learn to manage your money and investments, and track and regulate spending, savings, budgets, banking, and more.

Show Me QuickBooks 2004 (Show Me)

Gail Perry

Amazon Price: $19.99 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks By: Que Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

MY OPINION OF THIS PUBLICATION 5 out of 5 stars.
31 of 34 people found this review helpful.

THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS ADDRESSED INITIALLY IS EXCELLENT IN THAT THE BOOK STARTS WITH THE BASIC CONCEPT OF THE FIRM-I.E., IT POINTS OUT AT THE BEGINNING THE KEY FINANCIAL CATEGORIES OF A COMPANY AND THE OPTIONS YOU HAVE AS FAR AS SETTING UP YOUR ACCOUNTS. THE REMAINING PARTS OF THE BOOK THAT I STUDIED WERE LOGICAL, SEQUENTIAL, BASIC, AND TO THE POINT. THE FORMAT IS VERY USER FRIENDLY AND I WOULD RECOMMEND IT WITHOUT RESERVATION.

Good book, but bring a magnifying glass 3 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

The book itself is very good. It generally gives an overview of most of the topics I wanted to find. I could not find a few things, but I will assume that I was searching for the subject by what I assumed to be the logical name. I will assume that one can find more answers once they learn the dialect of 'QuickBooksese'.

My main complaint is with the screen shots. When I learn a new subject, I always start with a simple overview book loaded with screen captures. Normally, that is a good way to dip one's toes in the water. With this book however, the screen shots were so tiny that the text was virtually illegible. Instead of my purpose being served by this book, I find myself having to buy something else, effectively turning my first purchase into wasted money.

Editorial Review:

Show Me QuickBooks helps readers learn visually how to perform tasks using the leading accounting software for small businesses. They are able to find answers to their questions quickly and visually with this user-friendly method of training. Each task includes a screen-by-screen visual accompanied by a concise text description that makes performing everyday tasks quick and simple.

QuickBooks 2004 The Official Guide

Kathy Ivens

List Price: $29.99 By: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $0.68

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Comprehensive Treatise on QuickBooks Pro 2004 5 out of 5 stars.
18 of 18 people found this review helpful.

Ms. Ivens writes clearly, properly, and intelligently on QuickBooks software. The screen shots are legible, unlike those in some other computer books. The index is detailed, and thus useful. I counted only two typos in the 572 pages.

My company, Transpower Corporation (a commercial and custom software manufacturing and systems engineering company in metropolitan Philadelphia), did its first QuickBooks installation in 1999. I purchased Kathy's book QuickBooks 6.0--The Offical Guide; this helped to make the installation go smoothly. It's been five years since, and QuickBooks has changed considerably. So I purchased both of Kathy's current titles, QuickBooks 2004--The Offical Guide, and Running QuickBooks 2004 Premier Editions. Both are excellent and I recommend them to all computer consultants operating in the small business space, which QuickBooks has taken over by storm. (Unfortunately, QuickBooks is not so applicable to medium or larger businesses because 1) there is a five user limit for Pro/Premiere editions and a ten user limit for the Enterprise edition, 2) it does not work with Windows Terminal Server, and 3) it allows only seven custom fields). After reading both books, I've come to the conclusion that for most small businesses the Premiere editions (with their specialization) make more sense than the less expensive Pro edition.

Kathy provides many useful tips in her books. They go way beyond what is supplied in the manuals shipped with the software.

Editorial Review:

“Intuit-approved and loaded with secrets, Quicken Press books provide you with recipes for financial success.” --Scott Cook, Co-founder, Intuit, Inc.

The only official guide to QuickBooks 2004, this information-packed resource teaches users of all levels how to manage their finances for business or home.

Microsoft NAV Interview Questions: Unofficial Microsoft Navision Business Solution Certification Review

Terry Clark

Amazon Price: $49.45 List Price: $54.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Equity Press Amazon Marketplace: 17 new & used starting at $49.44

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Editorial Review:

The Ultimate Reference & Learning Guide for Microsoft Navision Consultants, Administrators, and Developers Over 150 Certification Questions, Answers, and Explanations It's clear that Microsoft Navision is the future for cost effective ERP, but few resources exist for the professional consultant seeking quick insight to the software package. Appropriate for all levels of NAV proficiency, over 150 Questions, Answers, and Explanations guide you through your learning process. From helping you to assess your Navision skills to evaluating candidates for a job, Microsoft Navision Interview Questions will help you understand what you really need to know, and what you can safely ignore. The book is organized around implementation issues, functional design, and audit and security. Each question includes everything you need to know to master the interview or properly evaluate a candidate. More than just a rehash of Microsoft documentation and sales presentations, each question is based on project knowledge and experience gained on successful high-profile Navision implementations. Key certification and interview topics include: Outlook Integration, Reports & Table Formats, Software Installation, Configuration, and Upgrade. Technical Compatibility, and More.

Running QuickBooks 2006 Premier Editions: The Only Definitive Guide to the Premier Editions Features

Kathy Ivens

List Price: $34.95 By: CPA911 PUBLISHING Amazon Marketplace: 12 new & used starting at $52.98

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

very helpful supplement 3 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book hoping that it would be a single reference for all QB06 matters, including the Premier Edition(s) features.

While the book does discuss each of the flavors of the Premier Editions, the book does not spend much or any time discussing some important features, like classes, which are crucial for intermediate use of QB.

The first half of the book is dedicated to QB general issues, like setting up customers and accounts. I thought the accounts section was particularly well written and offered very helpful insights about how setup decisions affect later work in QB.

However, chapters earlier and later were not as well done. The earliest part of the book goes through some configuration issues in painfully slow detail. Later, the vitally important topic of "classes" is merely mentioned and the reader is referred to the Official Guide for directions on how to accomplish this. Unfortunately, there are far too many redirections to the Official Guide for this book to be a definitive guide to QB in general. The inconsistency (discussing some nearly obvious things in painful detail while discussing other important things in almost no detail) makes me wonder what the intention of the author was regarding general QB issues.


The second half of the book goes over the industry-specific versions. I can't comment on the quality or applicability of those sections.

Apparently, the title of this book should be read very literally to mean that this book is meant to be a definitive guide only to the features of the industry-specific versions of QB Premier.

While offering helpful insights on QB06 in-general, the book does not attempt to be a comprehensive or definitive guide in that general manner.

Nonetheless, the book is worth the list price and I'd encourage people to buy it as a supplement to reading the Official Guide, especially if you want some very good hints about subtle aspects of QB or if you are an industry-specific version user.

Editorial Review:

Filled with information for accounting professionals who want to provide extra services to clients, this guide can teach business owners and bookkeepers how to use the advanced accounting features, create professional business plans, analyze and project company performance. Easy-to-follow instructions, coverage of undocumented features, and tons of tips, tricks, and shortcuts are also provided.

Managing Your Personal Finances with Quicken: Visual QuickProject Guide

Tom Negrino

Amazon Price: $11.69 List Price: $12.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Peachpit Press Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $1.48

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

It used to be that to begin working with Quicken, you had to hand-enter all sorts of information--a process so laborious that many people eschewed personal finance software altogether. Not so today: With Quicken 2004's Express Account Setup, all you have to do is select your bank (from a list of more than 2,000), supply your account IDs and PINs, and the software does the rest! All you really need, then, to start wrangling your finances immediately is this pint-sized project-based guide to the software! Rather than cover every last Quicken feature and option, veteran author Tom Negrino selects the quickest, easiest route to accomplishing a given objective-from setting up accounts and entering transactions to writing and printing checks, scheduling automatic bill payment, and securing loans-and presents it through full-page-width screen shots and simple step-by-step instructions. Throughout, you'll learn by doing as you complete the book's projects. By the end of the day, you will have mastered not just Quicken but your finances as well!

The TurboTax 2006 Income Tax Handbook: Taxes Made Easy. Taxes Done Right. (TurboTax Income Tax Handbook: Taxes Made Easy, Taxes Done Right)

The Tax Professionals of Weiser LLP, Intuit

List Price: $14.95 By: St. Martin's Griffin Amazon Marketplace: 26 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 2.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

TurboTax is the leading name in tax preparation software, used by more than 10 million filers annually. Now, for the first time ever in print, comes an official tax guide from the nation’s top tax experts at TurboTax. The TurboTax 2006 Income Tax Handbook gives you the guidance you need so you can claim all the deductions you deserve---from mortgages and charitable contributions to medical expenses, education credits, and more. With hundreds of money-saving tax tips plus answers to key tax questions, this handbook contains everything you need to get your taxes done quickly and correctly.

Inside you’ll find:

* An easy-to-use format: Each chapter features What’s New, Frequently Asked Questions, Top Tax Tips, and Real Life Examples
* Tax laws explained in plain English
* Special user-friendly sections on taxes for homeowners, Schedule C filers, the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), tax law updates, and previews of future tax law changes
* The latest information on the most recent tax law changes and audit advice


Topics covered include:

1. Gathering everything you need to file
2. How to figure out your filing status
3. Understanding and claiming child and dependent care credits, as well as credits for the elderly or disabled
4. Filing wages and salary income
5. How to handle your interest, dividends, and capital gains
6. How to maximize your deductions, including mortgages, moving expenses, property taxes, charitable contributions, and more
7. Dealing with retirement accounts and investment income: IRAs, 401(k)s, pensions, annuities, social security, and more
8. Understanding the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
9. Schedule C filing information

Simulation Modeling Using @RISK

Wayne L. Winston

List Price: $49.95 By: Wadsworth Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 7 new & used starting at $13.70

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Software Update in Simulation Modeling Using @RISK 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Readers should note that until 11/2000 Simulation Modeling Using @RISK was shipped with an older version of the @RISK software. Customer reviews that reference software problems are all reviews of this older edition of the book. The current edition ships with @RISK 4.0; software that supports all newer versions of Excel and Windows. The text has been entirely updated to reflect this newest version of @RISK.

Simulation Modeling Using @RISK 1 out of 5 stars.
4 of 10 people found this review helpful.

The book covers a hot topic, but since the software does not load it's a waste of time. The book should supplement the software for risk anaysis, but with no software this book is a complete waste of money and should not be on the market.

Editorial Review:

This new book shows how to use Monte Carlo simulation to model and solve complex business problems in finance, operations and marketing using @RISK. The book's timely applications include simulating the risk of derivatives, hedging with futures, analyzing investment portfolios, modeling market share, calculating optimal maintenance policies, and many others.