Editor's Outlook: Making the Most of Your Subscription

As the saying goes, “a rolling stone gathers no moss.” I would like to think that the staff here at CI will never be accused of sitting on our hands. In the four years I have been editor of CI, we have made a variety of changes to provide our readers a greater amount of practical information on a broader array of topics. From the response we have received from you, I feel confident that we are achieving our goals. However, this is an ever-evolving process as we strive to maximize the value our readers get from their subscriptions.

Recently, you should have received our redesigned CI E-Newsletter in your e-mail. If you didn’t, you are missing out on a valuable benefit of being a CI subscriber. One interactive feature we have added to the CI E-Newsletter is the Discussion of the Month. With roughly 70,000 subscribers, the CI community is an excellent resource in its own right. To tap into that expertise, the Discussion of the Month will take a question posted on the Computerized Investing discussion board at AAII.com and pose it to readers. We are hoping that you will take the time to contribute your thoughts on the discussion board, and each month I will feature the best answer in the newsletter.

Also, the March CI E-Newsletter included an online exclusive article: Cara Scatizzi’s comparison of her choices for top-rated tax preparation software. Visit the Computerized Investing Web site (www.computerizedinvesting.com) to read her review of the current versions of TurboTax, H&R Block At Home and TaxAct, along with the comments readers are adding.

To confirm that you are on the mailing list to receive the CI E-Newsletter, visit the AAII Web site (www.aaii.com) and click on the “My Account” link at the top of the page. Under the “My AAII E-Newsletters” section, you’ll see a list of all the e-newsletters from AAII that you currently subscribe to. If the CI E-mail is not listed, click on the Update My AAII E-Newsletters link, subscribe to the CI E-mail, verify your e-mail address, and click the Submit button. If you are subscribed to the CI E-mail but are not receiving it, make sure you add listserv@aaii.com to your “safe e-mail list” in your e-mail program. If you are still having problems, contact the AAII Web Department at webmaster@aaii.com and they will assist you.

In this issue of CI, you will find Cara’s comparison of online discount brokers most used by AAII members. In years past, the online discount broker comparison was merely a listing of brokers, the fees they charged, and the services they provided. Many of you asked that we narrow our focus and provide more in-depth reviews. In this comparison, Cara looks at the top five online discount brokers used by AAII members—Charles Schwab, Scottrade, Fidelity, TD Ameritrade and E*Trade.

If the broker you use doesn’t appear in this comparison, look for reviews of other online brokers in future issues of the CI quarterly and the monthly e-newsletter.