Balances Problem in MS Money

I am using Money 2006 Premium.
I am downloading my investment transactions and updating them online.
I have regular and Retirement accounts.
I am getting my balances completely wrong, but if I turn off (uncheck)
â??Track cash transactionsâ?? the getting almost correct and its fix problem for
Not Retirement accounts. If I uncheck it for Retirement account Money
automatically turn off â??Retirement accountâ?? selection (in Account Settings)
and make this account not Retirement.
My questions:
1. How can I have my â??Track cash transactionsâ?? on (selected) and have my
balances correct?
2. If I have to turn off â??Track cash transactionsâ?? how can I keep On
(selected) Retirement account option?
3. What I suppose to put in Opening balance in Account Settings when I
started my accounts or any new account?
Thanks in advance.

Sam.

Cal
Sun Dec 24 08:08:03 CST 2006

In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:

>I am using Money 2006 Premium.
>I am downloading my investment transactions and updating them online.
>I have regular and Retirement accounts.
>I am getting my balances completely wrong, but if I turn off (uncheck)
>?Track cash transactions? the getting almost correct and its fix problem for
>Not Retirement accounts. If I uncheck it for Retirement account Money
>automatically turn off ?Retirement account? selection (in Account Settings)
>and make this account not Retirement.
>My questions:
>1. How can I have my ?Track cash transactions? on (selected) and have my
>balances correct?

Either enter all of your transactions, or enter some, and enter
something(s) that compensate for the missing transactions.

An initial balance that is non-zero would be to compensate for
transactions that are not entered. I would tend to always put $0.00
initial balance, and if I need to compensate, I would enter a
compensating transactions. I made a category of "Adjustment". If
things were ideal, no such adjustment would be necessary. However it
might be difficult to have everything ideal.


>2. If I have to turn off ?Track cash transactions? how can I keep On
>(selected) Retirement account option?

I am not in position to check that now. Sounds odd.

>3. What I suppose to put in Opening balance in Account Settings when I
>started my accounts or any new account?

$0.00 if you did not have transactions that you will not enter.

Sandac
Sun Dec 24 13:28:01 CST 2006

Thanks for replay.
But I have some editional questions - see below.
--
Sam.


"Cal Learner-- MVP" wrote:

> In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:
>
> >I am using Money 2006 Premium.
> >I am downloading my investment transactions and updating them online.
> >I have regular and Retirement accounts.
> >I am getting my balances completely wrong, but if I turn off (uncheck)
> >â??Track cash transactionsâ?? the getting almost correct and its fix problem for
> >Not Retirement accounts. If I uncheck it for Retirement account Money
> >automatically turn off â??Retirement accountâ?? selection (in Account Settings)
> >and make this account not Retirement.
> >My questions:
> >1. How can I have my â??Track cash transactionsâ?? on (selected) and have my
> >balances correct?
>
> Either enter all of your transactions, or enter some, and enter
> something(s) that compensate for the missing transactions.

From Sam: Who and why missed transactions if I have all of them downloaded
from my broker and my Initial balances was always $0.0 ?

> An initial balance that is non-zero would be to compensate for
> transactions that are not entered. I would tend to always put $0.00
> initial balance, and if I need to compensate, I would enter a
> compensating transactions. I made a category of "Adjustment". If
> things were ideal, no such adjustment would be necessary. However it
> might be difficult to have everything ideal.


> >2. If I have to turn off â??Track cash transactionsâ?? how can I keep On
> >(selected) Retirement account option?
>
> I am not in position to check that now. Sounds odd.

From Sam: Can you please test it and let me know? Is it only on my system
or general Money bug?
>
> >3. What I suppose to put in Opening balance in Account Settings when I
> >started my accounts or any new account?
>
> $0.00 if you did not have transactions that you will not enter.

From Sam: If I turn off â??Track cash transactionsâ?? how it will affect my
account? Will my divident, account maitenace fee and all cash transactions
disapear ot will not be truct any more?
>

Cal
Sun Dec 24 17:30:45 CST 2006

In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:

>
>"Cal Learner-- MVP" wrote:
>
>> In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:
>>
>> >I am using Money 2006 Premium.
>> >I am downloading my investment transactions and updating them online.
>> >I have regular and Retirement accounts.
>> >I am getting my balances completely wrong, but if I turn off (uncheck)
>> >?Track cash transactions? the getting almost correct and its fix problem for
>> >Not Retirement accounts. If I uncheck it for Retirement account Money
>> >automatically turn off ?Retirement account? selection (in Account Settings)
>> >and make this account not Retirement.
>> >My questions:
>> >1. How can I have my ?Track cash transactions? on (selected) and have my
>> >balances correct?
>>
>> Either enter all of your transactions, or enter some, and enter
>> something(s) that compensate for the missing transactions.
>
>From Sam: Who and why missed transactions if I have all of them downloaded
>from my broker and my Initial balances was always $0.0 ?

I am not sure what you mean. With many brokers, all funds are
"swept" into a Money Market Fund with Buy transactions. Thus the
cash transactions register would usually contain zero.

The "initial balance" would not ever change due to downloads from
the broker.

Your current balance is the (signed) sum of the transactions plus
the initial balance.

If I have not understood what you were asking, try again. You might
also name the broker, in case somebody has experience to offer with
downloading from that broker.

>
>> An initial balance that is non-zero would be to compensate for
>> transactions that are not entered. I would tend to always put $0.00
>> initial balance, and if I need to compensate, I would enter a
>> compensating transactions. I made a category of "Adjustment". If
>> things were ideal, no such adjustment would be necessary. However it
>> might be difficult to have everything ideal.
>
>
>> >2. If I have to turn off ?Track cash transactions? how can I keep On
>> >(selected) Retirement account option?
>>
>> I am not in position to check that now. Sounds odd.
>
>From Sam: Can you please test it and let me know? Is it only on my system
>or general Money bug?

Probably not this year. Perhaps somebody has M06 handy and can try
that.

>>
>> >3. What I suppose to put in Opening balance in Account Settings when I
>> >started my accounts or any new account?
>>
>> $0.00 if you did not have transactions that you will not enter.
>
>From Sam: If I turn off ?Track cash transactions? how it will affect my
>account? Will my divident, account maitenace fee and all cash transactions
>disapear ot will not be truct any more?
>>

Those effects will take place. I would prefer to not take that step
myself, but many people prefer that.

Sandac
Mon Dec 25 14:15:01 CST 2006

Hi again Cal Learner,
I also prefer to keep on â??Track cash transactionsâ?? .
My undestanding is I need to add a compensating transactions of "Adjustment".
My questions:
1. On what date I should record "Adjustment" - on a date I start my account
or it can be any date?
2. Will "Adjustment" transactions affect calculation of my Tax liabilities?
3. If I add "Adjustment" transactions once, will I have to do it again and
again in a future to keep my balance correct or it's only once per account
life thing?
--
Sam.


"Cal Learner-- MVP" wrote:

> In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:
>
> >
> >"Cal Learner-- MVP" wrote:
> >
> >> In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:
> >>
> >> >I am using Money 2006 Premium.
> >> >I am downloading my investment transactions and updating them online.
> >> >I have regular and Retirement accounts.
> >> >I am getting my balances completely wrong, but if I turn off (uncheck)
> >> >â??Track cash transactionsâ?? the getting almost correct and its fix problem for
> >> >Not Retirement accounts. If I uncheck it for Retirement account Money
> >> >automatically turn off â??Retirement accountâ?? selection (in Account Settings)
> >> >and make this account not Retirement.
> >> >My questions:
> >> >1. How can I have my â??Track cash transactionsâ?? on (selected) and have my
> >> >balances correct?
> >>
> >> Either enter all of your transactions, or enter some, and enter
> >> something(s) that compensate for the missing transactions.
> >
> >From Sam: Who and why missed transactions if I have all of them downloaded
> >from my broker and my Initial balances was always $0.0 ?
>
> I am not sure what you mean. With many brokers, all funds are
> "swept" into a Money Market Fund with Buy transactions. Thus the
> cash transactions register would usually contain zero.
>
> The "initial balance" would not ever change due to downloads from
> the broker.
>
> Your current balance is the (signed) sum of the transactions plus
> the initial balance.
>
> If I have not understood what you were asking, try again. You might
> also name the broker, in case somebody has experience to offer with
> downloading from that broker.
>
> >
> >> An initial balance that is non-zero would be to compensate for
> >> transactions that are not entered. I would tend to always put $0.00
> >> initial balance, and if I need to compensate, I would enter a
> >> compensating transactions. I made a category of "Adjustment". If
> >> things were ideal, no such adjustment would be necessary. However it
> >> might be difficult to have everything ideal.
> >
> >
> >> >2. If I have to turn off â??Track cash transactionsâ?? how can I keep On
> >> >(selected) Retirement account option?
> >>
> >> I am not in position to check that now. Sounds odd.
> >
> >From Sam: Can you please test it and let me know? Is it only on my system
> >or general Money bug?
>
> Probably not this year. Perhaps somebody has M06 handy and can try
> that.
>
> >>
> >> >3. What I suppose to put in Opening balance in Account Settings when I
> >> >started my accounts or any new account?
> >>
> >> $0.00 if you did not have transactions that you will not enter.
> >
> >From Sam: If I turn off â??Track cash transactionsâ?? how it will affect my
> >account? Will my divident, account maitenace fee and all cash transactions
> >disapear ot will not be truct any more?
> >>
>
> Those effects will take place. I would prefer to not take that step
> myself, but many people prefer that.
>

Cal
Mon Dec 25 14:25:11 CST 2006

In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:

>I also prefer to keep on ?Track cash transactions? .
>My undestanding is I need to add a compensating transactions of "Adjustment".
>My questions:
>1. On what date I should record "Adjustment" - on a date I start my account
>or it can be any date?

It can be any date. I would prefer to have it be the earliest date
where I feel fairly confident that I have no missing transactions
that follow that date.

After entering the adjustment, you could later change the date if
you like.


>2. Will "Adjustment" transactions affect calculation of my Tax liabilities?

Not if you don't make it a taxable category. You can specify that
when you make the category. Alternatively, you could have *no*
category, and just indicate in the memo that it is an adjustment.

>3. If I add "Adjustment" transactions once, will I have to do it again and
>again in a future to keep my balance correct or it's only once per account
>life thing?

It's a one-time thing if you can add all of the subsequent
transactions. If you were trying to track the cash in your pocket,
then it would be a fairly frequent thing. But for an investment or
checking account, you should be able to make it a one-time thing.

Now suppose you made the adjustment, but later found an old
transaction that you had not yet entered. In that case, you might
enter that old transaction, and then modify the adjustment that you
made.

Sandac
Mon Dec 25 14:39:00 CST 2006

Thanks.
--
Sam.


"Cal Learner-- MVP" wrote:

> In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:
>
> >I also prefer to keep on â??Track cash transactionsâ?? .
> >My undestanding is I need to add a compensating transactions of "Adjustment".
> >My questions:
> >1. On what date I should record "Adjustment" - on a date I start my account
> >or it can be any date?
>
> It can be any date. I would prefer to have it be the earliest date
> where I feel fairly confident that I have no missing transactions
> that follow that date.
>
> After entering the adjustment, you could later change the date if
> you like.
>
>
> >2. Will "Adjustment" transactions affect calculation of my Tax liabilities?
>
> Not if you don't make it a taxable category. You can specify that
> when you make the category. Alternatively, you could have *no*
> category, and just indicate in the memo that it is an adjustment.
>
> >3. If I add "Adjustment" transactions once, will I have to do it again and
> >again in a future to keep my balance correct or it's only once per account
> >life thing?
>
> It's a one-time thing if you can add all of the subsequent
> transactions. If you were trying to track the cash in your pocket,
> then it would be a fairly frequent thing. But for an investment or
> checking account, you should be able to make it a one-time thing.
>
> Now suppose you made the adjustment, but later found an old
> transaction that you had not yet entered. In that case, you might
> enter that old transaction, and then modify the adjustment that you
> made.
>

Sandac
Mon Dec 25 20:52:00 CST 2006

One more question:
1. My problem with balance dveloped because I write a check from my Money
Market account. This transaction showed in Cash Transactions but didn't show
any where else. It shoud show up as number of share on my Money Market
account reduced and credit as cash on my account, before Cash Transaction.
How can I do it - recorded? Because Reduce Shares doesn't show up as
Deposit or credit to account.

Thank you.
--
Sam.


"Cal Learner-- MVP" wrote:

> In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:
>
> >I also prefer to keep on â??Track cash transactionsâ?? .
> >My undestanding is I need to add a compensating transactions of "Adjustment".
> >My questions:
> >1. On what date I should record "Adjustment" - on a date I start my account
> >or it can be any date?
>
> It can be any date. I would prefer to have it be the earliest date
> where I feel fairly confident that I have no missing transactions
> that follow that date.
>
> After entering the adjustment, you could later change the date if
> you like.
>
>
> >2. Will "Adjustment" transactions affect calculation of my Tax liabilities?
>
> Not if you don't make it a taxable category. You can specify that
> when you make the category. Alternatively, you could have *no*
> category, and just indicate in the memo that it is an adjustment.
>
> >3. If I add "Adjustment" transactions once, will I have to do it again and
> >again in a future to keep my balance correct or it's only once per account
> >life thing?
>
> It's a one-time thing if you can add all of the subsequent
> transactions. If you were trying to track the cash in your pocket,
> then it would be a fairly frequent thing. But for an investment or
> checking account, you should be able to make it a one-time thing.
>
> Now suppose you made the adjustment, but later found an old
> transaction that you had not yet entered. In that case, you might
> enter that old transaction, and then modify the adjustment that you
> made.
>

Cal
Mon Dec 25 23:01:41 CST 2006

In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:

>One more question:
>1. My problem with balance dveloped because I write a check from my Money
>Market account. This transaction showed in Cash Transactions but didn't show
>any where else. It shoud show up as number of share on my Money Market
>account reduced and credit as cash on my account, before Cash Transaction.
>How can I do it - recorded? Because Reduce Shares doesn't show up as
>Deposit or credit to account.

It depends on how the broker does it. Best IMO is to enter a Sell to
raise the cash. However if the broker does not send the Buys and
Sells of the sweep fund, then things are a lot trickier. Let the
cash balance represent the sum of your sweep MMF and the effect of
uncleared transactions.

I am not going to go thru the process now. I notice you did not name
the broker, so possible specific experience with your broker cannot
be offered.

Sandac
Tue Dec 26 00:01:02 CST 2006

Cal Learner,
I have the same problem with 2 brokers: TDAmeritrade and Merrill Lynch.
Do you have specific solutions for them?
Thank you.
--
Sam.


"Cal Learner-- MVP" wrote:

> In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:
>
> >One more question:
> >1. My problem with balance dveloped because I write a check from my Money
> >Market account. This transaction showed in Cash Transactions but didn't show
> >any where else. It shoud show up as number of share on my Money Market
> >account reduced and credit as cash on my account, before Cash Transaction.
> >How can I do it - recorded? Because Reduce Shares doesn't show up as
> >Deposit or credit to account.
>
> It depends on how the broker does it. Best IMO is to enter a Sell to
> raise the cash. However if the broker does not send the Buys and
> Sells of the sweep fund, then things are a lot trickier. Let the
> cash balance represent the sum of your sweep MMF and the effect of
> uncleared transactions.
>
> I am not going to go thru the process now. I notice you did not name
> the broker, so possible specific experience with your broker cannot
> be offered.
>

Cal
Tue Dec 26 07:31:15 CST 2006

In microsoft.public.money, Sandac wrote:

>I have the same problem with 2 brokers: TDAmeritrade and Merrill Lynch.
>Do you have specific solutions for them?

While I don't, I remember people discussing how to handle TDA. Not
much ML discussions.

The TDA case has been going thru a transition where the sweep for
most accounts is into a bank money marked. They are not sending the
MM buys and sells out, so it is best to let the cash balance
represent the MM balance +/- unsettled trades.

If you have old MMF positions to begin with, it is probably best to
generate a Sell in Money so that your in Money holding of the money
market is zero. It's a little awkward sounding to me, but I expect
somebody will describe a good way to balance the cash in Money after
they are moved away from the older easy way.