Comments on: How I Prepare for Quarterly Account Reviews http://www.roadtoindependenceblog.com/2009/09/21/how-i-prepare-for-quarterly-account-reviews/ Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:15:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Chuck Shaw http://www.roadtoindependenceblog.com/2009/09/21/how-i-prepare-for-quarterly-account-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-6971 Chuck Shaw Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:31:53 +0000 http://roadtoindependenceblog.com/?p=260#comment-6971 Hi Mike, You have mentioned in your blog that you use Crystal Ball and Excel to do your client planning. Have you found a template for Crystal Ball or have you created your own input format to get the reports you provide? From your comments I have just starting looking into that software. Is there a source you recommend to get up to speed on that the software can do for advisors? Thanks, Chuck Hi Mike,
You have mentioned in your blog that you use Crystal Ball and
Excel to do your client planning. Have you found a template for
Crystal Ball or have you created your own input format to get the
reports you provide? From your comments I have just starting looking
into that software. Is there a source you recommend to get up to speed
on that the software can do for advisors?

Thanks,
Chuck

]]> By: Mike Patton http://www.roadtoindependenceblog.com/2009/09/21/how-i-prepare-for-quarterly-account-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-6429 Mike Patton Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:14:35 +0000 http://roadtoindependenceblog.com/?p=260#comment-6429 Hi Bill, Thanks for the comments. The VLookup works well. I did find that the ticker symbols must be in alpha order or it will not work consistently. I'll check out the ISAN() formula. I've never used it. Hi Bill,
Thanks for the comments. The VLookup works well. I did find that the ticker symbols must be in alpha order or it will not work consistently. I’ll check out the ISAN() formula. I’ve never used it.

]]> By: Bill Winterberg http://www.roadtoindependenceblog.com/2009/09/21/how-i-prepare-for-quarterly-account-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-6061 Bill Winterberg Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:47:38 +0000 http://roadtoindependenceblog.com/?p=260#comment-6061 Be cautious when using VLookup() in Excel, particularly when your values (ticker symbols) are critical in calculating the output (asset allocation). The syntax of the formula is VLookup( value, table_array, index_number, not_exact_match ). For the optional parameter "not_exact_match," be 100% certain that you specify FALSE. If you do not specify anything and leave the parameter blank, VLookup() will return an approximate match to your input value (your ticker symbol). Returning the approximate match instead of an exact match can be disastrous to your rebalancing sheet! Also, you can embed VLookup() inside the ISNA() function to provide better alerts when the input ticker symbol is not found (e.g. a security transferred via ACAT that didn't make it into your Excel page of all securities). Conditional formatting works very well in this case to highlight cells by a certain color to easily identify errors. Be cautious when using VLookup() in Excel, particularly when your values (ticker symbols) are critical in calculating the output (asset allocation).

The syntax of the formula is VLookup( value, table_array, index_number, not_exact_match ). For the optional parameter “not_exact_match,” be 100% certain that you specify FALSE. If you do not specify anything and leave the parameter blank, VLookup() will return an approximate match to your input value (your ticker symbol).

Returning the approximate match instead of an exact match can be disastrous to your rebalancing sheet!

Also, you can embed VLookup() inside the ISNA() function to provide better alerts when the input ticker symbol is not found (e.g. a security transferred via ACAT that didn’t make it into your Excel page of all securities). Conditional formatting works very well in this case to highlight cells by a certain color to easily identify errors.

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