Valuation Software

[Guest erepper]

Does anyone have a good source for comparing the various valuation software programs that are available?

[Guest baxjac]

Do a search on "software".

You will get several links that may be helpful.

[david rigby]

http://benefitslink.com/software.html

BTW, some of us don't discuss what software we use, for various reasons.

[Ron Snyder]

Some of us don't discuss stock option plans because we don't do them. But I'm trying to understand the reasons that "some of us don't discuss what software we use". Maybe we can come up with the "various reasons":

Some of us don't use software?

Some of us are ashamed of the system we use?

Some of us are afraid of a public comparison of our system with other systems?

Some of us are so loyal to our brand that we cannot discuss this topic rationally?

Some of us detest our own system so much that we can't discuss the topic rationally?

I am somwhat familiar with most of the systems extant and am in the process of procuring a new system. I have found no a comparison of the various systems available along with their strengths and weaknesses. We have been building our own comparison spreadsheet. But the items we are comparing may not be the same for another firm. What would you like to compare?

We were specifically looking for an (ODBC-compliant) database oriented, networked defined benefit and defined contribution valuation and administration system that operated under Windows XP, employing Windows functionalities. Once we determined which systems met our minimum needs, we compared usability and price.

[GBurns]

pax,

That was a curiousity creating BTW. What's up with that? I would hate to think that vebaguru is right on some points.

[david rigby]

vebaguru is right on some points, including the post above. But my reason is not listed: competition.

[GBurns]

Some people might read that to mean that you are so good that you do not want others to figure out that its not the people there, but it is the software that makes your TPA firm so good. Hmmn? I would not think of that as being good.

[stevena]

We dont use software...just excel. I wouldnt do it with huge groups, but my biggest plans have maybe 250 participants. I like it better on excel, when I worked at my old firm, we spent more time struggling with the system than I spend on testing now.

[david rigby]

Some people might read that to mean that you are so good that you do not want others to figure out that its not the people there, but it is the software that makes your TPA firm so good. Hmmn? I would not think of that as being good.

That's not what I meant, but you can think whatever you want.

[AndyH]

If you have not seen this it may be helpful

http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?s...opic=25756&st=0

[GBurns]

I knew what you meant but it was a rare opportunuty to yank your chain.

[AndyH]

So the sensitive one is entertaining us once again?

[Blinky the 3-eyed Fish]

George, can I reinstate that shark post and attribute the reason I posted it was to "yank your chain"?

[Guest Donkey Kong]

Don't you miss Mike Preston? The interaction between him and Burns was priceless. Literally, I found these in 1 minute. I am sure there are more.

http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?s...22416&hl=gburns

http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?s...22435&hl=gburns

http://benefitslink.com/boards/index.php?s...&hl=gburns&st=0

[AndyH]

Beautiful, Kong.

How do we un-retire Mike, anyways?

[stevena]

Along the same lines, I would love to know if anyone has a good billing system for clients. We bill hourly and are trying to find a good system.

(Right now our system consists of timesheets written by hand.)

[GBurns]

Nothing was wrong with the shark story itself except that it unnecessarily contained what could be regarded as Personal Private Information or Personally Identifiable Information. Releasing that assumed PPI and PII is what led to the personalized snide and unnecessary remark that followed based of it. There could very well be a Burns Bait & Switch Ins Co (although alluding to such a company was out of context and irrelevant) but adding the Jamaican casts apersions on the character of the many fine and honourable Jamaicans.

PII is used quite often just to slander people and was not necessary and possibly not even true since there was no rational basis for that assumption in the first place.

If you repost, I guess that I would also repost my rebuttal.

[GBurns]

Donkey Kong

You must have a either a lot of free time on your hands, or a special thing for Mike Preston, to have spent the time looking up those particular posts. I wonder why those were selected since in most of them Mike really kept running in circles rather than addressing anyone's points, suggestions or rebuttals (not only mine).

I cannot imagine that you spent time and yet selected those to exhibit your point. Did you read the threads or did you just look for the comments?

Anyhow, my purpose on this Board is to learn, not to nit pick or to cast apersions at anyone, although comments might get heated during a discussion. But note DURING a discussion meaning 1 in which I am contributing thoughts rather than contributing snide remarks and taking shots at posters.

[Effen]

Stevena,

We use "Timeslips". It works pretty well. Everyone prepares their timesheets using an Excel spread sheet. This data is then dumped into Timeslips.

We only use it to track the time. We write our own invoices, but Timeslips has the ability to prepare invoices as well.

[stevena]

Thanks. We have timeslips already, but an older version. We use it to create our invoices as well but don't use it to track time.

What I am having problems with is that I often need a certain report.... I need say, everything billed to a client for a certain year, but broken down by code (we code all our entries, testing is 120, annual report is 100, etc.)

Say, if so far, a client has been billed $600 for 2004, I need to know what that was for. How many $ for annual report, how much for distributions, how much for testing, etc. Right now, if I need to do that, I have to print out all the bills and add each code up manually. Its such a pain.

Our timeslips cant do that function. Can yours?

Appreciate the help

[Effen]

I know the newer version has a network option that would allow all employees to input the time directly into the system. We never looked into using it.

Although it's not something that I generally get involved with, I know it can show you the time spent on any particular billing code (i.e.: testing, valuation, 5500, whatever). Obviously time spent isn't timed billed.

We generally only bill once or twice per year so it isn't a problem for us. I think it could easily show you the time spent for a given category, assuming you didn't clear it out when you billed it.

Did you try calling Timeslips or a consultant? I know there are lots of features we don't use that may be helpful.

I guess I'm not much help. Good Luck