I have trouble every month getting my Bivio account to match
my E-Trade statement. I was able to change the stock quote
used in the account valuation report (month end summary
report) in the IClub accounting package, but don't know how
to do this in Bivio. It's VERY frustrating having my Bivio
and E-Trade accounts be off by pennies. Is there anyway to
force the stock quote used by Bivio to match that of my
E-Trade monthly statement?

If the differences arise from the fact that Etrade uses slightly different
stock prices from bivio, then you are wasting your time trying to balance
the accounts. Stock prices vary depending on the provider, and neither is
more accurate than the other.

That being said, if the differences are in the cash balances or in the
number of shares, then, indeed, you do have to reconcile and make balancing
adjustments.

To put it another way, each month you should make sure that the cash on your
bivio valuation report balances with the etrade statement, and that the
number of shares on the bivio valuation statement balances with the etrade
statement. If these are in balance, your work is done, and you can, and
should, ignore any pricing differences.

Rip West
Saint Paul, MN

Thanks, Rip, that works for me. I apprecaite your reply. Can
you tell me one other thing - we don't sell stock often, so
should all my dividends be qualified dividends and not just
straight dividends? I understand that stocks that are sold
within the 121 day window of receipt of the dividend that
dividend is not qualified dividends. Is this correct?
Mercer Bonney
Bath, Maine

Rip West wrote:
> If the differences arise from the fact that Etrade uses slightly different
> stock prices from bivio, then you are wasting your time trying to balance
> the accounts. Stock prices vary depending on the provider, and neither is
> more accurate than the other.
>
> That being said, if the differences are in the cash balances or in the
> number of shares, then, indeed, you do have to reconcile and make balancing
> adjustments.
>
> To put it another way, each month you should make sure that the cash on your
> bivio valuation report balances with the etrade statement, and that the
> number of shares on the bivio valuation statement balances with the etrade
> statement. If these are in balance, your work is done, and you can, and
> should, ignore any pricing differences.
>
> Rip West
> Saint Paul, MN

> Thanks, Rip, that works for me. I apprecaite your reply. Can
> you tell me one other thing - we don't sell stock often, so
> should all my dividends be qualified dividends and not just
> straight dividends? I understand that stocks that are sold
> within the 121 day window of receipt of the dividend that
> dividend is not qualified dividends. Is this correct?

No, that's not quite correct. You can find a good definition/explanation of
qualified dividends at http://biwiki.editme.com/ExDividendDate

It is my understanding that bivio makes the correct distinction between
qualified and non-qualified dividends when you enter them.

Rip West
Saint Paul, MN

Rip West writes:
> It is my understanding that bivio makes the correct distinction between
> qualified and non-qualified dividends when you enter them.

We only do this at the end of the year during the tax interview,
because we don't actually know if club has held the stock around the
window until 60 or 120 days after the ex-dividend date. The money
arrives in he club's account at some point during that window.

Cheers,
Rob

Thank you, Rip, that was a big help. I appreciate the
generosity of your time to answer my questions. Mercer

Rip West wrote:
> > Thanks, Rip, that works for me. I apprecaite your reply. Can
> > you tell me one other thing - we don't sell stock often, so
> > should all my dividends be qualified dividends and not just
> > straight dividends? I understand that stocks that are sold
> > within the 121 day window of receipt of the dividend that
> > dividend is not qualified dividends. Is this correct?
>
> No, that's not quite correct. You can find a good definition/explanation of
> qualified dividends at http://biwiki.editme.com/ExDividendDate
>
> It is my understanding that bivio makes the correct distinction between
> qualified and non-qualified dividends when you enter them.
>
> Rip West
> Saint Paul, MN