I download qif files from my bank and then import them into Quicken.
I connect directly with my brokerage account at Fidelity and download all the information, the investments, purchases and sales etc., this is an automatic connection and download.
will I be able to do this after April 2006?
will Quicken 2006 import qif files?
And, do I need Quicken 2006 to continue to download my brokerage account information from Fidelity after April? If so, does this mean that Fidelity will somehow recognize that I'm using Quicken 2003 and refuse to download?
I also update fund prices every few days - and I guess I update those through Quicken - I know I don't go to the Fidelity site to do this.
I also download CC information directly through American Express - will this also suddenly become unavailable? Again, will AA refuse to pass the information to 2003 (or reprogram to prevent it)?
Unfortunately, the answer is probably you will loose half your current practice either way. While Q2003 will continue to read the .qif files from your bank, it will cease to down load directly from Fidelity and AMEX. Not because either Fidelity or AMEX will be detecting your Quicken level, but because all your downloads are cleared through a Quicken server. The Quicken (actually Intuit) servers will recognize your s/w level, and execute their own sunset rules on your access.
On the other hand, if you upgrade to Q2006, you will enjoy three more years of download access for your Fidelity, AMEX accounts, and your investment values. However, in this case, I believe you will lose the ability to import .qif file from your bank. I don't have Q2006 to verify this last statement, but it is the stated direction of Intuit to remove .qif import from newer levels, and migrate all users and FI to more current, secure files. If your bank supports direct Quicken access, and many do, you may be able to set it up for direct access, and never miss the multiple steps of .qif import. On the other hand, if your bank does not support direct access, I fear you are in for disappointment either way you go.
Generally I think your explanation is correct, but I think upgrading is the better choice.
As time passes, I believe fewer and fewer institutions will offer only qif downloads (and I would not be suprised to see some fi's who have them, drop them). I expect more and more fi's to offer direct or web-connect downloads, including many of those who now only offer qif downloads.
Also, the qif file import "problem" is not quite as dire as indicated - by you ... and by Intuit.
QIF file imports are still available to cash, asset, and liability accounts. One wishing to get downloaded checking/savings/credit-card account data via qif file can import the qif file to a dummy cash account, select the records in the cash account and cut/paste them into the appropriate checking/savings/credit-card account. A little extra work, but doable. What you will lose is the ability to "match" to existing transactions; all transactions processed in the above manner will be treated as "New".
Thank you both for your thorough responses. I didn't realize these downloads went through the Quicken server but now it makes sense how they can do this year by year.
My bank is Citibank so I'm pretty sure I can jump through some hoops of learning a new system of doing things and download directly from them; I have two checking accounts and one credit card with them that I now download by importing a qif file.
And I guess the same would hold for AMEX and 2 separate Fidelity brokerage accounts.
I've been so happy doing it this way that I resent having to learn and set up a whole new system for what for me, is no good reason.
But it looks like I really don't have any choice but to upgrade and go through the hoops.
Do either of you know for sure whether I'll be able to download directly from Citibank (checking and credit card), AMEX and Fidelity?
I just called Diredt Access at Citibank and they told me they don't support download for quicken 2006 for master cardb - only for checking. . They said I could do a direct download for my credit card from
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