Appraise ASP, Windows & Reports

Are you compatible with all versions of Windows?

Yes

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What methods does a user have to access your system?

Users can access our system through the Internet, web-based.

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Are there any special installation requirements?

Yes. If your company employs a firewall, port 1494 must be open for dynamic outbound usage. Citrix ICA Client (provided by us) must be installed on every workstation that will access the Appraise program.

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Are software upgrades free with maintenance subscription?

Yes. Appraise can be downloaded from our website or you can request an installation disk.

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How does the user obtain the new release?

Appraise can be downloaded from our website or you can request an installation disk.

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What special permissions are required to enable full functionality?

The user should have full rights to the Appraise directory, and read & execute on the Citrix folder.

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How do I obtain a password?

If you already have an account with us contact Technical Support. If you wish to open an account click here.

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How many users can access your system simultaneously?

More than one user can work on the same account. Appraise.Asp users cannot work simultaneously with the same logon account.

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Is training available?

Yes. Training is available by phone or through our interactive webinars.

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How does a user manually add price information for assets your system does not price?

A user can manually price an item by entering a ‘dummy’ CUSIP® starting with “99”, and then select edit selected security. Click on price manually. Select security type, and then enter your pricing information. There is no charge for Cusips starting with “99”.

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Do you support imports of CUSIP® and share information into your system, or must this information be entered manually?

You can import Cusips and shares by using our Universal Import utility.

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What output formats do you offer? Can data be exported into other formats to allow further sorting or manipulation?

You can export an Appraise report to a Word document or Excel spreadsheet. Portfolios can also be imported into 706 software including OTEA, FASTER, Lackner, and BNA.

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Who provides your pricing data?

Interactive Data Corporation provides pricing. The same provider the IRS uses.

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What does “Cannot connect to the citrx server” mean?

You should check to be sure your firewall is open to port 1494 for inbound/outbound traffic.

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After installation of Appraise I receive the message “Missing Communications Program”, why?

This message indicates that the Citrix Ica Client has not been installed. On the installation disk open the Ica Client folder and run the setup or download Appraise.Windows, and then run the setup.

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Appraise Fax/Mail and E-mail Services

What do you need from a client in order to process a valuation?

We need to know 4 basic pieces of information:

1. The date for valuation (the date of death or alternate date).
2. The number of shares.
3. The identity of the security. If CUSIP® numbers are available, they can speed up the process. If you are unable to obtain the CUSIP® , we research this information and provide it to you as part of our service.
4. Return delivery information, (i.e. mail, fax or e-mail).

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How long does it take to process my order?

Once we have received your request, it generally takes four business days to process your report. We then return your completed report to you via mail, fax, or e-mail, according to your instructions. Please remember to calculate return delivery times in addition to our processing time before sending an order. Our office is located in northern New Jersey.

If you need a report sooner, you can use the next business day option listed on the order request form and/or request the report to be faxed or e-mail back.

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Can I place my order over the telephone?

Due to the nature of this reports, we request that all orders, regardless of size, be submitted via mail, fax, or e-mail. This avoids miscommunications and helps us to ensure the accuracy our clients have come to expect.

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Can I just send you a copy of the brokerage statement?

Certaintly. Make sure the statements are clear and clean copies. If there is anything on the statement that does not need to be valued, please cross it off. Otherwise, it will be included in the valuation.

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What do I need to do to set up an account with you?

The first order request you send will create your account. There is no contract or ongoing obligation with our mail, fax or e-mail services. We do not require pre-payment. Bills are sent monthly and are payable net 30 days.

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My client has several Brokerage accounts that I'd like to value separately. Is this possible?

Yes. Let us know in advance and we'll be happy to do it for you at no additional charge. If you do not give us instructions, we will automatically combine everything into one report.

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Is there anything APPRAISE doesn't price?

We price a lot of things. Appraise uses a database containing 4.5 million securities. But... there are a few things we don't price. We do not price personal Certificates of Deposit, Life Insurance policies, puts/calls/options or annuities. We also do not value privately held businesses.

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How long do you keep my reports on file?

Reports are saved for 10 months.

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Accounts & Fees

How do I set up an account with you?

In several ways depending on the service you need. For Appraise.Windows and Appraise.ASP you can submit a form here or call us at (888) ESI-4706. For Appraise.E-mail/Fax service the first order request you send will create your account.

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What are your licensing requirements?

There are none. However an annual maintenance fee is applicable for Appraise.Windows and Appraise.ASP.

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Can more than one user work on the same account?

Yes. More than one user can work on your account.

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What are the fees for valuation of securities?

To learn about Appraise.Windows and Appraise.ASP fees click here. For Appraise.E-mail/Fax fees click here.

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How is billing handled?

Bills are sent monthly and are payable net 30 days.

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Can multiple accounts be billed to a central account?

Yes. You can combine multiple accounts for billing purposes if you want to.

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General Questions

Why should a Trust and Estate professional not use BigCharts.com or Yahoo.com?

There are several reasons:

1. The Historical Quotes section of BigCharts.com explicitly states:

4.0 Ownership of Information; Downloading of Materials; Retransmission and Redistribution of Data.
The Website is made available solely as a convenience to you for general informational purposes for your internal, non-commercial use, subject at all times to these Terms and Conditions. Unless otherwise noted, all right, title and interest in the Website, and information made available in the Website ("Information"), in all languages, formats and media throughout the world, including all copyrights and trademarks therein, are and shall continue to be the exclusive property of FT Interactive Data, its parent corporation, subsidiary corporations, affiliates, licensors, or third party data providers ("Data Providers"), or used under principles of "fair use." These Terms and Conditions are subject to any requirements of the Data Providers under FT Interactive Data's agreements with such Data Providers. Certain materials may be made available for download from the Website. Subject to these Terms and Conditions, FT Interactive Data grants you permission to download and copy such materials solely for your internal, non-commercial use; provided that all copyright notices appearing on the originals are duplicated on all copies thereof; and provided further, that you do not modify the materials in any way. Without limiting any other right or remedy available to FT Interactive Data, at law or in equity, the permission herein granted will automatically terminate in the event you breach the terms of this paragraph and, in such event you must destroy immediately all downloaded materials in your possession, custody or control.

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PERMITTED BY THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH, YOU AGREE NOT TO REPRODUCE, RETRANSMIT, DISSEMINATE, SELL, DISTRIBUTE, PUBLISH, BROADCAST, CIRCULATE OR PROVIDE, THE INFORMATION OR SERVICES IN ANY MANNER OR FOR ANY PURPOSES (PERSONAL OR BUSINESS) WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF FT Interactive Data AND/OR THE RELEVANT DATA PROVIDER(S).

2. The Historical Quotes section of Yahoo.com explicitly states: By accessing the Yahoo! site, you agree not to redistribute the information found therein.
Yahoo Finance explicitly states in its Historical Finance
section:

All information provided as is for informational purposes only, not
intended for trading purposes or advice.  Neither Yahoo! nor any
independent providers is liable for any informational errors,
incompleteness, or delays, or for any actions taken reliance on
information contained herein.

In fact, the Yahoo site also says, this website may contain
inadvertent factual inaccuracies and typographical errors (and )
expressly disclaims all liability for the use or interpretation
contained. 

In addition, using the Yahoo site may be an illegal means to research
security prices.  The Yahoo disclaimer also states: 
By accessing the Yahoo! site, you agree not to redistribute the
information found therein.

By breaching these policies, an individual/institution can put itself
in a very precarious situation by abdicating their fiduciary
responsibilities and possibly violating copyright laws.

3. Both sites only price equities and mutual funds. They do not value international securities, bonds, or fixed income instruments. Nor do they generate the dividend or accrual calculations, mean pricing, and inverse weighting required to complete an estate/gift tax return. It is an incomplete tool for a trust and estate professional.

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What asset types can be priced by your system?

Appraise offers a broad range of global securities and related financial data from all major markets and exchanges. Equities, CMO’s, UIT’s, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, government bonds. See our Securities Coverage.

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What asset types cannot be priced by your system?

We are unable to price options, puts, calls, and money markets, cash accounts, and privately held businesses.

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How are corporate actions handled?

We have products to help you with this. Ask us about APPRAISE Plus.

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How are sales handled?

Transactions that occur between the date of death and alternate portfolio can be inputted by the user from within the alternate portfolio. Highlight the selected CUSIP® then click Sales, Mergers, etc. Click on Add transaction. Select the transaction type and enter your pricing information.

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How are stock dividends and stock splits reflected?

Stock dividends and stock splits are included automatically.

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How are treasury bills and paydowns held on alternate valuation date handled?

According to IRS regulations Treasury or savings bonds will not show a different valuation on alternate date reports. This is because the increased value is due only to the passage of time, rather than a trade.

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How do you calculate principal payments made between date of death and alternate date on paydown securities?

Principal payments made between the date of death and alternate dates are itemized and the paydown factor from the date of death is applied to the alternate report.

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Do you calculate accruals on all mutual funds?

Yes. Accruals are included in the price.

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Do you calculate accrual through date of death?

Yes. Accruals are calculated up to and including the date of death. To check what setting your set to, go to the system setup, methodology tab and be sure the accrual method is set to 2.

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Do you include carryover accrual on UITs as part of your accrued income?

Yes.

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Why should a Trust and Estate professional not use Finance.Yahoo.com?

A Trust and Estate professional should not use Finance.yahoo.com because by accessing the Yahoo! site, a user agrees not to redistribute the information found therein.

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How far back in history is pricing data available?

We value stocks beginning in 1968 forward. Municipal Bonds are available from a rolling five-year basis. See Coverage Universe.

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