Track Your Worth On The Web

When I tried to explain this killer Internet application to a friend, his eyes glazed over as soon as I mentioned its name--"aggregation." But even without a sexy-sounding title, this new technology is a real winner if, like my friend, you have several mutual funds, retirement, checking, and savings accounts, a wallet full of credit cards--and a hectic schedule. Aggregation lets you bring your financial affairs together on a single, personalized Web page that instantly displays your bank, brokerage, mutual fund, credit-card, and even bonus mile accounts. You can do all this for free because aggregation services get paid by financial institutions.

Until I sat down at my computer and created my own aggregation Web page, I didn't understand how the technology could help me. After visiting Yodlee.com, the one among six independent aggregators (table) with the broadest services, it took only an afternoon to consolidate my entire financial portfolio online. Now, whenever I have a question about a specific account balance, I go to