Financial Services Magazines

Let financial industry magazines serve as your online advisory team

By Joanne K. McPortland

Financial services magazines, especially those available online, offer a great way to keep updated on the latest news, trends and practices in the rapidly growing and changing financial services field. From general finance magazines to financial magazines and publications targeted to specific industry sectors or practices, you'll find a range of assistance just a click away.

Most financial services magazines online are available in downloadable PDF form or even by mail, though the online form is usually discounted. Various subscription plans are available. Some financial magazines are discounted for those who become website members or order multiple publications. Most offer free trial subscriptions or samples on the public website.

When considering subscribing to a financial services magazine online or in hard copy:

1. Build your base with leading general financial magazines and publications.

2. Subscribe to financial services industry magazines for professional advice.

3. Choose financial services trade magazines that focus on the banking industry.

4. Get tech updates from a financial services technology magazine.

Look to leading financial magazines for the basics

These standby financial magazines and publications should be part of your basic library.
Try: The Wall Street Journal is the premier US finance publication; its website offers a wealth of financial services resources. The Economist, published in Britain, is a leader among international finance magazines, and a must-read for those in financial services. Money pairs with CNN to offer a value-added personal finance magazine. Get an overview of finance issues from Financial Week.

Find financial services industry magazines with insider tips

Financial services trade magazines cover many sectors of the financial services industry. Take advantage of a business finance magazine or magazine for financial services geared to helping you meet your customers' needs.
Try: If you're looking for a financial services advisor magazine, check out AdvisorMax, which calls itself "the financial advisor's advisor." On Wall Street is a financial service magazine online with a focus on the market. Try Financial Planning Magazine if you want resources for managing clients' assets.

Take advantage of finance magazines targeted to the banking industry

With the rapid changes in banking regulations and practices, this sector of the financial services industry needs all the help it can get from financial services magazines.
Try: SourceMedia is a leading publisher of financial services trade magazines, offering US Banker and Credit Union Journal, among others, for those in the banking sector. American Banker is another online magazine for financial services professionals from SourceMedia. Bank Investment Consultant offers advice on managing customer assets.

Keep up with industry advances with financial magazines focused on technology

A financial services technology magazine can give you the edge in putting technology to work for your business and your clients.
Try: Finance Tech covers technological and electronic advances in financial services. Magazines like Bank Technology News and Wall Street & Technology specialize in providing tech advice to individual sectors. Windows in Financial Services, a Microsoft financial services technology magazine, offers advice on using the operating system as a financial services tool.

Subscriptions to magazines for financial services can be pricey, though you'll often find that being a subscriber entitles you to a wide variety of web services. Keep records, because subscriptions are a deductible business expense.