Posts for December 2009
Screen layout improvements, interactivity enhancements released 12/23/09
A number of enhancements to the layout and interactivity of FamilyMint were released today:
- The Accounts section has move to the top of the screen in Parent and Advanced Child views.
- All goals in all views are now fully interactive:
- Once you select a goal, you’ll see icons to Edit, Deposit, Withdraw, or Transfer right on the goal itself.
- Hovering over the progress bar in the Junior view will display the % progress toward the goal and the target goal amount.
- Hovering over the progress bar in the Parent & Advanced Child views will display how much and how often contributions are planned as well as the target end date for the goal.
- Entering a Description is now optional for Transfers.
- Create Goal has been changed from a tab to a button with a pop-up window in Parent & Advanced Child views.
- Pending Transactions now has a congratulations message if there are no transactions waiting for parent/banker approval.
- Bank name has been added to the child views.
- A number of other smaller changes were made to enhance usability based on feedback we’ve received so far.
Other ideas? Let us know or vote for existing ideas in the Alpha users’ Features Request forum.
The FamilyMint Minute: December 2009
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| In This Issue |
| FamilyMint is Live! |
| Update on Invitations |
| What’s Next? |
| Featured Article |
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Should kids be given an allowance? You’ll hear some strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
The right answer depends on the parent, the child, and the particular circumstances you are both in…
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Tis the season to be jolly. We have great news! FamilyMint is up and running!
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FamilyMint is Live!
The FamilyMint website and application have been moved to our production server and are officially up and running! 
The first handful of private alpha testers were given access to the application last week and have been providing some great feedback. Thank you especially to the families that let us watch over your shoulders as you and your kids got in for the first time. For most kids, it’s quite a different way of managing their money and it’s so much fun to see them “get it” for the first time!
If you haven’t already seen it, check out our public website, including our Blog and Of Interest sections and let us know what you think. Your ideas and suggestions are the lifeblood of our future.
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Update on Invitations 
Anxious to start using FamilyMint? We can’t wait to let everyone in! However, by starting slowly we’ll be able to make the experience better for everyone once you do get access. Based on feedback received so far, we know where to focus our short term efforts on creating a short Getting Started guide, answering frequently asked questions, and enhancing the application to make it even more intuitive.
We’ll send out more invitations each week as we move forward until we open it up to the public in a few months. Let us reiterate and we know it’s hard to wait and we appreciate your patience!
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What’s Next? 
Watch your email over the next several weeks for your invitation to sign up and create a FamilyMint bank to start using with your family. When you get access to the application, you’ll also get access to the FamilyMint Forums. The Forums are a private members-only area where you can chat with other FamilyMint families, share ideas, suggest new features, and more.
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Please keep the questions and suggestions coming. We appreciate you and your interest!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!
Jeff Eusebio & Bob Masterson
FamilyMint co-founders
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Alpha Testing Begins
Non stop activity and forward progress at FamilyMint last week. It was our first full week of testing with our first Alpha users. We found and fixed a few issues, have started collecting some good input and ideas for future enhancements, but more than anything it was great to see families get in and start to use the application. Our hope is that FamilyMint will help parents help their kids grow up to be fiscally responsible and powerfully positioned to be successful.
We mentioned in a previous post that we had entered the Great Lakes Entreprenuer’s Question (GLEQ) business plan competition. Submissions were due on Friday at 5:00 and we wrapped ours up and got it submitted at 4:59:54. A little embarrassing that we cut it so close but indicative our of whirlwind week.
We started our coaching sessions with the Ann Arbor New Enterprise Forum (NEF) and have already received some great insight and challenging advice on where to focus next. Michigan has some wonderful resources available for entrepreneurs!!
We also started an engagement of the OU Incubator that is going to provide further assistance in raising capital. We’re also going to explore their virtual incubator offering next week.
Last, but certainly not least, we received interest from a potential strategic partner that we’re really looking forward to working with in the future. A great way to end the week!
“Work is more than just a pay-check. The worker is more than an instrument of production. There is a primary spiritual dimension to work, for it is through work that we contribute to the social well being of the community and actualize our potential as human beings.” — Tom Mulcahy
“We will have all eternity to rest. Now let us work.” — Mother Cabrini
“We will have all eternity to rest. Now let us work.”
Are you affiliated with franklinmint.com, themint.org, mint.com, or usmint.gov?
No. The word mint means a “place where money is produced”. Because we exist to help improve financial literacy of kids within the family setting, we think FamilyMint is a great summary of what we’re all about.
Jonathan – Rochester Hills, MI
My favorite feature of FamilyMint is the ability to set as many goals as I want and choose the pictures I want for each goal.
Ken Faw, President, Xede Consulting Group, Inc.
What a GREAT IDEA!
LMG Scottsdale, AZ
What a great idea. Family Mint is AWESOME! I only wish this had been available when my children were young. Both parents and their children will learn money management skills plus the responsibility that goes with along with the use of credit, saving and long term goals.
FamilyMint goes live!
After months of hard but fun work, the FamilyMint website and application are officially up and running. Our awesome development team at MediaG has been working many long nights and weekends getting the public site ready for prime time and the application ready for our private alpha testers. We hope you love it!
Michael B. Komara, ChFC, Wealth Coach; Mackey Komara & Dankovich, LLC
You are on to something good.
Boost Mid-Michigan and Ann Arbor NEF
Jeff & Bob had a great time pitching FamilyMint at the Boost Mid-Michigan event sponsored by Blue Water Angels last night and in front of the Ann Arbor NEF yesterday morning. We’ve been accepted into the New Enterprise Forum by the Program Committee and have been assigned a coaching team to help us further improve our investor presentation and pitch. Lots more in the works!
