OwnYourInfo - Blog

Organize, Share, and Track securely

[ownyourinfo-blog]

OwnYourInfo Version 2 - Getting Close

A lot has happened over the past few months.

We added an import capability for Google Health users.

Last month, we changed our pricing model from a five dollar monthly subscription to a one time payment of ten dollars.  Visitors can still try the site for free at https://ownyourinfo.com/demos/new

We also began the site's first major design overhaul.  We are pushing for a Version 2 release in the first week of August.  

One of the most common requests from our users was an improvement to the visibility and accessibility of OwnYourInfo's information templates.  The new design introduces a new navigation structure and a set of icons to replace the current tabular style.  Users will find the updated site much easier to use.  For more details contact [email protected].

-OwnYourInfo Team

[ownyourinfo-blog]

OwnYourInfo for Small Businesses

Recently, one of our users, a small business owner, was asking for tips on how to use OwnYourInfo.

Though the site is designed for individual and family usage, there are several ways to utilize the site for small business information management needs.

For storing a sales tax ID and EIN and other business account information that does not currently have a custom template use the "alternate ID" template from the Personal Category and select "other".  

For storing your employees vital information, create an additional profile for each employee.  Currently OwnYourInfo allows an unlimited number of profiles to accomodate family and small business needs.  

During tax season, use OwnYourInfo to send out a W-2 or 1099 securely.  OwnYourInfo adds some accountability by keeping track of the number of views and downloads.

For other business related documents, upload them all at once in the encrypted document section of the site.

Write us at [email protected] with ways that OwnYourInfo has helped you with keeping your small business information efficient and secure.

[ownyourinfo-blog]

Pricing Update

As our user base continues to grow, we look for new and creative ways to incorporate user feedback in to our product.  Usually this involves adding a field here and there, or an easier way to upload documents.  Recently, we updated our pricing model to a one time fee instead of a monthly payment. 

In the future, we may offer add-on benefits for a monthly charge but for now, with one payment of $10, you can gain full access to all of OwnYourInfo's services.

*current users will no longer be charged monthly for their use of OwnYourInfo.  Nothing in existing accounts will change.  Login in to the site is the same as before. 

[enthusebrew]

[ownyourinfo-blog]

Was looking for a cool picture of a passport to place in one of our travel posts.   This one is cool.

[ownyourinfo-blog]

Travel Documents Follow Up: Tips on using OwnYourInfo to be an organized traveler

So you're about to set off on your big family trip overseas.  All your clothes are neatly packed, the oven is off, the garage door is closed, little Kevin McCallister wasn't left Home Alone.  But, you're carrying 5 passports, 3 credit cards and some travelers checks; you've hired a house sitter to look after your dog, and asked the neighbor to check up on old Aunt Sally.  Needless to say, if you're running the show on a vacation, you have a lot of responsibilities.

Here are a few ways that OwnYourInfo can help make this scenario easier:

Snap photos of your family members passports with OwnYourInfo's free Iphone App.  You can do this in the airport.  It's quick, easy and the Iphone app is super secure.

Same deal with your travelers checks, drivers license and credit cards.  You'll have a lot easier time getting things straightened out if you have a backup.

As for your pet, if you've filled out some of OwnYourInfo's information templates then you can easily share your pets information with the pet sitter.  OwnYourInfo provides you with a place to store pet registration information, vaccination information and other useful information that would come in handy for someone looking after your pets.

With OwnYourInfo you can share a health profile on your aging relative or parent with the click of a button.

Other online organization tools are all about offering extreme flexibility.  At OwnYourInfo we've found that there is a set of information that most people keep track of; a guided method for organizing private information can make taking care of these life essentials simpler.  Travel prepared with OwnYourInfo.

[ownyourinfo-blog]

A few tips on storing travel documents

Whenever traveling, it's a good idea to have copies of your important documents available. With a little preparation, you can avoid a serious headache. If you lose your passport or something happens with your credit card, it's a lot easier to remedy the situation if your account numbers and related contact information is on hand. 

OwnYourInfo suggests uploading the following documents and information before your trip:

passport

visa

travel insurance

credit card information

bank account details

important health information (allergies, immunizations, emergency contacts, etc.)

birth certificate

driver's license

work permit

on-line banking codes and passwords

While paper copies are a good start, an online solution will ensure that you're safe in every situation. Beyond document storage, OwnYourInfo's value lies in its information templates-- safe and organized places to store account numbers, passwords, important contacts and other pieces of information good to have on hand in case of an emergency.

[ownyourinfo-blog]

OwnYourInfo can help you manage an elderly parent's documents

Caring for an elderly parent can be physically, emotionally, and mentally challenging. Becoming a caregiver to a parent is a role reversal, even if you're just attending to his or her health. If you have to take over a parent's finances, too, it can be overwhelming.

Many people caring for elderly parents struggle with the fact that their parent has a tough time remembering what medications they are taking and what the purpose is for each medication that they are prescribed. As you'll be dealing with your parents physicians often, it's a good idea to have those physicians' information accessible in case of emergencies and to have their relative insurance on hand.

There are a number of legal documents that need to be prepared and kept safe in preparation for the worst. These documents will ensure that your loved one passes on his or her own terms and that you have the power to help them do that:

A will

Two kinds of power of attorney forms

A living will / do not resuscitate

Out-of-hospital do not resuscitate

After their death, there is a large array of documents you may need to settle your parent's finances and estates:

The death certificate

Last credit card statements

Last checking and savings account statements

Last mortgage statement

Tax returns for the last two to three years

Location of receipts and appraisals for valuables

Marriage and birth certificates of the deceased's immediate family

An up-to-date credit report of the deceased

List of stocks, bonds, real estate, and other investments.

You'll have to notify a number of agencies of the death and cancel the deceased's subscriptions and accounts. Here's some information you'll need:

Social Security Number

The deceased's employer's contact information

Insurance companies

Credit card companies

Utility companies

Creditors

Information about memberships

Many OwnYourInfo users have found the secure document management feature helpful in keeping track of all their parents' vital information and documents. The recently deceased are often targets for identity theft, and much of the above information is terribly sensitive. OwnYourInfo offers security and organization for these documents, and piece of mind for you.

Learn more about OwnYourInfo Get started now with OwnYourInfo

References:

http://www.agingwisely.com/document-locator-list

http://www.seniorsforliving.com/blog/2010/10/26/5-tools-for-organizing-important-documents-for-your-aging-parents

http://www.livestrong.com/article/230484-legal-documents-to-have-for-elderly-parents

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/14/death-and-finances-eight-things-to-do-after-a-loved-one-passes/

[ownyourinfo-blog]

OwnYourInfo: Google Health Transition Tool

Google Health is officially closing its services on January 1, 2012, and users will have one year to transfer their information to a different service.  In response to this announcement, OwnYourInfo is enabling import capabilities for displaced Google Health users.   Google is providing their users with several ways to transfer their information off of Google Health, one of which is downloading a CCR (Continuity of Care Record) file.  As of this morning, OwnYourInfo is offering a CCR import feature to ensure a quick and intuitive transition for Google Health users.  Those that make the switch from Google to OwnYourInfo will receive comparable health information storage and access with the additional benefits of our other, non-health, information templates, encrypted document storage and secure sharing system.

Google Health Users, view our transition guide to get started https://ownyourinfo.com/importing_google_health

[ownyourinfo-blog]

UK enacts midata for consumer data empowerment

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) in the UK, recently announced midata, a voluntary government initiative that aims to empower consumers by giving them access to the information that is collected on them.  

In the BIS Blog they offer the example of choosing the right phone plan, "your phone company has exact data on how you use your phone – much more than you will ever receive in a bill summary."  With 26 major businesses committing to the initiative, including the likes of Google and MasterCard, consumers will be able to make more informed decisions on their purchases.

There doesn't appear to be many specifics yet on what platforms consumers will use to store this information; other than that these platforms will be called Personal Data Inventories and that the goal is to have something available in the first half of 2012.  

Over the next few months, the OwnYourInfo team will be working on ways to import large data sets into its secure database.  We will be keeping an eye on how things progress in the UK and hoping that the same type of data empowerment will take shape in the US.

[ownyourinfo-blog]

OwnYourInfo team member interviewed for Foxnews.com Cyber Monday article

OwnYourInfo team member William McCusker offered his opinion on the future of Internet security for a foxnews.com article on Cyber Monday.  The article provides helpful tips on how to avoid online scams and keep your information safe. 

Basically, look for https:// to make sure the sites you share information with are secure, and watch out for deals that look too good to be true.

OwnYourInfo is mentioned near the bottom.

[ownyourinfo-blog]

Our First Blog Post!

We’ve been around for a couple months now and figured it was time to start a company blog. We’ll be posting here with product updates, insights on information privacy and other news we find share-worthy.

We just posted some of our newest features.  Check them out and let us know what you think!

[ownyourinfo-blog]

Attach documents to information you share:  Select information from any of your information categories that you wish to share and attach relevant documents e.g. your health profile information paired with a drivers license and health insurance card.

[ownyourinfo-blog]

Share multiple documents as a document package:  Choose several documents to share together under one secure link

[ownyourinfo-blog]

Batch Upload:  You can now select and upload multiple documents to OwnYourInfo at once.