Fiscal Fitness

Few people have escaped the seismic changes in our economy within the past year. More than ever, we need solid solutions for managing our finances.

Thankfully, personal-finance sites have remained strong in the wake of the dot-com debacle, and some brands have emerged that are likely to stay leaders. We chose nine of the best we've come across. They combine ease of use, strong tools, and top-notch content to help make your dollars easier to deal with. By way of comparison, we also revisit the top two personal-finance software packages

INSURANCE - Here's an area where the Web has absolutely revolutionized an industry. Numerous sites exist that let you comparison-shop for insurance online and get quotes in a matter of minutes - and often apply for your policy on the site.

We picked two bests here. QuickQuote gives you access to instant quotes from over 2,000 different plans, all of which are A-rated or better carriers. It handles life, health, small-group, and auto insurance; offers quotes on annuities; and has a mortgage-resource center. Insweb looks classier and offers quotes on similar types of insurance (though each site has it's own extras). And both sites post informative articles and tips.

QuickQuote Financial Inc., www.quickquote.com

InsWeb Insurance Services Inc., www.insweb.com