These are still baby steps. Last year at this time if you asked me when are the full-service guys going to get online, I would have said '1998.' They're scared to death of what the Internet is going to do to full-service brokers.

Microsoft is fundamentally changing the mortgage process, which hasn't changed in about 50 years ÷ it's about damned time.

They have enough trouble building an online brokerage. And now they want to build an online mall? Give me a break.

My dad called me this weekend and asked if he should open an online (brokerage) account. I said, 'Dad, you've never made an investment in your life'.

Microsoft is going to give the ability to take software, implement it and offer real-time risk-based approval of mortgages. That's not happening for most lenders today.

Past food service bid processes have lasted between nine and 12 months. During this process, a considerable amount of time is spent upon gathering input regarding service and price preferences from various elements of the campus. These inputs are then balanced and included in the bid specifications.