The FT – or Financial Times as it is properly known – is one of the most respected and in depth websites on financial matters that exists in the UK. While it offers a great amount of information on matters in this country, you can also keep up to date with what is going on all around the world.
But while you can go onto the website and take a look around without becoming a member, there is no doubt that signing up to become a fully fledged member has its benefits. This is what we are going to look at below.
Why become an FT member?
The Financial Times offers an array of services and subscription options. For example, you can subscribe to the print edition if you wish to.
But while you can also pay for an online subscription, it is very easy to sign up to become a free member. This will enable you to get access to more information than you would have if you didn't have a personal log in.
So how do I join?
The process is very easy. All you need to do is go to the following page, https://registration.ft.com/registration/. At the top you will see a big button which says “Registered”, and a link next to this which asks you if you want to change it.
If you click on this you can see exactly what your membership will get you. As an unregistered member you have a limited amount of articles that you can read. There are still limits as a registered member if you don't actually pay for a subscription, but you will be able to access more features.
Assuming you don't want to pay anything, simply click on the 'sign up' button underneath the 'registered' column and go to the next page.
Okay, so what do I do now?
Simply fill in all your information as requested on the next secure web page. Make sure you select your position and job from the drop down boxes, and indicate which industry you are in as well. If you don't see an exact match you can either select the nearest match or go for the N/A option.
You must tick to confirm you have read the terms and conditions, but it is up to you whether you want to receive emails from them or from other companies. If you don't, make sure the other two boxes aren't ticked.
Then click on the 'register' link.
Once the next page appears, keep it in your browser and wait for the email that you need to be able to confirm your registration. Once you have that, you can enjoy the additional features that the Financial Times website can give you.
Okay so I'm registered – what next?
From now on, you can log in using the box near the top right hand corner of the home page. Once you have done this you will be recognised as a member and you can instantly access more information as a result.
For a start, you can read more articles each and every month. You won't get unlimited access as you need to pay for that, but it does give you a chance to see whether or not the service is going to be for you before paying for a proper subscription.
There are other benefits to registering on the site though. For example, you may want to receive the type of news you will be interested in via email. You can now do this, thanks to the personal preferences that you can set up with your account. Why receive news you aren't interested in when you can tailor it to your own specific needs?
If RSS feeds are more your cup of tea, you can enjoy these too. This all makes the Financial Times website more interactive and enjoyable, since you will be reminded that it is there and that you have greater flexibility to use it than you had before.
You can also upgrade your account by going into your personal details at any time. Your “access level” shows what you have at the moment, and you can click on the link next to that to make any changes you want to make.
What is the Portfolio feature?
If you have assets that you would like to keep track of, then you may find this free feature a worthwhile part of your free membership.
You can create separate portfolios and select the appropriate currency for each, and then keep an eye on how they are doing every time you log in.
Should I consider upgrading to a paid subscription?
It depends how much you are likely to use the website. If you pay for either the standard or premium option, you will get unlimited use and access to the articles on the website. The main difference with the premium version is that you get access to Lex, which is their main column.
You can read more about the additional benefits of paying for your subscription after you register.
In conclusion
If you want to know what is going on in the world of business and finance, then FT.com is one of the best sites to go to.
The only question is how much you want to know – and to know more, it is definitely worth joining as a member.