What do you like best?
Very wide range of functionality, many features, customizable to your own preferences and needs. The email alerts are absolutely amazing - they provide real-time updates on markets, economic data, and politics. It's very useful as it is consolidated and sent right to your inbox. You can select which updates, alerts, etc you want in the Preferences section. I also like the Portfolio Monitor, where you can upload a portfolio into the system and monitor it over time. This functionality provides real-time data on how that portfolio is performing. The options charts are very useful as well - options are complicated as they are, but Factset makes it very straightforward with a simple user interface. Additionally, the order book is updated and real-time as well, you can see trades, volumes, and various other price metrics.
What do you dislike?
Sometimes, the system can be cumbersome due to it's wide functionalities, but overall - straightforward after a few uses, you just need to get used to it. Factset provides tutorials and help/guidance for newer users.
What problems are you solving with the product? What benefits have you realized?
Investment research, market alerts, and portfolio management. Research into individual equities, ETFs and other investment vehicles. Also benefits for consolidating various news outlets and market data into email alerts. Screening capabilities are excellent with Factset, customizable criteria available. For discretionary equity portfolios, it's great to make a custom earnings calendar and find out when earning calls are, price momentum going forward into earnings season, and past history of earnings/earnings expectations/earnings beats and misses.
