Vanguard and MD+ issue
Is anyone experiencing issues with Vanguard and MD+ (plaid)? I have deleted the account from Plaid and re-added several times. When I add the account, Plaid is issuing me a 'can't connect message' saying Vanguard is unavailable from 9-3 EST and 3-5 EST. Even when outside those hours. When I do get connected, I reset the date to 1/1/2024 and get no transactions, not even duplicates. Something doesn't see correct. But it could just be me.
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1 Posted by dtd on 23 Aug, 2024 09:37 PM
My Vanguard downloads work ok, given I connect (as of today) - but they are via OFX, as I always use OFX if it is available.
The key is "already connected". It appears you cannot connect. Has this connection ever worked before? Do you connect properly with other banks? I cannot speak to MD+ Vanguard connection reliability, but 'when you add the account' and can't connect, is that a global cannot connect, or a "successfully connected to the account", and simply 0 out of 0 transactions all the time (which means you are connected)? i.e. the question is - there are two ways to connect - to the account itself, and when trying to download.
My personal advice is the same as most people's personal advice - "do what I do"... :)
Is there a reason you don't want to use OFX to connect Vanguard? It is quick and reliable for me, until/if Vanguard drops OFX.
2 Posted by dtd on 24 Aug, 2024 06:33 AM
Now if this is an Amex Savings Account or Checking Account (?) - they don't support OFX, never have. I do have an Amex Savings Account in MD+, and it also connects, but that's because it's been connected for a while.
So the question is the same about connection, for those cases.
3 Posted by hike305 on 24 Aug, 2024 04:33 PM
I have the same problem as the OP - only with Vanguard and MD+. I first noticed it after changing my Vanguard password. Now, I can connect fine with MD+, but no transactions are downloaded. I reset the sync date, to no avail.
My other MD+ connections work - even after changing the bank/brokerage password.
4 Posted by Dan P on 24 Aug, 2024 07:51 PM
@hike305 - thanks for posting. I think it's a Plaid/Vanguard issue, but no way to find out. I've talked to the developer in the past, but Plaid usually doesn't answer him - at least not quickly. Since we pay for MD+/Plaid, I want to use that. OFX is available and I'm using it for now. MD+ started getting the share prices from Plaid and updating internally, which I like. I think it updates even when no transactions are downloaded. OFX doesn't do hat, which is another reason I would like for MD+/Plaid/Vanguard to work.
5 Posted by dtd on 25 Aug, 2024 12:38 AM
All this is fine and MD+ should work, but I always use OFX if available (even if Plaid gives out a share price carrot) because OFX is a direct connection to the bank itself, whereas Plaid is an aggregator which can have inherent delays in the data download.
And of course inherent connection issues, which you two are currently encountering.
Good luck on a fix!
I pay for MD+ as well but that doesn't make me want to move a superior connection to a lesser one. (I use MD+ on those who have left OFX, like Chase/Schwab/USAA)
I use Quote Loader for share price updates, so for me the "carrot" is irrelevant.
6 Posted by mrdooba on 29 Aug, 2024 12:51 AM
I haven't been able to download Vanguard transactions through Moneydance+ for over a month. I always get zero new transactions. My Citibank credit card Moneydance+ downloads work fine.
I have an old OFX based Vanguard account that still works fine. Is there a way to change an account from Moneydance+ downloads to OFX?
7 Posted by Dan P on 29 Aug, 2024 01:16 AM
mrdooba, yes, but you'll need the toolbox extension to do it.
First, open the MD+ setup, then locate Vanguard, click on the connected button and disconnect.
Then start the Toolbox extension and enter update mode. DO A BACKUP!
Under Online Banking Tools, click Clean Up Online Banking Links
It should say something like 2 items deleted (if my memory is correct.)
Exit Toolbox, go back to Setup Online Banking (with your Vanguard account selected) and it should offer both OFX and MD+
Good Luck.
8 Posted by dtd on 29 Aug, 2024 01:33 AM
I know how to do "double setups" (i.e. have both OFX and MD+ available). Given the comments, I'll set up MD+ and see how it goes. Still if OFX works (even though I must use MD+ for Schwab, Chase, and USAA), if I can have OFX versus MD+, I will choose OFX every time.
I'm dealing with that right now with Amex, and ofx, but it's not looking good.
9 Posted by dtd on 29 Aug, 2024 01:36 AM
Ok, just throwing this out to @DanP.
OFX is included with Moneydance, it's older, it's standard, and it is a direct connect to the bank. MD+ is an aggregator, has delays, and mostly works (sometimes). Why, just because you "pay for MD+" do you want to use it over a more reliable, included, direct connect to your bank????
Just askin'.... ;)
Yes, yes, I know, stock price carrot, and I just wont let it go, will I.... ;)
10 Posted by Dan P on 29 Aug, 2024 01:39 AM
My life, my reasons. Don't need to answer.
On Wed, Aug 28, 2024 at 9:37 PM dtd <[email blocked]> wrote:
11 Posted by dtd on 29 Aug, 2024 01:46 AM
Just connected to Vanguard wth MD+, indeed, nothing downloaded.
12 Posted by dtd on 29 Aug, 2024 01:47 AM
Can anyone download from Vanguard with MD+ once connected?
13 Posted by dtd on 29 Aug, 2024 01:51 AM
Nothing from my investment account either with MD+ to Vanguard.
Support Staff 14 Posted by Maddy on 29 Aug, 2024 10:51 AM
@All
We are sorry to hear about the problems you have encountered connecting with Vanguard via Moneydance +.
According to Plaid support their engineers are currently working to resolve these two issues:
1) An issue affecting Vanguard which causes valid transactions to be missing for cash management accounts from the data returned by Plaid's APIs.
2) Another issue which causes inversion of investment transaction signs, showing credits as debits and debits as credits.
Unfortunately we are unable to provide an ETA for when Plaid will be able to fix these issues, but we will continue monitoring this case and provide you with any updates on this thread.
Side note: Generally, when a financial institution supports Direct Connect, we recommend using the OFX service method. Firstly because it is free, secondly because the downloads are immediate as these do not require the intervention of an aggregator as it happens with Moneydance +, thirdly as you can use ‘Bill Pay’(if required).
So, since Vanguard supports the OFX method, we would recommend disconnecting it from Moneydance + and re-creating the OFX Connection as outlined here.
In order to achieve this navigate to Online menu-> Set up Moneydance+ and where it reads "Connected" on the right, click and select disconnect in the popup. Finally, restart Moneydance.
Your bank might require you to enable your accounts for application-based online banking and you can accomplish this by asking them to set up your account for direct connections from Quicken. Moneydance uses exactly the same OFX server connection protocol as Quicken but your bank representative may not know this and mistakenly believe that you can not connect in Moneydance.
Calling up your bank and stating precisely the following should get you started:
"Please enable direct connect on my account such that I can connect to your servers directly with Quicken. Also give me the login credentials I need to connect Quicken to this service."
Application-based online banking often requires a different login/PIN than the ones that are used for ATM or web-based banking. When you enable your account for access from Moneydance or Quicken, your financial institution should let you know what customer ID/login and PIN to use.
I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions or need more assistance.
--
Maddy, Infinite Kind Support
15 Posted by mrdooba on 29 Aug, 2024 01:38 PM
Thank you Dan P and Maddy.
I was already aware of
2) Another issue which causes inversion of investment transaction signs, showing credits as debits and debits as credits.
and have been manually correcting it for over a year. But the no new transactions to download problem only started in July.
I was able to disconnect Moneydance+ from Vanguard using the Toolbox extension. I was then able to link 2 of my 3 accounts through OFX.
The 3rd account does not appear in the pull down list so I am unable to link it. It is a joint account, but that has never been an issue in the past on Moneydance+ or old OFX links. I wonder if its a Vanguard account number mapping issue.
16 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 29 Aug, 2024 02:02 PM
Toolbox 🧰 +1 😃
17 Posted by dtd on 29 Aug, 2024 08:43 PM
I've had joint accounts with Vanguard in the past (now just mine), and sometimes I could log into the joint account with password, and the "missing" account would show up. i.e. the account numbers were mapped to different accounts.
18 Posted by mrdooba on 31 Aug, 2024 05:20 PM
After creating some dummy Moneydance investment accounts and downloading Vanguard transactions into them via OFX, I was able to deduce which Vanguard account number should be mapped to my last unassigned Vanguard account in Moneydance. The account number in the Moneydance pull down list does not match the account number Vanguard presents on their website. But it seems to work fine and I assume this is some kind of internal Vanguard account number alias issue. My Vanguard accounts are now all using OFX and functioning again. Thank you Dan P, dtd, Maddy, and Stuart for the help.
19 Posted by dtd on 31 Aug, 2024 08:41 PM
Yes, many banks have "internal" numbers for your accounts. Glad you figured it out!
20 Posted by dtd on 05 Sep, 2024 02:33 AM
To the best of my knowledge, Vanguard OFX is still working, but Vanguard MD+ is not.
Anyone have different info?
21 Posted by he on 07 Sep, 2024 07:06 PM
@dtd, I believe you are correct -- Vanguard OFX is working but I've had poor results with Vanguard MD+ (missing transactions, mainly).
I recently switched to OFX from MD+. When I was using MD+, I was doing a lot of manual entry because MD+ just wasn't getting the job done. Since switching to OFX, it's been flawless.