It’s important for users to have fast access to their account settings and information. This section of the website is usually visited when users have a problem, for example when they want to check order status or address. So, why making it difficult to find?

"Centralize personal data…"

Putting all the user information together in one place make users happy. Centralize personal data, profile settings and password changing options. For example Xing.com, the business network, put all that together.

Another good design decision would be to make that very useful account page accessible from the whole site. Make the link to it visible as much as possible. Xing places a link to it from every single page (highly visible on the homepage and then at the bottom).