Originally Posted by dolmar

Just so you know I have $0 stocks and mutual funds. I currently have no long bonds either as I refuse to buy long bonds paying less than 5% as I can get much higher returns than that cash on cash basis on real estate currently. My account generates 30 basis a point for the broker as Citigroup discloses what your broker made on your account in your annual account summary under "Fees, trailings and commisions".

Now I am sure there are brokers who work for Citigroup who do push higher commsion products, and even presure there clients into them. But you can always switch brokers and are not forced to work with a broker you dont like. It took me 3 brokers till I found one I liked who was ok with doing cash mangement. First 2 brokers keep pitching junk loaded mutual funds, mananged mutual funds accounts, and managed bond positions.