Of the several sockbroker/ financial promos to open new account and get FF promos: which of them gives :

1-all the points fast/promptly?

2-all the points, but slow/delayed?

3-gives part of the points after you open account and the balance much later?

If the Ameritrade offer is still give, they gave me half the point within about a week and the rest are supposed to be at the six month mark.

I've been on the TD Waterhouse AAdvantage program for quite a while. I don't remember if there were any sign-up bonuses, but there are two on-going components:
- Maintain total balance (stocks, bonds, cash, etc.) over $25,000 get 1,000 AA miles per year, payable in 250 mile increments every quarter you are over that amount.
- 1 mile per year for every $10 held in the AAdvantage Money Market fund. Put alternatively, you get 8 miles every month for every $1,000 you hold in this fund.

Basically, if you're a mileage junkie, this probably isn't enough incentive to convert you to TD Waterhouse, but if you're already with Waterhouse (and I've been very happy with their service and fees), it's a nice little bonus. Miles post very quickly.

I hate to say it, but I never got the 25,000 AA points and never got the bonuses either, and I've always had a balance greater than $25,000! I went around and around with them quite a while and finally just gave up on the project. TD Waterhouse is a good brokerage and I still use them but based on my experience and that of a friend, I would not count on getting ANY of these promised miles. We signed up quite a few years ago now, though, so perhaps the bugs are out of the program by now. I just don't think I have the heart to start nagging them about it again. My advice is to use Waterhouse if you like their financial services and to consider any miles a lucky break! Agreed, their service and fees are terrific for my needs.

Opened the Ameritrade account in March 2004, received the first batch of Starpoints in April 2004. It was easy and user friendly.

I'm on my fourth brokerage account for AA and Delta miles. I started with Schwab, them moved to Ameritrade and Waterhouse. All those miles posted fairly quickly. About three months ago, I moved to E-Trade. So far less than half the miles have posted, and I'm told the rest will appear after 6 months.
I referred my brother to receive a 2500 mile bonus, but was told his miles and the bonus won't post for 6 months because his is the referral account. The only cost has been $50 to close my account from Waterhouse.

Thank you all for the comments. What I was trying to ask more specifically:
which brokers/financial companies say and do give you all the bonus points immedietly, which ones give one half now and rest later, which ones give you all later?

Didn't Waterhouse cancel that promo?

I opened account with TD Waterhouse 2 months ago, but have not seen any mileage yet. Just contact the Customer Center yesterday and they said that they are investigating the problem.

Ameritrade posted the star point very quickly. I would definitely recommend Ameritrade.

E-trade posts all the miles right away and Ameritrade posts 50% right away and the balance 50% after 6 months.

I believe that Fidelity had a UAL points promo, giving 15000 miles for depositing $ 20K or thereabouts. Do not know if it still is available.

Expires December 2005. Up to 25,000 miles, depending on opening balance. Miles took a couple of months to post, but they did post without hassle. Details on my website below in the Finance section.

Free Frequent Flyer Miles

I continue to get my AA miles for Waterhouse monthly (for money market balance) and quarterly (for total account balance over $25,000). I've never had a problem getting miles and they post like clockwork.

And it automatically extends the life of any miles in your AAdvantage account at the same time. No more having to worry, "Am I running into the third year?" or "I must remember to have some activity in that account by the end of the year."

My wife got her miles within 30 days of investing.