Today, I tried to open a new account with TD Ameritrade for a bonus using SPG offer. In the past, I was able to open multiple accounts with different offers. However, this time, I got a message saying that I already have an account open and hence wouldn't get the new account bonus. Anybody else experienced the same thing?

$250 Shell gas card for $50,000 $500 for $100,000 of new money. Or a Apple Ipod with speakers. You should call to see if you qualify.

I called and they offered me any of the aforementioned (iPod Nano 2GB for $10,000 of new money). The only issue is that is primarily offered to former TD Ameritrade customers only though they did offer it to me despite being a foremer TD Waterhouse customer. Just to be safe, I asked them to mail me the offers to my home address and I will keep everybody posted.

You should qualify for new account bonus if you open a joint accout with spouse.

TD Ameritrade offers:

http://www.tdameritrade.com/offer/nano.html
http://www.tdameritrade.com/offer/partner/usairways/
http://www.tdameritrade.com/offer/pa...ed/united.html
http://www.tdameritrade.com/offer/pa.../starwood.html
http://www.tdameritrade.com/offer/pa...lta/delta.html
http://www.tdameritrade.com/offer/pa...ntinental.html

This link indicates that the TD Ameritrade promo eneded on 1/31/07?

Only the Starwood page says that. I have an email from Ameritrade that says that the offer is still valid - they just havn't updated the page yet. Their internal codes say it ends 3/31. Calling them will verify that, and you can make double sure by printing out the offer and sending it with your paperwork with a note saying that opening the account is contigent upon your getting the Starpoints offered.

I think the problem came when I tried to open a separate second account after opening the first (usairways). It said I do not qualify for opening bonus. I tried calling them and they didn't have any offers on the existing account for new money.

I will try to open a joint account and see how that goes.

If you're not already planning on opening an account (in which case any offer is like "free" money), these are terrible offers. For the United offer, you're basically paying about $94 for 5,000 miles or $1875 for 25,000 miles just based on losing 5% interest for the 9 months the account has to stay open.

Actually you can put the money in a CD for the 9 months and get the interest (and the points)

This caught my attention:

Arguably, Ameritrade's cost of the points/miles is fairly low, since they buy them in bulk. This language does not say that an early withdrawal of funds means that you're buying the points/miles at the going (airline/hotel website) prices, but rather that you have to cover what Ameritrade paid for the miles. Anyone have experience with this?

Right, or a short-term (or ultra-short) bond fund or a money market or T-Bills. Ameritrade also offers a money market sweep option if you sign up for their Total Asset Plan (though expenses on this are kinda high). Definitely a good deal if you have the cash laying around.

I have received a large number of miles from broker offers. I have never opened any of these accounts with cash. I simply had the new broker transfer stock postions from another account I owned, or, in the earlier days, I simply deposted old stock certificates I had, once I began to trust that my investment was safe keeping them in broker accounts. Easy. The only cost is the occasional fee from the old broker to do the transfer out. This has never been more than $50, which is cheap for 25,000 miles.

Those who don't have stocks to deposit or transfer probably ought to start considering investing. Interest rates on safe deposits after taxes never keep up with inflation. For conservative people, there are investments out there that are reasonably stable, offer potential capital appreciation, and produce attractive income from dividends. Perhaps opening a TD Ameritrade or Fidelity account with cash would be a good start in investing that cash in the stock market. Fidelity is better at helping beginners invest one or more of its zillion mutual funds that would meet the risk tolarance and goals of the investor.

I speak from 42 years of successful investing experience.

By the way, your math ignores the fact that miles are not taxable and your 5% is. Your actual cost of miles is the amount you get to keep after you pay taxes on the 5%.

I agree 110% with pgary .... thanks for posting this simple yet very valuable idea!

I've had 18 successful years of investment experience .... and 18 out of 22 isn't too bad!

I opened an account with TD ameritrade on 8/15/06 to get some miles. I put in $25k and immediately bought Airline stocks (AMR, LCC, LUV) with all $25k. On 9/25/06 I sold all my airline stocks now valued at $32k taking a profit of $7k. I subsequently invested in PHK fund which has rewarded me in interest and dividends of over $1000 for the past 4 months. So, while I wait for the last few days of my 6 months to get my other half of my SPG miles (10k) I will have profited over $8k AND got my 20k in miles. Not a bad return on my money and miles. FWIW, after the 6 months I will pull out my money, as I am not an stock market investor (contrary to my success).

Jim