dunno , just thought about it

theman2 said:my strategy to take advantage of this is to tell them that I have just made this year and last years contribution to a Roth ($8K) and am thus cash-strapped for another 6 months.

Either that or I tell them that I want to make a $20K BT from an AMEX credit card and use the money to speculate in options

I just had another idea - has anyone tried going in to one of these and telling them that you are only there for the $75 giftcard? that usually works for the test drive incentives.

i did that with the $50 gift card for the over the phone consultation a while ago, i just told the dude, dude i just want the gift card i dont even kno what ur talking about lol he said sure i dont want to waste my time n sent it to me

MOZZY said:didYOUsearch said:of course if shes cute, act all interested and tell her how much you like her to handle your assets

If she is cute she can handle my family jewels dont get too cozy or she'll end up taking half. And that can hurt in more ways than one.

Do they do any type of credit check for this? I don't want this to affect my FICO.

It says the bonus you receive is subject to "income tax".

Now explain to me how a "GIFT Check" is subject to income tax? I didn't know there was a tax on receiving a GIFT which is clearly marked "GIFT" ... did you?

Thanks PO. Just applied. How long before any of you guys receive the actual offer for the presentation?

Wonder if it will fly again. I did this before, when I had a little debt, and even told them that I am doing this to get that reduced, at least by $50 that time. I think they would become a little dumbfounded when I tell them I am running a Vanguard Target Roth with an average of 9%-10% retun with 1/4 % management fees, have liuid assests in a 4.25% Emigrant Direct Account, and am filtering funds into Energy, Small Cap and RE notes using Vanguard Viper ETF's with respectable returns. I could see them now, "well maybe you need a good whole life insurance policy" - Just like I need an hole in my pocketbook, now gimme that $75.

DamnoIT said:Wonder if it will fly again. I did this before, when I had a little debt, and even told them that I am doing this to get that reduced, at least by $50 that time. I think they would become a little dumbfounded when I tell them I am running a Vanguard Target Roth with an average of 9%-10% retun with 1/4 % management fees, have liuid assests in a 4.25% Emigrant Direct Account, and am filtering funds into Energy, Small Cap and RE notes using Vanguard Viper ETF's with respectable returns. I could see them now, "well maybe you need a good whole life insurance policy" - Just like I need an hole in my pocketbook, now gimme that $75.

They'll probably push the disability insurance instead. Both times, that's what they tried pushing on me.

I used to be an advisor for American Express Financial Advisors--it was my 1st job out of college. I quit shortly before the spin-off to Ameriprise. I met with people who had these various miles or gift cheque vouchers, but more commonly costco members who were getting a $25 Costco cash card (which you still may be able to do by the way, costco mambers). I would sign them and mail them in after i presented and tried to sell the prospects. I did actually get a few to bite. The initial consultation is definitely a hard sell. I could write out here the 23 page script I had to memorize that virtually every advisor recites in these meetings. There is virtually no way out of saying yes to something...except one. "I'm unemployed and I have 20k in credit card debt, and it's at about 22%". No good advisor will tell ytou to buy Disability insurance, or, term, whole life unless they're a total (insert explitive). Nothing pises off an advisor like a "non-qualified lead". They walk out of the PMM (that's what that first meeting is called by advisors) tict off that their time was wasted.
However, if you've never been to meet with these advisors, you'll probably learn something if you get a good advisor. THe "Tax control triangle" though definitely manipulated in their presentation is a good strategy to tax plan your retirement.
I've wroked in the financial and investment world ever since I left, and I still think they do some of the best comprehensive financial planning in the industry. Second only to some good independent planners, and a compnay called Savant--which is only for the super rich. But, it all depends on the advisor you meet with.
If you guys have more detailed questions, post them, and i'll try to respond soon enough.
Check out amexsux.com for a good hate site

I signed up a few days ago and no contact yet.

Anyone been contaceted? How long did you wait?