manuel said:AbbaZabba said:the best way to keep the 10k in the account would probably be to pick out two high-grade closed end tax-free bond funds with low fees trading at a decent discount. Should yield 5-6% with hardly any risk.

Love CEFs at a discount, really do. But there is a lot more risk than that.

If you need the 10k back I'd stick with short term bond funds - I'm still too SHY to mention which one. Is verrrry liquid though and yielding about 4% - and should be state tax free.Very cryptic manuel

just a hypothetical... with completely free trades for 45 days, could you move all your money into a few funds (diversify) with really nice monthly dividends, i'm talking maybe .75% to get in on the dividend and move them out a few days after? Since it's 45 days free if you timed it right, you could do it twice. This could give you an extra 1.5% overall. What do you guys think? too risky?

TD Ameritrade, formerly Ameritrade, is offering a 3.5% APY money market account as your brokerage's settlement account, i.e, your cash of $10,000 is generating 3.5% APY on top of the $500 bounus, and if you are an active trader like me, 30 trades a month, that will be additional $450 dollar value.

This is an offer you can't afford not to take advantage of.

AbbaZabba said:just a hypothetical... with completely free trades for 45 days, could you move all your money into a few funds (diversify) with really nice monthly dividends, i'm talking maybe .75% to get in on the dividend and move them out a few days after? Since it's 45 days free if you timed it right, you could do it twice. This could give you an extra 1.5% overall. What do you guys think? too risky?

manuel said:tooshy - thanks, that was what I was going for. Mentioned it pages ago in this thread but people seem determined to make it tough and play MM games and fancy CEFs. This deal is complicated, but there's no reasons the investments have to be.Unless of course you like GOLD better....which is why I took the ING funds and moved it to Presidential for the moment, so I'm not in t-bills yet. I was reading something over the weekend, and it got me a bit spooked. Carribean funds (I know I know I don't know what I'm talking about) but FWIW, large amounts have left the Treasury (no coincidence rates are higher, but also it was predicted because of budget shortfalls.) Do you think it has anything to do with commodity futures? (I read it re: gold futures where the Carribeans "hedged" their orders in treasuries.) Can't find the article. But I'm thinking could the gold runup be because of hedge funds, in which case maybe a big correction is coming soon. Oh well, nice to be a investment newbie, no pressure to be correct.

Husband told me to buy gold two years ago, and I told him that would be too stressful at the time (other investments weren't behaving) and I wanted to keep everything in cash....really can kick myself now. Doesn't get easier, but times are sure getting heated up. I'm still "everthing in CDs", but I'm willing to try a little also. Having $1K to "hedge" being wrong is nice

Yes, he's also worried about the dollar weakening and constantly asks if the money in the bank is going to be worth less? However, this deal is perfect, after all is said and done I'll probably do the t-bills Besides the hedge fund spook, I'm also not sure if a global slowdown (probably India, not sure China) will bite gold before it runs up again.

Sorry for going OT, just trying to get manuel to spill some investment nuggets....

I was reading through the terms and conditions and this is the way I understand the deal.

To qualify for the $500 APEX bonus, your TD AMERITRADE account must have an average of 5 trades per month or $100,000 total account value in the first three months. Allow 3-4 weeks after account reaches Apex status for $500 bonus to post to your account. Your account must remain open with minimum funding for 9 months after $500 credit posts to account or TD AMERITRADE may charge the account for the cash awarded. Apex qualification is reviewed every three months.

The important aspect here is the last line. I interpret that as saying that your account won't be placed into APEX status until 3 months after you open it. Then you have to wait another 3 to 4 weeks for the $500 bonus to be applied. Then you need to wait another 9 months after the bonus is deposited in your account before you can withdraw the money with no penalty. So basically, you are looking at having your money tied up for 13 months. Correct me if I am wrong.

This better work out... I open an account and funded it with $10k... should be better than letting that money sit at HSBC...

Sounds good. I went to the promo page. When I go to sign up, the promo is no longer mentioned. Do I need to input some promo code, or can I just assume it will keep track of the promo for me>?

In, thanks OP.

I don't do much trading so I'm flying a little blind. I appreciate the advice given here, just want the bonus and 3.5% MM yield for myself and my wife. Easy $1k.

I funded with $10,200 just in case I lost a buck or two in these numerous trades - wouldn't want them to argue I dropped below the $10K mark in that 9 mo period my account will stay open after receiving the bonus.