Sharebuilder Bonus?

[Rebecca Stapler]

Has anyone done the Sharebuilder bonus and then pulled $ out after 6 months? (the amount of time you need the money in there) It seems like putting $5k or $10k into a no-load mutual fund doesn't have a fee, and they give you a $60 or $120 bonus for doing it. I haven't dug any further than that, so I'm not sure what the expense ratio is on the mutual funds they offer. But I'm curious if anyone has done it and thought it was worth it?

[Under_Score]

I did the $50 bonus for opening an account (any $ amount) and will be able to close it and keep the $50 on August 6th. Unfortunately, the stock I picked was ARR, a REIT, and between the stock tumbling, and the $6.95 per trade, I'll only have made $20-25. Not bad for clicking a few buttons though.

I would never consider putting more than the $20 I used for my bonus just for the sake of an account bonus. If you are serious about investing in no load mutual funds, do what everyone else here does and use Vanguard. Sharebuilder is probably ok if you must own individual stocks.

It was worth it, but I'd keep it to yourself, other people will probably laugh at you unless they are similarly minded. I'd also pick a low risk stock...coca cola maybe?

[Rebecca Stapler]

Thanks Under-Score. I'd just never contemplated those bonuses before because we have our retirement accounts with Vanguard, admiral shares in an index fund. But with the CC bonus talk, I wondered if that kind of bonus "rolling" could be applied elsewhere.

[burly]

They'll give you a 1099-MISC so you have to pay state and federal taxes on your whopping $50.00.

Not worth it IMHO.