Bank of America/Merrill Edge - Preferred Rewards

[navyitaly]

Can someone very intelligent please inbrief me on how/where Bank of America/Merrill Edge/Lynch is making money on the Preferred Rewards - Platinum Honors status when you take the following actions (I do this literally). I have over $100,000 with Merrill Edge.

https://www.bankofamerica.com/preferred-rewards/

Now I get it, most people don't do this, so I am not the normal population:

1. Do not keep money in the Bank of America low paying savings account, so they can't make it on the savings account interest spread.

2. I only buy low cost Vanguard/iShares ETF (and occasionally a Schwab ETF). ER is never more than .12 on any fund. I get 100 free stock/ETF trades per month. I know about the 10% redemption fee for partial shares...I solve that by not reinvesting dividends..I take my dividends, and rebuy after they post and buying up to the next whole share so that doesn't happen. I know they make something on the buy/ask spread on ETF's, but I think with Vanguard, it's pretty small, and for a long-term it's going to be negligible, and it's still cheaper than paying a commission to a broker.

3. The only mutual funds I have are Vanguard and I transferred them in, they have 0 12b:1 fees, and they do free automatic/systematic investing so there's no fee there. I have never paid a fee to them on this either. The highest ER on any fund here is VGTSX which is 0.22. I know I can't hold the Admiral shares version of it even though I have way more than is required, but I buy VXUS now for the same ER, but I am losing $30 per year in dividends/returns the way it is (less than my capital gains taxes would be to change it and I am happy with how things are).

4. They reimburse ATM fees for Platinum Honors.

5. They paid me a bonus for my Roth IRA and my CMA (taxable).

6. Huge one, I have both credit cards, so I get 2.625% on all purchases or 5.25%/3.5%/1.75% for gas/groceries/everything. Always pay credit card in full. Additionally, they gave a bonus to even get each card.

7. Other misc benefits such as free checks, just pretty much non-tangible stuff that's there.

Where are they making their money? Please enlighten me. Is this a teaser promo?

Thanks.

[lhl12]

Can someone very intelligent please inbrief me on how/where Bank of America/Merrill Edge/Lynch is making money on the Preferred Rewards - Platinum Honors status when you take the following actions (I do this literally). I have over $100,000 with Merrill Edge.

https://www.bankofamerica.com/preferred-rewards/

Now I get it, most people don't do this, so I am not the normal population:

1. Do not keep money in the Bank of America low paying savings account, so they can't make it on the savings account interest spread.

2. I only buy low cost Vanguard/iShares ETF (and occasionally a Schwab ETF). ER is never more than .12 on any fund. I get 100 free stock/ETF trades per month. I know about the 10% redemption fee for partial shares...I solve that by not reinvesting dividends..I take my dividends, and rebuy after they post and buying up to the next whole share so that doesn't happen. I know they make something on the buy/ask spread on ETF's, but I think with Vanguard, it's pretty small, and for a long-term it's going to be negligible, and it's still cheaper than paying a commission to a broker.

3. The only mutual funds I have are Vanguard and I transferred them in, they have 0 12b:1 fees, and they do free automatic/systematic investing so there's no fee there. I have never paid a fee to them on this either. The highest ER on any fund here is VGTSX which is 0.22. I know I can't hold the Admiral shares version of it even though I have way more than is required, but I buy VXUS now for the same ER, but I am losing $30 per year in dividends/returns the way it is (less than my capital gains taxes would be to change it and I am happy with how things are).

4. They reimburse ATM fees for Platinum Honors.

5. They paid me a bonus for my Roth IRA and my CMA (taxable).

6. Huge one, I have both credit cards, so I get 2.625% on all purchases or 5.25%/3.5%/1.75% for gas/groceries/everything. Always pay credit card in full. Additionally, they gave a bonus to even get each card.

7. Other misc benefits such as free checks, just pretty much non-tangible stuff that's there.

Where are they making their money? Please enlighten me. Is this a teaser promo?

Thanks.

How big is the credit limit on your 2.625% credit card? More generally, could you have a month when you've maxed out the card and want to charge more but can't?

[navyitaly]

$25,000 on the Travel Rewards (2.625%)
$18,000 on the 1.75/3.5/5.25 (Cash Rewards)

No, I couldn't have a month where I could ever max out my credit cards with BofA (not that I charge that much in general, but to answer your question on where they could squeeze profits, they gave a generous limit so no).

My wife also have $10,000 on a cash rewards, so we have it on both ends.

[livesoft]

They don't make money off of you. They make money off of folks who don't use their features as wisely as you do. Furthermore, they prevent the competition from having your money.

[Tramper Al]

They don't make money off of you. They make money off of folks who don't use their features as wisely as you do. Furthermore, they prevent the competition from having your money.

I agree. I've had a $100K Merrill Edge account for a couple of months, filled with a handful of ETFs I never trade. For the first couple weeks I was inundated by emails and daily phone calls from a salesman wanting to "help" me take advantage of all they had to offer. I eventually managed to get him to stop, but apparently now a new guy has been assigned to my case, and the daily phone calls have started all over again. I was contemplating moving $100K over for my wife for another bonus, but I can't subject her to this.

[bberris]

They don't make money off of you. They make money off of folks who don't use their features as wisely as you do. Furthermore, they prevent the competition from having your money.

I agree. I've had a $100K Merrill Edge account for a couple of months, filled with a handful of ETFs I never trade. For the first couple weeks I was inundated by emails and daily phone calls from a salesman wanting to "help" me take advantage of all they had to offer. I eventually managed to get him to stop, but apparently now a new guy has been assigned to my case, and the daily phone calls have started all over again. I was contemplating moving $100K over for my wife for another bonus, but I can't subject her to this.

Call blocking, Al. Call blocking.

[G-Force]

3. The only mutual funds I have are Vanguard and I transferred them in, they have 0 12b:1 fees, and they do free automatic/systematic investing so there's no fee there. I have never paid a fee to them on this either. The highest ER on any fund here is VGTSX which is 0.22. I know I can't hold the Admiral shares version of it even though I have way more than is required, but I buy VXUS now for the same ER, but I am losing $30 per year in dividends/returns the way it is (less than my capital gains taxes would be to change it and I am happy with how things are).

Are you saying that if you setup automatic investments that waives the normal $20 transaction fee? I thought all Vanguard funds were transaction fee types on Merrill Edge. So then you only get dinged with the fee when you sell then?

[tfb]

For the first couple weeks I was inundated by emails and daily phone calls from a salesman wanting to "help" me take advantage of all they had to offer.

Unlucky you. I received exactly one welcome call on the voicemail. I didn't call back. That was it. If you don't want emails, click on the unsubscribe link at the end.

[indexfundfan]

For the first couple weeks I was inundated by emails and daily phone calls from a salesman wanting to "help" me take advantage of all they had to offer.

Unlucky you. I received exactly one welcome call on the voicemail. I didn't call back. That was it. If you don't want emails, click on the unsubscribe link at the end.

I too received only one unsolicited welcome call from Merrill Edge and that's it. That welcome call was in fact helpful because the rep helped to expedite the ACH link setup.

The only instance I can remember where I received a couple of unsolicited calls associated with a new account opening was with TD Ameritrade a couple of years ago.

[navyitaly]

For any no load fund, Merrill Edge waives the $19.95 fee per investment if you do an auto investment plan...

It's in the terms and conditions, you must hold for 60 days or they ding you with some sort of fee in addition to any fee the prospectus for the fund may ding you with.

[dan23]

What is the cashback card you get 2.625% on?

[navyitaly]

https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-ca ... it-card.go

Bank of America Travel Rewards

[dan23]

Thanks - appears to me only redeemable to travel, but still nice. Also how do you get $1000 bonus, I only see $600.

[placeholder]

I've had a $100K Merrill Edge account for a couple of months, filled with a handful of ETFs I never trade. For the first couple weeks I was inundated by emails and daily phone calls from a salesman wanting to "help" me take advantage of all they had to offer.

Similar assets for me but they never contacted me for anything unless I asked for something.

[navyitaly]

I never claimed $1000 bonus, but I think at one time they were offering that targeted.

[dan23]

I never claimed $1000 bonus, but I think at one time they were offering that targeted.

Sorry I might have read that on another site or post and thought I read that here. Thanks for this, I think I am going to sign up.

[placeholder]

I moved there because they had a good bonus in that it only took 200k to get $600 and since I was moving a Roth I couldn't get to the 250k most required but I have all ETFs so the free trades are handy so I can buy a few shares with dividends or whatever and not worry about the transaction fee.

[placeholder]

Thanks - appears to me only redeemable to travel, but still nice. Also how do you get $1000 bonus, I only see $600.

Bonuses come and go so there might have been one at the time but $600 was the top when I moved early in the year.

[indexfundfan]

Thanks - appears to me only redeemable to travel, but still nice. Also how do you get $1000 bonus, I only see $600.

The $1000 was available for a short span in August/September.

[dual]

... how do you get $1000 bonus, I only see $600.

Here is the offer, it is still available for a few days:
Merrill offer

Amount and bonus:
20k $100
$50k $250
$100k $500
$200k $1000

"Receive your cash bonus within one week after the 180-day qualifying period."

"Offer valid only for new Merrill Edge self-directed IRA and CMA accounts opened by November 6, 2014"
IIRC "CMA" = cash management account i.e. taxable brokerage account

For more broker transfer bonuses see this Fatwallet thread:
Fatwallet thread

[G-Force]

The $1000 offer is still available. It says it expires on nov 6 though it has been extended in the past.

Http://merrilledge.com/1000offer

[likegarden]

And there I thought no real Boglehead would ever sign up with Merrill Edge, what's going on??

[navyitaly]

The fact that if you follow steps above you will come out positive!

[indexfundfan]

And there I thought no real Boglehead would ever sign up with Merrill Edge, what's going on??

Merrill Edge is self-directed (non-advisor) based unlike the regular Merrill Lynch.

[placeholder]

And there I thought no real Boglehead would ever sign up with Merrill Edge, what's going on??

I received a cash bonus and get free equity trades so what's not to like?

[lazyday]

I take my dividends, and rebuy after they post and buying up to the next whole share

This means you need to be there to place the trade. Someone with shares from Vanguard, iShares, SSGA, etc might get dividends many times per year.

If Vanguard is your broker, this money will automatically sweep into a money market fund with low expense ratio and conservative holdings. Today money market rates are near zero, but if they someday head up, you will likely get a much better rate on cash with Vanguard than at most brokers.

I sometimes ignore my investments for several months at a time. Cash accumulates in my accounts at near 0%, when some banks pay .75% to 1%. I estimate this cost me about $100 over the last 12 months, part of which is a gift to my brokers.

Another way some brokers make money: gather assets then get bought out. Some discount brokers offered great rates and perks, grew fast, then were bought by another broker, often one that charges customers more. Customers from the cheap broker might get to keep their low prices for a while.

[indexfundfan]

If Vanguard is your broker, this money will automatically sweep into a money market fund with low expense ratio and conservative holdings. Today money market rates are near zero, but if they someday head up, you will likely get a much better rate on cash with Vanguard than at most brokers.

Unless something change in the future, this is not an issue with Merrill Edge because you can specify setup the account to have dividends automatically transferred out to a checking or savings account of your choice. In fact, the dividends that Merrill Edge received last Friday are now already sitting in a high yield checking account.

[Leesbro63]

This brokerage bonus ($1000 for $200,000 cash or securities deposited/transferred to a new account) looks good. I am wondering how this stacks up to other current bonuses? I am going to GOOGLE it, but am wondering if anyone here follows this and how this compares?

[placeholder]

This brokerage bonus ($1000 for $200,000 cash or securities deposited/transferred to a new account) looks good. I am wondering how this stacks up to other current bonuses? I am going to GOOGLE it, but am wondering if anyone here follows this and how this compares?

It's a great one as it's the same bonus as TDA but requires 50k less and a good resource for comparing bonuses is:
http://www.hustlermoneyblog.com/best-brokerage-bonuses/
Although that ME one isn't listed (there's another) but often the brokerages will have multiple programs going simultaneously.

[SobeCane]

I recently took advantage of this promotion and am waiting for the 90 days period to get my $500 bonus for $100k in assets.

I have my investment in iShares S&P 1500 Index Fund for automatic dividend reinvestment but was wondering about the fee you discussed above that I had not initially noticed. Can someone shed light on what this means:

Your stock or ETF commissions sell orders may also be subject to a fractional share liquidation fee of 10% of proceeds

Am i losing 10% of my dividend for having dividend reinvestment turned on? I am used to mutual funds with Vanguard so the ETF arena is new to me.

[navyitaly]

I recently took advantage of this promotion and am waiting for the 90 days period to get my $500 bonus for $100k in assets.

I have my investment in iShares S&P 1500 Index Fund for automatic dividend reinvestment but was wondering about the fee you discussed above that I had not initially noticed. Can someone shed light on what this means:

Your stock or ETF commissions sell orders may also be subject to a fractional share liquidation fee of 10% of proceeds

Am i losing 10% of my dividend for having dividend reinvestment turned on? I am used to mutual funds with Vanguard so the ETF arena is new to me.

Nobody at Merrill Edge can tell me...I don't want to take any chances...or you sell everything minus 1 share + the fractional share...

[lazyday]

you can specify setup the account to have dividends automatically transferred out to a checking or savings account of your choice. In fact, the dividends that Merrill Edge received last Friday are now already sitting in a high yield checking account.

Wow, that's really nice. Maybe better than Vanguard, which I think is removing this feature with the brokerage account transition.

Oh, another way these brokers might make money: People in the know and "opinion leaders" come to like companies such as Merrill and Wells Fargo that offer good service for free. They talk positively about the firms, and some highly profitable full service customers are swayed in their choice. I don't mean someone using Merrill Edge and racking up fees with a margin loan. I mean full price wealth management.

[Leesbro63]

I recently took advantage of this promotion and am waiting for the 90 days period to get my $500 bonus for $100k in assets.

I have my investment in iShares S&P 1500 Index Fund for automatic dividend reinvestment but was wondering about the fee you discussed above that I had not initially noticed. Can someone shed light on what this means:

Your stock or ETF commissions sell orders may also be subject to a fractional share liquidation fee of 10% of proceeds

Am i losing 10% of my dividend for having dividend reinvestment turned on? I am used to mutual funds with Vanguard so the ETF arena is new to me.

I believe this only applies to a fractional share. If you have 100.46 shares, they'll keep 10% of the .46 share. Not a deal breaker

[tonsofthorns]

Another thing that I came across on my Merrill Edge (ME) account. If you liquidate a position and you have fractional shares left, ME will only liquidate any fractional shares once a month. Example: you sell a fund that has 10.47 shares, you can only sell 10 shares. Near the end of the month ME sells the fractional shares automatically, you have no control over it. Minor issue.

[G-Force]

The $1000 offer is available again. This one is good until March 31, but they keep getting renewed.

http://www.merrilledge.com/offers/1000offer

[stlutz]

Does anybody know if Merrill Edge requires you to have a margin account to trade with unsettled funds? (i.e. if I want to sell an ETF and buy another one on the same day)

[tj]

you can specify setup the account to have dividends automatically transferred out to a checking or savings account of your choice. In fact, the dividends that Merrill Edge received last Friday are now already sitting in a high yield checking account.

Wow, that's really nice. Maybe better than Vanguard, which I think is removing this feature with the brokerage account transition.

Oh, another way these brokers might make money: People in the know and "opinion leaders" come to like companies such as Merrill and Wells Fargo that offer good service for free. They talk positively about the firms, and some highly profitable full service customers are swayed in their choice. I don't mean someone using Merrill Edge and racking up fees with a margin loan. I mean full price wealth management.

I have a Vanguard Mutual fund account. All dividends go directly to My Alliant Credit Union checking account. Are you saying Vanguard is going to remove this feature? That seems completely lame.

[e5116]

you can specify setup the account to have dividends automatically transferred out to a checking or savings account of your choice. In fact, the dividends that Merrill Edge received last Friday are now already sitting in a high yield checking account.

Wow, that's really nice. Maybe better than Vanguard, which I think is removing this feature with the brokerage account transition.

Oh, another way these brokers might make money: People in the know and "opinion leaders" come to like companies such as Merrill and Wells Fargo that offer good service for free. They talk positively about the firms, and some highly profitable full service customers are swayed in their choice. I don't mean someone using Merrill Edge and racking up fees with a margin loan. I mean full price wealth management.

I have a Vanguard Mutual fund account. All dividends go directly to My Alliant Credit Union checking account. Are you saying Vanguard is going to remove this feature? That seems completely lame.

Unfortunately, yes. That is what is keeping me from "upgrading" my account:

"You’ll no longer be able to receive Vanguard fund
distributions by check, by automatic transfer to your
bank account, or by automatic reinvestment into
another Vanguard fund. If you currently use these
services, after the upgrade we’ll move the Vanguard
fund distributions to your settlement fund." http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... 0&t=143847

At some point, they're going to force it though apparently.

[RabbMD]

How are these bonuse paid for ira's? Does it go into the ira or a taxable account? If into the ira does it count as contributions for the year deposited?

[Code Commit]

How are these bonuse paid for ira's? Does it go into the ira or a taxable account? If into the ira does it count as contributions for the year deposited?

Bonuses are paid in the account in which you deposited the funds, so in the case above, it goes in IRA. Does not count as contribution. Counts as interest, but inside an IRA, it's not a problem.

[tj]

you can specify setup the account to have dividends automatically transferred out to a checking or savings account of your choice. In fact, the dividends that Merrill Edge received last Friday are now already sitting in a high yield checking account.

Wow, that's really nice. Maybe better than Vanguard, which I think is removing this feature with the brokerage account transition.

Oh, another way these brokers might make money: People in the know and "opinion leaders" come to like companies such as Merrill and Wells Fargo that offer good service for free. They talk positively about the firms, and some highly profitable full service customers are swayed in their choice. I don't mean someone using Merrill Edge and racking up fees with a margin loan. I mean full price wealth management.

I have a Vanguard Mutual fund account. All dividends go directly to My Alliant Credit Union checking account. Are you saying Vanguard is going to remove this feature? That seems completely lame.

Unfortunately, yes. That is what is keeping me from "upgrading" my account:

"You’ll no longer be able to receive Vanguard fund
distributions by check, by automatic transfer to your
bank account, or by automatic reinvestment into
another Vanguard fund. If you currently use these
services, after the upgrade we’ll move the Vanguard
fund distributions to your settlement fund." http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtop ... 0&t=143847

At some point, they're going to force it though apparently.

I don't like this change. I would have to consider moving to another firm. Does WellsTrade still let you buy admiral shares? Does Merrill let you keep your Admiral Shares or does it automatically downgrade?

[Code Commit]

Does anybody know if Merrill Edge requires you to have a margin account to trade with unsettled funds? (i.e. if I want to sell an ETF and buy another one on the same day)

From my recent experience, I have been able to sell an ETF and buy another ETF on the same day with unsettled funds in an IRA account. Since IRA's typically don't have margin facility, the answer to your question is, no. ME does not require margin to trade with unsettled funds.

[tfb]

The $1000 offer is available again. This one is good until March 31, but they keep getting renewed.

http://www.merrilledge.com/offers/1000offer

My bonus from last August paid out without hassle. It just showed up.

[stlutz]

From my recent experience, I have been able to sell an ETF and buy another ETF on the same day with unsettled funds in an IRA account. Since IRA's typically don't have margin facility, the answer to your question is, no. ME does not require margin to trade with unsettled funds.

Thanks! This is another of those "data points" that are not commonly covered in broker review articles in the media.

[indexfundfan]

The $1000 offer is available again. This one is good until March 31, but they keep getting renewed.

http://www.merrilledge.com/offers/1000offer

My bonus from last August paid out without hassle. It just showed up.

That's nice to hear. Looking forward to my bonus next month.

[dodecahedron]

The $1000 offer is available again. This one is good until March 31, but they keep getting renewed.

http://www.merrilledge.com/offers/1000offer

My bonus from last August paid out without hassle. It just showed up.

Good to hear. Hopefully, mine (from September) will show up next week.

[FelixTheCat]

They don't make money off of you. They make money off of folks who don't use their features as wisely as you do. Furthermore, they prevent the competition from having your money.

Thanks, you just explained my Fidelity Cash Management account.

[tj]

The $1000 offer is available again. This one is good until March 31, but they keep getting renewed.

http://www.merrilledge.com/offers/1000offer

My bonus from last August paid out without hassle. It just showed up.

Good to hear. Hopefully, mine (from September) will show up next week.

It takes 7 months????

[dodecahedron]

The $1000 offer is available again. This one is good until March 31, but they keep getting renewed.

http://www.merrilledge.com/offers/1000offer

My bonus from last August paid out without hassle. It just showed up.

Good to hear. Hopefully, mine (from September) will show up next week.

It takes 7 months????

There is a requirement that the funds stay there for six months in order to qualify for the bonus. So my transfer of funds in happened September 10 and I would expect to see the bonus circa March 10.

[indexfundfan]

My Merrill Edge bonus showed up earlier this week as well.

I intend to keep these assets (mostly muni CEFs) with Merrill Edge. Once the dividends from the CEFs are credited, they are automatically transferred to my linked 3rd party bank account. Keeping the assets there also helps me qualify for preferred rewards and the associated credit card cash back bonuses.